Happiness Week?

So this week is Happiness Week. There's a student group called Happiness Club and this week they are doing something everyday to try and perk up the campus. Normally I'd be thrilled. Unfortunately, this school-wide Happiness Week is occurring right during my own personal "Everything is Due and There's No Escape" Week.

As much as I want to go out and get a temporary tattoo, or join in a water balloon fight, I can't because every time I think I'm done, more work pops up

That being said, I have made the decision to at least attend flashback Friday. It takes place after my last class on Friday, and it's only two hours. I will definitely have earned a happy fun break.

This post has a title

So I keep trying to do work. But then I remember that I could be watching this:



or this(NSFW):



Both are songs from Holy Musical B@man! the new Starkid musical, available in it's entirety on youtube. All their musicals are great.

Also, for people who like Pride and Prejudice there's another video project you should check out:


Happy viewing!

Feeling like a Girl

Yesterday I wore a dress, bakes cookies and brownies and finished making a sweater that I've been knitting for months. It felt so girly.

Now to pack, bake more cookies, watch Doctor Who, copy down some recipes and maybe even sleep.

Busy Week

I have so much going on this week, it's amazing, but stressful.

On Sunday I went ice skating on the outdoor rink built by student government (a picture of the rink is available in my last post), with some friends.

Today my dorm hosted a "fireside". The Rabbi from Hillel came and spoke to us about being a Jewish ghostbuster. It was a really interesting talk and I feel like I learned a lot about the Jewish views on ghosts, angels, ect.

Thursday there's a Q+A about the liberal arts requirements for engineering students at my school and an info session about career mentoring that night.

Friday night I'm going to the Chicago stop on the Dial-Up tour. 

Add into all this my need to do all my homework. Of the six things I have due between Thursday and Friday, I have one completely done, two halfway done and three not even started. So, I'm going to get back to work.

First Day of Classes (Winter 2012 Edition)

As a student in a school that uses the quarter system, today was my first day of Winter Quarter. It did not start well, but then it got better.

I had a lot of trouble getting to sleep last night. Eventually though I awoke and discovered it was past 9 AM, the time when my alarm clock was supposed to go off. I was understandably concerned and asked my roommate if it had gone off. She informed me that it had not because I had forgotten to plug my iPod into it. Then I woke up for real and discovered that it was around 8:45 AM, my roommate was asleep and I had been dreaming. I went into the dozing state. After a little while I looked at my watch and discovered it was 9:05. My alarm really hadn't gone off. Then I remembered that I had changed my alarm from 9 to 9:15. I lay in bed, somewhat nervous, somewhat sleepy until my alarm went off at the correct time.

I then got up and went about my morning routine before heading to class. I got there just as the previous class was exiting, that is to say, 10 minutes early. Strangely, there were only about 6 of us in the room. Someone pulled out her phone and checked online. Apparently, the room had been changed. It was now 1 minute until class. Luckily, I got there on time and found a seat quickly.

This is where my day started to improve. I had not bought any textbooks yet, except for my chemistry book as it was also the book used last quarter in chemistry. I had looked online at some of my books and was prepared to buy them once the teacher confirmed that they were the right books. Sure enough my math teacher had a slide featuring the math book. He then went on to tell us that he didn't like it and that we really wouldn't need it, so there was no need to buy it.

My next class I went to I learned that I would need to buy it, and since this was the first year they were using a school specific version of the text, I would have to buy it new from the school bookstore. However, my teacher made it clear very quickly why he's a sought after professor so at least there's that.

Next class was chem where I already had the book. The teacher was also very good and made a flying spaghetti monster reference, so yay.

Finally I had my last class. The bookstore website had listed 1 book for the class. During his introductory lecture to us, my professor told us we'd need three books. Then he let us know that they were available for free online and that he would have links to the relevant material.

Basically I only had to buy one textbook (though I did have to buy it new). So far this year is off to a great start.

The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe

Hello! It's Christmas and that mean the Doctor Who Christmas Special! Just a reminder, there will be spoilers.

I liked how the opening just threw us right into the action with no explanation of why this ship was going to blow up earth. Even if you'd seen the prequel, it's never really explained, but to be fair it doesn't really matter or have anything to do with the rest of the story. I liked the introduction to Mag and her family. I loved when Mag gave a whole big explanation of where she was going to Cyril, who simply told his dad that she was going "out". I've totally done that before.

Picking the phone box lock with a bobby pin. Oh, that was just great, especially that little moment of relief when we learn it's not actually the TARDIS. Hopefully that's not how she got him into the real one.

Skipping ahead, I can say, with full confidence, I want the Doctor to be my interior decorator. That house was amazing. I loved the kids' room. Mag's conversation with the Doctor about not wanting to tell her kids that their father died was amazing. In a lot of ways I feel like they've made the point that the previous two Doctors were very angsty about all the Time Lords dying and what they'd lost, but that this Doctor while still affected by it isn't letting it rule over him the way the previous Doctor's did. This scene seemed to serve as a reminder (for me at least) and I liked that he touched on his great losses without making it about him.

I liked Lily's comment when she walked into the Doctor's room as well as his follow up. "You lied about the panthers." "Famous last words." At first I wasn't sure whether she know Cyril was downstairs and was lying to help cover up that he was sneaking a peek, or if she was really unaware that he had sneaked off.

The tree was very cool. When the Doctor and Lily went in after Cyrill and he explained about time moving differently, my only thought was, "well duh, anyone who's read a Narnia book knows that time moves differently there," but still appreciated the reference.

I'd seen the initial clip with Mag and the three people where they thought she was armed because of the wool before, but it still held up. I really liked where that scene went. From the woman lowering her gun because of the visual to the reveal that Mag was wearing wool and was armed.

The tree people were cool. I saw it coming that Cyril and the Doctor were weak because they were male, but it was still as nice touch. Similarly, that Reg survived (every time I say Reg, I think of Reg Cattermole from Harry Potter) was something I saw coming, though the way they did it surprised me. I also loved Mag's speech to Cyril that she'd always told him not to open presents early so "this was to be expected."

Finally, the ending with Amy and Rory. "I have a water gun!" That is one way to get rid of carolers. I was surprised that they had it be two years in the future for Amy and Rory since this places them, well, two years in the future and they're coming back next season for a little bit at least but I'm sure there's a plan.

Overall, I liked this Christmas special. Since the next season doesn't start until fall, I really hope they do make an Easter special to tide us over, but as there hasn't been one announced I'm not holding my breath.

Thursday was a Good Day

On Thursday:
1. I only had one class.
2. The dining hall had curly fries.
3. The package from my parents containing my old cell phone arrived.
4. When I got to the phone store the employee I'd spoken to before was there, so I didn't have to explain my problem and get him to suggest the same solution of mailing in my warranty phone to get a new one again. I could just get the issue formally filed and the address to send it to.
5. The guy at the UPS store laughed when I explained that my email was "Madhatter, like the Alice in Wonderland character."
6. I went to Barnes and Noble.
7. I got to help the store employee recommend books for a woman to get for her daughter and she actually listened to my advice and got them.
8. She specifically didn't want to get her daughter anything like the Twilight books, because she wanted her daughter to branch out into other types of books.
9. Barnes and Noble had stacks of books that were listed as "Must Reads, Buy 2 get 1 free." I approved of many of the books they had, particularly Looking for Alaska, Anna and the French Kiss, and Thirteen Reason's Why.
10. I resisted the urge to purchase the above three books, even though I love them and don't own copies of them because I didn't want to carry them in my suitcase when I travel home in about a week.
11. I did however buy a new Uncle John's Bathroom Reader.
12. Which I used both my parent's Barnes and Noble membership to get at a discount, then a gift card that I can still use for at least 2 more books, so I got it for free(ish).
13.The Salvation Army guy outside of the store wasn't just ringing a bell, he was dancing around to Christmas music.
14. When I called my mom to tell her the phone thing was resolved she told me to expect more mail within the next few days.
15. I got to have latkes and jelly doughnuts.
16. Two nice boys walked me back to my dorm since it was pretty late and dark.
17. When I got back to my dorm I found out that my mom's package had arrived.
18. It was full of candy and chocolate and other winter wonderfulness to help me get through finals next week.
19. It snowed a little. Not enough to gather, but still. I like snow.

If you're curious as to whether my good dayness continued on Friday, it didn't. I fell on the stairs on my way to my first class and different parts of my body keep hurting or being stiff intermittently.