Laugh Outloud: June 2008

Germany here I come!
Auf Wiedersehen Vereinigte Staaten,
Hallo Deutschland!

>> June 29, 2008

Berlin

Yay! We are finally making our way across "the pond" and going to Germany in about 6 hours. I am all packed (although that took sometime!) and I hope I didn't forget anything (knock on wood), and am all ready to get on that plane at 6 am.

We - meaning my sister Ashley, and I; are going to spend the week in Berlin, before we head off to our separate families. I am excited. We have always wanted to goto Berlin, because that's where you see the Nefertiti bust, and the Ishtar gate!

Yay!

I don't know when I will write next. Probably not until I get to the Liebsch's house. And even then I am not sure when it will be, but I am SUPER excited (and a little sad), and know that this will be a very fun adventure. Wish me well!

Alles Gute.

I love Lagoon

>> June 26, 2008

It's what fun is!

log flume

Recently I got to go to Lagoon twice, in just over a week or so, with one of my favorite friends: Amanda. We had so much fun! The first time we went, was on a Saturday and it was super crowded at first. But at about 4 pm or so the power went out! Luckily, we weren't stranded on a ride, we were just in line for Wicked (the best ride ever), we weren't sure what to do, but we decided to wait around and see if they'd get the power back on. They did about an hour and a half later and it was kind of nice because by then some of the crowd had left the park, and we got to have a little bit more breathing room, and not so many annoying stroller traffic jams!

skycoaster

I love this ride!

the best.. and scariest part of the ride!
the rush.. the hesitation.. and the drop!

I love Wicked!

But, since the power went out, we got to go back another day for free. So, we went again this last Tuesday. I loved it. I have now been on Wicked a gazillion times, and LOVE it. Especially being in the very front. We even tried to do it with our arms in the air.. and our eyes closed, that was a weird sensation in my stomach!

this isn't us.. but it's a pic of the ride from the Lagoon website

looking super nervous before our Launch

At the end of the night, we decided to ride The Catapult. It's an awesome, but scary ride. I loved that so much! I wish you didn't have to pay an extra fee to go on it each time because it is SO AMAZING. It flings you 275 feet in the air, at a rate of 90 MPH! After your initial launch, you kind of hang in mid air for awhile. You then get to control whether you spin or what you do as you make your back down to the ground. We hung our feet and swung them, just like if we were at a playground. I loved it..

To see the rest of my pictures, click here to see my facebook album.

Anderson Cooper, "Enough is Enough"

>> June 25, 2008

I've already written about how much I hate Robert Mugabe, in Zimbabwe.. but I just read Anderson Cooper's blog from earlier today, and how much he wants someone to DO something. I thought I would share his words, because really, I say AMEN!

Enough is enough!

Anderson’s View: Enough is enough
Posted: 04:29 PM ET

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe

Anderson Cooper

It is hard to watch what is happening in Zimbabwe. Sickening to see thugs armed with steel clubs beating people whose only crime is to want a fair election.

For years Robert Mugabe has sent out his henchmen to intimidate his own people. For years he has run Zimbabwe into the ground. Enough is enough.

This used to be one of the most prosperous countries in Africa. I first went there in 1985, when I was seventeen and driving across southern Africa in a truck. I was there again in 1992 when I was working in Africa as a reporter.

It is a beautiful country, and the people deserve better than this. Robert Mugabe helped bring independence to Zimbabwe, but he makes the mistake all tyrants do. He believes he is indispensable, he believes he has a right to rule. He has been president for nearly 30 years. Enough is enough. The people have a right to replace him…

“They can shout as loud as they like from Washington or from London or from any other quarter,” Mugabe said recently, “our people, our people, only our people will decide, and nobody else.” The truth is, the people there have already decided.

Mugabe came in second in March when his countrymen went to the polls. Now there is a run-off election and he is doing all he can to make sure he doesn’t lose again. While the world seems to be waking up to what is happening there, little it seems is going to be done about it.

The United Nations Security Council has finally condemned the violence, but their outrage is not backed up by the threat of force. South Africa’s president and the leaders of other African countries have repeatedly turned a blind eye to Mugabe’s tactics, and without greater involvement from them, it’s unlikely much pressure will be brought to bear.

We sit and we watch, that’s all it seems we’re able to do.

click here to goto Anderson's blog.

It really makes me think of what happened in Rwanda, and how it made me feel sick watching this scene from the movie, Hotel Rwanda. (from www.imdb.com)

Paul Rusesabagina: I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene.
Jack: Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show?
Paul Rusesabagina: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities?
Jack: I think if people see this footage they'll say, "oh my God that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.
[pause]
Jack: What the hell do I know?

Deutsch ist Schwierig!

Team Edward

>> June 23, 2008

"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb"

I am now a Twilighter.. Team Edward to be exact, and am counting down until the day that I can read Breaking Dawn, and see Twilight, the movie.. and hoping that someday I will be able to read all of the Awesome books in German. I don't know why it took me so long to read them..

"You don't care if I'm a monster?
If I'm not human?"

Yay, I can't wait until 12.12.08.

I hate Mugabe

Yesterday, in Zimbabwe, the man that was running against President (cough: dictator) Mugabe pulled out of the election. Basically giving the race away, and letting Mugabe win, because he said that asking the people of Zimbabwe to vote, was like asking them to risk their lives.

"The courageous people of Zimbabwe, of this country, and the people of the MDC have done everything humanly and democratically possible to deliver a new Zimbabwe and new government," candidate Morgan Tsvangirai said after a closed-door meeting of his Movement for Democratic Change.

Ick. How this bothers me. I wish there could just be democracy, and not have people that cause so many problems. Robert Mugabe is not a good man. He is an awful man, and an awful leader and someone should really get rid of him.

To understand better, click here to see Zimbabwe 2008 Election Timeline from CNN.

Sigh.. someone help the Zimbabwean people...

The sad thing is, there isn't oil in Zimbabwe, so I doubt Mr. Bush even knows where it is on the map. At least Barack Obama knows where it is, click here to see a statement he made about the evil of Mugabe over a year ago.

It's getting hot in here.. and the Polar Bear has nowhere to go

>> June 22, 2008

My favorite animal is the Polar Bear.. and they are in danger! My sister has videos and articles posted on her blog about the Polar Bear problem, to watch them click here. It makes me so mad! Those poor Polar Bears.. We all better fight to figure out this Global Warming thing soon.

More information can also be found here.

With a little help from my friends..

>> June 21, 2008

Carmen with her daughter Brianne, me, Kim & Lina
Robintinos, Bountiful, Utah
June 21, 2008

Friends are Awesome..

Today I went to lunch with Old Library friends: Carmen, Kim & Lina. They are truly some of my favorite people. I don't think I would have survived the Family History Library as long as I did, for those long three years without them, in fact, I know I couldn't have done it. And, I don't see them much anymore, as we are all off living our separate lives in different ends of the valley, spanning from Orem to Roy, and soon Germany; but I do love them and I sure am going to miss them.

It was very odd saying "I'll see you next year!" out loud.

However, Kim is coming to Europe next year. She's going to Tours, France, so we most definitely have to go to Disneyland Paris together. It'll be some super kind of awesome.

I also have to say.. Carmen's baby Brianne. She is the cutest.

Sie Liebt Dich..

>> June 17, 2008

I never knew..

She Loves You, by the Beatles sung in German.. not dubbed, but actually sung by The Beatles.

Craziness. Who'da'thunK?

Exact lyrics can be found here.

I stumbled upon..

The Baptist Version of the Book of Mormon.

It's quite long.. but a very interesting read. For Mormons and Non-Mormons alike.

12.12.08 ~ Twilight!

When you can Live FOREVER.. What do you Live for?

I've only read the first book.. (and the first chapter of Midnight Sun), so I know I am behind almost everyone, and plan on catching up very very soon. BUT I am still very much excited for the movie! I wish it was sooner than it is. I guess seeing this movie will have to be my Birthday present. haha.

A Mummified Dinosaur?

>> June 16, 2008

They have found a Mummified Dinosaur, nicknamed "Dakota" after being found in North Dakota!

This Dinosaur might be able to "unlock" secrets for paleontologists, and change the whole scientific world's view of Dinosaurs, and how they lived.

I think it's awesome! (and I am dying to go see it.. )

Oh boy.. The Taliban is really back..

Oh my goodness.. I am mad.. ! The Taliban have now started to invade villages across Afghanistan again. Again! How is it that we can be spending so much money, and so many American lives, and we still can't keep the lid on the Taliban? After 7 long years since September 11th. Maybe it's because we are fighting George W's war instead of a War for the benefit of the world, or this country for that matter.

So glad we are in this Oil War. Because apparently that's what matters.. ??

from CNN:

Hundreds of Taliban occupy Afghan villages
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghan officials say hundreds of Taliban fighters have taken over several villages just outside southern Afghanistan's largest city, and NATO and Afghan forces are redeploying to meet the threat.
Mohammad Farooq, the government leader in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, said around 500 Taliban fighters moved into his district. Arghandab lies just north of Kandahar city -- the Taliban's former stronghold.
The push into Arghandab comes three days after a Taliban attack on Kandahar's prison freed hundreds of fighters.
NATO spokesman Mark Laity said NATO and Afghan military officials were redeploying troops to the region to "meet any potential threats." Laity said the jailbreak put more militants into the region.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/16/afghan.villages.ap/index.html

Happy Father's Day

>> June 15, 2008

Today is Father's Day, and of course, the presidential candidates continue campaigning. I love what Obama said today. He was speaking at a predominately Black Church in Chicago, and basically "called out" black fathers, telling them that they need to step up and raise their children. I know that perhaps statistically this is more of an African American family issue, than it is a White American one, however I full heartedly agree. It is not fair to act like a child once you have made a child. And I applaud Obama for bringing this up, he said, "I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle -- that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls," and I just think that that is awesome. Having a father in your life can really mean the world.

And on that note, Happy Father's Day dad! I love you Daddy! :)

A Real Witch Hunt Story..
for Friday the 13th

>> June 13, 2008

"They claim that my grandmother and father were practicing witches"

Today is Friday the 13th, and appropriately I have found a story that relates. However, it's quite unsettling. I don't like it. I don't. I don't.

First, I ask the question what does the word "witch" mean? Here is the definition from www.dictionary.com:

witch

noun
1. a female sorcerer or magician
2. a being (usually female) imagined to have special powers derived from the devil
3. a believer in Wicca

Okay, so I think of witches as something that I dressed up as when I was 7 for Halloween.
So the story I found, is frankly, hard for me to understand. The author of the article even states that it is probably hard for the Western World to understand the how or why of this tragedy.

In Kenya this last month, there was a real and true witch hunt that went on, that started with school children finding a book of people that would die soon, and the witches that were to be responsible.

Here is the CNN article:
Deadly hunt for 'witches' haunts Kenya villagers
By David McKenzie
CNN
KEGOGI VILLAGE, Kenya (CNN) -- It may be difficult for modern-day Western cultures to fathom, but in Western Kenya, beliefs in ghosts and witches are very real. And sometimes they have deadly consequences. In late May, news outlets in Kenya told the story of 15 people, mostly elderly women, who were murdered in a witch hunt near the town of Kisii. The killings shocked the nation. Villagers said more than 100 people gathered machetes and knives and stormed the village of Kegogi after midnight.
"They started banging on the doors, they broke into the house and then they killed our grandmother inside," says Justus Bosire. "The mob was screaming and we panicked. We ran away and they came to our house and burned it to the ground."
When Bosire returned to his grandmother's house, he found her dead on the floor in a bed of embers. His father is missing.
To keep reading click here...

Another article that tells of happenings like these in Africa can be found here.

I can't help but think of the Salem Witch Trials.. and the the theory of

why can't everyone just get along?

Yellowstone

>> June 11, 2008

My family and I just went on a little road trip to Yellowstone. I love it up there! It rained on us.. and snowed on us.. but we saw a lot of animals, and I am glad we went. Kind of a last hurrah before my sister and I both pack up and move to Germany for a year. I really do love the pretty Mountains, the smelly geysers and the awesome animals at Yellowstone. It is a good, good place!

There are a lot of animals in Yellowstone, and they are still there because of the government protection they get in the park. However, it doesn't always work very well. See my sister's blog here to read more about what is happening to the endangered animals and what we can do.

Yay for Yellowstone!

One down, three to go..
Go Lakers!

And the Los Angeles Lakers win Game 3! Yay! They really were starting to have me worried. But I still believe..

Kobe did good as (almost) always, but Vujacic did really awesome! He said, "That's what I love the most and that's what I live for -- those kind of games," and I believe it.. he was great.

Go Lakers!

Yes We Can!

>> June 4, 2008

I love Obama..

click here to read his full remarks

President Obama!
Goodbye Hillary.. Hello Whitehouse

>> June 3, 2008

Yay! OBAMA has now won the Nomination!

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
BARACK OBAMA, speech, Feb. 5, 2008

I am so excited.. it's not even funny!

It's getting closer..

>> June 2, 2008

Alright, so I am getting a little nervous. 28 days.. eeeek! In 29 days I will be in Germany! Crazy Craziness..
So I decided to look up German culture, and see if there's anything I need to know.. so to speak.. and this is what I found. It is from this website: Understanding German Attitudes and Culture.

and here it is.. it's actually kind of funny, but I'm not sure how accurate it really is.

German Ways - Understanding German Attitudes and Culture

Germans do not cross the street against the light. : Do not cross the street when the light is red, NO MATTER WHAT! Germans always wait for the light to turn green whether there is a car in sight or not. If you attempt to cross, you will probably be chided by at least one of the people in the queue and you will hear a general tsssk.

Germans are very direct and they are always right.: Most Germans have no problem telling you how they feel about something, even if you are a complete stranger. Don't try to argue with a German, it is a complete waste of time. Just remember they are always right, nod your head and don't waste your breath.

German cyclists rule.: When walking on the sidewalks in Germany, cyclists have the right of way. I am always pulling friends out of the way of bell-dinging cyclists that seem to have no hesitation in running down pedestrians. Never, ever walk on the part of the sidewalk that is designated as a bike path and when you cross the street make sure you stay in the pedestrian area and don't stray over the line into the bike path.

Germans are not prudes. : Public nudity is accepted in a lot of areas and Germans are not prudes.Saunas and pools are no exception, even in public parks, people bare their bodies to catch a few rays. Talking about sex is common and the nudity on television delighted my son when he was a teenager. Sex shops are a common occurence in most major cities and prostitution is legal so hang up your Puritan ways before heading to Germany.

Germans eat everything on their plate.: If you fail to eat everything that is on your plate you are likely to be asked by the waiter or waitress or your hostess if everything was OK. You are also likely to be scolded for not eating enough. As someone that was taught that leaving a little on the plate was good manners, I am very conflicted over this.

Germans like their rules.: In Germany, it seems there is a rule for everything. You have to abide by quiet times (generally between 1 pm and 3 pm weekdays and most of the day on Sundays) in residential neighborhoods. Walking across the grass in parks is frowned upon - you are supposed to stay on the paths. Never, ever question authority, it is simply not a good idea.

Germans love their autos and the autobahn.: "Given the choice between giving up a wife and a car, the German will give up his wife." I have heard this often from German men and know for a fact that the love affair with the auto is a fact. Cars are a status symbol - with a luxury car you can drive up to any hotel and get premium service. Not only that but the luxury cars in Germany are fast and when there is no traffic on the autobahn you can go up to 200 km an hour. I now, I did it in my Audi A8 and understand the love affair.

Germans love their dogs.: German dogs are the most well-behaved dogs I have ever seen. Whether in restaurants or on the streets, the dogs walk without leashes, keep their master in sight and don't fight with other dogs. I don't know if it is a law or not, but they must make these dogs go to school. I have never seen such well behaved dogs in my life. On the other hand, I have friends that actually have birthday parties for their dogs, inviting all the doggie friends over for biscuits and bones. Hey, dogs rule!

Germans are good guests, hosts and partiers.: Germans always bring flowers, a gift or wine when they come for dinner. Tables are always set and food is plentiful when you visit and you are never asked to help wash the dishes or clear the table. What's even better is Germans throw their own birthday parties - which absolves you of having to worry about organizing anything. Sit down at a table with a group of Germans at a festival and they will readily invite you into their conversation.

Kind of crazy..

I wonder which of these I will come home acting like.. or which ones will simply drive me crazy.. hmmmm. I guess only time will tell.

Yay for Amanda!

>> June 1, 2008

Meine Freundin Amanda ist in den Vereinigten Staaten wieder!

I'm excited that my friend, Amanda is back home from Europe. Kind of dumb, she just got home, and in 4 weeks I leave to goto Europe. Should have planned that better! But, I am excited she is back because my next 3 weeks at Jordan Credit Union will be much more entertaining. Oh, the importance of Friends!!

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

Yay for Amandas. haha. Or maybe just the one I have.

Oh boy that sounds strange..

The End.

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