A Promising Teaser

Hey.  It's been a while.  I know.  As it turns out, being a senior in college with two jobs, a full schedule, and an addiction to TV shows takes up a lot of time.  I have MANY things that I still need to tell the world.  Right now, however, I am restless, and I am in the middle of writing a paper that is due in less than 8 hours.  Nice, huh?

So, I need to tell you about my amazing semester which is almost over.  Finals are next week.  Say WHAT?!?! It's all good, I've got it under control. I think. I'm excited for next semester, and I need to tell you all about the internship I'm going to apply for during summer.  I also have some news that I need to share about a guy. (!) I know, right? As I said, I have many things to talk to you about.

Hope this is intriguing enough for you.  I need to get back to writing about cross-dressing in Shakespeare plays, so goodnight.  I'll see you when finals are over.

First Day of School

Well, as weird as it is, I am in my fourth year of school, and I'm running out of first days of school.  First days of school don't scare me as much as they used to.  I know where all the buildings are on campus.  Instead of being one of those slow freshmen tentatively making his or her way through the crowds, I navigate around those slow pokes because I know exactly where I'm going.  I've become a master people dodger and power-walker.  I've learned from those rookie mistakes like never buying books at the bookstore when it's 10 times cheaper online.  The point that I am trying to make is, first day, schmirst day.  It's still great, but not as nerve-wrecking.

I can tell you it was definitely a bittersweet day, though.  My summer wasn't over.  I still needed one last swim, one last tan, and one last book to read.  I excited to not work as much, but I need another few days to let it hit me before I dive back into class.  Perhaps that's because the only day I gave myself off this summer was the day I got hit with a cold.  Nice one, Mother Nature.

But, you know that's life, I supposed.  So, here's to another great year at BYU.  As sad as it is to say, I'm looking forward to another semester, even if it means homework up the wazoo, sleep deprivation, and squandering my social life.

Here's the class schedule this year:

Early British Literature -
Reading things like Beowolf, Shakespeare (yay!), Chaucer, Milton, etc.

English Grammar -
Not like Modern American Usage, supposedly.

World Religions -
My last religion class - pretty self explanatory.

Computer Humanities -
Using different programs and layouts for English-type projects.

Civilizations -
It's my last set of general classes.  I put it off as long as possible.

Editing Student Journals -
I think it's about time for me to gain some experience for editing, so I'm joining a student journal staff this semester.

The first week of August

I had to steal this from a dear co-worker's blog.  Love it.

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.” ― Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

I want you to meet

A special little lady, named Stella.

This week, I've had to say goodbye to an old friend - my first car.  It will always have a special place in my heart.  But you know what? I'm ok with that, because I've got a new friend.  A cute, red Chevy Aveo, which I am so very excited about.

I decided to name her Stella because of this movie, and this car that reminds me of my own car. (Plus, I don't think I'll ever get a chance to own a mini cooper, so I've got to seize the opportunity, right?)  I think it fits very well :)

Catching Up

Thank goodness for three day weekends.  Even though I had to work today, it has been a fabulous day.  I just got to chill, which was wonderful.  I even got a chance to contemplate about what I was going to write in this blog post.  How crazy is that?!

Out of boredom, I drove myself to Wal-Mart just to look around and see if there we're any good movies in the $5 bin (there were; I got Hellboy II and Yes Man.  Score!)  And while I was driving to Wal-Mart, it was the perfect night to crank up the music, roll the window down, and sing along while cruising around.  It was pretty awesome, and dare I say, very stress relieving.  (Not that I have a lot of stress right now, but still sometimes you just need to unwind.)  After I got home, I still wanted to enjoy what was left of the beautiful day, so I went outside and read my book until it was too dark to see the words on the page.  It was so sublime!

What else has been going on in Aleesha-land, you may ask?  Nothing really, to be honest.  I've been hooked on this show (shut up, I don't want to hear it.  It's actually really good, and nothing like Twilight, like I thought it was going to be.)

Also, I'm going to be taking an adolescent literature class online, which should be so much fun.  I get to read like 50 book (Which I can totally do.  The adolescent books are the ones I can read in 2-3 days each, anyway), and I only have like 3 papers and 1 project.  Easy.

And after some intense calculations, I figured that I can be done with school by the end of next summer.  Crazy, right?  I have very mixed feelings about it.  One one hand, I can't wait to graduate and get a REAL job. But, on the other hand, I'm so scared.  I've going to school for most of my life, and that's probably all going to end when I graduate.  I just don't know what I'm going to do with myself.  It's so exciting, but it's just freaking me out a little bit ;)

That should be all for today.  I'm dying to watch the next episode of my show.

So, bye!

Hey, it's me

Hey, it's me.  (I'm still alive.)  I've just been, you know, busy. I started work at ProPay again, just for the summer.  And I've been running, too.  Training for the Running with Angels 5k next Saturday.

See, this is so sad.  I don't even have anything to write about.  Not today anyway.

Here's one of my favorite YouTube videos that will keep you entertained, hopefully.

Study Break

I'm taking a small study break right now.  Don't judge.  I've only got two more finals - one is a take-home final that is almost done, and the other is a really easy religion test.  So, I'm good. I think.  I hate days where I have to stay on campus all day.  Yeah 8 am to 11 pm.  Fun, right?

Oh, and in case you were wondering, my creative writing stuff is up.  Check it out right here - there is a poem and a link to my short story.  Read it, or don't.  Either one is fine with me.  Just know that I'm a very different writer than I was a few years ago.  Not sure if that's good or bad...

Enjoy.  Happy Hump Day!  Time to get back to work.

Crunch Time

Finals next week = crunch time.  Bad news - One week of class but that's also the good news.  Lots to do, and it doesn't help that I've now become addicted to Lost.  Really? Really.  Why am I even typing this? I don't have time to write in full sentences!  See you in two weeks, people. 

Unless I want to continue to procrastinate studying or completing project.  Which is very likely. 

I carry your heart with me

I love this poem.  Like, a lot.  It's been running through my head the last few days.

by E. E. Cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Grandma

A poem I wrote to my Grandma for her 70th birthday - The other grandkids and I were able to share it with her today :)


We often wonder how we got so lucky

To have this amazing grandmother in our lives.

She is constantly warm and wise and wonderful.

We are grateful that she is always there for us,

And she never thinks to say no

When we need her help to make an awesome costume

Or when we want her support for something at school.

We appreciate all the things she says    

That leave us in a state of giggles and sore sides.

Whenever we come over she gives us all hugs,

And she makes enough food to feed a small army.

For all of us, her house has become a second home.

Sometimes we think she’s a little bit crazy

Or that she’s completely lost her marbles.

But we know she loves us unconditionally,

And that’s why we will always love her so much. 

You've Got Mail

I got a package from Amazon today.  It's taken every bit of self control I have not to open it.  Why, you might ask?  I know exactly what's in it - it's this book.

I've been waiting for this book to be released for months, and then I had to wait another week for it to be mailed to me.  So why am I insisting on waiting to open my beloved package?

Because I have a huge test on Friday I need to be studying for, and I know the second I open that box to look at the book, I'm going to start reading it, and I won't be able to stop.  Darn you, stupid test and your horrible timing!  

Italian Music

Since I have been learning Italian, I've actually started listening to Italian music (which is AMAZING!).  This is one of my favorite groups to listen to.  I love their sound and their lyrics (well, what I can understand!).  Even if you can't understand it, it's still awesome.

Listening to music in another language is actually kind of fun!  Try it sometime :)

Rebellious

I was feeling a little rebellious today after my teacher for one of my classes sent me an e-mail fifteen minutes before our appointment to tell me that she had to reschedule... again.

So what did I do?

In honor of sticking it to the man (or woman), I didn't go to her class today.

Yeah... that will show her.

Students need a new way to cope with ridiculous teachers. Sure there are student ratings at the end of the year, but those aren't enough.  I want justice now!

Why I'm Still Awake

I'm studying for a grammar test.  I hate it when tests want you to supply short essay answers.  It means no guessing whatsoever.  You have to know it all!  Grrr...

Do you know what a Shibboleth is?  I do.  Right now, I kind of wish I didn't.

Ok, enough procrastinating.  Back to studying.

Happy Monday, by the way :) even though it does mean going back to school, it also means it's a brand new week, and that is a happy thought!

You know it's bad when

You know it's bad when you are over at your aunt's house on a Saturday night, because you've got nothing else to do, and she points out how you are badly in need of a boyfriend.

Sigh... She's right.

(All the single ladies...)

I will admit

The only reason I like this song as much as I do is because of Zachary Levi.  

He's cute, he's a major nerd, and he can sing. What a babe.

Rehab

[Play song: Amy Winehouse - Rehab]

(Because you need the ambiance.  You don't need to watch the video if you don't want to, haha, just listen.)



Ready?

Step 1: Acknowledge that you have a problem.

Step 2: If you don't want to change your habit, buy a bigger bookshelf.

Step 3: Go back to shopping on Amazon.

*We could play a game of I-Spy with those books.  My goodness.

So True

I'm so sorry about the title of these videos, but you NEED to watch them if you haven't already.  It's so funny, because it's so true :)






Thank you, Hannah, for changing my life!

Writing in English

I may never complain about writing an English paper ever again.

I just finished fixing all of my grammatical edits for my Italian paper.  Yeah. ITALIAN PAPER.  Grammar sure is hard when you're not using your native language.  It was atrocious.  You should see my first draft.  I've never had this many markups on a paper before.

Right now, it's a relief to be writing in English.  The words can just flow and I don't have to translate, conjugate, or worry about verb agreement while I'm typing.

Ok, I'm done ranting.  I love Italian.  It's a beautiful language, and I'm very lucky to have the opportunity to speak it instead of boring Spanish :)

It's Really Cold Today

I've been feeling very studious lately.  Surprisingly, I've stayed AHEAD on most of my schoolwork so far.  This is so weird; I haven't done this since high school.  Yay me! I think it is due largely to the fact that I haven't had to work a weekday these last few weeks.  That's about to change, however.

Well, that's about it for today.  Don't forget to keep checking out my other blog.  I add updates to that blog regularly, too.  You might even suggest that the other blog is better, because my creativity is more easily seen :)

www.writingsofagirlnamedaleesha.blogspot.com

Enjoying Photos

Because of websites like Tumblr and Pinterest, I have developed a passion for looking at amazing photos.  Here are my favorites I saw over the last year.