Crank That Soldier Boy

So, I was trying to show my roomie the dance to Crank That, and I happened upon this hilarious video of three preppy guys trying to Crank That. This is hilarious. If you haven't seen the right way it's done, please feel free to compare. As always, Enjoy!

My first wonderful college weekend of the year.

Ahhh...It's one o'clock, and I am still in my pj's. I have had a waffle for breakfast, I have caught up on my news, and I have read one chapter for one of my classes. I slept until 11, and I stayed in bed until at least 11:30. Life doesn't get much sweeter. Granted, I have a lot to do today to be productive, but I have all day long to do it. How great.
Anyhow, this week was one of constant meetings, classes, and sorting out my life. Now that all of that is done, I can dive right into my job, internship, classes, and friends. A routine will start forming shortly, and I will begin to feel more at home. I better, anyhow.
So, Dave Matthews Band was amazing as usual. I just love his shows - it doesn't get much better than Dave. Mere and Rach were tons of fun. I think I inhaled enough second hand smoke to last me for awhile, considering I was coughing all the next morning.
The weather here has been unbearably warm. The heat index is soaring, and the humidity is killer. It was supposed to break last night, but I haven't been outside today to know if it actually has broken a bit. I feel so bad for people on campus who have no air conditioning. Yuck. The campus actually opened the Rec for people to sleep in if they wanted. Also, most Dayton public schools were canceled or got out of classes early on Thursday and Friday. You know it's really hot if schools are getting dismissed early.
Luckily, it did not flood here though. A lot of Ohio areas are in a state of emergency, including some areas pretty close to here. I don't know what I would even do if we flooded. So much damage would be done.
Well, I'm off to be productive. Wish me luck!

"August belongs to those who love the splendor of sunsets, and who secretly dream of dancing barefoot by the light of the moon." –Inspirations Daily Calendar

Can I get a tattoo of an acid trip please?

School is back into full swing yet again. Today was the first day of classes, and I have to say I feel a lot better about everything because I am starting to be busy and have some direction. So far the classes are good, but I still have to make it through tomorrow.
Tomorrow, however, is going to be a blast because Rach, Mere, and I bought Dave Matthews concert tickets for Cincy! I am super excited because he's the best. Also, I am going out on a school night...risky for me.
It's weird to be a junior now. I'm an upperclassman, but I still feel kind of like a freshman going to classes. What is that? Isn't this stuff supposed to get easier? Goodness.
I'm still missing Ry a lot, but I am realized he is with me always. We put a poster of "Footprints" up in our apartment in the living room. It was his favorite, and every time I look at it, I am flooded with feelings of Ryan. He's always on my mind, and he's always in my heart.
I'm missing my family and some other people from home a lot, but I'm so happy here with my friends that I am back to finding a nice balance between the two.
I have decided that I am going to work my butt off to try to get into Columbia University Law School, even though it's the 6th hardest school to get into in the US. Like my sister said, I'm the 6th smartest person in the world so it shouldn't be hard. Haha. If only it was so easy.

"I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it..." -Marilyn Monroe

I am not a good goodbyer...

Well, it's off to school once again. Leaving this time is almost as hard as leaving the very first time. I am kind of dreading being away from my family, especially after what happened with Ry. It's rough, and I've been having some really rough days. Hopefully my friends at UD will help me out a lot. I am pretty sure they will.

As soon as I get back to school, I begin to work and study. Yuck. I guess now I have to start setting markers of things to look forward to. That always helps get through the long weeks. Usually I am always looking forward to the weekends. Weekends at college are the best, and I am totally excited about them.

Today I had to say a few hard goodbyes, and I have discovered that I really stink at saying goodbye, especially to people I really care about. I am the blubbering crier. Goodness gracious, just what I've always wanted to be.

Tonight as I was saying goodbye to T, the wind was blowing. Only it wasn't a warm summer breeze; the chill of autumn has begun to sweep through the trees and around me. So, tonight I said goodbye to T and goodbye to summer. But what a spectacular summer I've had.

"Goodbyes make you think, they make you realize what you’ve had and what you lost and what you’ve taken for granted."

Sometimes life is unfair...

Yesterday, everyone lost a little piece of themselves when my cousin passed away. It's hard enough when someone is gone, but to know that his life ended at only 18 year just makes everything worse. I can't imagine what my aunt, uncle, and cousins are going through without him. I can't even imagine my life without him, let alone theirs. Ryan was the sweetest, smartest, and overall the most genuine person you could imagine. He was going to Miami of Ohio on a scholarship, and he wanted to become a doctor to save lives. Please let this be a lesson to everyone: be careful when you are drinking. Know your limits. Don't push it. It's not worth it. That one more drink can affect your own life and hundreds of others, as Ryan's unfortunate death has proven. Please keep my family in your prayers and thoughts. Rest in Peace, Ryan. I love you.

Death is nothing at all.

It does not count.

I have only slipped away into the next room.

Everything remains as it was.

The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.

Put no sorrow in your tone.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effort

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was.

There is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.

All is well.

Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again.

Brandon, Ryan's little brother, made a website for Ryan. Here it is: http://www.freewebs.com/aslongasyoulovme/index.htm

Praying, Hoping

Usually my blogs are goofy and light-hearted. Today, that is not the case. We got a call this morning at 5 from my aunt telling us that my cousin, who is only 18 and about to start his freshman year of college, was being rushed to the hospital. He was drinking with friends. He started puking then passed out. At some point (we don't know how long his friends waited), they realized he wasn't breathing anymore, and they called an ambulance. He is now in intensive care on a ventilator. The doctors say it looks bleak. Please if you read this, keep him and my family in your prayers. And please, be careful when you are drinking.

"That which does not kill us, makes us stronger."

Walk it out...awwww snap!

Today has been so boring because I have not been managing my time well. I got so much done this weekend that I had absolutely nothing to do today. I worked out, packed some more, and went through my desk in my room. Now I have absolutely nothing at all to do. Honestly, this is ridiculous. I will probably spend the rest of today reading...but that's a good thing. Once I get back to work and school, I won't have any time at all to read.
I have been talking to everyone from UD, and I am getting so excited to get back. Even though there are definitely some people here I will desperately miss. I guess I get to go back to balancing everything. Fun.
I just finished a book the other day, and it was a great book. It could easily be one of my favorites ever. It's called Brothers and it's by an author named Da Chen. It perfectly mixed fiction with history to make a great story. I really enjoyed it, and I highly recommend it!
Nothing else has happened at all in my life. Que aburrido!

"Along with the idea of romantic love, she was introduced to another - physical beauty. Probably the most destructive ideas in the history of human thought. Both originated in envy, thrived in insecurity, and ended in disillusion." -The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison

Jake Brown falls 40+ feet LIVE on ESPN X Games XIII BIG SLAM

This is absolutely insane, and if you haven't seen it yet you need to. Please watch his shoes just completely fly off. And he got up and walked off, even though he did go to the hospital. These guys are insane. I would hate to be the competitor to go after him.

Sometimes it's better to just keep your mouth shut.

Ever watch Mean Girls? You know the word vomit? Well, I tend to have that. I guess mine isn't quite word vomit because before I ask the question or make the statement, I usually think about it for awhile until it creeps up to my lips then flies out. Usually when I ask these questions, I don't get answers I like. I should probably just stop asking. But can I really live without knowing the answers - even if they are answers I don't want to hear? Dang word vomit.
So, this week has been pretty nice and relaxing, but somewhat boring. My sister hasn't been here, so I've been lonesome. Tonight she comes home though! I am very excited. I am also very excited to show her my new shopping purchases because there have been many this week. Lovely.
Last night I got to go to Sarris chocolates and the strangest thing ever happened - the sundae I got, the sundae I always get, was too much chocolate for me, and it was making me sick. I couldn't even finish it, but I usually scarf that baby down in five minutes or less. It was a sad, sad day in Ashley history.
Another news announcement. I ran over four miles today! Woo freakin hoo! And that was at eight in the morning going on five hours of sleep. Imagine what I could do when I wasn't a sleeping zombie. I still don't like running though. Oh well.
Well, wrapping up, I just want to say I'm still happy. And this summer coming to an end has been overall an amazing one. I have had so many great experiences, not to mention rekindling some great friendships. It's been a good one: a really, really good one.

"Life’s like a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending. We did just what we set out to do. Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you." –The Muppet Movie

I have a new title...yes, I am a press secretary now.

Life is really picking up, and I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed. I mean, I understand I only have two more weeks of summer left. But I thought those two weeks would be filled with ice cream and swimming pools. However, they are being filled with packing, internships, and appointments. The two slow summer weeks I had envisioned are now replaced with two hectic weeks. I actually will be happy to get to UD because life will slow down a little once I settle in...well, hopefully.
Anyhow, I have gained the title of press secretary for a city council campaign in Beavercreek, Ohio. I am quite excited just for the experience. We shall see how everything goes, but at least it gives me one internship under my belt. Now, I just have to find a job and an internship for the summer. Oh, not to mention I have to take the LSATs in less than a year.
Ok, on to better things. Yesterday I bought a super cute dress that I am very excited about. Now, I just have to find a place to wear it. Anyone want to take me out somewhere fancy? Then I also got to use my Spanish yesterday as well. My dad's friend has a guy from Mexico working for him. They came over to work on our garage, and they stayed for dinner. So, I got to talk to the Mexican named Chewy during dinner and help translate. My parents were pretty impressed I think. And I did a pretty good job. Another goal was reached this morning. I went running on the usual 4 mile run we go on, and I actually finished all 4 miles without walking or stopping. I am so proud of myself! There's all my new, exciting updates on life. How exciting!
I am getting overly excited for UD, and I started sorting everything to start packing today. I'm insane, but I love packing early. I have to go through everything to decide what I need to buy though, so two weeks is definitely a good time to start I think. And two weeks is really going to fly by.
Also, an update on the pink doughnut from the Simpsons' movie posters...I still haven't found the thing. But I'm still looking. Tomorrow I am taking a trip to Doughnut Connection. Wish me luck!

"Doing easily what other find difficult is talent; doing what is impossible for talent is genius." -Henri-Frederic Amiel