Saturday, November 19, 2011

All the Stars in Heaven

I went to the library the other day and found the book after Counting Stars (look a few posts down), All the Stars in Heaven. I enjoyed it, though not as much as the first one. And it was about a different set of characters, just as a warning. It was a good book. I didn't love it, but it was a fun read.
What I did love this weekend was the end to the TV series City Hunter. No, it's not an American TV show, yes it is on Hulu (except for the last episode, we had to hunt that down somewhere else). My roommate and I watched the last four episodes last night. This is my favorite TV show right now, right up there with Dr. Who and Merlin. And the main character is higher than pretty much any other TV character I've seen. The show takes all my favorite elements of TV and combines them very, very well. Though in a few scenes it does have more blood than I would like. If you decide to try out this show, my only warning is that the first episode or so is kind of strange as they try to set the background for everything else. If you want to skip it you have to read a recap of the episode or you will be very lost for a long time. This is a show you have to watch in order unlike most American TV shows. I kind of like it.
I am going home for Thanksgiving this next week and I cannot express how excited I am. I have grown to appreciate my family even more now that I'm further away. I always loved them, but I miss all sorts of little things now, like my littlest brothers smile or talking with my mom or my dad's fantastic hugs. I'm very glad I moved away because I don't think I would have learned to value these things as much at home as I do now. Every time I see my family from now on I plan on taking advantage of every minute.
Have a great week!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Ramblings


This is one of those weeks where I wish I had a genius clone. She could take all of my tests for me and help me revise my papers. Actually, I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on every thing right now (aka I am not pulling my hair out) but I want to get better grades than I think I will. Not that I'm failing any of my classes, but I would love straight A's like I got over the summer. It was fantastic.
I've discovered something about studying that drives me up the wall. You never know when you're done. When I set aside my studying materials for one class and launch into the next I always wonder if I'm forgetting to study something or if I've done enough. I never feel like I do enough. Right now I'm taking a break because I've been in the library for who knows how long. I try to not keep track, it makes it even harder.
Also, it's very distracting when there are cute boys in the library right in my line of sight. I know this sounds extremely shallow, but it's true. If there is any kind of distraction when I'm studying I welcome it with open arms.


This weekend one of my roommates and I made lots of yummy food together. Pizza (even the dough!), snicker doodles (my favorite kind of cookie), homemade mac n' cheese and we are planning on making pumpkin bread so the pureed pumpkin in our fridge doesn't go bad. That or muffins. I made pancakes and made extra so I could eat them this week for breakfast too. We've just been cooking maniacs this weekend, I love it! It's amazing how relaxing cooking can be and how a home cooked meal can be so tasty, especially when you're the one who made it. I thought I was eating pretty well for a college student but when we combined our ingredients we were able to come up with much better stuff. Like did you know adding lime juice to your pizza sauce made it oh so yummy? And onions on top of the pizza always make it taste better. I learned that from my mom. And it is possible to make snicker doodles without cream of tartar. They just are very white and taste a little different.
It's crazy what I learn in college. And honestly, I feel like my pizza and cookie knowledge will be more useful than how to calculate a confidence interval. Just saying. Actually, I'm pretty sure that once I leave my statistics class I will never use any of that knowledge ever again seeing as how I'm not a math or business major. Nope, little ol' arts major over here is not going to use stats. The only time I use stats is to see who's been checking out my blog, and I'm not the one doing any of the math, I just look at a handy-dandy screen. Isn't technology amazing? I love it.
Guilt is starting to creep in and whisper at me. I should study some more. I really should. And I will. Just not in this exact moment. I really want to say something deep or insightful first. Unfortunately I have nothing important to say. Though I do have another strange college moment.
After visiting teaching (in pairs the women of the LDS faith visit other women in their area once a month to make sure they are alright and give them a short spiritual message. It's a great way to make friends and make sure everyone is getting the support they need.) my roommate and i came home to find a big white sign with the words "Tug of War" in red letters. We tilted our heads and looked at each other with raised eyebrows. We had no idea what it meant. We've asked around and no one seems to know what the mystery behind the sign is, so we eventually decided that someone randomly found the sign on the ground (there was a faint footprint on it) and taped it to our door as they passed. I was disappointed, I was hoping it was some college game. Apparently we aren't that lucky this time around.
Okay, I am going to listen to my goody-goody side and go study some more stats and religion and maybe even read some articles for American heritage. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Statistics

I am avoiding studying for my statistics class right now. Honestly, its a little bit like pulling teeth without any medication. Especially seeing that I took stats my senior year of high school. And I don't really know how to study for my upcoming test. So my current method is to avoid it. I know, its naughty, but I've worked really hard so far today so I'm a little more okay with it. Though I was struggling with my paper on the electoral college. But I have all my sources and 1.5 paragraphs. And its not due for a while, I'm ahead of where I would usually be.
See how I make myself feel better?
But I really am tired. Lately I've started to have dreams again. I haven't remembered any of my dreams for years. The last thing I remember from a dream up until this week was a roll of cheese with a wedge cut out of it. I'm pretty sure it was rolling down the sidewalk. Yes, I have bizarre dreams. My dreams this week are just as strange, but also not terribly pleasant. They aren't nightmares, but I don't wake up glad I've had them. The one dream I remember right now had man eating plants in it. Like I said, not pleasant. And I'm the kind of person who likes happy, funny, witty dreams filled with Dr. Who or Merlin or some cute romance. Not plants with teeth. I'm not entirely sure how to deal with this seeing as how its such a new experience for me. The first dream I thought it was because I had cereal right before going to bed, but I've been very good about not eating before bed since then. I am here to report it is not the cereal.
I think my procrastination problem is happening because I need it to be Thanksgiving break. I'm going home and can't wait to see my family. I've already decided that I am not taking any homework home with me. I might not even take my computer. Honestly the only thing making me hesitate is how it will fare with the heater turned off. Probably not a good idea to leave it in a frozen apartment, even if I do kind of despise this computer. It has given me more grief than it should.
Alright, I think I'm going to be good now and memorize some equations. It's crazy that we need to know both z-score and t-score stuff, especially seeing as how z-score is pretty much used only in the classroom. I'd be a lot more okay with it if I didn't have to memorize any equations.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Left Neglected

No, I am not talking about myself fortunately. I am very much so not neglected. Its actually the title of a book by Lisa Genova. I enjoyed this book but there were a few scenes I skipped. It's about a working mom who gets into a car crash and ends up with brain damage. The left half of the world no longer exists for her. No, really. She doesn't see the left side of her plate, or a cat, or even herself. She can't use her left hand because to her brain there is no left hand. Besides the two scenes I skipped I enjoyed the book. The main character really grew and came to recognize what is really important in life. I think it can be a great wake up call to the to do list side of us.
After I finish this blog post I am heading over to one of BYU's weekly devotionals with my roommate. I love being able to go to devotionals, it's so nice to have a chance to listen to great minds and receive their insight.
On a slight side note, I have the hiccups. Its very obnoxious.
This last week my mom was in town and I loved every minute of her being here. It's amazing how much closer I've gotten to my parents now that I don't live at home anymore. I think its because I really appreciate how awesome they are now. And I'm exposed to more people who don't have as great of parents as I do, which makes it even more obvious how blessed I am.
So I'm a pre visual arts major, and last night I think I was on the verge of a mini panic attack about this. I felt very overwhelmed, because I honestly do not think I'm a good enough artist to get into the program. It's very selective and extremely competitive, and most of the people going into the program have been preparing for it all through high school. I decided to try to be a visual arts major about a month ago. It felt right in a way nothing else did, so I decided to jump for it. But I'm terrified, because I don't really have a backup plan. My theory behind this is 1.) I have no idea what it would be and 2.) I think it will help me work harder to get into the program. I know I could learn everything I need to know if given the time and resources, but I'm not so sure that will happen. Instead I'm constantly doodling and trying new things (at least as much as I can when I don't have any quality supplies yet). Wish me luck, I start my first pre-VA classes next semester!