Twilight-mania!

Over the summer a lot changed. A lot changed in the world, and a lot changed with me. Maybe another day I will give my commentary on the world events, but tonight i want to talk about me, and Twilight. No, I am not talking about that time right before darkness falls, but the extraordinarily popular book series.

Before August, Twilight books had barely registered on my radar. I was much too involved in my romance novels, (those are a whole other story) which are legit in their own right. Two of my best friends had mentioned some sort of craziness about vampires and werewolves in these amazing books, but these same friends are obsessed with Harry Potter so I quietly dismissed their ideas. That is until the last week of August when i had finished all the romance novels i had and was desperate for something new. I finally caved, and asked if i could borrow Twilight, the first part of the series. And i was never the same...

I could dive into all the fascinating aspects of the book, the characters, and the sheer AMAZINGNESS of my Twilight experience, but then this post would never end. So i will just say it was epic. I finished this 500 page book in about 2 days. It didn't take long for me to get caught up in the story. I had finished the series within the week. I was so caught up in the books that i didn't really think about why i loved them so much. Now, a month later i have cleared my mind, somewhat, and have really thought through the appeal of this book that is turning out to be as popular as Harry Potter.

What the Twilight series represents, for me at least, is my every dream. This may seem strange considering there are several near-death experiences, heartbreak, and challenges faced by everyone in the book. However, the love between Edward and Bella is that of a fantasy. It may be dangerous, wrong, and go against everything these two people know, but they can't help themselves. This is what makes it so special. There is a passion that both Edward and Bella thirst for, whether they want to or not. This passion that drives the book for over 2000 pages in the series is what almost every girl dreams of, and is something i have hoped for since my pubescent life.

This series has sparked a fire in the youth of our country. The danger and the passion of these two "people" has started a phenomenon, and as much as i was hoping to stand against the conformity, i am so glad i read these books this summer because it has fulfilled my desire for my own "perfect romance" which has seemed to have escaped me thus far and let me into the world of people far more fascinating than myself. Not to mention the super gorgeous and romantic Edward i have conjured up in my mind. Now i hope i can just wait patiently for the Movie coming out in November!!!!

Goodbye Seniors

Saying goodbye to the seniors this year was harder than i imagined it would be. There were so many that touched my life over the past three years and so many who i looked up to, had fun with, and shared great memories with. I was in classes with many seniors this year. The day after they were all gone, there was a quietness in the classes. It wasn't necessarily sad, but different. I didn't realize how often i talked to seniors everyday and how much i interacted with them. I also didn't realize how much i would miss them.

The seniors that were a part of the tennis team will be especially missed. They were the ones i was closest to and who i spent the most time with. They have taught me so much about how to be a good person and how to be a good leader, it is hard to imagine the kind of person i would have been without them. We have been through a state runner-up, a state championship, and a bitter loss in the regional finals together. I feel like we can really understand each other and we relate to each other on so many levels that we have become closer than most teammates ever will. It is for these reasons that moving on next season without them will be such a challenge. Not only will we have to keep playing with the loss of such special friends, but without the leadership some of us have come to depend on.

The seniors i have had in classes are also missed, well most of them. The seniors were the ones who felt comfortable cracking jokes which made class much more interesting. They were also the ones with the best stories. Most of the seniors i had in my classes also were the ones who would answer the questions no one else wanted to. This shows their leadership and their confidence. The seniors this year that i am friends with made classes interesting, made sports special, and taught me what it is to be a leader to the underclassmen below me.

Sex and the City, please don't disappoint!

Sex and the City is finally coming to theatres. Devoted viewers were saddended by the end of a favorite television show, but now, some 5 years later the girls of Sex and the City are finally returning. I was too young to watch the show when it was on television and i didn't have HBO, which was a problem. However, i became a devoted fan when the show started being played on TBS. With the funny, yet sometimes inappropriate, story lines and the amazing clothes, I loved it. And so far it seems that i am not the only one.

The previews for the SATC movie have been appearing in theatres and on the Internet for a quite some time. From the first preview i saw, i knew the movie would be wonderful. With Mr.
Big and Carrie finally together, how could it not? However, this mentality could lead to disappointment. I am always afraid to get too excited for things. Thinking something will be amazing and anticipating too much usually ends up with someone being disappointed. I am afraid, with all the press surrounding the movie, that this will be the case. I am worried that everybody is getting too excited and ultimately, the only possible outcome is criticism and disappointment. Of course i do not want this to be the case, yet i have begun thinking this is what will happen.

This kind of thing has happened to me before. For example, everyone told me how amazing this restaurant, Hickory Park was, and although it was wonderful, it didn't blow my mind. I couldn't help but be a little disappointed. This is what may happen with SATC. Not only that, but every body's ideas of happy endings is different. In my version of a happy ending in the movie, i see Carrie and Big together, Charlotte happily married with kids, Miranda happily married, and Samantha still being the cougar she is. However some people may not want Carrie and Big together, or Samantha with one man. All I can hope is that in this much anticipated movie i find something like the happy ending i imagined.

Severe Weather

Severe weather seems to be popular here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Even if we're not experiencing it, we seem to hear about it all the time. Our KCRG-TV9 First Alert Storm Team (that's a mouthful) make sure, if there is a storm within a 500 mile radius, we know about it. At least it feels that way. And heaven forbid there are lightning strikes within our viewing area, the storm team makes sure we know about it while simultaneously cutting off our favorite prime time shows. As you can tell, i am not a fan of these practices.

I may be considered a pretty independent person, but all i really need to know from my weather channel is a) when the tornado sirens are going off and b) when school is cancelled for snow. All these other alerts and warnings seem insignificant to me. I am not trying to devalue the weathermen, because they do have an important job, but i don't need to know everything that is happening in our weather system, especially during Grey's Anatomy. This may appear as ignorance to many people, but it is really me expressing my views on what is necessary and unnecessary information. Basically, i value my time, and i don't want it to be wasted by weathermen claiming that i am in danger when the Doppler radar clearly contradicts what they are saying.

It is only the beginning of the severe weather season so i know i am in for a lot of long, insufferable nights of annoying weathermen. But it still doesn't make me want to complain less or actually do something, like leave the couch, to change the situation. Because honestly, it is way more fun to rant on my blog than to change the channel or turn off the television. :)

What AM I doing with my life???

It is coming to that time of year when everything is winding down at school and half my classes involve watching a movie or doing absolutely nothing, i find myself losing my drive. I know it may seem unbelievable, but when teachers start expecting less of me, i tend to, in fact, do less. This is not a bad thing necessarily. I love having weekends and evenings free for the enjoyment of such things as Grey's Anatomy, Facebook, and You Tube, but i can only stand so much idle activity. It almost makes me miss those rushed nights and the accomplished feeling of getting a worksheet done, knowing that i will get an A. But the key word is "ALMOST."

The lovely times i have spent not actually doing anything are some of my favorite. For example, there are many times when i can sit down on the couch and watch an America's Next Top Model marathon on MTV. Though it may not be the most cultured of activities, it can be quite entertaining, especially the cat fights and Tyra Banks thinking she still is the best model in the world...haha. Another enjoyable activity is watching the grass grow. Okay, not really, but i might as well have. Between watching the "Bluhud" video on you tube (you should check it out,) and facebook stalking people i haven't seen for a couple years, my time is beginning to feel like a big waste, and it is not even summer yet!

Obviously, my summer break will full of exciting things. Luckily i have a few vacations to keep me active and my sports. I honestly hope i will never have to experience this wasted time again, because i much prefer the hustle and bustle of school work to this meaningless existence i am experiencing now.

Jonas Mania

Lately, it seems like the world is being taken over by the Jonas Brothers. This unique group of three brothers hopped on the music scene, almost without notice, with the song Year 3000. Though it embarrasses me, i must admit that i did download this cheesy, yet lovable song. Ever since this song became popular on the ever so popular Disney Channel, the young hearts of girls all across the world have been captured.

The first time i heard the Jonas Brothers i believed them to be just a short-lived group promoted by Disney in an effort to make money. They were cute and somewhat talented, but nothing about them really impressed me. Then i would find myself singing or humming their song, Year 3000. The turning point for me was when i heard the song S.O.S. on a popular radio station one night. The song was catchy, fun, and something i could sing to (though never for anyone to hear.) I couldn't believe this song that i fell in love with was the work of the three young men i had once scoffed at. From then on, i was a major Jonas Brothers fan.

Today, the three men, all under the age of 25, are extremely successful, not just in the Disney channel demographic, but on popular radio and television. This summer they will be releasing their first made for TV movie on Disney called Camp Rock. It looks like a pretty pathetic movie, but i know that i will have to watch it at one time or another. Their newest CD is set to release sometime soon, and they are even going to put out a concert into movie theatres like the Disney princess, Miley Cyrus. If everything goes well, the Jonas Brothers could become a serious phenomenon in the pop culture of young generations.

Partners

Partners are difficult. Sometimes they are necessary and a joy to have at your side; other times it may feel like they are slowing you down or holding you back. Anyone who has been in a partnership before knows these issues. At times you feel that being alone may have allowed you to succeed more. One may think that having a partner only forced them to work harder and carry the slack for another person as well as their own. When times like these arise, it can feel difficult to continue on and keep working. Communication may stop at this point, only aggravating the situation more. This kind of partnership is unhealthy for both parties. The "hard worker" may feel animosity and anger towards their partner. The "slacker" may feel guilt about their lack of effort of anger at being thought less of. This may arise in a partnership, but what about all those times partners come in handy???

Partners can be a gift from the heavens at times; i know this first hand. For example, on the tennis court while playing doubles i may miss a volley at the net, and almost always my wonderful partner is there to return my missed shot. This is also true in school work. If i am going to be busy for many days during a project, having a partner, or many partners, is EXTREMELY helpful. It can be comforting to know that someone is their to help you in a difficult situation, or save you from a potentially embarrassing or distressing time.

Obviously partners can have their negative and positive aspects, there is no doubt we all must work with someone else at one time or another, whether we want to or not. This means, to succeed, we all must learn to make the best of bad partnerships and strive to create good ones. Because sometimes, nothing is more comforting than the knowledge of there being a strong supportive partner at your back to help when your in need.