One of the best days to sit outside and people watch on campus is the first day back after a break. This is the optimal time because a) everyone comes to campus during the first few days of school, because everyone hopes this semester will be different than the last, and that they'll actually come to class once in a while. And b) people dress to impress. Whether it's in the new clothing they received for Christmas or just a fresh clean start to the school year-- self expression is in full swing. It's really a beautiful day.
Sooner or later, people stop coming to class, girls and boys dress in what ever they rolled out of bed wearing that morning, and are in such a routine mode that all self expression is lost.
I went and bought a few new books to read the other day. I always feel burnt out on reading textbooks and materials for class that I don't have any sort of will to read for leisure. I love reading. I was one of the huge AR nerds all through school. I can zip through books in no time, hungry for more. So I have decided to make time to read. If I spend a few hours a night reading, I'll feel intelligent again.
I've started with a collection of biographical essays by Jen Lancaster. It's called "Bright Lights, Big Ass", a book about the city life not being everything Carrie Bradshaw makes it out to be.
Something interesting she's done in the book-- she has little inserts of emails she has sent her friends. There is one in particular I like: She sends an email shitlist, of things/places/people that have reserved their own special spot on her shitlist. I thought I might try this.
Shitlist for January ( so far)
2 sorostitutes- I know that daddy pays for your every whim and fancy. So when you come into a restaurant and see a college student just like you working his or her ass off just to pay the bills, maybe a 12 cent tip isn't the best choice. Especially if the waitress kisses your ass throughout the course of your meal, simply hoping to make ends meet. You've already done her a great diservice by coming in 10 minutes before close. Just remember, these people, that serve you-- can spit in your food if they see you in the place again.
The Maintenance man- this is a small apartment complex. If I call in and request that my leaking bathtub faucet (profusely leaking!) be fixed because it's upping the bill for everyone else, please get your ass over here ASAP. I also have a job and cannot wait here all day and night wondering if today is the day you're going to grace me with your presence.
Texas Tech University Student Business Services- Since when has giving someone the money you own them become a series of beaucratic steps designed to do nothing more than charge the student more by bringing in a third party, in turn keeping their money tied up in paper work?? How does it cost less to have someone send out credit cards than it does to mail someone a fucking check? If I tried to pay my tuition with some kind of voucher or gift card, Texas Tech would throw a fit. They always want their money when they want it, how ludicrous to deny that right to all of the people keep Texas Tech in business. Shouldn't it be less obvious that it's all one big business lie? Shouldn't the students be proud of their schools?
That's it for now. Maybe I'll add to it next time.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Monday, January 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
How Dare You Say It's Nothing to Me
Sometimes, I find myself making serious character judgments about the way people dress, the car they drive, or what they carry around with them. I know everyone does it, it's humanity's way of categorizing and weeding out what they don't want from life. But how often are we passing something really worth our while up?
I stood on my porch last night, looking at cars parked in the complex. I focused on one, an old model Isuzu trooper. It had a deer horn on it, and a huge dent in the front end. I could help but think, they probably hit a deer, and now they have this deer horn. Living here, it's not an invalid thought. I assume from the little pink bag of air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror that this car belongs to a girl, probably a flighty one at that. I swear, not two minutes after thinking that, a large, thuggish looking man walks toward the car, gets in it and drives away. Ha, talk about misjudged.
Then I wonder how often people misjudge me. Some of my girlfriends and I are playing on a co-ed softball team this semester. There is this one boy-- I constantly get the feeling he thinks I'm inept because I'm a girl. I was playing right center, which, what a boring position anyway. When a left handed batter stepped up to the plate, this boy actually had me switch him spots. I was a little insulted but shrugged it off as his own need to display his domination over me as a male. Come on man, I actually know the rules and have hand eye coordination! GO FIGURE. Yes he's misjudging me, but am I too making an error by assuming he just thinks girls aren't athletic?
It comes down to a few simple questions. What do I hope people see in me? and What do they really see when they look at me?
I hope they see a girl who envisions the world in a different way than most. Someone who can find something to love or hate in anything she chooses. I like being girly, but I love the idea of playing sports and getting a gruesome injury that looks REALLY cool. I wear what I want, which is a mixed classic style. But that doesn't mean I'm not wild. I drive a yellow VW beetle. I always think that it's a direct reflection of my personality-- bright and a little vintage and odd. Inevitably though, I'll bet people see it as a snotty reflection of a spoiled daddy's girl. How funny.
so I'll focus on seeing past the outside of people this week I think.
On another note. I'm one of the laziest people I've ever met. In my honors class today the prof asked us to write down a 'To Do' list of things we needed to get done before the week ended. Last week was my tough week, so this week it's smooth sailing. I had few things to write on my list, but I look around me and all of the 'MISFITS' (honors kids) are feverishly jotting down things, making full page 'To Do' lists. Sometimes people just need to chill out. After that, the prof had us write down a 'To Be' list for the week, of things we needed in order to 'Be'. I realized, most of what I do, I do to be. If it's not required, and sometimes if it is required, it's the last damn thing on my 'to do' list. I just don't feel like homework and school activities make me who I am. For instance, Sunday night, I should have gone to bed in preparation for a school day Monday, but instead went to the observatory with C, we listened to music and star gazed. I didn't go to bed until 6 A.M. and really felt good. That made a huge difference to me in my emotional and psychological life, but I skipped class all day yesterday. I feel completely satisfied in that choice. It turns out the professor's point was-- being a leader and a good communicator isn't about what you do, it's about who you are.
I stood on my porch last night, looking at cars parked in the complex. I focused on one, an old model Isuzu trooper. It had a deer horn on it, and a huge dent in the front end. I could help but think, they probably hit a deer, and now they have this deer horn. Living here, it's not an invalid thought. I assume from the little pink bag of air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror that this car belongs to a girl, probably a flighty one at that. I swear, not two minutes after thinking that, a large, thuggish looking man walks toward the car, gets in it and drives away. Ha, talk about misjudged.
Then I wonder how often people misjudge me. Some of my girlfriends and I are playing on a co-ed softball team this semester. There is this one boy-- I constantly get the feeling he thinks I'm inept because I'm a girl. I was playing right center, which, what a boring position anyway. When a left handed batter stepped up to the plate, this boy actually had me switch him spots. I was a little insulted but shrugged it off as his own need to display his domination over me as a male. Come on man, I actually know the rules and have hand eye coordination! GO FIGURE. Yes he's misjudging me, but am I too making an error by assuming he just thinks girls aren't athletic?
It comes down to a few simple questions. What do I hope people see in me? and What do they really see when they look at me?
I hope they see a girl who envisions the world in a different way than most. Someone who can find something to love or hate in anything she chooses. I like being girly, but I love the idea of playing sports and getting a gruesome injury that looks REALLY cool. I wear what I want, which is a mixed classic style. But that doesn't mean I'm not wild. I drive a yellow VW beetle. I always think that it's a direct reflection of my personality-- bright and a little vintage and odd. Inevitably though, I'll bet people see it as a snotty reflection of a spoiled daddy's girl. How funny.
so I'll focus on seeing past the outside of people this week I think.
On another note. I'm one of the laziest people I've ever met. In my honors class today the prof asked us to write down a 'To Do' list of things we needed to get done before the week ended. Last week was my tough week, so this week it's smooth sailing. I had few things to write on my list, but I look around me and all of the 'MISFITS' (honors kids) are feverishly jotting down things, making full page 'To Do' lists. Sometimes people just need to chill out. After that, the prof had us write down a 'To Be' list for the week, of things we needed in order to 'Be'. I realized, most of what I do, I do to be. If it's not required, and sometimes if it is required, it's the last damn thing on my 'to do' list. I just don't feel like homework and school activities make me who I am. For instance, Sunday night, I should have gone to bed in preparation for a school day Monday, but instead went to the observatory with C, we listened to music and star gazed. I didn't go to bed until 6 A.M. and really felt good. That made a huge difference to me in my emotional and psychological life, but I skipped class all day yesterday. I feel completely satisfied in that choice. It turns out the professor's point was-- being a leader and a good communicator isn't about what you do, it's about who you are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
