...Miss Congeniality anyone?
I have mixed feelings on pageants and other beauty-centric competitions. I think the world portrayed on shows like 'Toddlers and Tiaras' is often sad and extreme, but is in fact reality for some people. I also recognize that the more mainstream systems provide a great deal of money to be put towards educational costs. Many of the women do care passionately about their platform, as well, and pursue those causes long after they stop wearing crowns. I know that the talent and interview portions are not supposed to be based on physical appearance, but when the other half of the score comes from swimsuits and evening gowns, it's hard not to make your picks based on looks. On the other hand, if someone is beautiful on the outside, why shouldn't that be acknowledged? It does not have to be at the exclusion of inner beauty. As long as we're up front about it, I'm not sure I see anything wrong with it.
I remember watching Miss America every year while I was growing up, enthralled by how pretty and poised everyone was on stage. My gymnastics coach was our state title holder and she was as sweet and nice of a person as you could want in a role model. I attended a few local pageants when older girls from school were competing, but was never really interested in trying myself. I think my mom was grateful for that, as despite the years of dance recitals I participated in, she is NOT a stage mom!
I am admittedly a pageant snob when it comes to Miss America vs Miss USA. I can't really justify it, but I feel like Miss A is more about the whole person, while Miss USA is just about the flash. Some of that also comes from a former roommate who is a huge fan of the Miss America organization. In fact, while we were roommates, the then-current Miss A visited our campus and I was able to arrange a surprise birthday dinner with her, prior to her event. In case you were wondering, the crown is kept in a box when it's not on her head and she has a crown pin that she wears for certain events. That particular Miss A also frequented Outback Steakhouse, knowing there would be some consistency in the menu, ordered the same thing almost every time.
As soon as one my students mentioned she would be celebrating her 21st birthday by drinking cocktails and watching Miss America with her roommates, I knew I wanted to do something similar! I will be watching tonight with one of my best girlfriends, munching on probably unhealthy snacks (although I do have a bag of carrots in my fridge!), sipping apple cider (she's expecting, so no bubbly for us!) and doing our best to predict how the actual judges will rate each contestant. I usually find myself rooting for specific states that I've either lived in or where loved ones reside. Then if/when they are all eliminated, I pick a finalist at random.
Who do you think will be crowned tonight?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Overwhelmed
I promise this blog is not going to be totally devoted to me venting...however facebook and twitter are not the best outlet for me and sometimes I just need to empty my brain of the stressful things so that I can fill it with more exciting and positive things!
This week has been on the stressful side for me. My car is having major issues (the speedometer needle either stays at 0 or bounces around intermittently among other things) and not only is it hard not knowing what's going on or how much it will cost, being without a car is also challenging. I live within walking distance of work which helps. I don't, however, live within walking distance of the gym and a few other key places! Fingers crossed the car comes back to me soon!
We also have a lot going on at work and during the last few days, I have felt like I'm being pulled in a million different directions at once. Yesterday my biggest desire was to curl up in a ball somewhere, but I resisted. I coordinate our student calling campaign for some of our admitted students (which is not always as supported by the rest of the office as I might like), I have a 3 week long international trip to plan before March, I manage technology for our office (which I am not completely qualified to do, so that gets pretty interesting), in the next 5 weeks I need to read a million (or a few hundred at least) applications, catch up on the endless stream of emails coming into both my personal account and the department account I'm responsible for maintaining, misc responsibilities for the student groups I co-advise, oh and take care of some letters of recommendation for grad school that a student asked me to write (so honored to have been asked, another sign that I'm really a grown up!).
I'm also behind on personal emails, text messages, phone calls, etc, so I'm hoping to spend some time this weekend catching up in that area. I think what stresses me is not the specifics of what I need to do, rather the timing of everything and having other people needing or wanting me to do something when I feel like I need just a moment to breathe.
Some positives from this week include:
I was able to sustain a game of phone tag with one of my best girlfriends resulting in her asking me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding: yay! She and I have been close almost since the moment we met, so I am so honored to be part of her special day.
I work with some of the most amazing students. Their energy and passion can be contagious and they teach me things almost daily (especially that even when I don't think they are going to accomplish what I asked of them, they will, just in their own way).
My alma mater is a pretty special community and being part of the process that brings new people in is pretty great. I know not everyone wants to attend the school, but the reactions of those that do bring a huge smile to my face.
I am participating in my first ever blog swap, for which I am very excited!
This week has been on the stressful side for me. My car is having major issues (the speedometer needle either stays at 0 or bounces around intermittently among other things) and not only is it hard not knowing what's going on or how much it will cost, being without a car is also challenging. I live within walking distance of work which helps. I don't, however, live within walking distance of the gym and a few other key places! Fingers crossed the car comes back to me soon!
We also have a lot going on at work and during the last few days, I have felt like I'm being pulled in a million different directions at once. Yesterday my biggest desire was to curl up in a ball somewhere, but I resisted. I coordinate our student calling campaign for some of our admitted students (which is not always as supported by the rest of the office as I might like), I have a 3 week long international trip to plan before March, I manage technology for our office (which I am not completely qualified to do, so that gets pretty interesting), in the next 5 weeks I need to read a million (or a few hundred at least) applications, catch up on the endless stream of emails coming into both my personal account and the department account I'm responsible for maintaining, misc responsibilities for the student groups I co-advise, oh and take care of some letters of recommendation for grad school that a student asked me to write (so honored to have been asked, another sign that I'm really a grown up!).
I'm also behind on personal emails, text messages, phone calls, etc, so I'm hoping to spend some time this weekend catching up in that area. I think what stresses me is not the specifics of what I need to do, rather the timing of everything and having other people needing or wanting me to do something when I feel like I need just a moment to breathe.
Some positives from this week include:
I was able to sustain a game of phone tag with one of my best girlfriends resulting in her asking me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding: yay! She and I have been close almost since the moment we met, so I am so honored to be part of her special day.
I work with some of the most amazing students. Their energy and passion can be contagious and they teach me things almost daily (especially that even when I don't think they are going to accomplish what I asked of them, they will, just in their own way).
My alma mater is a pretty special community and being part of the process that brings new people in is pretty great. I know not everyone wants to attend the school, but the reactions of those that do bring a huge smile to my face.
I am participating in my first ever blog swap, for which I am very excited!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Goals, not resolutions
I don't necessarily believe in making New Year's resolutions- they seem like a perfect set-up for failure. However, working in a school setting, January also marks the beginning of a new semester, giving me a double dose of fresh starts.
So in the spirit of fresh starts, no matter the timing, here are my goals for 2012:
I want to keep in better touch with friends and family. With so many ways to know what's going on in people's lives, I think we forget that an effort is actually required beyond reading someone's profile or updates or tweets.
I need/want to make some sort of career plan- either stay here and start a grad program or move someplace else. A good friend has set a goal for me to apply for another job, any job, by my birthday in April. It's scary to think about making a big change, but I know I need to do something.
I already use a trainer for strength training twice a week, but I need to find a way to get some quality cardio into my routine. My dance classes help, but as the descriptions say, they're 'for fun and exercise,' not a serious work out. Not sure if incorporating classes will work or just hanging out on the treadmill (until it gets warm enough to be outside!) will be my best option. (Of course I'm hoping that adding cardio will result in some amount of weight loss, but I'm choosing to focus on the positive change not get caught up in a specific outcome.)
This next one is a bit spoiled sounding, but I want to make a habit of treating myself to a spa treatment, maybe once a month. I had my eyebrows waxed and a mani/pedi right before the holidays and even letting someone else pamper you for 10 minutes can have such a lasting positive impact.
Luckily I do not have credit card or student loan debt, but I'm not the best at saving money. I'm close to needing a new car (unless I move someplace where it would be impractical to own a car!) and I'm not sure how much longer I want to live with a housemate. Both of those goals require better savings plans on my end. I also have some accounts I inherited from my parents that need to be moved around to fit in with my other accounts.
If I do choose to both stay in my current city and my current house, I want to do more things to settle in- buy curtains, hang art, pick up some more throw rugs, etc. Signs that I'm really growing up- scary! Actually, that's a goal no matter where I'm leaving- stop living like I'm in a temporary arrangement.
And of course, continuing trying to be an actual blogger, even if it's just to have a way to record what I do and don't accomplish this year!
PS Today I made my first guacamole from scratch (well from fresh avocado & a powdered mix)...it's not the best I've ever had, but it was tasty in my homemade taco salad and I was very proud of myself for trying!
So in the spirit of fresh starts, no matter the timing, here are my goals for 2012:
I want to keep in better touch with friends and family. With so many ways to know what's going on in people's lives, I think we forget that an effort is actually required beyond reading someone's profile or updates or tweets.
I need/want to make some sort of career plan- either stay here and start a grad program or move someplace else. A good friend has set a goal for me to apply for another job, any job, by my birthday in April. It's scary to think about making a big change, but I know I need to do something.
I already use a trainer for strength training twice a week, but I need to find a way to get some quality cardio into my routine. My dance classes help, but as the descriptions say, they're 'for fun and exercise,' not a serious work out. Not sure if incorporating classes will work or just hanging out on the treadmill (until it gets warm enough to be outside!) will be my best option. (Of course I'm hoping that adding cardio will result in some amount of weight loss, but I'm choosing to focus on the positive change not get caught up in a specific outcome.)
This next one is a bit spoiled sounding, but I want to make a habit of treating myself to a spa treatment, maybe once a month. I had my eyebrows waxed and a mani/pedi right before the holidays and even letting someone else pamper you for 10 minutes can have such a lasting positive impact.
Luckily I do not have credit card or student loan debt, but I'm not the best at saving money. I'm close to needing a new car (unless I move someplace where it would be impractical to own a car!) and I'm not sure how much longer I want to live with a housemate. Both of those goals require better savings plans on my end. I also have some accounts I inherited from my parents that need to be moved around to fit in with my other accounts.
If I do choose to both stay in my current city and my current house, I want to do more things to settle in- buy curtains, hang art, pick up some more throw rugs, etc. Signs that I'm really growing up- scary! Actually, that's a goal no matter where I'm leaving- stop living like I'm in a temporary arrangement.
And of course, continuing trying to be an actual blogger, even if it's just to have a way to record what I do and don't accomplish this year!
PS Today I made my first guacamole from scratch (well from fresh avocado & a powdered mix)...it's not the best I've ever had, but it was tasty in my homemade taco salad and I was very proud of myself for trying!
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