pressure cooker.

The day after I moved into the dorms my freshman year, I was required to attend a seminar about "everything you need to know to prepare for college."

Well, if you are or ever were a college student, you know that "everything you need to know about college" will never simply fit into a two hour presentation. Or any presentation for that matter.

This is me merely hours after moving into my dorm. (Long sigh)

However I did learn one very important thing about myself that holds true at this very minute.

I am not a procrastinator. I am a "pressure cooker."

In one section of this seminar, the presenter spoke about study habits, and how all people work differently.

He talked about how some people prefer to start large assignments early, or complete things far before a deadline arrives. These people are known as "planners."

On the other side of things, he talked about those that wait until the absolute last minute to complete things. He divided this group into two subsets: the "procrastinators" and the "pressure cookers."

He defined procrastinators as people that wait until the last minute to prepare any assignment, large or small, but turn in poorly executed homework, papers, or the like. Procrastinators are sloppy, apathetic, and a little flighty.

Contre-là, he defined pressure cookers as students that wait until the eleventh hour to complete something. But unlike procrastinators, the people turn in quality work that receives good grades. Pressure cookers work well, if not better when a deadline looms near. He even went as far as to say that pressure cookers "thrive on the drama."

Just when I thought I was going to die of boredom, I heard these word come out of that man's mouth, and my entire perspective of studying changed. I always thought of myself as a procrastinator, and felt like my habits of waiting needed to be changed. However, this "pressure cooker" concept shed positive light on waiting til the last minute.

*(Note, the pressure cooker study system is not for everyone. It requires long nights and little sleep. Or, if you've gone your life thinking you were a procrastinator and in reality you aren't, now you know where you fit.)

And now that I'm actually caught in the thick of college work, it's evident now more than ever.

See, I've been at home, in the library, and all around Norman today trying to focus of a paper I wish to get done. The paper isn't due until Thursday, but getting it done would free up a lot of needed study time for the two tests I have this week.

But can I write it? Of course not.

I've tried everything. Outlines, Red Bull (which usually works miracles), taking breaks, coming to the library (which is always foolproof), but nothing is working! I have revised my thesis statement several times, and just can't get it right. It's just not working...

I know why.. That little voice is reminding me that i have plenty of time to get this thing done... Later..... Wednesday night at midnight...... that would be a GREAT time to start....

Stupid pressure cooker. Whatever... Lit Paper, we'll meet again Wednesday.

The best part of wakin' up...

So I have this best friend. She is absolutely awesome, and I'll probably write more about her later.

Anyway, we have been going back and forth on Facebook, sending each other YouTube videos, songs, or just little bits of funny information. Each time I get something from her or her from me, we both hypothetically add it to our "morning routine."

So bestie, if you're reading this, I have a confession. I don't actually watch these in sequence OR in the morning.... I don't know if you have been doing this either, but I'm just letting you know.

However, I really feel like I should start.

They are all great, happy, feel good, motivating things that always manage to brighten my day, so why in the world wouldn't I start my day with happy things?! It just doesn't make sense!

I mean, look at this coffee!!! If you don't smile at this, you have a problem!

Okay getting back on track... I'm making a goal out of this morning routine... To actually do it...

But wait, dear readers! Yet, again, I would LOVE your help! I am open to suggestions!

If you have any videos, photos (taken by you or otherwise), songs, or any other things that really brighten your day, make you smile, or make you thankful for today, PLEASE send them along! I would love to have them!

But for now, I will leave you with my current playlist... Just click here, here, and here.

:)

This is gonna kill me..

The word: Curiosity.

This one is for my PW teacher.

When we walk into my intro to PW class every other morning, there are always two things we can guarantee we'll here before those two hours are over.

1. "How can you make your writing make you a dollar?"

2. "Why are you people not asking questions?! You've got to be CURIOUS."

Well, thanks a lot, Mel. I am now. And it's driving me bonkers.

See, there is a particular situation that is placed conveniently in front of me every day that, quite frankly, is none of my business. However, my new found curious nature is fogging up the common sense section of my brain. I want so many answers, but I might just have to settle with just asking myself...

Yes, I definitely think that is best.

Well now on to my main point!

I'm toying around with a new direction I could take with this blog. I find that writing about myself can become rather mundane, and I only imagine that reading about me all the time could be just the same. There's just one problem..

For the project I hope to embark on, I will need help from people. You people. People not afraid to take a chance. If that is you, please find me... Talk to me... Work with me.... We'll have a good thing going.

Go fly a kite.

An insult? Not to the people of Enid.

Over the past couple of years, a few wonderfully motivated people have challenged the rest of E-town's residents to participate in Kites Over Enid, a probably annual event with a few purposes.

1. Raise money for an awesome cause.

2. Get families to spend time outside together.

3. Outdo school children from the Gaza Strip.

Yes, you heard me. Kites Over Enid has been attempting to break the world record for the number of kites flown in an area at the same time. So who, you ask, are the current record holders? School children from the Gaza Strip set the most recent record of some 3,700 kites in the air simultaneously. Seriously. Can't make that up.

Now, breaking a world record where wind is a major component of success is definitely no easy feat when you live "where the wind comes sweepin' down the plains."

Luckily, mother nature smiled down on us kite flyers, and gave us perfect weather. It was so satisfying to see people from Enid actually coming together for a common cause, even if it is to stomp out a Gaza Strip record.

It was also an amazingly fun time to spend with my mom.. We had some great laughs, and I learned that she is wayyyy better at kite flying than I am... Oh well..

I don't say this often, so pay attention. Enid, I'm proud of you. In total, we flew 2,439 kites at the same time yesterday. Not the world record, but definitely nothing to spit at.

Hey, give us another couple of years and some more publicity, and those kids in the Gaza Strip will be shakin' in their boots, as we Okies say.

So, next year, if you have an interest in anything... Animals, BBQ, kites, quality time, live music, taking pictures, or breathing... Go fly a kite. It's a good time.

So... there's this cat...

I have no clue where it came from or who it belongs to. All I know it that it's decided that my mom's home is its new home. It's been hanging around for a while- last time I was home about 5 weeks ago, it would show up on our screened-in porch, surprising my brother, myself, or anyone else that would step outside.

It's a very very friendly cat, and pretty young too. It follows my brother and I around everywhere we go.. It's even gotten in the habit of walking right into the house when we open the

door. Heck, I went to leave my house earlier today the thing hopped right

up into my driver's seat and just looked at me like "Well, what are you waiting on? Let's go." This caused me to take extreme measures and put the cat in our back porch before I could leave.

It's a funny cat too.. It tries to climb everything.... my leg, my brother's punching bag... One of the funniest things I've seen is opening our door to the garage and see it crawling up the screened door.

The weird thing about this whole it that this has happened before.....

Several years ago- I can't remember exactly how long ago it was- there was this dog.. It started hanging around our house too... It would come through a broken screen on our porch and sleep out there. I remember it was winter time, so feeling bad for the poor thing, we put an old comforter out there for him to sleep on, and shortly after that we started leaving food out at at night for him too...

We called him Homeless, and he was our "not dog."

And so it went for about a year. We had just sold the back acre of our property, and the people that bought it built a house there, but conveniently forgot a fence.. So, in essence, we didn't have a real back yard for a long time. That meant Homeless could come and go as he pleased, and there wasn't much we could do about it because we were totally against chaining the poor dog up all day...

Despite our neighborhood being a relatively safe and undisturbed place, dogs were still in danger of being hit, so that thought always worried us. Luckily, one day a woman from our neighborhood came to us, and told us that Homeless was visiting her house too, and staying in her yard, and she just loved him. She decided to keep him..

Of course, at the time I was about 10, so I thought this horrible woman was stealing our dog, but looking back, I'm really glad she did.

That's the thing about my family... they're not really "pet people."

Don't get me wrong, we all care for animals.. In our family, though, we just didn't have the time or money to commit to animals like a lot of people do. Additionally, my mom has a no-animal policy in her house, which doesn't help much either. Plus, for many years of my life, I was terrified of dogs... Not sure why, I still refuse to watch Cujo...

Weirdly enough though, I've developed a love for dogs over the past year or so... I hope to one day have one of my own, and it will definitely be allowed to hang out in my house.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm looking forward to being a "pet person."

the coffee shop

There's a coffee shop in my hometown that, for all intents and purposes, could have charged me rent throughout high school.

It's a locally owned coffee shop. On any given afternoon, you can stop for a visit and the place will be bustling with all sorts of people, young and old. Musicians flock here every now and then to play, and the work of local artists and photographers line the walls of the place. It's a town favorite, and has been around for close to eight years. I myself, however, have been coming here for five.

I remember the first time I walked in. I was with my best friend and two other friends walked in while a band was playing. The place was full to bursting, and the drinks were sweet and cold. I loved it.

I came in here every now and then after that. It wasn't until about 4 years ago that I hypothetically signed my lease here. I was in here most days, if not everyday. I became friends with the girls who worked there, and all the regulars just like me.

I remember staying hours after the place closed, dancing around with music up really loud, or playing ridiculous games with my friends.

I remember once after hours one of the guys working broke the faucet in the back while we were washing dishes, and water gushed all over the place. Hilarious.

I remember another time we bet my friend five dollar to eat ground up espresso beans... Equally as hilarious, but still pretty gross.

I remember being able to walk in the door and everyone knew what drink I wanted before I had to say anything. I remember not having to pay for a drink for months at a time. I was one of those "regulars" and I loved the friends I made and the people I met and the conversations I've had in here...

But as anything else does, it changed. The atmosphere, the baristas, the regulars...

It's Friday night. 4 years ago this place would be packed with people laughing, playing music, and carrying on about everything and anything. Tonight, myself and 4 others quietly type away at their computers without a word mumbled among them.

It's so sad to me... I miss so much the laughter and life of this place. But, I think what is sadder is that some people believe this to be the status quo, good enough, and that works for them. No, not at all people, not at all.

I'm not sure what to do about it.. I love this place and don't want to let it go, but at the same time every time I walk in the door and realize that it's just not the same.

I guess for now, I'll revel in the quiet and remember the good ole days.

It's just been one of those days..

I've been laying in bed almost the entire day, completely lacking motivation in all aspects of everything. Almost.

Today, I ate my feelings.

If you've never indulged in comfort food, consider this your pat on the back from me.. And if you have... You understand what I'm talking about.

I have managed to immerse myself in comfort food and mentally justifying every ounce of it I put shameless into my body. Productivity win.

Soup, sandwich, day-ish old Mexican leftovers, chicken strips, and best of all- that pint of my favorite ice cream that I swore I would make last for about a week... Oops.

Another way I know it's just been one of those days? I am SO tired. Can I sleep? No. I've tried rolling over and taking a nap at random times throughout this day, but my mind won't stop compulsively spitting out images, scenarios, or thoughts, thus my contemplation of nothing continues.

What is the worst part of all this? I feel like I can't pull myself out of it.. I know full well that I need to.. I have friends, school, and a life to get back to. But if I can't do it, I know what will.

Reality. My life, my schedule, and my test tomorrow aren't going to slow down or stop because I'm having a pity party. I know that tomorrow morning, I'm going to show up to class with a smile on my face, ready to take on life like normal. I have to. We all have to.

I know I will snap out of it, let's just pray it's sooner than later. After all, I have a test to study for people..