6.18.14: Friday, the 13th

            Whenever I think of Friday the 13^th, my mind automatically goes to Halloween…not June…I mean I guess the weather fits, though.

            Fog engulfs the New York City skyline while rain hits my jacket, purse, everything. And you wanted to leave your rain jacket at home, I think to myself. The humidity levels are at 93% today and I’m starting to sweat through my jacket…but I promise that I’m not trying to give you the weather report right now.

            Charlie and Sam keep bumping into me and I’m starting to get annoyed.

            “Hey guys, can ya walk in a straight line or what?” They look over but ignore me. Because I’m so focused on Charlie and Sam, one can assume that I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings…well whoever was assuming that would be correct.

            The next thing I know, my face is connecting with a stop-sign pole and I’m stumbling backwards. Simultaneously, as Charlie and Sam actually realize what’s happening, they lunge forward to try and help me.

            But, because Charlie and Sam are dogs, they weren’t much help. Instead, they run in circles around my ankles, which ultimately brings my feet together and for the second time in a minute, I’m tumbling downwards.

Because of my preoccupation with my own fall and the fact that my two dogs are now running down Fifth Avenue, I failed to realize that I had brought someone down with me. Unfortunately, I hardly have the time to apologize right now.

            I try to push myself off the hard concrete in order to chase after my dogs but before I can get all the way up, I feel someone grabbing at my arm. Panic shoots through me before my brain can register that it’s simply the poor man that I knocked over.

            My mouth starts to form “I’m sorry” but before I can get the words out, my breath catches. Well, that’s an attractive man. I look him up and down. I ruined his suit. I’m definitely going to have to pay for that. I raise my eyes to the sky. Lord, help me.

            “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I blubber. “I have to go get my dogs!” I start to turn so I can get into my sprinter’s stance (Side-note: I don’t actually know what a sprinter’s stance looks like; I danced as a child=No running involved).

            I take a step forward but before I can get anywhere, this random, handsome stranger stops me again.

            “What are their names?” Wow. He even had a handsome voice! (Voices can be handsome, right?).

            “Uhm…” I stammered, still unsure how this perfect specimen was even talking to me. I need to will my brain to work. His beauty is literally stupefying. “Charlie and Sam.”

            “Okay. I’ll go get them. Stay right here.” I stayed. If Charlie and Sam could talk, they’d ask who was really the dog in this situation: them or me? I was entranced. Who was this man? I watched him run down the street after my dogs. By this point though, Charlie and Sam had gotten somewhat bored and were waiting for me to catch up. This definitely made it easier for what’s-his-name.

            What’s-his-name ran very handsomely, too. Yes, someone can run handsomely…this man just proved it to me…He definitely knew what a sprinter’s stance was.

            But anyway, I would be lying if I told you that he didn’t look like someone right out of a movie. He totally did. There he was, what’s-his-name. Charlie was on the leash and Sam was tucked under one arm as what’s-his-name made his way back to me.

            Okay, so you know how in movies when the guy walks back and it’s as if there’s a light shining on/around him? Yeah, that happened, too. No, seriously. He was walking past where the new Nicholas Sparks book-turned-movie was being shot…so I’m not even lying. He actually really did have that light thing around him.

            I was smitten and I still had not a clue to his name.

6.17.14: Updates/Train Talks

Okay, so I actually have some very good news! The first is that I have a post from Friday, the 13^th, that's all nice and written and I just have to post it...I've been a little busy...But it's coming!

The second one is that I actually created a "train talks" post as well but that's still in editing. Getting "train talks" posts are a lot more difficult than I thought they'd be for a couple of reasons:

a)      I usually use to the train to catch up on sleep (commuting gets the best of you sometimes).

b) Since I'm commuting at the same time that everyone else is (Peak), everyone is pretty much doing the same thing (i.e. sleeping, reading, listening to music, etc).

c)      Sometimes people don’t like when you look at them for extended periods of time (but can you blame them? They don’t know I’m making up a story about them and they’re the star of the show).

So, anyway: Things are coming along. I’m now on my second week of my internship and that’ taking up all of my time (sorry blog!).

I’ll write again soon!

xoxo

6.2.14: Follow-Up Post

Also, if you're interested in something SUPER COOL, here's a link to creating a new google chrome theme. I thought it was really cool. So maybe you will, too! :)
(Obviously I'm currently researching a lot of blogs hehe)

http://soflagrlprobz.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/make-your-own-google-chrome-theme/

Attached is a picture of my new theme and I just love it!

6.2.14: T.O.D.

Hey guys! So I've decided that I'm going to do a spin off of "Writes by Ris" and start another blog titled, "Wears by Ris." It's going to cover a lot more (Fashion, Make-up, DIY, Health and Fitness, etc), but don't worry, there'll be a tab that'll take you right to Writes by Ris so you can still read all the crazy things that pop into my head.

It's still a work in progress but be on the lookout for it :) I’ll post a link on here when it’s ready!

I also have more good news: I GOT AN INTERNSHIP!!! YAY! But here's a little treat for all you readers: my internship is in the city so get ready for hundreds (wishful thinking!) of "Train Talks" posts!

For those of you who don't know what a train talks post actually is, basically I'll pick someone on the train and observe them for a little bit and then make up a story about what I think their life is like, where they work, etc.

Attached are my first two train talks posts so you guys can get the gist of what I'm saying (They’re pretty old so my writing is meh…):

1. http://writesbyris.blogspot.com/2013/06/61413-traintalks.html


2. http://writesbyris.blogspot.com/2013/06/61613-train-talks.html

4.30.14: T.O.D.

            As I sit here at my laptop typing my fourth paper of the week, inspiration struck and something kind of rose inside of me…so, naturally, I figured that I’d share it.

            I’m hoping that maybe this little quote can help some of you guys in your hard times/when you’re taking your finals (can you tell it’s almost finals week for me?!).

Obviously because I came up with it, it’s tailored towards me but I hope that you guys are able to implement it in your own lives as well.

“I am a division one athlete. I am an honor roll student. I am independent and proud of it. I pride myself on my positive attitudes, looks, and efforts. I have been through more trials and challenges in my 20 years than most adults who have seen 40 years. I am a well-rounded, mature individual who has realized who she is and who she wants to be. I recognize that hard work, dedication, and drive are all needed to accomplish any and all tasks efficiently and well. There is no reason for me not be confident in every aspect of my life. I am enough. What I do is enough. If I miss something or I mess something up, it’s okay. I’m okay. I’m still enough. And because I’m confident, because I am enough, I deserve the best…only the best. The best is what I exude and what I work for every single day. But I also have to keep in mind that my best may be different from someone else’s best and no matter what, at the end of the day, I did what I was capable of and I did it well.”

I want you all to keep in mind, especially going into finals, that you are all enough. Prepare accordingly, prepare well, and I’m sure none of you will be disappointed. And if you get bad marks? You did your best. You prepared well and accordingly, the test was just really difficult. I promise that you’ll get the next one. Just don’t give up good habits or get discouraged because of a bad grade.

4.24.14: Covering the Mets

The other day I covered a Mets game and it was probably one of the best experiences of my life. Below is my press pass and my game story.

Mets vs. Cardinals

[FLUSHING, NY] April 22—After the Cardinals (11-9) were shut out by the Mets (10-10) on Monday night, they got their revenge last night when they returned the favor, winning 3-0.

Wainwright (4-1), who pitched for seven innings, left the game at the bottom of the seventh with a hyper-extended knee. He injured himself trying to get to first base to cover the bag on a routine play.

If you look at past statistics, it seems like Wainwright was never able to put up good numbers against the Mets but last night, he was able to break his streak. Wainwright’s seven shut out innings last night extends his scoreless-innings streak to 25.

Wainwright only allowed four hits and didn’t walk any. The win over the Mets marked Wainwright’s third career win over Dillon Gee (1-1). Gee had six hits and two walks.

The two pitchers put up zeroes for the first three innings, but in the fourth, the Cardinals were able to get on the board. Centerfielder Jon Jay hit a two-run single scoring one, which catapulted the Cardinals to their 3-0 win over the Mets.

“I think Dillon pitched very well; I thought Germen came in and did a nice job; we just couldn’t stop the offense,” said Mets’ manager Terry Collins.

Each team had three pitchers take turns at the mound last night. For the Cardinals, Wainwright carried St. Louis to the late innings, then Kevin Siegrist and Trevor Rosenthal stepped up to close it out.  For the Mets Gee started the game and went six innings then Gonzalez Germen, and Jose Valverde pitched the final innings. Gee gave up two runs, while Valverde gave up one.

“You know, I don’t know…After the first walk, (Valverde) had some real good pitches. He pitched to Holliday, his pitch was just to the outside of the plate. I thought he threw the ball well. He’s trying to use his split more than he has recently and I think that’ll make a difference. You know, I told him ‘you gotta do something else.’”

While on the topic of left fielder Matt Holliday, the outfielder robbed Mets’ Chris Young from a then game-tying home run in the fifth inning. Holliday leaped and reached over the fence to pull the back into the park, taking away the only momentum the Mets’ mustered.

“It was just some-what of a bad inning; we couldn’t score. We need to get more hits; we had nine last night and that was good enough,” said Collins. The Mets had four 1-2-3 innings.

“We got to get some guys on and as I said last night, singles count. We got to get some guys in scoring positions and get base hits, score runs. Today, we didn’t get anybody; we got to have some guys get to second base but we didn’t come through. We just got to keep swinging.”

The Cardinals’ snapped the Mets’ pitchers impressive scoreless streak at 20 innings. Gee had 10 of those innings to himself.

The final scorecard for the Cardinals was 3 runs, 10 hits, and no errors. The Mets ended the game with no runs, 4 hits, and 1 error.

The Mets return to action at 7:10 P.M. tonight at Citi Field for the Cardinals, the expected starters are E. Young, Granderson, Wright, Murphy, C. Young, Duda, d’Arnaud, Quintanilla, and Niese.

As soon as I get a break in my work, you'll all be getting a fictional story, don't you worry.
For right now, if any of you have the ends of your semesters approaching, I wish you all the best of luck!

4.21.14: Drowning

This post is basically me bitching in metaphors and similes about my workload...all I'm saying is that this blog post is completely justified. 

            Her head was just above water. She could breathe, but it was the ugly, sputtering kind of breath. She was grasping for air. It was right there. She was so close…and then she was pulled under.

            While she was under, the outside world saw tears. They saw tears and short fuses and frantic calls home to mom. She was trying so hard to excel, for she was a smart and punctual girl, but it was never good enough.

            The demands were higher, the expectations were higher; the results were lower. What was she doing wrong? How could she be constantly swimming but constantly drowning with each stroke forward? Her body was strong—it was strong enough to pull her towards the shore but she found that each time she tried to get closer, the currant pulled her further and further away.

            She needed help, she’d scream, but all that came out was that ugly sputtering. Every now and then, a wave would crash over her and she’d go under. She’d flail her arms frantically; Her hair would get into her eyes and she’d lose sight of the shore.

But each time, she decided that she wouldn’t give up. She’d push her ocean-soaked hair out of her eyes and try to refocus her tired body back on the shoreline. “Just keep going, keep swimming, whatever it takes,” she’d tell herself.

Every now and then, someone would throw her a life raft and she’d catch it. It’d take her a little ways before the rope would snap…and then the entire process would start over again. She’d gotten used to it.

“Just keep going, keep swimming, whatever it takes,” she’d tell herself.