The Chow of the Puppy

I don't cook often. At least, not often enough.As I get ready to go off to that lovely place called college and experience my pseudo-college experience in a two story condo instead of a dorm, I realize that I should (and must) eventually learn to cook. This should be easy, as I come from a family of good-ole southern cuisine. My grandfather makes the most amazing cheese biscuits, and my mom is amazing at pretty much everything she cooks. So what happened with me? I blame it on the society that I live in. The fast food, give it to me now (hot and somewhat fresh, please!) generation. Alas, I have come to find that I can, when I set my mind to it, cook. And like it. As for the cleaning up afterwards, I'm still getting used to that.

But there is one thing that I like to make. It takes about ten minutes, not a lot of moolah, and is literally simple to make. (Even a caveman could do it!) And that is puppy chow. Ah yes, the chow of the puppy. (Also called Whiteman's Trash and something else that I can't recall..). This delectable treat involves very little prep time and literally takes nothing but a microwave. Or a very hot sun and a lot of patience, if that is what you prefer. So here is the simplicity of the chow.

You will need:

3/4 cup of peanut butter

1 cup of chocolate chips

1/4 cup of butter

8 cups (almost a whole box) of Crispix cereal

2 cups powdered sugar

How it goes down:

1. Melt the peanut butter, chocolate, and butter together. (Using microwave, or I suppose, the hot hot sun. I usually stick to the 'wave.)

2. Pour the Crispix cereal in a big, colorful bowl. Then pour the pb/choc/butter mixture on top of the cereal and mix it until all of the cereal pieces are covered in the gooey goodness.

3. Pour powdered sugar in a bag. (Paper or plastic, whichever you prefer.)

4. Pour the cereal (covered in gooey goodness) in the bag of powdered sugar, and shake shake shake!

5. Eat until you get sick.

See how simple it is? And no, this is not for little doggies. Chocolate makes them sick.

Seniors Quotes. Dun Dun Dun

It might just be me, but I am having quite a time summing up my feelings in one to three quotes to go in the yearbook. This is difficult! So, please, tell me which of these you like. Keep in mind I can put up to three (if they are short... two of they are medium-sized.) Please and thank you!

ONE. Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. -Mark Twain

TWO. Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. -Mark Twain

THREE. The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. -E.E. Cummings

FOUR. If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you're old. -Edgar Watson Howe

FIVE. The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in. -Morrie Schwartz

SIX. We're so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take time to enjoy where we are. -Calvin & Hobbs

SEVEN. If you only do what you know you can do, you never do very much. - Tom Krause

EIGHT. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and always be prayerful. -Romans 12:12

NINE. If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise. -Johann von Goethe

TEN. Do not wish to be anything but what you are. -St. Francis de Sales

ELEVEN. Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. -Colossians 3:23

TWELVE. Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. -Ephesians 4:1

THIRTEEN. A Friend loves at all times. -Proverbs 17:17

FOURTEEN. Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivations determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

FIFTEEN. Do not be afraid of discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9

Countdowns make the world go round!

And the countdowns begin...

257 days until graduation

248 days until my last day as a high school student

191 days until Spring Break

110 days until Last Hour 07

105 days until Christmas

66 days until Youth Specialties

39 days until Marci and I see Phantom of the Opera in Bham

36 days until my 18th Birthday

22 days until I find out if I have been accepted to Auburn

9 days until Senior Portait

7 days until we get Senior Priviledges

2 days until Interpersonal's Leadership Retreat

1 day until I find out how badly I did on my AP Calc test...

My Life, made possibly by Google

I know, two posts in ONE week... this is a very big deal. But I saw this and thought it was funny, so.... here goes!

Where I was born: Birmingham, Alabama. How dark and gloomy it appears to be...









Where I live now: Montgomery, Alabama. Look, how beautiful. (Rolls eyes)








My name: Lauren Britney Owens. Go hawks!















My grandmother: Barbara Owens. Go grandma go!








Favorite Food: Fried Okra. Whoever had time to organize this okra in a perfect circle and take a picture of it has WAY too much time on his hands.











Favorite Drink: Manzana Lift.. Ahh how I miss it!












Favorite smell: Cake batter. Although this doesn't look too appetizing...








Favorite Song: I don't have one. So i'll just google what is currently playing on my shuffled itunes... and that is "Pink Tux to the Prom" by Relient K. My question to this picture is... WHY is an old man wearing ANYTHING to a prom??

Somewhere I've lived: Iowa City, Iowa. (I kid you not... I lived there for a year. When I was four.)

Where I work: Montgomery Academy. I have NO idea what this picture is... this is not MA I promise. Our stage is in our cafeteria.











Where I'd like to visit: New York

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Anyone who knows me knows I am very particular about my hair. I don't really like people touching my hair, unless it's the woman who cuts it (who has, by the way, been cutting it for four years) -- which bring me to my next point... I don't like strangers cutting my hair.

Back in, say, 2002, I got a really bad haircut. The woman totally screwed up my hair... it was longer on one side than the other, and she cut "layers" that looked awful and weren't even straight. Keep in mind I was 12 years old. The woman messed up so bad in the front, she took a curling iron and "curled it under"... I guess this was her way of saying, "I messed up so bad, I don't want you leaving like this. Let's curl it and maybe you won't notice until after you get home... in which case, you will have already paid me." When my mom and I realized how bad this haircut really was, she took me to get it fixed. NOT by the same lady (that would have been another fiasco altogether.). Instead, she took me to another lady. Enter my current hairdresser, who not only fixed my hopeless locks, but made it look a lot better than anyone else ever could under the circumstances.

Therefore, it is no wonder that I do not like people messing with my hair. I rarely go for bizarre hairstyles. Even a ponytail is a stretch for me.

Let's go back to Monday of this week, during our "morning assembly" in the gym.
Administrator: "Drug testing begins Tuesday."
Students: "Groan"

Now, I have never done drugs, so for me, this was a very expensive waste of my mom's money. But, this is the first drug test I have ever had to go through, and I had no idea what to expect. (Let me start about by saying that this was a mandatory drug test... everyone had to do it, even teachers.)

Here is the Drug Test Process, in case any of you have never had to experience it.
1. Sit down with a gym coach of your choice. (Yes, a gym coach. As in, OUR gym coaches.)
2. Gym Coach of your Choice (let's just call her GCC) explains the process of how your drug test has a specific bar code, serial number, bag, and seal. This is a very official way of saying, your hair will not "accidentally" be swapped with another student's.
3. GCC signs about three official papers, saying that I am, indeed, Lauren Owens, serial number 456743566, barcode number 2bdkd9596fg. (yes, I made those up)
4. GCC sterilizes hair clip, and scissors.
5. GCC cuts a sample of your hair (about the size of a quarter), down to the scalp.
6. Student immediately touches bald spot on head to make sure you won't be able to notice where the hair has been taken from.
7. Sign form, blah blah.

Needless to say this drug test made me very uncomfortable. For starters, a GYM COACH was cutting my hair. Second of all, on the top of my head, I have a bald spot. (Which is, by the way, not noticeable unless I show it to you... but still exists.) Does this spot bother me? Yes. Do I tend to reach my hand up to my head and feel it from time to time? Yes. Does it creep me out? Yes.

What makes it all worth it, however, is seeing all the other students touching their own hair, and other people's hair, looking like monkeys scratching their heads.

Oh, and I got a haircut later on that day, NOT by a gym coach. :)

Dear Blogger...

Dear Blogger,

I am sincerely sorry for being away for so long. But I think I have an excuse. You see, Blogger, I am now a senior. For 13 years at the Academy, I have looked forward to this year. I have dreamed of what I would look like, what I would be like, and who I would be friends with at this point in my life. I have a fantastic schedule, including two free periods. I am the Advertisement Editor for the 07-08 Yearbook. I am in charge of Girl's Bible Study. I am taking AP Calculus (screams for a long period of time). I am taking chorus again, and I will probably be going to Louisiana and Texas for that. But none of this stuff matters, because... I have to decide where to go to college. Sure, I'll probably end up at Auburn, but it's just so much pressure to choose.

I look at my year as a Senior, I have only one wish-- that I make it the best year that I possibly can. You see, Blogger, the administration at my school as decided to completely redesign the campus into something of a maze/puzzle for parents to decipher. The Seniors don't have a "parking lot", which is something that we have all looked forward to for years. Instead, we have to park way across campus by the middle school. I'm not complaining, because this is better than parking across the street, but it's still just an ... adjustment. They also took away our student lounge, which leaves us nowhere to go during free periods until the dean gives us priviledges. Also, they're not sure where we're graduating, because the usual outside location is... rubble. (more construction). But more on that to come. We get Senior Priviledges (priviledges to leave campus during free periods and lunch) on Sept. 17th, and I can't wait!

So, please, Blogger, bare with me as I try to adjust to the "best year of my high school life". I'm not giving you up, and I will really try to keep up with this... but please just be patient with me. I'm trying.

My First Blog Must Be Dedicated to...

Laugh at me if you must, but this really is the movie of the summer. This is the Grease of the new millenium. If you don't believe me, go see it for yourself!

Anybody who knows me knows that I don't become overly obsessive about movies, books, bands, etc. Sure, I will love a certain movie, but does that mean I buy all of the memoribilia? No! Not that there's ANYTHING wrong with that, I have just never been that person. People, listen to me. I am obsessed with Hairspray. I have seen it three times in the theater, and every time I have had a hard time taking my eyes off of the screen. I know you're thinking, "No way, it's not that good". At first, I was a little afraid that this movie wouldn't live up to my high standards that I had set for it. I saw it at the 7:00 (basically) premiere, with a bunch of crazy musical finatics with matching t-shirts. Was I a little afraid of what I was getting into? Definately. Did this movie let me down? Not in any way, shape, or form. In fact, it exceeded any and all expectations I had. But enough about how much I loved it. Let me give a few reasons why this movie is an absolute must-see.

1. The amazing cast. Keep in mind, I hate Amanda Bynes-- I think she's annoying. But she did a good job in this movie, amazingly. Nikki Blonsky (Tracy) is absolutely perfect for her role. Where did she come from??? Christopher Walken is hilarious. Michelle Pfeiffer and Brittany Snow play villian roles with "pizazz", I guess that's the word I'm looking for? Zac Efron, America's new teen idol, plays a great teenage girl sensation (what else is new?). Queen Latifah has got the voice, and the attitude. John Travolta as a woman... some scoff, but he really was great. I mean, how many actors pull that off?? James Marsden is my new love, he's cute and a good actor. He plays a great Corny Collins. Elijah is also great, although I have never heard of him before. The cast just... works.

2. The music. Yes, it is a musical. Some may cringe, while some may cheer, but except for a few select musical numbers, Hairspray's pace moves quickly, unlike some more recent film versions of musicals. The movie has a great soundtrack, one that will really get you dancing. And hopefully you won't get pregnant. It's a real toe-tapper.

3. The story-line(s). There are actually a few story-lines going on, which all tie in successfully. Obviously, the main story is the one of Tracy, the joyous slightly over-weight girl who wants to follow her dreams of dancing on the Corny Collins Show. What's surprising here is that, since the movie's set in the 1960's, it has major racialv themes throughout. And then, of course, there's all that icky love stuff. There's a little something for everybody.

4. The set/costumes. I love the 60's, and I love movies about the 60's. So of course I loved the big hair and brightly colored clothes!

5. The fact that there are really funny parts of the movie. When I first saw this movie, I had no idea it would be as funny as it was. I was expecting a happy, smiley movie with lots and lots of musical numbers. Little did I know that I was going to laugh out loud many, many times... and continue laughing the second two times I see it as well. Christopher Walken is hilarious. If you are a guy and are considering seeing it, see it. There really are funny parts, and I know four (Yes, FOUR) guys who admitted to liking Hairspray. (Four out of Four, by the way.)

Go see it. Right now!