Wow! I am so glad that the fall semester is almost over. I am praying for passing grades so that these past months weren't a waste of time. This break is going to feel real good on the brain! Lately, I have been stressed about trying to get things situated and organized for finals and then I realized that I will never have my shit together. Well actually, I hope that someday I do. To add to my stress, Christmas is in two weeks and I haven't gotten any presents yet. I get the feeling that lying around the whole week after finals is going to be the greatest. Oh wait, I still have to go to work, bummer! Work wouldn't be all that bad if every child was an angel. When does that happen. The other day I had a child literally punching me in the stomach and laughing about it. I kept telling the child there was a baby in their, but he/she just laughed. Not the best day I have had at work. I really enjoy working there that was the only real upsetting thing that has happened in three months with children 6 weeks to 5 years old.

Thanks for the great semester Molly.
Have a good break.

Recently I have discovered Christopher Paolini to be a very interesting writer. I am not much into to mystical dragons, but the inheritance series has intrigued me. He reminds me a little of J.R. Tolkien in his creativity and word usage. Paolini wrote Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr and each chapter seems to draw me closer into his world. I was introduced to this series by my mother, which is very unusual. She is not the type who would read about dragons. I was saddened to see the movie was horrible and nothing incomparison to the book.

The Holidays

Thanksgiving has been a favorite holiday of mine since I started celebrating the holidays. I like getting together with family and knowing that our being together will bring me joy. There was no sudden change for me this turkey day because we happened to have in Frenchtown at my Aunt Kathy's. It wasn't a long drive and dinner was very relaxed. I was mostly sad because most of the younger generation had been in attendance for this holiday. I realize we are getting older and starting our own families and trends, but it is still nice to have everyone there. My family get togethers usually include: the feast, visiting, game time (pictionary), and then the second dinner. Although this year we only had the first feast and visiting, how lame. No, not really, but the game time really defines my family and somehow we have managed to drift away from our tradition. I always knew at some point in time this would happen, but I wasn't quite ready for it. The good part about this is my immediate family has gotten so much closer and that is a blessing.

I read "Cathedral" and I thought the story had great morals. It made me sad at first how the narrator felt about blind people and especially this man whom his wife was very good friends with. I was glad that the story ended with the narrator actually learning from this blind man, Robert, when at the beginning he was cutting him down. Actually both Robert and the narrator learned a lot from eachother. The narrator finally seen where blind people can see it is just in a different way. The narrator didn't even know how to describe a cathedral and by the end of the story he had drawn one and that became better than any desciption. I do not think the narrator is sympathetic at all. He makes it seem like blind people are no good and the people with them are just as bad. He changed by finally seeing the blind are normal people just like him.

Tips

Think Positively
        When writing I always try to tell my self that nothing I write is bad. I can always use this or I would not have thought of it. It is hard to write when you are always so hard on yourself. SO, put on a smile and and tell yourself Hakuhnamatahtah!

Write Freely
         Don't set your standards to specific things, let your mind wander. It is easy to write about everything, so let your mind do the writing.

Keep a Journal
         I think that it is easiest to write to yourself. Think about in the future when you can't remember a lot of what happened in college or the years to follow. If you keep a journal writing is much easier and flows a lot better because you are writing every day. Also, it is fun to look back and read about memories that may have slipped your mind.

Can you catch me in a lie?

My dad has traveled to Vietnam to see his new wife. The times he has been there he says that the bathrooms aren't efficient, so they give you water to wipe with.

When I was a junior in high school we went to state and I was talked to by a journalist for the Billings Gazette and ended up getting 2nd that year.

I was 16 and traveling to Australia to play in the U.S. Down Under team. I raised my own money to get there and got a 3 day trip to Hawaii on top of it.

Which ones are the truth and which one is the lie?

King of Queens

This sitcom is a comedy about a couples life and all that comes with it. Doug and Kari Heffernan (Kevin James and Leah Remini) have a unique and comical relationship. Doug, a delivery man and Kari, a secretary, are always trying to find ways that will make their life better and easier. Arthur Spooner (Jerry Stiller), Kari's father, ends up moving in with them and is a goof. Doug gets along with him, but gets frustrated with Arthur everyday. Arthur always wants his so called friends to give his discounts or rides on the bus free. Doug's friend and co-worker, Deacon (Victor Williams) and his wife are always battling with the Heffernans to see who is better or more knowledgeable. I personally like this sitcom because of the humor, but also because the lifestyles seem to make fun of the silly mistakes that we, as people, do everyday. It can teach you about the silly mistakes we get mad about, but should be able to put up with. That it is hard enough to keep your own relationship in tact without being involved in someone elses'.

Op-Ed

The first op-ed I read was about this guy and his eight roommates who are upset with wandering people looking for parties, especially freshmen. I agree with him that even though it looks like a party it is still someone's house. People forget that announcing yourself or just simply asking if they could join in on the fun would make everyone a lot happier. Most freshman are underage for one thing, so being at someone's house and getting the police involved could get the renters in serious trouble. I'm with him. He states a very good point and is looking out for his fellow roommates, but also just wants to let people know to have respect. http://www.montanakaimin.com/opinion/disturbing-the-peace-it-s-my-party-and-i-ll-gripe-if-i-want-to-1.1671189

Reading the second article called, "Be safe, be smart", I became aware that even though this town/city may be full of happiness, but under this there is still crime. This lady has an opinion about walking alone at night and the chance at being sexually assaulted is not as rare as we think. Even though people walk home alone all the time the chance that it could be you gets higher. Ever heard the saying "better safe than sorry" well it is true in this case. She is basically telling people to look out for everyone, walk home with someone, or accept the ride that was offered. I agree with her, it is obvious because I am a female that I would, but why not. Ladies should always be looking out for each other. I am happy to know that people are looking out for one another and any one of your friends would be more than happy to walk you home. http://www.montanakaimin.com/opinion/be-smart-be-safe-1.1598728

The last article I read I found in the Los Angeles Times opinion articles. It is based on the three American hitchhikers that were seized and put in Iranian prison. Sarah Shroud ,who was released over a year later, states her opinion that they need to release the other two hitchhikers. Shroud states "Threats and intimidation aside, the technique of the Intelligence Ministry is to keep its prisoners totally in the dark. I never knew whether I had been formally charged. I never knew what the intelligence agents or the investigating magistrate were planning for me. I never knew whether my incarceration would last another month, another year or 10 years. I feared a show trial, alongside other alleged "conspirators." I did not know whether I would ever see my family again." I agree that they need to let them go they have interrogated for a year and have not come up with adequate evidence as to why they are still be held in prison. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-esfandiari-hikers-iran-20101007,0,2074150.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary+%28L.A.+Times+-+Commentary%29

Lucky # 7

I took a personality test just recently for my writing class and I found out that I am a 7, which is the type of personailty I have. I took two tests and each one had the same result of being a seven. The types that I am are an enthusiast with the wing of a skeptic and a adventurousness. Being an enthusiast says that I like to stick to my own syle, don't like being told what to do, enjoy companionship and laughter. Mostly I am an optimist, free-spirited, generous, outspoken, a risk taker. The things that don't agree with me include: not having enough time, not completing things I start, and getting caught up in fantasies. I mostly agree with this to a point there are things that bug me and I can be a grouch, but I am an open-minded and fun person in general. I have always thught of myself as someone who goes out of there way to have fun and be silly. I like to do things on spur of the moment and hopefully it works out. My biggest desire is to be happy, but I fear being deprived. Having wing of a skeptic means I have a strong sense with compassion, working hard, responsibility, directness, and confronting danger bravely. I have a hard time with being confident, critical and making up my mind. I fear being abandoned or taken advantage of.
A helper was the next highest type I scored. I like people to appreciate me, share fun times, take interest in my problems, and if you criticize me be gentle about it. I relate easily with people, but it is hard for me to say no. I am enthusiastic, fun-loving and don't like being selfish. The mixture between the two makes a good combination and they really do define me well. This website will link you to the information on a type 7 and all other types. http://www.9types.com/descr/7/
Enneagram testing tests the emotional battle of ones mind. RHETI is the test you can take to define your peersonality.

7THE ENTHUSIAST
Enneagram Type Seven

The Busy, Variety-Seeking type:
Spontaneous, Versatile, Acquisitive, and Scattered

Meaning I stress type one, which is a reformer, but my growth is the investigator, type 5. http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/

One person's trash = another person's treasure...

Missoula is a unique town/city. One of the best things about most Missoula people is they always seem to want to save and sustain the environment. We are a give and take society with a lot of extra help for people who might need it.

"Mongo the process of putting things out for others." I was walking by the Food Bank on Third Street a couple of years back with four of my friends and they noticed this couch that was sitting out front and they wanted it in their house. So, the four of us carried the couch from the Food Bank all the way to their house, which across from the Job Service on Third and to this day they are still getting use out of that same couch. That is when I really realized that people left things out so others could take them freely. I really didn't know that this same scenario would be called "mongo", but I knew that it existed places, especially in Missoula. There is mongo on almost every block of downtown. I'm not sure if people don't want to take their trash to the dump or just want someone else to get use out it, could be both, but as I said, "give and take." In that case in the classifieds of the Missoulian you can find out what is free and where to find it. Also, there is missoula.craigslist.org, which a lot of people use to find rides, computers, bikes, clothes, cars, etc. So, those are both great places where you can find things here and there.

I appreciate mongoing as much as any other person struggling financially. It is helpful for people in an economy like this. I have never put things out for other people, but I have donated some things. I just haven't conjured up that many items yet, so once I am a junior in college maybe I will have some things to put out there for you. I see a lot of people who redecorate or refurnish getting rid of perfectly good items. This article by Robin Nagle (http://believermag.com/issues/201009/?read=interview_nagle)will help people see the light on how much garbage is actually being wasted by us. People, we could help someone else out and help the earth out at the same time, wow how neat is that.

Water Pollution

I chose water pollution to write about for our sustainability research paper. I chose the subject water sustainability because I am concerned with Montana's water systems. It may not seem as though they are polluted but not all pollutants are visible. There is a vast amount of pollutants that are human caused. I want to find out which pollutant causes the most harm to our water and if it can be avoided. Also, I want to find out how harmful the pollutants are to our bodies and if we should drink our tap water. I would like to research how Missoula's water contaminants can be "below legal limits, but above health guidelines". http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/toxins_in_missoula_theyre_on_tap/C559/ How is that even legal.

100 ways to make a potato

Potatoes are the second most consumed food in the world, right under dairy and is the fourth most important crop. I love potatoes, I can eat them almost any way and never get sick of them. They, to me, are the best part of dinner and I would eat them every night and probably will now that I'm attending college. Potatoes fascinate me because there are so many different combination's that can be whipped up and they still turn out good. Lets see, there are already french fries, hash browns, mashed, baked, Au gratin, chips, twice baked, and many many more ways to make them. Now think about all the different toppings that could go on potatoes,  the list is infinite both ways. My favorite way to eat potatoes are mashed with gravy. I just can't see rice having the same affect, it never seems to satisfy quite as much as potatoes and it is definitely not as filling.


So, potatoes were founded by the Aztecs (of course) about 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, but the conquistadors being the explorers they were also found them in about 1537 and they actually didn't make it to Europe until about 1570. http://www.indepthinfo.com/potato/history.shtml From then it took a little bit, approximately three decades, for everyone to realize that they were going to end up loving this root we call a potato. http://www.foodreference.com/html/a-pot-hist0607.html In 1995 we decided to grow them in space, the largest potato weighs about 18 pounds, and what is known to us that the U.S. served the first French fry to Thomas Jefferson. http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/7-interesting-facts-about-the-potato/923

               Usually reading is most convenient for me right before I go to bed, but if I am into a good book I can't put it down it comes with me everywhere. Any Nicholas Sparks book can do that for me. My favorite would have to be The Guardian, one reason is because the dog is a main character.  I think that there is only a few books of his that I have not read. He can make me cry, laugh, and be angry all in the same chapter. I like how sometimes it makes me feel as though I am apart of the story thats probably why I get so emotional. There are so many different genres of writing that it is hard to choose, so I won't. The Symbol by Dan Brown is the book I most recommend it is the third book of the series The Da Vinci Code. I was on the edge of my seat every night I read it and I can't wait to read it again.

Big world little places...

             Growing up in a small town with the population of 300 wasn't as bad as most people think. When my family moved to Charlo I was four years old, playing outside with my animals was my enjoyment. On my first day of kindergarten I met my best friend in my elementary days on the bus it turned out to be the best day of school ever.  It is always nice to see people you know and to have a better chance in sports or any activities. I enjoyed playing basketball most in high school. Throughout the whole high school days it was always a fun time, laughing, seeing friends, but I wasn't always the brightest. I did get into a little trouble further on in school. All I can say is at least that stage is over. The person who  influenced and helped me was my friend Amanda without her I'm not sure high school would have been as fun. Summertime was always the best time of the year, no school and sunshine. Being so close to the Flathead Lake made life seem like it couldn't get better. Most weekends my family and I floated the Flathead River sometimes it stormed, but most the time not one cloud in the sky. After high school I moved to Puerto Rico for almost six months living right on the beach. My job of choice for four years was being a cook and I have to say my food is great. Now I am trying to work on the college life and prepare for my son who is expected to show up on January 20th.