Learning Through Diffusion

This week, I have three tests, a quiz, and need to begin writing a paper. There is no way I can do this and keep up with all my reading (for one class alone I have 150 pages to read).

I am going to try something: learning through diffusion. I remember joking about it in 6^th grade biology, I thought the only way I would ever understand any of it would have to be through diffusion.

Theory: If I sleep with my book and study guide under my pillow, perhaps some of the knowledge will seep through the binding and go into my head.

I shall put theory into practice this week. As I write this, I am putting my archaeology textbook under my pillow (I am writing this on Monday night, the night before my Tuesday test). Tomorrow night (Tuesday) is Spanish.

Theory 2: If I wear a high-prestige collegiate hoodie than the knowledge of the institution might help me do better on tests.

My father lives in Boston, so I have sent him on a mission to get me a Harvard hoodie. Hopefully, he will be able to get it to me before final exams. I plan to wear the maroon hoddie (a color I would not normally adorn) to see if it will help my exam grades.

We shall see how this works. Results to follow.

The Hibachi Woman

Did you know that there is only one female Hibachi chef in Texas? I didn’t. Reflecting back, I have only seen men in this job so it makes sense. This past Sunday, I was able to witness the one female cook for us.

She was clearly fairly new to the business, because she didn’t have the performance aspect down yet, so she just cooked the food. She was so new, that the owner approached my dad and I to check to see if it was ok if she cooked for us. Considering it was just the two of us, it was a good place for her to start.

I have to say, the food tasted better than I ever remember it tasting. She has the cooking down and she is so friendly. Once she learns all the spatula and egg tricks, she will be wanted all over Texas.

The gender gap still remains in the workplace, but I assumed there wasn’t a job a woman didn’t have yet. I had always figured that it was just a overly male-dominated job. Culturally it makes sense, Asian cultures do favor men. I just didn’t realize it would carry this far and to this extent.

I should have known better.

My father and I gave her great reviews. Her food was phenomenal, and we were too engrossed in concentration to have noticed the show, anyways. Even if we had had a man, we wouldn’t have watched; we have seen it so many times that we don’t need to.

Labyrinth

The parking lot that I attempt to park in every morning has gone through several dramatic changes over the past few months. It used to be that I could navigate through it with ease, now I am lucky not to get stuck in a corner with nowhere to go.

At the beginning of this last semester, they opened up a new part where the old trailers used to be. It was a nice expansion, the only reason I could use it was because of the car I drive. Any low-riding car would be toast. You basically had to off-road to park.

Over spring break, they re-painted all the lines and repaved the new part. Now it is more accessible than before, but it has become a maze.

They closed off the back entrance, so every day I pass where it used to be and always almost pull into the curb that replaced the entrance. Then, when I finally am able to pull in, I get lost in the rows.

It was almost easier before…

Dominos

Recently, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and Natural History reopened after months of being closed for renovations. I was finally able to visit, and I hardly recognized the place I had loved so in my childhood.

I felt so at home now, after my basic archaeological training. I felt so great finally being able to explain things to my family. I feel like I can finally live up to my family’s expectations.

The best part was not the child-driven planetarium, seeing Avatar at the Omni Theater and almost throwing up, “digging” for bones…no, it was attempting to make a domino chain with my sister and her fiancé.

My sister and I do not have the most steady hands; let me just put it this way, neither of us will ever be surgeons. Whenever we started to make a half-decent structure, we would accidently knock it down.

Actually, I may have lied. Stealing a rubber duck with the Star of David on it may have been my favorite part. Who needs a gift shop?

Sustainability

A sign on campus brought my attention that only 5% of the things we buy are still in use six months after their purchase. With everyone turning “green,” this statistic seems a little far-fetched.

On further review, however, it began to make sense.

Most of the things that college students (the target demographic for the sign) would buy would not be in use all that long. We only use textbooks for one semester; once a notebook or pen is used up, we simply throw it out; and we purchase so many things on a whim that we only plan to use once.

Looking even further, it can be said that all of the clothes we buy can work with this statistic. Theoretically you wouldn’t wear short shorts in the winter, or Ugg boots in the summer (yet the sorority girls at TCU don’t seem to follow this norm). It does not take into account that you would use it again twelve months later. Yes, it is not currently in use at that six month mark, but with enough time it would be pulled back out of the drawer to be used again.

Yes, I believe that we should work to sustain the world that we live in. In an ideal world we could go back to living the way the indigenous people in the Amazon live; they use slash-and-burn farming yet it enables their environment to recreate itself over and over again. That is the epitome of sustainability. We are far passed that point.

We need (to quote Mao Tse Tung) a permanent revolution. I believe that we can sustain our current ways of living and sustain the world in which we live. Let us all pick three things that we will do to help sustain our world. Three small things by each person could make a world of difference.

My three things:

1. Use my entire notbooks. This includes writing on both sides of each paper and if need be, use the same notebook for multiple classes and semesters.
2. Recycle all of my bottles. There are plenty of recycling bins on campus, I generally just throw my bottle away in the first trashcan I see. I will carry my empty bottles until I see a recycle bin, and recycle instead of throwing it in the trash.
3. Turn off the AC. I will not touch the thermostat upstairs. This will help me burn less fossil fuels, and it will save my mother money on her electric bill. A double win.

Long Time No See

My father is coming in town this afternoon. I am really looking forward to see him, I haven’t seen him since Christmas.

I wish that I could go with my sister to go pick his up from the airport tonight, but I have to work tonight. I would have felt guilty asking for Friday and Saturday off, so I chose to spend all Saturday with him, and who knows, maybe he will decide to come visit me at work tonight.

What do we have planned, you ask? Well, that is a good question. As of now, we do not have any plans. As my father say, “We will play it by ear.” …or at least he would have said that when I was five, right after he would say, “We’re having frogs’ feet for dinner tonight.”

Needless to say, we learned to stop asking him what the plans were.

I do, however, need to drive home, get ready for work, clean my car out, and go to work all in an hour time. That will be fun. I would let my sister drive while I clean the car, but she is pokey on the road. Who goes the speed limit?!

Moral of the story: I have to choose the best of two evils, be late because I need to clean the car or be late because my sister drives slow…

There is Nothing Like a Crisp Salad…

Trying new food is hard for me, not because I don’t like trying new food, but because I like what I already eat so much.

Take, for instance, what I eat at TCU: there are hundreds of options in the student union, but I almost always gravitate towards the salad bar. I attribute part of this to the fact that I used to be a vegetarian, the other part I give credit to how good a salad tastes.

With the right dressing, a salad can stimulate every taste bud while filling you up. We cannot, however, forget the health benefits of a salad.

Even at the salad bar, I get the same mixture of flavors from day-to-day: romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, carrots cut julienne, green peppers, sliced mushrooms, and red onions all topped with croutons and French dressing.

I am the person who everyone hates standing behind, because I load my salad up with so many things. The normal salad-eater will get one or two veggies, while I leave only one or two out.

As I write this, keep glancing at my empty salad bowl, trying to decide if it would be distasteful if I went back for seconds.

The Little Things

I take the little things in life for granted. We all do. It isn’t until something is taken away that we truly understand how much we use and need it.

Take, for instance, being sick (which I underwent today). Being able to breath without feeling like your chest is going to explode, a little thing I learned was nice today. Going to school and work, yes I missed both of these exercises.

I found myself bored and unable to sleep because the house was so bright. I really did miss sitting in a classroom and learning something. We all complain about how much we hate going to school, how tedious it is; however, I reacquainted myself with my love of learning today.

I love my job, I love both of my majors, but why is it that I find myself going through the motions half-heartedly? Being away from my normal life for twenty four hours has made me realize a lot of things.

We should all step back once in a while and reacquaint ourselves with our realities.

I Am Neurotic (And So Are You)

I cannot leave the sliding mirror/door open in my bathroom at night while I am sleeping, or else the ghost that lives in my house will act up and I will never fall asleep.

Yes, there is a ghost that lives in my house.

Fact 1: He runs water in my bathroom while the door is closed.

Face 2: He types on the keyboard when nobody is in the computer room.

Face 3: He turns on the light in the spare room if he thinks we haven’t been in there in a while.

Face 4: At night, when he is out and about, Dakota (my dog) will hide under the bed and refuse to come out.

I don’t like him out and about at night while I am trying to sleep, and he’ll leave me alone if that sliding door to my closet is closed. Neurotic: perhaps. Practical: yes.

It was brought to my attention while shopping in Urban Outfitters that Lianna Kong wrote a book about all these peoples’ neurotic traits. I felt the need to contribute my bit.

Looking back at it, I wish that I had bought it…

Me? A Model?!

My mom is convinced that this is me in the Tidy Cats ad. Yep, I have a secret double life where I am a model.

I do think it is a tad ironic that I am apparently in a cat ad when I am not even allowed to have a cat. If anything this is just a sign that I should be allowed to. It is destiny. Mom, the universe is giving you a sign.

But hey, if anything I am famous. The Oscar preview issue of People Magazine…I have made my break world! Next step: a billboard in Times Square.

Apparently I am also on the cover of a Nordstrom catalog. I have not seen this so-called “me,” but I am a tad skeptical. Nordstrom is a little out of my league. But hey, maybe it is a sign that the universe wants me to spend more money shopping…

What do you think? Is this me in the picture? If so, is it a sign that I should be allowed to get a cat?

Just Plain Rude

I hope that when you go out to eat, you tip well. I am so tired of people who come in, and often even compliment the food and the service, and leave 10% tips. I deserve better than a 10% tip.

I tip more than 10% when the waiter spills water on me or curses at the table, it is just plain rude not to.

How would you like it if I came into your work, sat in your office for an hour, and then took all of your office supplies and inconvenience you in every way possible.

I can understand that if I got paid a normal wage, but I get $2.50 an hour. I am lucky if my paycheck from working full time reaches $100. I live off those tips people. Be a little kinder.

There is physically no way that I could do my job better. I cannot move any faster, I cannot carry more than three plates of food (having only two hands and all), the soda fountain only fills drinks so fast, etc. I am a friendly person and always smile and treat my customers with dignity and respect. What else do you want from me?

And parents, don’t let your children trash the table, would you let them do that at home? And if they do, you better tip your server extra, for the extra work they have to do cleaning up after your monster of a child.

Just some food for thought.

Bad Juju

My karma is all funked up. I stole this rubber duck from a kid, and now my karma just can’t seem to recover.

Well stole isn’t the word I would use. I noticed that he was leaving it on the table as they were leaving and I just didn’t run after them and give it back. Let’s face it, that little brat won’t miss it any ways. All he did was shove it away.

And I needed it for my rubber duck collection… It is so cute, it is a monkey!

Ever since I stole it though, work has been so strange. We were busy Thursday day but after I took it, it slowed down and got slow for night. Then Friday day (when I wasn’t working) it was busy, but night (when I was) it wasn’t. And I got awful tips!

Universe, I am sorry that I stole that duck.

Shopaholics Anonymous

Step One: Admit that you have a problem.

Hi, my name is CJ Croll and I am a shopaholic.

I am not going to lie, I am addicted to buying shoes. You know you have a problem when you have to will yourself not to buy shoes. It is a constant struggle for me.

It is so easy for me to spend my hard-earned money on shoes. It is just a few clicks and I have a pair of TOMS in the mail. It is even harder when new TOMS come out, I want them all and I can’t have enough.

It isn’t just shoes though. I could go broke shopping. Going to Northpark on Wednesday may not have been the best idea, but it was fun either way. And I didn’t spend too much…at least that is what I keep telling myself. I did max out the amount I am aloud to take out of my checking account each day. Whoops.

Let’s face it. I needed that suit from Express. And I needed those shorts and shirt from Original Penguin. And I did love that coat at Burberry, but I didn’t have $1300 to spend on a raincoat. Maybe some day Burberry.

One of my goals in life is to be able to afford a Burberry coat. It is a good goal for a shopaholic.

Mind Reduction and Intrusion

Let me preface this post by wondering aloud: Who in their right mind thought it was a good idea for someone who has issues with their head to have to sit in an enclosed space and listen to very loud beeping for half an hour? Enjoy.

I had my first ever MRI today. The doctors just wanted to make sure that there was nothing abnormal going on inside my head on account of my migraines. It is normal procedure.

I have had enough x-rays to last me a life-time, with having such a crappy wrist, so I am not unaccustomed to medical procedures. I was not ready for what I was subjected to, however.

I hate being in enclosed spaces for too long. I need to be able to escape if I need to. I ride planes and elevators as little as I can precisely for this reason. Thirty minutes in that death contraption was not a stroll in the park. I had to keep myself sane and from shaking my counting in my head, which became very difficult when I got to the large numbers (500, etc.) and had to keep up with the ever increasing rate of the beeping—yes, I am OCD enough to have to do that.

The beeping alone was enough to drive me insane. Even with earplugs, it sounded like I was pressing my ear against a tornado siren or a fire truck siren.

And did you know that half way through they take you out then put you back in?! What was that? I thought I was finished, but no…instead I get a shot and put back into that hell hole. Sanjay (my technician) was nice enough to try and let me know everything was going smoothly…too bad I couldn’t understand a word he said with the accent and earplugs…

The good news is that even through that ordeal, I am completely fine. I only get migraines. What good news.

A Murder Mystery

Let’s talk for a second about Billy.

Billy was just adopted into a new household. He had lived a very uneventful life up until then. He was a quiet kid, always went unnoticed.

Hours after being adopted, he was murdered by the family that he was adopted into.

Billy was a betta fish. A fish whose life was cut short by the deathtrap that was my small fishtank. I was the one who killed him. It was my fault.

Taking a life is never easy, especially when it is accidental manslaughter. The unexpected death shook me to my core. Especially after the rough day I had.

I plead guilty to murder. Take me away bailiff.

On a happier note, the bottom-feeder that I bought for the large tank still lives.

To Be Determined

I have been accused of deciding whether or not I like a movie before I see it. I respectfully disagree.

I thought that I was going to love Crash; however, it only let me down. Granted, I have very much matured as a moviegoer since then, but I stand by my convictions at the time.

Valentine’s Day. I was expecting that movie to be phenomenal…it only let me down. With such an all-star cast, how was it not as good as He’s Just Not That Into You? Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy Valentine’s Day, but I was let down by it.

Just because I know what sorts of things I like does not mean that I decide whether I like it or not prior to seeing it.

Up in the Air did, however, meet all my expectations and more. It was captivating, witty, and the acting and directing were divine. I could watch it again and again, and still enjoy the nuances of the story.

I have been waiting months to see it, so yes I was looking forward to finally being able to see it, but no I did not already decide that I liked it. Don’t let my sister try tell you otherwise.
I have just one finial thought…watch out Kristen Stewart, there is someone on the Twilight set who is actually a good actor. Actually, that’s a lie. Anna Kendrick is a great actress.

The Search for the Perfect Aquarium

My two goldfish live in crammed quarters. One would think that a two and a half gallon tank would be large enough for two small goldfish…

Well, apparently not. I found out today, after three months of owning my fish, that I should have a thirty gallon tank for the two of them to share. I would just like to point out that comparatively that is larger than the house I share with my mom and sister (when she isn’t at school).

This would explain why the two fish dirty their tank so quickly. And perhaps why I have killed three snails…

Problem 1:

I have nowhere that I can put a thirty gallon tank in my house. With something that sized, I can’t keep it by the kitchen sink where my current one is—it would take up the entire counter.

I found a decent spot in my room, but it is twenty three by twenty four inches, which is enough space for a twenty gallon tank. Unless I decide to rearrange my entire room, which is not out of the realm of possibilities at this point, then there is no way I can fit that large of a tank in my tiny living quarters.

Problem 2:

Aquariums are not as inexpensive as I would expect them to be. Not only that, but you also have to buy a stand for it, which can be quite pricey as well.

Now normally, this wouldn’t be much of an issue—I just wouldn’t be able to buy a pair of shoes this month, no biggie—except for the fact that in a month or so I will have to make a down payment for a car.

It seemed like the best gift at Christmas…I wasn’t expecting the extent to which it would affect my life…