Entries tagged with spring

Current Mood: stressed
Current Music: 'the one who got us out' - ted leo

Entry tags:

hi!

Wow, I've been terrible about updating this thing. I apologize for that unfortunate habit . . .

But anyway. What is going on in my life lately? Not a whole helluva lot outside of school-related things. I'm up to my eyes in homework and projects for the next four weeks, and the thing is that none of it makes me eager to pursue a career in academia (in the sense of higher-than-high-school-education). I just don't have the patience or energy for it. I think.

At the same time, I'm very happy it's spring. We picked rooms for next year today, a much less chaotic process than it was last year. I ended up with a purportedly decent single (I've never seen the inside of it) on an all-girls floor (bleck) in a building that's fairly well-situated in relation to important buildings and such. So that's nice. The only thing I'm even mildly unhappy about is the all-girls thing, which I don't even consider That Big of a Deal. So that part of next year is all set to go.

The other part of next year I'm working on lately is a schedule for the fall. If I have my way, I'll be taking:

Studies in Modern Prose
Tradition of British Lit. I
Advanced Spanish Language
Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society

Hurrah, classes. I really hope I don't get cut from Modern Prose. : /

Annnnd yes. I've been playing Pokemon a lot since Spring Break (I actually beat the game this afternoon in a fit of procrastination), and I'm waiting for Ethan to catch up so we can battle! It will be epic when it happens.

As far as summer jobs go, I'm supposed to rewrite my description of my elective class for Breakthrough and send it in in about a week. I need to remember to do that. (The class I'll be teaching is about world mythologies, inspired by the mythology units I did as a 6th- and 7th-grader.) Hopefully it will be cool and something the students like.

Okay, I think that's enough mundane detail about my life. Time to go study again or something.

Current Music: 'exactly like you' - benny goodman trio (or quartet?)

Entry tags:

each foolish little dream i'm dreaming

So today was crazy busy. I still have more stuff to do before I can retire to mi cama, and the next couple weeks are going to be jam-packed, what with music stuff and work and not to mention the mounting tension (and workload) before finals week. But right now I'm feeling relatively okay about it all, since I just ate some Skittles and am drinking my favorite tea. Deeeelish.

( List of things that made me happy today, despite the busy-ness and rain. )

I think I will do orchestra next year. I love the director too much to quit.

Current Mood: frustrated

Entry tags:

spring,
storm

(no subject)

Mmm, it's humid and smells like rain. Delicious.

Current Mood: squishy
Current Music: 'kate' - ben folds five

Entry tags:

doo doo doooooo doo

Oh, Spring.

Today was the most beautiful day. I wish I'd taken pictures of Mac Field this afternoon while I was out there doing my philosophy reading; there were people all over the place, soaking up the sun while doing work. It was a very peaceful reading experience. Maybe that's one reason why I like Nietzsche so much thus far; all two of my encounters with his philosophy have taken place outside.

In honor of the good weather and a desire to get back into shape, I've decided to start running at least 5 days a week. I'll need it in to the coming weeks as stress relief, plus it'll just be good for me overall.

I am seriously contemplating buying my English prof's new book. And it's not just that he's my prof. I genuinely find it interesting. We're learning about disability studies with the book we're currently reading (Body, Remember by Kenny Fries), and it's very interesting--a way of looking at literature that I'd never really thought about.

I am truly in awe of most of the faculty I've encountered thus far at Grinnell. I mean, my English prof is famous! He agreed to be my advisor starting next semester! He's spent a good deal of time this semester working with me on my writing! Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the realization of how amazing this small-college experience is.

Speaking of writing, I should go work on a paper.

Current Mood: tired
Current Music: 'thank you' - the redwalls

Entry tags:

oh man oh man

So I really really suck at Statistics. Bah.

IN OTHER NEWS . . . It's nice out! The grass is green in Grinnell! The trees are budding, and prospies are all over the place! Spring, I love you.

Current Mood: bored

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some pictures from el viaje

So, I didn't really take as many pictures as I wanted to while in Portland, but that's okay. The first day I was there, the weather was beautiful. So I wandered around taking pictures while John was in class, and then took some pictures at a nearby garden that we visited later.

( Portland spring is way ahead of Midwestern spring. )

In conclusion, Reed is pretty in the spring. Hurrah!

ETA: This just in - apparently the pretty cherry trees in those pictures are not actually cherry trees. They are plum trees with cherry tree branches grafted on. How bizarre!

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: 'chemo limo' - regina spektor

Entry tags:

random things

Here is an update, list-style.

- I have a job interview this afternoon. (a) I hope it pays above minimum wage and (b) if (a) is true, then I hope I get the job

- I get to fly today. Oh boy! I'm actually not a fan of flying, but it gets me to Portland . . . So it's cool.

- Budding trees + blue skies and spring temperatures = happy Amy

- I'm becoming a really big fan of Regina Spektor

- The Casino Royale DVD is in my computer, but I don't think I'll have time to watch it before I leave. :(

- During the past few days, I went back and read some old entries in

clarinelf, and it seems like eons ago that I wrote all that. And it was just a few years ago! I wanted so many memories to remain as sharp as HDTV in my mind, but I'm finding that that's hard to do. I remember certain things, but sometimes I forget how it felt to be me at those points in time. Note to self: If I ever become a parent, make sure to go back and read all my teenage-years journals when my kids hit that age range.

- I need to get into good shape again.

- After reading all those old entries, I realized that high school wasn't all bad for me (despite how much I didn't like it at the time). Really, it--and the people I met--helped me become who I am today, and I appreciate too many of the experiences I had there to look back on MHS with scorn. (Sorry,

speaklouderthan; I guess our experiences were just very different.)

- Talked to my parents about studying abroad yesterday, and reassured them that it won't cost any more than a normal semester at Grinnell (minus travelling expenses and stuff). Yay!

- I should plan my classes for next semester soon. Ayayayayay!

Current Music: 'old soul song (for the new world order)' - bright eyes

Entry tags:

i've got with me all that i need

As the years go by, I'm realizing that spring weather brings out my reflective side. Sitting in my room with the windows cracked and sunlight pouring in always inspires me to contemplate life and its living. I'm stuck in a perpetual cycle of romanticism, it seems.

Being home this time is really no different from any other break, but it sort of feels more foreign, like I'm not exactly home. I think I've reached a level of comfort in Grinnell that makes Mundelein seem less comfortable by comparison. It's wonderful, yet weird, to be here.

I saw a bunch of high school friends last night, which was great. I've missed all those kids, even though I'm not always conscious of it. We watched "Goodburger", which threw me even farther back, in terms of nostalgia, to when I was maybe 10 years old. I still ate burgers back then, and my brother and I made some for dinner one night and served them to my parents while we watched the movie.

And now here I am, a vegetarian with a laptop named Logan, wishing for Tuesday to come.

The Bright Eyes CD I'm Wide Awake It's Morning is my Spring Music. I need some more raucus music to get me into a working-out mood, though.

Current Mood: bouncy
Current Music: 'never knew' - the rocket summer

Entry tags:

spring! break! spring break!

The trees are budding. School is out for two weeks. I turned in 3 papers today and skipped the dreaded Statistics, read a few pages of Tolkien in the library and fell asleep in the sun. And I got to see some of my favorite people here before they left.

I get caught up in things and sometimes I get stressed (see: last post), but all in all I am so lucky to be here.

Also, I think it's a good sign that I want to read a bunch of books for my English class over break.

(walking around on a bright spring day wearing a light jacket and sunglasses is wonderful)

Current Mood: mad at my body
Current Music: 'take it or leave it' - the strokes

Entry tags:

running,
spring

rargh

The weather was gorgeous today. I decided to go for a run. It was great. And then my stupid hip started hurting.

I suppose high-impact exercises are out of the question for me. Bah!