Random

This is how I spend my study breaks, taking pictures of my stuffed animals. Say hi to Pika and Euka, everyone!

Angels & Airwaves

Optimistic. Influential. Mature. Angels & Airwaves has not disappointed this Blink 182 fan. Tom DeLonge who founded Blink 182 and now Angels & Airwaves has really shown himself through his music. Most songs begin softly with just enough notes for you to anticipate the upcoming musical crescendos and the lyrics' story. As a husband and father, DeLonge's lyrics voice a tone of affection and concern with topics of relationships and war. Profanity is also reserved for his angrier songs showing how he has grown to control his music instrumentally and lyrically. This is definitely worth checking out. Here's a link to Amazon Music for song samples: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Need-Whisper-Angels-Airwaves/dp/B000F8DTDC/sr=1-1/qid=1162139691/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5733424-5114513?ie=UTF8&s=music

5k or (for the British fans) 3.1 miles

THE TULSA RUN. NOVEMBER 11, 2006.

http://www.tulsarun.com/

I signed up today. I better start running again.

Out of Words

Out of words. Not because I found myself in an amazing situation that has left me speechless or because I was uninterested in my activities today, it's because I'm tired. oiasdlkjalk... I start to mumble like that! I pulled one of those on my classmates today. I'll work on my pronunciation and articulation another day, but today, I type.

Homecoming

The much anticipated weekend came and gone with every expectation fulfilled. I spent time with everyone I wanted to see and ate at my favorite places in Stillwater.

I didn't take many photos hoping others will eventually share their photos. I did get one copy!...

I've decided that homecoming is more fun as an alumni.

I Thought I Didn't Look Good in Hats

I wore four hats today; my employee hat, my student hat, my friend hat, and my family hat. This cute cliché of saying hats to express the many roles people play everyday is a reality. I am learning that juggling these roles becomes more difficult as I undertake more responsibilities in each of these categories of my life. It’s really all an equation anyway.

Employee + Student + Friend + Family = Me

So, you probably just felt a big cheese ball hit your forehead. Yes, it’s cheesy, but it will prove my point. I am a constant. I have limits on my capability and time to fulfill these roles. The quality of each of these roles can fluctuate, but another role (or variable) will have to inversely change with it. There will be times when I spend more time at work, but will cause me to spend less time on school or socializing.

This leads us into a discussion of prioritization. I would like to claim that I choose family first, but, in practice, maybe I’m speaking from a soapbox. I had a sobering moment tonight when I was talking to my dad about plans for the weekend before Halloween. I know that’s the next weekend I’ll be able to return home, yet, if my parents didn’t NEED me home, I’d rather join my friends at a huge costume party in downtown. From my microscopic view, I think this is a tough decision. From a macroscopic view, the answer is obvious to me. I should go home. I don’t doubt the party will be fun. It might even be legendary among my friends here, but most parties are fleeting moments and only a few will truly be remembered. The question is if I look back 10 years even 5 years from now, will I regret more skipping the party or a visit home? After my casual conversation with my dad on the phone, I realized my Family variable was not reflected the way I intended it to in my equation since I’ve moved away. I’m glad I’m catching it early on, and I hope to continue to weigh my variables according to my priorities.

Disconnected by Being Connected

Why is it so difficult to meet people? I hear this from friends, from reading articles written by twenty and thirty -somethings, and somewhat experiencing it myself. You would think that the internet would connect people more, but then why are all the dating services gaining popularity? Perhaps the internet is beneficial to keeping existing contacts and not creating new ones. Perhaps the time spent in front of computers is costing the time people would spend outside socializing and physically meeting others. I still find it puzzling that the communication channels have widened so extensively, yet people are having a harder time meeting new people. A large factor is the changing social mindset. A great push for a successful career has left other aspects of life on the curb. Personal expectations have also left this generation wanting more of everything. I'm not advocating lowering your standards, but in general, this generation has demanded and received. This idea has propogated to our relationships. The demand for someone who does everything is preferable.

So it seems that the changing social aspects and psychology distances people from one another, and the networking power of technology can't keep up. Then again, there's no substitute to meeting someone face-to-face.

Tator Tot Casserole

Someone brilliant made it happen: Tator Tot Casserole. I am full of tator tots tonight.

Check Please

Guys, would it bother you if your girlfriend let you pay for every date or do you not mind?

Girls, do you like guys to pay most of the time or try to even things out?

I always try to even things out in the end. I think it's nice for the guy to pay at first, but I don't like to think that I owe people anything in the end. I'm curious because I don't know how other girls handle these situations, and I don't know how guys prefer it.

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was the end of the 2006 World Cup. Italy took the gold home! Zidane had an upsetting, yet entertaining, moment of aggression, and I learned a few new things about soccer.

The best thing about watching soccer is how the soccer players go full throttle and still move so agilely. The fans are always great too. It's great how they stay until the end of the game, regardless of how their team is performing. It's different in the U.S. It's typical for people to leave during half-time of a football game (the American kind of football). I've been guilty of doing that. I thought it was just poor sportsmanship for awhile, but then I realized the Americans typically go to sports game not for the sport but for the social aspect. Usually, a sports game gives a group of friends something to do, and when this group gets bored they go do something else.

Now, I just have to wait for another 4 years to enjoy another World Cup game.

I Miss the Stars

It wasn't until my trip to Stillwater when I realized how much I enjoy seeing stars in the night sky. Kansas City must be insanely bright because I see very few stars. Anyway, I miss the stars.

Summer Days

The first day of summer isn't official until about June 21st/22nd, but my summer has begun.

The Best of Summer List (this is what I like about summer):
Watermelon
Cool Nights
Picnics
Lots of daylight
Farmer's Markets
Outdoor sand volleyball
Wearing skirts
Flip-flops
Peaches
Ice cream
... and I'm sure there's more!!!

Choose Your Adventure

Given a choice to participate in any reality tv show, what would you choose? American Idol? Real World? The Bachelor? America's Top Chef? Survivor?

I would definitely choose The Amazing Race. What a great adventure! Traveling and challenges, but I wonder who I would go with? Pairing up as a couple would be a true relationship test (and finding the right guy is a challenge enough ;) ). Pairing up with a best friend might work better. A family member is a good option too. Whatever the relationship, this person has to have a great attitude and lots of enthusiasm. It would be a real test of myself too! I think I'll start training now.

Swinging the Bat

Everyday is a good day to try something new. Today, it was learning to hit a softball... even if it means getting hit by one once in awhile.

Oh Rats!

SOMETHING is scratching the wall. I think IT is a mouse stuck in the walls and is trying to get out. That THING is really driving me crazy. I need to call the apartment complex to free IT far from here.

Just another reason why I should get a cat.

Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.

"Nothing good happens after 2 A.M." was the theme of a recent episode of How I Met Your Mother, and it was hilarious. That was just one opinion, however. Ted's opinion. Well, Ted's mother's opinion to be exact. The other opinion was "Legendary moments happen after 2 A.M," and Barney believes that.

They're both right to some degree, but I'd have to go with Ted on this one. If you're out at 2 A.M., just go home. What do you think?

Eating Trends

I've recently noticed a trend when I eat out with friends. I'm usually known as a slow eater. This isn't always the case, though! I'm usually the last one to finish my entree, but the first to finish my dessert. This was the case tonight. I had the best bananas foster ever. The waitress made it at tableside as well, making the experience very entertaining. Wow, that was delicious!

Mixing Bowl

... and I'm not talking about the wonderful U.S. I'm talking about Williams-Sonoma style. I finally brought you home where you belong. We're going to make wonderful cakes, muffins, and bread together. So begins a new chapter in my life...

Coldstone Creamery

It's not even halfway through the month, and I've already hit my Coldstone quota! It was so worth it.

It's Still My Year

Dog: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982

Man’s best friend should forget past setbacks and seize the day. Fortune favors the brave Dog who seeks opportunities and possibilities. Keep a keen eye on finances and encourage other members of your “pack” to share your ambitions. Your natural loyalty and honesty will win new friends and closer relationships.

So, how much of that is true so far?
1. Man's best friend?
lol... so many things I can say here. Let's just start with I don't want to be the best friend forever.
2. Forget past setbacks and seize the day?
I think that has to do with attitude. I've been fine in this department. I'm going to try to keep things into perspective while I'm out into the real world, which tends to dampen people's spirits at times.
3. Seeks opportunities and possibilities?
That's what I'm doing at work.
4. Keep a keen eye on finances?
I probably need some work on this, but I'm saving most of my money. Saving to pay for my loans!
5. New friends and closer relationships?
I think this is definitely true, and I couldn't ask for a better year for this to happen. I've made some great new friends here who have made my moving transition much easier to cope with. On the flip side, I have become a lot closer to friends that now live too far away.