Cinderella's Lies

Ladies and Gentlemen - boys and girls. I have some very important news, that will most likely effect you. Disney has lied to us. Yes - that's right. They lied.

I remember as a 5 or 6 year old girl, I loved the Disney movie Aladdin. I wanted to be Princess Jasmine. I mean, who wouldn't want a cute boy to take them on a magic carpet ride? All the while he's singing her love songs, and they very quickly discover that they are, indeed, meant to be together. Soul Mates in fact. If I remember correctly, there were most likely fireworks in the sky during their wedding/first kiss. (*So often those happen at the same time in Disney movies. . . )

Well, here's the thing. Disney gave me unrealistic expectations. I honestly grew up expecting that when I got old enough, my Prince charming would show up. He would be more than perfect, fireworks would fly, he would wine and dine me - because the second we met, we'd both know that we were meant to be. Heck, cheesy music with unreal lyrics would also be playing in the background. Boys and girls, I'm here to tell you, it's all a stupid lie. I think that Disney has seriously screwed over the dating ethic here at Utah State - and after a few rants and raves with numerous friends on many different occasions, I'd like to do my part to try and dispell the horrible myths that Bell, Jasmine, and Cinderella have always led us to believe.

I think that we all expect to have some brilliant sign, some fireworks, butterflies, creepy crabs and seagulls singing - trying to persuade us to just go ahead and enjoy a first kiss. People - it's not real. I think that there is a growing trend of belief that if we're not feeling fire/sparks/butterflies within the first few weeks, we should just throw in the towel. Obviously, Cinderella would have been angry if Prince Charming didn't fall in love after that first dance. But what girls at USU do you see that have a fairy godmother, a pumpkin for a carriage, and mice that talk to them. That's right. All that stuff is crazy. So is the mentality that we must all be as the forementioned couple - and initially know that it's meant to be. Disney only had two hours to entertain little kids - but my dear friends, we've got plenty of time to figure out our own story. If we all just took a deep breathe and relaxed, Who knows! We might end up hearing the creepy little crab singing after all. :)

Elephants and Oddly Dressed People

wow. It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’m sure you’ve all deeply missed my thoughts on life, and so I decided to take a few minutes and share some things that have been on my mind lately. To start out with, the circus is in town. and I had the “awesome opportunity” to see the elephant parade. and I couldn’t help but ask myself, “What the heck????”

. . . . I’m just sitting her at my desk, coding away on some website, and I look out the window, and about 20 elephants are walking along the Trax rail. . . . ? “wow. an elephant” I thought - and then I snapped out of programming and thought, “Oh my Hell, an elephant!” Not only elephants my friends, elephants with bejeweled riders in brightly colored clothing. This strange array of elephants soon led me to asking the question of why the circus was ever invented in the first place? Were/are people so bored that we must make a spectacle of weirdly dressed people walking the tightrope and wearing gigantic shoes? Does anyone even think that’s entertaining? I mean sure. . .the elephants caught my eye. But mostly because I’m used to seeing the trax train, not an elephant train.

Onto better things. I - Kat the Geek - have decided that we all go through life faking it. Let me explain. I think we learn to use our imaginations at a very young age. When I was 4 -I could have sworn that my basement was a lake! I would walk around every single day in my swimming suit, and I would enjoy every second of my day, because everyday at my house was a day spent at the beach :) Well, I’m afraid that mentality has never really left me. You see, here I am. I’m 21, ready to graduate college - and I still live in a reality completely composed within my imagination. In Kat-land, I’m following all the right steps. Working hard in high school to get a scholarship, going to college - attending parties, dating, following the normal life of what college is “supposed” to be - in essence, just a constant future resume builder. My nights are spent at the library, then it’s on to Little Ceasear’s for some cheep pizza. Next step in life is obviously to find a job - so I did that too. What am I getting at you ask? . . . well, I’m just starting to question why we feel the necessity to imagine that we’re all supposed to follow that standard mold of what life should be? Aren’t we just acting as I did as a 4 yr old? Ignoring most of reality, just so I can have my day at the Beach?

I guess I should explain a little more . . . there is just so much going on in the world today. And yet, as young Americans, we’ve been trained to employ that imagination and just go along with our daily life, all too often ignoring the blatant and harsh realities that exist around us. What I’m not doing with this post is being pessimistic. What I am doing is petitioning myself to become a little less selfish. I get so caught up in the dream of what my life should become, I ignore those around me who could possibly be in need of my help. I need to come down a little bit from this life that I’ve always pursued and start to think about what I can do to let others reach what their imagination and dreams have always encouraged them to become. . . . only a thought

Internal Corporate Mayhem

So I just realized - my title makes no sense. But whatever. :) Those are three words that hit me in just the write way - and so I decided they'd peform well as my title.

Aww life. It's kinda funny, isn't it? Sometimes I serioulsy wish I had a rewind button. But - I wouldn't know what I know now - I'd just have had a little voice in my head, gently telling me to pull my head out :) I think it would ruin all the fun in life if we knew exactly what was going to happen to us in the future - it would take away that fun little shock and suprise that we so often encounter. Even though the anticipation, and all the unknowns kind of get to us at times, at the same time - they're what make life so beautifuL!

Another thing that I realized is this - I trust way too much. But I have also decided that that is an okay thing. I'd rather get burned than to not give people a complete chance. It's not the population of the world's fault that some people have burned us in the past. I think we owe it to the world to give everyone a fair chance. Yeah - some of them might completely make an idiot out of you - but you get over that soon enough!

Onto lighter matters - I have a serious addiction to Diet Coke. It's starting to scare me. .. and I might just have to quit. But alas - I probably won't! I have however, stopped eating tootsie rolls. I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world, and it's been killing me to pull back the reins on my sugar intake. I think that this lack of sugar has only enhanced my dependance on Diet Coke. . . so which do I choose? Or maybe I should just get some self control and stop both of them. . . yeah. That won't happen. But the thought was nice.

Oh, and to end this, I realized that the whole "Life's a garden, dig it" quote makes no sense. at least not to me. yeah  - it sounds all clever. . but what the crap does it mean? Please Explain!

Anatomy of an Elevator Ride

Okay - who has ever had an awkward elevator ride? I swear. . . .what is up with getting in a little miniature room with a complete stranger? We would never do that naturally - but yet, to avoid the pain of a few stairs, we do. I had the most awkward elevator ride yesterday! I was walking to work, got in the elevator, and sadly. . .i was not alone. A woman that works in the offices next to mine joined me. The ensueing 30 seconds were filled with a fog of intense awkwardness. It pressed down on me from every angle. . . do I say "how are you?" - "Nice day today. . ." "or Man alive, I wish it were friday". ??? Or - would it be better to sit in silence? It was apparent that we both were having an internal battle - to be social or a recluse? When the doors finally opened it gave me such immense releif I actually exhaled loudly.

From the elevator I then proceeded to my desk. speaking of awkard. .  let me give you a small visual of my department. there are 5 desks in the room, and yet there are only 4 corners. .. guess who's desk is parked in the middle of the room? Why yes - that would be mine! It's like i'm on display. . . so everytime I sit down, I just want to say, "Okay class, now pay attention" :) My network cable and telephone cord are stretched to my desk from across the room, and they consistenly trip my co-worker Josh. I had to pull out the duct tape and do some room-surgery, just to avoid a liability suit.

On a completely different note, I'm pleased to announce that in less than 48 hours, Harry Potter 7 is being released. I'm freaking out on the inside. well. . .that's about all there is to say about HP. Just know. . .i'm freaking out. Seriously.

On the matter of my life. .  it's great. I'm workin the corporate life now, going to meetings int he conference room, emailing clients. . .all that jazz. Life sure hits ya fast, and a part of me can't wait to get back to college. Even though I'll only be there til December - it's nice to know that I have at least 5 more months of "security". However, it's also nice to have a good job! To know that I can eat out at Taco Bell, and not have to starve for a few days after because of it. I can actually afford Taco Bell now! WOOHOO!

Harry. . Marry Me?!

The countdown is currently at 27 days and 22 hours. The countdown I'm referring to is none other than the release of my all-time favorite book, Harry Potter 7. How do I know it' smy favorite book? Well, cause I'm addicted to HP. Addicted. Well, I think I'd have a hard time blogging about that for a decent length, so instead I've decided to post some questions I have - (*I'm stealing this Idea from Marty . . .pure genius)

#1. Why do guys initiate a texting convo, only to end it awkwardly?

I cannot count the amount of times this has happened. I'll get a text from a guy, so i figure they want to say something more than the 5 words they initially said, only to get a response that makes it seem like I'm annoying them by responding. WTF?!

#2. Why does Utah not have one decent radio station?

We live in a very technologically advanced age - so why is it that I can never listen to a radio station for longer than 10 minutes without getting frustrated and just plugging in my ipod? Also - how is it that they all play commercials at the same time? Do they plan that?! I'm starting to decide that they've plotted against us from the beginning!

#3. Why has the "hang out" completely replaced dating?

I can't remember the last date I went on - but I hang out with guys a lot. Guys - there is nothing more confusing to a girl than hanging out with her. Please just put it out there - if you like her, ask her out. If you don't, make it obvious your hang-outs are only as friends. I'm sick of being confused about intentions. Thank You.

#4. Why Does Coca-Cola keep changing their selection?

I love Diet Coke. I love Diet Vanilla Coke - and then they took it away, only to be replaced with Diet Vanilla Cherry Coke. I grew to love that, and now it's gone! Where do they put it?! Is it really that hard to just give us a lot of options?!! Dear Coca-Cola, you are killing me slowly.

#5. Why can't we feel the earth spinning?

We're speeding through space at an alarming rate, but I can't feel that. . . why?! I'm glad I can't. . but it blows my mind. I mean heck, we're flying through space! And I can't feel a thing!

#6. Who came up with the idea of re-runs?

Who is the TV Exec that came up with this sick joke? I miss The Office, and I miss 24.. . . why do they do this to me?

#7. Why Can't we control who we Fall for?

I swear. . . there are so many people I wish I could fall in love with, but my heart just refuses. There is nothing wrong with these people, in fact they're completely perfect on paper. But when I put myself in the position, I just don't feel anything. And yet, I always have feelings for people that are completely wrong for me. . . why is that?

So there are just a few questions I've been thinking about lately. I know they sound negative - but I just thought I'd put them out there!

So life has been pretty great lately! I've got the best job in the world this summer, and I just get to witness kids changing their lives. It's amazing!!! I love the fact that I can just sit and watch these transformations happen! In a world that so often seems only negative and scary, I get to see the rising generation in all their glory! They're great! They're strong! and they give me lots of hope for tomorrow!

Also, I had a great talk with my dad last night. It sometimes scares me how much alike we are! I saw a picture of him on his wedding day (*yeah, he was my age when he got married) and it was eerie how much we look alike. If I cut off all my hair, I'd be his twin. . okay, not that extreme. . but almost! And as I talked with him last night, I saw where I got so many of my mannerisms, and personality traits! We talked for hours, and it was fabulous!!! I dunno if I've ever said this, but I really do have the most amazing family life ever! They are all my best friends, and I dunno what I'd do without them! I lucked out in the family department!

Well, I'm finally exhausted. This has been one really weird blog. . .but hey. I'm tired :) and I just ate a bunch of gummi-worms. . is that a good excuse?! Or would the fact that I'm w/0 a diet vanilla cherry coke work better?! :)