And yes, we got autographs. :)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Happy Days: The Musical
Roomie and I went to see "Happy Days: The Musical" tonight at Gammage. Being the bums that we are, we went using my Dollar Ticket perk (2 seats = $2). We arrived to find we were seated in Row 11, seats 34 & 36 (very good seats). Feeling pretty good about our location, we settled into our chairs and waited for the show to begin. The show was running a bit late... nothing new for an opening night though. Out of nowhere, Colleen (head of ASU Public Events) strolls on to stage with a microphone to announce that tonight's performance was to be a very important one. Not only was this performance the Opening Night for the national tour of "Happy Days" (pretty huge deal)... the writer of the tv series, Garry Marshall, was in the audience as well as two of its original actors. She pointed to the crowd to indicate the location of Anson Williams ("Potsie") and Don Most ("Ralph Malph"), which appeared to be behind roomie and me... directly behind us - literally. The infamous "Potsie" and "Ralph Malph" were... RIGHT THERE. Haha. Now I'm not a star struck person, but I grew up lying on my parents' bed watching "Happy Days" on Nick at Nite... and I looooved Potsie. So it was definitely a cool experience to listen to "Potsie" and "Ralph Malph" laugh throughout the performance and talk to us during intermission... all for $2.
And yes, we got autographs. :)
And yes, we got autographs. :)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
This Day in History: Closing of Ellis Island
Every morning in my email box, I receive my personalize "This Day in History" from History.com - much to your surprise, I'm sure. I found today's headlining article particularly interesting and wanted to share.
****
November 12: General Interest
1954 : Ellis Island closes
On this day in 1954, Ellis Island, the gateway to America, shuts it doors after processing more than 12 million immigrants since opening in 1892. Today, an estimated 40 percent of all Americans can trace their roots through Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor off the New Jersey coast and named for merchant Samuel Ellis, who owned the land in the 1770s.
On January 2, 1892, 15-year-old Annie Moore, from Ireland, became the first person to pass through the newly opened Ellis Island, which President Benjamin Harrison designated as America's first federal immigration center in 1890. Before that time, the processing of immigrants had been handled by individual states.
Not all immigrants who sailed into New York had to go through Ellis Island. First- and second-class passengers submitted to a brief shipboard inspection and then disembarked at the piers in New York or New Jersey, where they passed through customs. People in third class, though, were transported to Ellis Island, where they underwent medical and legal inspections to ensure they didn't have a contagious disease or some condition that would make them a burden to the government. Only two percent of all immigrants were denied entrance into the U.S.
Immigration to Ellis Island peaked between 1892 and 1924, during which time the 3.3-acre island was enlarged with landfill (by the 1930s it reached its current 27.5-acre size) and additional buildings were constructed to handle the massive influx of immigrants. During the busiest year of operation, 1907, over 1 million people were processed at Ellis Island.
With America's entrance into World War I, immigration declined and Ellis Island was used as a detention center for suspected enemies. Following the war, Congress passed quota laws and the Immigration Act of 1924, which sharply reduced the number of newcomers allowed into the country and also enabled immigrants to be processed at U.S. consulates abroad. After 1924, Ellis Island switched from a processing center to serving other purposes, such as a detention and deportation center for illegal immigrants, a hospital for wounded soldiers during World War II and a Coast Guard training center. In November 1954, the last detainee, a Norwegian merchant seaman, was released and Ellis Island officially closed.
Beginning in 1984, Ellis Island underwent a $160 million renovation, the largest historic restoration project in U.S. history. In September 1990, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum opened to the public and today is visited by almost 2 million people each year.
***
You can receive your own "This Day in History" by following this link.
****
November 12: General Interest
1954 : Ellis Island closes
On this day in 1954, Ellis Island, the gateway to America, shuts it doors after processing more than 12 million immigrants since opening in 1892. Today, an estimated 40 percent of all Americans can trace their roots through Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor off the New Jersey coast and named for merchant Samuel Ellis, who owned the land in the 1770s.
On January 2, 1892, 15-year-old Annie Moore, from Ireland, became the first person to pass through the newly opened Ellis Island, which President Benjamin Harrison designated as America's first federal immigration center in 1890. Before that time, the processing of immigrants had been handled by individual states.
Not all immigrants who sailed into New York had to go through Ellis Island. First- and second-class passengers submitted to a brief shipboard inspection and then disembarked at the piers in New York or New Jersey, where they passed through customs. People in third class, though, were transported to Ellis Island, where they underwent medical and legal inspections to ensure they didn't have a contagious disease or some condition that would make them a burden to the government. Only two percent of all immigrants were denied entrance into the U.S.
Immigration to Ellis Island peaked between 1892 and 1924, during which time the 3.3-acre island was enlarged with landfill (by the 1930s it reached its current 27.5-acre size) and additional buildings were constructed to handle the massive influx of immigrants. During the busiest year of operation, 1907, over 1 million people were processed at Ellis Island.
With America's entrance into World War I, immigration declined and Ellis Island was used as a detention center for suspected enemies. Following the war, Congress passed quota laws and the Immigration Act of 1924, which sharply reduced the number of newcomers allowed into the country and also enabled immigrants to be processed at U.S. consulates abroad. After 1924, Ellis Island switched from a processing center to serving other purposes, such as a detention and deportation center for illegal immigrants, a hospital for wounded soldiers during World War II and a Coast Guard training center. In November 1954, the last detainee, a Norwegian merchant seaman, was released and Ellis Island officially closed.
Beginning in 1984, Ellis Island underwent a $160 million renovation, the largest historic restoration project in U.S. history. In September 1990, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum opened to the public and today is visited by almost 2 million people each year.
***
You can receive your own "This Day in History" by following this link.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Because I'm Bored...
Respond with your own answers if you're so inclined.
1)Three names you go by?
Jen
JBalls
Jenni (Don't even...reserved for family)
2) three things you are wearing right now?
Blue Jeans
My new Victoria Secret Boucle Sweater
Red Penguin Socks
3) Are you currently happy?
Ridiculously. Like... I wish everyone could feel the way I do.
4) Have you ever been given a rose
A couple of times... romantically and with some Brotherly love
5) Have you ever licked your foot?
Um... perhaps.
6) Have you ever been in love?
Certainly.
7) Do you believe that everyone has a soul-mate?
Yes. Simply, yes.
8) What's your current problem?
Trying to find a sweet full-time job.
9) Have you ever had your heart broken?
Yes...
10) Your thoughts of long distance relationships?
It's entirely doable.
11) Are you a loser?
I'm a winner at all things. Haha.
12) How many kids do you want to have?
To be determined.
13) What is/are your favorite colors?
Blue and green
14) Are you afraid to fall in love?
Absolutely not. Life's too short.
15) Have you ever found it hard to tell anyone you like them?
Who hasn't???
16) Imagine you're 40 & your spouse just died, would you get re-married?
Yes. I would still have over half my life to live... far too long to spend alone.
17)What age did you start noticing the opposite sex?
Probably about the 8th grade... I was far too nerdy and into school before that.
18) What song do you want played at your wedding?
Oh goodness... no idea. I mean, other than the "Cha-Cha Slide" :)
19) Do you love anyone?
Plenty of people... family and friends.
20) Do you think someone likes you?
Well I sure hope he still likes me... :P
21) If someone liked you, do you want them to tell you?
Only if it's my boyfriend.... or Ryan Lynch (kidding)
1)Three names you go by?
Jen
JBalls
Jenni (Don't even...reserved for family)
2) three things you are wearing right now?
Blue Jeans
My new Victoria Secret Boucle Sweater
Red Penguin Socks
3) Are you currently happy?
Ridiculously. Like... I wish everyone could feel the way I do.
4) Have you ever been given a rose
A couple of times... romantically and with some Brotherly love
5) Have you ever licked your foot?
Um... perhaps.
6) Have you ever been in love?
Certainly.
7) Do you believe that everyone has a soul-mate?
Yes. Simply, yes.
8) What's your current problem?
Trying to find a sweet full-time job.
9) Have you ever had your heart broken?
Yes...
10) Your thoughts of long distance relationships?
It's entirely doable.
11) Are you a loser?
I'm a winner at all things. Haha.
12) How many kids do you want to have?
To be determined.
13) What is/are your favorite colors?
Blue and green
14) Are you afraid to fall in love?
Absolutely not. Life's too short.
15) Have you ever found it hard to tell anyone you like them?
Who hasn't???
16) Imagine you're 40 & your spouse just died, would you get re-married?
Yes. I would still have over half my life to live... far too long to spend alone.
17)What age did you start noticing the opposite sex?
Probably about the 8th grade... I was far too nerdy and into school before that.
18) What song do you want played at your wedding?
Oh goodness... no idea. I mean, other than the "Cha-Cha Slide" :)
19) Do you love anyone?
Plenty of people... family and friends.
20) Do you think someone likes you?
Well I sure hope he still likes me... :P
21) If someone liked you, do you want them to tell you?
Only if it's my boyfriend.... or Ryan Lynch (kidding)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
What Do You Make?
More often than not when people ask me what my major is, they hear the word "History", cringe (perhaps due to horrible high school history class experiences) and say, "What are you going to do with that? Teach?" I'm never quite certain if that question is meant to sound as offensive as the tone usually lends to, however, I can see their point. Who wants to stand at the front of the room and instruct little s%#& for brains all day for minimal pay? Oh wait... I can't see their point - I do. I'm not sure why teaching has gotten such a bad rep. Most people tell me that it's how much teachers make. The average teacher in Arizona earns $38,000 a year (http://www.teachingtips.com/average-teacher-salaries/arizona/)but that is certainly not what teachers make. Below is a piece that was sent to me by a friend when I decided teaching is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Perhaps it can enlighten a few. Enjoy! :)
***
What Teachers Make, or
Objection Overruled, or
If things don't work out, you can always go to law school
By Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com
He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.
Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.
"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"
And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.
I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).
Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?
***
What Teachers Make, or
Objection Overruled, or
If things don't work out, you can always go to law school
By Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com
He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.
Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.
"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"
And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.
I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).
Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?
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