Same old stuff

Well im kinda sad to be back from break. I had a great holiday, my whole family came up for Thanksgiving and the food was great and i just basically ate leftovers the whole weekend. It was nice to just relax and forget about school for a couple of days. But now i have to kick it into overdrive and get geared up for exams! We only have like 2 and a half weeks until finals and then we are back on vacation again..pretty sweet deal! I guess i just have to survive these next 18 days and then im home free for 5 weeks!

Snow

I think that its time we had a snow storm. I mean really, its almost December and we haven't even had any accumulation at all. I cant remember it ever being this warm for this long. I'm sure all the snow haters are enjoying it, but i must ask- if you don't like snow, why are you living in New England? I love NE because we get the best of the four seasons, but we are definitely lacking in the snow department this year. I guess i will just have to do a little snow dance if i don't see any substantial snow storms in the forecast soon. I want to make a snowman, and have to bundle up to go outside, and drink hot chocolate, and have a fire, and go snowmobiling! There are just so many wonderful things to do in the winter and they are usually more fun to do when there is some SNOW!! Tubing is so fun too! I love going to Gunstock and going tubing, i went for the first time last year and had a blast! Well, Mr. Weatherman, all i can say is we better get some snow in the forecast soon or i might just have to do something about it myself..i don't know what..but I'll figure something out!

My dog

I was so happy to get to see my dog this holiday! I miss her so much when I'm at school. I can always talk to my family on the phone but i cant exactly do that with her. She is a 9 year old black lab and she still acts like such a puppy! She was so excited to see me, sometimes i think just as much as my parents. She was all nice and clean, she just went to the groomers and she had a pretty pink ribbon on her collar and she was running around our house like a crazy dog. From downstairs its sounded like a herd of elephants was running through our house! I remember when i was younger i always used to say i would take her to college with me, and i had no idea that doing such would never be allowed. A bit of a heartbreak for me when i finally realized in high school that i wouldn't be able to take her. I'm glad i live close enough to home that we can bring her along when i go back Sunday!

Keyboard Kid

An oldie but goody that i re-discovered today! So bad but so good!

My Fortune

"You like to form new friendships and make new acquaintances" That was my fortune. That seems like more of a personality trait than a prediction. It told me something i already knew. I feel jipped. Although at least it said something. I've gotten fortunes before that have said nothing at all. Talk about a bad omen. I wonder who comes up with these fortunes..hmm. Is it some factory with a super-computer that just prints all these random predictions or is it some guy sitting holed up in a room trying desperately to read the cosmos and predict the future of every human being on earth. But how would each fortune find who its supposed to go to? A bit of a flaw in the system i think, because i have cant really recall ever getting a fortune that came true. They're fun all the same though. Especially when they have "learn Chinese" on the back and you can make short funny sentences in Chinese if you combine a couple fortunes when you got out to eat. I cant be the only one that does that..right? Give it a try, its fun!

Boring Day

Today i bought a new toothbrush. I bought it at the grocery store and the lady who checked me out seemed to be just a bored as i was. Except she seemed bitter and angry. Maybe because that was her life, day after day, checking people out at the store. I guess i could understand being a bit upset about that. So then i went home and tried to do some Christmas shopping online. That didn't go very well, i have never liked online shopping. I always prefer to see things for myself. So i gave up on that after about an hour. I called my friend and listened to her complain about her room mate, and then when i couldn't take her complaining anymore told her i had to go make dinner. My dad brought home Chinese food. I ate dinner then watched a movie with my family. I think this weather has just drained all my energy. I was exhausted after doing nothing all day. So i read a bit in my book and now i will be going to bed. Goodnight world, and lets hope tomorrow is a little more exciting.

Black Friday

I was supposed to go shopping today, you know to take part in all those great black Friday deals. But in the end sleeping won out. I just couldn't bring myself to get up on such a miserable day to go wait in line for something that will probably just go on sale again in a week. I am going shopping tomorrow though, at the Tanger Outlets in Tilton, and according to their website, just about all the stores have the same deals going on. So i have concluded that Black Friday is a lie, a sham, a plot by Wal-mart and other super-stores to trample people, a sick and twisted form of entertainment for employees as they watch folks get in a fight over a GPS. A GPS that will probably break in a week, that's finally being sold at the price it should. But maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe Black Friday is just retailers finally cutting consumer's a break and selling things at a reasonable price. I guess i will just have to experience the event for myself to know..maybe next year.

New York

I'm going to New York City next week, on a trip sponsored by my dorm! I'm so excited, we leave a little before 6 am and will get their around 10. Then we have the whole day until 8:30 pm to do whatever we want! I just really want to see the city all decorated for Christmas. I probably wont do much shopping because its so expensive but it will be fun to look in all the windows. I hope i will get a chance to get over to Rockefeller Center and see the huge Christmas tree all lit up, and maybe even do some ice skating. My room mate is coming too, and we have some friends who live in Brooklyn, so hopefully we can meet up with them and have lunch somewhere. Hopefully since they live there they know a few reasonably priced places! Should be a great time though, and it was only 25 dollars! WE get a nice coach bus for the ride, so i thought that was a really great deal! A fun trip just in time for the holiday season!

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp claimed his second "Sexiest Man Alive" title in People magazine this month. A title he truly deserves. He is such an amazing actor and as i sit here watching Pirates of the Caribbean 2, i can truly appreciate his appeal. He looks good as a pirate, Willy Wonka, and a man with scissors for hands, not many people can pull that off. He's musical, attractive, a great actor, and not to mention a family man. Whats not to like? I cant wait to see him as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland! That looks to be one of his most interesting roles yet, he looks freakier than in any role I've ever seen. Johnny Depp will forever be my favorite no matter how old he gets.

New Moon

Saw New Moon a few days ago. I know what your thinking, such a teen flick, why would you even bother? Well i am proud to say i am an original Twilight fan, i read the books when they first came out, thanks to sheer happenstance. So naturally i have to see all the movies. And naturally i have to like Twilight, the movie, on pure principle (even though it sucks if i do say so myself). New Moon, however, i am happy to say is much better than Twilight. Funny how a new director can change everything. The cheesy effects from Twilight were fixed, and the movies wasn't nearly as choppy or full of close-up's. Not much can be done for Kristen Stewarts acting ability but Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner can make up for that with their looks. Not a particularly good movie if you haven't read the books i would imagine, because the intensity of their love cant be summed up in a short movie. But i enjoyed it, and not just because i have too, it was actually pretty decent and way better than Twilight.

The Children of Haung Shi

The Children of Huang Shi, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Chow Yun-Fat, is the inspirational true story of English journalist George Hogg (Meyer) and how he unwittingly saved and inspired the lives of 60 plus children living in a rundown orphanage in China. And let me say..it is a tearjerker!! Be prepared to ball your eyes out. The story takes place during the Chinese Civil War, during a time when China was being invaded by Japan. Looking for some action, i suppose, Hogg heads into the heart of the fighting in Nanjing, only to be devastated by the atrocities he witnesses there. He finds himself at the orphanage by recommendation of his friend Chen, seeking refuge, only to be met by a group of savage, filthy boys. He intends to leave as soon as possible but is compelled to stay because he is the only one around that is fit to care for them. He helps them refurbish the orphanage, he teaches the boys, and gives them hope and something to live for. The group is eventually uprooted due to encroaching Japanese forces and they settle on the edge of the Gobi desert, where they hope they will not be bothered. What Hogg does for these tragic boys is so moving i cant even put it into words. He gave them a reason to live, he helped them learn trust and how to care for themselves and one another. And i think Hogg learned just as much from them. I wont give away any more details about the movie, but just let me say, it will stay with you long after you watch it.

Watch the trailer here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NydpkXCB0o4

Muse

I'm listening to Muse right now, my absolute favorite band in the world!! I'm so sad, they barely even toured in the US, NOT COOL!! Just because they hated Bush, who is gone now FYI, doesn't mean they should ignore their adoring fans over here! But i do forgive them because they are amazing and their new CD totally kicks butt! One of the songs on their new album is titled MK Ultra, which is really funny now that i have seen The Men Who Stare at Goats and know what that refers to. Although the seriousness of the song itself is not funny, but it reminds me of the movie and makes me laugh! Next time they come touring in the US i will be FIRST in line at the box office to get tickets, you can be sure of that!

Boston (not the band)

I would really like to get a chance to go to Boston before Christmas is over. I've never been down there around that time of year and I've been told its absolutely breathtaking when its all decorated and such. New York would be great too but Boston is a little more accessible. I could just hop on the train and spend the day shopping and eating and enjoying the scenery...sounds lovely! If only i had that kind of money to be spending indiscriminately. Today some guy on Oprah won 250,000 dollars for winning a karaoke contest out of only 3 people! I want 250 K! Well, I'm sure he deserved it but really, for singing karaoke? Oh well, guess ill just have to dream up my own little Boston winter wonderland and hope for some snow to make me feel a little better. What am i saying though? Its not even Thanksgiving yet!! I really need to stop thinking about x-mas..ITS SO HARD THOUGH!! Christmas is just so wonderful. Only 42 days to go!!

The Men Who Stare at Goats

Went to see The Men Who Stare at Goats on Veterans Day. It was..interesting to say the least. It was funny, there were definitely some very comical parts but it was kinda one of those movie where they stick all the funny parts in the commercials and that's it. So it wasn't quite as funny as i had anticipated but it was still very enjoyable. In fact i think it would have been even more enjoyable had i been a bit more familiar with the "true story" this movie was based on. Looking back, seemingly meaningless or stupid jokes are actually subtle references to some of the government's goings on that the movie is based on. Type in 'men who stare at goats' into google and read the wikipedia web page that describes the book its based on and where the inspiration for the book comes from, before you see the movie. The movie centers on the CIA's concepts of psychological warfare, the MK Ultra operation and the First Earth Battalion (called New Earth Army in the movie). I tell you i think i would have died laughing had i read up about this stuff first because there are so many funny references to the things i read, looking back. So read about, see it, and laugh. Will definitely buy it when it comes out on DVD.

Christmas

I feel like Christmas is coming up so soon! I know we haven't even made it to Thanksgiving yet but i feel the urge to listen to Christmas music and start my shopping! My friend and i are going shopping on Black Friday, and I'm so pumped! We have been wanting to do it for like 3 years now and just haven't. I cant wait to roll out of bed at 3 in the morning, chug some coffee and sing Christmas carols all the way to the mall! I tried watching Elf last night from some online movie database but it kept freezing up :( It was very sad. I want some snow soon, i cant believe its already November and we haven't had a substantial snow storm yet. It seems so out of whack compared to the last 3 or 4 years. Oh well, id better be patient because we'll probably get tons of snow soon and i will be complaining because i have to walk to class in it! I'm so excited for Christmas though!!! Oh and Thanksgiving!

2012

I cant wait to see 2012, it looks so good! My mom is coming to visit me tomorrow and and were going to go out to lunch and then see the movie! 2012 is from the same director as Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, and by the looks of the ads 2012 seems to go along the same lines. Roland Emmerich seems to specialize in end of the world movies. I don't really understand what its about though, you know besides the general end of the world concept. The commercials say "the Mayans predicted this day would come" and then you see the world falling apart and the government building ships. I feel like there is going to be some unexpected plot twist. Or it could be exactly what it seems, but wheres the fun in that? The movie is like 2 and a half hours though! I think the only time I've gone to the movies to see a film that long was the latest Harry Potter! Lets hope its worth it!

Itunes

I finally figured out how to transfer my itunes library from my old laptop from my new one! What a pain it was to figure out though, the actual process was really simple but figuring out what needed to be done was not easy even using the help bar. For those struggling here's how to do it, in the simplest terms (note: these instructions are for PC's not Mac's)

1) Copy your music (drag and drop) from itunes library on old computer to either a flash drive (easiest) or external hard-drive or CD's if you have to

2) On your new computer go into "Computer" then to "Music" and if you already have itunes installed there should be a folder labled "Itunes" just copy the music from your flash drive or whatever you used into this "Itunes" folder

3) Open Itunes and go to "File" --> "Add folder to Library" and select the "Itunes" folder under "Music"

4) Give your computer a few minutes to copy all the files and your done!!

See, isn't that simple? If only the instructions to do this were as simple to find..Hope this helps all you frustrated Itunes users out there!

Analysis Paper

I am actually really enjoying writing our analysis paper, even though its proven to be quite challenging. I really like my topic, The Clash, so all the research i am doing is quite interesting and gives me a whole new look at the band. I have a clearer idea now about where i want to take my paper and think my paper is much better off now that i had some people read it point out whats sort of irrelevant and point me in a really solid direction i can take it in. I sometimes think i would like to be a writer, but then I'm like, well i only have to do this for a semester, could i really do this my whole life? And mostly i answer no to myself (yes i do sometimes talk to myself) so i guess that route is not really for me. I really do love to write though, so i hope even if i never take another English class ever again i will continue to write a lot just for fun. I might even miss doing analysis papers, not that i wont have to do them in other classes but i think they're most fun in an actual English class because the topics are usually more fun and your can push the limits a bit more, you don't just have to just write about your topic and stick straight to the rules of perfect format. That's what i like about this analysis, i can include elements of a narrative and give really vivid imagery and still have it fall with in the category of an analysis paper (assuming i am doing the analysis part correctly). Wow i kinda never thought i would actually write about how much I'm enjoying writing a paper...this is weird, like a dream or something..hmm i think maybe i should go to bed now.

Harry Potter Puppet Pals

HP Puppet Pals are like the funniest thing on this earth! I know, I'm such a geek, but seriously for those of you who haven't seen it, it is hilarious. Particularly "The Mysterious Ticking Noise" its a song and i cant even describe to you how stupid and brilliant it is at the same time! Whooo..so i watched that today and now i really want to read the books again. I actually have them all here with me, so i think i might just pick one up later tonight and read it. I think I've already read all of them at least 3 times, except the last two, so maybe i will go back and re-read one of them. Tonight in the Strafford Room was an event where the lady who wrote "Harry: A History" was going to speak. I was SO mad that i couldn't go because i had band..but oh well i guess i will just have to buy her book and read it. But back to the HP Puppet Pals, they are just so funny and i kinda wanna make one of my own..but i guess that would be really lame to copy someone else brilliant idea.Guess YouTube will have to do.

Germs

There is so much sickness going around and its starting to make me think about just how many places there are to pick up germs. Like door handles for example, what if people don't wash their hands (god forbid) on the way out of the loo and then go touch not only the door but stuff around their room, potentially infecting their room mates and friends...GROSS!! And the dining halls, there are hand sanitizers everywhere but i don't think many people use them before they eat, which to me makes more sense because after your done eating you're not putting your hands near your mouth so there is a lesser risk of catching something. Sigh..i just really hope that since I've already been really sick that i am either immune to whatever is going around or that I've racked up enough karma points by washing my hands and coughing into my elbow and Purelling my hands 24/7 that i will be spared by H1N1. One can only hope.

UNH for One

UNH for One is a campaign to raise awareness about poverty, AIDS and education in Africa. We will be fundraising this semester for Rain for Sahel and Sahara, and the money we raise will go towards finishing a well that was started, to benefit the nomadic tribes of that region, but has yet to be finished due to lack of money. Our first event is tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 Pm in MUB Theater 1 and we will be screening the movie "From A Deep Well" that will give an inside look into the lives of theses nomadic people and the struggles they face with lack of food, water and education. After the movie Bess Palmisciano, the founder of Rain, with be joining us to speak about the organization and what we can do to help. The movie is not very long, a half hour at the most and will only take up a bit f your time for a great cause. Then if you would like, the following day Wed. November 4th we will be hosting the actual fundraiser "Dine to Donate" at Applebee's in Dover at 5 pm. When you come to the movie on Tuesday you will receive a flyer that if you should bring with you to Applebee's and 15% of your bill will be donated to Rain. It will be a really fun time and will also be helping a really great cause! So if you're interested in learning more or just want to come for the fun of it join us on Tuesday, Wednesday or both! Hope to see you there!