A Coffee Day

{ Kitten wakes up, stretches, and stumbles to get a cup of coffee} I like getting up early but I'm not an early "doer." I much prefer to rest, sip coffee and enjoy a little me time before getting started for work. Today is one of those days where I have to start my school work, alas, so I thought I'd procrastinate a little and blog :)

I'm so glad essay 3 is finished. I felt so stupid because I screwed up the assignment royally and I didn't realize it till after I had submitted to be peer reviewed :( I felt really embarrassed because it was such an essay assignment and the professor had stated exactly what we were supposed to do. For some reason, I didn't argue my point; the paper was mostly factual....ok it was all factual. My mind was taking a vacation on a tropical island while I was writing it apparently.

Lil Sis and I have a sleep over planned Thursday! We haven't had one in a year I think and we have a lot of things planned. It makes me think about sleep overs we have had in the past which makes me a little nostalgic. I miss being little and not having to worry about a thing. I want to be carefree again!!!

It is officially August and in a little over three weeks, the Fall Term will have started. I want to take Modern Britain but I would have to drop a class and that class would be only an elective while all the others I am signed up for are classes I need to take. But its with Land (one of my favorite professors) and I like Britain. It would also go nicely with an English class I'm taking called British Immigration. I'm not that obsessed with England but it was either Brit. Immigration or Baseball! Would you believe they have an entire class devoted to literature on baseball!

I've been meaning to look for some foreign music to post but by having to redo essay 3, I haven't had a chance but I did find an interesting one. KurtHugoSchneider, is one of my favorite channels and he made this medley of songs by Rihanna. The singer is Matisse and I had never heard of her before but she has an amazing voice, so...

Book Reviews

Wow July is almost over and August will be here soon. I'll get to start Christmas shopping soon!!!! I like to get that out of the way early so I can just kick back and just enjoy the holiday and not worry about fighting the traffic. Anyway...I said that I would do a book review and I was going to do one about I book I finished a few weeks ago but I have to go on an rant about an one I just bought so...

Diana Palmer used to be one of my favorite romance writers ever since I was 14. I lived in Paper Rose, Lord of the Desert, Once in Paris, and Desperado not to mention her Soldier of Fortune series.. They were all good and unique however, many of her recent books have been repetious. I was so excited when Meciless came out because I was hoping that this one would be better, would be unique but I'm 150pages into it and its the same old same old. If this was the first book you'd ever have read from her, you might like it because the action parts are good but the romance part is the same as several other books. I feel like I am reading Outsider, another one of her's, but with different characters. Also, and maybe it is just me, but her characters here lately have been rather droll and too passive. In early stories, her characters had so much more spunk. Oh, well, she is starting a new series set in Wyoming but if its just about cowboys I don't think I'll bother but I will at least read the first book to see if its any good.

Back to the book I was orginally going to blog about. I finally finished War Dogs. I believe I mentioned the book back in January when I first about it but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I finished it. Al Venter is a great writer. His books are vivid, humorous, at times, and serious at other times. It was nice having all the pictures so you could a face with the name. The book is about mercenaries and their role in today's world. He did have to go back to some history about different things but it was interesting none the less. I liked his argument that mercs and PMC are essential to countries now a days and that they can be a very valuable asset. It was a very long book, with around 500 pages however, definetly worth the read. I started another book where he tells about his exploits as a journalist. In November, his book about Neal Ellis comes out and I'm very excited about it because, I found him to be quite a fascinating character.

Well, there's two book reviews. I'm so behind and I just realized I haven't posted any music for a while and I haven't had much time look for new forgien artist so I'll put one up by one of my favorite American ones.

{ Kitten walks into blog with a bunch of Spring flowers freshly picked} It is so nice out. Today is a little chiller than yesterday but the sun is shining and it is supposed to get up to 60, so I'm happy. I haven't been able to post in a while because finals have been coming up, ick : ( I have so much to do. This semester I have two comprehensive finals so it is rather difficult but I guess it is better then having them all comprehensive though.

Not much has been going except for studying. My Cognitive psychology presentation is coming up and I am a little worried about it. It is something like the 22nd. I didn't really want it to be that late but she didn't give us a choice. Also, I took my third physiology test but don't know how it turned out. Unfortunately, I don't have much to say so I'll leave you with a video : ) I was driving back from class today and this song came on. I had not heard it forever. I doesn't really fit my mood today but it does bring back memories...

Just a Spring Day : )

{Kitten comes hopping into blog and falls down into the sunlight} These last two days have been incredibly nice! The temperature has been in the upper 60s and I was told today could get into the 70s!!! That makes me a very happy kitty : ) Not to mention it is now officially Spring. Yesterday, I went to Lil Sis's campus and we had a nice, albeit, short walk. Poor Lil Sis, though, she was stung by a bee. We were sitting in the graveyard ( Yes there is a graveyard on campus where all the Sisters are buried) under a tree just resting. I had seen some bees flying around but I didn't think they would bother us. I was wrong. After Lil Kitten was stung, we were subsequently chased out of the graveyard. Those bees are quite bosssy aren't they?

I am also happy because I found out yesterday that I that I recieved a B+ on my Microbiology Lab Mid-term and that our nursing test, that I though I didn't do so well on, had an error, so it is in the process of being fixed. Then, today I found out that I got a B on Physiology Lecture and Cognitive Psychology tests.

The only sucky part of this this week is that I found out that room selection is this week. That means that there would be no way for me to room with Lil Sis if she did transfer. In light of this new information, I have almost defintely decided to just get an apertment. Yes, it is convient to be on campus and just have to class. It is going to take more of my time but the campus apartments are not that far away and I can have my own privacy and room to move around. I am in a "double room" and it is pretty small. The single room have barely any space.

No another note, I was talking to an old friend a few days ago and we started talking about Japan and we eventuall got to talking about Japanese music. I have to admit, I don't know all that much about Japanese artist but she recommended a singer named JUJU. I really liked her and put one of her videos below. The title is in Japanese so I'm not sure what it is. The person who uploaded the vid is axl800.

More Music

Oh another week is here, which means another fives days of class, which does not make for a very happy kitty in the lest and unfortunately I have a Microbiology test Friday. Yuck! Because of this I won't have too much time to write, so I thought I would post something quick tonight. A few days ago I mentioned that I had a new Russia artist that I found. I forgot her name but found it today after a few minutes of random typing. Her name is Alsou or in Cryllic Алсу. She was on Eurovision in 2000 and hosted it in 2009. According to Wikipedia, she has 3 Russian albumns and 2 English albumns, although I don't think any of her English ones were released in the US unfortunately. Here is her website http://www.alsou.ru/ however, I could not find a way to translate it, so it might be a little difficult to read if you don't know Russian but she has her music videos up on her site so it is more convient to find them then on YouTube.

The top video is from ello, the second video is from la0stakid, the third video is from reyesphile and the bottom video is from gothieaux.

The Not So Great Week

{Kitten steps into blog but slips on something, slides all the way across room, and lands in water bowl} It has just been one of those weeks where nothing has gone right. My Psychology teacher cancelled class Monday...but wait, isn't that a plus? Well yes it is but she forgot to tell us that we had two assignments due Wednesday so now I am down about ten points. Then I found out that I did not do so good on my nursing test and yesterday I learn that I did terrible on my Physiology Lab test. Speaking of Physiology, I had a test in lecture today and I just don't know how I did which up the wall. If I did bad I want to know so I can get upset and get over it. Finally, as if my body was trying to add insult to injury, I have been sick off and on the entire week! I sincerely hope everyone has had a better week than me.

However, Mother Nature seems to be taking pitty on this distraught kitty and has warmed the weather up a bit. Today is supposed to be in the 60's and tomorrow is going to hit 70 : ) Yay!!!!! My Lil Sis and I are are planning to go on a nice prommande around her campus. Unfortunately the flowers are not out yet. Her campus, my old one too, is so beautiful in the Spring and Summer. It is off the in Woods and it is like having a college in a secret garden. Also, I am supposed to see Cowgirl and her new baby Saturday, of which I am so excited because I have not had a chance to see the little guy yet.

All right, so I realized last night I have not put up in forgien music in a while. I meant to go back to Russian, but I can't seem to find the video's I want so I shall come back to that in a week or so. Since Russia has been put on hold why don't we try so arabic music. Nancy Ajram is one of my favorite (well, truthfully, the only) arabic singer. She is from Labanon and was born in 1983. She actually has a really nice website that gives more info that I can. Here is the link: http://www.nancyajramonline.com/en/ . This is in english but I think you can change to different languages. This music video, uploaded and translated by clintoncaudill on YouTube. The title is called  "Ehsas Jdeed."

Jena Lee- Mon Ange

Bonjour just dropped in to let you know about a new music video from Jena Lee. It just came out today and after watching it about ten times I think it is one of my favorites. I looked for one from her channel but it doesn't look like they have put it up yet. This was uploaded by Universal Music France.

Kitten's Busy Week

{Kitten looks up startled at the sound of visitors after falling asleep} It is finally break time for this little kitten. The past week two weeks have been nothing but tests, quizzes, and the occasional essay. I took my last test for awhile so yay! Now I have all these updates and where do I start...

Well the good news is that I received a B on Nursing exam, B on psychology, and an A on my History. Also Cowgirl had her baby and is now at home with Little Tim :) The bad new is that I shall have to take my TEASE ( nursing entrance exams over) because I did not do so well on the math.

That is the good and the bad but now would you like to here the strange new? To start out with, I was procrastinating one even last week and starting googling Russian Gang Tattoo's. What? Why would a little kitten look up such an odd thing? Well, originally I happened on to a site that was talking about the five most dangerous countries to visit and Russia was one of them. This intrigued me because while I had heard of the Russian Mafia, I had never really given any thought to Russia being a dangerous country. On thing lead to another and I found myself watching a video that showed all these different Russian gang tattoos. Here is pic.

Well any way, the Russian gang tattoos was not the strange thing that happened. No I found a picture of a girl who had a rather interesting one on her chest so, I clicked on it to enlarge and than bam, my computer was attacked! "Oh no," I thought, "the Russian Mafia is out to get me." They say curiosity killed the cat! That's not good. No, it was not the Russian Mafia but my computer was attacked and I even had the name of it something about ToolKit but I did find it funny that I was attacked right when I entered the Russian site and the sad part of it was I was able to enlarge the picture.

The Mafia incident was not the only strange event that happened to Kitten over the past several weeks. Have you ever had a person come up to you and they act like they know you, give you hug, ask how you are doing but you haven't the faintest idea who they are. This has happened to me twice in a week and half. Both times it was a guy, which is how I know I didn't know them. I have many girlfriends but I have only had a handful of guy friends in my life. My high school consisted of 21 people when I graduated so I know they weren't from there. My last college I went to was all girls and even though I am at a co-ed college now, I remember all the guy partners I have had in class. So who were they and how do they know me...I haven't a clue. One guy looked very athletic and was quite attractive. He asked how I had been been our talk gave no clues how we met. I could have asked them who they were but I always feel awkward doing that, so I just went along with it.

Now going back to Russia, I don't think I have ever said how fascinated I have been with the country and how much I like there music. One of my favorite Russian singers is МакSим. I know I normally give some background about the singers but most of the pages I could find were in Russian and I didn't have time to use a translator convert it to English.

I couldn't find my favorite song of hers for some reason but this is my second favorite. The music video was posted by ViaAlena{it tells the creator in the title}. I have more to write but, alas, Kitten has to get her tail in gear and get back to homework.

A Brief Eposide

{Kitten runs into blog quickly, out of breathe and fur rumpled} It has been a very busy week around here and rather strange/funny events happens but I'm pressed for time. I have classes all day today, two labs and a physiology test tomorrow, then Friday I have a bunch of things to do Micro, and that is just this week. The TEASE is next Monday {sighs} and then Microbiology test on Wendnesday. I personally think that is rather unfair but oh well. Probably won't have another post up till next Thursday. I'll leave you with a video I found on Youtube...one of my favorite American bands.

The Ice and the Kitten

{Kitten is jumping about blog with elations and giddy with happiness} Campus is closed, which means no classes, which means no physiology, which means we won't finish the chapter on the heart, which means no test on Friday!!!!! It's so icy out there, though not much in the way of snow but as long as it is all gone by Friday and I can go home, I shan't be too mad at Mother Nature. Actually, I'm half thinking finding my skates, its time for Kittens on Ice!
Here is a pretty little video I found on YouTube. It was taken in England.

Change and A Little Music

{Kitten stares out at window contemplating things...}Ugh, it has been a very long weekend. I can't say that I got everything completely that I wanted to but it is my own fault but I don't want to talk about that right now. I have realized that I have been rather placid and, to put it rather bluntly boring, the past year or so. I never take chances and playing it safe all the time is getting to be to much, even for a laid back kitten like myself. I'm tired of being the good kitty. However, I'm not too sure I know how to be bad. Something has to change though, and I'm working on that but change doesn't come easy. I'm reading a book called War Dog by Al J Venter, who is a South Africal war correspondent. One of them men say something that I really like and wish I could follow, "Live like you'll die tomorrow, learn like you'll live forever, love like you've never been hurt, and laugh like no one is watching.(p 76)" I have heard many versions of this quote but I think this best put.

I'm not planning on boring anyone with my silly little annoyances and ponderances today, however. Let us talk a little music because that always makes me feel better. Keeping with the British theme of last week, Pixie Lott is the next up on my list. She has one album out called Turn It Up( there are several re-releases out with more songs then the original) with several hit singles. My particular favorites are "Broken Arrow," "Cry me Out," and "Boys and Girls." She is not very old, I think she is twenty, which surprised me because she looks about 24 in her pictures. According to Wikipedia, she tour with Rihanna while she was in the UK. Anyway, here is a few videos I found on YouTube.

For the Love of Music Part VI

{Kitten bounces into post on a caffeine high, bouncing around. I think maybe I shouldn't have had both the grande white chocolate mocha and the bag of mini cookies} but anyway... I have a correction to make about a post several days ago. I have a new, artist as you can see in the pic above and I original said she was American but, nope, I just found out she is British :) So I guess I shall start my, admittedly small, posts on my favorite British singers.

Natalia was born in England in 1986 and worked in televisions shows and on radio off and on. She signed to Interscope Records in 2009 and made several promotional videos. One was called Zombies and the the other was Activate My Heart. Her style is unique and her music videos are interesting with out being too far out. Well, instead of going on with more writing that no one is interested in, just watch the videos, from YouTube. Kitten was very excited this morning when I finally figured out how to put them up there. It was ashamedly easy and even a technologically challenged kitty like me should have figured it out but here they are. Now all I have to do is go back through and add videos to all the others. 

Activate My Heart

Mirrors

A Quick Chat

{Kitten looks drowsily up after taking a nice long nap on velvet cushion} It's been a rough first week but its about it over. As a bonus, we even get a three day weekend! I didn't realize they took Martin Luther King day off but I guess they do. Getting used to a new schedule has been challenging but it's been all right. I am getting sick of staying up at the dorm. I am almost 90% certain that I will just commute next year. The thrill has past and I have my own life so it is really more of a hindrance to stay up there.

My books that I was talking about came in yesterday, which is good because I really needed the physiology book. Our last day on talking about hormones is next Tuesday. The two day a week classes really speed by. The other book is tempting me badly right now but I'm trying to have self control. I'll have three days to read it and I cannot get behind with my studies.

Oh and I found a new singer that I shall talk about this weekend. She is American but she, for some odd reason, has gotten hardly in coverage but I'll save the rest for later.

Cowgirl is having a her baby shower next weekend. It's is hard to believe that she is going to have her baby in only a couple of weeks! It seems like yesterday when we were 12 and horseback riding on the trails, getting lost occasionally. I miss those times.   

For the Love of Music V

{Kitten looks behind her packed boxes at the sound of footfalls} Hello, I'm busy working on my packing since I'm heading back to school on Wednesday. Well, I won't be staying anyway, just dropping a few things off so that I will not have so much to bring up on Sunday. This break has gone by extremely fast! I can't believe I only have 6 days left till school starts back up. I went to day and bought what books I was able to. For some reason my Physiology professor has yet to post a book. Well shame on you professor {Kitten shakes paw at him} I wonder if we are using our book from Anatomy but we covered most of the chapters, so I am completely uncertain. The Physiology Lab is also up in the air, so to speak. Then I goofed when I picked my Psychology book. I'm taking Cognitive but I picked up Perceptions so I after to drive all the way back up and exchange the book. On a side note, I heard from my Psychology professor and she seems very nice. I think this might be one of my favorite classes.

Now, it is time for the my V part my little music thingy, so here we go. The pretty woman in the picture is Maya Avraham. I wish I had more to tell but for some reason, I can not find out much information on her. I know that she has at least two albums out and they are both available on ITunes. Her first album is called  Rak Ratsitah Ahava and her second album is Dance according to Amazon.One of her most well know songs is Lama but Ein Li Od Makom, Lifney  Sh'Nishtageah, Rak Ratsitah Ahava, and Ani Molech.

Ein Li Od Makom

For the Love of Music Part IV

{Kitten comes wobbling into blog rather stuffed from all the food and worn out from all the activity} Hope anyone who is reading had a great Christmas. Mine was but I have to say, I'm glad the holidays are about over with. All this rushing to get presents wrapped and dinners cooked is just tiring this lil kitten out. I was happy that we had a white Christmas this year! :) It has been about 5 or 6 years since we had snow covering the ground. Last Christmas and the one before that was rainy and gloomy. It does feel a little odd to be getting this much snow in December. Usually our biggest snow fall is in January.

  

It's just about time for a nap but first a new music review review.{Kitten dances over to IPod player and plugs it in.} I love French artist but my other favorite that ties for first are the Israelis artists. The picture above is of Shiri Maimon and she is one of my favorites to listen to. Her voice is very beautiful and her songs are also moving. Even if you don't speak Hebrew, you can enjoy them.   

    

Shiri represented Israel in the Eurovision in 2005 but I'm not sure what place she came in, I think that Germany won that year. Anyway, She has three albums, Shiri Maimon, Rega Lifney She... (Just before...), and Standing on My Own 2008. The last album has two English versions of two popular songs. My songs from her our "Mamshicha Mikan" (Going Ahead), "Laila" (Night), "Veratziti Shetedi" (And I Wanted You To Know), "Yoter Tov Lisloach" (Better To Forgive), "Ahava Ktana" (A Small Love), and Angel" (English version of "Laila").

Well Kitten has to get to her nap then do some much needed cleaning, so bye-bye till later :) Oh, if any is interested in listening to music, I have added my YouTube Channel for easy access. I have at least one or two of the artist I meant favorited, so just find which ever one you are looking for.  

Ahava Ktana

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is almost here! Kitten is very excited because this year looks like we are going to have a white Christmas. Indiana weather is a little odd can never seem to make up its mind what it wants to do. On a day in January it can 50F then, on the next day, it can be 20F  and 3 inches of snow on the ground. Well, anyway, we have not had snow the last 4 or 5 years on Christmas. It has usually been cloudy and gray on a good day or chilly and rainy on a bad one. This year, however, we have had a lot of snow and are forecasted to have another couple of inches on Christmas eve.

It has been a very busy week and I'm still recuperating from finals. Last week was very grueling but I go through it. I had all A's except for one B, in Anatomy Lab :) Because I was rather sleep deprived last week, I have been catching up in the last few days. Because of this, I have decided to wait to put up any more on For the Love of Music till next week, when I will be more rested and have time to do a little research.

For the Love of Music Part IV

{Kitten stumples in blog sleepily} Finals have kept me from getting a good nights sleep for about a week, unfortunately. Thankfully, three more and I'm free, well for three weeks anway!
Time for the last French artist I shall feature. The picture of the very beautiful woman to your left is Sheryfa Luna. She is a RnB and has a very soft, quite voice. I believe she has three albums out. Her first was title Sheryfa Luna, the second was Venus (accent on the e), and her third, which came out in 2010, is called Si tu me vois. My personal favorites from here are Il avait les mots, au revoir, je reviendrai, tu me manques, and her newest yemma.

She was born in France but her father was from Algeria. I was shocked to find out she is 21 { born January 25, 1989}! She looks so much more older and sophicated. Maybe it's her haircut but I figured her at around 25. Anyway, she started singing perosonally in when she was 18 after she won some talent show.   

Like most of the other French artist, it is not possible to find her on ITunes, so if interesting try Youtube or Amazon. {Why ITunes, you could make it so much easier on a lot of people if you would just add all the artist from all the stores so anyone could get any album}

This is the last French artist I'll write about but if there is anyone who is reading is interested there are several other artist who are very good also: Vitaa, Melisa, and Zina.

For the Love of Music Part III

Kitten jogs into blog rather quick to get out of the cold. You could freeze your tail off at there, with a high of 18F, it was a rather chilly day. On a good note however, my cold seems to have left {yay!!}

Ok, time for the third installment of my little thingy. Most of the artist I listen to, whether American or foriegn, are female. Not quite sure why but I guess I just prefer female singers, however, I do make exceptions. This pic, at your left, is one of my favorite french rap artist, Rimk. He happens to have the deep, rough voice that I am so found of and he has the bad boy air about him, another thing that I'm found of ;) The fact that I find him easy on the eyes one about 40% of the reason I like him. I can't really say I know a lot about him. He has several albums out and you can get him on ITune!

Rimk's full name is Abdelkrim Brahmi-Benalla and he is of Algerine desent. He is a member of 113 and Mafia K-1 Fry. 113 is French Hip Hop group and I'm not too certain what the other is exactly. He has four albums out. The 1st is titled L'Enfant du Pays, 2nd is Famille Nombreuse, and the third is Magherb United. My favorite songs from him are: Au dela apparences ( with Kenza Farah), Terrain Vague, and L'Espoir de Favelas.

L'Espoir de Favelas

Terrain Vague

For the Love of Music Part II

{Bonjour...cough...cough...} Kitten has a slight cold today but will hopefully be getting over it soon. These things always seem to come at the most inconvient times. I have my Chemistry Lab final at 2 and my throat is killing me and it last three hours {whimpers}.

My last post gave me an idea to make a few post about different artist that are outside the US. As mention in a few days ago, I'm rather bored and somewhat annoyed at the music my fellow country men and women are putting out so I have looked to new forign artist for inspiration. Today I shall talk about another great French RnB artist, Kenza Farah.

She has three albums out currently. Her newest one, Tresor{accent on the e} just came out in November. I like that she can sing the ballads but also do songs that are almost rap-ish. Variety is very important. I think her most well known songs are La Coeur de la Rue, Pardonnez-Moi, Me Bats, and Lettre du Front. My favorite songs are from her new album are Crack Music, La Ou Tu Va {accent over the a in la and over the u in ou}, and Karismastyle. I believe her first album was title Authentik, and the second was Avec la Couer. She isn't really known that well here in the States and like many French artist, Americans can only get her CD on Amazon. ITunes does not carry it, which is very annoying.

I have always been adverse to ordering online but in the past year have had no choice for some things. I have always been satisified with most of the things that I get. Well, all except for one book. The condition of it had been slightly exaggerated but it wasn't that big of a deal. Sometimes Amazon is out of the item, such was the case with both Kenza's Tresor and Jena Lee's Ma Reference. So I went to a private seller but have been happy with it so far. I think that seller that I used for Tresor was grooves_inc, which is a company out of Switzerland. It does take a little while for it to get to me but the CD was new and in good shape.

La Ou Tu Va

For the Love of Music

{Kitten wanders into the blog shaking her little tail and moving her pawsto her favorite singer}

I have been very discontent with the music American artist have been putting out lately. It is all very reminiscent of Lady Gaga. Don't get me wrong, I like her singing but I don't want to her her music or that of other trying to be like her, all the time. I was so excited when I heard Rihanna was coming out with a new album, until I downloaded it. The music is not bad by any means but it does not wow me. I really miss being wow{in more ways then one but were not talking about that ;) } Link Park came out with a new album too and I was not very satisfied with it either.

Since my artist have so disappointed me of late, I have been looking to other countries to give my ears what they need. Pictured above is no of my most favorite artist. Her name is Jena Lee and she is in the RnB category. Her music is so beautiful, but then, anything in French sounds beautiful. Her songs have so much meaning such as Victime Ideale, Je Me Perds, and Mon Ange. She just came out with a new album called Ma Reference { sorry but can't put in the proper accents). I ordered it right when it came out on Amazon since I am unable to download it on Itunes. They were out of stock already so I found a company out of Switzerland who sells it and its finally on its way! So excited

Du Style

Eternise Moi

US Boy