A Trip Down Memory Lane

I noticed over the weekend that I engaged in several conversations with different friends regarding our college days, and it got me thinking a little more about the experience...

College. A significant time in all our lives. It's not just about what we learned in class, but it's the life lessons that we came to know and understand. It's about the acquaintances and classmates we met and the lifelong friends we'll never forget. There were some hard and troubled times but there were also some thrilling adventures. The heartfelt talks with roommates, the many hours of partying, the long nights of studying, and the silly acts we participated in - all form into a large pool of memorable moments. It was a simpler time - our biggest worries involved papers and exams and how we were going to scrounge enough money to go out to the bar. Friends were constantly by your side - you didn't have to look far for a 'partner in crime.' It was a time of growth, development, and preparation; for our next step in life was never too far away.

Below - a collage I made using Picasa, capturing some of my fondest memories from my 4 years at UNI.



And a video (KC this is totally for you)
Background: We were preparing to move out of our apartment and involved in some heavy cleaning. This 'professional' video is of KC trying to move our refrigerator so we could clean behind it. My favorite moment of this video is the face KC makes when she finally gets the refrigerator to move....priceless :) *Warning - to those with sensitive ears - profanity is used!*

My Sister's Keeper - A Definite Weeper

Do you ever notice how a little box appears in the right-hand corner of your TV when a show begins, for example, DLV? (some suggestive dialogue, language, and violence) Well, I think books should come with some sort of rating system.

Today, I finished reading, My Sister's Keeper. As I looked over at the pile of Kleenex I had used to wipe away my many tears as I read the last few pages of the book, I realized that this is exactly the type of book that should really come with some sort of warning...like instead of a prologue, there should be a letter of notification that the book will make you cry your eyes out.

I would rate this book as HWTJ, Heart wrenching, tearjerker.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed reading this book. It would just be nice to be forewarned as to what can happen as a result of reading this book. *Warning - this book will have side effects that include, but are not limited to crying, sobbing, eye makeup running down your face, swollen and puffy eyes, and awkward stares from those around you.* I was glad to have read the last few chapters in the privacy of my own room, where not even my roommates would have to endure my adverse reaction.

I can only imagine what's in store for me when I see the movie....L, D, Naomi, whomever - this is your warning!

Freedom Fridays

Friday. It's a word that has had different meanings to me throughout my lifetime.

As a child, Fridays brought excitement. It meant a plethora of different things - going out for pizza, being able to stay up a little later, watching the choice movie my sister and I had rented, or having/going to a slumber party with my friends.

In high school, Fridays = game time. At school, we were dressed to the nines - we girls wore dresses and heels and the boys wore ties. Our lockers, thanks to our cheerleaders, were decorated with posters, streamers, and balloons. As the game time approached, a rush of adrenaline always went through me as we ran out to begin our warm-up routine, thanks to the the music, the cheers from the crowd, and the anticipation for the game to begin. As the night of competition came to a close, we would stand around the gym and decide what the rest of the evening would have in store for us - dining at Village Inn, 'scooping the loop,' or partying at one of our fellow teammates' houses. And, by the way, let me just say that our parties were never like the ones they show on the teeny bopper movies like Varsity Blues or 10 Things I Hate About You....

In college a simple acronym can sum up the word Friday - FAC. (Friday after class) Oh I how loved wrapping up my last class of the day and heading down to the Hill to enjoy in all the FAC specials the bars had to offer. Those were the good days, as I look back on them now, a time of simplicity. We college kids all had one common goal we shared as we gathered together in the crowded bar - forget about our studies for the time being and drink!

In my first 2 1/2 years out in the 'real world,' I can say that Fridays brought a sense of relief, as it signaled the end of my work week. I could kick off the weekend with happy hour, or FAW if you will, (Friday after work) or maybe just a quiet night at home watching a movie and knitting (and this has been done on more than one occasion I might add - I will give you a moment to laugh at the jokes that are going through your heads at this time...) Regardless of how I spent my Friday evenings, it meant a couple of days of being cubicle free.

And today, freedom is the word that comes to mind when I think of Fridays, as I work a 4 day work week - Mondays-Thursdays. The possibilities seem to be endless. I can spend my day running all the errands I procrastinated on during the week, I can go out for lunch and go shopping with KC (as she has Fridays off too), I can soak in the sun, with headphones in my ears and a book in my hands, or I can road trip to visit family - so many options. Freedom Fridays are the best.

Yesterday did not disappoint. I spent the morning with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece at Blank Park Zoo. It wasn't as hot as I anticipated it to be and it was fun to walk around and see all the animals. I'm not sure Regan, being 11 months old, got a whole lot out of it, but it was still fun to point out the animals to her and watch her big blue eyes get even bigger. I couldn't help but feel a little guilty, however. By going to the zoo, it was as if I was condoning to have these animals trapped in their makeshift 'natural habitats.' I couldn't help but notice that some of the animals, namely the tiger, giraffes, and the red pandas, seemed to have the saddest expressions on their faces. Do you think they feel like prisoners? ...I digress...I feel like this could be a whole other posting...

After the zoo I had my first experience with Tasty Tacos, and my food was, in fact, tasty.Then in the late afternoon I went to The Proposal with Naomi. It was your typical chick flick - cute but predictable. Then we met up with Rodderick for dinner at the always delicious, or should I say delicioso, Los Cabos.

I love Fridays!

Below is a picture of Regan and me at the zoo. Now before you go commenting about me posting another picture of Regan, LW, let me just say that I think you will appreciate this one. Here, we are in front of the penguin display...and, let me just say, they were nowhere near the caliber of being as massively destructive as we Penguins are! :)

Caught in the Web

I am having a major case of blogger's block tonight...well that and the fact that any topic I did consider blogging about requires too much thinking for my tired mind. So, in an effort to avoid neglecting my blog for the 3rd day in a row, I've decided to share with you a few of my Internet Bookmarks.

1. Wolfgang's Vault - http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/
Free streaming of live music from hundreds upon hundreds of artists, ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Ani Difranco to Cursive. The sound quality may not always be the best but if you have a good imagination, you can close your eyes and picture sitting on that grassy knoll watching Janis Joplin perform "Piece of My Heart."

2. Homestar Runner - http://www.homestarrunner.com/
Always good for a laugh, or at least I think so. Some of my favorites include, Strongbad's Kids' Book, Fluffy Puff Commercial, and the Interview.

3. NPR - http://www.npr.org/
The organization that boasts such intriguing news programs as Talk of the Nation and All Things Considered, and an inspiring music page which includes Discover Songs, Studio Sessions, and Interviews & Profiles - some of my favorite pages within the site.

4. Zappos - http://www.zappos.com/
An avid shopper's dream site - hundreds of brands and styles of shoes, clothing, and accessories with the bonus of a free shipping both ways return policy. You can also read up on the helpful hints of shoppers' reviews and testimonials.

So, there is a little peak into my Internet bookshelf, if you will. I am always accepting suggestions to add to my Internet library so feel free to share some of your favorite sites!

Jargon Jabber

I've been working in an office environment for about 3 years now and one of the many observations I have made from my little cubicle over the past few years is the utilization of corporate lingo around the office. Just as Peter hates to hear about TPS Reports, the following words/phrases, which are in no particular order, are like nails on a chalkboard to me:

1. Future forward/going forward
2. Choose your attitude
3. The "Wow" Factor
4. Mood Elevator
5. Opportunity
6. Follow up
7. Focus group
8. Flow charts
9. Be here now
10. Staying engaged
11. At the end of the day
12. Per (as in 'per our conversation' or 'per your email')

Why do businesses coin such annoying phrases? Are they only irritating because they are so overused and abused? Or is it because these words/phrases or so wishy-washy and go around the topic at hand without just being candid and directly saying what needs to be said?

I came across this viewpoint on mbaassociation.org which discusses a BBC article written about a year ago on this very subject. It is quite humorous. I was happy to see one of the phrases I listed, "going forward," was on their list as well. I think my favorite, however, is #2.

Clearly I am not the only one who has sensitive ears when it comes to corporate jargon!

Catching Up

It has been a few days since my last posting and I feel like I owe it to my blog to explain why. I had a nice little weekend planned (didn't make it to Home Depot, not enough time.)

It all started Thursday evening. KC and I had plans to go out for dinner and drinks to celebrate her new job. So we met at Los Cabos for what always proves to be good margaritas and good food. (highly recommend this place if you are in the mood for Mexican.) We weren't quite ready to call it a night after dinner so KC suggested we walk over to Graze to get a martini. We bellied up to the bar and I took the bartender's suggestion of a tropical/pineapple-ish martini that's not on the menu and KC got the one with the blow pop in it - mainly because she just really wanted the blow pop :) I always love spending time with KC - all kinds of topics are discussed from careers to college memories. It was a great way to start my weekend.

Friday did not start out the greatest. I had every intention of getting up early to attend daily mass and get an early start to Cedar Falls to see my sister and Regan. My alarm went off, and as I do every morning, I hit the snooze button...or so I thought. I awoke again, without the help of my alarm, and looked at the time - 10:30. Cool Nic, cool. I was 3 to 3.5 hours too late for church (depending on which church I went to) and I was going to be a lot later than what I had hoped with getting to my sister's. Minus the 'snooze button' incident, it was a great day! Regan had a lot of new tricks to show me - she can stand up all by herself without any assistance and she can clap. We are still working on her saying, "coco," but she'll get there soon! :) I always love spending time with my sis and bro-in-law - hilarity always ensues. I was also able to see R for a bit, which was great, because I hadn't seen her since the SNL party.

Saturday I headed off to Clear Lake with my dad to visit my grandparents and celebrate Father's Day. (Wish you could've come too Mom!) As I was driving into town and saw all the SUV's and trucks pulling their boats, I wished I was going to be boating - it was the perfect day for it! Greekfest was also going on in Mason and I would've loved to have engaged in a little culture with R and V but I had to remember my whole reason for being in CL- and I was happy to be spending time with my grandma and grandpa. My grandma always has plenty of yummy treats for us and I knew I'd be partaking in a delicious meal. Shortly after indulging in a nice size piece of my grandma's homemade rhubarb pie for dessert (which I almost didn't want to cut into because it was picture perfect) I said my good-byes and headed back to the dsm.

Today should be a great way to wrap up a fun-filled weekend. Among other things, I'll be preparing for this evening as 187 hosts a bbq and movie night. Great food, great company, great night.

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

I love looking through Newsweek's photo galleries. There are so many interesting topics and powerful photos that can really make you think about the topic at hand; beauty advertisements, natural disasters, human struggle, etc. Tonight I came across one entitled, "Artists Embracing Mental Illness." It's definitely worth checking out - I was "wowed. "

It really got me thinking about how powerful art is. Artists never cease to amaze me. I am completely envious of those who can convey a set of feelings or tell a story with the stroke of a paint brush. (or whatever their means of creating is) How a piece of art can speak to you and how it can unveil all sorts of emotions within you is simply fascinating to me. Art has no boundaries, no rules, no restrictions.

It is truly an inspiring form of human expression and should never go unappreciated.