Kings Dominion

Other KD pics.

This is the Volcano. Perhaps the best and one of the scariest coasters they have! Fire comes out as you go through.

This is the Anaconda. This is also my little sister's first upside down roller coaster as of last weekend (she's 9). Go her! It goes under water in a tunnel.

Map to Kings Dominion

Finals

I am so happy that Freshman year is almost over. I have one final in Anatomy which is going to kill me but I'm pretty confident I can get a good grade. This summer I'm going to have a season pass to Kings Dominion and I'm going to go at least 10 times. If you've never been, you should seriously think about going. They have one of the tallest roller coasters in America called the Intimidator 305 (305 ft. tall). It's so tall that they don't even open it on cloudy days because they are afraid of lightning. Amazing right?  I'm also going to be working a lot too. I hope Summer goes by extremely slow because I need a break, as do we all.

Clothesline Project Pics (see previous blog)

Clothesline Project

Did anyone go to the clothesline project earlier this month? If not, you really missed out. It was a display of tee-shirts that were decorated by women who were assaulted in some way.

 All the different colored shirts represented different stories. The yellow shirts were of women who were physically assaulted. The red, orange, and pink shirts all represented women who were raped. The blue and green shirts represented women who were raped or sexually assaulted by family members (incest). The purple shirts represented women who were assaulted because of their sexual orientation. The black shirts (which there were very few of) represented women who were assaulted due to their political standing. Worst of all, the white shirts represented women who were sexually or physically assaulted and died because of it. 

The large number of white shirts that I saw literally scared me and brought tears to my eyes. All of the white shirts were made by people who were close to these women. Most of them displayed a name, date of death, and the words “Rest in Peace.” The white shirts definitely stood out to me and touched me emotionally. Most of the white shirts that I read were of young women under the age of 18. Some were as young as 5. 

Almost every single shirt, though, had a glimpse of hope, faith, and forgiveness. Some symbols that I saw repeatedly were bible verses, stories, hope symbols, pictures of hearts, hands, birds, flowers, footprints, smiley faces, frown faces, tears, smiles, words, blood, crosses, sunshine, violence, pictures of people (themselves or their attackers), vast array of colors, torn pockets, acorns, alcohol, ages, and the word ‘virginity’.

It was a great display and I encourage everyone to attend next year!

 

Schedule

Is anyone else really frustrated with they way we have to sign up for classes? Almost all the classes I NEED to take are completely filled, especially Univ. 200 classes at the time I need. I can't even register until tomorrow. I have to wake up at 7 something in the morning to make sure I get one of the 18 spots left in physiology lab class because its absolutely required for the nursing school. With my luck, my alarm won't wake me up or my computer will stop working. What's really frustrating me is that I have 30 credits right now and in order to have been able to register yesterday, you need a grand total of 31 credits. That's definitely not fair! I wish there was a better way to get the classes I need to take. They could at least make registration open at 12pm so I can sleep in a little on my one day off in the week!

Side dish too!

My last post was about chicken marsala because I was hungry. This is the perfect side dish to the chicken marsala that I absolutely love. These mashed potatoes have sour cream which you have to try if you never have. And of course I always put lots of butter in them to make them really delicious. So I have dedicated my blogs this week to this meal that I wish I was eating right now.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds red potatoes, quartered
• 1 cup (8 ounces) BREAKSTONE'S® Sour Cream
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
• Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients; mash until blended. Yield: 5 servings.

I'm hungry

I was looking for inspiration for this blog and I realized how hungry I was so I decided to post one of my all time favorite dishes: Chicken Marsala. I love eating it at Carrabba's but I can't always afford to go there so sometimes I try to make my own. Of course its never as good but it's still a great in home recipe!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
• 2 (6 to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in halves and pounded thin
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups sliced mushrooms (cremini, oyster, shiitake)
• 3/4 cup Marsala
• 1 cup chicken stock
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Chopped chives, for garnish

Directions

In a shallow bowl or plate combine the flour and Essence and stir to combine thoroughly. Quickly dredge the chicken breast halves in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking to remove any excess flour.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and cook the chicken breasts until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon of the remaining butter to the pan and add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are golden brown around the edges and have given off their liquid. Add the Marsala wine and bring to aboil, scraping to remove any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. When the wine has reduced by half, add the chicken stock and cook for 3 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Lower the heat to medium and return the chicken breasts to the pan and continue to cook until they are cooked through and thesauce has thickened, about 5 to 6 minutes. Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, add salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with chopped chives and serve immediately

Research Paper

For my research paper, I want to change the way the VCU Nursing School admissions is set up. I was wondering if any of you want to share your opinions about the following subjects (you can answer these questions if you are in the nursing school, tried to get in but was rejected, or if you have had a similar experience with admissions)

Do you think that the School of Nursing should expand in order to accept more qualified students? I do because the demand for nurses is growing exponentially and VCU is such a highly regarded nursing school that it should push out more graduates each year. Baby Boomers are getting old and definitely need nurses!

Do you think you were wrongfully rejected or were surprised you were accepted? I believe that students who had the potential to succeed in the nursing school were rejected because of limited space (only 60 people were accepted to the traditional program.)

Thanks for reading!

This Song is Funny

The song Crazy Possessive by Kaci Battaglia is really funny because the music video pretty much is saying that she is actually crazy possessive. She is threatening another girl, who is really herself, that if she calls or touches her man again she'll "F*** you up!" In the music video she watches herself flirt with her boyfriend and then gets mad at herself. I like the song though, you should check it out and let me know what you think =)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tre0WtMB-dE

Allodaxaphobia

Allodaxaphobia is the fear of the opinions of other people. It is also every bloggers worse nightmare. It may sound silly or out of the ordinary, but in mild conditions I think that many people have allodaxaphobia. I'm sure that many people second guess themselves when they are about about to press the "post" button on their blog. I know I do.
In a certain essence most people, if not everyone cares about what other people think. I wish I could know what people think about me when I walk by or when I post a blog. I'm not necessarily afraid of other people's opinions, but I still have reservations when posting blogs, or speaking in public, or being the center of attention like at graduation or similar situations.
Do you have allodaxaphobia?
Do you have anatedaephobia?
What about Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?

April Fool's Day Pranks

1. Put a piece of bubblewrap under the toilet seat so when your victim sits, they are surprised by a loud POP


2. Find an old bottle of nail polish that you don't want anymore. Unscrew the cap and set it sideways on a piece of waxed paper, letting the contents flow out into a puddle. When it dries completely, peel it off of the paper. Now you can put it anywhere and trick someone into thinking there is spilled nail polish. Works best on something your victim cherishes or on one of their important documents!


3. Tape magnets to the bottom of an empty coffee cup, and attach it to the top of your car. Laugh at all the people who frantically try to get your attention as you drive by.


4. Buy some fake but realistic-looking flowers from a craft store and "plant" them in your victim's garden. They will be shocked to find they have a greener thumb than they thought!


5. Did someone you know leave out an important paper, project, homework, etc.? Then you have a perfect opportunity for a fun prank! Just take some paper that looks somewhat similar to their project. Set their real project aside, and spill a drink or something messy all over the fake project. Say "Oh My God!" and pretend to apologize. They'll have a major anxiety attack until you surprise them with "April Fool's!"


6. Offer to make a sandwich for the victim. But don't remove the wrapper from the slice of cheese. When they bite down they'll get a chewy surprise.


7. Replace the lotion in your victim's lotion bottle with mayonnaise.


8. Carefully place small water balloons in the toe your victim's shoes. They'll get a wet surprise!


9. Put a few drops of green food coloring in the milk to make it look as if it has soured. When someone pours it in the morning, they will think it has gone bad.


10. Take a box full of candy you know the victim likes (Whoppers work good). Remove the candy and replace it with Play-Dough in the shape of candy. Watch him/her be surprised when they get offered Play-Dough candy!

Henrico Woman Found Dead

This is a horrible news story that more people should know about because the killer is still at large! What's going on with society? Praying for her family...

Chesterfield man sought after pregnant girlfriend's body found in Henrico

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agents were searching Wednesday night for a Chesterfield Countyman charged in the slaying of his nine-months pregnant girlfriend.

Family members of 24-year-old Susana Cisneros, unable to reach her and fearing for her safety, fanned out across West Broad Street near Willow Lawn Shopping Center in the early-morning hours Wednesday.

Their worst fears were confirmed when the woman's lifeless, blood-soaked body turned up under a blanket behind a Hardee's Restaurant in the 5000 block of West Broad Street.

A search warrant described how a Henrico County patrol officer was flagged down shortly after 3 a.m. after the discovery by the Cisneros family, beginning an intense investigation that continued through Wednesday night.

"His name was going to be Christopher," Cisneros' brother said of the infant. "He was due in two weeks." A baby shower was held last week, said her brother, a Richmond-area contractor who asked not to be identified by his full name.

Henrico police said a multi-agency effort is under way to locate Gregory Lewis Nelson Jr., 27, whose home off Cogbill Road in Chesterfield was watched by police all day Wednesday and searched by detectives shortly after 4 p.m.

Nelson is believed to be driving a black Toyota Camry, license XSH-4405. He is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 200 pounds.

Nelson, a manager at a Chipotle Mexican Grill where Susana Cisneros had worked and which is across the street from the Hardee's where she was found, was stopped by Chesterfield police for speeding sometime after midnight Wednesday but released, according to Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Wade A. Kizer.

Kizer said Chesterfield authorities thoroughly checked out Nelson and acted appropriately, but he declined to answer specific questions about precisely when Nelson was stopped or whether he was issued a summons. The traffic stop occurred on Courthouse Road, Kizer said.

Chesterfield police declined to comment.

Cisneros died of sharp-force trauma to the neck, according to the state Medical Examiner's Office; the fetus did not survive. Cisneros may have died hours before she was found about 3:15 a.m. Her family said her cellphone went unanswered as of 1 a.m.

Cisneros had left an apartment near Tuckernuck Drive to meet with Nelson to discuss arrangements after the birth of the baby, according to Cisneros' brother.

Nine family members searched for her; the brother said he first discovered a blood-stained Chevrolet Suburban his sister used two blocks from the Hardee's.

"I used my cellphone to try to light the inside, but I could not see. When the policeman came, I could see the blood everywhere," he said.

At first, Cisneros said, he felt like his sister had possibly gone into labor, and family members rushed to St. Mary's Hospital looking for her. But the brother said he also noticed that no blood was directly below a blood-smeared door.

"I think the truck was moved," he said.

A short time after he found the truck, a sister found Susana's body two blocks away, the brother said.

Nelson and his wife, Jennifer, purchased a home in the 9000 block of Scotts Bluff Lane in July 2009 that is now assessed at $226,300, according to Chesterfield land records. Neighbors said they barely knew the couple but sometimes saw a young child when the couple came and went. Jennifer Nelson could not be reached for comment.

Susana Cisneros had worked for Chipotle since September 2009; she had recently transferred from theChipotle that Nelson managed in the 5000 block of West Broad Street to another Chipotle near Gaskins Road on West Broad Street, which was closer to her apartment.

"We are incredibly saddened by this tragedy and offer our deepest sympathy to Susana's family. Susanawas an adored member of our team and will be dearly missed," Chris Arnold, a Chipotle spokesman, said Wednesday. He said counseling services are being offered to employees having trouble coping with the death.

On Wednesday night, family members of Susana, some of whom also work at Chipotle stores, attended theAsh Wednesday service, celebrated in Spanish, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Richmond.

Susana Cisneros' brother said he was the first of the family to move to the United States from Zacatecas,Mexico, about 20 years ago when he was 14 years old. He has since gained legal status and operates a contracting company. His father, mother, six sisters and a brother all joined him as he became more able to accommodate them. Susana had been in the country only a few years.

"It is very sad for us all," he said. "She was a happy person, always laughing."

The Alien and the Mermaid

Zargfaffer from planet Korut fell from the sky it seemed. Of course it was a beautiful 88 degree, sunny day, and the beach was crowded with tourists and locals who never get along. Zarg hit his head and forgot where he came from or how he had gotten there. When he fell on the beach, the beach-goers formed a huge circle around him. The big tall men stood in front with umbrella sticks and sand shovels to protect the women and children. Zarg, and his intellectual superiority quickly adapted to the weather and to the language. He now knew all the words that the people were saying, nothing more, nothing less. He decided to speak.
"I want a taco."
"What did he say?" the people were yelling.
"What did he say?!" yelled Zarg at the biggest man standing near him.
Everyone gasped and took a step back.
"Let's kill him!" Yelled the big man. Everyone agreed. They swarmed him.

"Wait!" Yelled the most beautiful voice Zarg had ever heard in all the galaxies he's ever been to before. "Don't hurt him!"
All the people were screaming, "It's a mermaid!" "She's beautiful!" "Get my camera!"
Zarg levitated all of the people standing in his way of the voice and put them to the side. He walked on the ocean water to the rock the mermaid was sitting on. "You're beautiful. Come back to Korut with me."
"But I am just a mermaid who breathes water and cannot walk."
"I will turn you into a Koruter."
"Why don't you just turn into a merman?"
"Well, okay." And that's just what Zarg did, and they lived happily forever after.

They even had 546 children.

PIE!

This is an AMAZING key lime pie recipe. When I was in my high school culinary arts program my friend and I had to make enough key lime pie for two hundred people and we were covered in lime goo by the time we were done. But it was delicious! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (12 to 15 key limes or 3 to 4 common limes)
• 4 teaspoons grated lime zest
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 11 graham crackers
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Prep Work

It's easier to remove the lime zest from whole limes so I would start with that. Then I would cut the limes in half and squeeze out the juice being careful not to include any pits.

Process the graham crackers in a food processor or blender and then melt the butter and have it at the ready.

How to Make

1. Whisk the egg yolks and lime zest together in a bowl until tinted light green. This takes about 2 minutes

2. Beat in milk, then juice and set aside at room temperature till it thickens.

3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

4. Mix graham cracker crumbs and sugar in another bowl.

5. Add butter and stir with a fork until well blended.

6. Pour this mixture into a 9-inch pie pan and press over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Try using the bottom of a measuring cup to make sure the graham cracker mixture forms a firm crust on the bottom of the pie pan.

7. Bake on the center rack for about 15 minutes until the crust is lightly brown, remove and let cool to room temperature.

8. Pour the lime filling into crust, spread evenly, and then bake for 15 minutes until the center sets, but still wiggles when shaken.

9. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.

10. Refrigerate for at least three hours until well chilled.

Some of you might like to serve it with a whipped cream topping or a meringue topping, but I prefer keeping it simple. If the pie seems to be sticking to the pan when serving, try dipping the pan into a bowl of warm water to loosen it.

Speeches

Throughout high school, I took a series of Culinary Arts classes. The teacher, Mr. Streu, was the only reason why I continued to take the classes. He was a great cook, a pretty good teacher, and an expert speech giver. He would go on the the craziest tangents, and just when you thought he was completely weird and had no meaning to his stories, there would be a moral lesson or some kind of culinary arts significance.
One time he told us this story about a family (his friends) who went to a small country in Asia (which I can't remember) on vacation. They decided to go to this extremely nice restaurant that the locals all loved. It was a fancy –wear your nice clothes– kind of place. Although the family only knew English and it was very hard to communicate, as soon as they walked in the door the hostess greeted them, took their coats for them, pulled out the chairs for them, and they even took their brand new, expensive puppy to watch for them while they ate. After the family had finished eating they were very amazed at how incredible the food was; it was the best they'd ever tasted. They left a large tip and shook the chef's hand many times. When they asked for their puppy back, the chef had tried to explain that it was gone. The father was infuriated and asked where it was. The chef pointed to the leftovers on the plates. They had eaten their new dog.
Mr. Streu then explained differences between cultural behaviors and diets.
He always gave me and other students advice about general things like school or dealing with friends. I looked at him like the father figure that I never had, and I actually miss his speeches.