My Blackberry saved the day.

I've gone to the dark side. Or maybe I've just caught up to speed with our fast-paced world.  I had a pretty miniscule dilemma this week that reminded me of how technologically dependent America has become. 

Call me old-fashioned, but I like to be simple.  Even after CDs were the norm, I still bought cassette tapes for some time.  I have an Apple MacBook that was a gift, but have no idea how to use 75% of its features. I never type notes or assignments, always pen and paper. I don't read the news online; I still read the newspaper every day. I don't keep a task list or reminders in my phone; I write to-do lists in a small notebook that resides in my purse. Recently, however, I have found myself succumbing to the evil known as technology.  

I bought a Blackberry last month in hopes that I would finally learn how to use one of those silly Smart Phones.  I haven't really succeeded, but this so-called intelligent phone did come to my rescue on Saturday.  

My monroe piercing must be taken out for work, but I usually put it back in place immediately after my shift is over.  On this particular night, I forgot about my piercing that I love so much.  As I pulled into a parking lot to go to a friend's apartment, I remembered my monroe ring, grabbed it from the console, and decided to take it inside and put it in when I had access to a mirror.  When I was locking my door, I dropped the ring onto the parking lot. I crouched down to search, but its silver gleam was nowhere to be found.  When I was leaving the apartment two hours later, I had an idea.  I went to my car and downloaded the Flashlight application for my Blackberry Curve.  After patiently waiting a few moments, the application was installed and I stepped back onto the pavement to test out my big idea.  Within 10 seconds of shining my phone on the parking lot, I found my monroe ring! After going home and washing it and securing it into place on my face, I realized that I had completely relied on a cellular phone to fix my problem.  This wasn't a big deal at all, but I saw how dependent I'm becoming with technology.

Technology isn't bad.  That isn't what I'm getting at in this post.  It has done many, many great things for this world, but some technology is simply for those who have become lazy.  When I get Dunkin Donuts coffee, I want to pour in the cream and flavor myself; not push a button that dispenses a determined amount of cream and flavor. I don't want a phone that will fulfill my every day needs.  I want to do it on my own. 

Maybe a break from my laptop and hours of television is in order.  Maybe I'll blog about this experiment when I return to the internet. Or maybe I'll enjoy living simply so much that you'll never hear from me on Twitter or Facebook again. But probably not. 

The Day UK Stole My Heart, with special thanks to Myron Pryor

Kentucky Sports Radio is holding a contest known as "Who wants to be a blogger?" for one lucky fan to win the chance to write for their blog. I didn't enter because I would be a lousy sports writer, but I did think about it for a hot minute, simply, because I love KSR and competition.  I took a look at the application and read the writing prompts for the 750 word essay required for entry.  I must say, they were much better writing prompts than any I encountered in my college/scholarship application process.  

There was one in particular that I enjoyed:

Best UK Football Personal Experience

And here is what I think  I would say:

     I have been a University of Louisville Cardinal fan my whole life.  Please don't give up on me after that statement.  

     The truth is, I owe my existence to the Cardinals.  My parents met on the night of the 1986 National Championship.  It was actually the last time UL won the National Championship, so maybe that was a jinx.  But...if UL hadn't been in the championship that year, the party where my parents met would not have happened; therefore, I wouldn't be on this earth.

     I grew up wearing a little UL cheerleader uniform and despising UK fans. Then, a day finally came when all of that changed.

     My decision to attend the University of Kentucky was based upon the college's academic superiority over UL (and also, the hefty scholarship I was offered.)  I knew that I would cheer on my school, but had assumed I would always be a UL fan at heart and just keep that fact about me in the closet.  I was mistaken.  My heart found a new love within the University of Kentucky.

     It happened on the day of UK's first football game of the 2008 season, which happened to be the UL game.  I traveled home to Louisville and headed to a friend's house to watch the game, only a mile away from Papa John's Stadium.  I wore a UK shirt to support my school, but my mind would be subconsciously saying, "C'mon Cards!" 

     But as the game started, I found myself whole-heartedly cheering on my Wildcats.  Every ounce of me wanted UK to win.  When Myron Pryor picked up that fumble and ran 72 yards, it seemed as if the red blood running through my veins instantly changed into a brilliant shade of royal blue (or UK blue as they call it in the Bluegrass).

     I found myself doing things I never thought I would do that night: trashing Hunter Cantwell, texting my embarrassed and disappointed UL friends after the Cats claimed victory, and even more Card bashing at the after-party. 

     During that one defensively dominated game, I became a true UK fan.  I not only have pride in my school, but in my team, as well.  I wake up earlier for ticket sales, wear Wildcat apparel daily, attend all home games,  make sure I get on TV cheering for my Cats, sing the fight song, do The Claw, and read KSR daily.  What can I say? I bleed blue.

All I need to know I learned on Twitter?

I wish I was an avid blog reader.  As a journalism major, I yearn to know about the world and current events, but hate doing the work to learn of these things.  I have a friend who reads 64 blogs regularly.  I don't have the time or the desire to do that.  I would like to, but I just don't.  Blogs are really important in the media today, and I know I could learn a lot, and be more engaged in the intelligent conversations some of my classmates have that I often feel left out of. 

I think I have found what you could call an alternative.  I still don't know everything I want to know, and there are some things that I am just plain ignorant about, but Twitter has definitely made me more "in the know." 

Twitter is made up of statuses, statements, links, whatever you please of 140 characters or less.  One blog entry could be multiple pages of reading, and who has time for that in this fast-paced world we live in?  So here's what I've learned from Twitter lately from 140 or less characters per tweet.

1. This is the first time the Pens have won the Stanley Cup in 17 seasons.  Something else to think about: Pittsburgh Steelers were national champions in football, Pittsburgh Penguins in hockey...Will the Pittsburgh Pirates be the next World Series champions? Absolutely not.

2.  Al Mohler gives Southern Baptists a bad name. I mean, I already knew this, but a link on Twitter confirmed it even more.

3. I have seen at least 20 tweets about IT Lexington.  For the record, I still have know idea what it is, but still intrigues.  Check IT out.

4. Oregon state law apparently requires gas station attendants to pump your gas.

5. When Twitter was supposed to shut down for maintenance, the State Department tried to ensure that Twitter stayed up and running for Iranians to be able to communicate about the election.  Social networking could save the world one day.

6. Pharmaceuticals agree to reduce the price of prescription drugs for millions of America’s seniors.  That's great, but what about us youngins?

7. UK President Lee Todd's middle name is Trover.  Also, on the topic of Lee Todd, he isn't proficient in constructing sentences (at least on Twitter, anyways).

8. Not only did I learn from Twitter that LSU won the college World Series, I also learned that Shaq referred to the school as "Love Shaq University."

9. There is such a thing as Derby pie milkshakes. Where can one get this treat?  I haven't figured that one out yet.

10. A place called the Root Beer Stand is known to be the highlight of Corbin, Kentucky.  That's more than Mt. Washington has.

Maybe one day I'll have the time and patience to read blogs and be able to consider myself a well-informed human being.  For now, I'll continue to acquire knowledge through social networking sites.

A defining moment

College has changed me; not who I am, but what I know, and how I feel.  The odds have been against me. I have been absolutely pushed to the limits this past year; with tragedy, health issues, trust issues, and everything you could imagine.  People didn’t think I could overcome these things, but God has given me so much strength. When everything has come crashing down on me, He has been my provider, my Jehovah-jireh. 

Even through all the personal triumphs I had to overcome last semester, I’ve found everything I wanted in UK.  I feel like I have learned more in one semester of college than I have my whole life. And not just facts, but real knowledge. I feel confident to say that I’m a somewhat culturally literate person now. I love going to class and hearing good lectures. And walking on campus just taking in my surroundings. And listening to intelligent conversations. 

My faith has strengthened this year, too.  I feel like I just wasted so much time in high school partying and being crazy. Now, I would much rather enjoy a weekend of full fellowship and church on Sunday morning, than a crazy party back home. 

The people I’ve met are so humble and wholesome, and I have never felt betrayed by one friend here. They’re gracious and kind; not catty, nor manipulative.  At home, I don’t even feel like there’s anyone who has truly been a good friend to me in the last few years. 

Graduating and coming to college is always a "milestone" or whatever, but for me, stepping onto UK's campus was a defining moment in my life--a defining moment in my faith, my relationships, my independence, and my opportunities.  A lot of interesting opportunities have been presented to me recently.  I’ve never been a HUGE risk-taker, but I feel like I should try each and every one of these things.  UK was an opportunity that I almost didn’t take, and it ended up to be the best thing in my life, so I’m afraid to let anything pass me by.