Christmas Break!

I found out that my Winter break is the shortest out of all my friends and it bugged me at first, but now that school starts tomorrow I'm actually excited and the duration of my break no longer irks me. This is the last day of the break and so in these last few hours I thought I would post before the new semester. Winter breaks are always so nice because I don't have to work, I get to spend time with my family, I get to see all of my friends from home, and I get to do whatever I want. My two weeks of free time and bliss was spent hanging out with my friends and family and absorbing everything that I love about ATX. There was also a lot of time for reflection and there are a few things that I've learned:

1. The Office - Dolls are not playthings, they are commodities. Same as gold or silver.
2. From Mom - There's no need to stress because stress does not exist and what I'm actually experiencing is a shift of focus.
3. Ugly Betty - Don't let an ambitious attitude lead to hostile take over and kicking puppies.
4. I must pack my own set of chopsticks so I can eat at home
5. Making jewelry is a good opportunity for girl talk
6. My brother can't pull the "boys only" rule because he's the only boy
7. Barnes & noble is essential to my health

I think with these points in mind I am ready for the school year and the infinite list of new year's resolutions.

Piano Man - Jon Schmidt

Amazing concert! Whenever I watch people who are uber talented, whether it's a volleyball game, a concert, or just about anything I get this odd inspiration to do everything possible to be like them. I am in total awe of their talent and I want some of it. So after absorbing the beautiful music and jovial atmosphere of the Jon Schmidt concert I wish I played the piano and at least took it more seriously when I was a kid. Oh well, the Jon Schmidts of the world need an audience and I'm all ears.

84606 Hollywood Gossip - Flashy Gnashers!

Hallway chats have become the norm in 110 and the topic of discussion for tonight was "Before and AFter". Take a look at Disney stars Hillary Duff and Ashley Tisdale. Too much time in front of the camera and in magazines gives them reason to over-analyze their features and "improve" their look. For Hillary the cute lizzie mcguire smile was not making the cut and so naturally if you want to be big in Hollywood you've got to go BIG. She therefore upgraded to enlarge her teeth via porcelain veneers and a breast augmentation, rightfully earning her the nickname "horse teeth".

Next we have Ashley. Being the biggest snob in high school musical must have taken an toll on her mind. They've conditioned her to think, act and behave like a snob so why not look like one. Snobs in our culture have been portrayed as people that have their nose in the air...well now Ashley's nose is permanently up-turned that she won't have to try and stick it in the air.

The decisions of these actresses has greatly influenced my roommate and I so much that we've decided it's time for a transformation.
Leya: Breast augmentations via toilet paper stuffed in el bra
Corina: Black shimmery clutch with long green dress

We're "soooo Hollywood."

A Peck on the Cheek - Mani Ratnam

I watched this Indian film today and I was very curious about the symbolism of rain. It happened at the end of the movie when the mother was reunited with her daughter (sorry to spoil it) and I was thoroughly confused as to why the director chose the thunderous rain as the background noise of this scene. There were various other instances in the movie that confused me as far as the reasoning behind certain camera shots or character expressions. The characters and their body language and expressions threw me off a lot and I kept misinterpreting what they were doing. Anyway, I decided to google the rain thing and found that rain is a symbol of romance. That confused me more and so I looked up the definition of romance, because this scene wasn't portraying what I thought of as a "romance". But dear Merriam-Webster has failed me and I am still left with this insatiable feeling. If anyone has insight on this matter (rain symbolism in movies) please let me know. It's killing me.

Turkey Day

"Don't laugh like your mama don't feed you!" Classic line delivered by the youngest in our Thanksgiving party - a 7 year old. Ya know, I don't know his precise age but he was about the size of a 7 year old and full of attitude and wit. He definitely kept Josie and I on our toes while we played two-hand touch football in the front yard and Apples to Apples.


I think the best combination from Apples to Apples was:
Green Card - Weird
Red Card Options - Mud, Underwear, and Dating
And as the judge, the 7 yr old chose the most obvious one...
Winning Card - Dating

It's kind of funny how Thanksgiving Day isn't even over and I've already started getting ready for Christmas. Snowflakes for the office, wrapping paper for the doors, Christmas socks for my feet and Christmas music for my personal enjoyment (and because they are easy to sing-a-long too and I don't have to make up my own verses). Happy Holidays.

Lessons of the Day: Michael Jordon is perfect, I'm illegal, a chicken leg comes from a turkey and "hike" must be said in order to throw the nerf football.

"Do I dazzle you?"

Twilight is mui bueno. The movie was grand! Albeit there were some silly parts and some bad acting, but it turned out to be more humorous and entertaining than I thought it would be. There were a few critics of the movie before I went in tonight, but I didn't set my expectations to an unreachable height...therefore Twilight = grand. If anyone opposes, so be it. I think if you go and watch it without ever reading the books you're going to be missing out on a lot, because if you've read the books everything in the movie has so much more meaning than the mere actions. All the actors were well chosen, except I never thought Eric would be Asian. That threw me off, but as for everyone else they were perfect for their parts.

Pre-Twilight fun included t-shirt making with my roommates! Aubrey and I were Team Jacob and Leya was Team Edward. True fans.

One disappointment: I really wanted to hear Robert Pattison's accent and so I was a little perplexed at his American accent. But there were a few parts in the movie where his British drawl slipped out :)

Freedom Writers

Please add this movie to my list of movies to own: Freedom Writers.
What I love about this movie is that it is so real! The characters in the movie remind me of friends and kids I knew back home and grew up with and went to school with. I just couldn't get over the intensity the this story possessed and the actors played their roles perfectly. It was amazing all the emotions I went through while watching this movie. That probably sounded weird, but really most of the movies I've watched in this semester stick to one main track of feelings - humor or sappy chick flip. This movie was absolutely invigorating in mind and body and woke me up. I want to make a Toast to Change. Over this Thanksgiving Break I am going to be a different person. The girl from the beginning of the semester is going to be reborn, with a new attitude and a new passion for life. I know I'm deep, just call me "ma".

This week is just racking up the good movies, and in the next 8 hours I will be in the movie theater watching Twilight and swooning over the chiseled chin and amber eyes of the beloved vampire Edward Cullen. Yes, sappy chick flick, but I just can't resist. P.S. watched the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince trailer at work today. FABULOUS! I'm going to the midnight showing! I mean I have to, it's tradition.

Lesson of the Day: The statues at school are wrapped up with saran wrap NOT because they are made of metal and could possibly rust nor for warmth from the cold. They are wrapped up to be protected from potential damage due to the BYU vs. UTAH rivalry that is apparently going on this week due to that oh so big event happening this weekend...what was it again? :) It's something that involves a little leather ball, huge men in blue uniforms, and my cousin Harvey Unga.