Lyrics Are the Words of the Soul

Happy - Rihanna

Just as long as it makes you happy

If it makes you happy

Just be happy

Just as long as it makes you happy

If it makes you happy

Just be happy..

That's really all there is to it- BE HAPPY! You may not be able to choose what happens but you can always choose how to respond to it. It may be good, it may be bad and it most certainly may be the best thing to ever happen to you. Keep that chin up, look at the glass half full, turn that frown upside down and insert any other cliche that you can think of. Keep Rihanna on your mind and be happy. Life's too short to a Debbie Downer :)

I Call Your Bluff

A bluff: in poker used as a term to deceive, to mislead and to throw an opponent off.

I haven't been feeling very inspired to write the past few days and like any true artist, I need my inspiration. It has not been for lack of things to write about because let me tell you, I've been busy keeping up with my "A-List" lifestyle. Bet

ween work, trying to make some progress on my thesis and knocking things off my bucket list I still couldn't manage to come up with anything.

Tonight, like any other night, I decided to go for a walk. Partly because I was bored, partly because I was procrastinating and partly because I'm trying to stay in shape in the city of tanned perfection. Near the end of my walk I found myself sitting on a bench near the edge of the bluff that LMU so gracefully sits upon.

The bluff has become such an integral part of my life here at LMU. In fact, I frequent it on nearly a nightly basis around 8 p.m. I need the bluff like Lindsey Lohan needs rehab. It's become a part of who I am. But tonight was different than any other night. There I was taking in everything I could with all of my senses. I could smell the beautiful flowers surrounding me, I could hear the sound of bustling cars, chirping birds and sounding crickets. I could see the hills, downtown Los Angeles and the rest of the city and I could nearly taste the sweet smell of the ocean afar.

There I was surrounded by such beauty! Surrounded by so much, yet still surrounded by a small fraction of what the world has to offer. There I was such a miniscule piece of the intricate puzzle that we call our existence. A miniscule piece that is still so integral to the whole. For any puzzle missing its piece is not complete. The bluff taught me a lot tonight about being focused, being in the zone and yet realizing that its A-OK to just "be". From sitting on top of the bluff I could see so much, yet so much is so little in retrospect. I was there experiencing what I and others dream of, yet experiencing what some may never dare to dream.

I challenge you to find your own "LMU Bluff". I challenge you to find what it is that put's it all into perspective and I challenge you to do something with that very same perspective you have probably had all along.

So on this Tuesday, the 22nd day of the month of June I leave you readers with one question:

Could it be that all of the things we worry about, all of the things that are so minor in comparison to the large scope of life are all just our own self imposed bluffs?

My Three New Friends: Xena, Mary & Bingo Boy

In the two weeks that I've been at LMU I've made three new friends that I'd like to introduce you to:

Xena: Warrior Princess

An apparent trend that I've realized I have not been a part of, is the naming of ones car. My white Nissan Xterra has been nameless for the last year and a half which is a situation that needed to be rectified ASAP. As I talked to some of my collegues here I noticed that they were silently, and some not so silently, judging my unnamed car. So it was only appropriate that my car be named so that it could sit in the parking lot with Nitro and Miss Henrietta("She's a Lady"). Several names were tossed around the table but the winner actually came from my supervisor B. After driving around and feeling it out, I am now the proud owner of Xena: Warrior Princess. My Xterra is a warrior! She's a tough trooper , ready for anything and always fierce yet delicate and sleek like a princess...JUST LIKE ME!

Hamburger Mary

Mary, Mary, Mary-Why are you sooooooo CrAzY!!!
When I first got to LMU I heard several colleagues talk about the infamous Mary's in West Hollywood for bingo. I thought to myself, "Bingo? Do I look 75?". Well this past Wednesday I experienced something that is not intended for your typical 75 year old. Mary's sponsors drag queen bingo every Wednesday night to support a local charity and brings out Legendary Bingo to host the event. Depending on the week there is also a celebrity ball caller. Past celeb's include Ricki Lake, Paris Hilton, Ellen DeGeneres and in a month the lovely Jamie Lee Curtis. I really am making it in with the "A List".Well let me tell you-this bingo is not for the faint of heart! If you're going to go you better be ready for some profanity, some insanity and some trash throwing at winners. It's intense and so much fun so get your bingo card and daubers ready :) I love Hamburger Mary's, I love bingo and I love playing loudly!


Bingo Boy

Bingo Boy owns and operates Legendary Bingo. As much as I would love to show you a picture of him, I couldn't quite find something appropriate for your delicate eyes! Nonetheless, Bingo Boy is the third friend that I've made this week and he is quite the character. He is very well known in the LGBT community and he is fantastic.

If you're in LA and want to meet my new friends you should know that there is a strict application process to get in with my crowd. Peace!

A Day in the Life

It's been a while and a lot has happened in my super busy, wildly entertaining, whirlwind of a life! Long story short-my parents flew back home this weekend leaving me all by lonesome to take on the paparazzi :] But seriously-I took them to the airport which was kind of sad! I think it's all a part of the second phase of my quarter life crisis but thats another blog for another day. I spent Sunday with a dear friend and fraternity brother from undergrad which a ton of fun! We went to Hermosa Beach in hopes of getting a tan and laying out. Instead we froze and couldn't even take off our hoodies. It was cold and dreary and a "hot" mess. Where is the sunny Los Angeles I hear all about? Nonetheless we had some great food, my first Coffee Bean experience (check out the review section) and caught up on old times which was really nice.

That brings us to the start of the work week. Monday was super busy as I worked diligently to complete some of my tasks. I was assigned an unanticipated project to work on for the student staff training since one of the members of the training committee no longer works in the department. I'll be putting together a Resource Fair for the student staff. It's pretty much a time for them to meet people that work in the various departments within Student Affairs in order to learn about the resources they provide to students. Monday was also filled with Orientation Session 3. I was lucky enough to get to watch the LMU play that is put on for students. It was rather interesting to say the least and completely not what I was used to. Theatrical criticisms aside, it REALLY made me miss the Ambassadors and miss Orientation!

Oh, and did I mention that Monday was capped off with my third and I repeat THIRD earthquake since I have been here. I'm starting to think I might be bad luck for LA (which in theory means the Lakers should loose tonight-but once again thats another blog for another time).

Today was filled with setting up informational meetings with various directors and within the division so that I gain greater insight into their positions. With that, B challenged me to develop learning outcomes for each of the meetings. I wrote so many learning outcomes that it's not even funny! In fact, I am pretty sure that learning outcomes are basically the window to my soul! Dr. Mahoney would be so proud of me :) An added bonus of the day is that there was an RD candidate on campus which provided me with a little insight into what I might be experiencing in less than a year!

Just a "Regular" Day at the Office

B: "OMG, It's a taco truck"

Sophie: "I'm already writing down the number-I know my place"

It was a day like any other day. I woke up, went to the gym, got ready for work, went to a meeting and researched more food vendors for training (hence the love of taco trucks). Little did I know that my day was going to turn into a Los Angeles adventure! My supervisor along with the other member of the Housing Office supervising the other Res Life intern decided that after nearly a week in Los Angeles it was time for us to get out of the office and do some exploring!

Our adventure started off by going to Pink's Hot Dog which I wont really talk about so that I can entice you to read my review (I don't know you wouldn't want to). We then ventured through the Hollywood Hills to see the infamous Hollywood sign and found a street with a great view at the bottom of a hill where we got some great pictures. Mind you we stood in the MIDDLE of the road taking pictures and waiting for the other to yell, "car" before we ran out of the way :) The B took us up this windy will all the way past a sign clearly stating "No Access to the Hollywood Sign" and ta-da there was the Hollywood Sign up close and personal. We got some great shots by standing on a decent sized hill. (Word to the wise- don't try to "hike" in flip flops because thats how you end up with a scratch and dirt on you. Not that I fell or anything-purely hypothetical.

We then proceeded down the Sunset strip passing the Laugh Factory, the House of Blues, the Comedy Shop and a ton of stores and restaurants that I can't wait to go back to. On our drive back I saw the TGI Fridays and Starbucks that are both owned by Magic Johnson. Which is totally random! I never knew that bad food and amazing coffee was his passion-who would've thought!?

Since we didn't get to go to Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills, we were assured that those destinations would be next on our office adventures.

Nothing beats a day at the office :)

Starting to Feel Like a Lion

So it's Day 3 and I'm totally loving LMU and I already feel so integrated into the university and the department. Everyone is so friendly and willing to sit down and chat and learn all about me, where I'm from and what I'll be working on this summer. It really does feel like a family here and all of my worries have been alleviated. The support from my supervisor is amazing and I'm already starting to feel like a Lion. I've also made connections with current students and the current RD's. In fact I've even been invited to join the nightly hang-outs to watch television....gotta have my summer shows!

My day today was filled with meetings about training, databases, and drapes. In case you were wondering I did in fact say drapes like the ones you hang on your windows. It was great to be back in meeting again and I finally have tasks!!! I worked on food orders and researching vendors for training and have been assigned to work on updating an office manual for desk workers as well as helping a fabulous RA create a cool and informative video. I can't wait to build my technical skills particularly since she is a Film Major!

I do have to say that the highlight of my day was meeting the fourth and final intern who is working with Conference Services. She is so nice and we have a lot in common. To top the day off all four interns went out to dinner which was our first time hanging out as a group. I have a feeling that it's going to be a good summer :)

Earthquakes, Orientation & Meet and Greets

"Oh no, don't worry that wasn't an earthquake.....it was just the door slamming really hard"

Yes, that was my day summed up in a sentence! I apparently slept through my first earthquake but was fully alive and kicking for the second that occurred this afternoon. The opening quote fully encompasses the energetic and humorous supervisor that I get to work with.

The day started off with meeting with my supervisor to go over what my summer would like like. I'm so excited to get the opportunity to work with student training not only for the Student Housing Office but for all positional student leaders on campus. B also told me that we'd be doing a lot to develop my personal and professional skills from touring other local universities, participating in mock interviews, meeting and working with other campus partners and utilizing Strengths Quest. (B and I actually share our top strength). I am definitely looking forward to all of the meetings, tasks and opportunities to work with other departments.

After that our day was was filled with your standard HR stuff from getting a One Card to getting access to the fitness center and even a campus tour and for once I didn't have to walk backwards :) We then had a meet and greet for everyone working in the SHO to meet myself and the second Res Life Intern. He (K) seems really cool and I'm certain we are going to get a long this summer.

Just when I thought the day was over I was reminded that it is in fact Orientation season at LMU so I got to watch my supervisor present to the parents and then had dinner with everyone from the division which was awesome! I am so lucky to be surrounded by a ton of really great professionals.

I think that my biggest take away today was that while all universities may be different, they are all essentially the same. Relationships will made, laughter will occur and the ultimate purpose of student success remains the same.

Hello Los Angeles!

After a long morning, a long drive and multiple wrong turns, my parents and I finally made it to Los Angeles yesterday. It was a very smooth drive and traffic was not that bad until we got into this busy city. Seriously Los Angeles?! Why so much traffic?!? Where are all these people and cars coming from and where are they going?! I've always heard about the trials and tribulations of going anywhere in LA but I never thought it was going to be this bad. A 15 mile adventure took nearly an hour. I am beyond certain that I could have walked quicker (yes-an exaggeration).

Regardless of the traffic I made it to Loyola Marymount University which is BEYOND beautiful! While nothing can top the brick and ivy that I have called home for the last 5 years, LMU is breathtaking. It sits on a bluff overlooking the city and the view is spectacular. The buildings are white and pristine and make me feel as if I am truly in a foreign land. While I understand that words cannot due proper justice, I assure you that pictures will be posted as soon as my new camera (which is pink btw) arrives.

To top it off all of my worries about not getting along with my roommate are now irrelevant because I don't have one :( I'm actually a little disappointed! I am one of four interns (3 girls and 1 boy) and the two other girls have already been working for 2-3 weeks so they were placed together. While they are only a across the walkway, I now wish I had someone to share my spacious apartment with. On the bright side I hope that time alone will allow me to actually work on my thesis as planned (at least until my TV gets fixed). The TV was another unanticipated perk along with cups, plates, and a ton of other goodies provided by my supervisor for the summer.

My supervisor, who I will refer to as "B" for the purposes of anonymity is FABULOUS! She's really nice, really funny and I can tell that we are going to get along really well. She even had all the interns, Area Directors, Residence Directors and summer RA's over for dinner tonight. It was a good glimpse into the environment that I will be working in this summer. It was also a wonderful reminder of how small the field of Student Affairs is seeing as how three alum of the MA program at Pacific work at LMU, a former LMU undergrad just graduated from the program and last but not least, two directors at LMU were actually wed by one of Pacific's Student Life Directors!

Well, that as all for now since I am really tired, I need to unpack and tomorrow is my first day! Wish me luck :)

Fasten Your Seatbelt!

"I hopped off the plane at LAX

with a dream and my cardigan

welcome to the land of fame excess,

am I gonna fit in?

Jumped in the cab,

Here I am for the first time

Look to the right and I see the Hollywood sign

This is all so crazy

Everybody seems so famous"

-Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA"

Oh Miley, so wise at such a young age!!

Here I am, a day before I begin my trek down to Los Angeles and I can deny the fact that I'm getting a little nervous! For beginners, I've never really been the "So-Cal" type-I mean I'm "hella" Nor Cal. But lets be real, I was made for the glitz and glamour of a big city. I mean E! here I come! I'm practically the next host of Red Carpet Pre-show!!!

But in all seriousness I am getting a bit nervous. I'm about to start an internship in a totally unfamiliar city at an unfamiliar school. Oh how the 209 will seem so far away. What if I forget everything I've learned in the past five years and I simply bomb the next eight weeks? What if, I don't cut it anywhere other than Pacific? All of these questions keep circulating my head and have even made me a bit moody the last few days (just ask my parents). Then throw in an apartment mate that I don't know anything about. Will we get along? Will we be able to work and live together? Will we become the closest of friends? I sure hope so.

As nervous as I may be, I am also very excited and I know that these nerves will serve me well. It will be a great opportunity to start as a young professional in a new environment. I'm excited for the possibilities that my internship and Los Angeles hold in store.

In the words of Miss Miley Cyrus, all I have to do is "put my hands up, they're playing my song and the butterflies fly away.....it's a party in the USA".

Crying, Contracts & Cameras

Donald Trump's Top 10 Tips for Success:

1. Be focused. Put everything you’ve got into what you do every day.
2. Believe in yourself. If you don’t, no one else will.
3. Be tenacious.
4. Trust your instincts.
5. Maintain your momentum and keep everyone moving forward
6. See yourself as victorious and leading a winning team.
7. Be passionate about what you do.
8. Live on the edge. Do not become complacent.
9. Leadership is not a group effort. If you’re in charge, then be in charge.
10. Never give up!

(http://www.trumpinitiative.com/blog/post/2009/09/top-ten-tips-for-success.cfm)

Now I may not be a former/current millionaire (depending on your thoughts on filing bankruptcy), I may not have my own television show searching for my own apprentice and I may not own a mediocre hotel in a wannabe Las Vegas but I do know a few things about success and making it BIG.

In a society driven by fame, fortune and the almighty five minutes of fame everyone is looking for their way to stand out and to join the "A List".But how do you really become a part of this exclusive group? Some people have talent, some have an American Express Gold card and others have real, raw emotion. I don't mean passion or dedication, I don't mean drive and desire, I mean tears!!! Tears are the key to success-THE END.

Not really because I have more to say.

In watching So You Think You Can Dance tonight I made an astounding realization. Tears are the gateway to being discovered in the entertainment business. If you have a sob story, you get a longer introduction where they film you walking through your hometown doing something you love with some sentimental music playing in the background. Then you get interviewed by the host of the show for a good minute or two all while wasting my precious airtime mind you. Then for the final boom boom pow you stand before the judges who question your motivation for dance (or whatever your show is about). By this point no one cares if you're good or not because they are too busy looking for Kleenex to wipe away the tears they have shed over a perfect stranger. Not only have you know had your five minutes of fame but you're one stroke of a ball point pen away from a movie contract and before you know if you're on a movie set filming the next Blindside.

Tears are not only what get your foot in the door but they are what keep you there.

Case and point:

Miley Cyrus: A prime example of fame and success despite her troubled life.

I mean, have you heard "The Climb"? It's so inspirational

Paula Abdul: Who needs sub par singing and choreography

when you can shed a tear over other subpar talent?

This realization leads me to wonder how I can join what I have called the "water work revolution". The WWR is not limited to SYTYCD but to other reality shows and society as a whole. Will crying be the key to the Summer of 2k10? Will tears be my way to the top? If so, then I've got this in the bag. Whether you make me sad or make me laugh the end result will be the same: I will cry....literally!!! My over-productive tear ducts will finally be used for the greater good of mankind. Bring out the Kleenex, call my lawyer to negotiate my contract and cue the cameras!

(NOTE: I'm not entirely heartless, I do have care and compassion and recognize that some people have overcome obstacles that are greater than I can comprehend and in no way am I downsizing that. I just pray that people do not create fake stories for fame and popularity when there are truly outstanding individuals who inspire others.)