OK, I know the title doesn't give you much but hear me out. Just picture something you really like, object wise...get the picture in your head. Say you want to buy that object, but you go to Wal-Mart, Target or whatever store you like and find the price is way too high. Instead of waiting months or years for that object to go on sale you can just go to amazon.com and purchase the item for very low prices.
Case-in-point, I had been looking at the TV show for a while, at the stores a year or so it was $30-$40 for the 5 disc series. I went on amazon.com recently and purchased the whole thing, brand new for $10.30. That included the $2.98 shipping and handling costs. For a college student saving $20-$30 is like a few hundred dollars.
If DVD's are not your thing, I bought a video game for 1 cent once, granted it was $3.99 shipping and handling so the total was $4, but for a brand new game that is a helluva deal.
Finally, if you're not into video games or DVD's you can buy many other things to keep you happy in life. I bought a jersey a week ago for $14.95 with $4.99 shipping and handling. I got it in the mail 2 days later. I looked at the tag on it, it was being sold at $44.99 before. That isn't including any tax on the jersey.
My point is if you want fast and quick service at very low prices, you can't beat the deals at amazon.com. I have purchased over 100 things in my life off of amazon and I get my Christmas gifts off there because the more money I save the more money I have to spend on something else I like.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Learning Italiano
Mi chiamo[my name is] Dion, io sono di[i am from] Gurnee, IL and I thought because I am Italian I should learn my "native" language, and that it wouldn't be too bad...if I only knew. You know you're in trouble when you struggle with english grammar and then your teacher tells you to do italian grammar.
It is like a train about to wreck, you don't want to see it, but you peek an eye out to see it because you know it is going to be ugly. That is about where I was at...I had to go through every single word for two full pages and translate it word by word from Italian to English and then see what the context was. The hard part is when you translate the words and it just doesn't make sense. At that point you have to go back and revisit the material to see if you did it right the first time and wiktionary can only help you out so much. The 1,000+ dictionary is helpful at times but not as much in other times, especially when it has a long list of possible definitions for one word.
I was trying to describe a verb to a girl and I said visitiamo but all she heard was ti amo, which means "I love you." So I had to try to describe to her that I said visitiamo and I wasn't professing my love to her. That is just one of those awkward little situations where you try not to dig yourself into a bigger hole by what you say, but luckily she understood the second time I said it.
My random line for the day though is for a guy when he is on the dance floor and likes the way a girl is dancing she should go up to her and say balli benissimo [ba lee be nee see mo]. If that doesn't work I don't know what else will.
If you are curious what balli benissimo is leave a comment and I will respond with an answer.
It is like a train about to wreck, you don't want to see it, but you peek an eye out to see it because you know it is going to be ugly. That is about where I was at...I had to go through every single word for two full pages and translate it word by word from Italian to English and then see what the context was. The hard part is when you translate the words and it just doesn't make sense. At that point you have to go back and revisit the material to see if you did it right the first time and wiktionary can only help you out so much. The 1,000+ dictionary is helpful at times but not as much in other times, especially when it has a long list of possible definitions for one word.
I was trying to describe a verb to a girl and I said visitiamo but all she heard was ti amo, which means "I love you." So I had to try to describe to her that I said visitiamo and I wasn't professing my love to her. That is just one of those awkward little situations where you try not to dig yourself into a bigger hole by what you say, but luckily she understood the second time I said it.
My random line for the day though is for a guy when he is on the dance floor and likes the way a girl is dancing she should go up to her and say balli benissimo [ba lee be nee see mo]. If that doesn't work I don't know what else will.
If you are curious what balli benissimo is leave a comment and I will respond with an answer.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sean Payton comes to town
When I first enrolled at EIU I knew there were not many "famous" people to come out of Eastern Illinois, but I always thought it would be cool to meet one of the few famous alumni. In the past few years I have had the honor of meeting some of Eastern's biggest names. My Sophomore year I met MLB All-Star Marty Pattin.
Trivia Break-> Did you know the bar Marty's was named after Marty Pattin.
My junior year I met Tony Romo and got to be on the field when he got the key to the city and his number retired.
Then this past week I got to meet a Super Bowl winning coach who graduated from EIU back in 1986 and also played in the NFL for a few seasons, including one with the Chicago Bears. His name is Sean Payton. He was a great guest and treated everyone the same, he did not act above anyone else and was not a snob like some others before him. He took a photo with anyone who would come by with a camera and even chugged a beer with some frat brothers. He gave fans a high five if they reached their hands out and was respectful to all. I saw him make his way around Billy's backyard, also known as the tailgating area and on the football field and he was nothing but a class act. Not only is he a champion on the field, but he is also one off of the field.
I have been lucky my four years at this University and got to meet some really cool people in my time here. When my college career comes to an end in May 2011, one of my more fond memories will be the time I got to meet Sean Payton.
Trivia Break-> Did you know the bar Marty's was named after Marty Pattin.
My junior year I met Tony Romo and got to be on the field when he got the key to the city and his number retired.
I have been lucky my four years at this University and got to meet some really cool people in my time here. When my college career comes to an end in May 2011, one of my more fond memories will be the time I got to meet Sean Payton.
Friday, September 10, 2010
A First Time Uncle
Life can take you down sometimes and on other occasions it can bring you to the highest of highs. On September 2, 2010, I had one of those great days that changed my life forever. That day marked a lot of change for me that was badly needed and greatly appreciated.
On 9/02/10 the world welcomed in Caden Anthony Albrecht, who came in at 7 lbs 11 oz at 7:09 A.M.
With his birth I became a first-time uncle. I couldn't believe it, I was going to be "Uncle Dion" from now on out. You always picture your siblings or yourself having kids, but it is crazy when it actually happens. When you first hold your baby, or your niece or nephew. Your family just grew by one and things will never be the same again. Your love for your family grows just that much more.
Not only did my dad turn 63 on September 2nd, he became a first time Grandpa. His mother became a great-grandma, making me a third generation Martorano. By that I mean living family.
I also learned about the significance of September 2nd. Not only was Caden born on 90210 (like the TV show) he was born on V-J Day. If you do not know what that is, on September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered to effectively end World War II, thus making it Victory over Japan (V-J) Day.
The reason I bring this up is because my dad, who was born 2 years after the end of the war, would go on to fight in the Vietnam War in his late teens and early 20s and my brother-in-law Erik is a history teacher, so i find it fitting of all the days in the year for Caden to be born, it had to be September 2nd.
On 9/02/10 the world welcomed in Caden Anthony Albrecht, who came in at 7 lbs 11 oz at 7:09 A.M.
With his birth I became a first-time uncle. I couldn't believe it, I was going to be "Uncle Dion" from now on out. You always picture your siblings or yourself having kids, but it is crazy when it actually happens. When you first hold your baby, or your niece or nephew. Your family just grew by one and things will never be the same again. Your love for your family grows just that much more.
Not only did my dad turn 63 on September 2nd, he became a first time Grandpa. His mother became a great-grandma, making me a third generation Martorano. By that I mean living family.
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| Grandpa Vince and his grandson Caden |
I also learned about the significance of September 2nd. Not only was Caden born on 90210 (like the TV show) he was born on V-J Day. If you do not know what that is, on September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered to effectively end World War II, thus making it Victory over Japan (V-J) Day.
The reason I bring this up is because my dad, who was born 2 years after the end of the war, would go on to fight in the Vietnam War in his late teens and early 20s and my brother-in-law Erik is a history teacher, so i find it fitting of all the days in the year for Caden to be born, it had to be September 2nd.
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