Let's Pick Up Where We Left Off

I realized that it has been three weeks since I've made a blog post and since I had three tests today I have no homework (due tomorrow) so here goes.

To recap the last three weeks of my life:

1. There is now has a vine called Shirali Y Eats. Check it out. Its almost as good as the Shirali pics.

2. The Arctic Monkeys and Grouplove both released new albums that I will be listening to when I get off work tonight. Also the Catching Fire movie soundtrack list is out and it looks really good.

3. I had my first biology test and I can't figure out whether or not I think I did well. I think I spent more time in line to turn the test in than I did actually taking the test. Also the dude in front of me was wearing his shirt backwards. It was a v-neck.

(My evernote just cut out in the middle of this post, and I was very sad)

4. Everyone is a stress monkey this semester because were sophomores and we have more homework. I've been watching to see which Chem-E's will go up in flames. I hope they prove me wrong, and then make me delicious chemically engineered food when they work for Coke. There is only a 10% graduation rate though, so I think my bets are safe.

5. I don't hate my roommate but I can't make a judgement call until October, I guess that's a thing, but I think she'll pass the test. Our room is pretty chill.

6. I started running again and I'm gonna do a 5K with some friends. Well, sorta do it. Our time probably won't be too hot but its the thought that counts...or maybe that only works with unwanted gifts. Eh.

7. I figured out my life with my friend Madison. It involved me taking 12 credits this summer. Bye, bye life and money I hardly knew you. Seriously I hardly did because college is a huge money hole. Hopefully it pays off because seriously so much money, and I go to a public school. I'm sobbing for the people paying 50k a year right now.

8. We are almost done with our fifth week in the semester which is a bit mind blowing. The fall semester seems to go really fast, and then spring just drags on for about 20 years.

9. The new Divergent book, Allegiant is coming out on October 22 and I don't have any tests the next day. Win. Additionally no Org. Chem Test the day Catching Fire comes out. Another win.

10. I went to my first Indians game and they actually won.

I also thought I would explain my obsession with TV shows. When I was in high school I watched TV religiously. I had a schedule every night of the week, and when I came to college I had friends so I stopped doing that. Anyway, this week has been TV premiere week and I am missing Grey's Anatomy right now because I am at work and I am a little salty about that. I did watch last weeks Bones episode today. The writing on that show has just tanked. It used to be my favorite show, but it might have moved its way down to 4th place and now I am going to need to change my security question answers. Parenthood starts tonight too. I channel my inner old person when I watch that show. Whenever I bring it up everyone always tells me their moms watch it. For pilots this year I'm gonna try Blacklist, Trophy Wife, Hostages, The Michael J Fox Show, and Welcome to the Family. It will probably be November before I actually watch them though because there is no time ever to do anything but homework and sleeping.

Well, that was my ramble to kill time at work.

Noelle

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The Line

The social line of appropriateness is a thin and pale line. We're all tiptoeing around it trying to decipher the reaction of others and do what we feel is the best thing for the situation. We spend our whole lives trying to show our best face and make sure that people see what they want to. But, is that really us? We walk around on egg shells trying not to offend people and to make sure we are what they want to see. We go to work and do exactly what they want us to do, even if its not our normal personalities. We lie to people to make them think that we are more impressive than we really are. We bend the truth. We all do it. 

When were in social situations, the personality relaxes. We tell inappropriate jokes and spend less time thinking about who we are supposed to be. They say the more comfortable you are around people, the more you will tease them. The more inappropriate things you will say around them, and the less you will filter. But, there is a gray area between teasing and actually bothering someone. I, personally, have never been very good at reading social cues. Sometimes I can pick on people's feelings, but usually I am pretty in the dark. If it's really obvious I will understand, but if its subtile it goes over my head. I can never tell when people actually want me to stop or when they are joking about wanting me to stop. So, I've discovered that my constant teasing isn't always welcome, and I have to watch for the point where my playful self meets my sarcastic self and filter. I am a green/orange, notorious for being ass-holes. We get inside our own heads and don't pay attention to anyone else's. 

I'm not much for apologizing. I've always thought just saying what you want to say is the best way to live, but I don't want to go around being a jerk.

So, I'm sorry if offended anyone and although I can't change, I can watch myself. 

~Noelle

Just so this post isn't just me venting my problems, here is another pic from the Shirali collection. I hope she doesn't mind these. If she does, I guess I'll apologize for that too. But, still post it, because they are enjoyable.

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DC Recap

Our DC trip began with 4 hours of sleep and a 6 hour car ride. For the most part the trip went off without a hitch. I made 6 Cds for the car ride with an interesting mix of music. Pennsylvania has very nice rest stops but they are few and far between, so we learned to limit the liquids on the ride back. Maryland had awful signage. We got to our hotel which for $70 a night was super classy. If anyone was wondering, the area around the Dunn Loring metro in Vienna has a very similar feeling to Exchange street in Akron except it is more expensive and there are no homeless people trying to get money from you. They are all in the city. 

We spent most of the trip traveling by metro, my favorite thing. My goal in life is to live somewhere with a subway. Preferably DC. I don't even care that it is expensive. I might end up back in Ohio, but I really want to live in a big city for a while. I'm a frugal person but I understand the power of location. We took the metro all over the place including the National Cathedral and the zoo. Our best story of the day revolved around a Chinese waitress demanding a tip from us. 15 percent gratuity! 2 dolla! And I can say those things because its not racist if I'm Asian too. For the record, the restaurant was called New Big Wong. It sucked and Zagat reviews will be hearing about it!

The second day was Museum/Monument Day, yes it was officially named. We saw Air and Space, Natural History, and the National Gallery of Art. The guys enjoyed the space museum, Tate enjoyed the bathroom. The art museum was Tate enjoying the art and the rest of us wanting to leave and finding the worlds derpiest paintings. Natural History was my favorite. The dinosaurs were the highlight of that museum. I really enjoyed the Genome and the Nature photo exhibits. For dinner we dined at a burrito joint called California Tortilla. It had many hot sauce varieties. The 10+ sauce lived up to its name with tears, sweat, and a lot of pop needed.

Jason's hot sauce reaction.

Dan's as well

My favorite painting, Left and Right by Winslow Homer. Although I call it Derpy Ducks.

Jason's favorite, The Skater.

By the time we saw everything, everyone was ready to go home. 3 days with the same people gets exhausting and we needed to do homework, unfortunately.

To close our Labor Day weekend, here is another great Shirali pic!

~Noelle

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