Prey

Josh and I met up today to get started on our presentation on Prey.  Before we met up I was skeptical of thinking of a way to present the book in an interesting, original way.  We decided we would make a powerpoint that consisted of a picture on each slide.  We imagined it like a comic strip, but instead it depicted the novel.  I am very excited to see how it turns out and see what the others think of our creation. 

I am also glad I chose to read Prey, because it correlates with what I am literally learning in biology right now.  Predator-prey interaction, evolution and more are all a part of the story.  I hope you like our presentation even though you have seen this story too many times!

Taylor Swift

I went to a Taylor Swift concert last spring. It was my first concert! Well, techinically my second...but the fair doesn't count.  I am a very big Taylor Swift fan.  My boyfriend, Jake, gave me her first two cd's for Christmas three Christmases ago.  Every since then I have been hooked.  I had to burn new copies of each cd, because I played them too often in my car.  Now those skip too.  I have not gotten her new album "Speak Now" but I reallllly hope I get it this Christmas! That would be AWESOME!

My mom surprised me with two Taylor Swift tickets the weekend after the Drake Relays. :) It was my parents gift, as they say it, to support all my hard work.  I was so excited! I decided to bring one of my best friends Becca.  The concert was amazing.  Taylor is very dramatic and did things like fling her long hair everywhere and bang on drums with all her might.  She sang on stage and in the crowd.  It was very surprising! I am so glad I was able to experience all of it with Becca. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Tangled

Last night my friends and I saw the movie Tangled in 3D for only $3.00! It was an event put on by ETK.  Tangled is one of my new favorite Disney movies. It is the story of Repunzel with a new twist.  Repunzel has magic hair that heals and turns back time, so she was kidnapped at birth.  She grows up in a tower away from civilization with only one contact; her "mother". Repunzel was kidnapped right after birth so she is unaware that she is being tricked and used.  It is a very funny movie.  The whole theater was laughing throughout the movie! I would definitely recommend you see this movie if you have the chance.  This is why I did not tell you how it ends or even more bits and pieces of the film. I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did:)

Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner now.  Black Friday has already arrived.  I even pulled my first all-nighter in order to get the "bargains".  It was CRAZY.  I do not really like that day.  There are people everywhere, no where to park, the longest lines EVER, and everyone is rude and cranky. My family and I went into Kohls around 3:00 a.m. Friday morning and there was very little selection in anything.  The lines to all the registers wrapped completely around the entire store, estimating a 2 hour wait.  That is longer than some rides require at amusement parks! I heard that some stores put adds in the paper or on commercials for certain products with remarkable deals, then order only a couple of said object.  That way customers come streaming in for the good deal and once the few are gone, they resort to other sales.
On the bright side, things are usually a lot cheaper.  My sisters and I were able to try on some of our Christmas presents and pick them out ourselves.  It was also a good time to spend with my family since I do not get to see them very often anymore.

Music

I learned something new about myself tonight.  Music helps me get things done.  I have no idea why! If I have some sort of music, it doesn't really matter what type, playing I focus easier.  I have had music playing on my computer since 3:00 this afternoon and I have not gotten off track once! I haven't even checked facebook or sent a single text. I am so happy I have discovered this, because I have a lot to do.  I made a whole to-do list for today and I have completed a lot of it. Is this why there is a such thing as music therapy? Does music hold a kind of "special power"? I will admit music can change your mood.  If you are listening to classical music you are generally more relaxed and at ease.  If you are listening to screamo your blood pressure raises and you are more tense.  Now that I think about it, my lab group last year did an experiment on this.  We tested 20 people for changes in blood pressure and heart rate as the music changed.  It was a very cool experiment.

finals

My first week of college finals start in two weeks! It is hard to believe that an entire semester has already flew by. I thought it would go by a lot slower. But then again, high school was over before I knew it too. I have a plan.  I will begin making my study materials for all my classes this week.  Then, I will begin to study them whenever I can focus.  Even making the materials is a type of studying.  I am surprised that college professors basically hand out a study guide to an extent.  I was under the impression that you are completely on your own in college.  Profs lecture, students take notes...we keep on top of assignment, no reminders...tests creep up on you and there is extra material the professor didn't even cover...you have to keep track of the dates of everything on your own! But it's almost the complete opposite. I have been reminded multiple times when tests and assignments are due.  It may just be Wartburg, I wouldn't know, but I deeply appreciate it. So now the studying begins and I wish luck to all freshmen!

Driving

Last Wednesday was the day before Thanksgiving and break. I recieved a call from my mom and a couple of neighbors telling me I should consider heading home early in order to avoid the bad weather.  So I packed up and was on my way.  The first thing I noticed was the bad wind. You easily feel it on the on-ramp to highway 218.  Once I got onto HWY-20 it got even worse.  The traffic was only going 35-40 mph.  We were even at a stand still for about 20 minutes, because there was a very icy bridge. 

After the bridge the traffic started going around 35-40 mph.  Since it was just after the traffic jam, the road was packed.  I must have hit a patch of ice just as a gust of wind came, because I started to fish tail.  I had to choose the car beside me or the ditch on my left; I chose the ditch. I spun one and one half times before I finally was able to get my car to stop.  I was facing the opposite direction.  I almost went into oncoming traffic and hit a bridge.  Luckily, I was able to drive right out of the ditch and was back on track.  After that I went about 30 mph.  It took me about 3 hours to get home instead of 2 hours.