Sunday, April 17, 2011

I have the best family ever. It's official.

So lately, all of my journal entries have tended to look a lot like this:

Today was a hard day. I have lots of homework. I'm really stressed. I wish I was dead.

Just joking about that last sentence. But the point is that what I write has been filled with stress and wishing for the summer to be here. Like now.  This coming week is going to be the most intense part before the semester ends, and I'm dreading it.

But then my mom called me.  I've been feeling pretty homesick, so of course I answered.  She asked me what I'm doing next weekend (Easter weekend, three day weekend, Brenna stays at the apartment alone weekend), "nothing," I said. Then she asked me how I would like it if she bought me a plane ticket and I came home.

I burst into tears of happiness.  The timing couldn't have been more perfect. I have been desperately needing to see my family.  It's a long weekend, so no classes missed.  It gives me something to look forward to. AND it's that last weekend for me to see a building that is religiously important to me before it closes to the public.  All I could do was cry and thank her.

My family is great.  They get better. My dear little sister Macy, who is 16, interrupted my mother on the phone to give her all the cash she has to help pay for my ticket.  I asked my mom if Macy was sure, and she put her on the phone so I could ask her myself. "Yeah! I miss you and I love you and I just want you to be able to come home this weekend." More crying.

Even now, I don't know what to say. I'm just so happy and excited. I have a renewed sense of energy, and getting through a few more pages of these essays I have to write is going to be so much easier.

I love my family.

Friday, April 8, 2011

A-B-C

It's sort of a lazy Friday, so I decided to copy this idea from one of the blogs I follow!
A= Available - I sure am haha
B= Best Friend - Marqi!
C= Cake or pie - Cake is superior to pie. And cupcakes are even better :)
D= Drink of choice - Cherry coke. Southern girl through and through.
E= Essential item you use everyday - My cellphone. It's like another part of my body.
F= Favorite color - I love pink, but lately I'm noticing a lot more purple in my life.
G= Gummy bears or worms - Gummy bears. And I always bite the heads off first haha
H= Hometown - Although I wasn't born in Woodstock, GA I should have been!
I= Indulgences - Oh so many. I love Edward's Hershey's pie.
J= January or February - February, my birth month!
K= Kids and Names - No kids. Ever. Child birth is scary!
L= Life is incomplete without? - My family. Life would be awful without them!
M= Marriage date - Not for a long time. I'm still single, much to the dismay of my Mormon culture.
N= Number of siblings - 1 brother, Dallin, and 1 sister, Macy. Both younger.
O= Oranges or apples - Oh my goodness. I love oranges. They're currently an obsession.
P= Phobias or Fears - No thanks.
Q= Favorite Quote - "Life is an occasion, rise to it" (Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium)
R= Reason to smile - 26 more days till summer vacation!
S= Season - Spring/Summer. I like it when it's warm :)
T= Tag 3 or 4 people - Tag yourself.
U= Unknown fact about me - I have cried in my professor's offices to get sympathy for my grades.
V= Vegetable you don't like - Spinach. It's yucky! Also, peas :(
W= Worst habit - Biting my nails.
X= X-rays - Had one after passing out to make sure nothing was wrong with my neck after hitting the floor. Then I had another one on my foot after getting a dance injury.
Y= Your favorite food - I'm not too picky. Greasy burgers and fries, sushi, chocolate (and any of its variations) are just a few things I enjoy.
Z= Zodiac Sign - Aquarius.
 It's been a while since I added a picture of myself, so here I am playing my ukulele :)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Ladies Night

Okay, here's one for you--a great example of failing spectacularly.

Controversy can give you great publicity. That was the case for the Electronic Dance Music club on my campus this past weekend when they promoted their "All Out Dance" where women were given free admission if they were wearing a bikini.

For girls not wearing a bikini, the cost was $2, and for males the cost was $5. The really ironic part of this dance was that it was on the Friday after Women's Week, hosted my university.

Here's where the controversy comes in, and keep in mind that their are actually two big reasons why people were so angry. The first reason was that it was after Women's Week, a week to celebrate women and how far they've come, and the EDM club's bikini dance was simply objectifying women and "promoting stereotypes about men." (<---from suunews.com).

The other reason people were upset was that it was gender discrimination. Women could get in for $2 even if they weren't wearing a bikini, but men were required to pay $5 regardless.

Here's how I see it, the argument that women are being objectified really holds no water. If a woman owns a bikini, she obviously already wears it in public. So it doesn't really matter if it's at a public swimming pool, a beach in Mexico, or a ladies night promotion, if she is being "objectified" she's doing it to herself. No one made her buy that bikini.

The second argument is really where there is some substance. Although it is not unconstitutional for a non-state entity to discriminate based on gender, that doesn't necessarily make it right. You would be outraged if McDonald's charged your sister less for her Big Mac simply because she is a woman.  The whole nation would be up in arms if the discrimination was in the reverse direction, and even more outraged if it was something like race. Remember the Civil War? On the other hand, Ladies Night is a brilliant promotion for clubs and bars hoping to bring more gentlemen out.  It makes for a competitive market, and I simply don't agree with the government over-regulating our capitalist economy.

My bottom line is this, the EDM club had every right to plan the event they planned.  And my peers and I had every right to choose not to participate.  What do you think?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Sexual Harassment

A boy in my class has been sexually harassing me all semester and I didn't realize it until last night.

He asked me to perform sexual favors for him and makes comments about my body. It's true. The first time he asked I didn't so much care. I told him no and I thought that was it. It was the persistence that really bothers me.

Here's the thing though. I know you might be thinking that this is an easy situation to get out of, but it just isn't. You see, sadly, I've dealt with many boys like this before and I know what will happen. If I say anything to him, or to anyone else, he and his friends will classify me as a bitch. Which wouldn't be so bad if I never had to see him again. I've been called a bitch before, and I'm over it. What really makes this a sticky situation is that we are stuck in a class together and we have the same major, meaning we will indefinitely see each other again, and he will make life miserable for me.

Everyone makes it sound so easy to deal with sexual harassment, but those are the people that have never dealt with it themselves.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Shocking Realization

I am no longer interested in the degree I am pursuing. At all. I find no enjoyment in my classes anymore.  It scares me. Is it because I am really not interested in my major anymore? Or is it just that I'm worn out from all this school and am in desperate need of a break?

I just don't want to do anymore school. I at least need a change in my classes. I'm tired of talking about the same things and it's all I can do get through my classes each day. Sometimes I am able to pay attention, and other times I really struggle. I can't do this anymore. I need time to be me.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Spring Break

Wow! It sure has been a long time since I've written. Haven't had a lot to say I guess.

Well, it's spring break this week at my university. I haven't done anything wild or gone anywhere like San Diego, Mexico, or Cancun, but I sure have been enjoying myself here. It's nice and quiet and there's nothing I absolutely have to do. It's nice just to stay at home and relax. A staycation. Because let's face it, although all of those destination spring breaks are exciting, vacations are rarely that relaxing. Travel wears you out and you expend a lot of energy during the day and when you get home, you are not at all ready for Monday. I, on the other hand, am already completely rested, and am now able to be productive and get some things accomplished before Monday rolls back around and obligations reappear.

In other news, I got my poor little car back on Saturday and she's better than ever. I even got a new stereo put in ($50, just for the stereo, at Wal-Mart) with an auxiliary port for my zune. Totally worth the money. I would definitely recommend doing it.

Yesterday I went to Wal-Mart (yep, that's totally the place to be) and...well imagine if you gave a six-year-old your debit card. I bought snacks and candy and lunchables.

The other night I ordered sushi, which is one of my favorite things to do, and it's a rare treat. I figured that since I'm not going anywhere, I should be able to spend a little money on myself right here in Cedar City.

Tonight I am helping with an event called Founder's Day. I'll probably just end up being an usher or something, but I like the environment at events like this. I like to be a part of making something happen, so that will be fun.

Still to come later in the week is going to a movie by myself, taking a trip to Boomers for the world's best truffles, and apartment hunting with my BFF.


So no, I haven't gone anywhere, but like I said, I am having such a good time just chilling at home. Happy Spring Break!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Excellent!

That's what I say now when people ask how I am.

It took a bit of practice at first, but I think I've mastered it now. See, when people ask how you are, they either don't wait to listen to your answer or they just don't care. So the answer you give isn't for them. It's for you. Before, my answer was most often, "fine." That's alright. Nothing negative about that, but next time someone asks you the question, "How are you?" Reply with a resolute and cheerful "excellent!" Not only will it make you feel better, but it often shakes people out of routine and you'll get some great reactions.

When I first began doing this I had to make a conscious effort to do so.  Now it's second nature. I sometimes don't even realize I've done it. I could be having a terrible day and this is what happens:
"How are you?"
"Excellent!"
"Oh really? Why?"
And then I realize that I don't have a reason to be feeling excellent. I've only been feeling excellent because I have made up my mind to be.

Of course you can switch it up. Fantastic and awesome work just as well. The important part is that you're happy and positive. Pretty soon, you will be.