Spring 2009

Goodbye English

Staci — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:34:13 +0000

So this is the last week of class.

Although APA format really annoyed me throughout the semester, I still enjoyed this class probably the most. I liked the fact this was an EXTREMELY small group and I enjoyed the assignments and the challenge of finding time to write them…well not really that last part.

See everyone next year.

The Obsessive Child Free Blogs

Staci — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:12:50 +0000

Okay I am the only one of my friends that has a child so I don’t care if you don’t have a kid or never want to. That’s your decision. What I think is disturbing though is this new group of people that are so angry about kids. They have set up a whole blog community and go on and on about how they can’t stand kids. I mean sure who wants to sit next to screaming baby at the restaurant? I mean I don’t. But to join a blogging group and rant about it all the time is another thing.

I don’t even remember how I ended up on this group. It was some video on some website about child free people and I just wanted to watch it since as I stated before none of my friends or co workers have children so was just kind of interested in what the video had to offer.

Here is the title of one of the groups and their motto….yes they have a moto…and honestly it scares me.

childfree by choice – no to kids

membership: open

announcement

Our motto: Copulate don’t populate! MAKE LOVE, NOT BABIES!

If you joined this group, you’re an editor. You can blog from the group and put up pictures, if you want to.

Just because I’m “nice” to kids, doesn’t mean I like them, or want to be around them. It’s called having to tolerate something that I find very uninteresting, irritating and boring. A complete waste of time. Some find dogs the same way. For me, it’s kids.

Here are a few snippets of peoples thoughts, comments, and blog posts on this particular child free blog.

These are the comments that make me wonder why these people are so angry about kids. I mean my friends and co workers don’t vent about children to the extent these people do.

Some restaurants have no smoking sections, and I think they should also have “kid free” sections, as well.

NEWSFLASH: NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE AROUND YOUR LITTLE HELLION! NOT ALL OF US LOVE RUG RATS, AND WORK IS FOR ADULTS, NOT CARPET MUNCHING BAYBEES!!

Please, breeders, I implore you: KEEP YOUR KIDS AWAY FROM WORK. Your co-workers may not say it, but I will: WE DON’T WANT TO BE SUBJECTED TO YOUR KID!

Beth

I NEVER take time off. I come in 1/2 dead, hacking up a lung and the woman who takes a day off a week gets the same raise I do, PLUS, she gets tax benefits for her kid.

Where are MY tax benefits? Why do I have to pay for public schools and this silly “No Child Left Behind”

I have actually been known to literally cover my ears (so everyone could see it) and I meant to be seen, when a rug rat was crying in a restaurant. I mean, you can only get so far away from the loud mouth!

I don’t smile and think “oh, how cute!” I cover my ears and think, oh my god, kill it ‘for it grows!!!!!!

Those are just a few comments off of one group. There are many other groups and blog communities that have these types of comments if not more/worse.

I think this topic is best summed up by plain feminist from child free news

“Not wanting to have a child is a choice that is all too often not validated, and that is a real problem: the childfree movement is right to be pissed off, and I fully support people who choose not to be parents (hell, I do more than support them – I encourage them!). But not wanting to associate with children is, first, a disturbingly entitled position: “I am so special that I should be allowed to construct my life in such a way that I do not come into contact with those I find undesireable.” But it is also a prejudice. It is determining that there is a whole class of people that one does not want to be around, by virtue of their age.”

Proposal

Staci — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:16:18 +0000

My proposal for assignment 3 is

The Persistence of Memory painting by Dali

I was going to do a song but really didn’t feel like it. HOpefully I can get enough out of a painting.

This painting used to amuse me as a kid with the melted clocks so I would like to see what it means.

bye

strange thing

Staci — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:14:51 +0000

I don’t know what happened to my last post.

something funky went on in the format.

Anyway posting to my blog this week has been extremely hard. work has completely ruined this semester for me.

I know it’s busy season and all but the real problem is that they got rid of someone and instead of hiring a new person they over work the rest of us to save on money.

I mean one less over time employee is one less paycheck and benefits cost right?

but really if you think about it. the employees become unhappy with all the extra load and slow down on production or leave. Then the turnover rate goes up.

So honestly I think employers need to be courteous to their employees and make them happy. I mean I don’t expect them to take me out to lunch everyday but at least make it so I can actually take a lunch break and not get behind.

The economy isn’t the best right now but taking advantage of people because they will most likely work whatever just to avoid being unemployed is not right.

Thought these were funny

Staci — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:41:28 +0000

1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your ‘buttons’ are, and push them to get what they want. Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don’t necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities. 2. Narcissistic Nancy: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them “It isn’t always about you.” Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself. 3. Debbie Downers: These people can’t appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they’ll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be. Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself. 4. Judgmental Jims: When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people’s unique perspectives refreshing, they find them ‘wrong’. If you like someone’s eclectic taste, they find it ‘disturbing’ or ‘bad’. Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well. 5. Dream Killing Keiths: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can’t do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible. Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars. 6. Insincere Illissas: You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a ‘there, there’ type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response. Why they are toxic: People who aren’t sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won’t be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself. 7. Disrespectful Dannys: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you. Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don’t respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected. 8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves. Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/8-toxic-personalities-to-avoid-461078/

New Ethnography Proposal

Staci — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:25:32 +0000

While it’s technically not a new group of people…instead of doing hippies in the drum circle downtown, I have shifted the ethnography project to hippies and their drive for natural, earthy living.

I went downtown last weekend to gather my hippies to interview and realized I couldn’t really talk to them. They were either playing instruments or dancing wildly. Also there were some other strange people that sort of creeped me out like this person.

Anyway so after I moped around that I couldn’t get any interviews someone at work knew some hippie people that had an organic farm in Franklin and surely wouldn’t mind showing me around. These people grow and sell from their organic garden and even make tie dye shirts and other items to sell.

Here are a few photos from my trip there.

A teenage hippie tie dying a shirt

I have a bunch more photos but wordpress takes too long to upload them so that’s all that I will share here.

bye

Cupcakes

Staci — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:30:57 +0000

yummy cupcakes

Ethnography Idea

Staci — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:28:31 +0000

I am thinking of doing my ethnography on the bohemian “earthy” people that frequent Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Where I moved from we didn’t have anyone like that so I think it will be interesting to see what it is about that culture that draws people to it. Maybe they had similar experiences in their childhood that ultimitely lead them to the bohemian life.

Lauren will be joining me on an observation of a drum circle event, and we may get Morgan the self proclaimed “Flower Child Hippie Mom” to come with us for interviewing purposes.

Photo Blog Post

Staci — Wed, 06 May 2009 01:51:21 +0000

I missed the memo of the dog photo blog post so since I don’t have any pets here is a picture of one of my kids. This is Kody 2 years ago. I couldn’t use a current one because They all have him facing the camera.

I didn’t want his face on the internet since there are so many freaks out there.

Saturday Downtown Trip

Staci — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:20:11 +0000

So I love Alice in Wonderland. It was my favorite movie as a kid and I guess I just never grew out of it.

While shopping downtown this weekend I saw this store and nearly got myself run over dashing to get inside.

I was hoping to find some adorable little knick knacks or t-shirts, things of that nature, but apparently the owner was deep in the rabbit hole when opening this shop.

This wasn’t your family Wonderland shop. They did have t-shirts, however they were tie dyed and had the Cheshire Cat smoking a joint on it. I think I saw some Grateful Dead bears eating mushrooms on one too.

There were many bongs and other smoking paraphenalia. I realized then that once again you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. The entrance of this store made me think of fluffy white bunnies with watches, cute pink striped kittens, and tea parties. Yet when I walked inside it was a smoke shop on acid.

Not all was lost though because I got an awesome photo of a gigantic caterpillar smoking from a hookah.