The Winter Storm of 2011

All Hell is about to freeze over... literally. Everything has come to a stand still all over the state of Illinois. People are stocking up on canned foods, flashlights, blankets, and batteries. Predicted possibilities of power outages everywhere. There is even a Facebook event that is called "Blizzard" and you can attend it if you live in Illinois. It's like the world is coming to an end, but really it's not.

I feel that sometimes we tend to over exaggerate the weather just because we always want to make things seem worse than they actually sound. However, for some people this storm probably will be really bad. Just from experiencing what has happened within the last few hours the rain/sleet is coming down in record time and it's not taking long before it freezes. My hair was soaked when I walked home from class earlier and as I ran my fingers through it I had realized that my hair had formed into icicles. Now that's insane.

Despite the winter storm that has been predicted for over the weekend, it will be interesting to see how the university attends to the situation. Personally, I think classes should be cancelled like every other student here on campus. What's going on outside is just asking for trouble and considering the town of Charleston and the university don't do a "wonderful" job at clearing the streets and throwing salt down on the sidewalks things will get ugly. We might as all well just put on a pair of ice skates and go to class that way.

Can I just say I'm ready for summer!!!

The Evils of Facebook

It is funny how a single website can have such an impact on so many people's lives. From relationship statuses to letting everyone know what you are doing, where you are doing it, and why are you are doing it has become an sensational phenomenon. The website that I'm talking about is Facebook.

This social networking site is revolutionary. If I would have known ten years ago that I would be able to communicate with people from anywhere in the world and let them know how I'm feeling instantly at the click of a button I would have said you're crazy. The site is constantly updating it's features and layouts and continuing to connect people from all over. These are the "cool" aspects of Facebook, but there is an evil side.

The evil side to Facebook I've been quickly learning is taking over many of my friend's lives and brings about more drama than there needs to be. People are obsessed with the site that it's almost scary. I know I am guilty of being on Facebook for countless hours just browsing around and creeping on people, but I know my limit and I know when to get off. For some people they don't know their limit. Another evil aspect of Facebook is people can freely post whatever they want and sometimes it is harmless and other times it can create drama that just sparks a full out war. Without naming names, there have been a few girls that I know that choose to use Facebook as their outlet for bashing others instead of saying it to their faces. That is a huge problem for me and going back to one of my previous blogs where I talked about being "socially challenged" people just can't confront others anymore and instead they have to do it via web. Using Facebook as an escape to express how you feel is okay in some instances, but when it comes down to teasing or purposely posting comments just to stir the pot is awful.

Where Art Thou Snow Plow?

This is my third year here at Eastern and it still amazes me that despite the warnings that there is a chance of snow and particularly this year a lot of it that the streets and sidewalks are not plowed better. I know that Charleston may not be one of the bigger towns in the state of Illinois, but considering it is home to many college students who basically make up half of the population here that they aren't better prepared for the winter storms that come through. Here is what I've noticed and experienced so far just this year with the snow storms and Charleston's response to it.

1. The Sunday before finals it snowed a good couple of inches and I had to drive in the morning. I went about 10 mph down 4th Street and almost ended up in a ditch because I was turning left but my car was going right.

2. A few days later the streets had been cleared finally but an ice storm came through and my stupid self decided to drive to my boyfriend's place and basically never came to a complete stop at any intersection. And let me just say the 9th Street intersection by Greek Court is an accident waiting to happen when it's icy. Where was the salt?

3. Last week the sidewalks and streets got real icy again and I was walking to my class at 9 o'clock and thankfully I didn't slip, but I watched about 5 people almost wipe out. I probably looked like an idiot walking super slow and avoiding every possible ice patch, but I was determined not to fall on by butt.

The safety of the students I know is a concern for Eastern and I'm not trying to say that they don't care about us because this university does, however I just think with the recent conditions they would have put a lot more effort into trying to avoid people getting hurt or get into almost accidents. Even if they have to put down sand (which seems real Hillbilly) would even help a little. I guess I should expect these sort of things by going to a school in the middle of nowhere.

California Here I Come!

After much debate and looking through my bank account I've decided that I'm going to go on Spring Break. However, I'm not going on the typical Spring Break like most college students. I'm going to California with my boyfriend to visit his uncle and aunt. Personally, I don't think I would be able to handle a week full of drinking and random drunken adventures. Not that random drunken adventures aren't fun, but I know my limit and I know that I would probably only last one day and the rest of the time I would be so lame.

This trip will be my first official Spring Break trip ever. I've never been to California before so I'm really excited to basically do anything. My boyfriend's uncle is the type of guy that will do anything you ask of him, but he also will think of crazy things to do out of the blue so I don't really know what to expect out of this trip. The one place I really want to go though is Disneyland. I'm a huge Disney fan and I've been to Disney World plenty of times so I want to see what Disneyland is like. Also, this is my family's first year we aren't going to Disney World because we can't afford it so getting the opportunity to possibly go to Disneyland will let me get my Disney fix for the year.

Besides doing that, I don't mind what I do while I'm there because I know I'll have a good time with my boyfriend and his family. They are just fun, loving, and such caring people that it's hard not to have a good time with them. I love traveling and going out to the West Coast will definitely be an experience in itself since I've never been anywhere out there. 

The Forever Lazy

Is it just me or has anyone else ever noticed that the Weather Channel is the only other place where you can watch ridiculous infomercials without having to stay up super late? Every time it cuts to a commercial break I always see some infomercial and recently one infomercial in particular has been brought to my attention. The Forever Lazy.

Think if the Snuggie and footsie pajamas mated this is what their child would look like. The Forever Lazy. Basically, it is the same concept as the Snuggie, but instead it warms up your entire body from head to toe by wearing a "stylish" fleece one piece. The idea of the Forever Lazy if you really think about isn't original since it is ripping off the Snuggie and if you're the desperate to stay warm you could save the $19.99 plus shipping and handling and just put on sweat pants and a hoodie. However, for some people the Forever Lazy probably will be the answer to all their problems.

Pushing aside the fact that the concept of this product isn't brilliant nor a necessity, the overall commercial itself is entertaining. Much like the Snuggie infomercial you can wear the Forever Lazy in any type of setting from in your home to a sporting event. I'm sorry but I would not want to be caught dead in this thing. Maybe the only time you could get away with wearing this in public is if there were to be a pajama party at your work or school, but otherwise I rather save myself the embarrassment. I like the fact that they show the enjoyment that people get out of wearing an adult footsie pajama especially college kids. I don't know any college student that would be that excited to wear one let alone to a tailgating event. Yes, they even mention that it's great for those chilly tailgating events. The infomercial goes on and on about how great it is to own a Forever Lazy and despite that there really is no use for it, the best part of the whole thing is that if you purchase it NOW you'll get a free pair of matching socks and a neck pillow!!!!! Cause that's what I want a pair of matching socks to make me look even more like an idiot. How about just put on a pair that you already own or some slippers? The more I start to analyze this commercial it just makes me laugh at how ridiculous it is.

Being Socially Challenged

In this day and age we are so consumed with technology that it basically controls our lives. With all the new technology that has been introduced throughout the years, it really has affected my generation the most. This isn't a shock to me, but has been brought to my attention after listening to Jessica Gendron Williams, author of I Heart Recruitment & an alumnae of my sorority's chapter, speak to my sorority this weekend. She said that my generation and other generations that are closely around mine have become "socially challenged" due to having all this technology introduced to us at such a young age. The whole purpose of her mentioning this had to relate to recruitment and how recruitment relies on being able to communicate and create connections on a personal level.  Jessica obviously went into more detail about it relating to recruitment, but the idea of being "socially challenged" because of technology really got me to think about how it affects my life.

My generation does lack good social skills because instead of being able to strongly communication with someone face to face, we much rather do it via cell phone, email, social networking, etc. It almost sad to admit to this. Now I'm not saying that all this new technology is a bad thing, but it has put a dent into many lives when it comes to talking to people. If you just look around at groups of people or a pair of friends you tend to notice that yes they may be conversing to one another, but there is some sort of distraction within that conversation whether it be a phone, Facebook, or an iPod. I'll never understand why people listen to their iPods while they are say at lunch with one another and are all sitting at the same table jamming out, but not really talking. I've seen this first hand before and it just blows my mind. Also, some people use texting messaging as their way to tell important information to others when really it should be said in person. For example, I've seen and heard too many people break up with their girlfriends or boyfriends through text messages because they can't do it in person. That's just pathetic.

Now I know I'm guilty to using my cellphone or being on the Internet more than I should, but I would never use technology to determine or communicate how I get serious or important information to someone. However, getting back to being "socially challenged" I do understand why people may think that my generation is because even I admit that sometimes I use technology more than I should. I wouldn't say I'm horrible with my social skills, but at times I may find myself talking to someone and there is that awkward silence and you don't know what to say next. I feel like there is always room to better my social skills and try to break out of being socially challenged, but I don't think I could ever have as good as social skills as say someone of my grandparent's generation. They didn't have all this technology when they were my age. Even now that they may be older and technology forces itself upon them more and more, they don't rely on it or get mixed up in it like my generation does. Sometimes I wish that even I could be less dependent on technology, but that is how I was raised and I'm so use to having it in my life that it's hard to say no to it. I guess just the idea of being "socially challenged" isn't a huge deal, but when you do really think about it having a lack of social skills can really affect the way you communicate with others.

Facing New Challenges

What is a new member educator? By definition according to Greek Life it is someone who educates the newest members that are pledging a fraternity or sorority. After being in my sorority for 2 years now my definition is the person that gets blamed for every little thing that the new members don't know or do wrong. The girls that have held the position of New Member Educator in the past in my house have always faced challenges that are common, but also the criticism of the chapter as whole. This year it is now my responsibility to hold the title of New Member Educator and I don't want to make the same mistakes. I want to be the one person that changes it all.

Over the past few months, I've done countless planning and thinking of what needs to stay and what needs to go. Let me tell you it's not easy. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be in a sorority, let alone be the person that brings in the new pledge class and guide them to become the sisters that my sorority is made up of. It's a scary thought, but also an exciting one at the same time. I've seen the ugly sides of what previous educators have had to deal with and I've seen the bright side too. My goal for this first semester as the New Member Educator is not only to make sure that our new girls understand what is to be in a sorority, but to make it fun and memorable. There are a lot of new activities and alterations I am making to the process and I guess only time will tell whether it will be effective or not. I'm not the type of person that likes to fail or disappoint others, so this really is a test to see if I can overcome the stress and make sure I fulfill my responsibilities that I agreed to when I was elected into this position.