I Am Legend

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
First off, I loved the movie before I read this book. Now, I simply cannot love the movie. It completely changed the message that the book conveyed. Literally, it's the exact opposite message. Argghhh! Why does Hollywood have to do that?!



Anyway, I didn't like the character Robert Neville in the beginning. I can appreciate a sane person and I can appreciate an insane person. What I can't appreciate is a person who is sane one moment and insane the next. However, after really trying to understand the character and get into his head, I realize it is probably exactly how a man would work being in the situation he was in. I still got frustrated at times though.



I don't want to give anything away, but I loved the end of the book. I would suggest to anyone who loved the movie to read the book, so you can understand what the author was really trying to get at. And if you hated the movie, you should read the book, cause more than likely you'll love it since it's the exact opposite of the book.



It shows a side of our society that we don't often contemplate (e.g. what "normal" is and what is acceptable and why) and makes us more aware of it.


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Dracula

Dracula by Bram Stoker

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have never read an epistolary novel and it threw me a bit at first. I felt like I wasn't getting enough of "the action" and, silly as it seems, I could not stop thinking, "No one writes their diary like this!" Needless to say, it took me awhile to get into the book, but it is a classic, so I figured it had to catch my attention sometime.



And it did. I wish the dynamics between men and women still existed like they did then. The men were men. The women were adored by these men. The character of Dracula was scary not only because he'll suck your blood bu he is intelligent as well. Great character development. He piqued my interest in vampires (especially Vlad the Impaler) and now I'm obsessed. And I think that's one sign of a great book: when it creates a passion to know more.


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These days

I wish I had a cool story to tell. I haven't posted for a long time cause it seemed no one was reading my blog anymore. Which is fine, but it's definitely not as fun when I'm the only one reading my blog. (I check it religiously to see if I've posted anything new.) Anyhoo, here's my new favorite picture I photoshopped for your viewing pleasure.



I've been insanely busy (but not literally insane this time) with school. I started my practicum this semester, whatever that really means and I'll be student teaching next semester. I LOVE my classes and all is well, even though it's keeping me a little too busy.

Work is... frustrating. I have been struggling at my new job, but things seem to be smoothing out. Plus, we finally have a schedule. We didn't do anything for the first two weeks, and I need structure and a schedule and something to do!

I have been feeling old lately. I had a little party at my house this weekend. No, not a rave or a drinking party. A game-night party. We played catch phrase and phase 10. That is the kind of partying I love. I am a 25 year old, single college student and that is my idea of fun?! I think I am so weird sometimes. So, to prove to myself that I am still young and cool, I went to a bar on Saturday because some of my friends were playing a show. For some reason, I was headbanging all night. It seemed appropriate and cool at the time. Not a good idea. Me and my oldness woke up this morning still unable to hear and with an extremely sore neck. Good thing I'm not a drinker and didn't have to add a hangover to the list.

Anyway...

I would love to know who everyone is voting for. I am still up in the air. I know I don't want to vote for Barack Obama for two reasons. 1. Lindsay Lohan (and a slew of other *ridiculous celebrities) told me to vote for him. (*Note: pretty much all celebrities are ridiculous) 2. I don't want to live in a socialist country, which is what he will make it if he becomes president. But, I'm not so sure I could support John McCain and Sarah Palin either. Being from Utah, my vote doesn't count anyway. John McCain will win Utah, no question about it. So, I've been thinking I'd vote third party. Either Ron Paul, who I wish would've won the Republican nomination, cause I would've voted for him in a heartbeat or Stephen Colbert. I'd love to write him in as my vote as he's quite intelligent and witty; a winning combination. That way people can't say I didn't vote because I'm young and ignorant. I think it'll prove a point, even if no one but you knows I am making a point. I got into a 3 hour long debate on Tuesday about government and I'm convinced pretty much everyone in this country is brainwashed by the government into thinking they are something great and we can't function without them. Which, maybe at this point, we can't because we've become too dependent on them, but it's not impossible. They're not that great. You listening to me, Lindsay Lohan?

I want to marry an angel... no really.

My boss and friend, Katherine, writes. And she writes well. These are the trailers for her two newest books, of which I've read "A Season of Eden" and I am currently reading "Heavenly" and now I want to marry an angel.

Make sure the sound is turned up on the actual video, cause it wasn't on mine.
Check out her websites too. Or let me know if you have questions.

She is a very intelligent writer who is able to make you fall in love with her characters. She makes me wish I was the leading lady in her books (seriously, I've even asked her to make me one of them). So, watch the trailers. NOW!

New York, New York

The last two weeks have been exhausting and therefore, no new posts. New York City was a blast overall. When I got back I started looking for a job for the new school year as well as substitute teaching this week. The week started out pretty good and then went a little downhill as the days went by.

Monday and Tuesday: I stayed up way too late. It was so fun being back in my old, old classroom.

Wednesday: I was so exhausted at work. I'm not used to being to work by 8 o'clock in the morning. I also suffered from food poisoning* (*note: I'm pretty sure God was punishing me for going to Hooters, as I'd never been before and the first time I go, I feel like dying for days afterward)

Thursday: A truly tragic death and sadness amongst my friends. Also, there was severe awkwardness while trying to be social with a new group of the opposite sex.

Friday: I feared I'd lost my phone and was sick all day long because of it and what may be discovered if someone else found it... Now, I am ready to just crash and sleep, but I can't of course, cause... well, duh, it's Friday night.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... in no particular order, my pictures from New York City.

At Rockefeller Center. We spent one night there just sitting and talking for hours and I took pictures for random bystanders. They all loved me cause I took my picture taking job seriously and made everyone take a lot of pictures and do lots of poses.

At the famous Serendipity, eating blackout cake. It is sooo amazing. I promptly made it for my mom, Kristen, Weston and Sam when I got home.

Hey dumb dumb, me want gum gum. At the Museum of Natural History.

In Times Square

Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe. Sunny Santa Fe would be nice... I seriously sang this song in my head every time we got onto the subway.

At St. Patricks' Cathedral

Eating New York pizza. Ever since I moved home from New Jersey, nothing has compared and I couldn't wait to get back to eat some.

Outside of "Rent". It was so much fun to see!

"Phantom" was the most amazing experience of the whole trip. Seriously. I may have teared up a little while watching it.

And there was walking. Lots and lots of walking.

A's and B's

I checked my summer grades online today and my world was crushed:

A- Sweet

A- Excellent

No grade posted yet- It's alright. I know I got an A

B+- What the hell?

My first non-A grade at the U of U. And it makes me so mad. I tried sooo hard in that class. It killed my 4.0. I am ready to go yell at my teacher, however nice I thought she was before my grade was posted.

The funny thing is, I think that grades have such a negative impact on learning. We teach kids that A's are important cause that means you're smart and you can get into a good college and then get a wonderful job that makes you lots of money and everyone will adore you. Or something close to that.

When we make grades the forefront, children don't learn as much as they can, because they're worried about getting the A, not necessarily learning the content. And because of such acts as NCLB (No Child Left Behind) we teach to the test. It's all about looking smart, it doesn't matter if you actually take anything away from the class; it only matters that you trick authorities into thinking you did.

And I think it's wrong.

And yet, here I am, angry over a B+ because it's a B+ and not an A.

Breaking Dawn party, part deux

I LOVE to throw parties. At least, I think I love to throw parties. Without fail, a week or so before my party, I think "What am I doing?! This is going to be terrible!" My latest was to celebrate the release of "Breaking Dawn", the newest and last book in the Twilight saga. I admit that I am in love with these books. I very much dislike Bella. I very much dislike Jacob. But I am sadly in love with Edward. One day I will stop dating Mike's and find an Edward; but probably not. But Jasper came and that's enough for now! Here are a few of the highlights:

Chelsea showing off her beautiful wedding cake she decorated.

Kim, Teressa and Stephanie

Shay... nuff said

Summer and Rich

Becca

Jenn, Katherine and Brooke

Debating what would/should happen in the book. I was right all along!

Katherine, me and Jen with our new (and not so new) tattoos

And finally, me with my Jasper.