I am watching my niece.

My niece, Lillian, is three years old. She knows her alphabet, how to count to one hundred and one, and she is learning to read. She is a smart kid. And ummmm how does she choose to use this intellect you might ask? My niece, my Lillian, has decided to use her smarts to obtain every possible sugary sweet in my pantry. She has decided I will not give her "the best yum yums," so she pleads her case to her grandfather, her grandmother, her other aunt, and uncle...until somewhere down the line her story becomes so precise and empathetic that she gets her way.

It is adorable now. Everyone predicts she will be a lawyer, judge, perhaps even a journalist. Yet, I predict she will be a spoiled, rotten brat who will not take "no" for an answer. You see, she realizes "no" is answer, it is just not the right answer. For Christmas Lillian counted every single present under our family tree. Forty-two presents that she counted for an entire month. She named some of the boxes based on their wrapping paper, and she would rearrange the boxes by size and weight. Come Christmas Day she was beyond crushed to find she had only thirteen presents. She refused to open any presents until everyone allowed her to open her favorites; the ones she had named. Though, some of these presents were not her own.

I love my niece, and her little brain never will stop amazing me. She has my entire family, myself included, wrapped around her little finger. It is just wonderfully amazing that such a small little brain is already capable of distinguishing a goal and a means of reaching it. If only we were all that intelligent....

What I Have Learned This Semester:

It is usually at this time of year that I feel as though I have wasted way too much money (forty-two hundred bucks to be exact) on classes that have taught me nothing. I know, 'you only get out of school what you put in.' Well, I have put a lot in to school such as: time in which I could be sleeping, time in which I could be working, my stress, my tears, my brain power, my mornings, MY MONEY. Yet I feel, with the exception of one class, I have not really learned anything of academic use or relevance. It does sound awful, I know, but I feel as though I have wasted a lot of energy this semester learning almost nothing.

I spoke with a professor the other day about these feelings, and she suggested I change my major. I wanted to reply that I doubt changing my major would magically make professors feel inclined to teach me something useful, but she had not yet graded my paper so I didn't say that. Instead I politely said I would consider her advice. Then she gave some wisdom that did not sit well with me. She said "You don't go to college to learn anything. You go to college to get a degree."

I am going to school to be a teacher, so I hope by the time I get my degree I will know enough to teach.

--Nikki

Oh Dear...

I have registered for classes for next semester. It was an exhausting and irritating process to say the least. First, I found my advising appointment had been moved behind a week, because I was on file as a sophomore. This came as a surprise as I transfered in with sixty two credits and that is the credit limit for a junior. Well, long story short, Pima Community College did not transfer over my last fifteen credits...because I had missed the December graduation deadline. I thought this would not impact my credits transfered to the University, but since I am technically graduating with my AA degree in May PCC decided not transfer my credits until then. This means I had to pay an additional ten bucks to have my official transcript processed, and I had to take the time and effort to walk them down to U of A administration. (Let me say that the only helpful person during this entire process was a young INTERN by the name of Rachel, and I recommend everyone ask to be seen exclusively by her when attempting to deal with admin.)Rachel, my administration advisor, promptly input my transcript information that same HOUR.

Next, I spoke with my advisor. This was a pointless meeting as I took none of her advice, but this meeting is required and tedious. She would not allow me to register for an advanced non-fiction writing class as an elective, because I am not a Creative Writing major. I would be totally fine with giving priority to this major, but this particular class is not a requirement for CW majors. My advisor would not give me permission to take this course, because she advised for me to take some other none required elective that would have meant the same for me anyway. LAME! She also inquired as to why I was taking history courses, and I explained my minor is history. She said I should concentrate on my major, and I had to remind her I am a junior and should be worried about completing my minor requirements. She replied (I hope) jokingly stating I should worry about my minor my senior year like everyone else.

Now I am somewhat disappointed in the courses I am taking next semester, but at least I am enrolled. I don't even want to think about the hassle of financial aid.

--Nikki

My Top Leads (of 90s and 00s fame)

5. Teeny Pop
So recently Paramore has gotten a lot of press due to their presence on the, but they have been around since about 2000. I first saw them when I attended Warped Tour. I was fourteen, and their lead singer Hayley was fourteen. She was (and still is) five feet and two inches tall and was skinnier than me (hard to find). When I first saw her take the stage I was intrigued, but I was completely taken a back by the ability for this fourteen year old girl to get an entire audience involved with her band's relatively unknown music. This is why she is amazing: she can just as easily get audience interaction running around stage or standing still.



p.s.
she was 16 in this video....

4. Maynard James Keenan

Tool is an amazing band, and I could honestly go on about the talents of all parties involved. Yet, let me just give this paragraph to Maynard. His lyrics are raw and expose the most intense and devastating characteristics of human relationships. Much of his lyrics are dedicated to his struggles with addiction and failing relationships. His voice is flawless, and he sounds just about the same in or out the recording booth (no thank you auto tune). As an audience member it is difficult to avert your eyes from his passionate showcase of stage presence, and no one can deny his vocal ability.


p.s.
I miss the 90s.

3. Emily Haines

With an avert sexuality and gender ambiguity, Emily, has lyrics and stage presence that would make Lady GaGa blush. The front woman of the London based band Metric, Emily has no issue with poking fun at gender roles and society..."Tits out/Pants down/Over night to London/Touch Down/Look around/Everyone's the same," (Metric, Dead Disco). Emily will run on stage in a micro-mini and make the boys in the front row feel unworthy of looking onto her lady bits. It is her ability to confront the norms associated with gender roles as an added bonus (to her musical, lyrical, and performing) abilities that earned her a place on my list.



2. Gwen Stefani

So...she went crazy for a while? No one complained about the shiz of an album that resulted from Axle's breakdown (Chinese Democracy, really?). Gwen is a true rock star and creates a static energy in her audience with her energizer bunny dance moves. It doesn't matter that she and her No Doubt band mates are in their forties...I would still pay to hundred and sixty bucks to make sure I was in the pit to watch Gwen. Oh, wait, I did.



^^^^^ yep, I was right there.

1. MIKE PATTON

If you don't know who this is...take a few mins to educate yourself.









1. Davey Havok...

I have a tie. He is the vocalist for the alternative, punk band A Fire Inside.





--Nikki

Survival List Continued....

This is a continuation of my survival list, (Please see blog post number twenty...the one right below this one.)

-A Netflix Membership
Let's face it, we all procrastinate. I cannot tell you how many times I have completed an essay ten seconds before I have to leave for class. I suggest, if you choose to procrastinate, you might as well waste your time being entertained. I recommend the "watch instantly" section of netflix. EIGHTIES AND BEN STILLER MOVIES GALORE!



-Unlimited Texting
Again, for your sanity.




-An acquired taste for really unhealthy food...
Sure, I can find a way to prepare healthy/organic yum yums in between work, class, and commuting, but I am lazy. I would much rather pick up some nice greasy fries at Jack in the Box or some enchiladas at the Taco Shop. Don't kid yourself, because you will only have time and money for unhealthy food. There is no way you will have time to prepare or money to spend on a ten dollar salad five times a week. Fast food=brain food.





-An ability to turn down party invites
The University of Arizona is a party school, yes. Your education is important and expensive, yes. Your homework assignments are way more important to your educational experience at college than your lame party stories, yes. Remember, you can party all you want when you graduate and are looking for a job. In this economy you will be looking for a job for a while.



-An healthy outlet for stress
UGH!!!!! Midterms, Finals, Assignments, Work, Tuition, does it ever end? NO, it will never end. This is the stage in our lives where we prove we are adults and can handle adult situations. We are expected to do this on our own, because we got ourselves into this school...and only we can get ourselves out. Do not let all of the stress and pressure of college life get under your skin. Find a healthy outlet to relieve your stress. I work out, but I met a girl who would scream in her car when she felt stressed out. She would drive down an isolated enough road and just start scream obscene language...whatever works right?



--Nikki

A Must Have List For Surviving U of A Spring Semester

Through this semester I had made a list of material objects and mindsets one should have to obtain a complete college experience at the University of Arizona. Though, this list is purely my perspective, I have found many of friends and classmates agree with the majority of the items I have listed below:

-Sunscreen
Alright, I get it, people like the skin tones orange and bronze. Yet, our beloved university is located smack in the middle of a desert valley. The sun exposure from this last week alone has left a nice patterned tan line on my feet from my strappy sandals. You can be bronzy orange and still sun protected.




-Bug Eyed Sunglasses (stunner shades)
So half the time most of us are recovering from hangovers during our Monday morning lecture halls. It is almost painful to have to walk to class starring down the white glaring pavement of the sidewalks of the mall. Thank god for HUGE sunglasses that not only protect you eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays but also protect your vision from an assaulting, light inspired migraine.



-Shoes you can walk in!
I know, I know...strappy sandals, heels, and knee high boots are super cute. Yet, these styles of shoes make it impossible to arrive to class on time. It doesn't matter if you leave ten minuets early...you will still get to class ten minuets late. So, find some cute tennies and rock the flats ladies, because you don't want to cite fashion as an excuse for your lack of punctuality. Plus, your feet will thank you later.



-Undies are NOT optional! Please do not "forget" panties at home.
So you wanna wear impossibly short shorts, skirt, mesh dress? Please wear your underwear. The last visual anyone needs is your vagina in his/her face (don't argue with me boys, because you don't know where that thing was before it found its way infront of your eyes). Again, we are located smack in the middle of desert...with sand and stuff...do you want any of that to find its way up there?



-Bottle of liquid (non-alcoholic)
About two thirds of your body are composed of water and water based cells. Re-hydrate. Water is good for complexion, helps you loose weight, and keeps you hydrated through out the day. A bottle of water, Gatorade (They discontinued my favorite flavors, because the guy on the bottle found some pantie optional ladies. So now I have to suffer through the yucky taste of G2.), and/or tea. You will have more energy and feel less spent if you REHYDRATE.

This list will be continued....

--Nikki

Selling Jesus

So this morning I attended the Easter morning service at Christ Community Church. I do not typically attend this church, but my older sister raved about its large campus and elaborate Easter Sunday showcase (apparently, there was real, live horse and donkey involved). My family arrived just in time to find a seat, and our attention was called to the jumbo screens (yeah, this church has two of them on both sides of the stage) where an infomercial type of advertisement was exclaiming about a Christian marriage seminar. Tickets, apparently, were only twenty dollars in advanced. After this proposition, my family and I were subjected to series of advertisements, sign up sheets, and events that take place at the church annually and only cost half the price in advanced.


For those of you who are unfamiliar, Easter is a Christian holiday in which we celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in place of the sins of the human race. It is a pretty important holiday. The premise of said holiday is pretty much the foundation of Christianity, and I was subjected to view an infomercial. My father and I were both offended at this and were upset at the fact that this church was taking this opportunity (most people attend church only two times a year and Easter is one of those times) to preach the message of sacrifice and salvation to sell tickets for some random event. Now, I am sure these seat filling events are important to the fundraising and up keep efforts of this church (that has two JUMBO SCREENS), but I am pretty sure the salvation awarded to the human race should take the spotlight at Easter Sunday service.

I felt like Easter was just an excuse to show these money raising events. I realize Easter is commericalized, but it should not be so at a Christian church. I was disappointed in my Christian brethren, and I hope some patrons walked away from the service receiving the right message.

--Nikki