The Lost Looney Toons

Listen to the following link. Cool, huh?

It reminds me of Looney Toons. I always loved how the mixed classical music and physical comedy. For this particular piece I feel this would work best with Donald Duck. Imagine him starting a new job as a typist (which would never happen as this was traditionally a woman's job, but go with it). As the other workers busily go about their work, Donald struggles to get the contraption working properly. As he is about it sit down at his desk, someone finishes their line. Ding! Donald is struck in the head. Dazed and angry, he makes a second attempt. Swipe! This time from the other side. Quacking to himself, he sits down, feathers more than ruffled. Finally finding his rhythm, he begins to type. Dodging the platens as the carriage release levers are pulled, sneering and quacking with each near hit. Gaining confidence, he types and types. He even begins to smile!

Ding! Bang!

Donald ends up beak down on the floor.

Inaugural Post: Ants vs. Grasshoppers

Have you ever noticed that there can be an exorbitant amount of pressure associated with firsts? Whether it is the first through a door, to a party, to be kissed, night in jail, or, as in this case, writing a blogpost, the feeling seems to have relative feelings. (Admittedly, the first night in jail doesn't necessary belong in that list of firsts, but I thought that it incorporated a feeling of anxiety into the list that emphasized the proper dramatic effect.)

So on that note: welcome! Today's dissertation? The dating life of bugs.

Ants and Grasshoppers to be specific.

This brief topic is in the forefront of my mind lately as the start of the school year quickly approaches. Many things come to mind as another college semester begins: apartments, class schedules, books, employment, roommates, etc. Obviously our sole purpose is to go to school for an education and an occupation. Who doesn't remember their first few weeks at school, acclimating to classes and apartments, and dressing up so that the cute boy in the apartment would take notice and ask you out on a date? Except he never asked you out on a date, did he? You dressed up, you baked him cookies, and even cooked dinner for him occasionally, yet he never stayed long enough to clean the dishes. Before you knew it you were in the friend zone, wondering where you went wrong.

Do you remember the Disney Pixar movie: A Bug's Life? They perfectly classified this precise dilemma:

The ants pick the food.

The grasshoppers eat the food.

And the grasshoppers leave.

"They come, they eat, they leave. It's not a lot, but it's our life."

It seems discouraging, but there is a solution. Let's role play. When the grasshopper (or attractive man #1) finds out that you love baking cookies or have an affinity towards cooking, he says:

"I have a huge midterm this week, and you would be the best if you would bake me some cookies or cook dinner for me one night. Would you do that, please?"

Now, you have to recognize that you will want to because you like him. But you also need to realize that this is the first stepping stone towards the friend zone. So feel free to utilize any of these three phrases to show him that you are not that kind of girl:

- "That does sound nice...for a second or third date. Where are you taking me for our first?"
- "I could definitely do that, if you change the oil in my car first."
- "You like cookies that much? Alright, but I love lobster and steak. Why don't we call it a trade?"

If you can learn to do that, then you'll have taken the first proactive step towards avoiding the friend zone. It is possible. After all, even Princess Atta learned to be forthright and told Hopper that:

The ants pick the food.

The ants eat the food.

And the grasshoppers leave.