In about 12 hours...

I have to take a final exam on:

Washington Irving, “Rip Van Winkle” (951-965); R. W. Emerson, Nature, Chapters 1, 7, and 8 (1106-1113, 1132-1138), and “Self Reliance” (1151-1180); Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Young Goodman Brown” (1289-1298), and The Scarlet Letter, (1377-1493); Edgar Allan Poe, “The Fall of the House of Usher” (1553-1565); Harriet Jacobs, from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1808-1829); Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1698-1792); Henry David Thoreau, Introduction (1853-1857); from Walden “Economy” (1872-1885; 1893-1900; 1908-1914), “What I Lived For” (1914-1924), “Solitude” (1940-1945), “Higher Laws,” “Brute Neighbors” (1981-1995), and “Conclusion” (2027-2046). Herman Melville, “Bartleby” (2363-2384); Walt Whitman, Song of Myself (2920-2923; 2937-2982); Emily Dickinson, poems (2554-2597), especially “Safe in their Alabaster Chambers” (#124; 2560), “There’s a certain Slant of light” (#320; 2567), “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,” (#340; 2568), “This was a Poet—It is That” (#446; 2575), “Because I could not stop for Death—” (#479; 2578), “I heard a Fly buzz—when I died—” (#591; 2579), “I started Early—Took my Dog—” (#656; 2582), “Tell all the truth but tell it slant -” (#1263; 2590).

Is it too late to turn back...?

We interrupt our regularly scheduled studying to bring you...

My favorite Youtube video!

Only in College

Can you go sledding on cafeteria trays at 2:00 a.m. with your roommate and your neighbor across the hall. I am bruised and exhausted, but it was so worth it! Our neighbor Zac is on the Cross Country team, so last night (this morning, rather) after we got sick of watching youtube, he took us to this hill that the team runs workouts on. It's a pretty big hill I must say, and I didn't even know it was there. So we got all bundled up (I am definitely bringing back some more snow apparel after break) and trekked out with the trays Zac had to the hill. At the hill, we found two more trays that had been left there in the snow. These were bigger and better for sledding than the other ones, and now Zac has quite the collection of cafeteria trays... Anyway, we had a blast! We slid down the hill four or five times before we got tired of climbing back up. On one run, I fell off the tray and it went halfway down the hill without me! Then, obviously, we had a mini snow battle. We would scoop up fresh snow on the trays and fling/dump them on one another. I think I lost the fight. :-( Now I have to stay in and study all day to make up for all the neglecting I did yesterday. I have a paper to rewrite, another paper to write, and three tests to study for. NOT FUN!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Last night, the wet misting weather had started when I got out of class at 7:45. (There is a story about class, I'll talk about that later.) So I braced myself for the snow turning into a wet ruined mush. When I woke up this morning, I turned my head towards the window and was greeted by the wonderful sight of huge flurries flying around like crazy! I feel like I have won another small victory! I know, I have nothing to do with causing the snow, but I just enjoy it so much. I'm sure that now that I publicly expressed my joy for the snow that it will all melt just to spite me. Hopefully there are enough people complaining about the snow to counteract my joy, and it will snow more just to spite them. Yes, I believe that things work this way. I hate when people complain about the snow. It's bloody MICHIGAN people! Move to Florida if you don't like the snow. We don't want you and your complaining here anyway.

Another personal victory: Mel and I decorated our room for Christmas!

Mel made the snowflakes. I made one, but it came out yucky. 

I just have to take a brief pause here to say that The Princess Bride is on Bravo right now. Oh Wesley... Edward who?

Ok, good stuff out of the way, now for my epic fail.

Yesterday I went into my Italian class at 6:00 pm. I hate Mondays and Wednesdays because I have three classes back to back, starting at 3 and going till 7:30. It is awful. So my Italian class is the last one, and by that time I'm exhausted. The final was scheduled for next Monday, so I'm thinking that it would just be an easy review day. I sat down and started knitting a few rows on my scarf. But then the people around keep talking about how much they had studied for today. I turned to the girl next to me and asked if we had a test today. She said "Didn't you get the email? The final is today!" Of course I didn't get the email!!! So I had to take the final cold turkey, no studying. But actually it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I know that I passed, but I know I could have gotten a better grade if I had studied. Sigh. One thing is good though, now I only have to take one final on Monday instead of two. 

But nothing can get me down because it has been snowing for almost 10 hours! 

I Should Disconnect My Computer from the Internet

I shouldn't be writing this right now. I shouldn't even be on the internet. I have so much work to do by Monday it is ridiculous. I really enjoyed the long weekend at home, but it set me back so much! Sunday I got back to school and realized I was whole book behind in my reading. Melanie (my roommate. Just in case there happens to be a reader who doesn't know me. Doubtful.) is working on her rewrites for writing 150, which I help with occasionally, but she would rather be making paper snowflakes. I agree. The end of the semester is awful! I just can't wait till finals are behind me and I can relax!

Instead of my papers, I'd rather be working on this:

That would be the Noro Scarf, which is so much fun to knit! I should be working on Christmas presents, but I just I love watching the colors come together. Speaking of knitting, I brought my knitting to my Civ class a few weeks ago, because I was desperately trying to get a pair of fingerless mitts done before the cold weather hit. My prof was fascinated and he said that he had never had a student knit in class before. I was a little surprised at that, because I am sure I am not the only student here who has yarn exploding from her/his backpack. Anyway, yesterday I went to class and three other girls were knitting. I feel like I have just won a small victory in some way. I inadvertently got more people to knit in public! Mwahahahahahaha... The class continues next semester with the same people, so we'll see if this knitting continues, or if they go back in the closet.

Maybe people are knitting more now because of the weather. Today was bitterly cold with the wind blowing. But at least we have snow!

They say it is supposed to rain tomorrow, but I am really hoping they are wrong. The snow just puts me in such a better mood. If I have to watch it turn to a slushy mess, I won't be able to handle it. I'll just have to turn in a blank sheet of paper for my final on Monday. I swear I will. 

...

Turkey coma...

Weekend Update

Since I have no classes on Fridays, I consider Thursday night the beginning of my weekend. Last Thursday, my mom came to get me and bring me home for the weekend because it was Timmy's birthday!

Binx also enjoyed Timmy's birthday...

 As I posted on Friday, I went down to Detroit that night while Timmy had his APO thingamabob. Saturday was his birthday, and also his cousin's wedding. The wedding was a lot of fun! Although, in his sermon, the priest related the couple's marriage to Ulysses S. Grant. I didn't get it. Supposedly Grant had a wonderful marriage, even though he was the worst president the U.S. has ever had, and ended his life as a drunken, broke failure. But hey, his marriage was good, so lets use him in the wedding sermon! I was cracking up. 

After the reception, Timmy and I went back to my house and we watched WALL-E with my mom. I LOVE WALL-E! I definately think that WALL-E is the best Pixar movie ever. Next comes Toy Story, because it is from my childhood and therefore just awesome. But I'm not going to go into my ranks of Pixar movies right now because I want to talk about WALL-E. If you (the three people who actually read this) haven't seen it, you need to. Right now. I just love it, WALL-E is just so adorable, I want to take him home with me. I also like the content of the movie (don't worry if you haven't seen it, I'm not going to give anything away). I find it amazing that it takes years to make these movies, but the content of WALL-E is so poignant right now. I could go on and on about the wonders of that movie, but I'm just going to tell you to go watch it and love. 

On Sunday, my mom and I slept in and took our time getting back to GV. We stopped at Macaroni Grill for dinner, and finally made it to school at 6:30. I still had my Scarlet Letter paper to write, my Italian packet to finish, and an Italian PowerPoint presentation/3 page report to put together for today. I really DID NOT want to do all that, of course. But I stayed up till 4 and got it all done. I can't guarantee that it is my best work, but at least it is all done. I have never had to pull an all nighter in my life, and I am not about to start now. I actually got 5 1/2 hours of sleep! Go me!

Last night I also frogged the dishcloth I am working on. I had made a bunch of mistakes in it, and I needed the therapy. ALthough it was over halfway done and I have to start it all over again... grrr. I could have let the mistakes go, because they didn't change the look of the work, but I knew that they were there. And I can't live with that. But it doesn't change the fact that I have to start it all over again!!! @#$^&%$*@^#*&^^%$#^@#^&@%#@%%#@^@&@#^%!!!!! That is one long curse. But after last night, I need to curse. It is a good thing that I left my Noro at home, other wise I would be knee deep in a new project right now...

Meanwhile, Somewhere in Detroit...

So I am currently sitting in Timmy's dorm room at UDM. He is at this moment getting initiated into APO, his service frat, and I am neglecting my Italian homework and trying to figure out his computer. PCs... I miss my Mac. Anyway, Timmy's suite mate Ihor is playing his music way too loud. You are going to blow out your eardrums good sir.

Ok, first of all, I have to answer Ihor's question from the comments on my last post. Yes, Grand Valley has a bowling class. And archery, ballroom dancing, salsa dancing, soccer, swimming, ballet, basketball, fencing, and a ton others that I can't think of at the moment and I don't feel like looking up. I really wanted to take archery next semester but it is taught off campus and I don't have a car to get there.

Let's see... what else has been happening...

Recently I taught Timmy how to knit! He picked it up pretty fast and was a mazed how addicting it can be. I could've told him that... He is also discovering how relaxing it can be to just knit and purl away after a stressful day. I had him set up an account on Ravelry, so he can chronicle his progress from the very beginning. I wish Ravelry was around when I first started! Before I left school to come home for the weekend, my mom and I stopped off at City Knitting to pick up some good yarn for Timmy. I got him this beautiful blue speckled merino wool. It is navy blue with flecks of lighter blue. If I was on my own computer I would post some pictures. He immediately casted on a scarf after I gave him his yarn and needles. The project is sitting on the desk next to me and my fingers are itching to work on it... but I shall resist! The yarn is so very nice... I am very jealous. I am only on my second dishcloth and allready they are driving me bonkers. I want to toss the cotton out the window and turn to the Noro I bought for a scarf. The only thing keeping me from ripping the dishcloth off my needled and casting on the scarf is that they are size 6, and the scarf I want to make needs size 7. Curse me for leaving all my needles at school! CURSES!!!

Ihor is now whistling along with his music. Hmmm...

Top 10 Reasons Why Rock Climbing is the Best Class at GV

1. I get school credit, for climbing up a wall.

2. It is the only class I have where the boys outnumber the girls. (sorry Timmy!)

3. They play Pandora in the gym. The best music comes on!!!

4. Strength training that isn't boring! I'm getting PUMPED. (ok, not really...)

5. Climbing blindfolded. SO MUCH FUN! I know it sounds weird, but it is really awesome.

6. Being belay certified. I am the bomb diggity shiz-nit. (I have just been dying to say that...)

7. The professor, Joe. He is really nice and helpful. and he has a mini mohawk. Not a faux hawk, a mini one.

8. I actually learn stuff. Most people think that all you do is climb, but there is so much technique to learn.

9. Sweet rock climbing shoes.

10. I feel like Spiderman! 

What sucks about it? It's only six weeks long! :-(

The Scarlet Letter and other such nonsense

I have a paper due monday. I have to turn in my first paragraph tomorrow. I really don't know why I have to turn in a paragraph, we never have had to for this professor before. Well, it forces me not to procrastinate. We had six topics to choose from, and I picked this:

Compare/contrast Dimmesdale and Chillingworth and their roles in the book’s symbolic and other meanings.  In what ways are they like/unlike? For example, in what ways do both of them hide from the law or take it into their own hands? In what ways might they both “loath” (1430) themselves? What might Chillingworth’s misshapen shoulder and the physical marks on Dimmesdale’s body symbolize? How are their sins like/unlike? In what ways is Arthur redeemed (or not) at the end? Why isn’t Chillingworth given a chance at redemption? Compare/contrast the two men’s fates with Hester’s return in chapter 24. What do you think are Hawthorne’s points in contrasting these three fates?

This was the easiest one. Trust me. After sophomore year of high school I thought I was done with the Scarlet Letter. But here I am, almost three years later and I have to analyze the bloody book AGAIN. Come to think of it, the paper I wrote on the Scarlet Letter back then wasn't even graded because my teacher's basement flooded and all the papers were ruined. I doubt that I will have the same luck this time.

In other news, I have started my Christmas knitting! Almost all of my female family members are receiving hand knit dishcloth sets. Very exciting, I know. I have one done, and I have just started the second one today. Here is all the yarn I bought for the project, artfully arranged on my windowsill:

 

I'd rather be knitting, but I think I'll start my paper so I can get some sleep tonight. 

Hello!

My good friend Josh  recently requested all of his friends to start up a blog. I think he has some intellectual motive for wanting to read about other people's schoolwork... I don't know. All I know is that he asked, and he shall receive. Also, I must like punishment, because I am committing to a blog when I have almost zero time for anything in my schedule as is. Oh well, we'll see how this goes. I'll write something interesting later, but right now I have to go suck my brain dry by reading Thoreau. Yuck.