Steeler Nation: Growing up Pittsburgh

Dearest Readers
I returned to my illustrious home city this weekend, and decided it’s high time I described the beauty of Steeler Sunday (especially after we defeated the Raiders…well done).
Here is my image of Sundays in Pittsburgh: It’s that day of the week where it’s no longer weekend, and it’s just on the cusp of the week. Churchgoers head to mass and return to change from dress clothes to jerseys. The tortilla chips are set out beside the salsa and the cheese dip. Crowds gather and everyone sits in their assigned seat (it’s a superstitious time). The terrible towels come out. Businesses close, and it’s game on. The Steelers will win, and if not, well then, it was the refs fault, right?
Now, just to give it to you straight, this post is coming from a girl who hates sports on every level. I don’t like to watch them, and I hate even more to play them. (The whole concept of throwing and catching just involves too much hand-eye-coordination for me to handle, thank you very much.) However, when you grow up in Pittsburgh, you are a Steelers fan, period. Black and gold bedecks the town, because it’s the lifeblood of our city. It’s about pride thing and camaraderie. We all rally, one city, under the Rooneys, Steelers fans for life.
I don’t know quite what it is about the team. Obviously, it helps that we have done well in recent years. My marching band (yes, I was in the Marching Band….remember that thing about no hand eye coordination?) played in the parade my freshman year when the Steelers won their fifth superbowl. The city was in an uproar, and the crowd was so huge they moshed us. My valuable clarinet was almost stolen on multiple occasions. Then, they won again my senior year, and my friends and I skipped school to see the parade. We were frigid, and we went so far as to hoist our smallest bestie onto a streetlight for better visibility. We all lost our voices screaming for the legendary Steelers, and the Principal even marked it as an excused absence. That’s how much we love our team.
But success isn’t the only reason Pittsburghers love the Steelers, the games are also an excuse to get together. Throughout my highschool career, I knew most weekends I would hang out with my friends once on Friday, once on Saturday, and then once on Sunday for the game. It’s a social event. When I watch with my family, my mom yells at the scream vehemently, my step-dad has given up trying to explain that they can’t hear her, and my brother obsessively checks his fantasy team. It’s a bonding time.
Now, I don’t always make it through the whole game (I know what a travesty!), but being a Steelers fan is not just about watching the game, it’s about the passion. It’s about wearing the jerseys, and learning all the lyrics to “Here We Go Steelers,” and bleeding black and gold. It’s not a sports team in my town, it’s a lifestyle.
Polamalu-ily yours,
Adorkable

ps. this image comes from here

pps. I have been tumbling TWICE A DAY (I know, right?!).....so maybe you should check it out....playedwithchalk.tumblr.com

Happy Girls Are Prettiest

Dearest Readers,
These past few weeks have been a hot mess of exams and general shenaniganry...however,it is finally starting to slow down in the lull between midterms and finals. (once finals hit, I will be lucky to see my room for longer than the 6 hours a day I am sleeping.) My past few weeks can be summed up by this little poetic moment I had a week or so ago:
What a decadent fall night, she thought from her perch by the library window. She sighed woefully, pushing her hesitant pencil forward to complete the task at hand. She shifted her eyes back to the page, but her mind…her mind danced with the leaves.
(I know...I know...I could be the next robert frost...bahaha...)
But seriously, I feel like I have been trapped indoors as the leaves have gushed gorgeous autumn-y shades, so I have been toiling to find personal inspiration during this time. These are inspirations I have found on other blogs lately, and feel like they are worth sharing, so that one of these may brighten your day, as they have so oft brightened mine!



This comes from a new fave blog called: ache....it's super presh...despite the sort of depressing sounding name. This just made me giggle, because it pretty accurately depicts how I try to live.




This just conjures images of people laying amongst the leaves and pointing to everything beautiful...how can that not make you smile...right now the beautiful thing I can see is my pumpkin franklin who is miraculously still alive sitting on my desk! (remember, faithful readers, that I got franklin at the Paw Paw festival a few weeks ago) well he is alive and well...my fab pal. and all the credit for this pic goes to the Words I Love web page...that I currently love myself (see how I made a joke there...i love words i love...heh heh heh).


This is a print available from The Black Apple's Etsy. If you are not already an etsy afficionado, which you should be, the website sells all handmade art work. It is so fun to explore....or to distract you from the homework you probably should be doing. But as I have been spending all my spare time reading Harry Potter, this suits me pretty well.



How sick is this bike??!! I want it right now....and I want it blow bubbles out the back while I'm at it. This picture comes from a flickr collection by intrepidacious. I just think this is so creative, and hilarious when juxtaposed against the construction sight behind it.

Well those are all the images I have for now, but I decided I am going to continue collecting and sharing images on a tumblr (a type of blog this is more conducive to sharing pictures)...and my tumblr is called The Girl Who Played With Chalk (pretty clever...right?). It has all these images and more, because I want this blog to be focused on words for now. I hope these fun interwebs images have inspired you a bit, or lead you to more pictures that you like (that's how I found these). In my own real life, I have been inspired by seeing my little brother's first homecoming (gush!), the changing fall leaves, playing in pumpkin patches, and looking forward to my trip this weekend to....THE RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY AND/OR FEAR!! How sick is that going to be (though I will miss Athens halloween...but really, it's okay in the name of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.) Moral of the story is: get inspired and keep finding ways to inspire yourself as the seasons change and you are trapped more and more indoors.

Hope you all are doing well this fine and fabulous fall day!

Happily,
Adorkable

ps. new blog name possibility: the girl who played with chalk...thoughts?

Harry Potter: My Anti-Drug

Dearest Readers,
I am a Harry Potter-aholic. I admit it plainly. They are the series that I have and will reread dozens of times like a drug addict and with the same fervor I experienced upon first reading. I will get lost in the Quidditch matches, the trips to Hogsmeade, the duels with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and the anticipation of Ron and Hermoine (the ultimate couple!). In the past week, I reread the entire 870 pages of the fifth book. (This disturbs me and should disturb you, imagine if I devoted this time to other things…I would accomplish so much!)
For those of you who don’t love the HP (you are wrong, btw), this post still applies to you. Because this post’s not really about HP, it’s about the fact that we all have habits for our own sanity; Actions we have to do by ourselves in order to continue interacting with the outside world without being grumpy. Some paint. Others dance. I read (at this time, Harry Potter). Reading is this form of catharsis for me. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I find myself enchanted by books, and completely lose contact with reality. It’s glorious.
The reason Harry Potter is so specifically gripping is hard to pin-point. As many have pointed out, it’s not like they are the most well-written books of all time. (Though she vastly improves as the series continues.) It’s the characters. They are so full of life, as are the settings and plots. I want to fly and fight and attend a school where the paintings talk and the staircases move. I just have this strong desire to be there, to live as they do. Why am I grabbed by this fantastical and unrealistic passion? I wish I could tell you.
These books also represent my childhood. My parents read them to me before they were popular after my dad’s friend from work recommended them (I think I was in 3rd grade at the time). I quickly became frustrated with waiting until each evening to hear the story, and started reading them on my own. They gripped me like no other book ever has in my life (and I am a bookworm to the max…I mean seriously, I go by the pseudo-name Adorkable). I have been to every midnight book release and every midnight movie premiere. When I finished the last book, I cried (I’m not ashamed to admit this), because it was like an end to era of my own life. (When the movies are over, I will cry again for sure.) These characters carried me through the shaky middle school years and the steadily growing self-esteem of high school years and follow me as I try to find my way through college. They ground me (which is ironic considering I feel like they take me somewhere far away). They serve as a constant and a solstice. I know it must sound bizarre to those who do not know the pages of these Hogwarts-based novels, but everyone has that activity that they do in their spare time that makes them feel like they have taken a breath of fresh air and makes the load on their shoulders a little lighter. (I could make commercials: Harry Potter: My Anti-Drug…tee hee, I bet those would go over well.)
Overall, I want everyone to reconnect with their soothing measures. (Try to keep it from getting out of control….870 pages in a week is a bit much to be honest.) But I think that we stray from these activities when we are stressed or we are embarrassed (I can’t tell you the number of times I have felt weird when my roommate walks in and I look like a lazy bum just plopped on my bed reading a lil’ HP). But it’s what I do for me. It’s my fun and fabulous me time.
Oh and just to be clear, one day my Hogwarts letter will come, I just know it…Accio Letter!
Wizard-ily,
Adorkable
ps. picture cred goes to bea mondonedo on flickr...gorgeous photo

Paw Paw Paraphernalia...or How I am Taking Control as a Sophomore

Dearest Readers,
I am officially a sophomore now. It doesn’t feel right to say quite yet. Like when you’re 19, but you have said for a year that you are 18 … and you keep thinking that every time you say you’re 19, you’re lying. The first time I had to introduce myself to a group of incoming freshman this year, I accidentally said I was a freshman too. Classic me.
So I guess I am supposed to feel older and wiser now…full of sage knowledge to pass on to freshman passersby. I guess this isn’t true. In fact, the best advice I have to give a freshman is to take no one’s advice. You are going to have to figure your way out here in college, so you are making the choices. Even when you act totally out of character because it’s the “college” thing to do, you’ll figure yourself out. It’s like those awful trial and error problems from … like … third grade math.College is all about winging it. But enough hoighty-toighty sounding witticisms, and on to more fun topics: like more sage knowledge…or what the heck did I learn as a freshman that is changing my attitude this year. (I know more about me…so selfish) But I really do think it’s interesting, this conversation that we have with ourselves on a daily basis: what are we going to do today? How are we going to go about doing it? (Most of my conversations in the morning start with: is it time to sleep again, because I’m really digging this sleep thing.) We have total control from the beginning of the day how our day will go.
I feel like that is mainly what I learned from the past year: I am totally in control of my own happiness. I used to feel like some days I was in a bad mood, and I just had to tough it out. No more. I will take a bike ride, I will go to Pilates, I will make some delicious chai tea. I always felt anal retentive asking myself: am I happy today? (I mean seriously, who does that? First of all it kind of makes me feel like I have multiple personality disorder, but mostly, I just feel like a major control freak … which is not entirely out of the question.) However, it is impressive sometimes to see how I respond to myself … I even thought of writing down at the end of the day one thing that made me really happy so I could log my own construction of happiness, but even I thought that was a little much. It is fun to think about though…like what did I do today that made me especially happy…and every time you answer the question, you learn more about what makes you happy (I am clearly struggling for a synonym for happy). I know it must sound so naïve and optimistic to be saying I just want to be happy, but honestly, what more do I want at the end of the day (other than making others happy in the process, because contrary to this current blog entry, I do care about others outside myself). So today I decided I’d write what made me happy today, because…well because, it’s a cute tale mostly and I figure if you read this far, you will probably keep going.

I went to the Pawpaw festival today. I know, I know, just the name sounds fun-filled. (Background knowledge: the pawpaw is our state fruit, and we hold the largest pawpaw festival in the world just 10 minutes from Athens…yes it may be the only pawpaw festival in the world, but that is definitely besides the point.) I went last minute with a random hodge-podge of great people. A wonderful woman in a balloon hat made and us all free balloon hats (they had crazy flowers going off of them and spirals … they were freaking magical), and we donated a dollar for ice cream churned on sight from Snowville Creamery (look it up, they do great things). And of course, we tried a pawpaw. Naysayers be damned, it was actually good. I would describe it as a banana but with more citrus in it. It is officially the weirdest textured fruit of all time---like slimy pulpy nastiness…but it tastes surprisingly delightful. The festival is in Albany Ohio and it simply gorgeous. We went just as the sun was setting over the water (I know gag at my surprisingly Monet-like imagery), but it was just stunning (see picture that I myself took…I know, I know, I am a woman of many talents, and so modest too). We also bought mini pumpkins for a dollar. The man who sold them to us was glad to hear I plan to keep mine right by my printer. I named it Franklin. I can already tell we will be best friends, and that he will get along wonderfully with my pencil holder. Overall, it was a kooky night. We were all way too enthusiastic, and it was hilarious. It wasn’t anything fancy, or historic, or crazy expensive…it was just really just…fun. (I know…the word choice of fun is impeccable… synonyms are clearly a struggle this evening.)
Every blog entry I say lesson to be learned like I am writing a Disney short story, but this time I will say lesson that I learned: my night was amazing, because I deemed that it would be. (This doesn’t always work out, mind you, because sometimes it is totally out of your hands.) But honestly, half the effort is getting it through your own head that you will enjoy yourself.
So here I am, 12:17 a.m. on a Saturday morning (technically late-ish on Friday night), and while the majority of my peers are inebriated, I am sitting happily in my dorm after a fantastic evening (I know, I know, I attend the number 2 party school in the nation, what am I doing?!). I am sipping some chai, rereading Harry Potter, and I will probably go to bed soon … and of course, I am having some quality time with my new pal Franklin. I feel content with this. (Franklin, of course, agrees.)
PawPaw-ily,
Adorkable

3 hour tour: Trapped with Twister on the side of the Road

Dearest Readers,

Don’t worry, I’m giving myself a proverbial slap on the wrist for my bad blogging behavior. (isn’t proverbial a great word … it’s a current favorite this summer alongside adulation … I always have favorite words that I am obsessed with using so nerd alert). Anywhoo, so I am currently at work (oh snap rebel), but I have a few minutes of down time (which I normally never have here), so I am using them to my blog-ticious advantage. So on with the promised saga of broken down cars and twister boards.

Background info: I have nine close friends from high school, who I love dearly, and this summer we went to Ocean City Maryland for a week-ish-er. We went last year, because one of the boys has a house there, so we decided to return again…cause it’s fab and fun and sunny and hilarious.

Okay, so five of us, who left a few days early to get back to work, were on our way home from the beach (approximately a 7 hour drive) in my friend’s 109-year-old (slight exaggeration) Subaru—I named it Babu cause if you shorten Subaru to baru it’s kind of close. Thanks to bad luck it took us 9 hours to drive down to the beach, so we were bound and determined to make it home faster.

The drive was smooth and thanks to some left lane driving we were set to make it home in 6.5 hours … isn’t that always when the problem starts; just when you think you are in the clear … sigh. We were an hour and a half from home, it was 3:30 pm, when the driver at the time, who I will call Athletiman, noticed the car was making odd noises, we pulled into a parking lot of a middle school on the side of the highway and sure enough, smoke starts billowing out of the hood of the car. As images of the car exploding into a fire ball and the headline “Teens die in tragic fire incident” leapt to our minds as we sprang from the car in a high-pitched, scream-y panic. Little did we know this was just the beginning of a 3-hour-saga … which I kept dubbing the ‘3 hour tour,’ a line from the theme song of Gilligan’s Island.

While my friend who owned the car, who I will call Lobsterfilm, was on the phone with his dad trying to figure out what the problem was, the 4 of us called our parents to tell them we would be delayed. No end in sight. We called triple A and were told it would be a half hour before they were with us. No biggie. We all peed in the woods by the middle school … marking our territory I guess. 45 minutes passed of sitting by the road…no triple a. We call again and find out they are the wrong road…how reassuring…the people sent to rescue us with the best navigation devices around are lost. This is when the creativity began. We have no clue when Triple A will come rescue us considering we are 5 teenagers who sound like we have no idea what we are doing (because we don’t). We remember that twister, the board game of fun, is in the trunk and Athletiman pulls out his portable i-pod speakers. We bring out all the snacks we brought, set them up picnic style, and party it up. As we awkwardly stretch around the board, very confused cars pass us on the highway … a lot of them beep—no one stops to help—I guess the beep was supposed to be like a “good luck don’t die” beep…moreso it just pissed us all off because it was like they were saying “nah nah nah boo boo we are driving and you aren’t.” An hour and a half later, just as we were putting our left foot on green (and tangling up to a whole new level of awkward), triple a pulled in. I have never been so happy to see a tow truck. They tell us that the car can’t be fixed today, and we can’t drive it home. Well good. We had to call someone’s parents to come drive us home … while we waited another hour and a half, we peed in the woods more, and ate all of our provisions (since it was dinner time at this point). Around 7 they pulled in and I swear we all nearly cried, I wanted to kiss their champagne colored mini van (my loyalty to babu was totally severed now that the car had officially failed us) and we clambered in to watch Toy Story on their dvd player, eat more junk food, and drive home. After getting lost on the way home (of course), we finally made it home by 9:30. It was an 11 and a half hour car ride. 11 and a half hours. Just let that sink in. It’s not that 11 and a half hours is that long, it’s that we had only mentally prepared ourselves for 6 and a half hours. That’s not a fun mental transition. At all.

Lesson to be learned: Anything can be hilarious and a fun experience when turned the right way. We took advantage of the time spent on the side of the road with a little flair…and a game board. So even when you find yourself in the worst pickle yet, just make pickle-ade I guess. I’m not trying to say it won’t still be an un-fun situation, but hey, it makes for a kicking story … or maybe, just a kicking blog entry.

Twister-ly Yours,
Adorkable

ps. like the new layout??

Attend Life With An Accustomed Zeal

Dearest Readers,

I know, I know, I’m the worst blog writer eversies (I haven’t posted in weeks) … to be honest, this was supposed to be my nap time too (in the midst of my 10 hour work day comprised of juxtaposing 4 hour shifts), but I had to wake up early this morning for Whirl Wednesday, so the caffeine buzz from the coffee I drank (I really should never be caffeinated) hasn’t worn off and my jittery fingers felt like bloggin’! So far this has been maybe the best summer of my life (that's the reason the picture is of me...which it isn't normally...it's to show that my happiness is palpable feel free to take some with you when you leave :), and I am so busy soaking it all in it’s hard to find a time to write it all down…

Boy do I have some pieces of witticisms for you kitty cats today! I want to start with my recent inspirations. As gaggable and inane as it may seem, I think it’s cool to keep in mind what you aspire to be at all times (if you keep it in your brain then mayhaps you will one day accomplish it), so here is the inspiration in Jessie’s Brain (a whimsical and bubbly place):

1. My editor Victoria Bradley’s writing, read this article she wrote about David Conrad (who is blue-eyed, beautiful, and incredibly nice to boot…yes I know this first hand) by clicking this link. (STOP: Read that article before you continue reading…I promise you it is worth it.) I love her writing because it’s so personal yet sass-ily sophisticated. She possesses this genuine (and cheeky) human voice coupled with sheer talent. I want to write like her. That’s first on my “when I grow up” checklist.

2. Adorable artwork from curlygirldesigns.com (zomg they have the most adorable everything). I bought two pins (like little pins for a purse) that say: “She attended life with her accustomed zeal” and “She was perfectly comfortable being exceptional.” I lovezzzzz them. They make me smile to myself, giggle on the inside, and remind me of the way I want to live, with tons of energy. I am also purchasing some of the wall artwork, specifically the one that says “’There is a direct correlation between the level of happiness in one’s life and the amount of silliness they allow into it,’ she said ‘I know I’ve done studies.’” Ahhhh that is totes presh (abrev translation: totally precious). How can you wake up to that every morning and not start the day with an unseemly snort of laughter? You can’t. (credit: I found this happy artist’s work at More Than Words on Washington Road when I ran in there one day in the midst of a downpour: they poured my a glass of hot tea, the owner chatted with me like we were old friends, and I sifted through the pins until the rain let up…now that’s quality service.)

3. New rings for my fingers! I am not one to wear pounds of jewelry or make-up (on account of I really have no idea how to really wear make-up and I am 19 so laziness plays a large role), but I am a ring girl. They go with everything, I can wear them everyday, and they never go out of style. I wear three silver rings at all times. At the Pittsburgh’s Arts Festival (gush…my favorite Pittsburgh event of all time), I found this adorable artist who had these rings with small phrases on them. I bought one that said “pursue happiness.” I think that is such a cool concept, like you have to go out and find it. It’s strange how two little words can denote such a big idea, don’t you think. (I also wear two other rings I bought at PGH Art’s Festivals’ past: one that says ‘To Thine Own Self Be True’…I am a Shakespeare nerd after all…and a freshwater pearl pinky ring that I bought from some vender name Hans who I absolutely adore, and look for every year to no avail.)

Right now that is all I have that is inspiring me, yet this summer I can’t stop smiling I am so happy (I know it must sound so ridiculous me gushing like this, but it’s genuine….I’m just oozing with it).

Lesson to be learned: Just to be clear, I am a human who is not happy all of the time, the end of this school year was particularly tough for me. I just figured I’d say that, because whenever I read about really happy people, I always get envious, but I think happiness ebbs and flows just like everything else in life you just have to wait for it to come (or pursue it like my ring commands!).

Oh ps. I am thinking I want to change my blog’s name. “These Streets Lead to OU” doesn’t really describe me, this crazy adorkable child who lives life way too passionately. So I figured that I’d let you, my loving readers, decide on a new name. Here are some of my thoughts: Accustomed Zeal, Exuberance With a Side of Cynicism, Dancing With Myself, and Rings on Her Fingers and Bells on Her Toes. I really want you guys to vote or suggest new names! So please before you click out of this page, take a second to leave a comment with which name you like best (I would really appreciate it).

So now I am off to my glorious job at Bath and Body Works with no sleep, a caffeine buzz that is now officially worn off, and a foolish grin on my face. I am one independent lady with high aspirations!

Accustomed Zeal-ily Yours,

Adorkable

Ps. I have a really good story for my next blog post…let’s just say it involves five teenagers whose car breaks down…but there is twister in the car.

Pps. I wanted to put this up before I go to work so links to the specific pieces and links to the artist who made my ring will be up this evening!!

Deadly Car Accident on Washington Road, a Serious Entry

Dearest Readers,

Warning: This post is serious, like bone chilling serious. No normal adorkable quips and witticisms…just a college girl trying to think about a horrific accident. I won’t be offended if you close this window.

Sometimes, when awful things happen, you get in a funk and all these big abstract ideas and questions and values and thoughts swim around in your brain and you feel like you have no constructive way to deal with them. I try to use words. Black and white soothes me. Syntax. Rhythm. Catharsis. Please know I am not trying to take someone else’s pain and use it for my blog’s benefit…I am using my blog as a personal outlet for the unexplainables that are quietly filling my mind.

At an intersection right by my house, a 20-year-old boy was driving a car high with seven traffic violations over the past few months. He turned a corner without stopping at a stop sign and hit a jogging mother who was pushing a stroller with her 1 year old and 3 year old children. He hit her. The kids were fine, but she died today (a day after the incident). A mother died, and so did the driver’s dreams for the future. I didn’t know any of the parties involved personally, but when a horrific accident like that happens so close to your home, you can’t help but be shaken. (read the full story here) Here are my rambling thoughts that hopefully will help verbalize some of the local readers’ thoughts readers or will at least remind you to be thankful for your life.

My mom used to walk that same street with my brother and I and my neighbor with young toddlers. I turn out of that intersection every single day. It could have been me; it could have been her.

My friend brought up the point: the woman was just going for a jog. She left her house and as she was crossing that street, she was probably thinking about dinner for that night, she may have been annoyed with her kids, or trying to get home in time to change one of their diapers. Menial things. Death was the last thing on her mind. Imagine that. She was 36.

The driver is what keeps catching me up. He was 20. A year older than me and he went to my high school. He was known for drugs, but I never heard about him being a bad kid. He was stupid for driving that way. Obviously, but his future died that day too. He has to live forever with the guilt that he killed this woman…I can’t even imagine the weight of it all on him. He will probably go to prison.

Last year, when I was driving home from the beach with friends, we pulled off as we were lost, and entered a not well-marked intersection. I went slowly, but I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to stop or not, when a bicycle came from out of no where (or so I attest). I screeched on the brakes and he swerved, making it to the sidewalk and falling off of his bike only to stand up unharmed. It was one of those moments where you just can’t believe what almost happened. We pulled off into a parking lot and I was shaking. I wasn’t sure I could drive anymore, and then the biker came to the window. He told me he was the father of 8 and what if I had killed him? He limped off. What if it had been me? What if it had been me?

Another friend and I discussed this: Think of how many moments built to the accident near my house. The mom left a few minutes after her normal time, because the 1 year old was fussy. The driver decided to go a different way home. She stopped to say hi to a neighbor on the way. The driver was changing the radio station and looking down. Every moment lined up to create this. I feel like my small almost incident was my one get out of jail free card, and look at how easily it could have been this.

The hard part for me is that I have nothing constructive to do. So people change their driving habits for a week or a day, what does it take to make a lasting impact? How do I help a family I don’t even know? I can’t help. I can only stare at the lives of strangers, almost shake at the horridness and move forward.

Lesson to be Learned: These events shake you, but they remind you to live each day and appreciate every moment. I know it’s totally cliché, but how can you not think that after hearing something like this? Can you blame me?

So I guess, all I can do is say R.I.P. and I hope everyone who reads this is more aware, because really, it’s the least we can do.

Sincerely,

Adorkable

Starting the Summer Off with Accidental Insults and Ridiculous Adventures

Dearest Readers,

Did you miss me?? (of course you did pfffft) I am very sorry for my 20ish day hiatus. I kept putting it off. Finals week. Coming home. New job. You know the drill…the more I pushed it off the greater the task seemed to loom. As if a blog post is unconquerable or a scary green and blue monster (I don’t know how I chose those colors either). So here I am…you are probably curious, oh loving readers, as to what crazy shenanigans I have been up to and what I, this crazy kid, has to say. Oh readers, have I got stories for you!

Mostly I have been working as an intern for Whirl and Edible Allegheny Magazines. (same office) All I can say is, it’s wonderful. I am working at Bath and Body Works (because scented lotion is my calling). And then I hang with my fabulous friends…and this is where all of my best stories occur.

Adorkabley Embarrassing Moment: Insulting a Room of Strangers

So lately my friends have been on a kick of trying to get out of our bubble-like suburb. So a friend, who I will call Brother Flail, discovered a comedy open mike. Oh kay people, there are several red flags here: the open mike is located at some place called “The Royal,” on a Thursday night, and it’s an open mike…oh dear. Now as a comedy lover and improv performer myself, I was wary, but we decided to go to do something different. It was something different alright. We walked up the creeky stairs to the “lounge:” an empty room over a bar decorated with canvas paintings of bricks (that’s right people, brick photos were used as art). Two people were there when we arrived, and clearly they were startled to see five college-age students arrive. It was shady, however, since no one was there I decided why not perform for just two people and my friends? HAH! (bad idea, never again). Right after I signed up, in walked 5 other comics who added their names to the list. People who had worked to come up with jokes and a plan (I had nothing…but regret of course). Everyone performed aiming their jokes solely at us, because we were the only new audience members. Some were funny, most made jokes about being unemployed or getting a divorce or something equally awkward. It was probably the two most uncomfortable hours of my life (which basically means I basically peed myself laughing and it was totally awesome). I decided, clever me, to perform my forensics (speech and debate) piece from last year: a children’s novel about santa’s daughter. (yes I know this was a bad idea, but it was all I had prepared in any way shape or form). When my turn finally came, my trouble began (because it was smooth sailing before now):

I decided to break the ice, I would talk about how I was in an improv troupe at school so I really respected how they got up in front of people in the name of comedy. That is what I intended to say, but here is what I said instead: “Just wanted to say I’m in an improv troupe, so I know what its like to perform and fail….oh gosh no I meant…I know what it’s like when a joke flops…oh wait no I meant” (at this point I was digging a severe hole, my face had reached a new level of fuchsia and my friends were sitting in the corner guffawing at me…oh expletive) from there I performed a 5 minute flustered, shortened version of my piece. (In front of a bunch of 20-40 aged men who had just performed stand up let it suffice to say it didn’t go over particularly well). I basically sprinted off stage (the show saved me for last btw, because they wanted to end with that gem) and as we were leaving, one of the guys, who was very nice I’m sure but at this point was a 28 year old guy sweating pleasantly through his shirt, asked me if I was an actress and if so could he have my number. (oh goodness was he hitting on me?) To be fair he could have been perfectly innocent in his inquiry, but I mumbled something about being gone most of the summer and ducked away in a dead sprint. As I took the stairs 4 at a time in ungraceful leaps, they yelled down that they hoped to see us next week. I think once was quite enough for me thanks.

Lesson to be learned: Do something different, because even if it doesn’t end up as you planned, you will always come back with a story.

Although I have many more stories for you, my beautiful readers, this is long enough as it is so I will leave you with one little anecdote:

Last night, my friend, who I will call the Maestro, was driving and he loves him some classical music. So the four of us in the car decided it would be fun to drive around late at night, pull up next to cars late at red lights, and blast classical music while dancing as if it was modern music. Imagine their surprise when they see these teens rocking out to Mozart! Hahahaha (how quintessentially adorkable). We switched it up by blasting the music and staring at people or sitting perfectly still or doing the robot or interpretive dancing. Moral of the story is: it was awesome.

Second Lesson to be learned: You don’t need much to do something creative, different, and hilarious.

Do something crazy today! If any of you have any stories of doing something really bizarre and hilarious please share by leaving a comment! (I love comments a whole lot.) More stories of adorkable craziness are on the way!

Tonguetied-ily Yours,

Adorkable

ps. the picture is mine again...just a summer pic!

The End of the Beginning: Reflections of a College Freshman

Dearest Readers,

I am coming to the end of the beginning. How bizarre. If you think about it, this whole blog has been predicated on the premise that I am a mumbling, stumbling freshman … and I am almost not a freshman anymore. When did that happen? It’s like I’ve been in college forever and yet not at all. I feel like I looked to college as this colossal beast that I would conquer with my witty cracks and poised pen, and now I feel like it’s just the way I live, no conquering is really involved. What a strange place I’m in. I feel the need to blather about this, because I know I’m not the only one.

So I am going to dedicate this post to the things I’ve learned. Because Ohio University is on trimesters (which is great for the whole year until right now), I am still in school until mid June (aka next week) while all of my high school friends are already free and up to their general shenaniganry without me, so I feel like I want to be home so badly I am not giving this year the closure it deserves. As much as I’ve complained and hated this or that, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this year as a freshman finding my way. So as I’ve ambled through this year, here is what I’ve found through sheer trial and error (and for some reason I am under the impression that you will want to read it … ):

1. You don’t have to love college all the time. Now don’t get me wrong here people, overall love should exist. But I had myself convinced I had to have the best 4 years of my life so I better love every second. That’s not possible. Don’t panic when you don’t love it sometimes (Not that I ever did that….that would be silly…*I did*). College, like all parts of life, has its ups and downs.

2. Separate yourself from school. It’s easy when you live on campus to be totally caught up in school (aka homework) all the time. Let yourself breathe. You will only focus when you have given yourself a necessary mental break. I have tried this quarter to be more focused when I study and to relax more when I’m relaxing (seems kind of counter intuitive doesn’t it…forcing relaxation), but it has really helped my productivity.

3. Find creative things to do and actually do them. College campuses have the randomest and coolest things (I know fab word choices) to do that you really can’t do anywhere else. Go see the modern dance performance, watch the Shakespeare play, go to ‘90s night on the green, get a water massage, go to the farmer’s market, see the graphic art exhibit, and check out the improv shows (hint nudge). Just hanging with people is great, but try to live and experience life at college too.

4. Connect with where you live. For some colleges this is easier than others, but in Athens, there is a program called Service Living where you volunteer in the town 3 hours a week and talk about the area weekly. While I wasn’t always the most committed to the meetings, I learned so much about where I was. Because really how can you establish roots somewhere when you don’t even know the ground beneath you? (didn’t that sound so deep and philosophical…I should make inspirational magnets! Does that profession even exist?)

5. Find your niche. Join something where you have a solid comfort group. They don’t have to be your besties for life, but it is really important to find like-minded support systems. Just really commit to one activity, organization, or dorm floor. Sometimes it takes a while to find your true niche, so don’t panic. You’ll find it. You are a fabulous person. (Yes I mean you…you’re welcome…forward all thank you cards to my blog…tee hee).

6. Don’t burn yourself out. I don’t know anything about this … joke … I know everything about this. In high school you can do everything to a certain extent, because everything only requires 100% … In college, everything requires 150%, ergo you can’t do it all. Take it from a girl who can’t say no, learn to say no. You have to let yourself enjoy the social aspects of college and even your classes. Don’t lose sight of those things. Pick a few things and deeply commit yourself, because if you’re stretched too thin you will never survive and won’t love anything anymore.

7. It is all about you. As I said in a previous post, I have been told that college is the one time it is all about you. So do what is best for you. When you are unhappy, fix it. When you want to join something, do it. When you want to attend something your friends don’t want to, go to it. Do something crazy, and live for heaven’s sake before you get smart enough to realize it’s an inane idea.

Lesson to be learned: As my idol Auntie Mame of the play Auntie Mame (I played her in a high school play … time of my life) “Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” This isn’t a literal message here, folks. Take a second to think abut that quote, reread it or something, there is so much to live for that people don’t take advantage of, so live while you can.

Well, this ended up being much more philosophical then I expected (I literally just started typing and all of these things came out … who knew I had all of this pent up advice? I didn’t that’s for sure). In the end, I guess I am a bit wiser after this year, but not in any of the way’s I expected. Well that’s college for you … nothing like what you expect … not bad, just different and in many ways so much better. :] I’m really interested to hear what all the graduated freshman learned this year!! Did you learn similar lessons or have something you would add to my clearly really complete list?

Thanks for reading with me this year, and don’t worry this blog will continue even though the year is ending. But seriously, thanks for keeping tabs on me this year everybody. A big kiss on the forehead for each of you *swack* (I think that is the accepted kiss noise … though I don’t know if I really agree)

Sophomorically Yours, (get it … sophomorically…hee hee)

Adorkable

ps. the picture is mine again yay!!

pps. my blog is basically in love with another blog by one of my ou journalism bffs the nerdsmith (seriously his blog is nerdify yourself and mine is adorkable...it's a match made in blog heaven) you can check it out here.

Bring back Books: Good Books are Like Good Tea, Let Them Steep

Dearest Readers,

A good book is like good tea, it needs to steep. A novel that makes you think and reanalyze your take on life can’t be put down and forgotten at the drop of a hat. It sticks with you. For me, I go into what I call a ‘post-reading induced coma.’Note: This blog post will be half philosophical half suggestions. I just wanted to say that from the outset, so you know not all of this will be super deepness. End note.

After I finish a book, all I can do is think about it for the next few hours. Forget homework, attending meetings, or any sort of general obligations (hahaa joke…I do everything I need to…except my homework that is). I have to focus on the book after I finish. I feel like it rolls around in my brain. I keep rehashing various scenes and thinking through different characters. I just finished The Help by Kathryn Stocketty (amazing and recommended to me by my mother) and I can’t stop thinking about the book’s moral implications on my life.

(I know, I know I’m a nerd, obvi). But the weirdest post-book-Adorkable-Phonomenon of all, and I don’t know if this is just me, is I start to think in the narration of the author. For example, I think in the author’s short sentences, I depict scenes around me as they would by using certain choice adjectives or an accent or a rambling manner. I think in their voice. (If you do this please comment on this post, so I know I am not the only freak out there.) All in all, readers, we should all be concerned that I am very much on the brink of losing both my identity and apparently my own speech patterns. But in all seriousness, a good book becomes a part of you in some way, shape or form. It gets under your skin and inside your brain wiring.

I love books, in case you haven’t gathered, and I think one of the greatest struggles of our fast-moving collegiate, and in general, world is our inability to sit down, read, and let the book steep. I dedicate this post to the written word. Remember when you read a book for fun? (If you were like me that is) When the smell of an old book could make you smile, the sound of the cover cracking led to a rush of excitement in your stomach, and you could sit down and read for hours with your mind lost in a fantastical world so much greater than yourself. Read for pleasure again. Make time. We learn so much from books.

In order to stick with this theme of book appreciation, I decided to present 5 of my all time favorite books that I would suggest to the universe and I don’t think are always at the top of everyone’s list. (I didn’t include Harry Potter or the obvious choices like 1984 or The Great Gatsby, but we all know they are up there.) The ironic part about me including my book recommendations is two fold: I am down right awful at taking other people’s book suggestions, so if you don’t ever look at these books again except on this screen, I won’t be offended. Second, most of these books I had to read for school, which goes against my whole premise that we should read for fun…sigh…aw well. (As a note: if you love any of these books please comment on the end of this post, and if you have any book suggestions for my summer reading list please leave a comment…I can’t say I’ll read it, but I will give it a valiant effort!)

Books I love, for your reading pleasure:

In Cold Blood By Truman Capote. This might be the best book I’ve ever read. It’s kind of journalistic non-fiction work (I know that right there sounds thrilling), about two men who killed an entire family for, essentially, $50. The book comes directly from Capote’s interviews with the two men, and he makes them into surprisingly sympathetic characters by combining their backgrounds and personal history with the crime. Capote is the author of Breakfast at Tiffanys…in case you were wondering.East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Yes he wrote Grapes of Wrath, no this book is not that painfully long (though I myself was a grapes fan). The book is expertly crafted as the story of essentially two twin brothers trying to break free of the Cain Able trap. Hard to explain. Just read it.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. This book depicts an old man recalling his time in the circus, but it’s actually realistic and kind of a disturbing yet enjoyable plot line. I think Oprah loved it at some point….I can’t decide if that makes me like the book more or less. Watership Down by Richard Adams. Let me start out with this: I hate animal books. But this animal book, about a colony of rabbits of all things, creates such a realistic sub world, it bridges on science fiction.

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. This is the social activist choice. It’s the biography of Paul Farmer who started Partner’s in Health in Haiti to provide free health care to those who need it. It’s the true story of one man saving the world one person at a time.

I hope you find at least one of these suggestions moderately enjoyable. (I thought about adding my favorite childhood books: 21 Balloons and the Westing Game, but decided against it, so I put them in these parenthesis in case you want a blast from an adorkable past.)

Lesson to be Learned: Reading is good. You relax, you learn, and you escape for a few minutes. Read what you want, and don’t feel guilty about pleasure reads too (I went through my romantic chick lit stage…who am I kidding? I still am). All reading is good reading, and it just seems so much more constructive then television.

So crack open a book, smell the delicious pages of text and lap it up.

Bookwormily Yours,

Adorkable

ps. for the first time in a while these pictures aren't mine :(, but it's because they are books I don't have with me so all the pictures should be credited to other bloggers. and my title isn't a song...don't be too sad some rules are made to be broken.

Upside Down: First Installment of Adorkablely Embarrassing Moments and Adorkable Assets

Dearest Readers,

I have been rather philosophical in my posts lately … so I decided it was time for just a plain ole’ fun postie (with deep, impressive, and literary undertones of course … just kidding.) But seriously, I normally like to keep my identity on the down low (that’s my cool kid lingo right there), but I decided to do a new installment in the Adorkable world: Adorkablely Embarrassing Moments and Adorkable Assets. This week they both require photographic evidence of myself to believe … so sorry for the momentary narcissism. This post actually combines two things I’ve really wanted to add to the blog: my most embarrassing moments and the things I think are really cool right now so I want to share it with the bloggity world (like in last week’s blog post I talked about ColorMeKatie). The first new bloggity addition, my embarrassing moment of the week, is inspired by my day to day oopsies (yes I did just use that word), and the second, the things I love this week (I see them as assets ... get the name ;), is (are?) inspired by Post Picks, which are little blips the culture staff of the Post (my school newspaper and the staff I write for…woot woot) writes about where they just say what they like this week, these picks range from websites torompers to toilets…it’s a pretty bizarre combo. So now that the exposition is done, on to the main event!

Adorkabley Embarrassing Moment of the Week: Tie Dyed Hands and the Dean of Students (If this title doesn’t intrigue you, I don’t know what will).

(This picture was taken A DAY after I tie-dyed ... after I had showered ... these are clean in comparison!!) So basically, there was this event called Mess Fest, an event hosted by my and surrounding dorms to raise money for Relay for Life. The Fest basically consisted of tie-dying, rolling around in paint, and pizza. (Try not to be too jealous.) The net of it is, my hands were red …. Like, I-killed-a-person-it’s-freaking-engrained-in-there red, not just like oh-look-at-that-silly-girl-who-tie-dyed red. Then I had to cover the Pride Graduation for the Post (read my story on it here), a fancy event where everyone dresses up. My hands were still red despite 30 minutes of washing and even trying nail polish remover (I wouldn’t try it … doesn’t work and it definitely not good for skin).

And of course, who was at my table, but Dean Lombardi, Dean of Students, and at the neighboring table, the President’s wife, Deborah McDavis. HAH! Try explaining that one…oh I was tie-dying…no, I’m not four…no, I swear I tried to get it off my hands…yes, it does look like I’m bleeding. Not to mention, we ate dinner together. As in, my hands were on the table in front of them, no bars hold, gushing a nice shade of fuchsia…classy. Plus, the Post has a top 10 list, as a quasi joke quasi serious thing, of people not to embarrass yourself in front of if you can help it. They were both on it. I’m just a freshman and already I’m at 20%...I’m golden. All in all, I made a joke of it, and I got the dye off my hands today using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (not a joke … bought it at CVS… it so should not go on skin but it works) and painting my finger nails. In the end, the tie-dyed shirts are soooo worth it … they’re baller.

Adorkable Assets: Ridiculous Rain Gear

(Me in my yellow coat ... I am only sad, because it is raining, but I am happy on the inside because of my rain gear!!) This post is already getting long, but let me just say … everyone should own galoshes and ridiculous rain gear. My mother bought me a yellow raincoat, and it is the best article of clothing I own. It makes me look like a giant traffic cone, or maybe a traffic director. My temptation to jump into the street and direct cars randomly is high. (I won’t, however, because I value not getting arrested.) You can never lose me in crowd (even though when I am dressed this way you may want to), and in this ridiculous downpour, I am so dry. Plus, my umbrella is failing on one side, so I need it to not drown while walking to class. Go. Buy. Now.

Lesson to be learned: Attitude is everything, and being confident and amusing can get you out of most problems ... especially when you have to prove you didn't kill someone.

Well world, I hope you like the new blog set up…let me know what you think by leaving comments!! (I love comments … you should leave one … maybe tell me what you think I should write about in the future!!)

Red Handedly Yours,

Adorkable

She Don't Really Like it Working At a Desk: Living Creatively When I'm Unmotivated

Dearest Readers,

I was always the girl who was on top of things…to a freakish degree. I thrived in my over achieving dorkiness. But somehow, in the midst of spring quarter when the birds are chirping and friends from other colleges are headed home for good, I have lost my motivation. I can’t focus. I am spending the majority of my free time staring off into oblivion, watching an embarrassing musical television series, taking pictures, or making a fool of myself (oh wait that happens even when I’m not unmotivated … silly me.)

So basically this bloggity post is going to be about what I’ve found when I’ve been hopelessly devoted to being unmotivated. (see how I made a rhyme…clever). So here is what makes me smile when I am lacking motivation to work … I find it in the randomest things :).

This wonderful amazingly talented woman named Katie has this blog where she posts her pictures. Okay, I know what you are thinking, okay Adorkable tons of people take pictures whoop-dee-freaking do. Well “ColormeKatie” is one of the most creative photographers I have ever seen. The walls of her apartment are white, so that she can decorate them in colorful pieces of paper each day to whatever suits her fancy. An example of her art is her thought bubble project, where she creates thought bubbles, puts them on the walls outside, and catches people as they walk beneath them. She also has the shadow project, where she cuts out shadows peter-pan style and catches people as they walk into them. She has even made her apartment into a giant fort, a paper airplane palooza, and a colorful crazy spectacle. Now other than my long tirade about my love for her, she has these semi-regular post on her blog where she puts up 10 pictures or so of silly things that make her happy, which inspired me to take some pictures and do my own rendition of 4 silly little things that make me happy (cause 10 is too many photos for someone like me who has no clue what they are doing with the crazy camera contraption). And just to be clear copyright totally goes to this talented lady, and please peruse her photos at your les-ure. (Her significant other ‘Matty’ even works for improveverywhere…I want to be her…sigh.)

My 4 silly little things that make me happy:

A knobby tree

There is a lot of white space here...so I feel the need to babble about this tree. Really, I like it, because it looks like someone blazed a trail through the bark. Where it goes ... the world may never know ...

Slacklining (which is basically where you tether a line between two

trees and try to learn how to be

in the circus and walk across

the line....rest

assured I only do it leaning on

others I don't have that kind of balance....no way)

Shadows (from a fence to a hunched kid to a tree on some bricks)

Poop (tee hee hee...cause I'm mature)

This is on the wall of Bagel Street Deli here in Athens OH. It even has a smiley face between the os ... how could I resist this and call myself a real college kid?

Lesson To be Learned: Even the littlest things can brighten your day...if you look correctly (I know I know, I could write for Hallmark ... it's a gift I possess)

Photographically Yours,
Adorkable

ps. I hope you all realize I had no idea how to set up this page so I apologize for its foolish presentation

Find Out What It Means to Me (Why I Study Undergraduate Journalism)

Dearest Readers,
People always ask me why I want to go into journalism…seeing as it is not really the most lucrative industry (thanks for the reminder … world). Well, here’s the thing: I really wished I liked the idea of being a doctor or an engineer or some other profitable career, but when it comes right down to it: I love journalism and even it takes me some time, I will do something at least related to it for the rest of my life. So for all of you out their scoffing at me for my poor choice in careers or for those of you wondering why in the world am I doing this, I just wanted to give a teensy weensy explanation (jk it’s kinda long but…um…oh just read it anyway).
I’m going to be real here readers, I’m pretty sure I first time I said I wanted to be a journalist, it was because Rory on Gilmore Girls wanted to be a journalist (laugh at me all you want but at least I’m honest). That is, however, no longer my reasoning (I have matured…a little). Here is what it really comes down to: People are so interesting, and I want to find everything out there about them, so that I can tell the world, so the world can appreciate it. (for a journalist that was quite a run on…sad)
I was interviewing a girl in the belly-dancing club, (I know, I know, it was awesome) and I was talking to her about how much I’m inspired by people’s stories and she said simply “it’s because we feed off of other people’s positive energies.” No truer words had ever been spoken. Think about it. When you see people doing what they love, (you can tell by the way they talk about it, the way the break into a smile while they’re doing it) it energizes you! (Crazy how that works.) When someone talks to you about what they really love or about some issue that really matters to them, it’s like they are sharing a part of themselves (well they kind of are I guess) with you. For that moment, you are irrevocably a part of their lives.
What other profession would allow me to, as a college freshman, do the following: talk to veterans about their experiences overseas, interview those who live their lives on herbs, ask why a sexual assault victim won’t participate in take back the night, talk to girls in the belly dancing club … you get the idea. I learn about so many things and meet so many riveting people that I would not otherwise get to speak with.
Moving on, I am a curious person, and I have always wanted to know more about the world. Journalism is the perfect excuse. Seriously, haven’t you always wanted to know why someone started this club, how they learned this talented, or what goes on behind closed doors? That is where a journalist comes in. Now, many would say all journalists ignore property rights and invade people’s privacy, not true. Real journalists are people who love people and want to do justice to their lives and works.
It is so hard to take other people’s words and passions and boil them down to a 12 inch story that the world can understand, but that is the challenge I love. I love picking words and integrating quotes and watching their stories come to fruition in my 12 pt times new roman font. Most journalists knows that they can’t tell a story as well as their source can tell it, but it is up to them to do the best they can.
If you couldn’t already tell, journalism really just combines what I love (and would like to hope I am good at doing) talking to people and writing.
Lesson to be learned: Not everyone wants to be a journalist, but everyone should love what they want to be when they grow up. When I leave an interview, I am always smiling. Sure sometimes it stinks: not a ton of recognition, people are mad at you, transcribing is just the worst, but for me, the pros outweigh the cons. I can live with that. What are your thoughts on journalism and your future careers? Or your current careers? (see my journalistic curiosity busting out here? *wink, nudge, add a comment*)
So I study journalism, because I love it. It really is that simple. And I have to hope that because I love it and am passionate about it, I will succeed. Because I won’t settle for less.

Journalistically Yours,
Adorkable

ps. still my pictures!!!

The Energy Never Dies (Does your life energize you?)

Dearest Readers,
“Would this be something, that would energize you?” This week, the leader of the community service group I am a part of sent me an email asking me to work on a project this quarter with that question attached. What a cool concept, I thought to myself. Does the thought of this project actually energize me? Now maybe the energize stood out because I have been running on low levels of sleep and high levels of coffee this week and being energized sounds just yummy, but what an interesting way to pinpoint a common problem we all face.
For those of us who take on way too much than we can realistically handle (I know nothing about this *sarcastic wink*), this is a great question to help us prioritize. I, like many others here at OU, want to join just about everything, but what is it that actually energizes me. If it came down to me having a spare hour, would I want to spend it doing [insert task here]? Maybe so, but it is at least important to consider.
This question can also be expanded to our future careers. We are all trying to make money in this freakishly sad economic climate, but does the thought of our future career energize us? Our future lives should not be something we are resigned to, they should be something we are passionate about living! (I know gaggable, but I thought that sentence was cute even if it was a hallmark moment.) For someone who wants to be a journalist, the professionals tell me I won’t sleep at night, I’ll make no money, and I will work crazy hours, but if I love it, I should do it. To be frank (but my name’s not frank … oh lame sleep deprived jokes … bear with me people), not very reassuring. But the thought of staying up perfecting an article or calling obscure source #5, in a twisted way, excites me. Every time I leave an interview or see my byline in the paper, I get that ridiculous warm happy feeling in the pit of my stomach (you know the one, silly readers…the one that makes you feel satisfied with life for that little moment), and that to me is an impetus for my career decision. The thought of being a journalist energizes me.
Lesson to be Learned: We do so much for our resumes, for our parents, for our schools, for our future employers, that we have be reminded that what it really comes down to is our passions. Does what you do energize you? If it doesn’t, can you live with that?
Passionately yours,
Adorkable

ps. the picture is another adorkable original :)

Do What You Want! (Take Classes for Pleasure )

Dearest Readers,
Next year, I am actually going to try to study what I want to study. I’m not advocating abandoning all required classes, but seriously, why not take the classes I actually want to take?? Crazy concept I know. As the father of one of my close friends from home (who I will call Broadway Bound Bombshell…the friend not her dad, that would be weird) always says “college is the one time you have to be selfish.”
How did I come to this conclusion you might ask ... oh clever reader … well last weekend I attended the Society of Professional Journalist’s Conference (SPJ) in Cleveland, where we were able to chat with everyone from Social Media Experts to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Editor, and the editor (who will in fact be doing the hiring...just in case you were unaware) continually stressed the need for students to have a solid base education. The editor of the Post Gazette coined the phrase “I want my journalists educated not trained.” I had never thought this way before. Now, I am not sure I whole-heartedly agree with his perspective here, because I am currently taking Online Journalism … which is apparently a no no … but I do think his point has validation. You can’t write about what you don’t know, and those hiring journalists, as well as those hiring in all other professions, are looking for people with specialties. And let’s be real, in this economy the more obscure your specialty, the better. Not to mention, if the editor is telling me to take econ classes not journalism classes, but I got my internship based on my journalism classes … no one employer is looking for the same thing, so you have to be yourself and take who wants you. Besides, do you really want to get hired at a place that likes that you took all the classes you hated? I bet you’ll love working there (insert sarcastic tone here).
I was further influenced by the visit of Ana Marie Cox who was the keynote speaker of a symposium at OU, who literally emphasized that you should keep wasting your time doing what you do, because that is what you love and that is what will really get you hired. She messed around on the Internet back in its beginning stages, which landed her a job at an online blog and now she is an editor at GQ, by making witty sex jokes and political criticisms. (two things that she ‘wasted’ her time doing … sounds like we could be friends.)
I think I have been too caught up in ‘what does my employer want me to have learned’ mentality. (because if I don’t get a job I’ll die poor and alone in a dark alley!!) Instead I should be thinking, what do I want to actually study. Do I have to take a language if I don’t like it at all (I know…so sue me)? No! Can I take a minor in maybe Psychology or English, because I actually think these topics sound interesting? Yes … mayhaps so! Can I take random classes like classical mythology or non-european history for nothing besides my personal enjoyment? Okay I concede. Ideally, yes, but realistically, at least I will try.
Lesson to be learned: College is about you. We get caught up in the bad economy and the horror of unemployment, and we forget that this is our ONE chance at college. (well unless you flunk out, so you could always go that route!) If we don’t enjoy at least some of our classes, what is the point? We went through the SATs and all the high school classes where we had limited options to get to this opportunity. Take the darn class!
Encouragingly yours,
Adorkable

ps. i took the picture again which is why this post is delayed...it's hard to find time to take the picture i want to these days!
pps. new things! first off i'm adding what the post is about in the title because I'm forgetting everything I've already written about (I know so many posts like almost 20 haha) and please add comments about education for you. Disagree if you wish, I'm just trying to add this new thing called 'interactivity' (kind of a social media buzz word) so please comment away!

You Can Always Look at the Negative, But You Should Always Live in the Positive

Dearest Readers,
Live in the mundane.
I know, so original isn’t it?! But seriously, consider it. Imagine if we all actually learned to appreciate the mundane. To embrace it.
For those of you who have spoken to me lately, you may have noticed that I have been in a bit of a funk. Readjusting to the new quarter, I have had trouble. I am a girl who likes to stay busy, and before classes start up I hate to feel I am just twiddling my thumbs. I have to be productive or I label it as ‘wasting my time.’ Maybe this is just my freaky nature or maybe it stems from the hyperactive culture of the high school I attended (see old blog post about not being able to take breaks…it kind of relates). The moral of the story is, I keep thinking that I am supposed to be embarking on the best four years of my life, and I am not taking advantage of everything. If I miss one opportunity, I’m out for the count!!! I don’t allow myself the chance to appreciate just being here.
Now consider this: most of you who read this are in college (I think). How many people actually get to go to college in their lifetime? What a privilege! The weather in Athens is gorgeous, the trees are blooming, people are coming out of hibernation to frolick amongst the greens. How lucky are we to live in a time where we can enjoy that? (Our country is not war torn internally, no one is forcing us to become cannibals, etc.) We are so incredibly lucky to just be where we are. To live. It’s that simple.
Now this post is not to say don’t take chances or ever live on the edge. One blog I read today really exemplified the importance of the taking risk mentality and how exiting it can be. But that doesn’t mean that every minute of your life has to be spent taking chances, doing everything that is great a wonderful. Because let’s be real, most of life is made up of how to kill the hour between classes, what to do this Friday, and what television series we will follow this season.
Lesson to be learned: We shouldn’t guilt-trip ourselves into always being productive. Don’t lose ambition, but take time to appreciate all that is gorgeous about the mundane: laughing with friends, walking to class in the sun, reading for pleasure. I know this sounds very kumbaya lets hold hands around the campfire, but hey, I’d rather be the one holding hands and singing than sitting sullenly on the log. (I feel this is a poor analogy….eh…you get the picture, you’re smart people.)
Life is what it is. So you can like it or you can hate it. It’s not really what you do, it’s your attitude. Live passionately.
Deep Thinkingly Yours,
Adorkable

ps. i actually took the picture for this blog post ... i am trying to learn how to use a camera ... like a real one. all the others come from websites that use the creative commons license.