Live Life

So this past weekend I attended a funeral. I don’t if any of you have been to one, but it’s really not that fun. My cousin’s grandmother passed away last Thursday, March 26, 2009. She was like another grandma to me; she was family. She was a survivor of breast cancer but just last year she got a liver cancer, but this time she couldn’t fight it. When she was in the hospital, she kept telling my cousins that it was her time to go and that God was calling her. Later the next week, she left us. When I heard the news on Thursday, I immediately got my things together, and left to go home. My other cousins called me and told me that I needed to come home and be there for my cousins, Debbie and Jason, and my aunt. The wake was that night so when I got home I had to go straight to the funeral home. The good part of the funeral was that I got to see all my aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces. And they were all happy that I had made it and was there. It was very heart-breaking to say goodbye to her because she was family. We weren’t super close like me and my grandma but we still talked. After the wake, our families gathered together at Debbie’s and Jason’s house and just hung around there and talked. This experience has taught me a lot. When Debbie’s grandmother was lying in her coffin, her husband was sitting next to her and told us how they met and how much he loved her and how much he regrets not telling her he loved her every day. It kind of reminded me of my parents. They don’t tell each other they love each other every day but they know how much they love each other and that they can’t live without each other. But for me, I now tell my parents every day that I love them and my sister too. Also, another thing that I learned is that you got to live life to the fullest. Time flies by and you got to do what you want to do. And when it’s time for you to go, you accept it and happily leave this Earth. And that, I can live with every day.

RED AND WHITE

This semester I went to a basketball game with my friends. It was the biggest game of the season with our rival, Bradley University and was right here at ISU at the Redbird Arena. Word had it that people were waiting at midnight weeks before to get tickets for the game. We just got lucky because they still had some at the ticket office. We got our school sprit on by wearing our “red alert” shirts, face paint, and some redbird tattoos on our faces. In minute we walked into the door, there was so much noise. Everyone’s mood in the stadium was anticipation and nervousness on how the game would turn out. The stadium was full to every seat and the people in the arena varied from grandparents to little kids all ready for an exciting game. The atmosphere of the arena was crazy! People were screaming, singing, and just so many other things. While I was at the basketball game, my high school basketball games flashed my mind. It was kind of similar except the number of fans/ the crowd. In high school, we had just a crew (a group) of us just dress up for school spirit and the rest of the crowd just wear regular clothes. But here at ISU, mostly everyone has school spirit and there isn’t just a group who dresses up but everyone does! The atmosphere is the same as going to the football games here. Everyone is happy and excited. Also, something that I learned is that a lot of people attends the games drunk or tipsy. There was tailgating before the game, where mostly everyone drinks and socializes. And then they head over to the game. ISU in the end won the game! =) I have also realized, if ISU wins the games or looses the game, the fans still go out after and party it up! If ISU wins, they just party harder! Basketball games are all part of the high school and college experience. Even though we are not the top basketball school, we still have school spirit, and maybe someday we can make it into March Madness. 

Spring Break 09'

Wow. Spring break 09’ has come and gone by already! When it comes to spring break, almost everyone goes on vacation to somewhere tropical and sunny, well usually my family and I do. But this year was different. It was different because now I’m in college and my little sister’s and mine are different. So this year, I traveled alone to New York! I went to New York when I was really little, so I didn’t remember much of it. I have three cousins living in New York and I stayed with them. New York is a very fashionable place. The first time I went out to tour the city, I went out in sweats and a sweater. Everyone was starring at me and giving me dirty looks. Then I looked around the city at the people and saw that no one, I mean literally no one was wearing sweats. I was so embarrassed that I went back to my cousin’s place and changed. Everyone in New York dresses very fashionably. The latest style for was leggings with leather boots and a big t-shirt and a summery scarf. For young men, they got their “swag” look like Kanye West and the older men wear jeans with leather shoes and a nice top with a suit jacket. One word of advice. When going to New York, make sure you don’t take sweats and take some fashionable clothes. Oh and check this out. When you go shopping, if you spend 100 dollars or less on clothing, there is no sales tax! So if you wanted to buy a shirt for $19.99, it’s $19.99! Also, when I looked around New York, I realized that there aren’t many grocery stores because a lot of New Yorkers like to go out and eat. There are so many restaurants and little shops to eat at. When you go to New York, make sure to visit Time Square at night. It’s so pretty and bright at night, and the city never sleeps! People are still out by 4 o’clock in the morning. Another cool place that I went was Carrie’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) house in Sex and the City. Well just the outside. 09’ spring break was yet another successful fun break! Hope it was for you too! =)

My Dream... if it could really happen

If I received, in cash, all the money for my 4 years at ISU and I could spend it on anything it would be to maybe start my own little restaurant and with the money left over, I would travel to Africa. Well, first off if I didn’t need a college education and had all the money in the world, which would be the best thing that has ever happened to me. But with the money and no college education, I would have my own little bistro restaurant in the in a little town here in the states, but definitely not here in Illinois with my mom. Currently, my parents own a restaurant in the city, but my mom wants to open up another restaurant that has a variety of foods. My restaurant would be called, “Around The World” because my restaurant would have a variety of food around the world. My food would vary from Asian to Greek food. I love to cook and bake. The typical restaurant has one ethnic food like Italian food. Most Italian restaurants offer pasta or pizza; it’s typical. My restaurant would be all varieties of food! And after eventually setting up the restaurant, and if I had money left over, my mom and I would travel to Africa. My mom’s dream is to go to Africa and help kids there. And me having been there before, I fell in love with the place and the people and want to got there again. We would travel through Africa, helping sick and poor children and occasionally stopping to take a break. During the break we would go on a safari trip and then get some sun on the beach. We would go snorkeling and swim in the Indian Ocean, and then go to my favorite restaurant in Kenya by the beach, and eat some good seafood. The whole idea of no college though is kind of good and bad though. Sure, it would be nice to take a few years off and go travel and start a restaurant, but then you don’t get the college experience. Oh! And also, after using all the money and I still maybe have money left over, I would support a family in Africa for the rest of my life, and when the money really runs out, I would support them with the money I make from the restaurant.