I am a 20-year-old (soon to be 21-year-old) Aspen native, splitting my time between Austin, TX (where I attend the University of Texas and play on the women's golf team) and here, in Aspen. I am an avid sports enthusiast and enjoy the arts as well. I try to create as much balance in my life as possible and thus, I will strive to do the same in this new forum of mine. I encourage any and all criticism and praise alike!
addiction: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma. (dictionary.com)
We've discovered many things in this world that can alter a person's emotional state or excitement level. Most of which fall under the category of...drug. Uppers, downers, street drugs, legal drugs, prescription, you name it. We're constantly surround by them. Even drug-free addictions like shopping, tv, eating, and exercise cause debt, eye-strain, weight-gain, and joint-pain.
For the past few weeks, however, I've re-discovered a truly healthy drug free high. An addiction who's side effects only include an increase in your vocabulary.
Recently, the movie The Golden Compass (adapted from Philip Pullman’s bestselling children’s book of the same name) has been under some fire from the Catholic League and Christians for allegedly promoting atheism and “killing the church.” Some are calling for the movie to be boycotted in theaters. This news came to me in an email I received a few weeks ago. The email was originally penned by a Dr. Bryan Cutshall, a pastor from St. Louis, Mo. The email not only made me laugh out loud, but also, gasp in disbelief at their concerns.
What really shocks me more about this weather is the way people dress. Yes, you finally get to see jackets and scarves in Austin after a long awaited hot summer, but more surprisingly, the lack thereof! How is it possible that I see idiot after idiot—I mean student after student wearing shorts??! Sometimes accompanied by nothing more than a t-shirt! How does this happen? And why am I freezing my (a$$) off while these people seem not to have noticed that it is 50 degrees?!
It also makes me wonder why I’m always the cold one. I never cease to get ridiculed for my low tolerance of cold temperatures (in Texas, this usually comes in the form of overzealous A/C units. Those bastards! And yes, I’m referring to air conditioning units themselves). And while I’m on the topic, what is wrong with the world? Why do we need to waste all this energy on making sure that the fat guy in the front row doesn’t feel a drop of sweat underneath the folds in his man boobs? OK, maybe that’s taking it a little far, but do we really need it to feel like a refrigerator everywhere we go? I mean, I think the novelty of “Come on in, its cool inside!” should be long gone by now, and we can come to an understanding on the temperature! But, again, I would be wrong. And just in case you’re wondering, I have no problem complaining about indoor temperatures, because they are controlled by man. I can’t control the weather, but A/C, now that’s someone’s choice.
How do you get goose-bumps in 100 degree weather?? How do you get the chills when sweat is dripping down your body like a sumo wrestler in the steam room? Last weekend I had the unique opportunity of attending the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. (Well, maybe not so unique considering I was among 65,000 others, but suffice it to say it was unique for an Aspenite.) And, yes, I was dripping with sweat, yet, felt cold chills up my spine.
I am a 20-year-old (soon to be 21-year-old) Aspen native, splitting my time between Austin, TX (where I attend the University of Texas and play on the women's golf team) and here, in Aspen. I am an avid sports enthusiast and enjoy the arts as well. I try to create as much balance in my life as possible and thus, I will strive to do the same in this new forum of mine. I encourage any and all criticism and praise alike!
