01.01.10
New Year’s Resolutions
I have a host of resolutions for 2010. All of them are things that I feel are attainable.
- I would like to work out three times a week, minimum. I would really like to get into better shape and I think that three days a week is a realistic goal. I would make it more often, but with my schedule next semester (18 hours of classes, 40 hour work week) I don’t think it’s realistic to shoot for more than three days a week. We’ll see how it goes!
- I would like to start cleaning up after myself a little better. I used to leave a small mess sitting around in my old apartment here and there, but it’s different when you have a roommate that does it too. It makes the apartment so much dirtier so much quicker. We’ve both talked about making this a resolution for 2010 so that the apartment stays neat and clean!
- I want to take a big trip this year. I don’t know when and where, but I want to take one! Maybe England or Scotland. That would be fun.
- I would like to strengthen my French this year. If I don’t start practicing it more often, I’m going to forget it and I don’t want that.
- Newsweek.com came up with a list of the 100 greatest novels of all time. It’s one of the most comprehensive lists I’ve ever seen. I think I’m going to crack into it this year. I’ll comment on what I’m reading on. Obviously, I don’t think I will get through them all in a year. My resolution for 2010 will be to start it and I’ll finish it in 2011. It would be nice to get halfway through it. We’ll see…
- I want to eat healthier. It’s hard to do because of how hard it is to make time to cook when you’re never at home for very long. The trick will be to make smart choices when eating at work. For example, I’ll take a microwavable dinner instead of eating out. And don’t chow down on popcorn and nachos when I’m bored.
- I want to drink less alcohol. 2009 was the year of booze for me. 2010 won’t be. I would like to note that I did say, “I want to drink less.” I didn’t say I wanted to stop. Just clarifying.
- I want to take more pictures. I slacked on my photography this year and I won’t let it happen in 2010!
I think that’s all I have for this year. We’ll see how it goes!
Friday Playlist: New Year’s Party Songs
Happy New Year! Here’s a list of songs to get 2010 going on the right foot:
- “1999″ by Prince
- “Will 2K” by Will Smith
- “New Years Day” by U2
- “Brand New Day” by Sting
- “Better Days” by Goo Goo Dolls
- “Days Go By” by Keith Urban
- “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow
- “The Last Time” by Gnarls Barkley
- “Times Like This” by Jet
- “Live Like We’re Dying” by Kris Allen
- “Become Who You Are” by Mainstay
12.27.09
Friday Playlist: Songs Soon To Be On Your Top Ten Most Played List
These are the songs that I have discovered recently that I can’t stop listing to. Obviously, everyone has different taste in music. Some of you will judge me for this list and strongly disagree. For those of you openminded enough to try new music, give these a listen.
Songs Soon To Be On Your Top Ten Most Played List
- “Dear Agony” by Breaking Benjamin
- “Undisclosed Desires” by Muse
- “Alright” by Kris Allen
- “Secrets” by OneRepublic
- “On The Dancefloor” by David Guetta ft. Will.i.am
- “Morning After Dark” by Timbaland ft. SoShy and Nelly Furtado
- “Absolute” by The Fray
- “Haters” by Jay-Z ft Kayne West
- “Songs Like This” by Carrie Underwood
- “Open Up Your Eyes” by Daughtry
- “Half of My Heart” by John Mayer ft. Taylor Swift
12.19.09
Difficulties Reading Dracula
I’ve been on this kick lately where I want to read all of the classic works of literature that I never got to read in school (plus some of the ones I was supposed to have read and didn’t). Right now I’m making my way through Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The difficulty I’m having is that I am not compelled to read a book if I already know its ending. It is very interesting to read because the gothic atmosphere is just incredible, but I’m just not motivated to pick it up every day. I fought through the same experience over the summer when I read Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but I’m glad I finished it because it was a great book. I’m trying to fight my way through Stoker. It’s just hard to stay motivated.
12.18.09
Friday Playlist: Rainy Days
I’ve decided that I want to create a playlist every Friday for your enjoyment. I love making playlists, so why not share them. Since it’s raining outside where I am, I decided that my first playlist will be….
- “Who Says” by John Mayer
- “Who Needs Shelter” by Jason Mraz
- “Rain” by Breaking Benjamin
- “Collide (Acoustic)” by Howie Day
- “Ungodly Hour” by The Fray
- “I Need To Know” by Kris Allen
- “For You To Notice” by Dashboard Confessional
- “Stepping Stone” by Duffy
- “That’s Why You’re Beautiful” by Beyonce
- “Shoot The Moon” by Nora Jones
- “Secret” by Maroon 5
- “Hand Me Down” by Matchbox Twenty
- “Freshman (Acoustic)” by The Verve Pipe
- “My Sundown” by Jimmy Eat World
I Hate The Rain
Wicked Witch of the West
When it rains outside, my dog turns into the Wicked Witch of the West. I can take her outside, but she won’t do anything except curl her tail between her legs and stare at me. It’s as if she’s saying, “You do realize that if I squat my butt will get wet, right? When are we going back inside so that I can go to the bathroom on the floor?”
I don’t know what to do about her. I’ve tried locking her in my bathroom and putting towels on the floor so that she would at least go on the towels. However, she just whines and scratches at the door until I let her out and then she goes on my floor. My mom had her before I did and she told me that she’s tried the pee-pee pads. Heidi won’t use them. Any suggestions?
She made me so angry this morning that when I brought her inside I threw her in the shower with me. I just kept saying to her, “You little farthead. I’ll show you wet…”
11.28.09
Changes
When I originally started this blog, I intended for it to be something I could use as a sort of published stream of consciousness for my random thoughts. However, after a lot of thought, I feel that correctly utilizing this blog could be advantageous to me in many ways. I would like to start using it as a way for me to provide commentary for the things that I read and movies that I watch. I want to show people that I am critically minded and that I think about the things I am reading and watching on a deeper level than simple entertainment calls for.
Plus, I have constant internet access now, so I can blog more often.
I guess I won’t ever stop the random thoughts from escaping my mind through my fingers.
05.15.09
Techno-deprivation
These past few weeks have taught me how completely spoiled I am by technology.
Proof of this:
- My phone crapped out. I could only send text messages on it when it was plugged into the wall and that was all I could do with it. I tried not to take it too hard and just deal with it one day at a time. You dont realize how much you use a cell phone until you dont have one anymore. I thought I was doing really well with it. Then today I got a new phone and activated it only to find out my service had been disconnected because my mom and brother didnt pay the bill on time. I was spitting angry. And that is when I realized that it really is JUST A PHONE. Why get so wound up over it? Oh yeah. Thats right. Im technologically dependent.
- I cant bum wireless off of my neighbors at my new apartment. Im looking at having to pay for internet and Im mad about it. Although I really shouldnt be because I havent paid for internet in over four years. Im getting what I deserve. Why does it upset me? Two words can explain this: Technology dependency. Three more enforce this frustration: I am cheap.
- I dont watch much TV, but when American Idol came on and my converter box wouldnt pick up a signal I got PISSED. Granted it was the first time in a long time I was excited about watching TV, so it was bad timing on the converter boxs part, but why should I let something that silly bring so many four letter words out of me? Damn you technology. I love you so.
- Since writing this blog, my 3 key has fallen off and my apostrophe doesnt work. Dont know why. I HATE not being grammatically correct. But do you know what I hate more? TECHNOLOGY THAT DONT WORK. Stoopid computer.
So am I to blame for allowing myself to become so jaded by my technologically centered lifestyle? Or the technology to blame for being so awesome that I just cant help but live without it? Don’t answer that. It was hypothetical.
Oh I just discovered my arrows dont work either. CRAP.
04.23.09
Love/HATE: Ups and Downs of the End of the Semester
I’m eating a wrap that consists of jalapenos. I’ve been cursing every bite of it because it’s so spicy. I’m on my last few bites and I just thought to myself, “You know…I could have just taken the jalapenos OUT.” I hate spicy food. The wrap had the word “southwest” in the title. I should have known. HATE IT.
I’ve been worried for a while now that I wasn’t going to pass my Western Civ class. I’ve been fighting with my TA and instructor for more points for the past week or so. Everyone, including my TA and instructor, told me that there wasn’t going to be a curve at the end of the semester, so I’ve been in panic mode ever since I noticed that my final grade was going to end up 2 points shy of a D. However, after worrying and praying a LOT, my instructor has announced that instead of curving she is going to widen the range of total points it takes to fall into the C grade (which is technically the same as curving). That means that not only have I passed, but I’ve made a C without extra credit. Not a D. Not a C-. But a C. I don’t think that I deserve that, but hey! I’m surely not going to complain! LOVE IT!
I’m moving in a week. I’m super excited! Although it adds a lot of stress onto my studying for finals, but hey. I’m still super excited about moving into my own place. It’s going to be a really nice apartment. The guy that lived in my apartment before me has been there for several years and the apartment complex has done a lot of upgrading to their apartments since then. So they have to go into my apartment, replace the carpet, rip up the linoleum and replace it with tile, resurface the counters and the bath tub, repaint the walls and the cabinets, replace all of the light fixtures and switches, replace all of the cabinet handles and door knobs, and THEN I can move in. It’s going to be like living in a brand new apartment. LOVE IT!
I’m really going to miss living with Emily and Melanie. Especially Emily because we’ve lived together for so long. I won’t be able to just walk into their bedrooms, do a random dance move, and then walk out. I won’t be able to hear Emily singing one-liner songs and blowing her nose anymore. I’m going to miss that. Hate it.
I’m eating a banana now and it makes my mouth burn less. Nuts in ya face jalapenos! LOVE IT!
I’m really going to miss my African Politics class. I’ve learned more in that class than any other I’ve taken since I’ve been in college. It’s interesting and engaging. LOVE IT! Now it’s over. HATE IT. I think I might ask my teacher for suggestions about books to read on African presidents and the histories of some of the countries. I wouldn’t mind doing some more reading on my own.
Congratulations goes out to the one, the only Cores Benick for graduating with top honors! Congrats also goes out to all my other friends that are graduating too! Good job guys! Love it! Proud of you!
I have a final exam in Religious Studies, a final exam in African Politics, and a final paper in Renaissance Drama and then I’m done. And then it’s nothing but Journalism courses for the next year. THANK. GOD. LOVE. IT.
04.11.09
Long Days
Yesterday was a super long day. I woke up at 7am, went to physical therapy, went to my mom’s for about twenty minutes, went to WalMart to print some pictures and fill a prescription, went home, filled out my FAFSA and showered and ate, went to the salon to get my hair done, went to the movies to see Monsters Vs. Aliens in IMAX 3D with Corey and his Dad, went to Downtown Grill and Brewery with the same two gentlemen for dinner, went back to Corey’s and hung out with his roomies and his Dad until about 12am, and then came home and crashed. It was a long, busy, but very good day.
Monsters VS Aliens was incredible in IMAX 3D. You could tell that the movie was made specifically so that it would be cool in 3D. There were tons of shots were things were flying at your face. Especially the space scenes with all the space rocks and such. Corey’s Dad kept attempting to reach out and grab stuff, which was also amusing. My favorite parts were when Dr. Cockroach played DDR and when Bob shook his girlfriend (Lime Jello) in Derek’s face out of spite. Great movie. Check it out. But only in 3D. I’m not really sure if it would be the same otherwise. I’m sure it’s still good, but just not AS good.
But I digress.
Hanging out with Corey’s Dad was a ton of fun. He was definitely the life of the party. We played Rock Band and he played the acoustic guitar in the background, which made it feel a little bit more like a real band. We told jokes and talked about his rock star days. Good times. He got drunk and started talking to me about how he hoped that Corey and I would have kids someday so that he could come over and play with them. That was interesting. It would have been awkward except I had been drinking too, so I found it amusing. I wonder what he’ll think of that in the morning. I still think it’s amusing.
I went to bed at about 1:15am and I woke up at 5:30am. Wide awake. It is now around 6am and I am still wide awake. Why you ask? Because as soon as the alcohol wore off, the steroids kicked in. My doctor said that a lot of people have trouble sleeping the first few days they’re on the steroids and now I can see why. If it hadn’t been for the alcohol that I drank before bed I’m sure that I wouldn’t have gotten the 4 hours of sleep that I did get.
It’s going to be another LONG day.
Look how tiny they all are!
I fell asleep last night with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets playing. I don’t think that I’ve ever let people on to how much I watch these movies. Any time I’m doing something and I just want a movie on in the background I put on one of the Harry Potter films. I think that it has something to do with the fact that I’ve seen them SO many times that it’s a good choice for background noise. I can turn and watch it for a second and then go back to what I was doing and it’s no big deal. I think that it also has something to do with the fact that I love them so much.When the first movie came out I was about 16 and I refused to watch it. I didn’t want it to ruin the images I had in my head from the books. I broke down after my brother begged me to watch it with him so that he could go see the second one in the theater. I’m so glad that I caved and watched it with him. I don’t know what I would do without them now! And to top it all off, I’ve reread the books several times and it really didn’t change all that much as far as the way I imagine things goes.
I just got The Lonely Island album Incredibad. It’s freaking hilarious. I love Like A Boss. Like a BOSS. Like a BOSS.
I found out yesterday that David Cook was playing a show in Market Square last night. I really wish that I had known. I would have made plans to go! That would have been a really great show. Oh well. I had fun hanging out with muh Cores and his Dadoo.
Wow. I’ve really digressed now.
I cannot believe that I’m still awake. I didn’t get much sleep Thursday night either. I’m going to regret this by the time we’re driving home tonight. But then again, can I really regret it when the reason I didn’t go back to bed was because I couldn’t sleep? Yeah that’s right. I’ll blame the meds. Like a BOSS.
