Always complaining

Sometimes you think you get to somewhere, after travelling for hours, and you will get a warm welcoming. Well, sometimes you're mistaken. Sometimes, the people that should give you a warm welcoming home, although it's been a week since I arrived, complain about not being able to read a new post after the one about cheese... I thought that one was pretty good. But now, on a nice cozy and movie Monday night I have to come up with a post after being so busy myself? I don't think so. Does it look like I can think right now? I am in movie mode.

You happy about this post now? It's a new title!

Can you still complain about my blog?

I'm just kidding around, this is directed at the person sitting next to me. But if you at all feel spoken to, then that's alright by me! Have a great Monday!

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American Cheese

Since I have so much time on my hands I decided to go to dinner. First I was thinking, not the hotel restaurant, it's so fancy. But I went anyway, with a book at hand and my voucher from the airline. I sat down and ordered my food, a small pizza and backed goat cheese in a red pepper sauce. Both of it was delicious and I was so full afterwards because I didn't eat anything all day because of my stupid flight delay and then missature... yeah, I just made up a word. 

DELICIOUS, just like this:

I just found it online, no real connection to my story. Anyway. I sat there alone, eating my food, thinking about what the flavour were because I didn't want to think about how I missed the bloody flight by 10 minutes stupid United! So I really liked that dinner, it was nice to just sit there in silence thinking about the food in front of me rather than discussing something that distracts from that or having some sort of conversation that may confuse, frustrate, or otherwise evoke emotions undesired right now. I didn't want to think about any of that because it would just piss me off. 

But something I learned, other than baked goat cheese in a red pepper sauce is deliciously awesome, is that it seems that Americans don't really know what cheese is. I mean no offence to those that do, but generally... come on. If you know cheese, you really know it and appreciate it, my hat's off to you. But those that don't know cheeses really don't know cheeses and don't seem to realize that so much of the cheese used is like this industrial strength rat repellent. If you melted it, formed it into something, and then attempted at melting it again, I'm pretty sure your oven or microwave will burst into flame or run away. There's powdered cheese, OK, I guess I've seen that before, but this powdered cheese turns into like a slab of cheese once you add water. Holes and all. And don't even get me started on cheese in a tube or in a can! What kind of creation from the underworld came up with that!?! 

So the point of this entire post is that the pizza I had for dinner had an unidentifiable cheese on it. It wasn't bad or anything, it was just weird having that moment of "What is this flavour? Oh, it's cheese..."

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F you delays

You heard me right. F you! i'm at the airport, bright an early. 30 minutes before I'm supposed to be for normal check in. Everything is going smoothly. But the ice and snow I was so excited about stabbed me in the back. Once at the airport I stroll to the gate thinking, this is wonderful because when I asked at check in if I could get on an earlier flight because of potential delays, they told me. Oh no! Everything's on time! Your flight is fine! Well guess what United. It's not, the first flight is more than an hour delayed and so when I get to the airport I run like hell, after having to wait bloody long for them to give me back my bag, and also for the shuttle to finally get there, and also for the lady taking care of everyone getting on the plane to make up her mind. Well, I missed my flight by ten minutes. I could have made it maybe had they gotten their shit together. They all knew I had a connecting flight because I told them like 5 times each. 

No, you know what? The hotel is nice. They give me one meal for free each day worth 15$, I guess it could be worse. I'm just so pissed I missed it by 10 minutes and now I can't get on another flight for two days because the dude in front of me was being a drama queen and couldn't figure it out. So some other people got the seats that were free before on the flight via San Francisco. Bitch! I'm mad. But at least the hotel is nice. But there's no entertainment. There's a gym and pool, so I'll go there. I guess... I just want to be home! ARGH!!!!!!!!

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The day before the storm

In just 24 hours I will be in an airplane not planning on landing for another 15 hours. But this time something is different. Not only am I not dreading the long flight, the stop over, the stress of having only 45 minutes between flights. I don't mind all that. All I mind is not being able to be home yet. All other times I focused on the uncomfortable seats. The annoying people. The terrible food and drink service. The constricting seats. The awkward bathrooms. Not having a private TV! That one still annoys me. But whatever. I'll get over it. I'll be home soon, in 24 hours I'll be on my way and in 48 hours I'll be at home. Finally, with all my things. I can't wait. 

My strategy this time around is go in not being stressed. Be nice and calm. Not worry about how long the flight is. Never check the time. Watch all the movies. Read my book. Listen to music. Probably never sleep, that just makes it worse. That's my approach...

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Curses

How often have you found yourself thinking about doing something important, planning it all out, organizing your notes or whatever is needed. But then when it comes to actually doing what you have planned out to the minute... well that's another story. Right now I find myself in front of my notes thinking about anything but studying. I am looking up stores wondering what I would look good in. I am reading other blogs and wondering what they are doing in their lives. I am chatting with friends and family thinking about when I will see them. But most importantly. I am leaning over my notes for my last final, completely ignoring them like a good student would. 

I've listened to my top choice in songs right now about ten times today. Followed by looking at the food left in my freezer without actually making a decision. Then I met some friends to go shoe shopping which was majorly successful and I look smoking in my new shoes. Back home I watched TV for a while, opening my notebook to the right page, making sure everything was there about three times before reading the first word. And now it's 11:11 and I read three pages of my 15 page notes. 

Today wasn't completely useless, I met with an Internship supervisor and we are looking into internships for next semester. And I emptied my mailbox for the semester and paid something they told me was due today, in an email I got today... So at least I got out of the house. Twice, actually. 

And so now that I have settled in, fluffed my pillows, pulled my blanket over my knees. I'm ready to study. But what am I doing? Writing in my blog about how well I'm doing at anything but studying. If only there were a job I could apply this to so I could write in my resume that I was very skilled at procrastination. It seems that this semester has been exceptionally cursed with this skill.

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Nailed with white stuff

Yeah, that's right. I just wrote that. It's the Facebook status of a school organization here because it's snowing. How great is that? I mean the status and the snowing. So now it's all winter wonderland outside and I really want to go out there but no one wants to come with me. Well, OK, it was nicer last night when it was fresh, now it's just all recycled snow. It's like when you make food and it's awesome when you eat it fresh and then you have left overs that people walked over and cars drove over the next day. OK, well I guess that doesn't really work... but you get it, right?

So last night as I was going to bed after some really strange noises coming from outside I take one last glance out the peep hole. There's a lot of water on the ground, I think. But then the wood got really light too... After about 5 minutes of confusion and looking out the peep hole I realize, that's not water! That's snow! So I rush over to the window, and ta-da, so much snow! I mean, the floor was covered in so much stuff you could have buried your baby under there.

It was amazing. I thought it would all happen once I left. But how great is this. In the last couple of days the weather has been so confusing. Two days ago: 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit, which is like 20 Celsius, and nice and sunny. Yesterday: foggy and rainy and cold as hell, probably below freezing. Today: snow, kind of snow stormy and slightly warmer, I guess. I'm not planning on going outside to check... so we'll just rely on me for this temperature check. 

But I can't wait to go back to warmth back home, and that's in 4 days!!! wooo!!!

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Foolish mortals

I knew immediately when I got up this morning that it was going to be a miserable day. It was gray outside and it was rainy. Although it wasn't raining when I got up to check the weather, I was sure it was going to rain as soon as I stepped outside. So, surely enough, I went outside and it began to rain. I dragged my feet over to my friend's place and thought only of the fun we were going to have making cinnamon rolls and then heading out to Target. Well, I guess we weren't the only ones that thought that would be the only thing you can do on a day like this. 

But anyway, we had cinnamon rolls and played 20 questions. Another friend was going to return it because it was a single game, not meant for more people. So we played it to make sure it wasn't any kind of fun. It was fun, it just didn't work right. We thought tea, it told us soda. And after some awkward pick up lines like Does it get wet? Does it get hot? Does it get hard? It guessed coffee. OK, not winning here. So we thought, give it a second chance. Condoms, it didn't guess that either, it thought dental floss. Back you go, no good...

At target all I needed was 2 toys, I knew exactly which ones I wanted. But everyone wanted toys. Everyone. I couldn't find anything I needed. But finally I got some Legos and I clung on to them for dear life! Some woman reached in and grabbed one from right under my hand because she wanted it so desperately. Finally back home and I decided, no more moving. So I took my blanket, my computer, my knitting stuff, and pulled up my stockings and reading glasses to make some socks for my granddaughter.... Every time I knit I feel like an old lady...

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The mystery of Finals

So the week of finals has begun. Actually, it's basically over. I have one more final next Tuesday, then I'm done. Anyway, It started off with a band. A Christmas celebration. So no one was studying that day, but that's alright because we had an entire day devoted to studying. So that day was going to be filled with studying, right? Well, wrong. Because I slept in, took my time, and around 4 or 5 in the afternoon I started reading. 

Off to the library then. I went there at 7 and left at 3 in the morning. And most of the time I was walking around looking for the drinking fountain or the bathroom because I found the drinking fountain. It was procrastination at it's best. "But tomorrow I have an exam on Forensic Science!" I thought to myself. Damn, that is not going to go well... But it's alright, I paid attention in class, and to the last season of CSI... In the last couple of days I spent more hours in the library than I did sleeping.

So the final came and went and it went really well. The time spent checking my email and Facebook in the library really helped. 

Moving on to the next final, the hardest one in the batch for me this semester. Classical Sociological Theory. Cool, I can do that, I think. I studied, I actually did, I promise. And I went to the library at 7pm and left at midnight. Again, I spent most of my time checking emails and looking at Stumbleupon.com. But at midnight I felt like it was a good idea to read my notes once, quickly, go to sleep, get up at 8, read the parts I don't know that well, and go back to sleep until my exam at noon. So I did that. Slept until 8, read, went back to sleep until 11... Again, the exam went fine, except one question I blanked on. 5 points down the drain, but whatever. 

Also, just so you know, during my time studying I discovered a lot of new music such as Metric and Cee-Lo Green. It's awesome. I spent about an hour before each study session finding music to listen to. Then I spend the next hour listening to everything once. And then I'll read my notes. So now here I am, tomorrow I have a take home exam due which I finished a couple of days ago. We convinced the professor to make it a take home because the exam was to be at 8am. So, we can take it home and email it to him, right? Well, no, the exam is still due during class. But at what time? Uhh, of course, 8am... because that wouldn't make sense otherwise if we were to hand it in later. Because now turning the exam into a take home really made sense... So I still have to get up earlier, but at least it was a take home exam which is so much easier...

Now the next exam is on Tuesday. I'm ready for that one. No worries. This end of the semester is awesome. Saturday I am going to buy toys and have home made cinnamon rolls at a friend's place. Then in the evening I hope to go out dancing. Sunday will consist mostly of sleeping and probably some packing. Monday will be study day which means music and movie time. Tuesday is the exam, later that day we re going to a bar. And Wednesday is my packing and cleaning day, the day before I leave to go home!!!! Wooo!!! This is exciting.

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Just dance

Last night a friend hosted a party where we were to play Wii. Excited, we all dressed up ridiculously, I wore a dress and bright socks over my black leggings, and a bright blue bob wig. Others came dressed up as 80's dancers. It was amazing. We danced like mad and then switched to Singstar where those not singing danced like the background dancers in the video. 

I haven't had this much fun in a long time. Don't get me wrong. I've had plenty of fun nights, but there's always a point where you stop being active and start getting tired. But this night we danced and sang from 9pm to 3 in the morning. Non stop. I mean, there was a five minute break in between where we played the Kangaroo game. It's listening to this song and then drinking a shot of beer or your drink every time they say Kangaroo. Try it, but be warned. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfVyJ4DZshg

All night we were shouting and singing and dancing and there are probably hundreds of pictures that are so hilariously awkward because we're not moving in the pictures obviously and it looks like we're playing the statue game...

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Thanksgiving 2

For years I've been faking it. I've been pretending to know.. I'm talking about Thanksgiving. We hit it pretty darn close. In the last two years we pretty much copied everything I saw when I went to a real legit thanksgiving last Thursday. I joined my roommate and went to her grandma's place to have a serious family party with little kids and babies and stuff. And lots of food! It was amazing. The turkey was huge and there were so many other things as side dishes. And since we went there at 1 in the afternoon and left at like 8 or 9 at night we ate about 3 or 4 rounds of food. All in all, I don't think I've eaten that much in a day in a while. 

That evening we decided the night couldn't be over so my roommate, her brothers, and I went to a really cool bad. Late at night, around midnight, we got home and happy black Friday! For those that don't know, black Friday is a huge sale all over the US with stores selling awesome stuff for a fraction of the price. This year, at Walmart it started at midnight and electronics at 5 am. Target it started at 4am. Other places also at 5 am and 6am. So, of course, people started lining up at 6pm the previous day. When we were driving home from the dinner we drove past some of them and spoke to a guy who all in all waited for 12 hours.... outside in the cold....

So we drove to Walmart at 2am and encountered people who were so exhausted from waiting and the cold that they were like zombies, strolling around and sitting on the floor. Some people had to wait another 3 hours for the electronics sale... why would you do that to yourself? But anyway, Walmart was handing out 5 hour energy drinks and so when we got one, shared it and only had a little each, we were so energized that I barely know how we got from one side of the store to the other without running over people...

It was all a great experience, and the stories about people dying in stampedes and stuff, I totally get it now. 

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Thanksgiving dinner number 1

Last night Thanksgiving week began and it was epic. After defrosting the turkey for two days we finally got to take it out of its bag and bask in it's glory. It was still raw, but I knew it was going to be fantastic once we're through with it. So we began chopping fruits for stuffing and vegetables for the sauce. But that wasn't my job so I was emptying out the turkey and cleaning it nicely. It was gross and I felt like I was violating it but it was worth it in the end. Next I rinsed it, found it's neck in it's body and got rid of the stuff that freaked out my roommate. 

And since this was a big 12 pound raw turkey we needed to make it dance. Aside from that sillyness we also pretended to be best friends, walking, chilling, and flying. Then the crust was added, buttery and it didn't stick,  but it seemed that it would be fine since I'm sure others do it all too. It took about twenty minutes alone to make the butter stick to the turkey because it kept slipping out of my hands. Again, gross, but we got it into the turkey bag and off it went into the dish. The fruits were added to the turkey and the vegetables to the bag, zip tied and off into the oven for 4 hours.

Violoa! Et ici, c'est l'oiseau!
And in addition to the turkey we brought gravy

And also pumpkin pie! And remember, it's all home made, legit, man.

And the evening passed way too quickly from there on. It was glorious. We ate twice, probably an entire meal each time. And we talked and laughed like it should be.

I'm thankful for all the great food and the great company I had for Thanksgiving dinner 1 and all those that couldn't be there with me. I'm also thankful for the education I am getting and those that make it possible for me to be (<3) here because I get the chance to do so many things other can never even dream of doing.

The Dodo bird

from http://www.anyonefortee.com/Scoring/Pix/dodo4.jpg

Your magic

"Come see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for free at the Moolah on Monday, November 22 at 6:30 PM courtesy of the Student Activities Board

The first 100 students to the show get free popcorn.

I’ve never read the book, but if the trailer is any indication, the movie follows three friends as they fly around rural England in search of a nose for their friend, Michael Stipe"

I need to find whoever writes these things!!!

Pre-Christmas

Yesterday, the day our apartment living room moved from normal over to mess, then clean, and eventually winter wonderland. First step: mess. We moved everything around in order to clean the floors, the kitchen, the furniture, everything. It is spotless now. We were on our knees cleaning... it was exhausting.

Next up, unpacking. Everything, tree, decorations, arts and crafts, lights, hooks... Slow process, but it worked. And then arts and crafts, of course. That was by far the best part.

 

And now I'm ready to celebrate Christmas the real way. And, once back home, I'm excited to see all of the traditional HK decorations! Hint, mom, hint.

It's that time again...

You know that feeling when you are really confused about something in your life but you don't know how to put it in words? The feeling you wish to tell your friends about to get some advice but you just don't know how to say it all? The feeling that there is something you can't wrap your head around something really significant but you don't know what the thing is you want to have explained? I'm confused, essentially. I've been here before, I know. I've semi figured it out before, I know. But it just doesn't make sense to me to go with the second idea if it's not really what I want. Can I not do what I want to do? Is it really so impossible?

So I'm making lists, checking websites, seeing what I can find. Why is it so hard! Can't people writing these websites realize I'm freaking out about what I want to do and how I can get there and make me a step by step list as to how to reach that job? Come on! That would be so awesome of you. So if you do that as a profession, make a website for me and send me the link. I'll come hug you, I promise. 

In fear of reusing images from older posts, this is a colourful version of my brain... 

I was talking to a guy who is a doctor a couple of days ago and when I told him I was studying Criminal Justice and wanted to be an investigator but couldn't he asked what I decided to do instead then. Counseling, I said and he raised his eyebrows. He told me, and I'm only slightly paraphrasing, Counseling is a very boring and frustrating job, especially when it comes to inmates and juveniles. They won't listen to you or they will listen but not take your advice. So, if you want to do forensics, do forensics. But, dear doctor, it's not that easy it seems...

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Life is a Cabaret

Last night the university theatre presented the show Cabaret. It was well choreographed, with good song choice, good casting, however, throughout the show there was just one thing stuck in my head: Do they not feel awkward being this naked and sexual with kids, other students, and professors out there watching? 

I guess and actor does what they must. But still, I wouldn't dare dance like they did with people watching. Their costumes were lingerie and silky stuff with a lot of cleavage on both ends. What made it most shocking to me was just one thing I heard while ushering for the show. If it hadn't been for this one person the show itself would have been more enjoyable to me. The lady outside, with three kids around the age of 13, was telling us that her daughter was in the show. "Oh, that's wonderful!" we commented before her story continued. "The funny thing is, both my daughters have the same part! She patted the little one, around 14, on the head. That was the daughter that had the same part??? 

Does she know they are all dressed in lingerie and are telling stories of their sexcapades. They are working at a night club as prostitutes. Is that really appropriate for a Jesuit university to show, let alone a high school?

The show was good, but I couldn't get that thought off my mind anymore. It was seriously disturbing, thinking as the show goes on that that 14 year old girl was playing a prostitute on stage like her sister was. OK, so they might not have dressed them as scandilously or danced in the way our students did, but it's still a show about sex and stuff. Second half of the show, well, last 30 minutes, I realized the show was actually about Nazis and Jews in Berlin. Oh, I see... it teaches about acceptance and stuff. But I couldn't get the 14 year old's show out of my head!

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Campus Kitchen

Volunteering is the best. I love it. I just wish you could survive without making money. I would do this forever. I found a great one, I assure you this is awesome. What do I do there? I cook, for like two hours straight, only, it's sad. But they only have two hour shifts, the next shift is packaging. But still, I can do it twice a week. What's better than cooking for homeless shelters or religious groups or other unfortunate people. I have the time. 

Last time I made apple crumble cake for 55 people and French toast for 30. This time I made Apple oatmeal bars for 80 people and pancakes for 20. The way it works is that Campus Kitchen gets orders of what the other organizations would like to have and for how many people. Then they rummage through the recipes and find the right ones and students then come in and cook the stuff. It's amazing, you get to know a lot of students that got in trouble and have to do service hours. Then you meet a lot of great people that do this for their courses, a certificate, or just for fun. You also meet a lot of stand up great looking guys... Just so you know. 

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Redbull awesomeness

While driving from the zoo (coming soon) to the costume store we got into quite the traffic. Freeway with 5 lanes, 3 of which were closed. Slowly driving, we spotted the Redbull car. So what, right? You can see those all over the place all the time. Well, the driver of our car, Dino, put down her window and looked at them as they looked over at us. The Redbull girls rolled down the window and Dino asked if we could have some Redbull. Expected responses were: "we can't do that" "they cost" "not while driving" etc. etc. 

Their response? Normal or Sugar-free?

Sweet! So they drove closer to us and at our speed. We evened out and they handed me four Redbulls. While driving at 30mph. On the freeway. I'm pretty sure everyone else was jealous of this greatness. 

First rule of fight club

Well apparently it's be rude. 

It was just last night that there was shouting coming from outside. Living next to a bar often visited by underage people that think themselves pretty clever for "tricking the system" we didn't think much of this shouting. But it was no longer funny drunk shouting. It now turned into aggressive shouting. Intrigued, and somewhat worried, we finally got up and had a look. Just in time, I think, right outside a guy got hit to the ground. 

And so it begins. Two guys beating on one. Unfair, you would think. Yes, that's what we thought at first too but it didn't take long before we started to believe that the little guy on the ground was at fault. He wasn't little, just a matter of phrase. Anyway, One guy was punching him, mostly missing his face and head and hitting the guys shoulders and arms. But the second guy did nothing to intervene. When the guy on the floor started shutting up the two guys walked off. Before we could pry open our windows that now weighed close to a ton each, the guys had already said something again and the fight continued. The boy on the floor, feeling he had the upper hand, commented on what seemed to be a touchy topic already. So the beating continued. This time the little one managed to get up and, bam! Two punches from the double team, right in the kisser. 

So what next. We called the campus security, that's what. And you know why? Well, the two guys walked away again and the guy on the floor was still antagonizing! Are you kidding me? After all that? He didn't even get one hit in... Anyway, we're calling security because the guy just reached in his pocket and pulled out something dark. Considering where I'm living we naturally jumped to conclusions about what that item may be. There's three levels of object danger. 

1: gun, daaaaamn. 

2. knife: not appreciated. 

3. blunt weapon: I guess it could be worse?

Well, 3 it was. The guy pulled out a bottle. And those things can cause serious damage. I know... I watch a lot of CSI.

He walked to the guys walking away with his bottle firmly in his hand. Was this going to get bloodier?? Luckily a girl came rushing over, she seemed to know them all because she was pretty flustered about the events. Shocking though? She didn't once try to break the whole thing off. But as soon as the girl was around the guy turned around and walked off. "Dude, you ok?" we asked out the window. No reaction. Fine then... don't care... 

Security arrived about 3 minutes later... quick reaction, guys.

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Some students are wonderful

I have been looking at events when I came across some wonderful descriptions for the university events i the next couple of weeks. They were so good I thought them necessary to share:

"The Student Activities Board will be showing the movie Inception  on Friday, November 5 at 8 PM. Sponsored by After Dark and the Student Activities Board, the movie follows a band of friends as they take a lot of naps. There will be free popcorn! For eating!"

"This year, at least six teams will be building trebuchets to compete at launching pumpkins across Tegeler Field. During the launching, the Association of Parks College Students will be holding a canned food drive and will sell apple cider and pumpkin pies (which will not be made from the remains of the pumpkins). Half of all procedes will go to charity."

Thank you frustrated and darkly humerous student body.

Old Hallows Eve

Halloween, the time for little boys to get scared while trick or treating. The time for little girls to dress up like princesses and get candy. The time for teenagers to go to their first house parties and drink some alcohol. The time for college students to dress completely inappropriately while going to school hosted events. I don't want to see your butt cheeks, thank you. But that doesn't seem to stop people from wearing ripped tights with heels they can't walk in, a really low cut shirt, and a skirt that sticks out horizontally rather than vertically like it should. I have seen into hell, and it looks like an exposed butt cheek of a passout drunk girl. 

And drunk they shall be. The night of people drinking too much for their own good. The night for them to pass out on the street outside our apartment until the police and ambulance come. It's the night for you to really get to know your friends. But still, I feel it will not be the last person to be dragged away by those who are dreading this day each year. The night comes alive with the sound of drunken stumbling and "man, I don't feel so well". The wild shouts in harmony "Are you OK?" as someone falls, "oh, here it comes again" when someone throws up, "I think something's wrong" when someone is drunk, and "was it because of your last shot?" when clearly they had enough a long time ago. It's that time of year again and the crazy is coming out to party.

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