Feel the Rain on Your Skin

~~~~ Apathetic

The one thing that makes me sad about coming back to school is that I never seem to have enough time to post here. I always eventually adopt a bit of a routine to allow me to get all the things I want to do but since this is only the third week of school I've almost figured it out, but not quite. I have managed to finally get ahead in my work just like I always like to do. I have a job interview tomorrow for the Athletic office and I hope it goes well. I want to go to Scotland to see Chanda!

This weekend was awesome. I skipped my last two classes of the week and drove to Phiadelphia and Washington DC. It was suppose to be nine hours to Philly but mapquest hardcore screwed me over and I ended up in DC so it was actually about an eleven hour drive. *Sigh* But it was great to see Sasha and UPenn was really pretty. Saturday I caught a train out of the city to see Allison at Bryn Mawr. Her campus looks like Hogwarts! We watched Blades of Glory (so funny) and played Kingdom Hearts... yeah, once I have money I'm buying a Playstation 2 and Kingdom Hearts. We had dinner at a local Italian restaurant and of course I ran into Emma and other Sasha. Awesome. Then I went back to Penn for the night and Sunday morning Sasha took me to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. I'm glad I can say I saw them once but I'll never to see them again. Then I said bye to Sasha and headed to DC. It wasn't a bad drive... about 2 and a half hours but I did end up on the other side of town. But Dan got me on the right track and parking was free at DC so I can't complain too much! We watched Pirates 3 in the middle of his campus, ate Pita Pit, and then Dan took me on a tour of the monuments at 1 in the morning. The monuments stay open and lite all night so it was a lot of fun. I saw the World War II monument which was new to me and exciting. Then we went back to his apartment and watched Speed with his roommate. Oh my god. That was such an awfully bad movie! Monday we had breakfast, talked to Katie on Skype, and got coffee. Then I headed home. The road was blissfully empty and the trip home was uneventful. I had such an awesome weekend and I really hope I get to see all my AUC friends soon. I miss them a lot sometimes.

But now I'm ready to start an awesome year at Miami.

I Walk Alone

~~~~ Worried

Oh man. So the first week of classes are over. Lingustics is boring just like I thought. Art History is exciting and my prof looks like Anthony Rapp! Social Psych is without a doubt the best class and my prof is simply fantastic! Italian is nerve racking but, go figure. Archaeology is disappointing but I still have hope. Anthropology is a general miamiplan, freshman class, but I'm actually talking in the class so I'm proud of myself.

So I get back to my apartment yesterday after my first week of classes is over and what do I find? Oh, you know, a fuse has blown (just in my room though, not in the rest of the apartment) and I can't find anyone to hit the fuse breaker since it's the weekend. So there you go, I can't do anything in my room because I don't have power so I guess the living room will be my best friend until Monday. That's fine. So last night I call Brian and I went to hang out with him in his room. We listened to Flogging Molly, watched Friends, then took a walk up to Kofenya. I missed that place. Then we went back to his dorm and watched Futurama with Alex :) After the boys fell asleep I came back to find Gina, Lindsay, and Matt sitting at the kitchen table drinking so I joined in. We played Kings and attempted to play Asshole and Meow but that didn't work too well. Kings was fun though. Then we ordered a pizza and played MarioKart. Good night.

Today I woke up at like noon. Ha! I made Camel's Eye for me, Lindsay, and Matt and then Steph and Mike came over. After a near death experience (there's nothing like a near death experience to break up the monotony of the day) I get a wonderful text from Brian saying Alex doesn't want to go to Fiesta Charra for dinner :( oh, if he only knew. But for the moment he's still convinced. I mean, of course, this has to happen. Why him? Why now? He's not a Miami boy which is why it seemed so right but I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna get hurt. This is uber frustraiting. Why couldn't I like someone who there's actually the potential of liking me back. *sigh*

So anyways after dinner Alex will be going to play basketball with his friends... yeah. But we're all coming back to my apartment to make rum smoothies, smoke hookah, and watched movies and disney channel and stuff. We're kinda weird kids. It'll be me, Steph, Gina, Mike, and Brian. Half of these people haven't met one another but it'll be great. We're gonna get South Quad Delivery (Breadsticks anyone!?!) and then go to 1 am breakfast just like we use to do. After the fiasco that WILL be dinner the rest of the night should be a lot of fun.

Why can't I be over boys again like I have been for the past year and a half???

Home is Behind

~~~~ Drained

It's amazing how you can love and hate someplace all at the same time.

But it's good to be back.

I Want You To Save The World For Me

~~~~ Confused

I leave for school in four days. There's this guy at home who I've known since the eighth grade and I've never really thought anything of him. But now I am and I can't stop thinking of him. It's weird and I don't know if I like it. I just don't know if I really like him or if it's just been a really long time since a guy has really noticed me... like 5 months. I hope he comes see me at school. I really hope he come see me...

I Don't Recommend

~~~~ Sleepy

Babel Tower, by A.S. Byatt is not a very good book. I don't recommend wasting your time on the 600 pages. Her writing style sucks the big one. Plus, she kinda berates Tolkien, which is instant grounds for my dislike.

Don't bother.

Almost Doesn't Count

~~~~ Satisfied

School starts in 11 days. It's terrifying and exciting all at once. I can't believe I'm a junior. I'm halfway through my undergrad education. My life is dangerously close. But at the same time I'm so ready. It's strangely comforting to know I'll never really live in this house again. I'll do things. Get jobs or internships away from this town. And I really won't come back. Really. Living in Egypt for those five months helped. I am so ready to start my career. I desperatley want to be an Egyptologist. I want to work in Turin in their museum. I want to live in Italy. Visit Firenze on my weekends off. See all the provinces in Italy. See th rest of Europe on extended weekends. Vacation in Asia and the Middle East. Visit Egypt CONSTANTLY... maybe get a flat there too? Muuumkin? Gods, it's so exciting I want to start now. Can I skip the rest of college and grad school and getting my P.H.D. and just go straight to that? Yeah, good luck with that. Oh, and if I could find a punk/hippie/rocker who is easy to talk to and not depressingly tall who respects an independent strong woman and wants at least remotley the same things I want that'd be great, thanks.

So anyways, coming down off of cloud nine, I need to start thinking about packing. I really need to relocate all the things that have been unpacked and stored someplace in this house that I didn't take to Egypt. I can't wait for Chanda to get home. Wally might be home but he hasn't called... which I find... interesting. Tomorrow I think I'll call Carolyn. I like seeing her. And I'll continue to avoid that other guy who will, at this moment, remain unnamed. I've been reading a lot. I do not like A.S. Byatt's writing style but I'll finish Babeltower. There are so many books I'm excited to read I want to start them all now! I should reread the Golden Compass. I remember I liked it but I should remember WHY I liked it.

But for now, I've retreated into the comfort of watching The Boondock Saints.

A Word of Advice

~~~~ Restless

Never start watching old television shows that you loved once and then forgot about. All the old emotions of loving the characters and the stories will come rushing back and make you crazy!

I. Love. This. Song.

~~~~ Anxious

Another Reason Egypt Rocks

~~~~ Rejuvenated

Fake toes, anyone?

Book Review: Before Women Had Wings

~~~~ Listless

Recently I finished a book called Before Women Had Wings by Conni May Fowler. It's not exactly the kind of book I normall read but I actually really like it. The book is the story about a young girl named Bird growing up near Tampa, Florida. Her father commits suicide and her, her older sister Phoebe, and her mother move to the city to try to start over. But trouble follows them because Bird's mother is plauged with a failed life and falls to drinking to solver her problems. Bird's only salvation is with Miss Zora, a kindly woman who teaches Bird about nature and love. I think Fowler's writing style is what makes this book so good. Even though Bird's life seems so hopeless she still finds joy in the small things. It keeps the book engaging and enjoyable. And, to be blatant, it makes you realize your life could be severly worse. I highly recommend it.

It's Been A While

~~~~ Full

It's been a while since I visited this site but it's still up and running!

The Hunger Site is this great site that is suppose to donate food to the hungry. There's also a Breast Cancer Site, A Child Health Site, A Literary Site, An Animal Rescue Site, and my specific favorite, a Rainforest Site! It might not work, but it might. I hope it does work. You should help! It's free and only takes a few seconds of your time. You should do it too!

Reaching a Catharsis Nine Years in the Making

~~~~ Restless

What an awesome weekend! Friday I drove up to Cleveland and met up with Steph. We ran to Coldstone and bought our obligatory Cookie Dough Delerium Cake and took it to Lindsay babysitting her cousins in Westlake for her birthday. They were seriously the cutest little girls I've seen in a long time. I haven't played with kids like that since my little neighbors were that age. After the kids needed to hit the hay Steph and I said goodbye to Lindsay and went back to Willoughby to see Hairspray. Oh my goodness. It was one of the best movies I've ever seen. I loved it. Steph and I are officially in love with both Link and Seaweed and we want to disown our mothers for John Travolta as Edna. Amaaazing! After the movie we went back to Steph's house and woke up bright and early Saturday for a fantastic roadtrip. The goal of our roadtrip was to visit some of the towns in Ohio that are named after famous cities throughout the world. Our stops included:
Florence
Milan (birthplace of Thomas Edison)
Delphi
Ontario
Dublin
London
Vienna
Alexandria
Lebannon
Medina
and, of course, OXFORD!
That's right, our roadtrip ended at our beloved Oxford, Ohio, home of Miami University. We had calzones and fruit and yougurt parfaits as soon as we got there. I missed it so! Then we wandered around campus just refalling in love with our wonderful campus. It was a long day. A looong car ride. We listened to the Hairspray soundtrack at least 10 times and the High School Musical soundtrack an additional 6 or 7 times but I wouldn't have had it any other way. I stayed in Willoughby again Saturday night but Sunday I had to be out of there bright and early because I had gone the first 24 hours of the Harry Potter book being available and not reading it. When we stopped at a Wal-Mart in London there were a few books by the cash registers and it was so hard not to pick one up and start reading it. But I got home early Sunday and started reading. I'm halfway through the book at the moment and I'm generally pleased. There are a few things that are strange. Like Harry really doesn't go back to Hogwarts but I'm generally pleased at the way the book is evolving. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint me at the climax. I'll soon find out though I'll obviously have it done today.
*nervous laughter*

Baseball Game of the Year

~~~~ Exhausted

It's official, I can't watch the Cleveland Indians, they lose. I had a really great time with Lindsay though, I heart hanging out with her. We established our three favorite players:

Josh Barfield

Franklin Gutierrez
and (of course)

Grady Sizemore.
Now I'll stop paying attention because then they'll keep doing well.

I bought myself a journal yesterday. I'm gonna start writing in it with anything and everything I can think of. Right now I just have a few poems but I hope I can get up to short stories soon. I think I'm gonna work on my painting too and put a couple of my works of, well, art, I guess, into it. I guess I'll call it my Life Book. I'm kinda in love with my book. Watched Young Adamlast night. It was thought provoking but it was a little choppy and lacked a certain continuity all in all not my favorite movie. I signed up for a two week free trial of Netflix to get a couple of the indie movies I've been meaning to watch. I'm just tired of waiting on the library and then when I get the movies having them be all scratched up. The library is really only truly good for books... not that I'm complaining or anything though.

This weekend I'm heading up to Cleveland for Coldstone Cake with Lindsay and Steffie then Steph and I are goint to see HAIRSPRAY and then down to Miami just because we both miss the campus. HARRY POTTER IN THREE DAYS!!! I can't believe something that has been a part of my life for over 12 years is about to finally end. Please don't die Harry! :(

There's This Story

~~~~ Creative

For years now I've had this story in my head... I wish I could get it out. It's so well developed. It's about this girl... she's the daughter of gods but she isn't really a god because these gods aren't really suppose to have children... they just aren't suppose to be capable. But against all the odds she's born and now she has a choice. Will she spend her entire life at home with her parents and the other gods, living safe and secure but bored, or will she use powers she has and go off to different worlds helping others in their most desperate hour? I know, it kinda sounds corny when I put it in those words but, hey, I guess that's why I've never actually written it down. She also has a twin brother that decides to stay with their parents while she goes out on her adventures. Her parents also send her a guardian animal that can assume any form he wants but his true form is a great orange dragon.

The problem is I have an extremely over-active imagination... even at 20. Ha! I think I want to write all this down but I just don't know if it's worth reading. By myself or by others. :confused: *sigh* I have a great respect for authors just because they have the patience to get all their thoughts and ideas down on paper. Maybe I have ADD? Sometimes I start writing but I just get bored so quickly... guess long term writing just isn't for me.

How Amazing is This?

~~~~ Hopeful



What a wonderful concept. The HOPING foundation really has the right idea.

HOPING stands for Hope and Optimism for Palestinians In the Next Generation. This next generation will be the key to peace. Palestinian refugee children need the simple chances and ordinary possibilities that can offer them creative solutions to their lives. The most important thing we can do is to help generate these possibilities, giving refugee children a belief in the promise of a better future. We will be showing Palestinian children that their struggle to transform their lives is encouraged and supported by people in Britain and throughout the rest of the world.HOPING maintains a small scale administrative set-up in order to ensure that a large majority of funds we raise are given directly to community projects in refugee camps working with children. Most importantly, the recipients of grants are small community initiatives that provide immediate assistance, and will make such a huge difference to their everyday lives. Grants are provided to encourage and improve all aspects of children’s lives; through art, music, social and sporting activities, and through their education and health needs.

They have cute things to buyto help the cause. It's totally worth it!

Save Darfur

~~~~ Impressed

It's worth it. I promise.

Buy Instant Karma Now!

Yaaay!

~~~~ Happy

Oh I love Egypt even more now. You have no idea how happy this makes me!

Egypt Forbids Female Circumcision

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Basically How I Felt About Jarhead

~~~~~ Sleepy

Hanging Tough, Staying Hungry

~~~~ Rejuvenated

Made a new playlist today. I'm planning to use it to workout. Yaaay! I think I want to start running. That should be interesting! We'll see how long it lasts but by the end of the summer I'd like to be able to run the path. Yeah. Right. The new library opened a few days ago. It's pretty nice. I've been checking out the Smallville series to save on my new external hardrive (named MaryJane). I've also checked out the Complete Short Stories of Graham Greene and Watership Down by Richard Adams. Finished Avalon by Stephen R. Lawhead. It was pretty good. Right up my alley! Read The Destructors by Graham Greene today. Verrrry interesting! Now about 25 pages into Watership Down. So far, so good. Thanks Donnie Darko!

Here's the Playlist:

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana Mad World - Gary Jules Ordinary - Train Gifts and Curses - Yellowcard Learn to Crawl - Black Lab We Are - Ana The Blood of Cu Chulainn - The Boondock Saints Tomorrow - SR-71 Prelude 12/21 - AFI Fighter - Christina Aguilara Here It Goes Again - OK Go Eye of the Tiger - Survivor Stronger - Britany Spears Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes Holiday - Green Day Bring Me to Life - Evanescence

I didn't say they wouldn't be corny... some of them but I think it'll get me moving every morning. I'm ready to change my life.

Ana Misree

~~~~ Amused

I stumbled across this website, Cafe Press that sells all sorts of great t-shirts, bumper stickers, and sorts. They have an entire section on Egypt and the shirts are absolutley fabulous! It's taking a lot of self control not to buy EVERYTHING!

Here are my favorites...