What about the future makes it so scary?

A recent conversation with my fiance' and his parents has frightened me and dashed all my hopes of letting the future happen like it's supposed to. Even after receiving (and accepting) an offer for a summer internship I wanted, I still don't feel like I have control.

I've decided that control, when it comes to my future, doesn't exist. It's like running around a race track with hopes of finishing, and continually being told that I still need to run one more lap. I think my worst fear is that control is something I'll never have.

I have no idea what I want to do with my life or what opportunities are going to come my way. I'm 21. I've stuck so much time, effort, and sleepless nights into my education, and what I want to do with my life is as unclear as mud. Even the things I'm looking forward to, like getting married, are turning from natural highs of happiness into illusions filled with dollar signs and headaches.

I realize that some mystery makes life fun. But, this mystery that is incompletely summed as "the rest of my life" is entirely horrific.Whatever is in store for me, and despite my frustration with the future, I can't wait to find out.

Changing the name.

I recently changed the title of my blog from it's revamped original, "A Space in the World." I'm not sure where the inspiration for "Pearls and rings, among other things" came from, but I like the way it sounds, and feel it amply describes me.

Pearls. If you know me, you know I adore fashion, and the style and stigma of pearl jewelry. I consider myself a classy person; not pretentious or snooty, but sophisticated.

Rings. Well, I just got engaged and am still not used to wearing the rock I was given. And now that I think about it, I received both a ring and pearl jewelry for Christmas. Maybe this blog is inspired be recent material additions to my life, or maybe it's not. I don't know.

Other things. This blog, as I've already said, has a very unsure direction, and where it goes and what it covers is yet to be determined. Regardless, I want to blog about things I like, things I do, and even things I do that I don't want to.

For the sake of blogging I write this post.

What a Christmas.

At 12:30 AM, Christmas day, 2010, Eric asked me to marry him. I finally recovered from shock and said 'yes'. This Christmas was one of immense joy for both of our families, and we couldn't be happier.

Round 1 of asking my dad for permission was when Eric asked him two Christmases ago if he could give me this promise necklace.

Round 2 of my dad's permission. My dad was an accomplice when Eric purchased the engagement ring.

The lucky fiance'. I'm talking about myself.

The happily-engaged, wedding-planning, forever-in-love couple.

Love is a splendid thing.

Since November 2008, I have been in love with Eric. I fell in love with him as soon as we were a couple, and maybe even before that. Eric was someone I never pictured myself with, but I found so quickly he was the one I needed in my life. We've been through a lot together, and have both found natural places in each others' families.

2010 Trinity formal.

2010 Chicago Auto Show.

The Ryan & Sara Swanson wedding, April 10, 2010.

Summer 2010.

Matching shirts for some 80's-themed roller skating, 2010.

fam·i·ly (noun): a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.

My whole life, family has meant more to me than anything else. While college separates these wonderful people from me, my life would never be complete without them.

My parents, Brad & Debra Veurink.

My younger sister, Brooke (don't mind her obnoxious boyfriend).

My youngest sister, Kim.

The youngest of us all, my baby brother, Drew.

It's about time for a change.

The last 11 posts on this blog have been, if you haven't already noticed, in the realm of academia. This blog was originally created to fulfill an assignment in a Communication Criticism class I took last semester.

...I think it's time for a change.

Blogging is something I've really wanted to do for a long time. I am one of those people who often wonders, "What on earth would I blog about, and who would care to read it?" But, I've realized blogging isn't about getting people to read what you write. Rather, it's writing for the sake of writing, and if someone ends up reading it, you get bonus points. 

With that said, welcome to the next phase of my blog. Whatever that phase is, enjoy.

A blogger for the sake of blogging,
Ashley Rose Veurink

De Beers and visual imagery.

The above advertisement from De Beers, found in a magazine, is one of many from the diamond company that have recently used this type of layout and straight-forward messaging. The following critique will use Sonja Foss's rhetorical schema for critiquing visual imagery, and will work to properly identify and evaluate this ad's function. This critique wants to examine what makes this ad for diamonds stand out from other advertisements; how do the presented elements encourage its audience to view the quality of De Beers diamonds differently from diamonds of Zales or Kay Jewelers?

An easily identifiable function of this ad is to sell diamonds, specifically, De Beers diamonds. The sparkly diamond ring centered at the top of the ad draws our attention, and the text below the ring explains why we need to buy De Beers diamonds.

The visible elements of any visual message have the important task of communicating the ads function. The colors of this ad - black and white - create a simple and modern aesthetic, and focus our attention on the ad's image followed by the text. The clean-cut lines maintain our focus, and the thick, black border of the ad directs our attention to inside the border - a big, shiny, beautiful three-stone diamond ring. 

What makes this De Beers advertisement unique, in my opinion, is the placement and visual of the diamond ring. In most jewelry ads, the rings are in a "standing up" posture so one can see the intricate detailing and metal work of the ring, as well as the diamond's position and size. This ad, however, is only about the diamond(s). The ring's band is barely visible, and the large and sparkly diamonds directly face their audience as a small spotlight presents the treasured rocks as stars of the ad. This ad isn't about selling a ring as much as it focuses on selling De Beers diamonds because of their products' beauty, size, and grandeur.

So how do we evaluate the ethics of the function to buy De Beers diamonds because they are like no other? If we were to rely solely on the visual elements, I think this ad would be ethical or fair in carrying out its function. Such luxury items are greatly valued, and De Beers serves that value in the primary function of this ad.

What makes me question the integrity of this ad and how De Beers views the purchasing of such an item for someone is the text of this ad, "She already knows you love her. Now everyone else will too." The text isn't essential to understand what this ad is functioning to do, but it's presence eludes to De Beers purpose for this particular luxury item. Directed towards men and printed in all-caps, the text says a De Beers diamond ring is a must if you want "everyone else" to know how a man feels about the woman he loves. What most would consider true love is not properly represented in this ad; it concerns itself more with what one's peers think and know of the relationship rather than how the two involved in the relationship feel. How much a man loves a woman is reduced to what type of jewelry he buys her and making sure everyone else knows it, too, and De Beers positions itself as the company to trust for a man to accomplish that.