Wired Neatness

Some people’s brains are wired to make them operate in a disorganized fashion. Others prefer neatness. Then, there is me. Since I was young, I have always felt best having my things lined up in a very precise way. You will not find me with a tape measure counting the exact centimeters between each book on the bookshelf but I do enjoy a sense of order. There is a place and function for everything even if that means just an aesthetic happiness. I get an odd satisfaction out of organizing spaces, in fact I have been known to solicit friends as clients and perform a makeover on any said space or work area. Some find this a tedious chore but I function much more happily if the space around me is both neat and makes sense. It is more than safe to say that I inherited this from my father. This is a man who as a young child, could tell if one of his brothers had borrowed a writing utensil from his desk simply by judging the ratio of desk to pencil space. I guess there are times where I fall into similar habits. I cannot fully enjoy the space around me unless it is meticulously structured. I find myself constantly tweaking and rearranging my living area to make things just so. Some are creatures of habit, but I do understand that some people simply do not care about putting the effort into this sort of thing. Friends and strangers alike, if anyone needs assistance in this field please feel free to make contact!

Napping Nostalgia

It’s hard to believe a time existed where I tried to avoid the afternoon nap. Growing up as a child filled with energy, I was constantly trying to learn and investigate. Taking time to shut one’s eyes was really just an obstacle in acquiring knowledge of all things. Take for example naptime in Kindergarden. Sure this was probably more for the teacher’s sanity but personally, when we were all told to get our mats out and observe the naptime rules of silence, I found this extremely difficult. I mean what kind of teacher would want to make us stop having fun? Going to slumber parties years later proved to be no different. Yes, it may have been annoying to hear laughter at all hours of the night but hey, I was having a grand old time. Who needed sleep? It seemed that when the pressures of life increased, so did that desire to slumber. I knew a few friends in college who tried, unsuccessfully, to master sleeping with their eyes open during classes. Needless to say this was quite the amusing failure. If only we could somehow transport these once dreaded afternoon naps of childhood into the daily adult life. If there were suddenly a rule among corporations worldwide requiring that their employees partake in an afternoon snooze, I’m willing to bet there would not be protest lines and picketers crowding local politicians. Business meetings would run more smoothly, late afternoon vending machine binges would be avoided and everyone could reunite with their loved ones after a long day feeling refreshed and exhilarated. You would no longer find yourself snapping at coworkers for no real reason, muttering under your breath at fellow drivers or shooting subconscious evil glares while fueling your car at a gas station. Some countries have already taken this brilliant idea and implemented it into daily life. Until this wonderful shift is made, I will stick to the lovely, and highly anticipated Sunday afternoon shuteye.

Junky, Fitness Junky

Nearly four years ago I thought the idea of a successful fitness plan was walking to class rather than begging desperately to borrow my roommate’s car at the last minute. In that same mindset, a successful meal was really anything between classes or late at night. The key word there being anything. It was almost as if someone had started a vicious rumor that the beloved Bojangles, Steak-N-Shake and Cook Out were suddenly going to vanish off of Elon’s campus and we HAD to get there right away. Now, I will admit, there sometimes is nothing better than a delicious cookout milkshake- my personal choice being Cherry Cheesecake- but it’s funny how magically the daily sugar cravings and lusting after fried food have been replaced with the desire for whole grains, lean protein and VEGETABLES. I will be the first to admit that the Filet-O-Fish from McDonalds is quite delicious but this has turned into the rare treat rather than the dietary staple. And it’s not just me. Friends from home have reformed their ways, hopped on the exercise bandwagon and really started taking control of the items their bodies process. It’s as if all those studies about the food pyramids back in elementary school were just lurking quietly in our memory banks for that AHAH moment. Or, maybe we all just got sedentary jobs behind desks where we had to either face these changes or become borderline diabetics. The fact is, it has been more fun than torture. More easy shifts rather than late night meltdowns over a frozen treat in the freezer. In the world of a twenty something person, there are an extreme number of unknowns and this is just one way of saying YES I can control this. I mean, really why not? So please feel free to join me sometime for that scrumptious Filet-O-Fish but be ready to put in a few miles afterwards!

Dating Show Frenzy

Can someone please tell me what it is about dating shows that seem to suck away all common sense and solid decision making ability? I mean really, I forget tasks for the evening and find myself engrossed in marathon showings of these highly predictable, scripted train wrecks. Growing up with about four or occasionally five TV stations, I got used to the stellar UPN lineup consisting old favorites like Blind Date and Elimidate. Let’s be honest, you have probably seen these at least once. And even if you acted like you hated it the whole time- you know who you are- there is just a natural human sense of curiosity that takes over. Dating can be pretty daunting so why not just watch other people flounder around trying? There is always some sort of scandal, some outrageous single willing to say or do pretty much about anything so while most of the guesswork is out of the equation, we all still end up tuning in. Take The Bachelor. It’s a pretty bold move to block off a two hour chunk every week but as there have been at least ten seasons and counting, it’s obvious that someone is watching. I'm as guilty as the next person- I mean I form opinions, pick favorites and defend individuals like I have known them a whole lifetime. As if being kicked off one of these shows is not enough, they have a reunion of all the rejected ladies so they can sit around and relive painful memories. Is this supposed to make us feel better about the hard times in life? Well, it does secretly make me feel grateful that I’m not out embarrassing myself and my family in hopes of awkwardly gaining some stranger’s approval. I know this making my Mom proud but I will continue to tune in because let’s face it- we want to know who Jake chooses.

Twenty Six Going on Eighty

In case there was any confusion on the matter, I would like to clarify that I am not in college anymore. While this may seem like a rather obvious fact, I was reminded of this during a recent journey to visit some old friends. Pulling an all nighter in college seemed to be both a frequent and effortless endeavor. Fast forward a mere three and a half years and this same feat is met with fatigue, crankiness and general discomfort. That’s right everyone…we are all getting older. Some function perfectly on just a few hours of sleep but when I try to pull this kind of prank, my body revolts and decides to greet me with some sort of cold, sinus infection or in the worst cases - the flu. Apparently, the same goes for not properly hydrating, eating irregular and strange meals and consuming more than one glass of wine. Those crazy college kids may be able to eat a whole pizza at two in the morning but I’m pretty sure my arsenal of home remedies including Tums, Pepto Bismol and Rolaids would argue that this is in fact not the best plan of action. I suppose I should step into the elderly mindset of this post and use the phrase “back in the day” to refer to the exploratory time known as college. The late nights, heavy meals and constant on-the-go attitude never seemed to catch up with any of us. Let's just say that nostalgically trying to replicate the good old days would be ill advised. So, let us all set our early morning alarm clocks, take a daily multi-vitamin and gear up our bodies for the work week. Emergen-C packets are my personal recommendation…oh, and not acting like a nineteen year old. Hope everyone survives the week!

Goodbye Sweets

For those of you who are practicing Catholics, today marks the first day of the Lenten season. It also marks the start to the period where many give up their favorite food, habit or vice for the next forty days. In past experience, this has started out well. The goals are set, and the pantry is raided of all sweets, unhealthy food and post-its are left around the home and workplace with friendly reminders. “No Soda” or perhaps “No Smoking” notes of inspiration are found scattered with exclamation marks and enthusiastic smiley faces. The best of intentions are set out early on, but for some this can be a real testament to boundaries more than that of faith. Take for example a coworker I had a few years back who gave up caffeine. Keep in mind this is a person who seemed to shoot lasers through you if your morning greeting did not include a nice hot cup of java. The Lenten season started out smoothly, with talks of switching to hot tea and making long-term, health conscious life changes. Then, somewhat like Jekyll and Hyde things took a sudden and rather unfortunate turn for the worst. Like any addict, there were warning signs. It started with the late arrival for work. Then throw in the haggard appearance and the inability to focus on things that once seemed to derive such joy and excitement. While this downhill spiral only occurred on day five, it is a truth that this season can be hard for both the devout and inactive religious follower. Personally, I am giving up deserts. That means cookies and candies including my personal favorite: dark chocolate. I will clarify that my daily morning snack of Greek yogurt, blueberries and almonds does NOT fall into this category. Balancing personal goals with the ability to keep close friends around could be challenging but is by no means impossible. Good luck everyone- I hope to hear back from you in forty.

Oh Canada

Maybe it’s just me, but does it seem like the summer Olympics get a boatload more coverage than the winter games? It could be that I seem to be busier in the winter, or maybe I just don’t have the same stalker-like tendencies when Baltimore’s own Michael Phelps is not sweeping up the Gold medals. For whatever reason, there seems to be a greater opening ceremony countdown when the warmer months roll around. Over the past few years, I have noticed that the location of these games seems to be directly linked to the public’s excitement level. When I think of Canada, my initial thoughts are of Celine Dion and the smog that graced the East Coast more than a decade ago. Without sounding like I am carrying some sort of strange grudge, let me state that I have nothing against this beautiful place and will simply say that my knowledge of Canada is limited. I do know that they have more liberal rules on same-sex marriage, the legal drinking age, and the fashion guidelines of a policeman on horseback. Not to downplay any of this, or the breathtaking scenery but there just seems to be something missing. I don’t think I’m alone in my age group when I say that the details of the Olympics this year fell pretty low on everyone’s radar. I will say that with the exception of a few guilty pleasure shows, I do not consider myself a television addict. I am however an avid reader of various online news sites and in previous years it seemed that there was some sort of elaborate Olympic preview getting everyone geared up for the competition. The bottom line is, I hope this is just a case of me being tuned out to the latest sporting news and that these athletes are getting the recognition and praise they deserve. Canada, my non home and native land, I am sure you are being a fine host. However, it is obvious that this viewer will need a bit more warning for the next few televised lineups.