College Athletes

I'm pretty upset right now. Yesterday someone made a comment that ticked me off about college athletes. Then today someone else started talking about them again. I'm not going to mention any names, I'm not that kind of person. And I'm not going to say that this is all word for word, because I can promise that its not. But you should be able to get the idea.

Most of you know that I was a college athlete. Four of the best years in my life was spent with the SRU track team. Practicing almost 20 hours a week, then spending the weekends away at meets. And still managing to squeeze in time to study, meet with random groups to work on projects, and to make time to go to the Mac lab to work on other projects.

The original comment was made along the lines of "kids can work their butt off in high school to try to get a college scholarship. then an athlete can come and get a full ride only to do a sport and not care about the academic side of college."

When I confronted this person he went on to say that athletes sit in the back of the class, stay for a few minutes then get up and leave the class. Honestly, I didn't realize that was an athlete thing. I thought it was a STUDENT thing. Can you honestly tell me that every person that has skipped a class, left early, or not done a homework assignment was a student athlete? No, you can't. Can you even tell me that a majority of the people that you've seen do those things were athletes? Probably not.

So that was the first day of the arguing. Today a few other people were involved with the conversation.

Comments were made such as

* 30% of college athletes will not graduate and scholarships give away thousands of dollars to kids they know wont graduate
* the athletes are being catered to in order to make it look good on NCAA reports
* athletes get 1 year to try to make the grade, while everyone else is going to make it through the classes
* that student athletes get a rude awakening when they go to college and say "what? i have to study too?"
* lets compare the classes that athletes are taking to the classes that academic students are taking

After trying to defend college athletes I was told "you went to a Division II school, not a Division I school". First of all, I was recruited by D1 schools, several actually. And I know a bunch of D1 athletes, I've completed against them, and I'm friends with them. I'm sorry, I forgot that as soon as you go to a DI school you completely stop caring about academics and resort to allowing yourself to slide through the cracks.

The entire conversation upset me. It offended me and my friends. The first person that popped into my head was Karyn. If you don't know Karyn, she was my roommate my Junior Year of college. The summer before I moved into the trailer with her she won the NCAA D2 Title in the Javelin. She also qualified for the Olympic Trials in the Jav and placed 13th. Not only was she an awesome athlete, but she also graduated in the top of her class. She worked her butt off on the track and also in the classroom. And honestly, most of the kids that were on the track team with me were the same way. I don't know how many times I was taking notes while reading my comm. law book at a meet. Hell, some people on the team had unofficial study groups on the buses on the way back from meets.

Many of the kids on the track team are Biology/Chemistry/Physical Therapy majors. Yep, those are easy majors. So don't give me that "lets compare the classes that athletes are taking to other students" crap. But then again, I only went to a D2 school.

Athletes do care about their academics. I couldn't tell you how many times I would get pissed off in class because a student would come in without having their homework done. Every time I thought to myself "I work my butt off for over 25 hours a week for track and can do my homework, when you're just too busy drinking to do yours".

I guess it just offends me that someone could give college athletes such a bad name. To say that we don't care about our academics and that we can squeeze by. That we get catered to. Please, do not judge college athletes as a whole based on what you observed with 1 or 2 of us.

I'm told not to take all of this personal. But how am I not suppose to take it personal when you are talking about me and a hundred of my friends? When you enforce that stereotype to put us down, I am going to take that personal.

I know that this blog probably doesn't make sense to a lot of people reading this, so I'm going to stop blabbing and end this entry with a quote that a friend just sent me...

"It's not about getting a scholarship, getting drafted, or making Sports Center. It's a deep need in us that comes from the heart. We need to practice, play, to lift, to hustle, to sweat, to compete. We do it all for our teammates. We don't lift weights with a future Olympic wrestler; we lift with a future doctor. We don't run with a future Wimbledon champion; we run with a future CEO. It's a bigger part of us than our friends and family can understand. Sometimes we play for 200,000 fans, sometimes for 25. But we still play hard. You cheer for us because you know us. You know more than just our names. Like all of you, we are still students first. We don't sign autographs for money. But we do sign graduate school applications, MCAT exams, and student body petitions. When we miss a kick, or strike out, we don't let down an entire state. We only let down our teammates, coaches, and fans. But the hurt in our hearts is the same. We train hard. Lift, throw, run, kick, shoot, dribble, and lift some more, and in the morning we go to class. Still the next day in class we are nothing more than students. It's about pride; in ourselves, in our school. It's about our love and passion for the game. And when it's all over; when we walk off that court or field or circle for the last time, our hearts crumble. Those tears are real. But deep down inside, we are very proud of ourselves. We will forever be what few can claim: COLLEGE ATHLETES."

Yay for sand in my toes

Today, when we were in Greenville the temp reached 82. It was wonderful. On the way home from work, Lauren and I stopped at Conneaut Lake Park and played on the beach. For some odd reason, we were the only ones there.

Then, when I got home, I met up with Autumn, because she has been traveling like stinkin crazy for the past 2 months and I have only seen her twice in that time period. Aut and I thought it would be cool to head to the Peninsula and watch the sunset. Romantic? yes. Freezing? of course. For some reason we forgot that its always 30 degrees cooler at the Lake than it is anywhere else in Erie. Note to self: never try that again unless I'm with a guy who can keep me warm.

This entry is short and sweet. Basically I'm just bragging that I got to get some sand in between my toes.

Country Girl

I don't know what it is about this time of the year. But it makes the the country girl in me come out. Lauren and I were talking about it the other day while we were driving around. Its the time of the year when I have nothing but country music playing in my jeep, especially Sugarland.

I had started to compile bits and pieces of lyrics that remind me of home, high school, and a younger me. But I after finding 4 songs that really bring me back, I realized something... they all had to do with one of the following:

* drinking in fields
* friday night football games
* mudding in trucks
* small towns where everyone knows who you are

As much as I always complained about living in the middle of nowhere, I really did (still do) love it. Its nice now because I live in Erie, so I get my taste of the small city life, but when I go home (which I did this past weekend) I get to go back to the country. I get to go back to the bars where I can drink for free because everyone misses me, I get to run into people that I've known since I was five, I get to dodge Amish buggies on Sunday when they are racing up the road.

When I was younger I used to have friends over during the summer for fires and swimming. The girls would stay and we'd camp out in tents in the backyard. The guys would sneak back over by driving their 4-wheelers over and parking them right off of the dirt road and meeting us in the middle of the woods. I don't know if my parent's ever found out about the guys sneaking over. It would be kind of hard for them not too, but they never said anything about it. I almost brought it up to my mom this weekend actually. You know, those silly little things that you bring up once you're old enough not to get in any trouble for... I should do that next time I'm home. I'm sure if they didn't know what we did, they'd get a chuckle out of it now.

I think I'm going to go and try to fall asleep listening to some Sugarland
... I'm afraid that I will always be a country

Faker!!!

I love: our cats. Although they have turned into little horn-balls, they are still so freaking cute. Especially mine, Ryme. She's been extra-cuddly lately and was even good when I gave her a bath today. I got it done without a single scratch. I <3 her.



I hate: Fake lol'ers. You know who you are. Those who put "lol" after every sentence that they type. We all know what LOL stands for: laughing out loud. However, instead of using it to accurately describe what one is doing, it has become the "awkwardness remover". When people drink they get what Lauren refers to as "liquid confidence" When people are online they get what I like to call "virtual balls". People are more likely to say (or ask) things when they are talking to a person online than when they are talking to them in person. What does this have to do with LOL? Now, when someone fears that they pushed the virtual envelop they insert a small LOL into the conversation to make the other person think that they were just kidding about the entire situation, removing the awkwardness that lies on the other end of the computers. Now, some people do use LOL to acknowledge that they think what the other person said was funny. Did they actually laugh out loud? Sometimes yes, but most of the time no. ElliotT coined a new term: LQTM - laughing quietly to myself. I think it should catch on. All of you that have talked to me on aim know that I'm not an lol'er. I'm a haha-er. And if you have talked to me in person, you know that I do laugh a lot. I don't type a haha without actually laughing, I'm not an internet liar. I don't say that I'm laughing when I'm not, ok?

Application

I have done this before and got more responses than I could keep up with, so I thought I'd update it and see what happens. So here goes, it used to be my application for a cuddle buddy, but now its my application for a date, this friday. I want to go see the new Adam Sandler Movie "Reign over me"


Instructions:
1. Copy and paste this application
2. Fill out application
3. E-mail application to HeatherRK45@gmail.com
4. Await approval

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Application:

The Basics


Name:

Age:

City/State:

Height:

AIM Screenname:


Link Me Up


Myspace:

Facebook:

Virb:

Groovr:

Twitter:


Yes or No


Do you like cats?

Do you have more than 4 teeth?

Have you ever stomped your feet at a female?

Have you ever broken a bone?

Do you have Aflac?

Do you like stickers?

Do you know what Netio is?

Are you currently employed? If yes, where and what do you do?

Do you have reliable transportation?

Do you smoke? If yes, your application will be immediately placed in the denied folder in my email.

Can you pronounce my last name? If yes, please be prepared to prove your answer

What is your high score on Photo Hunt?

Can you make an amaretto sour?

Are you emo?

Are you sure?

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*I have the right to deny any application at any time without a reasonably explanation. Those who would like to protest their application results can shove it.

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I like: when Lauren and I make up "what if" stories and laugh so loud that we get everyone in Pizza Hut to look at us. Then we get hit on by old men because they think that we seem "fun". And then Lauren tells them "thanks for asking, and keep trying" like they're learning how to play baseball.

I hate: high schoolers. I know I was one only five years ago. But I was so much cooler than the high schoolers that they have now. No high school stereotypes are legit. Lets think about this. The jock: congrats, you're one of top ten cow tippers in your area, here's a gold star. The emo: yes, life must suck living at your parents, not having to pay for rent, food, insurance or other bills. The prep: you're almost as cool as the jocks, only your mom pays for everything, thats cool, in a "I'm so spoiled that I will never work a day in my life except for when I turn 30 and realize that I have no skills and now have to work at walmart" kinda way

... A New Daily Thinger?

I'm going to try to post something I love and something I hate every day.

Here's the tester

I love: guys that make me feel short. There's nothing better than having to look up up UP at a guy, right Renatta? Well, except for stickers, stickers make me happy too.

I hate: people who look at my business card, look up at me and say "how do you pronounce your last name". Then, after I say it, they try to repeat what I said but they still butcher it. Then after two or three more failed attempts look at me and say "It should be (insert some other way of saying my last name) Yes, thank you for renaming me. Since you got to do it to me, I get to do it to you. You're a douche.

"Say Cheese if you need help"

If any of you have talked to me since Thursday afternoon you know that I currently don't have a voice. I've been sick before, but I've never lost my voice like this.

Anyways... today I was laying around my apartment when my sidekick started ringing. I didn't answer it, because I don't have minutes on my sidekick, I just use it for the internet and for texts. Whoever it was that called didn't leave a message and I completely forgot about it until about 1/2 hour later when it rang again. I answered it tthis time, because it was an Erie number and I was confused because it was someone that wasn't in my phone.

So the conversation went something like this (and keep in mind, I still don't have a voice):

Guy: "hello"
Me: "hi, who is this?"
Guy: "scott"
Me: "scott who?"
Guy: "scott's heating, you called me?"
Me: "um, no, I didn't call you"
Guy: "i can't hear you"
Me: "sorry, im sick and don't really have a voice"
Guy: "i can't hear you!!! are you ok?
Me: "yes, im just sick"
Guy: "do you need help?"
Me: "no, i'm just sick"
Guy: "who is this? are you ok? do you need help?"
Me: "i'm just sick, i didn't call you"
Guy: "is someone there with you? say cheese if you need help"
Me: "I'M JUST SICK"
Guy: "oh, I dialed 10 instead of 01, sorry"

So I'm guessing this guy got a call from someone, dialed the wrong number back and when he heard me talk he was thinking that I was being held captive or something? I don't know, but it sure makes for a good story. Or maybe not, maybe you had to be there...

Dirty Old Men... In Walmart

I wrote this yesterday, but it wouldn't post... so here goes

Today, on our way back from a presentation in Conneaut Lake (where it is rumored that Big Ben just bought a house) Lauren and I stopped at Walmart in Meadville to pick up a few things. I always thought that the walmart in Corry was "white trash central" but the one in Meadville proved me wrong today. Within two seconds of walking in the store we had a man stop, stomp his feet and look Lauren up and down. It was honestly one of the most awkward moments in my life. This guy had absolutely no shame as a toothless grin appeared on his face.

Then, not even a minute after that we were walking up by the electronics section when I glanced up and saw a guy looking at dvds who completely stopped what he was doing and stared at me. Without thinking I turned to Lauren and asked if I had something on my face or spilled on my sweater, because that would not be an uncommon thing. When she realized what was going on and that the guy was still staring we both scurried out of the guys view.

I really do think that one of us had toilet paper stuck to us or something. I mean, these guys were shameless. It's different when we're at the mall and a guy around our age gives us the occasional glance. But when two guys completely stop what they are doing, and make an effort to let us know that they are looking at us... thats just freaky. Lauren actually made the comment that "they are probably the kind of guys that get on myspace and find young girls" once we got in the car.

We tried to figure out why they were looking at us, and why a few other people afterwards did the same, but to a lesser extent. The only thing that we could come up with was that we were the only ones in the walmart who weren't in overalls, plaid, or had more than 4 teeth (dental policy anyone?)

Anywaysssss... Autumn is back from Arizona. I got to see her last night. That makes me happy.

Other things that make me happy:
* Only having one of my picks (so far) being wrong in Tony's "TLSPodcast Pool" I am determined to show them that a girl can kick some butt
* Finding the internet at places where I didn't think I'd be able to get it. Like Perkins
* Leaving random brochures on my dad's car when we drive by where he works
* Random text messages that I get throughout the day.
* Tim Hortons <3

Flip Flop Season

I cannot wait for my first full spring/summer in Erie. Yesterday was (as any stoner would say) awesome. Lauren, Eric, and I all worked together, and everywhere we went people were smiling ear to ear because of the weather. We caught one sign that said it was 73 degrees outside. And it was a muggy hot like it was today. Yesterday was pure sun. With the time change and the sun being out, the day flew by. Which is always good I guess when you are working.

After Eric dropped Lauren and I off at her car we decided to take a drive by the lake because it was so nice out. When we got there (all of 2 minutes later)we saw this:




...a bunch of people walking on the lake. Yes, walking on the lake. It was still frozen (over 18 inches of ice we were told) The top of the lake was slush though.

Of course Lauren and I could not resist and we join in the odd "walking on the lake" festivities. I think it was something that only happens one day of the year. Almost like its a weird Erie holiday.

But like I said before, I honestly cannot wait for this Spring/Summer. Especially since I literally live 5 minutes from the "beach" if you can call it that.

I guess I shouldn't get too excited over the whole "sun" thing. I think I heard that it's supposed to snow either tomorrow or friday. How messed up is that? 73 degrees one day, then snow two days after? (With a day of rain and frizzy hair in the middle)

This is random, but I really wish that people would get mine and Lauren's sense of humor, instead they think we're just weird. Which, I do admit, we often do weird things, but come on people. Yesterday we drove by Lauren's friend Dan's apartment so we stopped and put one of our Aflac brochures on his windshield. Since the brochure had my business card in it we jokingly highlighted my phone number on it before placing it on his windshield. We thought we were funny, especially after Lauren texted him and suggested that he go out to his car. Today I found out that after he found our brochure he called Lauren to find out if she was trying to hook me up with him. He thought that us leaving him the Aflac brochure with my business card on his car meant that I liked him. Um... ok, no. Boys are stupid. End.of.story.

Today was a fairly decent day at work. Besides driving all of the way to Edinboro for an enrollment only to find out that the HR person had called our office to reschedule (and Lauren and I were not made aware of this change)We managed to make 2 new business appointments and 1 direct appointment.

Ok, I think I'm going to get going. I'm sure that there is something else I should be doing right now...

Random

I'm beat. I was out at Buffalo Wild Wings until they closed last night (this morning). A good time, but not to smart. Especially since I got up at 7:30, well 7:46 after hitting the snooze button twice. I was originally supposed to meet Eric and Lauren @ 9 this morning to work. But first Eric called and said that he had a few things to do before we met, then Lauren called and said that Bryce had a bad night and she was going to let him sleep a little more and would meet us later. So our meeting time has been pushed back to 10. If I wasn't afraid of messing up my hair and getting mascara on my pillows I would have taken a power nap. But its probably better that I don't, because that could just make it that much harder to get back up and go to work. I think the game plan is to bust it out this week. It's already Tuesday, so we have to get at it.

I was very upset at Buffalo Wild Wings last night, we could only play a PG rated photo hunt. Who wants to play PG at 1am!?!

I found a new artist that I like Andy Davis. And did I mention that I just plain love virb? Because I do.

It's a glorious day in Erie. Yes, I said glorious. It's 9:30 and its already 50 degrees and could possibly get up to 62. Yesterday I wore flip flops. That made my day. It has been feeling like track season again. I know I've said that before about weather, and only a few of you understand that. Only a few people know what its like to walk outside and immediately think of SRU Track and Field. Even fewer know what its like to step onto pavement and think of doing south-africans in the imaginary circle. I absolutely love this time of the year for that simple reason. The memories of track. Because memories of track mean memories of psac championships, pr's, secret missions (ren, do you still have yours?), spring break, drinking every weekend to either celebrate or drown your dissapointment, and of course, memories of some of my best friends.

It's funny, how some people will ask me "did you like doing track in college". It always makes me laugh and I think "track in college isn't something you like" As cliche' as it might sound, its something that you live. It takes over your life and you find yourself taking comfort in simply knowing that another track kid is in your class on the first day of school. It plans out your weekends, 9 months in advance. I could go on, but I really should head out to meet Eric and Lauren.

Maybe I'll finish this later, but we all know when I say that, I never do...

STUPID City of Meadville

I'm quite ticked off right now... Almost every week we have a meeting in Meadville for work. We have to park on the side of the street an feed the meter $.50 every time for 2 hours of parking. No big deal. A few months ago our meeting went over 2 hours long and I came out to see that I had a parking ticket on my Jeep. $3. No big deal. So I swung over to one of the drop off boxes, put 3 dollar bills in the envelope and was on my way. The other day I received one of those postcards in the mail saying that the post office has a letter for me that I need to sign for. When I went to pick it up, the guy at the post office had me sign 2 or 3 different things. I was completely confused as to what was going on, but thought that it might have to do with something for work. When I got back to my Jeep I opened the letter and saw that I was being "Summoned" to appear in court! I'm guessing that they didn't get the lousy $3 that dropped off at the stupid drop off box. (which means the stupid drop off box is POINTLESS). I read the letter to see what my options were. Basically it comes down to me pleading guilty (which I'm not) and shelling out $97.50 of pleading not guilty and paying $50 to go to court and give my plea. What the heck!?! $50 to go to court to plea not guilty for a fine of $97.50. Does this make any sense to anyone? I'm not going to lie, this is the most ticked off I have been about something in a while. I don't know what good going to court would be, seeing that I paid my $3 ticket in cash instead of writing a check and having a copy of the check as proof. The only time I have ever gotten in trouble with the law is... well never. I mean, I used to get parking tickets at SRU and a few times have gotten the letters saying that they never received payment. Then I would go to the campus police station and see what happened and they would tell me that they didn't process the ticket until after they had sent out the letter. Which means that I had paid, they didn't change the status on the computers and then they would send a letter saying that I hadn't paid.

I think I'm going to start riding a bike everywhere so I don't have to put with all of this crap. Can you get parking tickets for a bike?

If anyone has ever fought a parking ticket or anything like this please let me know about your experience and what you think I should do, because I don't know if the hassle of going to court to plead not guilty is worth saving a whole $47.50, when I would lose that just by not working the day I'd have to take off to go.

Blah, maybe I should take out a collection to pay the punks off from the lovely city of Meadville...

haha!!!

Add another to the list

Most of you that know me, know that I am freaking awesome at getting things for free. And I am adding 1 more free iPod to the list, making it something like this:
* 9 free iPods
* 2 free psps
* 1 mac mini
* 1 Steelers Jersey
* $1000 sent to my paypal

I know, I'm awesome. I already told you that. But anyways, there's a new site out that makes it just as easy (if not easier) than all of the other ones that I have completed.



And I know that I've done this before in my other blogs, but here's a recap on how to get one. (Yes, Lauren, I'm doing this for you so you don't have to re-explain this to everyone that you're getting to sign up!)
* Go here and sign up
* Check your email to verify and activate your account
* Clear all of your cookies and then sign back in.
* Go and complete one of the offers. I reccommend True.com (free trial, can be cancelled the next day) or the Blockbuster program ($9.99 to get unlimited DVD rentals - 3 at a time)
* Use your referral link to get others to do the same... but make sure they are all signing up from different houses
* Submit your account for approval
* Receive free iPod

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I'm looking forward to Bill's show tonight to see what the aftermath is from Friday's crazy episode! I'm assuming that Des and Justine will have their walmart video up soon at mommypackmylunch.com

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This weekend I got to see Ali N. for the first time in a long time. I hate that it takes something like a death to make me call someone and get back in contact with them. I had an absolute blast with her at the Plymouth. You can't beat $1 margaritas and good gossip. haha. And I also got to meet her boyfriend, which is always a good thing!

Of course a weekend in Erie isn't complete without drinking upstairs with the neighbors and of course their ferrets.

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It's only 7:44pm, but it feels like midnight. Oh well, at least I got lots of sleep this weekend!

Twins!?!

Today is a relaxing Friday night. Ali is home from Rockville and was thinking about coming up to Erie tonight, but I think she decided against it because she's going to be up here tomorrow. I'm excited to see her. I don't even know the last time that I did see her. I'm thinking that it has been about a year. And that is insane to me. I really do need to keep in touch better with people. It shouldn't take something like a death of a friend for me to give someone a call and see how they are doing.

Since I am once again alone in my apartment I'm watching 20/20. Although its not Dateline's "To Catch a Predator", it is an interesting show tonight. I saw the preview for it earlier today and it caught my eye because it's about that myth/fact/saying that everyone has a twin. They are going to show pictures of people who are not related at all, but look identical. I'm not sure how these people meet their "twins" but I'm sure that I will find out. This makes me think because I am constantly being told that I remind people of someone else that they know, that I look just like their friend, sister, or crazy cousin. I am honestly told this, at least five times a week by people that I meet. Growing up I was always told that I look identical to my mother when she was my age. Now that I'm an "adult" I have people that meet me and the first thing they as is if I am a Patterson (my mom's maiden name) But now that I am always being compared to somebody else that someone knows, I have to ask myself if I believe that everyone does have a twin. If I do have one, I feel sorry for her, and I hope that people don't comment on her "big" eyes like they always do about mine. But, I do hope that if I have one that I get to meet her. I have always wanted a twin, especially when I used to watch "Sister/Sister" and Tia and Tamara would always switch and pretend to be each other.

Ok, I think this blog is finally letting me get back to myself. And now its almost time to go Online with Bill Alexander

Please do not forget to vote for Derek to get on the RV on Road Rules. The link is in the last entry. And in case you don't know, I went to high school with Derek, used to work with his mom, babysat his younger brother and sisters, and used to live next door to his grandparents. So no, he's not just someone I saw on the MTV page and thought would be good on the show.

Vote for Derek

Click on Derek's pic and then go vote for him, because everyone knows that MTV needs a former Corry Beaver on Road Rules!!!