Into the Wild

Sean Penn has released his movie version of Into the Wild, a book I read a couple years ago. I want to see the movie. I loved the Jon Krakauer book. Reading Jon Krakauer's piecing-together of Christopher McCandless' life gave me inspiration. Here was a young man, highly educated, who decides ( for totally mysterious reasons ) to drop out of life, burn his money, hit the road and live off the land, spurning any material possessions. He also had an almost phobia for making any personal connections with the people he met. He was a loner, an American nomad.
Some of the diary entries found by Krakauer are really enlightening and a letter McCandless wrote to an old man really made me wonder if this young guy really found the meaning of "living".
Anyway, I never, ever go to the movies. I hate movie going, but I would like to see this movie, hoping Sean Penn adds to an already tragic/beautiful story about a young man who just wanted to live his own way...free.

G$

A new author for me to love!

It has been such a long time since I have found a new author. Debbie Macomber is not new, but she is new to me. I found her while at the library and searching "knitting fiction". I know I am a knitting dork. So her books come up and I checked out "The Shop on Blossom Street". The librarian even commented on how much I was going to enjoy the book. As soon as I opened the book and read the first page I was hooked (no pun intended). The book weaved together a knitting class, and the women involved. How meeting each other change their lives for the better. Since then, I have read "A Good Yarn" and am now reading "Back on Blossom Street". Each book follows the same formula of a new knitting class and the stories of each of the women in the class. These books definitely fall in the romantic comedy, girly girl kind of books, but sue me I am a girl! Macomber has many more books outside of this series and I can't wait to get my hands on them all!!!
-$

Money Rating: $$$$$

First wk of school in a nutshell

First week of school. I took three classes: Algebra, Anatomy, Chemistry. 13-units. Had to cut my work hours down to 25.
Anatomy looks great. We have a great teacher who is famous for being a great teacher. I can see why. He is funny, friendly and upbeat. Puts all his lectures and notes online: http://www.biosbcc.net/masson/
Chemistry is different to say the least. Our teacher speaks very softly, meaning we can't hear what he says! It's like watching TV with the sound off. He promises to get a mic and loudspeaker system. He had better. Otherwise a very nice guy and knows his stuff. Four of my female classmates from spring semester are in the class as well. Good.

Math sucked. Our teacher apparently just got off a six-month cruise ship... he did not know the college upgraded to an online registration/add/drop system (like everyone else on the planet has). He was still asking students for their blue add cards. We all laughed. Then he held up his green textbook and asked if we all had purchased it yet. Well, he had the old edition. The bookstore sold us all the new blue edition ($155). His assignment plan does not match the new edition. We got a little upset...and worried. Was this guy born fu_kin' yesterday? Not to mention ten of us, including myself, were sitting on the floor in the overfilled classroom. Try taking notes sitting on the floor for 2.5 hrs.
Anyway, I can teach myself freaking algebra. I dropped the class. I added a PE class so I can get some exercise and have some fun. I also signed up for college credit for my job via a work experience program in the career center.
What else.....oh, the food prices at the cafeteria are too high. A breakfast burrito, coffee, and croissant should not cost $7! Them's Dodger Stadium prices!! We are starving students.

I had fun and have to sign off now to do Chem homework.

PS: Go Cal!!!

G$

Back To School

Okay. Everyone send G$ good vibes because he goes back to school today. Maybe he will blog all about it! (hint hint)

YO GABBA GABBA

As a Mommy of a 2 year old I am exposed to most kids shows that are on Nick Jr., and Noggin. This was the first time that I was excited for a new show. This new show on Mondays at 10:30am, it created by a few members of the legendary punk band The Aquabats. These guys have been around for a long time and have a crazy and big fan base. Well these guys are parents now, like many of their fans (like my husband). They have developed some of the wild characters from their shows and videos into a kid friendly crew. The characters are brought to life by DJ Lance and the magic words, YO GABBA GABBA (a little nod to The Ramones). So far there have only been 2 episodes, two wild, colorful, musical, and educational episodes. There were lessons about eating good foods with songs like "Theres a Party in my Tummy" and "Try It You Might Like It". There were also lessons on summertime fun and not cutting in line "No Cuts, No Buts, No Coconuts". The show has crazy animation, lots of repetitive songs and even an 80's Romper Room vibe with kids names in video arcade style writing. Elijah Wood was the guest star on the first episode, and the Auqabats themselves played a song about a swimming pool on the second episode. This is a great show and geared to kids of the old school and even middle school punk crowd. (Like my family). I am really loving this show, but more importantly my kid has been running around yelling "Yo Gabba Gabba". It has passed the test in our house!

Money Rating: $$$$$

Reunited

Well it had been many years but the authors of this blog met up! Had a nice coffee morning and then met up for a late dessert. G$ was introduced to $'s Punk Rock Family.

Barry Bonds

1. Home runs: 756
2. RBI: 1,981
3. Runs: 2,212
4. Walks: 2,540
5. Stolen bases: 514
6. Gold Gloves: 9
7. All-Star appearances: 13
8. MVP awards: 7 (major league record)

Many baseball managers call him the best baseball player ever. If you take away his 2001 season his stats are very consistent. Most doctors will tell you taking steroids for 20+ yrs will damage/destroy your body. I don't think Barry did steroids for long if he did them at all. He didn't seem to need them. People and the media even criticize him for being unfriendly. Many respected baseball stars were not media friendly: Steve Carlton, Ted Williams, Ty Cobb...these guys were all a--holes and they are demigods in the Hall of Fame. I think Barry will have to let time take it's toll because so many people judge him on the steroids thing and that he isn't a good interview. It's not as if the guy is a bullying drunk who beats his kids and wife and is in and out of rehab or has a list of DUI's (like tabloid celeb's). He's a lot like Kirk Gibson was; he did his job then told the media to piss off and leave him alone. Not a crime.

G$