Writing college essays is poop.

See title. Now see "International Honours Programme between St. Andrews and William and Mary" 's 1,500-2,000 word essay. Poop.

I hate repeating myself to people and I feel like that's all I'm doing during the college app process. "HEY, LOOK AT ME! I'M AWESOME BECAUSE I DO STUFF ABOUT STUFF! WOO!" Poop. All of it. P.O.O.P.

Okay, fine, there was *one* fun essay I wrote. It's basically 500 words that tell you something about me. See what you think:

Optional Essay or Submission:
Beyond your impressive academic credentials and extracurricular accomplishments, what else makes you unique and colorful?

We know that nobody fits neatly into 500 words or less, but you can provide us with some suggestion of the type of person you are. Anything goes! Inspire us, impress us or just make us laugh. Think of this optional opportunity as show and tell by proxy and with an attitude.

                                                        From One Shore to the Other:

A red dirt path led to a dusty wooden platform where Mary peered at a long cable that spanned the Nile River. Sweating under the hot African sun, Mary’s attention returned to her guide’s instructions. “Now missus, you step into the harness here. Good, cinch it tightly around your waist. You jump off the ledge there, missus, and fly over the river till I come to get you.” She glanced toward the ledge and stepped away. “Then just drop the rope down and I pull you back. Okay, missus?” “Huh? Oh, okay,” replied Mary, still a little unclear. “Okay, missus, off you go!”said the guide as he clipped the harness in. Mary released her grip on the guide and flew over the edge superman-style across the headwaters of the Nile, suspended from the cable by pulley and harness.

“Oh my” she breathed as she opened her eyes. It was breathtakingly beautiful, whizzing 25 feet above crocodiles and hippos whose backs peeked out of the water beneath her. Her progress slowed as the cable rose before reaching the opposite shore. “Hey, I’m only half-way there. Surely he doesn’t expect me to swim.” Although concerned, she had faith her guide would come to her rescue. Bouncing slowly up and down, she struggled to look back toward the shore she left. In time, her fear eased as a boat arrived below and the guide called up to her. “Toss down the rope, missus!” Rope? she thought, as panic shot through her stomach, “What rope?” The guide had forgotten to clip on the retrieval rope before she leapt. Too many times to count, the guide flung a rope tantalizingly close to her fingertips. Exhausted, Mary was towed back to the shore she had left nearly an hour earlier, never to reach the opposite bank.

Two years ago, I sat at a restaurant on the Nile River in Uganda with a group of volunteers attending the dedication of a high school. Although the members of my party laughed heartily that night, the day’s adventures taught us valuable lessons. First, never start anything that doesn’t get you all the way to your destination, and second, never zip-line across the Nile without a safety line, no matter how fun it sounds. In life, we face many choices; we learn lessons from our own decisions and from those of others. Thanks to Mary, none of us would zip line the Nile without a retrieval rope. Thanks to me, none of my colleagues will ride as a third passenger, side-saddle, in a long skirt and sandals on the back of a piki-piki (motorcycle taxi) through the dirt roads of Uganda (but that’s another story and even less likely to deliver you to your destination).

In my next great adventure, I’m not expecting a rescue boat to toss me a safety line. That’s why I am seeking a college that can deliver me to the other shore, graduated and better prepared for the world.

I liked it personally. It made me laugh and was fun to write. Now if only I could get away with writing about kilts, hot scottish accents, and the terrors of mini-golf in this next essay, I'd be happy.

Scottland here I come! <3

What do you call a Christmas blog with Morgan Freeman in it? Oh, yeah, "awesome."

Christmas is by far, my favorite holiday of the year. Mostly because I can 'legally' make it last an entire month, but also because of the orange rolls. Don't know what I'm talking about? Well, aren't *you* just missing out on the best breakfast ever:

See? They're just made of deliciousness. (That and my parents only ever buy them for holidays, poo).

This year's Christmas has been fantastic. I got to see my cousin Ben again, my parents didn't fight too much, and somehow, the rest of my family managed not to drive each other up the wall. (Or out a window for that matter).

My family's Christmas is a little.... unorthodox? Yeah, you could go with that. I mean, sure, we go to church - which was lovely and had the African Children's choir come and sing several songs for us - can't believe I even *considered* quitting Project Our Turn after seeing them again. Because that sure as hell isn't going to happen now. Nuh, uh. This puppy is stiking around for as long as I can make it last. Wait. Lost my train of thought..............................................................

oop. Nope. there it is.

Christmas. Right. So Christmas Eve we go to church, come home and do our "big" Christmas Eve dinner which is fondue. That's right, I said fondue. By far the best invention known to ... well, known to my family anyway. Oil fondue with various meats and tempura, Cheese fondue with bread and veggies. And Chocolate fondue with just about anything you'd like to put in there (minus the bacon because I was informed that was pushing it just a little far).

Christmas morning is always steeped in traditions meant to make the impatient young ones (ie: Connor and I) wait for our presents. This year was kind of sad though because I kept realizing that it was really my last Christmas living at home. I mean, even if I go to the UofO I'll live at the onyx house or in a dorm. Especially since my parents might up and move somewhere crazy. But I've tried to keep those thoughts at bay today, mostly for the sake of my mother. She gets sentimental and stressed enough over the holidays. She doesn't need me reminding her her baby is leaving soon.

(Speaking of leaving, Georgetown hates children. They don't use CommonApp and have crazy forms on their terrible website but I'm applying there anyway. SO THERE GEORGETOWN! SO THERE.)

Watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas this morning just before breakfast. Somehow I remembered it being longer, but it was still just as sweet. Not as lovely as The Polar Express at midnight last night. That was awesome. Definitely decided that if, by some crazy chance, a magical train showed up outside my window last night that I was going to the North Pole Tom Hanks or no Tom Hanks. I offered my brother a chance to join me, but he politely declined and gave me a crazy look. I guess there is just a point where you stop believing in crazy ideas.

I hope I never get that old.

I suppose now's a good a time as any to rave briefly about my presents, eh? Because I'm not sure how much longer I can go without mentioning the fact that I have the most awesome grandma in the history of EVER.

She got me Beats by Dr. Dre - Solo headphones.



Now, I try not to be snobby about these things, I mean, shoot, I used headphones that came free with a bottle of shampoo for some months, but these things are like sex for your ears. By far, the most amazing piece of technology I've put in the vicinity of my cranium in years. (Better even than my aviators which were stolen a few months ago). I can't even turn them up all the way because they're so loud I could mistake them for a rock concert. (Or Alice's car... ;D )

I also got a crap ton of candy. Awesome candy. But TONS of it. Like candy till easter type of thing. Mwahahahahahaha. Just what I needed before finals. >:) And there were of course the compulsory pajama's, clothes, Itunes gift cards, and some really nice clothes. Everyone liked the gifts I gave them too which was good.

Yes, I do love Christmas. I also love my Daddy who went to go see "Red" in theaters with me today. Hilarious movie if you get the chance to go. (It's in the cheaps seats for those of you in my vicinity).

And on the subject of other awesome movies (heyyy... McCoy is in the above one Trekkies and the next Star Trek is scheduled losely for 2012...) look at this:

woooooooooooooooooo!

And the Merriest of Christmases to you. <3

Men in White Suits Came to Make My Day

>:D



 NASA team works to build next Mars rover on live "curiosity cam" feed. :) Made my day.


Monday December 13th is also the peak of the Geminids meteor shower. You can get outside to watch them (potential for 120 per hour viewing peak) OR stay inside and view all around the world and chat with NASA meteor experts on NASA's "Up All Night" live chat.


Oh, and since Blogger has been dumb recently and kept me from posting by deleting all of my posts before I could get there, etc, I haven't had the time to properly be excited over this next piece of news... (nor will I now since the bell between classes here is going to ring shortly and I *still* won't have my Spanish homework done)


I'M GOING TO HARRY POTTER WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Adjectives and exclamation points just don't do it justice. Orlando, here we come. (And by we, I obviously mean me and Ron and Harry... aka Alice/Jessie)
Fuck yes. Happy Holidays to you too!

<3