Writing

Last night, I ended up talking with Miss Tanya, a good friendship that started all randomly when I needed to find a place to stay and her cousin offered her place, where they were roomies.

I think what I like best about Tanya, besides her sense of humor and her wonderfulness, is that we can talk forever. And we listen to each other. She talks like me, where we get off topic and we end up having conversations within conversations, and then we remember the original topic and get back on track, talking some more. I don't feel stupid around her in that sense. I've never really felt socially inept, but I usually feel that my mouth could be better if it were sewn shut, rather than allowed to open whenever I forget (it's not always when I please). I should talk to Thumper's parents to get better advice on the subject.

So, after randomly calling her and asking about whether I should order Domino's online (I was starving, having not eaten since morning, and it was 8pm), we ended up getting together with the pizza. It was easy to get on the subject of writing because we're currently having a writer's conference at our school. We talked about teachers, how we don't feel that we write how we used to and what the best ways to get back on track of writing were.

My latest writing teacher said that the best way to write when you have a busy schedule is to write when you least expect yourself to. When you think you shouldn't write, write anyway. Tanya and I both realized we felt the same way, where, once we start writing, it's hard to stop, thus we hesitate to start. Back in my days of two-in-the-morning-writing-until-parents-kicked-me-off, I didn't have to worry so much. I didn't have writing classes, school was kind of a boring thing I didn't fully feel the need to concentrate on, and gaining sleep was easy as. Now, in college, I feel that I do have to concentrate on school, losing sleep not by choice and never having much time to gain it back, and my two-in-the-morning would be pushed longer if I chose to write what I truly want to write.

I keep telling myself that the only way to really get it all out is that I just do it. Suck it up, as I usually do. Life sucks, you move on, and you enjoy what you can. And what I could enjoy is finally writing something like I used to.

It was either before college started or the summer just after my first year, everything I'd originally written on a computer got crapped out. For some unknown reason, beside the idea of age, the computer wouldn't turn on, and all of my young creative ideas haven't been touched since then. I've thought about maybe this being a reason why I don't write like I should anymore. Given, if I ever re-read what I wrote, I'm sure it'd be obvious I was some 13-year-old trying to write a story much like another story I liked, but I know I had some good original ideas I could pull out somewhere--or so I feel.

It's so easy to lose originality, anyway. Whether it be that I thought up a line and didn't write it down (multiple schemes have been lost to the wind because I thought the idea could wait until morning or that I was in a rush) or the fact that we're all just pulling off of Shakespeare's strings. I think of something and realize it's already been done. The hot air that rose the balloon is let out. There are many ways to tell a story; I just want to make sure I do it well.

So, in the mix of things, I already know the best way to get started. You read. I think that's one of the reasons why I started writing so much during that age, anyway. My parents can vouch for how often I read, even to the point of my teachers saying that I wasn't paying attention in class, but reading a book (to be honest, it was always much more interesting anyway... I don't seem myself putting my knowledge of what president got stuck in his bathtub to use, recently. Taft, by the way.)

Even playing certain video games make me want to write.

Music has been on the list since I was born (particularly, Pirates of the Caribbean makes me want to write, for some reason).

So, here's the real debate. Do I end up writing all over again, or does the cycle start again? I always promise myself something, and it never really turns out to be, especially with a schedule like mine. A day turns to a week, month... before I know it, the promise a few years back and I've got some other ones added to the list. I don't like picking and choosing what I'll get into and leave behind. I like it all and want it all (something my mother taught me ^_~).

The night ended with Tanya and I whining about jobs and how money sucks. Though her boss promised her hours, he ended up taking six hours a week from her because he hired someone new. We bitched about how anyone (mostly college students) were supposed to get money at a job where the pay is low and they keep taking hours away from us and ultimately won't be able to afford getting to the job in the first price thanks to the gas prices.

My view? The prices to everything is rising, thus they have to move minimum wage up, right? In all reality, we keep talking about ratios of the past. We're technically paying the same prices to things, they just want more green going around in the exchanges. Now, it's changed, because they rose the prices to where we're so poor, we're scraping every pot. Even if we do get a raise of money, we were already on the scale of just making ends meet. There's no way to come back.

It's official. There's the rich. There's the poor. And instead of trying to make the change ourselves, we're so worried about putting it into someone else's hands so we can go about our own lives, worrying about what color shirt will best bring out my eyes for a date. Even I, myself, get caught up in the game at times. But isn't it easier to just... I donno, think before we do things?

Since bike riding to work, it really takes about the same amount of time (with a car, there are multiple stop lights) and saves gas money... and overall helps the earth.

Buying locally not only helps the town, but is usually organic. So, I get myself healthy, no chemicals hitting earth and, since I rode my bike to get my meals, double whammy.

It all seems so small. But doesn't everything start out that way?

It all really even starts out with respect, even if it is an "inanimate" object. Place the pen in its place, rather than shoving it in. I find that when I feel in tune with what's around me, I'm kinder all around anyway.

But, that's the beauty of America and people in general, I guess. "Individuality." Having a mind of your own, even if it means not agreeing with someone. Oh, and having that Hummer. Tres importante.

I just fully believe that there's a way to have what you want and still make a difference for the better. Is it really a sacrifice to ride a bike if able? Live with only one high-def television (come on, does your 1st grader really need a small one for their room?)? Use public transportation or car pool? Eat well and think of others for once?

To me, it seems simple and easy. I can give up a little here and there. And if everyone did, it'd make all the difference. I mean, when did sacrificing become such a huge commodity? In the end, it really helps you.

My goal for the end of the summer: get at least one other person to suck it up and use their car only when really needful (hopefully, Russell.)

Random Fact: The USA uses 29% of the world's petrol and 33% of the world's electricity. The World's.

Summer?

I'm pretty sure I got sun burnt yesterday.

It was gorgeous, so I parked myself outside to do some homework. Joining me were Seth, Russell, Lisa, Angi, Laura, Nikki and some random come and goes. For about an hour, I worked, then the rest of the time was spent talking, laughing and enjoying the warm weather.

We then had the Festival of Nations, in which there are many booths set up with food we can buy for a dollar, a stage with performances to see traditional attire and song and then places where you can buy things. I tried almost every booth (I only had a certain amount of tickets), bought some fancy chopsticks (I keep forgetting mine at home), got my name in Chinese characters, made a God's Eye (memories of selling those at garage sales) and also got some henna on my hand.

It was really cool to talk to the people manning the booths, especially the foreign exchange students, as they talked about how they came about to Minnesota.

After the day spanned out, Martha and I then went to the pub to hang out with Traci and her parents. The next few hours were spent laughing at each other's stories. It's been a while, laughing that hard for that long. And it's nice to know that my family aren't the only one's crazy ^_~

In a few hours, I'll be on my way to seeing the Ben Folds concert. I'm not sure how it'll all pan out. This'll be the first time Dan and I will "hang out" since he decided I wasn't worth his time, and then I decided he wasn't worth mine. Emily and Corey for fantabulous people, but I haven't really done much with them besides the random hanging out and STLF trip, which is different in itself.

It's exciting, though.

I got a summer position at Residential Life, and the Gamestop is a good call. No school, friends and two jobs? Plus, the people who also got positions or will be around... This summer is going to be exactly what I need.

I just wanted to update--I always kind of feel bad when I leave my blog for a certain amount of time, as if it has feelings of some sort. I am busy, but there's always time for a quick blog lovin'.

I'm off to clip the ends of the flowers I received from Mandikat's recital, the one's that are happy to be around and make happy smells in my dorm room.

Random Fact: The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Down Feather

As I lay here, cuddling with my Geoffery (Teddy Bear... I'm still single, ya'll), I'm still on inner debates with myself. Constantly.

Am I doing it right? What is right? Is this the right time? How will I know? I'll be missing so much! But I'll be gaining so much! Passport? Earning money? Passport? What clothes to bring? Passport? Passport? Passport?

If you can't tell, my passport still hasn't arrived in the mail yet. I'm getting rather bothered by the fact (moreso at the fact that my mother is freaking out and we continually get into fights over the matter). You'd figure it'd all be an easy kill, considering it's been "in process" for over eleven weeks. "Technically," I still have another week to go. However, also "technically," I'm peeved that they've changed the time periods for it to come back to me twice now. They have a certain piece of paper that pretty much tells everyone that I am able to exist, in which I desperately need for the jobs I've "signed" up for.

Speaking of jobs, I decidedly have two. The first, Diary Queen, which is much cleaner and more fun to work at than I ever anticipated. Partly because of the people, partly because I'm surrounded by what I love most: ice cream (though, according to my new boss, this isn't ice cream... it's DQ. Literally, it's patent.)! It's difficult to not just take over the entire counter and create something of my own, like a science project, but I don't think any good could come of any of it (for them, anyway... I'd be profoundly happy!).

The second job is at the casino. I haven't started this yet because I have to go through orientation (in which they basically tell me I can't gamble, except for Bingo, which is all I play anyways, and that I'd just better stay in line).

The problem with these two jobs is the fact that I'll be gaining less sleep than when I was at school; graveyard shifts at the casino, hopefully more afternoon jobs at the DQ. This may give me just five hours a day to sleep, but I can't be too sure because I have to allow time for dressing and actually getting from point A to point B to point C and perhaps all the way from point A to point C, or the other way around.

I'm extremely thankful that, considering the outrageous gas prices, I won't have to be driving to the end of the universe to get where I need to go. Let's face it: I adore my Jeep, but it's kind of a snob, drinking it's gas like it's easily replenish-able.

In other news, I became an addict to The Hex, though I believe we "Americans" just call it Hex. We shorten it. We're lazy like that (or would it be WLLT?). I couldn't wait for this upcoming Saturday to see what happens and ended up watching the rest of the season through the internet. Rather disappointing ending, really. Very realistic in a sense, but, all the same, I kind of wonder if the whole thing was a flop, thus the killing off of so many people and the whole drawing certain things out. I will say one thing: the optimist I am, I really truly wanted to believe in Malachi, just as much as Ella did. It was rather saddening to see him so easily straying from what he originally cared for.

I have no clues if there is even going to be another season (I assume not, considering the cults that have arisen from this, and would be content with nothing else). It's amazing to see how characters have changed throughout the series, mainly because I see it in such a short period of time that it's hard to believe how quickly everything passes. I suppose this is with any television show.

Since actually sitting down to watch the Tele nowadays, I've discovered quite a few disturbing things.

Hoveround. What in the hell were they thinking while making this commercial? I can't stop laughing as they spin in circles... Given, it's thinking outside the box. Also given, it looks ridiculous and I begin to wonder if anyone looks at the commercials before allowing them on public television.

Year Round Tomatoes. The only reason I find this disturbing is because I wonder what the hell I'm eating if that tomato is going crazy all year round. I don't really trust it. Also, I find it slightly odd that they don't say how long the plants last. A few months? Forever? Ripoff.

Adopt Us Kids. Now, I'm all for adoption. But has anyone been watching these commercials? I'm so shocked, I almost forget that it's for a good cause! Can you tell when this one came out? I think it's just the line "There are plenty of others willing to put up with you" that got me. Mainly because I wasn't paying attention to the whole commercial (I had to rewind it to make sure I'd gotten it wrong), and I thought that it was for a trade-in, or a campaign for children who were sick of their parents (it was the one where the mom is accidentally listening in on a teenager's conversation through the phone).

And now, time for the lost movies!

Rookie of the Year. I am still amazed to this day to meet people who have not seen this movie, nay, film. Who can forget the awesometastic line repeated over and over as a child of "Funky Butt-lovin'!" Laughs galore! Or the sarcastic humor of, "Let's go back to our dull lives and search for meaning." This is high quality material. Given, the main character tends to do the whole gig of a child who's clumsy/inept(I vaguely remember A Kid in King Arthur's Court and A Kid in Aladdin's Palace... Connected, I have no clue, as to I'm most positive I never watched them more than once and that was over ten years ago), but this movie is a classic that still catches laughs from me. I still can't believe the part where Henry starts harassing the pitcher with "Pitcher's got a big butt" or "there's something comin' out of your nose!" draws more than a mere smile.

There's for the night, hoping that I'll get good sleep and wake up to a nice warm day, in which I can go swimming. Also, that there aren't half as many bugs... the mosquitoes are terrible at the moment!

Random Fact: More than 2,500 left handed people a year are killed from using products made for right handed people. I'm suddenly extremely glad not to be in on the minority for this one.

Working At Gamestop Has It's Perks

I think I've been said "Hi" to from people I barely recognize at least three-four times this week because of working at Gamestop. And to say the truth, I can't complain because, not only do I love the job, but they're all guys. Cute guys. Some know my name, others don't, but still. I've somehow made a name for myself just by being a good employee and giving out right information.

One has even told me that I was very helpful.

In regards to gaming, Crackdown is officially out. I still don't know how I feel about the game, though I want to tell everyone that it sucks and to buy something else just because many people have been telling me that it's better than the Wii (but I'm not because true Wii lovers don't hate... unless it's the PS3. Because PS3 causes cancer. For cereal). I guess the demos I've seen of it just make me feel weird inside. It literally is Grand Theft Auto with The Matrix. Except that you're a police officer. A law man taking it out on the citizens. Sway-t?

In other news, by missing class yesterday, I found myself wondering what the hell I missed and trying to gather information difficult, if only because I found out that, apparently, a lot of people skipped. In fact, the first person I asked about what I missed in class, they said they didn't go. I'm nervous about my proposal. I know what I want to do, but I wish I could understand everything a little better. Luckily, I have time to write down the questions I have and ask them in class (let's just hope I can remember what I wanted out of those questions).

Sometimes, I feel as if everyone is way ahead of me in the game. When I read what other's write, anywhere, I find myself envious. I want to create something just as unique, have a flavor for intricate words and describe what I think in a slew of metaphors/similies. I sometimes tend to write things in a way that I don't believe I could ever write so beautifully again, but other times... the point is lost in what I'm really trying to say.

I'm eating popcorn in the Super Lab. I wonder if what I'm doing is "illegal."

WikiWorld, here I come.

Random Fact:Most cell phone antennas have no purpose other than to make people believe that flipping up a 2 inch antenna just gave them better reception. They are not connected to any circuitry.