Attention World:

THE 7th and LAST Harry Potter TITLE HAS BEEN RELEASED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because most people who are going to read this don't care about HOW to get the title...Here's the title.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

School's almost over!

I have ONE class to attend on finals week (Monday the 18th). I have my Bio II final at 8:30am, but she's going to be there at 8am (I'm going in early). The rest of the week will be dedicated to completing my CST and GIS/GPS project by Friday (they're both due at 5pm, but I'm probably working at 1pm).

CST: I have to redo my introduction (she said it wasn't professional enough). I have to redo some of my sublinks (I knew I even needed to do that since it's a bit confusing right now). I have to resize my movies and pictures (I knew that, but haven't done it because I didn't want to waste the time in resizing and not end up using them at the end (which is happening!).
GIS/GPS: I have to still make some of the maps in GIS and retouch things up and then I have to write up our report on...something. No clue. I have to turn in my files too.

I also have a biology lab paper to write, but I'm thinking I can get that done today. It's not as hard as our last ones, either that, or I'm just getting better at them. Who knows. It's not due till Friday at sometime, I forget when.

I also have to turn in my case study [due Wednesday by 5pm], but I just finished my major revisions on that. I have to reread it for grammatical/spelling errors and stuff and then I'm DONE! It'll be one thing off my plate. It's a HUGE paper too.

Here's the current stats on it WITHOUT my title page and citations:
- Times New Roman size 12 font with a 1" top/bottom border and 1.25" left/right border (the standard Word document size): 26 1/5 pages long! There's about a 1/5 of text on page 27.
- With 1" borders all around and Times, 12 it's 24 1/3 pages long.
- Arial, 11 with 1" borders all around it's almost a full 22 pages long.

I'm going to print it out at Arial, 11 with 1" borders because with the smaller size and more page room...I'm still going to have to print out 27 pages (entire paper, citations, and title page)!

I need to study my brains out for my bio final too. I have another 1.5 chapters to review for the new material and then I have to go back relearn or refresh on everything else from the semester. I'm just glad I started studying earlier this week...I haven't done any bio studying today and a little yesterday and none Wednesday (I worked).

I see the light at the end of the tunnel if I just keep focused (unlike Friday)! I'm getting that jittery feeling of just wanting everything done, but at the same time I'm also starting to get stressed with everything that's happening this coming week!

For now, that's all! I've got to sleep or go back to working on homework.

Oh! 5 more days till I turn 21!

Watermelon and bananas

This is what I learned from studying for my biology test:

Buy seeded watermelon because seedless watermelon have a wrong set of chromosomes so they're less fit and can't produce offspring (aka seeds). Meaning, they're defective! A seeded watermelon has a right set of chromosomes so it should be a "fully functional" watermelon and has a higher fitness level.

In other words, a seeded watermelon should taste better and a seedless watermelon shouldn't. :)

Did you know we buy seedless bananas too? I always wondered why bananas didn't seem to have seeds. Those little black dots are the aborted seeds. Interesting, eh?

Your Monthly Post :P

So...Life has been REALLY busy. I have this week and then next week is our "fall" break (week of Thanksgiving). We get the entire week off. Then...it's 3 academic weeks, 1 week of finals, and...WINTER BREAK! This semester is flying by! I'm ready for it to be over with, though. :P

Biology is kicking my butt. I'm pulling a B- right now, only, our class is doing a classic bell-curve so our class average is a C- any ways (10% below me). So I'm hoping for an A- like last semester. I have a test this Wednesday and it's a doozy: cell cycle, meiosis, mitosis, Genetics, and DNA replication. It's definitely my most difficult class this semester. It's just a lot of memorizing, which is my problem.

My CST class is going well. I have an A+ in it. I'm really enjoying learning Flash and want to go back and relearn some different things in Dreamweaver. Flash is lots of fun to play around with, but my final project is quickly approaching and the scripting is giving me some slight fits, but oh well. Hopefully I can work out some kinks over Thanksgiving. Least there's no final for the class. I just have to complete my portfolio and final project, make sure it all works electronically (i.e. links all work on the webpage) and burn a CD.

My 300 class is going okay too. I've got a solid A in the class. It's a LOT of writing, but oh well. My writing is getting better at least! My case study is going to be HUGE. My body/discussion is already 11 full pages and with my revisions it should be around 14. My introduction was about 4 pages. I still have to do my conclusion, which won't be too long (1-2 pages). There's also no final for this class, but there's so much due! Good thing my case study will mostly be completed by the time it's due at the end of the semester.

GIS/GPS is...okay...I passed the GIS practicum only because our prof will help "guide" us. ArcGIS refused to work for me when I did my joins and relates! It wouldn't highlight the dumb boxes that I selected and it was DRIVING me crazy! I finally got it to work and another thing. To say the least, it took me about 20 minutes to do part 1 and took me almost 1.5 hours to do the 2nd part. :P We have our GPS practicum this Thursday. Hopefully I do okay on that too! It's pass/fail only. Our final in the class is also pass/fail. Only, you can't really study for the class. Good thing it's open everything, except getting help from your neighbor or I'd be in real trouble. There's so many little details in ArcGIS and GeoPathFinder doesn't always like me either. :)

Lastly, my out-of-school-life is insane. I'm working about 14 hours a week, volunteering at the aquarium, and volunteering at our church. I'm also petsitting still and running my podcast (that seems to have taken a hiatus for the last month, almost 2 months). Sleep has seriously become a luxury I can't afford. I can't go to sleep before I'm about to pass out on my desk. I get anxious because I have so much to do or that I could be doing, but I'm not doing. It's insane. That's how "serious" my sleep deprivation has become. LoL

On a good note, I figured out I have about 41 more units left till I graduate! I have 3 semesters left. So...my unit break down: Spring 07 - 13 units, Fall 07 - 14 units, Spring 08 - 14 units. I go from thinking of taking an extra semester to graduating in 4 years, a rarity in ESSP. The AP tests, taking 19 units one semester, and taking summer school helped. :) Plus, I'l be graduating with 4 semester of a language instead of 3, the new requirement. I'm looking forward to taking 13 units, though. I'm only taking 16 this semester, but I'm getting to the point where I'm tired of it all. I'm on the constant go and I'm getting worn out.

So...this summer I'm looking for an internship, somewhere, and going to visit a friend, Jamie, in Florida! I'm excited to go visit her and for a REAL break. Internship would be nice, but we'll see. I'm also saving to go travelling somewhere in the world in the summer of '08. I'm thinking if the 7th HP book is released in summer of '08, I'll go to England/Scotland for its release. If it's not, I'll go there or somewhere else.

Lastly, my 21st birthday is quickly approaching! It's on Dec 21st, a Thursday and a day I have a final. Aren't I lucky? Celebrating is going to be very minimal, but oh well. Such is life. I am thinking of going to go see Eragon for my birthday or something. We'll see. :) I do expect lovely birthday wishes, cards, and/or gifts. :D

With that, I need to go back to studying for my bio test.

Laters

Life...

Wow, that last post was a while ago!

I've been so busy...I can't even think straight. As some of you know, I run a forum for about 10 other friends so we can keep in contact with each other and I can't keep up with that! Let alone everything else...

It's 3:30am and I'm waiting for my terrible, I mean terrible, annotated bibliography to be printed out. I did summaries for the summary (ironic) and for the relevance. Good thing this thing won't be due for me till Thursday by noon. I just hope she doesn't do a preliminary "check" on our "rough" drafts tomorrow before class. I have everything else completed except the summary and relevance.

I'm also behind in my CST class. I somehow didn't get to start developing my webpage on dreamweaver. So that means I have to design a webpage (according to my professors instructions) and design my class portfolio webpage too. This is all with a program I haven't dealt with a whole lot or done the reading on. GO ME! Good thing I'm a fast learner or I'd be in big, big trouble. I've got to get the pre-designed webpage completed by Wednesday. To work on my own and to get the discussion assignment completed.

I have all this work, these huge projects, and I just feel perpetually tired and behind in everything. I'm trying to stay on top of things, but when Thursday rolls around, I just feel so deflated. I work so hard late Sat night to Thursday afternoon. Thursday evening and Saturday are like my days off! I just need to really kick it into gear. I'm not doing bad grade wise, I just need to keep up on everything. I also need to study biology a bit more. I pulled another almost-all-nighter to study for my biology test (last Wednesday) and I'm kind of worried what I got on the test...*shrugs* I'm fairly sure I got at least a C, but who knows.

Well, this post will have to end here. I'm about to drop dead from exhaustion (I have class at 8:30 am and it's 3:35 am now; I have to get up around 8 am) and my printing is complete.

Laters

Save me...

I'm officially stressed out.

It's after 1:30am and I'm trying to complete my CST lab so all I have to do is my assignment on Sunday when I get home (let's hope I can get that done in 5 hours -- like that'll happen). I'm stressed because I'm going to be without electricity and the Internet Friday evening-Sunday morning. I need my computer to finish this CST assignment! It's really only the animation and the initial composite that's the problem. The other 2 parts are pretty easy. 1 is to just change my composite using different techniques in two different styles/moods. Another is to make my composite photos (the 3 of them) into a Web Photo Gallery through PhotoShop. The composite will take a while because I have to make it to show a "facet of my personality." I have NO clue what to portray. Making the animation itself isn't hard. It's getting 15 thumbnails and altering most of my photos is the problem. I'm just glad I got my Lab3 done and the Discussion Assignment done. I don't have to worry about those. I just have to turn in my Lab3 when I get home.

I'm also stressed out because I just finished my 3rd week of classes and I feel like I'm hardly learning anything. LoL. I have a bio exam on Wednesday! I don't feel confident in that test at ALL. I also need to catch up on GIS and read all the material. I've been doing the exercises because it's one of those "click the red toolbox. Do you see all the trays in there? Click the one that says "project." " So...I kind of "space" while doing them. I will say...they can wake me up every once in a while!

I'm also writing a paper a WEEK for my 300 class! How insane is that? This week I actually had 2 papers due (3 pages each) and I ended up writing 2 pages for my CST discussion assignment. I haven't written this much in a LONG time (about 2 years).

On top of school, also, this is the first week I have NOT worked more than 20 hours at work. I only worked 4. :P I'm only supposed to work 14 a week. I'm still helping that lady too. I really enjoy helping her. She's really nice, but sometimes it just gets crazy. I'm also volunteering at our church in MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers). I'm essentially watching preschoolers for about 1.5 hours every other week. It's fun, but it still adds onto my days. I'm also still volunteering at the aquarium. I'm actually mentoring now.

On top of all that, I still have my podcast I'm running and co-editing. Our show won't come out this week because of me. :P I just couldn't find time to edit my parts. Luckily the forum doesn't need any work. I can't even do any of HP fan stuff I'm so busy. Something had to give and my reading group is suffering for it, but oh well. There will be others. I am about to drop something, though. I'm just about to go crazy...Tuesday I spent 6 hours on campus...only 3 was required for class. I spent 5 hours on GIS alone. Today...I was on campus for 4 hours (left class early). I'm just tired...that's all... :)

With that...I'm back to homework and sleep...Hopefully I'll make it to bed by 2:15am. I have to get up at a 7:45am.

School started and My TV Shows

Today was the first day of Fall '06!

Schedule:
Monday - Bio II 8:30-9:50am; ESSP 300 10am-11:50pm
Tuesday - GIS 2-4:50pm
Wednesday - Bio II 8:30-9:50am; ESSP 300 10am-11:50pm
Thursday - GIS 2-4:50pm
Friday - Bio II L 9-11:50am

Not listed: CST (on-line)

I'm working on Wednesdays and Fridays and volunteering every other Sunday at the aquarium.

Today was pretty good. I actually had to LEARN something in Bio II! I couldn't believe it! It was pretty good, though. ESSP 300, the syllabus was 48 pages long! It's kind of like an introductory class to the upper division classes, but also a writing/critical thinking class. We will end up writing a 15-20 page case study paper by the end of the semester, along with doing job interviews and meeting potential advisors. Basically, don't fall behind and I'll be good. She does everything in steps.

I'm also taking a CST class called Media Tools on-line. It's essentially learning Flash, Dreamweaver, and PhotoShop. At the end, I believe, I will have to combine the use of all those programs into one big final project. I'm taking it as an on-line class because the lab and lecture are at the same time of my Bio class. I almost didn't get 16 units in this semester because all the classes I wanted (I checked about 5 of them) bumped into my Bio or ESSP 300 class and I HAD to have those this semester. Kind of bummed I can't go to the lectures/labs for CST, but I think I have enough resources and knowledge to do okay on my own. It's just a good thing I like learning new things like this!

My GIS class is tomorrow. Everyone I've talked to said it's not really hard, it's just time consuming and NOT to get behind in the class, which seems to be the theme in ALL my classes.

We'll see how I survive the week since my boss talked me into adding a shift and a half for this week on top of my other two shifts. So my week -- Working 27 hours (24 paid), taking 16 units, helping someone out a half hour a day, volunteering for 5 hours on Sunday, and doing my podcasting stuff. Yay for my busy schedule! Hopefully it won't be like this all semester long! :P

Now to my TV shows. I seem to be collecting TV shows I'm really getting into. I don't watch TV much, but this last half year I've found new TV shows I like!

I've always been interested in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (that's the Vegas one -- don't like NY and Miami as much), but I haven't really been able to watch it until last semester, so I'm really into that show. Of course American Idol is up there, but because of American Idol's last season I'm now into House MD. The show came on RIGHT after American Idol on Tuesday nights and I would watch it while I wait for the family to come home to watch American Idol. I ended up getting hooked! I like the type of shows that I can miss a whole season (or start in the middle) and not feel totally behind.

Well, my new show is Numb3rs. My co-worker told me that I'd like Numb3rs if I liked CSI. It's basically like CSI, but instead of using forensics or CSI people, it's about two brothers -- one is a FBI the other a mathematician. The brothers basically work together to help solve cases. It's not a whole lot of math, but it's still pretty cool. I also find it totally improbable in the real world, but I still like it! I like the math being used and it's a show I can skip a day of and not feel behind in for another one. I've been buying the episodes off of iTunes for $1.99 because it has only finished its 2nd season and it's not reairing like CSI does.

My other show I like (it's my shameful show) is Wildfire, which is on ABC Family. It's centered around horse racing, so it's really no wonder why I like it. It's a real drama, but I enjoy watching it and seeing the horses and such.

With that, I must be off to take a nap.

Please Pray for this Family

A Harry-Potter-friend-of-mine's girlfriend's cousin (the man) was murdered along with his wife today in Alabama. They have 3 children that are left behind with one sexually assulted by the man who is (was) a registered sex offender. The sex offender killed himself.

My HP friend has dated his girlfriend for over 3 years and knows the parents and 3 kids.

Please pray for the 3 kids and all the family and friends.

Here is an article on-line with a few more details.

Responsible Leader, yet a Bubbly Helper

They're both like me, but one isn't ONLY me. :P

Here's the link if you want to try the quiz.

The Responsible Leader: Your presence demands respect, and people give it. Whenever you are put in a group project, you take charge, and no one complains because they know that you'd make a good leader. You're fair, responsible, and most importantly, not bossy. You lead with care. You're the perfect candidate for the Head Girl position.

|The Lions|
Harry admires your confidence and wants to become your close friend.
Ron wonders how your life could be so organized and balanced.
Hermione admires the way you deal with people and consistently asks you to help her with S.P.E.W.
Fred and George try to pull pranks without you knowing, but you always manage to catch them. You're the best contender who can almost, but not quite, keep them in line.
Ginny is amused by the fact that Fred and George can never get past your radar. You two are becoming good friends.
Neville sometimes looks to you for help in pretty much everything.
Oliver thought you didn't give Quidditch enough credit.
Parvati admires the way you take charge, and people just follow naturally.
Lavender wonders how you are able to do it.
Seamus gets along with you really well. He plans on asking you out.
Dean doesn't really care about you.

|The Eagles|
Cho doesn't really know you that well. You two have worked in committees a few times, but all she knows is that you're a reliable person.
Padma never questions your leadership. She likes it when you're the leader of the committee.
Roger doesn't know you.

|The Badgers|
Cedric was a really good friend.
Hannah idolizes you.
Justin admires your confidence and thinks you two just click. He is planning to ask you out and is sure that you'll say yes.

|The Serpents|
Draco hates you for catching him once, when he tried to hex Harry Potter from behind. He thinks you're a real pain.
Pansy hates you because Draco does.
Crabbe and Goyle: No point asking what they think.
Blaise also thinks you're a real pain. He says you're in his face all the time.

|The Ghosts|
Nearly Headless Nick: 'Hmm...never talked to her.'
Fat Friar: 'Not now, my dear. I'm getting ready for my 305th deathday party!'
Grey Lady: 'Oh, we talked just once. That girl always has something to do.'
Bloody Baron: 'Have you seen Peeves? Tell him I heard what he did to the first year Slytherins.'
M. Myrtle: 'Oh, she's nice. She's doesn't throw things at me.'
Peeves: 'Always foils my plans! I need to get rid of that wand of hers!'

|The Professors|
Dumbledore always came to you whenever he needed something important done. He always thought that you would make a great Minister of Magic. He would have wanted you to be part of the Order, where you would have eventually earned a leadership position.
McGonagall: 'I'm impressed by the way she always has her head on right. Very organized and level-headed.'
Flitwick: 'Yes, she's quite good.'
Sprout: 'I get the feeling that she doesn't like Herbology much. Oh well, at least she doesn't complain about it.'
Snape: 'Excels in Potions. One of the best I've taught.'
Slughorn: 'Invited her to my club. Never once came.'
Hagrid: 'A good student, but I don't really know her.'
Binns: 'Shows interest in my class. Likes learning about the greatest witches and wizards of all time.'
Trelawney: 'Beware, for the Dark Lord knows that she is a threat. He knows that she can create a team that will fight against him. He will try to get her to join his side.'

-------------------

The Bubbly Helper: If someone needs a hand, you're there. You are known for being incredibly helpful, which means that you're known for being incredibly nice. You don't expect anything in return. Your helpful attitude makes you a compassionate and friendly person, which makes it hard for people not to like you. Several come to you for advice because you give very useful ones. You're also pretty popular.

|The Lions|
Harry knows that he can always count on you whenever he needs help with something.
Ron loves the fact that you're really easy to get along with. It is possible that he is developing some feelings for you.
Hermione can't deny that you're very nice, but doesn't like the fact that you get along with Ron a little too well for her liking.
Fred and George adore you and think of you as a sister.
Ginny is one of your closest friends.
Neville has a crush on you, but has never dropped any hints.
Oliver wasn't able to remember your name. He just knew you as that girl who helped him carry the brooms the night before the game against Hufflepuff.
Parvati thinks you're adorable. At the beginning, she tried to use you since you came off as a doormat, but you didn't let her. She ended up respecting you after that.
Lavender thinks you're too nice that it's so annoying.
Seamus thinks you're a good friend.
Dean thinks you're really nice and wishes to get to know you more.

|The Eagles|
Cho is a very close friend. You were there for her when Cedric died. She definitely has your back.
Padma doesn't know you, but has seen you around. She wonders who you are.
Roger doesn't know you.

|The Badgers|
Cedric thought you were one of a kind. There was something special about you that he couldn't put his finger on.
Hannah wishes to become your close friend.
Justin is simply an acquaintance.

|The Serpents|
Draco strongly dislikes you even though you try to be nice to him.
Pansy tries not to like you, but finds it hard, especially when you helped her to the hospital wing after a little accident she had.
Crabbe and Goyle: No point asking what they think.
Blaise has feelings for you, but refuses to acknowledge them.

|The Ghosts|
Nearly Headless Nick: 'Oh, yes! I adore that girl! She helped me get ready for my deathday party.'
Fat Friar: 'A very, very nice girl.'
Grey Lady: 'I do not know this girl.'
Bloody Baron: 'Who?'
M. Myrtle: 'I just LOVE her! She's so nice to me and she visits me whenever she can!'
Peeves: 'Her reactions to my pranks are so boring. She doesn't get mad easily.'

|The Professors|
Dumbledore had a soft spot for you. He admired your ability to be kind and helpful to everyone.
McGonagall: 'One of my favourite students, but don't tell anyone that. She's very compassionate.'
Flitwick: 'Delightful girl. Very delightful. I hope she doesn't stop taking Charms.'
Sprout: 'Never have I met a girl kinder than her. I think every teacher in this school has a soft spot for her.'
Snape: 'Good student. Too bad she's not in my House.'
Slughorn: 'A charming girl, even though she does not take after her mother. Her mother-now she was one special witch.'
Hagrid: 'One of my favourite students! I always look forward to having her in my class!'
Binns: 'A pleasure to teach. She shows particular interest in learning about the history of the Lufkin-Walden bloodline. Probably because of her mother.'
Trelawney: 'He-Who-Must-Be-Named is starting to be aware of her. If she knows what's good for her, she'll stop hanging around with Harry Potter and his friends.'

Geology Grade

I didn't mention this! I can't believe it!

I checked my Geology grade a while ago and found out I got a 95% on the final (some miracle or something...it was the highest grade in the class and I took a LONG time to complete it). I got a 97% in the class (highest grade), but it should have been higher. :P I was only about 15 points off from a perfect grade, but she didn't include my 10 extra credit points I had into my final grade! So I REALLY should have close to a 100%! Oh well, such is life. As is, the community college I took the class doesn't do +'s or -'s so it's not like it would have made a difference in my GPA or on my transcript.

Secondly, David (Cafe David). His family made his memorial service family only. No friends or co-workers were allowed to attend. Apparently, his step-father didn't really like him. *shrugs* The cafe, sometime, wants to do their own little thing for him. We'll see if it happens or not.

School...Yuck!

I start school a little less than a week from today! :( My first class is at 8:30am on Monday. Though, I'm done with classes by noon for Mondays and Tuesday, which is a nice feeling.

I didn't get as much done as I wanted to this summer. This summer went by so fast! I can't believe it! I didn't get ANY Dreamweaver or Flash practice in (I just spelled practice "practise" -- English way). I'm hoping to cram stuff into my brain this week, but I don't think it's going to happen. My brain is fried and I'm fighting some sickness.

Work last week as stressful because our new DM (District Manager) was making her first formal visit to the store. Everyone was on pins and needles and trying to get the store in shape. As the "Bargain Queen" I'm responsible for how the bargains look and, with the hour cutting, getting them out onto the floor. I spent 7 hours on Friday and 7 hours with another person getting bargains out. We got out ALMOST 3 palettes out. I was SO proud of us! there's a little more than 1 palette left and it's all "overstock." I've gone through it all.

I was hoping to have a semi-calm week, but it's not lookin' too good. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow, then I'm helping a lady who broke her leg in to places for about a half hour each day, and then I have a podcast recording to re-record our news for Ep3 -- that is now over a MONTH old. Would have been out a week or two ago, but my editor's computer got fried because of a storm and a lovely power surge. He had to rebuild his computer, but he saved pretty much everything. Wednesday I work from 10am-6pm, but I have an "Employee of the Month" luncheon with my boss and a couple of others during my shift. Then Thurs and Fri I work 7pm-11:30pm, but I have house stuff to do along with everything else. In a lot of ways, I feel like I'm doing two jobs because of the lady I'm helping. She's nice and I enjoy going over to help her. It's just hard dragging myself over there, sometimes. :)

With that, that's all the news I really have.

Laters

Update on Stuff

So, our GM had contacted the next closest Borders, Santa Cruz (we're good friends with them, one of their managers use to be one of ours) and they're going to send down cafe staff when the memorial service is that way the cafe staff can all go to it. They were the closest to him out of us all. I think that's great that Santa Cruz is willing to send staff to help us.

I want to go to the memorial service and am being the relay person for another cafe member who is on leave for the summer to be home. It's been a rocky day, but overall good. One time at work today I thought I saw David walk into the store and looked that way, but it was a customer. I, of course, got choked up for a second thinking I won't see him walk in again. It's funny to think of how he would always walk in the store the same way, with the same jacket and hat on, but there you have it. *shrugs* In fact, all of us at work have our own funny little nuances you get used to.

Thanks for all the condolences and the suggestions. I'm thinking of mentioning something about taking up a collection at work. We're doing a card, but some want to do more (or at least I want to). David is really the first person I've known personally that has died. I've been to funerals and memorial services before, but didn't really know them or anything.

On completely different and happier note, I want to go to Edinburgh, Scotland for the release of the 7th (and last) Harry Potter book! A bunch of my Harry Potter friends and I want to. Either that or New York. We want to go somewhere with a big party and loads of HP fans. Of course being in Edinburgh is where JK Rowling lives! So that is our #1 place we'd like to go. I'm saving up to go, whether I go or not. Let's hope for a Summer 2008 book release!

David, Cafe David

Some sad/depressing news...

I went in to work today (they called me in). I saw Jenny in the cafe and did my normal, "Hey Jenny!" (It's a tradition and something she and I always do). She called me over and she looked terrible. I was kind of concerned. She got straight to the point and told me that David, a cafe worker that I had worked with and saw on Saturday, had passed away that same night. It was a complete shocker. He had come into work that night and looked terrible. I teased him about being tired, but he just gave me a really weird look. I kind of let it go. They let him go home early that night because he looked really, really bad. Apparently before he came in to work, he had taken some anxiety medication. Came to work, left, and taken some insomnia pills when he got home. He fell asleep, but never woke up. His mom came in today to talk to our cafe supervisor and tell him that David had passed away. David was my age.

It's been hard going to the cafe today...the cafe staff are devastated. It's a small group who constantly work with each other, so they become really close to each other. They all look terrible and than it's hard looking at the cafe and imagining David being there with his big smile and teasing me. I can imagine him telling me to "get back to work!" and teasing Jenny constantly (like when she leaves the water on in the sink) or whatever. He was always so friendly and nice. You really couldn't help but like him. He was just that way.

I can tell you one thing, it's not going to be a fun day tomorrow at work. He's going to be really missed and I hope his mom is okay. It seemed they were really close and he would help his mom out a lot. She seemed to depend on him.

So if you find it in yourself, please pray for his family, friends, and definitely fellow co-workers who are grieving for him. It's going to be a rough week...

Mentoring

So...I was asked today at the aquarium if I wanted to mentor! It's something I've done for the student guide program and at first I thought it was for the student guide program, but it's for ALL the volunteer guides! I will probably start mentoring after labor day. I'm excited! I'll work with the students, then the apprentices in November, and then help the apprentices take the final guide class in Feb. What will be funny is if I mentor someone who's double my age (which definitely could happen).

I'm excited!

The Remus Lupins/Harry and the Potters

I forgot!!

Harry Potter fans should check out The Remus Lupins MySpace Page or The Remus Lupins Webpage and Harry and the Potteres MySpace Page or Harry and the Potters Webpage . They're Harry Potter bands. They write and perform music based off of the Harry Potter books.

They're pretty good too.

Happy August!

Happy August to all! And a Happy Birthday to my oldest brother (birthday was yesterday on the 1st...I'm never on time with birthdays...).

Any ways, why is it I procrastinate? This is just making me think of when school starts again (in about 26 days). It's 1:50 am and what am I doing? I'm studying for my geology final that is in a bit more than 10 hours away.

I'm tired, but I can't go to sleep. Surprisingly enough, I'm actually going to sleep or getting sleepy earlier these days. It use to be 4am I'd be going to sleep. Now it's around 1:30am I get sleepy and fall asleep by about 2-2:30. I guess my days of getting 2-4 hours of sleep are over. :) Though, now I'm getting about 10 hours of sleep a night. LoL. I guess I'm getting more sleep now, making up for lost time? Who knows.

All I know is once I say "screw studying," I'll go to bed and won't be able to fall asleep. It happens more times than I even want to think about.

Lastly, (I'm procrastinating, again!) what am I going to do for my 21st birthday that is on Dec 21st (easy way to remember when my birthday is people!)? I'm thinking of just ignoring my birthday. I really can't go away for my birthday until January (my birthday is too close to Christmas and than I'm going to So. Cal for New Years). So...I dunno. Any suggestions, pass 'em along!

On a random note, my smilies have been corrupted thanks to being on forums! I don't do a the dash on my smiley faces anymore. I was known for it on IRC, but being on the forums has wiped it out. :- Oh well, it comes back every once in a while. It's really weird when it happens too. LoL

So this whole Lance Bass is now gay thing...As those who've known me for a long time know, I use to be a fan of them (it's my generation coming out). I have to be honest and say, Lance has always been my least favorite and acted a bit "apart" from the group and different. He was pegged as being gay when the band was together. So, when he came out and said he was gay, it didn't really surprise me. Once I read the news I was over it 5 minutes later.

Well, I guess I should head back to studying for my geology final that's now 10 hours away.

Summer class...

Oh...my...gosh...

I am about to die...I'm 5 weeks into this dumb class (I'm taking geology at MPC if you didn't know). Including tomorrow's class (yes, I have class on SATURDAY mornings at 8 am), I have 4 more classes to go. I...hate...this...class...!!! There's no lecture, which is fine, but I end up doing other things all week long instead of my classwork, which means I end up spending hours on Friday night finishing my work. Though, I will give myself credit and say I finished my actual homework at 10 pm tonight, unlike last week when I finished at 2 am. :D I'm now studying for my quiz tomorrow. Aren't I smart? :P

Only nice thing about this class is I'm pulling an A right now with minimal effort (gotta love a prof who makes your quizzes multiple choice and allows a page of notes). Thank goodness for that. I do hate doing the labs and other homework though...When I finish this class, though, I know I'll appreciate taking it and be glad I didn't take it at CSUMB. Gah...Fall semester is coming up! End of August people, last Monday of the month...

Any ways, end my rant. I need to go back to studying...Someone shoot me, please?

I'm a Gryufflclaw

Which Mix of the Hogwarts Houses are You?

You are a Huffledor!: You're a natural peacemaker and mediator. People come to you with their problems and you're happy to help them. Friends are very important to you and you ever needed help you know they would be there for you. Your weakness is that sometimes you trust too much on the good will of other people, you have to remember that they don't always have your best interests in mind! You are generally optimistic about life and with the sweetness of a Hufflepuff and the passion of a Gryffindor you're sure to go far!
Take this quiz!








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Which Mix of the Hogwarts Houses are You?

You're a Ravenpuff!: You are a very analytical and ingenius person, someone that likes to invent new things. The way you look at life is with wonder, and sometimes you're even a little naive. But people love you for that trait and they feel the need to protect you from the harsh facts of life so that you can retain your innocence. You are very capable person and when there is trouble people turn to you because you're able to stay calm and collected. You like balance in your life and you try not to make many waves. Even still, if there is something that you believe strongly in, you will commit yourself totally to that cause. Your weakness is that sometimes you can be indecisive and perfectionist, especially about little details and you drive people crazy sometimes with these traits. With the innocence of a Hufflepuff and the calm of a Ravenclaw you will be loved in life!
Take this quiz!








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Why the font on my site is so small and why the text is white...I'm trying to figure out...

Petsitting Galore

So...today was the last day I had to look after and stay at the houes of Golden Retreiver. I stayed at that dog's house for a full week! Well, I finished that today, but start another job at another house watching a cat, two hamsters, and some MISC animals. They return home Sun/Mon. This Fri, Sat, or Sun I start ANOTHER job for about two weeks watching this lady's cat who has to have fluids put into it about every other day by way of a needle and a bag (like the IV type). So...the extra money will be nice, especially since I spent $131 today buying my book for geology! I also need to save up money for next summer to go travellin'!

My first Geology class at MPC was last Saturday. It was good. The class seems like it going to be easy, but I've got to keep up on the classwork (lecture portion). The labs seem to be easy (worksheets, essentially). The class time is just the pits, though! 8 am to 12 pm. I will, most likely, work from 1 pm - 9 pm on Sats too. There are two 50 point quizzes and our final that is worth 100 points.

Work is goin' well too. Going to try my hardest to actually save this summer (unlike last summer). I'll be working all summer so...that should be nice.

I desperately need to clean my room/bathroom, but I'm just too lazy right now. :P So...with that, I shall be off! Gotta do homework... *cringe*

HAPPY JUNE!!!

I've got some GREAT June news!!!

So I've been worried about my grades because I thought my finals were a little bad, but...they weren't apparently!!

ASL - A+
Bio I - A-
Bio IL - A
ESSP 280 - A
Stat - A

That comes out to a 3.94 GPA for the semester.

That bumps my overall GPA to a 3.86. YAY!!!! It's my first A- in college, but...who cares?! I thought I wasn't going to pass the class with a B! *dances for joy*

Sunburn...

So, I'm down in So. Cal because yesterday a cousin of mine got married. Well, I was in a sleeveless dress and the sun was out (definitely not as bad today, but good enough). Any ways, I must have sat in the sun for about 3 hours. I got sunburned really badly, but only on my right shoulder! My left shoulder was barely burned and my face is fine, but my right shoulder got a burning! I can't even remember the last time I got sunburned it's been so long. We'll see if this thing peels or not. I've only peeled once my whole life. Any ways, off to dinner!

Another quiz thing

Your Animal Personality

Your Power Animal: Eagle Animal You Were in a Past Life: Whale You are active, a challenger, and optimistic. Hard-working, you are always working towards a set goal.

The Animal Personality Test

Random quiz thing

You are Ocean Blue

You're both warm and practical. You're very driven, but you're also very well rounded. You tend to see both sides to every issue, and people consider you a natural diplomat.

What Color Blue Are You?

I'm FINISHED!

I've been meaning to update this thing about once every other day for a while now. I just didn't seem to find the time this last week. I've been killing myself trying to complete everything.

Any ways, the point, I'm FINISHED! No more school till next fall! Well, I do have a summer class, but it is only one day a week on Sat morning. That's not SO bad.

Any ways, I'll update another time.

Things to talk about:
-Aquarium Gala
-Finals experience
-Sign language projects (I never have to do another sign language project and thank goodness, they tried to kill me!)
-Goals for summer
-Whatever else that strikes me :P

Collage

If you're interested...I made a collage of most of the photos taken at the Aquarium's gala on Friday night. I've been too busy or tired to update ALL week. I've attempted it about 3 times at least. Any ways, here's the link.

I'll update sometime later.

Finals start on Monday!

I'm going to die...

Days of school left: 11 (though I don't have classes next Wed and Thurs)

I am so gosh darn tired. I stayed up till 3:30am to finish writing my ASL thingy. I got up at 11am (after falling asleep after 4am and hitting snooze for about 1.5 hours), went to my Stat class, presented my stat project with my partner, went to the language lab, talked to Mo, went home, ate, filmed my ASL from about 4pm to 5:30pm, edited/checked/burned a CD of my project from 5:30-7:15pm. Went to class at 8pm and did I PRESENT tonight? Nope! Mo "randomly" picked people and I wasn't one of them. So, I get to present on Wednesday. It's a blessing and it's a pain. Blessing because I actually get to look at my presentation and pain because I just wanted it DONE. The good thing, though, I don't have to worry about presenting "live." I filmed everything.

I'm also stressing about my government reading, no clue why. I have a bio paper due on Friday too, but it's not too long, just lots of work. Basically, after tomorrow, I'm finished with formal classes. All I have is one paper (bio lab paper) and my ASL presentation the rest of the week after tomorrow. My classes on Wednesday and Thursday are all "studying" for finals on Monday and Tuesday. My last major thing to do (that I haven't done, yet) is my ASL final. It's my In Deaf Culture iMovie. I have my answers in English, I just need to translate them (that takes time) and film it.

On top of that, I have the aquarium this Sunday and the Aquarium Gala on Friday night. I've got other stuff/details to write, but I'm about to pass out. I'll write more maybe tomorrow.

Laters

Procrastination...

Why do I procrasinate so much?! I don't think I've ever procrastinated so much in my life...I've written about half of my ASL project that's due in less than 24 hours and I still need to FILM the thing...

I also still need to read my government and she says it's REALLY important and it's long, that's due Tuesday. I'm not gonna get all my homework done between now and Tuesday... >.<

I think I'm procrastinating in ASL so much because it's my LAST semester and it's a pass/fail grade.

Volunteer hours

Oh, almost forgot.

I found out yesterday that I have a little more than 914 volunteer hours at the aquarium. In about 17 more shifts or 34 more weeks I'll have 1,000 hours! 1,000 hours is the next time I get a volunteer pin/award.

Can I survive?

Yeah, so...

I finally registered for my MPC class. They had my birthday entered wrong. *rolls eyes* After I called them they got it all straightened out and I could register for the class then. So, it's official, I am taking geology and hydrology at MPC during the summer.

I also went to the aquarium today to get my volunteer vest that I can wear on duty. It's pretty nice. Kind of an olive greenish color with a nice embroidery color (redish color for the logo and tanish color for the wording). I also got a black mock turtle neck that has written also in black "Monterey Bay Aquarium Volunteer." The black shirt looks nice with the vest. I got the shirt mainly because all my uniform colors are short sleeved navy blue shirts. I just couldn't see navy blue, short-sleeves looking nice with the olive green. I'm looking forward to wearing it in 2 weeks! That and during the summer. The new blazers we're getting (I'm getting mine in June because the manufacture ran out of my size...) look nice. I saw them on some other volunteers. We look sharp! Any ways, I got off topic, the new blazers we have to take off at every water station. The vest will be nice because I don't have to take it off each time. I also OWN the vest (I spent money on it!) so I can keep it afterwards or use it at other places. It's an "official" explorer type vest. Pretty nice quality and has TONS of pockets. There's got to be easily 10 pockets. I'm not kidding. The vest in the summer will also be nice because it'll get hot in the aquarium with all those bodies in it.

Tomorrow I'm hoping I'll be able to register for my CSUMB classes. *fingers crossed* None of my classes are full, yet. Some I'm getting kind of worried about, but they still have at least 10 spots open.

I did my LAST sign language demo. I am SO happy! I just have to work on my final project now. LoL. A final project I STILL have no clue what to do on. *rolls eyes* It's due a week from today (minus a few hours). I also have to finish my In Deaf Culture video/report, but I have my answers roughly written out in English. I just need to translate them and video it. I also signed up for my exit dialogue. 10 minute session with my professor. *shudders* Scary! Mine is at 3pm on May 15th. I wanted to do it later, but with my bio test on Tuesday morning, I don't want to stress about my Bio AND ASL most of the evening.

So...I have my Stat final from 12-2pm on Monday than my ASL exit dialogue at 3pm. Tuesday is my bio final at 8am (I'll go in a half hour early) and my ESSP 300 final at 2pm.

I'll be done with everything by 11:59 pm on May 17th!

I can survive, I can survive, I can survive...!

Oh, last thing, I'll find out if I won a scholarship from Borders on May 31st (or somewhere around there). I'm hoping for the $5,000 scholarship. $1,500 isn't bad, but $5,000 would be really nice. There's only 5 of those, though, and the whole country of Borders employees could apply for one. >.<

Well...that's all for now!

Happy May

Days till school is out: 17

I'm procrastinating again...I just felt like saying...

HAPPY MAY!

I'll write a better post later. I had some thing to say and then I forgot what it was... Hrm...

Almost over...

I KNEW there was another reason why I like Mo (my sign language prof). He's REASONABLE!!

Oh my gosh...So I've been stressing out this week that I have all these projects due and I have 3 major ones due for ASL. Well, tonight we looked at the schedule and the class decided that we'd turn in our video for the book on the 17th of May (we had our discussion tonight on the book). This video we're suppose to answer 4 questions out of the 8 Mo gave us and to do a 3-5 minute signed answer for each. Then we were looking at when our final project was due, which is a reflection on the last 4 semesters of sign language and we were to pick ONE thing that stood out to us. Well, we were suppose to have them done by next Wednesday (the 3rd of May) and the following Wednesday (10th of May). We'd use both days to do the final presentations (everyone had to have it completed by the 3rd, but you could go the 10th). These presentations were suppose to be 7-10 minutes long in sign language...On top of that, we had 2 more demos due, which are anecdotes or short stories that we write ourselves following a certain list of criteria. They have to be around 3-5 minutes long (though, I don't think we pay attention to the time, only fulfilling the criteria under 5 minutes). They're also in sign language. Any ways, it was beginning to be a LOT of work and self writing and signing. So...Mo decided that we didn't have to do our 4th demo and that we'd move the final project presentations to the 8th and 10th of May. It felt SO good...Oh my gosh...I have breathing space to get things DONE. This is only his 2nd semester of teaching ASL 202, so he understood he kind of piled things up on us at the end. I'm just so thankful!

Due dates:
Demo #3: May 1st
Final project presentation: May 8th & 10th
Video: May 17th

(Of course there's our exit dialogue, that's informal, but scary none-the-less! It's sometime between the 15th-17th of May)

Lastly, I got my schedule all figured out after a load of stuff...I'm taking Media Tools, which is CST 201. It's the on-line class, which I'm taking for various reasons. The class will fulfill my art requirement, which is the cool thing. It's basically making a webpage on Dreamweaver, using Photoshop, and using Flash. On top of that I'm taking GIS + L, Bio II + L, and ESSP 300. It's a good solid 16 units. So far, from what I hear of past/current students, GIS, 300, and 201 are all really time consuming classes. Of course, Bio II will also be time consuming. So...I'm going to have to make sure I keep up on things! I'm planning to take Geol/hydro during the summer at MPC, still.

So, while I'm talking about classes, I should mention my lovely registration issues. I submitted, I thought, my schedule for next semester to my advisor and I waited 4 days with no answer back. I was just about to email her when I was reading the "steps" on planner web and realized I didn't SUBMIT my schedule. I had only ADDED my classes. *rolls eyes* So, of course, I submitted it and within a few hours I got it approved. What a bother...All I'm waiting for now is my fee waiver to go through so I can register on Friday. I think it's so dumb that I have to have the fee waiver entered BEFORE I can register. Why does CSUMB care? Knocks them out of money if I submit it. Oh well...Also hoping my "prepayment required" notice will go away with the fee waiver entered. Lastly, I have to call MPC tomorrow (should have today, but I forgot) because I can't register on-line for my summer class! The dumb program wouldn't accept my password. So, yeah, I gotta figure out what's wrong with that. I'm going to be SO upset if that class is already full and I can't take it in the summer. Wait, I'm not thinking that. I AM going to get into geol/hydro at MPC for the summer of 2006. I WILL.

As you can see...I've been having LOADS of fun with registration...I hate it so much...

Well...I think that's all my current whoas. On to more pleasant things...

Tomorrow night is CSUMB's # annual Celebration of Community dinner. I will be attending that. It's a big formal dinner to help raise money and honor the local "leaders" in the community in various categories. It's like $175 a ticket. Since I benefit from the Local Area Scholarship that CSUMB gives out, I get to attend for free because my money partly comes from this dinner/fundraiser. I had fun last year, so I'm hoping it'll be fun this year!

Friday I work and Sunday I have the aquarium. I seriously wasn't sure when I was going to get my ASL projects done, but now I have a little breathing room. Still going to be working my butt off, but the semester is almost over!

The Aquarium's Spring Gala (which is late by about 1 month) is coming up too! It's on May 12th. Looking forward to that. I already RSVP'd (I almost forgot!). That is definitely an event I hope to never miss at the aquarium. It is so much fun.

Well, I think that's all the news I have for now.

Fall schedule, hopefully...

So...Yes...Hrm...

I spent hours deciding on my fall schedule after I seemingly decided it about a week ago. Turns out, the CST class I was originally going to register for has a prereq when you actually try and submit your schedule. It's not ON the schedule, but it's on when you try submitting your schedule. Go figure...

Any ways, after a little reshuffling, looking at syllabuses (or syllabi), and seeing if I actually could do the prereq for CST 328 (the class I originally planned for), I decided to go for the on-line version of the prereq. It shall be interesting and some major self learning, but I think it'll be worth my time and I sometimes do things better outside the class and self teaching myself. The class fulfills my art/creative expression ULR, just like CST 328 did. So that's good. I still have to get an instructor's approval for the on-line class, but there's no profs even LISTED for the fall classes yet, so it's kind of hard to ask for approval when there's no profs listed.

So...My schedule for next fall, thus far:
Monday: Bio 241 (8:30am-9:50am), ESSP 300 (10am-11:50am), MAYBE ESSP 332 (intro to GIS 5pm-7:50pm)
Tuesday: MAYBE ESSP 332 (2pm-5pm)
Wednesday: Bio 241 (8:30am-9:50am), ESSP 300 (10am-11:50am), MAYBE ESSP 332L (5pm-7:50pm)
Thursday: MAYBE ESSP 332L (2pm-5pm)
Friday: Bio 241L (9am-11:50am)

No scheduled time class: CST 201

I'm not sure, yet, which day I want to take GIS. I could have Tuesdays/Thursdays free, or be done Mondays/Wednesdays after 12pm. Do I want to lug myself to campus for ONE class in the middle of the day or take a class that gets out at 8pm (I hate nigh classes...it's official). It's a big decision!

My schedule hasn't been approved yet, so I'm not sure what's gonna happen. Hopefully it'll get approved and I can move on!

I hope everyone had a good Easter or whatever holiday you celebrate. My Easter was spent at the aquarium volunteering. It was semi-busy, but fun. It didn't quite feel like an Easter, not sure why.

Since I'm now procrastinating from doing my homework, you get the following:

You Are a Fortune Cookie

You're a rather normal person, except that you have extraordinary luck in life. People want to be around you (even when they're a little sick of you), in hopes of being lucky too!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

I don't know about this....Do you guys feel lucky when you're around me?

You Are 22 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Haha! I'm acting my age, or close to my age. I have been thinking, weirdly enough, I feel like I'm catching up to my age. When I was younger I felt older, but now I feel like I'm really in my twenties, though just barely.

Registration

WHY does it have to be so hard to figure out what classes I need to take next semester?! WHY is it the classes I want overlap another class?! UGH, UGH, UGH, UGH

I've decided to take geol/hydro at MPC over the summer since I can't take it at CSUMB next fall. I've decided to take CST 328 (I thin it is) to fulfill my art because MPC has less unit requirement and I'd have to take like 3 art classes to fulfill my ULR at CSUMB.

So...I'm down to 12 units. What am I going to take to get 16 units next semester? I DON'T know. I looked into Constitutional Law. One of my profs recommended it and I could use it for one of my Policy classes. Well, it's a 4 hour once a week class, great, right? Well...It runs into my CST class and you have to have fulfilled the Engcom ULR and I've only fulfilled half of it. So yeah, there went THAT idea. I was going to take Physics, well, that class is at the SAME TIME as Bio 241. For kicks, I decided to check taking multivariate calculus in the fall. It's at the same time as my CST class.

*sigh* I'm out of options...I just don't know what to take. Maybe I was only meant to take 16 units next semester and I shouldn't do geol/hydro at MPC in the summer. I dunno...

On top of all that...Before I can register I have to submit my fee waiver, which I have to give about a week to clear. If it doesn't clear, I can't register. My registration slot is in 2 weeks! *bangs head on desk* I've never had fun my whole 4, going on 5, semesters at CSUMB. I swear this campus has it in for me in registration!

Test Grades/Next Semester

GUESS WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I got a 99% (99/100) on my bio test! I got the highest grade in the class. Kind of bummed about missing the one point, especially since it was on a question she told us to know. :- Oh well, I still got a 99!!! This should definitely bump up my Bio grade, which is at an 83% going into this 2nd test. Hopefully I'll get a B+ now (I don't know if it'll make it to an A- or not with the weights). It's so funny because our professor is "I look at you each individually and if I see your test grades go up and up then that's good." So I'm thinking, "great, that means I have to get above a 99% or higher on the final?" I just hope for an A on the final and I might actually pull an A- in the class! I'm excited! Come to think of it, if she drops my 3 lowest quiz grades, which she's suppose to do, I actually have a shot at getting an A if I get into the B+/A- range with this 2nd test. Wow...

I also got a 94% on my Stat test. I missed 5 points (79/84). :- At least it's still a good solid A. I got a 99% (missed 1 point) on the first test. I still have the final to get through. Other than that, I'm doing well in the class. I do have a project due, though, that is worth 20% of my whole grade. We shall see.

ASL I still have an A+ in. 10 points away from a perfect in the class (last time I saw at least, Mo's about 1.5 weeks behind on the grades). I have more demos coming up, though, so my grade should still stay in the A range, but I don't think I'll maintain an A+, but who knows! We also have two projects left for the semester. >.< They're big, so I don't hope for an A+ by the end, but definitely an A. Of course, I shall try my hardest to get the highest grade I can.

Econ I got a 91% (91/100) on the final so that gave me an A- for that class. I was excited about that! I still have to get through Judith's part, though. So far I'm doing well, but we're only 2.5 weeks into the class with her. We haven't had any quizzes, yet. Kind of worried about that. Her final I'm scared about, that's for sure! I have to memorize the Constitution (not word-for-word). I have to know the amendments and articles. I have to know what the big issue/point in each amendment and article is. I also have to be able to APPLY each article/amendment to a situation. So, yeah, I basically need to know it frontwards and backwards. I am enjoying learning about our government, though, which is good. It's really interesting with all the politics and how people get around things. Just as long as I pass the class...I'm good!

Bio lab I'm doing well in so far too.

I'm really looking forward to the end of this semester. I'm about to die from lack of sleep and everything else. Oh well, I'm doing well so far. That's the important thing! I struggled in the beginning, but I'm working my way to A's.

Next semester, I'm not sure what I'm going to take. So far it looks like I'm going to...Summer school! I'm going to take Geology/Hydrology at MPC. It's a 8am-12pm class once every Saturday for 8 weeks. The lecture is "take home" and the lab is the Saturday meeting, though we have "required" attendance 3 times or something. We also have, I think, 2 weekend fieldtrips. (No clue what that involves!) I'm planning, so far, to take Bio II and L, ESSP 300 (writing class and something else), and CST ### (I forgot the number, but it's digital art and design). I have NO clue what I'm taking for my last 4 unit class to make it 16 units next semester. I almost was going to take Physics, but Physics is the same time as my Bio class (how dumb of CSUMB). So I don't know what I'm taking. I should talk to Judith about some policy classes, but I haven't asked her yet.

So...that's about all the newest school information so far. Not much else is going on. I'm just tired. So with that, I'm going to end this! I've got homework to do (what else is new) and American Idol to watch and record at 8 pm!

Latas

Happy April!

I hope everyone didn't get any April Fools jokes played on them. I'm very thankful I didn't have work today! Who knows what could have happened at work...

Two of the Harry Potter sites I go onto played a joke on all their users. Playing into this thing that's played out since the release of Half Blood Prince called "Memerson." They basically played it like the two webmasters got married and they merged the two sites. So the forums have been interesting because they even changed those! It's been fun, least for me, but I am having withdrawls from my Chamber 8 (to the Left) reading group! There are some serious people upset, though. I can't understand that, but oh well. The CBBC Newsround did an article and included the two sites for big April Fools Jokes.

As for the rest of my life...It's going. So glad this last week I had one of my classes cancelled all week and had Friday off. Now I need to dig in, though, and get crackin' on the homework and such. Half way done with this semester!

I have a Stat test on Monday, ASL dialogue on Monday, Bio test on Tuesday, Bio lab rough draft due Friday (LONG lab, I need to write-up and come up with a hypo...). Also my new ESSP professor starts teaching this week. I need to start working on her homework and such. That class is on Tuesdays. So I'm going to have a fun first two days of the week, as ususal.

Well, that's all for now. Write more later!

Oh..right..

Well, that was an easier fix than I thought...Does help when you read a whole screen!

Changing things JUST a little...I'm playing with HTML a little now...

Sometimes change is HARD!

Okay...so I wanted to change my picture, but they've changed things and I have NO clue how now. What a bummer, oh well. I'll figure it out eventually!

Spring Break ends... I have to go back to school on Monday, it's a bummer. I didn't get a whole lot done this Spring Break, but oh well. I did write my ASL demo, though. I just need to figure out how to make it longer and end it. I covered everything he wanted! I do have to go in on his office hours on Monday to have him show me some signs. I'm not sure how to portray some of the things I want. *shrugs*

I figured out on Friday while I was hanging out with Tori at lunch that I'd take her to the Spring Gala at the Aquarium in mid-May! There wasn't anyone else I could really think to take that would be able to hang out with my aquarium friends and not feel left out. Three of us from the aquarium were already fighting over who'd get Jack as a date! The poor guy...15 (16 in May) and he has (or had) 3 college girls fighting over him. It was fun and amusing. He WAS suppose to go with me last year, but things happened on his end and he couldn't go. I was able to get in at least. Tori will be fun, though! She's fun and knows a few of the people at the aquarium I hang out with. So she won't feel left out.

The Harry Potter reading is going well. (For those that don't know -- I'm doing a 6 week, 3 chapters a week read of _Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone_ on a forum.) I'm completely getting addicted to the forum, but I still don't like the fact I can miss a day and come back to a few new pages of posts...It's kind of a bummer and such when you have to catch up. It's also fun, though, because you can keep up on everything and you don't miss any of the jokes (as long as you don't get into REALLY high numbers of new pages). I guess it has its ups and downs. I still prefer live chatting, though.

Well, I think that is all for now. It's late (1:33am) and I should head to bed since I have church in the morning.

Latas

Weirdness...

For some reason the font color code on the HTML isn't working with Xanga. The font color won't change period and I can't see what's wrong with it. Looks fine to me.

It's says my Irish name is "Sorcha Gallagher."

Yay for Spring Break!

SPRING BREAK! Well, after 12pm tomorrow...SPRING BREAK, baby! I'm pretty much done, though. I don't have anything due tomorrow in Bio (least that I remember of...). We're just doing transects out on the sand dunes tomorrow.

As for my econ final, it went pretty well. I kind of blanked on the last page, though. :- I think I got at least half of the 17 points, though, least I hope so. There were a few short answer things that I kind of had to pull out of thin air to answer, also. Overall, I think (or hope) I got at least a B. Most of the math I had no issue on.

It was kind of funny, and scary, Judith (Policy/gov prof for this class the last half of the semester) came in today and handed out her syllabus. She won't be at school the first week back after Spring Break so she's giving us an assignment to do. We're to attend some local government meeting (town hall meeting, water council, etc) during that week and to take notes, blah, blah, blah and to write-up a paper on it and turn it in by Friday March 31st. The following Monday, April 3rd, we're to be prepared to give an oral report on the meeting and such. We're also to read the first chapter from our "major" text.

It's kind of sad seeing Econ go bye-bye, but at the sametime I'm SO happy! Though, what I hear about how hard Judith is...I might want Econ back...I'm not sure to be honest.

What am I going to be doing during my Spring break, now you ask? Well, I shall tell you. NOTHING! Well, besides the homework and catching up I need to do. NOTHING! Also besides the other little stuff I need to do. I have no major plans, besides homework. It feels NICE!

In honor of Saint Paddy's day...You have the following.

Your Irish Name Is...

Sorcha Gallagher

What's your Irish Name?

Don't forget to wear your green tomorrow and hope everyone has a good week!

One more thing...

I forgot to say something else for Tuesday. I'm going to go see this Sign Language performance thingy for extra credit for ASL at CSUMB!

6 more days till Spring Break!

I have a B+ in econ (before the midterm)!! Yay for me! Now for the sad, yet true story behind my grade. I have the 5th highest grade, which you think is PRETTY neat when there's 24 people in the class, but when you find out the highest grade is an 83.2% you get kind of depressed. When you find out that the 5th highest grade (that would be mine) is a 70.9% you get even MORE depressed. Yes, the truth. There is only 6 people in my class with a 70.0% or higher out of 24 people. Does that say something about the professor? I'm not quite sure. My grade, though, is considered a B+ when he curves it. I need a 73% in the class to make an A- and an A, is considered at 81.7. There's no B-'s, four B's, two B+'s (70.9, 70.1), two A-'s (73.3, 74.6), and two A's (81.7, 83.2). Interesting, huh?

The midterm (or Econ final) is on Thursday. I need to do well on it! It's worth 50% of my grade!

Next week is kind of weird...

Monday: Stat homework due (our only 2nd homework), ASL dialogue (as normal)
Tuesday: Bio hw due (as normal), (most likely) a bio quiz, two econ homework/quizzes due, econ practice test needs to be completed (my own personal due date)
Wednesday: ASAP for bio, stat class (project development day, I think), work for 4 hours, video workbook due for ASL
Thursday: Bio (who knows what!), econ final (*cringe*)
Friday: Goin' to the dunes to do transects

I guess it's not weird, it's just full and it's the WEEK before Spring Break so it seems long, boring, and whatever else. I guess the work day within that makes it seem weird. I'm not sure.

I got called in to go to work tonight for 3.5 hours. It wasn't bad. It felt kind of weird working though. Course, I seem to be getting called in a lot. Seems almost every week work calls now (not just for going in). Though, next week I already know. I'm sure if I didn't go in tonight, Tracy (my GM), would have called me later. It's cool, though. I almost feel more productive going in for a few hours than I do going in for a full shift. It's fun to see everyone too since I normally only work once a week on Friday nights.

Well, that's all for now. Mainly wanted to tell about my Econ grade. I got a lot to work on before Tuesday for that class. Gotta make new flashcards for my new bio stuff we went over, also. I'm going to have a MASSIVE stack of bio flashcards before this test comes in another 4 weeks or something. I need to do well in the class though. I want an A in it! So I've gotta work.

All for now

Your Hair Should Be Purple

Intense, thoughtful, and unconventional. You're always philosophizing and inspiring others with your insights.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

Ha! I'd have to say I agree with this color. The description isn't bad either, but I've always thought having purple highlights would be really cool (not a full purple).

Welcome everyone into the month of March!

Well...school is ALMOST half over. Spring break is March 20th-24th. That'll be the middle of the semester. I'm doing okay this semester. Struggling a little in Bio and ESSP 280 (which is split into two parts -- the first half being econ). Statistics, Bio lab, and ASL are all going fine. I'm still not enjoying most of my classes this semester. Didn't help that I've had a cold for about two weeks now, but I just keep pluggin' along.

Last Saturday I volunteered at the National Ocean Science Bowl aka "Otter Bowl." I was a "rules judge." I basically made sure all procedures were observed and such. There was also a science judge, moderator, score keeper, and time keeper. It was pretty fun. My group was a nice lot and we had fun.

For those that don't know, the Otter Bowl is like a decathalon. They have a 6 minute "Toss-up question" period that various team members can buzz in to answer. Then there's two team challenge questions that the team members work together to answer in a given amount of time (varying between 2-5 minutes). Lastly, there's another 6 minute toss-up question period.

The team that won was undeafted through ALL the rounds. And that's a LOT of rounds. It was like 12 rounds or something. I was volunteering at the Otter Bowl from 8am-7:30pm. There was about an hour for lunch and an hour for dinner. With the double elimination periods, I was "working" for a good majority of that time.

Well, I do believe that is all for now.

ALMOST a month later!

Not a whole lot has been going on and a whole lot has. Does that make sense?

School is going. I'm not too impressed with this semester. I don't prefer most of my teachers, I guess. I'm not sure. I either a) don't like the class (the content), b) the teacher's teaching style, or c) the time it's at. *shrugs* Life. I just hope next semester is MUCH better than this semester!

In past news, Colin came out for almost two weeks. He came out to visit, but also to work the AT&T (oh wait, I mean at&t) pro-am. He got to work in the kitchens making sandwiches. It was fun having him out here. He took me to the Sardine Factory for Valentine's Day. That was an experience and a half! How often are you asked if you'd like a chilled fork with your salad? Any ways, it was lots of fun.

That's all I got to say for now. I'm too tired to really function right now. I'm trying to pull myself together to do my bio homework.

Did I forget to mention that I found out I was less thaan 2% away from an A+ in ASL 201? I just found that out tonight when I saw Mo's syllabus, which is almost the same as last semester. Who would have thunk...I could have had FOUR A+'s instead of THREE! Oh well, too late for that. I'm keeping ASL 202 on credit/no credit this semester, though. Least that's what I'm thinking of so far. Wonder if I can change that as the semester moves on...Rumor has it that all 202 classes are credit/no credit.

First day of school!

I SURVIVED!! I endured my first statistics (Stat 250) class and my first ASL 202 class (which is my last semester of ASL!!!!!). I also endured a 6 hour stretch of time between classes. I survived!

Tomorrow I have class at an obscene time..8:25 am. Yes, 8:25 am, not 8:30. 8:25 am. Than I have class again at 4pm. Alas, another 6 hour stretch between classes. This is just one of the worst schedules someone could have. Not enough time inbetween to really work (unless I wanted to do a four hour span, which I'm contemplating if I go crazy with these 6 hour stretches). I also can't just turn my brain off for the rest of the day too. It's a bummer, but hopefully this'll be the last semester of these weird schedules. Last spring was the best. I had no late classes. Ever since then I've had a class that goes till 8pm. It's just a bummer of a time.

I get this feeling that ESSP 280 is going to be my toughest class, if all the word on the professor is correct. I'll guess I'll determine that a few weeks into class.

Write more later on classes.

Happy January!

So I haven't updated in a while. My Christmas was wonderful. It was loads of fun and I got some pretty cool things.

This is what I got for Christmas: Harry Potter “Knight Bus” t-shirt, another shirt, 2 books, gift card to Borders, toe socks, calendar set, cloth luggage bag and mini backpack set, PSP, PJs, travel cosmetic/shampoo/etc thing, horse bookends (nice ones!), Cinderella and Felicity DVD, Narnia soundtrack, Harry Potter Quidditch dice game, and some other things.

New Years was well low-key. I worked from 9am to 5pm, came home and worked on my room (I'm doing a thorough cleaning) and went downstairs like 15 minutes before midnight to see what was on TV and such. That was about it. I've been really tired so I didn't really want to do more than that any ways.

As for my semester grades...I just got them today!

Chem lecture: A+
Chem lab: A+
HPWE: A+
SL: A
ASL: A
SBS: A

*grins*