Katelyn The Journalist

Birds flying. Photo by Katelyn Avery

Somewhere over the horizon is a sweet place of rest. I’m not referring to an afterlife found in religion; I’m talking about a student’s life. That group of people who get caught up by papers, and the eternal struggle with procrastination. Somewhere past the horizon a better place exists, where every grade is perfect, and everything is done on time. All-nighters sound like a foreign thing, and sunny days are spent outside. Yes, there is a place where students buckle down immediately, and save free time for warmer days. Now if only I could make it past the horizon.

-Katelyn Avery

99 words (I got 99 problems, and procrastination is one.)

Kitchen, out of order. Photo by Katelyn Avery.

It was during one of the January or February snowstorms that hit Connecticut. The Sunday before one of the many Monday snow days I ran from my college dorm room to the dollar store to stock up on supplies. I was thoroughly convinced it would snow so bad that I wouldn’t be able to make it to the dining hall, if it opened at all. I imagined my college’s city would be buried under snow, and the workers wouldn’t be able to leave their homes.

To make matters worse I passed my floors kitchen, and was greeted by an “Out of order” sign. It was like being slapped in the face. My food options were cut down to nonperishables.

Forty minutes later I carried a bundle of chips, cookies, and juice back into my residence hall. I was satisfied with my purchase, until I stepped out of the stairwell.

Somehow my floors kitchen had been fixed. The sign was gone, but I wasn’t smiling. My money was spent, and as much as I love junk food I couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like to bring Hot Pockets back to the kitchens refrigerator. The completely functional one. Unfortunately, I had just missed it.

I’m over analyzing the situation, because I’m a writer, and that’s what we do. I had left too soon, when patience, or a sluggish Sunday attitude, would have been in my favor.

On the bright side they did serve food in the dining the hall the next day. I still dove into my chips though. College and its lessons.

– Katelyn Avery

265 words

McDonald’s large soda and bag (from 2014). Photo by Katelyn Avery.

Stories of pink slime turn my stomach, but they don’t turn me off of McDonald’s. I sound like a hypocrite, but that’s what 22 year old’s do.

The chain has cemented a place in my life, and it’s not about to be uprooted. There are cracks though; I don’t want McDonald’s as often as I did around age 5. The Happy Meal was around $2 then, and my mother was thrilled to take my sister and I somewhere that served a hamburger, fries, a drink, and a toy on a mother’s budget.

Construction workers aren’t going to arrive with fresh cement to fix the aging spot any time soon. McDonald’s desires have become less powerful, but I’m not clean from my McDonald’s addiction. I also don’t plan to ever kick the habit.

I watched “Super Size Me,” as a kid, and I know McDonald’s shouldn’t be treated like a real meal, that you have seven days a week. Once a month at the most is my limit, during my trips to the mall. The Dollar and More Menu (Previously the Dollar Menu), calls my name every time I enter a food court. Nobody puts the McChicken sandwich in the corner.

McDonald’s fried are what I crave the most of course. They are truly golden. I have self-control though, and that’s what matters.

McDonald’s gets a bad wrap, but I’m on the other side of the fence. McFood is here to stay.

– Katelyn Avery

241 words