Jessica's Basket of Apples

Major Daze

2006-02-15T19:24:00.000-06:00

My new blog is about trying to find your way to a major in college.

California

2006-02-13T13:16:00.000-06:00

I got a surprise call from my mother today. She informed me that she just decided to go to California. Ok, the thought of my mother frolicking about Cali like a carefree teenager without a plan, money or map kinda scares me. There comes a time when all children must face the dilemma of when to intervene with their parent's poor decision making due to old age. I am disappointed that it has come so soon for me.

2006-02-12T14:28:00.000-06:00

I have nothing interesting to write about. My life is rather boring. After growing up in chaos, I seem now to search for it. From one crisis to the next. That is how my days go. I don’t get up in the morning thinking, “This will be a normal day.” No, I know that something will happen and I will have to leave class to visit the hospital, a funeral, or the police station, and I am comforted by that feeling. But I cannot write about these things. They are too personal. I am better off lying.

I got up this morning and ate my breakfast. My phone did not ring all day, not even in class. I went to classes and was amazed at my growing interest in ice skating. After class I sat on the couch at home until I had to go to work. Work was boring. Then I went home, ate, did homework, and went to bed. Great blog.

I know there are many people like me. You cannot function properly in average circumstance. You have grown up in a tornado and do not know how to balance on solid ground. You sabotage good relationships, and flock to chaos. Dysfunction, turmoil, disarray. Misunderstanding, confusion, and disorder are not strong enough. You need anarchy and mayhem, hysteria and havoc, destruction, disaster and devastation.

I know you.

Poetry

2006-02-10T13:21:00.000-06:00

I could write poetry, but I rather not.
I'll just sit
For a bit
With a kit for this plot.
And with my smash hit
I'll become a big shot.
So ask me now to commit
Before I split from this spot.
But,
I could just sit
Lose my wit
And forget
What I thought.
Therefore in the end lose my skit's plot.
In case I do hit
The graduate jackpot
Take my autograph now
And forget me not.

graduation

2006-02-08T23:04:00.000-06:00

I just realized I only have 25 credits left until graduation. I got a warning in my mail saying I needed to submit my grad plans. Ooops! I guess that graduating thing just kinda sneaks up on you.

First Day of Work

2006-02-06T22:44:00.000-06:00

I showed up to work in my required shirt and pants. To be honest, the outfit was pretty lame, so I decided to spice it up a bit. From my ears dangled large, flattened hoop brass earrings. An awesome oversized belt swept across my hips, and my hair was in a great updo. I thought they would be thankful someone had style. Immediately I was asked to remove my earrings, cover my belt with my shirt, and tighten my updo. I tried.

So, I made it through my first day of work. All day I stayed away from the espresso machine, fearing the cost if I happened to break it. I had to sign a paper saying I agreed to my immediate termination if I broke anything (including the $20 piece on the blender). The complication of the thing overwhelmed me. Finally, my avoidance had to come to an end and I served up a cup of espresso. It wasn’t so bad.

Usually, the fact that you are so nervous about your first day causes you to make some mistakes. This is something I was also fearing, but my apprehensive ideas were put to rest. The manager sprayed steam everywhere, accidentally turned on the coffee grinder with nothing to catch the coffee, then broke the vacuum. The other girl working cut an entire pan of bars incorrectly, then spilled another pan of brownies on the floor. I'm sure my time is coming, but it was nice of them to make so many mistakes to set my gitters at ease on my first day.

I do enjoy the people I work with, and the manager is really great. So, I'm hoping for good things.

There is a tip jar on the front counter. We get paid next to nothing, but my spirits lifted a bit when I realized we got tips. At the end of a 5 hour shift, the girl I was working with split the tip money evenly between the two of us.
The outcome? $0.35 each.

Yep, I Did It

2006-01-31T21:56:00.000-06:00

Rockin' the red lipstick on a Ruby Tuesday. What else is there to do on a Tuesday night? Time is on My Side, so I wasted it away with my Mother's Little Helper. I squashed a bug Under My Thumb and declared war on a Street Fighting Man. Is there any night more lame?

Some Girls love Monday, but mostly it brings forth the crabby Beast of Burden within us all. People run around screaming "Get Off My Cloud!"

Wednesday we Spend the Night Together, and I no longer Miss You. Wild Horses couldn't drag me away.

Thursday is the day before Friday, so nothing matters. "It is almost the weekend," we assure ourselves as we pour Brown Sugar on our oatmeal.

Friday and Saturday are spent as a Midnight Rambler, and we declare our Sympathy for the Devil as we sip our drinks. There is a girl outside the Honky Tonk Women bar as we leave having her 19th Nervous Breakdown, crying "Gimme Shelter."

As for Sunday, what more Satisfaction is there than a day to rest? Other than police officers that see graffiti and Paint it Black, we take it easy.

Back to Tuesday. I don't like it, but You Can't Always Get What You Want. What could be more lame? This entry.

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2006-01-30T20:18:00.000-06:00

I just got a job

2006-01-29T22:21:00.000-06:00

For a moment there I was worried. That awkward period after Christmas closeout sales, and before Valentines Day left me with an empty feeling. I wandered aimlessly down the isles of stores, not knowing what to buy. Tell me, please. Someone tell me! Other than necessities, and odd rubbish that should never have been put on the shelves, there was nothing buy. What would I do with my money?

But, oh, what is this? I have been saved. Wandering down the isles of the new Walgreen’s I found my cheap chocolate and paper lace section decked out in vomit inducing reds and pinks. Hurray! Valentines Day is here. That warm feeling of capitalism is safely back inside my heart. I will now shower my friends, family and all other loved ones with over priced, poor quality V-Day crap.

Yippy!

Screw Off

2006-01-28T17:14:00.000-06:00

I just found out that after my lease is up, my rent will go up $125/month for my one bedroom apartment. It is not going up to $125/month. I am supposed to pay, in addition to the $475/month that I already fork over (excluding all utilities), another $125/month. This would not bother me if my landlord was actually making some sort of repairs to my apartment, but he is not. His explanation for this is that he is, however, remodeling several other apartments in the building, and cannot afford to do so without raising the rent. I'll be looking for somewhere to live in August.

Roughin' It

2006-01-25T19:50:00.000-06:00

I was just scrolling through some old pics and found this one.

This is a little hut I stayed in on the edge of the Gobi Desert. Not only did I share this with my roommate from my university, but with various bugs and a few mice. Thankfully, our host was so generous with the beer at dinner, it didn’t matter by the time we went to sleep.

Blogging Blogs 3

2006-01-23T14:26:00.000-06:00

I wonder if this person just woke up one day and said, "Hey I'm sick of people walking in my apartment without first removing their shoes." Then proceeded to create a blog pertaining to that problem.

The author, who makes good use of the "About Me" portion of the blog, also makes constructive use of this page with quirky yet informative entries all tied together by a single idea. The aim of this filter site is to open the door to taking off your shoes before entering.

Also, it claims, that it is not rude at all to ask guests to remove their footwear before entering your home. (I love the idea of that). Where did that idea even come from?

There is a strong focus on the differences of etiquette between cultures. Are Westerners the only people in the world that don't remove their shoes?

Although there aren't a whole lot of entries, the author sticks strongly to the main point, focusing only on this single idea, and the odds and ends that go with it. There are a few other, strongly Christian ideas spread about the place, but mainly its just floors and footwear. And I can't say that a whole lot of it originated at the author, but it is still fun to see someone stick with one idea. If you have ever had to grit your teeth while you watched your friend's mother walk through your apartment and refuse to remove her shoes, or if you just want to keep your floors clean, go ahead and check this out.

Blogging Blogs 2

2006-01-23T13:21:00.000-06:00

Pink is the New Blog

Who? Trent?

What? A gossip blog. Since this is NOT a blog strictly for professional businesses to communicate important professional information regarding crap that no one cares about, it is gossip. And that is the way I like it. It is not just any gossip either, but the best of the best celebrity gossip.

This blog contains links upon links of celebrity news, and tons of photos while is takes playful stabs at the lameness of some celebrities. As the author puts it, this is where he "create[s] and regurgitate[s] all the news that's fit to type." Not only is he having his say, but he is also allowing other opinions through, as I mentioned earlier, endless links.

In case you missed something juicy, you can always look it up by date.

Why a Weblog?
Going through the list of Rebecca Blood's Whys:

*To build better writers- maybe

*Build self-awareness- I don't think so. The entire blog is about other people, but maybe

*To build critical thinkers- To some extent. I mean, who doesn't ponder why the abdomen of Katie Holmes has expanded AND contracted during her pregnancy?

*Build connected businesses- No

*Build reputations- (well if bad reps are included) DING DING DING, we have a winner

Blogging Blogs 1

2006-01-23T11:03:00.000-06:00

Upon discovering your favorite new thing, you become childlike and giddy. Things become uncomplicated for a brief moment and you are allowed to take pleasure in your new thing to its full extent. This is how I felt when I found Michael’s blog.

Chairs in Parks, pinwheels, tour buses and (what actually drew my attention) a children's book are a few noted favorites. Reading this reminded me of the French film, in which each character, upon his or her first appearance in the film, is described by the narrator by a list of what he or she likes and dislikes. The reason this is appealing is the similarity you find when you discover that you also liked to peel dried glue from your hands as a child. You find yourself saying, “Hey, I love that.”

Why does it matter what someone likes or dislikes? It doesn’t, and that is the point. It DOESN’T matter. I don’t care , but the candid simplicity of making a list of random things you like and sharing it with complete strangers is too great of an idea to leave alone.

I don't have to argue with the author. So many blogs have rants and complaints about the world today, which prompts our responses, and potentially more arguments. This doesn't do that. I don't feel the need to argue that he doesn't really like boomerangs, or that boomerangs are dangerous, and therefore should be edited from the list. It is just a light, non aggressive blog.

Being more serious, now. What would Rebecca say? That seems to be the question we are all trying desperately to answer. Well, I’m having a hard time fitting this blog into one of her categories. She admits that each site is different, and I think this blog fits into that gray area, or rather, the sunny one.

I actually added the link he has called “Post a Secret Here” to my blog. Aside from having the option of reading what people like, he has also offered, through links, the option of reading what people don’t want to admit to. As someone reading blogs, what gives you more pleasure than knowing that you know something that people don’t mind sharing, but don’t know that you know it?

Michael, your favorite things is my new favorite thing.

Blogs of Note (who are these people)

2006-01-22T22:27:00.000-06:00

Dan
(He knows my friend Raya Sunshine)
Well, he posted a poem about nothing.
Then wrote about doing it for the first time--blogging, I mean. If he was friends with Raya, he must be funny. So, I'm expecting nothing but greatness.

Grubbs (not sure on his real name)
This blog is great. He stays in character every time he writes. After reading a bit of it, I tried to speak like a pirate for a while. It didn't work. Good job on the language and style!

Dr. Kuha
Ok, I don't really know who this person is. At first I found the writing to be a bit lengthy. After forcing myself to read an entry in its entirety, I realized there would be no more forcing to it. The writing is enjoyable, and trust me, once you start reading, you DON'T have to force yourself to finish.

Australia! I'm Telling You

2006-01-22T15:51:00.000-06:00

My friend in China just informed me that she was going to Australia for college.

My point exactly.

birth control

2006-01-19T23:49:00.000-06:00

I called my sister and wasn’t surprised to hear her two-year-old dictator answer the phone.
“Mommy’s gone.”
I deemed this highly unlikely not only for the obvious reason (she is not starring in the next Home Alone), but the roar of the vacuum in the distance sealed my proof, unless her 9 month-old sister decided the place needing a little sprucing up. But 2 year olds don’t follow rules, proof or reason. She wished me a happy birthday and hung up the phone. It wasn’t my birthday, but I appreciated the thought.

I called back only to be met with the same innocent voice.
“I eatin cheese. Mommy's gone.”
I hung up on myself this time.

the place to be

2006-01-19T13:24:00.000-06:00

Isn't Europe the place to go while you are in college? The ease provided by a Euro Pass seems to be unbeatable, and the price fits a student’s budget. Hop on the train and watch the language change at each stop.

I have recently been astonished by the disappearance of my friends. Their targets, however, have not been European in nature, but to my surprise, Australian. What?

a tiny dip in the ocean

2006-01-18T14:45:00.000-06:00

On break away from college this winter a little Icelandic plane flew me over the ocean and dropped me in Denmark. After a short train ride I made it to my Swedish destination.

The temp averaged in the low 30's (F), but it didn't keep me from swimming in the ocean.

Some Swedish/Finnish natives explained that it would be relaxing. I'm not saying that I believed them, but the stabbing pain all over my body was a bit of a surprise.

Egg Salad

2006-01-18T13:15:00.000-06:00

My brother called me last night. Immediately remembering that I missed his birthday (shit)! I scrambled around my head for an excuse and as I was begining to give him belated greetings he interupted me.

"Egg salad. Do you know how to make it? It is not big in Russia, so my [Russian] girlfriend has no idea what she is doing, and I would really like to have an egg salad sandwich."

2006-01-17T23:18:00.000-06:00

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just a few more bubbles

Le Petit Prince

2006-01-17T22:38:00.000-06:00

Revisiting this book prompted as much bubbling laughter as the first time I read it.

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(these are my bubbles)

hello

2006-01-13T10:28:00.000-06:00

this is my first post