O = Olive Garden

Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant located on Wolf Road in Colonie, NY. I've only been there once, and it was a few years ago with my friend Jackie. I remember waiting about fifteen minutes before getting seated, it was a little crowded. The service was very good overall, though. I don't remember waiting long for our food at all. They give you bread sticks before your meal, and they're delicious. I ordered the Lasagna Classico. It was a very average piece of lasagna. I'm not a food critic but I didn't see anything special about it. It was tasty, though. The menu is classic Italian food, but they also have a sub menu for beef and pork, filled pastas, chicken, fish and seafood, pizzas, soups and salads, and appetizers. The price of my lasagna was $13.95. I don't know, but I would say the prices aren't too bad. Since Olive Garden is on Wolf Road, it is close to many stores, like the Colonie Mall, and my favorite, the Guitar Center. I would recommend it if you like Italian food. I am not a big fan of Italian food, but I would not mind going to Olive Garden again.

The Book(s) That Changed My Life

One book that "changed my life" is Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis. Scar Tissue is an autobiography about Anthony Kiedis growing up and his journey with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Red Hot Chili Peppers have always been a favorite band of mine, but I didn't know much about them. In fact, I saw the book in the music section at Barnes & Noble, and my aunt told me a little bit about it because she had read a review on it. I bought the book, and read it immediately. I really enjoyed it because I had read biographies on other artists, but this was different because it was straight from Anthony Kiedis' mind about his personal life. Kiedis has the kind of life that people will want to read about, I think that's why it was such a good book. He added humor when needed, but most of it was written in a serious tone. Reading this autobiography made me want to read more non-fiction books. Now, that's mostly what I enjoy reading (but I love a good fiction book to "escape from reality").

Bucket List

1). Visit the West Coast and live in California. I don't know, I find the West Coast more interesting, I'd like to go to Portland, Seattle, Berkeley, and of course Hollywood. I'd like to see where the movies started.

2). Play a gig. Anywhere, really. Whether it's solo or with a band. I want to know what it feels like to be up on that stage.

3). Visit friends in different places. I'd like to go to Florida to visit my friend Vanessa, and to Arizona to meet my friend Cohen! And on the way, maybe meet some new ones.

4). Make a film. I've always loved movies, watching them, and figuring out tricks to how they were filmed. I think that's why I enjoy horror movies the most. I don't care if  the movie I make is not a feature film, or if it's just a short, I just want to get the motivation to do something with this love.

5). Meet the Glee cast. I love these people. If I could get the chance to speak with any one of them, it would be an honor. They are truly inspiring.

6). Work at Amoeba. Amoeba is a record store in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, California. That would be a really fun part time job, I wonder what requirements you need to work there.

7). Gain more and more experience with the guitar. I'm at a point right now where it's difficult for me to improve. I feel like I'm stuck. I just want to get past this, and keep on improving.

8). Learn to play the drums. I know I play guitar, but the drums were the second instrument that I really wanted to learn how to play. My brother wanted to play also, so we got a drum set for Christmas one year. Neither of us really played them because we never knew how.

9). Have my own website. I'm not sure what kind of website, maybe a blog that people will want to read, or something interactive where people can communicate with each other. A fun website that people won't just visit once.

10). Do something with fashion! I love fashion, even though I don't express it much. Maybe pick out clothes for a character, or design some. Or even work at a clothing store, like Topshop or Urban Outfitters.

The Language of Song

Song: Les Mots by Hangar
French Lyrics:  http://www.sweetslyrics.com/868375.Hangar%20-%20Les%20Mots.html
English Lyrics: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lyricsmania.com%2Fles_mots_lyrics_hangar_fr.html

"You need to leave", she told him. I overheard the two speaking loudly from my isolated bedroom.
"I love you", he said softly, but just loud enough for me to overhear. There was a pause.
"There is no love", she stated. I heard the door slam. As I opened my door I saw a glimpse of her leave the apartment, showing barely any emotion.
He walked into the living room, took the coffee table, and threw it through the wall like he'd just gotten a shot full of adrenaline.
My first reaction was to yell, scream, do something to make him come back to reality.
All I received was more throwing, and kicking, until I finally grabbed the phone and dialed the police.
"911 What's your emergency?", a woman said on the other end of the call.
"My brother" I replied with a very shaky voice, unable to finish my sentence.
"We'll be there right away." I felt a sense of relief, it always amazed me how fast they traced the call and arrived.
He realized what I was doing, grabbed my wrist as tight as he could, as I looked into his hazel eyes. After what seemed like a couple of minutes, he released, leaving a bright red mark around my wrist.
He tried to escape, but my tiny body could not stop his strength.
I chased him down the stairs through the building, as he ran to his car and opened the trunk.
He pulled out a pistol. He held it in the air, not pointing it at anything or anyone.
As the cops arrived, they crouched and aimed their arms at him, as they noticed the gun in his hand.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion from there.
The red lasers all over his body, as he moved his finger on the trigger the same time the police did.
The only problem was, his gun wasn't loaded.

Lucky Blog

My lucky clothing item would have to be my brown moccasin-type shoes that I got from Goodwill a few months before school started. Last year in the spring I started going to the Goodwill and Salvation Army because I liked the process of looking through everything, finding cool items of clothing and then making them my own. I never really looked in the shoe section before because it was flip-flop weather, but I saw them and they just happened to be in my size. I started to wear them with everything. They are so comfortable, and I have a weird attachment to them now. Everything just feels better when I'm wearing them, probably because of how nice they feel. Sadly, they are almost ready to get thrown into the garbage :(

TU Tuesday - CRIME

Question: What makes someone get put under house arrest instead of just giving them a fine for their crime?


http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Man-accused-of-art-forgeries-under-house-arrest-3407774.php 


http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-house-arrest.htm 


http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2009/01/youre_grounded.html 



An art dealer residing in Los Angeles, CA was accused of selling paintings and saying that they were works of famous painters, such as Monet and Van Gogh. Matthew Taylor put fake labels on the paintings, claiming they were owned previously by museums. Taylor was put under house arrest, which is "a penalty imposed by law to a person who has committed a crime and is condemned to stay inside his house", and can only leave his apartment for court dates, and visits with his doctor and attorney. Taylor was put under house arrest because it's a minor crime, and " nonviolent offenders may get away with a jail-free punishment."

Creative Contest Blog II

(Above: Man named James)
George to James: "Why are you always looking down on everything?"

SCRUPLES

A friend wants to copy and swap expensive computer software with you. You know it’s illegal. Do you swap?


No. It's too risky. I'd rather not risk the chances of something happening to my computer and having to deal with the police. If they wanted it so bad and if I liked them enough I'd give it to them for a birthday present. Legally.

My Blog Idea

When I watch a movie, I like when it's something you can relate to, or feel the same way about. Even if it's one quote that a minor character said. Choose a movie you love, or have watched recently, and pick three quotes from it. Then, for each quote, write about why you chose it or/and how it relates to your life. Make sure to cite the  movie.


Movie: American Movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181288/
I chose this movie because it's plain out inspiring (also entertaining). It shows the time and effort and money put into making a film.


"This time it's most important not to fail, just to drink and dream but rather to create and complete" - Mark Borchardt


I like the fact that he said create and complete because I always have ideas floating around in my head and I will start to expand on those ideas but I will never complete because I think it's all useless in the end.


"It's good to face things like this because then you can deal with them and realize them." - Mark Borchardt


Mark makes a good point, experience is key. Especially if it goes wrong the first time, you learn from your mistakes.


"Columbus took a chance, Lindbergh took a chance, have faith." - Cliff Borchardt
(Cliff speaking to Marks uncle, Bill, about using his money to make Northwestern) 


I think this quote speaks for itself. Don't be afraid to take risks, like when your nephew uses your life savings to make a feature film.

Feedback for Stephen Leslie

I really liked these sentences: "The dryness preserves things, things that would otherwise rot in the moisture; they just sit there, just as they were. A hundred years may pass but the cup on the table, the flower pot on the porch, the morning newspaper on the kitchen table.....they just sit there as if the residents left ten minutes ago."


Maybe Stephen Leslie should use more commas instead of ellipsis'. For example, "Every once in a while I stop and listen.....for the sound of gunfire....but today is quiet." 


Also, capitalizing Great Lakes in this sentence: "One day I know the supplies will run out.....and I too will have to follow the Interstate north to what is left of the great lakes."