A Day of Rememberance

Today is the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers. It is really strange to think that 10 years have passed since that tragic day. Never have I seen the country more united than the weeks and months right after the attack. Where have we come since then? What changes have been made to prevent a re-occurrence of that tragedy?

I remember, as everyone probably does, where I was when I heard the news about the attack. I was sitting in a classroom at Theresa Bunker Elementary School. I was in 4th grade and my teacher was Mrs. Chase. Although most of the other details are fuzzy, I remember sharing the worry with the other 4th grade class over Mrs. Hobbs who was in that area at the time. We only finally felt better after she called the school and told everyone that she was safe. Shortly after, President Bush asked at least all of the children to donate a dollar for a relief fund or something like that. I went to my grandma's house and did some yard work to earn that dollar so that I could be a part of what was happening at the time. I remember seeing lots and lots of flags being displayed and the news was full of new information on the attack and learning that it was not an accident, but the work of terrorists. In all of my time, I don't know that I have seen the country more united than at that time. I wonder, are we still that united?

I still feel sad for the lives that were lost in the attacks and still harbor some anger towards those who thought it would be a good idea to hijack the planes and fly into the World Trade Centers. There was a big to-do not too long ago about the Muslims who wanted to build a Mosque really close to Ground Zero. I still feel that this was very insensitive as it reopened a wound that had not quite healed. 

I thank those courageous men and women who risk their lives each and everyday to protect the freedoms that we enjoy and take for granted. These men and women give their lives to protect our freedom of speech which is used to slander and demean them. They deserve so much more respect than they are given.

God bless the USA and my prayers be with the families who lost someone on this day as a result of the attack and also in the war that was a child of this attack.

Back to school...

Well, back to the old grind AKA School... New batch of roommates and classes. This semester I am able to avoid obscenely early or late classes. No class starts before 9 a.m. and I am DONE by 3 p.m. each day (1:45 on Tuesday and Thursday). I am excited and optimistic for this semester to begin. Nothing could be worse than last semester (currently). The new batch of roomies appears to be a good set and will be very interesting to see what unfolds in the apartment. Oh well, Hakuna Matata. :)
On that happy note, I hope the theme of Disney Blu-rays being released at the beginning of each semester! Last year, it was Beauty and the Beast. This year, The Lion King!!!! I have been counting the days! Only dilemma: to buy or not to buy the 3D edition... Hmmm... a very good question.

Mischief Managed!

Today is a sad day. Today marks the end of an era. An era where children were excited to read about a boy who discovers he is a wizard - a wizard who survived an attack from the most powerful dark wizard ever. Those of us who are a part of the Harry Potter generation will probably never experience something else like this in our lifetime. Sure, every generation has something like this, but we will probably be too old to really appreciate what is happening. J.K. Rowling managed to create a world so fantastical, yet so real that we became excited to read! Most of us didn't care for reading much until Rowling's world was discovered. Then everyone was reading, anxious to know what would happen to this 11-year-old wizard who lost his parents to Lord Voldemort. We all waited and hoped that our letter to Hogwarts would come, that we could go visit Ollivander and be chosen by a wand, go to Gringotts bank and have access to Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. We waited for our chance to stand behind Harry and fight Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. For most of us, that wouldn't happen.

I thank J.K. Rowling and raise my wand to her for creating this wonderful world that would change the world I live in and my childhood. Nothing in my life could compare to the era of Harry Potter. His story will survive the ages, and maybe someday, go down as one of the great works of literature that teachers will mention with and awed tone. Let all of us raise our wands in gratitude to Rowling for what she has created and reflect on how she changed our lives and childhood!
Until next time: "Mischief Managed!"

This is for the boy who lived.This is for searching information on Nicholas Flamel.This is for the troll in the dungeon! This is for catching the snitch in your mouth.This is for the rainy London Premiere.This is for all the visits to the Hagrid's Hut.This is for all the cold & depressing days spent in the tent, searching for horcruxes.This is for the rivalry with Malfoy (Sectumsempra, for enemies!) This is for the warm nights spent in the Gryffindor Common Room, completing three & a half rolls of parchment for Charm's Homework.This is for predicting Harry's death in every lesson.This is for the orphan, Tom Riddle.This is for following the spiders to near death.This is for the fun at Hogsmeade.This is for Love, Dumbledore's Love.This is for the care of magical creatures.This is for snogging Cho.

This is for facing your Boggart this 15th.

This is for the nargles.This is for the mischief managed.This is for Minerva and her stern stare.This is for the life lessons.This is for love & Friendship.This is for Fred & George.This is for the Yule Ball.This is for the Weird sisters.This is for Dobby is free! This is for the DA.This is for the Snuffles.This is for the centaurs.This is for Neville's Gillyweed.This is for turning to page 394.This is for all the Christmas eves spent at Hogwarts.This is for Charlie & his love for Dragons.This is for Mrs.Weasley's hand made Jumpers.This is for Fleur's 'Arry'.This is for the Percy's cauldron regulation notices.This is for Stan Shunpike.This is for the Battle of Hogwarts.This is for going back in time to save Sirius.This is for the ghost of the last laugh still etched upon his face.This is for fighting the Basilisk.This is for fighting Nagini at the Godric's Hollow.This is for it is not how you are alike, but how you are different.This is for the hopes.This is for the Hinkypunks & the redcapes.This is for i open at the close.This is for Moony.This is for his furry little problem.This is for Dont call me Nymphadora.This is for Nearly headless Nick.This is for Slytherin's common room.This is for the Slug Club.This is for Kreacher ( Mudbloods, Blood Traitors  with her brats messing up my Mistress's house, oh my poor. Mistress, if she knew..what shame..) This is for Wormtail.This is for making the wrong choices & paying the price.This is for loyalty & Bravery.This is for teaching us the twisted world we live in.This is for Muggles & Wizards alike.This is for a story not just about Wizards & Witches, but for a story of morals, life & death & the brutality of life.This is for the Room of Requirement.This is for Umbridge-itis.This is for Peeves & the wreck havoc he creates.This is for the great hall & its enchanted ceiling.This is for Draco, the Amazing bouncing Ferret.This is for AVPM.This is for dressing up as our favorite character for the midnight releases.This is for the marauders.This is for winning the quidditch cup the first time since Charlie left.This is for Hermione's S.P.E.W ( Not SPEW..Its S..P..E..W..!) This is for bringing your girl/man to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.This is for Cedric Diggory, the pride of Hufflepuff.This is for the fun of the rivalry against Twilight.This is for the wizarding world of Harry Potter.This is for realising the ministry sucks.This is for the aurors.This is for Rumus Scrimgeour's last act.This is for the Order of Phoenix.This is for using unforgivable curses & meaning them.This is for I killed Sirius Black! This is for Avada Kedavra.This is for Expecto Patronum & a great stag erupting out.This is for Neville killing Nagini.This is for Rowena Ravenclaw's wisdom.This is for Helga's Hufflpuff loyality.This is for Muggles not noticing anything.This is for the fallen death eaters.This is for the very violent Whomping Willow.This is for flying the Ford Anglia & those 7 muggles who noticed.This is for bawling your lungs out in Cinema.This is for the tear strained books.This is for being the chosen one.This is for the attachment to the characters at an unhealthy level.This is for Harry's firebolt.This is for Hedwig.This is for visiting Diagon Alley with Hagrid.This is for uniting in dark times.This is for setting aside the differences.This is for parting ways with the Dursleys.

This is for the scar which had not pained for the last nineteen years.This is for being proud enough to say you are a Potterhead.This is for your friends never understanding.This is for explaining the film to your parents...in vain.This is for your loyalty, from every book release to every movie release, every trailer, every whisper or rumor.This is for all the dedication.

This is for never ever considering this as the end.This is for Thinking of it as the beginning, the beginning of a legend. Of a tradition. Of a new era. This is for remembering those we’ve lost and the ones who died for the sake of keeping others fighting & living.This is for the fourteen years, seven books, eight movies & numerous heroes we all look upto.This is for them, the Golden Trio.This is for the Hogwarts , that will always be there to welcome you home.This is for Jo.This is for Ronneikins.This is for Her-mio-ninny.This is for Harry Plotter.

This is for the memories.This is for our childhood coming to an end.This is for laughing at Weasley jokes, crying over Snape's Death, & having a time of our lives smiling with the trio.

This is for YOU, If you've stuck with Harry until the very end.

This is for US.The Harry Potter Generation  ϟ  

Final days of the challenge

I know, I know... I'm working ahead, but that is what I do. After registering for classes this morning, I am very happy and anxious to get some things done. So here are the final days of the challenge.

Day 25: A song your parents played at parties.

When I was young (and even now), mom and dad didn't really throw parties. So this is from when they were in High School.

Day 26: A song you love to sing in the shower.

This is a strange question to ask, and here is my answer. I think of this song because of my first year of Girl's Camp when we did a Disney theme for each level. One of the levels chose "The Lion King" and one of their ditties was "Oh I just can't wait to be CLEAN!"

Day 27: Song by the first band you saw in concert.

I love Lady Antebellum! I was able to see them and meet them when they came to Boise last summer (2010)!

Day 28: Favorite Oldie (song grew up thinking of as an oldie).

I think of this as an "oldie" but in reality, it is just a classic.

Day 29: Song with chord changes that really thrill you.

I'm not quite sure if this is a correct response, but the guitar solo really gets me :)

Day 30: Favorite Vocal Performance

I love both of these. The top one is a fairly familiar one (a lip sync to a song by MooseButter) and the second is a recent one that I was introduced to. Both are really good! :)

Day 24

I am lovin' Rexburg right now! The sun is continuing to shine and the weather is staying nice and warm!!!! YAY!

Day 24: Last song that got stuck in your head:

For a lip-sync FHE activity, I participated in this song with my friends. We had a blast, and ever since I have had a hard time getting it out of my head. Lol! I have included the original music video and a fan-made one :)

Days 22 and 23

Today was GORGEOUS here in Rexburg! The sun was shining and was warm with just the right amount of a breeze! a sign that summer is on her way!

Day 22: A song by an artist you used to love, but are now ashamed of (because either you or they changed).

I remember when Britney Spears was big and was awesome! I used to go into my aunt's bathroom and turn on the red heat light with the regular white light and say I was Britney Spears (I saw that she had pink in her hair) cause my hair would have a pink tint to it. Now, I am apalled with her and how she acts now!

Day 23: A song that infuriates you

I had to think about this one. I settled for this one... Need I explain much more?

Days 11-21

Wow! I am way behind. Oh well! Lol!
Day 11: A song that makes you think you love everybody (even temporarily)

I know it's kinda childish, but this is all I could think of. The message is great: we are all in the journey of life and there are others around us whether we like it or not.

Day 12: A Song that is incredibly deep no matter how many times you hear it

It is so sad that many of us just settle. We need to take off and "defy gravity" to the best of our abilities! :)

Day 13: A song you love, but can't bring yourself to listen to

This song is a funny song, but my brother played it soooooo many times that it drove me crazy (much like most of the songs played on Z 103.3)

Day 14: A song you put on everyone's mix tape:

It is a random/stupid one, but it is so addicting/catchy!

Day 15: Favorite duet/collaboration between two artists you love (or maybe you only love one of them).
 

I usually very much dislike Justin Bieber, but I love Rascal Flatts. It is called "That Should Be Me"

Day 16: A song you love from a genre/artist you usually dislike

I have included 2 versions of the song: Live and a music vid made by someone else. Both are pretty good. I don't care much for Aqua, but this one is really good.

Day 17: Biggest musical theatre song by an artist you usually adore.
 

I adore Andrew Lloyd Webber! I couldn't identify a one song that I love, but I love Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Day 18: A song you like recorded by an artist who was under 18 at the time of recording?
 

I usually don't like the changed versions of classic songs, but this one I actually do. I don't know if the Jonas brothers were under 18 when they did the other song, but I like it as well.

Day 19: A song from the first album you ever bought with your own money (extra credit if you rode a spider bike to Woolworth's to make the purchase) or first 45 if you're old enough to know what that is.

I honestly don't remember my first purchased album. I did buy a Disney Villains album when I was younger and these were on there.

Day 20: First song you ever illegally downloaded

Two different videos of the same song. I have downloaded this one...


Day 21: A song I clean house to.

I really don't have a specific one, but these are some of the more recent ones. I use the Cha Cha slide for dusting :)