Blissful Afternoons

New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-30T20:33:00.004-05:00

I don't often post on this blog, but I do like to make an appearance every now and again. With 2011 coming to a close, I thought it would be a great time to pop up and discuss New Year's resolutions.

Every year I try to at least make one resolution and stick to it for about 6 months. Last year my resolutions were probably formed around healthy eating, finding a job and travel. I can safely say that my diet has gotten better since 2010 -- a LOT less PB&J happening and a lot more of kale, beets and quinoa. I have added some dairy back into my diet, but I need to decide how to proceed with that. This will call for some research on how much dairy affects one's heart.

I also succeeded at finding a job--I was actually hired 3 times this year and was offered another job, but declined. Now, they are by no means high paying jobs, but they are in fields related to my interests. Score! I am at least somewhat marketable.

Finally, I did a little bit of travel this year. For one, I moved myself down to West Virginia mid-year. I've also been lucky enough to take a trip to Vegas & Tucson, AZ; as well as travel around the Maryland, West Virginia & Virginia area. This was definitely scaled down from the epic road trip that occurred in 2010, but they were all still wonderful experiences.

So, what's up next for 2012?

My resolutions for the New Year are:

Save up for grad school, a new camera, & a road bike
Eat healthier (and on a more consistent schedule)
Travel to another country (I have yet to make it to England...)

I know it is not for another day or so, but...

Happy New Year! :)

What I'm Thankful For...

2011-11-20T18:08:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving is coming up soon and although this is a time for food and family, it is also a time to reflect on what we are thankful for in our lives.

So, what am I thankful for? I should start with food and family. Even though I may be able to afford food and gather together with family to share a large meal this Thursday; many people do not have the access or resources to purchase and prepare a healthy and bountiful Thanksgiving meal.

Just having a supportive family to get together with is something to be thankful for. My family is so adamant about me coming to Thanksgiving and Christmas that I sometimes forget they do it out of love. And it is this love that shows they will be there for me if times get hard; financially, mentally, whatever the case may be. That is a big deal and should be cherished.

I'm also thankful for the opportunities I have been afforded in my life. I have been lucky enough to go to college and graduate. After graduating, I have been able to attain jobs that interest me. AmeriCorps has been a fantastic experience and has allowed me to meet people from all walks of life. NCCC was a fantastic learning experience and I hope to make every moment of my VISTA year of service count.

I could go on and on.

So, what do we do after we recognize all the things we are thankful for? Well, if you have some time in your life, get out there and give back! There are so many great organizations and programs that could use your help. Love animals? Volunteer with your local humane society or rescue group. Interested in mentoring? Become a big brother or big sister! The possibilities are endless. Get on your preferred search engine and find something that fits your interests. Simple as that.

You don't need to quit your job and dedicate your whole year to service; but whatever time you can give is much appreciated by your community.

2011-09-16T20:17:00.003-04:00

I have truly inspirational friends.

My friend Pam will be traveling to Tanzania in October to work for FAME (Foundation for African Medicine & Education) as the volunteer coordinator and administrative support. Ever since I met Pam in college at the University of Tennessee, she has said she will move to Tanzania to work one day. Guess what --mission accomplished! :)

Now, if only she can convince me to move there with her.

For more information on Pam and her journey -- and to donate if you are feeling generous--please visit her website: Pam in Tanzania.

2011-07-27T19:50:00.002-04:00

Oh, Happy (belated) Birthday to me!

Yesterday I turned 23! It's so strange how a birthday can lift so many burdens. I treat my birthday like most people treat New Years Day. It is a new year and I can "start over" in a sense. Today at work I felt like I had a huge burden lifted off my shoulders and I could finally relax and get into my job. :)

Thanks to my sister, I will now be the owner of a new pair of flat sandals. She knew I am always looking for shoes--I go through sneakers like no bodies business. I also received some cute little gifts from my dad and his wife and a fantastic birthday card from my birthday twin, J.

I bought myself the cutest blue skirt in Morgantown, WV when I was there for a conference (yes, on my birthday) and paired it with my favorite shoesies to create my new favorite outfit. Its amazing how a cute outfit can change your attitude.

My friend E made me some "fudgie wudgie" VEGAN brownies...and I will now become fudgie the whale from eating all of them. And I will relish every moment of it.

Cheers to the 23rd year of my life! :)

2011-06-13T13:35:00.002-04:00

I've officially moved to West Virginia!

My car seems to be protesting the move with a dead battery and my bumper almost falling off, but otherwise I am enjoying it. I am especially enjoying the freedom of living on my own.

I will say that I have met some truly kind people in the past week. When my car battery died, I was fortunate enough to meet wonderful people who were willing to help me out; including a mechanic who tried his best to fix my problem before leaving for an urgent doctor's appointment. In the end, he did not have a new battery that would fit my car, but we swapped stories and jokes until the tow truck showed up. He didn't even charge me for his time, instead saying that I will have to stop by and say hello every once in a while.

This year will definitely be an education. I can't wait and I embrace the challenges ahead, in both work and everyday life.

2011-05-27T18:22:00.002-04:00

Hello! Today has been wonderfully warm and sunny. After taking care of some business in Cambridge, I decided it was time to head to the beach. I've been asking EVERYONE I know if they wanted to go to the beach at some point--day or night (preferably day)--I needed to go before moving to West Virginia. Today I decided I waited long enough on other people and headed out on my own.

I usually drive up and down 1A in New Hampshire, scouting out the best beach spot. Today there was a thick fog that hung low over the beach and ocean, but Hampton beach (which is further south) had some patches where the sun was shining, so I stopped there.

Most beach-goers were high school students who seemed to have either skipped school or got out early to take advantage of today's weather. Smart kids.

The fog cleared up after 15 or so minutes and I laid out and soaked it in. I did not get to go swimming, which was disappointing, but I did dip my feet in. Swimming is something that I love and any time I can swim, I like to jump at the chance. Sadly, I was weighed down with my wallet, keys, and cell phone and didn't feel comfortable abandoning them beachside, but there is always next time.

I've decided that I want to live by the ocean at some point in my life. I feel refreshed after letting the salt air seep into my skin and having the sand exfoliate my feet. I would love to own a house by the ocean and be able to enjoy the salty air and swim daily.

Someday...

I will say that I need to perfect my sunscreen application. Today I put on some really crappy sunscreen, which did work well, but the spots I missed are now bright red. Luckily, I always keep aloe vera on hand. However, I now have a red spot right between my boobs and a stripe on my shoulder. Some day I will learn -- or at least invest in the sunscreen that changes colors before you rub it in.

2011-05-22T23:13:00.002-04:00

Sorry I've been busy lately. I haven't been able to make a post because I'm getting ready to move down to West Virginia for a job. Hooray!

So in the meantime, check out my Tumblr a random assortment of photos, sayings, etc that interest me or catch my eye.

And remember....

2011-05-15T18:57:00.005-04:00

I've learned that having been in AmeriCorps NCCC is like being a part of a huge family.

I went up to Wilmot, NH to visit Moose 5 at their project site and do a bit of work with them for AmeriCorps week. There were two more alum there, both from the Denver campus. It ended up raining all day, but we were able to clean out some cabins and clear a little bit of trails. But, here's the thing, we sat down afterwards for a wonderful cake (it was RAINBOW cake!) and chatted about AmeriCorps NCCC and the alums experiences.

What is very interesting is that no matter what, we all have some similar experiences, no matter what campus you come from. AmeriCorps NCCC is fantastic about that, whether its getting people to do their dishes or staple team dinners, we all seem to have at least one shared experience that we can joke about or groan over. And it spans throughout different classes. Its remarkable how you can possibly reminisce about NCCC with any alum, no matter the age difference.

I think it also comes along with the fact that all NCCC alum have done the service work and seen the people they are helping. It definitely changes you. The whole ten months are amazing and I would recommend it to anyone who has even the slightest interest in service work or travel or just having a life changing experience.

To any NCCC alum in the NH area, there are a few events going on throughout the week--they have a Facebook where more information can be found. OR, check out the AmeriCorps Week website for more info on events going on throughout the country.

2011-05-09T21:07:00.003-04:00

Hello, all!

I hope you all were as excited about Google's celebration for today as I was. Today would have been Charles Roger Hargreaves' 76th birthday!

So, why should that name be familiar? He was an English author and illustrator of children's books; namely books like Little Miss Sunshine (shown above) and Mr Dizzy, etc.

It felt like a nice reminder of childhood. I may have spent a small portion of my day reloading Google to see what new images would appear.

I loved these books, but my sister and I were obsessed with "Princess Smarty Pants" by Babette Cole. The book is actually sitting on top of a pile of books next to my bed. If you want to have Babette Cole read this book to you, YOU CAN. Its HERE on YouTube, the wonders of the internet. Make sure you have your books in hand to follow along!

Anyone have any favorite books from when you were a kid?

Mother's Day

2011-05-07T22:42:00.003-04:00

Sunday (tomorrow) is Mother's Day. A day to really appreciate the woman who raised you &/or gave you life. Everyone has a mother, even if they aren't in your life now or ever. Even if you have a lot of bad feelings towards this woman, you can at least say thank you for giving you life. You know? Without her, there would be no you.

So, although my own Mother passed away in 2006, I still think it is very important to give kudos to mothers around the world. I mean, having babies is no joke, in some countries there is a lot of risk involved in the actual birth process.

This weekend I am celebrating the life of my Mother, Cheryl ('59-'06), and all the wonderful times we had together---plus, everything she taught me in the 18 years that I was privileged enough to know her and be her daughter.

Usually, I do something on special days to remember her, days like her birthday, the day she died, mother's day, etc. Tomorrow I will be going on yet another adventure in northern NH--but first I am going to stop off at the cemetery to say hello and leave some flowers. My mom loved flowers--I'm almost tempted to leave coffee, another thing she loved, but the grounds keeper will think I am crazy. :)

So, please remember to celebrate mother's day! I think this is something we should cherish and respect everyday, but at the very, very least it is something to remember on this day.

My mother, Cheryl.

2011-05-06T21:36:00.000-04:00

Realization: I'm not content settling down in one place.

Okay, so I lived in the same house for 18 years (plus some summers in college), but in high school I went to 3 different high schools and was always suggesting to my parents that we move somewhere new, like Texas.

Today a coworker of mine commented that I'm always bouncing from place to place, since I volunteered for them one summer, went back to TN for school, came back to work for them in the winter, left for AmeriCorps NCCC for ten months and am now back yet again. Only to be leaving in a month. But, I like moving. I like seeing new places and especially meeting new people. I like experiencing the cultural differences in each new place, no matter how subtle -- hello, anthropology major.

So, my goal is to find a way to continue this lifestyle. Okay, this might not be the best in terms of finding a long term relationship, but that is not going to be my goal. I have lived 22.5 years as a single (and sassy) female and can continue to do so without a problem. I want to pursue my dreams and experience life the way that suits me best. I get antsy when I'm settled for too long, but maybe that is because I haven't found the right place to settle into.

2011-05-05T22:38:00.002-04:00

If you are in the Phoenix, AZ area, have you noticed any women wearing the same dress multiple days in a row? Well, there is a small chance they are a part of StreetLight Phoenix's One Dress, 30 Days campaign.

During the month of April, dedicated women in the Phoenix area have been wearing the same dress everyday to raise awareness of child sex slavery. The campaign is also a fundraiser, with all proceeds going towards providing safe housing for those who have survived sex slavery.

According to their website, Phoenix has a lot of child sex slavery and other forms of human trafficking because of its attraction to tourists.

I find this campaign to be very interesting. It has potential to work well. I mean, if someone at work is wearing the same dress every. single. day. I would ask if something is wrong at home or if they just own 5 of the same dress. But, that might just be me. It is different from wearing a certain color for a day to raise awareness because people are more likely to ask about wearing the same dress day after day. So kudos on the concept!

Human trafficking is an issue that I have been researching for quite a while now. Strangely enough, I first learned about it through my high school friend's junior year project for our Ethics/Justice course. From there, I became even more interested after watching a LifeTime movie on the subject. Further down the road, in college, it became the focus of every paper I wrote for my anthropology courses---or any other class I could justify it as a topic for.

So, educate yourselves. Check out the website. If you want to learn more about human trafficking or different organizations in your area, feel free to check out the Polaris Project. They are wonderful.

2011-05-03T19:13:00.002-04:00

Adventure weekend, part 2: Lowell

Sunday I decided to have yet another adventure day. This time I drove into Lowell to walk around and see all the historical stuff--the mills, the old buildings, the canal, etc. It was a very successful day.

Lowell High School

The Canal

The Locks

Lowell's wonderful architecture.

I really like Lowell because of its history (the mills fascinate me), the old buildings that have been renovated (or not), basically everything. It gets a bad rap, but there are some wonderful areas.

I'm already planning yet another adventure weekend for this coming Saturday & Sunday. We shall see if it all pans out.

2011-04-30T23:26:00.000-04:00

Bonjour, mes amis. Je voudrais apprendre le langue de français. Ah, oui! Vous comprendez? Bien. Si vous voudriez, m'aider étudier s'il vous plait. Si vous comprenez français, pouvez-vous m'écriver un commentaire pour moi à français. Merci! Peut-etre nous peut parler et vous pouvez m'enseigner un peu de grammaire français (et peu mots nouveaux).

2011-04-30T21:16:00.002-04:00

Adventure for the day: Explore Historic Concord, MA

I drove to the town next to mine to go take a walk around Walden Pond. Beautiful. Of course, Walden Pond is where Henry Thoreau lived for a period of time that inspired the writing of Walden. I meandered around the pond, taking short stops to think, take photos and get closer to the water. I really enjoyed myself.

Marker at the site of Thoreau's house at Walden Pond.

"However mean your life is, meet it and live it;
do not shun it and call it hard names."

-Henry David Thoreau

Beautiful day at Walden Pond.

There were a few fishermen out today, which was nice to see.

After I took a stroll through downtown Concord and stopped in at different shops. Everything is very much out of my price range, but I still enjoy browsing--especially at the antique shop. I stopped by Louise May Alcott's house, the writer of Little Women, but did not go in for a guided tour.

I'm hoping to use the rest of my weekends to do some more exploring before I move to West Virginia. Speaking of, I got a lead of a really good apartment. The land lady is amazingly nice and I'm hoping everything works out. Fingers crossed!

2011-04-27T19:55:00.003-04:00

Alright, I think I'm ready to go back to school. I would love to just get a job and work my way up to the top, gain knowledge, and get into the issues that I want to (human trafficking). But, I know there is so much more that I can learn, and need to learn in order to do what I want to do with my life and have an effect.

Here are the subjects I am looking at getting a Master's in:

Anthropology - You all knew that was coming. I have a BA in anthropology and yes, I think it has been helpful. I am weary about the idea of getting a Master's in it, but maybe applied anthropology.
Community Psychology - A friend of a friend actually told me about this when we stayed with her in Portland, OR on the road trip. It is quite similar to applied anthropology, and focuses mostly on community issues and resolving them.
Public Health/Social Work - I am looking into a lot of double Master's programs that involve public health and social work. I think this would be PERFECT, but I would have to A) get in & B) get myself mentally prepped for all the work that would be involved.
Juris Doctorate - There is a Public Health/Juris Doctorate program that I have my eye on. I'm not saying it wouldn't be a challenge, but I think I could benefit from it.

Those are my main focuses right now. If I do any sort of social work program, I want to look into taking the tests to become a LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker). I know that there are other licensings that I could strive for, but that seems to be the top. And I like a challenge.

I've been getting nostalgic about the University of Tennessee lately, that is where I went for undergrad. I mainly miss my ladies, but I also miss the college community. I miss the public speakers that came on campus (Lisa Ling!!!) and the events put on at the International House. I know grad school will be a little different and hopefully will require more work on my part--although after taking osteology, I'm pretty sure I can handle anything they throw at me.

So in the meantime, the search continues....

Anyone looking to apply for grad school? Know of any good programs?

2011-04-26T22:10:00.004-04:00

One of my goals is to get on a normal eating schedule. I was fine in AmeriCorps, but here is what happened; first, the road trip really screwed with my eating because I was eating a lot whenever it was provided and not much when there was no free food around. This was more of a money saving tactic though. Then, come January, I went through a lot of stress: work-related, emotional, men, etc. I couldn't actually get myself to eat...and dropped 15 pounds in a matter of weeks. Not good.

Now my eating habits are really out of whack. I've never been a breakfast eater, but I find myself getting hungry around 10AM when I'm working. Then I won't have a lunch (because I ate it earlier) and at dinner I kind of graze throughout the night, no real meal happening.

My goal is to normalize my eating routines and then eat healthier. I am trying to make healthier meals so that I can feel more energized throughout my day. I am still keeping vegan--minus a few slip ups. (Vegan Police!!!) But, really I want to keep most of my eating strictly vegan, and ALL of my eating vegetarian. I have been thinking about eating meat again, but I really think I would get sick for at least the first few weeks.

Foods I want to eat more of....

Eggplant
Avocado
Mushrooms
Zucchini
Beets

So, any ideas for healthy meals?

Its dinner time, so I am off to assemble a makeshift healthy meal. Yum!

2011-04-26T00:00:00.005-04:00

It has come to my attention that I have not posted my updated list of life goals. The last time I posted can be found HERE, although they have changed somewhat.

Life Goals

1 ... Live in Europe

~~2 ... Visit California~~

3 ... Visit India

~~4 ... Swim in the Pacific Ocean~~

~~5 ... Go to College~~

~~6 ... Get my license~~

7 ... Meet a famous actor

8 ... Visit a movie set

9 ... Learn to play guitar

10 ... Learn to make clothing

~~11 ... Go to Portugal~~

12 ... Own a VW Bus

13 ... Take a gondola ride in Venice

14 ... Go for a carriage ride in Central Park

15 ... Bike across America

~~16 ... Swim in the Gulf~~

~~17 ... Visit the Grand Canyon~~

18 ... Go skinny dipping

19 ... Have an Alaskan adventure

20 ... Publish something

21 ... Travel by train cross country

22 ... Live on my own in the city

23 ... Live on my own in the country

24 ... Open a non profit

25 ... Complete a PhD program

26 ... Become a Girl Scout Troop Leader

~~27 ... Visit the Mall of America~~

Some of these are completely lame, but what list of goals doesn't have the silly or whimsical wishes for adventure.

Anyone else have a list of goals?

Have any ideas of what I can add to it? Let me know!

2011-04-25T17:48:00.006-04:00

I've been rather productive over the past day and a half. I finally ordered my networking business cards, something I have been putting off for a while, so hopefully they will be here in a few weeks. I've been networking with some pretty great people lately and have not been able to reciprocate when they hand me their cards. At least now this can be an equal exchange--plus, mine have cute owls on them. If you don't know, I am oddly in love with owls.

I also have done a bit of apartment searching in Martinsburg! I am hoping to move down on June 1st, but I've yet to find a place. So, this weekend I got myself somewhat motivated and scoured CraigsList for one bedroom & efficiency apartments. I found two that look semi-promising after talking to the land lords. One of the women I will be working with is going to check them out for me today--isn't she great! Hopefully it will somehow fall into place. They are a bit of a stretch for my price range, but also the cheapest, least sketchy places I could find.

Otherwise, I'm slowly making my way through my Finance and Grant Writing classes. Grant writing is only another 3 weeks, while Finance is another 5 weeks. Hoorah! I am actually picking up some good knowledge and was able to use a few things I learned from my Fundraising course in a conversation with my dad last night. Oh, snap.

On a different note, my sister was unable to come home for Easter this past weekend because she had a photo shoot for her new line of boutique wall paper that I believe she will be launching soon. Although I miss her a lot, I am very proud of her and all the work she has put into creating her business and wonderful designs. If you want, check out Kim's creations at her website.

2011-04-24T15:31:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter/Sunday.

I am at home resting because I'm still sick. The doctor prescribed some heavy duty antibiotics, but we're on day 3 of 10 and although I feel better, they are leaving me a bit light-headed and nauseous. So, none of my Gram's famous cheese cake or artichokes this year for me. I missed last year's family gathering, and roasting marshmallows (!!), but there is always next year.

Instead of celebrating with family & friends, I have decided to get a jump on this motivation thing. Just because I'm sick doesn't mean I can't do a bit of internet research. So, while Elijah is snoring away on a pillow by my window, I have been researching bikes.

I think I want to buy a touring bike; new or used. But, although it could be an awesome experience to build my own--since a lot of bike shops seem to sell parts or kits to assemble touring bikes--I'm pretty sure I could mess that up. A lot.

Any bike enthusiasts have words of wisdom?

On the one hand, building my own bike, or fixing up a used one, would allow for a better understanding of how it works. You know, so I could fix it when it does eventually break. And it will break at some point--I once got too much speed on a hill at my friend's house and almost drove into their neighbor's house. Instead I aimed for a bush...a very sharp bush. Ok, I was probably 10 at the time, but the point is I sometimes do dumb things...like not brake until the last second.

On the other hand, a shiny new bike/a used bike that is all put together would be rideable from day 1. I could focus on my new job in West Virginia instead of worrying about how to put brake pads on correctly.

So, here comes my silly ideas for this bike. One of my life goals (Life Goal #15, to be exact) is to bike across the country. Now, I might never achieve this goal, but I want to try. And I really want to try and bike long distance--at least across a state or two. You are all laughing at me right now, at least those of you who know my lack of athleticism. But, if the only end result of this endeavor is that I bike to work/the store/friend's places, then that is okay. I would like to lessen my carbon footprint by not wasting as much gas, as well as lead a healthier lifestyle by exercising more. BAM -- two birds with one stone.

So, advice and kind words are welcome. I'm still working on doing some more research, but if you can point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

For now, I am going to see if I feel well enough to take Elijah down to see the cows. There are two calves who I've been meaning to stop and look at for a while now. Soon they will be full grown cows and I will have missed my chance!

2011-04-23T21:33:00.004-04:00

Sorry I've been neglecting this blog for so long, I got pretty involved with AmeriCorps and couldn't find the time to update it--or the internet access. But, my ten month stint in AmeriCorps NCCC has come and gone and, dare I say it, it may have been one of the best years of my life thus far. Now, that being said, there was plenty of stress and anxiety that went along with that year, I almost quit on multiple occasions, but that is true with anything that really makes you go outside of your bubble and grow as an individual.

The road trip that followed was another amazing experience that I will cherish forever. We drove from Maryland to Wisconsin, down to Arizona, and then up the California coast, ending in Portland, OR. A wonderful experience with wonderful people. In itself, that month or so was a great reward for our year of hard work and taught me a lot about myself along the journey. But, 2010 has passed, as as a teammate of mine would say, "On to the next one, on to the next one..."

2011 has been a year where I started out strong and motivated to get things accomplished, which I have--I have 2 part-time jobs for the moment: one in grant writing and one as an assistant; and another job in West Virginia that starts in June. However, emotional anxieties, and the fact that I have been sick every month this year, have really de-motivated me to the point where I cannot find my way out of this funk. Which is why I am updating this blog and trying to get my ass in gear.

So, some goals for the next 4 months:

Finish my Nonprofit Management Certificate through the University of Montana.

Honestly, I am working on this at the moment--I just finished a Fundraising course and am in both a Grant Writing course and Finance course.

Buy a new bike.

Mine is old and I don't fit on it anymore--I probably got it in 5th grade. I need a new/used bike to motivate me to get out and tool around/have some fun/exercise a bit more.

Get more involved in the community.

This one is a bit tough because I am moving in a month or so. I have been trying to volunteer, but my schedule has not really permitted it. I work 5 days at week and volunteering hours on projects I'm excited about are on work days.

Make new friends, but keep the old.

I need to expand my horizons and find people with my interests who can also introduce me to new ideas, activities, etc. I love my friends, but I'm always willing to make a new one.

Apply to grad. schools.

The big storm cloud looming over my head: the future. I need to pick a Master's program and do my research on what schools I want to go to. I started doing this last summer, but so many new programs have come to my attention since then. It doesn't necessarily trap me in that profession, but will merely give me more options in terms of careers.

Find a guitar teacher.

This will have to wait until I get to West Virginia, but I want to find someone who can teach me how to play guitar. My Grandpa's guitar is just sitting in my closet, not being used. I want to put it to good use, and I think learning a musical instrument could be rather fun. (I tried & failed in high school)

Do more solo traveling.
Get a greater understanding of global politics.
Learn a new language/brush up on my French.
Create a better eating schedule.

I think all these goals are possible over the next 4 or 5 months--or at least I can get started on them. Hopefully I will stay motivated if I have goals.

Post-AmeriCorps Plans

2010-09-15T13:53:00.002-04:00

My post-AmeriCorps plans are very much up in the air right now. I'm already enrolled in the American Humanics certification..and mostly finished thanks to AmeriCorps. I just enrolled in an online course that starts in 2 weeks. Things are moving along nicely in that area of life.

But, I might be applying to grad school...crazy, I know. I'm looking into public/global health and social work. My main focus for schools has been Boston; so I can live at my Dad's if I can't financially handle tuition and rent. But, my friend pointed out that the University of Illinois: Chicago has a Dual MPH/MA (in anthropology) and focuses on global health! eep!

I've also applied for a handful (or two) of jobs and I have yet to hear anything positive back. I know the job market is still pretty rough, so I guess I might have to settle a little bit on a job while I work out this school thing.

My goal is to find a job and move out of my Dad's house...but really that might not happen. If I can find a decent job, or a really cheap apartment, then maybe it could be.

My goal for our next round project is to kick some butt in my online course and figure out what I am doing with my life--hopefully that answer leaving me independent and not living at home!

But then the question is: do I have the capacity to learn more?

2010-09-08T12:27:00.002-04:00

So, I'm waffling over whether or not I want to go to graduate school and get a Master's...or PhD. Decisions, decisions. First off, I am not even sure I will get into a program. Then there is always the fact that maybe my brain is at capacity and cannot hold anymore information--although this is more unlikely.

I know before I was looking into a degree in Anthropology, but a friend from school started looking at public health, and that sounds pretty good to me.

What to do, what to do.

Anyone have any words of wisdom/encouragement/etc? Or maybe someone can find me a job? Please and thank you!

Pensacola So Far

2010-08-31T13:06:00.001-04:00

My team (plus two) has been working hard in Pensacola for the past 4 weeks (almost). We have been doing more indirect service than our usual direct service, but it has still been a growing experience.

Indirect Service includes tasks such as setting up a volunteer program.

Direct Service includes tasks such as repairing a house. These tasks involve working directly/face to face with the community.

Our task is to build a volunteer management system for Escambia county. Lucky for us, our sponsors have done a great job with training us in many aspects of disaster response and volunteer management. Our basic AmeriCorps training does not include volunteer management, so we definitely needed further training.

We have accomplished a lot so far; creating a website and newsletter for the community. We still have about 2-3 more weeks here in Pensacola and we are hoping to build up our volunteer base, as well as our pool of volunteer opportunities.

There was another disaster team here in Pensacola, they call themselves the "Baywatch Knights." They were working with Santa Rosa county to build their volunteer management system, as well as working on Citizen Information Stations (CIS) to inform the public of oil facts and resources for those affected by the disaster. Sadly, their project ended today and they are now headed back to Maryland to go to their respective teams.

This is not a usual AmeriCorps NCCC spike project, but each of us will probably be able to say that we have grown somewhat from the experience. If in no other way, we have all gained most knowledge about disasters and formatting forms and worksheets.

Changes

2010-08-08T13:08:00.000-04:00

So, my team heard last Monday that we would be leaving on Wednesday for Pensacola, FL. There we would be on disaster with two new teammates from different units to work alongside the composite team that is already there.

Our task is not to clean up the oil, but instead to help with volunteer coordination and creating volunteer opportunities. We are still very unsure of how we fit into the whole picture, but we are still in the process of being trained.

AmeriCorps NCCC definitely has the potential to change quickly as disasters pop up, so we have to be very flexible about packing up our belongs and leaving for a new state with only a day or two of notice. Luckily for our last sponsors in Lake Charles, they were given a new team (a composite team) because they expressed their need for it.

I loved our last project, but I am excited for this opportunity. This is very different from the "normal" AmeriCorps NCCC project.

2010-07-31T11:29:00.001-04:00

Well, my team has been in Lake Charles, LA for the past two weeks working with Habitat for Humanity. Sorry for the lack of updates from June until now, life has been very busy lately.

Once we got back from Yonkers, my team quickly split up to take our 11 day vacation. I used my 11 days to travel to Washington D.C., Baltimore, MD, and Philadelphia, PA. The experience was wonderful, even with the 105 degree weather.

After we returned, we faced a week of "mid-year training." This involved compiling a director's brief for our next project (and in my team's case, also completing our debriefing from our past project in Yonkers), going to meetings on stress relief, learning about different educational opportunities (credit you can earn in AmeriCorps and the certificate for non-profit management you can earn), as well as fun Unit and Corps assemblies. These weeks between projects are known as "trainsition weeks" and tend to be the most stressful part of the entire ten months for the fact that so much is squeezed into five days of work.

At the end of the week, we headed down on a three day drive to Lake Charles, LA to help complete some houses. Yet again, our team has changed a bit from last round: Matt has been chosen to be on Phoenix 3--the fire fighting team--while Brad has been pulled to be with his fire team (Phoenix 2) and educate residents near Pensacola, FL on the oil spill and the dangers of coming in contact with the oil. Our team is down to 8 people (including Clinton, our team leader), but we still gather up our energy and work hard.

Our project here in Lake Charles is to finish up where the past two AmeriCorps teams have left off--both from our campus, Wolf 7 started two houses and Raven 5 came in for the next round. These two houses are about a 45 minute drive from our housing, which has been a very sleepy ride in the mornings. So far, our tasks have been priming, painting, and installing flooring. We even had a bit of time to lead volunteers to help us with our tasks.

Lake Charles is a town with very little to do. As one local woman put it, "There's bars and bowling." But we make our own fun. Our team has recently begun a "buddy system" where we pick a buddy out of a had each week and then we have to have "buddy time" and get to know that teammate. I know we are into our third round, but with work and trying to relax we sometimes forget to leave time for team bonding.

Oh, and on a different note, I am the assistant team leader (ATL) for this round. This means I get to lead the group if Clinton is ever away. I am also supposed to help be a liaision between Clinton and the team if there are any issues they want to bring up...but may be too nervous to start the conversation. I had a team meeting (minus Clinton) to discuss what the team thinks would improve our time together and our team dynamic. "Buddy time" was one of the items brought up, so hopefully it will work out well.

Farewell, Yonkers!

2010-06-24T15:51:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is my team's official last day of working with Groundwork Hudson Valley. We are sad to be leaving, but we have definitely taken away a lot from the entire experience. We have even changed a lot as a team over such a short period of time.

I have not really written much during this round, but a lot has gone on. Although it has not seemed like it, we have accomplished a great deal since May. We have cleared two vacant lots for community gardens, cleared invasive species from the river front, helped run a river clean up--as well as a community day or two--and helped start a garden at the Mary J. Blige Center for Women. There has been a lot more work done as well in terms of education, awareness, and clean ups.

It does seem we have come to a point in our team's "togetherness" where we do need a break, luckily for us we have summer vacation starting in July. I definitely appreciate our upcoming break. Team life does wear on you after a while, although there are ways to make it run smoothly. For all those thinking about joining AmeriCorps NCCC, do not let the living situation deter you. It can definitely be a struggle, but you learn a lot of about yourself and your fellow teammates/society with all the bumps in the road.

My goal for the next round is to work on my positivity. It definitely gets you a long way and it has been something I have lacked for the past few years.

My team will be attending a conference on Monday and Tuesday (June 28th & 29th) where we will be the faces of AmeriCorps. Hopefully it will be a great opportunity. It seems like a lot of the CEOs and CFOs of some big nonprofits will be attending, along with the Mayor and Governor of NY. If anything, these events with AmeriCorps allow for great networking opportunities.

All in all, Yonkers has taught me a lot about myself. I feel somewhat accomplished in our project and I am ready for whatever they have next for us. Usually we know our next destination before we finish our project, but this time they seem to want to keep us in suspense.

Yonkers, NY

2010-05-18T13:06:00.003-04:00

We made it to Yonkers this past Wednesday. We are definitely spoiled during this round, we have cable TV (!!), a fabulous house thanks to St. Christopher's School, and we have been fed breakfast and dinner on a regular basis.

Sadly, we are down two teammates this round. Brad was chosen for the wildfire composite team, a wonderful opportunity, but we still miss him! Also, Claudia was chosen to be on a disaster composite team in Nashville, TN to clean up after the flooding. So, our team is a little smaller, but still wants to get a lot done.

Our sponsor is Groundwork Hudson Valley. So far, we have helped with a clean up day on the Saw Mill River. Stef and I were paired up to organize some high school students and we ended up finding some interest things in the river--the most interesting being a car door.

I should probably get back to doing some research though. :)

2010-05-03T10:23:00.004-04:00

New Orleans has been a really great spike. Currently, we are starting to pack up and clean up so we can leave tomorrow morning bright and early. I will definitely miss a lot of things about New Orleans and working with the United Saints Recovery Project. It has taught me a lot about myself and gave me a little bit of confidence in what I can do physically.

My biggest accomplishment of the spike has been getting up on a second story roof to do siding. I am not afraid of heights, but I definitely have a fear of tall ladders. However, I think in someways I have been able to overcome that fear. Friday I was up and down an almost fully extended 28 foot ladder--that is a bit of a change from the first week where I did not want to climb up on our one story roof.

We have been doing ISPs (Independent Service Projects) while we have been here and they have been an okay experience as well. In total, each Corps Member needs to complete 80 hours of ISPs, one of my teammates has already accomplished this. Some of the ISPs we have completed while in New Orleans include walking dogs at an animal shelter, checking food temperatures at the French Quarter Fest, helping at a t-shirt and music tent at Jazz Fest, as well as inputing books into an online catalog for a school library. My favorite ISP? I really enjoyed going to the animal shelter. I would say that is the one where I felt we were making the most impact.

As for projects, it was wonderful to be able to meet the homeowners and get an understanding of their experiences with Hurricane Katrina and rebuilding. Central City, the neighborhood where we live, was not flooded; but did suffer a lot of wind damage.

House next to one of our projects.

So for now, good bye New Orleans.

2010-04-28T07:46:00.002-04:00

Quick update--I'll hopefully make a real update soon.

We're in our last week down in New Orleans with the United Saints Recovery Project. It has been a really great adventure/learning experience so far. I will definitely miss NOLA and the people who I have met in the process.

Our next project will be in Yonkers, NY. More to come on that.

I am definitely going to be a little sad to leave next Tuesday and head back to Perry Point. But, life moves forward I suppose.

Until then I'll enjoy my remaining time down here.

2010-03-27T11:10:00.005-04:00

I'm sorry, I'm horrible at this whole blog thing. We're in New Orleans and it has been a good experience so far. The only negative thing of this week was that I now have a staph infection in my leg. Luckily I went to the doctors yesterday and hopefully it will clear up quickly. Its always something. But, now that I cannot go out this weekend--I have to stay off my feet as much as possible--I should be able to write at least one decent blog post.

Let's backtrack a bit because I promised to share the Delaware mini-spike experience. My team, Badger 4, went with two other AmeriCorps NCCC groups to the Henlopen State Park where we stayed in a youth camp. From there we went to Rehoboth beach where we did our actual service projects.

The first project we did was building fences along the beach to protect endangered bird species. The first day we did this, the wind and temperature made for a chilly day, but we ended up finishing the fence. We also helped with some demoliton at Fort Miles as well as tree removal at the Indian Life Saving Station. All in all, it was a really good experience as well as a great opportunity to do team building.

My AmeriCorps team at Rehoboth Beach, DE

Now that we are in New Orleans, we have had a chance to learn some new construction skills and get closer as a team. My leg has caused me a few problems, but so far I have learned how to repair wood siding on a house, put up drywall, and paint---a lot. It has been really enjoyable and I cannot wait for when I can go back to work again, but at the moment I am working on nursing my leg back to a healthy state.

That is really all I have to say for now, hopefully I will have a more substantial post next time.

2010-03-23T20:22:00.002-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted too much. I'm failing at this whole blog thing, but I have been wicked busy. I apologize.

If you want to follow my team, our blog is HERE. We are in New Orleans working on a project with United Saints. I will have to update later, lots to get accomplished. :)

Round 1

2010-03-13T23:20:00.005-05:00

Sorry I have not been able to update much, we have been very busy finishing CTI (training). We were inducted yesterday as Corps members and it was definitely one of the high moments of the week. Overall, CTI was a great experience with a lot of opportunity to bond with other people. I have gotten close with a few people from the campus who are not on my team.

We learned that our first round spike will be in New Orleans, LA with the United Saints. Their mission statement has their purpose as being "to help revitalize economically distressed neighborhoods of New Orleans afflicted by blight, affected by disasters, and to help those in need." The experience will definitely be a good one. I am very excited and at the moment we are in Knoxville, TN--headed down to New Orleans. I'm sorry if my writing is spacey, but we have been in the car all day and although it should not be exhausting to sit in one space, it still seems like a long day.

I should have more access to internet once we are down in New Orleans. I will try to update later.

Also, we have a team blog that should be updated at one point or another--right now it is blank.

It can be found HERE.

2010-02-13T13:07:00.002-05:00

AmeriCorps has been great so far. The only sad thing is that there is no wireless internet in the dorms and you have to go down to the houses to get it---meaning there are at least 15 people packed into one house all using the same wifi. I tried to go down last night with some people in my pod and the internet would not even work since there were so many people.

Right now I am at the public library about three miles away from the campus. We had a person from out pod drop us off because with all the snow it is a long walk with no sidewalks (they are covered with a few feet of snow right now).

We have had 2 snow days so far, but we are finally getting into training. Today was physicals as well as boot fittings for our awesome steel toe boots! But, we now have the "weekend" off--which basically means the rest of today and tomorrow.

My living situation on campus puts me in a dorm room with 7 other girls and only one bathroom/shower. Its actually not that bad and I really like the girls I room with. We have a nice system for showering, etc.

Otherwise, nothing too eventful. I might not be able to post anything soon because I will have to come down to the library to do so. As much as I want to walk 3 miles in both directions, I think I'll wait until the snow melts.

2010-01-31T10:40:00.002-05:00

Ah! Only EIGHT more days until I leave for Maryland!!

Exciting.

Its been pretty hectic around the house. Since my dad is trying to sell it in the next few months, we have been painting and getting ready for the new carpet/flooring to be installed. This means taking everything but the big furniture out of our upstairs bedrooms and putting them into our living room. This would have been fine, but I came down with a stomach bug on Friday--which was also supposed to be my last day of work. At one point the thermometer read my temperature as 103.4 degrees F. Let's just say I was having some problems functioning, if not seeing straight. Luckily, it faded out a bit by yesterday. I've yet to eat a decent meal, but for now I'll stick to things that don't make me puke. I'm sure my family will appreciate that.

I already packed for my big adventure. I've been packed for about a week. Mostly this is because I am super obsessive over packing since I don't want to forget anything. It makes me too anxious to wait until the last minute, especially since my family is packing away our house to make it look less cluttered.

I do have one small problem with packing: my suitcase is so freaking huge! Now, it is huge in size, but I really mean that its weighs way too much for just a suitcase with nothing in it. So, once I put my luggage in it, its definitely over the 50 pound mark. Plus, when I get to Maryland, they issue work clothing, etc. We have to take all of our belongings on spikes---and I'm hoping most/all of them are done by car.

Time to go through my luggage one more time!

Can We Get This Adventure Started Yet?

2010-01-26T10:23:00.002-05:00

I'm becoming antsy. I've already packed my suitcase--because I am one of those people who freaks out about procrastinating on these types of things--but I still have to make one final look into what I'm bringing and decide a few things to leave behind. I overpacked...way too many shirts!

Its odd, I only have 2 pairs of pants--one dressy, one casual--and yet so many shirts.

There is definitely anxiety about starting AmeriCorps, but I just want it to start! I'm sure once it does I won't want it to end. But, at the moment, I'm playing the waiting game. The last day at my job is this Friday and as sad as that is, I'm wicked excited for what is to come.

There are so many changes happening at once. Not only am I leaving in 13 days for ten months, but we are also putting our house up for sale after I leave. This house is my childhood home. I've lived in it for 21.5 years. (Happy Half Birthday to Jackie & I today!) But, I suppose its time to move on. This is a big year of change, especially once I leave for Maryland. My dad is getting remarried. A college friend from UT is getting married and moving to Washington. A lot of my friends are graduating in May! A lot of things to take in.

But for now I'm just antsy. Can it be February 8th yet?

2010-01-24T21:52:00.002-05:00

The question everyone has been asking has been:

"What will you be doing *exactly* in AmeriCorps?"

The Answer:

I have no clue.

Isn't that just freeing? Stepping into an unknown environment, yet there is a safety net of it being for a job. Usually, there is a job description that gives you some sense of what will be required during employment; however, AmeriCorps NCCC doesn't say exactly where we will be working or what projects we will be doing until we get there.

Its freeing, yes, but at the same time I am anxious. My anxiety of the unknown is mostly because I hope it will be a great experience with awesome people. I'm sure the people will be great. I just need to arrive in Perry Point, MD and then my nerves will settle a bit.

The sad thing? I have to leave my little poodle, Elijah, behind. :( Hopefully we will keep our mother/puppy bond until I get back---silly isn't it? He's 7.5 year old and I've had him for 7.5 years. Let's put it this way, he gets angry when I left him for a few semesters of school. Aw.

AmeriCorps NCCC!

2010-01-17T18:19:00.003-05:00

There are about 20-something days until I head on down to Maryland for AmeriCorps NCCC. I'm super nervous and am somewhat close to being all packed and ready to go.

I'm hoping to blog about my AmeriCorps experience in this blog. Be excited!

My Mother...

2009-12-21T20:21:00.005-05:00

Today it has been exactly 3 years since my mother passed away.

That statement in itself brings up far too many emotions to express. I miss her everyday and its the little things that I always want to share with her. The silly things that I know she would enjoy, or at least listen to--she was the best listener. My mother had at one point wanted to be an FBI agent. It was surprising to find that out, but made me happy because I had the same dream at one point too. I did not learn about this until after her death, but it makes me wish that I knew my mother better. We were always friends, but we were just getting to the point in our relationship where there was more sharing. At 18, I was growing up and becoming more independent by leaving for college. We didn't see each other every day, but we chatted on the phone multiple times each week.

Memories of my mother seem to pop up at unexpected times. For my dad's birthday this weekend, we went out to a (mostly) a cappella show put on by a group in Nashua (the Granite Statesmen..as well as other groups). Now, usually you would not think this is a time where one would think about their mother, but then they sang "Christmas Shoes." Not only is the song about a little boy who wants to buy shoes for his dying mother on Christmas, but the movie based off of this song was the last movie I watched with my mother a few days before she died. Somehow, even festive holiday music shows turn into remembrances of my mother.

As painful and depressing as it can be, I would rather remember my mother than not. One painful thing that has only recently begun to affect me is that I only have a limited number of photos of her. You'd think this would be an obvious statement, but it still bothers me. I still wish that I had more photos of us together or videos to watch. They could never replace her, but it would at least help keep memories more vivid.

I graduated with my bachelors in anthropology last week and I wish my mother could have been there. I think she would be proud of me and hopefully she would like the person I've grown into. Of course, these are all guesses. I can only say that right up until she died, she called me her "baby"--because I'm her youngest. Although I sometimes hated being referred to by that nickname, it made me feel so loved. I miss her so much.

Usually on the anniversary of my mother's death I do something that we may have done together or something that she would have encouraged me to do. This year I worked---but at least I like my job.

I miss having someone who is so encouraging. My mother was so great at understanding when I really wanted to do something and then guiding or helping me to accomplish whatever the goal was. The best part was that she believed in me and my wacky ideas. I miss having the emotional support.

Basically, my mother was really a great person---for more reasons than I've discussed. I still cannot believe its been 3 years. She is still greatly missed, everyday.

When my mother was alive, the house would already be decorated with a tree and greenery. Fake candles in every window. This year our only decorations are a small fake tree that I poorly decorated and a wreath that has yet to be hung on our front door (instead its sits outside, on the ground, partially covered with snow).

Funny Story...

2009-11-16T20:33:00.004-05:00

I was looking around for a NH T-shirt that I saw in a Facebook group and was looking through google pictures in hopes of finding it. Instead of finding what I wanted, I stumbled upon a photo of myself. Uhm..

To my surprise, it was from Collegeprowler.com, the site I did an internship with last March. They sent me an e-mail asking for my hometown, major, and an interesting fact about myself. This is what the result was. Sweet!

Screencap ^

Job Searches

2009-11-11T12:53:00.003-05:00

I graduate on December 13th, that's about a month away. Ah! I need to find a job...and hope that its one I actually want.

I've been looking around for jobs on the internet. Idealist.org has been my "go to" site because they list a lot of non-profit job openings. I've also opened a LinkedIn account HERE in order to open up a new avenue for networking. I'm not completely positive about how to use this site to my own advantage in the job market, but I think it will prove useful overtime.

The biggest problem I've been coming across in my job hunt has been my knowledge of only one language. Bilingualism seems important in most anti-trafficking and domestic/sexual violence awareness groups. This may seem obvious, but I didn't think my lack of language knowledge would hurt my chances of getting a job. I have a background in French, but I can't say that I'm fluent or even semi-proficient. I can understand written text to a certain extent, as well as pick out certain phrases and sentences from conversations. However, I cannot hold a full conversation without a dictionary and some grammar help.

So, what would the solution be to this? I'm hoping that if I cannot find a full-time job that I am enthusiastic about, I can take a job for the time being and take some language courses with a local college. I'm not fully sure what language to learn. French would be an obvious answer, but I'd also like to learn Spanish.

I don't really have any good advice for job seekers out there. But, my technique has been to put my resume out there as much as possible. I won't get hired unless I apply, right? I'm positive everyone who reads my blog will be informed if I get a job, but for right now, its the waiting game.

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/C/j/2/Graduation_JobSeeker.jpg

Are there any other students graduating in December (or even May)? If you aren't going to grad school, are you also feeling the pressure of finding a job?

2009-11-01T14:32:00.003-05:00

Nothing of substance today.

Graduation is getting closer and I need to make sure I don't have any regrets before leaving college and Knoxville. Hmmm..

2009-10-28T23:36:00.001-04:00

Making my resume presentable is harder than I thought...

Frustrating.

2009-09-28T00:20:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I rented a movie on Netflix called Fanboys, which is about a group of friends who hatch a plan to steal the final cut of Star Wars Episode 1 before its release date. Good movie. Funny. I liked it. Well, one of the main characters, Linus, is played by the actor Christopher Marquette. Oddly enough, Mr. Marquette seems to pop up every now and then in movies and TV shows I watch. I always say, "Oh, great acting. I liked his character....blah blah blah." I also used to watch Strong Medicine on LifeTime and liked his character and acting. So, I decided to take a look at what other movies he's been in and add a few to my Netflix queue. This is mainly how I find new movies to enjoy.

Yesterday a new Netflix envelope appeared in my mailbox. I did not have a chance to watch it until today. This particular movie was The Tic Code (1999)*. The basic plot synopsis is that Miles (played by Christopher Marquette) is an 11 year old in NY with an amazing musical talent, he also has Tourette's Syndrome. He meets another musician who similarly has Tourette's Syndrome. One review I read said that the plot sounded like an "after school special," but the acting and writing make it fantastic.

I cried. I'll admit it.

Anyway, I'd never heard of this movie before and I suppose it is another one of those less known, underrated pieces that should be appreciated more.

The movie trailer is below:

It IS on Netflix. So I recommend it.

The next Christopher Marquette movie I'm hoping to rent will be Infestation, it releases onto DVD around October 13th (I believe). It looks like it could be funny. I'm hoping for something with the comedy genius of Shaun of the Dead. Although maybe I'm expecting too much, or misinterpreting what the movie is supposed to be.

*I've read so many different dates for this movie, I'm not sure which one is correct.

"Playground"

2009-09-24T22:34:00.002-04:00

I recently received an e-mail about a documentary being screened in Boston. This documentary happens to be called Playground. The documentary is directed by Libby Spears and covers the topic of the child sex trade in the US.

I've been writing research papers on human trafficking, focusing on sex trafficking and the sex trade, for a few years now. I remember my friend doing a project on human trafficking for our Justice/Ethics course in high school, but did not realize how powerfully the topic affected me until college. Some of my classmates poke fun of me for my insistence on writing most, if not all, of my research papers on some aspect of sex trafficking. But, the exploitation of innocent victims/survivors* really strikes a chord with me. Something must be done. Awareness is a step in the right direction.

Spears' documentary does what I only dream of accomplishing. She has interviewed both pimps and victims/survivors. She realized that the child sex industry is not only the problem of other countries, it affects our own country. A very big kudos to Libby Spears!

Here is a trailer of sorts for Playground:

The screening in Boston will be on Tuesday, September 29th at The Institute of Contemporary Art. This event has both a showing of the documentary along with a VIP reception. Tickets for the showing only are $50, while tickets for both the showing and reception are $100. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

I would absolutely love to go to this screening; but since I'm at school in TN, I cannot. I always seem to be in the wrong part of the country for big events. Oh well, maybe there will be another opportunity.

*I use victims and survivors because although we recognize the term "victim" more readily when associating it with someone who has been put through a horrible situation, that same person should be seen as a "survivor" because they have survived their horrible experience. Survivor has a more positive connotation.

2009-09-16T10:58:00.002-04:00

Ugh, I woke up yesterday morning with a terrible sore throat. This proceeded to become a lovely sinus infection and fever (or something along those lines). I am not a fan of being sick--not that anyone really is.

I had to call out of work today because sneezing on people didn't sound too appealing. Plus, my body feels like its been hit with a truck and pushing carts could potentially be a bad idea.

So, I've surrounded myself with juice, tea, water, soup, and fruit. Oh, and I had to go out and buy a new netti pot last night because I stupidly left my other one in NH. It helps a lot, but I'm also taking Sudafed and hoping that the combination of the two will keep my nose somewhat functioning.

I forgot to buy orange juice last night when I went out for a soup and netti pot run to the store. I would go out again but I just got back from a long and painful walk to the mailbox downstairs and I don't really want to leave my bed for another day. Plus, driving with a cloudy head is dangerous. Water will have to substitute.

Sleep would also be an excellent idea...but I just can't seem to sleep for long stretches of time.

Now would be an excellent time to snuggle up with my dog and pass the day being lazy. But, Elijah is not in TN...sad.

Graduation Countdown

2009-09-12T13:56:00.003-04:00

The official count is 93 days until I graduate in December!

I'm extremely excited and am trying my best to live in the present rather than dream about the future. Of course, this doesn't mean I haven't been job searching. At the moment, it doesn't look too promising for a job in the non-profit field that I can actually live off of. I'm still trying to keep myself optimistic about it all though.

So, UT is known on campus for its tendency to have "the big orange screw." This means that UT will try its best to screw its students at one moment or another. I've come out of UT somewhat unscathed by "the big orange screw." (*Knock of Wood*) However, I've recently had problems with my DARS report--a report that explains what you need to graduate and compares it to what you've already accomplished in course work. First, one of my courses wasn't listed under my catalog year as covering the biological anthropology course requirement. This was an easy fix because I just had to petition it along with everyone else in the class.

So, what else could be wrong with my DARS? Well apparently the program cannot add correctly. I was finished with all my requirements in anthropology for my major, but it was saying I was 2 credits short of the 30 hours needed in course work. Uhm...well since the required courses all add up to 30 credits once taken, this made no sense. I had the graduate specialist people on my case about it and its still not fully resolved. However, my DARS finally says that I'm complete and can graduate--the next step is to let the graduate specialist woman know that its all been squared away.

So Big Orange Screw...you almost had me. However, I can add...while DARS cannot.

I'm looking forward to the other obstacles that will probably pop up before I'm allowed to graduate. I just want my diploma! I've done the time, give me my piece of paper. Please and thank you.

Otherwise, I've had a relatively good experience with UT as a university. They did buy my apartment building, but the past 2 years of living "on campus"--meaning in the same apartment I've had since I arrived in TN--hasn't been too much of a hassle.

Lets hope it stays that way....

Meditation

2009-08-31T15:41:00.002-04:00

I've always been easily overtaken by stress and anxiety, this has become more obvious since my mother passed away. I went to a therapist on campus and he told me that I need to find ways to de-stress and relax. That was 2 years ago...I still have yet to do this.

This is what leads to the topic of meditation. Meditation not only seems like a really excellent way to relax and de-stress, but hopefully it will be an excellent way to clear my mind for later contemplation of things like my future.

I've yet to really understand fully how meditation works. I did find a few "how to" videos on YouTube, like the following:

I'm not fully grasping the whole breathing part just yet, when I try to envision my breath it causes me to focus more and more on the consciousness of breathing. Hopefully this part just takes a lot of practice.

Does anyone out there meditate? Any helpful tips?

I decided upon meditation because I *finally* finished "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert--after I started reading it 2 years ago and apparently misplaced it under my bed. Whoops. The author goes to India and studies at an Ashram in order to better understand meditation. It seemed both therapeutic and calming, so I figured meditation could be one way to lessen my anxiety.

Now..if only Knoxville had a Ashram. Actually...I should look into that. :)

A Small Roadblock in the Search for Romeo...

2009-08-28T19:04:00.002-04:00

Recently I chatted with a friend about how ridiculous some women's magazine quizzes can be. I know the information contained in them is mostly supposed to be taken as silly and fun, but even with that mindset its sometimes difficult to pry yourself away from the hope that maybe the results will ring true and the advice given will work out perfectly. I'm going to guess that some people reading this gave a mental (if not actual) eye roll at that sentence.

Truthfully, I daydream like a romantic, but I know that in reality most things won't pan out as well as they did in my head (if at all). What can I say, I watch way too many romantic comedies. This doesn't mean that I don't feel the need to search out relationship advice or advice on how to snag a guy. I'm socially awkward, so of course I need all the help I can get. Family, friends, and peers don't seem too energetic about letting me in on whatever knowledge they have that has allowed them to have successful and happy relationships, so in my moments of weakness I crack open a magazine and see what advice it has for me.

A lot of these magazine quizzes and advice columns seem to spout the same thing: you need to change yourself. Yes, in a lot of cases compromise will probably be helpful because otherwise the smallest argument would completely destroy a relationship. But, they seem to forget that being yourself will probably also help in the relationship. Yes, its nice to stay together...but if you aren't truly compatible, life will be miserable.

As a woman who has never had a true “romantic relationship,” I'd say I have no business bashing what advice magazines give the relationship-seekers of the world, but as an on-again, off-again consumer of these magazines it would be nice to hear something that doesn't tell me I need to act differently. For example, one advice article suggested that acting more “mysterious” would be best for catching the eye of a man. This may be true, but the magazine did not fully describe how one acts “mysterious.” Does this involve wearing dark sunglasses and perhaps a large hat? Is it a mindset of not allowing too much information about yourself to be known by said man? Would taking a man on a murder-mystery date count as “mysterious?” Come on, its almost like you need to break a code before you are allowed to be given the true advice.

So although these magazines are for entertainment purposes, it would be nice for every once in a while an article or quiz was written that gave sound advice and maybe some proactive relationship ideas. Come on, can someone help a sister out?

Grad School..

2009-08-26T16:52:00.000-04:00

So, I'm in my last semester as an undergrad and of course the question I get from everyone is “Are you going to grad school?”

My answer? No.

We had a lecture in one of my anthropology classes about grad school and why you should go and how to get accepted. Well, I'm not all that great a networking—strike one. I have no clue what I specifically want to do with my life or what degree would help me get there—strike two. I've yet to take the GREs and the deadlines for most grad school admissions are in December—strike three.

As much as I would love to go to grad school, I'm not sure its the right option for me. I'd love to do research and write a thesis, but I'm not sure where that would get me in life either. Anthropology is a “publish or perish” type of field. I'm not positive that I would have much to offer in terms of publishing papers or books. (I mean, look how awful the writing is here in my blog) Also, being a professor is not on my list of things to do. I know that a BA in anthropology doesn't open the doors to that many jobs, but its at least a step in the right direction. Right?

I'm interested in working for a non-profit. That's the ultimate goal at the moment...but for the far off future, I think starting my own non-profit would be rewarding.

So, after 2 days of classes I've learned that grad school can be an excellent opportunity and open many, many doors; but it just might not be for me. Also, finding a grad school that you would really like to attend is basically a whole job in itself. (But then again, so is finding a job after graduation)

"I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation..."

2009-08-24T17:33:00.003-04:00

So, I decided to re-watch the 18 episodes of Freaks and Geeks that exist. Why was that show cancelled? Not fair...it had SO many awesome actors: James Franco, Seth Rogan, Jason Segel....etc. I also loved the actors who guest starred on the show--Shia Labeouf, Ben Foster, Ben Stiller, and Jason Schwartzman (etc).

Ok, I'll admit it, the Lindsay Weir/Nick Andopolis relationship was a bit awkward and perhaps creepy, but it added to the awesomeness. I mean...there was a lot of love coming from one side and then the character of Lindsay didn't seem to care all that much. Plus, the show ended with absolutely no conclusion to their on and off again relationship. I wish they could have made another season to at least have a series finale that ended the series better. Eighteen episodes is not enough time to wrap everything up.

Why must all the awesome tv shows be cancelled (Like "Arrested Development" & "Pushing Daisies" *Sad*). I've heard rumors that Arrested Development is supposed to become a movie...but I'm not sure that will ever fully come to fruition.

Another observation, Freaks and Geeks always had Jason Segel's character talking about Rush. My roommate and I recently watched “I Love You, Man” and realized that Jason Segel's character is also a big Rush fan. Is this a theme? Does he just really enjoy Rush? Maybe Rush is just *that* awesome?

Speaking of Rush...they seem to appear in everything I have watched recently from TV to movies. Awkward.

Back from a long hiatus

2009-08-17T12:30:00.002-04:00

Hey folks,

I'm baaack!

I just re-moved into my dorm (for the last time!!!!) yesterday. Today, one of the school painters came in to tell us the new hall director wants our room painted back to the beige it is supposed to be. Now, this would have been fine if everyone hadn't just moved in. Plus, the apartment has been this color for the past 2 years (one of which it has been under the school's control). Ugh. Now we have to move everything out of the closets, etc in order to have a 3 day paint-a-thon put on by the school's painters. According to the guy who came today, the paint they use has quite a strong odor. Considering out windows only open a few inches (for safety)....we will probably all be forced to breathe it in at one point or another. Ick.

Other than that, I am looking for a new job. It seems I am always looking for a new job...strange. But, this time I have a few options that I'm looking into. I'm not sure if any of them will hire me, but whatever.

My first class is Thursday...I'm a bit excited. Although, I am not looking forward to paper writing and tests.

My dorm room is so bare that it looks like I never even moved in. I had to make sure that I could bring everything home this December because that is when I graduate!!!! :)

Summer is So Close I Can Smell It!

2009-04-24T22:44:00.002-04:00

I'm very relieved at the moment, I've finished classes and am 4 finals [and 2-3 shifts at work] away from glorious SUMMER. The feeling is already in the air and the 80 degree weather here in Knoxville adds to the lazy effect. Even getting into my car is such a tiring experience as the seat belt and steering wheel are hot to the touch and the air trapped inside the car has now been heated and my lungs can't seem to handle such thick air.

But, summer also brings shorts, flip flops, and THE BEACH! I love the beach, can you tell?

Other than day dreaming about summer, I've been packing and painting my walls. Why would I have to paint my walls? Well, its not a huge painting project, but rather trying to make the tiny grease dots all over my walls less visible. I've had photos on my wall for the past two years that I've lived here. They've been held on the wall with sticky tack...apparently it leaves an oily residue. Oops. Luckily paint did the trick--after my failed attempts to fix it with a vinegar and water and then another attempt with baking soda paste. [Apparently, vinegar can strip paint...and the paint below the off-white color currently visible was a nice dark blue.]

Next week will include 1 final, more packing, studying, and cleaning the apartment like a mad woman. Apparently they charge $10 if your room is dusty once you check out of the dorms. Also, something along the lines of $10-30/minute for patching holes. Uhm, I'd rather not lose my deposit.

Summer goals:

*Take more photos and learn a bit about photography.
*Try to do some genealogy.
*Enjoy my 21st birthday.
*Get an internship at a non-profit.
*Try to train my dogs.
*Attempt to better my videoing skills.

Down on the Farm

2009-04-19T18:46:00.002-04:00

Ever notice how food cooked by someone else tastes 10 times better than your own cooking? Maybe its just me and I'm a terrible cook? Either way, a nice home cooked meal is amazing on a rainy day--like today.

Last night my friend M and I headed over to her parents house in Greeneville, TN. They happen to live on a farm and we were going over to see their two new puppies: Gatsby and Daisy. They are completely adorable and are still in that puppy stage where they haven't quite figured out how to use all of their limbs or how to fully stop in order to avoid crashing into the house.

Also, I was encouraged to try a peanut butter and dill pickle sandwich. Its actually really good and I recommend it! Then M's Mom made us Red Beans and Rice. Delicious! I'm going to have to figure out how to make it myself--I'm sure there is a recipe online somewhere.

Other than the puppies, M's family has about 3 cats--one with six toes on each foot--as well as horses and cows on their farm. My friend B and I are plotting to get cows and llamas. (Apparently, llamas need a mate or else they will die from being lonely? Is that why the llama in my town was always so angry?) Sounds like a good plan? haha.

Okay, puppy pictures!

Gatsby and Daisy

Gatsby

Daisy

Quick Update

2009-04-16T22:23:00.002-04:00

The semester is slowly coming to a close, I have two papers due and then finals start. YAY!

In interesting news, the recent "tea parties" that went on yesterday, April 15th, were interesting to say the least. No, I did not go. I've heard that certain areas had a large turn out--but a few photos I saw had people sparsely spread through the venue. I'm not writing to debate whether or not they were right or wrong or if they actually accomplished anything (I really don't even know the answer to that last part). But, all the news about these "tea baggers," as one radio station put it, have resulted in something quite funny. On of my friend's parents actually asked me today why the radio DJs were giggling about the term "tea bagger." They knew it had a sexual connotation but had no clue what it meant. I had to explain this to someone's mother...this should never happen. I can't say it was a very comfortable situation, but there it was. [I used the Urbandictionary.com definition, haha]

If I hadn't known this person for 15+ years I probably would have passed the task on to someone else. However, my friend wasn't about to be the one to say it.

Nothing too interesting has happened at work. Just people driving away with the gas pump still attached to their car. Sadly, it was on the little island with the older pumps that don't quite detach when you drive off. But, the only thing injured was the pump itself.

Oh, and I love this woman. Hooray for Susan Boyle! However, I am angry that all these people were so cynical about her talent just because of perhaps the way she looks or her age. So dumb. But she is awesome. I enjoy her voice and she seems to have a very upbeat attitude towards life. So, you go, girl! :) The video makes me cry...and yet so happy. It gets me every time.

RAISE Hope for Congo

2009-04-01T19:47:00.002-04:00

As the campaign says, "Enough is enough."

RAISE Hope for Congo is a campaign was formed in order to raise the awareness about the crisis going on in Congo. With widespread sexual violence against both women and young girls, they seek to work towards finding a solution.

According to the campaign's website, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has had violence going on within its borders since 1996 and more than 5.4 million people have died. Today, a popular military tactic is to use rape to destroy communities.

The documentary "The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo" gives the world a glimpse into the lives of those who have been raped and how it has affected their lives. Women who are raped are often shunned from society and most times their husbands will abandon them or they will not be able to find a husband.

There is a very high risk for both women and girls in Congo because even the simple task of gathering wood from the forest could end badly.

The campaign challenges everyone to "RAISE Awareness", "RAISE Your Voice", and "RAISE the Profile."

One reason for the conflict in Congo are the minerals. The violence is "fueled by this multi-million dollar trade in minerals" that eventually end up in our own electronic devices like cell phones and digital cameras. The estimate on the website is that the armed militias that are encouraging this violence are making $144 million each year from these minerals.

So what minerals are being taken out of Congo?
Tin
Tantalum
Tungsten
and Gold

But what can you do about it?
The website invites you to sign a the Conflict Minerals Pledge to ask electronic companies to use "non-conflict minerals" in their products, to only purchase electronics that are produced with conflict-free methods, and to spread the word.

Hilarious...

2009-03-29T00:00:00.002-04:00

I know there are millions of fan boys and girls out there who may disagree with me, but I found the movie "Twilight" to be hilariously awful. Let me lead in with the one line that put me into hysterics:

Edward Cullen: Hold on tight, spider monkey.

First off, kudos to Robert Pattinson for being able to keep a straight face while saying that. Considering I almost peed myself just hearing it, I don't even want to know how difficult it would be to say such a thing...and try to act completely serious.

Now, the acting was pretty decent. Some of the actors who played the peripheral characters were a bit too overly dramatic, in my opinion.

But, I have to explain that I never wanted to see this movie. I was forced into it. My best friend loves the movies and books, but it ended up being another friend who invited me over to a movie night. The only reason I went was for the socialization and the fact that we were getting delicious MOES! Yummm tofu burrito!

Anyhow, I just find the movie ridiculous. The whole sparkly thing threw me off a bit. Vampires are supposed to look scary, not like they got into a fight with a bedazzler and lost. But, maybe I'd understand it more if I read the books?

Agree or disagree, I'd probably watch it in the future only for the purpose of a good laugh. Sorry. I loved Kristen Stewart in "Into the Wild" and I did enjoy Harry Potter (although I think the books are ten times better), which Robert Pattinson was in.

Another movie Robert Pattinson was in is "How To Be," which looks pretty decent. Too bad its not being distributed or something...Netflix doesn't have it.

Camping

2009-03-27T00:42:00.003-04:00

Hey, all!

I haven't posted in forever and ever...sorry about that. I've been busy. I started my new job as a cashier at a truck stop. Stories will probably come from this, there has already been a prostitute and some angry truck drivers. But, for now the paycheck will pay for groceries.

I follow CNN on my Twitter and a story came up today that I found to be really great. It can be found here. The article discusses how the current economy is leading travelers to the less glitzy accommodation of camping while on their trips.

Some of you may think that's a bad thing, but getting out into the environment and perhaps 'connecting with nature' could lead to more environmentally conscious people. Who knows. Even if that's not the case, its an easy way to travel on the cheap if you already have all the gear and know-how.

I wish I could go on a camping adventure myself this summer. I have my own little mini tent and everything--I never got to use it in Montana. I guess we'll see where the summer takes me. :)

Motherless Daughters of Knoxville

2009-03-01T12:34:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone,

From advice and information I've received from the creator of a Motherless Daughter's network site, I've decided to create my own group. The Knoxville, TN's motherless daughters group can be found here.

Anyone who wants to join in can visit the site and sign up. I am the only member as of this moment, but if you or someone you know is a motherless daughter (or son, if you are interested) in the Knoxville, TN area then I'd love to hear from you.

The group was created to bring together motherless daughters in the area and meet up to share stories and generally hang out.

2009-02-27T22:35:00.002-05:00

I've been neglecting my blog lately. Sorry guys!

I've been trying to busy myself with different things. This week I've acquired a new job (pending a drug test) and an internship for the next month. I think I'll enjoy being busy for once.

So, no real posts for the moment. I've been wanting to fall asleep since around 9pm today.

Although, I will say that I recommend seeing He's Just Not That Into You. Its very much a chick flick, no action and adventure here, and a romantic comedy but I enjoyed it. This movie + copious amounts of sugary candy = a wonderful afternoon spent with friends.

Sleep time, I swear I'll write something decent one day soon.

Random Update.

2009-02-15T19:43:00.003-05:00

Nothing much to update. I have filmed my "subject" for my Video Arts abstract video project. I hope that it turns out okay. I will be working on it later in the week since we have yet to complete our Final Cut Express tutorial -- meaning I still don't know how to edit said video.

I've just finished watching "Across the Universe" and oh my goodness, I LOVED it. Yay for the Beatles music being made into a musical. I know it came out in 2007, but I'm a bit slow on seeing movies. I usually wait until they are on video and then wait until they are no longer in high demand so I can get them on Netflix.

I'll end my random, topic-lacking post with a photo of my favorite couch in the LRC (Learning Resource Center) of the anthropology department at my school. The LRC is basically where furniture goes to die. But, as uncomfortable as this couch looks, I love its style. Enjoy.

Knoxville Motherless Daughters Meet-up Group?

2009-02-08T21:42:00.003-05:00

Lately I've been thinking that I should start a Motherless Daughters meet-up group here in Knoxville. I'm not sure if any Knoxville residents actually read this blog, but I figured I'd give it a try.

I'm not sure how to reach out to those who could possibly want to join in. Facebook? I tried to go onto Meetup.com but you have to pay a monthly fee to start a meet-up group. I figure that if I can do it for free, I'd rather do that than fork over the cash.

So, anyone interested? Or anyone have any ideas about how to get the word out that I'd like to start a group? I know its a sensitive subject, but I'm sure there are people out there who would benefit from such a group. I know I would.

2009 Manchester, NH Heart Walk!

2009-02-06T15:28:00.004-05:00

Yes, folks, its that time of year again!

The Manchester, NH heart walk will be taking place on May 17th, 2009 and the starting point will be at the Merchantsauto.com Stadium in Manchester.

If you'd like to sign up to walk with my Team (Team Thump Thump) please click here. If you'd like to donate money, you can do so either on the team page or on my personal page which is located here.

I've participated in the heart walk for the past two years, but this will be my first walk in Manchester, NH. We usually go out to the one in Rye by the ocean. (I may also be participating in that walk as well, I shall keep you posted)

If you don't live in NH, but would like to participated in one of the American Heart Association's heart walks, you can go to their website HERE and look for a walk in your area.

I will again be walking in memory of my mother, Cheryl Lewis (pictured above), who passed away from ARVD--a form of heart disease. In walking, I hope to not only honor her memory but also raise money and awareness of heart disease and heart health.

Thanks for reading!

SNOW!

2009-02-02T14:44:00.002-05:00

I woke up this morning to SNOW! That's right, snow in Knoxville. Well, it does sometimes snow here...but I do miss the wintry weather up north, so I enjoy the brief glimpses of winter that my city does provide.

This is what the snow looked like this afternoon (about 10 minutes ago):

Not too much of the white stuff is sticking around out there, but that's okay. It was quite a wet and puddle-filled walk to class this morning, but I got to stick my tongue out and catch a few flakes on the way.

Plus, my video arts professor canceled class. I can't argue with that.

I looked out my window when I got back from class and the Sunsphere has a nice little snow cap on its golden dome.

I think today is "enjoy watching the snow fall" day. And didn't Punxsutawney Phil say there are 6 more weeks of winter?

Herb Garden

2009-02-01T20:20:00.002-05:00

I'm hoping to attempt to start a windowsill herb garden in my apartment. I went out to the story today and bought chives, parsley, and basil seeds in hopes of planting them soon. Meh, but potting soil was no where to be found! There is one garden center nearby, but it was closed today. I will have to venture out later this week in search of potting soil.

I went to Goodwill and found 2 pots that I plan on using (they were 50 cents each!). I've tried to decorate the ugly yellow pot (its just too bright for my taste, and my eyes) with clippings from an old page-a-day calendar I still have, its kind of better? I also found a plastic green tray at Goodwill and that will catch the water runoff. My herb garden set up is pictured below:

I just need to get the potting soil so I can actually plant something. Yay!

While at Goodwill, I came across this lovely glass bottle:

I love glass bottles, so I bought it. It was $1--I know, I'm a big spender. haha. Right now (as pictured), its filled with astringent that was in a plastic bottle with a broken top. A regular wine cork seems to be too skinny for the mouth of the bottle, but I'm sure if I ask around someone must have a leftover cork this size.

Once I plant my herb garden, I'll put up pictures.

Dogpile.com

2009-02-01T10:59:00.003-05:00

A quick post today.

I'm sure many of you already know about this, but Dogpile is donating a portion of its revenue from searches on its site to the ASPCA. So, if you want to help out a good cause, switch to doing your searches over there. So far, it seems they've raised $282,903.08 for the ASPCA!

Also, another search site that donates money to charities is Good Search. Here you can input the charity of your choice (as long as they've signed up on the site) and a portion of the revenue from your searches will be donated to that charity.

And all this can be done with out you even having the leave the comfort of your computer!

What I'd like to do...

2009-01-31T22:32:00.002-05:00

So, I've been been trying to be more environmentally conscious. I became vegan for both reasons of a family history of heart disease and because its more environmentally friendly (less CO2 emissions because I don't eat meat, dairy, eggs etc). I've been trying to purchase and use less plastic. I no longer drink bottled water and am looking into getting a stainless steel Klean Kanteen. I recycle a lot more now and have even gone as far as picking recyclable plastic containers out of the kitchen garbage after my roommates placed them there (I know some of you are cringing at this).

Well, I'm going to try and be more environmentally friendly from this point forth. Whenever I settle down and get my own apartment or house, I want to start a garden and produce some of my own veggies.

I've also gotten a few ideas from Crunchy Chicken's blog that I hope to at least try out. This includes some things that people might think are gross, like recycling urine to use in the garden in order to add the nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium to the soil that are needed in gardens. But some of the ideas have less of an "ick factor," like using baking soda and white vinegar as shampoo or just plain baking soda as deodorant.

I've always admired the pioneer days or the pre-industrialist days where people could live off the land. However, I do love my computer and my cell phone, but I also love nature (although I've yet to really get out into it too much).

Anyway, I guess I'm just trying to say that I look forward to getting out of college and having my own place because then I can start to live the way I want to live.

If anyone has ideas about what I can do in an apartment setting to be more environmentally friendly, leave a comment. I'm trying to do some volunteer work at a farm down the road, I'm not sure what I will be doing..but perhaps I'll get to do some gardening? Even though my mother had gardened my whole life, I still am completely clueless about how to go about gardening. I'll learn.

Something I've been Pondering...

2009-01-27T23:24:00.002-05:00

So we all know that the economy hasn't been too awesome lately, we've been in a recession according to all the news reports that I've read.

Well, I was over at Yahoo! News and was reading this article on how the remittances in Mexico have dropped for the first time, the article says they've dropped 3.6%! A remittance is the money that people send back to their country when working abroad. And according to the article it is "Mexico's second-largest source of foreign income after oil." The drop is partly due to the large amount of layoffs that have happened as of late. This concerns me a lot.

So, why have I been thinking so much about this drop in remittances? Well, from the sound of it, its a global happening and I'm afraid of the implications it may have. For one thing, from doing a few research papers on human trafficking, I've read about how poverty or unstable economic factors usually have greater instances of trafficking. This means that those people in a weaker position of both power and finances are exploited by those who can see this weakness.

Trafficking can come in many forms, for example: forced prostitution, forced labor, forced child labor..etc. And no, it is not the same thing as smuggling. Often times these people are conned into being trafficked and then have no way out of the situation.

Anyway, after reading that article, I just became very concerned over the issue. I just thought I'd share since the trafficking of humans violates many human rights and is an issue that I think is often times overlooked.

Snow, Snow, Snow!

2009-01-19T13:10:00.002-05:00

And in Knoxville, TN to boot! Yes, its snowing this morning. Its not sticking to the ground, sadly, but the white fluffy stuff is falling from the sky. I've been talking to family and friends back home in NH and the New England area and they've been having lots of snow. However, down here we've been having colder weather than usual, but no snow up until now.

My roommate has been hoping that, with the wet roads from the snow, the roads will freeze over night and we'll have a delay in the morning. Wishful thinking, in my opinion. Since its snowing, that means that its a bit warmer outside; although it is supposed to get colder tonight, I doubt the limited amounts of water will just freeze. Who knows, maybe it'll surprise me. I still plan on studying for my quiz though, as I'm not holding out for a miracle.

A delay would be really nice for tomorrow though, I really want to see the inauguration! Please, UT/whatever controls the weather, please?

The Girl Effect

2009-01-17T22:44:00.003-05:00

I was roaming around the internet tonight and found a site that I wanted to share with you. It's call The Girl Effect. The main idea of the site is that in putting resources into helping one girl get out of poverty in another country, perhaps that girl's village will be better off. For instance, if you give one girl a loan to purchase a cow, then she can sell the milk and provide for herself and her family, perhaps one day she can even provide for her village and prove that girls are valuable. Watch the introduction to the site if you want to see what I'm talking about.

I think its a fabulous idea. If anything, providing a loan or education to one girl will at least change the life of that one girl and perhaps her family.

The Golden Globes

2009-01-11T23:10:00.008-05:00

Now that the Golden Globes are over with, I wanted to say a bit about a few of the winners.

Best Picture: I would've loved for Revolutionary Road to win Best Picture, my own personal bias being that I am in love with the chemistry on screen between Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet, but Slumdog Millionaire took it. Now, I am going to have to put that one on my list of movies to see. It has now intrigued me. I've yet to see either film, so I can't pass judgement on either.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture--Drama: I was truly happy with the winner for this category. Kate Winslet is a woman whose work I really enjoy. Again, I haven't seen Revolutionary Road, but the previews have already caught my attention. Her reaction to winning was also quite charming. I wish there was a video on Youtube at the moment, but as the awards ceremony just wrapped up, I'm doubting it. However, I'll try to post it later.

EDIT: Here it is!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture--Drama: Although Sean Penn didn't get this one for his performance as Harvey Milk in the film Milk, I am not too disappointed with the actor who did win. Mickey Rourke won for his performance in The Wrestler. Just from commericals, it seems to have its own intriguing qualities. I will definitely have to watch this film.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: Tina Fey won for 30 Rock. Her speech was amazing. She basically says a big "Suck it" to all the internet haterz. :) Here is a clip:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: This one was a really big emotional win, the winner was Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight. He truly deserved this award because his performance was amazing and he made a very haunting Joker. They played a clip of his performance in lieu of any acceptance speech. Rest In Peace.

Other than that, I enjoyed the rest of the awards ceremony. I can't wait for the Oscars! (Check those out on ABC on Feb 22nd, 2009 at 5PT/8ET)

A Blog Post about Blogging?

2009-01-11T18:33:00.005-05:00

I was reading one of my favorite sites today, Post Secret, and I came across this secret:
It made me laugh. I feel like anyone who has a blog and has had someone start a conversation about something written in your blog, you know how true this can be. And as quiet of a girl as I am, I am an attention whore. :) I think we all are, deep down. No? Okay, fine. Just some of us are.

So, yes. When I write a blog, I do love when I get input from other people, even if its negative or contradictory to what I have stated is my belief. I like the back-and-forth that can result from a blog entry that might not have happened, even between close friends, if I had not posted about it on here first.

I guess with the popularity of the blog, it has given a voice to people who may not have had the opportunity to have such a public forum. Hooray! I know that my blog does not have the reach of other blogs, but I do know that it reaches people outside my social circle (whatever my social circle actually is defined as).

So, if I'm interesting enough..keep reading. And tell your friends! (Told you I'm an attention whore :] ) If not, sorry.

Peace Corps?

2009-01-11T00:31:00.002-05:00

Yes, I'm actually getting around to filling out my application to the Peace Corps. This scares me beyond belief because it would mean being away from my family and friends for 2 years! And I'm going to use the excuse that I've been away from my dog (Elijah) for the past 3 years on and off and kind of just want to have him to snuggle.

I know, I know. That's silly. And they'll be there when I get back, if I were to go. But, the "real world" is actually very scary to me.

I think I'm writing this out of exhaustion. I'll try to think of something more uplifting and positive for my next post---maybe...if I can think of something.

;)

Stress and Lots of Tears...

2009-01-07T20:54:00.002-05:00

And for such a lame reason too.

Okay, so here's the deal. I'm taking a Video Arts course and was all excited until I got into the class and was told I needed to buy an external drive with firewire and a certain amount of storage space. Then was told that my camera must have firewire and that I need to buy a cable at the computer store on campus. Okay..but external drives are super expensive and from reading the specifications of my camera, I don't think it has firewire. So, on top of the $100 fee that was paid along with tuition, the fees for this class are just piling up.

My problem here is that I don't know if I should drop the class or hope that I find a giant wad of cash on the side of the road sometime soon. My other problem is that on top of this class, which doesn't seem impossible but instead just seems time consuming since I can't use my own laptop to do work, I have an osteology course with a lab. :( Grr. Not only is osteology going to kick my butt, but I am still searching out a job so I don't starve this semester.

And the thing that pushed me over the edge tonight, into the zone of tears and stress, is that after my computer had to be reloaded, apparently my dvd player software got screwed up. Or I screwed it up? I don't know. I recovered it from the mess of files that are somehow "hidden" on my computer and associated it (or whatever) to play DVDs, but somehow it won't actually play them. It opens and thinks, and then stops. And it knows when the D drive is open because it says "Eject" in big letters. AH! Watching movies is my de-stresser. After a stressful day I like to sit down and watch a film, but since I have no way to do so (I was going to watch Thelma and Louise) I am left an utter mess. Its sad and pathetic, but I need some sort of outlet.

I still don't know what to do about this course. I really want to learn how to edit videos (and I bought 2 books...one by accident, oops) on FinalCut Express and FinalCut Pro. But I just don't want to be stressed for time.

I just need to talk it out with someone. Of course, today is the day that everyone is busy working or doing other things. :(

Twitter

2009-01-06T17:34:00.002-05:00

I've caved and created a Twitter account.

I'm not sure if I like it yet. To be honest, it reminds me of the Facebook status updates. Although it seems to be a popular site, I'm not sure how often I'll use it. But, who knows, maybe I'll become addicted to Twitter updates? My life just isn't all that interesting...so short segments of what my day-to-day life consists of might not come out to be all too interesting.

So, if you want to follow my Twitter click HERE. Be sure to click the "follow" button if you have a Twitter so we can be Twitter friends.

Gus Van Sant's Milk

2009-01-05T18:50:00.002-05:00

I went to see Gus Van Sant's Milk today, finally! And it was just as amazing as other viewers and critics have claimed it to be. By the end of the film, everyone in the theater was sobbing--given, since the movie came out on Thanksgiving, there were only about 12 people in the theater at 1:15 pm on a Monday. But, it was a moving and empowering movies--as was Harvey Milk's life.
Here's a look at a preview for the film:

Sean Penn's acting (as Harvey Milk) was amazing! I enjoyed the editing. I loved Emile Hirsch for showing off more of his adorable dance moves. I even enjoyed James Franco's porn-stache. I think it was a fabulous film all around.

So, if you haven't already, I recommend seeing it for yourself and deciding if I was right or wrong.

Back in Knoxville!

2009-01-05T11:09:00.003-05:00

That's right, folks! I'm back!

I drove down on Saturday and it took me from 4am till around 7pm to get here, only stopping to fuel the car. I seem to have forgotten my phone charger in NH, so now I have to charge it in my car; meaning I get to take lovely, random car trips around Knoxville! Yay! (I also managed to leave my LAUNDRY in NH...oops.)

I do miss home. :( But, I also want to power through this semester because Spring semester is always the best! There's spring break, Volapalooza, Sundown in the City, and eventually SUMMER break and warm weather! I'm hoping UT gets an awesome band for Volapalooza (yay for freee!) and hopefully some decent bands come for Sundown. Last year, for Volapalooza, Dashboard Confessional came and they were pretty good. I didn't really listen to them before, but I enjoy their music more now. I like live shows better than CDs because of the energy.

So, what have I been doing lately? Unpacking, sleeping, cleaning my bathtub (ick), and obsessively listening to The All-American Rejects' song "Gives you Hell." Yes, my life is very uneventful at the moment. I do plan on going to see Milk this afternoon. Yay!

A New New Year's Resolution?

2009-01-01T22:35:00.002-05:00

Stop being an idiot about boys? Yes, I think I need to make this resolution.

Why? Well, I almost text messaged a silly guy today. This guy has already made his feelings very clear and they are all only for friendship. But, I was tempted to ask the question of "Why?," a very stupid thing to do. Yes, I am that girl.

Other than the new resolution, I leave for school on Saturday morning. :( I'm already dreading the tests and papers...and waking up at the crack of dawn. I've quite enjoyed my break and waking up around noon every day. :) I was completely lazy during winter break and loved every minute of it. I needed to de-stress from both the fall semester and the usual stress and pressure that comes along with holidays.

I visited my Grandmother today and was loaded up with lots of homemade relish! Yum! Now I won't go hungry this semester...or something. I'll at least be able to dress my food in deliciousness. Nom nom nom. I also visited my Aunt and Uncle and got back my hiking boot! Hooray! I left it there when they took care of me over the summer (the whole broken leg dealy) and the other boot has been lonely and sitting in the backseat of my car ever since.

I hope everyone had an awesome New Year's night and New Year's day! I did...kind of. I spent mine with my dogs in my house watching the ball drop in Times Square. I'd really like to spend New Years with people next time, but we shall see I suppose.

Happy New Years...

2008-12-31T20:08:00.002-05:00

Well almost.

My New Year's resolutions for 2009?

Take more photos.
Learn how to edit vidoes--my video media course will help with this.
Get more in shape (aka, go to the gym at least once a month hahaha)
Be more social.

I'm sure I'll come up with more as I go through my year. But, those are the ones I'm making on New Years Eve.

Stupid things I can't wait for in 2009?

The Jan. 5th episode of Gossip Girl! (I told you they were stupid)
Lost coming back on the air (I think it is at least? Who knows.)
Summer 2009...because it's still a mystery as to where I'll be.
Graduation in December!

Happy New Years!
Especially to those who have already celebrated due to time difference.

Winter Break...

2008-12-31T00:51:00.002-05:00

What have I done on my winter break?

Not much. Actually, my computer had a massive virus/malware/anything else you can think of and was down for the count for a week. :( But, my dad revived him and now we're back in action!

I'm trying to sort out all the programs on my computer, but hopefully I can put up more photos from the holidays. I've also recently gotten a digital video camera and with my videography class this semester, I should be posting some sweet, sweet videos on my YouTube account.

Other than that, school is creeping up on me fast and UT starts back on Jan. 6th (I think)...a bit too soon for my taste.

Time to find a job...and buy books. Ugh.

Okay, I can't concentrate this late at night. A better update later.

Puppies!

2008-12-18T21:52:00.002-05:00

Okay, so they are not really puppies anymore. Mikey (full name: Michaelangelo) the maltese is some unknown age..but we will go with 8 or 9 years old...and Elijah the poodle is about 6 years old.

I've began to realize a few things about my dogs' personalities since I've been home--I've always known it, but never realized how much of their personalities are made up of these quirks.

Let's start with Mikey. Oh, hi, Mikey!

Other than looking like he really doesn't want to be in this photo above, Mikey has always been pulled strongly towards dark, secluded places like closets and laundry baskets and toward fluffier things like blankets and clothing. This is what I can pinpoint as his "softer side" because he also is a bit of a wild card when it comes to reacting to situations.
You see, Mikey has this little issue where he freaks out if someone puts on their coat or shoes or if he hears keys jingling. As far as we can tell, he has a deep-seated fear of being left behind or forgotten. As sad and depressing as that is, it makes situations very tense when we have company over. For a small dog he has a big bark--and a wimpy bite.
But, he makes up for this small flaw with his cute ability to curl up in a blanket or in a basket full of clean laundry. He's not very cuddly as he is such a bony dog , but he sure can make one say "aww!" when he settles into a basket of clothing.

On to Elijah!

The only way that I can describe Elijah is that he is very special. :) It may be the fact that we "rescued" him from a pet store because no one would buy him and he was "on sale" (something I don't encourage...please adopt from a local shelter). Or perhaps because when we got him he was both bald and scrawny from pet store living, but either way he's always been just a little bit funny.
He seems to have difficulties with turning left and will circle to his right when he gets excited or is walking paces around the kitchen floor. He may have something a little off in his brain too because I've seen him walk into way too many walls head first.
Elijah also seems to never get exhausted. Sure, he will take naps and sleep at night, but he bounces up at every opportunity to play and have fun. I love playing with him, but I had hoped that this was just a phase during his puppy years. I guess 6 is not really an old dog, but I'm hoping that he settles down a bit by 12.

I hope I didn't give the wrong impression here. I love my dogs with all my heart; they just have the tendency to follow certain patterns that I find to be interesting and sometimes hilarious.

Snowy, Snowy Wonderland!

2008-12-17T12:59:00.003-05:00

Or not. I woke up to the wonderfully fluffy stuff this morning! We don't have too much snow, but its still slowly falling from the sky. :)

My friend B is going to come over later and since she has a Mustang, I needed to shovel my driveway or else she would get stuck. So, I put on some PJ pants, a sweatshirt, a coat, a scarf, my Dad's boots, and a pair of his gloves. The only shovel I could find was not a snow shovel, but a metal shovel with pointed tip for digging holes. Oi! So I used that and started at the bottom of our driveway. I made it a few feet up and felt like I was going to pass out. I probably have yet ANOTHER sinus infection and the cold mixed with physical activity sent me into a dizzy spell. I came back inside to find my little 6 pound poodle, Elijah, hopping around on 3 legs because the fourth was stuck in his collar. Its always something.

And now that I'm laying back down on the couch, I've noticed that my left thumb is all swollen. Stupid arthritis! For a 20 year old, my body acts more like an 80 year old.

Other than all of that, its been a good day. And I LOVE the snow today. The snow has managed to cover up all the fallen tree limbs in my yard and make them look beautiful!

EDIT
Oh yes, my friend J is on her 6th consecutive day of having no power! The power went out all over New Hampshire because of the ice storm last week, but she's been roughing it with only a generator to power her freezers. I guess they at least have food? With this new snow though, that's really rough for those who don't have wood burning stoves or fireplaces. So good luck to all those still without power in NH--hopefully it'll come back on soon!

The Filthy Youth

2008-12-17T00:02:00.002-05:00

Being the awkward 20 year old that I am, I've found a new band who I enjoy, but I did it in a weird way.

So the band? The Filthy Youth.
How did I come across them? Good question. Actually, Ed Westwick who plays Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl does the vocals. That's right, folks! Its a British band!

Their Facebook site lists the band as being:

Ed Westwick (vocals),
Benjamin Lewis Allingham (guitar and vocals),
Jimmy Wright (guitar),
John Vooght (Drums),
Mitch Cox (Bass)

According to their Myspace, they sound like Xtc, Weller, The Rakes, The Hives, The Strokes, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Clash, and The Velvet Underground.

They are not signed to a label and at the moment I think Myspace might be one of the few places to listen their songs. Anyway, give them a listen and see if you like them or not.

43things.com

2008-12-16T22:11:00.003-05:00

I found this website 43things.com on Heather's blog (Hey, Heather! Thanks for following my blog!). According to a little quiz I took on this website:

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a

Tree Hugging Spiritual Self-Knower

Anyway, with this website you can make a "to do" list for what you want to do with your life and then once you accomplish it you can write about how you made this accomplishment. It is interesting because you can also read how other people accomplished similar goals and get inspired to move forward with completing your own list!

So, go check it out!

Also, I'm looking for a way to visit England. Would anyone have any advice. I looked over at BUNAC, but I don't think they are giving out anymore work visas for England. :( This makes me sad, if its true! It would be for this coming summer (May 15th till August 8th-ish) and I'm looking for a cheap way to visit or work there. Any advice is welcome!

Home for the Holidays!

2008-12-15T19:20:00.006-05:00

Yes, I did finally make it home! And luckily the power has come back on--as you may have guessed from me being on the internet! However, my Dad turned the power to our house off all together. So when I found out that our neighbors had power, I had to go down into the scary dark basement, flashlight in hand, and fiddle with the circuit breakers until I figured out how the heck to turn on our power! The big "Whooosh" from all the electricity coming on told me that I finally did it and then I just flipped all the switches to "on." Let's hope I didn't manage to screw this task up in my excitement.

My best friend, B, and I traveled over to her Grandmother's house to get some tea and cookie and say hello. On our ride back we played a really hardcore game of Pididdle (where you shout pididdle and put your hand on the ceiling of the car each time you see a car with one headlight out) and let's just say we both almost broke out hands on my car's ceiling. We don't play the proper way though, the losers who say this second or not at all are supposed to take off an article of clothing, but we just like to punch the ceiling. :)

Here is a little recap of my visit to Hofstra. My friend, T, and I went to the MET where I saw this fabulous sculpture in the Ancient Greek and Roman room:

I really enjoy the fact that its just pants and a foot that were left over. I really do enjoy it and I may be the only one.

Other than that, I almost got to eat at the Cheesecake Factory for the first time--except there ended up being a 3 hour wait so we went to Chili's, who gave us a table 2 seconds after we got there! And with 8 people, that was just really good luck!

I might go for a walk with B at some point this week to see some of the damage from last week's ice storm. There is a lot of visible tree debris along the sides of the road in my town, so I'll try to take photos. I'm glad I wasn't here, many places in NH still don't have power and a lot of cars were crushed or impaled by trees. Eep!

Off to have NH related adventures! :)

Hofstra University Visit

2008-12-14T22:29:00.002-05:00

I'm spending my last night at Hofstra in New York and then I'll be heading home to New Hampshire. I ended up leaving Thursday morning at 3am and drove 12 hours in the rain to get here, only getting off track once because of confusing signs in New Jersey. But, luckily directions were just a phone call away to my Dad.

My trip here has been really fun and I'm sad that I have to leave so soon. :( I hung out with some friends, went to Witches Brew, visited the MET and Washington Square Park in the city, got dinner, and went to a small holiday party.

I'm only not looking forward to going home to New Hampshire because there was a big ice storm on Friday and most of Southern NH lost power. Boo! And apparently a lot of places still haven't gotten power back, such as my town (as of a few hours ago).

Hopefully I will write more when I get home--if the power is back on that is. If not, then I'll try to write whenever it comes back on.

A Reason I Need a Better Job...

2008-12-10T14:22:00.002-05:00

I need a better job for next semester because I need new earrings (my fave ones broke, boo!) and the earrings over at Etsy are absolutely fabulous. I'm in love with a pair of owl earrings that are here. And I'm alarmingly drawn to things with cows, owls, and chickens on them. Awkward. My mother loved things with ducks and birds on them--hence our duck patterned wall paper in the kitchen our our rooster chalkboard near the phone, or that's my explanation. Maybe its genetic? I'm not complaining, its just a funny pattern.

Fall Semester 08: Complete

2008-12-10T12:20:00.003-05:00

I took my last final this morning and handed in the final draft of my paper on Human Trafficking. Hooray for freeeedom! One whole month of me time and being broke, can't wait.

So, what are my plans? I'm going to visit some very wonderful people tomorrow in NY at my old university! A few action packed days with them and then I must sadly drive home to NH where we will be celebrating my Dad's birthday. Family Christmas party in Maine. Christmas. Lounging around and hanging out with my best friend, Brie. Get my car inspected as well as snow tires/year round tires! New Years (probably by myself, which is rather pathetic). Back to school in January.

This break is way too short, I miss Hofstra's winter breaks where we would not have to go back to school until the end of January.

As for my progress on the "No Plastic Holiday," I'm doing okay on the holiday part. Its the food shopping that has killed me. When I go home it might be easier, maybe. Everything comes wrapped in plastic! I already felt really bad when my family or myself would purchase drinks that came in those plastic rings because supposedly birds and stuff get their heads stuck in them. Now I feel even worse because after I cut them, animals are going to eat them. I can't win with that. But, I don't actually purchase anything that are held together with the six-pack rings anymore.

Tomorrow morning I will be saying "Toodles" to Knoxville, TN and "HELLO" to Hempstead, NY.

*Don't worry, I'm sure there will be QUALITY photos of that adventure posted here.*

2008-12-08T17:33:00.002-05:00

So, over the weekend something wonderful happened....it SNOWED on Saturday in Knoxville! Yes, yes. I know. I'm from New Hampshire..where snow isn't actually rare at all. However, I've been waiting for it to snow down here since I moved last year.

I was so excited...I took photos. Don't judge!

Clinch Ave enjoying some fluffy stuff.

More over at my Flickr.

However, it stopped shortly after. :( I was really bummed because I never got to go play in it AND it was actually sticking! Maybe next year.

Two finals to go and then I'm free for winter break!

Procrastination at its Finest

2008-12-07T18:21:00.003-05:00

But I don't wanna study! :(

This has been my mindset over the past week or so. I've completed one final and just printed off my last paper for the semester (a lovely practice proposal for doing a master's thesis on human trafficking in the US), go me! However, I have 2 more finals left.

So what have I been doing instead of studying?

Reading Post Secret
Cleaning my room.
Looking up how to compost in an apartment--okay, I'm officially a crunchy granola person. So be it. Plus, my mom used to compost with worms in our bathroom if I remember correctly, let's just say I wanted to follow suit.
Going to Target to buy ink to print said paper and then wandering around aimlessly.
Making Christmas Cards..because I don't want to buy any.
Sewing a shopping bag out of a t-shirt that I outgrew 3 years ago. Seriously. Its not the best since the material is rather worn, but I'll try and snap a photo later.
Clean the kitchen. Someone made fried chicken about a MONTH ago and the oil/fat has been sitting in plastic containers on the counter ever since. Nasty. I figured this out AFTER they started to leak everywhere, so I braved the nasty and disposed of them today. Blah, I don't eat meat, so inside I was screaming and running for the hills.
Writing this blog. :)

Yes, I'm really bad at studying for finals, I admit it. I love procrastinating. But, at least I've made some accomplishments in the past week: I outlined the two essays for my upcoming test already. The only study guide I have to tackle now is for my Theory of Archaeology class. Ugh. I love going on digs and actually digging, but theory kills me.

3 more days and I'm done for the semester! :)

No Plastic Holiday Challenge!

2008-12-05T14:32:00.005-05:00

Over at Crunchy Domestic Goddess, there is a challenge to try and limit the amount of plastic used in your holiday celebrations.

Why would we want to reduce our plastic usage? Well over at Plasticbagfree.com they explain that according to the June 2006 United Nations Environmental Programme report, there is an "estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic debris on average floating on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean." Holy crap! And this is a low average!

So what are alternatives to plastic?--since we know that in our society one just can't give up plastic all together, at least not easily.

Well, on the Crunchy Domestic Goddess website, they suggest a few things:

Make homemade gifts! Yes, cookies and scarves always make wonderful gifts in the winter. And, as long as you don't live somewhere that is extremely warm or have an allergy/health issue, they are usable by most.
Buy from places like Etsy.com or small businesses. Although not everything on here is plastic free, its nice to know you are helping out a person and not a corporation this holiday season!
Buy Eco-friendly gifts. Gifts that are recycled or even fair trade can help the environment or people this winter.
Reduce plastic packaging. When purchasing items, try to reduce the amount of plastic it is shipped with--apparently some sites have this option for packaging. Who knew?

So, I'm taking this challenge. What have I been doing? I've tried to buy gift items at second hand/thrift stores when I can: a good example of this would be books. Also, when at the grocery store, I've been trying to either bring and reuse my old plastic bags, or use a tote bag to take my groceries home in.

I've been trying to be more like my Grandma Honey and her generation. (Shout out to my Grams!) She seems to keep everything in order to reuse it or will give it to someone. Well Grams, I think this is a pretty neat concept and hope to follow in your footsteps.

*EDIT*
Also, if you are looking for more ways to reduce your plastic use, go over and look at Fake Plastic Fish where there are lots of interesting substitutes given for plastic items.

Favorite Sites..

2008-12-04T21:47:00.004-05:00

Two of my favorite sites happen to be charity sites.

Care2 and Greater Good

These two sites both provide "click now to donate" sections where the sponsors of their site will donate money towards a certain goal.

So, go click.

On Care2 you can also sign petitions meant to better the environment, community, or animal kingdom.

While you're on there...vote for your favorite animal shelter to give them a chance at winning $10,000!

Go. Click. Smile.

Some Things I'm Just Not Good At...

2008-12-04T18:16:00.003-05:00

So, I've been single...my whole life. Lame, I know. But, as much as I want to and try to embrace my single-hood, I'm always the tiniest bit of upset because I seem to be an "untouchable" in the dating world. And its not just my inability to snag a guy to date, when I'm out with friends I seem to be the only person who NEVER EVER gets hit on. Now, my friends are very attractive people, but its almost as if I am completely invisible!

So, for all you single ladies and gentlemen out there, I know how you feel. Completely.

But, I'm going to try and turn over a new leaf in my thinking. Instead of being upset about being single, I'm going to rejoice in all the wonderful things I would have been tempted not to do--or unable to do--if I had a boyfriend, such as:

Travel alone. Its not that this would be impossible, but it would most likely put a rather big strain on our relationship, especially in the beginning, if we were apart 98% of the year. And I know, long distance relationships do work out sometimes, but traveling around might make it harder.
Have more girls nights! It seems that everyone is attached at the hip with their boyfriends and having girls only nights gets harder and harder the more friends I have with boyfriends.
There is no way to get cheated on! My friend pointed this out to me, also in not being able to get cheated on, you won't get any STDs that your boyfriends "mistress" had. Always a plus!
No need to check in with anyone. Another friend of mine suggested this one, and it is so true. You don't have to make sure that what you are doing is okay with them and instead can use your own judgment calls. However, I'm sure there are some guys out there who would allow this in the relationship!
More pocket money! No need to buy presents for a boyfriend when you don't have one, right? And with that, no need to get frustrated with finding "the perfect gift" for your boy.
No need to shave! Oh, this is my personal favorite! Basically, during the winter months, I only shave my legs if I think that I will be wearing a skirt or capris. But, I believe that guys don't really enjoy the hairy leg here in the US.
Less stress and arguing. This is different from person to person, but without a boyfriend to argue with over trivial stuff, there is more time to relax and stress about other things--like school and work.

So, that's my short list. It goes on and on from what my friend's have been suggesting. So, I'm going to embrace my singleness and not pout about my inability to attract a man. And who knows, maybe the next time I go into McKay's and see the cute guy at the register, I'll be more ballsy and actually say more than "hello" and whatever other stupid things I managed to blurt out last time.

An Interesting Concept...

2008-12-02T22:32:00.002-05:00

I was looking around the internet, doing research on anti-trafficking NGO organizations that I could volunteer or intern for this coming summer, and found a brand of cosmetics called PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics. According to the website, they donate all their profits (after taxes of course) to "Women's Health Advocacy and Human Rights issues."

Here is a video that is on the site. Its a very interesting and innovative concept to raise money and awareness. The products seem to be all natural, but the downside is that there seems to be only a limited number of products that they sell.

I've never purchased anything from this site, so I'm not sure if the products are as great as they are advertising. However, next time I have a job that actually pays I will hopefully be able to afford to buy some.

Question..

2008-12-02T15:14:00.003-05:00

How come all of a sudden I have a large influx of flickr users who mainly post pornography adding me as a contact?

The world may never know.

The Post Holiday High

2008-12-01T18:23:00.002-05:00

I'm still giddy from being home and all the things that go along with Thanksgiving: including friends, family, and abundant amounts of food. I lied a little in my last entry saying that I had photos from my family's Thanksgiving dinner at my house. The thing is, I only have a few and they are all horrible. I had forgotten to bring my camera down until the very end when everyone was getting up to leave. :( I'll try to remember to be the paparazzi when we have our family Christmas party.
So how did I spend the two other days in NH? My best friend Brie and I had a wine night. Actually, Brie hates wine so it turned into a cheap wine and Mike's Hard Lemonade night. We did however invest in some $1 wine glasses from Dollar Tree. Classy.

The next night, I went to the annual Nashua Holiday Stroll down Main St, Nashua with Brie and Katie. Per usual, we froze our butts off and saw a whole lot of interesting people. We ended up heading over to the Olive Garden for some food and refuge from the cold.
The visit was good, but too short as usual. But, I'll be back there in about 2 weeks!

Since I did not have any food in the fridge or pantry back at my apartment, I had to go food shopping today. I ended up splurging a little bit on a pomegranate because I'm trying to eat more healthy (I only bought fruits and veggies along with some dried beans for the next 2 weeks). They were having a sale 2 pomegranates for $5, but I figured that I'd just get one.
I decided that I would eat it tonight as a snack and in kind of an appreciation for my friend and former roommate Ally's pomegranate photos from a while back, I took a few photos of it. They are so pretty in a strange way. The outside skin is even beautiful in its rustic, beat up state. There are a few more photos over at my flickr.

I had my last class today, so tonight I am going to sit back, relax, and watch Gossip Girl!

Post-Thanksgiving Day

2008-11-28T12:39:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving at my house wasn't as bad as I figured it would be. We managed to squeeze everyone into our house and also to have 50 percent more food than actually needed--most of this extra food was in the form of pies and candy. Ugh, everything I don't eat (all with milk or butter and eggs in them).

My Tofurkey was actually not too bad, but it sat on a warmer until we ate and started to dry out--ick. But, it started out as a yummy, delicious food and ended up gross and stale. I also didn't make much of it since there was so much other food and was only split between my cousin Sam and I.

I'll be putting the few photos I actually took of Thanksgiving online when I get back to Tennessee. They will hopefully make their way to my flickr page.

Also, I missed watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV yet AGAIN. :( I woke up too late.

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful!

Thanksgiving Break!!!

2008-11-26T08:19:00.002-05:00

The semester went by semi-fast and now I can't believe its already Thanksgiving break!

I'm heading home today and will make my tofurkey when I get there! I'll try and take pictures to show how it came out. Knowing my cooking skills, I'll screw it up. At least I'm the only one who is going to eat it.

Since I probably won't get online till at least Friday: Have A Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

The Story of Stuff

2008-11-23T12:53:00.004-05:00

Last semester in one of my anthropology classes we watched this video. Being a person who values thrift and recycling, I found it to be interesting.

Check it out:

Put this on my "Books to Read" List...

2008-11-22T23:06:00.003-05:00

I was looking into paid internships abroad (ahh, such a far off dream) and I came across this website called Delaying the Real World. The basis of the book is to inform and give ideas about what one can do after graduation without just jumping into a monotonous job in a cubicle. Its only about $11 on Amazon.com, so I might wait and go to a bookstore to find it.

Anyway, its written by Colleen Kinder and just seems really interesting. The main page to their website suggests things such as: "Take a road trip," "build houses in a Mexican village," "work on a cruise ship," "hike along the Pacific Trail," "create (and fund) your own service project," and "travel the globe on one affordable plane ticket."

Now if only I could find a job for the present...

**EDIT**

After reading through more of the website, I was reminded greatly of a woman I met during my bus ride from Boston to Montana this summer. We were on a bus together from New York (maybe even earlier) until Chicago, but we didn't meet until we were somewhere in Ohio. She was from Australia (I may have this mixed up) and lived in New Zealand. But! She travels extensively and was just coming from Canada. She told me that she will go back to England or New Zealand to work when she needs the money, but the rest of the time she spends traveling! I really wish I had gotten her name or e-mail address because she was so interesting and fun. Oh well, but when we were talking all I could think was "Wow, this is something that I would love to be able to do with my life."

Mental note, next time I meet such an awesome person: get their e-mail address! (Although she was off to camp in North Dakota, so she wouldn't have had internet for a while)