Comments on: Ode to the ordinary http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/ Ramblings, reflections, and occasional deep thoughts stumbled onto purely by chance. Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:47:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Accidental Thinker » Blog Archive » I’m (almost) famous, part 2 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/comment-page-1/#comment-8167 Accidental Thinker » Blog Archive » I’m (almost) famous, part 2 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:09:44 +0000 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/#comment-8167 [...] two readers I have left may recall this post from several months ago about admissions at my alma mater. It made an impact on the right people, [...] [...] two readers I have left may recall this post from several months ago about admissions at my alma mater. It made an impact on the right people, [...]

]]> By: Jo Anne http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/comment-page-1/#comment-2858 Jo Anne Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:19:22 +0000 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/#comment-2858 Monique, knowing your alma mater, and knowing you, I would absolutely believe you to be one of the extraordinary. I never would have been accepted at your alma mater, back then or now. I'm lucky to have shared a city with you, years after our meeting on the other side of the same state. But ordinary or no, your first commenter is absolutely right. As an alumna of said university, don't you have some say in who or what will be representing your school of choice in the not too distant future? Send this essay to that school. Heck, I'll print it out and hand deliver it for you! But to read such eloquence from one of their esteemed graduates should be an honor for them, and perhaps open their eyes...if even for a moment. Monique, knowing your alma mater, and knowing you, I would absolutely believe you to be one of the extraordinary. I never would have been accepted at your alma mater, back then or now. I’m lucky to have shared a city with you, years after our meeting on the other side of the same state. But ordinary or no, your first commenter is absolutely right. As an alumna of said university, don’t you have some say in who or what will be representing your school of choice in the not too distant future? Send this essay to that school. Heck, I’ll print it out and hand deliver it for you! But to read such eloquence from one of their esteemed graduates should be an honor for them, and perhaps open their eyes…if even for a moment.

]]> By: Jolynn http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/comment-page-1/#comment-2846 Jolynn Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:51:59 +0000 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/#comment-2846 I agree, ordinary can be extraordinary. Just because you aren't personally saving the world doesn't mean your any less than someone who claims to be. I completely relate to what your saying. I agree, ordinary can be extraordinary. Just because you aren’t personally saving the world doesn’t mean your any less than someone who claims to be. I completely relate to what your saying.

]]> By: the fool http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/comment-page-1/#comment-2845 the fool Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:03:42 +0000 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/#comment-2845 Take those alumni letters with a grain of salt. They're usually produced by marketing people whose objective is to squeeze as much money as possible out of proud alumni. College alumni offices will print anything to make their schools sound better, whether it's puffing up the current students' credentials or pointing to a couple of shiny alums who have made it big. Either way, the facts are rarely checked and truth is not nearly as great a concern as is generating revenue. As a case on point, according to my college alumni office, I'm now the award-winning Director of Distilling at the Aberlour Glenlivet Scotch Whiskey Distilling Company in Speyside, Scotland, but the only loose association between that story and the truth is the fact that I had a snootful of the stuff when I filled out the alumni form and mailed it back to the school. Take those alumni letters with a grain of salt. They’re usually produced by marketing people whose objective is to squeeze as much money as possible out of proud alumni.

College alumni offices will print anything to make their schools sound better, whether it’s puffing up the current students’ credentials or pointing to a couple of shiny alums who have made it big. Either way, the facts are rarely checked and truth is not nearly as great a concern as is generating revenue.

As a case on point, according to my college alumni office, I’m now the award-winning Director of Distilling at the Aberlour Glenlivet Scotch Whiskey Distilling Company in Speyside, Scotland, but the only loose association between that story and the truth is the fact that I had a snootful of the stuff when I filled out the alumni form and mailed it back to the school.

]]> By: LAZY http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/comment-page-1/#comment-2790 LAZY Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:18:18 +0000 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/#comment-2790 Monique ~ Mostly just wanting "to give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s wage, and to be there for my family and friends"... while this may SOUND "Ordinary" to you, I actually consider this "EXTRODINARY"! I wish that there were more people in the world who lived their lives in this manner. People who, would raise their children with these ideals instead of those wanting to “CHANGE the world” to be more to their liking. In other words... "There is NOTHING ordinary about being ORDINARY!" It's a trait that I ADMIRE! I hope you do as well with your kids as your folks did with you! ~ jb/// P.S.* As a footnote here... my alma mater university usually just sends me requests for donations... so maybe I should have gone to your university. Monique ~ Mostly just wanting “to give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s wage, and to be there for my family and friends”… while this may SOUND “Ordinary” to you, I actually consider this “EXTRODINARY”! I wish that there were more people in the world who lived their lives in this manner. People who, would raise their children with these ideals instead of those wanting to “CHANGE the world” to be more to their liking. In other words… “There is NOTHING ordinary about being ORDINARY!” It’s a trait that I ADMIRE! I hope you do as well with your kids as your folks did with you! ~ jb///

P.S.* As a footnote here… my alma mater university usually just sends me requests for donations… so maybe I should have gone to your university.

]]> By: Marisa http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/comment-page-1/#comment-2779 Marisa Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:01:53 +0000 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/#comment-2779 You know some of those ideas would have been great for my "1,000 Things To Do When You Are Grounded" essay. Although I don't think Mommy and Daddy would have let me take off to Africa to volunteer my summer vacation aiding under priviledged children riddled by AIDS, when they would hardly let me out of the house. Instead I had to resort to making a village out of Spaghetti, relentlessly studying for the SAT, and begging for forgiveness. You know some of those ideas would have been great for my “1,000 Things To Do When You Are Grounded” essay. Although I don’t think Mommy and Daddy would have let me take off to Africa to volunteer my summer vacation aiding under priviledged children riddled by AIDS, when they would hardly let me out of the house. Instead I had to resort to making a village out of Spaghetti, relentlessly studying for the SAT, and begging for forgiveness.

]]> By: Herb http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/comment-page-1/#comment-2776 Herb Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:25:14 +0000 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/#comment-2776 I think your last line is a good summary. It is extraordinary in this day and age to just be happy with yourself. I think your last line is a good summary. It is extraordinary in this day and age to just be happy with yourself.

]]> By: Paul Nichols http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/comment-page-1/#comment-2774 Paul Nichols Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:57:05 +0000 http://accidentalthinker.com/2007/09/23/ode-to-the-ordinary/#comment-2774 Okay! Here's what you do: copy and paste this outstanding essay into Word, print it, stuff it into an envelope and mail it to you Alma Mater. Your school is the place that needs to see this. This is really great! Good job! Oh, and it's nice to see you're back again. Okay! Here’s what you do: copy and paste this outstanding essay into Word, print it, stuff it into an envelope and mail it to you Alma Mater. Your school is the place that needs to see this.

This is really great! Good job!

Oh, and it’s nice to see you’re back again.

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