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I’m on my eighth week of the Extreme Home Fitness system P90X and I am so bored. I started working out in 2007. At that time I was in a transition period and I wanted to simplify many things in my life. Working out helped me to feel better about myself, while I dealt with a lot of personal issues.
I started off by doing free workouts on Time Warner’s Exercise TV On Demand. As I got more into it, I decided to buy workout DVDs, as well as yoga DVDs. My favorite cardio DVD workouts are TurboJam and TurboFire with Chalene Johnson. Fast forward four years and many workouts, I purchased P90X. I stumbled upon the infomercial one day and always wanted to try it, so when I saw it on EBay for $39.95 I knew I couldn’t pass that deal up.
I really like the trainer Tony Horton; he’s knowledgeable, funny and keeps you motivated throughout. Here’s my problem… too much weight training and not enough cardio. I’m a cardio junkie and I need to sweat buckets in order to feel like I’ve had a good workout. Weight training, doesn’t bring my heart rate up enough. There are cardio workouts in the P90X system, but they are far from the high intensity that I was used to doing throughout the years. A definite plus about the weight training, is that I’ve definitely gotten very toned, but I’m feeling too bulky, my weight has gone up and I’m not burning any fat, just building muscle. So how do I get the weight training benefits of P90X and still get my high intensity cardio?
I’ve come up with an idea off combining P90X and TurboFire workouts. Both of these home workouts have a week to week workout schedule. My plan is to do one week of weight training with the P90X and then one week of high intensity cardio with the TurboFire workouts, alternating weeks until I finish both programs. This way my muscles never get a chance to get used to anything because I’ll be constantly changing my movements. Hopefully, I’ll get the results that I’m looking for, toned and lean muscles. I know it sounds like a lot, but I’m up for the challenge and I love working out.
If anyone else wants to join me in this challenge, let me know and we can keep each other motivated. Wish me luck.
Martine Chevry received her B.A. in Communications and Culture from the CUNY School of Professional Studies in June 2011. She currently works as an Editorial Assistant and lives in Queens, New York. Martine is currently planning on self publishing her first novel in Spring 2012. She enjoys writing, working out, shopping, reading and reality television.
Astronomy as I had known it consisted only of the Sun, Moon and stars. But after I took the plunge of enrolling in an astronomy course here at SPS, my perception of what I thought I knew had drastically changed for the better.
I tend to be the sort of person that likes to play it safe. Here’s what I mean: I try to stick to what I know best so if I fail, it can be on a subject matter that I know vs. something I have no clue about. That might sound silly but it’s the truth. Ordinarily, I would have preferred to enroll in Biology or Earth Science but since I’m a college student, I felt it better suited me to try something more challenging. (I forced myself to enroll).
According to Wikipedia, astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth’s atmosphere (such as the cosmic background radiation). At least I was partially correct. Before, I get all technical, the basics of astronomy began with early observations – some of which you might have heard of. These great explorers are like Galileo who turned the newly invented telescope with great discoveries, but Newton made tremendous strides in physics, which connects with astronomy. Or how about Ptolemy, the astronomer, mathematician, and author who wrote an astronomical treatise (is a formal and systematic written discourse on some subject, generally longer and treating it in greater depth than an essay), on the complex subject on the motion of stars and planetary paths. There was also a man named Copernicus who proposed the heliocentric system and Kepler adopted the detailed laws of planetary motion. Not only have these men contributed to the history of astronomy, they have allowed us to see and further discover what is above our Earth’s atmosphere.
Have you ever wondered why we have seasons?
Seasons as we know it, are a direct result of the Earth’s tilt! You’re probably wondering what that means, right? Well it means that Summer (from the Latin word “sol” meaning “sun” and stare, “to stand”) is the point on the ecliptic (plane of the earth’s orbit around the sun), where the Sun is at its northern most point above the celestial equator. It represents the point in Earth’s orbit where our planet’s North Pole points closet to the Sun! This occurs on or near June 21.
Six months later, the Sun is at its southernmost point or the Winter Solstice (December 21) the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere. These two affect the height of the Sun above the horizon and the length of the day – which combine to account for the seasons we experience.
One of the many stunning images available on the Hubble website.
This is truly fascinating!
Astronomers view any and all activity by high-powered ground telescopes and even the HST (Hubble Space Telescope). The HST is very unique device since its stationed high above our Earth’s atmosphere. It has produced thousands upon thousands of crystal clear images that the ground telescopes aren’t able to produce. Images are passed to another satellite in space and finally beamed to a ground telescope and transferred to a computer at the Goddard Space Center in Maryland.
If you have a chance to log onto Hubble’s official website at: http://hubblesite.org, there are extraordinary images that could possibly bring you to tears.
According to the NY Post, an outdated research satellite will re-enter our atmosphere where it’s expected be destroyed. I can’t but help to have a new-found respect for this science and technology, which is ever-changing before our eyes.
What I’m learning from taking this course is that observations and new challenging can be exciting and even thrilling. My decision to rise to the challenge is definitely paying off by this new-found hobby I’ve acquired of becoming an elementary star-gazer.
Sources: Wikipedia.com, Astronomy Today, Volume II, chapter 4 & 5 (Chaisson, McMillian)
Miranda A. Walker is currently in her freshman year in the B.A. in Communication & Culture program at CUNY School of Professional Studies. She works in the multi-media industry as an Executive Assistant at the New York Daily News. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children and reading immensely. Her dream is to one day run her own company.
I am a resident New Yorker, but I haven’t understood or even cared about my home state’s major attractions.
I’ll explain why.
Recently, my company moved from its midtown digs to plusher and more greener pastures at South Ferry. There’s a conglomerate of shops, businesses, restaurants and of course Battery Park to name a few. My initial attitude upon hearing that we were moving, was that of reservation or even unhappiness. Why would my company decide to pick up and leave our present location to a new area that could pose to be difficult – navigation wise?
How dare they!
After two and a half-months, the area has really grown on me. I’m proud to say where I now work, since it’s an ideal location for any business or resident to work or live in. I hadn’t known the many things my company was lacking in terms of location, location, location!
One of the goals any business considers when choosing where to do business – is the location. Location is key. It can prove to be beneficial or devastating – to say the least.
Our former address in midtown proved to be devastating because the daily walk from the subway was a schlep no one cared for especially in nasty weather. There were a limited variety of restaurants and shops and I mean, limited! It took an half-hour to arrive at an ideal restaurant or even a local store.
Or try eating at the same restaurant, week after week. Who does that? On many occasions, I’d forgo eating lunch and resort to having a snack instead, until I got home later in the evening.
So before you’re faced with a change however intense it may be, trying looking at the brighter side of things. Who knows, you may learn a true life lesson that drastically enriches you!
Miranda A. Walker is currently in her freshman year in the B.A. in Communication & Culture program at CUNY School of Professional Studies. She works in the multi-media industry as an Executive Assistant at the New York Daily News. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children and reading immensely. Her dream is to one day run her own company.
The moment you’ve been fantasizing about ever since you were a little girl finally comes. The man of your dreams drops to one knee and asks you to marry him and places that 3.5 carat emerald cut rock on your finger. All of a sudden you have reality TV visions of getting “Married Away” only to become the ultimate “Bridezilla” who is constantly screaming, “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway”?
Recently, I looked up the definition of marriage in the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, and it said: Marriage- the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.
I kept reading it over and over again… “contractual relationship recognized by law” stuck in my head. I realized that the only difference between a long term relationship and a marriage is that the marriage is recognized by law. I personally know quite a few couples that have been together for a long time and are not legally married but function as if they are. They have the home, the kids, the cars, as well as the deep connection and commitment to each other, even more so then the married couples that I know, and they actually outlast the married couples. Why?
Today, couples that get married go into the marriage with a Plan B already formulated even before they’ve walked down the aisle. “If the marriage ends, what will I get? What will I do after?” Hence, prenuptial agreements, which de-romanticize the entire institution, but unfortunately in a society of such a high divorce rate, it is sometimes necessary. Why do they even bother getting married? These couples need the boundaries and rules that come with being married to make them feel like they’ve taken this big leap of faith and have “grown up” when the true leap of faith is sharing an unwavering commitment to each other; one made of steel where no one can touch you two, having a friendship on fire, trusting completely, living in each moment together without doubts and insecurities. Sharing deep love and mutual respect without feeling the pressure from family, friends, television and society to make their union legal, I believe, is the true meaning of marriage. Many times, religious beliefs cause couples to succumb to the pressures as well. It’s unfortunate that couples cannot have their priest or pastor marry them without a state issued marriage license. Does anybody remember learning about separation of church and state in junior high? Whatever happened to that? (That’s a whole other story…)
Some marry for love, some marry for money and then there are some who marry purely for the companionship. The list of reasons for why people marry each other can go on for days, but your reasons must be conducive to your partner’s reasons or the marriage will fall apart. Marriage now being merely a legal bind and a financial transaction has lost the romance it once had when our grandparents and parents got married. Whether you have a marriage license or you’ve been with your partner for many years, there are certain realities of marriage that need to be discussed before hand. Once armed with that knowledge and awareness, I believe men and women will be able to navigate through their marriage and/or long term relationships to more fruitful outcomes.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself in regards to marriage and your partner:
- How does your partner deal with adversity?
- What type of lifestyle do you both want?
- Do you want children?
- Who will handle the money? (bills, savings, investments)
- Do either of you have personal goals that you haven’t reach yet? Dreams of entrepreneurship? Will your partner support them?
- Can you see yourself with the same person forever? Will they keep you interested forever?
- Self-preservation…do they take care of themselves?
- Who’s more dominant? Does he/she welcome balance?
- Pre-nuptial?
I wish that I had realized some of these elements that could possibly make or break a marriage before I got married. At the time, I felt I was getting married for love, but in retrospect I succumbed to the same societal pressure as many others; trying to keep up appearances and trying to prove to myself and others that I was finally happy with someone, even if I knew in my gut that that someone was not completely right for me.
Being a true romantic at heart, I am in no way bashing marriage but I do feel that it is not for everyone. The more traditional couples who are absolutely confident of their love, bond and commitment…I say go for it and jump that broom and revel in the rarity that is your relationship. As for the more liberal couples who are completely content as you are and don’t need society’s stamp of approval, rock out a la Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn; 20 years strong and never married. Go figure.
Martine Chevry received her B.A. in Communications and Culture from the CUNY School of Professional Studies in June 2011. She currently works as an Editorial Assistant and lives in Queens, New York. Martine is currently planning on self publishing her first novel in Spring 2012. She enjoys writing, working out, shopping, reading and reality television.
9/11 has become one of those dates that is etched in the minds of Americans, an event that has come to represent many things other than just the date of a terrible and devastating terrorist attack. As the ten-year anniversary quickly approaches, I have tried to make a point to separate that event from all of the other associations I have come to have with it. No matter how anyone feels about the wars we have been involved in since that day, the unfortunate racist reactions it sparked in some, our current political situation, or the ways in which our country has handled the War on Terror, 9/11 was a day where we all felt unified, protective of our fellow Americans.
For my mother’s generation the assassination of JFK was the event for which everyone has a clear memory of where they were when they heard, the event that changed things. (And after this, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy.) For my generation, 9/11 is the defining event that everyone can remember with that clarity. I was at the beginning of my first semester at Rutgers University and lived in a tiny, shabby basement apartment with a close friend from high school. I remember waking up that morning to a phone call from my mom on my cell phone. I was groggy and barely aware of what she was worked up about, something about one of the trade center buildings collapsed, or blew up, or was hit by a plane or something. I think, at 19, I was probably likely to have gone back to sleep had she not urged me to get out of bed and turn on the news. I rolled out of bed, and stumbled out of my room to wake up my roommate Nina, and my friend Pilar who had stayed over the night before. We were all half asleep and I remember feeling sort of ridiculous for waking them up, thinking my mom was just worked up, overly worried about safety as usual.
Nina and I had not gotten it together to order cable yet. I don’t remember why, we probably didn’t have the money. We tried to adjust the tv antenna enough to get a picture on a local news channel, but unfortunately our basement apartment was not conducive to good reception. Nothing would come in. I still felt like all of this was unnecessary, but we turned on the radio, just to see what was going on. We found a news channel just in time to hear the second tower fall. Huddled around the radio like that, the three of us wrapped in blankets, listening to earth changing news instead of watching it, felt like something out of the World War II era. I didn’t know what to think, what could have happened, whether to be scared, or angry, or sad, I just remember a keen awareness that whatever was happening was big, and that it would change things.
Pilar was freaking out because her dad worked at The World Trade Center. She was trying to call him, to call her mom to see if she had heard from him, but by now cell phone reception was spotty, and soon our phones would stop working all together. She headed home to be with her mom, and Nina and I got dressed and headed to the student center where they had the news playing live on a huge monitor. We stood around drinking coffee with about two hundred other students watching the news, barely anyone speaking. Because we were in New Brunswick, not all that far from New York, many students had family members and friends who either worked or lived in the city. The news was repeatedly showing footage of the towers imploding, or falling, or exploding, there were horror stories of people jumping out of windows. I think we both had goosebumps. I was worried about Pilar’s dad, other friends’ parents. (It turned out Pilar’s dad was fine- he’d had a meeting across town that morning, but we didn’t hear this until later that night.) We tried to call home, but cell phone providers were overrun and we couldn’t get through to our parents. I think that may have been the last time I remember using a pay phone. (I have tried since then, but they never work anymore.) We got in my car and headed home to Princeton to be with our families.
The worst part about that day was not just what happened, the people who lost their lives, the unexpectedness of it, the destruction of one of the most iconic parts of the New York City skyline, it was the uncertainty, the anxiety, the palpable vulnerability. At this point we did not know who was responsible, Osama Bin Laden was not yet a household name, and we had no idea what else was coming. A plane went down in Pennsylvania, something hit the Pentagon. We were under some sort of attack, but no one knew who was responsible and when it would end. I was glued to the television for a couple of days. The most recent election had been the first I could vote in, and I had been staunchly anti-Bush and had felt disheartened that our country had elected someone like that. But in the days following 9/11 I remember watching him speak and trusting him, because he was our leader, and this was a bi-partisan thing, this was something that we were indisputably in together. I felt intensely patriotic and American. Of course as time passed and the shock wore off, as varying opinions emerged as to what should happen next, these feelings subsided somewhat, but it broke the bubble. The sense of impenetrable safety I had felt growing up had dissipated, and that was something that would never be the same again.
Ten years later, I am a resident of New York City. I am in my second year here, and I love New York. The skyline I am familiar with does not have the twin towers, and it doesn’t feel impenetrable. Osama bin Laden is not on this earth to witness the ten-year anniversary of his atrocious act. But as this ten-year anniversary looms right around the corner, I am trying to remember and recall the only good thing that came from that day, that connectedness I felt with my fellow Americans, with my fellow humans. The feeling that political differences were just differences of opinion, the feeling that all differences came second to the most important thing, that we were all, in one the ways that really mattered, one and the same.
Ann Eggers is in her senior year as a communication and culture major at CUNY SPS. She is an ex bartender turned full time student who lives in Brooklyn, NY. She loves cooking, trying new restaurants, good bourbon, The New York Times, books (to read and collect,) flea markets, outdoor movies and traveling. She recently completed a cross-country trek and is looking forward to a little down time at home before finding the next adventure.
It was a clear September morning.
The first plane struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower at 8:46 a.m.
The second at 9:03 a.m.
Terror came to NYC in the form of evil that most had never known before. For all of the lives that were impacted on this tragic day in our nation; I saw a glimmer of hope that transcended anything I’ve ever witnessed.
Every effort made on that day and thereafter will never be forgotten, deeply embedded in our hearts and souls.
I can’t thank them enough for their selfless act.
They’ll never be forgotten.
At a time when our nation was mourning the loss of its brothers and sisters – that same nation put aside all of its differences for the good of the people whether big or small, black or white.
This is why I love my country.
I will forever remember 9/11/01 for as long as I live. My nation, my city and my fellow neighbor stood tall and firm; not allowing anything or anyone to pull them apart.
And while we can never forget the evil which lay dormant until that day, our love of country, life and freedom will never fail. No matter who opposes our will to live free.
We are one nation of many, and a nation of liberty.
On this commemorative anniversary, I shall never forget the lives taken for the liberty which we fight to protect every day.
God Bless America.
Miranda A. Walker is currently in her freshman year in the B.A. in Communication & Culture program at CUNY School of Professional Studies. She works in the multi-media industry as an Executive Assistant at the New York Daily News. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children and reading immensely. Her dream is to one day run her own company.
Its been a little over two months since graduation and I had so many plans as to what I wanted to do once June 7th passed. I was going to read more (because all my reading time was used reading class material). I was going to spend more time with my daughter. I was going to use some free time for yoga and I even thought about just doing absolutely nothing. Well, that’s hard to do. I’m a writer and I have to do things and live life in order to be inspired, right?
I read Walter Mosely’s book, This Year You Write Your Novel. He had a lot of great and simple tips for stalled writers such as myself.
“My only ritual for writing is that I do it every morning. I wake up and get to work. If I’m in a motel in Mobile — so be it. If I am up all night, and morning is two o’clock in the afternoon, well, that’s okay too.
The only thing that matters is that you write, write, write. It doesn’t have to be good writing. As a matter of fact, almost all first drafts are pretty bad. What matters is that you get down the words on the page or the screen — or into the tape recorder, if you work like that.”
He has a point. Write, write, write Martine! I thought that I should continue my education , but if I fill my time with classes, when will I have free time to write? It’s like I’m scared to be great or somethin. I keep asking myself these questions: Write every day, like Mosely suggests? Should I apply for an MFA in Creative Writing or just write? Do I need an MFA to become a successful writer? Isn’t it all about the work and the craft? So if I just sit down and write every day, won’t it come easier. Do I need to pay an institution thousands of dollars to help me do something I can do by myself if I just do the work and write?
As it stands right now, I don’t want to tie myself down to another 2 years of studies. I’d rather work on my almost finished novel, self publish it and maybe look into the MFA programs, at least go to the information sessions, but I’m not going to throw all my eggs into one basket. The program will definitely help me perfect my craft, but right now I need to develop my voice and a consistent writing routine. So here I am, writing.
Source: Mosely,Walter (2007). This Year You Write Your Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Martine Chevry received her B.A. in Communications and Culture from the CUNY School of Professional Studies in June 2011. She currently works as an Editorial Assistant and lives in Queens, New York. Martine is currently planning on self publishing her first novel in Spring 2012. She enjoys writing, working out, shopping, reading and reality television.
The wonderful world of Twitter is to thank for my latest blog post! A little over three weeks ago now, I was going through my normal morning routine by surfing through my three favorite websites (the NY Times Homepage, Gmail and Twitter) when I came across the actor Ed Burns’ latest post about a winner for a song for his new movie “Newlyweds.” That is where I quickly clicked on @mrpatmccormack and found the man who won the contest; which then lead me to his website and contacting him personally. At first I had to congratulate him on his winning and of course than thank him for us little people who try very hard to follow our dreams. He entered a contest and won a once in a lifetime dream! After a few emails back and fourth I asked him if he’d let me interview him for the CUNY blog and he said yes!
I asked Patrick to tell us a little bit about himself before we started the questions …. I’m a singer, songwriter and film composer originally from New England. Last spring, I recorded and independently released my debut EP, “Fresh Paint.” I pride myself as a self-sufficient recording artist, performing guitar, drums, piano, vocals and all other instrumentation. I’ve spent the past 3 years living in Chicago, playing in my band, T & The Wonder, while writing and recording my original songs. In addition to singing and songwriting, I spend equal time composing and producing instrumental music for independent films.
· If you had to describe your music in three or four words, what would you call it?
Sentimental | Folk | Pop
· What made you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Growing up in the 1990′s was a very inspiring time for popular music. When I heard stuff like Beck, Beastie Boys, or Cake all over the radio, it just seemed so relatable. Even if it got me nowhere, making music is such a versatile form of expression. I felt like such an underachiever by NOT having a band, even when I was 10. As far as actually pursuing music, I saved up for a four track cassette recorder. The first batch of simple folk songs I made on cassette really kickstarted my obsession with layering instruments and vocals. That’s also when I realized you can make a record completely by yourself. With enough practice, and commitment, I learned bass, guitar and drums; the brick foundation of every rock song.
· I saw through Ed Burn’s personal Twitter Account that you’ve recently entered a contest sponsored by him through Twitter; can you tell us about that experience? How has it changed your career?
It was a huge surprise to me. My friend Giancarlo even had to talk me into entering the contest. Burns chose “Ovenbird” from my “Fresh Paint” EP. This could not have been any easy choice for him, I think there were about 100 song submissions from some very serious musicians. Luckily, they had a pair of tickets to the premiere for me, so I flew into New York about 36 hours after finding out I had won. Very surreal. The film was amazing, so just being attached to it was such a thrill. Edward Burns was extremely encouraging when we spoke in person. Getting complimented by such a legendary filmmaker,I couldn’t even mentally process it. A large part of my career focus is composing music for film. Right now I’m scoring a few short films and other instrumental projects. Getting the credit of an Edward Burns film is a huge boost for my future in cinematic music.
· What are your up-to-date performance plans? New Releases? Tours? News?
Sometime in the next week I will be releasing the “Mile Away” single, along with some other material. This is a prelude to a new album, which has no official release date yet. I’m at my home studio just about every day, working out the details of my new songs. Should be around mid summer, so look for that. Currently, the “Fresh Paint” EP is ‘name your price’ on bandcamp.com, in other words, FREE. I strongly encourage anyone with an interest in independent music to download and listen. Each track is original, and every instrument was performed by me, including all vocals. I’m very proud of this EP and I can’t wait to share my next one.
I’d like to personally thank Patrick for lending me his time to answer these questions for his blog post! If you’d like to find out more about his work, check out his website or follow him on Twitter @mrpatmccormack
Louise Marie Russo is currently an undergrad at The School of Professional Studies majoring in Communication and Culture. She enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, photography as well as volunteering. Her goal one day is to work with a non-profit organization advocating for the homeless population of New York City and one day publishing a book of photography.
On Friday, March 11th, 2011, I was at a meeting with my general manager and colleagues checking some color lab dips submitted by our oversea fabric vendors. We were discussing whether it was acceptable or not if a lab dip didn’t hit our color standard. To be honest, our minds were probably out of sorts a bit because it was Friday afternoon and some of us may have been dreaming of “after work activities in Tokyo”. Everything was going as usual at our office until 2:46 PM.
Suddenly, a massive 9.0 earthquake hit us.
I hid under a table in the meeting room. The office building shook really badly because we were on the 22nd floor of the building near Tokyo port. Chairs and tables on casters were moving around in the room. I grasped my colleague’s arm out of fear, and cried. I seriously thought I was going to die. I experienced something like flashbacks to people who I really wanted to see before I died. Needless to say, it was definitely the biggest and longest earthquake I have ever experienced in my life. The office became a mess in a moment.
I wanted to call my family right away to let them know I was safe, but I realized there was no phone service available. A few hours later, I was finally able to talk to my parents and brother over the phone. I was happy to hear that they were safe as well. Soon after that, we realized there was no way to leave for home because all the transportation systems were suspended. Some people decided walk home in the confusion while others, like myself, decided to sleep in the office until the next morning. A lot of people walked miles and miles. At the office, we were afraid we would have anything to eat, but luckily our company was able to provide us with some oden. We were originally planning to serve it at a party in the coming week, but it wound up as our emergency foods instead. We watched the breaking news on television showing footage of the terrible earthquake and tsunami disasters on the northeast cost of Japan not so far from Tokyo. It was really scary but I was reassured a little by being together with colleagues in the cafeteria at night.
That night as I was watching the huge fire at the Chiba refinery complex on the other side of the port from the window of our office, I couldn’t help but think of what I needed to accomplish during my lifetime.
We have been still suffering from extreme fear of aftershocks, radiations, blackouts, general rise in prices, and lack of essentials for life including food and water. Yet, we have to put it all in perspective when we think of how people on the northeast cost of Japan have been surviving an even more horrible situation right now. At the same time, I was amazed by the fact that most people here have kept calm and tried hard to get back to life as usual. The people of Japan are tough. Now, I am planning for how I can help the victims, also saving energy every day and installing new, high-tech clean energies into our life, so we can move away from dangerous nuclear power plants. Considering the geographical characteristics of Japan, we should always be ready for earthquakes and tsunamis. If this is the case, nuclear power can no longer be our choice for generating energy.
I am hoping that this little island will become even more beautiful and unique in the future.
Kei Ogasawara is a currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Culture at the CUNY School of Professional Studies.
Editor’s note: If you would like to donate to help the victims of the Japanese Tsunami Disaster, Kei has suggested visiting either the Red Cross or Unicef.
With all that is going on in the world I thought that this post would be more fun and thought provoking than serious. If there is anything anyone ever needs to know about me is that I am extremely organized. I don’t like to show it, so you probably won’t notice it off the bat unless you are around me 24 hours a day. But the thing I do have and is usually carried with me all places; is my blue planner, my life. Ever since I can remember probably since I was aware of this “gift” at age 12 or so I’ve had a planner or something similar.
Lately I have been running around like a chicken without a head dealing with family issues, so having my planner at my fingertips literally has been somewhat of a calming feature for me. But the good thing about it as well as the bad thing about it is that I haven’t been able to schedule in something that is fun. The last couple of years, ever since I graduated high school (I graduated in 2008) this time of the year is always jam packed with things going on. I was fortunate last weekend to be able to be able to schedule in to spend some time alone with a very dear cousin of mine and we had been talking about everything but movies seemed to come up, well more of the lack there of movies I have seen. I am not a big movie person; just lately in my “older” years I have been watching some of the newer movies when they first come out but I have NOT (note not) seen the “classics” such as Star Wars, Forrest Gump as well as the ever well-known Princess Bride.
So being the “Organize Queen” that I am, I have come up with a list also known as the “PIOL” (said like pile) meaning PUT IT ON the LIST. The list is up to about 130 plus movies; so if you think there is a movie I haven’t seen yet, please give me some suggestions. More importantly coming up with time in my busy schedule that I can add some fun to it. With that being said I challenge you to do the same. Reevaluate your schedule or maybe even make a schedule. Are you lacking something that is fun for you? Maybe something as simple as getting a craft to do with a loved one or taking a walk (in between the rain drops in this Northeastern weather!) But more importantly are you taking time for yourself. Although you may not think that doing something fun or adding something to your already busy schedule is not possible, I challenge you to try. We all have that mentality we have to get everything done when it has to get done within a certain time frame, but I guarantee that we don’t have to- we just have to take time for ourselves that is fun. Technology seems to always overwhelm us all, including me even though I love technology sometimes I would love to throw my cellphone or my computer across the room and say leave me alone. So this upcoming week, take time out of your schedule to make a better schedule, add some fun and even sit down and watch a movie!
P.S. Don’t forget to send me some suggestions, I can guarantee you I haven’t seen it! Think about this: Does FUN fit into your schedule?
Louise Marie Russo is currently an undergrad at The School of Professional Studies majoring in Communication and Culture. She enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, photography as well as volunteering. Her goal one day is to work with a non-profit organization advocating for the homeless population of New York City and one day publishing a book of photography.
