lucky number forty-four

From the Denver Post and unearthed by fellow blog-surfer Christy:

No words can describe their beauty. Or her fierce arms.

(photos courtesy of blogs.denverpost.com)

Q: What would I pay to know what is in that letter from # 43 to # 44?

A: Anything.

Q: What do I think it says?

A: "I'm peacin' up outta here real fast. Sorry for all your inherited problems. Presidential flask is in the bottom drawer."

daily "mmmm"

Thank you to Northwest Coffee in Clayton, Missouri (for sure the only place in Missouri worth living ... sorry to Columbia, and any other suburb I just insulted) for having VEGAN COOKIES!

As Grace and I slave away writing essays for our freshman level courses, a little pick me up was needed (as I've nearly finished my XXXXXL coffee).

Situated directly to the right of the cash register was a case of Nana's Cookies and surely enough, they are vegan. Who doesn't love finding such treasures?

Evidence of our ravaging said cookie:

Sometimes, it's these small pleasures that get you through a rough day:

Best friend? Check.

Coffee? Check. 

--Coffee deserves a double check--

Chocolate? Check.

skippin' town

Grace and I are off to St. Louis for a romantic weekend.

daily poem

We'll begin with box, and the plural is boxes, 

But the plural of ox should be oxen, not oxes. 

Then one fowl is goose, but two are called geese, 

Yet the plural of moose should never be meese. 

You may find a lone mouse or a whole lot of mice, 

But the plural of house is houses, not hice. 

If the plural of man is always called men, 

Why shouldn't the plural of pan be pen? 

The cow in the plural may be cows or kine, 

But the plural of vow is vows, not vine. 

And I speak of a foot, and you show me your feet, 

But I give a boot... would a pair be beet?

If one is a tooth, and a whole set is teeth,

Why shouldn't the plural of booth be beeth?

If the singular is this, and the plural is these,

Why shouldn't the plural of kiss be kese?

Then one may be that, and three be those,

Yet the plural of hat would never be hose.

We speak of a brother, and also of brethren,

But though we say mother, we never say methren.

The masculine pronouns are he, his and him,

But imagine the feminine she, shis, and shim.

So our English, I think you will agree,

Is the trickiest language you ever did see.

I take it you already know

of tough, and bough and cough and dough?

Others may stumble, but not you

on hiccough, through, slough and though.

Well done! And now you wish, perhaps

To learn of less familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word

That looks like beard and sounds like bird.

And dead; it's said like bed, not bead!

For goodness sake, don't call it deed!

Watch out for meat and great and threat,

(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt)

A moth is not a moth in mother,

Nor both in bother, broth in brother.

And here is not a match for there,

Nor dear and fear for bear and pear,

And then there's dose and rose and lose –

Just look them up – and goose and choose,

And cork and work and card and ward

And font and front and word and sword.

And do and go, then thwart and cart.

Come, come, I've hardly made a start.

A dreadful language: Why, man alive,

I'd learned to talk when I was five.

And yet to write it, the more I tried,

I hadn't learned it at fifty-five.

-author unknown, yet taken from humbleapostrophe.com

(no, I do nothing other with my time than read grammar blogs)

"when it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there"

My favorite tradition: making the trek to Ann Arbor, Michigan every winter to spend a weekend with some of my nearest and dearest friends from childhood.

My least favorite thing about this tradition: The Megabus drive this particular December that took me through what I would assume to be Michigan's worst whiteout ever. 

Not to be outdone by the blizzard, the bus driver decided for all us patrons that Beyonce would get us through the snowfall. And for the third time, "Single Ladies" seemed suspiciously timed to the "thunk thunk thunk" of the windshield wipers that attempted and continually failed contact with the windshield.

This year it fell during a particularly "girl necessary" time and it was, as they say, exactly what the doctor ordered.

Some photo documentation of the girl I plan on spending the rest of my life with.

Yeah, probably in that way. Or at least until we decide it's probably best to no longer live together (i.e. if we're in our mid-thirties and still unmarried.)

not only one best friend but TWO! julie, turn around.

most likely serenading each other.

showing liz my moves. liz showing me her american idol audition.

having way more fun than should be humanly possible.

in love.

about fifteen years and counting....

why I want to be my mom

We are best friends. We have a uniquely dynamic relationship. Yadda yadda.

Mushy stuff aside, she is freaking hilarious.

Let me explain the current situation: My mom and her client/my mom #2, Naomi, just called me. All they want to talk about is my love life. It's all they ever want to talk about. Ever. (Oh, and, as they are calling me my mother is in fact training her. It's a wonder Naomi still pays for her services.)

Naomi, my mother and I are three generations of hilarity and muscles. We work out together, we gossip entirely too often, we BBM each other and we even shared a romantic mexican meal at Holy Frijoles. Who would've thought that age differences could matter so little.

Anyway, they keep switching the phone back and forth between each other, not allowing me to get a word in edgewise. It sounds a little something like advice, splashed with some lecturing and some sarcastic sexual comments sprinkled on top.

Every few seconds I am brought back to reality that my mother is actually doing her job (personal trainer) because I hear sentences like this intermittently:

Naomi: It's too heavy.

Kris: No it's not. Shut up and do three more.

.... or ...

Naomi: Hold on Sammi, your mom is about to throw a six-pound ball at my head.

Oh and last but not least, my final piece of advice compliments of Naomi included something about having an orgy. What do I hear next? My mother laughing in the background.

Guess she had no protest.

God I love the women in my life.

looking for the X that marks the spot

The Lost Girls have morphed into my mascot these past few days.

On their blog (which I've religiously been stalking since our initial meeting) they have a list of 20 reasons they decided to travel, ahem, BACKPACK, the globe. 

Yes, the g-l-o-b-e. 

Day-um.

While the list resonated with me in a few different pitches, one sang out much louder than the rest. 

I do agree that waking up to the roar of a river would be preferable to the alarm on my blackberry which sounds somewhere between a dying cat and a tone-deaf Pavarotti, and I too am a sucker for men with accents.  

However, aesthetics and sensory overload aside, the reason at the very bottom of their list (which has been promised to be in no particular order) is, drumroll please . . . 

Sometimes you have to get lost in order to be found.

These past few weeks have been full of uncertainties and an inordinate amount of change (I'm not referring to our new President; selfishly, I was speaking of my life) and even more questions about my future.

So, as I set out to email a polished resume to my brother for a potential job, or internship... or... waitressing gig, well, anything that will hire me in D.C. I take solace in this idea.

If sometimes you need to get lost in order to be found, hell, I am definitely on the right track.

Oh, and I mean that in a good way.

this is good...

My roommate "stumbled" upon this while using "stumbleupon.com" and it's funny -- and it puts some perspective on why we maybe shouldn't follow religion as such a strict rule of thumb (ahem, prop 8...cough cough).

I hope no one gets offended, I'm all for freedom of religion. This is just funny. And proves some points, but I won't go into detail.

I'm as neutral as Switzerland.

Why Can't I Own a Canadian? October 2002

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a east coast resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted fan,

Jim

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

jessica, we need to talk

Ok. Let me preface with this: I feel so bad for her, and I feel bad posting this picture. She's gorgeous, at any size. But, really ... what happened??

If The NY Post is making a cartoon about your illicit relations with Ronald McDonald, it's time for the gym. 

As a Newlyweds fan (did I really publicly admit that? Not my fault, Christy has all the seasons on DVD...) I am rooting for her to pull out that pink bikini a la Dukes of Hazzard once again. 

Come on, Jess.

(photo courtesy of www.metro.co.uk)

(cartoon courtesy of The NY Post)

oh the places they'll go

I've been writing a lot recently about the abundance of blogs drifting through the worldwide web, but what can I say, the adventures of others that one can follow through the written word catches my thirst for excitement and innovative knowledge. 

Just like the magazine frontier, name a topic and you will find several different blogs cataloguing each detail from every corner of the Earth. Mine would be listed under: only fun to read if you know me. Oh well.

Anyway, this brings us to www.lostgirlsworld.blogspot.com

This particular online journal shadows an incredible trio of women who decided one day, amidst a Manhattan snow storm, to leave their loved ones and even more beloved jobs behind to travel 35,000 miles in the course of one year. 

35,000 miles. Around the globe and back again.

(photo courtesy of www.lostgirlsworld.blogspot.com)

Their expedition began back in June, 2006 so this 365-day marker has long come and gone but their blog has steadfastly remained and is now home to other women around the blue-and-green planet we call home. 

Other women, akin to these three pilots of the get-up-and-go manuever, have blogged from all over the world; crediting the Lost Girls blog as their inspiration to follow a lifelong dream to: just travel, quit a job that doesn't engage the mind, go to a far-reaching place of the world and just be there; no judgements.

Jen, one of the initial Lost Girls, wrote:

"One of the things I love most about being a Lost Girl is receiving emails from other fearless ladies who have dared to get 'lost' themselves and are eager to share their stories."

The blog is now a visionary of people who are daring to do the same and it's inspiration to approach your life; ready for awakening and arousal. 

There is encouragement to follow your muse; your revelations; your sparks; your whims. 

Stimulate your senses, forge your own way and have the incentive and insight to do with your life what you want.

Still unsure of what to do when I graduate, this is an increasingly attractive prospect. Minus my lack of funds. 

....To leave this on a SUPER exciting note, the words: huggie (as in a hug), sexellent (sexy and excellent) and fabletastic (fabulous and fantastic) have been added to the 2009 Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 

I will keep researching what fun words have been stockpiled in the dictionary for this fiscal year and report back later. Maybe I'll even include a picture of my dictionary; not to be confused with my moleskin.

word of the day

According to Merriam-Webster the word of the day today is:

primogeniture • \prye-moh-JENN-uh-chur\ • noun
*1 : the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents 2 : an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son

Example sentence:
Brian argued that primogeniture gave him the right to the first piece of cake among his siblings.

Did you know?
In many civilizations, past and present, the state of being the oldest among siblings is a key component of inheritance law. “Primogeniture,” which first appeared in English in the early 17th century, derives from the Late Latin “primogenitura,” a combination of the Latin “primus” (“first”) and “genitura” (“birth”), from the past participle of “gignere” (“to beget”). For those who are youngest in birth order, a similar word applies -- “ultimogeniture” -- but this word is newer (first appearing in English in 1882) and much less common.

(props to Merriam-Webster for the info ... later today, I'll find out who (what?) Merriam-Webster is. Or who (what?) they are.)

Thanks to my brother, Jamie, I will never have any rights under the rein of primogeniture. Damn.

Coffee time!

Happy Wednesday.

i've fallen in love....

I am actually in love with these and now know exactly where my next paycheck is going. 

Even if it means forfeiting food for the week.

 

(poster courtesy of AllPosters.com)

(Poster courtesy of AllPosters.com)

These are absolutely orgasmic.

"One's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains it's original dimensions."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

the dangerous tale of the m&m's

We are quite the trio at 2627; as is documented by our twin-like images (read: victoria secret models) taped on the refrigerator.

We often times have meals together and tonight it was prefaced with -- Katie: "Now girls, cell phones away during dinner."

Every time my roommates go out, I am guaranteed a midnight (ahem, 2 a.m...) attack in which my door creaks open slowly and is then followed by a blur of blonde and brown hair flinging themselves onto my bed, all the while screaming "saaaaaammmmmiiiiiiiii!!"

Needless to say, I hit the roommate jackpot.

BUT ... there is always a but ...

My dearly beloved roommate Christy Anne Solberg decided to start a new tradition for the ladies that reside here and it is: a heart shaped glass bowl (innocent enough), CONSTANTLY FILLED WITH M&Ms.

You walk by once, grab one ... go back in your room. Come back in the kitchen for a glass of water, and ... grab one or two more. Next thing you know, your hand is scrounging in an empty bowl and your tongue is stained red -- it's valentine's day almost, the candies are mostly pink and red.

Katie and I have politely asked Christy to cease this awful (read: wonderful) habit, and it was upon our insistence that she opened her cupboard and revealed an entirely unopened bag still waiting to dump its contents as soon as the nearing-empty bowl truly was M&M-less.

It was then and only then that Christy made us this promise, and for that, we are eternally grateful. And by "we" I mean our thighs.

the red scare

moleskine fever. 

"There is a saying that 'paper is more patient than man'" --anne frank

because it's too cold to do anything but blog.

... and because homework is just too un-fun.

Go to: www.overheardinnewyork.com

(photo courtesy of www.overheardinnewyork.com)

People about town send in funny comments or conversations they've overheard throughout the city and this genius website posts them.

Most of them are taken out of context, I am sure, but it makes them funnier. A lot funnier.

Not only is it hilarious, it can consume hours of your night without you even noticing. 

Like youtube.

You will find gems such as this one:

Three-year-old distraught child: Mommy, mommy, she thought I was five years old.
Grandmother: Do you know why? Because she thought you were a big boy!
Mother: When you're five, you're going to stop sucking your... (waits for a response)
Three-year-old, face now lit up: My penis!

...or this one...

Girl #1: Look at that painting. Is it called "hairy balls"?
Girl #2: It should be.
Girl #1: If it's not called "hairy balls," I'm leaving.
(girl #2 goes to look, comes back)
Girl #2: Something about a baby.
Girl #1: Okay, that's it.
Girl #2: Look, there are thumbtacks near his balls. That has to suck.
Girl #1: Let's go back to the vagina room.

Preview of my Sunday:

Suit #1: Do you want a drink?
Suit #2: It's 7 o'clock in the morning.
Suit #1: And...?

Preview of my life:

Girl #1: That's a cute dress. Are you going to wear it with leggings.
Girl #2: I don't own leggings.
Girl #1: Why not?
Girl #2: Because I'm not an asshole.

(what on earth does girl #2 have against leggings? rude...jack, help me out here.)

The website also hosts: overheard in the office, overheard at the beach, overheard everywhere and celebrity wit (we all know my love for the occasional celebrity...)

You are welcome for giving you a reason to stay indoors in this uncharacteristically cold winter. 

feeling nostalgic

I miss my best friend.

(photo taken outside of the African museum next to le tour d'eiffel)

I miss Paris.

number one reason to: quit your job if you are a telemarketer

A roomie dinner conversation:

Christy: This 800 number calls me four times a day and every time I answer no one is there.

Sammi: Who is it?

Christy: Mediacom.

Katie: How do you know if no one is on the phone?

Christy: Because I googled the number. Apparently there's been a lot of complaints from this number. There's never anyone there and they call all the time!

Phone rings..... it's the 800 number.

Sammi: Put it on speaker!

Christy: (answers phone) Heelllloooooo, assholeeeeee...

[insert awkward shuffling noises of the blatantly-there telemarketer on the other end of the line here]

aaaand scene.

define: empowerment

Nothing like a good women's empowerment class to get a girl riled up.

It's not women's empowerment I'm talking about; rather, empowerment of a whole range of minorities and where prejudices come from. 

Question of the day: are stereotypes perpetuated from the marked people themselves, or are they helplessly caught in a vicious cycle of missed opportunities because of who they are? In class we had this discussion: is it structural or behavioral? More importantly, is it the choices people have or the choices people make that affect the outcome of their lives?

In these terms, structural means systemic forces such as the economy that bring about a lack of jobs -- aka what choices they have, while behavioral means self-destructive life choices or personal habits that keep someone from getting said jobs -- aka what choices they make.

In the New York Times article, Breaking the Silence by Henry Louis Gates Jr, this topic is debated. For example, do African-Americans hinder themselves from economic success because of the estimated 50% chance they will be a high school dropout or the possible 64% of black teenage females that get pregnant (statistics from the New York Times article), or are they innately incapable of snatching a good job because of where or what socioeconomic class they were born into? Can these kids break out of that high school dropout statistic if they are born into a lower class - even if they try??

The article quotes Michelle and Barack Obama (printed in August, 2004 ... foreshadowing much?) as saying that if we know of this problem, why do people sit back and allow it? Why are one-third of black children born into poverty, and what kind of detrimental affects does it have on their options later in life?

(Barack was reported saying that "Americans suffer from anti-intellectualism, starting in the White House..." If only he knew five years later he'd be the one setting up shop at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue...)

This question goes for all minorities. Do women accept their inconsistencies by taking a considerable pay cut from a man; even under the same job title? Does the gay community accept the characteristics that stain their reputation such as flamboyant or effeminate and do nothing to stop those flagrant rumors; rather live them up to their fullest? 

OR, is there truly no wiggle room? Are the stereotypes so firmly rooted into society that even the - loudest of feminists, the most vocal gay-rights activists or even the vision of the first black man to sit in our oval office - can't change what people think? How people act?

Sorry to be so debby-downer today, but let's be honest ... what's with all the stereotypes in our country and where do they come from!? 

Have you done anything to stop them?

oops, more grammar

www.humbleapostrophe.com

I have no idea how I could have possibly missed the flip side of Kill the Apostrophe.

As if the hilarity that is killtheapostrophe.com isn't enough reason to read this blog, look at all the grammar options listed below! PARTY!!!



(number one is the home page, so don't let it bother you that it is missing)
2: Crazy English
3: Apostrophes
4: Your/You're
5: Singular Nouns
6: Plurals
7: Who's Whose
8: Possessive Nouns
9: Its, It's
10: Where, We're
11: Proper Nouns
12: Nouns/Verbs
13: I before E
14: Affect, Effect
15: Me, Myself
16: Separate, Seperate
17: StationEry, StationAry
18: Dot dot dot
19: Ends in O
20: Compliment
21: Misanthrope
22: Pronunciation
23: Past/Passed
24: Colons, Commas
25: Online Dictionaries
27: Proofreading
28: Tshirts etc!
29: Books/Games
30: Fridge Magnets
31: Got questions?

no more grammar. for at least a little while.

some call me a nerd...

...and, well it is true.

My newest obsession only exemplifies my "doofus" qualities, and it is my 2009 Moleskin Day Planner.

For those of you who don't know what a Moleskin is, it is essentially a notebook. I wish there were more of an in-depth explanation, but it's not anything fancy that makes a Moleskin a Moleskin. 

What sets these pages apart from any other simply bound set of sheets is its relationship history. Ex-affairs include the likes of famous thinkers Van Gogh and Picasso.

As the Moleskin website boasts:

MOLESKINE IS THE HEIR OF THE LEGENDARY NOTEBOOK,
USED BY EUROPEAN ARTISTS AND THINKERS FOR THE PAST
TWO CENTURIES.

THIS SILENT AND DISCREET KEEPER
OF AN EXTRAORDINARY TRADITION, WHICH
HAS BEEN MISSING FOR YEARS, HAS BEEN
REPRODUCED BY THE ITALIAN COMPANY MODO
& MODO SINCE 1998. WITH ITS VARIOUS
DIFFERENT PAGE STYLES IT ACCOMPANIES
THE CREATIVE PROFESSIONS AND HAS BECOME
A SYMBOL OF CONTEMPORARY NOMADISM.

MOLESKINE IS A FAMILY OF NOTEBOOKS
FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, ACCORDING
WITH A FREE MINDSTYLE, BOTH BASIC
AND EMOTIONAL.

The sketchbook of 

Vincent van Gogh (1888–1890)

Kept in the Van Gogh

Museum of Amsterdam

Van Gogh's notebook is a bit older than mine but here is mine, red and beautiful:



Grace has the same planner, however she added to hers a skull and crossbones. So badass. Pictures of hers maybe to come later.

Now, go out and buy a Moleskin. It's the closest to Picasso you'll ever be.

daily grammarian

I used to hate grammar.

Now, Grammar, I love you.

Here are some websites that are dedicated solely to the wonder that is the correct comma placement, dash for emphasis, parsing for fun and oh so much more (then you ever wanted to know) about the written word ... enjoy.

1) www.whyatittle.blogspot.com

-- Showcasing some of the more hilarious everyday mistakes with an emphasis on the oddly placed lowercase "i" amongst otherwise fully capitalized words. See below.

Photo courtesy of whyatittle.blogspot.com

2) http://literally.barelyfitz.com/

-- This blog chronicles the illicit use of the word literally in the english language. For this reason, it holds a place near and dear in my heart. To any of those who know me, it is a well-documented fact that I say "literally" just about every other word. Literally. 

3) www.lowercasel.blogspot.com

-- Similar to whyatittle, this blog records different incidents of the confusion that ensues when a handwritten sign or poster reads with a lowercase letter "l" while intelligently deciding to leave all other letters capitalized. It looks like a number one, people.

4) www.killtheapostrophe.com

Lets discard the apostrophe. Its pointless.

For this next one, I decided to just copy and paste something that came straight off the blog because there is a point to be made in what is being said. Plus, it's damn funny.

Some preemptive explanation: the author of this website has deemed the apostrophe unnecessary. Before you imagine a dark, sad world where no one can understand if you meant "we are" or "were" without the apostrophe, the site has some logic behind their crazy quest for the apostrophe's murder. Case in point:

"WHAT ABOUT HE'LL AND HELL AND WE'RE AND WERE, SMARTASS?

OK, lets make an effort here and try to think of examples of sentences where apostrophe usage might be said to make a functional difference.

Wait a second, Im still thinking.

Um...

OK, look, Im out of time right now. If you know a sure fire example of a sentence where (for instance) we'll and well or we're and were can be mixed up in a way that actually has an impact in the real world, please email webmaster@killtheapostrophe.com. If it took you more than an hour to think of, it doesnt count. The fact that most people are unable to think of a single real-world example which left them genuinely confused about a meaning, or where they couldnt seek clarification from the context is the reason I think this objection is irrelevant." 

(text courtesy of www.killtheapostrophe.com)

Well.... can you think of one? I'll ask my editing professor. 

*Read this blog; even if you don't like grammar (ugh, what is wrong with you, man!?) It's just plain hilarious, and yes I am aware I will find it funnier than someone who isn't studying Journalism. Just read it.

5) www.celebrityenglish.com

-- Time for my two favorite things to join forces: celebrity gossip and grammar. There is a God. Not only does this website quote a plethora of celebrities (bring on the trash, sass, fashion and apparently, stupidity) it ALSO then goes into detail by sweet detail of what grammar law they disobeyed. Genius. This website may even turn me on a little bit.

Here is a clip to get your whistle wet:

Christian makes an agreement error but uses the right pronoun
“He’s not a guy who feels the suit to be constricting. Wearing the mask and putting on the suit gives him absolute freedom.” - Christian Bale, about his Batman character in The Dark Knight

Christian has made an error in subject/verb agreement. In the second sentence, the subject is the compound noun “Wearing the mask and putting on the suit,” which is plural. However, the verb, “gives,” is singular. One way to correct the error is to change the verb to its singular form.

“Wearing the mask and putting on the suit give him absolute freedom.”

In the first sentence, Christian correctly used the relative pronoun “who” to refer to “guy.” A common grammatical error is the use of “that” to refer to a person. Nice job, Christian!

(text courtesy of www.celebrityenglish.com)

Dear www.celebrityenglish, are you single? Wanna get it on?

6) www.wordsatwork.blogspot.com

-- Warning: this one is probably not for anyone outside of the journalistic world. The writer of this blog, dare I say it, is as witty as me and definitely has a keener eye for journalism. Damn. Not only is it fun to read, but it is also chock full of how-to's. If that weren't reason enough to check it out, look down the left side of the page and BAM, links to nowhere short of 100 blogs. Surely one will catch your eye. 

7) www.apstylebook.com/ask_editor.php

-- Who knew that when writing about skiing down a slope, the proper terminology is schussing. As in, "I schussed down the slope." I'll tell you who: Jennifer Rowe, my editing professor. I have no doubt, however that David Minthorn, AP Stylebook editor knows that as well. Go ask David your questions; he will undoubtedly answer them regardless of their mundane importance. Here's a gem from today:

"Is ramen, as is ramen noodles, uppercase? Thanks."

David's response: "lowercase"

Short. To the point. AP Style, you've made my life hell. But I like you anyway.

---------

I now know what I will be doing with the rest of my evening. Happy grammar-ing!

  

mr. shifty

If anyone was fortunate enough to catch my brief stint on Grace's blog, you would have seen that my reason for gaining co-authorship was to publicly outline our ridiculous companionship.

I had also mentioned that there were many reasons I enjoyed spending some (...all?) of my time with her, and then today the clouds parted and luck was on my side: I got photographic proof that she is actually, hard as it is to believe, a bigger dork than myself.

I was waiting at the j-cafe for Grace to get out of class and in she strolls with a skeleton. 

What other reason do I need to shun her from society? 

meet: Mr. Shifty.

the white house is full of ...

Hope. 

Abundant Love.

Beautiful promises.

An even more beautiful family.

Barack calls Michelle his rock. He looks at her like it's the first time he's seen her every time she walks alongside him. After how many years of marriage? Seventeen. That's 6,205 days. More importantly, after how many years of stressful campaigning? He held his first office in 1997. That calculates his run for office at 4,015 of those married days.

Where, oh where, does one find love so full and eternal?

a day of celebration!

As I sit in my Nutritional Sciences class it brings me back to my freshman year of college. Why, you ask? In my last ditch efforts to graduate in four not-so-short years, the only requirements I need aside from my capstone courses are: general electives. Not even upper-level.

What does this mean?

It means classes like this one. 1000 Level Nutritional Sciences. Middlebush Hall. 400 students. No, the professor will never know my name and every one in here, aside from myself and my trusty sidekick Grace, looks like they are steps away from having a mental breakdown (i.e. freshman).

This is reason enough to celebrate -- I am three and a half years into my college career, nearing my finish (and losing steam...is it May?) and I am taking a freshman level course. Helloooo, senioritis.

HOWEVER, today is a precious day for TWO reasons.

Number one ... It is Julie Axelrad's 22nd birthday. To one of my very first friends from the very first day of Kindergarten, we have spent some of the best years together and I look very forward to 22 more. Happy birthday pretty girl; have the best day ever. You deserve every one of your wildest wishes to come true.



And number two, (however, no less important or exciting!!) today is Jackie's first day of her career as intern extraordinaire at Teen Vogue.

photo courtesy of Teen Vogue

To two of my oldest, closest and dearest friends: have beautiful, exciting days because you are beautiful and exciting girls. Thank you for being my friends and bringing your exuberant, breathtaking selves into my life.

blogger mania

Kim starts a blog!

Oh, and ... it's pink ... check it out.

www.milroc.blogspot.com

all I need now is a pint of ben and jerry's...

I have Grace to thank for giving me this hauntingly beautiful song.

almost lover

by: a fine frenzy

Your fingertips across my skin

The palm trees swaying in the wind

Images

You sang me Spanish lullabies

The sweetest sadness in your eyes

Clever trick

Well, I never want to see you unhappy

I thought you'd want the same for me

[Chorus]

Goodbye, my almost lover

Goodbye, my hopeless dream

I'm trying not to think about you

Can't you just let me be?

So long, my luckless romance

My back is turned on you

Should've known you'd bring me heartache

Almost lovers always do

We walked along a crowded street

You took my hand and danced with me

Images

And when you left, you kissed my lips

You told me you would never, never forget 

These images

No

Well, I'd never want to see you unhappy

I thought you'd want the same for me

[Chorus]

Goodbye, my almost lover

Goodbye, my hopeless dream

I'm trying not to think about you

Can't you just let me be?

So long, my luckless romance

My back is turned on you

Should've known you'd bring me heartache

Almost lovers always do

I cannot go to the ocean

I cannot drive the streets at night

I cannot wake up in the morning 

Without you on my mind

So you're gone and I'm haunted

And I bet you are just fine

Did I make it that

Easy to walk right in and out

Of my life?

[Chorus]

Goodbye, my almost lover

Goodbye, my hopeless dream

I'm trying not to think about you

Can't you just let me be?

So long, my luckless romance

My back is turned on you

Should have known you'd bring me heartache

Almost lovers always do

So I decided to take the plunge....

My blogging guru, GGC, has decided to take a break from the depths of cyberspace in her quest to a furthered education; therefore leaving me blog-less.

With her permission to use (read: steal) her coined "Daily [insert term here]" I have joined the throngs of people that feel the need to publish their life online with the irrational thought that anyone other than themselves (and, let's face it ... my mom) will read it.

Writing, I would love to say has been my chosen path because of my love for the written word. True. However, I will unabashedly admit that math and science were two subjects that decided to pick on me from early on in life. Rude, right? If only those two bullies had decided to shine their graces on me, I could be well on my way to a fattie paycheck and job security. Instead, thank you English classes, I am on a fast-track towards a dying field: Magazine Journalism.

As scary as I made that sound, I love magazines. I love reading them, I love learning from them and I especially love that there are at least thirty magazines for each hobby (hello, Wood Magazine). With that proclamation of love out of the way (just in case the job gods are looking....) I do look forward to my potential foray into the journalistic world in six short months; all starting with this blog.

I like to think that this will serve as writing practice before my word vomit will be in the hands of an unforgiving editor. Let us remember that The Devil Wears Prada was loosely based on reality, and by loosely, I mean ... a nearly-true story.

Here goes nothin', my vain attempt to bring insight on all that is: life, love, health and happiness.

Blogging anchors away!