Radio

Do you guys listen to the radio?

If someone had asked me that question three years ago, I would have thought it was the stupidest question ever--obviously I listen to the radio, who doesn't?!  Growing up, the radio was always on at my house, and I mean always.  We had at least one on each floor and even when we weren't home, they were on (music for dogs; you know, so they don't get lonely or anything).  The first thing we did when we woke up in the morning was turn on the radio and they stayed on until we went to bed.  Even now, when I'm home, if the radio isn't on, it just seems too quiet.

So, naturally, I just assumed that everyone's family was like mine and they always had their radios on.  But, I've come to find out that a lot of families are not as weird as mine (in many other ways too) and they don't listen to the radio at all, or not very often.

I don't know why I find this weird.  I mean, whether you listen to the radio or not...it doesn't change who you are as a person.  I guess I just grew up listening to the radio constantly and it baffles me that some people didn't grow up like that.  Weird.

So, for those of you who do listen to the radio, do you ever try to win in the contests they have?  Wait, maybe that's a stupid question.  I mean, do you call in to win stuff?  I never used to that much--I mean, if I had the radio on when they said to call in, I would, but I'd only try a couple times and I'd never make a big deal about tuning in at specific times to try and win.

Well, the radio station I listen to here has this contest on now, and you can win tickets to see a Lady Gaga concert, a Bruno Mars concert, and a Rihanna concert (one person wins tickets to the three separate concerts! It's crazy!!).  At first, I would just call in if I was listening in the morning, or if the radio happened to be on at a later time, but it was no big deal.  But now!  I'm setting alarms so I don't miss it!  I almost had a nervous breakdown when I called earlier today and it actually started ringing!!! (It went to voice mail...I almost cried)  And, I mean, it's a really great prize, and it would be amazing to win.  But even if I manage to get through, that only qualifies me to win, and the chances still wouldn't be that high that I'd actually win.

Have you guys ever acted like this, for any kind of competition (radio or otherwise)?  I mean, tried really hard to win, and freaked out about it, even though the chances are slim?  Let me know in the comments!

In other news, today was the last day of classes for the semester, which continues to blow my mind, as it feels like my birthday was three weeks ago, when really it was almost three months ago (wait, what?!) and all that stands between me and summer vacation is four exams and nine days.  I guess it's time to stop procrastinating...or time to make a video...one of the two!

Exams left until summer: 4

Movies watched this April: 0
Episodes of Friends watched this April: 2

love <3

School Lessons

Guys, BEDA is hard this year!  My day-to-day life is really not at all interesting and otherwise...I don't have a whole lot to talk about.

This morning, I worked for two hours, which, in all honesty...kind of sucked.  I mean, for the most part, I love my job, I love the people I work with and I basically have no complaints.  But Tuesday mornings...they are not something I enjoy.

On Tuesday mornings, we have school lessons, which basically means that kids come with their class to the pool for the lesson (as opposed to coming with their parents in the evenings/weekend).  Honestly, I had never heard of school lessons before a couple months ago, had no idea they existed.  Growing up, I certainly never went swimming as a part of school.  I think a couple times, we went to the local pool for a field trip, but that was to have fun, not for lessons.  Did you guys have school lessons when you were younger?  Let me know.

Anyway, the kids who come for school lessons all know each other and, for the most part, are friends (as opposed to normal lessons where the kids don't already know each other), so all they want to do is have fun and not listen even a little bit.  Plus, there's more kids and less instructors then normal lessons, so the classes are usually at least twice as big.

Just imagine this for a second: classes of eight or more kids who don't listen to a word you say...do you have any idea how frustrating that is?!

Plus, half the kids don't even want to be there!  I mean, with normal lessons, most parents put there kids in lessons when they're younger, just so that they can at least learn the basics of swimming, but after a while, if the kids don't want to do swimming lessons anymore, the parents stop signing them up!  I mean, what parent wants to be paying for swimming lessons when their child has no interest in it anymore?!  But these kids... as far as I can tell, these kids are there whether they want it or not.  From what I can see, in the grades/schools that do school lessons, the only way a kid is getting out of it is if they have a legit reason, not just that they don't want to.  And it really sucks teaching swimming lessons to kids who don't even want to be there.

One plus, however, is that the parents aren't there for school lessons, so you don't have all those over protective parents trying to tell you how to do your job.  I mean, the teachers are there, and if they see you struggling with a kid, they might give you some hints on how they handle the kid, but for the most part they leave you alone, which is pretty freaking amazing, if you ask me.

Anyway, this morning was the first day of a new set of lessons (which means all new kids and teaching different levels) and, while they weren't the greatest lessons I've ever taught, it helped to remember that next week, I won't be teaching them (as I have an exam at the same time as my shift) and then I only have two more weeks after that before I leave for the summer.  It was just kind of comforting to know that I only have two weeks left with these kids, not seven.  Phew.

In other news, I've had this song stuck in my head all day, this time next week I'll be half done my exams, and Canada Post is the worst part of my day.

The end.

Exams left until summer: 4

Movies watched this April: 0

love <3

PS.  If you guys have any ideas or suggestions about things I could talk about, please leave them in the comments!  Clearly I'm struggling!  And, you know, it's always good to talk about things that interest the audience.  Or, you know, so I've heard...

NDP Groceries

Today was a not-very-exciting day.  It was the last Monday of the semester, other than exams, so that was pretty exciting.  Today was also the day of the bake sale that I mentioned a couple days ago, so that's where I spent a large part of my day.  My peanut butter balls were a huge success, sold out within the first hour and a half-ish.  That was pretty exciting.  I've never been that confident about my baking.  I mean, I know it's not terrible, because people always eat the stuff I bake.  I just never thought it was that outstanding.  But, apparently, my peanut butter balls are basically the best thing ever.

I also went and got groceries today, which is pretty much my favourite form of procrastination for several reasons: a) it's something I have to do; b) I don't feel guilty; and c) grocery shopping is fun!!

So that was pretty much how I spent my day.  However, I really wanted this month to not be a "today I did this, then I did this, and then that happened" type of blog.  So here we go:

On day one of BEDA, I asked for people to give some ideas they had for things I could blog about.  One suggestion I got was to talk about the upcoming federal election.  Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about the election.  I mean, I know the basics, but I certainly don't know enough to give any kind of insight on it.

Here's what I know: Jim Flaherty, who is currently the minister of finance (aka the second most powerful man in the country) is the MP for my home region, which is where I will be when voting happens.  In general, I'm not really a conservative person, I tend to be more liberal/social, but I really want to go into this election looking at the specific person I would be voting for (the MP of my region) and not at the party in general.  I mean, the party they're associated with will obviously have an effect on the way I vote, but I'm not going to vote for the NDP candidate just because I want them to have more power in the country.  If I think that the Conservative candidate is going to do a better job (which he probably will, we've had a conservative MP for...well, as long as I can remember) then I'm going to vote for him, even if the Tories, as a party in general, are not really who I want running the country.

I don't know if that makes any sense, but that's all I got as far as the election goes.  What do you guys think?  Let me know in the comments!

Exams left until summer: 4

Movies watched this April: 0

love <3

One Year

Do you remember what you were doing a year ago today?

My guess is probably not.

It was the Saturday of Easter weekend, just before the end of classes for the semester.  There's nothing significant or special about that day.  It wasn't one of those days that you'll remember for the rest of your life; it wasn't a day that you'll ask people what they were doing and everyone will just remember.*  There was nothing at all important about April 3, 2010.

Except, for me, it's the day my life changed, probably forever.

A couple days earlier, a friend of mine posted this video on my facebook wall (or maybe it was someone else's wall, and I just saw it in my news feed, I honestly can't remember) and I thought it was absolutely hilarious.  So, I fed my natural need to procrastinate and proceeded to watch all the videos she had posted on her channel.  I adored her and thought she was very clever and hilarious.  Then, I'm not entirely sure how, but I somehow discovered that she had a blog, here on blogspot.  Because I loved her videos so much, I decided to read her blogs...all of them...all the way from the beginning.  Needless to say, there were quite a lot of posts and it took me quite a long time to get caught up (although not as long as you would expect, I'm sorry to say).

I don't remember if I started reading her blog on that Saturday, or if I started earlier, but on that fateful Saturday, I must have reached a point in my reading where I realized something: not only did I love this random girl...I kind of wanted to be her.  It sounds super creepy when I say it like that, but it's really true.  So I decided that I was going to start blogging and I was going to start posting videos (vlogs, as the cool kids call them) on youtube.  At the time, I didn't have a webcam, and my digital camera is stupid and won't record sound, so I figured that the blog was a good place to start.

Prior to that, I had started several different blogs, but none of them really turned into anything.  Mostly because I was too lazy to really keep up with them, and they just kind of went down the drain.  This time, though, something felt different.  There's was something about this blog, and something about my reason for starting it that...I just knew.  I just knew it was going to last.  So I posted this with the intention of writing every few weeks, but not all that often, especially because exams were soon coming up.

However, as I continued to read hayleyghoover's blog, I discovered something called BEDA, or Blog Every Day in April.  Hayley was doing it, as were a few other blogs I came across through her.  It sounded interesting and like a fun challenge, especially given what a crazy/hectic month April was going to be.  So, that Saturday night, I decided I was going to attempt BEDA.  I mean, why not?  And, although I missed a couple days towards the end of the month, I count myself as successful, especially since it was my first real venture into blogging.

It is now a year later, and I have managed to keep this blog alive.  Not only that, I have also been posting videos on my personal youtube channel and I've been involved with a youtube collaboration channel called 5AwesomeCollegeGirls where I post a video every Thursday.

So much has happened this past year, it really is hard to believe.  And it's so hard to believe that an entire year has gone by already!  I know I say this a lot, but time really does fly!

For my six-month anniversary in October, I talked about all the things that had happened during those six months.  But I don't want to do that today.  You guys know all the important stuff that's happened in the last year, and if you don't...ask.

Instead, today I want to thank you.  Thank you for taking the time to actual read this.  Thank you for commenting, if you do, but even if you don't, I still want to thank you.  When I started this a year ago, I really didn't think anyone would read this.  I mean, who wants to read the things that I have to say?!  And sometimes, it does feel like I'm talking to myself.  But then, on those days when I check my email and see that someone commented, or when I check my views and see that even one or two people read my post...well, that feeling makes it all worth it.  So thank you, from the very bottom of my heart.  I appreciate it more than you could ever know.

Exams left until summer: 4

Movies watched this April: 0

PS.  The peanut butter balls turned out amazing!  I wish I could eat all of them, but then there would be none left for the bake sale.  Darn it...

*As in, the day of 9/11, the day Michael Jackson died, those kinds of things.  Those are the days and events that people remember for a very long time.

Peanut Butter Balls!

Welcome to Day Two of this year's Blog Every Day in April!

So this afternoon I made peanut butter balls!  There's a bake sale on Monday, and I really wanted to try and perfect my peanut butter ball recipe and make them really good.  Plus, I made them today instead of tomorrow, so if I screwed them up I would have time tomorrow to make something new.

So I could tell you all kinds of stuff about the making of these peanut butter balls, but they say a picture's worth a thousand words, so here we go:

Peanut butter...

and some butter...

throw in some icing sugar...

mix it all together...

almost mixed...

balls!

now all they need is some chocolate and...good go to!

They're in the freezer now, and once they're frozen they will be dipped in chocolate and will be very delicious!

If you want the recipe, let me know in the comments and I will send it to you!

So what are your favourite things to bake/make?  What are some of the best recipes you've used?  Let me know down in the comments!!

Exams left until summer: 4

Movies watched this April: 0

love <3

BEDA!

Hello blogosphere!

How are you guys doing on this lovely Friday that is also April Fool's Day?*  I hope everything's going well for all of you.

Speaking of April Fool's Day, we all know it happens on April first.  But do you remember what else happens on April first?  Wait for it...wait...yup, it's the first day of BEDA!

In case anyone doesn't know/remember, BEDA stands for Blog Every Day in April.  Basically, it's a challenge to get people blogging.  I did BEDA last year (sort of) so of course I have to try it again this year!

So who's with me for thirty wonderful days of exams, studying, whining and complaining about both of those things, being jealous that my roommates are all graduating, watching every movie I own, working lots, and getting to spend Easter with my mom for the first time in years?  Are you with me?  I hope so!!

Exams left until summer: 4

Movies watched this April: 0

love <3

PS.  If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for things I should or could write about this month, please leave them down in the comments.  Thirty days is a long time, and my life is not nearly that interesting.

*Did you guys play any cool pranks on anyone?  Did anyone prank you??  If so, tell me about it in the comments, I want to know!  For me, this was the most disappointing AFD ever!  I didn't get to prank anyone, and no one pranked me.  Sad face. :(

Friday

I have to say something.  At least one person who reads this probably isn't going to agree, but I need to get it out.

So you've all heard that song called Friday by Rebecca Black, right?  If you haven't, you can hear the song and see the music video here.  (If you haven't heard it, I strongly suggest you do so before you continue reading this post--it will make so much more sense if you actually know what I'm talking about.)

Ever since this song came out last week, people have really been giving this girl a hard time, saying that it's a stupid song and she's so dumb and blah blah blah.  First of all, she's only thirteen years old, give the girl a break.  Or we could talk about all the stupid stuff you were doing when you were thirteen...thought so.

Second of all, she didn't write the song.  Now, I will admit that it's kind of a stupid song.  Catchy, but stupid.  Although, if she had written it, I would have to give her props, because goodness knows it's better than anything I could have written when I was thirteen!  But either way, it's not her song.  It's a song that someone else wrote, that some music label wanted her to sing.  And don't you dare try and pretend that, if you were in her shoes, you would have said no.  Someone big record label wants to sign you, produce your albums, shoot your music videos and basically make you a big star...but it just so happens that the first single is a pretty dumb song.  Don't pretend for even a second that you would have said no.  I know I wouldn't!  I would gladly sing that song if it meant all kinds of fame and fortune (I mean, if I could sing...).

So, you know what?  Yea, it's a really stupid song.  But shut up about it.  Don't take it out on a poor thirteen year old girl who just wants to go somewhere with the talent she has.  Goodness knows that some of the greatest musicians have sang some pretty terrible songs, but that doesn't stop us from loving them.  So just leave the poor girl alone!

And frankly, as bad as it is, Friday is a really catchy song!

love <3

P.S. What do you want to do before you die?  Let me know here!

P.P.S. April is only nine days away, and guess what...I'm doing BEDA again this year!  Get ready for a whole month of Seana!

What's Your Dream?

I've never known what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Wait...that's a huge lie.

Throughout my childhood, I wanted to be everything under the sun, from a teacher to a model to a doctor, dentist, and vet all at the same time (I was going to live at my cottage and take care of my parents and dogs*).  I had a huge imagination and there was no end to the possible jobs.

The problem is, since I stopped being a child and started getting serious about my future (basically when I started high school) I really haven't known what I wanted to be.  I jumped from physiotherapist to dietitian to chiropractor to pharmacist.  Now I'm doing a degree in nutrition, but I still don't really know where I see myself, career-wise, even in five years.

A couple months ago, I took a career aptitude test, just to see what a generic test thought I should do. (I also tried to Google "what should I be when I grow up" but that didn't end quite as well)  My top answer: actor.  Within my top five, there was also director, director of photography, and comedian (the Internet knows I'm funny!)  I wasn't so appreciative of my answers at first, because so many of them were show-biz related, and it's not like that's an easy field to get into.

I couldn't ignore my top answer, though.  Actor.  I've wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember.  Mixed in with all my unrealistic and unsuccessful ideas, I have always wanted to act.  Drama is actually one of my biggest passions and basically the only thing I could ever really see myself doing (or working with kids--my other passion).

Which leads to the question, why is that not what I'm doing?!  If acting is my passion, why am I majoring in biochemistry, which I don't even really like that much, instead of pursuing acting?!  The answer: I really don't know.  My school doesn't have a drama department, but I don't think that should stop me from pursuing my dream.

So for now, I don't know.  I'll stick with biochem until I get my degree and then after that...we'll see.  Maybe in five years, when you go to the movie theater, you'll see my name on the big screen!

So tell me: what's your passion?  What's that one dream you've always had, for as long as you can remember?  Are you doing anything to reach it?

love <3

*Since then, my parents have split up, sold the cottage, and two of my dogs have died...good thing I got over that dream!

Before I Die...

Oh baby.

Can someone please explain to me how it is already half way through February?  How, and when, did that happen?  It literally feels like December was just yesterday--I'm not kidding.  I mean, midterm break is next week, and the week after is March.  March!  In less than two months, exams, and this whole semester, will be completely over!  It still barely feels like it's even started!

In other news, when time goes by quickly, it astonishes me.  Frankly, if we're going to talk about being astonished, the fact that I'm 21 still kind of blows my mind.  I remember my eighth birthday and it seriously doesn't feel like that long ago (we went to a farm near my house and went tobogganing and played in the snow...hey, there's only so many things you can do when your birthday's in January!).  Or even something that wasn't so long ago--my grade twelve prom was three years ago.  Three!  I remember shopping for my prom dress and it feels like it couldn't have been more than a year ago.

People are always saying that life is too short, and I've never really understood what that meant.  I mean, life is the longest thing we have--nothing we do or experience will be longer than our lives on earth (except the afterlife, but let's not get into that).  I've always thought that people who said life was too short were kind of silly, but now I think I finally get it.  It isn't that life itself is short--70 or 80 years is a really long time--it's more that the time we do have goes by so quickly, that if we don't take advantage of it, it'll all be gone before we know it.

So, in the spirit of taking advantage of our time on earth, I've created a sort of to-do-before-I-die, bucket list type of thing.  Here are ten things, in no order, that I would like to accomplish before I die:

1. Travel to all the amazing places on my growing list of places I want to visit (Greece, Australia, and Italy, just to name a few);
2. Actually learn to speak Spanish (instead of just the few random phrases I know);
3. Visit all of the THCF camps (the five I haven't seen, and the new ones being built);
4. Finish writing/editing my NaNoWriMo book;
5. Possibly get said book published (or another book);
6. Find that one person that I want to spend the rest of my life with.  That one person that makes me think no other man exists;
7. Live in another country for an extended period of time (probably a couple months);
8. Meet J K Rowling, Meg Cabot, and Suzanne Collins;
9. Do something drastically life changing for me, and no one else; aaaaand...
10. Be on a TV show of some sort.

So, what is your bucket list?  What kinds of things do you want to do or accomplish before you die?  Let me know in the comments!

love <3

Re: The Hunger Games

A couple days ago, I wrote about a new book I had started reading called The Hunger Games.  This afternoon I finished it.  There are so many emotions running through me right now and I just need to get them out.  I was going to make a video, but I fear I might cry and I'm not prepared to be that vulnerable on camera yet.

The protagonist of Hunger Games, Katniss, comes from a very poor neighbourhood.  Most of the tributes (that's what the competitors are called) are underprivileged, so it's not weird that Katniss has very little.  But, because the whole book is written from her point of view, you really get a sense of just how poor she is.  Before the Games, she has to break the law every single day and risk being punished by death just to feed herself and her family.  Of course, during the Games, how rich or poor you are really has no affect on your chances of surviving; even if you have all the food in the world back home, that isn't going to help you get food in that arena.

I don't know why, but the situation Katniss has pre-Games makes me really sad.  I mean, I know none of it's real, but I also know that there are people all over the world, and as close as around the corner, who have it just as bad as Katniss did.  I mean, in the book, she has to hunt for her food, and if she doesn't catch anything, she doesn't eat.  That really makes me feel guilty when I think of how I can just go to the grocery store, give them a little piece of plastic, and get all the food I could ever want.  It makes me feel even more guilty when I think about the times I've had to throw food out because it's gone bad, but there's easily someone out there who would kill for my moldy bread or mushy, brown bananas.  And I know it's crazy, because I know there's nothing I can do about it.  I mean, I can't stop eating and spending the money I have; that doesn't make any sense.  Me not eating isn't going to put food in starving peoples' mouths.  And, of course, I can't make food appear for these people.  I can donate both my time and money to shelters and soup kitchens and such, and while that would help, it won't help everyone; that isn't really possible.  I mean, people, and groups of people, with way more money and resources than me haven't been able to solve this problem, there isn't much I can do.  I can help, but I can't fix it.

I know this is all really crazy, and I know this is all stemming from a fictional character in a fictitious book.  Maybe I'm just going crazy, I don't know.  But all day I've been having these weird thoughts and feelings and I needed to get them out somehow.

If you've ever had this kind of emotional reaction to a book or a movie or a song, let me know.  It would really help to know I'm not alone in this!

love <3

The Hunger Games

Those of you who know me, know that reading and books are a huge part of my life.  I remember the first time I went to the public library, when I was in grade 3 (about 8 years old) and I just went crazy!  I couldn't understand the concept of being able to just pick whatever books you want, and take them home with you!  Just take them!  Libraries blew my mind at the point.

That was about the time that I really got into reading seriously.  I would go to the library every two to three weeks with my mom, and usually get up to twenty books, and somehow I would manage to read them all!  I guess eight-year-olds have a little more time on their hands than university students.

But even though I no longer have the time to read twenty books a month doesn't mean I don't have time to read at all.  I love rereading books I've already read, which people think is weird, but the way I see it, if I loved the book the first time, why wouldn't I love it a second or third time?  And if I wait long enough before rereading it, I forget most of the details, so it's not like I remember every little thing that happens.  It's like rewatching movies: when you find a movie you love, you'll want to watch it more than once because you love it!

But I also adore finding new books, either by authors by whom I've already read something, or through recommendations from friends.  This is how I stumbled upon The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.  Some people I know have read it, and I've heard only good things about it, so I decided to read it.  I figured, if enough people thought it was good, it's bound to be pretty good.  I was wrong.  It's not pretty good; it's amazing!  I only started it a couple days ago, but I'm already half way through, and I would probably finish it tonight if I didn't have school work to do.

The Hunger Games is set in an alternate society in what is referred to as formerly North America.  In this society, at some time before the book starts, there was a war where a large number of the people died or were killed at the hands of the government.  Now, every year, to remind people of the downsides of rebelling against the government, there is a competition called the Hunger Games.  Twelve boys and twelve girls between the ages of twelve and eighteen are placed in a giant arena and it's basically a battle to the death, last person alive wins.  The story is told from the point of view of a sixteen year old girl named Katniss who becomes on the competitors.  So far it is an amazing book, I highly recommend it to anyone.

High: I had a really amazing weekend and I'm still living off the memories!
Low: I have a test tomorrow that I am not even a little bit ready for.
Thankful: for amazing books. :)

love <3

Surprisingly Eventful

I've been wanting to post something for a few days now, and I would come to the New Post page, and just stare at the blinking cursor for...half an hour, then close the page and leave.  I felt like I had nothing to really say, and that nothing has really happened lately.  Which is ridiculous, because so much has happened!  From just the most basic mundane things (starting another semester of school, starting my new job as a lifeguard/swimming instructor at my school's pool) to the slightly more exciting stuff (a new video on my youtube channel, plus the first week of our great new youtube collab channel) to the very exciting milestones (last Sunday was my 21st birthday, and it was a blast!!  Let's just say there was a limo, some champagne, and an amazing amount of fun!).

Do you guys ever have weeks like that?  Weeks where nothing really big or major has happened and you kind of feel like it has just been normal and unexciting and nothing has really happened, but then you look back on it and lots of things have happened!  Maybe I'm not making any sense, or maybe you totally get what I'm saying.  Either way, the last two and a half weeks had seemed rather uneventful to me (except for my birthday, of course!) but looking back on it...uneventful is not the right word at all.

I want to just go back to the new youtube project that I'm part of.  I mentioned it way back in April, when I first knew that I was going to be involved in it, but now it's really happening.  This past week was our first week of the channel.  Basically, there's five of us and we each of our own assigned day of the week, from Monday to Friday (I'm Thursday).  On our assigned day we post a video.  Most weeks will probably have some sort of theme or something that ties all our videos together.  It's really fun, because three of the girls (Olivia, Kourtney, and Sam) are from the US (Illinois, I think) and the other girl (Elle) is in London.  It's really cool that we're all kind of far apart from each other.  It's really fun getting to know each other.  And, I mean, it would be really great if lots of other people watched our videos but, really, this is for us, and I think we'll keep doing it no matter how many subscribers we get.  It's just a really fun exciting new aspect of my life and I'm really excited about it!

love <3

Small, Uncomfortable Planes

I hate flying.  No, wait… that is a huge lie.  I love flying.  I love that we have the ability to travel thousands of kilometers in a matter of hours.  What I actually hate are airplanes, which is where I am at the moment.  I am in the aisle seat, which is actually my preferred seat because I’m kind of claustrophobic.  There’s an older woman beside me, in the middle seat, and she seems nice enough.  There’s a guy, probably my age, in the window seat, he also seems like a nice guy.  But, of course, the problem: the guy sitting in front of me reclined his seat back pretty much the second the seat belt sign was turned off.  I have long legs, so my knees are digging into the back of his chair.  I don’t know how it’s not making him uncomfortable, because it’s killing me.  And then, there’s a little kid sitting behind me, and he occasionally kicks the back of my chair.  It’s not so bad, but it sure as hell is not great.  Plus, being in the aisle seat, my entire right arm keeps getting hit by flight attendants, people going to, or coming from, the bathroom, and the food cart.  My funny bone hurts like hell, and my upper arm will probably be bruised for the next two and a half weeks.  Perfect.

Plus, to top it all off, this isn’t exactly my favourite flight to be taking.  I am flying back to school, after Christmas break, for the winter semester.  Yay.  I am just sooo happy to be starting another fourteen weeks of stressing myself out beyond belief over things that won’t even matter in six months.  Super.  I mean, it’s no secret that I think university is a huge waste of both time and money.  Ah well, at least I am now more than half done my undergrad.  I guess there really is a silver lining to this cloud.

--

It is now a couple days later and I've been back home and back at school for two days.  Woopie.  Actually, it hasn't been that bad.  I've only had to sit through five hours of lectures in two days, which is more than tolerable.  Plus, I've been planning my birthday party, which is very exciting.  Maybe I'm a huge nerd, but it's my 21st birthday.  I can't not have a party!  I mean, turning 21 isn't as huge a deal in Canada as it is in the US and other countries, but it's still a milestone birthday, and it's still something that I'm really excited about celebrating.  What kind of stuff have you guys done for your milestone birthdays?

High: two day week.  'Nuff said.

Low: I still haven't finished unpacking, and my room is kind of a huge, disastrous mess.  Sweeeeeet.

Thankful: for being able to reconnect with my friends after break.

Since I started this blog, I've been counting how many books I've read over the year, and occasionally counting down to things I'm anticipating in the near future.  But this year I want to try something different.  So do you guys have any ideas for things I can count throughout the year?  Let me know!

love <3

2010...What a Year!

As we wind down 2010, I really wanted to write something about what this year has meant to me.  I don't even know where to start.  I think I can safely say that 2010 has been the best year of my life, so far.  When I look back on where I was this time last year, it is completely different from right now.  In 2010, I started this blog (and kept with it for nine months!) which is certainly a first for me!  I also started vlogging on youtube.  I only started that a couple months ago, and I have few videos, but there will certainly be more to come in 2011!  I also got involved with a new collab channel that is set to start mid-January (hopefully!).  And that is just my Internet life!

This summer, I explored an entirely new part of Canada, somewhere I had never been before.  I essentially moved to a new part of the country for three months to work at the most amazing job I ever could have asked for.  The people I worked with are some of the greatest people I know, and I hope to stay friends with them for a very long time.  I also met some amazing kids, campers that I will never forget, and who completely changed my life.  Completely.  I can't even explain the affect these campers had on me.  I am a different, much more optimistic and happy person thanks to these girls, who did nothing other than be themselves for ten days.

I am also now living completely on my own for the first time (not with my parents or in residence).  This is huge.  Although I like to think of myself as an independent person, I've never had to do everything myself.  When I lived at home, my mom would do the grocery shopping, cook the meals, and do the laundry.  I helped out where I could, but none of it was ever my responsibility.  When I started university, and lived in res, I was responsible for most things in my life--except food.  I had a meal card, and went to the main dining hall for all my meals.  I never had to cook any of my own meals, or do grocery shopping, or anything like that.  Now, I have to budget my money, buy all my groceries, cook all my own meals, everything.  I am completely, one hundred percent independent and responsible for everything in my life.  And, you know, I couldn't be happier.  I love living on my own!  And now, when I come home (to my mom's house, where I grew up) it feels like a treat to have my mom cook meals for me, or do my laundry.  I now truly appreciate everything she does for me.

All in all, 2010 has been amazing.  I am the happiest I have been in as long as I can remember, and I legitimately don't think I have any complaints about 2010.  Sitting here, right now, I seriously cannot think of a single thing I would change about 2010.  Maybe I would add a boyfriend into the mix...but realistically, there isn't even anyone in my life right now who I would want as a boyfriend.  That's how happy I am!  I can only hope that 2011 is half as good as 2010 has been!

High: I got a whole lot of errands done today--it was a very productive day!
Low: I have zero plans for tonight, for the first time...ever.  Sigh.  This is what happens when all your friends are half way across the country!
Thankful: for the best year of my life!

Books read this year: ...I don't want to talk about it.
Days left at home: 5 (where did these three weeks go?!)

Happy New Year everybody!  Hope you all had great 2010s, and that 2011 is all you could ask for, and more!
love<3

P.S. I am an idiot!  I totally forgot that I wrote a 50,000 word novel in less than a month!!  Talk about a huge accomplishment in my life!!  The novel isn't quite finished yet, and I haven't even started editing, although I should probably get on that pretty soon.  There are too many people in my life who want to read it for me to put it off any longer.  But yea, I also wrote a novel this year!

Pure Relaxation :)

You know what the crazy thing about time is?  It always moves forward!  And it never stops!

OK, I know what you're saying: Um, duh!  But you know how when you're anticipating something it seems like time slows down and takes four times longer than it should to happen?  Or when you're dreading something, it happens that much sooner?  Well, surprise, both things take the exact same amount of time!  Case in point: I am done exams, and done the semester from hell.  I am also home, in the house I grew up in, for three weeks for Christmas break.

I finished exams and flew home on Thursday (four days ago).  And talk about a crazy day!  I had my stats exam at 9 in the morning, and then my chem exam (my last exam!) at noon.  That exam ended at 2:30, after which I had to run home, finish packing, finish cleaning my room, and then haul ass to the airport, because I had a flight that left at 5:30.  Talk about a hectic day!  How I didn't miss my flight is still a mystery to me.  Of course, as soon as I sat down on that airplane...wow, what a great feeling of relief!

Since I got home, I have basically watched a lot of Christmas movies, lied around doing nothing, done some Christmas shopping and...not a whole heck of a lot else!  And it just feels so great, after a terrible semester, to be able to lie around all day doing nothing, and not feel guilty about it!  For my biggest stress to be Christmas shopping and not a damn thing else!  I love no school. :)

High: today I finished all my shopping for my dad, and I only have a few things left to buy for my mom, and then I'm done!
Low: all the crowds and traffic today.  It's the middle of the day on Monday! Don't people work anymore?!
Thankful: that I can buy some great gifts for the people I love. :)

Books read this year: 46 (I am so close to being done number 47! I've still got 11 days left!)
Days until Christmas: 5!

love <3

No...More...Studies!

So you know when you've been working really hard at something, and it's been taking all your time and energy, and you've just been super stressed about it, and it feels like it's never going to end...but then it does?  You know the feeling you get when you are finally finished with whatever has been stressing you out?  That really calm feeling, like you have nothing to worry about anymore, and things are just going great in your life?  Do you know what I'm talking about?  Yea, I don't.

This morning I wrote my third of five exams.  sjkehtiuawhytauegh.  That's how I feel about exams.  Especially because it seems like so many people I know are already done!  I know that that means they probably had four exams in four days, or whatever, but still.  That doesn't make me feel any better about only being just over half done!

In other news, I will be on an airplane, on my way home, in a mere 52 hours.  Holy man, am I ever excited for that!  It just does not feel right for it to be Christmas and to not be home.  I mean, Christmas isn't for another 11 days, and I don't think I've actually missed anything yet, but I still want to go home, really badly.

Can you tell I'm procrastinating right now?  I have two exams and two days left, but unfortunately...I'm kind of studied out.  I don't want to study!!  You can't make me!!! (I'm going...)

High: finally finishing math! (...for now)
Low: still have stats and chem left...yikes!
Thankful: that I'm going home in two days!

Books read this year: 46
Exams left until Christmas break: 2
Days until Christmas: 11

love <3

What's the Point?

So if you're in university (or college) and you're currently writing exams, or if you just like surfing the internet, you've probably heard of the site likealittle.com.  It's a site where people around campus post comments about other people they see around campus.  I personally think it is the stupidest concept for a website ever.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I think it's hilarious, and it's a decent way to procrastinate (as if I need any more of those!) but I know there are people out there who take this kind of stuff really seriously!  I mean, how can people actually think that leaving a post on a random website about a guy or girl you see somewhere on campus who you think looks good will make any kind of difference about anything?!  I guess I compare likealittle to sites like textsfromlastnight or fml, etc and I don't fully get how or why people take them so seriously.

A few hours ago I wrote my first final for this semester.  It has organic chem, which is probably the final I was most worried about.  I think it went decent, and either way, it's over now.  This course is my one and only organic course, and hopefully my last chemistry course (other than the other chem course I'm doing this semester...but you know what I mean).  Frankly, even if it wasn't the best exam I've ever written, at least it's over now and I don't have to worry about it anymore.  Unfortunately, I have my second exam, biochem, tomorrow morning.  I've spent the last few days almost entirely focused on organic chem and therefore have barely even started studying biochem.  This is a very bad thing.  So, of course, I am currently blogging and watching Gossip Girl.  Because what else do you do when you have a 60% final in 13.5 hours and you've barely studied?!

OK, confession time: I hate studying, and I also really hate school.  I mean, not just in the exam time way that everyone kind of resents school, but in the year-round hatred kind of way.  I mean, when I was in high school and stuff and school was getting on my nerves, I would always think about why I was doing it, and what the point was, and that made it all worth it.  But now...when I think about why I'm in university, I genuinely can't come up with an answer.  I mean, I guess having a university degree is important, but, really...it's a dollar store piece of paper that I could probably print myself.  It will either be framed, hung on my wall and otherwise forgotten about, or I'll just lose it.  I guess these days, when I try to think about why I'm in school, I can't come up with a reason, and I've really been asking myself...is it worth it?  I'm not so sure that it is.

High: organic chem is done!
Low: biochem in the morning...wish me luck!
Thankful: that one week right now I'll be on an airplane, more than halfway home!

Books read this year: 46
Exams left until Christmas break: 4
Days until Christmas: 16

love <3

Feliz Navidad!

Hola, muchachos! Como esta?
(I don't speak Spanish...I'm just a faker)

How's it going, my friends?  Tell me about your lives!
Things are going pretty good for me.  Yesterday was the last day of classes for this semester, which makes me happier than you can imagine!  Unfortunately that means that exams are going to start in a few days, but it also means that in twelve days I will be home, with my family, for Christmas!

Christmas is a really big deal for me.  I mean, I know it's a really big deal for most people, but for me...I don't know, there's just something about it.  I guess it's because I'm really close to my extended family, and the family friends that I consider family, but I don't really get to see them very often.  I mean, for the last few years, I am rarely ever home, where I grew up, so when I do get to go home, like at Christmas, it's a really big deal.  Like, I know that for pretty much every day of the three weeks that I'm home, I'll probably be doing something with my family, whether it's just my mom, or my whole extended family.  I mean, going home is so much fun, and I love it, but relaxing? ...Not so much.  Pretty much every single day will be go, go, go, which is great!  But after exams, and a killer semester, all I really want to do is sleep a lot, relax, and get myself ready for the next semester.  But, other than the ability to go to bed as early as I want and not have anyone make fun of me, there will be little to no time for relaxing.

I just reread what I wrote...wow, that was all over the place!  Can you tell I'm multitasking?!  But so is the life of a university student five days before the beginning of finals.

In other news, I am still posting vlogs on my youtube channel.  They aren't happening as regularly as I would like, but I just put one up this week, and I think I'll film another tomorrow to post within the week.  Make sure you guys check out my channel, watch my videos, and subscribe, if you want to!

High: in only 285 hours, I will be on an airplane, on my way home!
Low: this afternoon, I made a rough study schedule for the next 12 days, and I got the dates of two of my exams wrong, and forgot to schedule in when I have to work, so therefore had to redo the schedule twice.  It was bad.
Thankful: 12 days, 12 days, 12 days!!!!!!!!


Books read this year: 45
Exams left until Christmas: 5
Days until Christmas: 21

love <3

An Author?!

So,  you guys know how I was trying to write a 50,000 word novel is thirty days?  Remember that time I went insane and thought I could write an entire novel in a month?
I WROTE A FREAKING NOVEL IN A MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy crap, I actually did it.  I actually wrote an entire freaking novel! (Well, I didn't write an "entire" novel because my story isn't actually finished.  Oddly enough, the story doesn't just come to a convenient end once 50,000 words are reached...who knew?!)  I think I am actually in shock.  I mean, I've known for a while that something really crazy would have to happen for me to not finish on time.  But I guess part of me didn't think it would ever actually happen.

I actually can't believe this.  I can now call myself an author.  I'm an author!!!  I am no longer someone who just writes for fun and would love to actually write something significant one day, but hasn't yet.  I have now written something significant!! (And by significant, I mean significant to me, not to society.  This novel is going to require a lot of editing before I let people read it...so don't even ask!)

In other news...I got a job as a lifeguard at the pool at my school (I think I mentioned that already) and Saturday was my first shift, but all I did was shadow some lessons.  Tonight, I actually taught four of my own lessons and it was pretty exciting!  Nerve-wracking, because I had to teach two lessons that I hadn't shadowed and I wasn't entirely sure what the kids were supposed to be learning, so it was a lot of improvising.  But whatever, it worked out well!

High: that I finished my novel!!! And that I now have the best thing to brag about ever!
Low: I was supposed to get groceries this afternoon, but I worked and wrote a novel, so I didn't.  But I still have an hour and twenty minutes until the grocery store closes...hmm.
Thankful: for NaNoWriMo: for giving me the chance, and the pressure, to finally write a novel!

Books read this year: 44

love <3

P.S. The bragging starts now:

life :)

Hello my very lovely readers :) How are you? Good? How is your week going? It's hump day, the week is more than half over. If you're American, it's Thanksgiving. That's a fun way to get some time off.

Sorry I've been kind of MIA this month.  Between school, NaNoWriMo, jobs, Deathly Hallows...well, you can imagine.  While I sincerely want to write a full post, I have neither the time nor the energy to write full sentences, so I am going to pull a hayleyghoover and do this all point form:

• I am now just over 35000 words through my novel. I am a little bit behind schedule (I'm supposed to be at 40000 by today) but I had to take almost a week off from writing to do school (in one week I had four midterms, five assignments and a lab...I may have gone slightly crazy). I will, however, reach 50000 words by next Tuesday night; I refuse to lose!
• Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 1 came out last week.  I made a video about it here before I saw it, but then I went and saw it Saturday afternoon and I absolutely loved it. In my opinion, it was the best movie so far. I have very few complaints about it. I wish they had shown the part in the book, when they go see Xenophilius Lovegood, where they go into Luna's room and see all her paintings of them and that whole bit. I also kind of wish they had done the Portkey part of the Seven Potters, although that wasn't something that I really missed.  All in all, an amazing movie!
• A couple days ago I got a job as a lifeguard/swim instructor at the pool at my school, and I'm pretty freaking excited about it! I have a few hours in the next three weeks, but I'm hoping to pick up a lot more next semester!

I think that is pretty much all there is to tell you.  My life the last couple of weeks has been almost completely consumed by school and NaNoWriMo, but NaNoWriMo is done next Tuesday, and classes end next Friday, and three weeks tomorrow I write my last finals and fly home for Christmas. This means that the next three weeks will be crazy, but after that...pure relaxation :) I am slightly more than excited.

High: that Christmas Eve is a month today, and it is finally close enough to Christmas for music and decorations to be completely acceptable.
Low: I just tried to register for my courses for the winter semester and, of course, it did not go as planned. What else is new?!
Thankful: for very encouraging friends and family :)

Books read this year: 42

love <3

P.S. I still don't have a title for my novel, so if anyone has any ideas, you can leave them in the comments.  And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you can go here for my post about a title, and here for an excerpt from my novel. Thanks!

Title?!

Readers, I need your help!  I am slightly over half done my novel and it needs a title!  My novel is about a group of friends, and suddenly the main character, Paul, leaves, without telling anyone that he's going to leave or where he's going or why; the whole novel is written in the form of letters, that Paul is writing to his friends, and that they're writing to him, about the things that happen while he's gone.
So if anyone has any good ideas for a title for my novel, please let me know!  I need some of your creative energy, my lovely readers!  I believe in you!

High: realizing I only have three weeks left of classes!
Low: this coming week might be the worst week of my life: four midterms, four assignments, and a lab.
Thankful:  for my novel. :)

Books read this year: 40

love <3

EXCERPT!!! ...and Being Self-Conscious

Hello lovely readers!  How are your Saturday nights going? Mine's fairly decent.  Of course, now I am being very antisocial by blogging...oops!

So, I've now been writing my NaNoWriMo novel for six days, and as of right now, I'm up to 17 774 words.  I've been kind of less productive in the last couple of days.  It's actually harder than I thought, to keep the plot going for so long!  I didn't do any pre-planning before November first.  I mean, I knew what my novel was going to be about, but I didn't really think about the plot or details about the characters or anything.  I just kind of wanted to see what would happen.  And at first, it was going really well, but now I'm almost two-fifths through my novel, and it's kind of getting boring.  At least for me; it's kind of hard to think of what can keep happening to these characters to keep it interesting.

So I thought I would give you guys a little excerpt from my novel.  Like I said earlier, it's all in letters, but hopefully it won't be too confusing.  But first, I should just tell you guys that I basically never let other people read the stuff I write, because I'm super self-conscious about it.  So if you like it, definitely let me know.  And if you don't...keep your comments to yourself!*

Dear Charli,

If you’re reading this…I’m so sorry.  I didn’t want to leave.  This is not my choice, at all.  But this is just the way things have to be, for now.  I sincerely hope you’ll forgive me and that we can still be friends.  I’ll wait for your letter.  No matter how long it takes, I’ll never stop waiting.  Please don’t disappear from my life, even though I disappeared from yours.  I can’t imagine my life without you.

Paul

Dear Paul,

I can’t believe you’re gone.  I thought this was some kind of cruel joke.  How could you not tell me you were leaving?  Not even tell me it was a possibility?!  I was so, so angry at you.  You just left me in a lurch!  And you made me look like an idiot!  We’re best friends and you didn’t even tell me?!  I had to lie to everyone, saying that I knew you were leaving and hadn’t told them because you’d asked me not to!  Argh, I am so furious with you!!!
But I miss you.  I miss you so, so very much.  It’s so difficult not being able to talk to you every day.  Come back?  I know you can’t, but a girl can dream.  Love you.

Charli

Dear Charli,

I miss you.  My life just doesn’t make sense without you.  I so wish you could come visit me, but that’s just not an option.
I’ve met some really nice people.  No one compared to you, but people I can waste time with.  Of course, I never stop thinking about you, ever, so what’s even the point?!
Hope life isn’t too hard for you, and that things have settled down a bit since I left.  Tell them anything you need to not embarrass yourself.  You have my permission to make any lies you need.

Paul

Dear Paul

I can’t come visit you?  Why not?  I can’t do this Paul!!!  You just disappear to goodness knows where without telling a single person, I can’t call or email you and now I find out that visiting you isn’t even an option!  I wish you would tell me what the hell was going on!  God, you piss me off!
Stacey talked to me today.  She doesn’t know what’s going on either.  I mean, you obviously know that, because you didn’t tell her.  How could you not tell your best friend or your girlfriend that you were leaving?  You can’t just pick up and leave and not tell a single person.  Your actions have repercussions Paul!  You can’t just do what you want, when you want and think that nothing will change for anyone else.  You frustrate me!
Love you

Charli

Dear Charli

You think that I don’t know that my actions have repercussions?!  Are you kidding me, Charli?  All I can think about since I left is how much this is affecting you and Stacey and John..  I should have left months ago, but I kept putting it off, in an attempt to not hurt you guys.  Jeeze, Charli, do you really think I’m not that self-centered?
Life here kind of sucks.  I don’t really get along with anyone, which is so unlike me.  The people here just don’t get me, I hate it.

Paul

Dear Paul

I’m sorry.  Obviously you know your actions have repercussions.  I didn’t mean that.  I was just upset.
So what’s going on with people not liking you?  Everyone likes you.  This town is falling apart without you.  You were the glue that held everyone together.  There is no one in the whole world who doesn’t like you, that’s just ridiculous.
Miss you

Charli

High: spending the day with some really great friends and just having fun.
Low: I honestly don't think I have a low today. Sweet!
Thankful: for chocolate chip cookies! haha

Books read this year: 40

love <3

*I'm kidding...sort of.  If you have some legit, constructive criticism, I'm totally open to that.  But I don't really want to hear stuff like "this is so dumb, you're such a bad writer, just give up" because that is no fun.

12000 say whats now?!

I am currently sitting in my stats lab (which is more than 100% useless...I don't know why I even bother to show up!) and I had every intention of working on my novel for an hour and a half (because I don't pay attention) but for some reason, Word on this computer won't open my NaNoWriMo file from my USB.  I don't know why, but it sucks.  Although it's not like I don't need a break...

Those of you who know me in real life and follow on Facebook and/or Twitter probably already know that I'm kind of ahead of schedule on my novel.  To reach 50 000 words in 30 days at a normal pace, I should have about 5000 words by the end of the day.  At noon today, I had 12 001 words.

I'm not really sure how this happened.  I seriously had no intention of being such a keener and getting a fifth of my novel done in two days.  I'm so lazy, I really don't know how this happened!

That's a lie, I do.  My novel is written in the form of letters that people are writing back and forth to each other, so if I start getting writer's block, I just end that letter and have another character write a letter.  It's unfortunately easy and extremely addicting.  I'm kind of starting to love my characters as people, which is so stupid, because I made them up in my mind!  Obviously I'll love them, I created them!  I can do whatever I want with them!

This weirdly makes me feel like God.  I mean, I created these characters exactly the way I wanted them and I control everything they are going to do, and have already done.  Even if they "wanted" to do something differently (which obviously they can't because, unlike humans, they are not real and can't think for themselves) it would never succeed, because I already know how their future is going to go.

This might sound kind of ridiculous but just go with it: did you ever think that maybe God is like an author, who was just writing a novel, that somehow turned into real life?  And that's why we're all here?

Yea, that was stupid.  I'm sorry.  I've clearly written too much in the last three days to make any sense anymore.  I'll quit now while I'm still somewhat ahead.

High: when I hit 12000 words this morning.  A single number has never made me so happy!
Low: at least half a dozen times in the last 24 hours, I have tried to spell the word "neither" with a G.* I don't know why.
Thankful: that I have some really great people encourageing me through my novel.

Books read this year: 40

love <3

*I almost pressed the G button as I was writing neither.  I don't know what's wrong with me!

P.S.  If you guys would like to read an excerpt from my novel, I could post one in my next blog post, as I don't have access to my novel on this computer.  Let me know in the comments if you would want to read that!