so sweet

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

words can't describe this

change of plans

So I'm no longer moving to Georgia. Now I'm moving to Wyoming. I went up there to job hunt yesterday and got the call today that I got the job I wanted. I have to be there Thursday (as in two days from now!) to get fingerprinted and take a drug test, and then I start Friday. I'm going to be working with handicapped people, specifically a married couple who have Down Syndrome. They're high functioning, so I basically just need to supervise and plan activities. (Last weekend they went to Yellowstone!) I think this will be a great way to get to know the area, so I'm excited about that.

So yeah. This is a big change and it happened really fast. I made the decision a week ago and everything just kind of fell into place. Yay!

Q of the Day

Q: What amendments should be made to the U.S. Constitution?
A: O.k., so I feel like admitting this may possibly qualify me for an appearance on the Jaywalking segment of The Tonight Show, but I'm not entirely sure of what an amendment is. I mean I know they give us the right to free speech, to bear arms, provide a limit for Presidential terms, etc., etc., but I don't know what would qualify something to be an amendment to the Constitution as opposed to being a federal law. So instead of listing what amendments I would like to see made, I'm just going to list what laws/things I would like to see enacted. Some of these may qualify for amendment status, who knows. And yes, I know some of these would require lots of money and are not in any way realistic.

• Legalize gay marriage.
• Harsher penalties for people who abuse animals and children.
• A ban on inhumane factory farming.
  
• Rehab instead of jail time for first and second time drug offenses. (Unless they're trafficking or cooking meth or something like that.) And not the Lindsay Lohan version of rehab!
  
• A complete revamp of the public school system.
• Get rid of Monsanto and other like companies.
• Ban reality t.v. unless it's educational. (Yes, I know I watch it and I'm a hypocrite!)
• Make every student in junior high and high school do a challenge day.

Alright, those are just a few. Basically I would just like for people to not be jerks and not do mean things.

Q of the Day

Q: Would you stop eating all junk food to live 5 years longer?
A: Hellz no!

Table Topics

I was discussing blogging with some friends last night and realized that everyone likes something different and I can't please everyone. What Emily liked, Betsy didn't like and vice versa. I also realized that I've run out of things to blog about. Fortunately, I then remembered that a year ago I bought Table Topics and the cards are perfect blogging prompts. So here's the deal: I'm going to answer a question each day (theoretically) and it would be awesome if everyone would answer the question in the comments section too, so that we can all get to know each other better. Here goes:

Q of the Day: What kind of business would you love to start?
In a dream world, I would like to be a writer and start a multi-media empire in which I write wildly successful books, movies, tv shows, etc. However, in the world of reality I realize that probably won't happen, so my more realistic dream business is a catering company. I love to cook but I also want the flexibility that you don't get from being a chef in a restaurant. Catering would be a ton of hard work, but I think it would also be really rewarding. I just want to do something creative. I don't get near enough creativity in my every day life. Plus, I've also been told I'm good with my hands. Hehehe. (In case you couldn't tell, that was a lecherous hehehe!)

how technology has ruined me

• My attention span is teetering on the verge of extinction. If your story is longer than the length of a sound bite, I lose interest.
  
• I asked a friend the other day how he knew this other person and he said "Through my friend, Hunter." I assumed he was referring to some new social networking site called myfriendhunter.com. He was not.
• As I'm going about my day, I always have my own personal soundtrack going in my head like on The Hills.
• It used to be that the first thing I did when I woke up was go to the bathroom. Not any longer. Now I pick up the laptop laying on the floor and before I even get out of bed, I check my email.
  
• Checking my email is also the very last thing I do before going to sleep. See that list of books I've read this year that's over on the sidebar of my blog? It's never updated because I never read before going to bed anymore.
  
• My thoughts now come in 140 characters or less, despite the fact that I never update my Twitter.
  
• Nothing happens without me thinking about how I can turn it into a blog entry.

There's been research that says that the brains of today's children are being wired differently than ours were, due to today's technology. I'm pretty sure that my brain is starting to rewire itself as well and that's a little frightening!

more randoms . . .

• Have you seen "If You Really Knew Me" on MTV? Wow, this is one of the most touching and uplifting t.v. shows I have seen in recent history. Last night's episode had me sobbing.
  
• It's once again Shark Week and I could not take my eyes off of these Top 10 Shark Attack Videos. I didn't know if I'd even be able to make it through the first clip without being traumatized, but then I ended up being mesmerized and had to watch all of them. There's one of a guy who kissed a shark and it bit his lips. He's an idiot.
  
• If you have kids or ever plan on having kids, or if you are ever around kids, you must watch this TED talk about creativity. There's also a second follow-up talk. This guy is awesome.
• I haven't even graduated yet, but the alumni association is already hitting me up for money.
  
• I am loving this insane rainy weather we're having. Well, except for around 4:30 this morning when the crazy loud thunder woke me up.

some stuff

• 27 days from now I will be on my way to Georgia.
• I'm still obsessed with Veronica Mars and still plan on telling you exactly why you should watch this show. In the meantime, I am getting people hooked on it one person at a time.
  
• In the case of my sister in-law, I'm getting her hooked, then taking the DVD's with me when I return to Utah. Sorry about that and I hope you found them at the library.
• I have discovered the joys of Luxe Lavender nail polish.
• I have also discovered the joys of coconut M&M's. In addition to being delicious, they also have a lovely color scheme of brown, green and white. They make me want to decorate something in those colors.
• Some friends are throwing a going away party for me and I am extremely concerned that no one is going to show up.
• Did you hear about the two-legged lamb?
• I'm sad that I only get to hang out with my co-workers (the ones that don't irritate me) for a few more weeks.
  
• "Cold Hearted Snake" by Paula Abdul is playing in my iTunes. I love shuffle.
• I just bought this and this.
• I'm selling my freezer. It's a 21.1 cubic feet Gibson. Any takers?
• I'm also willing to sell just about anything I own because I don't want to haul it with me across the country. Email me if you want something, anything.
• It has been brought to my attention that no one has heard of any of my songs of the day, except for when I'm all excited about discovering a new song that everyone else has apparently already heard and loved. Sorry about that. It's because I choose to educate myself musically instead of allowing myself to be force fed music by the radio stations. No, not really. I just hate having to switch stations all the time to avoid listening to commercials. So basically, it's because I'm lazy and would rather just push play on my iPod.
  

Oopsies!

As you may have noticed, my Veronica Mars week was kind of a failure. Sigh. Life got in the way and now I have the blog blahs and this is the best I can do for a post. Hopefully I will be inspired soon and you will be inundated with post after post after post. In the meantime, go rent Veronica Mars so that we can discuss it and hopefully I'll be back soon!

Reason #2 to watch Veronica Mars

It's sick how good the music on this show is. Here are a few of my favorites (top picks are "I Hear the Bells", "Sway", "Feel So Free" and "The Edge of the Ocean"):

And then there's "Momentary Thing" by Something Happens. Awesome song, but unfortunately it wasn't available through Playlist.com and most of the YouTube videos for it will spoil certain Veronica Mars storylines, so here's a random Joan of Arcadia themed video that includes the song:

Reason #1 to watch Veronica Mars

These reasons are in no particular order, but this one is definitely near the top of my list. There's this character named Dick Casablancas and even just a look or one word from him makes me happy. He's hilarious or, more specifically, the dialogue on Veronica Mars is hilarious, especially when it comes from him. He's my Dad's favorite character too. I think we all cheer a little bit on the inside when he comes on screen.

One of my favorite Dick Casablancas (I have problems with not including his last name!) scenes. His fraternity is accused of raping women and he's asking Veronica for help proving they didn't do it.



And another video dedicated to the genius that is Dick Casablancas. My personal favorite moment comes at 2:22ish.

my new obsession

So I recently discovered Veronica Mars and I'm completely obsessed. I watched all 3 seasons by myself, then got my parents hooked on it and rewatched all 3 seasons with them. Then I bought all 3 seasons on DVD (we had previously rented them). And then I found this awesome website that lists all the music from the episodes, and I downloaded all the music. So yeah, I'm slightly obsessed. In fact, I even bought the first season of Party Down, based solely upon the fact that it's from the same people that did Veronica Mars and has a bunch of the same people in it. (It is also awesome, by the way.) If you have never seen Veronica Mars, I would highly recommend that you check it out. The WB website rotates through the 3 seasons, so you can currently watch seasons 1 and 2 here. And also, if you have seen it, why is it that you never told me about it and I had to discover it on my own?

As you may have noticed, I've had nothing to blog about lately, so for the next little bit, I'm going to post on my favorite things about this show, in hopes that I'll convince you to go watch it. (Yes, I know I have no life!) For starters, here's a little promo clip for the show from Comic-Con:

song of the day

Muse-Uprising

I heard this song for the first time literally about five minutes ago and it stopped me in my tracks. I was seriously mesmerized. I had to immediately figure out who and what it was because it was imperative that I possess it ASAP.

love it

Just for you, Ambular!

Dear Amber (everyone else, please feel free to ignore this post),

I read this article and immediately thought of you and this classic moment from Saved by the Bell.

Sincerely,
Kim

P.S. Where did we get Munther from? I've forgotten.

more sassy gay friend

I didn't think this one was as good. They seriously need to do Bella from Twilight.

interesting idea

Immigrant farm workers' challenge: Take our jobs

By JULIANA BARBASSA, Associated Press Writer Juliana Barbassa, Associated Press Writer – Thu Jun 24, 5:42 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO – In a tongue-in-cheek call for immigration reform, farm workers are teaming up with comedian Stephen Colbert to challenge unemployed Americans: Come on, take our jobs.

Farm workers are tired of being blamed by politicians and anti-immigrant activists for taking work that should go to Americans and dragging down the economy, said Arturo Rodriguez, the president of the United Farm Workers of America.

So the group is encouraging the unemployed — and any Washington pundits or anti-immigrant activists who want to join them — to apply for the some of thousands of agricultural jobs being posted with state agencies as harvest season begins.

All applicants need to do is fill out an online form under the banner "I want to be a farm worker" at http://www.takeourjobs.org, and experienced field hands will train them and connect them to farms.

According to the Labor Department, three out of four farm workers were born abroad, and more than half are illegal immigrants.

Proponents of tougher immigration laws have argued that farmers have become used to cheap labor and don't want to raise wages enough to draw in other workers.

Those who have done the job have some words of advice for applicants: First, dress appropriately.

During summer, when the harvest of fruits and vegetables is in full swing in Central Valley, temperatures hover in the triple digits. Heat exhaustion is one of the reasons farm labor consistently makes the Bureau of Labor Statistics' top ten list of the nation's most dangerous jobs.

Second, expect long days. Growers have a small window to pick fruit before it is overripe.

And don't count on a big paycheck. Farm workers are excluded from federal overtime provisions, and small farms don't even have to pay the minimum wage. Fifteen states don't require farm labor to be covered by workers compensation laws.

Any takers?

"The reality is farmworkers who are here today aren't taking any American jobs away. They work in often unbearable situations," Rodriguez said. "I don't think there will be many takers, but the offer is being made. Let's see what happens."

To highlight how unlikely the prospect of Americans lining up to pick strawberries or grapes, Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" plans to feature the "Take Our Jobs" campaign on July 8.

The campaign is being played for jokes, but the need to secure the right to work for immigrants who are here is serious business, said Michael Rubio, supervisor in Kern County, one of the biggest ag producing counties in the nation.

"Our county, our economy, rely heavily on the work of immigrant and unauthorized workers," he said. "I would encourage all our national leaders to come visit Kern County and to spend one day, or even half a day, in the shoes of these farm workers."

Hopefully, the message will go down easier with some laughs, said Manuel Cunha, president of the California grower association Nisei Farmers League, who was not a part of the campaign.

"If you don't add some humor to this, it's enough to get you drinking, and I don't mean Pepsi," Cunha said, dismissing the idea that Americans would take up the farm workers' offer.

California's agriculture industry launched a similar campaign in 1998, hoping to recruit welfare recipients and unemployed workers to work on farms, he said. Three people showed up.

"Give us a legal, qualified work force. Right now, farmers don't know from day to day if they're going to get hammered by ICE," he said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "What happens to my labor pool?"

His organization supports AgJobs, a bill currently in the Senate which would allow those who have worked in U.S. agriculture for at least 150 days in the previous two years to get legal status.

The bill has been proposed in various forms since the late 1990s, with backing from the United Farm Workers of America and other farming groups, but has never passed.

I am currently enjoying . . .

• The Seventeen Magazine Project
• Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
• The FURminator (Seriously-if you have a pet, you need this.)
• Being outside (Yes, Traci, my deck does count as the great outdoors!!!)
• Tootsie Rolls
• Hoppipolla by Sigur Rós
• Masterpiece Classic's adaptation of Little Dorrit
• the countdown for the season finale of Glee tonight
  

Newsies + Gaga = Awesome