Mischief Night Shenanigans

My mischief night?? Just some procrastination at its finest. You know, sometimes I can be crafty. Flat Cody is now ready to trick or treat OR hit up all the parties. Either or, of course. 

Gone Girl

I disappeared last night like Amy did. Except I told people I was leaving. I treated myself to an-always-nice movie at Ambler at 4:45 with all the old people. I love movies, especially seeing them in theaters, especially at Ambler. It's dark and big and it just transports me into the movie for 2 or 3 hours. The movies are a whole different world. With Gone Girl, there was so much creativity. First, who could ever think about writing that?? Second, how the heck could Amy think of that?? I guess I should have said at the beginning that this might contain spoilers but if you have been living under a rock for the past however long, shame on you for finding out via my blog. Anyway, I feel like everyone hated the characters. I did. I hate Nick and Flo, but Amy was absolutely amazing psychotically brilliant. So much work and dedication. Her plan (and backup plan) was so amazing. Yeah, she was manipulative and a little evil but she was super rational and sly and smart. The movie was pretty well-aligned with the book, although with some slight plot removals and addition of a kind of gruesome scene. It was creepy and interesting and just like I imagined. Please read the book and then see the movie. It's worth it.

Radio Star

Is it true that TV killed the radio star? Is it true that I'm awful on the radio? I'm not sure about the first but I'm 110% sure on the second. Tonight, I was a last-minute guest star on La Salle WEXP's show "Talking Points." I'm a pretty awkward person in general and the radio exponentially made it worse. I'm not good with banter! But Dan and Pat graciously had me on their show tonight (shout-out and thanks!).

I can now say I've been on the radio. I was super nervous about the whole thing. But we talked about my normal things, like aqua jogging, my senior seminar project, Habitat, Roslyn, Late Night, etc, etc. While I hate to admit that I have actually never listened to "Talking Points," I will definitely tune in next week for a listen. I may not have killed it, I may have actually killed the show (in a negative way), but at least I didn't kill Linda Van Morrisey of the Spanish Program.

Listen to "Talking Points" HERE on Tuesday nights at 7.

Running is Funning

I headed over to Belmont Plateau to watch a few races today. I've been running (when I am actually able to run) there since 6th grade so it has a special place in my heart. And I love cross country, especially on a day like today, in the crisp fall air. I always find it kind of sad going to any race where I'm not running. I just want to get out there and race but I can't. It actually stinks not even being able to run at all. But I'm still pushing forward. My friend said earlier today, "One race does not define you as a runner. Running does not define you as a person." While she said this in the context of not racing well, it is very applicable to me, as I struggle to not go crazy because I can't run. There are other, more important things out there. Which leads me to what our grad assistant from last year said to me yesterday: "The world can be very cruel and I know you did not deserve it. You just have too much good in this world, it can't handle it. This gives you time to focus on all the other things you are so talented at." Being hurt does give me time to focus on Habitat and school and the math club. And I'm doing a pretty good job at those thing and being a well-rounded runner.

Chicken Pot Pie for the Soul

So somehow I have gotten a bad rap for being a bad cook. What the heck people? I just take some shortcuts and liberties with and without recipes. I'm a girl on the go and a whole host of other things that make me a certain way when I cook. But today, I took it slow and I made chicken pot pie. Looks and tastes delicious. Take that all you haters. I guess this makes up for my awful breakfast quinoa I made yesterday. You win some and you lose some.

Men, Women and Children at the Ritz

Well, if that wasn't crazy, then I don't know what is. I joined the Film Society for the night so I could get free Septa tokens and a movie ticket to the Ritz East. The movie made me feel insignificant and very important, too open but not as much as others, etc etc on a lot of other contradictory feelings. Essentially, the movie's underlying premise was the effects of social media on relationships in a nondescript Texas town. There were people with too much control to prevent hurt (but actually caused the biggest hurt, in my opinion, in the whole movie) and too much blurring of what is right and wrong. I think one of the saddest parts of the whole movie is how much people gave up on themselves and others. There wasn't freedom to say what you wanted or to be comfortable in your own skin. Luckily for us, when the movie ended, we had the freedom to to leave the group for ice cream--and post on social media about it.

The Kooks

Just of bunch of kooks watching The Kooks at Union Transfer. Besides the rain and some indecision on my part, it was a great time. While I'm not much of a concert person (does that surprise anyone?), The Kooks put on a lively and great show last night. I don't even know how long I've been listening to The Kooks but it's been a while. Glad I could hear them live with friends. And it was my first time at Union Transfer, an intimate venue (I'm not an expert but it seemed like it), which added to whole atmosphere of the night.

First Friday

My first ever First Friday in Old City. The night started with dinner at the Revolution House, a hip little spot on the corner of 2nd and Market. While we had a few problems with dinner (buggy-looking quinoa and an undercooked burger), it was still a nice time with friends, who luckily have consciences to not dine-and-dash. As night settled in, 2nd street livened up with local artists and musicians, trying to earn a few bucks with their talents. We stopped in a few art galleries--one kept going on and on. To my surprise, there was a lot of things I liked, including city-scapes, both real and imaginary, and voodoo dolls. To cap off the night, we devoured Fro-yo and headed back on the subway. I know this won't be my only First Friday. 

The Small Stuff

I was recently given a book called "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and It's All Small Stuff." I guess I always sweat the small stuff? And people notice enough to indirectly tell me to stop? All remarks aside, I do think I sweat the small stuff all the time. I stress about being a minute late to class or when the pool is locked. The list could go on for a while. But now I whisper to myself "don't stress the small stuff" when I'm rushing to get places or when I'm in the pool. It has become my mantra. I have even started telling people to stop sweating the small stuff. Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?!?

So a few days after I received the book, I headed down to South Campus. Usually I cut across the field because it is significantly shorter. However, when I got to the far gate, it was locked. Usually I would have been a little mad and flustered but that day I was much calmer. Backtracking wouldn't add much time to my trip so I took the glitch in stride and shrugged it off. See? I'm getting better at not stressing the small stuff.