Option One:

Do you know how to knit? Why not knit up a quick little scarf! Who doesn’t need one?  Having one that is hand crafted by a loved one makes it that much more special.

Option Two:

Do you have a couple that you need a good gift for? How about getting them a journal and writing a note on the first page stating that this journal is only for good things. Let them know that they need to leave this notebook on a coffee table or kitchen table and take the time everyday or every week to write something that they love about their significant other. It’s a great tool for the couple and a great keepsake after a few years!

Option Three:

Make your own photo album with anything you have lying around the house.  I use cardboard, glue, fabric from old t-shirts or jeans, and everyday printer paper.  Go to Walmart or CVS and have the pictures you want printed out. Making your own photo album gives you the freedom to design it however you want to, however big or small and with as many little or large notes. You can also buy a cheap notebook and use it for the same purpose.

These are just a few cheap and easy ideas for all of us struggling through these holiday times!

As for me, I was not as much of a trooper as I thought.  Though I did manage to get up at 3:30 and make it to Target in time to get our prized “big item”.  I found myself feeling unprepared. I neglected to come dressed for the cold weather and forwent my ritual hot cup of coffee. This left me a par below all others!  Target thankfully had thought of us out there in the cold, and to give us the hope we needed came out and provided a free tote bag and map of the store! Incredible!

The reason for only visiting one store on this glory filled day is that our other options became increasingly a waste of time! How is it that Best Buy will only have SIX, count it SIX of each door buster? What have I done to you Best Buy? I thought I was a loyal customer, coming to you when I wanted a good film, coming to you when I needed a new phone cover. Why have you scorned us?

I felt miffed by all of our Department stores this Black Friday. They seem to have forgotten the thrill of the chase, and the great deals that we are all searching for. I’ll be holding out for next year, hoping against all hopes that they get it right.

Here’s to you Target, for holding up your end of the bargain. I’ll be back in 2010.

[All views expressed here are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of The Knight Rider and our affiliated staff, and school organizations.]

[All views expressed here are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of The Knight Rider and our affiliated staff, and school organizations.]

The Governor’s idea of trying to outlaw couples who are not married from living together is insulting. The fact that the idea was even allowed to be mentioned is ludicrous.

How does a state enforce such a law? Can we consider co-ed dorm rooms?  What do we do about that? Not all men and women living in the same home are a couple. Perhaps they are friends, or one person of that party is not interested in the opposite sex. Are we then to say that all females must live alone or with other females? And those males must live with only males regardless of sexual orientation?

So Governor McDonnell, what you are saying is that if a couple has been together for 45 years and never married, they are not allowed to live together? Or that after a certain amount of time that it is allowed? I’m curious Governor to know whether or not you understand the extent of the statement made?

Is anyone else in an uproar over this?

Also for NRCC students: The NRCC Black Awareness Association is hosting a on-going non-perishable (canned or boxed) Food drive at the Dublin campus.  There are two decorated boxes: one in the lounge in Martin hall, and one in Godbey Hall near security.  All donations will go toward feeding area people in need during the holidays through the Hensel Eckman YMCA. If you wish to donate,  it will be greatly appreciated.  This drive will be collected on Friday, and again before classes end on December 11.

Secondly, have a list of all the essential gifts you need. Now, this list does not have to be confined to just the Christmas gifts, let’s include birthdays, anniversaries and any other holiday or occasion that permits gifts.  This is the time to stock up on everything you may need for this year and next. Having your list and white knuckles ready for the cart ride of a lifetime is just another day on the shopping road.

Thirdly, have a game plan. It is absolutely vital to know all sales, where they will be, what time limits are set and whether or not the stores policies mean that they will honor competitor pricing. Knowing every sale and what you need allows you to set a plan of attack. You are able to find all of the things that you needed, perhaps split up into teams and grab all you can!

Lastly, if you can, have a team! It’s hard to be in more than one place at a time and even harder to jet through traffic and catch all of the right parking spaces. Try to condense your shops to as few as possible, or hit them all in the same shopping center. If you know there is a movie and camera you want, try going to Best Buy for both instead of heading the crowds at Wal-mart.

Have fun this Black Friday season, and remember to keep that head on straight ladies and gents, no one got to the top without careful planning and beautiful maneuvering of their chariot aka, the cart.

Let us start at the beginning, how many of us do not read the book for class? We buy it every year, we spend hundreds of dollars on it, and there it sits all semester long never even having the spine cracked. PICK IT UP! When your teacher suggests you read the chapter before class, do that! It does wonders! While you are reading your chapter ahead of time for class, try making an outline of the information and take that with you. Having an outline of the chapter before class enables you to just add minor notes during the lecture. This way, you spend more time listening then trying to catch up with all of the big items.

Actually study. High school was where we learned to memorize and regurgitate. This is college, you need to know your information and be able to apply it where applicable. Learning the information is essential so start some study groups and really get down to business. Make up little stories to help you remember and keep referring to it. If this information becomes used in your day to day speech it will be so much easier to remember come test time!

Why is it that these classes can not be open to the general public school system? It took me nearly two years to learn how to study AFTER starting college. I struggled with note-taking in my freshman year, fumbling over when I should be listening and when I should be scribbling down every word. I was unprepared when It came to studying for tests, in high school as long as you maintained a good grade with busy work you were golden.

The focus, in my high school at least, was memorizing and spewing out all of the “neccesary” information for the SOL’s. Frankly, I am pretty upset about my lack of training for what was coming next. As a student my high school teachers stressed that college was going to be different, that they were not going to baby us- so why were we being coddled? Why would you create a soft cushiony environment for the high schoolers just to thrust them into the rough and tough world of college.

All that I am trying to get across is that I feel slighted. I attended my four years of high school never taking it seriously because we didn’t have to, and then floundered when my college years came about. Why was I not prepared? Why was the focus on information that had nothing to do with bettering my education, rather showing whether or not the school met guidelines? So I ask again, why not some life skills?