Happy 2010!

Sitting here in the hotel room in Oklahoma. I walked to a McDonalds today and it was surreal. All white people working there, most had missing teeth, and I was the one with an accent?! Also they just STARED at me like I was a celebrity. I was wearing a black coat, jeans, and boots. I need to go back to California. Can't believe I am spending my New Years Eve in a hotel room.

First of all 2009 was amazing. I am going to try to recap month by month.

January: What I thought would be a super boring interterm, turned out to be an awesome everyday hang out in the dorm with my RA who ended up being my housemate and an awesome friend. Also Kelly's new single came out and made history by going from 97 to number 1.

February: I got an awesome surprise when my favorite Oregonian, Maddie, got to make a surprise visit to California for her 21st birthday. We went to Disneyland, took her Chick-Fil-A virginity, and she ordered her first drinks at BJ's while all of us Biolans watched.

March: I was freaking out about housing at this time because my then roommate was supposed to be graduating (wow, that is a different story now), and I had NO ONE to live with for senior year. Then plans were made to live in a house with some awesome people, and I had never been happier. Also Kelly's new cd came out this month, and I bought it opening night.

April: Had an interview with Campus Safety...obviously after many more interviews, they decided I was the one they wanted and I work there now. Not very much because I like my other job better, but somehow they still keep me around. Also I turned 21 this month but it wasn't that great.

May: WANGO TANGO! Bry, Abby, and I went and saw many acts, including Flo Rida, Soulja Boy, All American Rejects, Jamie Foxx, Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull, Lady Gaga, and KELLY! It was so awesome that we promised to go again next year even though Kelly won't be there. Seriously, it was just 6 hours of non stop fun and surprise guests. The surprise guests we saw were like all of my favorite people, and I flipped out everytime: SHAWN JOHNSON, cast of SECRET LIFE, cast of THE HILLS....ah best day ever. Also this month, during finals time, my sister broke down in LA, my roommate totaled her car in a huge accident, and I had to move out of my dorm in 3 hours (locked myself out of my car while doing so and they were in the bathroom the whole time).

June: Officially moved into the Poner house. We went line dancing at a place called InCahoots. Haha. probably one of the funniest nights out ever. I also started working at Campus Safety and decided I didn't like it that much. I also got a raise at my other job so I worked there instead. Also this month, a guy I dated decided we would be great if we got back together. I didn't take him up on his offer, but I did get some free seasons of Arrested Development out of that.

July: Saw Kelly from the closest seats I had had at that point. It was so amazing for me. Also went to the OC fair. Also had a white trash 4th of July party at the house. Also got a new camera which I still adore. Also the church I had been attending disbanded and I still miss seeing those guys every week.

August: Visited Maddie and her family for 10 days in Portland! Then went to Disneyland and Catalina for my mom's birthday. Started school.

September: Ditched my stupid PC and bought a Mac and have been pretty happy. Also got to take some of my favorite friends to a free Kelly concert in Hollywood and it was soooo fun. Also saw Britney Spears and Jordin Sparks at the Staples Center. Pretty awesome, but I just realized I am spoiled because I see Kelly so much that when I see other acts, it just does not compare. I also recognized another Kelly fan at the mall and 2 of my housemates decided this was too much and I had to go 9 days without ANY Kelly. It was difficult, but hilarious. I had to write an essay too.

October: One of my best friends Ashley came to visit me here at school. My awesome, super-fit friends, Jess and Abby, ran a half marathon.

November: Went to Vegas to see Kelly. Abby turned 21. Thanksgiving with my mom's side in Palm Springs. Bridgette turned 20.

December: Saw Kelly from 3rd row in Fresno with my mom. She loved it. I loved it. It was awesome. She sang my all time favorite song that she never sings, ONLY AT THE FRESNO SHOW. I still get goosebumps thinking about how lucky I am that she sang that at that show. Finished up crazy finals and the fall semester. My cousins celebrated first birthdays and a 3rd birthday and I can't get enough of them. Saw my dad, had a good Christmas, and am now in Oklahoma.

Hopefully 2010 is just as good, but it will be hard to top this year. I can't believe the year of my college graduation is finally here. In high school, this year seemed a decade away.

Stay tuned for my best moments of the decade post.

Thankful

That there are people left in the music industry with morals and credibility. And who thank God in each of their albums...I love to see how this individual started out and never lost sight of what is important.

"First and foremost, I want to thank God. This past year has been such a blessing and I haven't taken one thing for granted. I am thankful every day, not just for the past year, but also for my family, friends and life." Thankful. April 2003.

"God, you are so gracious and giving, there are no words to describe my love and passion for you. These past couple of years have been a bit hard and so crazy and I thank You for being with me and teaching me to just let things go and give them up to you.. because no matter how strong I think I am, I CANNOT do anything without you." Breakaway. November 2004.

"First, I want to thank God, Jesus and whatever force has been keeping me sane in this crazy world. I know you're up there and on my side and there have been times when I know that's the only thing that is keeping me going..." My December. June 2007.

"Thank You God for every breath, every miracle, and every gift you have given me when I am so undeserving. At the end of the day, we might not be perfect, we might not always win, and we might screw up big time...but we are here and here for the right reasons, and that's what counts." All I Ever Wanted. March 2009.

That is probably the biggest reason why I look up to her. She inspires me to be better and she is way out of her time in today's music. Can't wait to see what she does when she leaves her record label.

Merry Christmas.



She recorded that for her mom for Christmas.

Brandi Carlile

is amazing. (I know huh, I actually like other artists besides Kelly. If only you knew how into music I was...)

I love, love, love Brandi's voice and her songs. And I can't stop listening to this one. It's called "My Song."

Everything I do surrounds these pieces of my life that often change
Or maybe I've changed
Sometimes seeming happy can be self destructive even when you're sane
Or only insane
But don't bother waking me today

Here I am
I'm so young
I know I've been bitter, I've been jaded, I'm alone
Every day I'll bite my tongue
If you only knew my mind was full of razors
That cuts you like a word if only sung...
But this is my song
It is my song

Now I live every day like there will never be a last one till they're gone
And they're gone
I'm too proud to beg for your attention and your friendship and your time
So you can come and get it from now on

Here I am
I'm so young
I know I've been bitter, I've been jaded, I'm alone
Every day I'll bite my tongue
If you only knew my mind was full of razors
That cuts you like a word if only sung...
But this is my song
It is my song

And it's you
It is you

Here I am
I'm so young
I know I've been bitter, I've been jaded, I'm alone
Every day I'll bite my tongue
If you only knew my mind was full of razors
I'm not sure I can take it
I'm nothing strong to hold to
I'll wait to only hate you
My mind is full of razors
That cuts you like a word if only sung
But this is my song

Failure.

I didn't pass either of my TPAs. I feel like this is the only place I can say it since I am embarrassed to put it on Facebook, or to keep annoying people on Twitter with it.

Now I know what it feels like to feel like an idiot. I think I am the only one in the program who failed both.

This makes me not want to teach. at all.

I have no emotions left about this matter.

Someone please tell me

how the Grammy nominees for best pop VOCAL PERFORMANCE include You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift), Hot N Cold (Katy Perry) and HALO by Beyonce?!

My point being, how could you nominate crap songs (vocally) like the first two. Then how could you nominate HALO and NOT Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson? They are the same back track and vocally, Kelly delivers more than any of those nominees!

Second, it sickens me that Halo is also nominated for Record of the Year. It's upsetting because Kelly suffers and is punished for all this, and she had the song first, and Beyonce rushed to release hers first. Beyonce, you have Single Ladies. Were you worried you wouldn't have enough hits? People in this industry work their butt off to put out quality music which they WRITE (cough, Kelly and not Beyonce, cough) and then this happens. The music industry is not about music at all anymore. It's about image, appeal, sexuality, and bubble gum hooks in songs.

It's sad that even the Grammy's are based on popularity and airplay now.

The good and fantastic news is the nominees for Pop Vocal Album are:

The Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.
Colbie Caillat, Breakthrough
Kelly Clarkson, All I Ever Wanted
The Fray, The Fray
Pink, Funhouse

sorry, but Pink is Kelly's only legitimate competition. If you have heard her whole record, you understand why. Kelly kills it on every song and the songs are all so different. Pink's album is great too. Sorry Colbie, Fergie (let's face it, she's the only reason the BEP are in this category), and The Fray. I think my girl Kelly might just be walking away with her 3rd Grammy.