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Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Favorite Childhood Books
It was really hard to narrow this list down to ten; but here they are, in no particular order:

1) The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
2) Little Women - Lousia May Alcott
3) The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
4) The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
5) Little House on the Prarie (series) - Laura Ingalls Wilder
6) The Cricket in Times Square - George Selden
7) Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh - Robert C. O'Brien
8) Charlie and Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
9) Charlotte's Web - E.B. White
10) James and the Giant Peach - Roald Dahl

Favorite Children/Young Adult Books Read As an Adult:

1) The Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling
2) Sabriel - Garth Nix
3) Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer
4) The Giver - Lois Lowry
5) The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings trilogy - J.R.R. Tolkien

Posted by Joanna / / #

Monday, August 30, 2004

It's always a bit bittersweet when the Olympics are over. The Games are such a uniting force in the world, even if it's for two short weeks. It's miraculous, really.

I love watching the Closing Ceremonies. It's such a huge party; the athletes and spectators always look like they're having the time of their lives. The spectacle; the music; the dancing; it's infectious.

There were so many awesome moments this Games; but I think my most favorite was when Jeremy Wariner, Otis Harris and Derrick Brew swept the 400m. They are incredibly fast. I loved watching them!

Jeremy Wariner, of the United States, center, celebrates as his wins the gold medal in the 400-meter final ahead of compatriot Otis Harris, left, and Derrick Brew, right, at the Olympic Stadium during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Monday, Aug. 23 2004. Harris won the silver, Brew won bronze. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Highlights of the 2004 Games: The true winners in Athens.

Now it's time to get ready for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin (Torino), Italy. I am doing whatever I can to be there. I'm mostly concerned about getting tickets to all the short track speed skating events. Tickets don't go on sale until November, though. Only 17 months until I'll, hopefully, be in Italy. Ahhh! I can hardly wait! ;)

Posted by Joanna / / #

Friday, August 27, 2004

For all my fellow Josh Groban fans, especially Apey, Neets, and Linda J.: Watch Josh's video for Remember from the Troy soundtrack here! I love that song -- and Linda, as you're about to experience, it sounds even more amazing live.

Posted by Joanna / / #

Thursday, August 26, 2004

DFL: "Celebrating last-place finishes at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Because they're there, and you're not."

Ha! Right on! ;)

Posted by Joanna / / #

Thursday, August 19, 2004

I love watching the Olympics, both Summer and Winter. It's something I've done ever since I was a little girl. The spectacle of the Opening Ceremonies, watching the rush of competition, victory, defeat, joy and sorrow; I love it all.

I don't know if the're aware of it, but the athletes are such an inspiration. They show us all that if we put our intention and heart into something, we can fulfill our dreams; maybe not on such a large scale, but still, we can do it. I don't just mean the athletes who win medals. Just to be compete at the Olympics is amazing. To know that they're among the very best in the world, that must be such a high for the athletes!

I have a bit of a rant about how the media covers these Games: Whenever an American athlete doesn't win gold, many of the reporters act as if the athlete has failed. That is totally ridiculous! To win a silver medal, you have to be the second best in the world; third best for bronze. How can that be a failure?!

I know that it's the ultimate dream of many to win a gold medal, but that is no reason to demean people who don't attain that. Everyone who is there is giving their best effort.

So, media, listen up: All the athletes who compete at the Olympics are winners to me, no matter what the medal count says.

Ok, end of rant. ;)

Posted by Joanna / / #

Monday, August 16, 2004

I know that lots of you are Josh Groban fans like me, so I know you all will want to read this: Click here for my review of the Josh concert I went to on Saturday night!

Posted by Joanna / / #

Friday, August 13, 2004

The "dog days" of summer don't lend themselves to weblogging very well, thus the lack of updates. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if I'll continue "linklogging" much longer. I've been 'blogging on eclectica for almost five years. I guess it's getting a bit old. Anyway, I'm taking a bit of a hiatus, and maybe I'll come back with a different format - or maybe just keep on doing what I've been doing.

Thanks to everyone who has visited over the years. You all rock!

In other news, I'm seeing Josh Groban in concert tomorrow night in Houston. Now that is something I am interesting in doing! ;)

Posted by Joanna / / #

Saturday, August 07, 2004

Declare yourself: Register to vote. C'mon, everyone, it's not that hard!

Posted by Joanna / / #

Google Blog: "Insight into the news, technology, and culture of Google." Sure look them long enough to create one!

Posted by Joanna / / #

Family has held on to orange for more than 80 years. What an odd heirloom!

Posted by Joanna / / #

Solar system may be one of a kind: "Our solar system may be unique after all, despite the discovery of at least 120 other systems with planets, astronomers said..."

Posted by Joanna / / #

WordCount is an interactive presentation of the 86,800 most frequently used English words.

Posted by Joanna / / #

There ain't no freakin' frys! *giggles*

Posted by Joanna / / #

Wednesday, August 04, 2004

The U.S. Olympic basketball "Dream Team" was owned by the Italian Olympic basketball team during an exhibition game on Tuesday. A definite wakeup call. They say the loss is attributable to the team's relative youth, but I'm not sure that's an excuse. To me, it looks like the U.S. team is getting a little cocky, just because they'd never been beaten before.

Posted by Joanna / / #

Zach Braff, one of the stars of Scrubs and a new film-maker, has a weblog. Check it out here. Here's something he posted today:

"I just got home from work, but I had to post something; some kind of response to say that in my wildest daydreams I never imagined so many people would be responding like they are to my first film. It makes me so inspired to write more and do it again. I feel so lucky to have this blog; it feels like I have direct contact with the film's audience every single day. It's a very unique experience for me and I'm so glad I listened to the web guys when they said that people would actually be interested in reading my posts."

Stuff like that makes me go, "Awwww!" I'm definitely going to have to check out Garden State now.

Posted by Joanna / / #

Sunday, August 01, 2004

Watch Will Ferrell as G.W. Bush at WhiteHouseWest.com. He's hilarious!

Posted by Joanna / / #

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