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.

Mr. Archuleta

David Archuleta is a gift from God; at least that is how i feel. His voice is so natural and commanding it is unbelievable. Ever since the first time i heard him sing, i knew he was something spectacular. At only 17-years-old, David has beat out an insane number of competitors, and is looking to do so again tonight in an effort to win the title of this years American Idol. In my mind, there is no excuse for why David Cook should win. Though he is talented and has a special quality on stage, Archuleta takes talent to a whole new level.

David Archuleta is young and gifted, but for some reason many people, including my mother, prefer Cook. This boggles my mind. I have tried to explain over and over again about the differences in quality of sound between the two contestants. However, it seems to go one in ear and out the other. What can possibly be seen in Cook that makes him more appealing than Archuleta? This question rang through my head many times and i could not find the practical answer.

Finally while watching the season finale tonight i think i found my answer. Though i will forever be devoted to Archuleta, he has this quite and sweet innocence about him which can almost come off as being fake or insincere. I never have seen it this way, but i can understand how others could. Also, as my mother reminds me every time he sings, Archuleta is outrageously young. 17 years is not a lot to gain experience and know-how, but in my mind Archuleta has the entire package. If someone is given a gift, it shouldn't matter how young that person is when they begin to showcase it. Archuleta is amazing in so many ways, and i can't wait to see the results tomorrow night. Archuleta should win, but the exciting thing about reality TV is that you just never know what will happen next.

STATE!!!

For a high school athlete, the whole season comes down to qualifying for state. The long practices, the running, the frustrations are all a part of the athletic experience, and are all worth the effort if you can make it to state. For adults, or those who do not play sports, the accomplishment may sound small and unworthy of a blog entry. But believe me, there is nothing more exciting than playing in a match that will secure you a place at the state tournament. That is precisely what my doubles partner, Megan, and I did yesterday at the tennis regional competition.

I have been a member of the varsity tennis team for three years. The first year i was only a part of the team when one player got hurt. I stepped in for about six weeks and was not able to participate directly in the state tournament. Sophomore year, I played number 6 singles and our team won state. However, at the individual regionals i did not make it past the first round. This year, my junior year, i have finally accomplished something i have been working towards for nearly 3 years. I finally will be traveling to Ames to compete in the individual state competition.
Not only that, but i get to do it with one of my best friends.

Megan and i started our friendship in competition. Freshman and Sophomore year we challenged each other dozens of times in hopes of landing a spot on the varsity team. She "won" freshman year by making herself part of the number three doubles team. I "won" sophomore year by playing number six, however she still played number three doubles. This year, there is far less competition because we both play varsity, and we have to work together as a doubles team. This is not always easy because sometimes we get frustrated with each other, or ourselves, and get angry. But overall we are a good team, and i can't wait to show off our skills at the state meet in two weeks!

Glasses

I have recently learned that i will be needing glasses in the near future. I never thought it would happen to me. I truly believed i would go through all my life having the perfect vision i had as a child, but that dream was shattered when i realized the board at school was getting blurry and reading distant road signs while driving was no longer done with the ease it once was. Discovering that my vision was faltering was disapointing, to say the least. I ate my carrots as a child (which are supposed to help your vision) and even though i read a lot as a child, and still do today, i never read in less than suitable light. So why will i be burdened with the weight of glasses?

Glasses can look good on many people, and usually do, but i am worried that i wont be able to pull them off. Being new to glasses and all worries me because i have never been seen with anything but extremely chic sunglasses. What will my friends think? What will they say? If they dont like my glasses, will they tell me? These questions haunt me when i am idle and have time to think. Not knowing the true answer haunts me even more.

Glasses are not necessarily a bad thing. They are going to help me read things more clearly and get rid of some of my headaches. This is good because it will help me read and perform in school as well as make me more comfortable. Luckily, the negative stereotype with glasses has also gone. In elementary school, glasses are not cool. Thankfully as the years have progressed they can be fun, chic, and give me a smart look...i hope. Although it was sad to learn that my eyes were growing weak and i could no longer claim to have perfect vision, i am hoping that everything works out (and no one laughs at my glasses :))

Time for Priorities

This last term of my junior year is becoming increasingly stressful. With my focus divided between looking for colleges, doing my schoolwork, and doing it well, as well as my tennis season, life is kind of crazy for me. I have always been the kind of person who would stress out about the smallest things, such as, my shoes don't match my outfit...AHHHHH. This would be funny if it wasn't the truth. Right now i can't seem to handle the multitude of pressures facing me in my daily life, as well as sleep and eat. I am forced to make choices and set priorities.

"Priorities" is a dreaded word in my vocabulary. It means making decisions and putting things in order of importance. It also means that sometimes i don't always get every thing done. This is the worst feeling in the world. I have a terrible time of walking into a classroom or stepping onto the court knowing that i have not properly prepared for whatever i have been asked to do. Though i hate this feeling, i have many other important things to consider. Things that go beyond the spring term and even beyond high school.

College, in general, is perhaps the biggest stressor in my life. It is always in the back of my mind, and i can't help but think about the implications of my actions and decisions in terms of college. Almost everything i do in school is related to my post-secondary education and every shortcoming is seen as limiting my chances of getting into my number one college choice. I understand the craziness of this thinking, and yet, it still bothers me on a daily basis. Everything i am doing, everything i am working on, every homework assignment is getting me one step closer to my future at a university or college, and that takes me one step closer to my dreams.

I can't seem to escape stress and i can't seem to beat it, so i will continue to live with it. I have for many years, and i only anticipate it getting worse. However, if the stress is what drives me and keeps me going then it is all right with me. I will decide on what is important and make priorities. I will deal with the stress from this term in the most productive way i can, but that doesn't mean i can't count the days until summer vacation...does it?

Oh Paula...

American Idol is one of Americas most beloved television shows. Though, it does not have a perfect record for discovering the stars of tomorrow (cough,cough...Reuben what's his name and Taylor Hicks). But it is a never ending hour or two of entertainment. In my opinion, the only thing that needs to happen to make this show even better, is to replace the weak link...which is Paula Abdul. Sure, she may be funny sometimes, but its usually only us laughing at her as opposed to with her. Her latest slip-up proves once and for all that something needs to be done.

On the show Tuesday night, Paula accidentally revealed her secret to the world. She writes down her comments for each performer during the rehearsals and uses them during the live performance. This was extremely hard for me to believe because she always seems so inarticulate during the show. You would think that having a script in front of you may help you say what you want to say. Apparently not for Paula. On Tuesday, she critiqued Jason, one performer, on both of his songs after only one of them. She tried her best to cover up her mistake, but the damage was done. America now knew the live show was not as genuine as they thought.

This is just one time when Paula has interrupted my enjoyment of the American Idol experience. Her usual drunk disposition and awkward comments has continually left me wishing that she was simply not a part of the show at all. She has only tarnished the reputation of American Idol with these shenanigans. Her presence over the years, and apparently her speech abilities has only gotten worse, i just hope she gets her act together soon, or gets out.