my MindBlogler...

ventures of the fourth

2009-07-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

So yeah, about that posting thing. I guess writing regularly is sort of unrealistic BUT, I will write when i have time. It always slips my mind that I even have a blog until everyone starts sharing YouTube videos. You know what I'm talking about - everyone trying to one up everyone else by showing off all the funny you tube videos they know. Or stumble videos. No one ever likes to see other peoples videos. Anywho...
Went home this weekend- to the WB that is. I dont think anything could possibly top fourth of July on Wrightsville Beach. If there were one weekend that i could go back home during the year, besides Christmas (maybe, its debatable) it would be the fourth of july. But, unfortunately I'm not updating on the events of the weekend, even though it was super fun.
A thought did strike me when i was at home- harder than usual. I'm spending the summer in DC, a place where everyone is on top of everything and every day life is significantly faster paced than with what I am familiar. Everyone is up to date on current events and conversations you have with people are just generally more sophisticated than those had back home. Maybe its the people I hang out with, but it just sort of seems like nothing ever changes in Wrightsville Beach. Places are the same. People are the same. Things are the same. The same people go to the same places and do the same things. Plus...aside from presidential elections and other major events, i feel like people are clueless as to what actually goes on outside of the bubble of Wilmington, NC. Its sort of funny how I can be in a place where in a matter of days there was a shootout and a major metro debacle and no one I know from home even knew that either one of the two had happened. I received no calls from home. Its like a black hole. People are just a little less interested in things back at home and sometimes its refreshing, but other times its just like....really?

some music i got from australia

2009-03-31T21:35:00.000-07:00

Delirious (Laidback Luke Mix) - David Guetta

Streetgirls (Tocadisco Remix) - Tocadisco feat. Meral Al-Mer

"A reason, a season, or a lifetime"

2009-03-30T21:49:00.000-07:00

So i haven't written in a while, I know. I've been meaning to and its not like I dont think about it either, its just when I have time to actually do this, I would always just rather be doing something else. Its sad because the thing is, as I write I remember how soothing it can be- almost therapeutic.

Its weird looking back at my last post. I remember exactly where I was, and how exciting my life seemed to be. The people in my life were new, and as I was getting to know them it was like I was slowly getting know myself a little better. I never wrote on my page after that night at the concert, but my experience in Denmark from that night forward was life changing. I met people who I hopefully will keep in touch with for a long time, and I made memories that will be with me forever.
Its amazing how fast everything changes though. When I wrote that last post, it was like everything around me was falling into place. I finally had a grasp on things. What I didn't realize however, was how short lived it would be. I returned to the United States with my life in order, or so i thought, but I was soon to find out otherwise. Things I thought had disappeared, seeped back into my life, while more 'issues' seem to be piling up as even i speak now. The difference between before Denmark and after, isn't the people I met or I things I did. Its what I learned about myself, however cliche that might sound.
I have a habit of depending on people. My friend recently explained the nature of relationships in a more simplistic way than I had ever seen them. She told me that 'People are in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.' And, even though it may be dangerous, to recognize the nature of relationship, gives you a different perspective on how and with whom you should spend your time. I have finally come to terms with the categories the people in my life are in, or so I think.
So finally figuring that stuff out has been tough. But, I think I have done it. Its hard becoming independent after being dependent for so long, but it can be done, and I don't think it should ever be undone. Only when it becomes undone, does any relationship become a burden.
So yeah, that's a struggle that I think I have finally tackled, and its been hard, but for the future now i know. I've never really let people drift out of my life, but since being away, and meeting people that live far away, I've had to learn. 'A reason, a season or forever."
I'm going to start writing more regularly too. I just don't want to be like THAT girl...who has a blog. Is that weird? Is this weird?

REM in Kobenhavn

2008-09-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

So Im in Copenhagen (Kobenhavn) and this weekend has probably been my favorite weekend ever. Let me just say listen to the last 3 minutes of this REM song (which i saw live at their concert last night) (this is a video from that concert). Its so good.

its called 'country feedback'

this is another good one. He told us that this song, "Imitation of Life" is number one on Japan's hit list right now.

COKE

2008-07-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

paper baby

2008-06-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

birds

2008-06-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

one man band

2008-06-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

where to go?

2008-05-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

So its the end of the semester and I'm no more found than I was at the beginning. yes, I've cleared a few personal things up, but I mean I still don't know where I'm going. All of my friends this summer are doing incredible things. Things that are actually really impressive, but part of me doesn't really feel like Im getting anywhere. So i realized what I'm interested in...sort of. But that sort of, leaves a whole lot of things unanswered. Political Science, i thought. but then again, Im not interested in politics, which i think is a big part of political science. International studies? maybe, but I haven't taken one class for that major and id have to start all over again basically. So where am I left? I don't know. Advertising? I don't know...maybe. but I didn't apply for the creative program, which is all I would want to do if went into the field. Its so hard. Everyone is achieving so much and going in A direction, but I feel like Im not really progressing towards anything. Maybe towards, the end of my chance to change majors, thats about it. "Just do well" people keep telling me, but what is that? I can't do well if I;m not interested in what Im doing. they go hand in hand. and plus, what is doing well? Success? what is that? Are you successful if your unhappy making a billion dollars a month. I don't think so. I guess time will tell...

storms

2008-05-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Storms. I love storms. Ever since I was little it would always be sort of a big deal when a big storm was coming. My brother would be the first one to spot it...he'd point out 'an underdraft.' And Id grab a blanket and my mom, my brother and I would all sit on my porch and watch it come in over the water. Sometimes they were a let down. A little rain, a little thunder. But sometimes its crazy. Thunder and lightening and tornadoes. Watching lightening from our porch is especially awesome. You sit out there, look out at the channel and you can just see lightening striking for miles. Sometimes, we walk out to the beach. Ive convince a friend or two to walk to the beach in really bad storms. They're always really scared of lightening but I assure them its fine...(?)...anyways. Sitting in beach stand, watching storms, is probably my favorite thing to do. Its so incredible and I don't think you can appreciate storms until you just sit and watch one. I love them, but being with people during them makes it better. Be it friends of family, theres something about sitting an watching a storm with someone thats really meaningful.

earth, wind, water, fire

2008-05-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

We all have a favorite color or a favorite animal or song, or car etc... Its something we sort of all have talked about at one point or another. But has anyone ever asked you what your favorite smell was? what about sound? I think the most satisfying things in life are definitely the simpler things. But naturally, we appreciate them less. A favorite smell, sound, feeling. I love when you hear,see or feel something and it sort of brings you back, it relaxes you if you will. Theres something about the most natural experiences that makes you feel small, and I love that feeling. The fact that YOU are small. And I think thats the main difference between materialism and naturalism. The fact that material things make you feel important and natural things make you feel small is huge. I love standing beside the ocean and feeling like the world is HUGE. Take also the smell of rain or freshly cut grass or that winter smell of wood burning. Everyone appreciates them, but theres something different about these natural experiences than the more materialistic ones. They mean more. They sort of pull at something inside of you. My favorite smell in the world is rain. My favorite sound...I love the ocean. Water, no matter if its falling from the sky or crashing to the ground, is a sound that will always comfort me. Ive grown up near the ocean so it kind of makes me feel safe when its around. Anyways, its just something that was on my mind.

breakdancing..what?

2008-04-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

This video is the most ridiculous breakdancing video I've ever seen. i don't know if any of you have ever tried to break dance, or do the robot or do anything like that, but it is not as easy as these guys are making it out to be. The last guy that comes out on stage I swear is machine. I don't know how he does that. If i had any weird talent like that I would do it all the time and show off to everyone.

copenhagen!

2008-04-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

I just filled out my last form for study abroad next semster, so it looks like I am going to Copenhagen! Im actaully really excited. I was when I first signed up too, then I went through a little period of uncertainty because people kept telling me good and bad things. But I just saw a list of the people that are going and everybody seems really cool! (which is sort of weird because I haven't actally talked to anyone in my group Ive just seen pictures, so from what I know everyone seems cool) Anyways, I super excited about Copenhagen, but what Im more excited about is traveling before classes and during the semester. I might be going with my friends before classes for a couple weeks and if i did that, Id go to Italy. Id spend a few days in Rome, Venice, Florence and then to the French Riviera. This would be two weeks and I only wish I had more time and money to see the rest of the area. After college Im definelty backpacking throughout Europe. During the four months i live in copenhagen we get a 3 week break too. So i was thinking of either going to France, or going to Octoberfest. Yes, Octoberfest. It would awesome. The only thing about traveling to all these places is expense. Its so pricey over there! I would have to buy two passes for the Eurorail, which for would be abotu 1000$. Then theres the hostels. Over there, hostels are about 15 euro, which is 30 dollars here. 30 dollars a night, for a month. And thats not even including museums, food etc. AHHHHHHH. student discounts, anyone?

POPULSIM in Latin America

2008-04-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

This past week I have been researching the rise of populism in Latin America. After finally finishing a 13 page paper, I find myself way more interested in Latin American politics than I started out being. It wouldn't surprise me if none of you are aware of the surge of leftist populism that is flooding a handful of countries south of our border. The fact that many of you don't even know what populism is wouldn't even really surprise me. I probably wouldn't know if I wasn't a poli sci major right now. But anyways this is precisely the reason why I thought I would write about it in my blog. Since most of you who read this anyway already know that I wrote a paper on it, i figure ill just explain to you what my paper focuses on. So yeah...THE RISE OF POPULISM IN LATIN AMERICA. So it all starts with a political cycle. A swing to the right, then to the left, then back to the right than to the left again etc. (an in case many of you don't know what the right and left is the political RIGHT= assumes capitalist free market, private enterprises, and basically no government intervention whatsoever. The LEFT is the opposite= no free market, and lots of government intervention) Anywyas so countries in Latin America as a whole were founded as sort of single export driven economies. Meaning given their rich enviorments, the rest of the world really looked to these regions for raw materials as opposed to manufactured goods. So each region specialized a single export, leading to very shaky economies. In WWI and WWII, this type of economy proved undependable since no countries were buying from them, so they adopted a leftist strategy knwon as ISI. So governments intervened and taxed exported good heavily so as to encourage trading within a single country, while also funding a handful of companies to compete in world markets. This stunted competition and just overall was not good. Anyways so by and by and debt crisis exploeded throughout the region in the 1980s. Lefitst, ISI driven economies failed. So in the 80s some Washington based groups implemented some RIGHT WINGED tactics to help Latin America. But, this just led to more corruption in the governments, more poverty, more social unrest and just over all upheaval. SO, no one listens to us Americans anymore basically. Now, a bunch of populist leaders, who are just charasmatic politicians campaining against everything thats not working in an economy now are runnign for offices. So since the late 1990s the country has been turning to leftist ideals such as socialism for asnwers. THE END. but Latin America over all is doing better, short term wise. but in the long run, leftist econimc polices are known to fail.

POWDER PUFF

2008-04-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

so i played powder puff football the other day and it was SO fun, but when people say it gets intense they are not messing around. Some girls are crazy. Don't get me wrong, I mean I'm competetive and all, but some girls, granted many were drunk were ridiculous. I would just run the ball because Im fast, but if i hadn't been able to out run them I think i may have ended up the hospital. Picture a team of drunken, uncoordinated sorority girls lined up with their heads down (pissed cause their losing) war paint, cleats, bows in hair, tall socks, mouthguards, etc. And when that ball is hiked back all hell breaks loose. I think it may be one thing to be athletic, and athletically tackle someone, like in actual football. But when your just running with your head down hoping to plough into someone, accidents are bound to happen. Anyways, people got hurt. I heard a girl or two may have gotten a concusion. Maybe a few slipped disks, but come on, why are you tackling. For one thing its FLAG football, i dont even understand how girls fall on the ground, much less slip a disk. I guess being drunk and uncoordinated and then forced to play football is a bad combo, but hey for those of us who the entire combo doesn't apply to it was hilarious.

now i lay me down to sleep...

2008-04-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the lord my soul to take.
Amen.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother and I would say this prayer every night before I went to bed. When ever I hear it , I think of her. If there are two things I'll never forget about my grandma, its this prayer and her lasagna. She was an amazing cook....Maybe everyone's grandmother is a good cook but, I think she was the best cook in the world. I honestly think she made the best lasagna, spaghetti, manacotti, eggplant, and cabbage I have ever tasted. Nothing could ever come close. Granted she was Italian, so if you didn't believe be before hand, maybe that gives her some credit. But either way, her cooking can't be touched. This prayer is something else i will never forget. Not only did she teach me this prayer, but she taught me how to pray in general. She gave me a picture bible and together we would read through it. If it wasn't for her i honestly don't think i would have ever learned about the bible or how to pray. I mean i went to sunday school, but aside from that, she was the one closest to me who talked about god. She was an amazing woman, my grandmother. The second oldest of 7 siblings, she raised her entire family. And it was only when she died that I got to meet the rest of them.

time of the year again!

2008-04-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

Its about that time of the semester again! I wish professors didn't decide to throw it all on you in those last 2 days of class. I mean granted, I have known about all of my assignments for a while now, BUT STILL! Professors should account for the procrastinators too right? RiGhT. But really though, I have so much to do before next wednesday, I don't even know really how to handle it. Heres the To-Do-List so far:
- Adv. build a machine project (and we still have to buy the materials and put it together, which
should be fun...)
-Adv. Creative school application (I don't know what I'm going to do!)
-Philosophy paper on religion
-Political science paper
-finish paperwork for Copnhagen
-go to a speech and analyze for journalism
-50 BLOGS (a few more to do)!!!

UGH!!! and not to mention POWDER PUFF on Sunday and the rest of my life that isn't school work related! Anyways, so I starting to get stressed. And this always happens and i feel like I don't do anything, as in start my work, until I get really stressed, but hopefully I will start everything tomorrow and have a really great head start on it all!

dove- esteem fund

2008-04-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

I don't usually post videos that I see in class, but this one really made an impression on me. Yeah we all know about how the media can make girls feel ugly or fat and so on and son on, but this ad really hit home for me. The ad is one of many in a series known as the "dove- self esteem fund" and i feel like any girl could relate to them. They're all on you tube and all of them really speak to girls especially. The little girl shown at the beginning of this commercial is so gorgeous and to know that she, at such a young age, will absorb such distorted view of beauty haunts me. This is how our society is and unless a child knows differently, unless a child is taught differently, they will inherit an insatiable, unreasonable desire for a deceptively portrayed beauty.

MIND vs. BODY

2008-04-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

So I have intro to philosophy every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 10am in the morning. Its crazy. SOme things that we talk about I don't really agree with but not because I have anything to disprove it, just because I believe differently. To be more specific, our teacher is pretty biased when it comes to religion, (to say he's a strong disbeliever) and it doesn't really bother me, I just wish I could know enough, or have enough logic to argue with him. But its impossible, and I don't even try. So we talk about some crazy things. For example right now were talking about how mind and body may or may not be two separate entities. Our professor uses an example of a zombie and a ghost to illustrate. To start, God can create anything that we can think of. So if we can fathom a mind with no body, like ghost, it should be God should be able to create it..right? Can we fathom a body with no soul? The argument sort of reminds me of the excerpt that I used a while back in one of my entries. In the East of Eden Cathy is characterized as being a sort of monster. She is a body lacking soul. She is not lacking a brain. A brain is different. She is lacking a soul. So I do think its possible to lack a mind. Scary...but possible. More broadly put, the argument is labeled Dualism vs. Materialism. Materialism is the theory that everything can be simplified to some sort of physical state. So we can understand everything totally by just studying it. Dualism theorizes the opposite. It states that it is not possible to understand everything by just observing it objectively. An example in the Dualists favor uses a character Frank. Frank can see one more color than anyone else. When observing tomatoes, he claims he sees two different color reds. No one else can see it. He separates the fruits consistently, putting the tomatoes in two different groups every time he asked to resort. Although we know everything about colors, and we know that Frank can see an extra one, there is a missing piece to an outsider's understanding of it. We do not understand how the color makes Frank feel. There is something about the color's effect on one's experiences that we do not know. Therefore Physicalism/Materialism has a missing piece and is not functional.
Anyways, those are just some arguments we have been reviewing. Im no philosopher so sorry if you don't follow.

Intelligent Design

2008-04-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

Intelligent Design-
-the view that nature shows tangible signs of having been designed by a pre-existing intelligence.
Evolution Theory
- the theory that acts of random mutations and natural selections gave rise to humans and all other forms of life.

The first time I learned about the theory of Intelligent Design was when guest speaker Kennith Miller spoke at SMU. I don't remember everything he talked about in his presentation, but what I do remember is that 1.) he wrote the science text books I've used throughout most of my educational career2.) he is a christian 3.) and he doesn't believe in Intelligent Design.

Micheal Behe in his essay The Challenge of Irreducible Complexity uses a mousetrap to illustrate the complexity and deliberation of a cell or any other complex organ.
"An everyday example of an irreducibly complex system is the humble mousetrap. It consists of (1) a flat wooden platform or base; (2) a metal hammer, which crushes the mouse; (3) a spring with extended ends to power the hammer; (4) a catch that releases the spring; and (5) a metal bar that connects to the catch and holds the hammer back. You can’t catch a mouse with just a platform, then add a spring and catch a few more mice, then add a holding bar and catch a few more. All the pieces have to be in place before you catch any mice."

But his argument was a weak one. For when Kenneth Miller, a staunch advocate of the evolution theory, read this he immediately published an essay titled "A Flaw In the Mousetrap," In which he proves that even lacking most parts, the mousetrap still serves as a functional machine, just maybe not in the way it was first intended.
He states,"Take away two parts (the catch and the metal bar), and you may not have a mousetrap but you do have a three-part machine that makes a fully functional tie clip or paper clip. Take away the spring, and you have a two-part key chain. The catch of some mousetraps could be used as a fishhook, and the wooden base as a paperweight; useful applications of other parts include everything from toothpicks to nutcrackers and clipboard holders. The point, which science has long understood, is that bits and pieces of supposedly irreducibly complex machines may have different—but still useful—functions."
This is the argument posed between the design theory and the evolutionist theory and both make valid arguments as to why the other is less credible. This is why science is in such a pickle.
However, even after proving that maybe evolution does play part in the creation of some organisms, a flaw/missing piece is still found in the Evolution Theory- "how did life actaully begin?" Asking this question has proved to be dangerous to many scientists and academics alike-- at least when Intelligent Design plays a part in the answer. Many, in attempt to ban the exposure of the theory, have been professionally prosecuted for agreeing with the design arguement. This is the fuel of Ben Stein's new movie, Expelled.

masks

2008-04-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

I've been in college for almost 2 years now. I've had my share of good times, bad times, fun times, sad times, and any other times you could imagine, so I think I could relate to almost any college student and their collegiate experience. I have lots of friends, and I love hanging out with all of them, don't get me wrong, but Sometimes, I find myself wondering if anyone really knows exactly who I am. I think I'm good at blending in and only when I feel comfortable around people do I really want to stand out. I remember my freshman year, everyday for the first few months I would straighten my hair before classes (this was ridiculously unlike me). Only after my first semester did I stop caring so much about fitting in, but even now, I still find myself succumbing to image of the SMU girl. My lack of connection with people here I think is hard for me- especially- to adapt. My connections with people have always been the root of my confidence and its absence has proved to be harmful. Its better now don't get me wrong but hear me out. Its hard to hang out with someone or a group of people when your faking it the whole time. You don't feel good about yourself afterwards either. I'm discovering now that that saying 'just be yourself' isn't just a silly saying that kids learn when they're younger. Its a quote to live by.

just a day or two

2008-04-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

I always think about how much fun it would be to have any job for like a day or two. Or maybe not job but just to have any lifestyle for like 2 days, or a week, or one day...anything! But seriously, how cool would it be to be a Harley biker and cruise with your biker gang for like 2 days...stopping at bars...in the desert or something. Or going to biker week in myrtle beach and not being completely sketched out. You'd be friends with everyone! There at least. And after watching Al Pacino's Scarface, I don't think I'd mind being a drug lord for a few days. I mean don't get me wrong, nothing long term, but for like 2 or three days, or a week. I could definitely do that. Boss some people around, have people killed (KIDDING...I'd be a nice drug lord) What else...a really badass gangster. That would be awesome. I don't know if I could just straight up kill someone to prove myself...(not to be stereotypical or anything) but I guess thats sort of the way it goes sometimes in the hood. And I think I'd be really scared to fight anyone. But I'd have me a grill and some bling, thats for sure. I could be the President. That might be interesting. Personally, I think it may be one of the more stressful options, but whose to say they know exactly what the president does all day. I mean shoot, for all we know he just chills in the white house doing nothing all day. Doubtful, but possible. I think it would so fun to be a diver. I saw this show once and this diver was documenting these Alaskan seals by film. One of the seals got really attached to him. She slept in the water by there boat every night while they were at sea. And in the morning when the crew got up, the seal would be waiting for the diver again. I think that would be so cool. To be a diver and document things that I saw by film. I could go on forever. I've always debated just working right out of college for like 10 years and then selling everything I own and move to the Virgin Islands. I would buy a hut on the beach or a little trailer and live there for the rest of my life. I might miss people a lot, but if I had no friends of life goals, I would be there hands down. Anyways, its a cool idea, but it'll get you thinking aimlessly for a long time.

scarborough fair

2008-04-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

I don't know if your familiar with the artists Simon and Garfunkel, but if you aren't you need to be. One of the most popular groups of the 1960s, the duo is best known for their songs Sounds of Silence, The Boxer, Ms. Robinson and Bridge Over Troubled. But the song I'm writing about isn't really one of their most popular, even though I;m sure plenty of people have heard it. Its called Scarborough Fair and its definitely my favorite of their songs (although the Boxer is a close second). Anyways although the song's melody is gorgeous, the lyrics are even better and make way more of a statement (which makes sense). But anyways. My mom and I always used to talk about this song. She used to be an English teacher at a high school and she put the lyrics of this song all around her room. So whenever I hear it playing I think of her. Simon and Garfunkel's version of the song is meant to be protest against the Vietnam War. Comprised of two different songs it uses a love song and war story to appeal to the masses. The one song is called Scarborough Fair. The Scarborough Fair was a 45 day trading event that took place in medieval Europe. This single song is a love song about a man in search of his true love. The other song used is called Side of a Hill. This song focuses on the dehumanizing character of war. By combining these two songs Simon an Garfunkel create a successful protest by contradicting a humanistic song about the love with one of the most dehumanizing acts of man. The lyrics are below.

SIDE OF A HILL
On the side of a hill
In a land called somewhere
A little boy lies asleep in the earth
While down in the valley a cruel war rages
And people forget what a childs life is worth
On the side of a hill a little cloud weeps
And waters the grave with its silent tears
While a soldier cleans and polishes a gun
That ended a life at the age of seven years
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SCARBOROUGH FAIR
Are you goin to scarborough fair?
parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there,
she once was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seams nor needlework, then shell be a true love of mine
Tell her to find me an acre of land,
parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strand, then shell be a true love of mine
Tell her to reap it in a sickle of leather,
parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And to gather it all in a bunch of heather,
then shell be a true love of mine
Are you goin to scarborough fair?
parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there,
she once was a true love of mine

Fat Billy

2008-04-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

I posted a few days ago about a youtube video that cracked me up. Well I was reminded of another good one the other day. If you've ever been to 6 flags and ridden superman, you know its hands down one of the best rides in the park. Well, I don't think billy in this video, agrees.

in the butt

2008-04-07T22:03:00.000-07:00

This is by far one of the funniest videos that I have seen on youtube so far. When I see it I think of 1). I had fights like this with my parents at least once a day in high school...(and maybe still do when I go home) 2.) I have a myspace. 3) and that I should probably get rid of it sometime soon.
No I'm not a myspace creeper. I used it back when it was cool...in like middle school and just haven't gotten rid of it. Anyways. so this is hilarious. I wish this was someone I knew.

grass is greener

2008-04-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

I don't understand why people are attracted to other people. Take for example my friend James. I don't understand how he can be so desperately attracted to my best friend Eleanor. She came and visited me for literally 2 days and James maybe saw her and talked to her sober for about 2 minutes. Granted, they did fall asleep together...once... and james tried a little somthin somthin with her, but I mean come on. NOTHING happened, no action. And she lives in North Carolina. And they will never see each other again. But he will not give it up. Its a little weird, but I mean it is flattering to her I guess. Especially since I tell her. Sometimes I wonder if everyone does just want what they can't have. Something to obsess over. I try to convince myself I don't. But given the situations I find myself in sometimes, (vague I know) I really do think that maybe I do only want whats not there, because when I have things they don't seem as good as I make them out to be. They let me down. Its confusing and its definitely not a good thing.
What Im saying is being content with yourself is a key to life and something everyone needs to work on. Its not just a saying you learn when your little. Its a quote to live by.

peanut butter sandwich

2008-04-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

SO...we have nothing eatable in our kitchen anymore. After my peanut butter sandwich this morning its safe to say there will be no more eating in. But its an interesting story how exactly I got to a single peanut butter sandwich. So let me tell you. I got up around 11, you know was a little hungry so I went to the kitchen. I tried to make some frozen vegetables right, I put them In our microwave, which youd think wouldn't be a problem. Well, the other day without thinking I put a pan of ours in the microwave and it sort of exploded and our microwaves been acting up ever since. So back the story I put the bowl of frozen vegetables in the microwave and its really weird because I put it in for like 10 minutes and the bowl got really really hot, but the vegetables didnt. They were still frozen. So I didn't get to eat those. I'm not sure how that works but anyways so yeah. I also started out making a grilled cheese. So i put the cheese on the bread and decided that maybe I would throw some tomatoes on it. I cut up the tomato and put some on the sandwhich then I tried the last bit. Sickest thing Ive ever eaten, they were nasty and grainy and sour and really soft. So i spit it out and took the tomatoes off of the sandwich and just decided to eat the cheese. I try a piece of that. "Swiss cheese.." mmmmm'.... no. provolone. that was a month old. ewwww. so thats how i got to eat a peanut butter sandwich, with the last of the peanut butter. The last thing we have.

earings

2008-03-26T21:03:00.000-07:00

So I've written before on how much I love collecting things. Well its true. And I love collecting earrings. I don't think I even realized I collected them until a few months ago. But I love them. Big ones, shiny ones, glittery ones, wooden ones, pearl ones, gold ones, silver ones, yarn, tin, plastic, heavy, light, hoops, studs, you name it, I probably have it (or have, I lose almost everything I own). Anyways I love earrings. But more than I love earrings, I love the stories they tell. Where I got them or how I got them. Every time I look at some, it reminds of a time in my life, or a place I have been. Looking at my collection at the moment I see two pairs I picked up in Nicaragua, both handmade. I got them in a city square one afternoon where the locals gather daily to sell their handcrafted items. I actually got one of the pairs from my mom, but she didn't' want them, so now they're mine! Another I got on the same trip, only in Costa Rica in a little town known as Montezuma. My best friend and I drove a four wheeler down there from the town we lived in all summer. It was our last night in Costa Rica. Another pair I have are Fanta bottle caps. I got these in Spain, and I forever remember this trip as being one of the best summers of my life. Another pair my sister-in-law brought back from Africa. Their green and look like plastic, but evidently their cow bone. I know your thinking "ewwww", but you wouldn't even be able to tell if I wore them. Some I got in New York, some down the street, some my friends made, some have been broken and replaced. But i love them all, even though Ill probable lose the majority, but they will be replaced and I will still have the memories.

Delta Days

2008-03-26T20:45:00.001-07:00

I don't know if you guys have heard about the new delta safety video, but i just heard about it on CNN. You know how nobody really listens to the flight attendant's instructions at the beginning of any flight, well i guess this will all change now with Delta's new edgy video they just released on YouTube. The instructional video has already been viewed over 300, 000 times and it hasn't even made it to the Delta Airlines yet. Why is this getting so much attention? I can't really figure it out either. I mean Delta jazzes up the routine a little more in the video, but still, I've heard this script recited at least 100 times. So she waves her finger, or his teeth glisten for 1/10 of a second. Is that really something you want to tell your friends about. I will give Delta one thing though. Id say its pretty good advertising. Air Safety is a hot button issue right now and i don't think theres a better way to make people feel safer in the air than producing a videoed tutorial on how to stay safe in the air. It sort of says- "Delta cares." Anyways I thought it was interesting.

experience

2008-03-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

So it was our Spring Break this week..FINALLY. After a long week of studying for midterms (sort of) we get a break. Theres nothing like being able to sit around for one week and not be worried about a single thing......wait a second! thats right! I'm more stressed out now than I was before break...during exam week! Now I get to worry about summer internships, jobs and "planning experiences" as my dad likes to call it...since Ive missed most deadlines for summer internships. Anyways I was talking to my Dad about what I could possibly do this summer thats exciting and its honestly impossible. There are so many opportunities out there its hard to grasp just one and put all your effort into getting it. Just tonight I started an application not only to the UN, helping a team in the Asia Pacific to understand and improve an island's sustainability, but also to a Cruise ship on Cruise.com (or something like that).
your probably thinking..."Really...a cruise?" But how fun would that be. And how much would everyone (probably) want to do that. On the application you had list your top 4 choices of jobs on the ship. I chose #1: Arts and Crafts Coordinator #2:Deck Hand #3:Photographer and #4:Youth Activities Coordinator. I think getting this job would be the coolest thing ever. I actually always kind of wanted to work on a cruise ship. For different reason though...during different phases of my life. Back when I was obsessed with becoming a chef, I totally wanted to work in the kitchen on a ship and travel around all summer. But the more I thought about that, the less fun i thought it would be. Making food, couped up in a kitchen all day when everyones outside on the beach in the Cayman Islands sounds tempting, but I'll pass. Then there was that phase when I was sure I was going to make the most of my Spanish skills. I was on a cruise and watching the events coordinator up on stage. She must have spoke at leas 10 languages fluently and it was amazing listening her speak with such ease. I still think that would be incredible, if it came naturally. But it doesn't so now i just want to do arts and crafts or something easier and more fun. Anyways, this blog wasn't really supposed to be about my "summer experiences" but hey I'll just write about my Spring Break some other time.

genesis

2008-03-06T22:11:00.001-08:00

This mosaic was outside the DMA (dallas museum of art). Its called Genesis, The Gift of Life and its about 45 ft. long and 10 ft. high. It took me a few minutes to really realize what each segment of the mosaic represented, but if you look closely you can tell. The segments represent (in a nutshell) each of God's creations in the book of Genesis. Its one thing looking at the mosaic from far away, but when you get up close to it, I don't think you can help but wonder how dedicated the artist must have been. This must have taken FOREVER! but it guess it was worth it

cereal. mmmmmm

2008-03-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

Last night, I was lying on my bed with two of my friends watching videos on my computer when one of them whipped out a bag of cocoo puffs. I had forgotten about them! I used to love cocoo puffs, fruity pebbles, cinnamon toast crunch, frosted flakes, captain crunch and lucky charms. MMMMMM. I don't know why I haven't I been buying them at the grocery store since I've been in college but I can guarantee that I will from now on. They are sooooo good. I was so obsessed with this idea that I went onto you tube and looked up old cereal commercials. What i found was perfect. There were classic '70s commercials for coco pebbles, fruity pebbles, captain crunch and pretty much anything you could think of, and they were funny. Whatever happened to using 50 second sitcoms for commercials? They're way more enjoyable than any other commercial I could think of. And i never see those unforgettable cereal characters anymore. Lets see theres Tony the Tiger, Capt'n Crunch, the Trix Rabbit,The Lucky Charms Leprechaun (lucky), Count Chocula, Snap! Crackle! and Pop!, Fred Flinstone and Barney Rubble and the bakers for cinnamon toast crunch. Where'd they all go!

and i want the fricken rabbit to get the trix.

a season

2008-02-27T22:15:00.000-08:00

Out through the fields and the woods
And over the walls I have wended;
I have climbed the hills of view
And looked at the world, and descended;
I have come by the highway home,
And lo, it is ended.

The leaves are all dead on the ground,
Save those that the oak is keeping
To ravel them one by one
And let them go scraping and creeping
Out over the crusted snow,
When others are sleeping.

Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?

-robert frost

under the sea!!!!!

2008-02-24T18:43:00.000-08:00

Every little girl loves The Little Mermaid. It doesn't matter if shes a tomboy or the girliest little girl on the planet. I'm even tempted to say its in most little boys top ten favorite Disney movies, even if they may not admit it. I know it took my brothers about hmmm 20 years to come out of that closet. But anyways, I know I loved the little mermaid and I was the biggest tomboy you could imagine. Aerial and I though, were best buds. I had her swimsuit, her bath towel, her sheets. And, even though I never wore him around, I had flounder all over my bathroom and in my room. I loved the whole under the sea crew. But speaking of under the sea, however well-known that soundtrack is, the most well known and liked song of that entire movie is "Under the Sea," hands down. Everyone knows the words, or a lot of them. And it doesn't matter who you are, when it comes on, you want to sing along. Its like an 80's song at a dance club. Like Jessee's girl, or Billy Jean. Everyone sings and dances when it comes on! Its so upbeat and fun its hard not too!

where's george?

2008-02-24T17:49:00.000-08:00

When I was little I used to love collecting anything and everything. Off the top of my head I recall collecting stickers, rocks, leaves, sharks teeth, national geographic magazines and money. My favorites? Rocks(for sure) and money.
Luckily I've grown out of much of my collecting phase, but I still collect money. No, not U.S. money (we all try to do that) but different currencies. I have a whole container (a little mailbox that I got from my teacher when I was in first grade) full of all sorts of coins and bills that either my friends or brothers have brought back for me or I have found and saved. I've got, US dollars (a $2 bill that my grandmother saved for me...she thinks it'll be worth big bucks one day), Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, euros, franks, cordobas, pesos, colones, bahts, rupees, etc. I don't know why, but I love thumbing through those bills. Its so interesting not just to see how different they all are in their design, but also to feel how weathered many of them are compared to others. Whenever I flip through my collection I can't help but wonder where each bill has been. How many people have come in contact with it? What has it purchased? Where has it gone? So i was thinking about this the other day and decided to search "tracking bills" online. It brought me to Where's George.com. You can track dollar bills! I thought it was really cool, so I registered and entered a serial number of a bill. If i had the number I would give it, but either way try it out!
http://www.wheresgeorge.com/

you don't like cookies?

2008-02-24T15:02:00.000-08:00

How can someone dislike cookies? I don't understand it! I was walking with my friend the other day I dont even really remember what we were talking about, except that during our conversation she told me that she didn't like cookies. WHAT. Cookies. Of all things. Its one thing to not like chocolate (even though I don't understand that at all either) or nuts, or..well pretty much anything. but COOKIES? I feel like when someone says that they're automatically missing out...or sad. Cookies are so happy! Off the top of my head I can't even remember being unhappy eating a cookie, and even if I was unhappy, I was eating the cookie to get happy again (if that not unhealthy I don't know what is). And plus cookies come in any and every flavor with almost any and evey topping. You can eat them with ice cream or cake of put them in shakes or dip them in milk...they can taste like anything you want them too. How can you dislike them in general. It confuses me. But hey whatever floats your boat.

guns in schools?

2008-02-21T18:29:00.000-08:00

At all public universities in Utah, students and professors alike are permitted by law to carry firearms to class. Despite opinions of fellow peers, many students carry guns as a safety precaution, so as not to become victims of shootouts. Interviewees claim they feel less safe, but laws allowing guns at schools prevail.
This is one of the most absurd laws of which I have ever heard. As a student, would you really feel safer knowing that the stranger next to you has a fully loaded gun under his shirt, even though you might as well? This reminds me of a short story I read in high school by Nadine Gordimer.
The story is called "Once Upon a Time." Choosing this title and continuously using the phrase "happily ever after", Gordimer proposes the idea of a fairy tale, but as one reads the story it becomes evident that it is anything but. The anecdote begins by introducing a somewhat nuclear family living in a somewhat stable pleasant suburb. Although the family was almost completely convinced of there safety, an ominous warning was constantly given to them by "the witch," not to let people in off the streets. The wife convinces the husband to purchase an alarm system. After the system was installed, the witch gives another warning. Accordingly, the family orders bars on all the doors and windows of their house. So from every window and door in the house where they were living happily ever after they now saw the trees and sky through bars, and when the little boy's pet cat tried to climb in by the fanlight to keep him company in his little bed at night, as it customarily had done, it set off the alarm keening through the house. Again the witch gives a warning, and word of robberies flooded the neighborhood so the family built a wall with an electric gate around their house. When the man and wife and little boy took the pet dog for its walk round the neighborhood streets they no longer paused to admire this show of roses or that perfect lawn; these were hidden behind an array of different varieties of security fences, walls and devices. The man, wife, little boy and dog passed a remarkable choice: there was the low-cost option of pieces of broken glass embedded in cement along the top of walls, there were iron grilles ending in lance-points, there were attempts at reconciling the aesthetics of prison architecture with the Spanish Villa style (spikes painted pink) and with the plaster urns of neoclassical facades (twelve-inch pikes finned like zigzags of lightning and painted pure white). The family chose the most practical suggestion. It consisted of a continuous coil of stiff and shining metal serrated into jagged blades, so that there would be no way of climbing over it and no way through its tunnel without getting entangled in its fangs. There would be no way out, only a struggle getting bloodier and bloodier, a deeper and sharper hooking and tearing of flesh. The wife shuddered to look at it. You're right, said the husband, anyone would think twice...
One evening, the mother read the little boy to sleep with a fairy story from the book the wise old witch had given him at Christmas. Next day he pretended to be the Prince who braves the terrible thicket of thorns to enter the palace and kiss the Sleeping Beauty back to life: he dragged a ladder to the wall, the shining coiled tunnel was just wide enough for his little body to creep in, and with the first fixing of its razor-teeth in his knees and hands and head he screamed and struggled deeper into its tangle. The trusted housemaid and the itinerant gardener, whose "day" it was, came running, the first to see and to scream with him, and the itinerant gardener tore his hands trying to get at the little boy. Then the man and his wife burst wildly into the garden and for some reason (the cat, probably) the alarm set up wailing against the screams while the bleeding mass of the little boy was hacked out of the security coil with saws, wire-cutters, choppers, and they carried it—the man, the wife, the hysterical trusted housemaid and the weeping gardener—into the house.

The message of the story is clear. Do we really lead better lives if we protect ourselves entirely from all the potential dangers of the world, or do we become caged, imprisoned by our own fears? The lawful presence of firearms in universities, not only presents more opportunities for incidents to occur such as the one at Virignia Tech, but it creates an entirely different atmosphere on campus and in the classroom.

musica

2008-02-20T21:51:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited I finally know how to post playlists! Take the time to listen! Most of you will probably know or at least be familiar with a lot of them, but either way you should listen.

some artists to get to know: Jurassic 5(one of the best rap groups out there) Bonobo (all there songs are pretty good) Atmosphere(I'm not too familiar with them, but Godlovesugly is good) sia (she just came out with a new cd, some tracks are pretty good but i like her older ones better) The Jayhawks!(i love this group) but all the songs are good so check them out!
these are some of my favorite ones:

okay i'm stopping, but the rest are good too.

the french laundry

2008-02-19T22:32:00.001-08:00

It was my birthday a few weeks ago and from my mom I asked for a cookbook. Not any cookbook either. One called The French Laundry. Apparently its a famous restaurant in Southern California, but theres a story behind this book, so don't think I'm weird for asking for it.
This past summer I went to Costa Rica. In this little town called Santa Theresa, my best friend Eleanor and I spent about 5 weeks working at a resort, right on the beach. We lived about 1/4 mile away in a little beach hut with a tin roof. Each of us choose different jobs. Eleanor chose to work as a waitress while I choose to work as a pastry chef. Expected to stay until after 3pm, I would usually have to be in the kitchen at 5a.m. ready to help bake muffins and bread for breakfast. As a waitress, Eleanor usually chose to work the night shifts, when she would presumably make the most money. So separately we hiked the quarter mile to work each day. Within the 5 weeks spent in that kitchen, I met some of the most awesome people I have ever met. There was Estefano, a Tico from Costa Rica who worked in the kitchen mornings and afternoons. Gavin, a New Yorker drawn to the coast for the surf, but meanwhile working as a head chef. Laura, who I assisted day in and day out as a pastry chef. And finally Andres. Andres was the most intriguing of all the people i met and we became close. He was from Guatemala, but attended Culinary School in Spain, where he learned to prepare food like no one I have ever met. Because the hut El and I lived in was only a few houses down, occasionally I would stop by his house. He and Gavin lived together, so needless to say, since i knew so few people in the town, I would be over there a lot. In the time I spent with Andres though, I learned of his passion for cooking. He taught me new cooking techniques, and showed me machines I have never seen before doing things to food I didn't even know could be done. He showed me book after book of how to prepare different types of food, and present them in an artistic way at the same time. I learned cooking isn't just about making something taste good, but literally it is an art form as well. Cooks spend almost as long organizing food on a plate as they do making the food. Living in Santa Theresa, I gained a new appreciation for food and a new respect for cooks and chefs. Cooking bread and pastries is one thing, but preparing original, intricate meals and presenting them in an artistic manner is a completely different beast.

stardust

2008-02-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

Released in 2007, Stardust is an a epic tale about a young man's quest to find and retrieve a shooting star for the prettiest girl in his town. What he finds amidst his journey however changes him forever. The star, he discovers, is a beautiful woman with whom he soon falls in love, but as he leads the girl back to the village the couple realizes that they are being followed. Witches and Kings the same yearn to kidnap the star and keep her for themselves. Although the plot of the actual movie is original, the trailer definitely makes a handful of intertextual connections (which in many cases affect the way we think about a production). A few horizontal intertextualities spark familiarities between this movie and movies like Harry Potter, The Lord of The Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. Allusions to the hit movie Harry Potter are made through the background music, the accented dialogue, and the action packed filming. The Lord of the Rings is alluded to in similar ways: there is the intriguing magical twist, an obvious struggle between good and evil, and the filming, coloration and dialogue is similar as well. Finally a comparison can be drawn between this film and the Chronicles of Narnia. The plots are very much the same: mundane characters being drawn to a magical land where they are forced to overcome evil for a greater good. These intertextualities draw characteristics of other movies to inform and attract viewers.

"what's your type?"

2008-02-18T23:33:00.000-08:00

"Whats your type?" Have you ever been asked that question?- because I feel like I have had hundreds of conversations sparked by this question alone. Its pretty complicated if you think about it..what your type is and all. And of course I'm talking about your type of guy/girl (I hope everyone knew that) and what characteristics you would most favor. Anyways if I'm really disinterested in a conversation and the person I am having a conversation with I'll probably just answer this more than complicated question with, "I don't really have a type," but I definetley do, just like everyone else.
My type of guy, if I could just dream one up from scratch and mail order him off ebay would be HOT. Well actually I don't know about hot, I mean maybe good looking and handsome...very rugged thats for sure. Someone who doesn't really care he looks, or maybe he does but he hides it really well. He would be hilarious. Not slap stick hilarious, because most of the time I have to fake laugh at slap stick humor, and I hate fake laughing because I don't think mine is very believable. Anyways, not slap stick hilarious but sarcastic, intelligent hilarious. He would be just a little goofy and nerdy (smart), (I don't know why..but I like 'em like that) but still VERY attractive. (p.s. I'm throwing characteristics in a pot right now..im going to put them in a body here in a sec) He would be spontaneous. Someone who could just leave with me and go anywhere on a whim and have an awesome time no matter what we were to do or where we were to go. He would love to travel. He would be honest with me 24/7 and kind as well. Everyone would love to be around him for his personality. We would be able to talk about anything and everything. Not just the funny stuff. We could talk about news and joke around just the same. He would get along with my family... especially my brothers. He would be super athletic and play every sport. He would beat everyone all the time, but be fun to play with at the same time. He would be a Christian, and we would be able to talk about God comfortably. Most importantly is he would make me laugh though.
As far as bodies go, athletic is always nice. Hair wise, it wouldn't really matter. Probably not blonde (ive never been a fan). Really good legs, and back, and stomach, and arms, and face, and...
OKAY! but most of all he would make me laugh really hard.

excellence

2008-02-18T20:35:00.000-08:00

Twice a week, for close to six months, my roommate and I drive 45 minutes outside of Dallas to tutor high school students. Primarily an organization promoting mentorship, Group Excellence and the students I have met through this tutoring program have changed my perspectives on many things.
My first few days as a tutor were interesting. Carter High School was unlike any school I had ever stepped foot in. Having attended a public high-school, I initially thought tutoring in one would be a breeze. I was mistaken. My roommate and I were, and continue to be, the only two white people in what seems like the entire school district. One of only two white people in the immediate area, at first I was surprisingly intimidated. For the first time in my life I had become the minority in a primarily Black community. Over time though, this feeling has changed. No longer am I intimidated. Instead, I find myself overwhelmed with a desire to help these kids. The more I get to know each of them, the more a learn about their situations, and the more I yearn to help. Stories of shootings, drugs, pregnancies, and deaths continue to open my eyes to the environment in which these kids are growing up. Crime is a norm; Gangs are a source of protection; and this isn't a movie. This is life as they know it, and sometimes I don't think they know there is a way out. Just today a 14- year- old student I work with told me he just found out his girlfriend was pregnant. He hasn't told his parents, she hasn't told hers, but they're keeping it. The other week another boy I was working with told me he had just recently been at a teen club with his sister for a birthday party. Two older boys ran in and pulled a gun on the boy throwing the party. They shot him in the head because he was a part of a rival gang. Closer to the beginning of the year I got to know a 16-year-old girl. She was pregnant with her second child. In every way I want to help these kids so badly. I want them to trust me and talk to me. But I feel like there's only so much I can do.

meet your meat

2008-02-18T18:30:00.000-08:00

I think at one point or another nearly everyone has at least debated becoming vegetarian. At least a lot of girls I know have -cutting back at first, but ultimately striving to completely give up that juicy hamburger forever. What amazes me are the reasons people come up with to give up ham, chicken, steak, fish, dairy, etc... Don't get me wrong I understand and completely side with those who have a legitimate stance on an issue, but when I sit down with someone for lunch, hungry for food with some substance, and he/she orders a side salad with no dressing and tells me that they're a vegetarian, I find myself questioning his/her motives. Honest people aside, many people convincingly fake sympathy for the animals, blindly following a trend but doing nothing except not eating to show for their condolences. If you really care DO something. Others claim environmental issues are the reason for this abstinence. I mean, I know the status of our environment could be better, and we could all be a little more environmentally friendly, but come on. Not eating meat doesn't make anyone think of you differently. It doesn't DO anything for the good anything else. No one is going to take anyone more seriously for asking to hold the chicken on a Caesar salad. If you want to help our environment, or any cause for that matter start doing something to help it, instead of just avoiding the problem all together.Your probably wondering why I am so heated on the subject. Well I was on the computer last night reading headlines on cnn.com when I came across the story of the meat recall: 143 million lbs. of beef was recalled because the health of the cows being slaughtered was in question. I scanned this not thinking too much of it, until I read past the first two paragraphs. They were unable to walk.
I read on. Apparently cows, daily fed antibiotics to spurt growth, can not support their upper bodies because their legs don't grow in tandem with their ballooning stomachs. These antibiotics are used to "fatten up" pigs and chickens as well, and shockingly, the same thing happens to them. Hesitantly clicking on the video featured below the article, I watched. Brutally, workers poked, prodded, shocked and beat these poor animals into submission and if they physically couldn't move, forklifts were used to transport these helpless beings to their inevitable death. And to think that this process is part of the more pleasant, humane times of these animals lives. The slaughter I learned is inhumane to say the least.
This is why I get frustrated when people tell me of their submissive vegetarianism. If you are going to be a vegetarian, care enough about it to take it at least one step further. Look at the bigger picture instead of just not eating your share. Your not proving anything.
If you want to see the video I watched on CNN, its called Meet Your Meat. You can probably find it on you tube. I was about to put it up, but i just couldn't.

girls night in

2008-02-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

You know those nights when your friends are going out but you just wan to stay in and do nothing. Its the best when you have someone to stay in and do nothing with you. To get a movie and just veg. Well this weekend my roomate and I had the ultimate girls night in. Only we didn't do nothing, we did a lot.
Girl's night it:
(with Casey my roomy/wife(but not really))

Step 1. Drive to Kroger to pick up ingredients for dinner. (chicken, breading, flour, eggs, rhubarb, sugar, crust, milk, etc..)

Step 2: Drive to Blockbuster to pick up movie. (Didn't have Definitely Maybe, looked for other girly movies but ended up with Double Jeopardy)

Step 3: Drive to CVS to get face masking/sauna stuff

Step 4: Go Home! Put groceries up and put them away. Start cooking!

Step 5: Face cleanser? minty fresh....

Step 6: Finish making Rhubarb Raspberry Pie (mmmmmmm) and fried chicken (mmmmmmm).

Step 7: Put pie in oven for 1 hour and eat chicken

Step 8: Apply more face cleansing stuff...coconut, gritty

Step 9: Watch movie and eat all Valentine's Day/Birthday candy

Step 10: Stop Movie half way through and eat pie!!!!! YUMMMYYY (way better than i thought it was going to be) ..Finish Movie

Step 11: Crack 3 eggs and put the in bowl and beat

Step 12: Start first season disc 2 of the OC

Step 13: I sit in front of Casey while she puts egg in my hair (yeah gross, she said is supposed to make you hair really soft) and not just a little egg either, 3 eggs goes a long way.

Step 14: Shes sits in front of me and I put it in her hair. (her hair is a lot longer than mine so it was sick) (we had towels on our backs too)

Step 15: Let sit, but while its in our hair, apply actual face mask to face

Step 16: PICTURES

Step 17: Watch another episode of OC.

Step 18: wash face, and put rest of egg yolk on (do not ask me why, Casey said it was a good idea)

Step 19: Let sit till dry. (watch OC)

Step 20: Showerrrr.. take offfff

Step 21: BEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD (it was 4am)

a new reason to get on facebook

2008-02-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

Officially now, I have a new online obsession...(besides blogging, but I wouldn't call blogging and obsession even though i really do like it kindof) Anyways its this new game on facebook, and if any of you have played blogger, its kindof like that only WAY better. its called prolific. And it actually is boggle but i think since someone already took that name on facebook they couldn't reuse it. But prolific sounds pretty sweet if you ask me. The only thing is its not as easy as other facebook games. You get to chose you games and who you play with so I usually try to steer clear of all the people that have really complicated, foreign names. In my experience, they've dominated me. I just added the application on my facebook after my friend (the one who visited this weekend...i should just formally introduce her in a blog cause ive talked about her so much) showed it to me and Ive only played 5 times. Out of those 5 times however, Ive won, well, none. But I keep telling myself it is not, by any means about winning. I mean I'm learning new words left and right, right? thats rhetorical. To get to the point though, everyone should check it out.

colour

2008-02-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

So, p.s. I've posted these last three posts within the hour. I haven't really had a chance to post recently...but Ive been collecting!!! (ideas, i mean for what else but the blog). So yeah the reason is because my best friend from home was visiting this weekend (it was my birthday last week). So, the point is, I didn't have time. She did however give me lots of ideas. She showed me a video of a bunch of bouncy balls bouncing down one of the streets of San Fransisco, but what she didn't tell me was that it was one of the three videos from Sony's Advertising Campaign for its new flat screen. I don't know if the Colour campaign did well, but what i do know is all of the advertisements are really cool. They're different, and fun, and you can't say that about many advertisements, because although funny commercials are memorable, the more funny commercials there are the less memorable each becomes. A unique idea, is key to breaking through all of the advertising clutter.
Oh, and don't get me wrong the whole colored bouncy balls bouncing down a street of san fransisco looks AWESOME...but every time i watch it i think...how cool would that sound? maybe thats just me. probably...

oh and if you get a chance to watch the behind the scenes of each of these videos, you'll appreciate each of them a little more. For the bouncy ball one, 25000 bouncy balls were used. I don't know much about the second one off the top of my head, but I think there were more animators working on this set than any set...EVER. And for the third one with the paint, they used real paint for every scene.

sunscreen

2008-02-12T22:53:00.000-08:00

I first heard this song in my friend John's car when 4 of us were on our way to the Dave Matthews concert. I swear I cried too, but I'm emotional like that. You probably won't. BUT, if you listen to this song though you'll realize that almost every line is somewhat valuable advice. The whole song is comprised of cliche quotes people write on away messages, or profiles, but somehow together, in this song, they become meaningful (to me, maybe not everyone). If you listen to the song long enough to get the line about knees, and how you should take care of them, just know that one really frustrates me because i've had surgery on both of mine, and i HATE thinking about what theyre going to be like when i'm older. Anyway, I love this song. The video is amazing too, and if you cried just know you weren't the only one.

stalking, scanning, drawing

2008-02-11T19:58:00.000-08:00

I love stalking other people's blogs. Its better than Facebook too (sometimes) cause you get to read what people are thinking....oooooooo, ahhhhhh. No but really, you get good ideas from looking at other peoples blogs. For the longest time I have wanted to scan things and put them on my page, but i didn't have a scanner. Scanned things always look cool on a page. SO i thought i was hopeless. UNTIL a few minutes ago when I realized..TAH DAH!!! Ill take a picture of everything i wanted to scan. When the worlds at your fingertips however, you realize what you thought was awesome at one point, isn't that amazing.
So I draw occasionally. I guess you could say its a way out. It may sound a little lame, but its true. When I draw, hours can go by without me even lifting my pencil. Its sort of trance. What I only just realized though is its not the act of drawing that gets me per se, but its making the drawing come to life. The photos I have included are drawings I made before my first art class last year. Ill eventually include my more recent drawings to show at least some improvement, or variety. DONT LAUGH.

getting stuff done

2008-02-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

I think its funny that this video shows what is actually going through my head when i have anything important to do. I'm the biggest procrastinator in the world. Thank goodness I'm not the only one.
A typical day when i have to get a lot of stuff done:

...and i even watch the twilight zone.

BEADS OF GOLD

2008-02-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

Mardi Gras. Craziest time of my life! I went this past weekend and let me just say, if you've never been, you really have no idea. So yeah, I had heard that people threw beads and that it got a little crazy sometimes, but no. Honestly, I had no clue.

I got there on Friday night, just in time to catch the last couple of parades. Float after float passed, each with different themes, intricate designs and amusing costumes. Masked men atop these moving masterpeices were the instigators { of the insanity on the sidewalks. As beads, flowers, stuffed animals, balls and hats were being launched off the floats, people screamed, tackled, fell, grabbed, ran, flashed, shanked and drank all to pretty much catch the attention of each float's attendants'. Clueless at the time, i was grabbing as many beads as I could. Broken beads, beads on the ground, extra beads no one wanted etc. But it wasn't until I got to Bourbon Street, that i truly experienced the infamous legends of Mardi Gras. Men and women alike stood side by side on balconies lining the street, dangling anything from huge beaded necklaces to feathered boas over the thousands of partiers crowding the street below. Beads, at Mardi Gras are gold; in exchange for beads -anythings goes. An unwritten law of the Bourbon St. bead danglers, 'the best beads go to the crazies!' Yeah people throw the regular beads to anyone, but the best beads, the ones with huge multi-colored balls, the ones that light up, only go to flashers, maker-outers, and shankers. However, aside from the beads, Mardi Gras continues to captivate me. Between the hundreds of police present but uncaring of the thousands of underage drunk kids and the flashing of boobs, butts, and any other body part, the event is unlike any other i have ever experienced. Its a lawless freedom taking place 24/7 for almost the entire month before Lent, right here in the United States of America. Go....!!!
p.s. i don't even really know what Mardi Gras means. If anyone knows feel free to comment. If not, ill look it up one of these days.

THE BIG GAME

2008-02-04T00:09:00.001-08:00

so even though i didnt get to watch the superbowl today, i got to hear about how awesome it was from everyone who did! Originally, ill admit, i was rooting for the patriots, but im glad that the Giants won. Its always nice when the underdog wins (for those who didnt bet money on the patriots anyway.) So here are some interesting facts about the superbowl that i picked up from good magazine. YAY SUPERBOWL!!!

1. over 40% of the audience is female

2.The superbowl is the second largest eating holiday of the year (after thanksgiving)!!!

3. The expected money spent on food for game day is $55 million

4. On game day, Americans eat: 15,000 tons of chips (if you lined up each chip it would make a trail nearly 293,000 miles long), 4,000 tons of popcorn (the string of popcorn would ring the earth nearly 5 1/2 times), 54.3 million lbs. of avocado to make an estimated 8 million lbs. of guacamole (5.4% of the yearly crop)

5. The rate of car accidents increases by nearly 41% in the 4 hours after the superbowl.

6. 7-11 reports that sales of Antacid increases by 20% the day after the superbowl

7. 30 seconds of commercial time during this year's superbowl costs $2.7 million (thats over $86,000 per second)

8. The terms "NFL," "SuperBowl," and "Super Sunday" are trademarked by the NFL and promoters not sanctioned by the NFL must refer to the event as "The Big Game"

the medium is in the message?

2008-01-28T21:52:00.000-08:00

The other day I was just surfing the web when i came across an intriguing, unusually familiar photo online. In big red letters below a stenciled, black and white face read the word-OBEY. It caught my attention and after thinking about it for a few minutes, trying to figure out exactly what this poster's message was, I decided to Google the slogan.
What I found was this: In 1986 South Carolinian, Shepard Fairey, started a street art campaign to heighten the public's awareness of the relationship between them and their immediate surroundings. A student of Rhode Island School of Design at the time, amateur Fairey initially designed stickers of the Obey Giant, unaware of the popularity the campaign would eventually gain. Following the Big Brother-like stickers exposure, intrigued viewers responded immediately. The campaign sparked both a fearful understanding and a strange humor in the observing public. Fairey's intent of self-awareness is rooted from the theory of Phenomenology- "to reawaken wonder about one's environment." By uncovering the importance of this wonder to our society Shepard Fairey has slowly become one of the most widely recognized underground graffiti artists of our time.
Though interesting, learning about Shepard Fairey's history was not what I found most attractive about this search. Most captivating was a phrase coined by Marshal McLuhan which i found on Fairey's site. "The medium is in the message." This phrase is distinct from its familiar counter "The message is in the medium" which many of you may have heard. The phrase "The medium is in the message" can be explained (as best as i could in my own words) as follows. Messages (advertisements, comics, television shows) are given constantly through every medium known to man (song lyrics, 6 o'clock news, headlines in newspapers, etc.) and the focus on these messages is great. Whether it be on a funny billboard or a controversial commercial, one's focus is usually put on the content of each medium rather than on the medium itself. What McLuhan suggests is the opposite. More focus should be put on the actual medium through which each of these messages is delivered, for not only does the actual medium play a significant role in shaping our society as we know it, but the characteristics of each medium embed themselves into the messages the medium exposes. In other words, people perceive messages in different mediums differently due to the reputation each medium has. McLuhan uses an example of a light bulb, a medium with no content. At night, the light bulb creates an atmosphere by its mere presence. A lighted room. In the same way a murder shown on the 6 o'clock news creates a presence in itself. "It may be less the individual news story itself — the content — and more the change in public attitude towards crime that the newscast engenders by the fact that such crimes are in effect being brought into the home to watch over dinner," an extension of fear. So you see, the medium is in the message in that the medium is the message. Medium itself alone can change societies perception of the world. It influences opinions, fears, values etc. judging by the credibility it has gained.
To tie it back to Shepard Fairey's underground art- we should be aware of our surroundings, and the ever-changing influences of technology on them. Instead of naively allowing mediums to shape our daily lives, we should strive to gain deeper knowledge and stronger beliefs so as not be so easily influenced.

stupidity

2008-01-26T16:51:00.000-08:00

The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

okay so this may be a little on the harsh side, but seriously people, how are some of you so stupid. (okay so thats a little harsh as well, but sometimes its amazing.) I want to say taking safety labels off products would actually do America way more good than harm. Im not saying by any means that Im the smartest person in the world, because heaven knows thats not true, but i am saying that i actually can't hold conversations with certain people sometimes. And its not even that people aren't smart. Its that some people harbor not even the slightest desire to be. I don't understand how some people just have no interest in learning about their immediate surroundings, not to mention beyond. Personally, I hate feeling incapable of having a conversation about a certain subject because I don't know anything about it. But i love learning. The more I think about it though, I guess in a way , its beneficial. I think lots of people are scared to learn. The saying ignorance is bliss applies exactly, to say that the less people know about anything, the less likely their life ,as they know it, can or will be challenged. Ignorance can be a bubble, sectioning uninformed, ignorant, intolerant people off from the rest of us. This theory doesn't apply to just one subject or group of people either. It applies to anything and everything. SO, get out there and learn.

...monster

2008-01-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

"I believe there are monsters born in the world to human parents. Some you can see, misshapen and horrible, with huge heads or tiny bodies; some are born with no arms, no legs, some with three arms, some with tails or mouths in odd places. They are accidents and no one's fault, as used to be thought. Once they were considered the visible punishments for concealed sins.
And just as there are physical monsters, can there not be mental or psychic monsters born? The face and body may be perfect, but if a twisted gene or a malformed egg can produce physical monsters, may not the same process produce a malformed soul?
Monsters are variations from the accepted normal to a greater or a less degree. As a child may be born without an arm, so one may be born without kindness or the potential of conscience. A man who loses his arms in an accident had a great struggle to adjust himself to the lack, but one born without arms suffers only from people who find him strange. Having never had arms, he cannot miss them. Sometimes when we are little we imagine how it would be to have wings, but there is no reason to suppose it is the same feeling birds have. No, to a monster the norm must seem monstrous, since everyone is normal to himself. To the inner monster it must be even more obscure, since he has no visible thing to compare with others. To a man born without conscience, a soul-stricken man must seem ridiculous. To a criminal, honesty is foolish. You must not forget that a monster is only a variation, and that to a monster the norm is monstrous." ~ John Steinbeck from East of Eden

Published in 1952, John Steinbeck's East of Eden is an allegorical novel focusing on the ever-lasting battle between good and evil. When i read this novel in high school, i can honestly say that the above excerpt scared me...because the more i think about it the more I realize that it actually makes sense. Steinbeck introduces antagonistic Kathy as a perfect example of this monster. Leaving the reader with no hint of conscience anywhere in the story, Kathy terrorizes one person's life after another, killing them either physically or mentally. As a reader, to have an inside look at an individual such as Kathy is gut-wrenching, but to think that there may actually be people like her in this world is frightening. Steinbeck's logic used towards proposing this is so convincing that it will be forever ingrained somewhere in my mind.

I could go on forever talking about this novel. Steinbeck repeatedly said that this book, a mixture of biography and fiction, was his life's masterpiece. The 34th chapter is the most famous part of this novel. A total of about 1 page, this chapter theorizes the meaning of life. "We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is."

If you haven't read this novel, you need to. Its just one of those books that sort of changes your perspective on most things.

My Feet Hurt

2008-01-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

Thinking of making excuses today? This video may change your mind...

Watching this video makes me feel so guilty about ever being even the slightest bit lazy. Even right now, I could go running, but I'm convincing myself that its too rainy and cold outside, while I sit here and type this blog. I've always been the kind of person who puts things off the very end. Maybe its procrastination, or lack of motivation. But whatever it is, its killing me. I am killing ME. There are so many things that i want to do with my life, and during my life that i need to learn to just DO them! Id like to think that maybe just writing this out will solve all of my problems, but i think its going to take some determination.

JOGA BONITO

2008-01-25T00:22:00.000-08:00

Playing soccer has always been a passion of mine. I've loved it not just for the game but for the people that play and the competition they bring. These videos are so inspiring to me as a soccer player but I think even if you aren't familiar with the game, the commercial are at least widely entertaining to watch. A Nike slogan for the 2004 World Cup, Joga Bonito means "play beautiful" in Portuguese. As former player and star of Manchester United, Eric Cantona hosts this campaign to bring passion and finesse back to soccer. The commercials feature clips of various soccer legends including ronaldo, zlatan, ronaldinho, rooney, and many other icons to show what an art the game can truly be. If you get a chance, watch all of these commercials, but be careful because some are just montages.

JOGA BONITO- play beautiful

squid anyone?

2008-01-23T23:56:00.001-08:00

I guess since I'm originally from the East Coast, I'm sort of prone to love the water. Well, I love the ocean. I'm sure everyone gets feeling when your on your way home, on that last flight. You know your getting close to home when finally you recognize something; some landmark from the air. I think one of the best feelings in the world is that wave of relief that floods through you.

But I wonder if as many people would feel as comforted by the ocean if more people actually knew more about it..or about whats in it. Yeah, yeah... sharks and jelly fish, but thats old news.
Just recently I was surfing the web, and was on the discovery channel's website when an interesting story caught my eye. In 2005 a team of Japanese researchers were the first ever to film and capture a giant squid. A total length of 25 feet, the squid is said to be no more than a baby, for measuring in undocumented lengths of up to 20 meters, a 25 foot giant squid seems minuscule. But seriously, can you imagine. A squid measuring, for all we know way more than 20 meters long. We know nothing about these animals, not to mention other deep sea dwelling creatures. In 2004, a year before this video was taken, the first photos of a live giant squid were taken by the same team, I put this picture up along with the video I was talking about. Its weird to think about how big the ocean really is if we can't seem to find and study at least one of these many giants. What else is down there?

hmmmm.

2008-01-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

so this is my first post...ever. Meaning, I've never blogged before, in fact I didn't even know exactly what a blog was until a few days ago. I don't know what the standard things to write in a blog are, so i figured i would start with a personal introduction -nothing too deep or sappy for the first post. My name is laura, and i would tell you my last name but we wouldn't want anybody stalking me, so ill I'll go on. I'm from Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. I have two brothers, both many years older than me, and two divorced parents, meaning instead of two parents I now have four (+ both brothers, who also regularly attempt to control my life = 6 parents). And i have a dog. ANNIE. i love my dog. Anyone who knows me, (well many people who know me) knows i love dogs. I posted a picture of her a few days ago, thinking i would start a blog then, but now is just the same. (p.s. i promise she is not unhappy in this picture. She may look a bit uncomfortable, but its fine.) hmmmm. (a few days later: 'that picture got deleted somehow. so this is the only one i have. she doesnt look very happy in this one)
I would go on about my upbringing but I'm a story teller so I'll leave it for future posts. Plus, there are more interesting things to write about. even though i love where im from and the people i know a challenge everyone faces when moving to another completely different place with completely new people is stop talking about "back home". Everyone loves talking about where they come from, the friends they have, the relationship they used to be in, high-school... family. But when two people who love talking about what their life used to be like are together, conversations become competitions, to see who led the more exciting life. Maybe this doesn't apply to everyone, but its something I've sort of picked up on. Its hard to stop talking about the places, people and the time one knows best. but it can be done!