Let's Get Real

It's been awhile

2008-09-29T11:54:00.001-07:00

It's been an entire summer and I forgot to write! I was like a child away at summer camp, too caught up in everything to even consider the fact that people might be curious as to what has been going on in my life! While I seriously doubt the latter, I'm bedridden right now and have some disposable time to kill. I've watched about 7 episodes of Sex and the City while keeping my leg at a 45 degree angle and I'm getting a little bored. I sprained/strained/pulled some sort of muscle in my leg, who knows which one..if I was paying attention in anatomy junior year it's not like I would remember now anyway. Writing about things I find funny, interesting, or weird should hopefully help pass the time...

LOLCats
While no stranger to seeing cat macros before, I have recently allowed them to become my newest guilty pleasure. I am constantly wondering: are these just random, awesome cat pictures coupled with a hilarious caption, or do cat owners set their cats up for the epic photos? Regardless, I usually end up finding a hilarious one whenever I come across the site icanhazcheezburger.com. Here is my favorite one of the moment, as it is a cross between two things I love: funny cat pictures and The Dark Knight...

That is a great segway into my next topic.
My Joker Obsession
My name is Alexandra Kenny. And I absolutely love the movie the Dark Knight and it's central villain, the Joker. It's actually an obsession. So obsessed in fact, that while intoxicated, I subconsciously quote the Joker, much to the horror of my friends. I have considered purchasing a realistic Joker action figure for a mere $150 but then realized that gas prices are ridiculous, my wallet is empty, and the college lifestyle leaves me generally broke. But I at least thought about it...
I am soon going to be decorating my one room studio with not one, but TWO posters of the Joker. What exactly draws me into this character? I think he is hilarious, and a bit misunderstood which makes him relatable. Basically..he's a freak....like me!

Concert showdown
I recently participated in a bit of a concert showdown. A silly little battle between Jenna about who has attended more shows. We started to spout off who we have seen in a shameless attempt to top one another. Today, as the boredom of work got the best of me, I tried to write a little list of all the concerts I've been to. I embarrassingly could only hit 30. I know there has to be more concerts that I'm forgetting about. Either way I'm sure Jenna probably has me beat due to her admirable dedication to the Backstreet Boys and the fact that NSYNC threw in the towel long before they ever will (Give it up Howie..). Jenna, if you ever want to have a real face-off perhaps we can devise some sort of point system to declare the ultimate concert champion! 1 pt per show, 1/2 pt for every reputable opening act, and another 1/2 point if within the first 10 rows of the stage. Haha I'm kidding, I'm not really that competitive (well I kind of am), but from one music fan to another I respect your dedication.

Disney
I thought I had retired my mouse ears a long time ago. Gone are the days of Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, and the classic made for tv movies like Zenon and Halloween Town. I even remember the Disney concert specials which launched the careers of my favorite teen idols- NSYNC. I thought I had matured to CNN and premium movie channels like Showtimes. But recently, I have been drawn back in. I even let myself watch Hannah Montana yesterday for 6 straight episodes. Sweet niblets! Due to the constant exposure of Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, and Demi Lovato on my favorite gossip blog, Oh No They Didn't, I have been sucked back into the land of the mouse. It started out innocently. I swore I would never like the Jonas Brothers. They looked like 3 gay guys that wore tight pants and alternated between having curly fros and flat ironed hair. Then one of my best friends in the industry, Taylor Swift, started dating Joe. I suddenly felt like I had to show support. Now I find myself admiring their fashion choices, and finding them completely adorable. What the hell is wrong with me?
As far as the other mouseketeers are concerned, Miley will always be the head bitch in charge. When I'm having a bad day all I have to do is head over to youtube and watch the Miley and Mandy show where they make fun of Selena and Demi. (YOU FIXED YOUR GAP!). It's a display of cruetly in it's purest form- teenage girl cat fights. I constantly have to convince my friends I'm not obsessed with the Disney kids, but just fascinated in a way that an anthropologist would be...I hope they believe me soon.

I will hopefully get to write about better things soon, but until then, hopefully this will fill the void.
I would like to eventually write about Sarah Palin and the election, Little J from Gossip Girl, as well as chronicle my Chicago trip. Peace!

Long over due

2008-05-20T21:31:00.001-07:00

An update on the blog is more than long over due, especially when writing can be so therapeutic (thank God for spell check!). The content of the blog has changed over time, but like a fine wine I hope it keeps getting better for the .04 people that have this saved as their homepage and the 1.278 people that check this once a month.

Brief update on me: It's finally summer which is hopefully going to give me a chance to focus on some things I've always wanted to do. I have been practicing guitar a lot with the hopes of starting lessons soon. I also want to shoot some video footage this summer. I have had a few ideas for a while now, I just need to get some others involved to make things happen. Reading is also a high priority as I love to learn about new topics/ideas/people.

Hope everyone has a wonderful summer :)

Doubts about trust

2008-04-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

doubt
–verb (used with object)
1. to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
2. to distrust.

Doubt is such a hard thing to deal with. You have to be either extremely confident or apathetic not to doubt things and people. It's hard to believe what you can't see with your own two eyes. The problem is that the one clear way to eliminate doubt is to trust somebody and trust is not something you can see or really experience with your senses. It's an idea that you can rely on someone or something not to change. It's the principle that you can put blind faith into something with the assurance that everything is going to be alright. And quite frankly, in the world we live in today it's so hard to believe that things won't turn upside down, or that people won't abandon you at the first sign of problems.

I'm talking about trust and doubt because not only do they go hand in hand, but in living the life that I do I've been able to become a frequent observer of betrayals and lies thrust upon ordinary individuals. Having a behind-the-scenes look at all of these deceptions have contributed to the worry of becoming jaded. How can we ever know who won't be the first one to leave when the going gets tough? Did Jesus know that Judas would sell him out for a couple of coins? Did Blair expect her best friend Serena to sleep with her boyfriend Nate? Deception has been around for centuries and is sprinkled across pop culture and has become a standard part of society.

I don't know if it's become too hard to ask of people to be honest. Or maybe circumstances have just made it harder. I've seen first hand what people will do and it's hard to contemplate. It definitely fuels the doubt that I have about people. If someone can do something so effortlessly, than isn't it possible that they could be doing something to you as well without you even knowing it?

Living in paranoia isn't the answer, although that last sentence probably makes it sound like I'm a bit paranoid. It just seems like lately there have been a lot of scandals and I'm not sure when it became okay to behave this way. I think the only thing you can do is surround yourself with people that don't make a living out of talking about others every chance they get. Surround yourself with people that don't need to cheat or lie to get through the tangled webs that they weave.

2008-02-14T21:46:00.000-08:00

Things haven't been going too well lately. And I hate to complain, readers, I really do. It's not like I'm in the hospital fighting some illness, or battling the IRS so that they don't repossess the roof over my head. That's far from the case. However, right now money issues and living arrangements are rough. On top of that, I'm doubting the last couple years of my life.

I'm starting to rethink how I spent the latter years of high school. There is a song by Brad Paisley called "Letter to Me" which my friends totally thought was corny and dumb but I couldn't help but find cute. I think there is something really fascinating about being able to possibly write a letter to yourself at a younger age and tell you that things will all be okay. Sometimes I wish I could write that letter. There are so many things I think I would say. I think of certain people I choose to be around, and how that has panned out down the road...not so good. I would like to tell myself that I'm cooler than I think, and remind myself to do things to make myself happy, not others. It seems that too many times I've acted on the principle of "well what would they think if I did this" or "if I went there, instead of this place they would get so mad." It's time to be confident in my decisions, and choose what is best for me and no one else, because in all honesty I'm the only one that will be looking out for myself.

The 50th Annual Grammy's

2008-02-08T21:53:00.000-08:00

I am pumped for the Grammy's. I really am. I love music. I love celebrities. I love performances. I love competition. What is not to love? I'm so psyched I might want to throw a huge bash* for it. I wanted to pick my favorites for a few of the category. So here goes..

*by bash I mean a get together with a few cool people, and you better be one of them beeyotch

Record of the Year

I'll go with Rihanna's Umbrella for this one since Miley Cyrus was snubbed and didn't get a nod for "See You Again" (She's just being Miley...) In all seriousness, Rihanna created a summer anthem with her popular hit Umbrella. On top of the original song sprung a bunch of remixes ("you can be my cinderella-ella-ella...") and inspired a plethora of other artists to cover the song (Mandy Moore, Taylor Swift, and youtube celebrities to name a few.)

Album of the Year

Wino takes this one because her Back to Black album is the only nominee that I have listened to from beginning to end. I like her sound and Back to Black is definitely an album I can support. It's a true shame that she won't be in the flesh to accept any of her possible 6 awards.

Song of the Year

Though Carrie Underwood is amazing and I love "Before he Cheats", Amy Winehouse takes this category too with her song Rehab. Not only was this song my ringtone for a greater portion of the year, but it was also an anthem for a greater portion of Hollywood celebrities. Can we get a role call? Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Amy herself, Kirsten Dunst, Eva Mendez, Jesse Metcalfe, the cast of Celebrity Rehab...just to name a few. This song truly is Song of the Year because it sums up the year as a whole, and it's pretty catchy.

Congratulations, you just got through this category without any "no, no, no" jokes or puns.

Best New Artist

I'm going to have to confidently say that Taylor Swift deserves this award 100%. She encompasses all characteristics that a Best New Artist should have. She is young and fresh and is gaining more and more star power every day. I can't put my personal bias aside for this one. I worry that Amy Winehouse might sweep all her categories, but Taylor would be the utmost appreciative and deserving in my opinion.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

No surprise here, Amy Winehouse's Rehab will be hard to contend with. Her competition just isn't that promising in my opinion (Candyman by Christina Aguilera, 1234 by Feist, Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie and Say it Right by Nelly Furtado).

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

Give it to John Mayer for Belief. I love him and this song. My only concern was that it really didn't get played enough for people to know about how great this song is. As I sit here typing this, I can't even remember if I knew this song was a single. Another reason why radio is terrible.

To be quite honest, I'm already sick of predicting and commenting on who I think is going to win. Is this an indication that the Grammy's might suck this year? Not really. I'm not too worried. Seeing the actual show will be entertaining, I'm sure. But I can only predict Winehouse's victory so many times before it gets old. and some of the categories are kind of boring...

Peace!

True Life: I Attend Concerts.

2008-02-08T21:21:00.001-08:00

I recently had the great privilege of witnessing two great concerts in the same exact auditorium no less than a week a part. Who were the riveting acts that captivated me? Taylor Swift and Jack's Mannequin. While they are seemingly polar opposites (one is a teen country female sensation, while the other is a Southern Cali-based piano band), both delivered high-end entertainment.

We'll start with Taylor.
This concert was without a doubt everything one would expect a concert to be and more. It went above and beyond all expectations I could have had. With each song, Taylor displayed more and more confidence and energy on stage, leaving the audience wondering where they could get a hold of the drugs she was on. Apparently the drug Taylor abuses is 'love'. She's been getting it from everyone these days, and likewise dealing it back out to the crowd. Fans of her debut album were not disappointed as she performed almost the entire track list, as well as a couple bonus tracks and song covers from other artists (Rihanna's Umbrella and John Waite's Missing You respectively). The audience was on their feet, singing at the top of their lungs for the entire show. On top of being one of the better performers I have seen, she is also gracious to her fans. My friends and I unexpectedly found ourselves on her bus, talking to her after the show and we couldn't have found a nicer person occupying those cowboy boots.
Concert Grade: 4.0
A perfect combination of lyrical talent, energy, and band members with hot hair.

The Jack's Mannequin concert had an entirely different vibe. For one thing, I was wasted (ha). Secondly, through my hazy vision, I could tell that the audience was a bit older. Our seats were good enough for us to be able to take in the entire stage without having to squint at a 3 inch figure believed to be the lead singer. The lead singer of Jack's Mannequin, Andrew McMahon, is a bit of a rock star. Highlights from this show include him drinking out of a red party cup (that reinstated my buzz) and running up the stairs to the middle of the floor to get closer to fans with shitty seats. The band played 2 new songs, and a handful of tracks from Everything in Transit. My only gripe is that I would have loved to hear Last Straw but considering it's not on an album I didn't have much of a chance. Afterwards, being so naturally inclined to meet celebrities, we hung out at the bus. Not only did I get insider info from a roadie named Adrien ("I prefer to be called a guitar technician"), but I got my ticket stub signed by Andrew McMahon. Although he was a bit under the weather, he still stayed for 10 minutes to sign some autographs.
Concert Grade: 3.0
Not hearing Last Straw significantly hurt Jack's Mannequin's overall score.

Drunk Grade: 4.0
Although I was denied a corona and a bus tour, I still maintained a great buzz throughout the night thanks to 5 o'clock and Red Bull.

Peace, Love, and Music!
-Alex

*Jack's Mannequin photo via google.com. I am too lazy to upload my pictures right now.

Let's Never Speak of 2007 Again

2008-01-20T20:59:00.001-08:00

Can we give two thumbs up to 2008? 20 days into the New Year and we are headed full speed and in a metaphor of Titanic-proportions, haven't hit any icebergs yet.

Britney Spears is still alive. That in itself is a reason to celebrate.
School is going well. and work is work.

Working at SBS has inspired me to comment upon a phenomenon I like to call "the uniform". Within the confounds of a public university, I have discovered a very unique dress code that is being used, despite the University not having any formal policy on clothing.

There are all different types of people at Michigan State. The hipsters, the trend-setters, the people that look put together despite having a 'couldn't care less attitude'. All of these people seem to walk around campus flawlessly as I struggle to control my hair against gusts of wind and look semi-presentable in a Jack's Mannequin concert tee. How do these people get their flare? Their knack for fashion? The aura they give off that says "I don't care what I look like, but you know I look good." I want that. Is the key accessories? Fashion magazines dictating Hollywood's influence over the masses? Or is there, deep within society, a code that is so sacred, one cannot help but follow it? After careful observation I have determined that the last statement is without a doubt true. There is a uniform. A way of life, so to speak. To upset this uniform is to stand out in such a way that you look disheveled and uproariously different. I am about to dissect the various parts and forgive me while doing so because I think that to truly understand the uniform in a way that speaking about it sounds intelligently, one must be able to pull it off (and I can't.)

North Face Fleece or Jacket

Although I have attempted twice to purchase and wear North Face fleeces I have failed miserably each time at looking "put together." My downfall is that I simply wear the North Flace fleece rather than rock it. There is a difference. This is widely misunderstood. The jacket and yourself must connect and be one with nature like a parasite becoming one with it's host animal. And the jacket is just the first part of the uniform from which all other parts build off of. Let us explore further into the code.

Leggings

It turns out pants are not so cool anymore. For some time now, leggings have been all the rage. In fact, you can pair them with just about anything. My original understanding was that your shirt should be long enough to cover your bottom. However, people have also proven me wrong on this theory. Another misconception is that black North Face must be accompanied with black leggings. Wrong-o. I've been seeing people wear black with brown now like it's commonplace. Who would have thought? The point is, leggings aren't just for exercise anymore. Although my inside sources (In Touch magazine) reported a few weeks ago that leggings are out, tights are in.

Boots with the Fur

This is a staple in the uniform. Without them, you will fall apart. My title says boots with the fur. Fur is, however, optional. I just felt like quoting a Flo Rida song. Regardless of what style boot, the brand must be Ugg. Any knock off or imitation will be frowned upon and immediately shunned. Aside from the humiliation of being deemed a 'wannabe', you will be going against the strict guidelines of the uniform policy. Uggs come in a wide variety, size and color. Don't make the mistake I did and assume that boots are only for winter either. Common sense says they are, but uniform sense says that these boots are A-ok to be paired with a summer time skirt and leggings as well.

These three are the main bullet points of the uniform policy. Additional accessories are not frowned upon and certain brands will earn you extra points with the fashion police.

After suiting up in these fine items, grab an oversized hand bag or tote to carry all that you need for the day (a sorority bag, Vera Bradley bag, or a Coach purse will do just fine.)

If you need a scarf I would suggest throwing a Burberry pattern around your neck and you will be ready to go.

And there you have it. That's the trend of the Midwest. I eagerly scope out celebrities right now to see what the trends are and patiently await for them to take the midwest by storm so I can create a new description of a new unform.

Ciao !

2007: A Year in Review

2007-12-31T12:04:00.000-08:00

Can we please dissect 2007 a little bit before moving on? It only seems fit considering this year was jam packed with so much, celebrity-wise. My battery is at 18% right now, and I'm going to need to grab my charger before I even try to delve into the year that left Anna Nicole Smith dead and Lohan in jail for 83 minutes.

Most Introspective Song of 2007: Crank Dat

Yesterday I got to wondering how a song that boasts that someone should "superman that hoe" could be so popular. Is it the catchy beat? The dance that is as easy to learn as it was a phenomenon at parties? Was it simply Soulja Boy's beautiful voice? Or does America as a whole (both men and women) enjoy the process that is involved when one is "superman'd". I believe that the answer is a) and b) but not c) or d). But there is another link involved in why, I speculate, females like the song. It isn't because they themselves want to prance around with a bed sheet cape that defies gravity. It's because they aren't the hoes. Or at least they would like to think so. Girls have tossed out 'sisterhood' a long time ago. This song lets them gang up with Soulja Boy in saying that "yeah, that hoe does deserve what's "coming" to her." I am deeming Crank Dat as most introspective song of 2007 because it made me realize that girls like this song, not for what they are, but for what they aren't and perhaps that is why it was such a hit. Watch for in 2008: Another witty rapper including a sexual innuendo that involves Batman. (The Dark Knight will be released in the summer, perfect marketing scheme.)

Best Show of 2007 to Watch while those Writers Strike: The Hills

Is it real? Is it fake? No I'm not asking you about Heidi's breasts and nose, which we all know are fake. I'm posing the question about the show itself. This was quite a debate, as more and more tidbits of The Hills leaked, all questioning the validity of the show. The main concern is, who cares if it's real or fake? I don't. Do you? I figured out why people like watching LC and Heidi's drama. People would rather watch someone else's drama then go through their own battle of the ex-friends. It's exciting to see Lauren throw out some great one-liners like "she's on my frickin IM!" and "I want to forgive you, and forget you." Don't get me started on Elody, Heidi's co-worker and the break out star of the show ("you don't know the difference between right and wrong anymore, it's really sad."). On top of all of this, we all know someone in our lives that is a douche (for lack of better word) like Spencer. He reassures us that we are not the only ones putting up with someone as lame as him. Watch for in 2008: An extended third season that will keep you up to date on most of your favorites. (We'll miss you Justin Bobby.)

Best Tabloid Gossip: Jamie Lynn Spears is Pregnant, ya'll.

Perhaps America was giving her too much credit, but Jamie Lynn's pregnancy scandal shook everyone to the core. The day before the news broke, I had said that I believed JLS was the last person that could possibly get through to Britney Spears. But now that Jamie Lynn has her own problems to deal with, I retract my statement with shame. This story was a gift from the celebrity gossip gods. It was the last great piece of gossip in 2007 and the last thing I'll remember about the year in celebs. Watch for in 2008: Jamie Lynn giving birth to Sean Preston and Jayden James future playmate cousin.

Best Concert Tour of 2007: John Mayer

I give this one to John Mayer, but perhaps I'm biased. All I'm saying is as far as production value goes, he was top-notch. He had 77 different shows scheduled in North America and I was lucky enough to witness it July 5th in Detroit. He's a big deal, let's face it right? But he still keeps it all about the music. John managed to outdo himself in a big arena setting while maintaining high energy and a great set-list. The best part about a John show aside from the music might be his banter in between songs. Ending the show with an acoustic encore made the Palace of Auburn Hills almost feel intimate. Can't wait to catch this boy again in concert. Watch for in 2008: John dropping a new album or releasing his concert DVD he filmed in LA this past month.

Best Place to Visit 2007: Las Vegas

Lauren and Brody partied there. Sean Preston Spears partied there. Britney flashed her shit there. Lohan cancelled her 21st there after her first DUI. All in all, Vegas had a great year. The stars came out and so did I. I can't say enough good things about Las Vegas. It is the best place in America. I left my heart there a long time ago and I'm just waiting to get it back one day. Watch for in 2008: Starting with New Year's parties that will be off the hook, Vegas will continue to be a party destination for the entire year.

Other highlights of this year aren't as positive. They include Britney shaving her head and Anna Nicole Smith dying. These are two events that, in years to come, when our children ask us where we were when we first heard the news we will be able to tell them instantly without our memory skipping a beat. For Britney's bald head, I was in a dorm room at MSU and for the latter piece of gossip I was in my psychology class when I heard someone mentioning it behind me. Paris going to jail was another amazing 2007 moment. Her release was just as thrilling, which spawned a Paris is Free party at my house.

I know I haven't included it at all. I can't even begin to include it all. The year was marvelous as far as Hollywood was concerned, and while Lindsay may be reformed for 2008, let us never forget the drunk, cocaine loving party girl she was in the year of 2007. Heres to 2008 being even more stunning!

Change

2007-12-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

My mind has been easily distracted lately. I find myself thinking about things that have nothing to do with school, which should be my sole focus right now.

I'm at the library and I just thought to myself: this will change everything.

I had thought that was a bad thing but now I'm starting to wonder if maybe that it's for the best. Maybe changing everything will be something to look forward to instead of dread. Maybe all we can hope for is that the challenges we face teach us something as well as lead us in the direction we are supposed to be in anyway. If change never happened, where would we be? We wouldn't even be here.

I'm starting to think that it might not be so bad to do something you never expected you would do.

Tis' The Season?

2007-11-28T22:05:00.000-08:00

Saturday marks the beginning of December, which in my mind means that Christmas is right around the corner. However, support for the over commercialization of Christmas has expanded so much that the "Christmas season" now starts the day after Halloween. That is when one of my favorite radio stations, Magic 106.3, started to play Christmas music this year. Not shortly after, did my work put up decorations. I'm sure malls and other stores were also quick to follow.

The Christmas season does seem to start earlier and earlier each year. Pretty soon "Christmas in July" will be when we start to celebrate for the real Christmas to come. (I kid, I kid...right?). I can't complain though. Christmas is definitely a great time. However, I wish I could personally make sure that lengthening the hoopla surrounding it doesn't take away from the real meaning.

It's not about spending the most money, or getting the most expensive gift(s) under the tree. My favorite thing about Christmas is spending time to pick out a gift that I think is perfect for someone else. It doesn't have to cost a lot, as long as you thought of the person when you saw it. I trust my gift-giving instincts. When I see the right gift, I just know. Even though it could be hit or miss, it's still so much fun to give someone something. I really think it's more important to find happiness in giving rather than receiving.

Other activities I would personally like to enjoy as I countdown the days to Christmas? It's pretty simple because I'm pretty simple. All I'm asking for is a trip to Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas store and maybe a drive around town looking at the best Christmas lights. I want to spend time with friends and family, smell the fresh Christmas-tree smell as I walk into a house (or artificial disguise of a yankee candle for those with fake trees), and enjoy every minute of it...because even though the season keeps being extended by consumerism, it still always seems to go by too fast.

2007-11-16T16:42:00.001-08:00

Here is a picture of me. The purpose of it is to show off the background pictures that I hung up in my room . Ok that's it. Good day !

2007-11-14T22:02:00.000-08:00

Excuse me for my lack of updates lately. In case you haven't heard we are striking and we mean business. Yeah all of us writers are sick of it. What are we sick of? Corporate America and all of it's greed! That's what! We won't budge. So we are taking it to the picket line. I haven't had much time to do anything else except eat some pizza provided by Eva Longoria and chant outside while holding a sign.

Alright, alright. Enough of that. I'm clearly not striking, but I thought it might add a little humor to an otherwise dismal situation: my lack of updates. But since I am on the topic of the writers strike, how about that, eh? I for one can't stand not to have newly updated Conan monologues and witty skits. The written material for Grey's Anatomy is slowly running out. My life is about to change. My grades will get better, while my entertainment will suffer. Is this a trade off I am willing to make? Bottom line: This strike has proven the point that the writers are the backbone of the show. Without them, the actors are just actors and not the characters they are portraying. How about we make a deal, ok producers? Give the writers some royalties. Without their work, you would have no show to broadcast online or sell in a nice packaged DVD box set at Best Buy. Please compromise soon for the sake of everybody involved (the viewers, the actors, the make-up artists, the cameramen, etc., etc.)

Now that I got that out of the way, what's new? I guess I should start and end with what inspired me to write in my blog anyway. It may not be funny and it may not make you laugh but it will be real. And you will appreciate it for that, right?

Tonight I got to thinking: what if life was like a well-behaved Microsoft word document? It's not always easy to write the perfect paper, just as life isn't always easily lived. But what if we were given some handy tools? A paper clip buddy that guides us along the way, never failing to alert us to the fact that we are starting a letter to someone or about to screw up royally. Not only could he alert us in real life, but offer a "how-to" of sorts to avoid failure. And if we did fail, or end up in a place we did not want we'd always have that un-do button. Sure you can only undo so many times, but some undos are better than no undos at all. What if life was like that? A couple clicks of one button that looks like an arrow pointing towards the past and voila! Everything is as though it had never been touched. Would we be more open to trying new things if we knew we could always undo them if the results were either unworthy or grammatically incorrect? Would being able to undo something so easily make us lazy in our analysis of what we should do when facing certain problems? Perhaps an undo button seems appealing because the easy way out can always be taken. We would never have to worry about what we should have or could have done. Or what if in life we could bold or italicize what we are feeling for emphasis? When talking about something truly important to us we would never have to wonder if our message is coming across clearly. All I am asking for is that life came with track changes. I could always fix certain things about myself, while viewing the old ways in which I did something. This way of comparison would undoubtedly lead to a better personality. One more thing, and this one is huge for me: grammar check. I'm sick of hearing people say "is" when they should say "are" or telling me they are "good" when they are actually "well". And if someone tells me they "seen" a movie instead of saw one, I may go insane.

Unfortunately, life is what it is. There is no undo button, and correcting grammar will still have to be done verbally and condescendingly by the present grammar Nazi. There isn't always going to be a paper clip popping up asking if we would like assistance. Sometimes when something is really important to you, the only way to make that known is by well, making it known. Sounds obvious enough, but it's the only way to emphasize it's importance. I've learned that communication is the key to success with relationships and the lack of it usually leads to a downfall. My only advice would be to take chances, risk making a mistake regardless of not having an undo button, tell people what you think and do it often. On top of all of this, find someone that can act as a real life paper clip (as annoying as it can be sometimes, you just need one.) Trust me, it's not always so bad to have someone in your life popping up uninvited, offering their help and pointing you in the right direction.

That's all I really wanted to say. I'm done.

I'll try to write soon.

and by soon I mean the next time procrastination creeps it's way into my mind.

Excuse me while I apologize

2007-10-15T23:46:00.001-07:00

I apologize for failing to mention how Kelly Clarkson has made it up to me for canceling her summer tour. She enlisted one of my favorite piano-singer-songwriters Jon McLaughlin to be her direct support for her My December tour. It's much more fitting for this tour to take place around December anyway so in the end it all worked out. An additional perk is the concert is general admission, making front row fair game (a huge upgrade from our upper level Palace of Auburn Hills seats). So Kelly didn't book a show in my backyard or in East Lansing but she still has made it up to me and I just want to apologize for forgetting to mention this sooner.

In completely opposite news, I bought a Michigan State sweatshirt and Van Gogh book from SBS on Saturday. The sweatshirt is so warm and comfortable, while the book provided valuable knowledge and wonderful pictures of my favorite paintings. A win-win scenario!

Cheers!

So late

2007-10-15T23:06:00.000-07:00

Umm...

It's 2:06 a.m., do you know what your favorite blogger is doing? Yeah, I can't sleep. I blame it on the combination of my grande sized Starbucks latte earlier and a good amount of floor boards creaking above me, as well as Facebook being quite a distraction. What is the deal with Facebook? I seriously spent all day saying I had a load of work that had to be done and ended up accomplishing none of it. For shame.

I would like to examine something I did today to pass my time in between Facebook stalking. I went on an MSU networking website, www.allmsu.com and found myself looking at the personal dating ads. I know, it is a bit embarrassing that I was even considering checking some people out through their online dating profile. Unfortunately, a portion of the guys I clicked on were gay, bisexual, or too old for me. Another unfortunate thing is that 100% of them had online dating profiles which means they are desperate and could also be creepy. But what does that make me for looking at them as well? The majority of people my age that are in relationships met in high school. It makes me wonder why, at a University with over 40,000 people, my friends and I don't have raging social lives and a date book overflowing with events. Is there something wrong with us? Are people just not looking for a serious relationship right now? If I were ever to meet a potential mate, it scares me to know that due to my awkward nature, we would inevitable have a first awkward encounter, followed by many more I'm sure. All I'm saying is I'd be more than willing to meet some new people, and maybe go on a date to a local restaurant and cinema. However, I don't feel like making an online dating profile to lure in someone to do that with.

Another thing I did today was buy Season 3 of Grey's Anatomy on DVD. Why? Does my busy schedule even allow time for such a leisurely activity? Surely 7 discs packed with episodes would be quite time consuming. Time is something I have a shortage of lately. Why did I buy it? I blame it partly on my OCD and partly on peer pressure. My OCD kicks in and tells me that considering I own Seasons 1&2 I cannot allow myself to have an incomplete collection. Peer pressure is also established as roommates eagerly seek out the borrowing of said DVDs to pass the time/allow for procrastination. I dropped $50 and I'm not sure why but I'm not going to look back with anger or regret.

Did anyone catch the season finale of The Life of Ryan tonight? That show really gets under my skin. Skateboarding, as far as I know (my knowledge is limited, what I do know about skateboarding has been learned from the Tony Hawk ps2 video games) is pretty cool. I see people riding boards to class on campus allof the time and a part of me is jealous of their fearless attitude towards the dangerous activity. Skateboarding opinions aside, Sheckler is a corny 17 year old that just sucks, straight up. There is no way around it. The way he draws out his narrations and his tone, gives the show an overall emo feeling that I just can't stomach. Just watch it and you as well will understand.

Halloween is right around the corner and I'm hurting for a costume really badly. Creativity and originality always come into play when choosing a costume. Homemade or store bought, it has to be a bit impressive and always fun. I am running out of time to find that perfect thing to be. Halloween is similar to Christmas in that all year I think of all these things that I would love to be but when it comes time to pick one I can't think of a damn thing. This is like Christmas because all year I desperately want certain gifts, but at Christmas time my mind goes blank. Hopefully I can get it together and find a bomb costume (not a literally bomb costume, but a costume that is "da bomb" so to speak.) The baby costume to the right is pretty sweet ha.

Things to look out for:
-Britney's cd drops this month
-Project Runway starting
-Lohan's post-rehab behavior
-a cold glass of Apple Cider

Signing off because I'm tired,
Alexandra Elizabeth

It's a new year and a new season of blogging

2007-09-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

I would like to say hey to all of my readers (all 2.5 of you) and welcome you back to some interesting takes on life. My mind and all of it's amazing ideas, thoughts, and ponderings would be a terrible thing to waste so I'm going to do the world a favor and renew my blog to greatness.

My free time has drastically dropped since my lazy days of summer where I literally was not conscious before noon and if I was it was a rare occurrence. Right now I have 15 credits of class, and almost 15 or so hours of work a week. The good news is this gives me more things to observe.

One more quick comment- It's crazy to go to class and really notice a lot of people in class. It happens at work too. A school that has about 40,000 students is becoming a lot smaller to me. For example, at my job, one of my coworkers was 1/2 of the infamous BUS COUPLE! You couldn't script my life better, it's seriously made for tv. Yes, the girl that spent her time riding the bus with her boyfriend and scratching dandruff out of his hair worked side by side with me. What was I to do? Talk to her? Tell her I tried to take pics of her on my camera phone everytime I rode the 31 just so I could post it on my internet blog? I did what anyone would do and ignored the situation. But on the inside I was laughing pretty hard.

Ambitions are great. I love to be ambitious and then accomplish something I really wanted to accomplish. For example, I wanted the grey sweatshirt that Lohan wore when she was passed out in the car and because I am so ambitious I finally got it. There is the point before you have something where you want it so badly, then there is the point afterwards where you decide if it was really worth it. For the most part, I feel a lot of shit isn't worth it, but that is so far from the truth with this sweatshirt. Best investment ever.

We are living in a pretty fast paced world. I'm serious too. According to my ISB professor all of the scientific information we have doubles every month. It's impossible to keep up with. I wanted to tell him it's the same with celebrity gossip but I didn't know if he'd find that too credible. The point I'm trying to make is celebrity gossip is just phenomenal. Caring about people's lives, where they shop, who they are dating, what they did last Tuesday, and so on. It's fascinating. Don't bitch about Paris coverage on CNN. Watching Paris on CNN isn't hard. Not watching Paris on CNN is hard. Celebrities need to exist for my entertainment. To add another valued point to the celebrity gossip spectrum: Everybody is always outdoing everybody. No seriously. I get a text message one morning telling me that Lohan got a DUI and was found with cocaine. Surely this couldn't be true, could it? Didn't she JUST get a DUI a month ago? But it was true. This summer, Lohan topped herself. Just when you think nothing else can happen that is as interesting as Paris going to jail, Vanessa Hudgens has a nude photo scandal, Britney tanks at the VMA's and shit just continues to hit the fan. Celebrity gossip is a science in it's own right.

What do I think about the new Real World? In a nut shell I feel that this cast is pretty good and entertaining. I can't stand Dunbar, and Isaac is kind of lame. Why isn't there a really hot guy on the show? Cohutta is cute. Kellyanne is fierce and I just can't stand Parisa. As far as the other two blondes, they look identical to me therefore I can't make comments on them. Although my opinions of all of them individually sound poor, as a whole they entertain me.

Sorry that this has taken so long, I'll try to devote more time soon....because this was quite pathetic. Peace!

PSA

2007-08-05T21:59:00.001-07:00

For the time being regular content is pre-empted. I'm moving back to East Lansing soon, and material is bound to fall at my feet very soon. Until then, I'd like to give a little public service announcement...

I know a lot of people that have driven after drinking, including myself. Most of these times you think you are okay to do it because you have waited , or whatever. I think it's time everyone takes responsibility and stops risking it by being safe. Get a DD, spend the night somewhere; we can't put others in danger because of our selfish choices anymore.

Official Statement

2007-07-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

I feel as though I am Lindsay Lohan's Saginaw-area publicist and for that I feel like I owe an official statement about what has happened. I awoke yesterday to text messages and immediately began checking all of my sources. Upon realizing what had happened and overcoming the initial shock, I was pretty disappointed. I believe that though right now things seem completely devastating, I still believe in the good in people. Other than that, I feel like I should express how I feel through Tyra because she sums it up perfectly. (Ignore what Tiffany says, and focus on what Tyra says, that is my message to Lindsay).

I apologize for the lack of entries with substance, and believe that once we get back into Fall everything will kind of "fall" into place.

Peace&Love

Best Friends Forever

2007-07-22T23:24:00.001-07:00

The similarities continue...

I will update with a real post soon. I think I will have a few things to say. I will give my opinion on whether or not I enjoyed the latest and last installment of Harry Potter and discuss Lohan's new movie I Know Who Killed Me. I'm sure there will be other things to briefly touch upon as well....

Peace&Love

another reason

2007-07-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

Another reason why Lohan and I are bound to be best friends at one point in our lives or another.

We both love similar dogs and handle them in the same gentle, loving manner.

Random sh!t

2007-07-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

[Note] I was just typing up an entry in livejournal full of random musings when I realized that the content was more blog-appropriate than journal appropriate. I know, it's hard to tell sometimes because it's such a fine line but I finally determined that yes, this is a blog moment so I am importing what I wrote from there into here, and adding some pics for the hell of it.

Courtney wanted to go see Maroon 5 when they kick off their tour at the Palace on September 29th. While I would normally be up for any concert, I just can't justify spending $50 on them. I'm all for cheap or free tickets (boys 2 men for example haha). I will spend a lot of money on someone if I am in love with them (John Mayer for example). Maroon 5 is good, I liked their old CD, i liked their new one..i just have no desire to see them live for $50.

However, Lohan was quoted saying for her new cd she wants to go on a tour for it. Oh man, I would be there front row singing 'I LIVE FOR THE DAY' (my current ringtone). And also, don't knock Herbie Fully Loaded until you've seen it..it's good! haha

Perez Hilton was a guest on the View today. I don't get it. Everyone thinks he is so mean, but I just find his comments to be immature or dumb half the time. It amazes me how worked up people can get from what he says. I don't really support him, or passionately hate him. He's kind of annoying..but whatever. Hollywood is such a high school scene. But I love it.

More thoughts- How can anyone stomach Spencer Pratt for longer than 2.5 seconds? He is hideous...hmm. that's all I have to say about that.

I'm going to see Boys 2 Men tonight and was recently pointed out that the Boys have a grammatical error in one of my fave songs. The lyrics are as follows: Let's don't wait 'til the water runs dry

After this was pointed out, I did realize that yes, they always were saying "don't" and did not dispute the fact. However, before that I just assumed it was 'let's NOT wait'....oh Boys, go back to high school English and then you can transform inII men.

The newest addition to the Harry Potter franchise was released at the first minute on Wednesday to a huge crowd in Saginaw. From midnight showings alone the movie banked $12 million. I thought it was pretty good, but a little lengthy which was expected (the books are huge). It also got pretty damn hot in that theatre as I was surrounded by throngs of people from my past. At a few moments of seriousness in the film, I will admit to being that person in the theatre that laughed. Sometimes DanRad and Emma Watson just tried to be so serious that it was comical. I said it then and I'll say it again, when the 6 theaters full of people streamed out into the parking lot, I wanted to get everyone liquored up and blast some 93.7. It would have been the biggest party of the year--no century.

I'm leaving you with some great youtubes that I have enjoyed watching. I hope you also enjoy. The first one is an amazingly well-produced, well-synced video called Dora The ExploraChola. The second video deserves an entire entry devoted to analysis of the lyrical content as well as a critique of R.Kelly and Usher's fine acting skills. This may come later, or not. For now, just enjoy it for what it's worth. Youtube is being weird for me right now so if the videos do not work, I'll fix it later.

Alright, that's it for now.

Peace & Love.

My Schedule for School

2007-07-11T07:39:00.001-07:00

In case anyone cared (this is actually more for personal reference), here is my first semester schedule for Fall 2007. It's kind of small, and blurry (it's just a screen cap from iCal) but I have no classes on Friday, and my earliest class on Thursday is 11:30 so that is good enough for me.

Wish List: A Legitimate Plea

2007-07-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

There are 64 days until my 19th birthday. I refuse to be the person to jump the gun too soon about what I want, what I need, Fall "Must-Haves", brand names and designer clutches. However, I always seem to find myself stumbling when asked what I want, once the sacred days of September 12th and December 25th roll around.

This year, I would like to be prepared. I want to take the time to plan a concise handbook of sorts. A list to top all lists. Some things may be unrealistic, but nothing will be too extravagant to be included. The list may start off small and have more items added as they are thought of.

My first item has to be these extremely comfortable, soft Ugg slippers. I am not one for trends, and I certainly have held off on Uggs for as long as possible. However, one weekend up north found me slipping on Mike's man ugg slippers every chance I got. I am willing to compromise my image, and possibly sell out to 'wannabe' status for the sake of comfort. I am by no means the poster child for Uggs but I HAVE to have these. $75. Find them on the Ugg Website.

I have had the worst of luck with digital cameras. I have gone through three in warp speed. I still stand by my claim that I had very little to do with the destruction of my last camera. With that being said, my blogging is less than amazing due to no digital means of picture taking. Having this camera would jump start articles and make things a little more interesting. I am hesitant to buy a new one, but at the same time I have to have this camera. I personally am aware of two people that have this and I haven't heard anything bad about it. It is made by Casio and can be purchased at Wal-Mart. Listed as $171 online. Website

Owning this hoodie would be like owning a piece of Hollywood Party Girl History. It's the same sweatshirt Lohan was photographed in the night her friend Samantha Ronson was carting her ass home. This was the weekend of Lohan's DUI and the last night of partying before her stint at Promises. I can even provide a picture for comparison. It's from American Apparel, for $40. Website

Being a member of the John Mayer Fan Club would look so good on a resume. Potential employers would know that I have a kick ass taste in music, a good sense of style, and enjoy life to the fullest. That is why I would like a membership to the Local-83 John Mayer Club. This would allow me to reap the benefits of pre-sale tickets to John concerts, among other things. It's a must-have for a die hard fan such as myself. It costs $24.92. John's website.

Aviators, Urban Outfitters. $18 (or any other similar aviators).

Fun movies on DVD such as Freaky Friday, The Parent Trap, Crossroads, The Simple Life series...

any random DVD player will do.

& Accessories such as bracelets, rings, necklaces, hats...

More to come....

Thank You Jenna

2007-07-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

Jenna photoshopped me into the picture with the party girls!

She just got a blog too, and I'm confident she will fill it with some interesting stuff so check it out soon.

John Mayer, Live at the Palace of Auburn Hills

2007-07-06T01:22:00.000-07:00

(photo from John Mayer's 2004 Breslin Center performance in East Lansing, MI. Used without permission from The State News, whoops.)

If the opportunity arises to see John Mayer live in concert, I would strongly suggest not even hesitating about it. He's just one of the most amazing performers, and though one may find me biased, I feel like he is just up there as one of the top performers of our generation. Energetic, soulful, connecting to the audience, talented guitar playing.

I can't forget to say that during his first two songs his guitar had an apple sticker on it (kudos to mac users).

He is just unforgettable.
Probably better than seeing him at the Breslin Center.
Did an amazing job at mixing up his cds - Room for Squares, Heavier Things, JM Trio, and Continuum.

The one thing I have to disagree with was his question of what we wanted to hear next. He then asked if we wanted to hear Comfortable, then Split Screen Sadness then Stop this Train. He told us to vote by screaming loud. Well hearing COmfortable OR Split Screen Sadness LIVE are goals of mine that seem fairly unachievable. It would have been LEGENDARY to hear either one live, but he sang Stop This Train which I think was planned in the set all along anyway. It could have been great, why does he tease me like this?!

Here is the set list. Asterisks indicate if I got teary eyed during the performance (out of pure joy)

SET LIST

Neon
Bigger Than My Body
Belief
Good Love is On the Way
Gravity
No Such Thing*
Vultures
Dreaming With A Broken Heart*
Why Georgia
Something's Missing*
Waiting on the World to Change*
I Don't Need No Doctor

-- encore --
Slow Dancing (acoustic)
Stop This Train
I'm Gonna Find Another You

Paris and Lindsay

2007-06-28T00:29:00.000-07:00

I want to be friends with the party girls. Someone photoshop me into these pics.

Anyway, Paris gave her first interview post-jail and I love her. She is a genuine human being and I think she is harmless. She seemed really nice. People need to get off her back! She said she had no friends right now that were in rehab. Does this mean her and Lindsay really aren't friends anymore? What a shame! Paris is a class-act regardless of her past. Loves it.

I want to go out with them. It's true that now a days the only way to describe Brit Brit is "bat shit crazy" but a night out on the town with my Parent Trap favorite, Baby One More Time idol and Paris the Heiress would be too much for me to handle. I'd be downing red bull and vodka shots with the best of them...possibly doing lines off of Lindsay's mirror right there with her.

Haha but I'm happy Paris is growing up, and Lindsay is getting help too!
It's just time for Britney Jean from Kenton, Louisiana to shape the hell up, ya'll!