Ellen continues her Outreach of Love (aka World domination)

Last week's featured country in Ellen DeGeneres' goal for "world domination" was the African country, Djibouti. This week, since Australia Day is this Tuesday, the featured country is Australia. Ellen made a great attempt at the didgeridoo. (an Australian musical instrument) and even played blindfolded musical chairs with The Thunder from Down Under. I can tell that Ellen is that much closer to achieving her New Year's resolution. Keep going Ellen!

January 13, 2010: Ellen calls the Burj Dubai

As I was watching today's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she decided that she would begin to interact more with the world. Today, she called "the top" of the Burj Dubai, which is the tallest building in the world. She called Rami, who works at "the top" of the building, and asked him to take his picture with her flag on the observatory deck. She told him what she was trying to do, and Rami was hesitant.

She continued to ask him if she knew who he was, and he said "No". Then, she asked if he knew who Oprah is, and he immediately said "Yes". Undiscouraged, Ellen continued to talk and joke about it, saying that he will know who she is eventually. She decided to send him memorabilia from her show to help him decipher who she really is.

Ellen then told him that she will put a picture of him on her building if he goes through with what she told him to do.

We will have to wait and see what happens, and if Ellen can conquer The United Arab Emirates! :)

A book that may have saved me from my worst fears...

Have you ever thought if you were doing your job right? Were you ever hesitant to make a mistake? Did you ever think about what might happen if you lost your house because of your job performance? I can personally relate to a few of these questions.

Robin Meade, from HLN's hit morning show, 'Morning Express with Robin Meade' says in her new book, "Morning Sunshine! How to Radiate Confidence and Feel It Too", that she struggled with these mounting thoughts and panic attacks while she began her broadcast career. I have been watching Robin for at least the past 5 years on HLN (Headline News), which is a sister network to CNN, just as she was beginning this show. (Back then, it was known as 'Robin and Company'.) I would have never even thought that anxiety and panic had stricken one of morning news' bubbly personalities!

This past summer, I went on the Morning Express tour at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta. I must say that it was one of the greatest experiences of my life! (no joke!) I believe that the highlight of my tour was meeting Robin herself. She was very warming and welcoming, just like you see her on television! (Might I also add that she is in GREAT shape!) But, I digress. Again, you would have never thought these panic attacks happened to someone this joyous. Before the tour officially ended, she told us that she had to leave to do some promotional things for her new book that was coming out in September.

At first, I was excited that Robin was putting out a book, but I was even more shocked once I knew what the book was about. I have personally been affected by anxiety and panic attacks over the past 5 years. I don't know why, or where it came from. I also was not diagnosed with any disorder. I just have those normal "what-if" panics or I worry about something that might happen, all the time. Thankfully, this book has been my "cure".

How could someone who you would want to wake up with every morning on t.v., almost end her career before she even came to HLN? "Morning Sunshine" chronicles Robin's journey to help her combat her worst fears, at the time, and to appreciate mistakes you make because they only help you to be a better person. I honestly could not put this book down. I finished it in 2 days from the time I received it on Christmas morning.

If you are strugging with anxiety or panic attacks, I highly recommend this book for you. It has helped me in so many ways because it was written with someone's personal experiences. And look, Robin seems to be the happiest she has ever been!

Goodbye 2009. Hello 2010!

What am I going to remember most about 2009? Well, let's see...

1. Michael Jackson died
2. "Sully" landed that plane on the Hudson with everyone alive
3. the recession
4. Kanye West ruining Taylor Swift's moment at the VMA's
5. President Obama being inaugurated in January

(These are in no particular order.)

What am I going to remember most about the past decade?

1. September 11, 2001
2. Hurricane Katrina (the entire 2005 Atlantic hurricane season)
3. the recession of 2008/2009
4. 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
5. President Obama being elected
6. Bernie Madoff scandal
7. death of Michael Jackson
8. death of Farrah Fawcett
9. The Dark Knight
10. Rhode Island nightclub fire
11. introduction of the iPhone
12. oil price increases (especially in the summer of 2008)
13. the global financial crisis
14. climate change/global warming
15. Saddam Hussein brought to justice
16. Tiger Woods scandal
17. death of Pope John Paul
18. swine flu pandemic
....and many more that I can't name...

It has been a year and decade of stories that have forever implememented themselves in history.

My favorite lyrics of 2009

1. "...The day we met was like a hit-and-run..." (Boys Like Girls: "Love Drunk")

2. "...I gotta feeling, that tonight's gonna be a good night..." (Black Eyed Peas: "I Gotta Feeling")

3. "...I know that I've got issues, but you're pretty messed up too..." (Kelly Clarkson: "My Life Would Suck Without You")

4. "...I can see right through you like you're bathing in Windex..." (Mariah Carey: "Obsessed")

5. "...It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk, and I need you now..." (Lady Antebellum: "Need You Now")

My plans for the holidays...

Hey everyone! Sorry! I haven't been on here in a long time. I just wanted to share my holiday plans with all of you, since I really have nothing else to write! haha! First, my family and I are going over to my grandparents' house for Thanksgiving dinner. My grandma always makes GREAT food, and I always look forward to going over for dinner every year. Over the past few years, we have put up the Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving dinner, at my house. You are probably thinking why I put it up so early. Well, I LOVE the holidays. This is my favorite time of year! The tree usually stays up for a little over a month. One time, I accidentally left the tree up until February! Every guest that we had over was just looking at it and saying "Why haven't you taken your tree down yet?" Honestly, we have been just sooo busy to not take it down! :) I am planning on taking the tree down right after New Year's before I go back to school for the winter quarter. I LOVE decorating the house with everything red and green and tons of lights too! Christmas music is playing non-stop as well. I play anything form Elvis to Mariah, whose 'Merry Christmas' CD is FANTASTIC. I highly recommend it! Usually, on New Year's Eve we have a quiet night at home, and I am usually the only one who stays up to watch the ball drop in Times Square! My dad always falls asleep every year!!! But, last year he managed to stay up and watch it with me. I usually watch CNN's coverage or Dick Clark. I basically watch the musical acts. Wow..I talk wayyyyyy to much! hah! I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Year's! Crossing my fingers it snows on Christmas morning!!!!!

I am putting up a bored blog post...haha

Alright. Here is just a random, mumbo jumbo, hodge podge blog entry. (because I am bored!) :) So today, I helped a good fellow twitterer on Twitter (@gottashakeitoff) get Mariah's "Obsessed" played on the New York radio station z100. Obviously, it worked! They played it within 20 min after requesting the song. I was freaking out! haha.

In another topic, I just realized that most of the people I have known for a long time, and my really good friends are almost all at college now. I leave September 3. So I still have over a week still. I say goodbye to another friend this Thursday. Of course it isn't goodbye. Reality is setting in, and I must say that this sudden rush of emotion is really exciting. I can't wait to see where most of these people are in the next 10 years!

I am watching t.v. now, and news of Michael Jackson's death is still circulating. Now, the AP says that an official said that MJ's death was a homicide. Other reports are saying that MJ overdosed on his medication. Honestly, I don't know what happened. We will see what happens together. Won't we? :)

What is playing on my iPod now?

Beyonce's "Get Me Bodied" (Extended Mix)

Kelly Clarkson "My Life Would Suck Without You"

Black Eyed Peas "Party All the Time"

Okay. Well, if I am in the mood for another bored blog post, I will be sure to type away! lol Until next time!