You know that phrase, "..learn something new every day?"  Today I learned that my cat, Mabel likes to eat whole chili peppers from my Chinese food when I'm not looking.

Oh yeah, it's the New Year?

Okay, I never have a resolution for the new year - even though I could probably stand to make a few of the traditional ones (I won't ever accomplish any of those), i.e. spend less money at the bar on beers.  BUT! I decided that I was going to do my own take on what I should focus on for 2012 and they are:

- graduate from college (keep your fingers crossed, guys!)
- eat more kale - it's delicious!
- wear makeup everyday - not because I need to look more "beautiful," but because I want to stop being such a hot mess every minute of every day.
- stop apologizing for myself when I've done nothing wrong
...and embrace every moment.

Okay, now that's over. We can focus on things I like more, like articles from the New York Times.  Here are two opinion pieces written by former prisoners at Gitmo. Pretty cool.   here and here

On Thursday, I fly out for a weekend in Chicago before I head back to Ripon for the semester.  My plans involve eating as many tacos as possible, and doing only fun things.  I move back to the good ol' sorority floor come Sunday, and I am excited for our first night back - where Ashley and Holly are hopefully going to sit in my room while we drink and I organize.  Everyone who reads this probably knows how important this initial organization is for me, because if I don't do it right away...this is what happens:

above: freshman year dorm room, awful outfit and awful room. gross.

Anyways, wish me luck on the next few weeks, I am going to try to only have so much fun!

xoxo
berts

The Lives They Lived

Hi everyone (aka the two people that are probably reading this)!

I have arrived home about a week ago, and have been playing lazy all around the house, cooking delicious food and working a few hours at the daycare.  In the coming weeks, I return to Ripon as a student for my last semester, and move back to the sorority floor (I better prepare myself for formal recruitment)!

I spent my first Christmas without my family this year.  My Mom and brother went up to Canada to visit with my extended family, and I had to stay behind because of the loss of my green card while I was up visiting Andie during the summertime.  I have since paid to replace it, gotten my biometrics done, but still have not received the card in the mail.  Immigration, while necessary is probably one of the most irritating and complicated government departments ever.  Let's hope that it arrives soon so that I can go visit my grandmother before I return to Ripon.  I went over to Kirsten's house for Christmas dinner and it was really nice, and I sure left so full that I felt like I was going to be in elastic waist pants for the rest of my life.

I am trying to decide whether or not to return to Chicago for a weekend before I head back to Ripon.  A huge part of me really wants to go, and do stuff like ride the el and walk down Michigan Avenue - but another part of me doesn't want to go at all.  I love the city, and miss it a lot but I don't really know if I actually have any reasons to visit.  I guess that it mostly depends on the difference between plane ticket prices going to Milwaukee or Chicago.

Here's a really interesting set of obituaries edited by Ira Glass (my favorite human being. ever.)  Like the radio show that he hosts, these obituaries are stories from the lives of the people who had passed away in the last year.  The Lives They Lived, edited by Ira Glass.  These made me tear up, and they are a beautiful way to remember people that have died.

Happy Christmas and YAYYY for the New Year!
Roberta

hope = time is on my side
hope = enjoying my future
fear = graduation

Jam of the Day

Is Being a Lush a Phase?

Brain = do nothing ever
Heart = do everything possible
Not attainable = somewhere in the middle


I was seriously tempted to call my mom today to ask if I would grow out of my personality which has existed since birth:

• Sweatpants/leggings are always an acceptable solution to pants
• Jeans are stupid
• Red wine is fun on Sundays
• I only like doing fun things, and dread doing anything boring, or seemingly useless
• Bed is perhaps the best place that I could ever be in the world
• Being comfortable is the best thing ever, nothing beats it.
• Eating good food is pretty good too
• Going to a paradise where I can do all of these things and somehow miraculously survive without heaps of student loans would be pretty great
• Oh, and maybe some free love gobbildy-gook (is there a proper way to spell this?)

I hope it's kind of a phase because I know there will be a day when I have to wear business casual clothes, not drink wine on Sundays, and I will have to get out of bed at an early hour every day.  For now, I will just hope that day never comes.

I know you see me looking up, because I know you're looking down right now

Hey y'all (aka the two people who probably read this),

I haven't written in a few weeks, that's because I have been really busy the last few days.  Well, since I last wrote I have had a few really cool things happen.  I visited the Graceland Cemetary with Jordan, Scott and Charles - and saw the graves of some of Chicago's most famous residents, like Burnham and Palmer.  Awesome!  I also saw Paul Simon live, which was pretty fucking awesome.  He played every song I wanted him to play, and jammed out like it was Louisiana - needless to say, one of the better concerts I have ever seen in my life.

Friday I go up to Ripon for AXO's formal, and I am stoked!  I am excited to see all of the seestors and have a great time (here's to hoping I don't spend too much money!) The Packers have also been on an incredible winning streak, they are STILL undefeated, and kicked the ass out of the Vikes tonight.  I have had a few good weeks.

Since no post is complete without my ramblings that don't have to do with my real life, here are two great articles about feminism (as you all should know, one of my fave things..hahaha).  Here's an article on rape, which declares that as women we should be "Over it" - never thought I would view rape this way, but very interesting... "Over It" by Eve Ensler.

Also on the reading list, is an article about how Kim Kardashian's wedding is good for women : check it out.

xo
go pack and axo ain't nothing to fuck with,
berta