Saying Cheese with the Big Cheese

                 Waiting in the 30-minute line with about 100 other people seems like an eternity. It’s not the exhaustion from a long day of walking or the intense Florida humidity pouring in through the room’s open door that makes the wait seem excruciatingly long, but rather the building excitement of the moment. I turn my attention to the nostalgic Disney cartoons playing in the queue area to help pass the time. As I laugh at the clips of Mickey and his pals, my younger siblings roll their eyes at me and tell me to grow up. There’s nothing like a visit to the happiest place on earth to remind me what it’s like to be a kid again. Even as a 20-year-old who has experienced this at least 26 times before, I can barely keep myself from jumping up and down. This is the moment I look forward to every year.  I’m about to have my date with Mickey Mouse.

                This love affair with the Mouse started in my Disney-themed nursery when I was a few days old. I grew up watching the magical Disney princess fairytales and the cartoon adventures of Mickey and his pals on repeat. My dad likes to show the home videos of his own little Disney princess. In one vacation clip from my second visit to Walt Disney World at the age of 19 months, I ran up to Mickey and excitedly kissed him on the nose. To my toddler self, he was a familiar character in my life, like a family member. When my turn ended, I burst into tears, and Mickey chased me down the hallway to wipe my tears and give me one more hug. I was in love.

                People of all generations easily fall in love with Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney brought him to life in 1928, and since then Mickey has become an icon for innocent goodness, happiness and fun. He is eternally youthful and reminds everyone of carefree times. Watching a Disney cartoon or visiting the theme parks featuring Mickey Mouse as the star allows fans and guests to escape from the real world for a moment and enjoy life. In fact, more than 47 million people visited Disney World last year, taking part in the Mouse’s legacy. Some adults even come without children to relive their own childhood. Walt Disney’s company plan was to offer something for everybody, and the attractive, versatile Mickey Mouse proves to be a great vehicle for the task.  Even Robert Langdon, a fictional Harvard symbologist in Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol, embraces this Disney ideology and wears a Mickey Mouse wristwatch to remind himself not to take life too seriously. Mickey Mouse welcomes everyone of every age with open arms and regards each person as his pal.

                Because we live far from our pal, my family and I have made our Chicago home a shrine to all things Disney. Our basement walls are lined with family photographs from our vacations to the theme parks. A Mickey Mouse tea kettle is a permanent fixture on our kitchen stove, and Disney magnets cover our refrigerator on the first floor. A three-foot plush Mickey Mouse and a Cinderella Castle tapestry welcome guests to our second floor. My own room is no exception to the Disney décor trend. Disney snow globes, Precious Moments, miniature posters and Mickey and Minnie Mouse stuffed animals I’ve had since my toddler years bring the magic home. Even when I leave my house, I always wear my Mickey Mouse wristwatch and carry the personalized Mickey Mouse keychain my dad made for me, taking the magic wherever I go. Even when I’m not with the Mouse, I carry him in my heart and eagerly anticipate my return to him.

                I can’t wait for a hug from my pal. A smiling cast member ushers my family and me into the meet-and-greet area where Mickey and his girlfriend Minnie Mouse await.  I eye the couple excitedly as I wait for the families in front of me to finish their turn. When my turn finally comes, I hand my mom my camera and rush into Mickey’s arms. A wave of joy washes over me, and I can’t keep the smile off my face. I reunite with my best friend.  

Thank you

According to the cool stats on blogger, this blog hit 50 pages views last month.
This includes viewers from the US, Russia, Denmark, Australia, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Romania and Singapore.

I'm so overwhelmed by this reach of readership, and I'd like to thank every single one of you for taking the time to take a look at my page. I'm incredibly flattered.

Please feel free to comment on my blog, whether you're make a comment related to a post or just saying hi.

On a separate note, you may have noticed a change in the blog. I added a new background and color scheme today and changed the title of my blog. I chose the name "These Dreams" after the awesome song by Heart because I feel that it reflects more of me. Although this blog started as a business venture to give myself some writing experience, it has grown near and dear to my heart, and I want to make it a reflection of what I have to offer the world.

Thank you for your readership.

Playlists- 20 Empowering Songs to Brighten Your Day

Photo source: stock.xchng user fangol.

Music is a powerful mood changer. The right song can turn a whole day around.

When I'm feeling down, nervous, lacking confidence, or just in need of a pep talk, I turn to these songs for comfort.

1. Party in the USA- Miley Cyrus
   This inspires me to be bold and confident wherever I'm at.
2. Just Dance-Lady Gaga
     No matter how bad the situation is, "Just dance, [it's] gonna be ok."
3. She Wolf- Shakira
    You have to let out your inner wolf and flaunt what you've got.
4. No Floods- Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga)
     "No 'mount of lightning or thunder, buckets of rain water, you can't flood this town. In a world unknown, you've gotta hold your own. And you can't stop me, you're never ever ever gonna stop me now."
5. Never Give Up on the Good Times- Spice Girls
     This one's a throwback, for sure. It's one of those songs that makes you wanna get up and dance, no matter what mood you were in previously. "Livin' it up is a state of mind."
6. Stand Out from A Goofy Movie
    It inspires you to stand out and be yourself.
7. Fearless- Taylor Swift
    The title itself gives it away. Don't be afraid to take chances.
8. Miss Independent- Ne-Yo
    Feeling like you can't do something? This song gives you the encouragement to do anything. Bonus, Ne-Yo thinks its a turn-on when girls do it for themselves.
9. Who Said- Hannah Montana
     I know, I know, Hannah Montana may not appeal to many people above the age of fifteen, but this song has an important message. No matter what anyone says, you have so much potential to achieve great things.
10. Go the Distance from Hercules
       Another wholesome message from Disney. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the movie, Hercules begins as a social outcast with a scrawny physique (but hidden strength) who finds out who he really is and works to become a hero. He could go the distance to find his hero's welcome, and so can you.
11. Beautiful - Akon
      This song is just full of compliments. When I listen to it, I pretend Akon's singing to me. It makes my whole day.
12. Better This Way - 7th Heaven
      This song gives me the strength to accept the situations life throws at me and just roll with it.
13. Starstrukk- 3OH!3
      Girl, you so hot you make the boys whistle.
14. Hold On- Wilson Phillips
       Another one of those songs that encourages you to hold on, because the bad times will always pass.
15. Tied Together with a Smile- Taylor Swift
      Even if the lyrics are a bit melancholy, but it reminds me of the inner strength we all have, such that we can smile even when the weight of the world is crushing us.
16. Just Keep Swimming from Finding Nemo the Musical
      On a totally optimistic note, Dory of Finding Nemo reminds us to "Just keep swimming...life isn't all that grim."
17. Firework- Katy Perry
      "Baby, you're a firework. Come on let your colors burst."
18. Rockstar 101- Rhianna
       This one came under my radar when it started appearing on the commercials for Nikita, a new show about a woman trained as an assassin. This girl looks like she can kick some serious butt. Rhianna's song reminds me of Nikita and inspires me to be a tough gal too.
19. Respect- Aretha Franklin
      Aretha has been described as a music queen. In general, she projects an image that is strong, confident, bold, and comfortable in her own skin. This particular song  by this strong diva encourages you to put your foot down and demand respect.
20. I Gotta Feeling- Black Eyed Peas
      It's a sign of good things to come. :-)

Hope these brightened your day.

What songs inspire you to do great things?

Music Monday!

 Coffee and Music by Cracking Jokes of Flickr

Happy Monday, Readers!

Because many of you went back to school today, I'd like to treat your efforts to a music break.

Music is a big part of my life. Lyrics and rhythms can take you away from the not-so-great things in life, give you the freedom to dance, and even give you the words to say what you feel.

For your musical enjoyment, I present to you five cool music tidbits (new and old) that made me smile today.

1. Glee Radio- I don't know about you, but I'm a Gleek. It's basically the glorified story of my life (because I was a band geek). Great storyline aside, the show features many talented young adults singing covers to classic songs that are sometimes even better than the originals. Glee Radio, an internet radio station, streams music performed by the Glee Cast as well as songs by the original artists covered in the show. There's nothing like these bubbly young voices to perk up your day. Listen here.

2. Pianotte- Tickling the ivories can be a very relaxing way to blow off some steam and channel your creative energy into a beautiful work of audio art. This website hosts pages and pages of free pdfs of piano music from songs you actually know. It took me a lot of shifting through free piano music sites filled only with classical music with titles I can't even pronounce to find this. Check out this treasure.

3. Mine by Taylor Swift- This sweet song that leaked August 4th quickly became one of my favorites. It's a sweet story about love and supportive relationships that I find to be very heartwarming, similar to the way Love Gives Me Hope makes me melt. This country princess released her music video "Mine" on Friday.
I love how her music videos actually visually tell the story of her songs, unlike those of other artists that have seemingly unrelated themes. This video has another cute love story featuring sweet moments of romance and a growing relationship over the course of a lifetime.

4. The Cure to Songs That Get Stuck in Your Head - as much as I love my music, hearing the same lyric in my head repeatedly for a period of hours or even days can get just a tad annoying. My cure is to listen to the entire song and get my fill. This article from KROQ radio suggests another way to clear your mind.

5.Audacity- This free download software is a relatively easy-to-use audio editing tool. I've been using it mostly to create custom ringtones. You can open an MP3 in the program and cut out sound clips until you have a text tone or ring tone that you can't stop playing. It's also good for changing sound quality on mp3s, putting together medleys, or creating a soundtrack for a video or slide show. The software is completely free (and virus free) to download, leaving no guilt for downloading it just for fun. You can get your free copy of Audacity on its official website.

With a smile and a song, may your day be bright!

What did you think of these links?

What are your favorite music treasures that you have found buried in the world wide web?

Apples in Stereo

Another article I wrote for my school paper. Apparently they only wanted to publish one of my articles this week instead of both.

Apples in Stereo is back again with another album, “Travellers [sic] in Space and Time.” The alternative pop group delivers a time-machine experience. Some songs, like “Strange Solar System,” offer glimpses of the future with out-of-this world topics and tons of synthesizer and voice modulations. Others, like “Hey Elevator,” are a blast from the past, featuring upbeat disco rhythms and groovy moods. Although the cosmic sounds and lyrics in some of the songs can be just a bit too quirky, others are more down-to-earth with a style similar to a song from “The Brady Bunch” and “The Partridge Family” era. Each song incorporates a variety of interesting sounds, giving your ear an acoustic buffet. “Travellers in Space and Time” has the potential to soar to new heights in popularity and revive the musical styles of eras past while bringing to the stage some futuristic flair.

Raymond v. Raymond

So I wrote this article for my school's paper. However, since I was quoted as a source in another article, the paper ethically could not print my article.
So, why let a good thing go to waste? Here's my review of Usher's new album Raymond v. Raymond.

Usher’s latest album, “Raymond v Raymond,” features songs suitable for everything from dancing to kissing your honey to “Making Love (Into the Night).” The artist’s smooth voice does not disappoint as he croons his ballads about love or the loss of it. His songs feature strong R&B beats that vary in tempo as Usher shows yet again that he can speed it up and slow it down. “Raymond v Raymond” also shares the mic with other notable voices, such as Nicki Minaj, Ludacris, will.i.am, P. Diddy and T.I., all of whom seem to have lower voices than the album’s main man. Don’t let the weak first track, “Monstar”’s, out-of-place techno background tracking turn you off. The rest of the album does not fail to bring to your ears the easy to listen to, fun to groove to music of Usher that we all know and love.

RIP Chet

Crime never seemed real to me until it hit so close to home. I'd seen it in the movies, heard about it in the news and was even paranoid that it would happen to me, but it never seemed real, not really. My neighborhood is what I have in the past described as a "sleepy little town." Though on the outskirts of the third biggest city in the country, my neighborhood is usually quiet, and nothing that interesting ever happens. In recent years, we've had some suicides and a gang-related shooting, but major crimes are usually few and far between.

On March 29, 2010, crime became more real to me. The man who lives across the street from me was found stabbed to death. His body was found on a residential street about a mile from my home. He was stabbed to death and found near (or in?) his running car. The police have not released much more information, and I dare not post my speculations like others are doing on the comment section of news websites. My neighbor was so young and will be missed.

In today's post, I'd like to take a few moments to remember my neighbor.

I've known this man for more than five years. My parents guesstimate that he and his wife moved in when I was in seventh grade. Over the years, he became my sister and I's favorite neighbor.

My earliest memory of him was in my freshman or sophomore year of high school. As my mom was leaving to take me to school one morning, we found that my neighbor's car had gotten stuck in the snow outside our house. Although we had barely had any contact with him before, we thought we'd go play superwomen and give him a push. My neighbor, who was a man, felt bad having two women push, so he had my mom "drive" his car while he and I pushed. While my mom was freaking out about his fancy car sliding around in the snow with her in the driver's seat, I slipped in the snow and landed on my hands and knees while trying to push the car. My neighbor freaked out and was like, OMG ARE YOU OK? Haha, of course I was. My mom changed spots with my neighbor, and we got him out of the snow.

So, after that, I started seeing my neighbor more often. He'd always say hi to me and ask me about my life. Usually he'd make a joking comment, like asking me if I was on my way to a party at nine in the morning.

My sister and I found it absolutely hilarious that this neighbor was totally unhandy. As a young man, he should have been capable of mowing his own lawn and shoveling his own snow. Instead, my sister and I found it absolutely hilarious to find landscapers mowing his lawn, his father-in-law watering his lawn, and his wife shoveling his snow. Such incidents earned him the title of lazy in our house (jokingly, of course). It got to the point that my sister and I would give him standing ovations and cheer when he took in his own mail.

Recently, my mom, sister and I watched my neighbor do some gutter work. With the help of his father-in-law, he leaned a ladder against his house and started climbing toward the gutter. Having seen my dad do this hundreds of times, my mom exclaimed that the ladder was not tilted at the proper angle, and that he and the ladder would end up falling backwards. As we three onlookers were torn between recording an "America's Funniest Home Videos" moment or yelling out the window to him, his father-in-law told him to get down, flipped the ladder completely over (apparently it had been upside-down), and began to climb the ladder himself. This, of course, brought on the LOLs as we were amused by my neighbors lack of handyman skills.

The weird part is that I had just seen my neighbor a couple days before he died. We had waved to each other while he was leaving for work and me for school, which happened most mornings anyway. His death hasn't really hit me yet. I found out about the funeral hours after it had ended, so I didn't get my chance to say good-bye. Some days, I still expect to see him around. I just can't believe he's gone.

I hope the police crack the case and catch the person responsible. The sick people in this world hurt so many lives by ending the life of one.

RIP Chet, you will be missed.

Eternal rest grant unto him, o Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May saints and angels lead you on, escorting you where Chirst has gone.
Amen.

(Photo courtesy of legacy.com)