"You've got a friend in me"

I just read an article on Hellogiggles about how the author thought she could be best friends with Emma Watson. This prompted a conversation with my sister of the same topic. These are my top five answers:

Five Celebrities I Think I Could Be Best Friends With:

1. Emma Stone

2. Emma Watson.

3. Kate Middleton

4. Rachel McAdams

5. Taylor Swift

Who are yours?

"I wanna be a billionaire so freaking bad/ Buy all of the things I never had"

So I fully admit I'm a little obsessed with Borders these days. I mean, they send me a coupon every week! And now that the holidays are rapidly approaching, they are popping up even more frequently in my inbox. So I print it out and skip on over to Borders to get a brand new shiny book. The only problem is... uhh... sometimes there isn't a particular book that I want. Isn't part of the fun of bookstores browsing? I also fully admit I spend my time in the Young Adult section so it's just interesting what actually makes you pick up a book.

1. The Title: The Mockingbirds, The Summer I Turned Pretty, One Night that Changes Everything, Twenty Boy Summer. These are all titles that prompted me to pick them up, scan the back, become intrigued and later purchase them. But another factor along with the title is...

2. The Cover. I know, I know. Don't judge a book by it's cover but its hard not to. Eye catching ones obviously live up to their purpose, it makes you want to see what it could be about. This is one that prompted me to pick up it cause of the fun cover:

Cute title, pretty cover, not a great book. It was written either in verse or a really long text message alternating between two girls' points of view. Not awful but not exactly a page-turner either. Now this one....

Simple yet intriguing cover. Granted I feel like this one has a bit more clout with the name John Green and the awards and whatnot. I really loved this one. It was one of those boys where I sort of wanted to sob the entire time I read it but I wasn't really sure why. Firefly Lane and The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society have also had this effect on me.

And last but not least...

3. The Author. I went in with the intention of buying another book by Lauren Barnholdt because I liked her style and thought she was funny. Then I found two books I've been wanting on the Buy One, Get One 50% Off table (I think my true issue is that in my head I think of it as buy one/get one free. Must correct that) and then I was perusing the shelves on my way towards the checkout when I a name caught my eye: Risa Green. Notes from the Underbelly is quite possibly the funniest book I've ever read. I was laughing so hard that I was physically weak and could not hold up the book. Hilarious. And there she was in the YA section with a new book: The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball! I barely glanced at the blurb before grabbing it and all but running to the cashier. I'm in the middle of that one, let you know how it goes.

See? I go in with good intentions. A coupon for 33% off any one item but then I see books by authors I like, or with pretty covers, or an interesting title and I'm done for.

"You were all by yourself/ Staring up at a dark grey sky/ ... The moment I saw you cry"

"Sometimes I just get tears in my eyes when people cry in movies." -My seven year old niece MG. Me too, MG, me too. She said this extremely teary-eyed (/apologetic) during Ramona and Beezus. Not going lie--I had only been watching for the last thirty minutes of the movie and I was quite choked up myself.

I'm like MG. If anyone cries in any situation, I get rather choked up. I don't know when I became this way that I tear up during a freaking Johnson & Johnson commercial (They are pledging to their unborn/newborn babies!! It's precious!), but it can get rather embarrassing in public situations like movie theaters.

The movies that without a doubt can make me tear up are:

-The Blind Side. During the scene where Micheal Oher was collecting half-eaten bags of popcorn in the gym, my sister turned to me and said "This is the saddest movie I have ever seen" and we were only like 35 minutes in.

-Remember the Titans. Four words: Left side, strong side. SOB.

-We are Marshall. This wins the award for making me break down in the first ten minutes. Congrats for the additional twenty sobs. And it was Matthew Freaking Mcconaughey! Matthew Fox, sure, but Mcconaughey. I'm such a wuss.

Hmm... I'm seeing a pattern here. Football brings out the tears. Ironic since it's such a manly sport.

But in non-sport related movies:

-Up. Another one where I lost it ten minutes in thanks to the marriage sequence. I also blame this on Michael Giacchino's score. He's also the reason why I cried during more episodes of LOST than I care to admit (75).

- A Walk to Remember and The Notebook. But Nicholas Sparks can make me sob merely through his words so movies derived from his novels shouldn't come as a surprise.

- Titanic. The original tear jerker. Well I'll surely never let go, Jack.

- Marley and Me. Holy crap. You knew the movie wasn't going to (spoiler alert) end well. I mean you saw it coming from a mile away and I still broke down every single time Marley got sick and when the inevitable happened. I also read the book after seeing the movie and cried like a baby too. Really anytime Jennifer Aniston cries. I don't know what it is about her, but I feel for her.

Oh and apparently we can add Ramona and Beezus to the list. Well the last thirty minutes at least.

"Hate is a strong word/ But I really, really, really don't like you"

Four "celebrities" I wish I could lock up in a box and never hear/read anything about them ever again.

4. Speidi. Totally not buying this "divorce" business. Lame attempt at publicity I say. Who walks out of a courtroom with legal documents in plain sight? Fame whores, that's who.

3. Lindsay Lohan. She's in rehab, she's out, she's in rehab, she's dating a girl, they broke up, she has a SCRAM bracelet, it went off, no it didn't, I DON'T CARE. She had what, like, one good movie? And that can mostly be accredited to Tina Fey's script or Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried's acting. Let's see who has the better resume at this point? Hint: Not Lindsay.

2. Miley Cyrus. Seriously. You've 17. Stop acting like a complete skank. Is she even "acting" anymore or is it just for real? I'm think it's the latter. And her parents should be ashamed instead of checking their bank account.

1. Kate Gosselin. Hope all the millions she is making now will go towards her kids' therapy bills later on in life. You know, provided she doesn't blow it all on boob jobs, fake tans, hair extensions, and mani/pedis.

Feel free to create your own list in the comments section!

"There are some things we don't talk about/ Rather do without"

Here are seven things that definitely will not be happening in my book:

1. I won't lie to you, lead you astray. Well at least not in terms of "he is my best friend, nothing would ever happen between us" only to have them end up together in the last chapter. Not happening.

2. On a similar note, I will not introduce a character that is repulsive and annoying, and then... ta da... have the main character end up with him in the last chapter. SO unbelievable.

3. There will be no going to England or Australia for self-discovery. I imagine those authors' thought processes are something like this: "She has to go somewhere new and learn something! But I am not going to learn something like a new language to incorporate into my book so I'll just put her in England since they speak English there and just use words like " the tube" and "my flat" and "Happy Christmas" and "Blimey".

4. There is no rich relative who dies and leaves behind a million dollars/a house in a different country where the character must live for a year before selling it. Who knew this was such a common plot device?

5. In the midst of a broken heart, my character will not open a bakery that will end up being the best place in town. I guess because main characters are girls and girls should be able to bake so I'll have her do that and be successful and independent!

6. No vampires. Or werewolves. Or witches. Though I did enjoy the Harry Potter and Twilight series, I'm not all about fantasy/sci-fi stuff.

7. In an earlier post I said how much I hate the ambiguous ending. So that can be #7.

Don't you fret. I won't do any of these things! Mini rants... done!

"And it's the same world, honey, that made you feel so bad/ That makes you feel so good"

Some things that I am loving right now:

1. The movie The Blind Side. Oh my gosh. I loved this movie. It would be amazing all on its own but the fact that it is based on a true story makes it even better. I really was holding back tears during the entire first half (I think had I been alone and not in a theater full of people, I would have been bawling). Sandra Bullock did an excellent job. I almost forgot it was Miss Congeniality I was watching on the screen. And the little boy, SJ, was hilarious. I mean that kid had some excellent comedic timing considering he is like nine years old. And Tim McGraw was looking good. And the boy playing Michael Oher, Quentin Aaron, did an excellent job. And it was hilarious to see all of the (some formerly) SEC coaches: Saban, Fulmer, Tuberville. If only Richt had been in there. Oh, it was so good. It was funny and sad and happy and just wonderful. It gets an A++++++ from me!

2. The book The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I haven't finished it yet (I have about 30 pages to go) but I'm really liking it. Hopefully it stays good because we all know the ending makes or breaks the book. It started off a little slow and since it stays true to the dialect of southern African American women, my first thought was "This book must have been a pain to edit". But once I got use to the style, it was really interesting. I recommend it. Well, for now. I'll let you know if I change my mind.

3. Flashforward. The episode "The Gift" was quite possibly one of the best episodes I have seen of any television show ever. I cried. It was great but at the same time sort of bad cause they just set the bar so high for themselves. The two episodes I've seen since then were pretty good but not as amazing and I'm worried this may be a trend for the rest of the season. But at the same time I have faith in the writers to pull out a few more amazing episodes. Fingers crossed.

I'm not so much loving these things:

1. Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. I should have known I wasn't going to like it because it was the only book by her that I hadn't read because I thought the blurb on the back sounded ridiculous. I'm always willing to suspend disbelief while reading but this plot was just too much: Ghosts, sudden memories that were long forgotten, and "twists" and coincidences that were way too farfetched. I'm glad to have finally read everything by her but this one is definitely at the bottom of the list.

2. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. I was so excited to read this because I loooved The Time Traveler's Wife but this one was nowhere near as good. None of the characters were really likable and the twins, Julia and Valentina, kind of freaked me out. I know twins are suppose to have this special, unique connection but they were twenty and sleeping in the same bed. And they wore matching outfits all the time. I felt like Niffennegger really dumbed the characters down because I don't think any twenty year old would do that, twin sister or not. I also pictured them as being the girls from that IKEA commercial with the double ovens instead of the blonde haired beauties they are suppose to be. Guess it just had to do with the mood and setting. But I was bored for a lot of it and confused by one of the big "reveals". I had to go back and read it a couple of times to understand. So, not too crazy about this one. Maybe next time Audrey.

3. Glee, "Mattress". Don't get me wrong. I LOVE this show but the most recent episode just wasn't as good. But that was following three episodes that made me cry so it would have been a stretch to have four in row do so. Plus I wasn't running to get to my computer after the episode to download a song because none of them were super amazing in my opinion. The mattress commercial was pretty entertaining though. And Matthew Morrison did a great job in the kitchen scene. So yeah it was still pretty good, who am I kidding?

"Christmas time is here/ Happiness and cheer/ Fun for all that children call/ Their favorite time of the year"

Sure, it's five minutes past midnight and it's the last day of November (Happy birthday sis LA!) but why not do a Music Monday? And why not make it the top ten songs to get me in the holiday mood? In no particular order (along with YouTube links so you can give it a listen):

1. Linus and Lucy -Vince Guaraldi Trio. Come on, how do you NOT think of the Peanuts gang and that scrawny "Charlie Brown" tree when you hear this song? Love it!

2. All Alone on Christmas -Darlene Love. Gotta love Home Alone 2. It is also used in Love Actually, my favorite movie of all time. So this one is an all around winner!

3. We Wish You a Merry Christmas/End Credits -John Williams. A little love for the original Home Alone movie. Plus it has part of the "Russian Dance" from The Nutcracker and for whatever reason I loved that song as a kid. Well, I still do but I would dance the shizz out of that song on our hardwood floors in our old house pretending I was in the ballet (it formed a perfect stage). Sisters, you also took part and should recall this. :)

4. O Come All Ye Faithful -Mandy (Ihrig) Mann. Now this one isn't on YouTube but it is worth checking out. Not to name drop or anything (or maybe I do), but Mandy is one of my sister's friends and she has an amazing voice. If you click the link provided, then click on "Music" and then you can either: 1) Click "Tracklisting" under the CD cover art for the song title or 2) Simply click next/ fast forward in the music player and it is the second song. LOVE it.

5. Carol of the Bells -BarlowGirl. I love this song in general but this is the version I apparently liked the most when I downloaded it last year. Any version will do though. It's so intense.

6. Sleigh Ride/ Ice Ice Baby -Gap Commercial. This is probably still one of my favorite commercials of all time. I love it. And my mom asked me to load a Christmas cd my sister made a few years ago on our family computer and this was on it! I actually shrieked with delight. It's not really an official "song" but I'm sure you'll still dance around in your seat. Any song that incorporates Vanilla Ice has to be awesome right? Well, maybe this is the exception.

7. Tinseltown- SheDaisy. I was on quite the country kick back in the day and I always like SheDaisy. So, when they had a christmas cd, I said why not? And this one is catchy and very whimsical. The video is actually a house that timed their outdoor lights to the song, so... added visual bonus for you! :)

8. The Christmas Song -Nat King Cole. A classic. Nothing more needs to be said.

9. Santa Claus is Comin to Town -Frank Sinatra. Couldn't forget ol blue eyes on this list. And it brings out the kid in you.

10. All I Want for Christmas is You -Olivia Olson. Forget the Mariah version. This one is worlds better and the girl was like 10 years old when she recorded this. Unbelievable! It's from Love Actually and it's adorable and I love it!

"I’ve been waiting all my life/ And now I found ya/ I don’t know what to do/ I think I’m falling for you"

It's fall: the most wonderful time of the year. Why is it the best you ask? College football? Close second but not what I'm talking about in this post. The leaves changing colors? Nope. Cooler temperatures? Nice especially in the south but no. School is back in session? Never. New television series and episodes?!? YES! It's the greatest. And there isn't a writer's or actor's or director's strike looming so maybe we will get some full seasons of quality shows this year! Man, that writer's strike was the worst, wasn't it? I think it was understandable and called for because the writers deserve the profits too but man it sucked not having new shows to watch. But this year is good to go so let's review a few new shows since they are hitting their stride (or not) with a couple of episodes under their belt.

1. Glee! I. Love. This. Show. I remember seeing previews last summer and being intrigued. A show about a high school choir filled with characters that literally march to their own beat. There's a new optimistic sponsor, the addition of the star football player, and the opposition of the always entertaining Jane Lynch as a scheming cheerleading coach trying to get funding back for her winning squad. So will the social stratification of high school be turned on its head if the glee club has cool kids? I watched the preview after the season finale of American Idol (Yeah Kris Allen!) and I thought it was funny and creative. All nice things but I really wasn't hooked. When it started again in the fall, I would watch and be entertained but still not completely in love with it. But after the "Vitamin D" episode, yeah, I was officially a gleek (that's geek and glee combined for you less sharp tools in the shed). Here is what sold it for me and the quality is terrible but you know YouTube and their copyright laws and this was the only visual evidence remaining.

It is awesome. I had it as my status on gMail with only the word "Obsessed" preceding it. Because that is oh so very true. I love it, I love it, I love it. And I am so glad that quirky show is doing well. I think Matthew Morrison is perfect (but I've already professed my love for him), Lea Michele is amazing (a mini Idina Menzel), and Cory Monteith is surprisingly endearing as well as adorable. I love this show and highly recommend it. I want the World Series to be over so that the show can resume.

2. Please, this show had me when it simply said "From the network that brought you LOST". I've explained my, uh, obsession with LOST in other posts so, really, just tell me there are going to be a few parallels and I'm game. Now, unfortunately this show comes on at the same time as several other shows so... I sort of didn't watch the first three or four episodes. But luckily, my brother JP had them all recorded so I got to catch up during my last trip to Birmingham. Love this show. I don't really consider myself to be into sci-fi stuff but I'm liking it. The premise: Everyone in the world blacks out at the exact same time for 137 seconds and sees themselves six months into the future. Now do they work towards what they saw in the future or fight against what is going to happen? Free will or destiny? Sound like another show we know (and love)? Actually, this recap site I read points out a whole bunch of similarities between Lost and FF but I mean, I don't hate it. I'm an episode behind though so don't ruin anything for me!

3. The Vampire Diaries. Whatever, if you've read Twilight, don't act like you're above this show. Yes, I know the vampire craze is getting ridiculous but this show is actually, dare I say it, good. Well it features Ian Somerhalder, who you may remember as Boone on the first two seasons of Lost. That being said, we were all sad when Boone died so if he returns to primetime as a vampire, and a bad boy one at that, I'm all about it. Paul Wesley is no Robert Pattinson, but I will gladly tune in and watch him try his best. Oh yeah the premise. Well it features two hot vampire brothers, one is good (Wesley as Stefan) and one is bad (Somerhalder as Damon), and they are fighting for the affections of the lovely, grieving Elena. Elena has a striking resemblance to a girl named Katherine, the same girl Stefan and Damon fought over 145 years ago. It's based on a book series I've never read but it's entertaining and I'm liking it. I also can be a fourteen year old girl about things (See: Twilight) so maybe I'm not the best one to ask.

4. V. I write this a mere 52 minutes after the series premiere. I'll keep watching but I'm definitely ehhh about this one. But I was also severely confused during the pilot. I just ask that the characters not all look alike, well namely the priest and Juliet's (sure her name is Erica in the show but we all know her as Juliet from Lost. Man, Lost is a common thread for all of these shows) FBI buddy. You should know what I mean if you've watched the pilot. I'm intrigued. But I also possibly sense some failure. Which could suck since it's the return of Bailey Salinger (Scott Wolf) and we all know he is good lookin (another common theme). The premise: Weird spaceships hover over 29 major world cities carrying "the Visitors" who claim to come in peace and only need "some water and a mineral that is abundant on earth but necessary for their survival since they are far from home" and in exchange they will share some of their technological advances and magically heal people all over the world. And then of course it turns out they are aliens who are trying to exterminate mankind. Or... something like that. I'll keep you updated on whether or not this one is a winner.

And those are the new shows I am watching this fall. I can only fit so much t.v. into my life. I've watched an episode or two of "Community" and thought about giving "Modern Family" a shot but I'm not sure.

But let's have a quick visit with some of the old favorites:

1. The Office. Love this show, always will. I feel like this new season is truly one of the best ones yet. Jim and Pam's wedding alone was enough to send the ratings through the roof in my book. I am growing a bit tired of the whole Michael/Jim competition going on so hopefully that will end soon. And can Rainn Wilson please win a Emmy already?! Seriously, Jon Cryer? Who even watches that show of his? I'll tell you who-- no one. And can someone throw a nom at John Krasinski?! He is half the reason why the show is so brilliant. Just a nomination, that's all I want.

2. 30 Rock. I won't lie. I was not into this show in the beginning. And by "not into it" meaning that I didn't watch it. Actually I think when it premiered, I was still into Grey's Anatomy and the times conflicted. Then I think I was bitter it kept stealing awards from The Office (namely Alec Baldwin taking away Best Actor from Steve Carell) so I refused to watch it. But then I started seeing some episodes after The Office, and well, I like it. And I'm currently catching up on season one. Favorite characters: Kenneth the Page and I really love Pete. I don't know why I love Pete, I just do. But really, it's great and if you were bitter like me, stop and let a little comedy in your life. :)

3. Gossip Girl. Talk about a dissappoint this season. Who would have thought it would become boring once Chuck and Blair were actually together? But sadly, it has. I was Team Serena in the beginning but my God, I cannot stand her character at all now. Not to mention it sounds like Blake Lively has marbles in her mouth whenever she talks. And that whole "going to Europe and acting insane so daddy will find me" plot was ridiculous. And Dan is dating a movie star? Not buying it. Let's hope this show picks up the pace because apparently newcomer Vampire Diaries is kicking its butt in the ratings.

And let's not forget good old reality shows:

1. The Hills. Sigh. There was a time it was such an addiction but it's going downhill so fast. Even Kristin, the girl you love to hate, is having trouble breathing some life into this show. Maybe because it is so absolutely fake and they openly address the fact that it is. Sigh. I miss LC. And whoever does the "Next Time on The Hills" preview seriously deserves a raise because every time I tell myself I am going to give up, the preview sucks me right back in. For example next week: Fight between Kristin and Jayde over Brody? I am so there. Even though the episode will most likely suck and the editor just combined the sole thirty interesting seconds of the twenty-two minute episodes

2. The City. It's better than The Hills this season even though Whitney's life has taken the backseat I guess since Jay isn't there to be a douche. I am over this Olivia storyline since there is no way anyone could ever act like that and keep a job. I know this isn't real life but still, if I were Erin I'd slap her. Erin is by far my favorite this season solely for the fact I think she looks exactly like Laura Bell Bundy, former star of Legally Blonde the Musical which I admit I loooooove. I am even liking Roxie since she tells it like it is. And Kelly Cutrone always bring the entertainment. So The City... we're good.

3. Survivor. My family sucked me back into this one. But it truly is entertaining. Well maybe not as much as previous seasons since Foa Foa is only a few tribe members away from being completely eradicated. But since the previews have informed us that a merge is impending, maybe things will get interesting. For Galu, I am pulling for Brett and for Foa Foa I am rooting for Dr. Mick. Now that I've said that, they will probably be the next two voted out. Let's hope not!

4. Project Runway. After months of waiting due to lawsuits and copyright issues, we are finally mere episodes away from Bryant Park for this group. I don't extremely care for any of the remaining designers-- personality or talent wise. That being said, I am pulling for an Althea win. She seems like the most likable and she has some talent. Even though I feel like we are firmly being set up for an Irina win. Boooo Irina. But as long as Tim Gunn is a part of PR, I will continue to tune in. I want him to be my best friend. Like in the episode where he was comforting Shirin about her design sucking, he could do that to me about finding a job! I heart Tim Gunn!

5. The Amazing Race. Another one I got sucked back into by the family. Always entertaining and hey, it's educational and helps me learn some geography and culture. I am pulling for the Globetrotters team, the Blonde team (Meghan and Cheyne), and the father/son team (Gary and Matt). I think Gary's joke about "Should I tell Matt he's adopted now?" in the most recent episode after the obviously gay brothers team came out to the remaining contestants, I think is one of the best lines I have heard on reality television ever.

My final conclusion after writing this post: I watch too much television. Thank God for Tivo and watching full episodes online!

"I'm gonna give all my secrets away"

In the vein of twitter, let's celebrate Music Monday. Not like I have much to contribute minus these six songs that I cannot stop listening to:

1. Keep Holding On -Glee Cast Version. Oh I already lost some of you didn't I? I know it's an Avril song but seriously, I love Glee and I think they did a great job. Hooray!

2. The Perfect Space -The Avett Brothers. Liking the new album. This one always captures my attention though when I play through the whole thing.

3. Secrets -One Republic. Anything with strings will always capture my attention. Well instrument-wise. Not like an actual string. I'm not a cat.

4. All Love -Ingrid Michaelson. A nice little ditty with some less than sunny lyrics.

5. Pony (It's OK) -Erin McCarley. Love love love this one. It's in the top 25 most played list. Very whimsical and inspiring. I like the Wizard of Oz imagery too cause let's face it, that movie is awesome.

6. Down -Jason Walker. I enjoy the male/female voice combination. I wish more artists featured this. Well maybe it should just be I should listen to more music like this. Duly noted!

"It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep/ Cause everything is never as it seems"

Remember that Bernstein Bears book “The Bad Dream”? The one where Sister Bear has nightmares and Mama explains to her that at night, your brain is trying to piece together everything that happened during the day but the puzzle gets distorted and she has nightmares as a result of the puzzle being messed up? I’m one of those people where I can usually piece together dreams because of stuff that has happened over the past few days, just a bit more topsy turvy. It's pretty well known in my family that I have pretty insane (some say terrifying) dreams. And while I do not want to scare anyone with some of my more.... uh.... disturbing dreams... I will share the three types that I frequently have:

1. This one thankfully has lessened in frequency but I for many years I always use to dream that my teeth were falling out. My brother-in-law is a dentist so I would always be frantically trying to call him or get to his office so he could fix my broken mouth (formerly mentioned brother-in-law also informed me that dreams like this usually mean that you grind your teeth in your sleep). I would dream either that my teeth were just falling out on their own, one by one, or that they were extremely loose and lightly pushing on them would cause them to come out into my hand (where I would desperately be trying to hold onto them for the rest of the dream). It was always terrifying! But like I said, I don't have these as often anymore (so maybe that means I stopped grinding my teeth in my sleep).

2. This is one that has occurred more often in recent years: I dream that I am about to go somewhere on a trip and I realize at the last minute (such as the plane is boarding or the car is about to pull out of the driveway) that I haven't packed my bag at all or am still scrambling to pack. Or I have a bunch of stuff that I am trying to fit into a box to take with me, but I keep getting interrupted and the box never fills up. It is one of the simplest yet most frustrating dreams ever. All I want is to finish packing and yet I can’t. Another variation of the dream: I have the worst vision of anyone I know (go ahead, try and challenge me. I guarantee my vision is worse. This is one contest I have never lost) so sometimes I dream that my contacts aren’t in and I am struggling to see whatever I am trying to pack which is only two inches in front of my face. Bottom line: This dream is frustrating and I am sick of having them yet I had one just last night so they clearly aren’t leaving anywhere anytime soon.

3. This one is actually the worst of the three and ever since graduating from college I have had some form of it at least three times a week. In the dream I am back in high school and I guess I am visiting or something. but then I run into an administrator who informs me that “Oh no Annie, you never really got credit for your Economics class in high school so I guess your college degree is now null and void. Gotta start all over! See you next semester!” I had a different version after graduating from high school where it was a new law that you had to go back and redo middle and high school and try to improve your grades the second time around. So maybe this new post-college one is sort of along those lines. But my goodness, I wake up thinking that I have to go back to high school (horrible thought all by itself) and do it all over again and go back to college and retake 150+ hours of classes (maybe that wouldn’t be the worst thing ever. Being broke blows).

Point being, considering sleep is suppose to be a time of rest and rejuvenation all of these dreams aren’t really aiding in that. No wonder I’m always so exhausted.

"Let's go to the movies/ Let's go see the stars"

One of my favorite features of the amazing creation that is YouTube is being able to watch movie trailers. Come on, aren't the previews one of the best parts about going to see a movie? You know it is. So this is an easy way to see what is headed to theaters yet it prevents me from paying $8.50 (even for a matinee). Sweet deal. These are the ones that look interesting to me and I might even cough up the money for the insanely overpriced ticket to go and see them once they come out.

6. "Legion" In theaters: 1/22/10. Plot: After God loses faith in humanity, the archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) is the only one standing between mankind and the apocalypse. This time using angels as the act of Biblical judgment, God's wrath descends on Earth to exterminate the world's population. In a desperate, last-chance gambit, Michael leads a group of strangers to a small, New Mexico diner to protect a young waitress who may be pregnant with Christ in his second coming. (source: Wikipedia)

Okay. This one, I might not actually pay to see it. The true saving grace of the film (for me) is the fact that Kevin Durand is in it, playing the angel Gabriel. You might remember him as Keamy from Season 4 of LOST. He is Attractive. That's right, with a capital A. I mean the whole "God killing humanity" thing is sort of bizarre and I think there is going to be some sort of twist (but that might be giving the movie too much credit). Also Paul Bettany is in this and he's awesome. I think he has one of the best voices ever. So yeah, this film-- it's a maybe. That's also why it's number six on this list.

5. Moon. Plot: It is the near future. Astronaut Sam Bell is living on the far side of the moon, completing a three-year contract with Lunar Industries to mine Earths primary source of energy. He is set to return home in three weeks when strange things start to occur. (Source: YouTube)

This movie apparently has already had a limited release (and just to build some street cred, on IMDB.com it is #233 out of the top 250. Sort of impressive for a film with a limited release) and opened yesterday in one theater in Georgia (in Dublin. Might not be making it to this one). It stars Sam Rockwell, who usually impresses me, and Kevin Spacey is the voice of the robot. I don't know why but I am strangely fascinated by Spacey. Well, no, I know why: he's a brilliant actor. And during the trailer, I thought, "Wow. The robot has such a nice, calming voice". Little did I know it was my man, Kev! So that's reason enough for me. Oh and Clint Mansell did the music. He is fantastic so chalk up another point in column for reasons to see this film.

4. Couples Retreat. Release Date: 10/9/09. Plot: A comedy centered around four couples who settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on the marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional.(Source: IMDB)

Vince Vaughn. Jon Favreau. Jason Bateman. Nothing more needs to be said. Moving on...

3. The Blind Side. 11/20/09. Plot: A poor, oversized and under-educated teenager is recruited by a major college football program where he is groomed into an athletically and academically successful NFL prospect. (Source: IMDB)

Sandra Bullock: Great actress. Tim McGraw: Good lookin. Adorable Boys who form an unlikely friendship: All about it. Football: Oh yeah. An uplifting tale based on a true story: YES. I think this may be the first trailer that I ever actually cried while watching. I had tears streaming down my face in the matter of 2 minutes and 32 seconds. I blame it on the use of the beautiful song "Pieces" by Red during the last half of the trailer. I will drag someone to go and see this one with me. Family members, I'm looking at you.

2. The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Coming to Theaters: 11/20/09. Plot: Bella Swan is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen, but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black. Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested. (Source: Youtube)

Yes, I am going to be a 14 year-old squealing girl about this one. They can credit the success of this franchise (apart from Stephanie Meyer creating and writing the series) solely to Robert Pattinson. I didn't even know what Twilight was until a few weeks before the last book came out about a year ago. There were all of these vampire, dazzling, Team Edward, and Team Jacob "bumper stickers" on facebook and I had no idea it was a fairly successful book series. Somehow I saw my friend NE had read it and asked to borrow it. Well, two or three chapters in and I was hooked. It's definitely gear toward a middle schooler but it's entertaining and interesting. Actually, I really can't stand the character of Bella. She is whiny and annoying. And the fact that Kristen Stewart was cast as Bella just confirms this fact. They are lucky Katherine Hardwicke didn't screw up this multimillion dollar franchise because of her poor casting choices due in large part to favoritism. Nikki Reed as the most beautiful person on the planet? I'm sorry but NO. Bella, the charmingly clumsy girl who falls for a vampire is played by Kristen Stewart? An actress who is so monotone, gloomy, and plays the same role no matter the film's content or mood? Yeah, I'm not buying it. So that's why the film studio can thank their lucky stars they got R-Patz who sent thousands of girls' hearts fluttering when they saw him as Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter series. And the likely success of this upcoming film can be also attributed to Taylor Lautner. Boy put on some muscle and became even more attractive (good move on the shirtless scenes in this trailer, editor) and I think many teenage girls are now pondering their loyalty to "Team Edward". Anyway, hopefully with the increased budget and new director this film will be a bit more exciting and visually pleasing than the last one. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the last one, I certainly did. And that's why I will definitely see this one. You can bet your last dollar on it.

1. The Lovely Bones. Will be released: 12/11/09. Directed by Peter Jackson. Starring Mark Whalberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, and Saoirse Ronan. Plot: A young girl who has been murdered watches over her family--and her killer--from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal. (Source: IMDB)

This has been one of my favorite books ever since I read it in high school. When I found out it was being made into a movie and Peter Jackson was at the helm, well I was nothing short of being absolutely giddy. The trailer is a cinematic masterpiece, how can the complete film be anything less? I smell (several) Academy Awards for this one. It looks visually stunning, the casting is surprisingly well-done (I hesitated about Whalberg playing the father. But after seeing The Departed, he is most certainly hardcore and up to the task), and I have already watched the trailer about ten times. I. Cannot. Wait.

Now, if you don't mind, I've got a stack of books I need to re-read before these films hit theaters in a couple of months.

"Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you/ Been here all along/ So why can't you see/ You belong with me"

I'll be the first one to admit it: I get a little too invested in television shows at times. Season finale cliffhangers absolutely kill me. Even episodes of LOST kill me since each one ends with a mini cliffhanger. I need to know! I become attached to characters, sure, but who doesn't? How else does a t.v. show build up an audience? Now, it's not like I think the characters are actual people or anything (Sidenote: It's the reality shows that really make you seem crazy. One night my friend HW and I were in a restaurant discussing the marital woes of Jon and Kate. I'm sure people around us thought we were insane since we were talking like we actually knew them.) Just sometimes, you see your own traits in characters and that makes you want to see them succeed. That being said, the one story-line on shows that drives me completely insane is the love triangle. Now I realize half of the time this is what makes the viewers tune in-- to see if the characters do end up together. But apparently rule #1 is: you can't have them together in the first season. Noooo. Gotta wait until at least the third season (e.g. Friends, The Office). I know on some shows, once the characters got together people lost interest, but seriously writers/producers... can't we get a happy ending before the series finale?

Considering all of this, aren't there some characters that you absolutely hate because they are preventing "your couple" from getting together? This could be the reason why I'm a little extreme since when I see these actors in other roles, I'm automatically predisposed to hate them. It's not my fault. Especially if his/her role as "the obstacle" was the first time I ever saw them on a t.v. show, then I look at them and think, "Oh! That's her. She kept apart [boy] and [girl] for three seasons. I hate her!" Therefore I present to you, four actresses and one actor that I do not care for (read: despise) because of his/her role as "the obstacle".

5. Daphne (Jennifer Aspen) from Party of Five. Obstacle to: Charlie and Kirsten. Remember her? She was the stripper Charlie knocked up therefore ending the possibility of a relationship for at least another season. And Daphne just plain sucked. She was a stripper, abandoned her child, and caused so many problems, I hated her (as did my sisters). She stuck around until the end of the show since she was the baby mama to Diana. Thankfully, Charlie and Kirsten finally tied the knot in season six (would've been sooner if it hadn't of been for her). But seriously, I see this girl and all I think is "Daphne the stripper. I hate you".

4. Dennis (John Slattery) from Ed. Obstacle to: Ed and Carol. Doesn't this guy always play the same smarmy character? Some jerk politician always interfering and causing a love triangle (Sidenote: And I just realized he is on Mad Men and I have season one coming next in the mail from Netflix. I hope he doesn't ruin the show for me). Dennis and Carol almost got married but then Dennis thought she was looking around the church for Ed (which she was) and that effectively ended those nuptials. Yessss. And that also led to this awesome scene in the third season of Ed. Bravo Tom Cavanagh, bravo. (Sorry the synching is a little off. It's still fantastic.)

3. Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell) from LOST. Obstacle to: Jack and Kate (and eventually Kate and Sawyer... but that one I don't care about as much. In fact Sawyer almost made the list since he was an obstacle to Jack and Kate). A) I see no chemistry between her and Jack. B) I cannot for the life of me figure out if she is good or bad. A 'lostie' or an 'other'? Is she playing both sides? What is going on here? The confusion isn't scoring you any points, missy. Although in the S5 finale, when she was getting dragged down into the abyss and she and Sawyer were crying and trying to hold on to each other, I won't lie, I got a little misty-eyed. Then she dismantled the bomb at the bottom (where there is hope that maybe everything cancelled each other out and she will still be alive in the final season... stop it Annie, this isn't a LOST dissection post. Moving on... ) even though she was severely injured... well this gave Juliet some credit. But not enough to make me not put her on the list. Sorry Jules.

2. Emily (Helen Baxendale) from Friends. Obstacle to: Ross and Rachel. Well, we all knew this one didn't stand a chance. No one could come between Ross and Rachel. And especially once Ross said Rachel's name at the altar (man, a lot of wedding mishaps on this list), you knew it was all downhill from there. To which, we the audience said: YAY! But seriously, she was British, catty, arrogant, annoying, and when she told Ross that he couldn't see Rachel anymore, I don't think there was a more hated character on television. But we all breathed a sigh of relief when Ross refused to do so, so it was hasta la vista, Emily. But really, any character standing in the way of R&R was doomed. I couldn't even get on board with the whole Rachel/Joey story line. Don't act like you didn't cry when Rachel got off the plane on the series finale and she and Ross were together again, finally!

1. Karen (Rashida Jones) from the Office. Obstacle to: Jim and Pam. Now, I love all of the previously mentioned couples on this list, but Jim and Pam are, by far, my favorite. This could be in large part because I absolutely love Jim Halpert (as well as John Krasinski) and there is a very good chance he is, indeed, the perfect man. You would think this would make me hate Pam but she's his ideal counterpart (aside from myself, of course). Oh I definitely cried when they got engaged this past season. And thank God that happened because this little lady certainly proved to be difficult. I did not like Karen. a) I don't think she is attractive. b) Why was she a good match for Jim? c) She sucks. d) She isn't funny. I know they tried to make her seem good with the whole "Helping Pam throw a Christmas Party" deal but that wasn't enough for me. e) She should have known she would never hold a candle to Pam. I am so glad she is gone, P.B.&J are together (and expecting a baby!), and hopefully she won't have another guest appearance when her new show, Parks and Recreation, inevitably goes south. Also, there is a bit more hatred towards her since she did date John Krasinski in real life. Now I realize I don't know her personally; she could be great and hilarious. But until I meet her and she proves me wrong (like that's ever gonna happen), she will continue to be my most hated obstacle character. So how about a clip where she is finally edged out and it's the beautiful beginning of Jim and Pam:

Honorable Mentions:

1. Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) from Gilmore Girls. Obstacle to: Dean and Rory.

2. Annie (Paige Turco) from Party of Five. Obstacle to: Bailey and Sarah.

3. Christopher (David Sutcliffe) on Gilmore Girls. Obstacle to: Lorelai and Luke.

But seriously, kudos to the writers and actors on these shows for making characters we come to love and creating chemistry that has us rooting and pining for fictional characters to finally, finally end up together, even if it is only in t.v. land.

"The little things ... Driving me crazy"

Five little things that shouldn't bother me, but they do (and maybe you feel the same):

1. When people spell the word "definitely" wrong. Come on people, if you are in college (or worse- a college graduate) you should be able to spell this word. Spell check should catch it if nothing else. I can sometimes tolerate the confusion of your/you're and they're/there/their considering I can be a victim of that mistake myself (albeit rarely) since our brains don't exactly decipher between homophones when quickly typing out a facebook status or wall post.

2. Putting on pillow cases. I don't know why this bothers me so much considering making an entire bed is much harder but I literally dread the final step of putting on the pillow cases. I mean it's not like I hate it to the point that I won't do it. I always do, I just don't enjoy it. Maybe I should start doing it first? Nah, that won't help.

3. Here is a conversation I have all too frequently at Starbucks:

Me: Hi, can I get the grande vanilla iced coffee with room please?

Barista: No.

Me (playing along, slightly annoyed): Please?

Barista: Oh alright/ Sure/ I don't want you tell you 'no' after you said please twice/ Some other "cute" variation.

A) I don't know why they think this is creative, B) it's not funny, and C) it has gotten old (and quickly I might add). And its always so awkward. I have nothing to say after they say I can in fact have the drink I am about to purchase for $2.56. Let's just faze this one out restaurant workers of America. And do so before I start deducting from your tip.

4. When people pour their little hearts out on facebook statuses. Let's be honest with ourselves people: it's for attention. There is a girl from high school (who I honestly don't even remember and am quite sure I never had an actual conversation with) and she has the most inappropriate updates. They are always about guys from the night before (gross), how her family is dysfunctional (no need to make that public knowledge), or how she is going to get wasted this coming weekend (and these are almost always posted on Mondays). Also when people make it obvious they have just broken up with someone/been dumped. I mean do I need to know this? Nope. Am I going to feel sorry for you? Probably not cause you are trying to get sympathy from your 500+ friends, most of them you probably haven't even spoken to for three years. Or when people put how they are so sick of drama, other people starting drama, and everyone else needs to grow up. Awesome, why don't you follow your own advice and not post that? Good idea? I think so. Let's keep it funny, interesting, and informative people!

5. When your magazine subscription still hasn't shown up and its already on newsstands. Isn't getting it first one of the built-in rights of a subscription? I'm looking at you Marie Claire and People Magazine. And if someone is swiping the mail, reading it, and then putting it their mailbox to be delivered to its rightful owner, well then that's annoying too.

Mini rants over.

"And IIIII will always love youuuuu"

Here are three things that will never get old in my book. And oddly enough, I will start with a book of sorts as my number one (although these are in no specific order or ranking).

1. Coloring books. Today, my sister commented on how her daughter (also my niece) MG prefers coloring books over 'free drawing'. I admitted that I agree with the five year-old. I mean they give you such a sense of accomplishment. You colored all of that. Good job, you! I also think your preference for drawing or coloring is based on your artistic ability. Me, a drawer? Not so much. Now coloring something in and staying in the lines? Anyone over the age of, say 6, can do that! Now, not like I am still purchasing coloring books on my own but if I am out to lunch with my nieces and the infamous Gran's bag (filled with lots of goodies like coloring books, magnet games, and princess figurines) comes out and a coloring book is being neglected, I might pick up a crayon if the adult conversation isn't something I can contribute a lot to (ie politics). Aren't you just fighting the urge to fill this picture in with lots of pretty colors? I bet you are.

2. Ice cream cones. "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" Seriously, does any one treat define summertime more than an ice cream cone? I still get excited when we go to Bruster's. (I now realize that I am still very childlike in many aspects. I am the youngest so I guess it is hard to abandon that label after you've been conditioned to be "the youngest" for so many years. At least, this is what I am going to tell myself. Moving on...). Adults still get excited when they hear the ice cream truck jingle. Not like many of them are around these days. And the ones that are still rolling along, I gotta say, are extremely sketchy. By chance I pulled up to one at a stoplight yesterday and managed to discretely take a picture on my iPhone.

vs.

Which one do you want your kid eating out of? Safety clown says: Run, run away from the sketchy van. And seriously? A white van? Don't those have some pretty bad connotations attached to them? Especially when it is a stranger feeding them candy and treats out of the back? Just a few suggestions to the Ice Cream Men of today: add a little color and maybe not have labels peeling off the side.

3. Friends. Honestly, I have seen every Friends episode at least three times and I still absolutely love it. I am still looking for a decent opponent in Friends Scene It. If you consider yourself worthy, bring it on. But it is hilarious and I simply adore it. I read the trivia on IMDB (another thing that will never get old) that Courteney Cox was the only cast member never to be nominated for an Emmy. That is ridiculous! She is the best one! Along with Rachel. And Chandler. Okay they all are the best ones. But that show was on for ten years, they could have thrown a nom her way once. That's all I'm saying. But I might be partial to Monica because I share some of her tendencies. I don't care. That show is awesome. And I have to say Jennifer Aniston has the best hair ever. I'm not even talking about "The Rachel". Her hair was at its absolute best, in my opinion, in season eight. Anyway, Friends will always make me laugh and here is one of the best scenes ever: (Yeah, youtube is lame and took it down. It was the scene where the boys went against the girls for the girls' apartment in a trivia game. Hysterical.)

"These are a few of my (new) favorite things"

*Note: New to me. Some of them may be old news to you. If that's the case, way to be ahead of the curve. And if it's new and I'm the one to introduce something new and awesome to you, you're welcome.

1. Sporcle.com How no one came up with this before, I have no idea. As the tagline explains, "Mentally Stimulating Diversions". Think you know all fifty states? Chances are you'll probably forget at least one if you weren't taught the state song back in elementary school. Do you know all the presidents? I do not but I did back in the 11th grade. Along with their party and years in office. So that should count for something right? How many of Shakespeare's plays can you name? It's all on this website. One weekend my family broke into teams and competed to see who knew the most or could get all the answers in the fastest time. It was awesome. I highly recommend this website to anyone who loves a little bit of trivia. Or just if you want to be able to brag that you know all of the movies starring Ben Stiller/Julia Roberts/ Matt Damon.

2. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I really enjoyed this book. Being a fan of LOST and the fact that time travel has become a huge component of the show, I read that a lot of people who were fans of time travel on the show were also fans of this book. It helped in putting a lot of things in a new perspective with the whole "whatever happened, happened" aspect. I thought the first person perspectives from both the time traveler, Henry, as well as his wife, Clare, was brilliant and it really makes you feel for both of the characters because they have very different struggles when it comes to Henry's "condition". But at the heart of it all, this very much in love couple hates being apart and dreads the fact that the separation may be permanent one day if Henry fails to find his way back to the present. I really loved the character of Clare because she was strong even though the character could easily have been viewed as weak since she sat around waiting on a guy for most of her life. The book had some surprising twists (considering it pretty much lays it out there in the title that Clare does in fact become Henry's wife) and it was one of those "I'm exhausted but I have to know what happens next so I'll read one more chapter before I go to bed" books. The only downside for me was when Niffenegger talked about the paper making process in relation to Clare's profession. I didn't understand, it was hard to imagine, and I didn't see how it added that much to the story. Well the paper creations in general did, yes, but not the actual processes. Overall, a great book and I highly recommend. P.S. They are also coming out with a movie starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams later this year. Loooove her so I am excited to see it even if it does take on more of a sappy tone than it contains in the book.

3. Parachute's Losing Sleep (Bonus Track Version). I found out about this band because their song "Under Control" was one of the free singles of the week on iTunes (another of my favorite things!) a couple months ago. I loved the song (even if I did lose a little respect when I heard it in a Nivea commercial a few weeks ago but, hey, you gotta make money somehow these days) and sampled a few others on iTunes. Once I saw that the album, the bonus track album, was only $6.99, I was sold. They definitely have a Ben Folds/ The Fray/ Maroon 5 feel to them but I happen to enjoy those bands so that's a plus in my book. "She (For Liz)" and "She is Love" are the standouts thus far in my few listens, along with the one that started it all, "Under Control". Plus you are getting 12 songs for the price of seven. Holy sweet steal Batman.

4. Extras the t.v. show. It came from the minds who created The Office so of course it is bloody brilliant. Ricky Gervais is absolute perfection in his role. I also found it amazing he was able to create an even more socially unaware character than his alter ago, David Brent, but he succeeds with Maggie. She is my slight hang-up about the show. No one is that stupid. I understand a lot of the time it is a device to further the plot, but come on! And they gave her a slight chance at redeeming herself at the end of the first season but then any sign of that seemed to go away by the beginning of the second. But seriously, great show. Absolutely hysterical. The guest stars are amazing because you know they are having a blast playing the complete antithesis of themselves, or at least the antithesis of their public image. Chris Martin and Orlando Bloom are my favorites and not just because they are fun to look at but because they play the extreme of what they potentially could be in their profession but you highly doubt they actually are (or at least not to that extent). Chris Martin hypes up his rockstar image and the whole "caring about third world countries" deal is just an act to get more publicity. Orlando is obsessed with being better than Johnny Depp and making sure that women find him more attractive than his Pirates of the Caribbean counterpart. Brilliant. Hysterical. The guest stars must have had an absolute blast being a part of this show. It is British so it is a bit more "cutting edge" but, man, is it funny. Love it.

5. Twitter. I know, I know. I was one of those people who just didn't understand the appeal of Twitter. Why would anyone care what I was doing/thinking (You could say the same thing about this blog actually)? But seriously, people do! Well at least I do. You mean I can know what John Mayer thinks about Guitar Hero? I can see pictures that Lauren Conrad posts from her book tour that she takes herself? Kevin Spacey can squash rumors that Jeff Goldblum died in an accident so I can sleep in peace? YES to all of the above! I can also stay in touch with my siblings in Seattle or know what my friends are up to at their summer jobs. You know, the people I actually know. But I already admitted to a slight celebrity, um obsession, so this is heaven to me. It's constantly updating, you can do it from your phone-- it is just awesome. Not that I think anyone cares about me or what I have to say, but it is strange when I posts photos and see the view count in the double digits. Granted I am sure that is my family/friends but still there is a chance that somehow I come across Andy Roddick, Rainn Wilson, or Rachel McAdam's radar. Exciting!

"Getting to know you, getting to know and to love you"

Remember those "25 Random Things About You" lists/notes that were popping up like crazy on your Facebook newsfeed a few months ago? Well I never did one then. But something similar seems to be appropriate for a first blog post. So I present to you: Fifteen Random Things About Me.

1. Like the header says, my name is Annie and I just graduated from the University of Georgia on May 9th which coincided with my 22nd birthday. Quarter-life crisis? Almost. However, was UGA one of the best experiences of my life (with some of the worst moments thrown in)? Absolutely.

2. I come from a big family (what can I say? We're Italian). I am the youngest of five and have three in-laws thus far. We are growing quite rapidly and that brings me to my next point....

3. I have seven nieces under the age of seven. SEVEN. They are beautiful, precious, amazing girls and I love each one of them an extraordinary amount. They are also hilarious so don't be surprised if stories about them pop up on here.

4. Since I was an english major at UGA, it shouldn't be a surprise that I love to read. One of my favorites is "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin. I think I have read it four times in approximately a two year time span. My mom recently moved to a new neighborhood and we heard that one of our neighbors had written a book that was being made into a movie for the Hallmark channel. My sisters and I freaked thinking that it could be Emily Giffin since she lives in the Atlanta area but we have since been disappointed. Somehow we found out that wasn't the woman's name.... unless Emily Giffin is her pen name. Here's to hoping!

5. I am a little bit of a celebrity gossip guru and I don't know why. But when my friends have questions about the cast members of "The Hills" or my mom wants to know the latest scandal with "Jon and Kate", I am the one they ask. And I usually can deliver a recent update from a supposed credible "inside source" (aka whoever emailed it to US Weekly or Perez).

6. I am obsessed with the show LOST. I got into the game late (during the hiatus between the 3rd and 4th seasons) but I have more than made up for it. Between watching all three seasons during my three-week Christmas break junior year and scouring the internet after episodes simply to be amazed at what people pick up on that I completely missed, I can say that I absolutely adore this show. If you're a fan of LOST, you're a friend of mine and I won't mind speculating and discussing with you like I already do with numerous friends and family members.

7. I like making lists (obviously) and ranking things. I annoyed my roommate more than once by asking her to rank her top moments of college throughout our four years together.

8. I only cheer for UGA when it comes to college sports. Sometimes I'll root for the underdog, the team that will help our BCS ranking, or if I am watching a game, bored, and have to pick a team to root for in order to stay interested. I've cheered for UGA since the 4th grade and that's not changing anytime soon. That being said, meeting David Pollack the weekend of the UGA/Auburn game in 2007 was one of the highlights of my life.

9. Do you ever find you look at a certain time on a clock a lot? For me it is 12:34 (am and pm). I especially noticed it this past semester. Maybe that was the point in my entomology class that I'd get a little fidgety and check the time but I swear it was ALWAYS 12:34. And I've noticed it on the weekends and at night too. Just strange.

10. I am addicted to Reese's peanut butter cups. I am certain there is nothing better on this earth. My mom said she ate them a lot when she was pregnant with me so I am blaming it on genetics.

11. I think I could be very good friends with Taylor Swift. And John Mayer. I think we have a lot in common. If the two ever collaborate on a song: a) it might be the best (and most depressing) song ever. b) I might explode from excitement. So maybe... this shouldn't happen in order to prevent that from occuring.

12. Editing has always been a problem for me because I sort of, well, love it. I would spend almost as much time editing a five page english paper in college as I would actually writing it. But a disclaimer: that might not apply to this blog. I'm not getting a grade on this, the HOPE scholarship isn't dependent on it, and I think a lot faster than I type. So while I am a bit of perfectionist and it will probably bother me if I discover an error after I've posted something (for example, I've already edited this post about three times), I just ask that you don't jump on me if there are grammatical errors or comma splices.

13. I already said I was an english major but I was definitely the atypical english major. William Shakespeare doesn't send me into a tizzy, I don't get Faulkner at all, and I haven't read every single Jane Austen novel (but Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorites. Oh Edward...). I love to read but definitely more contemporary stuff and english was always my strong suit in school. So a love of reading and the ability to write a decent five page paper resulted in my Bachelor of the Arts in English from UGA. Thanks Franklin College, preciate it.

14. I am a little obsessed with being organized. It's not so much that everything has to be clean (though it doesn't hurt) but everything has a place and it should stay there. Once I got my own room in the 3rd grade when my messy sister moved out, everything in my room found a place and stayed there. I always straighten up before I go to bed. But this rule mainly applies to my room and living space since I'm sure my family would argue they cleaned up quite a few of my messes back in the day (like maybe last week).

15. iTunes and Target greatly profit from me. I should really be a shareholder and get some of that money back.

Well, there you have it. That list should give you an idea of what to come on this blog. Some family stories, a list here and there, reasons why UGA and Athens are amazing, and probably some LOST and other pop culture speculations and observations.