Reason number 481……

Just kidding. I probably could think of 481 reasons, but I’m sure you wouldn’t want to read it. I can say one thing though, those of you who are getting ready to attend NC State (or some other lackluster place [haha]) and those of you who are current students: this week does, in fact, end. I know, final projects are weighing down on your shoulders and studying for exams has caused Red Bull stock to hit its all-time high. But breathe. You’re almost done.

This blog is my last for the semester, so, in the spirit of this week of doom I figured I’d take a break from the 4 essays and 3 final projects I have yet to finish to tell you wonderful people about my as-soon-as-classes-end plans.

First and foremost, I will be spending as many hours as I can sitting in my NC State tailgate chair on the edge of a lake with a cold cooler to my right and my tackle box to my left.

I also applied for about 11 internships, so hopefully I will land one of those jobs over the summer.

I really don’t have much else planned. I’m looking to buy a new car, if I get one of those jobs. I’m moving again into a house near campus with two friends of mine from high school. Both will be transferring to State fairly soon, which is exciting.

I encourage those of you who are preparing for college to enjoy these summer months. Meet up with friends, hang out as much as possible; waste time together because these three months may in fact be the last time in a while that you’ll see those people. I went on road trips to the beach, threw all nighter party movie marathons, and spent countless hours just sitting at Starbucks chatting the day away. Those are the times you’ll be able to look back and appreciate before (somewhat) real life sets in.

Those of you in the collegiate demographic, do as you always do–spend the day at the pool, go to work, take a summer class, whatever. You’re adults now. Just remember if you do anything crazy or ridiculously fun and I don’t get invited, I WILL FIND YOU. Not really, but you should invite me anyway.

This is my last moment of zen for the semester; enjoy it; breathe it in.

I was recently lucky enough to sit down with Corey Taylor, one of three Mr. Wufs, and ask him a barrage of questions so that you future and current students can truly understand the man (or men, and women for Ms. Wuf) behind the mask.

“T” is obviously me, Taylor. And “C” is Corey. If there’s any other questions you’d like me to ask him (or Ms. Wuf), tell me here!

T: How did you get involved with becoming Mr. Wuf?

C: My senior year of high school I decided to try something different and when my school created a mascot, I was asked to fill the role. It was actually part of my school’s theater program that decided to do it. But I got involved doing that and my adviser in high school was a big NC State fan and when she figured out that State was a school I was applying to she got in contact with the cheer coach and I tried out in May of my senior year.

T: That’s pretty cool. So what was your high school mascot that you started?

C: The Patriot at Arendell Parrott Academy

T: So what was the process like when you had to try out for Mr. Wuf?

C: You go to the NC State cheer team tryouts specifically for the mascot position, but you are included as a member of the cheer team.

T: Are there a variety of other people who are Mr. and Ms. Wuf?

C: There are a couple of Mr. and Ms. Wufs. We’re on a performance scale that determines what [events] you’re allowed to do and not allowed to do. We split up as many private events as possible.

T: Describe a typical event or day as Mr. Wuf

C: A typical day as Mr. Wuf is a very long day. We start, for a football game for example, we’ll get up and we’ll be at the stadium 3 or 4 hours before kickoff in which case we’ll have all the Mr. and Ms. Wufs together. We all work the football games because it’s such a long event. We all get in suit and cycle doing different pregame events. If ESPN is here, we’d go with them, or go wander through the tailgate and do our thing. Then prior to kickoff we’ve got our run out to do, which is where we come out on the golf cart and all that. After that we just cycle in and out between quarters…push up board, interacting with fans, and just interacting with the game.

T: How hot does is get in that suit?

C: Extremely.

T: Like if you’d compare it to a sauna…

C: I want you to go take a 3-mile jog in a parka, that’s essentially what it is, with a ski mask on. But it’s very enjoyable, not to make it sound terrible.

T: Do you guys get paid?

C: We get athletic status as a part of the cheer team. We’re just like any other cheerleader, wrestler, you know, we get the same access to everything. It does not come with any sort of scholarship, as of right now, like many of the other ACC schools around. But, we are treated very well.

T: How many total Mr. Wufs and Ms. Wufs are there?

C: Three and three.

T: Are you all friends outside of being in-costume? Or is it just a work thing?

C: We’re definitely friends. We all have that similar spontaneous and positive personality and when we’re at events together it just makes that positivity even greater.

T: If you had to tell one thing to a person who was already accepted to State but was on the fence about deciding to attend, what would it be?

C: You’ll never have another experience like you would at NC State. It’s one of the most comfortable environments that you could put yourself in to and with all the opportunities that NC State provides it’s definitely something to not miss out on.

T: Do you actually enjoy being Mr. Wuf or just do it because you did it in high school and decided to continue?

C: I definitely enjoy it. It’s an experience unlike anything else.

T: Would you encourage other people to try out?

C: Absolutely, if someone wants to become involved just go on NC State’s website and check out the cheer team page. You can send in an application all on their site. We hold tryouts in Spring and Fall. We’re always looking for good and energetic people.

T: During a normal academic year how many hours per week do you dedicate to being Mr. Wuf?

C: We get hundreds of requests to do private events every month for sororities, fraternities, alumni, the Wolfpack Club…anything and everything we can go to, and people want us there. We go to as many as we can. Usually about one or two per week. When spring and fall semesters start to roll up we get bogged down with 5 appearances in a week for about a month, but its worth it for what we do. Then during football season you’ve got extra 6 hours tacked on compared to a normal event, which is usually about an hour.

T: You guys go to away games too, right?

C: We do, it usually cycles by performance as well and that determines who gets to go to those events and travel with the team. It’s a fun experience.

T: Multiple Mr. and Ms. Wuf get to go to the away games?

C: No, actually the way the ACC works is they only allow one mascot and x amount of cheerleaders per game.

T: One of you? or One Ms. Wuf and one Mr. Wuf?

C: See, here’s the tricky part, they categorize us as different mascots, not a pair, so we can’t bring a pair, we can only bring one, which we’re trying to fix. But they didn’t really know how to handle us because no one else has two mascots. Hopefully we’ll get that changed.

T: What’s the schedule like in the summer? Do you guys do anything besides training?

C: Oh yeah, its difficult. We come back from our hometown life, or whatever we’re doing, like summer classes, and people want us just the same as in July as they do in December.

T: What do you do personally to mentally prepare for an event or something that you do as Mr. Wuf?

C: I love to blare music. Being Mr. Wuf is one of the most insane things I can think of doing. It’s just a constant go, action, energy…it’s a nonstop production and you’re really acting so you just have to get into that pumped up mindset. Even if no one else in the entire world is laughing or having a good time, you have to be that person. So I’m always ready to go for that event.

T: What’s your best Mr. Wuf memory?

C: Well, I broke my cell phone at the women’s basketball tournament riding on the back of a tricycle with a Florida State mascot recently. But that’s probably not my best memory. I probably enjoy the pregame for football because it’s all of us together [the mascot squad] and we all share that same mentality. You put us all together in one room and it’s an explosion of random excitement. We’re all ready and hyped up for the game and then it sends us out into the tunnel. Even if we’re not in suit we’re still hyped up and ready to go.

T: A lot of people think you guys have headphones on while you’re in the suit…

C: No, we actually don’t have headphones in the suit, or fans, or anything like that. It’s just the suit.

T: Are you allowed to talk as Mr. Wuf?

C: No, we don’t talk unless we have an emergency situation, which doesn’t really happen that often.

T: What’s the policy about taking off the mask while you’re out there?

C: Definitely not. We’re not just doing the Mr. Wuf. Mr. Wuf is an idea, obviously he’s not real, but you have to portray that he’s him and not somebody inside a suit. You’ve got little kids that look at Mr. Wuf and think he’s real and Mr. Wuf can’t be some college student wearing a furry outfit. He’s a representation of NC State University. It’s a 100% dedication to the role. It has to be. Otherwise you lose the allure of having a mascot; you just have some guy walking around in a suit.

T: What sort of training and stuff did you have to do to prepare once you left high school and got into this college level of mascotting?

C: It’s a lot more work actually. You have to dedicate a lot of time to your cardio and you need to stay in physical shape. Obviously we do push ups, but that’s not even the most physically demanding part of doing the Mr. Wuf job. It’s really just because you’re constantly going, constantly moving. You’ve got to be able to maintain your energy level. A lot of cardio work is involved in that.

T: If you had to pick one other mascot to do a team up, whether positive or negative, who would it be?

C: I guess it depends on what kind of production you’re looking for. I’d pick Carolina in a heart beat if you wanted to do something where you want to see Mr. Wuf winning something… and honestly me and the Carolina mascot get along fine, it’s not like we hate each other, but I would probably pick the Carolina mascot because it’d be something with high publicity.

T: How would that go down in your head?

C: Undoubtedly, we’d have Mr. Wuf winning whatever it was, because we don’t lose to Carolina, that’s not an option. But here’s an unlimited possibility of ideas for what Mr. Wuf could do.

T: What’s your year and major?

C: I’m a sophomore in mechanical engineering right now, about to switch to civil engineering.

T: What are some of the other activities and stuff you’re involved in on campus?

C: Mr. Wuf takes up a good bit of time, but I’m also highly involved in my fraternity FarmHouse and Greek Life, and I’ve been a part of that since my freshman year as well. I pledged in fall of 2011 and have been highly active ever since.

T: If you could give one word or phrase of advice to a student who isn’t sure about applying to NC State yet, or isn’t sure if NC State is the right avenue for them, what would you say to them?

C: Do it. Don’t miss the opportunity. It’s the best experience I’ve had so far in my life, I mean I’m only 19 years old, but this is definitely the best so far.

T: Any last words?

C: GO PACK!

I’m thoroughly convinced that if you don’t prank, make fun of, and critique the friends whom you hold closest, then you are not doing your duty as a member of their entourage.

That being said, the holiday dedicated to obnoxious behavior is today! If you haven’t started destructively interrupting the monotonous lives of those around you, then start now!

Here’s some quick ideas:

You know what looks like the creme filling in your average Boston Creme donut? Mayonnaise. SWITCH THEM.

Courtesy of TheMetaPicture

You know what looks startlingly similar to the delicious goodness between the chocolate of your common Oreo? Old toothpaste. (This one, in fact, is actually a well-being prank; you help to freshen the breath, and prevent plaque, of your target!)

Courtesy of TheMetaPicture

Is your roommate/sister/brother/mother/father/suite mate/significant other always running late? Well help them out by setting their clocks and alarms an hour late. By doing so you cause the illusion of lateness, but instead they will be waking up on time and arrive on time! (i.e. change the hour hand ahead one AND the alarm, so that if it was 7am and the alarm was set for 7am, the clock now reads 8am and goes off at 8am)

Have a common hallway that your loved ones walk down on a regular basis? Well why not fill said hallway with TONS of cups filled with water? [Disclaimer: if you have a dog, this is a bad idea...or the best idea.]

Courtesy of CollegeCrunch.org

If your setting is a little bit different, like an office with many, many cubicles then its time to extend that “loved ones” category to “anyone and everyone you work with”. This prank, though it may get you fired and be against ALL of the policies set by HR, if you can pull it off, consider yourself a prero (a prank hero).

Courtesy of Prankked.com

Then finally there’s my favorite prank of all time: go to the store and buy Icey-Hot/Bengay/something of that nature, the clear gel kind, and generously paint the toilet seats at your home/office/dorm. The active participants of those glorious facilities will be welcomed by the incomparable sensation that these OTCs provide.

I don’t know how the April Fools Day rituals began, or who declared it as All Pranks Day, but if you don’t invest some time and money into the festivities then you’re not living your life properly.

That being said, if you take part in the prank to end all pranks on this fantastic Monday morning, PLEASE tell me about at blogideasfortaylor@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Once again, I’m not encouraging that you cause any physical or mental (well, maybe some mental) harm to anyone, but it is important to take a break from the norm sometimes and have a little fun. Happiness is good for you.  Also, please note none of these pranks or ideas are endorsed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at NC State but are my own.

Your moment of zen, if you haven’t already cracked a smile:

Click the photo to read the text on it.

It seems to be that at the beginning and end of every summer marketers run rampant trying to sell you future academics THE BEST COLLEGE COMPUTER EVER. Well, I’m here to finally settle this ridiculous debate.

And just for the record, PC stands for Personal Computer, not Windows Computer. So don’t get confused.

Let’s start with this: what are YOU comfortable with?
At the end of the day you’re the one lugging the machine around, so the if that piece of metal is going to give you a slight backache AND a brain aneurism then why buy it? Are you used to using OSX (Mac’s operating system)? or Windows? or do you just want to try something new? Establish that for yourself first.

What will you primarily be using the PC for?
Typing up the numerous homework assignments you’ll have? Surfing the web? High end video or graphic design? Or maybe a ton of solid 3D modeling? Take a look at your potential course load and analyze/guess at the potential assignments you’ll be working on. Even reach out to some current students and ask them what some of the work they do on their PC pertains to.

After you establish the above, you can take one of two paths: decide on components (for those that are tech savvy) or skip right to budget.

For those that are tech savvy: are you looking for computing power? Massive screen size? A certain weight? Expanded HDD or RAM? These are all factors that you need to decide on, especially if this will be the PC you’ll be using for the next 4 years. I currently run a 2Ghz i7 Quad Core on 8gb of RAM and a 500gb HDD. Since I bought my PC I’ve upgraded the RAM to give myself a little more power.

After you’ve figured out what you want inside your PC (or not, for some of you) you can then work on your budget. Typically, at the beginning and end of the summer season both Apple and Microsoft run some ridiculous deals that get you some awesome packages. I know when I bought my Macbook Pro it came with a $100 iTunes gift card and a printer. A few friends of mine bought their Windows systems and some came with an Xbox. Now, don’t decide on your machine based on the accessories they come with, but, its definitely and added bonus to consider, lightly.

I’m a bit of a techy nerd; I’ve built my own desktops and selected every little piece when buying a PC. I’ve had both Windows based machines and OSX. I can tell you one thing: they each serve a purpose. Meaning neither are more credible for the average college student, but for me, a Macbook Pro better suited my needs.

PLEASE ask me questions, if you have any. I love answering computer questions and stuff of that nature.

I hope this little guide helps and settles some of the overdone debates that flood the internet and advertising world.

Checkout this video too, might give you a few laughs.

Here’s your relevant moment of zen:

In my last blog I tried to prompt you readers for input and topics. For a while, no one sent anything in, until Joe Payne! Here’s his letter, and my response.

“Hey Taylor,

Thanks for the post and opening up the floor to others. In my job, I work as a consultant for strategic enrollment management with admissions offices and would love to hear some feedback from you and others regarding what it was that attracted you to NC State. How did you find the whole admissions process? What did you like/dislike? How would you recommend schools like NC State do things differently to market to young people?

Cheers,
Joe”

Dear Joe,

First off, thanks for responding! That’s awesome that you work with admissions offices. Do you stick to one area? Or do you work with offices around the country?

To address your first question, being “what attracted you to NC State,” I get that question a lot. I always start off saying that not like many of my classmates, I wanted to be close to home. My parents live in North Raleigh, so we’re just far enough where I can be independent but we’re close enough to be able to get lunch every once and a while. As far as being drawn to NC State specifically, I really just like the variety of courses and majors that State offers. There’s a place for everyone here, even though we’re most commonly labeled an engineering school. Plus, I liked that it was in the heart of downtown Raleigh and the Triangle Area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill). There’s always new businesses popping up, new opportunities, and new people. Its all the benefits of a big city, without the need-to-be-rushed attitude and honking horns.

The admissions process, I’d imagine, was the same as many of the other schools I applied to. I will say one thing though, I have a ton of questions for each school and NC State was the one that responded the fasted and with the most in-depth of answers. Aside from that, I just waited for the big red envelope just like anyone else.

There really isn’t much that I don’t like about NC State. I think most of the minor problems that I’ve encountered are just typical of being a college student, not necessarily at the fault of NC State. I will say one thing though, tripping over the occasional uneven brick is a miserable experience. Now for things I like…I’d probably have to write a whole other blog. Just to highlight a few main ones: no matter where you’re from, when you attend NC State you become part of the Wolfpack, both during and after your studies. The student body is such a tight knit group here and the alumni support is among the best in the nation. We have promising football and basketball programs (known as the “Cardiac Pack” because of how we seem to be a sleeper team until the last few minutes of the game, causing any true fan’s heart to race).

For your last part I’m kind of confused. I’m going to assume that by “young people” you mean high schoolers, and if so, I don’t think we need to do anything different. We hit a record high this year of applicants to NC State. We also host many events at our own university, high schools, and other venues for promotion and information that students can take advantage of. We also fly in counselors for conferences and give them a chance to interact directly with our student panel so that they can bring questions and concerns directly from their student body.

Well, I hope I was able to answer all of your questions! And thanks again for writing in.

Yours,
Taylor

As always, your moment of zen:

If you’ve read some, or any, of my blogs you might have picked up the fact that I have no consistent theme. I usually spend about 20 or 30 minutes perusing the interwebs to come up with a topic to share with you all. Sometimes, I come in to work already knowing something I want to share, but more often than not, I don’t–you could say I like to keep things fresh.

That being said, this leads me to my topic for today: You.

I want to know what YOU desire to know. Want to know about NC State? Sure! Want to know about me? Let’s do it. Want to know about Raleigh? or food? or my favorite movie? or why it rains a lot but hasn’t snowed? I want to tell you.

I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t give you a way to get in touch with me. So, here it is, email me: blogideasfortaylor@gmail.com

If the idea you send isn’t vulgar, racist, or just something that might get me fired, I’ll blog about it!

I want this to work, so please send me topics and ideas! Prospective students, current students, alumni, or internet surfers…your ideas are welcome!

Let’s get cracking.

ZEN:

On one of my recent Pinterest binges I happened to stumble upon (see what I did there?) an infographic by Islam Abudaoud on Behance.net that described 29 ways to stay creative.

Now, being that I’m a freelance graphic designer (little personal plug here), I’m always looking for new ideas, methods, brushes, fonts, etc. to help spice up my skills. But then I thought, well, there are plenty of other people out there who aren’t graphic designers that simply like to paint, doodle, write, create, or think! So I figured why not share it with the world!

Number 1. Make lists
Sounds trivial, but it helps to keep us on track—there’s also no better feeling when you’re bogged down with work to then look at your to do list and see it completely marked out.

Number 2. Carry a notebook everywhere
Write things down, doodle, sketch, create, kill bugs with it, whatever.

Number 3. Try free writing
Self explanatory.

Number 4. Get away from the computer.
Do it. I dare you…but read my blog first.

Number 5. Quit beating yourself up
$#!t happens, just let it be. Some tests suck, some quizzes or assignments will eat away at your soul. But, you haven’t gotten to where you are by giving up, right?

Number 6. Take breaks
Take a breather and come back to whatever you were working on later.

Number 7. Sing in the shower
Your parents/siblings/roommates will just have to get over it.

Number 8. Drink coffee
There’s a lot of positive ingredients in coffee. Plus, it’ll keep you awake.

Number 9. Listen to new music
Change genres, time periods, whatever. Mix it up! You never know what you might find.

Number 10. Be open
Try new things, hear new perspectives, just listen.

Number 11. Surround yourself with creative people
Our minds work via osmosis…not really, but new people means new ideas, new ways of thinking—especially if they’re creative.

Number 12. Get feedback
You may think you’re the cat’s meow, and maybe you are! But everyone needs some humbling sometimes. Get a critique from a friend/parent/teacher on whatever you’re working on.

Number 13. Collaborate
“Now this is the Law of the Jungle — as old and as true as the sky; And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back —
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
-Rudyard Kipling

Number 14. DON’T GIVE UP
You can do it. I believe in you, whatever it is.

Number 15. Practice, practice, practice
If nothing else, you’ll be ridiculously good at something, so why not be better than your competition?

Number 16. Allow yourself to make mistakes
It happens, just look back at Number 5 and Number 14.

Number 17. Go somewhere new
A change of scenery has always helped to clear my head. Whether it’s a walk around the block or a trip around the world.

Number 18. Count your blessings
If you’re feeling down, just look at all of the good around you!

Number 19. Get lots of rest
Take naps. Whether you’re in college or soon-to-be, you’ll be missing that opportunity that we all hated in kindergarten.

Number 20. Take risks
Do something crazy, something out of character. I’m not saying go steal a car, but try new things!

Number 21. Break the rules
Like I said, don’t break any laws, but stretching your own limits every once and a while is healthy. Keeps you on your toes.

Number 22. Don’t force it
If something just is not working out how you wanted it to, relax. There’s probably another different, often better, way to go about it.

Number 23. Read a page of the dictionary
Your brain will appreciate it.

Number 24. Create a framework
Give yourself some guidelines: whether it’s an assignment, a workout plan, or your next four years, map it out!

Number 25. Stop trying to be someone else’s perfect
Its better to stand up and be YOU than it is to conform in every aspect. Trust me, I work in the admissions office.

Number 26. Got an idea? Write it down.
Ever been hanging out with your friends late one night just talking and you guys come up with a brilliant idea…but then tomorrow you cannot seem to remember what it was? Write it down.

Number 27. Clean your work place
Its proven that cleaning can be therapeutic. Also, less clutter and more open space provokes creative thought.

Number 28. Have fun
You have to enjoy yourself, no matter what you are doing. And if you reallllly hate doing something (like studying), then just remember how much fun you can have when you get done!

Number 29. Finish something
It’s such a great feeling when you hand in that essay, or that project, that you’ve been busting your tail on. Treat everything in your life that way. Give it your all, finish strong.

To see the full infographic click here.

And as promised, here is your bimonthly moment of zen.

I love this show.

Whether you’re soon to be a part of the Wolfpack family or currently attend NC State, if you’re anything like me then you eventually get bored of eating the same food over, and over, and over, and over again.

Today I’m going to introduce you to a few places I go to so that I can refresh my pallet.

Aside from reviews, I’m going to suggest a dish, tell you what it’s going to cost, and give you the approximate time it’ll take you to get there from campus.

“Thanks Taylor, you’re the greatest!”

You are welcome, lovely reader.

Rankings
$ – cheap, just how we like it.
$$ – won’t break your bank, but worth every penny
$$$ – woah woah woah, you mean refills WEREN’T free?!
$$$$ – you better dine and dash because this meal has cost you your inheritance
(I am in no way condoning this behavior, just providing a bit of dramatic sarcasm)

First on my list: Orchid Japanese Restaurant
I’m an Italian jew from New York…so you can say that I’ve had my fair share of oriental food–enough for this lifetime at least. But when I moved down south I wanted to spice it up a bit, so I tried sushi, and since then, my mercury levels have been sky high. Orchid Japanese Restaurant incorporates all the things you’d want in an oriental place: nice dim lighting, authentic-looking atmosphere, and lots of menu items that you’d never understand if they didn’t have descriptions. Orchid, however, throws a wrench into the normality of Japanese restaurants–THEY OFFER A SUSHI BUFFET. Now I know, at first you think “ew mass produced, assembly line sushi? sounds gross” but, you sir/madam, are incorrect. Every piece/roll is handmade when ordered and brought to your table-side for you to devour. Needless to say, they didn’t like it too much when my friends and I each ate our approximate body weight in sushi.

RATING: lunch time – $$
dinner time – $$$
Suggestion: order the teriyaki beef sticks
Distance: about 8.2 miles
Website: http://www.orchidjapanesebuffet.com

Second: Gravy
Like I said, I’ve eaten a variety of food, and when I lived at home my parents always cooked–so I’ve eaten some good food in my day. But Gravy is the perfect date spot. Not only is the place super elegant, but the servers and waiters/waitresses are ridiculously nice. Depending on what you order it can get a bit pricey, but the portions compensate greatly for those prices. Definitely one of the best Italian-American food joints in Raleigh.

RATING: $$ to $$$$ depending on what you order
Suggestion: I’ve always ordered their special entree of the night and have never been disappointed
Distance: about 1.9 miles
Website: http://www.gravyraleigh.com

My third is called: Chuck’s
I’ve had a lot of burgers in my day, and will always continue to return to Mojo’s and Natty Greene’s for a good eat, but the burgers at Chuck’s are just too unique to not mention. If you know anything about meat, their burgers are made from the chuck of the cow, house-ground, flat-top seared and served by the half-pound. The place is decorated with a very urban, open feel, though the place is quite small. They serve their fries in buckets too, with a huge selection of dipping sauces, which is pretty awesome.

RATING: $$$ – a little pricey for a burger, but still delicious
Suggestion: the Bradley-Time
Distance: about 2 miles
Website: http://www.ac-restaurants.com/chucks/

Last but not least is: Finchs
Traditionally, I’m a fan of Waffle House–whether it’s for their hours, or because there’s always entertainment while I go there. But recently I went to Finch’s for breakfast and let me tell you, this was one of the most filling and delicious breakfast feasts I’d ever had. Plus, their locally owned, so you know the recipes are legit, and the people are really friendly.

RATING: $
Suggestion: one of their awesome combos
Distance: about 1.8 miles
Website: http://www.viewmenu.com/finchs-restaurant/menu?ref=google

I hope you give one, or all, of these places a try next time you visit the area, or are just hungry. But I’m going to start ending these blogs by stealing John Stewart’s closing line in saying “here’s your moment of zen”. Lookout for little quotes, anecdotes, funny pictures, and other things of that nature that will from now on conclude my blogs. Enjoy!

If you don't watch MythBusters, then you need to start. NOW.

Its cool, I am too. Between class and work I get to spend 10am to almost 8pm on campus Monday through Thursday. Practically nauseating, right? Luckily I have 30-60 minute breaks between most of those classes—these breaks are what this blog is dedicated to.

For those of you like me, I save the majority of my homework for the night time, whether its due tomorrow or next week. Smart? Probably not, but I like to occupy my breaks with things that lighten my mood, not make me think. Thanks to the Internet, I have a plethora of ridiculous nonsensables to absorb for my own amusement.

I only share this with you because I feel it is necessary for all of us—current or future students—to take time out of our days to de-stress and laugh a little. There are many other times when seriousness is necessary, but when you’ve got the chance, award yourself with a little giggle. I’m going to share with you a few things that got-my-goat, so to speak, today in hopes that they will brighten yours.

Taylor, these are hilarious, where do you find such magnificent content?
Good question! I pretty much keep these 3 sites refreshing on the regular: Pinterest, StumbleUpon, and TextsFromLastNight. Yeah yeah yeah, before you say anything, Pinterest was created by a man, so there’s no reason guys shouldn’t have them.

(The photo of the girls face that’s all distorted, click this. It’ll show you the rest of the album. A photographer took a leaf blower to his model’s faces. Priceless.)

Well, I hope this little bit of zen gives you the a break from the insanity and monotony of being a full time student, no matter the grade level or class schedule.

At the end of a long Fall Semester when our work is done and our classes complete, students often return to their hometowns for a long period of well-deserved hibernation. Others fill their break with fun activities like skiing, visiting friends and family, or catching up on all the TV they missed while studying. Regardless of how they plan to spend it, students are undoubtedly excited for Winter Break! The interns here in North Carolina State University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions are no different, and we have awesome plans for the break as well!  We will all be taking a break from blogging to enjoy winter break but blogs will be posted regularly again starting at the beginning of the spring semester.  Don’t forget to check back!

tony hankerson
@ncsu_tony

After a long and arduous semester, I plan on doing nothing but relaxing during my winter break. I think I may spend a bit of time rock wall climbing with friends, because I haven’t done it in a while and I’m sure I improved since the last time I’ve done it. I’m also organizing a family event for my younger cousins and siblings called “Camp Cousins”, which will be filled with a bunch of fun little activities and outings for them to enjoy. I’m most excited to take the little ones to an indoor water park near my home in Concord (even if I can’t swim, watching them try will be enjoyable). Other than that, I have a few personal comic book projects that I want to finish writing and drawing, so I’ll probably do some of that too. I’ve also been missing a lot of Monday evening cartoons, so I think I’ll get caught back up on those as well. Oh, and I’ll be sleeping. I’ll be doing a LOT of sleeping.

andrew jordan
@NCSU_AJJ

For winter break I will be in Raleigh working on the calling campaign with Admissions up until December 21st. During Christmas I will be home with my family in North Raleigh and after Christmas I will be going to Gastonia for a Debutante Ball. Over New Years I plan to be at the beach with friends.

john taylor
@NCSU_john

Hello blog readers! This winter break I will be working with Admissions until the 21st, then I will be off to the North Pole to ensure that Santa’s Sleigh is in tip top shape on the 24th. Once that task is complete I will be helping Dick Clark’s replacement in Times Square as his(or her) personal water boy. I’ve got a packed break, should be fun!

michelle hunt
@ncsu_michelle

Wow I can’t believe Winter break is here already! I am super excited because Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. During the break I will be going back home to The Bahamas. Summer was the last time I was home so I am very eager to return. I’m hoping the weather is warm so that I can spend a good amount of my time lying on the beach. I also plan to catch up on sleep and enjoy home cooked meals from my mummy J. Season greetings to you all and I hope you have a great Winter break!

brittney garcia
@NCSU_brittney

Words cannot describe how excited I am that break is finally here!! For the first few days, I will be disappearing off the face of the earth to catch up on sleep (I know, sounds a bit dramatic but let’s be real, it’s college). Reality is, I am not sure what I am doing for Christmas Day. I’ll either be in Asheville or Orlando but either way, I will be celebrating with family. After that (drumroll please), I will be off on a snowboarding adventure with some awesome friends from State! The week after that, my family is having a huge reunion so let’s just say, I am extremely excited about all of my holiday plans. It doesn’t get better than this! To get more updates on how my holiday break is going, just follow me on Twitter: @NCSU_brittney — oh and of course, GO PACK!!

sharon nye

Two days after my last final exam, my mom and I will be flying to Boston, MA for a short visit and some quality mother/daughter time. I don’t have too many exciting plans for this coming break after our trip to Boston, I will be moving home for next semester to complete my final internship in Richmond, VA. I will probably spend a large amount of time over break moving back into my room at home and readjusting to living away from Raleigh and my friends. Hopefully the break will be full of good food, sleep, and visiting with friends and family I haven’t seen in a while. I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday season, see you in 2013!

marcus spruill

Winter break is almost here. It’s about that time to head home and be with family, but there is always something I need to do to keep myself busy. Usually the Boys and Girls club near my house needs some help for a few days so I will volunteer when I can. Stay busy and Have a great break!

jimmy schiemann
@ncsu_Jimmynho

Winter break? More like GRE-Break. I will use the free time to focus on preparing myself to take the GRE (a standardized test that is required to apply to a Master’s program). It will be hard, especially considering I am Graduating on December 15th…
so it will be weird to be studying afterwards, especially with Christmas and New Year’s coming up and all the side effects of it (too much food, too much of a vacation feeling and too much family time). So studying for the GRE will be particularly challenging, but I expect my commitment to be strong. I wish you all a very good Winter break, and hopefully you will receive good news from NC State right before the holidays!

jasmine roscoe
@NCSU_Jasmine
Winter break is one of the few times during the year I get to go home. Other than spending time with family and friends, I will be volunteering at a middle school in my hometown. This will be my second time visiting this middle school to tutor the children and get them started thinking about college. This has been a very eventful semester for me and I am excited to share my accomplishments and to see their progress in school.

caitlin boyce
@NCSU_CSizzle
I’m so excited to be spending the holiday break wearing colorful sweaters and working at the mall! I love the decorations and frazzled shoppers. Santa’s there nearly all the time, too! Nothing says “Christmas” like a mall pretzel!

taylor springs
@ncsu_TaylorS

Winter Break is a time of family bonding, holiday shopping, house decorating, random visits from long lost relatives, last minute scholarship applications,  NO CLASSES, and pure joy and happiness—at least for me it is! This wonderful winter break  I will not only survive December 21st, 2012 but I will get to visit my sorority sisters down in PEMBROKE for Secret Santa! Utterly excited for my sisterhood bonding! But it is not all fun and games! I will dedicate a majority of time applying for scholarships (,because I will never turn down free money), securing my internship for this summer, and planning for upcoming events for my student organizations (Spring 2013 is going to memorable for sure).  I can not wait to see what occurs over the course of Winter Break 2012!

taylor cashdan

@NCSU_Taylor

This break could not come any sooner. Not only is it a break from constant course work for me, but its a chance for my friends and I to just sit back and enjoy where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. My group has a camping and hunting trip planned, we also want to spend some time around the bonfire (like we used to do in high school), and just catch up with each other. If you went to Wakefield High School, you’d know the Starbucks tradition: for the most part on any average night you could drive up to the Starbucks up the street from school and see about 20 kids just hanging out there, drinking coffee, conversing, or playing cards. On breaks from school when everyone comes home, we like to reignite that tradition and just waste time together.

Well, there you have it! The NCSU Undergraduate Admissions Interns have a lot of plans for the break. Though we will miss this beautiful campus, as well as the wonderful people who inhabit it, it’s time to kick back, relax, and recharge!