Could it be any colder?

On days like today I find myself again asking the question "Why do I live here?" At least during normal winters we have snow and I can go snowshoeing, but with no snow, what the hell is the point of having winter at all? Parking at school absolutely sucks. First I drive around the close lot, stalking everyone who walks by, praying that they are leaving. When that fails, and time is running out, I head to the back lots. Most days I have to park at the furthest lot which means a 15 minute uphill walk. The school is at one of the highest points in Duluth which means most days it is windy. This walk sucks! I bundle up with a hat, scarve, mittens, and closed toe shoes, and still I am frozen by the time I get there. I mention the closed toe shoes, because you would be amazed at how many stupid college girls are wearing flip flops or dressy sandal type shoes and walking through snow and cold to school. And boys who refuse to wear a winter coat and head to class in their sweatshirts. Boy, I am really sounding like a mother right now, aren't I?

For German class, our group project is that we have to lip sync a German pop song called Kussen Verbotten. Translation = Kissing Forbidden. If you are interested, email me and I'll be happy to send you the mp3 of the song... It's not bad, actually! I'm a little old to be in an air band, but I will do my best! My friends and I did take 3rd place in an Air Band concert in college the first time I went... at least, I think we did. My memory is foggy on these years... Jacquie will remember and I'm sure she'll comment with a correction if needed! She remembers this stuff way better than I do. Hey! But ask me anything about Christopher Columbus and I bet I will remember! Well, maybe...

We saw the movie Arthur and the Invisibles over the weekend. My advice to you is don't waste your precious dollars. If you must see it, rent, do not buy, but rent the movie when it comes out. It had a few laughing moments, but that was about it. I preferred the movie when it was real people and not a cartoon. I thought the cartoon part was really lacking. They tried to sell it by throwing Snoop Dogg in it, and while that part was slightly entertaining, it didn't make up for the rest of the movie. The cartoon girl was played by Madonna and she was suppose to by like a 14 year old girl. Personally, I thought she was drawn like a midriff-exposing 22-year-old instead. The 12-year-old in the movie of course falls in love with her, and she with him. Incredibly unrealistic and again, shows young girls that this is what you need to look like, even if you're a cartoon, to even attempt at getting a young kid to be interested in you. We are all going to hell in a handbasket.

I also watched In America for the second time, this time with Jeff. He of course hated it because it made him sad. He thinks I have this morbid taste in movies, like City of Angels (one of my all time favorites), always picking the most depressing movies with horribly sad, tragic endings. My answer to him was they are just too deep for him to handle. :-) He didn't find that very funny... Anyway, In America is a movie about an Catholic Irish family who moves to Manhattan from Ireland in the 80s. They are in search of a better life in America and basically sell everything they own just to get here. They have two adorable little girls, and tragically lost their little boy to a brain tumor. It's all about how their lives change for the better even though they are living in horrific conditions surrounded by a life that is new to them. If you are looking for a "feeling movie," rather than the shallow stuff Hollywood usually throws at is, see this one.

I even watched One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. I haven't seen this movie in years, and was surprised how differently I viewed it this time. I can sure tell that I have grown up since the last time I saw it! If you don't remember, this was a movie from 1975 starring Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, and Christopher Lloyd and takes place in a mental hospital. Quite disturbing, but good movie. My physchology professor from last year said that up until the 1960s, lobotomies were performed quite regularly in mental institutions. Nice.

All right, enough procrastinating on my end. I must go study German and Chemistry. I have tests in both on Friday. Scary!

Later little peeps!

In a slump

Well, I survived my first week back at school. I have really good classes this semester:
1) German, again. We sing German songs so I love it.
2) Modern World History after 1500. History is always good!
3) Yoga. Enough said.
4) American Literature. I love to read stories, so no complaints here.
5) Biochemistry. Well.... I do tend to fall asleep in lecture, but so far I am learning lots about proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, etc. Useful knowledge to have, I suppose.

Its a full load though, with 17 credits. My life is studying.

After a year, my ceiling fan part over my kitchen table has finally come in (thank you Jeff for ordering it for me). Now let's see how long it takes me to hook it up.

My new doors on my porch will not shut. Neighbor Kevin says its because our houses (he has the same problem) are built on a frost line, and with no snow, it is causing the ground to shift. In spring they will shut again. I don't know... he could be full of shit.

Have you heard about the 29 year old sexual predator who enrolled himself as a 12-year-old at a middle school in Arizona? What the hell is wrong with people? I sure would hate to be the parents of his classmates!

Brandon and I saw Charlotte's Web last weekend followed by a nummy meal at Hacienda Del Sol on Superior St. Excellent movie, although I am a bit biased since this was one of my favorite books as a kid. Julia Roberts had the perfect voice for Charlotte. The crows made me laugh hard. And the pig was cute.

I seem to be in a gray mood slump lately that I can't seem to shake. Is it cabin fever? Is it pre-menopause? Am I not eating enough fiber? What is causing it and how do I put the sunshine back into my life?! Send me your ideas...

This is a picture of what the maid did to our washcloths and toothbrushes while we were away from our room at Walt Disney World. We stayed at the French Quarter of Port Orleans within the Walt Disney resort. Very nice... I would stay there again.

This next photo is of our hotel. I would share more photos but I switched memory cards halfway through the trip, and now I can't find the other one!

Okay, I must go clean the house a little. Tonight is catechism night, which means I drop B off and head to the library. Oh the joys...

A very sad ending to 2006

I am back from spending Christmas with my parents on the Gulf Coast in Alabama and from a visit to the happiest place on earth (Disney World, silly!). It was a much needed rest as my week before Christmas was a rough one. It's not usually good, but this one was especially bad. I had finals that week. I had to pack and prepare for the trip. I went to court to fight a speeding ticket. And, most sad of all, I had to take Polar to the vet to be put down.

Polar would have been 18 years old on June 1st. I have had her nearly my entire adult life! She and I had been through an awful lot together and I still have a hard time imagining her not here with me. But I feel so incredibly blessed to have had such a fantastic companion for so many years. I couldn't have asked for a better dog... I'll never forget her.


Anyway, on to happier topics... Brandon and I flew out of Mpls on Christmas Eve and spent about a week with my parents. My brother Glen was there for part of the time also. I haven't spent Christmas with Glen in a very long time! My friend Fred's mom and step-dad, Nancy and Tom, joined us on Christmas Day for dinner. That was also an extra special treat! The weather was not the greatest, but I still managed to get a 2 mile walk in on the beach every day. I got to see the dolphins swimming. And the Blue Angels flew over several times. And a crazy bi-plane did insane tricks right in front of our beach. We spent New Year's Eve at Nancy and Tom's along with their daughter Linda, and a whole group of the snow-bird friends. Because Brandon and I had to get up so early for the long drive to Orlando the next day, we didn't stay up to ring in the new year.

Disney World was awesome as usual. It rained at some point every day but one. But we still enjoyed ourselves immensly! My new favorite all-time ride is Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. This ride totally rocks! Brandon's favorite was the Talk with Crush at The Seas in Epcot. My only regret is that I came home with no tan whatsoever.




















This week I am spending at home cleaning and doing laundry. I need to get my house back in order before school starts next Tuesday. Speaking of school, I got all A's in my classes except for a damn B in Chemistry. I wanted an A in that class so badly!!! Ah, well... I really shouldn't complain. My gpa is 3.71.