I Can Has Internetz Video?

This is what happens when I am left to my own devices on a Saturday night.  I obviously can't be trusted.  Oh, wellz.  I am on the interwebz making singing debut!  ROFLMAO OMGSTFU.

Bon Voyage!

I've been talking with my friend Karin about possibly doing an EF College Break trip to London and Paris over New Year's 2012.  We wanted to go to Ireland, too, so maybe we will plan the trip independently because she has a lot of family there.  It might be cheaper if we plan it ourselves.  But the EF College Break is really cool because it is all-inclusive: the price includes hotel, airfare, a 24-hour tour guide, entrance to museums and special attractions, and one meal a day.  It doesn't include lunch or dinner, drinks (obviously), or shopping.  So, if I'm not broke by that time, we may go.

My mom and I also discussed going to Italy together the summer after I graduate and get my master's degree.  I was thinking something along the lines of an Adriana Trigiani tour, since we read all of her books, love Adriana, and would love to see the sites on the tour (think Rome, Amalfi Coast, Capri, or Florence, Tuscany, Arezzo, and Pisa).  That's an even more expensive one, though!  I guess after I went to Ireland, I caught a little bit of the travel bug.  But there's worse things, right?  Just don't ask my bank account...

More stamps on my passaporto, per favore!

Trash Talk

Alec Baldwin:  Hello, John.

John Krasinski:  Hey, quick question: are you a Phillies fan now, since you guys couldn't get Cliff Lee, and he went to Philadelphia for less money?

Alec Baldwin:  First of all, Yankee fans don't consider Philadelphia to be a legitimate sports town, John, you know that.

John Krasinski:  I'm worried for you. Are you prepared for what's coming? It's going to be the worst misery you've ever experienced in the history of this rivalry.

Alec Baldwin:  John, John, John, for the last time, this is not a rivalry. Just like fire doesn’t have a rivalry with kindling, lawn mowers don’t have a rivalry with grass, America doesn’t have a rivalry with Costa Rica.

John Krasinski:  (forced laughter) Ha, ha, ha. Lemme ask you something, seriously though. How are you a Yankees fan at all? It’s like being a huge fan of fascism. 

Alec Baldwin:  No, it’s like being a huge fan of winning—which we do—relentlessly.

John Krasinski:  Pfft, not this year, man.  Not this year.

Alec Baldwin:  Cla-ssic Red Sox fan.  Go ahead, celebrate in April—we’ll dance in October. 

John Krasinski:  You will be dead in October!

Alec Baldwin:  ….

John Krasinski:  …Was that a little too much?

Alec Baldwin:  I think you know it was.

John Krasinski:   Sorry, I just got—really worked up.

Alec Baldwin:  (beat)  We all do.

Campfire Song Songs

 Once a camp counselor, always a camp counselor.

The Cannibal King
Theeeeeee Cannibal King
with the big nose ring
fell in love with the dusty ma-a-aid
and every night
in the pale moon light
across the lake he ca-a-ame
He hugged and he kissed
his pretty little miss
in the shade of the bamboo tre-e-ee
and every night
in the pale moon light
it sounded like this to me-e-e
BA RUMP (smooch smooch) BA RUMP (smooch smooch)
BA RUMP BADI YADI AY-AY-AY
BA RUMP (smooch smooch) BA RUMP (smooch smooch)
BA RUMP BADI YADI AY-AY-AY

We'll build a bungalo big enough for two
big enough for two, my honey, big enough for two
Then when we're married, happy we'll be
under the bamboo, under the bamboo tree
If you'll be M-I-N-E mine,
I'll be T-H-I-N-E thine
and I'll L-O-V-E love you
all the T-I-M-E time
You are the B-E-S-T best
of all the R-E-S-T rest
and I'll L-O-V-E love you
all the T-I-M-E time

Match in the gas tank, BOOM BOOM!
Love in the moon light, WHOO WHOO!
Skunk in the cellar, P U!

Camp St. Joseph's Song
I go to camp St. Joseph's, pity me
There's not a man in the vicinity!
And every night at 9, they lock the doors
I don't know what the heck I ever came here for
I'm gonna pack my bags and homeward bound
I'm gonna turn this camp right upside down
I'm gonna smoke and drink and neck and peck so what the heck--
The heck with the whole damn camp!

Camp Anchor Bus Classics:
- The Green Grass Grows All Around
- Baby Shark Song
- Treasure Chest Song
- I Am A Pizza Song
- The Wheels on the Bus
- Down By The Bay

Esperanza Rising

I am required to do a children's literature review that involves three author studies for my Developmental Reading class.  Originally, I picked Maya Angelou for the author of the two novels I must include, but her writing seemed a little above-level in terms of difficulty of text as well as content for K-6 readers.  So I instead picked Pam Muñoz Ryan, who wrote Esperanza Rising and Becoming Naomi León.  I'm currently reading Esperanza Rising, which begins in Mexico in 1924 right before the Great Depression, and right before the harvest of the grapes from Esperanza's family vineyard that always coincides with her birthday.  Her father is tragically killed by a group of bandits on the eve of her 13th birthday.  But more tradgedy follows for Esperanza and her family; her power-hungry uncle sets fire to their ranch home and vineyards when her mother refuses to marry him, and left with nothing, they must flee to America.  One quote resonated with me so far:

       Abuelita squeezed Esperanza's hand.  "Do not be afraid to start over.  When I was your age, I left Spain with my mother, father, and sisters.  A Mexican official had offered my father a job here in Mexico.  So we came.  We had to take several ships and the journey lasted months.  When we arrived, nothing was as promised.  There were many hard times.  But life was also exciting.  And we had each other.  Esperanza, do you remember the story of the phoenix, the lovely young bird that is reborn from its own ashes?"
       Esperanza nodded.  Abuelita had read it to her many times from a book of myths.
       "We are like the phoenix," said Abuelita.  "Rising again, with a new life ahead of us."

Awesome 90s Games

Just for fun.  Remember these?

 

Simon, the tricky reflex tester.  I happen to have the reflexes of a panther, so I always did well in this game.  I was wondering the other day if this game would have been easier if there were no sound?  Beep, boop, womp womp!

Something tells me that many a fingertip was taken off playing this old 90s past-time.  Good times, good times.

   

"You'll get caught up in the, Crossfire!  Crossfire!  CROSS FIYAAHHH!!"  This game wins the best-theme-song-for-a-board-game award.  Kudos to you, Crossfire.  Thanks for starting many a fight between me and my brother.  This one's for you. 

Yeah, I collected Pogs.  I'm not sure why--sort of like that Tamigotchi phase.  We just sort of did it without thinking, wanted it because we were told to want it.  Oh, American advertisers--you're good at your job.  I think I witnessed someone actually playing with Pogs two times, max.  All I remember doing was looking at my collection on end.  Weird.

"Segaaaa."  Oh, game gear.  How many hours I wasted trying to beat Sonic the Hedgehog on you.  That's the only game I ever played, except trying and failing at Sonic II.  Gooood times.

This last one's not really related to 90s games.  But I wonder if any places in the 80s/90s actually looked like The Max from Saved by the Bell, a show I watched entirely too much of.  If so, I hope they have already burned to the ground.  The lameness is astounding.  How did anyone ever think this was cool (or am I the only loser who thought so)?!

And we end with the 90s in one picture.  Fresh to the death.