They'll go with you to the bathroom. They'll pick you up from bizarre locations in the middle of the night. They'll call you out on being a pompous jerk.
And, as I learned this weekend, good friends will not only pee with you, but also pee on you.
Yes, I was stung by a jellyfish on Sunday. I get shivers of pain just thinking about it. Due to my nonexistent experience with these stings prior to several days ago, I thought that that pee was key to recovery. (That really rolls off the tongue nicely. Perhaps I should write public service announcements.)
As one of my friends squatted over my arm in the middle of a public beach, I was struck by her willingness to wash away her sense of decorum with the tide. Then, as my other friend poured a water bottle of her own pee onto my swelling arm, I was primarily impressed with the sheer volume of her contribution. My friends are fearless and generous.
I suppose that the pee friendship test is not practical for any situation other than the unique one in which I was involved. I guess it's just the fact that they would, if they needed to, which reassures me.
As a post script, I will say that I read online that the effectiveness of peeing on a jellyfish sting is mostly determined by the pH of the individual's pee, so vinegar is still the best bet. I would also highly recommend educating yourself before becoming actively involved in ocean water sports.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Really Little People, Big World
I've seen these on several different sites lately, but only today have I discovered how clever these street art projects by a London artist actually are.
Slinkachu hand paints little people and animals, places them around London and then leaves them there. I'm just in sheer awe of the attention to detail these must have required. Not to mention the perspective one must have to see such small areas as harboring the potential for greatness. (I could turn this into a far deeper analogy, but I'll spare you.)
Of course, if it can be done in London, why not spread the idea to other cities? I'm thinking I'd put my figurine in the unsung heroes statue, probably taking pictures like a tourist at Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta army. Where would you put yours?
Slinkachu hand paints little people and animals, places them around London and then leaves them there. I'm just in sheer awe of the attention to detail these must have required. Not to mention the perspective one must have to see such small areas as harboring the potential for greatness. (I could turn this into a far deeper analogy, but I'll spare you.)
Of course, if it can be done in London, why not spread the idea to other cities? I'm thinking I'd put my figurine in the unsung heroes statue, probably taking pictures like a tourist at Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta army. Where would you put yours?
Monday, August 25, 2008
In the name of posterity & nostalgia and all things amusing
Today it occurred to me that even if I don't have time to actually post a substantial entry, I should always try to write something. Looking back on my Xanga Archives from 2004-06, I realized the importance of documenting life, from the mundane to the momentous. Experiences I thought would be in my memory forever have escaped me, and I'm left treasuring these sporadic Xanga posts from high school as my only documentation of those four years. (Granted, they weren't the highlight of my first 19 years, but living one's greatest legacy in high school would be tragic indeed.) Despite my often petty remarks, I won't even pretend that I wasn't talented. And those intensely coded layouts I created... What happened to that Web-savvy girl?!
From now on, I am going to try sincerely to update weekly. Writing is and has always been my creative outlet. (Thanks mom, for transcribing my earliest works!) So, as this entry title suggests, I'm going to take this time to look back. Here's me, 4 years & 2 days ago on a Monday just like this one, except as a sophomore in high school:
"Oh yeah. Another exciting Monday over and done with.
Just got back from the Key Club meeting. God I feel like such a loser saying that. Seriously, I wish I didn't have to be a well-rounded person and join all these clubs just to get into college. If they knew me, they'd love me, clubs or not.
So today. Oh-so fun.
Civics and Economics- Took a quiz, aced it. This class is a joke for the most part. We just learn about Mr. Huff's life. Today we found out how he got out of his many tickets for speeding, etc. Of course I remember the stories but I don't remember of the stuff we "learned." He knows that though, which is good. He really doesn't care. Thank goodness I have this class first thing in the morning!
Geometry- I sat there bored for most of the period. I should probably pay more attention, but whatever. I'm doing okay so far. I'll start to listen when I start doing bad in there. At least I have Katherine in there, she makes the class 9,873,458 times better.
English- Went to the library again today and worked on our Finding Nemo project. It ain't gonna be good, that's for sure. I mean, we definitely worked for the whole period but it was realllly hard to get it all done. Who knows if our skit will even meet the 3.5 minute mark. Oh well. It's a minor grade?
Spanish- Um. We studied the pledge. I'm thinking of memorizing it by tomorrow so I can get extra credit and be an over-achiever. Somehow I don't think this language gets easier, so I'll probably being needing the extra credit at some point.
And that's it? Basically today was a waste of time. I'll be the first one to admit that I like learning new things, but not like this. I hate waking up early, I hate doing hours of homework, and I hate having to sit for like 6 hours a day.
But on a lighter note, my life is going well :-) I won't complain too much, I mean, I know I just did, but everything's going by really fast. And I think this whole year will go by fast. (With luck!)
Hope everyone's doing well. Just remember that you create your own happiness. So if you don't have any, go make some.
Try not to take that in the cheesy advice column sort of way!
I'm gonna start writing my "Slackers' Way to Success" Book soon... so be on the lookout for it on the New York Time's Bestseller List. Yeah. Nice idea Katherine!"
Upon re-reading that, I've determined that perhaps I'm not so different after all. Except, of course, I would never, ever, say, "I'm doing bad" regarding anything. I don't "do bad," but if I had to do something similar, I would "do poorly" instead. I still, however, go into manic panic about my future, though instead of getting into college, now it's all about getting a job.
I do enjoy the perspective I've gained from this little nostalgic activity. I worried about classes then, I'm worried about classes now. Why do I create that stress for myself? My time and energy would be far better suited for other pursuits. I need to stop being such a worry wart. I also need to stop wishing that time would move more quickly because, if anything, I've learned that the only time we have is now. I guess that can be my goal for the semester, in addition to completing assignments two days before they're due. How's that for an unattainable goal?
And, okay, I will take some advice from my past self. I can create happiness in every moment of my life if I so choose. While I'll always need a reason to be upset or angry, I never need a reason to be happy. The power of the blog will not allow me to forget this epiphany, a service that is definitely necessary. Otherwise all of my nails will be bitten away by this time next week.
From now on, I am going to try sincerely to update weekly. Writing is and has always been my creative outlet. (Thanks mom, for transcribing my earliest works!) So, as this entry title suggests, I'm going to take this time to look back. Here's me, 4 years & 2 days ago on a Monday just like this one, except as a sophomore in high school:
"Oh yeah. Another exciting Monday over and done with.
Just got back from the Key Club meeting. God I feel like such a loser saying that. Seriously, I wish I didn't have to be a well-rounded person and join all these clubs just to get into college. If they knew me, they'd love me, clubs or not.
So today. Oh-so fun.
Civics and Economics- Took a quiz, aced it. This class is a joke for the most part. We just learn about Mr. Huff's life. Today we found out how he got out of his many tickets for speeding, etc. Of course I remember the stories but I don't remember of the stuff we "learned." He knows that though, which is good. He really doesn't care. Thank goodness I have this class first thing in the morning!
Geometry- I sat there bored for most of the period. I should probably pay more attention, but whatever. I'm doing okay so far. I'll start to listen when I start doing bad in there. At least I have Katherine in there, she makes the class 9,873,458 times better.
English- Went to the library again today and worked on our Finding Nemo project. It ain't gonna be good, that's for sure. I mean, we definitely worked for the whole period but it was realllly hard to get it all done. Who knows if our skit will even meet the 3.5 minute mark. Oh well. It's a minor grade?
Spanish- Um. We studied the pledge. I'm thinking of memorizing it by tomorrow so I can get extra credit and be an over-achiever. Somehow I don't think this language gets easier, so I'll probably being needing the extra credit at some point.
And that's it? Basically today was a waste of time. I'll be the first one to admit that I like learning new things, but not like this. I hate waking up early, I hate doing hours of homework, and I hate having to sit for like 6 hours a day.
But on a lighter note, my life is going well :-) I won't complain too much, I mean, I know I just did, but everything's going by really fast. And I think this whole year will go by fast. (With luck!)
Hope everyone's doing well. Just remember that you create your own happiness. So if you don't have any, go make some.
Try not to take that in the cheesy advice column sort of way!
I'm gonna start writing my "Slackers' Way to Success" Book soon... so be on the lookout for it on the New York Time's Bestseller List. Yeah. Nice idea Katherine!"
Upon re-reading that, I've determined that perhaps I'm not so different after all. Except, of course, I would never, ever, say, "I'm doing bad" regarding anything. I don't "do bad," but if I had to do something similar, I would "do poorly" instead. I still, however, go into manic panic about my future, though instead of getting into college, now it's all about getting a job.
I do enjoy the perspective I've gained from this little nostalgic activity. I worried about classes then, I'm worried about classes now. Why do I create that stress for myself? My time and energy would be far better suited for other pursuits. I need to stop being such a worry wart. I also need to stop wishing that time would move more quickly because, if anything, I've learned that the only time we have is now. I guess that can be my goal for the semester, in addition to completing assignments two days before they're due. How's that for an unattainable goal?
And, okay, I will take some advice from my past self. I can create happiness in every moment of my life if I so choose. While I'll always need a reason to be upset or angry, I never need a reason to be happy. The power of the blog will not allow me to forget this epiphany, a service that is definitely necessary. Otherwise all of my nails will be bitten away by this time next week.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Time is in my side
...that is, until school begins again and time continues at this rapid pace. Then I'd prefer Father Time to put every day in slow motion so I will be able to sit back and bask in contentment. I just can't believe that a few posts ago, I was lamenting the two months I had left of summer. And now I'll be back in two weeks!
Fortunately, now that I'm done with my babysitting job, I have a bit more free time. Thus, I have been researching/starting craft projects like a woman who just discovered she had arms. I already made a vase out of old magazines and am currently seeking a sturdy ceramic piece to make a lamp base. I'm pretty excited about testing out my wiring abilities. (My mom, on the other hand, has her doubts.)
I absolutely cannot wait to move into our dorm room and decorate. I've been hoarding interior design ideas like it's my job (and sometimes I do it instead of my job, whoops.) There are so many great blogs I've added to my RSS feed, I'm overwhelmed. In fact, I believe I'll go look at them now...
Fortunately, now that I'm done with my babysitting job, I have a bit more free time. Thus, I have been researching/starting craft projects like a woman who just discovered she had arms. I already made a vase out of old magazines and am currently seeking a sturdy ceramic piece to make a lamp base. I'm pretty excited about testing out my wiring abilities. (My mom, on the other hand, has her doubts.)
I absolutely cannot wait to move into our dorm room and decorate. I've been hoarding interior design ideas like it's my job (and sometimes I do it instead of my job, whoops.) There are so many great blogs I've added to my RSS feed, I'm overwhelmed. In fact, I believe I'll go look at them now...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Arts 'n Crafts
This weekend, I had the desperate urge to create something. And since making babies was out of the question, I opted to make the world's most fabulous jewelry display. It came to me as an epiphany, driving home from work Friday evening. Window screen and buttons, of course! I immediately set out on a journey that would involve Michael's, JoAnn's and Home Depot. And an immense amount of patience and measuring.
And this is the result:
I would tell you how I made it, but then I couldn't exploit you for a profit, now could I?
And this is the result:
I would tell you how I made it, but then I couldn't exploit you for a profit, now could I?
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Seeking Unnecessary Employment
I'm not sure of the exact moment that I became addicted to applying for and accepting jobs. It must have been around the same time that I realized that I have expensive dreams.
How does one even combat such an addiction? All I need is computer access and I can be gone for hours, lost in the digital world of endless opportunities. I hesitate to compare my problem to the one men seem to have in regards to porn, but the similarities are there. They fantasize about unrealistic sexual situations and I fantasize about worldly travels and big city living.
I suppose my fantasies may be slightly more attainable. Right?
And it's about more than just money. I crave the experience that goes along with a job-- particularly an exciting one. Plus, the money I earn allows me to add even more experiences to my memory bank through vacations and spontaneous trips with friends. Those moments define ones life far more than most jobs could.
My fears also drive me. The current job market and my dad's tumultuous job history simply make me nervous. I figure that if I can became a Jack-of-most-trades, I'll also always be armed with a back-up plan or two.
So right now, I have four(ish) jobs. I work every day of the week. Just like any addict, I'm not leading the healthiest lifestyle, but I can't seem to stop the endless pattern of working, sleeping and eating. Repeat. As opposed to a drug or sex addict, however, I'm living for the future rather than in the present.
This summer, while definitely exacerbating my desire to return to school, has taught me a valuable lesson. The effort I'm putting into planning the rest of my life will ensure that I never, ever have to work four jobs again. That is both an observation and a promise to myself.
I will always work to live, not live to work.
So if anyone out there in Cyberland is seeking a writer/blogger/babysitter/baker/customer service representative/intern, I'm sorry, but I'm not available.
Until August.
How does one even combat such an addiction? All I need is computer access and I can be gone for hours, lost in the digital world of endless opportunities. I hesitate to compare my problem to the one men seem to have in regards to porn, but the similarities are there. They fantasize about unrealistic sexual situations and I fantasize about worldly travels and big city living.
I suppose my fantasies may be slightly more attainable. Right?
And it's about more than just money. I crave the experience that goes along with a job-- particularly an exciting one. Plus, the money I earn allows me to add even more experiences to my memory bank through vacations and spontaneous trips with friends. Those moments define ones life far more than most jobs could.
My fears also drive me. The current job market and my dad's tumultuous job history simply make me nervous. I figure that if I can became a Jack-of-most-trades, I'll also always be armed with a back-up plan or two.
So right now, I have four(ish) jobs. I work every day of the week. Just like any addict, I'm not leading the healthiest lifestyle, but I can't seem to stop the endless pattern of working, sleeping and eating. Repeat. As opposed to a drug or sex addict, however, I'm living for the future rather than in the present.
This summer, while definitely exacerbating my desire to return to school, has taught me a valuable lesson. The effort I'm putting into planning the rest of my life will ensure that I never, ever have to work four jobs again. That is both an observation and a promise to myself.
I will always work to live, not live to work.
So if anyone out there in Cyberland is seeking a writer/blogger/babysitter/baker/customer service representative/intern, I'm sorry, but I'm not available.
Until August.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Look What the Cat Dragged In
It seems that even my cat Elmo has caught on to the "go green" and "save the earth" trends.
While he used to bring the Fresh Catch of the Week straight to our door (which varied between birds, rabbits, moles and mice, depending on the season), he too has begun to fear the endangerment of some of America's most beloved warm-blooded pests. Sometimes he still deems a particularly enticing creature worthy of death, but now he has taken on a more honorable cause.
Serving as a constant reminder of the disgraceful amounts of waste disposed in this country, he has begun bringing home trash. Socks, rags, medical prescriptions-- every article of garbage comes with its own unique story. And a silent but judgmental plea from Elmo to employ the 3 R's. Either that or he has some suggestions on how we can better our lives through material goods.
Take his latest gifts, for example. Is his take home message a desperate plea or a helpful hint?
Lawn care service sign: "Fertilizers from these guys pollute the grass I (shouldn't) eat and the creek water I (shouldn't) drink" OR
"The grass is definitely greener on the neighbors' side of the fence" ?
Spam/scam mail: "Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes wastes time and paper" OR
"Fill this sucker out so I can finally live the life I deserve" ?
Paper towel: "A tree died so you could dry your hands" OR
"You probably ought to wash your hands more often" ?
Styrofoam steak container: "This stuff takes years to decompose, not the mention the risk of cancer caused by eating red meat!" OR
"MORE STEAK" ?
Maybe I could have better spent my time finding solutions to these problems rather than using up an hour to personify my cat's behaviors, but I'm happy to know he cares. Of course, a really caring pet would spare no expense to please his owner.
The next step is to train him to identify cash, rare metals and designer logos.
Monday, June 9, 2008
2 more months...
I used to get so irritated when people would ask me, "You must be excited for (high) school to start, aren't you Meghan?"
Uh, try no. People seem to equate success with happiness, but my little 7 to 2 gig didn't bring me much of the latter. (That's not including all the fabulous people with whom I'm still friends.) Now, I'm just about bursting with happiness when I think about school.
Maybe I've become burnt out by my three jobs, but I'm ready to be back at UNC. It's liberating, yet structured at the same time. It's like an extensive cruise where I don't have to establish my sea legs. Or worry about missing the water taxi back to the boat.
I miss my UNC friends and my 200 square-foot room and classes I actually want to attend. I can't wait to live across from The DTH and go on field trips to grocery stores and start my own club.
Somehow, college feels like this little self-contained bubble of hope. Maybe gas prices are high and the war isn't over and our economy is failing, but I see the present mess juxtaposed with the future: the students. And that definitely eases my mind.
You might even say that my freshman year made me an optimist. Any place capable of such a miracle merits another three years.
Uh, try no. People seem to equate success with happiness, but my little 7 to 2 gig didn't bring me much of the latter. (That's not including all the fabulous people with whom I'm still friends.) Now, I'm just about bursting with happiness when I think about school.
Maybe I've become burnt out by my three jobs, but I'm ready to be back at UNC. It's liberating, yet structured at the same time. It's like an extensive cruise where I don't have to establish my sea legs. Or worry about missing the water taxi back to the boat.
I miss my UNC friends and my 200 square-foot room and classes I actually want to attend. I can't wait to live across from The DTH and go on field trips to grocery stores and start my own club.
Somehow, college feels like this little self-contained bubble of hope. Maybe gas prices are high and the war isn't over and our economy is failing, but I see the present mess juxtaposed with the future: the students. And that definitely eases my mind.
You might even say that my freshman year made me an optimist. Any place capable of such a miracle merits another three years.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Year in Review: The Meghan Edition
In light of The Daily Tar Heel's last daily issue for this school year, which reviewed the occurrences of fall semester 2007 and spring semester 2008, I've decided to write a review of my own. What makes mine better though is that I won't be focusing on anything boring, like my own medical school expansion article that didn't even make it to print. "Online exclusive" sounds good in theory; it's actually incredibly misleading. "Exclusive" implies that the article must be for VIPs only. But no, it's for anyone. Anyone who has nothing better to do than read about yet another campus construction project.
But I digress. As always.
I'm not even sure what I'm going to do this summer without UNC, to be quite honest. I'll miss everything, excluding several factors that were out of my control. (Oh south campus and no air-conditioning, how you caused me such pain.) Even as I sit here procrastinating on studying for finals, I find myself just radiating happiness. I love this place in a way I'm not sure I can really articulate.
In high school, I considered myself a misanthrope. (That's essentially a people-hater, for those of you less familiar with your Latin and Greek roots.) I wanted my column name to be "Misanthrope Meghan" but the majority of the student body wasn't familiar with the term, according to my teacher. I wouldn't want them to misinterpret the meaning as a positive one, after all. I went with "Cynical at 17" instead. Regardless, I wasn't particularly optimistic about the human race in general. As far as I knew, the entire world was a combination of the poverty-stricken and self-absorbed.
I still know this to be true. But what's changed is my perception of the situation. I am not, in fact, the only person in the world who would like to better these issues. Even more shocking is that my personal contributions absolutely pale in comparison to some people's. I've met more civic-minded people during this year than in all my other years combined. And they're students! Much to my surprise, not all young adults are squandering their lives by drinking excessively and having premature sex. I'm just in awe of the dedication and compassion that exudes from every corner of this campus. And I'm relieved to realize that I don't have to save the world alone.
Being a misanthrope wasn't all it seems cracked up to be anyway. After all, hating your own species can prove exhausting. I mean, people are everywhere! They're practically unavoidable! Plus, having friends was hard. I mean, let's be honest. There was a good chance that I didn't like a person simply because evolution did his or her ancestors a really big favor of which we eventually took advantage. I'm not even sure how I managed to maintain relationships. Much like the south's opinion of blacks during slavery, I liked some individuals but not the whole. Several good personalities weren't going to make up for millions of bad ones.
What I understand now is that humans are born inherently good. Of that I am convinced. As I said in my Eve entry, our environment determines so much of what we are and what we will be. Lucky, that's what I am. I had the opportunity to grow up in a supportive home in a great country (during the Clinton years). Most of those that surround me had similar opportunities. We can do amazing things with the gifts we've been given, and we do. How can I doubt humanity when everyone around me is feeding the hungry and building homes and promoting peace and demanding truth? I can't.
For that I am eternally grateful.
I'd much rather live with hope than with doubt. Life is easier, and lord knows that between finals and deadlines, easy doesn't come... easy. I want to soak up every bit of hope and love that emanates from this school. It manifests itself in the smiles I can't hide as I walk through the quad, in the laughter I can't repress as I recall a particular moment. And why should I? Maybe Disney is the happiest place on earth for some people, but mine is right here, with Roy Williams as our Mickey Mouse.
And now, a more sarcastic analysis of various aspects of my year. You had to have known that I couldn't be entirely sentimental and sappy. New students, take note:
Hinton James
Hmm, I wonder why they don't advertise this monstrosity on the campus tour? Just a little too reflective of the projects, perhaps? Despite my fabulous roommate and lovely suitemates, I can't wait to say good riddance! Since the school couldn't afford an A/C unit for my room, couldn't they at least invest in some new, intact letters for the entrance sign? That would at least fool future residents momentarily. The two a.m. fire alarm wake-up calls and 20 minute walks to class will suffice in jading them anyway.
Carolina Dining Services
"Dine" rhymes with "fine," which is ironic in this case. The only fine things I found were hairs in my food. Yummy. I admit that I am a highly selective eater, but does anyone think that these meals should be valued at $8 a pop? Just because someone came up with creative, gourmet names for the most questionable food items doesn't mean I would choose them over the always-classy Spanky's guacamole burger.
Advising
I recently filled out a survey for this University service. One question asked me if I had prepared for my appointment. Well gee, if I didn't, who would? Certainly not the advisers that receive a salary! I've gone to three different ones this year. Now, let's remember that I've been here for one year. They've been here for who knows how long. My future is their job and I can't imagine leaving it in less capable hands. Heck, we ought to be advising them.
Being a White Girl
Try to avoid this condition if at all possible. I'm just not diverse enough to be accepted into much of anything, and my life experiences reflect that. My biggest personal tragedy has been attending a school with an unfavorable male-female ratio. My family is intact. My ethnicity is European, specifically Aryan, and I'm pretty sure none of us were ever persecuted. Basically, this majority group's domination of the school causes reverse discrimination until we get into the workplace, where we can once again experience the regular kind of discrimination in the form of inferior salaries and sexual harassment.
Economics 101
Don't do it!
But I digress. As always.
I'm not even sure what I'm going to do this summer without UNC, to be quite honest. I'll miss everything, excluding several factors that were out of my control. (Oh south campus and no air-conditioning, how you caused me such pain.) Even as I sit here procrastinating on studying for finals, I find myself just radiating happiness. I love this place in a way I'm not sure I can really articulate.
In high school, I considered myself a misanthrope. (That's essentially a people-hater, for those of you less familiar with your Latin and Greek roots.) I wanted my column name to be "Misanthrope Meghan" but the majority of the student body wasn't familiar with the term, according to my teacher. I wouldn't want them to misinterpret the meaning as a positive one, after all. I went with "Cynical at 17" instead. Regardless, I wasn't particularly optimistic about the human race in general. As far as I knew, the entire world was a combination of the poverty-stricken and self-absorbed.
I still know this to be true. But what's changed is my perception of the situation. I am not, in fact, the only person in the world who would like to better these issues. Even more shocking is that my personal contributions absolutely pale in comparison to some people's. I've met more civic-minded people during this year than in all my other years combined. And they're students! Much to my surprise, not all young adults are squandering their lives by drinking excessively and having premature sex. I'm just in awe of the dedication and compassion that exudes from every corner of this campus. And I'm relieved to realize that I don't have to save the world alone.
Being a misanthrope wasn't all it seems cracked up to be anyway. After all, hating your own species can prove exhausting. I mean, people are everywhere! They're practically unavoidable! Plus, having friends was hard. I mean, let's be honest. There was a good chance that I didn't like a person simply because evolution did his or her ancestors a really big favor of which we eventually took advantage. I'm not even sure how I managed to maintain relationships. Much like the south's opinion of blacks during slavery, I liked some individuals but not the whole. Several good personalities weren't going to make up for millions of bad ones.
What I understand now is that humans are born inherently good. Of that I am convinced. As I said in my Eve entry, our environment determines so much of what we are and what we will be. Lucky, that's what I am. I had the opportunity to grow up in a supportive home in a great country (during the Clinton years). Most of those that surround me had similar opportunities. We can do amazing things with the gifts we've been given, and we do. How can I doubt humanity when everyone around me is feeding the hungry and building homes and promoting peace and demanding truth? I can't.
For that I am eternally grateful.
I'd much rather live with hope than with doubt. Life is easier, and lord knows that between finals and deadlines, easy doesn't come... easy. I want to soak up every bit of hope and love that emanates from this school. It manifests itself in the smiles I can't hide as I walk through the quad, in the laughter I can't repress as I recall a particular moment. And why should I? Maybe Disney is the happiest place on earth for some people, but mine is right here, with Roy Williams as our Mickey Mouse.
And now, a more sarcastic analysis of various aspects of my year. You had to have known that I couldn't be entirely sentimental and sappy. New students, take note:
Hinton James
Hmm, I wonder why they don't advertise this monstrosity on the campus tour? Just a little too reflective of the projects, perhaps? Despite my fabulous roommate and lovely suitemates, I can't wait to say good riddance! Since the school couldn't afford an A/C unit for my room, couldn't they at least invest in some new, intact letters for the entrance sign? That would at least fool future residents momentarily. The two a.m. fire alarm wake-up calls and 20 minute walks to class will suffice in jading them anyway.
Carolina Dining Services
"Dine" rhymes with "fine," which is ironic in this case. The only fine things I found were hairs in my food. Yummy. I admit that I am a highly selective eater, but does anyone think that these meals should be valued at $8 a pop? Just because someone came up with creative, gourmet names for the most questionable food items doesn't mean I would choose them over the always-classy Spanky's guacamole burger.
Advising
I recently filled out a survey for this University service. One question asked me if I had prepared for my appointment. Well gee, if I didn't, who would? Certainly not the advisers that receive a salary! I've gone to three different ones this year. Now, let's remember that I've been here for one year. They've been here for who knows how long. My future is their job and I can't imagine leaving it in less capable hands. Heck, we ought to be advising them.
Being a White Girl
Try to avoid this condition if at all possible. I'm just not diverse enough to be accepted into much of anything, and my life experiences reflect that. My biggest personal tragedy has been attending a school with an unfavorable male-female ratio. My family is intact. My ethnicity is European, specifically Aryan, and I'm pretty sure none of us were ever persecuted. Basically, this majority group's domination of the school causes reverse discrimination until we get into the workplace, where we can once again experience the regular kind of discrimination in the form of inferior salaries and sexual harassment.
Economics 101
Don't do it!
Friday, April 18, 2008
A Lesson from Barbie World
When I was born, my mom vowed to never let me play with Barbie dolls. She didn't want me to grow up with a distorted image of female beauty. Of course, not all girls' moms were ex-Catholics like mine, who felt the need to instill a confidence in me that she and her mother lacked, the latter having given birth to 10 children (contraception=sin) and the former growing up in a household where boys did the "real" work.
And so, these other mothers thwarted my mom's plan. Barbies are hard to avoid at friends' houses, and they're the go-to gift for girls under the age of 10. Fortunately, I never found their orange-tinted skin and unnatural hair color particularly appealing. (Some girls clearly idolize her look though, judging by the large population of fake-baked bottle blondes.) Plus, I cut Barbie's hair instead of my own, which had to be a relief to my mom. (As a side note, she did allow me to get a bowl cut one year, at an actual hair cuttery. The pictures, needless to say, are painful.)
Today when I was babysitting, I watched as these two girls played with their own dolls, one Barbie doll and one Bratz doll, commenting on how pretty they were. And man, I thought Barbie was bad, but Bratz take it a step further. The next generation of girls is going to be demanding eye and head enlargement surgeries in addition to breast enhancement and liposuction. Actually, I'm fairly certain that doll manufacturers and plastic surgeons have made some sort of arrangement.
But as I was sitting there, fearing for the future, the two dolls suddenly became interested in seeking boyfriends. In this case, the prospective boy toys were actually lotion and body wash bottles. (More practical than the real thing.) And surprisingly enough, these dolls were incredibly selective. NONE of the options were decent kissers or proper gentlemen. Thus, they were thrown over my legs and into "the ocean."
Despite my concerns, I think these girls know how to handle a guy. And I thought I had learned the same lesson during my Barbie years and beyond. But I held onto a boy even less tangible than theirs for far longer. I realized that my choice to throw him into the ocean was better late than never. After all, there are plenty of other fish, lotions and body washes in the sea.
And so, these other mothers thwarted my mom's plan. Barbies are hard to avoid at friends' houses, and they're the go-to gift for girls under the age of 10. Fortunately, I never found their orange-tinted skin and unnatural hair color particularly appealing. (Some girls clearly idolize her look though, judging by the large population of fake-baked bottle blondes.) Plus, I cut Barbie's hair instead of my own, which had to be a relief to my mom. (As a side note, she did allow me to get a bowl cut one year, at an actual hair cuttery. The pictures, needless to say, are painful.)
Today when I was babysitting, I watched as these two girls played with their own dolls, one Barbie doll and one Bratz doll, commenting on how pretty they were. And man, I thought Barbie was bad, but Bratz take it a step further. The next generation of girls is going to be demanding eye and head enlargement surgeries in addition to breast enhancement and liposuction. Actually, I'm fairly certain that doll manufacturers and plastic surgeons have made some sort of arrangement.
But as I was sitting there, fearing for the future, the two dolls suddenly became interested in seeking boyfriends. In this case, the prospective boy toys were actually lotion and body wash bottles. (More practical than the real thing.) And surprisingly enough, these dolls were incredibly selective. NONE of the options were decent kissers or proper gentlemen. Thus, they were thrown over my legs and into "the ocean."
Despite my concerns, I think these girls know how to handle a guy. And I thought I had learned the same lesson during my Barbie years and beyond. But I held onto a boy even less tangible than theirs for far longer. I realized that my choice to throw him into the ocean was better late than never. After all, there are plenty of other fish, lotions and body washes in the sea.
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