The Talk of Goals- Present and Future

 So I deleted my post from yesterday. Why? Because it was stupid. Especially since I told myself I wouldn't write up posts if I didn't have anything to write about. I think it's just because I'm scared that if I don't write one night, I'll eventually stop writing altogether. Funny thing is, whenever I write about something that I do think is a thought-provoking post, it usually has no views. Then my stupid posts get views. Timing? I dunno. That's life.
 On that same note, in so many of my journalism classes they've said, "Create something! Like a blog!" Fact: I would NEVER show this blog to a potential employer. This is just me rambling on about whatever comes to my mind. It's a good way to keep me writing just to write, but my grammar and writing structure is awful here. I've written posts that are so stupid. So, no professional world for you bloggie.
Now, let's move onto today.

I like to set goals. As for the following through with them, I'm not sure how great I am. I'm working on it, just like everyone else. The thing is, I think I tend to have more trouble with them once I've told people about it. Weird, right? With more people knowing about those goals, you'd think that I wouldn't want to disappoint people. I think what happens can be seen in Daniel O'Brien's article about 4 Bizarrely Specific Stereotypes You Can't Help But Notice in point #1: The more you talk about the book you're writing, the less you've written. In my situation, it's obviously not a book but it has the same idea. Sure you're talking about it, but have you actually sat down and got the work done? No? Then stop talking about it, or at least start doing it so you have something to talk about. I'm a bit like this for tryouts/interviews as well. I get a bit superstitious and wait to say anything. That way, if I don't get it I don't have to tell everyone. If I do get it, it's just icing on the cake. Cream cheese icing.
I'm not sure how much I agree with #3 though. I love my cousins, and spend time hanging out with them quite a bit... does that make me hickish? I never thought that before now. Actually, I'm pretty sure I'm not hickish. You can hush, Dan O'Brien.

On that note, it's time to review my goals for February.
So February? Not so great on the goals. Hoo boy. Well maybe 50/50.

1.Eating out
 -This? This I did not do well with. Sometimes it feels like whenever you make a very specific plan, life throws the complete opposite at you to deal with. I had one specific date where I was going to eat out but then unplanned situations landed in my lap. However, I think I'm getting better at eating out financially, despite achieving my goal the way I wanted to. For instance, when my only choice was to eat out with the Duck TV peeps, we went to Chipotle. Normally, I would get guacamole since guac is delicious. But when the cashier said it would cost $1.50 more, I said no way. Might seem like a small amount, but those little amounts add up over time.
2. Calcium
 -I took calcium everyday except once. Nice! Let's keep at it.
3. Computer time
 - Alright, I probably spent way more time on the computer than I should have. Seriously, it's like an addiction. Not good. I'm going to keep working on using the computer less and less.
4.Punch Card
 - I used my punch cards a few times! Yeah! I have about 3 months to finish about 16 punches. Let's go to the gym!
5. I didn't buy any gum or soda. Nice.

As you can see, there were some ups and some downs. That's life.
Returning to the earlier mentioned article, I'm going to try something different this month. I'm not going to tell y'all my goals. No, I will only tell you that I have two big main goals, with some specific details but enough wiggle room to not break at one little slip. Of course, I'm going to work on general things (like some of the above things), but there are two goals. I will tell you what they were at the end of the month, and how I did. Hopefully better than recently.

 I bid you adieu for the evening, and I hope to not run out of things to say. (Which is how I've been feeling lately.)

Do you tell people about your goals before you go through with them? What's your view on this type of goal-getting?

The Obsession with Writing Things Down

Welp, it's the weekend. Yuppers. I always get so excited, and then don't know what to do with myself. ...Then, by the time it's over I'm wondering where the time went.

I have a confession. I obsessively write things down. I think the whole thing started out with writing down my spending habits. I decided when starting college I would write down every item I would spend money on. Alright, maybe it started out with getting my debit card earlier that summer because I wanted to make sure I always knew how much I had in my account. I've heard the horror stories. Okay, I'm getting a bit distracted but know that it all started out with finances.

This thing has fallen into a river, and I still use it.

At this point, I was starting to become much more neurotic. I was (or at least student loans were) paying for this education, so I had to make sure I knew when things were due and when to get them done. Thankfully, that was taken care of with the new free planner that my school gave me. (Nice thing about smaller schools? They give you free planners. Yeah, not so much here.) If you're counting, there's currently two places where I'm writing things down.

My next planning resource came to me from Christmas. I had received a little notebook from my cousin for a Secret Santa gift. I mentioned it a bit here. I thought like most of the notebooks I have, I would start filling it out and forget about it in ten pages. I now have about ten pages left in it. I've written a lot of things in that little notebook, including:

• Information about transferring, studying abroad, and requirements for them.
• Class schedules, percentages, big assignments
• To do lists of all kinds, including some grocery lists
• Spending habits, overall money situations
• Meal planning
• Outfits I wore
• Running schedules
• Potential dream jobs, dream travel destinations, dream whatevers.

Yeah, I've used it a lot.

Recently, I've grabbed another little composition book (similar to my spending one) for scheduling the hours of the day. As in,writing down times when I have things going on so I can figure out things around it. Not like I don't have a planner, but it gives me more of a visual of the hours.

Finally, there's the OCD pages. This habit started in fall of 2010, and it involves notebook paper. Y'see, sometimes I like to add random things up. Multiple times. Like the estimated cost of studying abroad. Or scheduling classes for my college career. Be warned, you are about to see some A Beautiful Mind type craziness out of me:

Yeah. I've written on dozens of papers like this. Looking at it yourself, you probably wouldn't know what all of the calculations were. Hell, I hardly do. That's why I've written some of them over and over, because I forget which is which.
I'll admit, this is probably a bit insane. Whatever, it's how I do.

If you were counting, that's five separate things that I write in/on. I'm starting to see a little more crazy in me. Concerning.

"Wouldn't you be more organized if you wrote everything down in one area?" You'd think, but I don't believe so. Each thing has its own meaning, its own reason. The rest of my random thoughts go in the big notebook, and I carry all of these around with me 90% of the time. It may be a bit crazy, but I like it.

That's all from me tonight. Hopefully I haven't scared anyone off.

Are you an obsessive list maker? Do you write a lot of things down?

Another Day, Another Year

It's the last day of 2011 and all I really want to talk about are books. Mainly, how both impressed and envious I am of writers. Also, seeing as I'm not a writer like the type of writers I'm going to mention, I know I won't say this with as much eloquence as I'd like.

The reason why I'm envious of writers is due to their ability to create emotion. Create whatever worlds you wish, what creatures you prefer. Yes, these things are valuable skills. However, I only mostly care about when... well, I suppose when writers make me care. Perhaps I get too involved with the characters in stories, but maybe it's just good writing. When a certain character is tortured, if the writer does their thing right readers will care. This goes for television as well. The humorous quips, the intellectual speeches. True, it's helped a great deal by good actors, but a lot of it comes down to good writing.

Yeah. I wish I was able to create fictional characters that people I don't even know would come to care about. Sounds crazy? Probably is, but think about how people like J.K. Rowling must feel about hoards of strangers caring about the moves of fictional people from her head.

Anyways, a new year is coming up, huh? I've hardly registered it. Honestly, it's starting to feel like just another day. Due to the fact that one of my friends just flaked out on me, it seems I'm going to go spend the New Year with some family. I really wanted to go out on the town, but I'm not going out alone. What can you do?

Resolutions... still working on solid ones. Hmm. Welp, I'll see all y'all new year! Unless you're already reading this in 2012. Whateve.

What are your thoughts for the new year?

The Four Types of Classes That You Will Take in School

Now that I've been in school for more than 13 years of my life, I think it's pretty safe to say I know the basics of what classes are like. With this, there are always certain types of classes that you are going to end up with, no matter what. I'm not talking about math or reading though. This isn't based on what the classes are about necessarily, but how they affect a person. Seeing as I love Cracked, and the "5 types of blank" videos that College Humor has, I'm here to present you with:

The Four Types of Classes That You Will Take in School

4. The Class You Knew You Were Going To Hate Before You Took It... Then Realized That You Indeed Hated It
You knew you had to take that class. You just didn't want to. Whether the feeling against the class is because it's hard or boring, all that matters is that you are taking it and you don't want to take it. Well the first day rolls along, and it's time to start. You look around the room and see what seems to be a cool mix of people. Perhaps the professor has done something to the setup to make it more exciting. Maybe the professor just seems like a neat person. The class begins and...
It's boring/hard/awful/whatever you want to use to describe it sucky. This class is going to make this term drag on forever, isn't it? You don't even want to get started on the next class coming up:

3.The Class You Knew You Were Going To Hate Before You Took It... But Became One Of Your Most Intriguing Classes
Ugh. Not this class. You don't even like this subject. Why the hell are you taking it? Oh  right, major requirement. Dangit. At least you're getting it done with now, so you won't have to deal with this junk ever again. Unless you fail. Oh god, there is no way you'll be able to take this class twice, let alone the fact you haven't taken it once. Grumbling on your way to your seat, you look around and see all of the other people scowling about this class, also as a major requirement. Then class starts. As the class goes on, your polite interest transforms into an actual interest in what the professor is talking about. Wow, this is fascinating! What useful information! This class actually might be hard, but you actually care about what's being talked about. Isn't that what school is about? Now it's time to go onto your next class, which you are pumped for because it's:

2. The Class You Were Excited About... Then Grew To Despise.
When signing up for this class, you were hyped even by the name of the class. You've never known much about this subject before, and now you're going to learn everything you want to learn and more! Who wouldn't want to sign up for this class. Now you're sitting in your seat right before the class is about to start. Man, even the professor seems cool! Then the lecture starts...
...and you can't believe it. You already know all of this stuff. This is so stupid. Didn't you learn about this in grade school? Geez, and you've got ten more weeks of this junk. It could also be that the cool class turned out to be really freakin' hard. You were not prepared for this. You took this because it sounded the easiest out of the required classes, not for a challenge.
Finally we have:

1. The Class You Were Excited About... That Turned Out To Be Awesome.
This is a class to treasure. This is the class that you're going to be talking about forever, or at least like an annoying know-it-all about for the few weeks after. Awesome classes are sometimes the classes you take specifically for your major, but sometimes they're just a class you signed up for because it caught your eye on the course catalogue. Boy, weren't you a smartie to actually look through the course catalogue. This class might not even be an easy class. You might end up doing a lot of work for it, but do you care? No. You're so enveloped in the information, studying for this class is fun (if not sometimes stressful). Now if only every class was like this one.

Well that was fun! Goodness, I do enjoy lists. And if you want to read lists about ways your cellphone is screwing with your body and mind, or the basic things you won't believe you're all doing wrong, I suggest reading cracked. Seriously, it's addicting.

Currently I have one of each type of class: Writing 121 is a class I knew I wouldn't like, and it turns out I don't still. The reason? It should be an easy A, but it's not. The professor doesn't like the way I write. She's actually said that I'm a good writer, but... Ugh. Plus, I've already taken this junk.
Economics is #3 strangely enough. Truth be told, I'm probably going to get my lowest grade of the term in this class. However, the information is useful. I'm actually using what I learn. Despite not doing that great on quizzes, I actually understand the information. Ain't that a weird predicament! (I'm a good writer? Ha, oh dear...)
#2 is Exercise as Medicine. Going into the class, I was excited to learn about just what the title suggests, exercise as medicine. Unfortunately, it's boring and I don't care about what I'm learning. Well, I suppose I do care because it's good to know the 4 chambers of the heart and such. Oh the other hand, meh.
#1 is Journalism 201. Sorta. It's true that I enjoy this class, and that I'm doing well in this class. I'm also connecting things in my day to day life with this class. On the other hand, there's a class which I still consider my number one #1, and that was History of Fashion that I took last spring. I loved that class, and I still think about things I learned from that class today. I still want an Ionic Chiton from the Greek period. Currently, it's still my most enjoyed class that I have taken to date.

Wooh, that was a wordy post! Other than that, I've just been waiting on getting the last of my forms in for the study abroad application, typed up the last homework before Thanksgiving break, and now... typing this up. I've done a lot of typing today. I wish I had a typewriter. Maybe I could buy one someday... after I save up enough for study abroad. Then a camera if I earn enough money before I leave. Why must everything cost money? I'm going off on different tangents, meaning I should sign off for the night before I think of something else random to say.

What were your classes #4,#3,#2, and #1? Would you add anything else to the type of classes you take in school?

Repetitive Days, Reading and Writing

I'm getting an odd sense of deja vu, but I think that it's just because things have become so routine lately. I know that as humans go, we tend to dislike change. Yet, I can't help but get the feeling that life is simply getting quite repetitive.

Still, even with the repetitive vibe, homework has definitely been treating me differently than last term. Even though I have fewer credits than the last two terms, I've felt like I have so much to do! Are the readings longer? Does psychology become droll just because I'm not good with science, and the readings are very scientific? I honestly cannot say.


I have to read HOW many pages more?

 Homework usually means one or two things: Reading a lot or writing a lot. There are the exceptions of creating projects and such, but as far as most homework goes, it revolves around those two areas. I find reading and writing enjoyable most of the time, yet when it comes to homework it can get tiresome.

Still, I like to write. I like the feeling of words coming out onto the paper, and seeing a page filled with notes gives me a sense of pride. Maybe that's why I enjoy writing lists? Could be.
In the case of classes like Psychology, I have to write very fast. When I write quickly, it becomes doctor scribble.

My notes? Not so nice looking.

When I want things to look nice, I have to write very slowly. I am extremely envious of those who can write quickly and still have gorgeous notes.

On a last note, you see the word Sensory up there on that page of notes? I actually wrote that with my left hand, because I was having some soup with a spoon in my right hand. Multitasking, aw yeah.

Is your handwriting nice or is it doctor scribbles?

Breakfast Foods All Day

This week has been going pretty fast, hasn't it? Well, maybe that's just me.

This morning I had a strange encounter in the community kitchen. I suppose I should explain that more. Well sometimes I like to eat breakfast in the dorms, so I go to the community kitchen and eat while getting ready for the day. Usually I am alone, but today there was someone else in there. It was a girl from the next hall over. I had seen her and said hello as she walked by, but I feel like she doesn't speak English as her first language. So, it ended up being awkwardly silent in there. One thing I did notice that she ate so much! She had a mug of granola plus FOUR pieces of toast with Nutella! Where does it all go?!

I went to the writing center today to get help on tweaking my Oedipus essay. The guy didn't feel very helpful, but it always helps having someone go over something with you. He smelled like cigarette smoke, ick.

I've been feeling under the weather today. I felt pressure on my cheek all day, and I'm pretty sure it was my sinuses.

Pretty much all I've eaten today has been Peanut Butter Crunch. Seriously, it's ridiculous. My mom brought it up to me the last time she came up. Tasty cereal like granola and PB crunch is something I go nuts with. I will eat a ton of it. I need to stop getting it.

Enough of the whining! Goodness, it's getting old. I signed up for donating blood in a few weeks! Cool. Also, I'm done with my big essay. Lovely.

Hope everyone has a lovely evening!

What is your pig out food?