MTV, New Moon & Robert Pattinson

I was in the Philippines when the "Twilight" phenomenon hit the world. And yes, we were affected in Asia as well. I had students who couldn't afford paper suddenly carrying around folders with some pasty guy on the cover of it. I had no idea who he was, except that he looked somewhat similar to Cedrik Diggory from Harry Potter. I did go to the movie while in Manila with a couple of other American volunteers, but hardly watched the plot because I was to distracted by the fact that IT WAS MY STATE!!!!!! :-) Please remember it had been months since I'd seen home, and was very excited to recognize the Northwest on the big screen. Not to mention that the screaming the girls kept up was really distracting. But, whatever, I got to look at trees for 2 hours!!!! :-)

But, for as long as I can remember, I have kept up on knowing which guys were HOTT in Hollywood. When I saw the cover of the April GQ while standing in the check-out line at the grocery store, my first thought was "Oh yeah, baby, yummy!" No seriously. That was my first thought. ;-) Followed by others that would be inappropriate to admit. Ehm... Just a minute while I dwell on those thoughts again....

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*clear voice* Okay, uh, where was I? Oh, right. So, yeah. Robert Pattinson. The hottest guy on the planet right now. I do not mean that physically. The guy rates about a 7 on my scale. Johnny Depp is an 11, in case you were wondering. No one can top Johnny in my eyes, or the eyes of any sane woman. Especially not some punk kid who's known for waving a wand, sparkling in the sunlight or masturbating while watching his buddy get it on. Really, girls? Now, I'm not saying the boys not fine. I think I've already made that clear (see earlier comments.) I think it's safe to say that every straight woman and gay man with any taste has contemplated using Redi-whip & chocolate sauce on Robert's naked body. Mmm...

Anyway, The 2009 MTV Movie Awards were today and I haven't missed a show since 2002. It's my yearly guilty pleasure, because I love that something always goes wrong & I can't stop laughing. Oh, and of course, the delicious eye candy. :-)

I tried to include a clip of the first ever exclusive trailer to New Moon & the video showcasing the acceptance of "Best Kiss" by Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (cause it was funny!) But youtube sure has gotten picky with time. So I encourage you all to go check it out for yourselves. It's worth it. I may not be in America in November when New Moon releases, but I'm sure my many friends will fill in the details. :-) For now, I'll enjoy the trailer! :-)

Take care!

http://videoguide.msn.com/play/movies/?g=d0cf7d4a-3f46-45f9-b63f-d289f0f26e5 = New Moon trailer (MTV)

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

So, I have a new issue to vent about and my mom suggested I stop complaining to her and find someone else who cares. Then she suggested I write a blog about it. Yes! Of course! I'll vent to the masses and find a sympathetic ear, someone who is also disgusted by the boundaries technology has crossed.

Okay, so I went from bookstore to bookstore this week looking for, duh, a book in a series I've been reading. The book was published (according to the author's website) March 1, 2009. No one at any bookstore had ever heard of this book. Finally a salesclerk at Boarder's asked me if it was an ebook. Me = blank stare. Blink. "Huh?" I got home and googled the title and, sure enough!, this book I've been searching for is not a "book," but a manuscript typed up and available for purchase on-line. It will not be available in hardback/paperback, but will remain an ebook. WHAT!? Now, I knew ebooks existed, but I thought they were for psudo authors designed for all the trash editors would never waste time to print. Apparently not.

Now, I'm a tree huger. I see the benefits of not printing millions of copies and destroying trees. I get it. Yet, to me, books are sacred. When movies, music and shopping all became regulated by the internet, I was cool with the change. But books? There is just something about holding a book in your hands and watching the cover crease with each time I read it; about seeing the lovely book on my overflowing bookshelf; about having the ability to share the book with friends who want to borrow it. I do not want my books to jam my memory on my hard drive and become nothing but forgotten GB's taking up space on my computer. WHAT IS THIS!?

And what self respecting author would agree to allowing their books to not be published, but remain nothing but an electronic copy? And here I say, just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. Meaning, just because we can put books on-line and never print again (don't even get me started on newspapers), doesn't mean that is the right thing to do and we should sometimes refrain. What is going to happen in the future? Will all the books be "ebooks" (grr..) and the once paper books (aka: real books) be relegated to the same uses as paper towels and toilet paper?! Will kids in the future even know what a real book looks like, or will they someday say "Oh yeah, I saw that on TV once."??? This is just a small tragedy in my world.

I'm just disgusted with modern technology sometimes. This is so one of those times!

Tick, tock...

Yep, still waiting on Peace Corps to make their final decision about sending me to a new country. I'm not the only one irritated with the delay. My former country director also expressed aggravation over the wait. Can you believe it's been nearly 6 months since they sent me home from the Philippines?! I can assure you, I'll all healed and MORE then ready to get the hell out of here. I'm not meant to stay in one place too long anymore. I've got wings and PC just keeps clipping them, dang it!

I love PC, I really do. But I hate the politics surrounding head quarters and the constant mind games... Hm... Okay, I love being a PCV, faaar from PCHQ. Every PCV always says "what PC doesn't know wont hurt you..." Meaning once you're sworn in as a volunteer you go to site and try really hard to stay off PC's radar. Just do your job and be happy. That's all I want. I loved my job and I'm still livid that I had to go home. And I love my family...but I've had more then enough of all of them. Please, for the love of God!, get me out of here, Peace Corps! Let me do my job!

And please God, don't let me get sick again. Pleeeeeease!

When I know more, dear readers, so will you. In the meantime, please disregard all blogs that reek of venting, as this one clearly does. *sheepish grin*

More to follow...

Who the heck are you?

Que Intro:

Hello. About me, hm? Well, I love to write. That is what I do. I write and people pay me to let them read my work. :-) At least, in theory. I’ve never been paid for anything I’ve written. I hope that one day that changes, otherwise I’ll have to get used to a different life style. :-)

I served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer for 4 months in the Philippines–teaching English to high school students. I had a blast & was very disheartened that my health forced my service to end earlier then I had planned. I’m currently readjusting to life in America while Peace Corps finds me a new country to serve.

Life has definitely thrown me curve balls. But that’s okay! Life without surprises wouldn’t be much of a life at all. I enjoy the unexpected and look forward to my next journey. This blog was originally intended as a place to share my adventures with family & friends. It is still that, but has also evolved to the dumping ground for all of my random thoughts.

Enjoy the stories of my life. :-) And please leave a comment if you feel so inclined. Have a good day

My prose & poetry may be found at: jdsalmostpoetic.wordpress.com

For more info, visit my facebook page.

Peace Be With You, My Friend!

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So you wanna join Peace Corps...

Hi guys,

I've met many people here and there who have asked me questions about joining Peace Corps. Now, if you're series, you've already visited www.peacecorps.gov. Right? ;-) On their web site you have all the basic questions and the mundane FAQ kind of answered for you. Uh yeah... Thanks. But what about talking to someone who has been through the process of applying and being shipped off to a third world country?! Do you really want to talk about EVERYTHING worrying you about joining Peace Corps but you're too freaked out to ask the big heads in Washington DC? Trust me, returned PCV's so understand. Which is why this blog is open to everyone. I've been through the grueling process of applying for Peace Corps (which took me 16 months), the 3 months of waiting around before I left and then another 3 months of training once I got into country and realized what I'd signed up for. PC was the best experience of my life, but I had 0 clue as to what I was doing and really wished I'd had someone to talk to. So, ta da! Congratulations! You stumbled across the right blog. Please feel free to drop me a message, ask a question or leave a comment. I'm more then happy to talk about ANYTHING you want to know about Peace Corps, even if you're just sort of curious. I'm an open book! Consider me your Yoda for this new experience (if you have to). ;-)

Oh, and yes PC, I know the rules. Ehm... "Peace Corps does in no way associate itself with the above statement or ANY of the information found of this website." For direct information from the head honchos themselves visit: www.peacecorps.gov [caption id="attachment_78" align="alignleft" width="130" caption="Peace Corps"][/caption]

100 Songs to Live By

These are the songs that I can’t live without. Each are important to me for various reasons. So far I have 80 songs in my playlist. Thought I’d ask my friends if they have any song suggestions for my ultimate list of the “100 Songs to Live By”. And, I’m curious, are any of my songs in your playlist?

1) All My Loving — Jim Sturgess
2) All You Need Is Love– The Beatles
3) Almost Lover– A Fine Frenzy
4) Always Love– Nada Surf
5) American Pie– Don McLean
6) Babe I’m Gonna Leave You– Led Zepplin
7) Beautiful Day– U2
8. Blackbird– Evan Rachel Wood
9) Boston–Augustana
10) Brown Eyed Girl– Van Morrison

11) Chasing Cars– Snow Patrol
12) Clair de Lune– Debussy
13) Counting Stars– Sugarcult
14) Drift– Forty Foot Echo
15) Empty Apartment– Yellowcard
16) Every Little Thing– Hawk Nelson
17) Everything– Lifehouse
18) Falling for You– Jem
19) Feel This (ft. Enation)–Bethany Joy Galeotti
20) Finally Woken—Jem

21) Forever Young– Youth Group
22) Halo– Bethany Joy Galeotti
23) Hands Down– Dashboard Confessionals
24) Hazy (ft. William Fitzsimmons)– Rosi Golan
25) Hey Jude– The Beatles
26) How To Save A Life– The Fray
27) Hysteria– Muse
28) I’ll Be– Edwin McCain
29) I Love Rock n’ Roll– Joan Jet
30) I Love You– Sarah McLachlan

31) I Shall Believe– Sheryl Crow
32) I Want To Hold Your Hand– The Beatles
33) Imagine– John Lennon
34) In The Light– DC Talk
35) Invincible– Muse
36) The Kill– 30 Seconds to Mars
37) Leave Out All the Rest– Linkin Park
38) Leaving 99– Audio Adrenaline
39) Let it Be– Carol Woods & Timothy T Mitchum
40) Life is Beautiful– Vega4

41) Lose my Soul– toby Mac
42) Love is in the House– toby Mac
43) Love Song– Sara Bareilles
44) Made to Love You– toby Mac
45) Missing You– Jem
46) The Mixed Tape– Jack’s Mannequin
47) My Savior My God– Aaron Shust
48) Never Think– Rob Pattinson
49) Pretty Girl– Sugarcult
50) Rest in Pieces—Saliva

51) Romeo and Juliet– Matt Nathanson
52) Save Yourself– Sense Field
53) Screaming Infidelities– Dashboard Confessionals
54) Sea of Faces– Kutless
55) Spotlight (Twilight mix)– Mutemath
56) Stars– Switchfoot
57) Stay Now– Jem
58) Supermassive Black Hole– Muse
59) Time is Running Out– Muse
60) Wait for Love– Matt White

61) Waiting– Fireflight
62) We Belong Together– Gavin Degraw
63) When You Love Someone– Bryan Adams
64) Worst December– Sugarcult
65) You Found Me– The Fray
66) Lovesong– The Cure
67) Dare You to Move– Switchfoot
68) (Everything) I Do, I Do it For You– Bryan Adams
69) Be Yourself– Audioslave
70) For Blue Skies– Stray’s Don’t Sleep

71) Seasons Change– Susie Suh
72) 23– Jimmy Eat World
73) Re-gaining Unconsciousness– NOFX

74) I Want You To Want Me– Cheap Trick

75) The Music of the Night– Andrew Lloyd Webber

76) Leavin’ on a Jet Plane—Chantal Kreviazuk

77) My Never--Blue October

78) Stairway to Heaven--Led Zepplin

79) Hotel California--Eagles

80) Star Spangled Banner/Purple Haze--Jimi Hendrix (for the guitar, duh...)

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Much Ado About Books

Publicly tracking my reading progress for the year. Also offering recommendations, and encouraging recs in return! Started this list while in PCP & haven't felt the need to stop.

JANUARY 2009

"The Daydreamer"--Ian McEwan (wonderful short stories!)

"Water for Elephants"--Sara Gruen (love this book!)

"Generation Me" (great non-fiction read. learned a great deal about myself & my generation)

FEBRUARY

"He's Just Not That Into You"--Behrendt & Tuccillo (single girls guide to dating; okay for a 1 time read.)

"Pride & Prejudice"--Jane Austen (really? EVERYONE should read this book. I do every year.)

MARCH

"Twilight"--Stephanie Meyers
"New Moon" (always recommending this series to my girl friends. you'll hate it, straight guys.)
"Eclipse"
"Breaking Dawn"
"Midnight Sun"

"Need"--Jones (really, really terrible. don't bother)

APRIL

The House of Night Series--P.C. & Kristan Cast
"Marked" (really great read for teens. would rec for hs students. pretty juvenile.)
"Betrayed"
"Changed"
"Untamed"
"Hunted"

Wicked Lovely series--Melissa Marr (incredible! my new favorite series. sexy & engaging.)
"Wicked Lovely"
"Ink Exchange"

The Dark Hunter series--Sherrilyn Kenyon
"Fantasy Lover" (the series is packed with series fantasy action, of all kinds)
"Night Pleasures"
"Night Embrace"
"Dance With The Devil" (at this point you're so hooked, it's ridiculous)
"Kiss of the Night"
"Night Play"
"Seize the Night"

MAY

The Dark Hunter series (continued)--Sherrilyn Kenyon
"Sins of the Night"
"Unleash the Night"
"Dark Side of the Moon"
"Dream-Hunter"
"Devil May Cry"
"Upon the Midnight Clear" (this was clearly a short story turned novel to make $$. grr...)
"Dream Chaser"
"Acheron" (my favorite character's story!)
"One Silent Night"
"Dream Warrior" (and now I have to wait for the rest of the series...)

Wicked Lovely series (continued)--Melissa Marr
"Fragile Eternity" (really loved this book!)

June

"Iliad"--Homer (I so love Achilles! And the Greek Gods!)

August

"Bad Moon Rising"--Sherrilyn Kenyon




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