Snowiest December in Twin Cities History = Dec 2010

Shove it 1969! On the 26th, the total snowfall in the metro area for December 2010 officially surpassed December 1969 with 33.4 inches of snow and 7 days remaining in the month. The official snow total at the end of the month is yet to be determined because another storm is coming tonight. Since the 26th the weather has actually gotten worse. Yesterday I had the pleasure of running through slushy puddles while a slight drizzle increased to a frigid downpour. Then, overnight, the rain froze and a light dusting of snow covered the ice making for extremely treacherous footing. On today's run, the sky suddenly started spitting jagged bits of ice at my face during an interval. It was fun times for sure. Maybe 2011 will bring better weather? The outlook looks COLD.

Oh yeah, and the metrodome roof collapsed.

Reading for...fun?

The past two days I have been reading for (dare I say) fun. It has been a really strange experience. The urge to pick up a book and look at the words inside it is one that I am fairly unfamiliar with.

Normally, I despise reading. I can count the number of books I have read in college on one hand...with 3 fingers. Last summer I attempted to read a book for fun and I got about a third of the way through and just couldn't take it anymore. The feeling of literary knowledge voluntarily entering my brain made me want to vomit. Also, textbooks are not for reading; they are for skimming. For Christmas, my brother gave me a book of Awkward Family Photos and my Mom commented, somewhat alarmed, "You gave her a book?!?" To this, my brother responded, "Don't worry, It is mostly pictures".

Anyways, this reading for fun all started when the internet broke. What was I to do with my time if I couldn't watch online tv??? I couldn't call a friend because it was morning still. We had given my mom a book for Christmas called "Unbroken" so, although repulsed by the principle of it, I picked up the book and opened to the first page.

As it turns out, this book is the true story of a man named Louis Zamperini, who had probably one of the most interesting lives ever lived. He qualified for the 1936 Olympics in the 5000m run, travelled there on a ship with Jesse Owens, met Hitler, was thought by many to be the guy who would first break 4 min in the mile, got drafted into the Air Force for WWII, and flew several spectacular, heroic missions before his plane went down in the ocean. Right now I am about halfway through the book and Louie and another guy have been stranded at sea for 21 days, circled by sharks, and drifting into enemy waters. I am going to go read it more now.

Letters To Annoying People

Dear Guy in Car During My Run Today,

I realize that I was in your way. I know I should have been paying more attention to you and less to my ipod but lets be realistic. I was only in your way for about 4 seconds and I moved immediately when I realized you were there. You didn't have to roll down your window to lecture me and you wasted more time doing that than I wasted by being in your way. Also, I couldn't hear your lecture over my music.

Dear Stats Professor,

Thanks for grading things dumbly and giving me my worst grade in college on my easiest class in college.

Dear Semi Truck Driver During the Most Recent Snowstorm,

As far as I could tell, the turning lane had not been plowed yet this winter and I was not about to plow my car into it. I slowed down well in advance giving you plenty of time to react. When you blasted your horn at me from behind, I chose to move to the left and miss my turn so that you wouldn't hit me because you clearly couldn't stop. Was it really necessary to shout at me and flick me off on your way by? Maybe you would have preferred it if I had barreled into the turn lane and done several flips and died in the blizzard or if I had stayed in your lane and allowed you to run over me from behind.

Dear Taylor Swift,

All your songs are the same.

Dear Justin Bieber,

You are just really annoying. Thats all there is to say about that.

Dear Fluids Professor,

I am ONE point away from an A-. Can I please just have it?

Dear Person Who Plows Sidewalks,

Did you do it by hand? It really just looks like you rolled your body over the sidewalk and kind of kicked some snow off as you went. A newborn baby could have done better.

Yours Truly,

Danielle "Uncharacteristically Bitter For This Time Of Year" Berndt

Patty Cake Cats!

Austin posted this on my facebook and I liked it:

Cats playing patty cake

Also, today is the last day of classes and I am going to pour acid on all of my books. Or maybe I should wait til finals are over and mail them back to Chegg. I shall flip a coin.