I have survived my first ‘shopping only’ trip to Dallas, TX. Before yesterday, I have never been a part of a trip whose sole mission was to shop. I have been on many of trips where I had a specific purpose and shopping is a secondary phenomenon that follows. With that being said, the idea of a 'shopping only' trip wasn’t a totally foreign concept… My mom has been on many adventures and I knew of some rich high school classmates who traveled out of state to shop, but never EVER did I think I would agree to such a bizarre concept. I blame my compliance to the Sorority Hangover, and desperation for one last hurrah before school consumed my life!
Shopping is one of the most stressful activities in my book. It is right behind final exams and driving in rush hour traffic. To me, shopping is like opening up your wallet and lighting it on fire. It is SO expensive! And don’t try to pull out that whole ‘bargain shopping’ nonsense! I believe it takes twice as much time and energy to find the worth while deals and bargains, thus leading me to another reason why I loathe shopping… It is time consuming and zaps my energy! I wear down very easily, especially if I have to try on three sizes and two different styles of dress pants only to be told that they’d have to order the correct style and size online, but don’t worry! They’d ship it to my house for free. Awesome…
So there is this place in Dallas called the Galleria… Its like a mall on steroids. There are stores in there that I have only seen in movies like Tiffany’s & Co, Betsy Johnson, Gucci, Juicy Couture, and Saks Fifth Avenue. I probably walked around the mall for the first 10 minutes with my mouth hanging open. My fellow shoppers most likely thought I was some Midwestern redneck, fresh out of her double wide trailer, but seriously y’all… I didn’t know those stores existed anywhere but in Hollywood and New York City. Besides all the extremely hip and fashionable stores, there was an ice rink in the bottom of the mall, valet parking for anyone willing to pay $7, escalators EVERYWHERE, a Forever 21 with TWO floors, and numerous high class restaurants. I am pretty sure if I ever make it to Mall of America, my brain will explode.
My shopping outfit of choice is a sorority t-shirt and Nike shorts with the classic black Old Navy flip-flops. This get-up is versatile and comfortable. It allows me to power shop to the fullest; however, it must also exude an air of poorness. For some reason when I entered Tiffany’s & Co, the fancy-shmancey clerks didn’t give me the time of day! I had my heart set on trying on some engagement rings or even the famous Tiffany’s bracelet, but there was no way that was happening. The security guard was the only person making conversation with me… Maybe so he could easily identify me in a line up if I were to try and steal something... Mental note: Dress to impress, EVEN when shopping… The whole situation felt like a scene out of Pretty Woman. I was lucky enough to be playing Miss Julia Roberts herself; however, Richard Geer wasn’t hovering outside ready to save me from the snooty clerks.
We closed down the mall yesterday, and ended up feeling hungry for dinner around 9 pm. Apparently there is NO time for eating when you are power shopping… Frankly, the only thing I actually craved during this extravaganza was a Starbucks pick-me-up. If that didn’t make me look like the ultimate sorostitute brat-- Banana Republic bag in one hand and a Starbucks cup in the other?! So basically the Jones women were starving, and we decided that Pappa Deaux was the best ending to our long day. It was after we finished a lovely dinner and dragged ourselves up to the hotel room that I came to a gut-wrenching realization. I had spent 3 hours in the most extravagant mall I had yet to encounter and had NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT! Oh wait… Wait a second. Yes, I did. I had one purchase to prove that I had been to the Galleria… Any guesses? Two pairs of Toms? Nope! Those are my sisters. A dress with some tights? Nah, those are for my second cousin… A stick of eyeliner? Yeah! That’s right! I had splurged on ONE measly stick of purple eyeliner. A 17 dollar stick of eyeliner… I could have bought 4 eyeliners at Wal-Mart for that price, but the salesman swore by the brand. Thank God he convinced me to buy it, or I would have absolutely nothing to prove that I had been power shopping at THE Galleria… Even typing this anecdote right now kind of burns my biscuits… It’s not like my mom and sister weren’t shopping at every store! What the heck had I been doing? Obviously just toting around all our purchases and assuming that they were mine! Jeeza Louiza…
A personal favorite stop was the American Girl store. I felt kind of out of place without a doll to tote around, but that didn’t stop my sister and I from rushing display to display checking out the latest and greatest accessories. Some of my top picks were: a Tree House, a mini replica of Jiffy pop and an 8 track player, a pet bunny rabbit, a miniature working flute, and a claw foot bath tub equipped with pink bubbles. Those “American Girl” dolls are more comfortable and well off than any normal girl in America right now! While marveling at all the neat accessories, I stumbled on an ugly truth… Poor Samantha (my American Girl doll) had been ‘vaulted.’ ‘Vaulted’ is just a nice way of saying she was not selling well and thus was discontinued. No more Samantha or all her cool, old era stuff! Nope, the blond, longhaired hippie named Julie had taken her place. Since Samantha was history, I felt like it was ONLY fitting to buy a new doll… Just kidding! But I honestly considered purchasing Lanie.
Another store that stuck out in my mind was an assorted shop called Sam Moon. My mom and sister always raved about the neat deals they find there, and occasionally even bring me a souvenir from the store, so I was pumped to see it for myself. First impression as I opened the door—Hoarders: Jewelry and Purses Edition. There was merchandise EVERYWHERE. In stacks, in bins, on the wall, in aisles, on the floor, and in every nook and cranny. I began to walk around and immediately spotted the latest craze in middle schools and apparently my sorority: Crazy Bands. They are these colored bands that you can put on your wrists or ankles. Not only are they colored but they are also in random shapes. Currently I am wearing a rocket ship, a house, and a monkey, BUT you would never know because they are stretchy. This was my first grab because I felt like only the cool kids had access to the crazy bands, and I didn’t want to feel out of the loop. After grabbing my first purchase I began to browse the outer isles… Before I could get very far, I was on my hands and knees rifling through a pile of packaged duffle bags. I wanted to find the mossy oak one that was on display! After getting through the first 15, I was rudely interrupted by a sales associate. He scolded me and insisted that I quit my search… I was terribly confused. Why couldn’t I try and find my duffle? I couldn’t even request his assistance, because he vanished as quickly as he had appeared. I was instantly annoyed… Why can’t I shop in peace, dang it?! This happened more than once in the store. The sales associates must have thought I was up to some serious shenanigans, because they wouldn’t stop messing with me. While Sam Moon had some wickedly great deals and products, skip the actual store experience! Go ahead and just make the simple trip online; the shipping and handling is worth the ease of shopping without the heckling of sales associates.
Trip Fun Fact: Before we even left the Oklahoma border, we already had stopped and shopped at 2 stores. I thought we had spent enough after those two stops to go ahead and turn around and head back to Edmond. My sister and mom thought my logic was cute, and recommended I go ahead and buckle up for the wild shopping roller coaster that was about to ensue. After day one of shopping, I was convinced the house would be repossessed by the time we got home. Again, my mom and sister tried to calm my fears by expressing that we only did this once a year… AND we have a lot of extra funds now that we don’t play softball or raise livestock. I tried to believe those weak words of comfort, but could only envision myself taking on a night job at the Dragon’s Lair to pay off the Nordstrom’s bill.
Besides the massive panic attacks I had after finishing at each check out line, I would call this two day hiatus shopping trip completely successful. I am leaving the Lone Star state with some new outfits, a fair amount of accessories, and a pig shaped bowl (don’t ask). I also have pocketed some great, FREE memories with my mom and sister. It is crazy to think that my mom now has an empty nest, and that my little sister is starting her freshmen year at college come Monday morning. Time is beginning to truly slip away, and girls’ trips like this will be fewer and fewer. Sadly enough, I am guilty of not always soaking up and appreciating the family bonding. When opportunities like this are gone and I only have the memories of my mom and sister to bring a smile to my face, I hope they all are as happy and precious as the past two days have been.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sorority Hang Over
After over 12 hours of sleep last night… plus a 4 hour nap this afternoon, I feel like I am finally returning back to my normal state of mind. 14 days with roughly 110 women can really take it out of even the strongest person. Today is the first time in 14 days that I didn’t wake up between 5 and 7 am to shower and primp. No worrying about a time schedule or missing a roll call. I was able to choose my own fate today, which ended up being a much-needed Lazy Sunday. Sorry this post is long, but know that I only included the important parts… It couldn’t be condensed anymore than this!
House Tour and Philanthropy day was my baby. I have been in charge of it for the last 3 years, and this year it was the epitome of greatness. House Tour day is ALWAYS the worst day… But sh! Don’t tell my sisters that because I talk it up like it’s the best. The major problem with the day is the technical aspect of it. It is very difficult to carry on a normal and flowing conversation when so much is crammed in. We are giving a house tour, doing a philanthropy project, listening to a musical snack, watching a philanthropy video, listening to a house mom, and of course hearing crazy songs. Between the many facts, talking points and interruptions, it is no wonder that the members freak out on my day. We made many changes to the schedule of the day and how it operates. Those changes were especially helpful to creating a smoother day; however, I can look back on one part during the day that would either make me laugh or make me cringe… Our new House Mom’s welcome speech. We had originally given her 60 seconds on the schedule, but told her 45 seconds. Sometimes Mom gets a little chatty, and time is of essence on this day. The first few speeches she gave were short and sweet… My fears of the crazy house mom coming out in her were completely dismissed; HOWEVER, about halfway through the day mom got a little too comfortable with talking.
Top 5 list of things I never want to hear come out of a House Mom’s mouth during House Tour Day:
5. “We renovated our 3rd Floor and it is absolutely great!" (All we did was clean the furniture, get new carpet, and repaint… I wouldn’t really call it a renovation. Sets the bar too high. Its more like “maintenance”).
4. “Our house cooks are awesome! We have to make them cut back on the sweets between Christmas break and Spring break so the girls can fit into their little bikinis.”
3. “We have a new rule… No cell phones at the dinner table!”
2. “We updated our kitchen because it wasn’t up to health code standards. Don’t worry though, it is perfect now!”
1. “After a night out, the girls sure do eat their way through the kitchenette! Its like a hurricane came through.”
Seriously, these were all mentioned in one speech or another. I could have sworn the last speech was like 3 minutes long. I was SO mortified, but I don’t think the PNM’s were even put off by the comments. If anything, everyone just played it off like, “Oh mom… She is so funny! Bahaha…”
After a long day with house tour, it was time for my debut! Irene’s time to shine was upon me, and I was ready to blow the crowd away! Those emotions came to a halt, though, when I discovered my wrinkly face had to talk to a PNM. After the skit, I had to go talk to a girl…. IN COMPLETE MAKEUP AND COSTUME. Skit day is fairly serious in conversation. The thought of trying to talk serious with a girl while looking like my Grandma Wylda seemed nearly impossible; nevertheless, it was still my job. It turned out that only one PNM couldn’t get past the wrinkles. Every other girl was fine, and acted normal. The best part of skit day was the improvisation happening between grandmas… Mainly between Candice and Ashley, but still… It was getting CRAZY funny by the final parties.
A PNM had asked me if I did shows, and I had a good laugh. I explained that I hadn’t even tried out for a show since my freshmen year due to a traumatic follies try-out experience. (I’ll share that story in a later blog!) This comment got me thinking though… The only reason I had tried out for grandma was because my pledge class sister said we should do it together. I had no experience dancing and little practice with singing, and our skit is known for oozing talent. These facts still hadn’t stopped me from borrowing a walker from an old lady at my church, and raiding my grandma’s belongings the weekend before try-outs. I am so glad that I hadn’t limited myself, and I am even gladder that Candice had encouraged me to try-out with her. I would have NEVER guessed 3 years ago that I would have been in the Recruitment skit my senior year. This memory will stick with me forever, and I am sure I’ll bring it up every chance I can at reunions.
Pref day was pref day… Lots of emotions and crying. The usual stealing a bite of leftover cake, and of course the usual slow walk down the formal staircase. I was given the great opportunity to read a senior letter this year, which was a cherry on top of the best recruitment. After a long night, I was so ready for bid day!
BID DAY 2010!!!
Senior recruitment has been the first of lasts. The last time the list of new freshmen is read, the last time bid day buddies are picked, the last time my pledge class would wear a bid day shirt, the last time we would welcome babies into our sisterhood. Seniors always meet in the Ballroom at the Student Union to welcome the babies and watch the Gamma Chi reveal. For some reason, it was taking an abnormally long time for the freshmen to arrive at the ballroom. This extra time led to 20 uncomfortable minutes. Usually when many different women from several greek houses get together, its nothing too bad… However, you get 11 chapter’s seniors in the same shirts, in one room, after 2 weeks of working on getting the best pledge class… It gets kinda nuts. Houses were chanting, screaming, shaking noise makers and clappers, blowing air horns, acting like they were about to play in the Big 12 Championship Football game, running around, and did I mention rollerblading around in fanny packs!? It was hilarious to watch when one sorority would do their chant, and the rest of the houses would kind of roll their eyes or give them the look down… It was one big room of catty, judging, craziness. I almost thought that we had fast forwarded to spring and it was actually greek week, OR that we hadn’t already had recruitment, but instead were trying to build a pledge class by being the loudest and most extreme. By the time the babies had gotten there and the Gamma Chi’s had revealed themselves, I was sweating like a whore in church and beyond ready to go home. As we herded up our babies, I thought of the coveted event that was about to occur: The Running of the Girls.
At OSU, Bid Day is kind of a big deal. Like, police blocking off University road, fraternities playing Chariots of Fire, families awaiting their little girls at their new houses, tons of frat boys lining the streets as if it were a parade… I had apparently blocked this whole ordeal out my freshman year, because it was still shocking to see what an event it actually was. By the time we (me and a few seniors) had WALKED back to the house, I thought I was going to heat stroke. I was SO ready to take our group pictures and GET OUT of there. I was over it all, which was a tell tale sign I am a senior. Don’t get me wrong, I was very happy we had an amazing pledge class, but I was also ready for the past 2 weeks to end! I needed a break. Some time to myself. A few minutes to dedicate to my blog! I refused to wait any longer.
Now that recruitment is over, I am anticipating watching the freshmen class bond and develop. I can’t WAIT to start homecoming. Classes can’t get here quick enough. And I am so ready to live it up my last semester in a sorority house!
House Tour and Philanthropy day was my baby. I have been in charge of it for the last 3 years, and this year it was the epitome of greatness. House Tour day is ALWAYS the worst day… But sh! Don’t tell my sisters that because I talk it up like it’s the best. The major problem with the day is the technical aspect of it. It is very difficult to carry on a normal and flowing conversation when so much is crammed in. We are giving a house tour, doing a philanthropy project, listening to a musical snack, watching a philanthropy video, listening to a house mom, and of course hearing crazy songs. Between the many facts, talking points and interruptions, it is no wonder that the members freak out on my day. We made many changes to the schedule of the day and how it operates. Those changes were especially helpful to creating a smoother day; however, I can look back on one part during the day that would either make me laugh or make me cringe… Our new House Mom’s welcome speech. We had originally given her 60 seconds on the schedule, but told her 45 seconds. Sometimes Mom gets a little chatty, and time is of essence on this day. The first few speeches she gave were short and sweet… My fears of the crazy house mom coming out in her were completely dismissed; HOWEVER, about halfway through the day mom got a little too comfortable with talking.
Top 5 list of things I never want to hear come out of a House Mom’s mouth during House Tour Day:
5. “We renovated our 3rd Floor and it is absolutely great!" (All we did was clean the furniture, get new carpet, and repaint… I wouldn’t really call it a renovation. Sets the bar too high. Its more like “maintenance”).
4. “Our house cooks are awesome! We have to make them cut back on the sweets between Christmas break and Spring break so the girls can fit into their little bikinis.”
3. “We have a new rule… No cell phones at the dinner table!”
2. “We updated our kitchen because it wasn’t up to health code standards. Don’t worry though, it is perfect now!”
1. “After a night out, the girls sure do eat their way through the kitchenette! Its like a hurricane came through.”
Seriously, these were all mentioned in one speech or another. I could have sworn the last speech was like 3 minutes long. I was SO mortified, but I don’t think the PNM’s were even put off by the comments. If anything, everyone just played it off like, “Oh mom… She is so funny! Bahaha…”
After a long day with house tour, it was time for my debut! Irene’s time to shine was upon me, and I was ready to blow the crowd away! Those emotions came to a halt, though, when I discovered my wrinkly face had to talk to a PNM. After the skit, I had to go talk to a girl…. IN COMPLETE MAKEUP AND COSTUME. Skit day is fairly serious in conversation. The thought of trying to talk serious with a girl while looking like my Grandma Wylda seemed nearly impossible; nevertheless, it was still my job. It turned out that only one PNM couldn’t get past the wrinkles. Every other girl was fine, and acted normal. The best part of skit day was the improvisation happening between grandmas… Mainly between Candice and Ashley, but still… It was getting CRAZY funny by the final parties.
A PNM had asked me if I did shows, and I had a good laugh. I explained that I hadn’t even tried out for a show since my freshmen year due to a traumatic follies try-out experience. (I’ll share that story in a later blog!) This comment got me thinking though… The only reason I had tried out for grandma was because my pledge class sister said we should do it together. I had no experience dancing and little practice with singing, and our skit is known for oozing talent. These facts still hadn’t stopped me from borrowing a walker from an old lady at my church, and raiding my grandma’s belongings the weekend before try-outs. I am so glad that I hadn’t limited myself, and I am even gladder that Candice had encouraged me to try-out with her. I would have NEVER guessed 3 years ago that I would have been in the Recruitment skit my senior year. This memory will stick with me forever, and I am sure I’ll bring it up every chance I can at reunions.
Pref day was pref day… Lots of emotions and crying. The usual stealing a bite of leftover cake, and of course the usual slow walk down the formal staircase. I was given the great opportunity to read a senior letter this year, which was a cherry on top of the best recruitment. After a long night, I was so ready for bid day!
BID DAY 2010!!!
Senior recruitment has been the first of lasts. The last time the list of new freshmen is read, the last time bid day buddies are picked, the last time my pledge class would wear a bid day shirt, the last time we would welcome babies into our sisterhood. Seniors always meet in the Ballroom at the Student Union to welcome the babies and watch the Gamma Chi reveal. For some reason, it was taking an abnormally long time for the freshmen to arrive at the ballroom. This extra time led to 20 uncomfortable minutes. Usually when many different women from several greek houses get together, its nothing too bad… However, you get 11 chapter’s seniors in the same shirts, in one room, after 2 weeks of working on getting the best pledge class… It gets kinda nuts. Houses were chanting, screaming, shaking noise makers and clappers, blowing air horns, acting like they were about to play in the Big 12 Championship Football game, running around, and did I mention rollerblading around in fanny packs!? It was hilarious to watch when one sorority would do their chant, and the rest of the houses would kind of roll their eyes or give them the look down… It was one big room of catty, judging, craziness. I almost thought that we had fast forwarded to spring and it was actually greek week, OR that we hadn’t already had recruitment, but instead were trying to build a pledge class by being the loudest and most extreme. By the time the babies had gotten there and the Gamma Chi’s had revealed themselves, I was sweating like a whore in church and beyond ready to go home. As we herded up our babies, I thought of the coveted event that was about to occur: The Running of the Girls.
At OSU, Bid Day is kind of a big deal. Like, police blocking off University road, fraternities playing Chariots of Fire, families awaiting their little girls at their new houses, tons of frat boys lining the streets as if it were a parade… I had apparently blocked this whole ordeal out my freshman year, because it was still shocking to see what an event it actually was. By the time we (me and a few seniors) had WALKED back to the house, I thought I was going to heat stroke. I was SO ready to take our group pictures and GET OUT of there. I was over it all, which was a tell tale sign I am a senior. Don’t get me wrong, I was very happy we had an amazing pledge class, but I was also ready for the past 2 weeks to end! I needed a break. Some time to myself. A few minutes to dedicate to my blog! I refused to wait any longer.
Now that recruitment is over, I am anticipating watching the freshmen class bond and develop. I can’t WAIT to start homecoming. Classes can’t get here quick enough. And I am so ready to live it up my last semester in a sorority house!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
It is Go Time!
Well last week was long, but it literally flew by. I cannot believe we opened our doors 8 times to around three-hundred and seventy-five potential new members. Potential littles, g-littles, and gg’s, are here. Recruitment 2010 did not disappoint with the quality or quantity of PNM's (Potential New Member) this year. Our PC 2010 is going to be mind-blowingly awesome. I. Can. Not. Wait. Til. Bid Day!
So, just an update on where I am at right now… I was laying in my bed last night with a bag of ice on an elevated ankle. How did I end up in this predicament? Well, I fell down the last 4 stairs yesterday before parties started. I landed on my ankle, and apparently did some damage. Disclaimer note: I HAVE fallen down the front stairs before and bounced back, but this time I landed severely WRONG. Now my biggest fear is not being able to wear my heels tomorrow! Seriously, though. I bought these sassy, purple ruffley heels with only one purpose in mind… House Tour. My dress is yellow, the heels are purple, and let me tell you this… I look like someone whose sixth sense is fashion! This outfit is the exact opposite to the oblivious dork I was 3 years ago going through recruitment. Mark my words—Come hell or high water, my swollen kankle WILL be in those heels tomorrow strutting through this house.
PS- If you are ever wondering whether or not I am loving my roommates this semester, let me share a story. 7 and 11 are our room numbers, so we refer to ourselves as 7-11. Last night I thought my ankle was going to fall off. It was hot and swollen and painful. Now, I will be the first to tell you that I did not pick my roommates, nor did they choose me; however, we have actually clicked. To my surprise we blend really well as 5 individuals… So when I thought my ankle needed x-rays last night, I asked which one of them would be taking me to the Stillwater ER. All 4 answered without hesitation in a resounding, “Yes, we will take you!” That moment was when I realized this semester rooming situation would not suck, but instead be an enjoyable and unforgettable adventure like always!
I don’t know why I over-booked my senior recruitment… House Tour chair, skit grandma, AND being a senior… Listen. Too much. If you weren’t aware, being a senior during work week and recruitment is kind of like being a CEO. You have been here and done it twice. You know the in’s and out’s. As a senior, you make sure things run correctly. Usually the seniors embrace the responsibility with a sense of cruelty and brashness… And my opinion is that it has worked for the most part; however, MLZ (senior pledge class) wanted to take a different route. In the spirit of… Well… Spirit Week, MLZ decided to be more laid back and maintain a positive attitude. The reason being that no wants to be yelled at and cut down multiple times by the upperclassmen. I am pleased to announce that we have be assertively stern, but optimistically encouraging. It has been a good balance, which truly does make the whole recruitment experience more fun and memorable for the RIGHT reasons. Plus, I think it helps us rush girls better.
These first two days have been “Open House Round.” This means the party is short, and more like a mixer atmosphere. The PNM’s and members are just trying to get introduced and comfortable. This is my favorite rush day because you never talk longer than 9 minutes, and topics like “Cupcake Wars,” walking like a t-rex through the house, overall clumsiness, and sun tanning next to Will Smith at Cabo are normal. I am much more comfortable talking about those topics then the more serious conversations. I think we can all agree though that any conversation is possible if the member and pnm match up is good.
I really wish I could be more specific about some of my conversations (some are REAL funny!), but I am not exactly for certain if that is kosher or allowed. If I get kicked out of my sorority, then the blog dies all together… So I am playing it safe! I will tell you 2 truths about Recruitment that have been painfully clear these past 2 days... 1. Every time a party starts, I feel myself warping into a Stepford wife. Its like when the front door opens, and the sun and PNM's shine through, my body and demeanor warp into the perfect sorority girl. From how I talk to how I walk... And it isn't even becoming a different person... It is literally just switching over from chilled but kind of aggressive Cameron to warm, smiley Cameron. 2. I have a permanent cotton mouth. Yes, it might be from talking to a lot of girls in a room with a high decibel level... But really, I cannot ignore the fact that I have eaten 9-10 peppermints in less than 6 hours. The reason being obvious (don't want stank breath when talking to a PNM). Welcome to 2 Recruitment realities on the other side.
I had a lot of input and comments about the grandma blog. I am happy to report that Irene is no longer an empty shell. As of Alumni Skit night on Saturday, Irene has become the sweet, southern grandma who might sit next to you at church. I am a good ying to the other two grandma’s yang.
Wish me good luck on House Tour tomorrow and I will be updating as soon as possible!
So, just an update on where I am at right now… I was laying in my bed last night with a bag of ice on an elevated ankle. How did I end up in this predicament? Well, I fell down the last 4 stairs yesterday before parties started. I landed on my ankle, and apparently did some damage. Disclaimer note: I HAVE fallen down the front stairs before and bounced back, but this time I landed severely WRONG. Now my biggest fear is not being able to wear my heels tomorrow! Seriously, though. I bought these sassy, purple ruffley heels with only one purpose in mind… House Tour. My dress is yellow, the heels are purple, and let me tell you this… I look like someone whose sixth sense is fashion! This outfit is the exact opposite to the oblivious dork I was 3 years ago going through recruitment. Mark my words—Come hell or high water, my swollen kankle WILL be in those heels tomorrow strutting through this house.
PS- If you are ever wondering whether or not I am loving my roommates this semester, let me share a story. 7 and 11 are our room numbers, so we refer to ourselves as 7-11. Last night I thought my ankle was going to fall off. It was hot and swollen and painful. Now, I will be the first to tell you that I did not pick my roommates, nor did they choose me; however, we have actually clicked. To my surprise we blend really well as 5 individuals… So when I thought my ankle needed x-rays last night, I asked which one of them would be taking me to the Stillwater ER. All 4 answered without hesitation in a resounding, “Yes, we will take you!” That moment was when I realized this semester rooming situation would not suck, but instead be an enjoyable and unforgettable adventure like always!
I don’t know why I over-booked my senior recruitment… House Tour chair, skit grandma, AND being a senior… Listen. Too much. If you weren’t aware, being a senior during work week and recruitment is kind of like being a CEO. You have been here and done it twice. You know the in’s and out’s. As a senior, you make sure things run correctly. Usually the seniors embrace the responsibility with a sense of cruelty and brashness… And my opinion is that it has worked for the most part; however, MLZ (senior pledge class) wanted to take a different route. In the spirit of… Well… Spirit Week, MLZ decided to be more laid back and maintain a positive attitude. The reason being that no wants to be yelled at and cut down multiple times by the upperclassmen. I am pleased to announce that we have be assertively stern, but optimistically encouraging. It has been a good balance, which truly does make the whole recruitment experience more fun and memorable for the RIGHT reasons. Plus, I think it helps us rush girls better.
These first two days have been “Open House Round.” This means the party is short, and more like a mixer atmosphere. The PNM’s and members are just trying to get introduced and comfortable. This is my favorite rush day because you never talk longer than 9 minutes, and topics like “Cupcake Wars,” walking like a t-rex through the house, overall clumsiness, and sun tanning next to Will Smith at Cabo are normal. I am much more comfortable talking about those topics then the more serious conversations. I think we can all agree though that any conversation is possible if the member and pnm match up is good.
I really wish I could be more specific about some of my conversations (some are REAL funny!), but I am not exactly for certain if that is kosher or allowed. If I get kicked out of my sorority, then the blog dies all together… So I am playing it safe! I will tell you 2 truths about Recruitment that have been painfully clear these past 2 days... 1. Every time a party starts, I feel myself warping into a Stepford wife. Its like when the front door opens, and the sun and PNM's shine through, my body and demeanor warp into the perfect sorority girl. From how I talk to how I walk... And it isn't even becoming a different person... It is literally just switching over from chilled but kind of aggressive Cameron to warm, smiley Cameron. 2. I have a permanent cotton mouth. Yes, it might be from talking to a lot of girls in a room with a high decibel level... But really, I cannot ignore the fact that I have eaten 9-10 peppermints in less than 6 hours. The reason being obvious (don't want stank breath when talking to a PNM). Welcome to 2 Recruitment realities on the other side.
I had a lot of input and comments about the grandma blog. I am happy to report that Irene is no longer an empty shell. As of Alumni Skit night on Saturday, Irene has become the sweet, southern grandma who might sit next to you at church. I am a good ying to the other two grandma’s yang.
Wish me good luck on House Tour tomorrow and I will be updating as soon as possible!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Getting My Grandma On
Right now I am in a pickle…. I am trying to find myself. It’s not what you think though. I am not in a mid-life crisis, nor am I going through my pre-teens where I can’t figure out if I like Edward or Jacob more. My crisis centers around orthopedic shoes, false teeth, and rolly walkers. What is my Grandma personality!? Irene is an empty shell right now. She has so much potential, but I just don’t know what to do.
The REAL dilemma is that my co-grandma’s are UH-mazing! Like today I was wondering if they might actually be kindred 89 year-old souls trapped in a hot sorority body. They have funny voices and funny grandma stories/phrases… Where do you even learn stuff like that!? My grandma’s bios are as follows: dead and REAL rude. Not much inspiration.
So in an effort to find my inner grandma, I am googling, yahooing, ask jeeving, and youtubing everything old, grandma, and decrepit. To be honest, there isn’t a WHOLE lot of usable material. It is like the Wiki leaks… Lots of stuff pulls up, but you have to do a whole lot of sifting and deciphering to figure out what really is going on… Some of the videos have kind of been sad. Others terrify me because I never want to get so old that a nursing home attendant is SCREAMING in my ear so we can converse.
Some ideas I have been entertaining…
Irene the Alzheimer’s patient. A mix between Drew Barrymore in 50 first dates and Dory from Finding Nemo. AKA I wouldn’t be sad, but more funny and cute. You know… Like the old couple at Braums where the old husband is ordering her favorite flavor of ice cream because she couldn’t remember…
Irene the Blanche Devereaux from the Golden Girls. Kind of raunchy and suggestive. She is fun and knows how to keep life from getting boring. The only problem is, I can’t truly even relate to that person right now. This one is fun in theory, but should be done by someone else.
Irene the sweet southern grandma. This is my personal favorite. She has a long, drawn out voice with a hit of twang. She is VERY classy and poised. Not the jokey/fun grandma who is eccentric, but more reserved and elegant.
We will see. I am nervous as all get out! I do NOT want to be the sore spot on the skit. I have huge shoes to fill AND I have NOTHING to redeem me… No awesome voice or stellar moves. My contribution solely relies on fulfilling the Irene character to the fullest. Please put me down on your prayer request list, because I need all the help I can get. I have basically 24 hours or less to figure this out.
PS- I wore my orthopedic shoes to El Vaq today. They are white and velcro. Live it. Love it. They aren't coming off for the rest of the week.
The REAL dilemma is that my co-grandma’s are UH-mazing! Like today I was wondering if they might actually be kindred 89 year-old souls trapped in a hot sorority body. They have funny voices and funny grandma stories/phrases… Where do you even learn stuff like that!? My grandma’s bios are as follows: dead and REAL rude. Not much inspiration.
So in an effort to find my inner grandma, I am googling, yahooing, ask jeeving, and youtubing everything old, grandma, and decrepit. To be honest, there isn’t a WHOLE lot of usable material. It is like the Wiki leaks… Lots of stuff pulls up, but you have to do a whole lot of sifting and deciphering to figure out what really is going on… Some of the videos have kind of been sad. Others terrify me because I never want to get so old that a nursing home attendant is SCREAMING in my ear so we can converse.
Some ideas I have been entertaining…
Irene the Alzheimer’s patient. A mix between Drew Barrymore in 50 first dates and Dory from Finding Nemo. AKA I wouldn’t be sad, but more funny and cute. You know… Like the old couple at Braums where the old husband is ordering her favorite flavor of ice cream because she couldn’t remember…
Irene the Blanche Devereaux from the Golden Girls. Kind of raunchy and suggestive. She is fun and knows how to keep life from getting boring. The only problem is, I can’t truly even relate to that person right now. This one is fun in theory, but should be done by someone else.
Irene the sweet southern grandma. This is my personal favorite. She has a long, drawn out voice with a hit of twang. She is VERY classy and poised. Not the jokey/fun grandma who is eccentric, but more reserved and elegant.
We will see. I am nervous as all get out! I do NOT want to be the sore spot on the skit. I have huge shoes to fill AND I have NOTHING to redeem me… No awesome voice or stellar moves. My contribution solely relies on fulfilling the Irene character to the fullest. Please put me down on your prayer request list, because I need all the help I can get. I have basically 24 hours or less to figure this out.
PS- I wore my orthopedic shoes to El Vaq today. They are white and velcro. Live it. Love it. They aren't coming off for the rest of the week.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Ready or Not
Spirit Week has officially kicked off. As of 2 pm this afternoon, our whole chapter was moved in, and sitting in the dining room listening to our Recruitment chairs chant the longest chant I had heard thus far in my life. Don’t get me wrong, it was an AWESOME chant, but I always thought chants were relatively short. What comes to mind is a softball chant that we use to cheer after every game. Win or lose, it was always yelled with gusto and it goes a little something like this, “WE ARE PROUD OF YOU, SAY WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! HEY, HEY, HEY!” And repeat. 7 different words are used in that chant. The one we learned today felt like a Shakespeare monologue… But again, it had a terribly fun and catchy beat. Touché Recruitment Chairs, touché!
After pumping us up with the chant we were hit with some CRAZY news. Quota, the sorority word for girls required for the new pledge class, is 65! Whoa… To put this in perspective… I think we had like 43 girls MAX my freshmen year. 25 extra girls is NUTS! After trying to swallow that news, our house mom addressed the chapter. Now, if you are in my sorority, I would like to preface this with a statement. I do NOT claim to have gotten to really know her, but the few times we have interacted…. Lets just say she has rubbed me the wrong way. So anyways, the house mom was talking to the chapter, and I was kind of zoning out until she put a smack down on us. She made a new rule. No phones at the dinner table. Okay, before you jump down my throat and tell me this is understandable… I will go ahead and agree with you AND mom!! I think texting at the table is not the most courteous thing to do, but let me also point out two things. One- We are in a new day and age. Technology rules our life, and I feel like if someone is on the phone texting at the table, it is something important. I don’t believe I have ever been in the dining room eating with a sister who literally had one hand on her iPhone and one hand shoveling food with a fork. Seriously. Second- I don’t know about y’all… But I moved out of my parent’s house 3 years ago. I haven’t had a guardian place a rule/ban on me since I started OSU…. I don’t feel like it is the house mom’s job to ban cell phones from the dining room as a solution to the problem. I would have MUCH more appreciated a friendly reminder that it is rude to be on the phone when eating at the table. Courteous reminder would go over with me 100% better than a complete ban.
So while I am fuming about the new extreme rule… I was hit with the most cliché thing I have ever heard so far in my sorority career. It was something that only would be seen in a movie making fun of sororities. Literally, I couldn’t believe this was seriously being talked about, nonetheless the FOURTH thing on the agenda for our first chapter meeting. No kidding you, but today we had a sister stand up and give a Spray Tanning Seminar. For about 5 minutes, we discussed the do’s and don’ts of spray tans. Personally, I haven’t spray tanned since Junior year of high school for prom. I looked like an orange alien for prom pictures… I haven’t been back since! So, now I would like to share with you what I learned. Yes, I did take notes.
#1 The BEST places to get a spray tan in Stillwater are the Rivera on Western or Tan and Tone.
#2 Always wait 6 hours before you shower after being sprayed… Helpful tip: spray tan at night so you can sleep and avoid bathing.
#3 Ever wonder why you are splotchy 3 days after your spray time?! Well, you are NOT suppose to put on scented body lotion or crazy body washes… Use only Jergens or plain soap to avoid looking like a leper.
#4 You should spray this week so your tan has time to adjust to your body. Don’t wait til the night before Open House Round.
#5 Just because you can do level 3 tanning does NOT me you should.
Anymore questions should be directed to the house expert. The rest of the day was just a couple more meetings. Today was a like a warm up walk before we start running tomorrow.
Favorite quote of the day, “The sorority is like a cruise… Its all inclusive. You get your room free and lots of free food, but you pay a crap ton of money for it!”
After pumping us up with the chant we were hit with some CRAZY news. Quota, the sorority word for girls required for the new pledge class, is 65! Whoa… To put this in perspective… I think we had like 43 girls MAX my freshmen year. 25 extra girls is NUTS! After trying to swallow that news, our house mom addressed the chapter. Now, if you are in my sorority, I would like to preface this with a statement. I do NOT claim to have gotten to really know her, but the few times we have interacted…. Lets just say she has rubbed me the wrong way. So anyways, the house mom was talking to the chapter, and I was kind of zoning out until she put a smack down on us. She made a new rule. No phones at the dinner table. Okay, before you jump down my throat and tell me this is understandable… I will go ahead and agree with you AND mom!! I think texting at the table is not the most courteous thing to do, but let me also point out two things. One- We are in a new day and age. Technology rules our life, and I feel like if someone is on the phone texting at the table, it is something important. I don’t believe I have ever been in the dining room eating with a sister who literally had one hand on her iPhone and one hand shoveling food with a fork. Seriously. Second- I don’t know about y’all… But I moved out of my parent’s house 3 years ago. I haven’t had a guardian place a rule/ban on me since I started OSU…. I don’t feel like it is the house mom’s job to ban cell phones from the dining room as a solution to the problem. I would have MUCH more appreciated a friendly reminder that it is rude to be on the phone when eating at the table. Courteous reminder would go over with me 100% better than a complete ban.
So while I am fuming about the new extreme rule… I was hit with the most cliché thing I have ever heard so far in my sorority career. It was something that only would be seen in a movie making fun of sororities. Literally, I couldn’t believe this was seriously being talked about, nonetheless the FOURTH thing on the agenda for our first chapter meeting. No kidding you, but today we had a sister stand up and give a Spray Tanning Seminar. For about 5 minutes, we discussed the do’s and don’ts of spray tans. Personally, I haven’t spray tanned since Junior year of high school for prom. I looked like an orange alien for prom pictures… I haven’t been back since! So, now I would like to share with you what I learned. Yes, I did take notes.
#1 The BEST places to get a spray tan in Stillwater are the Rivera on Western or Tan and Tone.
#2 Always wait 6 hours before you shower after being sprayed… Helpful tip: spray tan at night so you can sleep and avoid bathing.
#3 Ever wonder why you are splotchy 3 days after your spray time?! Well, you are NOT suppose to put on scented body lotion or crazy body washes… Use only Jergens or plain soap to avoid looking like a leper.
#4 You should spray this week so your tan has time to adjust to your body. Don’t wait til the night before Open House Round.
#5 Just because you can do level 3 tanning does NOT me you should.
Anymore questions should be directed to the house expert. The rest of the day was just a couple more meetings. Today was a like a warm up walk before we start running tomorrow.
Favorite quote of the day, “The sorority is like a cruise… Its all inclusive. You get your room free and lots of free food, but you pay a crap ton of money for it!”
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Semester 6
Well, I officially moved back into the mansion. Things that happened....
1) Lots of screaming and high pitched reunions up and down the halls “OH MY GOSH!!!!!!! I have missed you SOOOO MUCH! You look great! How was your summer?! Where are you living?.... Oh yeah, my big lived there last year! OMG this is going to be a great year!”
2) Wishing over and over that my boyfriend didn’t work today, and could help me for more than his 1 hour lunch break. OR that my parents had offered to come assist… But they quit moving in their baby girl about 3 semesters ago. Basically it comes down to the fact that I really needed help walking all my crap up the tiny, cramped back stairs.
3) I kept wondering continuously, “Why I am moving into the house again for a SIXTH semester....” This is SO much work setting up camp! It is amazing how 2 truck loads of boxes, clothes, decorations, bags, and suitcases can fit into such a tiny room. It is like watching an episode of hoarders in rewind and then started over again. Clean, then cluttered, then back to organized. All of my stuff was literally covering the entire floor space. So many shoes, I began to wonder if in a past life I was a centipede. And you think I was about to start my own Staples or Hobby Lobby franchise with all my office and craft supplies.
4) Checking in at a front desk with mom.... As if we were moving into a hotel. I mean the house is basically a hotel. Free hot breakfast in the morning, free toilet paper, shotty wifi internet, and free cable. Differences might trump the similarities in the end... You know, like only free cable on two tvs, no fridges in the rooms, no maids and sharing a bathroom with other rooms.
5) I miss my baby.... My little baby Malibu. Can I sneak her in? I mean I might have to put her in some kind of seeing eye dog program. Then I would have an excuse for her to constantly be with me.
6) Made only ONE trip to Wal Mart, AND I only deviated from the list once. Um, can you say impressive squared?!
7) Walked into my room, and my roommate was finishing her free weight ab work out… Oh and did I mention she had run 4 miles before that? Yeah... Made my daily stretching routine and mild cardio look like a joke. And by mild cardio, I mean carrying totes up stairs… I broke a sweat so it counts.
8) My very lovely Rose (a sophomore) helped me carry up two loads of stuff… Living proof that sisterhood is still alive. Helping a sister move in is equivalent to trying to locate your drunk friend in Stillwater with the following directions, “I am at a house. It’s near a corner and I am feeling sick…. Click.” It is never something you want to do, but in the situation, What Would A REAL Sister Do (WWRSD), you always go ahead and bear the burden. True friendship shines brightly in both situations.
9) I spilt a total of 3 diet cokes today. Dumped a box of 300 pictures and about 50 thumb tacks on the bedroom floor. AND slammed my baby toe into the concrete barrier that stops cars from bulldozing into our house. Let’s talk about the irritation level I was at by about 1:30 pm. Luckily I had bought two 24 packs of diet coke at wal mart. Be prepared. Number 1 rule of Spirit Week.
10) There is a walker in my room. Like an old person’s walker…. No, I didn’t have a hip replacement. And no, my roommate isn’t a geriatric patient… It just so happens, yours truly is in the coveted house skit. You may be pondering, “Wow I have never seen Cameron’s dance moves with a walker.” Or, “I don’t ever remember Cameron belting out a Celine Dion song… But she must have been good to make the skit.” Um… Well… I still can’t dance. (Follies 2007 Try Out Disaster still stands true) and I did show off my beautiful voice, but I didn’t get a singing part… Nope! I am going to be an ACTRESS. A single threat! That walker is my supporting prop in my role as Irene, the grandma. I got the part because I was REALLY good at dressing up as a grandma, but don’t be confused when you see it and I don’t sing or dance. This is a strictly speaking role.
11) I saw some of my favorite people today. Women who I don’t realize how much I have missed until I hear their voice. I wonder how I lasted 2 months without their corny jokes, goofy smiles or ridiculous ways. Moving in isn’t always the most enjoyable process. It actually makes me a frazzled, disgruntled hag, but once everything is in its place, and my bed is made… I can truly enjoy the screaming reunions and recaps of everyone’s summer vacation. I can even fill out an overly complicated check-in form for mom.
Turns out I am actually looking forward to the upcoming week. It will be the last time I go through recruitment, which is terribly bittersweet. The last time I am semi-locked in with my sisters. The last time I will have any influence on the future women in the sorority. I am determined to go out with a bang though. These lasts will be full of memories, and I will definitely leave my mark on both House Tour Day and dear old Grandma Irene.
1) Lots of screaming and high pitched reunions up and down the halls “OH MY GOSH!!!!!!! I have missed you SOOOO MUCH! You look great! How was your summer?! Where are you living?.... Oh yeah, my big lived there last year! OMG this is going to be a great year!”
2) Wishing over and over that my boyfriend didn’t work today, and could help me for more than his 1 hour lunch break. OR that my parents had offered to come assist… But they quit moving in their baby girl about 3 semesters ago. Basically it comes down to the fact that I really needed help walking all my crap up the tiny, cramped back stairs.
3) I kept wondering continuously, “Why I am moving into the house again for a SIXTH semester....” This is SO much work setting up camp! It is amazing how 2 truck loads of boxes, clothes, decorations, bags, and suitcases can fit into such a tiny room. It is like watching an episode of hoarders in rewind and then started over again. Clean, then cluttered, then back to organized. All of my stuff was literally covering the entire floor space. So many shoes, I began to wonder if in a past life I was a centipede. And you think I was about to start my own Staples or Hobby Lobby franchise with all my office and craft supplies.
4) Checking in at a front desk with mom.... As if we were moving into a hotel. I mean the house is basically a hotel. Free hot breakfast in the morning, free toilet paper, shotty wifi internet, and free cable. Differences might trump the similarities in the end... You know, like only free cable on two tvs, no fridges in the rooms, no maids and sharing a bathroom with other rooms.
5) I miss my baby.... My little baby Malibu. Can I sneak her in? I mean I might have to put her in some kind of seeing eye dog program. Then I would have an excuse for her to constantly be with me.
6) Made only ONE trip to Wal Mart, AND I only deviated from the list once. Um, can you say impressive squared?!
7) Walked into my room, and my roommate was finishing her free weight ab work out… Oh and did I mention she had run 4 miles before that? Yeah... Made my daily stretching routine and mild cardio look like a joke. And by mild cardio, I mean carrying totes up stairs… I broke a sweat so it counts.
8) My very lovely Rose (a sophomore) helped me carry up two loads of stuff… Living proof that sisterhood is still alive. Helping a sister move in is equivalent to trying to locate your drunk friend in Stillwater with the following directions, “I am at a house. It’s near a corner and I am feeling sick…. Click.” It is never something you want to do, but in the situation, What Would A REAL Sister Do (WWRSD), you always go ahead and bear the burden. True friendship shines brightly in both situations.
9) I spilt a total of 3 diet cokes today. Dumped a box of 300 pictures and about 50 thumb tacks on the bedroom floor. AND slammed my baby toe into the concrete barrier that stops cars from bulldozing into our house. Let’s talk about the irritation level I was at by about 1:30 pm. Luckily I had bought two 24 packs of diet coke at wal mart. Be prepared. Number 1 rule of Spirit Week.
10) There is a walker in my room. Like an old person’s walker…. No, I didn’t have a hip replacement. And no, my roommate isn’t a geriatric patient… It just so happens, yours truly is in the coveted house skit. You may be pondering, “Wow I have never seen Cameron’s dance moves with a walker.” Or, “I don’t ever remember Cameron belting out a Celine Dion song… But she must have been good to make the skit.” Um… Well… I still can’t dance. (Follies 2007 Try Out Disaster still stands true) and I did show off my beautiful voice, but I didn’t get a singing part… Nope! I am going to be an ACTRESS. A single threat! That walker is my supporting prop in my role as Irene, the grandma. I got the part because I was REALLY good at dressing up as a grandma, but don’t be confused when you see it and I don’t sing or dance. This is a strictly speaking role.
11) I saw some of my favorite people today. Women who I don’t realize how much I have missed until I hear their voice. I wonder how I lasted 2 months without their corny jokes, goofy smiles or ridiculous ways. Moving in isn’t always the most enjoyable process. It actually makes me a frazzled, disgruntled hag, but once everything is in its place, and my bed is made… I can truly enjoy the screaming reunions and recaps of everyone’s summer vacation. I can even fill out an overly complicated check-in form for mom.
Turns out I am actually looking forward to the upcoming week. It will be the last time I go through recruitment, which is terribly bittersweet. The last time I am semi-locked in with my sisters. The last time I will have any influence on the future women in the sorority. I am determined to go out with a bang though. These lasts will be full of memories, and I will definitely leave my mark on both House Tour Day and dear old Grandma Irene.
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