Quote of the week

What I'm Feeling Friday!

It's been a productive week for me. I applied to a few jobs, spent some quality time with my parents, and wrote a few posts. I also bought a web design book that will help me in the coming weeks with totally revamping my blog. I miss David, but he is killing it in school right now, taking six online classes, and getting A's and B's in all of them. Couldn't be prouder!

Without further ado... here is What I'm Feeling on this Friday:

Phillip Phillips "Gone, Gone, Gone"

I'm totally late to the Phillip Phillips' party, but I absolutely love him. His voice is so distinct and his lyrics are amazing. "Home" was used in the Indiana Pacers' promo video when I worked for them, so it brings back great memories for me. "Gone, Gone, Gone" is the perfect upbeat love song to listen to when you are far away from the person you love. The best thing about the song is the beat, it's not a typical love song or ballad. It makes you want to sing and dance! I think I've listened to this song about 100 times this week.

You're my backbone

You're my cornerstone

You're my crutch when my legs stop moving

You're my head start

You're my rugged heart

You're the pulse that I've always needed

Anchors

Apparently anchors are in this season... and I love it. Mom and I did a little shopping last night after work and Old Navy had a wonderful nautical theme. I bought two sweaters a few weeks back, and yesterday bought a shirt with anchors on it. I wanted to buy scarves and boat shoes and dresses with anchors on them... but I held back. Slowly, I will fill my wardrobe with wonderful nautical themed clothing.




The Bracket of Discontent from Sarah Spain

With March Madness comes a plethora of brackets... many of them not for basketball. One of my favorite sports personalities, Sarah Spain, an anchor and columnist for ESPNChicago and espnW, created the Bracket of Discontent. From "He went to Jared" ads to Candy Crush invitations, Sarah hilariously includes everything we find truly awful.


Juneau
I don't think I talk about my dog enough. I am seriously in love with him. He has the best personality in the world. Juneau has been on every road trip Dave and I have embarked upon the past few years. He travels so well and has probably been in more states than most people. Juneau also likes to annoy his grandparents, sneaking out of my bedroom every night, like clockwork, and making his way onto Grandpa's feet. It's hilarious.

A UNC athlete writes a stupid essay about Rosa Parks... and I'm not at all surprised

So, I don't usually blog twice in one day because I think it's a.) time consuming for me and b.) annoying to be all over your Facebook feed.

But I had to rant about the recent news story about the UNC athletes essay on Rosa Parks. Apparently, the student was given an A- for the ridiculous essay that even went as far as to quote a supposed conversation between Parks and the bus driver. Like, it's super ridiculous. If I had written this in college, I probably would have not expected a grade, just my professor laughing in my face.

Whistleblower says UNC put athletes in classes that never met and required only one final paper. This one got an A-. pic.twitter.com/HShyr6ivGm
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) March 26, 2014

Anyways, shout out to Mary Willingham, the former learning specialist and current whistle blower, who broke this story open. Apparently, she is taking a lot of crap for saying something.

There are a ton of talking points about this topic, but I'm going to take a different approach.

Sending these athletes to top-tier schools and expecting them to perform in school as well as they do on the court is like asking a square peg to fit into a round hole. The majority of these "student-athletes" have trained their entire life to become a professional in their sport. The way to get there, in this totally backwards world, is by going to college and performing at a high academic standard.

The system is just asking for these kids to cheat. Yes, I know that there are people out there who perform well both on and off the court, but I'm not talking about them.

Look at it this way. A kid grows up wanting to be a doctor. He spends his summers at science camp, asks his parents to invest money in his future by paying for extra-curriculars that will look good on his resume, and studies medical books late into the night. When it comes time for college, he is told he can go to medical school, but he has to play basketball for the college in order to get there. The kid isn't good at basketball. In fact, he used to fake being sick during PE class because he was so bad at basketball. He gets anxiety about playing basketball but it's the only way he can achieve his dream. So he joins the team. But he takes drugs and PEDs to get stronger and he bribes his coach to tell the media that he is hurt so he doesn't have to play against the best teams. Meanwhile he is performing super well in his science classes. He even earns his university a grant for his stellar work in some awesome new discovery in one of his biology classes. His discovery helps put his university's science program on the map! But then, people find out about his PED use and his fake injury. Media analyst discuss how his "medical school draft stock" took a hit because of the scandal. It's what people forever remember him for... how he cheated at playing basketball in order to get to medical school.

I think you get the point. But some would argue that playing basketball isn't the same as getting an education. I would agree. I think education would solve a whole lot of problems in the world. But don't we as a society ask for this behavior from athletes when we glorify the pros and put them on pedestals and pay them millions of dollars? Aren't we sending the message that getting to the NBA or NFL or whatever other league would be worth it at all costs?

It also makes me wonder why we continuously think that college is the only way to succeed in this world? If we keep sending all of our children to school to get the same education, we are going to be one seriously boring, problem-filled world with a whole lot of leaky pipes without any plumbers to come fix them. We won't have any Marines to protect us or any athletes to entertain us. Can we stop pretending that everyone is meant to go to Ivy Leagues and earn 4.0 GPAs? Pick your jaws up off the floor, yes another "student-athlete" scandal has been uncovered.

I'm really getting tired of this discussion. Academics bitch because the athletes don't do as much work as the other students, but don't want the athletic program to go anywhere because it makes them millions of dollars. You can't have it both ways.

Everyone has a path in life. Athletes are going to be athletes, scholars are going to be scholars, and sometimes *gasp* there are those who do both. (Like me ;) Humble brag). I'm not condoning cheating, but when these paths cross because the system forces them to, let's not be so surprised when these kids do whatever it takes to accomplish their dreams.

Progress is being made!

I wanted to give everyone an update about my blog:

As many of you know, I recently hit 6000 page views (this is since the beginning of my, which ultimately started the summer of 2013). Since the beginning of 2014, which is when I started taking blogging more seriously and publishing 2 to 3 posts a week, I have had just over 3000 page views! So I guess that means I'm averaging 1
000 page views per month. I'm giddy.

I've been getting a lot of positive feedback and support. I thought blogging would be something that I did as a hobby while I worked a 9 to 5. But when I lost my job, I realized this is something that I could do full time!

I haven't made a penny of off this blog yet. I'm spending my time researching, networking, and reading a TON of other blogs to figure out how I want to design and brand what I write about.

In the meantime, I wanted to give you a heads up on what to expect in the coming weeks and months!

*I plan on changing the name of my blog from "Life As I Know It" to something different. Potential names are starting to surface, and I'm really excited about it!

*I am working on a complete re-design. My knowledge is limited in this realm, but fortunately I have some good friends who know what they are doing and have offered their help.

*I have also decided to launch something supplemental to my blog, but my lips are sealed on this one! :)


In any case, thanks, as always, for reading! I would love to hear your feedback, so feel free to contact me.

My email is: ericarath11@gmail.com

Quote of the week

I hate social media!

I'm so sick and tired of social media.

Okay, that's a downright lie. I love it. I think it's the best thing to happen to business, and to public relations, and to the internet, really.

But when it comes to social media and your personal life... gahh. I'm sick of it.

I am Facebook friends with people from high school, that if I fell over, they would have no idea who I was. But for some reason, I find myself intrigued by their statuses, their new relationship updates, and photos of their night out. Why?!?! It doesn't make me feel better about anything going on in my life right now.

I know you all know exactly what I'm talking about. Some distant stranger's life somehow always seem so much more glamorous than yours.

Here's your wake up call... it's not!

Throughout my time in graduate school, I was stressed, working for free, living in a strange city, never working out, staying up late and waking up early to finish ridiculous homework assignments, and missing my friends and family. However, I received multiple Facebook messages and texts and comments about 'how awesome' my life was! How they were jealous of ME!

I laugh, because if they knew how un-glamorous my life was at the time, they would be far from jealous. But the things I posted on my social media accounts allowed others to see my life as I wanted it to be seen. I was posting video interviews with NBA stars, photos of me and my friends covering the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, and articles I wrote for the NCAA. Yes, I was truly lucky to have all of those experiences.

What I'm trying to say is, stop wishing away your experiences for somebody else's. Your experiences are just as meaningful as theirs. We all live the day to day struggles of life: illness, paying bills, cooking dinner, eating right, exercising, relationship drama, missing someone, somewhere.

My hope is for this blog to portray another side of me through social media. You know I struggle with depression, you know I just lost my job, you know I'm back living with my parents for the time being, you know I'm living 8 hours away from my boyfriend (who I lived with for the past 3 years). These aren't things I would've put on my Facebook status a year ago, because, like many of you, I wanted those far away classmates of mine to think my life was going perfectly.

I hope that this makes you realize that the only person you have to measure up against is yourself. It will make you a whole lot happier in the end. Stop comparing your life to other's. I could've stayed close to home, taken any old job, and settled down right out of college, but I took my own path, and so did all of you. There is no wrong or right, there is only what is yours.

I've recently had my own wake up call... no one's life is perfect. And these few months I'm away from David and working for my Dad, I'm a whole helluva lot luckier than a lot of people out there.

What I'm feeling Fridays!

I decided to launch a new feature this week in honor of reaching 6,000 page views! Each Friday from here on out, I will list a few things that I'm currently into. It can be anything... from clothes to candy to styles to books to ideas!

So, with that said, I present the first What I'm feeling Friday!

1. Jean Jackets - With Spring in the air, I tore out my jean jacket from the depths of my closet. Although Spring has been put on hold in Rochester, back in Indy, temps were inching up thru the forties and fifties. I love my jean jacket. It can be worn with any outfit; dress, leggings, slacks. Just try to avoid the Canadian Tuxedo... no jean on jean!

2. Watch What Crappens podcast - Anything I say about this podcast cannot do these guys justice. They are absolutely hilarious. They basically make commentary on everything on Bravo including the Real Housewives franchises and other reality shows. They are just downright funny. Take a listen!

3. Life As I Know It's Facebook page! Taking another step at becoming more official! Make sure to click LIKE!

Labels, labels, everywhere

I got the idea for this blog from watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I'm not ashamed. Bravo is good, solid, dramatic television. You can keep your True Detectives and House of Cards.... I like my trashy reality television.

In any case, these ladies were throwing around labels like it was nobody's business. One woman was racist, another was a bigot. Ridiculous. It made me realize that labels are used too often. They are used to simplify a situation, to describe someone. But I would argue, it's not only dangerous to throw blanket descriptions onto people, they are also, most of the time, just part of the the truth.

I did a project my senior year of high school where we were asked to put together a book about us. The final page I listed words that describe me. Some of them were completely hypocritical of one another, but they were all true. I'm a tomboy, but I'm also a girly girl. I'm a writer, but I don't necessarily like to read. I am a registered republican, but I support gay marriage. It's when I think about labeling myself that I get confused. Why don't any of these words describe me?

Then I remember, I don't have to fit the mold. I think the problem most of the time is that we try so desperately to fit ourselves into a mold that we aren't meant to fit. It's why Washington DC is at a standstill. We label ourselves with words and try to make them fit. We cannot sway from the definition of the word we label ourselves as. But the truth is you can. You don't need to be stubborn about it. If one day you believe one thing, and something happens that changes your mind on the topic, it's okay to redefine yourself.

That's exactly what I have come to accept. If I read the words that I defined myself with as a senior in high school, I would probably agree with a handful of them. But I've learned so much since then. I've met new people, traveled to new places, been faced with new situations.

The more my life changes and I educate myself on things, I sometimes find myself wondering about how I would define me today. If I were walking down the street and a stranger came up to me and asked, "What are five words you would use to label yourself?" Strangely enough, I've come to the conclusion that the answer would change on a day to day basis. Some people would call this confusion or tell me I have no self-identity. But I guess those words are just labels someone else has to put on me in order to understand who I am.

So as I type this and a hypothetical stranger approaches me and asks, "What are five words you would use to label yourself?" Today, those words are:

What are your words today?

Quote of the week

I am a Generation Y cliche

I like to think of myself as a Generation Y cliche.

I lost my job last week. It wasn't a great job, but it was a job in my field, and, quite honestly, it helped pay the bills for a while. I was heartbroken at first, and I still have my moments, but I knew that taking a job at a failing magazine could end one of two ways: get another job or become a victim of budget cuts. I ran out of time on the former and the latter caught up to me.

It sucks. I won't sugar coat it. While I watch my peers get married, buy houses and start families, I am once again searching for a job. There was a time that I was completely embarrassed of this. I was raised to believe that if you work hard, good things will happen to you. I still believe this, because I work hard everyday. But I've read enough Huff Post stories and other blog posts to realize that I am just another casualty of a poor economy.

I can't quite blame it all on the economy. I had a steady job at one point that I quit in order to follow my dreams. I acquired $30,000 more debt in graduate school loans also to follow my dreams. And after getting an interview with USA Today, I realize I'm qualified, just not one of the lucky ones to actually be a working journalist. Instead I have my blog.

From the moment my boss said the words "we're going to have to let you go" my first thought was "I can't wait to blog about this."

I'm no longer embarrassed about my situation. Instead, I'd rather get it all out, and perhaps let all those people that are in, have been, or will be in my situation, that SHIT HAPPENS and life goes on.

So as I suck up my pride and move back in with my parents, I look forward to the day when my blog is my career and I no longer have to worry about anyone else signing my paychecks. I could've chosen a career in medicine or business or academics, but I want to be a writer, and that's what I'll be.

PS. To all of you out there who are working jobs that you hate, please realize how blessed you are. Either quit bitching or do something about it. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would love to be in your position.

You know you date a fisherman when...

Spring is in the air, and so comes fishing season. This weekend, Dave, Juneau and I spent some time outside exploring the banks of the White River here in Indy. It got me to thinking about the many things in my life that include the sport of fishing. I don't mind, I love that Dave is passionate about something the way he is about fishing. It's become a running joke in our relationship. Dave lives to fish.

You know you date a fisherman when...

1. Date nights always end up at Dick's or Gander Mountain


2. Your purse has to sit in the backseat of the car because the front seat is reserved for the fishing pole

3. On the first nice days of the year, getting outside means scoping out the river bed for the upcoming season

4. Winter months consist of stocking up on lures

5. The television on Saturday mornings blast shows about bass competitions and outdoor fishing

6. Every time a birthday or holiday comes around the question "are you sure you don't want me to buy you a fishing pole?" comes out of his mouth

7. When you do end up at Dick's or Gander Mountain, you know exactly where the fishing section is and head right for it.

8. And you know exactly which pole and reel he would buy you if you gave the okay.

9. Home decor is all fishing themed

10. When looking for a nice wall hanging, he suggests buying the one that said "A fisherman lives here with the best catch of his life"

11. The fishing pole goes with you on all trips to the park and on every hike, just in case

12. School projects turn into a family fishing video

13. Scrolling through text messages you find countless photos of him holding up the latest catch

Quote of the week

Looking for feedback!

I've been blogging (steadily) for about two months now. It's been an amazing experience to watch the readership increase over that time. I am incredibly humbled by the number of pageviews I get on a day I post a blog.

So, I thought it's about time I get some feedback. I want to know what types of blogs you enjoy reading? Do you have a favorite site that you visit? What do you enjoy reading about? Is there anything you think I should write about? What do you like about my blog? What do you dislike?

Let me know and thanks for reading!

If I had 40 million dollars

Last week, my little sister, Sarah, called me and asked me "If I won 40 million dollars, what would be the first thing that you would buy?" My answer? A car. Duh. I've been driving the same 2003 Pontiac Grand Am since my junior year of college. Her answer? A gatorade. She said she was thirsty. I admitted she was probably more accurate. I would probably buy a coffee, because I can always go for a coffee. So it got me thinking... if I had that amount of money, what would I buy?

1. A car. I wouldn't go crazy. I don't need/want a Lamborghini. I would buy a BMW X5 SUV. Immediately. In fact, after I quit my job, I would drive through the Starbucks drive thru, buy my coffee, and head directly to the BMW dealership.

2. I would pay off my student loan debts. No, this isn't buying anything technically. It's just paying off my debt. But it's the biggest pain in my ass in my life. I can't help but laugh when I look at how much money I borrowed to get an education. And I went to a STATE school.

3. A plane ticket to Bali. Because I want to spend a week in a hut on stilts hovering clear, blue water.

4. A plane ticket for my parents to go to Germany... and all of Europe for that matter. Because they deserve it, and they've never been to Europe, and my dad would literally be in heaven. And because they deserve it.

5. A desktop Mac computer. Just because.

6. A bunch of houses. One in Wilmington. One in Charlottesville. One in Rochester.

7. An NBA team. Preferably a failing franchise like Philadelphia or Orlando. I want to create my own superstars and I want to be Mark Cuban.

8. Keurig Cups, a lifetime supply. Mainly because I go through my 12-packs so quickly. If I could have a lifetime supply of K-cups, a lot of my day-to-day stress would be eliminated. I could also feed my mom's coffee habit. Two birds, one stone.

9. A gun for Dave. Because I just texted him and asked what his dream gun was his answer was so thought out that I know that he would appreciate it. And I figure this will make us both happy. He will have his most desired gun in the world, and I will no longer have to hear about how badly he wants the gun. And cause he deserves it.

10. I guess I'd have to buy whatever Emily and Sarah want, too.

11. A farm for all the stranded puppies in the world. Or as many as I can house. And I'd employ people to take care of them all. It would be like a dream farm for dogs....

12. A guitar signed by Taylor Swift.

13. I'd probably buy out the Francesca's Collection company and have a closet filled with all the clothing I'd ever want.

14. A personal chef. I'd never, ever cook again.

So I ask... what would you do/buy with $40 million??

Quote of the week