Surfing – “the sport of riding a surfboard toward the shore on the crest of a wave.”

Ha! Easier said than done. This past weekend I was given the experience to take a surfing lesson. I was both excited and nervous. Fortunately, we didn’t have to wake up around the crack of dawn to go surfing. Two reasons: All the pros or semi-pros are out at that time and the waves are apparently more treacherous.

For some, surfing is purely a recreational sport. For others, it's a way of life. For those who haven't surfed before, it may seem too daunting to even try.

I got to the surf school and had to go through the lame and always very boring orientation, which consisted of warnings, safety procedures, etc. After surviving that, barely, the instructors fitted me in a wet suit. I must admit, I thought the feeling of a wetsuit would be weird; it actually felt like what you would feel after jumping into a pool with your clothes on.

When I arrived, I was given a surfboard. This little piece of information was drilled into my head: Surfing starts with the surfboard. The preferred surfboard for beginners, funboards are usually between 7-8 feet long. They are longer and faster than shortboards and shorter and more maneuverable than longboards. The reason why funboards are recommended for beginners is because they are more buoyant and help ease the transition to a longboard or shortboard.

After all this, I felt geared up to take on my first wave. I very much like the girls from Blue Crush and had the song “Cruel Summer” playing in my head. Before that, I had to learn the proper etiquette. Surfing is a community. If you wish to be a member of that community adhering to its rules is a must.

• Respect the environment and the locals. Do not leave garbage lying around and treat everyone with respect. You are new to something they have been doing for years so show some humility and everything should be fine.

• Stay in your league. You are not Laird Hamilton and you have no business surfing Pipeline. Go to a beach that has small swells, which will make learning how to surf much easier.

• When in the water, there is an order in which one catches a wave. Whoever is up on the wave first has the right of way. Never drop in on someone who already has the right of way. If you violate these basic rules, you put yourself and others in danger.

• Try to find an isolated spot on the beach so that you can have the freedom to make mistakes.

Since it was my first time ever on a surfboard, I had the two instructors with me. The first thing I learned was the pop-up. This helped me find out if I was natural footed or goofy footed and it also taught me how to spot swells

Before heading into the water, I had to practice the pop-up on the sand. Beginners have to make sure that their feet are touching the end of the board and that the nose of the board is level with the sand. If the nose of the surfboard is pointing into the sky, then move closer to the nose. If the nose is pointing into the sand, move your body toward the bottom.

After being perfectly balanced, it was time to find where to place my hands. While lying down, I placed my hands on the edge of the surfboard (also known as the rails) parallel with my shoulders and positioned my elbows back, almost like a push up. With toes at the end of the board and palms facing down on the rails, I proceed to do a push up. When I reached the top of the push up, I was told to swing my feet underneath and plant my lead foot on the center of the board and be in a crouched position.

Repeating this many times, I felt more confident. Then, I was able to enter the water. Not to surf, however, I had to learn how to correctly paddle through the oncoming waves and how to paddle with a wave before a pop-up. Once I was in the water, my first thought was, “OMG! This water is cold!” Strangely, I only felt the coldness on my hands and feet. Everything else was fine. I didn’t realize the wetsuit was keeping me warm (this was a nice bonus compared to wearing regular swimwear)

As instructed, I had to climb onto the board and get into the same position as if I was popping-up. I had to use the crawl/swimming stroke; it’s mostly like swimming freestyle at a local pool.

Once I got the feel for paddling, I was told to try paddling directly into an oncoming wave. This sounded a bit scary, but the faster and harder I paddle through a wave, the better my chances of getting through it. Lucky for me, I am both a Pisces and I have always been an active swimmer with local teams

As the wave approached, I slightly pushed up onto my knees and toes. Once I was halfway through the wave, I went back into paddling mode and continued on.

I approached another wave that was about to break. I’m thinking, “Sweet here’s my chance to ride a wave!” :-) But, I was told to go through it. :-(

After sitting and waiting for what felt like hours, I saw a wave that had my name all over it. I was given the green light from the instructors and I took off. I paddled and paddled… and paddled. It felt like my arms were about to fall off when I finally got close enough. I turned around and waited for it to come closer.
It felt like the longest 10 seconds of my life but finally the wave finally caught up to me and I started going into the pop-up when I fell. Yes, I fell. I was so amped to catch my first wave and I fall. I was bummed, not going to lie. I got back on the board, though, and shook it off.

I had to do the same routine again…and again…and again. It took me 5 tries to finally get a wave. The first time I successfully stood up, it was an incredible feeling. I going to refer to that moment near the end with Kate Bosworth’s character going into the pipeline – the slow-motion feeling, heavy breathing sound, everything; I felt free!

I was able to catch another 3 waves before my lesson was over. Seriously, it was so much fun but I was so tired and my arms were sore. All that paddling around, I felt like I go a couple rounds with Arnold Schwarzenegger. I also felt like I had enough salt in my mouth to swear of potato chips for the rest of my life.

I had an incredible time learning how to surf. It was an experience I will never forget. Not to mention, I made all my friends and boyfriend very jealous with my fun experience. I did make them feel a lot better when I told them I had hands and feet that had more wrinkles in them then raisins. I wouldn’t mind surfing again, but not for at least a week. Now if you excuse me, I’m going to put my ice packs back on my arms.

“Love knows no distance.” “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” “Distance between two people is only as far as one allows it to be.” “Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”

OK, enough with sappy love quotes, time to get serious. Being separated from your significant other sucks, period. With my boyfriend on the east coast and me living on the west coast for awhile, our relationship is going to be tested.

Before I left, we said our goodbyes, cried our eyes out, gave many hugs & kisses, and whispered my 3 favorite words after every sentence: “I Love You.”

After my plane landed safely, one of the first people I called was him. Once I got situated at my apartment, roomies, etc., the loneliness feeling set in – big time.

The first few days were rough; I didn’t want to do anything. I would lay in bed all day and cry into my boyfriend’s sweater. But then I had an epiphany, “I have been given a great opportunity, why am I wasting it away?”

So I went out with to the clubs my roommates, shopped at local stores, took tons of pictures, and visited local landmarks. All the while remembering the family & friends back home.

Two nights ago, I sat down and figured how I turned my ‘bummed-out’ self into the ‘happy, social butterfly’ I was back home.

I realized how big of an idiot I was for those first few days. Fortunately, the damage was very little and I had plenty of time to mend the relationship between myself and my boyfriend.

Trust, loyalty, communication and love: the four pillars for any relationship be it long distance or short distance. These four simple words, with their meanings, will help any couple get through the LDR hurdle.

1. Communication

This is very important! Talk about relationship limitations before leaving. You may decide to be willing to maintain a long distance relationship, but boundaries and rules need to be set. Talk about social scenes and what each person thinks will be fair and appropriate behavior. Both need to be on the same page here, so make sure everyone agrees to not date, see or even spend time with other people in a romantic way. We both have agreed to be social but also respect the guidelines we have set up.

Set up a regular time when one person calls the other. Work this time around other commitments. No one wants to be rushing home to receive a phone call. Also, recognize there may be times when they are unable to call, or you may not be able to receive the call. Don't take this as a sign of disinterest; realize that sometimes life interferes with schedules. I always look forward to our conversation after a long day at the office. It, seriously, makes my day even better.

Eat together online. Instant Messaging, chat rooms, etc. are a great help. I prefer a web cam so I will be able to see my boyfriend’s beautiful face.

Call me a sap, softie, whatever; I don’t care. Even though your partner could be on the other side of the globe, set time to eat together online. It can be your “breakfast” and your partners “dinner”, but at least, despite the distance, you still take the time to share a meal, allowing you to have that “real time” interaction. It takes the one Oreo commercial with the father and son to a better height.

In this electronic world, it's easy to replace old-fashioned letter writing with email. Sometimes it's more efficient to do so. Whether it’s once a week, once a month, or once in a blue moon, letter writing gives you the opportunity to simmer over your thoughts, grab your favorite pen, and write something that can't be captured in an email. Just think of how surprised my boyfriend will be to get a piece of mail that's not a bill or Netflix!

2. Loyalty

Be involved in long-distance love’s life. Just because they're far away doesn't mean your partner is absent. You will need to be involved in the events of your partner's life. You could play games together over the internet, or watch a movie at the same time with the phone at your ear. I often feel like my sweetheart is right there beside me for the scary parts!

If you were in charge of planning dates and filling free time, someone else is going to be filling that role.

It’s not an attack against you, so try not to show too much jealousy. Let them know you still care and love your role in their life, but you can’t be an anchor from hundreds of miles away.

In a LDR, there is the chance you will greatly miss the small stuff that “normal” couples do. Waking up by his/her side, having dinner together, cuddling up on the couch and talking about your day. It can be painful and very difficult to get used to this situation. You have be prepared to confront feelings of sadness and loneliness.  It is not easy being in a relationship with someone who is not physically there. Don’t let lust take over. Is 10 minutes of ‘Heaven’ worth throwing away a meaningful relationship?

3.Trust

When living away from each other in a long distance relationship it’s natural to develop some independent tendencies. Be cautious, however, since they’re going to be developing the same instincts.

Your role will change slightly as well. In a SDR relationship, most of your free time is spent with each other.

Give them their space. As much as you'd like to keep tabs on your partner wherever they go, you need to give your partner space.

You don't want to crowd them, or grill them on every second of their life. They'll begin to resent you, definitely not what you want.

To maintain your long distance relationship, respect your partner by trusting them.  They are an adult and capable of making sound decisions on their own.

4. Love

Do not forget to say the magic words “I LOVE YOU” as often as possible. Even though it may sound so redundant to others ears, for a person you love, it is a sweet sound to hear. I never get tired of hearing those words, and yes, I know I sound mushy.

Does the thought of your sweetie being in a different city alone drive you crazy with jealousy? If the answer is yes, don’t even bother to try a LDR.

In order to survive the distance from your partner, you will have to be really strong, trusting, and understanding. You can’t expect them to change their routine, their friends or everyday life just because you feel insecure.

You will both have to be honest and assume that there is nothing else but good intentions between you or it won’t work. Without trust, there is no future in long distance romances. “Honesty is the best policy.”

Keeping the fire burning in a long distance relationship is as important as making sure you see each other on a regular basis.

There are wonderful ideas to show your partner you are thinking of him/her, without having to stretch your budget.

Being in a LDR gives you the chance to treat everyday as Valentine's Day. When it comes to buying gifts for your loved one, remember is the thought that counts. The most romantic presents require usually very little money and just a little bit of imagination.

Long distance relationships take lots of work but they can be very rewarding when they are successful. Of course they are risky, as every relationship for which you put your heart on the line. It all comes down to what you are and what you are not willing to do for love. If you are armed with strong feelings, courage, persistence, and the four pillars of love you have nothing to worry about.

With summer approaching we can only anticipate the songs we will one day associate with this summer.

It seems that every summer has at least one particular song that forever triggers all the memories of the season.

For instance, for me, 2008 was overtaken by “Katy Perry mania.” It seemed every station was blaring “I Kissed A Girl” -- sometimes all at once.

As for 2007, I think everyone can remember walking into a bar, store, or summer party singing along with Rihanna’s “Umbrella.”

As sick as we all probably got of those songs by the time August rolled around, they now bring me to a nostalgic state every time I hear them.

Naturally, that makes me wonder as we coast into summer, what songs will always remind me of summer 2009.

I think everyone can agree that the Black Eyed Peas’ song “Boom Boom Pow” could be a contender. It’s taken over the radio, just like a true summer hit.

The upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics defiantly create an appropriate summer vibe, but I wonder if it is reaching maturity a little too early for true summer song superiority. We will see if it can withstand the next three months.

On the other hand, I think the 3 OH! 3 ditty, “Don’t Trust Me” is a contender for top summer song for the way it mixes rap with some electronic beats (which seems to be becoming more and more popular).

Its appeal to a large audience really could eventually make it 2009’s No. 1 Summer Song.

It’s hard not to listen to it and not dance in your car (for me at least).

A personal favorite of mine and a song I believe is defiantly a front runner is Madcon’s “Beggin’.”

Its smooth sound makes it undeniable fun to listen to. If I had the only vote, I would definitely pick “Beggin’” as 2009’s hottest summer hit!

Of course, Britney’s back, and I don’t think we can ignore her potential for providing a big summer hit.

So far, “Womanizer,” “Circus,” and “If You Seek Amy” have all proven to be hits. I’m not sure if one of those will be a summer sensation or if it will be another Britney track, but I do know that she can’t be ignored.

It’s not officially summer so we can’t tell what will happen musically, but I am definitely excited to hear how it all plays out.

Whether or not my predictions are off beat, I can promise you all that a summer hit is on the way. So turn your radio up, roll down the windows, and embrace the music of summer.

Summer is upon us, which means the days are heating up and the clothes are coming off.  While we’re all eager to hit the beach, the real question is what women will be wearing…or won’t be wearing this season.

According to the fashion Gods, the general trends of 2009 are bright colors, one-shoulder styles, and sheer fabrics. Swimsuits are no exception.

Browsing through the pages of InStyle and Vogue Magazine, I venture to say that the one-shoulder swimsuit will be the must have of the season.  Taking its cues from the clothing trends of the year, this suit style comes as no surprise.
 
Alongside the one-shoulder look, the cut-out bikini (aka the “monokini”), will also be “hot”.  We have Paris Hilton to thank for its spreading popularity. 

Let me rewind a bit, you’re probably wondering what the heck a monokini is, as I was when I first came across the weird word.  But it’s really quite simple.  It’s a bikini, that’s been connected in the middle, hence ‘mono’ ‘kini’.  This isn’t rocket science here.

But, let me just say that these suits are certainly not for swimming.  These suits were made for posing.  Evidently, for fashionistas, swimwear isn’t made for swimming, but with these styles, you’re bound to be the belle of the pool even if you never get wet once.

No swimsuit is complete without the proper accessories. The one key style this season: the sheer cover up.

I mean, leave a little to the imagination.

Now I just have one question: what kind of a tan are you supposed to get in a one-shoulder cut-out monokini?!??!

No offense to the fashion Gods, but I wouldn’t dare step out to the beach in a suit with all sorts of geometric chunks missing.  If you’re like me, you love to run around in the surf, play beach volleyball, and toss a Frisbee around to enjoy the summer sun.

But these suits are just utterly impractical for actually having fun.

So what I will be sporting is a bright colored bikini, perhaps in fuchsia (considering it’s the “in” color). And, okay, maybe that sheer cover up.

With finals approaching, and senioritis (or junioritis) kicking in, we students need all the motivation we can muster to stay focused.

It seems when the sun is out and the temperature is rising, studying seems to be the last thing on our minds.

Personally, I know if I don’t want to destroy the grades I worked so hard to achieve earlier in the semester, I really need to buckle down and hit the books. I ask myself, "Why does studying have to be so painful?"

Surprisingly, it doesn’t. I have compiled a few tips to help studying go by a little easier this semester.

Bring your books to the beach
If you are a tanner like me and enjoy soaking up the sun while on a beach towel, why not let your books join you? I have found that putting on some headphones and reviewing your flash cards and notes is just as effective as doing it in a dreary library. Not only are you getting academic benefits, but who objects to a tan in the summer?

Social Studying
It is always most discouraging when you are sitting indoors alone, thinking about the fun you are missing out on. Instead, why not gather a group of friends and set up a “study lounge” in your home? Fill the table with drinks, snacks, and supplies and hit the books without feeling like you are missing out. It makes studying seem less like a chore and turns it into something much more enjoyable.
 
Get up early
I know this may not sound like a way to make the studying blues go away, but you'd be surprised. Getting up at 7:00 and dedicating at least 5 hours of your morning to finals review leaves a huge majority of your day wide open for the fun activities you might otherwise feel you're missing out on. This way you do not feel as though your whole day is spent wasted away slaving over notes and books.
 
Take breaks
I don’t mean walking to the bathroom and back, I mean a real break. Taking breaks between studying may also help you better retain the information. So instead of smashing a PB& J into your bag, take an hour or two, grab some friends and take yourself out to lunch. You will feel revived and ready to go after a solid break.

Create a schedule
Breaking up the time you dedicate to each class before you begin studying will help you remained focused. You won’t hit a point where you feel completely overwhelmed because you have already prepared yourself for the week. This will keep your stress level down, and your morale and motivation up. Also, by making this schedule, you can also dedicate some time to personal things that you want to do and not feel guilty when it comes time to take that break.

So don’t stress about these upcoming weeks. Don’t forget to take some time for yourself because overstressing is not going to give you a better grade. Be prepared, study hard, get some sleep, and don’t forget to reward yourself. A’s for everyone!

T-minus 25 days, 23 minutes and 18… no 17… seconds until graduation.

As my scholastic finish line looms increasingly closer by the second, I want to take a moment to say a few final words to you all, before I morph into one of those power suit-wearing, workaholic, totally irrelevant old people (ick).

So before my immanent mutation occurs, I’d like to leave you all with some words of what I think could or could totally NOT be wisdom.

I have been in school for as long as I can remember; my primary occupation has always been to be a student and my duties and obligations have been my books, my tests, my grades.

I have learned a great deal in my time as a student, and almost none of it has been written in any history book or can be solved by solving any algebra equation. Here’s what I would like to argue are the top 10 things I wish I knew BEFORE I graduated.

Luckily, I am giving you bloggers this priceless information now in an attempt to help you all save yourselves.

10.  If you’re doing a multiple choice test and don’t know the answer, pick “C.”

This is probably not at all scientifically proven, but I feel like teachers love the answer to be “C.” It’s got something to do with “extremeness aversion” (that’s something I learned in class. If you don’t know what it means, you might want to reconsider those summer school courses your parents suggested).

9.  Life is about choices. What you will wear, or say, who you will hang out with, how much you study, what you want to do with your life are all up to you. Some choices aren’t always easy, clear-cut, or black and white.

There have been times in my life where I felt like the choice was too difficult to make, so I did nothing. But I realized that even my lack of taking action is still making a choice to do nothing. To not choose is the only thing you can’t, well, choose!

8. Always wear a smile- it will NEVER go out of fashion.

‘Nuff said.

7. Worrying gets you nowhere. It only stresses you out, stimulates early hair loss, and gives you those embarrassing zits.

Whatever is going to happen is going to happen, with or without you clenching your teeth. The best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to have the best possible chance of success. The rest is up to whatever puppeteer is controlling it all.

6. Shut your MacBook down and go do something you’ve never done before.

Again, ‘nuff said.

5. Nothing is as bad as you think it is. That math test you failed does not equate to your life being over.

Wounds heal, hearts mend, and most experiences that seemed so horrible in the moment will soften in your memory.

Trust me: You’ll be amazed that after awhile you won’t remember the name of that teacher you hated in middle school and you can’t recall the reasons why you and your ex ever broke up in the first place.

4. Take too many pictures.

Your friends might think your as weird as that kid in American Beauty who video tapes a floating plastic bag, but, trust me, they’ll all be thanking you later for the priceless moments you’ve captured.

3. Grades don’t matter. Effort does.

All the kids I noticed that seemed to get the most out of the course were never the ones with the highest class average -- and they will probably be the most successful ones later in life.

That’s because your future boss isn’t going to care how well you can memorize or regurgitate information, but rather how well you perform, how creative your solutions to the problems presented are, and how much effort you put into your work.

If at the end of the day you felt you tried your best, yet got less of a grade than you felt deserved, remember that hard work will eventually be rewarded, without the compromise of integrity.

2. If you love someone, don’t wait another second. Tell them now. Don't worry, I can wait.

Finally, here’s the No. 1 thing you should remember when you going out into the real world: Be true to yourself.

Styles will change, technology will continue to grow, present will become past, and even you will change some. Much of us spend a great deal of time just trying to keep up with our friends, our peers and everyone else around us.

However, you will find that even all those people will disappear and reappear throughout the course of your life. The only person that is really in this race for the long haul is you. So make sure you’re the kind of person that YOU’D want to hang out with, because in the end that’s all you’ve got.

Now I am not the valedictorian, so fortunately for you, my list of top 10 things you should know before you graduate can be totally disregarded.

Still, if you want to print it out and hang it on your wall, or carry it everywhere with you because it’s just SO INSIGHTFUL… well, I totally understand.
 

If you didn’t get a chance to watch the Miss USA pageant, you’re probably regretting it.

With all the talk and gossip around Miss California’s answer to her on-stage question, it’s hard to ignore the pageant all together.

For those that have been living under a rock and missed the entire buzz around Miss California for the past few days, let me fill you in. During the 57th annual Miss USA pageant, contestants from across the U.S. strutted across the stage in Las Vegas, Nevada, in hopes of a national title, a New York apartment, and many other amazing prizes.
 
The audience was entertained with swimsuits, evening wear, and most importantly, the judges’ questions.

I will say that I wasn’t impressed with many of the answers to the questions, but Miss California’s answer seemed to shock a majority of the nation.

She started out trying to give a politically correct answer, stating that she was happy she lived in a country where people could choose to marry anyone they desired (in some states).

The answer took a sudden turn that I definitely wasn’t expecting. She contradicted her first statement by saying that she was happy to be raised in a country and in a family that valued marriage between a man and a woman. I can say that Perez Hilton was not the only one who was taken back by the shift in her answer.

Miss California’s answer has stirred up much talk across the US and amongst many of the judges at the 2009 pageant. Many of them stated that Miss California’s final answer had negatively effect the score that they gave her. It makes me wonder if the title would have been hers if she censored her answer a bit more to appease the judges (especially Perez).

This isn’t the first time we have seen a flopped answer to a judge’s question cost a contestant the crown. I think we can all remember the hype around Miss Teen South Carolina’s answer in 2007 to her on-stage question about why Americans cannot locate the U.S. on a Map.

Her scores in the other categories made her a front-runner until her horrifying answer basically knocked her out of the running all together. Maybe it’s time for the Miss Universe organization to apply as much emphasis on public speaking as they do on fitness and beauty, just an idea.

One thing that is in their favor is that both Miss California and Miss Teen South Carolina received a great deal more publicity than the actual winner. I guess the lesson we can take from their mistakes is that debauching your answer may actually work in your favor (notice that I haven’t even mentioned the true winner once). With all else said, Miss California was able to single-handedly make the Miss USA 2009 pageant a memorable one.