I know that I've made it blatantly apparent that I have a passion for history.
So here's another post about how much I love the past! And people!
We were having an indexing party last night for home evening, complete with pizza, great friends, and delicious treats. (For those of you who don't know, indexing is digitizing old records to be used in genealogical research and such!)
I just get so excited at looking at images of original records! There is just something about looking at a record that was written by a person over a hundred years ago! They're not here anymore, but that record is! And it gives us a little peek into their lives!
Some of the records I was working on were old pension records for retired United States soldiers. I got so excited at one point because one of the records I was doing was a pension record for somebody who had served in the Colored Infantry. Since I'm doing my research on Colored Infantry, it made me really excited! (Sorry I keep using the word excited - but that's just how I feel!)
I love being able to help make that information more available for people to use! I just wish that I could help digitize a lot more records - like diaries and letters and such! How incredible would that be?! When you look into other peoples' lives by what they leave behind, you learn more about how incredible human beings really are!!
*Good Song: What the Water Gave Me by Florence + the Machine
*Good Movie: Tangled (Love it!!)
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Changes, Fall, and Life!
Yesterday I was driving around Logan trying to find me a good pair of snow boots. While I was driving, I was loving the sight of fall leaves - some on the ground, still plenty on the trees. I feel like fall is such a beautiful time of year!
But then I realized that every time of the year is beautiful!
There's summer when everything is sunny and bright and happy! The trees have their green leaves on them lookin' all pretty and such. Then comes fall - the colors change, but it's even more beautiful. Then those beautiful leaves are gone and the trees are barren for awhile. They don't look very pretty at times. Then the cold winter comes. And even though it's cold, there's still an incredible beauty in bald trees lined with crystal snow. And finally, after months of bitter cold and empty limbs, new life starts! Little shoots of green start to appear and the green leaves look even more beautiful than they did the last time we saw them!
Here comes more of my thinking... :) I feel like sometimes I'm in a beautiful stage of life - I love everything about it and I'm so happy!! But then it starts to change, I start to lose some of those beautiful things (or people depending on the situation). It's like the leaves falling to the ground and I feel bare, and alone, and sometimes not all that attractive! :) I go through a bitter winter of sorts - but there is still beauty in the pain! Just like those ugly bare trees become beautiful through the snow, even in the times of trial there are beautiful things!! How can I appreciate the new green leaves in the spring if I don't experience the beauty of the winter?! Sometimes the winter is longer than I want it to be and spring doesn't come as quickly as I want it, but it does come. It always comes!
So that is what I need to remind myself of when I start to focus on the baldness of the trees instead of the beautiful glistening snow! Appreciate every stage of life...even when it's hard! Or maybe - especially when it's hard!!
*Good Movie: Glory
*Good Song: I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
But then I realized that every time of the year is beautiful!
There's summer when everything is sunny and bright and happy! The trees have their green leaves on them lookin' all pretty and such. Then comes fall - the colors change, but it's even more beautiful. Then those beautiful leaves are gone and the trees are barren for awhile. They don't look very pretty at times. Then the cold winter comes. And even though it's cold, there's still an incredible beauty in bald trees lined with crystal snow. And finally, after months of bitter cold and empty limbs, new life starts! Little shoots of green start to appear and the green leaves look even more beautiful than they did the last time we saw them!
Here comes more of my thinking... :) I feel like sometimes I'm in a beautiful stage of life - I love everything about it and I'm so happy!! But then it starts to change, I start to lose some of those beautiful things (or people depending on the situation). It's like the leaves falling to the ground and I feel bare, and alone, and sometimes not all that attractive! :) I go through a bitter winter of sorts - but there is still beauty in the pain! Just like those ugly bare trees become beautiful through the snow, even in the times of trial there are beautiful things!! How can I appreciate the new green leaves in the spring if I don't experience the beauty of the winter?! Sometimes the winter is longer than I want it to be and spring doesn't come as quickly as I want it, but it does come. It always comes!
So that is what I need to remind myself of when I start to focus on the baldness of the trees instead of the beautiful glistening snow! Appreciate every stage of life...even when it's hard! Or maybe - especially when it's hard!!
*Good Movie: Glory
*Good Song: I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
Monday, October 15, 2012
Spielberg's Lincoln!!!
I cannot wait for November 16th!
What is so special about this specific date you might ask?
Well, I will tell you. It is the day that the movie "Lincoln" (directed by Steven Spielberg!) comes out in theaters. Why am I so excited for this movie?
Because I love love love historical films...when they're done well. And Abraham Lincoln happens to be my favorite U.S. President! The trailer gives a peak into the movie and I see African American soldiers in there. And since I'm writing my senior thesis paper on African American soldiers in the Civil War, I'm excited to see them get some attention on the big screen (even if they're not the main focus of the movie). The cinematography looks amazing! So if this movie ends up being a dud, I will be devastated!
Until then, I will be counting down the days until I can see the movie!!
What is so special about this specific date you might ask?
Well, I will tell you. It is the day that the movie "Lincoln" (directed by Steven Spielberg!) comes out in theaters. Why am I so excited for this movie?
Because I love love love historical films...when they're done well. And Abraham Lincoln happens to be my favorite U.S. President! The trailer gives a peak into the movie and I see African American soldiers in there. And since I'm writing my senior thesis paper on African American soldiers in the Civil War, I'm excited to see them get some attention on the big screen (even if they're not the main focus of the movie). The cinematography looks amazing! So if this movie ends up being a dud, I will be devastated!
Until then, I will be counting down the days until I can see the movie!!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Adventures of Being Clumsy!
I'm pretty sure that I've mentioned on here before how clumsy I am. Well, do I have a story for you!
It was Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 approximately 8:12 am. I was running a little late for my archaeology lab class. I also had to return four history books to the library. A heavy backpack + my little legs moving too quickly + my clumsiness....it's just a recipe for disaster!
There's this apple tree just east of my apartment next to the sidewalk. And this sidewalk is pretty crazy! So now that I've set the scene, let's continue.
There I am with my stubby little legs working their fastest, the weight of my backpack propelling me forward when all of a sudden my foot hits the edge of this crazy sidewalk that's all uneven and whatnot. I feel myself falling forward and my backpack swings to the right and with all my speed my right knee goes skidding on the sidewalk.
What's the first thing you do when you're in this situation?! Yep! Look around and make sure that nobody saw you fall! So that's what I did. Then I feel this stinging sensation in my knee. So I look down and at first, I think to myself, "Oh, it's fine!" But then it starts bleeding!! "Oh great!" I thought. "Now what?!"
My thoughts turn to my faithful sidekick and best friend Brittany! So I call her up and ask her if she'll give me a ride to class and bring me some Band Aids! And she does. I didn't even take time to clean my wound...because I was late for class k?! I just slap three Band Aids on there and I'm good to go! Bad idea...
The next day, the plasma (I finally found out what it was!) was leaking through my Band Aid so I decided it was time to change my wound dressings. :)
It took me 30 minutes to get those dang Band Aids off!! I was running my knee under water, but those Band Aids were so stuck to my scrape! And it hurt to just rip them off! (I'm such a baby, it's true...but I really hate pain!) So what did I do?! I grabbed my ninja star knife that I'd gotten for my birthday and I cut those stupid Band Aids off! Okay, so I only cut one off...the middle one because it was stuck the worst! (I realize that sentence structure was terrible, but you know what I'm sayin?!)
But the worst part of the whole situation is that this wound scraped off my favorite scar! What?! A scar that I'd gotten from another tripping incident (but that one I tripped on my shoe lace when I was like 9 or something). If I'm going to get scar inducing wounds like this one, why couldn't it have happened on my other knee?! Then I would have scars on both knees!
Now I'll just have one big one on my right knee...where my favorite scar used to be... :/
But don't worry, I made it to class on time!!
It was Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 approximately 8:12 am. I was running a little late for my archaeology lab class. I also had to return four history books to the library. A heavy backpack + my little legs moving too quickly + my clumsiness....it's just a recipe for disaster!
There's this apple tree just east of my apartment next to the sidewalk. And this sidewalk is pretty crazy! So now that I've set the scene, let's continue.
There I am with my stubby little legs working their fastest, the weight of my backpack propelling me forward when all of a sudden my foot hits the edge of this crazy sidewalk that's all uneven and whatnot. I feel myself falling forward and my backpack swings to the right and with all my speed my right knee goes skidding on the sidewalk.
What's the first thing you do when you're in this situation?! Yep! Look around and make sure that nobody saw you fall! So that's what I did. Then I feel this stinging sensation in my knee. So I look down and at first, I think to myself, "Oh, it's fine!" But then it starts bleeding!! "Oh great!" I thought. "Now what?!"
My thoughts turn to my faithful sidekick and best friend Brittany! So I call her up and ask her if she'll give me a ride to class and bring me some Band Aids! And she does. I didn't even take time to clean my wound...because I was late for class k?! I just slap three Band Aids on there and I'm good to go! Bad idea...
The next day, the plasma (I finally found out what it was!) was leaking through my Band Aid so I decided it was time to change my wound dressings. :)
It took me 30 minutes to get those dang Band Aids off!! I was running my knee under water, but those Band Aids were so stuck to my scrape! And it hurt to just rip them off! (I'm such a baby, it's true...but I really hate pain!) So what did I do?! I grabbed my ninja star knife that I'd gotten for my birthday and I cut those stupid Band Aids off! Okay, so I only cut one off...the middle one because it was stuck the worst! (I realize that sentence structure was terrible, but you know what I'm sayin?!)
But the worst part of the whole situation is that this wound scraped off my favorite scar! What?! A scar that I'd gotten from another tripping incident (but that one I tripped on my shoe lace when I was like 9 or something). If I'm going to get scar inducing wounds like this one, why couldn't it have happened on my other knee?! Then I would have scars on both knees!
Now I'll just have one big one on my right knee...where my favorite scar used to be... :/
But don't worry, I made it to class on time!!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Staying Up Way Too Late
Okay so it's like 12:15 am and I should be in bed because A) I have class at 8:30, B) I have a lot to do tomorrow which = absolutely no time for a nap and C) I just need some sleep that's all.
But it's Wednesday night! (I guess it's now technically Thursday morning...) And Wednesday night equals Country Swing Dancing! Happiness!
I feel like every time I go there I find a new man to have a crush on. Yes, it's true. I just love good looking men who know how to dance well. I can't help it!
But I just have to say that I absolutely love Mumford and Sons' new song "I Will Wait." It's super fantastic! And now that I have gotten my little bit of typing out that I guess I needed to do before I went to bed, I will now go get some good ol' sleepy time! Hopefully I can stay awake tomorrow morning while sorting through rocks, fish bones, and charcoal....or sitting through my Plants and Civilization class...(that's the more likely class to fall asleep in...)!
*Good Movie: Swing Kids
But it's Wednesday night! (I guess it's now technically Thursday morning...) And Wednesday night equals Country Swing Dancing! Happiness!
I feel like every time I go there I find a new man to have a crush on. Yes, it's true. I just love good looking men who know how to dance well. I can't help it!
But I just have to say that I absolutely love Mumford and Sons' new song "I Will Wait." It's super fantastic! And now that I have gotten my little bit of typing out that I guess I needed to do before I went to bed, I will now go get some good ol' sleepy time! Hopefully I can stay awake tomorrow morning while sorting through rocks, fish bones, and charcoal....or sitting through my Plants and Civilization class...(that's the more likely class to fall asleep in...)!
*Good Movie: Swing Kids
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Biology...
Biology...how I hate thee!
Why can't I understand biology?! This is a question that I have asked myself every time I take one of those dumb classes!
I'm taking a Plants and Civilization class (Biology 3040) this semester for my depth science requirements. Yep, it's a real class!
I've been learning all kinds of interesting things...about how flowers get pollinated and fruit develops, how tomatoes and cucumbers are berries, and how peanuts are fruit. (True story!) So to mix in with all this confusion (why have I been lied to my whole life?! I thought peanuts were nuts!!), I have to remember the processes of meiosis and mitosis. What?! I feel like they're kind of the same thing...or maybe that it's just that I don't understand either one!
I can pick apart the American Revolution and identify multiple political, economic, and cultural reasons why we shouldn't have won that war. I can give you the details of what happened on a field in Gettysburg in the summer of 1863 and the significance of the battle of Antietam, but when you try to get me to remember the different parts of a plant...epic fail!
Why?! Why why can I not remember these simple things?!
I took a test today...I'm pretty sure I failed it. So many large words...polysaccharides (what?!), polymers, and endosperm. Yep...no idea! Hopefully I'm a good guesser...
I think I better stick with my time lines and old documents...just sayin!
*Good Song: "Ours" by Taylor Swift
*Good Book: "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo (I'm trying to read it amidst all my homework and work! And I am loving it!!)
Why can't I understand biology?! This is a question that I have asked myself every time I take one of those dumb classes!
I'm taking a Plants and Civilization class (Biology 3040) this semester for my depth science requirements. Yep, it's a real class!
I've been learning all kinds of interesting things...about how flowers get pollinated and fruit develops, how tomatoes and cucumbers are berries, and how peanuts are fruit. (True story!) So to mix in with all this confusion (why have I been lied to my whole life?! I thought peanuts were nuts!!), I have to remember the processes of meiosis and mitosis. What?! I feel like they're kind of the same thing...or maybe that it's just that I don't understand either one!
I can pick apart the American Revolution and identify multiple political, economic, and cultural reasons why we shouldn't have won that war. I can give you the details of what happened on a field in Gettysburg in the summer of 1863 and the significance of the battle of Antietam, but when you try to get me to remember the different parts of a plant...epic fail!
Why?! Why why can I not remember these simple things?!
I took a test today...I'm pretty sure I failed it. So many large words...polysaccharides (what?!), polymers, and endosperm. Yep...no idea! Hopefully I'm a good guesser...
I think I better stick with my time lines and old documents...just sayin!
*Good Song: "Ours" by Taylor Swift
*Good Book: "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo (I'm trying to read it amidst all my homework and work! And I am loving it!!)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Why Men Don't Date Me!
Okay so here's the thing. I don't get asked on dates...ever! Seriously, the last time I went on a date was like 3 months ago and that was a blind date. The last time before that was like six months! I find myself wondering why men don't consider me a dating option. I mean, I have nice blue eyes, I'm fairly intelligent, I make great chocolate chip cookies, I love children, and I'm not high maintenance! So in thinking critically about this issue I have come up with my top five reasons why men don't want to date me! Ready?! Here we go!
1. I don't know how to flirt! My male friends tell me that flirting is key when attracting the male gender. But when I practice on my guy friends, what happens?! They laugh uncontrollably at my attempts. Epic failure! So I suck at the games of flirting and trying to show interest?! Strike one!
2. I'm incredibly clumsy. Running into doors, falling up stairs and hills (seriously! This one happened today...I was walking up the hill to school and I took a short cut, tripped on a step that was really a tree root and fell right on my face! Bahaha!), slipping on ice, and bruising my knees on any object that is at knee height! No man wants to be constantly catching me or fixing up my scrapes and bruises!
3. I'm great at awkwardly rejecting friendly male gestures. Example: So one day, our home teacher was bringing us brownies and Brittany and I were standing in their parking lot. My hands were full with who-knows-what (history books perhaps?!), but I took the brownies graciously, smiled widely, and thanked him profusely. I tried to show my appreciation by taking a piece to try it, but with my hands full and note reason #2, I dropped the plate of brownies right there in the parking lot...face down!
4. I'm incredibly nerdy and far too passionate about my favorite subject - history! No man wants to listen to how much I love learning about the American Civil War, the crazy quirks of Roman emperors, or how turquoise ended up in Central America. And I like watching historical documentaries...I think that every male subconsciously knows that I would ruin their lives by having the TV on the History Channel instead of the football game!
5. What was number 5? .....I'm sure I had a good one. Oh yes! I'm too funny...not in the "I'll-make-you-laugh-every-second" way, but I have far too many weird quirks that are crazy! Whether it's me tripping over my short tongue and saying something unintelligible, being way too tired to form cohesive thought, or not remembering what you said to me like five seconds before, there would be far too much funniness going on...that usually ends up in the form of me being made fun of!
So there you have it! I'm expert at repelling males and their advances, so if you have any more reasons why they don't want to date me or how to fix my situation, leave me a comment! Or shoot me an email! annamarie914@hotmail.com :)
1. I don't know how to flirt! My male friends tell me that flirting is key when attracting the male gender. But when I practice on my guy friends, what happens?! They laugh uncontrollably at my attempts. Epic failure! So I suck at the games of flirting and trying to show interest?! Strike one!
2. I'm incredibly clumsy. Running into doors, falling up stairs and hills (seriously! This one happened today...I was walking up the hill to school and I took a short cut, tripped on a step that was really a tree root and fell right on my face! Bahaha!), slipping on ice, and bruising my knees on any object that is at knee height! No man wants to be constantly catching me or fixing up my scrapes and bruises!
3. I'm great at awkwardly rejecting friendly male gestures. Example: So one day, our home teacher was bringing us brownies and Brittany and I were standing in their parking lot. My hands were full with who-knows-what (history books perhaps?!), but I took the brownies graciously, smiled widely, and thanked him profusely. I tried to show my appreciation by taking a piece to try it, but with my hands full and note reason #2, I dropped the plate of brownies right there in the parking lot...face down!
4. I'm incredibly nerdy and far too passionate about my favorite subject - history! No man wants to listen to how much I love learning about the American Civil War, the crazy quirks of Roman emperors, or how turquoise ended up in Central America. And I like watching historical documentaries...I think that every male subconsciously knows that I would ruin their lives by having the TV on the History Channel instead of the football game!
5. What was number 5? .....I'm sure I had a good one. Oh yes! I'm too funny...not in the "I'll-make-you-laugh-every-second" way, but I have far too many weird quirks that are crazy! Whether it's me tripping over my short tongue and saying something unintelligible, being way too tired to form cohesive thought, or not remembering what you said to me like five seconds before, there would be far too much funniness going on...that usually ends up in the form of me being made fun of!
So there you have it! I'm expert at repelling males and their advances, so if you have any more reasons why they don't want to date me or how to fix my situation, leave me a comment! Or shoot me an email! annamarie914@hotmail.com :)
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