|
|
|
|
Coolant, Cables and a DVD Player???
Tags: coolant, jumper cables, DVD player, CD player, washer fluid, Trunk, food, snacks
Campaign: What's in Your Trunk?
Added: 2/15/2009 8:52 AM PT
Last Modified: 2/15/2009 8:52 AM PT
|
|
|
|
Okay, so my 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee is honestly one of my favorite places and as such, he holds within him some of the oddest things but is the MOST reliable packrat mobile.
Moving into college, I packed up everything I needed and made the drive, one go, about150 miles, done. The only problem was that my dorm room simply couldn't handle all that I wanted to bring so . . . instead of STORAGE, there's Larry!
My TV (oddly enough) is apparently an older Phillips because it doesn't have a VIDEO IN outlet, it has a VIDEO OUT, so the 6-disk DVD/CD player my stepdad passed on to me since he bought BlueRay and didn't need it anymore. . . USELESS! TRUNK.
The metal shelves I had my freshman year that go over my bed and are a handy little holding space for all my books? My room isn't organized that way, so having them up is a WASTE and would look aweful. TRUNK.
Larry's an old car, so I like to make sure his Engine Coolant is always on the mark. 1 Gallon bottle of Engine Coolant. TRUNK.
Even more importantly, Larry's spare is IN THE TRUNK. And the MOST necessary Jumper Cables!!!! The Lord only knows how many times I have actually jumped either myself or other people with those. TRUNK.
I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where is SNOWS. So, you've got to keep your windshield whipers up to speed with ice resistant washer fluid. 1 gallon bottle of Rainex ice resistant. TRUNK.
A lot of times, when I go into work too early, I forget to take something to eat with me. So to counter this, I keep snacks in my jeep. Larry comes equipped with Oreos, Chips, Sobe Energy, and the occasional rolling Bottled Water, all in his TRUNK.
But looking back there, I have to admit it's pretty organized. I mean, it's not like I'm a slob or anything. I have a lot of the stuff bundled together to lower the noise while I drive and I know I'll eventually get it all outta there, the only thing that's holding me back is either a visit home (whereby I would then have to REMEMBER to take it all out!) or a pawn shop (I am SOOO getting rid of either the DVD player or that TV).
Hope you at least laughed while you explored my trunk with me!
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOT Supporting???
Tags: voting, reviews, voting power, support, quotes, ideas, thoughts, brickfish, opinions, support groups, groups
Campaign: none
Added: 3/14/2008 4:30 AM PT
Last Modified: 1/10/2009 3:16 AM PT
|
|
|
|
In response to Jasmine's blog about voting, I've done a bit of reflecting and thought to write my own opinion on the whole voting situation. It's more along the lines of a thoughtful reflection than something for you to support or anything. You don't have to answer it if you don't feel like it, I just think these are a few things people should consider when voting.
Why don't people return support?
I mean, I'll go and vote for about 20 new people when I log on and you know what? On average, maybe TWO of them will ever return the support. Why is that? Even if it WERE a conflict of interest to vote on a campaign that you are running in as well, isn't it a simple courtesy to return even ONE vote? I make it a rule for myself to at least have TWO campaigns running if possible. If you feel like you'd be shooting yourself in the foot then why not vote for that person's OTHER campaigns so that you are still returning support, but just directing it elsewhere? I honestly have to shake my head at the amount of missed opportunities those people forced upon themselves.
When I leave a comment proposing an exchange of support, it may work out for the two of us, it may not. I leave comments on plenty of profile pages in hopes of stirring up interest in a campaign, but that doesn't mean that I'm always making a direct attack at people that are IN campaigns themselves. Some people I know participate off and on in campaigns that interest them and when they are not participating themselves, they are supporting a family member or close friend. Sometimes they request that I direct my eye towards someone off their watchlist as opposed to actually voting for them since they themselves are not participating at that time. I have no problem with that. You've supported me in the past? The least I could do would be to check out Jane's new entry and see if I like it. I'm not going to lie and say I ALWAYS go ahead and support the other person. If their entry interests me, yes, if not then I may vote at least once but I don't promise you I'll vote consistently.
Voting Power.
Now, some of you may not notice this, but the more active you are on Brickfish, the more power your vote actually HAS. When you're active you accumulate "Bricks" (which can be found at a glance on your HPage or in detail under Profile>>Bricks) and the more you've got, the more weight your vote has in campaigns . . . So why don't people return votes? I mean, I've worked up a substantial amount of Bricks from being active, isn't it in YOUR best interest to keep ME on your watchlist so I'll add you to MY daily vote as well? Anyone that votes for me on a consistent basis gets added to my watchlist after about the 3rd vote exchange and STAYS on it until their campaign ends or until they decide to drop off the edge of the Brickfish world and stop voting. That's a guaranteed DAILY, WEIGHTED VOTE . . . why can't people see the value in this? Not only that, but consistent voting raises YOUR Brick count as well . . . where is the disadvantage?
Group Voting.
Now, I've noticed that a lot of people will make Support Groups, if you will. Families with brickfish accounts that'll return support if you vote for their relative and such . . . I think this is a brilliant idea and people should honestly take full advantage of making such alliances. What do you have to lose from becoming friends with someone who carries a guaranteed 5 person daily vote? NONE. Support those that wish to get as much interest stirring about their campaign as possible! Isn't that why we're all here? If you tell me that voting for you will lead to me recieving 5 votes in return, I have no problem adding you to my watchlist.
Friends.
What's up with people that request to add you as a friend and then don't support you? Or the people that think that simply because we are now friends, I'm going to check everyday to see if they have a new campaign running? Point one, you need to show me why we're friends. Making friends has and always will be a beneficial interest. What benefits do you bring to the table when you become my friend? Do you leave funny reviews or comments? Are you a daily voter? Are you willing to post my entry to your website? Are you polite and friendly? What ARE you? If you are simply an extra name on my friends list that I never heard from again, you are in none of my campaign memories and thus a deletion. How many months have to go by before I'm to realize that you're just taking up space on my friends list? Sad but true, I have to crop my friends list at least once a month due to inactivity or the fact that people that friended me STOPPED returning the votes as soon as their campaign ended!
Point two, no one will know you have a new campaign if you don't send the message out. Leave a Profile Comment, send that Spam or Inbox message, leave a small hint in your review, just don't get mad at me for not voting for your new campaign if you didn't take the time to hit "Email to Friends" and let me know it existed! Don't withdraw your vote from my campaigns because I didn't vote for your new one, leave a REVIEW telling me you HAVE a new one. Get the miscommunication out of the way people!
Reviews.
This is where I touch upon what Jasmine said about reviews in her blog (if you're interested in reading her views, go to her profile). But to get to the point, she's right. It's all good and well to promote your campaigns in a review, but sometimes a few insightful words couldn't hurt. I understand her words to be true of just about all of us and decided to change my ways. I hope you all enjoy my dialy quotes, I've seen them added as Featured Reviews on about 15-20 pages already so I'm going to assume that changing my review style was well noted and thank you for adding them to that limited 3 Review slot.
To answer numerous messages about my quotes, "NO, there is no underlying meaning to the quote." It is simply an insightful quote that I chose to use that day and there is no hidden meaning that is being directed at you or your campaign.
So, in the end, I would just like to say that if you want support, you have to RETURN it. It's in the interest of both parties and you're not gonna get any higher in the rankings without supporting the people that vote for you. If you would like to support me, leave a comment or a review, maybe we can trade daily votes or post each other to websites and such.
Okay, so I can't think of anything else that I would like to say, so this blog should end now. Thanks for reading my thoughts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Friends' Know-How
Tags: voting, voting power, support, ideas, brickfish, opinions, campaigns, legit, outsourcing, posting, how-to, friends
Campaign: none
Added: 5/8/2008 3:18 PM PT
Last Modified: 1/10/2009 3:10 AM PT
|
|
|
|
Okay, a lot of my new friends tend to be n00bs to the whole Brickfish scene and tend to have a couple questions about how the site works, how to get a campaign rolling, etc. THIS BLOG IS ABOUT HOW BRICKFISH WORKS. Hopefully my explanation doesn't serve to further confuse you or anything. My aim is to answer some of the most frequent questions I get and explain some of the jargon that you've probably come across around here. (For information about VOTING see my blog "NOT Supporting???" a recommended read)
Tips on Getting a Campaign Rolling
There are a number of factors that can affect how you will rank in your campaigns.
1) Depending on WHEN you enter the campaign you can get a jump start on the Rankings.
It's best to join a campaign that JUST started. It's always easier to work your way up from 10th to 1st than 90th. The farther away you are, the heavier your campaigning should be. I worked my underwear entry up from 63rd to like 14th but that takes constant campaigning to get attention.
2) Posting to websites
I have a xanga, Yahoo 360, facebook, myyearbook, and a myspace, post to where ever you can and get friends into posting you and voting for you. (See "Posting")
3) Add people to your friends list on Brickfish
Hit that "Email to Friends" button! On your campaign page, you'll see this button that says "E-mail to Friends," it allows you to easily access your Brickfish or e-mail address book and send your friends a little message letting them know that your campaign exists. This will also reflect positively on your viral Map.
4) Get into more than one campaign at a time.
Sometimes people that WOULD vote for you won't because they're in the same campaign and it's a conflict of interest. So having another option is always a goodie.
5) How many Friends you have on Brickfish YES you can do a lot of networking and get ppl to vote for you, but I'd be wary of just tossing myself around and promising votes to whoever comes by. There are different degrees of "active" and lets just say some people will add you and then ditch you just as soon as their campaign ends. (For more on that, read "NOT Supporting.")
"Posting"
You enter contests a.k.a. "campaigns" and "post" your campaign to outsourced networking sites (Myspace, Facebook, Livejournal, etc.) or "Bookmark" your campaign to a variety of search engines and stuff (Yahoo, Google, etc.).
In my opinion: This is best done when you first enter the campaign because I honestly tend to forget where I have posted and when then it can lead to you going through the motions by accident a couple times if you do it later on.
When poeple ask you to "post" something, it is customary to offer something in exchange, like for them to post your campaign(s) or a trade of a "daily vote" (which is best explained as promising to vote for that person as close to DAILY as possible.) Posting things reflects on your campaign in you "Viral Map" and can lead to you winning side-prizes in campaigns. (See Campaign Details of each individual campaign, some don't do this) Members are not the only people that can post your campaign though, other people can post your entry to different places as well.
For example: My friend saw my campaign on my FB and decided she'd post it to her FB profile or to her myspace. She isn't a member on brickfish but she can still post my entry to wherever she pleases by hitting the "Post This".
Is Brickfish "Legit"?
Brickfish is pretty legit if you ask me. I mean, a couple people that I know via BF have won some things and posted pictures. Once I made a recommendation to membership support and they immediately sent me a BF T-shirt as a thank you. The other day i got a notice that (and you'll notice that SOME campaigns do this) I was randomly selected for the Battle of the Fans campaign as a Voter/Reviewer to win $100. I got the check in the mail and it cashed when I went to the bank so that's all I can say on whether or not this is a legit operation. I also won a side-prize in the Tressume campaign and, even though it takes a couple MONTHS to get to you, the prize DID come in the mail. I don't know if that tells you if it's legit or not, but that's as far as my experience with winning has gone, but I've only been a member since November '07 or so...
The Watchlist?
Now, to explain the watchlist is rather easy once you hear it explained, you may even wonder why you didn't get it before! The watchlist is a tool that can be used to help you make you daily votes. Simply add the campaigns you KNOW you want to vote for all the time and instead of having to search for them all over again, you can easily access them from your profile. It also helps you keep your voting time in order.
For example: I have 100 campaigns on my watchlist and begin voting at the top of my watchlist @ 2 p.m. each day. As I work my way down the list, all the timers for all the campaigns should be in chronological order so by the time I reach the bottom, I shouldn't have to wait for any of the voting timers and can easily begin voting again the next day.A lot of people, myself included, use the watchlist to direct attention to the campaigns they want you to vote for the most. sometimes you may notice that a person's username will change to something like "Vote 1-5" or "Vote 2 & 3 on my watchlist plz"<--this is another advertising method that people use to get a voter's attention. ESPECIALLY NOW THAT YOU CAN VOTE EVERY 8 HOURS!
EXTRAS
Go to Search>>People and enter in "City,State,School">"All & "Desired Rank">"Most Recent"
When you need to make friends in a hurry, you can always find new ones that are willig to trade votes. If you have a high "voting power" (reflecting how active you are, you can gain a lot of Bricks and raise the worth of your Vote), it's easier to make friends with new people and trade votes and it's beneficial to both parties, new members need friends too! Who's to say that your new friend won't have a LOT of outsourcing sites and is willing to post you places if you're willing to do the same? Works out both ways, yes?
Hitting the Review "Yes" button........
Now, I've constantly heard rumors about that button being helpful and a means to boost your score somehow. (By hitting "yes" and saying the review was helpful.) Each member is only allowed to vote on whether or not a review is helpful 1x so sometimes ppl with ask you to hit that button for them after you've left your review. Personally, I'm wary of the haters that want to hit "No" so I personally use my "Yes" push to keep track of who votes for me and the votes that I've returned when I check my campaigns. If I hit "Yes" and the hater his "No" then the resulting score is not -1 but 0, which is no harm at all.
Um...so . . . I always end these awkwardly. I'm trying to think of more stuff and just don't know anything else that could be added right now. If you have more questions, ask them in a review and I'll add it to the blog and send you the link back to this for your answer. Later and good luck to you on all your campaigns!
|
|
|
|
|
|
When I transferred to another university and let me just start off by telling you this was an EXTREME move-in. The letter they sent me only told me the day for move-in, it did not include any roommate or room information. When I called them up to find this out, they claimed that they assigned that on the day you move-in! So I arrive on the assigned day at about 10:30 a.m. and head to the administrative building they had instructed me to go to. There was paperwork to fill out . . . CLEARANCE paperwork. I hit the second floor and there was a line (in accordance to the number on the bottom of your clearance paperwork) and I was 193 and the officials were only on 67! I ended up waiting 5 HOURS just to get “cleared” through admissions, housing, the bursar’s office and financial aid (something I shouldn’t have had to experience since my scholarship package covers EVERYTHING). By this time, the football players had gone to practice, leaving me to carry all of my things up and down the elevator to the 5th floor all by myself. My mother got so mad that she wanted to send me back to my original college! I mean, the scholarship package isn't anything to scoff at, but she honestly couldn't believe that this was their first impression.
So the next day, I go to finalize my class schedule and realize that the classes on my schedule are different than the ones I had selected during the Transfer Orientation Day. I had sat down with the Chair for the Communications Dept and got a Transcript Evaluation and she had entered me into some classes HERSELF. So imagine my surprise when I look and see that not even one of those classes is on my schedule now?! I go to get that changed and am told that they can't do that since they never recieved the second semester transcripts from my original school. THAT was foolishness since I recieved a reciept from my original college stating that they had sent them back in May. Not only that, but I was able to schedule for the classes with the CHAIR and I think she'd realize something like that wasn't possible if it were so. So then there was a lot of running around campus in an attempt to locate my transcripts which just HAPPENED to be hanging out in my folder at admissions . . . pretty stupid huh? Why WOULDN'T they be there, even though when I called down just the day before, they claimed to never have recieved them?
That was the final straw, I got four copies of my transcripts and gave them to al the important people that needed them and then put one aside for myself because that had to have been the STUPIDEST experience I could have ever had at any university. It was so vastly unorganized that I could have smacked someone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
I think it'll be . . .
Tags: sh34k4, Barack, Obama, education, State, Union, brickfish
Campaign: State "O" the Union
Added: 12/1/2008 4:59 PM PT
Last Modified: 12/2/2008 7:58 PM PT
|
|
|
|
Now, I don’t think that America overall will look different, but I do believe that Barack Obama will be one of those presidents that will come through with his initial promises. I think that after the state of the economy has been stabilized, he will put all of his attention into creating more opportunities for people to use better fuel sources and bettering the education system. Programs like, “No Child Left Behind,” which highlight our nation’s lack of educational prowess will be a thing of the past. In four years, school systems will have bettered themselves to the point where we will have higher graduation rates and higher undergraduate admission numbers. Hopefully, this kind of advancement will one day allow the United States to contest the prowess of European countries like Germany and the rates of the Chinese. With a little prodding, I’m sure that America can fit into the vision that Obama has for it. One can only hope that he will be as effective a president as the last Democratic president but I do believe that he will do just fine because I don’t think he can do any worst than the last eight years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
My OWN Success
Tags: public relations, consultant, success, independence, work, ethic, dream
Campaign: What Do You Dream About?
Added: 10/3/2008 11:23 AM PT
Last Modified: 10/3/2008 11:23 AM PT
|
|
|
|
At this stage of my life, I have various dreams and aspirations. Among them are my career goals of becoming a successful Public Relations Consultant and becoming successful in my own right.
I do not need to become overly wealthy or ridiculously rich or anything extraordinary like that. I would simply like to make enough money to be able to support myself. In my entire life, there was always "just enough" and sometimes, "not enough" money to go around. My mother raised all five of her children with no help from my father and practically no help or interest from her current husband. She worked two jobs to get herself started when we moved to America and then became established in the post Office and is now a Postmaster of a post office. All of this was to support her children and to make sure that there was food on the table, money for the bills and time for love. Things were always stretched thin but we were happily making do and skimming by. There were always budgets and limitations and sometimes what other families had, we did not and others just didn't know about it or didn't understand. I do not want that for myself.
A good work ethic runs strong in my veins. If I want or need it, I have no qualms of working hard for my money and saving up to earn what I want. If my mother needs it and I can afford to lend her the aid, then I do, she may be "broke" all the time, but she does always pay me back. This last summer, I was juggling three jobs so that I could start a savings account for my student loans and for myself personally. I plan pay off my loan in advance and save up enough money to operate on a more independent level than I am now.
I aspire to work hard in life to complete college and at least earn a Bachelor's in Communication Arts, majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Graphic Design. I currently attend Cheyney University of Pennsylvania by means of the Keystone Honors Academy with a 4.0 GPA. I want to intern for either a public relations company housed in New York City so that I can gain on-site experience in my field and learn techniques that will hopefully lead to further mastery of my field.
I always want to do well. I never go half-way when it comes to my work. I dream of success, independence and work. Thank you for considering my blog a unique dream.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Run-in with Breast Cancer
Tags: breast, cancer, awareness, gynecologist, youth, ultrasound, benign lump
Campaign: Share a Survival Story, Inspire the World
Added: 9/29/2008 9:09 PM PT
Last Modified: 9/29/2008 9:35 PM PT
|
|
|
|
I want to take a moment to tell you a bit about breast cancer. I'm only 18 years old, but recently, I had a minor run-in with breast cancer. I went to my very first gynecologist appointment in September of 2007 and she felt a lump in my right breast, something I had never noticed as I had never lain down to do my self-examination (which appears to be the best position to do this). She recommended that I get a mammogram and an ultrasound. YES, the dreaded mammogram. Every woman dreads her yearly visit, but could you possibly image what it was like for me, this all being bundled into my very first visit? But to be honest, you should immediately schedule a visit for your gynecologist or for a mammogram and/or ultrasound as soon as signs of breast lumps are detected. I had never been an avid practitioner of the monthly breast check and it surprised me that she felt something like that during my first visit! Since then, I've been sure to perform my monthly shower check (both in the shower and laying down), inspecting for lumps or any deformation in my breasts. This test is best done when you are lying down as your breast spreads out evenly and makes it easier for you to feel anything "unusual."
After my doctor found the lump, I was sure to look into Breast Cancer factors. It turns out that even thought it can happen to both genders simply being a woman is one of the greatest risk factor of breast cancer. About 1 out of 8 invasive breast cancer diagnoses are among women younger than 45, while about 2 out of 3 women with invasive breast cancer are age 55 or older when they are diagnosed. When I found this out, I honestly got SUPER SCARED. Here I am 18 years old at the start of life with a lump in my chest and the statistics were already against me. My family doesn't even have a history of breast cancer! (Which is another thing that can raise your chances.) There was also the fact that African-American women are more likely to die of this cancer. At least part of this seems to be because African-American women tend to have more aggressive tumors.
I got my mammogram and the lump did not show up clearly. So for those that may not know it, you should honestly go for BOTH the mammogram AND the ultrasound because it was then that the lump appeared clearly. I was ordered to schedule an appointment with a Breast Specialist who would be able to read my ultrasounds and determine if I was at risk for breast cancer. It was then that I was diagnosed with a benign lump, which is common among African-American women. It is dormant and should not have to be forcibly removed unless it begins to grow larger or starts giving me pain. So I should not need any surgery unless or until something negative begins to happen. I had to go for another ultrasound in July, to compare the size of my now benign lump with my earlier sizes (to see if there had been any recent growth). My latest ultrasound showed no notable difference in the lump's size and relief set it. Occasionally, I will have sharp chest pains and I must honestly admit that that scares me a bit. If it's not growing, then there shouldn't be any pains either. I aim to schedule another visit soon and hope there will not be anything to report.
Before this encounter, I was a normal student that would off and on volunteer for community service, but now Breast Cancer is one of my favorite campaigns. I collect the Yoplait Pink Lids, pass pamphlets and am even pushing my school's Honors Council to fund a Breast Cancer Awareness fund raiser so that we can raise money for a good donation for the semester. I do not hide my past nor am I ashamed of my curiousity to know more. I hope my experience helps the younger readers become more informed about breast cancer and the things you should do as a women, or even a man, to help raise your awareness and protect yourself. Remember, the faster you react, the better your chances are of biting it off before it can become worst.
(Information on Breast Cancer provided by MedicineNet.com)
(The photo on the left is of my ultrasound exam and the photo on the right is of me with a Pink Ribbon pin to support Breast Caner)
Please VOTE on or POST this campaign and help me spread awareness of BREAST CANCER.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Move-in Day
Tags: worst, move-in, 5 hour wait
Campaign: Best and Worst of Back To School
Added: 9/11/2008 9:05 AM PT
Last Modified: 9/11/2008 9:05 AM PT
|
|
|
|
Now, moving is never easy, but honest to goodness there can be moderate agitation and EXTREME aggravation when you look at that first day of the semester when everyone is moving back into the dorms.
When I attended Susquehanna University for my freshman year, I left my house by 6 a.m. and got there in time to save a choice spot in the move-in line. The football players and frat/sorority members were all outside waiting to help us freshmen move all of our gear up the stairs. I had already received a letter telling me who my roommate was to be, and had contacted her online to talk about what we were bringing and what not. The letter had also included my room number and dorm building, so when we pulled up, we just parked and started lifting everything up the stairs. I went to the administrative building and signed some documents for my ID card, and room key and that was that.
This year, I transferred to Cheyney University and let me just start off by telling you this was an EXTREME move-in. The letter they sent me only told me the day for move-in, it did not include any roommate or room information. When I called them up to find this out, they claimed that they assigned that on the day you move-in! So I arrive on the assigned day at about 10:30 a.m. and head to the administrative building they had instructed me to go to. There was paperwork to fill out . . . CLEARANCE paperwork. I hit the second floor and there was a line (in accordance to the number on the bottom of your clearance paperwork) and I was 193 and the officials were only on 67! I ended up waiting 5 HOURS just to get “cleared” through admissions, housing, the bursar’s office and financial aid (something I shouldn’t have had to experience since my scholarship package covers EVERYTHING). By this time, the football players had gone to practice, leaving me to carry all of my things up and down the elevator to the 5th floor all by myself. My mother got so mad that she wanted to send me back to Susquehanna!
Can anyone else see the difference in these two stories? Yeah, this is my WORST back-to-school story. Hope you didn’t cringe too much. Thanks for reading and I hope you never have to put up with this kind of treatment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Cute Shoe Fettish & Me
Tags:
Campaign: Love Affair of the Sole
Added: 7/14/2008 8:55 AM PT
Last Modified: 9/11/2008 5:18 AM PT
|
|
|
|
Now, If you've seen my earring collection, you might have an idea as to what I'm implying by saying, "my cute shoe fettish and me." When I go shopping and hit the shoe aisle, the fettish speaks first and then I get to add my input. I like them heeled, and CUTE.
CUTE is the top priortity! If it sin't crazy cute, my sensors won't kick into gear and I won't even notice the shoes. Oh but when they do! I've walked down aisles and ignored just about all of the shoes there and then suddenly, miraculously, my eyes are blessed with a pair of shoes that I simply MUST buy or disavow myself of ever purchasing shoes again! And then, after I've bought them, I simply MUST wear them somewhere. A big occasion, a simple affair, i don't CARE--the cute shoes MUST be worn! And then, when I'm wearing them, I get so proud!
God, it's good to have a cute shoe fettish.
  
|
|
|
|
|
|
Get Outta Dodge - Summer Work
Tags: Jeep, Grand Cherokee, Laredo, Minimum wage, part-time, domestic, arguments, college, savings, money problems
Campaign: What's Your Summer Sizzle?
Added: 6/30/2008 9:17 PM PT
Last Modified: 7/28/2008 8:00 AM PT
|
|
|
|
Well, to start off my second year of college, I am transferring schools in the fall because the new university is offering me a full-ride scholarship (tuition, books, fees and a free laptop) for enrolling in their Honors Academy/Program, which is a LOT better than what my previous university was offering me in financial aid. When I went to them to ask how to apply for the Dean's Scholarship (having made the Dean's List, BOTH semesters) they told me I couldn't get that scholarship because I didn't have enought "financial need." After that lovely conversation, I decided I needed to transfer schools. I am fully aware that I need to pay off the student loan I took out for last year's tuition and have been working since summer break started for me back in mid-May.
My Summer consists of a LOT of WORKING in an attempt to start saving money.
Ever since I came back from university, my stepdad and I have gotten into some pretty STUPID arguements, in my opinion, wherein he has basically laid down the ultimatum of, "If you can't act like you live here and do more around the house, GET OUT." Unfair and honest to God unreasonable because I have two younger brothers in the house that generally do a lot less than I to begin with, and I'm a laid back person. Archaic in ideal and entirely unrealistic with his old-school, "Women should do housework," beliefs, I know, but that's the way it is and it has been said to me on several occasions. Everything is always my fault around here and it never ends well. I'm always to blame for every little thing that "never gets done" and since I'm a GIRL I'm supposed to do things like clean the house and what not, which I think is the stupidest thing I've ever heard and I told him so to his face. I don't care if you ARE a girl, it makes no difference whatsoever in my opinion as to whether or not you are capable or as to what you should do in life. So I made up my mind to step up my game a notch.
While I was at university, I worked three part-time jobs that could be mixed in with my class schedule. An hour here, two hours between these classes, at minimum wage, it took me the whole semester from mid-Jan to mid-May to save up $1000 and that's not counting the money I spent for medical expenses along the way (if you read my Breast Cancer blog, you understand). With the money I saved from all that work, I bought myself a white 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo "Larry" at a garage sale that was so random and lucky that I simply could not leave Larry there for only $2000. I only had the $1000 so I borrowed a grand from my mother, which I fully intend to pay back over time even though she says I don't have to.
As soon as my next two paychecks came through, I took out my own car insurance plan (being 18 they kinda had fun with my quote...:sarcastic laugh:), registered and licensed it, bought 4 new tires (as the ones Larry came with were BALD), and got an oil change. I honestly never saw more than about $20 of those entire paychecks and that went towards gas!
When you look at my profile page it says I'm "Here for: Prizes" because I AM. I'm trying to earn as much scholarship money as possible and am CONSTANTLY searching for some scholarship to apply for. Brickfish? I have about 10-20 campaigns running just about all the time. I'm open to voting exchanges because I understand the need for support. I try my hardest to stick to my word and vote daily because I don't want anyone to lose faith in me.
I am currently pushing 60+ hours part-time (mostly evenings 4-10/11) at the local Kentucky Fried Chicken at $7.15/hr (minimum wage) and may not be able to continue to do that as they seem to be cutting back on hours throughout the staff. I a telemarketing job for Kirby Co. I was just promoted to Telemarketing Manager as of July 28, so my hourly salary went from $8/hr to $10/hr+ bonuses for reaching the set goals, etc. I apparently seem to be pretty good because I've been booking appointments consistently, my most being 15 in one shift (4-9). I applied for a job at the local Pizza Hut as a Delivery Driver, where (once I FINALLY get around to starting) I'll make $7.15/hr + $1/deliver + tips (also for a 4-11 timeslot).
I'm hoping that I can possibly juggle all these jobs for the remainder of the summer and save up enough to pay off my insurance for the next 4 months and start making payments towards my $20,000 in student loans for last year's term because even though I don't have to pay them back until six months after I graduate and college will be free for the next 3 years, I know that the loan will begin to accrue interest in the meantime and I simply wish to graduate without any straggling strings of debt.
I'm working hard for the summer so that I won't have to listen to my degrading stepfather anymore. The way I figure, the harder I work, the less I have to be around the house, the more money I can make, the faster I can get the heck outta Dodge and not have to come back.
PLEASE SUPPORT MY AMBITION! POST this entry in places where it will attract attention and please keep me watchlisted. Leave a review and I or my mother will be sure to return the voting / posting support.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Breast Cancer
Tags:
Campaign: The Gift of Giving
Added: 4/16/2008 2:46 PM PT
Last Modified: 5/23/2008 9:28 AM PT
|
|
|
|
I want to take a moment to tell you a bit about breast cancer. I'm only 18 years old, but recently, I had a minor run-in with breast cancer. I went to my very first gynecologist appointment in September of 2007 and she felt a lump in my right breast, something I had never noticed as I had never lain down to do my self-examination (which appears to be the best position to do this). She recommended that I get a mammogram and an ultrasound. YES, the dreaded mammogram. Every woman dreads her yearly visit, but could you possibly image what it was like for me, this all being bundled into my very first visit? But to be honest, you should immediately schedule a visit for your gynecologist or for a mammogram and/or ultrasound as soon as signs of breast lumps are detected. I had never been an avid practitioner of the monthly breast check and it surprised me that she felt something like that during my first visit! Since then, I've been sure to perform my monthly shower check (both in the shower and laying down), inspecting for lumps or any deformation in my breasts. This test is best done when you are lying down as your breast spreads out evenly and makes it easier for you to feel anything "unusual."
After my doctor found the lump, I was sure to look into Breast Cancer factors. It turns out that even thought it can happen to both genders simply being a woman is one of the greatest risk factor of breast cancer. About 1 out of 8 invasive breast cancer diagnoses are among women younger than 45, while about 2 out of 3 women with invasive breast cancer are age 55 or older when they are diagnosed. When I found this out, I honestly got SUPER SCARED. Here I am 18 years old at the start of life with a lump in my chest and the statistics were already against me. My family doesn't even have a history of breast cancer! (Which is another thing that can raise your chances.) There was also the fact that African-American women are more likely to die of this cancer. At least part of this seems to be because African-American women tend to have more aggressive tumors.
I got my mammogram and the lump did not show up clearly. So for those that may not know it, you should honestly go for BOTH the mammogram AND the ultrasound because it was then that the lump appeared clearly. I was ordered to schedule an appointment with a Breast Specialist who would be able to read my ultrasounds and determine if I was at risk for breast cancer. It was then that I was diagnosed with a benign lump, which is common among African-American women. It is dormant and should not have to be forcibly removed unless it begins to grow larger or starts giving me pain. So I should not need any surgery unless or until something negative begins to happen. I have to go for another ultrasound come July, to compare the size of my benign lump with my earlier sizes to see if there has been any recent growth. I hope there will not be anything to report, there wasn't anything to say after my second ultrasound and hopefully it'll stay that way.
I hope my experience helps you become more informed about breast cancer and the things you should do as a women, or even a man, to help raise your awareness and protect yourself. Remember, the faster you react, the better your chances are of biting it off before it can become worst.
(Information on Breast Cancer provided by MedicineNet.com)
(The photo on the left is of my ultrasound exam and the photo on the right is of me with a Pink Ribbon pin to support Breast Caner)
Please VOTE on or POST this campaign and help me spread awareness of BREAST CANCER.
>>CLICK TO HELP PROVIDE FREE MAMOGRAMS FOR BREAST CANCER PATIENTS<<
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don't Forget to LOOK Left!
Tags: walking, car accident, near miss, iPod, J. Holiday, boyfriend
Campaign: If Only You'd Heard It Coming!
Added: 3/16/2008 12:58 PM PT
Last Modified: 4/30/2008 5:45 PM PT
|
|
|
|
Last year April, I had just met my most recent boyfriend. We were walking down Main Street heading for McDonalds because I hadn't eaten breakfast and he was very adamant about me eating at least a pancake--cute of him, I know. I was listening to my iPod while strolling along beside him on the right side. We came to the end of the block and I looked right while only glancing left because I figured he'd already checked that side and I didn't see or hear anything coming so whatever right?
So I'm stepping out off the curb to start crossing, no worries . . . right? He had that side checked.
There weren't any signs of cars when I had glanced but the next thing I know he's grabbing me around the waist and pulling me back onto the curb as a white car pulls up right where I USED to be. It seriously felt like one of those slow motion moments you only get to see in movies; when everything is just happening and you have no control over anything and then BAM it's done? One of rare as anything moments you just never expect to happen to you. Yeah, one of those.
Near miss that I didn't even expect. Surely enough I didn't hear it coming.
I laughed because of the craziness of it all and HE gave me a VERY nice lecture on looking both ways very carefully when I'm crossing streets (I'll admit, I'm not the most traffic coordinated pedestrian walker) and not listening to my iPod when I'm obviously not checking the flow of traffic with my complete attention. Funny enough, J.Holiday's hit song "Bed" was playing at the time and that ended up becoming our song--really ironic no?
From that day forward, he would hold my hand as we walked down the street and I was only allowed to walk on the INSIDE (left) of the sidewalk while he walked on the roadside. He always walked a stride ahead of me too--he obviously wasn't taking anymore chances when walking with me.
I guess chivalry isn't dead, huh? We definitely stayed together for almost six months.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Learning to Dance
Tags:
Campaign: none
Added: 3/16/2008 1:03 PM PT
Last Modified: 3/16/2008 1:03 PM PT
|
|
|
|
You laughed and told me you'd teach me how to dance.
Real dancing, not that club or party stuff.
For a week, we danced together,
learning each other's flow and flaws.
And then you said you couldn't teach me anymore,
said I should find someone else.
I didn't find anyone else, couldn't do it myself.
So I gave up on learning, it wasn't going to happen.
I was back to a solo performance.
And then I didn't have to be.
Suddenly, you're back, asking me to dance.
Eager for the chance, I danced.
We danced for months then.
Sporadic lessons causing hardship and pain,
forcing change.
Dancing with you made me more aware.
I learning the steps, took a chance, pulled the stunts.
My thoughts blossomed and my certainty grew,
Your lessons? They were good for me.
Then you said it again!
Said we couldn't dance anymore.
The dancing is done now.
No duets, no solos,
just a routine to be done.
But some of the steps have your influence,
a touch of change.
Now, instead of a shy glance,
the piece demands a bold stare.
It took a bit of practice--two months of work.
But now my dance is with me,
a part of how I'm defined.
There's still room for improvement,
I'll work those out in time.
|
|
|
|