Monday, November 30, 2009
I'm getting ultra excited...
Because the semester is so close to its end, I can taste it! So many hours of toiling over assignment after assignment, wrecking your brain to get the right answer, and visiting nearly every coffee shop in Baltimore City for free Wi-Fi is almost over! Well, at least until next semester. Still, there's a extra sense of accomplishment because I might actually do well in a class that I despise(d) this fall semester in its entirety! Plus, for one whole month I can party like a really low budget rockstar (I'll probably go out on the town only twice... lol) and not feel like I have better, more important things to do. Isn't life grand? However, what's really demented about my mind is that I actually wish there were winter classes so that I could cram one in and be one step closer to earning my degree. I'm just a sick puppy all around. I'm super happy school is ending but a piece of me wishes I could do it all over again in a condensed version. Anywho, I would like to take this blog opportunity to congratulate all the other students who stuck with this semester and are going feet first into the next one! We almost did it! So guys & dolls, you know I'll be back with an even more excited blog when we finish. I can't wait to write it! Keep up the good work and keep your eyes on the prize!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
THANKSGIVING
Well I missed Thursday but just briefly to update thanksgiving went well. It started off a little rough with my discovery of two meats to be cooked.....long story. But I ended up cooking the turkey and putting the ham in the freezer. We also had all the other good stuff ...cranberry sauce, yams, cabbage, sundried tomato mashed potatoes, rolls, chocolate cake with chocolate icing and sweet potatoe pie. Needless to say a sister was TIRED. No black Friday specials for me. Had to watch the little one. For real I'm not even in the mood for the holidays. But that too is another story. Well I'm prepping my bag for my day of jury tomorrow. I know my state ID won't get me through security with the mayor being in the house. Got to stand in line and go through the line like everyone else :( oh well I guess I'll be writing my paper in the quiet room. Ugghhh the one thing I hate about school ..,.papers. Well until my official blog day Thursday...stay blessed.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgivings
So I'm not from here; I'm a lawful permanent resident, or Green Card holder, or resident alien, whichever you want to call it (IMMIGRANT, even), and my whole family save myself and my parents is across the Atlantic in England. We don't do your standard Thanksgiving with the football game and the marshmallowed yams and the traditional argument about what Doug said about Sharon in 1986 and whether Mom really wanted Barb to have the fish-slice or if it should have gone to Candace instead. We don't even have that cranberry glop that comes in a can and is extracted in one corrugated cylinder of jelly.
What we generally do is go to somebody else's house for Thanksgiving, someone who Cooks, and we bring a dish. This year, though, we did it at home, and the menu included roast lamb, roast and mashed potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, asparagus and prosciutto, and the Magic Lemon Pudding which I made this year and which came out surprisingly edible notwithstanding.
It's a little surprising to me how much it actually meant to have a Proper Holiday with my parents at home, rather than at one of our friends' houses; how much it meant to borrow my dad's ancient apron with pigs printed all over it and argue about how to separate eggs and whether one should or should not attempt to re-make the cheese sauce since the milk might possibly have been a little past its best, and quote the Goon Show to one another and laugh like drains. After dinner we walked around the block and then had the dessert, and now I'm typing this at the dinner-table on my MacBook which I will need to use later tonight to do homework for my one class and research homework for the other.
I think what I'm trying to say here is that although this is not a Traditional Thanksgiving it feels like what a Thanksgiving should be: a shared experience with one's well-loved relatives, appreciating how lucky one actually is despite how often it feels otherwise, enjoying good food and good company and togetherness.
I hope all of you out there are sharing this enjoyment, and that the holiday treats you right.
What we generally do is go to somebody else's house for Thanksgiving, someone who Cooks, and we bring a dish. This year, though, we did it at home, and the menu included roast lamb, roast and mashed potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, asparagus and prosciutto, and the Magic Lemon Pudding which I made this year and which came out surprisingly edible notwithstanding.
It's a little surprising to me how much it actually meant to have a Proper Holiday with my parents at home, rather than at one of our friends' houses; how much it meant to borrow my dad's ancient apron with pigs printed all over it and argue about how to separate eggs and whether one should or should not attempt to re-make the cheese sauce since the milk might possibly have been a little past its best, and quote the Goon Show to one another and laugh like drains. After dinner we walked around the block and then had the dessert, and now I'm typing this at the dinner-table on my MacBook which I will need to use later tonight to do homework for my one class and research homework for the other.
I think what I'm trying to say here is that although this is not a Traditional Thanksgiving it feels like what a Thanksgiving should be: a shared experience with one's well-loved relatives, appreciating how lucky one actually is despite how often it feels otherwise, enjoying good food and good company and togetherness.
I hope all of you out there are sharing this enjoyment, and that the holiday treats you right.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Holiday Shopping, or Zombie Watch
Last week Larry Doyle came and read as part of the M.F.A. reading series. One of his pieces was about zombies in the mall. I thought this was funny.
And only funny.
On Monday, I encountered the truth. This was not a piece of fiction. This is, in fact, how local malls keep their employee numbers up. Don't believe me? You will.
See, I'm the girl that loves the holidays. I can't wait until the Christmas music is up, the decorations are in every store, and no matter what time of what day you head in every store is busy, busy, busy. In fact, in previous years I have purposely saved my shopping until the week of and, brace yourselves, I like that last Christmas Eve rush to get what you need.
Last year was the first year I began to see signs of zombification, however, and did not thus enjoy my usual last minute shopping with as much intensity. This year, not even Thanksgiving, Black Friday has yet to arrive, and all ready I have had an Encounter.
So, I dragged the boy--Lane--out on Monday morning for a date. We were armed with gift cards to Olive Garden (my mom is concerned about my ability to cook for us) and, yes, a plan to see that cinematic classic (yes, I am being ironic) New Moon (yeah, okay, I like the Twilight Saga, pretend we saw something else if you must).
So, we head into the mall while waiting for eleven o'clock to roll around. At one of the holiday set ups where one can purchase board games, puzzles, and calendars we were dripped on, repeatedly. When the girl working the mini-store came around Lane smiled and stopped her with a gesture toward the water streaming from the ceiling and splashing into a puddle that was getting big enough to swim in.
"Hello," he said, "I don't know if you realize this, but there's a really terrible leak. You might want to call someone to do something about--"
She stopped just inches from the accidental water feature. "Hello." She finally looked up from the Rubick's Cube in her hand, blinking blankly behind her oversize glasses. "How are you today?" Each word was a struggle, drawn slowly out of her gaping mouth--an expression that someone less astute might have misconstrued for a vague smile. "Can I help you with anything?"
Lane, sensing the danger, simply shook his head and pulled me away. Because, of course, though she could mimic actual human interaction, he knew that in moments that gaping mouth would open yet wider and she'd lunge forward moaning, "Brains!"
This must be some sort of human rights cause. I know recent movies have jokingly referred to keeping zombies as servants--or perhaps subversively revealed the truth about what is all ready happening. But, I have to say, I miss the days when I felt safe walking into a store, where I wouldn't immediately be attacked by, "Can I help yous?" that then followed me into the dressing room, dragging clothes off racks as if they were really trying to help dress me and not munch on my flesh.
Or, like my recent encounter, the times when I wouldn't be stared at from empty eyes and no matter what my query only nodded at, as if her head had all ready been partially severed by another person in the know but, sadly, not successful in his or her own escape attempt.
Just consider this your friendly holiday shopping warning. It is a dangerous world out there and behind the vacant eyes of a mall worker could lurk something infinitely more dangerous: the vacant eyes of a brain starved zombie.
Happy Holidays!
Three things I found this week: The Lovely Bones was an amazing, heart breaking read. They have created a Star Trek phaser. And, I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner. (Yeah, what?)
Three things I still need to find: How to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Ipecac. Just in case. And oven mitts that extend past the elbow.
And only funny.
On Monday, I encountered the truth. This was not a piece of fiction. This is, in fact, how local malls keep their employee numbers up. Don't believe me? You will.
See, I'm the girl that loves the holidays. I can't wait until the Christmas music is up, the decorations are in every store, and no matter what time of what day you head in every store is busy, busy, busy. In fact, in previous years I have purposely saved my shopping until the week of and, brace yourselves, I like that last Christmas Eve rush to get what you need.
Last year was the first year I began to see signs of zombification, however, and did not thus enjoy my usual last minute shopping with as much intensity. This year, not even Thanksgiving, Black Friday has yet to arrive, and all ready I have had an Encounter.
So, I dragged the boy--Lane--out on Monday morning for a date. We were armed with gift cards to Olive Garden (my mom is concerned about my ability to cook for us) and, yes, a plan to see that cinematic classic (yes, I am being ironic) New Moon (yeah, okay, I like the Twilight Saga, pretend we saw something else if you must).
So, we head into the mall while waiting for eleven o'clock to roll around. At one of the holiday set ups where one can purchase board games, puzzles, and calendars we were dripped on, repeatedly. When the girl working the mini-store came around Lane smiled and stopped her with a gesture toward the water streaming from the ceiling and splashing into a puddle that was getting big enough to swim in.
"Hello," he said, "I don't know if you realize this, but there's a really terrible leak. You might want to call someone to do something about--"
She stopped just inches from the accidental water feature. "Hello." She finally looked up from the Rubick's Cube in her hand, blinking blankly behind her oversize glasses. "How are you today?" Each word was a struggle, drawn slowly out of her gaping mouth--an expression that someone less astute might have misconstrued for a vague smile. "Can I help you with anything?"
Lane, sensing the danger, simply shook his head and pulled me away. Because, of course, though she could mimic actual human interaction, he knew that in moments that gaping mouth would open yet wider and she'd lunge forward moaning, "Brains!"
This must be some sort of human rights cause. I know recent movies have jokingly referred to keeping zombies as servants--or perhaps subversively revealed the truth about what is all ready happening. But, I have to say, I miss the days when I felt safe walking into a store, where I wouldn't immediately be attacked by, "Can I help yous?" that then followed me into the dressing room, dragging clothes off racks as if they were really trying to help dress me and not munch on my flesh.
Or, like my recent encounter, the times when I wouldn't be stared at from empty eyes and no matter what my query only nodded at, as if her head had all ready been partially severed by another person in the know but, sadly, not successful in his or her own escape attempt.
Just consider this your friendly holiday shopping warning. It is a dangerous world out there and behind the vacant eyes of a mall worker could lurk something infinitely more dangerous: the vacant eyes of a brain starved zombie.
Happy Holidays!
Three things I found this week: The Lovely Bones was an amazing, heart breaking read. They have created a Star Trek phaser. And, I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner. (Yeah, what?)
Three things I still need to find: How to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Ipecac. Just in case. And oven mitts that extend past the elbow.
Life Insurance
I should be penalized for being late. It's my memory. Alas, here I am.
I didn't know what I was signing into beginning in 2004.
My mother who is controlling say it would be good for me and would do her a nice favor if I signed the contract for a term life policy.
The policy doesn't return any money if at any point it gets terminated. It covers death benefits for the term. It is not a whole life insurance. Premiums are to be paid monthly.
As years gone by I started to have a different stance on it. I picked up one of Suze Orman's financial books and read it top to bottom. It tells me I don't need the insurance because I'm not married, healthy and financially secured.
However my mother has been paying the monthly premiums. The agent who sold it to us visited our home, I remember, and said it is important that I have it. I called him one day while I lived in MD and said I want to cancel the policy. He did not honor my request and acted like my feelings were nothing, talked about how he lost someone in his family, and said it's not a good idea. We argued. I can see clearly I look like dollar signs to him and my mother.
I let it go for a few more years. This year, I give my mother no right, to help with the premiums.
Instead of calling the agent whom I think acts like a Mao-ist, I call the insurance headquarters and spoke with a different agent. He said I write to them about the request. I did. This week I get no reply letter and instead a statement requesting two months ahead payments.
The first thing I did is to keep the statement but don't pay them for 31 days. I should get a warning letter after this stating the policy has lapsed or terminated. It may be reinstated with good reason. I'm not going to reinstated so by then my mother would lost all her money which I will be paying back.
I don't want anyone to think that she is correct that my death is worth money. God forbid, my older brother thinks I should stay on it just b/c he too is on it. What has this world come to? This is the reason I am terminating it for good. I am a human being and my family doesn't think so. This has been on my mind for some time now, I can rest easy next month once it's over.
Do not get life insurance or be forced on it unless you are married and have dependents (kids), think you will be prone to sickness later on, or have some valid reasons why. It's not worth it right now, doesn't matter how cheap it is, policies just sell based on the individual needs and desires.
I didn't know what I was signing into beginning in 2004.
My mother who is controlling say it would be good for me and would do her a nice favor if I signed the contract for a term life policy.
The policy doesn't return any money if at any point it gets terminated. It covers death benefits for the term. It is not a whole life insurance. Premiums are to be paid monthly.
As years gone by I started to have a different stance on it. I picked up one of Suze Orman's financial books and read it top to bottom. It tells me I don't need the insurance because I'm not married, healthy and financially secured.
However my mother has been paying the monthly premiums. The agent who sold it to us visited our home, I remember, and said it is important that I have it. I called him one day while I lived in MD and said I want to cancel the policy. He did not honor my request and acted like my feelings were nothing, talked about how he lost someone in his family, and said it's not a good idea. We argued. I can see clearly I look like dollar signs to him and my mother.
I let it go for a few more years. This year, I give my mother no right, to help with the premiums.
Instead of calling the agent whom I think acts like a Mao-ist, I call the insurance headquarters and spoke with a different agent. He said I write to them about the request. I did. This week I get no reply letter and instead a statement requesting two months ahead payments.
The first thing I did is to keep the statement but don't pay them for 31 days. I should get a warning letter after this stating the policy has lapsed or terminated. It may be reinstated with good reason. I'm not going to reinstated so by then my mother would lost all her money which I will be paying back.
I don't want anyone to think that she is correct that my death is worth money. God forbid, my older brother thinks I should stay on it just b/c he too is on it. What has this world come to? This is the reason I am terminating it for good. I am a human being and my family doesn't think so. This has been on my mind for some time now, I can rest easy next month once it's over.
Do not get life insurance or be forced on it unless you are married and have dependents (kids), think you will be prone to sickness later on, or have some valid reasons why. It's not worth it right now, doesn't matter how cheap it is, policies just sell based on the individual needs and desires.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
THANKSGIVING
This thursday is a day of thanks. But do we all really know what it means to be thankful? I know that sounds like a silly question to ask but some people believe it or not do not know the true meaning of this word. We also seem to forget what the thanksgiving holiday really is about and why we all gather as families and enjoy a thanksgiving meal together. Thanksgiving marks the remembrance of the pilgrims who crossed the ocean from Europe to make a new start. It is also the day we give thanks to our god for his blessings and mercies towards us throughout the year. I am thankful for all the great things that have come my way this year such as my wedding, husband, marriage, new friends, job, family, and home. Sometimes a quick thought about someone other than ourselves is all it takes to remind us to be thankful for what we have and who we are. So what are you thankful for this year?
Monday, November 23, 2009
It's Almost Turkey Day!!
There are tons of things to be done in this short little week. While I'm bum rushing some other person's Thanksgiving festivities thanking God that I don't have to cook since I can't, I'm still left with homework assignments, double work assignments, parties, and of course sleeping! Oh yes, this little week shall be very, very busy. However, for all the things that could make one a little salty about this week: 1) crazy relatives, 2) coworkers who are MIA, and 3) the nuttiness of Black Friday, there are so many things to be thankful for. Now, I'm not going to list my items that I'm grateful for, however, I will say that I'm most thankful for seeing another year as so many people weren't able to have that opportunity. Where would this world be without my silliness to spread around?! At any rate, everybody enjoy Turkey Day and be thankful you got to see another one!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
The benefits of boredom
One of the more unutterably delightful aspects of my existence right now is the fact that without warning I am liable to be roped into sitting through interminable "webinars" on various aspects of asking people for money. Generally when this happens I am required to take notes on the presentations, which means I get to bring a notebook along with me, and this is where the benefits of boredom come in.
About an hour into the presentation this morning I found myself doing math for fun out of sheer soul-killing ennui. My arithmetic skills are on par with those of a standard gastropod, but I can do really basic algebra, and after doodling some functions it occurred to me that you can tell whether the graph of a function is going to be linear by looking at the function itself, and that if you want to have a complex wiggly line on your graph you are going to have to do some interesting messing about with calculus of the sort I don't know how to do. Drawing complex wiggly lines on the graph made me think about sinewaves, and how alternating current is depicted, and then how rectification of alternating current to direct current is depicted, and that brought me back to a conversation I had last night with a classmate.
One of the stories I've written for my workshop this semester features vacuum tubes of various types as a theme, including everybody's favourite lightbulb-with-legs, the Cooper-Hewittic mercury-arc rectifier. A nutty character collects vacuum tubes in the story, and her pride and joy is a 150-6G six-phase MAR. I was explaining what one of these does, and somehow got into a lengthy explanation on how vacuum tubes in general work, and when I'd finally run down I was asked "Why do you know all this?"
Mostly because of last week's post: research is for fun. Also because when I see something cool I want to know how it works, and this means that I need to do considerable lookings-up and then askings of people who know more than I do--but even with the math, physics, and engineering background of a whelk Ican learn about them, and understand them, and enjoy knowing things.
When I'm bored I get especially creative, too; I'll make up stories or twist bits of notebook paper into twine and braid them or draw genealogical charts of the various families inhabiting my fiction, but I think today was the first time I've been sufficiently bored to do math without being prompted. I think this is probably either very sad or rather deep, and I can't quite work out which.
About an hour into the presentation this morning I found myself doing math for fun out of sheer soul-killing ennui. My arithmetic skills are on par with those of a standard gastropod, but I can do really basic algebra, and after doodling some functions it occurred to me that you can tell whether the graph of a function is going to be linear by looking at the function itself, and that if you want to have a complex wiggly line on your graph you are going to have to do some interesting messing about with calculus of the sort I don't know how to do. Drawing complex wiggly lines on the graph made me think about sinewaves, and how alternating current is depicted, and then how rectification of alternating current to direct current is depicted, and that brought me back to a conversation I had last night with a classmate.
One of the stories I've written for my workshop this semester features vacuum tubes of various types as a theme, including everybody's favourite lightbulb-with-legs, the Cooper-Hewittic mercury-arc rectifier. A nutty character collects vacuum tubes in the story, and her pride and joy is a 150-6G six-phase MAR. I was explaining what one of these does, and somehow got into a lengthy explanation on how vacuum tubes in general work, and when I'd finally run down I was asked "Why do you know all this?"
Mostly because of last week's post: research is for fun. Also because when I see something cool I want to know how it works, and this means that I need to do considerable lookings-up and then askings of people who know more than I do--but even with the math, physics, and engineering background of a whelk Ican learn about them, and understand them, and enjoy knowing things.
When I'm bored I get especially creative, too; I'll make up stories or twist bits of notebook paper into twine and braid them or draw genealogical charts of the various families inhabiting my fiction, but I think today was the first time I've been sufficiently bored to do math without being prompted. I think this is probably either very sad or rather deep, and I can't quite work out which.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
BE THANKFUL
So it's Wednesday and as usual I am starting my Thursday blog. Although next Thursday is Thanksgiving, I will still be posting my blog as usual. Governor O'Malley has told me thank you and given us hard-working State employees a furlough day so I won't be busy on next Wednesday !!! But I'm guessing, you all will be with your families so I will use this week to share moments of thanks. Thank you Bianca for suggesting....even if you don't post your comments !!!
I'm 34 and I have quite a bit to be thankful. Probably a lot more than I will try to list here but here goes. Some are truly more important than others, some are simply personal to me. In today's economy, with rising gas prices, foreclosures, lay-offs, we need to just sit back and reflect on the little stuff. What sustains you?
I AM THANKFUL (and truly blessed) ....
*First and foremost for the Heavenly Father that gave me life and put me in this place to even be able to write for you all.
*Next for the wonderful parents I have. I couldn't (and wouldn't) ask for any other parents. Daddy passed away on May 24, 2008 but I am thankful for every single day he was MY DADDY !!!
*My sister passed on June 10, 2001 but I am thankful for the years she was alive and the laughs we had cause they left good memories for me. I am thankful that unlike many people in this world, we didn't have a hateful relationship because I'm not left wishing I had said anything to her or wanting to take back anything I said to her. She knew I loved and I know she loved me.
*I 'm thankful for my friends. As I wrote in an earlier blog, my friends know they are absolutely special to me. They are always there to support me, encourage me, hug me, wipe away my tears and I try to be there to do the same for them.
* I'm thankful for the people I meet through my friends. Through Tonyia and Keisha, I met Bianca and Carlise. Through Nee Nee, I met Glory and Fassi, through Tara, I met Sheryn.
*I am thankful this semester is almost over.
*I'm thankful for my cooking skills !!! I know so many people that can't !!!
*I'm thankful my husband know how to cook too...he can do it when I don't feel like it.
*I'm thankful for my new doctor at Johns Hopkins. I have hope now.
I'm 34 and I have quite a bit to be thankful. Probably a lot more than I will try to list here but here goes. Some are truly more important than others, some are simply personal to me. In today's economy, with rising gas prices, foreclosures, lay-offs, we need to just sit back and reflect on the little stuff. What sustains you?
I AM THANKFUL (and truly blessed) ....
*First and foremost for the Heavenly Father that gave me life and put me in this place to even be able to write for you all.
*Next for the wonderful parents I have. I couldn't (and wouldn't) ask for any other parents. Daddy passed away on May 24, 2008 but I am thankful for every single day he was MY DADDY !!!
*My sister passed on June 10, 2001 but I am thankful for the years she was alive and the laughs we had cause they left good memories for me. I am thankful that unlike many people in this world, we didn't have a hateful relationship because I'm not left wishing I had said anything to her or wanting to take back anything I said to her. She knew I loved and I know she loved me.
*I 'm thankful for my friends. As I wrote in an earlier blog, my friends know they are absolutely special to me. They are always there to support me, encourage me, hug me, wipe away my tears and I try to be there to do the same for them.
* I'm thankful for the people I meet through my friends. Through Tonyia and Keisha, I met Bianca and Carlise. Through Nee Nee, I met Glory and Fassi, through Tara, I met Sheryn.
*I am thankful this semester is almost over.
*I'm thankful for my cooking skills !!! I know so many people that can't !!!
*I'm thankful my husband know how to cook too...he can do it when I don't feel like it.
*I'm thankful for my new doctor at Johns Hopkins. I have hope now.
*I'm thankful for this second chance at getting a degree. Looks like it will take four years going part-time, but at least I'm trying again.
*I'm thankful my car starts in the morning...1993 Pontiac with 182,000 miles...whew !!!
*I'm thankful for being able to own my own home, even if it does comes with bills and responsibilities.
*I'm thankful for my aches and pain cause it means I woke up this morning. I know everyone says that but really. I have two auto-immune diseases that can be debilitating but I still am able to work.
*I'm thankful for all the sacrifices my parents made. It helps me to appreciate what I have now.
*I'm thankful for all the tears I have shed in my life. They cleanse my soul and help me to move on. They bring out the laughter that's trapped in me.
*I'm thankful for the relationships I've had for they have all taught me something. I've used them as learning experiences.
*I'm thankful my friends look forward to this blog each week.
I could go on and on picking small things I am thankful for but I won't. As I get older, the small stuff is enough to make me happy....at least I'm trying to believe that !!! I know someone will feel neglected...saying dag, I helped her do such and such....I gave her money for lunch (thanks Steve and John) ....I gave her a ride to school (thanks Linda, Kathie and Lu !!!!) but you know I still got love for you all. I thank each and every one of you for whatever it is you have done for me. As you approach next's week's holiday be sure to just thank you to somebody, anybody.
By the way, if you're cooking and invite me over....I'll say Thanks !!!!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Smash Records and Grab Gold
Apology:
I need to first and foremost make a few comments about my post last week. When writing for this blog I try to walk a fine line between wearing the cloak of anonymous blogger that few people at UB know personally and promoter of a random blog that none of my friends have much interest in but whom all happen to be in tune with my personal life. Last week I completely failed at that. I made more people that I truly care about angry than I'd care to mention and for that I can't say enough about how sorry I am. The only reason I write is for shits and giggles so please don't take offense to it.
The Background:
It's that point in the semester where I feel like it's way too cliche for me to be bitching about classes. Yes, I have way too much school work to do and yes, I don't have enough time to do it. But ya know what? So do you. I'd love to sit here and try to relate to your academic problems but I'd rather get your mind off of school and make you use your noggin for a second - lord knows your classes don't do that.
Because I've been so stifled by schoolwork, my creative mind hasn't had much time to think about what I actually care about. Thus, as of about 2 hours ago, I didn't have a single topic that was personally relevant enough to inspire a rant. After sitting, uninspired, in front of my laptop aimlessly pecking at keys for an hour or so I decided to head to Turps with the roomie for a little liquid inspiration. While sitting at the bar, making mindless conversation, I got a text from one of my boys which jolted my mind back into reality.
As I've said before, I can be biggest, worthless-to-society party animal there is (yin) OR the most inspired-to-positively-impact-the-world-around-me guy there is (yang.)
If all goes according to plan I will be graduating in May (just a shade under a decade and no, I will not be doctor.) Accordingly, I'm making plans as to what I'm going to be doing with myself when I'm finished with the old undergrad. Fortunately, I have many opportunities available to me when I graduate. Unfortunately, the easiest opportunities for me to take advantage of aren't necessarily my first options.
Plan B (the logic of seizing the moment):
I am an entrepreneur at heart. It's something that comes naturally to me and when I get excited about an entrepreneurial endeavor it's hard to take my focus away from that. Recently I have been afforded the opportunity to work for a friend who has done very well for himself with several small businesses. I could easily see myself working under him, learning the ropes of running a business and eventually starting up my own small venture.
Likewise, I've been very interested in real estate lately. Over the summer I was afforded the opportunity to be a project manager for a house that was to be put on the market. My job was to get the house ready to sell. I was given a certain amount of money and told that I needed to get x, y and z projects completed on time and under budget. This gave me a taste of the type of freedom and responsibility that I enjoy in a job.
One of my very close boys, since middle school, is considering buying a house here soon. He has the money to invest so he wants to buy in this down market but he also plans on traveling for the next year+. It happens to work out that I have experience with rehabbing/renovating houses, project management, financial/budget management and will be finished with school and looking for work at the same time he needs to have someone to do all of the above for him. We are currently in the midst of working out a deal where he will buy the house, leave town according to plan and I will be his property manager.
If none of the above works out I might just have to get a 9-5 (please don't tell anyone that I actually wrote this, it's a bad word where I come from) in the field that I am interested in - sustainability consulting - and slave away with the rest of the working population.
Plan A (go big or go home):
Though I would likely have a relatively fulfilling life if I ran with one of the above options there is something inside me that is resisting - "Miles, this is not what we agreed upon, what happened to your dreams?"
I've always envisioned that when I graduated I would go travel the world and experience what it has to offer. The first six months following graduation I won't have any loans to pay off. I will be a young, spry, 24 year old guy with no one to answer to and the world by the short'n'curly's. Will there be a better time to travel and do what I want to do than now?
My dreams to save the world through social entrepreneurship aren't local, they're global. How can I really improve the world by hanging around the same people in the same town with the same ideas? Shouldn't I at least completely uproot myself and go out in search of the movers and the shakers?
I am a firm believer in opening up all the doors of opportunity that life has to offer - ya never know which one you'll be interested in stepping through down the road, right? I read the Wall Street Journal. Anytime I see a big name mentioned in the journal that name is typically followed by a Ph.D., M.B.A., J.D. or M.S. If I am really to keep all of my opportunity doors open, shouldn't my name be followed by a fancy acronym?
Tony Robbins "Do the Damn Thing" Rant:
I'm a big subscriber to the "shoot for the moon" philosophy. No one ever accomplished anything great by settling for what they were given. I've been accused in the past of being a 'dreamer' - I have my head in the clouds and don't live in a realistic world. I say there is a fine line between genius and insanity. I may not have a conventional viewpoint but I think that conventional wisdom leads to mediocrity. Societal norms are stifling.
Somewhere along the line it became legit to settle for Plan B: I did just what they told me to do. I went to college, picked a degree that they said I'd make money at, I got a job they said would support a family, I found a husband/wife to raise a family, I bought a house. . . You've heard it before. What do YOU want? What makes YOU happy?
Quit listening to the people around you and figure out what it is that makes you happy - and if that's appeasing those around you take a deeper look. Find someone that you admire, someone that you think is truly successful and make them your mentor. When you need advice, turn to them. When you are feeling like you're aimlessly drifting, turn to them. Make it a point to take them out to lunch once a month just to keep in touch. Whatever you do, please don't do what you think everyone else thinks is best for you.
Remember kids: Be well, do good work and always know your dealer.
Cheers,
Miles.
I need to first and foremost make a few comments about my post last week. When writing for this blog I try to walk a fine line between wearing the cloak of anonymous blogger that few people at UB know personally and promoter of a random blog that none of my friends have much interest in but whom all happen to be in tune with my personal life. Last week I completely failed at that. I made more people that I truly care about angry than I'd care to mention and for that I can't say enough about how sorry I am. The only reason I write is for shits and giggles so please don't take offense to it.
The Background:
It's that point in the semester where I feel like it's way too cliche for me to be bitching about classes. Yes, I have way too much school work to do and yes, I don't have enough time to do it. But ya know what? So do you. I'd love to sit here and try to relate to your academic problems but I'd rather get your mind off of school and make you use your noggin for a second - lord knows your classes don't do that.
Because I've been so stifled by schoolwork, my creative mind hasn't had much time to think about what I actually care about. Thus, as of about 2 hours ago, I didn't have a single topic that was personally relevant enough to inspire a rant. After sitting, uninspired, in front of my laptop aimlessly pecking at keys for an hour or so I decided to head to Turps with the roomie for a little liquid inspiration. While sitting at the bar, making mindless conversation, I got a text from one of my boys which jolted my mind back into reality.
As I've said before, I can be biggest, worthless-to-society party animal there is (yin) OR the most inspired-to-positively-impact-the-world-around-me guy there is (yang.)
If all goes according to plan I will be graduating in May (just a shade under a decade and no, I will not be doctor.) Accordingly, I'm making plans as to what I'm going to be doing with myself when I'm finished with the old undergrad. Fortunately, I have many opportunities available to me when I graduate. Unfortunately, the easiest opportunities for me to take advantage of aren't necessarily my first options.
Plan B (the logic of seizing the moment):
I am an entrepreneur at heart. It's something that comes naturally to me and when I get excited about an entrepreneurial endeavor it's hard to take my focus away from that. Recently I have been afforded the opportunity to work for a friend who has done very well for himself with several small businesses. I could easily see myself working under him, learning the ropes of running a business and eventually starting up my own small venture.
Likewise, I've been very interested in real estate lately. Over the summer I was afforded the opportunity to be a project manager for a house that was to be put on the market. My job was to get the house ready to sell. I was given a certain amount of money and told that I needed to get x, y and z projects completed on time and under budget. This gave me a taste of the type of freedom and responsibility that I enjoy in a job.
One of my very close boys, since middle school, is considering buying a house here soon. He has the money to invest so he wants to buy in this down market but he also plans on traveling for the next year+. It happens to work out that I have experience with rehabbing/renovating houses, project management, financial/budget management and will be finished with school and looking for work at the same time he needs to have someone to do all of the above for him. We are currently in the midst of working out a deal where he will buy the house, leave town according to plan and I will be his property manager.
If none of the above works out I might just have to get a 9-5 (please don't tell anyone that I actually wrote this, it's a bad word where I come from) in the field that I am interested in - sustainability consulting - and slave away with the rest of the working population.
Plan A (go big or go home):
Though I would likely have a relatively fulfilling life if I ran with one of the above options there is something inside me that is resisting - "Miles, this is not what we agreed upon, what happened to your dreams?"
I've always envisioned that when I graduated I would go travel the world and experience what it has to offer. The first six months following graduation I won't have any loans to pay off. I will be a young, spry, 24 year old guy with no one to answer to and the world by the short'n'curly's. Will there be a better time to travel and do what I want to do than now?
My dreams to save the world through social entrepreneurship aren't local, they're global. How can I really improve the world by hanging around the same people in the same town with the same ideas? Shouldn't I at least completely uproot myself and go out in search of the movers and the shakers?
I am a firm believer in opening up all the doors of opportunity that life has to offer - ya never know which one you'll be interested in stepping through down the road, right? I read the Wall Street Journal. Anytime I see a big name mentioned in the journal that name is typically followed by a Ph.D., M.B.A., J.D. or M.S. If I am really to keep all of my opportunity doors open, shouldn't my name be followed by a fancy acronym?
Tony Robbins "Do the Damn Thing" Rant:
I'm a big subscriber to the "shoot for the moon" philosophy. No one ever accomplished anything great by settling for what they were given. I've been accused in the past of being a 'dreamer' - I have my head in the clouds and don't live in a realistic world. I say there is a fine line between genius and insanity. I may not have a conventional viewpoint but I think that conventional wisdom leads to mediocrity. Societal norms are stifling.
Somewhere along the line it became legit to settle for Plan B: I did just what they told me to do. I went to college, picked a degree that they said I'd make money at, I got a job they said would support a family, I found a husband/wife to raise a family, I bought a house. . . You've heard it before. What do YOU want? What makes YOU happy?
Quit listening to the people around you and figure out what it is that makes you happy - and if that's appeasing those around you take a deeper look. Find someone that you admire, someone that you think is truly successful and make them your mentor. When you need advice, turn to them. When you are feeling like you're aimlessly drifting, turn to them. Make it a point to take them out to lunch once a month just to keep in touch. Whatever you do, please don't do what you think everyone else thinks is best for you.
Remember kids: Be well, do good work and always know your dealer.
Cheers,
Miles.
Small Town Snobs, a rant
So, does anyone else come from a small town? Because I do and while there is much that I miss--tacos in a bag at all town festivities, for one--I have other things that I certainly don't. Not being able to go out in my pajamas without someone seeing and commenting. The twenty minute drive to buy a book. The 35 m.p.h. speed limit. And, yeah, that everything is closed by ten and there only food on delivery is pizza.
And, of course, the one that prompted this rant. Earlier this week I was reminded of a pervasive attitude in my family and random strangers from my hometown. Of course, I don't claim this phenomenon to be limited to small towns, only to say I have only experienced it there. What is it? Well, the absolute derision that comes with my college degree.
So, my sister and I are the only grand kids to thus far go to college on my mother's side. (Siblings of my mother's have, however, received degrees.) Somehow, this is threatening. I have a cousin who once told me that college graduates are lacking in common sense. It was unfortunate to him that I didn't know how to fix a sink or change my oil. Upon my sister's pointing out that if she wanted to she could learn, but she'd much rather pay to have someone do it--hence the pharmacy doctorate--there was much scoffing. When we also pointed out that he had to learn to work on his car/plumbing/electric, to take classes or apprentice or be taught somehow, so the knowledge he was speaking of was similarly specialized and acquired, thus not common, there was also much denying.
This week, like at many other times in my life, it was reiterated to me that without holding a degree person-x probably knows a great deal more than I do. I never claimed to believe that I hold all knowledge--although, if I did that would be a great title: Holder of All Knowledge. I'd feel like a character in Lois Lowry book.
And then I was quizzed. This is my particular pet peeve. The person in question is an awesome guy, very smart, very well read where his interests lean. I enjoyed listening to him talk, but when he pop quizzed me on who created the first steam engine, I wanted to hop up on the table and give the world a lecture on this assumption that I think I know everything. (I couldn't remember the name, so offered up Stanton as a possibility. Correct answer: Robert Fulton. I will likely never forget again.)
And this is not the first time. At a yard sale prior to my move, a random old guy started quizzing me, then lecturing me, on grammar. I won't begin to relate the innumerable instances that occurred while I was working at a museum. (People were appalled that I didn't know who Motherwell was. He'd just never, to date, come up in a book I was reading.) Or the many family functions at which I have been accosted and quizzed.
But, hey, my degree is in English Literature. I'm pursuing an M.F.A. and while I like history enough to have gotten a minor I don't regularly read biographies or academic text. I do watch the History channel, but usually when it's about Nazis. (I'm terrified of Nazis in a phobic kind of way. I blame my mother for this. She was always pointing out how I fit the profile to be interred or that I matched some serial killers victim profile. It was her strange way of reminding me to be careful.) I also love Shark Week, but can I tell you anything more than how to avoid and, if unavoidable, react in a shark attack? No.
I'm okay with not knowing. I don't presume because you don't have some alphabets after your name that you aren't smart. But, one day, oh one day, I'm going to finally have enough of their snobbery. Because, yup, that's what it is.
Yes, I am not unaware that some form of feelings of inadequacy are going into this, but I didn't create/foster/exacerbate them--at least not with anything other than earning a B.A. and going for a second degree.
As a heads up, I also can't name the presidents in order, I have no idea which band is playing on the radio at any given time (I answer Joe Walsh to all music related questions), I can't change the oil in my car and I'm not positive where to add anti-freeze, I freeze when I have to do math in public (despite having always taken and done well in higher math classes), I read romance novels, the only thing I currently remember about trig is the sin/cosin song, and I once forgot how to spell address in a spelling bee (that public fear thing again).
As Tina Fey would say: Blerg.
Three Things I Found This Week: I am not a drinker. I really, really want some taco in a bag. And, I hate being late--sorry this post is about 45 minutes after the fact. (I had written one and tossed it in lieu of irritation.)
Three Things I Still Need to Find: My inner visual artist. The wherewithal to finish Crime and Punishment, once and for all. And, finally, lumpia, my favorite food.
And, of course, the one that prompted this rant. Earlier this week I was reminded of a pervasive attitude in my family and random strangers from my hometown. Of course, I don't claim this phenomenon to be limited to small towns, only to say I have only experienced it there. What is it? Well, the absolute derision that comes with my college degree.
So, my sister and I are the only grand kids to thus far go to college on my mother's side. (Siblings of my mother's have, however, received degrees.) Somehow, this is threatening. I have a cousin who once told me that college graduates are lacking in common sense. It was unfortunate to him that I didn't know how to fix a sink or change my oil. Upon my sister's pointing out that if she wanted to she could learn, but she'd much rather pay to have someone do it--hence the pharmacy doctorate--there was much scoffing. When we also pointed out that he had to learn to work on his car/plumbing/electric, to take classes or apprentice or be taught somehow, so the knowledge he was speaking of was similarly specialized and acquired, thus not common, there was also much denying.
This week, like at many other times in my life, it was reiterated to me that without holding a degree person-x probably knows a great deal more than I do. I never claimed to believe that I hold all knowledge--although, if I did that would be a great title: Holder of All Knowledge. I'd feel like a character in Lois Lowry book.
And then I was quizzed. This is my particular pet peeve. The person in question is an awesome guy, very smart, very well read where his interests lean. I enjoyed listening to him talk, but when he pop quizzed me on who created the first steam engine, I wanted to hop up on the table and give the world a lecture on this assumption that I think I know everything. (I couldn't remember the name, so offered up Stanton as a possibility. Correct answer: Robert Fulton. I will likely never forget again.)
And this is not the first time. At a yard sale prior to my move, a random old guy started quizzing me, then lecturing me, on grammar. I won't begin to relate the innumerable instances that occurred while I was working at a museum. (People were appalled that I didn't know who Motherwell was. He'd just never, to date, come up in a book I was reading.) Or the many family functions at which I have been accosted and quizzed.
But, hey, my degree is in English Literature. I'm pursuing an M.F.A. and while I like history enough to have gotten a minor I don't regularly read biographies or academic text. I do watch the History channel, but usually when it's about Nazis. (I'm terrified of Nazis in a phobic kind of way. I blame my mother for this. She was always pointing out how I fit the profile to be interred or that I matched some serial killers victim profile. It was her strange way of reminding me to be careful.) I also love Shark Week, but can I tell you anything more than how to avoid and, if unavoidable, react in a shark attack? No.
I'm okay with not knowing. I don't presume because you don't have some alphabets after your name that you aren't smart. But, one day, oh one day, I'm going to finally have enough of their snobbery. Because, yup, that's what it is.
Yes, I am not unaware that some form of feelings of inadequacy are going into this, but I didn't create/foster/exacerbate them--at least not with anything other than earning a B.A. and going for a second degree.
As a heads up, I also can't name the presidents in order, I have no idea which band is playing on the radio at any given time (I answer Joe Walsh to all music related questions), I can't change the oil in my car and I'm not positive where to add anti-freeze, I freeze when I have to do math in public (despite having always taken and done well in higher math classes), I read romance novels, the only thing I currently remember about trig is the sin/cosin song, and I once forgot how to spell address in a spelling bee (that public fear thing again).
As Tina Fey would say: Blerg.
Three Things I Found This Week: I am not a drinker. I really, really want some taco in a bag. And, I hate being late--sorry this post is about 45 minutes after the fact. (I had written one and tossed it in lieu of irritation.)
Three Things I Still Need to Find: My inner visual artist. The wherewithal to finish Crime and Punishment, once and for all. And, finally, lumpia, my favorite food.
The Tale of the Tape
Well, here it is, Wednesday, and I am not too sure what to write. So I present to you a sports style match up of some themes that are hopefully relevant to readers of this here fine blog.
ROUND 1: WORK
Law School: 20 page papers that need to be edited down to 8.
Undergrad: 2 page papers -> format margins ->font=courier new-> five page papers.
Real World: Varies, but likely not very long.
Advantage: Undergrad, unless you have morals, then work.
ROUND 2: HOURS
Law School: 9 am to 2 am
Undergrad: 2 pm to 3 am
Real World: 9 to 5 (or 8 to 4 to avoid traffic)
Advantage: Undergrad. Seriously.
ROUND 3: Parties!
Law School: None, until you finish your final at 11 am, your entire class goes straight to the bar and then no one remembers anything past 3 pm.
Undergrad: Tuesday through Sunday. Plus Monday night Football.
Real World: Housewarming... Pot Luck Dinner... BACHELOR!
Advantage: Push. Undergrad is pretty amazing, but a little self destructive. Real World ranges from painful to epic. Law School makes up for lack of frequency with intensity and self destruction.
BONUS ROUND: PARTY THEMES!
Law School: CIV PRO IS OVER!!!
Undergrad: Men wear silly hats, women wear lingerie. (It's a pretty tame picture)
Real World: Everyone bring a food dish that starts with the letter B!
Advantage: Undergrad. Seriously, silly hats and lingerie. My Oscar the Grouch Fuzzy Visor is one of the few possessions I truly wish made it through college. I miss him a lot more than say, my dignity, which was also lost during undergrad.
ROUND 4: Dating Rituals
Law School: Dating? Yeah right, I have cases to read, a memo to write, plus I need to work on my oral arguement, and most people in the class are already working on outlines, do you know if there is a new reading online? Oh, I need to apply for that internship, I have to get some transcripts ready.
Undergrad: Weird drunk hookups and probably at least one heart wrenching break up.
Real World: Oh, THIS is what our parents talk about when they reminisce about dating.
Advantage: Real World.
ROUND 5: Free Time
Law School: Catching up on work.
Undergrad: Napping, video games, substance abuse.
Real World: Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Giant, Yard Work
Advantage: Undergrad. I still don't know how my roommates and I wasted so much time.
ROUND 6: Neurotic Behaviors
Law School: Playing "will I get cold called in class" roulette.
Undergrad: Spending an entire weekend playing video games and sleeping.
Real World: Trying to remember if you turned off the lights, locked the door, and turned down the heat before you left.
Advantage: Law School. It's really not so bad once it happens. And undergrad just hurts your sense of accomplishment.
ROUND 7: Big Decisions
Law School: Do I work in a large firm making bank and never seeing sunlight, or do I work in government or public interest and retain some sanity while earning considerably less?
Undergrad: Cooler Ranch or Nacho Cheesier?
Real World: Who do I spend the rest of my life with?
Advantage: Law School. You have already made the worst decision of your life by choosing to attend, so after that everything is cake.
ROUND 8: Classmates/co-workers
Law School: I only see mortal enemies standing in my way of a good class rank. And that one kid who always takes off his shoes during class.
Undergrad: A wide variety of interesting and well rounded people, most of whom you will only talk to while both of you are drunk.
Real World: Office gossip, office flirt, office dress code violator, Mr. Too Much Cologne, the Brown Noser, and Too Loud Phone Talker.
Advantage: Law School. Honestly, at least everyone knows where they stand.
BOUNS ROUND: BEST FRIEND!!!
Law School: A Columbian Guy in a Sombrerro with a Burro.
Undergrad: Whichever roommate you aren't fighting with that week.
Real World: Rover.
Advantage: Your family.
ROUND 9: Highlight of the Week
Law School: Friday! Now I have all night, all day Saturday, and all day Sunday to study!
Undergrad: What does it matter, you are going to do the same things regardless of the day.
Real World: TGIF. They even named a restaurant after it.
Advantage: Law School. Real World weekends rarely live up to their expectations. Law School ones are a chance to take your time and savor your work.
ROUND TEN: Hopes, Dreams, and Desires:
Law School: Please let me get 1 point higher so I can move up in my class rank!
Undergrad: What the **** am I going to do with my life?
Real World: Spouse, Job, House, 2.5 kids, dog, retirement plan
Advantage: Real World (But then again I am 25)
Scores so far:
Law School: 4
Undergrad: 3
Real World: 2
FINAL ROUND: What you get at the end of it all:
Law School: A top notch legal education, a chance to take part in the most fundamental parts of American life, jealous looks at your high school reunion,
Undergrad: A decent scholastic education, several hangover cures, lasting friendships, and a real understanding of who you really are.
Real World: A chance to look back on it all with your friends and family by your side, time to relax and enjoy, a deeper understanding of life, humanity, and God.
Some Notes
*I know I made everything into gross caricatures of what they really are.
*This is by far the most time I have spent on a post to date.
*You can feel free to insert your own spiritual being for God.
Enjoy the links.
ROUND 1: WORK
Law School: 20 page papers that need to be edited down to 8.
Undergrad: 2 page papers -> format margins ->font=courier new-> five page papers.
Real World: Varies, but likely not very long.
Advantage: Undergrad, unless you have morals, then work.
ROUND 2: HOURS
Law School: 9 am to 2 am
Undergrad: 2 pm to 3 am
Real World: 9 to 5 (or 8 to 4 to avoid traffic)
Advantage: Undergrad. Seriously.
ROUND 3: Parties!
Law School: None, until you finish your final at 11 am, your entire class goes straight to the bar and then no one remembers anything past 3 pm.
Undergrad: Tuesday through Sunday. Plus Monday night Football.
Real World: Housewarming... Pot Luck Dinner... BACHELOR!
Advantage: Push. Undergrad is pretty amazing, but a little self destructive. Real World ranges from painful to epic. Law School makes up for lack of frequency with intensity and self destruction.
BONUS ROUND: PARTY THEMES!
Law School: CIV PRO IS OVER!!!
Undergrad: Men wear silly hats, women wear lingerie. (It's a pretty tame picture)
Real World: Everyone bring a food dish that starts with the letter B!
Advantage: Undergrad. Seriously, silly hats and lingerie. My Oscar the Grouch Fuzzy Visor is one of the few possessions I truly wish made it through college. I miss him a lot more than say, my dignity, which was also lost during undergrad.
ROUND 4: Dating Rituals
Law School: Dating? Yeah right, I have cases to read, a memo to write, plus I need to work on my oral arguement, and most people in the class are already working on outlines, do you know if there is a new reading online? Oh, I need to apply for that internship, I have to get some transcripts ready.
Undergrad: Weird drunk hookups and probably at least one heart wrenching break up.
Real World: Oh, THIS is what our parents talk about when they reminisce about dating.
Advantage: Real World.
ROUND 5: Free Time
Law School: Catching up on work.
Undergrad: Napping, video games, substance abuse.
Real World: Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Giant, Yard Work
Advantage: Undergrad. I still don't know how my roommates and I wasted so much time.
ROUND 6: Neurotic Behaviors
Law School: Playing "will I get cold called in class" roulette.
Undergrad: Spending an entire weekend playing video games and sleeping.
Real World: Trying to remember if you turned off the lights, locked the door, and turned down the heat before you left.
Advantage: Law School. It's really not so bad once it happens. And undergrad just hurts your sense of accomplishment.
ROUND 7: Big Decisions
Law School: Do I work in a large firm making bank and never seeing sunlight, or do I work in government or public interest and retain some sanity while earning considerably less?
Undergrad: Cooler Ranch or Nacho Cheesier?
Real World: Who do I spend the rest of my life with?
Advantage: Law School. You have already made the worst decision of your life by choosing to attend, so after that everything is cake.
ROUND 8: Classmates/co-workers
Law School: I only see mortal enemies standing in my way of a good class rank. And that one kid who always takes off his shoes during class.
Undergrad: A wide variety of interesting and well rounded people, most of whom you will only talk to while both of you are drunk.
Real World: Office gossip, office flirt, office dress code violator, Mr. Too Much Cologne, the Brown Noser, and Too Loud Phone Talker.
Advantage: Law School. Honestly, at least everyone knows where they stand.
BOUNS ROUND: BEST FRIEND!!!
Law School: A Columbian Guy in a Sombrerro with a Burro.
Undergrad: Whichever roommate you aren't fighting with that week.
Real World: Rover.
Advantage: Your family.
ROUND 9: Highlight of the Week
Law School: Friday! Now I have all night, all day Saturday, and all day Sunday to study!
Undergrad: What does it matter, you are going to do the same things regardless of the day.
Real World: TGIF. They even named a restaurant after it.
Advantage: Law School. Real World weekends rarely live up to their expectations. Law School ones are a chance to take your time and savor your work.
ROUND TEN: Hopes, Dreams, and Desires:
Law School: Please let me get 1 point higher so I can move up in my class rank!
Undergrad: What the **** am I going to do with my life?
Real World: Spouse, Job, House, 2.5 kids, dog, retirement plan
Advantage: Real World (But then again I am 25)
Scores so far:
Law School: 4
Undergrad: 3
Real World: 2
FINAL ROUND: What you get at the end of it all:
Law School: A top notch legal education, a chance to take part in the most fundamental parts of American life, jealous looks at your high school reunion,
Undergrad: A decent scholastic education, several hangover cures, lasting friendships, and a real understanding of who you really are.
Real World: A chance to look back on it all with your friends and family by your side, time to relax and enjoy, a deeper understanding of life, humanity, and God.
Some Notes
*I know I made everything into gross caricatures of what they really are.
*This is by far the most time I have spent on a post to date.
*You can feel free to insert your own spiritual being for God.
Enjoy the links.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Easy recipe & you become a chef overnight
I am late for this posting, I remembered later during the day. I am sorry guys!
I thought of an easy recipe for students to make if they could spare 20 mins. If you have a sauce like ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, or the popular one they use at Asian restaurants is Hoisin Sauce (should taste like Asian bbq). I use it for dipping and marinating. Also, if you just have salt, pepper, vegetable or olive oil, this is ok for any type of marinating you want to do via seafood, poultry, tofu, etc.
With a sandwich or frozen bag, clean the meat first, slice it into pieces if necessary. Judge by its size and usually it's one (large) tablespoon of sauce. Dump it in the bag. You may salt and pepper it for added flavor.
Zip it up and mush or mash the meat & sauce together, saturating it, then put the bag in the fridge for 10 mins. or longer if you want more taste.
Heat a skillet or if you don't have a skillet, use a saucepan. Heat it on high heat with one or two tablespoon of oil. Wait until the oil looks runny, add the meat. Use a spatula to flip it every three minutes. On medium heat. When it's done, the seafood has an opaque color or meat has a grayish color, chicken is white, etc.
While you cook the meat, this could be multi-tasking by adding two more things to cook. Add veggies (chopped, frozen, or canned) in another saucepan and boil with water. Veggies should always be above water level. Add instant cook box of rice, pasta, or conscious in another saucepan and also boil with water according to instructions.
Optional you could cook the meat right away without marinating in the bag, I've done this before and it taste fine.
Of course there are alternatives. Olive oil is best for flavor so use it whenever you heat something. Also salt and pepper (black & lemon). If you are lucky, go for soy sauce. You can also get away making peanut butter sauce like the Thai sauce in some dishes. Mix one tablespoon of soy sauce and one table spoon of PB, add in olive oil, and you should get a salad dressing. Try to mix equal parts should get mixed results.
Also try to cook several days in a row so then you don't have to waste time making something when there are leftovers.
I thought of an easy recipe for students to make if they could spare 20 mins. If you have a sauce like ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, or the popular one they use at Asian restaurants is Hoisin Sauce (should taste like Asian bbq). I use it for dipping and marinating. Also, if you just have salt, pepper, vegetable or olive oil, this is ok for any type of marinating you want to do via seafood, poultry, tofu, etc.
With a sandwich or frozen bag, clean the meat first, slice it into pieces if necessary. Judge by its size and usually it's one (large) tablespoon of sauce. Dump it in the bag. You may salt and pepper it for added flavor.
Zip it up and mush or mash the meat & sauce together, saturating it, then put the bag in the fridge for 10 mins. or longer if you want more taste.
Heat a skillet or if you don't have a skillet, use a saucepan. Heat it on high heat with one or two tablespoon of oil. Wait until the oil looks runny, add the meat. Use a spatula to flip it every three minutes. On medium heat. When it's done, the seafood has an opaque color or meat has a grayish color, chicken is white, etc.
While you cook the meat, this could be multi-tasking by adding two more things to cook. Add veggies (chopped, frozen, or canned) in another saucepan and boil with water. Veggies should always be above water level. Add instant cook box of rice, pasta, or conscious in another saucepan and also boil with water according to instructions.
Optional you could cook the meat right away without marinating in the bag, I've done this before and it taste fine.
Of course there are alternatives. Olive oil is best for flavor so use it whenever you heat something. Also salt and pepper (black & lemon). If you are lucky, go for soy sauce. You can also get away making peanut butter sauce like the Thai sauce in some dishes. Mix one tablespoon of soy sauce and one table spoon of PB, add in olive oil, and you should get a salad dressing. Try to mix equal parts should get mixed results.
Also try to cook several days in a row so then you don't have to waste time making something when there are leftovers.
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Difference One Day Can Make...
is all the difference in the world. Yesterday was my difference. When I walked outside and saw how beautiful it was in a season that most people dread, I truly became thankful. Not just thankful for the warmth outside and the healthy, happy children having the time of their lives at the playground, but thankful for the friends I have, who I so often criticize for their shortcomings as if I don't have a whole slew of my own. I was thankful for being able to find peace in my everyday unnerving situations, when others can't find the strength to go on. I'm thankful for smart, savvy people who can make a dolla holla (as my mother always says) and aren't too proud to let you know that. I'm thankful for having the sense to know when something isn't going to work for me, and as I've heard others say before "bow out gracefully". I'm thankful for common sense and a spirit that won't allow me to be trampled on by others. I'm thankful for the sweet people in my life who make the bad ones not matter so much. Yes, yesterday was definitely my difference. And the difference one day can make is grand.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Research is for fun
No, really, it is. People don't seem to get this, all too often. People also don't seem to get that reading is for fun, and after a miserable slog through high school and college English they refuse to read anything at all ever again other than Facebook and fantasy sports materials.
(DISCLAIMER: I haven't the faintest idea what fantasy sports call for by way of paperwork, but I have a mental image of a testosterone-soaked version of D&D character sheets.)
Let's start again, shall we? Research is for fun.
Like Tabitha, I am a geek. I am a proud, if highly specialized, geek: I am neither a Linux addict nor an adherent to dice-based or massively multiplayer online RP, and I don't build computers or use words like kernel outside discussions of botany. But I am and have been for years engaged in freeform online roleplaying of a sort that over time has blurred from canon to original characters through worldbuilding into what amounts to co-writing of a very long novel. Those of you with lives won't have any idea what I'm on about here, but imagine you and a friend in a distant state are telling a story together, and you tell the bits from character A's point of view, and your co-writer does the bits from character B's point of view, and you collaborate on narrative passages and chunks of description and exposition. In order to do this, you need to know a certain amount about whatever is going on in the story at the moment--whether a character's undergoing a medical procedure, or fixing a mechanical problem, or sewing a dress, or conjugating a French verb--in order to write it believably. Here's where the research bit comes in.
I'm old enough to have spent my really awful tween and teen years without the benefit of the internet, and therefore there's limited horribly embarrassing juvenilia sloshing about somewhere out there in the tubes; I can remember when if you wanted to write a scene where a character, say, is tuning a piano, you would need to actually leave your place of residence and physically travel to a library, look up books on piano tuning in a physical (analogue?) card catalogue, and either photocopy pages out of these reference books or write down notes in longhand. Now, if I want to write that scene, I open a new tab in the same Firefox window as my Google Documents draft and google piano tuning, flick through Wiki, follow some citation links, look in Google Books, and write. I don't often find myself going KIDS THESE DAYS DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD THEY HAVE IT, IN MY DAY WE HAD TO blah blah blah, but really in this case I feel it's justified.
Research is, therefore, no longer difficult. It's a matter of typing in a simple query and following links. You don't even have to take longhand notes, you can just copypasta into a notes document--or just bookmark the page. All the tiresome time-consuming stuff is gone, and you can dip into this massive roaring flood of information wherever you find a wifi connection. Brave new world, that hath such packets in't.
You don't even need the excuse of writing a story to do research these days. You don't have to do anything with the information you find other than filing it in your head for the sheer pleasure of knowing things--and here, here is where I think the disconnect occurs, people don't think learning things in and of itself is an enjoyable pastime.
(Aside: It's "pastime." Not "passtime," or "pass time," or "passed time.")
I don't know why this is, or why being "smart" or capable is taken to be a negative idea, but it needs to be changed. There is no reason for you to remain ignorant of subjects you have even the slightest curiosity about now that looking them up is a matter of a few keystrokes. It is now so desperately easy to become informed that refusing, or failing, to do so implies you have some sort of reason for not wanting to know.
There is, of course, the corollary that with great access to information comes great access to utter and complete rubbish, and the intelligent internet researcher will learn very quickly to take a lot of search results with a considerable lump of halite. But the great thing about the branching, open-form nature of internet research is that it is possible to look up the veracity of a previous result. The important thing is to not stop with Wiki and trust that you know all there is to know.
(Those of you who know me will not be surprised at the following digression.)
As students, I think we have the responsibility to follow--even if it is difficult or tiring or discouraging--each line of inquiry as far as we can manage. It is not good enough to search until you find a result you like, a result that supports the conclusion you have already made and wish to convince others to make as well. Relying on this sort of doctrine-of-first-agreement makes you, the researcher, look both lazy and ignorant, and throws whatever you may base on this into question. Take for example a published and highly popular author, who in one of his highly popular publications develops a character suffering from a very specific, extant, actual condition with very specific, extant, actual physical symptoms and limitations, and then proceeds to retain one very minor aspect of that physical condition and discard all the rest of it, including the physiological explanations for the aspect he retains, in order to tell his story. It would have taken no more than five seconds for him to discover a large and serious flaw in his decision to use this syndrome for this character: yet he either didn't bother or does not think his readers are intelligent enough to notice. I'm not sure which is worse. Suffice it to say that if you ever write a story featuring a character with oculocutaneous albinism, do not place this character in a position where he or she will specifically need extreme visual acuity to discharge plot-critical responsibilities.
Research is the very basic, simple skill of making sure you know what you're talking about before you talk. It's not limited to writing papers or novels or magazine articles or blog posts: it's applicable to everything you do. Becoming informed is more and more a responsibility in a world where media no longer waits for film at eleven, where news stories break in real time, where newspaper headlines are not set the night before they're printed. Even if you don't think of it as a responsibility, think of it as an opportunity. You don't have to swallow whatever the news channel says, you can look it up yourself and make your own informed decisions about pretty much anything you care to imagine.
It's a wonderful time to be an inquisitive person.
(DISCLAIMER: I haven't the faintest idea what fantasy sports call for by way of paperwork, but I have a mental image of a testosterone-soaked version of D&D character sheets.)
Let's start again, shall we? Research is for fun.
Like Tabitha, I am a geek. I am a proud, if highly specialized, geek: I am neither a Linux addict nor an adherent to dice-based or massively multiplayer online RP, and I don't build computers or use words like kernel outside discussions of botany. But I am and have been for years engaged in freeform online roleplaying of a sort that over time has blurred from canon to original characters through worldbuilding into what amounts to co-writing of a very long novel. Those of you with lives won't have any idea what I'm on about here, but imagine you and a friend in a distant state are telling a story together, and you tell the bits from character A's point of view, and your co-writer does the bits from character B's point of view, and you collaborate on narrative passages and chunks of description and exposition. In order to do this, you need to know a certain amount about whatever is going on in the story at the moment--whether a character's undergoing a medical procedure, or fixing a mechanical problem, or sewing a dress, or conjugating a French verb--in order to write it believably. Here's where the research bit comes in.
I'm old enough to have spent my really awful tween and teen years without the benefit of the internet, and therefore there's limited horribly embarrassing juvenilia sloshing about somewhere out there in the tubes; I can remember when if you wanted to write a scene where a character, say, is tuning a piano, you would need to actually leave your place of residence and physically travel to a library, look up books on piano tuning in a physical (analogue?) card catalogue, and either photocopy pages out of these reference books or write down notes in longhand. Now, if I want to write that scene, I open a new tab in the same Firefox window as my Google Documents draft and google piano tuning, flick through Wiki, follow some citation links, look in Google Books, and write. I don't often find myself going KIDS THESE DAYS DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD THEY HAVE IT, IN MY DAY WE HAD TO blah blah blah, but really in this case I feel it's justified.
Research is, therefore, no longer difficult. It's a matter of typing in a simple query and following links. You don't even have to take longhand notes, you can just copypasta into a notes document--or just bookmark the page. All the tiresome time-consuming stuff is gone, and you can dip into this massive roaring flood of information wherever you find a wifi connection. Brave new world, that hath such packets in't.
You don't even need the excuse of writing a story to do research these days. You don't have to do anything with the information you find other than filing it in your head for the sheer pleasure of knowing things--and here, here is where I think the disconnect occurs, people don't think learning things in and of itself is an enjoyable pastime.
(Aside: It's "pastime." Not "passtime," or "pass time," or "passed time.")
I don't know why this is, or why being "smart" or capable is taken to be a negative idea, but it needs to be changed. There is no reason for you to remain ignorant of subjects you have even the slightest curiosity about now that looking them up is a matter of a few keystrokes. It is now so desperately easy to become informed that refusing, or failing, to do so implies you have some sort of reason for not wanting to know.
There is, of course, the corollary that with great access to information comes great access to utter and complete rubbish, and the intelligent internet researcher will learn very quickly to take a lot of search results with a considerable lump of halite. But the great thing about the branching, open-form nature of internet research is that it is possible to look up the veracity of a previous result. The important thing is to not stop with Wiki and trust that you know all there is to know.
(Those of you who know me will not be surprised at the following digression.)
As students, I think we have the responsibility to follow--even if it is difficult or tiring or discouraging--each line of inquiry as far as we can manage. It is not good enough to search until you find a result you like, a result that supports the conclusion you have already made and wish to convince others to make as well. Relying on this sort of doctrine-of-first-agreement makes you, the researcher, look both lazy and ignorant, and throws whatever you may base on this into question. Take for example a published and highly popular author, who in one of his highly popular publications develops a character suffering from a very specific, extant, actual condition with very specific, extant, actual physical symptoms and limitations, and then proceeds to retain one very minor aspect of that physical condition and discard all the rest of it, including the physiological explanations for the aspect he retains, in order to tell his story. It would have taken no more than five seconds for him to discover a large and serious flaw in his decision to use this syndrome for this character: yet he either didn't bother or does not think his readers are intelligent enough to notice. I'm not sure which is worse. Suffice it to say that if you ever write a story featuring a character with oculocutaneous albinism, do not place this character in a position where he or she will specifically need extreme visual acuity to discharge plot-critical responsibilities.
Research is the very basic, simple skill of making sure you know what you're talking about before you talk. It's not limited to writing papers or novels or magazine articles or blog posts: it's applicable to everything you do. Becoming informed is more and more a responsibility in a world where media no longer waits for film at eleven, where news stories break in real time, where newspaper headlines are not set the night before they're printed. Even if you don't think of it as a responsibility, think of it as an opportunity. You don't have to swallow whatever the news channel says, you can look it up yourself and make your own informed decisions about pretty much anything you care to imagine.
It's a wonderful time to be an inquisitive person.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
23, The New 32! Settling Down or Just Settling?
Last week I turned 24 years old. Everyone has undoubtedly been asked the ridiculous question on their birthday "Do you feel any older?" Of all people, this year my mom asked me this question (c'mon Mom you're better than that!) My response: "Not really, Dukes, kinda feels like a normal Tuesday." Since that Tuesday I've started to notice the age factor creepin' on me a bit.
When celebrating my birthday I noticed that it was only my irresponsible/still in school friends that were able to make it out to party on a Tuesday with me. The next night I went over to a friends house for dinner. A dinner party. The following night I hung out with some other friends who couldn't make it either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Having to celebrate your birthday three or four days in a row isn't the worst thing in the world but when you get older apparently it catches up to you. I woke up Friday morning and I actually had a hangover. (For those of you that don't know me this is an incredibly rare event - hasn't happened in a few years type rare.) This was no ordinary hangover either. Not the headache or nausea hangover it was simply too feeble to move, let alone get out of bed hangover.
(Stevie Nicks' Landslide playing in background) It finally happened. What all of my friends in their late 20's/early 30's have been telling me all this time. I will finally get older and not be able to party like I did before. (Still in background: "Children Get older and I'm getting older too!") A good Friday night will soon become a terrible Monday morning + an incapacitated/unproductive weekend. Caps lock weak.
Settling Down:
Having to slow down my partying is one thing but this is an entirely different form of getting old.
- I get a phone call this past week from my best friend since elementary school, who now lives down in FL: "I'm at the jewelry store picking out a ring for (insert now fiance's name here)!" "That's awesome man when are you thinkin' about getting married?" "Don't have a clue, we'll figure that out later." My boy is doing it right here. Try to shoe on for size. Yes breaking off an engagement may be more painful than breaking up with a girlfriend/boyfriend but it's a hell of a lot better than getting a divorce.
- This weekend one of my girl friends came over and hung out and watched college football all day with me. All we did was talk about her relationship and "how awesome he is!!" - hardly my idea of good football conversation but I'm happy for her nonetheless. She's still in denial - she was one of the biggest haters of settling down early before she met him - but it won't be more than a year before her boyfriend pops the question, she gives him an ecstatic "YESSS!!", he transitions from boyfriend to fiance and they move to Hawai'i for him to do his residency. (Yes he's going to be a doctor, be jealous ladies - and gay guys who dig dudes with money.) Several of my other girlfriends will be following suit soon after.
- I just turned 24. My brother got married a few years ago. He was 23. My sister got married less than a year later. She was 26. My brother has a kid on the way. I'm going to be an uncle in May. My sister is trying, or "allowing" as she likes to call it. They both "own" houses in the suburbs, have their dogs, cats and their 9-5's.
- I just got out of a five year relationship this past February. With past girlfriends there's always been a big knock down, drag out fight, presumably due to the fact that we weren't getting along, that finally ended the relationship. (Good lovers make great enemies?) This one ended mutually, without kicking and screaming - truly a bizarre experience for someone as passionate as myself.
Homegirl graduated, got her 9-5 and realized what she wanted: a guy that wants to settle down, propose to her in a most romantical way and carry her off on his steed to their new house in the 'burbs with a white picket fence and a few dogs in the yard where they'll start a baby making factory. Don't get me wrong, I could've been that guy and she knew it that's why she stuck around for five years. I simply have no desire for that right now. After her birthday (uh-oh, the biological clock is ticking!) and Valentine's Day a week later (what a bad combo of holidays to have in a row for a relationship that already has one foot off the cliff) we both realized it was over. Less than a month later she found herself a new boyfriend. I don't know the kid but I presume they'll be married before long.
- The other day I was speaking with a friend having the conversation that was the inspiration for this post. She mentioned that her dukes were moving south, expecting her to move with, but she has a boyfriend here who she's smitten with. Moving this far away would undoubtedly end the relationship but she doesn't believe in living with someone before marriage. "So why don't you get a place here?" "I probably will. He asked my parents' permission to marry me." "COMO, WHAT!?" (They've been together for 5 months, folks!)
Allow me to tell you the reason why, in my humble opinion, more than half of the marriages in this country fail:
- People want the American dream. Instead of getting married when it "feels right" people seem to be getting married when they're of the age to be getting married and in a serious relationship. A few years down the road they end up realizing they have no idea why they got married to start with. Result: Divorce.
- People change. Everyone is changing all the time - learning about themselves, relationships, the world etc. The longer you wait to get married the more likely both you and your partner are going to have enough life experience to know what you want. Often times when people change they realize what they want out of life and what truly makes them happy. This is not always, and even rarely, what they wanted previously. Result: Divorce.
- People are lazy. Monogamy isn't natural. (That's right I said it!!) Historically and instinctively women are nesters. Since the existence of human kind they have been the one's who have the children and make the home. Historically and instinctively men reproduce. Since the existence of human kind their focus has been to "spread their seed" to ensure the human race continued to exist.
Issues with this arose (spread of disease, mothers not having the means to take care of their children, etc.) so religion took it upon itself to say that if you aren't monogamous you go to hell - in essence making calm out of chaos - and henceforth it was frowned upon to "do the deed" until you were married. Since monogamy isn't natural it's something that people need to be constantly working at. Marriage isn't the Underwater Basket Weaving of relationships. Once you're married you can't just show up and get an A, you still have to put in effort. When people get lazy about this they begin to hate their partner. Result: Divorce.
Tony Robbins "Please Wait" Rant:
I do not intend to sit on a soapbox and bash monogamy, commitment or settling down - I have been a serial monogamist myself in years past. I also do not intend to bash any particular relationship. Each one is unique and, I don't know this from personal experience but, I'm told "you know when you know." What I would like to say, however, is PLEASE slow down - this is not a race. Ladies I understand that your biological clock is ticking, allow it to get a little closer to the finish line before you decide to make the plunge.
I don't mean to speak about marriage like I've been there before either, I haven't. However, I do have the advantage of being able to see marriage through a logical lens rather than an emotional one. Many people ignore divorce statistics thinking it won't happen to them because their relationship is "different." Though this is true some 47% of the time, the majority of the time it's not. If more than 50% of the people in the U.S. had AIDS you wouldn't be sleeping with someone assuming that you know them and that they're "different." You'd have them get tested. Unfortunately the only test for a relationship is time. And I'm not just talking being monogamous. I mean living with the person, sleeping with them, hell maybe even sharing finances with them. It's all a part of marriage, you may as well see if the shoe fits. Right?
Go out and experience life. Yes, settling down and getting married is often a part of life but it's not the end all be all of human existence. It is significantly easier to check things off the old bucket list when you don't have previous commitments (a significant other, kids, a mortgage etc.) If someone can give me a good reason to get married at an early age other than "tax purposes," "my biological clock is ticking," or "you know when you know" then please do so because I always like to see another perspective. Until then I'll stick to living the dream.
Remember kids: Be well, do good work and always know your dealer.
Cheers,
Miles.
P.S. I have a friend whose roommate needs to move out of her place down in Butchers Hill in order to deal with some personal stuff. The place is a two bedroom near Patterson Park and walking distance to both Fells Pt. and Canton - not a bad spot at all. The girl who is staying goes to UB as well. Rent is $750 + utilities. If you're interested email her: kerry.abbott@ubalt.edu.
P.P.S. I was having this same conversation with someone this weekend about how females are too tiny these days and how we've made the Paris Hilton body type a sex symbol (see my previous rant here near the bottom) and they mentioned that Marilyn Monroe was a size 14. That meant nothing to me at the time but then said friend threw out a few of our girlfriends' waist sizes and I was blown away. Marilyn Monroe folks. The same Marilyn Monroe that was THE sex symbol of her time. The one that was sleeping with our President, Mr. John F. Kennedy. What happened between the 60's and now?
When celebrating my birthday I noticed that it was only my irresponsible/still in school friends that were able to make it out to party on a Tuesday with me. The next night I went over to a friends house for dinner. A dinner party. The following night I hung out with some other friends who couldn't make it either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Having to celebrate your birthday three or four days in a row isn't the worst thing in the world but when you get older apparently it catches up to you. I woke up Friday morning and I actually had a hangover. (For those of you that don't know me this is an incredibly rare event - hasn't happened in a few years type rare.) This was no ordinary hangover either. Not the headache or nausea hangover it was simply too feeble to move, let alone get out of bed hangover.
(Stevie Nicks' Landslide playing in background) It finally happened. What all of my friends in their late 20's/early 30's have been telling me all this time. I will finally get older and not be able to party like I did before. (Still in background: "Children Get older and I'm getting older too!") A good Friday night will soon become a terrible Monday morning + an incapacitated/unproductive weekend. Caps lock weak.
Settling Down:
Having to slow down my partying is one thing but this is an entirely different form of getting old.
- I get a phone call this past week from my best friend since elementary school, who now lives down in FL: "I'm at the jewelry store picking out a ring for (insert now fiance's name here)!" "That's awesome man when are you thinkin' about getting married?" "Don't have a clue, we'll figure that out later." My boy is doing it right here. Try to shoe on for size. Yes breaking off an engagement may be more painful than breaking up with a girlfriend/boyfriend but it's a hell of a lot better than getting a divorce.
- This weekend one of my girl friends came over and hung out and watched college football all day with me. All we did was talk about her relationship and "how awesome he is!!" - hardly my idea of good football conversation but I'm happy for her nonetheless. She's still in denial - she was one of the biggest haters of settling down early before she met him - but it won't be more than a year before her boyfriend pops the question, she gives him an ecstatic "YESSS!!", he transitions from boyfriend to fiance and they move to Hawai'i for him to do his residency. (Yes he's going to be a doctor, be jealous ladies - and gay guys who dig dudes with money.) Several of my other girlfriends will be following suit soon after.
- I just turned 24. My brother got married a few years ago. He was 23. My sister got married less than a year later. She was 26. My brother has a kid on the way. I'm going to be an uncle in May. My sister is trying, or "allowing" as she likes to call it. They both "own" houses in the suburbs, have their dogs, cats and their 9-5's.
- I just got out of a five year relationship this past February. With past girlfriends there's always been a big knock down, drag out fight, presumably due to the fact that we weren't getting along, that finally ended the relationship. (Good lovers make great enemies?) This one ended mutually, without kicking and screaming - truly a bizarre experience for someone as passionate as myself.
Homegirl graduated, got her 9-5 and realized what she wanted: a guy that wants to settle down, propose to her in a most romantical way and carry her off on his steed to their new house in the 'burbs with a white picket fence and a few dogs in the yard where they'll start a baby making factory. Don't get me wrong, I could've been that guy and she knew it that's why she stuck around for five years. I simply have no desire for that right now. After her birthday (uh-oh, the biological clock is ticking!) and Valentine's Day a week later (what a bad combo of holidays to have in a row for a relationship that already has one foot off the cliff) we both realized it was over. Less than a month later she found herself a new boyfriend. I don't know the kid but I presume they'll be married before long.
- The other day I was speaking with a friend having the conversation that was the inspiration for this post. She mentioned that her dukes were moving south, expecting her to move with, but she has a boyfriend here who she's smitten with. Moving this far away would undoubtedly end the relationship but she doesn't believe in living with someone before marriage. "So why don't you get a place here?" "I probably will. He asked my parents' permission to marry me." "COMO, WHAT!?" (They've been together for 5 months, folks!)
Allow me to tell you the reason why, in my humble opinion, more than half of the marriages in this country fail:
- People want the American dream. Instead of getting married when it "feels right" people seem to be getting married when they're of the age to be getting married and in a serious relationship. A few years down the road they end up realizing they have no idea why they got married to start with. Result: Divorce.
- People change. Everyone is changing all the time - learning about themselves, relationships, the world etc. The longer you wait to get married the more likely both you and your partner are going to have enough life experience to know what you want. Often times when people change they realize what they want out of life and what truly makes them happy. This is not always, and even rarely, what they wanted previously. Result: Divorce.
- People are lazy. Monogamy isn't natural. (That's right I said it!!) Historically and instinctively women are nesters. Since the existence of human kind they have been the one's who have the children and make the home. Historically and instinctively men reproduce. Since the existence of human kind their focus has been to "spread their seed" to ensure the human race continued to exist.
Issues with this arose (spread of disease, mothers not having the means to take care of their children, etc.) so religion took it upon itself to say that if you aren't monogamous you go to hell - in essence making calm out of chaos - and henceforth it was frowned upon to "do the deed" until you were married. Since monogamy isn't natural it's something that people need to be constantly working at. Marriage isn't the Underwater Basket Weaving of relationships. Once you're married you can't just show up and get an A, you still have to put in effort. When people get lazy about this they begin to hate their partner. Result: Divorce.
Tony Robbins "Please Wait" Rant:
I do not intend to sit on a soapbox and bash monogamy, commitment or settling down - I have been a serial monogamist myself in years past. I also do not intend to bash any particular relationship. Each one is unique and, I don't know this from personal experience but, I'm told "you know when you know." What I would like to say, however, is PLEASE slow down - this is not a race. Ladies I understand that your biological clock is ticking, allow it to get a little closer to the finish line before you decide to make the plunge.
I don't mean to speak about marriage like I've been there before either, I haven't. However, I do have the advantage of being able to see marriage through a logical lens rather than an emotional one. Many people ignore divorce statistics thinking it won't happen to them because their relationship is "different." Though this is true some 47% of the time, the majority of the time it's not. If more than 50% of the people in the U.S. had AIDS you wouldn't be sleeping with someone assuming that you know them and that they're "different." You'd have them get tested. Unfortunately the only test for a relationship is time. And I'm not just talking being monogamous. I mean living with the person, sleeping with them, hell maybe even sharing finances with them. It's all a part of marriage, you may as well see if the shoe fits. Right?
Go out and experience life. Yes, settling down and getting married is often a part of life but it's not the end all be all of human existence. It is significantly easier to check things off the old bucket list when you don't have previous commitments (a significant other, kids, a mortgage etc.) If someone can give me a good reason to get married at an early age other than "tax purposes," "my biological clock is ticking," or "you know when you know" then please do so because I always like to see another perspective. Until then I'll stick to living the dream.
Remember kids: Be well, do good work and always know your dealer.
Cheers,
Miles.
P.S. I have a friend whose roommate needs to move out of her place down in Butchers Hill in order to deal with some personal stuff. The place is a two bedroom near Patterson Park and walking distance to both Fells Pt. and Canton - not a bad spot at all. The girl who is staying goes to UB as well. Rent is $750 + utilities. If you're interested email her: kerry.abbott@ubalt.edu.
P.P.S. I was having this same conversation with someone this weekend about how females are too tiny these days and how we've made the Paris Hilton body type a sex symbol (see my previous rant here near the bottom) and they mentioned that Marilyn Monroe was a size 14. That meant nothing to me at the time but then said friend threw out a few of our girlfriends' waist sizes and I was blown away. Marilyn Monroe folks. The same Marilyn Monroe that was THE sex symbol of her time. The one that was sleeping with our President, Mr. John F. Kennedy. What happened between the 60's and now?
In A Writing Rut
So because school is pretty fine for me..one class, great professor, semester almost over, already registered for two classes next semester, work schedule already worked out to accommodate one of those classes, I don't feel the need to write about that. But I was in a tad bit of a rut so I googled "blog topics" not knowing what would pop up. But I found the website of Chris Brogan who offers 100 blog topics. Some kind of interesting. So this week I'll humor myself and pick a few and just tell you my initial thought on them....ENJOY.
**How I Use Facebook - Oh dear, Facebook is like my lifeline to the world. I have found soooo many friends from elementary, junior high, high school, college, old co-workers and one from around the world...that's you Mariska !!! Man I'm on facebook countless times during the day. I have to see what everybody is saying and doing. Call me nosey, I guess !!!!
**Somebody Has To Say It - It's fall people, almost winter....put some clothes on. Shorts and flip flops with sweaters and scarfs is not fashionable....in no part of the world !!! This style will NEVER make the cover of Vogue magazine !!
**My Mother Is On Facebook - Too funny. Will never be a problem. My mother doesn't know what facebook is !!!! But I do wonder for my friends on facebook, whose moms ARE on facebook and their friends, do they tone down their messages because of it !!
**If I Were A Television Producer - They'd be a whole lot more shows with plus size women...and it won't be the Biggest Loser either !!!!
**My Day Job Versus My Passion - Wow...good one. I am creative. I made just about everything for my wedding (save the date cards, the invitation, the favors, the broom we jumped over, the centerpieces for the table, my veil...whew). I've also made wedding invitations for others. My ultimate dream if I didn't have to do a 8:30-5 would be wedding planning. I love cooking too but I don't think I'd want to cater. I want other brides on a budget to know you can have a special day. You just need to pick what you want to be remembered and make that your focus.
**Friends I Can"t Wait To Meet - Let's change this to people cause the people I'd like to meet are not friends...but we could be !!! Chef Paula Dean, meet again....Singer Patti Labelle (loves, loves, loves me some Patti). I stood in line 3 hours to meet her at a book signing at Owings Mills Mall, Chefs The Neelys, Gospel Singer Shari Addison, Singer Queen Latifah, Talk Show Host Ellen DeGeneres ( I think she is so funny), Actress Tamela Mann
**Could I Quit My Day Job - If I wanted to lose my house, walk cause I can't afford gas, sit in the dark cause my lights are turned off and lose weight cause I can't buy food...yeah I could quit my job !!!
**Smoking Ban at Towson University - Saw this one on the news tonight. Come on now. You have got to be kidding me. Banning smoking on a 300+ acre campus. Where are u supposed to smoke? I'm not a smoker but I think this is going to far. The guy they interviewed had a point. Banning smoking on campus would force students to the edge of campus (like York Road, he said). Even bigger point he made (and I'm glad he acknowledged college kids drink !!!) But he said you're pushing students to the edge of campus to York Road and what happens if they drunk, playing around and stumble in street and get hit by a car...all in the name of Newports !!! There's a building downtown on South Street and there are lines painted on the ground that limit where you can smoke. Wouldn't that be a safe alternative for a college campus?
**Tools For Blogging -Keep it fun !!! Keep people wanting to see what's on your mind.
**Giving It Away - Hmmm....I'd say keep it to yourself, especially if it's your body, money or your soul...OUCH...that was good !!! Gotta pat myself on the back for that one !
And last
**You Are Here - You are only at the place YOU want to be at. Letting others interfere in your life, your thoughts holds you back from becoming who and what you want to be. You want a child? Who says you can't be a single parent? Might be hard but women (and men) do it every day. Want a new job? Who says you're not qualified? If you believe in you first and surround yourself with others that belief in you, care about you, support you, nurture you, YOU CAN BE ANYWHERE YOU WANT. So go get it.
Until next week, stay blessed.
**How I Use Facebook - Oh dear, Facebook is like my lifeline to the world. I have found soooo many friends from elementary, junior high, high school, college, old co-workers and one from around the world...that's you Mariska !!! Man I'm on facebook countless times during the day. I have to see what everybody is saying and doing. Call me nosey, I guess !!!!
**Somebody Has To Say It - It's fall people, almost winter....put some clothes on. Shorts and flip flops with sweaters and scarfs is not fashionable....in no part of the world !!! This style will NEVER make the cover of Vogue magazine !!
**My Mother Is On Facebook - Too funny. Will never be a problem. My mother doesn't know what facebook is !!!! But I do wonder for my friends on facebook, whose moms ARE on facebook and their friends, do they tone down their messages because of it !!
**If I Were A Television Producer - They'd be a whole lot more shows with plus size women...and it won't be the Biggest Loser either !!!!
**My Day Job Versus My Passion - Wow...good one. I am creative. I made just about everything for my wedding (save the date cards, the invitation, the favors, the broom we jumped over, the centerpieces for the table, my veil...whew). I've also made wedding invitations for others. My ultimate dream if I didn't have to do a 8:30-5 would be wedding planning. I love cooking too but I don't think I'd want to cater. I want other brides on a budget to know you can have a special day. You just need to pick what you want to be remembered and make that your focus.
**Friends I Can"t Wait To Meet - Let's change this to people cause the people I'd like to meet are not friends...but we could be !!! Chef Paula Dean, meet again....Singer Patti Labelle (loves, loves, loves me some Patti). I stood in line 3 hours to meet her at a book signing at Owings Mills Mall, Chefs The Neelys, Gospel Singer Shari Addison, Singer Queen Latifah, Talk Show Host Ellen DeGeneres ( I think she is so funny), Actress Tamela Mann
**Could I Quit My Day Job - If I wanted to lose my house, walk cause I can't afford gas, sit in the dark cause my lights are turned off and lose weight cause I can't buy food...yeah I could quit my job !!!
**Smoking Ban at Towson University - Saw this one on the news tonight. Come on now. You have got to be kidding me. Banning smoking on a 300+ acre campus. Where are u supposed to smoke? I'm not a smoker but I think this is going to far. The guy they interviewed had a point. Banning smoking on campus would force students to the edge of campus (like York Road, he said). Even bigger point he made (and I'm glad he acknowledged college kids drink !!!) But he said you're pushing students to the edge of campus to York Road and what happens if they drunk, playing around and stumble in street and get hit by a car...all in the name of Newports !!! There's a building downtown on South Street and there are lines painted on the ground that limit where you can smoke. Wouldn't that be a safe alternative for a college campus?
**Tools For Blogging -Keep it fun !!! Keep people wanting to see what's on your mind.
**Giving It Away - Hmmm....I'd say keep it to yourself, especially if it's your body, money or your soul...OUCH...that was good !!! Gotta pat myself on the back for that one !
And last
**You Are Here - You are only at the place YOU want to be at. Letting others interfere in your life, your thoughts holds you back from becoming who and what you want to be. You want a child? Who says you can't be a single parent? Might be hard but women (and men) do it every day. Want a new job? Who says you're not qualified? If you believe in you first and surround yourself with others that belief in you, care about you, support you, nurture you, YOU CAN BE ANYWHERE YOU WANT. So go get it.
Until next week, stay blessed.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How I Am Surviving Law School
My first semester of law school is nearly over. Granted, I still have a major assignment to complete, and of course I also have to take finals, but otherwise I am more or less done.
So far, I think I have survived pretty well, so here is my "How I Am Surviving Law School" post.
Number 1: Caffeine
Although I really try to limit myself to four cups a day. I make this most days.
Number 2: MacBook
My poor computer. Her battery is completely kicked (she only runs connected to the wall). She has multiple dents in her case. Two weeks ago, she lost one of the rubber feet on her bottom. Yesterday, the plastic that lines the casing began to chip off. Her open button lost all it's paint. Her screen has a "dead spot." And yet every day, she works for at least 7 hours. She wakes up faster than I do in the morning. She gives me the highlights of the news, both worldly (CNN.com) and social (facebook.com). She makes the commute with me, then dutifully records notes through 4-6 hours of class. She spends time in the library. Then she comes home with me, and we work some more. No complaints, ever. Best money my parents ever spent.
Number 3: Mac iPorgrams
By this I specifically mean iCal, Mail, Spaces and Preview. These genius programs are so well integrated with each other, they make my life so much easier. Mail collects and reads all my email addresses in one central location. iCal adds events automatically, reminds me when blog posts are due. Preview opens ANY attachment that comes my way. Spaces keeps everything clean and sorted. No hassle.
Number 4: Word for Mac
Although Word is a slightly buggy and clunky program, Word for Mac, especially with the Notebook setting, is pretty essential for taking notes in class. Also, it opens a large variety of files and shares well with professors on Windows systems.
Number 5: My iPhone
This is actually pretty brand new, but already I don't know how I lived without it.
Number 6: Peanut Butter
See Tabitha's post here. I, as well, wake up to Peanut Butter Toast for breakfast pretty much every day, and dinner a few nights a weeks.
Number 7: Velvetta Mac and Cheese
For when I am feeling like fancy dinner.
Number 8: UB's Ridiculous Ongoing Pizza Events
I mentioned this earlier here. But FREE PIZZA for lunch is one of those little pleasures in life that few other things can match.
Number 9: My Classmates
Many of you may not know this, but when you are applying to law school, people do their best to discourage you. One way is to tell stories about how awful your peers will be. Horror stories about super competitive, backstabbing students abound. Fortunately, UB does not have this. No lie, there are some students who go out of their way to be unhelpful, and a number will sit silently as you struggling with a difficult question in class, but most are genuinely good people who share in your misery. Missed classes are easily caught up with not just from shared notes but from shared time. Students here are quick to share found resources, rather than try and hide them in an effort to get a leg up. And then comes the weekend, and suddenly you have so many best friends who just want to hang out, even though you hardly know them. It is amazing how you can go to law school happy hour, and just because you go to the same school, you are automatically friends.
Number 10: My Family and Non-Law School Friends
As great as law school is, sometimes you need to get outside of the law school bubble, and this is how I do it. It is so nice to be able to meet people for dinner and not get dragged into talking about proximate cause or Rule 12(b)(6) motions.
Number 11: My Professors
Although they are in some ways the source of 99% of the stress in my life, almost all of them are also 90% of the reason that I am able to get through this. The ones who have been teaching for a little while are amazing at presenting the law in a way that I can learn it, understand it, and work with it. I can't even begin to tell you how much material I have covered in my Contracts class. Or how hard I work, because Professor Tiefer accepts nothing less than your best. In Criminal, not only have we covered a bunch of cases, but I feel like I have a grasp of the bigger picture of how the law works, and how I can apply it to new situations later in my career. Professor Rochvarg never hesitates to ask us to think about the real world application, not just the pages of a case book. And although this is his first year teaching, Professor Lindsay somehow seems to know just how much work we can handle. Also, if there ever was a class in which I think 95% of the students feel comfortable raising their hand and talking, it is his. Even in law school you have professors who want to foster a collaborative and comfortable learning experience.
Well, as positive as the tone of this post is, my phone, ipod, and computer all just simultaneously went off with reminders about my assignments due today, tomorrow, and friday, so I guess the time has come to finish this up and get back to the grind.
So far, I think I have survived pretty well, so here is my "How I Am Surviving Law School" post.
Number 1: Caffeine
Although I really try to limit myself to four cups a day. I make this most days.
Number 2: MacBook
My poor computer. Her battery is completely kicked (she only runs connected to the wall). She has multiple dents in her case. Two weeks ago, she lost one of the rubber feet on her bottom. Yesterday, the plastic that lines the casing began to chip off. Her open button lost all it's paint. Her screen has a "dead spot." And yet every day, she works for at least 7 hours. She wakes up faster than I do in the morning. She gives me the highlights of the news, both worldly (CNN.com) and social (facebook.com). She makes the commute with me, then dutifully records notes through 4-6 hours of class. She spends time in the library. Then she comes home with me, and we work some more. No complaints, ever. Best money my parents ever spent.
Number 3: Mac iPorgrams
By this I specifically mean iCal, Mail, Spaces and Preview. These genius programs are so well integrated with each other, they make my life so much easier. Mail collects and reads all my email addresses in one central location. iCal adds events automatically, reminds me when blog posts are due. Preview opens ANY attachment that comes my way. Spaces keeps everything clean and sorted. No hassle.
Number 4: Word for Mac
Although Word is a slightly buggy and clunky program, Word for Mac, especially with the Notebook setting, is pretty essential for taking notes in class. Also, it opens a large variety of files and shares well with professors on Windows systems.
Number 5: My iPhone
This is actually pretty brand new, but already I don't know how I lived without it.
Number 6: Peanut Butter
See Tabitha's post here. I, as well, wake up to Peanut Butter Toast for breakfast pretty much every day, and dinner a few nights a weeks.
Number 7: Velvetta Mac and Cheese
For when I am feeling like fancy dinner.
Number 8: UB's Ridiculous Ongoing Pizza Events
I mentioned this earlier here. But FREE PIZZA for lunch is one of those little pleasures in life that few other things can match.
Number 9: My Classmates
Many of you may not know this, but when you are applying to law school, people do their best to discourage you. One way is to tell stories about how awful your peers will be. Horror stories about super competitive, backstabbing students abound. Fortunately, UB does not have this. No lie, there are some students who go out of their way to be unhelpful, and a number will sit silently as you struggling with a difficult question in class, but most are genuinely good people who share in your misery. Missed classes are easily caught up with not just from shared notes but from shared time. Students here are quick to share found resources, rather than try and hide them in an effort to get a leg up. And then comes the weekend, and suddenly you have so many best friends who just want to hang out, even though you hardly know them. It is amazing how you can go to law school happy hour, and just because you go to the same school, you are automatically friends.
Number 10: My Family and Non-Law School Friends
As great as law school is, sometimes you need to get outside of the law school bubble, and this is how I do it. It is so nice to be able to meet people for dinner and not get dragged into talking about proximate cause or Rule 12(b)(6) motions.
Number 11: My Professors
Although they are in some ways the source of 99% of the stress in my life, almost all of them are also 90% of the reason that I am able to get through this. The ones who have been teaching for a little while are amazing at presenting the law in a way that I can learn it, understand it, and work with it. I can't even begin to tell you how much material I have covered in my Contracts class. Or how hard I work, because Professor Tiefer accepts nothing less than your best. In Criminal, not only have we covered a bunch of cases, but I feel like I have a grasp of the bigger picture of how the law works, and how I can apply it to new situations later in my career. Professor Rochvarg never hesitates to ask us to think about the real world application, not just the pages of a case book. And although this is his first year teaching, Professor Lindsay somehow seems to know just how much work we can handle. Also, if there ever was a class in which I think 95% of the students feel comfortable raising their hand and talking, it is his. Even in law school you have professors who want to foster a collaborative and comfortable learning experience.
Well, as positive as the tone of this post is, my phone, ipod, and computer all just simultaneously went off with reminders about my assignments due today, tomorrow, and friday, so I guess the time has come to finish this up and get back to the grind.
Who I Am: on Benadryl, Personal Space, and Bad Books
So, I am a geek. Once upon a time, I tried to deny this--or, at least to make it seem inconspicuous. However, in recent years I have raised the battle cry of my generation: Whatever.
So, I play role playing games, read sci-fi, love the Sci-Fi channel (I am boycotting the new spelling, by the way), and have dozens of other geek-certified habits.
So, I'm allergic to everything growing outside, half the stuff they put in process foods, and have to purchase all detergents and soaps that are fragrance free and hypo-allergenic. I've learned to embrace who I am.
And who I am is tied to my geek-centricities. If you wanna talk about books, I'm very likely to ignore that I also enjoy Henry James and only talk about Orson Scott Card. It is this very geekiness that led me into two moments this past week.
Moment 1: As part of our Creativity Class in the MFA in CWPA program, we are trying to broaden our awareness, use our senses more keenly. This week, that included having my professor sniff my neck and then the class sniffing the necks of three of the students. Hey, they smelled good, like fabric softener, perfume, and--class favorite--booze.
But, being a geek, I was terrified I was going to sniff someone's neck and sneeze all over them. It wouldn't be the first time. Of course, people that I'm close enough to sniff are usually people that know me well enough to warn me off if they've spritzed on something floral or musky or...really anything at all.
I was all ready pretty tense because I don't like people invading my space. Maybe it was those early years in the Mid-west (ex-Navy brat, at your service). Maybe it is the plethora of childhood illnesses that have resulted in a horror of getting all up-close-and-personal with other peoples' flaking skin and virus shedding. Or perhaps some general geeky awkwardness I've yet to conquer. Either way, I was braced for bad things to happen.
In an anti-climactic end to this nerve-shattering moment: Nothing did. Happen, that is. And for that, I was thankful. And reminded I need to get out of my own head/comfort zone/apartment--whatever you want to call it---every now and again. So, good advice and, with no Benadryl needed, I can heed it without fear.
Moment 2: I came face to face with a book I had purchased on the way to the beach in August. The book: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Among my geeky habits is literature. All literature. I love to read. Leave a book nearby, I'm gonna swipe and peruse and probably read, rudely, while I'm supposed to be listening or interacting or some such other thing.(When once asked by my grandmother if I wouldn't rather spend time with her than read, I answered with confusion (sure, she was fun, but how could you compare the two?)--and what I would later learn was brutal honesty: "Read.")
Jane Austen is one of my favorites. When I initially saw this treatment of her book, I was taken aback, knee-jerk appalled. But, I picked it up and, in picking it up, skimmed captions of some of the pictures. The one that hooked me was Elizabeth decapitating Lydia. Because, if you've read the book, you can see where the elder Bennett would be tempted. Also, I'm a geek and zombie survival fiction--in any form--is not to be missed and neither are the nightmares it induces.
However, the book took me the entire week at the beach to read, I meant to pass it on to friends, having warned them that I laughed perhaps five times and fell asleep under the shore-sun more times than I care to remember. Instead, I crumpled it into a box that has only recently been emptied into our new apartment. And, now, it mocks me. If I had liked zombies less, I would never have read it. If it had been good, I wouldn't be ashamed that it exists next to my other books (and, you may have noticed, I don't have a lot of shame about what I read). But here I am with this awful book and a geeky desire to read what can only be its awful companion: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Creatures.
So, sure, I've embraced my geekiness, my clumsy run-into-walls, burn-myself-while-making-microwave-tea, have-an-asthma-attack-over-candles self. But, there are times, like this past week, when I wish I had a little more control over those geeky impulses.
Three Things I've Found This Week: Liz was correct about the Goodwill and Shoppers. Go. Be. Do. Spell check does not know how to spell Benadryl. Sad. And whispering "dirty" in class to whatever the professor says is not old, even if I am 26 and should know better.
Three Things I Still Need to Find: A third job. (I'm going on an interview for my second today.) The will to not purchase books that don't even look appealing. And, finally, the money to buy Star Trek, it comes out on the 17th.
So, I play role playing games, read sci-fi, love the Sci-Fi channel (I am boycotting the new spelling, by the way), and have dozens of other geek-certified habits.
So, I'm allergic to everything growing outside, half the stuff they put in process foods, and have to purchase all detergents and soaps that are fragrance free and hypo-allergenic. I've learned to embrace who I am.
And who I am is tied to my geek-centricities. If you wanna talk about books, I'm very likely to ignore that I also enjoy Henry James and only talk about Orson Scott Card. It is this very geekiness that led me into two moments this past week.
Moment 1: As part of our Creativity Class in the MFA in CWPA program, we are trying to broaden our awareness, use our senses more keenly. This week, that included having my professor sniff my neck and then the class sniffing the necks of three of the students. Hey, they smelled good, like fabric softener, perfume, and--class favorite--booze.
But, being a geek, I was terrified I was going to sniff someone's neck and sneeze all over them. It wouldn't be the first time. Of course, people that I'm close enough to sniff are usually people that know me well enough to warn me off if they've spritzed on something floral or musky or...really anything at all.
I was all ready pretty tense because I don't like people invading my space. Maybe it was those early years in the Mid-west (ex-Navy brat, at your service). Maybe it is the plethora of childhood illnesses that have resulted in a horror of getting all up-close-and-personal with other peoples' flaking skin and virus shedding. Or perhaps some general geeky awkwardness I've yet to conquer. Either way, I was braced for bad things to happen.
In an anti-climactic end to this nerve-shattering moment: Nothing did. Happen, that is. And for that, I was thankful. And reminded I need to get out of my own head/comfort zone/apartment--whatever you want to call it---every now and again. So, good advice and, with no Benadryl needed, I can heed it without fear.
Moment 2: I came face to face with a book I had purchased on the way to the beach in August. The book: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Among my geeky habits is literature. All literature. I love to read. Leave a book nearby, I'm gonna swipe and peruse and probably read, rudely, while I'm supposed to be listening or interacting or some such other thing.(When once asked by my grandmother if I wouldn't rather spend time with her than read, I answered with confusion (sure, she was fun, but how could you compare the two?)--and what I would later learn was brutal honesty: "Read.")
Jane Austen is one of my favorites. When I initially saw this treatment of her book, I was taken aback, knee-jerk appalled. But, I picked it up and, in picking it up, skimmed captions of some of the pictures. The one that hooked me was Elizabeth decapitating Lydia. Because, if you've read the book, you can see where the elder Bennett would be tempted. Also, I'm a geek and zombie survival fiction--in any form--is not to be missed and neither are the nightmares it induces.
However, the book took me the entire week at the beach to read, I meant to pass it on to friends, having warned them that I laughed perhaps five times and fell asleep under the shore-sun more times than I care to remember. Instead, I crumpled it into a box that has only recently been emptied into our new apartment. And, now, it mocks me. If I had liked zombies less, I would never have read it. If it had been good, I wouldn't be ashamed that it exists next to my other books (and, you may have noticed, I don't have a lot of shame about what I read). But here I am with this awful book and a geeky desire to read what can only be its awful companion: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Creatures.
So, sure, I've embraced my geekiness, my clumsy run-into-walls, burn-myself-while-making-microwave-tea, have-an-asthma-attack-over-candles self. But, there are times, like this past week, when I wish I had a little more control over those geeky impulses.
Three Things I've Found This Week: Liz was correct about the Goodwill and Shoppers. Go. Be. Do. Spell check does not know how to spell Benadryl. Sad. And whispering "dirty" in class to whatever the professor says is not old, even if I am 26 and should know better.
Three Things I Still Need to Find: A third job. (I'm going on an interview for my second today.) The will to not purchase books that don't even look appealing. And, finally, the money to buy Star Trek, it comes out on the 17th.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Getting Back Into A Routine
I started working out again yesterday. I am sore today. I was on the machines doing 10 reps each exercise and 50 or so ab crunches (one of those celeb crunches). I felt great! Got a lot of school work done afterwards.
Missed the writing exam today, kept hitting the snooze bar, haha!! Eh, it can wait this week. I'm taking 10 wk classes for my program and they end this weekend. I'm also playing catch-up so it's challenging, maybe better with the 15 wk courses but I'll get bored with them.
I wanted to do more cooking at home and show a picture or two of some easy recipes, I'll try that next week. Tabitha mentioned keeping peanut butter on hand. That helps if you want to make a sause out of it. Also dijon mustard, soy sauce, bbq sauce, ketchup, salt, pepper, butter, olive oil, jam can help with marinating in a sammich bag. I developed a cooking skill while being an undergraduate along the years in school. Simply watching Rachel Ray in the kitchen, Julia Childs, Sara Lee, and other chefs taught me a lesson but turned me an instant chef in the kitchen. Just one more thing, get a skillet or frying pan or a saucepan with the spatula for turning.
Finals week is here...I am back into a routine studying in the afternoon till evening. I'm light because I have only two classes. One presentation, two written exams, and an 8-10 page paper to write all due this weekend. I'm doing each classes each day, can't lose focus right now but I just might!
All that reading we did in the last months, are some of worth it? Do you ever question why? We don't have to read every word.
p.s. The roommate last week said Hi to me. What a surprise! I introduced myself too. I never know what happens now, just a caution. "Tread carefully!"
Missed the writing exam today, kept hitting the snooze bar, haha!! Eh, it can wait this week. I'm taking 10 wk classes for my program and they end this weekend. I'm also playing catch-up so it's challenging, maybe better with the 15 wk courses but I'll get bored with them.
I wanted to do more cooking at home and show a picture or two of some easy recipes, I'll try that next week. Tabitha mentioned keeping peanut butter on hand. That helps if you want to make a sause out of it. Also dijon mustard, soy sauce, bbq sauce, ketchup, salt, pepper, butter, olive oil, jam can help with marinating in a sammich bag. I developed a cooking skill while being an undergraduate along the years in school. Simply watching Rachel Ray in the kitchen, Julia Childs, Sara Lee, and other chefs taught me a lesson but turned me an instant chef in the kitchen. Just one more thing, get a skillet or frying pan or a saucepan with the spatula for turning.
Finals week is here...I am back into a routine studying in the afternoon till evening. I'm light because I have only two classes. One presentation, two written exams, and an 8-10 page paper to write all due this weekend. I'm doing each classes each day, can't lose focus right now but I just might!
All that reading we did in the last months, are some of worth it? Do you ever question why? We don't have to read every word.
p.s. The roommate last week said Hi to me. What a surprise! I introduced myself too. I never know what happens now, just a caution. "Tread carefully!"
Monday, November 9, 2009
A Poem
Breaking the womb with glee,
sprouting with brisk bark,
tasting the pungent silkiness of milk.
Skipping through the snapping fields of seasons,
savoring every scratch and sniff from prickly grasses,
finding riches when jumping in mucky rain puddles.
Laying in a thousand satin sheets,
still not grasping the true fruits of catching gold,
we only see light under the comfort of soil.
sprouting with brisk bark,
tasting the pungent silkiness of milk.
Skipping through the snapping fields of seasons,
savoring every scratch and sniff from prickly grasses,
finding riches when jumping in mucky rain puddles.
Laying in a thousand satin sheets,
still not grasping the true fruits of catching gold,
we only see light under the comfort of soil.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Goodwill, of all sorts
So I live on my own and my main expense, after internet, electricity, heat, wine, and dinner ingredients, is clothes. I've got a banged-up sewing machine and a number of spools of thread and even a few needles, when I can find them, and I'm capable of doing my own alterations to some extent and certainly my own repairs. Until a couple years ago, though, my clothes came from mall stores, and this meant every six months or so staring wide-eyed at some ludicrous demand like $30 for a pair of not-very-nice jeans or $19 for a T-shirt. I have two Tahari suits from Macy's for which I had to take a deep breath before handing over the credit card. Not only were the clothes overpriced, they weren't very interesting, or very well-made: I shopped at Forever 21 and Rave.
Then a friend pointed out that not only was there an excellent grocery store over in Locust Point which would save me driving out of the city to get food (or to the Ghetto Safeway by the train museum, an even less enticing prospect), there was also, right next to it, a Goodwill Superstore. "You should check in there," she said. "Sometimes they have good stuff."
She lied: they always have good stuff. Every weekend I go in there before my grocery shopping and it's a very rare Saturday that I don't walk out at least with a movie or a book, and generally at least three items of clothing. It's dreadfully luxurious to be able to do that, and probably very bad for my character, but I finally understand what retail therapy means.
Almost everything I wear comes from that Goodwill. Ann Taylor suits (one of these is white silk, the most absurdly impractical garment I have ever owned), two pairs of Armani trousers, Badgley Mischka trousers, innumerable Express and The Limited silk tops, Diesel jeans, corduroy pants of the sort that make your bottom look fantastic, structured Express Design Studio blazers, a Calvin Klein jacket, Mizrahi shoes, Nine West shoes and boots, Ann Taylor Loft flats, the list goes on. Rarely have I bought anything from there that individually cost more than $15, and the worst I've had to do to the clothes I buy there is dry-cleaning and lengthening the pants legs.
Now when I go to the mall it's rather enjoyable to look through the real stores and sporfle at the prices they're asking. After months of buying work clothes for $4.50 a pair of pants or shirt, cheaply made Career Separates costing $40 and up seem like daylight robbery. When I tell people I shop almost exclusively at Goodwill, they tend not to believe me; Goodwill is where you send your things that can't be repaired or that you've grown out of or that you've never really liked all that much but can't bear to throw away. It's more than that: as the ads all over the shop say, every purchase you make goes to help other people. You get gently used designer clothing at a breathtaking price and the whole community benefits.
So give Goodwill a try. The one I visit is in the Southside Market Place shopping center, next to Shoppers Food Warehouse; there's a bunch of others around the area, including a "boutique" Goodwill outlet in the ground floor of the University of Maryland BioPark garage. You never know what you'll find, but it's worth a look.
Then a friend pointed out that not only was there an excellent grocery store over in Locust Point which would save me driving out of the city to get food (or to the Ghetto Safeway by the train museum, an even less enticing prospect), there was also, right next to it, a Goodwill Superstore. "You should check in there," she said. "Sometimes they have good stuff."
She lied: they always have good stuff. Every weekend I go in there before my grocery shopping and it's a very rare Saturday that I don't walk out at least with a movie or a book, and generally at least three items of clothing. It's dreadfully luxurious to be able to do that, and probably very bad for my character, but I finally understand what retail therapy means.
Almost everything I wear comes from that Goodwill. Ann Taylor suits (one of these is white silk, the most absurdly impractical garment I have ever owned), two pairs of Armani trousers, Badgley Mischka trousers, innumerable Express and The Limited silk tops, Diesel jeans, corduroy pants of the sort that make your bottom look fantastic, structured Express Design Studio blazers, a Calvin Klein jacket, Mizrahi shoes, Nine West shoes and boots, Ann Taylor Loft flats, the list goes on. Rarely have I bought anything from there that individually cost more than $15, and the worst I've had to do to the clothes I buy there is dry-cleaning and lengthening the pants legs.
Now when I go to the mall it's rather enjoyable to look through the real stores and sporfle at the prices they're asking. After months of buying work clothes for $4.50 a pair of pants or shirt, cheaply made Career Separates costing $40 and up seem like daylight robbery. When I tell people I shop almost exclusively at Goodwill, they tend not to believe me; Goodwill is where you send your things that can't be repaired or that you've grown out of or that you've never really liked all that much but can't bear to throw away. It's more than that: as the ads all over the shop say, every purchase you make goes to help other people. You get gently used designer clothing at a breathtaking price and the whole community benefits.
So give Goodwill a try. The one I visit is in the Southside Market Place shopping center, next to Shoppers Food Warehouse; there's a bunch of others around the area, including a "boutique" Goodwill outlet in the ground floor of the University of Maryland BioPark garage. You never know what you'll find, but it's worth a look.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
I'm Just Not Feeling It !!!!
So in talking to co-worker Lu, she asked about today's blog. It was at that moment, I remembered I hadn't written anything ! I told her sometimes I just didn't think of anything until the last minute...10, 11 o'clock at night. So I asked her for a topic and she gave me I'm just not feeling it !!! So I'll just take a few minutes of your time and tell you all the things I'm not feeling right now....in no particular order !!
...like losing the 10 lbs the doctor said I should lose.
...more furlough days from our lovely Governor of Maryland.
...the fact my car acts like it don't want to go in reverse.
...the classes in my major being offered during hours I'm at work.
...the cash diet I'm on. I'm having credit card withdrawal !!!
...like listening to the citizens of Maryland complain about things out of my control.
I'M JUST NOT FEELING....
...like losing the 10 lbs the doctor said I should lose.
...more furlough days from our lovely Governor of Maryland.
...the fact my car acts like it don't want to go in reverse.
...the classes in my major being offered during hours I'm at work.
...the cash diet I'm on. I'm having credit card withdrawal !!!
...like listening to the citizens of Maryland complain about things out of my control.
...like buying a car. I don't even know where to start. But I know when to walk away if it don't sound right !
...like Christmas shopping.
...writing my two papers due next month.
...like Christmas shopping.
...writing my two papers due next month.
...turning on the heat. BGE is just robbing citizens of Maryland.
...the cost of cleaning up my laptop's hard drive and buying more memory. I want a MAC.
...the fact my cash diet is limiting my winter wardrobe.
...being in debt for the rest of my life...hence, the reason for my cash diet.
...hearing some my co-workers say I didn't mention them in my blog !!! Brenda, Lu, John, Charlotte, Darchelle, Steve, Kathie, Celestine, Pat all investigators...consider yourselves mentioned !!!
...the fact my illness has left so many disabled and unable to work. The discussion groups are more depressing to read than living with the illness itself.
...the rising interest rates on credit cards that caused me to go on my cash diet.
...did I mention I'm not feeling my cash diet !!!!!
...like pulling out what fall/winter clothes I have.
...the arrival of winter !!
...the arrival of snow !!
...the arrival of winter and snow !!! I mentioned that already didn't I !!!
...like running errands and taking care of business on Friday.
...seeing the cost of next semester's books.
...the idea I can't use this blogging experience as one of my five required participation projects for my major.
...seeing my dad's headstone.
...the thought my baby won't be my baby forever :(
...the cost of the work I want done to my front and back porch.
...next Halloween with the rude rug rats that came through this year; one telling me he don't like tootsie rolls. What nerve !
Well my husband is cooking dinner and it's just amount done and that I AM FEELING !!! So let's wrap this up, get it spell checked and scheduled for posting !
But one thing is certain despite all I'm not feeling, I always know that there is somebody who is feeling me and watching over me and making a way for me through all the negatives I allow in my life. (I signed a contract not to talk religion so you get the point !...but if I hadn't....!!!!)
Stay blessed and a little more uplifted than me right now until the next time you stop by for a little smile. Have a nice weekend everyone.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Halloween
Well, I figured I might as do a Halloween post as well.
This was my 6th Halloween in Baltimore over the past 7 years (I spent one in England). My first, during my Freshman year of college, was an epic binge drinking fest, that began on Wednesday and ended sometime on Sunday afternoon. I could not believe the number of people in Fells Point. I also remember being amazed that lingerie was, by itself, a costume. I also remember being far too young to actually go into the bars, but still managing to be downtown from 8 pm to close to 2 am and never being bored.
Now, years later, I found myself spending Friday at a house party, and heading to Fells on Saturday only to say I was there. I consumed all of two beers Saturday night, surely a Halloween record for restraint.
Some things were much improved. I drove myself and my friends, and of course knew of a place to find parking within 5 blocks of all the action. No more walking 2 miles, and no more fighting for over priced cabs. Definitely an improvement.
On arriving on the scene, we had a few ideas of where to go. We actually stopped off for food first. Pro-tip: Eat before the bar. The pizza place is much less crowded prior to 1 am.
After that, it started raining, so we clearly chose Tim's (or Shuckers or whatever it is called now) because they had a covered line. While standing in line, I realized how awesome it was not being 19 as we watched the gaggle of girls in front of us panic about the effectiveness of their fake IDs.
Then there was the obligatory "We aren't dating but I want to go to the bar with this guy because when he gets drunk I want him to hook up with me but I don't want to tell my friends thats why because they will judge me" issue. Of course all of her friends are happily almost to the front of this line, but Little Bo Peep has just bumped into Goose and Maverick, and Maverick says he is going to Reefers, you should come too. Whomp whomp, now Little Bo Peep does not want to leave her friends but also wants to play out this tired dating ritual called drunk hook ups until we have a fight about not dating. But of course she can't just say that to her friends. I don't complain when they finally leave though, we move up like 15 spots in line when the whole crowd leaves.
Then the Teletubby behind me starts making out with the sexy police officer. It was actually mostly funny though, he had some great lines like "Let's get out of here, all these people are distracting me from you." In an insane but hilarious twist of fate, as I was leaving that night, Mr. Teletubby was passed out in a planter holding onto a shrub. The bouncer asked me if I knew him, and I said no but he was making out with a pretty good looking girl before, maybe he is just tired. I am pretty sure I saw Tinky Winky carrying him home later.
Also, to the girl in the nude body suit crying to me to let her into the bar just so she could get her cell phone, I'm sorry, but like I kept trying to tell you, I don't work there. I wasn't saying you couldn't go in. I don't know why you were convinced I was, but I wasn't. I wasn't even standing in front of the door.
Other highlights of Halloween.
Not getting arrested or ticketed.
Gumby coming up to us and doing ridiculous dance moves all night long. For no reason, just because he was Gumby.
There was a couple dressed as Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, and both of them looked really good. Mostly because the woman fit the white dress and the guy literally looked like Joltin Joe himself.
Some kid dressed as a white rabbit. He also could not be removed from the dance floor. He was holding a box of Trix. He held that cereal box all night long. At one point I saw him with one arm around a female Jack Sparrow, one arm over his head with a box of Trix, getting down to N.W.A.
The most overdone Halloween costume is officially the Legends of the Hidden Temple. It's not original anymore. Unless you are J.D. Roth or Olmec. But if I see one more Blue Barracuda with a yellow skate helmet...
Another slightly overdone costume is Where's Waldo. The main problem is no one will ever do it better than my college roommate who sewed his own from scratch. He even took some paper, burned the edges, and then tied them in rolls for the scrolls. He also somehow found the exact backpack Waldo wears. But it was very funny when Mr. Waldo and Mrs. Waldo bumped into each other by the back bar and spontaneously began making out without saying a single word.
Watching Winnie the Pooh grind with every single girl he got near all night long. On one hand, very very funny. On the other hand, my childhood died a little each time I saw him.
Halloween Awards:
My "I Wish I Had As Much Fun As You" award goes to the random purple Disney princess. This girl was out with a bunch of her friends. She had a Purple Fancy Dress, lots of makeup, and a Tiara. I have no idea who she was supposed to be. In the line, while all her friends waited out of the rain, she danced non-stop for about 45 minutes. Once inside, she proceeded to literally run circles around the crowded bar doing ridiculous and nonsensical dances. I have no idea what she was on, but the only time she ever slowed down was to have a quick dance off with Oompa Loompa. Then it was back to running around/dancing. I have a feeling her legs are still sore from all that activity.
My "Just Because You Are Wearing A Mask Doesn't Mean You Can't Be Polite" Award goes to Mr. Insane Clown Posse Murder Bunny. This guy was in a bunny suit, covered in blood, with a bloody carrot and full face paint. He ran around giving everyone the middle finger all night long. Finally, his friend came up and explained that he was dressed like one of the I.C.P. guys, and that is what they did as part of their stage show. Still doesn't mean everyone else at the bar wants you running up to them sticking your finger in their faces. And I know you wouldn't behave like that if we could recognize your face.
And of course the "Relax Hon" Award goes to the lovely Ballerina and Rude Woman Wearing Black. First of all, both your costumes were terrible. But the line to get in sucks. It just does. For all of us. But there is no reason that you have to insist to be one in front of the other. The difference is about 30 seconds when you get to the door. But these girls had to go at it, finally resulting in Woman Wearing Black putting her arm in front of Ballerina to block her way. Ballerina then began using HER HEAD to head-butt Woman Wearing Black's ARM in an attempt to get her to move. Needless to say, I was so attracted to this display of lady like grace that had I been carrying a ring with me, I probably would have proposed to both of them on the spot.
This was my 6th Halloween in Baltimore over the past 7 years (I spent one in England). My first, during my Freshman year of college, was an epic binge drinking fest, that began on Wednesday and ended sometime on Sunday afternoon. I could not believe the number of people in Fells Point. I also remember being amazed that lingerie was, by itself, a costume. I also remember being far too young to actually go into the bars, but still managing to be downtown from 8 pm to close to 2 am and never being bored.
Now, years later, I found myself spending Friday at a house party, and heading to Fells on Saturday only to say I was there. I consumed all of two beers Saturday night, surely a Halloween record for restraint.
Some things were much improved. I drove myself and my friends, and of course knew of a place to find parking within 5 blocks of all the action. No more walking 2 miles, and no more fighting for over priced cabs. Definitely an improvement.
On arriving on the scene, we had a few ideas of where to go. We actually stopped off for food first. Pro-tip: Eat before the bar. The pizza place is much less crowded prior to 1 am.
After that, it started raining, so we clearly chose Tim's (or Shuckers or whatever it is called now) because they had a covered line. While standing in line, I realized how awesome it was not being 19 as we watched the gaggle of girls in front of us panic about the effectiveness of their fake IDs.
Then there was the obligatory "We aren't dating but I want to go to the bar with this guy because when he gets drunk I want him to hook up with me but I don't want to tell my friends thats why because they will judge me" issue. Of course all of her friends are happily almost to the front of this line, but Little Bo Peep has just bumped into Goose and Maverick, and Maverick says he is going to Reefers, you should come too. Whomp whomp, now Little Bo Peep does not want to leave her friends but also wants to play out this tired dating ritual called drunk hook ups until we have a fight about not dating. But of course she can't just say that to her friends. I don't complain when they finally leave though, we move up like 15 spots in line when the whole crowd leaves.
Then the Teletubby behind me starts making out with the sexy police officer. It was actually mostly funny though, he had some great lines like "Let's get out of here, all these people are distracting me from you." In an insane but hilarious twist of fate, as I was leaving that night, Mr. Teletubby was passed out in a planter holding onto a shrub. The bouncer asked me if I knew him, and I said no but he was making out with a pretty good looking girl before, maybe he is just tired. I am pretty sure I saw Tinky Winky carrying him home later.
Also, to the girl in the nude body suit crying to me to let her into the bar just so she could get her cell phone, I'm sorry, but like I kept trying to tell you, I don't work there. I wasn't saying you couldn't go in. I don't know why you were convinced I was, but I wasn't. I wasn't even standing in front of the door.
Other highlights of Halloween.
Not getting arrested or ticketed.
Gumby coming up to us and doing ridiculous dance moves all night long. For no reason, just because he was Gumby.
There was a couple dressed as Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, and both of them looked really good. Mostly because the woman fit the white dress and the guy literally looked like Joltin Joe himself.
Some kid dressed as a white rabbit. He also could not be removed from the dance floor. He was holding a box of Trix. He held that cereal box all night long. At one point I saw him with one arm around a female Jack Sparrow, one arm over his head with a box of Trix, getting down to N.W.A.
The most overdone Halloween costume is officially the Legends of the Hidden Temple. It's not original anymore. Unless you are J.D. Roth or Olmec. But if I see one more Blue Barracuda with a yellow skate helmet...
Another slightly overdone costume is Where's Waldo. The main problem is no one will ever do it better than my college roommate who sewed his own from scratch. He even took some paper, burned the edges, and then tied them in rolls for the scrolls. He also somehow found the exact backpack Waldo wears. But it was very funny when Mr. Waldo and Mrs. Waldo bumped into each other by the back bar and spontaneously began making out without saying a single word.
Watching Winnie the Pooh grind with every single girl he got near all night long. On one hand, very very funny. On the other hand, my childhood died a little each time I saw him.
Halloween Awards:
My "I Wish I Had As Much Fun As You" award goes to the random purple Disney princess. This girl was out with a bunch of her friends. She had a Purple Fancy Dress, lots of makeup, and a Tiara. I have no idea who she was supposed to be. In the line, while all her friends waited out of the rain, she danced non-stop for about 45 minutes. Once inside, she proceeded to literally run circles around the crowded bar doing ridiculous and nonsensical dances. I have no idea what she was on, but the only time she ever slowed down was to have a quick dance off with Oompa Loompa. Then it was back to running around/dancing. I have a feeling her legs are still sore from all that activity.
My "Just Because You Are Wearing A Mask Doesn't Mean You Can't Be Polite" Award goes to Mr. Insane Clown Posse Murder Bunny. This guy was in a bunny suit, covered in blood, with a bloody carrot and full face paint. He ran around giving everyone the middle finger all night long. Finally, his friend came up and explained that he was dressed like one of the I.C.P. guys, and that is what they did as part of their stage show. Still doesn't mean everyone else at the bar wants you running up to them sticking your finger in their faces. And I know you wouldn't behave like that if we could recognize your face.
And of course the "Relax Hon" Award goes to the lovely Ballerina and Rude Woman Wearing Black. First of all, both your costumes were terrible. But the line to get in sucks. It just does. For all of us. But there is no reason that you have to insist to be one in front of the other. The difference is about 30 seconds when you get to the door. But these girls had to go at it, finally resulting in Woman Wearing Black putting her arm in front of Ballerina to block her way. Ballerina then began using HER HEAD to head-butt Woman Wearing Black's ARM in an attempt to get her to move. Needless to say, I was so attracted to this display of lady like grace that had I been carrying a ring with me, I probably would have proposed to both of them on the spot.
Ramen Noodles, Peanut Butter, and Bargain Bins
It's that time of year again-- cool weather, changing leaves. All the signs are there, like the funnel cloud of a tornado or all the animals hightailing it into the hills: It's mid-terms and I'm broke.
I had forgotten this part of college, blocked it out of my mind while telling people how I loved school and my Master's Degree would help me get a better job. I think, for the first time undergraduates out there, this is a rite of passage. There's something a little romantic about heating up your Ramen noodles in the microwave and not having enough money to dry your clothes. You can bond with undergrads across the nation, swapping war stories of surviving with lint in your pockets and a can of peaches in syrup. (Not to say that it doesn't suck. But, again, when you leave you will wear your years of malnourishment as a badge of honor.)
However, when you are 26 and the only thing in your shopping cart is a jar of off-brand peanut butter, some saltines, and an industrial sized box of Ramem....Yeah, the reactions are a little bit different. Plus, you're in classes with real adults--the ones with jobs and kids and mortgages. They can afford Starbucks everyday and frivolous winter accoutrement like gloves.
However, since I have been down this road before I have learned that there are things that I can get by without. Yes, the obvious, i.e. TV and internet and using a dryer. But, when you are really bare bonesing it,you've got to get creative.
Each purchase of food becomes vital and you must answer a series of questions before placing the item in the cart.
Questions to ask: How long will it last? Can I use it at every meal? (Peanut butter being the standard by which all other foodstuffs fall short. It has protein. On toast it becomes breakfast, on celery a snack, between two slices of bread lunch...and dinner...and another snack.)Does it add to my feeling full in anyway? (And so most condiments fall by the wayside.)
You'll notice nutritional value is not on the list. That was my mistake as an undergraduate, now I check that out and, if I'm feeling too guilty about the Chef Boyardee I bought for a buck a can at Dollar General, I toss an apple onto the other groceries. (Ultimately, I think my pets are eating better than I am right now.)
Always, always check out bargain bins. So, you've never heard of the movie Shark Eats Man, it has a catchy title and is on sale for $1.50. (Although, okay, we now have these fancy dollar-a-night DVD rental machines. Talk about havin' it easy.) Still, such movies can make great gifts if your struggles continue through the holidays.
Do all homework in the 24 hour computer lab--saves on electricity in your own home.
You don't really need conditioner, or shampooo for that matter. Wash your hair with your body soap, sure it'll be a little stiff and dry, but what comes first, folks? What comes first?
New shoes? Don't be silly. Duct tape. (The answer to all your fashion and decorating needs.)
And, of course, scour the Daily Digest for food give aways. If a club/event/department is going to hand out free pizza, there is no reason not to jump on that. And elbow other people aside, discreetly, so you can get three slices.
Of course, this semester seems worse than others I've weathered. A lot of the grad. students I know that moved to Baltimore are struggling to find jobs and we're all turning back to our dark days of food service and retail. And even that is no guarantee.
But, hey, I hear the recession is over.
Things I've found this week: I can burn myself cooking anything. And I use the term cooking very loosely. (The first time I was making mac'n'cheese, the second time I was making tea in the microwave.) Mish-mashed meat products like bologna and sausage begin to blur together if eaten too often.
Things I still need to find: A third found thing. Someone willing to fund my book habit and my eating habit. And the hours I spent watching Magnolia.
I had forgotten this part of college, blocked it out of my mind while telling people how I loved school and my Master's Degree would help me get a better job. I think, for the first time undergraduates out there, this is a rite of passage. There's something a little romantic about heating up your Ramen noodles in the microwave and not having enough money to dry your clothes. You can bond with undergrads across the nation, swapping war stories of surviving with lint in your pockets and a can of peaches in syrup. (Not to say that it doesn't suck. But, again, when you leave you will wear your years of malnourishment as a badge of honor.)
However, when you are 26 and the only thing in your shopping cart is a jar of off-brand peanut butter, some saltines, and an industrial sized box of Ramem....Yeah, the reactions are a little bit different. Plus, you're in classes with real adults--the ones with jobs and kids and mortgages. They can afford Starbucks everyday and frivolous winter accoutrement like gloves.
However, since I have been down this road before I have learned that there are things that I can get by without. Yes, the obvious, i.e. TV and internet and using a dryer. But, when you are really bare bonesing it,you've got to get creative.
Each purchase of food becomes vital and you must answer a series of questions before placing the item in the cart.
Questions to ask: How long will it last? Can I use it at every meal? (Peanut butter being the standard by which all other foodstuffs fall short. It has protein. On toast it becomes breakfast, on celery a snack, between two slices of bread lunch...and dinner...and another snack.)Does it add to my feeling full in anyway? (And so most condiments fall by the wayside.)
You'll notice nutritional value is not on the list. That was my mistake as an undergraduate, now I check that out and, if I'm feeling too guilty about the Chef Boyardee I bought for a buck a can at Dollar General, I toss an apple onto the other groceries. (Ultimately, I think my pets are eating better than I am right now.)
Always, always check out bargain bins. So, you've never heard of the movie Shark Eats Man, it has a catchy title and is on sale for $1.50. (Although, okay, we now have these fancy dollar-a-night DVD rental machines. Talk about havin' it easy.) Still, such movies can make great gifts if your struggles continue through the holidays.
Do all homework in the 24 hour computer lab--saves on electricity in your own home.
You don't really need conditioner, or shampooo for that matter. Wash your hair with your body soap, sure it'll be a little stiff and dry, but what comes first, folks? What comes first?
New shoes? Don't be silly. Duct tape. (The answer to all your fashion and decorating needs.)
And, of course, scour the Daily Digest for food give aways. If a club/event/department is going to hand out free pizza, there is no reason not to jump on that. And elbow other people aside, discreetly, so you can get three slices.
Of course, this semester seems worse than others I've weathered. A lot of the grad. students I know that moved to Baltimore are struggling to find jobs and we're all turning back to our dark days of food service and retail. And even that is no guarantee.
But, hey, I hear the recession is over.
Things I've found this week: I can burn myself cooking anything. And I use the term cooking very loosely. (The first time I was making mac'n'cheese, the second time I was making tea in the microwave.) Mish-mashed meat products like bologna and sausage begin to blur together if eaten too often.
Things I still need to find: A third found thing. Someone willing to fund my book habit and my eating habit. And the hours I spent watching Magnolia.
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