I Just Can't Seem to Come Up with a Decent Title...

I suppose I don't really have time to be writing this, as I have a test coming up at a dizzying rate (two more hours), but I thought that maybe someone would read this before 1 and pray that I'd pass the test. It's English Literature, and after taking the practice test yesterday I feel much better about it, but that doesn't change the fact that I had a hard time concentrating on my studies these past two weeks. I've actually just been online clearing up a few things that I was absolutely clueless about on the practice test.

Before I go, I have to tell my readers about one of the most random things I've ever done - one that could cost me the test today. Last night I read To Kill a Mockingbird. Not finished it - read it. From cover-to-cover, beginning at 10:30 pm and ending at 3:30 am (to be accurate, in that time I stopped when we read our bibles, and I stopped to say goodnight to everyone, and I stopped to get a drink). It's a very good book. Atticus Finch is awesome. If I get married and have more than one son, I think I'll name one of them after him.

I guess it sounds pretty stupid to have done that. After all, Spring Break is only 12 days away, and then I could stay up until 4 without it affecting my study habits. I decided to go through with the idea for three reasons:

1. I love to do random things, and I wanted to be able to say that I'd read a book in all of that 'extra' time I was supposed to have received when I gave up Facebook.

2. I've wanted to read it for a while, and I couldn't have my sister beat me to it. She was considering reading it, and I don't like much to be beaten in reading contests by her. ;)

3. I knew that if I didn't finish it last night, I'd forget the everything I'd read and probably wouldn't pick it back up again for a year or two. I must agree with Edgar Allen Poe that a good piece of literature should be able to be read in one sitting. It does wonders for keeping up the illusion.

I think I might start reading books in one sitting more often. Although most books that I want to read aren't as easy or short as To Kill a Mockingbird. And it was rather strange to dream in HarperLee-speak...

I haven't put anything on here in a long time! Dracula was a really cool book. The last book I read was One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (or however you spell his last name). That was a great book. But don't read it. The language is TERRIBLE. If, however, you can get a hold of an edited copy (like mine now is) then DEFINITLY read it!
I have to go really, really soon, but I just wanted to make sure that anyone that reads my blog realises that the Crocodile Hunter has died. I am praying for his family. I'm pretty sure that most everyone knows, but for all I know there's someone saying "What Crocodile Hunter? What is this lunatic talking about now?" If that is you, then I'm very sorry. If you're someone who already knew, then please forgive me for shoving the news back in your face. If, however, you know who the Crocodile Hunter was and didn't know that he had died, then I am very sorry that you have to go through the shock, but glad that this post has given someone some sort of information.

Dracula, etcetera

I'm reading Dracula, well, actually, I'm listening to Dracula (not currently, but off and on). Iscool. I REALLY like it. It's so seldom that I get a really good book. Crime and Punishment is one of those. It's really weird, but so far (I haven't gotten that far) I feel kinda sorry for the vampire. He makes himself so likeable. It's also slightly humorous, as there are many things that I already know about vampires that the main character learns as the book progresses, such as the fact that he cannot see Count Dracula in a mirror. But I guess it's not that funny, mostly it's just a good story. Why am I writing a book review here? I have no clue.

So I guess I could tell you about audiobooksforfree.com. If you go there, don't click on the picture of the...um...I think it was some sort of gun at the top of the page. But besides that, it's a cool website. You can download audio books, either that you've bought, or you are getting for free. They're cheap to buy, but I'm cheaper, so I usually get the free books. You can hardly understand the reader, however. The more you pay, the better the recording sounds. So I've got The Three Musketeers, Dracula, 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, and, um, some book that I can't remember it's name at this moment and I don't really want to look it up (it's by Jerome K. Jerome, if that helps you). Dracula sounds the best. As a disclaimer, if you see anything you shouldn't on audiobooksforfree.com, it's not my fault.

While I'm talking about free stuff, I'm going to tell you about rollingrs. It told me to. It's this podcast I got that teaches you Spanish and it's a video, and, following the podcast tradition, it's free. The guy's likable and he really wants feedback (which I need to do - thanks for reminding me). So far, I've forgotten many things that I've learned. I could say "I'll pay the bill", but I forgot "the bill" in Spanish, so I've just got "Yo pagar...". I can say "Do you speak English", "I'm thirsty", and "I'm hungry", which are very useful phrases. So if I'm ever stranded in Mexico, I can ask them if they speak English, and if they don't, I can demand food and drink. Whether they will comply is an entirely different story. And if the water is black/brown/green, I can look up "Why is the water black/brown/green?" in my handy-dandy Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel. That thing's a life saver, I've got to tell you. Of course, I've never had to use any of the phrases in there (thank goodness) but you never know when I'm going to have to yell: "Alto, ladron!" (stop, thief!) or "Por favor, no me lastime" (please do not hurt me). The second one I'm trying very hard to remember, just in case. I'd learn the Japanese phrases, but I stink at Japanese, and I can't really read the transliterated words. Spanish is much easier. Oh yeah, they also have learning Japanese video podcasts, but I don't know how good they are. I just started Spanish.

Adios, amigos y enamigos!