The Art of Killin’ a Bug

So. I don’t like killing bugs. Ask any of my friends and you’ll know – go into my place and find a bug (unless spider, roach, stinger-bugs, mayfly or mosquito), you may as well find a cup to capture it in and release it back into the wild because I don’t want its little spirit running around rampant. It’s not my place to kill it if I can help it. The other four categories, however?… They are free reign for the bottoms of shoes, the back of fly swatters, and in one case, a heavy piece of cardboard. May they rest in peace, but those are just unbearable for me to witness making a home in my apartment.

Now normally, I’m all for killing the spiders, the mosquitos and the mayflies. I may get a little apprehensive when it comes to the spiders (and more so when it comes to hornets, wasps, etc.), but I’ll make sure to knock ‘em dead and flush ‘em down the toilet graveyard. But roaches? I cannot STAND them. When I was younger, let’s say about 9 years old, the house I lived in with the fam had a basement, and in said basement was where we did the laundry. Well, I went down there to find a pair of shorts, located them, and shook them out to fold them to take them upstairs and BOOM, a roach comes crawling out and down my arm before I could shake it off. I don’t know what happened to that little critter, but I’m definitely glad it decided to scurry off instead of stay to battle because I would have ran screaming straight upstairs. Needless to say, I have a super dislike of fully-grown, adult roaches. They’re just disgusting even if they’re rather harmless.

With that being said, one of those same roaches met its demise this morning at the mercy of J’s black, rubber-bottomed Chuck-esque shoe. Here’s how it went down.

1. It’s morning. Time  to get ready for work. Walk into bathroom, look down, see a tiny bug. Kill it. Throw it in toilet. Flush. Look back at the floor, and BOOM, cockaroach is walking at me like gun slinger ready to battle.

2. Walk calmy into bedroom to poke J awake to let him know he has a rather unwelcome visitor that he needs to come do something about. Pull J outta bed somewhat forcefully to take him to the bathroom. J grabs a shoe on the way.

3. SMACK. SMACK AGAIN. SMACK ONE MORE TIME. Poor Mr. Cockaroach. Down the Toilet Graveyard he goes.

4. J goes back to bed.

End of story. I felt like one of those women you see in movies who can’t bear the site of the insect, but won’t kill it out of a “delicate disposition”. Thank God for men, ay? Though I do have to say my mom is one of the greatest bug killers of all time. She won’t let anything stay in the house that could possibly hurt her family. Until dad gets home. Then it’s all his domain. Hehe.

Until NT!

Ice Cream, You’re Cream! We All Want Some Ice Cream!

So, I know that’s not how that rhyme goes. So sue me. But seriously. Ice cream is one of the most delicious creations on EARTH. Not only can you get it in a variety of flavors, but the TOPPINGS just add to the whole experience. Put whipped cream on top, and BOOM, sugar-rush-candy-land-kingdom-come deliciousness! Now, for folks from the great land of Oklahoma, BRAUM’S is a homeland favorite. From little kids to adults, this is one store that brings happiness to people of all ages. Though it’s a chain store now in the states of Texas, Kanas, Arkansas and Oklahoma, it still serves quality wonderfulness in a cone (or a cup if you prefer!) and will always be one of my favorite places to get ice cream.

And I was given a tour of it all.

As part of my job, I set up visits to various locations to speak to employers about our services in hopes that they utilize them to reach our fantabulous students (in this case – those interested in Animal Science, chemistry and engineering). From staff development to the camraderie amongst the employees, there’s a general aura of well-being with OSU Career Services, and that is what we hope to pass off to employers. And I’m not just saying that because I work there. Working out of the OKC area, I see less of the office than the Stillwater fam, but it also means that I get to go to places like Braum’s for visits (that end up turning into full-out tours – amazing).

Main office? Tuttle, OK.

Tuttle, Oklahoma… Reminds me of a place you either go to live out a fairy tale of falling in love with a tall cowboy or one where you may end up in a ditch with no idea how you got there. Either way, it’s a rather pleasant drive through country that has never been touched by anything other than some Oklahoma-country wind and scrap grass/tree branches interspersed with occassional store fronts reminiscent of 1960.

So taking the track from OSU-OKC and making my way down I-40 past exit 108 toward Tuttle/Minco is standard for me. Being from Lawton, I make that drive all the time. The side shoot, though? I’ve only taken once to hit the McDonald’s off the highway when my nephew needed a food break on a drive from Stillwater. Past that and ya lost me. So with my GPS in hand (and a printed copy of the directions just in case), I made my way to exit 108 and took it.

I continued straight for quite a ways. Not much to write about there.

Until this part came up in the directions.

“Continue traveling west approx. 15 miles until you reach the city of Tuttle. When you cross the railroad tracks continue through an “S” curve – you are out in the country now!”

And let me tell you – that’s the biggest S curve I’ve ever taken in my life…

“After you have gone through the “S” curve look for the sign on the north side of the road that reads “Braum’s Plant and Farm Entrance”. Turn right (north) and go one mile on this asphalt road. You will come to another sign directing you to turn left (west). This gravel road will lead you to the Main Office/Tour Center at the Braum’s Family Farm. Please park behind the building (just follow the signs). All other parking is reserved for Braum’s personnel.”

Tricky, non? After another few minutes, I found myself on the gravel road cracklin’ my way along, attempting to keep my car on the road and away from dreams of flying…into the grass.

And BOOM – there it was. THE HOME OFFICE of one of the most important ice cream producers in the hearts of Okies. And yes – I parked behind the building. Walking out of the car toward the entrance, though, you might be surprised to note there was no muskiness. No gross “gag me now” scents floating toward me. And whhhhy would there be any scents such as those?

*Note about the “you are out in the country now” as part of the directions.

The home office in Tuttle for Braum’s is an almost COMPLETELY self-sufficient plant. They have anywhere from cows on the property to plastic bottles made out of recycled material from the cut offs of the previous bottles. And all of it is sanitized until closure (minus the cows – though I’m sure they get baths, too). Even after that, items such as the milk cartons get a water slooshing before being sent to the package room. And the bakery section?… I saw dozens of COOKIES on conveyor belts, bread being portioned out for devourment, and ICE CREAM CONES! Though they weren’t making my favorite today: the ever luxurious cake cone. And the smells were HEAVENLY. Talk about walking into your mom’s kitchen the day she’s making bread AND cookies… Smash up overload for the taste buds!

Needless to say, I didn’t get to taste any of those delicious delectables, but J enjoys their cookies too much for me not to sneak a taste every once in a while. Not to mention all the stops I’ve made over the years for a cake cone and a scoop (or two) of chocolate chip cookie dough.

Gotta love the sweets.

Until NT!

Thought

There’s a lot to be said for those students who get up and make a difference, who strive to do better in all areas of life and who know, upon graduation, that they are going to be a success and there is nothing that will stop them. A few months later, they know the hard truth of life – that nothing really ever works out the way you expect it to, but that doesn’t mean success isn’t there for the taking.

Until NT.

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

I think that exercising should take the form of a cross between Yo Gaba Gaba and an LMFAO video. Every time I see either one, it makes me think, “Man…no wonder they’re so skinny. They’re working out as I’m watching this…crazy.” But seriously – I think they have something to do with the exercise craze that has been sweeping the nation. I know when I teach Zumba, I use Party Rock as the intro songs. It gets everyone pumped up (and I’m spreading the love for the running man while I’m at it – or “shuffle” if referring to the “updated” version) and ready to knock off some calories. But it’d be even better if LMFAO would travel the nation teaching exercise routines.

And that is my random thought for the day.

Until NT.

Talks of Summer – A Stab at Poetry

Dearest Summer -

How I miss thou…and the sun I usually feel on my brow.

Though the pools are dry (except for Great Wolf Lodge), I still feel the need to cry and sob,

for you are no longer with us in these dreary months. I dislike January, February and March.

Uhhhhh…I don’t really have an affinity for rhyme…so I’m going to try this one more time.

Summer, oh summer, where have you gone? You’ve left me here in the middle of…and cut.

Okay, I’m done with that. Anywhoos, I really do miss the summertime. Never thought I had a favorite season (there’s something to look forward to with each of them), but summer in particular is the opposite side of suicide for me. The water on my skin after a dip in the pool, the sun on my back after a jog by the lake and just plain being one with the sun is my kind of MO.

Winters in Oklahoma usually aren’t that bad. A little snow and ice now and then, but winter temps usually appear whenever they feel like it, so it’s not too bad, either. But there’s tons of bitter cold winds and cloudy days, so it’s not exactly the summertime love that I know so well.

This is going to be a really short post.

- Until NT

Words of Wisdom for the New Year (i.e. Ramblings of Currents)

 

Only the 6th day of the New Year and some people (and events) have left impressions on me. More so with words rather than actions. Hence – BELOW. It’s a lot of random mess that have caught my attention from Jan. 1 to now. Annoying or otherwise.

- “Reading OUTSIDE of your comfort zone”

I don’t know if, for me, it’s really so much THAT as perhaps reading something that my mind doesn’t feel like comprehending at that time. Books are books. Made to be read. Especially fiction books. Each writer is different and contemplates a whole different element as they go along. So reading something “outside of ones comfort zone” isn’t as bad as actually being outside the comfort zone. I don’t quite get how you can read outside of your comfort zone… It’s a book. Are people afraid of words changing their thinking? Because people do that every day. It’s called “persuasive speech” or in certain cases “charisma”, because that can definitely be enough to change someone’s opinion. I’d say if reading certain books makes you uncomfortable, turn it around and read it for its factual intake value rather than saying “I’m out of my comfort zone with that one.” Maybe I’m just being silly. Lifewise, though?… Future post of a list of things to get myself out of my personal comfort zone this upcoming year coming soon.

- “You know, TURN OF PHRASE is really a bad thing…”

Something can be misconstrued and in no way salvaged from that point. But then, more often than not, what you think is unsalvgable saves itself. *shrug*

- Some random things I’ve learned:

- Sometimes I need to stop expecting men to want every little detail

- You gotta leave the drama in the past; it’s not conducive, and makes you uneasy around that person (feeling like karma will come around from all the bad things that have been said because of the drama)

- Facebook is not my friend (haha – I already know this, but the thought randomly popped up and the thought that a lot of people probably think it is)

- Stretching is made much better when someone is helping you…

- Reading books for free online is the Bee’s Knees…until they make you pay for it

- Telling yourself, “Eh – keep pushing and eventually, they’ll like you!” isn’t exactly a good thing; but hey, it might actually work.

- Not to stare at random people for too long; or maybe I should – would make things more interesting

- To look up and around; I was in a bar once and my friends were talking about the 3 black people they’d seen out of a room of white folks, I’d been so busy looking past everyone I hadn’t noticed; KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS!

- Think outside of yourself. It will make you a much calmer being. Trust me. Things will be okay.

- Yellow is STILL my favorite color

- Marriage isn’t such a bad thought after all; guess it depends on who you’re considering it with…or if it’s allowed.

- I’m determined. I’m ambitious. And I’m opportunistic. And a HUGE goofball.

Until NT.

It’s Cost Me a Lot (Not Really)

Well. Life. In a nutshell. Is… THIS.

It makes me sad that, though New Year’s Resolutions make you a better person (according to oneself and possibly the people who have to smell your stinky garbage because it was not your resolution to take it out when it gets to be too much), they don’t necessarily make you a happier one. Who’s ecstatic about having to get up earlier in the morning to get in a workout or prepare breakfast that’s usually a poptart and some milk? Who looooooooves to be more productive and seductive and conductive to take that next step forward in life when being lazy has served you well up until then? Who looks forward to saving money when that pair of shoes in the shop around the corner is just calling your name?

I mean seriously – resolutions may make you a “better person”, but they also make you miserable and, sometimes, more prone to failure. For instance, say you make these 5 resolutions:

(1) To talk less and listen more.

(2) To lose weight.

(3) To be less selfish with your time by opening up your schedule to see friends and family more.

(4) To stop drinking.

(5) Get a better education.

In one day, you could break all of those. Scenario:

It’s the second week of February. You work as a consultant at a book publishing company. You’ve just finished the mad rush of January books that come in – everyone wants to be a writer for the new year, so a billion people are contacting you to make their dream(s) come true. You’ve coordinated a family/friend party and booked a fun-filled, romantic weekend with your boyfriend of 2 years that you’ve been looking forward to since Thanksgiving. Then your boss walks in – tells you that weekend, you’re needed in the office – or you’re fired. Loads about 20 new manuscripts onto your desk, and walks out. Boom, you’re on the phone trying to explain to your boyfriend why you’re not going to be able to go out of town for the weekend, canceling party plans, and on your way home that night, you grab 2 gallons of ice cream, 3 bottles of wine and turn your phone off. At that moment, you feel like there’s no point to having resolutions, and boom, you’re back on the path you were originally on. Though eventually, you may remember those resolutions you made a mere month ago – chances are that one blip is going to make you forget them for quite sometime. Making you even unhappier to realize that you didn’t hack it. Again.

So again – sometimes it sucks to make resolutions that, especially in the back of your mind, there’s no way you know you are going to keep. Especially when your past history shows incosistent behavior being the only consistent thing that you can actually accomplish.

Needless to say, I’m going to make resolutions anyway and join the rest of the hopers, dreamers and achievers that hope this year, their resolutions will stick no matter what. Maybe the trick is more so to improve yourself a year at a time rather than trying to hack it all at once.

My co-worker said it’s more about how folks don’t get the support they need to keep up with their resolutions.

“People need support. And people aren’t supportive. No one cares.”

- The Quote

So maybe that’s why. Maybe this year will be different for me because I’ve got a wonderful, caring bf (surprisingly - I’m not being sarcastic) who may help me. And I’ll also be more supportive of others in their resolutionary endeavors.

Who knows? Maybe this year will be the year that I hack it. Or maybe the next year…

- Until NT

Haha – You Know What’s Funny?

How people respond on Facebook, text and Twitter. I don’t know how many times I’ve put an exclamation point or smiley face following a comment that I would not have responded the same as if it were in person. Though it makes me laugh sometimes when I’m really excited and put a period at the end of something instead of the full out 50-billion-mandatory-exclamation-points-to-end-this-excited-sentence punctuation type thing.

You know what else is funny? Saying “your face” to people. I get a kick out of it every time. It’s like no one really knows what you’re saying, it doesn’t make any sense, and yet somehow, it’s an insult. How hilarious is that?

You know what else is funny? Fried chicken. Who woulda thunk to make the world’s greatest entree by throwing some raw chicken into hot grease?

You know what else is funny? That this lady at my work today had shiny pink fabric on the bottom half of her hoodie – over the pockets. I had a nice giggle to myself, pondering the imaginations of folks that said that looked fabulous enough to sell on a clothes rack.

You know what else is funny? The world. It’s so full of judgemental people, yet because of that, no one’s ever truly happy. Well, I guess they are, but they still worry about what others think. No matter who they are. Right?… Eff if I know.

You know what else is funny? Sock puppets. Well, let’s just go with puppets in general. I laughed so hard during the Muppets movie. In all actuality, I’m like 8 at heart as opposed to the older age that I currently reside at…and anything dealing with “this’ll make a kid guffaw his guts out!” will probably make me have to run to the bathroom in order to avoid peeing my pants as I laugh and laugh and laugh.

You know what ELSE is funny? The fact I was the only one laughing in the movie theater while watching the new Muppets movie. And what else is funny is that I don’t even know what the name of that movie is. I keep calling it “The Muppet’s Movie”, but I’m pretty sure it has an actual title…right?

You know what else is funny? Being born. Or at least Knocked Up made it seem that way. Hee-larious.

You know what else is funny? Women’s empowerment. I just saw a YouTube video of a woman going off about black women (and she’s black). About how she’s tired of black women stereotyping and adding folks into it. STFU and get a life. That is all.

You know what else is funny? My life at times. Most times it’s a pretty solid orb of randomocity and whatever the heck happens around me. But at other times? It’s just funny. Just plain funny.

Until NT.

The Power of Blah…

Had a talk with J yesterday about how you can have TOO many goals. For example:

- to be on time for work every day for a month

- to clean up apartment once a week

- to finish projects in a timely manner rather than waiting until the last second to get them done

- get off of Facebook and Twitter so much (because I am on them quite a bit)

- remain calm for one morning while driving with hoodlum mad men and women on the way to work

J’s point was that many things people set goals for are already accounted for. Those little things are items that should already be a part of your everyday life.

For example:

You’re supposed to be to work on time (even if there are no repercussions). You’re supposed to finish projects in a timely manner (avoidance of stress is key here). You’re supposed to (in J’s words, not mine ) “share the road” (though some people just need to get OFF the road…) Those worries/inefficient goals take attention away from what you should REALLY be working toward, like personal goals that actually REQUIRE an extended effort.

It slightly changed my way of thinking because I believe it’s true – I do spend too much valuable time on those things I should already be doing rather than the big goals I want to accomplish. My baby can be so profound sometimes.

Realizing that lifted a load off of my shoulders. Because it’s true. It’s like the phrase, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Because when you do, the Power of Blah intercedes. You’re so focused on reaching goals for things that should already be that your mind (and where you NEED to focus) go to Blah. Which is great for a while. Helps you appreciate lazy moments. But when that becomes your life? Not so much.

From the last book of the Inheritance series I’m reading, Glaedr (a dragon) was telling Eragon (a rider and some kind of human/elf hybrid) he was too focused on one thing. You have to be able to see the whole picture rather than what’s going on with only one area. Not to say that you shouldn’t focus on one area to improve it, but by widening your mind, you’re able to SEE more. It allows you to view more possibilites that are in front of you, which gives you a greater chance of success. I think this goes hand-in-hand with what J said – though your mind is focused on many things at once, allowing it to focus on those things that are important to you makes more sense than worrying about those little things that aren’t.

Had a very profound last few days. I hope I got that across well enough. If not?… Well, at least I gained something from it! WHOO!

Until NT.

In Light of Events :: OSU Edition

#2 – our highest ranking EVER for the Oklahoma State University campus in the BCS polls.

#4 – the ranking we dropped to after we decided we didn’t want to play football against Iowa State, a game that was played shortly after the loss of our Head and Assistant women’s basketball coaches Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna

555,000 – the amount of tears I wanted to shed after hearing of the loss of two wonderful coaches as well as the loss of an undefeated season for Okahoma State – this may sound like I’m a horrible person, but those boys worked so hard to get to where they are this year; they should be proud that OSU alums and fans stood behind them every step of the way and are disappointed they didn’t show out, but we are still supportive fans through thick and thin (I don’t cry much, though, so the tear count is pretty inaccurate – work with me here)

5 – the amount of people I wanted to slap this past weekend

Let me tell you – this past  Thursday up until last night (well, more like this morning) has been a roller coaster of emotions and set backs. Life has definitely been throwing me a few curveballs. But hey – at least I can still catch. Looking forward to Thanksgiving as well as the Bedlam game next weekend. Not looking forward to the cold that will probably be blowing through Oklahoma that night, but I AM looking forward to seeing some OU ass-whoopin’-ness. Now, don’t get me wrong – don’t think I don’t hate OU on principal, but it’s true – I do. I dislike how disrespectful OU fans are. I don’t like how they believe that because they’re one of the winningest teams in the NCAA football arena that they have the right to hoot and holler at me because I’m repping my alma mater. I dislike how many OU football fans did not attend said university, but feel the need to knock my school because I didn’t, either. Or how many feel the need to yell “BOOMER” around me when I have done nothing but sit at a table for work representing my college umbrella. It’s been the silliest struggle of my life to always be second (and sometimes third, fourth or fifth or higher) best to the University of Oklahoma because of a football team, not because of academics or drive or success. But I will say that no matter what, I have always been proud of my alma mater – from Bobby Reed to President Hargis. And I’m proud of how my university has come together in light of this recent tragedy – and how the entire NCAA football nation has, too. I will say that though I dislike OU partly because maroon looks like crack on most people, I am proud of their quiet reaction to OSU losing – especially after they lost the very next day. Suffice to say, OU fans know when to keep their mouths shut when they have to.

To my alma mater. Until NT.

 - Go State! -

SN: The aforementioned statements may have been a tad bit rude. Especially considering the athletic teams for OU tend to mead out not only great athletes, but also great personalities and well-rounded individuals. I do have this to say from a friend’s status on Facebook:

“Lots of respect to Sherri Coale and Joe Castiglione for bringing the entire OU womens team. Also, Gary Blair from A&M. Extremely classy.” So there ya go. OU isn’t as bad as I like to make out. Maroon really does make my skin itch, though.