Yeah for cleaning!!

hahaha, I am in a cleaning mood today. It is so cool when you clean and find something you forgot you had. I found some picture CDs from when me, my husband and stepson went on the Disney Cruise. I wanna' go back...now! These pics are taken on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. We went snorkling and on a Banana boat ride. The Island is beautiful. I should upload all my Disney pics into an album on here.

 

Road Trip

Now that I have the new car I am ready to go on a road trip! If only gas prices weren't so high.  

My husband and I bought a cable to plug our ipods into the car. We were testing it out - sitting in the new car listening to my ipod. The music makes me nostalgic. All the songs that played were making me want to go on a road trip. There is nothing like driving down a open, lonely highway at night; wind rippling your hair, listening to your favorite music.  I told my husband we can just sit in the garage, listening to our favorite song, pretending we were on a road trip.  We both laughed.

New Car

Ok, my husband and I did our part to stimulate the economy - we bought a new car. It is a Cobalt LS. Nothing fancy.  It is very nice and I hope will get good gas mileage. It certainly rides a lot better than my old car. I feel funny driving it; it is so new, so smooth, so nice. I am very anxious though; I want to keep it nice. I don't want anything bad to happen to it. No scratches or dings. Specially no big accidents...                                                           

Pay people to reproduce?

Interesting discussion about paying people to have kids...

 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/convictions/archive/2008/05/27/should-we-pay-people-more-to-reproduce.aspx

Cars

 

To buy or not to buy?

 

 My husband and I are looking at getting a new car. Our current car is 14 years old, has almost 200,000 miles on it, and is just getting tired. My husband thinks it is about to die. He is afraid it will die on us at the most inopportune time. I think it still has some life left in it, although I don't think it will last through another winter. I planned on driving it until it died. Truth to tell, I love my car. It may be an old clunker, but it has been a reliable ride, it is paid for, and insurance is cheap on it. Plus, once it gets going, it still runs pretty good. There is something freeing about driving an old clunker – you are not a slave to a car payment (and insurance payments) and you don't really have to worry about every little ding or dent – which is a good thing when you're driving around Flint or parking in the school parking lot (a lot of fender benders, yikes!). On the other hand, it would be nice to have a new ride that gets better gas mileage. My car is getting about 26 mpg. Not bad but it would be nice to get over 30 mpg. It would also be nice to have a smoother ride.

 

I guess I just worry abolut getting a new car. School is my priority right now and I don't want to be tied to making a lot of payments on things. Of course, having a reliable ride, that gets good gas mileage needs to be a priority too. Have to get to school and work somehow.

 

New V. Used

 

I wanted to wait and drive my car until it died, that way my husband and I could save up a sizeable down payment or just buy a newer, used car. I looked at the used cars out there a little bit but there is nothing I am interested in. Gas mileage sucks on a lot of cars. I think people have been buying up all the good, low-mpg, cars. My Dad works for General Motors, so we have the option of getting a Pep car. That inventory is looking pretty sorry. I actually think we decided on buying a new car, simply because there is not much out there and there are some good incentives on newer cars right now.

 

If we buy a new car, it would be a GM car, to support where my Dad works (and get a discount!). We looked at some new cars (inventory is low there too) and there is one car we are interested in. There were actually a few Chevy cars we liked but we finally settled on buying a Cobalt because it gets better gas mileage than the Impala or Malibu and it is also less expensive. I actually considered getting one of the little Aveo's (I call them bug cars) but they actually are almost as expensive as a Cobalt and the mpg is the same.

 

MPG

 

Let me vent about this. MPGs on American cars really do suck. I would think that we could be getting better gas mileage out of our cars by now; or there should be better options as far as hybrids or alternative fuel/power sources. That was another reason why I want to drive my car until it dies - to see what 2009 has to offer as far as hybrids, etc. We should be getting better MPG's or have more alternatives to gas power at this late date. This really pisses me off - that America is still in the position of relying on oil. I want 35+ miles per gallon, dammit! Of course, most American's haven't demanded this yet. Now a lot of people are hurting because gas keeps going up. Now a lot of people are unloading their trucks and SUVs and buying up all the little cars, although, I still see some people driving around in their Hummers and stuff. Still, even some of our cars do not get good gas mileage. I was looking at Impala's, Malibus, and some Saturns. I was dismayed to see that they do not even get 30 MPGs. That sucks. We need more options! We need better fuel economy!

 

Public Transportation

 

Here is another vent. I was really pissed off when gas hit $4 a gallon. I know it was coming but it still made me really angry. I almost want to stop driving altogether. This is BS. Gas is $4 a gallon and going up, we don't have great options as far as getting cars that have awesome fuel economy, etc., but in addition to our lack of options we are stuck because a lot of American's do not have access to public transportation. If you live outside of the city, you are stuck. Here in Michigan, there are not even a lot of options (if any) of taking a bus or train from city to city. I would use the bus to go to school (it would be awesome not to have to worry about parking) and my husband (who does not drive due to a vision impairment) would use the bus to go to work if there was a bus stop closer to home. Currently, we would have to drive into the city to get on the bus- that makes no sense. Shit, even a nice bike path along some major routes would be nice. I would like to do my part to cut down America's dependence on oil but I, and a lot of American's, simply lack options. It truly sucks. Maybe I should get a motorcycle or scooter.

Good news but scary ....

I was accepted at the University of Michigan - Flint! I went down to the campus today and spoke with an advisor and signed up for some classes. I am excited, but scared. It is going to be a lot of hard work. Sometimes I am not sure I am up for it. I hope to have my bachelors degree by 2010. I am going to need some strength.

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!

- Mary Frye

I love this poem. It is so comforting. I have had some friends/family lose loved ones recently so this has me thinking about death.

Interesting Articles

 Here are some links to some interesting articles I have read today. I kind of feel like writing today but I am so scatterbrained I can't seem to get it together.  Plus the space key on my computer is sticking and it is really getting on my nerves!

 

Cute article about a lost parrot who helped his rescuers find his home...

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24753683/?GT1=43001

 

See parents, you really aren't done raising your kids when they hit 18; or kids don't always leave 'the nest' at 18....

 

http://finance.comcast.net/www/news.html?WSJ=1&x=http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2008/05/21/SB121130668211207625/

 

Finally, an article about joint custody, and a movement in Michigan to make joint custody de riguer, so to speak, in Michigan family courts. This article really interests me. I will be write my opinion of this article and about issues regarding divorce/custody/CS/Father's Rights in subsequent blogs since it is an issue close to my heart. I have been wanting to write about these issues (and have a little) for a while now but I have not had the time to devote to it.

 

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080519/METRO/805190370/1005/LIFESTYLE

 

I was referred to this article from Atty.Terry Bankert's blog....

 

http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-05-20T16%3A38%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=1

Talking about Museum displays big and small family jewels - Science- msnbc.com

 hahahahahaha,  Icelandic Phallological Museum

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More about the Play - "Titus Andronicus"

I can't believe we are halfway through our performances! We have 3 more this week-end. I was nervous opening night but most everything went well and the performance was awesome. The first night one of the main characters ripped out the crotch of his pants.  Not to be mean but it was funny. He was laughing about it afterwards but I know he was stressed when it happened - he wasn't wearing any underwear! Luckily, the awesome costume lady was on hand to stitch up his pants. Then as my scene partner and I were going on for a scene where we have to tie some people up, my scene partner fell as he entered the stage. Yikes! But we just kept going and the scene (which had been troublesome for me before because I have to tie someone up and gag them, then drag them off stage) turned out great. Finally, in the last scene of the show, Titus, who only is supposed to have one hand at this point, forgot to put his stump on (which hides his hand) so he had to really hide his hand up in his sleeve. I don't think anyone noticed and the final scene was spectacular. The wife of one of the performers was taking pics of the play and they are awesome. I wish I had some to post. There was a cool party after the show. I didn't get home until 4am - these theatre people like to party!

 

My husband and stepson came to the second performance. I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure how they would like the play, specially my stepson. I wasn't sure how he would take to the Shakespearean dialogue but they both really liked the play. I was happy they enjoyed it. The guy who ripped out his pant’s crotch the night before actually did it again!  Hahaha. He was wearing underwear this time though. "SEMPRE UBI SUB UBI"

 

Saturday night’s performance went well also, although this time I fell. It was the same scene that my scene partner fell in, pretty much as we enter the stage. It was all I could do to keep from laughing and I can't imagine how the other performers kept a straight face. "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down" - yeah right! Hahaha. I am thinking next time he should fall and then I will run into him and fall over him.  The scene turned out all right though. I actually got to have beard for that performance. A fellow cast mate put one on me with make-up. It was funny. The guy who plays Aaron kept laughing at me the whole night. He said he wouldn’t have thought I could look like such a man – a pretty man, but still convincing. He said I looked like George Michael. I think another cast mate thought he was on crack but whatever – most cast members and the director liked my beard.

 

 

SO, is the economy stimulated yet?

My husband and I planned to stimulate the economy and use our stimulus check as part of a down payment on a new(er) car but my old car still has some life yet (knock wood) so we may just hold on to our money for a while. Methinks that George W's plan is not going to work all that well. It is going to take a whole lot more than just one check to stimulate our economy. The U.S. needs some good jobs for people! Something with some staying power and affordable healthcare. If we don't have good paying jobs we might as well go socialist and send out checks monthly and give everyone free healthcare.

Opening Night!

Opening night of the play was last night and it was awesome! The play did not go off without a hitch (very funny stuff - more later) but it was a great show - great performances. Now we have to do just 5 more times.   Here is a link to an article from the Flint Journal about the play...

http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/entertainment/index.ssf/2008/05/shakespearean_touches_lighten.html

Titus Andronicus

Well, it is hell week for the play. Everything is coming together but I am actually beginning to get nervous.  It has been almost 20 years since I have been in a play. Yikes! It is a lot more work than I remember. I have a non-speaking role as a Roman soldier. I got added through out the play as a servant, so I have a lot of stuff to do, a lot of cues to remember. All the running a round has been kicking my butt. I have been soooo tired. It is because I am out of shape and my chronic fatigue flaring up that is really kicking my butt - I have not been feeling good. I wanted to help out more with costume, props and stuff but it has been all I can do to make rehearsals.

 

Here is an article from mlive and the Davison Flagstaff about the play and a local actress that is in the play. She is really a good actor and the role she plays, Tamara, is a really meaty part. haha. There are a lot of good performers actually.  

 

http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/05/kristina_lakey_a_davison_high.html

 

Here is a link to the website for Flint City Theatre

 

http://www.flintcitytheatre.com/

 

Performance Dates are:

 

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm May 15th thru 24th.

I finally graduated!!

Here is an article about the MCC commencement on Saturday. I graduated too! Woohoo! 

 

http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/05/without_an_associates_degree_s.html

 

I can't believe it it is over. I was so emotional (so emotional lately) - I am such a dork. I almost lost it after I got my diploma. I like what the speakers had to say, especially Janice Costea. She graduated with top honors. She is an older student. Her basic message was you have to know failure in order to enjoy your successes. I guess she was fired from a job she had held for 13 years and that spurred her to go back to school to find out what she really wanted to do with her life. The keynote speaker, Michael Hanson (President, Michigan Community College Association), made a funny. He taught everyone some Latin - "SEMPRE UBI SUB UBI" which means..........................."Always wear underwear." Yeah, a message to carry with me through the ages, haha. He didn't say nothin' about them being clean.

 

We had a small party after commencement - pretty much just family. It was nice. My husband did a great job planning everything. We originally were going to have the party outside but it was rainy after graduation so we were all indoors. It was nice though. Toward evening there was a rainbow, which thrilled me. Everybody said that is a good sign and I believe it was. It also made me think of my Auntie Iris. She died many years ago. We were very close. Rainbows remind me of her because: for one, her name means rainbow  and on my birthday, within the year of her death, there was a rainbow. I always like to think it was a present from my Auntie. She wouldn't miss giving me a birthday present! It wouldn't seem so strange except that my birthday is in December; how many rainbows do you see in December? So whenever I see a rainbow on or around a special time in my life I feel like Aunt Iris is thinking of me. I know she has been with me throughout my struggles in school, well, she has been with me for life, really.

  

 

Now it is on th the next phase of my education. I need to decide where I am going and exactly what degree I want to pursue! That is my task for the summer. I need a new catchy slogan/mantra.

 

2008

halfway to my Bachelors degree

1/3 of the way towards a Masters degree in Psychology

and Lord knows how long until I get my doctorate!

4.0 times 3!!

 Yippee! School is done for now. I found out today that I got a 98% on my Algebra final. I have a 4.0 in that class. That is awesome; math is not my best subject. The teacher, Jo Stewart is a great teacher.

That means I have 3 classes that I have 4.0s in this semester. My cumulative GPA is now 3.871. Woohoo! I worked my butt off for my 4.0's.

One stinkin' class is messing up my dream of making it on the all 4.0 Dean's List - that "Reading Popular Culture" class. I have about a 2.5 in that class (which is a C/C+) and I worked my butt off in that class too. That is unacceptable to me. The professor is giving me the chance to improve some of my papers and finish up the coursework this summer. I think I am going to take him up on that because I want to do better and I need to work on my critical writing skills. If I don't have the stress of 3 other classes then maybe I can do some good work in that class. There really was a lot of work for this class. In addtition to required reading, we had to do about 2 discussion posts a week (at least 250 words) and respond to other classmates posts. We had to write 3 short papers (at least 3 to 4 pages) and 2 longer papers (about 5 to 7 pages +) with presetations of a summary of our paper. Yikes. I did well on my posts and one of the short papers but the rest of it ... it was just too much. I am going to try it again. It will be beneficial to me to really work my writing skills to gear up for the next phase of my education.

Tonight, my parents, my husband and I attended Graduate Honors Banquet. It was really nice. It was at the Sarvis Center in Flint. It wasn't a dinner but there were hors d'oeuvres, which were very good and filling. The MCC Jazz Combo played and they were awesome. All people graduating with GPA's of 3.5 or above received an Honors Pin. My Dad commented on how many of the Honors Graduates were older than the average graduate. I am glad actually. The 2 top award winners were in their 50s at least. It gives me hope because I am getting a late start. I am not the only one, heehee. I guess I sometimes feel bad because I wanted to be much further along at this point in my life but I am not going to worry about it anymore. You do what you got to do. I am proud of myself - I can't believe I made it this far. Graduation is this Saturday!! It has been a lot of work but I feel I am finally on the right track.

Another thing I have to work on is learning how to sell/promote myself. There were so many scholarships/awards I could have applied for but I didn't because I am a dork and sell myself short. I think about my age and that the awards are for younger students. I was talking to the head of the Psych Department at Mott and she was telling me about a Psych Award I could have applied for. She seemed kind of anxious that I had not heard about it. She said they try to get the word out but it is hard to reach everyone. I guess a lot of people are like me and don't apply for awards they might be eligible for. I am not going to make that mistake in the next phase of my education.

 Now for the best part of the day. When my husband and I got home he had a surprise for me - he gave me a pair of diamond earrings for a graduation present!  Aaaawwwww, he is so sweet and thoughtful. He shouldn't have done that - he has done so much already. I couldn't have made it through school without his support, and there is so much more school to go. My earrings are very pretty though. I am wearing them to graduation.

Talking about Bush hits Congress for lack of action - The White House- msnbc.com

  Oh, now he is going to play the blame game. How convenient, specially after stimulus checks go out. Bush is an idiot!

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I need some inspiration...

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The anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and death.

In honor of Shakespeare's birth and in remembrance of his death (I guess his birth is celebrated on the date of his death, April 23rd, because his exact bday is unknown) I am going to blog some of my favorite sonnets of his. Also, I am in the Flint City Theatre's (http://www.flintcitytheatre.com/) production of Titus Andronicus, which is a kick ass play written by Shakespeare. It has blood, revenge, rape, murder, and oddly enough, a little wicked humor. From Titus Andronicus:

Demetrius: Villain, what hast thou done?
Aaron: That which thou canst not undo.
Chiron: Thou hast undone our mother.
Aaron: Villain, I have done thy mother.

 

SONNETS

 

CXLI.

In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,
For they in thee a thousand errors note;
But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise,
Who in despite of view is pleased to dote;
Nor are mine ears with thy tongue's tune delighted,
Nor tender feeling, to base touches prone,
Nor taste, nor smell, desire to be invited
To any sensual feast with thee alone:
But my five wits nor my five senses can
Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee,
Who leaves unsway'd the likeness of a man,
Thy proud hearts slave and vassal wretch to be:
  Only my plague thus far I count my gain,
  That she that makes me sin awards me pain.

This is the first sonnet I fell in love with a long time ago. It reminded me of someone I once loved.

CXLVII.

My love is as a fever, longing still
For that which longer nurseth the disease,
Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill,
The uncertain sickly appetite to please.
My reason, the physician to my love,
Angry that his prescriptions are not kept,
Hath left me, and I desperate now approve
Desire is death, which physic did except.
Past cure I am, now reason is past care,
And frantic-mad with evermore unrest;
My thoughts and my discourse as madmen's are,
At random from the truth vainly express'd;
  For I have sworn thee fair and thought thee bright,
  Who art as black as hell, as dark as night

I love this one. A truly lovesick poem. I love the the last line "Who art as black as hell, as dark as night" Awesome!

 

XXIX.

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
  For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
  That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

This one is just sweet.

LXXI.

No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
O, if, I say, you look upon this verse
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse.
But let your love even with my life decay,
  Lest the wise world should look into your moan
  And mock you with me after I am gone.

 

What can I say about this one - I love the sentiment. A good one to read if you are thinking of someone who has passed away.

 

Graduation - Less than 2 weeks away!

I got my cap and gown today!!! I also got my silver honor cords and honor button! Awesome!! I didn't expect that. I can't believe I am finally graduating. I am getting emotional. This will be my first graduation since, well, 6th grade. Yes, I dropped out of high school and later got my GED. I wish I would have went to college directly after I received my GED but I guess I shouldn't look back. I should write a blog about being a HS drop out one day. I really think they should raise the drop out age to 18 but that is a blog for another day. "It is never to late to be what you might have been." George Eliot... Now I feel like I am finally on the right track. I have to figure out my next steps. I need to keep plowing ahead towards my Bachelors degree. Then on to my Masters and eventually my Doctorate. I think my goal is to be like Dr. McCain (my favorite professor at MCC) or like Dr. Reeves or Dr. VanEttten - they are two great counselors and instructors at MCC.

 Speaking of Dr. McCain and Psych, another good thing - ! don't have to take my last Psych test. That is a stress relief right there. I don't have to worry about studying. I did well on the other tests so between that and my extra credit I am getting a 4.0 - YES! So that is one thing off my list. I had a Algebra test today (mostly graphing - yuck) and I think I did all right. So that is another thing off my list. Now I just need to concentrate on my paper and presentation for the class I dislike (Reading Pop Culture), my scene for acting class, and the dreaded Algebra final. If I do well on all this I may be able to pull my GPA up from a 3.5 to a 3.7 or 3.8. I hope so.

Yikes! 2 rough weeks of school ahead, then I am done!

I am freakin' out! I have two weeks of school left but a lot ot pack into the 2 weeks. I have 2 math tests (one of which is the final, covering the whole semester - who can remember all that stuff!?), a psych test, my scene for acting, and a paper and presentation for the class that I am not fond of (Reading Pop Culture) to look forward to.  Add to that play rehearsal and I may be starting a new job. I am  a little stressed. I have not felt very motivated lately. I have just wanted to goof off and not concentrate on school. I think it is because spring is finally here. I am excited to be graduating soon, and excited to have a job interview tomorrow but the excitement is making me have ADD, hehee. I am also trying to figure out what I should do about the next phase of my education. If I get the job I have an interview for tomorrow, I will have to work during the day, so I will only be able to take night classes and may only be able to go to school part-time. I looked over the course offerings at U of M Flint and they do not have too many night classes. They have quite a few online classes but I want to stay away from those if I can. I may just stay at Mott an extra year and take some computer, management, and writing classes. I don't know. I just know that I want to stay in school, and keep pursuing my education but I am all fired up now about working too. I have a couple of bills I want to pay off so I don't have to worry about them. It is good not to have to worry about bills while you are in school.  So that is what has been on my mind lately. If you all don't hear from me for a couple of weeks, don't worry - I will be back; blogging with a vengeance after I graduate. I want to keep writing. 

 

I think I made a new friend. I am so excited to have met this person. I went to the cafe at school Wednesday and it was very busy - there weren’t any empty tables. I was seated at a table with someone else, an English professor. She seemed to be about my age and has curly hair like me, so I felt comfortable. I didn't think she was a professor at first. I really needed to study for my psych test but of course I could not be rude and ignore my table mate. I introduced myself and learned  that she was an English teacher at Mott. I am always curious about where people got their degrees from, so I asked her about her degree. She went to U of M and then Michigan State for her Masters. She has a degree in American Literature. She actually teaches at a few colleges and lives north of Detroit. We got to talking - I asked her if she taught any literature classes, she said not yet. I had to talk about books I love (Jane Austen), so we starting talking books - classics, you know. She recommended a book and we talked a little about Louisa May Alcott (Little Women, Eight Cousins) Well, I am not too much into American Lit but I do love L. M. Montgomery - she is a Canadian author who wrote the Anne of Green Gables series, 1908 or so). Come to find out that this professor loves L.M. Montgomery and actually has a sub-specialty in the study her writing. Awesome! As Anne would say - we are kindred spirits! We had a nice lunch talking about Anne of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island (where the Anne books are set), which segued into a discussion about Mackinac Island, Up-north, our love for Michigan .... we actually have a lot in common. We both were surprised to have found someone else who loves the same type of books. She is probably even more surprised to find it in a community college student, hehee. We exchanged emails. I hope that we can become bosom friends (another Anne phrase). Yes, I am a nerd.

 

I am going to miss the cafe when I leave Mott. I am not ready to leave yet.

On this day in history...

On April 15th, 1912, the RMS Titanic sank. "The sinking resulted in the deaths of 1,517 people" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic 

I have been a Titanic buff since Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the wreck of the ship in 1985. I don't know what intrigues me about the ship and it's story but I have always found it fascinating. Here are some links to some great books about Titanic:

 

The Story of the Titanic As Told by Its Survivors by Jack Winocour

 

http://www.amazon.com/Story-Titanic-Told-Its-Survivors/dp/0486206106/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208239478&sr=1-3

 

Lawrence Beesley, a professor on his way to America, gives his account of surviving the sinking of Titanic. It is riveting. Another good thing about it is he give a great account of what it was like to sail on the great ship. The book is a collective of survival stories.

 

A Night to Remember by Walter Lord

 

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Remember-Walter-Lord/dp/B000FTWB08/ref=pd_sim_b_img_4

 

This is an awesome book that compiles many survivor accounts of the sinking. I couldn't put it down the first time I read it.

 

Nicole by Candice F. Ransom

 

http://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Sunfire-No-Candice-Ransom/dp/0590400495/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208250527&sr=1-3

 

Along with the discovery of the wreck of the Titanic in 1985, this book is what got me hooked on the subject. This is an excellent fictional account of a young woman's survival of the sinking. It is a book geared toward teens but it is a lovely read regardless of your age.

 

Visit these two great websites for more Titanic information:

 

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/

These people are awesome. They really know their stuff!

 

 

http://www.titanic.com/

 

I wanna' gooooo.......

DANG IT! Dang it!  My husband is going to Colorado in May for a conference and I would be able to go but I am committed to being in the play. The week he is going is hell week for the play. There is no way I can go. I want to do the play but I want to go to Colorado. I will keep my committmet to the play but I am so bummed. I guess its for the best - we will save a little money on a plane ticket. I wish I would have known....

 

I have been a blogging fool today. I just feel like writing. I have been trying to study (reading) for the class I hate, and I did a little gardening before the rain came in. I guess I am kind of scatterbrained today.

Jealousy and vindictiveness rears it's ugly head...

There is a sort of jealousy which needs very little fire; it is hardly a passion, but a blight bred in the cloudy, damp despondency of uneasy egoism.
George Eliot

 

I like that quote about jealousy. Most jealous people have the biggest egos that need constant attention and they are uneasy if they feel less than others or disliked (even if the dislike is justified).

Isn't it curious how someone who is jealous and vindictive likes to blame others for their own lack of reason and good behavior. It is also curious to me how they will accuse the people who dislike them or refuse to put up with their BS of the very same jealousy and vindictiveness they themselves feel. Maybe they ought to think of the fact that reasonable people just get tired of them and their BS and would like to 1. show the jealous asshole that they are not fooled by them and their games, and 2. maybe teach the jealous asshole a lesson (by not putting up with their BS, confronting them, etc) or two for their own good; so maybe they will get over their petty jealousies and vindictiveness and become a real person and stop the madness (for a jealous and vindictive person like that hurts the people they love the most and rarely hurt the people they intend to).

 PS I just love George Eliot, she has the best quotes!! I must read some of her novels.

 

Antique Baby Portrait

I have been watching a lot of PBS lately. They have had some superb shows. A couple of nights ago I caught "Antiques Roadshow" They had this woman on who had a baby portrait from around 1830. The baby in the portrait is so adorable, and the portrait is well done. I love it so much that I have to put in my blog to save it.

 

 

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200705A33.html

 

I like the fact that the baby has one shoe off and one shoe on. So cute!

 

 

Love this movie...

Here is a link to a review of "Sense and Sensibility". It is coming out on DVD, yeah! This is a great adaptation of Jane Austen's novel.

 

http://tv.msn.com/new-on-dvd/tv/?GT1=7703

 

Graduating with High Honors!!

I am so excited. I have been checking the mail every day looking for graduation information. I applied in December for Graduation this May. Finally, I got the info yesterday. YES!! I will be graduating this year, but the best part is I will be graduating with HONORS! WOOHOO! The letter states "The faculty and administration of Mott Community College are pleased to congratulate you on graduating with high honors." I am ecstatic! I thought I would need a 4.0 GPA or something to gradutate with honors but I guess my GPA of 3.53 (and rising  ) is good enough. I nearly cried when I got the letter - I have worked my butt off. I get to go to a special banquet a few days before graduation to get an award and I hope some special chord or sash to wear at graduation. I sm so happy, happy, happy... Yeah!!

So many books, so little time...

I love to read! I have felt like reading the last few days. I used to read a book a day but I don't have time for that anymore. For one thing, every time I start reading I find myself falling asleep. It is not because the book is boring; I am not sure why this happens. Also, I think reading news and playing "The Sims" on the computer has taken up a lot of my free time. Well, that and having a husband and stepson. My husband said I used to read a book a day because I had no life. Gee thanks honey! I had a life then, I just made time for books. He is not a reader and neither is my stepson. I wish they had a passion for books like I do. I love the smell of a new book. I love the bookstore, but I am always overwhelmed when I go in one. So much to choose from! My husband and stepson dread it when I am in a bookstore or a place that has books. They know I will be in there forever.

 

I have a ton of books - some of them I have not read yet. We are going to build a built-in shelving unit in our living room for my collection of books. I am so excited - it will be like my very own library, hehe. I have all kinds of books - I like collecting them. My favorite books to collect are art books, books about flowers, and books on history and the classics. I want to read more of the classics but again, time is my enemy. A romance or mystery novel goes down much quicker and easier. I have read some of the classics but I have merely scratched the surface.

 

I love Jane Austen. I have read all of her major books. I am dying to read “Sense and Sensibility” again. I just saw the movie on PBS (which was wonderful BTW) so that is what brought all this on. I cannot find my copy of the book. I could read it online but I love to have the actual book in my hands. Ebooks are convenient but it is not the same as reading a real life book. Books are magical in my opinion. They give you the ability to travel back in time or become part of a story/experience you might not ever know yourself. Does everyone who loves to read and loves books feel this way? I think so.

 

Sometimes I think I should be a librarian. I don't think the job outlook for librarians is good. You have to have a masters degree too. It would be silly to get a masters in a career that is not growing. I do love books, and being around books though. Yes, I am a nerd!

 

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm

 

Online Books http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

Talking about Elephant Paints Self-Portrait

  WOW! This is crazy.

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Elephant Paints Self-Portrait


An elephant puts non-artist humans to shame by effortlessly painting a self-portrait.

Talking about Facebook Addiction

  Or MSN Spaces or MySpace or Friendster; hehehe  I thought this was cute.

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Facebook Addiction


Facebook is one of the most addictive social phenomena to have ever swept the world! Learn about the common signs of Facebook addiction.