New Day

I got my hair cut today, really short. It looks great. I think so and everyone who has seen it so far loves it too, so I'm pretty pleased.

That's the good thing about today.

The not as great thing is that I am writing this script thing, right? Well, I wrote a bunch on it a couple days ago. And then when I opened it today I wasn't able to find all the stuff I had written. So I re-wrote it (It's different but covers the same time) And then I found what I had written before. So now I have two scripts and I don't know which one to keep around because having two will just be confusing and half will get on one and half will get on the other.


I think that I am going to keep the one that I just did, that makes more sense...and I have a vision for what's going to happen next.

My new hair cut+me thinking about what to do in my script

Thanks for helping me work through this guys, you're all a bunch of sweethearts.

I know, two posts in one day, I must be bored

Well I am bored, get over it.

Anyway that's basically all I wanted to say. I really want to start writing a story or finish a story or something. But honestly I am having a profound feeling of inertia. And now I'm sitting here writing to no one. I don't know what else I am supposed to do. THAT IS SUCH A LIE. I know exactly what I need to do. I know that I need to just ducking write. But that is sort of what I am doing now.

What I really want is a writing buddy. Someone to just sit and write with. I don't think I even have to know them, we would eventually get to know each other, but seriously. Come on people, send me a buddy. And not a super creepy one that I would worry going out alone with. A nice dilegent worker one who likes coffee. Ok, world, show me what you got.

My News and Considerations

First off, I got into Soka University of America. I'm very exciting. I will be there next fall. There are a couple logistical things that still have to be worked out:

How I am going to pay for the whole enterprise
How I am going to test for my black belt.

See, here's the thing. While my parents are very supportive of my education they can't just create money out of thin air. I will likely be expected to contribute $10,000 a year, which is a lot of money because that becomes $40,000.

The other thing, the black belt thing. I would be testing for my black belt now if I hadn't gone to college. But I'm not because I did. And I'm not saying that I regret going, or that I am worried that I wasted my time, I didn't. But I am saying that I have already turned away from my martial arts goal for school once and I'm not really keen on doing it again.

This is an issue because I have two tests that I HAVE TO BE AT and they are the first and second week of my new school. So it's  a bit of an issue. The tests are on the weekends so I guess I will have to fly back or something which will be really stressful. My mom thinks that I should wait to get my black belt again, but I don't want to!

A couple more things that I am considering right now:

Do I go to the Monterey Institute of Language this summer? I would have to get a a place to live over there. It's an 8 week intensive program but I would come out being able to speak Spanish. Maybe not fluently but I would be able to get by. Which is something that I want. (I have more to say about this but I want to get to other points.)

If I want to do this language thing then I would need the money to do it, the program itself costs $4,000 plus I would have to live there, and drive back every weekend so that I am able to train for my black belt. Because that is the case and I have to spend money for college I would need to get a second job. This is something I would actually be able to do because I got into Soka and they don't transfer credits. But that also means finding another job and I am not sure if I want to stop going to school for a semester and a summer, that's a long time. And it will be even trickier going to Soka after that. Although in that case I would be doing the Monterey thing which is a lot like school.

The other thing that I am considering is traveling back to all the places I've lived in the country over the last year or so. I would also visit Seattle cause that's where my best friend is living currently. Anyway I would do that in the Spring. It would also cost money though because I'd be going on all those darned planes and stuff. But I would get to see all my people again and I think that would be great. I think that it would also be good for me to see the people of the past as I go into my future---I could use the word "Journey" here but that is a little bit too woo-woo for me.

That's what's on my mind right now. Sometimes I wish I had actual readers, but then I stop. Because then I would actually have to worry about someone reading my stuff. 

In Which I Learn Three things about Me, Myself, and I

1. Me take personal offense to my cat having fleas.
2. Myself saying Spanish vocab words alone in a room can be creepy. Agree, Not Agree, Danger, Wind, quiet, Loud
3. I love writing from a child's point of view.

There was going to be more to this blog post, but that beginning bit was all I was really itching to write. Although my cat is itching all over, she is the one with the fleas after all. You know, you may be wondering, why would I be writing a blog post this late at night, well, I will tell you, I had coffee at like 5 and I am still a little pumped, also, periods in sentences are for wusses..................
You guys should be really proud, I am typing all of this with my cat's head resting on my hand. She seems to think my fingers moving up and down are like a little throat massage. Or she is just making a point. I think she is makin g apoint, she does not seem comfortable.

Ok, I am going to leave you to make my cat happy. Yes, my single cat trumps all you adoring fans out there.

OH, BTW I am not going on Semester at Sea, I didn't quite get the scholarships. I am going to send the little money that I raised back to the donors (Thanks guys!) but first I need to get my money back from semestre at sea. Also, I need to tell those peoplpe that they are getting checks from me. ok now oprah's cjin is typing and her paw is mousing, I have no idea if this is still going to make any sense. Ohh, she moved her head. Oprah is my cat. Oprah, my cat, is resting her head on my hand. I am leaving only about half of the resulting typos. I also can't see my keyboard or my hands. Yay touch typing!

Community College and what it's done to my reasoning skills as evidenced below.

As some of you know (Yes, I am looking at you, mom) I am now attending a community college. I know, huge shock, no one saw this coming, right?
Anyway, while my classes themselves are fine, they are like any other class I have taken with mildly more sullen students in them. That's not the point though. Yesterday when I was on campus we had some Colonists on campus.
They were in the main quad, their banners were set up, they had the 1st amendment written in fancy colonial script all over the place. These folks were so dedicated to their cause they even had costumes, we had at least three George Washingtons wandering around. The colonist who were either too poor or lacking in dedication, showed their support to the cause by wearing "don't tread on me" T-shirts.
Now, I'd like to establish now that I don't have any particular issue with these people setting up camp in my quad. The Gay Straight Alliance people were there last week, although they didn't take up THE ENTIRE QUAD WHERE PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO WALK, they just had one little booth. I would also like to add that last week was club week, I signed up for the AMSA (American Medical Student Association).
I'm not sure who these old white geisers thought they were, but they were in my walking space looking silly.  I included the 1st amendment at the bottom of the page.
I was gratified to hear that the other students on campus were calling this clan of costume wearing old men the Tea Party. One clever boy walking by me said, "The Tea Party is Occupying the Quad."
Ok, not really sure where this was going. I can't remember what the point I was trying to make was. I happen to like the first amendment. I'm not sure what those Don't Tread on me Folks were doing with it though. From what I understand, I don't usually agree with anything they have to say.

But that is essentially what community college has been like for me so far. Weird people, sometimes in costumes, wandering around, not making clear points. I have also gotten to know the administration people because I keep having issues fitting into their box-like system.

I understand why the community college system has to be box-like because they have a lot of students to serve and there need to be fixed processes and not short-cuts and roundabouts if every one is going to have a fair and equal chance at an education. 

Ok, I'm going to watch a TV show and then study for my math test.

Text of the 1st Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Hi Again

Hey guys,
I haven't posted in a while and while I would like to say it was because I was busy it's really because I've been lazy. That is not to say that I haven't been busy, I have, but I've also been lazy and I could be busier.

So, I think that I would get more traffic on my site if I actually made it about something. This blog will eventually become  my travel/story blog. Once I get going around the world and I (crosses fingers) am awarded the Presidential Scholarship for Semester at Sea.

I don't think I have told you about this scholarship. What I get is a full-ride scholarship. What I have to do: Set up visits with all the schools where the ship will be going, talk to a bunch of kids who don't really speak English, tell them stories, have them tell me stories, write all the stories down, make a blog, make a book, edit the whole darn thing, add a conclusion and an introduction, throw in a couple pictures (Cause why not?) get the thang published. I also have to take a full-course load of classes, travel around the world, get my passport, visas, travel immunizations worked out, get to San Diego, and get home from London.

Now, I want to make it clear that I have not been awarded this scholarship, but I am really really really hoping that I get it because I am super excited for this trip. Also, if you guys are excited for me too, you can donate to my GoFundMe page: http://www.gofundme.com/semesterofadventure
 and here it is again:linklinklink

Alright have a great day!

I do have friends

I may have worried you with saying I might be kidnapped. I wasn't, they turned out to be my friends.

Also, I was going to talk about something else but I can't remember what it is. Oh, well. If you actually read the blog you'll just have to remind me.

What have I accomplished?

So, in my quest to go on Semester at Sea I'm working on all sorts of scholarships, and they all want me to divulge how awesome I am. What academic awards and achievements do I have, what Leadership examples do I have.

These are all fine questions and if I were going to give someone I didn't know money I would want to know these things too. Not only do I have to prove I am worthy, I have to prove I am more worthy than the 500+ other kids who want to be able to do this as well. This is tricky for me. I consider myself an able leader, and I have done somethings to refine my leadership abilities, but seriously? They say I can use two sheets of paper? Do they want me to explain all of my experience? They said list! Not a list of explanations, just a list.

And then there are the experiences that just sort of happen. Like when I was hiking up a mountain in five feet of snow and the teacher who was supposed to walk with the slow kids in the back was walking in the front. Gradually I noticed that these two girls were getting farther and farther behind, one was a girl from China who spoke hardly any English and the only snow and mountain she had ever experienced was man-made and in a building. The other girl was perfectly capable of hiking up the mountain, she did motorcross, still does, but for whatever reason she wasn't.

I stayed back and I got them up the mountain, we were part of the first group to leave and the last to make it to the top, no one waited for us. Half-way up the mountain the motor-cross girl started feeling faint and almost fell down. I  told them the little tank engine that could story. I got them up the freaking mountain. They even deigned to have their picture taken with me. But is that something that I can put as leadership experience? Not without a really long explanation.

There was another time that only one girl in the class wasn't invited to a halloween party (this was in 7th grade) and so I told the host that I wouldn't come if she wasn't invited. She got invited. The host asked when she was going to leave the entire time, but it was better than if she wasn't invited. (She was also having a party that everyone was invited to and no one was going to...) But again, that was in 7th grade, and it's not like I was hired to be a mediator of any kind.

Ok, this blog post has turned into a big personal brag fest, but Still. There was also the time my rooom mate had an Anxiety Attack, while she was in her boyfriend's room. No one knew what to do so they came into my room and woke me up. I took care of her and I managed all the people who wanted to stand around and watch. I also called the Resident Life Managers and talked to the paramedics. I'd say that was leadership. Should I include that explanation?

Academic Honors, that one is tough because my school didn't award prizes and things for being awesome. I did take all the highest level courses and what not, but there were no Honor's classes, or IB, or AP, or whatever other acronyms there are for more notable high school classes.

I mean, it's not like I slacked off.

I studied all the time

Heck, I over credited my first two quarters of college, and got all A's and a B+

I might actually have friends

Guise!!
I think that I have friends. This is different from having people like you in your work place, I had that for a while. But today I am getting coffee in a different town with these said friends. And one of them is driving from that town to get me and then driving back their with me, doesn't that seem friendly?

It may be that they are planning to kill me, I'm pretty sure I could take one of them if she were on her own, there's no way I could get both of them though, crap. I'm either skrewed or I have friends, only time will tell.

In case you were wondering I am still raising/saving money to go on my trip around the world with Semester at Sea. Here's the link and here's the web address http://www.gofundme.com/semesterofadventure
I don't know if the web address will work like that, it probably has to be like this: http://www.gofundme.com/semesterofadventure.

I hope you are all doing well. Tomorrow I am going to post about job hunting and following up with employers, also about packing and getting to the airport. It's a fascinating line-up, stay tuned!

Money Money Money, Must be Funny, in a rich man's world

Ok, please excuse the Mama Mia title. I feel ashamed using it, I only saw the movie once at a Basketball camp in 7th grade, I think that is a perfectly acceptable time to see such a show.

Anyway, I chose that title because I created my Gofundme account (http://www.gofundme.com/semesterofadventure). I'll provide the link a few times so that you can see it. I am trying to raise $24,000, it's a lot of money, and I may need more than that for my trip. But that's the very least I could possibly need.

Oh, speaking of money, I have to go pay off my credit card. (I include this so you feel comfortable donating me money because it's clear I am responsible.) Ok, I may need to call my credit union, they're being buttfaces again. Have no fear, should you chose to donate your money it will be in good hands.

And here my link is again, http://www.gofundme.com/semesterofadventure, I don't want you to think that I was being lazy. If you donate $100 dollars I'll send you a postcard, it's a good deal, how many postcards do you get from around the world, like seriously?


Ok, here's the link http://www.gofundme.com/semesterofadventure one more time, and now I will leave you in peace, but, think about it, will you?

I got in!

Alright folks get ready to celebrate, I got into Semester at Sea Spring 2015!
Yeah, that bit was the easiest part, but it was also the first step. I guess it's kinda like getting a white belt, really easy to do, but you can't move forward without it.
Now comes the fun money stuff that I have to work out. Now comes the applying for scholarships, and all that fun stuff. I think that I am going to make a Fundme thing, we'll see how that goes. If you are reading this I would really appreciate a donation, I haven't made a fundme yet, so hold your horses.

I'm pretty jittery today. I woke up at a relatively decent hour, so that's always cheering, plus, I got into SAS, plus I drank a cup of coffee. Oh, and I'm talking to a couple friends.

I think that I should post another thing about "Things to do when you have nothing else to do." We'll see when I get around to that. My first step is finding out what things there are to do.

Ok, I have to start walking to work soon, so we'll talk again later. I'll get that fundme up so you guys can all start emptying your wallets :).

Oh, and I am looking forward to the start of CampNanowrimo, we get our cabin mates in 8 days! Woo!

I think that I am going to try to write tonight instead of watching TV, we'll see how that goes though. I'm in a positive mood so it just may work out how I want it too.

Alrighty, looking forward to talking to you folks again.

I may have some excuses

So, I would have posted sooner but...
I couldn't get the photos on my phone onto my computer
I didn't feel like it
I did write in my novel
I was actually socializing.

That last point is probably the most phenomenal excuse. I went to a party last night, like a real one where people laughed and drank. I was a little uncomfortable at first but I powered through, and I had conversations with people, and I laughed. Oh, and we played Cards Against Humanity, and I got second place.
Another thing I learned last night is that I am incredibly innocent. This is always something that I expected, but wasn't really aware of how blatantly obvious it is to everyone else. I am ok with being innocent, it's another thing to know about myself.

Let's see, also since my last post I went on a hike. I went halfway up a small mountain, found a rock, and read for a bit. I also called my friend and we talked for a bit. It was a nice day. And I didn't get rained on.

Today I am going to a graduation party for one of my co-workers who is graduating from high school. I worry that me and one of other girl will be the only ones there, but we'll just have to wait and see. I have a feeling this party may be more awkward because no one will be slightly inebriated.

Well, that's it for this post I guess, I'm not really feeling bloggy right now. I just though that it would be good to keep you updated. Because I care, you know?

Alright, I'll talk to you folks later.

See?

A sleepy gnome that I made and that represents my near future. 

Ugh

Yes I do  know how to post pictures I just don't have any pictures to post, alright?

I do it for the fans

Well crap, I was going to go to sleep but then I realized I had missed a couple days on the good 'ol blog. I don't want to leave you folks in the lurch.
But really, in mostly seriousness, I am writing this because I have found (And my mom may mention this every once in a while) that you need to make yourself do something to build up will-power and self-motivation. This is something I have had trouble with lately, mainly in the waking up at a decent hour so I have a chance to see more than a couple hours of daylight and in the accomplishing anything while I am awake bit of life. So, I am doing two things to help me get going again. As you may remember from my past posts (If you don't you'll just have to read them or take my word for it) I am decently self-motivated person and a hard worker to boot. But of late I've just been very good and my relatively easy job. (That was an awful thing to say, and I have made some mistakes, but I'm doing alright.)
Anyway, the two things I am doing (And I notice that they may be helping already) are: 1) this blog thing, and 2)The 30 day ab challenge. So far it's not much of a challenge aside from the tricky part of actually doing it. But I am five days strong so woot woot.
But my real goal is to reassert myself in the proper timezone, finish Elphire and Sila (I can do it, I have like 20,000 words or so left until I think that this part of the story could be considered wrapped up.) And then in July I will feel free to start on a new writing project with sassy, possibly mildly depressed, character that is in my head. I hope they stick around long enough for me to write her/him. Sometimes my characters will just wander away. And I wonder why I am so afraid of commitment I won't even go on a date. I can't even keep my half-baked characters around long enough for a chance at an adventure that I make up.

Well this is sort of like novelling.

I am trying to write, this is not usually an issue for me. But the last few days it has been, I don't know what's gotten into me. I usually write at the coffee shop, with coffee (Obviously), but since that didn't work last time (and I am feeling incredibly lazy today) I have stayed at home and am trying to work. I made myself chocolate milk for something to drink but I finished my milk before I had had even worked up the motivation to open my word document. I have managed 643 words in the last hour. I guess that is an ok amount, but they have all been forced. I want to be immersed in my story. You know what I am talking about? When you don't see your computer screen anymore, you just see what you are writing and you can feel what your characters are feeling. It's more like you are watching the story unfold than unfolding the story. That's what I want now. Sometimes it is nice to pick apart the story connect dots that don't seem like they could be connected, but not this time. I want this one time to be effortless.

Ok, new subject. I have applied to Semester at Sea. I really really want to go on the Spring 2015 voyage. It would be an amazing, challenging, ridiculous, impossible adventure. Mainly it may end up being impossible because there is no way that I can earn the money required to go on that trip. So, if I get in, I am applying for the Presidential Scholarship. I have gotten the advice from a couple people that I need to be very specific and detailed in how to carry out my plan. My goal is to collect The Most Important Stories of the World. I want to go to people at every port and talk to them, and get them to tell me what they think the most important story is. That is specific as I am going to make it, the story could be about their own lives, their communities life, it could be a legend, or a fairytale, it could be a religious story. Anything. The challenging part of this project is 1) The whole language barrier, I can't expect everyone I meet to speak English. 2) Getting myself to walk up to someone and getting them share with me something as personal as their most important story. 3) This bit is the least difficult for me, but, compiling all the stories, keeping them organized. I would like to write about my experience gathering the story each time as well.

Alright and my last topic. I work at a To-Shin Do dojo, my job title is Office Ninja, I'm not even joking. But To-Shin Do is about more than just the physical self-protection aspect of martial arts. That is a huge part of it, obviously, but it's also about protecting your self from yourself. For example, not beating yourself up about mistakes you make. Allowing that they happened, recognizing that it was your fault, determining how to avoid it in the future, and moving on. This self from self protection also comes in with the people you associate with. (Everyone I associate with is awesome so I don't have as much to worry about here) But if you are with people who make you feel bad about yourself all the time, then change that situation. You should be an environment where you feel comfortable feeling happy. For me the most challenging bit of this is opening myself up to people enough so that I feel like I know them, and they know me. For a long time while I was here I didn't really know anyone and no one made any particular moves to make sure they knew me. They all had lives here already, I was new and didn't know anyone. Now after two months I am enough part of their lives that I have began giving out my number and have been invited to different activities to do outside the dojo. So that's fun.

This whole blog post is basically just procrastination from writing, I think I'll be getting back to that now.

I've Missed You

So, I am currently living in Colorado working at a Martial Arts dojo. This is a great job, I don't start work till three, it's fun, good co-workers, my boss likes me, yadee yaddee yaddiee.
This is also not so great a job, mainly because it doesn't start until three in the afternoon. This means that I have absolutely no incentive to get up in the morning. You'd think this would be great, you get to sleep in as much as you want, how wrong you are. It was great at first, coming out of my rigorous too many classes in college time it was great. But I found that I quickly became bored. And the thing is I sleep in so late that I can't go to sleep until very late. I'v essentially created my own personal time-zone, it's a lonely place. I mean, can you imagine being all alone in your timezone?
The title of this post is "I've Missed You" because I've been silly not to talk to all you non-existent adoring fans out there. Because I am writing like you exist it feels like I am talking to you, it's an up-lifting experience for me. And you all are great listeners, you never even interrupt.
My catalyst for this post was I signed up for Camp Nanowrimo (If you don't know what it is, go look it up, you're online now anyway) and in the setting up of my profile I posted this blog as my website. I wouldn't want someone to click on my website and then see that I haven't updated it in months, that would be a bad first impression. I have 11 days to post everyday so that when someone eventually stalks me (It's got to happen at some point) it will appear that I am a dedicated blogger.

Muahahaha, how little they know!

Fighting Inertia

What I really want to do right now is watch a TV show. Any TV show really, doesn't have to be a good one. The one that I happen to be thinking of right now is Once Upon A Time which is almost a cool idea and almost has good acting and writing and stuff--it's a good mind number while still allowing the critic in me to judge with enthusiasm, really the perfect balance.
Anyway, I am writing this blog post to steer myself away from making the bad decision of wasting 40 minutes of my day on that, especially when I am meeting a friend to do homework 3 minutes. This is the most awful way to justify my thought process here in that the possibility of watching this TV show even existed, but the reason I thought that is because this particular friend of mine is half an hour late to everything we plan on doing. This time I am meeting her in her room so she will have more trouble being late unless she starts talking to someone on her way back from class. I also still need to get dressed. You know, I 'm going to do it. I'll stress myself out to stop myself from watching the TV show. Actually this may have the side-effect of making me watch the show because I tend to run  a few steps from my problems before remembering that I could totally kick their ass. Ok my list

35 math problems + math midterm (haven't studied or done any of the problems)
Correct Chem test
Do Chem HW
Do Chem Reading
Start Chem test
Do Bio Reading
Finish Bio Class works (3)
Finish Education Reading
Write Threaded Discussion for Edu
Research for Bio paper
Research for Edu project
Pick up lab book
To Shin Do reading
To Shin Do journal
Contact Job Contacts
Write cover letter drafts
Send out resume
research internships

If any one reads this blog and thinks of a job they think I would be able to do: I'm a dedicated worker, I can easily switch between being task oriented or thinking about the big picture, I'm punctual, and I have a good attitude. Let me know! I need a job/internship this spring.

Thank you!

Ok, I think that's a rough estimate of my next week....it could be not that much, or it could be a lot.

New Quarter

Well, it's not actually a new quarter, I have my first midterm tomorrow. But, to give you a sense of what this quarter has been like thus far  I shall refer you to the post right below this one. That post was written during finals week or the week before, the level of my comprehensibility and intellectual ability has been about that all this quarter.
Now, from that sentence you may want to assume that I have gotten dumber this quarter, while I am not ruling that out as an option, my point is that this entire quarter is like every week is finals week. I do not know how I am going to survive finals week, I really don't. Especially since I am leaving on Friday which means I have to pack up my entire room as well as turn a couple things in early during all of the other finals week craziness. Egh!
I wonder sometimes if it would be good for me to write in this everyday. It might be, but what I really want to do is write in my novel everyday. Don' get me wrong, I love talking to you, you're a great listener, I just would rather see what my characters do in relation to the plot I am letting them wander around in.
This quarter doesn't leave very much time for all this writing nonsense though, so I am not doing very much writing of any kind. My roommate just told me that she didn't think I could go a week without going on facebook. I think that constitutes a challenge. I'm going to do it, no facebook for me. This means that you will be hearing a lot more from me, I don't think less facebook will equal less procrastination.
Update on me: I might have a torn rotator cuff. At the very least my shoulder has been clunking for a couple years, hurting for a couple months, and the doctor says that every time it clunks it's dislocating a little bit. I went to get an MRI and I need to schedule a follow up appointment to talk to my doctor about what it means. I will call the office tomorrow--hold me to that would you?
I think that concludes this tirade. Oh, I may start writing about To Shin Do because I am reading the Complete Ninja Defense (I'm not entirely sure what the title is) by Stephen K Hayes, I know it sounds corny, and to a certain extent it is. But I really like it and I can relate to it, it doesn't feel fake. The concept of it has just been commercialized and bastardized is the real problem with misconceptions. Anyway, I am reading the book for my To Shin Do class and in that class we have to turn in one journal every week. I think that if I write a little bit about what I read after I read it every time here that that would be good for my "mental development in the art" (I made that quotation up). Ok, actually leaving now.
Neeeveermind, I may also write about the state of the education system in America because we have a class on it right now and it is pretty damn atrocious.
Ok, now I'm leaving.
bye