Irrational fears

Monday, November 24th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

The other day while studying in the library, I did something I tend to do about every 10 minutes when I’m studying in public — pull out one of my earbuds to make sure I’m still the only one enjoying my “Turkey time” playlist.

I study in fear that the cord will slip out without me realizing it or my computer will just decide to blast my music out loud.

 As I replaced the ear bud, reassured no one else could hear “Single Ladies,” I realized this paranoia is pretty irrational, which led me to think about what else I am irrationally afraid of. I’m sad to say I came up with quite a few. Here’s the list:

 -the phone (this entails several fears: that it will ring in class, getting a call from a number I don’t recognize, my tendency to be awkward on the phone)
-maggots
-parasites, aneurisms and other medical rarities (thanks to a mom who’s a nurse and too much Grey’s Anatomy and e.r.)
-speaking out in class. particularly while speaking Spanish
-bees
-taking things out of the oven
-static electricity (and actual electricity for that matter) 

So do you have irrational fears? Post them and let me know I’m not alone!

forget the bad, remember the good

Sunday, November 16th, 2008 | Sports, Uncategorized | No Comments

I have this map in my car of LaGrange, Ga., that I used this summer while I worked there. As I spent my days navigating the streets of LaGrange to cover a school board meeting or interview a couple about their hydroponic produce, I kept a running countdown until I was done.

Sure the job was fine and I learned a lot, but that’s how I function — always ready to move on to the next thing.

So yesterday morning as I headed to campus for my last football game as a student, while my friends were all sad and nostalgic, I was secretly fine with the situation. I am admittedly not the world’s biggest football enthusiast to begin with, so I figured after 4 plus hours standing in the chilly weather, I’d walk out of Jordan-Hare for my last time as a student thinking about nothing but the heaters my friend had at her tailgate.

But Auburn threw me a little curve ball. They played well. The last five minutes of that game were the most exciting moments of our season. Even though it ended badly, it was fun having something to jump up and down about.

When the game ended, we decided not to fight the crowd and to just sit down and wait it out. And after a few minutes, the band put down their instruments and sang the alma mater. I don’t know if they do that after every game or after the last home game — I never stay long enough to know. But it was neat. 

As I walked out of the stadium, I was thinking about those heaters (they’re like the ones at Bodega. yeah.), but I was also thinking that I’m glad this game was my last one. Even though it was a loss, it was one to remember.

Moral of the story: When I see that map of LaGrange in my car, I don’t think about getting up at 5 a.m. or the many times I managed to get lost in that little city. I think about the friends I made and experiences I had. So hopefully down the road when I come across a shaker or old game-day button, I won’t remember the embarrassing games or the obnoxious drunk girl who sat behind me that time. I hope I just think about fun games like yesterday’s.

Pets or people?

Sunday, November 9th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

I have come to the conclusion that I care far too much about animals. Here are some examples of why.

-When I drive past a wreck, my first thought is often, “I hope there wasn’t a dog in that car.”

-When I take trips home, I’m usually more excited to see my dogs than my family.

-I love to watch The Amazing Race. When contestants go racing through the slums of India with poverty-ridden villagers in the background, I don’t flinch. But show one stray dog or over-worked bull and I am distraught.

-Slap an animal on a book cover or in a movie trailer, and I’m sold.

Don’t worry—I didn’t vote based on whether I like donkeys or elephants more. Maybe I should have been a vet, or maybe I should look into working for some magazine about animals. But should the newspaper business ever die out, I am going to be a professional pet sitter.

Puppy love

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

I made plans weeks ago to take a trip home this weekend to go with the family to the Ole Miss game. 

Needless to say, the game was frustrating. I got sunburned and a cold. None of my friends were home this weekend, so I spent most of my time at my house.

But this weekend was possibly the best one I have had all semester. We have a new addition to the family—a little yellow lab puppy named Honey.

Last week, we had to put our yellow lab Molly to sleep, and it was pretty traumatic, so along came Honey. If you have seen the preview for Marley and Me, this dog is pretty much Marley. There is not a cord, shoe or finger in the house she hasn’t gotten her little teeth on. She is already so spoiled, jumping on all the furniture and begging for food. Not to mention house-breaking

She is a job, but so much fun. She’s so snuggly, and won’t go to sleep unless she has her little head on your leg or in your lap. It was hard to leave her, but I’m counting down till I get to see her again at Thanksgiving and hoping she hasn’t grown too much. Here are some pictures of her.

If food could be trendy…

Sunday, October 26th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

…cupcakes would be so in this season. Seriously, they are all the rage. They’ve almost overrun the cake completely. I’ve even seen them get together and share icing to pose as a cake. Cupcake shops are popping up everywhere. In the last year, I’ve been to shops dedicated solely to cupcakes in D.C., Charleston, Raleigh and Memphis.

It makes perfect sense. If you don’t have an excuse to buy a whole cake, why not get the mini version? And the flavors are so much crazier than plain old cakes. Of course you have the basics, but I’ve seen some wild flavors, like banana cake with peanut butter icing (aptly named “the king” after his favorite sandwich). I hit up my little cupcake shop at home, Muddy’s Bake Shop, as often as I can. My go-tos are “the grasshopper” (chocolate cake with mint icing) and “pucker up” (lemon). I made some Halloween Funfetti cupcakes for my friend’s birthday last week, and they were a hit.

So I say Auburn needs a cupcake shop. The closest thing we have is Taylor’s Bakery, whose cupakes are pretty great. This week the Intrigue section ran a story about Taylor’s cupcake explosion, which I can’t believe I missed out on this year, but we need a place with that kind of cupcake selection all the time. I think this photo says it all.

All the mavericks in the house put your hands up

Sunday, October 19th, 2008 | Politics | 1 Comment

This weekend I went home to Memphis, and while I was there, I got the chance to do something I’ve never done before - vote. In November of 2004 I was 3 months shy of 18, and bitter about it, so I couldn’t wait to vote this time around. So Saturday afternoon I dug up my voter registration card and headed to the polls. I got tackled by politicians as I walked in, listened to people complain about the politicians as I stood in line for 15 minutes and finally got to a booth. The presidential category was the first one up, and I felt so important as I entered my pick on the fancy touch screen. Even though I’m not thrilled about either candidate, voting made me feel like a responsible grown-up (grown-ups are probably supposed to call themselves adults, but oh well).

Speaking of the election, last night’s SNL was the best one yet this season. Sarah Palin was just one of the hoard of stars who graced the show. Even if she didn’t do or say anything much, I appreciated seeing her there laughing at herself. Tina Fey was spot-on as always as she “entertained everybody with some fancy pageant walkin.” But Amy Poehler hands down stole the show with her little number. No description can do it justice. You just have to see it. Here’s the clip.

Tags: election, palin

Well, I gave in

Sunday, October 12th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

For years I have been hearing of the wonder that is the Twilight saga. As a die-hard Harry Potter fan, I couldn’t be convinced that anything could top the adventures of the wizarding world. But I finally gave in and decided to try it. Boy am I glad I did. These books are amazing.

I am usually a slow reader, but I finished the 500ish pages of the first book in two days, and then flew through the second and the third. I’m about the start the fourth, and I can hardly wait. 

I know what you’re probably thinking. It’s what I thought. “Vampires? Are you for real?” Just give it a try; you’ll be surprised. The main vampire character, Edward, and his family don’t frolic around in capes slaying people for lunch or sleeping in coffins. And yes, he falls in love with a human, but it’s really fascinating. The movie based on the first book of the series hits theaters in November, and it’s going to be amazing. Here is the trailer.

As to whether Twilight is “the new Harry Potter,” the jury is still out. I don’t really put them in the same category. Twilight has a less complicated plot with fewer characters that puts more focus on romance, but I say if you liked Harry, you’ll like Twilight.

Tags: books

Eagle Eye gets an A

Sunday, October 5th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

I don’t usually sign up for movies starring Shia LaBeouf or Billy Bob Thornton, so I wasn’t too sure how much I would enjoy Eagle Eye. But I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised.

In the action-packed film warning against the dangers of technology, a robot-esque computer lady enlists (well, forces) LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan to carry out her plan to overtake the government.

As I expected, the space-age plot is implausible and complicated. It threw a lot of weapon and computer lingo at me that sailed over my head, but once I got over the nonsense of it all, it was really fun.

The stunts probably were not the best, but they were creative and got a lot of jaw drops from the audience. In one scene, a junk yard turns into a life-sized crane game, with cranes lifting cars (and their passengers, of course) and slinging them wherever they pleased.

My biggest complaint would be the desperate attempt to throw a little romance in there between LaBeouf and Monaghan. No. The 10 year age difference is more than pushing it.

Overall, Eagle Eye gets my vote. It pulls you in and flies by in what seems like less than its two hours.