VB... the best place on earth

i am from this place where you can swim in the pool, go on a boat ride and see dolphins, shop, walk the dog and play beer pong all with a drink in your hand. it is paradise. it is my favorite place in the world.
the picture above explains it all. the artists of this wonderful piece are me and one of my best friends. my two closest friends came down to my house for new years this past Christmas break and instead of studying for finals, we drew this picture to ease our anticipation one night.
we got into the conversation about how much i talk about home and how much i love it. now, i know people who are from texas have this big sense of pride but i cant really figure out why. yes, the state is huge, but what else is there? please dont get me wrong, i am not trying to put down texas in any way, shape or form, but i just believe that my state is better. i think that most of the people from my state would agree with me, too.
any objections?

warm... milk?

ok, so everyone has heard the myth about drinking warm milk at night if you are unable to fall asleep...


but who actually does this?!


well, i live in a house with about 35 other girls and when i couldn't sleep last night i walked downstairs and found one of my best friends. when i told her about not being able to sleep she told me to apply the myth that i stated above...
well, long story short, about a lot of dicussion on whether or not the myth is true, i filled up a glass with milk and put it in the microwave. after about 45 seconds i took it out and i had to chug it because i didn't like it's taste.


as a result... i dont know if this milk actually HELPED me fall asleep. yes, i went back upstairs, got into bed and eventually fell asleep without much effort but i dont know whether or not i should try out this gross myth again...


has it ever worked for any of you?

seriously...?

okay, so watch the commercial below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLVa3cZyGIo
What in the world? When i first saw this commercial i double took at its concept...
This commercial was reintroduced to me in my marketing for advertising class today. my teacher handed out an article written by Seth Stevenson titled "The Divorcemobile". I didn't remember the idea of the commercial until i read the article.
This article is part of Ford's Bold Moves campaign. The article states that "...the ad is meant to be a 'celebration of family... the versatility of life itself, as well as the versatility of the Freestyle'". Excuse me?!
Coming from a very stable and supportive home I have never had to deal with anything truly tragic when it comes to my family but I can feel for the young kids that watch this commercial and are reminded of the awkward times with their mom and dad right after the divorce. The article states: "The wife invites her estranged husband along for a weekend with their kids? Won't that make the poor kids hope for a reconciliation?"
NO! I think that it would just cause confusion... the parents don't have to act like they are on a family vacation like the good ol' days...

read the article: www.slate.com/id/2148392

favorite commercial but does it catch the eye?

so this commercial was emailed to me and i know that it aired a long time ago but i love it. i laughed so hard...
but then i thought if i would really pay attention to it while watching a sporting event or something on tv. while having the super bowl in mind, i thought about the idea if anyone would really pay attention to this ad if it was a commercial during the big game. yes, i love watching the ads for everything but i wonder if someone else who isn't as interested into what is happening on the big screen when the game is not on would actually pay attention...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U-dYleBVFo&feature=related

to wave or not to wave?

so the past week, the first week of classes, i was walking to class and came up with the following predicament...
when you pass somebody, just how much enthusiasm should you put into your polite greeting? yes, we have all been told that we should say "hello" and smile as we pass somebody because it always has a positive effect on their day, but just how long do you look at them as you pass and how loud do you say it?
I feel that now it is colder it is harder to say hello to someone as you pass. i know, in my own case, i am snuggled into my scarf or jacket and don't really want to lift out my mouth to say hello and i don't want to remove my hand from its cozy pocket to wave. when i smile, the person that i am trying to acknowledge cant see my smile because of the many layers of clothing... do they think that i am rude?
Just today these awkward thoughts ran through my head, again. I went to Central Market to get some soup to keep me warm in this dreary weather. Walking past older people, whom i am more outwardly respectful to in regards to their presence, i feel that I should say hello more loudly to them. when i did that this afternoon, one lady turned and looked at me. Ageism? ya, i think so...
So, i encourage all of you to think about this as you are walking to and from classes... it will dawn on you that your walk to class isn't so mundane and repetitive. Please remember that you never know what kind of day the person is having that you are passing... a smile and a simple "hello" could change their total outlook on life...

Making my dash

Last semester I was in a class that I, at first, felt very uncomfortable in because it was very personal and I was not used to the teacher being as "into his students" as my particular teacher was. One day he made us bring something that was very meaningful to us into class... I had a hard time trying to figure out what to bring. Finally I realized that I had something that never occured to me as being very sentimental but it actually was... it was my "hurricane cross". Because I am from Florida my house has been hit by many hurricanes and these particular cross is said to protect one's house from a hurricane. It is not hanging in my room here, at school, because I thought that it was cute and never really thought of its true value.
While in the class, and listening to all of my other classmates talk, one girls poem really hit me and has become something very influential in my life. The poem goes as follows:

THE DASH

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

-

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

-

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

-

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

-

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
(You could be at "dash midrange.")

-

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

-

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

-

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

-

So, when your eulogy's being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?
-

Author Linda Ellis

This poem really opened my eyes to the reality of life and how I can have an affect on someone or something every moment of every day. I now have this poem framed in my room and people often come by to read it... I think that it is a wonderful poem.