Well, it's been an interesting week.
I would have blogged on Sunday, but I was too busy working on my homework and actually going to work to blog... and by the time I was done with my homework, it was far too late to blog and all I wanted to do was sleep.
I know. Excuses, excuses.
But anyway.
My first week of class wasn't too bad. The beginning of the week I was very sore... I did calisthenics and weights the first day, and my god, I was sore. I could barely make it back to my dorm after I finished the first day, and I couldn't even sit down without wincing in pain for a couple days afterwards.
Since MUM is on the block system, I have one class at a time for one month. It's wonderful thus far. Today is my last day of HRF (Health-Related Fitness), and then I have a three day residence course and then I get to start Shakespeare. I am so so excited for Shakespeare. I love literature courses, and I've never taken a course devoted entirely to Shakespeare. My best friend is also in the course, so you can understand when I say I'm very excited about it.
Going back to HRF, the "big" class project was to do something we've always wanted to do but never had the chance to. My friend Alexandra and I both wanted to learn sign language. We both already knew how to finger sign the alphabet, but neither of us knew any ASL past that. We decided to learn the song "I Just Can't Wait to be King" from The Lion King. You can watch the video here:
OH OH OH! I'm finally going somewhere for Spring Break! I've never gone anywhere for spring break - always staying home instead - but this year, I'm going to New Hampshire with my friend Amy to spend the week with her. I'm so so excited to get to see her beautiful home state. I've heard so much about NH, but I've never had the chance to see it. The only part of the northeast I've been to is New York - state, not the city - and that's it. We'll be in NH over the week of my older sister's birthday, and she'll actually be in New Hampshire too, so I'm very excited. I just saw her at Christmas, but it feels like it's been so much longer since I saw her. Spring break should be excellent.
Hmmm.... Other stuff happened that I'm not at liberty to discuss yet - at least not in a public setting like this - so I think that's it.
Adios, amigos.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Well, it's been a fun two weeks in the life of Joella. So fun that I forgot to blog last Sunday.
I am now officially an MUM student. I moved into my dorm on Wednesday, and I love it so far. I have Amy's old room, so it will be really nice to get to spend a lot of time with her in here. The room is very nice thus far - nice and spacious, while at the same time being very cozy. It's definitely going to be one of my favorite places to hang out.
Despite all of its perks though, the room definitely has its downsides. To name a few, the heater is a little broken (the grate is warm when I touch it but it doesn't affect the overall temperature of the room, which isn't as big of a deal now that it's about 40 degrees, but when it was -10 with windchill the first few days I lived here, it was definitely a big deal.), the window isn't airtight, and the door doesn't quite fit its doorframe, which means it's very easy for me to hear everything that's going on out in the hall. So far I've only had to listen to the security ladies talk, which isn't too bad, but it could definitely be worse. And the window is fixable by sticking a rolled up towel at the bottom of the windowframe.
Tomorrow, classes begin, and I'm really excited. I start off by taking health-related fitness, which is a two week course, and then I take Shakespeare in February - Amy's in that class!!! - and then Comp II in March, Geometry for the Artist in April (another course with Amy), and then I finish off the semester with Ancient Tales. It looks like it's going to be a good semester with some good classes, which I'm super excited about.
There's a chocolate social tonight, which I'm definitely going to. And I'm not eating at Purn beforehand. My thinking is this: I'm a college student now; I can eat chocolate for dinner.
Purn's not as bad as I thought it would be, but it's definitely had its days where it's been nothing good, like last night. Last night, there was mushy carrots and peas, some medley of yellow squash and zucchini - no flavoring, and the zucchini was also pretty mushy - and then eggplant sandwiches. There weren't any sandwiches when I got there so I decided to resign myself to eating toast for dinner, which is not a new experience for me. At the market, when we still had bread available for dinner when the food got bad, Amy and I would have toast and dessert (usually a fruit crumble) for dinner. So having the toast for dinner last night was reminiscent of those times. However, when I got up to toast my bread, I discovered that they did in fact have the eggplant sandwiches, so I ended up eating one. They weren't stellar by any means, but they weren't too bad either.
I also picked up Amy at the airport today, and it feels like she hasn't been gone at all. I'm so glad that she's back and that we get to live in the same dorm! We're going to have so many fun times hanging out in both her room and mine. I'm so excited for this semester.
It's chocolate social time, for sure. I'll talk to you guys after my first week of classes!
I am now officially an MUM student. I moved into my dorm on Wednesday, and I love it so far. I have Amy's old room, so it will be really nice to get to spend a lot of time with her in here. The room is very nice thus far - nice and spacious, while at the same time being very cozy. It's definitely going to be one of my favorite places to hang out.
Despite all of its perks though, the room definitely has its downsides. To name a few, the heater is a little broken (the grate is warm when I touch it but it doesn't affect the overall temperature of the room, which isn't as big of a deal now that it's about 40 degrees, but when it was -10 with windchill the first few days I lived here, it was definitely a big deal.), the window isn't airtight, and the door doesn't quite fit its doorframe, which means it's very easy for me to hear everything that's going on out in the hall. So far I've only had to listen to the security ladies talk, which isn't too bad, but it could definitely be worse. And the window is fixable by sticking a rolled up towel at the bottom of the windowframe.
Tomorrow, classes begin, and I'm really excited. I start off by taking health-related fitness, which is a two week course, and then I take Shakespeare in February - Amy's in that class!!! - and then Comp II in March, Geometry for the Artist in April (another course with Amy), and then I finish off the semester with Ancient Tales. It looks like it's going to be a good semester with some good classes, which I'm super excited about.
There's a chocolate social tonight, which I'm definitely going to. And I'm not eating at Purn beforehand. My thinking is this: I'm a college student now; I can eat chocolate for dinner.
Purn's not as bad as I thought it would be, but it's definitely had its days where it's been nothing good, like last night. Last night, there was mushy carrots and peas, some medley of yellow squash and zucchini - no flavoring, and the zucchini was also pretty mushy - and then eggplant sandwiches. There weren't any sandwiches when I got there so I decided to resign myself to eating toast for dinner, which is not a new experience for me. At the market, when we still had bread available for dinner when the food got bad, Amy and I would have toast and dessert (usually a fruit crumble) for dinner. So having the toast for dinner last night was reminiscent of those times. However, when I got up to toast my bread, I discovered that they did in fact have the eggplant sandwiches, so I ended up eating one. They weren't stellar by any means, but they weren't too bad either.
I also picked up Amy at the airport today, and it feels like she hasn't been gone at all. I'm so glad that she's back and that we get to live in the same dorm! We're going to have so many fun times hanging out in both her room and mine. I'm so excited for this semester.
It's chocolate social time, for sure. I'll talk to you guys after my first week of classes!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
It's the beginning of the apocalypse, and I'm ready to take the bull by its horns
2011 has come and gone, and my goodness, what a hectic year it was. It had its ups and downs just as any other year does, but overall, I'm very happy with the way the year turned out.
2011 was the year of travel: in February, I flew to Texas for Kenz's 18th, in May I went to Knoxville, TN for Global Finals, in June I went to Texas for Kenz's high school graduation, and in July I went to Ithaca, NY for a family vacation, as well as to Orlando, FL for LeakyCon.
This year, I'd like to travel a lot as well. I'd really like to make it to Chicago soon - I need to see my Chicago people! - and I also want to make it to Chicago for LeakyCon 2012, I'd like to visit Dariana in Ithaca, I'd like to visit Kenz again. I'd also like to visit Amy - hopefully when I visit Dar this summer, I can make a trip up to NH and visit my dear bug. I also want to visit her during Christmas vacation next year when she lives in Boston. Going Christmas shopping with her would be so much fun!
I wouldn't be me if I didn't make make big life-changing decisions regarding my education. After my sophomore year of high school, I started homeschooling because I wasn't happy at MSAE, and it was definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made. I realize again and again how unhappy I was and how superficial and fake the girls in my class were, and still are for that matter, and how good it was for me to take my own path.
With that in mind, around the beginning of December I decided to take a two-term Leave of Absence from Knox and do spring semester at MUM. I never thought I'd be an MUM student, but I'm honestly really excited for this upcoming semester. One of the things I dislike the most about MSAE is what a poor high school English department the school has. I feel extremely under prepared for the level of rigor that Knox's English department requires of me. Since MUM is on the block system, I'll be able to focus on myself more and increasing my level of preparation for Knox's English department. I'll also get to spend Amy's last semester of college with her as well as get to know everyone at MUM more. I would be lying if I said that the possibility of getting to spend five months or so with her that we didn't previously have together wasn't a major factor in my decision to come to MUM.
Knox has been fantastic about it as well. I was very worried that I'd have to reapply as a transfer student and have the risk of losing my scholarships and all the financial aid I'd received for this year. However, I just take a two-term LoA and I will be reinstated as a Knox student Fall 2012. I'm so happy about it. I love Knox, and I can't wait to return.
I don't normally make new years resolutions. If I do they're half-formed in my brain and I forget them a month into the year. However, this year, I decided to make up a list of goals I have for this year and go the extra mile of actually writing them down somewhere. I hope that by writing them down, it will somehow reinforce my desire to successfully complete all of them. I'm posting them here so at the end of 2012 (when we won't be dead), I will be able to go over the list and see how I did.
2011 was the year of travel: in February, I flew to Texas for Kenz's 18th, in May I went to Knoxville, TN for Global Finals, in June I went to Texas for Kenz's high school graduation, and in July I went to Ithaca, NY for a family vacation, as well as to Orlando, FL for LeakyCon.
This year, I'd like to travel a lot as well. I'd really like to make it to Chicago soon - I need to see my Chicago people! - and I also want to make it to Chicago for LeakyCon 2012, I'd like to visit Dariana in Ithaca, I'd like to visit Kenz again. I'd also like to visit Amy - hopefully when I visit Dar this summer, I can make a trip up to NH and visit my dear bug. I also want to visit her during Christmas vacation next year when she lives in Boston. Going Christmas shopping with her would be so much fun!
I wouldn't be me if I didn't make make big life-changing decisions regarding my education. After my sophomore year of high school, I started homeschooling because I wasn't happy at MSAE, and it was definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made. I realize again and again how unhappy I was and how superficial and fake the girls in my class were, and still are for that matter, and how good it was for me to take my own path.
With that in mind, around the beginning of December I decided to take a two-term Leave of Absence from Knox and do spring semester at MUM. I never thought I'd be an MUM student, but I'm honestly really excited for this upcoming semester. One of the things I dislike the most about MSAE is what a poor high school English department the school has. I feel extremely under prepared for the level of rigor that Knox's English department requires of me. Since MUM is on the block system, I'll be able to focus on myself more and increasing my level of preparation for Knox's English department. I'll also get to spend Amy's last semester of college with her as well as get to know everyone at MUM more. I would be lying if I said that the possibility of getting to spend five months or so with her that we didn't previously have together wasn't a major factor in my decision to come to MUM.
Knox has been fantastic about it as well. I was very worried that I'd have to reapply as a transfer student and have the risk of losing my scholarships and all the financial aid I'd received for this year. However, I just take a two-term LoA and I will be reinstated as a Knox student Fall 2012. I'm so happy about it. I love Knox, and I can't wait to return.
I don't normally make new years resolutions. If I do they're half-formed in my brain and I forget them a month into the year. However, this year, I decided to make up a list of goals I have for this year and go the extra mile of actually writing them down somewhere. I hope that by writing them down, it will somehow reinforce my desire to successfully complete all of them. I'm posting them here so at the end of 2012 (when we won't be dead), I will be able to go over the list and see how I did.
- Spend less time on Netflix and the internet, and read more books for pleasure. This means that I'd like to read 50 books in 2012, but I'd ideally like to read one book/week, to make 52 books read in the year. I'd be happy if I read 50 books, though.
- Procrastinate less: get my work ethic into better shape.
- Get in better shape and generally eat more healthily (lose 20lbs, if possible).
- Get on a good sleep schedule and STAY ON IT
- Make the most out of Amy's last semester of college with her
- Travel as much as possible (LeakyCon; visit Amy in Boston next winter break & possibly in NH next summer; visit Dar in Ithaca)
- Do well enough at MUM so my first term back at Knox is a complete breeze
- Keep in touch with all my friends at Knox
- Visit Knox at least twice this semester
- Don't die on December 21, 2012 (this one is mostly just for jokes)
- Keep a journal in which I write down one good thing that happens each day
- Blog every weekend
Well, this is #12 completed for the first weekend of 2012. I'm off to finish the first episode of series two of Sherlock.
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