The Profundity of 7th Graders ... Who Knew?

     I was subbing for a 7th grade English class yesterday and each class was beginning a new book. One class was beginning Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and another was beginning Friedrich by Hans Peter Richter (neither of which I have read ... yepppp, great English major right here).
     Before reading the books, each class did some pre-reading activities - talking about the themes of the novels and whatnot ... And let me tell you, these seventh graders had some interesting answers for the questions asked.
     When we we started talking about Treasure Island, one of the main themes is growing up so one of the essential questions posed is "What marks the difference between childhood and adulthood?" ... Meaning is there a definitive moment when you can say 'Here, you're a child. Here, you're an adult.'

     I smiled a little when I read the question because all kinds of things went through my head being where I am in life, and then thinking back to what it was like in 7th grade (hell).
     So we began the discussion and I was surprised at the answers given ... It went something like this ...

     "Like behavior!?" 
     "Well, when you say behavior. What kinds of behavior do you mean?"
     "Like, you're mature and respectful and stuff. Like if you're rude and mean, you're a kid. And if you're acting like an adult and being proper, then you've become an adult."
     "Okay, so acting like an 'adult' ... That's one way to look at the difference."

     "Adults have really big responsibilities so once you have those, you're not a kid anymore."
     "So taking on adult responsibilities. So meaning when you start having to what? Pay bills? Take care of family? Things like that?"
     "Yeah, when you need to start taking care of those things yourself and you don't really rely on others to do them all for you all the time."


     All good answers ... But then the shining light of answers for the definitive moment when a child becomes an adult ...

     "I think it's individual. I don't think you can ever really know. Like [insert random hip-hop artist here] needed to be an adult when he was like 15 because he was on his own, living by himself. But [insert other random hip-hop artist], he's older, like 30, and he still acts like a kid all the time. So I think it's really an individual thing. I don't think you ever really need to be one or the other. I think you can always keep the kid side of you with you even when you're an adult and take it out when you want to."
     "I think you are absolutely right. I think that it is an individual thing. I don't think that there's ever a real age when you can say someone is an adult. The law says 18 but that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone, and it's true, everyone can act like a kid sometimes, as long as they know when it's appropriate."

     The other class was beginning the novel Friedrich ... and that conversation was not as light-hearted. We began talking about the Holocaust and asking what the class knew about it. Generally the answers fell into the realm of "Hitler started it, there were Nazis, there was a war, concentration camps were there, Poland was involved [I'm not sure why, but each class which was covering the novel mentioned Poland ... no other country], Hitler killed the Jews [only one kid mentioned that he thought that maybe Hitler might have killed Blacks too ... schools really need to focus on the fact that not only Jews were killed during the Holocaust], and some other general facts. 

     After that, we moved onto a pre-reading activity based on the themes of the novel and this is where it got back to the light-heartedness of the day ... We went back to focusing on main ideas and themes in literature and one theme throughout the novel happens to be friendship.

     So, three questions were asked of the class. The first being "What makes a good friend?" and here are some of the 7th grade answers for that wonderful question.

     "Someone who has yo' back!"

     "Someone who keeps your secrets!"

     "Someone who won't get you in trouble."

     "A person who hangs out with you 24/7 and doesn't annoy you." (props to this kid)

     "Someone you can trust."

     "A person who is loyal."

     After asking that question, we moved onto the opposite - "What makes someone a bad friend?" ... This is where the claws came out!

CAT FIGHT!

     "Someone who starts rumors about you!"

     "A person who STEALS YOUR BOYFRIEND!"

     "Someone who drinks [is a bad choice in a friend]."

     "Someone who steals your money."

     "Someone who lies to you."

     The last question was "How do you make someone your friend?" ... And this is where I realized I am a giant Communication nerd because all my Interpersonal Communication information began flowing through my head ... yet these kids made it so simple.

     "Give them your number."

     "Play a sport with them."

     "Hang out with them."

     "Talk to them."

     "Invite them over your house."

     So those are the wise words of 7th graders that I heard as I subbed yesterday ... Sometimes my job makes me smile, even if I do need to yell from time to time. Usually in middle school. They just don't shut the heck up ... even when they are being profound.

Oh-Say-Can-I-Kick-Your-Ass?

     I attended the Nets vs. Rockets game last night with my brother and all-in-all, for someone who doesn't necessarily get all hot and bothered about basketball, it was pretty entertaining. I mean the game wasn't the most exciting game of basketball but it was fun ... And I realized I need to figure out what hair products this guy uses.

Luis Scola, #4, Houston Rockets, Photo c/o espn.com

     Also, I did prove myself the nerdiest person in the world because at one point I pulled out a highlighter and "Conclusion: making meaning of mobiles - a theory of Apparatgeist" by James Katz and Mark Aakhus (he's one of my professors!) ... because I needed to finish my homework (yeppp, that's the life of a graduate student right there ... If they scanned the "Oblivious Cam" over me at that moment, I'd be pretty damn oblivious!)
     But anyway, we got to the game, sat down and were watching the beginning of the game with the kids of season-ticket-holders and the Nets dancers and whatnot ... and then it came time for my favorite part of any sporting event ... the Presentation of the Colors and the National Anthem.

     The announcer requested everyone stand and the entire stadium began to stand ... except for two women in front of me ...

     Now if you know me, you know there are not a lot of things that can get me really, really, really mad. But this is one thing that infuriates me ... Infuriates me to the point of no return ... Literally to the point of wanting to start physical violence ... I told my brother I wanted to throw something at the back of their heads. Then I said I wanted to kick them in the back of their heads. Overall, the back of their heads were not safe. 

     Now I know that these women were not American. They were speaking some foreign, possibly Eastern European language, and some people say that is an excuse for this. I think that is complete and utter non-sense. If you are in someone else's country, you need to respect it. All it takes is standing up. Literally, for what? A minute? A minute and a half?

     And some people say "Oh, well it's not their country." Who cares!? If I went to Gabon, I'd stand during their National Anthem, and hell, I just pulled that country off the African map for effect.

     "Maybe they didn't understand what was going on!" ... I call BS. Ummmm, there's an American flag in the middle of the court, someone singing, and entire stadium standing. Even if their two brains couldn't put it together, their two butts should have thought to come off their seats when they saw everyone else's come off theirs. 

     You know why? Because it's a matter of respect. Because people love their country, and even if you don't agree with them, or "belong" to it, you should still respect it while you are in it. I'm sure if she heard her own National Anthem being sung from that court, she would have wanted the same respect shown that people expect shown to ours ... And I would have given it to her. 

     This is how people should react when someone else's National Anthem plays ... in every case.

"Khabi Khushi Khabi Gham"

     By the way, I have a feeling most people don't know ... Our National Anthem actually consists of four stanzas, not one. In case you're interested, here's a video of the entire song. You may have heard the fourth stanza because it's sung on formal occasions. If I could have found a better video, I would have. 

She's One In A Million ... Woahhhhh.

Could This Woman Be The Next Miss Universe?!

Photo c/o the BBC; 3/27/11

     Why not, you ask? ... Because she's Muslim, of course!!!! 

     Model Shanna Bukhari, who was lives in Manchester, England says she wants to go for the Crown in Sao Paulo, Brazil if she wins the Miss Universe Great Britain pageant next month. If she succeeds she will be the first British Muslim to represent the UK in the competition.

     She says she has the full support of her family both in England, and her relatives in Pakistan, however, not everyone is happy about her decision to compete. She has received death threats and notes from Islamic "fanatics" telling her to "rot in hell," according to one source.

     According to Bukhari, she believes that Muslim women should be allowed to live a Western lifestyle but other Muslim groups believes she is disrespecting Islam by competing in the pageant, especially because she needs to wear a swimsuit in one of the sections of the competition.

     Now I am not one of those women who have hardcore opinions one-way or another on beauty pageants ... I personally don't think they are degrading to women, nor do I think they are bringing women ahead in the world. I think they exist for the sake of existing. They make people lots of money. They make some girls feel really good about themselves, other girls feel really bad about themselves. They just are. That's my opinion on them, in general.

     Now when it comes to this story in particular, I think this girl has every right in the world to compete in this competition. I mean, do I think it's the smartest idea in the world, no. Do I think she's representing Islam in the best light, no. But do I think she's going out of her way to disrespect it? No. 

     I think in some ways she's actually a good role model for young Muslim girls out there. Bukhari has said that going for the Miss Universe crown has been her dream since she was a child and I think letting young girls know that going after your dreams is possible is an important message in today's world considering so many people are telling them that they shouldn't (or can't) achieve their goals.

     So, go for the crown Shanna. Just don't make Muslim women look like this ...

Parrot Predicts Pakistan ... And Dies For It. Martyr Status?

     I will be the first to admit I do not understand the sport of cricket ... To me it looks a little bit like someone confused baseball, soccer, and bowling and just went with it ...

++ = 

     But there there is something I do understand and that is winning (Charlie Sheen taught me a little something about that). And I understand that despite the fact that I don't follow cricket, by default, I need to root for Pakistan winning the World Championship ... Just like how every four years, I suddenly become a soccer fan and root for Italy winning the World Cup. You root for your Roots. That's how it works (and we all know the U.S. will never win the World Cup so rooting for Italy is okay in my book).

 ...

     So, as I root for Pakistan as the 2011 Champions, I am pretty confident in their ability to win this thing ... Not only because they have the talent because a fortune-telling parrot named Mali said so. And he said it three times so I mean that's gotta be legit right there. 

     When I first heard this story, I immediately had an attachment to Mali, just like I was attached to Paul, the World Cup Predicting Octopus. I just have a thing for Supernatural Animals, I guess.

     Anyway, after Mali made his prediction that Pakistan would be the World Champ three times, Mali was the victim of murder, folks. Yes, murder.

     An Indian Extremist Group killed poor Mali in cold blood because of his predictions.

RIP Mali. You're Predictions Will Be Missed.

PS. No, I don't know what they are saying in the video ... So don't ask.

If You're A Queen, Why Are You Fat? ... Texas! You Can't Just Ask People Why They're Fat.

     17-year-old Domonique Ramirez, who was crowned Miss San Antonio in April of 2010 and then stripped of her crown in January of 2011, was reinstated as the pageant queen after winning a courtroom fight to regain her title.

     Organizers of the Miss San Antonio event said that Ramirez was in breach of her contract and that was why she was stripped of her title - meaning she was late to meetings, skipping them, and according to one showing up to photo shoots with her boyfriend.
     Despite this, Ramirez, who is 5' 8" and 126 pounds says these were not the reasons she was dismissed. She told jurors she was dismissed because event organizers told her she gained weight and needed to "get off the tacos."

     According to a BBC Article, during the trial the pageant director Linda Woods said that Ramirez turned up to a bikini shoot overweight making her pictures "unusable."

     Since when is a 5 foot, 8 inch, (possibly at the time of the shoot because she did gain a few pounds) 135 pound, 17-year-old's pictures "unusable" ... especially when she claims to have still been a size 2 at the time? ... Maybe in the pageant world and in the modeling world and in the advertising world but certainly not in the real world. 

     YO MISS SAN ANTONIO ORGANIZERS ... Here's a reality check. Most of the America doesn't look that good. Heck, most teens can't even boast looking that good.

     I am happy that the jurors saw beyond the supposed late meetings and the tag-along boyfriend and realized the real problem that was going on here ... A giant big old problem in size discrimination, however undeserved it might have been in this particular case. 

     There is one problem left to be solved in this case ... and yes, Miss San Antonio is looking to appeal the case anyway ... but after Ramirez was stripped of her title, another woman named Ashley Dixon was crowned. Ramirez is quoted as saying she would like to share the title, but according to organizers that is absolutely against the rules and cannot happen.

     Sorry Ashley Dixon. Go do something fun ... Like eat some tacos. You're allowed to.

So ... Do you think Domonique is too fat for her title?

Take the poll on the right hand side and see how the results add up!

Fox Nation, Pakistan Lets Me Wear RED, PADDED Bras! (I must be the Devil's Child).

     This might be old news but I recently heard about it and I was appalled ... well, not necessarily appalled, it's an affiliate of Fox News ... but was surprised that Fox could have made this big of an error in judgement and journalistic fact-checking.
     It seems as though the Fox Nation website saw a satire piece about an Islamic council in Pakistan protesting the use of padded and colorful bras for women and mistakenly reported it as fact ...
     Now, as someone who has a background in journalism, not only would have I taken that story with a grain of salt but I would have checked the sources of the story before reporting it as fact. I don't know how the reporter checked out the story but it was reported under the headline, "Pakistan: Islamic Clerics Protest Women Wearing Padded Bras as 'Devil's Cushions.'"
     The story apparently originated from a Pakistani site much like our Onion News Network, called Roznama Jawani, which reports satire news and is currently boasting the headline "New High Tech Fighter Planes Equipped With the F U Bomb" ... Clearly not a reliable news source, if traced back.
     The story has since been pulled from the Fox Nation website but this is a screenshot of the original:

     According to one site, this is not the first time that Fox Nation has reported satire as news. Clearly they just don't seem to get the difference between fact and fiction ... and as a journalist, I'd have to say that is just plain bad, sad actually. That's one of the first things you learn as a journalist ... Get yo' shit straight, in plain English.

     After Fox released the article, Roznama Jawani released this Weekend Special Edition ... Maybe Fox Nation should report on this.

My (Figurative) Tree of Hope

     Last Friday I substituted for a high school class and found out it's Youth Art Month ... Or National Art in Schools Month ... Or something relating to Artsy-ness in Schools Month, and the school decided to commemorate this wonderful month by making a "Tree of Hope."

     It will be a giant tree in the school library and every kid in the school will be decorating a tag to hang on the tree to represent a leaf. On each tag, they will write a sentence that begins with one of twenty-five "hopeful" statements. When I read the statements that some of the kids in the special education class I was subbing for wrote, I smiled a little, I laughed a little, and overall, I was inspired to complete the twenty-five hopeful statements of my own. 

     First I will share a few of the kids hopes that I can remember:

     * "I hope to learn ... English better." (<3)
     * "I hope to become ... a hair designer or singer." (I've subbed for her before. She's a little future Hannah Montana.)
     * "I hope to help ... others." (<3)
     * "I hope to work for ... money." (That made me laugh!)
     * "I hope to explore ... my life after high school and go wherever it takes me." (That made me smile!)

     Now I will share my twenty-five hopes with you ... If you care to read them.

My Twenty-Five Hopes

* I hope to accomplish ... my hopes and dreams, no matter how far-fetched they may seem.

* I hope to achieve ... at least a 3.30 GPA in graduate school.

* I hope to reach for ... the stars.

* I hope to follow ... my dreams.

* I hope to trust ... in God's plan.

* I hope to work for ... my master's degree!

* I hope to learn ... at least one new thing everyday. 

* I hope to prove ... them wrong.

* I hope to listen ... with an open mind.

* I hope to become ... someone to be proud of.

* I hope to convey ... my best self to the world.

* I hope to imagine ... everything John Lennon did ... especially all the people living life in peace.

* I hope to realize ... the grass is not always greener on the other side.

* I hope to remember ... after they're gone.

* I hope to explore ... the unexplored.

* I hope to find ... the one.

* I hope to understand ... the one may have to find me.

* I hope to choose ... quality over quantity, in so many different aspects of my life.

* I hope to build ... bridges between people.

* I hope to believe ... that the world will one day be able to live in peace and harmony.

* I hope to discover ... a cure - even if I don't have any medical knowledge.

* I hope to protect ... the ones closest to me.

* I hope to help ... those too afraid, or those incapable, of asking for it. 

* I hope to create ... things of beauty in the world.

* I hope to be a part of ... something big.


     What are your hopes?

Drugs Are Bad, MMMKay? ... Especially For Fourth Graders.

     A Washington D.C. elementary school student was charged Wednesday with possession of a controlled substance - the substance being cocaine!

     The student charged is a fourth grader and distributed the drug to classmates. Four students who received the cocaine ingested it - some orally, others through their noses. They were hospitalized, and so was a fifth grader who did not ingest the cocaine.

     According to an ABC News story, parents were told what happened by a voicemail and a letter sent home with all the students.

     The names and ages of the children involved have not been released but the school that this incident occurred in, Thompson Elementary School, runs from preschool through fifth grade  - which puts children ages three through about eleven or twelve in the school. 

     As a substitute teacher, I see and hear a lot of crazy things that I couldn't imagine "us" - you know "us" old-timers, the kids of the 90's (oh man, we're just soooo old, right?!) ... even knowing about at the age that kids today know about, but this is absolutely insane. I just can't understand how this fourth grader could get his hands on cocaine. My thoughts immediately go to his parents. It's the only thing that makes sense. I mean I'm not saying the parents willingly handed the child the crack, but it must have been lying around the house or they were users or dealers or whatnot and the kid thought, "Hey, Why not?"

     On top of that, I know kids experiment and stuff with drugs but haven't these other kids that ingested the cocaine had any type of drug awareness education. I mean these kids skipped way past the gateway drugs. They skipped sniffing glue and markers, and huffing paint, even smoking a point behind the school (I had no clue where to score some reef in the fourth grade) ... and went straight for the hard stuff because it was there? That doesn't make sense to me either. It just seems like one big story of innocence lost.

     I say bring back the creepy 80's and 90's after-school Anti-Drug PSA's because clearly D.A.R.E. is no longer working (well, these kids were younger than the general age when kids start D.A.R.E. classes!)

Because this PSA would creep the urge to try crack right out of me.

NaNaNaNa All Right All Right ... NaNaNaNa Way Cool!

     If you instantly had the urge to open your window and let Sam in when you read that title, you are a true 90's TV child ... And the true 90's child in you has a reason to buzz with happy happy joy joy right about now!
     Beginning this Fall, TeenNick will be showing a block entitled ... Wait for it ...

The 90's Are  

     The TeenNick block which will feature, you guessed it, "All That," as well as "Clarissa Explains It All," "The Adventures of Pete and Pete," "Rugrats," "Kenan & Kel," and "The Amanda Show" will air from midnight to 2 a.m. Not bad for some middle of the night TV, huh?

     According to an Inside TV article, this block o'amazingness comes as a result of massive social media movements in favor of bringing back the 90's Nick shows. 

This facebook group has over a million fans just begging for their 90's Nickelodeon! And I don't blame them. 90's Nickelodeon tops today's shows without a doubt.

     90's Nickelodeon gave us those classic scenes and lines us twenty-somethings will never forget ... Here are just a few.

Ten Unforgettable Nickelodeon Things of the 90's

** "Who loves orange soda? ... Ke-Ke-Ke-Kel lovesssss orange sodaaaa!!!!"

** The Petunia Tattoo

** Sam and his unusual habit of climbing in Clarissa's window

** "I don't think that's such a good idea, Tommy."

** The scene where Kenan would play a French man in the bathtub and say non-sensical things

** "Shhhh. THIS IS A LIBRARY!!!!!"

** "Dear Ashley ... That's MEEEEEEE!"

** "Hi. And welcome to THE GIRL'S ROOM!"

** Clarissa and Sam go on a date!

** Pete and Pete's Mom's Plate

     Those are just some of the memorable moments and comments from the shows that will be aired in the 2-hour block on TeenNick. Despite how psyched I am for this, it makes me nostalgic for other 90's Nick favorites of mine ... considering I was never really a fan of "All That" and I don't consider "The Amanda Show" a true 90's show ... I wonder if and when they will add "Salute Your Shorts" to the line-up and, of course, "Legends of the Hidden Temple." That is an absolute must.

     Oh, and I finally realized where my strange obsession with cowboys stems from.

     Each and every one of those dudes on that dude ranch, except maybe Mr. Ernst, gets my heart yippee-ti-yi-yayying even 'til today ...

Some People Need To Be Smacked ...

     I haven't ever really used this blog to air my personal feelings but something happened today where I just need to say that some people have ... No heart ... No feelings ... And No emotions.

     The actions that they do change the course of people's lives and cause numerous people an immense amount of pain and heartache ...
    UGHHH. Tonight I just want to ... Smack Some Bitches.

Gotta Have Her Bowl? ... Hmm? What kind of party is she going to?

     This past weekend, Daniel Tosh introduced the world to one of the best worst songs to America. It's called "Friday" by Rebecca Black (who? ... exactly) and since Tosh.O shared this atrocity with us, it has soared to over 5 million views on youtube leaving viewers with loads of questions ... that I will ask you after I let you hear the song ... Because believe me, you have to hear it to believe it.

     So after hearing this song, we are left with hundreds of questions ... 

TOP TEN QUESTIONS ABOUT REBECCA BLACK'S "FRIDAY" VIDEO

     1) Who is this chick?

     2) How did she get a record deal?

     3) What school district has a 4 day school week which allows her and her friends to party all day on Friday?

     4) If she doesn't have school, why the heck does she want to be up at 7 am?

     5) Why can't she just pick a seat ... Is it that hard of a decision for her?

     6) If her friend is on her right, who is the chick on her left and who are the peepz in the front seat? Her enemies? Her frenemies? Her homeslices?

     7) Have these kids ever heard of seat belts? Or driving laws in general? I'm pretty sure "cruising on the highway" while dancing in the back seat is dangerous and illegal.

     8) What days come between Sunday and Thursday? If she doesn't teach us, who will?

     9) Who's the random black dude who's gonna be "having fun" with the slew of underage kids that Rebecca is having fun, fun, fun with?

     10) Why do all these kids have such expensive cars? Not a single one of those cars are a beat up piece of crap ... So not realistic.

     So, I leave you with those questions ... and I have no doubt, you will go and ponder questions of your own. I also have no doubt you will go and listen to this song over and over again. Because it's so atrociously bad, it's good. It's so catchy, you will catch yourself singing it in the shower ... and being so so so excited.

A Simple Love

     I finished a three week substitute assignment last week in a first through third grade behavioral disorder class ... and I am going to miss those kiddies so much. I am going to miss the fits, the fights, and the yelling that they do everyday ... But most of all I'll miss the hugs they used to give me after all that.
     One day while I was subbing for that class, I noticed this posted on the wall in the cafeteria and I my heart melted into mush ... It was a card one of the kids had made for the lunch lady.
     Love according to Elementary School Kids ...

     Couldn't be more adorable. <3

Up, Up, And For Real! House Flies By Balloons "Up" Style!

     My mind has officially been BLOWN.
     National Geographic has taken a house, yes, I repeat a house and made it fly "Up" style with the help of 300 weather balloons filled with helium.The house is a 16X16 house built for the National Geographic show "How Hard Can It Be?" ... And apparently it wasn't that hard because it was DONE. And it was amazing!
     OK, so actually according to the host of the show it was kind of hard. It took two weeks from the initial assignment until the day of the launch to figure out how the experiment would be done. They met with experts in order to figure out the logistics and build the house. It was 6000 pounds, a little less once they flew it ... and in the end, it reached about 10,000 feet and flew for about an hour. Crazy, right?

     Check out the video! 

Good-Bye To Greek

*** Spoiler Alert ***

I've shared the past four years with Cappie, Casey, Rusty, Evan, Rebecca, Ashleigh, Calvin, and Dale and the Beav!) ... and last night I bid them a tearful farewell.

I caught up on the entire season of Greek two weeks ago, and when I checked ABC Family to see what night it comes on (because I watch all my TV online), I was appalled to see it was the season finale last night. When I saw that, I made a few annoyed Facebook comments about how this couldn't be ... grabbed my tissue box ... and then began to stream the episode.

It was all too much, too soon. And where do they get off tearing down the KT house?! ... That came out of left field. I seriously thought that when they showed the Evil Lasker the meaning of Brotherhood, with his paddle and whatnot, he was going to reconsider. Oh, I cried like a baby when the house came down. I just remembered all the good times I shared with those KT's these past 4 years ...

And poor Rebecca, you can tell Evan is still in love with Casey. Hands down ... And some stories were just never even resolved ... Like what ever happened between Calvin and Heath? ... That was just not even touched on. UGH. Seriously ... 

So if any good things came out of the finale ... I'd say that I was 100% exuberant over the fact that Rusty and Ashleigh FINALLY got together because, I mean, COME ON ... Like who didn't see that one coming. 

And, in the end ... Cappie and Casey ended up together ... Just like they were meant to be. <3

"... So I rushed and as luck would have it, somewhere along the way, I learned I found a family - screwed up and dysfunctional like any other family - but a family nonetheless." --- Casey  <3

Have I Ever??? Why Yes, Brandy. Yes, I Have.

Do you ever have your iTunes on shuffle and all of a sudden a song from your past comes on and then a flood of memories just invades your entire self, from head to toe? Well, that JUST happened to me when this song played.

I remember being eleven years old and in the sixth grade, sitting behind a blue-eyed, blond haired boy, who had an uncanny resemblance to Nick Carter (at least in my foggy 24-year-old memory) and drawing hearts around his name just dreaming about the day I would become Mrs. Richards*. I would stare at the back of his head and just hope he would turn around just once and talk to me ... nicely ... instead of throwing insults at me like he generally did.

Of course, Brandy had to go and release this song the same month I entered the sixth grade and fell head over heels for this Nick Carter look-a-like so I spent days in my room playing it on repeat, sobbing broken-hearted-eleven-year-old-girl tears into my pillow. Now it just seems silly but back in the day, this song tugged at my little heartstrings like no other song could. Brandy spoke to me with her words. It spelled out every emotion my eleven-year-old self KNEW was going on. I knew I was in love with him. I knew if I could just tell him in the right words, he'd stop being a mean little jerk and he'd fall madly in love with me and we'd get married and live happily ever after.

Oh, well. That never happened. He moved away in the seventh or eighth grade. And, because social media allows us to be total creeps, I just Facebooked him and I am pretty sure I found the right guy judging from context clues (yeah, I know I seem like a total creep), and I must to say, he seems like a loser (who no longer looks like Nick Carter).

* name has been changed to protect the Jerk

... Somewhere Out There Is A Lady Who I Think Will Never Be A Nun ... And I'm One Of Them.

46 years ago this week, Fox Home Video released a movie which changed generations of movie lovers ...

I remember being a little girl, not only amazed at the fact that the movie was SOOO long that it needed to be recorded on 2 VHS's, but also amazed at the beautiful opening scene that caught my eyes and ears every time I saw it.

I would say the first time I remember watching The Sound of Music, I was probably four or five, and I fell in love with it. The songs and the story captivate from the moment the bells ring to the moment the Von Trapps begin their long journey over the hills. As I got older, the love stories began to captivate me ... and they still do. You have the story of Leisl and Rolfe. I remember needing a box of tissues all through middle school every time Leisl would ask Maria, "What happens when a person stops loving you?" and Motherly Maria says, "Oh, you cry a little and then you wait for the sun to come out. It always does."

And then there are two lines which I will never forget ... One spoken by Kurt who tells (I believe Maria) "Only grown-up men are scared of women!" ... And I am not sure if a truer line has ever been spoken in a film. And another which is spoken by the Baroness to Maria when she says, "There's nothing more irresistible to a man than a woman who's in love with him" ::sigh:: which leads to this unforgettable moment. I do believe that this is one of the best love stories ever ... and I know people will fight this but I don't care.

This film makes me laugh and cry. It gives me hope and confidence ... and it just makes me smile. I wish I could post some video from the movie here but they are far and few between on youtube so I will leave you with this ... It is a video of Carrie Underwood performing the "Sound of Music" from 2007 "Movie Rocks" which focuses on music's role in shaping the film industry.

Defriend Day? ... I'm Cool With That.

According to author Mark Dice, today, March 4, is Defriend Day on Facebook ... And I'm down with that.

I currently have 717 friends on facebook ... My goal is to get that down to 680 by tomorrow (that's a deletion of 37 friends for those of you with limited math skills like myself ... Yep, I originally wrote 27 until I counted by tens on my fingers). That doesn't seem like a lot but if you know my obsession with Facebook, that is a HUGE number for me.

According to Dice, Facebook is an "Orwellian Nightmare Come True" ... Big Brother watching your every move ... And when you begin to look at the facts surrounding it, he's right.

I mean, first off, just consider your own uses for Facebook. You say you use it to "keep in touch" with old friends. OK. Let's be real, here. We all know what you're really using it for ...

You want to find your old friends and stalk them. On our good days, we want to know who got into graduate school and which high school couples are still together. On our bad days, we want to know who gained 60 pounds since high school, and who had a baby at nineteen. Stalking might be interesting ... But, in the end, it's kind of creepy that I know when the kid who sat at lunch table B from my seventh grade class of 300 students checked into Denny's for breakfast. I don't need to be Facebook friends with him ... I'm just tracking his increasing crack addiction.

Next, at this point, we should all know that employers are checking our Facebooks to see if we are going to be valuable assets to their companies. Now, not that I agree with this. I don't think that what I use my free time doing should be any indication of my work ethic ... But it's true. And, don't be fooled ... Just because you set your profile to "private" and "block" your information, that means nothing. There are ways around that stuff ... and employers can figure it out ... THEY HIRE PEOPLE FOR THAT PARTICULAR REASON!

Lastly, there have also been crazy amounts of break-ins and other crimes committed, that have been linked back to Facebook. This is especially prevalent when you post your "away from home" statuses on Facebook ... "Roomies and I will be spending the weekend in Seaside" (Oh, by the way ... To my 967 friends, 234 who I don't know, feel free to come ransack our place and steal all our stuff! It's cool, we don't mind!) ... If you really want people to know about your AWESOME vacation, put it in your status when you come BACK! Don't give people an open invite to break into your place. Ladies (and gents), if you drink, do not post in your status that you are ALONE in your place three sheets to the wind ... RAPIST alert! ... HELLO. People are getting sexually assaulted in their dorms now (that was back in '08 but another one happened this year ... I just couldn't find the article). 

These are just a few reasons to limit the people you give access to your information to online ... There are hundreds of others. But join in with me, and participate in Defriend Day and see how many of those random people and jerks you can get rid of!

The Cutest Proposal Stories ...

I just got a "Thank You" card in the mail from my cousin for attending her 25th Wedding Anniversary Party ... And got a Wedding Invitation too! On top of that, it seems like every time I turn around someone I know is engaged or getting married. Did I miss the memo? I just seem to have marriage on the mind more and more these days, as it seems to be all around me.

So, these are just some of the cutest proposal videos and stories I found on youtube ... Enjoy! Oh, and ladies (and men, too ... don't want to discriminate!) grab a box of tissues because you might need some if you're in a gushy mood.

This one made me cry ... Like only Disney Magic can. <3

Hope you enjoyed these. There are plenty more where these came from ... Just didn't want to go overboard. Oh, and if you're looking for a way NOT to propose to someone, here's a hint.

Have A Suessical, Bieberific Day!

It's Read Across America Day today ... which is celebrated on Dr. Suess's Birthday so not only am I crawling up with a good book today (Ok, I crawled up with "One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish" as I substituted at the elementary school) but I am also suggesting everyone else do the same! If not, just watch this ... This is BY FAR my favorite Dr. Suess book ever written.

Also, I didn't wish Justin Bieber a HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY yesterday!!!! So Happy Birthday to him too!

Enjoy!

911, What's Your Emergency?

Can I please have an ambulance? I think I may be OD-ing on a drug ... and it's called ...

CHARLIE SHEEN!

But, please excuse me for a minute while I go and brush my teeth. It seems as if "My fangs are dripping tiger blood."

Michelle O-That-Lady-Between-Nick-Jonas-And-Brenda-Song

I was sitting in my living room folding some laundry a few days ago, enjoying an episode of "The Suite Life" ... because, I mean, who can resist these faces ...

Oh wait, that was back in their "Big Daddy" days. But still, they're still pretty adorable. Anyway, I was sitting there, watching the show when a few commercials started up and this Disney-sponsored Public Service Announcement played:

Now I have no problem with getting kids off the couch and getting them active. Heck, I probably should be taking the advice, seeing as I haven't been to my Zumba class in weeks ... But I do have a bone to pick with Disney, with our Education system, with our kids, with the people who produced the PSA, with a slew of people ...

I'm not going to lie. When I saw the PSA, I recognized Nick Jonas by face and by name; I recognized Brenda Song by face and by name. But I also recognized MICHELLE OBAMA, the FIRST FRICKIN' LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY FACE AND BY NAME - WITHOUT HER HAVING TO HAVE A TAGLINE UNDER HER FACE.

I understand that Disney is a "Kids" network and that I am a 24-year-old woman in graduate school watching the Disney channel. But I think there is something wrong with our education system if America's children can recognize 8 celebrities (who were the random people chillin' in the back anyway?) yet they cannot recognize the first lady of the US without a tagline and a mention of the White House.

On top of that, who's to say these kids can't recognize her without that? Shame on Disney for assuming America's children need that tagling there in order for them to make the connection. Not all of them are just sitting around living the sweet life ... Some of them have been hitting the books and getting their learning on.

Alpha Chi Omega Are Real. Strong. Women.

Today marks day one of Alpha Chi Omega's National Ritual Celebration Week, and I hadn't planned on it but I am going to use this entry to reflect a little bit on my time as an Alpha Chi because it is a part of who I am today, who I was in a slew of my yesterdays, and a part of who I will be forever ... and I truly believe that.

I was initiated into Alpha Chi in April of 2008 and it has been an amazing three years since. I have met some of the smartest, most caring women the world has yet to encounter and I am blessed to call them my friends and even luckier to call them my sisters. These women have been with me through the good and the bad. They have stood by my side when I felt like the world was crashing down on me and when I thought all hope was lost. They brought back memories of good times (literally!). They have also been with me to celebrate my happiest moments and to party with me when partying was due.

I am amazed at how each Alpha Chi woman I meet, no matter for how long ... be it since the day I signed my bid card or for a five-minute conversation ... has touched me in some way by their character and their charisma. And this does not go for just members of my chapter. This goes for the members I have met from outside of my chapter. This goes for the excited-chipper-50-somewhat-Southern-Belle I met on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean who introduced herself to me when she saw my letters or the hoping-to-recover/soon-to-be teacher I met at a cognitive rehabilitation center. I feel as if every woman I meet is a Real. Strong. Woman. just trying to live up to Alpha Chi's Symphony and, yes, I know it's not always easy. And, yes, I know we all slip up. And, yes, I know sometimes we are all a big hot mess. But that's okay. That's why we have each other ... To pick each other up and brush each other off.

To all my Alpha Chi's out there, use this week to reflect back on your time as an Alpha Chi. Use it to share those Alpha Chi stories you know will have others rolling on the floor (okay, well maybe they had to be there ...) Call a sister you haven't talked to in a while ... They will appreciate it. Send your Big or Little some carnations and a card ... It's the little things, remember?

Oh, and a little plug here, National Panhellenic's International Badge Day is March 7, so pull out that pin attire and wear that Lyre Badge with pride and show the world why Alpha Chi Omega are Real. Strong. Women. 

Loyally,

Grad Girl