'X'

So I could be stereotypically nerdy and write about X-Men or something, but to be honest my knowledge of the X-Men is highly limited. I also can't be bothered to look more into it at this moment, as I'm playing lazy and just don't feel like it. I have, however, finally come across a topic to write about today for X: The lack of dictionary entries starting with 'X' in my dictionary.

There are actually only 9 definitions in my dictionary for words starting with the letter 'X'. 9. I don't have like, a new dictionary or the most super awesome dictionary out there, but I've got a Collins Pocket Reference English Dictionary published in Canada in 1998. I'm assuming therefore that it has all the entries in it that could be considered imperative or pertinent. However, only 9 entries? That's slightly sad. And you know what the entries are? Obviously not if you're there and don't have a copy of the dictionary in front of you, so I'll tell you: 'X', 'Xe', 'Xenon', 'xenophobia', 'Xerox', 'Xmas', 'x-ray', 'xylem', and 'xylophone'.

The biggest disappointment for me was that I went into this whole "let's check the dictionary and see if there's a cool word I can talk about" thing totally stoked to learn a new word, and I didn't learn anything new. It may sound pathetic, but with only 9 words, there wasn't really much to learn. And honestly, after studying Biology and English Literature as I have, the only words that could have been questionable ("Xe", "xenophobia", and "xylem") have cropped up in lectures on more than one occasion. 'Xe' is the chemical abbreviation of xenon, 'xenophobia' is the fear or hatred of people from other countries (which my Lit prof for 18th century novels liked to point out occurred quite a bit in some of our assigned readings), and xylem is the plant tissue that conducts water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Wow, looking over that it makes me sound extremely boring and nerdy, but I suppose one of the two is at least slightly correct. I'm a bit of a nerd, I'll admit it. However, that doesn't mean I wasn't disappointed. I may have to go out and buy a better dictionary for myself soon. You know, one of those ones that looks like a gigantic tome, and when you pull it out people kind of gape? Yeah, I definitely want one of those! It'd be like when the guy in my Archaeology class pulled out a quill to take notes, but even more awkward. Yupp, it'd be great.

I feel like I haven't done a great job of talking about anything to do with 'X' today, but with only 9 entries in my dictionary how can I? It's not like I need to learn anything new... Xenon is bad to play with in large quantities, Xerox is a brand of copy machine, I can play the xylophone (though not amazingly, it's a skill I was taught in elementary school - ukulele, marimba, xylophone, recorder), 'X' is used in multiple ways (wrong, unknown, etc), x-rays are something I've had far too many of, and the others have already been explained. Oh well, I guess there's not really much more I can discuss.. I'm off to nerd out, I guess. Or watch hockey. And I'm going to eat some salmon dinner soon too, then have a glass of tea. And tomorrow I'm going with Ray-Ray to her last day of classes! :)

University

So, this topic was actually suggested to me; the first thing to my mind was umbrellas, and I have had bad experiences and luck with those, so I decided that that topic wasn't appropriate. When I asked my mother what to write about she suggested 'underwear' and I decided that could get a little too risqué; Ray-Ray suggested unicorns, and I was very sorely tempted. But you know, it's sad. I didn't even think to talk about Universities, and I'm AT University. Well, was. I've just finished off another term, and now I'm (as you really should know by now) on SUMMER VACATION! (which means I'm picking up as many hours as possible at work and applying for additional jobs). 

But hey, University - I love it. You know, it's actually not all that different from my high school as I expected it to be (probably because I went to a "self-directed high school" which is a nice way of saying that I could get away with skipping so long as I did my work. Basically. Not that I ever actually did this; check my attendance record :P *sweet smile*); I go to class, go do some work, hang out, and hand stuff in. Oh, and I have awesome, random discussions and meet incredible people!

Not that my high school friends aren't awesome, but the people I've met at University are awesome as well; I think it's a novelty thing, and the fact that I see them more than I see my friends from high school. However, my besties are high school friends :). I'm off track again though, aren't I? Yup. So, University and conversations, etc. Well, because of the upcoming election (Yay! I get to participate in democratic activities again.. Boo! We had to have ANOTHER election this quickly) I've had political debates at school, and have actually participated in political discussions and understood what was going on. This has never happened before, but it may have something to do with the fact that the first discussion I participated was prompted by this video. However, it's not just that; I've met people with similar interests to mine, spoken many words with other English majors, and have thoroughly enjoyed all of it. 

Now, as many of you know (or not), I started as a Biology major. BIG MISTAKE. I know some people really love it, but it turns out it just wasn't for me. Now, I'm nearly done my English major and I'm regretting those lost 2 years; I could have taken so many amazing classes! My University offers Latin and ASL and Greek and Roman Studies and Germanic Studies and.. I could go on, but you get the ideas: I didn't take the courses that now sound to absolutely thrilling, and I'm sad. Maybe I'll come back to University as a senior, I hear it's free... 

I know there are a lot of people out there who think that University is all about the social life, but with a schedule like mine, it can't be. I had the Breakfast Club (no, not the movie) and a few others that I hung out with, or members of the Breakfast Club at different times of day, and I had my friends from home and that was about it; that's all there was time for with 6 courses and a part-time job (not to mention commuting/napping, sleeping, eating, the gym, and occasionally cooking dinner and going to skating 2 times a week... holy carp, I sound like a drone >.<). 

However, I thoroughly love my University life. It's liberating and educational and honestly, even though I feel like I spend 90% of my time studying/working and 100% of my time sleep deprived, I love it. I love the people I know, I love my campus, I love my studies, and I even find myself loving some of the work. Heck, I picked up a couple late Victorian novels to read over the summer because I want to, not because I have to. That's how much I'm enjoying this stuff!

And so, before I go do something else (alright, I'll admit it: it has taken me almost an hour to write this much because of youtube, convos on MSN and bubbles, so really this has been the 'something else') I'd just like to encourage everyone to find something that they love to study, sign up for University, and meet amazing people. Because I have, and I certainly love them all (also, I'm going to miss them this summer and the years coming, for those that are leaving)! Tons of love all, I'm off to find some tea, think about what courses I want to take next September (Germanic Studies courses, English, maybe some Greek Mythology...), talk with Ray-Ray, and blow more bubbles in mah bedroom! :)

Ta!

Potter

Well, with a title like that I could be writing about several things, couldn't I? I could be talking about the potters you refer to when you're talking about the people that make pots (ceramics maybe?); I may be mentioning the wonderful creator of Peter Rabbit, Miss Beatrix Potter; or, I may simply be talking about the best book series out there: Harry Potter. Which I am.

Yupp, you've caught me: I'm a Harry Potter fan. I've read all of the books, seen all of the currently released movies, and also own Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which were rather enjoyable to read through. However, let's not go all crazy on this- Harry Potter is still only a book series and is not actually truth; but bloody hell, if it were real I'd certainly prefer to be a witch. I'm not going to give you a run-down on the books because if you haven't already read them you most certainly should. But I'll tell you a little big about my Harry Potter experiences, if you'd like (none of which are overtly thrilling, but I rather enjoy them!)

So the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in 1997 (so I was about 7 when it came out), and shortly after this I found it on the shelves of the school library. It took me a while to slog through, but after reading it I was hooked. When it came time in the 6th grade (years later) to do a book report on it, I was set. For the first time in school, people were actually seeking me out to be in their groups for work. This wasn't because I was popular but because I had read the book and knew the material; however, I was elated and will always fondly remember the first book and some of the things that came with it. Heck, I can still remember that it was raining most of the time I was reading the book (it rains a lot here)!

The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I don't have as many pleasant memories about, but I most certainly do remember when we went as a family to see the movie! My little sister doesn't like spiders and was about 9 when the movie hit theaters, but we went to see it anyways. We were sitting in a sold-out theater with my sister and I between my parents, Bug beside mom, and Aragog and co. became heartily present. Well, as soon as Aragog appeared on screen that was it! Bug shrieked and jumped, landing in mom's lap (this also happened later on when the Basilisk was introduced - she's a mite jumpy, but I love her!). I'm never going to forget how terrified she was, and though I feel bad for her, I can't help but think back on it an laugh.

Prisoner of Azkaban doesn't bring forward many memories about reading or seeing the movie that aren't related to the plot, but let me just say: I really liked this one, and the Dementors are freakin' gross. Goblet of Fire doesn't inspire too many memories either, except that at ten I read the entire thing in less than a week the first time, and about 3 or 5 days the second (I skimmed more the second time it would seem.). I also received GoF for my birthday, so that was awesome.

Order of the Phoenix took me about a week to read the first time as well, but I heartily enjoyed it; I spent a whole week out in the summer sunshine, hiding in the shade and languishing in the sun alternately, reading. Who wouldn't have enjoyed themselves?! Then out came Half Blood Prince, and that took about 2(?) days to read, and I enjoyed it. Deathly Hallows though is where my nerdiness comes out: I bought it at Costco while we were camping and it was pouring rain, and I read it in a night. Yeah. I stayed up all night reading Harry Potter on a family vacation, and I loved it.

Actually, I could have finished most of the later books in day if I hadn't had to be responsible and like, go to work the next day or something silly (or skating. I used to skate in the summer and have to be up early; I was cool, eh?); those were the days: books could be read for hours, and there was sunshine. Right now I'm sitting in my room after a day in which it was sunny, rained, and freakin' HAILED. The weather has been nuts, and I can't wait until summer. But, I'm off. Gunna finish off a Harry Potter Fanfic I've been reading, and head to bed. Work at noon shall be... Fun...

Goodnight, internet!

Motivation

So I don't know about anyone else out there, but lately it's been really hard to find the motivation to do my studying - I just want school to be over, the heck with all these exams! But alas, I had 6 to write (I say 'had' as I now only have one less to write), and I finally found motivation to study. Or at least to work on the last remaining course I have, haha. 

How did I find this motivation? Well, I wrote an exam this morning.

There's someone out there that's extremely skeptical as to how this could possibly help me find my motivation, but I swear it makes sense. Let me explain: I wrote my psych final this morning, and it was pretty much the easiest final exam I've ever written. It was 80 multiple choice questions and we were allotted two hours in which to complete it. Because I've been studying throughout the term, and because I find the work to be somewhat easy and repetitive, I completed this exam in something akin to forty minutes. Me. I finished a final exam (worth 90/200 points of my grade) in under an hour. That's not the scary thing though. The scariest bit? I found it incredibly easy. 

There's someone out there laughing at me again but I'm serious. The ease with which I completed this exam not only gave me vast amounts of confidence, but it gave me the motivation to study for my next and final exam. The fact that the last exam is an English exam doesn't hurt. Nor does the fact that I have yet to finish the assigned reading... Which isn't as bad as it sounds; I've only got two novels to finish off. About 70 pages in Maria Edgeworth's Belinda, and then all of Opie`s Adeline Mowbray and then I`m done, so I'll be able to do it before the exam :). And then it's just reviewing notes and getting my arse out of bed at 6 am again after working afternoon shifts all the week prior. Yuck.

But I'm out, this took far too long to write and I'm going into town to pick up take 'n' bake pizza for dinner with Dad. Luvs!