It's time for a Christmas-themed KITTENPAUSE.
So being confined to a tiny apartment is just no fun. I realize I should probably be working on Goldwater and my poster and REU applications, and the various and sundry things I have to do, but motivation level is low and that's my excuse.
I'm done with Siah and the first semester from Hell! Surprisingly (at least for me), ObLab was not the worst part about this semester, and the one class that I quite enjoyed going to, was actually my worst grade (take "worst" with a grain of salt, I'm a perfectionist).
I thought I'd share some of my Christmas traditions and maybe other people can share their Christmas/whatever holiday you celebrate traditions.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is the traditional Polish Wigilia. We have home-made pierogie (cheese and sauerkraut, yum!), mushroom soup, fish, mashed potatoes, and other stuff I'm probably forgetting. Usually my family hosts, because we rotate holidays among the family at large, but not always (for instance, this year there just isn't the room). Sometimes we have traditional pierniekes - polish anise cut-out cookies, though those aren't specific to Wigilia. We also do Oplatek (Oh-pwah-tek) which is a sharing of the Christmas wafer during which you wish every other individual good things for the new year (in our household, it's usually "health, wealth, and happiness"). This is also the time my family exchanges gifts with my Dad's parents and siblings.
Christmas Day
Wake up really, obnoxiously early because you're soooooo excited for presents! Wait at the door to the parents' room until they finally come out, and Dad sets up the video camera so we can open presents. Open everything possible, go to Mass, come back for some of Grandpa's Polish sausage, scrambled eggs, and rye toast.
Around 3 o'clock it's time to go to "The Estate," the house in the city where my great aunts and uncles live, and where my Dad's father grew up. Here we have a Christmas dinner, also generally Polish food, and open more presents! But you get a number and you have to wait until your number is up to open them. Also I generally get deigned "Santa's Helper" and have to run the gifts to everyone.
So that's what I do for the two days of Christmas. There's also the tradition of watching Rudolph, A Christmas Story, and The Santa Clause while eating Boy Scout caramel popcorn, which happens over the duration of the Christmas season, but hasn't started here yet...
What does anyone else do? Favorite gift ever? Christmas decorating with carols and dancing? Percy the Puny Poinsettia singing?
all right, you go have a very Merry Christmas with your family!
KITTENPLAY
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Fail.
Kittenpause!
I'm back from the deceased! And by that I mean I've finally gotten around to posting something again. Yay for finals and interesting ways of procrastinating!
My thermo teacher is still evil, by the way. We had our last test before the final that's on Saturday. I made two silly mistakes but hopefully he doesn't take too much off for it.
okay so I came up with three ideas to talk about:
1. Improbability of the moon and the Universe in general
The moon, our moon, is precisely the right size and at the right distance to allow total eclipses. What is the significance of this? Does it imply that life needs total eclipses? Does it imply that the moon didn't form naturally? IS THE MOON ACTUALLY A SPONGE (obviously not).
2. The weirdness of the internet culture. Just in general, but in specific the fact that you can know pretty much anything about another person and they can have no clue you exist. This was always weird with movie stars and such, but now even more "average" people are becoming well known, and that's kind of skivvy. I mean, for all I know, you all have figured out every last detail about me - where I go to school, how old I am, my favorite place to read... and I mean you've learned this about me not from seeing me face to face, but just from what I like to call "facebook-stalking" - you make friends with someone and then look at all their pictures and try to figure out what kind of a person they are... whether to decide if you want to be "real" friends with that person or you have a more nefarious purpose in mind... Just in general, it's weird how much someone can know about you without you ever knowing anything about them.
3. Stargate - SG-1 - About a month or so ago (maybe 3 weeks? not sure...) I started watching SG-1 on Hulu because Stargate Universe just came out and I wanted to get more background for the series. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with SG-1. I'm in season 3 now, and the plots seem to be better thought out, moving away from cultural encounters to scientific adventures... it's on Hulu if you want to join me in my adventure. It's going down March 5 I think, and there are a ton of seasons, so get started as soon as you're done with finals!
Okay. Good luck on finals. Enjoy life.
SG-1 current episode: 3.13
kittenPLAY!
I'm back from the deceased! And by that I mean I've finally gotten around to posting something again. Yay for finals and interesting ways of procrastinating!
My thermo teacher is still evil, by the way. We had our last test before the final that's on Saturday. I made two silly mistakes but hopefully he doesn't take too much off for it.
okay so I came up with three ideas to talk about:
1. Improbability of the moon and the Universe in general
The moon, our moon, is precisely the right size and at the right distance to allow total eclipses. What is the significance of this? Does it imply that life needs total eclipses? Does it imply that the moon didn't form naturally? IS THE MOON ACTUALLY A SPONGE (obviously not).
2. The weirdness of the internet culture. Just in general, but in specific the fact that you can know pretty much anything about another person and they can have no clue you exist. This was always weird with movie stars and such, but now even more "average" people are becoming well known, and that's kind of skivvy. I mean, for all I know, you all have figured out every last detail about me - where I go to school, how old I am, my favorite place to read... and I mean you've learned this about me not from seeing me face to face, but just from what I like to call "facebook-stalking" - you make friends with someone and then look at all their pictures and try to figure out what kind of a person they are... whether to decide if you want to be "real" friends with that person or you have a more nefarious purpose in mind... Just in general, it's weird how much someone can know about you without you ever knowing anything about them.
3. Stargate - SG-1 - About a month or so ago (maybe 3 weeks? not sure...) I started watching SG-1 on Hulu because Stargate Universe just came out and I wanted to get more background for the series. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with SG-1. I'm in season 3 now, and the plots seem to be better thought out, moving away from cultural encounters to scientific adventures... it's on Hulu if you want to join me in my adventure. It's going down March 5 I think, and there are a ton of seasons, so get started as soon as you're done with finals!
Okay. Good luck on finals. Enjoy life.
SG-1 current episode: 3.13
kittenPLAY!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Internet Successes
KITTENPAUSE time!!
So I'm, once again, well overdue for a post. Did you miss me?
I'm sure you'll all be glad to know that the crisis from the previous post has been averted. I passed my test! Yay! But I'm not really sure that I'm any closer to determining life goals, &etc. Something to deal with at a later date.
Goldwater Scholarship – I really should apply for it, but I just can’t motivate myself to write the darn essays and fill out the application… FAIL. Oh well.
Right now, I’m doing this because I should be writing an Ethics essay (or, for that matter, researching for ethics, researching REUs, or doing that Goldwater application…) but I really just don’t want to. I’d rather stay on the couch doing nothing.
I keep being struck by how well people are doing for themselves by starting out on YouTube. Or at least becoming popular through YouTube. It started with Hank Green of the vlogbrothers. I had heard of his brother John Green, and really enjoyed his book, but Hank Green has since started an independent record label and I guess is starting an independent publishing company. Then there’s Charlie McDonnel (charlieissocoollike) and Alex Day, both of whom now have started an internet attempt to take over the British music charts and who are working with BBC Switch. Kristina Horner isn’t doing so bad herself. She’s got friends on nearly every continent, had a free car with free gas for six months, and has now been working with ApartmentRed and may have a chance to do the whole acting thing. Speaking of which, Darren Criss of A Very Potter Musical fame now has a role on the new ABC show Eastwick.
So basically, I find it amazing how much people have managed to do with YouTube and just networking. At the same time, that kind of scares me because for all those people who manage to make successes of themselves via the internet, there are plenty that have been victims of liars and cheats. The question is whether I can make myself a success via the internet, whether I want to make myself that kind of a success, and whether I would be happy with that. I’m thinking about doing a variety type show on my YouTube… WE SHALL SEE.
Anyone have Wrock music they can share? I need to acquire more of it since I’m in charge of music for the Yule Ball.
HALLOWEEN IS COMING AND I’M SO EXCITED.
KITTENPLAY.
So I'm, once again, well overdue for a post. Did you miss me?
I'm sure you'll all be glad to know that the crisis from the previous post has been averted. I passed my test! Yay! But I'm not really sure that I'm any closer to determining life goals, &etc. Something to deal with at a later date.
Goldwater Scholarship – I really should apply for it, but I just can’t motivate myself to write the darn essays and fill out the application… FAIL. Oh well.
Right now, I’m doing this because I should be writing an Ethics essay (or, for that matter, researching for ethics, researching REUs, or doing that Goldwater application…) but I really just don’t want to. I’d rather stay on the couch doing nothing.
I keep being struck by how well people are doing for themselves by starting out on YouTube. Or at least becoming popular through YouTube. It started with Hank Green of the vlogbrothers. I had heard of his brother John Green, and really enjoyed his book, but Hank Green has since started an independent record label and I guess is starting an independent publishing company. Then there’s Charlie McDonnel (charlieissocoollike) and Alex Day, both of whom now have started an internet attempt to take over the British music charts and who are working with BBC Switch. Kristina Horner isn’t doing so bad herself. She’s got friends on nearly every continent, had a free car with free gas for six months, and has now been working with ApartmentRed and may have a chance to do the whole acting thing. Speaking of which, Darren Criss of A Very Potter Musical fame now has a role on the new ABC show Eastwick.
So basically, I find it amazing how much people have managed to do with YouTube and just networking. At the same time, that kind of scares me because for all those people who manage to make successes of themselves via the internet, there are plenty that have been victims of liars and cheats. The question is whether I can make myself a success via the internet, whether I want to make myself that kind of a success, and whether I would be happy with that. I’m thinking about doing a variety type show on my YouTube… WE SHALL SEE.
Anyone have Wrock music they can share? I need to acquire more of it since I’m in charge of music for the Yule Ball.
HALLOWEEN IS COMING AND I’M SO EXCITED.
KITTENPLAY.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Failing Tests, Evaluating Life Goals, and Harry Potter
It's time for a big, fat, KITTENPAUSE.
Or at the very least, it's time for me to ramble on aimlessly for a bit of a while during which time you procrastinate doing your work (or perhaps I'm interesting to you, what with my woes of life and Harry Potter obsession.)
Which brings me to the topics of today's post: Failing Tests, Evaluating Life Goals, and Harry Potter.
Failing Tests
For those of you not aware of where I go to school and what I do (do I have any of you yet? I think most everyone who reads this knows me "irl") I'm currently taking a class entitled "Thermodynamics" although I think a more apt name would be "Thermodynamics is only a third of this class and you're going to fail." The professor of this class is the bane of many a student's existence and, I am given to understand, grades more based on whim than on demonstrated understanding of course topics. This past Wednesday was my first experience taking one of his tests and, despite studying for nearly 5 hours the night before, getting to bed by 1 A.M., and eating a breakfast the next morning, I'm fairly sure I failed the test. The thing of it all is, I needn't have failed the test. I probably would have passed (and still could have, I suppose) if not for the fact that on the easiest problem of the test, I neglected to actually copy the equation properly. This is pretty much the silliest reason I can think of to fail a test and, hopefully, my crazy teacher will agree and allot me two-thirds credit for the question because, really, I understood how to solve the problem I just couldn't help my brain from running through the final song from "A Very Potter Musical" We must unite, so we can fight, turn the battle around. We must unite so we can fiiiight. Voldemort is going DOWN. I am not alone in the failure of this test, but I'm fairly sure I'm the only one who will fail for such a ridiculous reason.
Which leads me to Part II: Evaluating Life Goals
Failing a test is a big deal to me. You have probably already guessed this, as you most likely actually know me, but doing well is incredibly important to me. If I failed this test it leads me to wonder if I'm actually pursuing the right career. I mean, it's only a second year course and I'm on scholarship so if I fail this class (extrapolating, I know) then I could conceivably lose my scholarship, have to drop out of school, and find a nice place to live in some alleyway with a couple of cats. Yep. This led me to asking myself what I want to do with my degree when I get out of here and the truth is, I have no idea! I don't really fancy being a professor or a teacher, and the only real vision I had for my future was a bookshop of my own with a resident cat. That's not to say I don't love learning about the universe and how it works and doing math equations and generally searching for life's existence elsewhere but somehow... I can't really see my life past getting my doctorate and I'm starting to wonder if I'm just putting myself through school because it's expected and because I never saw another way of doing it. I mean I'd really like to be the next Bill Nye, but how does one get that to happen? So I figure, getting my doctorate is a good place to start. If a realllly long course of action. And all because I think I failed a test. Sometimes my imagination just gets ahead of itself.
Harry Potter
While I was evaluating my life goals I asked myself: What do I really love? And the only answer I can come up with is Harry Potter. And by that I mean the series, not the actual character. I spend most of my life thinking in terms of Harry Potter, quoting Harry Potter, and finding other awesome things that people who love Harry Potter have done. (A Very Potter Musical, anyone?) If I could just figure out how to make a living off of my love of Harry Potter, I'd be golden (This is possible, besides the boatloads of money Warner Bros. has made, there are Wizard Rock bands, Vloggers, the Mugglenet and Leaky Cauldron people... I could do that!) The only problem is I can't quite figure out how to make that awesomeness a reality. The advice I'm constantly thrown is "do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I can't help wondering how I know what I love... it seems to me at this point that I won't figure it out until it's too late.
If not astronomy, then what?
Okay, enough of my depressing (if witty?) banter.
It's time to PLAY.
Or at the very least, it's time for me to ramble on aimlessly for a bit of a while during which time you procrastinate doing your work (or perhaps I'm interesting to you, what with my woes of life and Harry Potter obsession.)
Which brings me to the topics of today's post: Failing Tests, Evaluating Life Goals, and Harry Potter.
Failing Tests
For those of you not aware of where I go to school and what I do (do I have any of you yet? I think most everyone who reads this knows me "irl") I'm currently taking a class entitled "Thermodynamics" although I think a more apt name would be "Thermodynamics is only a third of this class and you're going to fail." The professor of this class is the bane of many a student's existence and, I am given to understand, grades more based on whim than on demonstrated understanding of course topics. This past Wednesday was my first experience taking one of his tests and, despite studying for nearly 5 hours the night before, getting to bed by 1 A.M., and eating a breakfast the next morning, I'm fairly sure I failed the test. The thing of it all is, I needn't have failed the test. I probably would have passed (and still could have, I suppose) if not for the fact that on the easiest problem of the test, I neglected to actually copy the equation properly. This is pretty much the silliest reason I can think of to fail a test and, hopefully, my crazy teacher will agree and allot me two-thirds credit for the question because, really, I understood how to solve the problem I just couldn't help my brain from running through the final song from "A Very Potter Musical" We must unite, so we can fight, turn the battle around. We must unite so we can fiiiight. Voldemort is going DOWN. I am not alone in the failure of this test, but I'm fairly sure I'm the only one who will fail for such a ridiculous reason.
Which leads me to Part II: Evaluating Life Goals
Failing a test is a big deal to me. You have probably already guessed this, as you most likely actually know me, but doing well is incredibly important to me. If I failed this test it leads me to wonder if I'm actually pursuing the right career. I mean, it's only a second year course and I'm on scholarship so if I fail this class (extrapolating, I know) then I could conceivably lose my scholarship, have to drop out of school, and find a nice place to live in some alleyway with a couple of cats. Yep. This led me to asking myself what I want to do with my degree when I get out of here and the truth is, I have no idea! I don't really fancy being a professor or a teacher, and the only real vision I had for my future was a bookshop of my own with a resident cat. That's not to say I don't love learning about the universe and how it works and doing math equations and generally searching for life's existence elsewhere but somehow... I can't really see my life past getting my doctorate and I'm starting to wonder if I'm just putting myself through school because it's expected and because I never saw another way of doing it. I mean I'd really like to be the next Bill Nye, but how does one get that to happen? So I figure, getting my doctorate is a good place to start. If a realllly long course of action. And all because I think I failed a test. Sometimes my imagination just gets ahead of itself.
Harry Potter
While I was evaluating my life goals I asked myself: What do I really love? And the only answer I can come up with is Harry Potter. And by that I mean the series, not the actual character. I spend most of my life thinking in terms of Harry Potter, quoting Harry Potter, and finding other awesome things that people who love Harry Potter have done. (A Very Potter Musical, anyone?) If I could just figure out how to make a living off of my love of Harry Potter, I'd be golden (This is possible, besides the boatloads of money Warner Bros. has made, there are Wizard Rock bands, Vloggers, the Mugglenet and Leaky Cauldron people... I could do that!) The only problem is I can't quite figure out how to make that awesomeness a reality. The advice I'm constantly thrown is "do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I can't help wondering how I know what I love... it seems to me at this point that I won't figure it out until it's too late.
If not astronomy, then what?
Okay, enough of my depressing (if witty?) banter.
It's time to PLAY.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Service Days, Harry Potter Club, and Being Ahead of Schedule
ready... set... KITTENPAUSE!
Okay so I've now finished my... fourth(?) week of school? That's two weeks till midterm and um... twelve? until the end of exam week. Technically thirteen but I cut out one week because it's a break anyhow. Anyhow it just seems like school goes by so fast. But I know, it'll get harder, more intense, quickly. I just seem to be hitting the point where that'll happen. The second half of the semester is always harder because the coursework is more advanced and you start getting into tests and projects and such. Ah, to be able to read books and do fun things all day.
so onto the blog content, since I'm sure you're well and bored with the status update on how I see the semester.
1. Service Days:
I'm quite excited because tomorrow is a campus-wide service day which means good food, fun with friends, free t-shirts, and, of course, a general do-good feeling. This will be the fifth service day I've participated in, and hopefully the best! I like the idea of how much good our school is going to be able to do in just one day! Of course, if we were going to an animal shelter, I'd be way more excited. I want to socialize the kitties!
2. Harry Potter Club
Uber-excitement on campus! A Harry Potter Club has finally been implemented and we're doing some seriously cool stuff! It's nice to find other Potterheads on campus. Yay Ravenclaw! I can't wait to get way more involved in the Potter community at large and, hopefully, to get involved with HP Alliance, the not-for-profit young-people led Darfur aid group. Very Very cool.
And I've been enjoying some Wrock listenings. You should check out the Moaning Myrtles, they have this sick a capella piece called "Bathroom Acoustics." There's a toothbrush solo!
3. Being Ahead
Okay, I'm at a really weird point this week. I knew I was going to be doing the day of service tomorrow, and that I have a lot of long term stuff to do so I did like all my homework the day it was assigned. Part of this is due to the fact that my Japanese homework is always due the next day. Anyhow, now I can't do any work until the sun sets, so I'm in this weird place where I feel like I should be doing work and I'm nervous about my Thermo test on Wednesday and I know I need to study, but aside from that I can't really do anything and so I'm antsy. I do have to make a poster type thing for a presentation in a little over two weeks but I want to talk to my professor about that first, so... just argh. My point is I should feel free to do whatever I want but I don't because I feel like I should be doing something but I don't actually have anything I can do... and no books I want to read at the moment. Nervous-making much? I don't like this I can only do some of my homework during a span of like 4 hours if I want sleep, 6-8 if I don't. Very, Very strange.
Let me know what you think. Do you get things done early and then sit around while everyone else is working? Are you a perpetual procrastinator? Would you feel anxiety about not having something to do?
Okay, okay, I think I've rambled on enough.
KITTENPLAY
Okay so I've now finished my... fourth(?) week of school? That's two weeks till midterm and um... twelve? until the end of exam week. Technically thirteen but I cut out one week because it's a break anyhow. Anyhow it just seems like school goes by so fast. But I know, it'll get harder, more intense, quickly. I just seem to be hitting the point where that'll happen. The second half of the semester is always harder because the coursework is more advanced and you start getting into tests and projects and such. Ah, to be able to read books and do fun things all day.
so onto the blog content, since I'm sure you're well and bored with the status update on how I see the semester.
1. Service Days:
I'm quite excited because tomorrow is a campus-wide service day which means good food, fun with friends, free t-shirts, and, of course, a general do-good feeling. This will be the fifth service day I've participated in, and hopefully the best! I like the idea of how much good our school is going to be able to do in just one day! Of course, if we were going to an animal shelter, I'd be way more excited. I want to socialize the kitties!
2. Harry Potter Club
Uber-excitement on campus! A Harry Potter Club has finally been implemented and we're doing some seriously cool stuff! It's nice to find other Potterheads on campus. Yay Ravenclaw! I can't wait to get way more involved in the Potter community at large and, hopefully, to get involved with HP Alliance, the not-for-profit young-people led Darfur aid group. Very Very cool.
And I've been enjoying some Wrock listenings. You should check out the Moaning Myrtles, they have this sick a capella piece called "Bathroom Acoustics." There's a toothbrush solo!
3. Being Ahead
Okay, I'm at a really weird point this week. I knew I was going to be doing the day of service tomorrow, and that I have a lot of long term stuff to do so I did like all my homework the day it was assigned. Part of this is due to the fact that my Japanese homework is always due the next day. Anyhow, now I can't do any work until the sun sets, so I'm in this weird place where I feel like I should be doing work and I'm nervous about my Thermo test on Wednesday and I know I need to study, but aside from that I can't really do anything and so I'm antsy. I do have to make a poster type thing for a presentation in a little over two weeks but I want to talk to my professor about that first, so... just argh. My point is I should feel free to do whatever I want but I don't because I feel like I should be doing something but I don't actually have anything I can do... and no books I want to read at the moment. Nervous-making much? I don't like this I can only do some of my homework during a span of like 4 hours if I want sleep, 6-8 if I don't. Very, Very strange.
Let me know what you think. Do you get things done early and then sit around while everyone else is working? Are you a perpetual procrastinator? Would you feel anxiety about not having something to do?
Okay, okay, I think I've rambled on enough.
KITTENPLAY
Friday, September 4, 2009
A Friendly Return to Doom
Time for a KittenPause
(yes, I know it's been a bit of a while, but I wasn't ever consistent, was I?)
So this post comes in three parts:
PART 1: A Friendly Return to Doom
Two weeks into semester one from hell, and I can't help thinking I've somehow lulled myself into a false sense of security. For instance, my pertinent work this weekend includes practicing Japanese, Thermo homework that's essentially due Wednesday (and doesn't even have to be done correctly or completely), ObLab calibration packet, and hopefully some spectra taking Saturday night. Which, all things considered, doesn't seem so bad. I've already finished Astro homework and Ethics, so it's all a big yay.
The problem with the friendliness of this all is that it makes me think I can handle doing other things (a capella group, acting, harry potter clubbing), and these are decisions I may (read probably) regret later. Which is, in effect, causing me not to make said decisions. Anyhow, the false sense of not too much homework also results in a greater amount of procrastination (that ObLab homework? I really should have started it yesterday...). So I'm trying to schedule myself and get stuff done as early as possible so that I can relax (read: sleep an acceptable amount of time) later on in the semester. And then things happen like my summer research grant decides to tell me I have to have a poster prepared for October. The day before my first big ObLab assignment is due. Not okay? Not to mention it's partly during one of my classes... So I'm trying to balance the having a life (I mean by this, reading and watching Hulu, and being in Pastorals) with the getting homework done earlier so that I don't have so much later (when the ethics papers come calling).
And I miss home. I miss knowing that there's a place I actually want to visit for Thanksgiving instead of a smelly place to sleep on a couch. I look forward to my parents being settled in a new place with pretty colors and warm weather. But balancing all that... right now I feel like I'm too calm. Like my routine hasn't hit home yet.
And to add to the friendliness, the lovely new freshmen are an eclectic group, and it's interesting to see how they're integrating into the department. Namely, some are not integrating, some are partially, and some seem to fall into the I'm-here-all-the-time camp. By the time we settle in, I'll start feeling the pain, I think.
PART 2: Harry Potter Prequel & etc
As your resident Harry Potter news source, I'd like to share with you some new-to-me information that you may or may not care about.
Firstly, Jo (read: J.K. Rowling) wrote a short, 800 word prequel last August, that was not very well publicized in the US, but which you can find if you do a bit of digging. It's pretty fun, a glimpse into the antics of James and Sirius.
Secondly, apparently on September 15th we're due to find more about Universal's Harry Potter world, which I, for one, am anxiously anticipating!
Thirdly, there are rumors flying about Jo's Scottish Book (read: Harry Potter Encyclopedia). Apparently she is doing some work on it, so it may appear... in the next 5 years?
Finally, if you know about jkrowling.com, you may know about the secret door you can get to if you click on the pink eraser. It appears they have added a time turner to the site, so you can go back to all the door openings that you may have missed. Anyone want to take the W.O.M.B.A.T.s
PART 3: Glee!
Okay, the fall tv season is due to start soon/has already begun. And my most-anticipated new show is Glee. I think the combination of adult-ish humor and High School Musical energy should prove to create very interesting and fun plot lines. I look forward to Hulu having it up next Thursday.
And I'm looking forward to Heroes, Fringe, and Big Bang Theory returning this fall.
Anybody have thoughts on the above? It's only my second week, so maybe the pain will have caught up to me next week...
KITTENPLAY
(yes, I know it's been a bit of a while, but I wasn't ever consistent, was I?)
So this post comes in three parts:
PART 1: A Friendly Return to Doom
Two weeks into semester one from hell, and I can't help thinking I've somehow lulled myself into a false sense of security. For instance, my pertinent work this weekend includes practicing Japanese, Thermo homework that's essentially due Wednesday (and doesn't even have to be done correctly or completely), ObLab calibration packet, and hopefully some spectra taking Saturday night. Which, all things considered, doesn't seem so bad. I've already finished Astro homework and Ethics, so it's all a big yay.
The problem with the friendliness of this all is that it makes me think I can handle doing other things (a capella group, acting, harry potter clubbing), and these are decisions I may (read probably) regret later. Which is, in effect, causing me not to make said decisions. Anyhow, the false sense of not too much homework also results in a greater amount of procrastination (that ObLab homework? I really should have started it yesterday...). So I'm trying to schedule myself and get stuff done as early as possible so that I can relax (read: sleep an acceptable amount of time) later on in the semester. And then things happen like my summer research grant decides to tell me I have to have a poster prepared for October. The day before my first big ObLab assignment is due. Not okay? Not to mention it's partly during one of my classes... So I'm trying to balance the having a life (I mean by this, reading and watching Hulu, and being in Pastorals) with the getting homework done earlier so that I don't have so much later (when the ethics papers come calling).
And I miss home. I miss knowing that there's a place I actually want to visit for Thanksgiving instead of a smelly place to sleep on a couch. I look forward to my parents being settled in a new place with pretty colors and warm weather. But balancing all that... right now I feel like I'm too calm. Like my routine hasn't hit home yet.
And to add to the friendliness, the lovely new freshmen are an eclectic group, and it's interesting to see how they're integrating into the department. Namely, some are not integrating, some are partially, and some seem to fall into the I'm-here-all-the-time camp. By the time we settle in, I'll start feeling the pain, I think.
PART 2: Harry Potter Prequel & etc
As your resident Harry Potter news source, I'd like to share with you some new-to-me information that you may or may not care about.
Firstly, Jo (read: J.K. Rowling) wrote a short, 800 word prequel last August, that was not very well publicized in the US, but which you can find if you do a bit of digging. It's pretty fun, a glimpse into the antics of James and Sirius.
Secondly, apparently on September 15th we're due to find more about Universal's Harry Potter world, which I, for one, am anxiously anticipating!
Thirdly, there are rumors flying about Jo's Scottish Book (read: Harry Potter Encyclopedia). Apparently she is doing some work on it, so it may appear... in the next 5 years?
Finally, if you know about jkrowling.com, you may know about the secret door you can get to if you click on the pink eraser. It appears they have added a time turner to the site, so you can go back to all the door openings that you may have missed. Anyone want to take the W.O.M.B.A.T.s
PART 3: Glee!
Okay, the fall tv season is due to start soon/has already begun. And my most-anticipated new show is Glee. I think the combination of adult-ish humor and High School Musical energy should prove to create very interesting and fun plot lines. I look forward to Hulu having it up next Thursday.
And I'm looking forward to Heroes, Fringe, and Big Bang Theory returning this fall.
Anybody have thoughts on the above? It's only my second week, so maybe the pain will have caught up to me next week...
KITTENPLAY
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Coupons and Freebies
okay everybody, I know you've been waiting ages so here it is...
IT'S TIME TO KITTENPAUSE!
Between working, not working, and not having internet because I was staying in my parents' new apartment that smells like nicotine (or whatever part of cigarettes it is that just smells awful) it seems I have gone nearly a month without a blog post, and this is just UNACCEPTABLE! Failure to make a vlog, okay that's one thing, that's a lot of editing and such. But no blog? really? FAIL
Those of you who know me (I think at this point in time the only people actually reading this are people who know me,) know that I am a coupon hound. Going out to dinner? Here's a coupon for a free appetizer. Going to the mall? Hey, I have like five free things to pick up from various stores. Grocery store? Don't buy that brand, I have a coupon for this other brand! And don't get me started about the free samples that arrive in my mailbox with a fair amount of regularity.
So how, you ask, do I do it? How do I manage to attain such a level of free stuff? I have some quick and easy rules for such attainment.
RULE #1:
If you're going out to eat someplace, and you have computer access, check their website for any free offers. Places like Red Robin and Applebee's and the like often are running promotions.
RULE #2:
Sign up for free store clubs, like Godiva's Chocolate Lover's Club (free piece of chocolate every month!), for girls, Aerie's A-List (free gift on one Thursday of your choice each month), also for girls Victoria's Secret Pink Nation, and more... (anyone have a good site? Let me know!) These give you free emails and offers, often without having to spend a cent to join the club or even purchase anything at the store (although I'm sure they want you to...)
RULE #3:
Find a good freebies blog like shop4freebies.com. This enables you to reap the rewards of free stuff without having to do all the hunting for it.
and finally,
RULE #4:
Surveys and opinion panels are a great way to procrastinate effectively. If you can get into an opinion panel like utalkback, they will give you gift cards for your time. I think there's a new site that is advertising on TV, but I haven't checked it out yet. And there's always the swagbucks method, that many of you read about on Kyle's blog. You search with their engine, and you get random points. These points let you get cool things like Amazon gift cards. The more you use it, the more chance you can "buy" stuff.
Happy free stuff-ing!
PLAY
IT'S TIME TO KITTENPAUSE!
Between working, not working, and not having internet because I was staying in my parents' new apartment that smells like nicotine (or whatever part of cigarettes it is that just smells awful) it seems I have gone nearly a month without a blog post, and this is just UNACCEPTABLE! Failure to make a vlog, okay that's one thing, that's a lot of editing and such. But no blog? really? FAIL
Those of you who know me (I think at this point in time the only people actually reading this are people who know me,) know that I am a coupon hound. Going out to dinner? Here's a coupon for a free appetizer. Going to the mall? Hey, I have like five free things to pick up from various stores. Grocery store? Don't buy that brand, I have a coupon for this other brand! And don't get me started about the free samples that arrive in my mailbox with a fair amount of regularity.
So how, you ask, do I do it? How do I manage to attain such a level of free stuff? I have some quick and easy rules for such attainment.
RULE #1:
If you're going out to eat someplace, and you have computer access, check their website for any free offers. Places like Red Robin and Applebee's and the like often are running promotions.
RULE #2:
Sign up for free store clubs, like Godiva's Chocolate Lover's Club (free piece of chocolate every month!), for girls, Aerie's A-List (free gift on one Thursday of your choice each month), also for girls Victoria's Secret Pink Nation, and more... (anyone have a good site? Let me know!) These give you free emails and offers, often without having to spend a cent to join the club or even purchase anything at the store (although I'm sure they want you to...)
RULE #3:
Find a good freebies blog like shop4freebies.com. This enables you to reap the rewards of free stuff without having to do all the hunting for it.
and finally,
RULE #4:
Surveys and opinion panels are a great way to procrastinate effectively. If you can get into an opinion panel like utalkback, they will give you gift cards for your time. I think there's a new site that is advertising on TV, but I haven't checked it out yet. And there's always the swagbucks method, that many of you read about on Kyle's blog. You search with their engine, and you get random points. These points let you get cool things like Amazon gift cards. The more you use it, the more chance you can "buy" stuff.
Happy free stuff-ing!
PLAY
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