The End is Near :-(

Alas, the time has come. Today is the final submission date for our blog entries. I have to say I was very sceptical at the beginning of this journey. I complained I had nothing to talk about(as if that was ever a real problem,its getting me to stop thats tricky I was thinking, who in God's name would want to ramble needlessly online about anything they wanted. But, it was fun! Regardless of whether anyone reads them or not, it was nice to just talk about anything you wanted. I'm not saying this to suck up, as I'm sure it wouldn't work either, but it was the most fun assignment I've ever done. No real rules, freedom of expression and all for 30%? Can't complain about that.

What I wonder now is, will I keep it up? Will I still write to my blog if it doesn't count for anything? Only time will tell, but I'd like to think I would. Or maybe I'll just start using my blog on Bebo a bit more, which at the moment is a bit bare.

Have a look and leave a comment, all welcome!!

http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MyProfile=Y

Stress

Apparently if you're not stressed, you should see two dolphins in this photo. At this point of the year, I think I'm seeing two cows. Its just gotten to that crappy(excuse my non-professional language Colin!) time of year where everything is happening at once. God knows we shouldn't be complaining because we have a month off after this to save for rag week (us poor students). Its not that I mind exams or anything, I actually don't, they've never bothered me that much (which is probably why I'm not studying Psychology like I'd always planned). But that said, I actually like this course, so I shall proceed to take out the proverbial finger and get cracking.

My point is, two weeks of mind-numbing stress could be avoided if things were spaced out. I know the minute you get back to college in September, the lecturers are yapping on about revision revision revision, but how many students do you know that actually do that. Things are inevitably left until the last minute. And not just on our part. I was starting to think I was on the easiest course in the world. Up until the end of October our lecturers were telling us how great we were doing, that we we were all fantastic, when we hadn't actually done anything. Then when we got back after the mid-term, EVERYTHING happened at once. We had C.A's to hand in, tests I didn't know we had to do and it was just madness. That said, I work better under pressure, but still I think if things were a bit more spread out, it would make things a lot easier. But at least its the last week of term now, a stressful week, and then holidays for a month, and a trip abroad! Who says life isn't good?

But for those of you who feel they may need help to un-wind and relax, have a look at http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Top-10-Steps-to-DeStress&id=6506 and see if it helps.

Over and out.

Oxegen 2008

I am so excited about Oxegen this year. Its a four day event for the first time ever, and I really can't wait. Seeing as I'm up to my eyeballs in debt, it may be the only holiday I get this year. And plus, its the perfect opportunity to bond with my friends, and whatever randomers we happen to stumble upon. I would like to be the kind of person that goes to Oxegen for the music, and someone who consequently puts up with the camping conditions, but I'm not. I love the camping, every bit of it! I have to say that if I heard Daniel O' Donnell or Joe Dolan were headlining at it, I'd still be there like a shot. Of course I've seen some great bands the past 3 years, but they're not really what I remember. When I think of Oxegen I think:carrying back breaking amounts of drink,setting up tents in the wind and rain, talking to complete randomers(convinced you'll be friends for life), mudfights,getting soaked at the water pumps, waiting for the toilets for ages and then not wanting to go when you get there, dancing like a crazy person, smuggling drink into the concert arena, eating because you think you should after two days, calling every steward at the concert Stewart because its funnier, singing round an illegal campfire, waking up to strangers in your tent, coming up with slogans that last until the next year, going on the carnival rides coming off even dodgier than you felt before getting on, honestly, the list could go on and on. I know that maybe for someone who has never been to a festival before, all of this sounds terrible, but how often would you do this in your everyday life. Its one weekend out of the year where you don't care what you look like, because everyone is in the same situation. My older sisters swore they would never go, until they gave in last year and now the two 25 years olds said they can't wait to go back.
There are of course the downsides, security is limited and unfortunately you leave your belongings in your tent at your own risk. Another downfall is that you can't seem to go anywhere these days without encountering drugs, and Oxegen is no exception. They are everywhere, and you learn to recognise the people and groups that are taking them. That is why I think that the legal age for it should be increased from 17 to 18. As much of a hypocrite as it makes me, I don't think that its any place for kids that age, and I'm saying this after three years experience. My younger brother and sister are 17 at Christmas and have their tickets already. I don't want them to go, not that I don't trust their judgement, I just don't trust those around them. Of course I would be the most hated in my family if I told my mother and father that. I just don't think they're mature enough to handle some of the situations they may come across. I know I'm going to spend the weekend worrying about them, and especially my little brother and his temper, but I suppose every silver lining has a cloud not too far away. (and no I didn't mix that up by accident!)

Christmas with a Difference

My mother, god love her, is possibly the most enthusiastic person I've ever met when it comes to Christmas. Her excitement is childlike, and her preparation bordering on a little psychotic. That is why I was more surprised than anyone when she agreed to a different type of Christmas this year. The original plan was to go to New York in November and do a bit of Christmas retail therapy. But I couldn't go then, being so dedicated to my studies!!! After much discussion, I cancelled a skiing trip and my whole family, for the first time in four years, planned to go away together 2 days after Christmas for a week. Much to my Dad's dismay, as he would love nothing more than to escape the madness altogether, but sadly, Mam's the boss. He knows better than to argue!

We booked the flights, the hotel and have been making plans ever since. We have tickets to Phantom of the Opera on Broadway the night after we arrive, we have dinner planned with relatives, sight seeing, watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve in Times square, and of course some serious serious shopping. I can't wait!! More importantly, we have decided not to buy each other presents for Christmas, which absolutely delights me. 1. Because it saves me about 300 euro 2. I get to spend MY money on ME, as selfish as it sounds I love to spend money on myself, not other people, its my money so why shouldn't i enjoy it.

I've been formulating a plan since this law is being enforced about the amount of goods you can bring home with you "restricts" my purchases to $130 or something like that. I'm bringing an empty suitcase, going to wear the clothes I buy while over there, and if possible wear about 3 pairs of trousers, 4 jumpers, dresses and t-shirts getting on the plane in an attempt to convince them I'm perhaps carrying a little extra Christmas weight. There's no way I'm going to restrict my Christmas budget because of some stupid tax law those selfish Americans are enforcing, that George Bush fella needs a good kicking!It's my Christmas and I can't wait.

Chris Crocker

Chris Crocker is a young gay teenager is the States. He has become famous for basically being himself. His by now well publicised rants recorded in his grandmother's house and posted on the Internet are hilariously funny! He rants about everything you can think of, women versus gay men, how he found out he was gay,how he thinks everyone is born gay and in denial, his view on politics and of course, "the video" where he screams crying about the media and their "unfair treatment of Britney Spears. It is absolutely comical to watch this guy roaring crying over Britney, I mean you'd think they were related the way he is reacting. There is an overall sense of "is this guy for real" as you're watching, and while I was slightly disgusted at some of his videos, i couldn't help but laugh.
He has appeared on The Jimmy Kimmel show in the U.S where he once again gave his controversial views on life and flirted outrageously with the host. He is currently in talks about getting his own talk show, which would no doubt be a hit. He is openly "heterophobic" and not afraid to express his opinion about his distate for heterosexuals.
He has come under a lot of criticism lately, being slated on his myspace homepage for forgetting who he is since becoming famous. His unprecedented success has shocked himself as well as haters of him. He has hit back at critics saying that he hasn't changed, and its not fair that he should now be hassled just because he's now getting paid for doing what he started out doing. I don't know, what does anyone else think? I do think that if I could get paid to express my honest opinions live on television, no amount of critics would stop me.

Check him out on youtube and have a look at his myspace page and see what you think

http://www.myspace.com/chriscrocker

Seeing Double

I read an article in Life Magazine in The Sunday Indo that the birth of twins occur about every 1 in 3000. I don't really know how that works or even if its right!My mam gave birth to twins in 1982, me in 1986, and another set of twins in 1990. I know that is not that common, but for me now, its everyday life. I was trying to figure out though where that 1 in 3,000 statistic came from. I mean does that relate to identical twins, non identical,different sex twins???

My older sisters are 25, they're great, beautiful girls(but don't tell them i said that)and brainy too, both fully qualified accountants. The younger twins are a boy and a girl, they're 16 and they are just brilliant, they keep me entertained all the time. People always ask me if I get jealous because of the bond the twins so obviously share with each other, but I honestly don't. I think I'm equally close to both of them, and I have the go-between status. When they're all mad at each other, I'm in the clear!!

I remember when we were younger, my older sisters use to tell the younger twins to all jump on me and beat me up, because I had no twin to fight back, they would all win easily. I think that is probably the only time I ever regretted not having a twin. I've heard a million times, "oh you're the odd one out", "ah the black sheep of the family", but I just think that its more common not to be a twin, than it is to be one. I wouldn't have my family any other way now, they're all mad and I could kill them most of the time, but i wouldn't swap them for anything, not even a twin of my own!

Rage Against the Machine

Ok, so seriously, how long does it take an average person to use an ATM machine??Me, well it takes about 30 seconds at most depending on the machine of course. Well then why is it, that I always get stuck behind the idiot with about 40 cards and who wants a receipt for every bloody transaction?? This is possibly the most irritating thing ever,I mean especially in the weather were having, you just want to get out of the car, and be finished with the ATM before the next song on the radio has started.

There's an ATM machine on the Avenue Road at the Maxol station. Its an AIB machine and its like the only outdoor machine in town that is sheltered as well. Now for some unfathomable reason, this ATM just WILL NOT accept my card, it shoots it straight back at me, and on the screen it says "We regret this service is unavailable at present", which is total b*^&%x, because if they really regretted it, they'd sort it out!I don't know why this particular machine has a grudge against me but it does, and its starting to really irritate me. Not only does it inconvenience me, but it also makes me go through that awful heart stopping moment when you think you've run out of cash....AGAIN!!And it should make no difference that I'm a Bank of Ireland customer, because that means that i just shouldn't be able to check my balance and the likes.

And what is the story with those ATM's in Dunnes and Londis and places like that, you know the ones where you have to take out your card and then enter your pin. They are possibly the slowest forms of modern technology ever invented. I thought the idea of the 21st century was to speed things up, not bore people to death while waiting for the money they've had to slave for!

I probably could go on about this, but I'm supposed to keep a certain "level of professionalism", so before I damage my reputation with very rude ramblings,I'm going to leave it at that!