It Comes To An End

Today is was our last day of classes. And I couldn't be happier. Of course, we still got a few finals and such after that but still, last day of classes for my first year of college. Its a big deal. Its amazing how fast time flies. Like really really flies. Its crazy. Feels like yesterday me and my friends were all worried about getting through our first year of college. And now, its here. Its weird cause its feels like just yesterday I was in high school yet it all seems so far away, you know. So much has changed in a year. I'm not gonna say I feel like a whole different person cause I don't, but I do have a whole new look at college than I did before. To be honest, I was extremely worried about starting college. Like kinda freaked out.I wasn't going to any of my friends with me which sucked (and still does) and I was worried about how tough the work would be. Now that I've made it through freshman year (almost, still gotta take finals), its nothing like I thought it would be. To be honest, its just like high school but with more freedom, which is good. College is like high school but better. The work isnt as tough as I though it would be. I mean, its actually pretty decent. I dont know if its just St. Johns, since I've obviously never been to another school, or if every college is like that. The work is nothing like I imagined it to be. I mean, we do get alot of work and stuff, much more than I ever did in high school but....I dont know, I guess I just expected to be up long hours and crying myself to sleep every night. I'm very glad thats not the case though. College is actually pretty decent. I don't love it (because ew, who loves school) but I dont hate it either. I am glad the year is coming to an end. I may like college but there's nothing I like more than summer vacation. No more school, no more work, no more nothing. And I couldn't be happier.

BTW, I'm kinda sad this is my final blog for the class. This thing did get on my nerves at times but I'm still kinda sad to see it go. It started out as nothing and I watched it grow week and after week. Its like my baby. Maybe I should continue writing in this thing but just make it more personal, you know...at least now I wont be worried about a due date or making sure I have a certain number of posts by that Sunday. Ah well, we'll see...

Hope you and your wife and Lucy have an awesome summer, Professor Farley! good grade plz?

Chocolate and Banana

The other day my brother made me a banana milkshake (he's 12 and yes, he makes me milkshakes) and he made himself a chocolate and banana milkshake. Seeing him drink that reminded me of a very funny story that happened a few years ago. I'm gonna share it with you because it is just full of lolz.

So its summer 2005. My family and I are back in our home country (Palestine, you know, the Middle East) and we're eating at this pretty fancy hotel. We were all having fun, enjoying our meal and such, you know the good stuff. So its time for desert. My parents order something I don't remember, I order a chocolate milkshake, my 10 yr old brother, Adam, orders a chocolate milkshake and my 12 yr old brother, Omar, orders a chocolate milkshake. Then you have my 17 yr old brother, Osama (you know, the one thats always leaving the not-so-nice comments on my blog) ,who had to be weird and ask for a chocolate and vanilla milkshake. Here's how it goes down; he asks the waiter if its possible if he could mix chocolate and vanilla in a milkshake. The waiter repeats it and says "sure". After he leaves, I realize the waiter said "chocolate and banana" instead of "chocolate and vanilla". I tell my brother that he thinks you want a chocolate and banana milkshake and of course my brother's all, "Noo, he said chocolate and vanilla". I'm all "No, he didn't, he's gonna bring you chocolate and banana". He's still all "No, he's not" and I'm still all "Osama, yes he is".

So now the waiter comes back with 4 chocolate looking milkshakes on his tray. He puts all of ours in front of us and we take a sip. My brother takes a sip and he's all, "It taste like banana!" Of course I was right (as usual), the guy gave my brother a chocolate and banana milkshake instead of chocolate and vanilla and he's now all disappointed. The story doesn't end there though. At the same time, my father took a sip of Omar's (you know, the one who makes me milkshakes) chocolate milkshake and Omar made it a big deal. Now Omar hates when you touch anything thats his if you don't ask first. Especially food. He is extremely stubborn and hard-headed that he'll cry and make a big scene if he doesn't get what he wants. Thats exactly what he did. So now Osama's all "Oh, you can switch with me. I didn't even touch it". Omar gave in and took it thinking its plain chocolate. Osama's all happy that he got his nice plain, no banana, chocolate milkshake. Of course, Omar starts drinking his new milkshake and what does he say but "this taste like banana". Osama and I are bursting out laughing and Omar is all confused and upset. LOL. It was a great moment. Thinking about it now I can't remember who actually drank the chocolate and banana milkshake. Oh well, thinking about that story still makes me laugh to this day. Its a classic.

Whats funny is Omar didn't even remember it until I told him about it a few days ago when he was making his chocolate and banana milkshake. He seemed to be enjoying it now, I don't understand why he wasn't thrilled about it then.

In The Heights

Before hearing anything about In the Heights, I really did not know what to expect from it. Since I heard it was a musical, I thought I wouldn’t like the play too much, but I was wrong. My expectations were well exceeded, as the play’s music, plot and acting were amazing, I guess that’s why it was on Broadway. The star of the play, who also wrote the play, was Lin-Manuel Miranda, who plays Usnavi, a Dominican bodega owner who is a part of a community that is like no other. Besides owning the bodega, he also takes care of his little cousin Sonny, played by Robin de Jesus. Usnavi’s character is a very well scripted character and Miranda makes the character even better. His energy in his raps is very high and gets the audience really wrapped (no pun intended) up in the raps. Overall I thought this was a very well acted out play, as the characters really showed a close Latino community. The portrayal of characters were so convincing it brought back memories for me of the neighborhood I went to school in for 10 years where it consisted of mostly Hispanics. It really felt like I was watching a real street corner where people were coming together. All the actors’ energy, ethnic backgrounds and acting abilities really brought to life Washington Heights on Broadway.

FOUR!

We're down to four contestants remaining on American Idol. I must say, I am a little surprised by this final four. What the heck, I'm a lot surprised. Syesha shouldn't be there. And neither should Jason. Syesha should have been gone a looong time ago. Its not she has a bad voice because she definitely doesn't and its not that I don't like her personality because she does seem nice and not annoying but its just she should have left when it was between her and Michael. I'm still bitter as you can tell. Jason is...I don't know, he's Jason. I like Jason you know, he always seems so happy and never has a frown on his face. He's very relaxed and take everything in stride. He makes it easy to like him...as a person. The thing about Jason is he almost seems like he doesn't really care if he's voted off. Like he's just doing this for the heck of it and could care less if he wins. Maybe he just knows he doesn't have a chance? Anyway I'm really surprised he actually made it to the final four. He seems like a likable guy and all but as far as his music goes... he kinda sounds the same every week. I must admit, he kinda bores me. Nothing he sings really catches my attention. I don't know what got him to where he is. Maybe its cause he's pretty? Girls like pretty.

So now for the not-so-surprising. Yep, you guessed it, Cook and Archuleta. The two Davids! I think its pretty obvious that its gonna be a Cook/Archuleta finale. Everybody predicted Archuleta in the finale from way back in the top 24. And once David Cook began to shine during top 12, we knew he'd be joining. As for me, I'm team Cook. I've been rooting for Michael and Cook since the top 12 and since Michael has been gone (grrr..) , I was all for Cook. I lovelovelove his performance every week. Download them and everything. As for Archuleta...I like the kid (I call him a kid when he's like..my age), he has an amazing voice and I liked some of his performances. For some reason, he always makes me laugh. And he doesn't even have to do anything. He could just stand there and smile and I'd laugh. Sooo anyway, I'd be happy with a Cook/Archuleta finale with David Cook winning it all. And I think thats how its going to turn out.

P.S. I was so focused on getting all my blogs done I forgot all about American Idol today! That, like, never happens.

OMG, Its Gossip Girl.

So lately, I've been pretty obsessed with the show "Gossip Girl". I know, just what I need more TV, but I can't help myself. These things help me get through the week, gives me something to look forward to, you can say. So anyway, Gossip Girl, yes I love it. Such an awesome show. The show chronicles the lives of the exclusive and complicated vicious circle of New York's Upper East Side. The young, rich, and privileged teens attend the most elite of private schools, while dealing teen issues. Whats funny about the show is that it actually revolves around a blog. The show is narrated by an anonymous blogger, "Gossip Girl", who runs a blog about her fellow Upper East Siders and feeds them the latest gossip. The whole school tunes into gossip girl to find out the latest gossip about their fellow Upper East Siders. The show is truly addictive with its tangle of jealousy, loyalty, confusion and general teen angst. Some will be surprised to learn the the series is actually based a book series written by Cecily von Ziegesar. Some say that the show doesn't live up to the books but since I have never read the books, I really can't compare. For me, the show is truly one of the best on television to date. Its a modern take on the ultimate teen drama. Everyone should watch this show. Everyone.

This is article in New York magazine that I highly recommend reading.