long time, no write.

So, it's been a few months...

Can't say I really have a reason why other than I've been absolutely crazy busy.

I think I may turn this into an opinion blog, not that it isn't 100% of my opinion already. Lately, I've had a lot of opinions that seem to get people fired up.

I was inspired to create this opinion blog by this article which I came across this week. This is a strictly OPINION that people from all over my hometown were outraged by. Why? They buy into the fact that student athlete's are of utmost importance, just as the article eludes to.

I was of the minority opinion, I, for the most part, agree with the writer. I go to a school where most athletes DO get what they want, DON'T attend class and DO believe they are entitled. There are two sides to every story, though. My sister is a college athlete. She does attend class, does participate in class projects and does not believe because she is an athlete that the world is owed to her. All I ask is that before people lose it over this article, see both sides to every story. Work on a group project with an athlete who doesn't contribute, much less show up to class. Sure, they make the University a fun place to watch sports, but how much outside of sports are they contributing to the University?

simple.

I don't have much to say except that, you should check out this blog.

Absolutely awesome.

http://jonesdesigncompany.com/

realization.

At 21 years old, I pretty much think I am indestructible. I drive too fast, drink too much and take life for granted.

Two days ago I experienced something that will never, ever make me do that again. As I was sitting on the Metra home, the train came to a stop in the middle of the tracks. I complained that I might be home ten minutes later than usual.

I watched other people in the train make jokes, uncomfortably shift in their seats and complain, just as I had been doing. The conductor came on and announced the train in front of us had gotten into a wreck at a crosswalk. People complained more and more...this went on for 30 more minutes.

Later on, the conductor announced the wreck involved a fatality. Immediately, my stomach dropped. Whoever that was, was someones loved one, someones best friend, someones child. I sat quietly in my seat and waited. When we began moving, I starred out the window. What I saw next, no one should ever, ever see. A lifeless body lay on the ground with a sheet covering it. It turns out this fatality was planned. This individual wanted to end their life. I can't get the picture out of my head and this will forever change me.

Don't take life for granted. No one is indestructible. Life is a blessing.

learning process.

Okay. After my small rant, I want to share what I have actually learned, observed and experienced from the past month of living in the city.

1. Big cities are not for me. Many people love them, but they're just not for me. I am a small town girl at heart. I am thankful that I came to Chicago and learned what I do not want.

2. Chicago style hot dogs are good, except you can't taste the hot dog...

3. The South really is a friendlier place. There have been countless times when I have said good morning or smiled at someone in Chicago and did not receive a  response. People are constantly in a hurry and they will push and shove you to get where they need to go. I will never again complain about how slow things in the South move.

4. The 5:52 Thursday Metra train has a party car.

5. It's acceptable to drink at work.

6. Traffic is real. And it will control your life. Not just two, three, or ten cars, people. Hundreds. Stopped. Honking. Standstill.

7. If you live anywhere in Illinois south of Chicago, you are from the south.

8. The homeless man with the kitten is the only one I give money to, well played, sir.

9. There is nowhere to go to escape civilization and go for a "country" drive. Seriously, I tried. You end up in another suburb.

10. Be thankful for where you came from. Ultimately that will stay with you. You will miss it and desire it more than you know.

chaos.

Needless to say, I haven't written lately, at all.

I miss it. And there have been so many times in the last month and a half where I have every intention of logging on and writing. Then life happens.

Let's talk about that. Life hasn't been as great as it could be lately. That is probably the understatement of the summer. In case you cared, here is why I have needed to write and have a major vent session.

1. I haven't actually had a summer. Remember my post about how much I was obsessed with summer? Yeah. I got three weeks of it.

2. Chicago, no. Without going on a rampage about how I loathe public transportation and big cities, I'll just stop at "no".

3. My internship...not what I thought it would be. Not good, not bad, just not what I thought. I am ready to go home. Ready to go back to school and ready to get on with my life.

4. My love live. Two words: in shambles.

taking risks.

Okay. Let's talk about taking risks. Not my thing, at all.

HOWEVER, desperate times call for desperate measures in which cases, risk is involved.

I am not a spontaneous person, never have been, doubt I ever will be. I am way to OCD to go on an unplanned shopping spree, much less an unplanned vacation.

There are two times I can remember being spontaneous. Once was freshman year in college when I attended one of the biggest party weekends in college history at Southern Illinois University and the second was yesterday.

Neither time have I been disappointed.

So, even if you are as OCD and "live by your planner" as me, it pays off to occasionally take risks.

bad days.

I feel like I've been having a lot of these lately. I haven't posted because I haven't been happy.

I write when I'm sad. Always have. I just haven't written on here because I've been too sad to even write.

Regardless, sometimes everyone needs this reminder..

"Just because you have a bad day doesn't mean you have a bad life"