The List

Love is a fragile word.

2010-03-22T18:43:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling lately that there isn't enough love going on out there. Too many blogs, tweets, facebook statuses and whatnot that are negative. I'm going to do my best this whole week to not think negative thoughts about others or to judge people I do not know. My goal is to go beyond the week obviously, but I'm hoping this will come more effortlessly and without thought. Being loving and kind shouldn't be work, it should just.....be.

One Month from Today

2010-03-08T11:07:00.001-05:00

One April 8th I will be participating in a day without shoes. The whole day, wherever I go, I’ll be without shoes. The idea behind it is to see what people in other countries go through each day simply because they don’t have the money to buy shoes. People will be gathering together on this day to do a barefoot walk and I will be participating in the walk at KSU.

This day is sponsored by TOMS shoes. If you’re not familiar with the company, for every shoe you buy from them, they give one to a child in need. The day is meant to bring awareness to what a day is like for these kids. So join me on April 8th! Even if you don’t own a pair of TOMS, perhaps the day will inspire you to buy a pair, or you may inspire someone else to. For more information on the walk, check out http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/. Come out and have fun with your friends and make some new ones while promoting a good cause.

Facts:

1. In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
2. Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
3. Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
4. In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
5. Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

Learn more about their mission and giving at www.TOMS.com.

Not Really A List...

2010-03-03T23:31:00.002-05:00

This one isn't a list, exactly, but I'm hoping for some opinions/ideas. My plan is to by a pair of white TOMS soon and decorate them. I know I want left one to have ivy leaves wrapping around it. Ha, get it? Just plain and simple, possibly make the a few of the leaves look like music notes. The right one is where you come in. I'm going to put music quotes on it from Matt Nathanson, Of a Revolution, and Hanson. I have a few picked out that I may or may not use. I still need to properly go through each band's collection and pick some out. The quotes themselves I would prefer to be on more of the "motivational" side to go along with the whole TOMS movement thing. So for example, I wouldn't use "Come on get higher, loosen my lips" however much I love that line. And shorter is probably better. So here's what I got yo:

OAR
- Wouldn't it be the best damn day if we all took time to breathe?
- Don't you ever wonder why people are afraid to smile?
- Tell me this will come together now.
- How about a revolution?
- Come with me and let yourself go.
- Don't you know life's a feeling?

Hanson
- You gotta stand up, stand up.
- Do they know that the time is now?
- Hold onto the ones that really care.
- Let your voice be clear.

Matt Nathanson
- Everyday is the start of something beautiful.
- Our love will count for everything.
- Time slips to nothin' and I'm better than I've ever been
- All we are we are
- Drown me in love (it may be too good to pass up)

Side note * The ink on both shoes will be green, to go with the ivy. And I'm not doing the coloring/writing myself, I've asked a friend if she'd do it for me. She just doesn't know exactly what she's gotten herself into.

Olympdicks....or something.

2010-02-26T00:54:00.000-05:00

I like sports. I do. However, watching them on TV pretty much bores me. Which is why I am so surprised how into the Olympics I get. These two weeks are like crack to me. I’m very ethnocentric about it too and rarely cheer on another country. I hate the ice skating though,and I only cheer for them to fall because that amuses me. But these announcers, damn. I mean, everything they say just sound perverted and inappropriate (but I’m sure it’s just my view on things).

Top Six Things the Announcers at the Olympics Say:

1. The Chinese continue to come.
2. She needs to spread her legs if she’s going to make it.
3. It’s hard to keep going in wet conditions like these.
4. There is white stuff everywhere!
5. He’s gotta get it up higher up than that.
6. They've been going at it for hours, they must be exhausted by now.

Rant.

2010-02-24T15:44:00.000-05:00

Today is a Rant Day. Walking to and from class, I find many things that annoy me.
Call me hypocritical if you like, I don’t care. Here is my spur of moment rant.
1. Lack of interactions in the real world. When I pass someone in the hallway or the sidewalk, I give them a small smile. Usually, people see someone walking toward them and they look down or way, or have the sudden urge to pull out their cellular device. Okay, maybe it is just me and people would rather not look at my face. But I don’t think that’s quite it. Have we spent too much time texting and facebooking each other that we don’t know what to do in actual social situations? Holding the door for someone or saying “hello” to people in passing shouldn’t be out of the ordinary, it should be the norm.

2. Musical Trends. Ugh. Ahh. It seems to me that people are making less of an effort to search for good music. Instead, they listen to whatever the media throws at them and decide what is good, or even “music”. Example: Miley Cyrus. Justin Beiber. Neither of these two have any musical talent whatsoever. How any of these “teen acts” get famous is beyond me. Stop jumping on the bandwagon and form your own taste in music. It might take some searching, some musical listening trial and error, but you’ll get there. Which leads me to my next one:

3. Lack of information. I can’t think of a better way to describe this, but we don’t actively look for information or truths anymore. Most people only discover news if it pops up while they’re checking their e-mails. Or it is not their Facebook newsfeed. Okay, I shall admit I don’t follow the news very well. But, I will actively do research of my own. If I hear about something and it interests me, I will go look it up and find out more information, or if what I heard is even true at all.

4. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WEARING?! We wear shorts when it is hot out to keep cool. We wear boots when it is cold out to keep warm. So one should conclude that you needn’t wear shorts and boots at the same time, yes? Girls: stop dressing in tight shirts and short shorts/skirts. You then get upset when guys hit on you or treat you differently when dressed like this, but they’re taught to respond to this. Think about it. Guys: stop “poppin’ the collar”. Both: lay of the perfume/cologne. Wear what is comfortable to YOU, not what fashion magazines tell you to wear.

5. Uneducated. Even if you are, we as a society (at least my peer group) seem like we’re not. Why? Cuz we dunt no how 2 tpye. Like omgz lern how 2 spel words. R bad typing/txting is now affecting how we email r profs. even when physically speaking we talk like where in da 3 grade, u no? FML!

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T18:44:00.000-05:00

I have something to get off my chest. Okay. Here goes. I hate Valentine’s Day. Wow. Shocker, right? I just don’t get the reason behind it. I would want my boyfriend/husband to romantic things because he Wants to. Not just because some holiday tells him has to. (I like yellow and purple tulips,wink winkers). But I’d rather have the chocolate than flowers any day. Flowers die. Chocolate is yummy.

Reason I Hate the Stupid Fake Card Company Holiday (aka Valentine’s Day)

1. I’m not a fan of the color pink. And it’s everywhere this time of year.
2. It’s February. What a depressing month to celebrate this “romantic” holiday in.
3. The gifts. I don’t need some stuffed teddy bear. Or flowers that will die sooner than later.
4. The cards. I think it’s weird to give someone a love card that you didn’t write (and chances are didn’t really read, either).
5. Cupid. I’m supposed to think some fat baby wearing a diaper with a bow and arrow is cute?
6. I’m always single. Maybe that’s the real reason. But probably not. I’m just not the type of girl to squeal when my boyfriend spent too much money on lame gifts.

A Work in Progress

2010-02-11T00:57:00.000-05:00

Insert sappy "life's what you make it" quote here. There so much I want to do and experience before I die. Mostly, I like to go with the flow and wherever life leads me, well, I'll enjoy the ride. However, there are some things that I will do before I die. I will. I will. I will. Hopefully before I'm 30. Everything on this listen is something that I am physically capable of doing. Some take more work or time than others, but I'm gonna do it. This is only the beginning of my list. Things will get added. And only removed when checked off.

Things to Do Before I Die:

1. Get a tattoo
2. Swim with dolphins
3. Visit all 50 states (hopefully before I’m 30)
4. Travel outside the country. Including but not limited to: England, France and Italy
5. Learn guitar
6. Scuba dive off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
7. Live in a big city for at least a year (Right now, either Chicago or San Fran)
8. Ride a horse (I have yet to even touch one)
9. Run a marathon
10. Learn to take a compliment
11. Visit the 7 wonders of the world
12. Lean a language and use it (in process)
13. Fall in love.

There are a few things that I have already done:

1. Skydiving
2. Long distance road trip
3. Have been in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
4. Been on a airplane (besides the time I went skydiving)
5. Learned an instrument
6. Visited Walden Pond.

What about you?

Up, Up, and Away

2010-02-04T22:02:00.003-05:00

Superheroes. Who can say they honestly never wanted to be one when they were a kid? I’m almost 22 and sometimes I still wish I was one. I can’t say I was really big on comics and the weekend morning superhero cartoons. But still. (Quailman anyone?) I can relate to wanting to have a secret identity where people actually liked me and I could do something cool.

Top 9 Reasons to be a Superhero:

1. Underwear outside of your pants. (No, Brittany Spears is not a superhero)
2. Batmobile. Or other super cool means of transportation.
3. Always gets the guy/girl.
4. Freeze time and cheat on tests.
5. Secret identity.
6. Coolest new gadgets.
7. Sidekick that never leaves you.*
8. Never be late for anything again.(Cuz you’d have super-sonic speed. Or you fly. Pick one)
9. You can kick everyone's ass.
*Okay, I know he’s not really a superhero, but Sonic. Have you ever been playing the game and you try so hard to lose Tails, just because that’s fun? And he always comes back to help you out. No matter how many times you’re a dick to him and attempt to abandon him.

The Very Last Playlist

2010-02-02T21:23:00.000-05:00

I highly enjoy making playlists for everything; car rides, workouts, walking to class, parties, whatever. Today I was thinking about what songs I would have play at my funeral. My note isn’t meant to be taken seriously. However, if one of my friends wants to turn this into a playlist (many many years from now) and secretly turn it on while everyone is eating cheese and crackers at someone’s house afterwards, go ahead. I can’t wait to see how people react.

Top Ten Songs I Wanted Played at My Funeral:

1. I Will Come to you – Hanson (Gotta start it off with something serious.
2. My Life Would Suck Without You – Kelly Clarkson
3. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
4. Every Breath You Take – The Police (cuz I’m gonna come back as a ghost and ghost-stalk you!)
5. (I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight – Cutting Crew
6. Car Crash - Matt Nathanson
7. Family Reunion – blink 182
8. Dude (I Totally Miss You) – Tenacious D
9. I’m Free – The Who
10. Gettin’ Jiggy with it – Will Smith

You Actually Like Being Fake?

2010-02-01T15:28:00.002-05:00

I usually try to see the best in people. I’m learning not judge people so quickly based on sex, race, appearance, what have you. And I like to think that as I am growing older, I’m becoming better at this. But of course, no one is perfect. There are just some people that I judge almost as soon as I see them. When they walk past me and I get a whiff off too much cheap cologne (males), see they’re super blonde hair (females), and the too-tan-for-the-current-season bodies (both male and female). As soon as I see those Greek letters, the judgmental thoughts train starts rolling.
Okay, I know there’s the stereotypical sorority bitch/frat bro. And that not all of them are like that. If you’re one of those people, great for you. Sometimes I think that people looked at the “Greek Life” at KSU and that is where the stereotypes came from.

Why I hate sororities/fraternities:

1. Money = friends
2. “Like OMG!”
3. The girls are orange! Why? Because they all go tanning. Which leads to number 4
4. They all dress/look alike. Same overdone makeup, same fake tan, same badly dyed hair.
5. Walk in packs. What, you can’t just walk in twos or threes? No no no, you have to walk with your whole flock, taking up the whole sidewalk.
6. Superficial girls/boys
7. Hazing
8. Poppin’ the collar – need I say more?
9. “Kegs & Eggs” – Ugh I hate that phrase.
10. Cheap beer and desperate sluts.

"Eating Animals"

2010-02-01T00:11:00.002-05:00

Like I stated earlier, I'm a vegetarian. Okay, I'm not trying to ruin meat for you. I became a vegetarian my finding out exactly where my meat is coming from. And I didn't like what I saw. I encourage you to educate yourself, but you won't see me listing the things that they do to animals or any of that gross stuff. I am however, going to list a few reasons of WHY you should join us in veggie land.

Top Reasons to be a Vegetarian:

1. Love of animals. Animals destined to be on your plate usually are treated….well, inhumanly.
2. You'll eat fewer chemicals lower on the food chain.
3. You might lose weight by avoiding saturated fat in meat, butter and the animal fat used in baked goods, desserts and fried food.
4. Live longer! Eastern cultures that eat less meat/use meat replaces live longer. Don’t you want to enjoy this life as long as you can, and be healthy while you enjoy it? (+3-6 years)
5. If everyone in North America reduced their animal food consumption by just 10 percent, the grain we would save from animal feed could be used to feed all of the hungry throughout the world.
6. The most serious environmental problems of our time are all directly linked to eating meat
7. Easy substitutes. There are vegetable based substitutes for every meat product imaginable.
8. You're in good company. You may even personally know other vegetarians and not even know it.

If you're considering it, I recommend watching "Food, Inc." and THEN reading the book "Eating Animals". The movie shows you a lot of gross stuff. The book talks about the gross stuff, but also gives you a lot of good facts.
Like meat? Hate those hippie vegetarians? Tell me your side.

Might As Well Jump!

2010-01-31T19:56:00.001-05:00

Two posts in one day, you lucky kids. And by kids I mean the people out in cyberspace that have yet to read my blog...but that's okay. For now.
I've been trying to get back into shape lately. In highschool I was in pretty good shape with soccer and marching band. (Yes, marching band can actually be a workout. Evenmoreso if you're the one caring around the big bass drum.) I've been trying to eat healthier and (sorta)changed my eating habits. Three weeks ago I even became a vegetarian, for health reasons and a few others. So, this top five deals with music also.

Top Five Workout Songs (this time in no particular order):

1. Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
2. Jump - Van Halen
3. Take on Me - a-ha
4. Anyway you Want it - Journey
5. Here it Goes Again - OK Go (just picturing the tred-mills gets me pumped!)

These songs change a lot. What gets me pumped up this week may not next week. But almost always, these songs do the trick.

Top Five

2010-01-31T19:35:00.000-05:00

Question: Top five musical crimes perpetuated by Stevie Wonder in the '80s and '90s. Go. Sub-question: is it in fact unfair to criticize a formerly great artist for his latter day sins, is it better to burn out or fade away?

I love the movie High Fidelity. So here's my idea, how about making my own list of top five this and top five that? Some lists may have more than five depending on the topic, right now I'm just gonna roll with it. Tell me what would make your top five. Start a conversation with the person sitting next to you. Yell at me and tell me how bad my lists are. Or realize that you've done nothing with your life except reading blogs online. Perhaps be inspired to do something from my lists or someone else's. (That's assuming that people read this and actually respond.)

First one is simple:

My Top Five Favorite Musical Artists:

1. Matt Nathanson
2. Of a Revolution
3. Katie Herzig
4. Hanson
5. The Who

Yeah I don't really listen to the coolest music and I don't really give a fuck. Who're you're top five?