How Important You Think Education Is

I can't get on board with the idea that someone who has a lot of experience in something is more equipped than someone who has formal education. I'm a huge proponent of formal education. I totally believe that everyone can graduate from high school. Some have to work waaaay harder than others, but still doable.

My brother got to hear my monologues about how valuable and important formal education is over and over and over and over again. And most of my friends (probably all, actually) would say "Education is one of the most important things to Ashley". Particularly formal education.

Post secondary school is something I value a lot too. Admittedly, I have the most respect for fully accredited 4 year universities, as a degree from there holds more weight than any other institution, however I also understand and believe that not everyone can/should/wants to go to a university like that. And that's okay. Regardless, I think college (however defined) helps people do the following:

• Refining writing skills
• Developing critical thinking skills
• Knowing how to research
• Building lasting relationships
• Seeing growth in one self
• Can show up and adhere to deadlines

College is where you learn those things. It's not about what you major in or what grades you get or what classes you took. It's about those 6 things. Formal education exists to purposely and purposefully help you. When someone tells me they have a bachelor's degree, I immediately see them as someone who has been equipped with those 6 things. I thought about continuing on, but this is my main point...education is important and valuable. 

What You Ate Today

I had cocoa puffs and chicken cordon bleu. 

Five Pet Peeves

Five pet peeves! Things that irritate me/aggravate me on a minor scale. The literal definition is: A pet peeve or pet hate is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to themselves, to a greater degree than others may find it.

• Improper use of your/you're
• Wearing brown/black together
• Shorthand when texting
• Incorrect usage of punctuation 
• Just writing your name in a card without a message

Also, this is awesome: http://www.getannoyed.com/

Your Views on Mainstream Music

I love mainstream music. Pop, popular, mainstream, whatever you want to call it--I love it. I think it's fun and usually catchy and generally engaging. It gives me a way to connect to people. I love singing and songs that a lot of people know are wicked fun to sing along to.

However, there are a few things I don't like. I don't like swear words. Sometimes, they're necessary in a song, I'll go with that. But some songs, I can't listen to, no matter how fun, when there's too much swearing. I also don't like too much sexualization. I don't mind "sexiness" in songs, but actual sexualization, not a fan.

Annnd there are also times when I have to stop listening to pop/mainstream, because it starts to influence me in a negative way. So then I take a break from it. Usually, songs like that are ones that are sexualizing, dehumanizing, and reducing people (usually women) to status, hotness, and how sexual they are.

Things You Want to Say to an Ex

For a lot of reasons, I can't do this one. My rule at first was to not go to the next topic until I had completed the one prior, so I couldn't get out of doing it.

I've been sitting for awhile, trying to come up with a response to this one, and for a lot of reasons, at this time, it would be less wise for me to complete this journal entry than more wise/helpful. Perhaps one day I can go back, but right now, the wiser option will be to skip this. 

Bullet Your Whole Day

I kept starting this and not be able to finish. So, I'll bullet my Saturday, hope that's cool...

• Four alarms went off before 7am.
• I finally got myself out of bed, but was afraid I was late.
• Couldn't remember if the event was at 8 or 830.
• I got dressed and ran out to the car to get the paper with information. 
• 830, phew. 
• Got ready, jumped in car, headed west. 
• Almost got lost, but didn't.
• Had a "fun day" with the police. 
• Learned about the K9 unit
• Talked to the guy who has a drug dog. 
• Talked to the guy who has a bomb dog. 
• Learned stuff about training dogs. 
• Watched them train dogs.
• It was really cold. 
• Learned about guns.
• Shot my first gun. It was a pistol. 
• Shot my second gun. It was a rifle. 
• Ate some donuts.
• Went to the police lodge.
• Had a delicious meal. 
• It was chicken salad, BBQ, a lot of fruit
• Went to the race track parking lot. 
• Sort of learned how to drive like a police.
• Drove their cars. 
• Did the backing up challenge twice. 
• Then, did the fast driving challenge.
• 35, 40, and 45mph. 
• They call out a lane (there were 4), you had limited time to get up to speed, then they changed the lane, so had to swerve to the actual lane, and then called out another lane and had to swerve other there.
• Weren't allowed to hit the brakes. 
• The first time, I spun out and did a 360. 
• My passenger told me I was going 35, right on target. 
• Radar had us at 52mph. Too fast to swerve...
• It was terrifying/super fun.
• Did 3 more runs. 
• Rode in the car with a police driving and he did several J turns
• Like in the movies, where you go backwards one way, swerve around and drive forward.
• Then he did donuts. 
• Then, I drove home. 
• I was supposed to have dinner with 5 friends from school.
• It got cancelled. 
• I was debating about what to do, it was around 5pm. 
• I was exhausted from the day. And week. And life. 
• I decided to bathe, get into PJs, and watch "The West Wing" and veg out. 
• It was awesome. 
• I also did pretty much all of my laundry. 
• My sheets are clean, made my bed.
• Didn't text or talk to anyone all night. 
• Just laid on the couch and watched TV. 
• Actually, that's a lie.
• I got hungry and decided I just wanted some Taco Bell.
• I drove to Taco Bell, went through the drive thru.
• Came back and then ate my food and watched more TV.
• Then, I went to bed. 

That was my day!

Basically, got to shoot guns, drive police cars, and watched "The West Wing".

A Book I Love

I honestly don't know if I have a favorite book. As much as I love reading...I can't think of my absolute favorite. But wait, this isn't about my favorite, it's about a book I love.

I've already written about quite a few books, so I'll think of another...

Ah! It's a series, can that count? The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. 

1. Mainly, I was referred to them by my best friend and it was another thing that bonded us. 
2. Also, they're so good! I love them. And I love the movies. 
3. They're for teenagers, so they're super easy to read. I get involved and invested every single time I read them. 
4. I'm thinking once I finish up some of my TV series, I'll read those books again (I'm looking at them right now, sitting on my bookshelf). 
5. I love Alexis Bledel and she's in the movie, so I have to like it.

If you don't know anything about the series, it's basically about these 4 best friends who are going to go their separate ways for a summer and they find a pair of jeans that fits all of them, so they share it...and it helps keep them connected. Okay, I'm not great at pitching the idea, but it's awesome and beautiful.