No rest for the weary. Just Coffee.

This week has been crazy.

I had 4 midterms and a paper, all before Wednesday, which means I studied all weekend and got absolutely NO sleep whatsoever. I even had to do homework during church. Granted, I read History before the service started (does that really count as church?), and I read for my Literary Study of the Bible class during the service (at least I was reading the Bible, right?).

On Tuesday I spent 10 hours straight (no lie: 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.) on Missy and Amy's couch studying, writing a paper, and drowning my sorrows with Woodchucks.

Before my time spent on the couch Tuesday, I went to Bruegger's Bagels in the shopping center near campus to get a raisin bagel with cream cheese. The male employees at said location are overly friendly. VERY overly friendly. They always joke around with me and tell me I have "pretty eyes" and other such bullshit. Tuesday, I was in no mood to tolerate this nonsense. I was stressed the hell out and sleep-deprived to the point of collapse. 

I walked in to the store, and they had no raisin bagels. At a loss, I decided to settle for the honey grain kind since that bin was completely full. I told the guy at the counter this, and he said, "We don't have any honey grain. There should be a new batch in 15 minutes or so." Well, I thought he was joking with me, so I replied with my best bitchy, don't-mess-with-me voice, "Very funny. I can see them." He looked at me, confused, for a second, then said, "Oh, those are french toast." I felt terrible. I was an ass to him, and he was just trying to do his job, poor guy. I guess I won't be going to Bruegger's again for a while.

English Paper, You Slay Me

At this moment I'm avoiding writing a Psalm analysis paper for my Literary Study of the Bible class. I'm tired and would rather go to bed. I don't like writing on stuff I'm not inspired by or passionate about, and I'm sorry Dr. Hodgkins, but I am just not feeling Psalm 12 right now. 

Today was my cousin and best friend in the whole world's birthday. Pete turned 24 (like that TV show I don't watch), and for his birthday dinner, we had breakfast food. Blueberry pancakes are good at any time of day, even at 7:30 p.m.

Aside: I realize it may be confusing to hear me talk a/b "my best friend" alternately as a girl then a boy, so I'll explain. . . Amy is my best girl friend, and Pete (who is also my cousin) is my best guy friend.

Sunday night I watched There Will Be Blood with Pete, and I had my first experience drinking a Leffe Blonde. It was so good. Pete referred to them as the "champagne of beers," and I think I agree. Leffe's are Belgian beers that are best when served in glasses. Otherwise they'll act like champagne and fizz up over the top of the bottle when you set them down. Whatever, I just think they taste good.

"Little Lion Man" by Mumsford & Sons

Shrove Tuesday

Today is the last day of Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow will be Ash Wednesday, and so begins Lent. Forty days of no chocolate for me. So in celebration of my last day of freedom, I will sit on my bff's couch (that I crash on once a week) in the apartment she shares with my other good friend, eat fatty Chinese food, and watch the movie Garden State with the both of them. Maybe I'll even convince Missy (my bff Amy's roommate) to pick up some ice cream on her way home. I do realize that none of what I just mentioned had to do with chocolate. . . 


Alright, so the only above thing that did happen was the eating of Chinese food. Not gonna lie, it was a bit of a letdown; albeit a tasty one.

Misspellings

Do you have certain words that you can never remember the meanings of, or perhaps words you can never  remember how to spell? I do.

Forgotten definitions:

• ubiquitous
• velleity
• analogy vs. allegory
• aspersion
• capricious
• mendacious

Forgotten spellings:

• occur
• coercion
• trafficking
• accommodate
• daiquiri
• independent

"Running Up That Hill" by Placebo

Androgyny

For a year and a half now, I've used the Park&Ride to get from my car to campus. And for a year and a half there has been this person who also rides the Park&Ride, but I could not tell if it was a boy or a girl; probably the most androgynous person I've ever seen. Reminds me of Amanda Palmer a little bit, actually (she's the singer for the Dresden Dolls, and for the longest time I thought she was a man because her voice is so deep). Anyways, today as we got off the bus, someone said "Brittany!" and the androgynous person responded. So, mystery solved, the "it" is actually a "she."

"Backstabber" by The Dresden Dolls

Almost Friday

Today was a puffy cloud day, and it was beautiful. I realized after my last class got out at 1:45, that I hadn't taken a good look at the sky all day. To rectify the situation, I spent a good 15 minutes in contemplation, just staring into the heavens. There's nothing so peaceful as the endless expanse of a blue sky dotted with white, cotton ball clouds in it. 

 

I just finished watching this week's episode of LOST. Is it just me, or has Sayid's accent changed now that he has the so-called "infection"? Also, Mac from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" was on there! That was weird. 

Tomorrow is Friday, and I am soooo ready for it. I can't take any more Italian. Granted, it's not as bad as last semester (yet), but McLin has been completely mental this week. Speaking of la mia professoressa d'italiano, I wonder what she's giving up for Lent this year. She' a devout Catholic, so it must be something pretty good.

"Hatari" by Tune-Yards

A Room With A View

I've decided that the next place I live must have a window with a view, so when I'm sitting at my desk and writing wonderful things, I'll be able to look out and see beauty. It has to be a view that exudes inspiration.

Wednesday Musings

Windiest day ever -- that was today. The Weather Channel said the gusts were up to 25 mph, but they must've been higher. And it was cold. It was so cold I couldn't feel my legs through my jeans, and my eyes wouldn't stop watering. My poor hair didn't stand a chance either; it looked like a tornado had stopped by for a visit. At least it wasn't rainy though. That would've been unbearable, and I probably wouldn't have gone to class.

Since I'm blogging, it must mean I'm avoiding homework. I have to write my weekly response paper for my American Romanticism class, and today it's on "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau. The excerpt is about places he had lived and what he lived for. It's an interesting read, and I like the way he lived his life. I envy his freedom and wandering lifestyle, as well as his lack of attachment regarding material things.

One week from today is Ash Wednesday, which means Lent begins. I've decided to give up chocolate for it, so I have one week to binge before saying goodbye to it for 40 days.

Nature

Why does rain fall in droplets? Why not in sheets, or long lines, or star shapes?

Why is the sky blue? Why not green, or purple, or rainbow colors?

Why can't we see the wind? Where does it come from and where does it go? Does it ever just die, or is the same wind from 100 years ago still blowing today?

Today was a good day. . .

 

(I think yellow flowers are the happiest of flowers)

I think I aced my first speech in my Communications class.

I knew all the answers on last night's reading for Italian.

I got to see my bff for the first time in 2 weeks.

My room now has a doorknob again!

I did not lock my keys in the car.

The weather was very pretty.

My hair looked nice.

Also, I had a reaaaaally good cup of coffee this morning. 

"All is Love" from Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack:

Forlorn Milkshake

I have now had my first experience with locking my keys in the car. I would rather not repeat it. Ever.

Yesterday, I drove to Greensboro (which is 45 minutes from my house) in order to help my friend, Missy, babysit. On the way to her apartment, I stopped at Chick-fil-a to get dinner, and I thought I'd add a peppermint milkshake because I'd never had one before. Also, I'm pretty much obsessed with all things peppermint-flavored. It was not a disappointment--the milkshake was amazzzing. 

When I got to Missy's place, I got out of the car, shut the driver's side door, and walked to the other side to get all my stuff out. I tried to open the passenger's side door, and it was locked: with my purse, keys, laptop, coat, and worst of all my milkshake, inside. I had had, literally, two sips, and now it was staring at me maliciously from inside the car. I may have uttered a few words, that shall not be repeated, before stomping up to Missy's door. 

She graciously let me use her phone. 45 minutes later, my dad showed up with a spare key, and everything in the car was fine. . .except for my delicious milkshake. It was completely melted. It was a little heartbreaking, not to mention frustrating. 

I'm pretty sure that from now on, I will be obsessive about where my keys are at all times.

Avoidance

I realized today, that in an attempt to avoid writing my weekly newspaper article for The Carolinian, I write on my blog. Or, more likely, I rewrite the "about me" section. I may change one word in it or the whole thing, but I haven't made peace with what it says yet, even after having this thing for almost 5 months. I guess it just proves that a written work is never finished. For instance: Walt Whitman rewrote "Song of Myself" many times over the span of 15 years, and there are at least 3 different printed editions of it.

This week, I'm writing my newspaper article on TOMS shoes. I own 2 pairs and am getting another one as soon as the spring collection comes out. Their mission is "One for One." For every pair of TOMS purchased, the company gives 1 pair to a needy child, somewhere in the world, who has none. It's a great mission, but I always have trouble getting started on whatever I'm writing about.

"Strange and Beautiful" by Aqualung

"Lent" a Helping Hand (haha)

I'm not Catholic, but I think I'll participate in Lent this year. Everyone could use the occasional exercise in self-discipline, yes? Not really sure what to give up, but here's what I'm thinking so far: shopping, chocolate, coffee, makeup, or chewing gum. Giving up coffee is definitely not going to happen, but it was a nice thought. . .

Loving this song -- "Ragged Wood" by Fleet Foxes

FML (who came up with that massively cliched expression?)

UNCG is back on my bad side. . .kinda. This morning I woke up at the crack of dawn (to me, that's anything before noon, but in this case it was 6:30 a.m.), got ready, and drove 45 minutes to campus. Then I spent 20 minutes on the lovely Park&Ride bus, and another 15 risking my life trekking through the leftover snow and ice to class (apparently to save man power and salt, we don't shovel the sidewalks at UNCG). I got to class and sat there for 18 minutes waiting for people to show up, listening to the guy beside me try to map out the directions to his house (in case I wanted to come visit? no thank you, sir). Then. The girl beside me (who was practicing her thumb-eye coordination on her iphone) turned to the class and said "Class is canceled, I just got the e-mail."  WHAT!? It was 10:00, and I didn't have another class until 1 p.m. I could've slept in approximately 5 more hours. That's like a whole extra night of sleep that I missed because our professor couldn't make up his mind about the treacherous roads until we were all, except for him, already in the classroom. FML.

Okay, I usually hate it when people use the expression "FML." It's what the sorority sisters on campus say. All. The. Time. It's used far too often, and for situations they could've avoided if they hadn't gotten really super trashed the night before. All the same, it seems appropriate for my situation. Judge me all you want. You're allowed.

Cool news: my article for the paper this week was on the front page of it's section. I think I may frame it. . . or not.

Monday activities

Ok, so maybe I misjudged UNCG's adverse weather policy. They canceled school today after all. Yay! I guess not doing my homework paid off.

It took me a solid hour and calling my stepmother to come help me, before I could get my car out of the driveway this morning. I was at Melo's house, and when I tried to leave for class (which was not yet canceled), my tires kept spinning, and I couldn't get the car to move forward. She tried twice and got it on the road. I guess you have to live in New York for 40 years before you can do that.

After I got home, my brother, Tyler, and I helped Alice (my stepmother) make an apple crisp. Then I watched the movie Penelope with my half-brother and sister (Garrett and Lacey).

Unfortunately, I still had to go to work tonight.