I'm waiting for Eli to pick me up from my room. I've already packed and checked out, and I'm ready to leave for Fort Worth. I'm meeting Stephanie, her friend Kody, and Justin at A-Con tomorrow, so that will be fun. What will not be fun is the bus ride I'll be taking to Arizona Sunday night... Because our road trip plan fell through (thanks, John). At least Kari's still coming to Tucson, since she already paid for her ticket, so it'll be nice to hang out with someone for a few days.

In other news, I graduated on May 9th. I'm officially an alumnus of Centenary College of Louisiana, though it's only starting to sink in... I had to say bye to April (my boss, Director of Intercultural Engagement) today and she cried, and it was so sad :( I guess it didn't seem real for so long because I was still on campus, working, and seeing a lot of familiar faces. But now that I'm REALLY leaving for good, it's hard not to feel nostalgic. I'll miss Centenary :(

I've started browsing part-time jobs in Tucson... I'm gonna be soooo bored, ughh... I'll be helping my parents renovate and clean the house, but I hate being home for this long. At least I'll need to get started on my readings - oh yeah, I'm moving to Indiana in August. I got a scholarship from Purdue University and I'll be getting a Master's/PhD in Linguistics. I'm pretty scared - I mean, I'll be in a totally new city, surrounded by new people and studying something I really don't have a lot of academic background in. I just hope I'll survive...

Ughh, I'm so bored... Eli's not picking up... Maybe I'll watch more Cowboy Bebop. I'm about halfway through the series. Also, love the new Fullmetal Alchemist series! It's so much more fun to watch, just like the manga is to read. I really can't wait for the storyline to start diverging from the old anime's and to see Garfiel  some awesome characters that are only in the manga.

My younger brother's coming back from Japan at the end of June. I hope he comes home, at least for a few weeks (I haven't seen him in, like, a year and a half now). Apparently, Japanese people call him Spider-Man because he has short hair, wears geeky glasses... and is white -____-  ( Seriously. )

Also, went to a friend's (Sara's) wedding a few weeks ago and had a lot of fun. Too much, actually... And the other day I had a near-death experience with coffee. I met a friend at Columbia Cafe and had a cup and a half of their Ethiopian-Columbian blend. It was really good, but man, was it strong... So strong that I was sick for the rest of the evening. Like, my hands were shaking, my heart was racing a thousand miles an hour and I just couldn't calm down. I bet it didn't help that I don't usually drink coffee, but still. Duuuude.

Eli just called and said she won't be picking me up for at least another hour and a half *cuts self*

Maybe I'll just watch a movie or something... Later.

This  was fun to do, but felt kind of incomplete.

I figured since I'm waiting for Stephanie to come back from her meeting any time now and since there's no point in my actually doing anything productive, I might as well update my livejournal.

Hi, livejournal!

*waves*

Mardi Gras break was pure awesome - first, lots of fun in New Orleans and southwest Louisiana, then lots of fun, sun and work in San Diego, at a college journalism convention. It was quite possibly the best break I've had in a long, long time, even though I ended up spending more than I would've liked. Ah, whatever, it was worth it.

By the way, if you've never been to New Orleans for Mardi Gras but you've heard horror stories of drunkenness and boobage... just know that they're all true. It's amazing what people will do for some plastic beads, seriously. It's a lot of fun, though, if you're hanging out with ( the right crowd. )

I'm already halfway through the semester and I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do this summer and, most of all, what I'm going to do in the Fall. So far, it seems like I'll be be going to Purdue, as they're the only ones who've offered me a scholarship. And, I mean, it's Purdue, so I can't complain. Maybe about the weather, but I don't want to think about it...

OMG, I'm gonna be making pierogi next week!!!! I'm so excited! And it looks like we'll be doing a lot of cool stuff with ISCA (international club) in the upcoming two months. We got craploads of money from the Muses and we've been told that if we don't spend it by the end of the semester, it'll be lost forever... I say we order a different type of ethnic food every week and call it an "event," but that's just me.

sigh... where are you, Stephanie?? I'm so cold and alone in our room...

In other news... I'm not really suffering from senioritis, mostly because I can't afford to. But it helps to be working on projects I'm actually interested in. Also, did you know that disco means "I learn" in Latin? hehe. I ran 6 miles the other day, which is my new personal record and now I wanna see if I can do 6 or 7. No e-mail about the Spring Fling design I made, so I guess it didn't win... sad, I spent a lot of time on it and I thought it was pretty cool.

WOOHOO, Stephanie's back! Gotta go to the store!

Peace.

Twilight Quiz by QuizRocket.com fun quizzes!


Shoot me.

(Nope, not a Twlight fan)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I sang in public. I travelled a lot. I went to a gay bar (no, I didn’t sing at the gay bar).

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never really make new year’s resolutions. But I’m actually thinking of a few for 2009…

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I... know of.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Poland and England.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More self-esteem and courage to be more open with people. Also, a little bit more money would be nice.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Whatever day it was that I crossed the German/Polish border and saw my family again.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving France. Completing a 5K race. Winning the talent show with Eli and Stephanie. Applying to grad schools without going crazy.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not enjoying life as much as I should have. And making close to no progress on my French book.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, I got really sick while in Germany… but somehow made it through without seeing a doctor.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Love… jk XD I didn’t really buy anything memorable... But on the dorky side, I now possess the FMA manga in four different languages (English, French, German, Polish). Still need Spanish and Japanese to be happy.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Well, I really appreciate my teachers’ help with grad school applications and letters of recommendation. And I probably avoided starvation while in France thanks to Isis and Helen’s cooking, so they deserve recognition too – as do all the people who made me smile this year :)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Hmm… I’d rather confront them in person.

14. Where did most of your money go?
EFFIN’ GRAD SCHOOL FEES!!! And my European adventure.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Visiting my family in Poland for the first time in five years, duh. And seeing Sophie for the first time in two years. And my Halloween costume and the new FMA anime coming out in April.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I can’t narrow it down to one:
"Les Voisines" (Renan Luce), “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (our multi-language version)… and the Natalie Portman Rap.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) poorer or richer?
Happier (I guess). Pretty much the same weight. Poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Volunteering. Reading. Practicing my languages.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Stressing out. Letting people walk all over me. Wasting hours away online.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my parents and our dog in Arizona. It was relaxing alright, but I totally didn’t feel the spirit of Christmas.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
*fights the urge to write a cryptic ‘yes’ just to watch Stephanie come up with crazy new theories* Nah.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
House, Heroes (but the latter only because I could make fun of it with Stephanie, lol)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate.

24. What was the best book you read?
Master and Margarita. But I really liked Lolita and The Road too.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
MYSELF!

( aka The Triumvirate of Awesomeness XD )

26. What did you want and get?
I wanted to study in France and see my family. We’ll see about the whole grad schools thing.

27. What did you want and not get?
All I ever wanted… was to hold a pomegranate.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Wszyscy Jestesmy Chrystysami. Amazing Polish comedy/drama. One of the best movies I've ever seen.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 22, and as every other year, I stayed home and procrastinated.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I know I’m beating this horse to death, but I’m gonna say money. I know money itself doesn’t bring happiness, yadda yadda yadda, but I hated being so poor. I felt really left out most of my semester in France because I couldn’t afford to eat out or travel with my friends. On the flip side, I’m glad that I got to visit Europe at all, and that I had the chance to do all the things I did. I mean, I don’t want to sound like a whiny bitch :P

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I’ve been told my fashion sense improved, or something like that, but I’m still a jeans-and-T-shirt gal at heart.

32. What kept you sane?
My friends.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Like, omg, of course that hawt vampire from Twilight.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
In a good way: Obama’s victory. In a bad way: hmm, maybe the Mumbai attacks.

35. Who did you miss?
My brothers.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I can’t name just one! All the new friends I made in France and at Centenary.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Don’t think of life in terms of problems, but challenges. Is that deep enough for ya?

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

( You have to hear it yourself, lol. )

So, I just got a mysterious Christmas package... At first, I thought it was going to be the shoes a gift from Liza, but when I opened it, it turned out to be full of chocolates. It's addressed to me and my family and the fake sender is a reference to an old internet flash that I've only discussed with two or three other people. Except, none of them live in Wisconsin, which is where the package was shipped from. Granted, I have two friends who study in Wisconsin, but it doesn't make sense for either of them to have made that reference or to have sent me a Christmas present...


I'm sure there's something I'm missing, something that should be an obvious clue... but the truth is I have no freakin' idea who this package is from. Yet.

In other news, I'm back in Arizona for a couple of weeks and, for once, I actually flew in instead of taking the bus. While on the plane form Phoenix to Tucson, I sat next to this nice old lady who I chatted with for a while, and who asked me what grade I was in... lol. She almost had a heart attack when I told her I was about to graduate from college and that I was turning 23 in a little over a week. Seriously, this game gets funnier and funnier the older I get.

I also realized today that my parents think I'm applying for a PhD in psychology... while, of course, I'm trying to get into linguistics. They were on the phone with my grandma and they were telling her I want to be a certified psychologist and all, haha. I didn't correct them - it just goes to show how much they're really interested in my life. Sad? Probably. Funny? Hell yeah.

Well, Christmas this year is even less exciting than last year, since my brother won't be in town, so it's just me and my parents, and Saki (our dog). The house was a real mess when I arrived because my parents are remodeling one of the rooms - lifting the ceiling and stuff. Jan has sent us her amazing chocolate bars, as usual, in addition to gift cards to Barnes and Noble, w00t! I also have free tickets to the movies so I'm gonna call up a friend and see if he's up for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or Valkyrie sometime this week.

I'm so happy the semester is over! It was my worst so far, as far as workload is concerned, but I'm really looking forward to the next one. I'm taking Language Development (zomg!!!!), Statistics (blah), Latin (yaay!) and British Lit (meh). I'm also thinking about auditing for Spanish or German... I definitely want to brush up on my languages, which I've been neglecting very badly this past semester. I also need to be finishing up the French book project with Eli and I might be involved in another, psychology-related, project... Oh, and I'm thinking of hosting a radio show again. It shall be truly a semester of wonder and yoyness (as Kari would say)!

Anyhoo, I think I'll go catch up on House some more. I got tons to watch and read over this break, so as not to go crazy :)


EDIT: Just got a confirmation from Beth that she wasn't the one who sent the package. That leaves only one other person in Wisconsin, Flora, who's even less likely to have sent it.
EDIT 2: Kari pointed out that just because the package was shipped from Wisconsin, it doesn't mean the sender is in Wisconsin. And sure enough, I checked and the chocolate-maker is Wisconsin-based, so the package really could be from anyone (though I only have two likely people in mind).
EDIT 3: Sophie denied any involvement with the package and Liza has yet to send me her present. I'm very confused.

        What I've Done...

1. Started your own blog (livejournal counts, right?)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (well, I sang in the Triumvirate of Awesomeness :P )
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (in Paris...)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (not in a million years)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm (two worst storms I've ever witnessed were in Warsaw and Tucson)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (juggling, languages...)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill *gets slapped by Stephanie*
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon (for the first time this year :D )
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (kinda...)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (oh, now have I...)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (it was too expensive and I was too broke :(
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (and juggled!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (always wanted to, though)
55. Been in a movie (thanks to John!)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen (only once...)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (I've wanted to but the American Red Cross doesn't want my blood -___- )
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (for a grand total of an hour, but still)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (The Conglomerate...)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life (maybe I don't know but I totally did??)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Renan Luce, Tim Blake Nelson, Edward Norton's chair...)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (my great-grandma)
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day


...Now sleep and more grad school applications tomorrow. Oh, but I get to see Kanbi and Ratibah, the older couple I tutored in English this summer, yaay!

                                                Happy Thanksgiving!

                                                              P.S. Spare a turkey - eat tofu ;)

You knew this was coming, didn't you? :-P




First, check out V for Vendetta in Fifteen Minutes, at community.livejournal.com/m15m/13483.html It's kind of on the lengthy side but it's one of the funniest things I've ever read. Every time I see it, I cackle. Seriously.


Second, see what Natalie Portman is like in real life:

Well, since my roommates are studying genetics on my bed (omg I can't believe how dirty that sounded), I decided to update my long-neglected livejournal.

Life update: This semester has been hell and, more than anything, it has left me exhausted and burnt out. I really think I'd go crazy if it weren't for my amazing friends, especially the aforementioned Eliphany (or Steli, depending on which combination of Eli and Stephanie you like better). Oh, and I'm taking the GRE this Tuesday, so cross your fingers...

My Freak Week t-shirt design didn't win this year, but Halloween was awesome. I got tons of positive feedback on my costume and I LOVED Stephanie's!

                  

      

    

Here's some more Halloween madness for your viewing pleasure (?):

             

       


Lastly, don't forget about the fifth of November! I already had my obligatory annual V for Vendetta viewing, what about YOU?

Anyhoo, I have reclaimed my bed, so I bid you all goodnight!


P.S. The quote in the Subject line belongs to Eli. Yes, she did say "black" and no, I will never let her forget it :P