Memory Mondays: Terrapin Blog Hopping

This picture has nothing to do with anything.
It's me dressed as a cow.
It's precious. 

One of my fellow classmates decided that a blog hop/questionare would be a good idea. You can find the original post on Ezra's blog. Hope you enjoy my answers. This isn't quite a flashback post, but I figured this would be the most appropriate day to include this.

1. Where are you right now? (You can answer literally, or you can stop giving boring answers to every question you’re asked, and think outside the box.)

I'm currently relaxing in my on campus dorm. And by relaxing I mean avoiding doing any actual work even though I spent most of the day in bed recovering from feeling under the weather. I'll spare you the gross details. I'll do my work later...I promise. 

2. What keeps you blogging? Your pride? Your mom? Wanting someone other than your cat to tell you that you’re awesome?

I have always enjoyed writing, so I see blogging as my public place to put my thoughts out there. It would be cool to make a career of it someday. I keep my more private thoughts in my moleskine notebook, but you're not allowed to see those. No one is allowed to see those. 

3. What blogs or bloggers do you look to for inspiration, ideas, or just to get the blog side of your brain turned on?

In order to find some inspiration for the Flashback Friday posts, I often check out this Tumblr. It's just images, but that usually sparks some sort of idea for me. 

4. What is your most Terp-like quality? Is you’re not a Terp, well, I’m sorry, but you should be. Go out and get Terpy. Then report back with your newly acquired Terp quality.

Oh gosh, I'm not sure. Like the actual terrapin? Or Testudo? I love Testudo, so I will go with him. He's spirited, and I've been described at that as well. 

Testudo Hard at Work
Photo Credit: Testudo Times

5. If you could pick any celebrity or politician to give your blog a shout out via Twitter, who would it be?

It would only be appropriate to pick some sort of 90's idol. Nine year old Courtney would have loved a shout out from Aaron Carter. Said shout out would be much better than what he's tweeting now. 

6. Congrats. Wallace Loh stumbled upon your blog and wants to host an all-night party to celebrate your genius. You get to pick the campus building and the two professors who will be in charge of DJ-ing and food/drinks. Go:

My home away from home at school is Tawes, I study there, work there, and wish I could just sleep there. It's a beautiful building and the recital hall would be perfect for this all-night rager. The DJs depend on their musical taste. I'm just going to saw any professor can bring a mix CD and it will be potluck style. I can't pick favorites. 

7. And finally, a serious question. What have you learned from blogging? Did you learn about writing? Did you learn about people? Did you learn how easy it is to get distracted on the internet? (But jk on the last one; you already knew that, of course.)

I have learned a lot about creating my own voice. I've heard some of you seriously read it in my actual voice. I guess that's cool...sorry for the annoying pitch of it. I've also learned a lot about my classmates. Check out their blogs on the blogroll if you haven't already. 

Memory Mondays: Children's Books

Little Courtney enjoying a story with Madeline

I've always been a reader for as long as I can remember. As a child, nothing made me more excited than the announcement that we were headed to the library. There I could find walls and walls of anything I wanted to read. I still find that same excitement today when I enter a quaint bookstore. I think this all stems from bedtime stories.

Bedtime stories are one of my favorite childhood memories. My parents understood the value of reading and instilled a love of it at an early age. I can recall snuggling into my sheets, grabbing my blankie and stuffed animal of choice, and settling down for a story. I even had a small little bookshelf in my room filled with all of my favorite childhood classics.

I'd like to take a moment to reminisce about a few of them:

1) Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom: Chicka chicka boooom booom....wiiilll there be enough room? This book was rather repetitive, but I liked it. The pictures were simple yet filled with vibrant bright colors. The whole color scheme was very late 80s early 90s. It also served educational purposes since it taught me the alphabet. Someone made a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom cake. I want one!

2) Madeline: "In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines...the smallest one was Madeline." I cherished my Madeline anthology. I was filled with all the Madeline stories and the classic illustrations. I think what I really liked about this book was that everything rhymed. It severed as a nice beginning for the future poet within me. It was really cool when that Madeline movie came out in 1998. I think we saw it opening weekend.

Big Courtney still enjoying Madeline

3) Angelina Ballerina: I began dancing at the age of 2 1/2. For my first dance recital, I received an Angelina Ballerina book. I obviously don't have a vivid memory of this, but with each new recital, my collection grew. The books were cute and fun, but they also taught some important lessons.  I had a lovely Angelina stuffed animal complete with tutu and all. I still have it actually. When it's spring cleaning time year after year, I simply refuse to part with it.

4) Harold and the Purple Crayon: This picture book tells the story of a little boy with a magic crayon who could draw things in order to make them come to life. For example, he draws a boat and then sails off on it. I desperately wanted this magic crayon. It could certainly come in handy. For example, I'm really tired right now; I could draw myself a pillow.

5) If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: This story serves as the perfect example of the slippery slope fallacy. Apparently, if you give a mouse a cookie, he will want to do a bunch of things like sweep the floor, color, and drink milk. Then, he will eventually want another cookie. Sorry if I just spoiled the book for you. I always thought the book was cute, and the pictures were nice. It apparently resulted in a few spin off series as well.

Now my tastes in literature have grown quite a bit, but my love of reading has remained constant. Unfortunately, as an English Major there's little time to read the books I want to read for pleasure. I now reserve my own personal reading for the summer time. Nothing beats packing a bunch of books for the beach and relaxing with them in the sun.

I was fortunate to add quite a few books to my collection this weekend at the Annapolis Book Festival. I must thank my fellow blogger, Ezra, for telling me about it. For $25, I could take a bag and fill it with as many used books as possible. I ended up walking out of there with 32 books! Quite a deal.

I think my former childhood self would be very proud that I now have a larger library and quite a few more bedtime story options.

May all your memories be meaningful,

Courtney

Memory Mondays: Musicals!

Little Courtney and Dad!
Beauty & The Beast: Precursor to my love of theatre

*insert cliche opening about musical theatre here* "There's no business like show business! Like no business I know. Nowhere can you get that happy feeling when you are stealing that extra bow."

 Ok now that I've gotten that out of my system, it's on with the show! Musical theatre has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up on the Disney VHS tapes filled with plenty of songs and splendor. That love of story through song quickly moved over to full musical theatre productions.

I really have to thank my dad for that. My Dad took me to my first "legit" touring production when I was six. Beauty and the Beast was in town at the now defunct Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore. However, I told my Art teacher, "I'm seeing a show on Broadway tonight." My little brain did not yet realize Broadway is a place, not a concept of live theatre. I remember dressing up in my finest attire and heading downtown for the big show.  We sat in our mezzanine seats, and from the moment that the curtain rose, I was hooked. My favorite movie came alive right before my eyes. It was way better than any 3-D movie re-release.

A few years later, I moved on from the disney corporation generated musicals to the more classic musicals of the "Golden Age." My first was The Music Man. I again can thank my Dad for that. I remember coming down the stairs one evening because I couldn't sleep. My Dad and StepMom had just begun to watch The Music Man. They allowed me to stay downstairs, and I was once again enamored with what I saw on screen: the sweet songs, the big dance numbers, and the beautiful love story. Shortly thereafter, The Music Man came into town, and we went and saw it. I was probably the only eight year old in the theatre.

My collection of Playbills!
The Music Man was the first one I saved

I believe my next musical obsession was the movie version of Chicago. My Dad told me about it, and I thought it sounded pretty cool. I mean come on, a murder plot, snazzy songs, and all that jazz? I probably shouldn't have seen it when I was only ten years old but whatever. I absolutely loved it, and I even begged my Dad to take me to see it again. When the soundtrack came out, I wore that CD into the ground. I could probably still recite every line for you.

That next summer my parents enrolled me in theatre camp. There I really found my love of the stage. I had been enrolled in dance classes since I was in diapers, but hadn't thought of acting. I completely credit my quick thinking abilities and wit to all the improv exercises I participated in at camp. Those were my favorites.

Big Courtney & Dad!
Still enjoying theatre :) 

After middle school summer camps, I did the high school productions. (Fittingly, my first performance was in The Music Man) I can dance, but I can't sing to save my life, so I often stayed in the chorus. However I always danced and reacted my heart out on that stage. I even saw the behind the scenes aspect as Assistant Director for Suessical my senior year. Even though I no longer participate in acting, I still appreciate good theatre.

I'm a big fan of the TKTS booth in NYC, and I love seeing National Tours at the Hippodrome. A part of me misses the feeling of being up on stage, both my dance recitals in the early 90s and my high school productions.

Just this past weekend, I once again felt that longing for it. My Dad took me to see a production of my all time favorite show, Into the Woods. (Side note: If you like Stephen Sondheim we can totally be best friends). It was beautifully done and well cast.

I hope to continue this appreciation for theatre through old age. I will be that frail, little, 80 year old woman rocking out to a local production of Hair. I'm all about supporting the arts.

I guess in order to wrap this up I should bring it back to the beginning. Thanks Dad for sparking my love of theatre! Sentimental moment: I know I'll always cherish it for the rest of my life.

May all your memories be meaningful,
Courtney

Memory Mondays: My Favorite Picture

I didn't even know it existed until a few weeks ago. Allow me to explain. I am an only child, which means I am my parents' pride and joy. This has resulted in photo album after photo album after photo album filled with pictures from my childhood. All of these currently fill part of a bookshelf in my mother's home.

No one really looks at them, but I guess they're there for when we feel nostalgic.

 Or maybe my mom looks at them when I'm gone and cries over them or something like that. I'm not entirely sure. (I'm not heartless, I really do love her, promise).

However, I decided to take a look at a few of the albums in preparation for writing this blog. I then came across this gem:

Little Courtney & The Awful Apple Juice Hangover

According to my mother, she snapped this as I was recovering in bed from a fever. Yeah...apparently that's kodak moment material? Not entirely sure, but I just find this picture amusing. Maybe it's because it doesn't have that typical family photo album happy go lucky feel. You know what I'm talking about. The vacation pictures where everyone is all happy smiley or even better, those awkward family photos. This just seems more real.

If only sick days today were as easy as curling up with blankie, relaxing with my ninny (the pacifier), and putting a cold compress on my head. I have some pretty fond memories of sick days. Most were spent curled up in bed watching daytime television and cartoons. They always included kraft mac and cheese. Here in college, it requires a bit more of an effort and perhaps a few trips to the health center. Plus lots of worrying about all the work you're missing.

Do you have any favorite pictures from your childhood? Feel free to share!

May All Your Memories Be Meaningful,

Courtney

Memory Mondays: A Glimpse at Me Today

Oh Hey There! It's Me. 

Hello dear reader! (Totally channeling a bit of Charlotte Bronte here) This blog has been going on for a few weeks now, but I just realized that you really probably know very little about the me that's not stuck in the 90s. I'm sure you've gathered that I'm an English major who loves, writing, disney things, pop bands, and anything that was on Nickelodeon in the 90s. But let's get a little more personal. Not like let's donate your kidney to me personal, but more of that hey here's some more about me personal.

Let's start with the basics. Let's pretend we're in Ms. Comstock's second grade class, and I was just picked to be the Student of the Week. Now you get to sit on the rug criss cross apple sauce and listen to me talk about myself. Enjoy kiddos. 

My favorite colors are coral and yellow.
 My favorite movies include Clue, Casablanca, Singin' in the Rain, and Airplane! 
(If you like these movies or even know them, we should totally be best friends) 
My favorite TV show is Jeopardy! I also enjoy Arrested Development, The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, and The Big Bang Theory. Basically, I like anything that will make me laugh. Yes, even Jeopardy makes me laugh...have you heard some of the "cool stories" people tell on there? 

English Major PSA
Always use Oxford Commas
Photo Credit: The Gloss.com

Wait where were we? Oh right. Time for some random facts!  


I like books, broadway musicals, and oxford commas.


I am a picky eater.


If bargain hunting were an olympic sport, I would win a gold medal.


I guess I should use this spot to go a little deeper. I am really not sure what to say, so I totally Googled "What to say when you're talking about yourself." Mainly things for job interviews came up. I guess I'll follow this one. 




1. Tell Them Who You Are

Oh look you get a bonus picture of me.
It must be your lucky day or something?
Or unlucky..
Self-Deprecating Humor. Yay.

Hi. I'm Courtney, but you should already know that. The example said I should add something exrta along the lines of "I am an extreme sports enthusiast who jumps out of airplanes and learned to fly them" I'm not, but that sounds cool, so let's go with that. 


2. Tell Them What You're Good At
I am good at doing what I like to call "English-y things." People tell me I write well, and when I'm not in one of those self-deprecating moods, I like to believe them. I mean, if you're reading this far, I must be doing something right. 


3. Provide a Call to Action
This is where I would tell you to hire me if we were at an interview. We're not, so I won't. But I will tell you to keep reading my blog, and please feel free to tell me a little bit about yourself in the comments! 


May All Your Memories Be Meaningful,
Courtney 

Memory Mondays: Crash and Burn

Little Courtney Passed Out

This is a Monday post. It's Tuesday. I think that explains itself. Just got back from spring break, and now I'm a little overwhelmed by the work load ahead of me, but then again aren't we all? Still adjusting to figuring out what day it is.

It would be nice to go back to the time when all I had to worry about was feeling worn out after a long afternoon of playing kick-ball in the cul de sac or when the most complex math problems were ones that involved fractions. But alas such is not the case.

Big Courtney Passed Out

It's time to buckle down and face April head on. Let's hope I don't end up like I did in the picture above.


Too late.

Memory Mondays: Mother Dear

Mother Daughter Pic Awwww 

Break out your tissues folks: it's semi-sappy post time. I'm home for spring break this week. Most of my comrades are flocking to PCB for escapades of debauchery and morning after regrets, but I'm opting for a much more tame week at home.

While some people would absolutely dread returning home, I don't really mind it. Maybe it's an only child thing? I'm just happy to spend a week with my Mom.  

I have a lot of fun memories with my Mom over the years. I think one of my earliest memories is from my toddler years when we lived in our first house. I can recall waking up, going into her room, curling up with her and watching reruns of I Love Lucy on TV. We still like to catch it if a marathon is on.

I can also recall the fun day trips we spent together when she was still a stay at home mom. Anything from parks to library trips were fun filled adventures. Eventually, after my parents split, she returned to teaching. I remember sitting in my first grade classroom being very upset because she wasn't there to send me off on the bus the morning of her first day on the job. However, I quickly became ok with her going back to teaching because that meant we were on the same schedule. We were fortunate enough to be able to bake together on snow days and spend summers together. (She always says the three best reasons to become a teacher are June, July, and August)

Throughout everything, she's always been there for me. Anything from a minor boo-boo to the more serious broken hearts. I can't thank her enough. I honestly think if one day I turn out to be half as good of a mom as she is I will be quite fortunate. I am so blessed.

So here I am on spring break looking forward to a few dinners together before I return to school. I don't need a crazy trip or brief getaway. I've got it all here at home.

(OK this was really sappy and cliche, but deal with it. I promise I won't do this all the time)

May All Your Memories Be Meaningful,
Courtney

Memory Mondays: Chuck E. Cheese

Little Courtney & The Ball Pit of Germs

Let's talk about Chuck E. Cheese. I hope you all know what Chuck E. Cheese is; I mean after all it's still around and thriving. Who knew a giant rat, pizza, and video games was so recession proof?

I'm sure everyone has some sort of memory from Chuck E. Cheese. Maybe it was one of seven birthday parties you attended there. Perhaps it was a traumatizing encounter with an overgrown rat.  Or even a fond nostalgia for the pizza. Any time I eat left over pizza, I always think back to the cold pizza at Chuck E. Cheese.

You probably also remember Chuck E. Cheese's security system. I can recall the hand stamps back in the day. When you entered, they would stamp your hand with some magic ink that only appeared under black light. The stamp had a number, and your parents would receive the same stamp. It was supposed to be a foolproof way to prevent someone from abducting a kid.

Did you ever wonder what happened when someone did try to leave with a different number? I found out.

When I was probably four or five years old, I had an aunt who would watch me during the day. Looking for a source of easy child entertainment, she took me to Chuck E. Cheese. Well of course, we got the hand stamps. However, my Mom came to join us later that day. She too received a handstamp. A different handstamp.

Eventually, it was time to leave, and I was heading out the door with my Mom. Not so fast; we didn't have the same number! I guess my Mom calmly explained the situation. So it's not like I narrowly avoided being a milk carton kid or anything like that.

But what about an even worse form of irresponsible parenting? I'm not talking about the people who try to take home the wrong kid; I'm talking about the people who leave their kids at Chuck E. Cheese. Check out this recent news report from Good Morning America. Seriously watch it. It's both disturbing and hilarious.

So folks, next time you go to Chuck E. Cheese, make sure you have not only the right kid with you, but also that you actually have your kid with you!

May All Your Memories Be Meaningful,
Courtney

Memory Mondays: Future Terrapin

Little Courtney Waiting To Grow Into Her Terrapin Shell

While preparing to write this blog, I spent a Sunday evening at home going through my Mom's old photo books from my childhood. I couldn't help but smile when I came across this one.

This photo was taken at the Baltimore Zoo some time around 1994/1995. Clearly, back then, I had no intentions of going to UMD. I was far too busy playing Barbies and watching movies to even know what my future would hold.

For those of you who don't know, UMD's mascot is a Diamondback Terrapin named Testudo. He's pretty awesome.  He's much cooler than a Blue Hen or an Orange Blob!

Here at UMD we take Testudo very seriously. You can find him at almost any event: anything from Basketball games to prestigious alumni functions. We even leave him offerings every time midterms and finals role around.

Offering to Testudo
Human Sacrifice Edition

I'd love to go back to the Zoo and take another picture in the turtle shells. I think they're still there? Well, if I fit in them, of course. Perhaps, I can even go in my cap and gown in two years. That would make a cute graduation announcement. Until then I'll just settle for some pictures with Testudo. Although no one knew what my future would hold when that picture was taken, I am glad it ended foreshadowing it just a bit.

Memory Mondays: Anatomy of a Disney Princess

Little Courtney Meeting Belle circa 1995. We match! 

Everyone has a favorite Disney Princess. If you don't, well then you need to go ask your parents why they didn't love you and why they didn't buy you any Disney VHS tapes. Seriously, everyone has to have had at least somewhat of a VHS collection.

The 90s were a great time for Disney Princesses. Disney saw the cash cow they could become and marketed the hell out of them. Movies, dolls, books, barbies, dress-ups, playsets, you name it, and chances are Disney made it and marketed it. In fact, they still do. For those of us who have grown up a bit, we can now have Wedding Dresses. Yup. Wedding Dresses.

Parents bought all the toys, and little girls bought into the fantasy of being a Princess. I'm sure I'm not the only one who played some form of a princess game back on the playground. Oh the innocent joys of recess. Usually, most of the time spent playing "princess" entailed arguing over who was to play which princess. I always fought long and hard for the right to be Belle. I had brown hair, so obviously I won. (However, while looking into this topic I took a Disney Princess Personality Quiz, and apparently I am Ariel. Um hello identity crisis. Not ok.)

I never really considered the lessons Princesses teach children, until I stumbled across this picture on Tumblr:

Credit: Tumblr, Pink-Martini

This really got me thinking. It's great to see how the princesses have grown over time. I think that it's clear that these princesses are all reflections of their time periods.

Now, some would go back and criticize the original three, Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, for being so passive. I don't think you can really do that. It's important to consider the time period. When Disney created those princesses, that's how most people viewed women. To say that a woman's place was outside of the home would be blasphemy. Betty Friedan didn't even promote the idea until the early 60s. (Note that we don't see any princesses from the 60s or 70s. Interesting)

The next bunch we see feature stronger role models, but they're not quite there. I think this reflects the fact that the glass ceiling was just starting to be chipped. (Some would argue it still has yet to break). If you're familiar with these films, each Princess is rescued by their Prince Charming. Now, obviously I didn't over analyze this as child. I just wanted to be Belle because she liked to read, too. I never thought critically about the Beast saving her from the Wolves. But now I can because I am an English major! Yay critical thinking skills. 

Clearly, Disney is now moving in a better direction. I like these three new heroines just as much as the old ones. I'm glad girls can admire their independent spirit as well as their intelligent minds. This trend seems to be continuing with the latest Disney Princess, Rapunzel.

However, it always comes back to Prince Charming. Yet, it looks like Pixar is moving in a different direction. Not much is known about Brave, but from the looks of it, this Princess seems to be the completely independent spirit some girls are looking for. (Side Note: Watch the trailer. The animation is spectacular. They might as well just hand Pixar the Oscar already)

While it's great to examine these characters and criticize them accordingly, I think the more important thing to keep in perspective is the great lessons that princesses do teach. It isn't just about love and fairytales. Ok, maybe a little bit, but we still have to give them credit for the way they inspire girls.  Belle taught us brains are beautiful. Mulan taught us the importance of family and pride. Cinderella taught us how to dream, and Tiana taught us how to achieve those dreams.

So I say let the girls (and boys too if they want!) play with the princess toys. Disney can market the princesses as long as they want, because they're marketing important lessons too.

May All Your Memories Be Meaningful (and sometimes critical),
Courtney 

Memory Mondays: I was born to be an English major.

Little Courtney Writing Her First Novel

I remember calling my Mom some time last year in order to inform her that I had finally decided on a major. When I blurted out that I was going to become an English major, she retorted, "well, I'm not surprised." I fortunately dogged the age old question, "what are you going to do with that?"

Thinking back, it seems that the signs were always there. Take for example my favorite childhood film, Beauty and the Beast. Disney released Beauty and the Beast the year before I was born. In an effort to build our VHS collection of Disney Classics, my parents quickly purchased it before I could even recognize what a movie was. I remember I used to watch that film over and over. This was when we had to actually rewind films. I'm sure I completely wore that VHS tape out. I absolutely idolized the film's heroine, Belle. Not only was she pretty, but she shared my love of books. My favorite scene is definitely when the Beast unveils his sweet surprise to Belle: a huge library filled with thousands of books. I wanted that library. I still want that library. As a huge reader, it's going to be a perquisite for any future home.

I've just always been a reader. Most parents punish their children by sending them to the dreaded corner of silence otherwise known as time out. Some resort to a firm spanking. My parents were different. They took away my bedtime stories if I ever misbehaved. All it took was the mere threat of losing my beloved bedtime story, and I would instantly behave.

Eventually, my love of reading gave way to my passion for writing. Fun fact: I won a poetry award in third grade. It was an angst filled poem that could only come from the mind of an eight year old. It's rather ridiculous, and much to my dismay, my mother has it framed somewhere. How embarrassing. I would most definitely say I've grown since then, not just in height but as a writer...hopefully. If not, that's what my major is for! As an answer to the original question of what I'm going to do with that, I respond, "I'm going to do what I've always enjoyed." 

May all your memories be meaningful,

Courtney