I'm Leaving the Call Center and It Hurts.

I’m not really sure how to start this blog. FIRST, let me just say that last week I got my nails done at Wal-Mart for six dollars. SIX DOLLARS. I felt so fancy, until I completely flubbed up one of my nails on my steering wheel while getting into my car five minutes afterwards. 

Such is life.

That was the start to one of the more drama filled weekends that I’ve had in quite some time, ranging from family issues, to friends being unfriendly, to work situations being less than desirable. And then there is today.

It’s my last day at the UT Tyler call center, and I’m not sure what I should be feeling. Part of me really wants to be excited for another new beginning. New people, new challenges, new circumstances that will inevitably make me a better or worse person. The invariable changes that are straight up facts of life. We grow until we can’t anymore. We move on.

But don't be sad! This isn't my last blog! It's just my last day working here. And I have had great memories. And I've gotten really good at things that I've never had the chance to do before, like eating cupcakes at a big fancy desk, and writing about Disney princesses, and making memes, and calling kids who really, really want to come to UT Tyler, and being hung up on many times by other kids who in fact do NOT want to come to UT Tyler but you know what that's YOUR LOSS because I'm fun to talk to! Ahem.

That Big Book Review: 10 Slightly Clumsy Steps

AKA my writing process.

AKA
Via All Voices

So I'm taking a shot at writing about my writing process. I am also doing this to avoid writing a paper I have due next week. Get ready, y'all, I'm about to blow your minds. Drum-roll please! I have no idea what I'm doing. 

My Big, Gay Blog Post

My Relationship with the Word Queer

I identify as queer. That being said, it’s a word that I have a love/hate relationship with- just like I do with chocolate, my cat Burnie, and expensive makeup. I use the word queer mainly because I don’t feel comfortable yet telling people that in my heart of hearts I identify as a unicorn kitty. Being queer is very much a part of me now, but I usually get mixed reactions when I describe myself in that way. Most people say something like:

But isn’t Queer an insult?

Well, not necessarily. It has been used as a pejorative word to describe LGBTQ people. However, this word is slowly being taken back by those who identify as Queer. Any word can be negative or positive, depending on the intent of the person who is saying it and the context of which it is said. That’s part of what makes language so fun.

Let me explain.

Via RainbowUnicornKitty

National Coming Out Day at UT Tyler!

Friday- October 11, 2013
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

Location: On Harvey Deck between the lakes at UT Tyler

NationalComing Out Day will be a really important day for everyone in the LGBTQIA (affectionately known as alphabet soup, break-down found here) community. For me, NCOD brings back fond memories of those awkward conversations with my parents and the moment I was finally ready to be OUT on Facebook. I know. Public announcements are kinda my thing. 

Oh by the way, I'm queer.
Via Taro Gold

So please, come show some love to anyone and everyone! There will be festivities, brought to you by the Gay Straight Alliance here at The University of Texas at Tyler. 

There will be a photo booth with a ton of fun props to use. We will have a dry erase board, so you can write messages of affirmation to little coming-out-newbies or tell us why coming out is important to you. 

We have invited Airyka Adonis to join us as well! She is a fabulous entertainer, so come get your picture taken with this foxy queen and meet and great new people!

Introducing... Airyka Adonis!

The GSA will also be giving away leis with positive affirmations attached to them. We want this Friday to be full of fun, quirky and uplifting vibes. Lastly, THERE WILL BE SKITTLES.

You know what to do.
Via Deviant Art

I know you guys are all just as excited as I am. Coming out is hard, and one thing that makes it easier is knowing that you have a group of people who love and accept you, no matter what. That’s why National Coming Out day isn't just for the Queer population- it’s for everyone who has a heart. 

I'M KIDDING, it’s for those who want to show support. So come visit us ! 

PS: If you are trying to think of a good way to come out to parents or friends, here are a few genius ideas other people used to announce their queerness. Get creative, and be confident in yourself. You've got this.

Via Adventures In Gay

Fall Feels and Pumpkin Spice Kisses

(Yea. Hershey has a Pumpkin Spice Flavored Kiss Now. It's a thing.)


It’s that time of year again, guys. Fall. Glorious fall. For those who call Texas their home this is the season of wearing light jackets and sweating slightly less profusely when you walk outside in the morning. So let's shake our hairbrushes at Summer like this little kid did and welcome the Fall season together, people!

Get behind me, Summer!
Via Awesome Gifs

Stuff the Disney Princesses Taught Me About Life

Growing up, I loved Ariel from The Little Mermaid. I mean who doesn’t want to live underwater, have fish friends, sing about thing-a-ma-bobs and brush your hair with a fork? In fact, on several occasions I attempted brushing my hair with a fork. That didn’t work out.

This doesn't hurt at ALL!
Via austenrisolvato

I wanted to be like Ariel. I mean, she is adventurous, has many talents and is extremely sociable, what’s not to love? Now, looking back, I see that there are a few huge drawbacks with Ariel’s story that Disney legitimized. Like… selling your soul and your voice to an evil sea witch for some guy you just met.

For the last portion of my “Stuff I learned” section, I’ll be giving close inspection to the fair, the sweet, the animal-charming Disney Princesses. The negative messages characterized by Disney Princess movies and franchises can be broken down into four parts, so let's get this video cassette tape rolling! 

Via SilentMermaid21

Stuff I Learned From the "Axe Effect"

And Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty...



So you’re walking down the aisles of Wal-Mart, land of everything you want. On this particular day someone is giving away free kittens in the parking lot. You pet kittens. It’s magical. And then you smell it; the powerful, strong, almost pungent odor. A group of boys walk by, none of which could be more than 15 years old, and that’s when it hits you. You’ve just been engulfed by an Axe cloud. That’s right, the “Hot” guys fragrance that was a staple during my junior high years. So maybe it IS a 90s kid thing, but the fact remains- Axe is still a leading line of body sprays, hair products, deodorants, shower gels and face creams.

If you haven’t already guessed, this is the second installment of my “Stuff I Learned” blog series. And the Axe products offer a wide array of knowledge! (Most of which can only be actualized if you buy an excessively large amount of Axe products).

Creeeeeeeper...
via De Prem 

STUFF I LEARNED FROM AXE:

Stuff Twilight Taught Me about Dating

(Along with other books, television ads, and movies.)

I know what you’re thinking, guys. I’m just going to rag on the media and literature because I’m a stuffy feminist who always has a bone to pick. And yeah... I kinda am.

But seriously. The question you’re probably asking is “What the hey? I thought Julia was a hard-core fan of Twilight when it came out and even had several bad fan fictions to prove it!” Wherein I would say… I don’t know you. Get out of here with that slander. (Except I totally did and I definitely do.)

I really did, though, guys.
via Tumblr Phanfics

 But that was before I became more in tune with the messages portrayed in media, novels, and popular culture. There are some really messed up themes portrayed to us externally, and we need to talk about some of those bad boys- no pun intended. So let’s take a minute to debunk these disillusions, shall we?

*This month I’ll be doing a three part blog series tackling the dating messages portrayed in popular advertisements, movies and books. The Twilight Saga is the first segment, so pull out your cheap plastic vampire fangs and your Team Alice shirt and let’s sink our pearly whites into some lit analysis.

Let’s start with Twilight.

Via York Vision

(For those of you who fan-girl-squee-LOOOOOOVE twilight, I'm warning you now, this is not a gushy I-so-love-twilight-Edward-please-bite-me blog post. I'm sorry. Turn back, Google image Robert Pattinson.)

University Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

I've changed my major four times in the past two years. Seriously though, I’m naturally indecisive. I struggle with choices as simple as where to go out to eat or what to watch on YouTube. Hold your chuckles- according to this article the average adolescent person is typically indecisive about huge life decisions, because it means you can’t have BOTH options in question. We are silly things.

(Speaking of silly, just in case you were looking at adorable animal pictures on Google Image and now you have to choose whether or not to read this or look at baby ducks, let me help you out by supplying adorable baby animal pictures for this post. In other news, research shows that looking at baby animals increases your productivity. So you’re welcome.)

Baby skunk in LA Times Blog

So how do we find this mysterious EASY button? I have no idea. But I can help with my personal experience of being an indecisive lifer. Here are some tips that I've picked up after finishing my first couple years of college.

Your Kitchen’s Secret Weapon

Do you ever feel like you have this secret untapped resource of fun and enjoyment right at your fingertips? Perhaps you’re walking down the aisles of Wal-Mart and just as you were thinking you would love to nom on some Oreos, a huge display of multicolored 4^th of July Oreos is in your field of vision whispering “EAT ME.” Maybe you wished for a pony one Christmas and actually got it. Sure, it was super aggressive and would buck you off every time you rode it, but it’s a pony!

Or maybe you’re just hanging out at your house, staring at your random assortment of food and thinking, “Is this really it?” Well, I’m glad you stumbled upon this post, because I have a solution for you- one that will probably change your life.

KitchenAid 5-Speed Blender 

Your blender! Okay, I know what you're thinking. How anticlimactic. Seriously Julia, a blender? And for all that is beautiful, PLEASE HOLD THE SUSIE HOMEMAKER JOKES. But I'm telling you, find your blender, pull it out of that old forgotten moving box, and make sure that thing still works because I’m about to blow your mind with all the things you can do with one.

So Your New UT Tyler College Room-mate has a Pet?

(Also, you have a pet.)

Last week our communications team-mate, Carver, offered great advice on the responsibilities behind owning a pet while going to college. This month I have endured a similar yet very different experience- introducing an existing pet with a new, younger pet.

*Please note that if you want to own a pet, you must be living in one of the campus apartments. No mammals, reptilians, crustaceans or ichthyoids are allowed in the dorms. Sorry, fish enthusiasts.

No Ichthyoids allowed

This story began last month. As soon as summer hit, I had an insatiable desire to get a kitten. And how does one quench the urge to adopt an adorable kitten? Well, for me it was simply to adopt a kitten. I’m not particularly patient, so naturally, there were a couple issues upon bringing my new bundle of fluff home that I hadn’t really given much thought. Namely, I hadn’t thought about the more established canine member of my and my girlfriend’s apartment: her miniature dachshund, Diesel.

Burnadette: fluffiness and cat-stealth

Deisel: spirited lap dog, barks a lot

  VS

Needless to say, having two pets (of different species, what!) was definitely awkward at times. Deisel didn't like having a new animal absorbing love in the apartment, and because he got really excited around the kitten, we had to separate them for several weeks, which wasn't fun for anyone. Knowing now what I should have known then, I can offer the following advice: ie, you have to keep reading to get the advice. *wink

Hey, everyone!

My name is Julia and I am one of the new additions to The University of Texas at Tyler’s communications team. I am really excited to start sharing everything I know about the academic, organizations and student life involvements that are found here at UT Tyler.

That's me up there.

For a little background about myself- I just received my associate’s degree in business management. Getting my associates is remarkable to me because I finished something, woot woot! While at TJC, I competed on the speech and debate team at the state and national level, enjoyed several ceramics classes- where I made some cups and sculptures, changed my major twice, and took Calculus (which I had never planned on taking to begin with). Here at UT Tyler, I plan to study psychology as my major and minor in business.

Ceramics stuff I made.

For a little insight into who I am, let me first say that I am deeply passionate about human rights, feminism and kittens. One of the reasons I want to start learning about psychology is because I feel the study of the human mind and nature of people will lead me to conclusions surrounding cultural issues in our society. I am most intrigued by gender, sexuality and sexology. As for kittens, I am charmed by them because they are fluffy and adorable by default.
 

My kitten, Burnadette!
(Obviously fluffy and adorable by default.)

I always cringe when people ask me what my hobbies are because I cannot choose! For the most part, I appreciate anything that puts me out in nature. Activities like photography, bonfires, and star-gazing are all super therapeutic to me. I enjoy reading and finding out what is happening in the world. My friends keep me sane, my family gives me just the right amount of craziness I need, and my girlfriend inspires me to live with purpose. My favorite fruit is watermelon and my favorite word is fervor. That’s me in a nutshell.

Oh, and sunsets are my favorite part of the day.

I am really, REALLY eager to start sharing my experience at UT Tyler with you all. I’m sure we will learn a lot from each other. What are some of your favorite things to do around campus?

About The UT Tyler Bloggers

Follow The UT Tyler Student Communications Team as they share their social, academic, recreational, and student life experiences while attending The University of Texas at Tyler. The blogger team of Summer 2013 is comprised of students that are eager to answer your questions about our campus: Kevin Berber, Julia Bodiford (Student Supervisor), Dallas Flick, Michael Hale, Carver Hodgkiss, Gabby Cruz, Valkerie Burkhart, and Keerin deWet (Student Supervisor)! Use the labels at the bottom left to find each person's blogs!