A little note..

In the midst of the busyness January-March brings, I know I forget to just breathe and appreciate the people and small blessings that surround me. Taking a break from my stupid (I wish I had a better word) amounts of homework just to say, breathe.

Live well and be well,

-k

Thank you for being a friend

After quite the hellish week, I took tonight off and decided to veg out on Dan's couch. Equipped with a stead-fast supply of food (i.e. "Dan go get me grapes," "Dan can you get me a drink," "Daaaaan are you listening to me?") After a few hours of the Food Network, I settled on watching "The Golden Girls." I can't even begin to explain my love for these four ladies- Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche, and Rose. Somehow after 10 minutes someone (usually Dorothy or Blanche) do something stupid and with the help of Sophia and the endless/whimsical/ridiculous stories of Rose, all problems are solved in the span of 25 minutes. I wish life worked like that. I wish all conflicts were complex- but only for about 10 minutes- and I wish all people in my path were inanely funny. I wish I had friends like the Golden Girls- the sarcastic one, the floozy one, the dumb one, and the mother hen one. I could visit for those late night cheesecake feasts, we could go on really bad vacations but laugh about it...I just really want to be a Golden Girl.

Moving on- Dan thinks I've lost my mind.

On a side note- what is it about the Hallmark Channel that makes me want to watch really bad movies?

Back to reality tomorrow... until then, I have the Golden Girls.

Balance

Technology Stew: Cream of Insomnia

In honor of the name of this humble blog, Insomnia Pizza, I lay awake in my bed unable to sleep, thus resulting in this rant-entry. I tried going to Kelly Deli to buy some water bottles. I tried sitting on the couches overlooking the city lights. I looked at my homework. I wrote a few lists. What is it about me and lists? I write lists like people count sheep, hoping that by organizing and trying to control my schedule my mind will be at some sort of ease by I keep thinking about the discussions we had in one of my classes today: technology. Ever changing, useful, frustrating, can't-live-without-it, double-edged sword, what is it about technology that scares me? Is it the fact that it hinders our intellect? I can't tell you have many papers I have edited where students have used "ur" instead of "your" or "William Blake used the lamb as a metaphor to God lol" really, an "lol?" While I admit my cellphone might as well be glued to my fingers, technology (cell phones, internet) is making us dumb... or lazy. We're too lazy to type out full thoughts, we're too lazy to use correct grammar, we're so lazy that we have to abbreviate three letter words (i.e. you = "u" really!?!?) Drives me crazy! As a (hopeful) future English teacher, these insane thoughts of mine drive me crazy. I'm a big fan of new things, I like fast computers, I enjoy Skype, I like buying things on Amazon, but give me a break, I don't need to be attached to the internet 24/7. For example, this Twitter nonsense- do people really need 140 character updates on my boring life (I mean, does anyone even read my blog [insert "lol" here]). What is so important that people need instant statuses such as "Kristen has insomnia" or "Kristen loves cats." If you wanted to know these things, try having a normal face-to-face human communication. Plus the face of Twitter are morons like Ashton Kutcher and Tila Tequila (because I just have to know what they do every day). Do I really want to be associated with that?

Currently I am taking a class about utilizing technology and internet web tools to not only enhance lesson plans but to create and cater to learning styles- to bring an entire world into my classroom. The concepts are great, in theory it all makes sense, but in the back of my head I'm wondering, "what's next?" Will administrators want us teachers to jump through flaming hoops? Should we set off fire works to the meter of Shakespearean sonnets? Does everything need to be exciting and colorful, bold, beautiful and full of glitter? Is that real life? Are we setting America's future up for disappointment and false expectations? Life isn't the Fourth of July every day, so why does my future classroom need to be a technology-filled circus? Allowing iPods, cellphones, laptops in high school classrooms have their place, but not every minute and second of every lesson. I hate lectures and papers as much as the next person, but when have I really learned and retained information using laptops in school? I'm pretty sure I spent the whole time on Facebook. The best lessons I had were analyzing, writing, and discussing, debating, which influenced me to work on my vocabulary, collaboration, creativity, and analytical thinking, I was... learning.

Yeah, technology is wonderful. It has opened so many new doors and has provided education with new and fascinating outlets that need to be explored and utilized, but there comes a point when we need to teach people how to listen without all that hoopla. Milton sums it up best in "Paradise Lost" when Adam and Eve leave the garden and into a whole new world of great and terrible things: "the World was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence Their guide: They hand in hand with wandering steps and slow,Through Eden took, Their solitaire way." And yes, that comparison might be laying it on a bit thick, but think about it- or just go and Google an analysis and get back to me.

-k

Time Machine Weekends

I am convinced weekends run on warp-speed time, there must be some sort of scientific explanation for how 48 hours seem to feel like 48 seconds. Someone look into and get back to me. After completing 3 out of 5 ridiculous homework assignments (thank you Drexel for celebrating MLK day and giving me another 24 hours to be studious).

I went on a whirlwind trip to New York this past week. Sucking up the price, I took the Amtrak to Penn Station and two other trains to visit my Aunt and Uncle for a few days. Show cat breeders, they had five four-week old Havana Brown kittens- words and pictures do not give this beautiful breed justice. Just so. freaking. cute. At this point, the kittens, unbalanced of course, were running around, being ornery, and beating up on each other. I could have stayed in that room for the rest of my life and have not been bored. I told Dan that when I graduate school, we're getting one. He reluctantly agreed.

Aunt LeAnn and I ventured into New York City on Saturday and had an amazing day. The weather was amazing and the crowds were minimum. And yes... we indulged our taste buds with Pad Thai again. Mhmm. She introduced me to the importance of lipstick, Kenneth Cole blazers, and Anthropologie, my latest obsession. Besides needing to take out a second mortgage on a house I have yet to own, that store has captured my frugal heart.

Ah. Sweet weekend, where did you go? On an unrelated note, I am officially a Call of Duty widow.

I leave you with more poor-quality pictures of amazingly cute kittens. Everyone go out and get a Havana Brown. Your life will improve in every way possible.

-k

Oh. School.

Food Network Crack

What is it about the Food Network that makes me want to never leave the couch again? Is it the epic food battles that keep me on the edge of my seat screaming at the TV that the Iron Chef MUST win (except Bobby Flay. My grave dislike of Bobby Flay makes me cheer for the contender). Maybe it's Guy Fieri discovering little highway gems and guessing how many fried food items he will eat until a heart attack. Or maybe it's "The best thing I ate" or the "Ace of Cakes." I'm thinking I should send Daniel on "The Worst Cooks in America" (he doesn't even want to take frozen chicken nuggets out of the oven 'what if I burn myself?' he says.) I mustn't make fun of my poor boyfriend for his chef skills. When we first starting dating I had the brilliant idea to make him a grilled cheese and ended up somehow burning the bread (it was charred black) without melting the cheese (it was still cold). He ate it anyway.

I think my love of the Food Network might be because of Alton Brown, simply because after watching him I feel smart. I could be a food science major, I can wow all of my friends with useless food science knowledge. I could tell them all that I now know the chemical compound of the fat in milk and inform them about rice pudding (you aren't supposed to use instant-cook rice). Whatever it is, the Food Network is somehow feeding me crack and I cannot leave this couch because I have to have more. Must have seconds. Or thirds. Or a whole day... poor Dan ("why are we watching this...")

In the spirit of food, I present a cheeseburger:

And now I present a cheeseburger that has been attacked and defeated. And enjoyed.

Maybe what I like the most about the Food Network is watching people make and eat food that I would/could never eat. I mean, Paula Dean, that is a lot of butter. I like watching Rachel Ray make meals in 30 minutes, and I love, love, LOVE watching Ina Garten make food for her friends (why can't I be her friend?). I like watching people do what I can't (i.e. make edible food and enjoy it). I don't see "Making Salads with Paula," or "Diet Foods with the Barefoot Contessa." I think what the Food Network is telling me is that life is too short for salads with the dressing on the side. In the words of Julia Child, "the only time you eat diet food is when you are waiting for the steak to cook."

Bon apetit.

-k

10 Things..

As I get back into the swing of things here at school, I'm reminded of things that I absolutely abhor about school.

1. People who ask ridiculous questions. When the professor says, "After I get through this material you may go," and that idiot in the front row asks questions about NOTHING, thus prolonging class, it angers me. Hate.

2. Public bathrooms. I don't care if they are referred to as "bathroom closets," everyone can hear your business. People don't put the seat down. Ugh. Double Hate.

3. Textbooks. I hate getting to class and one of two things happens.

Option A. "Hey I know you spent $120 on this book but we won't use it. Oh, and the bookstore won't buy it back from you because we switched series."

Option B. "Hey I know you spent $120 on this book but I want you guys to go out on and buy this other book for $50."

4. The people upstairs. I'm sorry, do you have dance parties in stilettos while screaming at the top of your lungs at 4 am?

5. My bed. It doesn't matter how many mattress pads and blankets I put on this concrete slab of a mattress, it's still feels like I'm laying on a rock.

6. Being broke. I guess that's just apart of the quaint charm of being a college student in a big city, but why must I buy everything in nickels and dimes? This is embarrassing! What is it that I buy that makes me this broke?

7. The cold. I swear, I've endured 20 winters in my life and this is just ridiculous. I leave this building and have to dress as if I am exploring the Arctic. I really don't understand how I went through that "I'm too cool to wear a winter coat" phase circa 2004-2006. I'm tired of going outside and feeling like my bones are going to crack.

8. The rain. It actually has yet to rain, but I'm just waiting for that awful moment when the sky decides to open up and cry. I can handle rain, I can handle cold, but rain plus cold is a terrible mix. Having wet shoes in buildings that don't believe in cranking up the heat is unbelievably uncomfortable. It doesn't help that my mom believes in cheap umbrellas that come through the mail with weird things on their, i.e. dreamcatchers or American flags missing stars (note: cheap umbrellas DO NOT hold up against the wind, so don't embarrass yourself, just don't bother.)

9. The dining hall. It's one thing to serve dirt and call it food, it's one thing to play MTVu which only plays the same five rap videos (which all interestingly seem to feature Usher), and it's another thing that there is usually a huge line or if you go on a downtime they only offer turkey burgers, a browning salad bar, and cereal. What annoys me the most about the dining hall is that it closes so early. I have classes that cut through the latter end of the afternoon straight until 9 pm, and wait...I can't utilize my meal plan that cost me an arm and leg because they're closed! Hate, hate hate.

10. Homework. I guess every normal student dislikes homework, but I think having hours of crap to do within the first two days is just ridiculous.

-k

Sweet Procrastination

As winter break comes to a sad end, I am reminded of the things I should have done (such as, figure out how to get to a job interview, buy books, think about school...) oh well. I am also reminded of the things I will miss about being free from professors and ridiculous homework assignments (including my own bed, sleeping forever, the food network).

Here is a brief overview of Winter Break in poor quality pictures:

Chiquita in her Snuggie: I can't even begin to tell you the trouble Dan and I went through to find this stupid thing. From searching every Petco high and low and looking in what felt like every Wallgreens in PA, we drove last minute to one of the "As Seen On TV" outlets 10 minutes before closing. I never thought I'd give in to the Snuggie, but shamefully, I succumbed to the retail monster.

Family: Lots and lots of family. I personally, prefer the family that can't talk, walk, or eat solid food.

Dan. This is Dan eating "healthy," which means Subway opposed to Five Guys. Can't beat that whole wheat bun.

My Mom. Words really don't capture the essence of Lisa, but currently she is making meat loaf and fighting with my Dad about her age (i.e. "Matt, you're closer to 100 than I am")

New York City: My Aunt LeAnn was patient and brave enough to venture into NYC with my mother and I in tow (needless to say, you can take kid out of New Egypt, but not the New Egypt out of the kid.) It was cold. It was crowded. It was delicious. What you're seeing here is Pad Thai, my newest obsession.

My camera ran out of batteries before I could take one picture, leaving out my whirlwind road trip to Boston with my friend Katie, seeing my good friends Laura and Krystal, and going to White Castle with Joelle and Sarah at 1 AM. Going to miss it.

So begins Winter Quarter, welcome back to papers and long winter walks to class.

-k

An Introduction of Sorts

Created in a bout of insomnia, this blog has been born.

Not much to say just yet- ramblings and rants usually appear when the sun has risen.

Although before parting I will leave you with this-

Because who honestly does not like kittens?

Goodnight to all-

k