Stuff having to do with the world of journalism.
You gave me a purpose
when I didn’t believe.
You pulled me from the dirt,
kissed me, and forgave me.
You taught me to feel
and you stuck around
when no one would.
I guess you’ve been here all along.
You pushed me off; I thought I died.
But I didn’t.
I learned to fly.
I was just afraid of heights.
The time came; I was ready.
I smiled crying,
sank to my knees,
and forgave the hands that hurt me.
“Leap For Joy” by Emily Olson
This week, SpaceX’s private all civilian mission to space “Inspiration 4” set to launch a crew of four civilian astronauts to space was cleared to launch on September 15th. China’s Zhurong Mars rover sent back a panorama of mars ahead of the communications blackout to come in the next few months. Firefly Aerospace’s first rocket exploded during its debut launch after experiencing a major anomaly in the rocket’s first stage. NASA’s Perseverance rover got it’s first core sample of a martian rock. SpaceX’s dragon supply rocket docked with the space station, delivering 2.4 tons of cargo to the astronauts aboard it. And Boeing’s Starliner was delayed yet again, possibly even until next year.
Photo credit: Spaceflightnow.com
Earlier this week in the rural streets of a small town in California there was a recent act of domestic violence. This act was witnessed by a local mother on her way to pick her son up from school. She has asked to remain anonymous for the story but did disclose information about the acts that occurred. The mother has said that she witnessed a man running shirtless with a baby down the street with a woman running after him. Because of what the mother saw she decided to loop around the block because of her concern for the situation. The situation escalated quickly turning from a simple argument to a full on fight, this was set off because the woman had pulled the baby from the man’s arms. The whiteness said “once the baby was in the woman’s arms the man started to pull at her hair and eventually kicked her in the face”. Around this time the whiteness had decided that it was about time to call the cops, but she was interrupted by the man who yelled at her for help to save the baby. The whiteness then exited her vehicle and attempted to stop the conflict and whilst she was doing this the police showed up and stopped the conflict. The whiteness final statement was “I was sincerely concerned for the well being for that baby because it was not crying”. She then elaborated that the baby not crying most likely means that this is not the first time a situation like this has occurred.
Photo Credit: Worddreams
Music taste is such a weird concept. Does no one ever think about that? Like we all hear the same song and yet some of us love it and some hate it. It makes no sense, the idea that someone can hate the same song that you love is insane. Even though you hear the exact same notes at the exact same time your attitude towards the song is completely different from someone else’s. Currently I am listening to 505 by The Arctic Monkeys. Many people love that song I think it’s a great song, but a lot of people can’t stand it. Like does that just make sense to everyone? I dunno it just seems so weird that preferences can be so radically different when the base on which you’re making your preference is the same. I dunno it just seems really weird to me.
photo credit: spotify
I suck at golf. I used to be really good at golf. I started about two years ago and kept getting better. I didn’t have to practice to improve, I would just magically shave off a few strokes a month. Last summer, about one year into it, I found myself scoring in the low 80’s, so I figured hey if I’m just improving like this I should probably keep doing what I’m doing.
Little did I know I was doing a whole lot of nothing. I was just going to play golf at courses, never going to the range or putting green to practice. This caught up to me when I returned to school this year to find out that I was no longer the best golfer on the team.
I’m not necessarily mad at it, just annoyed that someone whose name rhymes with schmogan won’t shut the fuck up about the fact that he’s now better than me. To be honest I do probably deserve a taste of my own medicine as I did the same to him all last year.
I am probably gonna start practicing and trying to get better now that I feel the need to be better than schmogan. Sort of glad I have someone to push me to practice, a reason to actually focus on improving but also don’t know if I want to improve. The last time I played was just a club throwing demonstration so maybe I just need to be a little bit less of a baby.
As I joined the workforce over summer I found an underlying passion for making smoothies. From the outside smoothies seem basic and boring; but once I was introduced into the world of smoothie making my eyes were opened for the first time in my life. A good smoothie is defined by a smooth texture and an even yet diverse flavor profile. I mastered my techniques while working full time at a deli, juggling responsibilities and multiple orders at a time, while still sanctioning my control over every ingredient and the overall texture of the cool beverage. In the end, smoothie making taught me to keep a level head through adversity.
Photo Credit: tasteofhome.com
In my everyday life I could fall upwards to five times, and it is quite embarrassing. One instance I can remember is when I went to Montgomery, Alabama. I was walking along the river on one of those raised ledges, thinking everything was fine. It was not fine, I fell off, and now I have a lasting scar. I did not cry and it barely hurt, I was more embarrassed than anything. Everyone who was on that river that day saw me and kept coming up to me to see if I was okay… I did not like the attention.
Another embarrassing moment is everytime I see a person I know in public. I do not like talking to people and I know that if I see someone I know, they’ll come up to me to talk. I do talk to them because I don’t like being rude, but I am worried that I am going to say or do something weird.
There are moments when I find myself caught in the cross fire between my heart and my head. I often cant decided weather or not I should listen to the voices in my head telling me what to do, or my heart guiding me in in the direction of possible heart break. I want to follow the direction of my heart, but my head always stops me and poses the question of “what if”
So now when my mind is blank, the thought of the matter at hand will cross my previously calm mind. And suddenly, there’s a sense of panic that overtakes me and I feel uneasy. As if I am stuck with a decision that for one reason or another, my mind can not physically comprehend because my heart will still get in the way.
One way or another, my heart and mind play tricks on each other, but both only have the best of intensions for my own happiness. So there lies the conflict, when is it that I listen to my head, and when do I listen to my heart?
Is it worth the minor lapses of fear and judgment for potential happiness? Or is it that I should disregard both and simply try and play it safe.
Even that question is too grand to answer for myself. So I still remain to question decisions, or simply protect myself from a risk just to avoid the confusion of my heart. I consistently bombard myself with the age old question of “what if?”
But maybe someday, I will listen to the deep feelings being stirred in my heart and follow that, for it could lead me to my greatest potential happiness. Maybe I will rebut the question of “what if?” with “why not?”.
I have both shots as of yesterday, and all I can say is wahoo!
I mean the first shot made me really tired and my arm sore, but nothing really bad. And the second shot caused me to get chills, massive headaches, and pass out. But all I can say is hallelujah… I am vaccinated and can finally start getting back to normal.
I still have to wait a couple weeks until I can leave my house without mask, according to the CDC guidelines, but it is one step closer to normalcy. I still plan on wearing a mask for many reasons- to protect myself, to protect those who haven’t gotten a vaccine, and to make it known that I am not an anti- masker or a republican.
Speaking of normalcy, what is it? It is not like I will be going to massive parties or hanging in large groups, I did not even do that before the pandemic. I think normalcy is going outside without a mask, making plans- such as brunch with friends or shopping at the mall- and seeing family members I haven’t been able to see since the start of COVID.
Being vaccinated will allow me to do “normal” everyday things and activities without the fear of catching a deadly virus.
Why is it so hard to let myself fully fall into a relationship.
I may be passionate about the person and they hold a deep place of significance in my heart, yet I still struggle to let them in and take the walls surrounding my heart down.
I remain guarded, in order to protect the innocence and intensity of love from reaching me. Is it that I am not capable of feeling and accepting it? Or is it I’d rather stay safe and remain living a simple life of independence.
There are many times of questioned that. Where I think, could he be the one I decide to try and dive into love once again with?
But instead, I sabotage it, I turn the passionate feelings off, I shut down…
So why is it that my mind must do this to my heart which longs so deeply for human connection?
Why must there be something that reminds me of the joy I feel when I am a free spirit?
Maybe it is simply that I have not met the person that can match my sense of adventure and unwavering free spirit that can be overwhelming to some.
The problem is, I hurt people with this self destructive behavior of mine even though that is far from my goal.
OVS Journalism Blog 
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