Let's Pretend It's Spring In This Hippie City

First off, let me say this is not going to be one of those philosophical posts. I'm way to exhausted to be anything even close to philosophical or deep. Right now my mind is feeling more and more like a shallow puddle. I have 3 (technically 4) essays due in the next two weeks, and one of them is in Spanish. That one in particular scares me. Not that I'm not all for learning a new language, it's just really, really hard if it's a language you haven't taken before.

But so far this weekend has not been very productive. Yesterday my friend and I biked to the nearby town (about 1.5 miles one way), which is much easier said than done. Considering this is the middle of my state it's classified as the piedmont. Meaning that those gently rolling hills you drive over in your car look (and feel) like freaking mountains on a bike with no gears! But oh the sweet success of our mission was so lovely. We'd gone for lunch at the local market where all the food is organic, vegetarian (mostly), and absolutely delicious. Not to mention that the coconut macaroons were about the best thing I've ever tasted. Did I happen to mention this town is quite alternative and hippyish? No? Well, it is. It's much cooler than the town that my university is in. Well, we happened upon this very awesome store but as the day was growing late and we'd ridden our bikes it was time to go. So vowing we'd come back today we set off back up the "mountains" and down the "mountains".

You can't imagine how proud my friend and I were of ourselves when 2 beach kids figured out how to find (and managed to catch) the one and only bus that ran back down to the next town. Believe you me, it was a monumental moment in both of our living-in-the-"city" evolutions. I think the fact that we even managed to catch the bus back was even better! In our time down there we not only found some fabulous buys, but also an entire funky and fun shopping center! It's not those chain shops, they're all independent business owners and there's absolutely no signs telling you that these shops would be there. You just have to know, because they're that cool.

After we made our way back on the arguably caterpillar-looking bus we found our way to the best sweet shop in the world and ordered gellatos in summertime flavors. If it weren't for the fact that we were wearing our coats it would have felt like summer again, if only for a moment. They've actually canceled the snow that was in the forecast, and it's supposed to be in the high 50s for the start of the new week. Talk about absolutely wonderful. And the days are getting longer too. The end of January means that there's just 3 more months till the end of this semester. Granted, that will mean that we'll have finals to deal with, but it's all in due time. I'm sure that this stately, well-tended campus will be absolutely gorgeous in the spring. Plus it will definitely be wonderful to keep our window open again. Not that the air here is very fresh, but it's certainly nice to be connected to the world outside.

Okay, I'll stop my pointless ramblings now and go attempt a crack at my homework. There's so much. All the time. It's insane.

Lies Under the Moon

Okay, so I'm not a writer by any means. I'm really not. But I was inspired to write these words that were floating around in my head. They came with a slight tune, but I wouldn't call them a song. But nor would I call them a poem. But I'm putting them here to share with you. These words that are mine.

Lies (Under the Moon)

Take me to the river

Tell me what I'll find

Under the moon

Where the water is wide

I seek not for courage

Nor for a sign

There is shadow all 'round

And the water is wide

The family is calling

But they will not find

That which they don't know

The future of time

Your grandmother looked

At me with a sigh

She knew that my smile

And my words were just lies

She told you to leave

She told you to go

But you did not listen

To the wisdom of time

Remember that night

When we looked to the sky

I told you I loved you

But the words, only lies

Now time has come

For me to sail on the tide

One day you'll know

As you look to the sky

Watch the sun rise

As the new day it dawns

I'll watch the moon fall

As the new day is done

I watch your face

As I sail on the tide

From the moon up above

And the stars in the sky

And your day will come

To sail on the tide

In the other direction

And the water's still wide

When that day comes

You will look to the sky

And see nothing more

Than the beauty of night

Into her arms

Your ship you will sail

She was there on that day

When all hope had failed

Why I had left you

To sail on the tide

No one knew why

As I watched from the sky

Your day will come

To look from the sky

For this is a journey

And the water is wide

It was that day

The sun rose in the sky

The truth I would tell you

Your heart it would die

For I gave you but ashes

All that remained

But you can't make gold

From a heart that's in flames

But now you won't know

As you rushed to my side

That my final words

They were only lies

If You're Playing With Fire, You're Gonna Get Burned

Nice guys finish last.

We're all familiar with this line. And then it happens, you meet a nice guy and they say the same thing. You deny it. Tell them it's not true. But here's the thing. You're lying.

Sure, maybe you don't think you are. There's ladies who say that they want that guy who showers her with compliments, treats her like a gem, respects every word she speaks. He remembers your birthday...and your mom's. It's amazing in the beginning and we think for sure we've found happiness. But here's the thing, unless he's got a secret side that's a bit...daring, then ladies, you're gonna get bored. This is the guy you can take home to mom and dad and they'll love him. They'll approve immediately as he melts their hearts with the way he looks at you, compliments you, holds a conversation.

But ladies, you and I both know that you're going to get tired of the straight and narrow. We all know that on a primal level we all crave that boy who's a little bit...bad. One who we can throw a nice shirt on and take home to mom and dad. But who can still take us out and feel as if we are having an adventure under the cover of darkness. Doing something that we shouldn't. Things that we would never tell our parents about and would make saints faint.

Why is it that the boys that have the potential to hurt us most also make our hearts race and our blood boil? What makes them so damn appealing?

Take a look at a character such as James Bond. Sure, he's a fictional character. But men want to be him (cuz he gets all the hot chicks) and the ladies find him wildly attractive (for the thrill), despite him being a certifiable man whore. Why? Every day, everywhere we are expected to be good little girls. At work we go about our job all covered up and polite, around town is just the same. We want people to see the "perfect" side of us that is perpetuated in our society. Damn Puritan ethic.

Why do you think sex sells everything from shaving cream to albums? Why do you think the most popular television shows are saturated in sex and sensuality (Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Private Practice)? Some of our biggest stars run around much less than half clothed and dancing promiscuously in their music videos (Lady Gaga, Madonna, Britney Spears). They do things that we could never imagine getting to do in actual reality without being judged and talked about behind our backs. But we all know there's some part of us that would love to unleash that totally sexy part of ourselves. Just think what it feels like when you put on a great outfit (think tight fitting business clothes with fabulous heels). Yeah, it feels pretty good doesn't it? It's the feeling that we can do just whatever the hell we want and no one can stop us.

This is the thrill we get from those dangerous men. Mom and dad aren't there to question what we're doing. Telling us that we're making the wrong decisions. Maybe we're even be lucky enough to be in a town where there's enough people that you are absolutely awash in anonymity. Just for the night you can be whoever you want to be. And these bad boys, they'll play right along. They'll give you what you want, but in the end they'll take even more. It's playing with fire. Ultimately you will get burned. Playing with fire is hazardous yet oh so fun just because it's so taboo and there's such a risk of getting hurt. It's the same reason people jump out of planes or hang by threads off the side of a cliff. It's the for the thrill of the adventure.

It's the reason nice guys do finish last.

Because ladies, whether you find Pierce Brosnan attractive or not, there's no way (with a straight face that you can tell me you wouldn't get in that car.

Honesty Really Is The Best Policy...Sometimes.

So, here I sit. In the dark. And not because yes, it is indeed night time. But rather because my roommate (my 2nd one this school year mind you) goes to bed at a ridiculously early hour. It was 10pm this evening. This of course, is the time that I do all my work. From about 10/10:30 until whatever time in the morning I start falling asleep on my book/computer. This is going to be something that will have to be discussed.

When my roommate asked to move in we had a meeting over dinner to talk about our compatibility. The very first thing I said was that I go to bed very, very late. There were other options. My roommate could have taken a new roommate this semester, or applied to have a single room but paid a little more money (which is SO what I should have done). This was not the only option. Well, I was honest. It would have been nice if it was reciprocated. At least my last roommate was up until a reasonable hour. Dear Lord this is college, not an assisted living facility. I'm going to need to do work. I'm going to need light. Simple as that. Especially if I'm going to be able to keep up on all this reading. With 16 credits this semester there's not a spare moment!

Another thing that probably warrants discussing is the personal space issue that you will encounter in college. Chances are the only space that is truly yours is your bed! Even my refrigerator is not sacred. I came back the other day to find my roommate's (sealed) spaghetti sauce jar in my fridge. Okay, that's alright. If perhaps permission had been asked first. Or even better if I had been here and permission was asked while I was here. It's not the fact that she's using my fridge, it's that she went into something that is mine while I wasn't here. But the fridge thing, I can let that slide. That's just not worth it. What really irks me though is that same day, I got back from class to find my laptop open on my desk. No big deal right? Wrong. My laptop is never left open when I leave. Ever. My roommate's computer was in the shop and she had asked to use one of my computers. One that no one ever gets to use but me. I politely told her no, and handed her the laptop I do my schoolwork on. Lucky for me my computer atomically password protects whenever the screen/computer goes to sleep. An invasion of my personal space via the refrigerator is one thing. My laptop is a whole 'nother ballpark.

Anyhow, rant over.

Tomorrow is the start of a 4 day weekend! I've no classes on Fridays this semester (in exchange for a couple of hellish weekdays) which means that with Martin Luther King Jr. Day I'll have less school in the next week than days off. Too bad we know it's going to go by way too fast. But it also means that we'll only have a week left to January, which means there'll only be 3 months left to the semester. Yep. I'm already counting. Not that it really matters though as I'll be stuck in this land-locked city for the entirety of the summer. Whoever though up this 8 semester rule at my school needs to start looking for their village. It's greatly missing it's idiot. But that is for another time.

All you people out there who are transferring to a university, be sure to ensure that it's precisely where you want to go and know what you want to do. If there's any uncertainty you should transfer as a Sophomore. Just a fair word of advice.

But tomorrow is another day. And for now that's how we'll take things here. One day at a time.

Peace,

Elina

This is not a photo from Ireland this time. It is rather a picture from the beaches a few hundred miles south of my own. Most likely in the wintertime when the town belongs to the locals solely. So lovely.

Politics, Politics, Politics

Today is the first day of the new semester here at my university. It's the first day of my classes that are nearly a mile (0.9 of a mile to be exact) from my dorm. It's also the day that I'm realizing that my major of International Studies many not be for me. I was up bright and early to go visit academic advising which turned out to be the most useless waste of my time. This week is walk-in advising only, which means their academic services are limited to a very strict list. This means that my hope of switching my major couldn't actually happen till next week. Which doesn't work for me considering that this week is the drop/add period for classes. And fortunately (or unfortunately) for me three of my five classes this semester are for my current major. Which means that after this semester I will have completed the majority of core courses for my degree. Normally, at a "normal" university this would not present an issue. One could simply switch their major the following semester regardless of class year (I now happen to be a 1st semester Junior). However, here at my university we have an 8 semester limit and it is not often that 9th semesters are awarded even when you apply for them. This is at least according to the advisor I saw this morning.

This leaves me with the realization that I must either learn to like (if not love) my major, or apply to go to a different school. At this point however, I can not say that the latter option is not, at least somewhat, desirable. My school thrives off of its reputation (the majority of it based in the basketball team) and loves to keep appearances for appearances sake. There is no time to relax, no time to enjoy college if you really want to keep on even the midline of the work that is assigned. The conundrum is that a degree from here truly means something in the working world. Leaving would mean losing the backing and support that would come with the name. The degree would not matter to an extent, simply the connection. It also means that I would have wasted the better part of a year here and be downgrading to a university with a lesser reputation. It's all so complicated, this navigation of the university world.

When I came on the tour for my school back in April 2009 they prattled on about how transfer friendly the school was, the basketball team, the different happenings around campus, the basketball team, greek life, oh, and did I happen to mention the basketball team? Yeah. It's kinda like that. All. The. Time. I couldn't give a care about sports, and sometimes I feel as if there really is a thing as too much school spirit. I mean, people, seriously. This place is not all that great. Please just give it a freaking break!

Well, I have till March 1st to make my decision of what to do. Perhaps it's time to make a visit to the career center and see just what it is I could do with my current major.

Till next time.

Peace,

Elina

Oh, and did I say it's supposed to snow today? Yep. More of the disgusting white stuffs to make this place run even slower than it already does.

This photo is from the war memorial at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland

"Prime" Time - The Year 2011

Today is just one of a few dates this year that will hold the honor of being completely comprised of one number, 1/1/11. It's a new year, a supposed "fresh start", a hitting of the reset button. 2010 was indeed quite the year for me. It kicked off crazy with my last semester at community college, a trip to QVC, and other adventures abound. Then graduation hit and things wend down from there for a while, then back up, then I suppose sort of leveling off. Summer of course, was way too short and my first semester at university way too long. Just as this break has been way too short. Just a few days after getting home from school I trekked up to Washington D.C. for a few days, and got back just in time for Christmas. We went a few days ago to see The Lion King musical production which was absolutely phenomenal! I recommend everyone to go and see it.

But now I'm facing the fact that in one week I will be sleeping back in my dorm room once again. And with gas prices already back over $3 a gallon I'm not sure how often I'll be able to come home. Even with having my three day weekend this semester. And much unlike many of my friends I am not ready to go back to school. It's not like it's the most spectacular and fun place to be so why would I be eager to go back? Also it seems that many folks I know had a crummy 2010 and are ready to wish it good riddance. But as I said, my 2010 was a year full of new possibilities and new experiences and I'm not sure that I was quite ready for it to end. 2011 for me just means lots and lots of school. I'll have just about 4 weeks this year that I won't be in school and the prospect does not excite me. Frankly even the year twenty-eleven...it just doesn't sound right. Plus it's a prime number year. Not cool. Today just seems to hold this foreboding in the air. I'm trying hard to not make it seem that way, but there's just something a touch off about it all.

Hopefully my predictions will be completely inaccurate. But that of course will have to wait another 12 months to be seen. Perhaps it's just the fact that it's once again, January. Nobody likes January. There's no real holidays (c'mon, no one gets together on Martin Luther King day. Sorry man), it's still cold and usually pretty gray too. January is stuck in a season that nothing grows, it's wet (and did I mention cold), and just dismal all around. Once you get to April then the year starts to get a little better. Things start to grow again, the end of the semester is in sight. Of course that part doesn't matter for me this year. 4 days after exams end classes start again. Ick! (Yes, I'm going to be complaining about this one a lot) But all this aside, I will try my best to make 2011 a good year. I really don't think that it can top 2010 for me, but we can sure try! And with that note, it's time for a family dinner (early, I know right?!) so I gotta run.

Happy New Year everyone!

Peace,

Elina

This is a picture of the Liffey in Dublin on New Year's Eve (Year Unknown).

Note: So it turned out the high temp today was over 60° F. So much for that cold thing!