No Fines for my Pet Peeve Violation... Phew!

One of my pet peeves is people being closed-minded, and sadly, I caught myself doing just this! I've been a student at West Valley since college was a new journey for me. And then when I dropped out and was inspired to return, I continued my schooling there, where I was a confident student that joined clubs and was academically inspired. Due to budget cuts though, I was forced to attend De Anza College if I wanted to pursue Journalism. My boyfriend attends De Anza, and so I was somewhat excited about it, but for the most part disappointed and adamant about how good of school it could be for me. Maybe the inner shy girl didn't like this vulnerable feeling.

Well, I've just completed my first week at De Anza, and I've gotta say, I'm surprised and enjoy it! There's a lot of students on campus, giving me an opportunity to visualize a 4-year campus, and of course as a Journalism student, this gives me many opportunities to investigate and profile students with unique lives. Even though it was hectic getting things situated with Financial Aid and Admissions and Records Offices, I'm glad I made the decision to attend school here. Plus, it's kind of nice hanging out with my boyfriend in between classes - it's something to look forward to!

This blog is only ok

Guys must hate it when their girl doesn't accept their compliments. What happens in that awkward moment after a guy compliments, say, dinner, and she responds, "eh, it was ok." Fish out more compliments or accept her opinion? It's a lose-lose sitch, as the article in Cosmopolitan June 2011 issue explains. I realize I'm guilty of this very thing, and it's not because I want more attention, or that I'm being modest. Just yesterday, I dissed a compliment given to me. I think it has to do with womens ideals of needing to be "perfect" - society coerces the minds of girls from childhood to apply makeup and look presentable (Barbie, Pretty Pretty Princess, fun makeup kits for girls), have a hot body (Sketchers tone-up shoes for preteens), and to be the "it-mom" or the multi-tasker. So when we personally don't feel we weren't putting our whole effort, or it wasn't the best as it had been in the past, that is when we dis them. I do realize the male's perspective and respect it. It makes perfect sense - when does a guy honestly give out compliments? Not all that often, so when they make a point to do so, it's legit and should be responded with a "thank-you" or some kind of acknowledgment. Besides, you don't want your guy starting to believe and notice your flaws!

Make Peace!

Apparently it's International Peace Day today, so I encourage any of you reading this, to experience or create peace in some way. For example, I did some yoga this morning, and felt no restrictions or stresses for the day - I made internal peace for my body (and boy, did it feel rejuvenating!). Or, if you usually find yourself squabbling with siblings or gossip to besties, I suggest exchanging it for a compliment - it goes a long way, and you'll feel better about it too!

No More Pizzas

So I'm back in school=more learning! I'm so stoked about Astronomy every time I have that class. Perhaps I just have great memories linked to the "outer space" from having space food, or staring up at tiny Saturn through my family's white-tubed telescope. Naturally, I chose Astronomy out of the other choices - Oceanography, Geography, etc. This course is specific to Life in the Universe, but we discuss key topics as well - such as Pluto no longer being a planet, and the life-stages of a star!

I mostly just want to talk about Pluto here though. Tons of people have written complaints upon hearing about poor Pluto's new category, but as my Astronomy professor reminds us, Pluto has yet to complain about it -- hah. It's just we all grew up with familiarizing ourselves with acronyms like "My Very Excellent Mother Just Made Us Nine Pizzas" to help with our tests. Now what? Well, I'm here to say why there are no more "pizzas!"

There are 2 categories of planets: Terrestial and Jovian. The Terrestial planets are rocky, and closest to the sun, Mercury-Mars. Following those planets is the Asteroid Belt. The Asteroid Belt consists of the building block material (the leftovers in another sense) of these planets. Then comes the Jovian planets, made of mostly Hydrogen and Helium. From Jupiter to Neptune, with the Kuiper (coy-per) Belt following them. The Kuiper Belt is said to be where some comets derive from, which contain the building blocks of the Jovian planets. And then there's little Pluto, smaller than the Earth's moon. Located in the Kuiper Belt, it is said to be a degassed comet. If you notice, the other planets are not located in a belt and are in the clear on it's orbit around the Sun.

I guess we'll just have to come up with a new acronym, or just claim that "My Very Excellent Mother Just Made Us Noodles"

Eating Disorder: Ultra-Healthy

There's a new label for eating disorders: orthorexics. Latin for “correct eating,” this eating disorder isn't a focus on weight, like anorexia and bulimia can be; but rather, the focus of an eating diet constricted to only healthy. Sometimes so healthy, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, artificially colored foods, etc. are eliminated. It's restricted to only pure, natural foods. I had no idea this was considered a disorder. In fact, in retrospect, I was a sufferer, and here's my story:

Last winter, 2010, I was fascinated with nutrition and the goal to be as healthy as I can possibly be. Not bad, right? But after a couple weeks, I became obsessed with it. I was running twice a day, biking around town for transportation, and I had to work out with resistance/circuit training on top of it. That was the fitness aspect of it. The nutritional aspect was that I would make myself a protein drink, drink Kombucha, eat "Raw" and active snack bars, eat copious amounts of fruits and veggies and whole grains. Still not bad. But I had mentally displaced myself from a healthy outlook on eating. I remember my family went out to a Chili's to celebrate my 23rd birthday. I had been on my very specific routine for about 2/2.5 months at this point. I had maybe half of the Volcano Chocolate Cake and a taste of another dessert. I was so wrapped up that I had something so "unhealthy" that I was killing myself inside: "How could you ruin all of your hard work?" "Why didn't you tell yourself you couldn't participate in junk food?" "I hate you for even being tempted and yielding to it." This is why I believe it is unhealthy, because it's not just that you are a health-nut, you are a health-nut to the extreme, and to the point it effects you in the same way anorexia and bulimia do (a mental perspective of unrealistic goals and ideas).

Source: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/new-eating-disorders-are-they-real

Clothing Swap!

I had a neat opportunity to make an appearance at a clothing swap party about a week ago. I had heard of these in high school (from reading it in Seventeen magazine) and wanted to try it, but with all the school uniforms and varying body types at the time, I figured it best to swap among my sisters. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I brought all the clothes I never cared to wear anymore in a couple bags, as did others. I was excited these other girls were into fashion and knew how to put together an outfit - none of that "old me" style of just jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies (though I revert back to that on occasion). Naturally one would think screaming, vicious bantering, and other animal instincts would kick in if one didn't get what she wanted, but nope, we are all mature 20-something year olds. We sat in a circle, and presented one by one what we had and in that time you would verbalize if it was something you wanted to try or keep, and if no one was interested, it was put in the middle. At the end, that middle pile would be donated to a charity that accepts used clothing, like Goodwill. The best part about this was that I don't have any money for new clothes, yet I was able to leave with plenty of pants and tops, belts, and even practically new Converse! I felt like I did splurge at the mall somewhere, and now I'm all content set for awhile.

The Shy Girl "Speaks"

Ten years ago I received my very first journal for Christmas. It had a denim look to it with a very 70's inspired flower patched on the pocket design. When I began writing in this journal, I was 14 nearly 15. I created rules for myself - the only writing utensils to be used were Gelly Roll pens, and no two consecutive days had the same color (unless there were no other options, which ended up being the case eventually when my favorite ones died out). Fast forward to me being nearly 24 years old, I still write in a journal, but I am a much different person than that OCD journaling chick (one would hope so as a grown-up anyway). I look back, and I realize this quote, that I read from Garrison Keillor's How To Write A Personal Letter, rang true by stating, "So a shy person sits down and writes a letter. To be known by another person--to meet and talk freely on the page--to be close despite the distance. To escape from anonymity and be our own sweet selves that express the music of our souls." That was me then, but not me today. I was the shy girl, the one who "observed and listened" in conversations, not speak in them. I did wish inside that I could be as funny or as cool as some people I watched be. If you were to read my journals, I write as if I'm telling little stories of my day - as if to a best friend. And to be honest, I think I would go crazy if I didn't exercise my mind freely in a journal--it really is cathartic, much like a rock star sings their feelings out through lyrics. Today, I'm one to joke around with others in conversations (I really believe journaling gave that little boost of confidence), and when it comes to meeting photographers and makeup artists and other talents for modeling, I am one to put my hand out there first and make those first impressions count. What's funny, in an ironic sense, is when I admit to people I use to be "the shy one" (yes, I still have those shy moments now and then), they look at me in disbelief and reply, "Nope, I can't imagine you being like that." Makes me feel I've come a long way, and I'm proud of that.