Sunday, January 30, 2011

No Matter How Bad Thing Are...:A Cautionary Tale

The following events are 100% true.  None of this is exaggerated.

Last week, I have been spending a lot of time in doing research for doing a study abroad (I want to go to Kansai Gaidai in Japan).  After picking out courses I would like to take, I went to meet with somebody in the International Office to ask a few questions.  One of the ones that I had asked was about how frequently people get denied to study abroad.  The answer was that mostly, the only people to not get in were the people with grades that were too low and that this particular university was very strict on only allowing people with a 3.0 minimum in.

That is where I got depressed.  A few years ago, I was put on Academic Probation because I chose a major that I was no good at (I thought I could be a math teacher, but I failed Calculus pretty horribly).  I have since changed majors, and my grades have improved significantly. Because of Kansai's strict policy on the 3.0 minimum, the prospects of me doing a study abroad were looking grim.

After a bit of sulking and hanging out with a friend, I had to get going to take the kittens to the vet (for a wellness check and to see if they lost their baby teeth).  Trying to get the kittens into their crates was miserable.  Tama wanted to hang out in the smaller one (and he is the bigger cat), and Haru wouldn't go into one without a huge fight.  A while later, I have the kittens in their crates and I take them out to the car.  I load them in from the passenger side, close the door and walk to the drivers side only to realize that the keys were in the car and the doors were all locked.

I started to panic and I went crying to my landlord to see what I should do.  He told me to call the towing place in town to come over and unlock the car.  So I called that place, they told me to call AAA, and they said that somebody will be there shortly.  After about 40 minutes, my cats are already late for their appointment, I couldn't feel my toes, my phone is dead, and the guy from the towing place comes and unlocks my car (FINALLY).  Getting the car opened freaked my cats out because the alarm had went off, and they were shaking and crying up until I got them home again.

Remember: No matter how bad things are, they can always be worse.  I thought that not being able to study abroad was the worst thing that could have happened at the moment.  Instead, my cats get locked in the car and spend what felt like forever being cold and crying.

This may seem like a rather silly example (and in writing it, it really does feel like that), but at the time it was happening, it felt terrible.  I was freaking out and crying the entire time!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Things I Love Thursday

Because it is just too cute!

Looks like I am off to a good start with 2011.  This is my first post in...what?  Two weeks?  I should have more to write about soon though.  My next semester starts on Tuesday and with that, I give you Things I Love Thursday!

Start of a new semester
So, this is my second to last semester in school.  My final spring semester.  Something seems a bit surreal about it.  Anyway, the start of the semester means routine and getting to see friends more frequently (since they will also be back in the area for school).  I want to make more of an effort to do things with my friends.  One thing I have planned is to make a feature length movie.  My friend Charlie and I are going to write and direct this together, he will work on editing, and I will do make-up and wardrobe.  We have all sorts of plans that revolve around this movie and it will be amazing!  When it is done, we will post it on Youtube in segments in segments.  This is going to be so much fun!

Receiving large orders from Amazon
Last weekend, I was scouring Amazon for all sorts of amazing bargains and finds.  I finally placed an order that consisted of over 10 books and a set of brush guards (from BrushGuard).  I got five of my books in today and started reading the one (Grammar Girls Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing).  I haven't even finished the first chapter and already I feel so much smarter!  Let's see if there will be a noticeable change in my writing!

DIY at home beauty
I have been watching a TON of Michelle Phan videos, taking extra time on the ones that are about skin care over the make-up tutorials (which are also amazing, but my skin has been kind of angry at me recently).  I never knew that you could make your own black-head nose strips or that a single egg could be used as a two part mask!  My skin already feels better and I cant wait for it to look as good as it feels!

A new addition?
No, I am not having a baby.  My friends mother has too many cats and she can't afford to keep them all.  All of the local no-kill shelters refuse to take them in because they lack the room.  Assuming that this one guy gets along well with my two kittens, I will have a new kitty.  He is a boy (of unknown age since my friend failed to mention one) that has white fur and is heterochromatic (fancy word for having two different colored eyes)!  Once he has been cleaned up, he will be introduced to Haru-chan and Tama-kun!

Computer games
Now, I normally go for console games.  I don't really know why, but I have always found console games to be more fun and slightly more social.  A lot of the new games coming out for PS3 are either too expensive or don't seem fun.  Also, the Wii seems to be used only for Mario games and many gimmicky games that use the Miis.  Steam is a great place to find fun games on the cheap!  Also, courtesy of another game site (which I don't know because Garrett bought the games and surprised me with them) I have The Incredible Machines (an amazing puzzle game from when I was young that lets you complete Rube Goldberg machines (for those that don't know what Rube Goldberg machines are, here is an example as done by Mythbusters))!

Little Extras
Sleepy kittens ♥ Amazing new camera ( Canon powershot SD1300IS) ♥ Matching case for my camera (it's pink) ♥ Back massages ♥ New hair cut ♥ Being called "Encyclopedia" by people I work with (all because I know random facts and can speak a small amount of Japanese) ♥ Things having a home in my apartment ♥ Places calling you back in a timely fashion (Garrett needs a self-storage unit because his parents are moving and I was calling around.  I left a message at one place and they called back about an hour later) ♥ Watching documentaries by Penn & Teller ♥ George Carlin (Tis a shame he is no longer with us) ♥ This Something Awful thread (despite the vulgar language, it is really nice) ♥ People not recognizing me (I like to fool people) ♥ playing DDR for the first time in years ♥ Kittens sleeping in inconvenient/weird places ♥ Sock Dreams (they have thigh high leg warmers which are super cute!) ♥ 

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Hello 2011


So, here we are.  A new year year, a new beginning.  So, what changes do you plan on making?

Updating
I know I always say that I I plan on updating more often (and I really do want to), but I am always busy with some project. I have tons of articles that I want to write, but I need to get off my lazy butt and write them for you guys!

Taking care of myself
This is a full body deal!  I mean head-to-toe and from the inside out!  I am going to start eating better (no more fast food!), staying properly hydrated (with lots of freshly made lemon water) and working out.  I want to start doing yoga or pilates every morning, meditate, floss/use mouth wash (I have only been brushing and that isn't good enough!), wearing contacts and make-up, taking my vitamins, waking up earlier, making my hands look like I just got a professional manicure, and dry-brushing my skin.  I have all these things planned out!  I even started some of these before the new year just to get used to it!

Organize
My apartment is a mess and my car isn't much better.  I plan on keeping EVERYTHING super clean!  I will also do a once a month clean of all my bags to make sure that I have everything under control!  I also want to start using my organizer.  I am sick of having tests sneak up on me!  NO MORE!  I also would like this to include being more financially organized.  I have already started by doing a preliminary clean of my car and clearing out my closet.  I also have a few storage containers for under my bed (for all my current craft projects).  I feel that it might also be easier to be organized if I wasn't living in such a small apartment.  My bedroom is also a living room and office.  Too much stuff going on for my liking.

Miscellaneous
Stay in better contact with friends
Put together awesome outfits
Take more pictures (of the outfits?)
Go out more
Finish my craft projects

I also want to send my full support for anybody who has the resolution to quit smoking.  Many of my friends share this resolution and I think it is great that they want to take care of their bodies by doing this!  You have everything to gain by doing this!  GOOD LUCK!

What do you want to do in 2011?  Let me know!