Take a break part 1

Naps are wonderful, wonderful things. I don’t think I’d survive college if I couldn’t take a nap. What I find interesting is that some people refuse to take naps because they think they could be doing something else and not wasting time. WebMD would like to disagree.

According to their article, there are some important things to do before taking a nap:

-know when to nap. Create your own checklist. Things like a lack in judgment, slower reaction time, and reduced communication skills are some signs that you might want to shut your eyes for a few.

-control your environment. Make it the right temperature, the right amount of silence, the right amount of light.

-get out your blankie. Pull out that blanket or that pillow that makes your comfortable. If there’s a certain CD that lulls you to sleep, pop it in. know if you need to eat or not before you nap.

-know your sleep inertia. Sleep inertia, as defined in the article, “is that groggy and disoriented feeling some people get when you wake up from a nap.” Some people only need a 10 minute nap before falling into that groggy feeling. For others, it’s 20 minutes. Have a little wake up pick me up, such as a brisk walk or splashing water on your face.

-don’t overdo it. If your nap starts going into the 25+ minute range, you may affect your ability to sleep at night, which is when it really counts.

-don’t be interrupted from your nap. It makes everything worse, ruins the benefits that you get from napping, and is over all just a pain in the butt. Remember parents waking you up too early in the morning? It’s like that, but worse.

-set an alarm. You don’t want to go over that 25 minute mark, as mentioned before. And you don’t want to miss those classes or meetings. Set an alarm clock, a watch, or have someone wake you when it’s time.

-enjoy your nap. Nap time is your time.

For those of you who don’t believe that naps are beneficial, then I ask you this: why does NASA have nap time? According to the article, they “gave the pilots a planned nap in the cockpit…While two pilots flew the plane, the third would have 40 minutes to nap. We found they would sleep for 26 minutes, which boosted their performance by 34% and their alertness by 54%.”

So, enjoy your nap, but remember to nap responsibly. And please don’t torture your napping roommate.

(photo courtesy of me! yes, that's my baby puppy)

Free money?

You are now old enough to get a credit card. Plenty of companies are willing to give you one. You can even get them with rewards. Best of all you don’t have the money to spend your money. There are many arguments for and against credit cards.

The first thing you need to decide is should you get a credit card. There are several pros and cons for getting a card.

Pro:
Don’t have to have money now
Get rewards
Build credit
More convenient than cash

Con:
Put yourself in dept
Hurt credit rating

You may have noticed that a pro is build credit, while a con is hurt credit. A credit card is what you make it. If you pay you balance if it will help build your credit rating. If you don’t pay your balance it will hurt your credit rating. It is really way more complicated that, but that is basically how it works. Your credit rating is extremely important. You might not care right now, but you will in the future. It becomes important when you want to go buy a house or a car.

I personally love credit cards. I only have two though. Having two many can hurt your credit as well. I use it for the convince factor. That way I don’t need cash. Also I get rewards from my card. I use to knowing full well that I have the money to pay for the bill, but I rather get rewards. At the end of every month, I pay the bill off in full.

I don’t think someone should use a credit card if you don’t have the money to pay off the bill. I suggest that instead you either just use cash or use a debit card to access the money you do have. If you don’t pay your bill off they charge you interest on the balance which means the next month you will owe even more money even if you did not charge anything else.

If you decide to get a card, get a card from a major bank such as Chase or Citi. Don’t bother to get one from a local bank because they will not offer you things that the big ones will. The local banks will most likely not offer you rewards. Also they will not offer you as high or a limit or one that automatically goes up the longer you have been with them.

Get out of the dorm!

I don’t care how cozy your dorm room is, everyone needs to get out of the dorm, off campus, and just spend a day or two doing nothing school related. Everyone needs to explore.

I’ve never really been the adventurous, spontaneous type. October Break was the perfect time for me to get away from school and find all the nooks and crannies that make up Lafayette and West Lafayette.

I started off at Kokoro, a Japanese restaurant. The food is amazing. It’s pricy, but I believe it’s totally worth it. My comrade (who shall remain nameless for now, but knows who he is) is the one who originally introduced me to the place.

After food, just start walking around down town. Look around. There are plenty of spiffy little shops to find. When you explore, you tend to learn things that you never would’ve expected. For example, how many people know that Lafayette is a well known place for homeless people across America?

This may make me sound like more of a tourist, but go do all the touristy things. Walk across the bridge. Explore the train station. And take a friend and a camera with you. There are some spots in Lafayette at night that are picture worthy.

By all means, don’t limit yourself to one day! I’ll put up pictures when I get them.

Carefully choose your bike

I highly recommend that people bring a bike with them to college since some of the dorms are far from campus. With having a bike you don’t have to spend as much time going to class which means more time to sleep in the morning. You need to think carefully about what type of bike you bring though.

There are several reasons you may not want to bring your favorite and probably expensive bike to college. No matter how good the bike, it will most likely be a pile of junk soon. At home most people do not leave there bikes outside, but in college most people leave there bikes locked to the bike rack year round, outside. The weather is not very kind to bike, it will cause rust all over.

Other bad things that happen are caused by other people. Some people find it fun to go around and jump on peoples tires and bend them, making the bike unrideable. Another thing that happens is people steal them if they are worth anything or just for fun. If you look at the bike racks around campus you will see just parts of bikes locked to the racks. Sometimes you will see just a front tire on the bike rack or sometimes just the frame. This is because the lock on the bike was a good lock that could not be cut easily, or it was not locked up properly. If just the frame was left, it was locked up pretty good, but you must have had an expensive bike and the parts were worth a lot. If only the front tire is there, it means the person did not run the lock through the frame.

When you lock up your bike, make sure it goes through your frame and front wheel. This way they can’t just disconnect your front wheel and take the rest of the bike. On my bike I actually have to lock both wheels and the frame because both wheels have quick releases meaning they can be taken off in a few seconds.

I suggest the if you do not have a bike that you do not mind throwing out at the end of the school year due to rust and damage, go to Wal-Mart. You can get a bike there cheap; I believe they are $50-$60. This way you do not have to worry about it getting destroyed, if it does, you just get another. Also look at your bike and see if the wheels are quick releases, if they are, you must get a lock go through the frame and the wheels that are quick release. The lock should always go through the frame.

Now you got to choose a type of lock: u-lock or cable lock and combination or key. A cable lock is all you need if your bike is a cheap bike. If it is more expensive you might want to get a u-lock. A cable lock can be cut in about a seconds with a bolt cutters. With a u-lock, people have to use a saw to cut it, a lot more time consuming. A key lock is more secure than a combination because a person can not just try the combination till they get it. It takes an hour or two to get into a combination lock without cutting it since there are 10,000 possible combinations.

Clubs

So a baby seal walks into a club...

Oh, don't look so mortified, you know it was funny.

Anyway, this is about a completely different kind of club. I know that most of you are probably members of some organization or other, much as I am. I happen to be a member of the Fencing Club here. What I am writing about today is blowing off club meetings. I know that sometimes you actually have something more important to do, be it a test, a report, whatever. But I also know that sometimes you blow off meetings for no reason whatsoever. I know, I did it last week. Missed both of the meetings because they happen at the same time as House and Grey's Anatomy. This week I showed up again and realized how much better it was going to the meeting than sitting back and watching TV.

Oftentimes, going to a meeting for a club is the lowest thing on your priority list. It seems much more fun to just hang out with friends. And it is. But going to a club can help you connect to a group of peers that you may never meet otherwise. I know my friends aren't that into swords and stuff, and it is nice to be able to go to a place where there are people who share that interest with me. Going to fencing meetings helps me relax and stop thinking about the problems of normal life for a while. So if you are in a club, go to the meetings; you will appreciate it when you're there. If you don't, think about why you are in the club in the first place.

Drunken Haze

As the year drags on, more people have gotten used to the rhythm of life here in college and started partying a lot on weekends. Personally I don't drink, but I have nothing against people who do. The reason I don't is that the effects of drinking often seem much worse than the pleasure of drinking is worth.

One of my closest friends goes to school over at UVA. Last night at 9 pm he got online and started IMing me. He was pretty out of it, or, as he so eloquently put it, "im drunk, as fuick!" Anyway, six hours later (don't ask why I was up, I'm not even sure) he started messaging me again. "oh sahit. i think i dintd something badn" It turns out that what happened is he went to a party, got pretty drunk, and ended up sleeping with this girl that he knows. She is actually the roommate of the girl that he really likes. Now he is in a mess of trouble, hungover, and confused about how exactly he should treat this girl. All he can do is try to act normally and hope that the girl doesn't talk to her roommate about it.

Another of my friends goes to UK. One time we got to talking and he told me about how one time, he went out with a bunch of his friends to a bar. He said he drank a lot and completely blacked out. He woke up in a dark stairwell with his pants down and no clue as to what went on the night before. He was afraid that he had some terrible STD or something after that, but was too afraid to go to the doctor's about it.

I realize that these things don't happen to everyone who drinks. In fact, they probably won't happen to most people who do. So for those of you who enjoy doing it, I'm not trying to stop you. I'm just saying that you have to consider possibilities like these. If you are going to drink, try to go along with some people who you know don't drink or who will not drink much. Having friends like that around could save you a world of trouble.

Much Needed Relaxation!

With being in college, it seems that you constantly have things to get done, classes to go to, and people to see and hang out with. Last weekend which was October Break was much needed! It was time just to slow down, hang out with old friends that you haven’t seen in awhile, and yes, hang out with the family for a bit.


I never would have imagined that I would have missed home that much. It just felt weird going back at first. For example, getting into my car and driving places and not having to walk everywhere. It was definitely a good change. You did not have to worry about getting all buddled up or being way to hot. I can’t wait till next year where I can bring my car down here and not have to rely on upperclassmen or the bus to take me to Wal-Mart for instance. If you ever need the bus to go to the mall or Wal-Mart of just around campus you can find the schedule on Citylink. When you do have a car you can go whenever it is most convenient to you and not when they are going.


It was relaxing just catching up with old friends and just sitting around telling stories about being in college and the things that we have encountered. When I was talking to them it did not even feel like I had been gone for 2 months already it was just like old times getting together and talking about everything. We basically just picked off right where we left off and continued with everything!


Another huge benefit with going back home was those home cooked meals. I could never get enough of those. They always just seem to hit the spot and when I was back my mom made my favorites. It just makes you appreciate home so much more with the yummy food. When you are down at Purdue, you can only eat so many sandwiches or pizza before you get sick of it. I am sure by the end of the year I will be ready to get out and try new foods.


I am so glad that I made the decision to go home for a couple of days. I felt much more relaxed and refreshed when I came back. I felt like I could get more things accomplished and had a clear idea and picture in my head as to what needed to get done. I can’t wait till Thanksgiving break now where I can indulge in all the food that I could possibly want.

Then and Now

From being born to growing up and learning how to tie our shoes, to going to preschool and kindergarten, to learning how to ride our bikes and losing our baby teeth, to going to elementary school, to taking state testing, such as ISTEP, to going to high school and getting our first “jobs” to taking SATS, to graduating. What could be the next HUGE step? Well, I have the answer for you: College.

By now, we all understand that college is one of the biggest steps in our lives that we have taken so far. We were scared, excited, nervous, afraid, anxious, and about every other adjective you could possibly imagine. The first days and weeks were filled with so much emotion, and then, as we got into the swing of things, most of these terrible feelings seemed to dwindle away. Now we are more excited than ever to be here, and why is this true?

• No Parents. No longer do we have to listen to our parent’s every command. We are on our own now and we have to make our best judgments because they are no long around 24/7 to make them for us. We feel more mature about ourselves.

• Class Schedules. Each person has a different schedule. Some people I know have 7:30 AM classes. I do not ever go to class until at least 9:30 AM. I have classes during lunch hours, and many of my friends do not. Our schedules are so different that some of us do not even have class every day of the week. I do, but a few of my friends do not have classes on Tuesdays or Fridays. Some people get all the luck. It is just nice and fun to have breaks during the day. It is not like high school anymore. Not every one of us starts and finishes the school day at the same time. We can form our daily lives around these schedules, making us feel more responsible.

• Meet People. Once we begin to make new friends, we feel accepted. There are so many people that there are always opportunities to make friends. You could make a new friend every day if you wanted! Spending time with these new friends helps us to form our new comfort zones since we have left our former zones back home.

• Weekends. In high school, our weekends were pretty much only Friday and Saturday. Now, you find that most of us go out Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. This is because most of us do not have early classes on Friday, and if we do, chances are we just skip them. In college, Thursday is referred to as “Thirsty Thursday”. I am not sure how this got started, but it exists.

Everything seems to fall into place after being in college for a couple weeks and especially after a month or two. I was visiting Surviving College Life, and Jamie refers to college as being “your chance” and I agree completely. Here, we make our own choices. We adjust to our new lives. We feel more responsible. We are without parents. We are with new crowds of people. Most of all, we have fun. Admit it, you know this will be one of the best four years of your life!

Walking Vs. Bus

What should you do? Wait 15 minutes to a half hour on the bus or just walk to class? I have figured out that both have their disadvantages and advantages. As the year goes on I am leaning more and more towards bus riding because it is so much easier. Here are some of the reasons that I would prefer to walk or ride the bus.


First of all, I wanted to agree with the earlier blog posted by kollbjorn “Walking Woes,” I completely agree that having a comfy pair of walking shoes makes things so much nicer. I have no idea how some of those girls wear heels and dressy shoes to class. I would completely fall or have huge blisters on my feet from those. If you go and spend 40 dollars on a new pair of walking shoes it would be a total benefit and definitely not a waste of money. Walking also allows you to get in a little exercise which we all need especially being a freshmen and the dreaded freshman 15 which is constantly on people’s minds. If you just walk 2 miles each day it burns a total of 160-240 calories just depending on how much you weight. You can calculate the total by visiting the calorie counter. It is also low impact on your knees and joints and also works some of your muscles. Also, you are not limited to where you can go and what time you can leave. You can walk anywhere and explore new areas.


The bus is simply a quick ride to campus and very convenient, just make sure you get on the correct one. It allows you to just sit down and relax. Also, when the weather gets really cold and there is a ton of snow on the ground no one is going to want to maneuver through all the snow to get to campus or when it is pouring down rain you do not want to get all wet. It can also just be time to think about things and what you are going to do when you get back.


Although the bus seems like the optimal answer there are some disadvantages that go along with it. It seems like you never make the right bus and you have to wait for the next one. Sometimes the bus is just packed and you cannot even fit. It seems like whenever you really want to ride the bus especially when it’s raining or freezing out it never works out. When you do get on the bus, usually you have to stand and hold on to this little pole or bar when the bus continually stops and goes which makes it hard to stand still. When there is a seat available sometimes it’s not a plus especially when you swear the person sitting next to you hasn’t showered for a week. It is the worst when it gets really hot out and you board the bus getting stuck sitting next to the smelliest person! Well, here are some pluses and minuses to riding the bus or walking. It is totally a personal preference but both can benefit you in their own unique ways.

Put the Stress to the Test!

You and I both know that college is extremely stressful. Sometimes we just need easy ways to relieve our stress whether they be simple, fun, short, or even long activities. The only thing that matters is if you feel better after the stress reliever. Since I have gotten to Purdue University, I have found a number of ways to do this and I would like to share them with you.

• Take a long hot shower. I know that most of you are probably staying in dorm rooms and the showers are not too appealing, but taking a long shower every once in a while does help! I like it because I am alone and no one is around to bother me. Besides, warmth usually puts everyone in a better mood!

• Dance. I was reading through another blog called A Fresh Look, which is authored by a girl named Morgan. She is in college too, and I came across a post of hers that said she dances to relieve stress. I had never really danced before to relieve my stress, but it sounded like a good idea since I am more stressed now than I have been since I have gotten here! Dancing really does put you in a better mood and just going crazy makes you feel better about yourself.
• Go to the gym. I will admit that when I worked out in high school, it never relieved me of stress. However, I was never too stressed out in high school compared to when I think of how stressed out I am here! When I work out here at college, I feel more relaxed. I have heard from countless people that when you stress out, your muscles tend to tighten up. Working out tends to relieve that tension and you leave the gym feeling refreshed... the only downside is that you have to shower now.
• Read a Book. Sometimes it is enjoyable to read a book, or even a magazine, for your own pleasure rather than being forced to read if it is for school. I highly suggest curling up on the couch with a blanket and a good reading. Sometimes you may even fall asleep and wake up even more rejuvenated!
• Go Outdoors. The fresh air always helps to some extent. I feel less stressed when I go outside and take a few deep breathes in and let them out.
• Clean! I know that sounds really strange, but sometimes if you clean up a bit, you feel a lot more organized. In the process of cleaning, you are too wrapped up in the thoughts of what things should be put where and thus, you forget about all the work for a short time.

I know that is not many, but I really think you should try them, if not all, then at least one! Don't worry! If they do not work for you, you do not ever have to do them again! Also, if you have any ways to get rid of stress, please let me know! You can never have too many stress-relieving strategies!

Vick: Not So Bad After All

Alright, this is not really related to college life in anyway. But 1) i need something to write about, and 2) this has been bothering me for awhile. People spend so much time berating Michael Vick about his animal cruelty and how bad of a man he is, but I don't think so.

For those of you who don't know, Michael Vick was a star quarterback for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. He revolutionized the quarterback position by and has been a fan favorite for many years. Recently, Vick was involved in a dog fighting scandal that has threatened the future of his career. Now everybody hates him. He's been labeled the "thug" of pro sports.

So I'm going to go ahead and make a statement: Michael Vick did almost nothing wrong. Sure he broke a law, but he broke a stupid law at that. Before you jump down my throat, hear me out. I think dog fighting is just as cruel as a certain favorite past-time in America: hunting. When someone hunts, their not automatically labeled a "thug." Their not cut down for being cruel to animals. In hunting after you kill an animal, you rip the meat off its carcass. Then you EAT it. Now that's cruel. And downright disgusting. Last I checked, hunting is legal.

Have you seen what they do to chickens and pigs before their turned into the meat we eat? It's even worse. But of course, hunting and slaughter is okay... but dog fighting is not?

Now here's the deal: I think their both equally disgusting and equally wrong. But if one is okay, then why isn't the other? If Michael Vick can walk outside and shoot and kill a deer, why can't he fight a dog? If hunting is legal, dog fighting should be too.

The ONLY thing Vick did wrong was knowingly break a law. For that, he is responsible. But to think about kicking him out of the league? He should recieve a four game suspension and nothing more.

Homeward Bound

So I got this really good excuse why I didn't have many posts last week. I usually push off my posting until friday and saturday of the week, and this time that proved to be a huge mistake.

Purdue had a little Fall Break last weekend, so I decided to go home. My original plan was to be able to spend 3 days back home with my friends, and spend a total of one day traveling (both there and back). It was a nice plan, well orchestrated. I had left myself ample time to complete all of my homework once i returned home on saturday.

Little did I know that God would not cooperate with me this weekend. Long story short, I ended up spending 49 hours stuck in the Minneapolis airport, and a mere 26 hours actually at home. Let me tell you, I was pisssed. Almost as pissed when my bike got stolen. Which I am still looking for by the way.

I watched a lot of CNN, and blew a lot of money on food and stuff. It was not fun. Northwest Airlines is my least favorite airline right now. See, my flights were canceled due to the weather back home. It was too foggy to land in my hometown, so they kept a bunch of people stuck in Minneapolis for a couple days. Absolute waste of a weekend.

So there's my story, I'd write more but I'm in another class right now and I'm running out of time!