As I sit here again watching television I am stunned by the beauty that is this year's opening cermony for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. It's amazing what can be done with technology today.
The Olympics, whether they be summer or winter, are one my favorite displays of athletic competition. It the one time that no matter what else is going on in the world nations come together in honor of sportsmanship and compete together. This year there are 82 countries compteting for gold, silver and bronze but like always there are those countries that will never see the podium. One might wonder why even pay the airfare to travel to Canada from Montenegro if your country has little chance of winning.
It's not about winning for many Olympians its about competeing against the best of the best. Its about comparing skills and learning from other athletes. Think of the lessons learned by other snowboarders when they see what Shaun White is capable of in the half-pipe. Sure many of them can't even dream of being as good or better them him, but watching what he does inspires them to try harder and practice longer.
Speaking as some one who has never considered myself to be especially patriotic, I am always shocked by the Olympics. The thing that shocks me is how my heart strings are tugged each time the national anthem is played and the flag is raised. While athletes stand on the podium, choking back tears I too sit in my family room choking back the same tears. I am not an easy crier but play the national anthem, raise the flag and put a teary eyed Michelle Quan on the podium and I'm like a baby. It's a phenomenon that surprises me every time it happens- but its not an unwelcome phenomenon. I'm glad to know that although I am not always enthusiastic about our nation's government that I am still a patriot at heart. I hope that many others can relate to my experience and that they too find themselves reaching for the Kleenex box during the medal ceremonies.
The Olympics this hear are starting with a bang and seem to hold a lot of excitement. Canada has already come out and said that they want to run the podium this year and win more metals then any other country- this may seem like a lofty goal but consider they were third in the metal count in the 2006 Olympics. I trust that the United States, Germany, Norway and others will give the Canadian's a run for their money but I wish them the best of luck. Being from Detroit which is a stone's throw from Canada I feel a ting of patriotism for my neighbor to the north.
I wish all the athletes the best of luck no matter their country. I look forward to watching the competition and all the historic moments that I'm sure will occur over the next few weeks. When I think of the Olympics I can't help but reference both Miracle and Might Ducks 2. Both movies reference the Olympics (although in D2 its called the Junior Goodwill Games) and both are inspiring to say the least. So if you get caught up in the spirit of the Olympics, as I can assure I will, pop in one of those movies and you'll be able to carry on the spirit of the Olympiad even without watching the events.
USA ALL THE WAY!
ps. Shaun White should you read this...will you be my valentine?
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Growing up Grosse Pointe
So usually all my posts are concerning some television show that I am watching- but this time it's not the same although this thought came to me while I was watching the Real World.
I have grown up in a upper middle to upper class neighborhood and because of that I have been luck enough to live a very good life and my parents have done a lot for me. I appreciate all things that have been done for me and understand that most people are not ask lucky as I am to have parents like mine. After graduating from college without a job my parents welcomed me back into their home- yes I have to pay rent but at least I have somewhere to live. In addition they gave me a car when I was a junior in college that is essentially my own. I do not have to pay for anything besides the gas that runs the car.
That having been said, throughout my life I have been called spoiled and a brat by people that I barely even know. They knew where I was from and that was about it- and yet they felt they knew me enough to say what type of a person I am. One time in particular was when I was wearing a sweatshirt from my high school and someone from Michigan saw it. They saw I was from Grosse Pointe and immediately said "Oh so you're rich."
The thing that first came to mind was "who the fuck do you think you are?" but I have a little more class then that. So I went the sarcastic route and said "um no- I have about 400 dollars in my bank account". The person then looked at me and told me that I "knew" what they meant. If what they meant was that because I live in a certain area they have the right to assume my family has money- yea I know what you meant and you're an asshole.
I have had that experience more then once and it gets me everytime. The fact that I live in a certain area and my parents have a certain profession people think they I am rich and live the good life. Yes I will admit that I get a lot from my parents and that I might have more then some- but a lot of what I have I worked for. I know what an honest days work is and I am insulted when people insuate that I don't. I am not spoiled and I am not a bitch so don't call me that.
You may be wondering where all these feelings are coming from- and yes they are coming from the real world. On tonight's episode one girl called another girl a spoiled brat without knowing much about her family or her past. I know the feeling and it sucks and hearing that reminded me of how I felt when it happened to me.
So I guess the purpose of this blog is to wake people up to the fact that you shouldn't ever judge someone by where they are from, what their parents do, what kind of clothes they were ect... Yes I know that I am complaining about being judged and that some people might read this and say "oh poor little daddy's little girl". I am not trying to say that what I've experienced is as bad as what say an black person does- but being judged is being judged no matter the circumstances. So next time you meet someone from out of town and you think you know something about them from their hometown- keep your damn mouth shut.
I am not my parents and I do not pay the morage on my house. I don't have a huge bank account and I am not a little rich girl. Please do not assume that I am when you see me in jeans, uggs and what looks like a north face. Because the reality is that it's not a north face I paid 15 dollars for it at Marshalls. The jeans where 10 dollars at TJ Maxx and the uggs were a gift from my parents for losing 50 pounds over the last year.
In reality I am a nice person (from what I've heard) and I am a good friend. The money that I do have I save but am willing to lend to anyone who needs it that care about. Get to know me past my zip code and you'll see what all my friends see in me. I'd love to be your friend as long as you check your attitude and judgment and the door and I promise I'll do the same.
Cheers! Have a good night all!
I have grown up in a upper middle to upper class neighborhood and because of that I have been luck enough to live a very good life and my parents have done a lot for me. I appreciate all things that have been done for me and understand that most people are not ask lucky as I am to have parents like mine. After graduating from college without a job my parents welcomed me back into their home- yes I have to pay rent but at least I have somewhere to live. In addition they gave me a car when I was a junior in college that is essentially my own. I do not have to pay for anything besides the gas that runs the car.
That having been said, throughout my life I have been called spoiled and a brat by people that I barely even know. They knew where I was from and that was about it- and yet they felt they knew me enough to say what type of a person I am. One time in particular was when I was wearing a sweatshirt from my high school and someone from Michigan saw it. They saw I was from Grosse Pointe and immediately said "Oh so you're rich."
The thing that first came to mind was "who the fuck do you think you are?" but I have a little more class then that. So I went the sarcastic route and said "um no- I have about 400 dollars in my bank account". The person then looked at me and told me that I "knew" what they meant. If what they meant was that because I live in a certain area they have the right to assume my family has money- yea I know what you meant and you're an asshole.
I have had that experience more then once and it gets me everytime. The fact that I live in a certain area and my parents have a certain profession people think they I am rich and live the good life. Yes I will admit that I get a lot from my parents and that I might have more then some- but a lot of what I have I worked for. I know what an honest days work is and I am insulted when people insuate that I don't. I am not spoiled and I am not a bitch so don't call me that.
You may be wondering where all these feelings are coming from- and yes they are coming from the real world. On tonight's episode one girl called another girl a spoiled brat without knowing much about her family or her past. I know the feeling and it sucks and hearing that reminded me of how I felt when it happened to me.
So I guess the purpose of this blog is to wake people up to the fact that you shouldn't ever judge someone by where they are from, what their parents do, what kind of clothes they were ect... Yes I know that I am complaining about being judged and that some people might read this and say "oh poor little daddy's little girl". I am not trying to say that what I've experienced is as bad as what say an black person does- but being judged is being judged no matter the circumstances. So next time you meet someone from out of town and you think you know something about them from their hometown- keep your damn mouth shut.
I am not my parents and I do not pay the morage on my house. I don't have a huge bank account and I am not a little rich girl. Please do not assume that I am when you see me in jeans, uggs and what looks like a north face. Because the reality is that it's not a north face I paid 15 dollars for it at Marshalls. The jeans where 10 dollars at TJ Maxx and the uggs were a gift from my parents for losing 50 pounds over the last year.
In reality I am a nice person (from what I've heard) and I am a good friend. The money that I do have I save but am willing to lend to anyone who needs it that care about. Get to know me past my zip code and you'll see what all my friends see in me. I'd love to be your friend as long as you check your attitude and judgment and the door and I promise I'll do the same.
Cheers! Have a good night all!
The Real World
God do I love the Real World....tackling tough issues one episode at a time. Tonight's issue was depression, brought up by the lovely Erica who suffers from depression and was even hospitalized for it.
I have a love hate relationship with the Real World. I love the show because of the insane drama that occurs on every episode and the fact that the producers delude themselves enough to actually believe that what they are capturing is close to what happens in the Real World.
I hate to break it to them but they are not capturing the Real World. What they are doing is throwing a bunch of hormonal late teen to early twenties kids in a house, giving them a camera crew to follow them around and asking them to create authentic television. Nothing that a person does when they have a camera on them 24/7 is going to be anywhere close to authentic. These people are acting and playing up all their issues for the camera so they can get the most camera time.
I feel that it is stupid that people take this show seriously and think that it's authentic at all. If you were to throw 7-8 strangers in a house together they would not all the sudden start spilling their secrets and pasts to each other. The only reason they open up the way they do is because they have nothing else to do in their house and they are feed alcohol constantly.
The bone that I have to pick with the particular episode that I'm watching right now is that fact that all these people act as though they are friends and yet bitch about each other to the camera when they are alone in the confessional. It's like this:
Erica: OMG bff!!
Ashley: Yea I know I f-ing love you Erica
Erica: We should live together after this!!!!
**Erica walks into the confessional**
Erica: OMG I FUCKING HATE ASHLEY!!!!!
Seriously I know that in the real world people do shit talk each other- but not in that way. People say that sorority girls are bitches take a look at the girls on the real world. I think that people need to balls up on this show and be honest. As I'm writing this the two girls that have been two-faced bitches to each other for this whole episode have finally come clean with each others THANK GOD!!!
So yes I love the drama of the real world...I love watching roommates sleep with each other or freak out when one of them is gay and the rest of them don't accept it. But what I don't love is the delusion that this show perpetuates to the rest of the country. As a 22 year old person (falling well within the target age group of the show) I can tell you that if you stuck me in a house with a bunch of people that I didn't know I would not act that way these people do. I would not drink myself into idiocy and I wouldn't lay all my problems out for America to see. Don't these people realize that life exists outside of the show and what they do on the show is going to be seen by employers. good luck getting a job crazy!
In conclusion I do not think that MTV should take the Real World off the air I just think they should re-name the show and categorize things differently- its not a reality show its a scripted reality show.
I have a love hate relationship with the Real World. I love the show because of the insane drama that occurs on every episode and the fact that the producers delude themselves enough to actually believe that what they are capturing is close to what happens in the Real World.
I hate to break it to them but they are not capturing the Real World. What they are doing is throwing a bunch of hormonal late teen to early twenties kids in a house, giving them a camera crew to follow them around and asking them to create authentic television. Nothing that a person does when they have a camera on them 24/7 is going to be anywhere close to authentic. These people are acting and playing up all their issues for the camera so they can get the most camera time.
I feel that it is stupid that people take this show seriously and think that it's authentic at all. If you were to throw 7-8 strangers in a house together they would not all the sudden start spilling their secrets and pasts to each other. The only reason they open up the way they do is because they have nothing else to do in their house and they are feed alcohol constantly.
The bone that I have to pick with the particular episode that I'm watching right now is that fact that all these people act as though they are friends and yet bitch about each other to the camera when they are alone in the confessional. It's like this:
Erica: OMG bff!!
Ashley: Yea I know I f-ing love you Erica
Erica: We should live together after this!!!!
**Erica walks into the confessional**
Erica: OMG I FUCKING HATE ASHLEY!!!!!
Seriously I know that in the real world people do shit talk each other- but not in that way. People say that sorority girls are bitches take a look at the girls on the real world. I think that people need to balls up on this show and be honest. As I'm writing this the two girls that have been two-faced bitches to each other for this whole episode have finally come clean with each others THANK GOD!!!
So yes I love the drama of the real world...I love watching roommates sleep with each other or freak out when one of them is gay and the rest of them don't accept it. But what I don't love is the delusion that this show perpetuates to the rest of the country. As a 22 year old person (falling well within the target age group of the show) I can tell you that if you stuck me in a house with a bunch of people that I didn't know I would not act that way these people do. I would not drink myself into idiocy and I wouldn't lay all my problems out for America to see. Don't these people realize that life exists outside of the show and what they do on the show is going to be seen by employers. good luck getting a job crazy!
In conclusion I do not think that MTV should take the Real World off the air I just think they should re-name the show and categorize things differently- its not a reality show its a scripted reality show.
Friday, February 5, 2010
weight loss
I am sooo frustrated!!! Over the past year I've lost nearly 50 pounds and now suddenly over the past month my weight loss has come to a stop. Not only has it stopped I've started to gain weight slightly. Yes its only a few pounds but I'm really starting to get frustrated.
I eat a small amount of food during the day- if I were to eat less I'm convinced that I would be hungry all the time. I run or at least walk every day. Today I ran 3 miles and according to my tredmill burned 550 calories, yet I gained weight. I just don't understand. I've cut out pop for the week thinking that less sodium might be the ticket to losing more weight but that doesn't seem to make a difference at all.
I'm starting to think that it might be my birth control that is stunting my weight loss but that confuses me because it hasn't interfered prior to this. I'm really starting to worry that something is wrong with me. I'm not sure what would be causing the weight gain but it's so frustrating. So for the next week I'm going to eat even less then what I've been eating and do my best to work out for over an hour everyday. Hopefully I can figure this out because if I don't figure it out soon I could go insane.
Not only could I go insane but I might start crying. I have worked so hard and I've changed my diet so much that it's not fair that all the sudden things are being reversed on me. Its like it wasn't even worth the last year of hard work because now my body is decided that it just wants to gain all the weight back.
i hate my life.
I eat a small amount of food during the day- if I were to eat less I'm convinced that I would be hungry all the time. I run or at least walk every day. Today I ran 3 miles and according to my tredmill burned 550 calories, yet I gained weight. I just don't understand. I've cut out pop for the week thinking that less sodium might be the ticket to losing more weight but that doesn't seem to make a difference at all.
I'm starting to think that it might be my birth control that is stunting my weight loss but that confuses me because it hasn't interfered prior to this. I'm really starting to worry that something is wrong with me. I'm not sure what would be causing the weight gain but it's so frustrating. So for the next week I'm going to eat even less then what I've been eating and do my best to work out for over an hour everyday. Hopefully I can figure this out because if I don't figure it out soon I could go insane.
Not only could I go insane but I might start crying. I have worked so hard and I've changed my diet so much that it's not fair that all the sudden things are being reversed on me. Its like it wasn't even worth the last year of hard work because now my body is decided that it just wants to gain all the weight back.
i hate my life.
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