Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Xanga Diaries: Part VII (The Final Posts)

Well, we have reached the last of my Xanga entries. I finally started to open up about how Brian and I had issues with our marriage. I also discovered MySpace, which eventually replaced Xanga. From reading all of my entries, I have realized how much I have changed in the past 5-6 years.. and for the better!

Also, just by doing these blogs, I have had others tell me they looked up their old Xanga account too. Maybe some of them will follow suit and post some (for fun and for a few giggles). If anyone does, let me know. I'd love to read them :-)

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Wednesday, March 15, 2006

I'm going to give all of my baby-less friends a good word of advice.

Having one is easy until they start walking. After that.... NOTHING is safe! If Truman sees anything with a button, he's pushing it. His new thing is climbing. I've caught him climbing onto the couch, the mantle, and on his push-along toys to get himself higher to reach something.

Besides the Truman life, I've been doing better. Brian and I have been talking a lot about our issues and we've got a lot fixed. Not everything can be perfect.... that's just life (why sugar-coat life? You'll end up with a false sense of reality).

Oh, the hail that we got on Sunday totally screwed up my Galant. There are at least 30 golf ball and quarter-sized hail dents. Brian took it to a body shop for an estimate and they quoted repairs at $3100 dollars. I was shocked and our insurance company will do it (after the $500 deductible). I will recommend to everyone that if you have a car problem, you'll have to wait until everyone else's hail disasters are taken care of.

Well, I'm off here for now. I'm going to research music from the 1990's so my sister can make me some kick ass CD's!!!!
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Saturday, April 22, 2006


Victimized

I have fallen victim to a new journal site.

My Space

I think what got me hooked is that I can find friends from when I lived in Grandview (and I already found four of them).

I'm also reunited with people from high school.... more or less the ones that knew me (and vice versa) and now we are chatting all the time.

I have run into a lot of my graduating class at my work of all places. I talked to Mindi Emanuel for about 10 minutes a couple days ago. I also saw Courtney Johnson, Kasey Matthews, Dustin Young, Brandon Reno (and his wife Heather from LSN), and many more.

How nearly four years after high school have already flown by...

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Last Saturday...

On last Saturday night, I did something I haven't done in a long, long time....

Go out with female friends.

Bekki, one of my coworkers, and I decided to meet up with some other coworkers at Paddy O'Quigleys. We had a blast, just drinking and trying to talk to each other. We also sat in her car for an hour afterwards and just talked. Her and I both needed a night like this and already have plans to do it again.

It feels so good to have a new friend, especially a female one that I feel that I can trust (yes Jaymie I trust you too... probably the only one out of all our high school friends)

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Wednesday, May 31, 2006

A Sad High School Reunion...

Many of my former classmates from high school (and teachers) will be reuniting tomorrow.... but for an unexpected loss of a great and fun-spirited 22 year old male.

Kyle Zammar is no longer with us.
I remembered how funny he was... and talented in whatever he did. I mean, he was the class clown. I had classes with him; my best memory is when he, Monica Heitz, and I (and a couple others) did a project on American History in the 1970's. He and Monica pretended to be Sonny and Cher and sung "I Got You Babe" for our class. Kyle could always make you laugh and everyone loved him.

He will be greatly missed.

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Friday, June 29, 2007


Back on Xanga

It's been over a year since I've been on here.

Things that I am waiting for:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in theaters

Season Four of Grey's Anatomy to start

The final book in the Lemony Snicket collection (just need to go buy it)

For my vacation time to be usable from work

To lose weight

Football season

Just some random things... talk to you guys later

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

New Music Tuesday: Five New Music Videos (Including the Beastie Boys) and a Music Festival Coming to KC This Summer!

I've had a very busy week, musically speaking. It started with a lot of Beastie Boys (MTV Hits compiled a playlist of their songs, which I viewed/listened to a couple times... highly enjoyable) then word got out about a major concert announcement for the Kansas City area. On top of that, I went through a bunch of Cd's a family friend copied for us and added about 100 new songs to my ITunes library (which introduced me to some new bands/artists- Stereophonics, G. Love). Even though I had all of that going on this week, I still managed to find a handful of new music videos to share. Get ready for some 80's flashbacks, grown people dressed as monkeys, and a lot more great music!

Beastie Boys "Make Some Noise"



When I was watching the Beastie Boys playlist, there was an advertisement for this music video. I had no idea the trio was working on new music but I was ecstatic! Once the video made it's debut, I gave it my undivided attention. I loved how it paid homage to "Fight For Your Right (to Party)," which is my favorite Beastie Boys song. I thought it was hilarious seeing so many celebrity cameos (I'm talking at least a dozen), especially Kirsten Dunst, Chloe Sevigny, and Ted Danson. Welcome back, Beastie Boys... I love the new music!

Bruno Mars "The Lazy Song"



Several weeks ago, I expressed my disappointment that The Lazy Song was not his latest single. Then I heard it on the radio and was excited while singing along. I came across the video while watching the MTV Hits channel. Umm, Bruno Mars... WTF??? Monkeys? This is sooooo not what I imagined you would do with this video. It's borderline creepy to me.

Willow Smith "21st Century Girl"



The Smith household, at least the kids right now, are starting to dominate the box office and the music charts. Willow has demonstrated that she's adopted her father's musical talents. When I first heard this song, I really enjoyed it. The second time, I imagined Rihanna instead of Willow. I think it's because of the lyrics... they just seem more appropriate coming from someone older. Other than that, it was enjoyable :-)


Scars on 45 "Give Me Something"



This song was recommended to me on YouTube, and I'm glad I decided to give it a try. The song is beautiful and I love that the group has vocals from both sexes (I need to look into more of their music). I also love the story inside the video, even though it has a sad ending. When you can get emotionally involved in a music video (accompanied with the song) then you know you found something that speaks to you. Well done, Scars on 45!

Augustana "Steal Your Heart"



I knew I had heard of Augustana before, so I looked them up. Yep, their song Boston was pretty awesome (and got a lot of radio play a few years ago). This song is beautiful and powerful, just like the music video.


Concert news time!!!

Kanrocksas Music Festival



Kansas City got some exciting news over the past week.... a NEW music festival which promised that it was nothing the metropolitan area has never been able to experience. I immediately became a fan on Facebook and impatiently waited for the press conference yesterday afternoon.

For those that are not Facebook friends with me, or didn't get a chance to read the details, let me give you the scoop:

The Kanrocksas Music Festival will be held at the Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, KS) on Friday August 5th and Saturday August 6th, 2011. The festival plans to sell 100,000 tickets (which is twice the amount sold for Rockfest) and parking and primitive camping is free of charge to ticket holders. There will be three stages, plus a VIP area where DJ's/ Electronic artists will perform.

The acts that have been revealed to the public include Flogging Molly, Primus, Girl Talk, Flaming Lips, D-12, A Perfect Circle, The Black Keys, Fitz and the Tantrums, Arctic Monkeys, Jacks Mannequin, Tinie Tempah, and Kid Cudi. The headliner for Friday's show is Eminem. The headliner for Saturday is Muse. There are more major acts to be announced over the next couple weeks.

This is very exciting for Kansas City and I hope I will be able to go this summer! If you want more information on the festival, visit http://www.kanrocksas.com/


Well, that's it for this week's edition of New Music Tuesday. I will be updating everyone on Kanrocksas in the next few weeks. I hope everybody has an enjoyable day!

The Xanga Diaries: Part VI

These Xanga entries were written in the middle of some of the darker days in my marriage to Brian. Fights happened a lot but I didn't want anybody to know about these things. I tried to make holidays and celebrations positive things, which they basically were. I also showed negativity toward moving back with my parents. I actually was relieved to be back there at the time, minus having the independence of having my own place. You will see some of my frustrations coming out with these entries...

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Sunday, November 13, 2005
Currently Watching
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Full Screen Edition)
By Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly

Ok, so it has been quite a while since I've written in here...

Truman celebrated his first birthday last week. He received a lot of Elmo toys (his favorite), a piggy bank, lots of new clothes, and lots of other noisy, musical toys. He had a great time with his birthday cake too (and we still haven't cleaned up the place where icing hit the wall in the living room). It's just very hard to believe that he's already a year old.

I'm also doing good at Home Depot. I'm knowing more and more about where everything is in the store. Someday I will probably pick a specific department to work at.

My 22nd birthday is coming up next week. Brian and I are celebrating by going to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. We already have the tickets and a babysitter for the night.

I need to catch up with my friends. I finally will have extra money to go hang out with everyone, I just need to get a time and place to hang out (especially Dixon!!!!!! and Jaymie too... with Daniel)

And that's all I have to say.... about that.

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Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Currently Watching
Cheaper by the Dozen
By Hilary Duff, Bonnie Hunt, Steve Martin
New year, new life, new budget...

In order to save money, fix our credit and get ahead of the game, Brian, Truman, and I have temporarily moved into my parent's basement. It will suck for a while, but it is a small sacrifice to pay to get things set straight. We have invaded their basement, so in a way it feels like our own apartment.

Mom and Wendy just left for New York City for the week. Mom's got trampoline/tumbling things and Wendy doesn't go back to CMSU yet, so she tagged along. I just wish I could go too.

Now I am going to find something else to do.

hehehehehehe.....
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Friday, February 03, 2006

Currently Listening
Gold Digger
By Kanye West, Jamie Foxx

I'm in a gooooooooooood mood... for no particular reason at all.

I had to call in sick at work last weekend, which is something I've never done before. I was sick though, and felt like complete crap. I'm just glad that Truman didn't catch whatever I had (which I am saying was the stomach flu). There are a couple things going around at my work, and everyone is getting either what I had or strep throat. Yeah, lots of people going home sick right now.

N-E-Ways... Valentine's Day is coming up and I really want to do something with Brian, but I don't know what yet. I guess I'll have to see what his ideas are.. or he may surprise me for all I know.

Truman has learned to terrorize the house... hehehe. He is walking extremely well and has grown another inch (meaning he can reach things better...). He can almost say "hello," but I am predicting he will in the next couple weeks.

Oh, and congrats to my sister Wendy. She just got hired at Victoria's Secret in Independence Center. She's so happy and excited (and she gets free stuff!).

P.S. It's Black History Month.... I'm paying homage by playing my favorite rap and hip hop songs! You do it too!!!
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Saturday, February 11, 2006

You know that feeling where you feel like you're just doing the same thing each day and if you do it any longer, you'll explode?

Yeah... that was me yesterday.

I had to leave the house. I had to get away and do something on my own for a while. I have just felt lonely lately, even though there's five other people living in this house. Brian is hardly home anymore (workaholic) and I feel especially lonely because of that. It makes me not looking forward to Valentines Day, where he and I could possibly spend time together for once in a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time.

I also feel lonely because I've personally ended contact with people I hung out with in high school, just because they've completely changed from how I knew them. Or maybe it's because I've changed since having a baby, and I don't want to deal with people that are constantly going to judge me in a high school drama sort of way. The only people I am willing to hang out with nowadays is Jaymie and Brandon. There are a few others, but they all go to school outside the metro area and haven't finished college yet.

I know I am known as the eternal optimist (duh... nickname's Sunshine), but even I have my days...

Monday, April 25, 2011

Movie Monday: Lots of Drugs (Illegal and Pharmaceutical)

Oh, Monday... why do you enjoy creeping up on everyone??? In order to possibly prevent others from having a "case of the Mondays," I hope that today's movie reviews bring some enjoyment to the day!


Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas



While looking for the "American Dream," writer Hunter S. Thompson (Johnny Depp) and his attorney (Benicio Del Toro) head to Vegas to cover a sporting event. During the journey, they experiment with a wide variety of drugs (including cocaine, ether, and marijuana... among others) and alcohol, which leads to many interesting hallucinations and random escapades.

I've been reading  Gonzo: The Life of Hunter S. Thomspon lately, so I have had quite a bit of back story on the unique writer before watching this movie. If I didn't think that the book proved how much drugs Hunter used on a normal basis, the movie certainly did the job. Now, I'm not someone who is a drug user, but I got the general impression that the movie portrayed hallucinations pretty well. Johnny Depp did justice while cast as Hunter, especially since they had a unique bond with each other. I am already interested in seeing The Rum Diary (another of Hunter's novels which will become a film- starring Johnny Depp). Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars


Love and Other Drugs



Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a womanizing salesperson who finds himself working as a drug representative for Pfizer in 1996. While trying to bond with a physician over prescribing Zoloft to his patients, he meets Maggie (Anne Hathaway), a woman in her mid-twenties who has stage one Parkinson's disease. It becomes very obvious that Jamie's usual methods of flirtation and seduction will not work with Maggie, which intrigues him. They begin a friends with benefits type of relationship. As Jamie's career moves from Zoloft to Viagra, he and Maggie find themselves falling for each other.

I was warned by a friend that this movie contains a lot of nudity. Oh yeah, it did... and yes, it was quite enjoyable (for men and women). On the flip side, seeing all the hot sex scenes was a little difficult to watch, only because I am having an inactive sex life (LOL). I loved how the story of Jamie and Maggie evolved from really hot, wild sexual liaisons to a deep, emotional connection between the two. For me, both of those elements represent an ideal relationship for me. I also enjoyed watching the training process of a drug sales representative... especially with the matches. This movie surprised me since it had more substance than a normal chick flick. It was smartly written and was not cheesy. Highly recommended. Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Friday, April 22, 2011

Movie Monday (Friday Edition): Summer Movie Previews

One of my favorite things to get in the mail is when Entertainment Weekly publishes their movie preview issues. So imagine my excitement when their Summer Movie Preview issue came in the mail over the weekend. A few days ago, my cousin got really excited when she found out about another Transformers film. I posted the trailer on her page, then I got inspired for a blog. So, to other fellow movie geeks out there, here are many trailers for movies that are coming out thru the end of summer!!!


Thor (May 6th)



This is just the first of many comic book to film adaptations this summer. I'm not as familiar with Thor, so this will be new (and hopefully pleasant) territory for me.

Bridesmaids (May 13th)



Yeah.... I think I will wait until its DVD release to check it out...

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (May 20th)



I have seen Dead Man's Chest and At World's End at the midnight showings. I'll probably see this one at midnight too. I'm ready to see a new chapter in Jack Sparrow's life, plus mermaids and zombies. I am excited to see Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz together in a movie again (last one was Blow). I am tempted to drink rum during the flick (Hey, Jack would expect it) but I would rather not get kicked out of the theater :-)

The Hangover Part II (May 26th)



The boys in Thailand... yep, that's how you upstage Las Vegas. I wonder how the wolfpack will do overseas.

Super 8 (June 10th)



I saw this trailer before Scream 4... and was giddy with excitement as soon as I saw that it was an Amblin Entertainment film. Thank you, Steven Spielberg for making another movie. I hope there is a midnight showing for this!!!

Green Lantern (June 17th)



This is another Marvel comic that I am not as familiar with, but I am interested in watching. And it's not just because of Ryan Reynolds.

Bad Teacher (June 24th)



I've been waiting to see previews for this since I first saw film stills last year! I cannot wait to see Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, and Jason Segel (my number one guy on My List) work together in what I hope to be comedic perfection!

Cars 2 (June 24th)



If it's a Disney/Pixar film, it will be watched in theaters. That's how I roll. It also is a good thing that my six year old is a fan of Lightning McQueen and the rest of the Cars gang. Ka-chow!!!

Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon (July 1st)



I hope this is better than the second film. I really REALLY hope so....

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part II (July 15th)



This is the one film that I am most excited to see this summer. I'm not that fond of seeing it in 3D, but it might actually be cool to see some of the action with that extra dimension. It will be a bittersweet experience, since this is the last film of the book series. I hope they do justice to the book. Maybe we will all finally get to see Peeves the Poltergeist in a film (wishful thinking).

Friends with Benefits (July 22nd)



Earlier this year, we had No Strings Attached with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. This summer, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. I'm going for Timberlake and Kunis. :-)

Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22nd)



Comic book geeks are going to have a very busy summer indeed! Compared to Thor and Green Lantern, this one is the one that has the most hype. Either it will be the best comic book movie this summer or fall short because it was overly promoted. We shall see when box office numbers start to come in...

Cowboys and Aliens (July 29th)



I really like the concept. What if aliens invaded in the days of the old West??? It looks very promising!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (August 5th)



Get ready for some gorilla invasions... and James Franco in the middle of it all!

The Help (August 12th)



Okay, I must read this book before seeing the movie.... MUST.


Obviously I omitted several movies. I thought featuring 15 films was plenty. I will attempt to see many of these when they are still in theaters (or, even better, the drive-in... two movies for the price of one!). I am very excited for my future movie going experiences :-)

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Xanga Diaries: Part V

In today's Xanga blog, I have five posts to share with you. At this time, I was utelizing the site more with adding things to my posts like pictures and "Currently watching/listening/reading" things. I thought that was cool to be able to add those elements back then, since it helped personalize the entries.

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Friday, July 08, 2005






These pics of Truman were taken the weekend before Father's Day. I just love him so much! Eight months have flown by so fast....
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Saturday, July 16, 2005

Currently Reading
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
By J.K. Rowling

I have already finished reading the new Harry Potter book. I loved it.... LOTS of twists and surprises, especially about who's dead and who's dating who. I don't want to spoil anything; that's not my style :^D

I'm already starting to reread it, since you realize hints and stuff beforehand.... and it makes it a better read than the first time.

Now I just have to wait four months for the Goblet of Fire movie to come out.

"Dumbledore will only be gone from the school when none here are loyal to him." -Harry Potter, p. 649

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Friday, August 05, 2005

Currently Watching
The Dukes of Hazzard
By Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Jessica Simpson

I haven't seen Brian since Tuesday.

No, we are not over. He's just in Springfield doing a show for work. He calls me 7 to 10 times a day because he's bored, but he is kinda enjoying himself too. I know Truman will be sooooooo excited to see Brian when he gets home. He's always excited, but this will top any excitement he's ever shown for his daddy.

Wendy and I are leaving shortly to see The Dukes of Hazzard. I just really really hope that it doesn't suck, because I've seen the previews and it looks like they have plenty of car stunts.

"Just two good ole' boys, never meaning no harm...."

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Monday, August 29, 2005

After waiting ten months after my 21st birthday, I was finally able to gamble for the first time.

Brian and I went with his friend Sonny and his girlfriend Liz on Friday night to Isle of Capri Casino. I won $35 and Brian won $212! Talk about beginner's luck!

Right now I'm job hunting. We finally got a second car so I can have a dependable way to get back and forth to work. Let's just hope the gas prices will finally come down from the spike all summer.

Well, that's all for now. Gonna play with Truman :^D

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Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Currently Listening
...Baby One More Time [ENHANCED CD]
By Britney Spears

"Hit me baby one more time...."

Today, miss Pop Princess became a mommy. She has a baby boy, delivered by c-section. No word yet on his name.

Based on personal experience, she will have some trouble walking the next couple days... and be fully aware that something happened in her abdominal region.

Britney Spears... a mom....

interesting....

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Saturday, September 24, 2005

If ANYBODY ever gets the opportunity to work at a Home Depot, I would recommend doing anything and everything to keep the job.

I am currently doing orientation there to work at the Lee's Summit store. The pay and benefits are excellent, compared to many other retailers (ex: Walmart, Lowe's). They offer a tuition reimbursement program for any employee (except temps). They also have a fund where in the event of a natural disaster, Home Depot will cut a check for the employees to pick up with their lives (without having to pay them back).

You could not ask for a better company to give you what you are looking for in benefits, pay, and giving to the community.

And you see a lot of the color orange....

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

New Music Tuesday: The Latest Singles from David Cook, Jessie J, and Lady Gaga

Well, I had spent last week purchasing a lot of new music, so I haven't really invested in a lot of time seeking out new music for today's blog. However, I do have a few songs to share today :-)

David Cook "The Last Goodbye"



As soon as I got onto ITunes this morning, I purchased this song (it became available today). My Kansas City boy is back and sounds amazing!!! He wrote this song with Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic). Yes, it's a blend of rock and ear wormy pop, but I can't help but love it. I cannot wait to hear the entire album when it's released this summer!


Jessie J "Nobody's Perfect"



The British pop singer has grown on me. I purchased her album over the weekend after finding this song. She's actually pretty good, but she could be one of those artists who will be appreciated more in Europe than here in the United States. I could be proved wrong about that. I enjoy her music, especially since she has a little bit of an edge over other current female pop artists.

Lady Gaga "Judas"



This song became available on ITunes over the weekend. I've listened to it about 4-5 times and I'm still a little unsure how I feel about it. I know I don't hate it, but I don't LOOOOVE it either." I am getting a little bit of The Who's "Tommy." with the single artwork... which isn't the first time I've made Gaga connections with the rock opera. Then again, Madonna did "Like a Prayer," so it could be a parallel to that. I guess I will have to wait and see what the music video will portray.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Movie Monday: Horror Edition

Ah, horror movies... once I started watching them, I couldn't get enough! Since I had planned to see Scream 4 over the weekend, I figured I would warm myself up with a couple other horror films before opening weekend. Some parts made me jump; others made me realize how some situations (on a realistic point) are truly scary. I warn you, the clips I included might make your heart accelerate...


The Crazies



In the small town of Odgen Marsh, Iowa, the residents experience a toxin that is turning them into zombie-like psychopaths. Before many of them can leave town, the army and national guard seal off the town. Four of the residents, including Sheriff David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) and his wife Judy (Radha Mitchell), escape and try to get to Cedar Rapids while figuring out why recent events have forever changed their lives.

What I really enjoyed about this movie is how extremely realistic it was... in several ways. For the government to contaminate the water in a small town and see what would happen, then to seal off the town to conduct experiments on those that have been contaminated was executed very well. One of the residents communicated to David about escaping without his wife, who was trapped in one of the guarded buildings. That would really happen in a survival situation. As the experiment was going on, everyone was being tracked by aircraft, which made things more difficult for the escapees. As for the gore factor, it was good. There were several different parts that made the movie visually stimulating. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


Turistas



A group of backpackers find themselves stranded in a town in Brazil after their bus goes off road and rolls down a hill. Instead of waiting several hours for new transportation, they decide to look for a place to relax. After finding a secluded area which has a beach and bar, they spend the evening meeting some of the locals. By morning, the group realizes that they have lost everything except the clothes they were wearing and must travel into town. They are lured by one of the locals they befriended and follow him to his uncle's home. However, the local has other plans for the group... which turns the vacation into a survival scenario.

If you are looking for a movie with a lot of horror and not a lot of story, this isn't the movie for you. I was actually disappointed in the lack of action in this film. Other than someone accidentally hitting his head on a rock, the "good stuff" didn't start until an hour into the film (which the movie is only an hour and a half). It seemed like the exposition was way too long, but in a way it needed to be for the audience to grasp exactly what was going to happen to the backpackers. Once the homeowner arrived, with a group of assistants, I started to get scared (I don't want to spoil the movie, but the homeowner is a doctor and his professional skills come in handy). I mean, what happened to the backpackers does happen, and it put a reality check in the film... that's what makes it scary to me. Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Scream 4



10 years after the Woodsboro murders, Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) returns to her hometown while on her book tour. As she is reunited with Dewey (David Arquette) and Gail (Courtney Cox) and family-including her cousin Jill (Emma Roberts)- she finds herself encountering the Ghostface Killer, but with a new, more social-network friendly twist.

Scream was my first real introduction to horror movies... it will always have a special place in my heart (much like how others would credit the original Halloween or A Nightmare on Elm Street). So when I heard of a fourth installment, I was torn. One, the films were made to be set as a trilogy; to add another film would ruin everything. Two, I was curious as to how it would reinvent the series, especially since the original writers teamed up with an *ingenious* story. To my surprise, it exceeded my expectations.

The first film poked fun at past horror films when it came to predictability and stupid decisions made by those trying to escape death. This movie did the same thing, but was making fun of the Stab films for coming up with ridiculous sequels just to make money at the box office (which made the first scene of the movie hilarious and full of gore). I loved that the movie kept me guessing and was completely thrown off as to who was behind the Ghostface Killer mask.

I don't think this movie would have done as well if it wasn't for the blend of comedic timing, extremely gory scenes, and the parallels to the first film (example- Jill's boyfriend would sneak into her room through the window, just like Billy did with Sidney). I also loved all the references to other horror films, like when a couple of the characters were watching Shaun of the Dead (that got a lot of cheering from the audience). I consider this film the second best Scream film to date and was disappointed to hear that it flopped at the box office over the weekend. I hope time changes that since I really enjoyed the film. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I am planning to do more "themed" type of movie blogs... like 80's films, movies and their sequels, etc. If you like the idea of having more Movie Monday blogs with themes, let me know. I always love getting input or new ideas!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

The Xanga Diaries: Part IV

For this edition of the Xanga Diaries... I am presenting a handful of posts I wrote spring and summer 2005. The first entry was a rant over a friend of mine, who has since gotten out of the "fakeness" that I described. The others are short entries, but I give a few shout outs to some of my high school classmates who have found themselves in the public spotlight.

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Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Fake Friends

One of the challenges in social life is finding real friends. Some people you grow up with and remain friends after the school years have ended. Some you make in high school and occasionally talk to. Others are just there to make drama in your life.

I have come to the realization that a person (and I'm not surprised by it at all) never really liked me, but seems to be interested in my life because of other people's lives.

Let's start with the one that I really never had a friendship with... S. I first knew who she was because she was making out with a guy that one of my close friends was dating. A year later, my best friend introduced me to her and we hung out with the same people.

Then, junior and senior year, it seemed like there was some sort of unspoken competition between her and I... and it involved the male sex. If a guy were to pay more attention to me (for dating or not... Ben, Kress, Brandon, Hosmann), she would try to get in the way so she could steal the attention. And half the time, it resulted in a pattern of friends to enemies to friends, etc.

But after high school, it kept on going. A few months ago, S had contacted me wanting to make amends completely and just be friends. I didn't buy the story, so I just let it go and went on with my life.

Then, two weeks ago, I talked to one of my girlfriends on the phone. The next day, I got a call from S. All she did was ask about my friend. At that moment, I was cooking and wasn't really reading into it. I realized that all she was doing was using what I knew to get dirt on people she likes to gossip about.

I'm sorry, but aren't friendships supposed to be about trust, honesty, and having fun? I know that some things get in the way, like college, military, and babies, but why do those things somehow become "good dirt" on people? Why can't someone just be happy with their man and their family without someone trying to create drama for nothing? It makes me wonder if S is jealous of my girlfriends and I for having hubby's/fiances and babies....

But I do know one thing... I cannot find a guy that knows or dated S that actually cares about her, let alone likes her (except her most recent ex, unless it was that bad of a breakup, she dumped him). And, to me, she will always be a backstabber that cannot be trusted.

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Sunday, May 08, 2005

My monitor fried..... so if you don't see me updating, that's why.

I hope I get a new one soon, since I am paying for DSL....

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Friday, June 03, 2005

Mindi Emanuel is in a reality show on the WB.

It is called Beauty and the Geek... don't know what day of the week that it is on.

It's just surprising to see one of your classmates on TV, but honestly, I didn't think Mindi would be on reality tv. I thought she would have done something like that movie she was in during my senior year.

I figured I would share that with my friends and old classmates :^D

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Tuesday, June 07, 2005

I knew Nick Webber was on the CMSU baseball team and that they did excellent this season.

What I just saw on the news is that the St. Louis Cardinals have recruited him.

I think it would be awesome if he started playing for them in the next couple seasons.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Xanga Diaries: Part III

From this point on, you will see multiple postings in my Xanga Diaries blogs. I have a couple posted below. One has a lot of shout-outs to friends from high school (before the days where we all got Facebook accounts) and the other is a rant over something that I saw on television. Enjoy!
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Saturday, March 12, 2005

Reunions

There are a few times a year where I get to see a lot of people from high school back in Lee's Summit. One of these times is now... Spring Break. Every year that I'm reunited with old friends and acquaintances, there are drastic changes. It makes me curious about how our class of 2002 high school reunion (5 years) will be in a couple years, and then again at our 10 year reunion.

Like I've mentioned before... a lot of my friends have babies. But I've realized that there's a whole lot more that do. And for one friend, who just gave birth to her second daughter last week. Another friend of mine (Katrina), married and with a baby, almost got divorced because her husband left her for a few weeks. It's scary that before the first reunion, someone can get married, have a kid, and be divorced. But fortunately, they are back to living together.

Someone won't even make it to our high school reunion because he passed away a few months ago from alcohol poisoning. My best friend Maria went to his funeral. It was way too unbelievable for her.
A group of kids from high school have been on television already, one of them was Jothan Schiller. Last time I saw him, he was renting Finding Nemo from me (when I worked at Blockbuster) and we had a great conversation. I heard that he and his friends were on one of those daytime court shows over something... don't know what though.

I'm just waiting to hear about someone at the reunion about a really great job and having huge success. My prediction is that it will be Blake Hern, who I heard that is following in his father's steps in the business field.
I'm just in the mood to find a bunch of my classmates and catch up, whether I was friends with them, acquaintances (like Andria Rentie and Genevieve Valle), or just people I would talk to every so often in whatever class I was in.

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Thursday, March 31, 2005

Stereotypes

I just saw a commercial on television that has offended me, even though it wasn't directed at my race.
The commercial was for truth.com, a program that is supposed to give people a reality check on what is in drugs and alcohol.

This commercial was in an office setting, with a bunch of executive people that work for a cigarette company. They were trying to find ways to make their product reach target audiences.

When they got to discussion blacks/African Americans (I must point out that all these executives are white men), they said "Why don't we make them in packs of ten since blacks don't have as much money?" All the men agreed and then the slogan "It would have been funnier if we knew that it wasn't the truth."

I was extremely offended by this commercial. The program is basically saying that all blacks are poor and can't afford an entire pack of cigarettes. I'm not a smoker, but I'm appalled at the stereotype. And I know that there are others who are just as offended. This company is treating all blacks like they are all poor, when I know for a fact that it isn't true.

Things like this just piss me off. These people need to grow up and look at reality for once. I wouldn't even be stupid enough to attempt to release something like this to the general public, especially during the Noon news.

New Music Tuesday: Maroon 5 and An Explosion of Boy Bands and Pop Princesses

Happy New Music Tuesday! I tried to find a variety of new songs to share, but somehow I only found pop and dance music. Other than the limited music selection, I hope everyone finds something enjoyable (I'm definitely not lacking in the amount of new discoveries).


Maroon 5 "Runaway"



I think Maroon 5 wants to push this as the song for summertime beach fun. I mean, the video is all about beaches, surfing, and love. Whether that was the intention or not, I enjoy it :-)


Fefe Dobson feat. Orianthi "Can't Breathe"



Fefe Dobson has been around the music business for a few years now, but (to my observation) has yet to make a big enough impact. I hope this song turns all that around. I have always like her Janet Jackson type of persona. This song is on the soft side, but has an awesome guitar solo, thanks to Orianthi!

Jordin Sparks "The World I Knew" (for DisneyNature's "African Cats")



Jordin Sparks has always been the squeaky clean, but vocally powerful American Idol winner. To have her perform a song for a Disney flick is no surprise to me. It's gentle and family friendly. And look at all the baby leopards and lions!! Awwww.....


NKOTBSB "Dont Turn Out the Lights"


First, New Kids on the Block go on tour. Then, they collaborate with the Backstreet Boys for a performance at the American Music Awards, which was when they announced they will tour together. Naturally, a single by all nine gentlemen was the next step. I've only listened to it a couple times and I have not warmed up to it. By the time the concert makes it to Kansas City in July, I'll probably know all the words. Damn boy bands, LOL

Britney Spears "Till the World Ends"



Who knew that the end of the world involved a big dance party led by Miss Spears? I know the song is called "Till the World Ends" but did she really have to hone in on December 21, 2012? That just bugs the hell out of me. However, I do like the color scheme and the choreography. The song is growing on me... I can't help that one of my guilty pleasures is dance/club pop music!

Rihanna feat. Britney Spears "S&M (Remix)"



Britney NEVER collaborates with other artist beyond her own songs... so to have her join in on Rihanna's hot and dirrty song is impressive. I like the new lyrics added to the remix, but I still have trouble believing that Britney is that kind of girl... her voice sounds too innocent (which one of my friends commented that that was actually the autotune setting). I'm half hoping there will be a music video to accompany this version (which Rihanna already said she would love to).


Okay, now that we've covered new songs, it's time to switch gears. Ke$ha made a couple music videos for some of her older songs. I came across them on her YouTube page, just hours after they were uploaded.
Ke$ha "Animal"



Well, now I know that Ke$ha can make a somewhat normal video. I loved the color scheme throughout the video and how there was a little interpretive dance with the people in masks. Not too bad, visually.

Ke$ha "Stephen"



When I first heard this song, the word "creeper" came to mind. Now that I saw the video, I can add "stalker," "obsessive," and "desperate." Oh, and when the mannequin popped up, I immediately thought of A Very Brady Sequel.


Well, enough pop explosion... here's hoping that I'll find some variety by next Tuesday!!!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Movie Monday: Dead Poets, A 1986 Flashback, and Crazy Rockstar Lifestyles

Hello movie watchers! I hope you are experiencing a beautiful April day like me. I've been taking advantage of the outdoors a lot the past couple weeks (and have the tan to prove it). But, for the days where I relaxed indoors, I enjoyed a few films. Enjoy my reviews for the week!

Dead Poets Society



At the Welton Academy for boys, a group of students start a new year with a speech from the Headmaster about the academy's four pillars: Tradition, Honor, Discipline and Excellence. However, English professor Mr. Keating (Robin Williams) has returned to his alma mater to show the boys that they are extraordinary individuals and begins to teach them a new way of thinking and self expression. Some of the students reinstate Dead Poets Society, a club started by Mr. Keating dedicated to reading poetry inside a cave close to the academy. As the school year goes forward, the students learn to appreciate the beauty of self expression, despite what some of the other professors and their parents believe.

I really thought I had seen this before, like when I was in high school. I'm happy I caught this at the very beginning. I've seen other films similar to it (Renaissance Man, Mona Lisa Smile, Dangerous Minds) but this one was the predecessor. I loved how Mr. Keating realized the gifts of these students before he began to teach them and how he pushed them to express themselves as individuals. Even though the movie ended on a sad note, I appreciate how these students fought for what they wanted, good or bad. This is one of those films that I would recommend as a must watch for any high school student. Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

Hot Tub Time Machine



Adam (John Cusack), Nick (Craig Robinson), and Lou (Rob Corddry) all find themselves at a crossroads in life and decide to take a weekend trip, to their favorite winter resort from their adolescent days. Along with Adam's nephew Jacob (Clark Duke), they spend their first evening getting drunk and enjoying time inside a hot tub. The next day, they find themselves in the year 1986, on a weekend that was vital to every one of them. The friends realize that they have two options: change their fate or relive the weekend as they experienced it over 20 years ago.

The first thing I fell in love with about this movie? The music. Poison, Motley Crue, and many other great 80's songs. There were also a few recent songs that made the film entertaining. I loved Nick and Lou... they were the reason why this movie was so funny! For anyone that wants a guilty pleasure/ blast from the past kind of film, give this one a try! Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars

Get Him to the Greek



Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) is in need of a comeback after a breakup and horrible album. With the 10 year anniversary of one of Snow's concerts coming up, a Los Angeles record company wants him to come out and perform. Intern Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) has been recruited to go to London and bring Aldous to the United States. Between several delays out of London, random encounters with drugs and alcohol, and drama between exes (for both of them), they find themselves in a rush to get to the concert on time.

Wow... the rockstar life and all the craziness it ensues. As I expected, I got several laughs out of this film. But, like all other movies made by Judd Apatow and Jason Segel, I always get surprised about the more heartfelt moments, like the interactions between Aldous and his ex girlfriend Jackie (Rose Byrne). I loved all the celebrity cameos (Kurt Loder, Lars Ulrich, & more). This is one of those movies where it gets quoted a lot. If I watch it a couple more times, I'll be able to join in on quote wars with some of my coworkers. Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars


As of today, I am planning on going to see Scream 4 on Thursday night for the Midnight showing. So there's a possible hint of what to expect next week!!!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Xanga Diaries: Part II

When I created my Xanga account, I wanted to pay homage to my favorite show at the time, Sex and the City. Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) had her own column in a paper about sex and dating/ relationships. Since I aspired to have a column of my own, I thought that writing would help me establish a younger, Midwestern version of Sex and the City. I named my Xanga account The Next Carrie Bradshaw.

As I read the following post, I realized that I wrote this five days before I got married to my ex-husband. Interesting. I can't remember if we had obtained the marriage license yet, but the marriage was hidden from my family for a long time (not proud about that, by the way).

So anyway, enjoy this blast from the past (which the format totally resembles a college term paper... at least it did to me when reading it, lol).

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Monday, January 03, 2005

Changes

In a lifetime, there are many major milestones (or changes) that one can experience. After one of these milestones happen, there are an unlimited amount of things that can also happen. Depending on how that person handles these situations determines if they believe that they can still reach their goals in life. Why is it that no matter what happens in life, it somehow gets compared to how things were like when we were in high school?

Something that usually is compared first is relationships. When anyone first starts to date, they notice things that they like or dislike about a person. Anytime that a new person comes into the picture, they are automatically compared to that first person, sometimes setting new likes and dislikes. This eventually becomes a pattern and starts a new pattern, dating the same kind of people. For me, I tended to go for guys who played football in high school or firefighters. Unfortunately, for someone who has had dysfunctional relationships, another pattern can develop, comparing the exes to each other by slandering them. One of my exes, I've noticed, is doing that to his most recent ex-girlfriend. He's starting to grow very pessimistic about relationships because of her and because of the girl that he dated right after me. No matter what happens in a relationship, it always is compared to previous relationships.

A fallback to going through a major change is the feeling that you'll deeply miss "the good old days" where everyone was together and had a great time. This happens especially after high school graduation and after college graduation. When a person moves away from their family to pursue their dreams and goals, returning home (either visiting or staying) seems less and less enjoyable. Some no longer feel welcome in their hometown and others develop new (and harmful) habits to try to cope with the change. Some of these habits can be drugs, alcohol, sex, or even crime. This path can lead to be very dangerous to a person, and as long as they have people who care about them, they WILL have the power to get out of these habits (and counseling or medications are not always the answer, I see them as a very last resort type of thing.. and I'd rather not be codependent on either thing to get on with life).

Moving away is another change that definitely gets compared to with the high school days. When somebody moves out and starts to live on their own (or with a roommate or spouse), the "real world" seems to kick them in the ass. All of a sudden, a person has to deal with bills and keeping a job to pay for the bills, budgeting, buying groceries, and (for some) having a family and children. None of these things were issues in high school; the biggest issues used to be boyfriend/girlfriend related or finding money (or begging the parents for some) to hang out with your friends.

No matter what life seems to throw at us, eventually we all have to change. My best advice is just to go with the flow and accept the changes with as much optimism as you can. Unless you enjoy being a pessimist, I don't recommend being one because life seems to get worse and worse if you think that way. And as far as high school goes, it is in the past and you can't change what happened then. But you CAN change what happens in your future...

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

New Music Tuesday: Alien Abductions, A Nostalgic Nickelodeon Game Show and Several Other Videos!

I think I hit the jackpot this week. I got so excited finding several of the following songs that I couldn't wait for today to come to share them with you guys!!! Get ready for a music video explosion... some out of this world (pun intended).

Katy Perry feat. Kanye West "E.T."



I have always been a fan of Floria Sigsimondi's work (other credits include Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People," Christina Aguilera's "Fighter"). While the video was visually beautiful, the concept was way over hyped. I expected more out of it. I did find it a little amusing seeing Kanye in one of those spheres that you normally put hamsters in (to run around on the floor).


Porcelain Black feat. Lil Wayne "This is What Rock and Roll Looks Like (Explicit version)"



A pop song with a rock edge... I have found my new guilty pleasure!!! While researching newcomer Porcelain Black (actual name Alaina Beaton), I discovered that her producer is RedOne... just like Lady Gaga. She credits Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, and Britney Spears as her three major music influences (sweet!) and knows that people will think of her rock/pop persona as cheesy. I really love the combo.. maybe too much, LOL. I am very interested to see more of her in the future.

And wow... she deep throated that microphone!!!


Good Charlotte "Last Night"




Good Charlotte (and FunnyorDie.com)... thank you for reminding me why I wanted to be on Family Double Dare when I was a kid!!! I'll admit that the first time I watched this video I wasn't listening to the song, LOL. Once I actually listened to the song, I enjoyed it (although it made the video funnier, since the video has nothing to do with the song). Oh, and where can I get my own Double Dare t-shirt???

Raphael Saadiq "Stone Rollin"



Ooh... a jazzy, Motown song! I already like Raphael Saadiq's style! If his entire album sounds like this, I'm investing in it.

Bruno Mars feat. Damian Marley "Liquor Store Blues"



I was a little disappointed that Bruno's newest single wasn't "The Lazy Song." But, his Doo Wops and Hooligan's album is the first one this year that I enjoy every single track. This song has a very reggae feel to it, especially with Damian Marley featured in it. It's a very laid back song :-)

Kid Rock feat. Sheryl Crow "Collide"



Well, well well. Look who decided to collaborate for another song! I like this so much better than "Picture" (and not just because this song is new, or not overplayed at every bar across the country). I thought it was adorable to see them play a couple on a first date in the video. I know that they are acting, but it still makes me curious if they would make a good couple or not (outside of their careers). Maybe we might witness some developments while they tour together this summer...

Far East Movement feat. Snoop Dogg  "If I Was You (OMG)"



I'm not that big of a fan of Far East Movement. To me, the songs are more annoying than enjoyable. This song isn't that bad compared to "Like a G6," and I like Snoop Dogg's contribution. I was attracted to the bar in this video, with the multi colored lights on the ceiling and how some parts of the video had that really gorgeous orange hue to it. I like bars with a lot of color and lights (but not overly busy, like the one in this video). It makes dancing with friends (and random guys) more enjoyable, LOL

You guys aren't overwhelmed with this explosion of music, are you???? Until next week... enjoy these songs!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Movie Monday: A White Swan Goes to the Dark Side

Last week, I was in a new music mood, so movies took a backseat. However, when shopping at Best Buy last Wednesday evening, I couldn't resist investing $15 for a just released Oscar winning film. I watched it the next morning... and really wished I had gone to see it in theaters.


Black Swan



Prima ballerina Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder) is "retiring" from a New York City ballet company, opening up a lead role in Thomas Leroy's (Vincent Cassel) production of Swan Lake. Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) accurately portrays the White Swan but struggles to show her dark side as the Black Swan. She gets the part. As she works on the show Nina finds herself competing with Lily (Mila Kunis), a dancer recently transferred from San Francisco, who is the epitome of the Black Swan. The two begin a strange, twisted friendship that slowly turns Nina's life in a direction that gives her the edge she needs to perform as the Black Swan.

For anyone that thinks this is a chick flick about ballet, you are sorely mistaken. Yes, ballet is a part of it, but it's mostly about getting so enthralled in a role that, in the end, you find yourself changed. Nina has always been a White Swan, between her discipline as a ballet dancer and her (extremely) overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey). Before she landed the role in the production, Nina was already exemplifying self destructive behavior, by scratching herself and the incident in Thomas' office.

The friendship with Lily brought new experiences to Nina's life, also contributing to self destructive behavior. It's very easy to tell that Nina's mother had sheltered her daughter from a lot of things, like what to watch out for in social situations in nightclubs. Then there is the infamous scene between Lily and Nina... a scene that would be embarrassing to watch on a first date, or with your parents. Add the relationship with the director, the breakdown of Beth's career, and the beautiful dancing, this movie was absolutely brilliant. I'm glad I made the impulse purchase. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Friday, April 1, 2011

The Xanga Diaries: Part I

One night in March, I was bored and decided to see if my Xanga account was still active. To my surprise, it was, even though I had gone through the steps to have it deleted a long time ago. As I read all the entries from when I was 21-23 years old, I realized that some of my entries were hinting on angst (this was also the time where I was a new mom and was married to my ex-husband... so some of my entries about my ex were not revealing what was really going on behind closed doors).

After I read all the entries, I decided that I'm going to share them. I have separated the entries into seven blogs, which will be randomly dispersed this month.

To my close girlfriends who may or may not read these... I'm going to apologize now if any of these entries hurt your feelings. This time of my life had a lot of darkness in it... as you guys might remember.

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Friday, December 31, 2004

Four Women, Four Long-Term Relationships, and Four Babies

Three years ago, six close girlfriends spend time together during their senior year of high school. Throughout the year, two of them would always be against each other, either about spreading rumors or about a guy or even about not spending time with each other. Once high school ended, they all went their separate ways to live their dreams. But for four of these girls, life threw them something they never expected to have before their five year reunion... babies. Each had their own unique qualities that made them known to people in high school and now they all are experiencing what parenthood is all about. Even though life can change with a pregnancy test, can a person still be the same after having a baby?

Lets start with the first one to have a baby. In high school, she was the purest of the group and always loyal to her friends. She did not have her first long-term boyfriend until the end of senior year. He later became her fiance and moved in with her and her family. She got pregnant in fall 2003 and had a son in May 2004. She currently works full time, takes care of her son, and is still planning on her dream of opening her own daycare center. She and her fiance are planning to get married in the next year or two and eventually move out to a place of their own.

Then there is number two. She was the wildest of the group and had an on-again, off-again boyfriend for four years (2 years high school, 2 years after). She was the first one to get a place of her own after graduation and all she did was work, party, and spent time with whoever she dated at the time. She also got pregnant in fall 2003, but got married to the father in April 2004. Two months later, she gave birth to a girl six weeks early, creating a little stress on her and hubby. She isn't working so she spends all the time with the baby. She might go back to work, but she isn't sure.

The third one to have a baby is me. If i could describe myself in high school, I was the hopeless romantic who knew she wanted to be a writer. After high school, I went to one college in St. Louis, then came back home to go to the community college. One day, after finishing my finals in 2003, I met a guy at the drive in. By October, we were engaged, living together the next month, and I was pregnant in February 2004. We had Truman in November. I wasn't planning on returning to work, but ended up due to unexpected bills. I'm still going to college, but I'm limited to doing night and weekend classes.

The last of the four women is still pregnant. She was the one that was all talk and no action, but was always there to defend her friends. A few months before graduation, her family moved an hour away, forcing her to graduate without her close friends. She soon after moved in with her grandparents and met a great guy. As time went on, the guy and her would fight, leading to him abusing her mentally, then physically. After one of the girls and I (and our men) tried to help her get out of the situation, she still ended up back with him and stopped defending us when he would threaten to hurt her friends. She is now pregnant with his son and has to deal with some rejection and disappointment from her close friends.

These women have gone through many life changes in the past three years, and we all compare how we were and how we are. It seems like we are all generally the same, but we all have little bundles of joy to care for and love, as well as the men who got us pregnant.