the monotony of summer va-ca

I've decided I'm not very good about updating. Is anything new since writing last? On the movie front, I saw War of the Worlds, which I think was the last thing I've seen in-theatre. I really enjoyed it, and despite the utterly annoying "TomKat" hype (as I guess Mr. Cruise and Ms. Holmes are now being called) thought Tom Cruise gave quite a good performance. Even though the ending was a bit weak, Mr. Spielberg can I suppose be forgiven for allowing sentimentalism to win (I don't want to give away the ending, so warning....but, I mean, he wasn't going to let the brother be killed, was he?) All in all a good time was had. I really want to get myself to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory sometime soon and, even though Gene Shalit panned it on TODAY, Wedding Crashers.

In other media news, I am now on Disc 3 of West Wing's third season. Bartlet has fully disclosed his MS and Congress is gearing up for the special Congressional hearings. I am very anxious to see just how Bartlet for America pulls off a second term victory in the midst of this ensuing scandal. CJ's character has gotten sooooo good, I swear she is like my role model in the fictional universe that is this television show.

What else have I been up to besides television?.....Hmmmm, well, taking my summer class, which is not only going to the class itself but homework, quizzes, tests, etc....Puts quite a damper on school night activities. And working too. Nothin' too interesting there, huh?

Two (or was it three) weekends ago I took a little va-ca down to E-town which was very fun and I enjoyed getting together with everyone! Being at home I definitely miss all of my school friends and places!! Can't wait for September to roll around. Although, I suppose a story of my vacation to Evanston is not complete without the embarrassment that is my MISSING the Amtrak train STANDING ON THE TRACKS. Yep, that's right, I missed the train even though I was at the station (cue laughter). Everything was perfectly timed, and after having a lovely dinner with Krista and Christina at Flat Top (which, by the way, I totally heart now), took a cab with the nicest driver over to the Glenview station in plenty of time, purchased my one way ticket, and then sat on a bench to wait out the twenty or so minutes before the Northbound got in. Well, at first I was sitting on a side next to a family and their small daughter, and inside my head was thinking "Oh, the Northbound is usually on the other side, right?" So, of course, making a huge mistake in hindsight, I went to the other side of the tracks to wait it out (in fairness, their were a bunch more people on that side). Then, as the train is rolling in, they make the announcement that its approaching on track one. Well, I sure as heck didn't see any labels, and by that time it was too late to cross anyway. So, the train comes in, is there for like 5 minutes, and all the while I break down and start having this utter conniption fit that I'm unable to cross the tracks. Soooooo, I'm sure all the people at the station were looking at me like was a complete psycho, and then the train pulled away. BUT I COULDN'T GET OVER! So I'm left standing at the station at 8:30 at night with no more Northbound trains. Crap indeed. So, after bawling like a baby, one of the bystanders recommends I walk to the police station. So, like a hobo, I'm walking down the street with some luggage sniffling like a ten year old. Suddenly, in front of an ice cream store, this girl (who I swear must've been my age but actually looked it whereas I appear to be about 15), asks if I'm alright and brings me over to talk to her mom and dad who looked like typical North Shore Chicago suburbanites who act all worried about me and ask if I've got someone to call. The mom even gives me the phone number and the daughter writes down on it her name in case I need any help. They are so friendly and nice, I am sooooooo embarrassed. All the while I am calling my mother a million times on the cell, and she and my father are, well, angry is an understatement. So, they tell me to just go back to the station until they can figure something out. Bright idea number 1) have the nice cab/car service driver who brought me to the station take me to the border and my mom will come and get me. Would've worked too, except he was no longer answering and the disbatcher from his service was gone. AND then, guess what, my cell phone is dying!! So, finally, my parents call the police station and send and officer to pick me up (since the Glenview train station is all closed and its getting dark now) and call our local airport car and shuttle service to send a driver to pick me up. At first my mother told me to go sit in a next door restaurant and wait it out. (Note: for those of you not familiar, the Glenview station is in the middle of a pretty suburban business district-y area, very nice and I'm sure safe neighborhood. The train station is super small, just two tracks and a small little hut-size building to go in and buy your ticket and wait on some inside benches. Most people wait outside though. It's all red brick and actually a pretty building. Anyway, I digress). Except the restaurant closed. So, my phone has officially died, and I have no clue where the officer is coming to get me now. SO I have to place a COLLECT call to my mom to find out how to meet up with the officer. Finally, the policeman comes, and I ride in the back of the squad car (which by the way was so cool it almost made the whole thing worth it. ALMOST. The seats are really hard, and did you know you can't open the doors from the inside? It's like a childlock on consumer vehicles, and only the officer can let you out. And he listened to modern rap music, and had a lap top. I kinda want a car like that, too, hahaha) So then the officer and the very kind female officer who was on duty and there in charge of the police station let me into the lobby which is locked and safe to sit and wait for my ride home. I plug in my phone to charge, browse the informational literature about how to prevent car theft and burglary, and place a distress call to Christina to pass the time. Around half past 10 or so, the driver of the car service finally arrives (making pretty good time too) and after all of that I cruise my way home in the backseat of a Lincoln towncar.

Phew. What a long story, and quite an embarrassing one too. I think it's fair to say I'm a sucky traveler, and won't be living this down ANYTIME soon. I probably could've helped the situation a bit, as well, by not behaving like a raving lunatic, and upping the maturity meter a few notches. But, in my defense, it was the second time I missed a train this year (the first time was back in winter, but the cab driver didn't get me there in time and just as we pulled up the train pulled away. So, I had to walk like 5 blocks to a Jimmy John's in the snow and wait two hours for the next train. It was sad.) Ok, I think I can bury this incident now.

Wow, what an entry. How long is too long? More later I suppose......I gotta go take a nap or something. Yesterday my mom and I hit the Nordstrom anniversary sale. I swear I don't think I've ever shopped harder in my life. I've decided Nordstrom has a great downstairs (read:shoes, makeup, handbags, etc...) but their clothing departments, for women anyway, leave a lot to be desired. I certainly outdid myself as far as shoes are concerned. The amazing part about this sale is that it's not like usual sales of this time of left over summer clothing, but all of the new fall merchandise is like a 1/3 off. Very good deals to be had. Ok, off to rest. Tonight: baseball game, yay!!

P.S. I realized I may indeed have more to report--like the egging of our house and my brother's car. But for a later date.....Also for later:my thoughts on a slew of current events.