A Very Small Wish

I am so angry at blogspot right now. Seriously, the adjustments they made to the layouts are weird. And before they righted them into correct sizes (which I STILL don't like, by the way) I spent TWO hours trying to figure out what I did wrong and how to fix my beautiful layout... and it turns out it wasn't me! Anyhow... *grumbles* I don't have much topic to blog on, so I decided instead to do a quote blog. I doubt anyone will read it through/comment, but it's more for me anyhow. This won't include quotes from me/my events/days personally, but mostly quotes from my favorite books, authors, movies, etc. If you don't care, feel free to minus the window at any time. For the rest of you... wow, you musn't have homework (or you do and you're... you know, not doing it).

C.C.: I wouldn't be caught dead in that dress.
Niles: You'd have to be dead six months to fit in it.

Max: I'm going to ask Fran to sign a prenuptial agreement.
Niles: [deadpan] Why don't you just walk through downtown Iraq dressed like Uncle Sam. It'll be quicker


Scratch that:

 I had actually gone to bed, turned out the lights and began to drift off when I began thinking about books. And something struck me! Now this may not be original, but I had never stopped to think about it before. I began to contemplate the Bella’s, Nora’s, Aislynn’s, Ever’s, etc of the world. And, more importantly, what made their love interest so appealing. But I could not ponder on this far enough before I came to think of the authors, and not necessarily the doe-eyed protagonist herself. And so from here it was concluded that:

I think the authors are maybe living out unfulfilled fantasies through their characters. Because it’s always the boy everyone wants that these girls get, you know? The handsome, rich, mysterious heartthrob hiding a deep, dark secret. And sometimes he’s just a plain out jerk, and yet he is idolized in the eyes of all as gifted and wonderful because of all of those things. Yet it is those things - the looks, money, mystery - that are not of this making. They are endowed on him from elsewhere. Anyhow, you should know my feelings on the paranormal teen hunk. So, basically he’s a lucky jerk who happens to get the stupid girl, because smart girls know that these boys are NOT OK.

So, I really think that the authors have some unrealized dream of being the beacon to this type of man. He is so sought after and there is a sea of girls chasing him. Yet to be that one girl in his eyes, though you may be plain, slow and not altogether beautiful, would be an event indeed. And I can certainly see the appeal of these books, yet I can’t help but think they might prove detrimental for the young adult state-of-mind. It is teaching us to be accepting of odd, and sometimes forceful, behavior. After all, he’s a handsome/vampire, so it’s totally OK. You can fix him.

Girls should be looking for the boys who, though they may not be the Sage to our Clea, will care for us and love us. They will not command us, control us and attempt to murder us for access back into heaven (see Hush, Hush). Just, don’t look for Edward, Patch, Sage, Keenan, etc - the list is ever-spanning - when you have the one who is never named in the book right there, being great and wonderful without a secret supernatural identity, winning looks and a safe stashed with gold.

*sigh* I didn’t see this coming.

Anyhow, I really need to be off to bed. G’night!

Quote blog to be resumed at a later time. Occasionally my soapbox gains the upper hand.

Toodle Pip.

I meant the crustacean

As my thoughts are whirring around in my head, I can just see the look of anticipation on Dr. Lyons's face. Like he knows what I'm going to say, and can tell me just what is exactly wrong with it. And I might agree with him, but I'm not in LR 101 right now, sitting in the first row, homework in hand. I'm writing a blog, having just gone over Esther chapter 3 in my NKJ Bible in my own comfy bed, nice and by myself. So, I'm sorry Dr. Lyons, but I'm going to take this chapter and use it for my own personal agenda... er, interpretation. *LE GASP*!

So, in chapter 3, Haman has been exalted above the princes (which is a pretty big deal) by the king of Persia (who is a pretty big deal). There's this big hurrah about Haman now and the subjects of this mighty empire are supposed to pay homage to Haman's supposed greatness - his status in the very least. But Mordecai, Esther's uncle, would not bow to Haman. And so Haman, pill that he was, wasn't so thrilled about this. Thus, the obvious thing to do (which he does) is to randomly choose a month to destroy the entire population that shares Mordecai's ethnic background. Of course it's the Jews. And because the king of Persia was all willy-nilly with this ring of his, his "stamp of power" as it were, he gives it Haman. Genocide phase #1? Check!

The obvious villain here is Haman, but he's maybe a bit too overt. The only thing worse than someone like Haman is someone like the king, whose name is too long/too many variations, so we'll just call him 'the king'. I mean, this guy must be a complete dolt. He just sits on his pretty throne with his pretty virgins, hears two sentences from Haman and *poof* gives Haman the ring! ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL! IS HE EVEN LISTENING?!?!?!?!?! Just, he's got all this potential, but he shapes up into such an unimpressive king. Sure, it doesn't seem like he's doing anything wrong. But Haman could have done nothing had it not been for the compliance ignorance of the king. Just, if he actually had thought an inch past his nose, Haman could have done nothing.

If we simply flounder around and let others make choices for us, anything could happen - even , in this case, the near slaughtering of the Jews. It took the courage of a young woman and the will of her uncle to right, what in all senses, should never have happened. IF the king had actually thought about what he was allowing Haman to do, would it have actually gotten so far? I really wonder. It is in large part because of people like the king that people like Haman are so successful in their evil intent.

What. A. MORON.

In any case, Esther is my favorite book of the bible, so I'm reading through it again. I heard it the first time in seventh grade and have loved it since. I think it's my favorite because it's like a Bible fairytale... albeit not something Disney would adapt. But here you have the beautiful girl (Esther) with a destiny not even she can dream about. From all the girls in the land, the king chooses her. But it turns out her family and all her kin are in serious trouble because the evil witch (Haman) has bad things planned for them. So using all of her courage, Esther risks her life in order to beseech her stupid king. And she does, and that clever Esther tricks Haman into thinking he's earned her favor as well. And then he dies. The end.

In any case, those are my words. And if I may:

- "Joan: Where did you get the exquisite shrimp?"
- "Yetta: I came with her."
- "Joan: No.... I meant the crustacean."
- "Yetta: Oh... she's my daughter."

Toodle Pip.

"One song, I have but one song!"

[My new layout rotiation - same setup, different character banner. Probably bi-monthly?]

In general, I’ve had just very good days since I’ve been back at Simpson this last week. Don’t get me wrong, I would so rather be home right now, but that isn’t really a viable option at the moment. So it’s a real blessing that my time back has been very pleasant thus far. It makes me wonder why all days can’t be this great. They say (yes, the ubiquitous “they”) that life is of your making; your outlook, attitude, etc. And for the most part I agree, but, you know, some days just start and end badly. Even though those days may be clouds over our heads, they make the happy days that much happier, and I, at least, appreciate them more for that.

I mean, there’s just nothing quite like taking walks to parks and frog hunting. Or writing songs about Cholas, pirates and how I am a loathe to be trusted. Not to mention the good old joy of innocently singing a Disney love song while doing your bathroom business, only to emerge to find out that your roommate was video-recording you just outside the door. CLICK IT! Yes, the joy is unadulterated, I must admit. Not everyone is permitted simple joys as these, so I am very blessed for the moments as they come.

Honestly, there isn’t too much to say… my News Years goals have taken unexpected deviations, but I’m trying to go with the flow while still being diligent.

Let’s see… the “crap” extrapolation is going accordingly; I’ve said it twice, though, but have caught myself the other times. Progress still. But the wallpaper is going at a snail’s pace, but at least I anticipated that one. Scheduling… eh… work in progress… Healthier semester is going. It’s harder to change dietary habits than I would have thought, but it’s been going along smoothly enough. That walking in the morning kind of went out the window… but I’m watching portions/sugar/what goes on my plate. Unless it’s a REALLY good dessert. And that isn’t quite so often, so I don’t worry so much about that. Word the day hasn’t happened - forgot to sign up… should do that soon. Bible, not everyday, but I’ve been reading a lot for Hermeneutics, so it’s not all in vain.

Well, that’s mah’ update.

This just in: hamster cages smell real goo.

Toodle Pip.

Skunk-Friendly Panic Room

So tomorrow I go home. And by home I mean “home”, that temporary place where I am supposed to learn to be an individual and make my own decisions. However, I have never been more dependant on my parents than when I left home to go school. But for most people, I think it is a growing experience. And it is for me too - it’s really strange to be a person apart from the unit you’ve grown up with, you know? Some people who live close enough to home to visit often are robbed of this, to figure out who you are.

That said, I still don’t want to go back. I just want to retire, buy a skunk, a panic room and… Oh, I forgot that last one… drats. I compiled a list for my three retiree essentials on the brink of sleep last night. One, of course, was my future skunk (free of smelly glands, thank you!) and, secondly, a panic room. But as you can see they can get pretty pricey. I was thinking more along the lines of a smaller one… at first. But then I saw that the bigger babies can protect you from bio and nuclear attacks! Woo! Every house needs one. So when someone wants to rob me and my skunk, we can hide in my handy-dandy skunk-friendly panic room… I just wish I remembered that third one. Or when the world explodes. Either way.

Back to now, for your perusal is my spring schedule. I like it and I don’t.

The like: Only three hours of lab for T/TH. I get lunch every day. No big overload. I like all of my classes.

The dislike: ALL eight in the morning classes. A kind of packed M/W/F.

The schedule:

M-Only
4:10 - 5:30 PM
Chorale

MWF
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Organic Chemistry II

11:30 - 12:30 PM
Hermeneutics

1:50 - 2:50 PM
Genetics

Tuesday-Only
8:00 - 11:00 AM
Organic Chemistry II Lab

TTH
4:20 - 5:40 PM
Chorale

Wednesday-Only
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Studio

Thursday-Only
8:00 - 11:00 PM
Genetics Lab


But, really, I just blogged to tell you about my panic room. Anyhow, I’ll see you guys tomorrow -_-

Oh! And I forgot to add one last thing. I mentioned last blog that I started working on the first wallpaper for the first theme of my self-inflicted wallpaper challenge. It’s not much yet - just some rough, untouched background, a bit of line art. It was originally meant for Anneke’s birthday wallpaper, but it’s just kind of been rotting in my files for the past month. So I’m trying to re-tool it and ship it out. This is just a bit of a preview.

It’s really only 10%, but that last one percent I added gave me hope!

P.S - yoo like ma nu layowt?

Toodle Pip.

Positoovity

Welcome to my first blog of the brand new year.

I think we both know where this is going, don't we? Yes, I think so too. Resolutions have become a new years tradition, if not much abused. But I can't simply let the opportunity slip by me to map some goals. I hesitate to use the resolution because change should be from the heart, not the list hanging on my wall that says I need to renovate myself. I write these things with the intention of trying my best, not being exact. Things rarely, if even, go according to plan. With that said, my unintended theme shaped up to be "Projects". No, not the place I was attacked by an idiot. You could also call it "Challenges". In fact, I'm going to start a whole new blog for some of these projects/challenges, charting and showcasing my progress.

I suppose we should get on with it then.

• I'm starting a wallpaper challenge with 64 prompts found here 64 Damn "Darn" Prompts For Every Fandom. This is actually a collection of writing prompts, but I'm going to be using them for walls instead. I don't have a deadline for any of them, because I get more done when I'm inspired. So I don't want to force myself into designing. I've already started prompt one, so we'll see how that goes~
  
• Extrapolate the word "crap" from my vocabulary. Oddly enough I picked this up at Simpson and I really dislike my use of it. So if you hear me say this word, reprimand me.
  
• This is arguably my most challenging challenge. Boy, wasn't the redundant? Well, I have three words for you (and me, consequently): Prioritize! Organize! Schedule...ize? Yes! Last semester was the most unorganized I've ever, ever been. I managed some good grades, but I could have gotten mostly A's had  I actually scheduled/organized/prioritized. Knowing that is regrettable and I abhor the doubtful 'what if'. So, I'm going to make daily schedules that, well, schedule. When I eat, when I study, what homework I have, when I have free time, when I have class, when I need to sleep, when I need to wake up. Success is mine!
  
• This is the one I'm scared of. It's my 'live a healthier semester' project. I'm going to do a trial-run of getting up every morning to walk/job invariably for half an hour. At 6. AM. I know, scary. But I have to get up at seven anyhow, so I wonder how scary an extra hour can be if I actually go to bed at a decent hour. I'm also saying 'No' to any dessert that isn't at the fancy-schmansy bar where they serve special desserts. And no soda, but I can't say I'm going to miss it. In fact, I'm sticking to water. This doesn't mean I can't drink other things, so long as water is the primary drink of the day. It's about compromise, even with myself. And I've got other exercise-y things in the works.
  
• I really want to learn a new word every day, which was inspired by Becca. Like a word-of-the-day thing. Expanding my horizon one obscure word at a time!
  
• I don't want a day to go by where I don't open my Bible. And just opening it and closing it doesn't count - even it's a single passage or a single chapter, I want to read from the greatest author the universe ever saw. 

What can I say? It isn't particularly exciting, and there are other things I'd like to accomplish, but this is enough for now.

This is shaping up to be a busy New Year.

P.S.

Happeh birthday, Papa~

Toodle Pip.