Whenever I am home from school for however long, my brother finds it necessary to offer helpful advice about the college scene, make snide comments about college life in general, or bring to my attention certain pearls of wisdom that he has recently uncovered. Fondly remembering college, he often sarcastically comments on my sleeping habits and those of college age students. (Although I really can't imagine why...over break I woke up after two p.m. only twice) Or sometimes he offers useful and innovative advice such as: "Shower regularly; you don't want to be known as that dirty kid on campus." He truly is such a helpful big brother sometimes. And, occasionally, he will tell some wild tale about him and his friends in college, intending to teach a lesson (although sometimes the message of the story gets lost...). My brother and I are fourteen years apart, but that has never stopped us from forming a close relationship. Even if I do have to endure teasing and sarcasm whenever I am with him.
When I was home for Spring Break, my brother decided to be seriously helpful instead of funny and embarrassing. He told me about a new website; I checked it out, and it actually was pretty entertaining. The website is www.pandora.com and it is a radio website where you type in an artist that you like. Then, the radio makes a playlist of that artist and a bunch of others that are similiar to the one you typed. So far, I really like it. Sometimes I get really bored with the music in my itunes and just want a change. This is a pretty good website to use if you want some new music. I thought it was some new and amazing discovery, but after asking my friends about it I found that some of them already use it. Try it out! Hopefully you can find some good stuff. I guess my brother isn't all bad...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
What is college for?
What is it about college that we never recieve a break? I am not talking about Spring break, or Easter break, or even Summer break. I am talking about people helping out people.
I remember growing up learning about how college used to be about more then curriculum. Not that I do not think that the education end is important, but where does creativity and adventure come in? Are we not supposed to go to college to become more wordly? That is what I believed college was all about. However, it seems like every teacher believes that college should be work 24/7, 365 days a year. There is no time to find out who we are anymore. to be honest, I am 22, about to graduate, and I still do not have a clue who I am or what I want to do. Not that I am free of blame but it feels like all school has been is something to do.
Classes are scheduled for fall and Spring, but the odds of completing in four years without having to go in the summer, or even over winter break are slim to none at this point. What has college become and why did it become this way? I had a teacher my freshman year tell me about how the Universities are the only place left in the country that are not overrun by the corporations and the government, until he pointed out the coca-cola sign on the football score board. Let's face it, four years of college may get us a good job and give us some security, but I learn more about the world in the bar business then I do in any class room.
I remember growing up learning about how college used to be about more then curriculum. Not that I do not think that the education end is important, but where does creativity and adventure come in? Are we not supposed to go to college to become more wordly? That is what I believed college was all about. However, it seems like every teacher believes that college should be work 24/7, 365 days a year. There is no time to find out who we are anymore. to be honest, I am 22, about to graduate, and I still do not have a clue who I am or what I want to do. Not that I am free of blame but it feels like all school has been is something to do.
Classes are scheduled for fall and Spring, but the odds of completing in four years without having to go in the summer, or even over winter break are slim to none at this point. What has college become and why did it become this way? I had a teacher my freshman year tell me about how the Universities are the only place left in the country that are not overrun by the corporations and the government, until he pointed out the coca-cola sign on the football score board. Let's face it, four years of college may get us a good job and give us some security, but I learn more about the world in the bar business then I do in any class room.
First comes Spring break then comes reality
Spring break was a time to catch up on sleep and rest. From Monday until Wednesday this did not happen. I am an administrative assistant for a company in New Jersey and although my hours aren't long hours, I hated getting up at eight o'clock in the morning to go to work while I was on Spring break. Regardless of how I was feeling, I had to go to work because I have bills to pay and a very expensive wedding to pay for before the end of this month. Monday through Wednesday was not good days for me but then came Thursday! I requested two days off work so I can be free to do nothing unless I wanted to do it. Thursday, I spent the day with my brother at his new apartment! He moved out of my parents house a week ago and because of school, work, and wedding planning, I did not have a chance to see his new place. I was very excited to spend the day with him. Friday, I spend the morning at the mall with my mother, sister, and two of my nieces. We shopped, ate, and had a blast. Friday night my fience and I went to a youth service at his church and enjoyed young people dancing, singing and preaching. After the service, we went bowling! I haven't bowled in almost five years! I really sucked at bowling and my score proved I suck. I bowled a 59 or 60 but I still had a wounderful time.
Now that Spring break is over, I have to come back to reality. Today ended my long wonderful weekend and I had to return to work and tonight I will return to class. I enjoyed my Spring break for the most part. I go a lot of work done, not homework, but work like wedding stuff, packing stuff like that. Honestly, I didn't start my homework until Satruday night. I'm graduating this May and I wanted a Spring break to do things I wanted to do. I didn't not want to do homework or go to work or think about school. I wanted a real Spring break since this was my last one. Although I enjoyed the latter part of my break, I am stress becasue I didn't do homework because now I have to rush to complete assignments given in all my classes. If I did not take time off to relax then today I would be just as tired as I have been all semester. All in all I happy I took time off until I came back to reality.
Now that Spring break is over, I have to come back to reality. Today ended my long wonderful weekend and I had to return to work and tonight I will return to class. I enjoyed my Spring break for the most part. I go a lot of work done, not homework, but work like wedding stuff, packing stuff like that. Honestly, I didn't start my homework until Satruday night. I'm graduating this May and I wanted a Spring break to do things I wanted to do. I didn't not want to do homework or go to work or think about school. I wanted a real Spring break since this was my last one. Although I enjoyed the latter part of my break, I am stress becasue I didn't do homework because now I have to rush to complete assignments given in all my classes. If I did not take time off to relax then today I would be just as tired as I have been all semester. All in all I happy I took time off until I came back to reality.
Spring Break
The Softball team had spring training games in Florida and Arizona this year. We got off to a rough start in Florida, ending up 1-5., although the 5 games we lost were all by one run. This was the first time we have seen a diert infeild in since September, since we can not practice outside because it has been cold, and we dont have a feild on campus. We played pretty well considering we have not really had a chance to have a real practice.
Then it was off to Arizona... The University of Arizona that is. In case you don't know, they are the NCAA Softball Champions. Well, what was a scrappy team from Philadelphia doing playing this team? Our coach thought it would be a good experience, but when we went and they beat us twice, 19-2 and then 18-0, he thought a little differently.
The girls on this team are seriously machines. They were hitting back to back home runs, and just kept running and running and running. It was really frustrating, especially when the #1 pitcher in the country is striking everyone out over and over. These girls are celebrities in Arizona. They are on the covers of magazines, and are stopped and asked for autographs. There were over 1,000 people sitting in the the stands.
Overall it was a good experience, but not so good for our personal and team stats. But we have out first A-10 game this week against George Washington University. We got some good practice in down in Florida, so hopefully we can apply it to the games to come and have a successful season.
Then it was off to Arizona... The University of Arizona that is. In case you don't know, they are the NCAA Softball Champions. Well, what was a scrappy team from Philadelphia doing playing this team? Our coach thought it would be a good experience, but when we went and they beat us twice, 19-2 and then 18-0, he thought a little differently.
The girls on this team are seriously machines. They were hitting back to back home runs, and just kept running and running and running. It was really frustrating, especially when the #1 pitcher in the country is striking everyone out over and over. These girls are celebrities in Arizona. They are on the covers of magazines, and are stopped and asked for autographs. There were over 1,000 people sitting in the the stands.
Overall it was a good experience, but not so good for our personal and team stats. But we have out first A-10 game this week against George Washington University. We got some good practice in down in Florida, so hopefully we can apply it to the games to come and have a successful season.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Spring Break?
This was probably the most hectic week of my semester, and I am supposed to be on Spring Break. Not only did I have plenty of school work to do, but I also had a horrifying amount of thing to do for work.
I work for my parents, so I don't ever worry about getting fired, but on the other hand I'm not able to leave my work at work. Unfortunately my parents know where I live and can conveniently drop off extra paper work for me to do and not feel bad about it because I'm on Spring Break and have absolutely nothing else to do.
Aside from work and school, I am also a bridesmaid in one of my best friend's wedding, and because I am on Spring Break, she made me go to New York with her to pick out a veil and headpiece. I have no idea why she couldn't find them here!!! Then she made all of us get together to discuss a bunch of things that could easily have been emailed, but then again I was on Spring Break, so why should I complain.
Okay, I feel a little bit better now. I would like to say that I will have a relaxing weekend, but I have to go to my cousin's birthday party on Saturday (it will not be fun) and on Sunday I am meeting people in my other class to go over a group project that is due soon. So if I look exhausted on Monday, after being off for Spring Break, you will all know why.
I work for my parents, so I don't ever worry about getting fired, but on the other hand I'm not able to leave my work at work. Unfortunately my parents know where I live and can conveniently drop off extra paper work for me to do and not feel bad about it because I'm on Spring Break and have absolutely nothing else to do.
Aside from work and school, I am also a bridesmaid in one of my best friend's wedding, and because I am on Spring Break, she made me go to New York with her to pick out a veil and headpiece. I have no idea why she couldn't find them here!!! Then she made all of us get together to discuss a bunch of things that could easily have been emailed, but then again I was on Spring Break, so why should I complain.
Okay, I feel a little bit better now. I would like to say that I will have a relaxing weekend, but I have to go to my cousin's birthday party on Saturday (it will not be fun) and on Sunday I am meeting people in my other class to go over a group project that is due soon. So if I look exhausted on Monday, after being off for Spring Break, you will all know why.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Hooray for spring break!
Oh how I love spring break. It seems as if it happened at just the right time. I've been overwhelmed with work for this entire semester, and I was pretty much on overload by the time spring break rolled around. Now I'm in Florida and I'm loving it. The only problem is that I stll have a ton of work to do. Now matter where I go, work always follows me. Yeah, I know that's true for everyone in any capacity, but I really wish that I could have some time to myself without that little voice in the back of my head reminding me how many papers I still have to write.
The reason that I'm in Florida is because my father lives here. I'm used to coming down here, and I enjoy it, but I could never live down here. The lifestyle people adopt here is just not me. But I forgot how great it is to look out the window and see palm trees. It's warm and sunny, and the breeze is cool. The weather and the scenery are just incredible down here. I take a walk every night and just admire the area and revel in the fact that I'm in shorts and sandals. My plan for the rest of break is to enjoy Florida, My dad, my stepmom, food that doesn't come from Tree Tops and attempt to get a lot of work done. I hope everyone else is having a great time too!
P.S. One of my favorite places down here: Jamba Juice. If you don't know what that is, wait until it is warm again and go to Whole Foods on South Street. There's one in there.
The reason that I'm in Florida is because my father lives here. I'm used to coming down here, and I enjoy it, but I could never live down here. The lifestyle people adopt here is just not me. But I forgot how great it is to look out the window and see palm trees. It's warm and sunny, and the breeze is cool. The weather and the scenery are just incredible down here. I take a walk every night and just admire the area and revel in the fact that I'm in shorts and sandals. My plan for the rest of break is to enjoy Florida, My dad, my stepmom, food that doesn't come from Tree Tops and attempt to get a lot of work done. I hope everyone else is having a great time too!
P.S. One of my favorite places down here: Jamba Juice. If you don't know what that is, wait until it is warm again and go to Whole Foods on South Street. There's one in there.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
What happened to the "break" in Spring Break
Hope your break has begun well. Your writing assignment due Mon (Mar 10) is to write a 1000 word essay on some topic related to Philadelphia. History, current events, La Salle, the art scene, the music scene, architecture, a particular place, a Philly job. You are free to choose your own avenue of pursuit. But you must write a fairly cohesive essay for this first draft. Over the month of March (and into April) you'll expand this Philadelphia topic into a 4000-5000 word essay. You may need to research your topic or interview subjects. Consider yourself freelance journalists for the next month. I'll be your editor, prodding your piece into shape.
Blackadderian Word of the Week: phrasmotic
You also need to do some reading over the break:
If you haven't finished the first 6 chapters of Crystal's Fight for English, do so. We'll be discussing it and its relationship to Truss' Eats Shoots next class.
Also please read these two pieces from the City Paper:
Monks Devils and Quakers
and
We're taking Poe back
We'll be discussing how they work (or don't work) as "Philadelphia" pieces. Please print them and bring them to class.
Blackadderian Word of the Week: phrasmotic
You also need to do some reading over the break:
If you haven't finished the first 6 chapters of Crystal's Fight for English, do so. We'll be discussing it and its relationship to Truss' Eats Shoots next class.
Also please read these two pieces from the City Paper:
Monks Devils and Quakers
and
We're taking Poe back
We'll be discussing how they work (or don't work) as "Philadelphia" pieces. Please print them and bring them to class.
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