After I finish doing my household chores and writing two major papers due next week, I think I'm just going to grab a bottle of diet coke, open a bag of chips and park myself on the couch. It's going to be a good day ;)
Happy 4th of July folks!
July 4, 2009
My 1st Pork of July
I'm spending my first 4th of July here at home, without even a watusi I could use outside to celebrate. I don't mind though since I've been looking forward to this 3-day weekend for weeks. Atsi and Jamie are going to a party later and won't be home until late. I passed on the party because I wasn't in a socializing mood - it throws me off a bit when I'm surrounded by people I don't know very well. At least I will be spending a quiet day at home which I don't get to do as much these days. The people I live with call my room my "cave" and it is my cave where I could just retreat and spend some quality quiet time. Atsi, Jamie and I are alike in the sense that we all retreat to our little corners at home. Space and privacy are so important that I have been feeling a lot more at home here in this country since we moved to our new place.
After I finish doing my household chores and writing two major papers due next week, I think I'm just going to grab a bottle of diet coke, open a bag of chips and park myself on the couch. It's going to be a good day ;)
After I finish doing my household chores and writing two major papers due next week, I think I'm just going to grab a bottle of diet coke, open a bag of chips and park myself on the couch. It's going to be a good day ;)
July 3, 2009
Summer Quarter 2009
Summer school started last Monday, immediately after spring quarter ended so I haven't really had a break from school work since September last year. But it was a choice I made so I can't complain. I planned on taking my practicum and an English writing class this summer totalling 10 units for 6 weeks (typical load for a regular 12-week quarter is 12 units). I knew that I would probably not be sleeping much because I still have work everyday on top of everything else but I figured it would be better if I just maximize my time.
After some confusion of whether I could do my practicum this summer or not, everything was finally resolved last Thursday and I decided to drop my English writing class - it's just not worth all the stress. I'm glad I got the last spot for practicum and I want to have enough time to do all the work I need to do for that class. My schedule is kind of crazy though with practicum starting at 8:20am everyday and ending at 1:20pm, then my work starting at 1:30pm and ending at 5:30pm. I only have 10 minutes to go to the loo and recharge. But it's only 5 more weeks. I think I'll survive.
After some confusion of whether I could do my practicum this summer or not, everything was finally resolved last Thursday and I decided to drop my English writing class - it's just not worth all the stress. I'm glad I got the last spot for practicum and I want to have enough time to do all the work I need to do for that class. My schedule is kind of crazy though with practicum starting at 8:20am everyday and ending at 1:20pm, then my work starting at 1:30pm and ending at 5:30pm. I only have 10 minutes to go to the loo and recharge. But it's only 5 more weeks. I think I'll survive.
July 2, 2009
Being out of it and the FB Insanity
I'm totally burned out from school work and by dealing with my current situation that I feel like I've been sleepwalking for months. I haven't read a single new book, listened to a new artist/album, watched TV shows I like or blogged with regularity. I badly need this summer to just recharge and re-asses everything and I'm hoping things will go back to normal soon, whatever normal was before.
I have been spending copious amounts of time on Facebook and while it's nice reconnecting with old friends, I seem to find it impossible to do it in moderation. It's gotten to the point where I feel so embarrassed by my total lack of restraint that I'm compelled to find another outlet for expressing myself online. And then I thought... hello! That's what blogging is for! I realized I haven't really written anything in a while - which is too bad since I've always found it therapeutic to just write down my thoughts and send it out into the void. So that's what I'm doing now, my own version of therapy. Retail therapy is well and good but writing is cheaper and does not require me to get all dressed up.
I have been spending copious amounts of time on Facebook and while it's nice reconnecting with old friends, I seem to find it impossible to do it in moderation. It's gotten to the point where I feel so embarrassed by my total lack of restraint that I'm compelled to find another outlet for expressing myself online. And then I thought... hello! That's what blogging is for! I realized I haven't really written anything in a while - which is too bad since I've always found it therapeutic to just write down my thoughts and send it out into the void. So that's what I'm doing now, my own version of therapy. Retail therapy is well and good but writing is cheaper and does not require me to get all dressed up.
June 27, 2009
May 24, 2009
We were evaluating children's books in class last week and this book was included in the batch of books on our table. I skipped it because I already read it years ago and I wanted to spend more time reading unfamiliar books. But while I was in the bookstore the other day, I gravitated towards the children section and homed in on this book. I read it, sat down and read it again. I thought it was wonderful when I read it the first time around but this time, it resonated with me more. I'm glad I got the chance to read it again, especially this week when I was feeling more distressed than ever about certain things. I'm slowly building a list of children's books that my teachers have recommended or I've discovered on my own and this book is a definite must-have. It's not even necessarily a book for children because it can be enjoyed by adults as well - maybe even more so! Anyway, I just wanted to share this with those who haven't heard about it yet - or heaven forbid, Dr. Seuss.
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.
It’s opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
and hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…
…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
NO!
That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.
It’s opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
and hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…
…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
NO!
That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!
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