Saturday, May 22, 2010

Where (in the United States) should I move?

I live in Portland (Oregon), but I would prefer to live in another city by early next year. I am not going to say that Portland is a bad city, but I am a bit tired of the gray skies and rain from October to early June and the lack of restaurants/businesses open on Sundays and after 9 pm.





My requirements: more than 125,000 people; wide variety of restaurants and shopping centers; selection of things to do (other than bars) after 10 pm; affordable (no more than $800/month for a studio apartment); and accessible locations (not having to drive twenty miles to the nearest supermarket or restaurant).





I can handle snow, but I would prefer to live where it does not threaten to rain every day during the fall and winter. I can tolerate warm weather, but I prefer dry heat instead of humidity.





I am not that interested in living in the South (except for perhaps Texas), and I cannot afford NYC or San Francisco. If I could, I would easily pick San Francisco.





Where should I move?

Where (in the United States) should I move?
Texas is my number one choice, South Texas where I'm at right now I'm right by the Gulf and it's just incredibly gorgeous and awesome here also I live 7 miles from Mexico Very economical to live here. If you prefer less humid San Antonio, Texas or Austin, Texas There both great cities and lots to do and the weather it just superb.
Reply:Well San Francisco is out is over a $1000.00 per month for a room alone.


I would move to Dallas, I have lived there it is great! There's plenty to do, lots of great restaurants and its very affordable, much cheaper than Portland.


I have lived in a lot of places Dallas has been the best yet. Houston has good areas next to bad ones (neighborhoods) Dallas is segregated by social-economic class (your neighbors homes cost about the same as yours, LESS CRIME)
Reply:I can't tell you where to move, but I can tell you where not to... don't movie to Michigan.


We only have 4 months of nice weather, it's cloudy about 50% of the time, and the winters are terrible. It's quite humid in summer months as well. Above all, the economy really sucks There are no jobs here. The state government is horrible.... In fact, I can't wait to leave.





Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live here!
Reply:I live in Texas and it's great here.





Some cities to look at:


Dallas


Ft Worth


Lubbock


Abilene


Houston


Austin


San Antonio





Those are pretty much the larger cities here that you could look at. The suburbs of any of these are also great.


Funny! Please awnser! Pick the mounth of your brithday, the date of your birthday and your hair color please!?

Febuary: I love my mom


January: with the hamster!


March: my food got beaten.


April:Britney Spears is not crazy!


May: Hannah Montana and I are friends.


June: I hate iCarly for ever.


July: Toilet poop.


August: I ate pie.


September: My paper


October: in snow


November: the nose


December: Tenesse charmer


1:On the floor.


2:Ouch!


3:So then the marshmellow ran away.


4:totally


5:Loving My Mom


6:Went on


7:Then peed


8:In a river


9:No she is


10:Loving


11:Randy Rackson


12:Miley Cyrus is really nice!


13:I nicer.


14:We all eat.


15:Selitis.


16:Then the guy was all like pee on it and I was like no!


17:I am demented in my own special way!


18:18 duh!


19:Chef ate


20:socks ran away


21: Walla


22:Fishes followed me


23:Ew


24:Dang!


25:Computer obsessed.


26:She's the best. I love her.


27:The monkey jumped on my


28:E


29:Then my poop dropplets spilled.


30:So I said please!


31:My peirs!


Blonde Or Brown: Kissing.


Black Hair: The nerd.


Other: He said woa babe fat chubby

Funny! Please awnser! Pick the mounth of your brithday, the date of your birthday and your hair color please!?
December, 24 hair color blonde/brown.
Reply:this is on myspace(not funny)=[

my rodents

Answer these plz?easy?

Part One


1) Which state was one of the original 13 colonies?


A South Carolina


B California


C North Dakota





2) How many states does the US have?


A 49


B 50


C 53





3) Who did the United states buy the state of Alaska from?


A The UK


B Australia


C Russia





4) What three products does the US get from Alaska?


A Lumber, boats, gasoline


B Lumber, oil, and crab


C Snow, bears, wolfs





5) Who was the first president of the US?


A Abraham Lincoln


B George Washington


C Lyndon Johnson





6) What is the United States motto?


A We trust the people


B Do your best


C In god we trust





7) What declaration declared America free from Great Britain?


A The Declaration of Independence


B the Declaration of Judgment


C the Doctrine of Free Will





8) How many states are on the same body of land as the United States.


A 50


B 34


C 49





9) What Ocean is at the Western Coast of the US?


A The Atlantic Ocean


B The Pacific Ocean


C The Gulf of Mexico








10) Which country’s does the US border with?


A) Puerto Rico


B) Mexico


C) Mexico and Canada





11) When was the Independence from Great Britain Declared?


A June 3, 1989


B July 4, 1776


C March 23, 1723





12) What is the Capital of the US?


A Washington DC


B New York


C Boston




















Part Two


1) When was the first atomic bomb used?


A In the Civil War


B In WWII


C It has never been used before





2) When did the California gold rush start?


A 1978


B 1876


C 1849





3) What were the two sides during the Civil War


A Rednecks and the Patriots


B Poor and Rich


C Rebels and the





4) Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?


A he was one of the presidents of the US


B he did a lot of charity work for the homeless


C he fought segregation and discrimination against Afro-Americans.





5) When did Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous speech “I have a Dream”?


A in 1989


B in 1963


C in 1909





6) When was the world trade center hit?


A September 19, 2000


B September 11, 2001


C November 11, 2001





7) Who is vice-president of the US?


A Richard Cheney


B Patrick Dimpsey


C John Roberts





8) When did United States population hit 300,000,000 ?


A in 2007


B in 2006


C this year





9) Which are the 3 most populated city’s in the US?


A New York, Huston, Washington DC


B Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles


C New York, Los Angeles, Chicago





10)What is the second most used language in the US?


A Italian


B French


C Spanish





11) The most popular sport in the US is?


A Baseball


B American football


C Basketball





12) New York is also called…


A The Big Cherry


B The Gold City


C The Big Apple

Answer these plz?easy?
1. A


2. B


3. C


4. I'm guessing A


5. B


6. C


7. A


8. C


9. B


10. C


11. B


12. A





Part 2


1. B


2. C (actually 1848)


3. C


4. C


5. B


6. B


7. A


8. I think B


9. i think B


10. C


11. B


12. C
Reply:Part One


1) Which state was one of the original 13 colonies?


A South Carolina


B California


C North Dakota


Answer: A


2) How many states does the US have?


A 49


B 50


C 53


Answer:B


3) Who did the United states buy the state of Alaska from?


A The UK


B Australia


C Russia


Answer:C


4) What three products does the US get from Alaska?


A Lumber, boats, gasoline


B Lumber, oil, and crab


C Snow, bears, wolfs


Answer:B


5) Who was the first president of the US?


A Abraham Lincoln


B George Washington


C Lyndon Johnson


Answer:B


6) What is the United States motto?


A We trust the people


B Do your best


C In god we trust


Answer:C


7) What declaration declared America free from Great Britain?


A The Declaration of Independence


B the Declaration of Judgment


C the Doctrine of Free Will


Answer:A


8) How many states are on the same body of land as the United States.


A 50


B 34


C 49


Answer: C


9) What Ocean is at the Western Coast of the US?


A The Atlantic Ocean


B The Pacific Ocean


C The Gulf of Mexico


Answer: A


10) Which country’s does the US border with?


A) Puerto Rico


B) Mexico


C) Mexico and Canada


Answer:C


11) When was the Independence from Great Britain Declared?


A June 3, 1989


B July 4, 1776


C March 23, 1723


Answer:B


12) What is the Capital of the US?


A Washington DC


B New York


C Boston


Answer:A





Part Two


1) When was the first atomic bomb used?


A In the Civil War


B In WWII


C It has never been used before


Answer: B


2) When did the California gold rush start?


A 1978


B 1876


C 1849


Answer:C


3) What were the two sides during the Civil War


A Rednecks and the Patriots


B Poor and Rich


C Rebels and the


Answer:B


4) Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?


A he was one of the presidents of the US


B he did a lot of charity work for the homeless


C he fought segregation and discrimination against Afro-Americans.


Answer:C


5) When did Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous speech “I have a Dream”?


A in 1989


B in 1963


C in 1909


Answer:B


6) When was the world trade center hit?


A September 19, 2000


B September 11, 2001


C November 11, 2001


Answer:C


7) Who is vice-president of the US?


A Richard Cheney


B Patrick Dimpsey


C John Roberts


Answer:A


8) When did United States population hit 300,000,000 ?


A in 2007


B in 2006


C this year


Answer:B


9) Which are the 3 most populated city’s in the US?


A New York, Huston, Washington DC


B Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles


C New York, Los Angeles, Chicago


Answer:C


10)What is the second most used language in the US?


A Italian


B French


C Spanish


Answer:C


11) The most popular sport in the US is?


A Baseball


B American football


C Basketball


Answer:B


12) New York is also called…


A The Big Cherry


B The Gold City


C The Big Apple


Answer:C





IT WAS FANTAWESOME
Reply:No.


Can you read this short poem and answer two questions for me Please?

By June our brook's run out of song and speed.


Sought for much after that, it will be found


Either to have gone groping underground


(And taken with it all the Hyla breed


That shouted in the mist a month ago,


Like ghost of sleigh-bells in a ghost of snow)—


Or flourished and come up in jewel-weed,


Weak foliage that is blown upon and bent


Even against the way its waters went.


Its bed is left a faded paper sheet


Of dead leaves stuck together by the heat—


A brook to none but who remember long.


This as it will be seen is other far


Than with brooks taken otherwhere in song.


We love the things we love for what they are.





4. What does the author mean when he says:


We love the things we love for what they are.


In life, most things are not what they appear to be.


If you truly love something, you must accept everything that thing has to offer.


Love is the most powerful emotion on earth.


Love should not be unconditional.





5. Using details from "Hyla Brook," compare and contrast the observations of the speaker in May and in June.

Can you read this short poem and answer two questions for me Please?
4. The author means that love like the brook has its flourishing seasons and its dry ones, and it is important to love both seasons just the same as you love the flaws of someone and their good qualities. The author means to say that in love and in the world you should take in the pages of the book not just it's cover.


5. In contrast of May the author lets the reader infer that the brook was filled with water because


(And taken with it all the Hyla breed


That shouted in the mist a month ago,


Like ghost of sleigh-bells in a ghost of snow) refers to the water carrying away the Hyla breed (maybe a flower or something?) and that the mist is from the water going fast and lifting the water in the air or the heat creating a mist from the water. Unlike May, June is said to have run out of "song" the waves you hear when it is running and "speed" the normal flow of the water decreased. As well it is said that the bed is a faded paper sheet and dead leaves stick together by the heat meaning that the riverbed is dried out and that the dried leaves line the bottom of it. In comparison May and June are both loved by the author because at the end he says "we love things for what they are" which means that to him during May and June the brook is beautiful no matter the differences the season create upon it.


Losing a friend!!!! help!?

well, im losing a friend, not from death, but he is moving. he moved to this town maybe 3 or 4 years ago and now, sometime from now to june, they are buying a house in a city maybe 40 miles away. we became close friends right away, during the spring and summer he moved here, and got close, that summer was the best of my life, and every summer we hang out. not so much during the school year, he goes to a different school, i go to a public, so does he but across town. anyways, for the past 3 summers, once the snow melts, we hang out. alot, and have a lot of fun but now he is moving. so it wont be until end of may early june until they move, i dont think, and i want to be able to have him remeber me. hes nice, and im gonna miss him so much. no other people who are my friends live around me and im gonna miss him and he said he will miss me to, sounds gay but whatever. so how am i gonna cope? what can i do before he leaves thats fun and will maked him remember me??? thanks

Losing a friend!!!! help!?
Do the fun stuff that you guys like together, so that you can have more nice memories. But also, there's email and webcam and stuff. I had to leave my friends behind, and I miss most of all my best friend, and I traveled even farther than your friend is traveling. But you can still keep in touch. My best friend and I are still best friends, and still know everything there is to know about each other. Stay in contact with each other, on the phone, email, wtvr. So far with my and best friend, we're still really close friends, and its been like 4 years now since I moved, but that's how we communicate with each other. Hopefully we will see each other again some day, and hopefully you and your friend will, too.
Reply:This kind of happened to me...My friend moved to NY, I miss her a lot too. You could maybe before he moves, take him to do all of his favorite things...You can always send him card on Holidays or just whenever you want to say. I call my friend once a month to hear her voice..It helps a lot. You could also try that...emails, letters everything....Just try to keep in touch....You and him should always be friends....A house away, or a million houses away.


Best friend?? please help?

well, im losing a friend, not from death, but he is moving. he moved to this town maybe 3 or 4 years ago and now, sometime from now to june, they are buying a house in a city maybe 40 miles away. we became close friends right away, during the spring and summer he moved here, and got close, that summer was the best of my life, and every summer we hang out. not so much during the school year, he goes to a different school, i go to a public, so does he but across town. anyways, for the past 3 summers, once the snow melts, we hang out. alot, and have a lot of fun but now he is moving. so it wont be until end of may early june until they move, i dont think, and i want to be able to have him remeber me. hes nice, and im gonna miss him so much. no other people who are my friends live around me and im gonna miss him and he said he will miss me to, sounds gay but whatever. so how am i gonna cope? what can i do before he leaves thats fun and will maked him remember me??? thanks

Best friend?? please help?
i had the same problem. i lived in ohio and i was moving to indiana. and if that wasn't bad enough, my best friend said she was moving to texas, which made the thought of me visiting her from IN to OH get smashed.


anyways, it's hard to cope. but there are so many ways to communicate with him. IM, phone, e-mail, letters. as for what you can do, just go around town to all your favorite hang-outs, take pictures and record videos if you have a digital camera, and make sure he has all the things he needs to contact you. (address, screenname, e-mail adress, number, ect.)


i'm sure you can still have lots of fun. plus, you guys could get myspaces if you don't already have one and communicate that way.








goodluck:D
Reply:whoever you met, you are to be dismissed!


whatever you had, you are to be lost!


whenever you were born, you are to be dead!
Reply:make new friends.

poison ivy

I need advice .. I'm 6 months pregnant (1st) and am unsure if I should leave my boyfriend and move back home?

In Oct. 2006 we (both 31yrs) rented his parents empty 3 bdrm home. In June 2007 his brother (24) broke up with his girlfriend of 8yrs and needed to save money. My boyfriend said no but I said okay, it was only going to be short term and he's family.





He has helped clean the house once. when he does his laundry, he leaves the fabric sheet on the floor for me to pick up. When he cooks, he leaves his dishes for me to clean. He is on our computer constantly. He broke our DVD player. Now he doesn't say hello or goodbye or us when coming or going, even when were right there. In Feb 2008 when we came home from the doctors, my boyfriend asked his brother to help with the snow; he started cursing and slaming the kitchen cabinets.





I wanted him out in Feb but it was winter, now my boyfriend is saying his brother doesn't have any money %26amp; wants to stay and he doesn't have the heart to ask him to leave by the end of June.





HELP ... I don't want to live like this but I love my boyfriend

I need advice .. I'm 6 months pregnant (1st) and am unsure if I should leave my boyfriend and move back home?
Well if he's working then it's ok like if he has a job. Otherwise, he's a spoiled brat, and you need to lie down the law on how you want the house to be run. Tell him that if he doesn't help out your leaving him for someone who will.
Reply:sounds like the brother needs to grow up. Tell you boyfriend that you have a baby on the way - you do not need to be taking care of his brother. Shape up or ship out. Period
Reply:You and your boyfriend should have a talk about the situation with his brother. He's probably feeling strain from the situation too. You've got to realize that's his brother, not a stranger. Its not that hes purposely trying to let the brother run all over you guys. -He's just in a tight situation. Have you involved his parents, since its their place you are renting from? It might take some kind of intervention to make the situation easier. I am sorry but I dont think the situation deems for you to walk out on your boyfriend. If you do that, you won't be helping yourself or the baby. and it will show the brother that he can get his way, or that you give up easily.
Reply:Go home. If he really loves you as you love him. he should come to get you back. If he doesn't show up on your doorstep within a couple of days, kick him to the curb. In other words, he doesn't deserve a lady like you. You would be better off, having your baby and starting your life anew. If he does show up, make sure that the brother is gone. Sounds like he is a jerk and with the baby coming, you don't need another child to take care of. Your boyfriend should have the guts to stand up to his brother and kick him out. Who knows what kind of stuff he is dragging into the house that could affect your whole future, your babies future and your boyfriends.


Why haven't you and boyfriend married? Sounds like he's getting all the goodies, without any of the responsibilities. Why buy the cow, when the milk is free? Just something to think about!
Reply:I ONCE HAD MY BRO LIVING WITH US,IT NEVER,NEVER WORS,YOUR MATE HAS 2 PUT HIS FOOT DOWN AND TELL HIM THE RULES IF HE'S GOING 2 LIVE WITH YOU AND IF HE CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES THERE'S THE DOOR,CAUSE YOUR MATE SHOULD ONLY WORRY ABOUT HIS FAMILY YOU AND THE BABY.NOBODY WANTS 2 KICK THEIR BRO OUT,BUT YOU DON'T WANT HIM 2 WALK ALL OVER YOU.
Reply:Your boyfriend is the first one who should tell his brother that it's time for him to leave. He can give him a two week notice. You need your privacy back. He's a lazy slob and contributes nothing to help out in the house. If your boyfriend refuses to talk to him, I wouldn't blame you if you moved back home. You aren't married and can leave whenever you wish.
Reply:talk to him, see if you both can meet half way, follor your heart, if you cant stand it and hes not willing to change i say do what makes you happy.


Heartbroken over a friend?

well, im losing a friend, not from death, but he is moving. he moved to this town maybe 3 or 4 years ago and now, sometime from now to june, they are buying a house in a city maybe 40 miles away. we became close friends right away, during the spring and summer he moved here, and got close, that summer was the best of my life, and every summer we hang out. not so much during the school year, he goes to a different school, i go to a public, so does he but across town. anyways, for the past 3 summers, once the snow melts, we hang out. alot, and have a lot of fun but now he is moving. so it wont be until end of may early june until they move, i dont think, and i want to be able to have him remeber me. hes nice, and im gonna miss him so much. no other people who are my friends live around me and im gonna miss him and he said he will miss me to, sounds gay but whatever. so how am i gonna cope? what can i do before he leaves thats fun and will maked him remember me??? thanks

Heartbroken over a friend?
I went through the same thing you went through. Most kids say their best friends are the people who they've been good friends with for most of their lives but my best friend has been mine for only two years now.


What I would do is not do anything to out of the ordinary that will make you remember the day to much because you'll just remember that day more then other days when you had each other to talk to the next day...do you get what I'm saying?
Reply:u should do a scrapbook and give it to him.. it would be adorable.. lol


well, there are millions of things u can do


u guys could get your nose pierced or something.. well.. or get in an air balloon. you guys can bungee jumping!! exciting


well.. maybe all the stuff im saying is a little extreme..


u guys can go to a circus or go on a short road trip.. or go camping..


idk
Reply:wow losing a friend is so hard. i'm sorry


How does this sound?

Hey, I recently sat down to the computer and started writing this, and I wanted to know what you thought about it. Be brutally honest, too! Thanks in advance.





I walked slowly up the path, disgruntled because of another Saturday that I had to wake up earlier than 1:00. But my father still insisted I come, even though I was a senior in high school and could make my own decisions. I looked down and realized that my shoes didn’t even match; one black and the other brown. I shrugged and continued on, wondering what the big fuss was all about. I remember thinking that my dad must have already hired somebody to replace Sandy. Man, I would miss that old guy. He was like the father I always wanted. But now he was gone, retiring in Colorado, he says. I would want to stay here, in sunny California. But no, he wanted snow. Fine, he could have all the snow his little heart desired, while I was stuck here with my dad. I guess that the fact that I could crawl out of my upstairs window and down to the beach was okay, but, still, I had to live under the same roof as my dad, and until I could move out, I wouldn’t be completely happy.


Or so I thought.


I approached the old, weathered steps that led to the office part of the aquarium. It wasn’t really open to public, but we jokingly referred to it as that because Sandy had always been bringing people here to see the marine animals and try to convince them not to pollute or not to go fishing or other nonsense like that. But I had seen some changed (or seemingly changed people) that had walked out of that doorway.


As the handle of the door twisted, I could almost feel the change in the atmosphere inside. I pushed open the door, heaving a little bit because I knew it always stuck.


“Um… red or yellow?” George, a guy who worked here and I had known all my life, asked. It looked like he was talking to the processor of the old computer we had been trying to fix forever. I was about to make a joke about his sanity when a lilting, musical voice answered.


“Red, please. Yes, that one, the one by your foot.” The voice sounded like it was suppressing laughter when George frantically searched between the mess of wires to find the right one. When he picked it up and held it out, a nicely tanned hand reached out for it. Her nails were long, but not too long, and manicured without nail polish. I was unnaturally pleased that she wasn’t one of those crazy, nail-painting girls. Who cares what color your nails are, anyway?


“Okay… try turning it on, it should boot up now. I wonder who the idiot was who attached all the cables, they were in the wrong places,” she called out to George as I flushed; I was the one who had connected all the cables. They looked like they had gone where I put them.


The computer whirred to life, a gentle hum on the newest processor in the building. Genius, that girl was great. We really needed all the programming on that to keep track of all the information that had been flooding in from our partners up in northern California.


Then a pair of legs was thrust out from under the desk. Nice legs, very muscular, well tanned, yet thin, too. Her flip-flops were slightly sandy, like she had just stepped off the beach. Then she shimmied out from under the desk, stood up, and tried to brush herself free of the dust that grew under there. Her face turned towards me then, just as if she had known I was there the whole time but was a little too busy to talk at the moment. Her eyes turned what seemed like the whole force of the ocean on me, and I felt like God had captured the waves and currents of the sea outside that building and put them inside of her. Crystal blue, they were stunning, and seemed to hold more knowledge and sadness than I thought possible for one human being. Yet they seemed like they were happy, too, and that they only hinted at the sadness that she had seen. I wanted to see her laugh right then, and I knew that I wouldn’t be pleased until I did.


“Hiya, you must be Justin! George was just telling me about you and the other guys who worked here.” So George had already told her about all the other boys who worked here. The other guys, probably so much more handsome in her eyes, would no doubt steal her away before I had a chance to hold more than a two minute conversation with her. Yet when she thrust out her hand for me to shake, I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to hold that warm hand in mine if we walked down the beach. I surveyed the rest of her outfit casually as she glanced around the office. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, and long strands of brown hair swept around her face, offsetting her white smile wonderfully. She wore a scooped out tank top with a bathing suit underneath, tied around her neck in a flouncy knot. Her Bermuda shorts fit snuggly, but seemed comfortable on her. A set of hand woven bracelets wrapped around her left wrist, and it looked like each of her friends had made one, judging by the different names on them. I was about to head out back to the tanks when my body took control of my mind. Before I could stop myself, I thrust myself to her, and my lips pressed on hers. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away like I thought she would. My first kiss, though no one ever knew I was a senior in high school and still hadn’t kissed anyone, and it was amazing. She closed her eyes then, and I was about to wind my arms around her waist when George smacks the back of my head.


“WHAT THE HECK, MAN?! What are you doing?” He was totally shocked at my outgoing behavior. Normally, I would stand at the back of the room. I was always alone at parties. Yet she felt like the one. The crazy sparks that were supposed to fly between two people when they first kiss did more than fly; they zigged and zagged through my mind until I thought I was going to collapse from the crazy joy that I got.


“Well, I guess guys in California are just more abrupt than Kentucky.” She giggled, but her eyes strayed to me with questions and – could it be? – a trace of longing. Her cheeks were flushed and her smile crooked, yet it only made her even more beautiful.


“If your dad finds out about this…” George trailed off, shaking his head dutifully.


“He won’t, man, not unless you tell him,” I answered, suddenly scared as to what my father would do. He had always been the protective type.


“Oh, so you aren’t normally like this? Or only when Daddy’s gone?” Her tone was lilting and sarcastic, but real curiosity burned behind her eyes.


“What are you talking about, girl?! This guy has never been the kind of guy to do that. He hasn’t even had a date in his life! Not that girls don’t want him, but he is just that way. Living with his dad all the time, I guess. I mean, look at him. Isn’t he gorgeous…” I cut him off with a quick glare. George rambled. A lot.


“Look, miss, I’m sorry. I really, REALLY, don’t know what happened, and I’ll do anything to make it up to you.” I was red and completely mortified. What did she think of me now?


“Don’t apologize. It was not exactly the romantic first kiss I imagined, but I think I… kinda liked it,” she said, and then flushed as she realized she had said it aloud. Did she say her first kiss? Or did I imagine it? Did I ruin it for her? Or was it more than she had hoped for? My mind was working over time when my dad came in.


His hair was graying badly, but he always tried to keep up his health. He jogged five miles on the beach daily, and I usually did, too, but I went in the opposite direction. He looked too business-type for California. No other marine biologist would walk into his office, ready to start checking on porpoises and jelly fish, dressed in a tie. I mean, really. His slacks were ironed perfectly, and he glanced disapprovingly at my uncoordinated shoe selection, and the girl who was still more of a stranger than I could imagine stifled a giggle as she followed his line of vision. I glanced at my shoes, only to see that hers were to totally different colors of brown, and two different styles.


“Justin, I see you have met Paige Abney, so now you can get to work,” my dad grunted, to the point as always, and even though I didn’t even know her name, I nodded. I turned on my heels and began walking to the back door that led to the tanks outside where all the wildlife was held. I glanced over to Sandy’s old desk and saw that she had already put her stuff up.


Her laptop was a white Apple version, and it looked too complicated for me. She had three novels, each wider than my head, stacked on top of each other, the top one with a bookmark sticking out of it. The spine of it said The Complete Collected Works of John Keats. Poetry, she liked poetry! We had too much in common. I wondered briefly if she wrote her own like I did. Then I noticed a pair of cheep sunglasses was hanging lopsided on her computer, and they had the little fake gem stones glued all over them. It looked like the type of thing you would see small children making at Arts %26amp; Crafts, but a picture was pinned underneath the glasses. It had four girls who were smiling and posing hilariously at the camera, all wearing the same kind of glasses.


Her bulletin board, like each of ours, was now posted with reports, memos, and scraps of random papers. But most prominent were the pictures. They were scattered everywhere, pinned up with every last thumb tack we had in the office. I slowed so I could look at them, though I only had the chance to glance at about three as I went by.


One was of three young teen girls (I recognized Paige immediately due to her eyes) at an ice skating rink, all leaning precariously on each other. Their faces were flushed, probably from the cold, and they all seemed to be laughing crazily. Her eyes didn’t hold the sadness they did now, but they were still just as knowledgeable. It shocked me.


Another picture was of a group of nine girls, each grinning hugely, and the tallest one holding a shorter one in her arms. Paige was peeking out behind a girl with glasses, and had her arm draped around the shoulder of another with freckles. You could see how easily they commingled, lounging against each other in the bright sunlight.


The last picture that caught my eye as I went by was one of Paige and five other girls. Their names were scrawled on the picture in elegant script, and it looked recent. They were all lounging on the back of a house boat. The names were: Paige, Cassidy, Whitney, Anne, Kaitlyn, and Emily. I presumed these were all her best friends, and in the corner was the date: June 23, 2007. Only two months before the present date. She must have been heartbroken to leave them. I could only shake my head and wonder.


“Hey, wait for me!” Paige called, and I thrilled at her touch when she laid her hand lightly on my shoulder. “Your father wanted you to show me around since I am going to be working here for a while,” she whispered, “but I just wanted to come anyway.” Her smile was slightly teasing, but mostly curious. I tried to shrug nonchalantly, yet I could almost feel her disbelief in my casual acts.


“Okay, then I get to show you what I do most of the time.” She nodded, almost confused, and I laughed inwardly at the surprise I was sure to see on her face.


We opened the back door, and she cringed as it squeaked, though I barely noticed that. I heard her mention something about ‘oil’. We walked on the small stone pathway that let from tank to tank, grass growing around the edges of it, and sand beyond that. Paige slipped off her shoes, one at a time, then picked them up in her right hand and grabbed my hand with her other hand. I was still wondering if I was in shock after the kiss and imagining this when she tugged me into the sand, giggling. Her toes splayed out confidently as she flitted across the grounds with me, and her chaotic expression made me laugh. Had I really just met her 15 minutes ago? We slowed to a walk, hers more bouncy than mine, and I savored the sweet breeze, bringing in salty air and that sea-like brine I lived for every morning. The sun baked my face, and I could already tell that I would still have the sun-induced hi-lights later in the colder part of the year. I turned to Paige when she let loose her hair, and I was surprised to see the layers fall all the way down her back, sun bleached streaks in hers, too. It was thick, and waved silkily as we trotted in the sand. Finally we approached the first tank.


“Okay, so this tank is my favorite. Now let me show you why,” I murmured close to her ear. Then I broke into a run and hopped up on the edge of the tank. I quickly stripped off my shirt and dove in. When I came up she seemed not to be looking at me, but to be looking at something behind me, a look of joy in her eyes. I smiled because I knew exactly what she was looking at. I dove back under and called with the whistle that was around my neck to the two shapes that were swimming together. They rushed forward to me, and I got lost as I did every time I worked with the two Harbour Porpoises. I could hear their soft clicks under water, and it made me want to burst with joy just looking at their joy. They were such free creatures.


I came up for air and flipped around to explain to her their names, only to find her slipping off her tank top and shorts, in her bathing suit only. My mind went into shock at the sight of her in a bikini. W-o-w. She crawling onto the edge, and dove right in, perfect swan dive all the way. She swam under the water, not at all on top of the water in the free style stroke I swam. She swam peacefully, not in any hurry, and I admired the way her hair flowed out behind her, becoming threads of silk all woven together. She didn’t come up for air once until she got to me.


“Harbour Porpoises! I have never got to work with and porpoises before! Only Dolphins. My boss said that when I got out of college he would think about it, so I moved out here. I’m heading off to be a freshman at DeVry University. Here at Long Beach, too. I thought it was the best place to go, since I love the west coast. Plus, now I can work here without having to worry about driving so far to school. Will you be a sophomore?” She was so happy, just babbling on, and I was so shocked. She would be going to the same school I was. She would be a freshman like I was. Would she be as shocked as I was?


“I… uh… whoa…” I couldn’t say anything. Today was turning out to be the luckiest day ever.


“Justin?! Are you okay?” Paige looked nervous at my blank stares.


“Yes! I’m great! Better than great!” I burst out with. A grin slowly spread across my face and I pulled her thin waste to me and kissed her again with new enthusiasm and I greater hope for a happy ending than I ever had in my life before. I didn’t care if she hated me for going at it a second time. I didn’t care if she hated me for not even knowing anything about her before kissing her like this. I didn’t care, because it all felt just so right for once in my life. Then she wrapped her arms around me neck and pulled closer, like she too needed the comfort that I sought with her. Her lips her slightly parted as were mine, and I breathed in the heady scent that came off her smooth skin. I let my hands play across her hair, loving the way it slid easily through my fingers. Her fingers wound themselves in my hair, and they knotted quickly as she clutched to me, obviously wanting nothing more then what I wanted; to stay welded like this forever. I closed my eyes to enjoy the moment with all of my other senses when something rammed into my back. I flew forward into the water, pushing her down with me. I came up choking, but when I looked around, she wasn’t above the water.


“Oh no. Oh no no no no no! Paige!” I flipped around frantically, glancing through the clear waters of the pool, trying to see if she was on the bottom. She probably hit her head on the shallow floor, and I would never forgive myself if she was hurt. I searched in a mad daze until I heard a scream.


Not a scream of terror, but of joy.


I flipped around to see her hanging on the fin of one of the porpoises. She was being pulled towards me, and I smiled when I saw her face. But my smile faded when I saw the huge gash on her forehead. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that it was stupid to be in the tank without greeting the porpoises. They were so spoiled and needed the attention so badly that they would butt anyone in the back who ignored them. Though I had taught them myself how to pull people on their fins like they were now, they were still dangerous creatures if they wanted to be.


“Paige!” I screamed, and my frantic expression must have scared her a little, because her smile faltered, then fell of her face, as she noticed the warm blood trickling down the side of her face. She let go of the fin to reach up and touch her head and slid into the water. I swam to her swiftly, pushing my arms hard against the waters that pushed me backwards. When I finally got to her, she was pale and trying hard to breathe through her mouth.


“That was fun,” she laughed shakily, still breathing through her mouth. I guessed at that point that she couldn’t stand the smell of blood. It wasn’t doing much for me at the time, either.


“Let’s go inside. Now,” I was firm because I didn’t like the odd color she was turning. She seemed almost green when she nodded.


I was able to swim with her clinging to me back because, though she was easily as tall as me, she was very light. I lifted her gently up on the ledge and swung my legs over. Then I picked her up in my arms and cradled her to my chest like a young child. I was walking swiftly up the path, ignoring the way the hot stones burned my bare feet when she started shaking slightly in my arms, even with the heat. I brushed the hair out of her eyes and she smiled weakly. Her eyes were cloudy but she tried to stay focused.


“It’s my fault. Really, it is. I wanted to try riding them like I saw you yesterday when I came by to get the details on my job. But I didn’t know it was so fast. They just took off, and I couldn’t hold and that’s when I cut my head, when they dove under and I hit the bottom. I’m so sorry,” tears leaked over the rims of her eyes, sorrowful and pained, whether because of the pain or the remorse, I couldn’t tell, but I very gentle kissed the tip of her nose to calm her down.


I really needed to get to know this girl.


I kicked open the door and rushed inside, ignoring the gaping expressions from the two college guys who clocked in a few minutes after we went outside. They were always the ones with new girlfriends every week, and it shocked them to see me with this gorgeous girl. I kept on walking to the beat up fabric couch that we had in the back of the room so we could watch the plasma if ever we got to bored, which was often. Ever so gently I laid her down, and slid the only pillow under her head, gesturing that I would be right back.


George had been hunched over at his desk, typing away, when he glanced up to see why they gasped. His expression went from curious to appalled in record time.


“Justin, oh my gosh, what did you do to her, boy?” Of course, always assume it was my fault. I ignored him and ran to grab a wet cloth to lie on her forehead. I grabbed the clean one off the rack in the bath room and ran it under the warm water. I wrung it out a little and dashed back into the main office. I sat on the couch, trying not to shake it too much, and placed the washcloth over her head, dabbing gently to try and clean off some of the blood. The color wasn’t returning to her cheeks, which bothered me deeply.


“Carson, call the hospital. Tell them we have a head injury and they might need to come here,” My voice was sharp as I whipped orders to one of the college boys. He was the kinder of the two, and I knew he wouldn’t argue. He seemed to keep the girls for longer, whether he was more appealing or appreciated them longer, I didn’t know.


“Justin, I’m getting your dad,” George said, then dashed off before I could stop him. I sighed in defeat at what was sure to be the worst lecture I had ever gotten in my life.


“I don’t need any help… I’m fine, really… See?” Paige lifted herself up gently on the couch, and then swung her legs over the edge. Still holding the wash cloth to her head she turned to me and smiled weakly before taking two steps. On her third step, her face went bone white again and her knees gave way. She sank to the floor and I reached down to pick her up. My face was a mask of pain and worry, seeing as the only girl who had ever shown any interest with me would probably never want to see me again because I had put her life on the line. I cradled her in my arms again, and then tried to set her on the couch. But her fingers that had twined around my neck refused to let go. I reached up with one hand and tried to unlock her fingers, but she refused to unwind them. She still managed to smile slyly, and I sighed in defeat and sat on the couch, with her on my lap. She refused to let go of my neck, afraid I would leave; though that was the last thing I wanted to do.


Her nose was buried in the crook of my neck and my cheek resting in her hair when my father stormed into the room.


“JUSTIN!” he bellowed the second he caught sight of my head resting on her hair, and her face buried in my shoulder blade. It only made things worse. “What did you DO to her? You called the HOSPITAL because of a HEAD INJURY?! WHAT HAPPENED?!?!” His voice was threatening to reach new levels of maximum volume, so I blurted out.


“Nothing, I did nothing. It was that porpoise that you have scared to death out there,” I new it wasn’t true that the porpoises were scared, because I interact with them daily. I just used that card because I knew that they were terrified when he had taken them from the ocean uncalled for. I will always use that against him. Wild animals need to be left to be wild, free. He didn’t understand that, just like he never understood me.


“Justin…?” Paige mumbled into my skin. I turned back to her right as the door opened, with Carson leading in the local doctor, Doc, as we called him. I had visited him last time I broke my arm on the rocks by the beach. He was a good guy, and I knew he could help her.


“Shh, its okay, the doctor is going to take a look at your head and see if you’re okay,” I was talking quietly to her, almost as is she was a child, and she noticed. She looked up and smiled thankfully for my patience.


“Justin, you said head injury on the phone, so what happened?” Good old Doc, right to the injury. So I explained in brief what happened. Paige groaned when I got to the part of her diving under the water and hitting her head on the bottom. I casually left out the part of kissing in the tank.


“Mmmm hmmm, sounds like a possible minor concussion. But I can stitch her up here, if you would like,” he suggested, and I looked at Paige. She wasn’t scared, or was hiding it well if she was, and I questioned her with my eyes. She nodded once, and I nodded at Doc. Yet I about told him not to when he got out the needle he was going to use to stitch up the cut.


“Son, you might want to hop up while I do this,” Doc said, and I tried to slide out from under Paige. Yet her arms were clinging desperately to my neck, and her eyes were a silent begging not to go. I went to reach around my neck and forcefully remove her hands when the symbolism of it caught up with me.


If I really loved her, and wanted her, even if I knew nothing about her, I couldn’t leave her now, despite my fear of needles. But if I made her release me, then I was saying, in a way, that she didn’t mean that much to me.


And she did mean everything to me, this total stranger who made me believe in love at first sight.


So I grasped her closer, pressing her skin against mine, relishing the warmth, and shrugged at Doc. He looked at me with strange eyes, eyes that were finally happy, seeing me happy, like he had never seen me before. I bent down gently and pressed my lips against hers. My dad’s sharp gasp almost made me stop, but I realized that I should be able to make my own decisions. So I pressed my mouth lightly to hers, and she pressed her lips against mine, almost as if she was scared that if she wasn’t strong enough that I would leave. I parted my mouth slightly, once more wishing that this moment could be all that I would ever live with forever. I felt the corners of her mouth turn up slightly and I had to release her for Doc.


I couldn’t bear to see him put stitches in her head, even though I was sure that her bangs, cropped shorter than the rest of her hair, would cover them when he was done. I played with her fingers, lifting them slightly and learning the contours of how they rose and fell. Doc sighed and got up, so I presumed he was done.


“Well, I suggest that she not come to work for the next week,” her eyes flashed with steel and a possible rebellion against doctor’s wishes on that, “and that she take a couple of pain killers tonight. The stitches should actually dissolve after a while, so don’t worry about getting them wet. Be careful next time,” Doc threw one more accusing glare at me, and then walked through the door.


“I am not going to sit on my butt at home for the next week! I am coming tomorrow, I don’t care what that fancy shmancy doctor of yours says…” Paige was rattling on, so I assumed she felt better. I let her sit in my lap as everyone knelt in front of the couch and asked her what had happened and how it felt to have stitches. I listened to her musical voice, reminding me of wind chimes the way it rose and fell in a beautiful tone. Her cheeks were gaining their color back. Her eyes still looked sad, but not as doleful as before. They seemed almost preoccupied from the sadness that hung on her soul, the sadness I had sensed before I had even said a word to her. I wanted to take it all away from her, make her happy, even if I had to jump off a cliff to do it. She shifted slightly in my lap, but not farther away, rather closer to me but still angled so that she could talk to them. She let one of her hands fall from my neck, her fingertips brushing along my still bare chest when she let them fall in a way that made my breath catch and my heart race. She used her hands animatedly, waving them around while she talked. Yet she somehow managed to inconspicuously brush my cheek, or my hair, or my shoulders as she talked. Her eyes never glanced at me, but if I shifted, she did, readjusting like I was her gravitational pull. The way her breath, vanilla and mint all mixed together, tickled my cheek made me want to inhale deeply. She wore no perfume, but the fragrance just emanating from her skin made my senses go mad. Because she was still in a bikini, I could trace down her arms, lightly, so that no one would notice. I slid my hands down the small of her back, angling her again so that no one could see. I relished at the warmth she emitted, and traced my thumb down her spine once more while I spoke.


“Paige,” I whispered with my lips close to her ears. I saw her shiver, but not out of discomfort. “I might need to take you home now. You can show me where you live. I’ll drive your car and then walk home. How about it?” I asked, but my voice sounded more persuasive than just a question.


“That would be great, thank you. And thank you for this… exciting day,” She laughed lightly. She stood up, knees shaking slightly. I bent down to pick her up, but she waved me off, clutching around my shoulder instead. I wrapped my arm around her waste, hugging her to me for support. She waved a casual goodbye as we sauntered clumsily out of the office. Once down the path, she whispered in my ear.


“I think I’ll like it here. As soon as Doc says I can get back to work, we are trying that again. The poor porpoises didn’t know I was such a novice,” This girl, this amazingly reckless yet still timid girl, this girl who drove me crazy, this girl I wanted to know everything about, this girl drove me insane right at that moment; insane in the sense of this-is-first-love-so-I’ll-put-up-with-y... insane.


Where is your car?” I blew off her comment, inwardly shaking at the thought of having to repeat this whole ordeal.


“Over there,” she pointed casually as she looked sideways at my face. She really was quite tall, taller than most of the other girls I had seen around. She was only about an inch shorter than me, and I think I liked having someone my height.


I followed the line of her finger and stopped momentarily. Why was I not surprised that she drove a convertible? And not just any convertible, but a BMW M3 convertible, top of the line. I continued on down the sandy path towards the lot, but not before she misread my pause.


“I know, it is kinda shabby, but I like it,” she mumbled defensively. Shabby? Did she say shabby? Good grief, this girl’s parents must be money bags.


“Not shabby at all. Plus, at least your car runs. Mine is still stuck at a garage. Plus, I like the red.” I was teasing a little, but I really did like the color.


“You’re teasing me. You don’t like it, do you?” She sounded playfully hurt. I tapped her lightly on the nose with my finger before opening the passenger side door. She looked slightly disgruntled that I got to drive, but I ignored her. Walking casually around the front of the car, I wondered if this would be some of the last time we would have to talk about what happened today. And I wasn’t talking about her head injury. My fingers hesitated to open the door, afraid of the certain banishment I was going to get from her. I was afraid of rejection, and that was why I had never tried harder to get a girl. I didn’t want to be turned away.


I opened the door anyway.


I sat down quietly and then shut the door. Then all of a sudden she was on top of me, kissing me so roughly that I gasped. Her mouth was moving in earnest on mine, and her hands clutched the side of my face as if they could hold me there if I didn’t want to be there. But I did want to be there. I was just confused as to why she was suddenly passionate about the way she kissed; before it had been gentle, yet this was rough and desperate to make me understand. Yet I didn’t quite understand, especially when I felt salty tears slide from her cheeks onto mine, and her body being taken over by wracking sobs as she clung to me. I knew then that she wasn’t lying about her first kiss, because the way she acted as if she needed this to go on forever was completely understood, understood by me, the novice at relationships. I took the side of her face in my hands and lifted it gently up so that I could see why she was crying. Silent tears slid down her body as sobs continued to shake her slender frame. Through her sobs she managed to choke out words that made everything clear.


“I just thought… you were the one… as soon as I looked at you… I wanted to touch your face… then you kissed me… but I was sure… after you saw how stupid I was… in the tanks… that you… wouldn’t… want… me…” her fears, irrational as they were, took over once again and she buried her face in my chest. I clutched her hair and pressed my lips to it, and held her tightly.


“I never believed in love at first sight until today,” I whispered to her as I pulled her up to cradle next to my neck, “but you made me believe. You made me believe, you, this complete stranger, made me believe that I could find someone who would understand. And I will never give up on that. That rush of my blood hot through my veins because of you will never go away, even if you do. For the only way I will leave you is if you don’t want me anymore.” My voice was confident at the end, and she looked up at me with tears still in her eyes. Her lips brushed along my neck, up my chin, until she found my lips. It was ever so light, the way she brushed against my mouth. Like a butterfly, so elegant yet fragile.


“We might want to get you home now,” I suggested quietly, hoping to lighten the mood.


“Yup, that would be a good thing,” she said in a still shaky voice. I lifted her up gently, trying to reposition myself as I did so. When she had thrown herself on top of me, we had slid lower in the seat until her foot had hit the reclining button and it had slid back. She was practically lying on top of me. I slid her next to me, yanked up the seat, and the pulled her up on my lap delicately. I could drive like that, surely. She looked over her shoulder in question, and snuggled closer when I smiled at her. Her cheek was pressed against mine when I pulled out of the lot.


“So, tell me about yourself,” I said conversationally. I slid to the far left of the seat and let her slide down to the right since she was thing enough. Turning the steering wheel would be a problem if I didn’t.

How does this sound?
To be honest i am not actually going to sit down and read that so thanks for the 2 points...sorry
Reply:This is a very spellbinding and extravagent story. I am very content with the fact that I was able to read such tale told through the eyes of a senior that has neither experienced love nor has had any relationahips with the opposite sex. Report It

Reply:I thank you for writing this story (if you really did write the story) and I just wanted to say that I have been looking for a story like this. Report It

Reply:Summarize: The figurative language was both pure and beautiful, the story displayed humor, suspense, and, of course, romance. You have some grammar and pronunciation errors and you, sometimes, use the same adjective to describe a reaction a character has made. Report It

Reply:All in all: I enjoy reading the story, so, you better write more and continue the story... NOW!I want to read more and experience more suspense and, as well, I would like to read a tremendous sentence by you (once again). Report It

Reply:Suggestions: Add anything to the story to make it "more interesting". Put another girl in the picture to create jealousy, envy, hate, suspense, suspicion in loyalty, and realized realities – maybe the protagonist picks the second girl. Report It

Reply:Put anything you want; Overall, I want to read more of what you have to write. Report It

Reply:yea same here, but i just read the 1st paragraph. its good, it would be better if you added more details so that you can get the reader more into the book. or something,sry.
Reply:I'm with miss E thanks for the points


Math Question (4 Questions)?

1.) A football team has a 60% chance of winning when it doesn't snow but only a 40% chance of winning if it does snow. Suppose there is a 60% chance of snow. WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY THAT THE TEAM WILL WIN?





2.) The senior class is 62% female. 35% of the females play a competitive sport. FIND THE PROBABILITY THAT A STUDENT PLAYS A COMPETITIVE SPORT, GIVEN THE STUDENT IS FEMALE?





3.) The daily power usage for 6 days in June were: 51.8, 53.6, 54.7, 50.9, 55.2, and 51.1. FIND THE STANDARD DEVIATION FOR THESE DATA. WHICH DATA FALL WITHIN STANDARD DEVIATION FROM THE MEAN?





4.) Scores on an exam are normally distributed with a mean of 76 and a standard deviation of 10. In a group of 240 students, HOW MANY STUDENTS SCORE ABOVE 96?

Math Question (4 Questions)?
These are hard... *:-)
Reply:1.) 36%





2.) 21.7%
Reply:1)PROBABILITY THAT THE TEAM WILL WIN WHEN THERE IS SNOW IS





Prob of snow=60%


so the reqd probablity is 60%*40%=24%








2)PROBABILITY THAT A STUDENT PLAYS A COMPETITIVE SPORT, GIVEN THE STUDENT IS FEMALE





62%*35%=21.7%





3)calculate the mean





add 51.8, 53.6, 54.7, 50.9, 55.2, and 51.1. %26amp; divide by 6


=52.88





to calculate the standard deviation from


mean


n n-mean (n-mean)^2


51.8 -1.08 1.1664


53.6 0.72 0.5184


54.7 1.82 3.3124


50.9 -1.98 3.9204


55.2 2.32 5.3824


51.1 -1.78 3.1684


317.3 17.4684





sqrt[(n-mean)^2/N]


sqrt[17.4684/6]=sqrt[2.911]


1.706





standard deviation is 1.706
Reply:ans to ques1:: see the team will can in two cases


a) it rain and team wins


b) it doesn't rain and team wins





so as 'raining' and 'team's winning' are independent events therefore if


p1:probability of snow


p2: probability of the team winning without snow


p3:team winning with snow


p4: probability of no snow


therefore total probability is


p=p4*p2 + p1*p2


p=(1--0.6)*0.6 + 0.6*0.4








ans to ques2::probability =ways of selecting a female playing sport divided by total wayts of selecting a student





suppose there are 100 students in total





now its very easy.......ways of selecting a female strudent playing a sport are=girls playin a sport


=.35*62


and total ways are 100


so you got the answer.....i hope so





and ihv no idea of deviation my statistics is poor........so sorry for that

shoes stock

Prius in Winter and Total Cost of Ownership?

I am evaluating the idea of buying a Prius in June/July this year. But I live in Canada and we have normally 5 to 10cm of snow and -15 C of temperatures (sometimes pretty frigid temperatures). This would be my only family car and I can not afford only having vehicle for certain days/season of the year.


Also, I am worry about some complaints I have read on the internet about the Prius traction control system in slippery/snow conditions and unresponsive brakes and unintended acceleration in red traffic lights and highway ramps.


In addition, if I compare the total cost of ownership of a Prius with a Nissan versa hatchback CVT, for instance, seems to be cheaper the second one in the long run.


If possible, I would like to know some experiences and feedbacks in this regard that could help to make my mind.


Thank you very much in advance.


Rafael

Prius in Winter and Total Cost of Ownership?
Hi,





Right up front, we have two feet of snow on the ground, it's -6 F here today, and my stepfather's family was from Saskatchewan and Montreal (yearly visits), so I can understand your concern.





There are a lot of details needed to answer your question, so stay with me and we'll go through them one by one:





1. The big difference will be in mileage, obviously, and the figures can swing wildly, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.





First off, hybrids do get lower mileage when the temp gets close to freezing or below because the internal combustion engine (ICE) runs more to produce heat for the cabin. This is in comparison to warmer months when the ICE does not have to run to move the Prius. I lose about 4-5 mpg in the winter months, and they last about 5-6 months here.





But I still average 51.7 in year round driving, 65 mph highway and city mixed about 40/60. I can get down into the 30's or up into the 70's for mileage (using mpg), so how you drive is important.





Treat the accelerator like there is an egg under it and you're trying to roll the egg out, not make omelets.





Also, double the distance you normally brake. If you start braking at 100 feet (easy numbers), then take your foot off the accelerator at 200 feet and coast to 100, then press the brake gently to the stop.





These two basic techniques (there are more advanced hypermile techniques for when you get used to these), added to checking your tire pressure at least once a week with a digital tire gauge (throw away the cheapy stick gauge), will jump your mileage massively.





Use any numbers you want, but even the US EPA says the 2008 Prius gets 48 city / 45 highway (reversed because the Prius is a full hybrid able to run on electricity only in city driving) and the Versa with a CVT gets 27 city / 33 highway.





That is a difference of 21 mpg city and 12 highway more in favor of the Prius.





With gas at $3.00 a gallon, and using the EPA combined numbers of 46 for the Prius and 30 for the Versa, that means the Prius will cost you about .03 cents per mile less.





(3.00 / 46 = .065 and 3.00 / 30 = .10)





Not much difference, but at 12,000 miles a year, that adds up to $360 a year more, or $1800 more over the life of a 5 year car loan. That may or may not matter to you, but little things do add up.





2. Cold temperatures are not an issue for a full hybrid like the Prius to drive in.





Prius are torture tested from Death Valley to Alaska. Take a look at the dash and the touch screen on the Prius and you'll see easy buttons to convert the English and miles to either French or Spanish and kilometers. This is because the Prius is sold literally from South America up through Canada into Alaska.





Also, there is an insulated thermos container stored under the driver's headlamp that the hot coolant gets pumped into when the Prius is shut off. That coolant will stay hot for up to three days. The Prius starts the electric drive first, the ICE second at startup, and that hot coolant is pumped into the ICE by an electric pump to prewarm it and to provide heat for the cabin faster using the autotemp system (no cold air just blasted on you until the temp gets up into range).





The Prius' air conditioning and heat pumps (that move the heat from the ICE into the cabin) are not linked to the ICE, they are all-electric driven. So it is possible to sit in stop and go traffic with the air conditioning on and the ICE not running.





3. Deep snow can be an issue for any vehicle with traction control and, living in the upper midwest, I have had trouble with the system coming on and limiting wheel grip with the original tires.





My recommendation to anyone living in snow areas is the old school idea of switching to snow tires for winter months and then back again to the standard tires for temperate weather. That will make a measurable difference in your snow traction.





The traction control is fantastic in all other situations (sand, water, etc.), but the system does error on the side of being overly cautious.





4. As far as the brakes, the brakes on the Prius are actually stronger than standard brakes (get up to 4-5 kph and then stand on the Prius brake pedal and see how strong they are), but they are set up differently than regular hydraulic brakes because of the regenerative system.





One of the three ways the Prius creates electricity is by recapturing up to 29% of the braking friction using an electric motor called the MG2 (motor generator 2). This happens when you press the brake pedal, of course, but it does take some getting used to the different feel of the regen braking.





But if you had to hit the brakes hard in the real world, the braking combines with the stability control (I have stability and it is worth every penny of the slight additional expense) and you not only stop "right now" but the Prius keeps itself in a straight line to the full stop.





I have tried panic stops on empty iced-over roads, and you can feel the stability actually bring the rear end back in line, even if you kick the wheel over if you try and overcompensate.





The Prius has electric steering (no steering pump or steering belt) in addition to an electronic throttle and the computer controlled electric braking system. Stability control will actually cancel out oversteer, transfer braking force to the wheel(s) with the most grip, and cancel out throttle input so the engine %26amp; motor are not fighting the brakes.





5. As far as unintended accelleration, that would be an unknown to me. In almost five years of continuous driving of literally dozens of gen 1 and gen 2 Prius, Camry Hybrids and Highlander Hybrids, I have never had a Toyota hybrid accelerate when I didn't want it to, or in a way I didn't intend for it to.





6. On to the idea of cost for each, yes the Prius will cost more, but it is more vehicle. It is like comparing the Versa to the Accord, the Prius has more standard features and more available options than the Versa.





It would be cheaper to initially purchase the Versa, and if the Versa fits your needs and purchase price is your primary concern (nothing wrong with that), than buy the Versa.





However, as you say, this will be your only family vehicle and you want it to last and allow for growth of your family and family members.





They will be similar in interior passenger volume with the Prius slightly larger by about 1.5 cubic feet and the Versa slightly larger in cargo volume with the rear seats up (for family travel) by about . But you will need to see if the extra space really works for you. Saying one vehicle is larger here or there than the other will mean little if the vehicle doesn't fit you and your lifestyle.





7. There is no issue with the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery (just in case that is a concern).





There has never been a person that had to pay for a NiMH that failed due to defects or failure.





There have been NiMH replaced due to accidents, of course, and the occasional person who damaged theirs trying to modify the system (one guy drilled a screw right into his NiMH stack trying to install a big sub-woofer in the back). But otherwise, the current record is over 360,000 miles with the original NiMH and hybrid system.





Anything else is pure myth (it would have been all over the news if these things were failing).





8. Maintenance and upkeep:


- There is no starter or alternator in the Prius.


- As I said before, there is no steering pump or steering belt.


- There is no throttle cable or mechanical linkage for the throttle.


- There is no appreciable wear on the brake pads because of the regenerative braking system (one set of pics I saw showed no appreciable wear on a set of Prius pads after 108,000 miles).


- There is a CVT in the Prius that is not flushed for 90,000 miles.


- The coolant is a long life fluid (100,000 miles in temperate climates, less for both the Prius and the Versa in extreme climates like yours).


- Regular unleaded only.


- Scheduled oil changes at 5000 miles (I stay with 3000 with extreme temps).


- The hybrid system is self-regulating and self-maintaining, there is nothing to adjust, lube, or maintain.





There are many more items to be said about each, but really, it comes down to what you can spend, how much vehicle you need, and what options you want.





I would draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper and write what you need on one side and what you want on the other. Leave this alone for a few days and then see if your answers have changed. Only then would I see how these two vehicles fit your list.





Good luck with your choice.
Reply:Well, I live in MT and it can get pretty cold down here. Also I work at a Toyota dealership. We have sold a bunch on the Prius' and they all just keep going. Instant heat inside cabin area is pretty neat. Never heard of anything like you stated. They older Prius' have a available battery upgrade, which the newer Prius' have in them already. The battery was the only bad thing I heard of. In the states there is also the tax credit you can get for buying hybrid vehicles. Also the new Prius has increased in size...wider again..not like a Camry or Avalon tho. Buy it you'll like it, we cannot keep them in stock they sell so fast.......


Do you like these lists?

You know you’re a musical theater nerd if…..





You turn up the radio when ads for touring shows come on...





You know who Kristin Chenoweth and Jonathan Larson are...





You say "merde" whenever someone says "Macbeth"...





words like "intermission," "scrim," and "cue" hold a special place in your vocabulary...





to you, a facial is a clean pack of baby wipes after a performance...





you own more stage make-up than regular make-up...





even when you're not in your school's production everyone automatically assumes that you are...





when someone calls a show CD a soundtrack, you immediately snap back that it's an "original cast recording"!





You work out to Rent music at the gym...





You can relate anything to a showtune...i.e. someone mentions a shooting and "Cell Block Tango" comes to mind...





You're more concerned with the Tonys than the Emmys...





You know what that last one means...





Your coworkers/classmates, in a moment of pure boredom, ask you what you collect. you reply "Playbills" then you have to explain WHAT a playbill is. idiots.





When your friends asks "what do you want to do?" You can't just say "I don't know." You have to sing it, a la "little shop".





You actually sing all your favourite songs in the correct key because it just sounds wrong anyway else.





When you get in a fight with another MT fan you start naming the randomest shows possible to see who has better knowledge of off- Broadway, off-off-broadway and workshop only shows. You win, of course, with your triumphant declaration "No, Douglas Sills turned down DRS for rehearsal in New Jersey of The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T!" or something of the sort...





when you have to write a paragraph about the music you like in spanish class, and you raise your hand and say: "Senora, como se dice showtunes en espanol?"





you know that Gwen Stefani totally gets it.





when you use part of "La Vie Boheme" as part of your graduation speech.





when you're out past curfew, your mom calls the theater before any of your friends' houses.





You get stared at in the street when you and your friend are walking along sharing one iPod and singing Wicked at the top of your voices!





In your school production you are asked to lead the rehearsals as you know all the songs already and can pick up the dance moves in seconds.





When your music assessment is to write a review of your favourite album in 500+ words, and you pick a show album. And when you're barely started, it's already 870 words...





you know exactly how many minutes there are in a year...





Family friends buy you Broadway soundtracks for your birthday...





You keep ALL your programs from any show you've seen whether it was on Broadway or a local show with your friends in it...





You can convince your parents to let you stay home from school and still perform that night in your show.





Who cares about Bennifer? Idina and Taye are your favorite couple ever!





When you and a friend got so excited just because it was Broadway week on American Idol...





You know anything can be fixed with gaff tape, Mortite,


sculpt-er-coat, a sharpie, tie-line, a safety pin or enough staples.





"Practical" and "flat" are nouns.





You now hate Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz for making Elphie look so bad all these years





You know all the La Vie Boheme references, who they are, what they mean...





Your favorite 5 numbered code is 24601





Whenever someone asks you what the time is, your immediate response is "well it's gotta be close to midnight!"





Your room is painted green...maybe you subconciously dedicated it to Wicked?





You're smiling and nodding your head right now...welcome to the club.

































































YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM RICHMOND WHEN...





- You've taken a kid's class/gone on a date/played in the waterfall/taken pictures at Maymont. Probably more than once.


- You know what the 'pony pastures' is and know it really has nothing to do with either a pasture or ponies


- You know what Arthur Ashe has in common with Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson


- The kids with the multicolored hair and piercings are probably from VCU


- You've been to the midnight movie. Probably in your pajamas


- The landmark is STILL called the Mosque in your heart


- You know how to pronounce Parham and Powhite correctly... and get pissed when non-Richmonders don't.


- You know that by 'snow' we usually mean slush or ice... and that the entire city shuts down for it


- When you say 'The Braves' you don't mean Atlanta


- You can sing the Agee's bicycles song... and probably DO far more than you'd care to admit. You can also fill in this blank "when you're hurt, he'll come to you... call ______"


- You've been to Alley Katz, the Canal Club, or the Nanci Raygun (RIP)


- You've seen Carbon Leaf in concert


- You know that it's northSIDE and southSIDE... but east END and west END. And then there's just lakeside...


- It doesn't confuse you that the nickel bridge doesn't cost a nickel


- You remember when short pump was farmland, and probably ***** about big business ruining the landscape... but still go there on a weekly basis to shop/see movies. Except on Friday and Saturday nights. Because that's just suicide.


- You've been to Brusters and probably know at least 2 people who work there. Ditto for King's Dominion.


- If you're in it, you know its called The Club. If you aren't, it's CCV. And regardless, it's great sledding.


- You know it can be 70 d. one day and 40 d. the next and not think that's strange... but somehow, it's always humid.


- 90% of your senior class went to Tech, JMU, or 'The University'


- One word. Ukrops: where 25% of your school has worked as a bag-boy at one point in their life. And you know that on Sundays you're gonna have to settle for Kroger... and you don't even TRY to buy alcohol there-- cuz they don't have any.


- You know that y'all is an actual word


- You can go from high-end Cary street to Carytown to the ghetto in a matter of minutes


- You know the difference between Carytown, Shockoe Slip, Shockoe Bottom, the Fan, Forest Hill, and downtown


- You've been to Belle Isle or Brown's Island. And yes, you've gone to Friday Cheers


- You're sick of seeing confederate flags everywhere


- You know that Robin Inn isn't actually a hotel and The Tobacco Company isn't actually a warehouse, and don't get confused by that


- You probably know someone who's in the DAR or SAR. Or at least know what that stands for. And know that unless your mother/grandmother was in it, you have NO CHANCE of getting in


- You learned about Jamestown and Williamsburg and Roanoke in your elementary school history classes. Every year. And went on field trips to each at least twice


- You'll find pearl-laden, rainbow-wearing girls in Carytown just as frequently as those with hair dyed purple and nose rings... and not find it weird


- You scoff at subway and know that REAL subs (note, not hoagies) come from Stuffys or Bernies


- You know it's called U of R. Not Richmond. And yes, you've fed the ducks.


- You don't get weirded out when the roads suddenly turn to cobblestone and then back to pavement.


- You remember when Regency was the cool mall. And when you didn't have to fear for your life at Willow Lawn.


- You know which streets are one-way. Which, once you're downtown, are all of them.


- You know where the secret parking lots are in Carytown


- You can't go anywhere without seeing at least one person that you know or the person you're with knows


- You've been to the Watermelon Festival and/or the Greek Festival and/or Arts in the Park. Probably every year.


- You know the stupid stereotypes of all the private high schools... and can probably guess who went to what high school by just looking at them, even though there are like 20 different schools in the area...


- You know that if you go to St Catherine's or St Chris, you will be beaten to submission until you flip that hair and don those rainbows. And if you and your sister both go to St. Catherines, you better have 2 daisies on the back of that suburban


- You know of someone who's had a coming-out party. And know that doesn't mean they're gay.


- You've watched the fireworks at Dogwood Dell... or at least had a picnic there


- You can drive an hour from Chester to Hanover and still consider yourself in Richmond


- You know that you can arrive at RIC airport only 30 minutes early and still make the plane... and you actually EXPECT it to look totally different everytime you go


-Yes, you went to cotillion. Or at least know someone who did.


- You know someone who has worked, does work, or will work at Phillip Morris


- You know that ironically, the 'Open Door Christian School' was always the first to close on 'snow' days


- You've been to Sahara's or Alladin's... or have at least heard of them


- You were (or knew someone who was) an Indian Princess or an Indian Guide. And know that doesn't actually mean they're Indian...


- You know what the rivaH is... and know that it's probably more correct to say the bay


- You've been to the quarry


- You know the goodness that is Carytown Burgers and Fries


- You know that the country's capitol, the first English settlement, the hills, the mountains, and the beach are all about an hour away... but probably rarely take advantage of that... and still complain that there's nothing to do


- You remember the ibook stampede of '05


- 2 words. BOTTOMS UP. and you know that doesn't mean gettin drunk


- At some point in your life, you've gone paddle-boating at Byrd Park


- You've driven around the city on the tacky lights tour. And probably rented a limo and dressed up for it... and you don't think that's odd


- You've been to casa grande... and yes, you've had the casa vs chap vs cap argument. You've also been to Mexico... and you know that doesn't mean the country.


- You know all the clashes that happen between the extremely diverse group that IS richmond... but love it anyway


- AH yes, good ole RVA. You say you hate it but don't fool yourself...we all know you secretly hold a place for it in your heart.




















over a hard night, we decided that all musicals and songs from musicals would be better augmented if they ended with "In my pants!"


for example:


*76 trombones...in my pants!


*hair...in my pants!


*litle girls...in my pants!


*little shop of horrors...in my pants!


*my husband makes movies...in my pants!


*defying gravity...in my pants!


*shapoopie...in my pants!


*on my own...in my pants!


*there's a place for us...in my pants!


*godspell...in my pants!


*june is busting out all over...in my pants!


*soliloquy...in my pants!!!


*stay with me...in my pants!


*i am 16 going on 17...in my pants!


*my junk...in my pants!


*totally ******...in my pants!!


*a call from the vatican...in my pants!!


*it takes a woman...in my pants!














40 Things High School Musical 2 can teach us:








1. If you wish to show your inability or dislike for dancing, it's perfectly reasonable to break out in a dance number.





2. College? It's not important, as long as you can hang out with your friends.





3. If your love is strong enough, fireworks will go off, and lanterns will fly away as you and your boyfriend kiss.





4.Playing sports is a hint that it's time


to break into song.





5.Don't worry about being rude/mean in the end things will work out for you.





6.School spirit is a must. Especially during the summer.





7. Your friends are not human and should always be addressed by the name of their school mascot.





8. Yes! You can paint your locker pink!Screw the school board.





9. You can be a chef, lifeguard, or golf assistant...no experience needed!





10. A guy can never wear too much bronzer.





11. Lakes are the equilivant of mirrors. They can show your reflection perfectly!





12. It is possible to memorize a 3 minute song over the course of 2 minutes...and sing it perfectly.





13.It doesn't matter that you're not a staff member. You can still attend any and all staff events.





14.The phrase "more moves than an octopus in a wrestling match" is something that can be used in everyday conversation





15. There are two bells that get you out of school. The first one tells you to start singing and dancing, the second announces you should stop.





16.Even though its the last day of school, its ok to leave stuff in the locker for the summer.





17.If your family is "saving pennies" for your college education and gives you a junky truck to drive, it is normal for their kitchen to have granite counter tops and a $7,000 fridge.





18. Pianos can float now. Go ahead, try it.





19. It's perfectly acceptable for a guy to wear girl's capris.





20. If you're upset, just run through a golf course, jumping and spinning, while singing "Bet on it"...you won't fall at any point, and no one will stop and think "what the hell?" .





21.You can send telepathic messages to your mom to tell her to pick you up just as you're finishing your breakup song with your boyfriend.





22.A resort can be highly successful when there are more employees than guests.





23."And she stepped on the ball" is actually quite funny. You just need to put it into context.





24.One family can apparently control an entire city, including all educational institutions in the area.





25. It's good manners to refer to your mother as a "backstabber"





26.Turkey imported from Maine is much better than any other turkey. In fact, it's fabulous.





27.Apparently, it is now possible to hire an entire high school to be the staff at an upscale country club.





28.Iced tea from England is blue.





29.Water Bug is a cute funny romantic pet name.





30.Being a teenage paparazzi at school and taking multiple pictures of the same two people is not weird or creepy in any way





31.It is okay to try to grope your girlfriend if she's leaving you, even though you guys have never kissed before.





32.When your girlfriend tells you that your shoes don't match your tie, you must do a stupid looking surfer move to see if she's right, you can't just look down





33.When you frolic with your girlfriend in the golf course, you get in trouble. When you frolic by yourself and sing, nothing happens.





34.It IS possible to have any object in the world come in pink %26amp; engraved with your initials. That is, if you are Sharpay Evans.





35.If you are the basketball star of your school, you can get yourself, as well as the rest of the school, summer jobs.





36. Lava Springs apparently had no employees, since they had to hire a whole new staff.





37.Don't change your friends, change your dreams.





38.Corbin Bleu switched shampoos. Because his hair obviously did not have as much shine, bounce, or body as it did in HSM 1.





39. Even though Chad danced in "Get your head in the game", "Status Quo" and "What time is it", he apparantly does not dance.





40. "What team?" "Wildcats!"


"GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!"


Can fix any problem.





Here are some new ones...Thanks for the input guys!














41.Basketball scholarships at the University of Albuquerque depend on your musical performance skills





42.Guitars and speaker equipment can be placed near a pool safely





43.Take two small saucepan lids and bang them together. You'll find they make the same sound as a large GONG. Go on, have a go





44. Tiffany’s makes hair bands





45. When your girlfriend breaks up with you and gives your necklace back, she obviously will somehow emerge out of a crowd wearing it again and singing








46. Clocks get bigger if you stare at them and chant "summer"





47. When you’re singing about being fabulous, your shoes can magically appear on and off your feet at any given time





48. You can be a male theater geek who wears sparkly hats and pink shirts, without any of the jocks who you kind of hang out with thinking you're gay.





49. It is now acceptable to throw grapes at your girlfriends face





50. Jumping from dangerous rocks is a great idea.





51. It is not at all pompous to give your girlfriend a necklace with your initial on it





52. The high school marching band is on call 24/7 for spontaneous musical numbers





53. It is perfectly normal to switch outfits with your opponent after a baseball game.





54. Helicopters can land on a golf course with no warning.





55. When you're frustrated with your personal life at work, just take off your shirt and shoot some baskets. Your boss won't mind.





56. Sliding on the cafeteria floor like a penguin is totally acceptable. Especially when it’s the last day of school.





57. Even if you weren't a part of the winning number, you can still win the star dazzle award.





56. Italian shoes mean a whole new you





57. Not telling your girlfriend about your new dress shoes you got from your boss, clearly is a reason for her to be concerned and question your relationship.





58. As long as you’re the star player on your basketball team, you can instantly be better at golf than the owner of the course.





59. College basketball players love playing with high schoolers that are better than them.





60. There is no such thing as gay dancing





61. On the last day of school, it is perfectly normal to chant "summer" like a cult.





62. Wanting a little fabulous is not so wrong





63. It is worth risking your relationship with your friends and girlfriend for a college that closed down in 1986.





64.Humans can be imported from Spain.

















if any of you have any ideas to add just message me or post them on the board





1) You've probably ridden a giant banana





2) You've become pregnant from being on someone's porch





3) You've either been jumped on or molested by Wiggles





4) You've probably smoked on campus just to spite Ron





5) You or someone you know has stolen cereal from the dining hall





6) You've questioned Ron and Isaac's relationship to each other





7) You've either been to or heard about Rock Shop 3





8) You've been checked out by the asian lunch lady





9) You know who Eamon Foley is





10) You've probably seen Ross' MC act at the Rock Concert





11) You've been frusterated by slow computers





12) You've fought over unused matresses in your bunk





13) You've been to at least 1 show that made your ears bleed and another that made you want to jump up on stage and join in... most likely on the same day





14) You've never seen the horse stables





15) (if your a boy) You've gotten motivated at about 7:30 in the morning





16) You've tried (and most likely failed) to understand foreign people every day





17) You've tried everything to get phone service





18) You've made fun of your conseler's accents





19) You've frozen to death and been boiled alive... all in the same day





20) You've fallen in mud on one of the hills





21) You are so excited at the thought of flash photography during the staff show that you took 50 pictures of an empty stage





22) You've seen multitudes of card tricks





23) You've either moshed at the rock show or witnessed a mosh pit at he rock show





24) You've wondered why there's a vollyball court in the middle of the camp





25) You've jumped out of bed in the morning and ran to the shower just to get hot water





26) You've been pissed off at the fact that the junior lodges have everything





27) You've wondered why Isaac is too lazy to get out of his golf cart





28) You're used to Isaacs idle threats


"You all have ETB... unless you're


quiet... OK you have regular


bedtime again... But I'm still very


upset."





29) You miss the old VA porch





30) You wonder why Ron owns a movie theatre





31) You wonder why everything's abbreviated


"ETB, LTB, OD, VA, CC, PED"





32) Your amazed when you see black people





33) You think the phrase "Google It" is extremely funny





34) You wonder where all the bugs came from





35) You're surprised when you hear that a guy's not gay





36) You're used to upset girls after sing





37) You know Jimmy Philips





38) You wonder why we can't have the same quality food we have on visiting days on every other day





39) You or someone you know has had something stolen from you despite the fact that this is a performing arts camp and costs about $3,000 per session





40) You think that there's no Christian people at this camp (when, in fact, there's 5)








Okay if you you do not get the name of this saying or were not in schol house rock oh sevs please do not join this group!


only in our show:


-insane "choreographers" (minus jenny and joe) who think they have taught us stuff but realy haven't aka Verb


-a director who hates the show just as much as you do


-2 Dinas and 2 Shulies


-"i'll put good disco lighting on and maybe that will take the audiences attention away from how bad the show is!" -Matt Bond


-Ron comming into the playhouse and yelling at matt right before the 1st show about something he did not even do


-an hour and 2 minute show because we had to cut 1/2 the show because a certain group people *cough cough* could not learn stuff fast enough


- watching a dvd to learn a song never realy being taught it


-Simon having to leave so this random lady tried to teach the leads a song that was like hearing nails on a chalk board to begin with but she made it even worst.....like 10 minutes a line bad! aka learning verb


-painting our nails alll different colors and black outfits with rainbow acessories...gay pride


-the crash mat!


-coming up from the pit thru a TV


-The bat like attacking us on the bed during verb


Only at FWF School house rock will you find all of the above! So much fun...in the end!


1.....2....3.......


SEASME STREET ON CRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








Things we learned from High School Musical:


compiled by the lovely ladies and gentlemen at IMDB.





1) High school cafeterias are vast and spacious -- leaving plenty of room to spontaniously break into song and dance -- and are in no way packed, crowded or uncomfortable


2) It's completely acceptable for the female drama teacher to walk into the guys locker room where her young male students are showering.


3) A white, 5-foot-9 junior is the best high school basketball player in the state of New Mexico.


4) Creme brulee is a creamy custard that is totally satisfying


5) There's only one fat person at East High School


6) All Troy could remember was pink jelly


7) In school hallways they put up really big posters of the most popular guy in school so that obsessed girls can sing to it


8) It's okay to practice incest if you're acting


9) Students at East High are allowed to work with chemicals unsupervised.


10) Troy's shower head is very impressed


11) Everyone has a secret, and they have practiced to tell everyone in perfect harmony... while dancing.


12) That girl is named Gabriella, and she is very nice.


13) Kelsi has a magic piano: it not only plays piano but it plays guitar, drums and bass too


14) Lucas is NOT gay... even though he dances, sings, hangs out with his girly sister, wears pink hats, and stares at sweaty basketball players because Disney does not promote homosexuality


15) The hottest gossip is that the new girl and baskeball captain are auditioning for a musical, and that is in no way a euphemism for having sex.


16) In high school, you only have class once a day and it's only about 10 minutes long. For the rest of the day you can sing, dance, play basketball, make/foil plans, and hide out in secret gardens as much as you want.


17) While alone in her bedroom, they sing. No sex? Really?


18) No one in the ENTIRE school has ever told Sharpay to shut the **** up. How is that possible?


19) Gabriella and Troy are 'breaking free'. They are also soaring, flying, and there isn't a star in heaven that they can't reach.


20) You can name a kid in the 21st century "Sharpay"


21) Detention is only 15 minutes long... and a boy named Chad will need you to help him countdown the minutes, as he sadly cannot count that high.


22) It's always good to get extra credit...for college.


23) No one cusses at East High


23) Gabriella can't have people staring her... she really can't.


25) Parents do not teach their children that it's okay to be yourself, only pop songs can do that.


26) Singing and dancing in the hallways is outstandingly normal


27) Playing the cello is very similar to operating a saw.


28) No emos, cutters, or illegal janitors.


29) Gabriella feels AND looks like a girl.


30) Having opera stars' pictures in your refrigerator helps you lose weight.


31) Kelsi can teach you every note, pitch, and word to a song just by singing the first two lines for you.


32) People are doing stuff, stuff that isn't their stuff.


33) The second equation should read 16 over pi.


34) Troy doesn't know that "scared" means the same thing as "afraid"


35) There is only ONE Gabriella Montez on the entire World Wide Web.


36) Ain't nothin wrong with a basketball playing brother who likes to bake.


37) If you're the new kid in school, no one is allowed to look at you


38) If you audition for a school play, you send the entire school into pandemonium


39) Chad can make Troy say things.


40) The jazz square is a crowd favorite. EVERYONE loves a jazz square.


41) Even though you've only sung to your showerhead you will know how to sing harmony in karaoke.


42) Mountain lions are cute, but you don't pet them.


43) Some high schools only have 5 adults on campus. That's how they get away with dancing in the halls.


44) Troy is not just a guy.


45) Apparently the winter musical only requires two cast members.


46) When you're in love with a stranger, you can memorize lyrics at the drop of a hat


47) Corbin Bleu is pretty much white.


48) If you're a stressed jock, you need only to go to the school gardens and sing... nobody will find you or pick on you.


49) It's hard to believe, that I couldn't see, you were always right beside me!


50) Ryan really wants to meet Ashton Kutcher


51) No one said anything about leotards.


52) If you love a girl enough, breaking and entering into her room is not considered a problem.


53) No one on the basketball team is good at math.


54) Ladders can appear out of nowhere.


55) Chad tried to tell him, he REALLY tried.


56) Sharpay is allowed to have a pink locker while everyone else is stuck with an ugly beige one.


57) Troy rides the bus to school even though his dad works there


58) You can bet, there's nothing but net, when Zeke is in the zone and on a roll.


59) If you're gay, you dont know what g-o-d-r-a-m-a-c-l-u-b-! spells


60) If you're heart has been broken by the most popular guy in school, your locker can open automatically - no combination necessary.


61) Where's Gabby's dad!?!


62) Warning bells can be easily mistaken for cell phones.


63) Yes, Troy, you ARE going left.


64) You can have a laptop and a webcam pointing at a person ready to record them and they would NEVER notice


65) It's better to hear it from Mrs. Darbus now than from your friends later


66) You can go to Kelsi's house for breakfast and she has a piano.


67) By taking off your lab coat, the red ribbon in your hair can turn pink.


68) Only fat girls like to pop, lock and drop it.


69) You are allowed to cover your microphone with tacky sequins as long as youre the most popular girl in school


70) All stage fright can be cured by the saying “Like kindergarten”


71) What the heck are those two doing in a tree?!


72) You WILL stick to the status quo or everyone will sing to you until everyone else confesses


73) Gabriella loves pi.


74) Troy's watch is imaginary, but he looks at it anyways and always knows what the time is.


75) Cheerleaders speak a different language than other human beings.


76) Students in high school don't need backpacks... or books for that matter


77) No one finds it weird that you're singing a sexual song to your brother/sister


78) It takes Gabriella's mom and Troy's dad forever to walk to an auditorium.


79) Throwing basketballs at trees is apparently great for stress relief


80) If you climb up to a chicks balcony that hates you and start singing to her, she will fall back in love with you.


81) People keep outfits in their lockers just in case someone spills nachos on them


82) The pregnant teacher stands corrected.


83) If you wear pink and have blonde hair, you are automatically a malevolent popular girl.


84) All fathers with sons in sports are oblivious to their sons's other needs and desires.


85) Teachers from different departments always hate each other.


86) Chad has some pretty awesome shirts.


87) Troy is very slow (Come on! Not even ONE kiss?)


88) If you make good cookies, people fall in love with you.


89) A high school can produce 17 musicals in a span of two years


90) It is possible for the random girl you met at a ski lodge at New Year's to coincidentally move to your school and become your girlfriend


91) Singing absolves a person of any bad thing they've done.


92) An entire school's network can be crippled by the push of a bottom (Taylor must be a really good hacker.)


93) Chili cheese fries and milk are a substantial meal.


94) Interperative dancing is a sign that there is something mentally wrong with you and must see a counselor


95) All practical rules of time and space are lost when Troy and Gabriella hide.


96) The very best way to condemn your friend for singing is to break out into a song yourself


97) If you take your hat off and reveal luscious locks of brown hair you're instantly beautiful.


98) Gabriella always plans ahead thats how she's able instantaneously change into a semi formal dress and heels for a basketball game.


99) You dont mind linking arms with the school ***** that you hate as long as its the final dance number of the movie


100) When the entire East High School student body is decked out in red and white, Troy and Gabriella always seem to be in blue. Until the finale when they finally catch on.








You know you’re in IB when...


You can see individual air molecules vibrating.





You go to bed at 3AM and think, "Oh, it's an early night!"





Your favorite saying is "If I get a hundred on every test for the rest of the year..."





It's okay to fail, so long as you are not alone.





You frequently catch yourself saying "What?? We had homework??"





You finish your extended essay shortly after midnight. Your smile of satisfaction fades when you remember to start on your World Lit. Paper.





You've sold your soul...to a teacher...for a C...for the 9 weeks...





Your idea of impure thoughts is whether or not to copy math homework





You don't really cheat - you just tell people the answers.





Your thesis for the Extended Essay is whether or not Bert and Ernie are gay.





Pressed for time, you conclude a history essay with, "And they lived happily every after. Amen."





Can we say EXTRA CREDIT??





You exceed the 4200 word limit on the Extended Essay (by over 1000 words).





You ask what your summer reading assignment will be in October.





When you are home sick, you can't help but wonder what work you're missing and what your homework is.





When you're watching TV, you feel guilty because not all of your homework is done.





You find yourself spelling words out on scantrons. You are deeply saddened when you can only find one letter of "IB SUCKS!"





Your TI-89 has made you stupid.





You actually believe "mental health days" are excused absences.





Brewing coffee takes too long, so you just eat the beans.





You get a full upper body workout putting your backpack on.





You skip breakfast so you can get to school early to get in some extra cramming time and gain that "upper edge" on the rest of the class.





The bags under your eyes are heavier than the ones carrying your textbooks.





You always seem to have one continuous headache.





You can count the number of hours you sleep each week on one missing hand.





You've taught yourself how to take naps while walking to your next class.





You actually put the apostrophe in front of the word "'cause."





You still get kicks saying "Your epidermis is showing."





You clean up your room and find a bed.





Everything you know about sex, you learned from the English reading list.





You find all the "glitches" in movies.





You've mastered the art of procrastination so well that your research paper finishes printing just seconds before you have to leave for school.





You get to college and realize the classes you are taking seem really familiar.





Your college professors' grading systems seem a little too lenient.





You dread the word rubric





You hold "parties" to study.





The only words you ever say in Spanish class are "No sé."





The only French you know is "J'aime manger le poission."





You no longer speak English -- You speak a combination of English, German, Spanish, French, Portugese, Swedish, Dutch, Chinese, Russian, Norwegian, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, and Polish.





Your backpack has an imprint of your back in what little remains of the padding.





16+2= ...wait let me get my graphing calculator!





The urge to shout "Sir, yes sir" overwhelms you and...You do it





You start to laugh hysterically when you're writing a bibliography because a book has TWO authors





You brag that you only got 2 hours of sleep last night





You write a two page answer to a one sentence question





When writing down decimals, you don't understand why you can't write them to the 14th decimal place





You faithfully copy words without vowels in them, yet somehow understand them





You have a thought, and it hurts.





You get angry at someone for being late so you can't copy their homework.





You realize that something is missing when your backpack feels too light.

Do you like these lists?
too long
Reply:sorry your ? is to long Report It

Reply:I like them. It's really funny. Report It

Reply:they are pretty kewl. thanx for writing it. There are three different kinds of people in this world, ones who can count, and ones who cant. :) Report It

Reply:u no ur questions to long if...


its this freakin long! Report It

Reply:u no ur questions to long if...


its this freakin long! Report It

Reply:I only read the Musical Theatre one, and I must admit to quite a few of those! Report It

Reply:OMg...how could you possibly have time to write all that....and nobody has time to read that either....
Reply:i didnt read the whole thing..sry about that. didnt understand anything.
Reply:No!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:=O
Reply:u no ur questions to long if...


its this freakin long!
Reply:Chinese music is great. I learn Chinese to enjoy the music. If you want to more about Chinese music, learning Chinese is almost must-be. Check the site http://www.hellomandarin.com. There you can learn Chinese face to face with the teachers or practice your Mandarin with the volunteers in Beijing.