Lettice Rowbotham, (Yes, that IS that correct spelling), was a violinist on the most recent season (Series, for those in the UK) of Britain's Got Talent, and she blew everyone else away. I love the violin, but even I have to admit that it can sometimes get tired, so I love it when someone like Lettice comes along and brings something completely new to the performance.
I love her personality, her sense of humor, and everything about her, but I have to admit, the first time I watched her, I 100% expected a hilarious trainwreck when she started playing. I loved the interview, and loved her, but when she readily admitted that she hadn't even practiced, and she was too hungover to be nervous, I braced myself for the worst. I was thrilled to have my fears assuaged, and her previous admissions made her performance all the more impressive.
Her second performance was even better.
I loved that she used "Trust In Me" as part of her performance, and despite Simon's dislike of the second half, I loved it. I've grown to love dubstep if it's done right, and Lettice did dupstep right, not too heavy, and as part of the background, not the focus.
Lettice made it all the way to the finale and managed to literally drop my jaw.
I was amazed when she opened her mouth. I don't know that I've disagreed with Simon more when he said it didn't work. Thankfully the entire audience disagreed as well. Inwardly I cheered for their booing.
Sadly, Lettice didn't win, which is one of the single greatest tragedies of our time, but I have no doubt that she'll go places. I now follow her on both Twitter and YouTube, so I'll know the second she announces any new projects. I can't wait to see what she does next!
Monday, June 23, 2014
Monday, June 9, 2014
A Twist Ending! 11!
Well, it figures that as soon as I get back into Harlan I'd have another customer inspire another twist ending story. This customer is actually a regular here in Harlan. In fact, the first two parts of the story actually happened quite awhile ago. The last part just happened this week. She has actually done this kind of thing a lot more than three times. I just pieced together three stories from various encounters with her, to make a more concise story.
As with most other twist ending stories, everything is true except for the last paragraph, but in this case, it's all true except for the last paragraph of each section.
"Woah, wait a second," the woman said as I scanned her groceries. "That toilet paper is supposed to to be $3.29, and it rang up $4.99. You know what that means," she said, barely able to hold in her glee. "If the item rings up wrong, it is automatically free," she pointed to the sign hanging above the store.
I called my manager, who first went to make sure the price was wrong. "I'm sorry," she said walking back from the display holding a smaller sized package. "This is the size that's on sale. The other one is larger. Would you like to buy this one instead?"
"No," the woman said, frowning. "I don't want either of them. The sign back there was misleading. I should get it for free." She begrudgingly paid for her groceries and left, silently mumbling to herself.
As she fumed out of the store, a small green creature peered out from behind the ATM with a scroll of parchment and a quill of ink. It checked a box and slunk back out of sight.
~
"Excuse me, those batteries are marked as $2.99 on the sign over there," the woman said as I slid the packages of batteries I had just scanned down the counter to be bagged. I looked at the moniter; the prices on each read $2.79.
"Well," I said with a smile, "Looks like you just got a good deal."
"Um, no, They rang up wrong," the woman said with a scowl, "I get them for free."
I looked at her to see if she was kidding. Surely no one was that ridiculously petty. She wasn't kidding. I called my manager who double-checked the price, got an earful from the woman, and gave her the batteries for free.
As the woman marched victoriously from the store, the little green creature watched her silently from under a bakery display table, and marked another box on his paper.
~
"Hold on," the woman said as I scanned several packages of bologna. "These are ringing up $1.69. The sign says that they are 3 for $5. I've done the math, they should each be ringing up $1.67. Ask your manager to go check, these are wrong."
Once again my manager dutifully went back to check the price. While she was gone the woman started talking to those around her who were being inconvinienced.
"Sorry about this, I'm such a pain," she said in a voice that clearly indicated that she wasn't sorry at all. "I've just got to be careful you know. Gotta always watch these prices! You never know when they're gonna get you!"
My manager returned and said that, yes, the bologna should indeed be two cents cheaper. "Well, I guess that means they're free!" The woman said triumphantly, as though she had just won some kind of reality game show. My manager took the cost of the bologna off her order, and left her to pay.
From his hiding spot around the corner of the pharmacy, the little green creature ticked one last box off his list, and as the woman left the store with her load of bologna, it crept after her, sneaking into her car through a rear window while she loaded her trunk.
As the woman drove home in the dark, she had the creepiest feeling she was being watched from the back seat. She looked into the rear-view-mirror, and saw the glowing yellow eyes of a Greed Goblin staring back at her. She screamed and began swerving violently as the goblin leapt into the front seat. After a minute the swerving vehicle corrected itself, and kept on driving down the dark highway as normal. The woman was never seen again.
As with most other twist ending stories, everything is true except for the last paragraph, but in this case, it's all true except for the last paragraph of each section.
~
"Woah, wait a second," the woman said as I scanned her groceries. "That toilet paper is supposed to to be $3.29, and it rang up $4.99. You know what that means," she said, barely able to hold in her glee. "If the item rings up wrong, it is automatically free," she pointed to the sign hanging above the store.
I called my manager, who first went to make sure the price was wrong. "I'm sorry," she said walking back from the display holding a smaller sized package. "This is the size that's on sale. The other one is larger. Would you like to buy this one instead?"
"No," the woman said, frowning. "I don't want either of them. The sign back there was misleading. I should get it for free." She begrudgingly paid for her groceries and left, silently mumbling to herself.
As she fumed out of the store, a small green creature peered out from behind the ATM with a scroll of parchment and a quill of ink. It checked a box and slunk back out of sight.
~
"Excuse me, those batteries are marked as $2.99 on the sign over there," the woman said as I slid the packages of batteries I had just scanned down the counter to be bagged. I looked at the moniter; the prices on each read $2.79.
"Well," I said with a smile, "Looks like you just got a good deal."
"Um, no, They rang up wrong," the woman said with a scowl, "I get them for free."
I looked at her to see if she was kidding. Surely no one was that ridiculously petty. She wasn't kidding. I called my manager who double-checked the price, got an earful from the woman, and gave her the batteries for free.
As the woman marched victoriously from the store, the little green creature watched her silently from under a bakery display table, and marked another box on his paper.
~
"Hold on," the woman said as I scanned several packages of bologna. "These are ringing up $1.69. The sign says that they are 3 for $5. I've done the math, they should each be ringing up $1.67. Ask your manager to go check, these are wrong."
Once again my manager dutifully went back to check the price. While she was gone the woman started talking to those around her who were being inconvinienced.
"Sorry about this, I'm such a pain," she said in a voice that clearly indicated that she wasn't sorry at all. "I've just got to be careful you know. Gotta always watch these prices! You never know when they're gonna get you!"
My manager returned and said that, yes, the bologna should indeed be two cents cheaper. "Well, I guess that means they're free!" The woman said triumphantly, as though she had just won some kind of reality game show. My manager took the cost of the bologna off her order, and left her to pay.
From his hiding spot around the corner of the pharmacy, the little green creature ticked one last box off his list, and as the woman left the store with her load of bologna, it crept after her, sneaking into her car through a rear window while she loaded her trunk.
As the woman drove home in the dark, she had the creepiest feeling she was being watched from the back seat. She looked into the rear-view-mirror, and saw the glowing yellow eyes of a Greed Goblin staring back at her. She screamed and began swerving violently as the goblin leapt into the front seat. After a minute the swerving vehicle corrected itself, and kept on driving down the dark highway as normal. The woman was never seen again.
Friday, June 6, 2014
True Facts! 15!
Did you know that when people braid their hair it begins to function like a tail? When they are happy it will wag vigorously, and when they are sad it will hang limp. When they are confused, it will twitch oddly, and when they are annoyed, the tip of the braid will quietly flick from side to side. When they sense danger, it will point straight up it the air, and if they have to flee for their life, it will stick straight out behind them, to help maintain their balance as they run. True fact!
Did you know that marshmallows are bald Peeps? True fact!
Did you know that cows are just ugly horses? True fact!
Did you know that new galaxies are only formed on the Fourth of July? They are caused by irresponsible handling of fireworks. If a firework is sent too high into the sky, it eventually leaves the atmosphere altogether and explodes in space, forming a brand new galaxy. True fact!
Did you know that Gatorade is made of melted Popsicles? True fact!
Did you know that dubstep music happened completely by accident? A dancing robot had an athsma attack on stage, and the audience thought it was singing and demanded an album. True fact!
Did you know that Elmo and Grover are actually the same Muppet? Whenever Elmo gets cold he turns blue, his nose swells up, becoming enormous and pink, and his voice gets all gravelly. True fact!
Did you know that Donuts are obese Cheerios? True fact!
Did you know that corn husks are a corn cob's clothing? The next time you think about husking an ear of corn, just think about how embarrassing that is for them. True fact!
Did you know that Medusa did not really have snakes for hair? She didn't turn people to stone either. She just had a really ugly hat and if anyone made fun it, she dunked them in cement. True fact!
Did you know that toes were originally named foot fingers? True fact!
Did you know that Grass Skirts were invented as an alternative to the rather uncomfortable Poison Ivy Pants? True fact!
Did you know that Orange Juice was once called Blue Juice? They decided to change the name because it made no sense. True fact!
Did you know that dragons were actually just dinosaurs with heartburn and really bad breath? True fact!
Did you know that clowns are invertebrates? How else do you think they cram that many into one tiny car? True fact!
Did you know that kangaroo rats are not really midget kangaroos? They're actually just mice on pogo sticks. True fact!
Did you know that zippers are made by evil practitioners of black magic? No one else has any idea how those things work. True fact!
Did you know that pineapples are the most vicious, volatile, and violent vegetable? True fact!
Did you know that the Howling Horror-Beast of Halifax is humorously harmless? True fact!
Did you know that exorcisms are an easy Do-It-Yourself project? Since ghosts are comprised mainly of water vapor and an old bedsheet with two holes cut in it, all you have to do is pull the bedsheet off, and the rest of the ghost will float away into the sky. There it becomes a cloud and begins to precipitate, causing Dianthus flowers to grow. This process is known as Rein-Carnation. True fact!
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Lindsey Stirling: 1st Concert!
Tonight I went to my very first REAL concert ever! Lindsey Stirling was amazing! I didn't get to meet her, but I did get to meet Dia Frampton, and I got a picture with her. My computer is on the fritz at the moment, so until I can get the pictures off my camera, I decided to just write down some random thoughts I had during the concert. I'll post pictures as soon as I can.
Everything at the concert was so loud, you could litterally feel the music. These are a few of the thoughts that went through my head as I sat there.
This is Amazing.
My pants are vibrating.
Awesome!
I can feel this in my sinuses!
I think I'm in love. (With Dia Frampton) (But also Lindsey. :p)
I have the BEST headache!
This. Is. AWESOME!
I think I just went deaf. So worth it.
Everything at the concert was so loud, you could litterally feel the music. These are a few of the thoughts that went through my head as I sat there.
This is Amazing.
My pants are vibrating.
Awesome!
I can feel this in my sinuses!
I think I'm in love. (With Dia Frampton) (But also Lindsey. :p)
I have the BEST headache!
This. Is. AWESOME!
I think I just went deaf. So worth it.
Friday, May 30, 2014
True Facts! 14!
As I've mentioned before, last semester I took a social media class in which I was required to maintain a twitter account for the duration of the class. I decided that the theme of the account would be "True Facts!" and I steadily created new facts for the whole semester.
I really enjoyed coming up with new material, so I decided that I would not stop after the class was over. Instead, I moved the true facts to my personal twitter account, and I am going to be posting there as consistently as possible.
If you'd like to read all the facts as I post them, you'll find the twitter account HERE. If you don't have a twitter account, I will be posting the same facts to my blog's Facebook page, and you can find that HERE.
Today's post will be a mix of facts from my school twitter account, as well as some never before published ones.
Did you know that George Washington owned the largest cheese farm in Virginia? True Fact!
Did you know that corn is the only vegetable that is also a fruit? True fact!
Did you know that the alphabet was invented by mimes? They had to do something, no one understood their hand gestures. True fact!
Did you know that Teddy Grahams are dehydrated grizzly larvae? True fact!
Did you know that zebras think horses have absolutely zero fashion sense? Horses think the same thing about zebras. True fact!
Did you know that cows invented milkshakes? A herd found an abandoned trampoline and the rest is history. True fact!
Did you know that pickles are the most dangerous breed of cucumber? True fact!
Did you know that Band-Aids are the world's worst flavor of Fruit Roll Ups? True fact!
Did you know that elephants are masters of rhythmic gymnastics? Specifically the ribbon dance, using their trunks. True fact!
Did you know that kiwi fruits are actually the eggs of the kiwi bird? True fact!
Did you know that Pope Paul VI won the first Pope-mobile on The Price is Right? True fact!
Did you know that Glitter Zombies are the most fabulous breed of undead creature in the entire world? True fact!
Did you know that apples are wild, arboreal tomatoes? True fact!
Did you know that fossilized dinosaur bones are actually the skeletons of giant, prehistoric, carnivorous parrots? True fact!
Did you know that llamas are midget wooly giraffes? True fact!
Did you know that the Wooly Neck Constrictor catches its prey by disguising itself as a scarf? True fact!
Did you know that the popular fashion trend of wearing burnt earmuffs year round was started by a violent space princess? True fact!
Did you know that the reason Tigger can bounce on his tail is because he swallowed a pogo stick? True fact!
Did you know that linoleum is fossilized carpet? True fact!
Did you know that pizza was the world's first form of edible abstract art? Hand-tossed is considered both abstract expressionist, AND performance art. True fact!
I really enjoyed coming up with new material, so I decided that I would not stop after the class was over. Instead, I moved the true facts to my personal twitter account, and I am going to be posting there as consistently as possible.
If you'd like to read all the facts as I post them, you'll find the twitter account HERE. If you don't have a twitter account, I will be posting the same facts to my blog's Facebook page, and you can find that HERE.
Today's post will be a mix of facts from my school twitter account, as well as some never before published ones.
Did you know that George Washington owned the largest cheese farm in Virginia? True Fact!
Did you know that corn is the only vegetable that is also a fruit? True fact!
Did you know that the alphabet was invented by mimes? They had to do something, no one understood their hand gestures. True fact!
Did you know that Teddy Grahams are dehydrated grizzly larvae? True fact!
Did you know that zebras think horses have absolutely zero fashion sense? Horses think the same thing about zebras. True fact!
Did you know that cows invented milkshakes? A herd found an abandoned trampoline and the rest is history. True fact!
Did you know that pickles are the most dangerous breed of cucumber? True fact!
Did you know that Band-Aids are the world's worst flavor of Fruit Roll Ups? True fact!
Did you know that elephants are masters of rhythmic gymnastics? Specifically the ribbon dance, using their trunks. True fact!
Did you know that kiwi fruits are actually the eggs of the kiwi bird? True fact!
Did you know that Pope Paul VI won the first Pope-mobile on The Price is Right? True fact!
Did you know that Glitter Zombies are the most fabulous breed of undead creature in the entire world? True fact!
Did you know that apples are wild, arboreal tomatoes? True fact!
Did you know that fossilized dinosaur bones are actually the skeletons of giant, prehistoric, carnivorous parrots? True fact!
Did you know that llamas are midget wooly giraffes? True fact!
Did you know that the Wooly Neck Constrictor catches its prey by disguising itself as a scarf? True fact!
Did you know that the popular fashion trend of wearing burnt earmuffs year round was started by a violent space princess? True fact!
Did you know that the reason Tigger can bounce on his tail is because he swallowed a pogo stick? True fact!
Did you know that linoleum is fossilized carpet? True fact!
Did you know that pizza was the world's first form of edible abstract art? Hand-tossed is considered both abstract expressionist, AND performance art. True fact!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Life Update: ISU Year 1 done!
I decided to do a brief life update since I haven't done one in awhile. I haven't done much of anything on this blog in awhile. My computer actually is having problems at the moment, and I generally don't like using my iPad to blog. But since that's all I've got at the moment it will have to do. I bought a keyboard for it, so writing on it is not that bad anymore. I'm waiting for some stuff to fix my computer to be shipped to me. Hopefully that will take care of it. If not, I'll have to take it somewhere to be fixed.
In case you didn't know, I am now done with my first year at Iowa State. I am loving it so far. I got pretty good grades all around. One not-so-good grade, but also one very good one, so it kind of evens itself out. I took (a few) pictures and I plan to share them as soon as my computer is working properly again. Next semester I'll be taking a few more journalism classes, as well as introductory Spanish, and Photography. I'm hoping the photography class will start teaching me more about all the hundreds of settings on my camera that I have no idea what they do.
I also quit my job at the Ames Hy-Vee. I was getting barely any hours all semester. A couple of weeks I only got three hours. For the whole week. Which is not enough for anything. So I decided to cut my losses before going home for the summer and look elsewhere next semester. Right now I'm looking into getting a job at the campus bookstore. I've always loved the idea of working in a bookstore or library, so I hope it works out!
TomorrowI turn into a saggy pile of wrinkles and begin using a walker, drinking prune juice, and going to bed at 7:30. I mean, it's my birthday. I turn 28. Get off my lawn kids.
In related, happier news, my uncle is taking me to a Lindsey Stirling concert for my birthday on Saturday! I can't wait! It will be my first ever "Real" concert, not just a classical performance at the local high school, or at college. I will be bringing my good camera and praying it makes it through security. I want good pictures!
Well, that's about it for now. I'm still working at the Harlan Hy-Vee. I'm getting way more hours than I was in Ames. Later this summer my cousins and I are tentatively planning a trip to somewhere. We're still ironing out the details, but there will be pictures. I've been going to a bunch of movies, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Godzilla, X-Men: Days of Future Past, but I haven't written any reviews. Maybe I'll do that later on. There's still a few coming up. I'll be seeing Maleficent tomorrow with my cousins for my birthday. It looks amazing. I love new twists on old stories.
Okay, that's enough rambling. Look for another True Facts post tomorrow!
In case you didn't know, I am now done with my first year at Iowa State. I am loving it so far. I got pretty good grades all around. One not-so-good grade, but also one very good one, so it kind of evens itself out. I took (a few) pictures and I plan to share them as soon as my computer is working properly again. Next semester I'll be taking a few more journalism classes, as well as introductory Spanish, and Photography. I'm hoping the photography class will start teaching me more about all the hundreds of settings on my camera that I have no idea what they do.
I also quit my job at the Ames Hy-Vee. I was getting barely any hours all semester. A couple of weeks I only got three hours. For the whole week. Which is not enough for anything. So I decided to cut my losses before going home for the summer and look elsewhere next semester. Right now I'm looking into getting a job at the campus bookstore. I've always loved the idea of working in a bookstore or library, so I hope it works out!
Tomorrow
In related, happier news, my uncle is taking me to a Lindsey Stirling concert for my birthday on Saturday! I can't wait! It will be my first ever "Real" concert, not just a classical performance at the local high school, or at college. I will be bringing my good camera and praying it makes it through security. I want good pictures!
Well, that's about it for now. I'm still working at the Harlan Hy-Vee. I'm getting way more hours than I was in Ames. Later this summer my cousins and I are tentatively planning a trip to somewhere. We're still ironing out the details, but there will be pictures. I've been going to a bunch of movies, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Godzilla, X-Men: Days of Future Past, but I haven't written any reviews. Maybe I'll do that later on. There's still a few coming up. I'll be seeing Maleficent tomorrow with my cousins for my birthday. It looks amazing. I love new twists on old stories.
Okay, that's enough rambling. Look for another True Facts post tomorrow!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Music Mix
I was getting tired of the old "Video Blitz" title. I'm not even sure why I chose that word anyway. Blitz. It means attack. Was I attacking you with videos? Sometimes I wonder about me...
Anyway, I'm changing it. I'll have to think of something else if I want to share videos besides music, but since that's almost everything I share, I figured this would do for now.
First up, Peter Hollens and his wife Evynne, just released a Phantom of the Opera Medley, and it is SO good.
I have loved the music of the Phantom of the Opera since I first saw it, and this is one of the best covers I've ever heard.
Next we have Lindsey Stirling. She just released a new album, and this is the title song. It's her first foray into lyrical songwriting, and it is a great start! Plus, Lzzy Hale's voice is amazing! And no, Lzzy is not a misspelling. I looked it up to make sure.
The other day she also released an orchestral version of the song. It's just as amazing as the original.
I hope that someday she'll do a whole album of orchestral versions. I love all her dubstep and dance stuff, but these orchestral versions are awesome as well.
Next up is Dear River, from Kina Grannis's new album.
It is kind of strange, with an odd ending, like, what, did they get turned into children? Whatever. I like oddness, and the song is great. :)
Speaking of odd, here is my latest find, World Order, a male J-Pop group.
It's Japan, so weird is almost a given. I love it. I have all their albums. This song isn't on any of them though, which is a shame, because it's one of my favorites. BTW, the girl group they go see is another J-Pop group, AKB48, in case anyone cares. :)
Next is Ariana Grande's latest single, "Problem."
I am usually not all that into "Mainstream Music," but there is something about Ariana's voice that is just hypnotizing. I can't wait for her next album.
I'll end with another of Peter Hollens' videos. It's a year old, but I just found it, and I can't believe I'd never seen it before. I love it!
Anyway, I'm changing it. I'll have to think of something else if I want to share videos besides music, but since that's almost everything I share, I figured this would do for now.
First up, Peter Hollens and his wife Evynne, just released a Phantom of the Opera Medley, and it is SO good.
I have loved the music of the Phantom of the Opera since I first saw it, and this is one of the best covers I've ever heard.
Next we have Lindsey Stirling. She just released a new album, and this is the title song. It's her first foray into lyrical songwriting, and it is a great start! Plus, Lzzy Hale's voice is amazing! And no, Lzzy is not a misspelling. I looked it up to make sure.
The other day she also released an orchestral version of the song. It's just as amazing as the original.
I hope that someday she'll do a whole album of orchestral versions. I love all her dubstep and dance stuff, but these orchestral versions are awesome as well.
Next up is Dear River, from Kina Grannis's new album.
It is kind of strange, with an odd ending, like, what, did they get turned into children? Whatever. I like oddness, and the song is great. :)
Speaking of odd, here is my latest find, World Order, a male J-Pop group.
It's Japan, so weird is almost a given. I love it. I have all their albums. This song isn't on any of them though, which is a shame, because it's one of my favorites. BTW, the girl group they go see is another J-Pop group, AKB48, in case anyone cares. :)
Next is Ariana Grande's latest single, "Problem."
I am usually not all that into "Mainstream Music," but there is something about Ariana's voice that is just hypnotizing. I can't wait for her next album.
I'll end with another of Peter Hollens' videos. It's a year old, but I just found it, and I can't believe I'd never seen it before. I love it!
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