0069.

Three Things I Learned From My High School English Teacher, Mr. Freeman:


1. Paper Length: "Like a girl's skirt: long enough to cover everything, but short enough to keep it interesting."

I like this guideline, and I think more college professors would do well to fall in line. Page requirements are silly and lead to a lot of B.S. on the last page or so, and who needs that?

2. The Proper Working Definition of an Allegory: "A tale in verse or prose in which the characters, actions, settings, or events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities."

I don't know how this will help me in life. But it fits the category. Maybe one day I will be on the sidelines of a fierce sword fight filled with witty banter [see: The Princess Bride], and one will challenge the other: I will spare your life if you answer me this--what is the proper working definition of an allegory? And I will feel it coming--my moment. As the man blocks a hit from the incoming sword and fights to push it away, he exclaims in anguish, "DOES ANYONE KNOW THE PROPER WORKING DEFINITION OF AN ALLEGORY?"
And I, calm and confident, will step forward as everyone stares & gasps and say, "I do, dear sir. I do."

Or maybe it will just never help me in life.

3. Denim dockers are not the same as jeans.

One day, as a result of one of our classmates unknowingly falling into a trap of colleague vs. colleague, he pointed out, in jest, that Mr. Freeman was wearing "jeans," which, at ole' Springwood, was a no-no. This was all in good fun until three weeks later when we got a 5 page paper detailing what the word "jeans" entails, and that Denim Dockers were no such item. We had never been so afraid in our lives.


So there you have it. One more installment of "Three Things..."

Maybe I'll do a Christmassy one next. I like this. It gives me focus. :)

0068.

Chreeees-masss. [yay.]


Day 4 in the Valley.

Haven't actually found myself to be bored yet...so that's a plus.

Hm. I need an idea to get my blog started again. Maybe I'll start a little series. It'll be called "3 Things..."


Today's episode will be 3 Things I Fought to Resist but Caved in the End:


1. Twitter.

Yes, I was one of those people who fought with every fiber of her being to resist the Twitter craze. It didn't help that my boyfriend had it and used it constantly. I didn't see the point and didn't have anything to say, which is probably the argument most people without Twitter make. However, the more Craig was like, "hey--Dave Barnes was like, [insert funny thing here]" or "Look at what John Mayer just said..." I realized I, too, wanted to enjoy reading celebrities' witty remarks and see pictures from their everyday life. So I caved, and the rest is history. I would like to say that I am more of a reader than a poster. I don't have anything hilarious or thought-provoking to say, but hey, now I know when Derek Webb would like a remote control that looks like a wand or when Phil Wickham has left two tickets at the box office under the names "Princess Leia" and "Obi Wan."


2. A Northface Fleece Jacket.

Every girl in my high school had one in varying colors. I didn't want to be part of the trend, of course, so I resisted. But then I realized I needed a lightweight jacket that was acceptable to wear with almost everything, so my sophomore year in college, I caved. I still wear it all the time, so I guess it was a good investment. And half the student body at Belmont are too trendy for North Face anyway, so I didn't feel so bad.

3. The Jonas Brothers

Okay, they may not be the most talented group of brothers to ever break into mainstream music [see: Hanson], but when "Burnin' Up" hit the top of the charts, I had to own that song. It's quite possibly one of the catchiest songs ever written, not to mention well produced. Not that they produce their own albums, but they've got Disney backing them so they can get the best producers in the business. But I digress.
After "Burnin' Up" came their 4th album, "Lines, Vines, and Trying Times." This album converted me. No, the album is not filled with musical genius, but it IS filled with an opening track that makes the part of your heart designated for pop goodness explode ["World War 3"] and 12 more delightful tunes, many of them surprisingly featuring a horn section that adds a lot.

Anyways...

There are three things I fought to resist but couldn't. Stay tuned for more "3 Things.." episodes.

0067.

I feel like creating but I am instead forced to study.

I think my next post will be a story. I haven't blogged in a while. I'm losing touch with my blog, I guess. But don't worry, I still keep regular journals so that when my time comes they can be compiled as an autobiography. Spoiler Alert: the high school years will be the most intriguing.

Apparently I am good at this writing thing. I mean, I always kind of thought I was, but it's nice to actually put it to good use and have someone appreciate it. I should have changed my major a long time ago.

So after tomorrow I only have one semester left in college.

I feel like four years of high school went by a lot slower. But then again, I was a teenager oppressed by her parents, attending a nuthouse of a school, and pining for a boy, so everything was more dramatic. :-)

Freshman year feels so far away. It's almost like I dreamed it. It was just one awkward encounter after another in a new city that didn't feel like home. But I made a small handful of friends--and I do mean small--and I'm so glad they've stayed in my life.

I still miss high school sometimes, but I'm happy where I am.

Semester Recap:
-went to my first Preds game
-wrote my first press release
-got a story published in Belmont's newspaper which may not be the best publication in circulation but i'm still proud
-have the best roommates ever
-learned a LOT about relationships
-I don't hate my classes nearly as much because I'm actually doing something I'm good at/don't hate
-walked a mile barefoot with Hanson
-got baptized
-learned to appreciate Lady GaGa
-got a paid internship for next semester

over all, i'd say it was a win.

0066.

Watched a movie in my Media Ethics class today, which, by the way, is the most pointless waste of time, filled with girls' half-baked arguments about why one person shouldn't be helped if everyone can't be helped...

..but I digress.

The video was about advertising and how the leading advertisers try to tap into our inner desire to be a part of something. Anything, really. It was interesting because they researched what makes people want to join cults, and applied that to advertising.

One of the main points was fulfilling needs--unconscious and conscious. Community was one of them.

It just made me think about our humanity and how we all long for the same things. And there is a reason for that. I loosely paraphrase CS Lewis in saying that for every desire there is something to fill it, and if we find in ourselves a desire which we cannot fill on earth, our only conclusion can be that we are made for another world.

It's humbling and makes me feel connected to the rest of the world, in a way, to remember that we all long for community--to be known and loved. To feel included. It gives me hope that there is a way to reach people who are extremely different from you--common ground.

Of course as Christians we know this. We are created to be in community. Hence, Eve. I mean, let's face it. No one likes being alone. At least not for more than a couple days.

We reflect our Creator who already lives in community via the Trinity.

It's just interesting and a little disheartening to know we're all searching for the same thing and some people will never find it because they are looking in the wrong places.

It's a little cliche, but I guess that's because it's true. The "God-shaped-hole" you learn about in 7th grade Sunday school holds true--even if it does turn into Christianeze.

So the point of the movie was that products become a sense of identity--Mac users, Coke drinkers, TOMS and Chaco wearers, Hummer drivers (although really, who wants to be THAT guy?)--you name it.

It made me think. I do identify myself with things I use/drink/wear.

Why does that junk matter? Sometimes I realize that I am ridiculous.

...And then forget it the next day.

[This post didn't really become what I wanted it to be. It's a little more scattered than I intended, but I'm listening to John Mayer's new album simultaneously so I'm kind of just writing what I'm thinking.]

The End.

0065.

As I sit and stare at my computer screen, listening to the squeals of the insane So You Think You Can Dance? judge, who for Lord knows what reason finds it acceptable to burst ear drums at her every whim, I try to think of something to write.

Anything.

I'd like to do some creative writing, but I've gotten that sucked out of me by a journalism class.

That's lame. I thought I was pretty decent at that. Hopefully I'll rediscover that next semester. Or maybe not.

Then I'd like to write some passion-filled rant about something that really grinds my gears, but I've got nothing.

What can I say? Life is good.

I mean, I graduate in May with a degree in a field of which I am currently in my first semester, but y'know..besides that. Seriously. Why couldn't I just figure out that I hate Music Business after my first year like everybody else?

Sigh. Maybe I should just make a list again.

Well, here are some conclusions I've recently come to about myself:

-I gossip. ...Right? Who knew? It's got to stop.
-I will forever be a creature of habit, meaning I will forever have to give myself 3 separate reminders when I have to do something out of the ordinary the next day.
-Maybe I should stop trying to make things last longer and clinging to past experiences in an effort to preserve them and just accept that life moves on, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
-I've become more materialistic since I came to college. Darn you, Belmont hipsters!
-I really like scarves. I can wear them with t-shirts and look like I actually tried.
-I seriously cannot watch any more R-Rated movies. I just can't. There are either naked people, torture, or gore in them. My Disney-filled brain and active imagination can't handle it.

Well, there you have it, folks. Blog post number 1 since september. I hope it wasn't a disappointment. Maybe something will make me angry tomorrow and you'll get a more intelligent post.

0064.

This morning my Intro to PR teacher said, while admitting that he'd grown up in a different era,

"When I was growing up, when the President spoke, you listened."

It would be an exciting thing to hear what he had to say or get the chance to meet him. I mean, he was THE President.

I think most people would agree that element of respect and reverence for the leader of one's [our] country has diminished greatly. At least among those who do not agree with the leader's policies. We concurred in our class that perhaps that decline was set in motion during the Clinton term, mostly due to the scandals he was involved in.

It makes my heart a little sad that that sort of general admiration and attitude of respect towards the President has been lost.

Anyways, I read the speech President Obama made today for the school kids. I thought it was awesome. I think there's something special about the President of our country taking the time to address just the students. I mean, when was the last time our President spoke directly to you and your peers? I think it would be really cool to feel included in that group. I think the fact that he took the time to do that was great. And I think the speech was actually rather moving.

It made me sad, once again, that people who do not share his opinions on issues almost automatically expected the worst from our President. But if he had spoken these words to me, I would've felt a little inspired. :) Let's face it, he's got that whole public speaking thing down.


Click here if you're interested in reading the transcript.

0063.

I haven't blogged in over a month, and I'm struggling to find something good to blog about. So I'll just give an update.


This summer was very much a summer of transition. I'm trying to be better at embracing change...

First of all, i changed my major at the end of last semester, so the summer was filled with a series of bad experiences with community college classes on my way to beginning my new major at Belmont in the fall. "Physical Science" at Nashville State apparently means "basic physics including an inconvenient and unnecessary shift halfway through the semester in which your teacher, whose phd i can only assume is fabricated, decides to simply 'remove' any and all math from the course." It was basically the most frustrating joke of a class in which one cannot win without simply accepting his ridiculous justifications of his teaching style. If you could call it that. Not to mention the hoodlums (i use this word because i feel it is accurate and a necessary description) who only care about automotive technology and think that enrolling in a class that takes place from 1pm til about 3pm means "attend at any point during these two hours for the duration of your choice, and whatever you do, make sure everyone is aware of your presence at any given moment."


Anyways. I also took Biology online, which was a huge mistake.

Then Belmont took away our bottled water.

I got to see some of my best friends from home a few times, including a visit to Tuscaloosa which was so much fun!

I was also finally baptized. It went by really fast, so basically I remember standing backstage, wondering where our young adult minister, Ray, had vanished to, because he was the one dunking me. I remember stepping into the baptismal which, p.s., is totally just a metal trough that they try to pass off as fancy by strategically placing a wooden frame in front of it. The water was surprisingly warm. I recited the shpiel (i don't know if that is an actual word or not) i had memorized about why i wanted to be baptized. Because, let's face it, I am no public speaker and I am not about to get up there and start rambling and/or forget to say anything relevant at all. Then I was wet and it was over. But I am so glad I did it. I feel like this is something God wanted me to do, and I finally got up the courage to not care about the fact that I am 21 and not 8, like most kids that get baptized at Fellowship.

Then Beaman owned about a week of my life. But I really do like it there. New Grad Assistants. Transition again.

I'm washing my hands a lot so I don't get swine flu. Mostly because I will do whatever it takes to avoid throwing up.
Also, whose idea was it to name it swine flu? Maybe something that sounds a lot less like a death sentence and/or plague. Like "piglet flu." Awww.

I am starting PR at belmont. It's a little weird being around different types of people (99% girls, 50% blonde) and having classes in a different building, but I'm liking it so far. It will push me out of my comfort zone but once again, let's face it, I need that. I'm rather attached to my comfort zone.

This week I have to call my teacher's friends, family, and former coworkers in order to question them about her personality and life so that I can write a fake obituary about her.

Let the awkward ensue.