After some serious thought, I've decided that I'm sick of writing under an anonymous handle. -A is just too impersonal, and you deserve more of me than that. As time goes on and my blog continues to evolve into this amazing ongoing conversation (thanks, for that, by the way), I feel closer to all y'all out there who are reading and commenting.
And let's be honest here, it's not as if I was all that anonymous anyhow. My Twitter, 20SB, and Facebook friends are well aware of this.
So I'm out. It's official. I'm Ashley.
(I know, we're just as surprised as you are!)
To all those who have followed me for so many months, to my regular readers and commenters, and to all those who are new or just stopping by: nice to meet you - finally.
Cheers!
-A
(It's out of pure laziness that I will continue to sign off as -A, but you can call me Ashley, or Princess Ashley, if you feel the urge - I'm okay with that.)
(They may be lazy, but at least they're doing it together)
I have an opinion – shocker, I know.
This is something I’ve eluded to before in tweets and posts (that unfortunately, I can’t seem to locate right now).
The world around us today is making it easier and easier to get results without hard work or taking risks.
In today’s society, we don’t have to interact face to face with one another to get things done, heck, we don’t even have to speak to start dating (thanks, eHarmony). Text messaging makes it easier to flirt with and even ask people out without fear of staring rejection in the face. Diet pills are making us lazy, and video games are making our children lazy.
Of course, we can't forget about the Internet. Oh the interwebs, with your glorious tubes of information, how you help us so, and yet, your evil side lurks closely under the surface, waiting for the next, easy pray.
These conveniences are making us softer human beings. Why? Mostly due to perceived increased connectivity from online groups and social networks that ultimately lead to an increase in isolation and loneliness. Not to mention the fact that face to face conversations are becoming obsolete and communication skills (such as eye contact and forming complete, coherent sentences) are faltering.
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s easy to fall prey to the dark side of social networking. I get wrapped up in talking with my blogger buddies, Facebooking high school and college friends – sometimes, that’s the only way to stay in touch – and tweeting with fellow professionals. Between Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, del.icio.us, Skype, Linkedin, YouTube, Friendfeed, flickr…it’s no wonder our generation is connecting online more than ever.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful each and every day for all the wonderful, talented bloggers I’ve met through online groups, but I’m also looking forward to the day when I can meet you in person – especially those for whom I have some serious blogger crushes. What can I say, I ♥you all, with all your talent and your charm. When I grow up, I wanna be just like you!
I also think it’s something that we need to make an effort to do more frequently, think tweetups and regional blogger gatherings, follow through with those planned events with friends and colleagues.
Needless to say, it has become a personal goal of mine to step away from the screens (computer, cell phone) and interact on a personal level whenever possible. I continue to look forward to the day when I get to meet my colleagues from around the world that I’ve only spoken to via phone and e-mail, and my fellow 20-something bloggers who validate my opinions every day – which I must admit helps make me feel a little less alone in this world - *sniff sniff* thanks guys!
But I want to hear what you think – are modern conveniences making us lazy, or are they challenging us to employ our willpower, resist temptation for greed and gluttony, and grab the virtual bull by the horns and make something of ourselves? Regardless, I like me a good challenge!
As I've mentioned before, tailgating season is one of my favorites. There's nothing like going home, catching up with old roommates, friends from college and even high school. It seems that no matter how long it's been, we always pick up right where we left off, Miller Lite in hand.
Homecoming weekend never ceases to amaze me as I run into old friends along Grand River (Mike B. if you're reading this, I expect nothing less than to see you in EL again this year, bow tie and all), bounce from tailgate to tailgate, and attend kegs 'n eggs three days in a row to catch up with my dearest fellow alumni.
At the end of the weekend we all jump in our cars or head to the airport to make it back to our real world jobs, hangovers and all. This, my friends, is always a sad reality.
A strange phenomenon happened the year I graduated from undergrad - my friends and I all got big kid jobs. After going through four years of college, wondering what would be in store for us (given that our older siblings struggled mercilessly to find employment after the bubble burst), we all moved on to new places and new adventures - spread far and wide across the country.
(great times were had by all)
Within weeks of graduation I was off to Texas while my dearest friends were packing up and moving to LA, Denver, Chicago, Madison, Indianapolis, Florida, Detroit, North Carolina, Minneapolis...the list goes on. Most of us went on to explore our new worlds alone, sole Spartans on a mission. Others went in pairs, at most.
The situation seemed great - I can visit my friends all over the country, whenever I want. But as the years pass, and I continue to move around the country in search of the perfect city, I wonder if in fact this was a blessing, or a curse. And each year, as the number of friends that return for homecoming festivities dwindles, I continue to lean toward the latter.
The question becomes, then, how does one keep these vastly divided groups of friends as close as they once were while meeting, growing, and thriving in new social circles in this ever so hectic 'adult' life?
What has worked for you, in keeping those friends as close as ever?
For now, it's back to social networking in an attempt to plan the best homecoming tailgate ever.
I get all excited just thinking about it. Much thanks to Narm for his Autumnatic post providing the inspiration.
There are so many elements to the season that make me happy. The cooler weather - if I can wear jeans and a hoodie outside and be comfortable it's perfect - the smells, the colors, the spirit.
Every year I look forward to fall. The changing leaves, the crisp morning air, cider mills. The unending opportunities to capture the beauty of the changing landscape. And of course football season, which brings a host of other amazing autumn traditions like tailgating, cornhole (or Bags, as we Michiganders call it), spiced cider and hot chocolate to stay warm in the stadium, 'couch Sundays' to recover from tailgate Saturday.
Heading back up to East Lansing to tailgate with my dearest college friends each fall is one of my favorite past times. Though Michigan State's football team isn't the top of the Big 10, our fans are some of the best. We stand by our team (though we're not shy to fire our coaches), and every year Spartan Stadium is proven to be one of the loudest and most difficult stadiums to play on the road. Go Green!!
(Tailgaiting with one of my bestests, Josh!)
See, I'm already getting all fired up!
So tell me, dear readers, what are your favorite fall past times?
Tuesday's post discussed the most recent trip to Michigan and the incredible photo shoots that ensued. Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like without this creative outlet.
Shhh, let's not think about that. Shhh.
Instead, I'm going to praise myself for being able to capture this beautiful piece of nature. While walking along a wooded trail during the heat of the excruciatingly hot late summer day (apologies for the overwhelming number of adjectives in the previous statement) my dad happened upon the greenery you see above and graciously pointed it out.
So I got down on my knees and elbows - which I'm sure was an ever so attractive image in itself - adjusted the camera to a semi slow shutter speed, reduced the depth of field, and *snap.*
Thanks to the shade provided by the lush trees above I was able to capture more mood than anticipated. I was completely amazed upon first view - shocked at how well it turned out. Why? Because I'm really not that great of a photographer. Call it luck and good lighting, call it a miracle for all I care - I'm still proud to call it my own.
I'm heading out again this weekend, in hopes of capturing something even better to share with y'all next week.
In this crazy, mixed up world of ours, it seems as though we are losing a quality that [to me] is one of the most important of them all: respect.
Respect for ourselves, respect for our environment, and respect for others.
Why is it, that more than ever, people in this society seem to be so consumed with themselves that they disregard their fellow man and his surroundings?
Of course, I have a number of theories on this (would you expect any less, dear readers?), spanning from how our generation was raised to be independent - think about our schooling and careers first - before adding others to the picture, to the way that being online each and every day is corrupting the way we behave face to face with one another, creating a highly connected society that is more lonely than we've ever been, allowing us to lose all sight of what it means to have respect for anyone or anything aside from ourselves.
But this isn't about me - it's about the billions of other people walking the planet.
Isn't it possible to love yourself and treat those around you with the same amount of respect that you expect in return? I like to think so.
Respect for the time, space, and ideas of other living beings and the world around us. It's the little things in life that really make a difference. Because in the end, if you don't respect the people in your life, how can they, in turn, trust you - and vice versa.
The moral of the story - have a little respect, for everyone and everything. You don't always have to agree be in agreement with the thoughts and actions of others, but making an effort to accept others for who they are and what they stand for can make all the difference.
How we've gotten so far off track - beats me, I'm just a 20-something blogger hoping to find my way.
After a long weekend spent back home in Michigan with the fam., I feel refreshed and ready to be back at the office. Either that says something about my job or my parents (just kidding mom and dad!).
Regardless, it was a very relaxing weekend. The weather was beautiful, though a little warm for my taste, especially this time of the year. But the cloudless sky provided the perfect backdrop for a couple photo shoots around small-town America.
(Editor's note: the picture above is from this weekend's shoot. I'm proud to say it's an -A original rather than a Google Image result from keynote "cornfield.")
Some great shots came out of the shoot around MSUs campus as well. Looks like I'll have plenty to share with y'all on this upcoming Photography Fridays. Or, if you just can't wait, go here.
In recent conversations with acquaintances it seems there's a trend of life listing going around. You know, like the Bucket List, only not quite so morbid or depressing. It's really got me thinking about the things I want to accomplish over the coming days, weeks, months, and years. Here's what I've got so far:
1. Go skydiving. 2. Learn the dance to "Time of my life" just like Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze do at the end of Dirty Dancing - and perform in public.
Is it sad that those are the only two items on my "must complete before I kick the bucket" list? What are some of your must dos - in the long or short term?
Some thank yous are in order:
Thanks to Alexa, at Cleveland's a Plum, for thinking of me on Blog Day. I love reading her blog every morning, hearing her tales from around the Cleve. - and I'm honored that she enjoys mine as well.
Thanks to my Dad for trying to teach me how to play golf on Monday. I'll get there some day, dad.
Thanks to Starbucks for providing me a much needed pick up this morning after spending half the night reading the latest paperback in my life.
And of course - thanks to my loyal readers!
Enough with the mushy stuff, it's time to get a move on with this short week. Here's to it being Tuesday when it only feels like Monday.
This author is a thrill-seeking digital marketer, photographer, tech geek, skydiver, runner and self-proclaimed amateur chef. But among all else, I am a consumer. I travel, visit restaurants and spend money wildly. Here is where I will chronicle my rants and raves as a consumer and review the services products, and everything else I encounter as a typical 20-something.
The views posted on this blog are mine alone and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or its clients.
(I know, we're just as surprised as you are!)
