Quickiee!

MERRY CHRISTMAS && HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I missed those holidays while I was out, it's been a while since I've blogged anything. OOPS. :X

Anyway, this semester has started officially on the 17th and I'm very sad to say, I'm sleepy! My sleep schedule hasn't quite adjusted yet, but I think we'll be better next week. I must say, that being back to normal life feels so good but not at the same time.

I love being back because, I get to walk around my lovely campus (despite some chilly temperatures lately). Meaning, I get some exercise in! I also love being back because I truly miss seeing my classmates and having assignments and stuff to do.

However, I do enjoy my laziness and such but it's not so fun when you're broke and you have no incoming funds for a month. I just let out a sigh and try to make the most of what I've got. We're college kids after all, resilient against being poor. They don't call us cockroaches for nothing right?

I'm kidding, I've actually been pretty good about my finances and I'm not entirely the stereotypical "broke" college student.

Over the holidays, I managed to re-spark my love for reading and music. I've practiced more guitar and read a few books. I read Brave Girl Eating which was an incredible story about a family's struggle with a anorexic daughter and their fight for therapy.

I read ZiTFACE shortly after and it's a good quick read. The target audience is most definitely younger girls who are beginning their adolescence (preteens). It associates the big girl time of the month with blemishes and how the character struggles with her acting because of her new blemishes, how to control her blemishes, teasing at school, and ultimately how she reacts to these situations.

I'm currently working on Cathy's Book which is a mystery novel, also for young adults. I'm almost finished, but I don't think this is quite my style of book... so it's getting to be a little harder to get around to than I thought. I'll push on and keep reading, perhaps I'll give it a second read through and enjoy it!

That's all for now! I have to run for class, hopefully I'll have more time to blog some more!

No Fun November! ~

I can pretty much say, I either have Senioritis or... I'm just SO ready for winter holiday. It's been a long year, and I've done and learned a lot of things I never imagined I'd be doing. Just even within the semester, I've progressed so much. I didn't get to continue reading a book a day or week... I'm very sad about that.

I work a little less, but for some reason it feels the same. I used to do homework on weekends but now, I just want to be lazy like a cat and either sleep all day or just watch television.

I feel like a slob.

Everything goes by me like a blur, and I'm not exactly sure what eventful things have been happening. If that makes any sense.

However, I did look into studying abroad and right now is operation night unicorn. Or, operation save a ridiculous amount of money so I can go to another country for about 6 weeks. I know it sucks and seems just as silly to say I'm saving all this money but in the end it's going to be worth it when I'm hopping on public train or bus and going to a university in a country where there are more Asians than I've ever seen in my entire life all in one place!

Needless to say, I'm REALLY stoked but at the same time, a little nervous because I've never been quite this... outgoing? spontaneous? I'm not sure what the word is, maybe, just maybe, it's independent.

Anyway, just a quick update. Until next time world!

Still here!

I have not disappeared, I'm still here! I'm just trying to take over the world, like the Brain! Just kidding, but Fluffy over there sure does look like she wants to...

Just kidding, I'm still here buried in work, but here. I promise. Only because lately, I've been sucked into Pinterest, and believe me... I have a few things up my sleeve that I am DYING to do.

So, the agenda lately has been work work work! I think the fun will begin late next month. I can't believe we've already gone through half the semester! Finals are probably just around the corner and I'll be in WINTER HOLIDAY! Whoo! I am so pumped!

However, as excited as I may be, I'm also really worried. I've had to come up with a plan A and a plan B and it all depends on my THEA exam next month. So I'm hoping I do well! Wish me luck!

I have some time to study tomorrow and I did a section of math today. Whoever said Asian people are good at math, well meet an exception! Though, I'm sure I can do it, with proper refreshment and a tutor; minus the thousands upon thousands of distractions.

So, now my goal is to come up with about 8k before the end of May. I'm going to start packing my lunches and doing what I can to save every penny! I'm starting a fun, albeit late, but still... I'm going to do this! It's going to be FUN!

Until next time, stay safe world!

LOVE ~

Here is ONE of my definitions of love.

You know, when you read those little blogs or whatever that have what "love" means to little kids? Well, here's one of mine.

From a BIG GIRL point of view.

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One of the things that catches my attention is when I just randomly picked up my guitar and played chords, over and over again. Especially my daddy because he can play a little; and he never really hesitates to stop what he's doing for a moment to help me tune my guitar, knowing I was going to sit for another hour or two playing the same chords.

They were there to listen to me try to learn piano, playing the same system over and over again because I'm a perfectionist and I want to at least make it coherent before moving on. They heard me play the same songs, over and over again. They probably knew when I messed up every single time.

They were there to listen to me practice my choir music. Listening to the same piano accompaniment play on repeat as I sing the same notes and words. They listened to me perform my songs during recital, listening as if it was the first time they had ever listened to me sing/play it for the first time. Proud and happy. Even though I'm sure they could sing with me by the end of it all.

I think, this is ONE form of love, in it's truest and purest states. Why do I think this? Because, I have a little brother, who practices piano much the same way. He'll play the same songs, for example - 'Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling', over and over again. He'll mess up and start all over again, just like I do.

They don't say a thing about him, but once in every million times, I'll get a little annoyed. Usually it's when I do my homework.

Hm, I know I love my brother, but I guess this is one of the little ways that I show him. Maybe he'll figure this out when he's older too.

Let's see...

So, today marks the 10th year of 9/11.

I know there will be many, many blogs and articles and television reports and such on today.

Ten years ago, I was in the 6th grade and to me, it felt like any ordinary day. I don't remember much, but I remember I had learned about the incident at lunch time when a friend of mine told me that a classmate's parent had told them. I wasn't exactly sure what to think at the time, maybe I was thinking - "Are they serious? Or is this some kind of telephone game."

I'm sure my teachers at the time told us what happened, but really.. I vaguely remember. What really stands out in my mind, is the constant television reports. The television showing clip after clip of footage, over and over again. I was sucked in watching, but at the same time horrified at how another human being could be so evil towards another human being, or in this case many humans towards other humans.

I also remember thinking, "why? why would someone do this?" and "what did anyone ever do to deserve this?" Even til this day, I wonder. I really do.

I would like to send my condolences to the families and friends out in the world. I don't remember who said it, but they said "today, we're all Americans". Maybe because, everyone in the entire world has a feeling for this day. People from all over the world were affected on this day, not just us.

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Today, we actually celebrated my mother's birthday; and I know some people would frown at me and my family for doing so but, you have to realize, you can't stop celebrating something on a certain day just because of a tragic event. Sounds harsh, but no, I have been thinking about everyone on this day and even days leading up to today. Just because something terrible happens doesn't mean the world stops, doesn't mean you can't carry on with the ordinary.

I think it gives the people who "hate" Americans a satisfaction to see us wallowing in our past, we have to rise up and be strong and prove to them that yes, it was a tragic event, but that doesn't mean we're going to be weak all the time. I'm sure all those people are watching from heaven and they'd like to see us happy.

Reading Frenzy!

So, I just finished another one of the books I purchased from the university bookstore.

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

(You can purchase the book from Amazon.com used for $3 hardcover, limited quantity)

It's a really touching story and I admit, I did get teary-eyed in several places and I did giggle a little during the book.

It's a quick read and it's written beautifully, I enjoyed it thoroughly. This book wasn't even what I had expected it to be so it really caught me off guard. I most definitely recommend this to readers young and old because it has a good story to it and mainly because it's not what I used to read.

I'm surprised that this is LaFleur's first novel, I can't wait to see more work from her.

Which I just amazon-ed and apparently she has one called Eight Keys, I'm not in any hurry to find it, but maybe one day when I'm in Barnes and Noble or Half Priced Books, I'll look for it. For now, it's whatever I stumble upon.

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I am enjoying the fact that I am able to read all these shot novels within a day's worth of time. It makes me feel really good, but I kind of want to start getting into deeper things. I've been meaning and wanting to re-read Brave New World for some time now. Perhaps I'll go find myself a copy of that.

I feel like, back in high school I didn't exactly know what the literature was talking about but I feel now, if I read it for pleasure instead of as an assignment I'll a) enjoy it much more and b) understand it better because I can read on my own pace rather than stick to a schedule. In my opinion, I would never want to read according to a schedule, there's no fun in that.

So, somehow right now my blog has shifted from dreams to books. I wonder where I'll be heading next but I'm hoping I can linger in the book world for a while longer. I love to read and I haven't had this much time to read in a long time, I feel like I'm getting back to who I really am again.

If I had all the time in the world...

So, it's been a while dear blog.

Arkansas was really nice! It was nice to get away from suburban life, but it's even nicer to know you get to come back.

Started school on Thursday, and I'm having a hard time adjusting. Especially when I have books lying around my room screaming "read me! read me!" It's like I'm Alice in Wonderland...

Anyhow, I finished The Immortal Life of Henreitta Lacks yesterday and oh I was so sad it had ended. I most definitely recommend this novel now, and found out I'll more than likely be using it for one of my assignments this semester. Pre-approved via professor already, I'm quite smug about it.

I also finished a book my best friend loaned out to me, half a year ago, called My Fair Godmother. Not bad for a teenage, high school, romance novel. It was a little bit predictable, but aren't they all? Though, I felt like this book was a bit immature... I guess it's probably because I read it right after Henrietta. It's quite a jump from genres and audiences, but if you want a quick joy read and feeling a little classic fairytale-ish then this is for you! I enjoyed it and recommend it for a light read, for me it was just bad timing. :X

You can purchase My Fair Godmother from amazon.com for $2 bucks used or $7 for the kindle. I believe my friend purchased hers from Half Priced Books for the average of the two.

If I didn't have so many other things to do for class, I'd be in another book coma! We'll see what I read next hm?

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Looking at the online page for testing, I only have 3 strikes to pass the THEA exam the way the department of Education wants me to, or else I'm pretty much screwed for my next semester.

Until next time I suppose! Stay safe world!