I’m surprised of myself.

Kelley, I’m sure you have heard about all of this from your sister. This is my disclaimer on how boring you might find this post!

Ok, last Sunday I bought the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. The only problem is you have to buy the very expensive Nike shoes that the Kit works with. Luckily, this company Grantwood Technology created the handy Sport Pouch for only $6.99. The down side: you have to order it online and wait a week for it to arrive, especially during a holiday week.

But it came yesterday! And it ROCKED! Seriously, this is the coolest jogging tool EVER. I realized that the loop that I thought was 2 miles is really 3. 3 Miles! I’ve been trying for weeks to jog at least 2 miles and I’ve been doing it the entire time and didn’t know it. Now that is an increase in the self-esteem area.

My one mistake that I did make yesterday was I tool my dog Dez along. Boy was she freaking SLOW! She trailed along behind as far as her leash would let her. And yes I do understand the potty breaks, but still I wanted an accurate view of my time. On the plus side she kept me company and I’ll probably keep taking her with me. I think with the proper jogging leash she can be great. Hehehe It was starting to storm yesterday and we had a huge crack of thunder Man you have never seen that dog take off so fast. I was like “Now that’s what I’m taking about!” At least I know she has it in her.

The other cool feature about the Nike + iPod is that it not only keeps up with your times, distances, calories burned all on your iPod, but you can log on to http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/ and keep a record of all your runs, sign up for challenges with other people and set goals for yourself. I signed up for this Beginners challenge for the month of July. Already someone has invited me to take part in her challenge. It’s pretty freaking cool.

I think the handiest part of the Nike + iPod (I’m just going to call it Nike Sport from here on out) is that it counted down my miles. There is nothing more encouraging then hearing “300 meters left”, Well Hell Yeah I can do that. It does the same if you set it for time or whatever you want.

Anyway, I'm happy that a friend recommended it to me and I definitely recommend it to anyone who jogs or thinks they want to. It works for walkers t0.

The End

For the last episode of the Sopranos I decided to cook one of Carmela's dishes. It always seemed that she was carrying baked Ziti to her priest, so I found a good recipe and gave it a go. (I actually got this recipe from another blogger who had the same idea)

I have to say that this dish rocked and could easily be made calorie friendly with wheat noodles and low fat cheese. I did have trouble with my noodles being a little crunchy on top, but I think that can be fixed. Baked Ziti with Turkey Meatballs was YUM-O and was almost the perfect Italian ending (No one got whacked) .

BAKED ZITI WITH TURKEY MEATBALLS

For meatballs
1 pound ground turkey
1 large garlic clove, minced
3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted, cooled, and chopped
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley leaves (preferably flat-leafed)
1 large egg, beaten lightly
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound ziti or penne
1 1/2 cups coarsely grated mozzarella cheese (about 6 ounces)
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese (about 3 ounces)
about 6 cups winter tomato saucea
15-ounce container ricotta cheese

Make meatballs:In a bowl stir together well turkey, garlic, bread crumbs, onion, pine nuts, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper and form into meatballs about 1 inch in diameter. In a large heavy skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and cook half of meatballs, shaking skillet, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer meatballs to paper towels to drain and brown remaining meatballs in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same manner.
Preheat oven to 375°F. and oil a 3- to 4-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish.

In a kettle of salted boiling water cook pasta until just al dente, about 8 minutes, and drain well. In a small bowl toss together mozzarella and Romano.
Spoon about 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce and half of meatballs into prepared dish and spoon half of pasta on top. Spread half remaining sauce and half cheese mixture over pasta. Top with remaining meatballs and drop dollops of ricotta over meatballs. Spread remaining pasta over ricotta and top with remaining sauce and remaining cheese mixture.
Bake ziti in middle of oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden, and let stand 10 minutes before serving.Serves 6 to 8.Gourmet February 1994

For Winter Sauce I used sauce out of a jar.

LEIGHA! LEIGHA! LEIGHA!

Imagine arriving to your High School Graduation on a church bus with 30 plus family members. Now add to the mortification: a sign with your name and having your father pull up to the front door so that you and your family members could unload. Welcome to the beginning of my cousin’s high school graduation. We also chanted Leigha! Leigha! Leigha!

I have to say that yes it probably was very embarrassing for Leigha, but she got to ride to her graduation with her entire family: Mom, Dad, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, a slew of cousins and one brave friend. A freaking BUS load! How special is that? VERY! It rocked. We all traveled from Georgia, Alabama and Indiana just to be there for her on her special day. Scott and I drove for 12 hours, got lost in Birmingham, and sat through 3 trains at 2 in the morning just to be there to watch her walk across the stage. I have to say that my family has its flaws, but damn we rocked this weekend.

The weekend overall was really good. It had its moments where Scott and I wanted to strangle my parents, but it did teach us some valuable lesson that will come in handy for the wedding. I never realized how hard it would be to NOT automatically DO what my parents wanted. Example: just letting them decided where and when we are going to eat.

Ugh, I never knew deciding on a place to eat would be so hard.

The lesson learned: Scott’s wants and needs come before my parents. (who knew I would have to be taught that?)

Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day! Only 4 days left of this workweek and then next week I start my new position. I can’t wait.

I should have some book reviews on the way. I finished 2 books (one I just loved) and started on another that is just amazing.

Wow, It's been along time!

I've been thinking and thinking about updating my blog. This may be a super small post but it's a start.

Reason's for not posting:

1) Even after years of writing literature papers I'm still afraid of writing.
2) I've been bummed out about how my blog looks.
3) I really want to say what I feel on my blog and that takes guts.
4) I'm not so sure anyone actually reads this thing. People have taken me off their friends list. It's not looking very positive.
5) I've kept to myself alot this past year, but now I'm ready to share and be apart of the world.

A few updates:
I bought a gorgeous wedding dress! and yes Scott and I have set a date! We even have a location. We signed the paper work! it's final.

I actually have more to say but I have to get ready for work. By the way I received a promotion. (Warning: From now on I will be tooting my own horn. I recently learned that if you don't celebrate your own accomplishments no one else will. I'm damn well going to enjoy the good stuff in life!)

Have a great day, everyone! (I'm actually writing as if I have an audience! hehe

Wednesday: Hump Day.

Today is my last Wednesday of freedom. That’s right I will truly be in the real world next week. I don’t know why they call it the real world. The world feels pretty real to me right now. I think “real world” should be prefaced with working depending on context of course. The Working Real World. There. That’s what I’ll be entering next week.

Anyway, I do have a full time position at the Statesboro Regional Library. I will be starting next Monday. I’m very excited and relieved. This is such a great gig. Much better than I had hoped for in Statesboro. I’m having a little trouble figuring out how to balance work and Grad School and, you know, my life. I’m planning on cutting back my classes, but I’m just not sure how much is too much, or too little. I’m like the girl with the bears who wanted it just right. All of you Grad Students, or recently graduated Grad Students ring in with some insight here.

________________________________________________________________________

After safely securing my full-time job, I took a few days to reflect on why I choose English Literature for my major in the first place. I can honestly say that for about 2 months (from May to July) I really resented my degree and how useless I felt it was. But now that my chest isn’t so tight and I’m using more coherent language (something other than the F bomb) I want to make a list of why being an English Major is one of the greatest degrees out there, but I want help. I know why I choose this particular major.

Two Reasons:

1.I loved to read.
2.I sucked at writing, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could write and write decently if not well. Grammar still kills me, thus FANBOYS is always in the back of my mind.

So, English Majors, why this degree?

Ahoy Buccaneers!

After watching Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (I absolutely loved this movie!) I’ve decided that Scott and I are going to dress up as Pirates for Halloween. (He doesn't know this yet.) I know, I know it’s only July and I shouldn’t be thinking about Halloween. But, I wanna be a PIRATE! So what, I’m a dork. I’ve already scoped out fabric and costume ideas.

YARRR!

Just for reminders, here are a few pictures from last years Halloween Bash.

Update=boring

Ok, so I have no ideas or time really for posting. But it has been a little over a month since I last posted. So here goes my update:

·Scott gave me Sirius Satellite radio for Valentine’s Day! I’ve really enjoyed it, but I am planning on reading to owner’s manual soon. I’m having lots of trouble working the damn thing. Right now I can’t seem to get it to turn on. I’m sure that it is the operator and not the machine. Uggg I wish I were a technology person.

·Speaking of which, I’ve applied to grad school for Instructional Technology. All that I have left is taking the GRE and I’m going to do that over spring break.
·Well that seems to be about it.

·I had a rough week this past week.
1.I got sick and had to go home to see my family doctor.
2.I’m living with my crappy roommate.
3.One of our dogs Gracie passed away this week. Very unexpected and I’ve been
sad about that.
4.I lost my jump drive and had to rewrite my mid-term. It was only 3 mins late!
5.Dr. Griffin assigned a paper on the same week as her mid-term. Who does that?
It’s so unfair!
·We had a very good Baby Shower for Bean. She received lots of very cool baby stuff that I didn’t even know existed.

·Scott took me to see “A Date Movie.” It was funny and I laughed all the way through it.

·Becca is going to come visit Statesboro next weekend!

That’s it.

Living for the future

We all do it. You know the sayings. “When I get that new job…,” or “Just as soon as I get a pay raise…” I have a few of my own “Things will be better just as soon as I’m out of this stupid Spanish class,” and “If I just had my own space!” My personal favorite so far “If I just didn’t have to sit in the closet to: A) Have a private phone call B) Steal the neighbors Internet C) Get away from my roommate-- then things would be better. I want my own place!”

How can I learn to appreciate the here and now? How can you all out in cyberspace learn to live for the moment? I spent this past weekend worried about a test. Then I spent the week upset about the same test. Now, in retrospect I’m kicking myself for the wasted time. The one time this week when I put everything aside and just enjoyed myself was at the GUS basketball game. Boy, did it feel great!

I’m not quite sure how to live in the here and now, because, frankly, sometimes the here and now just isn’t that great. Life comes in cycles, at least that’s how I see it, and people just keep moving forward. The one thing Scott has taught me recently is to keep a positive outlook. Unfortunately, I’ve been a little black rain cloud.

Does it really matter that I’m sitting in a closet that isn’t really my closet just so I can have a little time to myself? Not really, not in the long run. In fact this is probably the only time I’ll ever have the chance to sit in a closet and write. I’ve just made another college student memory.

I may still get down sometimes or have a rough day, but I’m going to do my best to remain positive. I’m going to try to enjoy life as it comes. I just don’t want to regret my life and my choices because I was to busy being a little black rain cloud.

Childhood Books

I’ve been pretty laid back this week so, I don’t have any interesting stories to tell or anything to complain about. Because, well:

1. I spend my free time going to the gym.
2. If I’m not at the gym I’m sleeping.
3. If I’m not at the gym or sleeping I’m in class.

I don’t even go to the library anymore. I’m becoming a homebody.

My substitute roommate and I made plans yesterday to go and eat Mexican together. This is something we do. It’s kinda been our thing. But today I was to worn out from sleeping to want to go out. (Yes from sleeping, and that is why I’m up at 12 writing a blog) Instead I ate a frozen pizza and watched the national news. I don’t even have a minor adventure to write about. I don’t think going to the bank to deposit my financial aid check counts.


I though I would leave you guys with my reading list from my Literature for Adolescents class.

Holes Louis Sachar
Bud, Not Buddy Christopher Paul Curtis
The Bicycle Man David L. Dudley (The Department Chair)
Walk Two Moons Sharon Creech
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Kimberly Willis Holt
Behind the Mountains Edwidge Danticat
Under The Blood-Red Sun Graham Salisbury
Leaving Home Hazel Rochman and Darlene Z. McCampbell
Speak Laurie Halse Anderson
Rainbow Boys Alex Sanchez
godless Pete Hautman
whale talk Chris Crutcher

Let me know if any of you guys read any of these books as an adolescent. For that matter, let me know what you guys read growing up. I was a huge Judy Bloom fan myself. I loved her “Fudge” books and Blubber was a huge hit with me because, well I was the chubby kid. Who can forget Are you There God? It’s Me, Margaret. I was really into the series books: The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High, Goose Bumps and the list goes on. I loved C.S. Lewis as well. The Magician’s Nephew was oddly one of my favorites, second to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Sometimes people lose themselves in Southern Hospitality.

Hospitality in itself is a good thing. Treating others with warmth and generosity is what human beings should naturally do. Southern Hospitality, however, is an entirely different beast. Southern Hospitality becomes not about just being kind and welcoming, but about being pleasing and never stepping on others toes. Maybe it isn’t Southern Hospitality that I have a problem with, but the expectations placed upon southern women.

Maybe I have a problem with standing up for myself.

Growing up in the south is like growing up in another world. As a child I was taught Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am, Yes Sir, and No Sir. If I answered my mother with yes she would respond with “Yes what?” and the child version of Jessica never said no. Saying “NO” to my Mother ensured a good ‘ole fashioned spanking. If you were going to use the word you had better be prepared for an ass beating. Honestly, I cannot recall any of my siblings or me using the word no. Even No Ma’am, if used in certain context, could make my Mom’s eyebrows rise.

So why do I feel like I’ve lost myself in Southern Hospitality, or rather social expectations? I’ m drawn back to the Yes Ma’am and No Ma’am’s of my childhood. As an adult I’m no longer required to treat people respectfully, I just do. And honestly there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Recently I’ve found that I’ve become more than just respectful, I’ve tried to become pleasing. I want those that I care about the most to be happy, and I’ve sacrificed my own happiness for theirs: A recipe for disaster.

In Mexico people think that it is rude to not give you directions. If you ask a Mexican how to get somewhere, and even if they don’t’ know the way they will make up something. Yes, this is completely unhelpful, but it’s the culture. Southern Hospitality has the same need to please. If you’re hosting a party or just a group of people, as host you go out of your way to make sure everyone is happy. As a guest you accept whatever your host offers you. That’s Southern Hospitality at it’s best.

So how can I keep the charming side of Southern Hospitality while remaining true to myself? This past weekend my boyfriend was cooking me an egg and I explained to him exactly how I wanted it, but it didn’t turn out as I had expected. At that second I had a moment. My thought process went like this:

I can accept this egg and eat it as is, or I can just tell him that he got it wrong.
But, if I eat that egg he’ll think that’s how I really like them, and I’ll be stuck eating eggs that way forever.
I don’t want to be difficult.
I’ll just cook another egg myself.

The southern girl in me found an acceptable way to try and get what I wanted while still being pleasing. But why does everything have to be pleasing. Why couldn’t I have just said, “That’s not how I eat my eggs” especially after having explained how I wanted it cooked. I came across as rude by offering to cook another egg. I wasn’t respectful or pleasing, but I was trying to be both and get what wanted.
I want to be warm and welcoming and generous while still being myself.

Recently, my roommate and her family have taken over my apartment. I’ve become a nomad living with my boyfriend on the weekends and another friend during the week. I’ve been totally stressed out about this entire living situation, but the Southern Girl in me has just bitten my tongue, but I’ve had enough.

As the saying goes “I need to grow some balls!” I’m tired of getting taken advantage of.
I’m ready to stand up for myself. My New Year’s resolution has become not just to lose weight, but also to take pride in myself: To realize that I deserve to be treated respectfully, and that my needs, my wants and my dreams and my wishes are just as important as anyone else.

This isn’t about Southern Hospitality. This is about learning to be myself.

January Workout update

I’m on the horse, as Stacey likes to say, the workout horse that is. This is week 3 of the great workout plan and I’ve hit a wall.

I feel like I’m doing things right: Cardio Monday, Wednesday and Friday and weights on Tuesday and Thursday with some cardio. But week three has found me weak and tired. When I’m jogging on the treadmill my arms feel sooo heavy and I have to really force myself to push through.

Today, which is weights and cardio day, I almost gave up. I did my weight training with the intention of hopping on an elliptical for a few minutes. So when the time came for cardio, of course, all the machines were full. I just decided to forget it and leave. But as fate would have it a girl got off the elliptical as I was walking out, and I took it as a sign and hopped right on. It was a good workout.

But here’s the deal: I put back on the 1 pound that I had lost over the past 2 week and added half a pound. ADDED! Talk about disappointment. I know I know muscle is stronger then fat and that’s probably where the weight came from. Maybe I should just change my weigh in day from Tuesday to Wednesday. I don’t know. I’m just going to push on through and hope for the best.

I hope everyone else’s is doing well with the New Year resolutions. Just think the first month is almost over!

Why me?

This semester already seems to be picking up from last semester. I would like a beer and a cigarette while I cry. I promised myself that I would make the best of my last 4 classes at Georgia Southern, but really I just wish I didn’t have to take them. I’m tired of being stressed and emotional all the time, but most of all I hate Spanish!

Interlude

Ok I have to admit that I’m a complete dork. About 2 days ago I turned on my new laptop to write a blog. I felt inspired and was ready to put my thoughts into words. As soon as I turned my computer on it said I had a virus. So I consulted my sister’s boyfriend, he suggested I use my parent’s computer to google the virus. So I did, and of course that was useless because I understood nothing about the virus other than it comes through your e-mail. I then called my boyfriend and he suggested I get serious computer help. So I did, this morning in fact. It turned out that I’m just a paranoid dork; my laptop is fine and was just warning me that I wasn’t protected against this sober or sober virus.

So all you guys get is this boring post until I have something of interest written.
But I do hope you all had a great New Years and are enjoying the 1st of the year. This is my last week of freedom before my last semester of school begins on the 9th.

100 Things to Know About Me!

I’ve been a blogger, well ever since I’ve been in college, so that’s about 5 years now. “100 things about me” seems to be a popular thing among blogspot bloggers, and well since I’ve joined the blogspot bandwagon it seems only right that I do what the blogspot bloggers do. After reading you might find that I’m a pretty boring person, and you would be right. Hopefully, for those that don’t know me quite so well, you’ll have a little better insight into what makes me me. Plus this is an easy way to get back in the groove of blogging.

100. I’m a Georgia Southern student.
99. English major with and a minor in Irish studies.
98. I stink at writing and grammar, but I do try.
97. I believe that anyone who can speak can write, no matter how badly. So, I guess there is hope for me.
96. I earned my associates degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
95. My first major was Agricultural Education. I wanted to teach Horticulture on the High School level.
94. From age 15 until I graduated High School I worked at The Greenhouse Nursery and Landscape Design.
93. Before that I worked with my Dad on his landscaping crew. I can spread pine straw with the best of them.
While at ABAC I took Animal Practicum where I learned:
92. How to collect semen from: a bull and a boar
91. How to castrate a bull.
90. How to brand cows.
89. How to tag cows, and I can give them shots correctly.
88. Check to see if a cow is pregnant.
Disclaimer: I did all of these procedures in the classroom setting with an instructor present, and I haven’t done any of these things since.
87. I love plants.
86. My apartment is full of them.
85. I can’t wait to have my own yard so that I can landscape it.
84. I love reading, I have since I was a child. My favorite thing was to escape into a book. My sister and I spent many summers checking out books at the Library and then devouring them at home. There is nothing better then wiling away the summer in a good book.
82. It should be no surprise that I want to get my master degree in Library Science.
81. I have 4 more classes remaining at Georgia Southern University.
80. Spanish is one of those classes
79. I have a fraternal twin sister.
78. Yes, that means that we do not look alike.
77. She is tall with dirty blond hair.
76. Our eyes are both blue, but different shades of blue.
75. We do have the same smile, or so I’ve been told.
74. We had an older brother who was killed in a car accident.
73. My sister’s name is Rebecca
72. She has traveled all over the world. Mexico was her latest trip.
71. I’ve been to Wisconsin and that was for one bad trip that lasted one day.
70. I went traveled to Wisconsin to see Phish, but never made it to the show.
69. Wisconsin is the farthest I’ve ever been from home.
68. Currently, I am trying to read The Stand. It isn’t going so well and I may give up soon.
67. My all time Favorite band is, by far, Fleetwood Mac.
66. Stevie Nicks is my all time favorite singer/poet.
65. My favorite Stevie Nick’s song is If you ever did Believe. This song can be found on the Practical Magic soundtrack.
64. I love Nancy Grace. (You might know her from Larry King Live, and she now has her own show on Court TV. Grace is a lawyer from Atlanta, she is outspoken and I like it.)
63. I read Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol every year at Christmas time.
62. My favorite character is Tiny Tim.
61. My favorite John Wayne movie is McLintock.
60. My favorite movie is Bridget Jones’ Diary.
59. Sometimes I feel like I have Bridget Jones’ public speaking skills; in other words verbal vomit.
Things that I love:
58. snugglizing with my boyfriend
57. Fireflies because they look like fire works in the woods. Much better then in a jar!
56. Movies that transport me to a magical land.
55. My sister
54. My Mama
53. My Daddy
52. Going home after being away for a long, long time.
51. My parent’s drive way is ½ mile long.
50. My sister and my Dad totaled their cars in that very same drive.
49. I can be reclusive at times.
48. I love escaping into a good novel.
47. I’m guilty of reading romance novels. (I apologize to my English major friends)
46. I’m guilty of watching CMT and I actually like country music. I can’t help it, it’s part of my roots. I grew up on it.
45. I saw the Dukes of Hazard in the theater.
44. I make homemade cards. (Alison, if you e-mail me your new address I’ll mail you a homemade house-warming card.)
43. I had a horse named Lucky growing up.
42. Lucky bit my sister on the knee while she was on her horse Sugar.
41. My favorite football player is Peyton Manning.
40. A.P. is right up there with Manning.
39. Sometimes I cry for no reason.
38. My favorite food is pickle and chip sandwiches.
37. I’m addicted to chap stick. Any kind will do for me. It’s in my genes everyone in my family carries a stick in their pocket. My Maw-Maw (my great grandmother) kept at least 3 tubes next to her bed at all times.
36. I’m afraid of the middle-age bulge.
35. I’m afraid of losing my dreams.
34. I want to travel to Ireland.
33. My boyfriend is 33 years old.
32. I want him to go to Ireland with me. I want to share my dreams with him.
31. I’m a hippie at heart.
30. I donated my hair to Locks of Love.
29. I wear glasses.
28. I love fresh chocolate chip cookies.
27. I enjoy smoking. There is something so nice about just being able to go outside and sitting on the porch and smoking a cigarette. Unhealthy yes.
26. My first love is now married with a kid on the way.
25. My parents have been married for 25 years.
24. I have to workout and watch what I eat to fight the fat gene.
23. My birthday is April 7th
22. I’m 22 years old.
21. So if you were doing the math that means that I’m currently 11 years younger then my boyfriend.
20. One day I will quit the cancer stick for good.
19. I love dancing in my room all alone.
18. My current boyfriend is the only boyfriend I have ever farted in front of. That’s true love!
17. My Favorite TV shows are: The Golden Girls, Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, Gilmore Girls and Smallville.
16. Scott just reminded me that I know how to Arc weld. This was an ABAC class.
15. I would defiantly need a refresher course on the welding, but I’m pretty sure that it would come back pretty quickly. I was just as good, if not better then some of the boys in my class.
14. My roommate and I made picture frames in welding class.
13. I love walking around naked.
12. Underwear is my favorite thing to buy. I love pretty panties.
11. I love family dinners. That’s one thing that I’ve missed in college.
10. I love the way paper whites smell.
9. Tulips and Zinnias are my favorite flower.
8. I stink at spelling
7. I love spell check
6. When I’m mad or upset with someone I find it hard to look him or her in the eye.
5. I think a person’s soul is reflected in their eyes.
4. I laugh really loud.
3. I’m a Christian.
2. I went horseback riding today! It rocked! I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.
1. Most importantly I’m happy with the person that I’ve become, with the choices that I’ve made thus far, and with the life that is mine!

13.5

An important number really, at least in my life. 13.5 inches is the amount of hair that I donated to Locks of Love. I’m now sporting a sexy new ‘do As I was sitting in the chair at the beauty shop I decided: 1. That I didn’t want to be one of those women that have the same hair style for a decade 2. I wanted to do my part to help cancer victims. 3. Long hair is freaking boring.

I know, I know I haven’t been posting regularly and according to Liquid Courage I have no excuse. School has been out for a while now. But I do have a few good excuses: 1. My sister is

home from Mexico and we’ve been spending tons of time together 2. I’m doing tons of reading. 3. I’m sorta studying for the GRE, or at least I brought the book home with me 4. I’m sleeping a ton. 5. I got my hair cut! All that combined plus Mom and Dad’s crappy internet equals no blogging.

My reading list (so far):
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Stand by Stephen King (Scott and my sister love this book so It’s now on my list)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (I read this every Christmas. It’s become my tradition)

A few Spanish cuss words I’ve picked up from Becca:
no pinches mames
El pinche raton
Se chinga tu madre

My List Revisited

I decided that if Scott could revisit his so could I. And yes I know that he was only able to revisit his list because it was near his birthday. Isn’t the rule you can change your list on your Birthday and on New Years? But because I have yet to complete my list, the rules don’t apply to me.

Scott recently bought a slew of DVDs which at first, I have to admit, I turned my nose up at. Why would I want TV on DVD? But then I realized the benefits to TV on DVD. You can watch episodes anytime, when ever it’s convenient for you and you can start from the very first episode. Plus there are no commercials! What more could you ask for?

We started off with “The West Wing”. Watching “The West Wing” has sentimental value for me because my grandmother, also known as Nanny, used to watch this show all the time. It does seem odd watching my dead grandmother’s favorite show, but now I understand her fascination with the show. It’s kinda like listening to a song that reminds you of someone special. There isn’t anything odd or creepy about that. “The West Wing” simply reminds me of my Nanny and I like that.

This brings me to the DVD that inspired my last and final celebrity pick: “Smallville”. The WB has done it again, no wonder their ratings are up. “Smallville” is awesome and on the 5th season, I believe, it could be the 6th. “Smallville” provides the back story on Superman. The WB’s interpretation of the Superman mythology has Clark Kent leaning how to control his powers and Lex Luther is actually a nice guy, at least in the first season. Not only is Lex Luther a good guy but he is freaking HOT!

Which brings me to my last and final pick: Michael Rosenbaum!



Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luther is about 90% of why I like “Smallville.” What more could a girl ask for? Lex Luther is Hot! He’s Sexy! He’s Wealthy! And he’s the biggest BADASS in town! And in Scott’s favor he’s bald.

My List is complete!

Paste

Scott found this amazing music magazine, Paste, which I promptly stole from him. I did ask first, so technically I’m not a thief. I believe that he is planning on writing about it on his blog, but he is taking way to long so I’m writing about it myself.

Paste Magazine is an independent music magazine. It is produced bi-monthly and features musicians, reviews music (of course), along with films and books. It’s classy, it’s cool, the writing is amazing and this month Paste is featuring one of my favorite artists, Fiona Apple.

Unlike many of you old fogies, Fiona Apple got me through my adolescent years. When the music video for “Criminal” came out I was memorized. I was awe struck by Apple’s ability to create such emotional intensity. At that point in my life Stevie Nicks was a huge influence, but because she was older, I felt that age created her mystique. Apple taught me that depth can be found in the young, that I, too, had the right to feel.

Paste also comes with a free CD and DVD. The CD Scott has, so I haven’t had the opportunity to check it out, but I really enjoyed the DVD. It features short films; one of my favorites was Dear Sweet Emma, and music videos.

I’m sleepy and it’s time for bed so go check out Scott’s new find for your self.

Is it summer

Is it summer?

At this time of year most people spend nights huddled in their beds trying to keep as much heat in as possible. I, however, have my one window open, I’m sleeping in as little as possible and I’ve still woken up sweating and miserable. Tomorrow night I plan on putting the box fan back in the window. Thank You roommates!

My roommate is from Zimbabwe and has not seen her mother in 5 years. Her mother has recently arrived for graduation and the Holidays, and being an older lady she requires more heat. This is why our apartment temperature is roughly 85 degrees. At least this is what it was when I went to bed tonight.

I love my parents. I really like Pippa’s mom. I just wish when parents came to visit they didn’t disrupt your entire life. I hate sweating in the summer. I hate it even more in the fall/winter. And I really hate it when I have a cold and heat makes breathing more of a task than it already is.

Parents, I love ya but next time rent a hotel!

Happy Late Thanksgiving!

Today is Monday and the first time I’ve touched a computer since last Tuesday. I decided school was out and Thanksgiving was a good excuse to just avoid the world and enjoy my family. I was able to dedicate one day to each parent. It was super nice. Unfortunately, my sister is still in Mexico so the phone ended up being my only connection to her and on one of our chats we were both so incredible sleepy that we just gave up. Turkey does that to you.

While avoiding the world minus Scott, he is always included, I read a great book: This Boy’s Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff. Lately I’ve found myself drawn to reading memoirs. There is something powerful in knowing that what you’re reading, although in story form, is someone’s life. Tobias Wolff tells a tale that has readers grabbing a pen to underline life-changing passages that remind us of our lives. At least that’s what I did.

We travel along with a young Toby Wolff as he travels across the country with his mother, escaping one stepfather after another. With every move Wolff searches for his identity, even changing his name to create his own personality. Readers watch a boy who tries desperately to make the world see him for what he is. Not just a wild, outrageous rough and tumble boy with an attitude, but a boy with potential and possibility. Wolff’s story of growing up in the 50’s becomes a tale that spans all generations.

Knowing that everything comes to an end is a gift of experience, a consolation gift for knowing that we ourselves are coming to an end. Before we get it we live in a continuous present, and imagine the future as more of that present. Happiness is endless happiness, innocent of its own sure passing. Pain is endless pain.

As a reader I soaked this passage in, reading and re-reading these words, relating them to my life. Wolff was able to draw meaning out of his life and put it into words that express what all people must learn. Even as I sit here thinking about this book and this passage, I realize that I still have yet to comprehend what Wolff is saying. To live is to experience and that’s what Wolff as taught me.

A lot of Wolff’s travels I couldn’t relate to, but I immediately thought of Scott and of all the times he has had to move and make new friends. Wolff just seems to know the kids that were destined to be his friends. This makes me wonder if people truly know, instinctively, the path that is supposed to be theirs, the people that are supposed to be in their lives. Maybe, maybe not.

Final Rating: Five Stars--- A great read that causes great thought while being very entertained. Wolff is a master at storytelling, even when it’s his own life.

The writing dilemma.

I love songs and I love music. What I don’t truly get is poetry. I think this is a great flaw that I have which doesn’t make any sense because songs are in essence poems. What songs have that words on paper lack is the author’s voice inflection. Singers have the ability to control pitch and tone. This clues the listener into what is important.
I’ve wanted to write about Stevie Nick’s song “Nightbird” for a while now, but I got bogged down on the words. I looked up the lyrics online, and when I actually saw the words in writing, I felt like I lost the true spirit of the song. I lost the atmosphere that the song created for me. Now I have a new plan. I’m going to go back to the song and just listen to it and write about how Stevie’s music affects me, and why I make her music apart of my life.