tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59795974908178421662024-02-19T10:27:58.094-05:00Optimistic and In DenialMeghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-7386985926122289302012-03-25T19:46:00.003-04:002012-03-25T20:02:58.103-04:00100th post<div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">hi friends,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's been almost 3 years and I just now land on my 100th post.</div><div style="text-align: center;">interesting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">well I'm totally okay with that. it's been a busy 3 years! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">keeping any thought in my head straight this last month (read: 6 months) has been kind of hard. putting it down in blog form has been even harder.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to contribute more to the BSU Blogfest 2012 more than I did. last week turned into the craziest week ever for some reason. I feel like many of the coming weeks are going to end up like that.</div><div style="text-align: center;">this weekend alone was a busy one. all I wanted to do today was chill out watching youtube videos. and watch I did.</div><div style="text-align: center;">let me recap some of the weekend for you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">we all know thursday was THE night. Hunger Games night. I bought tickets and organized rides for about 23 people to go see the midnight premiere. we all sat around each other and I know everyone had a blast!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">friday I had to go dress shopping but also had tickets to the Providence Bruins game. my roommate Morgan, old roommate Nicole, and I went to Providence Place mall a little earlier to shop then we went to the game. it was a lot of fun and they ended up winning!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">last night I went to a dance with my friend Andrea. it was her sorority's Crush Party. we danced and had a lot of fun. then played Taboo afterwards. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">this morning I went to breakfast with some friends, three of which graduated last year and I don't see them ever! then I proceeded to watch youtube videos the rest of the day (with some facetiming my parents mixed in).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">busy weekend makes Meghan a tired lady.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">now I'm off to start writing a paper for my psych of personality class. nothing like a paper to end your weekend right.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">oh and sleep. sleep will be nice.</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-50703517390000022682012-03-19T20:41:00.004-04:002012-03-20T23:31:10.614-04:00BSU Blogfest 2012 Day 2!<div style="text-align: center;">.<br /><br />It may be a little late (12 hours! Woops! Blame busy Tuesday) but here it is:<br /><br />Today's theme for the BSU Blogfest is <b>Community</b>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />I could go anywhere with this topic but the wonderful Cindy Kane, Advisor, Director of OSIL, and Mentor, gave me a great idea for today's theme.<br /><br />I know I've talked about it before MANY times, but I was an Orientation Leader the past two summers. I worked with 32 other students in helping to welcome the newest members of the BSU community. Being an OL is a community in and of itself and that's what I'll talk a little about.<br /><br />As an OL, you move into one of the residence halls on campus roughly a week after the last day of finals. When you move back, all the OLs live in the same hallway sharing rooms for about 2 weeks during training until it comes time to move throughout the building to be available for the students when they arrive for one of six different sessions offered throughout the span of 3 weeks.<br /><br />During this time the OLs are living in our own little world. We share living space, have meals together, train and do work together, and work as a team to welcome the students. Those two weeks and the weeks following, you really get to know these people. It's an amazing time.<br /><br />Especially after this past summer, I have become extremely close to so many of the OLs I worked with. I can call every single one of them a good friend of mine. When we all get together or even when a few of us get together I know we can all talk about whatever, trust one another, and know we'll have each others backs.<br /><br />This position is unlike any job out there. It's hard to describe to someone what this job means. There are long hours, sometimes the students don't want to cooperate, sometimes there are good sessions and sometimes there are difficult ones. There are ups and downs mentally and emotionally, but when working in a community of people who are doing the same job you're doing and have your back makes it all worth it.<br /><br />We welcomed 2,600 students to Bridgewater State last summer. Would I do it a third time?<br /><br />Absolutely.<br /></div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-42261446515595822192012-03-19T10:00:00.000-04:002012-03-19T10:00:01.268-04:00BSU Blogfest 2012 Day 1<div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hi Blogging Friends!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Part of my blog return and revamp is for the <a href="http://optimisticandindenial.blogspot.com/2011/03/bsu-blogfest.html">BSU Blogfest</a>! I participated in it last year. You can look at my posts from them <a href="http://optimisticandindenial.blogspot.com/search/label/BSU%20Blogfest">HERE</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I figured I had an interesting time last year doing it so I thought let's do it again!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today is day one and the theme is <b>Why Blog?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I really like the questions posed for today so I'm going to go off of them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"What motivated you to get started with blogging?"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blogging was one of those things that I didn't really understand and didn't know what I was going to talk about/use it for. I was at UMASS Dartmouth in my freshmen year and by the time blogging came into my life I was just ready to get out of there. Really reading other blogs motivated me to create my own blog. I figured it would be a great way to keep my mind of things and waste time before I could leave UMD and come to Bridgewater. It was kind of a coping mechanism at the time and turned into a place to share life events and meet new people.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Why do you continue to blog?"</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I continue blogging because I like the people I've met through blogging and the people I get to know by reading other blogs. Sometimes I feel inspired by other bloggers. I hope that I can do that for one of my readers some day. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I took a long time off from blogging recently because I've been feeling pretty stressed about life after graduation. Blogging brings the real life to light and that scares me. I've been feeling less optimistic about it and since this blog is titled <i>Optimistic and In Denial</i> I feel I need to keep the positive, optimistic thoughts on here and not the stressful, worried feelings I've been having the last few months. I returned from my "hiatus" I guess you could say because I thought it was time to document the next step in my life, much like I did when I started blogging during my transition between UMD and BSU. Hopefully sharing here will help me in this strange time I feel coming up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"What do you think makes for great blogs or not-so-great blogs?"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think a great blog is one that is honest and real. If I feel like you're making things up in your life I don't think I would be interested in reading it. On the other side of things, when you share far too much about your life or are Negative Nancy about every part of life I don't think I could follow your blog. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Any advice for people considering getting started with a blog?"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When starting a blog you need to find your own voice. Speaking can convey one thing, writing may convey another. You need to find what fits you as a blogger. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't worry so much about the number of followers or comments your blog gets. Don't let low numbers deter you from continuing and don't let large numbers scare you away from that voice you've established for yourself on your blog. While I've never faced any meanness on my blog I do know it's out there. Don't let someone bully your blog. It's your place to speak, you take control of it and make it your own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you all enjoyed my view on blogging. Stay tuned for more posts this week for BSU Blogfest 2012!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>How would you answer these questions?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">:) Meg O</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-30412273670931725082012-03-15T20:27:00.005-04:002012-03-15T20:51:33.530-04:00what's 8 months in the scheme of things?<div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's almost been so long now I don't know what where to start.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so I'll start with a list because I love lists.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. there are 58 days until I graduate</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. I'm the Class of 2012 President</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. I read 19 books last year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. I have a couple of purple streaks in my hair</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5. I'm taking 4 classes right now. my last Math class where I have to write a 15 page paper, two psychology classes for my minor and a history class for no reason.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">6. I have a kindle and I love it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">7. my younger brother is a marine and lives in California right now. my older brother is graduated from college (finally) and lives in Boston working full time as a computer nerd (haha I kid he maintains servers)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">8. I missed blogging but lost the motivation over the last 8 months</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">9. I want a new simple blog layout but don't know where to get one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">10. I'm participating in the BSU Blogfest for social media week again this year. I'm using it as my jumping point to refresh and rejuvenate O&ID</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">hope you'll all stick around to see me through my last couple months of undergrad and my post graduation life. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">until later (but not too much later) </div><div style="text-align: center;">:) Meg O</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-45601243424233080092011-07-02T22:58:00.004-04:002011-07-02T23:17:37.409-04:00up next in Meghan's life is...<div style="text-align: center;">This may be the most random post ever after I have so much to talk about from the past 2 months basically, but I got to thinking after <a href="http://amandaleeann.blogspot.com/2011/07/happiness.html">Amanda's post</a>..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's hard having worked toward this degree, always knowing this was the degree I wanted to pursue, but not knowing where I'm going to go with it once I have it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Knowing what I want to do after I graduate in a year may not be possible now, but something my mom told me was that you don't have to know what you want to do right away, most people don't know.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> It's a tough statement for me to grasp.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You know when you go through elementary school you know you're going to middle school. From middle school you'll be going to big and scary high school. After high school there's always college, the military, or straight into a full time job. For me and my older brother it was always going to be college and for my younger brother it was always going to be the military. After college, what's next?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I could find a job or I could go to grad school for something. What? I have no idea. But grad school. This is where my unknown comes into play.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've faced this question before. It's always a tough one that is always in the back of my mind.</div><div style="text-align: center;">After I graduate in a year...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What's next?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, I have a year to figure it out. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm feeling very optimistic and like the sky's the limit after working Orientation for the past 6 weeks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope it stays this way :)</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-65201689385720753882011-05-11T12:54:00.003-04:002011-05-11T13:04:40.598-04:00hello there<div style="text-align: center;">well would you look at that!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i'm <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">FINALLY</span> on summer break!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">cue WOOOOOO and happy dance!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">finals are DONE and everything is home. I have no plans to do anything for a week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">best feeling ever :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">you were just like "wait a week?!?" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">yes a week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm moving back to school to work Orientation next tuesday :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not mad about it at all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">my junior year of college has been the craziest one yet. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">let's hope senior year is just as crazy and more amazing.</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-63151322842749089072011-03-24T21:33:00.002-04:002011-03-24T22:55:44.734-04:00Thursday: Community<div style="text-align: center;">welcome to thursday of the BSU Blogfest!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">today's theme is Community</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">what I love most about Bridgewater is the sense of community I feel in every aspect of my life here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">let's do a little compare and contrast from BSU and college #1.</div><div style="text-align: center;">at college #1 I didn't feel like I was a part of the campus. from the moment I moved in to the minute I left. I felt like a stranger at my own school. </div><div style="text-align: center;">the dorm I lived in was not a cheerful place. the RAs didn't decorate the halls with certain themes, there weren't programs for us to go to in the dorm. the only part of that dorm that felt welcoming was my room. my roommate and I decorated a large majority of our walls, we had photos and posters on the walls. it was the only place I felt comfortable.</div><div style="text-align: center;">the classrooms felt like cells. little light, little color. large shades on the windows. I did my best to learn, but I didn't feel a connection to the professors. I didn't feel like I could visit them in their offices for help.</div><div style="text-align: center;">the clubs and organizations on campus felt closed off. I didn't feel like anyone wanted me to be a part of their organization. I was a part of one organization for my first semester, but had no connections to make me want to go back for the second semester.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">whereas at Bridgewater, I already had a certain connection to the school, having visited my friends on the weekends, and seeing the good in it from the start.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I like seeing the decorations hanging on the walls and the themed floors in my residence hall. I love seeing that there is a program to go to, even if I'm not always able to attend. I like knowing that they care about the building even if it means they have to charge us for some missing elevator buttons.</div><div style="text-align: center;">the classrooms are well lit. I feel comfortable being in class. I know I can rely on my professors to help. I know they want their students to succeed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">the clubs and organizations on this campus are more than welcome to accept members. I made a connection and have become very good friends with so many people through Program Committee. I spend time in OSIL because I want to be around this wonderful community of people I've met on campus.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so whether it is from living in the residence hall, to being in the classroom, or what I do when I'm not in class I have always felt like a part of the BSU community. it didn't take me very long to feel that way either. I know my experience at college #1 has made me appreciate this community 10 times more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">sometimes I wonder if everyone feels the way I do about the BSU community. I don't think everyone takes advantage of what is in front of them. there are so many different outlets for the diverse group of students we have here. I wish there was some way we could reach out to every student and find out if they feel like they are a member of the BSU community and if they don't, help them to. </div><div style="text-align: center;">my college experience became so much better after I felt like a part of this campus. I take pride in being a student at BSU and this is because I feel welcome in such a great community.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-55222690430003197162011-03-24T20:52:00.002-04:002011-03-24T21:32:34.668-04:00a delayed wednesday: leadership<div style="text-align: center;">wednesday's BSU Blogfest post is a little late. it was a little crazy yesterday, but here it is :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so Wednesday's theme was Leadership!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">being a leader has been a new concept for me in the last year. </div><div style="text-align: center;">in high school and for my first couple years of college I never really thought of myself as a leader. for a while I was content being the follower. I got along standing on the side. But I always wondered what it would be like to be a leader.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">last year, when it was my first year at BSU, I was genuinely happy being at this school and really felt that I had found where I was meant to be going to college.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made a lot of new friends, many of whom I looked up to as great leaders on campus. they urged me to apply to be an Orientation Leader. until they mentioned it to me, I hadn't really thought much about it. I wasn't sure if I was the right kind of person to be an OL. they asked me a few different times to apply and I eventually did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">now after I went through the group process interview and found out I was an alternate, I wasn't overly upset and went on with the semester.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">then I had a few different people asking if I was going to apply for PC e-board when they were looking to fill a few more positions. again, I wasn't sure I was going to be right for this position, but I figured, let's try it out. it's worth a shot. I went in for an interview and found out I was the director of marketing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so long story short (and I know I've told the story before here on the blog) I found out I was going to be an OL. last summer, I really started to feel like a leader.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know now that anyone can become a leader. the first step is going out there and trying it out. if I had gone along telling myself that I'm "not the right kind of person" then I never would have had the best summer I think I've ever had. I never would have learned that there isn't a cookie cutter kind of leader. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I gained so much confidence in realizing that yes, I can do this. I can be that person who stands in front of a group and be the one who they look to for guidance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">leadership has definitely been an important part of my life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not afraid to say I'm not the right kind of person anymore.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-19004081118207409222011-03-22T20:27:00.002-04:002011-03-22T20:50:06.764-04:00Tuesday- Technology<div style="text-align: center;">welcome to BSU Blogfest Day 2!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">today's theme is Technology :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">technology has always been a love/hate thing with me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">without it I could be more productive. without it I would be able to read more than I've been able to. without it I could spend more time doing more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but without it I wouldn't know some of the people that I do. without it I wouldn't be able to stay in touch with many people that I've met. without it I think I would be bored.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i thinking along the lines of personal technology</div><div style="text-align: center;">cellphones, smartphones, laptops, ipads, ipods</div><div style="text-align: center;">it's amazing how much our lives revolve around them.</div><div style="text-align: center;">sometimes I wish I knew what it was like without it all. technology of all sorts has its perks and uses now, but what were the days like when people use to talk face to face, not facetime to facetime. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">yet I still would have trouble giving up my laptop or my cellphone or my ipod. it's frustrating to think about. are we better off without technology or is the world better off with it all? </div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess I wish technology wasn't so frustrating sometimes, but i wouldn't give it up for the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>what about you? do you ever wonder if we're better off with or without it all sometimes?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">not much on today's theme. I'm a little fried after my two tests today :/</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-60767568966471322512011-03-21T10:00:00.003-04:002011-03-21T10:00:13.874-04:00Monday: Learning<div style="text-align: center;">welcome to BSU Blogfest Day 1!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">today's theme is <b>Learning</b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have learned a lot in my 20 (almost 21) years of life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">we could talk about what I've learned from class, what I've learned about family, what I've learned about friendships, what I've learned about myself, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I could continue going on and on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but I think I learned the most in my first year of college.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">some of you may already know that I didn't attend Bridgewater State University (aka college #2) for my first year of college. I actually went to another school. I transferred to BSU for my sophomore year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't know what to expect when I first went to college. I was a good student and did everything by the book in high school. I didn't get in trouble, got mostly As and tried hard to stay that way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">when I first got to college #1, I wasn't overly worried about living away from home. my parents raised me to be a pretty independent person, so the independence factor wasn't too troublesome for me. I've always been mature for my age. I knew I was going to school to get an education first and foremost.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">what I didn't realize was the things I would learn about myself and the big world outside of the small town life I grew up in. I made a couple of friends that first month and got to know them. but when october of my freshmen year came around I learned a lot about trust. if you aren't careful about those you trust when you get to know someone, that trust you instill in them can come back and bite you in the butt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I learned that the world is not perfect. terrible things happen to people and this can influence the way they act. when you get yourself mixed up with these people, you can be put into some difficult positions. I had to face the consequences for my so called friend's actions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">on top of this situation I faced, I also lost my grandmother in November of my freshmen year. she had been sick all my life. it was hard losing her. she was an integral part of my childhood and I learned that it doesn't do you any good to whine and complain about things in life. my grandmother had her good and her bad days, yet she never complained. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I tried not to let all of these things affect my schoolwork and finished the semester doing well in a majority of my classes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">over winter break the feelings and pressure I felt about everything that I went through during those first 4 months of school hit me all at once. I had one big anxiety attack. but luckily, I learned how to handle this anxiety I was feeling and I learned that crying is not a bad thing :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wasn't happy after my first semester of college. not just because of everything that had happened. I wasn't happy sitting in my room all the time. I did join college #1s version of Program Committee, but wasn't enjoying being a member.</div><div style="text-align: center;">over that winter break I learned that I did not want to stay at a school where I wasn't happy. I couldn't see myself graduating from college #1. that was the most important thing for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">that's when I applied to BSU. I had visited my friends who went here their first year and loved it. I had applied here when I was in high school, but I wanted to try something different from my friends. to try out that independent deal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was accepted and made it through the second semester of college #1. after I left college #1 I never regret going there. one of the other many things I learned was how to branch out and try different things. I grew up that first year and I got a better understanding of the outside world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but let me just say I'm thrilled to have been at BSU the last 2 years. I've learned so much and grown even more. I can see myself graduating from here next year and while it is a daunting thought, I know I'm happier now learning everything I did that first year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>so is there something that you have learned that made a big impact on you?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-45551555670572097352011-03-18T21:52:00.003-04:002011-03-18T22:20:50.163-04:00BSU Blogfest<div style="text-align: center;">you all know I love twitter</div><div style="text-align: center;">and facebook</div><div style="text-align: center;">and this blog </div><div style="text-align: center;">and my readers</div><div style="text-align: center;">and my school</div><div style="text-align: center;">right?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's true, i do.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">well next week I'm going to be participating in the <i>BSU Blogfest</i>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sort of excited for it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">let me explain what is going to happen:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">all next week, I'm going to be blogging about the theme of the day. each day has a different theme. I'm going to try my hardest not to stop writing in the style that I already do. my style goes with the flow and is basically whatever comes to mind. so whatever I think of is what I'll be blogging about. you know, the usual.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the Blogfest is part of a weeklong event hosted by the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership at my college, Bridgewater State University. this event is called Social Media Week!</div><div style="text-align: center;">there are so many different clubs, organizations, faculty, staff, and students who use twitter, blogs, facebook or other social media sites on our campus that it's time we use all of them in one week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I normally write about my life and that isn't going to change next week. I'll be doing my best to apply the themes to things I've experienced in my life while still staying lighthearted and optimistic like I've always wanted this blog to stay.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I hope you all enjoy being a little piece of my every day life next week! please feel free to comment on the posts or write your own posts with your thoughts on the theme of the day or how social media ties into and affects your life. and if you do let me know! I want to know!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">there are other blogs participating in the Blogfest and many more people tweeting and discussing social media all next week!</div><div style="text-align: center;">check out the other blogs <i><b><a href="http://www.bridgew.edu/sil/bsusmw/blogfest.cfm">here</a></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">we'll also be using the hashtag #BSUsmw on twitter all week as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;">if you don't already follow me on twitter you can find me @MEO18</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't wait to hear your thoughts about all the themes and everything else to do with social media next week!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> get excited!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-80179448476486680132011-03-04T20:51:00.003-05:002011-03-04T21:17:41.821-05:00the non-french lesson<div style="text-align: center;">I took french in high school.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">my teacher was a nice person. I learned a little bit of french. do I remember any french? um, not really, but I can say Je m'appelle Meghan (which I think means My name is Meghan) that's all I've got.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">what I do remember is when we had a lesson on doing nice things for others.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">with the lesson she wanted us to watch Pay it Forward. you know the one with Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey, and Helen Hunt? we even got to watch it with no subtitles.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">anyway it was a great lesson to have in junior year of high school, but just a little weird to have in a french class.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the idea of it is great, if you do something nice for someone and they do something nice for someone else, this kindness will spread to many others.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">well a few weeks ago Vanessa over at <a href="http://caramelcoveredphotographs.blogspot.com/">Caramel Covered Photographs</a> passed this amazing idea along.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; ">"Here's the deal. I promise to send three of you something homemade <span style="font-style: italic; ">sometime </span>in 2011. In order to take part, you need to leave me a comment and also post this idea on your blog, continuing to pay it forward"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">it's a great idea that I want to send to three of my fantastic readers so we can spread the happiness and make others day. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">remember to leave your email address in the comment</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, Times, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">my french teacher would be so proud. and thanks <a href="http://caramelcoveredphotographs.blogspot.com/">Vanessa</a> for this amazing idea!</span></span></span></div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-38739487070543431742011-02-28T22:17:00.004-05:002011-02-28T22:45:59.158-05:00rainy days<div style="text-align: center;">hello loves</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's that time again for 10 things I'm doing right now:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeed5bNleponbhHCEuKlMwBSq8HLj7cRssvsql_bHv78vrO0P3GWDBHivvLSevQTMAiXkkTJTmRxLW6eGYRkmglwbmGph1TfUzZkXmOwc8p_W9oqFrsTI-d-7YH_-RjfRUWlHSBBrhB03/s320/Photo+338.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578949315328080706" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1) rocking some mustaches in this picture with my roommate Morgan</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2) not doing homework... again</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3) listening to some biebs. judge away friends, I give you full permission (even though it isn't sunday*)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4) counting down the days until Spring Break- 4 days</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5) counting down the days until Disney- 8 days</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">6) thinking about how crazy banks are. I no longer go to the other school, stop sending them my loan!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">7) wishing this gigantic Inception poster would stay taped up on our wall</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">8) thinking I can't wait to watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off since we just got it from netflix</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">9) so glad I'm not going to get soaking wet tomorrow like I did today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">10) going to try and get a little homework finished before I climb in bed</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">have a wonderful week everyone!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*our dorm room is a judgement free room, except on sundays.</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-20373869862862161842011-02-23T18:36:00.003-05:002011-02-23T18:47:16.165-05:0010 things going on right now<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijz5-avwATwnUPCfaFg-zp4pYaZEjpYVGSvZPZ6m8VWdQEvRu7wKa5nnKzexNi_lRvPfk6oh51ykPFNCUKBZeAMkZ0NU0V1pwGhK_uMxYN44FsUAe-iZffeMHXbX3aC0glcOr9p8bllbYt/s1600/Photo+337.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijz5-avwATwnUPCfaFg-zp4pYaZEjpYVGSvZPZ6m8VWdQEvRu7wKa5nnKzexNi_lRvPfk6oh51ykPFNCUKBZeAMkZ0NU0V1pwGhK_uMxYN44FsUAe-iZffeMHXbX3aC0glcOr9p8bllbYt/s320/Photo+337.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577033400432883778" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. I'm procrastinating on my computer homework</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. Waiting for a meeting to start in 22 minutes (we'll be starting late; we always do)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. I want chocolate really bad</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. I'm watching my friend Emily dance and laughing at her out of love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5. Looking forward to friday</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">6. Loving the lovely messages from some wonderful ladies. You have certainly made me feel better about the future. I'll respond to you soon. Let's talk more about it okay?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">7. Sitting in the PC office</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">8. Going to get ice cream soon or that chocolate I was just thinking about</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">9. Thinking I need to do a post like this fairly regularly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">10. Happy that I was able to think of 10 things I'm doing right now</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-37066041030748239342011-01-30T21:31:00.003-05:002011-02-19T19:52:30.607-05:00the unknown.<div style="text-align: center;">I've been thinking about my future a lot lately. It's been happening more often. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think it's because when I look at what I have left to take to finish my degree, there isn't all that much left to take.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so I ask myself, what do I want to do with my life?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know I'm 20 years old and there's going to be some time before I'm sure I choose the right career, but the prospect of deciding what that will be is daunting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">how will I really know? when will I really know? what do I do to get there? what should my focus be on right now? what am I doing to answer these questions? why can't I stop procrastinating? what is out there for me? will I be able to do the things I want to in the bigger picture? what does the future hold?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i don't know the answer to any of this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but i think that's okay</div><div style="text-align: center;">because that is what life is about.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's the unknown. </div><div style="text-align: center;">it's just a matter of not letting the fear of it get the best of me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">the answer is out there, it's just going to take a while to actually find.</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-9775284529192068202011-01-21T15:20:00.002-05:002011-01-21T15:34:46.293-05:00back to the swing of things<div style="text-align: center;">today would have been the third day of classes if we didn't have a snow day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">looks like the roads were a little messy especially when I got up at 7 to see if the university was open.</div><div style="text-align: center;">it wasn't, so I went back to bed and slept wonderfully.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm going to have a very busy semester, I can tell already.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm taking 3 math classes, a computer class, and a psychology class.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm only slightly crazy, I swear.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">with all that I have PC meetings and events</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I'm working in math services</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I want to read 30 books this year and have only finished 2</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I still want to blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a lot on my plate I guess.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">that's just the way things go when you're back to the swing of things.</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-69280920495069035192011-01-07T12:00:00.002-05:002011-01-07T12:00:04.269-05:00one!!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and here it is!</div><div style="text-align: center;">my favorite book of 2010 is...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mockingjay-Final-Book-Hunger-Games/dp/0439023513/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294001996&sr=1-1">Mockingjay</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">by: Suzanne Collins</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowV6WGUlAOnV5hrjc0mOwLRgSOBoIEGgufYZCAMJ16OgHbaOGuapEVShV0O4UdSuubzFwMdlfR9ZncQrfiNgzZb-MxlWLM30EtJRX1Fm5HEMsqFYGt5nHm2AeXLF5-HhThFi-2E8X_5Q-/s320/Mockingjay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557699455891698162" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was so excited when this book came out in August. Remember when I had my <a href="http://optimisticandindenial.blogspot.com/2010/08/mockingjay-dilemma.html">Mockingjay</a><a href="http://optimisticandindenial.blogspot.com/2010/08/dilemma-over.html"> dilemma</a>? That's how excited I was. This was probably my most anticipated book of the year and that's also why I decided to make it my top book of 2010.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you've read it before you can probably understand what makes this book great. If you haven't what I will tell you is this: I loved this book because it summed up everything in this series without sugarcoating anything. This fictional world of Panem is not a happy place. How could it when they make kids fight for their lives in the Hunger Games? Not everyone was going to survive. There would be hardships for our favorite characters in the end, yet somehow they survive. I don't want to ruin too much of the book though.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so those are my top 5 favorite books of 2010!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">my goal for 2011 is to read 30 books :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>so what about everyone else? what was your favorite book you read last year?</b></div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-77725315885760063982011-01-06T12:00:00.000-05:002011-01-06T12:00:05.929-05:00two!<div style="text-align: center;">I had a hard time choosing my second favorite book. </div><div style="text-align: center;">let's just say it was a three way tie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">so my second favorite book(s) of 2010 were</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mortal-Instruments-Bones-Ashes-Glass/dp/1442409525/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293990195&sr=1-1">The Mortal Instruments Trilogy</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">by: Cassandra Clare</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ztYe1EzpyjWUeBTT8IDqUOp_F5J9ec81qbVt7dsoy3Qy7pSktVjhE2FXUl_dvn8kNamQEyYAchNRBXZb_wR_8UW-4mPdafCHVPQpfR5ifKRZ1xCKX9KY2I4Zia1gdPDpyOOXuxEgoOlL/s320/city+of+bones.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557651672899240370" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxasxkBOqB6EfzsZ4zR6g2c0t5KzZkPRMPFFkHIREgYVQtimbufuEHvFyQygwZKxAheCk_NkNbBO0gcj5tisBdNGe9zrHN0wQlI-MH43cVkV8GpV8kD5KvZODXP4cQ-EKbhjeJfZ3jEio/s320/city+of+ashes" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557651797255890978" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibL59znxVgzWDILtedSVG_sw01-57v3GYGBad_qtGz0OR3NBeBesYPa9eIiDH9EK_UoQ7RLusWhHwCikymHlAhKl_BXOyke4IehaoL2LJfUt7bOox3iTTFFp9xFMPPKY0TzOgigRwFjLAZ/s320/city+of+glass.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557651804504749378" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know it's probably not fair to choose all of them because I did choose just one out of the other series in this top 5, but I couldn't wait to read all of them when I started with City of Bones.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> There are many different parts to this series that drew me in. First, the supernatural aspect. I don't know if you can tell by now, but I love supernatural type books. I think this was inevitable since the first series I fell in love with was Harry Potter. The idea of having this other world in the mix of a modern day world in New York is the kind of thing I love to read about! There is never a moment where you want it to end. Just when you think you've solved the problem, it twists and turns into something you didn't imagine. Loose ends are tied up but others are presented and keep you wanting more! </div><div style="text-align: center;">This series was initially suppose to have just the first three but Cassandra Clare decided to continue the series into three more books </div><div style="text-align: center;">(City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, and City of Heavenly Fire) in addition to a prequel series (Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess). This leaves plenty of books to look forward to in the future for these characters and some new ones too :)</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-50992917252042772322011-01-05T12:00:00.000-05:002011-01-05T12:00:00.926-05:00three!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">my third favorite book of 2010 was</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shiver-Wolves-Mercy-Maggie-Stiefvater/dp/0545123275/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293989218&sr=1-1">Shiver</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">by: Maggie Stiefvater</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP01ddc37QVgMq3EsjdaXoHdSSDkq7wKPYgaSp7GmiSBdjxmEMuOaJ3rVr6__8BG6XnGG2-Nkfjmka8w15WhyLJ92gpPUw3LXU4Vj7tqVlthypdIqT7qrfyQFpqa9rnRrdF5qGKaIvQ1jq/s320/shiver.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557643411522182386" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{first in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was another of the many summer books I read. What I like about this book is the detail of the scenes in it. I felt like I was feeling every rise or fall in the temperature. I could see the snowy backyard of Grace's house. I could picture Grace's wolf. I wanted to hug Sam whenever I learned something new about his troubled life. There are so many emotions for these characters. And this was only the beginning of the story! I felt everything all over again for these characters in the sequel Linger.</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-44524283169383089532011-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:002011-01-04T12:00:06.489-05:00four!<div style="text-align: center;">my fourth favorite book of 2010 was</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Red-Jackson-Pearce/dp/0316068683/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293988246&sr=1-1">Sisters Red</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">by: Jackson Pearce</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAuk1AoE02WzydjbpqeTyybDlI-DRgdyB2k2UUve6P0x6OswTC13F5NHWcrktgm-oO6V6p7QhMydNC724nlLxL-FSYEwWA3uJfgo2pqCAZPrOqMkR4uYmtiM-ygDA7gjMNPuddZI5qkfw/s320/sistersred.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557638568954008082" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was one of my summer reads. I liked this book because it was a new twist on something old. The author took the story of Little Red Riding Hood and made it into this tale of two sisters who devote themselves to tracking down and killing any Fenris (werewolves) they can find. I enjoyed reading about the two sisters and the battles they face both against the Fenris and with each other.</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-24394576772483853202011-01-03T12:00:00.001-05:002011-01-03T12:00:05.811-05:00five!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">my fifth favorite book of 2010 was</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Creatures-Kami-Garcia/dp/0316077038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293986205&sr=8-1">Beautiful Creatures</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">by: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUMzPLU4nuTVZ53-zX-HqA4pjI0BYysyKMfUroxMlebSqK7em5D3XLZKBXc7BZ4vhIQeR7tPb3vpJ0ZyX9va__Vbf37VkI8oXHlh04Fk_QFzc2XgmLYfU4qxhf86nHX_3L6Pshm8Ns2DJ/s320/beautifulcreatures.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557635655915233218" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{the first book in the Caster Chronicles}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I read this book in January last year and really enjoyed it! What I like most about it was not just the relationship shared between Ethan and Lena, but the build up to the "main event" I guess you could say. The way these two characters fall in love with one another but still have this decision that they have no control over hanging over them had me turning the pages for more. Another point that drew me in was the Casters and the powers they possess. With romance and magic, this book and it's sequel Beautiful Darkness were right up my alley.</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-46362358652595994422011-01-02T11:52:00.003-05:002011-01-02T11:59:02.966-05:00it's a countdown!<div style="text-align: center;">you've seen the books that i read last year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">now i want to share my top 5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i think what would make this fun and more suspenseful would be to release one book a day all this week :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">we'll start with my fifth choice tomorrow (monday) and work to my top choice on friday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>any guesses to what the #1 book may be?</b></div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-91374113887250140402010-12-31T15:00:00.000-05:002010-12-31T15:00:05.592-05:00books I've read in 2010<div style="text-align: center;">a year has flown by. I have no idea where it went!</div><div style="text-align: center;">BUT</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can trace my year in books.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">remember <a href="http://optimisticandindenial.blogspot.com/2010/01/books.html">way back last year around this time</a> when I set a goal. I decided I wanted to read 25 books before the end of 2010 and hopefully most of those books would be new to me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I succeeded.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually surpassed my goal and read 29 books this year!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">this feels really good to have completely my goal and a little bit more :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">maybe this will be a great lesson for me. I can accomplish anything. if I can imagine myself completing a goal successfully then I shouldn't have a doubt in my mind. I just need to go for it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll be taking this into account while I move into 2011. this year I have surprised myself with how much I've been able to do and learn. there were so many changes in my life just over a year. looking at the years since I entered college I have faced my lowest points and then jumped right up to some of the best points in my life. everything is constantly changing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and as I've learned in the past, change is good.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was quite organized when tracking these books. I wrote down the dates I finished reading them so I know in the future how long it's been since the last time I read one of these books (since I love rereading books so much).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but enough of that for now. here are the 29 books I read in 2010!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(the * before the number means it was the first time I read it)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: J.K. Rowling</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: J.K. Rowling</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*3. Vampire Academy</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Richelle Mead</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*4. Beautiful Creatures</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: J.K. Rowling</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>6. The Hunger Games</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Suzanne Collins</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>7. Catching Fire</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Suzanne Collins</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*8. City of Bones</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Cassandra Clare</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*9. City of Ashes</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Cassandra Clare</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Rick Riordan</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*11. City of Glass</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Cassandra Clare</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*12. Nightlight</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Harvard Lampoon Editors</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*13. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Stephenie Meyer</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*14. Shiver</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Maggie Stiefvater</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*15. Evermore</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Alyson Noel</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*16. Pretty Little Liars</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Sara Shepard</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*17. Sisters Red</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by : Jackson Pearce</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*18. Linger</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Maggie Stiefvater</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*19. Charlie St. Cloud</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Ben Sherwood</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>20. Blue Bloods</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Melissa de la Cruz</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*21. Masquerade</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Melissa de la Cruz</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*22. Mockingjay</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Suzanne Collins</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*23. Clockwork Angel</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Cassandra Clare</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*24. I Am Number Four</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Pittacus Lore</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*25. Beautiful Darkness</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*26. Secret Society Girl</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Diana Peterfreund </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*27. Under the Rose</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Diana Peterfreund</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>28. The Host</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: Stephenie Meyer</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>*29. Witch & Wizard</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><b>by: James Patterson</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm going to do my top five books of 2010 based on this list in the next post.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a wonderful year of reading. I'm so excited to continue this tradition in the future :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have you read any of these books? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Let me know if you want to discuss or hear my opinion on any of them. I love to share!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year Everyone!!</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-89069144833008150062010-12-21T15:39:00.002-05:002010-12-21T16:12:45.991-05:00break<div style="text-align: center;">I have been on winter break for a total of 4 days now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has been a gloriously relaxing 4 days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">my days have consisted of a lot of nothing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">since I haven't done much so far here's a little recap of finals week:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">studying and lots of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">math tutoring. not as much as I thought there would be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">procrastinating. more than anyone should be during finals week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">late night visits to the library. had to take advantage of the 2am closing time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bits of stress and complaints about not wanting to study which can be included in the time of procrastinating.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">watching the Bruins.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">one meeting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">packing and cleaning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the actual finals themselves.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and a partridge in a pear tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it was the fastest, slowest week ever!</div><div style="text-align: center;">that doesn't make much sense, but it's true.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have 3 weeks of vacation until I move back to school on January 7th for winter orientation. you better believe I'm taking full advantage of this down time :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">there may have been some pictures involved in the process of finals week:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">we have a thing for mustaches, but then again who doesn't?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/?action=view&current=mustache4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/mustache4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(my awesome roommates Nicole on the left and Morgan on the right)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/?action=view&current=mustache6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/mustache6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/?action=view&current=mustache2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/mustache2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">we were very serious about our studies in the library, really we were (after taking a couple pictures)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/?action=view&current=studying.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/studying.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">in the end we all survived finals week :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/?action=view&current=thumbsup.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Meg_E_O16/Blog%20photos/thumbsup.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979597490817842166.post-72563479600677369622010-12-20T14:00:00.000-05:002010-12-20T14:00:03.270-05:00tumblr<div style="text-align: center;">I have a tumblr!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm still working on figuring out how to use it to tell you the truth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not completely sure if I want to use it for any particular reason or just for some randomness that comes to mind. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">you're welcome to follow me at</div><div style="text-align: center;">http://megwithanhan.tumblr.com/</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div>Meghan Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211637961357857032noreply@blogger.com0