Uncommon Sense

Laugh – It’s All About the Green Ones

Home is an amazing place.  While my hometown may have a lot of faults and while my friends and family have all messed things up at some point or another (who hasn’t?), home is where the heart is.

Friends from Home

Jess and Abby visited.  Heard updates about Norbert (the goldfish Jess and I got for volunteering at the STA fair freshman year of high school) – he’s doing great, still growing, and he got a new tank.  Chatted about life.  Made promises to visit UConn in the spring.  Ate amazing food at Sunset and Panera.  Got updates from life in WeHa and life in CT.  Planned winter break reunions, summer jam sessions. And KRC updates…  Doing well for himself. :)  Got published.  Amazing.  You wish you had a friend as cool as him!

Family

Nothing can substitute for family.  Mom was so excited when I called today.  Dad says he’s going to skype me around my room at home so I won’t feel homesick! :)

Conard won last night.  And they were on the news.  Amazing – how come the football team is good now?

Things from Home

Here’s where the laugh comes in.  Grandma’s “November” package arrived today.  Safe to say, I’m going to have to bake some cake soon to use up all of the cake mixes she keeps sending!  But in and among the things in the package was a bag of M&Ms.  Not your normal chocolate covered candies though.  No, these were special.  Special green peanut M&Ms.  Yes, the whole package.  All green.  All peanut.  All M&Ms.

So why green?  Well, I guess there’s a story behind it:

According to the package: “What is it about the green ones?  Honey, let’s talk!  People are always asking me about their… ummm, special powers.  Are they for real?  There’s only one way to find out!”

“mPORTANT NOTICE: Consumption of The Green Ones may result in elevated Romance Levels.  If you experience this effect, contact your Significant Other immediately.  No official agency has verified these statements… but what do they know about romance anyway?”

Yeah, you read that right.  My Grandma sent me candy that’s retailed as an aphrodisiac.  Subtle Grandma, subtle.

And now I have something to talk to her about when I call her later in the week.  Crazy!  Welcome to my life. :)

Live – The Little Things

Grabbing a Dunkin’ treat as a reward for finishing an 20-page annotated bibliography

Getting out of class 10 minutes early

Finding a surprise in a package from home

Running into someone you know, instead of the stranger you were expecting

Getting your weekly dose of southern hospitality in the form of LSAT class

Chatting with Mom on the walk to class

Making it halfway through the week

As you may have all noticed – this blog has transformed from political commentary on the 2008 election, to travels in London, and now into a mix of personal thoughts and political ideas.

In order to set everything straight – here’s what’s up.

Life is hectic.  Crazy, one might even say.  My political thoughts are hashed out in hour long chats with professors, friends, and family.  My personal ideas are kept inside, away from everyone.  Hidden.

In order to come to terms with everything that’s happening in my life – the role of this blog needs to change.

Don’t worry, I’ll still post interesting political stories and policy briefs from time to time.  But starting today, a hopefully new daily feature will begin to emerge.  Entitled, “Live. Laugh. Love. + [Date]” and filed under the life category, you will be given a chance to glimpse at some thoughts that go through my mind everyday.

It’s better to let some things go and let some people in, they say.  This blog and these posts will hopefully allow me to do that.  While I’ll try to keep the post short, simple, and happy – as that would probably best for my personal state – “Live. Laugh. Love” posts may also be reflective, sad, and angry.

Are you ready?

Glee + Baseball = Life is Complete!

Wolfers nails it:

Running is often touted as a particularly cheap sport. All you need is a pair of shoes and off you go.

—

The foundation of all economics is something called opportunity cost. It says that the true cost of something is the alternative you have to give up.

So each hour that I spend running is an hour that I don’t spend hanging out, working or sleeping. How do I choose? Following economic theory, I keep doing an activity only as long as it yields greater benefits than the alternative.

School starts in about two weeks, so that means that more posts will be coming.  Hopefully, I’ll be up to daily blogging around October – depending on my schedule.

Here are some of the things I’ve been doing this summer – instead of blogging:

- Visit in Boston at the end of April.

- Internship at the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission – seriously, this was such an amazing experience.  Expect many future posts on voting and elections law.

- Working for pocket change at Target – softlines!

- Nannying for Annabelle (and Toby sometimes).

- Both of my brothers graduated – Aaron from high school (he’s headed off to UConn), Adam from middle school.

- Family reunion around graduation time- my mother’s family came from all over the country.

- Family trip to Baltimore to see the Sox play at the end of June.

- Aaron’s 18th birthday in June, parents wedding anniversary, Dad’s 50th birthday in August.

- Reading – currently: And the Band Played On

- Studying for the LSATs – almost 2 months worth of prep done (10 more to go)!

And that’s pretty much about it.  It’s been a busy summer, but I’m ready to go back to school – 4 months of vacation is a lot (although I say that now…)

If I’m Rachel, you’re Phoebe.  And he’s Ross.

—

A: I don’t get him sometimes.

J:  He totally fucked us up in high school.

A: He’s a walking psych case!

J: Yeah, he’s crazy.  Did you see how close he was sitting next to me on the couch.

A:  I didn’t, but it was close?

J:  Yeah, and I was like, “[friend] you have a girlfriend.  Back off.”

A:  Yeah about that, you know he asked me for permission first.

J: For what?

A: When he first started going out with her.  Last winter, when we were both home on break.  He asked me if it was okay.  If I approved.

J:  Weird.  Obviously you approved?  I mean she’s what, 15?  God!

A:  She’s only a year younger.  And she seems nice.  And he likes her.  In the end, I have to trust his judgment.

J: Yeah, I guess.  But he and [another girl] totally hooked up all the time way back in high school and I know you don’t like her.

A: It’s not that I don’t like her.  It’s the fact that I was annoyed that she tried to be my friend so she could get in his pants.

J: She did that?

A: Yeah, and boy, he knew I did not approve of her.  I made that very clear, many times.

J:  God, I don’t get him.

A:  He’s a very long saga – especially for us.  But he’s a good friend and I think he means well.  He is nice

J:  He’s nice, but sometimes it’s just intense.

A:  Yeah, like when he and [one of our guy friends] found out about [something that happened to me], they were pissed.  And I was like, “Chill guys, you don’t even know [this other kid].

J:  What?  How did that even come up?  What did they say?

A:  Oh, they were going to go like kick his ass or something.  It was hilarious.  And no, they weren’t joking.

J:  Lol!

A:  Well that’s [the boy we've been talking about this whole conversation]; he’s really protective.

J:  Of you?  Yeah, everyone knows that!

A:  Yeah, but not kids at school!  I guess I’m lucky that Worcester is an hour away – gives me some time to prepare!

J:  He’s come to visit you?

A: Haha no.  He wanted to, but I told him no.

J:  Why?

A: Well the reason he gave.  I mean, I don’t think he would ever fight someone, but he wanted to come up to Boston and talk to some people.

J:  Oh god!

A: Yeah, and that’s why he couldn’t come.  I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.

J:  Yeah.  He is way overprotective of you!

A:  Yeah he is.

J:  At least you’ve totally reached the friend stage at this point.

A:  Only took 6 years!

J:  And you will always love him.

A:  And so will you.

J: And he will always love both of us.

—

At Borders today, I picked up a book entitled “What Does Your Birthday Say About You.”  I read the entry for both my birthday and my mom’s and they fit so well, I went on a little google search.  Here’s what the internet says about my birthday, September 27th.  See how much is really me and what really isn’t!

27 – SELFLESSNESS HUMANITARIANISM – You have a deep yearning for knowledge.  You use your logical mind and strong intuition to guide you.  You get psychic haunches and dreams.  Your emotional side; however, is not that predictable.  You are rooted in your spirituality and may love nature, yoga, meditation, or living in the country.  You are well mannered, the perfect guest or perfect host.  You have a loving, generous, sensitive nature and work well with others.  You are broad-minded and tolerant showing much sympathy and compassion.  Your sensitivity could cause some mood swings.  Your empathic nature may lead you into sympathy pains.  For this reason you may want to withdraw because you feel so vulnerable.  Perfectionism may cause you to be hard on yourself.  The sense of perfection may also lead you to not feeling good enough.  In relationships you are affectionate and seek a partner to nurture.  You have the ability to make your partner feel special.  The physical influence of a 27/9 may be red hair and freckles, high cheekbones and a high voice.  You often have long legs.  You might be prone to skin allergies or headaches or blood sugar imbalances.  You may work as a diplomat, peacemaker, humanitarian or leader in any field.  Other careers may be in philosophy, psychology, spirituality, history, therapy, medicine, or art.

You’ll Have 5 True Loves

For you, love is a feeling that lingers for really long time – even after a relationship is totally over.  In fact, you still make have strong feelings for the first person you fell in love with.  You usually are reluctant to end relationships. And sometimes you’re the last to know that things are ending!  Number of Times You’ll Have Your Heart Broken: 5.   You are most compatible with people born on the 9th, 18th, and 27th of the month.

You Are a Sage

You are a spiritual soul – a person who tries to find meaning in everything.  You spend a good amount of time meditating, trying to figure out life.  Helping others is also important to you. You enjoy social activities with that goal.  You are very generous and giving. Yet you expect very little in return.  Your strength: Getting along with anyone and everyone.  Your weakness: Needing a good amount of downtime to recharge.  Your power color: Cobalt blue.  Your power symbol: Dove.  Your power month: September.