December 28, 2004

A whole new meaning to double-take

I was reading a friend's profile last week and there was a link to a Reuters story that I just had to email to some friends. Well Karissa asked me to blog it and so I am. The general gist of the story is that a set of twins swapped places on the cops...

Twins swap clothes to flee jail
Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:44 AM ET

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A man has escaped from a Swedish jail after switching clothes with his identical twin brother, officials say.
The two 18-year-olds were left alone in a detention cell on Monday after one of them had just been sentenced to 10 months in a reformatory school for assault and robbery.

The convict walked free from the jail after switching clothes and pretending to be his brother.

His brother then told wardens they now had the wrong man and his true identity was confirmed by fingerprinting. He was arrested for aiding a felon, but was also released a few hours later. He may face charges.

"We were quite simply duped. They are probably having a good laugh somewhere right now," said Lars-Ake Pettersson, head of the jail in Kronoberg in Stockholm on Tuesday.

The convict is still being pursued by police.

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 10:48 PM | Comments (1)

December 27, 2004

A Face Lift

Well, as you can probably already see I have changed the look and name to my blog. I was getting incredibly bored with the old look seeing as I hadn't touched it since last Christmas when I somehow turned it topsy turvy. I know that it's not much and I hope that I will be able to do more with it in the future (with the help of Karissa).

Hope you all like it!

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 9:53 PM | Comments (4)

December 26, 2004

HERE WE GO STEELERS! HERE WE GO!

I just finished watching the Steeler game and I have to say that after following them the last four seasons I couldn't be happier right now. They just kicked major booty against the Ravens and in doing so clinched home field advantage for the rest of the playoffs. The only team that has a record like this is the Philly Eagles and they just lost one of their best players. I don't know a lot about football, but I do have a feeling that the Steelers are going to do an amazing job in the playoffs and even make it to the Superbowl.

All I have to say is:

HERE WE GO STEELERS! HERE WE GO!

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 3:51 PM | Comments (3)

December 25, 2004

Merry Christmas All!

Well, today is Christmas. A time where Christians remember the birth of Christ. It is also a time to get together with your family. Depending on your tradition you and your family may exchange gifts at this time of the year. My family does and well let's just say this isn't my year for the gift thing.

Last night I went to my mom's sister's house for a little Christmas cheer. When we arrived we had a blast. The food was great and everyone way talking about what they have been up to as of late. I was asked a great many questions about how school was going and then we got to the gift part. Now I had told people not to get me anything for Christmas becuase I just wanted to enjoy it for the gathering that it was. Well, my grandmother didn't listen and got me a present anyway. It was a really pretty necklace set in the shape of a T. I couldn't believe it. I gave her a hug and all was good.

Now the reason for this entry is because of this morning. I feel so terribly. I was opening the gifts that my parents bought me and I didn't really like any of them. Of course my mom knew and said that we could take them back, but seriously, I felt like poop. I told her that I would keep the gifts, but she wouldn't let me. She said if I didn't like them that I shouldn't keep them just to make her happy. And so I'll be taking them back either tomorrow or Monday, but that doesn't change the fact that I feel wretched about it.

Then we go to my dad's sister's house and do the whole gift exchange there too. Well both of my dad's sisters bought me clothes. I am the hardest person to buy clothes for and needless to say they didn't fit so those have to go back too! Now how many people do you know that have to take most of their gifts back. I feel like a horrible person! Oh well!

I hope you all had a better Christmas than I did!

Merry Christmas All!

Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 2:19 PM | Comments (0)

December 22, 2004

Give me liberty!

Well, Christmas break is now in full swing. We all have been out of classes for over a week and some how we made it through finals (even if the American Lit final was pure torture). Some people seem to wonder what everyone else does over their breaks. This year I wanted to do something different instead of just going home and doing nothing and that led to me going home with my roomie Athena to visit her hometown Philidelphia.

I had an incredible time, although I did get a lil bit ill. We got home on Thursday after leaving after my last final. Friday was great. After a lil bit of errand running, we headed off to the King of Persia mall. I have NEVER seen a place so large in my life. All I wanted to do was get out of there. I couldn't believe how many people were there. Athena and I did a bit of shopping and then ate at this really neat little cafe. The food was good and filled our tummy's. We then hung out with her friend Amy who is absolutely crazy!

Saturday came rolling in and we were off to a late start. We wanted to be into the historical part of Philly before 11 and we got there at 12. We did end up seeing a lot though like the Liberty Bell and Ben Franklin's grave. We also took a carriage ride to see all the important buildings in the area. The guide was nice and the tour incredibly informative. Then that night we had dinner at Athena's grandmother's. Let me tell you. The food was AMAZING! I ate sooo much. I was so full that I felt like I was going to burst. We ended up falling asleep in the living room watching a movie with her gram.

Sunday we headed off to the Art museum and more shopping. Then we decorated her tree. While Monday was a very lazy day. We went and saw Finding Neverland. That movie was very well done. Johnny Depp did a wonderful job as usual and I was sitting on the edge of my seat.

Now that brings me to Tuesday. I had to take the train back and that is something that I will never do again. It was such a long ride and I couldn't do really anything but read. Oh well. At least I am home now. I had sooo much fun while I was there. It was nice to see another city during this time.

Well I'm off....Have a good break!

Tiff

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 3:53 PM | Comments (2)

December 12, 2004

Another Semester Out the Door

OH MY GOSH IT'S FINALS WEEK ALREADY!!!!!

Where did this semester go? I swear I feel like I was just starting class with fresh notebooks and pencils and pens, and now I'm recovering from all the Christmas on the Hill excitement and the coming finals. I have been through so much this semester that I'm surprised I made it through. I've had the bad room mate experiance yet again, the broken heart, the mad rush to finish assignments and do all the research, and above all the memories. It's amazing how many are made in one semester.

Christmas on the Hill was amazing this year. Everyone looked wonderful and a good time was had by all. (Some had a little too much fun if you catch my meaning.) The food at dinner was amazing, and Bishop Bosco did a beautiful job at mass. I couldn't have asked for a better night to finish off the semester. Although I did break my shoe, I still had fun. I wish that we could just freeze time at the point where everyone was laughing and having a good time, but life needs to move on. I personally let out a lot of feelings last night as I know others did as well.

Last year at this point I was dreading the up coming week, however I'm not really this year. I feel more prepared to take on life than I ever have before. I am actually looking forward to coming back to school during J-Term even though I'll be here by myself. I'm looking forward already to the time when everyone comes back and spring semester is in full swing. As I finish up this semester and the excitement of Christmas approaches, I just can't help but look to the future. People keep telling my I'm dreaming my life away, but I look at it as moving toward the time where I will be of assistance to life, at least more so than now.

And so I finish by wishing all good luck on their finals, a happy safe break, happy holidays, and I'll see you in the spring!

Tiff

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 10:49 PM | Comments (8)

December 9, 2004

Interesting...

It may seem as if your brain is your enemy instead of your ally. For every thought that comes up, you might think of two more that contradict it. Then suddenly you have four thoughts contradicting the two contradicting thoughts. Pretty soon you find yourself going around in circles over an issue that is quite simple. Don't get angry with yourself, and try not to get frustrated. The key is to take things more slowly, and don't mentally jump ahead of the place you are at now.~My horoscope for today

Isn't it interesting how that horoscope seems to come at the right time? I mean think about it. We are at the end of the semester and I know that my thoughts are going 10 ways against the middle. I'm thinking about finals, about the presentation I have to do tomorrow, Christmas on the Hill, and many other things. It just seems that my mind can't stay focused on one thing for very long. It's like at this time of the year we all develop a mild form of ADD or ADHD. You people may laugh, but seriously. Even dedicated students end up just throwing in the towel and heading in another direction eventually.

A perfect example of this is last night. Athena was telling me today that while she was studing for her Art History final she started thinking that Leonardo and DiVinci were two different people. Now this is a girl that loves art and loves to learn more on it every day and she is starting to mix things up that are commonly known! How crazy is that? Others are having a hard time concentrating too, or not even just concentrating but staying awake. I don't know how we get through, and yet we always manage.

I was helping Kathy Fajt in her office today. She has an insane amount of work that needs done and she was so chipper I just had to ask her why. She told me that "Some how, some way the piles always seem to disappear. So why worry?" I have to say that I didn't think that I was going to make it through the last two weeks. I made a list of all that was due, none of it small, and it was two pages long! However I did. Everything was turned in on time, and I did my very best on all of them. That's all one can do.

As I approach the last of my assignments (a presentation in Spanish). I find myself procrastinating once again by doing this blog entry. Stephanie just asked me to make her do her work, but I can't even bring myself to do my own! And yet off I go to attempt to focus one last time and make all of the things in my brain be quiet. Good Luck all in the last day of classes and on your future finals.

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 8:03 PM | Comments (0)

December 7, 2004

Girl Talk

It's amazing what sitting up and chatting to friends can do for a person. I have been feeling very down lately and it seems that simply through talking with friends helped a lot. We caught each other up on what was going on in our lives, about our concerns for next semester, and even a little about God.

The part about God was very interesting because we all come from three different backgrounds. I am Catholic, Amanda is Protestant, and Athena is a Christian. I couldn't help but think about how close our views actually were on everything. I also couldn't help but make note of how far the three religions have come in the last 60 years. In the 1950s you would never have seen those three together really discussing things in a civil manner. My dad would tell me stories about how people were always saying that they knew better than the next. I couldn't believe it personally. During the Reformation you certainly would not have found ladies of these three religions chatting as we were. It made me proud to be living in such a time period where these things are accepted and even encouraged.

With Christmas fast approaching I find myself much more into the meaning behind Christmas than the presents. We also discussed our different traditions in each of our families. It seemed that we all had questions and in one form or another our questions were answered. I couldn't believe, and still can't believe, how comfortable I felt discussing God in this way. It was like I could feel his presence there. I think the other girls did too in their own way.

Another thing we chatted about was how the chapel on campus had a different feeling for each of us. I love just going to St. Joe's and praying. Since last fall it has been the place that I felt most comfortable talking with God. It is also a place that I go to to study. It's like while I am in there studing away, God is surrounding me and keeping the distractions away. However, Athena sees it different. She finds it a place to just sit and feel at peace. She appriciates all the artwork and architecture of the building and she even said she enjoys it more now because she knows the names of all the archs in the room. For Amanda, it is just a room. She said she really doesn't feel anything there. I thought it was interesting and asked her why. She told us that she just felt empty when she would be in there. This is what I enjoy most about my friends. We all accept each others views on things and are able to get our own points acrossed without getting into an argument.

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 8:38 PM | Comments (4)

December 4, 2004

Love....who needs it.

Ok. So I haven't taken the time to blog for myself in a really long time. I usually mix in a little personal entries, but as of late I have been staying away from those. Well now I'm going for it. And so if you want to read about my ever evolving love woes please continue on, otherwise it might be best if you wait to read my next entry. With the last week before finals starting on Monday and Christmas on the Hill on Saturday there are sure to be many.

Three weeks ago I broke up with my boyfriend of a month and a half. "Big deal!" some of you might be thinking, but to me it is. You see we were friends for the longest time (a year and a half) and just randomly one night I told him that I liked him. You see I had mentioned to him that I was tired of everyone seeing me as a sister, and he said he felt the same way and somehow it just slipped out of my fingers (we were chatting on aim) that I liked him and had for a while. He seemed kinda shocked at first and then he wrote back that he wished I would have told him sooner. When I asked why he said to me that "Because sometimes feelings are mutual." Things went from there. We started dating and I was so amazingly happy it wasn't even funny. We were both very busy a lot of the time so the time we did get to spend together was great! We did a lot of watching movies and just hanging out, which was fine. And then about a month ago we made plans to go to the movies off campus. It was a big deal since we didn't usually do it, but his car had other ideas. It didn't start and we ended up just hanging out on campus yet again, but it was sooo much fun. I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Then Sunday things got weird he stopped talking to me and didn't really want to hang out anymore. Monday night he asked me to hang out with him and we did, but it wasn't the same. He was distant, cut off. Then, when I couldn't take it anymore I made him talk to me and it was all over. It happened so fast that it didn't really hit me until Thursday that we weren't together anymore. He said he still wanted to be good friends, but since then we haven't said more than ten words to one another. I have started to have these crazy dreams about him and I. I can't really seem to make them stop. I know that things will get better with time, but time is one thing that I don't have. Only God seems to know, and he reveals his meanings in mysterious ways...

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 9:07 PM | Comments (4)

December 1, 2004

And so we finish

AHHHH....we are in the home stretch and the end of the semester is at hand. And so it is time to remember those wonderful times of long ago.

We did so much in this half of the semester that it was hard to get it all done. Once again we read the Yellow Wallpaper and I felt for the poor woman stuck in the yellow room. I discovered that childhood stories can help us learn about problems of the past and make sure they do not happen again. Also, I learned that reality can become legend, definitions can be humorous, and that sometimes the people we see can have many secrets. I have gained an appriciation for all of those stories told to me by my parents and grandparents, and that I'm not the only drama queen that could be written about. I have even thrown in a little bit of Christmas to help get me through.

I have also become a stronger aquaintance to many different people. Shanna and myself seem to have the same fears about hunting, and Sarah and myself seem to be on the same page concerning the representation of women. Not only have I made new friends, but some old ones have continued thinking this through as well. Lori brougt many connections to my attention that I would never have dreamed possible.

I hope everyone has a great break, and I can't wait to see you all in the spring!

Tiffany

Posted by Tiffany Brattina at 2:23 PM | Comments (0)