Today was a much better day than the day of hell yesterday. This morning started with me waking up and spending 20 minutes and 2 pairs of contacts before being ready to get Beth from school. Things did get better.

After I got Beth, I picked up my paycheck and took it to the bank near Target. While leaving the bank, I saw this truck that looked just like my father's old truck. Beth and I determined it was my dad's truck when we saw the cow on the antenna. Matthew took his friend to Target to get some things. We teased him about it. However, I did watch him park, and he did a nice job. We're taking this stunt as his cue that he wants his license now.

After that adventure at Savannah Mall, Beth and I went to the other mall. Beth needed to ask Nicki how to pay for the tickets to the new Pirates… movie the family went to see tonight. I didn't go because I had class. I told my dad I'll go see Superman Returns again if he wants to see it. While at the mall, Beth and I ate at Macaroni Grill. Beth preferred our home version of bread and olive oil over the Grill's version. I had my trademark Chicken Parmesan. She tried and liked the Honey Balsamic Chicken. She wants to make it. We talked about getting a George Foreman grill. She didn't think my father would go for it. I say if she shows him the will to cook, he'd buy it for her.

I had class. It went well. And now I'm home, just looking around. Seems that Gnate the Gnat, from the Savannah Sand Gnats found my Flickr account. Gnate left a few comments on his photos.

And finally, I wanted to post this last night, but I didn't, well, because of the lack of power in the Latta home. This past week, I have been listening over and over again to 3 certain songs, "Let Me Go" by 3 Doors Down, "Leave the Pieces" by The Wreckers, and "Savin' Me" by Nickelback. Each song feels like it's describing a part of my life.

"Let Me Go" - it's about letting go, even if you don't want to. It's clearly a sad song, with no happy ending. When I saw 3 Doors Down on Halloween, I cried at this song. There are things in my life I need to let go of, even if I never wanted to in the first place.

"Leave the Pieces" - this song hits close to home. I wonder why? It's about a girl in a relationship with a guy that doesn't love her as she wishes, but he won't hurt her, either. This is her way of taking control and telling the guy to go. She's got the strength to move on. In fact, she sounds bitter. He's doing more harm than good at the moment.

"Savin' Me"- I love the line about falling. I feel like at this point in my life, I'm in a free fall. Plus, this song reminds me of one scene from Superman Returns.

[♪ Listening to: "Young And Proud" - Ace Of Base]

Written during a lack of power:

A fierce storm blew into town around 4:15 this afternoon. (It's 11:32 PM that the moment I'm writing this) I was at school. I had just called it quits for working. I only got an hour in. I ended up killing time in the Honors computer lab. I then went to class and that was about 2 hours. I thought it was a bad shower, but I didn't know how bad it really was.

Once I get into my neighborhood, I can't believe what I see. The road, which had just been cleaned earlier in the day, was a mess. There was a trash can from someone's yard across the street in the park. The real horror was my dad's trailer. Just yesterday, due to the heat, he pulled out the awning to cool it off. The awning was snapped in half. My father was at work when this happened. I was at school. I came home to no power on my side of the street.

My night has consisted of me listening to the Atlanta Braves game on my shortwave radio. It has some batteries. It can also be powered by dynamo action. The radio also has a light attached to it. So, tonight, it came in handy. I also spent time with my father in his trailer with Harry and Pikachu. Nicki and Beth went off to get dinner. As soon as they got home, the three of them packed into my mother's van and started watching a movie on the DVD player. The sucky part of tonight has been no Internet access and no A/C! A/C in Savannah is not a luxury. A/C in Savannah is a way of life.

Only Matthew got out of this adventure. Right after I left for school, he left the house. He went over to a friend's house. This friend is supposedly engaged to another guy, but Matthew has been her hero most of this summer. They were boyfriend and girlfriend back in 10^th grade.

\Not only has this power outage effected us, it has affected the dogs. The neighborhood flooded Ranger out of his home. My dad had to place him into the shed. PupPup came running to me in my room. She knows I'm not a dog person. However, she was afraid of the lack of power. I took pity on the poor girl.

The power just came back on. At least we have air now! That outage was nearly 7 hours long. I think I'm going to bed. I'm wilted again.

[♪ Listening to: "I'm Your Angel" - Céline Dion w/ R. Kelly]

Oh, I posted a few storm pictures on my moblog.

Well, my XML for Dummies book isn't here yet, so I'm playing with CSS properties. I won't get to see the boss until next week. So, my module is still in a holding pattern. I'm looking over this CSS book I have at the office.

So far, I've had a bad day. I was wanting to sleep in this morning. Didn't get that full luxury. Beth started school today. She's attending summer school out at Windsor Forest. Her boyfriend agreed to take her to school. We live a good 20 minutes, in light traffic, away from the school. He thought he had to be at our house at 8. No, she had to be at school at 8. I was not happy. Livid is a more apt description. in addition to Beth being late to school, her friend Brittany needed a ride home. Thankfully, she lives on the same side of town the school is on. We didn't live the house until 7:45! I kept telling Beth around 7:30, since her boyfriend still was not at the house, to get in the car. Instead, she thought it would be better waiting for her boyfriend. Even Brittany knew that she was running out of time. I think the final straw was as we were starting to leave, Ranger was loose. He kept following my car in the driveway. I got our of the car and charged after that dog. I think I scared him. He ran to Nicki and stayed out of my way. Beth got to school a few minutes late. Oh boy, was I angry! The girl has no concept of time!

After I got home, I did get a good 2 hours of deep sleep in. I got Beth, went home, watched All My Children, and then returned to this side of town for the 3^rd time today. I got an e-mail from Financial No-Aid telling me I still had stuff outstanding in my file, which I do not. I wish they had a better filter system on sending those e-mails. I came her to find out when my moneys would be dispersed. Not until July 18^th. I also stopped at Best Buy and picked up Steel Magnolias on DVD. I can do my Ethics paper this weekend.

It amazes me how crappy my site is on Netscape 4. As part of the CSS work, I downloaded Netscape 4. Seems there are still people using it. Seems a lot of the other sites look just as crappy on it.

Well, I need to get some real work in. I'll work on this JAVAScript/CSS chapter.

Onesome: Counting-- Do you ever have to do any form of inventory work? ...and you think what sorts of thoughts about it? Students, you aren't out of this one: what about book returns and such? Not at the moment! I've not been selling books back because I figured I'll need them in the future.

Twosome: Pots-- Do you/have you ever done any outdoor or camping cookery? How did it go? ...any tips for the gang? Spaghetti when camping in 7^th grade as a Cadette Girl Scout. I worked. I thought of it, but I didn't do the cooking.

Threesome: and Pans-- What one pan could you simply not do without in the kitchen. Mark can maybe slide on this one, but I'm betting his deadpan humor will come up with something... I don't know. I'm still not a chef. Maybe my baking sheet.

Today was a busy day at school. Ethics class was fine. I need to get off my butt this weekend and do the movie paper. This month is going to be busy. I saw Ari for about a minute at school. I was waiting for class to start. She was in the same hall using a lab.

Today was also the first day of my history class. We went over the syllabus. I have to read a 250+ non-fiction book about US life from 1607-1877. The book can be about one time frame. However, I have to write a 3 page paper on the book. Did I mention this class meets everyday Monday-Friday from 5 to 7 PM.

The changes are really in the IT department. My advisor is leaving. Her husband got a job in Texas. So, a new professor will be teaching the Client/Server class I'll be taking. I don't know much about this professor, other than he's a grad of Armstrong. As soon as I heard the news, I e-mailed the 8 or so people in the IT department that I like and told them what's happening. They shouldn't be shocked when they return to school. In addition to the new professor, we're getting a new secretary. Char, the current one, is retiring. So yeah, there are changes in the IT department and I'm not sure how I'll be affected by it.

Seems I'm getting a lot of hits for "Can I Read Your Mind?" and other Superman things. I don't consider myself the Superman authority. However, I do remember my mother told me that Superman was the first movie she saw after I was born. You should see my phone and computer. I've got them all Supermaned up. My wallpaper is a picture of Superman "busting through" the screen.

I am tired. This heat is killing me.

[♪ Listening to: "Superman Theme" - John Ottman]

At the moment, I'm making some pre-made bread. I'm going to make a French Bread Pizza from it.

I had Ethics today. We took it easy, since it's a holiday and so. We watched a Nova video on the Tuskegee Syphilis Study from 1993.

After I got home,I passed out. It was hot on my way home. I was wilted. So was Gizmo. He was on my bed. We shared the bed.

Pizza done. Not bad.

Happy 4^th of July!

[♪ Listening to: "Something More" - Train]

Your Love Number is 4

You are a creative and expressive lover - a true romantic at heart. An introspective soul, you know exactly how your ideal relationship should be. But if you don't get that ideal, you tend to get a bit pouty and dramatic. You need someone who can roll with the punches, that's for sure!

Your True Love Is a Cancer

Why you'll love a Cancer: Cancer's loyal and sincere heart makes your own sensitive heart melt. Caring and devoted, a Cancer will take the lead in pursuing you - and not give up! Why a Cancer will love you: You're laid back enough to deal with Cancer's little mood swings and freak-outs. A fellow homebody, you know how make Cancer comfortable and at home with you.

You Passed 8th Grade US History

Congratulations, you got 7/8 correct!

Silly old Mayflower question! I start History Wednesday.

You are 80% Sagittarius

Your Birth Month is December

You love life and exude an outgoing, cheerful vibe. Blessed with a great sense of humor, you can laugh at adversity. Your soul reflects: Celebration, success, and wealth Your gemstone: Blue Topaz Your flower: Narcissus Your colors: Indigo, green, and blue-green

You Are Indigo

Of all the shades of blue, you are the most funky, unique, and independent. Expressing yourself and taking a leap of faith has always been easy for you.

[♪ Listening to: "Heaven Only Knows" - Richard Marx]

"Ordinary" by Train would have been a better fit for Superman's story than Spiderman's story.

So, this afternoon, Beth and I went to see Superman Returns. I really enjoyed it. I would go see it again.

I know I've said, and it's still true, that Christopher Reeve will always be Superman to me. (Wasn't he a looker?) However, he can no longer play Superman. We need a new actor. Brandon Routh did a nice job. (Not as handsome as Christopher Reeve, but good looking in his own right) Clark Kent/Superman doesn't need to be edgy. He's a nice guy who just happens to have superpowers. He wants to be ordinary, but he also wants to help others. He's a good guy. Why can't I find a guy like that? No, instead, I get freaks, idiots, and people that just can't turn a charge on in me.

Kate Bosworth was okay as Lois. She could have used a bit more spunk like Margot Kidder had. Personally, I think Lois Lane should have been the role to find the next Courtney Cox from her "Family Ties" days James Marsden as the odd man out, Richard, was cool. He was a keeper. Lois had it, no matter what guy she had. Lucky chick.

Okay, I've got to discuss the movie, so spoilers are in the extended entry. Stop now if you don't want to be spoiled.

As for Lois knowing Jason was Superman son, I think she always suspected, but was never sure, until Jason killed that man with the piano. Only then was that confirmation on who his father was. I think Jason knew the truth, too, as soon as that happened. He knew something wasn't right when he was able to smash that piano like that. In the hospital scene, Jason was more than willing to see Superman. It was interesting that he kissed Superman on the head. Even if he wasn't aware Superman was his father, he knew he shared something in common with him. Superman was special to him.

Beth got mad that Lois didn't tell Superman the truth about Jason. I think Lois did, but she couldn't do it there. In her mind, her son didn't know. She knew that Superman had excellent hearing. She knew Jason had some strength, but she didn't know if she had the hearing powers. If she had told Superman the truth in that room, there was a good chance Jason could have heard. I don't think she wanted to hurt her son at that point. When Jason is told the truth, he doesn't need to overhear it, but be told it to his face.

I think Richard should be in the new movie. He never seemed jealous of either Clark or Superman. He seemed like someone that Clark/Superman could trust. Make them good pals. However, Richard knows that Lois still loves Superman. He's going to always be second fiddle, maybe not in life, but in the heart. If Richard is the man she needs, why aren't they married yet? And Superman as her password? She still has the hots for Superman. I think Richard should break up with Lois. I think in a sequel, that would provide Lois with some drama. She's got to get over the heartache of losing Richard, dealing with Jason's powers, and her relationship with Superman. Superman needs to get to know his son.

I loved it that Richard and Jason, who didn't know Clark, thought he was Superman. Richard wasn't certain, but Jason knew it. The kid had a panic attack seeing Clark and Superman on TV at the same time. However, I think using the first two Christopher Reeve movies as a background, why didn't we see Lois pose that same question? Come on, the big guy and the meek guy were gone the same amount of time, and it takes your boyfriend to ask the question? That could have been better written. She questioned it in both prequels

[♪ Listening to: "The Flying Sequence / Can You Read My Mind" - The London Symphony Orchestra]