These are 20 things to do that aren't too extravagant or energy worthy, but will pass the time throughout your day!

These are 20 things to do that aren't too extravagant or energy worthy, but will pass the time throughout your day!
SO, I've just recently had the fortunate experience to be reminded just how Michigan rains. Now, before you roll your eyes at me, I HAVE EXPERIENCED RAIN (in regards of the the popular joke that Californians haven't). However, I have to agree; after experiencing one of Michigan's thunderstorms (with my college's sirens blaring in the background), it comes to mind just how different "rain" is between the two states:
"Rain" is any sprinkling of water that seemingly comes from a cloud, not dripping from the nearby apartment's air conditioning or the lawn sprinkler (that keeps leaving dry water-spots on you car's windshield).
"Rain" is when you have little mini spontaneous ponds/lakes appearing around you, and your umbrella is doing a decent job of keeping water off of you.
"Heavy rain" is when your windshield wiper is being used on its second speed on your car, and the streets are slightly flooding. It's heavily advised to avoid sidewalks next to busy roads (unless you want a wall-of-water slap to the face). Drivers are going at >20 mph, scared of hydroplaning, blurred vision, etc.
"Heavy rain" is when sirens (we had sirens?) at your college go off, warning all to stay inside, walking is physically hard; you might as well take off your glasses, vision is actually worse with them on. Yet, Michiganders are still going at the same speed as if it weren't pouring. To Michiganders, what Californians are afraid of when it rains is what they are afraid of when there's a blizzard. Rain? Meh.
It rains a little, then it lets up. Typically, when it lets up, we can safely say it'll stop in a couple minutes. Umbrellas usually take care of the job, or a raincoat will do. "Aww, the my shoes and the bottom of my pants are wet," is the usual complaint you'll hear.
It rains a little, then A LOT. You'll be walking across campus, figuring you'll be able to get to class in the drizzle, your jacket probably suffering the most from the dampness. That's what you think until (apparently, how else could it be explained?) somebody must've tossed a bomb into the clouds, because SHEETS OF WATER are coming down on your head, prompting you to run (slip, fall, crawl, whatever works) to the nearest building for sanctuary. You finally make it back to your dorm/apartment and you hear things like, "Your underwear is wet? Me too!!" Umbrellas become pretty unfixable flowers in your living room.
(On the quick tangent, you wonder if this was what Noah experienced when it started to "rain".)
People don't know how to handle. Wearing raincoats and umbrellas, I try to get to point A to point B as fast as possible, thinking which route is the driest, regardless of distance. All it matters is I stay dry. A tale walking in Michigan's rain is worth recounting, the harsh journey against the crazy winds, battering rain, and dramatic flashes of lightening and thunder.
People run out of their rooms, screaming and running giddily into the rain, lying in the puddles on the sidewalk, walking barefoot out on the lawn. (Honestly speaking, it seems like it should be switched, with how much Californians need rain, but nope.)
Overall, both rains are something to experience, and even I admit that Michigan's thunderstorms are quite fun to be out in once in a while (with the proper equipment and not driving). I'm grateful for rain in general wherever I go; water is needed (much more apparent when you start to ration). The childish joy of walking through puddles (again, if properly dressed), which you may have read or seen in a book or TV show is something that you want to experience for yourself, with how much fun they are having. Do try it sometime. (Of course, with an umbrella, rain boots and raincoats, not in jeans, flats and a flimsy hoodie.)
If you have been following me for a long time, then you know I write about two main things: relateable articles and communication media based articles. Now, it is time for me to combine the two. For those of you that don't know, I am a radio DJ at IUP, and I DJ for a show called BPM (Beats Per Minute). It is an EDM, or electronic dance music, based show and I absolutely love it.
Believe it or not, I never really listened to EDM before I started deejaying. I knew the big wigs; Skrillex, Deadmau5, Calvin Harris and Aviici, just to name a few; but I did not know that EDM music is more than just hard dubstep or the more pop-influenced EDM songs we hear on top 40 radio. Now I absolutely love it. I find it to be a cool genre of music in general because it has so many styles, and I'm always looking for new songs to play on my show.
If you're interested in listening to EDM music, then today is your lucky day! Below are 21 EDM songs that range in style, but should ease the non-EDM listener into the world of electronic dance music. This list also gets you away from more popular DJs like Calvin Harris, Zedd, The Chainsmokers and David Guetta.
1. "Ready or Not" - Madison Mars
2. "Blackout" - Tritonal featuring Steph Jones
3. "Stepping Stone" - Lemaitre and Mark Johns
4. "Heartless" - Jacob Tillerberg featuring Jonning
5. "Electric Elephants" - Jay Hardway
6. "Do You Don't You" - Haywyre
7. "Top of the World" - Stephen Walking
8. "Faded" - Alan Walker
9. "Jaguar" - WhatSoNot
10. "Paralyzed" -DM Galaxy featuring Tyler Fiore
11. "Colour" - Marshmello
12. "Maybe" - Carmada
13. "Off The Hook" - Hardwell and Armin van Buuren
14. "Secrets" - Tiesto, KSHMR, and VASSY
15. "Aftergold" - Big Wild
16. "On My Mind" - Don Diablo
17. "Electric Feel -Justice Remix" - MGMT and Justice
18. "Summit" - Skrillex featuring Ellie Goulding
19. "Must Stop the Feeling" - NERO
20. "Feel" - Mahmut Orhan featuring Sena Sener
21. " Daydream" - One Bit and N/A
This is one new song to listen to every day for three weeks. Hopefully listening to some of these songs will bring you in to the world of electronic dance music. If you listen to this particular list, you'll see how diverse the genre is, ranging from dubstep, trap, to chillstep music. Check it out, maybe you'll be like me and fall in love with this music, if not then that's cool too. You had a new listening experience, and that's all that matters.
As any other person on this planet, it sometimes can be hard to find the good in things. However, as I have always tried my hardest to find happiness in any and every moment and just generally always try to find the best in every situation, I have realized that your own happiness is much more important than people often think. Finding the good in any situation can help you to find happiness in some of the simplest and unexpected places.
Many people often think that happiness can be found by creating the largest social media pool, trying to be someone that they are not in order to be accepted or even having the nicest car or the biggest house. But happiness does not come from these material or “fake” things. It comes from strong connections with people you love, having gratitude and consideration for the people around you and finding happiness in the most unexpected and often overlooked places.
Constantly reminding yourself that your happiness is one of the most important things and sometimes having to put your happiness first is something that should be happening every day. Personally, my happiness comes from thousands of things ranging from reading a book all the way to vacationing to the ocean and everything in between. Also, I find happiness in the happiness of others and seeing others in content, but this also sometimes means that I do not put my happiness first.
Everyone has their flaws and many people are like me—forgetting to put their happiness before others. Therefore, in order to give you just a simple idea of how easy it is to find happiness in the smallest of places, here are 100 reminders of happiness that surround you each and every day. This list also purposes for each of you to think of your own reminders that make you happy and to tell yourself that your happiness is important and that you should always find happiness in every situation in the most unexpected places.
https://www.everypixel.com/search?q=love&orientati...
Photo by Olena Bohovyk on Unsplash
Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash
pink and white flowers with green leaves
Photo by W.S. Coda on Unsplash
person's feet on seashore
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Owning a pet can get difficult and expensive. Sometimes, their vet bills cost hundreds of dollars just for one visit. On top of that, pets also need food, a wee wee pad for a dog, a litter box with litter for a cat, toys, and treats. Besides having to spend hundreds of dollars on them, they provide a great companion and are almost always there when you need to talk to someone. For the past six years, I have been the proud owner of my purebred Bengal cat named Spock. Although he's only seven years and four months old, he's taught me so much. Here's a few of the things that he has taught me.
If I said that he knew what he wanted at all times, I'd be lying. Sometimes, he'll want to be in the living room watching television. Sometimes, he'll want to sit on the bathmat and not let people use the bathroom in peace. At other times, he'll hide under the table in either the kitchen or the living room - or, he'll jump up on a chair or on a shelf. Owning Spock has taught me that it's fine to not know what you want because things change, and those changes could impact your decisions on what you want for yourself.
Sometimes, all we want to do is be left alone. The same applies for animals - especially for Spock. Everyone deserves some alone time for just themselves. If some of your so called friends can't respect that, then maybe they just don't respect you as a person and as their friend, and maybe you should reconsider your friendship with that person. Owning Spock has taught me this via his actions of always running away from people when all he wants to do is be alone.
With Spock, he begs for food at least four times an hour. He doesn't care if you just fed him - he will beg you for more food. Owning Spock has taught me that sometimes, you just need to eat that piece of cheesecake or that salad when you feel like it. By the end of the day, you're choosing to put whatever food you want to in your body, and you shouldn't have to provide anyone with an explanation of that.
Sometimes, we're in a situation that we usually don't want to be in - like a fight with a friend, family member, the person you're in a relationship with, a group project partner, and so on. Owning Spock has taught me that you just need to do what you need to do when you're in an uncomfortable situation - and if that means adding some sass into what you're doing, then do it.
Sometimes, we're just flat out tired and need to take a nap in order to feel refreshed. With Spock, he enjoys taking a nap about what seems like twenty times a day. Does he feel bad about it? No. It's probably because he knows he's tired and wants to gain some more energy. The same applies to us humans - so go take that nap that you've been wanting to take and don't feel bad about it.
It's not a surprise that we all get older and experience a lot of important things and moments within our lives. Although it may seem annoying to have to constantly pull out your phone or your camera that you love using for everything to document the moment or important thing that you're going through, you won't regret it later. You'll have photos that you'll look back on later in life and you'll have memories to share with your friends and family. With that being said, here are some photos of Spock as he's gotten older.
It's fun to see all of the selfies on social media, they are everywhere. I see pictures with pouty lips, duck lips and pucker lips. I see smokey eyes, huge fake lashes and nicely done nose jobs, boob jobs and butt lifts. Women working out in spandex, tiny tops and flip flops. I see tight abs and firm butts, manicured nails and toes, up dos and flowing hair. "Wow", I think to myself," I could apply tons of make-up, spend an hour on my hair, pose all day and not look like that. Maybe I need a longer stick!"
I went shopping, to a trendy store, yesterday. Really cute clothes. I was trying on this adorable sun dress when I caught a glimpse of my, not so defined, arms in the mirror. UGH! I nearly said it out loud. Then I remembered seeing my friend in a similar dress thinking how cool, comfortable and cute she looked. "She's about my size", I thought..."Maybe, I just look bad in my eyes".
Why are we so hard on ourselves? Why do we base our self esteem on our deflated self perception? Why do we compare ourselves with other women? Why do we find physical flaws that friends never notice...until we point them out? Why are we consistently critical of how we look?
Time to let it go, to start treating ourselves like we treat our friends, that is...if you are a good friend...It's okay to take a good look, evaluate and make an honest assessment. That's the only way to make adjustments...with kinder eyes. Eyes that are accepting, loving and gentle.
That way the selfie stick wont have to be so long, I'll wear my new dress, duck lip it with my red lips, smokey eyes and mascaraed lashes...and gaze upon it, as though I didn't know me, with kinder self-eyes.
Songs About Being 17
Grey's Anatomy Quotes
Vine Quotes
4 Leaf Clover
Self Respect
1. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society
2. Radhi, SUNY Stony Brook
3. Kristen Haddox, Penn State University
4. Jennifer Kustanovich, SUNY Stony Brook
5. Clare Regelbrugge, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign