Bye-bye MSU and USA. Hello Canada!
Off to a cabin on Lake Superior. Off to a land where cell phones, running water, indoor bathrooms, and world communication are non-existant. Off to a place where the stars are as bright as ever and the air is pure.
Find your happy place, enjoy a good read, and remove yourself from the rest of the world. It is nothing but an invigorating experience. Be on the lookout for some snazzy winter photos, fresh from the neighboring country itself.
Happy travels folks!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
sunshine, stay
Ahh, the first tease of Spring. How I hate to love you!
Walking to class in jeans and a sweater was such an invigorating feeling; the birds chirping, the smell of clean air, the sunshine happily warming my cheeks...
Experiencing sheer bliss is not a mood; one does not simply wake up in the morning in a jolly state of mind because of some previous notion. Experiencing sheer bliss is the moment when you understand, Wow, the world is beautiful. And I am happy. As the first semester of my college career was a challenge in itself, it is truly magical enjoying the simple gifts that Earth has to offer.
Simple Joys: Birds chirping, crisp air, iced lattes, & cheerful conversation. Oh, and Regina Spektor.
Walking to class in jeans and a sweater was such an invigorating feeling; the birds chirping, the smell of clean air, the sunshine happily warming my cheeks...
Experiencing sheer bliss is not a mood; one does not simply wake up in the morning in a jolly state of mind because of some previous notion. Experiencing sheer bliss is the moment when you understand, Wow, the world is beautiful. And I am happy. As the first semester of my college career was a challenge in itself, it is truly magical enjoying the simple gifts that Earth has to offer.
Simple Joys: Birds chirping, crisp air, iced lattes, & cheerful conversation. Oh, and Regina Spektor.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
what I learned in school is...
How does one calculate the speed of light? What is the exact year Galileo invented the telescope? What impact has Bertrand Russell's never-ending search for the truth made in the name of philosophy?
These are questions we are expected to know; expected to learn, take notes, memorize, soak into our brains and spit the facts out come test day. But what good is this doing? What significance will these minor details play in a job in accounting or advertising, years down the road?
If there is one thing that I will take with me from such required classes, it is the ability to question everything and everyone around me. Philosophy and astronomy alike are constantly asking how we know something is true. We cannot simply trust others' judgement; we must contemplate the facts, dig deep into ourselves, and in essence, define the word truth.
By examining your life and the world, you are granting yourself the power to view the world the way you wish to see it, or rather, see it for what it really is. It can be a beautiful place, full of happiness, hopes and optimism, or it can be a world corrupted by humanity's selfish tendencies. Whatever view one may take, it is their own.
Song of the Day: My music major friends have introduced me to Cloudburst by Composer Eric Whitacre. It's beautiful.
These are questions we are expected to know; expected to learn, take notes, memorize, soak into our brains and spit the facts out come test day. But what good is this doing? What significance will these minor details play in a job in accounting or advertising, years down the road?
If there is one thing that I will take with me from such required classes, it is the ability to question everything and everyone around me. Philosophy and astronomy alike are constantly asking how we know something is true. We cannot simply trust others' judgement; we must contemplate the facts, dig deep into ourselves, and in essence, define the word truth.
"Re-examine all you've been told. Dismiss those that insult the soul." Walt Whitman
By examining your life and the world, you are granting yourself the power to view the world the way you wish to see it, or rather, see it for what it really is. It can be a beautiful place, full of happiness, hopes and optimism, or it can be a world corrupted by humanity's selfish tendencies. Whatever view one may take, it is their own.
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| Composer Eric Whitacre. Photo from Google. |
Monday, January 3, 2011
end of a decade
Now that the holidays have come and gone, the New Year provides a new _____ (don't worry, I wasn't going to say you. Too cliche!).
New years resolutions are not about creating; they're about discovering, developing and improving. So discover what you need, develop such discovery, and improve your life in the process.
Task for You: Do some soul-searching. Think. Grow. Live a little.
As you have the ability to fill in the blanks and determine what is "new" for you in 2011, here are a few things to keep in mind:
New years resolutions are not about creating; they're about discovering, developing and improving. So discover what you need, develop such discovery, and improve your life in the process.
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| The Gift of Writing & Expression [12.22.10] |
Task for You: Do some soul-searching. Think. Grow. Live a little.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
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.
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).
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!
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).
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| The Joys of College [12.11.2010] |
Happy studying!
Friday, December 3, 2010
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.
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.
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 |
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.
Monday, November 15, 2010
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.
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| Abbie Reifel, 10.20.10 |
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