Mandie's Space

Manic Monday

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:10:36 GMT

Next Monday will be manic...I'm already prepping for it! I take the LSAT on Monday and I'm not even sure I'm able to go to law school!! Unfortunately, the LSAT is only offered 4 times per year and law apps should be in by Christmas break. If I totally bomb Monday's test, I can retake the exam in October and still get my app in on time. Of course, I'm hoping that won't be an issue...time will tell

THE LONGEST GAME EVER!!!

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:13:13 GMT

The average little league game in the minors (7-9 year olds) is just under 2 hours. Our team almost always manages to go over 2 hours by a few minutes. Today, we set a record! We started our game at 9am and didn't complete it until 12:45!!! That's almost 4 hours of little league baseball....did I mention these are 7-9 year olds with the attention span of a gnat?? CRAZY...PAINFUL...RIDICULOUS!!! I can think of a few other descriptors but we'll keep this appropriate:-) The culprit for the long game...a 12 year old umpire with a miniscule strike zone appropriate for a much older crew and a pitching limit per pitcher per game. My son's team did win...although after the 2nd or 3rd hour, the excitement of a win dies considerably!!

Union County, SD Has Become Political "Ground Zero"

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:26:56 GMT

We have…its true!! Obama…Clinton…who cares!?!? This is Union County where the biggest thing on the ballot has nothing to do with District 16 State Senate Seats or Presidential Primaries but Hyperion. Hyperion who…Hyperion what?? Hyperion Energy Center (aka oil refinery and power plant) has requested rezoning of 10,000 acres of farm land to industrial so they can take the steps to build this $10 billion project. There are so many for and against….signs, petitions, mass emails, slanderous advertising, you name it…I’ve seen it!! Those for it are looking for energy, employment, and economic stimulus (of a permanent nature…not the ridiculous temp stuff the government keeps saying will fix all our problems) and those against fear cancer, contaminants, and crime. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I am sick of the “cherry picked” stats and quotes, information omissions, and flat out lies being sent to my house on a daily basis. (Someone has obviously read Huff and Geis’s, How to Lie With Statistics.) If I was against Hyperion in the beginning (which I wasn’t) I would vote for it simply because I’m tired of having my intelligence insulted on a daily basis by Save Union County and C.O.O.P. (Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution). Do they honestly think that I’m such an idiot I wouldn’t notice the information they don’t report, their scare tactics, and their mis-quotes? Do they think I wouldn’t look-up everything they said to verify it? Do they think I’m going to over-look the fact that they lied? Apparently!! Since my intelligence has been insulted, I have agreed to help Hyperion by “working the polls” tomorrow during the election. I voted last week so I’m done there but now my goals have become to respond to negative emails and letters I receive with facts (not produced by Hyperion but those which my personal research has found) and make sure as many people understand they’ve been duped by these “concerned citizens” who refuse to disclose where their funding comes from and who claim to be environmentally conscious by filling my mail box (and therefore the landfills) with massive amounts of mailers, flyers, and letters while they spout the evils of Hyperion and try to convince me that oil is becoming obsolete. Really?? Do they not realize that it takes oil to mill the paper they print their ads on, oil to produce the ink on their ads, and oil to deliver their ads to my house? Hmmm…perhaps I should insult their intelligenceJ I do think we are starting to use less oil and that is FANTASTIC but obsolete? I think not. I could go on for HOURS but I've already done it....many times!!

So You Think Gas is Too Expensive?

Fri, 02 May 2008 05:32:20 GMT

Make it yourself!!! This is a trip! It makes me want to go out and buy a cheap car and test my "do-it-youself" skills Thanks to TC for sending me this link!

http://www.wesh.com/automotive/16093985/detail.html

We can eat our beef and have cows too!!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:58:29 GMT

Ok...I'm a South Dakota 'farm' girl so this is a bit bizarre for me The idea of meat being grown in a lab for dinner is strange...although I'm not entirely opposed to it. I am not a PETA member so the idea of not killing animals isn't my motivation for liking this idea. I like the idea of less livestock in general. Aside from ranching being a VERY inefficient way to utilize land, livestock is the #1 culprit of methane emissions and ranks significantly in all other kinds of emissions. Wouldn't it be great if the need for livestock declined? The downside...ranchers out of work!!

http://www.slate.com/id/2189676&GT1=38001

Farewell to Heath Ledger

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:31:45 GMT

This is terribly sad! I've always thought Heath Ledger was a very talented actor and he was my age!! I've also always had a huge crush on him but that's a given. I don't believe this was a suicide and hope the autopsy will prove that once complete. My condolences to his friends, family, and fans.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22788914/?GT1=10755

What a Game!!

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:43:57 GMT

No, I'm not referring to the NBA Championship or the Twins winning 5 games in a row. I'm talking about my 7 year old son's little league team. They lost but played a hell of a game to a team who has only lost once all season. We were up for most of the game, however; they unfortunately had the last at bat. By 10:30pm, the 7-9 year old boys were pretty tired and couldn’t hold off that last winning run.

Sidebar...My son, Christian Michael, took his first official shot which will require us to get a protective cup in the future while on 2nd base...OUCH!! He did receive a lot of empathy from the male population at the game

Question of the Day

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:43:38 GMT

For all the environmentalists, animal rights activists, soapboxes, and platforms everywhere...here it is.

What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating another endangered animal or an endangered plant?

Eating out is fattening?

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:17:58 GMT

Ummm....DUH!!! I've always said that with all the bad press fast food chains receive for their high calorie and fat foods, someone needs to take a look at the sit-down restaurant menus and GASP!! While this list is pretty minimal in comparison to some of the other meals that boast more than a full day's worth of calories and 2 or 3 days worth of fat each, it's a good start.

http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100156601&imageindex=1

For more in-depth information on the foods you thought you loved...try Calorie King. I will warn you, it will make you VERY leery of eating out. The thought of the fat and calorie content of some of my favorite dishes, literally makes me sick! One of my favorites was the same as eating a double quarter pounder with cheese meal, super-sized, with a chocolate shake instead of pop...TWICE!!

Disturbing and Humorous Harry Potter!

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 06:20:39 GMT

As we all anxiously await the 7th book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to be released on July 21st and the 5th movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix coming to theaters on July 13th, here's a little funny yet slightly disturbing Harry Potter Cartoon.

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view.php?id=125471

Also, I've heard many comments on the age of the Harry Potter cast...including a very clever shout-out in Epic Movie (very funny movie...highly recommended!) At least these three are still teenagers! That's more than we can say for the twenty and thrity-somethings which make up the casts of Dawson's Creek, Smallville, The OC, Falcon Beach, and so on

Minibar Economics

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:55:04 GMT

What a great topic for an econ major

http://www.slate.com/id/2159743

My Kind of Doughnuts!!

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 05:55:38 GMT

So I have a small confession to make...I LOVE DOUGHNUTS!! Especially Krispy Kreme's...my favorite! I also have a serious caffeine addiction that I manage with lots of iced tea Wouldn't it be GREAT if the 2 could be combined? THANK YOU Dr. Bohannon!

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070126/D8MSVDV80.html

Anna Nicole Smith Dies

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 22:02:40 GMT

So sad to see someone die so young and after just having a baby.

Anna Nicole Smith dies after collapse - Celebrity News - MSNBC.com

Talking about Bush pressure seen on climate experts - Environment - MSNBC.COM

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 21:44:12 GMT

Interesting article I came across today. I wouldn't call myself a "tree-hugger" or anything like that but I am very concerned about the climate change issues the world is facing today. Quote Bush pressure seen on climate experts - Environment - MSNBC.com

Good Song Gone Bad!

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:13:36 GMT

“Lips of an Angel” by Hinder. Everyone has heard this song…and if you haven’t, you must have been living under a rock for the last eight months! Why has everyone heard this song?? Because “pop” and “top 40” radio stations everywhere have felt the need to play it every hour on the hour, twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. I personally love the song…it’s a great homage to the 80’s, monster ballad era and is just an all around great song. The “gone bad” part isn’t even due to the massive overplay of the song. The gone bad part came a few weeks ago when I heard the song…you’ll never guess…redone (I didn’t even know you could do that when a song was only eight months old)…by Jack Ingram who is….a COUNTRY SINGER! I can’t even escape this song on the country stations….GRRRR!!!! I’m a huge fan of country and even I find this very disturbing! Apparently you CAN have too much of a good thing

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:18:49 GMT

Welcome to 2007!!

So…before I receive the “Most Negligent Blogger of 2006” award, I suppose an explanation is an order. The only excuse I can offer is….way too busy! Between finals, holidays, and a little vacation for my anniversary and the New Year…all of which were a smashing success, I feel like I haven’t had much in the way of free time over this holiday break. The downside…I only have a week left of break…YIKES! Where did the time go? Answer: No idea and I am feeling very unaccomplished over my one month break. Time for a comparison so I can see exactly what I have and have not done!!

~Books…read 1…6 to go.

~Movies…Smallville Season 5….haven’t even started.

~Household projects….some started…none finished.

~College Prep for next semester…not started.

~Purchases…Christmas shopping done (I hope), Souvenirs for the kids (from the vacation)…done, Textbooks for Spring 2007, done.

Hmm….so the only thing I’ve fully accomplished is shopping?? Guess my forte is obvious!!

You Can't Eat Breakfast at Tiffany's

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 17:50:39 GMT

So sad...but true. I just got done watching the classic Breakfast at Tiffany's, which I love...yes, I'm one of THOSE girls It's such a fun movie and I love the romantic idea of eating breakfast at Tiffany's however; through the internet, I've learned it's not possible. You can have breakfast, you can go to Tiffany's, or you can probably have breakfast as Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) did, while standing in front of Tiffany's, but you can't actually eat breakfast there. Maybe Tiffany's should open a high-end cafe on site for us hopeless romantic types who'd pay an arm and a leg for the opportunity

Flavor of Love 2 Episode 8

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:54:00 GMT

Quick thing I learned from my blog about episode 7…never blog while exhausted! My errors in the last blog make me look just as educated as the people I’m writing about…my apologies.

Things I learned from episode 8 that I won’t learn in college...oh where do I start!!

-The terms slicing and slickin’ are synonymous…even though one of them isn’t a word.

-Women and food must also be synonymous…Flav keeps referring to them as food.

-Another new word: “Dramatical”-n. a state of being dramatic. As in: “I don’t know why she gettin’ all ‘dramatical’ up in here but whateva.”

-It is possible to be in one of the most uncomfortably sexual positions imaginable and to actually fall asleep.

-The phrase to denote your first wine tasting should be, “I don’t never been wine tasting”…WOW…wine connoisseurs everywhere all drop dead from grammatical shock

New Mad Lib…Flava Island…ummm…Flav, that’s a boat not an island.

Funniest things about this episode….

-We get to hear Krazy sing again…can’t tell you how much we all enjoyed that one

-New York riding a horse…OMG…seeing her near a horse was funny enough but when she actually had to ride it…OH MY…my abs are still in pain!

-Bootz and New York having to share Flav in some VERY sexual scenarios…ok…this was only funny because they hate each other. Otherwise, it was just GROSS!!

-New York’s temper tantrum at dinner…she’s topped every rotten 3 year old I’ve ever seen!! What was even better, is that Flav gave her the alone time. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that this is because Bootz is holding out on him and he knows New York is a sure thing…just a hunch

-New York and Flav consummate their ‘relationship.’ This is the most DISGUSTING thing I have ever heard in my whole life. New York sounds like a sick cat that is being tortured endlessly and keeps saying ‘proper.’ Proper would not be the work I would use. The next morning she describes the situation as “they took a big chunk out of each other” and “they chunked it up the whole night.” Chunks are coming up my throat as I listen to her describe the ‘chunkage’…EW EW EW

The episode ends with Bootz being eliminated…big shocker!! Don’t put out, don’t get a clock. That seems to be the theme of the show now. Parents are coming to visit next week and we get to enjoy the fun of seeing, yet again, why New York is such a psycho via her mother!!

Again…thanks to Candice Helfand for a fab synopsis!

http://www.realityreel.com/index.php?file=article&sid=1872&page=1

Flavor of Love 2 Episode 7

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 03:31:27 GMT

Ok…the humor in Flavor of Love is back!! Woo hoo…are you excited? I know I am

I have decided that this show is like one huge mad lib. Such as: “insert verb” ass-bitch…examples: fake ass bitch, lyin ass bitch, or dumb ass bitch. Another one: Flava “insert noun, verb prefix, suffix, or whatever the hell you want”…examples: Flava-tasitc, Flava-licious, or, for those of you who have Flav’s political correctness, Flava-Ba Ba. What a riot!!!

I’ve also learned a lot of things from this show. Oh yes…this show is teaching me things I can’t learn in college. I always thought the opposite of realism was surrealism (Lit 210). Who KNEW it was ‘fakeism’? Also, the word beautiful is pronounced ‘brutiful’…who knew there was a silent ‘r’ in there! Final lesson I learned: riding a camel is a kind of sexy foreplay? Hmm…I always thought of camels as yucky disgusting creatures…what was I thinking Did I mention this show is a riot?

There’s also a lot of fighting in this episode. New York fights with Deelishis for no reason and the “big” one… Buckeey and Krazy go at it and Buckeey almost pushes Krazy over a balcony…the riot continues!!

When eliminations come, Flav tells everyone they look ‘astounding’ and I must say, I agree! Astoundingly bad!! OMG…who taught these women how to dress? Do they realize that this is on television?? Buckeey ends up being sent home for almost killing someone.

Other than that…the show was pretty much standard. Flav is still causing fights with his underhanded, ratings driven flav-o-grams. New York still looks like a bobble head and screams at everyone. She also is up to her old tricks…she’s ‘befriended’ Krazy to use her for info. Krazy keeps sharing her crappy singing with us all. Bootz is accused of being slutty…again…like any of these girls have room to talk!! Deelishis may look a little off but she is becoming my favorite. She seems the most…dare I say…normal. Oooo...one new thing I almost forgot about...Flav asks Bootz if she could see herself making love to him. She replies...and I quote "Yeah when we're married." WAIT A MIN'uTE!! WHAT THE HELL!! I do a double-take...we're talking about Bootz? The one who shakes her ass for anything that walks in front of her? Hmm...interesting...NOT! Just tell Flav you aren't attracted to him sexually...don't pretend to be a nun...COME ON...you're not fooling ANYONE!!! And the riots just keep on coming

Anyhow, for a complete recap, check out Candice Helfand of realityreel.com. As always, she does a ‘flava-tastic’ job

http://www.realityreel.com/index.php?file=article&sid=1870&page=1

Want to be $10 million dollars richer?

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 04:00:58 GMT

Who doesn't?? Oh...wait...there's a catch! You have to be an expert genius in the field of rapid genome sequencing and able to sequence the human genetic map more quickly and efficiently ...there goes that pipe dream! Well....hmm...maybe I should change majors

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15122834/?GT1=8618

Photo Album: New Family Pics 2007

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:40:07 GMT

New Family Pics 2007

Whole Family

Midori, Malia, and Christian

Midori, Malia, Christian

Midori

Malia

Christian Michael

TC and Mandie

Photo Album: My Family:-)

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 22:14:17 GMT

My Family:-)

Midori and Malia

Christian Being Tough

Faith1

Beth

Cassie

Connor

Hunter

Dad

Dad, Siblings, and I at Space Needle

More Photos...

Photo Album: Mandalay Bay

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 05:31:25 GMT

Mandalay Bay

MB1

MB10

MB11

MB12

MB13

MB14

MB15

MB16

MB17

MB18

More Photos...

Custom List: Links List

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:14:23 GMT

Links List