Theme Parties

The ladies

Theme parties may be associated with college years, but I had no shortage of them this weekend. I think it's healthy to dress up in 80's fashion once in a while. Reminds you why you're so glad to be living in the here and now...

To celebrate a coworker's 30th birthday on Saturday night, we all headed to St. Andrew's Pub in Times Square, decked out in attire of the decade he was born (80's). I decided to embrace the saying "you'll never see these people again" while sitting on the train in my neon yellow skirt and matching tank top, pink lipstick, and leggings. I simply tried not to make eye contact with anyone, though I think I noticed a few questioning glances from my peripheral view. Whatever. It's New York City. People probably thought that I dress like that every day. Anyways, the party was great and I danced my heart out to "Shot Through the Heart" and "Don't Stop Believing," managing to only knock over one drink (naturally) and getting a single BBQ stain on my shirt. Not a terrible list of party fouls, considering the capabilities of my clumsiness. Unfortunately, I had to work this morning, so I headed home before I could cause any more damage to my shirt or the pub's glassware.

One night earlier, I attended yet another theme party to kick off the 2012 Summer Olympic Games! I don't think I could love anything more than an Olympics party, especially considering it was with just a select few of my favorite people in the world: Jim, Lindsay, Tess, and three of Jim's friends that I adore. I get so excited to see the whole world come together, highlighting young people who embody discipline and patriotism. Obviously with my platform in the Miss America Organization being Cultural Togetherness and my founding of the diversity awareness program at CNU, seeing so many nations come together gets me all warm inside.

Well, I better hit the sack since I work a double tomorrow. Tonight I watched "Mulan," painted my nails, and turned on the Olympics while writing this...so, you see, it's not all theme parties and reunions for me. My grandma side is still intact and welcomes these quiet nights at home. Until next time!

642, #2: College Essay

I've had quite the 5 day weekend. But as much fun as I had dancing with the Latino kitchen staff from my restaurant at a fellow server's band gig on Friday (I couldn't look them in the eye today at work), eating real ramen for the first time on Saturday, and taking a last minute 3 a.m. bus to Williamsburg, VA for the Busch Gardens reunion Sunday morning, I'm going to spare you the details and instead randomly choose another topic from 642 Things to Write About.

#2: Rewrite your college application essay from today's point of view, answering the last question: "Is there anything else we should know?"

You should know the things I will give to CNU, and the things I will take from CNU. Let's start with the former.

I will give CNU a brand new diversity organization called S.A.I.L., which will allow your students to become trained diversity educators and travel to elementary, middle, and high schools around Newport News, teaching kids about breaking stereotypes. S.A.I.L. will be a lasting organization, continuing to thrive and affect the community even after I graduate. I will be a leader not only through my founding of S.A.I.L., but as a Resident Assistant for two years. Although I'll want to hit my hall of freshmen upside their heads with my sorority paddle, many will still have a close relationship with me for years to follow. Speaking of my sorority paddle, I will join Phi Mu Fraternity and be one of many advocates on campus for Greek Life. My sisters and I may be the reason that Einstein's always has a long line, but I'm not sorry for it. I will also give to CNU's music community by becoming musical director of The Newport Pearls a cappella group. We will sing at random times in the student union, causing traffic jams and nervous looks from visitors. Again, not sorry. Last, I will give to CNU academically. I won't present at Paidea or represent the university in any sort of academic competition, but I'll almost always go to class and get my assignments in on time. I won't major or minor in Religious Studies, but my Buddhism professor, Dr. Thompson, will still invite me to his house for dinner with his five other favorite graduating seniors at the end of my CNU career. Teachers like me.

This is what I will take from CNU: I'll take the visitor's parking spot often, and never get a ticket. I'll take a secret midnight climb to the top of the P. Trib Library when it was under construction, priding myself on being one of only a few students to ever set foot in the highest dome. I will take advantage of having the easiest senior year possible by working at Busch Gardens full time and only taking classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'll take a LOT of bananas from Regattas. I'll take dozens of girlfriends from Phi Mu and The Pearls. I'll take away the knowledge that CNU only admits good-looking girls, but about 4 good-looking guys per class. I will take a degree that I may never use in life, as much as I love your Psychology department. I'll take lessons of time management, pride, humility, forgiveness, and patience...and those things I will use in life.

This is what you should know about me, should you accept me to your university. Notice that what I'll give is far more than what I'll take...you won't miss those bananas from Regattas, and I'm sure visitors found other parking spots just fine. The substantial things I take from CNU will be lessons that make me a woman whom you should be proud to have represent your university as an alumni. 

________________

Here are some pictures from the Busch Gardens reunion!

A full quartet of the Italy '09 Singers (originally an octet) made it to the reunion!

One of my best guy friends, and drummer at Busch Gardens, Smithers!

Myself, Michael (Italy '09), Jake (Italy '09), and Sam (Jake's wife/BG dancer for 5 or 6 years)

642 Things to Write About: #1

I'd guesstimate that there are about four people on this planet who know me better than I know myself. Truly. They can predict my reactions, explain what I really mean when I can't express myself well, and know what makes me excited, happy, angry, emotional, irrational, proud, crazy, sad, giggly, and reassured. Two of those people are my brother and Lindsay. For my birthday, which was about three weeks ago, Jim and Linds gave me a book that can only be described as the best gift ever (close second is the iPhone my parents are giving me in a week). This fantastic book is called 642 Things to Write About. Writing is one of the few ways I give my brain a break from all of the spastic-ness that's constantly reeling about up there, but sometimes I just don't know where to begin. Now, whenever I'm lacking inspiration, I can open up my lovely little book and just go! Thanks, Jim and Linds, for knowing me so well and picking the perfect gift! So today's topic is...
  
Write, in ridiculous detail, directions on how to get to your house.

Now, this all depends on where you're starting from. But let's assume that your bus/cab/car service/whatever just dropped you off in the middle of Times Square. You are standing on the southeast corner of 45th Street and 7th Avenue, right in front of the Swatch store that has blue, green, yellow, and other multicolored plastic watches on display. Walk south on 7th Avenue, towards the dancing people dressed up as Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse, and the like. The naked cowboy should be about fifteen feet to your right. When you get to 44th Street (Toys "R" Us on your left..hence the dancing cartoons), turn right and walk across the blue concrete with overwhelmed and tired tourists sitting down at the filthy metal tables scattered about. Avoid crazy taxi drivers as you cross Broadway (which intersects with 7th Avenue at about this point...don't get confused).

SIDE NOTE: Everything in New York City is an easy grid. Avenues go North and South, while streets go East and West. Broadway is just there to mess with you...it juts completely diagonal through everything. You can NEVER judge which way to go based on where Broadway is. It's a stupid street.

Back to where you are. You've managed to cross Broadway without getting trampled or hit by a taxi and are standing on the northwest corner of 44th and Broadway. Turn 90 degrees left and face the LEVI's store. On the wall across the street, you will see a giant picture of a handsome African-American male model on his back in the fetal position, modeling a pair of Levi's and nothing else. Walk towards him. Stop before you hit the wall. Turn right, staying on 44th street heading West, past the street stand that sells I <3 NY t-shirts and other questionable looking paraphernalia. You will walk past the famous family-style Italian restaurant called Carmines on your left, then past obnoxious yellow signs for Broadway's Rock of Ages. You're getting close to the train station you're aiming for after you pass the St. James Theatre, where my childhood friend, Adrienne Warren, is starring in a new show, Bring it On: The Musical (yep, I name-dropped just there).

About 20 feet past John's Pizza (my stepmom's favorite NYC pizzeria), enter the subway station that advertises the ACE trains in blue circular symbols. Buy a metro card (figure it out), and enter the turnstiles that have been touched by at least 200,000 people before you. Today. Immediately to your left, there will be two staircases going further down into the ground. Go down the left one. Wait for the A express train that will come on the left track in about 3-20 minutes, depending on how much God loves you that day. When it arrives, get on the very first car at the front of the train (don't worry, you're already positioned well to be right at the first car) and try to find a seat next to someone thin and well-groomed. It's a relatively lengthy ride.

Four stops later, once it's clear that no tourists are left in sight, get off at 168th street. You will exit through the doors on the left-hand side of the train and take the staircase that is closest to where you stepped off. This will lead you up to two cage-type turnstiles on the right. Choose one and exit. Take the stairs that lead to 169th street and St. Nicholas Avenue, northeast corner. When you emerge, don't be alarmed by the men sitting on buckets who will stare at you. Walk straight forward on St. Nicholas towards 170th Street. You will pass an out-of-place flower shop on your right and see a wine store on the corner. They know me there.

Turn right on 170th street, and walk towards the foul-smelling silver truck that has an illuminated sign displaying the word "CHIMI" in all capital letters. Try not to look at whatever they're frying as you pass. I think it's squirrel. Once you've passed the CHIMI truck on the left and the playground full of darling Hispanic children on the right, you'll be on my corner. 170th and Audubon.

I cannot disclose my exact location on this corner, be it North, South, East, or West, for fear of creepy internet stalkers (and you're probably one of them). But essentially, you have arrived. Call me when you're here.

Oh, and here are some pictures from my birthday!

Me, Lindsay (thanks for the book that inspired this blog!), Tess, and Lindsey

Miss NY girls!

Claire and Lindsey came in town from DC!

Dancing!

Spectacularity

Modern travel always amazes me. At 10:30 a.m., I'm riding the bus through New York City, sitting next to a 27-year-old sign language minister (I eavesdropped for that information, oddly enough) and across from a coke addict (and I'm not talking about the carbonated beverage), on my way to LaGuardia airport. Eleven hours later, though the time difference tries to shock my body into believing it's only been eight hours, I'm in Los Angeles, CA, cruising down Santa Monica Boulevard in a rented Mustang convertible. Wait, what?!

Think about the space between New York City and Los Angeles. The amount of people's lives that are being lived, the changes in climate, and the miles of different landscapes. Three THOUSAND miles. Yet, in a few short hours, I'm casually wearing the same clothes and carrying the same bag as I was when I was on the other side of the country. Maybe I let myself get too overwhelmed and amazed by ideas that I shouldn't...like the time I was telling someone that I think that the idea of having a baby is unfathomably miraculous. So, maybe a lot of people think that having a baby is unfathomably miraculous, but the point is that I was telling whoever it was that I never want to say "I want a family" just to have a nice little nuclear family. No, to me, wanting a child is motivated by the desire create a being- a live little human- who is a perfect mix of me and my husband (clearly I won't be having children any time soon with that husband clause in there). Rather than being "the next step," my future-kid will be a personalized gift to the world that represents a bond with someone who changes my life with love. Crap. I sound like a crazed-romantic. STILL. I don't think you should have babies just to have babies. They should be a representative of a love between two people. After explaining all of that to this person and excitedly finishing my thoughts with, "Isn't that just unreal that we have that opportunity to create such a lasting memory of our love with someone??", he/she/can't remember said, "Shannon, it's called reproduction." Debby downer.

Back from that tangent...I don't think we stop to soak in the wonder of the world often enough. Be it man-made, like the ability to state-hop as though we're just walking to the other side of the park, or nature/God-made, like creating new humans, life is CRAZY. Why do we get caught up in our steak not being cooked perfectly or whether or not we win a beauty pageant? The splendor of the world is way more fun to get caught up in. Having fun with all of the other little humans that were created out of love (or something...), giving way to new thoughts and ideas inspired by majestic scenery, humbling ourselves to remember how small we are as we fly over 3,000 miles of land that is full of millions of people who value their lives as much as you value your own, and not letting our minds become immune and idle to the intricate and enrapturing world around us. That is how we should aim to occupy our time and brain-power.

Think about something extraordinary, yet you often pass as ordinary, in your life. A connection with someone unexpected. A car ride where no matter how many red lights you hit, it's still faster than a horse and buggy. A star that seems out of place. A building that is 50 stories high and doesn't fall over. A song that gives you goosebumps...what are goosebumps anyway? How can emotion manifest itself on skin?

Don't get me wrong, I still like my steak cooked medium rare, but there are much greater, more spectacular, and more challenging things to think or care about. Life is pretty cool. Take an active part in enjoying it, pondering it, indulging in it, and appreciating it.