Monday, February 24, 2014

3 Things I love Today

1) Sidewalks-- Is there anything better than having dry sidewalks after months of slosh? I wore my Toms today, and my feet are still dry, so I take that as a serious win.

2) Memory Lane-- I got to sit with one of my sisters and talk about her trip to abroad, and we spent hours looking at pictures and talking about everything we loved and hated about traveling. It's easy to explain a specific event you saw, or a place you visited, but there's an atmosphere that is much harder to explain to someone that hasn't felt it. Having someone know what it means to sit by the Trevi Fountain at night and just watch the world threw me into some serious nostalgia, and I started getting excited about June.

3) Spirit Week-- Dance Marathon is this Saturday! I got to see a sneak peak of the dances, and the Morale Team is looking awesome. We've all put a lot of work into the event, and I'm excited to see it all come together. Dance Marathon is a very unique community-building experience, and seeing everyone else get excited makes me even more excited. If Bid Day is the Christmas of my college career, Dance Marathon is Thanksgiving (but one without violent oppression or genocide).


I believe in positive Mondays!

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Why I Give a Fuck (sorry, mom)

Seniors in organizations are notoriously useless. We've spent three years dedicating time and money to whatever the club is, and for our last semester, we want to relax. I have no issues with this. I am that senior.

But lately, the attitude has turned from "I want to enjoy this last semester" to "I give zero fucks."

(This is a very unfocused post. I'm just going to keep trying and hope it turns out. I mean for the topic to expand further than greek life, but for the sake of clarity, I'm just going to stick with that example.)

Are there things not worth caring about? Yes. The joy of senior year is the wisdom in knowing what is worth fussing over, and what will be just fine left alone. When people talk shit on each other, when an event doesn't go exactly according to plan-- these are things that are better left ignored. Carrying on with dramatics and hysteria do very little, but that isn't to say I don't care about the outcome.

I've noticed a lot of people throwing around an IDGAF attitude this semester, and it hurts. I think what bothers me so much is not the attitude itself, but the pride in having it-- like you've won some type of maturity achievement, where everything you used to care about is now beneath your notice or concern. Have I grown out of a lot of the things I started when I was a freshman? Yes. But I don't treat it like garbage. There are events I don't go to because I value other relationships or programs more now. That doesn't mean I want the first event to fail, or that I have some kind of negative attitude towards a person who does care about it.

I just like to see people excited about something. Paper crane folding, Anime, Gourmet Cheese Balls-- I don't care what it is. But I think being excited about your commitment to caring for nothing is sad, and empty, and I want no part of it. I'm not going to celebrate those people that give zero fucks, because I see no pride in it.

John Green says it way better than I do, and in a much more concise way:

“…because nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff… Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can’t-control-yourself love it. When people call people nerds, mostly what they’re saying is ‘you like stuff.’ Which is just not a good insult at all. Like, ‘you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness’.”

I believe in enthusiastic fuck-giving.



Kayse's 21st Birthday

Birthday girl and her roommate Vic. I think I've mentioned it before, but she also has two fake boy roommates (Josh is the one in the right picture, Ryan is the one in the green). Because we're the same person. 
She tried a few drinks, a stranger bought her a shot that she didn't want, and that was really all she needed to experience a bar. These two are clearly not impressed.
We went back to the B.R.'s apartment, which goes to show how much better they are than mine. Kusz and Deeg, would you have let me leave the bar? I'm pretty sure Kayse and I became such good friends after she came to my birthday in her pajamas just to tell my roommate's off for trying to buy me shots I didn't want.
English Majors (minus Kayse)-- I'm going to do my best to start taking/posting more pictures of our shenanigans.  As it stands, there are currently no pictures of all 5 of us together. That can be my goal for Ry's birthday in April.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Belated Birthday/ Throw Back Thursday



I spend a lot of time thinking about these people (my cousins and brother). Starting to panic a little about next Christmas potentially being my first one without everyone, but we'll get to that obstacle in December.

This one is also one of only a few pictures of Nick and I, who is celebrating his birthday week. Happy Birthday, Nick! I hope all my cousins find spouses as perfect as you!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Shakespeare, Cleveland, and Why My Friends are Perfect

Kayse (one of the English major friends) is turning 21 this weekend, so to celebrate her birthday we went to the Cedar Lee Theater last night to watch the National Theater Live. It's a program that sends out performances of London's national theater to the USA so that we can see shows that we otherwise would be missing out on. This week, they're showing Coriolanus.

This is all very important for a few reasons:

1. Cleveland having access to this is amaze-balls to me. I know I've been here for almost 4 years, but there's still a part of me that is used to the limited resources Franklin had (which, for a small town, was not all that limited. Barrow Civic Theater is boss). Being able to drive a half hour and spend $20 so that I can view a show that's being performed in Europe that easily costs 40-50 pounds is very exciting for me. They even had clips of the cast and director talking about the production before the show, which was also very cool. Tom Hiddleston plays the title character, and there were lots of other recognizable faces as well.

2. I had never read Coriolanus before, but it was very good. It's a tragedy, so you know how it will end, but I loved the characters and there were some awesome quotes I would love to have tattoos of (the highest form of praise). I don't usually love the political plays, but this one I did. If you have time to read it, I would highly suggest it. If not, here's the trailer (there's also a movie version with Gerard Butler, if that's more appealing).


3. I have really cool friends! Sure, we're going out for Kayse's birthday, but we were all more excited to see Shakespeare than to be at the bar. Don't get me wrong, I love me a good amaretto sour, but I love that British theater is getting more enthusiasm. Kayse and Alex were thrilled to see Tom Hiddleston in a see-through robe, and I enjoyed laughing at their giggling, and Ryan tolerated all of us like a champ. I wasn't sure I would ever find a group as compatible as the roommate team last year, but this english major group has made senior year worthwhile. I keep saying this, and it took longer than I wish it had, but I have finally found my people.

So, go read this if you haven't already, be excited about Cleveland and its treasures, and know that it is important to never stop searching for those people that are weird in all the ways you are. 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Pictures from Last Week...


I'm going to try to make more of an effort to take pictures in this final chunk of senior year, because I got pretty lazy about it through my college career. It took forever to get a picture of all the roommates together last year, and I've yet to get a picture of the English majors together, but maybe if I make a point to post I'll be more motivated.

I got to reunite with the roommates, for the first time since Deeg walked out of the apartment and said "Let it be." It took way too long, but since now we're all back in Ohio we can hopefully plan more of these. It was so nice to catch up. I even got to have lunch with our 5th roommate, Tyler, when he was home to celebrate Valentine's Day (I am pretty convinced that he might be one of the best boyfriends ever). 


My Zeta family got bigger! I think every time we have big/little, since I became a little, I have forgotten that there will be pictures and I go looking like a schlep. If you look through the years, I'm always in my boxy hoodie with no makeup, glasses, and hair that needs brushed. Oh well. We are now the largest zeta family, and I am a matriarch of many women (This picture is missing one of my grandlittles; the line goes me, 2 littles, 4 grandlittles, and 5 great-grand littles).

We don't have class this morning, but I got up at 6am to work out (I want to be that person, but it takes help from Kayse to actually get there) so I'm already up and moving and ready for the day. Unfortunately, my window won't close unless one of the Avengers comes to shut it (and even then, I'm not sure they could get the job done) so I've mostly been hanging out elsewhere until this last cold front dies down. I could rant and rave about the waste of electricity and how everyone in my building has to leave their window open because they turn the heat on so ridiculously high, but I won't. Just know that I haven't shut my window since August, and I have only been uncomfortably cold maybe 3 days out of the year.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Valentines Day

I know the subject gets beat to death every year, but I have loved Valentines Day as a coupled person, as a long-distance coupled person, and as a single person. This was my first year without a boyfriend or a date on Valentine's Day since middle school, but I have no complaints. I love the holiday.

I think the single-shaming is internal. I personally felt no shame today, and when I went to walgreens to buy myself a bottle of wine it felt no different than any other night when I do that. If you're embarrassed by your single-ness, I feel very sad for you, but it isn't going to ruin my Valentine's Day. I think people are generally happier and more openly affectionate, and the people sulking in the corner are free to do so as long as they don't get in the way of all the love.

I love crafting, I love making things for other people, and I love giving candy and treats. I love getting those things from people, and knowing they thought of me. I love having a day that allows everyone to acknowledge how much they love each other without feeling too silly. I love goofy puns and fandom pick-up lines.

So yes. I love Valentine's Day, and I love my friends, and I love my family, and I am full of love!

Monday, February 10, 2014

As I Lay Dying...

I'm taking a southern grotesque class this semester, and this was our first book- I absolutely loved it.
“He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that word was like the others: just a shape to fill a lack; that when the right time came, you wouldn't need a word for that any more than for pride or fear...."
"In a strange room you must empty yourself for sleep. And before you are emptied for sleep, what are you. And when you are emptied for sleep, what are you. And when you are emptied for sleep you are not. And when you are filled with sleep, you never were. I don't know what I am. I don't know if I am or not.”

There's also a film adaptation directed by James Franco, but it is as pretentious as a movie can get. It's like one big James Franco selfie in which he makes a lot of "I'm in a Sundance Film" faces and stares at the camera for a long time. Still, he uses a lot of interesting techniques (interesting--not vouching for if they're good or bad) to capture a novel written with over 15 narrators who are constantly interrupting each other to prevent one chronological plotline, and I liked that. It's on netflix, and I do have a special place in my heart for movies that only make sense to people that have read the book, so I would suggest trying it if you're into that kind of thing.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Stuff Dutch People Like

(no seriously, that's the title of the blog from which I stole the following article).

How could we possibly expect to make a list of stuff Dutch people like and not include this perplexing little guttural-sounding word at the top of the list! You will quickly learn that Dutch people love this word. They are fiercely proud of this word and all it represents. I would go as far to say that gezelligheid is the modern day religion of the Dutch.They love it, they need it and they respect it.

In fact, Dutch folk are going to ask you over and over again if you know what gezelligmeans. Once you do know it’s meaning, they are then going to ask you over and over again if you know how to pronounce it. Learn to love it too, because you won’t escape it (or its pronunciation), and you will soon seen that gezelligheid truly is all around you.

For those of you not yet knowing what gezellig means, let’s get one thing straight: this word has NO accurate English translations. Yes, it’s a sad fact my friends, but it’s true. People will try and try again to tell you that it means cozy… or quaint… or familiar…or friendly… or a nice atmosphere… or a fun time, but you get where this is going; no one word can really sum it up. Gezellig and gezelligheid are less about a word andmore about a feeling. Yes, this is starting to sound all chakras-and-healing-crystals to you, but truthfully, gezellig(heid) can only really be felt.

Things do get even trickier to comprehend, because Dutch people tend to evaluate everything on its particular level of gezelligheid. A place can be gezellig, a room can begezellig, a person can be gezellig, an evening can be gezellig. Christ, even childbirth can be rated by its gezellig-ness (my doctor once told me she preferred home births, simply because they were, “well… just more gezellig”)!

But as we all know, there are two sides to every coin. True to its form, meet ongezellig, gezellig‘s nasty twin brother.Again, ongezellig is a precise astute word like no other. “Let’s get out of this place, its just so ongezellig” can sum it up like nobody else can.

I’ll never forget taking an impromptu boat ride with a friend of mine and her family. After an hour spin and a stop by a canal-side restaurants for a nibble, we docked the boat as her 3 year old Dutch son turned to me, clasped his hands together and sighed while saying “ge-zel-lig”! Truth be told, it was the only word that accurately summed up our day. And even a 3 year-old knew it.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Say Something

I love this song, regardless of how sad it is. The Christina version is better, but I wish they would have given her more to do in the video. And a bra. 


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Snow Day

Last night, the snow started falling in excess. I will admit, driving back to my dorm around midnight was pretty exciting. I was surprised when we didn't have a snow day, and I'm not a wishful thinker when it comes to that. I really do believe that it was probably unsafe, especially for commuters, to try and come to school today.

But.

I am absolutely appalled at the behavior of my fellow students on social media today. The amount of disrespect towards our president (who has a remarkably good attitude towards a student body that has treated him so poorly) and the negativity has put me over the edge. So here is my rebuttal complaint, reserved for my blog. Where, if you're reading it, it is assumed you care what I think, otherwise why bother being here.

1) You are not the Victim- The amount of laziness and victim mentality is astounding. No one is out to get you, no one is going out of their way to make you suffer. Yes, it is slightly inconvenient to go to class today. "Inconvenient" is the watch word. I know the "people have it worse off" argument is pretentious and annoying, but it also still rings true. There are people out there working a lot harder to get an education without crying about it.

I have no problem with a person that says "I don't feel like going to class today." That's honest, and we've all been there. But don't say "The administration is trying to kill us all, they don't care about us, blah blah blah…" No one is crying for your drama. Suck it up.

2) You are being Selfish- I understand that it's hard for commuters. But you signed up to be a commuter at a school in Northeast Ohio. I did not. Every missed class is between $30-40 lost; don't expect me to waste that money just because you can't be there. You are a grown up, it's college, and obviously people will understand if you can't make it to class. Don't expect me not to show up because you can't.

Plan ahead, if you need to. If you were worried about missing a concert, or formal, or a date, would you have been able to find an alternative? Could you have driven to campus and stayed with a friend the night before? We knew this weather was coming. Be a boy scout and prepare.

3) Value Yourself- Why should the administration have more value for your life/safety than you do? If you truly feel that you will die of hypothermia, don't go out. If you are certain you will end up in a ditch and die, don't drive (I have both driven and walked in this weather, and had neither of those issues). Are they making it more difficult for you to decide to stay home? Yes. Are they forcing you to put your life at risk? No. You're in college, you've skipped class before. You just were hoping you could have permission for it this time.

4) Grow Up- Adults do not get snow days. If the weather is bad, their boss may be lenient as to when they show up, but they can not afford to just shut the business down. Your professors? Adults that are driving to campus to work. The administrators you're bashing? All still at work, even when the rest of school has a snow day. We are preparing for adulthood people, and sometimes that includes more than just your thesis.

5) Stop Complaining- Does it suck? Yes. Does complaining help? No. From a PR perspective, we are making our campus look really, really awful right now. A community built on negativity is not one I want to be a part of. Let's connect in a more creative way. When all the electricity was out for a week last year, some of the best memories were made. We made it fun, as a campus. So why can't we keep that attitude? Sometimes things are scary and the weather is unpredictable (although in this case, it really wasn't). Embrace it and share the experience together.


Choose your attitude, people. 

Saturday, February 1, 2014

3 Things Cheering me up this Weekend

1. Jarvis being free- My snowbrush mysteriously disappeared when I came back to BW after Christmas break, but after 40 minutes I was able to finally get all the ice and snow off of him (my Eve 6 CD case did not survive the de-icing). I love my (dad's) car, I love driving it, and it feels much better to have access to him again. Of course, it did warm up a few days later and probably would have melted off on it's own, and my roommate offered me an extra snowbrush the following day, but still. I love Jarvis very much, and don't mind at all taking care of him. He's the closest thing I have to a pet at school.

2. Being back in classes- I love learning. I love being around people smarter than I am. I love being exposed to Bollywood interpretations of Sense and Sensibility. I especially love having enough time to commit to all this work instead of having to cram it all. I will miss my English classes more than anything when I have to leave. My dream job is one where I can take classes forever.

3. Having a snow day! We had Tuesday off, which meant lots of time for shenanigans on Monday night and then lots of lounging on Tuesday. I also really love our President-- I spend a lot of time with him while I'm working in University Relations, and I just think he's the most fabulous man. We've had free hot chocolate all week because of him, and he answers even some of the rudest tweets with a positive attitude and respect.

Bonus: Organic Honey Roasted Peanut Butter from Chuppa's Marketplace. Yum.