Sunday, November 29, 2009

Creative Essay

I have to write a creative essay for my creative writing class.

We can basically write it in any format, about anything. So why is it so hard? I have no idea what to write about. Its like trying to pick between Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Honey Bunches of Oats.

Now I really want cereal...I think cereal would help me figure out what to write about. Maybe I should write about cereal? I'm confused. And my brain is overloaded with all the other homework I have to be doing... I just don't know.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Realization

Well, my weekend of fun in Honolulu is over, and with its ending has come this lovely realization: I am basically going to have no life for the next three weeks outside of classes, homework, and more homework!

Depressing. I'm determined to fit some beach time in there, but I have no idea when! I have a huge research paper due, a creative essay, a lit presentation, my choir concert, and final exams to study for. Not to mention packing and finishing my Christmas shopping. ACK!

My decision to not do any homework Wednesday night was not the best one... ah well, I'll get it done somehow. But I am STRESSED! In fact, I think my brain might explode!

*Sniff*

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Confession...

I need to admit something. I'm homesick.

I guess it is allowed, seeing as how it is Thanksgiving. I'm sitting here in my little dorm room, listenening to Christmas music and looking at pictures of my family. Recipe for disaster, I know. But sometimes it is nice to just let yourself be sad. Its like watching "Its a Wonderful Life." You know you are going to cry, but you watch it anyway.

And yes, I did cry. But just a little.

This is my first Thanksgiving away from my family, and it (sadly) doesn't feel like Thanksgiving at all. Not the least reason for that being that it is 75 degrees outside.

I think that in addition to the whole homesick thing, I'm sad because things are changing. Every day. Every second. People get older, people move, people get married... and things can never go back to the way they were. I can never be six years old, helping make the pies for Thanksgiving, or decorating Christmas cookies. I guess I sound a little like an old woman in a nursing home.

But I just can't help thinking that I won't have another Thanksgiving for a whole year, and by then I will be a year older, and who knows what other changes will have happened. I think the holidays are a sort of way to stop the world for 24 hours, so families can just enjoy being together exactly how they are at that moment. Like a snap shot. And I guess I'm just sad that I'm missing one of those snap shots.

My Christmas playlist just switched to "Blue Christmas" by Elvis. Well family, if you read this, know that I'll have a blue Thanksgiving without you!

Well, to avoid ending on that depressing note, at least I have fun plans for Thanksgiving. It won't feel like Thanksgiving, but at least I'll be distracted.

I'm so grateful for my family.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

What is this, Valentine's day?

There is a "couple" epidemic on campus... and it is making me sick. I'm all for people dating, coupling off, and getting married. But when they get all mushy in public... not okay with me.

I guess there is no way that they could know it is my pet peeve as they make out in my general direction, but really folks, have some self awareness! I'm pretty sure nobody likes that except the ones participating in it.

I think that so many people are coupling off right now for mainly two reasons. 1, We are far enough into the semester for them to be past the initial flirting stage. 2, Because it is crunch time before everyone goes home for the holidays, and they want to be able to a) tell their families about their amazing significant others, and/or b) make their ex boyfriends/girlfriends jealous.

Harsh, you say? Cynical? Well, fine. Maybe I am. I can live with that.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

New Moon

Yes, I saw it.

And yes, I like Twilight. Especially the first two books. And let me just say, I loved this movie. It makes me sad that they didn't do the first movie right... because this one was GREAT!

Also... I think I may have turned over to Team Jacob. ... Sorry, Edward.

I mean, I never realized how incredibly hot it is for a big, muscley Native American to turn into a wolf! I've always been a sucker for big, beastial guys. (Hence my crush as a little girl on the Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Before he turns back into a man, obviously.)

Also, I'm sorry, but the movie Edward is NOT equal to the book Edward. Rob Pattinson does an okay job, but he portrays Edward as such a moody, depressed, brooding character.

I think I'm all for Edward in the books, but Jacob in the movies. That is not entirely based on Jacob's abs. (Only partially.) So does this make me a team Edward or a team Jacob? Well, the rational part of my brain is saying, "Who cares? Why don't you go to bed already and stop blogging about Twilight like a sixteen year old." but my other side... (irrational?) says giddily "Wow that was a GREAT movie! Lets go see it five more times in the theaters!" (Apparently my rational side is kind of mean, and my irrational side is kind of thinking I have more money than I actually do.)

Okay, I really am going to bed now.

But one last thing.... *sigh*

Friday, November 20, 2009

....and pie

So last night, I was really hungry. REALLY REALLY HUNGRY! So me and two of my friends walked to the grocery store to get some food. Once there, we decided to get taco bell, then go buy a pie to share. A third of a pie isn't that much, right? That is what we thought...

We happily munched on our taco bell, (Baha chicken chalupa, no tomatos, one order of chips and cheese, and a medium baha blast) then got our pie. It was a Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cream Pie. And for the record, yes, it was as good as it sounds.

However, we soon realized there was no way we were going to finish this pie. After eating about two-thirds of it between the three of us, we all felt so sick we wanted to die.

Now, some of you may think... "Well, duh! You just ate taco bell and a ton of freaking chocolate pie! How do you think you are going to feel?!"

I guess the siren call of the pie clouded my judgement. Ah well, I know not to do that again any time soon.

Of course... there is still that one-third of the pie left...

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Pre-Homework

Yes, that's right. I'm putting off homework right now in order to write this blog entry. If you are shocked by my extreme unselfishness, well, all I can say is, you should be.

I realized something tonight. I am an expert at procrastinating. I had this realization while I was procrastinating. Coincidental! Or is it ironic? I'm too tired to tell. Maybe it is both.

Any way, as I was sitting at the computer, I decided to put some new music into my playlist, to make the essay-writing experience more pleasurable. The 120 or so songs I had on there have already been listened too many times. So I started looking up songs and adding them. I did this for almost an hour, with intermittent facebook chatting. (As a side note, facebook is the procrastinator's best friend. Or worst enemy, depending on how you look at it. Probably the latter, actually.)

At almost ten o' clock, I finally realized that I need to get down to business, or perish in the attempt.

Here is what I found: my procrastinating acts as a sort of pre-homework warm up. After I had spent all this time on seemingly unnecessary activites (homework-wise... my playlist was getting stale, after all,) I was actually better able to think of my essay topic, and get to work! Amazing.

I also figured out that I like to take breaks while I do homework... such as now.

I'll end with this cheery little tidbit: Not only have I written a good portion of my essay, I also expanded my playlist to 168! I think that calls for a huzzah!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Sports Talk Show

At lunch today I was watching the tv because I was sitting by myself. It was a show called "Around the Horn," on ESPN, which is, near as I can tell, a show where a bunch of older guys talk about sports. Their heads are in little screens, Brady Bunch style, and they discuss recent events or "plays" or whatever they say for significant happenings in the sports world.


I found this show fascinating, not only because it was so loud in the cafeteria that I couldn't hear what they were saying, and it was amusing to think of my own dialogue for them, (Tony, you are so much hotter than the rest of us, what's your skin care regimen?) but also because I got to wondering who would watch this show. If you like sports, can't you sit around with your own friends and talk about it instead of watching other random old guys talk about it?

Ok, so Tony wasn't that old, but still! What is the point?

To be fair, I know that many guys, (probably the ones who watch this show) would ask me what the point is of watching Jane Austen movies over and over again, but at least then there is a plot!

Another fascinating thing about this show is the name itself. Is this some sort of sports metaphor that I don't understand? Around the Horn... is that just the most manly name they could think of? What does it mean?

Ah hah! I just looked it up on Wikipedia (the source of all knowledge) and the first thing it said was "Around the Horn, not to be confused with the baseball term around the horn. I can see how that would be confusing. I know I'm confused. Confused at why any one would waste time watching this show! Maybe it is more enlightening if you can actually hear what they are saying... but somehow, I doubt it.

I read on in the Wikipedia article, in order to see what this show is all about, but I got bored.

Now, I like a good football game as much as the next guy (ok, that is a blatant lie. I don't like football games. Except outdoor ones where you get to wear cute scarves, make fun of the cheerleaders, and buy junk food,) but this whole genre of Sports Talk shows mystifies me.

No offense to any one who likes these shows... or to you Tony. You are cuter than the other guys.
This criticism should be taken with a grain of salt, because it is coming from the girl who shouted "home run" and a football game. Tony would be ashamed.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Unexpected Visitor

I looked down at around midnight to see a toad blinking up at me from the floor of my room.
Initially, I was rather startled, as is expected upon suddenly seeing a normally outdoor creature indoors. He (for the purposes of this entry, I will refer to the toad as a male. But it could have been a female. I'm really not sure) hopped into my nightstand, and eyed me warily.

I took a couple pictures of him, for purposes of facebook and my blog, and the flash moved him into action. He hopped out of my bookcase, and across the floor, settling under my roommate's bed.

It is a funny thing... whenever there is some sort of unwanted creature in my room, it is always when I'm there by myself, with my roommate nowhere to be found. I texted her: Just fyi, there is a toad under your bed. Her reply: Hahahahahahah My reply: Do you want me to try and shoo it out? Her: Duh, lol. (As an side note, my roommate is a chronic LOL'er.)

I suppose I thought she would come home to get the thing out herself, but I had nothing important to do, so I went with my flip flop (just in case) to get it out. I kicked around the bed, and heard it hopping around under there. I then spotted it in the corner, and found myself whistling at it as I would a dog, and saying "come on, little buddy! The door is right here! Come on!" I then realized that toads do not respond to whistling from humans, nor do they speak English. (As far as I know.) So I repositioned the door, and he finally made a flying leap through the door crack, turning himself sideways to get out.

To my dismay, he did NOT hop right outside as any smart toad would, but hopped down the hallway towards the bathroom. I heard someone showering, and considered just letting it go... but I felt too bad. Suppose he hopped in the shower? Not only would that probably startle whoever was showering, it would most likely make her scream, which would potentially wake up several people, and I would be responsible. No, my conscience would not let me leave it be. So I followed it down the hallway, and into the bathroom.

He hopped right outside the stall of the girl showering. I quickly circled around the other side of the bathroom to head him back from whence he came. Thankfully it worked, and he was soon out in the hall again. But the stupid thing refused to hop outside! I think it must have been the thunder and lightening. Any way, I finally herded it outside, and noticed it still had a trail of dust on its back leg from when he was under the bed.

I went back to my room, and closed the door. I didn't want any other visitors.

There he is, in my nightstand. He's really kind of cute, and I'd much rather have him than the other visitor I had in September, aka the huge cane spider. I even prefer toads to El Torro, the cockroach of August.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Faith, trust, and a little compliment from my teacher

Ok, so I know that doesn't rhyme. But it (hopefully) gets the point across of how simply "magical" compliments can be. For me, at least.

I was having an okay day today. Essentially i was suffering from the usualy tiredness, combined with the wish to be at the beach (it was cloudless today) combined with the average stresses of a college student. I took a short nap before my creative writing class, and then went, sleepy and wishing I could have just slept longer.

My teacher stopped me before class and gave me an amazing compliment on the short story I had previously agonized over. Most importantly, she told me to "keep at it." (Referring to writing.) Now, for someone who hopes to be a published novelist, this was high praise. Especially because my teacher is generally very cynical, not shy about putting people's writing down, and has taught countless English and writing classes, and has had a lot of her own work published. I was scared to death about what she would say about my story.

While she gave suggestions for improvements, she said my story was "actually quite good." She thought I had grown up in the South, where my story takes place, when in actuality I have never been there, that it read like a "Southern folk tale," and that she was "very surprised, this is not the usual type of story that students turn in."

Let me tell you, I was elated! It makes me want to write even more.

It is really amazing how delicious compliments are. I'll be tasting this one for months.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I want...

I want a newfoundland puppy. Just look at that face!!!


Saturday, November 7, 2009

Day at the beach



Here are some pictures of my amazing day at the beach yesterday. I needed a break, and I had taken my final midterm, so I decided to spend the day at the beach!









Thursday, November 5, 2009

School VS Beachbum

As I was studying my brains out for my Psychology midterm tonight, and thinking happily to myself that soon I could go to sleep, I had the horrible rememberence that I have to finish reading Heart of Darkness by tomorrow morning.

How did I forget this?! I almost cried. I'm so tired, and sick of studying, and the thought of staying up for another hour and a half to read that book makes me a little sick.

So this got me thinking. What about becoming a beach bum? I mean, it is right there! So close. I could just drop out of my classes (or just stop going. Why bother with formalities?) and go lay out every day until I go home for Christmas! Not only would I get a killer tan, I would probably meet a lot of interesting people while laying there doing nothing.

*Sigh* Time to start reading, or I will be up even later. Because yes, I am kidding. Mostly.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Heart of Darkness bums me out.

Despite its cheerful and uplifting title, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad really gets me down. What is even worse is that I already had to read this stupid novel in high school. Maybe the fact that I read the first chapter and spark-noted the rest has caused this novel to come back to haunt me. As a punishment for my laziness and despicible short-cutting.

Arrrrgh! I suppose I understand why this book is "high" literature, but it gets on my nerves. Not only is it horribly depressing, it is also CONFUSING! The paragraphs and sentences are unforgivably long. But the time you get to the end of the sentence, you have to go back to the beginning to remember what the sentence was even about to begin with.

I have been trying various methods to attempt to stay focused on the text, including giving Marlow different accents, chewing gum (I've gone through four peices so far), listening to piano music, and listening to Christmas music (rather comical, but I stopped because I don't want to associate Christmas music with this confounded book.)

Not only that, this book is downright offensive, racially speaking. Now that I'm actually reading it, I'm realizing this.

Uhg. I remember now why I spark-noted it. Before cracking it open tonight, I thought to myself, "Now that I'm more mature, and have more literary experience, having dealt with Kafka, Faulkner, and Mann, surely I can handle Conrad." But no. Turns out this book is like green beans. I hate it just as much this year as I did two years ago as a senior in high school.

Well, back to Marlow and his racist adventures. I think I need a new peice of gum.