a favorite thing

i have many favorite things. maybe it's just my rose-colored optimism, but i've been slowly collecting a list of things that make me happy or bring the lulz. i was hanging out with friends today and was, for some unknown reason, reminded of the Lolcat Bible. back in high school, i was the QUEEN of lolcats (meaning i thought they were a hoot) and i'm still pretty well-versed in internet memes. i read a few chapters out loud to my friends and we cracked up. it's hard to read with a straight face, but give it a try if you can understand it, since lolcats have a language of their own.

The Lolcat Bible was a wiki, collaboratively edited by internet users, but was since published. find it here.

karma points.

do you ever feel like doing favors for other people for no reason? or just for the ambiguous "karma points" excuse? i know i do. case in point: today, i helped a friend move his stuff to store at my house, and helped another friend paint her apartment. both things were less of chores than i anticipated, actually, and were a good way to spend my time.

i really enjoy helping people move because you see them at their most frazzled. the friend who i helped move is incredibly fashionable and very well put together, but you had better believe he was dressed in basketball shorts and flop flops, all of the fancy shoes and ties packed away. we both stood laughing at how haphazardly we had packed his things into his car; golf clubs moved down to the low social ranks of movie posters and lamps until they can be unpacked sometime next week.

the same goes for painting. i admired my friend since i met her this past semester, as she always looks so well put together without effort (maybe the key is her Carey Mulligan-esque haircut). but even beautiful people have to clean their tubs every once in a while.

as far as karma points go, i feel like i cashed in recently, so i've gotta build them back up. my karma-point builders that i do on a regular basis include:

1. Over-tip. I consistently tip 20-30%, even if the service is just all right. An ex once said that I tip like I'm in love with my server. Maybe I am?

2. Let people borrow my stuff. Even if I know they won't give it back. This year, I lost my two pairs of scissors to my residents, and another friend has my favorite movie. DARJEELING LIMITED, COME BACK TO ME!

3. Ask the person who's serving me how their day is going. They're human too.

4. Edit papers for people. This one is for Colin, who will probably never read this.

5. Buy coffee for friends. If they tell me no, I ask three times before I give up trying. Usually they give in and let me buy.

these are just a few, but i think i focus on karma points (just realized "points" is kind of inaccurate as i haven't given a value to specific actions, but whatever! maybe credit is a better word, but that involves numbers too. ugh.) because it really makes a huge impact on me when a friend does something nice for me. a little action goes a long way in making someone's day better.

i'm exhausted, so it's bedtime. i'll post later today.

ok, wow.

guess who has two thumbs AND hasn't updated her blog in a year and half?

this guy!

so here's what i'm gonna do: update you on my life and explain what i'm going to be blogging about from now on.

1. School.
2. Boys.
3. Employment.

4. My mindset and motivation.

First of all, I'm studying Secondary Education-- English at Arizona State University. I'm entering my junior year this fall, and I'm terrified. I'm definitely exaggerating, but honestly, it makes me nervous to think I'm getting closer and closer to a career. I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a little kid, but lately, I've been thinking a lot about pursing other options that address social entrepreneurship and promoting young people to come up with solutions to problems within their communities. I'm also terribly indecisive, so it makes me anxious to think that if I choose teaching, I may regret my choice in the future or may have missed something better.
I was talking recently with the boyfriend (more on him later), and was trying to explain why I hate making decisions. For me, the worst part about having too many options is uncertainty. Not knowing what's on the horizon makes it difficult for me to be operative and objective, make plans, or feel secure. However, with this uncertainty, he pointed out that there is an incredible amount of potential for goodness. Planning and meticulously organizing my life seems like the most beneficial thing to do at surface level, but I feel like I need to invite the relaxed, easy-going part of me to be a little more vocal.

After a series of romantic flops this past semester, I somehow snagged the coolest guy I know. For privacy's sake, he's called Hobbes on the interwebz. We met through the Pat Tillman Scholars group on campus, and he is the smartest, most genuine, and least pretentious person I've ever met. His hair naturally grows two different colors. We like burritos.

So, talking about that social entrepreneurship inkling I've been feeling, I was offered an incredible opportunity I just couldn't pass up. This next year, I'm incredibly fortunate to be the Development Chair for the Changemaker Central on ASU's Tempe Campus. YAY! What is Changemaker, you say? Click http://community.asu.edu/exchange/2011/05/changemaker-central-a-new-hub-for-all-students-to-become-changemakers/ to take a look.

I'm also a Sr. Community Assistant this year, at ASU's Sonora Center. Expect rants about irresponsible freshmen.

The last semester was emotionally devastating for me. I lost so much strength, energy, and internal fire that it was hard to even get out of bed in the mornings. My studies, relationships, and personal interests just became failures, one after the other. Things started to turn around, though, and I feel like a weight was gradually lifted from my shoulders. My counselor was instrumental in helping me learn to care for myself and set boundaries. Endless thanks go out to her. So, here I am. I'm happier.

This blog is going to be a personal one, so I'll talk about my jobs, studies, and things that make me happy. I'm making an effort to blog daily. Let's see how this goes. :)