Someone at work told me to check out the One Semester of Spanish Love Song on YouTube.
I find this hilarious for several reasons. First, I can understand almost all of the phrases he's using, and he's speaking about the same speed I can understand. I also love the fact that there are pictures so that, just in case I forgot what blanco means, I can see a picture of his white cat to remind me. Ha! Finally, I enjoy the part where he has to start speaking in English because he doesn't remember the words. :)
I took Spanish for two years, actually, but I played hookey through most of the first year and slept through most of the second year. Several schools in my rural county shared a Spanish teacher over ITV, which was sort of like closed circuit television as I understand it. I don't really know. Basically, the teacher was in a school about 20 minutes away, and she taught one session to three different schools. So, basically, anytime any club had a meeting, we all "had to go" to the meeting. She wouldn't give us any homework for the day, and we'd hide off camera (or go to the meeting as the case usually was with me since I was in everything). It was great. The other trick I used was to ask if I could go to the restroom. A minute later my friend would ask if she could go to her locker, and we'd meet up and wander the halls for awhile. It was awesome.
During my second year, one other guy and I were taking Spanish at my school, and then he stole some computers from the school and got sent to juvie. Then it was just me and a bunch of people in Red Lake Falls, including my then boyfriend. I zoomed the camera way out and sat in the very back so that you couldn't see my face. Then I would prop my head on my hand and it would look like I was intently studying the book when I was actually speaking.
Basically, the problem with this method (aside from the fact that you learn almost nothing because you're screwing around most of the time) is that you can't actually hear how things are being pronounced. I know more than one person from my high school who has scored so high on the written exam that they ended up in a Spanish class that was higher than their spoken comprehension level.
So, mostly, I just want to say puedo ir al bano (with a squiggly line over the n, don't forget) and ochenta. I think it's very important that you remember that as you want the YouTube video again.
If you're on the fence about seeing Juno, jump down, get in the car, and go see it. Maybe you're thinking, "Oh, geez, not another prego movie," but just stop. You want to see this movie.
First, it's hilarious. It's a little on the crass side, and I wouldn't take the kidos to see it, but as a fine group of adults, I think we'll all survive. I'd quote it, but IMDB has about sixteen (ok, fine, two) different versions of the quote I want to use, and I don't think either of them is quite right. To the best of my memory, it goes something like, "I figured I'd just nip it in the bud because you know, I heard that pregnancy can lead to, you know...an infant."
Second, it has an awesome soundtrack. I'm not sure why I dig it so much because it's weird, but I really love it.
Third, the characters are great. You really feel for Juno because she doesn't really need you to feel for her. It's a great script.
Fourth, what else are you going to go see? Alvin and the Chipmunks? National Treasure 2 ('cause in sequel, "the S is for Sucks)? S-T-U-P-I-D. They're not even worth linking to. And anyway, this counts as a chick flick, but it's way less gooey. So, not only do you score bonus points with the lady friend, but you also don't have to hold used Kleenix tissues while she cries on your shoulder. Or, if you are a lady, you don't have to feel so guilty for dragging your man friend to it.
So, seriously, check it out. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to your country. You probably even owe it to your mama. I'm just saying.
Sometimes, I run out of things to say. Lately, that has been the case, as you can see.
But I just can't stand to see my site all empty and lonely, so here's the low-down on what I've been up to.
I am a little obbsessed with music these days. I can't stop looking for new stuff I haven't heard. I scan through my library and pick out tracks off CDs I've not listened to. I found some fun stuff by Dashboard Confessional today, though I do not actually own this yet. The samples of their new album rocked my socks off. D sent some good stuff my way, too. I also found a song called "This Will Be My Year" by Semisonic that I'm digging.
I'm also a little obsessed with movies. I use my NetFlix account for good and for awesome. I also spent a giftcard at Hollywood Video. I have a habit of haning onto giftcards until I am feeling a little low and then pulling them out when I'm broke and down for a little retail therapy. I bought six romantic comedies. So, hopefully there's a winner in there somewhere. :) Ben helped me pick them, so that was fun. We're excited to watch them.
I haven't been reading many books lately. I re-read Carpe Jugulum, which I got for Christmas, and I may use a B & N card to get the new Pratchett book. Otherwise, I have been kinda burned out on reading. That never happens. It's extremely weird for me. I think I'm coming out of it though. I have been picking up Anne Lamott and Sherlock Holmes more and more these last few days.
I started my Christmas shopping for next year on the day after Christmas, as usual. I got some cute things for my co-workers. That's usually how I rock it. I am actually done with all my mom's presents for the whole year. We did eventually find non-stick bakeware at the last possible moment, so the other dish I bought will be saved for a birthday gift. My sister turned around in Hy-Vee and there they were. I bought myself one of these, too. My mom cooked in it for Christmas dinner. It is super easy to get things out of it and to clean it up. I know; I did the dishes. I recommend it, and I am super excited about having my own, especially because they are so hard to find.
Ben gave me a pearl necklace and earings set for Christmas, and I love it. They're Akoya pearls, and they have a really nice luster. I am pretty excited about them.
I also got a bread machine from my parents, which I'm pretty excited about. I love homemade bread, but if I'm being realistic, I'm never going to make bread from scratch. It's really time intensive. I got a new bedspread, too, which is really rocking awesome. I got many other lovely things, including a glove and hat set that I love (thanks, Dr. G). I can't list them all here, but I will definitely have to update my Target and Amazon lists after this because I cleaned up! ;) Feel free to share your own gifts in the comments.
The neighbors downstairs have "...added cussing and hurling about of things" to their repretoire" to reference FireFly. They woke me up at 4:30 two nights ago. That was a fun game. I don't understand. I'm glad that the drama has mostly gone out of my life. There was a time when I could get quite embarrassing and loud after a few too many, but these days, I rarely have a few, much less a few too many, and I'm too mellow for drama. Thank God for growing up, eventually.
So, that's all I've got. Feel free to share your own update in the comments. Suggest some music, a movie, or a book to get me out of my funk. Or list your own presents. Or share your own experiences of neighborly drama. I think I am off to make some Chex Mix and continue my work. Peace, love, and major chords to all and a happy new year!