College So far!!!

OK so it is nearing the end of my first semester at college. I absolutely love it!!! As my brother says I took to college like "a duck to water". At the present moment I'm studying Public Relations at DKIT (Dundalk Institute of Technology).

Personally I love the course. I think it is class! It is really interesting and I've done things that I've never ever done before. For example learning about HTML. I actually learned how a web page is created and I actually created one... a basic one but I created one!! So proud of myself!! I also learnt how to write a news release, which was interesting enough as I had never wrote one before. As well as creating a business card and web banner. They are some of the highlights of the course as I could ramble on more but I don't want to bore you to death.

College is totally different compared to secondary school. For one thing, I don't have to wear an uniform which is brilliant because I hated wearing my uniform at school. I love the fact that we don't have classes every hour, that we have breaks in between classes, or have hardly any classes in one day. This is good, as I get to have a lie in on Thursday as I'm not in til 2pm yay!!!!

It's coming up to our exams and the assignments and Ca's (Continuous Assessments) are just piling up. But I have it under control, well at least I think I do!! I just can't wait to get the exams over and done with and I can relax for Christmas.
I'm really looking forward to Christmas this year, as I have four weeks off for Christmas yay!!! And when I come back for semester 2, I start over with some new subjects, or another edition of our subjects from semester 1.
College is bloody brilliant!!!

Santa comes to the Marshes!!

Friday the 23rd November 2007. I was up town in the lovely Marshes Shopping Centre with my friend shopping as one does while in a shopping centre.
Any way as we were approaching the back entrance of the shopping centre I saw a Ferris Wheel. It was huge and looked kind of out of place. But I assumed that it was another carnival or something. So I passed no remark of it. My friend and I walked around the shopping centre, bought a few bits and pieces and then got some food!!!
Just some normal stuff!!

When we were leaving the marshes, we saw crowds and crowds of people at the Ferris wheel and fireworks were going off! So we went out to see what was going on and I read a sign saying "Fireworks event and the arrival of Santa Claus at the Marshes". I was shocked when I read the sign. I thought it was for the anniversary of the Marshes, like it's birthday or something stupid like that. But I did not think in a million years that it was for Santa arriving to the shopping centre.

Yes it probably was really magical for the little children who still believe in Santa and they probably thought it was amazing!! But for the older children it looked a bit stupid and it was way too much in my opinion. To be honest, it is a big scam. The marshes are just out to make loads of money from parents with young children and the best way to do it is by going all out on the arrival of Santa. So that people will go and pay to see Santa.

I mean the place was packed. There had to be at least over 400 people outside in the car park and there was more cars trying to get into the car park when I was leaving.Everyone wanted to see what was going on, since there was a huge Ferris Wheel in the car park. I suppose the marshes succeeded in bringing in the crowds to see Santa. I wonder what they are going to do next Christmas.

Why do people love reality tv shows so much??

Seriously what is the obsession with reality TV shows? All they do is exploit the contestants to do stupid idiotic things, just so that people will watch the programme and have a laugh about it!!

Take "Big Brother" or "I'm a Celebrity get me out of here" as examples. When "Big Brother" hit our screens in July 2000, everybody was amazed by it. OK I will admit it, I did watch the first series and I was addicted to it! It was amazing!! It was something totally different. I loved it.

But then after the second series I was bored of it and quite disgusted watching as the contestants completed their tasks on national television. The worse thing is that its still going. The eight series was in the summer this year. I refused to watch it as I don't see the point in watching normal people stuck in a house doing nothing but stupid tasks and fighting for three months. It gets boring after a while.

"I'm a celebrity get me out of here" is the same except the contestants are stuck in a jungle. But I like the programme as the celebrities already know what they are in for when entering the jungle and they do really interesting tasks. Also Ant and Dec make the programme enjoyable with their witty remarks and comments.

Yes I know I sound like a total hypocrite as I was giving out about "Big Brother" and then I said I like "I'm a celebrity get me out of here". But that it just me!!.But I still don't see why people love these reality TV shows, as you can't relate to them and you can't learn anything from them . They are just programmes which allow people to laugh and judge people. As well as making the contestants famous globally.The winner of the programme will always be famous from winning the show.

But I will admit that I do watch reality TV, as there is nothing else to watch on TV!!

Happy Feet!!!

OK, it must be said that "Happy Feet" is a class film. I absolutely love this film. I could watch it over and over again and not be bored of it!! It is such a happy film. Yes I am a child!!

It is an animated musical film about penguins. The movie establishes that every penguin has to have a heart song to attract a soul mate!! But "Mumble" the main character in the film, is different, he cannot sing!! But he can dance, well actually tap dance!! And to him his heart song is in his feet and not in his voice.

The film goes through all of Mumbles life as a child and as an adult. Even when he was made leave his family because he was different!! So the film shows us his life journey on his own, the friends he makes, the lessons he learns etc..

But the film also has a major environment message in it. Towards the end of the film, researchers film the penguins singing and dancing and are amazed. So they broadcast the film to the world and they show that people have to stop overfishing in Antarctic as it is killing off the penguin race!!!

Although the film has some sad, emotional scenes in it, it is a happy funny film.But like every children's film there is always a happy ending. Mumble saves the day from the humans, finds his soul mate (through his feet) and is allowed back into the home along with his new friends.

Here's the trailer for "Happy Feet".

Family History at DKIT!!

Yes it is official, my family have made history at DKIT!! (Dundalk Institute of Technology) in Dundalk.

OK I better explain this!!

To start with my dad works in DKIT. He is a technician in Mechanical Engineering. He has been working in DKIT almost 30 years. Yes I know it is a really long time. As a child I always use to go up to his workshop, and look at all the filthy dirty machines. Or I would play games on his computer. As well going for walks around the college with my brothers. (This helped me when I started college as I knew where everything was)

Then there is my mam. She works in the Canteen. She has been working in the canteen for about 14 years now. She likes her job, as she interacts with the students and staff and finds out the latest gossip from everywhere. But just like every job, it has it's bad points. For example the transfer to the new canteen, that caused a bit of stir amongst staff. But that is a different story all together.

Next is my twin brothers. They started college at DKIT four years ago. One of my brothers is studying Music at DKIT. His class was the first class to start the course. But he did not graduate as he deferred his fourth year to do this year.

My other brother graduated this year. We were all proud of him. He studied Business and Office and Administration Systems and got his diploma. He is now back at DKIT getting his degree in Business and Management and Administration. So that makes four out five from my family attending DKIT. Weird I know!!

Then there is myself. I finished school this year and I did my Leaving Certificate in June. I got my results in August and I was over the moon when I was offered Public Relations in DKIT. It was my first choice, so of course I was going to accept the course. So now that makes five of us in DKIT. I don't think that there is another whole family in DKIT, where all members of the family are attending the one college, either working or studying!!!

Christmas Decorations!!

Its official people have started putting up Christmas decorations already!! Last night I was driving with mam, (getting my daily driving lesson!!) and I was driving passed the "sorting office" for the Post Office and there is a housing estate beside it called "Pearce Park" in Dundalk.

Any who I saw a house with Christmas lights up on the outside of the house. I was shocked!! It is the beginning of November. If it was the end of November then it would be a different kettle of fish. Soon the Christmas songs will be starting soon in shops, like i do not get it, it's too early!!

Does anyone agree with me??Does it not bother you? I personally think it is stupid to be putting up Christmas lights/decorations now. Sure all you're going to do is increase you're electricity bill!!

Rihanna's New Song

This is Rhianna's new song "Don't Stop the Music". It is a good song, it sounds like her old stuff, which i prefer!! It sounds deadly in the nightclubs.=)

My Driving Experience So far!!

In June of this year, i went for my theory test and i passed! I was delighted. I could not wait to start driving. My brother had already started driving, but his driving instructor had gone on holidays so i had to wait until he came home.

After two weeks of anxious waiting i booked my first lesson. While my driving instructor was away on holidays, my mam took me out in the car and taught me how to drive. To be honest I wasn't that bad, well that is what she said.

It was a Monday night at 8pm. I was so excited but nervous at the same time. My driving instructor pulled up my drive way and i sat in the passenger side. He drove around for about five minutes and stopped outside Fás. So i got into the "drivers seat" and already to start.

I started the car, but it stalled. So naturally enough you start the car again. But again it stalled and then stalled another three times. I was so embarrassed. I felt like I broke the car. I had to ring my dad to collect me, and he had a great laugh mocking me about it.

What happened was, the previous student who was driving before was a new driver as well. That person according to my driving instructor had stalled the car a few times, and when i stalled the car, the immobiliser kicked in and would not let me start the car. What a great first lesson.

When i got home, my whole family laughed at me and embarrassed me so much!! To this day I am known as "Car Killer Kim" in my house. But after that i was grand and now i have been driving for about 3/4 months and as my mam says "I'm flying at it". All i need to work on is my parking.

The Joys of working in Heatons!!

At the minute i am currently working in Heatons in Dundalk. I have been working there for the passed 4 and a half months. Its alright, the money is great, most of the people who work there are nice and friendly and the work isn't too bad either.

But like every job it has it's ups and it's downs.

Firstly the ups:

1. The money is good. The pay is definately good and i get time and half on Sundays and on Bank Holiday Mondays which is great.


2. The people who I work with are extremely nice and friendly and I always have a great laugh at work with them. But some of them can be a pain and annoying and can be frustrating to work with. It's not that big of a problem.


3. We get holidays oh yeah!!! I love this part, we actually get PAID for our holidays and that's including part-time staff like myself! Generally only full-time staff are allowed to take holidays and get paid for them


4. I love the fact that its close to my house, so when i cannot get a lift to work, it is just a short distance from my house. I can even go home on my lunch break and chill out.
   

Now the Downs

1. The shop is always roasting but the stock room is always freezing. When I work behind the tills serving the lovely customers, it is like working in a sauna! Also the tills are far too small, i hate working at them as i always hit my head off the shelves behind us.


2. Customers can be so frustrating at times. Especially when they mess the shop and throw everything on the floor and when they are caught they pretend that it never happened and walk away.So frustrating because it makes your work harder and longer.


3. Oh when the boss is upset and in a bad mood. Those are the worse days to work. Yes i do agree that everybody has a bad day, but they do not have to come and give out to us just because they are having a bad day.


4. I hate when there are long queues and every customer is looking at you as if you can work miracles! There is nothing we can do, we only have two hands and four tills. I wish people were more patient.

But besides all of that i still enjoy going into work and seeing everyone. Every weekend we always have a great laugh and get the work done but sometimes it can be so frustrating. Luckily enough the girls I work with, keep me focused in what has to be done and to forget all the bad stuff. Which is a good thing!

Leona Lewis New Video

Here's a video of Leona Lewis' new song "Bleeding Love". I think its a class song.

Look photos of me with different hairstyles!

OH!!! look its me with straight and curly hair!!! Wow i look totally different!

I am quite proud of myself, due to the fact that i straightened my own hair with crap straighteners but still i think its good though!!!

Although i still prefer my curly hair, i think it suits me better but that's just my opinion. Leave a comment and tell me which hairstyle you prefer. I just want to know what people think!

My near death experience!

Last Tuesday, i was out shopping with my mam. Of course, i was driving because i need the experience since i have only started driving, although i have been driving for the last 4 months i still need the experience.

We had been shopping all over the town, getting our weekly fix of "Retail Therapy"!!
There are 4 shopping centres in Dundalk and we had visited 3 of them so far and we were quite exhausted.

It was around 3pm and we decided it was time to head to the Old Shopping Centre, so mam could get her groceries. As she was in Tesco, i headed into Heatons and I was talking with all the girls that i work with. Mam came in and got me at about 3.45pm and said it was time to go home.

She had me the keys of the car and i was all happy as i had been driving all day and i just assumed she was going to drive home herself.
So i started the engine and drove out of the car park. We passed Mac Donald's to get out of the Shopping Centre and i stop at the junction. The traffic was unbelievable! I had to cross a double lane of traffic, but only the outer lane of the traffic jam was bogged down, the inner lane was clear. So I indicated right and looked right twice to make sure that there was no cars coming and i started to pull out when............A car pulled straight in front of me!I slammed on the breaks and there was a hairs length between us!

If i had pulled straight out in front of him he could have crashed into me and i could be in hospital but luckily enough nothing happened and nobody was hurt.
Eventually the guy moved out the way so i could get passed, and i pulled over to the side of the road to calm, i was shaking like a leaf!! But i drove home and i was fine by the time i got home.

Luckily enough mam was with me in the car because i would have totally freaked out if she wasn't there. That was an exciting afternoon!! Well not really!