Pucker Up

For those of you choosing to mourn in self-pity this Valentine’s Day, I’ll give you something to watch and hate your single life a bit more.

I honestly can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this video so I just needed to share.

            I had never seen it before and one of my friends showed it to me late one night, and I don’t think I’ve been the same since?

            Every girl deserves a moment like this in her life. Yeah, maybe this is a little too rehearsed, maybe even a little too perfect, but all girls deserve a guy to give her that little smile and kiss her like there is no tomorrow.  

            There are websites, books, blogs, tutorials, and instruction manuals on how to kiss, improve your kissing, and make sure you’re the best kisser around. Philematology, which is the science of kissing, is the study of the biological factors that are involved with kissing. (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/13/kissing.science/)

Kissing can reduce anxiety and produce peace in the body, and I believe that. There is nothing like melting into a good kiss and not wanting it to end. A lot of the stuff above seems a little too much though, but count on humans today to take something as simple as a smooch to the extreme.

The guys I live with just don’t understand why I’ve watched this video on repeat. I think it’s out of jealousness and longing? The want to have a guy beckon me and hold me like that while he kisses me.

Please, tell me what’s better than that heart-skip-a-beat feeling and butterflies in your stomach when you’re leaning in to kiss someone. It’s honestly something that can’t be matched.

            I can only hope that at least once in my life a guy will give me a knowing smile, signal for me to come closer and kiss me like Ryan does to Rachel.

Maybe I am a hopeless romantic after all?

            

Unplugging

I was told that when I went to college I’d probably learn more outside of the classroom than I would sitting in a lecture hall. That moment became clear after a conversation I had with a guy I live with last night. We stayed up chatting in the lounge until morning, watching the drinkers straggle in and talking life, love, and relationships.

My friend and I talked about how much we obsess over texts and “what it means” when someone doesn’t text back right away. We discussed completely irrational situations and made-up circumstances, nights spent worrying and unnecessary drama.

Our conversation kept me up most of the night and the conclusion I came to was that I have such a love/hate relationship with social media and technology.

            Unfortunately though, I’m part of the generation who has to bridge the gap between technology and tradition.

            What happened to being straightforward about your feelings and outright telling someone that you liked them? And why does it seem foreign to call someone on the phone just to chat?

            In our world today, there are a few different ways to interpret notifications. We can assume that if a person likes our facebook posts and favorites our tweets that they may like us or perhaps dislike us so it’s actually a form of mocking or sarcasm to like and favorite. Another option is that the person is just very friendly and has similar views.

            When I was in elementary school, pen pals were common. I’m sure if I asked my seven-year-old brother today about a pen pal he’d have no clue what I was talking about.

            I also struck out on the chance of ever receiving an old-fashioned letter in the mail (yes, post offices and snail mail do still exist) from a boy. Unless a traditional man with some incredible gentleman characteristics appears in my life, I don’t think that will be happening.

            I know personally I feel confused when someone’s read receipt indicates he or she has opened my text but have yet to reply. And as a member of this generation what do I do? Social media stalk them of course. Only to make myself upset that the person has tweeted or facebook shows this person is online.

            Why the hell do I let these things bother me? Why does my mind deem it necessary to be in contact with people 24/7?

            A few months ago I went through a rough patch with a guy. I thought things were great and we meant something to each other, but turns out I was wrong. I did something completely unheard of for my generation – disconnected.

            I thought that if I took some time to get away from college and memories of him maybe I could get a better sense of what to do and how I should get over this boy. It only took a weekend trip home to my traditional, old school town to realize that our elders lived in a simpler and easier to understand time period.

            Disconnecting was easy. I let my phone die and didn’t charge it all weekend. I also didn’t log onto my computer. (If you’re reading this and over the age of 40, yes, it can be done. Your children can put down the electronics for a few hours and be human). The woods made my getaway trip that much easier to help sort things out. When I got home I went to our family’s hunting camp that doesn’t have very good cell phone reception anyway. I somehow drove my SUV up a few trails to this huge mountain where I parked and sat on my roof for hours looking at the fall scenery. Wow. It doesn’t get much easier to clear your head than that.

            My time alone with no connection to the rest of the world allowed me to think and reflect on my life. I highly recommend allowing yourself the chance to be alone. It’s such a great feeling and you feel better afterwards because it gives you time to think without being distracted.

            Now, one of my biggest deal breakers when I first start seeing a guy is his cell phone usage. If he texts a buddy or two every now and then or something about work comes up I’m completely understanding. When the phone sits on the dinner table in a restaurant or if he actually has the guts to use it while we’re on a date, NEXT. I don’t want to sound self-centered, but you’re with me for a reason, the rest of your phone contacts don’t need to be invited on our date.

            I feel bad for future generations because technology is only going to get worse. Google Glass is going to make it so people can be so in tune with technology, those around them won’t even realize people are using it. People are going to become more socially awkward and not know how to communicate in person.

            I can only hope that some will still cling to the past and realize it’s okay to unplug every now and then. It won’t kill you and it’s healthy to do so.

This Year I Will...

It’s that time of year again!

            Faithful gym rats please vacate for the next month and a half while wannabes invade and then slowly clear out once they give up on their goal of losing weight.

            So I can aim for my usual new year’s resolutions of eating healthier, exercising more, swearing less, being a nicer person, and so on and so forth. But let’s be realistic. The chances of me sticking it out and following through with all of these are slim to none.

            This year though I’ve decided to have an overall resolution to try to be a more well-rounded and better person. I figured there are a few ways to do this, allow me to share.

            My biggest resolution is to put down my phone. My iPhone might as well be glued to my hand. If I get bored during a conversation I rudely find myself checking social media or deciding if there is a text I should reply to. I vow to start leaving my phone in my car or purse when I’m with friends. I also am going to try to become less dependent on social media. I have a tendency of checking so often there is nothing when I hit refresh and I want to rid myself of the habit.

            I also want to become more involved. I’m not sure with what yet, but whatever it is I want it to be a good cause and I’ll be doing it from the heart. Too many of my volunteer actions prior to college were honestly just for my résumé, but any college kid who says otherwise is just lying. I’m promising myself that even if I don’t outright start volunteering somewhere in the new year, I want to start putting a lot more time, thought, and effort into my dream of owning a therapeutic horse ranch. The earlier I start planning my dreams, the easier they will fall into place. This ranch is going to be my way to give back to veterans who have given to me and I know it’s going to take many years to come true, but might as well start now.

            I’m going to become a better spender and not such an impulse buyer. I tend to be the sort of person who buys something as soon as I see it. Before I do this, I’m going to start thinking it over and making the decision of whether or not it’s necessary and worth the purchase.

            Something so simple, yet so overlooked, I plan to start enjoying life more. Today’s lifestyle is so hectic and I’m the type of person to over extend and max myself out. I’m going to start taking time to do things for me and that I enjoy. I’m not sure what those things are yet, but in due time I’ll figure them out. I’m also going to appreciate life more, especially the little everyday things I take for granted.

            I vow this year to listen to my heart. Too many times in my life I’ve tried to please other people and do what I know would make them happy, putting my happiness on the back burner. This is my year. I will not sacrifice my life and my happiness and have it ruined at the expense of others. Call me selfish, but I’ve been selfless for far too many years. It’s time to follow my dreams and accomplish my goals without allowing others to stand in my way.

            Enjoy the moment. Too often I spend so much time worrying about the future I forget to live in the present. In 2014 I plan to live each day to the fullest while not always worrying about the next. Life is too short to worry and too many moments are passed by thinking about the future.

I will give more compliments, but only genuine ones. There is nothing better than a compliment you know is from the heart. It warms you and makes you feel good about yourself. I want others to feel that way too so I’m going to try to give at least one random, from the heart compliment a day.

            My list is simple. There isn’t anything here that is out of reach or crazy, yet there are also no over night transformations. This time next year I’ll obviously be a different person. I just hope that those differences have come due to the changes I want to make.

            On a more comical note, resolutions I hope to work on in my spare time:

·      Flipping an omelet

·      Stop setting six alarms and just wake up and get out of bed when the first one goes off

·      Either actually laughing when I type “LOL” or just eliminating it from my texts altogether

·      Remember to write 2014 rather than 2013

·      Try to become less sarcastic….maybe

A Month of Thanks

Thankful.

            Wow, where to even begin?

            I think because many of my facebook friends expressed what they’re thankful for each day since November 1^st I’m going to catch up with them now.

            Here goes:

29. Smartphones

Kudos to those people who survived and still survive without them because I don’t know how you do it. In addition to being my primary form of communication, mine is my alarm clock, GPS, camera, MP3, and basically my computer.

28. GPS

I thought it was only appropriate to list this next since I referred to it above. Everyone who knows me though can be thankful for my GPS, Jasmine. I may yell and swear at her the majority of our time spent together, but without her I would never successfully get anywhere because I don’t know how to read a map.

27. Sweet Tea

I’m not a coffee person so my caffeine kick is in my sweet tea addiction. It gets me through the days and helps keep me going strong.

26. Color

Without it the world would be so boring in just black and white.

25. Ex-boyfriends

Yes you did read that correctly, ex-boyfriends. They’ve taught me a lot about myself as well as relationships and what I’m looking for in one. Without them there are a lot of life lessons I would’ve missed out on so I’m thankful for the time spent with each.

24. Sight

Mine may be terrible (insert comments about my bullet-proof thick glasses here), but I couldn’t imagine not being able to see.

23. My Job

Being a sports writer is truly a dream job. I get paid to watch sports and write about them, my two favorite things. I’ve met so many incredible people while working and have made a lot of friends along the way too.

22. Sheetz

Shout out to my fellow Pennsylvanians! You don’t realize how often you go there until you live in a state where no one has ever even heard of it and the closest Sheetz is 130 miles away. (So pretty much if anyone ever wants to send me mac and cheese bites feel free to).

21. Internet

In particular I’m thankful for Google and Wikipedia. Without the internet I probably wouldn’t be where I am today because I Google literally everything.

20. Education

I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to attend a wonderful institution such as Syracuse University. I’m also thankful that I’ve met a ton of great people and learned lessons both in and out of the classroom.

19. Inspiration/Motivation

Those who know me can verify that the only time I ever cry is during inspiring speeches and movies. Inspiration and motivation go hand-in-hand and I’m so thankful for both because without them I’d be lazy, fat, not in college, and watching Netflix in my parent’s basement for the rest of my life.

18. Random Acts of Kindness

I try to do at least one random act of kindness each day and when someone does something or says a random compliment to me it just makes my day. A simple act can go a long way, don’t forget that.

17. Enemies

Another strange thing to be thankful for, but my enemies and the people I know don’t like me have only pushed me to make myself a better person. You make me stronger and strive to be my absolute best. Just remember though, jealousy isn’t befitting on anyone ;)

16. Football

It is life. That is all.

15. Memories

I know you’re not supposed to live in the past, but I look back on life often and count my blessings in the people I’ve met, places I’ve gone, and things I’ve done.

14. Mistakes

Making mistakes is the only way to learn in life. It’s the hard way, but the only way you can learn a lesson and for that I’m thankful for every mistake I’ve ever made because it’s shaped me into who I am today.

13. The Comfort of Home

College makes you appreciate just how big your bed is, the endless amounts of food, always available and showering without flip-flops. Need I say more?

12. Nature

Going to college in a city has made me appreciate and be thankful for the outdoors and nature. It is so peaceful spending time in the woods, away from everyone and without cellphone service. It’s an escape from today’s go, go, go, crazy world.

11. Food

I think this one is self-explanatory, but it felt wrong not to include food since today is Thanksgiving.

10. Health

I’m blessed that I have no health conditions that prevent me from doing anything. I’m a healthy, strong 19-year-old girl and for that I’m eternally grateful.

9. Country Music

Driving down back roads with the windows down and music up – there is just no better feeling. Country music can be happy, sad, joyful, angry, and just about every other emotion possible. My radio dial doesn’t stray from the country station and although I’m a terrible singer I usually belt out the words to every song I hear.

8. My Hometown

Nothing like leaving home to make you appreciate what you have. The people I’ve known my entire life are incredible. If you ever need anything in our little town you can call whoever and they would be willing to help. You can’t find many people like that outside of Brockway.

7. America

This country is one of freedom and opportunity. I couldn’t imagine being raised anywhere else.

6. Being Me

I’m thankful for my individuality. I’m the only Francesca Celeste Varischetti in this world and I’m not afraid to stray off the path. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail,” has been hanging next to my bed since I was seven years old. I live life my own way and embrace my uniqueness.

5. Horses

God’s gift to mankind. Horses have taught me not only discipline and hard-work through showing and taking care of them, but they’ve also been an emotional outlet growing up. It didn’t matter what time of day it was, my horse was always there for me to throw my arms around and cry into her mane. I’m also thankful for my barn and show family. Spending tons of time with people helps establish the strangest friendships but I love my show family and don’t know what I’d do without them.

4. Military 

Without those who’ve served in the United States military I wouldn’t have the life I do today. I thank you for your service and I’m thankful you’ve done all that you have.

3. Friends

The people who see you at your best, your worst, know all your secrets, are always there as a pillar of support, and would do anything for you. I’m grateful for my real friends who I know I can call at anytime and they’re always there. 

2. Family

My big, loud, crazy, obnoxious family that I have absolutely no clue what I’d do without. I love each and every one of you no matter how often we fight or the distance that separates us. You’ve been there for me my entire life (whether you wanted to or not) and all of you are awesome in your own way. I talk about you a lot at college because all my friends know who you are. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys. Love you!

1. Today

I’m thankful I woke up this morning. I’m thankful I was given a new day, another shot at life. I’m simply thankful for being alive. It doesn’t get much better than that.