Monday, April 1, 2013

Top 10 Songs in America

If you're like me, you tune into the radio just about every day, sometimes more than once. I was thinking about it, and it left me to wonder:

What are the top ten songs right now?

Here ya go!!

10. I Knew You Were Trouble;
Down
9. Love Me;
Up
8. Feel This Moment;
Up
7. Started from the Bottom;
Down
6. Just Give Me a Reason;
Up
5. Stay;
Same
4. When I was Your Man;
Down
3. Suit and Tie;
Up
2. Harlem Shake;
Down
1. Thrift Shop;
Up


Amtrak Auto Train: Yay or Nay?

In October, my family and I made a trip to Disney World but not in the traditional sense: we decided to take the auto train.

The auto train, if you've never heard of it, stretches along most of the Eastern United States Coast, starting in Lorton, Virginia, and making its way to Sanford, Florida. Conveniently, Sanford is only about an hour away from the highly famous Disney World. What makes the auto train unique is that, unlike any other train, it takes your car along the trip. Even though the trip is sixteen hours, versus a two hour plane trip, the cost is much cheaper than traveling in the air.

So...is it worth it?

It all depends on whose doing the traveling. If you have children, especially young children, I wouldn't suggest it. In those sixteen hours include a lot of instability from the tracks, which makes it almost impossible to sleep. The food is only decent; the movies being played probably only received two stars at the most, and they're rarely children's movies. Because of the constant jolting, transitioning from car to car can be a great hassle.

If you don't fit in that category, then you just might enjoy it. The first time I went I was nine years old, and it wasn't really my idea of pleasurable; this past October, however, I felt myself appreciating it more. The whole time I plugged my headphones in and stared out the provided large windows. The Carolinas and Virginia possessed the best scenery, but everywhere looked beautiful. Since there are small tables connected to the seats, I seized the great opportunity to get a head start on the schoolwork I'd miss.

For me, the auto train was an awesome experience. I want to know what you think! Comment below on whether you enjoyed it or not.
       

Saturday, March 30, 2013

5 Facts You Didn't Know about Happiness


Well, it's officially Saturday, tomorrow's Easter, and the sun is shining brighter than it has all year. I wonder if you can see my smile through the computer screen! Probably not. Because of these factors, though, I'm in such a great mood, and I was inspired to do a little research. I wanted to provide you guys with some information on happiness...because when it comes to down it, what is it? 

According to the dictionary, happiness is:
(noun) the quality or state of being happy.

Wow! I never would have guessed! :) Anyways, here's five facts about happiness that may surprise you.
1. Laughing hard 100-200 times
a day equals an intense workout, which can burn up to 500 calories!
2. Because of the beta endorphins released,
exercising at least 3 times a week contributes to ultimate happiness.
3. Unlike what many believe,
upbringings only account for ten percent of happiness.
Relationships and attitude, on the other hand,
make up half of one's happiness, or lack there of.
4. Most happy people are those who
are truly passionate about their work,
despite amount of pay or other conditions.
5. People who watch sad movies
tend to lead happier lives.



Not mentioned above, a study was shown that sixty-five percent of Americans claim that they are unhappy. Dear friends, will you be the other thirty-five percent?
                                               

<a href="http://www.hypersmash.com">www.HyperSmash.com</a>

Reminiscing the '90's

 Because I was born in '97, I can't necessarily say that I am a true '90's baby. However, being raised with older kids, such as my brother who is five years older, and my cousin, who is nine years older, I encountered many of the same memories as '90's babies. Some of my best memories were in '99-'03, and yes, I can vaguely remember my two year old life. Nonetheless, a lot of the '90's customs carried into the early 2000's, and I would like to share some things I remember. If I miss anything, which I'm almost certain I will, just remember these are just things I experienced. 

1. Creepy Crawlers
Not for me!
2. Gak
Hehe
3. Game Boy (First Gen)
Oh, the pokemon played!

4. Colored Ketchup
The taste wasn't any different,
I swear!
5. Beanie Babies
I totally made cardboard
houses for them.
6. Bop It!
Always wanted one.
7. Hey Arnold!
I'll never forget you,
Football Head.
8. Sega
Seeeeegaaaa!
9. Wonder Ball
No one really sells them anymore :(
10. Sticky Hands
They stuck to everything!
11. Baby Bottle Pop
All together in one!
12. Furby
You know these guys
are back?

13. TMNT
Hello! Huge tomboy here!

14. Tomagotchi
Toma-toma-tomagotchi!
15. Slime Time
My summer afternoons.
16. Super Soaker
Sting mode...ouch...

If you guys know any others, feel free to comment what you remember!

Friday, March 29, 2013

4 Non Blondes

4 Non Blondes:

A lot of people don't even know who they are, and to be honest, I was among those people until I realized they created one of my favorite songs. It's called "What's Up?", which is the meaning behind the title of this blog. You may not think you recognize this song until you hear it; it's the song that sings, "And I said, 'hey yeah, yeah, yeah, hey, yeah, yeah, yeah...what's going on?" It's incredibly catchy, probably to the point of reciting it for the rest of the day. The thing is, though, I love it for its underrated lyrics.

Looking beyond the chorus reads another message, and these are my favorite lines:

Twenty-five years I'm alive here still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar.

And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?

For whatever reason, these lyrics speak to me and cause me to replay this song daily. Maybe the theme I receive from this is that sometimes, life spins so fast and can seem uncontrollable. We were so focused on one thing until we realized we greatly ignored and maybe even ruined something else. As foolish humans, we need to take the time to stop whatever we're doing, take a good look around us, and ask a simple question.

What's up?

Someday

"And maybe, someday, we'll figure all this out. Try to put an end to all our doubt, try to find a way things better now. Maybe, someday, we'll live our lives out loud. We'll be better off somehow...someday.."

I love those words by Rob Thomas in his song "Someday". It gives me hope, hope that the world one day can be a much happier, safer place, and that my future will become more resolved than it is right now. Let's face it: along with many other teenagers, I'm not exactly sure who I wanna be or what I wanna do. In my heart, I feel optimism and power, but how do I express these emotions? God only knows.

I don't want this blog to be a diary of any sort. In fact, I don't want it to be all about me; I want this to be a tool to better understand the world. This is purely expression of whatever comes to mind, and hopefully, hopefully you can understand or maybe even relate to me. Until then, dear reader...

Have a kick ass life.