maysblog

Piracy, Poetry and Proclamations

I like words.

As silly as that sounds, I really do. And I use them a lot. I will be the first to admit that I talk a lot and often times too much. But in my defense, I really enjoy getting to use and share words. My favorite thing about my Blackberry is that at any time I can log on to www.dictionary.com and look up the meanings of new words, or an old one that I have used so much that I cannot recall its original intended use.

Perhaps that is why I love writing. Not just blogs, mind you, but I find a sick, secret satisfaction in the research papers, company reports and essay tests that are required of me on an almost daily basis. I may not always be overly inspired by the subject matter, but being able to manipulate the letters into words, formulating the structure of the phrases, concocting a sentence into a paragraph into a finished product that sails like a vessel of explicit and implied meaning; there is just something about it. (more…)

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A Texan’s Guide to Surviving Edinburgh

I’ve been in Edinburgh for about a month and a half now, so I’ve had plenty of time to realize some of the things I might have done differently in the first few weeks. While I was reflecting over some of my more humorous mistakes, at least for my flatmates, I thought I’d put together a preliminary list of advice tidbits for any of my fellow Texans thinking of making the trek over to Alba (Scotland in Gaelic). (more…)

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Remembering What You Learned

Although it may sound a bit silly, I have been able to use what I learned as a young boy throughout the past few years, and this week I especially saw it come back to me.  The golden rule is instilled early on in a person’s life.  Whether it be early on in school, taught to you on Sunday mornings at church, or just preached by your parents, everyone has heard to treat others the way you want to be treated. (more…)

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Replant

In 1991, a few Ags decided to plant trees in order to counteract the environmental effects of the annual aggie bonfire. This event also took place the following year, and as they say in Aggieland “if you do it twice, it’s a tradition.” This past Saturday was replant and since I’m a freshman, it was the first time I had participated. I’ve never planted a tree before, but how hard could it be? (more…)

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Thinkings

One of the phrases that has most resonated with me lately is part of Ecclesiastes:  “The more the words, the less the meaning and how does that profit anyone?”

Going through interviews and meeting new people, it can begin to feel like all of the things that have comprised my life–some for longer than others–amount to mere phrases instead of a real representation of how I spend my time/life currency.  I realized (maybe re-realized this week) that people could go into interviews or relationships and present themselves as many things…all to get to a “next point” that, for whatever reason, seems better than right here and now. (more…)

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Time to get … INITIATED.

From the moment one receives her bid card, everything a pledge is worked up to is initiation.

My sorority held our this past weekend. Our new members have been through retreats, study hours, grade review, progressive dinners, ceremonies, philanthropy hours and service Saturdays to lead up to this.

Initiation took place Friday night at the sorority house. Every sorority has rituals and ceremonies that are kept hush hush. But after initiation the new girls exchanged paddles with their bigs for baskets filled with gifts. I filled my basket with  t shirts, a stitch letter shirt, letters, plastic 80s sun glasses, candy, glassware, a bag all endorsed with our sorority letter and name. (more…)

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To be a bird…

Standin’ on broken dreams

Never losin’ sight, ah

Well just spread your wings…

We’ll get higher and higher

Straight up we’ll climb

We’ll get higher and higher

Leave it all behind

We'll get higher and higher

Who knows what we'll find?

“Dreams” by Van Halen

Continuing on my adventures in the love of aviation…

a) In true nerd fashion, I was involved with DECATS, a voluntary summer school for children who couldn’t get enough learning. My first few years with the program, I had taken Aviation with Henry Brumme, a WWI Naval pilot. He and I formed a unique bond. He always lent me documentaries on the Blue Angels and Aviation (some of which I already had and watched at home…) and we would discuss them at length the next day. He shared with us the wonders of flight, Bernoulli’s principle, and even got the opportunity to visit various airports and fly real life training simulators! I was fortunate to experience the sensation of flying a King Air. Once I had become too old to attend DECATS as a student (I left Elementary school for Junior High) I returned as a Mentor Assistant, spending my entire Summer days as Mr. Brumme’s right-hand woman, assisting the young students in understanding and discovering the love of flight. He passed away while I was in High school; the world lost a great man when he left. (more…)

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Dancing Much? No….

Some know Cambridge as a center for enlightenment, an educational epicenter that produces and promotes dialogue, debate, and discourse. While this is certainly true, for me, Cambridge is also a heck of a lot of fun for a lindy hopper. This past weekend, Cambridge was the site for my third lindy exchange since I’ve hopped the pond, Cambridge Lindy Exchange, and like the others, it did not disappoint.

One of the things I’ve missed most about Texas is the daily dose of Erika-superstardom that comes with singing in the car in my everyday commutes. In a town where walking is the norm, and driving seems completely besides the point, singing at the top of my voice and banging my hand on the steering wheel of my erstwhile Jetta is a thing of the past. This weekend, though, I actually got to ride in a car for the 6 hour drive to Cambridge—I plugged my IPod into the car radio, and let me just say, it was epic. After such a great start, the weekend just got better. We got to the first dance a little late, but early enough to catch up with some friends I had made at the Munich and Edinburgh Lindy Exchanges and dance out our car-sore blues. (more…)

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The many acts of Rudder

For some odd reason, I hardly ever stepped a foot in Rudder last year. There was the occasional moments when I would take short cuts through the second floor to get to the MSC, but that was the extent of it.

I’ve discovered in the past 4 days that Rudder Theater is quite the hot spot.

(more…)

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Coming Through in the Clutch

If I had to pick a statement to describe the week, coming through in the clutch would probably fit the best.  From sports to grades to life in general, the week certainly had its fair share of great moments.  Most know I am a huge baseball fan, and love the Boston Red Sox.  The Sox have been playing in the American League Championship Series this past week against the Tampa Bay Rays.  A team loaded with talent, and most of them only a few years older than myself.  Their management has to be giving themselves a pat on the back after developing a team from the ground up with their farm system.  The Red Sox were down three games to one in a  best-of-seven series, and they came all the way back to tie the series at three apiece.  Their comeback came up just short as they dropped game seven last night.  Either way, it was a great series with several great performances.  The World Series starts Wednesday night, so don’t miss it! (more…)

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