Tryin To Drive

Alright so I started a new job about two weeks ago, hence the hiatus in blogging.  I wasn't sure if this website would be blocked at my computer at work, but its not so YAYYYY!

Basically, I was told that my drive into work would be all so simple.  Just drive 7100 and you'll be there in no time. Well I'm calling shenanigans on that bullshittery because that just ain't true.  First off, have you ever noticed that every time you need to get somewhere fast, everyone around you seems to be driving at or below the speed limit and when you don't really need to go anywhere, everyone around you is driving ten above?  Maybe its just me but that seems to be a constant in my life the past two weeks.  For reals though.  Every time I'm late to work, there are these three construction trucks that insist on driving about 40 mph.  On a four lane road, thats just not gonna work for me.  You know why?  Because every little pathetic driver who otherwise would piss themselves to drive in the left lane all of sudden find that the left lane is there only option and to make matters worse, I know exactly where those trucks are going...to my exit.  So I have the pleasure of their company and their ensuing traffic the.entire.drive.to.work.  Really?  Its just cruel.  Also, why is it that people have an annoying habit of speeding up the moment you put your blinker on?  Look dude, you were obviously going slow enough that I felt that I had enough room to move in in front of you.  You left about 5 car lengths between you and the next car.  Are you really that much of a control freak that you need to cut me off in order to maintain your pathetic 50 mph?  You truly are a sad driver.  Also, for all of you people that insist on driving the speed limit in the left lane...didnt you go to driver's school?  Didn't you watch the video with Donald Duck where Disney explains that the left lane is the fast lane and that if you're not going to go above the speed limit to remove yourself from that lane in order for the speed demons to get their tickets?  Don't you remember that?  Or were you that kid that was sleeping in the back of the room during that movie...yeah thats what I thought.  Thanks a lot butthead.  Anyways, your inability to drive over 50 mph in the left lane not only forces me to obey the law, which I do not appreciate, but you are forcing every other person behind me to obey the law.  Way to be a controlling, manipulative driver.  Not appreciated.  Please take your law-abiding ways to the right lane and let the people who are funding the police department do their civic duty and speed and get tickets.  But honestly, driving 50 mph on 7100?  Where are you from?  Idaho?  In only a few minutes, I shall be once again joining the throngs of people returning from work and all I have to say is this:  LETS GOOOOO!!!!

I'd also like to give a shoutout to my Hoos and Redskins for wins this weekend.  You make me very proud. :)

Do you have any driving stories that you'd like to share with the class?  Feel free!  I appreciate comments.  It makes me feel special.

All For One and One For All

I absolutely love The Three Musketeers.  It has been one of my favorite works since I was a kid and although this new movie version looks almost too over the top, I'll take it and I'll definitely be seeing it.  Enjoy!

And Then There Was Light

First, I would like to say, Happy 33rd Anniversary parentals.  Who woulda thunk it.

Secondly, I would also like to wish my cousin Christina a very happy sweet 16!  I wish you only the best and I am so thankful that I was able to help you celebrate your very special day.

Finally, for the first time in what feels like forever, the SUN IS FINALLY OUT!!!  I had almost forgotten what the heat of the sun felt like on my face.  Now that I've remembered, I've decided to spend my last week day as an unemployed person sunbathing.  Surprise.  But seriously, I don't want to look like one of those office building vampires who only see the sunlight when they go to take out their garbage or get their mail.  I gotta be true to my Greek roots and embrace the tan. :)

For real though, the rain the past couple of days has been NUTS!  Check out this photo that my friend Erinn tweeted last night. Now I'm not entirely sure where she got the photo from but what I can tell you is that this photo was taken on Sunset Hills Rd in Reston, VA.  That is approximately 4 miles from where I live.  I think the rain gods may be having a little too much fun.



Also, because I wasn't at home this past weekend, I wasn't able to congratulate my HOOS ON A VICTORY OVER WILLIAM AND MARY!!!!!!  WAHOOWA!  Honestly, if you guys had lost AGAIN to those sober twits from Williamsburg, shit was gonna go down.  For realz.  With that said, best of luck this weekend against Indiana.  If y'all don't win, well, lets just say that you'll probably find me in the Fairfax County morgue.  Ok Hoos, let's really work for two wins.  It's difficult for you, I know, but seriously, two wins puhleaseeee. I'd like to go 5-5 at least and that means that you all are required to win the easy ass games in your schedule...so FREAKING BEAT INDIANA!  kthanx.  Oh, and CMB, you all are awesome.  I just watched the video.  Great job!  :)  It feels weird that I'm not in their with you, but you all made me proud.  Again, well done.

Here's also an update on what I was up to all day yesterday.  For those of you who didn't know, I was at a 9/11 Summit, hosted by the Center for National Policy at the Newseum in DC.  The Summit was an all-day invitational affair that revolved around four documentaries and a series of panels that dealt not only with the actual events of September 11th, but also on the events that occurred afterwards, such as the Wounded Warrior Program which has gained a tremendous amount of recognition since the start of the War on Terrorism and the courageous acts of the people of Gulf Coast during Hurricane Katrina and the Oil Spill.  I will have another post, hopefully soon, that will deal primarily with what was discussed during this event.  I am not doing this because I feel the need to record what occurred but rather that certain issues and ideas were expressed that the American public should think about, especially on the 10th Anniversary of September 11th.  I cannot truly express just how honored I was to be at that event and have the opportunity to listen to the ideas of such profound and intelligent thinkers.  I may not have necessarily agreed with all of the opinions that were being expressed, but I could not have been more happy that such differing opinions were able to share the same stage and discuss their views in a respectable and intellectual venue.  The main themes of the event were Remembrance, Renewal, and Resilience...with particular emphasis on Resilience.  As with most bloggers, I am currently working on a 9/11 blog post with my own thoughts and feelings.  Again, this is not necessarily because I feel that somehow my thoughts and opinions and memories of the event are somehow more important than others, but rather because it seems to me that it is the elephant in the room.  It changed our lives profoundly, it changed the way our nation thinks, acts, and defines itself and yet, the very topic seems almost taboo.  Somehow I feel that by first reflecting upon the memories, not only of the day, but of the days afterwards, perhaps we can start to gain a better understanding of just what this means to us, as a nation, community, and individuals, and then begin to learn from it and perhaps teach our children, siblings, and younger relatives and friends what we think it means.  It's not enough to think back on the event and go, it's awful, but rather why it was so awful, how did we react, why did we react the way we did, and how that reaction has driven us to where we are today.  I do not know how many of you have seen the photos from the World Trade Center  memorial, but I think that memorial speaks volumes to the way in which the United States understands September 11th.  If you wanna share your story, memories, or feelings about 9/11, please feel free to do so.  I think its long overdue that my generation actually talk about it.

Alright, this wasn't exactly the most fascinating blog post but don't worry, I'm gonna be writing up about my uncle's wedding from last weekend soon and if anyone of you have ever heard me tell stories about my family, well let me just tell ya, this one takes the cake.

Quick Question

Alright dear readers I have a quick question for you.  A few weeks ago I piled about 7 books on my desk and decided that I was going to read them from top to bottom.  Now I'm nearing the bottom and looking for more books to read.  I've been seeing a lot of hype on The Hunger Games and I read a quick synopsis and it actually looks pretty interesting.  Post-apocolyptic story with a Greek mythology twist (Theseus and the Minotaur anyone?)...seems up my alley.  Has anyone read it/would recommend it?  Thanks a billion-trillion-times infinity plus one.  Ok, this may be why I want to read it.


Completely irrelevant update:

So I applied for a certain job in the middle of June and had not heard back from them for about two months so understandably I thought that I had been rejected.  Just when I had completely forgotten that I had in fact applied to said job, I get an email saying that they had received my application and were presently reviewing it.  Well thats fantastic.  I only sent it over their mail server over two months before.  Why yes, I do believe that means that I was perhaps questioning their technological abilities.  But I'd just like to let you all know that I am now no longer questioning their abilities.  Now I'm just thoroughly confused.  If someone sent you the same exact email every day for a week and a half, would you interpret that to mean that they are in fact technologically retarded, brain dead, or that they consider you to be one of the former two options?  I cannot decide whether I am insulted that they believe me to be incapable of understanding a three line email or whether I should be concerned that they may in fact be brain-dead.  Either way, I am most glad that they managed to send me my obligatory email before midnight.  I would have felt neglected without it.

I think sitting at home has made me brain dead.  Brilliant.

Geeking Out

Ok so as per usual with me, I'm completely geeking out, except this time with some future musical info.  If you knew me in high school then you know that I'm pretty into musical theatre.  I kinda kept it on the DL in college, but my passion never abated.  In the last few days on Perez.com I've noticed two musicals posts that almost made me pee my pants.  Surrriously.

#1: LES MIS MOVIE IS COMING!!!  If any of you haven't listened to the Les Mis 25th Anniversary Concert in youtube, you are missing out.  Please, increase the beauty of your life and go to youtube and watch some of the videos.  There's some serious awesomeness occurring.  Anyways, here's the article and a video from the 25th Anniversary Concert

Les Mis Possible Casting...personally I'd like to see Anne Hathaway as Fantine rather than Amy Adams.  Its not that I don't think Amy Adams could do it, but I think that I'll always see her as Giselle from Enchanted and I think I'll have a hard time picturing her as anything but sweet and adorable.  Yes, I know she was in the Fighter.  She was awesome.  It still doesn't change how I see her.  Also, I would just like to remind the writers at Perez.com that Geoffrey Rush was Javert in the film adaptation of Les Mis, but I agree, he would be a pretty hilarious Thénardier.

#2: NEWSIES MUSICAL!  I have loved this awful B-film musical since I was in middle school and I can't tell you just how excited I am that they are making this into a Broadway musical.  I can't even imagine just how ridiculous this is gonna be, but there had better be a ridiculous amount of dancing and if King of New York is taken out, I may consider boycotting for a hot second.

#3: This isn't a musical, but check out the photo from the new AVENGERS film.  Some of my favorite hotties all in one spot.  Cannot wait for this film.

I'll be out of town for the rest of the weekend, so all I've gotta say is GO HOOS!!! Let's try and beat William and Mary this time.  I know, very difficult for a D1 school to beat the D2 school, but let's put on our best game face and kick some ass this time!  For realz, WWTJD

There and Back Again

I meant to post this a while ago but didn't get around to it.  If you're as big a nerd as me, then you're not gonna be able to stop smiling while watching this Hobbit film production video.  Can't wait until Peter Jackson posts another one!

http://the-hobbit-movie.com/2011/07/21/the-hobbit-production-video-3/

or this link from the official blog (yes, I do follow it)

http://www.thehobbitblog.com/?p=3133

The Graduate

Why hello...long time no blog.  I feel like the majority of my posts are beginning more and more like this.  I really should update more often but it seems kind of silly to promise that, so instead I will say unto you few readers that I shall try to update more often. Try not. Do or do not.  There is no try.- Yoda.  Yes, my mind automatically went there.

So for the majority of the summer I've been trying to gain a greater understanding of how to successfully bridge the gap between being a college a student and being a real person.  Some people bridged this gap by immediately starting jobs and creating a new life which revolves around their office lives.  Pretty intelligent.  They've immersed themselves into a new culture at an early age and therefore gain an advantage over the rest of us who have yet to really start into the workforce.  I admire and respect these people greatly.  Its a terrifying thing to delve into a new culture, especially after being thrust from your previous one with the graduation ceremonies.  Others have dealt with the transition by not dealing with the transition at all and have rather remained in school.  Personally thats the choice that I wish that I had chosen.  Its simpler and retains a semblance of constancy which seems somewhat nonexistent when starting a "career."  Ok, that last part came out wrong.  Those people aren't wimps by any stretch of the imagination.  I actually think that it is just as difficult to start at a new academic institute as it is to start a new job.  

Well, you're probably asking, why the hell did you just write that.  Why did you just waste 30 seconds of my reading time with that?  The answer is: I once again don't really fit into any of those categories.  I have yet to start to work and in order to get my school fix I decided to volunteer with my high school's marching band.  Yep, I'm that person and I'm proud of it.  It has definitely been one of the best decisions I've made this year.  You'd think after 8 years of marching that teaching and helping out with a marching band would be a piece of cake...well you're wrong.  It is probably one of the most difficult things I've done in a long time.  First off, I completely forgot just how awkward high school was.  I think my brain did me a favor by blocking out the majority of my awkward memories, but there are some that just never seem to go away...yeah, if you were an awkward kid like me, and lets be real, who wasn't, then you know what kind of memories I'm talking about.  You know, the ones that involve the ridiculously awkward conversation about something that you think that you understand, only to later realize that you had no idea what the hell you were talking about.  Or the ones that involve you word-vomiting all over yourself.  Or the ones that involve you having an out of body experience...when you look at yourself and are screaming to yourself to just run away and lock yourself in a dark room before you say or do the stupid thing that you're inevitably going to do.  Well, good thing the majority of us didn't have Facebook during my high school years...and those that did, well we didn't really know what to do with it...thank goodness.  Truly, I think some high schoolers are so much tamer because they fear that whatever they do will end up on Facebook or twitter or youtube...a respectable fear.  Ok quick question: can someone please explain to me guys obsession with cross-dressing and why they think its funny.  Honestly, its so gross.  I don't want to see girls in tight skirts and jeans so what makes you think that I want to see you with your junk hanging out of those same tight skirts and jeans...its just not attractive.  But all in all, its quite an amazing learning experience and I have enjoyed every moment of it.  Who woulda guessed that I'd be the one going back to volunteer?  So this post wasn't as awesome as some of my others but I'm trying to get back into the swing of it so please keep with me as I attempt to locate my voice once again.

Oh, btw, Sweet Frogs.  The pink and green.  I feel like if my sorority wasn't an animal house that thats what it would look like.  Seriously, you puked Delta Zeta and Lily Pulitzer.  Ew.  Why?  Just...why?  Do us all a favor, please refrain from your outlandish obsession with those two colors.  You are giving the combination a bad name and for those of us who have only recently accepted the beauty of the pink and green color combination, you are forcing us back to our original love of non-feminine color combinations.  Help future Delta Zetas and Lily Pulitzer lovers out there and stop using pink and green in such an atrocious manner.  

Sincerely,

A lover of the ridiculous amounts of yogurt toppings you offer

P.S.  Can you please have scales so I can know before I pay if I'm eating and paying for my weight in yogurt and yogurt toppings.  Much appreciated.