Realizations

I have come to several conclusions about life. One. I am an adult. As shocking as that seems to some of you, it is true. I know, I know. You're all thinking "How in the hell did God let that happen?" Well, it did. Interestingly enough, I personally don't feel like I've changed all that much from this year to last year. I'm the same old Mandy that we've always known, just a year older. No big deal. Anyway, with my adult status, I have noticed how people still second guess my decisions that I make for my life. It's not like I'm still not a legal adult and I have to have parental/gardian approval for quite a lot of things. I can do what I want, generally speaking, and the only people who I really have to answer to are my self, the law and God. Personally, I think that I am a responsable, level headed, intelligent adult who is fully capable of making her own decisions and I don't need people to second guess me and make sure that I'm doing the right thing and that I've thought about all my options. I know what I need to do for me and I've thought about how that will effect myself, others, and my relationship with them. I don't need to be questioned; I need to be supported. Two: it is really difficult to leave a place that you've made your home and established yourself in. I have a home and a family here at Queens. We are supportive of each other, and keep one another in check. We have no problem of telling someone they're doing something stupid. And certainly there are people here who are more mature and wise than others, and there are some who are more innocent and niaeve. It's pretty awsome to have such a great community floor where everybody talks to one another and cares for one another and feels welcome in their rooms. I don't really want to leave it. I live here with all these other people, and my friend/family unit of sorts. It's rather dificult to know that you've got to leave all of this wonderfulness of love, care and support. I know, the thought from all of you guys is "but THIS is your home. WE'RE your family." And that is true, I am related to you by either blood or marriage, and I do have a room and food and I am welcome, but family is a support system. It's a network, a connection, between a group of people who love and care for one another, and will call some of its members out when they're being stupid, unwise, assholes. If there's anything I've learned from all of you, it's that. You don't really need to have any sort of blood or legal connection for that, just some sort of connection. Here at Queens with my group, ours is that we were all stuck together in Albright and we're freshman and new to this whole thing. This is something that I don't want to leave.

Murphy's Law

I'm assuming that you all know Murphy's Law: what could go wrong will. Well, everybody knows that one person who this applies to: everything bad imaginable happens to this person. Well, if you didn't think that you knew a person like this, you do now. It's me. And now you're all asking yourselves "What is she talking about?" Ok, so story-time.

It's Friday, and I get back to campus after watching Luke and go see the Vagina Monologues and I get flowers for no apparent reason. (Everything is going great so far....or so you think.) Well, in the middle of all this happyness I lose my phone. I cannot find my phone. Why? Oh, just because it was on vibrate AND had a low battery. By now, it is dead. And even if it wasn't, I couldn't hear it if I called it. So now I am phoneless, which means I am brainless and not connected. I feel naked...ok not really, but you get the picture.

So, Murphy's Law. All these amazing things happen, but you lose your phone. You lose your phone and it's on vibrate. You lose your phone and it's almost dead. Yeah....I really hate that law.

Ooops...

Sorry, it's been awhile since my last post. What can I say? I've been really busy. Snowdays, sick days, sunny days, days that papers have been due....you get the picture. Anywho...things here have been amazing. It's Spring Break and I'm having fun up here in Charlotte. (I'll be home on Friday...keep your pants on.) Yesterday I actually had a home cooked meal! REAL FOOD!!!! I don't think you people get it. The food in the cafe has been going downhill. Wait....that's lightly putting it. To be honest, it sucks! So any real food is amazing.

Ok, other news. Um....I have got a part in the next play that's comming up. The play is Black Comedy and I am Harold. Well...we're changing the character's name to Helen. It's going to be hilarious. *Hint hint: This means that you should come see it.*

A Zoology Lesson with Mandy

The Jackalope (Lepus-temperamentlus)

(aka: antelabbit, aunt benny, Wyoming thisled hare, or stagbunny)

This cute and furry creature is the Jackalope, one of the rarest animals in the world. It is a native of the American West, and the natives referred to it as a deerbunny. It is a hybrid of either an antelope and a species of killer rabbit or a pygmy-deer and killer rabbit. There is a flying version of this creature that can be found only in Wall, South Dakota. They are extremely smart and extremely rare, which explains why very little is truly known about these creatures and why very few have been captured.

Jackalope milk can be used for many medicinal purposes and as an aphrodisiac. The milk comes out already homogenized because of the powerful jumping capabilities that this creature has. Females can be milked while they are asleep, but this is strongly discouraged. These creatures are extremely shy, but once approached they become a dangerous killing machine.

The jackalope is so rare because they only breed during electrical storms that include hail. Also, very few have ever been captured because they can imitate many sounds, including that of the human voice. When being chased, they elude their captors by saying things like "That way!" and "Over there!" However, capture of these creatures is made easier if a flask of whiskey is placed outside at night. The jackalope has an extreme fondness for this drink, and after drinking it will become extremely intoxicated and move much slower.

Jackalope hunting is allowed in Douglas, Wyoming after the purchase of a special hunting license. The official season for hunting the Jackalope is between the hours of midnight and two am on June 31. The few who have caught a jackalope report that the meat has a similar taste to that of lobster.

This was your Zoology lesson with Mandy.

Sunny April Days...in February

The past two days here have been absolutely amazingly beautiful. Temperature up in the mid sixties to low seventies, perfect weather for dresses and shorts and being outside...and IT'S FEBRUARY!!!

Yesterday Joel and I went and took a walk in the park. It was quite fun...until we saw two girls around the age of 12 who looked like prosti-tots. It made me sad....and throw up a little in my mouth. Honestly, why do mothers let their young girls dress like hookers? Seriously, I don't get it. Why would you want to be out in public with your 12 year old daughter and have some 40 year old man come up to her and ask her how much it would be for a night? Come on! Why would you do that? People really make me sick. *vomit goes here*

On a much better, non-slut note, today was even more so enjoyable. I got to sit outside in the residence quad with Sam, Kathleen, Rochelle, Emily and Elisabeth and study. Well, it was actually more laughing and talking and coloring than studying, but it was still fun. It was also much better because there were no prosti-tots seen today.

It's still such a nice evening that I currently have my window open enjoying the occasional nice breeze that floats through the opening and blows my curtain. It makes me smile, a lot.

Snow

It is currently 1:42 am, and here in Charlotte it is snowing. That's right guys, snow. No, seriously, I'm talking about the flaky white stuff that falls from the sky when it's cold. You know, frozen yet soft precipitation? It's sticking to the ground...well, the grass, trees, cars, cement benches and walls, roofs, gravel.....so far everything but the roads. As you all can guess, I am really hoping that it does stick to the roads. Why, you may ask. Because, sillies, that means that classes are canceled and we have yet another SNOW DAY!!! The days that all students from kindergarten to senior in college alike look forward to. And since I am in Charlotte, and they are much like Georgia here one single snow flake means that everything shuts down and people run out to the stores to buy up milk and bread.

On that note, why do people stock up on milk and bread when it snows? I mean, are milk sandwiches really going to save you in a blizzard? And did you know that before a hurricane makes landfall people stock up on plywood (as can be expected) and POP-TARTS! Why? I have no clue. I guess if they run out of plywood, they can finish boarding up their windows with pop-tarts.

Anyhow.....back to the fact that it's snowing here. It's so beautiful. I'm looking out my window right now and I can see these huge flakes falling and swirling in the cold air right before they hit the ground. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

For future reference...I love snow. And I really love Charlotte.

Life Tips

Well, this post has much to do with the title...yes, it involves life tips. Specifically one that my boyfriend left on my roommate's white board.

Back story: Joel and I entered my room, and soon after Laura entered. She looked a little shocked and shaken and kind of like she had a bad day. Well, after speaking with her for a brief moment (I never did figure out what it was that was bothering her) Joel and I left my room after I grabbed what ever it was that I was in need of. Upon the exit of my room, Joel wrote something on Laura's white board that is on our door. It read:

"If you're having a bad day, just think about how ugly the platypus is.
Joel"

So, after thinking on this, I have realized that this is true. Not only will the sight of the platypus make you giggle...a lot...but also just think of the plight it has to go through every day. Honestly, think about how bad it must suck if you were one of nature's ugliest creatures ever. In comparison, you're probably better off then the platypus on any day. (Unless your dog dies, your spouse leaves you, you get hit by a car, and you loose all your belongings in a house fire.) And not only is it one of the ugliest, but it's nature's hodgepodge of parts!

So, if you are having a bad day, take Joel's advice, think about how ugly the platypus is.

And here is a platypus for you to reference....

(I have nothing against the platypus....I promise.)

Mail Time!!!!

So...I just got back from checking my mail, and I must say I got a lovely suprise. I ACTUALLY HAD MAIL!!! A card, a simple, lonely, kindly sent card. It made me smile...a lot. So a note to those of you back home: I like mail. No, seriously, I really do contrary to what you all may think. Letters, cards, packages, anything! Simply put, I like mail, so please do not hesitate to send any to me. It makes me feel special and loved when I get mail. I mean, it makes me stop and think, "Wow. Somebody back home cares enough about me to send me this (insert recieved item here)." Did I tell you guys that I like getting mail?

(In case you guys can't tell, this means, SEND ME SOME MAIL!!!!...please.)

Interesting Things Found in my Room

Well, I have a fun story to tell you all.

The setting: my dorm room last night at around 1:00 am. At this point in time, Joel and I were rather hungry from the factors of studying/doing tons homework and the fact that for the past few days the food in the caff hasn't been so good. So, I suddenly come up with a bright idea. I turn to Joel after a pause that followed his complaints of extreme hunger and exclaim, "I have a cheesecake in my freezer!!!" At this point we (meaning I) pull the cheesecake out, unwrap it, defrost it, cut it and serve it. I cut my piece and suddenly remember that along with a cheesecake, I brought back topping to go on it. Like any sensible person, I pull it out. I make a few attempts to open it, but fail epically, so Joel, being the nice and kind person that he is, takes it from me and opens it.

Apparently, I had started to grow a relatively large miniature planet in there, and after opening it, the small mold creatures think that Joel is their god. I promptly, removed the once-cheesecake-topping-now-large-micro-planet from Joel and threw it away in the trash room. I refuse to harbor small ecosystems in my fridge.

Speaking of small ecosystems...I am not opposed to harboring them elsewhere in my room. (No Sherry and Robin, I do not have mold growing under my bed or in my sock drawer.) I have a fish tank. Yes, that is correct, a fish tank. (And yes it is actually set up and working properly and is not taking up space like the one that sat in the back of my car for a good portion of my senior year.) In this tank there are two fan-tailed goldfish named Benedick and Beatrice and a small fully aquatic frog named Leonato. Yes, I am that big of a nerd to name my pets after characters from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

I do know for a fact that the fish and fully aquatic frog are allowed in my dorm, but I'm not quite sure about the large micro-planet...which is also a contributing factor to why I threw it away. That, and 1.) I found it kind of icky. 2.) I don't think that my roommate would appreciate it, and 3.) there was a fear that the large micro-planet might grow large enough to develop an army and nuclear technology, which would be bad. Very bad. Very very very bad. I don't want a war to break out in my fridge between the fruit topping planet and the bottled water.

So, in short, I accidentally grew a large micro-planet in my fridge, in which the mold creatures thought that Joel was their god, and I have a fish tank complete with two fish and a frog. Yay for in-dorm ecosystems, either accidental or intentional, benign or potently tyrannical.

New New New

Well, it's a new year, and a new semester with new classes full of new people. I must say that so far I am enjoying my classes; even though I've only been to three of the five. Unfortunatly in each of my three classes there is a shmuck. My English class, my Core class...all though Joel is in there to save me from death of the shmuck....or rather save him from being beaten to death by me. In second case, Joel would just watch me beat Ross down...oops. Ross is also unfortunatly in my English class. Please, somebody save me. And to further my three days a week with shmucks....the only male in Cover of Life is in my theatre class. I think I may end up shooting somebody......or at least beating someone down with a high heeled shoe. Oh well, at least things will be interesting this semester.