Thursday, September 23, 2010
Chelsea Handler is bringing grammar back.
I can't ever get enough of this yellow-haired Jew. I feel like she is an extension of myself. I like grammar and dancing Latino nuggets, too.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
First College Test = Success
So, as most of you read previously on facebook, I had my first college-level test today in my American Government class, and I got an A! I'm sorry to be bragging, but you know what? I deserve to brag a little. I worked hard for that grade, and I'm pretty proud of myself.
It's special to me. Getting this A really showed me what I'm capable of. I'm a smart girl, and I'm capable of succeeding at college. It's just more proof that I don't need to worry. I GOT THIS. I can and will do well. Watch me!
Now, if you see me saying these things after Friday when I have my second test, that's fabulous. If you see me saying it after next Thursday when I have the third one in philosophy, then we'll really talk about major success.
In other news: I want to go to Calgary. The pictures on my wall are all crooked. And the elevators in this building suck.
Considering the idea of adding features to my blog - ex. a featured video of the week; What the Hell Wednesdays with weird news; etc. DISCUSS.
It's special to me. Getting this A really showed me what I'm capable of. I'm a smart girl, and I'm capable of succeeding at college. It's just more proof that I don't need to worry. I GOT THIS. I can and will do well. Watch me!
Now, if you see me saying these things after Friday when I have my second test, that's fabulous. If you see me saying it after next Thursday when I have the third one in philosophy, then we'll really talk about major success.
In other news: I want to go to Calgary. The pictures on my wall are all crooked. And the elevators in this building suck.
Considering the idea of adding features to my blog - ex. a featured video of the week; What the Hell Wednesdays with weird news; etc. DISCUSS.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Day 30 - A Letter To Myself
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself
As you can see, for the final day of my blogging program, I have to write a letter to myself. Considering that it's late and tomorrow I have to get up really early, I'm just going to focus on the letter for today's blog.
Dear Paula,
I love that you are opinionated and never hesitate to tell everyone what you think. I love your spirit and your sweet but feisty personality. You're much smarter than you usually like to think, and I love that you can hold your own in a conversation, a debate, or an argument. I love your straight-forwardness and how you try to be as open with people as you can be to show them who you are. I love your sense of humor. I love your lack of fear when it comes to doing things that other people would be too scared to do and your excess of fear when it comes to the simple things. I love that you care so deeply about people, things, places, and what you are doing. I love that you're a perfectionist, even if it annoys the hell out of me sometimes. I love your creativity and your wild ideas. I love your dreams and your courage. I love your ability to make friends anywhere and everywhere you go. I love how overly humble you can be sometimes, while all the time knowing deep-down that you are completely fabulous. I love your hobbies, your favorites, likes, and dislikes. I love your great observational skills and your ability to read people. I love that you are in college trying to make something out of yourself and follow your dreams. I love you, and I think you're pretty great.
Love,
Paula?
As you can see, for the final day of my blogging program, I have to write a letter to myself. Considering that it's late and tomorrow I have to get up really early, I'm just going to focus on the letter for today's blog.
Dear Paula,
I love that you are opinionated and never hesitate to tell everyone what you think. I love your spirit and your sweet but feisty personality. You're much smarter than you usually like to think, and I love that you can hold your own in a conversation, a debate, or an argument. I love your straight-forwardness and how you try to be as open with people as you can be to show them who you are. I love your sense of humor. I love your lack of fear when it comes to doing things that other people would be too scared to do and your excess of fear when it comes to the simple things. I love that you care so deeply about people, things, places, and what you are doing. I love that you're a perfectionist, even if it annoys the hell out of me sometimes. I love your creativity and your wild ideas. I love your dreams and your courage. I love your ability to make friends anywhere and everywhere you go. I love how overly humble you can be sometimes, while all the time knowing deep-down that you are completely fabulous. I love your hobbies, your favorites, likes, and dislikes. I love your great observational skills and your ability to read people. I love that you are in college trying to make something out of yourself and follow your dreams. I love you, and I think you're pretty great.
Love,
Paula?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Day 29 = A New Experience
Common Ground started tonight! It was so fabulous!
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, Common Ground is a dialogue-to-action program that holds very diverse small group discussions about race. The goal is to discuss race from many different points of view and ultimately do something to improve race relations in the city.
I'm excited for next week's session, and I'm even more excited to see what happens at the end of it.
You'd never guess how liberating it actually is to sit and listen to a stranger say something you think is pretty ridiculous, only to find yourself listening attentively and then POSSIBLY explaining your experiences and feelings about the topic at hand. Well, it's liberating for me anyway. That was my surprise of the evening - being liberated in a situation that would seem to do the exact opposite.
Oh, and Otis Sanford was the guest speaker in my journalism class today! I showcased my huge, nothing-but-teeth, somebody-just-slapped-Herenton smile. I guess you could say I was a little excited about that, too. :)
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
I'm a worrier. I try to avoid situations where I feel like there's a high possibility of failing or of getting hurt. Subconsciously, I am attempting to protect myself. In actuality, I am only hurting myself. I don't set high enough goals and standards for myself because I'm afraid I won't be good enough or do well enough (or whatever) and will end up getting hurt.
I've been working on that, and it's coming along nicely. It's a process. It won't happen overnight. The point is that it IS happening. I'm getting there.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, Common Ground is a dialogue-to-action program that holds very diverse small group discussions about race. The goal is to discuss race from many different points of view and ultimately do something to improve race relations in the city.
I'm excited for next week's session, and I'm even more excited to see what happens at the end of it.
You'd never guess how liberating it actually is to sit and listen to a stranger say something you think is pretty ridiculous, only to find yourself listening attentively and then POSSIBLY explaining your experiences and feelings about the topic at hand. Well, it's liberating for me anyway. That was my surprise of the evening - being liberated in a situation that would seem to do the exact opposite.
Oh, and Otis Sanford was the guest speaker in my journalism class today! I showcased my huge, nothing-but-teeth, somebody-just-slapped-Herenton smile. I guess you could say I was a little excited about that, too. :)
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
I'm a worrier. I try to avoid situations where I feel like there's a high possibility of failing or of getting hurt. Subconsciously, I am attempting to protect myself. In actuality, I am only hurting myself. I don't set high enough goals and standards for myself because I'm afraid I won't be good enough or do well enough (or whatever) and will end up getting hurt.
I've been working on that, and it's coming along nicely. It's a process. It won't happen overnight. The point is that it IS happening. I'm getting there.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Day 28 = The Day I Fell In Love With Dr. Thomas... Um, Not In THAT Way
Today was really good. :)
I had to read this chapter for my American Government class that didn't make sense to me (or most of the other people in my class) and take a quiz on it. When we told Dr. Thomas we were confused, he acted like he didn't really care. It lasts 10 minutes. After five, he says, "I know most of you read the chapter and are a little confused, and that's okay. I'm about to step out of the room for a drink of water, and while I'm gone if you use your books, talk to each other, or review your notes, that is something I will just never know about. Happy testing."
So obviously, we shared with each other, looked up terms in the indexes of our textbooks, etc. He came back three times, and each time we would still be sharing information so he would walk back out for more water. Finally, he said, "Okay, I'm starting to feel a little water-logged, so I'm going to excuse myself for one last drink, and when I come back I'll be taking up your lovely quizzes."
I so, so, so, SO love that man! He is just simply wonderful. :)
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Um, well whenever I finally finished crying, I would attempt to start figuring out my life.
I had to read this chapter for my American Government class that didn't make sense to me (or most of the other people in my class) and take a quiz on it. When we told Dr. Thomas we were confused, he acted like he didn't really care. It lasts 10 minutes. After five, he says, "I know most of you read the chapter and are a little confused, and that's okay. I'm about to step out of the room for a drink of water, and while I'm gone if you use your books, talk to each other, or review your notes, that is something I will just never know about. Happy testing."
So obviously, we shared with each other, looked up terms in the indexes of our textbooks, etc. He came back three times, and each time we would still be sharing information so he would walk back out for more water. Finally, he said, "Okay, I'm starting to feel a little water-logged, so I'm going to excuse myself for one last drink, and when I come back I'll be taking up your lovely quizzes."
I so, so, so, SO love that man! He is just simply wonderful. :)
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Um, well whenever I finally finished crying, I would attempt to start figuring out my life.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Incredible Day - # 27
Today was just amazing. I woke up feeling like a free woman, and the feeling only got stronger as the day continued. It's going to take me about a week [estimated] to get caught back up on everything, but at least I'm starting to get caught up, rather than getting further and further behind! And just so y'all know - none of my assignments have been late or anything. I'm a little behind on readings, etc. So far that hasn't affected my grades at all, and hopefully it never will.
That's pretty much all I've got to say about today... just that it was fabulous.
I'm still catching up on sleep, too, so I'm about to crash. :)
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
School. Most definitely.
That's pretty much all I've got to say about today... just that it was fabulous.
I'm still catching up on sleep, too, so I'm about to crash. :)
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
School. Most definitely.
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Light at the End of My Tunnel Day 26
I've posted recently about how exhausted I've been. I'm so happy (and a little saddened) to say that I will soon be able to keep up with everything MUCH better!
The sad part is that I won't be seeing my nephews every day because I'm no longer picking them up from school. It was seriously killing me - they are AMAZING boys, but they are such a handful at times! I love them to pieces, but I can't handle them on a daily basis. It totally drained me emotionally.
The smile-inducing part of this is that I will now have a LOT more time for my homework, and I will be available in the hours that almost every campus activity takes place during (the afternoons). I'll actually get to do something fun while I'm in college! And yes, I totally say this with enthusiasm. Y'all have NO idea what is has been like to literally kill myself working on stuff for school and trying to get those boys to cooperate and do things all day, only to come back to my dorm room and work on my homework alone. It's been SO lonely!
I went ahead and sent in my application for the Fall sessions at Common Ground (where you talk openly about race relations and find solutions to common problems) and got an email confirmation that I had been accepted. I'm so excited! It starts on Monday and lasts for 7 or 8 weeks. They have two hour meetings on Monday nights, so it won't be taking up too much of my time for me to study. I've been wanting to do this for SO long, and I haven't had the time. A friend of mine started Common Ground out of her desperation to literally find some common ground among groups of people from different ethnic backgrounds. I can't wait to start the sessions so that we can begin discussing race and how we can create change.
I'm also taking my application for the school paper in tomorrow. I can actually do that now, too! :)
I feel like a free woman!
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Just about everyone has. I think most people have that moment or day, or week, or period of time in their life where it honestly seems like things could NOT get any worse, and the only thing they can do is wonder if it's all really worth it.
The sad part is that I won't be seeing my nephews every day because I'm no longer picking them up from school. It was seriously killing me - they are AMAZING boys, but they are such a handful at times! I love them to pieces, but I can't handle them on a daily basis. It totally drained me emotionally.
The smile-inducing part of this is that I will now have a LOT more time for my homework, and I will be available in the hours that almost every campus activity takes place during (the afternoons). I'll actually get to do something fun while I'm in college! And yes, I totally say this with enthusiasm. Y'all have NO idea what is has been like to literally kill myself working on stuff for school and trying to get those boys to cooperate and do things all day, only to come back to my dorm room and work on my homework alone. It's been SO lonely!
I went ahead and sent in my application for the Fall sessions at Common Ground (where you talk openly about race relations and find solutions to common problems) and got an email confirmation that I had been accepted. I'm so excited! It starts on Monday and lasts for 7 or 8 weeks. They have two hour meetings on Monday nights, so it won't be taking up too much of my time for me to study. I've been wanting to do this for SO long, and I haven't had the time. A friend of mine started Common Ground out of her desperation to literally find some common ground among groups of people from different ethnic backgrounds. I can't wait to start the sessions so that we can begin discussing race and how we can create change.
I'm also taking my application for the school paper in tomorrow. I can actually do that now, too! :)
I feel like a free woman!
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Just about everyone has. I think most people have that moment or day, or week, or period of time in their life where it honestly seems like things could NOT get any worse, and the only thing they can do is wonder if it's all really worth it.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Day 25
I'm so drained right now. I cannot wait to crawl into my bed and pass out - if I even make it to my bed! Totally not kidding when I say that passing out on my laptop is a possibility tonight. But since I didn't blog last night, I wanted to make sure I did tonight.
This weekend has been an extremely busy one for me. It's been wonderful - I just wish I could have made it a little longer so that it wasn't so exhausting. I'm always saying how I need more hours in a day, and this weekend has been no exception!
It involved going to a mosque, writing an assignment for my English composition class, hanging out with friends I promised to hang out with, editing pictures, reading portions of textbooks, studying, shopping for MORE stuff for school, and the tiniest little bit of sleep in the middle of all of it.
I told someone today that recognizing how exhausted I am at the beginning of the third week has led me to be completely terrified of finals week. Part of my problem is that I've been off my iron supplements for about seven months now, while still having problems with anemia. I couldn't get in to see my doctor at any point that I was free during the summer and kept forgetting to try and get an appointment with someone else, and now I seriously don't have time to go. It sucks, and I hate myself just a little for being a total dork in the summer and not remembering to make a doctor's appointment.
I mentioned the mosque earlier - all I'm going to say about that is just WOW! It was a wonderful experience that I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to have.
I've also decided that I really want to pledge next year. I'll have to figure the financial thing out, because I have no idea how I'm going to foot the bill, but if I want it bad enough, I'll find a way, right? Anyway, I was leaning toward Alpha Delta Pi when I realized the list of sororities and women's fraternities I had been looking at on the U of M's website was ONLY a list of the ones who had housing on campus. WE HAVE AN AKA CHAPTER (Alpha Kappa Alpha, for those of you who have problems recognizing pink and green in its abbreviated format)!!!
When I mentioned my childhood dream of being an AKA to my friend, Monterica, she told me that it was crazy for Memphis not to have a chapter and suggested I scope out Memphis' Greek webpage again and try to find it. When I saw it listed, I was like - OMG, There it is. THERE it is! THERE IT IS!! IT'S HERE!!! AT MEMPHIS!
Seriously, y'all have no idea how excited I was. I decided I wanted to be an AKA when I was 10. I idolized a teacher at my elementary school (who became my sixth grade teacher the following year), and she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha! Actually, many of my former teachers were. After I began talking about it, I found out that I knew a LOT of AKA members... and I still do. In the last week alone, I have either discovered or been informed that three more of my friends are AKAs.
I went to after-school care when I was at Snowden. The director, Mrs. Greene, was (still is!) a member of Delta Sigma Theta (don't mix them in with AKAs for safety reasons, y'all!). When she noticed how often I wore pink and green socks/accessories/etc. she mentioned something about AKA colors, and I informed her that I wanted to become a member. She chased me around the cafeteria for 25 minutes with another after-care teacher's AKA umbrella. HAHA! I love her to death.
For those of you who think I'm a little confused - yes, I do realize that AKA is a mostly African-American sorority. But see, that's why I'd fit in so well! :)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Obviously because I have added some incredible people to my life.
This weekend has been an extremely busy one for me. It's been wonderful - I just wish I could have made it a little longer so that it wasn't so exhausting. I'm always saying how I need more hours in a day, and this weekend has been no exception!
It involved going to a mosque, writing an assignment for my English composition class, hanging out with friends I promised to hang out with, editing pictures, reading portions of textbooks, studying, shopping for MORE stuff for school, and the tiniest little bit of sleep in the middle of all of it.
I told someone today that recognizing how exhausted I am at the beginning of the third week has led me to be completely terrified of finals week. Part of my problem is that I've been off my iron supplements for about seven months now, while still having problems with anemia. I couldn't get in to see my doctor at any point that I was free during the summer and kept forgetting to try and get an appointment with someone else, and now I seriously don't have time to go. It sucks, and I hate myself just a little for being a total dork in the summer and not remembering to make a doctor's appointment.
I mentioned the mosque earlier - all I'm going to say about that is just WOW! It was a wonderful experience that I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to have.
I've also decided that I really want to pledge next year. I'll have to figure the financial thing out, because I have no idea how I'm going to foot the bill, but if I want it bad enough, I'll find a way, right? Anyway, I was leaning toward Alpha Delta Pi when I realized the list of sororities and women's fraternities I had been looking at on the U of M's website was ONLY a list of the ones who had housing on campus. WE HAVE AN AKA CHAPTER (Alpha Kappa Alpha, for those of you who have problems recognizing pink and green in its abbreviated format)!!!
When I mentioned my childhood dream of being an AKA to my friend, Monterica, she told me that it was crazy for Memphis not to have a chapter and suggested I scope out Memphis' Greek webpage again and try to find it. When I saw it listed, I was like - OMG, There it is. THERE it is! THERE IT IS!! IT'S HERE!!! AT MEMPHIS!
Seriously, y'all have no idea how excited I was. I decided I wanted to be an AKA when I was 10. I idolized a teacher at my elementary school (who became my sixth grade teacher the following year), and she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha! Actually, many of my former teachers were. After I began talking about it, I found out that I knew a LOT of AKA members... and I still do. In the last week alone, I have either discovered or been informed that three more of my friends are AKAs.
I went to after-school care when I was at Snowden. The director, Mrs. Greene, was (still is!) a member of Delta Sigma Theta (don't mix them in with AKAs for safety reasons, y'all!). When she noticed how often I wore pink and green socks/accessories/etc. she mentioned something about AKA colors, and I informed her that I wanted to become a member. She chased me around the cafeteria for 25 minutes with another after-care teacher's AKA umbrella. HAHA! I love her to death.
For those of you who think I'm a little confused - yes, I do realize that AKA is a mostly African-American sorority. But see, that's why I'd fit in so well! :)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Obviously because I have added some incredible people to my life.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Just Another Ordinary, Amazing Day - Day 24
Today seemed liked it dragged on and on at the same time that it was flying by.
I had my journalism class this morning, and, after picking up an application for The Daily Helmsman (the school newspaper - I want to write for it), I came back to Towers and did laundry. I saw a couple of the same people I did laundry with last week, and I ended up hanging out with one of them for a while at lunch. (What is it with me making most of my friends in the laundry room? I think my fabulous Bounce dryer sheets give me a confidence boost. lol!)
Anyway, after that I picked up the bears. We had a most interesting day. Little boys are always interesting.
I came back to school and hung out with Amy. While she was at her floor's meeting, I finished up working on Lorie & Michael's engagement pictures. I was SO excited to let them see their photographs! It was really special for me to be able to shoot their engagement session because they're both very special people to me. I'm so glad they loved them!
Amy and I had movie night later on - hello, Reese Witherspoon chick-flick! It was great. :)
I found out earlier that on my first assignment in my journalism class I got 10/10. So far all my grades have been 10(or above)/10 - I'm so happy! I'm really not trying to brag. I've just been trying really hard in school because I WANT these grades so badly, so getting them is really important to me. I'm proud of myself, and that's something that hasn't happened to me very many times in my life. Eventually things will get tougher and I won't be getting perfect scores (obviously!), but I'm hoping my grades don't drop too much.
Sometimes I forget that I'm in college. What used to seem so far away is here, right now, and it's weird. Like, some days it's absolutely no big deal - it's just completely normal. Other days... not so much. I guess it's crazy for me to think about it in the present tense, rather than the future tense. But I have to tell you - so far I am enjoying myself very much!
I've got a TON of homework to get done this weekend, so I'm closing out this blog and going to bed. I mean, I DO have to get up and get started on it at some point tomorrow. :)
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Dear Monterica,
I decided to make you an imaginary playlist because 1) my blog program has commanded it, and 2) you are wonderful & I miss you.
1. Your Love by Nicki Minaj - umm, this is our song. lol
2. Don't Be Jealous of My Boogie by RuPaul - who could have a playlist without including Blake-not-Boo?
3. Wetter by Twista - this is an inside-only thing... sorry y'all.
4. Brown Skin by India Arie - 'cause you once told me you were chocolate-y.
5. Flying Without Wings by Reuben Studdard - girl, do you know how many times I almost crashed the car because I nearly fell asleep driving late at night when you wanted to listen to this slooow song? lol!
6. Be Without You by Mary J. Blige - you up and left me for UT 'ChattaNOGA'... RUDE!
7. Seasons of Love by RENT - because I looove you! :)
I had my journalism class this morning, and, after picking up an application for The Daily Helmsman (the school newspaper - I want to write for it), I came back to Towers and did laundry. I saw a couple of the same people I did laundry with last week, and I ended up hanging out with one of them for a while at lunch. (What is it with me making most of my friends in the laundry room? I think my fabulous Bounce dryer sheets give me a confidence boost. lol!)
Anyway, after that I picked up the bears. We had a most interesting day. Little boys are always interesting.
I came back to school and hung out with Amy. While she was at her floor's meeting, I finished up working on Lorie & Michael's engagement pictures. I was SO excited to let them see their photographs! It was really special for me to be able to shoot their engagement session because they're both very special people to me. I'm so glad they loved them!
Amy and I had movie night later on - hello, Reese Witherspoon chick-flick! It was great. :)
I found out earlier that on my first assignment in my journalism class I got 10/10. So far all my grades have been 10(or above)/10 - I'm so happy! I'm really not trying to brag. I've just been trying really hard in school because I WANT these grades so badly, so getting them is really important to me. I'm proud of myself, and that's something that hasn't happened to me very many times in my life. Eventually things will get tougher and I won't be getting perfect scores (obviously!), but I'm hoping my grades don't drop too much.
Sometimes I forget that I'm in college. What used to seem so far away is here, right now, and it's weird. Like, some days it's absolutely no big deal - it's just completely normal. Other days... not so much. I guess it's crazy for me to think about it in the present tense, rather than the future tense. But I have to tell you - so far I am enjoying myself very much!
I've got a TON of homework to get done this weekend, so I'm closing out this blog and going to bed. I mean, I DO have to get up and get started on it at some point tomorrow. :)
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Dear Monterica,
I decided to make you an imaginary playlist because 1) my blog program has commanded it, and 2) you are wonderful & I miss you.
1. Your Love by Nicki Minaj - umm, this is our song. lol
2. Don't Be Jealous of My Boogie by RuPaul - who could have a playlist without including Blake-not-Boo?
3. Wetter by Twista - this is an inside-only thing... sorry y'all.
4. Brown Skin by India Arie - 'cause you once told me you were chocolate-y.
5. Flying Without Wings by Reuben Studdard - girl, do you know how many times I almost crashed the car because I nearly fell asleep driving late at night when you wanted to listen to this slooow song? lol!
6. Be Without You by Mary J. Blige - you up and left me for UT 'ChattaNOGA'... RUDE!
7. Seasons of Love by RENT - because I looove you! :)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Day 23 - SIGH @ Values
Values In The Modern World - such an interesting and complex name for a class. And yet, it is quite simple to understand, especially after you read the course description (these are listed on the website where you register for the classes you want to take right next to whichever class they go with). Somehow, most of the students in my 'Values' class still don't understand what it means to be in a philosophy class. Either that, or they just have no concept of what the subject of philosophy really is.
Philosophy is derived from two Greek words meaning "love" and "wisdom". So roughly translated, philosophy = the love of wisdom. Wisdom is rational. With wisdom comes the ability to listen to another person's ideas and suggestions, while not necessarily agreeing with them, but at least acknowledging that they could have some valid points. This is where my issue with these people comes in.
Today in class we were discussing the Divine Command Theory. To my understanding, it is, in a nutshell, a moral theory stating that God decides what is right and wrong because God decides what is right and wrong. (I know I just lost some of you, and that's okay - my point here is not to educate you in philosophy, but to give you the main topic our discussion was based on.) Mrs. Botts was saying how this is a circular pattern (God decides because God decides), and we were talking about the arguments against it.
Let me make this crystal clear before I get jumped by some Christian soldier or something - she was in no way trying to convert our class to Atheism or anything of the sort. She was challenging the theory and trying to get someone (just ONE person) to give her a rational (not religious) argument in favor of it.
Could they do it? Nope. Did they, instead, waste up our class time arguing about God and their individual religious beliefs? Yep.
Why is it that people don't understand that philosophy is meant to be RATIONAL? It is not faith-based. It is a way of thinking on a deeper level, and it's all about logic.
I hate it when people can't even quit rambling on about how they're so good because they go to church on Sunday (in their slutty clothes after they had pre-marital sex the night before, I'm sure) and shut up long enough to entertain the idea that someone else might have a different opinion about God or moral reasoning.
I'm probably going to screw up my terms or just screw up with general philosophical knowledge when I say this, but I feel like creating a new theory that says: being hypocritical and getting on everyone's last damn nerve is morally wrong.
It's a deontological theory, y'all. Learn to love it.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
The way y'all talk, my life is over and I'm looking back on it. Honey, from where I'm standing, my life is just beginning! There are a lot of things I want to do, and I still have plenty of time left to do them. :)
Philosophy is derived from two Greek words meaning "love" and "wisdom". So roughly translated, philosophy = the love of wisdom. Wisdom is rational. With wisdom comes the ability to listen to another person's ideas and suggestions, while not necessarily agreeing with them, but at least acknowledging that they could have some valid points. This is where my issue with these people comes in.
Today in class we were discussing the Divine Command Theory. To my understanding, it is, in a nutshell, a moral theory stating that God decides what is right and wrong because God decides what is right and wrong. (I know I just lost some of you, and that's okay - my point here is not to educate you in philosophy, but to give you the main topic our discussion was based on.) Mrs. Botts was saying how this is a circular pattern (God decides because God decides), and we were talking about the arguments against it.
Let me make this crystal clear before I get jumped by some Christian soldier or something - she was in no way trying to convert our class to Atheism or anything of the sort. She was challenging the theory and trying to get someone (just ONE person) to give her a rational (not religious) argument in favor of it.
Could they do it? Nope. Did they, instead, waste up our class time arguing about God and their individual religious beliefs? Yep.
Why is it that people don't understand that philosophy is meant to be RATIONAL? It is not faith-based. It is a way of thinking on a deeper level, and it's all about logic.
I hate it when people can't even quit rambling on about how they're so good because they go to church on Sunday (in their slutty clothes after they had pre-marital sex the night before, I'm sure) and shut up long enough to entertain the idea that someone else might have a different opinion about God or moral reasoning.
I'm probably going to screw up my terms or just screw up with general philosophical knowledge when I say this, but I feel like creating a new theory that says: being hypocritical and getting on everyone's last damn nerve is morally wrong.
It's a deontological theory, y'all. Learn to love it.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
The way y'all talk, my life is over and I'm looking back on it. Honey, from where I'm standing, my life is just beginning! There are a lot of things I want to do, and I still have plenty of time left to do them. :)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
A Routine Has Been Established. Well, OK, Sorta...
Things have settled down here at school, and there's now some degree of normalcy (as much as one can expect to find on a college campus anyway). Don't get me wrong - it's still hectic, and we're certainly nowhere close to resembling a communal rut. But at least everything doesn't feel so new, and neither do we.
I've been enjoying myself a great deal on campus. There is always something slightly insane going on or being done, whether it be a religious extremist condemning us all to Hell, a random and unplanned dance-off next to the UC late at night, someone wearing a full-body gorilla suit on the elevator (totally not kidding!), or Dr. Thomas doing something in class that no one else in the WORLD would ever think about doing (especially in public).
I love those moments. They add a much-needed flair to my day. Maybe it makes me really happy, or maybe being around them just makes me feel extremely normal. At any rate, I like it. :D
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
There have been several instances in my life where I trusted the wrong people. I certainly wish I hadn't.
I've been enjoying myself a great deal on campus. There is always something slightly insane going on or being done, whether it be a religious extremist condemning us all to Hell, a random and unplanned dance-off next to the UC late at night, someone wearing a full-body gorilla suit on the elevator (totally not kidding!), or Dr. Thomas doing something in class that no one else in the WORLD would ever think about doing (especially in public).
I love those moments. They add a much-needed flair to my day. Maybe it makes me really happy, or maybe being around them just makes me feel extremely normal. At any rate, I like it. :D
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
There have been several instances in my life where I trusted the wrong people. I certainly wish I hadn't.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
It's Day 21, Y'all...
Yesterday, as you may know, I didn't blog. It was Labor Day, and, as much as I love blogging, it gets on my nerves sometimes. So I took a little holiday off. It was a good day. I had movie night with my friend Amy, and then I hung out with my roommate, Brooke.
Today was pretty nice, too. It was also a little hectic - I think all my Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be, and that's cool. I can take it.
Brooke, Amy, and I had dinner at The Fresh Food Company here on campus. I ended up going to Spin Street (I ran into Brooke and one of her friends while I was there, haha!) and buying a large, framed canvas print of Audrey Hepburn. I love it! It's so awesome, and it looks fabulous by my bed. It ended up finishing off my side of our walls beautifully.
Now, I just need that Lil Wayne poster (they were sold out) to put on the ceiling above my bed. ;)
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Well, my best friend died over two years ago. But I'll go along with it and pretend like this has happened. Umm, I guess I'd cry and apologize after immediately realizing that life is too short to waste it being angry? What? You didn't say he/she died in the scenario. :)
Today was pretty nice, too. It was also a little hectic - I think all my Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be, and that's cool. I can take it.
Brooke, Amy, and I had dinner at The Fresh Food Company here on campus. I ended up going to Spin Street (I ran into Brooke and one of her friends while I was there, haha!) and buying a large, framed canvas print of Audrey Hepburn. I love it! It's so awesome, and it looks fabulous by my bed. It ended up finishing off my side of our walls beautifully.
Now, I just need that Lil Wayne poster (they were sold out) to put on the ceiling above my bed. ;)
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Well, my best friend died over two years ago. But I'll go along with it and pretend like this has happened. Umm, I guess I'd cry and apologize after immediately realizing that life is too short to waste it being angry? What? You didn't say he/she died in the scenario. :)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Today Was Just Pure Insanity - Day 20
Wow! So today was random and crazy!
I was thrilled because my article was in the paper, obviously. Outside of that, I shot an engagement session with my friends, Lorie and Michael. We had a LOT of fun, and I can't wait to let them see their pictures!
On the way to the park where I met up with L & M, I passed a car accident and saw EMTs putting someone into a body bag.
After the shoot, I stopped to get gas at a gas station right by campus. While I was inside paying for my gas, a lady robbed the place and got away with a bunch of beer.
Crazy, right?
In the midst of all this, I was dealing with the one major setback of putting yourself out there - horrible, rude, ugly criticism. Not surprisingly, the only person who said anything bad about my article that I am personally aware of is someone from my biological family.
To be honest with y'all, I'm just a little bit glad that she decided to make a total ass out of herself. I've been wanting to write her off completely for a little while now, but I was trying to be nice and give her another chance, even after she has said terrible things to me, about me, and about other innocent people both in person and on facebook many times. [I think I really need to stop giving SO many chances after the second and definitely the third because this is getting ridiculous.] Anyway, she doesn't know me at all - I MIGHT see her once a year for a couple of hours - so losing her is not a problem for me. It's ESPECIALLY fine when you consider that she's a rude/close-minded/bigoted/racist JERK of a human being. And I would have said that even before today. Like I said, this event has been a long time coming.
I'm happy with the way things are going. Every single time I eliminate another hateful person from my life, it gets so much better!
Also, I'm planning on taking some much-needed advice I received from one of my favorite people - my girl, Wendi. She told me I needed to chill and stop stressing out over everything, and she's totally right, y'all. I'm ALWAYS worried about something or afraid something won't go well or whatever. I need to take a breath and just let whatever happens happen.
Did I mention that, every single time I add someone like her to my life, it gets even better than when I subtract the crazies? Shout out to you, Wendi - you're a wonderful friend and person in general. Girl, I hope you know I love you. Thanks for always helping a sister out!
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
I am pro-lowering the drinking age back down to 18. To be honest, I'm not sure where I stand completely on drugs. I'm pro-medicinal use, and undecided otherwise. If I ever decide to make up my mind, it'll be a while from now.
I was thrilled because my article was in the paper, obviously. Outside of that, I shot an engagement session with my friends, Lorie and Michael. We had a LOT of fun, and I can't wait to let them see their pictures!
On the way to the park where I met up with L & M, I passed a car accident and saw EMTs putting someone into a body bag.
After the shoot, I stopped to get gas at a gas station right by campus. While I was inside paying for my gas, a lady robbed the place and got away with a bunch of beer.
Crazy, right?
In the midst of all this, I was dealing with the one major setback of putting yourself out there - horrible, rude, ugly criticism. Not surprisingly, the only person who said anything bad about my article that I am personally aware of is someone from my biological family.
To be honest with y'all, I'm just a little bit glad that she decided to make a total ass out of herself. I've been wanting to write her off completely for a little while now, but I was trying to be nice and give her another chance, even after she has said terrible things to me, about me, and about other innocent people both in person and on facebook many times. [I think I really need to stop giving SO many chances after the second and definitely the third because this is getting ridiculous.] Anyway, she doesn't know me at all - I MIGHT see her once a year for a couple of hours - so losing her is not a problem for me. It's ESPECIALLY fine when you consider that she's a rude/close-minded/bigoted/racist JERK of a human being. And I would have said that even before today. Like I said, this event has been a long time coming.
I'm happy with the way things are going. Every single time I eliminate another hateful person from my life, it gets so much better!
Also, I'm planning on taking some much-needed advice I received from one of my favorite people - my girl, Wendi. She told me I needed to chill and stop stressing out over everything, and she's totally right, y'all. I'm ALWAYS worried about something or afraid something won't go well or whatever. I need to take a breath and just let whatever happens happen.
Did I mention that, every single time I add someone like her to my life, it gets even better than when I subtract the crazies? Shout out to you, Wendi - you're a wonderful friend and person in general. Girl, I hope you know I love you. Thanks for always helping a sister out!
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
I am pro-lowering the drinking age back down to 18. To be honest, I'm not sure where I stand completely on drugs. I'm pro-medicinal use, and undecided otherwise. If I ever decide to make up my mind, it'll be a while from now.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Day 19 Brings Yet Another Blog Post... Shocking, I Know!
Let's get the blog program out of the way, shall we?
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
I believe in God and in all paths to God. I'm not really religious. I was raised a Christian, and every once in a while I enjoy going to visit a random church. I think my facebook section for religious views is a great description in the form of a quote: "I'm not religious, but I like God and he likes me." [Tony Kushner]
Politically, you can call me Liberal.
I feel like people expect more from me than other people my age - always have and always will. I know I'm different. Honestly, how could I not? People have been shoving it in my face for 18 years. I couldn't for the life of me tell you HOW I'm different - all I know is that people seem to think I am, and they end up expecting more of me and from me because of it.
Sometimes it's nice to know that people see me as competent, smart... whatever, but other times, it just sucks. I get pointed out in situations where I am [according to rules put in place FOR THIS VERY REASON] supposed to simply fit in and be one of the youth.
Even though it upsets me on occasion, I know good and well that I better get used to it. For the rest of my life, people will expect more from me. I want to become a columnist for the newspaper. I'm sacrificing every single one of my I-don't-feel-goods and my just-treat-me-like-everyone-elses for something I care about so much more than that - educating people about what's going on in the world around them.
In other news, I am SO excited to finally announce this piece of news on my blog: I'm the guest columnist in The Commercial Appeal tomorrow!!! Dream = coming true, y'all... really! I cannot wait to see it. :) GO BUY A FREAKIN' PAPER!!
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
I believe in God and in all paths to God. I'm not really religious. I was raised a Christian, and every once in a while I enjoy going to visit a random church. I think my facebook section for religious views is a great description in the form of a quote: "I'm not religious, but I like God and he likes me." [Tony Kushner]
Politically, you can call me Liberal.
I feel like people expect more from me than other people my age - always have and always will. I know I'm different. Honestly, how could I not? People have been shoving it in my face for 18 years. I couldn't for the life of me tell you HOW I'm different - all I know is that people seem to think I am, and they end up expecting more of me and from me because of it.
Sometimes it's nice to know that people see me as competent, smart... whatever, but other times, it just sucks. I get pointed out in situations where I am [according to rules put in place FOR THIS VERY REASON] supposed to simply fit in and be one of the youth.
Even though it upsets me on occasion, I know good and well that I better get used to it. For the rest of my life, people will expect more from me. I want to become a columnist for the newspaper. I'm sacrificing every single one of my I-don't-feel-goods and my just-treat-me-like-everyone-elses for something I care about so much more than that - educating people about what's going on in the world around them.
In other news, I am SO excited to finally announce this piece of news on my blog: I'm the guest columnist in The Commercial Appeal tomorrow!!! Dream = coming true, y'all... really! I cannot wait to see it. :) GO BUY A FREAKIN' PAPER!!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Day 18 = My Favorite Blog Program Day So Far
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
HAHA. I'm pretty sure anyone who really knows me could tell you my answer on this one! I am incredibly pro-gay marriage - to the point where I don't even understand why this is on the list. Everyone should be in favor of it. Seriously. The degrading of the minorities ish is EXTREMELY old. I could very easily make any type of argument in favor of it (moral, religious, philosophical, secular-based, etc). Test my mad skills sometime.
Today was decent. Not a TON of information to report.
I did laundry for the first time in the basement of the building. It's not a creepy as it sounds... promise! I made some new friends while I was there - go figure.
I hung out with one of my previously mentioned new friends tonight. Amy's really fun! We're thinking of having movie night on Fridays from now on. :)
This is going to be an exciting weekend! Stay tuned!
HAHA. I'm pretty sure anyone who really knows me could tell you my answer on this one! I am incredibly pro-gay marriage - to the point where I don't even understand why this is on the list. Everyone should be in favor of it. Seriously. The degrading of the minorities ish is EXTREMELY old. I could very easily make any type of argument in favor of it (moral, religious, philosophical, secular-based, etc). Test my mad skills sometime.
Today was decent. Not a TON of information to report.
I did laundry for the first time in the basement of the building. It's not a creepy as it sounds... promise! I made some new friends while I was there - go figure.
I hung out with one of my previously mentioned new friends tonight. Amy's really fun! We're thinking of having movie night on Fridays from now on. :)
This is going to be an exciting weekend! Stay tuned!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Lord, Give Me Strength: The Experience of Dating on Campus
There is not going to be a section in this blog post designated for my blogging program today. My mind is turning over and over like nobody's business. People say I don't talk about my dating life all that much, and really, it's true - I keep it private. But this just made too good of a story to keep to myself.
I recently started emailing back and forth with this guy who lives on campus in the building next door to mine. He seemed really nice and like he had it together, and I agreed to meet up with him - tomorrow night.
Earlier I got back to my room and checked my email only to find a reply from him asking if we could hang out around campus tonight instead because his anticipation was killing him and he really wanted to see me. I'm like - okay, some people might see this as being desperate, but I'll give dude a chance, maybe he's just anxious or whatever.
So we meet up at the newly agreed-upon time, and things get off to a great start. We walk around campus [the long way] talking and finally reach the UC. We go inside and sit down in the lounge area. At this point, he starts telling me all about his financial and family-related issues. Oh, and all of his ex-girlfriends.
I could deal with a little bit of it - college life is full of freedom that leads some people to rebel against their families, and, of course, it's a time when being completely broke is completely normal.
I think telling me about the intimate details of his brother's two divorces and his sister's relationship problems crosses that line. It gets to the point where it is repetitive and predictable. Apparently, his mother has also had back surgery recently that didn't go so well for her - the doctors didn't close up the incision properly, and in his mind, it is important that I know exactly how and why.
At some point during the middle of all of this, he says something that strikes me as being a little off in the numbers when it comes to his age (I'm a future journalist - I pick up on these things). He told me he was 23 - he confesses to being older, but he never gives me a specific number. He tells me - oh, it's no big deal, I'm around 31, 32, 33... something like that. I'm like - WTF, are you serious? why would you lie to me when you don't even know me?
I start to feel quite uncomfortable, but again, I'm being nice and trying to give him a break. Maybe he thought I wouldn't give him a chance if he told me how old he was - I don't know. But a lie is a lie, and I can't shake the thought of it being a pretty ridiculous one. Alas, we carry on.
He continues to talk about previous girlfriends incessantly, until the point at which he says - and I kid you not - that there is nothing to do where we are, and he wishes his roommate wasn't in their room so that he could take me up there and I could visit with him EXTRA cozily.
I suppose he sees the expression on my face, because he quickly laughs it off as a joke. Unfortunately, after a couple of minutes, he makes the same suggestion to me again. I ignore it and end up listening to him chatter on about his family drama, his low self-esteem, and how he wished he hadn't wasted his 20s rocking back and forth on his mother's spare bedroom floor like an amoeba.
By now, I'm pretty much done with the freaky ish, but I'm thirsty and he wants to buy me a drink - fine; it's not like I was getting anything productive done now tonight anyway.
We take our drinks outside where a giant beetle crawls on me. He laughs. I do not laugh. I do not like beetles - or most other bug-like things, especially when they are CRAWLING ON ME.
Somewhere in the midst of this beetle incident, his student ID falls out of his pocket, and I see that he has also lied about his name. um... NEXT!
I recently started emailing back and forth with this guy who lives on campus in the building next door to mine. He seemed really nice and like he had it together, and I agreed to meet up with him - tomorrow night.
Earlier I got back to my room and checked my email only to find a reply from him asking if we could hang out around campus tonight instead because his anticipation was killing him and he really wanted to see me. I'm like - okay, some people might see this as being desperate, but I'll give dude a chance, maybe he's just anxious or whatever.
So we meet up at the newly agreed-upon time, and things get off to a great start. We walk around campus [the long way] talking and finally reach the UC. We go inside and sit down in the lounge area. At this point, he starts telling me all about his financial and family-related issues. Oh, and all of his ex-girlfriends.
I could deal with a little bit of it - college life is full of freedom that leads some people to rebel against their families, and, of course, it's a time when being completely broke is completely normal.
I think telling me about the intimate details of his brother's two divorces and his sister's relationship problems crosses that line. It gets to the point where it is repetitive and predictable. Apparently, his mother has also had back surgery recently that didn't go so well for her - the doctors didn't close up the incision properly, and in his mind, it is important that I know exactly how and why.
At some point during the middle of all of this, he says something that strikes me as being a little off in the numbers when it comes to his age (I'm a future journalist - I pick up on these things). He told me he was 23 - he confesses to being older, but he never gives me a specific number. He tells me - oh, it's no big deal, I'm around 31, 32, 33... something like that. I'm like - WTF, are you serious? why would you lie to me when you don't even know me?
I start to feel quite uncomfortable, but again, I'm being nice and trying to give him a break. Maybe he thought I wouldn't give him a chance if he told me how old he was - I don't know. But a lie is a lie, and I can't shake the thought of it being a pretty ridiculous one. Alas, we carry on.
He continues to talk about previous girlfriends incessantly, until the point at which he says - and I kid you not - that there is nothing to do where we are, and he wishes his roommate wasn't in their room so that he could take me up there and I could visit with him EXTRA cozily.
I suppose he sees the expression on my face, because he quickly laughs it off as a joke. Unfortunately, after a couple of minutes, he makes the same suggestion to me again. I ignore it and end up listening to him chatter on about his family drama, his low self-esteem, and how he wished he hadn't wasted his 20s rocking back and forth on his mother's spare bedroom floor like an amoeba.
By now, I'm pretty much done with the freaky ish, but I'm thirsty and he wants to buy me a drink - fine; it's not like I was getting anything productive done now tonight anyway.
We take our drinks outside where a giant beetle crawls on me. He laughs. I do not laugh. I do not like beetles - or most other bug-like things, especially when they are CRAWLING ON ME.
Somewhere in the midst of this beetle incident, his student ID falls out of his pocket, and I see that he has also lied about his name. um... NEXT!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Everything Seemed So Quiet Today [Day 17]
The hypocritical extremists did not return to campus today, and there wasn't a whole lot of noise around here - except for several thousand exasperated sighs of relief.
Classes are settling in, and I have learned something about myself: I take good notes. The problem is, my notes are a little ADHD, and they jump around here and there and here again. I'm going to spend some time this weekend getting a little more organized.
I'm still freezing in my room, and I've decided that I should set a few temperature-related goals: 1) Live through the bitter cold during the school year. 2) Sleep naked outside in the snow on a mountain in another hemisphere over summer break. In case y'all were wondering, goal 1 is a prerequisite for goal 2. But I'm pretty sure it could work the other way around, too.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
I always knew our government was heavily-flawed, but after reading Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird in middle school, I guess I came to understand that lack of support for minority groups from elected officials has always been a problem and most likely always will be. The only difference is, it's a different minority group each time.
Classes are settling in, and I have learned something about myself: I take good notes. The problem is, my notes are a little ADHD, and they jump around here and there and here again. I'm going to spend some time this weekend getting a little more organized.
I'm still freezing in my room, and I've decided that I should set a few temperature-related goals: 1) Live through the bitter cold during the school year. 2) Sleep naked outside in the snow on a mountain in another hemisphere over summer break. In case y'all were wondering, goal 1 is a prerequisite for goal 2. But I'm pretty sure it could work the other way around, too.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
I always knew our government was heavily-flawed, but after reading Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird in middle school, I guess I came to understand that lack of support for minority groups from elected officials has always been a problem and most likely always will be. The only difference is, it's a different minority group each time.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
It's Day 16, and Someone Activated My Activist Button
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
The religious extremists on campus perhaps?
I protested against them today for 5+ hours between and after my classes. I ended up getting interviewed by news channel 3, so we'll see if I end up on tv.
Check out the pictures!
As far as my classes go, today I had:
English Composition - Mr. Schulz is really sweet. He seems a bit timid. I overheard him telling another instructor that it was his first day right before class started, so I'm sure he was a little nervous. Hopefully we weren't too intimidating! I think his class will be a good one!
Values In The Modern World - LOVE IT, PEOPLE! I absolutely L.O.V.E. it! Mrs. Botts is amazing. A mutual friend of ours, Amy, was right when she said I'd enjoy her class. I cannot wait to go back Thursday. This class has deepened my love for philosophy already. :)
I also dropped Fundamental Issues. I decided it was going to be too much to try and take on two philosophy classes this semester. I mixed up my books, my teachers' names, etc. They are very different and are teaching different aspects of philosophy - it was a situation of confusion waiting to happen.
The religious extremists on campus perhaps?
I protested against them today for 5+ hours between and after my classes. I ended up getting interviewed by news channel 3, so we'll see if I end up on tv.
Check out the pictures!
I loved this guy!
It's awesome, isn't it?
Pretty much what most people on campus were thinking.
This is freak numero uno and the poor girl he kept calling an anorexic prostitute.
Some students called their pastor to come and preach both for and against the two freaks - right after this, he started a rendition of Amazing Grace.
The guy with the beard next two freak #1 is a Nazi who was yelling in German.
Today freak #2's wife and young daughter were not excluded from the drinking of the kool-aid ceremony like they were yesterday. P.S. The kid was truant from school.
He also had a sign that advertised he was giving out free hugs.
This guy changed into a ninja outfit and played Amazing Grace on his recorder.
I loved my sign.
As far as my classes go, today I had:
English Composition - Mr. Schulz is really sweet. He seems a bit timid. I overheard him telling another instructor that it was his first day right before class started, so I'm sure he was a little nervous. Hopefully we weren't too intimidating! I think his class will be a good one!
Values In The Modern World - LOVE IT, PEOPLE! I absolutely L.O.V.E. it! Mrs. Botts is amazing. A mutual friend of ours, Amy, was right when she said I'd enjoy her class. I cannot wait to go back Thursday. This class has deepened my love for philosophy already. :)
I also dropped Fundamental Issues. I decided it was going to be too much to try and take on two philosophy classes this semester. I mixed up my books, my teachers' names, etc. They are very different and are teaching different aspects of philosophy - it was a situation of confusion waiting to happen.
Monday, August 30, 2010
On Day 15, God Created the First Day of Classes AND Religious Extremists
We have more important things to talk about, so let's just get the blog program out of the way.
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Flip flops and caffeine.
TODAY was the first day of my classes. It finally happened, YO! [That's my shout out to Elokin who listened to me bitch about our dorm's lack of water due to plumbing problems and contamination which, by the way, now seems to be fixed.] Anyway, I had three classes today.
Survey of Mass Communication - Enter Professor? Dr.? Ms.? Miller (she didn't specify), a blonde woman of average height who is kind of on the skinny side. She's older. Not old, just older. Maybe 50. She was fun to be around and had decent energy. She talks fast, and at some point in the next few weeks, I guarantee you that I'll be asking her to slow down. But she's really nice, so I doubt she will object. She likes for her class to be talkative People interject and talk freely. She is obviously wise because she can comfortably laugh at herself. I loved her class before I got there.
Fundamental Issues/Philosophy - Mr. Allen who is very tall forgot to bring his dry erase markers. To be honest, this was about the most interesting thing that happened the entire time. Don't get me wrong - he's nice, and I think I'll really enjoy his class. It's just that he doesn't have his introduction fine-tuned yet. He ended up scaring me half-way through class when he said that philosophy papers look nothing like anything we've ever written before. He'll be teaching us how to write them - that's not the problem. The deal is, he said it was harder for writers to get the system down because nothing can be poetic - it has to be straight forward. But I could stand to use fewer flowery lines in my writing and to be a little more straight forward, so this class will probably help me with that.
American Government - Of all my classes, I expected this one to be the most boring. WRONG! Dr. Thomas is absolutely hilarious! He has more energy than any teacher I've ever had. He was all over the place. Out of nowhere, at the beginning of class he randomly played the theme from Star Wars. He joked, he laughed, and he danced. Yes, danced. But not to the Star Wars theme. He told us about what happens when you're phone goes off in class - he dances. So, of course, someone purposely played one of their ringtones, and Dr. Thomas got jiggy with it. He then asked us what a good reason for missing class would be, and the same guy answered, "Your grandma got run over by a train, and then when you found out, you fell down an escalator." That only asked more from Dr. Thomas, who I have decided I absolutely adore. I can't wait to get back to his class.
When I first got to my AG class, I heard some people talking about someone who was preaching on campus. They didn't say too much about it, but after class, I saw it going on outside. I stopped to watch, and that guy was a hot mess. He was standing on a chair in mis-matched clothes and an ugly hat yelling about how he was a preacher and was completely perfect. Apparently, everyone else was messed up and chose to be that way. One of his fellow nutjobs was standing close by filming it. They wore religious t-shirts and buttons that declared their hatred for sin and porn. From the responses I heard in the crowd, it seemed like they had probably made some racist comments. I ran into my friend, Abbe, and we hung out for a few minutes listening to his stupidity. It was good to see her, but I'm hoping that the next time we get to hang out we have better entertainment.
I met a guy while waiting in line at the Bursar's Office to get my student ID recoded. He started talking to me, and I wish he had never stopped. He could have talked all day about anything, and I would have listened. I really, really hope I run into him again soon.
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Flip flops and caffeine.
TODAY was the first day of my classes. It finally happened, YO! [That's my shout out to Elokin who listened to me bitch about our dorm's lack of water due to plumbing problems and contamination which, by the way, now seems to be fixed.] Anyway, I had three classes today.
Survey of Mass Communication - Enter Professor? Dr.? Ms.? Miller (she didn't specify), a blonde woman of average height who is kind of on the skinny side. She's older. Not old, just older. Maybe 50. She was fun to be around and had decent energy. She talks fast, and at some point in the next few weeks, I guarantee you that I'll be asking her to slow down. But she's really nice, so I doubt she will object. She likes for her class to be talkative People interject and talk freely. She is obviously wise because she can comfortably laugh at herself. I loved her class before I got there.
Fundamental Issues/Philosophy - Mr. Allen who is very tall forgot to bring his dry erase markers. To be honest, this was about the most interesting thing that happened the entire time. Don't get me wrong - he's nice, and I think I'll really enjoy his class. It's just that he doesn't have his introduction fine-tuned yet. He ended up scaring me half-way through class when he said that philosophy papers look nothing like anything we've ever written before. He'll be teaching us how to write them - that's not the problem. The deal is, he said it was harder for writers to get the system down because nothing can be poetic - it has to be straight forward. But I could stand to use fewer flowery lines in my writing and to be a little more straight forward, so this class will probably help me with that.
American Government - Of all my classes, I expected this one to be the most boring. WRONG! Dr. Thomas is absolutely hilarious! He has more energy than any teacher I've ever had. He was all over the place. Out of nowhere, at the beginning of class he randomly played the theme from Star Wars. He joked, he laughed, and he danced. Yes, danced. But not to the Star Wars theme. He told us about what happens when you're phone goes off in class - he dances. So, of course, someone purposely played one of their ringtones, and Dr. Thomas got jiggy with it. He then asked us what a good reason for missing class would be, and the same guy answered, "Your grandma got run over by a train, and then when you found out, you fell down an escalator." That only asked more from Dr. Thomas, who I have decided I absolutely adore. I can't wait to get back to his class.
When I first got to my AG class, I heard some people talking about someone who was preaching on campus. They didn't say too much about it, but after class, I saw it going on outside. I stopped to watch, and that guy was a hot mess. He was standing on a chair in mis-matched clothes and an ugly hat yelling about how he was a preacher and was completely perfect. Apparently, everyone else was messed up and chose to be that way. One of his fellow nutjobs was standing close by filming it. They wore religious t-shirts and buttons that declared their hatred for sin and porn. From the responses I heard in the crowd, it seemed like they had probably made some racist comments. I ran into my friend, Abbe, and we hung out for a few minutes listening to his stupidity. It was good to see her, but I'm hoping that the next time we get to hang out we have better entertainment.
I met a guy while waiting in line at the Bursar's Office to get my student ID recoded. He started talking to me, and I wish he had never stopped. He could have talked all day about anything, and I would have listened. I really, really hope I run into him again soon.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Day 14
Our water came back on today. Due to contamination, we are not allowed to use it. No bathroom breaks. No hand-washing. No showers. The building is starting to smell pretty gross, and it's not because of the plumbing problems.
My suitemates chilled out, at least for now. I never talked to my RA about them today, but if they start acting psycho again tonight, I'll be banging on her door most definitely.
I met someone I really like today. I gave her my number, and I hope she calls.
College life is amazing so far, with the exception of the suitemate issue last night and the plumbing stuff. But there are always bumps in the beginning, right?
Classes start tomorrow, and I cannot wait! This is really exciting and just a tiny bit overwhelming. It's going to be an amazing experience. "Going to be"? I guess it already IS!
I'm off to my floor meeting... so I'll leave you with the blog program.
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Dear Britney Spears,
When I was eight, I equated you with God. You're really skanky and kind of stupid. Your ignorance made my long-lasting awkward years even harder. And yet, I am still guilty of listening to your songs even to this day. SIGH.
Paula
My suitemates chilled out, at least for now. I never talked to my RA about them today, but if they start acting psycho again tonight, I'll be banging on her door most definitely.
I met someone I really like today. I gave her my number, and I hope she calls.
College life is amazing so far, with the exception of the suitemate issue last night and the plumbing stuff. But there are always bumps in the beginning, right?
Classes start tomorrow, and I cannot wait! This is really exciting and just a tiny bit overwhelming. It's going to be an amazing experience. "Going to be"? I guess it already IS!
I'm off to my floor meeting... so I'll leave you with the blog program.
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Dear Britney Spears,
When I was eight, I equated you with God. You're really skanky and kind of stupid. Your ignorance made my long-lasting awkward years even harder. And yet, I am still guilty of listening to your songs even to this day. SIGH.
Paula
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I'm Baaack! [Day 13]
So in case you haven't noticed, my blog hasn't been updated for about a week. I didn't have access to the internet, and to be honest, I wouldn't have had the time to blog even if I had.
I moved! I'm living on campus now at the University of Memphis, and I love it! I feel like so much stress has been removed from my life, and it is a wonderful feeling! Classes start Monday, and I'm more anxious than afraid. I'll be more than okay. In other words - I got this.
Anyway, I finally figured out how to connect to the internet on campus. This is especially exciting for me because I feel like I've been cut off from the entire world for a week.
I love my pillow! It's long. It's strong. It's... not a Sir Mix-A-Lot song. I mean it, though. I bought what I think is called a body pillow, and it makes me smile that oooh-it's-so-soft smile. All of you should add them to your wishlists!(Remember my shout out to the fabric softener? My box of Bounce Outdoor Fresh is currently making my once gag-inducing closet smell AWESOME. I told y'all it smelled good!) Dorm or not - hell, bed or not - get one!
I was planning on unpacking everything today, and technically, I suppose I did - if you count midnight until 2:30 in the morning. I literally could NOT sleep with all those boxes piled around my room, and my roommate didn't sleep in our room last night... so I decided I would just get up and start working on getting it together. Currently, it's a little messy and could use a little work, but that will come with time.
Today, our water went out and one of the two elevators broke down. The one that ran the entire time is the one that I've been worrying about - it just seems shaky. If this is a sign of what is to come, I'm sure this will be an interesting year full of many different kinds of learning experiences!
The light above my bed has a K-97 sticker on it on which someone wrote Ludacris' name. Obviously, this light was destined to be mine.
My roommate hasn't been here except to move some of her stuff in yesterday, so we haven't gotten to spend any time getting to know each other yet. Judging from our conversations on facebook chat, I think we're going to get along really well. Our suitemates have yet to meet either of us, but from what I've learned from hearing their constant cuss/yell combo, they have already decided they do not like - scratch that - they have already decided they hate us. Also, they're pissed off because I turned the thermostat temperature up to 62 this morning when I couldn't handle their chosen setting of 55 anymore.
I think this is going to be a very good - and very cold - year.
Going back to my blogging program and picking up where I left off, today is day 13.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Dear Train,
I love you, and that's really all I can say.
Paula
I moved! I'm living on campus now at the University of Memphis, and I love it! I feel like so much stress has been removed from my life, and it is a wonderful feeling! Classes start Monday, and I'm more anxious than afraid. I'll be more than okay. In other words - I got this.
Anyway, I finally figured out how to connect to the internet on campus. This is especially exciting for me because I feel like I've been cut off from the entire world for a week.
I love my pillow! It's long. It's strong. It's... not a Sir Mix-A-Lot song. I mean it, though. I bought what I think is called a body pillow, and it makes me smile that oooh-it's-so-soft smile. All of you should add them to your wishlists!(Remember my shout out to the fabric softener? My box of Bounce Outdoor Fresh is currently making my once gag-inducing closet smell AWESOME. I told y'all it smelled good!) Dorm or not - hell, bed or not - get one!
I was planning on unpacking everything today, and technically, I suppose I did - if you count midnight until 2:30 in the morning. I literally could NOT sleep with all those boxes piled around my room, and my roommate didn't sleep in our room last night... so I decided I would just get up and start working on getting it together. Currently, it's a little messy and could use a little work, but that will come with time.
Today, our water went out and one of the two elevators broke down. The one that ran the entire time is the one that I've been worrying about - it just seems shaky. If this is a sign of what is to come, I'm sure this will be an interesting year full of many different kinds of learning experiences!
The light above my bed has a K-97 sticker on it on which someone wrote Ludacris' name. Obviously, this light was destined to be mine.
My roommate hasn't been here except to move some of her stuff in yesterday, so we haven't gotten to spend any time getting to know each other yet. Judging from our conversations on facebook chat, I think we're going to get along really well. Our suitemates have yet to meet either of us, but from what I've learned from hearing their constant cuss/yell combo, they have already decided they do not like - scratch that - they have already decided they hate us. Also, they're pissed off because I turned the thermostat temperature up to 62 this morning when I couldn't handle their chosen setting of 55 anymore.
I think this is going to be a very good - and very cold - year.
Going back to my blogging program and picking up where I left off, today is day 13.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Dear Train,
I love you, and that's really all I can say.
Paula
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Yesterday Was Day 12...
So after I got back from Mississippi yesterday, I found out I didn't have to pick the boys up from school. I decided to turn off my phone and computer and ignore technology for a while. It was really nice. Oh, and I actually got a few things packed!
I move in less than a week, people! LESS THAN ONE WEEK. Those words sound so fantastic.
Brandon and I got offered internships with Rebuild Government - SO exciting! We have orientation Monday night. Word on the street is, they're flexible and work around your schedule - even more exciting!
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
My skin - I am plagued with minor acne issues.
I move in less than a week, people! LESS THAN ONE WEEK. Those words sound so fantastic.
Brandon and I got offered internships with Rebuild Government - SO exciting! We have orientation Monday night. Word on the street is, they're flexible and work around your schedule - even more exciting!
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
My skin - I am plagued with minor acne issues.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Day 11 Is Just, Well... Day 11
Today was a decent day, not too full or too empty. It was kind of nice. :)
I shopped a little and went through some of the stuff in my room. I have so much packing to do that it is ridiculous! My belongings have completely taken over an entire bedroom at my Nana and Papa's house. Granted, it's a tiny bedroom that already had a lot of space taken up with furniture, but still... that's enough to make me realize how close I am to actually moving!
I'm so beyond excited right now! I move a week from tomorrow!! Only 8 more days until my life can FINALLY begin!
I didn't have the boys this afternoon, and I miss the little stinkers. Tomorrow we're supposed to be going to the park when I pick them up from school, so hopefully it won't be raining.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
My eyes, my hair, and [weirdly enough] my hands.
I shopped a little and went through some of the stuff in my room. I have so much packing to do that it is ridiculous! My belongings have completely taken over an entire bedroom at my Nana and Papa's house. Granted, it's a tiny bedroom that already had a lot of space taken up with furniture, but still... that's enough to make me realize how close I am to actually moving!
I'm so beyond excited right now! I move a week from tomorrow!! Only 8 more days until my life can FINALLY begin!
I didn't have the boys this afternoon, and I miss the little stinkers. Tomorrow we're supposed to be going to the park when I pick them up from school, so hopefully it won't be raining.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
My eyes, my hair, and [weirdly enough] my hands.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Day 10... Is Almost Over?
Today was just... nuts.
I'm not mad at anyone or giving up on anything, y'all. I'm still excited about school and moving, and I wish it'd hurry up and get here.
I'm tired, and I kind of want to go shopping again. Obviously, I should NOT be rethinking that credit card decision.
Drew and Blake both had a great day at school. Drew finished his project, and I think it looks great. Blake made a telephone with the leftover poster board. Then we wrote down our hopes and dreams, and Drew actually had one today. To call me a proud aunt would be an understatement. We're going to surprise their mom with them when she gets home. :)
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Too many people to count.
I'm not mad at anyone or giving up on anything, y'all. I'm still excited about school and moving, and I wish it'd hurry up and get here.
I'm tired, and I kind of want to go shopping again. Obviously, I should NOT be rethinking that credit card decision.
Drew and Blake both had a great day at school. Drew finished his project, and I think it looks great. Blake made a telephone with the leftover poster board. Then we wrote down our hopes and dreams, and Drew actually had one today. To call me a proud aunt would be an understatement. We're going to surprise their mom with them when she gets home. :)
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Too many people to count.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Day 09 Is Just Really NOT My Day...
As you can tell from the title of this blog post, I haven't had the most spectacular day. I'm exhausted and sick of driving all over Greater Memphis to shop - not that I did much shopping. Oh, and to top it all off, half a gallon of bleach got spilled in my backseat.
To say that I'm completely pissed off would be quite the understatement, and to tell you the truth, it's not so much that I'm mad about the bleach being spilled. I'm mad because the person who spilled it didn't apologize and couldn't seem to care less that she has forever ruined the upholstery in my car.
But you know what? I'll get over it. Friendship is a lot more important than car upholstery. And it could just be that she doesn't know what to say - we've all been there.
My schedule is crazy right now, and it seems like people are constantly trying to get me to do stuff with them. I will admit very quickly that I have issues with turning people down. It's my fault that my schedule is too full. But at the same time that I'm blaming myself, I can't help but blame them a little, too. People these days are so rude when you do it that sometimes I'm too afraid of their attitudes to say no to them. So that's something I should work on - not caring.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
My friends from middle school? I don't know.
To say that I'm completely pissed off would be quite the understatement, and to tell you the truth, it's not so much that I'm mad about the bleach being spilled. I'm mad because the person who spilled it didn't apologize and couldn't seem to care less that she has forever ruined the upholstery in my car.
But you know what? I'll get over it. Friendship is a lot more important than car upholstery. And it could just be that she doesn't know what to say - we've all been there.
My schedule is crazy right now, and it seems like people are constantly trying to get me to do stuff with them. I will admit very quickly that I have issues with turning people down. It's my fault that my schedule is too full. But at the same time that I'm blaming myself, I can't help but blame them a little, too. People these days are so rude when you do it that sometimes I'm too afraid of their attitudes to say no to them. So that's something I should work on - not caring.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
My friends from middle school? I don't know.
Monday, August 16, 2010
It's Day 08, and I'm Worn Out... and Happy!
Monterica and I shopped for over 4 hours. It wasn't light shopping. I'm talking hardcore, we-meant-business shopping. Then we came back to Whit's house to cool off and have lunch before picking up the boys from school. They both had good days, and we've had a pretty peaceful afternoon. Soon, we'll be shopping again. It's not that I don't like shopping. Actually, I love it.
My problem is that I never sleep anymore. I was still tired when I got up this morning, and now I'm completely exhausted. I keep saying that I never realized how much work it was just to get ready for college. There's so much to do and buy, and sometimes I don't think I'll ever get finished.
On the plus side, today I got some REALLY cute shoes that were originally $70 for only $12! I was definitely born to shop! :)
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like crap.
Repeat after me: birth mother.
My problem is that I never sleep anymore. I was still tired when I got up this morning, and now I'm completely exhausted. I keep saying that I never realized how much work it was just to get ready for college. There's so much to do and buy, and sometimes I don't think I'll ever get finished.
On the plus side, today I got some REALLY cute shoes that were originally $70 for only $12! I was definitely born to shop! :)
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like crap.
Repeat after me: birth mother.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
A Day of Rest... Except Without the Resting - Days 06 & 07
I didn't blog Saturday. I'm declaring yesterday my official "day of rest" - not that I ever actually rested. I shopped all day, settled for surviving all afternoon, and partied like it was 2009 all night. With the exception of the rough afternoon, it turned out to be a pretty decent day. Today was very similar, and it was crazy, too.
I absolutely cannot wait to move! 12 days, people! And considering that it's getting close to 10pm, it's actually closer to 11 days. I am SO excited! I can't wait to start school either. This is what I've spent my entire life waiting for - I can't believe it's finally happening. I AM SO FREAKIN' THRILLED ABOUT ALL OF IT! Except all the money I'm spending - I could do without that.
I bought what I am now considering to be THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM for my dorm room today - Bounce [outdoor fresh!] dryer sheets. My moms use that as their fabric softener, and I LOVE how it smells. Whenever I hug them, I just can't get over how good it smells. So I bought some. I don't ever want to buy any other kind. It's my new favorite scent. I never thought I'd love fabric softener enough to give it an entire section in a blog post, but here I am... and boy does it smell good! :)
Time for the blogging plan! Yesterday was day 06 & today is day 07.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
I hope I never have to lose another person I'm extremely close to. Honestly, I almost didn't make it through losing Mandi. I don't know if I could handle that again.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Easy peasy, lemon squeezey. My mommies!
I absolutely cannot wait to move! 12 days, people! And considering that it's getting close to 10pm, it's actually closer to 11 days. I am SO excited! I can't wait to start school either. This is what I've spent my entire life waiting for - I can't believe it's finally happening. I AM SO FREAKIN' THRILLED ABOUT ALL OF IT! Except all the money I'm spending - I could do without that.
I bought what I am now considering to be THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM for my dorm room today - Bounce [outdoor fresh!] dryer sheets. My moms use that as their fabric softener, and I LOVE how it smells. Whenever I hug them, I just can't get over how good it smells. So I bought some. I don't ever want to buy any other kind. It's my new favorite scent. I never thought I'd love fabric softener enough to give it an entire section in a blog post, but here I am... and boy does it smell good! :)
Time for the blogging plan! Yesterday was day 06 & today is day 07.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
I hope I never have to lose another person I'm extremely close to. Honestly, I almost didn't make it through losing Mandi. I don't know if I could handle that again.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Easy peasy, lemon squeezey. My mommies!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Day 05 & People Who Have Redecorated My Brain
Before I get into my actual blog post today, I'm going to get the section I reserve for my blog plan out of the way. Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Hm... this is hard because there are a lot of things I want to do before I die. I don't have a bucket list or anything, but I have a few things noted in my head that I'd like to see happen. If I'm just naming one - I want to be a mom. There - I said it. I've already blogged about being teased by my friends for being overly maternal. The truth is, I've always wanted to be a mom. Like I tried to explain in a previous post, I have loved children for longer than I can remember. Back in the day, I wanted to have children and give them everything my birth mother never gave me. These days, I want to be a mom and give my children everything that my adoptive mothers HAVE given me. Except my children will have a little bit more - they'll have two adoring grandmas to love them, too.
The idea for today's blog comes from my friend Katie who blogged about ageism and friends, and she included pictures and descriptions of people who had inspired her and changed her life, most [if not all] of whom were older or younger than her. I'm not going to get into talking about ageism - you'd never shut me up. I will, however, steal the second half of her blog idea.
In third grade, I thought Ms. Renfrow [now Mrs. Ables] hung the moon. She made school wonderful for me, and she made my especially difficult life a little more bearable. Even after I moved up a few grades, she still always made time to visit with me at school. After my sixth grade year, she left and went to teach at a different school and I went on to middle school, so we lost touch. Fast forward six big years - I say big because a LOT happened during those years [I basically grew up, while she was getting married and having three children] - I ran into her at Jerry's Sno Cones recently and got caught up. She might have been 25 when I was 8, but I will never stop believing that our bond was stronger than in a typical teacher-student relationship.
Middle school was really hard for me. Another teacher came along and befriended me - Ms. McClanahan. She was my English teacher, but she made me want to do my best in everything, both in and outside of school. I hung out in her room after school every day until she left, just talking to her about whatever was going on with the two of us. For a few years, I would go back and visit before school started and spend a day or two helping her get her room decorated and ready to go. We shared so many special moments.
After finishing eighth grade, I had my first Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop [TYWW] summer experience, where I had the absolute honor of becoming friends with Katie Jones [now DePalma]. I feel like Katie and I had that kind of instant bond that just happens. She is an incredible person. There's no one I'd rather hug. We keep up with each other on facebook, but to be honest, we don't talk as much as I wish we did. But this is the 21st century - our schedules are insanely busy, and that's okay. We talk when we need to, and when we do, we pick up where we left off.
Out of nowhere, my two adoptive moms came into my life, and I am so glad. They might be my mothers, but we are most definitely friends. I would rather talk to them than anyone else. It's like we have a real-life Gilmore Girls thing going on, except now there are two Lorelais... which is AWESOME.
Dana is like a sister to me. I had the same kind of instant bond with her that I had with Katie. We are the weirdos that look at each other and wink at the same exact time. I call her Damien and say she's almost too gay to function [Mean Girls reference, anyone?]. She calls me by my middle name and tells me I'm pretty. Her being older than me has never stopped us from being friends. But really, she's more like a soul sister to me.
***I only used people who are currently living in my post. For instance, my big sister [best friend] was left out because she is no longer living. I don't know why - I guess maybe I just wanted this to be a lighter, non-depressing blog. Also, if you weren't mentioned, it doesn't mean you haven't changed my life or that I don't love you. That's not the case at all. Everyone I meet changes my life in some way. These are just the people who have "redecorated my brain" as Katie would put it. :)
Hm... this is hard because there are a lot of things I want to do before I die. I don't have a bucket list or anything, but I have a few things noted in my head that I'd like to see happen. If I'm just naming one - I want to be a mom. There - I said it. I've already blogged about being teased by my friends for being overly maternal. The truth is, I've always wanted to be a mom. Like I tried to explain in a previous post, I have loved children for longer than I can remember. Back in the day, I wanted to have children and give them everything my birth mother never gave me. These days, I want to be a mom and give my children everything that my adoptive mothers HAVE given me. Except my children will have a little bit more - they'll have two adoring grandmas to love them, too.
The idea for today's blog comes from my friend Katie who blogged about ageism and friends, and she included pictures and descriptions of people who had inspired her and changed her life, most [if not all] of whom were older or younger than her. I'm not going to get into talking about ageism - you'd never shut me up. I will, however, steal the second half of her blog idea.
"Some friends change your whole world. They make you reimagine your life. They redecorate your brain." -Katie Jones DePalma
In third grade, I thought Ms. Renfrow [now Mrs. Ables] hung the moon. She made school wonderful for me, and she made my especially difficult life a little more bearable. Even after I moved up a few grades, she still always made time to visit with me at school. After my sixth grade year, she left and went to teach at a different school and I went on to middle school, so we lost touch. Fast forward six big years - I say big because a LOT happened during those years [I basically grew up, while she was getting married and having three children] - I ran into her at Jerry's Sno Cones recently and got caught up. She might have been 25 when I was 8, but I will never stop believing that our bond was stronger than in a typical teacher-student relationship.
us at Jerry's, July 2010
Middle school was really hard for me. Another teacher came along and befriended me - Ms. McClanahan. She was my English teacher, but she made me want to do my best in everything, both in and outside of school. I hung out in her room after school every day until she left, just talking to her about whatever was going on with the two of us. For a few years, I would go back and visit before school started and spend a day or two helping her get her room decorated and ready to go. We shared so many special moments.
Ms. McClanahan on vacation in 2009
After finishing eighth grade, I had my first Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop [TYWW] summer experience, where I had the absolute honor of becoming friends with Katie Jones [now DePalma]. I feel like Katie and I had that kind of instant bond that just happens. She is an incredible person. There's no one I'd rather hug. We keep up with each other on facebook, but to be honest, we don't talk as much as I wish we did. But this is the 21st century - our schedules are insanely busy, and that's okay. We talk when we need to, and when we do, we pick up where we left off.
Katie and I, July 2008
still July 2008, but this time we're in our more natural states
Out of nowhere, my two adoptive moms came into my life, and I am so glad. They might be my mothers, but we are most definitely friends. I would rather talk to them than anyone else. It's like we have a real-life Gilmore Girls thing going on, except now there are two Lorelais... which is AWESOME.
Mom and Mama, 2010
Dana is like a sister to me. I had the same kind of instant bond with her that I had with Katie. We are the weirdos that look at each other and wink at the same exact time. I call her Damien and say she's almost too gay to function [Mean Girls reference, anyone?]. She calls me by my middle name and tells me I'm pretty. Her being older than me has never stopped us from being friends. But really, she's more like a soul sister to me.
blurry picture of Dana and I from July, 2010
Dana, August 2010
***I only used people who are currently living in my post. For instance, my big sister [best friend] was left out because she is no longer living. I don't know why - I guess maybe I just wanted this to be a lighter, non-depressing blog. Also, if you weren't mentioned, it doesn't mean you haven't changed my life or that I don't love you. That's not the case at all. Everyone I meet changes my life in some way. These are just the people who have "redecorated my brain" as Katie would put it. :)
Day 04 = 12 Hours Overdue... But Y'all Will Live and I Will, Too.
I had a really fun day yesterday hanging out at Monterica's house with her, her cousin, and her 2 y/o niece (and later a couple of her friends from high school).
Then I had the fantastic night I've been waiting for all week - I finally got to see my favorite California cousin, Jessi! I hardly ever get to see her (maybe once every 2-3 years?), so every moment is a treasured one. We got to hang out with the gang last night, and it was a very enjoyable evening. I was excited when I got to spend a few minutes alone with her, and we talked about, well, a bunch of random [but cool] stuff. I think we're a lot more alike than I ever realized, even just in our attitudes toward different things.
Jessi likes Kat Von D and promised to go with me if I get in to see her when I visit California. I know, right?! I think my love for her doubled, possibly even tripled, when she said that.
After we hung out, I had some more important things to get done when I got home before I went to bed, so my blog didn't get posted last night. It's a little late, but I'm not upset about it. If you are, we should probably have a quick conversation about the issues you're facing... or a long one, depending on the number of issues.
For a good while, I've been wanting to go to California to visit for a couple of weeks. I know people that are kind of spread out from SoCal to the middle of the state, and when I go I want to stay for a while and see all of them - in other words, I'll get to see several people and a LOT of California. Now I seriously can't wait to go... anybody got a couple thousand dollars they don't want anymore?
Day 04 of my blogging plan: something you have to forgive someone for.
Eventually, I have to forgive B for being such an idiot. Notice I said, "eventually."
Then I had the fantastic night I've been waiting for all week - I finally got to see my favorite California cousin, Jessi! I hardly ever get to see her (maybe once every 2-3 years?), so every moment is a treasured one. We got to hang out with the gang last night, and it was a very enjoyable evening. I was excited when I got to spend a few minutes alone with her, and we talked about, well, a bunch of random [but cool] stuff. I think we're a lot more alike than I ever realized, even just in our attitudes toward different things.
Jessi likes Kat Von D and promised to go with me if I get in to see her when I visit California. I know, right?! I think my love for her doubled, possibly even tripled, when she said that.
After we hung out, I had some more important things to get done when I got home before I went to bed, so my blog didn't get posted last night. It's a little late, but I'm not upset about it. If you are, we should probably have a quick conversation about the issues you're facing... or a long one, depending on the number of issues.
For a good while, I've been wanting to go to California to visit for a couple of weeks. I know people that are kind of spread out from SoCal to the middle of the state, and when I go I want to stay for a while and see all of them - in other words, I'll get to see several people and a LOT of California. Now I seriously can't wait to go... anybody got a couple thousand dollars they don't want anymore?
Day 04 of my blogging plan: something you have to forgive someone for.
Eventually, I have to forgive B for being such an idiot. Notice I said, "eventually."
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
I Love My Moms... and Day 03.
I waited a long time for them (roughly 18 years), but I have the best two mothers on the planet. Seriously. I'm always glad they're in my life and am appreciative for the things they do on a DAILY basis for me, but on days like today, I'm extra grateful. Whenever I have a problem, one or both of them is right there to help me... always. They genuinely care, and I can't tell you how much time they've spent just listening to me when I needed someone to talk to. I could never ask for anything or anyone better - and that's good, because it doesn't exist.
Family - a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for.
Mother - something or someone that gives rise to or exercises protecting care over something else.
"Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind... or forgotten."
-Lilo & Stitch
Dear Mom and Mama,
Thank you for giving me a true-to-definition family, for being my mothers (again, true-to-definition), and for never leaving me behind. I love you more than you will ever know.
Paula
According to the plan, the topic today is: something I have to forgive myself for.
Ooh, that's hard. I guess more than anything, I have to forgive myself for being naive when I was younger (like say, 14 maybe) - or rather, I should forgive myself for things that I did when I was much more naive because I was younger. I went through a period of time where I made some really bad decisions for myself, and it all started in November of 2006 - my freshman year of high school. The beginning of it was in no way related to school or any of my friends from school, but needless to say, I still wound up with a reputation. At this point, I still haven't forgiven myself for it, and I should - if for no other purpose than being able to move on.
Family - a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for.
Mother - something or someone that gives rise to or exercises protecting care over something else.
"Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind... or forgotten."
-Lilo & Stitch
Dear Mom and Mama,
Thank you for giving me a true-to-definition family, for being my mothers (again, true-to-definition), and for never leaving me behind. I love you more than you will ever know.
Paula
According to the plan, the topic today is: something I have to forgive myself for.
Ooh, that's hard. I guess more than anything, I have to forgive myself for being naive when I was younger (like say, 14 maybe) - or rather, I should forgive myself for things that I did when I was much more naive because I was younger. I went through a period of time where I made some really bad decisions for myself, and it all started in November of 2006 - my freshman year of high school. The beginning of it was in no way related to school or any of my friends from school, but needless to say, I still wound up with a reputation. At this point, I still haven't forgiven myself for it, and I should - if for no other purpose than being able to move on.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
[Day 02] All Sorts of Things Are Happening...
Today has been a mixture of many things. I've been hanging out with my friend, Monterica, and watching my nephew, Blake, all day. We took Blake with us to run some errands and came back to his house. After some play time and an episode of Scooby Doo, we went to Burger King. Then on the way back home, we stopped by Snowden to visit for a little bit, and we introduced Blake to some of our old teachers. He really enjoyed himself, and to be honest, we loved it. I have been missing Snowden a lot lately, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to visit again. It was also quite funny - most of my old teachers thought Blake was my son, instead of my nephew! That was pretty hilarious.
Stopping by Snowden made me feel so much older. Of course, having people mistake my six year old nephew for my son made me feel pretty old, too! But really - having so many people ask me what I'm doing "now" was thought-provoking. This is now and that was then, and by now, then was so long ago that it's not relevant anymore - confusing, I know, but work with me here. Monterica and I were also talking about how old we thought we were in eighth grade. Today we saw many eighth graders, and every single one of them looked so young - they looked 13. Even though I feel old (and at times, consider myself to be so), I'm STILL young. I have so much to learn and so much left to do in my lifetime. Being young, contrary to popular belief, doesn't mean I'm stupid and certainly doesn't lessen my worth. Enjoying my youth doesn't make me a bad person, nor does it mean I'm immature - those are completely separate choices.
It is true that my age is getting to be a larger number all the time. I remember being four and thinking I would never be an adult. My childhood years have come to pass, and I don't feel any different. Age really is just a number... and, for most people, the grass is just as green on one side as it is on the other.
Number 02 on my blogging plan: Something I love about myself.
I love my heart. I legitimately try my hardest to be as nice to others as I can be, and I feel like I genuinely love people more than the "Average Joe".
I also love that I'm so maternal. People have always laughed at me for it, but I enjoy being that way. I like that I look out for my friends and that I enjoy being around children. That's who I am and always will be... and, unlike a lot of people, I don't consider it to be a bad thing.
Stopping by Snowden made me feel so much older. Of course, having people mistake my six year old nephew for my son made me feel pretty old, too! But really - having so many people ask me what I'm doing "now" was thought-provoking. This is now and that was then, and by now, then was so long ago that it's not relevant anymore - confusing, I know, but work with me here. Monterica and I were also talking about how old we thought we were in eighth grade. Today we saw many eighth graders, and every single one of them looked so young - they looked 13. Even though I feel old (and at times, consider myself to be so), I'm STILL young. I have so much to learn and so much left to do in my lifetime. Being young, contrary to popular belief, doesn't mean I'm stupid and certainly doesn't lessen my worth. Enjoying my youth doesn't make me a bad person, nor does it mean I'm immature - those are completely separate choices.
It is true that my age is getting to be a larger number all the time. I remember being four and thinking I would never be an adult. My childhood years have come to pass, and I don't feel any different. Age really is just a number... and, for most people, the grass is just as green on one side as it is on the other.
Number 02 on my blogging plan: Something I love about myself.
I love my heart. I legitimately try my hardest to be as nice to others as I can be, and I feel like I genuinely love people more than the "Average Joe".
I also love that I'm so maternal. People have always laughed at me for it, but I enjoy being that way. I like that I look out for my friends and that I enjoy being around children. That's who I am and always will be... and, unlike a lot of people, I don't consider it to be a bad thing.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Starting This Blog; Day 01
I'm easing myself into blogging with a 30-day blogging program that I got from my friend Lorie. Eventually, I want to turn my blog into a place for my daily thoughts. Follow me! :)
Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like crap.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.
Going along with the plan, I'll start with day 01 - something I hate about myself.
I hate that I have a really low self-esteem. I've been working on it for a while, and with the addition of some really wonderful people in my life, it has gotten a lot better over the past several months. However, it still needs a lot of work.
Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like crap.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.
Going along with the plan, I'll start with day 01 - something I hate about myself.
I hate that I have a really low self-esteem. I've been working on it for a while, and with the addition of some really wonderful people in my life, it has gotten a lot better over the past several months. However, it still needs a lot of work.
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