Here is the story of why stereotypes exist.
I am walking up the stairs from the first floor to the second to get on a faster elevator and also because I wanted to take the stairs. A larger woman with a giant Wendy's bag and a super sized soda cuts me off. Ok,that happens. I get on the elevator and press the floor I want and the close door button, which of courses really just therefor decoration. I mean let's be honest. Have you ever pressed the close elevator button and it actually closes before the person that you don't want to come on the elevator gets on. Oh you have? Well Whoopdifreakindo. It doesn't happen for me. So I press the button and the supersize Wendy's customer gets on thee,evator. Will the elevator hold with the extra weight of supersize Wendy's? Will it? Will I make it out to complain another day? I did, but only just. Fortunately the woman was very tired and got out on floor three. Did I mention that we got on on floor two?
That people is why stereotypes exist. Almost every stereotype has an element of truth. This was a true story. Thank you for your attention.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
Inappropriate Bathroom Noises
(This is what I was thinking about during this distressing experience- have no fear, I did not bring my laptop into the bathroom and blog from there...)
Dear woman in the bathroom two stalls to my right,
Please stop making loud, inappropriate moaning noises while I am trying to go to the bathroom. You are not the only person in there. I know that you may not realize that, but seriously, from now on can you please just always imagine that there is always someone else in the bathroom with you who does not want to hear you getting off while you're taking a crap? Its difficult enough for some people to go when theres someone else in there, but its even more difficult and distracting when an overly large woman cannot stop her pleasure moaning for a whole minute. And yes, I can say that you're a large woman seeing as you left your size 1X elastic waist band jeans in the stall between us. Seriously woman, what in the world were you doing that you had to take off your ginormous jeans and then throw them into the stall between us. Do you really get off by going to the bathroom? Really? Thats absolutely disgusting. You made me sick to my stomach but I didn't want to stay in that bathroom any longer. You truly know how to clear the room. On that I give you props. But really, next time, can you please get your kicks in the privacy of your own home. And I pray that you're single. Oh and don't tell me that those pants weren't yours. I saw your sausage fingers reach under the stall to pick them up. Those brown Minnetonka moccasins you saw push them towards you? Yeah, I plan on burning them. You were the last person to see them before they are consumed by the flames to rid them of their impurities. And one last thing, the thank you after I pushed the pants towards you and the smile and hello you gave me when I was washing my hands does not make me like you. Actually it made me wanna gag. I think I would have preferred it if you hadn't attempted any kind of human interaction. Then I could have at least pretended that you were a troll. A giant, farting, moaning troll but no. You had to make sure that I knew that you were human. Just evil. Just pure evil.
Sincerely,
The girl who just puked in her mouth
P.S. This goes out to Eppley Airfield- your bathrooms aren't the worst I've seen but for sanitation reasons, it might be best to put the soap dispensers more than 3 inches above the sink. It makes it kind of difficult to wash your hands if your hands don't fit between the soap dispenser and the sink. So all those people in your airport that just came out of the bathroom and have larger hands...yeah...enjoy.
Dear woman in the bathroom two stalls to my right,
Please stop making loud, inappropriate moaning noises while I am trying to go to the bathroom. You are not the only person in there. I know that you may not realize that, but seriously, from now on can you please just always imagine that there is always someone else in the bathroom with you who does not want to hear you getting off while you're taking a crap? Its difficult enough for some people to go when theres someone else in there, but its even more difficult and distracting when an overly large woman cannot stop her pleasure moaning for a whole minute. And yes, I can say that you're a large woman seeing as you left your size 1X elastic waist band jeans in the stall between us. Seriously woman, what in the world were you doing that you had to take off your ginormous jeans and then throw them into the stall between us. Do you really get off by going to the bathroom? Really? Thats absolutely disgusting. You made me sick to my stomach but I didn't want to stay in that bathroom any longer. You truly know how to clear the room. On that I give you props. But really, next time, can you please get your kicks in the privacy of your own home. And I pray that you're single. Oh and don't tell me that those pants weren't yours. I saw your sausage fingers reach under the stall to pick them up. Those brown Minnetonka moccasins you saw push them towards you? Yeah, I plan on burning them. You were the last person to see them before they are consumed by the flames to rid them of their impurities. And one last thing, the thank you after I pushed the pants towards you and the smile and hello you gave me when I was washing my hands does not make me like you. Actually it made me wanna gag. I think I would have preferred it if you hadn't attempted any kind of human interaction. Then I could have at least pretended that you were a troll. A giant, farting, moaning troll but no. You had to make sure that I knew that you were human. Just evil. Just pure evil.
Sincerely,
The girl who just puked in her mouth
P.S. This goes out to Eppley Airfield- your bathrooms aren't the worst I've seen but for sanitation reasons, it might be best to put the soap dispensers more than 3 inches above the sink. It makes it kind of difficult to wash your hands if your hands don't fit between the soap dispenser and the sink. So all those people in your airport that just came out of the bathroom and have larger hands...yeah...enjoy.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Creativity vs Practicality
My time here in Omaha is nearly at an end. Although I've complained a lot about the driving, I gotta say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and I will be sorry to leave. On another note, I was having lunch with one of my classmates and somewhere in our really random, awkward conversation I brought the subject to books. Shocker I know. Anyways, I asked my classmate if he was reading something and he told me that he was reading a psychology book concerning two different types of mental processes, specifically a "fast" calculation of a situation that is based entirely upon intuition and previous experiences and a "slow" calculation in which the scene is processed in a way that takes into account the intuition and learned information. Granted he was not able to articulate it like that but I'm assuming that was the gist of it. Sounds like a basic social science theory merely put down in a book format with hundreds of examples as opposed to a specific academic drill but interesting nonetheless and something that I will probably look into. (Does anyone know what this book is called? Have you figured out which book it is based on my bizarre interpretation based on my classmates understanding of it...I can't remember...)
So the book that he was reading is not the point of this post. The point is that he made a point of saying that he only reads "practical" books. In other words, he only reads non-fiction books that he feels that he can apply immediately to real-life situations. Interesting and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I was a little bit insulted that he was reading a book in which inference is of profound importance and yet he did not find the value in reading fiction. In my mind, fiction is of tremendous value in our culture. It defines and shapes us. We learn about ourselves and others not only through the works of non-fiction but also through the ways in which people are able to discuss and describe their own world in a fictional way. Creativity and imagination, in my opinion, should not be seen as being impractical. On the contrary, the ability to think creatively fuels the fires of innovation and invention. Even though fictional stories by definition are "fake," that does not mean that they are not practical in their own way. As I have previously mentioned, the ability to think creatively and then to articulate those imagined thoughts and actions can demonstrate a peoples cultural heritage. Fictional books can foster and reemphasize aspects of our culture that before were unconsciously a part of our daily lives. Fictional books allow for the continued articulation of a person's culture. Perhaps a fictional book may not tell you how to fix your engine, but it can clue you in to the love a culture has for its automobiles in a way that statistics and hard facts sometimes cannot properly convey. What's my bottom line? Just because you don't see the immediate practicality of a thing, it does not mean that it does not exist. Don't disregard the power of the human imagination. It is just as practical and everyday a thing as understanding the latest psychological opinions on the Western thought-process.
I apologize for the tirade and I want to say that my classmate did not say his opinion rudely or with malice. Now I am merely stating mine. What do you think of the value of fictional books?
Photos from:
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/files/2012/06/HarryPotter1.jpg
http://buber.net/Blah/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/1776-mccullough.jpg
So the book that he was reading is not the point of this post. The point is that he made a point of saying that he only reads "practical" books. In other words, he only reads non-fiction books that he feels that he can apply immediately to real-life situations. Interesting and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I was a little bit insulted that he was reading a book in which inference is of profound importance and yet he did not find the value in reading fiction. In my mind, fiction is of tremendous value in our culture. It defines and shapes us. We learn about ourselves and others not only through the works of non-fiction but also through the ways in which people are able to discuss and describe their own world in a fictional way. Creativity and imagination, in my opinion, should not be seen as being impractical. On the contrary, the ability to think creatively fuels the fires of innovation and invention. Even though fictional stories by definition are "fake," that does not mean that they are not practical in their own way. As I have previously mentioned, the ability to think creatively and then to articulate those imagined thoughts and actions can demonstrate a peoples cultural heritage. Fictional books can foster and reemphasize aspects of our culture that before were unconsciously a part of our daily lives. Fictional books allow for the continued articulation of a person's culture. Perhaps a fictional book may not tell you how to fix your engine, but it can clue you in to the love a culture has for its automobiles in a way that statistics and hard facts sometimes cannot properly convey. What's my bottom line? Just because you don't see the immediate practicality of a thing, it does not mean that it does not exist. Don't disregard the power of the human imagination. It is just as practical and everyday a thing as understanding the latest psychological opinions on the Western thought-process.
I apologize for the tirade and I want to say that my classmate did not say his opinion rudely or with malice. Now I am merely stating mine. What do you think of the value of fictional books?
Photos from:
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/files/2012/06/HarryPotter1.jpg
http://buber.net/Blah/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/1776-mccullough.jpg
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Where Are We?
Dear driver of Omaha,
Please note that a) you are not on the farm and b) we are not British.
a) You are not on the farm. There are lines on the road and more importantly, other vehicles. You know those things that make loud noises and cause air pollution and can also kill you if you get hit by them? You know, cars. Other cars. Not just yours. So please, do us all a favor, car makers created a wonderful thing called a back window. Now I realize that you obviously don't use it because its covered in dirt and shit and you can't see out of it, but you see, I don't think it was put there to create feng shui in the car. Call me crazy. And I'm just throwing this out there, but perhaps it could be used to look out of. Wow. That is a crazy idea. A clear, glass, window to look behind you when you're backing up? What?!? Woah now, I've gone on the crazy train, but bare with me. Maybe, just maybe, if you cleaned your window and maybe just maybe if you worked on rotating your body to look out the window you would realize that the reason I'm laying on my horn (yes, that loud noise is not a duck or farm animal. lets remember that were not on the farm right now) is because you're backing into me. So, just a suggestion if you like my ideas on the purpose of a back window: clean your back window and start doing some freaking yoga so that you can turn your neck to see out of that newly cleaned back window. Try out! You might find that you'll have less dents on the back bumper of your car! Best wishes!
b) We are not British. I don't know if you all learned this, but we kind of fought this little war in 1776 and we wrote some documents that are kind of old and yellow and in a weird handwriting, but you know, hey, they're kind of old so I might understand if you forgot that we won our independence from the UK in 1781. Ok, no big deal that you don't seem to realize that we live in the United States of America and not Great Britain. Ok, no big deal. George Washington is probably just the dude with the weird nose on your dollar bill. I get it. Its fine. But for real. We did actually win our independence and we've kind of not been a part of Great Britain for the past ohhhh 200+ years so, COULD YOU STOP DRIVING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD! kthanx.
Have a wonderful day every eon!
Thoroughly confused Virginian
Please note that a) you are not on the farm and b) we are not British.
a) You are not on the farm. There are lines on the road and more importantly, other vehicles. You know those things that make loud noises and cause air pollution and can also kill you if you get hit by them? You know, cars. Other cars. Not just yours. So please, do us all a favor, car makers created a wonderful thing called a back window. Now I realize that you obviously don't use it because its covered in dirt and shit and you can't see out of it, but you see, I don't think it was put there to create feng shui in the car. Call me crazy. And I'm just throwing this out there, but perhaps it could be used to look out of. Wow. That is a crazy idea. A clear, glass, window to look behind you when you're backing up? What?!? Woah now, I've gone on the crazy train, but bare with me. Maybe, just maybe, if you cleaned your window and maybe just maybe if you worked on rotating your body to look out the window you would realize that the reason I'm laying on my horn (yes, that loud noise is not a duck or farm animal. lets remember that were not on the farm right now) is because you're backing into me. So, just a suggestion if you like my ideas on the purpose of a back window: clean your back window and start doing some freaking yoga so that you can turn your neck to see out of that newly cleaned back window. Try out! You might find that you'll have less dents on the back bumper of your car! Best wishes!
b) We are not British. I don't know if you all learned this, but we kind of fought this little war in 1776 and we wrote some documents that are kind of old and yellow and in a weird handwriting, but you know, hey, they're kind of old so I might understand if you forgot that we won our independence from the UK in 1781. Ok, no big deal that you don't seem to realize that we live in the United States of America and not Great Britain. Ok, no big deal. George Washington is probably just the dude with the weird nose on your dollar bill. I get it. Its fine. But for real. We did actually win our independence and we've kind of not been a part of Great Britain for the past ohhhh 200+ years so, COULD YOU STOP DRIVING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD! kthanx.
Have a wonderful day every eon!
Thoroughly confused Virginian
Monday, July 16, 2012
Old Market
Explored the Old Market again. I had dinner at Upstream Brewing. I got the fish and chips and honestly, they were fantastic. Their beer-batter was to die for and they brought the chips with vinegar. The only disappointing parts of the meal were this random "cucumber salad" in which the cucumbers looked sad and wilted and sick. Thats kind of the only way of describing them. Oh and they tasted that way too. If you're gonna order this, try not to get the depressing cucumbers. They just kind of look at you and you kinda just wanna puke. Anyways, so the "cucumber salad" or whatever the hell it was was kind of depressing and I gotta say, for a microbrewery I was not impressed and underwhelmed. I went during Happy Hour (which btw I totally recommend. Half off any beer and half off appetizers. Great deal) and I ordered the Capital Premium Pale Ale. I absolutely hated it. Seriously. I couldn't even get half way through. Life is far too short to drink a lousy beer. So I didn't. I wish I had ordered whatever the fish and chips were fried in because that beer tasted fantastic. Note to self: ORDER THE FISH AND CHIPS BEER. IT IS A FOOD ORGASM. The end. So go order yourself a succulent fish and chips. In beer-batter. Right now. Imagine that wonderful golden fried gooeyness.
Are you salivating yet? haha sucker. I hope you're reading this after your workout. :)
Anyways, after that I decided that I wanted to walk around some more. I mean I paid $5 for parking. I might as well get my moneys worth. So I went over to this shop called Curbside Clothing. I freaking loved it. Ridiculously artsy. Great paintings and photos on the walls. The graphic designs on the clothes are all unique and actually have a meaning which is pretty sweet. Also, the majority of the jewelry can be found on etsy.com and if you're like me and you're a pretend hipster, then you love etsy.com So needless to say, check out the link to the store. It was quite awesome. I also visited my favorite little hippie store in the Old Market, The Souq.
Once again, loved it. Basically for anyone who has ever taken a class in the UVA Anthro Dept, let me just say this. They would either call this store you're typical exotic or would probably be running the store. Its one of the two. Anyways, I'm always a sucker and I love it because it makes me feel cool and unique. All in all, a very productive evening. Hope you all are having a good one too!
For more photos of the Old Market, click here
NOTE: All photos on this site were taken by me. :) Let me know if you like them!
Are you salivating yet? haha sucker. I hope you're reading this after your workout. :)
Anyways, after that I decided that I wanted to walk around some more. I mean I paid $5 for parking. I might as well get my moneys worth. So I went over to this shop called Curbside Clothing. I freaking loved it. Ridiculously artsy. Great paintings and photos on the walls. The graphic designs on the clothes are all unique and actually have a meaning which is pretty sweet. Also, the majority of the jewelry can be found on etsy.com and if you're like me and you're a pretend hipster, then you love etsy.com So needless to say, check out the link to the store. It was quite awesome. I also visited my favorite little hippie store in the Old Market, The Souq.
Once again, loved it. Basically for anyone who has ever taken a class in the UVA Anthro Dept, let me just say this. They would either call this store you're typical exotic or would probably be running the store. Its one of the two. Anyways, I'm always a sucker and I love it because it makes me feel cool and unique. All in all, a very productive evening. Hope you all are having a good one too!
For more photos of the Old Market, click here
NOTE: All photos on this site were taken by me. :) Let me know if you like them!
Red Means Go And Green Means Stops
Ok so like everything in the Midwest, everything is pretty spread out making driving an absolute necessity to get to and fro. With that in mind, I have therefore spent a lot of time in my rented Nissan Rogue. Not a bad car all in all. Ok anyways, to the point. So today I was driving to Panera and its less than a mile from my hotel. How long did it take me to drive to it? Over ten minutes. Why? Because people here quite frankly don't know how to drive. I'm not saying that I'm the best driver in the world, but in comparison to many of the drivers here, I'm an absolute freakin genius. There's a ridiculous amount of traffic between my hotel and the Panera and there are two major causes for this. One, theres a bit of construction going on. Nothing huge but a little bit. Two, people here do not know what to do with traffic lights. For real.
I mean the light turns green and people stare at. Quite literally stare it. "Hmmm, the light has changed colors. Its kind of this greenish tint looking thing...does that mean that I go? Maybe, yeah? Yeah I should. Oh wait, now its turning again. Oh shit now its the bright color, what is that again? Oh yeah yellow. Oh shit red. GO!" Honestly, I believe that must be the thought process going on. Otherwise how else would you explain people not going when its green and two or three cars turning when its red? Perhaps in Nebraska, the law is that you go when its red and stop when its green. Totally possible. Or perhaps the entire population is color blind. That could definitely be it. Or aliens invaded the entire city and brainwashed them into believing that red means go and green means stop so that they could force the entire city into a gridlock and therefore force their control over the people by saying that they will alleviate their gridlock by ending traffic altogether. The people rejoice. Then there are no more cars and everyone has to walk in 50% humidity in 90 plus degree heat and they all become walking heat alien-controlled zombies. Don't get become alien-controlled zombies. Learn that green means go and red means stop.
The end.
I mean the light turns green and people stare at. Quite literally stare it. "Hmmm, the light has changed colors. Its kind of this greenish tint looking thing...does that mean that I go? Maybe, yeah? Yeah I should. Oh wait, now its turning again. Oh shit now its the bright color, what is that again? Oh yeah yellow. Oh shit red. GO!" Honestly, I believe that must be the thought process going on. Otherwise how else would you explain people not going when its green and two or three cars turning when its red? Perhaps in Nebraska, the law is that you go when its red and stop when its green. Totally possible. Or perhaps the entire population is color blind. That could definitely be it. Or aliens invaded the entire city and brainwashed them into believing that red means go and green means stop so that they could force the entire city into a gridlock and therefore force their control over the people by saying that they will alleviate their gridlock by ending traffic altogether. The people rejoice. Then there are no more cars and everyone has to walk in 50% humidity in 90 plus degree heat and they all become walking heat alien-controlled zombies. Don't get become alien-controlled zombies. Learn that green means go and red means stop.
The end.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Adventures on Route 75
Today I still had a cold but I couldn't stand the idea of just sitting in my hotel room while there was a whole state that I had yet to discover so I set out this morning with the concept that I would be going on an adventure.
Ok by morning I mean that I woke up at like 1100 compliments of NyQuil...so like a 20-somethings version of morning?
Anyways, so once I jumped out of bed, got ready, and decided that I wanted to try out Big Mama's Kitchen. I was supposed to go last night with some people from my class but I was feeling like crap so I couldn't. So this morning I decided to rectify this loss of wonderful southern palatableness and I went in search of Big Mama's Kitchen. According to my iPhone it was only about 5 miles away in a part of town that I had never been to so that didn't seem like a big deal. Today was supposed to be an adventure right? Ok so I start driving towards Big Mama's and so far so good. No big problems. Then I realize that I'm in an area that had been its own town in the 1940s or 50s and had only recently been gobbled up by that monolithic metropolis that is Omaha, Nebraska. I think it was called Benson...anyways moving on. So I start driving through this area and its definitely not the best place in the world but I'm to myself, hey you got this far, you might as well keep going. So I do. And finally I see an old school complex. Its pretty old school. I would take a guess that it was built in the late 1800s- early 1900s. You know one of those with multiple buildings and the buildings themselves aren't cookie cutter and are made out of stone? Thats the best that I can do to describe them. So there's a sign that says, "BIG MAMA'S TURN HERE!!!!" And the sign has Big Mama's face on it so I think, well hey there Big Mama. Why yes, I'll turn where your giant head is telling me to turn. Thank you for showing me the way. So like I said, it takes me into the older school complex. Well thats it. Its a circular, fenced in school complex. So I drive around twice and I'm pretty pissed. I mean wouldn't you be too? Big Mama told me a big fat lie. so right about now, I ain't likin Big Mama. Big Mama and I are gonna have a chat if and when I ever get into that damn place. So like I said, I drive around and finally I can't take it anymore and I decide, eff this, I'm going to Popeyes and I'm getting the fast-food version of Southern food because either way, I was getting biscuits this morning, with or without Big Mama's help. So I pull up next to one of the buildings and I start to try and find where the nearest Popeyes is so I can get my biscuits on when I look up and I see Big Mama's face. Again. Peering out of a window of one of the school buildings. And theres a giant sign underneath her big grinning face that says, "OPEN." Well sink me, if it ain't Big Mamas Kitchen. In a school. No I mean actually in the school. Like you walk up to a door that could have been just about anyones high school with the metal rounded rectangular handle. Then you walk into the yellow linoleum stair floors and theres another big giant sign that says up here to biscuits young southerner. Follow Big Mama to biscuit heaven. Well, I do. Even though I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little freaked out. And I walk into what definitely used to be a school cafeteria that has now been converted into a restaurant...kind of. I mean it was obviously a school cafeteria. Thankful the food was definitely not cafeteria food. Big Mama's Kitchen was awesome. All of the food was made to order and it was fabulous, southern soul food. Just what the body needed. :) So after that I decide that I'm gonna drive down Route 75 and just kind of see where the road takes me. I, of course, get lost multiple times. *multiple expletives- use for approximately 20 minutes* On the road and I have no idea where the hell I'm going and I'm pulling over every once in a while on the side of the road and am taking photos. Yes, I know. I'm weird, but seriously there was so much freaking corn. And the scenery looked like something out of Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men with the dilapidated farmhouses and the telephone posts just going on for miles and miles, going far past the line of sight.
For some like me who has never seen that before, it was quite an awesome thing. So anyways, I keep driving. And driving. And driving. And even though the signs keep saying that I'm getting closer to Nebraska City, I swear that its actually creeping a little farther ahead for every mile I gain on it. Laughing just a little bit to itself. For real though. So I get to Nebraska City and I've gotta say that it was one of the most eerie places I've ever been. I don't know whether it was because it was Sunday or whether there was something going on but there was basically no one in town. And I mean basically no one. I was there for 30 plus minutes and I saw 5 people. It was seriously like a ghost town.
Omaha may be thriving after the economic downturn but let me tell you something, it doesn't really seem that the rest of Nebraska is getting much help. That was the first time that I really saw the economic pressures slap me in the face. You think you understand on the East Coast but somehow I don't think that we get it. Or that we don't understand it as well as we think. Just something to think about if you're reading this. Anyways, I decide to get the hell of there because I was afraid that it was gonna turn into some sort of Texas Chainsaw Massacre or some effed up town out of the mind of Stephen King or Alfred Hitchcock. For real though.
I got out of there, went back on Route 75, took more photos. Went to another little town that had a population of 6,655 people. Thats less than the number of people in my high school. What I can say that I've learned today is that there is so much more to America than I could have ever understand by reading books and watching TV or documentaries. There is truly no better way to understand an area than by actually going out and being a part of it. Really. There is so much that you miss by just sitting at home and experiencing the same thing over and over again. You can see photos and movies but you'll never understand the significance of certain scenes and plots until you've experienced that part of the country. I question everyone to just go to one place entirely new to them sometime this year. Just once. Do as the locals do. Think about why they're doing what they're doing. Drive on their roads and think about what you're seeing and how its different from what you normally experience. Look at the signs. Look at what they think is important enough to put on a sign. You'd be shocked at how much that will tell you. Anyways, I hope that everyone had a wonderful day.
Note: All photos taken by me.
More photos can be found here - again all of these photos have been taken by me. if you're going to share them, its totally cool with me. just let me know. i'm a bit of an egotist and it makes me feel good inside. :) Again, enjoy and I hope that you all haven't died of boredom yet.
Ok by morning I mean that I woke up at like 1100 compliments of NyQuil...so like a 20-somethings version of morning?
Anyways, so once I jumped out of bed, got ready, and decided that I wanted to try out Big Mama's Kitchen. I was supposed to go last night with some people from my class but I was feeling like crap so I couldn't. So this morning I decided to rectify this loss of wonderful southern palatableness and I went in search of Big Mama's Kitchen. According to my iPhone it was only about 5 miles away in a part of town that I had never been to so that didn't seem like a big deal. Today was supposed to be an adventure right? Ok so I start driving towards Big Mama's and so far so good. No big problems. Then I realize that I'm in an area that had been its own town in the 1940s or 50s and had only recently been gobbled up by that monolithic metropolis that is Omaha, Nebraska. I think it was called Benson...anyways moving on. So I start driving through this area and its definitely not the best place in the world but I'm to myself, hey you got this far, you might as well keep going. So I do. And finally I see an old school complex. Its pretty old school. I would take a guess that it was built in the late 1800s- early 1900s. You know one of those with multiple buildings and the buildings themselves aren't cookie cutter and are made out of stone? Thats the best that I can do to describe them. So there's a sign that says, "BIG MAMA'S TURN HERE!!!!" And the sign has Big Mama's face on it so I think, well hey there Big Mama. Why yes, I'll turn where your giant head is telling me to turn. Thank you for showing me the way. So like I said, it takes me into the older school complex. Well thats it. Its a circular, fenced in school complex. So I drive around twice and I'm pretty pissed. I mean wouldn't you be too? Big Mama told me a big fat lie. so right about now, I ain't likin Big Mama. Big Mama and I are gonna have a chat if and when I ever get into that damn place. So like I said, I drive around and finally I can't take it anymore and I decide, eff this, I'm going to Popeyes and I'm getting the fast-food version of Southern food because either way, I was getting biscuits this morning, with or without Big Mama's help. So I pull up next to one of the buildings and I start to try and find where the nearest Popeyes is so I can get my biscuits on when I look up and I see Big Mama's face. Again. Peering out of a window of one of the school buildings. And theres a giant sign underneath her big grinning face that says, "OPEN." Well sink me, if it ain't Big Mamas Kitchen. In a school. No I mean actually in the school. Like you walk up to a door that could have been just about anyones high school with the metal rounded rectangular handle. Then you walk into the yellow linoleum stair floors and theres another big giant sign that says up here to biscuits young southerner. Follow Big Mama to biscuit heaven. Well, I do. Even though I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little freaked out. And I walk into what definitely used to be a school cafeteria that has now been converted into a restaurant...kind of. I mean it was obviously a school cafeteria. Thankful the food was definitely not cafeteria food. Big Mama's Kitchen was awesome. All of the food was made to order and it was fabulous, southern soul food. Just what the body needed. :) So after that I decide that I'm gonna drive down Route 75 and just kind of see where the road takes me. I, of course, get lost multiple times. *multiple expletives- use for approximately 20 minutes* On the road and I have no idea where the hell I'm going and I'm pulling over every once in a while on the side of the road and am taking photos. Yes, I know. I'm weird, but seriously there was so much freaking corn. And the scenery looked like something out of Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men with the dilapidated farmhouses and the telephone posts just going on for miles and miles, going far past the line of sight.
For some like me who has never seen that before, it was quite an awesome thing. So anyways, I keep driving. And driving. And driving. And even though the signs keep saying that I'm getting closer to Nebraska City, I swear that its actually creeping a little farther ahead for every mile I gain on it. Laughing just a little bit to itself. For real though. So I get to Nebraska City and I've gotta say that it was one of the most eerie places I've ever been. I don't know whether it was because it was Sunday or whether there was something going on but there was basically no one in town. And I mean basically no one. I was there for 30 plus minutes and I saw 5 people. It was seriously like a ghost town.
Omaha may be thriving after the economic downturn but let me tell you something, it doesn't really seem that the rest of Nebraska is getting much help. That was the first time that I really saw the economic pressures slap me in the face. You think you understand on the East Coast but somehow I don't think that we get it. Or that we don't understand it as well as we think. Just something to think about if you're reading this. Anyways, I decide to get the hell of there because I was afraid that it was gonna turn into some sort of Texas Chainsaw Massacre or some effed up town out of the mind of Stephen King or Alfred Hitchcock. For real though.
I got out of there, went back on Route 75, took more photos. Went to another little town that had a population of 6,655 people. Thats less than the number of people in my high school. What I can say that I've learned today is that there is so much more to America than I could have ever understand by reading books and watching TV or documentaries. There is truly no better way to understand an area than by actually going out and being a part of it. Really. There is so much that you miss by just sitting at home and experiencing the same thing over and over again. You can see photos and movies but you'll never understand the significance of certain scenes and plots until you've experienced that part of the country. I question everyone to just go to one place entirely new to them sometime this year. Just once. Do as the locals do. Think about why they're doing what they're doing. Drive on their roads and think about what you're seeing and how its different from what you normally experience. Look at the signs. Look at what they think is important enough to put on a sign. You'd be shocked at how much that will tell you. Anyways, I hope that everyone had a wonderful day.
Note: All photos taken by me.
More photos can be found here - again all of these photos have been taken by me. if you're going to share them, its totally cool with me. just let me know. i'm a bit of an egotist and it makes me feel good inside. :) Again, enjoy and I hope that you all haven't died of boredom yet.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Book Review- Bloodline by James Rollins
I have a cold and I'm not at home so what does that mean? It means that I've basically been sitting around all day eating, reading, watching TV, uploading photos, and now it seems, unnecessarily updating my blog. So, here's a review of James Rollins's new novel The Bloodline that came out at the end of June 2012.
I pre-ordered the book on Amazon Prime in April or May. I can't really remember now, but either way, I was wicked excited that this book was coming out. I have been a big fan James Rollins's Sigma Force series for the past 3-4 years and every book has been more exhilarating than the next. Ok, I should probably give you a wee bit of background on the series. Sigma Force is a top-secret covert agency embedded in DARPA, a scientific research department of the Department of Defense. The novels are all extraordinarily fast-paced and Mr Rollins has somehow figured out the recipe for the perfect blend of action, history, and science to keep these novels going. Like I said before, I have been a fan for a few years now and have not been disappointed. Mr Rollins' last novel, The Devil Colony, was absolutely tremendous and breathtaking. I couldn't put that book down and I was seriously upset when it was over. That was made me so excited for Bloodline. All of the teasers for the book made it seem like it was going to answer quite a few questions about the Guild, Sigma's archnemesis and the most evil bad guys in the world pulling all the strings on all of the worlds most heinous crimes. So needless to say, I was excited. Even the prologue to Bloodline makes you think that theres going to be quite a bit of history and science intertwined in this book. Definitely more than action. Well I could not have been more wrong. Unlike his previous novels, Mr Rollins was unable to find that perfect blend of action, science, and history. At least in my opinion. He built some of the new characters wonderfully, especially Tucker Wayne and his dog Kane but then, after setting them up beautifully and making them such an intricate part of the first 2/3 of the book, he relegates them to the back. That was annoying and upsetting because so much time had been spent on building the character only for the character to become almost 2D by the end with no real emotions or sentiments. Also, unlike his other novels where he masterfully embeds history and science and weaves it in such a way into the action that it doesn't take away from it, he absolutely drops the ball. He has a hard time weaving the historical and the scientific together and when it is brought into the action sequences it just becomes a mess. The historical aspects, which needed a far deeper explanation, was really shoved into the last 40 pages of the novel. This was extremely unfortunate because in the end you realize that this was the driving force behind all of the actions and will probably be the cause for the next novel. But like I said, Mr Rollins does not give any kind of detail into this historical conspiracy that he created, making it almost seem like he doesn't have a grasp on his own fictional history. I hope that in his next novel, he delves much deeper into that history and more specifically, decides definitely upon the ambiguous historical statements and comments that drove this novel at the very end. For this kind of novel, historical accuracy does not matter, but what does matter is for the author to have a clear understanding of what history he wants to be portrayed and as a history major, I had a hard time trying to grasp what exactly he was getting at. As I have said multiple times, I am still a fan of James Rollins and his Sigma Force series, but I do hope that his next novel does not follow the same rules that his novel did. I think that would be a profound disappointment.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Other Suggestions: Sigma Force Novels: The Devil Colony; Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child novels
Let me know what you think of this novel as well or if you have any other book suggestions!
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Other Suggestions: Sigma Force Novels: The Devil Colony; Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child novels
Let me know what you think of this novel as well or if you have any other book suggestions!
Omaha Mavericks
For the past week I've been in Omaha, Nebraska. I've never been to the Midwest so this is very much a new experience for me. Its one thing to study the differences in culture in other countries, but its quite a different thing to study it in your own country. Ok, I'm not technically in Omaha to study Midwestern culture, but one cannot help but notice the differences between the people of Omaha and my own hometown. For one thing, the majority of people drive very slow and all of the lines on the road seem to be more of a suggestion than anything else. Also, Omaha is considered to be a big city and I have no doubt that in the Midwest is probably is, but I can drive from my hotel at the outskirts of the city to the very edge of the city center on a Saturday at noon in about 7 minutes. For real. Anyone from DC knows that going 7 minutes in DC means that you've probably gone through 2 traffic lights. Maybe. If you're lucky. Ok, so in reality I'm here for a class, which is also kind of weird because this the first time that I've ever been on another college campus taking course since I graduated in May 2011. Its a nice campus, like I mentioned last time. I can walk the entire length of the main campus in ten minutes. I know because I walk it every day.
Also, I've been told many a time that the people of the Midwest are extraordinarily friendly. For the most part they are, but I gotta say, a lot of the students seem absolutely bewildered when I ask them a question, but then again maybe I'm asking really difficult questions. You know, like, "Where is the library?" or "Where is the Arts and Sciences Building?" You know, very difficult, hardly ever used buildings that happen to hold the majority of the classes. Or I guess they don't utilize their library? A shame really. Oh, and for all of the tour guides at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (aka UNO or as I call it: uno), I am not a student at UNO. My UVA flip flops and backpack might have given that away and also, if I'm asking you where the library is, I probably don't go there. Either that or I'm the shittiest student known to man. Either or.
Also, for the students at UNO. Please stop staring at me because I'm wearing a dress. No but for real. I realize that you all somehow have some magical, Midwestern gene that somehow allows you to wear dark jeans, socks, and sneakers and somehow not sweat, but I unfortunately do not have that gene and therefore would be a walking rainstorm if I wore those outfits. In other words, I wear a dress because unlike you all, I sweat. But for real, why does no one on that campus wear dresses and seriously, is it that weird for a girl to wear a dress that you need to stare? Its over 97 degrees here. How is that possible? And you all aren't sweating!?! Mutants, thats what you are. UNO Mavericks. Nay I tell you. UNO Mutants you should be called.
Also, I need some advice on something. So I joined the UNO gym while I'm here in Omaha. I like the gym facility. Its new and its clean and thats basically all I can ask for. But I really gotta ask. Is it really too much to answer my question as to where the women's locker room is? Am I really bothering you with that question or would you prefer that I strip down naked in front of you and perhaps then you'll understand the point of my question. Oh, and if I ask you where the cleaning wipes are, please don't ask me "Don't you know where they are?" Obviously I don't dumbshit. Do you think that I would be bothering you with this if I knew? Idiot. But for real. Students of UNO. You all seem extremely nice, but seriously, don't be shocked when people come up and ask you questions. They're not trying to bother you or ruin your day. They just want to experience your school. So be kind and for goodness sake just answer the question as best as you can. Oh, and the answer, "The Arts and Sciences Building is past the pointed thing and just keep walking and its somewhere over there." First off, that pointed thing is called a Campanile. Its on a sign on the building. Or you could call it the giant phallic symbol in the middle of your campus. That would work too. But seriously, the pointed thing? And its kind of over there somewhere? There are maybe a dozen buildings on your campus. You seriously can't tell me where that building is in more precise terms than its past the pointed thing and its somewhere over there? Seriously, give your school some credit and start using words that describe the location of buildings on your campus in more precise terms.
Anyways, the class is interesting and the campus is actually very pretty. Stay tuned for more updates from Omaha!
Also, I've been told many a time that the people of the Midwest are extraordinarily friendly. For the most part they are, but I gotta say, a lot of the students seem absolutely bewildered when I ask them a question, but then again maybe I'm asking really difficult questions. You know, like, "Where is the library?" or "Where is the Arts and Sciences Building?" You know, very difficult, hardly ever used buildings that happen to hold the majority of the classes. Or I guess they don't utilize their library? A shame really. Oh, and for all of the tour guides at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (aka UNO or as I call it: uno), I am not a student at UNO. My UVA flip flops and backpack might have given that away and also, if I'm asking you where the library is, I probably don't go there. Either that or I'm the shittiest student known to man. Either or.
Also, for the students at UNO. Please stop staring at me because I'm wearing a dress. No but for real. I realize that you all somehow have some magical, Midwestern gene that somehow allows you to wear dark jeans, socks, and sneakers and somehow not sweat, but I unfortunately do not have that gene and therefore would be a walking rainstorm if I wore those outfits. In other words, I wear a dress because unlike you all, I sweat. But for real, why does no one on that campus wear dresses and seriously, is it that weird for a girl to wear a dress that you need to stare? Its over 97 degrees here. How is that possible? And you all aren't sweating!?! Mutants, thats what you are. UNO Mavericks. Nay I tell you. UNO Mutants you should be called.
Also, I need some advice on something. So I joined the UNO gym while I'm here in Omaha. I like the gym facility. Its new and its clean and thats basically all I can ask for. But I really gotta ask. Is it really too much to answer my question as to where the women's locker room is? Am I really bothering you with that question or would you prefer that I strip down naked in front of you and perhaps then you'll understand the point of my question. Oh, and if I ask you where the cleaning wipes are, please don't ask me "Don't you know where they are?" Obviously I don't dumbshit. Do you think that I would be bothering you with this if I knew? Idiot. But for real. Students of UNO. You all seem extremely nice, but seriously, don't be shocked when people come up and ask you questions. They're not trying to bother you or ruin your day. They just want to experience your school. So be kind and for goodness sake just answer the question as best as you can. Oh, and the answer, "The Arts and Sciences Building is past the pointed thing and just keep walking and its somewhere over there." First off, that pointed thing is called a Campanile. Its on a sign on the building. Or you could call it the giant phallic symbol in the middle of your campus. That would work too. But seriously, the pointed thing? And its kind of over there somewhere? There are maybe a dozen buildings on your campus. You seriously can't tell me where that building is in more precise terms than its past the pointed thing and its somewhere over there? Seriously, give your school some credit and start using words that describe the location of buildings on your campus in more precise terms.
Anyways, the class is interesting and the campus is actually very pretty. Stay tuned for more updates from Omaha!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Oh Summer TV Shows
Has anyone else noticed that in the month of June there were basically no new TV shows on? Especially on USA or TNT. Was anyone else hurt by this? It made me cry a few time, especially when TNT insisted on putting out teaser trailers for The Closer. Or when TV Guide insisted on posting beautiful photos of Matt Bomer from White Collar. It was just evil. Pure and simple. TNT and USA, have you read the US Constitution. Cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited in the US. Yeah thats right. June was cruel and unusual punishment. But I must say, thank you for finally putting all of my favorite shows back on TV...even if they're all on at the same time and I'm in Nebraska without my DVR. Its alright. I'll make it work because you, cruel abusing TV Cable companies that control my happiness. You have forced my hand. You have found my weakness and are abusing it to the tenth degree. How can you stand yourself!?! Knowing that people are suffering without their summer shows. Cruel.
But I must say, White Collar. Wow. You never fail to impress. Last season was good, but this episode is better than all of Season 3. Multiple scenes of Matt Bomer with his shirt off and he put on some weight and has a scruffy beard. Wow. No seriously. Breath taken away. I can't freaking take it. And Mozzie. Love you. Oh and Neil's back story. GET ON WITH IT! I NEED MORE ASAP!!! Oh and please keep Neil shirtless with the scruffy face. Its wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. And magical. And makes me so happy. The story line is of course fantastic and the episode isn't even over yet. So bottom line: White Collar is back and better than ever. Highly recommend. :) Enjoy!
Oh and if you're not watching White Collar right now. Stop what you're doing. No seriously. Stop reading this blog and watch the show. It will make your life a better place.
But I must say, White Collar. Wow. You never fail to impress. Last season was good, but this episode is better than all of Season 3. Multiple scenes of Matt Bomer with his shirt off and he put on some weight and has a scruffy beard. Wow. No seriously. Breath taken away. I can't freaking take it. And Mozzie. Love you. Oh and Neil's back story. GET ON WITH IT! I NEED MORE ASAP!!! Oh and please keep Neil shirtless with the scruffy face. Its wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. And magical. And makes me so happy. The story line is of course fantastic and the episode isn't even over yet. So bottom line: White Collar is back and better than ever. Highly recommend. :) Enjoy!
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