Sunday, April 27, 2008

Carrie Underwood rant

Continuing on the country music trend rant, I wanted to mention how I can't stand Carrie Underwood.

First, she came from American Idol- it doesn't strike me like she put a bunch of effort into her singing career prior as compared to other idols take Daughtry for an example. Daughtry was working in the music industry prior, was in a band, and did Carrie? No. So, really, I feel like she hasn't paid her dues as an artist.

Second, her songs are often whaling and droning about god knows what. I can't stand her whiney voice in "Jesus Take The Wheel" or "Don't Forget To Remember Me." Her new song "All American Girl" has so many uuuuuhs and oooooohs and owwws and other annoying vocals that make the song just sound bad and unnatural. She has such a screechy voice in her song "So Small" it is like nails on a chalkboard.

Third, I don't want to hear her Bible loving messages in all of her songs- "Jesus Take The Wheel" where Jesus pulls that car to the side of the road. Personally I wish it crashed and then she wouldn't have been there to sing the song. Then "Don't Forget to Remember Me" is a pretty easy song to forget.

Personally to me she doesn't seem like the All-American girl she proclaims in her song. Would an "All American Girl" have dug her keys into the side of his pretty little souped up 4 wheel drive, carved her name into his leather seats, took a Louisville slugger to both headlights, slashed a hole in all 4 tires? I think not. Seems rather unchristian.

What is so likeable about her? I just don't get it. To me she comes off as an arrogant frat girl who suddenly came to fame and screams I am wanna be diva, but I'm so pure and wholesome nobody will call me that like Mariah. I'm just little pure, wholesome Carrie Underwood from Oklahoma. She's just a bunch of "Wasted" talent if you ask me.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

When I think Taylor Swift I'm going to think of

I was watching a rerun of the CMA Awards tonight.

Taylor Swift was performing and here's what my dad said about her:

"Lady, your boots are too big for you."
"She looks like she could smoke a cigarette and drink a beer at the same time."
All of this came when she looked rather angry in her performance of the song "Picture to Burn."




On Ashton Shepard "She has a voice like someone is beating a fish with a hammer"

Where I feel like I made a difference

Today I subbed for my mom's friend, the math teacher in the room next to her.

After a rocky start to the day with the really bad class, the day improved.

It was a pretty good day and one where I felt like I made a difference. The 2 pre-algebra classes were working on using the distance formula (Distance=Speed x Time or D=Velocity / Time). A lot of kids, perhaps due to apathy toward the subject weren't trying and thought me, being the sub would give them the easy way out and tell them the answer. Me? Do that? No. Never.

When a kid asked for help, I enthusiastically came over and asked them where they were having trouble. The kids told me and then sat blank wanting me to do the work for them. I said, "well, look, you have speed and distance given, now tell me what is missing." "Ok, so you are trying to find time, so what do you do?" The kids would ask inquisitively "multiply?" I'd ask the kids to explain why and walk me through the steps. They did and they'd come up with the right answer.

You know what? I could have taken the easy way out, but then I'd have felt bad for gipping them, but also not giving them the opportunity to prove they new how to do it.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

A day and a half

It was a long day to say the least- here's a synopsis:

- My Spanish teacher yelled at me in front of the class for about 5 minutes because she randomly changed topics, called on me for an answer, and I had no idea. She told me how I never pay attention, how I never understand, and things like that... all in Spanish

- After my Spanish class I trek 1/2 mile to the parking lot and discover parking services around my car as well as the police. I ask if something is wrong, further observe the scene, and notice that someone with a Ford Escort, which was a stick shift forgot to set their parking brake and rolled into my car. There was no damage to their car, but there were some paint blemishes and scratches to my car- which probably won't be repaired since there was not enough damage to tell the insurance company about. My big tank! Their car hit my back right bumper at the side. I was upset at first because the first things that came to my mind were there might be a lot of damage, insurance will go up, and this is just my luck. I quickly realized though, that it was not my fault. I was not at fault. I decided to look at it in a funny way. I was not the idiot. My car has an automatic transmission and therefore I don't have to worry about setting my parking brake. It could have been worse. I spent 45 minutes of my lunch standing around with the university police and therefore didn't get to enjoy a nice 1 hour, sit down lunch at a restaurant. Instead my lunch was a Diet Pepsi and Doritos.

- There is a local news website called instantriverside.com. They were giving away tickets to Stagecoach, the 3 day country music festival out in Indio AND I WON!!! Last year Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, and a whole bunch of others attended. This year the Eagles, Trisha Yearwood, Tim McGraw, Gretchen Wilson, and a bunch of others are attending. I am going to get to see Rascal Flatts, The Judds, Dierks Bentley, Taylor Swift, Bucky Covington, Dwight Yoakam, and a bunch of others. So that made a bad day better!

Now I get to find a friend to go with me to Stagecoach. I'm going to either ask my cousin, my friend John, or someone else... not sure yet.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Women's Studies Syllabus

I need Women's Studies- Gender Issues for a Global Woman, to graduate. The teacher is a middle aged, hispanic woman. She seems to be a little funny... case in point, her syllabus under course guidelines...

"Aaaaww... your teacup shitzu is so cute, and I know you want to show it off; I would carry mine in my purse like you want to. Please don't bring it to class in your purse, though. You can show me in pictures, however, when walking to or from class, or during my office hours. The same goes for your pet dog, cat, chipmunk, or elephant. They are just too cute, especially with the furry collars! They cry though, and my lectures aren't crying worthy. If they cry, I cry."