this is what my friends and I do when we have too much time on our hands
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Being "That" Age
Being 20 leaves a lot of room for maturity and personal growth. I am by no means perfect, but do feel as if I have a decent ability to look at younger kids, and relate back to a time when I was their age. For most of us the pre-pubescent years some of the most awkward in our life. Hormones begin racing through our bodies and hair begins growing in places we never thought possible. It is sometimes hard to remember back ten years when you live in a city such as New York.
Coming home for the summer and coaching 200 swimmers with ages ranging from 5-18 years, you learn, or rather remember a lot. For the most part ,12 and unders are great, and so are 15 and ups. Not to single anyone out (which I am about to do...), but the 13/14 age group is totally at "that" age. They go from the opposite sex to wanting to be all up in them. They think they are too cool to listen to instruction, yet know they are doing the wrong thing. The bigger kids make fun of everyone, because they can. No one is going to stand up to a six-foot, 160-pound man. Hell, I get intimidated by these 13 years olds. The bigger kids use their size to beat up on kids. By beat up, that rarely means physical action, simply intimidation.
If you bloom on the later side, or are just not a big kid, words become your best line of defense. Middle School is nothing short of a warzone of testosterone and estrogen. The smaller kids use their knowledge of a developing vocabulary to fight back against the giant, already-shaving, young boys. Clashing between the big and the small occurs on a daily basis and often translates over to adults (and in my case, swim coaches).
When kids reach whatever age it is that they reach, they begin to develop their personal style preferences, and sexuality. This does nothing but further the divide between rich/poor, smart/dumb, matured/maturing, gay/straight, nice/mean. If you are different in any way, there will be someone who noticies it, and will call you out on it. Middle school is a time where conformity stressed that is contradicted by the development of personal style and choice. It is a couple year period of bullying, misery, and struggle. Long story short I hate middle school.
Looking back, I had it pretty easy. I never had it too bad, being between the popular kids and the nerds. There is no avoiding "that" age, but it is something that will eventually unite us all as we develop and mature as a society. Eventually kids will realize there is more to life than who can start shaving first or who has the lowest voice. Long story short I hated middle school and seeing kids reminds me of how far my piers and I have come. There are still clicks, there is still drama, but we have become vastly more accepting of everyone.
Coming home for the summer and coaching 200 swimmers with ages ranging from 5-18 years, you learn, or rather remember a lot. For the most part ,12 and unders are great, and so are 15 and ups. Not to single anyone out (which I am about to do...), but the 13/14 age group is totally at "that" age. They go from the opposite sex to wanting to be all up in them. They think they are too cool to listen to instruction, yet know they are doing the wrong thing. The bigger kids make fun of everyone, because they can. No one is going to stand up to a six-foot, 160-pound man. Hell, I get intimidated by these 13 years olds. The bigger kids use their size to beat up on kids. By beat up, that rarely means physical action, simply intimidation.
If you bloom on the later side, or are just not a big kid, words become your best line of defense. Middle School is nothing short of a warzone of testosterone and estrogen. The smaller kids use their knowledge of a developing vocabulary to fight back against the giant, already-shaving, young boys. Clashing between the big and the small occurs on a daily basis and often translates over to adults (and in my case, swim coaches).
When kids reach whatever age it is that they reach, they begin to develop their personal style preferences, and sexuality. This does nothing but further the divide between rich/poor, smart/dumb, matured/maturing, gay/straight, nice/mean. If you are different in any way, there will be someone who noticies it, and will call you out on it. Middle school is a time where conformity stressed that is contradicted by the development of personal style and choice. It is a couple year period of bullying, misery, and struggle. Long story short I hate middle school.
Looking back, I had it pretty easy. I never had it too bad, being between the popular kids and the nerds. There is no avoiding "that" age, but it is something that will eventually unite us all as we develop and mature as a society. Eventually kids will realize there is more to life than who can start shaving first or who has the lowest voice. Long story short I hated middle school and seeing kids reminds me of how far my piers and I have come. There are still clicks, there is still drama, but we have become vastly more accepting of everyone.
Monday, June 13, 2011
The "k" Response
Let's cut right to the chase. When you are having a texting conversation it is always annoying when the person takes hours to text you back even though you know the message has been read (why BBM is handy). Texting is difficult to fully comprehend because the person you are having the conversation with might text differently than how they speak. For example some people add lots of smilies or exclamation marks while their conversational mannerisms might not match up. The same can be said for the length and complexity of each message. Enough talking, here are text responses that I cannot stand.
"K" This is by far the worst. Sending "K" to someone is the sassiest thing you can do. You are more or less giving them the middle finger of texting.
"Sure" This is almost as bad as "K" but lacks the sass just a little bit.
"Fine" This brings the sass full scale, but it can be taken in different ways thanks to the text/speak separation.
"Bro, ill, dope, word" are cool if you are in Sigma Chi and live in a JCrew catalog, but it's whatever. These don't really tick me off more so just step back and be like... uhh? (I often will use these in text, ya I'm a hypocrite)
One of the toughest things about texting is realizing the person you are having the conversation with has time to think about their response and how to put it. Rather than instantaneous responses in conversation, texting is a new form of communication that really is only a couple years old.
"K" This is by far the worst. Sending "K" to someone is the sassiest thing you can do. You are more or less giving them the middle finger of texting.
"Sure" This is almost as bad as "K" but lacks the sass just a little bit.
"Fine" This brings the sass full scale, but it can be taken in different ways thanks to the text/speak separation.
"Bro, ill, dope, word" are cool if you are in Sigma Chi and live in a JCrew catalog, but it's whatever. These don't really tick me off more so just step back and be like... uhh? (I often will use these in text, ya I'm a hypocrite)
One of the toughest things about texting is realizing the person you are having the conversation with has time to think about their response and how to put it. Rather than instantaneous responses in conversation, texting is a new form of communication that really is only a couple years old.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Oh You Tweet?
I recently celebrated by 3 year Twitter birthday. Most of you reading this are probably getting the link via Twitter so you understand how awesome it is. Twitter has around 100 million users and seems to be the hottest thing since Uggs or Atkins. When I first signed up for an account many people made fun or talked down about Twitter. Some of them are now following me... Anyway what I am trying to say is that social media is ever changing and it is just funny how people can go from being so anti-Twitter to being obsessed and Twit-Picking photos of their house parties, dogs or beer-bongs in a matter of days.
When Twitter was young...
Twitter was awesome, not that it isn't now, because only a select group of people had and realized how awesome it was. People could really say whatever they wanted because only a few people had it. I remember the first Twitter conversation about someone talking trash on someone else via social media. As more and more people began to tweet, the fewer and fewer possibilities remained to express every thought you want.
Follow(ers)...
Some people are obsessed with the Twitter ratio, it's all a race to see how many followers you can have. Well ya it is nice to have a lot of followers, but I would rather have fewer followers that really like what I have to say than 1,000 people who follow me just because. That being said when I decide to follow someone it is based off of what they have to say. If you tweet things like "mother nature has tapped into my soul today," or "@.... is so busy." The same thing applies to Facebook statuses, don't make your updates appear as if people are going to read your name then apply it to the sentence. Like we know who you are don't waste my time. Twitter is awesome because you pick and chose who you want to follow. If every tweet is some emo dissertation about your dog or the weather, I am going to unfollow you. Please don't take offense, you're an awesome person, maybe just not an awesome Tweeter.
Parents on Twitter...
Those annoying tweets can be relayed over to tweets about children. I am all for parents being on Twitter, but do get a little freaked out if they come up to me start talkin about what I have been doing thanks in part to my tweets. I just get a little bugged out when a friends uncle asks how many shrimp I caught at dinner last night. I'm flattered they follow me but don't blatantly bring it up. Another struggle is worrying about what you tweet because adults follow you on Twitter. There are a few solutions to that, one being that you make your account private. Personally I like being open to everyone. Early on I tweeted a few risque things, but opening up my account makes me focus on appropriate tweets. Keeping your twitter private also limits your ability to broadcast a message. When Osama Bin Laden was killed 36% of people found out via Twitter. That number awed me. Important social events like that happen sporadically and by keeping your account open, you can broadcast your thoughts and information out publicly.
The best thing about social media is that it is ever changing. Twitter has revolutionized the way information is shared. As it continues to grow, I can't wait to see what comes next!
When Twitter was young...
Twitter was awesome, not that it isn't now, because only a select group of people had and realized how awesome it was. People could really say whatever they wanted because only a few people had it. I remember the first Twitter conversation about someone talking trash on someone else via social media. As more and more people began to tweet, the fewer and fewer possibilities remained to express every thought you want.
Follow(ers)...
Some people are obsessed with the Twitter ratio, it's all a race to see how many followers you can have. Well ya it is nice to have a lot of followers, but I would rather have fewer followers that really like what I have to say than 1,000 people who follow me just because. That being said when I decide to follow someone it is based off of what they have to say. If you tweet things like "mother nature has tapped into my soul today," or "@.... is so busy." The same thing applies to Facebook statuses, don't make your updates appear as if people are going to read your name then apply it to the sentence. Like we know who you are don't waste my time. Twitter is awesome because you pick and chose who you want to follow. If every tweet is some emo dissertation about your dog or the weather, I am going to unfollow you. Please don't take offense, you're an awesome person, maybe just not an awesome Tweeter.
Parents on Twitter...
Those annoying tweets can be relayed over to tweets about children. I am all for parents being on Twitter, but do get a little freaked out if they come up to me start talkin about what I have been doing thanks in part to my tweets. I just get a little bugged out when a friends uncle asks how many shrimp I caught at dinner last night. I'm flattered they follow me but don't blatantly bring it up. Another struggle is worrying about what you tweet because adults follow you on Twitter. There are a few solutions to that, one being that you make your account private. Personally I like being open to everyone. Early on I tweeted a few risque things, but opening up my account makes me focus on appropriate tweets. Keeping your twitter private also limits your ability to broadcast a message. When Osama Bin Laden was killed 36% of people found out via Twitter. That number awed me. Important social events like that happen sporadically and by keeping your account open, you can broadcast your thoughts and information out publicly.
The best thing about social media is that it is ever changing. Twitter has revolutionized the way information is shared. As it continues to grow, I can't wait to see what comes next!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Voicemail
(Let me preface this by saying that the occasional drunk voicemail from an ex or current significant other is generally appreciated)
On an average day I receive about 10-15 phone calls. I don't own a home phone, so calling my cell is the best way to reach me (duh). Text messaging has been around, or rather been popular, for about ten years now. The days of short mail are long gone, thank goodness. Ever since the growth of text messaging, the need for voicemail has gone down. Voicemail is redundant for a variety of reasons:
1) It takes up time to find the message, listen to it, call the person back, and finally bring the conversation up to the speed where the message left off.
2) PEOPLE ALWAYS RAMBLE IN MESSAGES (that pisses me off)
3) We all have our phones attached to our hips (not actually, that is so dated). If your phone rings, chances are you will pick it up. If the person you call can't talk at the time of the call, what is the point of leaving a voicemail? Voicemails are like phone calls with yourself (wow I worded that terribly, but you get it...)
4) Just text me, it makes it look like I have friends (even if the text is from my mom)
5) Voicemails usually consist of the first half of a conversation you have when you finally call the person back, so why not just call them later or shoot the person a text to call you?
6) Listening to voicemail is awkward. Its like you are on the phone, but you're not really on the phone. I used to listen to voicemails and nod my head, maybe even act like i was having a conversation. (to make my insecure 12-year old self look cool)
The more technology advances the less important voicemails will become. When you are sitting in a meeting, in class, or out at a bar, text messaging is vastly easier to do. I have been an in-class-texter for about ten years now but can honestly say I have never made a call or listened to my voicemail in class. Texting is such an easier thing to do, it's quicker and quieter as well. To sum everything up, if you need me, call me, but please text me instead of leaving a voicemail.
On an average day I receive about 10-15 phone calls. I don't own a home phone, so calling my cell is the best way to reach me (duh). Text messaging has been around, or rather been popular, for about ten years now. The days of short mail are long gone, thank goodness. Ever since the growth of text messaging, the need for voicemail has gone down. Voicemail is redundant for a variety of reasons:
1) It takes up time to find the message, listen to it, call the person back, and finally bring the conversation up to the speed where the message left off.
2) PEOPLE ALWAYS RAMBLE IN MESSAGES (that pisses me off)
3) We all have our phones attached to our hips (not actually, that is so dated). If your phone rings, chances are you will pick it up. If the person you call can't talk at the time of the call, what is the point of leaving a voicemail? Voicemails are like phone calls with yourself (wow I worded that terribly, but you get it...)
4) Just text me, it makes it look like I have friends (even if the text is from my mom)
5) Voicemails usually consist of the first half of a conversation you have when you finally call the person back, so why not just call them later or shoot the person a text to call you?
6) Listening to voicemail is awkward. Its like you are on the phone, but you're not really on the phone. I used to listen to voicemails and nod my head, maybe even act like i was having a conversation. (to make my insecure 12-year old self look cool)
The more technology advances the less important voicemails will become. When you are sitting in a meeting, in class, or out at a bar, text messaging is vastly easier to do. I have been an in-class-texter for about ten years now but can honestly say I have never made a call or listened to my voicemail in class. Texting is such an easier thing to do, it's quicker and quieter as well. To sum everything up, if you need me, call me, but please text me instead of leaving a voicemail.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Why I Don't Use Facebook Over The Summer
Facebook is a great social networking tool which has revolutionized the world. It is a great way to stay in touch with all of your friends, stalk them, and promote yourself. During the school year I find myself spending hours lost in the world of "stalking." If you are thinking to yourself that I am some sort of freak, check your tabs, I bet Facebook is open... The website provides an escape from the daily grind and is a great oasis or distraction from the stress of school. That being said I am probably on it too much during the school year. Like millions of college students I cram an entire semester's worth of work into about a week, during which time Facebook goes on lockdown. Services like Self-Control do a great job of limiting this distraction and keeping me on task. Some friends have gone so far as to delete their account or exchange passwords with other friends. Long story short, Facebook runs the 15-22 year old computer. We are obsessed with it.
During the school year I am on Facebook a lot, (my usage has gone down as I have grown older) but during the summer, my usage almost disappears. I don't know what it is about the summer months but I really stop caring about what pictures are added, or who just started dating each other. Facebook is such a great distraction and tool during the school year, yet during the summer I can't stand FB chat, push notifications, and all that other junk.
Why don't you delete it?
I thought about it, but let's be real FB helps you stay in touch with each other. Without it I would have little to no contact with friends in other cities. Before FB people used each other to find out information and gossip about potential dates or acquaintances, now just find them on FB. As annoying as it is over the summer, I use for some sort of mental stimulation. Over the summer FB just loses its importance because I'm doing other things. At the end of the day I would rather have a beer than sit down than see who updated their music interests. It would make sense to delete it over the summer, but I want to stay in touch with a select few, and on top of that, I will need it come procrastination time come fall.
During the school year I am on Facebook a lot, (my usage has gone down as I have grown older) but during the summer, my usage almost disappears. I don't know what it is about the summer months but I really stop caring about what pictures are added, or who just started dating each other. Facebook is such a great distraction and tool during the school year, yet during the summer I can't stand FB chat, push notifications, and all that other junk.
Why don't you delete it?
I thought about it, but let's be real FB helps you stay in touch with each other. Without it I would have little to no contact with friends in other cities. Before FB people used each other to find out information and gossip about potential dates or acquaintances, now just find them on FB. As annoying as it is over the summer, I use for some sort of mental stimulation. Over the summer FB just loses its importance because I'm doing other things. At the end of the day I would rather have a beer than sit down than see who updated their music interests. It would make sense to delete it over the summer, but I want to stay in touch with a select few, and on top of that, I will need it come procrastination time come fall.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Swimming In Kansas City During The Summer
Summer is a special time of year where thousands of rich kids get to do nothing and hang at their country club. Kansas City has a league of 10 country clubs that for the Country Club Swim Association of Kansas City. About 1,500 swimmers participate in daily practices for the first half of the summer. It is honestly one of the greatest things residents of Kansas City can partake in (if they can afford it of course). Growing up in the league and swimming for the smallest club, I really meshed with the team and bonded with fellow swimmers. I liked swimming for CCSAKC so much that I joined a year round swim team, and eventually made my way to NYU's Men's Swim Team. Now that my adderall has completely worn off I should warn you I might go off on tangents.
Daily practices are run by ex-swimmers who were lucky enough to snag coaching spots. In Kansas City, being a CCSAKC swim coach is a highly sought after job. The hours are long, and the kids can get rowdy, but there really is nothing better than being an older brother or sister to nearly 150 swimmers. A special bond develops between people when they are forced to spend that much time together. I would never hang out with 35 eight-year-olds, but getting paid to coach them has changed my mind. When I look at them I can see the fun swimming used to bring me. They remind me of why I love swimming and more importantly why coming home for the summer can be fun.
Moving up through the system, the older kids eventually reach "that" age where they start to get hair under their arms, cell phones, and peach fuzz. They think they are too cool and really hate being at the pool, yet they spend the whole day their with their friend judging everyone and complaining. Everyone has been through that phase, it actually sucks. Then comes the age where puberty is in full swing. On rare occasions swim-cest might occur, which makes a coaches job extra entertaining.
Once swimmers reach high school they really look at coaches more so as friends than anything else. They will share stories about their crazy house parties or possibly their first experience past making out (if the coach and swimmer are REALLY good friends). Having spent every summer since the age of 4, the league of 2,000 kids becomes really small. Like any smaller city, everyone knows everyone. Older swimmers with older siblings usually know what the coaches are like outside of the pool.
Everything comes to a head with championships. Three long days are filled with cheers, tears, and Leawood South taking home another title. Every year could be "the" year they lose, but it never seems to come. 12 hour days that never seem to end seem like a distant background after the seniors get out of the pool from their last swim. Long story short, as much as I bitch about missing New York during the summer, Kansas City Country Club Swimming is something words really can't describe. It is something that has kept me in love with the sport, and with the city itself.
Sorry if this is emotional, I am running on Diet Coke and Vitamin D. Being up at Hallbrook for 13 hours today nearly killed me.
Daily practices are run by ex-swimmers who were lucky enough to snag coaching spots. In Kansas City, being a CCSAKC swim coach is a highly sought after job. The hours are long, and the kids can get rowdy, but there really is nothing better than being an older brother or sister to nearly 150 swimmers. A special bond develops between people when they are forced to spend that much time together. I would never hang out with 35 eight-year-olds, but getting paid to coach them has changed my mind. When I look at them I can see the fun swimming used to bring me. They remind me of why I love swimming and more importantly why coming home for the summer can be fun.
Moving up through the system, the older kids eventually reach "that" age where they start to get hair under their arms, cell phones, and peach fuzz. They think they are too cool and really hate being at the pool, yet they spend the whole day their with their friend judging everyone and complaining. Everyone has been through that phase, it actually sucks. Then comes the age where puberty is in full swing. On rare occasions swim-cest might occur, which makes a coaches job extra entertaining.
Once swimmers reach high school they really look at coaches more so as friends than anything else. They will share stories about their crazy house parties or possibly their first experience past making out (if the coach and swimmer are REALLY good friends). Having spent every summer since the age of 4, the league of 2,000 kids becomes really small. Like any smaller city, everyone knows everyone. Older swimmers with older siblings usually know what the coaches are like outside of the pool.
Everything comes to a head with championships. Three long days are filled with cheers, tears, and Leawood South taking home another title. Every year could be "the" year they lose, but it never seems to come. 12 hour days that never seem to end seem like a distant background after the seniors get out of the pool from their last swim. Long story short, as much as I bitch about missing New York during the summer, Kansas City Country Club Swimming is something words really can't describe. It is something that has kept me in love with the sport, and with the city itself.
Sorry if this is emotional, I am running on Diet Coke and Vitamin D. Being up at Hallbrook for 13 hours today nearly killed me.
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