The Bucket of Wet!

Just another day in my life

I haven't written in a while.  It seems like the only times I want to write are either when something good or something bad happens.  I've had a mix of both lately.  Mostly good, but then after having a great day, some people had to go and make me upset.

I have been feeling really good since Tuesday.  The friend that I have written about on here before finally decided he was gonna talk to me again.  I woke up Tuesday with no power because my roommate didn't pay our power bill on time.  That was upsetting considering our other roommate and I pay him $300 a month, so I knew he had the money.  I had to study for my afternoon final with no power, and shower with no hot water....which really sucked.  Then my phone alerted me that he (friend i hadn't spoken to me in over two months) had posted a link on my Facebook wall.  A link that I couldn't go to because I had no power.  That drove me crazy.  I had to wait for hours before my power was finally turned back on.  The link was to a music video for a song that I had posted on my Twitter the night before; one that said it reminded my of my best friend.  My only guess is that he saw it and reached out. 

Long story short, he starting texting me that night and has talked to me at least a little every day since.  He initiates any conversations we may have, because I won't let myself text him first.  We talk almost like nothing happened, and neither of us has brought up why he stopped talking to me.  I guess I'm just afraid that if I ask about it, then it'll happen again.  I'm doing my best to not allow myself to read into it and assume that things will go back to normal, because with my luck, I'll depend on him again and I can't deal with losing him a second time.  I need to guard myself, and learn to not be so trusting and open with people, him in particular.  He has no idea just how much he affects me.

The exam I had the day my power when out was easy.  I know I did well.  In fact, I had done so well on the other two tests and the project that I only need like a 78% or something close to it to ensure that I maintained and A in the class, and I'm positive I got at least a 95%.  Another class was a little difficult.  I had an 88% in the class, but to make an A in the course I would have had to get a 98 on the final and she made it hard as hell.  I probably got a B on it.  My last class is statistics, and you really don't want to know what I got on that.  It isn't a failing grade, thank God, but that's all I'm saying.

New Moon came out this week, which I was so excited and pumped for.  I loved it, naturally.  I have spent the last two evening/early mornings with my aunt and cousin.  We saw New Moon last night and 2012 tonight.  It was my second time seeing both of them.  They don't like going on opening night, and I don't like waiting.  I had promised to see the movies with them but couldn't wait, so I just went twice.  I wanted to remember which songs from the soundtrack (NM) went with the scenes, and since it was my second time seeing it, I brought a notebook with me and wrote it down so I wouldn't forget.  I posted the notes online on IMDb for those that wondered which song went with certain scenes.  To me, it didn't just benefit myself, it benefited those who had questions about the songs as well. 

After getting back from the movie tonight and having a really good day, everyone ganged up on me it seemed.  My cousin, her boyfriend, by best friend and my aunt all makes jokes at my expense.  They went on and on about it.  It was fine at first because I was laughing too, but it wasn't so funny after they did it continuously.  Why was it so funny/weird to them that I wanted to remember where the songs were in the movie?  I was getting upset, and I'm sure one of them had to have noticed.  Then, all of a sudden, it switched from "haha, you're retarded for taking notes during a movie" to "I worry about you sometimes."  Because I wrote down some song titles?  Then that turned into "You're married to your brother."  I don't even want to get into that.  "You do this and that and this and that for him...and blah, blah, blah."  It was a never-ending 'lets bash on Ashley' moment.  My cousin even made a comment about how I got a little excited that *he texted me that was mean.  I don't remember what exactly she said, but she was wrong, I just didn't want to argue with her.  Am I not allowed to be myself anymore?  That's when I finished my drink and put my shoes on.  My aunt knew I was gonna leave so she asked why and when I told them I didn't want to listen to all of that, they started explaining why I needed to.  I told them I just didn't want to talk about anything because I had been in such a good mood all day.  They didn't stop, so I walked out and cried the whole drive home.

My brother asked for help with showing him how to use his check card to purchase stuff on his playstatoin after I got home.  I was helping him and I told him that we were gonna have Thanksgiving at my cousins this year.  My cousin and brother do not get along, and he won't go to her house, and she doesn't want him there.  BUT, because it is Thanksgiving and he is family, she told me to bring him.  When I told him, he said "no.  I told her I wouldn't ever come back, so I'm not going to."  When I pleaded saying that it was Thanksgiving and that she is family, he said no she isn't.  That just made me upset all over again.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only two days of the year where my whole family gets together.  I asked him if he could just do this for me because it always means so much to me that we are all together and he still said no.  I started crying.  Again. 

It's just so hard to be the person in this family that is connected to everyone.  I am always the one caught in the middle.  It is even more upsetting now since my grandpa passed away this past summer.  It has always been so important to me that we got together, and now everything is falling apart.  People hate each other, and no matter what I do I can't please everyone.

I just want to be happy, and no one can fucking suck it up for one day, or even a couple hours.  That's all I ask for.

Relinquished Friendship - A Sonnet

A sonnet of mine was recently featured in an e-book alongside some extremely accomplished individuals. I feel very fortunate to have to been asked to contribute. It made me want to write again. So, I sat down and spent about 4 hours writting a sonnet. I took a break and rewrote a majority of it completely. I think I'm finally satisfied with it.

I used the Shakespearian (English) sonnet form. Apart from the last (and only) sonnet I have ever written, I actually stuck to iambic pentameter as well as I could. There are 14 lines. Each line consists of only 10 syllables. Most sonnets have variation in iambic pentameter, as you will find in this sonnet because I found it very difficult to do. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

I don't expect you to understand the sonnet.

Feelings in the poem are not representative of today.

Lastly, opinions are very much appreciated!

Relinquished Friendship

I spend most of my time wondering why.

Concentration has become so futile

In the two weeks since you said your goodbye.

Who knew one could feel something so brutal.

So many feelings pour out of my eyes,

They dry up, failing to give what they must,

Leaving me with a need undone, your prize.

Woe you gave, was your dissolution just?

Me not knowing is an understatement

To this denouement, what was the purpose?

Justification for this, you haven't,

Ardently you filled yourself with bogus.

Spotting only false, when fact you foraged,

Something I unknowingly encouraged.

Relationships in Of Mice And Men

       Friendship and relationships are the core of John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men.  Throughout the novella, there is one relationship in particular that is strong.  It survives trials and tribulations despite the strains against it.  It isn't until a major outside force threatens the relationship that it finally caves.  I think that Steinbeck may exaggerate this relationship a bit, as I find it hard to imagine a relationship based on the same principles in today's society.  However, I believe Steinbeck is critiquing relationships in general and making them out to be codependant. 

       In Of Mice and Men, the main relationship is that of George Milton and Lennie Small.  Lennie is a somewhat gentle giant.  He is mentally handicapped, and is too stong for his own good.  He loves petting soft things, whether it be a dress, puppies, or even dead mice.  George is similar to that of an older brother for Lennie.  He is responsible and patient.  He takes on the role of Lennie's guardian and only friend in this novella.  Lennie obey's George's rules and instructions and will help George in any way that he can.  Lennie has this mentality that George will always be there for him no matter what.  When he does something that he knows is wrong, his first thoughts are about how George will react to it and if he will disapprove.  He even offers to go off and find a cave to live in just to George can be happier.  If he didn't really care about George, he wouldn't offer to do that.  George, although patient, angers quickly and is constantly frustrated with Lennie.  He is forced to pack up and run with Lennie anytime Lennie inadvertently does something wrong.  In these situations, he is running to prevent any consequences that will befall upon Lennie for his seemingly harmless actions rather than trying to escape the trouble Lennie has caused.  George often talks of how easy life would be if Lennie wasn't around anymore, but is still devoted to taking care of Lennie and making sure nothing bad happens to him.

       George and Lennie have a dream together, as well.  The two men plan to work and save up money so that they can buy a few acres of land.  They want to have their own farm and not have to work for someone else and just "life off the fatta the lan'."  George is particularly excited because they will tend rabbits.  Lennie frequently asks George to talk about the farm they hope to one day have.  At this time in the book, many people are broke because of the Great Depression, so this dream of owning land and tending to it themselves is a little farfatched.  I think deep down George knows that their dream, although seemingly realistic, is undoubtedly unattainable.  On the other hand, Lennie has complete faith that this dream will come true.  That faith is what keeps George going.  It is what makes him actually think that they might be able to pull it off. 

       In other words, George and Lennie are codependant upon one another.  Lennie needs George because without someone he would have no idea what to do.  He is almost childlike, and depends on George for so many things.  In return, George is dependant upon Lennie in the sense that Lennie allows him to believe that they can achieve happiness together.  WIthout Lennie, he cannot achieve this dream. 

       Candy, upon hearing a few sentences about this dream, immediately wants in on it.  He offers up the money he has saved working on the ranch and from when he lost his hand.  Crooks even asks if he could help.  If the four of them actually could have made it work, then it would have shown a sense of brotherhood.  The four of them could help each other and live with each other's best interests in mind.  Because of this dream, Candy and Crooks are dependant on Lennie and George.  In return, Lennie and George are dependant on Candy because he is willing to provide over half of the amount it would take to acquire the house and land he overhears them talking about.  The dream of owning this land is only attainable through joint effort.  It is not solid, or set in stone, and they cannot make it happen alone.  They need each other, which makes them codependant.  

       Lennie and George's friendship is not the only relationship in the book, of course.  Candy has his dog, who served as his only source of happiness until he learned of the George and Lennie's plan.  Lennie also develops a small friendship with Crooks.  Both are a sort of outcast from the rest of the ranch-hands.  Curley's wife confides in George just a bit, but he is reluctant to talk to her because Curley is an extremely jealous person.  She not only confides in George, but Lennie as well.  She talks about being lonely all the time and just needing someone to talk to.  In a way, that makes her dependant on the ranch-hands because she obviously isn't getting the interaction she needs from her marriage.   

        It seems that everyone is in search of a relationship.  Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife are all in need of someone.  Crooks and Curley's wife find a friendship in Lennie, and Candy find friendship with both Lennie and George.  Every relstionship is fragile as well, especially to outside forces.  This can be seen where Carlson talks Candy into letting him shoot his dog.  It can also be seen in George and Lennie's whole relationship.  Everytime Lennie does something wrong they have to pack up and head somewhere else, which frustrates George beyond belief.  He wants to have a happy life and not have to worry about anyone else but he just cares about Lennie so much. 

       When Curley wants to kill Lennie for what he did to his wife, George realizes there is no saving Lennie this time.  George takes matters into his own hands and shoots Lennie himself.  He does this to protect Lennie from what Curley or anyone else could do to him.  No matter how good a relationship is, it usually ends badly.  In this scenario, it doesn't just end badly for Lennie who lost his life and George who lost his companion, but it ends badly for everyone.  Curley lost his wife and reason to be jealous and hateful to the ranch-hands.  George tells Candy that the only reason he believed that their dream could actually come true was because Lennie made him tell the story so many times, and tells him now that it will not happen.  Crooks will still remain a solitary outcast in his barn.  George, in killing Lennie, realizes that the dream will never come true.  He will now be just as lonely as everyone else because he doesn't have Lennie anymore.  Everyone was so codependant upon one another for this dream of having land, that when one of them died, the dream became a thing of the past.

       Steinbeck certainly told the truth about relationships in Of Mice and Men.  It seems everyone is codependant, and fragile.  Nothing last forever, and dreams seldom come true.  Relationships are subject to scrutiny and are vulnerable to outside sources.  Nothing ends well. 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Changing my Life

Over the last couple weeks I have been dieting and going to the gym a lot!  

Everyone keep criticizing me for just getting up one day and being like "hey, today is the day I am gonna change my life."  But that's exactly what I did.  I have been so unhappy with myself for a long time I literally just said to myself that I was going to start going to the gym and eating right.  I have gone to the gym nearly everyday.  I do weights most of the days, but I skip them everyone once in a while to give my muscles a break.  I do at least 30 minutes of cardio...whether it be running, walking or biking.  I have felt so much better not only in attitude, but I feel accomplished every time I leave the gym.  

Along with the going to the gym, I have been eating really good, too.  I eat 5 or 6 small meals a day.  It is a technique that keeps your metabolism going throughout the day.  For each of the meals, I need to eat at least 15-20 grams of protein and cutting carbs down drastically.  When your body gets used to that, it will start to use protein for energy.  You want to make sure to eat a HIGH carb meal at least once every 7 to 10 days that way your body still knows to use that for energy as well.  If you avoid carbs too much, you use only protein energy and it is very low energy.  In short, that is bad for you.  I can't explain it, but my friend is a personal trainer and thats what he told me to do.  

I cannot eat breads, pastas, cereal or anything like that.  I can't have most fruits, no snacks...but that isn't hard because ever since I moved out a year ago I stopped buying junk food almost all together.  Some of the things I have been eating a lot of are egg whites, salmon, salads...things like that.

I have been trying so hard to keep on schedule with eating and having a life and still managing the gym everyday.  Yesterday, Sam called and woke me up.  She wanted me to go with her to this photo shoot.  Well, she had never met the guy and they weren't meeting at a studio, and to add to that it was in downtown Dayton.  Downtown isn't a friendly place, so I went with.  I ended up missing a couple meals on account of it...which you can't let happen.  When I told her that I would have to go soon, she got mad and starting criticizing that fact that I just got up one day and set my mind on doing this.  She was mad at me for it.  So, I yelled back.  I said "at least I am trying to do something about it.  You told me you wanted to go to the gym and stuff too, but you always bail and don't try."  She didn't say anything else, neither did I.

After that, I arrived home to a screaming brother.  He had stayed at my house the night before, and though he asked several times if I would get him something to eat somewhere, I said no.  We have plenty of food at my house and he wouldn't eat any.  He didn't want to cook and I wouldn't do it for him.  He got mad about that, then he tried to accuse me of kicking the dog!  When I protested against it (because I didn't do it) he yelled and said he heard me do it.  No matter how many times I told him I didn't kick the dog, he kept screaming at me that I did.  Then he called me a bitch and told me I have been mean to him since I started this whole thing.  The only reason he was being like that is because I refused to buy him food, and told him to cook for himself.  For Christ's sake, he is 18 years old!

But I think it is very important for me to not leave out the family and friends that are supporting me!  My cousin might give me a hard time about it a little, but when I said "hey, when I get skinny-er (hehe), and you're like damn I should have done that with her, then its your fault."  she said she knew that, and that is proud of me for what I am doing.  Although Sam gets mad for stupid reasons, she is happy that I am doing this too.  My mom, aunt and grandparents are happy.  I guess I can't leave Erik out, he is a personal trainer so he gave me some tips.  Most of all I am thankful for Bobby.  I think the breakdown I had a few weeks ago ultimately pushed me to do this.  He goes nearly everyday as well, so we talk about the gym frequently.  We are like a checks and balances system :D  He is so reassuring, and he gives me the will to not only stick with it, but to do this for me.  

Moving on.  Yesterday was fun.  I went to a birthday party for someone turning 18.  He is my cousin's cousin, but I am so close to my aunt's (by marriage) family, that he family seems like family.  I am around them all the time.  We had fun though, and I got caked in the face!  All I remember was turning around, and then Jamie shoved a handful of chocolate cake in my face.  I got her back with the chip dip :D  I passed out when I got home...didn't even change out of my clothes.  When I got up to take a shower this morning, there was chocolate cake in my bra! lol

I am off to go to a cookout for the holiday!  I'll try and update soon!

Sonnet I wrote for British Literary class

This sonnet is a biographical sonnet about Astrophil of Astrophil and Stella by Sir Philip Sidney.

Astrophil, worshiper of a star patrician

Lovestruck, anguished, poetic, eager

Servant to the Queen, once removed for opposition

Lover of Stella, taken, not at all meager.

He who feels want, desire and despair

Needs for his prospect to be lighted

He who fears the lack of reciprocity in the air

Would like nothing but to be requited.

He who feels such powerful emotions about another

Writes beautiful words with nothing to hide 

He lives to experience the love of the other

In hopes their hearts may speak side by side

But he knows that this can never be

For she is taken be decree.

This was so hard.  There were many things that had to be changed quite a bit so I am extremely proud of this!

 © Ashley Sanders, Wright State University

This sonnet was featured in an e-book alongside some extremely accomplished individuals.  I feel very fortunate to have to been asked to contribute.  You can find the e-book by going to the following link:

http://www.thinkingpoetry.com/community/showcase#sonetti

Updated September 28, 2009.

Why do I only update this when I'm bored?

I can't remember what I wrote about the last time that I got on here.  So, I'm just gonna write about a bunch of things that really aren't significant, and you probably don't care about.

Let's see.  I got a new phone.  My roommate switched from Sprint to Verizon so that he could get a blackberry, plus Sprint wasn't doing a very good job.  At the time, Verizon had this deal where blackberrys were buy one get one free.  So, I had my number switched over to Verizon from Cricket and I now have a blackberry :)  I love that my battery doesn't die after I make a phone call.  I love that I can access the internet everywhere I go, and that I have IM forwarding again.  I love that I get my email on it.  I delete it as I receive it, that way when I actually do remember to check my email online I don't have 700 emails.  

A little over three months ago I got this random IM from a Coho.  If you have never gotten one before, they usually have a name like RottonCoho or DigitalCoho or something like that.  Just random names.  What it is, is a sort of bot that will send you a random IM and when you reply to it, it forwards your IM to another "victim."  That person will see your screen name as another Coho name because each message is sent to the "coho database thingymajig" and then sent to the person.  Well, I got one and replied, which I usually don't because when you tell them you are real they don't believe you.  Apparently, this guy had gotten them before too and so we talked for a little bit.  He was very odd in the sense that he was talking in like riddles.  Well, not really but he wouldn't give me any straight answers.  He was coming up with ways to confuse me for his amusement.  It was really funny, though.  I had to leave for a while so I told him my real screen name and told him if he still wanted to talk, then he could IM me.  Later that night, he did.  We talked forever.  I finally found out the two things he was being so secretive about lol  Now, we have talked everyday since.  We text each other all day long, but have never actually spoken.  He tried to call me sometime last week, but it was at 2 am and I had just fallen asleep. When I got up I texted him and asked why he called thinking something was wrong.  He said he just called because he wanted to hear what I sounded like. We don't even know that much about one another.  We know first and middle names...but not last.  We know each others phone numbers and area that we live in.  We know a lot about each others characters than about stuff like favorites.  Although we do know those now too bc we got tired of not knowing and started questioning each other on it lol.  He is the first and last person I talk to everyday, and he is my best friend.  Usually I dismiss those stupid Coho messages, but replying to that one was the best thing I have done in God knows how long.  Just him being my friend has made me significantly more happy.  But, it is to the point that if something were to happen and I didn't hear from him, I would be completely lost.  I actually had a dream that other night that he didn't text me or answer my texts for a few days and so I called him and someone answered and said that he died in an accident and they wouldn't tell me his last name so that I could have flowers send and stuff.  I was really upset.  Then he texted and it woke me up from the dream, thank God, because I didn't know how much more of it I could take.   And wow, I really just talked about him for that long.

does anyone else have friends that they met online and only IM or text?

The past two months...

     Wow, it has been a while.  It seems to me that I only update this thing when I have a lot of time at school in between my classes.  That is the case today, anyway.  These blogs are mostly for my own personal pleasure, but I tend to write them as if someone will read them rather than in diary type entries.

     It is the first day of Spring Quarter '09!  That means I will be a senior in college in the fall.  That definitely sounds really weird.  Right now I am taking three classes and they are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only.  So, Tuesdays and Thursdays are completely open, and to do with whatever I would like.  If I want to sleep until 3 in the afternoon, that's what I'll do dammit! :D Wow,

     But on account of having all my classes on the same day, I was bound to have breaks in between that leave me with nothing to do.  I brought a book, but I'm a little too anxious to read.  Besides, the MAC lab I'm in got new computers, and they have the new Apple keyboards which sort of simulates typing on a laptop because it is so thin.

     Anyway, I'll get on with it.  These past two-three months have been pretty decent.  Of course, I have been keeping up on my reading.  I have found an author that I really enjoy.  Jodi Picoult, pronounced /ˈdʒoʊdi piːˈkoʊ/.  Wow, that is hard to understand so I'll give you to a little easier...and a little more comical:  pee-coo, two words familiar to anyone that takes care of babies.  I think her name is French.  Quick Wiki check...grr, they didn't have it.  Her name is beside the point though.  Her books are really good.  I have read Nineteen Minutes, The Pact: A Love Story, Vanishing Acts, Salem Falls, and I am in the middle of reading Change Of Heart.  

     Those aren't the only books I have read though.  I read one called Th1rteen R3asons Why about a girl who kills herself leaving behind 7 tapes with the reasons as to why she did it.  Both sides of each cassette (apart from the last) had a story about one of thirteen people that she is claiming are the reasons why.  Each of those people receive the tapes in the order they are mentioned, and pass it on to the next.  In the case of someone not passing them to the next person, the girl recruited someone to send out a second set to the next in line, etc.  It was very sad, especially for the guy narrating because he really liked her.  

    There are some more.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower.  How I Paid for College: A Story of Sex, Theft, Friendship, and Musical Theater.  Both were good...especially the latter.  It was extremely comical.  I also read Watchmen, and reread Twilight.  

     Reading isn't the only thing I do, I promise.  In fact, I took like a three week break from reading when I got sick in February.  I didn't feel well at all.  Instead, I watched the first two seasons of Kyle XY, and got caught up on the third season.  I saw a ton of movies.  The Uninvited, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Watchmen, The Last House on the Left, Knowing, and The Haunting in Connecticut.  I think there were more in there, I just don't remember them.

     I went to a funeral party at the end of January.  That was odd.  There were like thirty of us, and we all planned our funerals, and ate everyone's favorite foods.  I made puppy chow :) and it was good.

     My brother became obsessed with BW3's and so now we got here almost every Thursday because that is cheap wing day.  I really like the Asian Zing and the Caribbean Jerk.  Mmmm that sounds good right now.

     I still watch my grandpa every other Thursday.  I get a lot of reading done while I'm there unless I become attached to Fuse on tv or talking to someone over AIM.  

     I also said some things that can be added to the "Stupid shit Ashley comes up with" list.  Drama central (in reference to someone who emphasizes the meaning of drama.  Filipean....I was just tired when I said that one.  I meant to say Filipino, but give me a break, it was 4am.  Those go right along with "bucket of wet" and the fat guy with the big "mushroom."  I hate reliving those, they make me seem stupid, but really they are just some of my classic slip-ups :)  

     I babysat Maddie and Brooklyn.  I love them!  There are the cutest.  Everyone calls Maddie a hellion, but she listens to me.  I saved her as the background on my phone...so cute!

     I went to Bingo with grandma, and celebrated my brother's 18th birthday.  He is able to play now, so we are wanting to go with her this week.  It'll be fun, I think.

     Had dinner at Clancy's.  It is a sports bar.  They have the best New York Strip eva!  We celebrated my aunt's birthday as well as three other birthdays (people all related to my aunt's side of the family).  There was a LAN party the same day as the dinner.  My friend hosted it, and my brother and like 3 or 4 others we knew besides the friends hosting it, went to it.  They loved it.  Of course, I was the one stuck taking them there and picking them up.  It was in Downtown Dayton, which I hate.  I get lost real easily so I never go there.  Luckily, it was easy to find the highway from where it was, so I didn't get lost after I dropped them off, which is what I was worried about.

     I did better on my finals than I thought I did.  I was certain I was going to fail one of my classes, and I ended up with a C.  The others were good.  

     Twilight came out on the 21st!  I got it early though because I have connections :D  My cousin's "cousin" had a Twilight party.  That was fun.  One of the women there made red velvet cupcakes with homemade cream cheese icing...they were the best damn cupcakes I have ever had in my life!

     I have listened to over 66,000 songs in the past year...on my computer alone.  That doesn't count my iPod or the massive amount of music I listen to in the car!

     I went to Canadiatown!!!  Windsor, ON was so much fun.  You only have to be 19 to drink there.  Even though I only have a few months until I am 21, it was so cool to order drinks!  The casino bar was awesome..I think I tried every cocktail on the menu.  No joke.

     This past Saturday was Maddie's birthday party.  She turned 2.  I have never seen so many presents in my life...for a two year old.  It was a lot of fun.  When the kids went to bed, my cousin and I hog tied a barbie and put duck tape over her mouth.  We drew on her with red marker where the knots were, and then put sour cream on here thigh.  We stuck it in a brown paper bad and title it Bondage Barbie.  I wanted Bound & Gagged Barbie...but I wasn't the writing.  We were gonna throw it into the basement full of teenage boys...figured they would think it was funny, so I added something to the bag.  On the bottom we wrote "This is what happens when you bash Twilight."  THIS WAS IN NO WAY A THREAT.  IT WAS MEANT TO BE FUNNY.  The teenage boys in the basement had told me earlier that night that there was a website where a bunch of stories were posted about obsessed Twilight fans doing crazy stuff to people that didn't like the books or movie (throwing acid in chemistry class, or hitting them with an aluminum bat), so I thought they would get a kick out of the Twilight comment.

Ok, off to class!  

    

     

    

QotD: Inauguration Day

President-elect Barack Obama is being sworn into office today. Where are you watching the events of this historic day unfold? 

I am watching the Inauguration as I type this blog.  I have been watching it since I got home from class, which was around 12:15 EST.  

In my Political Science class today, my professor gave us the option of writing an essay for some extra credit.  He told us to write about what the inauguration and Barack Obama means to us, personally.  When I noticed that the QotD was about the inauguration I decided that I would share what I have come up with so far.  There isn't much yet, and it hasn't been proofed yet.  If you have anything to say [good, bad, constructive criticism], then please say it, I would love to hear your opinion.

     As I watched the inauguration, I saw myself staring at my television.  It was weird because it was almost                              as if there was no sound.  I as in awe.  I did not think that could happen to me because even though I was younger and had little knowledge of politics (or anything happening in the world, really) when Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were sworn in, I didn't have any rush of emotion.  At the time, I had no worries.  I was young, and completely carefree.  Now, I am 20 years old.  I have been so aware throughout George W. Bush's term of what has gone wrong.  I have grown up.  I used to believe I was a republican, until what I thought I believed was tested by my high school government teacher while learning about political parties.  I learned that I was meerly following in my mother's political views instead of realizing and living my own.

     This country has come through so much.  It isn't just a victory for African-Americans but for all Americans. Not 50 years ago, minorities in this country were treated with little or no respect and dignity.  As a united people, we have now elected a black president.  We have come so far from treating human beings anything but equal.

     I am just happy for change.  I believe that we can only move forward.  I am so used to bad and I'm tired of expecting it.  I am going into Obama's presidency with hope, faith, and optimism.  I want Obama to prove to his loyalists, myself, and all those who believe in him right.  I want him to prove wrong those with morose and worried expectations, my roommate, and my mom.

    Something I noticed while watching the inauguration was how President Obama and the First Lady held hands rather than the First Lady holding onto the top of his arm as Laura Bush did with George W. Bush.  Although it doesn't have anything to do with the inauguration, it meant something to me.  To me, it symbolized the unity and equality in President Obama and Michelle Obama's marriage.  It symbolized that President Obama is on the same level as the people. He stands beside them, not in front of them.

It isn't even close to being done, but it is what I have so far.  As I typed it out, I realized how much work it still needs lol

QotD: World Traveler

Which countries have you visited? Which countries are on your list to visit?

Alright!  I found a QotD that I can actually respond to!  

Throughout high school, I had a few teachers that have had the luxury of being able to travel.  There is one teacher in particular that opened me up, and made me realize why I wanted to see the world so bad.  Mrs. Cross never had kids, so she used to call us her kids.  She and Mr. Cross desperately wanted to have kids, but were never able.  Of course, this upset them.  But, by not having kids, it enabled them to travel the world.  Something that not many parents are able to accomplish.  I had Mrs. Cross for several classes that I took as a sophomore, junior and senior.  Mr. Cross taught my senior Government class.  They were both phenominal teachers.  

Mr. Cross taught me a lot about politics while remaining in the middle of the political parties so as not to influence us one way or the other.  He was very neutral, but he gave us all the good and the bad about each party, and let us form our own opinions.  He was a very nice guy, and was really funny.  He also coached our football team, as well.  

Mrs. Cross taught several different classes.  She taught Social Psychology, History (although I don't know which grade level), Western and Asian History I & II, and Humanities.  Her room was covered in posters of places around the world, artwork that students had made for her, pictures of her travels, and Beatles posters.  She loved the Beatles.  She even wrote an excellent letter of recommendation for me my senior year, which I think was a major contributing factor to me receiving a rather large scholarship.  

In the WaAH classes, we learned about all kinds of people, time periods, artwork, etc.  She loved art, too.  We learned about the Roman Empire, the Greeks, Mesopotamia, Egypt, the old 7 Wonders of the World, the Middle East, many religions, artwork from all eras, and so much more.  But what made her class so interesting was that she had the opportunities to travel to most of the places she taught about.  She had been to Egypt several times, Italy, France, Spain, Israel, Turkey, India, Greece, and so many more places.  She would show us the photos that she had of the places.  She had been to museums all over the world.  She has seen the Great Pyramids of Giza and Abu Simbel, visited the Dome of the Rock and the Wailing Wall, been to the Valley of the Kings, walked the Via Dolorosa and visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, stared up at the magnificent dome of the Hagia Sophia, visited Pompeii and Herculaneum, visited much of the empire ruled over by Alexander the Great, been to the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, seen the Ishtar Gate at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, seen the Colosseum and Stonehenge and the Taj Mahal, and so much more....TBC

My Playlist...without having the actual playlist

Right now, I have one playlist in particular on iTunes and my iPod that I have on shuffle and repeat.  I have been listening to it almost non-stop for probably two weeks.  This playlist is unlike my other playlists.  Usually they are a mix of new songs, old songs that I kinda know and want to learn better, and songs that I just love at the time.  This list has 33 songs on it, and until a few weeks ago, I knew only a few of them.  But there is something about this playlist.  I don't know what it is.  I have absolutely fallen for quite a few of these songs.  I just really love them all.  

There is one that I actually cried to when I heard the end.  It isn't my favorite, but I really do love it.  When I first listened to the words, I thought that it was going to have a sad ending.  Then all of a sudden, it completely turned around having the best possible outcome.  I started crying.  Like a happy crying.  It wasn't a stream rolling down my face or anything, it was just a very happy ending that left me teary eyed and smiling.  I decided not to include the name of the song or the artist.  There really is no reason not to, other than leaving it up to the reader to question the song.  It is popular right now though, and if by any chance someone reads this and wants to know, I will tell them.

Oh, and although I liked Blue October before, I only knew 3 songs.  I got one of the cds and I downloaded some songs, and I really love them.  Every song I hear from them is so good.  Ok, I think I'm done.  :)

Just in case you want something to try, I would recommend these people/groups:

Blue October

Coldplay (not a huge fan, but there a few songs that I love by them)

Collective Soul

Death Cab For Cutie

The Fray

Hinder

Jacks Mannequin

Matt Nathanson

Muse

Plain White T's

Puddle of Mudd (despite having some heavy rock/metal songs, they also have some mellow songs that are amazing)

Saving Abel (all but Addicted....I am so tired of hearing that song!)

Shinedown (new and old)

Taylor Swift