Up, up and away!

I’m sitting here on a Saturday night catching up on homework for the week, cleaning and simply relaxing. I could make a joke about how lame and boring I am, but I don’t really believe that. I find nights like this refreshing – it gives me an opportunity to be in that ‘limbo’ period. I don’t have classes or work to rush to, and no deadlines for tomorrow. I don’t feel pressured or stressed while working, and I enjoy it. Snow Patrol blaring, a charge of productivity and cold pizza are the components of my Saturday night, and it’s fantastic.

While I’ve been sitting here, I thought it would be a good idea to put all the things I want to do on paper. I figured I might as well put them on here, in hopes that I’m more accountable. Ben and Tiffany have been doing just that, and I think it’s a great idea. I also admire them for working so hard toward their goals, no matter how difficult.

There are so many things I want to accomplish and continue doing because I constantly feel the need to better myself as a person. I always need a challenge; I need to feel like I’m getting everything I can out of life. This is one of the few times I focus on myself and my happiness, no one else’s.

Below is a list of the things I have written on a post-it note in on my desk. I look at it everyday and try my hardest to keep up. It’s a hefty list, but it’s a challenge I want. I don’t expect myself to do everything on the list everyday, but I do want to look back after a few months and know I did what I wanted. (These are in no particular order. I just like lists.)

1. Health and Exercise: We’ll start with the goal for most people these days: my body. I’ve been making an effort each day to eat healthier and exercise when I can. I’m busy, so a trip to Irving is difficult. I’ve been doing power Yoga every evening, and I’ve already noticed a difference. Food wise: I’m cooking dinner (I’m not a bad cook, so that helps!) at night, instead of opting for T-bell or the dollar menu at McDonald’s. I won’t lie and say everything I eat is healthy, this past week has been my worst since Christmas. When I’m busy, grabbing that quick meal is much easier than cooking up a storm. But I’m trying.

2. Nail Biting: It’s a disgusting, annoying habit I’ve had pretty much since birth. I’ve tried to stop many times before, and was only successful for a few weeks. I’m happy to report I have beat the habit for 37 days. Wish me luck.

3. Art: I’ve been wanting to get back into the drawing and painting I used to love. I need to brush up on my skills and work another artistic side of myself. I also want to start learning more about photography; I’ve been giving myself panoramic picture projects for fun lately. I really want to create my own stop-action video, just to see if I can do it. More artistic photography, with depth and style. I found out where I can get a camera to work with, so I’m going to start next week.

4. German: This summer I had gotten back into re-learning German. (I took it in high school and I didn’t retain much.) I’ve be using LiveMocha (Basically a free Rosetta Stone with a social networking aspect…it’s great!), as well as an audio guide I got from Eric. I’ve been putting it off and I really, really want to get back on track.

5. Reading (not textbooks): I’ve gotten plenty of books in the past few years that I’ve been wanting to read, and something always comes up that makes me unable to do so. I either have a textbook to finish or homework to do, so by the time I can read for enjoyment, it’s late and I crash. I need to make more time for reading because I miss the feeling of being completely wrapped up in a book.

6. Anti-procrastination: I’ve been great about this so far. This is the first semester I’ve made an effort to put school before student organizations and fun. I’m taking 18 credit hours and working part-time, so getting behind would be bad news. I’m trying my hardest to work ahead and be prepared…So far, so good.

7. Blogging: I’ve really enjoyed giving myself the opportunity to write. I forgot how much I enjoyed it and what an outlet it can be. There may be no one that cares about what I have to say or do or think about, but honestly I don’t really mind. I think I’d even continue to write this blog if it was private and no one saw it. When I start writing, it just flows. I forgot how easily writing came to me. It may not be great writing, but it doesn’t matter to me.

8. Attitude: I’ve made a goal that no matter how stressed out or how bad of a day I may be having, somewhere in that 24 hours I want to make sure I’m recognizing something great or happy in my life. Being thankful for what and who I have in my life. And for those other people I have in my life, I want to make sure I continue to take care of them as I do now. I’m always called ‘mom’ by my friends because I can help but be there for them. I want to listen to them, help them and simply be there for them.

9. Brain Power: I want to make sure I’m learning and retaining every class I have this semester. I’m also studying a GRE book in hopes of brushing up on information I feel like I need to know. Things I’ve let slip away since I’ve been focused on my major. I want to be well-rounded and more intelligent.

10. Find a job: Pretty self-explanatory.

Well, if you’re still reading this, high five. I didn’t realize how much I had to say until I started my ramble.

Whew. Good luck to me, I suppose.

I’m not usually one for the sappy stories…but..

It’s true. I’m not a hopeless romantic and I don’t usually enjoy the sappy side of things. Heck, for this Valentine’s Day, the boyfriend and I are celebrating with beer and wings. No cards, no gifts – definitely no flowers. I don’t see the point of wasting money on one day. I thought you’re supposed to love each other everyday? I think I might pick a fight on Feb. 14, just to spite cupid.

However, I did get this story in my inbox today regarding a love story that was started by TOMS Shoes (Shoes for Tomorrow.) Well, considering I’m a campus representative and lover of TOMS, I couldn’t help but think it was a great story. A girl gave a guy her number, solely (bahaha..I know, I’m funny.) because he was wearing TOMS.

You can check it out here on the TOM’s Shoes Blog. If I ever get married, I will definitely have the wedding party wear TOMS. Great idea.

TOMS is doing such awesome work and I’m excited that I can be a part of it. This is my second semester as a TOMS rep and I absolutely love it. Last semester our BSU team put together an event at a bar by campus and had two fantastic bands (Eight Stories High & Asteria) play for us. Go here for the TOMS YouTube channel.

This semester, we’re going to have a Style Your Sole event. This is a chance to TOMS fans to paint their own pair and put personality into their shoes. Be on the lookout for more information. Oh and April 8th is A Day Without Shoes. So take off those sneaks and let your feet breathe!

Buy a pair of TOMS today…and save $5 by typing in CAMPUSBLSU during checkout. (Yeah, you’re welcome.)

This wasn’t supposed to be a promotion blog for TOMS, but I can’t help it: When I’ve got TOMS on the mind I just start rambling. I just want everyone to be as fascinated and excited about cause marketing as I am. There are some great ideas out there in many other companies as well, so give a little support!

Working for a nonprofit, or at least a company focused on cause marketing, is my goal after graduation. I want to work somewhere that the power of consumer purchases is being used for good. I’m crossing my fingers that I get my dream job post-graduation. Cross your fingers!

The Book of Faces cult controls the Nacirema

For my sociology class we have to put ourselves in the position of an outsider and write about the rituals of Americans when they use a certain type of technology. I “observed” Facebook and its effect on our culture. It turned out funnier than I expected, so I thought I’d put in on here for a laugh. It will probably need some revisions..this is just my first draft. Let me know what you think..or if you have any suggestions!

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My life as a cultural anthropologist has been quite fascinating through the years: I have studied the Hmong culture, as well as the Australian Aboriginal culture.

The most interesting group I encountered were the Nacirema. I spent a year doing field work for my ethnography, so I became part of the culture through participant observation. I focused on their use of material things, particularly what they refer to as ‘technology.’

I was most interested in the Book of Faces, which is an information program used on technology pieces referred to as cell phones and computers. This Book of Faces contains information about thousands of people, who also use the program. Hobbies, schooling and religious beliefs are openly shared with others in written form.

I found this to be worthwhile research because after spending a few months observing the Nacirema, this program was constantly being viewed, manipulated and used by everyone I encountered. I hadn’t met anyone above fifteen that did not own a Book of Faces, so I felt it is obviously a major aspect of Nacirema culture.

I followed a young woman named Kate and became her roommate in a giant building with hundreds of rooms and only a few large bathrooms. There were eight layers of these rooms and many women living in them.

Once I was Kate’s roommate, I began to see the Nacirema’s dependence on the Book of Faces. Almost 75 percent of the time we were awake in the small room, Kate was looking at a face on the computer. Many times I’d look over at her screen and she was viewing the same face, with the same information. I was confused why she kept forgetting what the person looked like, as she seemed to always be looking at it.

Many times, she would be sitting several feet away from her computer, reading a book, and she was suddenly get up and run to the Book of Faces. She would sit at the screen for hours, almost in a trance. She would write on someone else’s page, where other obsessive members of this world would write a well.

If Kate was having a bad day, she would write in a box how she was feeling, and others would comfort her beneath the box. This allowed hundreds of people to know what kind of mood Kate was in. It was fascinating to me how the Nacirema used this technology to express their feelings and stay connected to their culture.

Kate was always receiving new alerts that there was activity on her Book of Faces page. She took it for granted that each day there would be something new. On days that nothing changed from the day before, she went into a deep depression. Instantly, upon the arrival of the new alert, her mood would increase again. The fluctuation was draining for me as an observer. Kate treated each new alert with excitement, yet uncertainty.

A good example of a ritual is on the day of birth for each user of the program, the Book of Faces master leader (who is unknown) would alert Kate. It was expected of her to write on their Face page and tell them ‘Happy Birthday,’ whether she cared or not. On Kate’s day of birth, she checked her Face page to make sure each individual in her world gave the respected message. If they did not, she would wonder what she did wrong in the friendship or think they were rude individuals.

Also, if two individuals are dating, it is expected that they will show ownership of one another on their Face pages. If they are not listed as each other’s property, others in the Book of Faces assume there is a problem or issue regarding the relationship.

A frightening ritual regarding the Book of Faces is the constant stalking of friends, acquaintances and Unknowns. The Unknowns are individuals that have never been introduced to certain Nacirema, but they may have seen them in public or heard their name. It is frowned upon to stalk these individuals physically, but it is socially acceptable to read excessively about them on the Book of Faces.

From my observations, it came to my attention that this Book of Faces is sometimes the only communication between family and friends. The use of telephones and face-to-face contact is somewhat non-existent.

This program is like a cult. It sucks individuals in, holds their attention for hours and keeps them from communication with the outside world. I feel the Nacirema are brainwashed or are under a spell from this Book of Faces. They do not have enough self-control remove their Face page or stay away from it for even a few hours. The Book of Faces is used to build up self-esteem, talk about their emotional issues, own one another and stalk others. It is a frightening obsession that must be watched carefully before it causes problems for the world of the Nacirema.