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!
Friday, February 14, 2014
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Relaxing for the Weekend...
I know I've fallen behind, but between California and starting the semester I haven't had a chance to sit down much. Celebrating the weekend with my favorite Disney movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgeIiREvafQ
Also, why can I not make this a video box anymore? My favorite scene in all of disney history, and no one will bother to click the link to youtube so you won't even know what it is. Think of the mystery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgeIiREvafQ
Also, why can I not make this a video box anymore? My favorite scene in all of disney history, and no one will bother to click the link to youtube so you won't even know what it is. Think of the mystery.
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