Erin's Blog

My Addiction

2005-11-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

It’s official. I have an addiction problem. I just can’t help myself. It’s so easy to get. It makes me feel better when I’m in a bad mood. When I don’t want to do school work, I turn to it. Most of all, I enjoy sharing it with my friends. Yes . . . Sex and the City is my form of crack.

The show is so smart! Not only did it challenge what can be shown on television with its sexual content, but also it’s so witty! The dialogue is written so well and the audience really gets a feel for whom the characters are. Before you know it, you’re hooked. A strong attachment to the girls and their relationships with each other and with men quickly develops. Suddenly you find yourself feeling for them and relating to them. The character development that occurs throughout the six seasons is sensational and by the end they are completely different women: older and wiser. Other than all the expensive shoes and extravagant outings, it’s so real! Who hasn’t wondered where prince charming is, been skeptical of men, yearned for great sex, and fallen for a man just like Big?

I realize this sounds a little crazy. It’s just a television show, these women aren’t real! But they are real. I have several Charlottes, Mirandas, Samanthas and Carries in my life. I’ve always been envious of the friendship the women on the show share. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I really began to appreciate the friendships I have with women. They are so special, empathetic, and tender. My girlfriends have become a part of my soul. The few that come to mind may not even know they have this special place in my heart, but their role in my life is precious.

I will continue to watch seasons one through six of Sex and the City over and over and over again (and will be attending the guest appearance of Candace Bushnell here at USC next week!). I will laugh and I will cry every time. It serves as my therapy and, because of its deeper meaning, enlivens my day . . . my heart . . . my soul.

The Best Costume Ever

2005-10-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

John, Will, and John Michael a.k.a. the 1900 boys

I was told I did a fantastic impersonation of Will. And I definitely chose the right outfit for the job.

Last night was our graduate programs first Halloween costume party of the weekend. Hosted by the 1900 boys (that’s their address) and fabulously decorated by the wonderful SPA social committee (of which I am a proud member), the party was filled with wonderful costumes: zorro, the three blind mice, Dolly Parton, and even a shacker from South Tower. The hit costume of the night however was one that two girlfriends and I had been planning for a month. We went as the 1900 boys.

These three guys are good friends of ours and have distinctive personality traits and looks. Rachel, Stef, and I each picked a guy to impersonate. After weeks of brainstorming and anticipation, the day of the party finally arrived. Yesterday afternoon we sneakily ransacked their house for articles of clothing we could use as our costumes. We dressed, danced, and behaved like them the entire night. I’ve never had so much fun with a costume. The guys just about died when we walked in the door wearing their clothes (I now know why guys carry so much around in their pockets: there’s so much room!). The costumes were a huge success! I love Halloween!

Where's All the Romance?

2005-10-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

“There is a time of year in New York when, even before the first leaf falls, you can feel the seasons click. The air is crisp, the summer is gone, and for the first night in a long time, you need a blanket on your bed. It brings up other needs as well . . .” ~Sex and the City.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about romance. It seems to be hidden . . . or missing. Unless watching movies or television, romance is a mysterious occurrence. What happened to romance? Dancing to “Moon River,” breakfast in bed, a flower on your pillow, a long goodbye at the airport. Maybe “what happened” is the wrong question, because I believe it’s out there. But where is it?

I think romance is hidden because people are afraid of it. Romantic gestures from women make them look obsessed and desperate. Men seem turned off by bold actions from women, hence women are afraid to do them. Afraid to tell men we’re interested, afraid to lean closer to seal the kiss, and afraid to say anything remotely sappy.

Romantic gestures from men make them look soft and vulnerable. Men don’t want to admit their feelings. Heaven forbid they should have loving feelings for one special woman and actually express them.

Yet I think men might actually have a better grasp on romance than women. It just takes them longer to understand it. Younger men have more fear and often think romance requires a large (a.k.a expensive) kind of gesture. Older men (and by old, I actually mean as young as 26ish) understand romance better. They aren’t afraid of it anymore and realize what romance means.

Yet, while taking all this time to figure it out, have women turned cynical? If a 26 year old woman receives a romantic gesture from a 26 year old man, will she furrow her eyebrows and wonder “what’s gotten into him?” The answer is probably yes if she’s known this man for a long time and was always wondering why he couldn’t get a clue. Now all of sudden he has feelings?

Sometimes I find myself becoming cynical and I scream “Wait! It’s too early! You’re too young to become cynical and give up on romance!” I won’t give up. It’s out there. I’ve seen it. I’ve even felt it. One day I’ll find it again and it will be better than ever.

Return to the Lone Star State

2005-10-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

I went to TX this past weekend for TCU’s homecoming. We had fall break at USC and I figured this would be the only homecoming where I’m guaranteed to see a lot of people I know. I can’t tell you how much I miss good Mexican food and good Margaritas……and the people.

My time here at USC has been phenomenal and I have met some great people that I know I will be friends with for a long time. I have learned about koozies and graposas, attended a trucker hat party (where my friend dressed me up like I was his Barbie, hence the photo below), experienced SEC football, laughed at John Michael Pantlik’s dancing, worn sunglasses at night, and learned that the best way to avoid drama is to go home early and only confide in those you trust.

I was worried that going back to Fort Worth would make it hard to return to Columbia, but it didn’t. I was excited to return to my apartment and catch up with my friends here. I just realized that this is the way it is now. In a lot of ways, it sucks. Those friends in TX that I used to spend time with daily are people I will only get to see every couple of months now. But the anticipation of seeing them is exciting also. It’s what you have to look forward to. I also know now not to set expectations so high because you never know what is going to happen. I wish I had had more time with people this past weekend or been brave enough to make a bold gesture with that guy. But there’s always next time...

Crazy Times at Carolina

2005-10-17T23:27:00.000-07:00

Who knew that having a trucker hat theme party would be such a success? A week ago everyone was wearing a trucker hat at DD&T’s house. We were thuggin it out to Mike Jones, playing beer pong, and acting crazy. And the week before I laughed so hard at JMP that my ribs hurt the next day. Who knew Knock-Knock could be such a fun place? Good old Columbia. It’s never dull.

Pet Peeves

2005-09-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was asked about my pet peeves. At the time I could only think of one, but now that I’ve had some time to think about it (and for some of the pet peeves to happen) I’ve accumulated a list.

First I felt the need to really consider what “pet peeve” means. There are things that creep me out (like being barefoot outdoors or in public places) and bother me (the word “retarded”), but I wouldn’t consider these pet peeves. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a pet peeve as “something about which one frequently complains; a particular personal vexation.” So lately I've been paying extra close attention and anytime something has happened that made me sigh with annoyance, I added it to my mental list of pet peeves.

The list is fairly short, but I’m only going to entertain you with the top two. My number one pet peeve is when I make an effort with someone, but they don’t make an effort with me. When I make an effort to keep in touch with someone, get together socially, write an e-mail, or place a phone call, yet that person does not respond in any way, that drives me crazy. Whether this avoidance is intentional or not doesn’t matter. It will still drive me crazy. For one, it’s just plain lack of common courtesy. Secondly, it gives the impression (whether correct or not) that the person considers themself superior. It only makes it worse when people are oblivious to their rudeness or try to hide their dismissal by saying things like “hi stranger” and “why didn’t you talk to me when I saw you the other day?” I didn’t talk to you because you have not acknowledged my effort!!!! Hello?!?!? There are two people to every relationship! And the funny part is that I think people assume I will continue to try and get in touch with them . . . but I won't. I get so fed up that I eliminate them from my life (yikes! that sounds so drastic) until they make an effort with me. This pet peeve actually leads to other pet peeves such as people who think they are the only ones who are busy . . . but I won’t get into that.

My second pet peeve is people who stand too close to me in lines. Standing close to me in line will not get you to the front faster. It will not make the line move any quicker. All it does is invade my space and cause me to move closer to the person in front of me or stand to the side, slightly outside the line. Back off.

I actually find pet peeves pretty amusing. I recently heard of someone doing an icebreaker where students shared things they disliked instead of things they liked and apparently it stirred up lots of good conversation. When my pet peeves happen, they don’t make me angry. At the most, I roll my eyes or offer up an annoyed sigh, but I usually find myself feeling sorry for the other person because they are so oblivious to their own actions (this leads to slight amusement). But just to be safe, respond to my messages, return my phone calls, make an EFFORT and stand at least a foot away from me in line.

My eye has a sty. Why oh why?

2005-09-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

(Don’t worry. This isn’t another rhyming poem.)

Most of the time you can’t even tell there’s anything wrong with my eye. But I most certainly can!!! I wake up in the morning and one eye is swollen half shut. I look like the cartoon hunchback from Notre Dame. It hurts when I blink and laugh hard (I guess because my eyes scrunch up). I’ve been tending to it, trying to make it go away because, frankly, it’s unattractive. I blame this all on the no soap camping trip.

Last night the local newspaper came over to my apartment and took pictures for the food article they interviewed me for. The food was the focus, but they did take a couple of me. At that point, my eye had gone down and wasn’t as noticeable . . . unless I smiled. Then it was very obvious one eye was open wider than the other. This morning it was puffy again and tomorrow night we are all going dancing. I sure hope my eye goes down because I think it might affect my dance moves and that just won’t do.

(By the way: This entry is meant to be funny because of its satirical dramatization (not an example of high maintenance!). This week has been fabulous and the sty has really been an odd form of entertainment for myself and the wonderful people I interact with daily.)

The South* Lesson #5

2005-09-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

Don’t go anywhere without a koozie. I’ve never met such koozie obsessed people. When drinking a beer at the house, use a koozie. I had people over to my apartment and they were shocked when they learned I didn’t have a koozie for them to use. I think it actually dampened their drinking experience that evening. One of my friends has a basket full of koozies in his room. He must have at least 50! When we go out to bars, people have koozies in their back pocket. After they order a beer from the bar, they whip out the koozies and use them to snuggle their brusky. And heaven forbid you forget to bring your koozie to the tailgate.

I’ve also never seen so many sunglasses with the loop around your neck. I don’t even know what these are called or if they have a specific name. These sunglasses have a strap on them, so when you take them off they can just hang on your kneck. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this before, but these sunglasses are everywhere here!

*The South refers to my experiences in South Carolina. I, in no way, am a reliable source for the entire South and am unaware whether or not my experiences are representative of this unique section of our glorious nation.

Tents, Smores, and Deer Oh My!

2005-09-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

Oh the joys of camping

Eighteen HESA students piled in cars
And drove to a place where one can see all the stars.
Morrow Mountain Park (in the other Carolina)
Provided a peaceful campground for a little retreat-a.

The weekend was filled with croquet, mafia, and King Mao
(I’m excited a few know how to play that game now)!
Some hiked, some got tan, and others canoed
We slept in tents and ate campfire food.

There was no drama, not even a pout.
However there was a gender-neutral scout!

The evenings were filled with icebreakers galore.
Could we possibly resemble student affairs any more?
A campfire and smores made everyone calm,
Until a ferocious deer came along!

These deer did not fear us. They wanted to join in the fun,
But the rest of us acted on our instincts to run!
All but the brave LWT
Who crazily ran towards them ‘til they began to flee.

In the end, we said goodbye to the bees and the deer,
The hotdogs, hamburgers, and scary little girls we camped near.
We returned to soap, mattresses, and a deerless existence.
But don’t get me wrong, this camping trip was worth traveling the distance!

Gamecock Football

2005-09-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

My first experience with Gamecock football was very exciting!!! I tailgated, attended the game, and yelled "go 'cocks" with pride. Gamecock fans are pretty intense. Having attending a Penn State football game, I've had experience with dedicated fans, RV tailgating, and a stadium full of school colors, but Gamecock fans are something else! Columbia turns into a mad house as thousands of cars invade the city ready to tailgate five hours before the game. Every car has flags hanging out the windows and convenience stores drop their beer prices to accommodate the fans.

Our graduate program has a designated tailgate spot and my car somehow became the designated tailgate car for the season. We loaded a grill, tent, table, tons of food, and six people (don't ask where they sat. It wasn't pretty, yet hilarious) and headed down to the stadium. After a couple hours of thrilling tailgating, we followed the throngs of people into the stadium. As one group yelled "GAME," we immediately responded with "COCKS!" There was an even mix of garnet apparel and . . . cocktail dresses? Although I was used to TCU's odd habit of dressing up for football games, this was much more extreme. Apparently dressing in your finest (plus flip flops) in 100 degree heat is a southern tradition.

We made our way up the rows of seats and crammed our way into the student section. The roar of the crowd, music from the band, and drunken undergrad debauchery nearby made for a crazy first half! After standing and sweating for hours, we called it quits at half time and went to an equally exciting sports bar to watch the remainder of the Gamecock victory. This first game was so exciting and I'm already looking forward to the next one! Go Gamecocks!

P.S. TCU BEAT OU!!!!

High Maintenance

2005-08-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

Me, high maintenance? No way . . . right? I've always prided myself on being laid back and flexible. I've always been that girl that can hang out with the guys because I'm . . . what? Definitely not high maintenance, right? I've recently been labeled with this dreaded term. These people have only known me for a couple of months and they already think I'm high maintenance. That can't be good!

Here's the story: after a long night of socializing with friends, a couple of us decided to stay over at 1900 on the couches (1900 is one of our regular hang out houses). I got myself some water and then went on a serious hunt for chap stick. The two things I need before going to bed: water and chap stick. Somehow this warrented me a high maintenance label. In class a couple of weeks later, we were asked to provide an example of a time when we felt someone had misread us. I gave the water and chap stick story and got the expected laughs, but then one of my friends chimed in with "high maintenance? Yeah, I can see that." Whether he just wanted to get a rise out of me or not . . . I don't know, but this greatly distressed me.

I have been tempted to ask my friends who know me better what they think, but I'm not sure I want to know what they will say. Plus, if someone asks if they are high maintenance, doesn't that just make them seem even more so?

So what if I know what I want? There's no harm in that. I once heard, "high maintenance is just a fancy way of saying high quality." I'm sticking with that.

Culture Shock

2005-08-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I experienced the culture shock of attending a large university. Even though I have been here for two months and classes started last week, yesterday was the day. I tried to accomplish several errands in the student union building, but could not complete anything due to long lines (I had a limited amount of time). That's when it hit me; my undergrad university spoiled me.

At TCU there were never any problems with parking. Sure we complained about it all the time, but that'’s because TCU is spoiled. At USC, the distant, gravel lot, a ride on the shuttle bus, and a sweaty walk is the best option. Don'’t even try to park close to your building and don'’t even think about paying the meters all day.

Football games were free for TCU students and only required your student ID (even alumni flash their ID to get in free). Of course, many students chose to tailgate in the parking lot instead of entering the stadium and cheering on their team, but that's because TCU is spoiled. Yesterday, the line to pick up student tickets was never less than 100 people long. After paying a university fee, USC students swipe their ID and are handed a ticket . . . if they get there in time. The Columbia campus has over 25,500 students and only 10,000 student tickets. That means over half of the student body may not be able to attend the game! I lucked out today, caught the line at its shortest and only had to wait thirty minutes (plus McFly and Annahita entertained me).

I don't know where all these 18-22 year olds came from, but they are everywhere. Luckily, TCU taught me to love them. I'm sure I will grow to love this big campus atmosphere, too. Hopefully the huge football game won't scare me off. It won't be the same without tailgating at the Stadler's, lots of purple, and Pi Kapps leaning over the rail to scream at the visiting team, but I'’m sure it will still be quite the experience!

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

2005-08-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

Left to right: Will, Michelle, me, Annahita, and John

Making new friends at 22 is an interesting experience. When we were kids, we could ring the doorbell of the girl up the street and ask if she could come out to play. One tree climb and bike ride later and the friendship was solid. As a teenager much of our time was spent trying to be "cool" and fit in. If you did what everyone else did, your chances of eating lunch alone were slimmer. In college, friendship is about the people who take the time to get to know you beyond the keg parties and late study nights.

As a graduate student in a program that is known for outgoing personalities and social people out the wazoo, making friends is a whole new ball game. I feel like a freshman in college again. It’s right before classes start, everyone is new to everyone, and the socializing never ends. Even if you are exhausted, you go out because you know this is the time to make friends. You want to be a regular so if there’s a time when you aren’t around someone will say, “hey where’s that person? Why aren’t they here? Call them.”

Since it’s all new, everyone has their guard up. We're all trying to get to know one another, yet at the same time no one knows who to trust. Person A wants to believe that Person B will be their trustworthy friend. But who knows? Should Person A really confide in Person B? Don't we all automatically trust people until they prove us wrong? Distrust is the product of betrayal; rarely do we begin a relationship not trusting someone. So when meeting new people, is there any other option than to trust them until they have given you a reason not to? I suppose one could choose to not open up to anyone, but then you aren't establishing any genuine friendships. Quite the dilemma.

Also, flirting is at an obnoxious level. Everyone flirts with everyone else. If Boy and Girl A are flirting, but are interrupted by Girl Bs flirting.....Girl A now hates Girl B. Not to mention, in a graduate program of 80 people with at least half socializing regularly, should one really get involved with someone in the program (picture a Frog Camp staff with just 40 very social people and that's the kind of circle I'm hanging with)? Is this wise? Especially in a society where dating is dead. Girl B doesn't know if Boy has the intentions of dating her like a gentleman or if she's just something new and exciting for behind closed doors. Or is all this flirting just caused from being in a new environment and wanting some comfort or familiarity?

Luckily, perks to making new friends seem to outweigh all the scary stuff above. All my idiosyncrasies that my long-term friends were used to are constantly brought to my attention (such as I make lots of sound effects and play with my earrings a lot). In a way it helps me get to know myself all over again. New friends offer new possibilities and chances to grow. Overall, this is very exciting. It will be interesting to see how it all turns out in five months or so. Hopefully I won’t witness much more public gossiping (calling someone over and whispering in their ear in front of a large group of people? Who does that? Have we not moved on from there?) and will find some true blue friends who will make the next two years the best time of my life.

The South* - Lesson #4

2005-07-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

South Carolina has a no free pour law which means that bartenders can't pick up a large liquor bottle and estimate the amount added to a mixed drink. Instead, all the bars have mini liquor bottles. When you order a drink, bartenders reach for a mini bottle and add it to your drink. It's so funny to see a bar stacked with all these 3 inch tall bottles. While this law seems wasteful (it costs more for liquor companies to produce these little bottles), it does prevent bartenders from watering down your drinks. Oh well. From what I understand, SC just voted to change the law anyway.

Also, you can't buy liquor after 7pm (and not at all on Sunday). There's a 7 to 7 law. Good thing liquor can be bought at 7am, but not at 7:30pm. Apparently the law used to be sunup to sundown, which resulted in different times everyday. Kind of crazy.

*The South refers to my experiences in South Carolina. I, in no way, am a reliable source for the entire South and am unaware whether or not my experiences are representative of this unique section of our glorious nation.

The South* - Lesson #3

2005-07-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

Southerners act different, but I've always found it funny when being "southern" is an explanation for ones actions. I have overheard the following conversation multiple times:
Person 1: Is he gay?
Person 2: No. He's southern.

What? Apparently southern men are known to be more feminine in manner and speech. Learn something new everyday.

*The South refers to my experiences in South Carolina. I, in no way, am a reliable source for the entire South and am unaware whether or not my experiences are representative of this unique section of our glorious nation.

Correction

2005-07-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

I have a correction to my previous post. Apparently it's not called a roach in South Carolina. It's called a Palmetto Bug. Palmetto State, with Palmetto trees and the Palmetto bug. Which if you ask me, is a bull shit fancy name for a roach.

Well the USC Admission office has bats. Ha!

Eeek! Independence

2005-07-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

I love living by myself. Coming home at the end of the day without having to talk to anybody and avoiding embarrassment if I mess up in the kitchen are just a couple of the highlights. Don't get me wrong. I loved my roommates from the past four years. They were fun and comforting; but that time has passed and I have always been anxious for independence.

But last night I had to kill a roach. All of a sudden independence wasn't looking so hot. This may not seem like a big deal to some people, but it's a big deal to me. I am terrified of roaches. Always have been. Always will be. As soon as I see one my heart beat quickens, sweat forms, and I begin to panic. The closer I have to get to it, the more likely tears are to well up in my eyes. I don't know what it is....the creepy way they crawl, those awful legs, the shell on its back, that odd nose they make as they move....my skin is crawling just thinking about it.

I debated going across the hall and asking the cute, unavailable guy who lives there to kill it for me or calling my new SC friend, but that would be letting the roach win and defeat my new independent self. So I grabbed some bug spray and I sprayed him as he ran around my apartment. He wouldn't die!!! He ran everywhere. Across the carpet, along the wall, up the CD tower, down the CD tower, back up the CD tower, around the CD tower, back down the CD tower, and across the floor again. He finally slowed down and gave in to the poisonous fumes. Part of me felt bad, but that little booger needed to go.

I spent the rest of the evening on high alert for possible family members of the deceased. Once I decided to crawl into bed even the sheets brushing up against my skin prevented me from falling asleep. I still love my independence, but maybe it's good to have an occasional reminder that relying on people isn't a weakness. Sometimes you need someone to lean on and kill roaches for you.

Life After Pete's

2005-07-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

I never thought I would find a musical performance at a bar as exciting and energetic as Pete's Dueling Piano bar. But I have. McFly is a mostly 80s cover band that travels around the SC, NC, GA, FL area. I saw them on Friday night and was delighted with their performance and the thought of seeing them often throughout the next two years. I knew (and loved) every song they played (lots of the same songs they play at Pete's). The lead singer interacted with the audience and jumped up on tables to belt out a song. The band dressed 80s and acted kind of 80s too. Although, I was a little turned off by the guitarist with the unbuttoned shirt who visibly wiped the sweat off his hairy chest throughout the show, I can't wait to see them again!

McFly lowered my guard and I grooved and danced all night long. I had only known my new SC friends for a couple of days, but McFly brought out the jitterbug in me. I hadn't felt this free in weeks. Being in a strange new place with new people....you try to act like yourself, but then you realize that without the people you love around....you just don't feel like yourself. A year ago, Pete's was the producer of summer romances, dirty dancing, and some of the best stories of my college career. Going out in SC, the focus is getting to know people, introducing them to my idiosyncrasies, and making sure I don'’t have too many drinks in front of my new friends.

Now that I have found a band that offers evenings filled with good music and good times, I realize that it's only a matter of time before I make good friends too. My heart will forever belong to Pete's and my TX loves, but there's room for all this good new stuff too.

http://mightymcflyrocks.com/

The Unfamiliar

2005-07-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

So I’ve been in SC for two weeks now. My apartment is great. The weather is nice, with the exception of the humidity and an abnormal amount of rain. My job is good. The people are really nice, I have my own desk, bulletin board, and phone number. The people are great.

But gee, things here are different. I knew they would be, but sometimes it surprises me. I’ve only seen one confederate flag thank goodness. But I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say horrible things. After being around people at TCU that share similar views as me (More Than Words), being thrown into an environment where people don’t care what comes out of their mouths……it leaves me a little stunned sometimes.

These people don’t know anything about me. How do they know that their comments aren’t hurting my feelings?

And what kind of woman says “that woman was ugly as homemade sin?” Have you no class?!?!?!?!?!

The South* - Lesson #2

2005-07-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

People here don't know real Mexican food. Sadly for them, they believe a restaurant called Monterey's is good Mexican food. No air conditioning, limited menu, no sour cream sauce (what????), store bought tortillas....but they make up for all of this with Margaritas that will kick your butt. D.A. can give a much better recount of this story.

*The South refers to my experiences in South Carolina. I, in no way, am a reliable source for the entire South and am unaware whether or not my experiences are representative of this unique section of our glorious nation.

The South* - Lesson #1

2005-07-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today I spent 10 minutes listening to a southern woman talk about this "fat" family that pissed her off at the Piggly Wiggly. Apparently this "fat" man had "obnoxiously obese" children and they were buying lots of Strawberry shortcakes. Why they pissed her off isn't really important because I think the real reason is the fact that the children "were the fattest children" she had ever seen and it was a "sin" for them to be that way.

Where am I?

*The South refers to my experiences in South Carolina. I, in no way, am a reliable source for the entire South and am unaware whether or not my experiences are representative of this unique section of our glorious nation.

I'm back!

2005-07-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

*Graduation with Mom and Dad*

Hello! Gosh it’s been seven months since I last wrote a blog. I thought I would keep writing regularly and I actually considered it quite often, but for some reason I never got around to it. Now that I am in SC, I think I will have lots of fun things to write about….and I hope some of the people I know and love back in TX will enjoy reading about them. Miss me? Well I’m back!

Let’s see, gee……I’ll try to recap the last seven months for you as quickly as possible. Missing Frog Camp, Natalie’s limo Birthday party, uneventful senior year spring break, applied to grad schools, interviewed at grad schools, chose a grad school, the wine bar, got in a wreck on a moped (don’t ask), dr. and nurses party, watched lots of Sex in the City, watched as conversations in my life began to resemble Sex in the City, GRADUATION, Elaine's wedding, lazy summer, crawfish party, moved to South Carolina, washing machine flooded the apartment kitchen, began working in my assistantship, D.A. came to visit!!!, and I began my SC social life.

Phew. It’s good to be back.

To Blog or Not to Blog

2004-12-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

The semester is over. The best class I’ve taken at TCU is over. My blog responsibilities have come to an end. And I only have one semester left in my college career . . .

But I’ve enjoyed blogging so much that I think I will continue. It’s kind of like therapy. I get to write whatever I want; whatever I am thinking. I never kept a diary because it takes to long to actually write thought down (I can type faster) and my hand writing isn’t cute and girly so it takes away from the diary fun.

I love writing the blogs, editing them before posting, and trying to find a way to make someone smile if they are reading. I think my writing has improved and I will continue to express myself through the odd blog world. My friends think they are a hit. If people keep reading them . . . great! And if they don’t . . . that’s ok. I’m doing them for me because I like them. They make me smile.

Gender Role Reversal (Martini, Anyone?)

2004-12-08T23:22:00.000-08:00

*My true blue friend and fabulous college roommate*

I’ve always been fascinated by gender roles. The differences in how men and women communicate are amazing and never completely understood. My roommate and I had a revelation the other night. Women are often viewed as nurturing, while men are seen as . . . well . . . not as attentive (calm down. I’m not here to get into an argument about it. For some, at times, it’s the truth!). But when a person is dealing with a drunken friend, the gender roles are reversed.

Think about it. Women will hold your hair back, remove your lips from a regretful make out session, and help you into bed. But throughout the whole ordeal they’re thinking “I would never let this happen to me. I can’t believe my friend is this drunk. It’s disgraceful.” Sorry ladies, maybe that’s a little too harsh. Perhaps it’s more “When are you going to quite throwing up?!?!?! This dilemma is cutting into my time on the dance floor.” These thoughts are stemmed from annoyance, not sensitivity. Why are women unsympathetic when a friend has had too many cocktails?

Men on the other hand, will drop everything to help a friend suffering from too much Jaeger. I recently heard a story where Bert (names are changed to protect identities) came home to his roommate (Ernie) passed out on the doorstep. The door was open and Ernie’s upper body was in the house and his lower body was on the front porch. Bert picked up his friend and tried to help him into bed, but Ernie wanted to take a shower. Ernie (naked, by the way) threw up in the shower, turned on the water, and started to get in. Bert grabbed Ernie (he’s still naked) to prevent him from stepping in his . . . you know. I’ve heard many similar stories! Men, with all their hearts, help a good friend who made too many trips to the bar. They make jokes to get you to laugh and say things like, “it’s going to be ok” and “good girl! Let it all out.”

Maybe it’s because men appreciate a drunken night better than women do. They see the value in having these stories to tell, waking up next to an unexpected stranger, and walking home naked from the Pub. Carpe Diem, right? I just know that if I ever find myself in this rare form, I hope my boys are nearby.

Babe's Fried Chicken

2004-12-05T12:55:00.000-08:00

If you haven’t been to Babe’s Fried Chicken in the small town of Roanoke, Texas, you are missing out on quite an experience. People travel to Roanoke simply to eat at Babe’s; which is apparent when you witness how many people are waiting outside for a table. There is no menu at Babe’s. You either order fried chicken or chicken fried steak (and come on . . . what is that really?). The fried chicken is piled high on a plate and brought to the table with mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed corn, and biscuits. It’s all you can eat so dig in! Yum!

Babe’s is a unique place and I always have weird experiences there. This time was no different. After dinner, one of my friends decided to spoon gravy and a little mashed potatoes for weight into a doggy bag. We then proceeded to play catch in the street with this bag until it exploded. This is so much better than playing with water balloons! Luckily the bag didn’t bust on me. It was a sight! Six women playing catch on a deserted country road with a bag of gravy and mashed potatoes. Who would have thought?

I recommend going to Babe’s. Go with people who like to eat a lot, are very country (or even better, people that are not country at all), and are open to experiencing new things. Then go check out the house on 7th street in Fort Worth that has so many Christmas lights it glows from a mile away. Just when you thought you’d seen it all . . .

Hiney Hider

2004-11-30T22:28:00.000-08:00

I find that in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, end of the semester assignments and grad school applications (which daily fills me with the desire to rip all my hair out), it's the small things that amuse me. For example, today I was using one of the restrooms at school. I happened to glance at the silver latch that locks the stall door. Engraved on the latch are the words "Hiney Hider." To accompany this funny phrase, there is a picture of a stall door with a person behind it. The person's head can be viewed above the door and the feet below. What a funny, creative thing to put on a stall door latch. It actually led me to think "hmmm . . . this door really dose hide my hiney." And this small occurrence in my day caused me to smile.

Thanksgiving means . . .

2004-11-28T23:05:00.000-08:00

. . . spending time with family.
Stuffing yourself with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.
Fighting the crowds at the mall (and for some, waking up at 5:00 am to get there).
Breaking out the Christmas decorations and groaning at how it has accumulated over the years.
Watching cheesy, Hallmark Christmas movies with your mom.
Playing dominos late into the night with old friends.
Finding that perfect pair of fall shoes.
Watching football and falling asleep on the couch.
Wearing sweaters.
Sitting at Starbucks drinking the Holiday drinks.
Catching up with friends you don't get to see daily.
Decorating a small Christmas tree at the apartment while drinking mimosas.
Counting the days until finals are over.
Praying extra hard for our men and women over seas.
Playing Christmas music 24/7 from now until December 25th.
Noticing things and smiling at things you don't normally notice or smile at.

I survived the GRE!

2004-11-22T22:03:00.000-08:00

*Carrie is one of my biggest supporters and greatest friends*

I did it! I took the GRE and lived to tell the tale. Ok, maybe that's a little dramatic, but lately anything that has to do with grad school, ending college, or just change in general (Mom: "what did we do to raise a child who can't handle any form of change?"). After taking a couple of practice tests and scoring horribly, I was quite nervous about today. If I didn't score well enough I might not get into any of the grad schools I want or, Heaven forbid, I might have to take the GRE again. Luckily, I scored well enough to calm my nerves and bring my focus back to the task at hand: getting those applications out pronto!

But what I really learned from this whole experience was how many people support me. Back me up. Love me even when I'm crazy. My patient roommates that put up with my crankiness. My friend who pulls me in for a hug even after I cry out "I don't want to talk to anyone right now!" The guy who put up with my yelling at him because he understood that I was nervous. The phone calls wishing me luck. E-mails sending good thoughts and prayers. The celebratory dinner at the Reata when it was over!

What a basket case I've been lately! Hahahaha. At least I'm aware of it. I just think it's neat to find out that . . . just when you think everyone is as caught up in their own lives as you are in yours . . . you find out they are thinking about you just as much as you are thinking about them. I hope all these people know that I would be there for them in a heartbeat if they ever needed anything. They sure were there for me the last couple of days. It's good to know we're not alone in this crazy time. There's always someone there, even when you least expect it.

The Facebook

2004-11-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

The facebook is all the rage on the TCU campus. I had at least eight people mention it to me yesterday and I probably overheard several conversations filled with expressions of joy at the new friends found on the facebook. What the crap? Isn't this a big waste of time? Given this is totally the type of thing I would become obsessed with, but I refuse to be drawn in. I am going to be strong.

In case you are wondering what this is, the facebook is this thing where you can search for college, high school, and elementary school friends. When you find someone, you request to add them to your facebook. This someone will receive an e-mail saying "Bob wants to add you to his book. Please confirm that you are his friend" (lame, I know!). Once it's confirmed, this person can be added to your book. This means that his/her picture and a link to his/her profile will be added in your book. It looks kind of like a detailed yearbook. You can also make groups. Such as your fraternity, sorority, or other organizations you are involved in. Then people can add themselves to your group to show they are a member. But you can also make up groups like "People who love Ben Stiller movies" and "Hookups at the Mullet." If you want to confess these things, you add your self to the group.

The weirdest part about this is that you can put all kinds of detailed information about yourself. You can post your address, phone number, social security number, underwear color, DNA (ok maybe I'm taking this a little far). Even your class schedule!!! Talk about a wonderful way to stalk someone. Gee, I'll just look up that cute boy in History and find out where he will be the rest of the day so I can "accidentally" bump into him.

People . . . get a life! Finding high school friends is fun, but most of the people I know have all their college friends listed. You see these people everyday!!!! Is the facebook a way to show off how many people you know? Will you add anybody and everybody to your book, or are these people actually your friends??? I hope I remain strong and resist the urge to glue myself to the computer and join all the other geeks obsessed with this new phenomenon.

http://www.thefacebook.com

Planners and Wingers

2004-11-08T22:59:00.000-08:00

*Me and my favorite winger*
In this world, there are planners and wingers. Planners like to organize events, meetings, social gatherings and such. Planners also like to anticipate what will happen to them. They do not like being in situations that go a different direction than they had foreseen. Wingers fly by the seat of their pants, live for spontaneity and enjoy an adrenaline rush. An unexpected occurrence adds excitement to their already exhilarating lives. How does one learn to mix these qualities, or are our lives destined to be one way or the other?

Planners can be thrown off by the slightest change in schedule. Simple changes such as canceled weekend plans or sleeping through dinner can cause a planner to feel lost and confused. Planners typically do not like change and so changes in long term plans eat away at their thoughts. A new house, new town, new job, new plans . . . this can cause high stress and anxiety. Planners know where they will be in five years and if they are not where they thought they would be . . . life doesn’t seem right. Or fair.

Wingers never commit to plans. If asked to attend something, the answer is always “maybe” because wingers do not know what there plans are 24 hours in advance. If someone (a mother, boyfriend/girlfriend, roommate) tries to plan something for them, they rebel and refuse to cooperate.

So planners are never prepared for a surprise kiss and wingers never plan kisses. Planners don’t like changes in surroundings and wingers like new paths in life. Planners don’t enjoy unexpectedly running into people and wingers look for the unexpected. Planners want to find their soul mate and wingers are never looking. How can one become both a winger and a planner? Or should one be something else, such as a schemer, a conspirator, or a drifter?

How Rude!

2004-11-01T11:02:00.000-08:00

Funny story: My roommate went to the health center for a sinus infection. She was reading a magazine in the waiting room when the woman at the front desk called her name. She asked if my roommates address had changed and my roommate said yes. She set the magazine down on her chair, marking her spot and set her stuff with it. She walked to the front desk, told the woman her new address, and then walked back to her seat. When she reached her chair, she realized the magazine was not there. She looked on the floor and checked the desk, but did not see it. As she sat down, she saw that the other girl in the waiting room (who had been sitting with her back towards her) was reading the magazine. She must have sneaked over to my roommates chair and taken the magazine in the 30 seconds she was at the front desk.

Who does that?!?!?!?!?! It would be different if my roommate had put the magazine back on the table, but she left it open in her chair to mark her spot. So the girl took it and then sat with her back to my roommate, acting as if nothing had happened. What made her think it was ok to do that???? How rude can people be? I just feel sorry for this girl, because she obviously doesn't care much for other people. How do people get like that? What makes her think she's better? How self involved can someone be?

Trick-or-Treat

2004-10-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

*My cat costume and a friend I didn't even recognize!*

It's Halloween!!! I love Halloween almost more now than I did as a kid. There's something about 20 year olds dressing up in elaborate costumes. The creativity often amazes me. I went out last night as one of the Pussy Cat Dolls (I'm saving the bee costume for tomorrow night). Even though the atmosphere wasn't creepy, it's kind of odd not being able to recognize people. And some people had their faces fully covered by a mask.

I've gotten more into the Halloween spirit this year than past years. Our apartment has some jack-o-lanterns glowing from the candle inside and a pumpkin candy jar. As you have already read, I got my costume super early. I enjoyed hanging out last night with two Pharoahs, a Vampire, a nurse, a hospital patient, and a sexy secretary. I strutted around in my black cat suit, constantly fixing my cat ears (which kept falling forward) and playing with my black feather boa. Of course no evening here at TCU can pass by without some drama that puts a damper on the evening, but in the end I had such a good time!

Little Betty Crocker

2004-10-25T23:37:00.000-07:00

I baked pumpkin cookies today! Yummy! I'm surprised it has taken me this long to write about my baking adventures. It all started about a year ago. One day, I received 12 free recipe cards in the mail. They had pretty pictures of the food, fun helpful hints, and other cool things that made them stand out. I ended signing up to receive more recipe cards. They even sent me a recipe box and set of knives!

Now I have over 100 recipes. They range from muffins, breads, snacks, meals, cakes, pies, and cookies. Each section has its own tab (I love the organization!). They are pretty and they sit on a shelf in my room. I get around 30 each month. I like to look at them and talk about them and show them to people. I know what you are thinking . . . have you made any? Well, until recently I hadn't. I think I was scared. I so badly want to be a good cook. I just wish I could skip the practice part and become an expert.

I finally decided I needed a system in order to force myself to make them. I am making the first recipe behind each tab, then I'll start back at the front and make the second recipe behind each tab. I try to make one a week. So far I have made Pesto Twists, Peanut Butter and Jelly muffins, and Pumpkin cookies. And they all turned out great! My roommate enjoys watching me bake, because I'm still pretty clueless, I make a big mess, and I talk to myself (and the ingredients).

So far, it has been a great culinary experience. I'm looking forward to my other adventures in the kitchen. I love my recipes. =)

Feminism

2004-10-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

*Feminist friends. She has been quite an influence on my views.*

What is feminism? Webster's Dictionary says that feminism is a "movement advocating equal rights, status, ability, and treatment of women, based on the belief that women are not in any way inferior to men." Feminists are stereotyped as aggressive, man haters who won't even use the word "person" because it ends with "son". But I have always seen feminists as women who are strong, independent, and confident.

My good friend is taking a women studies course and I really enjoy hearing about the class. She is becoming somewhat of a feminist and she insists that I am too. Am I? I'm quick to support women's rights and what not, but does that make me a feminist? I do strive to be independent and immediately lash out at people when they give me that sympathetic aw-you-don't-have-a-man-in-your-life look. But I'm quick to let a guy comfort me if I'm sad or be a hero if I am in trouble. So doesn't that contradict?

I have just purchased a workout tape. It's called the S Factor and it is designed just for women. The exercises help you get in touch with the innate power of your body, your sensuality, and your spirit. It helps women's bodies move in their natural shape: an S. It's actually referred to as a "stripper workout." A woman teaches these lessons in Los Angeles and it was recently featured on the Oprah show. The video includes lessons such as stripper moves, the cat crawl, and wall work. At her studio in LA they even use a pole!!! It doesn't require you to remove your clothes, it's just about working your muscles, being sexy for yourself and feeling empowered. My roommate and I can't wait (although we aren't sure we want to do this workout together). Is this feminist?

No matter what, I am proud to be a woman. I am proud to be going to grad school and have goals for my future. I am proud that I'm picky about what guy will have a permanent role in my life. I will proudly learn the cat crawl in my living room. And I am proud to be a feminist.

http://www.sfactor.com/product_video.asp

Home Sweet Home

2004-10-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

*Robyn and I at Pete's!!! (Don't pay attention to those people in the background)*

I haven't spent more than 24hrs at home in a long time! It seems like everytime I go home, I only stay for a brief visit. But this weekend I went home and spent a long, leisurely weekend with my family. My friend Robyn came over on Friday and we ate good food, shopped, and watched baseball and football. It was fun having a friend from TCU at home with me! I spent most of Saturday on the couch and today my mom and I shopped. What a great weekend! No cares, relaxation, and good food.

My parents are in the process of searching for a new house. They want to move to a smaller, one-story house that doesn't have a pool. Although I am trying to be supportive, this makes me incrediblely sad. Why would they want to move out of the house that I have spent my whole life in? The house that contains all of my memories. The house that I love so dearly. I have never moved (except when I was 3, but I don't remember that). Even though my life is not at that house anymore, this is all new and scary for me. It's still my safe haven that I can go to when I want to escape life. I'm not one for change and this change is huge! I know moving will make them happy and that makes me happy. But the idea of driving a different route, to a different house . . . it's just plain creepy!

But the more I think about it, the more I realize that it's not the house that makes me feel at home. It's not the floor plan or the walls or the pool in the backyard. It's the furniture, the smells, the food, and my parents. I know that wherever they are, that is my home. And it always will be. So this is ok. I'm going to be ok. I will suck it up and wave goodbye to my beloved house. I will try to hide the tears and welcome the new house into my life and make it my home.

Golf Carts and Music Lyrics

2004-10-06T00:47:00.000-07:00

It's funny when little things make my day. Riding around in a golf cart is one of my new favorite things! I know this sounds odd, but some of my best memories from this past year involve riding in a golf cart (and none of these memories took place on a golf course). The wind in my hair, skidding around corners, and flying down hills. The golf cart brings out my best laugh. I call it my "genuine laugh," because it only occurs when I am so filled with joy that I can't prevent the childish guffah from escaping my mouth.

How is it that I can always find music lyrics that relate to something going on in my life. This discovery can make my day! It happened yesterday. I was driving to school in the car and I heard this song. I liked the music and the beat to it, but when I started listening to the lyrics I thought, "this could be me singing this song!" This morning I heard it again driving to school (it must be some kind of omen or something). I came home this evening and looked up the song lyrics on the computer and downloaded it. I am so happy! I can sing the song as loud as I want in my room and it expresses feelings I didn't know how to express on my own. It's great!

Now if only I had my own golf cart. Then I could drive it around and belt out my new song at the top of my lungs.

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/My-Happy-Ending-lyrics-Avril-Lavigne/B33DD8714DF781C348256E5200097654

People Amaze Me

2004-10-03T22:52:00.000-07:00

I have found that I am often surprised by people. I can not decide whether I feel this is disconcerting or just natural. Natural because . . . can we ever be sure about another person? It seems natural for people to surprise us. But if we can never be sure about another person, that's quite disconcerting, isn't it? Who knows what someone will say or do? People never are who we think they are, are they?

That dream guy ends up living up to all the stereotypes you tried so hard not to believe . . . because you wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Because you thought you knew who he truly was. Turns out . . . he's exactly who you had hoped he wasn't. The girlfriend you thought was such a rock gets hurt and your own heart crumbles as you watch her struggle. A guy who is just a casual friend comes to your rescue when you are in trouble and a closer guy friend lets you down when you go to him with a heavy heart. The girl you thought you would never be able to be friends with, turns out to be one of your favorite people.

If only people were more predictable, right? Or wrong? Would that make life easier? Should we be able to predict these surprises? Is this part of the adventure? The growing up? In the end, does this teach us more about ourselves? *sigh* My roommate always says, "people amaze me." I guess that's all there is to it. People will always surprise us and we will never know what to expect. I guess if it was any other way, people would be bored. And no one likes to be bored.

Dumb Boys

2004-09-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

I have been reading my classmates blogs and I think I'm one of a few girls who have not written about boys, a crush, or their love lives. I have avoided this topic on purpose because I do not feel that boys are worth my blog. This is not the blog of a bitter woman. I just don't think I should spend anytime writing about them or the dumb things that they do. With that being said, this blog is done.

I think I'm crazy

2004-09-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I purchased a Halloween costume online. Yes. October is still a couple days away, but I have purchased a Halloween costume. Even worse, I have succumb to the "sexy" Halloween costume syndrome. For young adult females, Halloween seems to be a competition of who can have the sexiest costume. I'm sure we could all list the most common ones: naughty nurse, catwoman, sexy angel, sexy devil, sexy school girl. The list goes on and on and on. At least my costume isn't one of those.

I have bought a sexy bee costume. Yes, a bumble bee. I will be wearing a yellow and black, sparkley tube dress, pretty wings, and cute antennas. Omigosh what have I done? Am I actually going to wear this???

I also went to the grocery store yesterday and only bought applesauce and tampons. Yeah. I think I'm crazy.

What is it about bubble baths?

2004-09-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

What is it about bubble baths? Lately they have been my new favorite thing. I probably take one at least once a month. Sometimes I take bubble baths when I'm stressed and need to relax; sometimes I take them because I've had a great day and I want to celebrate. I don't even need a reason anymore!

But what is it about laying in warm water with bubbles swirling around on top? Is it the fascination with the bubbles? The way they pop and fizzle and yet take a long time to completely disappear. The whiteness of the foam and the way it rocks back and forth on the water. Or is it the scent of the bubble bath? Cotton, lavender, rose, vanilla. Deeply inhaling the rich scent and letting it completely fill your nose with the sweet aroma. Maybe it's the warmth of the water resting just below your neck. The heat rising and causing little beads of persperation to trickle down your temple. It could be the atmosphere. The darkness of the bathroom. The flickering candle light reflecting off the tile wall. The soft music coming from the bedroom.

A bubble bath can be so serene . . . yet so sexy at the same time. Maybe that's the appeal. The desire of something tranquil yet flirtatious, peacefull yet seductive, still yet sensuous, calm yet erotic, innocent yet passionate, smooth yet steamy, restful yet risqué . . . just a simple bubble bath . . . hhhhmmm.

Film Review

2004-09-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Wow! I really enjoyed writing the film review! I was a little nervous because I felt that I was a tad too critical of the movie, but I really like the way my review turned out. And what a fun assignment! If only it was that easy to get a job writing for a publication. I always thought it would be cool to write for a fun magazine and then maybe eventually become editor. Live in New York, the fashion capital, and live a fast paced life of a snazzy magazine editor.

I actually just read a book titled The Devil Wears Prada and it is all about this woman who is a personal assistant to a top fashion magazine editor. The editor is just awful and she makes petty, ridiculous requests of her assistant. The book was very funny and made me wonder if that's what it is really like in New York and at a magazine headquarters. Probably not, but I'm sure somewhere it might be quite like that......it's fun to dream about living and working in New York. I wonder why New York is such a fantastical place?

A weekend to myself......

2004-09-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend it seems that the whole campus is going to Lubbock or Austin. Austin is hosting a big music festival this weekend and many students are going down for that. TCU is playing Texas Tech and if I had known so many people were going to be taking a road trip down there I would have gotten a ticket. But now I'm actually looking forward to a weekend with little temptation to go out. This afternoon or tonight I plan to go see the movie I will be writing my paper on, then a girl friend and I may go out for a classy dinner or to a wine bar. Tomorrow I'm going to sleep in, watch the TCU game on tv while eating football appropriate food (a huge sub sandwich, chips, and soda), then I'm going to hit the books for the rest of the weekend. I have two papers due next week, an exam, and lots of reading to do. I also want to do little things I haven't had time to do in the last couple of weeks like laundry, go to Hallmark, buy new shoes (since my favorite pair that I wear everyday broke).

Aaaaahhhh....this weekend will be relaxing. I hope. Usually when I get excited about a weekend like this and I plan to have relaxing weekend, it ends up not happening. I end up going out more than I thought I would, I don't sleep enough, and, ultimately, I'm not very productive. But I am determined!!!!! This is going to be the weekend that is going to go exactly as planned. =) I can't wait.

Bread and Roses

2004-09-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

Bread and Roses was a good movie. I enjoyed it b/c it did a good job of showing the hardships endured by immigrants who are trying to make a life in America. I watch movies purely for the entertainment. Of course I always have an opinion on the plot and acting, but this does not make me an expert. I have struggled a little with this assignment b/c I am unsure of what to write about. I have trouble thinking that my opinion is worth publication since I have no background in film criticism. I haven't even taken any classes that relate to that!

The only part of Bread and Roses that bothered me was the way it akwardly transitioned scenes. The screen would go black for a couple of seconds and then the next scene would begin. I did not feel that this helped the flow of the movie. It also appeared cheap. Overall, I felt the acting in the movie was good, especially by Adrien Brody. The plot was good b/c it kept me interested the whole time. I was sad at the end when Maya had to leave. I wish I knew more about what was going to happen to her.

My Ideal Audience

2004-09-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Oh gee! Who cares about what I write in my blogs??? My ideal reader would actually be someone that knows me. Someone that cares about me personally and what is going on in my life. If a random person decides to read my blog, what do I care? I will never meet them, they will never meet me, and we didn't have a connection. If someone I know comes to read my blog, they get to know me on another level. A little deeper.

Ok nevermind....apparently I'm supposed to actually CREATE a fictional person. So scratch that part from before. This is HARD!

Tom is a 21 year old student at Penn State. He intelligent and friendly. He is studying business and has actually already started his own company. It is already very successful and he plans to expand on it when he graduates. He plays sports for fun and really enjoys reading and going out with his friends.

I have no idea why he is my ideal reader or why someone like him would want to read my blog. I don't like creating this fictional person.

Deep Thought

2004-09-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

Well after today's class, I feel like I need to write something extra constructive. So here it goes. The other day in one of my classes the professor wrote a phrase on the board and asked us to respond to it. The phrase was "Unethical behavior actually works." This sentence is kind of disturbing, but partially true. If one chooses to behave unethically, but it helps them achieve their goal, then yes, it works. If a student chooses to cheat so they will receive a good grade and they end up with an A, then their unethical behavior worked. Unfortunately it is just that, unethical. And if one gets caught, is their behavior worth it? Are they ready to take responsibility for their actions? Is the achievement of their goal worth anything if it was achieved unethically?

So the statement is true in the sense that the word "works" means achieving the goal the unethcial behavior was used towards. Hhhmmm.....interesting.

Senioritis

2004-09-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

I didn't think you could get senioritis in college. I always just thought of that as a high school term. But man....do I have senioritis. It's a little different than the kind I had in high school. Senior year of high school I didn't want to do any of the class work. That's not necessarily the case now. I don't mind doing the readings and small assignments (I'm sure once it becomes time to write major papers and take exams I will feel differently). But the desire to do other, more social things, has definitely increased from previous years. Maybe I feel like this is my last chance.....one last hoorah to live life to the fullest and take advantage of all the fun opportunities that come my way in college. Homework has definitely become something I do when I have the free time and my socializing has been stuff that I plan. My friends and I plan to go to Taco Tuesday at Rosa's, we plan to sit down and watch a favorite TV show, we plan to go to the lake all day, and of course we plan to go out on weekends. School work has become something I do when I find that I have the time. It has worked well for me so far. I haven't gotten behind.....hopefully it will stay that way so I won't have to cut into my play time.

Am I fearful that all the fun will end once I graduate?

Day at the lake!

2004-08-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I went to the lake! It's funny how a day at the lake can make you so tired and sore. My body is still aching from the jet ski ride. I bet jumping off the second story of a boat doesn't help either. I was very proud of myself! I'm not the jump-off-a-boat-into-a-lake kind of girl....but with a little encouragement, I managed to jump off....not once, but twice! We had a big party boat and once it was parked in the middle of the lake, people began leaping off the top. I watched and laughed at everyone doing crazy stunts. I managed to avoid the leap for the entire afternoon! But once the captain made the "last chance" announcement, I was encouraged to take the leap. My friend held my hand and I screamed the whole way down. But once I emerged fromt he murky water, I felt great! What an accomplishment! Maybe I actually have an adventurous side to me. Hhhhmm......interesting.

My apartment

2004-08-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about our new apartment! I have lived on campus for the last three years, but my friend and I decided that it was time to move off campus. I am a senior this year and I was ready for a real place. Two of my girl friends and I got a GREAT deal on an awesome three bedroom apartment. We moved in in May and although we have been here for three months now, we still need to decorate our new place.

I am lucky enough to get the master bedroom in the apartment. Don’t ask how I lucked out. I got a new bed and hung things on the wall and made my bathroom look really cute! Also, now that we have a kitchen I can perfect my cooking skills! This is a new obsession of mine. I got 12 free recipe cards in the mail one day and they have pretty pictures of all the food. It is my goal to make all of the recipes. So far I've only made two. Haha.

This apartment also gave me somewhere to live during the summer. Given, I wasn't here very much because I was off doing Frog Camp, but at least I had somewhere to escape to when I needed to relax. Although I loved living on campus, this apartment (and my roommates) are the best!