I LOVE Gem's family. A ton. They're the big family I always wanted and never had.
But let me just say, it's a good thing I'm not easily offended. And while I'm not easily offended, I'd like to share some things with you, because they're just too good/bad/funny/whatever.
Things My Mother-in-Law Has Said Since Sunday
- "Is there any room in your fridge for this?" *holds up something she had in the cooler; opens fridge* "Oh wow. Yeah. You guys have like nothing in your fridge." In my defense, the next day was grocery day. I promise I feed your son. (It's even more sad because just the other day Gem and I were talking about how our fridge is finally starting to look like a grownup fridge. We've collected actual staple ingredients! Sigh.)
- "So, is your job with Classical Conversations pretty much almost full-time?" She says because she doesn't understand why I can't hang out with them the whole time they're visiting. Yes, my 40-50-hours-a-week, pays-all-the-bills, what-I-went-to-college-for dream job IS "pretty much almost" full-time.
- "But you're going to quit or go to part time after Gem graduates, right?" Well, no. I like my job. I went to school for this. I want to do more with my life than watch Netflix and spend my husband's money.
- "Oh yeah, chili is definitely something I can eat on my diet." *hours later* "Wait, you don't put beans in your chili, do you?" Does anyone NOT put beans in their chili?
Sigh XD She really is awesome, and didn't mean anything bad by any of her questions and comments, but, like I said, it's a good thing I'm not easily offended, right?
~Stephanie
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Stupid Things People Are Upset About
First all, miss y'all.
Second.
Lately, I've been on Facebook and Snapchat entirely too much. It's like a car wreck that I can't look away from. Every time I think I've seen the dumbest thing people can be offended by, something dumber comes along. Every time I think an article is going to be satirical, I read it and find out that, yes, people are ACTUALLY whining that Siri has a female voice and therefore reinforces the patriarchy (women = subservient). Yeah. I'm dead serious. (Sorry to anyone who's had someone pass away; I know that phrase is fatally--oops, did it again--offensive.)
Clearly every single person on social media has such a privileged life (yes, even non-whites) that they must invent crap to be bothered by. If you had real problems, trust me, you would not be throwing tantrums about iRobots.
It's miserable. And misery loves company. So here. Share in my misery of these incredibly stupid things that people are saying/believing/protesting.
1. The Siri Thing - Let's just start with that. The article opens with how sexist it is that a helpful electronic presence is given a female voice. Siri is our helper, our inferior, and so naturally, in a patriarchal society, she's a she. Then it talks about how if you say rude sexual or gender-based things to different bots, they mostly don't tell you off. They also respond favorably to being complimented.
You're telling me that the problem here is with bot creators making bots that are shallow and deflective, and NOT with the idiots who sat around all day calling Siri a slut?
2. Women's Sex Double Standards - I wish I could link to this, but it was a Snapchat article. The article was something like "Ten Reasons Not to Go on a Second Date with Someone." Number 6? "He pressures you for sex." Great. Sounds like a good reason not to go on another date with him. Number 9? "He makes you feel bad for wanting sex on the first date." The bullet point goes on to say that someone who shames you for "wanting to get yours" is a prude monster. So, lemme get this straight. A woman can pressure a man for sex, but a man can't pressure a woman for sex. #equality
3. Cornrows - I watched a video (my first mistake) on how wrong it is for anyone other than African Americans to wear cornrows. If you don't have hair that makes cornrows sensible, then you're just committing cultural appropriation. If you're white, you shouldn't get cornrows because you can't appreciate black culture. (So basically, your skin color dictates what style you're allowed to have. Imagine if white people tried to curtail what style black people choose because they're black.) By this logic, only Hawaiians can wear flower in their hair, only Polynesians can have tattoos, and only real cowboys can wear cowboy hats.
How about, instead of getting pissy over everything, we let people wear what they want to wear and do what they want to do regardless of their race? Isn't that kind of the point? That people not be judged or restricted by their race?
4. Racist Grammar - The University of Washington decided that proper grammar is racist, that "English" has no set standard. First of all, what? Are they seriously saying that someone's race makes them incapable of speaking or writing proper English? NOW who's racist?! Second of all, English does have a standard. That's the whole point of the dictionary, so...
5. Offensive Goose Song - I'm not sure how to link to a podcast, so you're just gonna have to hear this one from me. The Woody and Wilcox radio show brought up the story of a woman who heard church bells playing a song, researched to discover the song's lyrics (how would one even do that?), and found that the song's lyrics concerned a man and his dogs hunting geese. She then protested the church for playing a song that was offensive to geese. PETA got involved.
How do we explain to them that the geese don't care? That that woman was not actually protesting from a desire to protect geese, but from a desire to make herself feel good? When people protect animals' feelings, they aren't concerned with the animals at all; they're in it for their own ego. They want to feel like they're doing good. They want people to pat them on the back.
6. The Entire Concept of Microaggression - The word literally says that you are so petty and sensitive that you're offended by something microscopic. Get over yourself. Stop over-analyzing every single thing until you can find something that someone somewhere might think is offensive. Half the time, the potentially offended party (like the goose, for instance) doesn't even give a crap.
If you have any other stupid things that people are upset about, please don't share them. I'm in a state of perpetual annoyance as is ;)
~Stephanie
Second.
Lately, I've been on Facebook and Snapchat entirely too much. It's like a car wreck that I can't look away from. Every time I think I've seen the dumbest thing people can be offended by, something dumber comes along. Every time I think an article is going to be satirical, I read it and find out that, yes, people are ACTUALLY whining that Siri has a female voice and therefore reinforces the patriarchy (women = subservient). Yeah. I'm dead serious. (Sorry to anyone who's had someone pass away; I know that phrase is fatally--oops, did it again--offensive.)
Clearly every single person on social media has such a privileged life (yes, even non-whites) that they must invent crap to be bothered by. If you had real problems, trust me, you would not be throwing tantrums about iRobots.
It's miserable. And misery loves company. So here. Share in my misery of these incredibly stupid things that people are saying/believing/protesting.
1. The Siri Thing - Let's just start with that. The article opens with how sexist it is that a helpful electronic presence is given a female voice. Siri is our helper, our inferior, and so naturally, in a patriarchal society, she's a she. Then it talks about how if you say rude sexual or gender-based things to different bots, they mostly don't tell you off. They also respond favorably to being complimented.
You're telling me that the problem here is with bot creators making bots that are shallow and deflective, and NOT with the idiots who sat around all day calling Siri a slut?
2. Women's Sex Double Standards - I wish I could link to this, but it was a Snapchat article. The article was something like "Ten Reasons Not to Go on a Second Date with Someone." Number 6? "He pressures you for sex." Great. Sounds like a good reason not to go on another date with him. Number 9? "He makes you feel bad for wanting sex on the first date." The bullet point goes on to say that someone who shames you for "wanting to get yours" is a prude monster. So, lemme get this straight. A woman can pressure a man for sex, but a man can't pressure a woman for sex. #equality
3. Cornrows - I watched a video (my first mistake) on how wrong it is for anyone other than African Americans to wear cornrows. If you don't have hair that makes cornrows sensible, then you're just committing cultural appropriation. If you're white, you shouldn't get cornrows because you can't appreciate black culture. (So basically, your skin color dictates what style you're allowed to have. Imagine if white people tried to curtail what style black people choose because they're black.) By this logic, only Hawaiians can wear flower in their hair, only Polynesians can have tattoos, and only real cowboys can wear cowboy hats.
How about, instead of getting pissy over everything, we let people wear what they want to wear and do what they want to do regardless of their race? Isn't that kind of the point? That people not be judged or restricted by their race?
4. Racist Grammar - The University of Washington decided that proper grammar is racist, that "English" has no set standard. First of all, what? Are they seriously saying that someone's race makes them incapable of speaking or writing proper English? NOW who's racist?! Second of all, English does have a standard. That's the whole point of the dictionary, so...
5. Offensive Goose Song - I'm not sure how to link to a podcast, so you're just gonna have to hear this one from me. The Woody and Wilcox radio show brought up the story of a woman who heard church bells playing a song, researched to discover the song's lyrics (how would one even do that?), and found that the song's lyrics concerned a man and his dogs hunting geese. She then protested the church for playing a song that was offensive to geese. PETA got involved.
How do we explain to them that the geese don't care? That that woman was not actually protesting from a desire to protect geese, but from a desire to make herself feel good? When people protect animals' feelings, they aren't concerned with the animals at all; they're in it for their own ego. They want to feel like they're doing good. They want people to pat them on the back.
6. The Entire Concept of Microaggression - The word literally says that you are so petty and sensitive that you're offended by something microscopic. Get over yourself. Stop over-analyzing every single thing until you can find something that someone somewhere might think is offensive. Half the time, the potentially offended party (like the goose, for instance) doesn't even give a crap.
If you have any other stupid things that people are upset about, please don't share them. I'm in a state of perpetual annoyance as is ;)
~Stephanie
Thursday, March 31, 2016
You Might Be an English Major If...
~ You like to laugh at whoever made notes in your literature book before you. They had no clue what they were talking about.
~ You get a special thrill when you've already underlined a passage your professor highlights in class.
~ It takes you three times longer than necessary to study for a literature exam, because you keep getting caught up in how beautiful the words are.
~ Your idea of "relaxing" is paraphrasing Paradise Lost in modern English.
~ You're reading a book for pleasure, but keep feeling like you ought to be taking notes.
~ People ask you grammar questions instead of looking up the answers, because you're faster.
~ Some of the truest joy you've ever felt comes from finding a book source that is truly PERFECT for your research paper. (This happened to me about an hour ago and I'm not gonna lie, I'm still coming down from it.)
~ If listening to your favorite song looks like this.
~ You experience gut-wrenching horror, anger, and sorrow when book-burning is mentioned.
~ A fun evening of relaxing can totally include watching a Macbeth adaptation or reading scholarly articles on femininity in "The Birthmark."
~ You are beyond tired of the question, "So do you wanna teach then?" English majors do not have to be teachers any more than math majors have to be calculators.
~ It feels completely normal to spend 80 minutes talking about phallic and yonic symbols. In fact, you don't really even notice.
~ The inappropriate use of "literally" makes you want to walk away from a conversation--LITERALLY.
~ You are the go-to person whenever someone needs his or her paper edited. And you don't mind.
~ You hear the phrase "country matters" and start giggling mischievously, because Hamlet.
~ You check out a book at the library called "Gold-Hall and Earth-Dragon: Beowulf as a Metaphor" JUST BECAUSE IT SOUNDS INTERESTING.
~ You have turned in over 100 pages of writing this semester.
~ You cringe whenever directly quoting forces you to use controversial punctuation. {I like my Oxford commas, thank you very much.}
~ You actually have an opinion on the Oxford comma.
~ You go out with your friends and end up talking about Hamlet's psychological state, why you're in love with Emily Dickinson, and how Wallace Stevens was a total nihilist.
~ You care enough to compile a list of things called "You Might Be an English Major If..."
Bonus Round:
You might be a SENIOR English major if...
~ You accept the challenge of writing a paper on a text you have not quite finished reading.
~ You email your professor a question about your paper and justify crossing off "work on paper" from your To Do list.
~ You really hope your professor remembers the amazing paper you wrote freshman year and gives you a massive benefit-of-the-doubt about this current one.
~ You write a blog post about your paper and justify crossing off "work on paper" from your To Do list.
~ You do not crumble at the thought of reading 250 pages in a weekend, and another 400 between Monday and Thursday.
~ You start crying when your professor changes a paper requirement from "12-15 pages" to "10-12 pages."
~ You start crying when your professor postpones a paper deadline by a week.
~ You just generally start crying a lot.
You might be a senior English major at Campbell University if...
~ Your professors are some of the most important and amazing people you've ever had in your life, and you are going to miss them every bit as much as you're going to miss your friends. Free pizza.
I'm not even going to make a joke about Just Kidding I'm Gonna Miss Free Pizza More.
I can't believe this part of the journey is almost over.
~ Stephanie
~ You get a special thrill when you've already underlined a passage your professor highlights in class.
~ It takes you three times longer than necessary to study for a literature exam, because you keep getting caught up in how beautiful the words are.
~ Your idea of "relaxing" is paraphrasing Paradise Lost in modern English.
~ You're reading a book for pleasure, but keep feeling like you ought to be taking notes.
~ People ask you grammar questions instead of looking up the answers, because you're faster.
~ Some of the truest joy you've ever felt comes from finding a book source that is truly PERFECT for your research paper. (This happened to me about an hour ago and I'm not gonna lie, I'm still coming down from it.)
~ If listening to your favorite song looks like this.
~ You experience gut-wrenching horror, anger, and sorrow when book-burning is mentioned.
~ A fun evening of relaxing can totally include watching a Macbeth adaptation or reading scholarly articles on femininity in "The Birthmark."
~ You are beyond tired of the question, "So do you wanna teach then?" English majors do not have to be teachers any more than math majors have to be calculators.
~ It feels completely normal to spend 80 minutes talking about phallic and yonic symbols. In fact, you don't really even notice.
~ The inappropriate use of "literally" makes you want to walk away from a conversation--LITERALLY.
~ You are the go-to person whenever someone needs his or her paper edited. And you don't mind.
~ You hear the phrase "country matters" and start giggling mischievously, because Hamlet.
~ You check out a book at the library called "Gold-Hall and Earth-Dragon: Beowulf as a Metaphor" JUST BECAUSE IT SOUNDS INTERESTING.
~ You have turned in over 100 pages of writing this semester.
~ You cringe whenever directly quoting forces you to use controversial punctuation. {I like my Oxford commas, thank you very much.}
~ You actually have an opinion on the Oxford comma.
~ You go out with your friends and end up talking about Hamlet's psychological state, why you're in love with Emily Dickinson, and how Wallace Stevens was a total nihilist.
~ You care enough to compile a list of things called "You Might Be an English Major If..."
Bonus Round:
You might be a SENIOR English major if...
~ You accept the challenge of writing a paper on a text you have not quite finished reading.
~ You email your professor a question about your paper and justify crossing off "work on paper" from your To Do list.
~ You really hope your professor remembers the amazing paper you wrote freshman year and gives you a massive benefit-of-the-doubt about this current one.
~ You write a blog post about your paper and justify crossing off "work on paper" from your To Do list.
~ You do not crumble at the thought of reading 250 pages in a weekend, and another 400 between Monday and Thursday.
~ You start crying when your professor changes a paper requirement from "12-15 pages" to "10-12 pages."
~ You start crying when your professor postpones a paper deadline by a week.
~ You just generally start crying a lot.
You might be a senior English major at Campbell University if...
~ Your professors are some of the most important and amazing people you've ever had in your life, and you are going to miss them every bit as much as you're going to miss your friends. Free pizza.
I'm not even going to make a joke about Just Kidding I'm Gonna Miss Free Pizza More.
I can't believe this part of the journey is almost over.
~ Stephanie
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Bitch, I Can Accomplish More Than One Thing
I’m not sure if I’m staying angry so that I can write this,
or if I’m really still furious. I was definitely furious half an hour ago
though, of that I am certain.
I teach a section of a class at Campbell called the Campbell
University Freshman Seminar (CUFS). It’s basically just a required class for
freshmen about how to succeed in college. To be a teacher of this class, I attend
meetings every other week with all the other student teachers and we learn
teaching strategies and styles etc. Tonight was one of those meetings.
Tonight’s meeting was about Stress Management, and Goal
Setting. Stress Management was really fun: we did breathing exercises, listened
to music, and colored. Then came Goal Setting, which involved The Stoplight "Game."
We were each given fifteen sticky notes (five green, five
red, five yellow). On the
red, we were to write things we want to stop doing next semester; on the green, things we want to start
doing; on the yellow, things we want to keep doing.
At first it was hard to come up with things, but once
the juices got flowing, I really enjoyed the activity. Visualizing my
goals made me feel more productive and capable.
Then we lay all the sticky notes in
front of us.
“All right,” Carrie, the leader, said. “Now, take away
five of them. If you had to give up five goals for next semester, which ones
would you discard?”
Ugh, that sucked after working so hard to pick really important things. I was annoyed.
“All right,” Carrie said. “Look at these ten things. These
are the ten things you most want to be sure to do next semester.” We all nodded.
“Okay, now take away five more.”
Now it just wasn’t cool. I stared at my goals, things like “Make
Time for Creative Writing,” “Read my Bible Every Day,” and “Work Out More
Consistently” and felt genuinely persecuted as I had to strip five more away.
Who was this bitch to tell me that I could only accomplish five damn things
next semester?
I still had seven when she beamed at the group again. “All
right, now that you have five in front of you—” (“I still have seven,” I muttered
to my small group as I finally stripped away "Stop Putting Off Getting Started" and "Start Writing Letters Again") “—I want you to take away two more.”
I glared at her. Wow. Now I had to take away “Blogging” and “Getting the
Hard Stuff Done First” (an awesome strategy I’ve somehow just recently bought
into).
“Now,” she said. “You guessed it. What if you could only
have one goal in front of you? Discard two more. What is the most important
thing to you?”
“Wow,” I muttered to my small group. “Obviously ‘Send Out My
Resume and Get a Real Job” is the one thing that has to stay. I have to get a job.”
I stared at that little green sticky note which—just minutes
ago—had held promise and productivity and passion, and I hated it. I hated its dirty fucking soul.
I had watched my colorful and well-rounded array of life
goals boil down to “Hey Bitch. Get your ‘real’ life together.” I had watched
goals like “Start Writing Letters Again,” “Eat Healthier,” and “Hang Out With
My Roommates” get stripped away because they weren’t “as important” as
practical or obligatory shit like “Read My Bible Every Day” (sorry, Jesus, I love
doing that. I honestly do. Which is why it was fucking stupid to make me
discard it) and “Send Out My Resume.”
It’s just not fair. Seriously, who is this bitch who thinks I
can only accomplish one damn thing?!
We then had to continue this activity by sharing with the
group and making a timeline for achievement, complete with intermediate goals.
As people shared, they had fun insights like “My number one ended up being ‘Get
Organized,’ and it’s funny because I realized that if I just get organized, I’ll
actually achieve my number two and three goals, which were ‘Study More’ and ‘Sleep
More.’”
“Great!” Carrie would say. “That’s great! That’s exactly
right. Isn’t it cool how you figure out that by achieving your ultimate goal, a
lot of the little things fall into place!”
Except that I actually arranged my goals so that they didn’t
overlap like that. ALL of my goals
were individually important.
“This might be a fun activity to do with your classes,”
Carrie said. “We’re happy to provide sticky notes if you want to come by the
office and grab some!”
I will set my
classroom on fire before I subject my beloved freshmen to this, I thought.
See, I understand the purpose of the activity. It was
to help us prioritize, and that part WAS really interesting. (So
interesting that I’m actually going to end this post with my goals in order.)
It just also depressed me completely.
Why would you make me come up with things I want
to do with my life, then direct me to discard everything that adds color and
joy and personality, because—sorry—they can’t realistically make the cut
because I’d rather “Start Working Out” than “Start Writing Letters Again.”
First of all, that makes me feel like a really shitty person when you make me
visually depict the fact that I guess I care more about how I look than keeping
in touch with people? Except that I don’t think I’m a shitty person (at least not because of that). I think I can
do both of those things perfectly well. Back the fuck off and let me keep my
goals.
I know I sound like I’m getting way, way, irrationally angry
about this. And maybe I am. Maybe I’m just PMSing. But I just think it’s really
painful and unhelpful to make a college senior reduce her life to “Get a Job,
Bitch.” But maybe that’s just me.
We shoulda done the Stress Management Workshop last.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15. Clearing Out My Email Inbox Regularly
14. Meeting Up with My CUFS Kids/Keeping in Touch with Them
13. Wasting So Much Time on Facebook
12. Letting My Room Get So Messy
11. Assuming People Don’t Remember Me
10. Hanging Out with My Roommates
9. Eating So Much Junk Food
8. Making Time for Creative Writing
7. Writing Letters Again
6. Stopping Putting off Getting Started
5. Doing the “Hard” Stuff First
4. Blogging
3. Reading My Bible Every Day
2. Working Out More Consistently
1. Sending Out Job Applications/Resume
~Stephanie
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Songs on Repeat These Days
"Waves"
"Stitches"
"Talking Dogs" These guys are great, by the way. You should check them out! My friend Alex Mckee is the lead singer and guitar player.
"The Hills"
~Stephanie
"Stitches"
"Talking Dogs" These guys are great, by the way. You should check them out! My friend Alex Mckee is the lead singer and guitar player.
"The Hills"
~Stephanie
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Surprising Existence
Remember when I posted my list of 50 Desirable Guy Qualities last November? I called the post "A Non-Existent Character."
Today, as I procrastinate a little during lunchtime, I remembered that post. Seeing as I'm dating someone I'm pretty crazy about, I decided to look at the list in light of Gem, just to see where things stood.
I'm not sure if you guys particularly care about this, as it really just pertains to me, but hey, this is my blog and I'll do what I want.
Here's the original post, with new comments in italics; green means Gem's got it.
Stephanie's List of Desirable Guy Qualities (in mostly no particular order)
1. Christian - Gem is one of the realist Christians I know.
2. musician {note: not "plays an instrument." I think playing an instrument and being a musician are
different things.} - This one is tricky. Gem plays the piano well, but he is not a musician. But he has the most amazing sixth sense with music I've ever seen. I'll have to explain it in a whole post sometime.
3. can dance
4. dark hair
5. good singing voice
6. likes to read - And he actually does. A LOT.
7. self-motivated - Depends. But in the interest of not going completely and totally overboard complimenting him, I'm gonna leave this black.
8. in good shape - *blush*
9. knows what he wants to do with his life
10. knows how to make his dreams a reality
11. loves Disney
12. has a sense of irony
13. has the same sense of humor as me
14. knows when to stop
15. likes kids
16. plays a sport - Used to be a swimmer
17. stubborn - Yes, but in an unusual way. It's like he's infinitely patient and steadfast when his mind is made up.
18. able to converse in an engaging and effective manner with people of all ages
19. a science or math person, maybe
20. likes to argue
21. pretty eyes
22. honest {includes keeping promises as well as not lying}
23. crooked smile
24. expressive eyebrows
25. will fight for those he loves
26. taller than me
27. tan
28. Having done drugs is not a problem, but he has to be morally against them now. - He has not done them, never will, and is against them.
29. mindful of money
30. Chivalrous. Opens doors, walks a girl home/to her car/to her dorm, sits on the outside at restaurants, walks next to the road, carries stuff, pays for stuff.
31. unselfish - He likes to do unselfish things for people, but part of it is that he likes to feel like a hero XD Sooo, not sure if this counts as totally unselfish. But to the untrained eye, yes.
32. not in the military
33. cusses occasionally and artfully - "Hell" and "damn" are pretty much the extent of it, but his comedic timing is pretty good.
34. can start a real fire
35. can tie real knots
36. good/similar taste as me in music - Mmm. This is a weird one too. We have pretty different taste in music. But...I have to say that his taste is also "good" because of simply how good he is with music.
37. doesn't disrespect his girlfriend when talking to his friends
38. can help me with writing - He's very perceptive and "real" with his help. He doesn't just compliment my writing, he points out inconsistencies or things that don't make sense, and gives real suggestions. It really took me aback at first, but I appreciate it a ton now.
39. good with directions - Freaking unbelievably good.
40. assertive - He's very careful and tactful with his words, but he is not afraid to take the lead in conversations or call me out on my BS.
41. good grasp of grammar - Yes. However, he does the your/you're thing entirely too often.
42. hard-working
43. confident
44. understands me - He understands me in this weirdly simple way, like it's natural and uncomplicated, even when I don't even understand myself.
45. patient {I'm not talking about the angelic sort of patience, but the calm, persistent kind of patience} - Yes. Just yes.
46. observant - Freakishly.
47. not a Yankee
48. politically conservative
49. adventurous - This is weird. I'd describe him as "adventurous" even though he's, like, kinda not. He likes adventures, but he's generally very practical and cautious--which is great, because it balances my ridiculous, dangerous impulsiveness.
50. writes letters - He does for me :)
45/50. Not bad for a non-existent character :)
~Stephanie
Today, as I procrastinate a little during lunchtime, I remembered that post. Seeing as I'm dating someone I'm pretty crazy about, I decided to look at the list in light of Gem, just to see where things stood.
I'm not sure if you guys particularly care about this, as it really just pertains to me, but hey, this is my blog and I'll do what I want.
Here's the original post, with new comments in italics; green means Gem's got it.
Stephanie's List of Desirable Guy Qualities (in mostly no particular order)
1. Christian - Gem is one of the realist Christians I know.
2. musician {note: not "plays an instrument." I think playing an instrument and being a musician are
different things.} - This one is tricky. Gem plays the piano well, but he is not a musician. But he has the most amazing sixth sense with music I've ever seen. I'll have to explain it in a whole post sometime.
3. can dance
4. dark hair
5. good singing voice
6. likes to read - And he actually does. A LOT.
7. self-motivated - Depends. But in the interest of not going completely and totally overboard complimenting him, I'm gonna leave this black.
8. in good shape - *blush*
9. knows what he wants to do with his life
10. knows how to make his dreams a reality
11. loves Disney
12. has a sense of irony
13. has the same sense of humor as me
14. knows when to stop
15. likes kids
16. plays a sport - Used to be a swimmer
17. stubborn - Yes, but in an unusual way. It's like he's infinitely patient and steadfast when his mind is made up.
18. able to converse in an engaging and effective manner with people of all ages
19. a science or math person, maybe
20. likes to argue
21. pretty eyes
22. honest {includes keeping promises as well as not lying}
23. crooked smile
24. expressive eyebrows
25. will fight for those he loves
26. taller than me
27. tan
28. Having done drugs is not a problem, but he has to be morally against them now. - He has not done them, never will, and is against them.
29. mindful of money
30. Chivalrous. Opens doors, walks a girl home/to her car/to her dorm, sits on the outside at restaurants, walks next to the road, carries stuff, pays for stuff.
31. unselfish - He likes to do unselfish things for people, but part of it is that he likes to feel like a hero XD Sooo, not sure if this counts as totally unselfish. But to the untrained eye, yes.
32. not in the military
33. cusses occasionally and artfully - "Hell" and "damn" are pretty much the extent of it, but his comedic timing is pretty good.
34. can start a real fire
35. can tie real knots
36. good/similar taste as me in music - Mmm. This is a weird one too. We have pretty different taste in music. But...I have to say that his taste is also "good" because of simply how good he is with music.
37. doesn't disrespect his girlfriend when talking to his friends
38. can help me with writing - He's very perceptive and "real" with his help. He doesn't just compliment my writing, he points out inconsistencies or things that don't make sense, and gives real suggestions. It really took me aback at first, but I appreciate it a ton now.
39. good with directions - Freaking unbelievably good.
40. assertive - He's very careful and tactful with his words, but he is not afraid to take the lead in conversations or call me out on my BS.
41. good grasp of grammar - Yes. However, he does the your/you're thing entirely too often.
42. hard-working
43. confident
44. understands me - He understands me in this weirdly simple way, like it's natural and uncomplicated, even when I don't even understand myself.
45. patient {I'm not talking about the angelic sort of patience, but the calm, persistent kind of patience} - Yes. Just yes.
46. observant - Freakishly.
47. not a Yankee
48. politically conservative
49. adventurous - This is weird. I'd describe him as "adventurous" even though he's, like, kinda not. He likes adventures, but he's generally very practical and cautious--which is great, because it balances my ridiculous, dangerous impulsiveness.
50. writes letters - He does for me :)
45/50. Not bad for a non-existent character :)
~Stephanie
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Teen Fantasy Ten Things
Ten Things We Learn from Teen Fantasy Media
1. A good enough one-liner gives any teen the right to walk away from his or her parents.
2. Villains you have killed are more dangerous than live ones. Why? Because they're never ACTUALLY dead, so believing they are just makes you vulnerable to surprise attacks.
3. If any two characters share a smile and a look that lasts longer than three seconds, they will have sex together at some point.
4. No one ever actually hates/ stays mad at someone forever.
5. No one is ever actually an orphan. It's just a loophole so that a long-lost parent can show up later.
6. It is totally possible to fall in love with someone knowing nothing more than their species (human/vampire/werewolf/witch/alien/etc.) and how many visible ab muscles they have.
7. If you open a closet or refrigerator door, there will be someone standing behind it when you close it. (You are also obligated to gasp daintily, briefly shut your eyes, and murmur, "You scared me.")
8. Sex never complicates anything. It will never be distracting or dramatic, and actually fosters intellectual development as a couple.
9. There will always be a love triangle. If there isn't one now, then brace yourself, because it's coming.
10. All girls go to bed wearing full makeup and bras.
But ultimately, everything will totes okay, as long as you and your significant other make each other's love the most important thing in the world.
~Stephanie
P.S. This is also the 600th post! Noice. Thanks for sticking it out with me :)
1. A good enough one-liner gives any teen the right to walk away from his or her parents.
2. Villains you have killed are more dangerous than live ones. Why? Because they're never ACTUALLY dead, so believing they are just makes you vulnerable to surprise attacks.
3. If any two characters share a smile and a look that lasts longer than three seconds, they will have sex together at some point.
4. No one ever actually hates/ stays mad at someone forever.
5. No one is ever actually an orphan. It's just a loophole so that a long-lost parent can show up later.
6. It is totally possible to fall in love with someone knowing nothing more than their species (human/vampire/werewolf/witch/alien/etc.) and how many visible ab muscles they have.
7. If you open a closet or refrigerator door, there will be someone standing behind it when you close it. (You are also obligated to gasp daintily, briefly shut your eyes, and murmur, "You scared me.")
8. Sex never complicates anything. It will never be distracting or dramatic, and actually fosters intellectual development as a couple.
9. There will always be a love triangle. If there isn't one now, then brace yourself, because it's coming.
10. All girls go to bed wearing full makeup and bras.
But ultimately, everything will totes okay, as long as you and your significant other make each other's love the most important thing in the world.
~Stephanie
P.S. This is also the 600th post! Noice. Thanks for sticking it out with me :)
Monday, March 24, 2014
10 Reasons to Like Green
Green has always been my favorite color, with a brief two-year deviation to blue when I was 11-13.
When my sign language teacher asked me why my favorite color was green, I answered with one word: "Alive."
To me, green is the color of life and energy. It's the color of Go lights and sour apple flavor. It's a strong color. It's neither a "girl" color nor a "boy" color. Most of its shades are pleasant.
But in case you need more convincing, here are 10 reasons to like green {or at least find it a very intriguing color}.
1. Employees in green rooms have fewer stomachaches.
2. In North America, green signifies a rise in stock market prices.
3. According to Examiner.com, driving dark green car means you have a solid, trustworthy personality. A bright green one means you're stylist and mischievous.
4. Green was the color of wedding dresses in the 15th century.
5. Green is often {though not always} a lucky color. Think shamrocks.
6. Green M&Ms allegedly make you horny.
7. Green is a primary color. It is all its own, not made from anything else. {*edit* Totally not a primary color. Say it with me, guys: "Yellow and blue make green!" I'm going to blame 2am exhaustion for this one.}
8. There are more shades of green than any other color.
9. It's the easiest color to look at, and can actually improve vision.
10. "Suicides dropped by 34% when London’s Blackfriar Bridge was painted green." {Factsite.com}
So there you have it. What's your favorite color? Can you back it up? XD
~Stephanie
P.S. Also, here's the link to my new "Public" blog, Reason in the Rhyme. To get it up and running, most of the first posts will just be repeats of ones that have been here, on Peripeteia.
When my sign language teacher asked me why my favorite color was green, I answered with one word: "Alive."
To me, green is the color of life and energy. It's the color of Go lights and sour apple flavor. It's a strong color. It's neither a "girl" color nor a "boy" color. Most of its shades are pleasant.
But in case you need more convincing, here are 10 reasons to like green {or at least find it a very intriguing color}.
1. Employees in green rooms have fewer stomachaches.
2. In North America, green signifies a rise in stock market prices.
3. According to Examiner.com, driving dark green car means you have a solid, trustworthy personality. A bright green one means you're stylist and mischievous.
4. Green was the color of wedding dresses in the 15th century.
5. Green is often {though not always} a lucky color. Think shamrocks.
6. Green M&Ms allegedly make you horny.
7. Green is a primary color. It is all its own, not made from anything else. {*edit* Totally not a primary color. Say it with me, guys: "Yellow and blue make green!" I'm going to blame 2am exhaustion for this one.}
8. There are more shades of green than any other color.
9. It's the easiest color to look at, and can actually improve vision.
10. "Suicides dropped by 34% when London’s Blackfriar Bridge was painted green." {Factsite.com}
So there you have it. What's your favorite color? Can you back it up? XD
~Stephanie
P.S. Also, here's the link to my new "Public" blog, Reason in the Rhyme. To get it up and running, most of the first posts will just be repeats of ones that have been here, on Peripeteia.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Facebook Pet Peeves
In no particular order.
1. When someone re-shares something on your timelines, but doesn't Like it. Somehow it feels cheap, like they're trying to pass it off as their own without giving you credit for finding it in the first place.
2. When someone posts an inside-joke as his/her status, particularly when friends are tagged in it. Good for you, you have friends. But let me introduce you to this cool feature called the "private message."
3. That girl with 5000 friends who posts selfies all the time and gets about 200 Likes. It's nothing to be proud of, because really, out of 5000 people you're bound to find ones who will reward a little cleavage.
4. When comments on a picture or post are allowed to run rampant. There should never, ever, ever be more than five comments posted by the same person on the same post/picture. Ever. Again, let me introduce you to the private message feature.
5. When people use a sarcastic meme as an invitation to start a debate in the comments. No. It's a meme. It's funny. No one cares about opposite opinions when they post memes.
6. The tsunami of "fun," "thought-provoking," "so good," "inspiring," "sweet," "perfect" articles about dating/marriage/old-fashioned relationships/the value of waiting/serving your spouse/how to love being single/how to find The One by/not looking for The One, et freaking cetera. Good god. Me thinks everyone and their brother dost protest to much.
7. Stupid people. Sometimes there's just no acceptable escape. You can't delete them, but you simply MUST Hide them from your newsfeed.
~Stephanie
1. When someone re-shares something on your timelines, but doesn't Like it. Somehow it feels cheap, like they're trying to pass it off as their own without giving you credit for finding it in the first place.
2. When someone posts an inside-joke as his/her status, particularly when friends are tagged in it. Good for you, you have friends. But let me introduce you to this cool feature called the "private message."
3. That girl with 5000 friends who posts selfies all the time and gets about 200 Likes. It's nothing to be proud of, because really, out of 5000 people you're bound to find ones who will reward a little cleavage.
4. When comments on a picture or post are allowed to run rampant. There should never, ever, ever be more than five comments posted by the same person on the same post/picture. Ever. Again, let me introduce you to the private message feature.
5. When people use a sarcastic meme as an invitation to start a debate in the comments. No. It's a meme. It's funny. No one cares about opposite opinions when they post memes.
6. The tsunami of "fun," "thought-provoking," "so good," "inspiring," "sweet," "perfect" articles about dating/marriage/old-fashioned relationships/the value of waiting/serving your spouse/how to love being single/how to find The One by/not looking for The One, et freaking cetera. Good god. Me thinks everyone and their brother dost protest to much.
7. Stupid people. Sometimes there's just no acceptable escape. You can't delete them, but you simply MUST Hide them from your newsfeed.
~Stephanie
Monday, February 3, 2014
Acceptable Excuses: College Version
Not only should your friends respond with solemn nods, but your professors should also be required to accept these as legitimate reasons for tardiness and/or crappy work.
- I was deciding between eating and brushing my teeth.
- My suite mate got to the bathroom first.
- I was watching Breaking Bad.
- I forgot it was TTH and not MWF.
- My clothes were in the washing machine. From last night.
- I was writing.
- ...I just really hate this class.
~Stephanie
- I was deciding between eating and brushing my teeth.
- My suite mate got to the bathroom first.
- I was watching Breaking Bad.
- I forgot it was TTH and not MWF.
- My clothes were in the washing machine. From last night.
- I was writing.
- ...I just really hate this class.
~Stephanie
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Twenty Things...
...to do the year I am twenty.
It's coming up fast...
1. Go to a music festival
2. Make a pie from scratch
4. Read twelve books
5. Watch a really good horror movie
6. Buy dinner for my family
7. Choreograph a dance
8. Learn all the lyrics to Eminem's "Rap God" (...jeezus, this'll be the hardest thing I do all year XD)
9. Go on a blind date
10. Watch all the Movies of the Year since I was born
12. Be part of a triathlon team
13. Finish a piece of writing that I'm proud of
14. Make a grilled cheese using an iron
15. Write at the Farm
16. Get my eyebrows done
17. Read "Paradise Lost"
18. Go in an abandoned building
19. Go to Ashville for summer solstice
20. Say "I love you" to someone out loud, and mean it
~Stephanie
It's coming up fast...
1. Go to a music festival
2. Make a pie from scratch
4. Read twelve books
5. Watch a really good horror movie
6. Buy dinner for my family
7. Choreograph a dance
8. Learn all the lyrics to Eminem's "Rap God" (...jeezus, this'll be the hardest thing I do all year XD)
9. Go on a blind date
10. Watch all the Movies of the Year since I was born
12. Be part of a triathlon team
13. Finish a piece of writing that I'm proud of
14. Make a grilled cheese using an iron
15. Write at the Farm
16. Get my eyebrows done
17. Read "Paradise Lost"
18. Go in an abandoned building
19. Go to Ashville for summer solstice
20. Say "I love you" to someone out loud, and mean it
~Stephanie
Monday, December 23, 2013
Happy Things
I guess I just need this list.
Happy Christmas Things
1. Pancakes
2. Sugar cookies shaped like donkeys
3. Adorable smiles on snowmen and Santas
4. 24-hour Christmas music on the radio
5. Hot chocolate
6. Christmas stories with pictures
7. Sarah reading The Mortal Instruments trilogy and loving it
8. Children
9. Perfect bows on presents
10. Someone's face when they love your gift
11. Being warm in bed
12. Christmas songs {just not the horrible, depressing ones *cough* "Christmas Shoes" *cough*}
13. Footie pajamas
14. Finding out I got a 4.0 this semester :)
~Stephanie
Happy Christmas Things
1. Pancakes
2. Sugar cookies shaped like donkeys
3. Adorable smiles on snowmen and Santas
4. 24-hour Christmas music on the radio
5. Hot chocolate
6. Christmas stories with pictures
7. Sarah reading The Mortal Instruments trilogy and loving it
8. Children
9. Perfect bows on presents
10. Someone's face when they love your gift
11. Being warm in bed
12. Christmas songs {just not the horrible, depressing ones *cough* "Christmas Shoes" *cough*}
13. Footie pajamas
14. Finding out I got a 4.0 this semester :)
~Stephanie
Sunday, November 3, 2013
A Non-Existent Character
Suddenly, everyone I know on Facebook is posting stuff about what to look for in a husband, and how to find God's match for you, and the "non-negotiable" qualities a husband must have, and what marriage is all about, and how God needs to be our everything before we look for another person.
It's getting old. Real old.
But, after reading lists of shockingly similar and almost arbitrary suggested "non-negotiable" qualities, I decided to make my own list.
Obviously, it's ridiculously specific and I do not expect to find a guy who possesses every one of these characteristics. I'm so okay with that. But I feel like this gives me something interesting to hold in my mind.
Stephanie's List of Desirable Guy Qualities (in mostly no particular order)
1. Christian
2. musician {note: not "plays an instrument." I think playing an instrument and being a musician are different things.}
3. can dance
4. dark hair
5. good singing voice
6. likes to read
7. self-motivated
8. in good shape
9. knows what he wants to do with his life
10. knows how to make his dreams a reality
11. loves Disney
12. has a sense of irony
13. has the same sense of humor as me
14. knows when to stop
15. likes kids
16. plays a sport
17. stubborn
18. able to converse in an engaging and effective manner with people of all ages
19. a science or math person, maybe
20. likes to argue
21. pretty eyes
22. honest {includes keeping promises as well as not lying}
23. crooked smile
24. expressive eyebrows
25. will fight for those he loves
26. taller than me
27. tan
28. Having done drugs is not a problem, but he has to be morally against them now.
29. mindful of money
30. Chivalrous. Opens doors, walks a girl home/to her car/to her dorm, sits on the outside at restaurants, walks next to the road, carries stuff, pays for stuff.
31. unselfish
32. not in the military
33. cusses occasionally and artfully
34. can start a real fire
35. can tie real knots
36. good/similar taste as me in music
37. doesn't disrespect his girlfriend when talking to his friends
38. can help me with writing
39. good with directions
40. assertive
41. good grasp of grammar
42. hard-working
43. confident
44. understands me
45. patient {I'm not talking about the angelic sort of patience, but the calm, persistent kind of patience}
46. observant
47. not a Yankee
48. politically conservative
49. adventurous
50. writes letters
Anyone else interested in sharing some qualities/characteristics they look for?
~Stephanie
It's getting old. Real old.
But, after reading lists of shockingly similar and almost arbitrary suggested "non-negotiable" qualities, I decided to make my own list.
Obviously, it's ridiculously specific and I do not expect to find a guy who possesses every one of these characteristics. I'm so okay with that. But I feel like this gives me something interesting to hold in my mind.
Stephanie's List of Desirable Guy Qualities (in mostly no particular order)
1. Christian
2. musician {note: not "plays an instrument." I think playing an instrument and being a musician are different things.}
3. can dance
4. dark hair
5. good singing voice
6. likes to read
7. self-motivated
8. in good shape
9. knows what he wants to do with his life
10. knows how to make his dreams a reality
11. loves Disney
12. has a sense of irony
13. has the same sense of humor as me
14. knows when to stop
15. likes kids
16. plays a sport
17. stubborn
18. able to converse in an engaging and effective manner with people of all ages
19. a science or math person, maybe
20. likes to argue
21. pretty eyes
22. honest {includes keeping promises as well as not lying}
23. crooked smile
24. expressive eyebrows
25. will fight for those he loves
26. taller than me
27. tan
28. Having done drugs is not a problem, but he has to be morally against them now.
29. mindful of money
30. Chivalrous. Opens doors, walks a girl home/to her car/to her dorm, sits on the outside at restaurants, walks next to the road, carries stuff, pays for stuff.
31. unselfish
32. not in the military
33. cusses occasionally and artfully
34. can start a real fire
35. can tie real knots
36. good/similar taste as me in music
37. doesn't disrespect his girlfriend when talking to his friends
38. can help me with writing
39. good with directions
40. assertive
41. good grasp of grammar
42. hard-working
43. confident
44. understands me
45. patient {I'm not talking about the angelic sort of patience, but the calm, persistent kind of patience}
46. observant
47. not a Yankee
48. politically conservative
49. adventurous
50. writes letters
Anyone else interested in sharing some qualities/characteristics they look for?
~Stephanie
Friday, October 25, 2013
Sensitive? ...Nah
I don't cry particularly often. However, in the past two weeks, a completely unprecedented number of things have brought me to, or close to, tears. I ask you:
What the heck?
Things That Have Made Me Feel Like Crying
1. An episode of the Twilight Zone
2. The fact that no one listens to my adorable environmental science professor
3. My parents being controlling
4. My throat hurting
5. "Atlas" by Coldplay
6. A picture of two cute bunnies
7. The ramen bowl breaking
8. Seeing a commercial for the series finale of What Not to Wear
9. The Springboks winning the Rugby World Cup in "Invictus"
10. Hearing that a bunch of Justin's friends are bailing on his birthday party
11. The Andy Griffith Show
Thankfully, only two of these things resulted in actual waterworks. Hopefully I'm not becoming, like, sensitive or something XD
~Stephanie
What the heck?
Things That Have Made Me Feel Like Crying
1. An episode of the Twilight Zone
2. The fact that no one listens to my adorable environmental science professor
3. My parents being controlling
4. My throat hurting
5. "Atlas" by Coldplay
6. A picture of two cute bunnies
7. The ramen bowl breaking
8. Seeing a commercial for the series finale of What Not to Wear
9. The Springboks winning the Rugby World Cup in "Invictus"
10. Hearing that a bunch of Justin's friends are bailing on his birthday party
11. The Andy Griffith Show
Thankfully, only two of these things resulted in actual waterworks. Hopefully I'm not becoming, like, sensitive or something XD
~Stephanie
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Five Ways
I'm not always the easiest person to be friends with. A lot of people plain don't like me. So if you're one of those people just looking for a way out, here is the post for you.
Five Ways To Drive Me Away:
1. Insult Adventure Time. I had a girl notice my Adventure Time shirt today. "I watched a couple of episodes," she said. "I was disappointed. Cartoon Network used to be GOOD." If I hadn't already disliked the girl, that unnecessary comment alone would have done it.
2. Point out that my feet are gross. There's nothing like hanging out with some friends and having one point out a spot of dry skin on your foot that "needs to be taken care of."
3. Use atrocious texting grammar. I can deal with the occasional "u" or ridiculous use of "lol," but when an average text from you reads "Oh lol ah that's suckys we'll better pack as much in as u can" or "Lol ye tmrw shud n fun day," I can only be but so involved with you.
4. Disrespect my musical taste. You think Linkin Park is "just noise"? That's cool. And by "cool" I mean "a rude and abominable opinion that should not be thrown at me so cavalierly."
5. Touch me excessively. I'm not a hugging person, but a Hello hug and a Goodbye hug make plenty of social sense. However, if you are constantly brushing my arm, poking my side, or--God forbid--trying to lean a body part against me, we're just not gonna work out.
What are some friendship deal-breakers for you guys?
~Stephanie
Five Ways To Drive Me Away:
1. Insult Adventure Time. I had a girl notice my Adventure Time shirt today. "I watched a couple of episodes," she said. "I was disappointed. Cartoon Network used to be GOOD." If I hadn't already disliked the girl, that unnecessary comment alone would have done it.
2. Point out that my feet are gross. There's nothing like hanging out with some friends and having one point out a spot of dry skin on your foot that "needs to be taken care of."
3. Use atrocious texting grammar. I can deal with the occasional "u" or ridiculous use of "lol," but when an average text from you reads "Oh lol ah that's suckys we'll better pack as much in as u can" or "Lol ye tmrw shud n fun day," I can only be but so involved with you.
4. Disrespect my musical taste. You think Linkin Park is "just noise"? That's cool. And by "cool" I mean "a rude and abominable opinion that should not be thrown at me so cavalierly."
5. Touch me excessively. I'm not a hugging person, but a Hello hug and a Goodbye hug make plenty of social sense. However, if you are constantly brushing my arm, poking my side, or--God forbid--trying to lean a body part against me, we're just not gonna work out.
What are some friendship deal-breakers for you guys?
~Stephanie
Friday, August 23, 2013
Top 10 Favorite Possessions
Not the most sentimental. Not the most expensive. Not the most beautiful. Just my favorite things.
1. iPod ~ Not only do I love music, but Sarah saved up for like a year to be able to buy me this iPod classic for high school graduation :')
2. Ramen bowl ~ PC gave me this bowl for Christmas. It just makes me really happy. I eat ramen noodles fairly often in college and always carefully wash and replace the bowl on my shelf.
3. The "Mythical Dress" ~ For some reason, I just love this dress a lot. I've only worn it twice in my life, but it's one of my favorite possessions.
4. Halle ~ My little orchid C:
5. Batman mug ~ It's three times the size of a normal coffee mug, and it has Batman on it. I freaking love that mug.
6. Bed Friends + Batboy ~ I have three stuffed animals that I sleep with: Charles, the Pilgrim bear; Real-Blank, my slightly dingy baby blanket; and Happy, my purple hippo. Little Batman/Batboy is not technically a Bed Friend, but I'm including him because he belongs on this list.
7. Fairystone cross ~ PC gave me a fairystone charm as a reminder of what's up. I've worn it for at least part of every day since April 14th.
8. Batman Converse ~ Sarah did it again by getting me Batman hightops for my birthday! {Oh crud, or was it Christmas? D:}
9. Ember bracelet ~ I got this at Disney world from a cute French Canadian guy who thought it was cool that I wrote books. But really I just like it because it's a more mature reminder of the Fire Fairy stories. I wear it all the time.
10. Blue and teal underwear ~ Yeah. I just have this one pair that I love a lot. *nods awkwardly* Sooo yeah. No pictures with this one.
What are some of your favorite possessions?
~Stephanie
1. iPod ~ Not only do I love music, but Sarah saved up for like a year to be able to buy me this iPod classic for high school graduation :')
2. Ramen bowl ~ PC gave me this bowl for Christmas. It just makes me really happy. I eat ramen noodles fairly often in college and always carefully wash and replace the bowl on my shelf.
3. The "Mythical Dress" ~ For some reason, I just love this dress a lot. I've only worn it twice in my life, but it's one of my favorite possessions.
4. Halle ~ My little orchid C:
5. Batman mug ~ It's three times the size of a normal coffee mug, and it has Batman on it. I freaking love that mug.
6. Bed Friends + Batboy ~ I have three stuffed animals that I sleep with: Charles, the Pilgrim bear; Real-Blank, my slightly dingy baby blanket; and Happy, my purple hippo. Little Batman/Batboy is not technically a Bed Friend, but I'm including him because he belongs on this list.
7. Fairystone cross ~ PC gave me a fairystone charm as a reminder of what's up. I've worn it for at least part of every day since April 14th.
8. Batman Converse ~ Sarah did it again by getting me Batman hightops for my birthday! {Oh crud, or was it Christmas? D:}
9. Ember bracelet ~ I got this at Disney world from a cute French Canadian guy who thought it was cool that I wrote books. But really I just like it because it's a more mature reminder of the Fire Fairy stories. I wear it all the time.
10. Blue and teal underwear ~ Yeah. I just have this one pair that I love a lot. *nods awkwardly* Sooo yeah. No pictures with this one.
What are some of your favorite possessions?
~Stephanie
Friday, August 16, 2013
Re: Summer 2013
I looked back at the Summer To Do list I had posted a few months ago. I expected to be bitterly disappointed with my lack of success and feel like a tearful failure as I head back to school on Sunday.
I was pleasantly surprised.
~ work at dance Check. I filed papers, painted paper castles, ordered shoes, taught dances to "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," painted the wood behind the barre, made Home Depot runs, and got paid for hanging out at one of my favorite places on earth. I love these people, I love to dance, and I love getting paid for being with people I love and dancing. Check a thousand times over.
~ go to the beach Check, twice. I went once with my family, where I walked a lot and hung out with my really cool bestfriendsister, Sarah. Then I went with PC and his family, where we made three separate trips to an awesome rock store {as in labradorite and amethyst}.
~ fall deeper in love with God It seems weird and wrong to check this off of a list. I definitely got some pointers on how to hear him and live my life the right way. I'm excited to listen to him this fall.
~ read "Paradise Lost" I straight up did not do this XD It's been on my summer list since I started it in tenth grade. It'll happen one of these days.
~ learn more German I didn't learn, like, a LOT more German, but I feel slightly more familiar with it, and I can now say "cheese," so I'm counting this as Check worthy. Check.
~ get my eyebrows done for once Not check. I think it's actually not that important to me, though I still would like to have them done.
~ travel with Cassidy Check. I definitely did this. Florida was hot and interesting and funny. California was crisp and clear and relaxing and financially wonderful.
~ see "The Great Gatsby" at midnight Check. Technically I saw it at 10pm instead of midnight, but I actually count that as being even better. The movie was breathtakingly, phenomenally, gloriously perfect. I cannot stress enough how beautiful it was. However, I think you have to read the book first to "get" it.
~ get my body back to where I don't hate it Check, actually. I started going to boot camp again, and while I'm still critical of myself, I can see muscle and I'm currently tan, which equal me not walking around the house literally all of the time and telling myself how disgusting I am.
~ catch lightning bugs with PC Check. We did not precisely catch lightning bugs, however, just the other night, we found a lightning bug trapped in thick grass. At the same time, we saw a point of yellow-green glow emanating from the ground. I didn't know what it was, because I'd never seen a bug get stuck and keep lighting up, but when we investigated, there it was. It was inexplicably fascinating to me.
~ eat stuffed crust pizza for the first time I can remember Not check. This one disappoints me. I really want stuffed crust pizza, like, a lot. Mur.
~ read "Nineteen Eighty-Four" Not check, because I couldn't find it even though I know we own it. I only read two books this summer: "A Mirror for Princes" and "The Book of the Bizarre."
~ write something Check :) I journaled a lot, and wrote something that's currently titled "One Percent." I like it a lot, even though I have no idea what's going on. Maybe I'll post it sometime.
This summer was amazing. I must be the luckiest person in the world. It was perfect. Wow. Just wow.
I am ready to go back to school and be the best version of Stephanie this world has ever seen.
~Stephanie
I was pleasantly surprised.
~ work at dance Check. I filed papers, painted paper castles, ordered shoes, taught dances to "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," painted the wood behind the barre, made Home Depot runs, and got paid for hanging out at one of my favorite places on earth. I love these people, I love to dance, and I love getting paid for being with people I love and dancing. Check a thousand times over.
~ go to the beach Check, twice. I went once with my family, where I walked a lot and hung out with my really cool bestfriendsister, Sarah. Then I went with PC and his family, where we made three separate trips to an awesome rock store {as in labradorite and amethyst}.
~ fall deeper in love with God It seems weird and wrong to check this off of a list. I definitely got some pointers on how to hear him and live my life the right way. I'm excited to listen to him this fall.
~ read "Paradise Lost" I straight up did not do this XD It's been on my summer list since I started it in tenth grade. It'll happen one of these days.
~ learn more German I didn't learn, like, a LOT more German, but I feel slightly more familiar with it, and I can now say "cheese," so I'm counting this as Check worthy. Check.
~ get my eyebrows done for once Not check. I think it's actually not that important to me, though I still would like to have them done.
~ travel with Cassidy Check. I definitely did this. Florida was hot and interesting and funny. California was crisp and clear and relaxing and financially wonderful.
~ see "The Great Gatsby" at midnight Check. Technically I saw it at 10pm instead of midnight, but I actually count that as being even better. The movie was breathtakingly, phenomenally, gloriously perfect. I cannot stress enough how beautiful it was. However, I think you have to read the book first to "get" it.
~ get my body back to where I don't hate it Check, actually. I started going to boot camp again, and while I'm still critical of myself, I can see muscle and I'm currently tan, which equal me not walking around the house literally all of the time and telling myself how disgusting I am.
~ catch lightning bugs with PC Check. We did not precisely catch lightning bugs, however, just the other night, we found a lightning bug trapped in thick grass. At the same time, we saw a point of yellow-green glow emanating from the ground. I didn't know what it was, because I'd never seen a bug get stuck and keep lighting up, but when we investigated, there it was. It was inexplicably fascinating to me.
~ eat stuffed crust pizza for the first time I can remember Not check. This one disappoints me. I really want stuffed crust pizza, like, a lot. Mur.
~ read "Nineteen Eighty-Four" Not check, because I couldn't find it even though I know we own it. I only read two books this summer: "A Mirror for Princes" and "The Book of the Bizarre."
~ write something Check :) I journaled a lot, and wrote something that's currently titled "One Percent." I like it a lot, even though I have no idea what's going on. Maybe I'll post it sometime.
This summer was amazing. I must be the luckiest person in the world. It was perfect. Wow. Just wow.
I am ready to go back to school and be the best version of Stephanie this world has ever seen.
~Stephanie
Sunday, July 28, 2013
"Only Pictures"
The title is in quotation marks because we all know how difficult it is for me to forgo using words. It's not impossible, but it's hard enough that I don't want to attempt it on a Sunday afternoon on three hours of restless sleep when I'm supposed to be in California right now. {The joys of flying standby continue.}
I'd like to answer the narcissistic question "Who am I?"
~Stephanie
I'd like to answer the narcissistic question "Who am I?"
This is Me.
This is also me.
This used to be me.
I love books.
And tea.
And I sometimes have nightmares or sleepwalk, resulting in scenes like this.
But I really love dreams. A lot.
I have four best friends.
Cassidy
Alicia
Sarah
And Sam {of whom there are no serious solo pictures}
I have been to Europe.
And I have had a broken heart.
I do this a lot, even though I'm almost not a teenager anymore.
I have always been a dancer.
And a writer.
And I might be able to do this, but I'm not actually sure.
This describes how I feel about myself.
This is how I wish my hair looked.
This describes my sense of humor.
And this my philosophy of relationship.
And this of life.
I like unusual things.
That is all.
~Stephanie
Monday, July 8, 2013
Anger Scale
Today I referred to being "level 7 angry," and that got me thinking about how I would actually break down my anger scale. After much deliberation {and you know that's true}, I give you my personal Anger Scale.
Level 1: Neutral. Not angry.
Level 2:
Symptoms: Mental flick of irritation; wry smile
Description:/Example A small, intentional offense designed to make me playfully annoyed. This barely counts as "anger."
Level 3:
Symptoms: Edge in voice; stiffer body language
Description/Example: Usually a result of Level 1 taken too far
Level 4:
Symptoms: Slight temper flare; embarrassment; snapping at others, then immediately covering it up;
Description/Example: Something that bothers me a lot, but that I realize shouldn't affect me so much
Level 5:
Symptoms: Feeling of anger; desire to remove self from situation; need for someone who understands how I feel
Description/Example: Someone cheating at a game; someone spreading harmfully inaccurate information
Level 6:
Symptoms: Scowl; vengeful streak returns, resulting in regrettable words that I have no current desire to take back;
Description/Example: If someone pisses me off when I'm already at Level 5
Level 7:
Symptoms: Scowl; clarity of thought; motivation to right the wrong;
Description/Example: A minor but legitimate offense against me or someone I love; a third party screwing up something official like a dorm room assignment or a scholarship letter; a heated debate
Level 8:
Symptoms: Tears of frustration; general heightened stubbornness; need for music;
Description/Example: Something like my parents relentlessly nagging me or treating me unfairly; my sister being an unreasonable brat
Level 9:
Symptoms: Refusal to speak; elevated heart rate;
Description/Example: A large, legitimate injustice that affects me or someone I love, especially at the hands of someone arrogant
Level 10:
Symptoms: Trouble breathing; gritted teeth; eyes burning; dimming vision; spikes of adrenaline; barely restrained physical violence; fierce desire to make the perpetrator understand his/her wrong. Recalling a Level 10 event will bring back rage no matter how many years have passed.
Description/Example: I can only ever remember being this angry four times in my life, and the range of provocation is hilariously broad. Instances range from a best friend refusing to guard an imaginary secret, to someone refusing to give credence to my opinion in a movie theater. What can I say, I'm weird.
I'm also really tired, so I probably shouldn't publish this yet, but I'm ready to be done with it XD
~Stephanie
Level 1: Neutral. Not angry.
Level 2:
Symptoms: Mental flick of irritation; wry smile
Description:/Example A small, intentional offense designed to make me playfully annoyed. This barely counts as "anger."
Level 3:
Symptoms: Edge in voice; stiffer body language
Description/Example: Usually a result of Level 1 taken too far
Level 4:
Symptoms: Slight temper flare; embarrassment; snapping at others, then immediately covering it up;
Description/Example: Something that bothers me a lot, but that I realize shouldn't affect me so much
Level 5:
Symptoms: Feeling of anger; desire to remove self from situation; need for someone who understands how I feel
Description/Example: Someone cheating at a game; someone spreading harmfully inaccurate information
Level 6:
Symptoms: Scowl; vengeful streak returns, resulting in regrettable words that I have no current desire to take back;
Description/Example: If someone pisses me off when I'm already at Level 5
Level 7:
Symptoms: Scowl; clarity of thought; motivation to right the wrong;
Description/Example: A minor but legitimate offense against me or someone I love; a third party screwing up something official like a dorm room assignment or a scholarship letter; a heated debate
Level 8:
Symptoms: Tears of frustration; general heightened stubbornness; need for music;
Description/Example: Something like my parents relentlessly nagging me or treating me unfairly; my sister being an unreasonable brat
Level 9:
Symptoms: Refusal to speak; elevated heart rate;
Description/Example: A large, legitimate injustice that affects me or someone I love, especially at the hands of someone arrogant
Level 10:
Symptoms: Trouble breathing; gritted teeth; eyes burning; dimming vision; spikes of adrenaline; barely restrained physical violence; fierce desire to make the perpetrator understand his/her wrong. Recalling a Level 10 event will bring back rage no matter how many years have passed.
Description/Example: I can only ever remember being this angry four times in my life, and the range of provocation is hilariously broad. Instances range from a best friend refusing to guard an imaginary secret, to someone refusing to give credence to my opinion in a movie theater. What can I say, I'm weird.
I'm also really tired, so I probably shouldn't publish this yet, but I'm ready to be done with it XD
~Stephanie
Friday, July 5, 2013
My Dear Future Children
{Continuing with the unused topics from the Blog Every Day Challenge.}
Day Thirteen: Issue a public apology.
My dear Future Children,
I don't know you yet, and you definitely don't know me as I write this. However, I'd like to apologize in advance, because I know having me for a mother is going to be...a mother.
I'm sorry that you don't have a cell phone, iPod touch, or TV in your room. Call me old-fashioned, but there's nothing outdated about a little healthy use of your imagination.
I'm sorry that I constantly correct your use of the word "much" versus "many," and "less" versus "fewer." Your college professors will love you, I promise.
I'm sorry that I only let you watch an hour of TV a day.
I'm sorry that I make your do your math homework to within an inch of its life. I just know how it turns out when you, you know, don't do that.
I'm sorry that I make you drink milk and water instead of soda and juice like all the other kids.
I'm sorry that I don't let you read Harry Potter until you're too old to enjoy the first two books. I know it sucks, but I'm so glad my parents did that for me.
I'm sorry that I randomly speak to you in Spanish, German, Latin, and God Only Knows What Else.
I'm sorry that you know all the words to Linkin Park and Relient K instead of the latest pop songs.
I'm sorry that I don't believe you're really using the bathroom for twenty-five minutes. The book you're reading has disappeared from its spot on the couch, leaving little to my extensive imagination.
I'm sorry that I embarrass you by tap dancing in the grocery store checkout line.
I'm sorry that I don't let you date when you're fifteen.
But you know what? I'm not really sorry for any of this. You kids are going to be awesome. And odds are, one of you is going to turn out to be like me and then your grandma can point and laugh at me and say, "Nature's revenge is sweet."
Sincerely,
Your sarcastic Future Mom
Day Thirteen: Issue a public apology.
My dear Future Children,
I don't know you yet, and you definitely don't know me as I write this. However, I'd like to apologize in advance, because I know having me for a mother is going to be...a mother.
I'm sorry that you don't have a cell phone, iPod touch, or TV in your room. Call me old-fashioned, but there's nothing outdated about a little healthy use of your imagination.
I'm sorry that I constantly correct your use of the word "much" versus "many," and "less" versus "fewer." Your college professors will love you, I promise.
I'm sorry that I only let you watch an hour of TV a day.
I'm sorry that I make your do your math homework to within an inch of its life. I just know how it turns out when you, you know, don't do that.
I'm sorry that I make you drink milk and water instead of soda and juice like all the other kids.
I'm sorry that I don't let you read Harry Potter until you're too old to enjoy the first two books. I know it sucks, but I'm so glad my parents did that for me.
I'm sorry that I randomly speak to you in Spanish, German, Latin, and God Only Knows What Else.
I'm sorry that you know all the words to Linkin Park and Relient K instead of the latest pop songs.
I'm sorry that I don't believe you're really using the bathroom for twenty-five minutes. The book you're reading has disappeared from its spot on the couch, leaving little to my extensive imagination.
I'm sorry that I embarrass you by tap dancing in the grocery store checkout line.
I'm sorry that I don't let you date when you're fifteen.
But you know what? I'm not really sorry for any of this. You kids are going to be awesome. And odds are, one of you is going to turn out to be like me and then your grandma can point and laugh at me and say, "Nature's revenge is sweet."
Sincerely,
Your sarcastic Future Mom
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