In order to make vacations more customizable, Walt Disney World has come out with a new ticket program that applies to all guests and starts on Jan. 2 2005. Previously, there were basically two multi day ticket options...the park hopper, and the park hopper plus. The park hopper ticket allowed you to enter any of the four major parks (Magic Kingdom, MGM, Animal Kingdom, or EPCOT) on each day of use, as many times as you want...so you could go to one park in the morning, another park in the afternoon, another int he evening etc. The Park Hopper Plus also included options to go to the water parks and Pleasure Island. All tickets never expire.
The new ticket program, called "Magic Your Way" was planned to give guests more options when buying their tickets. First, there is a base price multi-day ticket. If you just buy the base price ticket, it entitiles you to entry into one park per day of the multi day tickets. If you want park hopping, you pay to get the park hopping feature. If you want plus options (like water parks) you pay a fee to add that feature. These tickets expire 14 days after first use, unless you add on the "no expiration" option, which again adds another fee.
Although all these fees sound like alot, the base ticket is lower than the old park hopper ticket. The longer you stay, the more money you save. In fact, kevin yee of www.miceage.com printed a cost comparison that shows that if you purchase a 7 day ticket with all options, it is actually $1 cheaper then the 2004 ticket! However, if you purchase a 4 day ticket the price is 28$ more then the comparable 2004 ticket.
As you can see from the following chart (taken from www.mousesavers.com) the first few days on the base price are significantly more, but the lonfer you stay, the less the increase...with the 7 day ticket being only a few dollars more than the 6 day ticket!
My only complaint is that the tickets expire now. I guess it makes sense with the new prices (why wouldn't you pay a bit more to double the length of your tickets?) and you can add no expiration as an option, but that is one of the few options that cost more as the number of days of the base ticket increases.
ANyway, here is the info from mouse savers. Check out teh website, www.mousesavers.com for more info.
Magic Your Way Base Ticket
(gate price for admission to one theme park per day, including tax)
# Days Adult (ages 10 and up) Child (ages 3-9)
1 $63.63 $51.12
2 $126.74 $102.24
3 $182.12 $145.91
4 $197.03 $157.62
5 $205.55 $165.08
6 $208.74 $167.21
7 $211.94 $170.40
10 $222.59 $177.86
Add-on purchases to the base ticket include:
Park Hopper Option - Adding the Park-Hopper Option lets you come and go as you please through all four Disney theme parks on the same day or every day for each day of your pass. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $35 ($37.28 with tax). This works out to just over $5 per day on a seven-day ticket, but obviously it adds a lot proportionally to the cost of a one-day ticket.
Magic Plus Pack - This option provides the choice of admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island or Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $45 ($47.93 with tax). You get a set number of visits to the Magic Plus Pack attractions, depending on the length of the ticket you buy. The flat rate gives you:
1-day ticket - 2 visits
2-day ticket - 2 visits
3-day ticket - 2 visits
4-day ticket - 3 visits
5-day ticket - 3 visits
6-day ticket - 4 visits
7-day ticket - 5 visits
10-day ticket - 5 visits
As you can see, there is a big incentive to buy the longer passes, so that you'll get more "pluses" for your money. If you will be visiting the water parks and/or DisneyQuest at least twice, this add-on is definitely a good deal.
Magic Your Way Premium Ticket - This ticket combines the benefits of the Park Hopper option and the Magic Plus Pack option. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $80 ($85.20 with tax).
No Expiration Option - Regular Magic Your Way Tickets expire 14 days after their first use. Choosing the No Expiration option means you are free to come back and take advantage of unused days at any time. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is:
2-day ticket - $10
3-day ticket - $10
4-day ticket - $15
5-day ticket - $35
6-day ticket - $45
7-day ticket - $55
10-day ticket - $100
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Happy Holidays
Hi all! I hope that your Christmas and New Years are going well! My break is flying by. i don't want to go back to school yet, and I still have 4 days (only 4 days???) Life is grand right now with no worries...no immediate worries that it (although there is a little nagging voice in the back of my head saying..."you need to start your research...you need to plan your wedding..." although we have done some wedding stuff.
We have our honeymoon planned and pretty much booked (Thanks to Grant). We are going to spend two nights at the Grand Californian (our wedding night and the next night, so that we can actually see the hotel and go to Disneyland and relax a bit before we rush off on the plane...
Then we are going to fly to Orlando and spend three days at Disney World. (Our way of incorporating one of our favorite destination spots into our honeymoon...something old, right?) Next, we are flying to Puerto Rico and spending 2 days there before leaving on a southern carribean cruise. After the cruise, we are going to spend 6 nights on St. Croix, at a cute little cottage on the beach...how exciting and awesome is that?
Other things we did on our break...we spent 4 days in Laughlin, which was actually quite nice. We had fun, but I ddin't win anything. I think Grant broke even. Christmas eve was spent looking at Christmas Lights and spending time with family. On Christmas Day, we went over to Grant's parents house, and spent another family day together. (do you know how wonderful it is to have my parents and Grant's parents as friends?)
I hope that your holidays are going well...that they are relaxing, peaceful, and full of love. Happy Holidays!
We have our honeymoon planned and pretty much booked (Thanks to Grant). We are going to spend two nights at the Grand Californian (our wedding night and the next night, so that we can actually see the hotel and go to Disneyland and relax a bit before we rush off on the plane...
Then we are going to fly to Orlando and spend three days at Disney World. (Our way of incorporating one of our favorite destination spots into our honeymoon...something old, right?) Next, we are flying to Puerto Rico and spending 2 days there before leaving on a southern carribean cruise. After the cruise, we are going to spend 6 nights on St. Croix, at a cute little cottage on the beach...how exciting and awesome is that?
Other things we did on our break...we spent 4 days in Laughlin, which was actually quite nice. We had fun, but I ddin't win anything. I think Grant broke even. Christmas eve was spent looking at Christmas Lights and spending time with family. On Christmas Day, we went over to Grant's parents house, and spent another family day together. (do you know how wonderful it is to have my parents and Grant's parents as friends?)
I hope that your holidays are going well...that they are relaxing, peaceful, and full of love. Happy Holidays!
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Romantic Comedies
Last night, I watched Notting Hill, and I decided to give you all a list of my favoritwe romantic comedies. They're great to watch when you are feeling pissed about your job... (o:
(Not in any particular order:)
Notting Hill - Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts...Julia plays a world famous actress, Hugh plays a regular guy from Notting Hill... almost a fairy tale in reverse, with the regular guy falling in love with the famous women (instead of the peasent girl and the prince...) two very strong characters, both bringing something different to the relationship, a fantastic tale of some intrinsic truths about true love...compromise, understanding, and honesty. Very sweet and very funny.
When Harry Met Sally - Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan - Two aquaintences, become friends. During their friendship, they learn all about each other, and begin to see each other's quirks as charms...(I love the way Harry describes Sall'y food oreringhabits later in the movie, something like, "She orders things in a way that the chef didin't even know it could be so good...) The two try for a Will and Grace type platonic relationship, except that neither is gay...so eventually, as Harry tells Sally on thier first meeting, sex does get in the way... A beautiful, funny story with a great cast...one of my all time favorites...great sound track...
The American President - Michael Douglass, Annette Benning - The story of a political lobbyist and the widowed American President...similar to Notting Hill, can they fall in love with the whole world watching? But charming in its own way. Michael Douglass plays a president who is trying desperatly to have his own life and be a popular president, a role he idealistically believes is true, while opponents of his use every trick to turn his personal life into media fodder. (I love idealists...) My only beef with this movie...I thought they had sex way too fast...they barely knew each other, hadn't spent much time together yet...I don't know...it just didin't come off as romantic...but all in all a great movie...warm and charming...great supporting cast (Michael J Fox, Martin Sheen) Again one of my favorites...
Those are a few of my favorites...sigh...
(Not in any particular order:)
Notting Hill - Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts...Julia plays a world famous actress, Hugh plays a regular guy from Notting Hill... almost a fairy tale in reverse, with the regular guy falling in love with the famous women (instead of the peasent girl and the prince...) two very strong characters, both bringing something different to the relationship, a fantastic tale of some intrinsic truths about true love...compromise, understanding, and honesty. Very sweet and very funny.
When Harry Met Sally - Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan - Two aquaintences, become friends. During their friendship, they learn all about each other, and begin to see each other's quirks as charms...(I love the way Harry describes Sall'y food oreringhabits later in the movie, something like, "She orders things in a way that the chef didin't even know it could be so good...) The two try for a Will and Grace type platonic relationship, except that neither is gay...so eventually, as Harry tells Sally on thier first meeting, sex does get in the way... A beautiful, funny story with a great cast...one of my all time favorites...great sound track...
The American President - Michael Douglass, Annette Benning - The story of a political lobbyist and the widowed American President...similar to Notting Hill, can they fall in love with the whole world watching? But charming in its own way. Michael Douglass plays a president who is trying desperatly to have his own life and be a popular president, a role he idealistically believes is true, while opponents of his use every trick to turn his personal life into media fodder. (I love idealists...) My only beef with this movie...I thought they had sex way too fast...they barely knew each other, hadn't spent much time together yet...I don't know...it just didin't come off as romantic...but all in all a great movie...warm and charming...great supporting cast (Michael J Fox, Martin Sheen) Again one of my favorites...
Those are a few of my favorites...sigh...
Education
Crikey...everytime I get on here, its for a long winded mish mash update...but really, since I am, by nature, long winded and mish mashy, I really can't be much suprised.
So, report cards are done, one more final for school, and one more week until Christmas Vacation. Wowzers. Unbelievable. Time flies. All that jazz...
I am really not liking my job. I know, you hear that all the time. But it is so dissapointing becasue I thought I would love my job. But I don't. I don't feel like I am teaching, I am reading a script. I can't do thematic units or literature circles. It is very frustrating. Let's just say that I know I can be a good teacher, but education, right now, isn't about teaching children, providing them with experiences (which everyone knows are a lot more memorable and impressionistic then everyday school lessons...think back to when you were in school...what do you remember? What left the lasting impressions. I can pretty much guarentee that those experiences, by and large,are not happening in public schools these days)
Thanks to a beuracratic educational system, National Laws trying to control schools (which are suppposed to be run state and locally), there needs to be numbers...quantitative data....unfortunatly, these are children, and no situation is ever the same, and no set of numerical data can express what true learning and understanding is taking place.
Sometimes, education has immediate effects...more often then not, the big lessons are learned far in the future, and these effects can't be measured on a written test. Unfortunatly, we are not teaching...we are preparing students to take tests.
For a positive view of this line of thinking, it gives state and national governments data, however unimportant in the large scheme of things, to work with to try to "improve" education, unfortunatly, int he wrong direction.
In the middle of the continuam, if education continumes in this manner, adults in our next generation will now how to fill out multiple choice tests, but have little experince in real world problems, critical thinking, multiple perspective thinking......
worse case senario, the government is forming education to train people to be what they want of their next genreation of citizens, not radical free thinkers who will try to change and possibly improve our world (like great thinkers in the past...Jefferson, Franklin, King...) but little lemmings trained to not think or question, but to fill out forms and tests....scary.
Well, that was much more than I had anticipated saying! I even had to go back and change the beginning of the post, becasue I had said at one point, "I am not going to get into it, but..."
Anyways, that is the tip of th ice berg of how a LOT of people are feeling about education these days. I read an article the other day that commented on the same ideas. I should find it and quote it for you. In the mean time, well, arg!
So, report cards are done, one more final for school, and one more week until Christmas Vacation. Wowzers. Unbelievable. Time flies. All that jazz...
I am really not liking my job. I know, you hear that all the time. But it is so dissapointing becasue I thought I would love my job. But I don't. I don't feel like I am teaching, I am reading a script. I can't do thematic units or literature circles. It is very frustrating. Let's just say that I know I can be a good teacher, but education, right now, isn't about teaching children, providing them with experiences (which everyone knows are a lot more memorable and impressionistic then everyday school lessons...think back to when you were in school...what do you remember? What left the lasting impressions. I can pretty much guarentee that those experiences, by and large,are not happening in public schools these days)
Thanks to a beuracratic educational system, National Laws trying to control schools (which are suppposed to be run state and locally), there needs to be numbers...quantitative data....unfortunatly, these are children, and no situation is ever the same, and no set of numerical data can express what true learning and understanding is taking place.
Sometimes, education has immediate effects...more often then not, the big lessons are learned far in the future, and these effects can't be measured on a written test. Unfortunatly, we are not teaching...we are preparing students to take tests.
For a positive view of this line of thinking, it gives state and national governments data, however unimportant in the large scheme of things, to work with to try to "improve" education, unfortunatly, int he wrong direction.
In the middle of the continuam, if education continumes in this manner, adults in our next generation will now how to fill out multiple choice tests, but have little experince in real world problems, critical thinking, multiple perspective thinking......
worse case senario, the government is forming education to train people to be what they want of their next genreation of citizens, not radical free thinkers who will try to change and possibly improve our world (like great thinkers in the past...Jefferson, Franklin, King...) but little lemmings trained to not think or question, but to fill out forms and tests....scary.
Well, that was much more than I had anticipated saying! I even had to go back and change the beginning of the post, becasue I had said at one point, "I am not going to get into it, but..."
Anyways, that is the tip of th ice berg of how a LOT of people are feeling about education these days. I read an article the other day that commented on the same ideas. I should find it and quote it for you. In the mean time, well, arg!
Friday, November 26, 2004
Catch Up
Well, since I am being so damn lazt, the least I can do is catch you all up, I guess, but first I have to go blow my nose.
Better...for the moment, anyway...
So let's see, school (As in school, school...at CSUF) Is going ok. One of my classes I absolutly love, seeing as how the profssor is awesome and I have a friend in that class. The other class I hate, as it is the most useless class I have taken at Cal State Fullerton.
In any case, I am going to a meeting next week about the Master's project, which is good because I need to pick a damn topic already and I am starting to get REALLY nervous about the situation.
School (work school) Is going well, too. I enjoy first grade, although not as much as upper grade, although it is really nice having only 20 kids. I don't think I want to stay in first grade, although I am definatly interested in trying second or third. The most difficult thing is that they can not read the directions on anything yet, which means I am constantly standing in front of the room giving directions...and thats another thing...I have to stand in front of the room and give directions...now that may seem obvious, but let me explain, you see, when you teach fourth or fifth grade, you can walk around the classroom and talk, and the kids heads swivel with you (It is a pretty neat feature...) so you can, say, be back by your desk, or by a side wall, and be giving directions, and well, the kids listen! (Well, at least as much as they listen when you are standing in front of the class...)
But first grade? A whole new ball game. You see, if you are not standing front and center, its like you cease to exist. So forget sitting at your side table and adding some directions. Forget standing over by the chart as you talk. Forget walking to the back of the room to pick up a stack of papers to hand out as you discuss the complicated directions of their math assignment involving finding the number that is one more or one less then a given number.) Becasue the second you step out of the 5 by 3 foot box you create in the front of the classroom, you might as well be a fly on the wall for all of the attenrtion these kids pay to you.
But over all, I really am enjoying the experience. Wouold I do it again? For sure. Is it my favorite grade to teach? No. Do I enjoy it? Yes. Do I thinnk I'd ever want to settle here? I doubt it.
Wedding Plans - sigh. You know, it is amazingly complicated to try to plan a simple wedding. At least we have the location and the date. But you know what the best part is? I am so in love with my Grant that even when things are the most frustrating, I can't help feeling incredibly happy!
Well, I am off to el grocery store and then I am going to get the christmas decorations down.
Later!
Better...for the moment, anyway...
So let's see, school (As in school, school...at CSUF) Is going ok. One of my classes I absolutly love, seeing as how the profssor is awesome and I have a friend in that class. The other class I hate, as it is the most useless class I have taken at Cal State Fullerton.
In any case, I am going to a meeting next week about the Master's project, which is good because I need to pick a damn topic already and I am starting to get REALLY nervous about the situation.
School (work school) Is going well, too. I enjoy first grade, although not as much as upper grade, although it is really nice having only 20 kids. I don't think I want to stay in first grade, although I am definatly interested in trying second or third. The most difficult thing is that they can not read the directions on anything yet, which means I am constantly standing in front of the room giving directions...and thats another thing...I have to stand in front of the room and give directions...now that may seem obvious, but let me explain, you see, when you teach fourth or fifth grade, you can walk around the classroom and talk, and the kids heads swivel with you (It is a pretty neat feature...) so you can, say, be back by your desk, or by a side wall, and be giving directions, and well, the kids listen! (Well, at least as much as they listen when you are standing in front of the class...)
But first grade? A whole new ball game. You see, if you are not standing front and center, its like you cease to exist. So forget sitting at your side table and adding some directions. Forget standing over by the chart as you talk. Forget walking to the back of the room to pick up a stack of papers to hand out as you discuss the complicated directions of their math assignment involving finding the number that is one more or one less then a given number.) Becasue the second you step out of the 5 by 3 foot box you create in the front of the classroom, you might as well be a fly on the wall for all of the attenrtion these kids pay to you.
But over all, I really am enjoying the experience. Wouold I do it again? For sure. Is it my favorite grade to teach? No. Do I enjoy it? Yes. Do I thinnk I'd ever want to settle here? I doubt it.
Wedding Plans - sigh. You know, it is amazingly complicated to try to plan a simple wedding. At least we have the location and the date. But you know what the best part is? I am so in love with my Grant that even when things are the most frustrating, I can't help feeling incredibly happy!
Well, I am off to el grocery store and then I am going to get the christmas decorations down.
Later!
So Lazy
I have done nothing today. Nothing. I have been so lazy. It is utterly ridiculous how lazy I have been. And do you know what I feel like doing right now? Sleeping. How awful is that? A long hard day of absolutly nothing, and all I want to do is sleep.
What's wrong with this generation?
And I can't even blame it on leftover turkey.
What's wrong with this generation?
And I can't even blame it on leftover turkey.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Belle's Graduation
Well, Belle had graduation from her Novice obedience training last night...and she got first place! I am so proud of my puppy! She did so good!
Her score was 148 (out or 200). He said, first of all, that our scores were all very good, and that our last place score (108, I think....) would have beat the first place dog at another class he just finished.
One thing that Belle missed was her sit stay, which was 30 points off her score. This is unusual, becasue one thing that Belle is VERY good at is a sit stay, she always has been, even in puppy kindergarden. And she didn't get up or anything...she just layed down in the middle of it. Unfortunatly, that lost all 30 points. (Its an all or nothing gig.)
Funny enough, all the dogs missed the sit stay, which left the scores pretty even.
The instructer said that had Belle made the sit stay, she would have had 170, and for a dog to get into the 170's at this class is unusual.
I was dissapointed that she didn;t, but consoled myself by knowing that Belle really is good at the sit stay... one of the down falls of an all or nothing competitiom like this (If there had been a recored of over all sit stays throughout the class, Belle would have won, hands down on the the sit stay part...she is good at that...)
But as I type, I realize something else. If Belle had done the sit stay, she would have won by a landslide. Becasue she didn't, she stayed even with the other dogs, which meant that she won on our handeling (the heels and the figure 8's and the come, and the stand for inspection, whjich she got perfect...) Had she won becasue of the sit stay, I wouldn't have remembered the other scores, and I would wonder if she had only won becasue of the sit stay...if that pulled her ahead with the free 30 points....but now I know she won all around! What a feeling!
Haver I mentioned how proud I am of my puppy? (Now, if we could just get off the leash, stuff down!)
Her score was 148 (out or 200). He said, first of all, that our scores were all very good, and that our last place score (108, I think....) would have beat the first place dog at another class he just finished.
One thing that Belle missed was her sit stay, which was 30 points off her score. This is unusual, becasue one thing that Belle is VERY good at is a sit stay, she always has been, even in puppy kindergarden. And she didn't get up or anything...she just layed down in the middle of it. Unfortunatly, that lost all 30 points. (Its an all or nothing gig.)
Funny enough, all the dogs missed the sit stay, which left the scores pretty even.
The instructer said that had Belle made the sit stay, she would have had 170, and for a dog to get into the 170's at this class is unusual.
I was dissapointed that she didn;t, but consoled myself by knowing that Belle really is good at the sit stay... one of the down falls of an all or nothing competitiom like this (If there had been a recored of over all sit stays throughout the class, Belle would have won, hands down on the the sit stay part...she is good at that...)
But as I type, I realize something else. If Belle had done the sit stay, she would have won by a landslide. Becasue she didn't, she stayed even with the other dogs, which meant that she won on our handeling (the heels and the figure 8's and the come, and the stand for inspection, whjich she got perfect...) Had she won becasue of the sit stay, I wouldn't have remembered the other scores, and I would wonder if she had only won becasue of the sit stay...if that pulled her ahead with the free 30 points....but now I know she won all around! What a feeling!
Haver I mentioned how proud I am of my puppy? (Now, if we could just get off the leash, stuff down!)
Sunday, November 07, 2004
The Rest of my Life...
I waited to Blog aout this becasue I wanted to make sure all of the family knew from us before I said anything...but I can tell y'all no. It is official!
On Sunday morning, October 24th, on a beautiful day in Seattle, Grant asked me to marry him, and I, of course, said yes.
The weeks since have been just amazing. I feel like I am walking on cloud nine. Marrying Grant is all that I can think about. The two of us have been just as romantic as we've ever been. Its like, even though we knew we were getting married, now that it is official, everything is more wonderful than ever before!
I am so excited, happy, and proud to be marrying someone as wonderful as Grant!
On Sunday morning, October 24th, on a beautiful day in Seattle, Grant asked me to marry him, and I, of course, said yes.
The weeks since have been just amazing. I feel like I am walking on cloud nine. Marrying Grant is all that I can think about. The two of us have been just as romantic as we've ever been. Its like, even though we knew we were getting married, now that it is official, everything is more wonderful than ever before!
I am so excited, happy, and proud to be marrying someone as wonderful as Grant!
The Dark Tower
Well, folks, it is almost finished. I have read all of the Dark Tower Books, and have reached the very end of my journey with Roland, and his Ka-tet. It has been a long journey, full of hardship and kinship, sorrow, and joy. And love.
At the end of the book, Sai Stephen King has given his readers a choice. At this particular junction, we are left with quite a happy scene...one that would leave his readers, like me, sobbing with relief...happiness...sincerity...
And yet, he taunts us with one more key...one more revelation, that, he warns, will not make the reader happy at all. In fact, it may leave the reader heartbroken.
He gives us the option to stop here, with the scolding that so many of his Constant Readers ignore the journey for the "end.." and reminds us that the end isn't always the most worthwhile part of a journey.
(And, to be honest, I was shocked when I got to the choice...I really thought the "ending," or what I thought was the ending, was sufficient...I had thought that knowing more would not be possible...it is too great...or to horrible...especially is it has to do with what I suspect it may...)
And feeling it a sufficient ending, I wouldn't have been sad closing the book there...wouldn't have clamored for more...
But know that I know that there is more...
I can't close the book...I must go with him all the way, for he has pulled me along thus far...to abondond him at the end of his path...despite what must lie there, I can not do.
So I will go on...
But not tonight (What? You mean I haven't already finished it?) No...I will wait to finish this tale. Tonight, I will leave in my thoughts the warm memories Sai King has planted at the near end of his tale.
I am not ready to go on...
Our Gunslinger would understand...
At the end of the book, Sai Stephen King has given his readers a choice. At this particular junction, we are left with quite a happy scene...one that would leave his readers, like me, sobbing with relief...happiness...sincerity...
And yet, he taunts us with one more key...one more revelation, that, he warns, will not make the reader happy at all. In fact, it may leave the reader heartbroken.
He gives us the option to stop here, with the scolding that so many of his Constant Readers ignore the journey for the "end.." and reminds us that the end isn't always the most worthwhile part of a journey.
(And, to be honest, I was shocked when I got to the choice...I really thought the "ending," or what I thought was the ending, was sufficient...I had thought that knowing more would not be possible...it is too great...or to horrible...especially is it has to do with what I suspect it may...)
And feeling it a sufficient ending, I wouldn't have been sad closing the book there...wouldn't have clamored for more...
But know that I know that there is more...
I can't close the book...I must go with him all the way, for he has pulled me along thus far...to abondond him at the end of his path...despite what must lie there, I can not do.
So I will go on...
But not tonight (What? You mean I haven't already finished it?) No...I will wait to finish this tale. Tonight, I will leave in my thoughts the warm memories Sai King has planted at the near end of his tale.
I am not ready to go on...
Our Gunslinger would understand...
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Sunday in Seattle
Sunday came and went far to quickly, but it turned out to be the most beautiful day of all.
We left the hotel room later than expected, and decided to ask for late check out so that we didn't need to feel rushed. We had breakfast at the hotel's resteraunt (a nice breakfast buffet.)
When we packed and left, we headed over to the Woodland PArk Zoo, which was perhaps one of the neatest layed out zoos I've ever visited. Everything branched off a large loop, so it was easy to keep track of where you were and where you'd been. Many of the exhibits had several vantage points, yet each view was, for the most part, hidden from the other views. FOr example, you could look at the lions from one place, and then walk a little farhter a long and look into the same enclosure, but the place where you had stopped to look before was hidden from view, so you didn't see a bunch of people staring in, you saw the vegetation and the animals. Very cool.
Grant especailly enjoyed the gorillas.
After the zoo, we went back to Pike Place MArket and got some sea food to take home. Grant got Salmon (and smoked salmon for Belle) and I got Crab.) Yummy!
WE headed for the airport earlier than planned, but there was a lot of traffic so that was a good thing.
All in all, it was an amazing trip. I love traveling. I love traveling with Grant. He makes things so special, and if I havn't mentioned it before, he and I make great travel partners. We like to travel in the same way, see the same sorts of sights....Thank you, Grant, for the wonderful trip!
We left the hotel room later than expected, and decided to ask for late check out so that we didn't need to feel rushed. We had breakfast at the hotel's resteraunt (a nice breakfast buffet.)
When we packed and left, we headed over to the Woodland PArk Zoo, which was perhaps one of the neatest layed out zoos I've ever visited. Everything branched off a large loop, so it was easy to keep track of where you were and where you'd been. Many of the exhibits had several vantage points, yet each view was, for the most part, hidden from the other views. FOr example, you could look at the lions from one place, and then walk a little farhter a long and look into the same enclosure, but the place where you had stopped to look before was hidden from view, so you didn't see a bunch of people staring in, you saw the vegetation and the animals. Very cool.
Grant especailly enjoyed the gorillas.
After the zoo, we went back to Pike Place MArket and got some sea food to take home. Grant got Salmon (and smoked salmon for Belle) and I got Crab.) Yummy!
WE headed for the airport earlier than planned, but there was a lot of traffic so that was a good thing.
All in all, it was an amazing trip. I love traveling. I love traveling with Grant. He makes things so special, and if I havn't mentioned it before, he and I make great travel partners. We like to travel in the same way, see the same sorts of sights....Thank you, Grant, for the wonderful trip!
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Saturday in Seattle
Ok, I am super tired, so I am going to make this quick.
We had another great day today. It was cool, but rained very little.
We went to City Center first. This is like a huge park, originally designed for the World's Fair, and it has museums, theaters, a carnival, and teh Space Needle.
First, we went to the Pacific Science Center. Very neat. Grant and I both liked the Butterfly Garden the best. - Like an atrium but with tons of butterflies. it was very awesome. I also liked the water playground outside, it was like a court yard with water exhibits, like high powered water shooters. We saw a Kiliminjaro Imax that was included in our City Pass.
We had Lunch at the Center House, which is like a big mall food court in the middle of city center. They have cultural festivals inside all year and this weekend was a Turkish festival.
Next, we went to the Science Fiction Museum. (Guess whose idea that was?) It was very diverse; it talked about all kinds of sci-fi, books, movies, tv shows etc. Of course, grant loved all of the Star trek stuff.
Then we went to the Experience Music Project. The interactive stuff was cool, but there wasn;t enough of it. The also had individual pods you could rent that told you more about each exhibit. Very neat, and coul;d be very cool if you were fans of the main people that gave the information. (Wilson Phillips, for example, did a lot of the information.)
Suprisingly we were done earlier then we expected. So we headed up to the Ballard Locks and watched some boats go through. Then we went to Discovery PArk, which was formerly a Naval BAse. Discovery Park was beautiful, with Fall coloring the trees red and gold. We found some little ponds and a place to look out at the bay.
Next we had dinner on the water front. Grant had coconut crusted salmon and I had crab legs....yummy! Perhaps the best crab I have ever had!
We ended are evening by going up to the top of the Space Needle. It was cccccold, but the view was awesome. Grant and I split a hot chocolate and enjoyed the sights.
Ok, Gonna get some sleep now! (o:
We had another great day today. It was cool, but rained very little.
We went to City Center first. This is like a huge park, originally designed for the World's Fair, and it has museums, theaters, a carnival, and teh Space Needle.
First, we went to the Pacific Science Center. Very neat. Grant and I both liked the Butterfly Garden the best. - Like an atrium but with tons of butterflies. it was very awesome. I also liked the water playground outside, it was like a court yard with water exhibits, like high powered water shooters. We saw a Kiliminjaro Imax that was included in our City Pass.
We had Lunch at the Center House, which is like a big mall food court in the middle of city center. They have cultural festivals inside all year and this weekend was a Turkish festival.
Next, we went to the Science Fiction Museum. (Guess whose idea that was?) It was very diverse; it talked about all kinds of sci-fi, books, movies, tv shows etc. Of course, grant loved all of the Star trek stuff.
Then we went to the Experience Music Project. The interactive stuff was cool, but there wasn;t enough of it. The also had individual pods you could rent that told you more about each exhibit. Very neat, and coul;d be very cool if you were fans of the main people that gave the information. (Wilson Phillips, for example, did a lot of the information.)
Suprisingly we were done earlier then we expected. So we headed up to the Ballard Locks and watched some boats go through. Then we went to Discovery PArk, which was formerly a Naval BAse. Discovery Park was beautiful, with Fall coloring the trees red and gold. We found some little ponds and a place to look out at the bay.
Next we had dinner on the water front. Grant had coconut crusted salmon and I had crab legs....yummy! Perhaps the best crab I have ever had!
We ended are evening by going up to the top of the Space Needle. It was cccccold, but the view was awesome. Grant and I split a hot chocolate and enjoyed the sights.
Ok, Gonna get some sleep now! (o:
Friday, October 22, 2004
Friday in Seattle
We had an amazing day today! What an awesome city. There is so much within walking distance that it made things really easy. We were up and on our way to the waterfront by 9:00. We parked in an all day lot for $7 between Pike Place Market and the waterfront.
We headed up to Pike Place Market first and found a little coffee shop that had a pancake and egg breakfast special.
After we ate, we walked down first street about 9 blocks to Pioneer Square, which is a Historic District; one the oldest parts of the city. We signed up for the Underground Tour at eleven, but we still had a half an hour, so we walked arond Pioneer Square and up to a neat little waterfall garden that is sort of hidden. It was cool. We also checked out the underground bus terminal.
The Underground Tour was very cool. Apparently, when they first built Seattle, they bult it write on the ground, which was a problem since the entire area was a huge mud flat backed to basically a cliff...the hill grade was like 45%. Being at sea level on such swampy ground caused all sorts of problems, particularly with sewage, especially when the tide came in.
In the late 1800's a fire burnt down a large section of down town Seattle (like, 3 by nine blocks or something). So they had to rebuild the town. Business owners began rebuilding immediatly at seal level, so they could open their buildings. City planners, however, had a different idea. In a large section of the down town area, the lined the streets (just past the side walk) with large, thick walls one story tall. They filled in the streets between the walls with dirt from the hills and rebuilt the street on top, 12 feet above the original street. Using steal I beams and brick arches, they created new sidewalks as well. Business Owners who had rebuilt already found their main, street level entrances on the second floor of their businesses. (The knew this was coming, so they purposly designed the second floor doors much more ornate then the "first floor." For many years, the underground sidewalks were still in use, creating arcades for shoppers to use in inclement weather. Eventually they became abandoned. Bill Speidal discovered them and created a tour to try to bring so noteriety to the historic Pioneer Square (which had become the slummy part of town....the phrase "skid row" was coined here, as the main logging area where lumber was "skidded" down the hill was located in this area, which was full of salloons and "entertainment houses" and was for other reasons as well, becoming very undesireable. Anyway, Speidel's tour become so popular that it continues today...39 years later....you get to go uunderground and see the old tunnels, and learn all of this fascinating stuff. It really was VERY cool and VERY interesting.
Do to Pioneer Square being named a national historical district, and through the work of dedicated people, Pioneer Square is becoming a better neighborhood. Lots of shops and resteraunts are opened now. Some are even renovating their "basements" (orininal first floors) and are using them for offices, storage space, or even customer areas. Its very neat.
While we were on the tour, we walked by Longhorn's BBQ, and it smelled so good we ended up having lunch there. Yummy very good.
Then we walked back to the underground bus stationand took it for a few stops. Its almost like a subway...subway tunnels, for sure, but busses drive through them.
We walked back to Pike Place Market and checked out the produce and fish stalls. Very neat, very crowded...would be great if we lived close by so we could take advantage of the fresh food!!!!
We went next down to the wateer front and bought our city pass from Pier 55. We also got reservations for the 2:45 harbour tour. We had like 30 minutes to kill so we decided to go to the Aquarium. We did the beginning of the Aquarium and then went back to do the harbour tour. Even though it was over cast and drizzly at times, you could see well, and we learned a lot of interesting things from our very enthusiastic (read, somewhat annoying at times) tour guide.
After our boat ride we went back to the aquarium and finished that. The sea otters were so cute! But they made me miss Belle. Also, there wsere people walking dogs everywhere! Even in Pike Place Market!
After the Aquarium, we headed down to Pier 50 and took a commuter ferry back and forth to Vashon, 25 miuntes each way.
When we got back to Seattle, we stopped at one of the fish resteraunts and got some clam chowder to share. We went to visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe (we saw it on "Road Trip" on the Travel Channel so we ducked inside.) There are actual Shrunken Heads and 2 mummified bodies!
Finally, we went to the dome IMAX and saw the Imax movie "The Eruption of Mt. Saint Helens," at 7:00. We got back to our car at 7:35, exactly 10 hours after we had parked (10 hours maximum parking...so we got back right when our ticket expired!
We're back at the hotel now, chillin. Resting our feetsies.
So far so good. We are really enjoying Seattle. Grant and I are such good travel partners! (o:
We headed up to Pike Place Market first and found a little coffee shop that had a pancake and egg breakfast special.
After we ate, we walked down first street about 9 blocks to Pioneer Square, which is a Historic District; one the oldest parts of the city. We signed up for the Underground Tour at eleven, but we still had a half an hour, so we walked arond Pioneer Square and up to a neat little waterfall garden that is sort of hidden. It was cool. We also checked out the underground bus terminal.
The Underground Tour was very cool. Apparently, when they first built Seattle, they bult it write on the ground, which was a problem since the entire area was a huge mud flat backed to basically a cliff...the hill grade was like 45%. Being at sea level on such swampy ground caused all sorts of problems, particularly with sewage, especially when the tide came in.
In the late 1800's a fire burnt down a large section of down town Seattle (like, 3 by nine blocks or something). So they had to rebuild the town. Business owners began rebuilding immediatly at seal level, so they could open their buildings. City planners, however, had a different idea. In a large section of the down town area, the lined the streets (just past the side walk) with large, thick walls one story tall. They filled in the streets between the walls with dirt from the hills and rebuilt the street on top, 12 feet above the original street. Using steal I beams and brick arches, they created new sidewalks as well. Business Owners who had rebuilt already found their main, street level entrances on the second floor of their businesses. (The knew this was coming, so they purposly designed the second floor doors much more ornate then the "first floor." For many years, the underground sidewalks were still in use, creating arcades for shoppers to use in inclement weather. Eventually they became abandoned. Bill Speidal discovered them and created a tour to try to bring so noteriety to the historic Pioneer Square (which had become the slummy part of town....the phrase "skid row" was coined here, as the main logging area where lumber was "skidded" down the hill was located in this area, which was full of salloons and "entertainment houses" and was for other reasons as well, becoming very undesireable. Anyway, Speidel's tour become so popular that it continues today...39 years later....you get to go uunderground and see the old tunnels, and learn all of this fascinating stuff. It really was VERY cool and VERY interesting.
Do to Pioneer Square being named a national historical district, and through the work of dedicated people, Pioneer Square is becoming a better neighborhood. Lots of shops and resteraunts are opened now. Some are even renovating their "basements" (orininal first floors) and are using them for offices, storage space, or even customer areas. Its very neat.
While we were on the tour, we walked by Longhorn's BBQ, and it smelled so good we ended up having lunch there. Yummy very good.
Then we walked back to the underground bus stationand took it for a few stops. Its almost like a subway...subway tunnels, for sure, but busses drive through them.
We walked back to Pike Place Market and checked out the produce and fish stalls. Very neat, very crowded...would be great if we lived close by so we could take advantage of the fresh food!!!!
We went next down to the wateer front and bought our city pass from Pier 55. We also got reservations for the 2:45 harbour tour. We had like 30 minutes to kill so we decided to go to the Aquarium. We did the beginning of the Aquarium and then went back to do the harbour tour. Even though it was over cast and drizzly at times, you could see well, and we learned a lot of interesting things from our very enthusiastic (read, somewhat annoying at times) tour guide.
After our boat ride we went back to the aquarium and finished that. The sea otters were so cute! But they made me miss Belle. Also, there wsere people walking dogs everywhere! Even in Pike Place Market!
After the Aquarium, we headed down to Pier 50 and took a commuter ferry back and forth to Vashon, 25 miuntes each way.
When we got back to Seattle, we stopped at one of the fish resteraunts and got some clam chowder to share. We went to visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe (we saw it on "Road Trip" on the Travel Channel so we ducked inside.) There are actual Shrunken Heads and 2 mummified bodies!
Finally, we went to the dome IMAX and saw the Imax movie "The Eruption of Mt. Saint Helens," at 7:00. We got back to our car at 7:35, exactly 10 hours after we had parked (10 hours maximum parking...so we got back right when our ticket expired!
We're back at the hotel now, chillin. Resting our feetsies.
So far so good. We are really enjoying Seattle. Grant and I are such good travel partners! (o:
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Arrived in Seattle
So far so good. Everything has been workingout so well for this trip....bunch of funny little coincidences...dog class being canceled this week so Belle wouldn't have newstuff to practice this week while we were gone for four days Thanks rain gods), No class tonight (Thanks Dr. Brown), last day of conferences so I get done with teaching at 1:00 (thanks school district and the gods of fate that put os un the first week of conference scheduling) our totally cool flight out of long beach that was easy, and stress free (thank the spirits of small airports) and the fact thaT Enterprise upgraded us for free to a Luxary car...
This trip must be written in the stars!
We have email at our hotel so check here when you can for updates...when I can!
This trip must be written in the stars!
We have email at our hotel so check here when you can for updates...when I can!
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Have I mentioned that my neighbor is an ass?
Yeah, my neighbor is an ass. He pisses me off. He is so rude. And he always has an asshole thing to say.
Like, when Belle ran over into his yard to sniff around when she was like 3 months old and still getting trained. I go over and say, "Come on Belle, cute puppy." He comes out and says, "You better not get her used to coming over to my yard. I don't want her around my dog." Ass. First of all, like I would want my dog in his yard, inhaling his evil fumes. Second, like his dog didn't come over when she was a puppy a few times...we didn't say anything nasty. Not to mention that the family's previous dog attacked our previous dog when I was in grade school. So who shouldn't trust who? BESIDES, it just isn't a very neighborly thing to say. Most considerate people might say something like, "Oh is this your new puppy? blah blah blah...just be careful while you are training her...my dag is getting older..." You know? I mean, this is the first thing the asshole has said to me in like, 3 months.
Whatever.
So I avoid the guy like poisen, but try to be kind to his son, who so far isn't quite as stuck up as the rest of the fam-damily.
Anyway, I come home today and their dog is out sitting on the very apex of our cul-de-sac, right smack between our houses. (I should say that this neighbor lives right across the street, at the end of the cul-de-sac...would you like the address?)So I go up to say hi to the old dog...can't take it out on her that her owner is, well, did I mention he's a bit of an asshole?
On my way up, she barks at me, and then sniffs and then I pet her...and ooooh did she love it....as all doggy's do....and out comes, yup, you guessed it, the asshole. (By the way his name is Kevin. Would you like his last name?) While I was petting her, I was saying (to the dog, not to Kevin), "see, I'm not scary! See, its just me!" SO I look up and smile a friendly, neighborly smile, and the asshole says, "Well, she's supposed to bark to let me know if there is anything out here." (As in, to warn you that I am arriving home? I wasn't anywhere near their yard...does the ass hol consider the whole end of the cul-de-sac his territor.
So giving Sandy (would you like to know the breed?) one last scratch behind the ears, I look up with my best, Killing-the-asshole-with-kindness smile (which I have practiced on numerous occasions in parent-teacher conferences with parents who, for example, never return notes or initial their child's homework and then want to know why their child isn't doing well in class,) I say, "Well, then, she's doing a good job!" And I about face and head inside.
Ug....he makes my skin crawl every time I see him.
Did I mention that this guy is an asshole?
Like, when Belle ran over into his yard to sniff around when she was like 3 months old and still getting trained. I go over and say, "Come on Belle, cute puppy." He comes out and says, "You better not get her used to coming over to my yard. I don't want her around my dog." Ass. First of all, like I would want my dog in his yard, inhaling his evil fumes. Second, like his dog didn't come over when she was a puppy a few times...we didn't say anything nasty. Not to mention that the family's previous dog attacked our previous dog when I was in grade school. So who shouldn't trust who? BESIDES, it just isn't a very neighborly thing to say. Most considerate people might say something like, "Oh is this your new puppy? blah blah blah...just be careful while you are training her...my dag is getting older..." You know? I mean, this is the first thing the asshole has said to me in like, 3 months.
Whatever.
So I avoid the guy like poisen, but try to be kind to his son, who so far isn't quite as stuck up as the rest of the fam-damily.
Anyway, I come home today and their dog is out sitting on the very apex of our cul-de-sac, right smack between our houses. (I should say that this neighbor lives right across the street, at the end of the cul-de-sac...would you like the address?)So I go up to say hi to the old dog...can't take it out on her that her owner is, well, did I mention he's a bit of an asshole?
On my way up, she barks at me, and then sniffs and then I pet her...and ooooh did she love it....as all doggy's do....and out comes, yup, you guessed it, the asshole. (By the way his name is Kevin. Would you like his last name?) While I was petting her, I was saying (to the dog, not to Kevin), "see, I'm not scary! See, its just me!" SO I look up and smile a friendly, neighborly smile, and the asshole says, "Well, she's supposed to bark to let me know if there is anything out here." (As in, to warn you that I am arriving home? I wasn't anywhere near their yard...does the ass hol consider the whole end of the cul-de-sac his territor.
So giving Sandy (would you like to know the breed?) one last scratch behind the ears, I look up with my best, Killing-the-asshole-with-kindness smile (which I have practiced on numerous occasions in parent-teacher conferences with parents who, for example, never return notes or initial their child's homework and then want to know why their child isn't doing well in class,) I say, "Well, then, she's doing a good job!" And I about face and head inside.
Ug....he makes my skin crawl every time I see him.
Did I mention that this guy is an asshole?
Survivor Up Till Now
Ok, I must say I am not terribly pleased with this season of Survivor. Uh uh. The girls/guys thing ticked me off. Not having three tribes ticked me off. Eliminating two people so early on ticked me off. Nobody is particularly endearing. The only guy I really liked was Brady, and he got kicked off. So now I'm just kinda...blah. I mean, I know as I grow to like, or more likely, hate, more people, I will find the show more interesting this season, but for now, there's no one I like, no one I hate, just a bunch of really boring people, in my opinion.
The boys are annoying, because they voted soley on the old young alliance, with the old winning out...which nomally, I would root for, but in this case, the young guys, for the most part, seemed nice, weren't cocky or conceited (the major reason I tend to hate the "young" crowd) and they were actually very hard workers. Most of the older guys are annoying, dumb, and out of shape (as witnessed by their inability to win competitons and their decision on who to vote off.)
The girls, sigh. I don't know. They're very flaky. Dolly, the nice girl, got voted off. Sigh. I just don't know. (Twila really does look nice with her hair braided, by the way.)
So now that the teams made it one more week (oh had Brady made it one more week...) strategies will have to mix up. We'll see.
FOr now, I am uninspired. sigh...
Maybe I am just not devoting enough attention to the show. Maybe the fact that I am watching the show while doing homework or grading papers? But I think not...usually, those other things get pushed off to the side becasue the show is dull this time around. Too bad. The format is awesome. I just wish they had a more entertaining cast this time around.
Amazing Race....I need Amazing Race....
The boys are annoying, because they voted soley on the old young alliance, with the old winning out...which nomally, I would root for, but in this case, the young guys, for the most part, seemed nice, weren't cocky or conceited (the major reason I tend to hate the "young" crowd) and they were actually very hard workers. Most of the older guys are annoying, dumb, and out of shape (as witnessed by their inability to win competitons and their decision on who to vote off.)
The girls, sigh. I don't know. They're very flaky. Dolly, the nice girl, got voted off. Sigh. I just don't know. (Twila really does look nice with her hair braided, by the way.)
So now that the teams made it one more week (oh had Brady made it one more week...) strategies will have to mix up. We'll see.
FOr now, I am uninspired. sigh...
Maybe I am just not devoting enough attention to the show. Maybe the fact that I am watching the show while doing homework or grading papers? But I think not...usually, those other things get pushed off to the side becasue the show is dull this time around. Too bad. The format is awesome. I just wish they had a more entertaining cast this time around.
Amazing Race....I need Amazing Race....
Friday, October 15, 2004
Has it been forever since I blogged?
Actually, I succeeded in blogging 4 times in september, which averages to about once a week which isn't too bad. Ah, summer's over and real life has begun again.
Belle is working hard in her novice training class. While she is very good at doing all of her commands when we are alone, she is having no success when any other dogs around. (Except at the class where it is more formal and everyone is working with their dogs...) She did do well the other night with Kaya barking behind the gate, but we still have a long way to go with her. Not that she is a bad puppy. She just has ADHD. She gets so excited when other dogs are around that she can't focus on me or Grant. I know. She is still young.
So far, I am enjoying first grade. The lack of independence is a bit frustrating, and I have a few kids that are absolutly driving me crazy (don't I every year?...I think its just the nature of the beast!) But it is very rewarding, too.
One thing I really like is having only 20 kids. Beyond just the logistics of less grading. Here is the truly best part. I feel like I really know each of my kids. It is manageable. I can remember their quirks and ticks. WIth 30+ kids, I was constantly writing myself notes.."remember to tell parents this at conference..." where as with 20 kids, I have a very clear profile of each of my studnets in my head. I can easily categorize them in my head, and as a result, I turly feel like I better teacher. It is sincerely a great thing. It really should be funded to max the classes out at 20 all the way up, to at least junior high. It makes a huge difference. Not just in the logisitcs like "I have more time to assess each child" but also to really know them. Its very cool.
My birthday has come and gone and I am now 26. Sigh. It has been a very nice birthday week. I am feeling so spoiled. I got almost everything I asked for on my birthday list...the only downside is that I had planned on half of the list still being their for Christmas.
I got a hot water dispenser so that I can have tea at work.
I got a yoga mat so that I don't have to pick dog hairs off of my sweaty palms in the midst of my sun salutation.
I got a subscription to a scrapbooking magazine...something I really want to get ack in to.
I got my very own set of luggage...so I can travel everywhere and not have to borrow suitcases, and it is a very cool shade of navy blue.
I got a bouquet of flowers delivered to my school.
I got a gift certificate to Old Navy.
I got stickers and books for my classroom.
I got a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.
And (which is quickly becoming my time consuming addiction and I haven't even started it yet...) The Sims 2. I have been reading forums and discussions and the manual...but I haven't played the game yet...
(see what I mean?????? Spoiled Rotten! - And very much loved!!!! I am the luckiest lady!)
Also, Grant and I are taking a mini vacation to Seattle next weekend. It was either that or San Francisco, but we decided to go for someplace new, that we'd never been to before. Happy Birthday to me!!!
Also, I finished the Dark Tower 4, 5, and 6....so now I just have book 7. Which I am 17th on the watiing list at the library (and they only ordered 7 copies in the whole system!) I don't want to buy it becasue I want to buy the boed set when it comes out. Sigh So I am on hold.
Which is good because I have been majorly procrastinating on my classes. (As in, spending the weekend doing my papers because I come home from school and read!!!)
I swear, if it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done!
(I also use the weekend to catch up on my shows. I haven't watched Survivor yet, or 7th Heaven, or the Surreal Life from last Sunday.)
But I guess I should use this temporary hiatus I've been given (no 7th dark tower book, papers all graded, no major assignments...unless you count that pesky online short answer midterm...and no means to start sims 2 until we get a new computer which should happen next month becasue the game is to advenced for this here two-year-old computer...) to, well, I don't know, clean up the three inches of accumulated dog hair that has piled up in the corners (gross!!! I blush!!!), yeah I know...clean the house. Sigh.
And perhaps use getting off at 1 for parent conferences to actually file the papers that are stacked in random piles all over my classroom. Its getting hard to find the first graders! I jest...
Life in the sims is so much easier. You just hire a maid to come clean up for you for 70 simoleans a day. She'll even unclog the toilet for you.
Yeah yeah yeah.
well, I best take miss belle out for tonight's practice session. Its cool, its fall, I am sleepy, and if I sit here looking for more information on the sims or typing away on my blog, I'll never get around to wathcnig 7th heaven, and, in reality, I'd like nothing more then to just curl up i bed and go to sleep. But no! The puppy must come first...I would never neglect my puppy! Ah shit...its nine and I have to go feed her! Just kidding, Grant. Danny fed her when he got home. (45 minutes ago...hee hee...)
If your still reading, Thanks for reading...
Belle is working hard in her novice training class. While she is very good at doing all of her commands when we are alone, she is having no success when any other dogs around. (Except at the class where it is more formal and everyone is working with their dogs...) She did do well the other night with Kaya barking behind the gate, but we still have a long way to go with her. Not that she is a bad puppy. She just has ADHD. She gets so excited when other dogs are around that she can't focus on me or Grant. I know. She is still young.
So far, I am enjoying first grade. The lack of independence is a bit frustrating, and I have a few kids that are absolutly driving me crazy (don't I every year?...I think its just the nature of the beast!) But it is very rewarding, too.
One thing I really like is having only 20 kids. Beyond just the logistics of less grading. Here is the truly best part. I feel like I really know each of my kids. It is manageable. I can remember their quirks and ticks. WIth 30+ kids, I was constantly writing myself notes.."remember to tell parents this at conference..." where as with 20 kids, I have a very clear profile of each of my studnets in my head. I can easily categorize them in my head, and as a result, I turly feel like I better teacher. It is sincerely a great thing. It really should be funded to max the classes out at 20 all the way up, to at least junior high. It makes a huge difference. Not just in the logisitcs like "I have more time to assess each child" but also to really know them. Its very cool.
My birthday has come and gone and I am now 26. Sigh. It has been a very nice birthday week. I am feeling so spoiled. I got almost everything I asked for on my birthday list...the only downside is that I had planned on half of the list still being their for Christmas.
I got a hot water dispenser so that I can have tea at work.
I got a yoga mat so that I don't have to pick dog hairs off of my sweaty palms in the midst of my sun salutation.
I got a subscription to a scrapbooking magazine...something I really want to get ack in to.
I got my very own set of luggage...so I can travel everywhere and not have to borrow suitcases, and it is a very cool shade of navy blue.
I got a bouquet of flowers delivered to my school.
I got a gift certificate to Old Navy.
I got stickers and books for my classroom.
I got a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.
And (which is quickly becoming my time consuming addiction and I haven't even started it yet...) The Sims 2. I have been reading forums and discussions and the manual...but I haven't played the game yet...
(see what I mean?????? Spoiled Rotten! - And very much loved!!!! I am the luckiest lady!)
Also, Grant and I are taking a mini vacation to Seattle next weekend. It was either that or San Francisco, but we decided to go for someplace new, that we'd never been to before. Happy Birthday to me!!!
Also, I finished the Dark Tower 4, 5, and 6....so now I just have book 7. Which I am 17th on the watiing list at the library (and they only ordered 7 copies in the whole system!) I don't want to buy it becasue I want to buy the boed set when it comes out. Sigh So I am on hold.
Which is good because I have been majorly procrastinating on my classes. (As in, spending the weekend doing my papers because I come home from school and read!!!)
I swear, if it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done!
(I also use the weekend to catch up on my shows. I haven't watched Survivor yet, or 7th Heaven, or the Surreal Life from last Sunday.)
But I guess I should use this temporary hiatus I've been given (no 7th dark tower book, papers all graded, no major assignments...unless you count that pesky online short answer midterm...and no means to start sims 2 until we get a new computer which should happen next month becasue the game is to advenced for this here two-year-old computer...) to, well, I don't know, clean up the three inches of accumulated dog hair that has piled up in the corners (gross!!! I blush!!!), yeah I know...clean the house. Sigh.
And perhaps use getting off at 1 for parent conferences to actually file the papers that are stacked in random piles all over my classroom. Its getting hard to find the first graders! I jest...
Life in the sims is so much easier. You just hire a maid to come clean up for you for 70 simoleans a day. She'll even unclog the toilet for you.
Yeah yeah yeah.
well, I best take miss belle out for tonight's practice session. Its cool, its fall, I am sleepy, and if I sit here looking for more information on the sims or typing away on my blog, I'll never get around to wathcnig 7th heaven, and, in reality, I'd like nothing more then to just curl up i bed and go to sleep. But no! The puppy must come first...I would never neglect my puppy! Ah shit...its nine and I have to go feed her! Just kidding, Grant. Danny fed her when he got home. (45 minutes ago...hee hee...)
If your still reading, Thanks for reading...
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
With Liberty and Justice for All
I received this email from people that I dearly love, so I just want to say up front that I don't mean to offend anybody...I know that I think too much, and that on surface value, the following email doesn't sound too bad. You read it, and think, hmm sounds good, so you forward it along. But it just bothered me so much that I HAD to say something. ::wink, wink::
I received the following email today:
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't. What do you think about this?
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. .
I AGREE!!!!
Ok. Now. Here is what has been running through my mind all day long.
1) 14% is a rather large amount. Not a majority by any means, 14% is certainly a significant chunk, none the less, particularly in a country the size of America. If I had a 14% chance of getting a disease, I'd be pretty worried. 14% chance of winning the lotto? Pretty sure I'd buy the ticket. I'd be satisfies with 14% of a pizza!
14 people out of 100. 7 people out of fifty. That's a decent number of opinions.
If you are in the 12% of the population that is over 65, should your voice not count?
If you are one of 26% of the population that has a college degree, should your voice not count?
If people hadn't fought for Liberty and Justice during the Civil Rights movement for the 12.9% of the American population that is African American, think of what life would be like today...America, still segregated...a concept we now scoff at when it applies to other countries.
And 14% of our population...14%! - do not believe in God. That IS a significant statistic. That's a significant number of people who if, in the spirit of nationality and patriotism, choose to recite their entire pledge of allegiance, are required to state words that are meaningless to them. A disheartening thought, considering that the pledge is supposed to be a unifying and patriotically meaningful anthem.
(Statistics taken from: 2003 US Census
Religious Tolerance
2) Ok, now this is truly that part that pissed me off the most. I deeply sympathize for the person who originally wrote the email...how mortified they must feel to have something so hypocritical and anti American floating around the internet that they have written. However just as they have the right to say what they want...
Here is the quote, again, from the email: "Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
Yes. Take a moment to reflect.
Let's break down the pledge, shall we? The pledge, mind you, in its original form, written in 1892 by Frances Bellamy, a Christian Socialist and Baptist minister.
I pledge Allegiance to my flag (I promise my loyalty to the flag, a symbol of my country)
And to the Republic for which it stands (the flag, as a symbol of my government, one of the people)
One Nation, indivisible (singular and unified)
with Liberty and Justice for all (Every citizen is entitled to freedom, and the responsibility such freedoms come with, as well as justice, the right to be treated fairly and equitably.)
Most people know that "Under God" was not in the original pledge, and with reason. You may or may not know that our forward thinking reverend Bellamy originally wanted the pledge to finish "with liberty, justice, and equality for all" but feared it would be rejected because African Americans and Women were still not considered equal.
(So perhaps, a better change would be back to its original intent? - but I digress...)
Obviously "United States of America" was later added to the pledge, but considering this is an oath to the government of that country, adding the name of said country would be appropriate.
So back to the quote that so inflamed me. Would you like to read it again? "Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
So let me get this straight. The author of this email wants to know, first and foremost, if we agree with the pledge, and urges us to pass it on if we do. And yet, within the same email, the author slanders their own pledge, mocks its inherent message, by asking 14% of the population it represents to "sit down and be quiet."
"Sit down and Be Quiet." The same words that I am sure thousands of Abolishinists heard. The same words that thousands of suffragettes heard. The same words that millions of people must hear every day as they fight for what they believe in.
In a country where our joy, our honor, our pride, our very nationality, depends on people being able to freely express their beliefs, in freedom and democracy, in God, gods, science, or humanism; someone is using that very pledge - the pledge that defends our rights to our own beliefs and to speak freely of them without fear of persecution - to tell people to "sit down and be quiet."
The author either does not understand the words he or she says when reciting the pledge, or does not believe them. How can a person, in the same message, claim their allegiance to a country that promises individuals the right to their beliefs, and then tell 14% of those individuals to "sit down and be quiet?"
I recognize that the author isn't telling people they they aren't allowed to not believe in God.
But what the author is telling those 14% of the people is that rather than voice their opinion regarding a NATIONAL PLEDGE, they should "sit down and be quiet." 14% of the people that flag represents in a national capacity (not a spiritual capacity) should "sit down and be quiet" rather than express their belief about what such a pledge should contain.
Does the author have the right to tell people that? Of course. Just like, in a country like ours, people have the right to express any belief, mainstream or not, politically correct or not, respectful or not.
But I have a right to defend my country, and the ideals it has set forth. Our founding fathers had faith in the people, and so do I. I would never, ever, use our pledge in such a disrespectful and hypocritical manner as this author did. I know what my pledge means, and I understand the republic for which it stands.
I believe in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I received the following email today:
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't. What do you think about this?
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. .
I AGREE!!!!
Ok. Now. Here is what has been running through my mind all day long.
1) 14% is a rather large amount. Not a majority by any means, 14% is certainly a significant chunk, none the less, particularly in a country the size of America. If I had a 14% chance of getting a disease, I'd be pretty worried. 14% chance of winning the lotto? Pretty sure I'd buy the ticket. I'd be satisfies with 14% of a pizza!
14 people out of 100. 7 people out of fifty. That's a decent number of opinions.
If you are in the 12% of the population that is over 65, should your voice not count?
If you are one of 26% of the population that has a college degree, should your voice not count?
If people hadn't fought for Liberty and Justice during the Civil Rights movement for the 12.9% of the American population that is African American, think of what life would be like today...America, still segregated...a concept we now scoff at when it applies to other countries.
And 14% of our population...14%! - do not believe in God. That IS a significant statistic. That's a significant number of people who if, in the spirit of nationality and patriotism, choose to recite their entire pledge of allegiance, are required to state words that are meaningless to them. A disheartening thought, considering that the pledge is supposed to be a unifying and patriotically meaningful anthem.
(Statistics taken from: 2003 US Census
Religious Tolerance
2) Ok, now this is truly that part that pissed me off the most. I deeply sympathize for the person who originally wrote the email...how mortified they must feel to have something so hypocritical and anti American floating around the internet that they have written. However just as they have the right to say what they want...
Here is the quote, again, from the email: "Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
Yes. Take a moment to reflect.
Let's break down the pledge, shall we? The pledge, mind you, in its original form, written in 1892 by Frances Bellamy, a Christian Socialist and Baptist minister.
I pledge Allegiance to my flag (I promise my loyalty to the flag, a symbol of my country)
And to the Republic for which it stands (the flag, as a symbol of my government, one of the people)
One Nation, indivisible (singular and unified)
with Liberty and Justice for all (Every citizen is entitled to freedom, and the responsibility such freedoms come with, as well as justice, the right to be treated fairly and equitably.)
Most people know that "Under God" was not in the original pledge, and with reason. You may or may not know that our forward thinking reverend Bellamy originally wanted the pledge to finish "with liberty, justice, and equality for all" but feared it would be rejected because African Americans and Women were still not considered equal.
(So perhaps, a better change would be back to its original intent? - but I digress...)
Obviously "United States of America" was later added to the pledge, but considering this is an oath to the government of that country, adding the name of said country would be appropriate.
So back to the quote that so inflamed me. Would you like to read it again? "Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and BE QUIET!!!
So let me get this straight. The author of this email wants to know, first and foremost, if we agree with the pledge, and urges us to pass it on if we do. And yet, within the same email, the author slanders their own pledge, mocks its inherent message, by asking 14% of the population it represents to "sit down and be quiet."
"Sit down and Be Quiet." The same words that I am sure thousands of Abolishinists heard. The same words that thousands of suffragettes heard. The same words that millions of people must hear every day as they fight for what they believe in.
In a country where our joy, our honor, our pride, our very nationality, depends on people being able to freely express their beliefs, in freedom and democracy, in God, gods, science, or humanism; someone is using that very pledge - the pledge that defends our rights to our own beliefs and to speak freely of them without fear of persecution - to tell people to "sit down and be quiet."
The author either does not understand the words he or she says when reciting the pledge, or does not believe them. How can a person, in the same message, claim their allegiance to a country that promises individuals the right to their beliefs, and then tell 14% of those individuals to "sit down and be quiet?"
I recognize that the author isn't telling people they they aren't allowed to not believe in God.
But what the author is telling those 14% of the people is that rather than voice their opinion regarding a NATIONAL PLEDGE, they should "sit down and be quiet." 14% of the people that flag represents in a national capacity (not a spiritual capacity) should "sit down and be quiet" rather than express their belief about what such a pledge should contain.
Does the author have the right to tell people that? Of course. Just like, in a country like ours, people have the right to express any belief, mainstream or not, politically correct or not, respectful or not.
But I have a right to defend my country, and the ideals it has set forth. Our founding fathers had faith in the people, and so do I. I would never, ever, use our pledge in such a disrespectful and hypocritical manner as this author did. I know what my pledge means, and I understand the republic for which it stands.
I believe in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Can't think
Can't think,
brain numb,
inspiration
won't come
bad ink,
worse pen,
best wishes,
Amen
Heard that poem somewhere. As I sit here with a head ache and a runny nose and an occasional sneeze, it seems to fit.
brain numb,
inspiration
won't come
bad ink,
worse pen,
best wishes,
Amen
Heard that poem somewhere. As I sit here with a head ache and a runny nose and an occasional sneeze, it seems to fit.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Catch Up: Extended Version
I know...I've heard from you guys! (Wow, I have fans!) I'm just getting tinto the whole swing of things...back to school...back to school...sigh.
Cal State Fullerton is going great! I have one class that I absolutly adore; it has thus far been my favorite class in the Master's program! I am taking Web Design in Education. I have learned html, and I have designed my very own web page!
Teacher Resources
My next big project is to revamp our school's web site. I have also created a classroom blog. becasue I know html, I was able to edit the tags on the template so that the potion to see my profile wouldn't show on that blog, but you can still see it here. (I am using the sam account to do both blogs. That way, if I fall behind on one blog, seeing it look so lonely while I update my other blog will guilt me into catching up!) That blog is just starting, but if you want to check it out, it's
Ms. Kramer's Class
Speaking of school (work), that is going well, too. I am enjoying first grade in many ways, and I am becoming a better (read: more patient) teacher every day. My latest trauma consisits of trying to choose 2 studens to leave my class, because I have too many students (I can only have 20 in my class.) Well let me tell you, I am even attatched to my stinkers! Sigh. And besides, if you pass off a stinker to a co teacher, they will hate you for the rest of the year! sigh. Anyway I had my decision all made, but then something occured to me and now I am trying to get a hold of my principal...on her cell phone, mind you, becasue she was a t a meeting all day and I couldn't talk to her at school today, to see if I should change to another kid. The switch happens tomorrow. PLUS we have a staff meeting before school, so it will be difficult for me to talk to her before school, even if I get there at the butt crack of dawn. Sigh.
So thats todays Trauma.
On the entertainment note, I am watching Survivor, but there really isn't much to report - the beginning is always quite vauge becasue you are still getting to know everybody. Eliza bugs me. I am still rooting for my HB man, Brady. We'll see.
I am pissed at CBS for putting of the Amazing Race 6 until later in the season (possibly even November!)
7th Heaven is turning into a pretty interesting season so far, but they're gettin' kind of Jesus-y. (I know, its a show about a Preacher's family; what should I expect?)
South Park and Star Trek Enterprise have yet to premiere, but they will...oh yes, they will! In October, which is this friday. (Crap. I am getting old.)
And...I am finally reading the fifth Dark Tower Book, Song of Susannah. And let me tell ya, its good! (o:
Well, thats all folks. I'm off to take Belle for a walk, sohopefully we can burn of some excess energy before our first training class tonight.
Love ya!
Cal State Fullerton is going great! I have one class that I absolutly adore; it has thus far been my favorite class in the Master's program! I am taking Web Design in Education. I have learned html, and I have designed my very own web page!
Teacher Resources
My next big project is to revamp our school's web site. I have also created a classroom blog. becasue I know html, I was able to edit the tags on the template so that the potion to see my profile wouldn't show on that blog, but you can still see it here. (I am using the sam account to do both blogs. That way, if I fall behind on one blog, seeing it look so lonely while I update my other blog will guilt me into catching up!) That blog is just starting, but if you want to check it out, it's
Ms. Kramer's Class
Speaking of school (work), that is going well, too. I am enjoying first grade in many ways, and I am becoming a better (read: more patient) teacher every day. My latest trauma consisits of trying to choose 2 studens to leave my class, because I have too many students (I can only have 20 in my class.) Well let me tell you, I am even attatched to my stinkers! Sigh. And besides, if you pass off a stinker to a co teacher, they will hate you for the rest of the year! sigh. Anyway I had my decision all made, but then something occured to me and now I am trying to get a hold of my principal...on her cell phone, mind you, becasue she was a t a meeting all day and I couldn't talk to her at school today, to see if I should change to another kid. The switch happens tomorrow. PLUS we have a staff meeting before school, so it will be difficult for me to talk to her before school, even if I get there at the butt crack of dawn. Sigh.
So thats todays Trauma.
On the entertainment note, I am watching Survivor, but there really isn't much to report - the beginning is always quite vauge becasue you are still getting to know everybody. Eliza bugs me. I am still rooting for my HB man, Brady. We'll see.
I am pissed at CBS for putting of the Amazing Race 6 until later in the season (possibly even November!)
7th Heaven is turning into a pretty interesting season so far, but they're gettin' kind of Jesus-y. (I know, its a show about a Preacher's family; what should I expect?)
South Park and Star Trek Enterprise have yet to premiere, but they will...oh yes, they will! In October, which is this friday. (Crap. I am getting old.)
And...I am finally reading the fifth Dark Tower Book, Song of Susannah. And let me tell ya, its good! (o:
Well, thats all folks. I'm off to take Belle for a walk, sohopefully we can burn of some excess energy before our first training class tonight.
Love ya!
Friday, September 17, 2004
Catch Up
Its been a while. I am so tired! Teaching first grade has its ups and downs...it is different, for sure, in many ways, than upper grade. But one thing is for certain. I am so tired!
Also, I made my first web page. It is very simple, but I did it all in html, typing out all the tags, so I am rather proud. You can go check it out if you want at My Teacher Resource Page
I saw Rent on Tuesday as well. Collins and Mimi were fantastic.
Can you tell I am tired?
Later!
Also, I made my first web page. It is very simple, but I did it all in html, typing out all the tags, so I am rather proud. You can go check it out if you want at My Teacher Resource Page
I saw Rent on Tuesday as well. Collins and Mimi were fantastic.
Can you tell I am tired?
Later!
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Bands Reunited -or- My New Respect for Jordan and Jon -or- Why Joe, Donny and Danny suck!
Ok. So I tune into watch Bands Reunited on VH1, because New Kids on the Block were on the show. How excited was I? Particularly when Jordan Knight graciously signed on, as did Jon Knight. Both however expressed their concern that it would be hard to get the other's to sign on.
Joe at least did the interview, but said that any reunion would have to be on the New Kids terms, and not someone elses like this shows.
My response? Shit dude. Life is busy. People always intend to do things, but never do. Sometimes it just takes someone else to encourage you or remaind you or give you the motivation to do that something that is in the back of your mind. It pissed me off that he said no. It really did.
Donny and Danny wouldn't even do the interviews. Danny's response was that he was no longer in the business, and Donny's that he was moving on to be an actor. Well let me tell you, Donny, any publicity is better than nothing.
And to the three of you; you were a part of something big; something huge. There is nothing wrong with that. Some people are into music, and they were into you. You were a right of passage for many people. Nothing is saying you have to sign your life away. Its just a reunion. You can still move on. Be individual, pursue your goals. But you can't escape something so big that you were a part of. Your going to end up a bunch of bitter has-been band members like the Beatles where everyone desperatly withed for a reunion, and anyone in their right mind knew that a reunion was what the good men would do, and then too much time was wasted and it became too late.
So... Kudos to Jordan and Jon, my two favorite NKOTB members,
and to Joe I'm disapointed, and Donny, your damn attitude was probably the whole downfall of the NKOTB... so you lost me as a fan. Good luck with your careers. But if you can't show respect to the phenomenom that made you known to the world, and signed me on as a fan, then don't expect my respect to continue.
Hang Tough.
Joe at least did the interview, but said that any reunion would have to be on the New Kids terms, and not someone elses like this shows.
My response? Shit dude. Life is busy. People always intend to do things, but never do. Sometimes it just takes someone else to encourage you or remaind you or give you the motivation to do that something that is in the back of your mind. It pissed me off that he said no. It really did.
Donny and Danny wouldn't even do the interviews. Danny's response was that he was no longer in the business, and Donny's that he was moving on to be an actor. Well let me tell you, Donny, any publicity is better than nothing.
And to the three of you; you were a part of something big; something huge. There is nothing wrong with that. Some people are into music, and they were into you. You were a right of passage for many people. Nothing is saying you have to sign your life away. Its just a reunion. You can still move on. Be individual, pursue your goals. But you can't escape something so big that you were a part of. Your going to end up a bunch of bitter has-been band members like the Beatles where everyone desperatly withed for a reunion, and anyone in their right mind knew that a reunion was what the good men would do, and then too much time was wasted and it became too late.
So... Kudos to Jordan and Jon, my two favorite NKOTB members,
and to Joe I'm disapointed, and Donny, your damn attitude was probably the whole downfall of the NKOTB... so you lost me as a fan. Good luck with your careers. But if you can't show respect to the phenomenom that made you known to the world, and signed me on as a fan, then don't expect my respect to continue.
Hang Tough.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Karaoke Revolution 3
Hot on the tails of Karaoke Revolution 2, Volume 3 is set to release this November or December.
With more cool modes, including dual microphone use (for duets, and head to head competitions) this game is one I'm itching to but. However, the song list, like volume 2, isn't as good as the original. It can be frustrating to have all of these cool modes (like medley mode on volume 2) but not be able to use volume one songs!
I hope that there will be a way in the future to use the new Play Station Hard drive to make all of the songs accessible at one time on a later edition. Somehow, load songs from the previous editions on to the hard drive and then play the newest edition with access to all of the songs. That would be awesome!
Song list commentary:
Boo - no classic Madonna (I wanted Like a Prayer) I would have chosen a different Beatles song (Twist and Shout) but at least one got on there, enough Brittany already, All the songs I don't think I've even heard of, oh and, You're the one that I want? That is on the original version. Yes I know its a duet and we can't sing it in duet form on the original, but come on, something new, how about Summer Nights? huh?
Kudos, though, for continuing to make improvements to the game via new modes, and for adding more oldies to make the game more accessible to a wider audience. Yeah California Dreamin, New York, New York (mmmm obsession), Killing me Softly (please be a good version!) Michael Jackson! Take my Breath Away (Jessica Simpson version?)
KARAOKE REVOLUTION VOLUME 3 SONG LIST
ABC
Leave (Get Out)
Against All Odds
Love Shack
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Meant to Live
Beat It
My Immortal
Burn
New York New York
California Dreaming
Oops!...I Did It Again
Careless Whisper
Respect
China Grove
Shining Star
Come Clean
Someday
Don't You (Forget About Me)
Take My Breath Away
Flashdance… What A Feeling
Thank You
Hold On
The Reason
I Got You Babe
Twist & Shout
If I Ain't Got You
Unchained Melody
In the Midnight Hour
Under Pressure
Joy To The World
When I'm Gone
Killing Me Softly
Why Can't I
You're the One that I Want
Check out an article describing the new modes here:
The html doesn't seem to be working so you can cut and paste this:
http://ps2.gamezone.com/news/08_20_04_07_10PM.htm
With more cool modes, including dual microphone use (for duets, and head to head competitions) this game is one I'm itching to but. However, the song list, like volume 2, isn't as good as the original. It can be frustrating to have all of these cool modes (like medley mode on volume 2) but not be able to use volume one songs!
I hope that there will be a way in the future to use the new Play Station Hard drive to make all of the songs accessible at one time on a later edition. Somehow, load songs from the previous editions on to the hard drive and then play the newest edition with access to all of the songs. That would be awesome!
Song list commentary:
Boo - no classic Madonna (I wanted Like a Prayer) I would have chosen a different Beatles song (Twist and Shout) but at least one got on there, enough Brittany already, All the songs I don't think I've even heard of, oh and, You're the one that I want? That is on the original version. Yes I know its a duet and we can't sing it in duet form on the original, but come on, something new, how about Summer Nights? huh?
Kudos, though, for continuing to make improvements to the game via new modes, and for adding more oldies to make the game more accessible to a wider audience. Yeah California Dreamin, New York, New York (mmmm obsession), Killing me Softly (please be a good version!) Michael Jackson! Take my Breath Away (Jessica Simpson version?)
KARAOKE REVOLUTION VOLUME 3 SONG LIST
ABC
Leave (Get Out)
Against All Odds
Love Shack
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Meant to Live
Beat It
My Immortal
Burn
New York New York
California Dreaming
Oops!...I Did It Again
Careless Whisper
Respect
China Grove
Shining Star
Come Clean
Someday
Don't You (Forget About Me)
Take My Breath Away
Flashdance… What A Feeling
Thank You
Hold On
The Reason
I Got You Babe
Twist & Shout
If I Ain't Got You
Unchained Melody
In the Midnight Hour
Under Pressure
Joy To The World
When I'm Gone
Killing Me Softly
Why Can't I
You're the One that I Want
Check out an article describing the new modes here:
The html doesn't seem to be working so you can cut and paste this:
http://ps2.gamezone.com/news/08_20_04_07_10PM.htm
Friday, August 27, 2004
Library Crap
Yet another reason why I use the Orange County Library System and not the Huntington Beach system:
"Huntington Beach city leaders have adopted a
regulation banning the use of cell phones at
libraries.
That means no text messaging, no talking and
absolutely no ringing.
Under the city ordinance, which is scheduled to take
effect Sept. 15, offenders will be warned, then fined
$250 if they don't comply.
Second and third offenses will garner fines of $500
and $1,000, respectively."
Taken from:
Friday, August 27, 2004
Think roaming's pricey? Try calling in a library
By ZAHEERA WAHID
The Orange County Register
Now don't get me wrong, I agree that using cell phones in the library is rude...but a FINE?
Whatever.
Orange County Libraries have sings posted that say that Cell Phone Use is not permitted in the library, and I've never seen any problems there.
"Huntington Beach city leaders have adopted a
regulation banning the use of cell phones at
libraries.
That means no text messaging, no talking and
absolutely no ringing.
Under the city ordinance, which is scheduled to take
effect Sept. 15, offenders will be warned, then fined
$250 if they don't comply.
Second and third offenses will garner fines of $500
and $1,000, respectively."
Taken from:
Friday, August 27, 2004
Think roaming's pricey? Try calling in a library
By ZAHEERA WAHID
The Orange County Register
Now don't get me wrong, I agree that using cell phones in the library is rude...but a FINE?
Whatever.
Orange County Libraries have sings posted that say that Cell Phone Use is not permitted in the library, and I've never seen any problems there.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
RENT RENT RENT RE-ENT RENT!
I am getting so excited to see Rent AGAIN!!! It is coming to Costa Mesa in September!!! I love this show!!! (In case you haven't guessed by previous posts!!!) This will be the fourth time I've seen it, tying with Les Miserables. (I've seen Les Mis in Long Beach, London, Pasadena, and Costa Mesa, and I've seen Rent in London, Los Angeles, and New York)
Sigh All Mighty I am so excited!
(Actually, I may surpass Les Miserables because I may see it more than once while it is here, so close...sigh)
"How do you leave the past behind when it keeps finding ways to get to your heart? It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out 'till your torn apart....Rent!"
sigh.
Everytime I see Queer Eye and see Jai, I think of Rent...
I am going Rent crazy.
I am rambling about Rent...
Here is the show info:
Rent
Sep. 14, 2004 - Sep. 19, 2004
Segerstrom Hall
$20.00 - $55.00
Show Dates & Times
Tue, Sep. 14, 2004 at 8:00pm
Wed, Sep. 15, 2004 at 8:00pm
Thu, Sep. 16, 2004 at 8:00pm
Fri, Sep. 17, 2004 at 8:00pm
Sat, Sep. 18, 2004 at 2:00pm
Sat, Sep. 18, 2004 at 8:00pm
Sun, Sep. 19, 2004 at 2:00pm
Sun, Sep. 19, 2004 at 7:30pm
"I've longed to discover something as true as this is....so with a thousand sweet kisses (when you're cold and you're lonely) I'll cover you, with a thousand sweet kisses (when you've got one nickel only) I'll cover you, with a thousand sweet kisses, (when you're cold and you're tired) I'll cover you, with a thousand sweet kisses (when your heart has expired...) oh, lover, I'll cover you...."
Sigh All Mighty I am so excited!
(Actually, I may surpass Les Miserables because I may see it more than once while it is here, so close...sigh)
"How do you leave the past behind when it keeps finding ways to get to your heart? It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out 'till your torn apart....Rent!"
sigh.
Everytime I see Queer Eye and see Jai, I think of Rent...
I am going Rent crazy.
I am rambling about Rent...
Here is the show info:
Rent
Sep. 14, 2004 - Sep. 19, 2004
Segerstrom Hall
$20.00 - $55.00
Show Dates & Times
Tue, Sep. 14, 2004 at 8:00pm
Wed, Sep. 15, 2004 at 8:00pm
Thu, Sep. 16, 2004 at 8:00pm
Fri, Sep. 17, 2004 at 8:00pm
Sat, Sep. 18, 2004 at 2:00pm
Sat, Sep. 18, 2004 at 8:00pm
Sun, Sep. 19, 2004 at 2:00pm
Sun, Sep. 19, 2004 at 7:30pm
"I've longed to discover something as true as this is....so with a thousand sweet kisses (when you're cold and you're lonely) I'll cover you, with a thousand sweet kisses (when you've got one nickel only) I'll cover you, with a thousand sweet kisses, (when you're cold and you're tired) I'll cover you, with a thousand sweet kisses (when your heart has expired...) oh, lover, I'll cover you...."
Sunday, August 22, 2004
It is funny, damn it!
"Dude, it isn't that funny."
I am still laughing about it. No I am wigging out.
Just try it. Furrow your brow as deep as you can, tense your face up, poke your tongue out of the side of your mouth, and then poke at your forehead (actually, that soft spot between your eyes where your nose meets your forehead). Try it. Go look in the mirror.
It is funny, damnit!
I wish I could show you what he looks like.....Maybe I should just take a picture when he first reads this post.
Don't you think its funny?
"Yes it is funny, but not that funny."
I can't stop busting out in high pitched, full on belly laughs when I think of it.
"Sweetie, you are scaring the puppy..."
I am still laughing about it. No I am wigging out.
Just try it. Furrow your brow as deep as you can, tense your face up, poke your tongue out of the side of your mouth, and then poke at your forehead (actually, that soft spot between your eyes where your nose meets your forehead). Try it. Go look in the mirror.
It is funny, damnit!
I wish I could show you what he looks like.....Maybe I should just take a picture when he first reads this post.
Don't you think its funny?
"Yes it is funny, but not that funny."
I can't stop busting out in high pitched, full on belly laughs when I think of it.
"Sweetie, you are scaring the puppy..."
The "sticking out your tongue" phenomenon
Have you ever noticed that some people stick out their tongue when they are working on something that requires hand-eye coordination or intense concentration? My dad is the king of this. As far back as I can remember, everytime my dad had that hammer in his hand, he would pound those nails with is tongue sticking severely out of his mouth; sharp, shiny, and tense.
As a child, I thought this phenomenom was uniquly my father's. You know, just one of those quirky things about him. But now that I think about it I am sure it isn't. I mean, I've seen other people do it when they're hammering, and I know I've seen people do it when they are trying to thread a needle.
Still, there is something unique my dad's use of the concentration tongue. He doesn't only use it when he is working, you see. My brother, sister and I are quite familier with dad's other use of that tongue. You see, when my dad got angry, and I mean really pissed, at one of us kids, in leu of yelling, or sometimes in conjuction with, he would take a deep breath, stick out that tongue to the corner of his mouth, and push up his glassesinwith his index finger in an extreame measure of controlled concentration. This was probably an attempt to keep himself from beating the shit out of us when we probably would have deserved it. We saw this tongue when he caught us lying about feeding the neighbor kid mud in a bottle and telling him it was chocolate milk, when he found out about the slurpee fight in the kitchen by noticing the stains on our popcorn ceiling, and when he discovered the remnents of the mini-fires we started in the backyard.
The really funny thing was, after my dad got that laser surgery on his eyes, he still followed the same procedure, complete with the finger pushing up the glasses that no longer existed. Granted, we were older then so he didn't have as many opportunities to get quite as pissed, but thanks to my brother, I was still able to witness the phenomenom from an adult perspective. My dad came home one evening and found out Andy had thrown a little get together involving him and about 100 of his friend's closest friends that was not authorized by my dad, probably involving events that were not authorized by the state of California for people my brother's age. When my dad found out, I think he just about did everything in his power to not pick up my brother and throw him out of the house... through the window.
Out comes the tongue, and, up goes the finger, shoving an invisible pair of glasses up the bridge of my dad's nose. It wasn't until later that I noticed the humor in the situation. I guess, then, I was as used to seeing it all my life as he was of doing it. But later that night, as I replayed the scene in my head, I couldn't help but laugh at the image. (In fact, I can't stop laughing now as I think about it). (or, for that matter, again as I edit this.) But if you could just see my dad, tongue firm out of the spit-dewed corner of his mouth, forehead wrinkled in fury, and that index finger poking at his forehead....
Oh. My. God. My tummy is so sore from laughing. I wonder if you even get it or if this is one of those "you had to be there" moments. Oh well. I know that there are a few of there reading this that have been there...
Today, I was hammering the back of our new entertainment center, and, low and behold, my tounge was sticking out of my mouth. Sigh. Thanks, dad.
As a child, I thought this phenomenom was uniquly my father's. You know, just one of those quirky things about him. But now that I think about it I am sure it isn't. I mean, I've seen other people do it when they're hammering, and I know I've seen people do it when they are trying to thread a needle.
Still, there is something unique my dad's use of the concentration tongue. He doesn't only use it when he is working, you see. My brother, sister and I are quite familier with dad's other use of that tongue. You see, when my dad got angry, and I mean really pissed, at one of us kids, in leu of yelling, or sometimes in conjuction with, he would take a deep breath, stick out that tongue to the corner of his mouth, and push up his glassesinwith his index finger in an extreame measure of controlled concentration. This was probably an attempt to keep himself from beating the shit out of us when we probably would have deserved it. We saw this tongue when he caught us lying about feeding the neighbor kid mud in a bottle and telling him it was chocolate milk, when he found out about the slurpee fight in the kitchen by noticing the stains on our popcorn ceiling, and when he discovered the remnents of the mini-fires we started in the backyard.
The really funny thing was, after my dad got that laser surgery on his eyes, he still followed the same procedure, complete with the finger pushing up the glasses that no longer existed. Granted, we were older then so he didn't have as many opportunities to get quite as pissed, but thanks to my brother, I was still able to witness the phenomenom from an adult perspective. My dad came home one evening and found out Andy had thrown a little get together involving him and about 100 of his friend's closest friends that was not authorized by my dad, probably involving events that were not authorized by the state of California for people my brother's age. When my dad found out, I think he just about did everything in his power to not pick up my brother and throw him out of the house... through the window.
Out comes the tongue, and, up goes the finger, shoving an invisible pair of glasses up the bridge of my dad's nose. It wasn't until later that I noticed the humor in the situation. I guess, then, I was as used to seeing it all my life as he was of doing it. But later that night, as I replayed the scene in my head, I couldn't help but laugh at the image. (In fact, I can't stop laughing now as I think about it). (or, for that matter, again as I edit this.) But if you could just see my dad, tongue firm out of the spit-dewed corner of his mouth, forehead wrinkled in fury, and that index finger poking at his forehead....
Oh. My. God. My tummy is so sore from laughing. I wonder if you even get it or if this is one of those "you had to be there" moments. Oh well. I know that there are a few of there reading this that have been there...
Today, I was hammering the back of our new entertainment center, and, low and behold, my tounge was sticking out of my mouth. Sigh. Thanks, dad.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Surprise from the pet store!
Ok, so I go to the Pet Store to buy Belle a new collar. See, she has now grown into the "large-sized" collar, seeing as how she, at 9 months, weighs in at about 65 pounds. I had bought her a pretty purple color with multi-colored paw prints on it. Unfortunately, Large in this particular brand measures 18-28 inches. See in the brand we usually buy, Large starts at 16 inches. Unfortunately, my Bellarina could far to easily slip out of her 18 inch collar, so I needed to get the other kind. (I got a red one this time, with reflective bones on it, which is good, I suppose, because if she is ever running around in the dark you sure as hell won't spot her otherwise. Her coat is so black that I can barely spot her at night when she is sleeping on the floor next to me. (unless of course, she is sleeping on her back and I can see her white belly. Cute Puppy!!!!!
But I digress.
SO anyways, I am at the pet store, and I decide to buy a couple of fish for our aquarium. I look at the fishies that are on sale and there are 4 that we have or have had in our aquarium. I decide to get two swordtails, a male and a female, becaue our female swordtail had died and I thought our male would have enjoyed the company (probably the compaby of two females, but hey...) I also decided on the sword tails because they can have live births...however if she gave birth in our aquarium the frys would just be eaten right up by the big fishies before I even knew it happened.
So I bring the fish home, set the bag in the water to acclimate to the aquarium temperature, and go beautify Belle (as if she could get any cuter) with her new, much better fitting collar. (gosh, love the grammar from the teacher, eh?)
Then my sister calls. A rare and joyous occasion. So we chat. ALl of a sudden, I realize that 15 minutes has long since past and I need to go dump my two new fishies into thier new home.
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! So imagine my suprise when there are not two fishies in the bag but about 25!!! Yes!! Momma had given birth (I must admit - although I didn't want to spoil the story by mentioning it earlier - that I thought her belly looked dark and commented to my cousin, "Wouldn't it be funny if she was pregnent?)
Then panic sets in. I cant put the babies in the tank, they'll get eaten. I can't go buy a maternity net for the babies to live in becaue the store is closed. I carefully dump daddy in to the tank, leaving mommy and the babies, and the debate ensues. DO I leave mommy in in case she is not done delievering babies and risk her eating some? Do I put mommy in the big tank and hope that if she does have anymore babies they'll hide out in the moss until they are big and strong?
I search the internet. So helpful. depending on their age, females can have 20-100 babies at a time. Now how am I suppsoed to decide when shes done? There are about 15-20 live ones, and maybe 10-15 more dead ones (still births?) I watch her for about 15 minutes and nothing comes out. Eventually I decide to let her in the big tank to keep the ones already in there alive. (Gosh...the morality of it all...)
As it turns out she wasn't quite finished, as witnessed by a tiny little newborn swimming carelessly across the tank and straight into the Tiger Barbs mouth. Sigh. The one thing I didn't want to see.
However, There are still about 10 babies swimming around in the maternity net that I bought the next morning. I am hoping a few survive. Of course if all ten do, I don't think are tank will be able to hold them all so we'll have to bring some back to the pet store.
How exciting!!!!
But I digress.
SO anyways, I am at the pet store, and I decide to buy a couple of fish for our aquarium. I look at the fishies that are on sale and there are 4 that we have or have had in our aquarium. I decide to get two swordtails, a male and a female, becaue our female swordtail had died and I thought our male would have enjoyed the company (probably the compaby of two females, but hey...) I also decided on the sword tails because they can have live births...however if she gave birth in our aquarium the frys would just be eaten right up by the big fishies before I even knew it happened.
So I bring the fish home, set the bag in the water to acclimate to the aquarium temperature, and go beautify Belle (as if she could get any cuter) with her new, much better fitting collar. (gosh, love the grammar from the teacher, eh?)
Then my sister calls. A rare and joyous occasion. So we chat. ALl of a sudden, I realize that 15 minutes has long since past and I need to go dump my two new fishies into thier new home.
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! So imagine my suprise when there are not two fishies in the bag but about 25!!! Yes!! Momma had given birth (I must admit - although I didn't want to spoil the story by mentioning it earlier - that I thought her belly looked dark and commented to my cousin, "Wouldn't it be funny if she was pregnent?)
Then panic sets in. I cant put the babies in the tank, they'll get eaten. I can't go buy a maternity net for the babies to live in becaue the store is closed. I carefully dump daddy in to the tank, leaving mommy and the babies, and the debate ensues. DO I leave mommy in in case she is not done delievering babies and risk her eating some? Do I put mommy in the big tank and hope that if she does have anymore babies they'll hide out in the moss until they are big and strong?
I search the internet. So helpful. depending on their age, females can have 20-100 babies at a time. Now how am I suppsoed to decide when shes done? There are about 15-20 live ones, and maybe 10-15 more dead ones (still births?) I watch her for about 15 minutes and nothing comes out. Eventually I decide to let her in the big tank to keep the ones already in there alive. (Gosh...the morality of it all...)
As it turns out she wasn't quite finished, as witnessed by a tiny little newborn swimming carelessly across the tank and straight into the Tiger Barbs mouth. Sigh. The one thing I didn't want to see.
However, There are still about 10 babies swimming around in the maternity net that I bought the next morning. I am hoping a few survive. Of course if all ten do, I don't think are tank will be able to hold them all so we'll have to bring some back to the pet store.
How exciting!!!!
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Survivor Vanuatu Preview
Well folks, they posted the new Survivor contestants. I am so excited!!!
Those of you that have known me awhile, and have been following my obsession with Survivor beyond the point of nodding politely when ever I take a breath know that ever since season 2 or 3, I always thought that they should start out with three teams instead of two. Now, my reasoning behind this was because basically, solid alliances stuck along tribal lines, and whichever tribe had (or gained) the upperhand beyond the merge basically picked off the other tribe before getting evil within their own. A brilliant strategy if you ask me. It is safe, and it rewards the team that played hard to the merger. What it doesn't do, however, is force politics or alliance with the new team. It is very safe.
My theory was that with 3 tribes, once it came time to merge, the strategy of one tribe dominating another wouldn't work. With three tribes at the merge, tribes would be forced to deal with other tribes to gain the upper hand. Two tribes could unite to break down another. Tribes could split and join other alliances. All sorts of things could happen at that point.
Survivor mixed up the old solid tribal alliance starting in season 3 (Africa) when they mixed tribes up before the merge. Sometimes they randomly picked new buffs, other times they sent an ambassador and those two made new teams. This effectively mixed teams up and helped to somewhat eliminate the solid original tribal alliance, but not as much as I believe a 3 tribe show would.
Then, low and behold, Survivor 8, the All-Star game, comes out with 18 members instead of the regular 16, in order to get more former favorites on the show. Which means they can start out with 3 teams of 6. "Yes!" I say, my heart jumping for a chance at what I thought would make for great politics.
Problem: All Stars was not a group of strangers. There were previously relationships/alliances/opinions...And goals, for example, to get anyone who had already won the million off. It was still a good show, but I think as most will agree, lets stick with strangers for the most part. Once every 8 seasons for an all stars is my limit, I think. If that.
Good News: Now, Survivor Vanuatu has announced its new contestants, and guess what! There are 18 of them, instead of 16 as in season 1-7. Hee hee. And guess what else! They haven't listed the tribes each member is on as they usually do on the website. Which leads me to believe that they will, again, start with the three team concept!!!!
Now here is my hope of all hopes for Survivor; If they do indeed start with 3 tribes, then go back to basics for a season and let tribes stay as they are until the merger. If they start with 3, then the merge will be interesting even without switching members before the merger. In All Stars, after a couple of episodes, they dissolved one tribe and had 2. Later, they switched up the tribes as well. This time around, with all strangers, just leave it and see what will happen. The only way there could be the potential problem of one tribe voting the other off is if one of the three tribes gets completely eliminated prior to the merge, Which is possible if they merge at 10 with a jury of 8. Even if they upped the jury to ten with the merge at 12, technically it would still take 6 episodes, 6 votes, to make it to the merge, and a whole team could be eliminated. They could also merge way before jury time. There are many possibilities.
I would really like to see teams stay strong to the merge without mixing up members again. I think it could be very interesting to see how people relate at the merge at that point, as well as once they are down to the final few after having spent the whole game together.
ANYWAYS! On to the players. You can find all of this information (and more) at:
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor9/
Amy - 31 - Barista/Model from Lakewood, Colorado
Brady - 33 - FBI agent from Huntington Beach, CA (Ok I may be slightly biased here, but it is interesting to note that he had to get FBI approval before he could apply for the show to insure a positive image for the FBI - they wouldn't approve any old schlump, so I may be voting for this guy.)
Brook (male) - 27- Project Manager - Winthrop, MA
Chad - 35 - teacher - Oakland California
Chris - 33 - Highway construction - South Vienna, OH
Dolly - 25 - Sheep Farmer - Mercer Pennsylvania
Eliza - 21 - prelaw student - Sycaruse, NY
John K. - 22 - Mechanical Bull Operator/model - LA, CA
John P. - 31 - Sales Manager - LA, California
Julie - 23 - Youth Mentor - Gorham, ME
Lea (male) 40 - Drill Sergeant - Columbia, South Carolina
Leann - 35 - Research Assistant - Kansasville, WI
Lisa - 44 - Real Estate Agent - New Orleans, LA
Mia - 30 - Finance Manager - Tom's River, NJ
Rory - 35 - S8 Housing Manager, Des Moines, IA
Scout (female) 59 - Rancher/entrepreneur Stillwater, OK
Travis - 33 - Loss Prevention, Blountville, TN
Twila - 41 -Highway repair - Marshall MO
Now what I really dig about this cast is that it is a more mature cast. The majority are in their thirties, with 5 players under 30 and 4 players 40 or above. Hopefully this will eliminate that boring "oh we hot girls need to bathe separately so as not to make the others feel jealous" bull shit that pisses me off. (Survivor 6 - gag me).
So there you have it. I am sure you are all just as excited as I! And for those of you who don't know, The Amazing Race 6 is this fall also! Yipee! So my Fall line up looks to be Survivor, Amazing Race, 7th Heaven, and Enterprise. Kick ass.
Survivor 9, Vanuata, premiers on CBS on Thursday, September 16th, at 8:00 PM. Yee haw!
Those of you that have known me awhile, and have been following my obsession with Survivor beyond the point of nodding politely when ever I take a breath know that ever since season 2 or 3, I always thought that they should start out with three teams instead of two. Now, my reasoning behind this was because basically, solid alliances stuck along tribal lines, and whichever tribe had (or gained) the upperhand beyond the merge basically picked off the other tribe before getting evil within their own. A brilliant strategy if you ask me. It is safe, and it rewards the team that played hard to the merger. What it doesn't do, however, is force politics or alliance with the new team. It is very safe.
My theory was that with 3 tribes, once it came time to merge, the strategy of one tribe dominating another wouldn't work. With three tribes at the merge, tribes would be forced to deal with other tribes to gain the upper hand. Two tribes could unite to break down another. Tribes could split and join other alliances. All sorts of things could happen at that point.
Survivor mixed up the old solid tribal alliance starting in season 3 (Africa) when they mixed tribes up before the merge. Sometimes they randomly picked new buffs, other times they sent an ambassador and those two made new teams. This effectively mixed teams up and helped to somewhat eliminate the solid original tribal alliance, but not as much as I believe a 3 tribe show would.
Then, low and behold, Survivor 8, the All-Star game, comes out with 18 members instead of the regular 16, in order to get more former favorites on the show. Which means they can start out with 3 teams of 6. "Yes!" I say, my heart jumping for a chance at what I thought would make for great politics.
Problem: All Stars was not a group of strangers. There were previously relationships/alliances/opinions...And goals, for example, to get anyone who had already won the million off. It was still a good show, but I think as most will agree, lets stick with strangers for the most part. Once every 8 seasons for an all stars is my limit, I think. If that.
Good News: Now, Survivor Vanuatu has announced its new contestants, and guess what! There are 18 of them, instead of 16 as in season 1-7. Hee hee. And guess what else! They haven't listed the tribes each member is on as they usually do on the website. Which leads me to believe that they will, again, start with the three team concept!!!!
Now here is my hope of all hopes for Survivor; If they do indeed start with 3 tribes, then go back to basics for a season and let tribes stay as they are until the merger. If they start with 3, then the merge will be interesting even without switching members before the merger. In All Stars, after a couple of episodes, they dissolved one tribe and had 2. Later, they switched up the tribes as well. This time around, with all strangers, just leave it and see what will happen. The only way there could be the potential problem of one tribe voting the other off is if one of the three tribes gets completely eliminated prior to the merge, Which is possible if they merge at 10 with a jury of 8. Even if they upped the jury to ten with the merge at 12, technically it would still take 6 episodes, 6 votes, to make it to the merge, and a whole team could be eliminated. They could also merge way before jury time. There are many possibilities.
I would really like to see teams stay strong to the merge without mixing up members again. I think it could be very interesting to see how people relate at the merge at that point, as well as once they are down to the final few after having spent the whole game together.
ANYWAYS! On to the players. You can find all of this information (and more) at:
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor9/
Amy - 31 - Barista/Model from Lakewood, Colorado
Brady - 33 - FBI agent from Huntington Beach, CA (Ok I may be slightly biased here, but it is interesting to note that he had to get FBI approval before he could apply for the show to insure a positive image for the FBI - they wouldn't approve any old schlump, so I may be voting for this guy.)
Brook (male) - 27- Project Manager - Winthrop, MA
Chad - 35 - teacher - Oakland California
Chris - 33 - Highway construction - South Vienna, OH
Dolly - 25 - Sheep Farmer - Mercer Pennsylvania
Eliza - 21 - prelaw student - Sycaruse, NY
John K. - 22 - Mechanical Bull Operator/model - LA, CA
John P. - 31 - Sales Manager - LA, California
Julie - 23 - Youth Mentor - Gorham, ME
Lea (male) 40 - Drill Sergeant - Columbia, South Carolina
Leann - 35 - Research Assistant - Kansasville, WI
Lisa - 44 - Real Estate Agent - New Orleans, LA
Mia - 30 - Finance Manager - Tom's River, NJ
Rory - 35 - S8 Housing Manager, Des Moines, IA
Scout (female) 59 - Rancher/entrepreneur Stillwater, OK
Travis - 33 - Loss Prevention, Blountville, TN
Twila - 41 -Highway repair - Marshall MO
Now what I really dig about this cast is that it is a more mature cast. The majority are in their thirties, with 5 players under 30 and 4 players 40 or above. Hopefully this will eliminate that boring "oh we hot girls need to bathe separately so as not to make the others feel jealous" bull shit that pisses me off. (Survivor 6 - gag me).
So there you have it. I am sure you are all just as excited as I! And for those of you who don't know, The Amazing Race 6 is this fall also! Yipee! So my Fall line up looks to be Survivor, Amazing Race, 7th Heaven, and Enterprise. Kick ass.
Survivor 9, Vanuata, premiers on CBS on Thursday, September 16th, at 8:00 PM. Yee haw!
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Olympics!
Yes! It is time for the Olympics! I watched the opening ceremonies last night. I think the coolest effect was when the olympic rings came out of the water on fire. Pretty cool. I always get all emotional and choked up about this kinda stuff. Sigh.
The games are on! Let's hope for a peaceful, good spirited two weeks!
The games are on! Let's hope for a peaceful, good spirited two weeks!
Amazing Race/Big Brother
Ok, so I am slacking on the reports, so I'll just give you my opinions on a few things:
Amazing Race: I REALLY have a lot of respect for Charla. She is one strong lady. She does almost ALL of the Road Bloacks because Mirna is to wussy. Mirna bugs.
I am really pulling for Chip and Kim. I like them as a couple and I would like to see them win. They are, so far, the only team that hasn't REALLY bugged me at some point.
Big Brother: How excited am I that Jase and Scott are finally off? Now, i think, we can play the game without people being mean and angry and rude for no reason at all. I mean, sure, petty stuff is going to come up; your kicking each other off for crying out loud; but Jase and Scott were just MEAN. I am so glad they are gone!
Cowboy may be next, which is sad, in a way, becasue I like him, but really he is a STUPID player. He put all of his trust into those jerks (even after their reaction to him - calling him a liar - when he toled them Nakomis was his sister.)
Who am I rooting for? I like Nakomis a lot. I also like Will, he is a really good player.
Amazing Race: I REALLY have a lot of respect for Charla. She is one strong lady. She does almost ALL of the Road Bloacks because Mirna is to wussy. Mirna bugs.
I am really pulling for Chip and Kim. I like them as a couple and I would like to see them win. They are, so far, the only team that hasn't REALLY bugged me at some point.
Big Brother: How excited am I that Jase and Scott are finally off? Now, i think, we can play the game without people being mean and angry and rude for no reason at all. I mean, sure, petty stuff is going to come up; your kicking each other off for crying out loud; but Jase and Scott were just MEAN. I am so glad they are gone!
Cowboy may be next, which is sad, in a way, becasue I like him, but really he is a STUPID player. He put all of his trust into those jerks (even after their reaction to him - calling him a liar - when he toled them Nakomis was his sister.)
Who am I rooting for? I like Nakomis a lot. I also like Will, he is a really good player.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
The Great Outdoors
A trip to Universal Studios last Tuesday inspired me to watch The Great Outdoors with John Candy and Dan Aykroyd. I have never seen this movie before. Now, I suppose that to most people this movie would fall under the category of comedy. But let me tell you, when you have a Roman (Aykroyd) in your family, and you've been on vacation with him, this movie hits a little to close to home. Thus, for someone like me, this movie falls under the category of horror.
I think my first, last, and only camping trip with my Uncle Roman will prove to be a good case in point. Although in the movie, Roman shows up unannounced, my Uncle Roman was invited along - on a previously planned camping trip with my family and our family's friends. As a matter of fact, it was our friends idea in the first place.
As most people know, when you reach a campsite, you stake it out and decide as a group how to arrange the camp, set up the tents, and create your weekend community. (You should be cringing right about now.) Yes, my Uncle Roman pulls ahead of the rest of us (refusing to stop for more than a five minute lunch on our six hour drive to Mackinac Island) and arrives at the campground an hour ahead of time. We arrive to find that we have been assigned 3 side by side rectangular campsites, and mu Uncle Roman has his van parked and his giant tent set up smack dab in the middle of the middle camp site. (Reminder: He was invited along and he chose which campsite to use) Due to his set up, we weren't able to set up in a circle, and we had to walk around the van and tent to visit each others sites. If you can't envision it, trust me, it was inconvenient, annoying, and rude.
There were numerous other examples of my delightful Uncle Roman on this trip. His potato hashbrown tomato casserole (that was an unusual shade of pink when he finished with it) that he insisted everyone "try" (and his definition of "try" was about 2 cups full splattered on to a paper plate). His argumentative response to asking him to at least park his van on the outer edge of the camp site. Oh and of course, who can forget the repeated visits we got from our neighbors at the camp ground as they politely, and repeatedly, requested that Uncle Roman turn down his TELEVISION that he had set up in his tent to watch late at night in the middle of the campground.
Ah, those family vacations!
I think my first, last, and only camping trip with my Uncle Roman will prove to be a good case in point. Although in the movie, Roman shows up unannounced, my Uncle Roman was invited along - on a previously planned camping trip with my family and our family's friends. As a matter of fact, it was our friends idea in the first place.
As most people know, when you reach a campsite, you stake it out and decide as a group how to arrange the camp, set up the tents, and create your weekend community. (You should be cringing right about now.) Yes, my Uncle Roman pulls ahead of the rest of us (refusing to stop for more than a five minute lunch on our six hour drive to Mackinac Island) and arrives at the campground an hour ahead of time. We arrive to find that we have been assigned 3 side by side rectangular campsites, and mu Uncle Roman has his van parked and his giant tent set up smack dab in the middle of the middle camp site. (Reminder: He was invited along and he chose which campsite to use) Due to his set up, we weren't able to set up in a circle, and we had to walk around the van and tent to visit each others sites. If you can't envision it, trust me, it was inconvenient, annoying, and rude.
There were numerous other examples of my delightful Uncle Roman on this trip. His potato hashbrown tomato casserole (that was an unusual shade of pink when he finished with it) that he insisted everyone "try" (and his definition of "try" was about 2 cups full splattered on to a paper plate). His argumentative response to asking him to at least park his van on the outer edge of the camp site. Oh and of course, who can forget the repeated visits we got from our neighbors at the camp ground as they politely, and repeatedly, requested that Uncle Roman turn down his TELEVISION that he had set up in his tent to watch late at night in the middle of the campground.
Ah, those family vacations!
Friday, August 06, 2004
Stephen King update
Well, folks, this is it. We are on the downhill stretch. The final Dark Tower book will be published in September (I believe on Stephen King's birthday.) I am so excited. I almost ready. I just finished Bag of Bones (really good!) , so I have read every novel Stephen King has put out, as well as Richard Bauchman. I have not read all of his short stories, but I read "Everything's Eventual," and I will read the other short stories that pertain to the Dark Tower series.
I also plan to reread Insomnia, since I read it so long ago, and it strongly relates to the Dark Tower series.
So my plan is:
reRead Insomnia
Possibly reread Salem's Lot.
Read The Mist (short story from Skeletan Crew)
Read Little Sisters of Eularia (spell?) - short story from Everything's Eventual
And then....duh duh duh...
read the dark tower series from start to finish. (rereading the first four.)
I am so excited.
After I finish theh dark tower series, I don't know what I am going to do. There are still quite a few works (his non fiction, his screen plays such as storm of the century, which does...loosely... relate to the dark Tower so I will eventually read it...but after the Dark Tower series I may need to take a King break. or else, I will run out of King material!!!!
Laterz!
I also plan to reread Insomnia, since I read it so long ago, and it strongly relates to the Dark Tower series.
So my plan is:
reRead Insomnia
Possibly reread Salem's Lot.
Read The Mist (short story from Skeletan Crew)
Read Little Sisters of Eularia (spell?) - short story from Everything's Eventual
And then....duh duh duh...
read the dark tower series from start to finish. (rereading the first four.)
I am so excited.
After I finish theh dark tower series, I don't know what I am going to do. There are still quite a few works (his non fiction, his screen plays such as storm of the century, which does...loosely... relate to the dark Tower so I will eventually read it...but after the Dark Tower series I may need to take a King break. or else, I will run out of King material!!!!
Laterz!
Weeks are flying by
Well its been a while since I've updated. I know, no Amazing Race or anything! Oh well. What have I been up to? First and foremost, trying to put this house into some semblance of order. Which, I am discovering, is a much more difficult task than even I had imagined. Those of you that have owned homes have some inkling of what I am talking about, I am sure. It is difficult though, because it isn't as though i moved into an empty house. So trying to find room for all of our stuff, along with all the stuff that is already here, is a fairly difficult task. (And considering the size of the house, well, you can just imagine.)
Anyway, the way things have pretty much been going is I clean out one room, moving everything into other rooms, which then causes those rooms to need cleaning out. However, I am trying my darndest to keep moving in one direction. (Once I get a room cleaned out, I don't move anything back into it.)
Originally, I tried to just make all the rooms presentable. But there is just too much damn stuff.
I finally got one of the bedrooms compleatly cleared out upstairs, so I am moving all of by brother's and sister's things into that room. Hopefully it will all fit. (They also have a bunch of stuff in the garage that may eventually get moved up into that bedroom so we have more room in the garage so that maybe things like the tool kit can live there instead of on the floor in the family room. Sigh. see what I mean?) My dad's stuff is all being moved into the den.
You may ask, "why don't you just call the fam-damily and tell them to get their stuff?" Well, suffice it to say that my brother and sister just aren't in a position to come and get their stuff and bring it anywhere. And I am not comfortable with just throwing it out. But I do need them to come and look through it and make sure it isn't all crap (which it probably is) and decide what they truly want to keep. At some point they'll have to get it (particularly is I ever decide to have children, they might enjoy having a bedroom of their own).
Ahem...(let me repeat...) eventually THEY"ll HAVE TO COME AND GET IT...hint, hint.....
Other than that, lets see, I went and picked up my teachers manuals so I could start to look through them. We spend like four weeks on addition. One page in the science book consists of, "The wind can blow hard. It can blow a windmill to make electricity. The wind can be very strong." And the first two weeks are a review of the letters of the alphabet! Life is grand.
Well, thats is for now. I think I'll do summary of the last few episodes of Amazing Race (my view of the teams, a little commentary on the plot, nothing too deep.) And maybe some Big Brother assessment. We shall see.
Mostly, I want to get working in the Living room before it gets too hot.
::::hugs::::
Anyway, the way things have pretty much been going is I clean out one room, moving everything into other rooms, which then causes those rooms to need cleaning out. However, I am trying my darndest to keep moving in one direction. (Once I get a room cleaned out, I don't move anything back into it.)
Originally, I tried to just make all the rooms presentable. But there is just too much damn stuff.
I finally got one of the bedrooms compleatly cleared out upstairs, so I am moving all of by brother's and sister's things into that room. Hopefully it will all fit. (They also have a bunch of stuff in the garage that may eventually get moved up into that bedroom so we have more room in the garage so that maybe things like the tool kit can live there instead of on the floor in the family room. Sigh. see what I mean?) My dad's stuff is all being moved into the den.
You may ask, "why don't you just call the fam-damily and tell them to get their stuff?" Well, suffice it to say that my brother and sister just aren't in a position to come and get their stuff and bring it anywhere. And I am not comfortable with just throwing it out. But I do need them to come and look through it and make sure it isn't all crap (which it probably is) and decide what they truly want to keep. At some point they'll have to get it (particularly is I ever decide to have children, they might enjoy having a bedroom of their own).
Ahem...(let me repeat...) eventually THEY"ll HAVE TO COME AND GET IT...hint, hint.....
Other than that, lets see, I went and picked up my teachers manuals so I could start to look through them. We spend like four weeks on addition. One page in the science book consists of, "The wind can blow hard. It can blow a windmill to make electricity. The wind can be very strong." And the first two weeks are a review of the letters of the alphabet! Life is grand.
Well, thats is for now. I think I'll do summary of the last few episodes of Amazing Race (my view of the teams, a little commentary on the plot, nothing too deep.) And maybe some Big Brother assessment. We shall see.
Mostly, I want to get working in the Living room before it gets too hot.
::::hugs::::
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Weird
People are weird.
I, however, think I must be the weirdest of all.
I, however, think I must be the weirdest of all.
I have always been out of touch with my peers.
At various times in my life, I consoled myself with thoughts such as, "Weird is normal, so normal is weird."
But at some time in my life, I am just going to have to come to terms with the fact that I am very, very different. Sometimes that is okay, occasionally, it can bother me big time.
Is that weird?
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Disneyland. Its about time.
So...after an almost two month hiatus I finally went to Disneyland yesterday. Yes. My first summer visit of 2004. My friend and I got there around 4. The rumors were true; attendence was very low. We were able to ride (more like walk on) to Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Mansion, and its a small world by 5:30. We met my cutie out in front at 6:20, after seeing the all new Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (which is severly lacking without the two brothers and Golden Wings songs.) Then went over to DCA to see it's tough to be a bug and, of course, Tower of Terror (I have now ridden the California version 10 times. I know. There are people out there that have ridden it way more. but still. I am keeping count.)
Sigh. My Disneyland fix. Its staring to wear off....want....to....go....back....
Sigh. My Disneyland fix. Its staring to wear off....want....to....go....back....
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Ah! The old riddle posed to Alice at the Mad Tea Party in Wonderland. She never did figure out the answer...but there is one!
Do you know? Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Do you know? Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Beach access debate
Apparently, laws about beach access and organizations protecting beaches in our country rage battles all the time.
Is the beach something that can be privatly owned?
Can a beach limit its hours of use?
Is it appropriate to charge an entrance fee for shore access (not parking)?
Is using a beach a natural right for all?
These are just some resources I found today. I am sure there are much better resources out there. But I am tired.
State of the Beach:
http://www.beach.com/stateofthebeach2004/home.asp
In Hawaii:
Hawaii's beaches belong to the people. All beaches (even those in front of exclusive resorts) are public property and you are welcome to visit them. Hawaii state law requires that all resorts and hotels offer public right-of-way access (across their private property) to the beach, along with public parking. So just because a beach fronts a hotel doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the water. It does mean that the hotel may restrict certain areas on private property for hotel guests' use only. Generally, hotels welcome non-guests to their facilities. They frown on non-guests using the beach chairs reserved for guests, but if a non-guest has money and wants to rent gear, buy a drink, or eat a sandwich, well, money is money and they will gladly accept it from anyone. However, that does not mean that you can willy-nilly cross private property to get to a beach. Look for BEACH ACCESS signs; don't trespass.
Florida:
http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/landuse/Vol151/spain1.htm
In California:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=prc&group=30001-31000&file=30210-30214
In New Jersey:
http://www.gsenet.org/library/11gsn/2004/gs040712.php#BATTLE%20FOR%20BEACH%20ACCESS%20RAGES
Is the beach something that can be privatly owned?
Can a beach limit its hours of use?
Is it appropriate to charge an entrance fee for shore access (not parking)?
Is using a beach a natural right for all?
These are just some resources I found today. I am sure there are much better resources out there. But I am tired.
State of the Beach:
http://www.beach.com/stateofthebeach2004/home.asp
In Hawaii:
Hawaii's beaches belong to the people. All beaches (even those in front of exclusive resorts) are public property and you are welcome to visit them. Hawaii state law requires that all resorts and hotels offer public right-of-way access (across their private property) to the beach, along with public parking. So just because a beach fronts a hotel doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the water. It does mean that the hotel may restrict certain areas on private property for hotel guests' use only. Generally, hotels welcome non-guests to their facilities. They frown on non-guests using the beach chairs reserved for guests, but if a non-guest has money and wants to rent gear, buy a drink, or eat a sandwich, well, money is money and they will gladly accept it from anyone. However, that does not mean that you can willy-nilly cross private property to get to a beach. Look for BEACH ACCESS signs; don't trespass.
Florida:
http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/landuse/Vol151/spain1.htm
In California:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=prc&group=30001-31000&file=30210-30214
In New Jersey:
http://www.gsenet.org/library/11gsn/2004/gs040712.php#BATTLE%20FOR%20BEACH%20ACCESS%20RAGES
Karma - or - what I learned
Ok, I know the concept of Karma, or things going full circle, or people creating their own luck is not a new concept, but man, to a feel like the gods were trying to pound that into me this trip!
Here are a few things that happened on my trip that kept these thoughts on my mind:
Here are a few things that happened on my trip that kept these thoughts on my mind:
- On the first leg of my trip, I sat down in my window seat, and the lady next to me asked if I would mind switching seats with her husband, a few rows up, so they could sit together. Of course I switched, and gathered up my things. The seat I switched into turned out to be the first row past first class, and it had about as much leg room as an emergency exit row!
2. On the second leg of the trip, from Minneapolis to Newark, as I approached my row, I notices an older gentleman seated in my seat. He had misread his ticket and sat in the wrong window seat. So he didn't have to get up, I offered to just take his seat. As it turns out, because I switched sides, I was able to to see NYC out the window!
3. On the airplane I read a Reader's Digest Article about making your own luck.
4. In NYC, I came across several friendly people. In the subway, while we were looking for the appropriate platform, a nice guy came up and asked where we were going and if we needed help. Later on, in NYC, As I was getting my camera out, another man stopped and asked if we needed directions. All in all, I found people very friendly in New York. They were willing to help, and friendly, and let me tell you what a difference it made when you just smiled and said thank you! Treat people well, and they will treat you well, back!
5. On the plane ride home, I met this rather unhappy young man. He was on his way back to California to visit his brother and he hated it. California was full of pretentious people who felt they were more than they are. Everyone thinks that they are somebody. He grew up in the same town I lived in. I felt really bad for this guy. It was obvious that he had a very negative stereotype about California people. Thus, whenever he met people that fit his stereotype, he filed it away. In other words, he sought out those types of people.
Lesson Learned: If you believe people are genuinely good, then, for the most part, you will meet good, friendly people. That is what you will seek out.
If you treat people with kindness and respect, they will respond in kind, for the most part.
And to combine those two lessons, if you believe that people or genuinely good hearted, then you will treat them with kindness and respect. They will return your friendliness, and as a result, the majority of people you meet will be nice.
This seems fairly obvious, I suppose, but it was just really driven home to me this trip as I watched how people interacted with each other!
Sometimes, the effects aren't so obvious as they were on this trip for me. Sometimes you may be very friendly, and you don't get a kind response. It happens. I read in a book somewhere before I went to Washington D.C. that there were a lot of homeless people there. The book basically said it was up to you whether you gave them money or food coupons or any other hand outs, or nothing at all, but it urged you to remember that these were people too, and if you didn't want to give out anything, of course that was logical, but to still treat them with respect. A smile, or a simple, "I am sorry, I don't have anything to give you." or anything that acknowledges their presence is better than ignoring them. Everyone might not agree, but since I've adopted this philosophy I've felt much better. Maybe it doesn't make a difference, but to me it does. I smile, I make eye contact, I say no thank you to people trying to sell stuff on the street, and sometimes I get a smile back. But you know what? It doesn't seem scary anymore. It is still sad, but not scary. I don't know if it makes a difference, but it feels better that ignoring people.
"Treat others the way you wish to be treated" - The Golden Rule
The golden rule is best interpreted as saying: "Treat others only in ways that you're willing to be treated in the same exact situation." To apply it, you'd imagine yourself in the exact place of the other person on the receiving end of the action. If you act in a given way toward another, and yet are unwilling to be treated that way in the same circumstances, then you violate the rule. - Routledge
"Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect" - Cinderella
The Universality of the Golden Rule in the World Religions
Christianity
All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:1
Confucianism
Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state. Analects 12:2
Buddhism
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Udana-Varga 5,1
Hinduism
This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you. Mahabharata 5,1517
Islam
No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Sunnah
Judaism
What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. Talmud, Shabbat 3id
Taoism
Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Tai Shang Kan Yin P’ien
Zoroastrianism
That nature alone is good which refrains from doing another whatsoever is not good for itself. Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5
Humanism:
"(5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity."
"(11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings. "
Native American Spirituality:
"Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace.
"All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One." Black Elk
Roman Pagan Religion: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves."
Shinto: "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form"
Back from New Jersey!
Hi all! I just got back from New Jersey, and I have a lot to tell you all about! I really don't even know where to begin! I had an awesome time, my friend was very welcoming, and I saw so many incredible things.
Here is a list of the things that I was able to see on my trip:
Here is a list of the things that I was able to see on my trip:
- Rent, on Broadway, with an incredible cast including Matt Caplan, perhaps the best "Mark" I have ever seen, Jeremy Kushnier as Roger (whom my friend had seen previously in Footloose), Jai Rodriguez (from Queer Eye) as Angel, and Melanie Brown (of the Spice Girls) as Mimi. An incredible cast and an incredible experience. After the show, I was able to meet Jeremy and Matt, get Melanie's autograph, and snap a picture of Jai. The theater itself was small an intimate, especially from our vantage point in the orchestra section.
- Times Square: In many ways, it reminded me of Vegas, with tons of people on the streets and all of the bright lights. I love big cities. The sidewalks were lined with artists, people from every walk of life, and the smell of the food carts made NYC feel very distinct.
- My friend showed me Clifton, the town she grew up in, and Montclair, where she went to college.
- I went into Astoria, which is in Queens, to a Greek restaurant. There are a lot of Greek stores and restaurants in Astoria, and a lot of Greeks hang out there. (So of course, my friend had to take me so I could get a glimpse of her culture...Until she can bring me to Greece that it!)
- Mid and Upper Manhattan, including Rockefeller Center, Madison Square Gardens, radio City Music Hall, Times Square in the day time, and Madam Tusaud's (spell?)
- Central Park, including the Central Park zoo and the Alice and Wonderland Statue. (I would love to spend more time just chillin' in Central Park!)
- The Empire State building, including the observation tower.
- Atlantic City, New Jersey, which was perhaps, a page out of my fantasy book. I have been obsessed with beachy/boardwalk towns since reading about them in The Babysitter's club series when I was a kid. Seeing Atlantic City's Boardwalk was just like I imagined. The pier with the rides and the ever so romantic water's edge Ferris wheel, arcades and food shops lining the boardwalk, and the sandy beach. Sigh. Plus. There are casinos right along the boardwalk!
- The famous Egg Platter Diner, with its number of Egg novelties to choose from. I had an omelet with cheese and Taylor ham.
- Liberty science Center, which is a children's science museum in Liberty state Park, New Jersey. (You can take a ferry from Liberty State Park to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, but you have to be back by 4, where as you have until 6:30 if you leave from battery park in New York.)
- Hiking at Bushkill Falls in Pennsylvania, which was very nice and tranquil, and very cool to see how beautiful the east coast can be away from the city.
- Point PLeasent, a popular beach and boardwalk in New Jersey. Unfortunately, this really put a downer on my boardwalk fantasies. The boardwalk itself was cool. Lots of neat little shops, arcades (with slot machines that gave out tokens that you could collect prizes with, like tickets, that kids could play on. Also, there were adult prizes, like candles and clocks and stuff, and adults playing on these machines like it was a casino. Even the game ones that were not slot machines...You'd see adults playing two at a time collecting tickets. It was funny. Not adults playing games, thats totally fun, but playing all serious like, "with this last quarter I might get enough tickets to buy myself that set of non stick frying pans!" kind of serious.) But the Real downer was this: THEY CHARGED, PER PERSON, TO ENTER THE BEACH. There was a fence along the boardwalk, and every so often there would be a set of steps leading down to the beach and next to it a person in a booth collecting $5.50 per adult. Outrage. (oh, also odd, you weren't allowed to change your clothes. There were signs by the bathroom saying you weren't allowed to change your clothes in there. Odd. So lots of people spent all day in their bathing suits. (some brought coverups, some didn't.) Hmm, I wonder is if the state of New Jersey knows that a common cause of yeast infections is wearing warm, wet bathing suits all day. Not a pretty picture.
- Lower Manhattan. We saw Battery Park, The Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. (Let me tell you, plan on spending your whole day at Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island. Seriously. There was A LOT to see at Ellis ISland!
- Ground Zero. All rubble was cleaned up and the actual sight is prepared for building. Building 7 is already being rebuilt (not one of the twin towers, but the last WTC building to fall.) They built an observation fence all along the east side of the trade center and lined it with the history of the WTC as well as a memoriam to those whose lives were lost.
- The New York Subway System - ah - like a dream come true. Did I mention how much I love subways???
As you can see, it was a jammed pack trip. I was able to get to know my East Coast friend much better and see so many amazing places.
I can't wait to go back!
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Amazing Race 5: Episode 2
***spoilers!!!***
So I tuned in to Amazing Race (Just FYI - Due to my being in New Jersy it is possible that I won't watch Amazing Race until I get back...so dry your eyes...my update will come...)last night after our trip to the Orange County Fair...
Coolest Destination: Buenos Aires to the grave site of Eva Peron.
Team commentary:
Brandon/Nicole - Uh, neutral...they didn't mention their love for the Lord our Savior this episode, so that weren't as annoying as the first time around.
Charla and Mirna - Silghtly less anoying. Mirna is a wuss. I still can't believe she made Charla carry the 50 pounds of meat last week!
Jim and Marsha - I am probably rooting for the father/daughter team the most. I feel so bad for how their race started and they seem to handle everything well.
Linda/Karen - pissed me off that they were so low as to play the currency exchange trick. I mean come on, I suppose its fair, but there are dirty and rude ways to play the game....
Bob and Joyce - I really like how they work as a team. They did well on the perro challenge working together.
Colin and Christie - nothing really stands out....
Marshall and Lance - same thing...
Chip and Kim - I like them okay...they seem like a good team.
Kami and Karli - I like the twins also. I feel bad that they took the taxi cab issue so seriously, becasue they had a good alliance with Chip and Kim...lets face it...everyone wants to win!!!
Alison and Donny - eliminiated!!! Yes!!! I don't think I could have watched Alison be such a bitch to Donny for the whole season. I just hope he gets smart, dumps her, and moves on!
If you want an episode synopsis, go to cbs.com and click on Amazing Race.
Next episode Tuesday, July 20th 10:00 pm
So I tuned in to Amazing Race (Just FYI - Due to my being in New Jersy it is possible that I won't watch Amazing Race until I get back...so dry your eyes...my update will come...)last night after our trip to the Orange County Fair...
Coolest Destination: Buenos Aires to the grave site of Eva Peron.
Team commentary:
Brandon/Nicole - Uh, neutral...they didn't mention their love for the Lord our Savior this episode, so that weren't as annoying as the first time around.
Charla and Mirna - Silghtly less anoying. Mirna is a wuss. I still can't believe she made Charla carry the 50 pounds of meat last week!
Jim and Marsha - I am probably rooting for the father/daughter team the most. I feel so bad for how their race started and they seem to handle everything well.
Linda/Karen - pissed me off that they were so low as to play the currency exchange trick. I mean come on, I suppose its fair, but there are dirty and rude ways to play the game....
Bob and Joyce - I really like how they work as a team. They did well on the perro challenge working together.
Colin and Christie - nothing really stands out....
Marshall and Lance - same thing...
Chip and Kim - I like them okay...they seem like a good team.
Kami and Karli - I like the twins also. I feel bad that they took the taxi cab issue so seriously, becasue they had a good alliance with Chip and Kim...lets face it...everyone wants to win!!!
Alison and Donny - eliminiated!!! Yes!!! I don't think I could have watched Alison be such a bitch to Donny for the whole season. I just hope he gets smart, dumps her, and moves on!
If you want an episode synopsis, go to cbs.com and click on Amazing Race.
Next episode Tuesday, July 20th 10:00 pm