A Very Lucky Girl

Whoever said the world was ending in 2012 wasn't lying. For one, campus is overrun with a surplus of crickets. Personally, I'd rather have Apocalypse later instead of now... And for two, I'd like to NEVER experience an Aporkalypse. But it looks like we have no choice. I recently learned about an impending tragic global bacon shortage. You can read the entire heartbreaking tale from NBC  here .  In short, 2013 will not be the year of the pig. Blame the lack of pork on the failed farming endeavors in the way of corn and soybeans. Without proper nutrition, pigs cannot mate to produce little piglets to decorate my omelets. Push through the hunger, piggies! The world needs your babies...mate, dammit! Thankfully, my bacon addiction includes turkey bacon. Luckily, turkeys are typically only served alongside corn, instead of ingesting the yellow nuggets. I shouldn't suffer too much, and I hope you don't either. The pigs can have my corn ration! And soybeans! A Very Lu...

It seems fitting that the 5th phone I will ever own will be the iPhone 5, courtesy of my wonderfully amazing father, Paul Arceneaux.  talk about being A Very Lucky Girl... If all goes according to plan, my new technology should arrive in Oklahoma City TODAY. And then it should enter my life the next weekend when I go home to spend time with my grandparents. So...less than 10 days? I can handle that!  It's been a long road to this day in Taylor history. I was one of the few (the proud?) that lacked a cellular device all throughout middle school and even freshman year! Who remembers that HOME PHONES have speed dial? The deal I made with Paul and Sharbear aided in my achievement of all A's (barely-damn geometry with Mrs. Kucik!) to kick start high school. The move to Beaumont and my stellar grades culminated in... The red one. Sharbear took one for the team and claimed the brown model. I don't recommend TMobile to anyone, by the way. But I do recommend an unlimite...

Tyler and I made a meal of champions on Wednesday night. Seemingly simplistic fare, to be sure, but alive with flavor nonetheless: spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread. Vegetables? Uhh bread's a vegetable right? Wheat comes from the ground? Ehhhh. I've discovered my cooking forte in homemade garlic bread. This is going to be the crap-I-was-supposed-to-bring-a-dish-to-this-get-together!? recipe for the rest of my adult life. Tyler's roommate actually said "oh my god. This is amazing" for a solid 5 minutes. Want to recreate your own Italian night? Fine, twist my arm: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce: This is a back to the basics situation. Even Tyler could probably make this without supervision ;) I only minimally assisted. You'll need: Sauce from a jar. I chose Walmart brand meat flavored sauce. No complaints! One pound of your choice of noodles. Angel hair was the shape of the night in Tyler's kitchen. A package of ground turkey meat. You gotta go...

Who knew that "Beowulf" could house so much modern wisdom? I applied yet another line from the dragon-infested tale to my own life. "Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done." Lines 287-289 I talk about what I want to do with my life often. I've done nothing to accomplish these long-term goals.  "I want to study abroad." Okay, then do it! What do I need to do first? Where do I want to go? Who should I talk to? I finally put some action behind my wishes and signed up for an informational meeting on September 20th, after deciding that somewhere in the United Kingdom would be the best bet for furnishing my English Literature degree. "I want to be an editor. I think." Okay, well what does that require? How do I find out if that's even something I want to do forever? I had a brainstorm the other day and ah-ha! the Writing Center! I emailed them a few days ago inquir...

Tyler took me to The Warren in Moore the other night to see a movie I've been dying to see ever since I viewed the trailer. "The Words" intrigued me for two reasons: as one who dabbles in writing, I couldn't shun a story of the trade, and Bradley Cooper fills the screen for an agreeable amount of time.  I was not disappointed. The basic premise is of a stereotypical starving writer trying to make something of his words while supporting himself and his newlywed wife. They go on a jaunt to Paris for their honeymoon (a bit pricey I'd think, but who am I to judge holes in the plot?), where Dora, the wife, buys him an antique briefcase. Happy wedding, honey! Here's a manky old murse for you to tote around town! However, the purchase inspires him (Rory Jansen, played by Bradley Cooper) in ways she couldn't imagine, for he discovers an ancient manuscript tucked inside. As his own stories continue to be rejected, he retypes the typewritten, yellowed pages th...

As if I already wasn't 1000% positive that I never want to work in the medical field...Health and Exercise Science is only confirming my negative position towards the intricate workings of the human body. It is going to be my cross to bear this semester.  Test One is coming up on Monday and I'm in over my head with the cardiovascular system, pulmonary system, asthma, cancer, sleep apnea, ischemia, myocardial infarctions (fancy word for heart attacks), and hypertension.  When my Venezuelan professor (reason number zillion why it's hard to understand this class...it's taught in an interesting variation of my first language) tells us to remember the difference between the right and left sides of the heart, this is what I think: left side right side Unfortunately, I don't think that's the diagram she will be checking for on the exam.  Based on the amount of time she has spent espousing the dangers of smoking, you'd think cigarettes are the pitfall of...

I spent Labor Day weekend relaxing at home in Oklahoma City. I didn't feel well prior to Shari's arriving to scoop me up from school. But after an uber nutritious meal from Slim Chicken's and conversation with mom, my throat was mysteriously un-sore. I clearly needed more time to convalesce so I lounged around with Beignet for the rest of the weekend.  Tyler drove up on Sunday to attend church with me (I love when he does that) and then hung out with me and my family for the rest of the day (I like when he does that, too). As we were preparing to leave on Sunday night I asked Shari to French braid my hair because my fingers are too clumsy for something so intricate. She obliged, even finishing up with a back massage! (my mom is better than yours), and I started giggling helplessly when she told me to correct my posture. Except she used a different phrase. I'm not allowed to repeat it or else I would share it with you. As I reached for my phone to share Sharbear'...

"I deserved it more than he did." "He deserved it more than she did." Entitlement was the name of the game in Bachelor Pad's grand finale on Monday night. $250,000 was up for grabs and each player thought they deserved it more than another. None of them DESERVED the money. They are regular people like the rest of the world. They got lucky enough to be cast in a show that sees fit to dole out half a million every year to one of twenty-five sluts. If anyone DESERVES that money...it's the families that were immediately effected by the tragedy that occurred eleven years ago. The one that altered America, and New York City's skyline, forever. It seems petty to witness the irrational twitter fights that broke out all over my timeline today, a day that should have been reserved and observed. So you lost out on $250,000. Did you lose LIFE? A Very Lucky Girl and America should never forget. 

During my Health and Exercise Science class the other day our teacher was on a smoking rant. The current riveting slides were covering lung cancer. She asked, "why do you think it won't happen to you?" Why? Where does our invincibility complex come from? Why do people sleep around and think they won't get STD's? Why do people have unprotected sex and think babies won't happen? Why do some people drink everyday and think they won't become dependent on alcohol? Because that's what AIDS victims thought. That's what teen mothers originally planned on. That's what people in rehab were sure would never happen to them. To others maybe, but never to them. Never to US.  The truth is, we are just as susceptible to unfortunate things as the next person. So take precautions. Live boundlessly, but not riskily. It's not worth it. A Very Lucky Girl (and her passionate HES teacher) says don't smoke. 

On May 8th I started officially dating one of the greatest guys I've ever known. But I want to share some background story. Because we are pretty freakin' cute.  I sat in the "cool corner" of our Beginning French class with my friend Natasha. The boy in question perched diagonally across from me, conveniently located beneath the clock for easy glance-stealing access. During one of Natasha and I's many discussions about the male species, I piped up, "Hey you know who's pretty cute? That guy across from us in French!" She stared at me, mouth agape, "He's gay." "No! Not him. NEXT to him."  During our next class she nudged me, "yeah, you're right. You should ask him out!" HAHAHAHA since when has that ever been Taylor Arceneaux's style? If you guessed never then go get yourself a cookie. You deserve one. I responded with an "are you dumb?" eye roll. She picked up on it and whisper-yelled (did I menti...

"I'm a freshmen-lover...in an extremely appropriate way" said I as I lounged across the couch in Savannah's triangular office on Monday. I couldn't contain my excitement about the relationships I get to build with new students. Hi guyz, my name is Taylor and I'm obsessed with this year's freshmen class at OU. I love being able to be a mentor of sorts: to my Gateway class, my freshmen friends, and strangers that I meet at the Caf or the Union. I remember my dad telling me, "the best way to have a conversation is to ask someone about themselves. People love to talk about themselves, it's human nature." Paul never ceases to be right. Except for, of course, when he's wrong. I applied to be a TA for the next two semesters and I am absolutely adoring every second of it so far. My class is so great, especially considering that it's at 8:30 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thankfully, it's full of morning people (or people that are rea...

bathroom pics Jew party, what? College is the single best thing to have ever happened to me. I am SO blessed with parents that work hard to make an excellent education accessible for me. I wish college was a full-time job, I love everything about it. I love my classes, I love meeting new people everyday, and I especially love this environment of striving for success.  Febreeze wars gingerbread house party Hey, mom and dad, this is my official thank-you. It means a lot that you would invest so much in my dreams.  Horned Frog dance parties roommates boomer sooner football birthdays Remember wanting high school to fly by? My opinion of college is vastly different. I want these next 3 years to slow down and take their time.  general silliness sisters <> I used to hate being a part of the class of 2015 instead of my original status in the graduating class of 2014, but I wouldn't be ready to leave here in 2 years. I need t...

Would you rather be able to see your future but not be able to change it or see everyone else's future and not be able to tell them? Savannah unleashed this question on our hall last year during a rousing game of "would you rather." I was stumped. I can see the downside of both flipsides. Why would you want to know of possible impending doom in your own future and not be able to take action against it? Why would you want to know of impending doom in another's future and not be able to warn them? I think I would much rather see another's future though. Because the question says nothing about whether I could change their future. I just wouldn't be able to tell them that I was helping. I was inspired by that one question and googled several other tricky options. I found the mother load: Would you rather eat only Nutella or only bacon? Is this for real? I have an "i love bacon" magnet on my fridge. Gimme that pig, crispy, of course! Would you ra...

I complained and complained about reading Beowulf last the weekend. And complained. To anyone and everyone that would listen. Or maybe they didn't listen. I'm not a Beowulf kind of girl. It felt like reading the Lord of the Rings in poetry form. I barely made it through the Hobbit with the my love of reading intact. Conner teased me about the love lost between me and the story about dragons. (seriously, dragons? My favorite book is Little Women...)  Boys are stupid. Except for this next one. He knew how much I was HATING my sojourn through the thin pages of the Norton Anthology of English Literature and brought me sour patch kids and an ice cold water (these are a few of my favorite things...Sound of Music reference anyone?) on his way home from work on Sunday night. Life, in general, is better with an orange or green sour patch kid in your mouth. The reds are still in my room. Any takers? Even after discussing the text in class, Beowulf is still not a hero I will plast...