It suddenly dropped below 60 degrees in Texas for the first time in months, and eveyone's flipping out in excitement about it. For me, the change in temperature heralds the return of many things I am NOT excited about (i.e. waking up 15 minutes earlier every day to put on five million different layers of clothing, finals, snow, flu season [which I often fall prey to more than once a season], holiday stress, Christmas guilt, extremely busy days at work with some of the rudest customers you can imagine... and I could go on).
But in an attempt to be less stressed, and to sound like less of a Scrooge, I'm going to find the positive things about this time of year. If some of them feel like a stretch, I apologize.
That extra hour of sleep we gain sometime in October?
Smelling my boyfriend's jacket after he's been wearing it for a while.
Apple cider.
Fires in the fireplace.
Knitting. Hot, sweaty wool in the summer just isn't so fun.
Wearing the things I knit, and seeing people I love wear the things I knit for them.
Hot coffee in the morning that warms up my insides.
Being able to actually use all the blankets I love to collect.
Shopping for Christmas presents.
Warm kisses that warm up your cold ears for a moment or two.
Fewer frappuccinos.
Finally less of a temperature change between inside school buildings and the outdoors. Wearing a jacket in 100 degree weather wasn't so fun.
That's all I got. But it was more than I had when I started. Yayy positivity?
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
9.27.2010
2.03.2009
25 things.
1. I try so, so, hard to be as honest as I can. Sometimes it's brutal, and feelings get hurt. But from my experience, I think that consistent, painful honesty garners a lot more respect than occasional, polite honesty. If people know you're going to tell it like it is, bad or good, they're going to listen to you much more carefully.
2. I often shift from total apathy to extreme passion and excitement about something. I guess it's because I'm one of those weird artist types. It gets frustrating when I can't work up the inspiration to do something on a deadline, though.
3. I. love. coffee. It's just ridiculous. And I love sugar, but I don't really like to put much sweetener or flavoring in my coffee, because I love the simplicity of the coffee taste so much. I like strong drip or pressed, straight espresso, americanos, lattes and cappuccinos... I'm also a HUGE fan of well-made milk foam. And... I won't go into detail, but the smell of freshly ground coffee does things to me that I don't think it does to normal people.
4. Up until recently, I've had a very strong aversion to Starbucks. You know, the whole Giant-Soul-Sucking-Corporate-Coffee-Killer thing. Now I'm dating a Starbucks Coffee Master and I visit his store 3-5 times a week. But when I'm just looking for a good cuppa and a nice atmosphere, I head to smaller, local chains or independents.
Store 9993: Home away from home. Wish I'd gotten a picture of the foam on that latte...
5. I have a deep longing to understand everything. I know I can't possibly, but I try anyway. For this reason, I love taking science classes - specifically those involving psychology or philosophy. I feel like understanding people and the really important questions about the meaning of life, etc. are the first steps to understanding everything else.
6. Buying things has great therapeutic power for me, so I have to be really careful when I'm stressed or upset to not blow huge amounts of cash on unnecessary things. Shoes are a big weakness.
7. I'm incredibly persistent (some might say stubborn) about things I really want. I don't consider myself particularly intelligent (though, through no fault of my own, I have an amazing memory), but if I want a certain grade badly enough (and I usually do), I'll get it. Without fail. On the other hand, if I don't care very much about something, I probably won't make a big deal about it, and won't have any trouble giving up on it.
8. My room has been unbelievably messy for over six months now. Probably much longer, but I seem to remember at least attempting to clean it once or twice last year. I like to think of myself as a pretty organized person - I'll clean obsessively for hours when I'm at work (I'm getting paid for it) - but I also really don't like to waste my time on things that I don't enjoy doing. When it's at work, it's not a waste of time; I'm getting paid to be there. When I'm at home, there are an infinite number of other things I'd rather be doing, so the room stays messy. I've honestly forgotten what the floor looks like.
9. I love my sister. She's pretty cool. When we were both younger, I would get mad at her for trying to dress like me or listen to the same music as I did, but now she has her own style and musical taste that I'm pretty proud of. It's not exactly the same as mine, but I definitely borrow her clothes and her music all the time anyway. Kudos, Gibson.
10. I can work hard on homework for hours at a time and get absolutely nothing done. I'm not quite sure how this happens, but I'm going to blame ADD.
11. I used to read books... then I started to work and go to college. I'd kind of like to get back to reading something every now and then. Especially classics. I was working on this list for a while and read some pretty good stuff.
12. I don't like bananas.
13. I go too hard and fast at the beginning, then burn out towards the end. In regards to projects I start in life. I don't know what you were thinking.
14. I appreciate challenges. If something claims to be important, but turns out to be easy, bland, or routine, it can't possibly be worth my time. I'd rather work really hard in a class and learn a lot than barely work at all and still make an A. If I don't put some effort into earning things, I tend to take them for granted.
15. I think people should get a lot more sympathy from work and school when they're sick or otherwise incapacitated. All these "absolutely no late work accepted" policies are ridiculous. Ever heard of a thing called life? It happens. I'm not going to write your stupid paper when I have a 100 degree fever and violent chills. It's a flawed system that leads to a vicious cycle - people come to work or school when they're sick, infect everyone else. If they don't come, however, they not only get a lot of shit from bosses and professors, they also are expected to do all the work they missed while still sick, stressing them out more, and not helping their health improve at all. If people only took off when they were really sick, no one would doubt their stories, and the world would probably spontaneously explode from too much perfection. /soapbox.
16. I won't tolerate drama. Audition for theatre, and leave me out of it.
17. I haven't gotten a haircut in a long, long time. Honestly, I'm afraid to. I'd appreciate it if someone tied me up and dragged me to a good salon and had them go to it. And then paid for it.
18. I love lyrics. Deep, complex, and mystical, or sometimes simplistic and catchy. I'd love to try my hand at writing some, but I think then they'd impress me less. I'll leave it to The Shins and Sondre Lerche for now.
19. I'm weird. And I like it that way.
20. Homeostasis bothers me. Things have to change, or I get frustrated with sameness. And I'd really prefer things to always change for the better. k thx.
21. I think Bruce Willis is the sexiest man alive. Sorry, Hugh Jackman, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Hugh Grant, Collin Firth, and Gregory Peck. It was a tough decision that involved a lot of soul-searching. Oh, and Matt is pretty sexy, too. Just saying.
22. I can't stand extreme Republicans and Democrats. Both parties seem incredibly closed-minded and intent on pushing their own adgendas. And I don't feel like either of them have the right answers. So far, Libertarians appear to have the ideologies closest to my own. I voted Bob Barr '08 :)
23. I talk a lot about things I don't know that much about. I'll usually give a disclaimer such as "I may just be making this up, but..." or "I'm a compulsive liar with an extremely overactive imagination, but..."
So you can't get mad at me if you believe everything I say and then have your world shattered when you find out I was wrong.
24. The world revolves around me. At least, according to the theory of relativity, it does.
25. One of the things I don't exactly love about myself (and also the reason I didn't do one of these 25 things things earlier even after being tagged a million times) is how I just won't do something unless I have the time to do it well and thoroughly. I guess it's a positive thing to always want to do a good job on something, but the need to do things perfectly stresses me out a LOT. So there it is. I'm a closet perfectionist.
2. I often shift from total apathy to extreme passion and excitement about something. I guess it's because I'm one of those weird artist types. It gets frustrating when I can't work up the inspiration to do something on a deadline, though.
3. I. love. coffee. It's just ridiculous. And I love sugar, but I don't really like to put much sweetener or flavoring in my coffee, because I love the simplicity of the coffee taste so much. I like strong drip or pressed, straight espresso, americanos, lattes and cappuccinos... I'm also a HUGE fan of well-made milk foam. And... I won't go into detail, but the smell of freshly ground coffee does things to me that I don't think it does to normal people.
4. Up until recently, I've had a very strong aversion to Starbucks. You know, the whole Giant-Soul-Sucking-Corporate-Coffee-Killer thing. Now I'm dating a Starbucks Coffee Master and I visit his store 3-5 times a week. But when I'm just looking for a good cuppa and a nice atmosphere, I head to smaller, local chains or independents.
Store 9993: Home away from home. Wish I'd gotten a picture of the foam on that latte...
5. I have a deep longing to understand everything. I know I can't possibly, but I try anyway. For this reason, I love taking science classes - specifically those involving psychology or philosophy. I feel like understanding people and the really important questions about the meaning of life, etc. are the first steps to understanding everything else.
6. Buying things has great therapeutic power for me, so I have to be really careful when I'm stressed or upset to not blow huge amounts of cash on unnecessary things. Shoes are a big weakness.
7. I'm incredibly persistent (some might say stubborn) about things I really want. I don't consider myself particularly intelligent (though, through no fault of my own, I have an amazing memory), but if I want a certain grade badly enough (and I usually do), I'll get it. Without fail. On the other hand, if I don't care very much about something, I probably won't make a big deal about it, and won't have any trouble giving up on it.
8. My room has been unbelievably messy for over six months now. Probably much longer, but I seem to remember at least attempting to clean it once or twice last year. I like to think of myself as a pretty organized person - I'll clean obsessively for hours when I'm at work (I'm getting paid for it) - but I also really don't like to waste my time on things that I don't enjoy doing. When it's at work, it's not a waste of time; I'm getting paid to be there. When I'm at home, there are an infinite number of other things I'd rather be doing, so the room stays messy. I've honestly forgotten what the floor looks like.
9. I love my sister. She's pretty cool. When we were both younger, I would get mad at her for trying to dress like me or listen to the same music as I did, but now she has her own style and musical taste that I'm pretty proud of. It's not exactly the same as mine, but I definitely borrow her clothes and her music all the time anyway. Kudos, Gibson.
10. I can work hard on homework for hours at a time and get absolutely nothing done. I'm not quite sure how this happens, but I'm going to blame ADD.
11. I used to read books... then I started to work and go to college. I'd kind of like to get back to reading something every now and then. Especially classics. I was working on this list for a while and read some pretty good stuff.
12. I don't like bananas.
13. I go too hard and fast at the beginning, then burn out towards the end. In regards to projects I start in life. I don't know what you were thinking.
14. I appreciate challenges. If something claims to be important, but turns out to be easy, bland, or routine, it can't possibly be worth my time. I'd rather work really hard in a class and learn a lot than barely work at all and still make an A. If I don't put some effort into earning things, I tend to take them for granted.
15. I think people should get a lot more sympathy from work and school when they're sick or otherwise incapacitated. All these "absolutely no late work accepted" policies are ridiculous. Ever heard of a thing called life? It happens. I'm not going to write your stupid paper when I have a 100 degree fever and violent chills. It's a flawed system that leads to a vicious cycle - people come to work or school when they're sick, infect everyone else. If they don't come, however, they not only get a lot of shit from bosses and professors, they also are expected to do all the work they missed while still sick, stressing them out more, and not helping their health improve at all. If people only took off when they were really sick, no one would doubt their stories, and the world would probably spontaneously explode from too much perfection. /soapbox.
16. I won't tolerate drama. Audition for theatre, and leave me out of it.
17. I haven't gotten a haircut in a long, long time. Honestly, I'm afraid to. I'd appreciate it if someone tied me up and dragged me to a good salon and had them go to it. And then paid for it.
18. I love lyrics. Deep, complex, and mystical, or sometimes simplistic and catchy. I'd love to try my hand at writing some, but I think then they'd impress me less. I'll leave it to The Shins and Sondre Lerche for now.
19. I'm weird. And I like it that way.
20. Homeostasis bothers me. Things have to change, or I get frustrated with sameness. And I'd really prefer things to always change for the better. k thx.
21. I think Bruce Willis is the sexiest man alive. Sorry, Hugh Jackman, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Hugh Grant, Collin Firth, and Gregory Peck. It was a tough decision that involved a lot of soul-searching. Oh, and Matt is pretty sexy, too. Just saying.
22. I can't stand extreme Republicans and Democrats. Both parties seem incredibly closed-minded and intent on pushing their own adgendas. And I don't feel like either of them have the right answers. So far, Libertarians appear to have the ideologies closest to my own. I voted Bob Barr '08 :)
23. I talk a lot about things I don't know that much about. I'll usually give a disclaimer such as "I may just be making this up, but..." or "I'm a compulsive liar with an extremely overactive imagination, but..."
So you can't get mad at me if you believe everything I say and then have your world shattered when you find out I was wrong.
24. The world revolves around me. At least, according to the theory of relativity, it does.
25. One of the things I don't exactly love about myself (and also the reason I didn't do one of these 25 things things earlier even after being tagged a million times) is how I just won't do something unless I have the time to do it well and thoroughly. I guess it's a positive thing to always want to do a good job on something, but the need to do things perfectly stresses me out a LOT. So there it is. I'm a closet perfectionist.
11.17.2008
17.
So for the Life Script project I've been working quite dutifully on today, yesterday, and the day before, I am required to list things that make me happy. And once I got started, I couldn't stop.
1. life.
2. drinking very good, snobby coffee slowly; savoring the flavor and trying to pick out all the different notes and nuances.
3. listening to music - shallow, feel-good 80's rock, and deep, insightful indie. both do it for me.
4. having something to believe in.
5. making really good coffee for people at work and having them really appreciate it.
6. taking time to relax; do nothing, without worrying about responsibilities and deadlines.
7. naps.
8. being clean and having hair that smells good.
9. driving fast when I'm not really in a hurry.
10. little kids that get ridiculously excited when they're about to eat their doughnuts.
11. long, warm, sincere hugs.
12. soft, slow kisses.
13. learning.
14. laughing.
15. caffeine.
16. lying in the grass with the sun on my face. as long as there are no bugs.
17. making fun of other people's ugly sunglasses. even though mine are ridiculous too.
18. knitting. especially with soft alpaca yarn.
19. giving presents.
20. getting presents.
21. dumping my piggy bank into the Coinstar machine and getting $100 or so out.
22. watching beautiful movies.
23. finding people to have "ohmigosh - you too?" moments with. kindred spirits.
24. this is a cheap one, but getting A's.
25. eating tons of chocolate chip cookies without thinking about how many calories are in each.
26. getting "good morning :)" text messages at the beginning of long days at work.
27. freedom.
28. moments of absolute peace and clarity (haven't had one of those in a while).
29. cute boys that make your knees weak and your stomach fluttery and your hands shaky.
30. thinking about all the things I could to with my future.
31. remembering happy things from my past.
32. bossing people around.
33. my wonderful, wonderful MacBook.
34. making lists that I can check things off of right away.
35. taking pictures - more so, looking through old pictures I've taken.
36. being different.
38. being liked for just being me - and feeling safe enough to be honest about who I am.
39. having interesting bruises or other wounds to show off to people. weird, yes.
40. my bestie.
41. my favorite barista. (these last two really should be closer to the top of the list)
42. cool librarians!
43. taking advantage of free things.
44. figuring things out. or getting close.
45. simplicity.
46. beating boys at video games.
47. taking everything out of my purse, cleaning it, and putting everything back in.
48. anything sugary, chocolatey, or otherwise sweet, really. I'm honestly not that discriminating.
49. speaking spanish! or trying to speak any other foreign language.
50. sneezing, when I'm not sick and don't have allergies. another weird one.
51. shocking people who don't know me that well with uncharacteristically filthy remarks.
52. ending sentences with commas, (it keeps people guessing, and,
53. stretching. all yoga-like.
54. working hard - physically or mentally - and getting rewarded for it (even if it's just a good feeling that comes from helping people out who appreciate and deserve it).
55. identifying my imperfections and coming to terms with them.
56. letting go of people in my life who do nothing but drag me down every time I talk to them.
57. replacing those people with new people who inspire me.
58. traveling without a strict plan or schedule... road trips.
59. making subtle references to song lyrics and having other people get it and respond with more lyrics.
60. screaming, sometimes.
61. shoes. oh dear Lord.
62. dressing nice. wearing a dress, heels; possibly stockings?
63. drinking just a teeeensy bit of wine.
64. doing stupid things with my guy friends. they're the best.
65. having long, insightful conversations with people who are trying to understand life, just like I am. not people who think they already know all there is to know about life and just want to make you see it their way.
66. andy samberg.
67. pomegranate juice.
68. people with accents. not southern, though. okay, sometimes.
69. being comfortable. this is a big one.
70. changing people's perspectives.
71. laughing at my own stupidity.
72. writing long essays single-spaced, then changing it to double space and having twice as many pages done.
73. leather couches.
74. camping out in the backyard - close enough to the house to be able to come inside if it gets too cold/too outdoorsy.
75. living.
1. life.
2. drinking very good, snobby coffee slowly; savoring the flavor and trying to pick out all the different notes and nuances.
3. listening to music - shallow, feel-good 80's rock, and deep, insightful indie. both do it for me.
4. having something to believe in.
5. making really good coffee for people at work and having them really appreciate it.
6. taking time to relax; do nothing, without worrying about responsibilities and deadlines.
7. naps.
8. being clean and having hair that smells good.
9. driving fast when I'm not really in a hurry.
10. little kids that get ridiculously excited when they're about to eat their doughnuts.
11. long, warm, sincere hugs.
12. soft, slow kisses.
13. learning.
14. laughing.
15. caffeine.
16. lying in the grass with the sun on my face. as long as there are no bugs.
17. making fun of other people's ugly sunglasses. even though mine are ridiculous too.
18. knitting. especially with soft alpaca yarn.
19. giving presents.
20. getting presents.
21. dumping my piggy bank into the Coinstar machine and getting $100 or so out.
22. watching beautiful movies.
23. finding people to have "ohmigosh - you too?" moments with. kindred spirits.
24. this is a cheap one, but getting A's.
25. eating tons of chocolate chip cookies without thinking about how many calories are in each.
26. getting "good morning :)" text messages at the beginning of long days at work.
27. freedom.
28. moments of absolute peace and clarity (haven't had one of those in a while).
29. cute boys that make your knees weak and your stomach fluttery and your hands shaky.
30. thinking about all the things I could to with my future.
31. remembering happy things from my past.
32. bossing people around.
33. my wonderful, wonderful MacBook.
34. making lists that I can check things off of right away.
35. taking pictures - more so, looking through old pictures I've taken.
36. being different.
38. being liked for just being me - and feeling safe enough to be honest about who I am.
39. having interesting bruises or other wounds to show off to people. weird, yes.
40. my bestie.
41. my favorite barista. (these last two really should be closer to the top of the list)
42. cool librarians!
43. taking advantage of free things.
44. figuring things out. or getting close.
45. simplicity.
46. beating boys at video games.
47. taking everything out of my purse, cleaning it, and putting everything back in.
48. anything sugary, chocolatey, or otherwise sweet, really. I'm honestly not that discriminating.
49. speaking spanish! or trying to speak any other foreign language.
50. sneezing, when I'm not sick and don't have allergies. another weird one.
51. shocking people who don't know me that well with uncharacteristically filthy remarks.
52. ending sentences with commas, (it keeps people guessing, and,
53. stretching. all yoga-like.
54. working hard - physically or mentally - and getting rewarded for it (even if it's just a good feeling that comes from helping people out who appreciate and deserve it).
55. identifying my imperfections and coming to terms with them.
56. letting go of people in my life who do nothing but drag me down every time I talk to them.
57. replacing those people with new people who inspire me.
58. traveling without a strict plan or schedule... road trips.
59. making subtle references to song lyrics and having other people get it and respond with more lyrics.
60. screaming, sometimes.
61. shoes. oh dear Lord.
62. dressing nice. wearing a dress, heels; possibly stockings?
63. drinking just a teeeensy bit of wine.
64. doing stupid things with my guy friends. they're the best.
65. having long, insightful conversations with people who are trying to understand life, just like I am. not people who think they already know all there is to know about life and just want to make you see it their way.
66. andy samberg.
67. pomegranate juice.
68. people with accents. not southern, though. okay, sometimes.
69. being comfortable. this is a big one.
70. changing people's perspectives.
71. laughing at my own stupidity.
72. writing long essays single-spaced, then changing it to double space and having twice as many pages done.
73. leather couches.
74. camping out in the backyard - close enough to the house to be able to come inside if it gets too cold/too outdoorsy.
75. living.
11.02.2008
02.
Ahh, Day 2 of NaBloPoMo. I was going to take the advice of some NBPM veterans and get my posting done in the morning, but... yeah, no. Nothing has inspired me yet. So if this post ends up being pointless and lame, I'm sorry.
I'm going to hang in there, though, because I really, really, like getting things accomplished. I love making lists and checking things off them. One reason I love 43things.com. It's a little more long term than my to-do's on iCal, but most of the goals I have are reasonably accomplishable (not a word). Plus, it gives the option of writing entries about your progress, and people can send you e-encouragement in the form of "cheers." There's also a 43people and a 43places, both similarly amazing.
I should really start a new list of all the big-ticket items I need to buy and can't possibly afford unless I start practicing some self-control. Maybe that'll remind me not to blow $100 on shoes every time I go to the mall. I might try paying myself every time I get free coffee at work or at Starbucks... that could add up fast. One or two $4 drinks every shift, and if I factor in all the doughnuts, I'll have my Lambretta in no time.
Annnd, I'm about to go back to work making delicious lattes and etc, but it just struck me that this blog is in dire need of a redesign. Yes?
I'm going to hang in there, though, because I really, really, like getting things accomplished. I love making lists and checking things off them. One reason I love 43things.com. It's a little more long term than my to-do's on iCal, but most of the goals I have are reasonably accomplishable (not a word). Plus, it gives the option of writing entries about your progress, and people can send you e-encouragement in the form of "cheers." There's also a 43people and a 43places, both similarly amazing.
I should really start a new list of all the big-ticket items I need to buy and can't possibly afford unless I start practicing some self-control. Maybe that'll remind me not to blow $100 on shoes every time I go to the mall. I might try paying myself every time I get free coffee at work or at Starbucks... that could add up fast. One or two $4 drinks every shift, and if I factor in all the doughnuts, I'll have my Lambretta in no time.
Annnd, I'm about to go back to work making delicious lattes and etc, but it just struck me that this blog is in dire need of a redesign. Yes?
6.15.2008
Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fiiine.
Hello Knit Blog.
I know you must have missed me.
I'm back. But I have nothing to show for my long absence. Except for the beginnings of a boring-yet-adorable garter-stitch-striped alpaca scarf and two hats (one of which I can't remember where I put for the life of me)I haven't knit a stitch. Nor spun a yard. Forgive me. Things have been hectic.
Okay, I'll be honest. They haven't been too hectic. It's due to a little thing called senioritis. It causes total and complete apathy about everything except graduating. And as of May 16, I's graduated. Please join me in a moment of pure, summery, bliss.
But now that I've got that whole high school thing over with, I'm so very inspired to plan for this summer. So here's a few things I'd like to get accomplished before September.
1) Work.
The studio where I used to teach closed down due to an increase in rent and a shitty air conditioner that the landlord refused to fix, but we're moving our operation to two different rec centers (one five minutes away, the other twenty minutes) and will have to cross our fingers that the people firing our clay stuff don't screw things up horribly.
I just got a raise - (yeah!) but I'll only be teaching about 25 hours a week, so I should have plenty of time to do other things. Such as:
2) Learn.
I already have my classes planned out for this fall, but to get into the C++ class I want to take (yeah, that's right. totally to meet geek boys.) I need to take College Algebra as a coreq. Eww. And before I can take that, I have to take College Mathematics, or maybe my SAT scores will cover it, or I might have to take the TSI again, or I might have to take "developmental courses" to finally learn the math I should have learned in high school, blah blah blah.
But I was lazy, and didn't find out what I needed to do in time for the beginning of Summer 1, so I'm taking History II online. Which means I have about a month to finish the entire course by myself, and nothing is due until the 21st. But half of everything is due the 21st. So I could potentially procrastinate like none other, but I'm going to try not to. I still haven't finished the first chapter of the textbook.
3) Read.
I'm going to keep working on my "101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers" list over the summer, as I'm technically still "college-bound," and I'm sure it'll still be valuable even after I've been college-bound-and-gagged this fall.
I've kind of been on a utopian kick lately (Walden Two and 1984 rocked my brave new world), but a few friends of mine are starting a Jane Austen book club (inspired by the slightly entertaining movie by the same name), so Emma is next on my list. I've seen movies for all the books except for Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, but reading Pride and Prejudice after seeing the movie (even the 6-hour Colin Firth version) makes me think reading the books will still definitely be worthwhile.
I'm also going to get an amazing skin-cancer-inducing tan, visit every coffee shop in Texas, and stay up until 4 at least one night a week.
Oh, and on a side note, the Last.fm widget on the side there is going to be much more in sync with my actual music consumption now that I have a macbook and multiple ipods to update it with. Thank you, graduation moneys.
I know you must have missed me.
I'm back. But I have nothing to show for my long absence. Except for the beginnings of a boring-yet-adorable garter-stitch-striped alpaca scarf and two hats (one of which I can't remember where I put for the life of me)I haven't knit a stitch. Nor spun a yard. Forgive me. Things have been hectic.
Okay, I'll be honest. They haven't been too hectic. It's due to a little thing called senioritis. It causes total and complete apathy about everything except graduating. And as of May 16, I's graduated. Please join me in a moment of pure, summery, bliss.
But now that I've got that whole high school thing over with, I'm so very inspired to plan for this summer. So here's a few things I'd like to get accomplished before September.
1) Work.
The studio where I used to teach closed down due to an increase in rent and a shitty air conditioner that the landlord refused to fix, but we're moving our operation to two different rec centers (one five minutes away, the other twenty minutes) and will have to cross our fingers that the people firing our clay stuff don't screw things up horribly.
I just got a raise - (yeah!) but I'll only be teaching about 25 hours a week, so I should have plenty of time to do other things. Such as:
2) Learn.
I already have my classes planned out for this fall, but to get into the C++ class I want to take (yeah, that's right. totally to meet geek boys.) I need to take College Algebra as a coreq. Eww. And before I can take that, I have to take College Mathematics, or maybe my SAT scores will cover it, or I might have to take the TSI again, or I might have to take "developmental courses" to finally learn the math I should have learned in high school, blah blah blah.
But I was lazy, and didn't find out what I needed to do in time for the beginning of Summer 1, so I'm taking History II online. Which means I have about a month to finish the entire course by myself, and nothing is due until the 21st. But half of everything is due the 21st. So I could potentially procrastinate like none other, but I'm going to try not to. I still haven't finished the first chapter of the textbook.
3) Read.
I'm going to keep working on my "101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers" list over the summer, as I'm technically still "college-bound," and I'm sure it'll still be valuable even after I've been college-bound-and-gagged this fall.
I've kind of been on a utopian kick lately (Walden Two and 1984 rocked my brave new world), but a few friends of mine are starting a Jane Austen book club (inspired by the slightly entertaining movie by the same name), so Emma is next on my list. I've seen movies for all the books except for Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, but reading Pride and Prejudice after seeing the movie (even the 6-hour Colin Firth version) makes me think reading the books will still definitely be worthwhile.
I'm also going to get an amazing skin-cancer-inducing tan, visit every coffee shop in Texas, and stay up until 4 at least one night a week.
Oh, and on a side note, the Last.fm widget on the side there is going to be much more in sync with my actual music consumption now that I have a macbook and multiple ipods to update it with. Thank you, graduation moneys.
11.12.2007
I Don't Mind You Coming Here and Wasting All My Time
I just found out that one specific person (who I now realize I spend the majority of my unoccupied hours with) will be insanely busy with exams and research papers for the next two+ weeks, and won't be able to hang out. So I suddenly find my self with tons (from an LCA student's perspective) of free time. And perhaps an ounce of bitterness towards said person for putting all this off until now.
So the only way for me to hold on to my sanity and not lapse into a zombie-like state until Christmas break is to totally cram every spare moment with positive, productive, activities. And to motivate myself, further, I'm publishing my list of ideas so I can be held accountable in some ambiguous way. Here goes.
1) CLEAN/ORGANIZE
Damn it. I really really really don't want to. But it's kind of getting to the point where I can't set foot in my room without stepping on something weird and random (example from today: a little garter snake brought inside by Rio. Lovely). And I prefer knowing exactly what I'm going to be stepping on, if stepping on anything is even necessary. Plus, I'm probably only wearing a third of the wearable clothes I own. The rest are buried under piles of... stuff.
2) SPEND TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE
I really wish I didn't have to put this on the list, but sadly, a lot of my good friends have kind of fallen by the wayside lately with all the homework/work-free time I have occupied by this one kid. And worse still, I've been purposefully avoiding one or two of my friends because of arguments that I don't have the energy to work through. Ugh. Still don't really have the willpower. I need to stop pretending it will go away on its own.
3) WATCH IMDB 250 MOVIES
Quad C's library is chock full of them, so I no longer have to dominate the Blockbuster queue and force my family to watch my weird indie movies. I do need to remember to take them back in time though. You can only have three out at a time for 2 days, and the late fee is $1 a day. Needless to say, I've already made a sizable donation to Quad C's new book fund. But still, it beats Blockbuster prices.
4) KNIT PROFUSELY
Um, duh. This one is combined very smoothly with #3, as long as I avoid mixing complicated patterns and foreign language films. Oh, and silent films. While wonderfully kitsch and charming, they are a bitch to knit to. Currently in the works (including projects I plan on making soon but haven't actually started): Pin-up Sweater from S'nB, Kittyville hat (with Hello Kitty modifications), way too many socks, and some yet-to-be-designed fingerless gloves.
5) BE ARTISTIC
I haven't touched my drawing pencils or paints in months. Shame on me. I'm a freaking art teacher at an art studio.
6) READ. ESPECIALLY SPYCATCHER.
I definitely need to stay faithful to my little Librivox, several-books-a-months venture. Also goes well with #4. So satisfying to be able to read (or have read to me, the idea is the same) snobby classic books and knit a sweater simultaneously. It makes the little over-achiever in me very smug. Oh, and the deadline for my horribly-boring, non-audio-book review is rapidly approaching, and I've read less than half of it.
7) EXERCISE
Yeah, I'm not sure if I'll ever get around to this one. Maybe a bit of yoga now and then. With a heavy focus on the meditation aspect.
So the only way for me to hold on to my sanity and not lapse into a zombie-like state until Christmas break is to totally cram every spare moment with positive, productive, activities. And to motivate myself, further, I'm publishing my list of ideas so I can be held accountable in some ambiguous way. Here goes.
1) CLEAN/ORGANIZE
Damn it. I really really really don't want to. But it's kind of getting to the point where I can't set foot in my room without stepping on something weird and random (example from today: a little garter snake brought inside by Rio. Lovely). And I prefer knowing exactly what I'm going to be stepping on, if stepping on anything is even necessary. Plus, I'm probably only wearing a third of the wearable clothes I own. The rest are buried under piles of... stuff.
2) SPEND TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE
I really wish I didn't have to put this on the list, but sadly, a lot of my good friends have kind of fallen by the wayside lately with all the homework/work-free time I have occupied by this one kid. And worse still, I've been purposefully avoiding one or two of my friends because of arguments that I don't have the energy to work through. Ugh. Still don't really have the willpower. I need to stop pretending it will go away on its own.
3) WATCH IMDB 250 MOVIES
Quad C's library is chock full of them, so I no longer have to dominate the Blockbuster queue and force my family to watch my weird indie movies. I do need to remember to take them back in time though. You can only have three out at a time for 2 days, and the late fee is $1 a day. Needless to say, I've already made a sizable donation to Quad C's new book fund. But still, it beats Blockbuster prices.
4) KNIT PROFUSELY
Um, duh. This one is combined very smoothly with #3, as long as I avoid mixing complicated patterns and foreign language films. Oh, and silent films. While wonderfully kitsch and charming, they are a bitch to knit to. Currently in the works (including projects I plan on making soon but haven't actually started): Pin-up Sweater from S'nB, Kittyville hat (with Hello Kitty modifications), way too many socks, and some yet-to-be-designed fingerless gloves.
5) BE ARTISTIC
I haven't touched my drawing pencils or paints in months. Shame on me. I'm a freaking art teacher at an art studio.
6) READ. ESPECIALLY SPYCATCHER.
I definitely need to stay faithful to my little Librivox, several-books-a-months venture. Also goes well with #4. So satisfying to be able to read (or have read to me, the idea is the same) snobby classic books and knit a sweater simultaneously. It makes the little over-achiever in me very smug. Oh, and the deadline for my horribly-boring, non-audio-book review is rapidly approaching, and I've read less than half of it.
7) EXERCISE
Yeah, I'm not sure if I'll ever get around to this one. Maybe a bit of yoga now and then. With a heavy focus on the meditation aspect.
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