So I've been moved in to my dorm for almost two weeks now. My roommate and I are getting to the point where we're just about settled in. (At least I think so. I can't exactly speak for her I guess) We've just recently made some purchases to put the "finishing touches" on the room. You know what I mean; things to make it feel like a new home and not, y'know, extended summer camp.
For me, the homeyness (Wow, I can't believe that's an actual word) comes in way of posters, wall scrolls, bulletin board... Wall things. For the past week and a half the walls on my half of the room have been terribly bare. And it has been DRIVING ME CRAZY. I left home without wall things, thinking I could survive for a while without them, but realize now that it was a terrible mistake.
You laugh, but this has been causing me much undue stress and anxiety.
Luckily, my house house isn't that far from where I'm going to school, so I was able to fill the void in my life relatively quickly. I definitely didn't have any underlying motives when going home for a visit, what are you talking about? Gee, what a terrible person you are. You should fix that. Anyway, stop distracting me; I'm trying to write a blog!
So I finally got to bring some wall things to the room. The best part of it all was that my mum bought me some Command Strips to hang them up since we can't use nails or tape on the walls in the dorms. This was my face: :D I was almost as happy as when she bought me that set of coasters I'd had my eye on. But that's a different story. Anyway, so I was all ready to hang up my wall things with my brand new Command Strips. Things started promising. After some struggle and fancy math (Using a tape measure counts, right?) I was able to hang up my bulletin board. Bam. Two other wall things didn't even need Command Strips, so they were up soon after. Bam bam.
I was hanging the last poster when things went south. It wasn't that it wouldn't hang; it did! But when I stepped back I realized that the poster was a little higher than I wanted it to be (I'm OCD like that). Naturally, it had to come down.
Well, Command Strips are sticky. I know, duh. That's their one purpose. But I was determined, so I yanked it until it eventually came off the wall... Taking paint with it. I stared at the new brown spot on the wall for a moment, taking in what just happened and realizing that I live in a brand spankin' new dorm and just ripped brand spankin' new paint off the walls. COOL. Naturally, a mini-meltdown was in order. Complete with talking to myself in a blubbery frantic voice.
Needless to say, in my new terror of Command Strips, I haven't been able to hang up that poster. It's sitting against my closet with only a case of water bottles to keep it company, and it breaks my heart (and makes me a little twitchy) whenever I look at it. My room isn't really complete, and that poster in the corner is a reminder of that. A constant. Reminder.
Also, on a slightly less-important note, I'd like to offer some advice: When making Blizzard excursions to Dairy Queen when it's dark out, do watch out for college kids in cars. Because they drive like shit.
That didn't give you conversation whiplash too bad, right?
9/16/12
Old (Nerdy) Soul
So, move-in weekend on campus.
I'm very excited to be starting my college life, but it may not seem like it based on my activity the last couple days. I guess you could say I've been a little bit introverted. Not terribly, mind you. I've talked to lots of people and heard lots of names that I've inevitably forgotten already (That stuff will come with time, I'm sure :P). I've gone to all the rotational sessions that we've needed to attend for important information, buuut....
I haven't really done much on the "activities" side of things. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the University makes such an effort to get the new students to be social and have fun before the serious stuff really starts, and I appreciate all the hard work the RAs do to that end. Nonetheless! I've, at least for a few years now, always been kind of an "old soul". I'm not a big activity/ice breaker person.
I came to this Welcome Weekend move-in thing very ecstatic about getting into my new room and getting classes started. Meeting people is very important, yes, and I'm excited to do that too! But I think I'll be able to do plenty of that once, y'know, the actual school starts.
All these activities kind of make me feel like I'm in summer camp. Believe me, I know how nerdy I sound when I say I'm excited to the point of butterflies about getting new textbooks and going to class. But that's just how I am! I'm a nerd. One with an old soul who'd probably rather be studying or sleeping than eating otter pops at midnight.
Then again, some could probably argue that I'm a cranky bent-over old woman instead of the much wiser-sounding "old soul" title I've chosen to go with. Suppose it depends on your perspective on camp activities. :P Anyway, just some thoughts! I promise I'm happy to be here!
But hm, old soul or snarly old lady? I guess it's a fine line I'm treading here. I'll let you guys make your own verdicts I suppose. :)
I'm very excited to be starting my college life, but it may not seem like it based on my activity the last couple days. I guess you could say I've been a little bit introverted. Not terribly, mind you. I've talked to lots of people and heard lots of names that I've inevitably forgotten already (That stuff will come with time, I'm sure :P). I've gone to all the rotational sessions that we've needed to attend for important information, buuut....
I haven't really done much on the "activities" side of things. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the University makes such an effort to get the new students to be social and have fun before the serious stuff really starts, and I appreciate all the hard work the RAs do to that end. Nonetheless! I've, at least for a few years now, always been kind of an "old soul". I'm not a big activity/ice breaker person.
I came to this Welcome Weekend move-in thing very ecstatic about getting into my new room and getting classes started. Meeting people is very important, yes, and I'm excited to do that too! But I think I'll be able to do plenty of that once, y'know, the actual school starts.
All these activities kind of make me feel like I'm in summer camp. Believe me, I know how nerdy I sound when I say I'm excited to the point of butterflies about getting new textbooks and going to class. But that's just how I am! I'm a nerd. One with an old soul who'd probably rather be studying or sleeping than eating otter pops at midnight.
Then again, some could probably argue that I'm a cranky bent-over old woman instead of the much wiser-sounding "old soul" title I've chosen to go with. Suppose it depends on your perspective on camp activities. :P Anyway, just some thoughts! I promise I'm happy to be here!
But hm, old soul or snarly old lady? I guess it's a fine line I'm treading here. I'll let you guys make your own verdicts I suppose. :)
9/11/12
Automated Emails and Moo-la
I suppose automated emails DO have a purpose, but they're a little confusing to me... At least, the ones that I seem to keep getting. The "Hi! This is an automated email to say that we got your email!" email.
I mean, I guess they're good because they let you know that your email was received, but... Honestly, I'd rather wait a day or two and get an actual response from the person I'm trying to get in touch with than get an automated message saying that they'll get around to responding when they get a chance. Especially when time is, shall we say, of the essence.
To make the title of this post relevant, I guess I should include that the automated email in question is regarding that wonderful thing called money. Don't we all love it? I won't go into details, but it's a very delicate matter, let me say that.
What I will tell you is that having my first real job and making money this summer has shown me how much money I don't have. :P Also, it's made me more of a frugal shopper because it's far too easy to think "Well, I'll just buy one or two things..." and then at the end of the day go, "Holy heart failure, where did my food money go??"
Anyway! Just a little rant. Good to be back. :)
I mean, I guess they're good because they let you know that your email was received, but... Honestly, I'd rather wait a day or two and get an actual response from the person I'm trying to get in touch with than get an automated message saying that they'll get around to responding when they get a chance. Especially when time is, shall we say, of the essence.
To make the title of this post relevant, I guess I should include that the automated email in question is regarding that wonderful thing called money. Don't we all love it? I won't go into details, but it's a very delicate matter, let me say that.
What I will tell you is that having my first real job and making money this summer has shown me how much money I don't have. :P Also, it's made me more of a frugal shopper because it's far too easy to think "Well, I'll just buy one or two things..." and then at the end of the day go, "Holy heart failure, where did my food money go??"
Anyway! Just a little rant. Good to be back. :)
6/5/12
The Zoo! And On A Side Note, Planet Of The Freakin' Apes
Back from the dead! (Or so it would seem)
For some reason, this blog has fallen by the wayside in recent times. I don't think I've posted anything since February. Hm. I could say that I've been busy, which I have, but that's kind of a cop out. I think I've just been lazy.
Anyway, so one of my good friends Michael and I (There's a link to his blog at the top of the homepage actually.) went to the Woodland Park Zoo this last weekend. It was pretty awesome. A good time to be had by all. Aside from the depressing fact that we were never actually able to find that free-roaming peacock (It was hiding out on top of the gift store. That's right. The top. The ROOF.), it was good. But it also made me realize how paranoid I am.
Michael and I spent a large majority of the time talking about how easy it would to be for the animals to escape. And how terrifying it would be if that happened. Honestly, all I could think about was Planet of the Apes. As we were passing through the OPEN orangutan exhibit, I kept waiting for Caesar to swing down and rally the animals together.
Then one of the orangutans would point to me and Michael and go, "There! Get them first! They were the ones making fun of me for eating Romaine!"
Romaine lettuce seemed to be a staple for most of the animals at the zoo actually. We had a few chuckles about that. And about the absolutely adorable sounds that porcupines make. But I digress.
Maybe Michael and I are just slightly on the crazy side, but sometimes you just wonder... Especially when you go to the tiger exhibit, see that there's no tiger, and then hear the man standing next to you say: "Didja hear about a few years ago when one of the animals got loose?"
Yeah. I'll meet you guys in the bunker.
For some reason, this blog has fallen by the wayside in recent times. I don't think I've posted anything since February. Hm. I could say that I've been busy, which I have, but that's kind of a cop out. I think I've just been lazy.
Anyway, so one of my good friends Michael and I (There's a link to his blog at the top of the homepage actually.) went to the Woodland Park Zoo this last weekend. It was pretty awesome. A good time to be had by all. Aside from the depressing fact that we were never actually able to find that free-roaming peacock (It was hiding out on top of the gift store. That's right. The top. The ROOF.), it was good. But it also made me realize how paranoid I am.
Michael and I spent a large majority of the time talking about how easy it would to be for the animals to escape. And how terrifying it would be if that happened. Honestly, all I could think about was Planet of the Apes. As we were passing through the OPEN orangutan exhibit, I kept waiting for Caesar to swing down and rally the animals together.
Then one of the orangutans would point to me and Michael and go, "There! Get them first! They were the ones making fun of me for eating Romaine!"
Romaine lettuce seemed to be a staple for most of the animals at the zoo actually. We had a few chuckles about that. And about the absolutely adorable sounds that porcupines make. But I digress.
Maybe Michael and I are just slightly on the crazy side, but sometimes you just wonder... Especially when you go to the tiger exhibit, see that there's no tiger, and then hear the man standing next to you say: "Didja hear about a few years ago when one of the animals got loose?"
Yeah. I'll meet you guys in the bunker.
3/18/12
Abrupt Conversation Stop Signs
So you know what's awkward? When you're telling a story to someone and they turn away from you right in the middle of your sentence to say something to someone else.
It's kind of like if you were driving down the highway at 70 mph and then all of a sudden a stop sign appeared. Both experiences may give you extreme whiplash and road rage.
Not only is it the slightest bit rude, even if the person didn't intend it to be, it's kind of hard to recover from. You're just left standing there blinking with your mouth open: "So then I told the guy- Oh, or you could talk to someone else. I'm not telling a story or anything, THAT'S COOL."
Then, usually, the person just turns back to you and expects you to continue with your story. Now, in protest of this ridiculous rudeness, I've been telling myself to just not finish the story. After all, it would serve them right! ... But. Unfortunately, I always really want to tell the story, so I have to finish it. I find myself mentally banging my head against the wall for it later, but I have to finish the story.
Curse my need to have complete thoughts!
It's kind of like if you were driving down the highway at 70 mph and then all of a sudden a stop sign appeared. Both experiences may give you extreme whiplash and road rage.
Not only is it the slightest bit rude, even if the person didn't intend it to be, it's kind of hard to recover from. You're just left standing there blinking with your mouth open: "So then I told the guy- Oh, or you could talk to someone else. I'm not telling a story or anything, THAT'S COOL."
Then, usually, the person just turns back to you and expects you to continue with your story. Now, in protest of this ridiculous rudeness, I've been telling myself to just not finish the story. After all, it would serve them right! ... But. Unfortunately, I always really want to tell the story, so I have to finish it. I find myself mentally banging my head against the wall for it later, but I have to finish the story.
Curse my need to have complete thoughts!
3/9/12
Bad Decisions and Silver Linings
So, by now I've realized that humans make bad decisions. A lot. I myself, have made quite a few bad (rather, stupid) decisions in my short life.
Most of these decisions just seem to come back and bite us in the butt. They can totally ruin an otherwise happy day or even a whole week. They can sometimes destroy you mentally.
But there's a silver lining to these bad things.
Almost every time, whether we realize it or not, the bad decisions we make give us a ton to learn from. Making mistakes is one of the most (for lack of a better word) powerful ways to learn, and to even change as a person. If people didn't make mistakes, then I don't think we would ever grow. Granted, we have to make a decision about what we do with our mistakes as well. We can choose to learn from them, or just shove them away and ignore them. Choosing the former is always the better option, I think.
Anyway, I made a bad (mostly stupid) choice yesterday, and I paid for it today. It was painful, but it really made me realize that, for my own sake, I'd better not be that stupid again. My blunder gave me a greater determination to make sure I stay clear of future blunders like it. I don't think I would have that determination if I didn't make that mistake, so I'm actually kind of glad it happened.
Silver linings are everywhere, y'know. They're just in the eye of the beholder.
Have you ever made a bad (or herp-y) decision that you were able to learn from later? Do you think it made you a better person?
Most of these decisions just seem to come back and bite us in the butt. They can totally ruin an otherwise happy day or even a whole week. They can sometimes destroy you mentally.
But there's a silver lining to these bad things.
Almost every time, whether we realize it or not, the bad decisions we make give us a ton to learn from. Making mistakes is one of the most (for lack of a better word) powerful ways to learn, and to even change as a person. If people didn't make mistakes, then I don't think we would ever grow. Granted, we have to make a decision about what we do with our mistakes as well. We can choose to learn from them, or just shove them away and ignore them. Choosing the former is always the better option, I think.
Anyway, I made a bad (mostly stupid) choice yesterday, and I paid for it today. It was painful, but it really made me realize that, for my own sake, I'd better not be that stupid again. My blunder gave me a greater determination to make sure I stay clear of future blunders like it. I don't think I would have that determination if I didn't make that mistake, so I'm actually kind of glad it happened.
Silver linings are everywhere, y'know. They're just in the eye of the beholder.
Have you ever made a bad (or herp-y) decision that you were able to learn from later? Do you think it made you a better person?
3/5/12
An Internal Struggle... About Books
I have this checklist thing that I do every night when I lay down to go to bed.
For usually about half an hour, I run through my entire day in my head. From the time I headed out the door to go to Jazz Band to the homework that I just got finished with (probably at a later time than is acceptable). After I run through my day, I ask myself a series of questions that inadvertently make my brain spring off into totally different directions.
The first question I ask is: Did I finish all of my homework? I run through my school day again and try to remember what we did in class and what I've done for homework. I like to consider myself an organized person. But I'm also quite paranoid and a chronic worrier. So even if I KNOW I've gotten all of my assignments done, I still worry that I missed something. One of my greatest fears is waking up one morning and realizing that I forgot to do an assignment. Pretty stressful. As I said earlier, these questions and doubts make my mind ask other questions: Do we have a test tomorrow? Oh no, we have a test, what if I'm not ready for it? When is the deadline for that project?
But after a while, it's not enough that I worry about school. I have to worry about everything else in my life. And by that I mean insignificant things that I could probably go for many years without worrying about.
My most recent string of worry stemmed from books. It went down kinda like this:
"I have to finish Lord of the Rings. Soon. I'm so close, just need to read a little more. When will I have time to finish it? Will I finish it? Oh no, I've started reading Sherlock Holmes too. I'm terrified of reading two books at once, what if I get things all jumbled up and suddenly Sherlock's taking a case from Frodo? I have too many freakin' books. Will I even be able to finish them before I graduate? I'm halfway done with the Language Wars, but after that I have to read that other book from Anderson, will I have time? Oh yay, my Bioterrorism book came in the mail today. Now I have ANOTHER book to read. ... Speaking of Sherlock, I wonder when the third season will come out? Oh, what if BBC decides to cut the show's funding?! No, that's ridiculous, it's a really popular show... But so was Firefly! GAH! IT COULD HAPPEN!"
From there I'm pretty sure it was an internal worry rant about how good shows are always cancelled early. But that's a subject for another day I suppose.
For usually about half an hour, I run through my entire day in my head. From the time I headed out the door to go to Jazz Band to the homework that I just got finished with (probably at a later time than is acceptable). After I run through my day, I ask myself a series of questions that inadvertently make my brain spring off into totally different directions.
The first question I ask is: Did I finish all of my homework? I run through my school day again and try to remember what we did in class and what I've done for homework. I like to consider myself an organized person. But I'm also quite paranoid and a chronic worrier. So even if I KNOW I've gotten all of my assignments done, I still worry that I missed something. One of my greatest fears is waking up one morning and realizing that I forgot to do an assignment. Pretty stressful. As I said earlier, these questions and doubts make my mind ask other questions: Do we have a test tomorrow? Oh no, we have a test, what if I'm not ready for it? When is the deadline for that project?
But after a while, it's not enough that I worry about school. I have to worry about everything else in my life. And by that I mean insignificant things that I could probably go for many years without worrying about.
My most recent string of worry stemmed from books. It went down kinda like this:
"I have to finish Lord of the Rings. Soon. I'm so close, just need to read a little more. When will I have time to finish it? Will I finish it? Oh no, I've started reading Sherlock Holmes too. I'm terrified of reading two books at once, what if I get things all jumbled up and suddenly Sherlock's taking a case from Frodo? I have too many freakin' books. Will I even be able to finish them before I graduate? I'm halfway done with the Language Wars, but after that I have to read that other book from Anderson, will I have time? Oh yay, my Bioterrorism book came in the mail today. Now I have ANOTHER book to read. ... Speaking of Sherlock, I wonder when the third season will come out? Oh, what if BBC decides to cut the show's funding?! No, that's ridiculous, it's a really popular show... But so was Firefly! GAH! IT COULD HAPPEN!"
From there I'm pretty sure it was an internal worry rant about how good shows are always cancelled early. But that's a subject for another day I suppose.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)