Dear Spring Break,
You were great, and though it has been less than 24 hours, I miss you already. Please feel free to swing by again soon, bringing the ocean and the clubbing with you, but leaving behind a couple of other experiences. You know what I'm talking about.
All love,
Blythe
Dear LA Drivers,
Really. REALLY?
Here is a news flash for you: Turn signals are easy and fun! Just flick your hand to the left of your wheel and BOOM, I immediately know to expect you in my lane. Is it really so hard, LA Drivers? Is it really?
Wearing a helmet while driving,
Blythe
Dear School Work,
Do yourself. Thanks.
Blythe
March 22, 2010
Writing Letters To Somebody
Prof. Me
Dear Job For Next Year,
I'm waiting for you to fall in my lap. Where are you? I'm sure I'll like you very much. Please feel free to e-mail me at codenameblythe@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you.
In the meantime, perhaps I should put in some actual work to find a job. Hmm.
Yours,
Blythe
Dear The Moose,
Our Clique has the funniest name of all cliques. This is possibly because you guys are the funniest folks. And the most supportive. And the most fun. And... oh man, this is getting sappy.
I love you, Moose. I really do.
Love (love, love),
Blythe
Monday, 22 March 2010
Friday, 12 March 2010
Predictive Text
Dear Predictive Text,
Here are some thoughts for your consideration:
I find it concerning that the word "cropped" comes up before the word "crossed." This is because I keep my fingers crossed, NOT cropped, and I find the implication that I might crop my fingers alarming.
Typing "dessert" should not result in me sending a text about a "ferret," though I'm pretty sure I might have hit a wrong letter in there somewhere. But still.
When I type "are" I don't want "Ase" as the first option. That's silly.
But to be honest, I think that it's kind of nice that "book" and "cool" are spelled with the same keystrokes. That might be because I'm the daughter of a librarian though.
And I end up saying things like, "All the book people are doing it."
So, predictive text, I would like you to fix some of these errors. But keep on with the book=cool thing. I like that.
All love,
Blythe
Here are some thoughts for your consideration:
I find it concerning that the word "cropped" comes up before the word "crossed." This is because I keep my fingers crossed, NOT cropped, and I find the implication that I might crop my fingers alarming.
Typing "dessert" should not result in me sending a text about a "ferret," though I'm pretty sure I might have hit a wrong letter in there somewhere. But still.
When I type "are" I don't want "Ase" as the first option. That's silly.
But to be honest, I think that it's kind of nice that "book" and "cool" are spelled with the same keystrokes. That might be because I'm the daughter of a librarian though.
And I end up saying things like, "All the book people are doing it."
So, predictive text, I would like you to fix some of these errors. But keep on with the book=cool thing. I like that.
All love,
Blythe
Sunday, 7 March 2010
The Stereotypical College Weekend
I am amused that sometimes college is just so... college. Wasn't that profound?
This weekend has been a busy one, starting with a Friday night adventure going to see the play the theatre department was putting on. Saturday I went bowling with my mentee (who is 12 and lives in a town near here), wrote most of a paper for class, and then went to an 80s party on campus.
Let me tell you, I think I look amazing in a neon green shirt, a light purple skirt, gold spandex leggings, and a hot orange scrunchie. I didn't think I had "a colour" before, but, man, apparently that combination is perfect! Heh.
The party itself was held in a gym on campus, and was Such Fun. Unfortunately, it was shut down at 11:45 (11:45!!) due to a noise complaint. A NOISE COMPLAINT? Who makes a noise complaint at 11:45 on a Saturday night? Why would you move within a mile of a college if you had a problem with music being played at 11:45 on a Saturday night? That is ridiculous. We ended up going back to my friend's room, listening to more 80s music and ordering pizza. I went to bed by 2:00 because......
..... at 7:45 in the morning, I had to get up to get ready to leave for Hollywood by 8:30. After stopping for an almond croissant, we headed for the Jim Henson lot in Hollywood, to watch a screening of Aslan's friend's movie. What FUN!
And that, my friends, was a grand, grand weekend.
This weekend has been a busy one, starting with a Friday night adventure going to see the play the theatre department was putting on. Saturday I went bowling with my mentee (who is 12 and lives in a town near here), wrote most of a paper for class, and then went to an 80s party on campus.
Let me tell you, I think I look amazing in a neon green shirt, a light purple skirt, gold spandex leggings, and a hot orange scrunchie. I didn't think I had "a colour" before, but, man, apparently that combination is perfect! Heh.
The party itself was held in a gym on campus, and was Such Fun. Unfortunately, it was shut down at 11:45 (11:45!!) due to a noise complaint. A NOISE COMPLAINT? Who makes a noise complaint at 11:45 on a Saturday night? Why would you move within a mile of a college if you had a problem with music being played at 11:45 on a Saturday night? That is ridiculous. We ended up going back to my friend's room, listening to more 80s music and ordering pizza. I went to bed by 2:00 because......
..... at 7:45 in the morning, I had to get up to get ready to leave for Hollywood by 8:30. After stopping for an almond croissant, we headed for the Jim Henson lot in Hollywood, to watch a screening of Aslan's friend's movie. What FUN!
And that, my friends, was a grand, grand weekend.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Sometimes I Really Love College
Today, class was Extremely Satisfying.
Last semester, I took a class entitled Psychology of the Black Woman in America. This semester, with the same (wonderful, glorious, fantastic) professor, I am taking Identity Development in Minority Children.
And I have never been So Mad, So Frustrated, and So Inspired. The classes have made it very clear to what degree racism continues to exist in the United States, and how pervasive it is. I (and many other white Americans) take so much for granted; we have become totally accustomed to White Privilege, and most of us spend very little of our time trying to change anything. It's getting infuriating, it really is.
We were discussing this in class today, about to get on to our chat about the readings, when our professor was taken ill and had to leave. The class stayed, and we continued to discuss the challenges exist, and then-- finally!!-- what we could actually DO about it.
I'm so very proud of my class, and excited to be a part of it. At one point I said, "Can we do something as a class, to bring this to the attention of others?" The answer was a resounding YES. The class is enthused, we are coming up with plans, and we are going to Make This Happen. I'll tell you the details later, but for now I am just really thrilled to be a part of a class that is going to do something in response to what we have learned-- not because we'll get extra credit, not because we're being graded, but because we KNOW it matters, and we are going to share that with others.
This is EXACTLY how college should be.
Last semester, I took a class entitled Psychology of the Black Woman in America. This semester, with the same (wonderful, glorious, fantastic) professor, I am taking Identity Development in Minority Children.
And I have never been So Mad, So Frustrated, and So Inspired. The classes have made it very clear to what degree racism continues to exist in the United States, and how pervasive it is. I (and many other white Americans) take so much for granted; we have become totally accustomed to White Privilege, and most of us spend very little of our time trying to change anything. It's getting infuriating, it really is.
We were discussing this in class today, about to get on to our chat about the readings, when our professor was taken ill and had to leave. The class stayed, and we continued to discuss the challenges exist, and then-- finally!!-- what we could actually DO about it.
I'm so very proud of my class, and excited to be a part of it. At one point I said, "Can we do something as a class, to bring this to the attention of others?" The answer was a resounding YES. The class is enthused, we are coming up with plans, and we are going to Make This Happen. I'll tell you the details later, but for now I am just really thrilled to be a part of a class that is going to do something in response to what we have learned-- not because we'll get extra credit, not because we're being graded, but because we KNOW it matters, and we are going to share that with others.
This is EXACTLY how college should be.
Monday, 1 March 2010
NOT one of my shining moments
Let me preface this by saying... I'm really a lot smarter than this post makes me sound. And so is Aslan! But the story is so funny that I thought I had to share it.
This happened last year around this time, and we were just reminiscing about it today at lunch.
Aslan, Wednesday and I were eating lunch, discussing Wednesday's upcoming 21st birthday. Amid the excitement, we were also slightly disappointed that one's 21st birthday is the last of the "exciting" ones. One of us (Aslan or I) commented that it would be nice if every multiple of 3 be some sort of big event.
"Yeah," Wednesday said, "So that would be our 24th."
There was a long silence as Aslan and I, seated on either side of her, counted silently in our heads, "20...23...26...29"
Suddenly, at the same time, we both got it. "OHhhhhh!!" we cried. It came together in our heads... 8x3=24.
And that, my friend, is how multiples work.
Oy.
This happened last year around this time, and we were just reminiscing about it today at lunch.
Aslan, Wednesday and I were eating lunch, discussing Wednesday's upcoming 21st birthday. Amid the excitement, we were also slightly disappointed that one's 21st birthday is the last of the "exciting" ones. One of us (Aslan or I) commented that it would be nice if every multiple of 3 be some sort of big event.
"Yeah," Wednesday said, "So that would be our 24th."
There was a long silence as Aslan and I, seated on either side of her, counted silently in our heads, "20...23...26...29"
Suddenly, at the same time, we both got it. "OHhhhhh!!" we cried. It came together in our heads... 8x3=24.
And that, my friend, is how multiples work.
Oy.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Day... Oh no!
I was awfully good about doing the 25 days of random, wasn't I? I mean, I did all 25... not necessarily in a timely fashion, but it was FAR more timely than the way I usually blog. I decided to engage in the 25 days of random in order to give myself a boost, as it were-- force myself to write a little and actually get this blog back on its feet. And it worked... sort of. I mean, I DID write (hurrah!), but I am having no easier time thinking of topics to write about than I was BEFORE the 25 days of random. For now, today, I'll write about a fun week that is coming up... after that, I'll try to think of some actual topics to address. Deal?
My friends, there are so many wonderful things about college- and certainly I'll talk about some of the others later- but what I choose to address right now is Spring Break. Ah, please don't doubt my dedication to academics, but do appreciate all that spring break is: It is a chance to spend time doing Precisely What One Wants for a week in the middle of an otherwise busy semester. If you plan it quite carefully, there is no need to do school work at all! Instead, you can hang out with your family, friends, or get some peaceful one-on-one time, knowing that there are no meetings to go to, no papers to turn in, and no classes to attend. It is what we call Bliss, friends: sheer bliss.
My first year, Polka Dot and I went on a roadtrip through Arizona, spending time in Phoenix, Tombstone (heh), the Grand Canyon, and of course on our friend's ranch. It was delightful. My sophomore and junior years I returned to my family's home to spend time with them, PNW friends, and "my" kids. This year, I'm going no where. Why, you may ask? Because I LIVE in an area where people go on holiday! It would be silly not to take advantage of it, don't you think?
So for the first part of spring break, my friends and I are going to explore Disneyland, the Getty, Santa Monica, Old Town Pasadena, the beach, Hollywood, and the Venice Boardwalk. There will be so many adventures in places that are so close but that we rarely have time to appreciate.
And THEN? Well, THEN (the second weekend of Spring Break), we are heading down to San Diego for a weekend long bachelorette party for my dear friend Aslan, who is marrying her wonderful fiance, Hanz, in July. (There's something to be said for being the first of your friends to marry-- we are SUPER into the idea of a weekend-long bachelorette party.) The weekend will feature feminist drinks (strong, sweet, and pretty), beach time, a hot tub, and delicious Mexican food-- not to mention some of the most delightful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing!
Yes, it will be an excellent spring break indeed.
My friends, there are so many wonderful things about college- and certainly I'll talk about some of the others later- but what I choose to address right now is Spring Break. Ah, please don't doubt my dedication to academics, but do appreciate all that spring break is: It is a chance to spend time doing Precisely What One Wants for a week in the middle of an otherwise busy semester. If you plan it quite carefully, there is no need to do school work at all! Instead, you can hang out with your family, friends, or get some peaceful one-on-one time, knowing that there are no meetings to go to, no papers to turn in, and no classes to attend. It is what we call Bliss, friends: sheer bliss.
My first year, Polka Dot and I went on a roadtrip through Arizona, spending time in Phoenix, Tombstone (heh), the Grand Canyon, and of course on our friend's ranch. It was delightful. My sophomore and junior years I returned to my family's home to spend time with them, PNW friends, and "my" kids. This year, I'm going no where. Why, you may ask? Because I LIVE in an area where people go on holiday! It would be silly not to take advantage of it, don't you think?
So for the first part of spring break, my friends and I are going to explore Disneyland, the Getty, Santa Monica, Old Town Pasadena, the beach, Hollywood, and the Venice Boardwalk. There will be so many adventures in places that are so close but that we rarely have time to appreciate.
And THEN? Well, THEN (the second weekend of Spring Break), we are heading down to San Diego for a weekend long bachelorette party for my dear friend Aslan, who is marrying her wonderful fiance, Hanz, in July. (There's something to be said for being the first of your friends to marry-- we are SUPER into the idea of a weekend-long bachelorette party.) The weekend will feature feminist drinks (strong, sweet, and pretty), beach time, a hot tub, and delicious Mexican food-- not to mention some of the most delightful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing!
Yes, it will be an excellent spring break indeed.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Day 25
Day 25: Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
What tickles my fancy at present is giving you all a recommendation! A fellow student at Scripps makes the most beautiful jewellery-- I recently discovered it, and I am QUITE infatuated. She sells them online through Etsy, and can be found here. I highly recommend you go check it out! There are some beautiful birdnest necklaces (my favourite!):
and some really fun necklaces that include a message in a bottle (you write the message-- what a great gift):
and many other options including necklaces and earrings from sea glass, shells, beads, and so on. Go investigate!
What tickles my fancy at present is giving you all a recommendation! A fellow student at Scripps makes the most beautiful jewellery-- I recently discovered it, and I am QUITE infatuated. She sells them online through Etsy, and can be found here. I highly recommend you go check it out! There are some beautiful birdnest necklaces (my favourite!):
and some really fun necklaces that include a message in a bottle (you write the message-- what a great gift):
and many other options including necklaces and earrings from sea glass, shells, beads, and so on. Go investigate!
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