I was reading The World is Flat last night and the title of this post seemed to stick with me (unlike a lot of the other smug, I'm-so-clever phrases that Thomas Friedman seems to enjoy). There's a lot of things that grab America's focus that really don't seem to have a great place in the overall scheme of things.
How can we regain determination and ambition?
e martë, 17 korrik 2007
e enjte, 28 qershor 2007
Thirsty Thursdays, Consensual Sex, and Prozac Pregnancies
Thirsty Thursdays
According to this recent study on Friday classes and college drinking by the University of Missouri-Columbia, Thursday drinking on college campus has a negative correlation with Friday class: the less class on Friday, the more drinking on Thursday nights. While this insightful study proves what any college student could have told you, it raises concern for administrations who want to decrease the level of alcohol consumption in their students. The director of the study, Dr. Wood, suggests the following solution: colleges should require students to enroll in early classes - before 10 a.m. - on Fridays.
What?
As someone who usually has class on Fridays (often as early as 9 or 10), I haven't been able to partake much in Thirsty Thursday extravaganzas; however, knowing this upcoming semester promises Fridays free from classes, I probably will spend a couple Thursday evenings this autumn enjoying the start of a three day weekend. Of course Friday classes inhibit or discourage drinking of Thursday nights, but proposing a schoolwide requirement for Friday classes? What about drinking on Friday and Saturday nights? The proposal seems, besides being impossible and ridiculous, like a bandage solution for the larger problem of alcohol consumption. Sure, perhaps Friday classes would cut down on Thursday drinking, but there's a lot of other ways to cut down weekend drinking. Cut the football program: no tailgating, no after parties, less game hype since watching it on TV is nothing like it is live, there would probably be less drinking. If you have a private, religious church, force everyone to 7:00 Sunday morning service. It would probably cut down on Saturday drinking.
I give props to the administration for caring for the students, but no offense, I think you're fighting a losing battle. Until America as a whole changes its perspective on drinking, I imagine the Thirsty Thursday will not die a quiet death.
Consensual Sex?
If you've been following this story, the young man in Georgia sentenced for ten years in prison for consensual oral sex between himself (17) and his partner (15) will not be up for bail. I have conflicting opinions on laws of consent, age of consent, and sexual interaction between young people in general, but I find this case an interesting example of sex law in the US. Note that for Georgia, the laws for rape (not aggravated child molestation as he was charged) state that: (b) A person convicted of the offense of rape shall be punished by death, by imprisonment for life, or by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years. Any person convicted under this Code section shall, in addition, be subject to the sentencing and punishment provisions of Code Sections 17-10-6.1 and 17-10-7 (according to Georgia sexual offenses).
There seems to be a wide gap, in my opinion, between consensual oral sex at a young age and rape, which can apparently yield the same sentence of ten years in prison. I'm not advocating lesser sentences for sex offenders, but it seems like attacking a consensual oral sex between a fifteen and a seventeen year old seems somewhat extreme (especially when aggressive, first degree rapists can have the exact same sentence). I am no authority on any sort of law, but I would almost support a fourteen year old age of consent with a two year time gap for consensual sex such that a sexual acts could occur between fourteen to sixteen, fifteen and seventeen etc.
Additionally, the proposed sentences for rape also seem to vary a great deal, punishable by ten years in prison or death? While I am no expert, I would daresay that each rape is very different with varying circumstances that most likely require different sentences, but isn't the very acting of human violation the same? The varying degrees of sentence, to me, suggest that degree of violation can vary drastically when it is always an extremely heinous crime.
Prozac Pregnancies
Experts now claim that Prozac and other SSRI drugs might not be as high-risk to pregnant women as once thought. It is encouraging to know that pregnant women might be able to use anti-depressants during pregnancy, perhaps to offset the stress and anxiety caused by pregnancy. While I think that anti-depressants are theoretically a good thing, part of me wonders what women are doing having children if they are clinically depressed or dependent on anti-depressants anyways.
I'm not saying that clinically depressed women do not deserve to have children or incapable of raising healthy, happy children. I understand that a lot of anti-depressants work to cure chemical imbalances to correct a physical process in the human body, sure thing. But what about the women who take anti-depressants because they simply do not feel happy or satisfied with their lives? I grant that adding a child to one's life has the potential to improve quality of life, but I think overall a child could cause more complications than solutions. If you're not happy as you are, you might need to work on changing your attitudes and perspectives within yourself before adding a fully dependent person to your responsibilities.
Other things that made me wonder...
One last note...I don't know why, but my blog registers this month as qershor instead of June. I think it's trying to tell me something.
According to this recent study on Friday classes and college drinking by the University of Missouri-Columbia, Thursday drinking on college campus has a negative correlation with Friday class: the less class on Friday, the more drinking on Thursday nights. While this insightful study proves what any college student could have told you, it raises concern for administrations who want to decrease the level of alcohol consumption in their students. The director of the study, Dr. Wood, suggests the following solution: colleges should require students to enroll in early classes - before 10 a.m. - on Fridays.
What?
As someone who usually has class on Fridays (often as early as 9 or 10), I haven't been able to partake much in Thirsty Thursday extravaganzas; however, knowing this upcoming semester promises Fridays free from classes, I probably will spend a couple Thursday evenings this autumn enjoying the start of a three day weekend. Of course Friday classes inhibit or discourage drinking of Thursday nights, but proposing a schoolwide requirement for Friday classes? What about drinking on Friday and Saturday nights? The proposal seems, besides being impossible and ridiculous, like a bandage solution for the larger problem of alcohol consumption. Sure, perhaps Friday classes would cut down on Thursday drinking, but there's a lot of other ways to cut down weekend drinking. Cut the football program: no tailgating, no after parties, less game hype since watching it on TV is nothing like it is live, there would probably be less drinking. If you have a private, religious church, force everyone to 7:00 Sunday morning service. It would probably cut down on Saturday drinking.
I give props to the administration for caring for the students, but no offense, I think you're fighting a losing battle. Until America as a whole changes its perspective on drinking, I imagine the Thirsty Thursday will not die a quiet death.
Consensual Sex?
If you've been following this story, the young man in Georgia sentenced for ten years in prison for consensual oral sex between himself (17) and his partner (15) will not be up for bail. I have conflicting opinions on laws of consent, age of consent, and sexual interaction between young people in general, but I find this case an interesting example of sex law in the US. Note that for Georgia, the laws for rape (not aggravated child molestation as he was charged) state that: (b) A person convicted of the offense of rape shall be punished by death, by imprisonment for life, or by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years. Any person convicted under this Code section shall, in addition, be subject to the sentencing and punishment provisions of Code Sections 17-10-6.1 and 17-10-7 (according to Georgia sexual offenses).
There seems to be a wide gap, in my opinion, between consensual oral sex at a young age and rape, which can apparently yield the same sentence of ten years in prison. I'm not advocating lesser sentences for sex offenders, but it seems like attacking a consensual oral sex between a fifteen and a seventeen year old seems somewhat extreme (especially when aggressive, first degree rapists can have the exact same sentence). I am no authority on any sort of law, but I would almost support a fourteen year old age of consent with a two year time gap for consensual sex such that a sexual acts could occur between fourteen to sixteen, fifteen and seventeen etc.
Additionally, the proposed sentences for rape also seem to vary a great deal, punishable by ten years in prison or death? While I am no expert, I would daresay that each rape is very different with varying circumstances that most likely require different sentences, but isn't the very acting of human violation the same? The varying degrees of sentence, to me, suggest that degree of violation can vary drastically when it is always an extremely heinous crime.
Prozac Pregnancies
Experts now claim that Prozac and other SSRI drugs might not be as high-risk to pregnant women as once thought. It is encouraging to know that pregnant women might be able to use anti-depressants during pregnancy, perhaps to offset the stress and anxiety caused by pregnancy. While I think that anti-depressants are theoretically a good thing, part of me wonders what women are doing having children if they are clinically depressed or dependent on anti-depressants anyways.
I'm not saying that clinically depressed women do not deserve to have children or incapable of raising healthy, happy children. I understand that a lot of anti-depressants work to cure chemical imbalances to correct a physical process in the human body, sure thing. But what about the women who take anti-depressants because they simply do not feel happy or satisfied with their lives? I grant that adding a child to one's life has the potential to improve quality of life, but I think overall a child could cause more complications than solutions. If you're not happy as you are, you might need to work on changing your attitudes and perspectives within yourself before adding a fully dependent person to your responsibilities.
Other things that made me wonder...
- "Ask a bunch of straight guys [if they could switch to being gay] and they would tell you, 'Are you kidding me?' " says Rieger, a lecturer in psychology at Northwestern University. "So the other way around doesn't work either."
- For example, it finds that only nine states...require aspiring elementary-school teachers to take an introductory American history class while in education school."You want to make sure the teacher knows something about the American Revolution and the Civil War," Walsh said.
One last note...I don't know why, but my blog registers this month as qershor instead of June. I think it's trying to tell me something.
e mërkurë, 27 qershor 2007
Congratulations men...for finally pulling your weight
Perhaps the title of this post is a little misleading and I'll start by saying that this is a good thing. I'm not criticizing the publicity this is getting, because hey, I like the whole equality mindset. I like that in my future I won't necessarily be expected to drop what I'm doing to raise children if my (future) husband and I decide that one of us should be at home. There are options.
But quite frankly this article is a bit absurd and does not really paint a pretty picture of the stay at home Dads or, as this article from the Detroit Free Press calls them, the Do-it-yourself Dads (which sounds more like the Father of the children just spawned off children asexually or fathers who aren't stimulated enough by their partners). According to this article:
"Some fathers are still going to work 80 hours a week," he said. "But with modern technology and more flexible workplaces, a lot more guys have the possibility of being at play group on Tuesday morning. Working fathers, stay-at-home fathers or some sort of combination -- what unifies us all is wanting to play an active role in our children's lives."
I'm sorry, but working 80 hours a week with time to be at a play group on Tuesday does not seem like a great example of an active role in a child's life. Call my cynical and inexperienced as a parent (which I am), but I think that hardly qualifies with the role that the other parent is probably putting in to compensate for the 80 hours a week that the father is absent from home.I agree that the named examples in the article, Reid, Smithivas, and Josh, all appear to take a vital role in the parenting of their children, possibly more than their working wives; however, the above quote suggests that fathers' can be congratulated for any contribution that he makes into their children's life- Hey! Thanks for showing up for an hour once a week! Yes, more involvement, on any level, is an improvement if the kids really don't see their father that much. Yes, it must be frustrating for fathers with young infants to not be able to find a family bathroom or a changing station in the men's bathroom. The statistics are encouraging for the growth of "gender role neutral" parenting, but this article seems to struggle with a consistent idea of the so-called DIY Dad.
In other news...
But quite frankly this article is a bit absurd and does not really paint a pretty picture of the stay at home Dads or, as this article from the Detroit Free Press calls them, the Do-it-yourself Dads (which sounds more like the Father of the children just spawned off children asexually or fathers who aren't stimulated enough by their partners). According to this article:
"Some fathers are still going to work 80 hours a week," he said. "But with modern technology and more flexible workplaces, a lot more guys have the possibility of being at play group on Tuesday morning. Working fathers, stay-at-home fathers or some sort of combination -- what unifies us all is wanting to play an active role in our children's lives."
I'm sorry, but working 80 hours a week with time to be at a play group on Tuesday does not seem like a great example of an active role in a child's life. Call my cynical and inexperienced as a parent (which I am), but I think that hardly qualifies with the role that the other parent is probably putting in to compensate for the 80 hours a week that the father is absent from home.I agree that the named examples in the article, Reid, Smithivas, and Josh, all appear to take a vital role in the parenting of their children, possibly more than their working wives; however, the above quote suggests that fathers' can be congratulated for any contribution that he makes into their children's life- Hey! Thanks for showing up for an hour once a week! Yes, more involvement, on any level, is an improvement if the kids really don't see their father that much. Yes, it must be frustrating for fathers with young infants to not be able to find a family bathroom or a changing station in the men's bathroom. The statistics are encouraging for the growth of "gender role neutral" parenting, but this article seems to struggle with a consistent idea of the so-called DIY Dad.
In other news...
e hënë, 25 qershor 2007
Brave New Week: Surgery scares and discontent with No Child Left Behind
This Week in Goals:
In other news, it looks like the No Child Left Behind Act is causing greater woe to schools across the nation. I'm not wholly against standardized testing, but I don't like the full emphasis on test scores. I was lucky enough to go to an alternative learning program in my district that really emphasized creative thinking and multivalent approaches to learning. We were able to do a lot of experiments, build mini-ecosystems, learn physics through marble and plastic tube "roller coasters", have a space simulation weekend, etc. Unfortunately, this type of program probably only exists in wealthy neighborhoods like mine. I believe that the ability for children to learn is in direct correlation with the ability for children to connect to the material, to engage the facts and the theories. Math worksheets and spelling lists are pretty fucking boring, regardless of how old your age. The NCLBA also encourages a blanket method of teaching, a single speed approach to learning. While there has been emphasis on those children who are "left behind", there are probably children in that group who are very intelligent and simply under-challenged. In high school, most notably, I probably learned the least in classes where I was not challenged because I never had to study or put in any effort whatsoever. During elementary school, I was in three split level classes with a companion class that swapped students for math and science. The more advanced students were allowed to progress into the next grade and work a more appropriate speed. Some of my friends advanced two to three grades in math during our third grade year and by the time they reached college, they were in DiffEQ as first semester freshman. Students learn the most when they have the option to do so.
Read it and think for yourself
Superintendent Deasy acknowledges the atmosphere at Arrowhead is more intense than at schools that aren't facing restructuring. He said lessons at schools missing testing goals have to be very targeted, and he says there often isn't time for electives and free play like at other schools.
Additionally...they are children. Let them play. America stifles individuality and creativity enough where you are a pseudo-emo, anorexic teenager, let's not kill the kids too.
- Buy a knee brace with patella support so that I feel less damaged after running.
- Visit Papa at least twice.
- Figure out Pitchfork.
- Work. Actually work.
In other news, it looks like the No Child Left Behind Act is causing greater woe to schools across the nation. I'm not wholly against standardized testing, but I don't like the full emphasis on test scores. I was lucky enough to go to an alternative learning program in my district that really emphasized creative thinking and multivalent approaches to learning. We were able to do a lot of experiments, build mini-ecosystems, learn physics through marble and plastic tube "roller coasters", have a space simulation weekend, etc. Unfortunately, this type of program probably only exists in wealthy neighborhoods like mine. I believe that the ability for children to learn is in direct correlation with the ability for children to connect to the material, to engage the facts and the theories. Math worksheets and spelling lists are pretty fucking boring, regardless of how old your age. The NCLBA also encourages a blanket method of teaching, a single speed approach to learning. While there has been emphasis on those children who are "left behind", there are probably children in that group who are very intelligent and simply under-challenged. In high school, most notably, I probably learned the least in classes where I was not challenged because I never had to study or put in any effort whatsoever. During elementary school, I was in three split level classes with a companion class that swapped students for math and science. The more advanced students were allowed to progress into the next grade and work a more appropriate speed. Some of my friends advanced two to three grades in math during our third grade year and by the time they reached college, they were in DiffEQ as first semester freshman. Students learn the most when they have the option to do so.
Read it and think for yourself
Superintendent Deasy acknowledges the atmosphere at Arrowhead is more intense than at schools that aren't facing restructuring. He said lessons at schools missing testing goals have to be very targeted, and he says there often isn't time for electives and free play like at other schools.
Additionally...they are children. Let them play. America stifles individuality and creativity enough where you are a pseudo-emo, anorexic teenager, let's not kill the kids too.
e premte, 22 qershor 2007
Hello weekend
Another work week over, concluding on a fairly painful Friday lesson. I guess it wouldn't have been so bad if we didn't have an hour and a half break in the middle of the day. I think there will be more for me to do in the following weeks so I won't be quite so bored. I would just like to end this internship with a sense of accomplishment, which I'm definitely lacking right now.
I went and saw Knocked Up with Patricia and Brandie last night and it was really cute. It managed to be sweet and funny without being too trite or syrupy. A little too much "women are hormonal and overbearing" and "men can't take anything seriously" at times, but I think those things ring true enough that it wasn't too much. It was better than I had expected it to be anyways. It has been nice to have a couple of girls' nights this week, since we all don't get together enough.
Other than that, the end of this week has felt like a bit of a bust and left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. I'm not sure what I'm doing tonight, I might go home to see my parents and then go to Mary's sister's grad party tomorrow, but maybe I'll stay here and just drive out after I run.
Just not sure. Either way, I have no idea what I'm going to be doing tonight. Non lo so.
I went and saw Knocked Up with Patricia and Brandie last night and it was really cute. It managed to be sweet and funny without being too trite or syrupy. A little too much "women are hormonal and overbearing" and "men can't take anything seriously" at times, but I think those things ring true enough that it wasn't too much. It was better than I had expected it to be anyways. It has been nice to have a couple of girls' nights this week, since we all don't get together enough.
Other than that, the end of this week has felt like a bit of a bust and left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. I'm not sure what I'm doing tonight, I might go home to see my parents and then go to Mary's sister's grad party tomorrow, but maybe I'll stay here and just drive out after I run.
Just not sure. Either way, I have no idea what I'm going to be doing tonight. Non lo so.
e enjte, 21 qershor 2007
A good life without passions, somehow
I've realized, slowly over the last years that I've been in college, that I really have lost key passions. For the longest time, I have tried or actually succeeded in convincing myself that I'm fairly focused and not only fairly good at the things I do, but I also am passionate about them. I realize that this is fairly incorrect. Ever since I decided to drop horses, art school, and golf, I have felt utterly lacking in any sort of direction, passion, and competence. I have changed my majors and career goals every other week and while I like English and history of art, there are moments when I feel I will eventually contribute nothing to society. I felt like when I was trying out being a vet, I could really make a difference in animal science and medicine, since a lot of discoveries in animal medicine can eventually become theories for human medicine. I like animals, generally more than people. But I was disheartened by my job, the vets, and the clients with whom I worked. I was disheartened by my grades in the classes I needed. I switched to something that made more sense in my mind: languages and art. I became an art history major after growing up an artist and while I like art history, I sometimes resent that I'm studying art rather than creating it. Really, really resent it.
I resent lots of things about who I have become. Overall, I am happy. I have great housemates, a wonderful boyfriend, half of my family is fantastic, and I generally enjoy what I do. But I don't love much of anything. Maybe its because I never focus enough anymore to become good at a new task. I gave up on fencing when I broke my leg, I think I've given up on Latin, Italian is fading fast, and I'm training for a marathon not because I really like to run, but because I want to stay and shape and without a bigger picture, I can't make myself get up off my ass and exercise. Additionally, while I feel it's good to do things for yourself regardless of how you stack up to others, I am so fucking slow it's irritating. I've been golfing again but it feels futile too, what's the point? It's a great game and all, but I'll never be as good as I once was because I don't have the time to work on it. Golfing for fun seems a bit empty. I realize that I won't even play enough this year to build a new handicap. Golf made me hate myself and everyone else around me, but when I played well and placed well, there was nothing better. I worked hard, and while I never really did well in tournaments, my handicap dropped and dropped and I could say that I was an 8 and that felt pretty good. Besides the fact that I have lost all technical skills for painting and drawing, I feel like the creative side of my brain has shriveled up and died. I can't even think of how to creatively express myself anymore. I used to write a lot, short stories or just make up ideas for things and never really write them down, but just develop them in my head. I no longer do this. I stifled my creativity by studying the creativity of others.
There's a huge lack of focus. I thought about all the things I want to do this last year of school and it's just not possible. I'll have two jobs, sixteen credits, the marathon, hopefully golfing a bit, I want to take an art class, I'd like to get into yoga or pilates, volunteering at the therapeutic riding center, being a conversation partner, working on Latin and Italian when I'm not taking either, be involved with the possible philanthropy group that will be forming from DSIP, visiting my parents and grandparents more often, studying for the GRE, cutting into the booklist, journaling more frequently, going to happy hour, cooking more challenging items, being more active with my friends, sleeping better, writing more letters, I've even thought about getting into cycling to get off my knees...it's not going to happen. I always say I love depth better than breadth, but clearly this is not the case. I gave up on things I used to do and I hate starting things off fresh. Not because I don't like learning, but I am used to being the best at things. One of the best artists, golfers, academics, teachers etc.
I'm not upset that I didn't play golf at college. After I talked to the coach, I am 95% sure that if I would have tried out that I would have made the team and had been red-shirted. I know others handle being student athletes fine, but I think I would have imploded. Ideally, there would have been a really good school with a D-II team that I could have played on, but there is only one D-II school in the state and not only is the team treated like a D-I, but it's GVSU and like hell if I would have gone there. Or a club team. Or a B team (like they have at MSU). But they didn't and I quit.
I'm not upset that I didn't go to art school. I never took criticism well and our high school classes were so unstructured that I think the transition might have killed me. I didn't do well with deadlines or projects and enjoyed the last two years of high school where I hid in the supply closet/Independent study work space and did my own thing. I think I would have burned out. Ideally, I would have gone to a school where the art school and the general studies program are not different entities or dual enrolling is not such a pain in the ass.
Somehow, though, day to day, I feel pretty good. I'm pretty happy with my life. The emotional ups-and-downs I had in high school and early college have gone away. I wonder if it is because I have let part of myself just evaporate. I miss being on a team, being competitive, honestly being good at something. I spend most of my day intensively stalking people on the Internet and feeling extremely bored at work, go home, run, shower, eat, watch a movie, and don't get enough sleep. I hate feeling average (I guess this is a blank statement, I don't think anyone really likes to feel average) and it's a sad day when you realize you have let yourself become nothing but. I feel like all my successes, all feelings of achievement, all sense of self-accomplishment, exist primarily if not solely in the past tense.
This post is about as uplifting as Dancer in the Dark.
I resent lots of things about who I have become. Overall, I am happy. I have great housemates, a wonderful boyfriend, half of my family is fantastic, and I generally enjoy what I do. But I don't love much of anything. Maybe its because I never focus enough anymore to become good at a new task. I gave up on fencing when I broke my leg, I think I've given up on Latin, Italian is fading fast, and I'm training for a marathon not because I really like to run, but because I want to stay and shape and without a bigger picture, I can't make myself get up off my ass and exercise. Additionally, while I feel it's good to do things for yourself regardless of how you stack up to others, I am so fucking slow it's irritating. I've been golfing again but it feels futile too, what's the point? It's a great game and all, but I'll never be as good as I once was because I don't have the time to work on it. Golfing for fun seems a bit empty. I realize that I won't even play enough this year to build a new handicap. Golf made me hate myself and everyone else around me, but when I played well and placed well, there was nothing better. I worked hard, and while I never really did well in tournaments, my handicap dropped and dropped and I could say that I was an 8 and that felt pretty good. Besides the fact that I have lost all technical skills for painting and drawing, I feel like the creative side of my brain has shriveled up and died. I can't even think of how to creatively express myself anymore. I used to write a lot, short stories or just make up ideas for things and never really write them down, but just develop them in my head. I no longer do this. I stifled my creativity by studying the creativity of others.
There's a huge lack of focus. I thought about all the things I want to do this last year of school and it's just not possible. I'll have two jobs, sixteen credits, the marathon, hopefully golfing a bit, I want to take an art class, I'd like to get into yoga or pilates, volunteering at the therapeutic riding center, being a conversation partner, working on Latin and Italian when I'm not taking either, be involved with the possible philanthropy group that will be forming from DSIP, visiting my parents and grandparents more often, studying for the GRE, cutting into the booklist, journaling more frequently, going to happy hour, cooking more challenging items, being more active with my friends, sleeping better, writing more letters, I've even thought about getting into cycling to get off my knees...it's not going to happen. I always say I love depth better than breadth, but clearly this is not the case. I gave up on things I used to do and I hate starting things off fresh. Not because I don't like learning, but I am used to being the best at things. One of the best artists, golfers, academics, teachers etc.
I'm not upset that I didn't play golf at college. After I talked to the coach, I am 95% sure that if I would have tried out that I would have made the team and had been red-shirted. I know others handle being student athletes fine, but I think I would have imploded. Ideally, there would have been a really good school with a D-II team that I could have played on, but there is only one D-II school in the state and not only is the team treated like a D-I, but it's GVSU and like hell if I would have gone there. Or a club team. Or a B team (like they have at MSU). But they didn't and I quit.
I'm not upset that I didn't go to art school. I never took criticism well and our high school classes were so unstructured that I think the transition might have killed me. I didn't do well with deadlines or projects and enjoyed the last two years of high school where I hid in the supply closet/Independent study work space and did my own thing. I think I would have burned out. Ideally, I would have gone to a school where the art school and the general studies program are not different entities or dual enrolling is not such a pain in the ass.
Somehow, though, day to day, I feel pretty good. I'm pretty happy with my life. The emotional ups-and-downs I had in high school and early college have gone away. I wonder if it is because I have let part of myself just evaporate. I miss being on a team, being competitive, honestly being good at something. I spend most of my day intensively stalking people on the Internet and feeling extremely bored at work, go home, run, shower, eat, watch a movie, and don't get enough sleep. I hate feeling average (I guess this is a blank statement, I don't think anyone really likes to feel average) and it's a sad day when you realize you have let yourself become nothing but. I feel like all my successes, all feelings of achievement, all sense of self-accomplishment, exist primarily if not solely in the past tense.
This post is about as uplifting as Dancer in the Dark.
Dancer in the Dark & Birthday in Ann Arbor
As I watched Dancer in the Dark last night, I was pretty grateful that I didn't know a whole lot about the movie before sitting down, because I never would have watched it. As I've gotten older, there are moments when I'm watching movies and think "why am I doing this to myself?" While it was a quite lovely movie in a visual sense, it definitely left me with a feeling of depression and distrust of human nature reminiscent of the post Requiem for a Dream daze. I kind of get people who watch entertainment to be entertained on a more uplifting sense, avoiding documentaries, dramas, etc. Why put yourself through the emotional agony of watching a two and a half hour movie that leaves you feeling slightly betrayed? It's a work of art though, quietly thrilling and beautiful, but not something you'd want to watch and watch over and again, for a good time.
Brandie's birthday was Tuesday and she gave me some pretty good birthday ideas to maximize on businesses that celebrate your day with you. I think I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do for my birthday, as it is a Sunday and I'll be able (hopefully) to maximize on good drinks and food.
Brandie's birthday was Tuesday and she gave me some pretty good birthday ideas to maximize on businesses that celebrate your day with you. I think I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do for my birthday, as it is a Sunday and I'll be able (hopefully) to maximize on good drinks and food.
- Chop House/ Gratzi / Real Seafood Company: These three restaurants, all under the same management, offer 50% discount of a bill for two on your birthday (33% for three people, 25% for four). Does not include drinks, but they also give you a free dessert.
- Grizzly Peaks: If you go on your birthday, you get a free dessert, a nice glass, and a $10 gift card for your next visit delivered by the manager (which I thought was a nice touch).
- Stucchi's/ Ben & Jerry's: Free ice cream cones on your birthday. There was a common consensus that the State Street and South U locations probably don't communicate with each other, so you could potentially hit up each location.
- Noodles & Co. / Cold Stone Creamery : If you register with their online club, you get a free meal or ice cream within a week span of your birthday. Noodles also will periodically send out buy one get one free coupons for Mothers' Day, Fathers' day, etc.
- Or...just check out this link.
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