+Have You Been Drinking?

I was at lunch with my best friend a few days ago when it occurred to me that he was drinking kind of awkwardly. I observed his behavior, watching him only drink without a straw, without ice, and with every single soda mixed together inside of the cup. I asked him why he does some of these things, he said that he just can’t drink with a straw and he hates the ice. He also said that he hates sharing drinks; he can’t drink after anyone else. So I thought about it for a moment. I cannot drink out of the 2 liter bottles; I hate it. Usually I only like cans, although I will accept a fountain drink or something from a smaller bottle. At restaurants and fast food establishments, I have to have a straw. I won’t drink water unless I’m dying of dehydration. Isn’t this just a bit strange? What else do people do when drinking? Do people really stick their pinkies out? No they slurp for a reason? I asked around a bit and another friend of mine told me how he always has to have ice in his drink so he can chew on it. No matter what it is he has to have ice to chew on after finishing his beverage. Another girl will not drink anything warm with the exception of the drinks that are meant to be hot; coffee, hot chocolate, etc. I then did some research on my strange topic. Unfortunately, the words “drinking habits” all tend to swing towards alcohol, but after extensive Google use, I found a few articles that were exactly what I needed.

“At that point Steve reached over the side of his chair, presumably to pick up a cup of coffee. It’s poor form to eat in front of clients but many of us will sometimes have a beverage on hand. But when Steve returned to his natural sitting position, he wasn’t holding a glass or mug; rather, a 2-Liter bottle of Diet Pepsi. It looked particularly huge in his small hands. Thinking that he would be pouring it into a paper cup or glass, he surprised me further by simply chugging it straight from the bottle, without a trace of self-consciousness. It was as if he treated those family-sized bottles as his own personal allowance of cola for that session.

 I watched further as he continued to drink from the bottle every few minutes. When he stood up to walk the still invisible patient to the door, I realized it was 45 minutes later and the bottle was empty. Steve just tossed the plastic into the trash, a symbolic middle finger to the recycling community.

I’ve mentioned my own quirks and I’m sure I have plenty of others of which I’m not aware. However the last time I checked I wasn’t slurping down colossal bottles of Pepsi like a horse with a feedbag attached to its face. And the strangest part about it is that Steve is the last person I would imagine would engage in such gauche behavior. He prides himself on his impeccable office space, his luxury automobile and his tailored clothes. Is Steve some type of interpersonally awkward freak behind the therapy door? Unless I get some unusually impressive explanation (e.g., the Pepsi has magical therapy powers that only emerge if you drink right from a gigantic bottle), that’s what I’m going to assume from now on.”
(ShrinkLink)

“It's unclear whether UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida's daily habit is a form of superstition or self-torture, but every morning the Brazilian Shotokan karate master drinks his own urine. Revealing that he picked up the practice from his father, himself a karate master, the 31-year-old Brazilian has said he believes urine is a natural medicine that cleanses his body. While it sounds disgusting, Machida may be onto something—The Dragon has yet to lose a round in his professional mixed martial arts career.”
(UFC Heavyweight Drinker)

So we now have a shrink who has to have large amounts of Diet Pepsi in front of his clients and he has to drink it out of the bottle; and we also have a UFC Light Heavyweight Champion who drinks his own urine every night. I’m glad I’m not the only crazy one here. Pay attention to how you drink and how others drink now, you’ll chuckle at the silly things people do.

+Distracting Focus

Learning in a classroom setting is difficult for some people because they can’t focus well. I personally can’t focus without music. I have to have at least one headphone in at all times in order to learn anything in class. Today my headphones broke and I couldn’t focus at all, I think I failed the whole day. My friends told me some of their focusing habits; One of my friends has to be chewing gum, another has to bite her nails, others have to have complete silence and no music, some have to have their phones on their desks at all times. Why is it that we need a small distraction to keep our minds on track? Our attention on certain subjects aren’t interesting sometimes, so in order to not be completely bored with the topic and begin snoozing away in the middle of world history class, we distract our minds slightly with a small amount of entertainment. The definition of focus is "a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity." Even though not all our attention is on one topic it is still the central thing that has our attention. The little things we do to distract ourselves can actually help direct our attention to focusing on the topic at hand.

-Would You Kindly?

First thing’s first, never play this game in the dark, alone, at night. It’s too intense. Bioshock is an excellent thrilling game that is almost like a movie. There is a story behind everything you do and everything you see, it’s like a movie you are a part of. The character becomes trapped in a underwater city full of drug addicted psychos, little sisters, big daddy’s, and scientists. In order to survive, you must inject yourself with different plasmids. These plasmids are like super powers, with a good amount of Eve you can use your strange medicinal advantages to beat you enemies and other obstacles in your way. The only way to obtain more plasmids is to gain more Adam. Adam is gained by killing a big daddy and taking the little sister. You can either choose to save the little sister, resulting in less Adam but more special prizes throughout the game; or to harvest her and receive maximum Adam. Once enough Adam is collected you can go to a Gatherers Garden and purchase new gene upgrades, tonics, and plasmids. The plasmids are typical yet unusual. Everything comes out of your left hand, you can throw traps, fire, ice, electricity, telekinesis, hypnosis, decoys, and you can shoot a swarm of bees out of your arm. I know what you are thinking, bees?? Yes, bees. It’s pretty intense. All these and other weapons are used to get you throughout the underwater city of Rapture and to get you to the safety of land. Only by figuring out what happened to Rapture, can you escape it.

-Mood Swings

I was driving down the road singing loudly and obnoxiously when something dawned on me. I was so stressed out all day that day. I had so much work to do including homework, studying, cheer practice, and making eighty signs for the Varsity football players. Everything had to be done by the next day and I was freaking out about it throughout the day. Why such a relaxing yet sudden uproar of happiness during such a difficult time? Why was I so content when I was simply driving down the road listening to music?

"In general, responses to music are able to be observed. It has been proven that music influences humans both in good and bad ways. These effects are instant and long lasting. Music is thought to link all of the emotional, spiritual, and physical elements of the universe. Music can also be used to change a person's mood, and has been found to cause like physical responses in many people simultaneously. Music also has the ability to strengthen or weaken emotions from a particular event such as a funeral. "(Laurence O'Donnell)

Music affects your mood, it’s a fact we all know; common knowledge. Although, I never thought it could be that powerful. I always thought that people just listened to certain music when they were in that kind of mood. People listen to rock when they’re mad, pop when happy, classic when relaxing, country when sad, etc.  Nope, our bodies and minds react to the sounds, beats, voices, and rhythms that flow through our ear drums.

"Responses to music are easy to be detected in the human body. Classical music from the baroque period causes the heart beat and pulse rate to relax to the beat of the music. As the body becomes relaxed and alert, the mind is able to concentrate more easily. Furthermore, baroque music decreases blood pressure and enhances the ability to learn. Music affects the amplitude and frequency of brain waves, which can be measured by an electro-encephalogram. Music also affects breathing rate and electrical resistance of the skin. It has been observed to cause the pupils to dilate, increase blood pressure, and increase the heart rate. "(Laurence O'Donnell)

While in class or doing a project or something like that, I always have at least one headphone in. Come to think of it, the only time I’m not listening to music is in my sleep, while watching TV, or while reading some form of literature. I can focus on everything except for reading while listening to music. In fact, I am listening to music while writing this. The song “If Not, For Ourselves” by Woe Is Me. It makes me type faster, more focused, determined even. I just want to sing! Laaaaaa. I really didn’t know music was this powerful.

-Fallout of Reality

I have dedicated a large percentage of my teenage life to playing Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas. It seems silly but I am completely in love with these games. They are my all-time favorite video games. The point of the game is to survive in a post nuclear apocalyptic world; the wasteland. Everything to drink and to eat is full of radiation, the people aren’t quite right in the head, and everything is out to get you. The game is full of quests to keep you busy for weeks.

I played nonstop Fallout 3 for four months and still haven’t gotten all of the achievements. I’ve beaten the game but there are so many different side quests to complete before all the achievements are unlocked. Fallout 3 was based in Washington D.C. after the great nuclear war.  You were born and raised in an underground vault and have never been outside of it. Your dad escapes that vault and you must go after him and help him create “the purifier”, a machine that would purify all the radiated water so everyone can drink clean water. The gameplay and map is very accurate to the real life D.C. Everything is there, the Lincoln Memorial, The museums, the Washington Memorial, the subways, the Arlington library and cemetery, it’s all there. The game is nonstop fun with challenging enemies like ghouls, super mutants, radscorpians, giant fire ants, mole rats, vicious dogs, death claws, centaurs, protectrons, and raiders. 

Fallout New Vegas was based in what was left of Las Vegas after the great nuclear war. New Vegas was insanely easier than 3. There are a few ways to beat New Vegas. You can take the side of Mr. House, Yes Man, New California Republic, or Caesars Legion. There is also a “hardcore mode”. This is a much more challenging way to play. Real life elements are added into game play like having to sleep, or you get sleep deprivation; eat, or you starve; drink, or you get dehydrated; and visit a doctor to heal, or you become crippled. The game is full of all the enemies from Fallout 3 and new ones like geckos, cazadors, nightstalkers, and bighorners. The gameplay is set in a New Vegas Strip where Mr. House of the Lucky 38 casino owns everything and controls every protectron that roams there. The platinum chip has been stolen from you from a man who shot you in the head and left you to die; you must find the chip and choose a side to fight for. A cool thing about New Vegas is that you can gamble at the casinos. I’ve already gotten kicked out of every single one on the strip for winning too much money.

I am completely addicted to Bethesda’s genius in making video games. Keep them coming. <3

+Falling Into Autumn

The past few days we've been falling into the season of autumn. It's getting colder outside, our cars have been a little frosty in the mornings, the leaves are changing, and that feeling in my stomach is back. Fall is upon us.

The smells and the sights are driving me crazy. When I open my window or go outside, I get an awkward gut feeling. The smell of outside reminds me of home. Home for me smells like the crisp, cold, fresh smell of trees and rain; it smells like warm cinnamon like the candles my mother always pulled out around the time of Halloween. The reefs being hung and the orange leaves falling from the trees makes me happy.

Fall has always been my favorite season. I always loved Halloween. My parents always had a Halloween party with the parents while the kids all went trick or treating. I loved coming home to a dimly lit house with people everywhere and great food placed all over the kitchen. Running upstairs to the game room with a pillowcase full of candy to see all my friends and my brothers on the floor separating and trading their candy. It was a delicate process for us, we must organize each piece, decide what we do not want, and offer to trade candies with each other. We'd all sit there with our costume make-up half smeared down our faces, our masks on the floor, and our shoes scattered around the room. After the sorting and everyone is back from trick-or-treating, we would all jump on the trampoline or play hide and go seek.

It's different here in Iowa than from my hometown in Florida though. It is much colder here, and it looks less colorful. Everything here is more black and white here. It might just be the snow, but in Florida everything was so bright and it’s still vivid in my mind. The bright orange and red leaves, the bright green frosted grass, it was all so beautiful. I just remember so much from my childhood in Ocala.

Fall and winter were the same in Ocala. My memories mix together, unlike here where it is clear when winter comes. I remember the smell of a new Christmas tree, the sweet pine and cinnamon aroma flowing through the atmosphere of my home.

Light up Ocala, such a beautiful sight:

The annual Christmas parade we always attended. The bright lights; colorful floats; and loud noises of sirens, horns, people laughing and people playing Christmas songs on their parade floats. Ocala has such an impact on my thoughts and memories, almost every sight, smell, and noise reminds me of home. I miss it so much; every fall brings back such great memories that make me grateful for growing up in such a great place, but also sad that I had to leave. I wish to return and live there again soon. <3

+From Germany With Love

I couldn't think of anything to blog for the past hour, the longer I sat here the harder it became to think of a topic. I started looking through old pictures and thought of an excellent topic to write about. Germasian and German. The German foreign exchange students.

During the last four months of school, Germasian became my family's "foreigner." We were excited to become a host family but also a little nervous; we had never done this before. We called him "Germasian" because he is a vietnamese desent but was born and raised in Germany. Germasian became part of the family quickly, and so did his best friend, the other foreign exchange student from Germany. German practically lived at our house as well. Germasian and German were inseparable. My ability to drive, and my awesomeness, drug me into the picture. I took Germasian and German everywhere, soccer, friends, Hy-vee, school, Walmart at 12:00 am on a school night, and everywhere else. They were a huge part of my life and caused some of the best memories of my high school experience. Including our trip to St. Louis, Missouri; our trip to Ocala, Florida; When we all put blankets in the bed of my truck and went to Seminole Valley Park at 11:00 pm on a school night; our trip to Jacksonville, Florida; one EPIC Mother's Day; the Airport Disaster Drill; and so many others.

One of my personal favorites was the night we spent in St. Louis. Me and the Italian Foreigner, decided to go to bed. German and Germasian decided to mess with us while we were sleeping, mostly me unfortunately. I was exhausted that night but I still thought they were hilarious.

I've had so many great memories with "my brothers." I'll never forget them and I hope to see them again soon. Germasian still needs to "make me some rice hoe!" anyway. 

+School Permits

Every morning I wake up and go to school, I hurry to the south lot to get a parking space. There are eight places to park at Kennedy High School. South lot, for Juniors and Seniors; North lot, for Seniors with a special pass; horseshoe, for visitors’; the back lot, for teachers; the lot by the North lot, I don't know who that’s for; Lovely Lane Church for people with passes; Gospel Tabernacle, for people with passes; Towne House St, for whoever gets there first; and then there is Oakland Church, for people who can’t find a spot anywhere else. You'd think there would be enough spaces for everyone who drives to school considering there is some many parking spaces right? Wrong. I believe the reason for the parking problem is because of school permits.

I grew up in a small town in Florida. My brothers went to Belleview high school, where there was only one parking lot for students that was smaller than the south lot at Kennedy. There were never any parking problems at Belleview, why do you think that is? In Florida you are allowed to get your Learners Permit when you turn 15 years old as long as you pass a test. You could only drive with your parents and you weren’t required to take drivers ed. Drivers ed was a free class you could attend at Belleview if you wanted to. When you turn 16 years old you are allowed to get your Intermediate License, but you had to drive with the DMV and pass. In Iowa, you are allowed to get your Learners Permit at 14. If you go through drivers ed and have had your Learners Permit for at least 6 months, you can get a School Permit. This allows you to drive to and from school and school based activities. Then when you turn 16 you are allowed to get your Intermediate license.

I had to wait till I was 16 to get my license, my brothers had to wait, my parents had to wait, and everyone else I knew had to wait. If we didn't have a way to school, our parents drove us, we caught the bus, we got a ride from a friend, or we just walked. No one under 16 drove to school, those who were 16, had a space to park. 14 and 15 year olds need the same rules as I had; it would cause an insane decrease in parking issues. Seriously, walking half a mile to get to school is ridiculous when there are so many parking spaces near the school already. Find a ride; you’re too young to drive. End of story, literally.