The Weirdling's Rise

The Weirdling's Rise

by Gus and Harley Aitoro

Self-Improvement Mental Health

Season 1

🫂 An Orphan's First Taste of Solitude

Gus and Harley take a deep dive into a child's profound experience of loss and loneliness following their mother's death. The narrative centers on a swim meet where the child, already feeling adrift, encounters a pivotal moment of emotional awakening. A parent's casual oversight regarding snacks, followed by a harsh dismissal, serves as the catalyst for the child's realization that their mother's unique care and provision are gone. This incident marks a significant shift from childhood confidence to deep insecurity, permanently altering the child's self-perception and sense of belonging in the world.

❤️ Olivia Spencer's Leadership Aspirations

This text is an application letter from Olivia Spencer to Springfield University's Organizational Leadership program. Olivia explains her motivation for pursuing this degree, linking it to her current role at San Cristobel Community College and her aspiration to work in Student Services. She highlights her growing leadership experience and her personal journey of overcoming challenges, which fuels her desire to help others through education. Olivia expresses gratitude for the online program format and her long-standing admiration for Springfield University.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Tamalada: A Family Tradition of Tamale Making

The topic for this episode is a picture describes a "Tamalada," or tamale-making party, highlighting it as a significant family tradition. The author observes a photograph of such an event, drawing parallels between the image and their own upbringing in a Mexican-American, Catholic family. They emphasize the collective effort involved, noting how each family member, even children, contributes to the laborious yet enjoyable process of preparing tamales. The text underscores the cultural and familial importance of this activity, detailing the various steps and the large quantities typically made, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.

🎭 The Rialto Theater: A Timeless Venue

We are excited to offer a descriptive overview of the Rialto Theater, highlighting its historical charm and architectural details. The author emphasizes the venue's longevity since its 1920 opening, noting elements like its distinctive marquee and vintage-style interior. The account also touches upon the theater's modern functionality and its accessibility features, indicating its continued relevance as a lively entertainment spot.

🤝 University Performance Goal Setting: The SPEAK Framework

Gus and Harley outdo themselves examining a document that outlines Springfield University's "SPEAK" performance communication process, which is a goal-setting form for employees and managers for the fiscal year 2025. It details various valued behaviors such as service excellence, adaptability, and collaboration, which employees are expected to demonstrate. The form also includes sections for professional conduct and leadership expectations for managers. Employees are required to identify and describe three job responsibilities, goals, or priorities using the "SMART" criteria. Ultimately, the form concludes with sections for manager and employee signatures, signifying agreement on the established performance goals.

😔 Reflecting on Billy Collins: Life, Memory, and Poetry

Gus and Harley unpack a short story that offers a personal reflection on Billy Collins' poem "One Life to Live," revealing the author's emotional connection to the work based on childhood memories of watching a soap opera with the same title. The author explains how certain lines in the poem evoke dark, anxious periods from their past, where they would retreat into their mind to imagine a different life. While initially interpreting the poem as somber, the author also considers an alternative view, suggesting it might simply depict the routine nature of everyday life. The reflection concludes by mentioning the author's positive reaction to another Collins poem, "The History Teacher," and their discovery of his past role as Poet Laureate.

🎓 Marina Cooper Postdoctoral Fellow Appointment Form

Gus and Harley review a sample new hire form for Marina Cooper, who will begin as a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow on August 1, 2022. This position, managed by Alexandra Spaulding within the Scholarship & Research division, is grant-funded through the "CSA, Minority Stress, and Hazardous Drinking (F32)" grant. The form outlines various administrative requirements, including a salary of $63,038, the need for a desk space and SON computer access, and specific software like SPSS. It also indicates that Ms. Cooper will not have direct reports and will have variable on-campus hours, suggesting the document serves as a comprehensive record for onboarding and resource allocation.

🌶️ Chorizo: Mexican Hot Sausage Recipe

This episode was fun for Gus and Harley. They discuss a detailed recipe for Mexican hot sausage, or chorizo. It outlines the necessary ingredients, including ground meat (beef, or a mix of beef and pork), vinegar, salt, oregano, garlic, red chile powder, and red chile puree. The instructions describe the mixing process, emphasizing the thorough incorporation of spices and chile into the meat, followed by a marinating period. Finally, the text suggests serving ideas for the prepared chorizo, such as with scrambled eggs, homemade tortillas, and salsa.

🗓️ Abby Blume's Onboarding and Training Journey at Springfield University

Gus and Harley outline a fascinating onboarding and training schedule for a new employee named Abby Blume, who is joining the Springfield University Development and Alumni Relations team. The schedule details meetings, orientations, and training sessions planned for her first two weeks on the job, starting September 30. It includes specific times, meeting topics, contact persons, and room locations, ensuring Abby is introduced to her colleagues and the various functions of the department. The information is presented in a clear, structured format, beginning with a welcome message and followed by a day-by-day breakdown of activities.

🥲 Margarita with a Straw: A Deep Dive Review

This review offers a personal analysis of the film "Margarita with a Straw," highlighting its impact on the viewer and its portrayal of disability, sexuality, and relationships. The author praises the actors' authenticity in depicting characters with disabilities and recounts how the film's emotional depth resonated deeply. It summarizes the plot, focusing on Laila's journey of self-discovery, love, loss, and acceptance as she navigates challenges and embraces her identity. The review concludes by emphasizing Laila's resilience in the face of heartbreak.

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