My Last Few Hours In America

Tonight at 8 o'clock I am driving with my mom to JFK airport.  I have a flight to Paris at 1 am Sunday morning, and I will be there until December 14th.  

I just did the final zipping up of my bags, heaved them over my shoulder to make sure I was strong enough to carry them, and put on my airplane-friendly outfit, which consists of a hooded sweatshirt, stretch pants and chuck taylors.  

My parents gave me a surprise present this morning: a digital camera! Yessss.

The camera we have now is the size of a brick and loses power after you take ten pictures.  The other camera I normally use is on my iPhone, which I must leave behind (tear) because the roaming charges would be astronomical.  So I'd say this was a necessary gift.

My mom is trying to stay glued to my side for as long as possible, and currently she is trying to figure out how she can get past security at the airport so she can sit at the gate with me.  Of course, this is giving me a heart attack because I wish she would just leave me alone.  I am 20 YEARS OLD after all.  I doubt any other moms are going to be sitting at the gate with their kid. (I know your reading this, mom.  EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.)

So, I guess my next post will be from Paris...AAHHH!!

Bill's Pick: Julia Stegner

Bill has chosen quite an interesting and unexpected girl this time, Julia Stegner.  You've never heard of her, but you've seen her face everywhere.  

"I'm a huge fan of dirty blonds, but not the fake ones," says Bill.

Julia Stegner is the real deal when it comes to her looks, a natural German beauty with a good work ethic.

She's been on the cover of Vogue thirteen times, not to mention a bazillion other magazines, editorials, designer ads, and runways.

Julia is not an airhead supermodel, however.  She is smart, well-spoken and raises money through Unicef for children.

Bill describes her as "cosmopolitan."

As if she couldn't get any more perfect and adorable, she rides her bike everywhere, even to work.

Why John McCain, WHY???

Sarah Palin??? Who IS she???  Governor of Alaska for less than two years???  

Yes, she is John McCain's running mate.  It's great that the Republican party has elected the first female candidate for vice president.  However, that feat is overshadowed by McCain's main argument against Obama: that he is too inexperienced.  Yet McCain not only just elected someone who is extremely inexperienced as well, but she is governor of Alaska, which has a population of 700,000.  No offense Alaska, but of all the states to govern, I can't imagine that yours is the most difficult.

"While it's a dramatic and interesting choice, it would make the argument he's making difficult to make," said a McCain adviser.

McCain is trying to attract women voters.  That's fine, except that Palin is a devout Christian and is pro-life.  Just because I'm a woman voter does not mean I am pro life, and I'm sure I can say that for most women voters out there.

 Additionally, McCain and Palin have opposing environmental issues.  McCain supports off-shore drilling, while Palin supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.  Which is in her own state of Alaska.  I find that kind of wrong.

What ever happened to church and state being separate?  The fact that she is Christian should not affect her politics, especially when it comes to abortion rights.  

"People see her as the symbol of purity in an atmosphere of corruption," says Anchorage pollster Marc Hellenthal.  "She's more like Saint Sarah."

Saint Sarah?  Don't make me throw up.

Article sources: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times

Glorious News: The Drinking Age Might Get Lowered.

About a week ago, various news outlets started publishing articles about officials who want to lower the drinking age to 18.  These officials are heads of colleges and universities in the US, and so far, about 100 colleges have signed on to this petition.  

The schools that have signed on so far include Duke, Dartmouth, Tufts, Syracuse, Colgate and Kenyon.

These school presidents believe that the current drinking laws encourage binge drinking on campuses.

"It is a law that the people at whom it is directed believe is unjust and unfair and discriminatory," says John McCardell, former president of Middelbury College in Vermont.

The opposition comes from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who pushed for the "21" law back in 1984.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that driving fatalities of people ages 18-20 have been cut by 13% since the drinking age was raised to 21.  That's the main argument for MADD.

State representatives in Kentucky, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Missouri are also fighting for a lower drinking age, but their argument is based on military service.  

South Carolina state Rep. Fletcher Smith, who sponsors a bill that would let military personnel 18 and older to buy alcohol in South Carolina, says, "If you can take a shot on the battlefield, you ought to be able to take a shot of beer legally."

Amen to that.  I mean come on, at least let the people in the military have a drink.  Lord knows they need it.  As for us regular college kids who aren't in the military, we might have to wait a little longer for our bill to get passed.

Right now, any state is actually allowed to lower the drinking age to 18.  There is a catch, however: that state would have to give up 10% of their federal highway funds.  That pretty much equals billions of dollars for one state to give up, which probably isn't worth it.

A 2007 Gallup Poll found that 77% of Americans oppose lowering the drinking age to 18.  MAYBE because most Americans are over the age of 21 and are automatically biased.  That poll needs to be analyzed a little better before it should be used in an argument.

If the mothers in MADD did a better job of raising their children and instilling better responsibility and morals in them, they wouldn't have to worry about their kids drinking irresponsibly.  

In Europe, a drinking age barely exists and those people get along just fine, if not better.  America has the highest drinking age in the world.  Hopefully not for much longer.

My Last Two Days In America

For the fall semester, I will be studying abroad in Paris.  I leave at 1 am on Sunday morning, and I have not packed anything yet.  But I work best under pressure.

Today, I said goodbye to my friends from home.  My friend Emily is going to Paris during the spring semester so I don't think I'll be able to see her for the whole school year :(

After a brief meeting with my art teacher this morning to review my portfolio, I went to Emily's house where we lounged by her pool and got some last minute tanning in.  

Then, Emily and I surprised our friend Liz at her house where she was taking care of her sister's newborn baby.  He was totally adorable and the tiniest baby I've ever seen.

Later, my friend Jon stopped by my house to say bye as well.  We saw a flock of turkeys walk across my patio.  I'll miss that in Paris.  Then I cooked him a weird combination of elbow pasta with white sauce and peas...I think he liked it.

Tonight, I saw an envelope on my bed from my two friends from school, Elaine and Melissa.  They sent me the cutest letter with a Euro coin attached to it.  Thanks guysss!!!

The next two days will be constant packing.  Blahhh

Bill's Pick: Adriana Lima

Adriana Lima to the modeling world is what Chanel is to the fashion world.  Timeless and classic.  She is 27 years old, which is 57 in modeling years, but she doesn't look a day over 22.  

She has been a Victoria's Secret model since 1999 and still remains a VS favorite.  VS recently hired Australian cutie Miranda Kerr, who in my opinion is just an Adriana Lima look-alike.  Consequently, When you do a google search of Miranda Kerr, the related search lists Adriana Lima.

The most surprising thing about Lima?  She's a virgin.  She is hardcore Catholic and is waiting until marriage to have sex.  

Adriana Lima also claims that she doesn't work out.  Goddamn Brazilians.  How are the rest of us supposed to compete with you??  

Miranda Kerr

Bill likes her because she "has the look that says I'm the cutest girl in the world, but can be terribly naughty."

My personal favorite combo on women is dark hair and blue eyes (hence the previous Bill's Pick) and Adriana is just another example of why.  Sorry, blonds.  

One time a drunk guy told me I looked like her.  It made me really happy.

$1000 iPhone Application

Just when you thought iPhones were only for tools, a new iPhone application came out which distinguishes regular iPhone tools (like myself) from the tooliest of iPhone tools.  

The application, titled "I Am Rich" and developed by Armin Heinrich, costs $1000 and does absolutely nothing.

Well, that's not completely true.  A red ruby is displayed, and when  you tap it, a secret mantra will load which "may help you to stay rich, healthy and successful."

"The red icon on your iPhone or iPod touch always reminds you (and others when you show it to them) that you were able to afford this," reads the application's description.

25 people have purchased it.

Apparently, the application has recently been mysteriously discontinued.  How sad.

Bill's Pick: Megan Fox

"Bill's Pick" is a new section to my blog.  Basically, my bf Bill is going to pick out a girl that he wants to be featured.  The catch is that we both have to approve of her, so she can't be some random porn star.  She needs to be respectable, interesting, and extremely hot.  Bill and I both have very high standards when it comes to the attractiveness of a girl, so only 10+ ladies will be seen here.

Bill's first pick: Megan Fox

Yes, Fox is her real last name.  Thank god she wasn't born an ugly person, that would have been unfortunate.  Most of us first heard of her when Transformers came out, but I first saw her in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen aside Lindsay Lohan, where she played the classic high school snobby girl.

According to Bill, she has "no flaws...amazing body, face, hair...just all around sexiness."

Let's talk about this face of hers.  I can't think of one actress in Hollywood now who is more beautiful than Megan Fox, and I am talking about natural beauty.  If we stripped off all of her makeup, she would still be stunning. 

She prides herself in being one of the few people in Hollywood who doesn't use drugs.  She has tried them, but that's "how [she knows she] doesn't like them."

FHM magazine named her the Sexiest Woman of 2008.  She won with a 3,300 vote margin.

She has lots of tattoos, likes surfing, and has "the libido of a 15-year-old boy."  No wonder guys love her.

Megan Fox, age 16, in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Meghan McCain: The New Tabloid Queen (If John Wins)

Meghan McCain

I am SO surprised that the media hasn't sunken its teeth into Meghan McCain yet, because she is totally asking for it.  She is the 23-year-old daughter of John McCain, and from what I gather, she isn't exactly the perfectly behaved possible first daughter you would expect her to be.  

First of all, she swears like a sailor, even when someone is interviewing her.  If my dad were running for president and I spoke like that, I would probably get locked in a closet until I learned how to speak properly, as to not tarnish my father's image.  But apparently, she doesn't care about that.

I'm not bashing John McCain.  I actually really like him.  But I have a feeling that his daughter is going to get him some bad media attention in the future.

In this interview with GQ magazine, Meghan says things such as, "I have a pretty dirty mouth, normally...I love swearing.  Whatever."

Great.  I'm glad you went to Columbia University and might live in the White House and this is what you show for it, Meghan.  Please try to sound a bit more intelligent next time.

In the picture that goes along with the interview, she is seen sitting on her bed holding a Bud Light.  I don't have a problem with the girl drinking, but if you are photographed in a high-profile magazine posed holding a beer, it can only mean that you are a bit of a party girl.

Not to mention her physical appearance: blonde, nice features, well versed in fashion...the paparazzi will love her.  

Meghan also keeps a blog about following her dad's campaign trail.  It has cute pictures which include John McCain grilling hamburgers and the McCain family inside their private jet.  I have to respect her light-hearted approach to the situation she's in.  She appears to be the same as any other American 20-something with wealthy parents.  

Another thing I respect about her is that her point of view is totally independent from that of her father's.  Meghan voted for John Kerry in the 2004 election and considers herself as "An Independent.  Socially liberal, economically conservative." 

She's not afraid to hold back from how she feels about something, whereas many people in her position would probably have rehearsed answers ready for any question they could ever possibly be asked.  "Not everybody wants to go out with somebody so high-profile," Meghan says about her dating situation.  "If they do, they're investment bankers.  Seriously.  Ugh!  If you're an investment banker, don't hit on me.  You can quote me.  I'm not interested."

"They see blond hair and they see makeup, and automatically I am whatever their blond stereotype is," Meghan says in this interview with the LA Times.  She has started to gather a following of girls who admire her ability to be stylish and girly while still caring about politics.

Gotta love it.  I can't wait to see what Meghan McCain is up to at this time next year.

Preparation H For Your Face

While flipping through my friend's issue of T Magazine yesterday, I came across this article.  Apparently, you can apply Preparation H cream to your face to reduce under eye circles.  

For those of you who don't know what Preparation H is, it's a cream that people put on their butts to treat hemroids.

For those of you who don't know what a hemroid is, you'll have to look it up yourself because it's too gross for me to write about.

Luckily, I don't have puffy eye problems.  But if I did, I might be enticed by this method of treatment.

Yum!

I'm Obsessed With This Song.

Trace Cyrus

If you've been listening to the radio lately, you might have heard the song "Shake It" by Metro Station.  It's a brilliant concoction of emo-pop-tasticness and will make you want to thrash your hair around and jump up and down.  

I thought there was something slightly mysterious about Metro Station.  They seem like every other emo band, except their hit single was a little too catchy and their outfits and hair do's were styled a little too perfectly.  This couldn't be just some ordinary band from the middle of nowhere.

I looked them up on Wikipedia, and then suddenly, everything made sense.  

Trace Cyrus, the lead singer and guitarist, is Miley Cyrus' brother.  Mason Musso, vocalist and guitarist, is the brother of Mitchel Musso, who stars alongside Miley on the hit Disney show Hannah Montana.  

Miley Cyrus and Mitchel Musso

Well, that explains everything.  Metro Station has been touched by Disney's magic wand, giving them that look and sound that is just so...marketable.  

Everyone, including me, is falling for it, and there are plenty more examples of Disney's sickeningly-sweet spawns, including Miley herself and the Jonas Brothers, that are primped and molded into that signature Disney style that attracts teenage fans like zombies to human flesh.  

These teenage spawns are guaranteed to rake in the millions.  

People are comparing the Jonas Brothers to the Beatles.  John Lennon must be rolling in his grave.

The Jonas Brothers

And we can't forget that Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera got their start on the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club back in the day.  

People often refer to our generation as the "MTV Generation" but in reality, we should be called the "Disney Generation."

Tom Brady Makes Me Care About Sports

My lovely boyfriend told me that my blog has been boring lately.  And seeing as he is the self-proclaimed #1 critic of my blog, I don't want him to be bored.  So I asked him what he wanted me two write about.  At first, he said, "hot girls." Uhh, no.  Then he said, "Tom Brady."  Hmm, I could work with that.

So, this one goes out to you, Bill.

Tom Brady.  He's sexy.  His girlfriend is Giselle Bundchen.  He's smart (graduated cum laude from Michigan).  His birthday is the day before mine (soulmates!).  And he's really good at football.  I'm pretty sure my bf has a mancrush on him, and I am completely ok with that.

I don't pay attention to sports at all.  I've barely been watching the Olympics.  But for some reason, Tom Brady has something that is appealing to everyone, even me.

For one thing, Esquire magazine put Brady at the top of their best-dressed list this month, beating out Jay-Z and Barack Obama.  I'm sure Giselle had something to do with that.  You can't have the world's most famous supermodel dating some schlumpy guy.  

But I want to know more about Tom Brady the person.  Yes, he won 3 super bowls, has a $60 million 10-year contract to play with the Patriots, blah blah...but what's he like?

Well, I youtubed him to find out, because there isn't much written about his personality.  From this 60 Minutes interview with him (and this video too), he seems like a pretty cool dude.  The whole fame thing hasn't gone to his head.  He said he can only go out to restaurants if he has "the energy to put a happy face on.  Sometimes [he doesn't] feel like doing that."  He didn't know being a football star would come with "all the extra baggage."

Aww.  

He also said that being named the most eligible bachelor doesn't help him sleep any better at night, but it is very flattering.  When the interviewer asked if he meant sleeping alone or not alone, Brady gave a good belly laugh.  Simply adorable.

At one point in the interview, Tom got deep.  "Why do I have three super bowl rings and still think there's something greater our there for me?  There's got to be more than this," he said, and added, "There's a lot of other parts about me that I'm trying to find."

The only tarnish on his image comes from his ex-girlfriend, actress Bridget Moynahan, whom Brady dumped right after she became pregnant with his child.  I don't know if the baby was the actual cause of the breakup, but it was still a crappy thing to do.  Then he convienietly started dating a super model.  Nice, Tom.  It's ok, I still love you.

Old girlfriend

New girlfriend: UPGRADE

My Native American Adventure

Yesterday, I went to a magical place which made me more in touch with the native people of the United States of America.  A friendly Pequot named Slyfox guided me there.  Inside were countless native treasures waiting to be touched, from soft leather bags to delicate turtle shells to whole animal furs.

The place is called Frank's Trading Post and it's on route 2 in North Stonington, CT.  I went with my friend because we wanted beading supplies.  From the outside, the store doesn't look like much.  But once you enter, you are greeted by several mounted deer heads and stern-faced Indian statues.  

Inside the actual store, it's like a Native American wonderland, and the best part is that everything is authentic and hand-made.  They had these really cool leather belts and boots in all different shades.  If you wanted to make something of your own, you could buy a whole beautiful leather hide for $5.50/sq. foot in black, white, or tan.

In the back of the store, it was like I died and went to moccasin heaven.  They had every kind of Minnetonka moccasin for men, women andchildren.  I was drooling, but I had to stay focused on bead supplies.  

After sifting through boxes of animal teeth, paws, antlers, various other body parts, little dream catchers, drums, necklaces, knife pouches, guns...you name it, we purchased our beads, some sinew for thread and bags of scrap leather to make our jewelry with.

If you're in the area, you have to go there.  Frank will be there at the register, as he has been for the past 20 years, and will answer any question you have.  

THE HILLS LYKE OMG

Finally.  The Hills is back with twice the drama and twice the hair extensions.  The 4th season premier was tonight, and although there was more commercial time than actual show time, I sat through it with my eyes glued to the TV.  

Every time I watch an episode of The Hills, I get a little dumber.  But it is still one of my favorite shows.  The Hills is like crack, as Perez Hilton says.

The episode opened with Lauren and Whitney talking about boys while hanging up jeans at People's Revolution. Whitney is my favorite cast member because she takes her jobs seriously.  All I care about is what they're doing in the Teen Vogue or People's Revolution offices.  The boy stuff I could care less about.  I wish the show focused more on the girls' jobs.

Then, we meet Heidi's sister Holly.  Heidi and Holly.  Holly and Heidi.  Why would their parents do that.  Anyway, she is staying in Heidi's apartment for the next two days, unbeknownst to Spencer.  He gets pissed, of course, because he sucks at everything.  I hate him.   

Heidi then takes her sister, who is cute and normal looking, to get an "LA" style makeover,  which consists of three-foot long hair extensions.  Gross.

Then we see Lauren getting ready for a date, and I noticed that magically her hair had grown an extra foot as well.  But at least her hair looked good.

The date scene between Lauren and Doug was boring.

Then, we see the birthday party that Lauren and Lo throw for Audrina.  All of Audrina's friends come.  The crowd is rather emo looking, and Lo decides to be a bitch and not say hi to any of Audrina's friends.  

Later, Lo and Audrina have their talk, which MTV previewed 443095234506 times. 

  

Heidi, stop getting plastic surgery.  You look like a blow-up doll.

Lo.  I used to like you.  But now you're mean.

Whitney.  I love you.  Expect an email from me someday with my resume attached.

Before They Were Stars: Donnie Darko

Last night I was watching Donnie Darko on the Sundance channel.  I've seen it more than once, and I still don't get the ending.  But that's besides the point of my post.  

There was one scene where a little girl was talking into a mic in the school auditorium.  She looked really familiar.  At first I thought she was that annoying girl from those old Pepsi commercials with the long curly hair.  But then I realized it was a different annoying person: Ashley Tisdale!  

Good thing someone decided to transform your hair, Ashley.  No one would want an Ashley Frizzdale.  

That was totally lame.  Sorry. 

So anyway...guess who else has a small part in DD?  That would be Seth Rogan.  He plays the bully who tries to stab Jake Gyllenhall and Jenna Malone.

Donnie Darko came out in 2001...took seven years for Ash and Seth to make it in Hollywood.

Before

After

Seth Rogan on the left

Good, Wholesome Fun

I am totally a city girl.  But I finally learned to appreciate where I live, especially after living in NYC and Boston for most of my summer.  During these last few weeks of August, all I want to do is sit out on the patio.  I don't want to see another form of public transportation for a very long time.

Yesterday, I went to a friend's beach house in Old Saybrook with a bunch of people.  I had never been to this part of Old Saybrook and was surprised by how beautiful the beach was.  It's nice to know Old Saybrook has more to offer than strip malls.

We set up a volleyball net (which was a process) and played some beach volley ball.  The teams were all guys...plus me.  I was pretty much useless as a teammate, seeing as I have a constant fear of sports balls being launched at my face (which was a problem when I had to play sports in high school).  I would constantly miss the easiest of shots and my teammate would look at me with a scowl.

I just sat the rest of the games out and tanned.  That way, everyone was happy.

I Can Read!

I love reading, but I don't do it enough because I always get distracted.  Thankfully, I have managed to read one book this summer: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.  It's about King Henry VIII, all of his wives and how obsessed with power and scandal his court was.  

Reading this book makes me thankful to live in this age, especially after reading the parts about horiffic childbirth and how royal parents had no affection towards their children.  

At some point I want to see the movie the book was adapted into, starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson.  I heard it was horrible...but hey, all the more reason to see it!

Haircut!

Tomorrow I am getting my hair cut for the first time in six months.  

I never get trims because I find them a waste of time when you could have gotten a whole new style.  So whenever I go for a haircut, I get a full-on haircut.  

Since high school, I have had this strange obsession with Ashlee Simpson's hair styles.  It's just so cute and punky, but still feminine.  

Tomorrow, I think I shall opt for this style:

Update:  So I got my haircut, and...I hate it.  It looks like two squirrels got into a fight on my head.  My bangs are sticking out straight.  Looks like I'm gonna rock a pony tail and bobby pins for the next month.  

Next time I get my haircut, I'm making a special trip into NYC because that's the only place where you are guaranteed to get a good cut.  It will be costly, but completely worth it.  No

squirrels there.

I know how you feel, kid.  I know how you feel.

Rod Stewart: 64 And SEXY

My parents are friends with this couple whose daughter is Rod Stewart's assistant.  Not too shabby.  So when she offered my parents and I front row tickets to see him at Mohegan Sun last Tuesday, we delightedly snatched them up.

There are several reactions one might have to this:

1.) Who's Rod Stewart? (which is what my boyfriend said, to my disappointment.)

2.) Eww, you're going to a concert with your parents?

3.) OHMYGOD YOU AND YOUR PARENTS ARE SEEING ROD STEWART FRONT ROW??? THAT'S AWESOME!!!

If you had reaction #3, then I love you.  Because that is exactly what happened, and it was indeed awesome.

Yes, most of the people there were at least 40.  But that didn't stop them from getting their groove on, especially my mom.  It was actually a bonding experience for mother and I, because for two glorious hours she forgot that I still have clothes all over my bedroom floor and haven't written my birthday present thank you notes yet.  We just wanted to dance and have a good time and forget our differences.

The opening act was Josh Kelly.  I didn't know who he was until he played his last song, "Only You," which you would know if you heard it.  And he's married to Katherine Heigl, which I'm sure isn't hurting his career...

After a little too much of Josh Kelly and lots of scrambling techies, the man of the hour finally emerged from behind the flowing white curtains which were the main visual of the stage set, and everyone went craaaazy.

Yes, Rod Stewart is a hottie.  He still has all his hair (my mom and I debated whether or not it was a hairpiece but concluded it was real) and he has a cute butt, which he showed off in tight silver jeans.

His band was composed of either rockstar-looking dudes or really attractive women.  His saxaphone player was this tall skinny blonde in short shorts and a bustier, and his string and keyboard players were also steamin' up the stage.  The camera men had a field day with them.

He sang his classics, including Maggie May, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, Forever Young, and of course...Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?

I didn't even know most of the songs but it was still a great show.

He was also very interactive with his fans.  This one woman had a sign and a bouquet of flowers saying she had been to 150 of his shows, so he told her to come up to the stage and he took the flowers and shook her hand.  He also kicked a bunch of autographed soccer balls into the audience and pointed at people who made him big signs.  What a nice guy.

I probably won't get another opportunity to see Mr. Stewart, so this will be one concert I won't forget.