Penn State in the a.m. tomorrow! Much to do before I leave. Packing and cleaning have never been my favorite things to do.
But tomorrow!
One last year before I become a professional, working member of society. Better make this last year of youth count!
Just cause I love this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPMIXk-ipT0
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
All this moving, all these places, people and goodbyes
The thing about being young is that your never in one place for very long. And it strange how that is both exhilarating and incredibly tiring. In the past 8 mos. I've gone from Pa. to N.J. to Ireland to N.J. to Pa. to Fla. and now to N.J. (for 3 days) and back to Pa.
Permanence is severely lacking in my life. Heck, my friends aren't even permanent. I mean sure I can stay in touch through e-mail and Facebook, but it's really not the same as seeing them in the flesh. And I keep leaving people and people keep leaving me. Sure, when you get older and settle down people filter in and out of your life -- but not at this unstoppable rate.
And this, I realized is why I've gone a bit crazy buying stuff for my apartment at PSU. Because it will be a permanent home (meaning I'll live there a little less than a year). But it feels more lasting than anything has in almost a year. And that's why I want it to be perfect.
And Naples, well, I wouldn't really want to live here. But boy has time flown. And I am going to miss it. When you move somewhere no matter how much or how little you like it, the place becomes a part of you. It becomes a comfortable, reliable, familiar place. It becomes a home.
I'll miss this little home I've made for myself. This summer was great in so many ways, and despite having two friends here (my 21-year-old roommate and a friend of my mom's) I wasn't really lonely. Maybe a bit bored or in need of conversation at times, but not lonely. And I liked my routines, my volunteering, days by the pool, nights in the office. Einstein Bagel run on Saturdays, church on Sundays. Talking with Jen and watching "More to Love" and laughing at the stupidity of it. I'll miss that. And Tuesdays with Patty they were a big highlight. I'll miss my slot editor, Vicky, a lot as well. She was a great editor and a great journalist. I hope I am as good as she is one day, that the other editors will say "Katie would have know what to do" "If Katie was here ..."
Well, maybe I will be. I'll reach for it at least.
And now it all changes again. Another place, a different routine, less me time and more time surrounded by people. But at least it's not a whole new place. Going back to PSU is returning home after being gone for almost a year.
Hello, future. What have you in store for me now?
Permanence is severely lacking in my life. Heck, my friends aren't even permanent. I mean sure I can stay in touch through e-mail and Facebook, but it's really not the same as seeing them in the flesh. And I keep leaving people and people keep leaving me. Sure, when you get older and settle down people filter in and out of your life -- but not at this unstoppable rate.
And this, I realized is why I've gone a bit crazy buying stuff for my apartment at PSU. Because it will be a permanent home (meaning I'll live there a little less than a year). But it feels more lasting than anything has in almost a year. And that's why I want it to be perfect.
And Naples, well, I wouldn't really want to live here. But boy has time flown. And I am going to miss it. When you move somewhere no matter how much or how little you like it, the place becomes a part of you. It becomes a comfortable, reliable, familiar place. It becomes a home.
I'll miss this little home I've made for myself. This summer was great in so many ways, and despite having two friends here (my 21-year-old roommate and a friend of my mom's) I wasn't really lonely. Maybe a bit bored or in need of conversation at times, but not lonely. And I liked my routines, my volunteering, days by the pool, nights in the office. Einstein Bagel run on Saturdays, church on Sundays. Talking with Jen and watching "More to Love" and laughing at the stupidity of it. I'll miss that. And Tuesdays with Patty they were a big highlight. I'll miss my slot editor, Vicky, a lot as well. She was a great editor and a great journalist. I hope I am as good as she is one day, that the other editors will say "Katie would have know what to do" "If Katie was here ..."
Well, maybe I will be. I'll reach for it at least.
And now it all changes again. Another place, a different routine, less me time and more time surrounded by people. But at least it's not a whole new place. Going back to PSU is returning home after being gone for almost a year.
Hello, future. What have you in store for me now?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
All right I admit it, I like cute
Ever since I was young I've had a hate for the word cute. Chalk it up to the fact that the main adjective used for me was cute and I always thought it was connected to my height. I wasn't a fan of my short stature when I was young and although it is sometimes a little frustrating it no longer bothers me.
But the word cute used to make me cringe. It also once made me roll my eyes at Jimmy Carter, no lie the man called me cute and I did not appreciate it.
However, as I've grown older the word itself no longer bothers me even though I'm still not a fan of being called this. I just like cute things more. I've discovered the wonders of Anthropologie and not to overkill on the word, but all of their stuff is so darn cute! I feel after working pretty hard this summer I could treat myself so I've bought a lot of little cute decorations for my very cute State College apartment. Kind of fun and folksy and maybe a bit whimsical?
I've also discovered some new, cute music. The band is called Owl City although it is just made up of one guy, Adam Young. But I adore his music. It's fun and happy and ... well ... cute. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4JLa0hbUw)
This has also led me to discover an up and coming genre, New Urban music. Well at least that's what Wikipedia is calling it. I've looked for more on it but haven't come across much, except this.
But the music is "more positive, more melodic, more romantic, and with a greater diversity of subject matter." More cute if I may be so bold. And it's exactly my kind of music.
So I guess, well after the years when cute would be an appropriate term for me and the things I like, I am finally embracing my inner cuteness.
It's really not such a bad word, after all:
Cute (adj.)
attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty.
But the word cute used to make me cringe. It also once made me roll my eyes at Jimmy Carter, no lie the man called me cute and I did not appreciate it.
However, as I've grown older the word itself no longer bothers me even though I'm still not a fan of being called this. I just like cute things more. I've discovered the wonders of Anthropologie and not to overkill on the word, but all of their stuff is so darn cute! I feel after working pretty hard this summer I could treat myself so I've bought a lot of little cute decorations for my very cute State College apartment. Kind of fun and folksy and maybe a bit whimsical?
I've also discovered some new, cute music. The band is called Owl City although it is just made up of one guy, Adam Young. But I adore his music. It's fun and happy and ... well ... cute. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4JLa0hbUw)
This has also led me to discover an up and coming genre, New Urban music. Well at least that's what Wikipedia is calling it. I've looked for more on it but haven't come across much, except this.
But the music is "more positive, more melodic, more romantic, and with a greater diversity of subject matter." More cute if I may be so bold. And it's exactly my kind of music.
So I guess, well after the years when cute would be an appropriate term for me and the things I like, I am finally embracing my inner cuteness.
It's really not such a bad word, after all:
Cute (adj.)
attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
About A Book (or three)
I've haven't been updating recently. Just been busy volunteering, putting things in order for fall and more work now that I've been designing Business and Commentary front almost every night.
So I'll post later about Friday's charity, but right now I'm behind on my books updates. And I passed and will surpass my reading goal of 15 books this summer. I'm on No. 16 right now.
I've read three books in the past two weeks, loved two of them but wasn't a big fan of the third.
"Rise and Shine" by Anna Quindlen (two stars)
I didn't dislike this book, but wasn't really a fan of it either. It's the story of two sisters living in New York. One is the famous host of a morning news show (A 'Today Show' type thing) and the other is a social worker. The book is basically about the relationship these two very different sisters share. The characters were OK, and I especially liked the son of the TV show host. But there wasn't anything I greatly liked about the book. Quindlen gave great insight to the social worker sister because she was the narrator, but I didn't feel like I really understood the other characters as well. The climax was also anti-climatic and I didn't like the way it happened and then was sort of swept under the rug.
"Sex, Drugs, and Cococa Puffs" by Chuck Klosterman (three and a half stars)
I thought this book was great, and just tore through it. Klosterman writes pretty much stream of conscience so the flow of the book was very quick. It's basically just his thoughts and opinions on pop culture, and everything from basketball to dating to journalism. There were a few sections, such as the basketball one, that I skimmed over because I just don't have much interest in the sport. But there were others I just found myself nodding my head along to. I also don't normally laugh out loud while reading, but this one did produce a few verbal 'he he's' from me. But his knowledge of pop culture is extraordinary and the chapter on journalism spot on. Reporters really aren't biased -- the story just depends on who calls back first, and the people who bother to call back at all.
"Love, Rosie" by Cecelia Ahren (four and a half stars)
Ahren is the Irish novelist who wrote "P.S. I Love You." So, as you could probably deduce, "Love, Rosie" is 100% chick lit. And I really enjoyed it. It's the story of a girl named Rosie and her childhood best friend, Alex. It follows them as they grow up together, grow apart from one another and find each other once more. Basically, it's a story of the power of friendship and love. The one thing that I wasn't sure I would like about the book is the way it is written. The book is told solely through correspondences between Rosie, Alex and their friends and family. It's letters, e-mails and IMs. A book for the technology age for sure. I've seen a few like this, in particular by Meg Cabbot, and have always shied away from that type of novel -- I felt a story couldn't be told only through correspondence.
But I was wrong. Ahren did a fabulous job of capturing the true essence of each character and giving all the information and background needed without any explanation except for the words written by the characters to each other. But what really made me love it is the fact that I can relate to the way it is written. The book made me think about those friends that I am no longer able to see, and thus communicate with only through the written word -- in letters, e-mails and instant messaging. And looking back at those e-mails and IMs, there really is a story to uncover. And the book, although fiction, gives me hope that those friendships will continue to grow in years to come Maybe someday those people will once again come back into my life, and as more than words on paper or a computer screen.
Now reading: "The Little Book" by Selden Edwards (really liking it so far!)
So I'll post later about Friday's charity, but right now I'm behind on my books updates. And I passed and will surpass my reading goal of 15 books this summer. I'm on No. 16 right now.
I've read three books in the past two weeks, loved two of them but wasn't a big fan of the third.
"Rise and Shine" by Anna Quindlen (two stars)
I didn't dislike this book, but wasn't really a fan of it either. It's the story of two sisters living in New York. One is the famous host of a morning news show (A 'Today Show' type thing) and the other is a social worker. The book is basically about the relationship these two very different sisters share. The characters were OK, and I especially liked the son of the TV show host. But there wasn't anything I greatly liked about the book. Quindlen gave great insight to the social worker sister because she was the narrator, but I didn't feel like I really understood the other characters as well. The climax was also anti-climatic and I didn't like the way it happened and then was sort of swept under the rug.
"Sex, Drugs, and Cococa Puffs" by Chuck Klosterman (three and a half stars)
I thought this book was great, and just tore through it. Klosterman writes pretty much stream of conscience so the flow of the book was very quick. It's basically just his thoughts and opinions on pop culture, and everything from basketball to dating to journalism. There were a few sections, such as the basketball one, that I skimmed over because I just don't have much interest in the sport. But there were others I just found myself nodding my head along to. I also don't normally laugh out loud while reading, but this one did produce a few verbal 'he he's' from me. But his knowledge of pop culture is extraordinary and the chapter on journalism spot on. Reporters really aren't biased -- the story just depends on who calls back first, and the people who bother to call back at all.
"Love, Rosie" by Cecelia Ahren (four and a half stars)
Ahren is the Irish novelist who wrote "P.S. I Love You." So, as you could probably deduce, "Love, Rosie" is 100% chick lit. And I really enjoyed it. It's the story of a girl named Rosie and her childhood best friend, Alex. It follows them as they grow up together, grow apart from one another and find each other once more. Basically, it's a story of the power of friendship and love. The one thing that I wasn't sure I would like about the book is the way it is written. The book is told solely through correspondences between Rosie, Alex and their friends and family. It's letters, e-mails and IMs. A book for the technology age for sure. I've seen a few like this, in particular by Meg Cabbot, and have always shied away from that type of novel -- I felt a story couldn't be told only through correspondence.
But I was wrong. Ahren did a fabulous job of capturing the true essence of each character and giving all the information and background needed without any explanation except for the words written by the characters to each other. But what really made me love it is the fact that I can relate to the way it is written. The book made me think about those friends that I am no longer able to see, and thus communicate with only through the written word -- in letters, e-mails and instant messaging. And looking back at those e-mails and IMs, there really is a story to uncover. And the book, although fiction, gives me hope that those friendships will continue to grow in years to come Maybe someday those people will once again come back into my life, and as more than words on paper or a computer screen.
Now reading: "The Little Book" by Selden Edwards (really liking it so far!)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
I'm on a desk, forever! (it's a good thing)
So finally, after weeks (more like months ...) of waiting I found out this evening that I am the Daily Collegian's copy desk chief editor for fall 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am beyond happy, beyond excited and cannot wait to be back in State College, on the sidewalks of U. Park and in the lovely basement of the James Building.
Senior year, here I come!!!!!
I am beyond happy, beyond excited and cannot wait to be back in State College, on the sidewalks of U. Park and in the lovely basement of the James Building.
Senior year, here I come!!!!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Something to Look Forward To: Blue, White and a Social Life
I love my independence and alone time and all that, I really truly do. But, I also need excitement and good friends, maybe even a random dance party or two. I have had the former, not the latter, all summer. So what am I looking forward to the most? PENN STATE. (and the COLLEGIAN). I do love summer and being lazy and sitting by the pool, and going back to PSU means work and a ton of it. But I want that work. Because along with the stress and anxiety of that comes everything I've been missing for the past 8 or more months (woah literally 8). The noise and chaos of the James Building, getting ready for a night out in my adorable apartment, downtown State College when all the students are crowding College Ave., quick Starbucks runs and Panera runs on busy nights of journalism, football games, chants of We Are!, BOE meetings and going to them with the knowing affects of the night before, old friends, my ritual of Saints on Sunday mornings, walking through campus when it's a bit cloudy but the leaves are stunning reds, oranges and yellows; meeting at the HUB by the fish tank ... the list could never end.
It'll be my last year in Happy Valley, but oh WHAT a year it WILL be.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
A few songs of summer
Every season or, for the time being, semester (fall/spring/summer) has a soundtrack. Of all things that remind me of people, place or moments, music is the strongest reminder. 90% of my friends have a song that instantly reminds me of them and three of them, and my brother, each have a playlist dedicated to them. And there's always the fall, winter, spring and summer songs. To wit: when I hear Norah Jones' sweet, soft voice I have this need for it to be fall.
Needless to say music is very important to me.
Most times the songs of the semester are new ones I discover on my own or through movies, TV, magazines, etc. And others are songs that are maybe popular on the radio or are constantly playing somewhere, somehow -- which is usually how it happens. (Case and point: The Irish were more than obsessed with "Kids" by MGMT. Thus, I will NEVER hear that song and not think of a pint of Smithwicks or Carlsberg, and the pubs of the Emerald Isle.)
This summer has had less "semester" songs spinning on my iPod than most because of my semi-lack of social interaction with those of my age, and the fact radio stations down in Florida are down right awful. But here's a few of my songs of the summer.
The Script (They're actually Irish, but I didn't learn of them until I saw their video on TV a few weeks ago.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi7kHvM-ivI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlR3aMRDick (I wasn't a fan of this song at first, but after a few listens I warmed up to it greatly.)
Black Eyed Peas (My roommate told me about having this stuck in her head one day, then we heard it on TV, and a few days later on the radio.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXtCTixWR3g
Needless to say music is very important to me.
Most times the songs of the semester are new ones I discover on my own or through movies, TV, magazines, etc. And others are songs that are maybe popular on the radio or are constantly playing somewhere, somehow -- which is usually how it happens. (Case and point: The Irish were more than obsessed with "Kids" by MGMT. Thus, I will NEVER hear that song and not think of a pint of Smithwicks or Carlsberg, and the pubs of the Emerald Isle.)
This summer has had less "semester" songs spinning on my iPod than most because of my semi-lack of social interaction with those of my age, and the fact radio stations down in Florida are down right awful. But here's a few of my songs of the summer.
The Script (They're actually Irish, but I didn't learn of them until I saw their video on TV a few weeks ago.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi7kHvM-ivI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlR3aMRDick (I wasn't a fan of this song at first, but after a few listens I warmed up to it greatly.)
Black Eyed Peas (My roommate told me about having this stuck in her head one day, then we heard it on TV, and a few days later on the radio.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXtCTixWR3g
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