Better By Nightfall

The classes, they are good. Yet, the workload is subtly starting to increase already. It's only week two and I have a two chapters of Abnormal Psychology, a chapter of Interpersonal Communication, Book I of the Illiad (The Quarrel of Akhilleus & Agamemnon) and Book XXII (The Death of Hektor), and 10 pages for Eastern Civilizations to read all by the end of this week. No slacking here!

Thankfully I'm ahead in my classes, just barely, but it looks like I'll have to keep pushing my way through all the reading and still balance my schedule for time to work on, yes, you guessed it, speeches of doom. Hey, I've pretty much got three events down though!

Aside from all that, though, I've also been busying writing a "Thank You" letter to my scholarship/grant/loan company who requires that I reply to them every year to make sure they know how thankful I am. Which, of course, I am! Without them, I wouldn't be able to pay for college and would have a hard time buying much anything else for college.

Random, but for those of you who haven't tried the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Jelly Beans, be forewarned! Dirt, Earthworm, Black Pepper, and Rotting Egg are totally disgusting. I had the unfortunate experience of eating all four of these in the car when it was dark. Why I did that, I don't know. Especially since I knew there were nasty flavors in the mix.

Thanks for the crazy laughs tonight, Chace. Dude, we seriously should patent that game. I think we'd be fucking billionares and hated by many people at the same time.

If only. Haha!

Holy fucking shit! I know now that I have seen the funniest movie out there to date. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. RIGHT NOW!

Seriously, it's the movie of the year. This is the one you must see. Screw all those lame dramas and "epic-sagas," this is the most comedic movie out there. This is the kind of movie you go out to see and laugh at and with from beginning to end. I was laughing almost the entire time, and the friendly "interactive" audience made it even better!

So, yes, drop everything you are doing. Make it date. It doesn't matter when. Go! See this movie! It's worth every penny of the $8.25 for admission.

I forgot to post this sooner!

Jack's Mannequin's Everything In Transit came out on Tuesday of this week. If you haven't bought your CD yet, you should! Rock out!

If you haven't heard of Jack's Mannequin, click here to hear it out.

I saw a guy reading "Atlas Shrugged" today at Starbucks and I couldn't help but wonder if he was reading it leisurely, for a class, for the scholarship application, or just to appear as a pretentious asshole.

Lacey you know what I mean! :D

I don't know what it is exactly, but lately I've been depressed. I think this whole apartment is the cause, but I'm not quite sure. I'm not depressed in the way that I'd need to see a psychologist, but rather, depressed that I'm always alone.

I know I wanted to live alone in a one-bedroom apartment last year, but due to housing being the fuck job that it is, I didn't get it and have this apartment instead. However, because it's a two-bedroom and my brother is supposed to live here, I guess I just expect someone to be around. There isn't though. It's just me in this apartment all the time. Alone.

I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't expect someone to be here, if I knew that I would always be alone here. This, of course, accompanied by the fact that last year I don't think I did many things alone. It must be a lesson in learning yet again, the kind that teaches you something you didn't know about yourself before or where you learn to have a new quality about yourself. Right now I'm not sure which of those two it is, but I know either way I'm still alone in the end.

What a way to start the year.

Carrie, Sis, I applaud your inner strength, strong will and faith throughout your father's tragic ordeal with cancer. May he rest in peace.

My condolences to you and your family.

Keep your strength and the attitude about life that you've gained from this close to your heart, as I know you will. I miss you and I hope that all is well. I will be in touch.

Cashier: (cheery) How are you today?
Mother: Splendid! Only one more week until freedom!
Cashier: Oh?
Mother: School starts up for [her kids' school] in a week. Freedom.
Child 1: Yeah, for you.
Child 2: Not until you hear about me being in detention.
Mother: Oh Stop! Enough of that!

Kind of reminds me of my mother when I was in elementary school. Hmm.

I'm not entirely sure where to begin upon my arrival back into Idaho. Perhaps I should start with my in-flight terror of being sick on both flights back. Or maybe it would just be best to skip ahead a few days and say that after going to the emergency room with Lacey and her mother in what I can now declare the "creepiest roommate moment" to date, I'm doing MUCH better. Seriously, that's all you need to know. You don't want to know all the details. Besides, I'm not dooce. I would divulge these things, but eh, I don't want to type them up and you would be grossed out after you read it all anyway. Consider yourself saved!

Anyway, I'm now in the two-bedroom apartment with my brother. After a deal, I ended up getting the big room. The deal being that, if and when we break the lease and move out of here, Brandon will get the master bedroom in the house and I'll get the other room. I know. I'm getting the short end of the deal in the long run, but honestly, I don't think we'll be getting that house anytime soon. I'm not so worried.

These last two days, I've been slowly buying things to furnish the apartment with. Unlike last year, where the apartment was fully furnished, Brandon and I have to furnish this apartment. So far, I've bought a desk, bookshelf, desk chair, plate set, and other house items. Thankfully I haven't spent that much money on all of these items either! I was worried that things would be expensive and would rack up a bill that I couldn't handle for the apartment, but that hasn't been the case at all. I've found some great sales on items and that's how I got this new swanky desk which I'm typing on! Before which, of course, I could've gotten on the computer and typed away but I have issues with sitting on the floor and typing. Don't ask.

Oh! I'm happy to report that I got the job that fits PERFECTLY into my schedule. It's a cake job, but hey, that cake job is helping to pay the bills! The interview went amazingly well. Again, I can't thank Nancy enough for her help! Nancy, you rock the fscking cazba! So, yeah, I'll be working that job and paying for things with the money I get from it.

Other than that, I'm getting ready for school here. Classes start on Monday, a week earlier than they did last year. I'm not complaining though. We get out for winter break for A WHOLE MONTH because of that extra week AND we get A WHOLE WEEK for Thanksgiving. I know, you're probably like...so? Well, the thing is, we haven't either of those for the last two years since I've started, so it's a big deal to finally get more break. I know too many people that get more break than me at college and this is just payback. Haha!

I'm out for the night. I have a funny "Overheard at..." to post, but I'll do it later. Thanks for the comments and well wishes! I've missed the blogging world while I've been away.


Also, I'd like to extend my MILLIONS of thanks to Lacey and her family. I owe them so much. Although, the emergency room was...well, it was what it was. I'm thankful that I was with you guys and that you took care of me. It really means the world to me to know that I have such good friends that I can depend on who I know love and care for me. Thanks!

Have you ever had that feeling like you've been in a coma and just woken up from it? Everything around seems to have passed by, but it hasn't been experienced or felt in effect because you weren't part of it. The only effect noticeable is time. The only constant.

In many ways I feel that my summer has been the epitome of this. I've done work, helped out, given my time, and an assortment of other things in these moments. Yet, none of seems significant, at least, not right now. I feel like this summer has been a blur--things have passed by so quickly and I haven't felt everything as I have before.

Perhaps it is a change in me. A sign of maturity coming to light.
Perhaps not.

Maybe it's the effects of an un-engaging summer finally taking their toll. I don't know. I wish I knew.

Tomorrow I'm boarding the plane to return to Idaho for another year. I'm ready, but I'm anxious. I have no idea what to expect, but that's nothing new. With everything as up in the air as it has been, I know to wait to cross the bridges. No doubt, things have changed as they always do. I hope, however, that in the wake of the changes, the shock won't get to me.

Currently Feeling: "I'm Ready" by Jack's Mannequin from "Everything in Transit."


[And today was a day just like any other]

I'm on the verge, I'm on the verge
Unraveling with every word
With every word you say, make me believe
That I won't feel your tires on the street
As I'm finding the words... you're getting away

I come undone, oh yes, I do
Just think of all the thoughts wasted on you
And every word you say, say something sweet
Cause all I taste is blood between my teeth
As I'm finding the words... you're getting away

Well I'm ready, I'm ready to drop
Oh, I'm ready, I'm ready so don't stop
I'm ready so don't stop, Keep pushing
I'm ready to fall, oh, I'm ready
I'm ready so don't call, I'm ready so don't call

I am aware, I've been misled
I disconnect my heart, my head
Don't wanna recognize when things go bad
The things that you'll accept
Except that I am finding the words... to say

I'm ready, I'm ready to drop
Oh oh oh oh oh, I'm ready
I'm ready so don't stop
I'm ready so don't stop

[I wake up to find it's another
Four aspirin morning, and I dive in
I put on the same clothes I wore yesterday.
When did society decide that we had to change
And wash a tee shirt after every individual use:
If it's not dirty, I'm gonna wear it.
I take the stairs to the car
And there's fog on the windows.
(And I'm Fighting the words...)
I need caffeine in my blood stream,
I take caffeine in the blood stream.
I grip the wheel and all at once I realize:
(And you're getting away...)
My life has become a boring pop song
And everyone's singing along.]

Well, I'm ready, to drop, well, I'm ready
I'm ready so don't stop, oh
Well, keep pushing, I'm ready to fall
Well, I'm ready, I'm ready so don't call
I'm ready so don't call, oh... oh... oh...

I have been informed by housing, finally, that they have an apartment for my brother and me to live in. Finally, another cloudy situation cleared up. Except, now that I have accepted the apartment, it means we'll have to go out and look around for cheap furniture to furnish the place. One situation begets another, and that's why there are places to find used furniture for cheap. And, of course, WalMart. (I know, it's evil. It's also cheap.)

At least I don't have to worry about it anymore. It was horribly taxing to have to think about where to live if the housing didn't go through. I think I would've been living on a friend's floor for a while until things got settled or maybe in my car, down by the river. The latter of the two, of course, less likely. Still, my car could've worked if need be. It's just really ghetto looking right now because of all the junk in the backseat and trunk. It also would've been hard to sleep in with all that junk. Hmm. Yeah, I'm glad everything is good to go for now. Seriously, though, Chris Farley would've had nothing on me because, at least, he was in a van. That has got to have more room than my piece of shit car.

Yes! I got a message back from one of my applications to set up an interview. Finally, some good news in the job search! So, I have an interview on Monday the 15th of August at 1 p.m. That's right, I'm writing it on here so I can remember. Haha! (It's also in my day runner and set as a reminder in my e-mail inbox.) Hopefully, when I go back, all will go well with the interview and I'll land the job. It's the one job that I know fits PERFECTLY into my schedule, pending, of course, my debate tournament schedule. Hopefully the tournament schedule won't be a big issue.

Again, thanks go out to Nancy the AMAZING who has helped me out immensely with the job search! I seriously can't thank you enough!

Job-process aside, I've been working on the speeches still. I was certain I would be done with this one speech by now, but apparently I don't know my history well. Or rather, the history I knew about the Kennedy, Nixon, and Carter administrations wasn't what I remember reading about in high school. As such, I've been back-tracking my information on their administrations in order to properly document their stances on various issues as they fit into my speech. It also doesn't help that one of my major sources is inaccessible. Damn them! How convenient a time too. Alas, I must press on.

Update: Housing still doesn't know where I'm living. That's great.

Today is the four year anniversary of one of the webcomics I've been reading for the last two years.

Although it might not look like it has been around for four years, it actually has been. (Hans Tseng has apparently re-written and re-drawn the story three or four times, from what I was last told.) Regardless, it is an excellent webcomic. If for nothing else, check out Hans Tseng's amazing drawing skills.

Check it out if you have the time.

First and foremost, I must convey my many thanks to Nancy for helping me find jobs on-campus as I was unable to find any during my searches. At least, when I searched, I found jobs that I couldn't apply for because there were numerous dates that I needed to attend for orientation and I wouldn't be back in Idaho in time or they required work-study which I do not have. Thanks a billion, Nancy! You rock! :D

I recently applied to two three jobs online via our school's job finder. All of them have potential to be my next job, fitting very nicely into my schedule. Although the wage for both isn't amazing, it's good enough money to help me out throughout the year. So, hopefully I'll get one of them.

Recently, Veneliza and I decided to come together and "explore, restore, and enhance" our fleeting Japanese skills by creating Paper Note. For those of you that knew, this will take the place of my old project-blog "Japanese Lessons" as Veneliza and I will both tackle it together. (Kind of reminds me of our summer job two years back as webmasters where we schooled our boss in the l337 skillz of true <HTML> coding and webpage and graphic design. Ah the good ol' days! Fun times, really!) This way both of us benefit and we can potentially help others! Yay for being free-for-service "blog-whores" who know some Japanese! Now we can teach. Sort of.

I need to review my hiragana, katakana, kanji and basic verb conjugations. Wow! Professor Douchebag really messed up my Japanese skills.

I'm happy to report that I'm really moving along now, finally. I don't know what exactly it was that stalled me for so long, but it is not in the way anymore. At least, for this speech.

In other news, my brother went to look at houses with an agent on Saturday and it looks like I might be living off campus this year. The houses he looked at are within our shared price range and aren't too far from campus. I'd have to drive to and from campus everyday, but it wouldn't be a long drive if we get one in the area we've previously discussed. If not, then I might just be living on campus once again. Though, all of this is still up in the air.

With only 12 days left, I'm ready to go back (except for my speeches) and start up another year. A year of learning, laughter, competition, good and bad. Yet, I'm anxious about going back. I'm anxious because, even though I've only been away for a few months, I feel like I've been away from everything for a long time. Like I've lost touch, even though I know I haven't. It's not like I've been gone for ages. It just feels like it has been longer than the last time around. Perhaps it's my mind getting the better of me--thinking that things are so different. Yet, things aren't that different. At least, not so much so that I can't handle it.

For now, though, I wait. There is time enough to do the things I need to do and time enough for everything to get figured out as this school year approaches. Everything in its time and in its place.