Do you have to like someone to love them?

So I was at work today, having an interesting conversation with a coworker. We began discussing our plans for the upcoming Easter holiday when the conversation shifted to family and yet again, as it often does, became a conversation of how we define things. Last week we had a conversation of how you define personality. But today we were talking about how you define love and like. I made a comment about how you can love people but not like them, he did not understand. I told him how I believe it's possible to love a person such as a friend or family member but not like them. He didn't agree. He believes that liking someone is a prerequisite to loving them.

I've always believed that liking someone is not a prerequisite for loving them if that person is a family member. But he sees it differently. According to him, the "love" I have for my family is simply social obligation to them. I wonder how many people see this the way I do, and how many share my coworker's view.

My Personal Contributions to the Death of the English Language

I know that plenty members of my generation never think about it, but from time to time I find myself thinking about where we would be without technology. How would we keep in touch? tell people we're going to be late? How would we call for help when we're in trouble? Would we need to rely on strangers to help us when we're stranded on the highway? But more importantly, would we have ever found it necessary to use the terrible acronyms and abbreviations that have come from texting and Instant messenger?

I wish I could say that I wasn't one of those terrible youth corrupting our language, but unfortunately even I find myself using atrocious phrases like "lol" "lmao" and "ttyl"; I now seem to say def instead of definitely, fav instead of favorite, and tom instead of tomorrow. I hate to think that I'm actually contributing to the act of turning a language once so beautiful into something so awful, and taken for granted. It's strange to think that technology has advanced so many other facets of our lives yet managed to stunt and damage our language so much.

My thoughts on love

Sometimes love stories are short stories, but they're love stories all the same. Sometimes your love is a beautiful romance where you find your Jake Ryan or your Jim Halpert, but sometimes your love is a heart wrenching tale and you lose your love, your Rick Blaine, forever. We always think of our love story as a movie, but what if it's not? What if our love story is just a novella? What if our love is just a chapter in a long and yet unknown book? Would that make it any less beautiful?

I'm a realist, I know the guy doesn't always end up with the girl. I know that not every story ends with happily ever after. But how sad would life be if we didn't believe in love? It must be terribly lonely living in that mindset.

I don't know about you, but like a lot of women I think, and dream, of finding the guy that will inspire me, the guy that makes me fall head over heels and see everything through rose colored glasses.

I'm a stereotypical girl; I'm a hopeless romantic and I wear my heart on my sleeve. But I'm beginning to think that years of romantic comedies have left me a bit jaded and naive to the ways of the real world. From a young age we watch these movies and trick ourselves into believing that this is how life really is. But it's not, life isn't a movie. The popular girl doesn't fall for the geek; the best friend is just the best friend. And now I think I may sound a bit cynical, but don't take it the wrong way. I really don't have it all figured out, but it seems to me love calls for you to be both proactive and passive. Love is difficult. It isn't something you search out, it isn't something you can force. Love finds you, and when it does it can make you the happiest person in the world, or the most miserable.

So I guess I'm just waiting for love to find me. It could find me tomorrow, or some time far off in the future, but I await it like a long needed holiday. And when it finally comes around, I won't sit idle, I'll embrace it wholeheartedly.

The Every So Taboo Subject of Politics

This has nothing to do with spring break, but I just wanted to encourage all people of voting age to take the time to learn about the canidates and issues in your elections. I know this seems a little out of the blue, but just recently a dear friend and amazing politician dropped out of the gubernatorial race. And even more recently another dear friend and amazing politician stepped in. You may not live in Michigan, but that doesn't matter. Democracy is our choice and our right, and I wholeheartedly believe that the only way for our country to run properly is if everyone stays educated and stays involved.

Now if you're a college student like myself, I fell this is doubley as important. We are the future of this country. I know it seems like there are always more important things to do, but it's pretty easy if you just put in a little time here and there. Too many college students vote blindly or simply don't vote at all.

If you live and vote in Michigan:
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100224/POLITICS02/2240360/1022/LOCAL/Former-Genesee-Treasurer-Kildee-to-run-for-Michigan-governor

For ALL Americans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtZLvFrl6qk

Spring Break

So, I realize that we're super sporadic with our posts. But that just speaks to who we are busy, crazy, sporadic people. I feel like that actually discribs a lot of college students. Well today I just wanted to convey our excitment over spring break. Our spring Break starts tomorrow and Jenni and I could not be more geeked about it. This year Jenni, my twin brother, and I are going to Arizona to visit my dad. Michigan has had so much snow lately, I don't remember the last time we had this much snow. It was nice, until the week when I had to clear a small glacier off my car every morning and drive at like one third to one fourth of the speed limit. Which is why we are just about going crazy with anticipation. Arizona is so warm and beautiful we just can't wait. Not to mention Jenni has never actually met my dad, despite the fact that we've been best friends for three years.

November

What a month. Today is the last day of November and first day I've had to do any real work in almost a week. The next three weeks will be the craziest and most hectic I've probably ever experienced. This week I have two tests, two papers to write, and a presentation to give.

Thanksgiving

Jenni and I are at the library, Jenni is studying and I am studying, just not for the class we have a test in tomorrow. Anyways thursday is Thanksgiving so I wanted to talk a little about what I'm thankful for:
My mom and dad!!!
My brother and sister
Jenni
Taibriana
A multitude of other friends (you probably fall under this category)
miscellaneous other family members
my ability to receive an amazing education


Michigan State is an amazing school, and I would be missing some of my absolute favorite people and places if I hadn't come here.