6.17.2009

...it's NOT ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!?

I have been developing an ever shorter fuse with the ill-advised, inconsiderate, and thoughtless individuals of this world. While I generally blame many people's shortcomings on mishaps in how they were brought up, there comes a point in life where individuals need to seriously step their game up. Once you get to university level in life, there is certain etiquette that is just not OK and I think it's time to share my opinion on this topic. 

1. Table etiquette: slurping soup&cereal milk, chewing w. your mouth open, clinking&scraping utensils against your teeth, coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose at the table, eating meals in 3 minutes and complaining of stomach aches afterward are all NOT OK. I do NOT want to hear what your eating, how your eating it, or even see what's in your mouth. 

This is not attractive and those of you w. these eating habits need to seriously look inside yourselves and be a little more conscious of how you appear to others sitting at the table with you.

2. Morning etiquette: waking up at 6:30AM is dope, more power to the early birds catching the worms. (I belong to the school who thinks if I wasn't there early enough to catch the worm it either wasn't meant for me to catch, or I'll just wait a little later for the crickets) However, waking up at 6:30AM, while others in your household, apartment, dorm room, etc., are still sleeping and plan to stay that way for 5-500 minutes, and making a RUCKUS is not OK. In fact, it is extremely inconsiderate and 'effin rude.' 

If I set my alarm for 7:45AM and am awoken at 6:30AM because you are hustling and bustling in your bathroom, talking loudly on your cell phone, cooking, or moving furniture around you are liable to be cussed out - no, you SHOULD be cussed out. It makes no sense to be that noisy that early in the morning, and those of you who are that noisy, need to work on 'playing mouse' ASAP. please&thankyou!

3. Noise etiquette: slamming doors, listening to TV's loudly, and disturbing communal peace are all (I'm sure you can guess what comes next) NOT OK. I think everyone should work quite time into their days - a common communal quiet time that cannot be disturbed by loud noises. This can be a time to nap, think, write, read, do homework, or just sit and relax. I try and have this time each day, but somehow it is always interrupted by people and their obnoxiously loud noises - talking, watching TV, slamming doors - without any consideration of what other people nearby may be doing. 

4. Privacy etiquette: going into people's rooms, looking at porn on people's computers, taking people's things w.out asking are all NOT OK. Firstly, I will apologize to the world because I am guilty of the latter of these issues, but I am working on it. In any case, these things are not a good look. 

Complete lack of respect for people's belongings, personal space, and rooms is a disease affecting people our age around the world. If you find yourself having trouble determining whether your actions are OK or not, think "would I want this person to be doing these things to me or with my stuff?" If the answer is no, you probably shouldn't be doing it. Actually, if the answer is yes, you probably shouldn't be doing it either - because if you have to think for more than 2 secs if what you're doing will be accepted by another individual, it probably won't be.

5. Personal space etiquette: this does not need much explanation - there is a personal space rule that exists, and you should not, at all costs, break it! Unless you are close family or friends, do not come w.in 1 foot of me, do not touch me, do not breathe on me. It's just not OK - I do not feel comfortable with you and things that come from your body being that close to me. 


This post is not a personal attack on any one individual - although I do know a few individuals who violate many of these regulations. This is simply my way of reaching out to the poor unfortunate souls of this world and helping to guide them into the direction of proper behavior. 

Somewhere along the way, they were not taught or possibly did not digest these key elements of how to live and act, so I feel it is my duty - for my, their, and your sakes - to reiterate them. If you know anyone who suffers from  these illnesses, refer them to my blog, PLEASE!

6.16.2009

summer reading

during my "down-time" in peru - actually just during a 15 min convo in the Puerto Maldonado airport - i compiled a summer reading list. feel free to make some suggestions - my list is ever-expanding and will for sure extend beyond the summer =)

  • Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
  • The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  • 1984 by George Orwell
  • Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
  • Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
  • Doce Cuentos Peregrinos by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

6.15.2009

when i get back i must eat...

when i hit the US me&food will reignite our love affair, starting with:

dark chocolate fudge brownies
mac&cheese
5 guy's french fries w. heinz ketchup
veracruz fish burrito
chocolate birthday cake w. white icing
pancakes!
scrambled eggs&cheese
turkey bacon
fiber one yogurt
free water w. lemon sans ice
chicken wings
turkey burger w. swiss cheese
tuna, lettuce, tomato&cheese sandwich on toasted wheat bread
spinach, mushrooms&onions

mmm...delish!