complete dissatisfaction with this blog.

I’m sick of making excuses for why I’m not producing the kind of work that I want to be. and im trying not to say “should be” because the word “should” states disappointment as a given; I’m not so much disappointed at the work as I am in the fact that I’m not even putting in the effort to realize any type of potential anymore.

i always said I would once summer came: the school year was way too busy with press releases and essays to even try and truly CREATE anything; yet since the seasons have turned (almost twice now), I’ve turned over no new leaves of promise or productivity in this endless endeavor toward some supposedly greater mission of helping a readership reach their own enlightenment one day. graduating from a department where the writing talent consistently becomes dispersed into law schools, public relations and content creation and in a world where editors are too expensive and headlines are the only words read, what’s the point?! did every student become disillusioned of the solitary writer’s life — captured so well in fiction and (falsely) glorified on film — that they’re volunteering to sacrifice their childhood pipe dream for a steady paycheck? a half-hour commute? an italicized recommendation on LinkedIn?

maybe, maybe not. maybe it’s just me. I’m only 21; to think it was possible to suddenly reach the peak of my potential at such a young age is not only absolutely ridiculous, but a telling sign of my immaturity. and plus, if it really did happen, there’d be nothing left for the rest of this awesomely blurry decade. and THAT would be disappointing.

College Candy: 5 Old School Gadgets of Our Parents’ Day

With tons of social media start-ups to stumble upon and check into, and brand new Apple products popping up left and right, it’s tough to keep up with the technology trends.

What’s even more difficult?

Trying to teach your parents how to use all these new means of communication. It gets exhausting reminding your Dad of all the different acronyms for laughing by text, and it can be embarrassing when your party pictures show up on your Mom’s news feed on Facebook. Really though, it’s not their fault. They’ve had to adjust to a lot of technology throughout their lifetime, “devolved” devices that are kinda – laughable – by today’s gadget standards.

Take a look:

Landline telephones. When was the last time you parked yourself by a landline to await an important call? Have your fingers twirled a phone cord lately while nervously flirting with the cute guy from class? Those faint memories from our childhood were all our parents used to know. And whether your parents work in the medical field or not, they probably had pagers. Sure, they had really annoying beeps and number codes, but they sure came in some flashy colors!

Typewriters. If you find yourself having trouble focusing on the million-page paper you have to write, log out of Facebook by turning off that laptop and pulling out your (grand)parents’ typewriter: no multiple tabs on Google Chrome to flip through, no IMs to respond to, no notifications to check! But this breakthrough piece of technology does have its drawbacks: there is no backspace button, so make sure to find an old eraser too. And there’s only one font option! No tricking your professor with 12.5 font now. 

Walkman. Apple may be the leading retailer for music players today, but it was all about Sony back in the day. The Sony Walkman not only played cassettes, but also had the option to switch to the radio. On the same device. Both AM and FM! Sure, it could only let the wearer carry around fifteen songs at a time – divided between two sides, of course – and it was a little bit bigger than the first generation iPod, but hey, it was a step up from the record player and it had a belt clip. So yeah, it was awesome.

Snail mail. The summer internship season is quickly approaching, and the application process always leads back to highly anticipated emails. Imagine looking for an opportunity without the convenience of the Internet: sending out letters, awaiting the mailman…and paying for stamps. This applies to everything – finding a job, paying the bills, and keeping in touch with loved ones across the country. Like everywhere else, presentation is key, so stationery selections were crucial!

News media. Feeling lost without an instant news feed? Your parents never had the option to refresh their morning newspapers. They also had to be watching a television during primetime to catch the latest news or a find radio with reception in order to get “in the know.” With only a few channels to choose from, entertainment media was scarce compared to the way it’s distributed now. But that way, everyone knew the same news, watched the shows, listened to the same music and danced the same dances (like the mashed potato, not the Dougie). Remember, this is when MTV actually played music videos. Not just clips, but entire music videos.

Looking back, it’s clear generations before ours had it rough. Therefore, it’s our moral obligation to put aside any frustrations and help our parents or their parents or anyone’s parents become acquainted with these “newfound” tools. And if/when you get frustrated (“Mom, just CLICK THE ATTACHMENT IN THE EMAILLLLL”), Google will be there to save the day.

What other electronics should blast back to the past, and which ones are your favorite replacements for the archaic? And what do you think about our other list: 5 college norms your parents will never understand?

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Another fun post for College Candy! My mom and I have always talked about these transitions, so it was great to put those conversations into this national blog. Thanks, Mom!

If you’re bored in class or looking for a new way to procrastinate, leave a comment on the post! It makes me look awesome when my content generates a buzz. :)

And I apologize for not blogging recently, these weeks have been flooded with work (yay!). I’ll be tumbling again soon - from the beach when the weather gets better.

bad combinations.

high heels and potholes.
wasabi and green tea ice cream.
melissa and joey. (seriously, abcfamily?)
beer and hard liquor.
texting and driving.
addiction and access.
mercy and manipulation.
insomnia and nostalgia.
insomnia and vivid memories.
insomnia and regret.
insomnia and curiosity.
insomnia and social media.

can’t sleep? there’s an app for that.
there’s an app to help you hide during a walk down memory lane or boost your inner brag up your own yellow brick road. theres an app to make you feel bigger or smaller or too big or too small or whatever size you are or are not. theres an app simultaneously disguised as a journal, photo album, guestbook, gossip column and, most recently, travel itinerary. and rather than with sheep to count, it’ll fill your head with so many thoughts about other people’s books and faces and walls and status updates that you’ll wish you were asleep, and that you’ll find another way to fall asleep quickly tomorrow night, and the next night, and the night after that. you’ll never take sleep for granted ever again.

until then, im going on facebook. again.