And we are back.

So after an amazing summer, we are starting off the new school year. I can't believe how fast the first year went and am looking forward to the year coming. We moved back into the dorms this past Sunday, which was better then last year for multiple reasons. One of the main things that made the move here better was knowing the two people that I am living with. One is my roomie from last year and the other roomie is a good friend of ours last year. So we will have less drama then we did last year. The apartment seems to also be a little bigger then last years which is good and we have made it look cozy by adding color and personal effects. We are also lucky to have some of our friends living right next door. I am excited for the living arrangements as I know it will make this year that much better.

Aside from the moving in and the apartment I have already attended two days of classes. I am taking two math classes, two science classes, and a philosophy class this semester. Some classes I am looking forward to and not so much for others, but I guess that is to be expected. My math classes are the ones that I am most eager for as math has always been my favorite and strongest part of school...I guess you can call me a nerd, but I don't mind. The schedule for time isn't all that bad either except for one class that is a night class. This is going to be a challenging class for me, not cause of the subject but because of the time. I am a morning person and can learn a lot more in the morning than at any time at night. But I am sure that I will do fine..positive thinking.

As for next semester, it is going to be amazing. I have been accepted to study abroad. I am going to be going to France, Italy, and Ireland. We will be spending five weeks in each location and taking either one or two classes in each place. Along with me my two roommates have also been accepted so it will be even better. It is going to be an experience of a life time. I am glad that I will be able to share it with my friends (roomies) that I have made here at school that I will never forget. I am glad that I we have all become close (almost like a second family while away from our homes).

Well I am off to do some college things now. I will be back soon.

Just a Reflection

Throughout the last semester of English class, we learned about hoax's that people have played on others to see how many people they could persuade to believe in nonsense. Well I have found a video clip that is featured on youtube about a hoax that a group of people did that were on a train. The people that were involved in the video are twins that wanted others to believe that there was a mirror on the train as they mirrored one another. I found it very interesting and thought that you may enjoy it too. Would you have falling for this hoax if you were on that train?

Boredom: A word that defines this moment

Hey...hope your summer is going good. I have not had the luck of finding a summer job for the time that I am home for the summer, so I have given up. As there isn't much to do here as everyone around here is still in school, I stay at home being completely bored for most of the day. However, I have read nonstop for almost two weeks and read a TON of books (that is something I usually don't do). Oh well!!

I love that I am able to be home and see my family and friends again but am missing my roomie and friends from school. I get to see my roomie next month with is awesome!! I will be going to her house for Fourth of July and staying at her house for two weeks before I go on vacation to North Carolina with her and her family. It is going to be a blast. We will be in North Carolina for two weeks before having to go back to her house for a few more days. Then both Keri (my roomie) and I are probably going to get a bus back to my house so that we can be here for the annual block party that we have. I can't wait for all of these events, but if that wasn't enough, we are also going to see the American Idol tour a couple of days after the block party. Just thinking about all this makes me excited for next month.

So, writing this has kept me occupied for a little while but I am still bored...I am thinking that I will do one of the following:
~ browse the internet
~ watch a movie or television (if there is anything good on)
OR
~ start to read the third Harry Potter book (if you have any suggestions of ANY books to read please let me know)

Wow it's been a while....

I didn't realize how long it has been since my last post. Well let me just say that Aidan had his operation and it went fine. He ended up going home from the hospital a little over a hour after surgery. Since then, he was able to hear a lot more since the tubes were put into his ears. He is talking more than ever. I love getting phone calls when my sister is babysitting him as he wants to talk on the phone. Aidan will talk to me on the phone but once I am face to face he gets shy and will be really quiet. That's okay though.

Last weekend I moved back home after a year at school. I can't believe how fast the year went by. However, I only go to stay home for a weekend as I had to come back to school for a pre session summer course. The course consist me of going to an elementary school for eight days to observe a second grade class. So far it has been exciting to see how the children are in a classroom with two teachers. It is a team teaching class, which I think is helpful to the students. I will make sure to post a blog after the course is done to let you know how it all went.

Well I am heading home for the three day week end so I am off to pack. Sorry that I didn't fill you in sooner with all that is going on. I will try to post more often like I used to.

Great News

Tonight I got some good news for the first time in a while. I did not win a contest, did well in a class, or found out that I was going to see someone after a month. What I did find out was that my cousin Aidan is giving the okay to get surgery.

Aidan is only two years old but faced more in his life than imaginable. He has defeated many odds that the doctors have said would have killed him. Aidan already had some surgeries. He was born with a clef pallet, a heart condition, and something wrong with his brain. Although he is faced with all these things, he is a normal toddler.

The surgery that he was giving the okay for was to get tubes placed in his ears. While I found this out I also learned that he hears minimum in his left ear. After surgery he will be able to hear everything. This surgery is taking place on May 7th. He was also given the okay to get his clef fixed by all his doctors. The surgery will take place in June the latest. This is so amazing as we (the whole family) have been waiting since he was born for this. Right now he is able to speak very little, but after the surgery he will have to relearn those words. I think that this is something that we cannot wait for as he will be able to express himself more than he is now. The doctors learned that they will not need to graph skin from his legs as there is enough extra skin in his mouth. The surgery should go smoothly with almost no pain. Thank God.

My aunt has started to take him off the bottle this past week but has now been told to give him the bottle and to encourage him to still use it. He is going to have to continue to drink from the bottle for six weeks after the surgery. It will help him recover from the surgery.

I know this may not sound so amazing to others but it is phenomenal to us. Aidan has proven that he is strong enough to beat all the odds that he is faced with. I have no doubt that he will continue to define the odds throughout his life. These surgeries will help him become able to do more in life. I cannot wait to see all the great things that he is going to do. I will keep you posted.

Record Breaking

I have to admit that I watch Oprah religiously. Everyday you can guarantee that at 4 o’clock, channel 7 is on for her show. Today her guest was David Blaine! I love watching him and seeing him performs street magic and “stunts.” David always wanted to hold the record for being able to hold his breathe the longest.

Well today, David was given the chance to break the world’s record of holding his breathe the longest. The time that he had to beat was 16 minutes and 32 seconds. I will tell you right away that he did break the record. He held his breathe for 17 minutes and 4 seconds. Throughout the whole show, I was stressed hoping that he was going to make it. His heart rate was pretty high for him as it wasn’t as low as he should have had it for the stunt. Toward the end with about a minute left, you were able to see that he wanted to come up and breathe. However, David was able to sustain from coming up before beating the record.

I was so excited that David was able to break the record. He went through a lot of training in preparation for this and it has proved to be worth it. I cannot wait to see the next thing that David has up his sleeve to do. He did tell Oprah though that it may be to stay up the longest than any other person who is set at 11 and half days.

Disturbia

Today I watched the film Disturbia. It is a film that I would recommend others to watch. This is not the first or last time that I have seen Disturbia. Without given you all the details the movie is about a teen that is placed on house arrest. While on house arrest Kale starts to spy on the neighbors in order to pass some time. He soon realizes that one of his neighbors may be a serial killer. As Kale tries to prove this, he has to find a way to protect himself along with those that he cares about. Is he able to do this successfully?

There are some things throughout the film that I think they should have thought out a little more. Without given too much away I am going to keep everything vague. Here is a list of things that I think they should have paid more attention to when creating the scenes.

- When Kale is placed on house arrest he is told that he has to stay in a certain radius of the base. Later when he puts the different things around the yard so that he knows where he is able to go, it is a square instead of circular.

- When Kale is spying on his neighbors from his room with the binoculars he has all the lights on when they should be off so that he can’t be seen.

- When Ashley gets call from her mom she says she is at the store and that she will be home in a while. Meanwhile she is next door with Kale and makes it home in about a minute.

The film also promoted a lot of different companies and brands throughout the whole film. From beginning to end you are able to see the different brands. Next time that you view the film, try to spot these along with other items that I may have left off the list.

- Coke
- X box 360
- Hershey syrup
- Red bull
- Twinkies
- Skippy peanut butter
- I tunes/ I pod
- Elmer’s glue
- Philadelphia cream cheese

Disturbia is a film that I would recommend to anyone. It has become one of the movies that I am able to watch over and over again.

Balloon Popping

I couldn’t believe what I read…did I read it correctly? Apparently I did. A priest decided that he wanted to break the world’s record of flying by helium balloons for over nineteen hours. During the whole time that I was reading the article, I thought of it as almost like a cartoon that I have seen when I was younger, like in Winnie the Pooh.

The priest, Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli, did not just do this stunt to break the record that is held but did it for a good cause. He was using the money that he earned to fund a “spiritual rest stop for truckers.” Going into this challenge he was given a GPS system (so that he could be tracked), a floatation device, a thermal suit, and a parachute. At first everything was well until he called for help. He was in contact with port authority until they lost connection. There was a search for the missing priest eight hours after he went missing. They still have not found him after a day searching. However, they did find balloon pieces scattered. It is believed that if he is uninjured he will be able to live for at least five days if not longer.

I still can’t believe that this story is real as I feel it is something that I always thought as impossible. That is to fly away with just balloons! I hope that searchers are able to find him before it is too late. Carli’s heart was in the right place trying to help others out in a stunt that has proved to be dangerous.

An affect

After handing in my portfolio today based on The Curve of Binding Energy, by John McPhee, I thought that I have heard the last of nuclear bombing and testing for a while. Well I was wrong. The article that I read was Artillery Shrapnel Hits House, Kills Cat that deals with some of the things that we have discussed in previous classes about the book.

In The Curve of Binding Energy, we learn about Ted Taylor and the live that he has while he lives on a compound where nuclear bombs are created. We see how different exponents factor into the testing and making of nuclear weapons. For one of the pieces that I worked on for the portfolio was a proposal about what my final paper would be about. I chose the topic of the affects that nuclear weapons have on both people and the environment that the testing takes place.

In the news article, there was a family that had to place their cat to sleep after a piece of artillery shrapnel went through the family’s roof. The piece ended up in the ten year olds room where her bed is. Luckily the girl was not in the room as she was picked up moments before, but the cat stayed sitting on the bed where they have been before Cassandra left. The family’s house is located about three miles away from a military research area. Based on some research that I have done for the paper, I have found that at this distance from a test of a nuclear weapon site the results is something goes wrong can be deadly. This unfortunate accident proved how badly things could turn out.

Overall, I am glad to hear that the girl was not home and that no one was hurt. I think it is ashame that they had to put their cat to sleep. I am glad that the government is going to look into making the testing safer so that there is no other accidents like this one in the future.

Revenge from Third Graders

Wouldn’t you think that school is the safest place to be? A spot where children can express their knowledge in a good manner? Well I always thought this until I started to consider it when I heard the news about what has occurred in Georgia.

In Georgia, a group of third graders decided that they wanted to punish their teacher after she yelled at one of their classmates. The teacher yelled at the student for standing on a chair, which could be dangerous. There were nine children that partook in this scheme. Each one had a specific job to do. The extent of their planning is mind blowing. I could not believe that the students were able to come up with such a twisted plan at that age.

As an education major, I plan to be an elementary school teacher. By taking on this role I have always known that I would have to be ready for the unexpected. However, I never thought that I would have to deal with this situation, especially in elementary school. I am grateful that the teacher was unharmed as this could have been a deadly situation. As for the students that took part in this, I hope that they get help that they need to see why they had the intention of doing such a thing. I wonder what was going through the students’ minds as they were planning this revenge.

Update

I realized last night that I did not give an update on my uncle. Well as you know, he was suppose to have surgery on Monday. However, it did not take place and it won't for a while. This is because they realized that he was to high risk for the surgery due to his CHF. It would have caused him to become sick. Although that he is pain, all they can do for him right now is give him some medication for the pain. I thank everyone who thought and prayed for him.

Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction can be defined as many different things. It is a subject matter that everyone has their own definition that they feel is the correct way to define creative nonfiction. For me, creative nonfiction is a writing that is based on a true event, but the author added a twist to the story to make it more interesting to the audience. However, there are many people from online blogs that have a different view on the meaning of creative nonfiction.

One of the blogs that I have looked at was Bruce Dobler’s Creative Nonfiction Compendium. In this it is stated that they believe that creative nonfiction relates mostly to journalism. They also state that creative nonfiction is actual events that have occurred with fiction added to the literature. I agree with this to an extent as I believe that creative nonfiction can apply to more genres than just to journalism. However, I agree that authors add made up information and story lines to their writings as it is a way to give the material a more exciting edge that people are going to enjoy more when they read the article.

Another blog that I looked at was Brevity. In his blog you are able to submit your own creative nonfiction piece to be published on their blog. However, there are some guidelines that you must follow in order to have your piece posted. First, you have to make sure that you do not write more than seven hundred fifty words. It also has to be very vivid in details that make the audience feel like they are a part of what they are reading. However, you are only able to post two essays a year of creative nonfiction on Brevity.

All Around the Town, by Herbert Asbury is a good example of a collection of creative nonfiction short stories. Each story that we have read throughout the book, has been based on a true occurrence that happened throughout history, yet there was information added to them to make it better reading for those to read.

Over the years I have read multiple books that are creative nonfiction. At the moment I was unaware of what genre that they were considered. Now that I am aware of the genre that they were under, I have a better appreciation for them. One of the books that I have read was Kite Runner. It deals with the war in Afghanistan and of a family that is feeling the affects of the war. Although the story line about the family could be true, it most likely is stretched to make it more interesting to the reader. I know that the book would have been uninteresting and hard for me to read if there wasn’t any creative writing in the book, as I don’t like to read about history.

Another book that I read in high school was Under the Blood Red Sun. This book was based on the bombing of Pearl Harbor and what occurred with one friendship when war was declared. The friendship that was tested in the book was of an American boy and a Japanese boy. Again, the truth of the book was the bombing of Pearl Harbor and a friendship that the boys have. However, some of the details may have been stretched. This book is the perfect example of what I believe to be creative nonfiction.

Overall, there are many different definitions of creative nonfiction. None of which are incorrect as they all depend on what each person believes it to be. For me, creative nonfiction is the truth of an event that has occurred throughout history with a twist to the truth to give the readers something entertaining to read on a subject that may be dry. I wonder if my definition is to narrow to others and if others agree with what I say the definition is.

Please Say a Pray

Last night my uncle got the phone call from the doctor that said that they had an opening on Monday for surgery. He needs surgery to correct how his sternum healed from his previous surgery.

Let me get you caught up. My uncle moved in with us three years ago. He has Congested Heart Failure (CHF). This made it hard for him to work, which made it almost impossible to support him self. He moved in thinking that he was only going to stay for maybe a month or two and that was it. However, he has stayed with us for three years. I think that it was the best for him, as it gave him a sense of hope. I feel that by him living by himself that it was like he felt it didn’t matter what happened to him. Now living in the house, which is double family (so all together there are 12 people that live her) he felt that he couldn’t just give up on a bad day.

A year ago he had open heart surgery to help with the CHF. The surgery went well. At first it was hard for him to just do the everyday things that we take for granted. As the weeks passed, we were able to see how the surgery has helped. However, he started to have problems breathing again. Lately, he has been complaining that when he moves that everything inside his chest starts to pop. He told his doctors this and they first told him that he was still healing. He is now in more pain than he has been, and he has been having dreams of people torturing him. When he told the doctors this they took a better look and found that his sternum has not healed.

At that moment the doctor told him that he would have to have another surgery to correct the way that the sternum was healing. He said that it would take 10 to 14 days before he would have a surgery opening. Last night at five o’clock, my uncle got a phone call that he had to come in tomorrow (today) to get prepped for surgery on Monday. This was a big shock to everyone as nobody was ready for the call. We feel that it is the best though so now he doesn’t have to dwell on the idea for so long. The surgery is to correct the sternum. It is suppose to relieve him from the pain that he has had.

I ask for everyone to say a pray for him to do well in surgery and through recovery. I pray that this will be the last surgery that he needs and the one that relieves him from all the pain that he has endured over the past year the most.

Spotted Eagle Ray

I just got finished reading Eagle Ray Leaps Onto Boat, Kills Woman. As soon as I read the title it was something that I wanted to know more about. On Thursday, a woman was with her family out on their boat and died an unexpected death.

The woman was just on the boat like any other time that the family has been on the boat. However, this day would change their lives. While they were out on the water, a spotted eagle ray leaped out of the water and onto the boat. When it came over deck, it pierced through her neck. After the pierce the woman collasped and hit her head on the vessel. Doctors are unaware of what caused the woman's death as it could have been either factor that played a role.

It has been stated that this is not uncommon for rays to jump out of the water. There have been many reports that have been placed over the years of those that have been pierced by sting rays.

One of the stories that came to mind right away was about Steve Irwin. I remember hearing the story of how he was under water creating a documentary show when he was pierced in the heart by a different type of sting ray than the one that just killed this woman. Steve's accident occurred in 2006, but it feels like just yesterday that it was all over the news about the unheard of accident.

"Ashley the Pillow Angel"

In 2006, one family had to make a tough decision that had to do with their “pillow angel.” The term “pillow angel” is what this family refers to their 10 year old daughter who was born with brain damage and suffers from CP.

In 2006, the family consulted with Dr. Daniel Gunther at The Children’s Hospital in Washington to see what they were able to do so that it would be easier to take care of Ashley as she gets older. Ashley’s parents and doctors thought that it would be best if they did an operation that would stop her from growing. In the operation the doctors removed Ashley’s breast buds and gave her a high dose of estrogen to stop growth and sexual maturation, along with a hysterectomy.

The surgery is illegal to be preformed. However, the parents and the doctors involved were pleased with the out come. Since the operation Dr. Gunther has committed suicide. There is no connection between performing the operation and the suicide.

The surgery went well with no complications. Since the operation, Ashley has stayed at the same weight and height. She weighs 63 pounds at the height of 4 feet 5 inches. Ashley will remain this size for the rest of her life. The reason that this is good and helpful is that it will be easier for her parents and future caregivers to do what is needed throughout the day of caring for her.

Ashley’s parents find it easier and more comforting that with the years to come that they will still be able to take care of Ashley. They are glad that as she gets older she will not get bigger so that they will be able to cuddle and hold her in their arms and it will be easier for them to take care of her at that size than if she was to grow her full height.

I don’t know how any one can judge these parents for what they did. It had to be the hardest decision that they have been faced with. I think that this surgery should be allowed for other families to consider if they have a child that suffers like Ashley does. In the long run Ashley will be able to get all the care that she needs as she will be small enough where it will not be to hard for others to care for her.

Case Closed

On September 11, 2003 John Ritter passed away unexpectedly. His death was due to a torn aorta. When he first realized that something was wrong, he was on the set of “8 Simple Rules…for Dating My Teenage Daughter” where he was currently taping for an episode. John was rushed to St. Joseph Medical Center where he was treated. However, at the hospital, the doctors were unable to do much for John.

His widow, Amy Yasbeck, felt that the doctors should be held responsible for John’s death. She decided to sue the doctors that were working on John that night. She also felt that the doctors that gave John a medical test in previous years should have been able to discover that this was going to occur. It is stated that John should have consulted with other doctors after he got those tests back but failed to. Although he didn’t consult with other doctors, this didn’t play a role in his death.

The doctors stated that even if they had time to perform surgery, that the outcome would have been the same. However, the jury decided that the doctors were not reliable for John’s death as they did what they could for him.

Although this was a tragic death, I don’t think that the doctors should be held responsible. I feel that they did what they could do for him. John Ritter will be missed by many. He has brought happiness to all those that he knew him and his fans.

Midnight Run

Last night I was able to go on a Midnight Run. For those who don’t know what a Midnight Run is, it is when a group of about ten students go to Manhattan to feed the homeless.

We first meet at the cafeteria at 8 o’clock and start making 120 sandwiches. In each bag lunch we place 2 sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and a drink. At around 9 o’clock we start going through clothes that have been donated to give out to those that are on the street. We finally leave the school at around 9:30 and start our journey to Manhattan. Our night continues until midnight when we make our last stop. After that stop we head back to school at around 12:30- 1 o’clock.

Once in Manhattan, we go to a few stops where people know that we will be at. At the stops we hand each person a bag lunch. They are then able to get a hot cup of coffee and clothes if they would like, we even give out toiletries to them.

Although the food and clothes are important to them, they sometimes are just looking for someone to talk to for a while. Each person that we come in contact with is unique. They all have different stories of how they ended up on the streets. It always amazes me how strong these people are. Regardless of the burdens that they are faced with they still have very strong spirits.

On the first stop their was this one gentleman that came up to us and when we gave him a bag lunch, all he was able to say was Thank you, over and over again and he also said that he was starving. When we told him that he was able to get coffee and clothes he told us the food was enough. Right away he sat on the bench right there and devoured the sandwiches. We then asked him if he wanted another bag lunch and he accepted it and started to talk to us. He told us that he has stayed at a shelter but the food is awful there and the sandwiches were great. This man was so grateful that we have come like the rest but he had a charm to him.

On the last stop, there was this man that had such a personality. I couldn’t believe how strong it was. When we first mentioned that we were the Midnight Run crew, he was sitting on steps with no shoes on. He leapt up with a huge smile on his face and said, “ I aint no Eliot Spitzer… I’ll come to you with no shoes on.” He then proceeded to tell us that we were the only people that he would walk in his socks for as we were basically the highlight of their days. This made us feel honored that he was willing to come to us instead of him trying to get us to cater him.

Also on the final stop, there was a woman that came to us that had a cart with her and a cardboard box. It took up most of the sidewalk while we talked to her and gave her some food. There were a group of around 7 guys that walked up and when they say that she was homeless they stopped and stared. They exchanged looks and comments at one another and then walked around the van so that they didn’t have to cross her path. As they proceeded to walk by they continued to turn around and gesture that they were making ignorant comments about this lady. The crew all felt the urge to go up to them and ask them why they were so cruel to a woman that they didn’t even know.

I feel that I am so fortunate for everything that I have after talking to the people on the streets. This is something that I think everyone should have a part in at least once. Next time that you see someone on the streets that has it worse than you, be kind to them as they are also human just like you. Next time you see someone that lives on the street, offer them food. For both them and you, it will make your day for helping another human being. I feel bad for those guys that are so ignorant to realize that these people are someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, or friend and that this can happen to some one they know if something goes wrong in their life.

Breath Taking

When I first heard that Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, my heart stopped. I have been a fan of his since the first time I watched Dirty Dancing when I was little. Throughout my life, Dirty Dancing has been one of my favorites along with other movies that Patrick has starred in.

Pancreatic cancer is a cancer that starts in the pancreas. However, the cells of this type of cancer spread by dividing itself into unlimited amounts. This cancer also is one that most likely spreads throughout the body to other organs. Around 33,000 people of all ages in the United States are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. It is stated that those diagnosed do not live longer than 5 years after they find out.

According to CNN, they state that the doctors are being optimistic about Patrick's recovery. They also state that treatment is helping right now. Patrick is not continuing to work on new projects during this time although A&E cable networks is currently looking at his pilot of "The Beast.

In another article from CNN, Whoopi Goldberg said that she wouldn't have won an Academy Award if not for Patrick. It also is said that Patrick made it a point that if Whoopi was not casted for the part of Oda Mae Brown in Ghost that he would not be a part of the production. At the end of the article Whoopi says, "We want you to feel better- we will talk soon, I hope."

Like Whoopi, I hope that Patrick feels better and that he is comfortable with no pain. Patrick has been and will continue to be a star and a role model to many. Regardless of what is to come, I hope that Patrick realizes that he has touched many with his work. Also, I hope that he and his family knows that many people are praying for him and the others that are battling this disease.

Gimme A Break

Over Spring break, I participated in a program called Gimme a Beak. The program allows students the opportunity to go out of state and do a community service program depending where you are interested in. I was able to go to South Dakota with two other students where we worked at Red Cloud Indian School. It is an elementary school that was designed for those who are Native American and are Sioux Indian descent.

At the school I was with a first grade classroom. Right away I was able to see some differences in how they function in the classroom compared to what I know first hand. The students were more respectful to the teachers and those that they came in contact with during the school day. Instead of calling their teachers by mister or miss’ they referred to them by their first name. I thought this was odd as we were brought up that you had to call the teachers by their last names as a way of respect. Another thing that is different is that there was a small amount of students in each grade. They only had one class for each grade. There were only 22 students in the class that I was in.

When I first got there I was unaware of the different things that I was going to do. Right away the teacher had me help the students with the work that they were doing. I was also placed on recess duty where I had to take the class outside for 20 minutes and watch them all by myself. This was overwhelming as I didn’t think that this was something that they would have me do on the first day when I didn’t know any of the students. All went well though. However the whole time I kept counting the students to make sure I didn’t lose anyone. By the end of the week, I was more relaxed when on recess duty. Also I felt more comfortable in the classroom while I took charge of some situations that were presented to me.

For me the experience allowed me to become closer to the other two girls that I went with. By being in the first grade classroom for the week, I am now positive that I am making the correct decision to be an elementary teacher in the future. It was an experience that I will never forget. All the people that we came in contact with were so respectful and willing to try to make you feel like a part of their world. I hope that I will be given another opportunity to do something else like this in the future.

Frozen in Time

Have you ever felt like you wanted to stop time? Well someone actually took the time to plan a mission to do exactly that. In the clip, you are able to see that over 200 people took part in the mission to freeze time. They all froze in a position at the same exact moment.

While this was taking place, those who were passing by where confused and wondered what was going on. In a way this was a hoax, as those who partook in the mission were able to really stop time. Every one took the time to stop and see what was happening around them although they had somewhere to go. They were successful with the hoax as it made others think of the situation.

If I was in the mist of the hoax, I am not sure what I would think right away. I have viewed the video a couple of times to see if I could pick up anything different. The only thing that I was able to think each time I watched, was how neat this mission was. I wish I was able to experience it first hand. I think that it would have given me a new perspective than what I got from it by watching it as a clip. Overall, I think it was meant for people to take the time to see new things in their everyday life. It also can be symbolic for how time is precious and that you should take time to view things you normally see.

58 pounds lighter

For me, I have been looking into the study abroad program that is offered here. I plan to study abroad spring semester of 2009. The process has already began for me to chose where I would like to go. Also I have to start filling out the forms saying that I am interesting in study abroad and what I want to be able to take away from the experience if I am selected to go. With this stated, I was shocked to learn about a student that studied abroad this past semester and what he has experienced.

Jonathan McCullum is a seventeen year old that went to Egypt for five months for an exchange program with AFS. When his family saw him off he weighed 155 pounds. However, when he returned from Egypt he weighed only 97 pounds. The reason for the drop in his weight was that his host family had not provided him with the correct amount of food that he should have had at each meal.

There were some things that should have let the parents know something wrong. Both Jonathan and his parents were told to have little contact with one another throughout the semester as it would take away from the experience. When Jonathan started to lose weight, he wrote an e-mail to his parents to have them help look for a new exchange family to stay with. Even some of his teachers sent the family e-mails saying that Jonathan should no longer stay with the Hanna family. When Jonathan found out that the only other family he was able to stay with lived in a bad area, he decided that he would stay with the Hanna family.

When the McCullum's picked up Jonathan from the airport they couldn't believe what they saw. Their son was now so skinny that he was unable to carry his lugage and walk a flight of steps. The once outgoing boy was now subdued from everyone. He was brought to the hospital and was keep there for two weeks. Jonathan was at risk of a heart attack. He has been able to regain 25 pounds back. His parents are looking to sue AFS as they have given the family a false reassurance that Jonathan was alright. They are also looking for an apologue from the host family.

When I first heard this story, I couldn't believe what has happened. I know that this has opened my eyes in a way as I am interesting in study abroad for a semester. My main question about the whole thing is why did the Hanna family even apply to be a host family if they were unwilling to take care of the student that would be living with them? Also why wasn't there more done to help Jonathan while he was there?

Ten Inches of LOVE

Everyone for the most part has heard of Locks of Love. It is when you donate a minimum of ten inches of hair to an organization that takes it and turns it into a wig for children who have lost their own hair due to a disease. The organization has been around since 1997. It was created by a woman named Mrs. Coffman. She had developed alopecia in her 20's and her daughter than developed it when she was 4 years old. It was difficult for her daughter to lose her hair. She then created this organization to help her daughter and other children that face the same disease or other diseases that cause hair lose. (This is according to the website.)

I actually have donated for the first time this past summer. I was able to donate about 12 inches to the organization of Locks of Love. I remember the day very well as I knew that it was time to cut my hair and donate it. It has been a goal of mine to donate when one of my friends told me that her sister was diagnosed with cancer. She lost her hair due to chemotherapy that she was receiving. When I was sitting in the chair at the salon, I had a thousand different things going through my head. I remember debating if I should go through with it because I wasn't ready to cut my hair. Then I remembered that it was going to go to a child that doesn't have hair and that they would be so happy when they were able to receive a wig. While they cut my hair, it was very emotional for me as I knew that I was doing good for someone else but I was also losing a part of me. I feel that it was worth it to donate my hair to a good cause and I would do it again. I also have multiple friends that have also donated their hair and they have said that it was also emotional for them and likewise that it was all worth it.

Over all, Locks of Love has been able to help around 2,000 children. However, with the help of everyone, many more children will be able to be helped if everyone donated at least once in their life. I cannot wait to be able to donate again and hopefully bring a smile to a childs face.

If you are interested you can print out a form and donate as long as you qualify. When you donate you are also able to take photos and send them in along with the hair so they can be seen on the internet.

Writers Strike Is Almost Over

Today word got out that the writing strike that has occured for the past three months is in the process of finally being over. It has been a long process for those that have been involved in the Writers Guild of America. There has been a lost of wages that have been estimated at 1.9 billion dollars. However, many of the writers are saying that they did not get everything that they wanted, but they have received more than what they have in the past.

There will be a vote in the next forty-eight hours to figure out if the writers will be going back to work this week. If they agree with it the contract won't be complete for about two weeks. This can mean that a lot of shows will be able to complete this season with new episodes.

One of the reasons that the strike started was that people were viewing the episodes on the internet and the writers weren't get paid for this. The writers are going to get the rights and money for the episodes that are viewed on the internet and other media.

As a viewer for multiple of shows that have been affected by this strike, I am personal happy to see that it is almost over. I hope that all goes well with the vote. I can not wait to see how the new episodes will turn out.

One out of a hundred and fifty

As I was going through my e-mails like any other day, I stumbled across one that stood out from the rest of them. It had a note attached to the video about how the family will receive money to donate to research each time the video is viewed so that they could help their child that faces the hardship of autism. Like many other families around the world, autism has changed their lives drastically.

Many people are unaware of what autism really is. It is a neurobiological disorder that last throughout the individuals lifetime. Boys are more commonly diagnosed with autism compared to girls. However, one in every one hundred and fifty children is faced with autism, leaving sixty seven children diagnosed each day. The rate has grown in the last fifteen years and is still rising.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for autism. The only way that helps a child out the most is early intervention. By being able to provide a child with early intervention as soon as possible allows the child to get the most out of the therapies that will help them develop better than if they weren't given the chance. But for most families these costs are not covered by insurance, leaving them to do what they have to in order to get the best care for their child.

For me, this information is heart breaking. I am planning on being a special education teacher for the sole purpose that I would like to help children that others may see as hopeless. I believe that every child deserves the best in everything that they part take in throughout their lives despite their disabilities. I can only hope, like in the video, that "autism is something we read about in history textbooks." This can only be done with the help of you.

A Thousand Times Better

Dancing With The Stars has become one of the most watched shows on television. This past Friday I was able to attend the tour that was passing through in Uniondale. From watching the show on television and then to see it live was a whole new experience.

The tour had many professional dancers compared to the Stars that have been on the show. Some of the celebrities that were there were Marie Osmond, Wayne Newton. Joey Lawrence, and Drew Lachey. The audience was shocked to see Drew performing as he was on Rachel Ray about a week ago and said that he doesn't do the shows on Fridays or the weekends. This however was a great surprise to us. We also found out that Friday was the last show that he was doing for this year's tour.

Throughout the show, the music that was being played was phenomenal. The band helped make the tour run smoothly as they are the glue that holds the show together. Even Wayne sang a couple of his songs throughout the night as he is unable to dance due to his health. Personally, I would have liked to also see Almost Amy sing. Almost Amy is a band that two of the professional singers (Derek Hough and Mark Ballas) created together.

By being at the show and seeing them live made me appreciate all the work that they put into dancing. On television when you watch it does not even come close to how you view the show live. It is hard for me to put into words the experience that I was able to be a part of. Everything and anything you see when you are at the show is a thousand times better than what it is on television.

"To Lead Off"

Today, there is a show that teens watch that deals with the celebration of the sixteenth birthday. However, the teens that are aired on the show throw outrageous parties that cost a fortune. The show only causes teenagers to also want lavish parties and want their parties to cost more than the previous party that was aired. The celebration of sweet sixteen's defeat the sole purpose of why it was first celebrated in 1748.

Sweet Sixteen's were first celebrated as a debutante, which is a French word which means to lead off. The parties would consist of girls that were to be presented to society at a marriageable age. At the end of the debutante, the families of the girls hoped that there was a man that found their daughter worth marrying.

Both sides of the spectrums to me are insane. However, I can see how people found it right to present their daughters into society as it was what they knew. I do not agree on how people celebrate sweet sixteen's now as I feel that the parties are thrown to show who is better and who has more money. These are not reasons to throw a party as they have nothing to do with why this type of celebration was first celebrated in the first place.