A new year

Do you ever wonder where life is taking you? It's hard sometimes to know what the right decisions to make are. When things get complicated, there is so much noise in your head you don't even know which thought are yours and which are a product of your environment.
It's not that I am not happy in my life because I'm happier now than I have ever been. I'm at a point where I see myself constantly learning and growing and most of the time that feels great. It's those few moments when I look back at what my life has been, that I get confused. I don't feel like the same person I use to be. I am focused, responsible (as I can be), practical and as much as I don't like to admit it, a conformist.
As a child I was always an outcast. My friends were few and far between. I tended to hang out with people who were looking for trouble or maybe just attention. It was a life that I am glad I got to experience because it made me a more aware person. I know that I am better for having lived the way I did. I was always looking for excitement, adventure and mostly just something to do. My only source of discontent is a question posed by Adam Sandler. Would the sixth grade version of me kick my ass if she met me on the street?
Not the most poignant way to put it, but the idea still bothers me.
Most of my days are the same. I get up early, go to school, go to work and spend my evenings at home. And while most people my age are still out looking for that adventure and excitement, I feel like I have already had mine. Nevertheless, I answer Adam's question with a resounding no. I am proud of the person I have become, even if life sometimes feels a little monotonous. I will take monotony and security over uncertainty about tomorrow any day.
I don't know where life is taking me, and while I am enjoying my time in school and living on my own, I sincerely hope that there is much more adventure and excitement on the horizon for me. It is nice to have a sense of security but everyone needs a little adventure to remind themselves they are still alive.

Charleston in the Fall

Hope for the Holidays

Cold, wet noses, twitching tails, puppy dog eyes, or kitten whiskers. Whatever it is that makes us love animals is a mystery. Sadly, each year, across the country, hundreds of thousands of our furry friends wind up scared and alone in shelters. For those animals, the upcoming holiday season is their time of hope. It is not about presents, trees, lights, tinsel for them. It is about the thought of finding a loving and safe home to be a part of.
Each year at the Columbia City Animal Shelter on Shop Road, about a hundred pets are adopted during the Christmas season. Marli Drum, the superintendent of the city’s shelter, says she always gets a mad rush of people adopting right before Christmas. Unfortunately, some of these pets are brought back soon after, when the recipient realizes they can’t take care of it.
“We have a saying around here--Pets are for life, not just Christmas,” Drum emphasized. “We don’t want people adopting who can’t take care of these animals.” It certainly is a long-term commitment.
Many people have the misconception that when they adopt an animal they are picking it up off death row. “The animals that are up for adoption will be here until they are adopted,” said Drum. The shelter only puts down the animals that are unfit for adoption. Those animals have serious health or behavioral problems. So, if you are thinking about getting a pure-breed because you can’t bear the thought of taking only one of the animals from the shelter, don’t worry, the rest won’t be put down.
Often times people want pets so badly they do not consider what kind of commitment it really is or what it is going to take to make their home a safe and happy one. Here are a few other things anyone planning to adopt this season needs to know:
First - The initial cost of adoption is $68 for a cat and $73 for a dog. The Columbia City shelter provides one bag of food for the animal and you can purchase a year supply of Heartguard heartworm prevention and Frontline tick and flea prevention at a low cost. You also have to buy a collar for the animal as well as a way to transport it. Leashes for dogs and carrying crates for cats.
Second - plan to have the animal for about 15 years, spending two or three hundred dollars a year on vet bills. This may seem high, but vet bills are expensive. “It’s like having a child, if the animal is sick, you have to take it to the doctor,” said Drum. A well office visit can cost up to $180 at some places. Calling around before deciding on a vet is a good idea.
Third - Make sure you have the time. Cats are fairly self-sufficient, but keeping the litter box clean and the food and water fresh is a must. Dogs require much more work at attention. Many people get dogs and tie them to a chain in the back yard. Bad idea. The Animal Mission of the Midlands says that chaining a dog is cruel if they can not move to comfort, shelter, and food/water. Being on a chain will drive a dog crazy. Dogs need to be walked and played with daily. If you don’t have at least an hour a day to devote to your dog, you may want to think twice before getting one.
“There is nothing cuter than a puppy or kitten sitting under the Christmas tree,” Drum smiles. Christmas is a time of giving, and while the idea of a puppy for your boyfriend, or a kitten for your girlfriend is a great one, the gift giver should put a lot of thought into it before deciding on that gift.
If you have weighed all the options and still feel that a pet is the right thing for you or your loved one, there are several places to check out in the Columbia area. Pet’s Inc., in West Columbia, the Lexington County shelter, and the new facility partnered by Project Pet in Harbison on the border of Richland and Lexington counties all have animals that need good homes.
Marli Drum also wants you to know that if you want an animal, but can’t afford one at this time, the animal shelter is always looking for volunteers to come and show some love to the animals. “We have play areas in the back for people who like dogs and rooms for people who like cats.” Or, if you don’t have the time to dedicate to an animal but would like to help the shelter, Drum says it’s the little things they need the most. “Paper towels, bleach, dawn soap, things like that we are always in need of.” So, if the holiday spirit drives you, let it take you to a shelter where love is plentiful but help and companionship are needed.

The Independent Variable

Do you ever feel like school is catered to the students who live on campus and their only responsibility is to get their butts to class on time?
You are one of 27,272 students here at the USC Columbia campus and almost half of you are undergraduates. According to the University’s Web site, 67 percent of undergraduates do not live on campus. For those 67 percent, college life is much different.
I took a random sample of about 300 students from a Socy 101 class. 64 percent felt that college was catered to the on-campus student. Kevin Dixon, a junior who lives off campus said, “Commuting to school takes a big chunk out of my day. Kids who live on campus don’t have to find parking or worry about which gas station will be out today.”
Emily Supil, sophomore and business chair for the student senate who lives on campus, made an excellent point when she said, “With all the facilities and amenities that are on campus, students with jobs sometimes can not take advantage of these things. I've found that students with jobs usually put priority in jobs over school, as in, they go to work for a night instead of studying for a test.”
Dixon agrees. He bought a meal plan, just as he does every semester, but this year something at the Russel House was different. “They stopped putting the home cooked food you get downstairs into to-go boxes. If I want to take something home, it has to be fast food.”
So what about students with bigger problems than finding parking, like children? One student said she’s got two kids and is lucky to get in an hour and a half of studying every night. Supil, taking six classes this semester said, “I have not found it difficult to study for 6 different classes though, but I do have the time.” She studies 2 to 3 hours per night.
There lies the difference. Students who live off campus are on a much bigger time crunch than students who have everything at their fingertips. “You go to school for 5 hours a day, work for 4, then you have to make sure you eat and keep your personal hygiene. It leaves a much smaller window of study time,” Dixon explained.
Everyone wants independence, but when it’s actually here, are the responsibilities more time consuming than liberating? Unfortunately for the 67 percent of us who have gained some semblance of independence, the minority rules and college will continue to challenge your everyday life. Don’t worry, it builds character!

Photos

Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World
Panama City Beach
On the road. Look closely to at the hat to see why I took the picture.

Protect Yourself!

There have been a few scary situations in the Columbia area recently. There was a robbery and a rape in the downtown area within the past month. I know that for other places across the country this sounds like nothing, but when you are a woman ANYWHERE, your ears perk up and pay attention. I wanted to post this to let women know a few ways to protect themselves if they are ever in unsafe situations.
First, if you absolutely have to be by yourself, try to be on your cell phone. DO NOT let your cell phone be a distraction! Make sure you keep your head up and be aware of who and what is around you. An attacker is less likely to choose you if you look prepared for anything.
If you feel like being on your phone is not going to deter the most determined attackers, here are some more proactive things you can do:

1. Get a dog. Get a big dog that looks mean, but is not necessarily agressive. Many people (even grown men), are afraid of dogs. Don't get a miniture poodle cause that's not going to scare anybody!
   
2. Buy a taser. You can get one online for as cheap as $21 at http://www.defenseproducts101.com/stunguns.html. There are many different types of tasers/stun-guns. They range from products that send a one time shock of 80,000 to 950,000 volts. Then there are the high-end, police issue tasers that will hit a person from 15 feet away with a 50,000 volt charge for a longer length of time. They even have tasers that are disguised as guns.
   
3. For those who aren't ready to see someone loose control of all bodily functions at their doing, there is always pepper spray. You can buy it for as little as five bucks, so this is an option everyone can afford.
4. Your last resort is of course our second amendment right to bear arms. If you are of legal age and your state deems you a responsible enough person. Guns are expensive, but they are a sure-fire way to get the message across that you want someone to back off!

There are other things like self defense classes that you can look into in your area, but they are time consuming, and not a guarantee. The point is, don't be a victim. You have options to protect yourself. It is sad to see so many women in not just America, but the world, be victimized. In some places in the world, there is nothing that those women can do to protect themselves. In this country we have options and we should take advantage of them.