As the World Turns

My past week has been rather enjoyable albeit tiring. This was my first week back to college after summer vacation. I am taking Ecology, Cellular Biology, Evolution, General Biology lab, and Cellular Biology lab. I am really enjoying all of my classes. 42 I have not been assigned any homework yet, which I am very glad for because I have been feeling rather lazy this week. Also, in my labs we only met for about half an hour to go over the syllabus instead of having a full three hour lab, which was pleasantly surprising. I have been watching a lot of stuff online, including Dollhouse. It is a very good show and I finished watching the entire first season this week already. I plan on watching the sixth episode of the first season of the Colony, which is an excellent show on the Discovery Channel. As far as outdoor activities go, I went to a beautiful park called Elephant Rocks. There are huge elephant-like boulders all over the place, and most of them are at least one billion years old!

Every day seems to be a repeat of the last, and this morning was no different. I woke up to the sounds of my radio-clock telling me the most recent news at 6:30 AM. Instead of getting up to take a walk, I decided to hit the snooze button. One hour later, and numerous snooze button hits, and I finally rolled out of bed. Finding nothing to wear, I grabbed a white skirt and black sweater and ran out the door. Entering the office twenty minutes late, I sat down to read the newspapers for pertinent information and wait for the influx of customers. Around lunch, I found out I would have to attend a meeting…in the rain…on the side of the road to look at a local borough’s drainage problem. Arriving at the meeting in my skirt, with the wind blowing and rain falling, I was greeted by numerous men crawling in a hole by the side of the road.

My favorite music on the planet is that produced by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The first time I heard their version of the song from Home Alone (when he’s setting up his house for the final showdown), I thought I could never love any song more than that one. Then I heard the song “Requiem (the Fifth)” on their CD Beethoven’s Last Night, and managed to love it even more! They are simply amazing. Their music is a mix of rock, metal, and classical, which looks weird in print but sounds wonderful in execution! A special bonus, for a lover of Broadway-style voices like me, is that there are beautiful vocals on many of the tracks, vocals that cause goose bumps and inspire visions of snowy evenings beside a roaring fire.

My favorite movie is “The Wind and the Lion,” based on a historical incident—the kidnapping of an American woman and her children by a Berber brigand in Morocco in 1904. The movie stars Sean Connery as the brigand and Candice Bergen as Mrs. Perdicaris, the victim of kidnapping. There are many elements that I like about this movie – the desert setting, the horses, and the contrast of the unfamiliar culture of the East with the staid culture of the West. That is a fascination that started for me when I was very young and saw movies like “The Desert Song” and “Kismet.” I like the score of “The Wind and the Lion” so much that I bought the soundtrack. I like the way the kidnapped woman handles herself in this situation and wins the respect of her kidnapper. She is not a simpering captive but stands up for herself and her children. To me, this is a love story. The scene where Sean Connery is first seen in the courtyard, after the initial attack and taking of hostages, is electric. A friend of mine pointed out to me, though, that there is no traditional romance and not even a kiss in this movie. While I focus on the relationship between the two main characters, she sees it as the story of how Mrs. Perdicaris’ young son, who also is kidnapped, comes to idolize the brigand. Either way, “The Wind and the Lion” is a movie that I enjoy watching because it takes me to a different place and time, contemplating life and relationships as they were then.

I love the piano and the variety of sounds that can come from one instrument. Tickling the ivories can be a relaxing, yet challenging experience when working with a new piece lay out on the top. The sounds can go from soft and soothing, almost a lullaby to hard, loud and fast like a race for one’s very life. When a person goes from learning the simple tunes to a pianist of high quality it is fascinating to be a part of. The couching, the listening, learning and never ending enjoyment of the sounds and variety of music that can come from one instrument. Keeping the original piano, instead of going to an electrical instrument changes the sound dramatically. There is nothing like the 88 ivory keys sounding out softly in the background while studying, or just enjoying a quiet day reading a book on the couch. Having spent time playing a piano there is nothing like it and nothing will ever even come close to the enjoyment of it. There is something magical and not replicable about that original sound of the 88 ivory keys.

My favorite football team I would say would have to be the Florida Gators. The way that these boys play their hearts out, is just so inspiring. I also have a really good reason to have liked the Florida Gators. One of my old high school pals Reggie Nelson went on to play for the gators. It was pretty cool to actually know somebody that played for a college football team. But what is even cooler is that he eventually got drafted into the pros and I will always be able to say I use to know him. I love going and watching the gators play live, it’s just a very fun atmosphere. The fans really get into it. They tailgate and all, paint their faces the famous orange and blue, and are never shy to do the famous gator chomp sign with their hands. I will be a lifelong fan of the Florida Gators!

I was in my native place and came back to the place I work yesterday morning. While coming from my native place I brought homemade food to the place where I presently stay. The main item in the menu is the Fish fry made from fresh live fish brought by my father from the fisherman and my mother prepared good dish using pretty good quantity of spices. This made the dish very tasty and I cherished it well. The other item in the dinner is the fried rice containing green leafy vegetables which is not only tasty to eat but also very nutritious food for health. I had taken buttermilk together with the food which is acting as cooling agent for balancing the body temperature as the climate here is very hot.

I really do not have a set routine for each day. Of course I brush my teeth and get dressed but I will admit that I do not shower each day. I just do not have the time. Now that sounds gross but I do not feel dirty. I do shower every other day. That is why I feel my daily routine is not the same for each day. After I brush my teeth and eat I will feed my two dogs. The smallest one usually does not eat but I always put food down for her. Dixie, the largest dog will then go out. I will then read the paper. I also make iced tea to take to work. After I get dressed I have to pick up Bonnie, the other dog and put her out. She does not like to be outside but I don’t want her in all day. I then pick up lunch and go to work. Work varies each day, which makes it great. After work I will get a snack and go to bed.