End of July

Another month has come to an end, and amazingly I did make 10 posts this month! Yay for me! :) Plenty is going on in my life. My final class at Otterbein meets 3 more times and that's it. Then I get a degree! Despite my utter lack of feeling at graduation, I have mustered up a little excitement about being done with classes in 10 days! Granted, it fades when I realize I am not doing anything with that degree, but that's not the whole point. I think a year of just substituting, while I work like crazy to pay rent, get out of debt (should be out by Christmas!, not counting student loans which will take about 76.343424 years), and paying for Australia next summer. For the 2006-07 school year I will plan on heading back to finish my music education certification. Heading back where, I have no idea at this point. I just need a year off of taking classes. I am so sick of classes.
Vacation was fun, but as relaxing as I had hoped. To tell you the truth, I had more fun with my family last year than with my friends this year. Not that my friends weren't fun. They were, but my family (aunts, uncles, cousins) are more into doing the things I want to do so I spent a lot of vacation alone (by choice) or with my aunt and uncle who were also in the condo. Highlights of vacation with my friends: Watching the entire first seasons of Scrubs, working on my book quite a bit, seeing dolphins jump, putt putting, and the final dinner, with only Jess, across the street. We had fun and drank a lot.
Now on with my life. Although to what, I don't know. Teaching, surely, and working on my book. Moving back to Westerville this month and into a nice, large three bedroom apartment with Michael (with a washer and dryer!), and who knows what else. I am going to a Tuscan Themed 60th Birthday party for my uncle on Saturday, August 13, but the invitation was for "and guest" and I don't have a date to the party. I've been thinking about girls I know, and for the first time in my life, there really isn't someone I see all the time that I have the least bit of romantic feelings for. There are girls I know that I like, but not ones I see all the time that I do. Not really close friends. It's weird, and the condition has existed for at least a couple of months. Maybe that means my time for a girl is coming soon? I watched Hitch and it made me long for love, but I'm not in any desperate stage. We'll see. And I am getting sick of my singlness being part of all of my Life Updates on here, so I predict it will change soon. I hope. :) The good news is, it hasn't really depressed me for awhile.
Ok, enough posting. Time to go unpack and attempt to be productive. Take care all!

Qop!
"My dinner was looking at me!" ~ Me, having gone to a restaurant drunk on vacation and ordering their special, a $5.95 lobster that was whole and looked alive!

Florida

All I have to say about Florida tonight is that it was fun and I am tired. I just wanted to say I'm back, and I'll try to catch up on e-mail and journal this week. Take care all!

Qop!
"I'm no Superman!" ~ Scrubs, vacation reference

R.I.P. James Doohan 1920-2005

James Doohan died early this morning at the age of 85 from pnemonia and Alzheimers. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Monthgomery "Scotty" Scott on Star Trek. Canadian born, he was a master of dialects. Doohan served in the Canadian Army and landed at Juno Beach on D-Day. He suffered wounds and lost the middle finger on his right hand, which he managed to hide throughout his acting career. He had four children with his first wife, Judy, and two children with his second wife, Anita. The youngest of four children, he is survived by his wife of 28 years, Wende, and their three children, the youngest only being born in 2000. Doohan was never ashamed of his role as the famous engineer, and never got tired of hearing fans order him "Beam Me Up Scotty", although that line has never been said on screen in Star Trek. Doohan is the second original series cast member to pass away, as DeForrest Kelley (Dr. McCoy) died in 2001. On a personal note, I have always respected and admired James Doohan for his incredible acting skills, not just on Star Trek. I was saddened last August when he retired from public life after being diagonsed with Alzheimer's, and his death is very sad, although he led a rich and full life. Many of my favorite actors have died in recent years, Lane Smith (Perry White on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) for instance died last month. Doohan hits me the hardest though. My favorite two actors from the original Star Trek were the first two to go. Remember Jimmy and his legacy.

Qop!
"I know this ship like I know the back of my hand!" James Doohan as Scotty in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Shortly thereafter he smacks his head on a pipe and lays unconscious

Horcruxes and Princes

As I warned you, I would be posting a Harry Potter review that contained spoilers, and this is it! If you have not finish the book, do NOT read this! Unless you want the plot spoiled for you!
*First of all, that Snape scene in Chapter Two was incredibly confusing and left wandering which side he was really on. I figured he would sacrifice his life for Dumbledore's if it came to that. I didn't see his murder of Dumbledore coming at all before this book! How shocking and amazing! After six books of thinking he is on our side...I actually did see his betrayal coming when Dumbledore admitted to Harry during one of his lessons that he makes mistakes. I figured Snape was one of them, but WOW!!! And I didn't see that he was the half-blood prince until right before it happened, although it was pretty obvious. We also get to continue the Defense of Dark Arts teachers only last one year tradition.
*I felt bad for Draco! I cried fro him when he struggled with the decision to kill Dumbledore or have his family killed. He is a little prick, but I think there's hope for him yet. He may switch sides, if we can get him away from Snape.
*Voldermort's soul hidden in 6 Horcruxes that must be destroyed before he can be? Weird!
*I honestly didn't see Hagrid's brother amounting to anything, but I think he may be the key to recruting the giants, or some of them, on the side of good in the 7th book.
*Tonks and Professor Lupin!?! It works. I can't wait for Bill's wedding.
*Ok, we all know Percy is an ass, but he has been alienated from his family enough! He's a Weasley for goodness sakes! Make up with your damn family!
*I couldn't be happier to see Fred & George's success.
*It's about time Ron & Hermione came to terms with their feelings for each other, even if they didn't come out and say it. They'll make a cute couple.
*It's about freakin' time Harry & Ginny hooked up! Their breakup in the end didn't feel permanent, as Harry just had to go do his noble cause. If he survives book Seven, they'll be married. I think she needs to go with him in Book Seven. Speaking of...
*Ron, Hermione, & Harry not returning to Hogwart's next year!?! NO WAY!!! Lisa may be right when she said the school may not even reopen next year. If it does, I half suspect they'll end up going back, at least for awhile. The end of an era. Book 7 will be different. I feel very strongly that Neville and Ginny should join them. Luna could too, but I don't care one way or the other.
*Snape will have to be taken down in book seven before Voldermort. Maybe Draco could do it?
*AND LASTLY - Who is R.A.B??? I had no clue, but Lisa remembered Sirius's brother's name started with a R. R. Black. He was thought to be dead days after Voldermort's return, as he was a former Death Eater and didn't report back to his previous master. I have to think she must be right. No one ever found the body. What could possibly be going on there?
All in all, a GREAT book! Best so far in the series by far. Can't wait for the next one!

Qop! (Parts of End Of Book Six)
"How can Hogwarts close?" Hermione said softly.
"Maybe it won't," said Ron. "What d'you reckon Harry?"
"I'm not coming back even if it does reopen," said Harry. Ron gaped at him.
Hermione said sadly, "But then what will you do?"
"I've got to track down the rest of the Horcruxes, haven't I? There are still four of them out there. I've got to find them and destroy them, and then I've got to go after the seventh bit of Voldermort's soul, the bit that's still in his body, and I'm the one who's going to kill him." There was a long silence.
"We'll be there, Harry," said Ron.
"What?"
"We'll go with you wherevere you're going."
"No - "
"You said to us once before," said Hermione quietly, "that there was a time to turn back if we wanted to. We've had time, haven't we?"
"We're with you whatever happens," said Ron.

Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince

This entry will not contain any spoilers, so don't worry, but I will put another entry up before I leaver for vacation that will so don't expect the next one not to have any. OMG!!! It was freakin' fantastic! It changed everything! So much was revealed! Not nearly as depressing as the last one, but still dark while keeping the charm that made the series so good. I cannot wait until the 7th book! It is going to be so great! I give it the highest rating I can. J. K. Rowling deserves every one of her awards and all that money! If you haven't finished it yet, what is wrong with you?!?! It's been out nearly 48 hours! Hurry up so I can talk about it!

Qop!
"I knew I was different. I knew I was special. Always, I knew there was something." ~ Tom Riddle, upon finding out he is a wizard in a flashback

Bonus Qop! (before you accuse me of spoiling, this is from Chapter Two!)
Conversation between Narcissa Malfoy and Snape, asking him to make an Unbreakable Promise, which if broken will kill him:
"Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's Wishes?"
"I will."
"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"
"I will."
"And should it prove necessary...if it seems Draco will fail...will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"
"I will."

ROOMMATE NEEDED!

I just wanted to put out a call for a roommate today. I'll update more later in the week. It looks like I no longer have anyone to live with, and I need to find a place ASAP. I can't afford a single apartment. Please help! Someone! ROOMMATE NEEDED!!!

Qop!
"Always look on the bright side of life! (Whistle) Always look on the bright side of life! (Whistle)... Always look on the bright side of death!" ~Spamalot

Hodge Podge

Spamalot Soundtrack - Pretty good. Not a lot of memorable stuff, but still funny. You have to love Hank Azaria, Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, Christopher Sieber, Sara Ramirez and Michael McGrath.
Felicity Season One - Made me cry a lot. Not as melodramatic as Dawson's Creek though, which is good. I am furious at the ending and can't wait to start season two tonight!
Batman Begins - Very intense, but incredible! I can't wait for them to continue this movie series.
Fantastic Four - I thought it was enjoyable. Funny at parts, but all around a pretty good movie.
Wicked: Songbook - I hate the keys! I can barely plunk along with the vocal line! But good music.
Summer Sisters - An unexpectedly good book by Judy Blume. A bit risque, but I like that. Can't wait to finish the last 100 pages.
Wicked - The novel by Gregory Maguire was pretty good, and it definitely left me with things and philosophies to think about.
Tales From The Captain's Table - Good collection of stories about Captains Jonathan Archer(Enterprise NX-01), William Riker (Titan), Elizabeth Shelby (Excalibur / Trident), Chakotay (Voyager), Jean-Luc Picard (Enterprise-D), Demora Sulu (Enterprise-B), Gold (DaVinci), Kira Nyres (Deep Space 9 / Defiant), and Klag. For those of you who don't know, Gold is part of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers book series and Shelby, who was a guest character in the TNG episode "Best of Both Worlds" is in New Frontier. Klag was the Klingon 2nd officer in the TNG episode where Riker did the officer exchange, and he is now a captain and has his own book series. Jenn, the Chakotay story was pretty good. It was the story of how he joined Starfleet sponsered by the old Captain Demore Sulu, who had left the Enterprise-B by that point. Riker's story was his honeymoon. Picard's was from the period between Stargazer and Enterprise-D.
Goerge W. Bush - Should still not be in office. :)

Ok, enough about that. I need to crash. I am exhausted from several days of solid work.

Qop! (From Spamlalot / Arthur - Tim Curry / Robin - David Hyde Pierce)
ARTHUR: Have you heard of this Broadway?
ROBIN: Yes Sire, but we don't stand a chance there?
ARTHUR: WHy not?
ROBIN: Because Broadway is a very special place, filled with very special people, people who can sing and dance often at the same time. They are a different people, a multi-talented people, a people who need people and who are in many ways the luckiest people in the world. I'm sorry Sire, we don't have a chance...So listen Arthur, Darling, Closely to this neqa, We won't succeed on Broadway if we don't have any Jews! There's a very small percentiel, who enjoys a dancing gentile...You just won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews!

Bonus Qop! (Sara Ramirez playing the Lady of the Lake from Spamalot)
"Whatever happened to my part? It was exciting at the start, now we're halfway through Act Two, And I've had nothing yet to do, I've been off stage for far too long, It's ages since I had a song...I've no Tony Awars, I'm constantly replaced by Britney Spears! I might as well go to the pub! They've been out searching for a shrub! Out shopping for a bush, well they can kiss my tush. It seems to me they've really lost the ploy, whatever happened to my part?"

July 7th, 2005

Wow. I was at work all day, delivering, and no one mentioned the London bombings. I heard briefly about it in class, then my aunt called me. It wasn't until I finally got home tonight and turned on CNN that it hit me. I am a little disappointed that the Americans don't seem to care as much, at least the ones I was around all day, about what happened in London. I would be willing to be the British felt very deeply for the Americans on September 11. I got the same sense of dread when I turned on CNN tonight that I got that day 3 and a half years ago. To me, London wasn't in another country. It was part of the same fight. And in retrospect what happened in Madrid a year ago was in the same boat as well. How did we all ignore it? I didn't even remember it happened until an anchor talked about it.

My aunt tried to use the example of London to get me to stand behind Bush. I admit Blair came off really well today, and I have to respect him. Bush even said some of the right things today. But I don't respect Bush. As I tried to say to my aunt, yes, I agree, we need to stop the terrorism. But being in Iraq doesn't help it one bit! I was not surprised at all to hear about London, not like I was shocked about New York. I guess London has always suffered, and it's something we Americans don't keep in mind as much. I admire the Britains quite a bit. The more I learn about history, the more I think Americans were just arrogant assholes in 1776, but that's past and Britain forgave us and we're all good friends. I am so happy London got the 2012 Olympics. They deserve it. And the bombings won't affect that at all. The British didn't stop their lives today. They kept right on going. They weathered it, as they always do, to the best of the ability. I admire them for it and my heart goes out to everyone affected. Let's keep 7/7 in our memories the way we keep 9/11. It's all the same battle, and we're on the same side.

I have been a bit obsessed in the last four years with the future of global government. I do believe we're rapidly globalizing, and I want to tell myself the days of world wars are over and we just have to deal with random and senseless terrorist attacks. But are they? As we rapidly move towards a one-world governing system, as I believe we are and always have been meant to do, will it all blow up in our faces, or will we achieve it? And if it happens, will it be as horrible as 1984 or other futuristic novels, or will it truly be a utopia? Or is the bible right, and will God not give us a chance to find out? I believe in God, but I think the bible is flawed and I hope we'll be ok.

Qop!
None. Remember the British

America's Birthday

I used to revel in Fourth of July. It was my favorite holiday for awhile. Now I am so ashamed of my country's leaders, and the people that put them in office, and how we are portrayed to the world, that I can hardly drudge up an enthusiasm. I feel very sad at that loss. Hopefully it will not be permanent. Still, family parties were fun, Red, White, & BOOM! was good, and spending the 4th and 5th in a surprisingly uncrowded Cedar Point with Jonathan was a blast. Front seat rides on the Dragster, Millenium Force, Raptor, and Magum were the highlights. 3 trips on the Force and 5 on the Magnum. What a trip! Too bad our hotel was a bit seedy. But now I am home and exhausted. Hope everyone is well. Talk to you later!

Qop!
"MEET THE FUCKERS" ~ Seen on a t-shirt at the Point with Bush and Cheney waving below :)

Oregon Trail

Last Saturday, as Lisa wrote about in her blog, her, Jonathan, and I had a ball on Oregon Trail. I found the old old school version on the internet, for the Apple, and an emulator to run it on my computer, so I played it today. First of all, hunting was a lot harder. Trees got in your way and you couldn't really move. It sucked. And you could only keep 100 pounds of food, instead of the 200 on Jonathan's newer version. And you had a very short time limit to hunt. Also things were more random. For instance, everyone was in good health and nothing was going wrong, and then Jonathan broke his arm and died two days later, it didn't say how he died. The arm? Sadie drowned a week later in a 6 foot deep river as we were floating. I wanted to be a doctor, but in the old game that wasn't an option. At least I kept finding abandoned wagons, but they never had any food in them. Then the end where you floated down the river was really hard and had confusing controls, plus you had to land yourself, it didn't stop for you. So Lisa (with a broken arm), Michael (with chlorea), and I (without any injuries or diseases the entire game) made it to Oregon. Yay! Ok, so it was just me by myself, but hey, whatever. :) And since I downloaded it, I could to look at people I didn't know's graves.

Qop!
"JONATHAN HAS DIED."
~Oregon Trail

June Part II

I am so sorry that I have not updated much this month. Only twice in fact. And I doubt I will update again in June. I am almost turning into Jonathan! :) Things have just been hectic, and as I don't have my own place or own internet connection, I will be infrequent for the next month, maybe two, so don't expect lots more posts. July and maybe August will probably be just as sad. I say that for August because even though I am hoping to find a place by then, I will be working, filming a movie, and moving in, so don't expect too much. Anyway, here are some highlights of the last few weeks:
*House sitting at my aunt and uncle's ROCKS!!!
*Felicity makes me cry. Thanks a lot Lisa. It's worse than Dawson's Creek. Or better. Whatever. Weiss is great and I love Amy Jo, the Pink Ranger.
*Hanging out with my older sister, whom I have had very infrequent contact with in my life and none at all in the last four years. It was awesome. I think the infrequent thing is gonna change. Major coolness.
*Finding out I am eligibile to substitute next year! I am gonna try Westerville, Pickerington, Grove Port, and West Jeff for now. We'll see how it all goes.
*Thanks for everyoe who has come and visited me: Amanda and Adam (lots of great Buffy nights), Jon, Brandon, Nick, Sabra, Andrea, Jnel, Krystina, Liz, Travis.
*Video games with Jonathan and Lisa last thursday. OREGON TRAIL!! Haha, you two died of measels! I overcame my dysentary! and I now really want to keep playing Resident Evil. Sorry, Jonathan, about Mario Party. I seriously doubt it will ever happen again.
*Team America ROCKS!!!
*Tune into the new seasons of Family Guy & Reno 9-1-1!

Ok, enough, see you all later! Give me a call or e-mail me you out of towners!

Qop!
"We are blameless! We've given him two types of fruit!" ~ Jon Stewart on The Daily Show talking about Bush

Graduation

I apologize for only doing 9 entries last month as opposed to my self-requried 10. I also haven't done any this month and it is already the twelth. I have a good excuse. I was supposed to be writing about college memories and graduation. I didn't want to, and every time I sat down to do a blog, that's what I was trying to do. I don't want to relive my college memories. Freshmen and most of sophomore year were great, as well as parts of this year. The end of sophomore year and junior year, and other parts of this year sucked ass. My life was still perfectly on track until the end of Sophomore year, and then it collapsed and never recovered. To illustrate this, here is how today's entry should have gone, had things continued going well after Sophomore Year:
I graduated today with a degree in Music Education! Yay! I have a job teaching a high school band and I am really looking forward to it. My book is published and the profits I'm starting to make are putting an excellent dent in my college loans. I can't wait for my wedding this fall. Things are going great!
Instead, this is how it is:
My graduation today was a joke because I haven't finished my final class yet and I'm getting a degree in something I couldn't care less about. I should have just blown off the ceremony because it meant nothing and all it did was depress me. I want to finish my book, but I haven't had time because I am still struggling to make ends meet with my dead-end pizza job, and my college degree won't help me attain any better work. Plus I have a zillion college loans. Oh, and I haven't been in a relationship for two years.
No you see why I may be a little bitter? It was hard to shake those professors hands, professors that I look up to (Chivington, Boehm, Tirey, Zilincik, Barkhymer) and accept their congratlations gracefully because I feel the last four years have accomplished nothing. They have been an utter waste of my time. I am sorry I skipped graduation parties today I should be attending. Congrads to those who have their lives on track. I am gonna zone out in front of the tv and sip daquiris.

Qop!
"And he got the rock to the top...and it fell back down again." ~Jason Carney, OC class of '05, today's commencement address

Quick Note

I would love to catch you all up, but I'm exhausted and busy. Still, I need an entry today and tomorrow to hit my quota of 10 for the month of May. This will be quick. I am glad my recent Star Wars post has opened some debate. I am sorry that not everyone holds Deep Space 9 in the same regard that I do, but I think if you gave it a fair chance, you would at least understand and respect my awe for the show. That is all I will say on the subject, so I'm considering the debate closed. Live long and prosper. :)

Qop!
"I saved billions of lives, and all it worst cost was the lives of a couple of lousy senators and the dignity of one Starfleet captain. And the worst part is, I think I can live with myself for it. If I had to do it all over again, I would." ~ Capt. Ben Sisko, ST: DS9, "In The Pale Moonlight"

Who Has It Better: Al Bundy or Darth Vader?

My friend Jnel and I were talking on the way back from Star Wars at 3am this morning and I decided Darth Vadr had a horrible life. His penis was burned off so no sex, he certainly couldn't imbibe alcohol through those little slits, and he was in constant pain. Celebacy, enforced soberness, and pain. Sounds like marriage. I'm just kidding. It sounds like the stereotypical marriage. I would never gets trapped in one of those. Intentionally. Must be hell. Poor Darth. Anyway, to defend my honor and prove I'm not a loser Star Wars fan, cause honestly I don't consider myself a Star Wars fan at all, I present the Top Ten reasons Star Trek is better than Star Wars. And I didn't eve mention whiny characters, Jar Jar Binks, and a black man's voice put onto a British guy's body) You just can't be equal fans of both, and honestly Star Trek is the smarter and better established franchise.

10. Screen Time (ST - 600+ episodes, 10 movies / SW - 6 movies, no more than 3 more)
9. Titles (Come on! "Revenge of the Sith"? Boring! How about "First Contact", "Badda Bing-Badda Bang", "Trials & Tribleations", "What You Leave Behind" I could go on)
8. Ships (ST - cool, sleek, polished / SW - rag tag crap that looks way too big to fly or be practical at all, all crowding the screen and rushing by faster than any human could comprehend)
7. Hairdos (Shatner's toupe at least looks real. Padme reminds me of Marie Antoinette)
6. Aliens (Klingons and Borg are way cooler than those spiny things or wookies)
5. Message (ST is about something, it's satire. SW is just shoot-em-up)
4. Characters (ST I actually care what happens. In SW I didn't tear up for a single death)
3. Weapons (Phasers are way more effective than light sabers)
2. Time Period (A long time ago and a galaxy far away? With humans. Yeah right)
1. Deep Space 9 (the worst DS9 episode is better than the best SW movie)

Qop!
"Why you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerf herder!" ~ Princess Leia to Han

Dreams

Dreams are funny things. I had a dream last night about a girl that seemed familiar, and yet I had no idea who she was. In my dream, she asked me out, and we were soon boyfriend and girlfriend. I woke up feeling disoriented because it just seemed like I should know who she was, and yet I didn't. I wasn't sure I'd ever seen her before in my life. Until I walked out of Japan class this afternoon and saw her in Towers. It was totally freaky. I think I must have seen her before and then my subconscious just decided to throw the image back out. Yet I'm not sure. She isn't even the type of girl I would normally go for, and yet she is strangely attractive. Hmm. I don't know. Maybe I just need a nap. :)

On another note, declared Actor's Nightmare: Book One done on Saturday, had a nice copy printed out at Kinko's, and then changed my mind this afternoon. I think I am gonna do one more proofread and draft. Then it will be done. Seriously.

Qop!
"You have weird friends."
"News from the file makrer 'duh.'" ~ Richard and Xander, Buffy "Older and Far Away"

These Are The Voyages

The finale of Star Trek: Enterprise aired tonight. The last new Trek show in production. Next season will be the first time in 18 years Star Trek has not aired at least one new season. Often there has been two series airing simultaneously. The episode was odd to say the least. For one thing, it is the first finale since the original series, which didn't really have a finale, to only be an hour long. Second, it was a Next Generation episode. Let me explain. The finale was basically set during a Next Generation episode from the 7th and final season of that show called "The Pegasus". The episode aired in 1994. They recreated many of the sets - the holodeck, the hallways, Troi's quarters, even Ten Forward. These were sets they destroyed in a 1994 motion picture when this ship blew up. It was wonderful except Riker and Troi definitely look ten years older, try as they might to make them not. They tied it in with voice overs from Brent Spiner (Data) and Patrick Stewart (Picard) relating to events in that episode. Anyway, the first officer, William Riker, was faced with a difficult decision in that episode. Troi, the counselor, encourages him to access the holodeck program of the Enterprise NX-01's final voyage. This means Riker is watching the events that happened about 200 years before his time. The Enterprise events are set six years after the previous Enterprise episode so we get to see those characters older and what has become of them. They are about to mothball the ship, and at the same time the UFP is being formed. They take a nice little excursion on their way home with recurring character Shran (Jeffrey Combs, who also played Bunt and Weyoun on Deep Space 9 as well as appearing as Shran in numerous episodes of Enterprise). We find out they think Shran died three years ago. This would be interesting to explore if Sci-Fi picks the series back up, as it is considering. Anyway, Riker has alone time with each member of the crew by replacing their Chef, who basically served as their counselor. They throw in references when one of the Enterprise characters says "all good things..." (the title of The Next Generation's finale) and Archer talks about a "next generation." In the end, the chief engineer Trip Tucker has to decide to disobey his captain and sacrifice himself to save the ship. Trip is the most interesting and popular character on Enterprise and watching his death was painful. It helps Riker make the decision he made 11 years ago when "The Pegasus" first aired. After Trip's death, they show a scene that happened earlier when Riker had his chef session with him, something omitted during the episode until the end. Riker gets some last advice, then end the program before the UFP signing. I as initally mad as The Next Generation music swelled and the Enterprise NCC-1701-D took off into space until Patrick Stewart's droning "Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. It's continuing mission..." The suddenly the view shifted to the Enterprise NCC-1701, the ship featured in the original show and William Shatner's voice clip from the sixties continued the monologue. "...to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations..." Finally the NX-01 appeared with Scott Bakula (Captain Archer's voice) finishing "...to bodly go where no man has gone before." The monologue used throughout Star Trek history. I got chils. It was the perfect ending as the credits rolled. I am torn between wanting to see the intervening six years on the sci-fi channel and letting Star Trek rest...at least for a year or two until it premieres the sixth television show and the 11th motion picture. Or next year if Sci-fi picks up Enterprise. Live long and prosper, Star Trek!

Qops! (Enterprise quotes from the main and major recurring characters)
"Malcolm's got this rule; you have to be taller than a gun to use it." ~ Trip about Reed

"If I'm not mistaken, they are preparing to mate. Do you think they might let me watch?" ~Dr. Phlox

"And one thing I can tell you is that at warp one point eight, you've got a lot of time on your hands between ports. That's how my parents wound up with me."
"Do you have any helpful information on this vessel beyond its recreational activities?" ~ Travis and T'Pol

"He's a Klingot.
"A Klingon."
"Where'd he come from?"
"Oklahoma." ~ Admiral Leonard, Tos, Captain Archer, Commander Williams

"Someone hasn't been taking very good care of my engines."
"Speak with the Klingons." ~ Trip and T'Pol

"I'm a translator. I didn't come out here to see corpses hanging on hooks."
"It goes without saying that you're going to encounter the unexpected."
"Not corpses on hooks. " ~ Hoshi and Dr. Phlox

"Captain Archer, your presence on this mission has not been... unduly burdensome."
"I think he likes you, pink-skin." ~ Soval and Shran

"Where did you put those phase pistols?"
"You're going to shoot a bug?"
"I'm just going to stun it." ~ Trip and Reed

"You son of a bitch!"
"Actually, mother was a chemist." ~Dr. Lucas and Dr. Soong

"Captain, this may surprise you, but I agree." ~ T'Pol

"You know that you and cheddar don't get along." ~ Archer to his cheese-loving beagle, Porthos

Don't Laugh At Me

So I have been under a great deal of stress lately, but as of 4:30pm this afternoon, and not before, I am fully registered in all of my classes and will be graduating. Thank you very much. That is a lot of worry off my shoulders. So tonight I worked on my book a little bit, and then kicked back to relax and blow off some steam. I chose to do it by watching Joey's season finale, which was kind of sad and made me a little depressed. So I had a smirnoff. I ended up drinking only two, so don't think I'm being an alcoholic. But it does help me relax. So here I was feeling sad at the tv and a little relaxed and I just needed a cry and a outpouring of emotion. A cleansing of my soul if you will. I need one every so often. I feel I have become very numb in real life and have trouble achieving that release, howevere for any of you that know me, I can easily get that release from a movie or favorite tv show. I chose to watch the Buffy The Vampire Slayer episode "The Body". If you don't know the series, that is a mid-fifth season episode where Buffy's mother dies. The opening sequence if Buffy finding her mother's cold stiff body on the couch. Needless to say I was quickly moved to tears and sobbing, allowing me my much needed release after the past month or two. So then Tim walks by as Buffy is trying to tell her 13 year old sister that she will never see her mom again and he laughs at me! And tells me to get over it, it's just a tv show! Now this is a great guy whom I have never been mad at. I am incredibly pissed right now. I yelled at him, but he probably thought I was joking. Oh, well. Just don't mess with me in that mood. Please. I need it to keep my sanity.

Qop!
"I wish Joyce didn't die. Because she was nice. And now we all hurt." ~ Anya (Emma Caulfield), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Body"

Randomness Yet Again

Ok, so it is too much to put all my memories in one week, so I am doing one year per week. Here are a few more freshmen memories that I thought of, and then I have some fun news headline for you all!
FRESHMAN:
~Erin and Esther and Kelly lipsinking I Touch Myself as Erin and Esther danced on Nathan andI ~My Christmas party: Julie, Nora, Cindy, Brianna, Esther, Erin, Nathan, and WJ crashers
~Going to see a midnight CPC movie with Kenny starring Jolie and falling asleep
~Enterprise premiered
~Tricking Amber and K with my Wizard trick
~Staying at the Hilton at Easton for band tour

INSANE NW HEADLINES - SIGNS OF THE END TIMES??? :)
~Governor Taft was voted the least approved governor in the country by the first ever all-governor poll. He only got a 19% approval rating. The next highest had 27%. Taft sucks.
~Girl from Portsmouth found to have Lyme Disease - green braclets made to support her
~Cell phones are costing colleges tons of money in lost phone charges and having to dial long distance numbers to reach students. Boo-hoo.
~Two people who were bad at reading maps flew over DC and caused a panic that evacuated the White House and the Capital. Hahaha. The men were not charged as it was an accident.
~Another proof of gayness is genetic, not a choice. Gay men have been found to read maps like straight women - badly. They don't have spatial intelligence.
~ Jennifer Garner is pregnant and engaged to Affleck, whose ex J-Lo is in a movie opposite Garnmer's ex Michael Vartan
~ABC is remaking The Ten Commandments because they like screwing with classics. Naveen Andrews of Lost will play Menerith. They start filming May 23.
~ West Virginia is trying to start their own Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their first entry? Don Knotts
~Elf found hanging in tree

And Question Week Continues!
Tuesday - Why do they sell boxes of boxes?
Wednesday - Does anybody really know what time it is?
Thursday - Does anybody really care?

Qop!
"I didn't feel anything at all. I hope I'm not some kind of psychopath." ~ Chloe to Edgar on 24

Bonus Qops!
"We don't have time for your personality disorder." ~ said to Chloe on 24
"If you need to talk to someone, I'm here. You know, not now, later." ~ Chloe to Jack on 24

Freshmen Year

This week I am following the example of some of my friends and posting college memories. This is Week 7 of my final quarter here at the 'bein, and it is a bit emotional. Here are the memories from my freshman year.

-Didn't want to go to college, didn't want to do marching band.
~Within moments of arriving at OC, loved college, loved marching band.
~Missed my old friends had hung out with them all summer, hung out one saturday in october, and suddenyl had lots of new friends.
~Nate sleeping on my dorm room floor for a week
~being in a squad with jenn and amber and someone else...don't remember who.
~watching All in the Family until my roommate old me to flip to news on the second day of classes: Setember 11, 2001. Not concentrating in class, being scared, canceling afternoon classes.
~Hanging out with Heather Deem over in Davis
~Dinner with Jami Letizia and her band directors, and Roy and Amber and K
~Being pregnant with Liz's baby
~Dating K for exactly one month
~Julie encouraging me to date K, and me trying to help her with a boy she didn't get
~bowling and winding up asleep on the floor with Julie
~Dating Julie for 5 1/2 months
~Esther's 21st b-day party
~Going out to dinner and getting the 'contract' signed with Scott, Evan, Erin, and Timmy J
~Playing soccer with Absurdly Green (Julie, Kristen, etc.)
~Scott coming out of the closet to me
~Brian Grey was only 20% gay
~Hanging out with Brandon
~Falling asleep during concerts
~Pledging Kings. Enough said. :)
~Seeing OC win nationals in basketball with Liza, Nora, and Julie
~Trip to Colorado with Julie, Nora, and Steph
~Having sex on the grassy knoll with Kristen (not really)
~A roommate I never talked to
~Skiing with Julie, Steph, and Jeremie. Sleeping on Steph's parents' floor.
~King's formal with Andy
~Hanging out at the Kings house, being depressed sleeping there
~Roy and Boogie getting me to drink Smirnoff for the first time
~Boogie introducing me to Kevin Smith
~All of us in Boogie's room finding out how to be male porn stars
~"Losing my virginity" to a King's panel
~Evan composing the Jimmy Dailey song
~officially moving into the King's house with Evan, Boogie, Doug, Ivan, and the others.
~My black Santa Claus
~late nights on the Kings porch and walking t Dairy Queen drive through
~Dating K again come summer

That's all I can remeber at the moment. May do attional memories at the end of the week.

Also, it is Question Week in my away message. Today's question is (Feel free to answer it):
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Won't you be mine?

Qop!
"So we talked all night about the rest of our lives, where we're gonna be when we turn 25...keep on thinking things will never change, keep on thinking things will always stay the same. But we leave this year and we won't look back, no matter hanging on cause we're on a different track."
~ Vitamin C, Graduation Day

Good News For People Who Love Bad New

I stole today's title from the Modest Mouse album of the same name which is, by the way, an amazing album. Anyway, the bad news is that J-Lo wants to runs for president. Jennifer Anthony (as she now wants to be called) wants to run for president and, if elected, plans to redecorate the White House. God help us all. Also for those of you who hate the former Bennifer, Ben Afflek's new fiance, Jennifer Garner, is being heavily rumored to be pregnant and due late this year. Hmm. Wonder how they would work that into Alias? All they need on that show is another member of that dysfunction family!

And now some good news for people who love good news:
Will Ferrel is slated to host Saturday Night Live this weekend. Yes, you heard me correctly. Will Ferrel. Hell yeah!
And starting this coming fall, The Daily Show will be expanded to one hour. Sort of. Comedy Central plans to start a new half hour show airing directly after Jon Stewart's power house entitled The Cobert Report which will of course star Stephen Cobert. Current plans call for the shows to transfer seemlessly, like real news shows, making it seem like one hour-long show. Cobert is equally as funny as Stewart, in my opinion, and I am greatly looking forward to this expanded format. And for those of you who still tell me I am lying, I will state this one last time. My friend JonATHAN Stewart is NOT Jon Stewart! There, I've said my piece. It didn't help that a month or so ago Jon Stewart said something on the air to his friend Jimmy watching at home. I have been unable to shake the rumors since, but I swear I'm telling the truth. What's sad is that I am not making any of the above up.

Qop!
"You have the best show on television." ~ Martin Short to Jon Stewart on a recent episode of The Daily Show