Patience

No. I am not going to be busting out into a cheesy Nick Lachey song...yet. So today is the Monday back from spring break and campus reeks of lazy college kids who just want to go back to sleep. And apparently the weather has a hangover, too. Is it rain? Is it snow? No one knows...
After a euphoric and adventurous journey to the east, full of dog-sitting, drained bank accounts, and being kidnapped by a ninja in a polka-dot thong, I finally began my antagonizing trip back to Nebraska...via standby flying. Yuck. Years ago it was no problem for my whole fam to hop on a plane and fly to visit our friends and family (my dad's a pilot, so we fly for free, but we're not guaranteed a seat), but after the airlines started loosing money they had to fill up the planes to make up for the money. The last fews trips I've taken almost every flight has been oversold. Although my mother tried explaining the thought process behind purposely overselling flights, I still don't understand it. It's called stress people: no one likes it. Especially standby passengers. Ok ok, Mom, yes it's a fun adventure and I should just not worry about missing a flight and enjoy the ride...and the extra moolah put into my bank account for a cinnamon dolce latte at Starbucks. However, when my boyfriend is sitting at the airport in Omaha waiting for an hour because of my delayed flight (darn peanut truck), then there's a problem.
So the purpose of my title of "Patience" was portrayed in a stranded flight attendant I happened to run into in the Raleigh-Durham airport. After my 8:30 flight to Atlanta had been oversold and therefore I was unable to jump on, I was doing some Sudoku by the gate and a flight attendant walked up to the table. I knew she wasn't working the table because of her different uniform...apparently I'm a nerd. Whatever. Well, she was on the computer trying to check flights and a man walked up to the counter and started pouring out his problems to her. "Sir, I'm sorry. I don't work here...I'm a flight attendant." After he got the message that she couldn't help him, he left...but a few seconds later another man walked up to her. She gave him the same message. Then another one. And about five more behind him. While I was sitting there trying so hard not to laugh, the flight attendant was able to keep her cool and calmly explain to every single one of the people that came up to the desk that she was unable to assist them. The funny thing was, everyone in line was on some sort of device...phone...ipod...whatever. They were so enthralled in their mobile devices that they were unaware of the fact that this woman had just said "sorry I can't help you" to the guy right in front of him. Before I could give kudos to this flight attendant for not exploding on this hoard of people, she found her flight and left the gate.
Yup. That's pretty much my story. Oh, and I made it back to Omaha that day, catching a secret flight out of Atlanta. The fact that the lady at the gate called it secret made it that much more awesome when I got on. Perhaps I had become the ninja? No polka-dot thong though. I don't like butt floss.
So to close I will leave you with some inspiring words......Cause I Need time My heart is numb, has no feeling So while I'm still healing Just try and have a little patience......

Applications

Ok this is going to be a really short post...more of just a random media related thought. I am filling out an application and all it asks for as far as somehow to get a hold of me is my email and my CELL phone. Not home phone. Not work phone. Not even "phone" in general. But CELL phone. Just stating more of the advancement of mobile communications, I supposed.

I Like Epiphanies

So stress is a word that every college student is used to encountering on a daily basis. Whether you're swamped with homework, annoyed by teachers, sick, or just plain tired, the show must go on. I'm very thankful that the people I vent to during these times don't just say, "shut up...get over it" but actually say, "ya life may suck right now, but you're strong and I know you will make it through."
My mom is one of my main venters. After putting three kids through high school I'm not surprised she has become a pro at this.
I recently started a nannying position with a 12 and 14-year-old. Since they're not really kids, the main thing I wanted to accomplish with them is a connection. Being able to communicate...to not just be the college kid who picks them up from school and cleans up the house. To accomplish this goal, I called my mom on my way to my first day of nannying. There was a quote my mother always used when I was younger, and though I thought it was extremely annoying, now she's a genius. I called to get the exact wording of this question: "what was the best part of your day?" The main reason this wording is used and not just, "how was your day?" is that it requires more than a one word or yes/no answer. It starts a conversation. Another big part I love about this one sentence (though I couldn't stand it when it was directed towards teenage me) is that it makes you think in a positive light. There is always something in your day that was better than something else. I was successful when I tried it earlier this week. And the part I loved was that they didn't hesitate or whine saying, "uh. I don't know" because then I would have to push them. So the reason I have "epiphany" in my title is that I want to be a more positive person. Though this will probably take some time and getting used to, I feel that it is an amazing goal that I definitely plan to keep up.
Oh, so I'm going to make this a media post, too. Media, media, media!!! Haha jk. I'm actually doing this post on my iPod before class starts while listening to Santana. Life definitely is good :)

Emotional Stress Caused By Annoying People

So in class today we watched a few videos about the Westboro Baptist Church with their recent hearings of a case that went to the Supreme Court. If you don't know who they are, you are lucky you weren't the one with a migraine after hearing the crap these people say.
Ok. Breathe. This is the whole point of this post. First of all, these people do what they do because it gets them publicity. If you attack the media, you get attention...yes, just like a whiney two-year-old. Secondly, really annoying people get us to just that point: annoyed. Stressed. Pushed to an emotional limit.
Ok, so in case you don't know who they are, The Westboro Baptist Church, based out of Kansas, who are widely known for their extreme and non-shy protests as Anti-gay and Anti-war people. They are seen at funerals of fallen soldiers from Iraq and also protested two boys going to prom together.
So now that I have got your "WTF" buttons pushed, we'll move to my real feelings and thoughts of this group. My first thought when this subject came up in class was that we should go protest them. They're all about free speech. Maybe we could just get a group together and go picket their outlandish remarks like they do to the poor families of fallen soldiers. No, Megan. I tell myself. What's better? We should not stoop to the level of these people. Just because someone does something bad to you doesn't mean you have the right to do it back. This group is pushing people to their limits and they choose some of the most emotional moments to antagonize people even more. Because of these outrageous protests we let our emotions get the best of us. Yes, even if by our Constitution it is legal, I truly think it is absolutely ridiculous to let protestors tell a woman who just lost her son that that son was killed because the mom didn't teach him the ways of God.
We watched an older video of Hannity and Colmes interviewing Shirley Phelps, one of the leaders of the Westboro Baptist Church. They just end up laughing because they are realizing that they can't win. You eventually have to just shut up because you can't make a point with them. This is a good example of where these men could have let emotions get the best of them (there were definitely some riled up people in class).
However, there are people who are letting their emotions get the best of them, but in a positive manner. The Patriot Riders and other similar groups are truly the type of backlash that is needed in this situation: a good samaritan. The Patriot Riders are motorcyclist veterans who attend funerals of Iraqi War victims as a sort of barrier or act as a bodyguard between the protestors and the grieving family members. These men are truly remarkable and amazing individuals.
Phew. Ok. Got the emotions raging again. I could talk for hours about how just plain stupid this group's actions are, but like I said. I am not going to stoop to their level...though I already have dropped a little for publicly ousting my opinions. I'm alright with that though. I want to dedicate this post to those good samaritans who are being a positive comeback to all the negativism that this group portrays.

Geez. Hold Your Horses.

Slow it down, media. You're moving too fast for us. So I was studying some terms for journalism class and came across an interestingly defined word. "Time shift: recording an audio or video event for viewing later rather than when the event was originally broadcast--setting a VCR to record a favorite program while on is out is an example of time shifting". Did you hear...uh I mean see that? VCR. Do those things even exist anymore? Or at least, would they even work? DVDs are almost becoming obsolete and I'm being given an example of VCR recording as an example? Do kids nowadays even know what a VCR is? Oh, another! So my sister and her hubby got iPhones when the first came out. A few months later they were already introducing the new iPhone. Chill, people! I still don't even have a phone with a data plan! Yes, Dan, make fun of my ancient p.o.s. phone again, please.
Movies and phones are not the only form of speedy media, though. I miss the good 'ole days of my brother's Nintendo 64. Mostly because I could actually use the controller. (Also because I have this weird thing where I actually enjoy watching boys play video games?? Ya, ya, weird, I know. That's another story.) So after the 64 got to where you have to blow into the game and pray that it won't freeze up, I pretty much lost all hope for ever being able to actually play a video game. Needless to say, I turned to simply watching. However, I have now been introduced to the PS3 game of Little Big Planet, where one player created a Mario level. After a little time of thinking the high tech PS3 controller was way too advanced for me, I gave in. Bam. I won the level and didn't totally suck. 

Go wash your hands!

via Google images

So I haven't posted for awhile. That's what happens when you get sick in college. After a few days of some rather long naps (which are in general very odd for me) I finally went to the doctor since I was too tired to get out of bed for class. She didn't think anything was terribly wrong, but it got worse. Friday night my mom and brother drove the five hours with time change from Imperial to Lincoln to pick me up for the weekend so I could get better. They thought it would be smart for my brother to drive my car home (after he played around the eastern part of the state of course) so I would be able to drive home Sunday in time for class. Fail. Around Saturday afternoon I started getting nasally symptoms and could barely drive three blocks. After missing classes again on Monday, my mother's friend came up with a truly amazing idea. I would drive my car with my mom in her car to McCook, where we would drop off her car at the Amtrak train station. My mom then proceeded to drive us to Lincoln, and then I dropped her off at the Amtrak station in the Haymarket for her 12:05 am train to McCook, where she would then make the hour drive home. Ingenious. Of course, I skipped classes again the next day and ended up going to the doctor where she told me a had a severe ear and sinus infection. No worries though, with that P.A.'s signature in hand, I made a quick trip to Walgreen's and I am all better!

via Google images

So first off, being sick in college sucks, yes, but once you're all better comes the hard part: makeup time. with the six days I missed of classes I had a lot of stuff to catch up on. Thankfully, most of my professors are very supportive and are telling me to take me time in my makeup work.
Secondly, trains: they are pure brilliance. With the ridiculous increase in gas prices, it's going to get harder and harder for me to be able to make a quick trip home. The hours lost while driving also could be put toward study time, I'm adding mileage to my car, and a total of ten hours of driving within three days can put a toll on anyone. So my next trip home I am taking the train, studying and/or sleeping the three and a half hour trip to McCook where my wonderful mother will pick me up. Life is good.

Facebook is now totally awesome

I would like to dedicate this post to my AWESOME brother, Lucas, who has just introduced me to a side of Facebook I apparently didn't know existed: the totally fun side.
So you know Facebook can be translated into multiple languages. But did you know that "pirate" is one of them?? Ha. No I'm not illegally copying dvds in my spare time. I swear if you check this out you will fall in love and laugh your head off every chance you get to partake in a Facebook excursion.

via my bro's Facebook profile...I apologize for small print on it!

As my picture shows you, this addition is BOMB, and therefore, here are the instructions to become a pirate, like myself.
Go to your account, then languages. There will be a scroll thingy where you can change your Facebook account to translate into tons of different languages. After the normal alphabetized set of languages, it will eventually say, "English (pirate)". Once you click this, you will never go back. And yes, a giant "p" will magically emerge on your arm (for "pirate", for those of you who are weird and haven't seen Pirates of the Caribbean) and you will get strange addictions to rum.
Good luck, mateys. May we speak in pirate-anese soon. Arr!