Crime too close to home

One of my worst nightmares has been splashed across the front page of the SMU newspaper, "The Daily Campus"..and it's hitting far too close to home.

An SMU student was kidnapped and raped at gunpoint only a few short blocks from campus, and then left, naked, roaming the streets until a passerby helped her. (Read more)

My thoughts and prayers go out to the woman, and her friends who witnessed the kidnapping. However, it makes me wonder. How safe are we?
My mother has always told me to stay in groups. This girl was in a group of three.
She also has advised to keep close to campus, and know where the nearest help can be. They all did.
It's a scary thought that no matter the precautions one takes, the pure strength of a girl like me vs a middle aged man could decide my fate. And the idea that anyone would want to hurt an innocent girl like the 20 year old that was attacked is frightening in itself.

So, please. Take care of yourselves, watch your back ladies. And boys, please watch out for the girls in your life.

Tips to stay safe:
-Stay in groups
-Walk in lighted areas
-Have your cell phone with you
-Always inform someone of where you are, where you're going
-Buy pepper spray

Above all- stay aware of your surroundings.

CARDS!

So I don't know about you, but every year my mailbox gets full to the brim of Holiday cards.

Whether it be a Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Happy Holidays, or Happy New Years card..they all slooowly find their way to my kitchen counter where my family picks apart the cards.

Looking at pictures of each family that chooses to send a photo, appreciating the nice paper or the fancy photography- it's a wonder what these are really for?

Are the cards really what they're meant to be- to wish each receiver a very blessed holiday, another year filled with peace and joy?

I feel as though some of the Holiday cards I receive are no longer to spread good cheer, but to ensure each receiver knows just how well the senders are doing.

Which makes me think..

Have Christmas cards become an egotistical way to broadcast family success?

I sure hope not...I was wearing a Santa hat for this year's.

Persuasive

For my persuasive essay, I chose to focus my attention on the affects the recession has been having on the holiday season. Our country has been struggling with our economic stability for the past two years, and unemployment rates have skyrocketed.
So many people have been struggling to make ends meet- it makes me wonder what they'll do for the holidays? And what about the people who are blessed enough to not feel the burn of the economy. Everyone can afford to help out during this holiday season.

In my essay I elaborate on the spirit of Christmas- that it's all really about helping one another, peace, love, and joy for all. It's not about the gifts. It's about how humans should be there for one another.
I go into further explanations about how easy it is to give this season- through charities and organizations needing volunteers, of both time and money.
And for the people who can afford it- to spend less time on themselves with usually useless gifts, and give more to people who really need it this season. After all, it is "better to give than to receive"

walk of shame vs stride of pride

Being a girl, I'm going to have to admit college has been a little bit easier for me in some facets.

For once, I almost never have to pay for cabs or drinks when I'm out, and it is a lottt easier to get into parties that are otherwise full to males.

However, there are some issues that are really bothering me (being a girl) now that I'm in college.

For example, the whole hooking up scene and the countless "walks of shame" I've witnessed are becoming ridiculous. I'm not here to be hypocritical whatsoever, as I'd be lying if I said I haven't experienced it myself... but I feel like some aspects of the issue are just wrong. The thing that really gets me about those walks are the amount of bragging and jokes I hear after them from the guys. It sickens me that men are finding humor in making a girl walk back the morning after a hookup, usually wearing what she wore the night before. Some of the boys seem to keep their fingers crossed in hopes that someone they know will see said girl on her walk back. I know most of the time It's just a one-night-only thing, but really? A girl you seemed to really like and want to be with 12 hours ago you're now making fun of because she had an awkward walk home?

On the other hand, some people love these walks back, as though they just won sort of competition. In these cases, it's no longer the walk of shame, but the "Stride of Pride". I guess if you're gonna walk back in last nights heels- you better walk like you're damn proud of it.

What's your take?

Down like the Economy

I hate to be the millionth person blogging about the economy, but I can't help it.

I never really paid too much attention to money when I was in high school (also hate admitting that), but I never had to really pay attention to how much I was spending. And no, no I am not a very wealthy person, surely I'm blessed but I appreciate what I have. I just never paid that much attention to it, because frankly, the thought of the real world and money issues just scared me silly.

But now that I'm in college I'm realizing just how dang expensive everything is. In the last two months, I've spent money on outfits for themed parties, food when I'm sick of Umphrey Lee, and the trivial things I used to take for granted (who knew how expensive toothpaste and bottles of water are?) And now that Halloween is here, I can't help but freak out at the idea that I'm supposed to have 4 different costumes for different parties!? Killin me smalls.

I appreciate everything now so much more, and all these realizations have been scary but necessary. I've learned to become much more resourceful. Can anyone say "heelllooo closet shopping!?"

Sea Breeze Memories

"So the crabs actually like to eat this stuff?" my eight-year-old cousin Travis asks me, perplexed and anxious to get the crabbing on its way as he clumsily smashes a few black and slimy mussels apart. The "art" of crabbing has been mastered by me, my brother, and all our cousins preceding us; and now I was passing it onto my younger cousin on a clear, sunny July day. I just hoped he would appreciate this pastime as much as we all had…or at the very least catch a crab.

Standing at that jetty on the little beach near my house, the slight sea breeze brings me back to when I was Travis' age, learning the ways and secrets of crabbing at this exact spot so many summers ago.

I've been coming to Rhode Island every summer since I was born, spending the sunny two months with my extensive Italian family that seems to take up about half the state. And each summer, I've spent the majority of my time with my cousins. We've gone through it all together, from the days of sandcastles and crabbing to nowadays spending late nights together and going on road trips…and we always look forward to rekindling our fun once June rolls around and we're all together again.

When I learned to successfully tie a clothes-hanger to a piece of string, crack open slimy mussels found on the wet rocks of the jetty, and put that piece of mussel on the clothes-hanger was a rite of passage for me. Although all my hard work was only dropped down as a delectably seducing meal for the crabs in the water below, the whole process made me feel tied to my family. It was a part of our past, and a part of our future. I learned at a young age to enjoy life's simplicities, and through this simple hobby, I was able to be entertained for hours in the company of my family. My cousins and I would go crabbing for whole afternoons, talking and laughing as we waited for our victims to bite, tallying up our score and at the end of the day letting our crabs free (after a race to see who's crabs were faster, of course). It was through those afternoons our family secrets, our hopes and dreams for when we were" grown up", and everything in between were shared with one another.

In my family, crabbing is quite the tradition. Each cousin teaches the younger ones how to do it correctly, effectively, and especially how to handle the crabs without getting our fingers pinched off. Since I have about seventy cousins, it seems to be a never-ending cycle, as new cousins are always being added to our clan. Today, it was my turn; teaching Travis this fine art and passing the family torch. I only hoped Travis' days of crabbing would mean much more to him than just a fun way to catch some crabs. To us, crabbing was a bonding experience, silly yet monumental enough to be classified as some of the most important memories in my childhood. And with such hope, I continued my teaching.

"Yes Travy, for some reason, crabs like the mussels. You'll catch one in no time, just drop it into the water and don't move it around too much. Be patient!" And I was right; soon a small red crab scuttled out from his home, curious to see what was going on. A free meal? Snag. Pull. And with a little confusion, fast words of instruction, and much excitement on both our parts, Travis had caught his first crab, gotten it out of the water safely, and into a bright pink pail...with my help. And just like that, I felt older. I felt experienced, and so much closer to my little cousin and the cousins before me. As he and I giggled over the crab trying to get out of his temporary home, Travis and I looked at each other with bright eyes and I knew that neither one of us would forget this simple memory anytime soon. Me, Travis, and our little crab.

Rush Rush RUSH

I’ve only been in school for about two weeks, and I feel like I hear about one topic of conversation more than anything else:

 

Rush.

I know we’re in a Southern school, and that “going Greek” is one of the most popular activities on campus. Personally, I fully plan on going Greek and I think it’s great If people do and it’s super if people don’t as well. However, is it becoming too hyped up? I constantly hear of the things girls should not do in order to get into the best sorority possible. It’s as though the freshman girls are scared silly into editing themselves to fit into a mold. Then on the other hand, the freshmen boys are being taken out on the daily, invited to events and bonding with the older frat boys. So, what gives?

I’ve met some great sorority girls that I would love to be “sisters” with, and I feel like the approach I’m having is a pretty good one. I don’t feel like I should change who I am in order to get into a “good” sorority. I’m confident by the end of the day, I’ll be in the right one for me. I think that should go for everyone else as well: Breathe, you’ll be exactly where you’re supposed to be at the end of the day by being yourself.