A Miserable, Rainy Friday

I think the title of this post about sums everything up.  Today, is grey, rainy, cold, and miserable, and as much as I love the rain, I do not want to be out in it.....not on a day like today.  Sadly, I had to though, seeing as we had a field trip for my Earth Science lab.  The lab itself was very interesting; we looked at all kinds of cool rock formations and such.  I personally think geology is kinda cool :)

But, the issue of course, was the rain.  Wandering around in the rain was not fun.  By the time I got back to campus, I was already soaked with a deep cold that goes right to the bones.  I'm already sick, and this certainly did not help.  I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I don't have much of a voice tomorrow!  But, I'm trying to take care of myself....I took off my wet pants, shoes, and socks, and changed into something a bit more comfortable.  It's at times like this that I wish my grandparents hadn't moved.  They used to have this big old house with the nicest fireplace.  I wish I could just curl up on the couch in front of the fire and read a book.  When I get my own house, I'm going to have to get one with a fireplace!

Right now, I'm just waiting for Matt to call me so that we can go and get dinner.  It's been nice getting to hang out with him more these past few days.  I feel like we go for really long periods of time without talking; it's sad :(

Been listening to Mika, which is a fun diversion from my present, sick, miserable state, haha.  If you've never listened to any of his music, you have to check him out!  I LOVE Mika :)

Also, I need some help from y'all, especially the guys.  I'm writing a screenplay for my screenwriting class, and I'm having trouble with the lead male's motivation.  Gentlemen, what qualities would a woman have to possess to make her worth waiting twenty years for (especially when you can have any woman you want)? What would make this woman so special?  That's the issue I'm having right now....I can't figure out why he would want to wait for her (because, honestly, she's a little bit bland).  Please help!  Thanks :)

And.....here's some Mika!  Enjoy :)

What am I Reading?

Guess what, everyone!  I actually have time to READ FOR FUN!!!!!!!  This is a most shocking, really, really awesome development!  As an English Major (and prolly just as a college student in general), I never actually have the time to read just for the heck of it.  I always have something else to do, or something else to read.  Honestly, the last time I read and finished (the keyword here being finished) a book just for fun was during the summer!  And know what's really sad?  I can't even remember what the book was!  (I take that back....I think it was the new book by The Oatmeal).

But,  I'm actually reading a book for fun during school!  This is very, very exciting :)  I mean, yes, I did read Endgame last week, but that was only because I was able to finish it in the two-hour time slot I had in the Writing Center.  If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have read it!  This time, though, I'm actually reading a novel....like a whole book, and it's really nice.  It's Hannibal by Thomas Harris.  Once I finish this, I'll have read all the books in the Hannibal Lecter Trilogy (Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal) , plus the prologue novel Hannibal Rising.  I'll be sure to post updates about it later.  Right now, it's a little slow, but I've found from experience that Thomas Harris novels tend to do that: they start off really slowly, and suddenly grab you by the throat and drag you through a whole plot of horror and thrill.  Sooo worth the wait!

What the Heck? Wednesdays #1

Hello, everyone :)

As many of you know, I'm really into random stuff that makes little to no sense.  I'm sure many of you remember How To Kill A Mockingbird, or Gods of Olympus, just to name a few of the more memorable ones.  Most of the time, I only include these videos and comics if they fit into something about literature or life.  But, since there are so many bizarre things that I still want to share with all of you, I thought it might be fun to include a special day dedicated just to them!  This is What the Heck (WTH) Wednesdays!  If you're really not interested in my special brand of humor, fear not, because these posts will be clearly marked, so you don't have to check them out if you're not interested.  But, I do encourage you to at least give them a try, because you can find some pretty crazy stuff by roaming around on the Internet.

Not all of these entries are really going to be "What the Heck" worthy, but hopefully, they'll still be interesting, cool, or thought provoking.  Maybe a better term would be "Random Wednesdays," but that lacked the alliteration you get with "What the Heck" and being an English major, I could not bear to sacrifice such prime poetic tone.

For my first WTH Wednesday, I'm going to post a video that has become rather viral as of late.  I hope you find it as amusing as I did :)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

What is Fun?

Fun is staying up late with a really good friend, eating good food, and watching When Harry Met Sally, which people have been trying to get me to watch for months now.  And after the food is gone and the movie is over, it's even more fun when you realize just how slap happy you are, and start playing around on Tumblr, where you find a picture that says YOU ARE A SUPERHERO!  THE OBJECT TO YOUR LEFT IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR POWER; THE OBJECT TO YOUR RIGHT IS YOUR WEAKNESS.  In this case (since Rachel was holding the computer), the source of her power was moi, and her weakness would be the notes from her class for today....she has a test in it and was studying before I came over.  The question that arises: does this mean that she'll fail the test since it's her weakness?  And if I come to the test with her (and I'm the source of her power), does that mean she'll get like a 105% on the test?

Happy Friday, everyone!

Hamm and Clov: Why? (Endgame)

Hamm: ...Why do you stay with me?

Clov: Why do you keep me?

Hamm: There's no one else.

Clov: There's nowhere else [Pause.]

Hamm: You're leaving me all the same.

Clov: I'm trying.

Endgame

I finally did it!  I finally read the entirety of Samuel Beckett's play Endgame!  Ever since I read Waiting for Godot in my junior year of high school, I've been trying to read Endgame.  They were both included in the same book at the library.  However, I found that while Waiting for Godot was unusual, Endgame was darker, and a lot more confusing.  I've tried at least three times in the past to read it, but have never gotten around to actually doing it.

I was on my shift for the Writing Center, working late in the library.  No one ever comes down there, so the guys and I just read or do homework.  I had brought my Modernist Literature anthology, and was supposed to be reading Conrad's Heart of Darkness.  I read Endgame instead, and liked it a whole lot more!

It's a weird plot, and hard to decipher.  I'm sure that anyone who has read Samuel Beckett can attest to the fact that his plays really have no plot, but center around a small event, such as waiting for someone who never comes, or in this case, trying to leave someone behind.  Hamm sits in the center of the room, covered by a blanket like one would cover an old chair in an abandoned house.  A bloody handkerchief covers his face.  When these are removed by Clov, his adopted son and caretaker, we see that he wears black glasses that prevent you from seeing his eyes.  Clov wants to leave Hamm, but he's all he has in the world.  Hamm's parents, Nagg and Nell live in trashcans in the corner of the room.  There does not seem to exist much of a world outside of the house, but we don't know for sure.

That was a really bad plot description; so, I think the best thing would be for y'all just to go out and read it yourselves, or to at least check it out on YouTube.  I'm planning on watching it once I have some free time :)

Also, since Endgame is full of wonderful quotes, I'll be posting them in the days to come, so be sure to check back for that :)

Word of the Day!

Kerfuffle (n): commotion or disorder

Isn't that just a really fun word???  It's the word of the day in the Writing Center :):):)

Just TRY saying it out loud without smiling inside!

Happy Wednesday!

Appreciation

I've been feeling a little out of it lately; a little under-appreciated.  And as I was thinking about it, I realized that if you want someone to know that you appreciate them, you have to tell them!  So....I whipped up a little "Rage Comic" for y'all to tell  you how I feel.....

A token of my appreciaton.  (Yes, that's supposed to be me, haha)
Click to enlarge :)

No Update???

Sorry I haven't posted any updates lately; I've been very busy-- which is a good thing :)

I've been working (and I LOVE my new job-- campus writing tutors all the way!), and have been spending a TON of time with friends.  Things are complex right now in my social life, but nothing I can't handle.  If there's anything I've learned about myself, it's that I can handle far more than I would ever give myself credit for.  A lot of it involves quite simply not thinking, but most of it involves prayer.

This past week and the coming week are probably two of the most hectic weeks of the semester: I started working, I started kickboxing, and I'm going to be starting community service by working at a local grade school aftercare program.  Very fun :)

More updates to come in the next few days.  Just really busy, and honestly, right now, I'm super tired.  Falling asleep listening to Bon Jovi-- usually he's more than enough to keep me awake, haha.  Oh well.  G'night y'all, and I'll catch up very soon! :)

Friday Update

Done with another week.  It was a whole day shorter, but at least twice as exhausting.  I feel like I tried to stretch myself too thin.  Too many thoughts are on my mind right now.  Why can't I just stop thinking for a little while?  Don't worry about me, though.  This is nothing that I can't handle....I'm just very tired.  Watched a movie earlier with Italia; we saw The Notebook, and now I'm all mopey.  That was a really sad movie!  This being my first time watching it, I had NO idea what it was going to be like!  Later tonight, it looks like I'll be watching another movie with some of the guys.  That'll be nice.  As much as I need my girl time, I also need my guy time.  Sometimes, I feel like life is less complicated when you're the lone girl surrounded by a group of your guy friends.  It's just nice.  Growing up with a brother and no sisters, I find that sometimes, I just need some guy time.

Going to spend the weekend in the library, I think.  Curl up in one of my favorite sections, kick off my shoes, and just spend some time with the books and the solitude.  Sometimes, there's nothing better than curling up with a good book and just allowing your mind to wander wherever it wants to go.  Right now, I'm reading The Return of Don Quixote by G.K. Chesterton, which so far has absolutely nothing to do with the infamous "Man of La Mancha".  Not to say I'm not enjoying it.....but I am curious as to the title, since that kinda was the reason I picked this book out of nine shelves of Chesterton's writings.

I think I'd like to live in a library.  Just wander around the shelves quiet and content.  There would never be an end to the books I could read.  And I could sleep on the floor, starring up at the ceiling and dreaming of my favorite literary heroes as I drift off to sleep.  Either a library or a lighthouse.  I guess I'm just feeling a little antisocial tonight.  I'm constantly thinking of solitude.

The dining hall food has been a disappointment.  As a result, I'm not really eating much.  Looks like I'll be losing some weight, haha.  More updates to come as the week goes on.  I think I'll try and make a point to at least publish something on Fridays, though.

Have a nice weekend, y'all!

Henry VIII Has Ruined Love Lyrics!

For my English class, we have to read the lyrics of John Skelton and King Henry VIII.  Skelton was interesting, creative, and exciting.  Henry VIII was boring!  I seriously think he might have ruined love songs for me!  He reminds me of people who think that just because a poem rhymes, it's good.  Nuh uh!  His writing is just too dry to be actually interesting.  And the saddest part is that people prolly told him he was a really talented writer, because that's what you do when the king shows you his love poetry!

Sick???

I think I might be coming down with something.  It's only just the beginning of September....How can I possibly be sick???  And yet, here I am....sore throat, draining sinuses, and the miserable foreboding that there is still more to come.  I HATE getting sick! :(

On a more positive note, I saw Neo on Friday.  I was super surprised to see him, but catching up was absolutely wonderful!  I've really missed him a lot, and it wasn't exactly easy knowing that I probably was never going to see him again (he had transferred).  I'm happy to be back in touch with him once more.

Classes start up again tomorrow, and it's going to be a super busy week.  But, I'll try to keep posting updates (because I know y'all are just fascinated by what I have to say, haha). 

Oh, and I think I left my computer mouse at home....that really sucks.  I mean, I can use the touch-pad on my laptop, but I love my wireless mouse! :S

One Week Down...

I just finished up my first week of classes.  Being back on campus has been interesting; stressful at times, exciting at others.  AND, I've had plenty of down-time to actually get homework done!  That's been amazing.  Usually, if I can get away with not doing a reading for classes, I'll just skip it.  This semester, I'm hoping to change that.  The only issue I've had so far, is that even when I read the assignments, it feels like I haven't by the time I get back to class.  Like, Thursday, I was totally embarrassed because I had done the readings, but for the life of me, I couldn't remember anything from book.  So, I feel like now I have to write down everything I read (taking notes and all that) so that I don't look stupid when the professors call on me.

Classes this semester have to be the best I've ever had.  I mean, this is the greatest semester overall.  I'm thrilled. :)  I think my Modernist Literature course is my favorite so far.  We're going to be reading The Picture of Dorian Gray to start off the class; that's going to be great!  Today we sampled a bit of Gertrude Stein, who left the class split in half over their opinions of her.  I like her a lot so far.  I'm going to have to check out more of her writing, although, I will admit that she's a bit bizarre.

Some drama, some complications in my social life, but nothing that I can't handle.  And, even though it kinda sucks right now, things are actually starting to look better.

I start working in the Writing Center in a couple of weeks.  Can't wait :)

Oh, and this evening was interesting.  I was chilling out on the campus, when all of a sudden, someone grabs me from behind and shouts, totally freaking me out.  The best bit?  He was incredibly cute and incredibly embarrassed; we don't know each other, and he thought I was someone else!  My heart is still pounding, haha.  Just wish I could meet him again under better circumstances; that would be so much nicer, haha.

More updates to come.

To all my American readers, have a nice Labor Day weekend :)