Pet Peeves

Like everyone else in the world I have a list of probably 50 pet peeves. I feel the need to vent a few of them because some people could really use some common sense.

1. Grammar

If you're over 18 and can't properly construct a sentence...we have a problem. I understand that not everyone has strengths in English, but when every single word is misspelled, someone went wrong somewhere along the line. If you're over 30, we have a major problem. Facebook has probably worsened this situation because that's where the majority of my pet peeves come from. If you are going to post a Facebook status, take the time to spell out the words. It's really not much more work. I don't want to see "u" or "r" it's "you" and "are." You're not cool if you spell "phone" as "fone" either. Stop. A final pet peeve in this category is: If you're going to curse online, at least spell it right. I get that I don't follow all grammar rules by any means, but I write intelligently (the majority of the time) and I don't spell every single word wrong. (Let's be honest, my biggest grammar error is pronoun-antecedent disagreement and if I'm thinking about it, I avoid using it). 

2. Facebook statuses about OTHER PEOPLE

I hate reading the drama of Facebook oh so much. I've tweeted about people before, but there's a difference, I'm not trying to stir up drama or anything, I just need somewhere to say it and it's not Facebook worthy. Don't post about others knowing that they will see it just to start drama. It's pointless. It's not worth my time to glance over your post, or anyone else's time as well. I get positive statuses about others, they're cool, but when people post negative things about others, that's when we have a problem. If you're over 30 and trying to start drama on Facebook, I really question the direction of your life. If you have nothing better to do than start drama with younger people on Facebook, you really need to reevaluate your life. 

3. The numbers 1, 4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 17, and many more.

4. When someone calls you and you call them back within 2 minutes and they don't answer.

If you're going to call me, be waiting for my call back, especially within the first 10 minutes after you call me. I don't always answer my phone (It's usually on silence) and when I call someone back, I expect them to answer. If I call you back within 2 minutes, don't answer and say you're busy. How much busier can you be now than you were 2 minutes ago? I don't buy it.

5. People who text in class

I've texted in class before and it's only for important things and I don't make a habit of it. I don't sit with my phone during class, I put it in my backpack and don't look at it unless there's a break or I need it for some part of class. You're in class for a reason; to learn. You have all kinds of time to be on your phone, so put it away. You're taking away from my educational experience and yours and we're both paying for the experience, so...let's not do that. 

How to not write a paper

Hello Finals Week! I have not had a week with so little to do at all this semester and I'm loving it, but it's fairly pointless. I have one paper and 2 finals standing between me and a week of glorious summer break and I can't wait. I've been working on writing a paper for my honors class for the last few days and it hasn't been getting anywhere, so I think I'm a pretty good source for information on how to not write a paper if I do say so myself. Here are key steps to not writing a paper:

1. Get on Facebook. It's vital that you have a facebook tab open while writing a paper. It's a great distraction.
2. Get on Twitter. If you follow many people, you will have a pretty steady stream of tweets coming your way. It's a great way to learn new, important information and a great distraction.
3. Get together with friends that are writing the same paper. You will gain vital ideas and get little to nothing done.
4. Watch a movie. Movies are great ways to get distracted which is absolutely important when trying to write a paper.
5. Find something that's going on around campus and go. For example, today I went to the Acting Class' final performances. It was great! Being involved on campus is a big deal so this will definitely help out in the long-run and its free entertainment!
6. Go out to eat. Who needs to write a paper when you have Village Inn and pie? No one, that's who.
7. Have a jam session. Belting out songs terribly is way more fun than writing a paper.
8. If all else, fails, write a blog about how to not write a paper.
9. Final step: Freak out because your final paper is due tomorrow and if you don't get a B you won't get an A in the class.

Things I've learned this year

With only finals week left in this semester, I've decided to make a list of the things I think I've learned in this last year. Many life lessons were learned and you would think I would have had the common knowledge ahead of time to know this stuff. Apparently not.

1. In the city, the left lane isn't the fast lane when on a normal street. 

2. Don't let dishes pile up. They smell.

3. Do laundry before it gets excessive. 

4. Laundry is expensive. 

5. If you're going to buy food, actually eat it otherwise it will go bad and get gross.

6. Cool words like pedagogy, modality, and dropter. (...way more cool words I can't think of...)

7. The Big Bang Theory is the best show to ever grace us with it's presence on Television.

8. Starbucks comes straight from God himself.

9. Sometimes you have to talk to strangers. 

10. Twitter is the best way to get through those boring classes.

11. Professors say the strangest/funniest things.

    -Don't marry a compulsive gambler.

12. Don't text and walk down the stairs. It doesn't end well.

13. Be yourself.

14. Don't let change get stuck in your printer. It makes death noises.

15. Sometimes the only thing you need are your grandma's cookies. :)

16. Sparknotes can be your best friend at times and your worst friend at times.

17. I've read some really cool books that I loved and some that I abhorred. 

18. It is possible to miss your exit on the Interstate, even when you know exactly where you are going.

19. Sometimes you have to get creative with your lunch.

20. I can lose at Harry Potter Scene It...not even sure how that happened.

21. I have met some of the coolest people. Ever. 

22. Intelligent conversation is one of my new favorite things.

23. Chipotle is the best place ever.

24. I've learned many inappropriate sayings/terms that I didn't know before...

25. I've watched some of the weirdest movies of my life. 

26. I've watched too many movies to count.

27. I've discovered my passions and found what I'm really interested in.

28. As much as you don't want to go to class....you probably should.

29. It is possible to hate your favorite class.

30. I've learned that you have to just cherish every moment and make life fun. :)

End of the Semester

I seriously think that professors email each other and coordinate deadlines for assignments. That's the only way this could work so perfectly. How is it possible that all semester I have had very little homework, but when I do, each class assigns it for the same time. I would much rather have a steady supply of homework than have sudden bursts of assignments. Come on, professors! Get it together. I'm so confused as to how some of my classes are going to finish all of the assignments on the syllabus before the end of the semester because time-wise it's nearly impossible. I have 4 class periods left of Tuesday/Thursday classes and one of them still expects another lesson plan that we are supposed to teach or something like that? How does that work? I don't believe it does. I just don't see how my classes are even close to being done but they are. Last semester didn't seem so weird like this one does. Maybe it's because I'm staying here through May and June to take more classes...weird stuff.

Check out this video!

Toleration

When the good ole United States was initially settled, it was a place that countries would send people for religious toleration. They would say, we aren't going to tolerate your religion here, but if you go there, we will tolerate you. Now we don't have anywhere to send people that we don't want to tolerate (this is said in a joking tone) and we need to "buck up" accept others. This is probably going to be another "controversial" post but I feel like getting these ideas out there is a good thing. 

One thing I think that people have a hard time understanding is that the United States is NOT a Theocracy. For those of you that don't know what that is, the dictionary defines it as "government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided" Does this sound like the United States? I don't think so. Think of a divine right monarchy of the 17th or 18th centuries. Not everyone in the United States has to be christian, we don't have a head of government that is thought to be sent from God, acting on his behalf do we? Did some people not get that memo? What about separation of church and state? I don't like how on certain issues people always bring up the issue of religious morals or rules in relation to Christianity. Not everyone is Christian (I am, but I don't like those who find it to be the only religion. It's not.). 

Just because I believe something doesn't mean that it is the only thing to believe. I understand that statement is a bit contrary to what this entire post is about in a way, but it's true. I understand where people get their ideas from, and although I don't accept it I still entertain the thought in an Aristotelian sense. All I want people to do is be accepting of one another. How hard is that? I don't think that we should all push religion on each other, especially when others don't believe the same religion. I just don't think we should try to push our beliefs to others when it comes to religion. If I was Muslim, you wouldn't see me trying to force others into my beliefs so why do Christians seem to do it so strongly? 

Academic Advising

Today I was in my meeting with my good ole academic advisor to go over classes for next semester (I can't believe how fast this year has gone!) and boy was it an interesting time! I already registered without his help so the meeting was basically pointless, but I enjoy meeting with the guy any way the majority of the time although I swear he is crazy. I thought that some of the things he said or topics we discussed were so ridiculous that they were blog worthy so here they are.

1. He read me a poem about a dog, which I really enjoyed actually. One moment we're talking about Paradise Lost, then it's Walt Whitman and then we're on a dog poem from Martha Speaks.
2. You can't fix stupid. Some people are just dumb as a door and you can't teach them. Not everyone can learn. (His views, not mine) Education is full of ridiculous jargon (as I apparently will learn.)
     -On this topic, I do believe that all students can learn, just some learn in different ways. I also agree that you can't fix stupid. There's a difference.
3. Paradise Lost is NOT the Bible. (When I said this he said that I was a genius so I thought I would include it)
4. His mother is like a cat. Stubborn and won't give up on her position. If the world ended, she would be the last person alive yet is the nicest person he has ever met. (I feel like our conversations always go back to his mother...awkward...)
5. Dogs DO love. Although his girlfriend would tend to disagree with him. We then discussed different animals and how their personalities are reflective. He says that dolphins have reflective personalities...not even 100% sure what that means so I just smiled and nodded.
6. I'm a genius. (My absolute favorite part about my advisor is that he constantly tells me that I'm a genius and one of the brightest people he's met. He also tells me that I'm going far and all that fun stuff. I pretty much enjoy it.)
7. He was apparently in a LOGOS-esque class when he was in college and enjoyed it.
8. "How are you?" I'm good... "No. Really, how are you?" I'm pretty good actually...haha
9. Relationships and how when one ends/life gets confusing your mind mentally goes back to it's last set-point in which everything was fine... (fascinating stuff actually)
10. He printed out an 8 page article he said he thinks I will enjoy reading which discusses Rene Descartes, Plato and Aristotle and animals. I haven't read it yet...might not...it seems somewhat interesting, but 8 pages?
11. If he wasn't a psychologist what he would have decided to become in order: Psychology, Economics, History, Physics and what he would not become: Math or Chemistry. It was interesting to hear his reasons behind these.

All of these things took place in a span of about 20 minutes. It was quite the interesting meeting...I have to say I'm going to miss him as my advisor next year!