At the beginning of the summer I made a life-changing decision: I decided to go green. I had always found green people to be quite annoying. All my loyal readers can probably recall my astonishment towards Seattle's mandatory recycling that I experienced earlier this year. Part of me rejected it because I didn't believe the government should have control over what I do with my own trash, but the other reason was because the economics behind it doesn't make sense - it costs more to recycle than to make things new. It's just not efficient use of our tax dollars. So who cares about the environmental factors? Who cares about the dying whales? God made the earth and then gave mankind dominion over it. I never fell for the "mother nature" movement, that preserving the earth should be our first priority in life. I was no tree hugger. I gave my full support for oil-drilling in Alaska (in fact, I won a debate in high school over oil-drilling). And I thought the entire global warming issue was a hoax.
Well, I hate to break it to you, but none of those ideals have changed. I've only gone green so that whenever I do something that a liberal would find responsible, I can pat myself on the back and proclaim that I am now green. It's a way to gain instant respect and popularity amongst the Democratic community. I honestly really couldn't care less about what they think of me, but I get great satisfaction out of seeing them ignorantly light up when I say something as simple as, "I don't flush the toilet after every use because I want to conserve this beautiful earth's clean water. I'm green." Or when I explain to them that I am going to live close enough to campus to bike to class so that I won't use up the limited source of oil that our earth has left. Too bad they can't see past me to realize that the reason I am not using water or gas is to save my own money. I could care less about preserving the environment, but if that is a side effect of my actions, then so be it.
My family has really jumped on board with going green. For the first month of summer, we didn't turn on our air conditioning. We just kept the windows open and lived in harmony with God's beautiful creation. We may have been sweating, but we were putting our own desires aside to preserve energy for generations to come. Either that, or our AC was broken?
My brother has taken this to a whole other level that I am not dedicated enough to reach. He will wait until I am done drinking out of a glass or eating off of a plate and then use the same dishes I did so that we will have less to clean up later, conserving even more water by reducing the amount of dishwasher loads we have to do. He turns off all the lights in the house before he leaves, and turns of monitors on the computers, because apparently, "if 360 monitors would be turned off when not in use, the power that would be saved would be enough to power a car for an entire year." Good to know. I gave him a green high five for that tid bit of information.
So next time you go to flush the toilet, think twice. When you are asked if you want paper or plastic, choose paper. And when you want to grill out that perfect steak, do so with an electric or propane gas grill, because charcoal emits high levels of carbon into our atmosphere. Carbon emissions have the potential to kill the beasts of the field, such as longhorns, and who would want that?
Friday, June 27, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
The start of something new
I've picked up a new hobby recently, not one that most people find entertaining, but it has brought me great delight. It's the art of being anti-social. I don't know where it came from, but it has overtaken my life. I have deleted over 50 friends on facebook. Most of the victims are people that I have never talked to once in my life. I assume that they were soccer fans, and now that I am no longer anyone important, I figured they wouldn't be hurt by the termination of our "friendship". Nonetheless, the "Remove from Friends" link at the bottom of every profile page is screaming my name. I didn't care when my Newsfeed was announcing the marriage of John and Jane Doe. It is very freeing to unclutter one's facebook. You should try it. It's simply wonderful.
My new hobby has extended beyond Facebook too, as I have discovered there are many more ways to express my new-found love of being anti-social. I have developed a strong distaste for my phone. In fact, I rarely ever have it with me any more. I'll be honest in saying that I haven't had much activity on my phone since being in Kentucky, yet the few times that people have kindly attempted to call me, I haven't called them back. It's nothing personal, I promise. I am ignoring everyone's calls. I leave my phone in my purse on silent all day, and don't check it for hours upon end. This means that if you text me, you may get a significantly delayed response. While missed calls make me upset because of the guilt associated with not returning the call, text messages still make me happy and will always be replied to.
This new hobby may be a defense mechanism to combat my unpopularity. Or it could be my way of not wanting to move on and make new friends at UK as I hold on to the memories of Aggieland. I don't have the answer, but I do know that if you go a long time without talking to me, please do not be upset, as this is the same treatment that the Pope or Queen would get.
My new hobby has extended beyond Facebook too, as I have discovered there are many more ways to express my new-found love of being anti-social. I have developed a strong distaste for my phone. In fact, I rarely ever have it with me any more. I'll be honest in saying that I haven't had much activity on my phone since being in Kentucky, yet the few times that people have kindly attempted to call me, I haven't called them back. It's nothing personal, I promise. I am ignoring everyone's calls. I leave my phone in my purse on silent all day, and don't check it for hours upon end. This means that if you text me, you may get a significantly delayed response. While missed calls make me upset because of the guilt associated with not returning the call, text messages still make me happy and will always be replied to.
This new hobby may be a defense mechanism to combat my unpopularity. Or it could be my way of not wanting to move on and make new friends at UK as I hold on to the memories of Aggieland. I don't have the answer, but I do know that if you go a long time without talking to me, please do not be upset, as this is the same treatment that the Pope or Queen would get.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
All-American...pssh
I have reached a point in my post-college athlete career where I am truly a has-been. Before, I liked to joke about it, but deep down I knew I could step onto the A&M field and contribute to the team. But that is not the case any more. I am now in the worst shape of my life. What used to be rock-hard abs, killer quads, and ripped arms are now nothing but flab. I haven't worked out in well over two months. You probably think I'm kidding. Well I'm not. The last time I lifted weights was in January. The last time I got out and jogged was in February, when Justin coaxed me into running the 5K at GLOW by telling me he expected more from a D1 athlete. So of course I wasn't going to take that trash talk...I stepped up to the plate and ran. And proceeded to make a complete fool of myself. Long distance running is the bane of my existence.
I've been spoiled being able to rely on my sport to keep me in shape. This is what makes soccer superior to every other sport. While I do feel like many sports out there require endurance to play at your peak (ie football or baseball), you don't get naturally fit just playing the sport. I may be biased, but I believe soccer players are the most complete athletes - heart, lungs, mind, and muscular strength. I want to get back to that. I need to get back to that. My self-esteem has plummeted in the last 6 months, especially when people bring up the fact that I am a Strength and Conditioning All-American. It's true, I was (am). But I am nothing but an charlatan now. So it's time to suck up my distaste for running and just do it.
I'll start tomorrow.
I've been spoiled being able to rely on my sport to keep me in shape. This is what makes soccer superior to every other sport. While I do feel like many sports out there require endurance to play at your peak (ie football or baseball), you don't get naturally fit just playing the sport. I may be biased, but I believe soccer players are the most complete athletes - heart, lungs, mind, and muscular strength. I want to get back to that. I need to get back to that. My self-esteem has plummeted in the last 6 months, especially when people bring up the fact that I am a Strength and Conditioning All-American. It's true, I was (am). But I am nothing but an charlatan now. So it's time to suck up my distaste for running and just do it.
I'll start tomorrow.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
It's all Greek to me
I signed up to do research this summer. All my friends told me that was the stupidest decision I've ever made. They said it was the last summer of freedom I'll ever have. That I should go travel Europe. Or lay by the pool all summer. Two problems: I don't have the funds to go to Europe. And I don't have the skin type to sit by the pool. I'd turn into one big freckle. Research seemed like the logical thing to do. I'd get paid. I'd learn a ton. I'd get my foot in the door at the hospital and the medical school. I'd be ahead of the game compared to the rest of my classmates. I'd enhance my CV. The list goes on and on. Still, part of me was wanting to have a relaxing summer before the chaos starts in August. But it is time to grow up. Time to be responsible for the first time in my life.
I've never done research before. I've never worked in a lab. I've never taken a medical school class. So I was already intimidated before I stepped foot in the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky this past week. But I figured my boss would understand this and would give me a project that I could handle. Let me take a second to introduce you to my boss - Dr. Natasha Kyprianou. She is as Greek as they come. She is a go-getter. Intense. Intelligent. Enthusiastic. I am glad I have been to Greece so that I can truly appreciate her. The first time I sat down with her in her office, we discussed American politics for 30 minutes before we ever got to what I'd be doing in the lab this summer. My gut told me not to get into a debate with my boss about the upcoming election and the current president, so I attempted to just nod and agree with what she was saying, but when she directly asked me, "Do you like Bush?" "What do you think about the war?", it's hard to skirt around the issues. So I told her my two cents, and we had a very intellectual, amiable discussion about the political scene in America over the past ten years. I enjoyed our conversation very much. She was a staunch Democrat, and I am obviously not, but we were civil and both had the opportunity to put our beliefs on the table. She grew up in a very political family in Greece, where her father was in the Parliament and eventually became mayor of Athens! This lady is really into her politics. She told me afterwards that she enjoyed our discussion because most people in my generation don't give a care about politics. She was impressed with how articulate I was. 1 point for Jones!
We finally moved on to what I will be doing this summer. And I wish I could tell you what it is that I am going to be doing, but it is top secret. Actually, I can't tell you because I have no idea what I am going to be doing. She spent 30 minutes telling me, but it was so over my head that all I picked up was that I will be curing prostate cancer. Superb! Then she handed me six journal articles that I need to read before next week so that I will have a good background before I start the actual experiments (where I get to castrate mice...woohoo). I can honestly say that I only know 1 in 5 words in these journal articles. I think it's time to invest in a medical dictionary. I am in WAY over my head.
But she told me that I will get my name published with the article, so that's great news! Then she asked if I was a good writer. I thought she was asking because she might want me to look over the article before it gets sent to the journals, so I said that writing probably comes easier to me than most because of my history major, and she said "Great, you will also be writing a chapter in my book this summer. Of course I will critique it, but you will be in charge of writing it." WHAT?! I am supposed to cure cancer and write a chapter in 8 weeks!? I didn't realize I was superwoman.
I've never done research before. I've never worked in a lab. I've never taken a medical school class. So I was already intimidated before I stepped foot in the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky this past week. But I figured my boss would understand this and would give me a project that I could handle. Let me take a second to introduce you to my boss - Dr. Natasha Kyprianou. She is as Greek as they come. She is a go-getter. Intense. Intelligent. Enthusiastic. I am glad I have been to Greece so that I can truly appreciate her. The first time I sat down with her in her office, we discussed American politics for 30 minutes before we ever got to what I'd be doing in the lab this summer. My gut told me not to get into a debate with my boss about the upcoming election and the current president, so I attempted to just nod and agree with what she was saying, but when she directly asked me, "Do you like Bush?" "What do you think about the war?", it's hard to skirt around the issues. So I told her my two cents, and we had a very intellectual, amiable discussion about the political scene in America over the past ten years. I enjoyed our conversation very much. She was a staunch Democrat, and I am obviously not, but we were civil and both had the opportunity to put our beliefs on the table. She grew up in a very political family in Greece, where her father was in the Parliament and eventually became mayor of Athens! This lady is really into her politics. She told me afterwards that she enjoyed our discussion because most people in my generation don't give a care about politics. She was impressed with how articulate I was. 1 point for Jones!
We finally moved on to what I will be doing this summer. And I wish I could tell you what it is that I am going to be doing, but it is top secret. Actually, I can't tell you because I have no idea what I am going to be doing. She spent 30 minutes telling me, but it was so over my head that all I picked up was that I will be curing prostate cancer. Superb! Then she handed me six journal articles that I need to read before next week so that I will have a good background before I start the actual experiments (where I get to castrate mice...woohoo). I can honestly say that I only know 1 in 5 words in these journal articles. I think it's time to invest in a medical dictionary. I am in WAY over my head.
But she told me that I will get my name published with the article, so that's great news! Then she asked if I was a good writer. I thought she was asking because she might want me to look over the article before it gets sent to the journals, so I said that writing probably comes easier to me than most because of my history major, and she said "Great, you will also be writing a chapter in my book this summer. Of course I will critique it, but you will be in charge of writing it." WHAT?! I am supposed to cure cancer and write a chapter in 8 weeks!? I didn't realize I was superwoman.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
There's still hope
Just when everyone is proclaiming that America is losing its luster, that she is not what she used to be, that everything is looking glum, she goes and does something like this....and totally redeems herself! First she votes in Kristi Yamaguchi as the champion of Dancing with the Stars. Though she is not as popular as Jason Taylor, doesn't quite have the personality, or the charm, as the NFL superstar, America still sees that she is the better dancer. Americans followed their moral conscience to vote for the superior talent instead of just making it a popularity contest.
Next, American votes for David Cook to be the new American Idol instead of teenage heart throb David Archuleta. The latter David has the better voice, is more talented vocally, and has the eyes to melt any 14 year old girl in America, but America saw that he doesn't have "it". He can't handle the media. He laughs like a little girl when he is interviewed. He only sings one genre: love ballads. David Cook is mature, confident yet gracious, and even more importantly, creative. He will make his own, unique album like no one else in America. I will buy his CD. I wouldn't have bought Archuleta's. David Cook may not be easy on the eyes, but he still has "it". America comes through, again.
Lastly, I will sleep well tonight, after having witnessed an incredible thing tonight on TV. In the midst of trials and tribulations with natural disasters in China and Myanmar, as gas prices reach $4/gallon, and as distasteful words are constantly shared between presidential candidates, a glimmer of hope was found. For one small moment on television, the world was right. All the problems of the world faded away. Meredith Grey figured out her problems. She dealt with them and then she went to the man she loved. Derek and Meredith kissed!! When the writers of Grey's Anatomy could have left us hanging in this season finale like they have the previous 3 seasons, they didn't. They realized that America couldn't handle that right now. We needed something. We needed to be able to believe in love again. We needed to see that there is still good in the world. And they gave that to us.
Thank you, America, for restoring hope back into the world. There ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the USA.
Next, American votes for David Cook to be the new American Idol instead of teenage heart throb David Archuleta. The latter David has the better voice, is more talented vocally, and has the eyes to melt any 14 year old girl in America, but America saw that he doesn't have "it". He can't handle the media. He laughs like a little girl when he is interviewed. He only sings one genre: love ballads. David Cook is mature, confident yet gracious, and even more importantly, creative. He will make his own, unique album like no one else in America. I will buy his CD. I wouldn't have bought Archuleta's. David Cook may not be easy on the eyes, but he still has "it". America comes through, again.
Lastly, I will sleep well tonight, after having witnessed an incredible thing tonight on TV. In the midst of trials and tribulations with natural disasters in China and Myanmar, as gas prices reach $4/gallon, and as distasteful words are constantly shared between presidential candidates, a glimmer of hope was found. For one small moment on television, the world was right. All the problems of the world faded away. Meredith Grey figured out her problems. She dealt with them and then she went to the man she loved. Derek and Meredith kissed!! When the writers of Grey's Anatomy could have left us hanging in this season finale like they have the previous 3 seasons, they didn't. They realized that America couldn't handle that right now. We needed something. We needed to be able to believe in love again. We needed to see that there is still good in the world. And they gave that to us.
Thank you, America, for restoring hope back into the world. There ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the USA.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Oh, what's that? You want my opinion?...
Freebirds > Qdoba > Chipotle
Billy Gillispie > Mark Turgeon
Manchester United > Chelsea
Coca Cola > Pepsi
Adidas > Nike
Blogging > Facebook
Football (soccer) > Football (American)
Hillary > Obama > Edwards
SEC > Big XII
Pistons > Celtics
Spurs > Mavericks
Air Force > Army > Navy
Grey's Anatomy > House
Boys > Girls*
Cats > Dogs
Why, Justin, Why > Elisabeth's Explanations
Mac > PC
Iron Man > Spiderman > Batman > Superman
Chocolate > Vanilla
Briefs > Boxers**
Wal-Mart > Target
Thanksgiving > Christmas
Spirit of Aggieland > everything
*at sports.
**if I were a guy.
Billy Gillispie > Mark Turgeon
Manchester United > Chelsea
Coca Cola > Pepsi
Adidas > Nike
Blogging > Facebook
Football (soccer) > Football (American)
Hillary > Obama > Edwards
SEC > Big XII
Pistons > Celtics
Spurs > Mavericks
Air Force > Army > Navy
Grey's Anatomy > House
Boys > Girls*
Cats > Dogs
Why, Justin, Why > Elisabeth's Explanations
Mac > PC
Iron Man > Spiderman > Batman > Superman
Chocolate > Vanilla
Briefs > Boxers**
Wal-Mart > Target
Thanksgiving > Christmas
Spirit of Aggieland > everything
*at sports.
**if I were a guy.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
You should see the other guy...
Well I am going to go ahead and let the cat out of the bag. Why? Because I don't feel like I have anything to hide. Nothing to be embarrassed of here. I broke my nose three times throughout my athletic career: when I was twelve in a soccer game, when I was a senior in high school (by Shannon Novosell...the 7 foot freak that played for Lexington Catholic who elbowed me when going up for a rebound in basketball), and the final time being this past soccer season during the warm up (yes, warm up) against Texas Tech (we were scrimmaging and our goalie punted it and it was coming towards me and I was sitting there waiting for it, preparing to take it down with my chest, when Micah Stephens pushed me last second in the back and the ball hit me straight in the face). There were tears all three times. Yet, no blood. But the damage was still done, and I have been living with a crooked nose for 11 years.
Now that my illustrious soccer career is complete and I am about to head out to a whole new world of medicine (which I can only imagine to be identical to Grey's Anatomy, which means if I am going to get McDreamy, I gotta bring my A game), my parents and I decided it was the perfect time to get my nose fixed. So this past Tuesday I got it done. It was quite an odd sensation waking up in the middle of surgery, feeling them pounding away at my nose, just like in the movies. But I was enjoying it too much to say anything, so I laid there with my eyes closed and just cherished the moment. But the awkward part came when I had to decide how long it was appropriate to pretend like I was still drugged up and eventually come to. Apparently I did it well because I heard the doctor tell my mother afterwards that "everything went well, she slept right through it all!".
So this week I've been laying low, watching movies, taking insane amounts of pills, sleeping a ton, throwing up, and facebooking an embarrassing amount of my life away. I can't talk well because my face is still numb, so I've ignored most calls. Text if you want to contact me. :)
But just for your entertainment, I will show a picture of what I look like. This was taken a few days ago, and the swelling and bruising have both gone down a bit. But feel free to laugh. I would too if it were physically possible. Good thing is, you shouldn't even be able to tell a difference when you see me next because it's so subtle, but I will have my straight nose back. Yay!
Now that my illustrious soccer career is complete and I am about to head out to a whole new world of medicine (which I can only imagine to be identical to Grey's Anatomy, which means if I am going to get McDreamy, I gotta bring my A game), my parents and I decided it was the perfect time to get my nose fixed. So this past Tuesday I got it done. It was quite an odd sensation waking up in the middle of surgery, feeling them pounding away at my nose, just like in the movies. But I was enjoying it too much to say anything, so I laid there with my eyes closed and just cherished the moment. But the awkward part came when I had to decide how long it was appropriate to pretend like I was still drugged up and eventually come to. Apparently I did it well because I heard the doctor tell my mother afterwards that "everything went well, she slept right through it all!".
So this week I've been laying low, watching movies, taking insane amounts of pills, sleeping a ton, throwing up, and facebooking an embarrassing amount of my life away. I can't talk well because my face is still numb, so I've ignored most calls. Text if you want to contact me. :)
But just for your entertainment, I will show a picture of what I look like. This was taken a few days ago, and the swelling and bruising have both gone down a bit. But feel free to laugh. I would too if it were physically possible. Good thing is, you shouldn't even be able to tell a difference when you see me next because it's so subtle, but I will have my straight nose back. Yay!
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