Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Another Day

And nothing new
Life is good, if not slightly stagnant. No, stagnant is a word with big negative connotations... it's just a little bit boring is all. There are far worse things. I sleep (not ever quite enough), I work (yawn), I eat (probably too much) and I spend amazing time with Brad. I get to see friends occasionally, but we are all pretty busy. Now that Brad lives in Alvin I dont see him him as much, either. Sad. Soon, hopefully, we will be setting him up in an apartment close to my place.
Oh, I joined a gym last night. Nothing fancy, but its cheap and it has cardio machines which is all I want at this moment. And most of the machines have little TVs on them with cable! I watched an episode of Scrubs last night on the treadmill and didnt even know I had been walking 15 minutes!! Nice...
I will start a little muscle training later, but right now I just need to whip myself into shape- grow some discipline and lose a little weight.
I miss my buddy Jason. Tomorrow is his birthday, and I wish we were gonna go out drinking and playing pool. Oh well. I will call him. I keep trying to get him down to Htown for Wild West and Rocbar, but the sucker ain't got no time. POOP! I say he, Nick, James and Morgan come down for a walk-down-memory-lane-apalooza! Well, it wont happen, but it would be fun.
Brad is great, and I miss him. We are seeing a show this weekend and a Kevin Fowler concert, so it should be good times. Whee!!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Book Seven

Sigh
I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at 1:22am Tuesday morning. I cried so much (act surprised), and I laughed and I cheered. It was incredible. I cannot wait to read it again, especially because this time I can take my time and not feel rushed. Before, I was afraid of hearing spoilers and I wanted to hurry so I could discuss everything with my folks (who both finished before I did).
I won't leave any spoilers in this entry, but I will say this: an interesting new 'shipping' possibility is presented that will quickly become quite popular.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Secrets of Women

and How to Get Them!
I found an article some guy had written all about what impresses women. I read it, expecting it to be mostly drivel, but there are some really good points in this. What do you think?

10 secrets you need to know
1. All women like surprises; women believe they should be surprised at least once a month.
2. All women have fantasies. A man should take the time to find out her fantasy.
3. Women want a man to be sensitive yet fight for them if they needed to.
4. Women want a man to be gentle and rough at the same time.
5. Women want to be told they're beautiful, then after a time told they're sexy.
6. Women want their man to notice when another man tries to pick them up, but refrain from jealousy.
7. Women will alter their appearance with a new hairstyle or buy something skimpy for themselves, not a man.
8. A woman will groom herself that day if there is a chance for her to meet someone that night.
9.Women believe in the fairytale and will look at most men in the first 30 seconds as if they could be the prince they have been looking for.
10. If a woman really likes a man, she will spend all day trying to look good for him and still not feel perfect, yet at times she will not be made up and feel perfect.

10 ways to make yourself attractive to woman
1. Be confident in who you are.
2. Have a sense of humor.
3. Show good manners.
4. Be respectful.
5. Be controversial.
6. Be sensitive.
7. Ask her what she wants and likes.
8. Don't just tell her you do, but put your trust in her.
9. Tell her about one time your feelings got hurt.
10.Kiss her softly, and then kiss her passionately.

7 sure-fire ways to repulse a woman
1. Tell her what you don't want her to wear.
2. Look at another woman while talking to her.
3. Show her that you have no direction in your life.
4. Be too proud of your qualities.
5. Drink too much or have a serious addiction.
6. Insult her style, friends or family.
7. Use stupid pickup lines like: "Do you want to have sex?" "Can I smell your roses?" "Baby, that's the sweetest butt I've ever seen!" "Hey you, come here!"

Monday, July 16, 2007

Chipotle Scandal


My Broken Heart (and arteries...)

I have just discovered the horrific truth about the calorie count at Chipotle. NOOOO!!! I am devastated. I could eat this food every day and not get sick of it. Apparently it would kill me!

Try this calculator to find out how many calories are in your favorite dish. A note: maybe I should have known this, but the biggest shocker for me was the chips.

Messina Hof

Wonderful Weekend with Wine
Brad and I met his grandmother, Vicki, and several of her close friends at the Messina Hof winery in Bryan/College Station this weekend. We had about half an hour to ourselves to taste various wines. Then our private tour began with the history behind this fascinating family. We spent close to an hour wandering the grounds, seeing the wine-making process, visiting the Villa and getting a tutorial on the 'wine experience'. Then, to cap the occation, we dined at the Villa Restaurant, where everything was delicious! Oh, everything on the grounds was incredible. Check out the photos on the website.
Anyway, I came home with a few bottles, including a delectable Sangria. Yummy in the tummy!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Exactly what I mean...

RE: Free Sex Education
Alright, read this article, and tell me it doesn't make you sick and/or sad.
THIS is exactly why we need 'sexual renegades' teaching free classes 'underground'; "Just 7.9 percent of parents discussed sexual matters with their daughters, she said, while 46 percent of parents said it was the responsibility of schools to provide sex education." Everyone is looking to make it someone else's responsibility! And did you notice that "79 percent of high school and university girls cited the Internet as their main source of information about sex" - women in college are completely clueless about sex other than the "teachings" of the Internet! I am just disgusted that such an essential topic could be so adamently ignored!
And, I'm sorry to pass such ruthless judgement on people I don't know, but if "46 percent of the more than 20,000 girls who called the city's pregnancy hot line", a.k.a. nearly 10,000 girls met their sex partners online, and several didn't even know their real names, maybe, just maybe, the problem isn't the web. Maybe the problem is that these girls are sluts. That may not be a fair assessment, but it certainly fits the bill. We are talking about 16-18 year olds mostly. Who is trying to prevent this?!? No one!
It just makes me sad. Seriously, I want to go all bohemian, live out of a van and make it my life's work to travel across the world teaching the masses about proper sexual health. Who is with me?

HP5 in 3D

Bonus Dimension

Look what I found!!!!

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: An IMAX 3D Experience, the third Harry Potter film converted into the IMAX format, has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® technology. The large 15/70 film frame, combined with the IMAX projection technology and remarkable sound system, provide moviegoers with an immersive, extraordinary cinematic experience. Plus, see the movie's explosive finale in IMAX(R) 3D! Using proprietary 2D to 3D conversion technology, the final scenes of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix have been digitally transformed into amazing IMAX 3D-- the most immersive cinematic 3D in the world. "

I hope I can handle it, cause my tickets is bought! Pardon my poor grammar, I just got excited... It will be my third viewing. Tomorrow night I am seeing the normal version with Brad (the 3D was sold out).

Potter Review (spoilers)

I enjoyed every minute of this film! I think it was an excellent portrayal of the essential story of the book. Now, of course, they have to cut things, and there were things I wish had been left in, but such is life.
They did an excellent job of building the relationship between Harry and Sirius, which stung as we knew what was coming. I thought the actress who played Luna was quite good; dreamy and 'off' without being "a freak". I was skeptical about Umbridge, because this actress did not look 'toady' enough, but her portrayal was incredible! It reminded me of the seething hatred I felt for her during the book. The graphics in this film were possibly the best for any HP film so far! Everything in the ministry was beautiful; I don't remember anything in the book about the characters...well...swirling when they Apparated, but the effect of the Dark and the Light fighting in midair was magnificent! And the graphics for Fred and George's fireworks display were fascinating.
One thing I definitely missed was the visit to St. Mungo's. It would have given the actor playing Neville a whole new level to see him with his parents. Also, I wish they had elaborated a bit with Snape's memory of James, or included Harry telling the others about it. It is the first time he sees his parents through an imperfect lens. All in all, a great film for a great book. They are already filming book 6. YEA!!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Free Sex Education

Freedom of Speech
OK, so I try and keep pretty well-informed on issues I care about (A.D.D. allowing), but somehow I missed this notion that "abstinence only" sex ed was being taught in our schools. Let me be more specific: it is getting to where it is illegal to teach safe sex in our schools..............
Um, what?
Other nations are scrambling to increase their sex ed in order to lessen the number of pregnancies and diseases, and we are ignoring it? Do not misunderstand me: I am all about teaching abstinence. It is an essential lesson for kids to hear, especially if they have any religious background. However, it is not a replacement for teaching safe sex!
Religious argument: The Bible tells us not to sin. Have you ever noticed, though, that the Bible is also chock-full of "after-you-have-sinned" advice? It teaches us that once we have sinned against God, we should ask for forgiveness, we should pray, we should rededicate our lives to him, etc. God tells us not to sin, but He isn't stupid! He knows we are going to do it, so he gives us instructions for the aftermath. Shouldn't the same concept be applied to sex education? God wants you to wait until you are married; premarital sex is wrong in his eyes. But, just in case, here is the best way to take care of yourself. If you are going to do it, here is what you need to know. God is understanding and forgiving.
Secular argument: Sex is a natural thing, and your body will have the same reactions and desires whether or not you are educated on what they mean and how best to handle them. If you deny a young person that education, or worse allow them to believe they are educated but without all the facts, you are putting them in the path of danger. Allow me to use Spring Awakening (the best musical ever) to emphasize this point (some spoilers). When Wendla, the young ingenue, asks her mother how babies are made her mother slaps her. Later in the story she and Melchior, the handsome young rebel, find themselves alone in the forest overcome with passion. They have sex, and Wendla becomes pregnant. Her mother is dreadfully ashamed of the girl and takes her to some sleazy "doctor" for an abortion. Wendla dies because of the poorly executed procedure. Moritz, one of Melchior's friends, has endless questions about what is right or wrong and can't get a straight answer out of any adult. He tries to get answers from his classmates. The confusion and stress of loneliness and not understanding his own body leads him to suicide. A lack of an education is just that - a lack. If you let children out into a world so flooded with sexual images with a lack of understanding, there is a world of trouble they can get into. YES, of course, an education will not keep them totally safe. Only they can choose their own actions, but we must do all that we can to inform them of their options. If not, their blood is on our hands.

I propose a solution: if we cannot teach them in their schools, we will teach them somewhere else. Where there is a will, there is a way, and I am quite sure that people would flock towards free sex ed classes taught by 'real people' in the 'real world'. I am literally suggesting sex lectures in Starbucks. Meetings in bookstores. Classes in the park. Thanks to the freedom of speech, we can do just about anything like this. Think about it; we could teach about abstinence. We can teach about methods of contraception. We can teach about 'when you are ready', which of course is subjective. Can you imagine an interactive class full of questions and answers? Maybe this dream is too big, but it seems so necessary. It is a crime, in my opinion, for any human to carry a child in their belly and not understand how or why. It is a crime for a person to catch a disease without knowing how to prevent it.
I generally support the Republican side of an argument, but this is too far. This is unsafe, and I for one am unwilling to stand idly by.

She's Everything

Sweet Song


This is one of Brad's songs for me, and the words are so sweet and accurate. Especially the part about being moody...

"She's Everything"
She's a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in anything
She's "I want a piece of chocolate
Take me to a movie"
She's I can't find a thing to wear
Now and then she's moody

She's a Saturn with a sunroof
With her brown hair a-blowing
She's a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
She's a warm conversationT
hat I wouldn't miss for nothing
She's a fighter when she's mad
And she's a lover when she's loving

[Chorus]
And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
'Cause she's everything to me

She's a Saturday out on the town
And a church girl on Sunday
She's a cross around her neck
And a cuss word 'cause its Monday
She's a bubble bath and candles
"Baby come and kiss me"
She's a one glass of wine
And she's feeling kinda tipsy

She's the giver I wish I could be
And the stealer of the covers
She's a picture in my wallet
Of my unborn children's mother
She's the hand that I'm holding
When I'm on my knees and praying
She's the answer to my prayer
And she's the song that I'm playing

[Repeat chorus]

She's the voice I love to hear
Someday when I'm ninety
She's that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes
I only love her more
Yeah, she's the one
That I'd lay down my own life for

And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She's everything to me
Yeah she's everything to me
Everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She's everything to me

Charity : Water

I have been on a 'change-the-world' kick lately; enjoy this video!

Potter Head

YEA!!!
I AM SEEING HARRY POTTER: THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX TODAY!!!!!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Thoughts on Racism

Everyone's a Little Bit Racist
I have been reading old articles and random blogs about the "Aida controversy" from our senior year, and my blood is boiling. I get so tired of people thinking "I can't be racist, I'm black" or "Its not racist if its true" or "I am entitled to this". ARGH! Why is the world full of jerks?
I read a blog written by an ACU alum who made an excellent point, specifically aimed at a person I will not name:
"A final thought on the talented Ms. -----: history doesn't typically identify heroes in any movement as those who demand double standards and preferential treatment but rather ones who endure hardship to gain equality. Rosa Parks didn't ask to ride the bus for free."
AMEN!
I have always said:
-If you expect to be treated different or better because of your skin color, YOU are a racist.
-If you expect to be treated different or better because of your gender, YOU are a sexist.

Alright, I'm off of my soapbox... for now...

Monday, July 9, 2007

Anger and Love

Two Sides of the Same Coin
I read a very interesting article about anger, and this quote jumped out at me;
"If you really want love in your life, you must be willing to spend a little time with love's less comfortable relatives, anger and pain. It's common to think that with anger and pain come breakup and divorce. But the bottom line is the more you love someone, the more able they are to piss you off. So be aware: Anger and intense emotion are normal when you truly love and care."
First of all, the song "The More You Ruv Someone" is running rampant through my head (which reminds me, I used to have that sheet music book, and someone borrowed it and never gave it back... poo). Secondly, what an excellent point that people completely neglect to acknowledge. Just because you don't enjoy something at that moment doesn't mean it is not worthwhile. You can't expect people (or jobs, or money, or sex, or anything else) to make you happy and leave you with only good feelings. Without the bad feelings, what are the good ones worth? Not much.
Brad and I have gotten quite good at constructive conflict. It is almost never pleasant to fight, but if it fixes a problem than it is necessary and good. It increases our bond and makes our love and trust grow deeper in one another.
It just makes me think of people who close their hearts because of their past experiences. It is natural to want to guard your heart after it has been smashed, but if you avoid the bad so diligently, you are likely to miss out on the good. You need to learn how to protect yourself from loneliness as well.
"Feelings are much like waves. We can't stop them from coming, but we can choose which one to surf." -Jonatan Mårtensson

Friday, July 6, 2007

Music

Gimme Some
I am in the mood to discover new music, so lay it on me. What are your three (to five) favorite songs right now? I don't care if its country, rap, showtune, classic, brand spankin' new, whatever.

What are you listening to?

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Potter Madness


Not to be Confused with Reefer Madness

So, apparently the movie is being released on Wednesday, July 11th (not on Friday, July 13th like I had heard). This will make things interesting. Wednesday I'm supposed to have Girl's Night Out for Rocko's B-Day, so the fam may have to wait until Friday. But that will make Thursday night miserable in waiting.... I will figure it out.

Anyway, enjoy the pic!

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Playlist

My Favorites This Second
1) "LDN" by Lily Allen
2) "One and Only" by Timbaland ft. Fall Out Boy
3) "Freakum Dress" by Beyonce
4) "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse
5) "Alfie" by Lily Allen
6) "Throw It On Me" by Timbaland ft. The Hives
7) "Touch Me" from Spring Awakening
8) "Real Love" off of Instant Karma
9) "Home" by Marc Broussard

Monday, July 2, 2007

Special Victims


Who Doesn't Love It?

So Alex got to go shoot his spot in the L&O:SVU episode the other day. They didn't finish it in one day, so "oh darn" they have to bring him back another day and pay him more. It sounds like it was an incredible experience. And the cool part is, it airs during... (drumroll)... SWEEPS! Now, that means we won't see it until November, but HOW COOL IS THAT?!? I can't wait, I'm so proud of him. I really hope this is a springboard for him.

My New Car...

...Who Has No Name
I bought a car this weekend - GAH!! I am so excited, so proud of myself, and so terrified. Bye bye, money... but my Saturn rocks. I haven't named it yet, though. It is white, but I think it has the spirit of a green car... I'm not getting a vibe about it's gender though. I kind of want to name it Hunter, but sports can be so fickle - knowing my luck, Pence will get traded... "my last car" was a Crown Victoria, and I wasn't sure on the gender vibe, so I named it Victor Victoria (I know, I'm so clever) and usually called it Vivi. I must give this more though. I have already made small efforts to make it my own. I added a scarf around the rear-view mirror. I need to put my magnetic Save Darfur ribbon on there somewhere. Anyways, huzzah for me! Wish me luck, and pray for me - I'm already a nervous driver, and now I'm driving my life savings...