ode to final exams

Amid the immense amounts of hygiene-deficient, amphed-up, sleepless students throughout college campuses across the nation, there is hope.

But is there?

"We're moving the fuck on, Kory. SERIOUSLY SHUT UP WE'RE MOVING ON." Once-friendly students become impatient with one another in study sessions, verbalizing their emotions through words of hate, and perhaps ending life-long relationships.

"AndIdon'tknowwhetherIamsupposedtostudythenotesorthebookorthepowerpointsorhislectures?!?!Iwenttobedat4inthemorningandIhave had3Redbull's alreadyIjustdon'tfuckingknowwhattodo!!!!!!!!!!" Girls hyped up on caffeine (or other substances) talk thousands of words per minute to express their lack of sleep (and sanity, perhaps).

Don't quite understand? Think this is some sick, exaggerated joke? Well, by all means, allow me place you in the shoes of a student.

You sit behind the kid in a math review who looks like he hasn't showered in days (smells that way, too) and has flakes of something-or-other (is it snow?!) gracefully falling onto your shoes from his hair, creating a monstrous distraction. Screw you, finals, you prevent students from keeping up on their daily hygiene routines.

Upon entering the library, where perhaps the entire Michigan State population has just recently found, you can't find a single seat! Therefore, you are forced to sit next to the girl who has fallen asleep on her book, pen in hand, and snores loud as @#$*. Screw you, finals, you force students to fall asleep everywhere except their bed.

You text your friends, with a friendly, "Hey, girl, hey, wanna hang out?" only to receive the same, short answer from your entire list of contacts. "Too busy. Studying. Bye." Screw you, finals, you make students with easy schedules bored and lonely.

And then you shout: "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!"

The pressure and anxiety thrust upon budding adults to succeed in their exams is overwhelming, God-awful, and brain-frying. And if I didn't have a nice, long winter break to look forward too, I believe that some sort of depression would undoubtedly set in. We could call it Post-Finals Stress Disorder.

For me, my current status is: 1 final down, 3 to go! (25% complete).

The Joys of College [12.11.2010]

Study Tips: Don't sit behind the dirty boy in your math review, you will become far too distracted and miss key tricks on how to 'derive the integral at the point of the tangent line where the derivative is actually zero and the slope is positive but the answer is (of COURSE!!!) a trick'. And don't let the seducing ways of adderall lure you in; it is not good for you. Trust me, I've seen those who have gotten sucked in.

Happy studying!

hello, snow

The first snow fall: December 1. It's truly perfect, isn't it?

Goodbye crunchy leaves, mud puddles and caramel apple cider.
Hello snow angels, icicles and hot chocolate.
Hello, winter (I love you a whole latte). Mmmm.


Be on the lookout for a snazzy holiday gift-guide (I'm currently preparing for such post, but am swamped with finals at the moment).

Happy days, enjoy the snow.

My favorite people at Grandma and Phil's Wedding 11.7.10

To-do List:
Make a snow angel.
Drink hot cocoa.
Make a nifty-gift with this simple how-to (don't be surprised if you receive this gift from me...). Enjoy.

battle of the coffee shoppes

[ Grand River Coffee = 24 Hour Beaners < Beaners on Marsh Road ] 

                                                                                 Does this even make sense? Hmm.

In my desperate attempts at finding a splendid study spot on campus, I went through a series of rather unenjoyable trial-and-error experiences. HB majors, prepare yourself (you may cringe).

"Wow, you like live here now don't you?" Spoke the "I-Just-Work-Here" teenage girl at the register. 

The building that housed dirty bathrooms, plug-less study tables, and obnoxiously loud music that I madly wished to call home, unfortunately wasn't filling my study-spot void. "The Beaner's girl" is no longer a valid nick-name.

With my hopes diminishing after the first several months of school and unenjoyable experiences in the 24 Hour Beaners, I stumbled across Grand River Coffee (just a few minutes from the unappealing, over-crowded coffee shop I had recently abandoned) and my hopes rose yet again. My first step in the doors? Gorgeous. Atmosphere? Lovely. A water fall, soft music, an old book shoppe next door AND fair trade coffee? Ingenious.

And the girl was happy.

But for only a short time. The long sigh and irritated, short words of the employee behind the counter did it for me.

"You said you wanted the gingerbread cookie." She said annoyed. "Unless you've decided to change your mind." 

Ouch. Not the way to treat a customer.

Now, by no means am I saying that I am an expert on customer service, but when you go searching for the perfect atmosphere and an employee makes you feel like an idiot, that's when you begin to feel helpless and lost. And perhaps a little discouraged.

Therefore, I've got some things to consider, some choices to make. Within the several experiences in the past couple of months, I have come to this conclusion that my favorite spot to study just so happens to be the very same spot that I love to meet with friends, have conversations with the genuine employees, and have my favorite cup of coffee. The Beaners on Marsh Road should be considered the idealistic coffee shop for superb customer service, and I wish nothing more than to be home and to become a regular again. Congratulations, Marsh Road Beaners, you have won me over, and in the process you have won the Battle of the Coffee Shoppes.

And in the wise, wise words of Spongebob Squarepants, "Remember Patrick, flatter the customer, make him feel good." You've nailed it, SB.

Abbie Reifel, 10.20.10

The Perfect Cup O' Joe: Tall Biggby Best with two pumps of caramel and some cream (Trevor's whipped cream mountain made with love is also a plus). Yummy.

euphoric evening

Highlight of my month:

Going to see the lovely Ben Folds at the Orbit Room in Grand Rapids.

And I had a slight anagnorisis (yes, you english nerds will know precisely what this entails). In the past, the concerts I have been to have been good, bad and in one occasion, ugly. But never have I ever had an experience like I did on Sunday evening. As oddly morbid as this sounds, I almost get some sense of closure when I attend concerts; closure to listening to their music, realizing that I actually really don't like the artist for who they are, or closure to such music phase in general. Let's just say I'm a bit picky as to who I idolize.

Britney? Well she faded, same with Justin. My obsession ended. Hilary Duff? Didn't really like her to begin with to be honest. MGMT? They were stellar, met them, loved them, but their music got a bit old for me. Cudi? He was a brazen asshole (pardon my language) to say the least.

But Ben. Oh, Ben, the coolest, quirkiest guy and one of the best artists and performers that I have ever seen live. And did I mention he can rock out on the piano? A+ in my book.

"We'll play some new shit, some old shit, and we'll probably fuck around and experiment with some shit too." (What a guy).

Ben Folds at the Orbit Room 11.7.10

If you haven't already done so: 
Buy Ben Fold's & Nick Hornby's album, "Lonely Avenue". You won't regret it (I promise). 

red vs. blue

In light of recent events (hint: the election on Tuesday), politics have been on my mind a wee bit more than they usually are... more than ever actually. As a voter, I am not particularly happy with the "black and white and red all over!" map and the recent red gain of the House, but am trying to remain positive (if policy gridlock is something to be positive about).

*Clears throat*

Anywho, I came across a very appropriate website this past week that I wish to share with you. Hope you find it as inspiring (and irritating) as I do.

Sunshine at MSU 10.25.10

WTF Has Obama Done So Far?!


Share your thoughts & concerns.

Song of the day: To brighten your day amid the sprinkling rain and silly world, listen to Sugar, Sugar by The Monkees. Old, I know, it's just a sing-along, dance-along kinda tune. (Hopefully) the picture can add a little sunshine into your day as well.

magical mystery kind

Thoughts. Emotions. Isolation.

Despite the happy notes in the blog, days aren't always filled with sunshine and warmth. Amid not-so-great weather and long days of class, finding things to enjoy can be quite difficult.

MSU 10.27.10

Remedies: Hum a tune. Skip to class. Walk on the curbs like a balancing beam. Listen to your favorite song. Do tiny things that can brighten your day.

Simple Joys: Lavender. Trick-or-treaters. Watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Local Natives. Photos. Twinkle lights. The Deathly Hallows. Red leaves. Painting.

solitude

Close your eyes.

Take a trip to a warm dirt road; one that you remember from your childhood. Head held high, arms at your side. Feel your feet moving one in front of the other, your toes pressing into the soles of your shoes on the crunchy gravel, the breeze rolling through your hair. Breathe in, breathe out. Soak in the presence of yourself and the earth. Solitude. 

"I guess my feet know where they want me to go, walking on a country road." [James Taylor, Country Road]

Lake Lansing [10.23.10]

Remember one of those feel-good nostalgic moments that nearly makes 

you cry. Start your day with a warm memory, a smile, and breaths of clean, fresh air.  

Craft of the day: Whip out those old books and steal some time from your day for the loveliest item you'll make 
this week (see bottom). Memories from Bri's pretty birthday gift (#8). Enjoy. Adore. Have a ball.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1XkXd0/www.writtenword.com/turn-old-musty-books-to-art-and-other-cool-things/

time is all around

Sigh.
Saturday morning. Game day. Tick tock.
Rain. Chilly. Fall.

Challenge for you: Pull out those trusty old rain boots. Grab your rain coat, perhaps an umbrella too. Walk outside and prepare for a mini hike. Walk passed the small mud puddles. Walk passed the medium-sized mud puddles. Stop in front of the large puddles (make sure it's muddy and wet). Jump. Get muddy. Get dirty. Get messy. And embrace it. Happy autumn in Michigan where the weather is just about as unpredictable as an MSU football match.

Smile.
Saturday afternoon. Spartans are glorious. Tick tock.
Sunshine. Cool. Autumn.

Lake Lansing [10.23.10]

Favourite: I discovered Beirut 
(a lovely band with a folky-jazz style, 
in which you can't help but hum along) 
through my friend, 
Erin. Elephant Gun &
Carousels (enjoy).

pumpkin spice

A cozy chair, a room full of smiles, and a hot caramel cider are enough to make my day. Sitting at my favorite coffee shoppe in town (take a guess!), I witnessed a rare (but necessary) moment that gave me those feel-good-fuzzies instantly.

"Hi Dennis!!" said an excited five year old girl while waving frantically at an older man reading the paper in his chair. His 'Up North' hat, red, fuzzy fleece and flannel gave him away instantly; a born and raised Michigan man who knew how to enjoy life amid a Pure Michigan, autumn day.

"Hi Dennis!! Hi Dennis!!" repeated the five year old's younger brother while emerging through the red doors. As he heard the younger children, Dennis peered over his newspaper and gave a great big smile, waving back at the young children. Although I will never know just what this older man meant to these young kids or how they knew one another, as a witness from afar, I am sure that these cheerful children made Dennis' day.

Abbie Reifel in line for pumpkin painting. [10.20.10]

Tip of the day: Be the cheerful, young child who waves frantically. Enjoy a fall day. Put a smile on someone's face, and by doing so, put a smile on your own. 

bliss, baby

Red Cedar River [9.20.10]

Despite the academic rigor each freshman must endure at Michigan State University, students find time for enjoyment, including me. Sitting and feeding the ducks along the Red Cedar, shooting photos in the botanical gardens, or sitting in the 24 hour Beaners with a Hot Caramel Apple Cider are just a few of the simple things at MSU that have brought me pure bliss.


Let autumn begin.