Crime is Pride

              

I completely agree with this excerpt. If men didn’t have their pride in the way a lot of their mistakes would be less significant if not completely erased. Not only does pride force people to continuing mistakes even though they are wrong but it also causes problems.

People may blame other things for men pursuing mistakes that they know are wrong. People may say that revenge may make a man ignore his conscious which is true but if you look deep into the reasoning even though it is revenge causing the mistake, the reason you want revenge is to recover your pride that the other took from you.

Pride is tricky because it is natural. Men live for their pride so for them to swallow it is a difficult task to ask but if the man truly is a great man he will gladly swallow his pride for the cure of his mistake.

Summer

Summer is traditionally associated with hot dry weather, but this does not occur in all regions. In areas of the tropics and subtropics, the wet season occurs during the summer. The wet season is the main period of vegetation growth within the savanna climate regime.  Where the wet season is associated with a seasonal shift in the prevailing winds, it is known as a monsoon.

 In the northern Atlantic Ocean, a distinct tropical cyclone season occurs from 1 June to 30 November.[16] The statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is 10 September. The Northeast Pacific Ocean has a broader period of activity, but in a similar time frame to the Atlantic.[17] The Northwest Pacific sees tropical cyclones year-round, with a minimum in February and March and a peak in early September. In the North Indian basin, storms are most common from April to December, with peaks in May and November.[16] In the Southern Hemisphere, the tropical cyclone season runs from 1 November until the end of April with peaks in mid-February to early March.

 

Thunderstorm season in the USA and Canada runs in the spring through summer. These storms can produce hail, strong winds and tornadoes, usually during the afternoon and evening.

Poetry

Poetry has a long history, dating back to the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. Early poems evolved from folk songs such as the Chinese Shijing, or from a need to retell oral epics, as with the Sanskrit Vedas, Zoroastrian Gathas, and the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Ancient attempts to define poetry, such as Aristotle's Poetics, focused on the uses of speech in rhetoric, drama, song and comedy. Later attempts concentrated on features such as repetition, verse form and rhyme, and emphasized the aesthetics which distinguish poetry from more objectively-informative, prosaic forms of writing. From the mid-20th century, poetry has sometimes been more generally regarded as a fundamental creative act employing language.

 

Poetry uses forms and conventions to suggest differential interpretation to words, or to evoke emotive responses. Devices such as assonance, alliteration, onomatopoeia and rhythm are sometimes used to achieve musical or incantatory effects. The use of ambiguity, symbolism, irony and other stylistic elements of poetic diction often leaves a poem open to multiple interpretations. Similarly, metaphor, simile and metonymy[4] create a resonance between otherwise disparate images—a layering of meanings, forming connections previously not perceived. Kindred forms of resonance may exist, between individual verses, in their patterns of rhyme or rhythm.

poem

1.       As night falls, the day begins.

2.       Watching as the Earth spins.

3.       Saying ‘sup’ to ET as I pass by.

4.       Kissing reality good bye.

5.       My mind is nothing with nothing on my mind.

6.       Feels as if I’m driving blind.

7.       Dodging obstacles in my head

8.       While laying in my bed

9.       Never felt so alive

10.   Waiting for morning to arrive

11.   Wishing I never had to leave

12.   Knowing no one will believe

13.   Right as I unpack

14.   Reality comes back

 

 

First line- Antithesis contrasting the night with the start of the dream (the day)

Third line-Allusion with ET and an apostrophe talking to ET

Fourth line- apostrophe kissing reality

Fifth line- Inversion

Seventh line- Imagery

Fourteenth line- Personification

You gotta go you gotta go!!

Sitting in class bored out of our minds when suddenly, you have that overwhelming sensation that you have to pee. You get up quietly to ask the teacher if you can use the restroom. They always reply, “Is it an emergency?” All I can think in my head is; Yes it’s an emergency, if it wasn’t I wouldn’t ask to leave!

This situation can get you into some big trouble in many occasions for example:

1. If people always ask to go

2. If you have to go in that class every day

3. If the class is particularly boring that day

These teachers tend to not understand that 1. It’s not your fault other people have to go at the same time as you. 2. Your body is put on a schedule, and it likes to stay that way. And 3. I don’t care how boring the class is, I just really have to go pee. I think kids are really misunderstood. If I had to bet, I bet teachers just think we are doing hood rat activities in the hallways instead of going to the bathroom which in some cases is true. But if they did think we had other intentions other than using the facilities, why don’t they do something about it. And when I say do something about it, I do not mean take away the privilege of going to the bathroom. Instead, they could follow the student if they care so much. This tactic could get a little bit creepy, but hey, they would get what they wanted to know wouldn’t they?

Another thing I don’t understand is why some teachers make you leave your cell phone before using the restroom. To me this is just helping the ticking time bomb of my bladder speed up. It’s not like I’m going to sit on the toilet and text my friends while peeing, that’s disgusting. Plus wouldn’t the teachers rather their students use their phone in the hallways/bathroom instead of disrupting their class and ignoring their teaching? These things just don’t make sense to me.

For all of you teachers out there; just know that when a student is asking to use the restroom, in most cases, it really is an emergency there’s no need to ask. And for the students reading along, don’t take the bathroom experience to your advantage, you never know when you’re really going to need it. Oh, and look out for the crazy teacher who follow you through the hall to the bathroom, its borderline creepy.

Kids

I am a kid at heart; there is not a day in the week I would pass up a fine game of Twister or Hungry Hungry Hippos. It is just refreshing to me to let all other things be ignored and just relax and have some good old fashioned fun.

This fun can easily be ruined by just the box of the game. Who is a toy owner to tell you, you are too old for a game? I can play a game if I want to, it shouldn’t matter my age. I understand why they put an age requirement on it, you wouldn’t want a small child to choke on a game piece or something. But my question is, who comes up with the age limit? How do they come up with it? And if they have these “rules” why don’t they enforce them? They are probably just wasting money printing the age limit on the box.

If anyone knows anything about who makes these decisions, please let me know. I would like to ask them these questions. Then hopefully I can get back to this topic in a later post.

More Sleep

            As I sit in my desk my eyes lids tend to slowly droop down to cover my big green eyes. I don’t know if it is because I decided it would be a good idea to play 18 holes of golf or that I am suffering from a tremendous lack of sleep.

 

The truth is I don’t get enough sleep. They say a person my age should be getting around eight or nine hours of sleep but I truly do not understand how that is possible.

 

Here’s how my day goes; my alarm goes off at 6:15 each morning after pressing the snooze button an unhealthy amount of times, I am finally out of bed by 6:20. After getting ready I am out of the door by 6:35 and on my way to school. I am at school from 6:45 to 1:45 each day. After this long laborious day of school I rush home in order to take a nap before my day really begins. I nap from three to five, and then hell begins. I have to finish my homework and eat before 8 when I go to late night practice. Not to mention some nights I have to work so I don’t get my nap or homework time in so I am up even later.

 

When joining the high school society they hound on you to be active in your school. I don’t think they really understand how hard it is to really be involved. Me personally, I’m not very involved and I still struggle to get the necessary hours of sleep. I don’t understand how the people who are actually involved in this school can literally survive.

 

It’s hard to stay involved and still stay healthy but overall I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth the extra cat naps to tell your grandkids what a wonderful time you had in high school.

One Moment

Do you ever feel like you wouldn’t be the same person if something hadn’t happened to you? I feel like certain things happen for a reason, either to teach you a lesson or to help you mature. I feel like if I had grown up in a super wealthy home I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. Things like that really transform a person.

The other day I was discussing this topic with my best friend, and she completely agrees with me. After her family had a house fire about 6 years ago, she had to quickly morph into a responsible young adult. They had lost a lot, but no fire could destroy how close knit that family is. The fire had just brought them closer. That’s why I wonder if that fire happened for a reason. Maybe her family was meant to get closer or maybe she was supposed to mature quickly and early.

What if the house fire never happened? Would she be the same person? Would I still have become best friends with her? Or would we have lived completely different lives? This is why I think things happen for a reason. I can’t imagine what life would be like without her being who she is.

Although the things that happen to us may be devastating, I think it’s important to remember some positive is going to come out of it. By growing up in a home wear money is tight, I have become liable and more down to earth. By experiencing a house fire, my friend had matured into a grateful, responsible, young lady.

So weather it’s something little like a rainy day, or something traumatic like a death in the family it all happens for a reason. Like they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Life isn’t going to always be cotton candy and rainbows, so turn those tough times into positives and let them help you grow into the person you’re meant to be in life. It all happens for a reason, so let it happen.

Siblings

As kids we could not stand each other we couldn’t even be in the same room for very long let alone live together without constant bickering. But as time has gone on my brother and I have become very close. While he was a senior and I was a sophomore was the year we really became close.

In this year he would walk with me to classes, he would say hi to me in the halls, and sometimes allow me to eat lunch with him. Because we were always together there have been many awkward comments towards us. Many times I would be walking through the hall and have a girl come up to me and ask if I was the girl who was dating Ben (my brother.) At first I wanted to puke that anyone would be jealous that someone was dating Ben because ew that’s my brother. And then I gaged again to think EW THAT’S MY BROTHER I’m not dating my brother!? After this had gone on for a while we had kind of gotten used to the comments that we were close.

Yes we are close but we still argue a lot, just not to the extent that we did years ago. This weekend when he came home for Easter we experienced both the love and the hate of our relationship. He surprised me by picking me up at my soccer practice so of course there is the love part when I run and jump on him with a big hug. But just hours later the hate came along, but its all out of fun. I know my brother doesn’t like to be bothered, so what do I do … Bother him. I’ll reach for his beard and pull on his little whiskers making him a little flustered. Enough to make him agitated to start to pick on me. We then begin to wrestle each other which always ends up with me sitting on top of him and him tickling me to get off.

Although this is a fun type of hate, it also gets ugly. Like today we got in an argument about god knows what. We should not be allowed to argue with each other because we are both way to head strong to give up on our own opinions. We are both also very good arguers so we both bring to the table very interesting points that are pretty valid.

I love my brother to death, but boy, sometimes I can’t stand him. I believe our love hate relationship makes us closer creating a stronger bond between us.

Ware

                As Louisville continues their run in the tournament, there is one name you cannot miss. Kevin Ware, the player that literally snapped his shin in front of millions. As gruesome as an injury it is, I think the media is over playing the whole situation.

                Yes, I feel bad for Ware to an extent. Remember this is a 20ish year old that is going to school for free and is a king on campus. To be honest this doesn’t directly affect the team in any way. It might help them physiologically since they watched as a teammates leg came out of his skin. But as I watched their game against Wichita State, the announcers kept saying “this is where not having Ware will hurt them” and honestly it frustrated me. He was there 8^th man. Yes, 8^th, so there were 2 others to come off the bench before him and he averaged 2 points a game. He honestly didn’t contribute to the team that much. Also I don’t like how Coach P. is handling it. In an interview he said “now we have to play a walk on”. That is stupid, you are a number one seed you have a good team. And imagine how that kid feels when you refer to him as a walk on. And the best part is that the walk on had 6 points compared to Ware’s averaged 2 points.

                The thing that really bothered me was Twitter. Everyone was tweeting “#pray4ware” which is so stupid. He is an athlete that got injured, it happens. Meanwhile soldiers fighting for our freedom day daily but we don’t every pray for them. I think we need to get our priorities straight.

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Harmony Hippy

There is just something about a perfect harmony that just gives me chills all the way down my back. When two peoples flawlessly pitched voices just match together it’s like mash potatoes and gravy, peanut butter and jelly, peas and carrots you just know that those voices go together.

While listening to the band called First Aid Kit, you get those chills and you know these two singers were born to sing together. An example of this would be in their cover of Tiger Mountain Peasant Song by the Fleet Foxes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMrqBldlqzA. For one these young ladies voices are fantastic on their own, but as they collide together the chills begin.

As their voices creep together, you can feel every little hair stand up on your neck. It sends a burst of nerves to your heart warming it with every note. For me it’s my comfort zone. When I am feeling down in the dumps, it’s my go to thing to listen to some high quality music. No, not the regular stuff you hear on the radio. There is so much more talent out there than what is over played on the radio.

First Aid Kit is a fabulous example of these unrecognized artists. Not a lot of people know who they are but after you listen to them, you won’t be able to stop. You become addicted to the sweet harmonies of these two sisters voices becoming one. You can hear so much passion in their voices along with the harmonies, and the uniqueness of their voices gives you that sort of comforting feeling. It has the uniqueness that you can’t hear on the radio, it won’t be on the billboards, they are much underrated for the talent they have. I feel like they are doing so much more than singing a song, they are telling a story. The passion in their voices, gives you a much more sophisticated professional feel then songs on the radio rapping about drugs and booty.

Not only do these underrated artists have higher quality voices than most of the artists on the radio, I feel like they put a lot more meaning behind what they singing. Yes, they are higher quality voices and on top of that they aren’t over played. People don’t hear them every day. When you listen to music that is off the pop-charts you get the opportunity to introduce these feel-good voices to people who wouldn’t normally listen to this unappreciated music.

So the next time you are feeling down and you just need something heartwarming. Tune into some music that’s of the mainstream. You may find that the secret harmonies could really turn your day around, get those chills and enjoy that feel good music.

Golf

                With spring finally starting to come through I want to spend more time outside. My favorite way to enjoy the nice weather is golfing. Nothing is better than playing a round with some of your friends on a nice day. Even though it hasn’t been the best weather, the snow is gone at least so I have been able to go every day since they opened last Thursday. I am a decent golfer, almost a scratch player, I plan to get a lot better this summer.

                I started golfing at a very young age with my dad. I picked it up quickly and have been playing ever since. When I was 8 I played in some tournaments and I actually won 2 but as a got older and got more serious with baseball I couldn’t play golf as much. Even in high school the golf season is the same time as football so I couldn’t play for my high school team.

                Luckily, here in Iowa the public courses offer a season pass for about $200 to kids. I have had one ever since I can remember. Since golf is pretty expensive this is helpful in the summer. I play about 50 times a year so the pass saves me a lot of money

                The best part about golf is it is a hobby that will last for a long time. Once I retire in the far future I will probably be on the course every day.

#SocialMedia

                Today’s generation revolves around technology. Whether you think that is a good thing or bad you must admit that it is doing something. Changing the way we communicate to the way we behave. I think that social media makes people think they are tougher.

                Twitter has its pros, keeping in touch with your favorite rapper or just funny tweets, but it also has its cons, the #thirsty girl or the hard ass that is so #faded he can’t open his eyes. Twitter creates a wall between you and the audience. It gives people the idea that whatever they say won’t have a response and if it does it will be throw over the same wall through Twitter. For example, if you have a problem with someone don’t go on Twitter and talk about how “fake” they are and how you could beat them up. Say it to their face which if you are willing to say it to their face, good for you but I honestly hope they punch you in the face.

                I don’t really care about what you do on the weekend as long as I’m not involved but DUDE YOU ARE SO COOL THAT YOU HAVE WEED AND A BOTTLE. #ShitNoOneEverSays. Like I don’t know who thought it would be a good idea to post pictures of very illegal things on the internet. Yes, Wiz Khalifa posts pictures of weed, but he is a full grown man and is famous. But personally my favorite or the kids who talk about how #faded #turnt they were because they see millionaire rappers saying that. Like dude people can see this, including employers or THE FLIPPING ADMINISTRATION. So when you  get in trouble for weed or drinking don’t be angry it was all on you. Sure people can talk about the things they did on the weekend but there is a big difference between having a conversation about something and posting something about it. People post the pictures or tweets simply to show off. They want others to know that they are having more “fun” than you. They think it makes them tough to do illegal things. Like cool man do illegal things but don’t let the world know.

                What I’m afraid of are people that become completely dependent on social media. I can’t lie, I love Twitter and I think it is one of the greatest things ever but I will admit and spend too much time looking at it. Also I will admit I too get the false sense of security. Tweeting at celebrities or athletes that could easily destroy me but I know they won’t do anything because they are famous.

                So despite my love of Twitter I still admit that it is ruining society as a whole. I don’t know what the outcome will be but it won’t be good.

Puppy

Ever since I could remember there has been one thing that has been on the top of my Christmas list. One think I’d wish on my birthday candles. One thing I’d put on the top of my birthday list. One thing I’d wish for on a shooting star… a puppy.

I have wanted a puppy so badly for the longest time; I think I’m going crazy. But there is one problem in my parent’s eyes. They think we are out of town too much to care for a puppy. That the puppy would need more care and love than we could give to him or her. I don’t think they realize that I am in love with this puppy even though I don’t have it… yet.

I think this year I have done a pretty good job convincing my parent to get our family a puppy. I ask them weekly if that’s what I’m getting for Christmas and they say no. I am convinced they are saying no because they don’t want to ruin the Christmas spirit by spoiling my presents.

I don’t even care what kind of puppy I get as long as it’s cute and friendly. Although I do have a preference would be a chow chow. They are the most adorable things to me I just can’t get over how cute and fluffy they are. I think I have a special attachment to chow chows because I had one when I was very young. By pictures we have, he was my best friend. It was always me in my diaper doing something goofy like putting Tupper wear on my head with my doggy just cuddled up to me. He was a protector and I want that again. Sadly my dog got lung cancer so we had to put him down, but he will always have a piece of my heart.

Who Needs Time

It has gotten to the time of year when I just don’t care about my appearance anymore. I am just starting to become too busy to have the energy to dress nice more than 2 times a week. For this reason, I adore the maker of yoga pants. They are quick and easy, but you still look like you put in a little effort.

I give myself 15 minutes to get ready for school. Getting ready includes; rolling out of bed, getting dressed, tossing my hair in a ponytail, and brushing my teeth. There is no time for makeup and no time for breakfast in my book. I do not understand the people who get up hours before school to actually do their hair and makeup. For me you get what you get.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I do get the opportunity to wake up early and do something with my appearance is when people comment “Wow Annie you actually look like a girl.” I am pretty sure they knew I was a girl since the kindergarten but good to know they can actually tell now. I don’t think people understand that I don’t get home till at 8 on school nights, 7 on a good day and then I have piles of homework. I would much rather get an extra hour of sleep than put in the effort to look nice.

Personally I think teenage girls in generally care too much about what people think of them. It’s easy for me because I don’t have self-confidence issues, but how is it possible for you to think so poorly of yourself that you can’t even stand seeing your naked face in the mirror? It’s something I don’t understand and I wish I could so I could help those people.

Lock Down

 

Today in class our teachers informed us that we would do a practice lock down due to all the recent shootings. This got me thinking of what I would do if there was an actually shooting at our school.

Would I run and hide? Would I scream? Would I cry? Honestly I don’t know what I would do. I would most likely hide and cry I would be in so much shock I don’t think I’d be able to scream. But as we discuss this in class we begin to think of where we would hide. There are so many classrooms at my school with walls of windows, I feel like there is nowhere to be completely safe. It had been suggested to hide under tables, but what is that going to do for you? My newest idea was to jump up on a bookshelf and go into the ceiling tiles. To me this was a brilliant idea, till I came to the conclusion not every room has a book case to get up on and the ceiling tiles might now be able to hold my weight.

This topic really gets me thinking and I have had many debates about it. Lots of students bring up a good point that if there was to be a shooting, don’t you think it would be a student? And if they were a student here, don’t you think they would know where everyone is at? And if they know where everyone is at, we will all get shot anyways. I know this isn’t a very happy thing to think about but it’s completely true. Some people try to argue back with, “well what if it’s not a student?” In my opinion, if the shooter is set out to shoot, than they are crazy anyways and with that crazy mind going who knows the creative ways they can get into the building. If they are set out to shoot someone, they will. A lot of people don’t want to hear that but do you honestly think a shooter will walk up to the door, begin to jiggle the handle, then walk away just because it’s locked… I don’t think so.

In the end I think it’s good our school is practicing this procedure, but I don’t think it is very realistic. I don’t think there is any way we can really know how we would all react if something terrible like a shooting happened at our school.

Suckers

My eyes brighten up as I slowly maneuver it in my hands, trying to find out which is the most efficient way to open it. I can seem to find the perfect way to tear into it. As my heart races, I start to panic, it needs to be open now! My mouth is watering I can postpone my anxiety any longer. Then finally the perfect tear. I have now, with much suspense opened the most beautiful thing known to mankind…. A caramel apple sucker.

 

There is just something about these wonderful treats that bring my happiness to an all-time high. It could be the perfect combination of sour and sweet, or maybe it’s the way the caramel gets slightly stuck to your teeth as you are trying to enjoy it. These suckers aren’t like any other, they are like extreme sucks. Your average sucker is your normal dumb dumb, but these, there are so much more.

 

As you have difficulties opening these suckers, your suspension of the wonderful taste just builds. Then finally you get it, you are now ready to have a party in your mouth. At first its only the caramel you can taste, and its magically delicious. Then suddenly as your eyes turn to slits and your face scrunches up like a bunny you get the sour green apple taste. The taste is just half the fun.

March Madness

            Even though I am a football guy I will admit that college basketball games are some of the most intense games played, especially in March. March is one of the most entertaining months in sports simply due to March Madness. There isn’t anything better than sitting down and watching multiple close games that can determine the teams season. College basketball has been extra crazy this year. With so many good teams anything is possible.

            My two teams that I am cheering for now are the Creighton Bluejays and the Iowa State Cyclones.  Both are very entertaining teams to watch and pretty good. The Bluejays just won the MVC title and guaranteed themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament while the Cyclones look like they have a spot but you never know with all the crazy things that have happened.

            The Iowa Hawkeyes, who have the most ignorant football fans, also have the most optimistic basketball fans. First of all in my opinion Iowa has one of the most boring basketball teams in the country, they don’t have a star player or a good offense. When they lose to a better team it always seems to be the refs fault but when Iowa beats a terrible team it’s a great win and they looked good. I hope that Iowa gets beat in the first round if the NIT.

Wisdom Teeth

                I got to skip school Friday but not for a fun day. Nope, I had to get my wisdom teeth removed. I was supposed to get them removed last year but I didn’t want to miss sports so we waited until I was done with swimming. Prior to surgery I was excited to get them out because I haven’t been put under since pre-school when I had to get my tonsils out. I was excited until I get to the office and then I get very anxious and nervous. I don’t do to well with doctors and needles, so once they started prepping me I start to freak out. The worst part was the IV. I refused to look at the needle but it was still stuck in my imagination. The IV didn’t hurt that bad but just the thought of a big ass needle going into my arm bothers me. But then the next thing I know I’m in the car on my way to the pharmacy.

            I then go home and watch hours of Prison Break, still in a foggy haze from all of the drugs I was on. I wasn’t in any pain and I honestly felt fine until my mom told me I needed to take me pills. Feeling good I got up and walked to the kitchen to take my pills. Meanwhile my mother is telling me to sit down and I shouldn’t be up, but me being the tough guy I am don’t listen and keep walking around and then boom I want to just fall over, I got crazy light headed and felt like I was going to pass out. It was miserable after seating down for a few minutes I regain the strength to get back to the couch. But the worst part for me was the gauze in my mouth. I can’t stand the texture in my mouth also the not being able to eat part sucks.

            It’s been two days since the surgery and I am normal except for the empty pockets in my mouth. I feel fine except for a little pain in my jaw and teeth. The pain killers they prescribe though are amazing, pop one of those bad boys I don’t feel anything for a while. I’m happy its over with and I can’t wait I can eat real food normally again.

My favorite Food.

                Place it in the microwave press two buttons and wait 3 minutes and you will have my favorite food. Every since elementary school popcorn has been my go to snack, having a bag right when a get home from school every day.
               That routine lasted all the way through middle school but it had to end once I began high school due to football practice right after school. I could eat popcorn for every meal on every day. I don’t think there is anything than a nice hot bag of popcorn with some peanut m&ms in it. Even though most consider popcorn a healthy snack I wouldn’t put mine in the category. After I put a ton of salt and butter on I, it kind of loses its nutritional value.
               Even now when I get hungry I usually just put a bag of popcorn in and eat that. I think that a bag of popcorn is perfect too because it fills me up but it isn’t a struggle to try and finish it. In fact in middle school I would have a bag before every football practice and it never caused any problems. I will eat any type of popcorn but my usually is Orville Redenbacher Movie theater butter. But my favorite kind of popcorn is Carmel corn.
              My favorite part about popcorn is the un-popped kernels at the bottom of the bowl. I don’t remember when or why I started but I love to eat the kernels. Even though it upsets my parents because they claim I will crack a tooth. I don’t know what it is about them but they are so awesome to chew on. They have a different taste then the popcorn, obviously they are still buttery but they don’t taste like popcorn.
             That’s another cool part about popcorn; there are so many different types of popcorn you can’t get tired of it. You can have cheesy popcorn to kettle corn and it will be delicious. I will continue to eat popcorn until I can’t eat anymore.

Future of TV

             My family just got Netflix and I will be the first to say it is the greatest thing ever. It is allowing me to watch shows that aren’t on anymore, either cancelled or in between seasons. I have already re watched the first season of Workaholics which is one of my favorite series and I am now watching one of best series on MTV that got cancelled called Skins.
             I just started watching Weeds, a series about a widow turned drug dealer to maintain her high end lifestyle. It is very funny and has a good story. I have only watched three episodes but I plan on watching all of it,

Skins is about a rowdy bunch of high school juniors that tend to do some rather ridiculous things for anyone led alone juniors in high school. I think that’s what appealed me to the series. It shows how messed up kids nowadays are even though it is exaggerated. The head of the group is Tony, the good looking popular kid that takes everything he has for granted. Tony’s best friend is Stanley, the lazy stoner bum at the school that rarely goes to class. Then you have Chris, my personal favorite because he is nuts. He pops whatever pills he gets a hold of. That’s the plot to the series, a group of kids with drug problems and then the usual high school drama.

I plan on re-watching The Walking Dead since it is the best show ever made. But I also plan on watching some of the other main series that my friends have seen.

Superbowl Sunday

                It’s Superbowl Sunday. The most watched event on television is on tonight but you would never know. In the past Superbowl Sunday was as close to a holiday as you could get but slowly society has changed and now it is just another Sunday with a football game on. I don’t know why this is happening, maybe people just don’t enjoy football as much as they used to. Either way I will be watching the game hoping for a close game.

                You have people that watch the game for the game and then the people that watch it for the commercials. I will admit the commercials are pretty funny but I mean it is the Superbowl. The two best teams in the NFL are playing and this year two brothers are coaching against each other. I think the emphasis should be on the game and the commercials just a bonus during the ridiculous amount of commercial breaks the game has.

                The worst Superbowls are the blow outs. Even if you are cheering for a certain team, it is better to see them lose close than to win big. No one wants to watch a blow out especially when it is so hyped up. This year the media is only talking about two things, the Harbough brothers and Ray Lewis. I think the Harbough brother situation is possible the coolest thing that could happen. Just imagine your two sons coaching in the NFL then to have them in the Superbowl is crazy.

                Ray Lewis on the otherhand doesn’t deserve my thoughts. I hope the game is close but I really want the 49ers to win.

Ice

Ice covers the ground and I am stranding inside my house and I have no complaints.I don’t know where my love for the cold comes from but I have had it for a while, always begging for the winter weather to come earlier and earlier. Maybe it’s the memories I have of winter and all of the activities I used to do when I was smaller. When I was little I loved to be outside in the cold. Whether it was helping my parents shovel the drive way or just playing outside building forts and snowmen. Winter also brings Christmas with it, my favorite holiday ever, waking up early to go downstairs and open all of my presents. Looking out the window and seeing nothing but snow just brings a warm feeling to me.

Even though the cold can be a hardship, like Friday night when we had to play a football in the 30’s when it still should be in at least the 50’s. Even though I played enough to maintain my warmness it was still a little too cold for a football game. But on the other hand I much rather be cold at a game than be dying of heat exhaustion and needing a drink every second to replenish all of the sweat you are losing.  But for the rest of the season we will have to deal with these frigid temperatures. Which I don’t mind too much because personally I think I play better in the cold.

No matter what this is still my favorite part of the year and I wish it last longer than it does even though it tends to drag on a little long for most people’s preferences. So I will start cherishing these days as they slowly pass until the last snow melted and the smell of spring is back in the air. But until then I will love every day.

Taper

            Taper, it is finally here. Swimmer’s favorite time of the season, taper is the part of the year where practices get easier to prepare your body for the big meets coming up. The amount of yards drops as the rest in between increases. Also morning practices are over so you can actually sleep like a normal human being for the first time since swimming started.

             I was 6 years old when I joined the local swim team. I was already a good swimmer because I grew up a few blocks away from a pool and me and my mom and sisters would go to the pool every day, rain or shine. This is where I originally learned how to swim, no swimming lessons just messing around at the pool all day. I was very talented at a very young age. I could swim every stroke and do well when I was swimming kids two years older than me because the youngest division was 8 and under. At practice I swam with the older kids because the kids my age weren’t fast enough for me. Plus I liked the older kids a lot more. Swimming with the older kids challenged me and made me push myself which just made me better and by the time I turned 8 I won the 8 and under 25 yard breaststroke city championship.

 The best part of my younger days of swimming was the enjoyment I got. Nowadays every time I wake up early for swim practice I hate it and I don’t want to swim. But back then I woke up early every morning wanting to go to the pool to get better and swim. I don’t absolutely hate swimming anymore because if that was the case I would’ve quit by now. I don’t love it anymore but I enjoy enough to still do it. Even though I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to, I will still miss it and the memories I made

Miss Reprensentation

            In the film Miss Representation it said that only 17% of congress is made up of women. After seeing that, I wanted to investigate that fact. After some searching I found a website with some information.

            I found that 52% of the women that ran for congress won their district. That is more than half so it isn’t like Americans won’t vote for women it is that there isn’t enough women running for office. Women have no one to blame but themselves. If you want more women in congress more women need to run. Even though you may think people vote for people due to their race or gender, which some do, most people vote for the better candidate.

            I don’t think you can blame media for the lack of women in politics. Yes, you can say that media scrutinizes women who are in politics, but then look at the big picture. Men are attacked just as much as women, the only difference is men aren’t attacked for their appearance. I think that is because men simply don’t care about their appearance as much as women. If someone called President Obama too skinny he would probably make a joke out of it, so it wouldn’t bother him as much as it would a woman.

            We are all raised on the saying “You can do whatever you want to as long as you work at it.” So maybe women just don’t want to be congress women or political leaders. I know some do and that’s great run for office but don’t go blaming other people for not having enough women in politics.

Superbowl

                The Superbowl has been set. The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers will face off, which means the two Harbough brothers will be playing each other on the biggest stage. Even though I really don’t like either team I do think it will be a good game. The Ravens defense against Collin Kaepernick and the speedy offense of the 49ers.

                I think that the 49ers will win just because of their offense. The Ravens are not going to be able to stay with the 49ers offense and the Ravens offense isn’t good enough to outscore the 49ers. I am still surprised at how bad the Patriots played against the Ravens in the AFC Championship game. I am a hug Tom Brady fan and to see him play poorly and lose was not fun. But after watching the game I realized how good Tom Brady really is. He got to the AFC Championship game with potentially the worst offensive line I have seen. He also has a very little run attack which is needed by any quarterback led alone a quarterback trying to win a Superbowl.

                My team’s season (the Chiefs) has been over for a while and finishing dead last in the league comes with one good thing, the first pick. But with the Chief’s luck there are no outstanding players that would usually be a number one pick. Unlike last year when there were two number one picks between RG3 and Andrew Luck. I still think the Chiefs are in desperate need of a quarterback but with the new addition of Andy Reid I don’t have a clue who the Chiefs will pick.

Future Dreams

                        Most high school kids don’t think too much about their futures, other than “I’m gonna be so rich”. But whenever I am bored I begin to think of my life after college. Dreaming about the life I dream about and what I can do to reach my dreams.

                      Once I graduate high school I plan on going to Iowa State University and major in architecture. Ever since I can remember I always wanted to be an architect and I really don’t know why but it is something that I think would be really cool. I want to graduate with my degree and move either to the mountains in Colorado or Oregon. I love the mountains and the weather, no 100 degree 100% humidity days like we have in Iowa. I want to start my own architecture firm and build and design house up in the mountains. I hope to make a lot of money and eventually design my own house in the mountains. I know that this might be farfetched but it is something I really want to do. Along with all of that, ever since I saw one for the first time I have dreamed of owning my own Lamborghini. I can picture myself cruising through the mountains in my new half a million dollar car.

              So for now I’m going to just enjoy my life as a kid and keep pursuing this dream until it comes true.

Lance Armstrong

                Professional athletes keep get better and better, but not every athlete was born to be a professional athlete. This people had to make many sacrifices to make it to the pros or you could take the easy way, steroids.

                This is making another run of headlines since the Goddess of middle age women, Oprah, is getting Lance Armstrong to admit to doping during his reign as the best cyclist in the sport. I personally think this is getting blown way out of proportion, with all the problems in the United States we are mesmerized by the fact that one of the most inspiring athletes to ever compete was taking steroids. Who cares? The man has been through so much in his life but he took steroids so he should be humiliated in front of everyone. I personally do not care one little bit that he doped, if you think he is the only cyclist to ever dope your wrong. It would be easier to name cyclers that dope rather than the ones who don’t. The only thing that bothers me a little bit is that he denied for so long. He should have just come out and admitted it.

                What I don’t understand is that Lance Armstrong is interviewed by Oprah and almost forced to confess to something that didn’t harm anyone but himself. Then there is the infamous Ray Lewis, the 13 times pro bowler and possibly the greatest linebacker to play the game. Oh and the murderer of two innocent men. Wait, you’ve never heard of that? That’s what money and power can get you. If you have no clue what I am talking about read this. It seems to be pretty obvious he was at least involved in the brutal stabbing outside the club, but yet nothing happened. Another example of this is Kobe Bryant’s rape scandal. He was accused of rape by a girl and after a few months and millions of dollars from Bryant’s wallet the charges disappear.

                So we shun those who cheat to help them win but we glorify those who rape and kill. Just doesn’t make sense to me but that’s  life.

Snow

I don’t know where my love for the cold comes from but I have had it for a while, always begging for the winter weather to come earlier and earlier. Maybe it’s the memories I have of winter and all of the activities I used to do when I was smaller. When I was little I loved to be outside in the cold. Whether it was helping my parents shovel the drive way or just playing outside building forts and snowmen. Winter also brings Christmas with it, my favorite holiday ever, waking up early to go downstairs and open all of my presents. Looking out the window and seeing nothing but snow just brings a warm feeling to me.

Even though the cold can be a hardship, like Friday night when we had to play a football in the 30’s when it still should be in at least the 50’s. Even though I played enough to maintain my warmness it was still a little too cold for a football game. But on the other hand I much rather be cold at a game than be dying of heat exhaustion and needing a drink every second to replenish all of the sweat you are losing.  But for the rest of the season we will have to deal with these frigid temperatures. Which I don’t mind too much because personally I think I play better in the cold.

No matter what this is still my favorite part of the year and I wish it last longer than it does even though it tends to drag on a little long for most people’s preferences. So I will start cherishing these days as they slowly pass until the last snow melted and the smell of spring is back in the air. But until then I will love every day. Sadly the snow is all melting and its starting to warm up. I am just hoping for another snow storm soon.

NFL Playoffs

            It’s finally here, the NFL Playoffs. Nothing else in sports compares to them. Whether your team is still in the Superbowl hunt or not you have to watch. Yesterday I watched the Broncos play the Ravens. Even though the Broncos are the Chiefs divisional rival I was still cheering for them, mostly because I am a huge Manning fan and I really hate the Ravens. Even though I am not a true fan of either team I felt the stress like they were my two favorite teams. Sadly I had to witness Manning lose the game due to his mistake.
            Today the Patriots play the Texans, and as much as I like J.J. Watt, the defensive end for the Texans, I don’t think the Texans have a chance against Tom Brady. Brady and the Patriots are just a very good football team under Bill Belichick. The Texans won’t be able to score enough points to beat the Patriots. Also the Falcons play the Seahawks. I really don’t care about this game because whatever team wins won’t stand a chance against the 49ers, who surprised me with their dominated win over the Packers. Also I think that the Patriots will win out and make another Superbowl appearance.
            I think it will be the 49ers and the Patriots in the Superbowl and if you asked me who would win this game before I saw the 49er game I would have said the Patriots have the game in the bag but now seeing who potent the 49er offense is I think it could go either way. I hope the Patriots win simply due to the fact they belong to the AFC and I think that the AFC has dominance over the NFC. No matter how it goes I will be enjoying the last few weeks of good football before its baseball season.

Roll Tide

                Last Monday was the BCS Championship game, or what was supposed to be a game. Between the powerhouse Alabama and the surprise of the season, Notre Dame. I do not really care for either team but I respect Alabama and Coach Saban, so I much cheering for the Tide. That isn’t the only reason, I absolutely hate Notre Dame, and they are overrated and only went undefeated because they don’t play competition like Alabama.

                You either love them or hate them, I chose to hate them. I never even had to care about the Golden Domers, since they have been terrible in my generation, but it started before the season started hearing about how good Notre Dame will be with their new freshman quarterback and their defense. Then Manti started to get publicized for his on and off the field performances. I admit he was a good player but to even mention him in the Heisman race is ridiculous. He is a linebacker who set a new record in interceptions for linebackers simply by being in the right place and right time. Then there is the Tide, who I will not say I am a fan off but you have to respect a team that can dominate a sport for such a long time. The have always been good and will continue to be good as long as Saban stays there.

                I see Notre Dame like Xavier. They simply think they are better than everyone and deserve things just because they are who they are. They are a bunch of smart, rich boys who have been handed everything to them. Then their fans, who are worse than the team. They expect everything to go their way and they are so arrogant. So while watching the so called game, more of a beating, I couldn’t help but have a huge grin on my face. The game showed just the talent difference. Alabama was faster, stronger and faster than all of Notre Dame. Then Manti, who missed two tackles all season, simply couldn’t handle the athleticism of Alabama. The Tide drove 80 yards in two minutes to score the first points of the beat down. Which was the longest drive Notre Dame gave up in the season and Alabama did it with ease.

                Just think Alabama absolutely destroyed Notre Dame, but yet Alabama wasn’t even the best team because they were beaten by Heisman winner, Johnny Manziel and the Texas A&M Aggies. So what I am saying is its stupid people were questioning if Alabama should have been there when the loose to an amazing team because Notre Dame goes in unquestioned because they simply don’t play the talent.

                ROLL TIDE