CLASSES & JOBS

Giving gifts is a risky business. You never know what the other person will like, or maybe someone else already got them the same gift. You want to be considerate and get them something they really will use. For instance, buying clothes for anyone is risky. No matter how cool looking a shirt or dress may be, if it doesn’t fit right it is useless and they will never use it. This is where gift cards come in. They are not creative, they are not thoughtful, but they will be used and the person will find something they like with them.

Personally, I love getting gift certificates. It is fun to get out and “buy” something nice for yourself. I’d much rather have gift cards than a pair of gloves or shoes I will never use. If you do not know someone well, but want to get him or her something they can use, get a gift card to a store you know they’d like. Obviously a gift card doesn’t work for girlfriends/boyfriends or husbands/wives because it lacks creativity, but for a friend or relative, it may be your best option. You’ll never be remembered for giving great gifts, but at least you know your gifts are useful.

One of my current favorite music artists is Sufjan Stevens. Stevens is not terribly new to the music scene but his songs are unlike anything I have ever heard before. He combines so many instruments together in each song, which results in an album with a lot of sound. Many artists stick to what they know and get into a habit of making music that sounds the same. Stevens breaks the mold and is not afraid to experiment with sound movement at all. When this is combined with his soft vocals, his music is completely unique.

If I were to recommend an album to start with it would be “Come On Hear The Illinois,” followed by “The Avalanche” and “Greetings From Michigan.” These are some of his earlier albums, and though strange to the new listener, they are extremely gripping overtime. His work is heavily influenced by his Midwestern upbringing and it is very apparent in his lyrics. Most of his song titles also pay tribute to a town or place he has been in that region.

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With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve been trying to decide what to get some of the important people on my list.

The iPhone has been one of the more popular products on the market for the past few months, and though it seems expensive, and is, I think it’s a good buy, especially as a gift for a loved one in your life. The iPhone has so many useful features, from navigation to games to music space to a touch screen, I feel that it has it all. Furthermore, Apple is one of the best companies around when it comes to being helpful and replacing broken products under warranty.

One of the specific reasons I like the iPhone is that it is a phone and carries all the capabilities of an iPod as well. You get both in one device. This is awesome because if you are shopping for an iPod and a phone you can get both at the same time. When looking at my own iPod and phone, I realized that I had spent more on both items combined than I would have if I had just gotten an iPod. So, next time you’re out shopping, stop by an Apple store and check out the latest iPhones.

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This presidential election has been a very long, intense, brutal campaign. Watching the news for months and following polls and statistics made me wish that the campaign was much shorter than it is. What is especially difficult is getting different types of news from different sources, despite the fact that news organizations are supposed to be objective and aren’t supposed to pick sides. On one channel, journalists give certain bits of information while on another channel, the news is different. What journalists choose to say and not say is often very interesting, and it does reveal their inner beliefs and motivations.

I don’t feel like campaigns should be allowed to last that long because, inevitably, some candidate turns to smear tactics and the whole thing becomes a big joke. It gets to the point where Americans are turning off the news when political updates are on instead of tuning in. Maybe if there were laws in place that prevent candidates from campaigning more than a few months, Americans would be much more likely to stay informed and practice their rights of civic engagement.

There once was a bug in the bathroom. I named it Hippity Hop. It was some kind of grasshopper. It scared the living heebee-geebies out of me! I was at work, went to the restroom, went in one of two stalls and there was Hippity Hop, in all his black and evil glory, perched right beside the garbage can! I swear he was looking right into my eyes!

So since he was sitting right next to the garbage can (and I knew this garbage can had a bit of space underneath the round can, don’t ask me how I know), I quickly picked up the can and he slid right under it!! Perfect!

The rest of the day and the entire next day, I kept a watchful eye to see if he had gotten loose from his cage. Well, two days later, I went to use the same restroom and when I was at the sink washing hands, I could see a slight movement from the corner of my eye -down on the floor next to the larger wastebasket in the restroom. So I peered down and, sure enough, there he was! He had been moving his itty-bitty antennae around for me to notice him. So what do you think I did? For the second time this week, I picked up this larger trash can to make him sit underneath it! I’m thinking the restroom isn’t big enough for the both of us. I showed him who’s boss! And I hope to never see Mr. Hippity Hop ever again. The End.

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Two of my most favorite hobbies are knitting and crocheting. I learned how to do both through do-it-yourself websites and friends showing me. The reason I love it so much is because of all the different kinds of yarn you can use to make practically anything you want. Marled, worsted and fluffy yarns in every color imaginable. Making hats and scarfs are much more simple than people would think. When I first started making things, I never thought I would get good at it.

And now, I make scarfs and hats for everyone. I can make different designs and line them with fleece. I can make ski hats and beanies and mittens. I absolutely love seeing how something is going to turn out. Every project is different and takes on a life of its own. Having a hobby is important for our health and well-being. Why? Because hobbies help us reduce stress, be creative, and keep ourselves busy.

No way to keep from laughing when I ran across this statement recently: “I had difficulty with this book, but I was paid to recommend it to you.” –Anon. by request
This brings up a question-why do paid endorsements work? I’m not arguing that they do, but I am wondering aloud how and why they work so well. Of course, some would be right to question who really gets the promotion-the company being advertised-or the featured celebrity? Hollywood stars have reached some mythical larger than life status and, like Frankenstein, their stardom has taken on a life of its own-bigger than the star or the image-if that is possible.

My speculation regards the desire of each one to be unique in some way. Each of us wants to make our mark, to prove somehow we were here and that we counted for something. Each of us, I am convinced, cherishes a secret assurance that no one else is as good at (fill-in-the-blank-here) as we are. The category changes from person to person, but it exists in everyone. So, this said, where does the desire to “fit in” come from? Most would not debate the point that we want to be accepted and valued on some level. Being part of a whole rather than excluded from it is important to a sense of validation as a person. These two opposites seem to be impossible to fit into one human, but it is my belief that they exist to varying degrees in each of us. I just can’t help but wonder why they subsist, since they appear to be so mutually exclusive. Thoughts, anyone?

I admit it. Try as I might to be healthy and save money, I am a total sucker for fast food. I rarely have the time or the skills to cook anything more complicated than Spaghettios or Ramen Noodles, and even those don’t turn out too pretty at times. I would rather pay more money for something fast, and save myself the time and frustration of making a big meal that is only for me. Call me lazy.

So imagine my surprise when I pulled up to the pay window at one of my favorite Mexican fast food restaurants, and instead of them telling me the price I hear this, “Today is customer appreciation day, so every twentieth customer gets free food! We’ll have that out to you in a second, free of cost”. Wow! In all my life I have never had that happen, unless there was a mistake on the order and I wound up with someone elses’ food. But absolutely free, no strings attached? That just upped my loyalty to that food place!

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Have you ever gone to a service just for the price? You think, “Oh, they must be the best because they’re the most expensive?” That was what I was thinking when I chose a certain store. I won’t name names, because this is purely my opinion and I don’t want to change any one’s mind, so we will just call this the Eye Place.

My first experience went well, until the expensive glasses were delivered with the lenses popping out! Then came the other problem - They didn’t have the contacts I need in stock. So naturally, I went somewhere that did. Wal-Mart (I swear that place has everything!). Wal-Mart’s Optical Center called them to get my prescription, and after being ignored and put on hold for twenty minutes, the Eye Place wouldn’t prescribe me the same brand I’ve worn for two years!

So I went there in person and waited an hour to talk with the Optometrist for a whopping whole two minutes. I was completely flabbergasted by how he was acting! He argued me on every point, and then finally this exploded out of his mouth, “You know, the frustrating part about telling someone what is best for them is when they go behind your back with another service!” I wanted so badly to laugh and say, “Buddy, some day you’ll realize you aren’t the only service out there!” But since his face was turning every shade of red, his hands were balled up in fists, and he didn’t look to be breathing, I decided to just thank him and leave.

Ever since then, I’ve talked to a lot of people that weren’t happy with the Eye Place. I wish I would have known that before I had invested all of this money and frustration! Lesson Learned? Bigger price tag doesn’t always mean better service!

This pre-dates my college years a bit, but it was my first experience in the working world - besides babysitting and lawn care. I tended the young child of a lady who worked as a secretary in a law firm. Being a first time Mom, she would often call to see how things were going while she was away. As a result, she knew my phone demeanor. Normally that would not make any difference, all that matters to be a good babysitter is how you are with children, but this time it lead me to a new experience.

A family emergency came up and she was unable to find a replacement at work. The result was that she asked me to fill in for her. I was only 13, but I am not sure anyone realized that. The lawyers agreed, and the day before she had to fly home I was trained on a few receptionist duties. One of these tasks included making coffee. Sounds simple, right? I do not come from a coffee-drinking home, so it was new to me. I tried to pay careful attention to her instructions.

I came to work every day. I made the coffee - just like I thought she had shown me - answered the phones, and thought I was doing a pretty good job. On my second-to-last morning I overheard one of the lawyers, “This stuff is awful! I’ll sure be glad when our regular gets back! Until then, maybe I should start making the coffee myself…”