World of Warcraft (Not for class)
Say what you will, but I am addicted to this game. I just got to work, and it is stuck on my mind because I was just playing it. A level 60 friend brought me through the Deadmines. I know most anyone who reads this won't understand what I'm talking about, but I thought maybe writing about it would help get it off my mind, so I really don't care. All I know is that I have a whole bunch of cool shit sitting in my bags that I didn't have time to go through and I can't wait to get home and hop back online. I know for a fact I picked up more then a couple rare blue items. One of which I know I can sell at the Auction House for at least 50 gold. Also, I think most of what I picked up was enchanted, so, as an enchanter myself, I'll be able to disenchant a lot of it to increase my enchanting skill level. (Yes, I realize what a geek I am, and no, I don't need to be reminded.) Going through that dungeon with them (my friend brought a level 52 friend), I also got close to level 20. When I get back on tonight I should be able to level up in a matter of minutes just by finishing a couple of quests that I already have half completed. It kills me to be such a low level again. I used to have a level 32 hunter and a level 30 druid, but they were on my boyfriends account, and we broke up about 4 months ago, or rather, I broke up with him. I really miss those characters. My hunter had been hitting harder then a 35 mage. I did a good job on her. My druid wasn't anything special, but I think she was stronger then my current druid. I don't know for sure, but it really bothers me that I can't transfer them to my own account. I know I should really get over it, but the thing you have to realize is that it is not just a character, it is my time spent-- maybe not well spent, but spent none the less-- and it takes a lot of time to get to level 30. I was really looking forward to finally getting a mount too, at level 40. Now, I am that much further away from that as well. However, I have managed to stay in my same guild, and keep my closest online friend-- the very same person who took me through the Deadmines today-- so all has not been lost, and they are all so helpful I should be back up to level in no time (thank god)!

Our Second Paper
Everything seemed to go wrong with this paper. First I had problems choosing a topic putting me behind right off the start. I then found myself sick and ended up missing two class periods. I fell far behind quite quick. Once I thought I had myself caught up, all of my English things went missing. There were so many different places they could have been because I had been moving around a lot over spring break. I finally tracked them down to one place but so far have STILL failed to get a hold of my aunt, so I have not been able to retrieve anything-- I had to call a friend for the last blog assignment. I attempted to rewrite the paper, but, well, I've lost most if not all of my motivation on it. I've hit a sort of wall in my school work that refuses to budge. I'm currently trying to pull myself out of the gutter, but I have to say, I feel like dead weight right now.

Kid's and Sports
Jessiaca Statsky's essay, Children Need to Play, Not Compete, discusses the negative effect competitive sports can have on young children. She supports the idea that the competitive atmosphere damages the children not just physicaly but mentaly as well. Statsky argues that any child under the age of 14 should not be involved such competitve sports, and that those they are involved in should focus not on winning but on team effort and just plain having fun. She explains that the parents and the coaches need to put less pressure on the children and be more supportive. The goals they place for their children are beyond their children's reach and they need to begin to think reasonably. She suggests a few ways of applying a non-cometitive atmosphere like eliminating scoring, and by tweaking rules to make any game a more light-hearted game.
Although I agree with the author on many points, I think changing game rules and removing scores would not be the way to do it. Right now, parents and coaches stress winning. If the parents and coaches stressed having fun and cooaperation, I think that would be enough influence to change the course of the children's sport experience.

Wer ist Amanda? (like I'm supposed to know)

I really don't like to go into specifics. It just means I have to talk more about myself. I am really more of a listener and have never been fond of journaling, and the thought that I must introduce myself to so many people that I have never had a real conversation with is a little unsettling to me. I really enjoy going my own way, veering off course, or topic. I get a thrill from acting spontaneously. Of the late, I've been toying with the idea of what would happen if I pulled up the stakes and moved to Europe. Might not actually be something I could do but I would never rule out any possibility.
Right now, I am just starting my generals; Europe seems far enough away to be another planet, and I am swamped under the pressure of a future that seems just out of reach. I would like to work towards becoming a biomedical engineer, but book smarts have never been my best quality. None the less, that is why I am here and I figure I'll just go with the flow and see what happens. Maybe I'll make it to Europe to complete my masters. Anything is possible at this point in my life, and I'm just along for the ride.