Les Petits Choses Que J'aime

Firstly, the band Starfield. if you don't know them, check them out. Secondly, the song Storm by Lifehouse. Obsession.

I don't know if this post is really going to have a theme. But perhaps by the time I finish it will have some semblance of cohesion.

Lately in Houston, we have been having this amazing weather, due to hurricane season. Amazing in this sentence means: disgusting, humid, rainy, bleak, and dismal. Due to the complete lack of sunshine, the last few days have been kind of a downer. After a few complete downer days, I have realized that, as cliche as it sounds, the small, simple things can really make you feel better.

1. good music

the above listed songs, along with going old school for a bit and listening to some stuff I haven't heard in years

2. singing in the shower

sing loud, sing often, sing proud

3. reading

I used to read at least one book a week even during my busy high school week. During the college semester I can barely remember picking up a book other than a text book. Summer has given me time to bury myself back in a book.

4. writing

I am an english major, I want to be an author, I write stories for fun, I am a nerd. and I love it.

5. disney movies

Beauty and the Beast. You can have the Notebook, I will take singing cutlery and a giant fluffy man-lion-bear.

6. friends

this is basically self explanatory. I have the best friends in the world. When I'm down, they're there. whether it's listening to me rant over a facebook chat or making me laugh with funny texts, my friends are my lifeline. So often when someone is having a bad day, you accept their "it's fine" instead of really asking them what is wrong. The people that really want to know what you're thinking and how to help are the people that truly care.

7. laughter

laugh loud, laugh often, laugh so hard you cry.

I wanted to end this in an even number or something, but I guess my next number would be sleep, which I need to do.

Psalm 62:8 Oh my people trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

College Station by August, College Station on My Mind

I may be estimating, but there are approximately 7 weeks left before I get to go home. that's around 49 days. and that means 1176 hours. and yes, I just used my ballin' TI-83 calculator to do math. And if you haven't caught on, home in this sense, is College Station.

Since my few blog followers pretty much all go to A&M you all do not need a history lesson or a traditions discussion. so here are some of my favorite A&M moments/memories/traditions, etc

1. Bonfire: it was my first aggie bonfire this year and it exceeded my expectations. we squeezed 7 people in an avalanche (which normally seats 5) and I shared the passenger seat with one of my friends...which made things interesting every time we passed a cop. we actually got turned away at first and proceeded to drive through back streets trying to find a way in. Luckily, we decided to try the line again and got in. Despite having to sit on someone's shoulders to see anything and sacrificing a few northface jackets to the burning embers, that was a night I will never forget.

2. Pondhopping. this goes with tradition and memories. the saturday before finals week started, instead of studying, we had an impromptu s'more cookout in the Aston courtyard followed by some pond hopping. I don't care that it seems ridiculous to people that running around campus at night and jumping in (for the most part) knee deep water can be fun, but it was.

3. Wildcats. I really don't care if they are new and weren't an "original" tradition. the thing that makes A&M so great is that our traditions evolve and add on. Do you think at the original basketball games they did all those yells? No, so leave my wildcat alone. That said, loudest and proudest member of the fightin' texas Aggie class of 2013 A-A-A-A-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

4. Walking to Northgate for lunch. I never thought I would miss College Station food, but I am craving a sandwich from The Corner or a giant potato from Potato Shack. I also miss the fact that every restaurant in Cstat serves sweet tea.

5. Seeing people you know every time you go somewhere. I never really realized how small College Station was until I got back to Houston. Sure, there are certain places where you're guaranteed to run into your entire graduating class 9 times out of 10, but it's not quite the same. Even if you don't actually know someone, there's a good chance you have seen them on campus or they know a mutual friend. Either way, as a fellow aggie, they're family.

I don't have any clever words today or jokes to tell, probably because I skipped out on class today. Instead, I'll leave my few readers with something that has always been a good source of encouragement.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

thanks, and GIG 'EM.

Music Video Monday

Remember when music videos used to be good? When they used to have a story to tell instead of just scantily clad girls grinding all over sweaty guys? (please, for the sake of mankind, someone tame this girl). Remember when music videos made you want to go jump on your chopper bike and ride through your neighborhood and just sing out all of your angst? oh...was that just me? I went through my phases, like any other kid, and let me tell you, middle school was great. I know, I know, everyone had an "awkward stage." My awkward stage? basically from about 5th grade to junior year of high school. Jealous? In 7th grade I decided to be a complete bad-a and started listening to 94.5. THE BUZZ. I went out, bought myself some black converse, a studded belt, and those awesome black and pink bracelets that apparently meant something naughty. (Which one of my so-called friends introduced me to Hot Topic?) Put these all together with some plaid pants (oh yeah, rocked 'em), those rubber spike earrings, and crank the Good Charlotte and Simple Plan. Voila, 7th grade me.

My fashion sense (or lack thereof) makes me cringe. Also, for some reason I thought wearing hot pink blush as eyeshadow was super edgy. With that said, I am not embarrassed by my middle school music taste. I drove to Florida (and by I, I mean my parents) in 8th grade to see Simple Plan and Good Charlotte and I still maintain that this particular concert was one of the best. So, in honor of my middle school self, here is a sample of one of the classics from my punk glory days (insert sarcasm here).

(insert HCC for "my high school")

What the Friday?

Fashion. Whether or not you love it or hate it, it exists. It can be bad, it can be good, it can be outright heinous. Here a just a few of my favorite trends that I love to hate. They say all trends die out and then come back to life. Some things should die, and stay dead. Like Harry Potter (the character, not the series. too soon?). Here are some 'fashion' trends that just should never have come into existence.

1. Sandal Boots (these are relatively new, but were obviously made by someone blind and living in a hole)

What, you couldnt decide whether you wanted to wear boots or sandals? Not only do they look awful in suede/pleather but the ones you see in the background are metallic. Making something silver does not make it classy. The sad thing about the girl pictured here is that she owns not one but two pairs. please, just say no.

2. T-shirts that share your entire life story

this is one of the slightly less obnoxious ones. The problems I have with this are: 1. thank you for announcing to the world that you are single, your lack of class wasn't obvious enough 2. now every guy who can read knows that you are psycho and probably clingy and every girl knows that you are... morally casual. Sometimes these shirts can be clever, this, however is not an example.

3. Moon Boots

Moon Boots. Doesn't the name say enough? if you are not studying penguins in antarctica or aliens on the moon you should NOT be wearing these things. There is no excuse. they are ugly. and not ugly as in "so ugly they're actually kind of cute," no. These things are flat out nauseating and should not even be allowed to be called shoes.

4. Ed Hardy

these should speak for themselves. if you are not on the jersey shore, you should not be wearing these. You should not be wearing these if you are on jersey shore, but that's just a whole other issue. The thing with Ed Hardy is that most people who wear it tend to deck themselves out from head to toe. Guys wearing Ed Hardy - might as well walk around with a giant sign on your head that says "I am a douche." Girls - watch an episode or two of What Not to Wear.

5. Bedazzled ....anything

At the rodeo I see these walking around, sometimes there is actually a person attached. Usually the wearer also sports a bedazzled shirt, boots, or even a bedazzled jean jacket. the only thing that should have this many diamonds on it is nelly's grill.

Open up a copy of any magazine with pictures or invest in a mirror. Either one of these might keep you from committing fashion faux pas such as these. We all make mistakes, but just because someone wears something hideous does not mean you need to as well. Unless, apparently you are on Glee and think that Ga Ga is a fashion icon. Please spare mankind and our eyes and look in a mirror or any other reflective surface before venturing out into public.

Lyrical Geniuses, Musical Madness, and Ipod Adventures

I love music. Rap, country, punk rock, musicals, you name it. This said, songs with clever (or ridiculous) lyrics make my day. Especially when there are sneaky allusions or jokes thrown in there.

1. Lil Wayne, Weezy whatever he wants to be called, boy's got rhymes.

"Im so official all I need is a whistle" - Forever

"I'm so hot you probably catch a tan around this mutha--" -Steady Mobbin'

"Watch me like DVD VCR" -Run This Town

"I go to work on a beat call it employ" -Run This Town

"I'll erase you like I drew you b---" -T.O./N.O

2. Drake

"money flowin like a slit wrist no bandage"

"outta this world though, im so SciFi and i dont sit still

i keep it movin like a drive-by"

"me and Wayne lean like Kareem doin hook shots"

-I'm Goin' In

"Last name ever,
first name greatest,
like a sprained ankle boy I ain’t nuttin to play with

swimming in the money come and find me, Nemo,

labels want my name beside the X like Malcolm"

-Forever

(a guy in my summer school class introduced me to the Rikers Island Redemption mixtape...i'm obsessed.)

3. Nelly (not only is he a gorgeous specimen of man-hotness, grillz is probably one of my favorite songs. of any music.)

"I'm changin grillz everyday, like Jay change clothes"

"I got a grill I call penny candy, you know what that means?

It look like now and laters, gum drops, jelly beans"

"I might cause a cold front if I take a deep breath"

"Open up my mouth and you see more carrots than a salad"

"call me George Foreman 'cuz I'm sellin' everybody grills"

-Grillz

4. Casey Donahew Band

"You're kinda like a moped, fun to ride around, but if my friends should catch me then I'd never live it down

And you'll never hold my hand and I know we'll never kiss,

Cuz you're just the last phone number on my late night telephone list Well I'll be calling all my beauties from 2 o'clock to 3 Expect a call at 3 15 if none of those are free, And when that phone starts ringin' you best be on the move, Cuz I know if I'm callin' I've been drinkin' 90 proof"

-Late Night Telephone List

(horrible? yes. hilarious? yes.)

5. Bowling for Soup

"Troy Aikmen wants you back
Willie Nelson wants you back
NASA wants you back
And the Bush twins want you back
And Pantera wants you back
And Blue Bell wants you back"

-Come Back to Texas

(i think this wins for the most allusions)

anddd that's enough of that for now.

Now, there are certain artists that are in my itunes that will probably make you shake your head. But come on, everyone has those few guilty pleasure songs left over from the 90's or songs that you bought just to get them out of your head. These are the songs that when they come on shuffle when you're with other people you practically have a seizure trying to change the song, and often you are pleasantly surprised when your comrades (sorry, communist russia?) know/like the song.

1. Jesse McCartney- Leavin'

2. Miley Cyrus- Party in the USA, Can't be Tamed

3. Enrique Iglesias- Tired of Being Sorry

4. Jo Jo- Get Out

5. The Jonas Brothers- S.O.S (i just cringed)

6. Hawthorne Heights - Ohio is for Lovers

7. Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone

All of these songs are ones that you crank when you're in your car alone and they come on shuffle, you know it's true.

Speaking of cringeworthy tunes, songs that make me want to kick a puppy

1. Miley Cyrus- The Climb

2. U2- Vertigo

3. Los Lonely Boys- Heaven

4.Weezer- Beverly Hills

basically anything that was played ad nauseum in 8th grade.

now if you were to take a little Magic School Bus (if you were raised in the 90's you got that one) ride through my itunes how long would it take you? to get through all 4,084 songs would take you 10.6 days. wow. 1.1 days of that would be rap and 1.9 days would be country, 2. 4 days would be rock/poprock/punkrock/britrock/alternative. 2.6 hours would be disney. fact. and who knows how the rest would be classified.

This itunes library has been a work in progress for probably about 5 years now. besides the fact that it is contained on my laptop, losing this would be a crisis. almost as bad as dropping your 160 gig ipod classic into a rushing river of water on the street in the middle of one of houston's torrential downpours. Oh wait. done that. Apple won my undying loyalty when I went into the store with my deceased ipod after blow drying it, sticking it in a bag of rice, and doing whatever I could to revive it. (Note: Ipods cannot swim.) I had very little hope that Apple would be able to help me because my ipod was so waterlogged if you held it up to your ear you could practically hear the ocean. Nonetheless, I went to the Apple Store and decided to play dumb, while still telling the truth. I told the lady that it had stopped working and started freezing and making this horrible grating sound. My heart pounding as she held it to her ear and said,

"Oh, yeah that's the sound of your hard drive failing."

"Oh really?"

Maybe that's because it has water and small fish swimming around inside of it. Not only did she not hear the ocean, but she discovered that I had EIGHT DAYS left on my warranty. I walked out of the Apple Store with a brand new ipod. Apple: 0, Hannah: 1

TFTM

these are just too good to pass up.

6/23

(8:30 am - 10: 00 am)

(832): and just left my house. (7:52 am)

(281): Anddddd getting out of bed. (7:57 am)

(281): I just had to explain duck duck goose to my physics teacher. It included a visual aid.

(281): HCC is the reason babies cry at night.

(832): Actually I think that's biology.

(281): LAB TIME LAB TIME LAAAAAAB TIIIIIME here's the lab it makes me drab it makes me wanna stab my crab when it's done i run to rehab. LAAAAAAAB. In honor of blues clues.

(832): biology biology my favorite subject can't you see? you would rather watch some glee? That just simply cannot be! Biology makes me so clever, i want to take this class forever. What am i saying? this is all wrong. I would rather see a sumo in a thong.

6/24

(281): it's times like these I wish I had a shamwow to clean up the vomit from when i though about me sitting in this class for 60 hours thus far.

7/1

(832): I think I can hear by brain cells screaming as they die.

(281):Well we just played jump rope with a slinky. We're clearly having the better morning.

A Day in the Life of an HCC Scholar Pt. 1

HCC. What is this you may ask? None other than the finest educational institute Houston has to offer. With its classic red brick structures, its multiple locations (all in the finest areas of Houston, of course) its challenging course work, and highly ranked professors, HCC is so wonderful that students flock to its campus during their summer hours, craving higher education.

Houston Community College, better known as Houston College of Champions.

I have had the pleasure of attending this fine College for two and a half weeks and as if 4 hours of biology five days a week wasn't thrilling enough, my adventure into the world of biology begins at 8 am every morning. The captain of this ship of learning is none other than Professor Chukwu. An A&M grad (whoop) he hails from Nigeria. His favorite subjects are mangoes and baboon butts and his beverage of choice is palm wine. Interspersed with these nuggets of pure gold is the occasional biology slideshow, peppered with earsplitting sound effects on the rare chance that someone would be sleeping through his brilliant lectures.

You know you want a piece of this.

As amazing as this class is simply on its own merit, if I did not have my phone and trusty facebook handy I might have to revert to something drastic to kill time. such as watching the world cup. or making a blog. oops...guilty on both counts.

My classmates? I have no complaints. They range from the dedicated scholars that are at least 5 years older than I am and actually have life goals to the kid that shows up thirty minutes before role is called. Shameful. There are a select few who have banded together. HCC bonding at its finest. We venture to Whataburger for free breakfast sandwiches and to Chili's for some chips and salsa. You know you trust someone when you can get into their car and let them drive you down Gessner. The few, the proud, HCC's finest.

Now that you have gotten a glimpse into the treasure chest that is HCC education, here are some examples of texts that keep me going and reveal the educational journeys of my fellow scholars.

TFTM

(texts from this morning)

(281): Left my physics stuff at home. Empty backpack. Per usual HCC student.

(281): We just spent five minutes convincing a girl that to double a mass you don't square it, like she has been doing her entire life. I want to stick my pencil in my eyes.

(713): Woman next to me just said conversate. WTF is that!?!? It's converse!!!!!! Americans need to learn to speak ENGLISH

(713): Are you ditching class again?

(713): Hahaha whatever it's hcc summer school. You gotta do what you gotta do to get through classes.

in addition to learning all sorts of fun biology facts that I am sure to use in daily life, I have been honing my art skills. Multitasking. Yet another skill HCC imparts to its students.

Doodles of the Week:

Do not take anything in the second doodle as offensive. that is real talk. go look in my itunes, I'm pretty sure I have more rap music than anything else other than country (hey, I go to A&M).

Week 3 going strong. Feelin' like a champ.

You Can Quote Me

Sadly, I admit to being one of those people that has a ridiculous repertoire of movie quotes under my belt. I also like to use them in every day conversation. What I do NOT like is getting blank stares from people who have not seen these movies 87918236019236 times like I have and do not have the entire scripts memorized. Also, it is the obscure lines in movies that are the true gems, and when people don't catch the reference...I die a little inside. Luckily there is often that one other person in the conversation that recognizes the spark of genius and acknowledges your mutual knowledge. Even if they simply give you the slight head nod that shows they caught your quote, it gives me that warm fuzzy feelings inside. These are in no particular order or rank of preference.

1. National Treasure

you will notice a commonality: Riley Poole. Hottie and sneaky hilarious quote genius.

Powell: [referring to the underground staircase] How do a bunch of guys with hand tools build all this?

Ben Gates: Same way they built the pyramids - and the Great Wall of China.
Riley Poole: Yeah... the aliens helped them.

Riley Poole: "When are we gonna get there? I'm hungry. This car smells weird."

Riley- "Who wants to go down the creepy tunnel inside the tomb first?"

Abigail - "Riley, are you crying?"

Riley- "Look....stairs."

basically everything riley says is hilarious. and he's adorable, which never hurts.

2. Harry Potter (of course)

Lupin: ridikulus!

class: ridikulus!

Malfoy: this class is ridiculous.

Hermione: both of you stop it before you get us killed or worse...EXPELLED!

Ron: she really needs to sort out her priorities!

Hermione: I am NOT an owl!

Ron: one person couldnt possibly feel all that! they'd explode!

Hermione: just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon!

Fred and George: Bumbling, babbling, band of baboons (x5)

Malfoy: i'll get you for this! you and your bloody chicken!

Stan Shunpike: oy! whatchu doin' down there?

Harry: I fell over.

Stan: Whatchu fell over for?

Harry: I DIDN'T DO IT ON PURPOSE!

3. Gladiator (aka best movie ever)

Maximus: My name is Maximus Decimus Myridius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

Maximus: Strength and honor.

(yes, this was my senior quote for NCL, I am a classy broad)

4. Braveheart

William Wallace: Do you want to see him crush me like a wyrrum (worm)?

(what makes this line is the accent, hands down)

5. Black Hawk Down

Blackburn: There's a line!

Hoot: I know!

Blackburn: ...and this ain't the back of it!

Hoot: I know!

5. Pride and Prejudice (old school BBC version)

Elizabeth: You're mistaken, Mr. Darcy. The mode of your declaration merely spared me any concern I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner. You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it. From the very beginning your manners impressed me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others. I had not known you a month before I felt you were the last man in the world whom I could ever marry!

Yes, I am a Jane Austen nerd.

6. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Pippin: You need people of intelligence on this sort of adventure...quest...thing.

Merry: well I guess that rules you out, Pip.

Aragorn: Hold your ground, hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!

7. She's the Man

Viola: I can do this. I'm a dude. I'm a hunky dude. I'm a badass hunky dude!

Viola: Mom, I will pick out my own dress! And I am not wearing heels. BECAUSE heels were a male invention designed to make the female but look SMALLER...and to make it harder for them to run away.

Monique: Girls with asses like mine do NOT talk to boys with faces like yours.

Toby: How come when I wanted to ask Eunice out everyone made fun of me, but then Sebastian likes her and suddenly she's cool? Screw you guys. I hate high school.

Coach Dinklage: Break it up. Break it up. Okay, tough guys. You want to box, then get out of my stadium. Or otherwise, get on with the game. All right? That goes for the rest of ya. Now get on and play some real football! Acting like a bunch of girls!

Daphne: (viola's mom) [after hearing about Viola breaking up with Justin] But why? He's so handsome, and rugged, and chiseled, and great.

Viola: Then why don't you date him mom?

Daphne: (fantasizes) .....Oh, no, I couldn't...

Justin: That's right. Didn't score on me last half won't score on this half. I'm a ninja. Ninja Goalie.

Principal Gold: What is...? Oh... Getting to know the opposite sex are we? Male female dynamics, all that. Sexual tension... it's all part of the high school experience... Continue, continue, please. But keep it cleaned up. Abstinence is key, abstinence is the best way to not...is to not.

Viola: I skipped a couple grades. I'm brilliant. SHH!

Viola: My favorite's gouda.

Viola: So, uh, you play the beautiful game...bros...brothers...brethren?

8. Pirates of the Caribbean

Jack: Why is the rum always gone?

Jack: I think we've all arrived at a very special place. Spiritually, ecumenically... grammatically.

Jack: If you were waiting for the opportune moment...that was it.

Jack:You need to find yourself a girl mate. Or perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one, and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You're not a eunuch are you?

Jack: A wedding? I love weddings! Drinks all around!

Barbossa: How in the blazes did you get off that island?

Jack: When you maroon me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one thing, mate. I'm Cap'n Jack Sparrow.

Will Turner: We're going to steal a ship? that ship?

Jack: Commandeer. Nautical term. We're going to commandeer THAT ship.

Jack: That would be the french.

basically everything johnny depp says.

Honorable mentions

1. Mean Girls

Do not have sex. you will get pregnant...and die.

2. Super Troopers

The SCHNOZZBERRIES TASTE LIKE SCHNOZZBERRIES!

3. The Hangover

4. 300

....and many more. Now if I ever use any of these in conversation I expect you to catch the reference!

The Boy Who Lived vs. The Vampire Girl

Well, I figure it's time to weigh in on the endless debate over Twilight and Harry Potter.

As an avid reader, I hope I can state my opinion with a certain amount of certainty.

I enjoy both series as entertainment, but I feel that I have to point out that neither series can realistically be considered "literature." This said, I do believe that the Harry Potter series is probably more intellectual than Twilight, sorry Twihards. (on a side note, I find it highly entertaining that this battle between vampires and wizards has grown so much. On a little site dedicated to wizard lovers, they refer to twilight fans as "twitards" and treat the word twilight like a curse word, spelling it tw*l*ght. Get a life? Yes, but entertaining nonetheless).

Twilight vs. Harry Potter

What they have in common:

Whiny protagonists

Bella: pretty sure 99% of Bella's internal dialogue is basically just a self-pitying sobfest. Would you like some cheese with that wine?

Harry: come on. in the 4th book most of his dialogue is in all caps and he is constantly yelling at everyone and basically acting like a 10 year old girl. you're going to have a sucky year at school and have to fight off voldemort, multiple near death experiences, and malfoy making fun of you. cry me a river and go drown yourself in it.

Bad guys that are not fully alive and look like corpses

The evil vampires.

Voldemort. (speaking of which, Ralph Fiennes is the most amazing voldemort they could have picked...further casting opinions to follow)

Awkward Love Triangles

Bella. Jacob. Edward. Mike. (how could one guy, much less 3 be willing to put up with her constant boo-hooing?)

Harry. Cho. Cedric. (wow Robert Pattinson really gets around. drama queen.)

Hilarious/awesome secondary characters that keep you sane

Emmet. Jacob (when he isn't whining as much as Bella). Charlie. Alice.

Ron. Fred. George. (the weasley clan is what kept me coming back to these books. no lie)

Likes and Dislikes:

Twilight is a cheesy love story. it's like a chickflick. good fluff every now and then but I dont need to read/watch it 24/7.

Harry Potter...it's awesome. And there's 7 books. it can entertain me for a lot longer. This said...it's pretty juvenile.

Twilight: BELLA ANNOYS ME.

Harry Potter: HARRY ANNOYS ME.

(basically the main characters are just too egomaniacal for me. Your boyfriend dumped you? oh yeah, you're the only one in the history of the world to experience that. Oh great, now he's the chosen one? like harry needed an ego boost. see Wizard Angst)

The Movies:

Twilight/New Moon: way better filmed than i was expecting. For the most part i agree with the casting except for (and please, no tomatoes or other rotten fruits/veggies) Robert Pattinson. ...Really guys? out of all of the actors in the world you couldn't find someone else to stick in a sunless room for a year to get that lovely pasty color to play edward? sorry, but when i think hottest immortal vampire of my dreams...Rob Pattinson does not even make top 20. Now, i don't exactly have a perfect guy picked out but i'm just not a Rob fan. He was more palatable as Cedric Diggory, when he wasn't trying to be every teen girls fantasy. sorry, Rob, mission unsuccessful. Jacob Black? let's just say i switched to Team Jacob after New Moon. 'Nough said.

Harry Potter:

Daniel Radcliffe - awkward and annoying. perfect.

Emma Watson: perfect, way cuter and less awkward than the Hermione of the books.

Rupert Grint: FAVORITE EVER. he is so awkward and weasley-ish and i adore him.

Fred and George: right up there with ron. i think they are hilarious and clever and they add some much needed comic relief amidst harry's perpetual pessimism.

Alan Rickman: if anyone else had played snape, these movies would have failed miserably. He is so perfect and his deadpan monotone is epic no matter what role he plays.

Tom Felton: the exact mixture of brat and suave that i always pictured malfoy

Ralph Fiennes: just like his role in the duchess, you love to hate him as the worlds creepiest Voldemort.

The movies themselves:

the early movies are basically terrible, but it kind of adds to their charm.

for the most part, the movies followed the basic plots of the books as much as possible...until we get to The Order of the Phoenix.

The Order was one of my favorite books and since i read it right before seeing the movie, i was fresher on my knowledge of the plot. THEY COMPLETELY SCREWED UP. the prophesy in the fifth book is SO important to the rest of the series and they completely skim over all of that. Also, they leave out a lot of things surrounding the order that i thought were pretty critical. and lastly, sirius dies. which is just all J.K. Rowling's fault and i have never forgiven her for that. RIP Sirius Black. (spinoff series???)

The Half Blood Prince. Two words: Epic Battle. WHERE WAS THAT!?!? i waited for an ENTIRE year for that movie to come out and was so pumped for there to finally be a Lord of the Rings scale battle fought inside hogwarts (soon to come a Lord of the Rings post, get excited.) But what do we get? Nothing. no battle scene, AND HARRY WASNT EVEN PETRIFIED. if Harry was really such a big dumbledore fan he would have gone off and tried to kill all of those death eaters with the one spell he knows - expelliarmus. (i'm sorry, you've been in wizarding school for 6 years and that's STILL your go to spell? no. avada kedavra the crap out of them. kill or be killed.) Still unhappy about the lack of battle scene. epic fail warner brothers. also, they leave out a bunch of the memory stuff in the pensieve which was my favorite part of the book and also REALLY important. and dumbledor's funeral with the elder wand and all that jazz.

in order of my favorite:

Harry Potter:

Prisoner of Azkaban

Goblet of Fire

Half Blood Prince

Order of the Phoenix

Chamber of Secrets

Sorcerer's Stone

(it was brought to my attention that i left out the Deathly Hallows, this is BECAUSE (please dont kill me) I have only read it once and I dont really remember what I thought of it. BUT (spoiler alert) since half of my favorite characters die/have died by this point...and the one character I WANTED to STAY DEAD...didn't...I would probably place it below Order of the Phoenix somewhere.)

Twilight:

Eclipse

Twilight

Breaking Dawn

New Moon

And that is my weigh in on the battle between wizards and vampires.

for something that will literally bring you to tears (from laughing) read this.

Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Those Lacking Humor

Now it's time for a little rant.

Things that bug me:

Like I said before, bad grammar.

your: that is YOUR book.

you're: you are.

there: over there

their: that is their book

they're: they are

IT'S NOT THAT HARD

its: its book.

it's: it is.

this one is the WORST.

and then my favorite:

to: learn to do grammar.

too: i wish i could spell, too!

two: give me two reasons not to throw a grammar book at you.

I can't tell you how many times i have been reading a newspaper, magazine, or brochure and seen these simple mistakes. basically, all of the editors should be fired.

bad drivers. welcome to houston. get off your @#@)(#&! cell phone and drive. if you MUST talk on your phone, put it on speaker. or get one of those obnoxious blue tooth things that make you look like you talk to yourself. are you turning? there's this little flashy light that EVERY car comes with (yes, EVERY. especially, mercedes and lexus drivers out there. just because your car costs more than my college tuition does NOT give you the right to drive 10 miles under the speed limit and not use a turn signal). When turning, you flick the lever wherever it is, and the turn signal comes on. GENIUS.

however, once you have turned, TURN OFF YOUR BLINKER. I HATE driving next to someone and you sit there the whole time wondering when they are going to veer into your lane.

(dear college station drivers: speed limits are like guidelines. if you go 5mph over, i PROMISE lightning will not strike you from heaven. give it a try.)

for more details see: abby white's hilarity

people who can't park. granted, i am one of those people that often has to back out and start over, guilty. but, if i happen to get out of my car i do NOT look at my horrible parking job and shrug and walk away. Example: yesterday i was at lupe tortillas (the original) and there was a parking spot RIGHT AT THE FRONT in a tiny parking lot where the only other spots were out in the boondocks. (yes, boondocks). a honda sedan was parked so that it was partially in the other spot. Now, this wouldnt be a problem if the Rav4 on the other side had not done THE EXACT SAME THING. If you cannot park your tiny honda/rav4, maybe you should invest in a smart car, and then i could just punt your tiny toy car out of the spot and park there myself.

which brings me to smart cars. hi. welcome to america. smart cars are perfect when you live in europe and the spots are all tiny parallel ones on the side of a busy road. NOT america where all of our spots are made for f-250s. the worst feeling ever is getting your hopes up about finding a parking spot, pulling part of the way in and then seeing a smart car. now, if a certain president had his way, we would all be driving these tiny barbiemobiles around, but that's a WHOLE other rant.

people who do not know how to walk in a mall. this is a MALL, not a park. if you're going to stroll leisurely around with your 37 kids and 12 strollers....go elsewhere. if i'm in the mall, i am there for a purpose. so get out tha wayyyy and take your caravan of munchkins outside and get them some fresh air.

restaurants that don't have splenda. just because sweet n low is sick and i prefer my ice tea without a shot of cancer.

when you go to a restaurant and you order a coke, and your waiter/waitress asks "Oh, is Pepsi okay?"

um...NO. if pepsi was okay i would have ordered a pepsi. Pepsi and Coke are NOT interchangeable. So i will just have a water.

people who order their steaks well done. WHAT. that is just a crime. it's all about the medium rare or even rare. that's right, i like my steak to still be mooing and walking around, it gives me a challenge. why don't you just go ahead an order chicken, because it will have as much taste in it as a steak that is well done. or medium well. either way, that cow is rolling over in its grave and if i see you committing this crime against red meat, i might stab you with my steak knife.

So This is the Story All About How...

I go to Texas A&M, which I love more than I can say. You want to fight? Pick on A&M for an illegitimate reason (leave the sports rivalry on the field, thanks & gig 'em). Now I'm not a crazy hick redass, I didn't go to EVERY midnight yell and paint myself maroon, but I am not a 2%. If you don't go to a&m, that was all a different language. From the outside looking in you can't understand it, from the inside looking out you can't explain it. get over it.

Like I said, English major (for now at least) I love reading and writing and life without either one of those is incomprehensible. I love words, especially random ones and I have weird grammar pet peeves. Do not end a sentence with a preposition. Just don't. Your and You're. To, Two, and Too. I'm sorry, did you go to kindergarden? But that's another rant for another time. (also, its and it's). Yes, I write stories purely out of fun. No, I do not like writing essays. I love commas. I hate it when spell check tells me they are unnecessary.

French. I have been taking french for five years now, and I love it. It bugs me that everyone I know only knows spanish because whenever I want to drop in some franglish...no one will understand. C'est la vie, je pense.

Traveling. Love. LOVE. I have been to England, France, Italy, Greece, and the Czech Republic. Italy and Greece were my favorite so far, but I think it's because it was freezing when we went to France, and jet lag and I did not get along. One of my favorite parts of traveling? the food. AH-Mazing. I also love taking pictures (in general) and especially on travels.

Friends. My life. I have the world's greatest group of friends and I could not ask for better. I never dreamed that the people I met in college would become my new family. they are AWESOME. the sheer volume of inside jokes from first semester is a little frightening.

(sorry I don't have pictures of everyone...go look on facebook)

Family. Kyle and Debra. Love them, they are the world's greatest parents. My sister Rebecca, love to death, she has always been my best friend and my favorite thing is how she brings me to tears from laughing over NOTHING.

c'est fini.