The Political Machine

I've said it once, and I will say it again. Politics and political parties make me want to say:

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Because we are sure as hell not getting anything done the way things are now. As I've gotten older the stakes have gotten higher, with the happenings on Capital Hill becoming more interesting/important to me. For a while things like furloughs and budget cuts seemed like some far off problem for someone else, until they literally hit home and affected my family. And now I find the current government shut down personally affecting me; today should've been the day that I restarted my internship from last semester, except now with the government stalemate in D.C. places like the CDC are basically shut down until some resolution is reached.

So while I've got a lot of emotions like the sapster above, mine are a little different. I'm mad and frustrated by the incompetence. I'm pissed off that politics has become more about blocking a bill because it's endorsed by another political party and less about the actual issue at stake. And I'm disgusted at how such a great country as the U. S. of A. can lack a basic guarantee to healthcare, one that every other industrialized nation in the world has. How is it that we spend the most but enjoy middle of the road health?

If you aren't sold on the idea of universal healthcare (if you are still a little confused, it's a complicated thing and I def don't have everything 100% ironed out in my head yet, so head on over to slate.com and read this simple article), I'd suggest reading this gem by Ezekiel Emanuel (yes, Rohm's brother). He presented to my bioethics class first year, first semester at UVA and I've been hooked. It's a simple, well thought out argument about how healthy citizens make a strong nation. And even though some may argue that the rich will end up paying more for things like Obamacare, I guarantee that we are still paying the brunt of things when those who are not insured finally have to go to the ER to seek medical treatment.

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**I am also well aware that this may cause some drama and people to get all mad and feisty with me. Bring it on Biddies, the world needs more intelligent discourse.

Mean Girls Lives On?

Who knew that mean girls still existed? Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of people out there who totally suck, but apparently the catty, pettiness of it all doesn't end with high school. I was reminded of this fact over the weekend.

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Picture this: I'm being all nice and mingly at the giant Emory grad school mixer over the weekend. I happen to be talking to several fellows in the business school (one of whom is this beautiful Cypriot man who is so gorgeous I have trouble making eye contact with him) and we all seem to hit it off, so when it's time to leave beautiful Cypriot man asks for my number (yes I died a little) in case we decide to go to this bar they plan to hit up. Of course we do, but as soon as I get there, while hottie pottati is getting me a drink, this chick sidles up to me and starts warning me about "those business school guys."

Mind you, I have never seen nor spoken to this girl before tonight; though apparently she also is a first year public health student. Biddy proceeds to tell me how business school guys are really nice but be careful, they are players who will screw you over. I play along, nodding my head, looking appropriately serious/concerned, and even throw in the ole "thanks for warning me, I will definitely keep that in mind." But all the while I'm thinking "who the hell are you to be telling me this?!" Gut feeling tells me that she isn't doing this out of the concern of her heart, no no no, I think this chick is feeling threatened by little ole me (as well she should be, I'm quite the charmer). But seriously, who does that?! Starts warning a complete stranger about the player status of some guys; girlfrien, you don't know me. I would never deliberately flirt with someone's boyfriend or "steal" the attention from a guy someone was interested in, but I knew these guys were single. Are single? Will mingle!

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I was rather taken aback by the whole situation (I will also mull over any nugget of drama in my essentially bland academic life). Basically I was transported back to high school (or maybe middle school) this weekend, all sparked by the pettiness of some jealous chick. Amazing. So there you go, a little grad school drama for your week!

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Hobo Chic

As a recent new hire to several new internships, I've set about on a mission to update and "professionalize" my wardrobe. The fashion word seems to have changed dramatically during my recent hiatus (I swear I spend the most money on food these days... lots of food). I stepped into Urban Outfitters just the other day (maybe that was my first mistake, assuming that I could find something there?) and let me just say, they are going to a place that I don't think I can follow. What happened Urban, you used to have a nice selection of decent clothes that weren't shredded, ripped, revealing, etc and now I don't even recognize you anymore. As Macklemore says "yo...that's $50 for a t-shirt."

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Why are clothes so darn expensive? Especially ones that look like you could've gotten them at a thriftshop (which for a place like Urban, I guess is the appeal/look they're going for??). I'm sorry but if I want something that looks used, I will go to Goodwill, straight to the source my friend. I also find it extremely ironic that for a store that seems to be targeting "hipsters," who put such great store in originality and bucking trends, that people are going to buy your products en masse simply to achieve a look. It's like gothic kids shopping at Hot Topic; if you are all getting your duds from the same store, you aren't original.

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I've been trying to justify buying quality over quantity and maybe shelling out more for something that is well constructed and will last me a long time...but seriously $40 for a blouse?! I'm a broke ass-grad student who just can't swing that.

So all's actually not fair in love and war

I've been a little uninspired as of late, but not because I'm going through some funk or an existential crisis, quite the opposite. Things are just fine and dandy, and I'm starting to finally feel like I'm getting back into the school/Atlanta/social groove (coming back from winter break is always difficult because I have to adjust from being my homebody self to being back in the presence of people my age).

I say things are fine and dandy mostly because I've stopped stressing out about the types of things that used to keep me up at night: will I ever find a job? ugh how do I meet someone at a bar? Ya, I don't really care about those things (I mean obviously I still do but I've taken on more of a "if it happens it happens" sort of attitude).

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I can't really pin-point an exact moment that caused me to change how I think; it just happened. But I will say that I have come to realize and accept something: sometimes bad things happen to good people,  but I've also found that the opposite is also true--sometimes good things happen to people who may not really deserve it. Somewhere down the line we've all met this person (or people): the one who gets a kickass job/internship/significant other/opportunity that for some reason or other you know they don't really deserve, whether it be because they don't really like what they are studying, are stupid/an idiot/asshole/you name it. Come on, I can't be the only one who's felt jipped out of something right?

If I had a dollar for every job I applied to I'd have $60. What I'm saying is that many times I think I'm deserving; I've gotten to the point where I'm confident enough in myself and my abilities to say that I am a hard worker and I deserve a job. But hey, sometimes things don't happen for us good guys. I've seen my fair share of people, who for whatever reason, are lucky enough to find themselves handed opportunities that I would love to have. It's a fact I've accepted (with a big, regretful sigh): sometimes most of the time it's about who you know, rather than who you are, that gets you ahead in life.

Or an internship at the CDC... via

How technology is ruining your love life

**The stats show that people like to read posts about love and relationship mishaps. Gotta give the people what they want! It's the start of a new semester so slow going on any sort of relationship front, but as we prepare to dive in to this brand new year's dating pool adventures, here's an article that got me thinking:

"Technology Killed Courtship. Good Riddance" by Amanda Hess (full article here).

Let me start off by saying that I'm not sure I'm interpreting this article completely correctly. Sometimes authors try and make themselves sound really smart (though I know I'd never be accused of this) and all they end up doing is using a bunch of big words and confusing their readers. That being said, I think this author is a feminist (not that there's anything wrong with that) who is saying that the use of technology in today's dating world has broken down the gender barriers and the need to conform to said barriers that existed back in the day of the rotary phone and pager. Which she thinks is a good thing.

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But I'm going to disagree with her a bit here. I think that technology has killed off a lot of courtship and romance because it allows us to distance ourselves from people. We can send a quick text asking someone out and no longer have to worry about being rejected in person. We can construct whole relationships that are based around text messaging, with no real face to face communication (believe me, I'm guilty of this). And I think all of this is a bit of a bummer. There's less accountability for our actions; it's easier to make excuses/be excused for not texting or calling back than it is having to justify not showing up to a dinner date. It's easier to claim that things really aren't as serious, and it's a hell of a lot easier to hurt someone's feelings. This obviously isn't a new idea; I feel like I've been seeing articles like this for years, but for the longest time I think I just scoffed at them. Now I think there really might be some truth to it all.

I'm not sad to see the whole "guy ordering dinner for a girl" sort of sexist thing disappear, but I am sad to see how there's generally such a lack of effort on everybody's part nowadays. It's sad when you start to feel special because someone sent you a text message; it's a text for crying out loud, not that hard to do! Is courtship dead? Feels like it to me; then again I do know how to pick some winners... but hey maybe I, with my attachment to text messages, have also served as an enabler?

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You know when you do things you know you shouldn't?

I have a problem. I'm a compulsive texter and have no will power. Here's some background on my current situation: I go to a school that's 80% women (i.e. sometimes it feels like an all girls school). The amount of guys I've met here is closer to 0, and I'm struggling. I'm a young kick ass individual in the prime of my life; what's the deal?! Sure, I try to fill my time with other things, such as school, volunteering, and hanging out with friends, and as a result my grades are great and I get projects done way ahead of time. But by God I'm still human, and as such I can't help but like guys/want them near me. I'm going crazy/feeling desperate, and trust me if you were feeling like you were in a convent (esp. not by choice) you'd be going crazy too.

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So what happens when a girl goes crazy? She does stupid things. Like texting someone she shouldn't (because she should actually move on and find someone better). It's a vicious and horrible cycle, and I know I shouldn't do it... but I do. Because I'm so bored. One can only think about school so much, right? Hell, I'm not even worrying about impending projects/exams because I've actually been doing constructive work with all the free time I've been having.

I don't know if I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill because I'm by nature too hard on myself or what. I'm inclined to think this isn't the worse a person can do, especially if said recipient of texts responds back and things seem to pick up right where we left them. So... thoughts?

The Pinterest Wedding Board

Disclaimer: this is not meant to rag on anyone who has one of these. They're a great way to organize ideas, especially if you're engaged. This is merely meant to rag on some of the ideas that you see posted every so often :)

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I love Pinterest. It's flipping awesome. As I have become older and wiser and increasingly interested in how to decorate my apartment/living space, Pinterest has become a valuable source of inspiration. Plus I get to arrange all the pictures into different boards for the office, the bedroom, the living room, etc. I'm a nut. 

What I've gotten a little creeped out about are some of the wedding ideas that I see floating around out there (my cousin/big sister is getting married in September so there's my reason for even looking in the first place). There's some really cheesy shit out there. Like this gem: "write a love letter every day during the engagement and give it to your husband on the day of the wedding." I'm sorry, but what guy would like that?! There's a lot of sappy things like that, and every time I ask that same question. Ideas like that sound like stuff girls like/wish their significant other would do for them... really doesn't strike me as something a guy would be thrilled to get. 

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This picture also confused/amused me. They are reading love notes that the other wrote prior to the ceremony. The prospective groom's face compared to the bride's... I'm sorry I just don't think guys are as sappy as us ladies. I don't think they will appreciate silly things such as a 300 page book of love letters. It's like a girl sending flowers to a guy, she's doing something that she wishes he would do for her. This is how I take it. 

One final thought: all the little things that seem to go into weddings, all those overwhelming details you see on pinterest? Makes me want to elope. 

The Pool Party From Hell

Here's a con about apartment living: noises travel (and no I'm not going to get all weird and talk about hearing people through the walls, although that did happen in my last place). For the most part my complex is awesome; the building is a 4 story square and in the middle is a pretty courtyard with a pool and covered cabana. Very nice I like!

The scene of the crime...

This is where my tale gets dark and I get cranky. Problems arise when people (*cough*lawstudents*cough*) decide they are going to booze it up on the regular and start yelling and talking really loud out by the pool.

I like to think that I'm not a total party pooper. I like to have fun too, just not at 3:30 in the morning. Yes, early this morning I was woken up but yelling/talking/laughing as the future lawyers of America decided to have themselves a little party out by the pool. I'm sorry but wtf. And this went on for a while, a bona fide waking nightmare. I was really hoping that someone (preferably a big brawny muscle man) would go outside and tell them to be quiet. No, but I did hear a girl start yelling from her room.

Our resident enforcer started off well enough, using the convincing argument of please be quiet, it's 3:30 in the morning and some of us are sleeping. But things quickly escalated when douchy law students started to yell back. Obviously her pleas for quiet didn't work so she turned to cursing. Not helpful. I think I saw one of these fine fellows moon in her general direction (which was not also my direction thank god).

So there it is, the beauty of apartment living in all its glory. This is a problem that I really don't know how to address, seeing as how I don't know any of the party people. I find it so funny, as just the other day we met this female law student in the elevator. The conversation (stick with me) went something like this: "Oh are you all public health students?" I cheerily say "Ya, how did you guess?" Her response was "I heard you guys talking about volunteering. I've seen a bunch of you in your purple shirts. One girl was even dripping on me [it had been raining hard all day and some people still had to volunteer outside] while I was taking the bus home. I hate public health students... you all were making a lot of noise down out by the pool last week."

The deuce girl?! I didn't even know how to respond to that. The only time we've been out drinking by the pool was the one time the law students who were already out there invited us to come sit by them... there's a common denominator here and that's not public health. I think this can only end in some sort of battle royale with these law students. It's on...!