On the Road

At least I didn't make a PowerPoint presentation

Alright, that. is. it. I've had enough, and I've held it in for too long.

Since when did it become acceptable, even desirable, to want to be the most boring, albeit "contemporary" town in the world? I suppose I'm mainly concerned with the architecture and flora. So don't get your panties in a wad. I know Auburn is a great place, and hey, I call it home; so no one has more respect for it than I do. But, since I have that respect, I guess I also have higher standards for it. So if the city planner (or whoever decides the things of that nature) just so happens to stumble upon this (I'm kidding... only in my dreams), I would like to have a few [kind] words with you. 

The catalyst that got the ball rolling on this theory that I've had for a couple of years now was a recent visit to Mobile, AL. I never even knew Mobile was an aesthetically pleasing place until this visit in which a simple car ride erased the misconception that it was a place whose sole purpose was to hold high-school baseball tournaments and the USS Alabama Battleship. This car ride opened my eyes to the architectural accomplishments and tree-lined, spanish-moss-filled streets of what is Mobile, AL. 

   

The collage is composed of pictures I ... "borrowed" from a blog written by a man who is also obsessed with Mobile's beauty.

Now, I know we can't just plant a bunch of century old oaks all over Auburn, but we definitely could have started planting them years ago. And dadgumit, I'm about to start driving an hour south and grabbing some spanish moss to bring back and throw on the trees. I don't care if it "slows down the growth;" if a tree is already grown, it doesn't matter. Speaking of growing trees, why do we keep planting trees that don't grow taller than 10 feet? I don't understand the logic behind that... it provides no shade and no grandeur. Let's think a little bit before we start chunking trees in the ground everywhere and calling it a day. 

What is this doing for anybody? 

NOTHING.

If it were a live oak, guess what... it would be evergreen and USEFUL. Or hey, even a magnolia... since it is Magnolia Avenue... but I guess that never registered with anyone when they were flippantly throwing those trees in the ground.

For a renowned architecture school, we sure do skimp on creativity/individuality in the area of architectural interest. It seems that our idea of "cohesiveness" is making every building look the same with "brick and limestone facades and pitched rooftops." That's not cohesive; that's cookie-cutter... and kind of deranged. I can't even talk about it anymore. So, moving on...   

Starkville, MS is another perfect example of how we can be interesting while still being a small southern town with southern charm. 

 



Why can't we have balconies and intricate French-quarter-style ironwork? Why can't we have towering, magical live oaks with spanish moss swinging from the limbs? Or maybe even some weeping willows, in all their whimsical glory... Why can't we have a nice downtown that actually employs the 2nd and 3rd stories of the buildings that line the street instead of letting them waste away in vacancy and dilapidation? Why can't we have parks with big fountains and tree-lined sidewalks?
If you need some inspiration, take a look at places like Starkville and Mobile... or even Florence, AL... or Savannah, GA... or Knoxville, TN... or Seaside, FL... or Greenville, SC...
Or hey, just take a drive 10 minutes east to Opelika, because someone over there seems to have some taste.. or at least cares about the way things look...

Now, don't make me tell you again... I won't be so nice next time : ) 

Who knows where we'll be tomorrow, what if we're never here again?

I haven't written on either blog in a long time... mainly because I haven't had anything to write about, or the time to write it. But now the semester is over, and I'm working all week because I need the money, and working means sitting at a desk with my computer for 7 hours. So, the least I could do is update one of my blogs... or both, if I get around to it. 

One of the first things I've done is put together this collage (I know, I'm so unpredictable! ha) that, to me, symbolizes having fun and spending time with friends.

I think that I [subconsciously] like the idea more than the act itself. I say that because I'm really terrible at making an effort to be a friend to anyone other than my best friend(s), and I'm even guilty of negligence in that area; I know, because Clayton tells me so. Apparently, if she didn't talk to me, she'd never hear from me; and, it's true. I don't know why; maybe it's a product of my unthoughtfulness/inattention, but I just don't ever think of seeing how someone is doing or asking how someone has been or looking at a calendar to see if it's someone's birthday (that's a specific, yet regularly occurring incident)... it's not that I'm inconsiderate because anyone who has ever lived with me would tell you that's not the case (I'm a surprisingly considerate roommate), but I'm just semi-antisocial and I hate small-talk. Maybe that's the real reason; but honestly, the only people I make an effort to stay in contact with, are people that aren't trying to stay in contact with me... There's that "thrill of the chase" again... (One day I swear I'm going to put it to use chasing bad guys... eventually.) And usually "those people" are of the X and Y chromosome-carrying, male species... Aaaand by "usually" I mean "always"... I guess they're my weakness, my kryptonite... O well, I don't really feel like dealing with that character flaw right now.

Anyway, I want to have bonfires and big dinners and go camping and take long walks and do all kinds of other fun things with my friends... I'm going to work on it and try to spend the time I have left in college making memories with my friends... 'Cause it don't last forever! 

Like Crazy Is Making Me Crazy...

Ok, so I was already crazy...

Basicallyyyy, it's VITAL that I see this movie, stat.

I don't usually gush like a starry-eyed, lovesick teenager (especially about romantic movies), but.... this trailer has me weak-at-the-knees, heart-fluttering, anticipating, and, frankly, intoxicated on love. Ew. 

Oh, well. What can I say... when you subliminally enchant me with background music like Star's "Dead Hearts" (one of my favorites) and Ingrid Michaelson's "Can't Help Falling In Love", you leave me defenseless and, alas, my usually jaded facade falls. 

Anyway, PARAMOUNT, if you don't play this movie in a theatre near me on Oct. 28th, you'll leave me no choice but to do some less-than-legal things to get my greedy, love-crazed eyes on this movie. Don't put it past me.

This and That

I'm really surprised Shelby has not kicked me off of this thing yet as I never blog. I did however write a post about New York that I thought I had posted but apparently not. But it doesn't really matter anyway. Shelby stole all of my good pics and put them on hers and she wrote what I would have written anyway.

But anyways... school started for me a few of weeks ago. I FINALLY decided on a major yall. I mean it only took me 4 years, no big deal. I chose Sociology. However, I still am not exactly sure what I want to do with it yet. I've been thinking though that I would like to help kids who are sick (cancer mainly I guess). There is a lady I know that was a Sociology major and she got a job where she helps counsels adults with cancer and she said that she could never do that with children though, and this was before I had even thought about it. I didn't really think anything about it when she told me at first but now I can't stop thinking about it. So, maybe that is a sign or something.

On a different note, we have received a new girl at work. I wanted to bang my head into a wall nonstop on her first day. First of all she talks to herself CONSTANTLY. She also says things like "howdy partner" and "okie dokie artichokie". OK, I know I am weird. People tell me all the time that I am the weirdest person they have ever met. Which is fine because at least I am funny. She told me several things that she thought were hilarious and I had to force something that hopefully resembled somewhat of a smile, at the same time I was thinking about running in front of the next car that drove by. Oh, and did I mention that I will be working with her EVERYDAY? She also told me that she was "planning on working here for the next 2 years but hopefully even longer, it just all depends on her school schedule that third year." Are you kidding me? She already has it planned out? SHE HAS BEEN HERE FOR A WEEK. The other day she asked me if I would like to see pictures of her lizard but before I could even respond she was forcing her phone in my face. She then said "her name is Lucy! but, I like to call her Lucymclucerson or Lucyfer!" Anyways, I am sure that a lot of my next posts (if I ever get around to it) will be what ridiculously things have come out of her mouth.