College...oh the memories!

When I first came to college, I had no idea what kind of people there were.  As a freshman on a mostly freshmen quad, you were dealing with a lot of kids trying to explore their personalities.  I don't know why so many teenagers do this, but you learn to accept it after awhile.  There was the kid with the mullet longer than his back, the girl who looked exactly like my suite mate from behind, and so many others.  Last night, my friends and I ventured out into familiar territory, our old dormitory quad, to get a Yoo-Hoo (yes the infamous drink that was spilled onto my keyboard, that our new quad has yet to supply for us in the basement of our tower).  It was weird, because large numbers of people stumbled past us to get to the bus that would eventually take them downtown, so it was almost completely empty.  We managed to somehow get a nervous freshman to let us into the tower so we could scour the vending machine.  However, after we got out, we didn't want to waste our fun time outside.  All of a sudden, out of no where, a kid dressed in only a robe and slippers started yelling.  There wasn't anyone around, because we weren't in front of him.  We slowly backed away, and then booked back to our safe home about a quarter of a mile away.  The things you experience in college are truly once in a lifetime. I am glad to say, I am almost allergy free!  Finally, after two weeks in agony (ok, well maybe not in agony, but it was close!) my symptoms are almost gone! 

Iron Man-better than expected

Every Friday night at UAlbany, the PAC has a movie, usually new movies that have yet to come out on DVD but have already had their time at the box office.  Tonight Iron Man was playing.  I have to be honest and say that, if anyone had asked me when it was out in theaters, I had no intention whatsoever of going and seeing it.  I had had my share of superhero movies that had done me wrong, like Spiderman 3.  But, of course, my father had seen it and was always expressing his opinion to me about how much he loved that movie.  Usually he isn't wrong about action flicks.  I'm not going to lie to you, action movies are pretty cool to watch, unless the plot behind it is dumb.  Bourne Identity and the rest of that series are proof that action movies can be amazingly done.  I'm sure there are others too.  Iron Man managed to deliver entertainment, a pretty decent plot line, and characters that didn't seem overdone or fake, as true as that can be for a movie.  We start out with Tony Stark, the movie's hero, riding along in a limo on some warfront.  We can't tell from here if it is the middle of the war or if it is just an area that needs extra military protection.  No matter what, we get the idea that it is dangerous and he shouldn't be there.  From there, we get catapulted into a back flash 36 hours ago that showcases that rich arrogant man that Tony Stark is.  He has ladies, friends, power, money.  Everything is perfect.  We learn his story, so we kind of hate him a little, but know deep down that we can't, because after all, we know Robert Downey Jr. is the hero of this tale.  We then get shown terrorists torturing him in a cave.  He teams up with a fellow cavemember and tries to  get out alive.  The rest of the film I'm going to leave to you to watch.  This movie is sure to be a treat for anyone who is looking for fun, romance, or action and will definitely show the talent of the actors and actresses who were involved.  Gwenyth Paltrow played the damsel pretty well and she was smart while doing it.  Robert Downey Jr. was a really good pick for the leading man, too.  Just go see it.  It won't let you down.

Speech of the NIght

In my workshop Journalism class today, I was assigned to watch the Democratic Convention and try to get as many direct quotes as I could.  I really have been getting better at writing things when people are speaking, especially last year in Exploration of Space when my professor rattled on about physics.  However, I was not prepared for what I had to do.  Sure, if I was a professional reporter, or rather, any reporter, I would have a recorder with me, but since I am a poor college student, I was not able to find one of those.  First, I listened to Al Gore, who I really enjoy listening to, because he usually talks about climate change.  I couldn't catch anything the man was saying.  I tried really hard, seriously.  I wanted to write down what he was saying, but it was a hardship.  I felt a little better afterwards, when the commentator explained how his speech was a little rushed.  When Barack Obama finally reached the stage, after a grueling hour and a half of waiting for him to speak, I really didn't want to write what he was saying.  I wanted to sit there and listen, enraptured by what he was saying.  But, I realized, after a couple minutes of writing what he was saying to the thousands there, I knew that I would be able to remember it a lot longer now that it was down on paper.  Things like healthcare and the economy would remain a lot more important now than they ever had before.  I am now convinced of the Democratic party.  I really like the words they say, even though I'm sure there are some things I will eventually disagree with.  I just feel like change can actually happen once Barack OBama is in office.  Maybe things will be better then.

Classes make me think? what?

Last year, I took an amazing class called Jews in Latin America.  I learned so much about different cultures and histories, and it's one of those subjects that you don't learn about everyday.  High school never taught me about half of what I gained in that class.  Of course, I was really interested in learning more about things I had no clue about, which is why I decided to take Workers and Globalization in the Americas.  I really was hesitant Monday after, when we first arrived, we had to organize ourselves into small groups and discuss this subject that I didn't know.  We had to come up with four different reasons for how globalization effects daily life and vice versa.  I have to admit, right now, that I never have cared about what happens globally in the economy.  It isn't all my fault, really, considering we are taught from an early age that we live in this capitalist society that really benefits us.  However, in this class, which I have only been to twice, so I'm bound to learn more, I realized that we really should start caring about globalization.  Anyone will tell you, the first thing they think when they hear "globalization" is outsourcing, which is true. A  lot of companies fund major industries in smaller countries, which increases the jobs available, education that the people can partake in, and it creates a middle class that is able to live comfortably after living so many years as a lower class member. This all sounds great, especially because third world countries need guidance to help them out.  But, I have learned, companies are really only out for one thing (or maybe two), and that is power (or money).  There is this whole intricate system going on that involves the flow of power between countries.  Any company that decides to up and move starts the crash and burn of the countries who were actually starting to live.  It's something that can't really be stopped, can it?  I really hope to learn more about this, because it seems almost as important as global warming, which is something I really care about.

JobHunt

I've never actually had a real job.  Aside from my venture into work study last year (which got ripped away from me :( ), the whole 'working' thing hasn't ever been apart of my life.  Yesterday, I assisted my friend Danielle at the mall while she picked up numerous applications for jobs.  Of course, she also made me grab some as well, which gave me a first glimpse into the hiring process.  Almost every store at the mall was handing out applications like they were giving out bread to homeless people.  It gave me hope, it really did.  I ventured into the Old Navy store, scared and nervous, where she eventually told me I had to apply online.  I felt brave at the next stop, however, which was at Icing.  I wouldn't essentially want to work at the Icing, but maybe I could get a discount and then receive lots of cool earrings.  I'd be really accessorized!!  That never happens!  Not that I can't or anything.  I totally could, but I have no money.  So it would totally be a win win situation.  I also went to the movie theater, and I was really excited about it, since I love the entire cinema experience.  I'd be really excited, but of course, their guidelines for applying were really strict.  I'd have to work holidays, breaks (which I can't because I get kicked out of the dorms for 6 weeks), and every single weekend since those were the days they received the most profits.  Why did that happen to me, really?  Why couldn't my dream job give me an amazing experience?  Let me reword that.  I mean my dream job for college.  I don't think my aspiration in life is to stand behind and ticket booth or smell popcorn for an entire day.

Fun time for college friends

Up here at school, my friends and I like to pet puppies.  As childish as that sounds, it is actually a great free activity, especially for people like me who miss their pets that aren't able to come along for the ride of the college year.  You don't have to deal with all the responsibilities that are necessary when raising an animal, like buying food, veterinarian bills, or even dealing with all the fur that constantly gets scattered around in my house.  However, as cute as they are, I, along with Danielle, as she asked the lady about the Pomeranian she couldn't part with at the time, overheard her say, "You would have a lifetime warrantee."  It seems so weird that humans could have such a protection on animals.  I don't disagree with it, because I wouldn't have my pets if this didn't happen, but why treat them as if they are a car, or a computer?  Just sell the animal. Unless they have some amazing benefit to give, I really don't see the point, unless the saleslady was just stupid, not knowing what she was talking about.  

Move In :)

Move-in day is one of those days that I both dread and look forward to.  Last year, it was pure exhilaration, nerves, and the grasping of freedom that really made it a once in a lifetime experience.  This year, however, I had a different feel.  Tons of parents were back for the second time (or third), wheeling carts full of dormitory furniture, luggage, refrigerators, and food.  It was a gathering of friends who shared a year of every emotion on the planet, partings and meetings, tears and laughter (well, ok, the girls definitely had some tears).  I am so happy to be back, I really am.  It feels like it's almost the end (it is for me, considering I only have a year left) yet its practically another beginning.  I hope this year will be a good year.

Muffins

The summer has flown by so quickly.  Thinking about going to school tomorrow is insane.  It feels like yesterday that I was moving out.  I think it will be good though.  I love being independent all the time, like I have my own decisions to make.  However, I didn't realize how hard it would be saying goodbye to my best friend from back home.  Last summer, I didn't really get to hang out with my friends, so it feels so much like I'm leaving home for the first time, even though I know that isn't true.

Today I got to sell muffins to mentally impaired people.  Random, I know, but I was so mesmerized by all of them.  They knew how to count change (well, ok some of them.  There was this one guy who gave me a nickel instead of a dollar, but I didn't say anything because I felt bad.), dance (yes, they dance better than me!!), and they have their own little social circles going on.  They talk to one another like they are the best of friends.  It reminds me of all the old ladies that I worked with my mom for who all knew everything about one another and hung out every night for Bingo or some new movie.  They were just a little slower, but they didn't know that about themselves.  It's so weird, it really is.  I feel like they have better abilities than I do to engage in social activities.  Shouldn't it be the other way around?  Maybe we have more to learn from people with disabilities than I realized.

BubbleBees

It is so hard to blog when you do absolutely nothing all day.  I woke up, ate some pancakes, attempted to watch a movie (a stupid tape that wouldn't rewind all the way, grr), and then I continued to laze around on my bed.  Not to be lazy, however, but it was all because I'm sore, tired, and still a little sick.   I hate hate hate the stupid goldenrod and pollen everywhere.  I really need to get a bubble to hop around in.  I'll be BubbleGirl!!  That would be so cool!  I wonder if I could roll around...

Anyway, I've been in a debate with so many people lately about bumble bees.  The question is...do they sting or do they not?  I stand firmly on my belief that yes, they do indeed sting ( I even looked it up on wikipedia, not that that is a very valuable source or anything, but still).   My sister and a few others think they don't.  There was an article in the Times Herald Record about insect and animal bites and what to do about them.  I scanned the article quickly and to my dismay, they didn't list which kinds of bees sting.  I did, however, find out something I never ever knew!!   You get more allergic to bee stings (if you are indeed, allergic) each time you get stung!   So kids who get a mild reaction at first may be susceptible to the kind of symptoms that could land them in the hospital.  It all has to do with the immune system fighting it which causes all the symptoms.  Oh the things you learn while reading random articles in a local newspaper...

Six Flags GREAT adventure for all!

Every time I go to an amusement park, I always try to seek out the most thrilling ride there.  It's stupid really, because every ride is made with the riders in mind.  When I went to Six Flags, however, the ultimate thrill ride scared the bajeezus out of me.  I didn't go on it, not because I was scared, but because it had constant problems and shut down a lot.  Kingda Ka is the coaster I am talking about, if you did not know already.  It reaches 456 feet into the air, with a steep plummet and fast shoot up.  I'm never afraid of big heights, but ever since I experienced Drop Zone at Great America, I have been scared of really vertical drops.  The feeling is so intense that it sticks with you forever.  However, even though I didn't get to go on this, one coaster could equal it in the intensity of the drop.  You'd think I'd be talking about one of those huge megacoasters, like Nitro, (which is amazingly fun too, not to sell it short), but I am actually talking about El Torro, the massive wooden coaster right next to Kingda Ka.  My friend Danielle had actually recommended it to me, because of the record breaking steep drop that you encounter when riding.  I didn't honestly expect anything more than your atypical wooden roller coaster ride.  The shaking, the rattling, and the sudden twists are always fun.  However, this roller coaster was insane.  I don't even know how many people had to be in on this to create it, but I really just want to meet them and congratulate them.  You go up the lift quick, take a wide left turn and then plummet, and, I have to say, it was a scary, fast, stomach dropping one at that.  You then speed over another high hill, feeling weightless as you fall down below.  There are other amazing features on this, but you really should experience it beforehand.  Don't think that this is the only roller coaster to go on though.  There are so many amazing things at Six Flags Great Adventure, like Medusa (the floorless roller coaster), Superman: Ultimate Flight (you literally "fly"), Great American Scream Machine (7 consecutive loops!!!) and Nitro (once the tallest fastest coaster on the East Coast!).  Those are my favorites out of all there.  The tiger show is something not to be missed either.  I'd stay away from the 3D Experience though (this time it was all about that new animated feature coming out soon Fly Me to the Moon).  It made me feel awful, and you wait on line for a ridiculous amount of time (expect that at all rides, though, considering how many people are going to the park) for a paltry minute long show that isn't a creative simulator ride anyway.  For now, I am going to go pass out.  My sunburn, plus exhaustion, plus allergies are all making me want to die.  

Questions

What is it about water slides that makes them so much less scarier than roller coasters?  They have almost the same features (sudden drops, fast turns, heights to shake about), but yet have none of the same stomach dropping moments that roller coasters are so infamous for.  True, I have yet to see a water ride that reaches the heights that coasters are these days, but that is besides the point.  Water rides really should be scarier.  You aren't harnessed, there is the possibility of actually falling out of some tubes, and there is the possibility of drowning.  I'm never ever scared of water rides (well ok, besides the super drop plunge rides, but that's because I'm scared of falling out...and body slides, but that is just my rational fear of getting stuck and embarrassing myself).  I've never felt the heart pounding, breath-stopping moments that I always feel when climbing a hill of a roller coaster or even waiting in line.   I really need to get out more.

Wow, again?

I'd like to take a moment and go over the main reasons why the world is ending/experiencing global warming, in list form:

1. The ice caps are melting.  I really don't understand people who think that this is normal.  The ice caps are disappearing!! What about that is normal, may I ask?  There are huge flumes of water running through them, huge chunks fall down into the ocean below, and penguins are floating ashore in places in South America.  What other proof do you need?

2. The weather is insane and natural disasters are occurring stronger and more frequently.  I really don't have to go over the specifics of everything that has happened, but every big thing you have ever seen on television has been a major catastrophe.  Tsunamis, earthquakes, and the hurricanes are just the beginning really.  What else could happen after this?  Would movies like The Day After Tomorrow actually be forecasting the future?

3.  The carbon dioxide in the air.  I'm sure many of you have seen the infamous chart, like the one Al Gore references to in An Inconvenient Truth.  However, a lot of scientists have actually seen this chart (or made even) and believe in it.  Is it some weird coincidence that, as technology gets faster, cars become essential, and the industries take off using large factories, havoc starts happening in our ecosystem?  Why on earth (no pun intended) would carbon dioxide increase as much as it has if the aforementioned weren't involved?

4. And my number one reason as to why global warming is happening.. (drum roll please) Allergies suck.  I really don't know if I am being a hypochondriac here, or if it really does have to do with the planet warming at an alarming rate, but my allergies this time around feel awful.  I actually couldn't sleep well last night due to my runny nose, sinus pressure, and headaches. I really don't want to have to deal with them in stronger doses.  Would allergies become a malignant disease? ( I sure hope not).  

Thank You for listening,

Sarah E.

If you frequently check my blog, which I'm sure is not that many, I might not be able to fully dedicate myself to this in the next three days.  I will be at Six Flags Great Adventure, and I will be tired a lot of the time.  I will try all my best to write however. 

SCRABULOUS has a website??!!

As I was perusing the complaints bulletin of the new Scrabble Beta application on Facebook, I noticed someone recommending the Scrabulous website.  I honestly have to say that I never even thought twice about the possibility of a Scrabulous website.  I thought it was some sort of Facebook thing.   You can guess how fast I typed in the URL and headed over to sign up.  However, as anxious as I was, I was shocked by how different it was.  First off, you play in real time, instead of playing anytime you want, as it was for Facebook users, which makes it a lot more stressful trying to think of words.  To add on to that, you only get a ten minute maximum time limit for each game.  Each move you get, you better be prepared to lay down your word as fast as you can, which is somewhat difficult for an owner of a laptop.  As soon as I entered into one of the game rooms, where I was curious to see how it was set up, I got a request to play.  Of course, the Scrabble/word game junkie that I am, I said yes.  I was totally winning too, against this nameless person I had never met before, or ever have the intention to, until the last possible second.  I had a word but I only had seven seconds left on the clock.  That pressure really gets to you as you are trying to place your tiles down.  Of course, I didn't do it, and I lost by a sheer ten points.  If you are willing to check it out, be prepared.  It's not for the faint hearted.

Fairs

Ever since I've been little, and years and years before that, my town has sponsored a fair that occurs for three days in the summertime.  When I was younger, it was the coolest thing, with lots of rides, games, junk food, animals you could pet, and tons of vendors trying to sell things everywhere.  I used to get really excited about the sand art booth, where you could fill up this plastic bear with different colors of "sand" ( I don't know if it was real sand or not).  However, seeing the fair from the perspective of someone my age, it seems a lot smaller than it used to be.  The rides make me nauseous, which isn't new considering I used to ride myself sick when I was little.  The vendors are old and have junk that no one wants to buy.  The food is still amazing though.  I especially like the cheese fries.  The animals are cute, even though there are huge signs everywhere that read "We bite."  ( I pet them anyway)  Today, the goats had no antlers...or ears!!  I was very sad, but there were really cute baby pigs to make up for it (are they actually called piglets?).  I have to come to realize that the fair is designed mostly with kids in mind, and adults are just onlookers.

Muscles and Me

Don't tell anybody, but I am a very weak person.  Although, my core audience already knows it, I hate admitting that I have no strength whatsoever in my body.  That's one way of saying that, basically, I am an amoeba floating through life.  Today, I encountered a challenge that made me feel 8000 times better about myself.  I moved couches.  Hard to believe, isn't it?  Now I know they don't look heavy, but boy, do they do a work on your arms and legs.  All that lifting and pulling.  I'm amazed I still had strength to type, as pitiful as that sounds.  My muscles are all jittery, like they always get after they try heavy lifting.  I was able to move the couches though, which makes me feel happy.  Maybe I'm not that hopeless after all.  

Concert and Food

Concerts are always so much fun.  Even the really big ones, as opposed to small venues, have so many different cool things going on, that you really can't have a bad time.  However, today, my fries were not up to par.  Last time I went to Bethel, I had this amazing batch of fries, with the perfect blend of salt, fat, and condiments (although these were applied myself).  I was so eager to approach the stand today and receive the same experience.  You can guess how disappointed I was when all that was in the cardboard carton was grease sticks.  They literally tasted like vegetable oil when I bit into them.  The mustard and ketchup helped though, which is one of the reasons why I like them so much anyway.  They make disgusting food yummy.  Bethel Woods is one of those places where you can spend forty bucks and not know where it went.  I can actually say that happened today.  It wasn't completely forty bucks but, with all the water and fries, and pretzels and coffees (yeah I know this sounds like a lot, but there were a bunch of people with me), sums add up quickly.  You wonder why places like that charge so much for food when they charge so much for tickets. I understand that you can make so much money that way, because everyone is willing to shell out a little extra money when they're dying of thirst or hunger, but really, how much are they willing to dent your wallet?  They have no mercy, they really don't.

The world amazes

Why do dentists insist on talking to you when you're in the chair?  I was just realizing this today when I went for my regular 6 month cleaning.  As I was sitting there, mouth wide open, full of gunk, possessing no capability whatsoever of being able to talk, the dentist started asking me questions.  They were the usual, "How is your summer going?" or "When does school start?"  Normal questions like that should be asked before they start their work.  I have no talent in talking with my mouth full, however much Eileen will tell you otherwise.  They kind of remind me of the waitresses at restaurants who wait until your mouth is full before they ask you how the service and/or food is.  So annoying.

Speaking of annoying, I saw that movie License to Wed tonight.  I was really hoping that it would defy every review I've ever read, because a lot of movies tend to do that, at least for me.  It was ok, with some funny moments, and of course, John Krasinksi.  What movie wouldn't be ok with John Krasinski in it?  However, that movie was like a The Office reunion!!!!  It was so weird.  At first, Kelly Kapoor (aka Mindy Kaling) showed up.  At that point, I figured she just tagged along with Jim (yes, I just called John Krasinksi Jim) to the shoot.  But, later, during a scene that involved couples counseling, Kevin was there!!  It was so weird.  I thought it was some weird coincidence.  Two other Office regulars in the same movie.   Hmm...

It gets even better!!!  At this scene where the John Krasinksi character goes to the jeweler and accidentally misspelled something, Angela was behind the counter!!  I just knew at that point I couldn't take the movie seriously.  It was like The Office invading the big screen.  I was just waiting for Steve Carell to make a cameo.  Or Pam to come waltzing in and steal John Krasinski from Mandy Moore.  

Cold Rainy Days!

I cannot believe the weather today.   I am sitting here, wearing a sweatshirt, jeans, and knee socks, yet my hands are still frozen.  Why is it so cold in the middle of August??  Not to mention, it is raining, which makes things 8000 times worse.  I hate the rain, more than snow actually.  It makes everything wet and cold and getting dry is hard to do.  

Last night, I was totally prepared to write an entry, that is until I tried getting online.  The internet was ridiculous.  At first, it worked a little, but it took a gazillion minutes to load, and when a page would finally load, an error would come up saying that the server was not responding.  Instead, I watched a movie (surprise, surprise).  The movie was Nanny McPhee, which, I have to admit, I was hesitant to watch.  I've heard good things about it, but I have also heard bad.  The good definitely outweighs the bad in this movie.  It was so cute!  It was led by a strong cast, with Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, that little boy from Love, Actually and the servant girl from Gosford Park ( why can't I remember these people's names?).  If you have little kids, or even if you don't, this is a feel good movie you just have to see.  The colors are very different, bright, and odd, but with the storyline, they worked exceptionally well.  

Just go see it, if you haven't already.  You'll be in for a treat.

Almost the end

The summer is finally dwindling down.  After all the griping I've been doing about , the time is almost here to go back to school.   Exactly two weeks are left until I leave.  What a summer.  It's been full of friends, parties, and work.  I am so ready to go back to days where papers and tests occupy most of my time.  At least there, I can be independent and feel like I am actually growing up, instead of here, where I continually feel like I'm backtracking in age.  I am going to miss home though.  This summer, I spent a lot more time doing fun things with my friends.  I also got to see family members I haven't seen in awhile.  It will be a bittersweet moment, but the best of us have to grow up someday.

Cheese...I have no life

I love cheese.   It is one of my favorite dairy items, especially on other foods, like french fries, cheeseburgers, lasagna, baked ziti, macaroni and cheese... The list really can go on all day.  Today though, cheese and me had a little problem.  I was sitting at the table, grating cheese for about fifteen minutes when I realized something was not right.  It was all melty and warm, and usually when you grate cheese it's supposed to stay hard.  Also, it wasn't grating like normal.  Little clumps were coming out of the bottom instead of nice little shreds.  It wasn't doing anything right at all.  I then looked at the label and sure enough, it was not low moisture.  It was awful, so instead I had to sit there for a grueling hour and a half and dice it all into small little pieces so that it could melt properly!  I hate cheese.  (I'm lying! :P)

The dilemma of a license

For a while now, I have been dealing with people telling me to start driving.  I know I should (and I should get some credit because I did end up getting my permit) and I will need to eventually, but really, there are many ways to look at it.  I am actually helping the earth, and the citizens of it!  I'm not spending a bazillion dollars at the pump, either, so that helps me.  There are tons of people who don't drive, like four girls from my old job.  Even Meg Cabot doesn't have her license and she is living perfectly fine, with her huge paycheck from all her books she has written and all.  I just feel really stupid going places because I have to depend on my mother so much.  I feel so high school-ish.  At school, I could just hop onto a bus for free and get anywhere I wanted to.  If something was close, I would just walk.  It was really no big deal.  But here, it is very very different.  The nearest shopping store is at least twenty  miles away, so everyone has to drive to get there.  If you don't have a license, you are toast, unless you have someone to drive you that is.  My grandma says that I should just move to a city so I could just get a bus everyday.  Or marry a rich guy who will have a chauffeur to take me everywhere.

Allergies

I have found out very disturbing news.  When I read this awful piece of news, I grasped the paper and stared in awe.  It couldn't be.  The world is ending!  In Newsweek there is an article stating that a warmer Earth could mean stronger allergies!  Do you know what that means?  It means that instead of four times a year, dealing with the change in seasons, that I get awful head colds, itchy eyes, and achy muscles, that number is going to increase, or better yet, each time will be a lot worse!  I hate allergies with a passion.  First, you get a sore throat, which is totally fine and fixable.  Take a cough drop here.  Drink some Nyquil there.  But then, you get the swollen glands, which is the worst thing ever.  You can't swallow because it hurts, but you can't not swallow either.  Your face seriously looks like it gains ten pounds overnight (ok maybe five).  The headaches persist sporadically throughout the day, and you get a runny nose that never ever stops.  It's awful!  I advise anyone who has this problem to just stay away from the outdoors and lock yourself into a room that has no windows.  I really hope that the Earth stops warming up.  I will be in so much trouble if it doesn't.  Plants would be the death of me.  Seriously, this is a warning to everyone out there that if they don't do things to stop this phenomenon, not only will many species of wildlife be hurt, so will we.

The internet sucks, but it's ok

I lost my internet, surprise surprise, yet again yesterday.  I always tell myself before I get onto this website that I should write something when I know I have the internet up and going, but do I ever actually listen to that tiny voice in the back of my head? No, not at all.  I've really been feeling odd this weak, first yesterday with a sore throat, and today with a sour stomach, so it's hard to find good topics to write about, except yesterday that is.  While I was sitting in the glamorous booth of the Burger King I was eating lunch in, I happened to overhear what was happening on the TV screens perched over our heads (yet another way to help our nation fight obesity).  It was Barack Obama giving a speech. I don't know what it was for, but he was talking about the changes he would make if he would become president.  I sat there in awe, not knowing if I should believe him or not, but what he was saying was like an angel's chorus amongst a din of chaos.  He was talking about all these economic and environmental changes that needed to take place.  About cars and how oil should not be a resource we should depend on so much.  That is exactly what me and my sister have been talking about! (well, ok, mostly my sister, but I listened and agreed! which so counts)  We need to stop depending on gasoline and oil, both of which we are going to run out of one day.  He was talking about funding these major companies to create cars that were based more on electric than fuel, and how all these companies would provide thousands of jobs.  I don't know if it's too good to be true, but it sounded all right to me.

The X Games are over! :(

Today was the last day of X Games 14, and boy, was it a day.  At 3:00 I tuned in to ABC for the event that I had been looking forward to most (besides the skateboarding big air, in which Danny Way totally blew everyone away).  Two years ago, I tuned in to the rally car racing event for the first time and I really had no idea what to expect.  I had had a Playstation game long ago that dealt with rally car racing but I had never seen it televised before.  I was in for a treat, especially when it came down for Colin McRae to face off with Travis Pastrana (a rookie at the sport), who, let's face it, is one of the most talented extreme sports riders ever.  At the last possible second, Colin McRae turned the last turn too quick, flipped the car, and came into second place.  It was astonishing, not just due to the fact that Pastrana had beaten a legend, but that Colin McRae flipped right on over and came into a close second place, losing only a second or two in his final time. It was one of those moments of X Games history, where you just lose your breath in anticipation, which happens a lot more than you would think when watching.  This year however, Colin McRae wasn't able to make it to the games, due to his death last September.   All the rally cars had a special number 7 insignia plastered on to the sides of their cars and Travis Pastrana read a very heartfelt letter as a memorial to the late Colin McRae.  It wasn't only a bittersweet moment however, full of pure adrenaline and seat grabbing attention.  Dave Mirra was probably the coolest guy out there, who pressed on with barely any steering (he had to reverse a lot of the time to make the turns) while his opponent fell out of the race due to a short landing off the jump and had a fire underneath the car the first heat in the semi final.  The X games were just purely amazing this year, and I am so looking forward to next year.  Hey, Eileen, maybe we should try to go next year.  How cool would it be to witness the events that make history in person?  I want to so badly.  Here's a link to Danny Way's incredible fall (in which he totally made a comeback to win silver).  

Dark Knight-Everything and More!

It's so easy these days to go into a movie theater for a film that you've been dying to see, only to be disappointed in the end.  That was definitely not the case with Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight.  The film was magnificent, with good directorial skills (I loved the opening scene!), good acting on every actor's parts, and of course, the magnificence that is (was?) Heath Ledger.  Even Aaron Eckhart, who I hate most of the time (at least in No Reservations, he kind of bugged me) delivered an exceptional part as Harvey Dent, aka Two Face.  Everything worked with this one.  It was so easy to forget what the first film was like, due to the small lapse in time between the two, but as soon as the movie started, I remembered again why I loved the first one.  Christian Bale made an awesome Batman, with his sleek technology and cool old guys as assistants (Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman).  This film turned out to be so much better than my expectations held for it.  Heath Ledger was phenomenal as The Joker.  Seriously, if you go see this, your mind will be reeling for hours later thinking about how he played that part.   It's really sad that he won't be able to go forward with that role, considering no one else could ever play it like he did.  Go see this movie if you liked the first one, and if not, go see the first one and then see this movie.  It shows how awesome and moving cinema directors can truly be.

Danny Way and the rest of the crazy bunch

So, as usual, I am behind in what is going on with the XGames.  Today, I got to watch last night's coverage, which was beyond amazing.  Danny Way is one of my favorite people out there right now.  I just kind of want to meet him and shake his hand, he's so cool.  If you don't know anything at all about the incredible things that Danny Way did last night, look it up.  You will definitely find out some amazing comeback skills and the motivation of just the human spirit.  Bob Burnquist was awesome too, especially his last run.  You know just how powerful a competition like this can be on a person when they literally fall down into tears at the end when they win.  Jake Brown, coming back from that awful fall last year, did exceptionally well too.  He fell a couple of times, but so did the rest of them.  I don't really have much else to say, so good night.