My Very Own MLIA (My Life is Average) Moment

For those of you who don't know, there is a website called My Life is Average where people submit short stories about 'average' things that have happened to them. For example:

Today, I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with some friends. We walked over to the jukebox and proceeded to put on "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats. As the song came on, while we were dancing, an employee comes up to us in a serious tone and asks who put the song on. My friend steps in front and says that he did it. The employee immeadeatly holds up his hand and gives my friend a Hi-5. New favorite resteraunt? I think so. MLIA 

Deep down, I always wished for my own MLIA moment. Yesterday, that wish was granted.

Today in Queer Lit class, my friend and I put N'Sync's Digital Getdown music video/song on the projector before our professor came to class. Some annoying kid turned it down and said that the song was stupid. Halfway through the song, our professor walks in and asks why there is an N'Sync song playing. We tell him that we are trying to relive the 90's. In response, he puts on Say My Name by Destiny's Child, turning the volume back up to the top. MLIA

And just because I could never truly believe some of these stories, here is photographic proof.

 

Thailand 2

     About a week ago, I wrote about the opportunity that I received to go to Thailand and help out with learning camps. The guy who asked me about it never e-mailed me back, and I was starting to think that he never would.

Then today when I was eating lunch with Dan (we are now on civil, friend terms), this vaguely familiar looking guy comes up to me and asks me if I remember him. I say that I do, because saying no to that question is never a smart idea. Then he starts introducing me to all of these Thai people and talking about camps and it clicked.

So basically, the guy is still completely on board to go through with this, and also told the Thai people that I am "amazing" and "will go places", which was super flattering.

I hope that all of your days were this awesome!

Thailand and Things

Last weekend, my future educators learning community held huge conference at my college. During this conference, a ton of people from my learning community were given the chance to give presentations on their ideas for education reform, teaching tactics, and basically anything dealing with schools and how people learn.

Due to my extreme love for camp and angst towards my parents (for not being as supportive of my camps dilemmas as I would like them to be, as whiny as that sounds), I presented on how skills that I gained as a camp counselor have translated into the classrooms that I have assisted in. It went super well.

At the end, this professor guy who had watched my presentation raised his hand. I was super intimidated, since he previous questions had been a little lofty and difficult for me to understand.

"So, I am taking students to Thailand next December during winter break to look at, and hopefully participate in learning camps. Would you like to help me with that and be one of the students who goes on it?"

How many words are there for yes?

Apparently, this was the first time he had brought up this idea, which makes the fact that I was asked even more fantastic! I could not be more excited! Dreams really do come true, fill in this paragraph with more cliches about how awesome life is.

Also, my campus apparently had its unofficial campuswide Nerd Weekend. We had Animarathon, Quidditch, and LARPing out and about, as well as our zombie nerfgun wars.

(Tommy and I with someone dressed up for Animarathon)

Tea-Shirts

Jerk It Out

So... I think you need to dance. Insert scientific facts about how dancing around like an idiot makes everything better.

Just do it, it'll make your life fun.

@4#*$!

As many of my friends will tell you, I love profanity. I curse like a sailor. In fact, pirates have nothing on me. Here's the reason, I genuinely love cursing. As an English major, I am in a constant love affair with words, from poetry and 'high-brow" literature to dialects and made-up words (aka real words that Webster hasn't approved of yet, such as puddlejumpers (rain boots).

A lot of people tell me that using profanity makes me sound ignorant and tacky. Maybe it does. Whatever. I am capable of employing scholarly diction alongside the educated individuals of modern day civilization/society. It's not difficult to crack open a thesaurus. However, it takes a true word lover to pull off cussing.

My favorite word in the English language is the F-bomb. (Unfortunately, I gave up all of these words as a part of Lent, a religious custom that I celebrate, so I will only be alluding to them in this post) It can be used as any part of speech, the best a word chameleon. Amazing. ****ing amzing. Everything sounds more powerful with a nice F bomb in front of it.  And sometimes, when you stub your toe or spill coffee on your laptop (like I just did), a perfectly uttered/scoffed piece of profanity can be a beautiful thing. Deep down, I truly believe that swearing upon one of these instances can decrease the pain of the event.

Basically, as long as you use these words in their proper context (i.e. not in front of an employer or young child), and not to hurt anyone else, I say, go for it (Unless, of course, someone really screws you over. In that case, release the cursing kraken!).

Thankfully, at the end of March, I will once again regain my ability to use the amazing words as often as I please and the situation will allow.

Have a *$&#@ awesome day!

It's Not Even My Birthday

After stepping outside of my dorm today and not being able to see my own breath, I realized that spring was (almost kind of) here! Besides the amazing weather and dramatic increase in the amount of time everyone spends outside, the best part about the beginning of spring is that it means my birthday is coming!

Birthdays are the best. Without fail. Since I am still at the age where growing old is cool, I see birthdays as a fun way to celebrate life, while acquiring free things, eating fancy people food, and hanging out with friends, whether it's my birthday or someone else's.

Every year for my birthday, I like to listen to songs that have my age in them. Here are some of those songs (I genre-hop for these, since it's usually the poppier songs that mention ages)

15. (Fifteen-Taylor Swift)

16. (You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful and You're Mine)-Ringo Starr)

17. (Edge of Seventeen- Stevie Nicks)

 18. (Soco Amaretto Lime- Brand New)

19. (Nineteen-Teegan and Sara)

Etc. I have probably missed tons of songs, feel free to add any in the comments! Also, if it's your birthday or near your birthday, Happy Birthday! (If it's not, Happy Un-Birthday!)

So, Camp...

After interviewing with the art director of my first choice camp, I received a phone call today.

I ended up talking with one of the people I interviewed with, who started off the conversation by saying "Unfortunately... you're going to have to turn down all of your other camp job offers, because we really want you!"

Life is a swell, swell place. Everything is excellent and nothing hurts. Except for the fact that my parents want me to stay close to my hometown (ew). But whatever, still awesome!

So this makes two job offers. Although it's going to be difficult to choose, I feel so blessed/lucky to have such amazing choices.

Ed Sheeran: Making My Day, One Cover at a Time

Ed Sheeran (with Passenger) performing "No Diggity" and "Thrift Shop" Mashup

That awesome moment when...

Lea Michele is wearing a dress that I own on Glee. Props to Maddie for pointing it out. I don't watch Glee, but it made my day regardless.

I love those moments. Taylor Swift wore a dress that I had a few months ago, and it kind of made my week (best part, it was from Target).

 

Dresses are so awesome. 

Prank Wars

     My roommate, Emily (aka Shrillz or Skrillex) and I have a prank war going on. And I kind of love it. A lot of my other roommates become a little tiffed when pranks are pulled on them, so I am thankful that Shrillz and I have found one another in this brand new way. Radical.

     My first prank, which ultimately began our prank war, was to stick these "bird notes" (little pieces of Vera Bradley paper with birds on them that aren't sticky) all over her things. Finally a use for stationery that no one really wants  (not a real picture, but pretty close).

This prank sounds extremely tame. And not gonna lie, it was pretty harmless as far as pranks go. However, I managed to place over 200 papers in her things, in spots ranging from out in the open to hidden in her socks and shoes. She is still finding them, and this happened two-ish weeks ago.

She has decided to retaliate by turning everything I own upside-down and inside-out. Classic. And super super annoying. I was/am extremely impressed and amazed at her pranking talent.

 The photos don't really do this prank justice, since everything looks pretty much the same unless you stare super hard at them.

It is so on. Since she reads this blog, I can't tell you what my next prank will be or when it will happen, but you will definitely see photos of the after-effects.

Prank wars make life fun. Engage in them.

Camp Time!

One of the camps I applied for hired me! All right, life is swell! They are a super awesome camp on the east coast, and they offer transportation assistance (aka, I can take a train like the song I Woke Up in a Car by Something Corporate!!!), cheap college credits, and all-around awesomeness! If you cannot tell by the excessive amount of exclamation points, I am super super super excited!

So, Fall Out Boy is coming near me on tour...

And I have tickets to see them with Maddie. I love life. Hopefully all of your days are as awesome as mine is today! If not, here is some vintage Fall Out Boy. If that doesn't help, maybe this will.

If You Were a Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack

     Admittedly, Sleeping With Sirens' fan base is mainly made up of fan girls. And admittedly, pretty much every single member of this band is super attractive (see above photo). It's not their fault they are all so crazy good looking.

I avoided listening to them mainly for that reason. They are one of those bands that I kind of hate to say that I like because they ruin any "credibility" I have in the music taste department (judge if you want to, but I can guarantee that you have bands/artists like that too). However, when the acoustic version of "If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn" came onto my Pandora, I fell in love. First of all, the title of this album/EP (If You Were a Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack) is one of the more original album titles I have seen in a long time. There are also only five songs on it, which is perfect for my short attention span. And, they are all super beautiful. Kellin Quinn has an outstandingly gorgeous voice. It can be a little cheesy at times, I admit. However, Sleeping Sirens magically (because they have no clue who I am) understand that I am super stressed waiting for all of my job-things to pan out, and have decided to make this beautiful CD in order to help me stay calm.

If that didn't convince you to click on the Youtube link above, maybe these quotes (from Warped Tour's band page) concerning If You Were a Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack will convince you. Here is a link to the article if you'd like to take a look.

“When I started dating my fiancée, we spent all our time watching movies at home, hanging out at the house. We’re both fans of movies and the cinematic portion of life,” remembers Quinn. “I made her a mixed CD a long time ago called If You Were a Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack. I just thought it would be a cool name for an actual album. It’s got a little history.”

 “It was the first time I’d been away from home for a while, the first experience of the band, I was just missing home, missing my fiancée and our life together, because you have to sacrifice a lot of time apart to be in a band and be a musician and be on the road,” Quinn reflects. “It’s a sacrifice because you’re doing good things for the people that want to come out and see you and love you, but you’re sacrificing the person you want to be with all the time. It was cool to rewrite that song acoustically, because I feel like it really shows the emotion that you can’t really capture with screaming. The real passion and longing comes through in the acoustic track.”


Thanks, Sleeping With Sirens. Your music is much appreciated.

Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy is back together. And going on tour. And releasing new music. And being awesome.

They changed their image and their sound in order to better accommodate everyone in the band (so it's not The Pete Wentz show so much anymore). Check it out on their website, and if you're like me, try not to bawl like an idiot as your favorite band since 6th grade comes back together. So. Many. Feelings.

I hope that all of your days are as awesome as mine!

Believers never die.

TIcket Time!

You Me At Six, Pierce the Veil, Mayday Parade, and All-Time Low are in Detroit on May 1st.

Guess who has tickets?!? This blogger. That's right, I now have the chance to see two of my favorite bands perform live! Life is a swell place dudes, not gonna lie.


Peace, Love, and Concerts.

Rejected, Rejected, You Just Got Rejected

Stress. Stress. Stress. I am so many different levels of stressed it is unreal.

Unfortunately for me, my camp didn't rehire me because I want to work with teens (and they want me to work with younger kids). Not going to lie to you guys, I am super humiliated and hurt about this. In fact, I wasn't even going to post about it, but admittance is the first step to the healing process and all, so why not. Plus, everyone has been rejected from something at some point in their lives (insert section where I discuss all of the successful famous people who've been turned down). I'm not alone. Now, neither are you. Rejection sucks. It sucks a whole helluvalot.

On the brightside, I am now in the process of filling out every camp application that I can find, including some that are completely out of my reach, just because I can (and if you know any camps that are hiring, I would love to hear about them). Treks for teens in New Mexico, camps for kids with special needs, academic camps, slightly creepy religious camps, you name it, I am applying for it. Wish me luck, I definitely need it quite a lot. That and a chill pill, because, as I said in the opening of this post, I am superduper stressed.

Thankfully, I also have a ton of people that are reassuring me that everything isn't doomed just because I was rejected from my camp. My best friend and roommate has given me unlimited access to her envelopes (for the applications) and hugs, and my boyfriend has been extremely supportive and even sent me a slew of happy internet things (a few of which are pictured below) to make me feel better. He is definitely a keeper.

Anyways, if you were recently rejected, or if you're stressed, or anything that isn't your best and happiest, and you don't have a super awesome boyfriend or best friend to send you random happy things from the internet at the moment, today is YOUR lucky day!

If that doesn't help, just give someone a hug and smile. It weirdly helps, no lie.

Peace, Love, and Cookie Flavored Tea.

Sunshine, there ain't a thing that you can do that's gonna ruin my night

Up in this part of the world, the temperatures haven't been in the double digits for over a week now. Windchill is the new four letter word, and the sky looks like nasty paint water after you finish a picture. Gross.

Because of this, here are some nice weather photos, just in case you are suffering from the same set of winter blues..

Have a bright, sunshiney day!

y

The Other Three Things that Amaze Me

Sorry that this post was massively cut down and split (and yes, I realize that this doesn't add up to ten, I just didn't want to split this into three posts). My laptop and this website are conspiring against me to shorten my lengthy posts, so it won't let me publish unless I split up my appreciation ramble. If you want this post to make any sense, please read the previous one.
 
Fashion and the people bold enough to test out the trends. Thankfully, unlike my uberChristian small hometown, my college town is very liberal (which makes sense, it being a college town and all), especially when it comes to fashion. People show up to classes with capes, no shoes, and crazy crazy outfits. I love it. Peoplewatching here never gets old. Plus, I can wear my rainboots when it isn't raining and no one gives me weird looks. Gnarly.

Speaking of rainboots, or puddlejumpers, as I wish they'd be called,  they are another aspect of life that never fails to bring a smile to my face. Who doesn't love jumping in a giant puddle. It's such a freedom and I love the releasing of inhibitions and invincibility that happens when my feet hit the water.

When a song or a movie (for all of you film buffs) or a book or a work of art or whatever reaches out its paint splattered fingers and clasps onto your soul. Chilling. Brand New's In A Jar definitely fits the bill for this one. All of their songs are lyrical and everythingelse-ical perfection, but this one tops all of them for me.

Life in general, specifically, and all together completely astounds me everyday. I am a lifer through and through, and I will never stop being amazed by everything, popular film professor be damned. Maybe I just don't watch enough films (something I might be willing to change, if you know of any that are worthwhile).

What are things that amaze you? Leave them in the comment box, I would love to know.