Summer Lovin'

This summer David, Peanut and I went to Maine. 

Here are a few pictures:

 Marshall Point Light House

Dog

 Square

 Logged Buoy Chart

David at Marshall Point Light House

For more, visit my PHOTO BLOG HERE

October 2013- Busy Busy Bee!

ok so a lot of things have been happening in my life. here is a list:
1.) Working over time because we are short staffed at work.
2.) Taking 6 hours of night class a week at a little place called Penn State.
3.) Trying to cook and keep my head above water.
4.) David's parents visited for david's birthday. we saw Circe Eloise...or something like that. it was top 10 most amazing things I've ever seen and it made me want to go watch more live performances
5.) We have been budgeting like BEASTS and that's not really that important except that it's one thing in my life that is going completely 100% swimmingly so I like to brag about it.
6.) With that well budgeted money, I went and bought myself my very first grown up nook tablet that I am completely upset with. her name is Sally. I just named her that right now. It just came to me. It might switch to Jess since we've been watching a lot of New Girl recently (can you say obsessed? i can. I speak it fluently actually)


I have decided not to actually post recipes any more, but explain my choices behind various menu items because that is more interesting to me to write about. So this week we have (so far) made Minestrone soup (which i can't actually pronounce out loud) and I sort of guessed on the recipe and IT CAME OUT SO GOOD. lucky break char char. the broth was crushed canned tomato and chicken broth and I pre-cooked the noodles like the chef who came to my window at work one day told me to do, and I added kidney beans, and celery and carrots and cannelloni beans and (too much) canned corn. it was amazing. it's already gone. We both devoured all the left overs today. delicious.

Tonight is quiche. We decided to make two. one is in a brownie pan because I don't know what happened to our pie tin. the other one is in a round cake pan because...I don't know what happened to our pie tin. Fantastic. general ingredients include cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, broccoli, spinach, sausage, and something else that i forget. I might add apples next time. We'll see. I also saw a recipe on foodnetwork.com that said to add mayonnaise so I added a tablespoon of that. We'll see. We have also been budgeting our food money really well which meeeeans that we get to eat salmon almost every week!!! MY FAVORITE!!!

Today was the craziest weather.

BACKGROUND: I am in central Pennsylvania and it is October 7th. Some people might assume that it's October and so it's starting to get a little chilly. I would be some of those people and guess what, we would all be DEAD WRONG. We have been suffering a mini-heat wave. David keeps telling me to appreciate it but it's very difficult to appreciate a heatwave when it's at 100000% humidity so I have NOT been enjoying it. I'm tired of cold dinners because it's too hot for soup, and no cuddling. NO CUDDLING=NO FUN. It has also been 0% enjoyable because I know what's about to hit- THE WINTER. and I know that it will totally blindside me whenever it gets here and then I will be literally crying for summer (most likely at some point).

 REAL STORY: So, we woke up this morning and it was literally 70 degrees outside. Miserable. And it was cloudy and it was drizzling, but still a billion degrees. So then I get to work and the rain just starts POURING. Like, cats and dogs. horrible. and it's crazy wind and everything. But it's still like, you know, 70 billion degrees outside so it's not even an exciting storm. UNTIL, a customer comes in around 1pm and tells us, IT'S FREEZING OUTSIDE!!! So, in the time of about 4 hours and one severe weather warning (californians- these are messages that they stop playing Ke$ha on the radio for. they are comprised of scary loud siren sounding noises and then an announcer voice who sounds like he's about to tell you that World War Z is ACTUALLY upon us. even if he told me I won a million dollars, his voice is just so scary I would probably politely decline the scary money. they announce things like severe winds, hail that will break your car, and flash floods that sometimes kill people), WINTER CAME! Now it's back to normal late fall, chilly, the leaves don't look like the trees are dying form heat anymore, it actually feels like blustery fall, IT IS AMAZING!!

So, even thought I am seriously allergic- WELCOME BACK FALL! Please lead us through a super short winder and then let it be summer again!!!! VIVA SUMMER!!!

Love Always,

Char

(GRE): How I apparently feel about restaurants displaying nutritional information

Eating healthy is becoming an increasing challenge in today's society. Aside from going to backyard markets, it is almost impossible to find even the purest food: vegetables, that have not been enhanced as GMOs. Although we necessarily go to restaurants expecting the healthiest food, as a population, we should continue to make ourselves aware of what we are putting into our bodies. Restaurants can help to educate the public by including nutritional information on their menus. This will not only help the food corporations keep themselves in check, but it will help us to make good nutritional choices for ourselves on a daily basis.

Corporations rely on advertising to reach consumers. By advertising food in a way that makes it seem fresh and appealing, corporations are able to attract a group of consumers that might otherwise never reach out and try their products. In the '90s, McDonalds presented McDonalds Salad Shakers. Salad in a cup, covered in dressing seemed like a refreshing and healthy snack on the go. Compared to their other products like frozen chemically enhanced meat and starch products, Salad Shakers were presented as the healthy choice. While this may have been true, the dressing and croutons made this seemingly fresh and healthy choice worse than other non-McDonald's options however, it's convenience and presentation in advertising made it the perfect excuse for a salad. Had consumers been aware of the nutritional information of the dressing, and the types of vegetables in Salad Shakers, they might have realized that it was not only not half as healthy as they may have believed at first, but that it was also not worth the money they were paying compared to a potentially healthier snack from a different restaurant. If restaurants are forced to list nutritional information, it will help to educate the public and eliminate the impact of questionable and false advertising.

Being educated about our food choices is the best thing that we can do for ourselves nutritionally. Knowledge is power and it is vital that we take the power of food back from large corporations such as Kraft and Nestle. If we are able to visually observe the nutritional value of what we are putting into our bodies, we will also eventually learn positive and negative correlations with the outcomes of healthier and less healthy foods. Although it may take time, eventually, we will be able to see the physical manifestation of positive eating habits versus negative eating habits. By making ourselves aware of what we are putting in our bodies, it will give us the opportunity to make our own choices and decide our own fate.

It is imperative to our bodies that we are made aware of what we are eating on a daily basis. Although some may say that people don't go to restaurants to eat healthy, every meal counts and we should at least be given the option to be aware of what we are eating. Several food chains have successfully begun to advertise the calorie counts of their products and it has created an empowered new generation of eaters and consumers. People are beginning to return to the basics of food, shopping solely at healthy food markets and using less processed products. The struggle between corporations and those who wish to eat healthy will continue until the consumer can decide to take the power back into his own hands and demanding nutritional information is a step in the right direction to take back our food and our bodies.  

Answers, Answers Everywhere!!

So I am currently ferociously studying for the GRE that I will be taking on July 27th (wish me luck). I have been working on many of the essay prompts and besides writing about some of the sillies topics and creating opinions about things I know nothing about, I've really been enjoying writing. Today I was actually able to finish under the time limit and produce something that I am semi- proud of. So here it is. (1) An opinion essay about whether political blogging is mucking it up for all the 'real political analyst pros" and making us all dumber or if it has a positive impact and  (2) dissecting an argument about the thought that a fake school district should make volunteering a mandatory graduation requirement.

P.S. Thank you to my dear boyfriend for hiding the remotes and refusing to be fun until I log my daily practice test hours. He's simply the best. 

(1) 

The internet and Blogosphere has come to be a place of creativity and peace with one's self for millions of people. Blogging is a way of examining one's self in public without necessarily drawing large crowds of viewers. A variety of blogs focus specifically on politics. It has become easier for more people to voice their opinions in recent years however, an increase in skepticism of available information in our society maintains the dignity of the system. Political blogging makes available more knowledge and a wider variety of opinions and as long as it is viewed with a skeptical eye, political blogging gives us an opportunity to see how our understanding of politics fits in with those around us, near and far.

Political blogs enable people to gain a variety of knowledge that they might not otherwise have access to. Political blogs focus on a variety of topics and many go into great detail about things such as specific leaders, abortion, and different international relationships. By being able to step into someone else's world and learn all about the most important thing in someone elses life through their eyes, we can learn and grow in new and creative ways. Without the work and unique perspectives of these bloggers, we might never otherwise have the opportunity to learn about these topics.

In addition to knowledge about specific topics, blogging gives us a way to be aware of opinions that do not align with our own. Because there is no limit to blog topics, the very fact that someone chooses to write about politics automatically creates a subjective atmosphere, and it is important to remember that. However, subjectivity does not automatically negate someones writing and feelings. In fact, it can empower a writer to express what they truly feel. By having access to political opinions from people all over the world, readers have a very special opportunity to see different aspects of politics through the eyes of almost anyone. This offers the chance to reflect on ourselves and understand politics in an entirely new light. It is incredibly important that we maintain this heightened awareness of political opinions that do not mirror our own.

Some may say that this freedom to publish anything to a blog lowers the standards and drowns out the real educated voices who supposedly know what they're talking about. Blog readers are aware of the fact that they are reading just that, a blog. They are especially aware that not everyone blogging about politics has a degree in Political Science and Government. People who use political blogs to expand their minds must maintain a level of skepticism about the information they are absorbing. Those who are able to maintain the necessary level of skepticism when reading, can gain the most from political blogs.

Blogs can provide a wealth of information if we know where to look for it and how to read it. By maintaining a skeptical eye, readers can benefit greatly from listening to the opinions of others, regardless of their validity. Political blogs are important for readers to experience a variety of opinions and knowledge that might not otherwise been available, but they are even more important for writers being able to express themselves and feel validated. It is vital that everyone has the opportunity to publish their own political opinions and feel validated in their beliefs because after all, we are all human beings. As long as readers can remain aware of the medium of the blog itself, it can be a crucial tool in learning about politics, other people, and most importantly, ourselves.

(2) (Keep in mind that this is not a question of my opinion, only a discussion of the validity of an argument.)

Argument:

Several charitable organizations in X Town provide opportunities for teenagers to engage in community service. These organizations have a great need for volunteers, but in recent years, the number of volunteers has significantly declined.

The X School Board should take measures to increase the number of volunteers. Teachers, parents, and other community members agree that it is important for young people to learn the value of community service. Requiring high school students to engage in community service would provide needed assistance to worthy local charities and would also help young people understand the importance of giving back to their community. For this reason, the X School Board should institute a program requiring students of XHS to complete 40 hours of community service prior to graduation.

Discussing the Argument:

This argument to require mandatory volunteer hours at Pleasantville School Board is one that assumes several different understandings of the situation. Firstly, the author assumes that in previous years, community service was seen as rewarding by the participants. In order to create a new program that is socially rewarding for students, the argument believes that re-living the past is the best solution. The author does not take into account any possibility that society has changed and the very definition of the term "rewarding" may now have an entirly different meaning. For example, a high school student who is a good person, enjoyed by all, and loves spending time in the community might not feel that they are leading a rewarding life because of academic failure which might lead to little hope for future education or a career.

Additionally, the author assumes that making an activity mandatory for teenagers will make volunteering appear tedious and as yet another task that teenagers must do to please adults. Psychological studies show that making activities mandetory makes them statistically significantly less enjoyable for participants. By saying that students's lives would be enriched by mandatory volunteer hours, his argument assumes that that these studies would not apply to this situation, which would be incorrect. If the author assumes that the students are in agreement with the idea of mandatory community service, then he is still only taking a poll of a small percentage of people that the volunteering would ultimately affect, considering students in the future.

Continuing on, the author does not address the necessity of any type of balance between school and community involvement. The author assumes that school work is not an issue and does not comment on the priority of school work over community service or vice versa. If the author assumes that school work is a priority for all students, then they are saying that a student who does receives excellent grades but does not participate in community service will be just as accomplished as one who does not do well in school, but is active int he community. This negates the argument that community service is a vital part of a teen's life.

Priorities can be a pivitol point of development in a teen's life and this instance is no exception. This argument for required volunteer hours assumes that completion of the hours will not hinder student's accademic success or the schools graduation rate enough to create a serious issue. If we assume that the author is more concerned with community involvement than a high school diploma and a higher average GPA amongst students, and thus more potential funding for the school district, then the argument to require volunteering as a graduation requirement holds. If the author understands that the graduation rate, academic success and school funding is more significant than optional volunteering made mandatory, then there is a flaw in the request to make it a required activity.

Overall, this author assumes that students in the past have found balancing yet another extra-curricular activity of required volunteering, a rewarding experience. He also assumes that students still feel this way and that their priorities align with parents, teachers, and the community and that everyone believes in this cause. He implies that this is a top priority that the school mandate however he does not take into account the possible negative outcomes that could come to exist should students fail to meet this new requirement. The author does have good intentions with this argument however he has not thought through all of the potential consequences of this proposition and he needs to look more closely at students feelings of success, feeling rewarded, and the importance to them of contributing to their community.

Almost Summer!!!

Here we go.

Grief.
So it's been raining like craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy here. there have been flooded streets, flash floods, and two people have been swept away by the water current running down the streets/through their properties. One body has been found and there is still a search for the other one. I had the privilege of meeting the daughter of one of the people who got swept away today and it reminded me to tell my daddy that I love him so I stepped away from work and called him immediately. Please do the same for the people you love as soon as you can. #loveyourfamily

Immense Joy.
Tomorrow I am embarking on my first ever, self-earned, self-paid vacation to an unnamed island off the coast of Maine. I could just cry I'm so excited. I've been dreaming of being able to show someone else the island since I was seven and going to the island since i was three. TWENTY ONE WHOLE YEARS. ugh. #soold

Apprehension.
I am trying to study for the GRE as much as I can but without anyone else to motivate me, it is INSANELY difficult. I am bringing my book on vacation since it's supposed to rain the whole time in Maine.  #bigwords



Entertainment.
Last week we went to a free symphony concert on a ski slope/amphitheater. It was lots of locals, which was nice, and kindof made me feel a little more grown-up. It was really fun and on the way home we heard bull frogs (David's first time. you should have SEEN his reaction!!! It was so awesome) and the best part of everything...IT'S FIREFLY SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #ilovelayingonthegrassallday

Describe your personality in 2500 characters or less:

The best way to describe my personality is to explain the factors that lead to my decision to move to State College. My boyfriend got into graduate school at Penn State and when the opportunity to leave California and join him here presented itself, I decided to go for it. I have always thought of myself as a safe and rational person, always weighing the consequences of my big decisions very heavily and generally taking ,what I considered, the safe option. My decision to come here was based on several key factors.

The first factor was my family's track record. My parents are both from the east coast and they both moved to California as young adults. I decided that if they survived, then I most likely would too. I had faith in my decision based on rational.

The second factor was my “vanilla” life. For me, Central Pennsylvania is a different world and although it's not trekking across Europe as many twenty somethings do, I knew that it would be an incredible growing experience-- something I have been longing to do my entire life. My parents would of course be there to support me because they too had been through very similar experiences, but the reality was that it was something that I would be doing for myself, by myself, and without them there to hold my hand. I adore my family, but I believe that I am strong enough to make decisions for myself and trust those decisions.

The third and final determining factor in moving to State College was my relationship with my boyfriend, David. We met in a student affairs program in college and started off as friends. During the program we lead a variety of different trainings for over 800 other students including topics such as tolerance, communication skills, working together to complete a larger goal, and community involvement. We brought many of these skills directly into our relationship. Our relationship is something that I believe very strongly in, enough to leave my entire network and support system to maintain. It is of course a risk moving across the country with someone that you have not even shared rent with yet, however, it was a risk with a positive outcome that I was willing, and even excited, to take.

I can't lie and say that moving has been a walk in the park. The time difference, the cost to visit home, and the entirely new community have been just a few of the new experiences. However, this risk has already been worth the reward twofold. One of the biggest tools that I have used to aid this transition has been my optimism and realistic yet positive outlook on life. I believe that my 20s are a time during which I need to selfishly peruse whatever will make me happy and successful and coming to State College has done just that. 

And now for the photographic documentation of recent life:

Le Park, Hot girl work out paying off, dog and boy searching for a ball, and how Charlotte plays video games (and why 3D really won't ever work out for me).
**Caudle and Cashell-Varga parents please take note: Still alive and kickin'**