Category: Random

What Does Thanksgiving Mean in 2016?

It was a scene that has probably taken place in millions of households in the United States- a young child runs into their house in late November with a strip of construction paper wrapped around his head and some feathers sticking out in the back. I was excited to see him- I had traveled hundreds... Read more »
By AJ,
November 23, 2016 at 10:45 am • 

Cubs, Guns, and Magical Thinking

I had a strange and vivid dream last night. I dreamed I was on a hijacked airplane- but I don’t remember it as a violent dream. The plane crashed into a building in Istanbul (or what I imagine Istanbul looks like- I’ve never been there) and everyone exited the plane on those inflatable slides you... Read more »
By AJ,
November 7, 2016 at 9:45 pm • 

Don't Know What To Say About The Orlando Shooting? Me Neither.

I haven’t written anything here in about 3 months. Part of it has been other things taking a priority, but part of it has been feeling like I don’t have anything important to say. And after I heard the horrible news about the mass shooting in Orlando and the flurry of media that came after,... Read more »
By AJ,
June 13, 2016 at 8:22 pm • 
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5 Reasons Why Trump at UIC is Super Ironic

5 Reasons Why Trump at UIC is Super Ironic
The Donald is coming, The Donald is coming! Not surprisingly, Donald Drumpf is holding a rally in Chicago ahead of the Illinois primary on Tuesday, March 15th. What is surprising to me is where he chose to hold it. It’s not at his namesake Tower, on of the high-profile centers for higher education in the... Read more »
By AJ,
March 11, 2016 at 12:23 pm • 

Defunding Planned Parenthood: My Story

I used to walk past a Planned Parenthood almost daily. In something distinctly Boston, there was a clinic almost on my college campus and I lived around the corner for 3 years. I didn’t think much about it, aside from the steady, but small, stream of protesters standing outside on the weekends with pictures of... Read more »
By AJ,
September 23, 2015 at 8:39 am • 

The Studio in Brooklyn: Thoughts on a Year of Marriage

The Studio in Brooklyn: Thoughts on a Year of Marriage
The light is starting to shine through the windows in an Airbnb studio in Brooklyn. I’ve never been good at sleeping in and today is no different. The light never bothers my husband, lightly snoring and sleep sweating away next to me, so I know I have some time to get contemplative. Today in particular... Read more »
By AJ,
September 8, 2015 at 11:05 am • 
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I Am A [Accidental] Sorority Woman

I Am A [Accidental] Sorority Woman
The ‘I Am A Sorority Woman’ campaign was started by Delta Gamma as an effort to “shed light on what we do, what we stand for, and most importantly, who we are as sorority women.”  The campaign runs throughout the month of August. For more information, see this press release. I’m an accidental sorority woman.... Read more »
By AJ,
August 25, 2015 at 10:39 pm • 

Two Years And Contemplating: The Tale of My Parotid Gland Tumor

You know what the most popular posts are on this blog? The ones about exotic locales like Machu Picchu or London or Omaha? Nope. Various travel recommendations and advice? Try again. Funny stories from the road? Not even close. By far, most people, especially those people I don’t know (I LOVE you my family and... Read more »
By AJ,
August 6, 2015 at 9:29 am • 

What does Independence Day even mean?

What does Independence Day even mean?
There have been times in my life when I wished I wasn’t American. When I was younger and living abroad, I would easily get embarrassed by being associated with the loud, obnoxious, poorly dressed stereotype. I cringed when I saw those living stereotypes on the streets of Europe. I wanted to be chic and cultured... Read more »
By AJ,
July 3, 2015 at 10:43 am • 
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The Facebook rainbow, Pride, and this straight white girl

The Facebook rainbow, Pride, and this straight white girl
This Facebook rainbow profile thing makes me a little uncomfortable. Not for the same reason that it makes Pat Robertson uncomfortable, though. I strongly believe in civil and human rights for everyone and that anyone who wants to marry and sign up for the benefits and risks that it brings should be able to do... Read more »
By AJ,
June 30, 2015 at 9:06 am •