Christine

BOOKS
--SLAM, by Nick Hornby
--Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs (writing as Linda Brent)
--Born on a Blue Day, by Daniel Tammet
--The Tenth Circle, by Jodi Picoult
--Night, by Elie Wiesel
--Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult
--The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
--The Year of Fog, by Michelle Richmond
--Last Night at the Lobster, by Stewart O'Nan
--Comfort: A Journey Through Grief, by Ann Hood
--Into The Wild, by Jon Krakauer
--Me & Emma, by Elizabeth Flock
--Salem Falls, by Jodi Picoult
--Go Ask Alice: A Real Diary, by Anonymous
--Handle With Care, by Jodi Picoult
--Barefoot, by Elin Hilderbrand
--Waiter Rant, by Steve Dublanica
--The Castaways, by Elin Hilderbrand
--Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson
--The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon
--The Memory of Water, by Karen White
--Chords of Strength, by David Archuleta (and Monica Haim)
--The Summer I Turned Pretty, by Jenny Han
--It's Not Summer Without You, by Jenny Han
--Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain, by Portia De Rossi
--Saving Max, by Antoinette van Heugten
--The Addict, by Michael Stein
--Willow, by Julia Hoban
--Think Twice, by Lisa Scottoline
--Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff, by Richard Carlson
--North of Beautiful, by Justina Chen Headley
--We'll Always Have Summer, by Jenny Han
--The Blue Bistro, by Elin Hilderbrand
--Sometimes It Happens, by Lauren Barnholdt
--My Cat's Life--Chicken Soup for the Soul, by Jack Canfield
--Keeping Faith, by Jodi Picoult
--Firefly Lane, by Kristin Hannah
--Sweet Valley Confidential- Ten Years Later, by Francine Pascal
--Distant Shores, by Kristin Hannah
--Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
--The Last Summer (of You & Me), by Ann Brashares
--The Watcher, by James Howe
--Still Missing, by Chevy Stevens
--Night Road, by Kristin Hannah

MOVIES
--The Lookout
--Once
--Into The Wild
--Forgetting Sarah Marshall
--Baby Mama
--P.S. I Love You
--Sex And The City
--Death At A Funeral
--Sebastian
--27 Dresses
--It's A Boy Girl Thing
--Definitely, Maybe
--The Dark Knight
--Into The Wild (again)
--Into The Wild (again...)
--Dinner With Friends
--The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
--Made of Honor
--Nights In Rodanthe
--Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
--High School Musical 3: Senior Year
--Snow Angels
--Role Models
--Australia
--Burn After Reading
--Doubt
--The Wackness
--Into The Wild (again......)
--Revolutionary Road
--Slumdog Millionaire
--Keith
--17 Again
--Adventureland
--He's Just Not That Into You
--The Proposal
--My Sister's Keeper
--Funny People
--(500) Days of Summer
--The Russell Girl
--Taking Woodstock
--The Blind Side
--It's Complicated
--Leap Year
--The Lovely Bones
--Date Night
--Valentine's Day
--Inception
--The Hangover
--Charlie St. Cloud
--Eat. Pray. Love.
--Into The Wild (Again.........)
--Lars and the Real Girl
--Never Been Kissed
--It's Kind of a Funny Story
--The Life Before Her Eyes
--Happy-Go-Lucky
--Little Fockers
--Black Swan
--No Strings Attached
--Just Go With It
--The King's Speech
--The Adjustment Bureau
--Water For Elephants
--The Help
--127 Hours
--50/50
--J. Edgar
--The Hangover (Again)
--Jack and Jill
--127 Hours (Again)
--Friends With Benefits
--The Hangover 2
--The Life Before Her Eyes (Again)
--The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
--The Descendants
--Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
--Fool's Gold
--Titanic (In 3-D)

Books by Jodi Picoult that I have read so far:

My Sister's Keeper
The Pact
The Tenth Circle
Change of Heart
Salem Falls
Handle With Care
Keeping Faith

R.I.P. Rory (my cat)

??? - May 23, 2008

:( You were a weird cat, but a good one!!

I love you, Rory!!! R.I.P. :(

Aww... :)

1/6/08--1/10/08 = Florida

1/6: Plane ride from Providence to Philadelphia
Plane ride from Philadelphia to Ft. Myers
Nancy's house

1/7: Bonita Beach from 10:00-12:00
Shower, TV, Internet, fun puzzles
Dinner at Olive Garden
Rummy
TV puzzles

1/8: Bonita Beach
'Best of Everything' store
Home, shower
Shopping
Movie 'Atonement' at Regal Cinema
TV (Jeopardy)

1/9: Bonita Beach
Gulf Coast Town Center
Shane's Rib Shack
Shopping (Belk's)

1/10: Rummy
Plane ride from Ft. Myers to Providence (with a quick stop in Orlando)

*When I look at poverty in my city, what decisive action can I take to share the gifts I have?*

Last week's homily in Church was about poverty and ways to help people who are less fortunate than yourself. I think that I have pretty much everything that I could ask for, and more, at this point, so I think that I should try to use some of my resources that I have in order to help others. I basically have all of the material objects that I need or want right now. (All I really want right now is a new Vera Bradley pocketbook and the Incubus CD {Fungus Amungus}which I don't even know if is on shelves anymore--I've looked!) Even though there are a couple material objects that I desire, I know that not having them is not ALL that important and it would definitely not be the end of the world not to have them. There are obviously non-material things that I need/want also, but right now I'm focusing on material things that I could give to the less fortunate.

I am fortunate because I have all the food, shelter, clothing, and support that I could need, whereas there are people around the world who do not have these things. One way that I have been trying to help others and a way to not feel so guilty about having the extra money to spend on material objects is by giving an average of $5 a week to the weekly collection at church. Sometimes I give $20 one week, so that I won't have to give money again for another 4 weeks, but I try to make sure I give $5 a week. This way I know that the money that I have been making through work, etc. is going to a good cause and I am helping someone in the process.

I also try to not be too selfish with my money, although sometimes it may seem that way to others. For example, if I have to split take-out money at work I always make sure to give the other person a little more than myself if it does not split evenly. Sometimes I might give the other person an extra dollar instead of splitting a dollar bill into quarters or I give the other person the change, etc. I know this is not a big thing or anything, but it is a small way of being generous and not hoarding money. Also, I do not go up to people and demand money from them, nor do I always make people pay me back if they just borrowed a small amount of money from me (such as a couple dollars, etc.).


*Christine*

- I cut off 10 inches of my hair and donated it to 'Locks of Love'-- It looks good!
- F.E.E.T. night at Ashley's / Fire and Ice
- Beach- 1) Ashley and Karen, 2) Ashley, Caitie, and Karen, 3) Caitie and Calie, 4) Caitie and Karen, 5) Karen, 6) Katherine
- Bike-riding- 1X a day around the block
- Cleaning kitchen and living-room 1X a week for $$$
- 'The Wonder Years' DVDs
- Liz's graduation and cake
- 'Knocked Up'- movie
- Nancy- looking at 3 different houses, cards, movies
- 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'- movie
- Umbrella Factory with Caitie and Karen
- Movie- 'The Holiday' w/ Karen, chocolate-covered strawberries
- 4th of July- Tina and Shaun- Scotland Yard
- Karen's pool in Cumberland
- Ashley's 21st b-day party
- Big Brother 8
- Shopping at Warwick mall w/ Caitie
- Scrapbooking with Karen
- Applebee's w/ Karen and Caitie
- Movie- 'Factory Girl' w/ Karen and Caitie
- Alyssa's 21st b-day party
- 'The Science of Sleep'- movie
- Dinner w/ Caitie at the IV (Grace's last day)
- Finished 'A Long Way Down'- book (by Nick Hornby)
- Went to see a NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS practice session on the Gillette Stadium field with my dad and Shaun
- Dinner with Dad and Shaun at Smokey Bones
- Neighborhood yard sale
- Six Flags with Tina, Karen, Alyssa, and Caitie
- Finished reading the stories in 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul IV'- book
- MY 21ST BIRTHDAY!-- Presents, The Bourne Supremacy (movie), The Bourne Ultimatum (movie in theater), birthday dinner at the Mews with Caitie, Liz, Katherine, Ro, Kavita, and Calie, more presents, walk on Narragansett Beach at night with everyone but Liz
- Shopping in Warwick and 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry' (movie) with Ashley, Hanging out in Worcester with Ashley, Christina, and Alissa (bowling, foosball at WPI)
- 'Disturbia' - movie
- Finished watching 'The Brady Bunch: Season 1' DVD
- Finished 'The Pact'- book (by Jodi Picoult)-- Great book.
- 'Superbad' - movie in theater
- 4-5 mile walk on Wakefield bike path with Dad

*...and that basically sums up my Summer '07! It was a pretty full summer, I'd say... I'm glad I got to do so many different things!*

1) Read several of the books that I have meant to read but haven't gotten around to

2) Read classic books such as 'The DaVinci Code' and 'Angels and Demons,' etc. that everyone should read eventually... (i AM an English major!!)

3) Stop twirling my hair

4) Become more knowledgeable about stuff in general

5) Memorize IV menu

6) Try to learn the definitions to many new words


***Books that I want to read eventually:

1) The DaVinci Code
2) Angels and Demons
3) Thumbsucker
4) The Stories of Mary Gordon
5) Number 6 Fumbles
6) The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters
7) Behaving Like Adults
8) Sam's Letters to Jennifer
9) What To Keep

An assignment I did in my Children's Lit class:

I am from playing fun games in my backyard, from friends and children's imagination.

I am from the brown, wooden house, that sits there quietly during the school day until the children come home.

I am from the grass and the daisies in my backyard.

I am from eating Fondue in the winter and honesty, from my parents Dolores and Chuck and my sister Caitlin.

I am from hard work and realistic goals.

From "Don't sweat the small stuff" and "Always be a good, honest person", which my mom has always told me ever since I was old enough to understand its meaning.

I am from St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic church.

I am from America, Switzerland, Ireland, and Sweden, Swiss chocolate and Fondue.

From the time I went to Switzerland with my family when I was two years old, which was my first and only trip outside the United States, and the trips to Florida, California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania with my dad and my sister Caitlin.

I am from the old photo albums tucked away in my room, the fun times growing up with my friends, and the pictures from the holidays spent with my family.

Week 1: Sekou (Hiki) voted off--- 3-2 vote (Sekou vs. Sundra)
Week 2: Billy (Aitu) voted off--- 4-1 vote (Billy vs. Ozzy)
Week 3: Cecilia (Aitu) voted off--- 5-3 vote (Cecilia vs. Becky)
Week 4: JP (Raro) voted off--- 7-2 vote (JP vs. Stephannie)
Week 5: Stephannie (Raro) voted off--- 7-1 vote (Stephannie vs. Cristina)
Week 6: Cristina (Raro) and Cao Boi (Aitu) voted off--- 4-2 vote (Cristina vs. Jenny) and 6-1-1 vote (Cao Boi vs. Jonathan vs. Candice)
Week 7: Jessica [A.K.A. Flicka] (Aitu) voted off--- 6-1 vote (Jessica vs. Jonathan)
Week 8: Brad (Raro) voted off--- 7-1 vote (Brad vs. Jonathan)
Week 9: Rebecca (Raro) and Jenny (Raro) voted off--- 6-1 vote (Rebecca vs. Jonathan) and 4-2 vote (Jenny vs. Jonathan)
Week 10: Nate (Aitutonga--Merged tribe) voted off--- 5-4 vote (Nate vs. Yul)
Week 11: Candice (Aitutonga) voted off--- 5-3 vote (Candice vs. Jonathan)
Week 12: Jonathan (Aitutonga) voted off--- 6-1 vote (Jonathan vs. Adam)
Week 13: Parvati (Aitutonga) voted off--- 4-2 vote (Parvati vs. Sundra)
Week 14: Adam (Aitutonga) voted off--- 4-1 vote (Adam vs. Yul)
Week 14 continued: Sundra (Aitutonga) voted off--- 2-2 vote (Sundra vs. Becky) + tiebreaker challenge which Sundra lost
Week 14 continued: FINAL 3--- Yul, Ozzy, and Becky (All from Aitutonga)

3rd place= Becky
2nd place= Ozzy

WINNER= YUL!!! (5-4-0 vote)

Yul won Survivor 13: Cook Islands! In my opinion, Yul and Ozzy were both great players and almost equally as deserving as the other to win the $1 million and title of Sole Survivor! WTG Yul!