Hey y'all, it's AirForceVirgin, or as I'm also known-- AFV. This blog is a catharsis for me; I write about it all. Politics, current events, daily life, stupid/ignorant people-- it's all here.
I'm a Texas native, and I am actually in love with my state. At the moment, however, I am living with my adorable husband, Justin, on a military base in Oklahoma while he serves in the Air Force. We have been through one 5 month deployment during 2008, are currently going through another that will end hopefully in January of 2010.
I'm currently pursuing a degree in Communications with concentrations in political science and economics. One day I will be in the press room at the White House, asking questions and getting to the real issues that the masses want to know about.
I characterize myself as laid-back and down-to-earth, so feel free to leave comments or messages, and I'll try to get back to them as soon as possible <--- that sure sounded like an answering machine message, didn't it?
I've been a Xanga Addict for over five years (albeit under different usernames), and I'm still going strong. I appreciate having this as an outlet for my ramblings, and hope that this site lives on for many years to come.
Name:Rachel Country:United States State:Oklahoma Metro:altus Birthday:4/23/1987 Gender:Female
Interests:Reading, watching Friends and Gilmore Girls, and most of all spending time with my husband, Justin! Expertise:Sleeping! Ha... I'm pretty much an expert at interviews Occupation:Student
It's been forever since I wrote a real post, and once again, neither is this one. I just thought I'd catch everyone up on how I've been doing for the last eight months.
In July, I quit my job working at the financial aid office at the small community college in my town.
In August, I took a series of small roatrips with my mom and sister. We toured a total four universities in three weeks in preparation for my sister's freshman year of college in the fall of 2010. Texas State University in San Marcos, North Texas University in Denton, Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, and Cameron University in Oklahoma. Had a blast, and now I proudly own shirts from every single one. During August, I also started school at the previously mentioned Cameron University. It's about an hour from where I currently live with my husband on the military base, and the drive to and from class every day is absolutely killer. It seriously magnifies how stupid we were to buy a brand new car when I have to trek across 62 miles just to get to campus. Bought the truck in March with 22 miles on it, and now we have 15,000. Yeah, brilliant.
In September, my husband left me to go fight for this great country in Iraq. Sigh. He's still there.
In October, I realized that the tiny community college I had left had not prepared me for how different university life is. Larger classes, harder subjects, and fantastic political debates.
In November, I realized that the profession I had chosen to pursue has absolutely no monetary worth in the real world. Insert night sweats and daily hyperventilating over my future.
In December, I finished my first semester at the university, and am anxiously awaiting the results. I should know final grades by Friday.
Yeah, the university is a lot harder, but my classes are so kick ass. As an aspiring journalist, being able to sit in a class entitled "Newswriting" and "Intro to Journalism" indicts a personal euphoria. Sitting around discussing politics, the placing of opinions in so-called news organizations (ahem, FAUX "News"), and getting graded on it? Unbelievable.
I also wiggled my way into an editorial position on the college paper. Yep, I'm officially in charge of the Arts & Entertainment section of our paper. Not exactly my ideal beat, but it looks like a News editor position is opening up to me soon, and, according to the adviser, possibly THE editor position. How awesome will THAT look on my resume?!
So yes, it's been a trying six months. Quitting my familiar job, starting at an unfamiliar school, working as an editor on the college paper while still trying to learn how the campus really works, saying goodbye to my husband again and anxiously awaiting his return (FREAKING SOON)... whew.
Made it out alive though. I drove home to Texas on Tuesday and plan on spending my entire break here. Normally I wouldn't do this, I would be at my house with my husband, and we would come home a few days before Christmas, or whenever his holiday break began, and then leave on New Year's Day. However, he's not here, there's nothing for me at my house, so I'm enjoying the familiarity and comfort of my family.
Going into this movie, one might be wary of the prospect of Jim Carrey taking on the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol," after seeing the disaster of a job he did in the adaptation of Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Luckily for movie-goers, the latest remake of Dickens' Christmas staple is above and beyond what this reviewer expected.
Writer and director Robert Zemeckis allowed the movie to follow the traditional storyline of "A Christmas Carol," where Scrooge is depicted as a miser, frugal with his money and time, and is haunted by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come in an attempt to save his soul from an afterlife of haunting the earth.
Scrooge is shown as old, wrinkly and cursed with pointed bones and an extreme pointed chin, reminiscent of Jay Leno. Scrooge's business partner, Jacon Marleyis a bit more terrifying than his predecessors and uses the full extent of the theater's sound system when attempting to frighten Scrooge into submission. The Ghost of Christmas Past is an effeminate man in the shape of a candle with the flame as his head, and while speaking, the flame moves from side to side as if flickering in the wind.
The Ghost of Christmas Present is a large, seemingly Irish man with a flowing red robe, and laughs at the sight of Scrooge's embarrassment on their journey as they look into the lives of those he has made bleak. The movie takes on a darker tone during the last spirit to haunt Scrooge, as expected, when the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, characterized by a figure that closely resembles the Grim Reaper, reveals to Scrooge that unless he changes his ways, the future holds a very dishonorable death.
In addition to voicing Scrooge, Carrey also lends his voice to Marley, as well as the three spirits that haunt Scrooge. As recognizable as Carrey's normal speaking voice is, viewers won't realizing Carrey is voicing multiple roles, or even involved in the film at all because of how he disguises his himself.
The real surprise is how closely the movie mimics the original Dickens tale, not only following the original plot laid out by Dickens, but also in the dialogue. Despite being released by Walt Disney Pictures, Zemeckis does not cater to the younger audience, but mostly uses phrases word-for-word from the original writing, which might make it hard for children to understand the full extent of the story; however, the look of the film will keep their attention, even if the language doesn't.
The movie was released in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D, and the experience of a performance capture film has improved immensely since Zemeckis' attempts with "The Polar Express" in 2004 and "Beowulf" in 2007. Despite an inordinate amount of scenes that followed Scrooge attached to one of the spirits flying through the air, the use of 3D in the film is artistic, and succeeds in giving the viewer the feeling of actually being involved in a conversation or action scene, like when Scrooge falls into his own grave.
Thanks to the realistic look of the falling snow and the eerily life-like expressions reflected on the faces of the characters, "A Christmas Carol" is able to rise above average animated movies into an entire category all its own. Though a bit darker in some places than most parents would expect of a movie released by Walt Disney Pictures, Zemeckis' "A Christmas Carol" is a wonderful start to the holiday season.
I can't explain my absence, so I'm not going to try. I'm just ready to come back, and hoping all of you will welcome me home with open arms.
I will, however, catch you up on what has happened while I've been away.
-- 4.0 for the spring semester -- 4.0 for the two classes I took in the summer -- "Vacation" to Illinois to visit my husband's mother and her side of the family. The stories I could tell from that one trip alone are vast and colorful. -- A very lame 4th of July. -- Some minor marital problems as a result of being nervous about the upcoming deployment. Happened the last time too, so nothing to worry about. -- Quit my job last Thursday and feel very unproductive now.
Alright, now that y'all are all caught up, how have y'all been?
That Obama is a character, isn't he?
A more substantial post in the coming days, but I thought I'd start off small and work my way up.
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