The Good Word

I haven't posted a Barats and Bereta video in a while.  I think it's about time.  

I can't tell you how many times I've watched this video.  These guys are geniuses, plain and simple.  

By the way, if you like them and want to see more of thier stuff, take a peek at thier website: http://www.baratsandbereta.com/

I don't think I've craved something so strongly . . .

. . . that smelled SO BAD.  

When I was with my ex-boyfriend, one of the things I always liked about thier family get-togethers is that, quite often they'd include Bunya Calda on the menu.  

For those of you who don't know what Bunya Calda is, let me give you a couple of the key ingredients: 

Anchovies

Garlic (LOTS of it)

I know, I know . . . you see the word 'anchovies' and you instantly cringe, but you've gotta give it a chance!  It's a dish delicious enough that people will make it with the knowledge that thier house will smell like garlicky fish for days afterwards! 

I don't know the exact recipe that my ex's family used . . . I know it had garlic and anchovies and butter and cream . . . I'm finding recipes online that call for cream of mushroom soup, or olive oil but not cream.  I would love to find something similar to what I had . . . I don't want to stink up my apartment and have it suck!  

However, a friend linked me to the following recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/114729 that is from a restaraunt he tried it at, and he said it was AMAZING . . . so I just might have to try it.  

So, if in the near future you see me on the street, smiling and stinking to high heaven, you know it means I satisfied my monstrous craving! :P 

This is your brain . . .

I love the last line of this ad.  

Are you registered to vote? 

Ich erlerne Deutsches.

I'm sure I probably butchered that title. Well, Babelfish did, that is. I only just finished my first week of class! I can't translate that on my own yet!

I'm both really excited and really nervous about learning German. Why am I nervous, you ask? Because in the class in order to demonstrate what I've (not) learned, I have to speak German OUTLOUD in front of the entire class. See, I suffer from a condition commonly known as Mindus Blankus. When I'm put on the spot, my mind goes blank, and rather than responding to the question 'Wie heißen Sie?' with 'Ich heiße Corry', I instead reply with 'uhhh . . . um . . . what was the question again?'

We've only had 4 class meetings so far, and I'm sure I'll start to get over my stage fright. I think.

I told Joe how I was feeling, and he replied with "Oh, I spent the entire semester feeling nervous in class!'

Oh. Great.

I am pretty excited though. In order to help me learn more quickly, I changed my phone's language to German. I discovered today, however, that it means that the auto-correct feature that is supposed to help reduce my typos is in German, as well . . . and since I'm typing in English, it thinks most of my words are spelled wrong! So I have to type even more slowly so I can stop it from auto-correcting.

So, those of you whom I text or email often, don't be surprised if my messages are written in Germenglish.

:P

That's all for today, folks! I'm off to the science lab to do my Geology lab assignment, and then my first week back at school will be concluded . . . and I feel GREAT!

School

My first day of my second year of college starts in precisely 9 hours.  

I can't freaking wait.  

Strangely enough, the 'I'm giddy like a school-girl' saying is quite fitting at the moment! 

4 months from now I'll be able to converse with you a little in German (Elementary German I), discuss rocks and plate tectonics (perhaps in German? :P ) (Environmental Geology),  analyze your personality (Personality Psychology), tell you all about polynomials (Intermediate Algebra), all while absorbing some of the leadership skills I'll need to make it in my intended field (Leadership Development Studies).  

Man, I love school!  

Obama interview with Marie Claire

I just read this interview that Obama did with Marie Claire, and I think it's a wonderful read.  

"You know how he feels about Iraq, health care, and the economy. But where does he stand on Miley Cyrus? A candid interview with Barack Obama about women — what we face, what we need, and what it's like to be married to an outspoken alpha."

Click here for interview

When life gives you lemons . . .

 . . . you open a lemonade stand, right?  

I think that old saying is a good description of my life . . . or at least it's a good description of what I'm trying to do with my life.  

My childhood wasn't exactly what you would call . . . pleasant.  I'll be the first to admit that it could have been much worse, but it could have been a hell of a lot better, too.  Because of my upbringing, I have suffered for years with low self confidence, poor body image, lack of some basic life skills, and more.  I either missed out on many of the things that a parent is supposed to teach thier child, or was taught the wrong way.  

I was lucky enough to have some good influences along the way, and that was enough to keep me from totally going down the wrong path, as many in my situation do.  In the last couple of years I have finally learned to start taking control of my life, and I'm slowly dropping all of the weights that have been tied to me and keeping me down for 26 years.  I'm taking those life experiences . . . those painful memories . . . those lost years . . . and I'm using them to my benefit.  I'm using them to launch a career.  I'm using them to motivate me . . . they remind me that if I don't do something about it, I'm destined to be stuck in that same rut that my parents dug for me for the rest of my life.  

I guess sometimes I need reminders . . . 'booster shots,' if you will.  Tonight was one such night.  I spent a couple of hours at my parent's house for a cookout, and was quickly reminded of everything I never want to be.  

I came home, a little sad, and a whole lotta angry . . . but quickly got over it.  I sat at my computer desk where my new text books for the fall semester are sitting, and I was reminded of the great decision I had made to go back to school, and how my hard work would pay off.  

Still angry, I emailed my best friend, Joe, to vent a little, and I was reminded that I have amazing people in my life, including a best friend who believes in me, and will always be there to hold me up, if I ever need it again.  

In the email, I made a comment about not being able to wait until I can move to Chicago . . . and I was reminded that I am creating a future for myself that includes achieving fantastic dreams . . . like moving to Chicago for school.  

I am not destined to a life of alcohol, pain, and dead-ends.  I will not allow anyone to attach weights to me, and ruin my determination to soar above it all.  

I may have had a crappy childhood, and I may have less than stellar parents . . . but my life isnt' so bad.  In fact, I'm pretty damn blessed.  

Mama, what's vacation?

Ok, so I know I'm 26, and I've been out of high school for some time now . . . the prospect of 'summer vacation' should be a distant memory for me.  

However, since starting college last fall, and being crazy busy for 9 months straight, I found myself anticipating summer 'vacation' more and more all spring long, regardless of the fact that I'd be taking summer classes.  

I still somehow had it in my head that the summer would be more laid back.  

Boy was I wrong.  This summer has been busier than the school year was, by far.  I don't have time to rest.  Today is a good example.  I worked from 8-4:30 in the financial aid office today (the day before tuition is due), then immediately drove to Target where I worked 5-11.  

I'M TIRED!!!!  I have things I need to do tonight.  (it's already midnight) . . . I have a big day tomorrow . . . but I need sleep, and I have no time to do them!!! 

So now, I find myself more and more eagerly anticipating the start of the fall semester . . . my 18 credit hour semester.  It just sounds so . . . relaxing! 

Someone told me today that they think I'm nuts . . . I think I agree!