Insomnia Pizza

2010-05-15T18:41:00.001-07:00

Oh, how I've neglected you dear blog!

Updates and ramblings to come soon.

-k

Life.

2010-03-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

Stumble, fall.

Breathe in, out.

Get back up.

Repeat.

I've always loved roller coasters. I love the sense of freedom and bravery, the feeling of being absolutely weightless as adrenaline rushes through my veins. The ups and downs, twists, turns, climbs and big drops.

I don't like my life resembling that of a roller coaster. It's times like these where I wish I had a fast forward button- or a rewind. I'd love to fix all the mistakes I've made or just rush past the consequences. But such is life, right? In order to grow and learn, we must endure.

And I press on.

This Month Sucks.

2010-03-13T22:35:00.000-08:00

I used to love March. It used to be so... mellow. Winter would let up its angry reign and purple flowers would begin to pop their heads out of the soil. It holds my birthday, a huge highlight consisting of Funfetti cake and family and friends. I even like the word "March-" such a galactic word with strong presence. If I remembered anything I learned last quarter from linguistics I'd try to sound smart but it's 1:48 AM, I don't care.

This March has been incredibly numb as I find myself trying to rebuild my world and navigate through finals without butchering my GPA. I do not feel like I have in the previous years. Maybe this is "growing up." I don't know. Maybe it's that microeconomics final on my birthday that's looming over my head or the number I want to call at 3 in the morning (but I can't). I am a much different person than who I was last year- sometimes I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.

ANYWAY.

On a much more positive note- I have officially switched beverages at Starbucks. As the weather warms, the iced skinny vanilla latte shall will now have to quench my caffeine fix. It's just going to be too hot for my trusty Vanilla Chai (which will be something to look forward to when the leaves turn red and yellow). I also decided that I will really miss my British Literature II class as nothing soothes me more than poetry and tangent-based essays on nothing. Laugh all you want at my nerdiness, but it is true. I realize that I am probably going to end up alone with a bunch of cats and my future students will think I'm crazy.

I started going to the gym a few times a week to blow off some of this stress. I figure that since I pay thousands upon thousand of dollars to attend Drexel, that I should utilize the gym. I mean, come on. This is the most expensive gym membership of my life, I might as well use it. I will keep you updated. So far... I feel like I'm dying the entire time. Supposedly that's a good thing.

I present two photos of March:

Here we have my newest drink of choice. Notice the pen. I am so incredibly proud of this pen. I made it my personal goal to not lose it and use it everyday. It's probably the only pen I have ever drained the ink out of.

Don't judge me.

My heart. There are certain text books you can't wait to sell (you know...the books that you spent $130 on and you can only get $40 back?) I'm keeping these babies. I decided that on top of being a cat lady/crazy English teacher, I need to have an amazing library. Again, don't judge me. I don't even know what Drexel has transformed me into, I barely recognize myself these days.

Anyway. I need to study calculus tomorrow. Anyone want to trade lives?

-k

2010-03-07T12:57:00.001-08:00

When does it stop hurting? When does it get easier?

I hope he bought you roses

2010-02-28T17:21:00.001-08:00

I had an amazing weekend.

My Aunt LeAnn came down to visit and we went to the flower show- which was really cool. I decided that if college doesn't work out for me, I'll just go hang out at the florist in the jungle of flowers.

I don't care how poor I am, I will always buy flowers. Who needs food anyway?

Do you like my ghetto vase?

-k

Mmm, Derek Shepherd!

2010-02-24T09:51:00.000-08:00

We've been lied to for years.

Since I can remember I've pondered over books about princesses and frogs that were secretly princes waiting to be kissed and little did I know I was only setting myself up for failure. I've watched dozens and dozens of movies and TV shows where in the end they really do end up together (besides Dawson's Creek but that's just ridiculous. We all know Joey BELONGED to Dawson.) Moving on...

We do not break up like they do on TV. For some reason these past days I've been thinking about Saved by the Bell, particularly the episode where Slater and Jessie break up. And then they are best friends. There was no blow-out fight, tears, the ripping apart of photographs, slamming of doors. They hugged it out and moved on. I didn't expect my life to pan out like an after-school special, but I didn't think I would feel like I was living in General Hospital. Check me out of this place (although next time I have to go to the ER I hope my doctor vaguely resembles someone off of Grey's Anatomy.) I guess I was a little thrown off guard when I realized that hugging it out wouldn't be an option.

Needless to say, life does move on and so will I.

Time to study for microeconomics!

-K

2010-02-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a door only closes

so another one can open.

It's a Death Cab for Cutie kind of day.

2010-02-18T10:02:00.001-08:00

I wish the world was flat like the old days

then I could travel just by folding a map

no more airplanes

or speed trains, or freeways.

There would be no distance that could hold us back.

College Solutions Pt 2

2010-02-14T17:57:00.000-08:00

Ah Valentine's Day. Probably the hardest day of the year for both men and women.

As a female, I don't really see why guys complain so much about good old V-day. I mean... how hard is it to order her favorite flowers (you can do it online for goodness sakes) and remember to make reservations to that restaurant she's been dying to try, oh and writing a little more than "love me" at the bottom of the card. It's not like they ever in their entire lives pondered over those bulk cards (varying from princesses to wrestlers) hoping that "You're sweeter than honey" would be interpreted as more. It's not a big deal when guys don't receive those candy grams or shout-outs. But for a girl, it is. Honestly, I think it's harder to be a girl and endure February 14th only because you are waiting on a guy to all those things- flowers, food, a sentimental card. Valentine's Day is usually a huge let down.

This Valentine's Day was extremely refreshing (being that the preceding V-day's have been nothing short of disastrous). Dan and I went to a really great restaurant but I was a little mad at the people who sat by us. They brought a boatload of little kids and let them run around and scream (and when the Yuengling costs $7 I consider it a nice restaurant and expect children to be strapped in accordingly). Nothing annoys me more than when I'm trying enjoy myself and a three year-old is standing there staring at me and/or screaming. Go away. Anyway.... aside from the abundant amount of children (I hate rich parents) Daniel got me flowers.

And this is where the College Solutions Pt 2 comes into the equation. As a poor college student living in a small space, I do not own a vase... or anything that vaguely resembles a vase. After some extreme searching... I stumbled upon a Coke Zero bottle. Genius.

Backstory: As stated above, being Valentine's Day, I received flowers.

Dilemma: Flowers need water and well.. without them they turn brown and droopy in a matter of hours instead of two days (just trying to prolong the inevitable!)

Solution: Coca Cola Cherry Zero. I cut a little bit of the top off and created a true work of art.

Here I present: THE SOLUTION!

Don't mind my cat calendar.

-k

College Solutions Pt I

2010-02-12T06:55:00.000-08:00

I sometimes ponder why I am paying thousands upon thousands of dollars for an education (usually when I'm depressed)... and then it hit me.

So I can solve things and say "that's because I'm in college." Since moving out I've had to be resourceful and solve handfuls of problems that would create greater catastrophes (in order to not spend money I don't really have).

I present to you now a new series: College Solutions with Kristen.

Today will be College Solutions Pt I: The Case of the Missing Twisty Tie.

Backstory: My roommate Brittany hurled a loaf of bread at me at 2 am. Funny. In the process of flying across the room, the twisty tie fell off the loaf of bread (gasp!)

Dilemma: We all know what happens when that twisty tie comes off the bag (i.e. I usually forget to put it back on and my mom yells at me).. but this is college. There aren't any parents here to yell at us- or buy us new bread when it goes stale and moldy for that matter. So I had to come up with something... I just had to.

Solution: Be creative of course. Use those materials around you... so I used Brittany's iPod USB cord. It worked rather well if I do say so myself.

Let's get some before and after pictures on this college victory:

Here we have the sad loaf (of really bad bread from 7-11) without a twisty tie. I shudder to think what would happen if time had elapsed...

and...

Ta-daaaa! This is why I am paying ridiculously large amounts of money! Look what this institution of higher knowledge has taught me! To be resourceful!

Outcome: While the USB chord worked well, I ended up finding the twisty tie in my bed (???). But I left the USB chord wrapped around the bread because it would be a waste to not utilize my innovation.

-k

Snow days in Dilaphelphia

2010-02-10T17:27:00.000-08:00

How beautiful is the sound of not waking up? Drexel, notorious for not closing its doors on the snowiest of days, shut down all functions (unfortunately, that included Chic-Fil-A) giving me an entire day to procrastinate studying for an Astronomy midterm and writing a paper.

It brings me to say... that this city DOES NOT know how to handle a snow storm. A few weeks ago we got less than an inch and Drexel had to put thousands of pounds worth of salt on the sidewalks (end result: too much salt/not enough snow = salt EVERY WHERE. Every carpet, hard surface, stuck on the bottom of every shoe...) and now.. Market Street isn't even plowed or our sidewalks. Which is fine with me, I own boots and a keen sense of adventure (maybe I should invest in elbow/knee pads and a better sense of humor?)

That being said, some interesting things have happened in the past 24 hours.

Brittany, Meg and I decided to participate in a snowball fight... except we didn't know where it was. We did find it... 30 frozen toes and 40 minutes later, only to realize it was Americans vs. the Asian Honors students. Epic.

Aside from throwing snowballs, we made snow angels and walked around the area- really beautiful and serene. So much better than studying.

Although now as the day winds down, the uncertainty of classes tomorrow draws me back to my room with my books and highlighter. I shall now show you what a Drexel Snow Day looks like:

Starting off with breakfast/lunch at Drexel Pizza, I indulged in an amazing omelette (why is that the omelettes at the cafeteria where I paid thousands for a meal plan taste like cardboard and this one whose price shall not be mentioned taste just delicious? This should be my dissertation.)

Here is my view from the 10th floor... you can't tell but it's snowing like CRAZY. The city skyline is hidden in a white cloud. Really awesome... it's even better because you know you might not have to sit through Microeconomics.

My study station and my fuel- German Chocolate from Minh.

Well. Homework is done (for now!) and the snow calleth. Missing you all!

The Writing Process

2010-02-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

As I sit with a blank in front of me waiting for my hands to perform miracles (i.e. a 3 page paper on poets I pretty much care less about,) I tend to think about everything I'd rather be doing.

I present to you, the 17-step writing process.

1. Sit down, clear all distractions.

2. Open word document, write your name and title

3. Check your e-mail.

4. Check CNN for breaking news.

5. Check your e-mail again

6. Get a snack.

7. Take a walk around the building.

8. Sit down, clear all distractions.

9. Text 10 people.

10. Complain about how much this paper sucks.

11. Check your e-mail.

12. Check the weather.

13. Take a shower.

14. Complain about how much this paper sucks.

15. Sit there staring at the screen.

16. 4 am: sit down and bust a paper out in 40 minutes.

17. Complain about how you stayed up all night writing a paper.

Okay. Going to write about Tennyson and Byron now.

-k

This is what Winter Quarter looks like

2010-02-01T21:50:00.000-08:00

Fuel.

A little note..

2010-01-31T11:21:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-25T21:11:00.000-08:00

Technology Stew: Cream of Insomnia

2010-01-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T18:27:00.001-08:00

Oh. School.

Food Network Crack

2010-01-09T21:44:00.000-08:00

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..

2010-01-05T20:18:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-03T08:40:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-01T23:08:00.000-08:00

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-