Ah, New Mexico, where the cops dont care how fast you drive and the speed limit is 75. NM is where you find deer crossing signs, ans that’s about it. Oh, and lots of tumbleweed.
Texas, the friendly state, won’t be too friendly if you don’t follow their road signs. Dont use the left lane unless you’re trying to pass someone. They have tornado shelters at their rest stops too. Yikes.
They say good morning when you walk in the door.
They blast country music and Taylor Swift at the gas station.
There are more cops pulling people over than in LA.
They sell magazines about guns and ammo
They are proud of their tornados
Oklahoma City’s downtown looks like this:
Mountains in the middle of nowhere, after passing through Ludlow, CA, because we all know exactly where that is, right?
And welcome to AZ, where we are welcomed to crappy weather, and Mountain Time.
Now that I’ve somewhat successfully figured out how to upload photos to my blog, stay posted for more images of this great ole country of ours we call home.
In the process of applying to grad school, I’ve encountered some questions that stop and make me ask: really? This is what you want to know?
Does it matter if I’m NOT LGBT or a member of a tribe? And why can/should a tribe member submit something in visual form? Are they suppose to be more creative? Is it a problem if I’m “straight”? If I do own or co-own a car, are you going to assume I have more dough for money? Filing 2012 taxes? Out of 30 schools, only one chose to ask this question. Shouldn’t that be left to FAFSA and the financial department, AFTER you’ve been accepted? Traffic violation without a license? Could you BE any more specific? Does it really matter how educated or uneducated my parents are? Are you going to reject someone on that basis? And last I heard, parking tickets or minor speeding tickets aren’t the end of the world.
So far, in my short 4 months as an Elite member on Yelp, I’ve attended both Elite events and events for the general Yelp public:
Mary Poppins at the Ahmanson Theatre for 2
Dinner at The Whisper Lounge
Seminar (play) at the Ahmanson Theatre (for 2)
Workout event at a swanky Pasadena Racquetball Club (for 2)
Saw Skyfall for FREE, the Monday after opening weekend!!
FREE meal for two at Slater’s 50/50
Hour long Crossfit workout
Combine the actual costs of these events, and I’m saving a bunch! I love love bargains and getting things for free. When I can advertise the perks of Yelp and Elite-ness, I do. I should be a recruit!
My Body
I’ve learned a lot about my body and the human body in general in the past few weeks, and I’m not talking about the anatomical aspects of the body, like what Biology classes tend to teach you. I’m talking about general health practices for a longer life and a happier me. Working out everyday (or as close to everyday as possible), has been tough. There were days that I just didn’t want to get dressed in my workout gear and dreaded running 3 miles. In these 5 weeks I’ve gone through some changes, maybe not as massive as some people would prefer but losing inches, losing weight, and toning up is a plus in my books. And I actually didn’t think it’d be possible.
There were tough weeks, consisting of days with only protein, no cheese or sauce (and that’s tough to do after quarters and quarters of Chipotle), but I managed.
I think I’ve done more activity in the past 2 months than I’ve done in all of last year, if not the past two years. I’ve worked muscle groups I’ve never touched before: biceps, triceps, lats, chest, legs, legs, legs, calves, abs, oh my. Parts of my body have been sore that I never knew could be sore! But it feels great, and I’m not done yet. There’s been basketball, boxing, and rollerblading, and several 3-mile runs, including at 6am and on hills. My back no longer hurts, only if I’ve lifted a bit too much weight, and I sleep great. And rarely do I crack my back or neck now. Who knew all this was possible.
I loved learning about eating disorders, and trying to give everyone I know some type of eating disorder, from orthorexia to an Adonis complex, but life doesn’t work that way. I’ve learned so much about what my body needs and how much of it: protein, carbs, and fats, that no stinkin’ biology class could ever teach (come on, let’s be real…how lipids and saturated fats exist is fascinating and all, but how often do you realize it’s in what you eat…and who the heck ever calls them lipids).
In addition to all this, I’ve gone to a Salsa festival AND attended a yoga conference, something my old body wouldn’t have had the guts to do (well, the gut WOULD be there, but not the courage).
I love these changes and I’m embracing what is still to come.
Exercise, sleep, eat in moderation but healthily and skip the alcohol. Happy living.
Xoxo,
WhiteRussian
Ahh, a day that will go down in history. Ok, fine…not really. Just a day that I got what I wanted, and I wanted it bad!: Elite status on Yelp 
I loved using it when I first discovered. People helped avoid the not so yummy places and find gems that I would have otherwise disregarded. So I had to show my thanks and yelp away! I’ve been a somewhat A.D.D. Yelp user, I will admit, but I’m trying hard to battle with it: reviewing a bunch of places in one sitting, and checking in when I’ve got wi-fi (or know someone who is nice enough to let me log into yelp on their smart phone…to those, it’s like a part of you is Elite too…but just a teeny, tiny, bit). I’ll keep yelping away, which comes natural to me. And I look forward to years of elite status (let’s hope they don’t throw me off the squad real fast!).
My ex once said:
1. I don’t like running with you.
2. Couples that move in together are making a bad decision because it all goes downhill.
1. Well fuck you fatass. I don’t like running with you either.
2. Fuck you again. That’s how you figure out if the relationship works, dumbass.
So I have 4 final words: Go fuck yourself. HARD.
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.
The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.
But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
American flag, radio,
tv, cds,
Paints, posters,
crayons, colored pencils,
Desk organizer, pencil cases
Composition books.
Reading log, writing log, math log, science log
Secret Garden, Walk Two Moons, Hunger Games.
The series is in order.
World map, calendar,
drawings, postcards,
newspaper cut outs,
falling,
off the wall
when
out of the corner of her eye,
Table 4 chitter chatters.
Jansport, Jansport, Jansport,
Skullcandy makes backpacks?
The Statue of Liberty, The White House, The Boston Tea Party
And the home of Thomas Jefferson?
Newberry, Mystery
Hatchet
National Geographic.
Time for
Scholastic News for Kids.
Kenny, Robert
Spencer, Tyler
Jacob, Jake
Take a break.
Games manager, lunch helper.
And who’s the TA?
Sawyer and Hunter, at it again,
Can’t concentrate and pause the talking.
Flowers, potting soil, old hose.
April showers bring May plant-your-own-flowers.
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas,
And Indians in a box.
Computers, keyboards, headphones,
collecting dust,
But iPads get some love.
White board, Promethean board,
Yet we can’t use either one.
Budget cuts and teacher layoffs
Lead to
Increase in class size.
Wanted and welcome: fancy gadgets.
What’s wrong with that picture?
Converse, Vans, Keds,
String, string, string.
Why can’t these girls leave
Leave cat’s cradle and friendship bracelets alone?
Office Depot pens, Ticonderoga wooden pencils.
Fractions, ratios, percents, proportions.
“I don’t get it.”
Directions, instructions.
“What do I do here?”
They never read.
Eyeglasses, hairclips, water bottles – empty and full.
Dictionaries, clocks,
Recycle bins, trashcans,
lunch bin, Paper bin, book bin,
fire extinguisher in
the room.
Fifty states, Angry Birds,
Diaries of Wimpy Kids.
Hey substitute,
“You can call me Bubba.”
“Like Bubba Gump?”
“Who’s Bubba Gump?”, says Robert “Bubba” [Gump].
Manila folders for art
and open house.
Benchmark, quizzes, tests, homework.
Lunch, recess, book fairs,
Oh, and Jump Rope for Heart.
Boy who draws,
Anxious boy,
boy who has ants in his pants,
oh boy,
there’s a Justin Bieber and a Lady Gaga.
And maybe that kid really has A.D.D.
Probably.
Mirror, soap, sink, tissues, paper towels.
Tape, scissors, glue, dry erase markers
erasERRORS.
Carpet, desk, chairs, round table
Pizza.
Minimum days are for
Cupcakes, cookies and
Birthdays.
But now, it’s
Time 2:00 go home.
