Category Archives: News

Swimming in the Flood

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These days have been ridiculous — and by ridiculous I insinuate they have been neither good nor bad. They really have just been really busy. I have never been so preoccupied in my college life. Early mornings are dedicated to getting my swol on at the gym, and later sitting down with a couple of my best friends for coffee and great talk. Then it’s off to class, work, class, and finally work again. Different weekdays have slightly different agenda arrangements, but these are my recurring five days in a nutshell. And now helping out on a research project, I have to cancel various work shifts just to fit this participation in. Fridays are my favorite, not only because it’s the day before the weekend, but because aside from my one class I get to work a solid six hours. I love working at the Center and having a source of income from doing something I enjoy.

Not tomorrow, though. This has been a crazy weather week. With already a couple two-hour delayed start days on campus due to snow/ice, tomorrow marks the actual first day the university has decided to close because of the massive amounts of precipitation. The melted snow and deluge of rainfall has caused extensive flooding in Corvallis, swaying President Ed Ray to close the university for safety precautions. This is very exciting for students, but partially bittersweet for me because I want my work hours.

It just all adds to the complexity of this term. And so I figured this very moment can be ironically envisioned as swimming in a flood. Not only are areas of our city underwater, but my life right now makes me feel like one would feel in the middle of a flood. You’re on edge, trying to get from one side to the other yet worried if your quick departure from point A to point B is wielding unseen mistakes. I extensively plan my days out, have my calendar, agenda, and reminder notifications all on my phone. Everything would be all so different and challenging without my iPhone — I’ve never thought I would need to use it this much beyond apps, calls, and texting.

The term has just started. By each week’s end I am gradually more exhausted. I hope and think I’ll make it through okay. I always tend to perform better in school when there’s more pressure on me. Like my usual approach to things in life, I say bring it on and let’s live it up!

 

A Little Frosting on the Cake

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Dayumn it’s exciting out there! Corvallis got coated with a good dusting of nice, dry snow. However, beneath this bliss is a glazing of troublesome ice. It’s not impossible to commute with whatever car you may use, but those drivers not too familiar with the rules of frozen roadways have shown to get a little taste of their haphazard approach to riding on four wheels. Even bicyclists are facing spills… Maybe that’s because they are peddling on those thin-profiled bikes (someone help me out here with the name) that are designed to have least amount of traction. In 30 minutes I witnessed two rear-end vehicle bumps and three bicycle wipeouts. That doesn’t count the two cars that spun out with their overpowered right turns.

I think I plan on heading north to Portland area this afternoon. I believe that even if the ice does not improve, I am an aware driver that understands slick driving. I don’t want to be overconfident because I know ice has a mind of it’s own. With a front-wheel-drive Camry, even my overrated traction control system wouldn’t have much help. But I hope once I can get out of the busy heart of Corvallis, the straightaways and Interstate 5 will be easily manageable with care.

My H210 teacher emailed everyone, saying class is still on for today. I think he is being lame not because I don’t want class, but because I even see people slipping on foot. It’s not a good idea.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this white pre-Thanksgiving — and be extra safe out there.

Published from my iPhone.

Outro/Study & Thoughts

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I’m a little over a week early at posting this, but I couldn’t pass up this most opportune time to write. I usually publish this posting, part of a collection, during “dead week” of each academic term. However, we just finished the eighth week so I am writing a bit prematurely. Oh well, it’s fun.

Anyway, I’m here at Starbucks (like usual) and really enjoying this moment in time. It’s fairly busy here granted they have their buy-one-get-one-free promotion on holiday drinks. So, what did I do when I got my drink? Yeah, I look like a two-fisted drinker as I got two tall beverages — a caramel brûlée latte (a recommendation from Lindsey) and a peppermint mocha. Plus, not to forget how “gordo” I feel getting two “calorious” (my self-invented word meaning “high in calories”) drinks all for myself. Again, oh well.

So, I’m sitting here going through my H210 textbook typing up notes, but I’m also looking around and just really taking a moment to enjoy my life. Instead of worrying about the things I cannot achieve right now or that I am currently frustrated with, I’m recognizing how fortunate I am to sit here in this warm environment with happy, conversing people — and to be able to smile and know that life is great. I look at the string of ornaments and lights Starbucks has strung in front of the window… and I smile. I look at the red coffee menus, adorned with cartoon-like white hills and snow-dusted trees… and I smile. The Christmas merchandise, the snowflake decals, the people in coats, sweaters, and scarves — all so perfect… and I smile.

Oprah said today (nothing else was on television — what was I supposed to do?!) that meditation is good because it clears your mental channels. Daydreaming is my form of meditation. When I pull my mind back to focus I feel so happy and content with the world. My worries are dulled and I look at them with more acceptance than resistance. I look around and I smile.

I’m very excited for this wave of cold weather rolling into the area in a couple of days. Even if it would bring snow, I know it’s not staying long. But even if it doesn’t snow, I still love the cold, cold weather — the idea of finishing all my to-dos and just curling up on the couch, nice and warm, and watching a movie or maybe reading — with the blinds drawn back and the view of a frigid outdoors, the cars going by, and a time seemingly standing still. So enjoyable!

Additionally, I am also stoked for Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Thanksgiving will be spent at my grandmother’s assisted living community. I like when we have Thanksgiving at our house — feels traditional and the full experience, but it is just as nice at my grandma’s because their is no food preparation and clean-up to do and you don’t really overeat or have to package up the leftovers (though, turkey and cranberry sandwiches are amazing).

But, then there’s Black Friday. Nyberg Woods Starbucks closes at 4pm on Thanksgiving day and opens the same night at 11pm and is open all the way through the end of Friday to cover the Black Friday midnight crowds coming and going. This year I am not really sure what I have my sights on for purchasing. It pains me because I have no real budget for spending — but I know that if you research and strategize correctly you can find the best prices of the year. My Nikon S570 I purchased last Black Friday is still going for a higher price than what I purchased it for when it was a new product to the market. Since then, an upgraded model has even been introduced — yet the price is still higher. That was a good buy. So, I will have to give it some thought and think about what I might be interested in getting — I suppose I should use Black Friday as a shopping advantage to buy items for others, rather than myself. That’s what the Christmas season is all about… Giving.

Tomorrow I’m going the the OSU vs. USC game with a bunch of friends. Our football season has been quite a wreck, but at least I can enjoy the time with the people that are close to me.

Well… It’s back to the textbook I go!

Remember You’re Alive

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I just heard news about the drowning of Wilsonville High School junior Colton Holly. He was near Albany, Oregon with his wrestling team at camp. They went in the river, and an hour later the coaches and team realized he was missing. Holly’s body was later found twenty feet under water by rescue divers.

I never stop thinking about the life of John Walls and Tommy Egger, but now another young life is lost amongst the flurry and confusion of fate. I can only imagine what the family, friends, and Wilsonville student and faculty body are going through. They are in my thoughts and prayers. We go each day and often take for granted each breath of air our lungs take in. Remember you’re alive because your next minute can be gone in an instant. People young and old die each day, let yourself not be one of them just yet.

Stay safe, my friends.

iPad… My Story.

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Recently, I nest-dropped on a Twitter conversation between two friends. The topic regarded how my friend, Matthew Oswald, was discontent with his iPad in sight of Apple’s announced iPhone 4. He continued to say that he was going to sell his iPad so that he could purchase the new iPhone once available. When questioned by my friend Eugene as to why he decided to sell, Matthew said that he finds his iPad as more of a toy than a tool – and an iPhone is a tool.

Now, I understand Matthew’s decision. I am not bringing this up for negative reasons. Rather, I write this because I’d like to share how I find my iPad more of a tool than a toy.

First of all, when I think of “toy” I think of games, instant messenger clients, and watching videos. Although I partake in these fun applications, I find myself using my iPad as more of a tool. For example, I’m blogging right now from WordPress on my iPad. This is a “tool” for staying devoted to my blog and publishing even when I’m not near my computer. It allows my thoughts to be posted as they are still fresh and unraveling in my mind. Also, my iPad helped me a lot when studying for finals. I had a perfect system set up at Starbucks where I had the iPad displaying my classes’ study guides. Then, I had a notebook with all my notes open adjacent to it — and next to that, comfortably in a writing position to my right, another notebook turned to a blank page where I would create my study guide. The iPad not only motivated me to study, but it also expedited the process.

The iPad is also a tool for me because I’m a news junkie. I feel like I’ve been really out of touch on the news lately (top stories, tech, lifestyle, etc.), but with my iPad I use applications like Pulse, Newsy, USA Today, NPR, and BBC News to access information from our nation, world, and my own RSS feeds. Furthermore, I’m getting information from a variety of different perspectives. Newsy, for example, covers larger news stories in the strict form of video reports by using and citing information from a range of other sources. They don’t collect their own information. I think this is great because not only is news more fun to learn about, but also it has less of a bias or inaccuracy factor to it.

Finally, the iPad can be a gateway to bridging old and new media together. For example, I just found an application called “Narrative”. It’s a non-profit literary magazine that publishes anything from short stories to cartoons. The iPad is a tool for me because it is one device that promotes positive behaviors, methods, and actions all across other areas — like reading and study habits. Yet, at the same time, I can use it as a toy whenever I choose so — but as of now I feel like it’s my little companion. I am definitely happy with my iPad.

Published from my iPad.

Take a Bite

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Tomorrow is another big day in the tech world. It’s like all the technology junkies hold their breath from now until the event is over tomorrow morning. I will certainly be following the live-blogging on Engadget – I’m so excited to see how I can spend all my money that I don’t really have to use! Still, it will be great to see what Cupertino has been working on… Plus iPhone OS 4.0? Sock’it to me!

Remember… January 27, 2010 @ 10AM PST