News and News of News

Things are a-going, if they ever were.

Let's see...
The leaves have begun changing colors around here~ Not in any big FWOOSH! or anything yet, but I don't know if that happens here. What I do know, is that there are a multitude of colorful leaves on the ground every day and continually falling off one by one if I watch long enough.

(No, I wasn't lucky enough to capture that leaf falling off the tree perfectly facing my camera - if you're even tempted to think that. I found this awesomely-red leaf on the ground and held it there, my hand just out of view~ ;P)


Also, my first long-term experience with 'cafeteria' food is rather enjoyable! They've got something new in the Dining Hall every day, heck, every mealtime! Sometimes, I'd prefer not to guess at what a certain dish is, but most everything is recognizable and tastes great! I love that they always have a salad bar, too, if the main dishes don't look all that appealing at the time. A grill to the side is available if one wants to cook up some eggs or something as well.

One of the times I sat down to eat and had my camera randomly with me. There was tortelini (yum!), and random beef-stew-type soup that I mixed with the pasta for fun~ PLUS, they sometimes have quiche!! I only generally see that stuff listed in fancy resturaunts or something, much less actually have it. I'm loving it when it's available~! <3


Also, this past Friday I was able to attend a senior recital by one of the students. He's got a family and everything, but he's still doing school and piano lessons. He memorized his pieces. He did four of them. They were barking epic!!! I didn't know human hands could move that fast! Actually, I have the program with me...

Here's what he played:

Prelude and Fugue no. 4 in C-sharp minor WTCI, BWV 849 - J.S. Bach

Piano Sonata no 21 in C major "Waldstein", op. 53 - Ludwig van Beethoven

*Intermission*

Ballade no. 1 in G minor - Frederic Chopin

Vers la Flamme - Alexander Skryabin

[I highly suggest looking these up on youtube, if you don't recognize them. I can tell you, I still don't - but the tunes I do.]

He did an amazing job, I'd be blown away even if he didn't have a family at home and school going on at the same time! But he does. And he still memorized them.
I... miss playing piano; for there are practice rooms here on campus, but I don't have a lot of time to play. I've only used them once. Plus, I still really shouldn't do so for extended periods of time. XP


More good news: apparently, in Richmond (about 2.5 hours or so away), there's going to be a musical performance. My school is selling tickets, as well as transportation to/from the performance! I've only ever actually seen one musical, CATS, with my piano teacher a number of years ago. I loved it, and I've always loved musicals! So, of course, I jumped on this chance to see another one live~
And what would this oh-so-wonderful opportunity be presenting?
Take a guess.
...........
..........................
................
Wicked!
*exceedingly excited*
NO, I kid you not. Seems my recent Oz'dity is going to be further ingrained by means of a live performance!! YAY!
.........ok, back to regular life.


This past Saturday (aka yesterday), our ward went on a service project. Turns out, we (my roomies and I) joined a different ward by accident, but such things are easy to do when times and meeting places are similar. Plus, service is service! Anyway, we got to go help pick up trash around a local riverbed trail. And you know what? This riverbed actually had water in it! Running water!! Plus, the greenery around it was beautiful~

Twas beautiful~ <3

Lots-o-trash though. :(



Well, that's all I can think of right now. :)

...Ok, so I personally don't have all that much in the way of news. BUT, someone else does~ CB

Jonah Hewitt, and his new book 'Limbo's Child', the first in his 'Dead Things' series.

-> http://jonahhewitt.blogspot.com/p/limbos-child.html <-

It's supposed to come out on Oct. 15th!! (his main blog page -> http://jonahhewitt.blogspot.com/ )

It's coming out in e-format, on Amazon, and I've been anxiously awaiting a date on which to anticipate the release. I've heard and read some pretty barking awesome stuff about the book, as well as seen some of the concept sketches in the first trailor video, which can also be found on the blog. I'm really really excited to see this come together, and desparately hope that my Nook will be able to view the format. If not, I have a format-changer (InkScribe? eScribe? something to that effect... can't remember names right now) from a friend that shall have to do it's magic for me~

As for all of you, I simply ask you to go look at the blog he and his illustrator are updating, and read about it! It's Young Adult, and an awesome mixture of imps, mortals, mythology, and, well, dead things!

Here's the link to the book's description again -> http://jonahhewitt.blogspot.com/p/limbos-child.html

 Go! Discover! Get ready for the release! :D

The World of Oz

Math is ever-presently my homework time-sucker. Seriously, it takes me more time to finish a section of College Algebra problems than it does for me to read sections in Descartes' "Meditations on First Philosophy" or Plato's writings of Socrates (and I find them a good deal more interesting).
Alas, it is probably because of the infernal strategy that has given me problems since I first tried learning all the different ways of doing it: factorizing. Oh, I've learned the different ways; I just forget the ones that will make a specific problem simpler when doing it - or I forget an entire concept completely. Generally, it then involved me making thungs infintely more complicated than they need to be, and as such have a higher chance of making mistakes. (of course, I seem to be making quite a few of them even with simple math... Remember, 1+3=4, NOT 5)

But moving on, as I'm sure I shall in math...

I was able to finally go and see the college's latest play production, a musical actually~ They did a retake on 'The Wizard of Oz'! Well ok, I don't know if I'd call it a 'retake'... they didn't exactly change much, they kept the same lines and everything, they just... added a few things to make it more fun~ Like... the entire cast was of 9 people. (quick changes) And they used minimalistic props, for the most part. (just some boxes and their clothes/attitudes to show they were on the farm) Plus some subtler things, like the intonation with which the lines were said. PLUS, an awesome musical score (from the original) that occasionally threw in other references. (Chariots of Fire, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked...) It was somewhat long, from 7:30(ish) - 10 PM, with a 15 minute break in the middle; but it was so worth it! The actors were great at everything, from the quick scene-changes, to singing, so their subtle inflections. I loved it!
Plus, I also got to meet the Olsen's dad. Mr. Doxy and his family were there, and they introduced me~

That brings me to another subject. Ever heard of the musical/book "Wicked"? I have heard about it for quite a while now, and just never really got up the motivation to investigate what everyone was raving about. Upon getting here, I discovered that one of my roomates and a new friend had seen the musical quite a while ago, and loved it. Plus, a friend online has been gushing about it occasionally. So, I decided to watch it on Youtube. Lazy? Perhaps; but I highly doubt it's coming anywhere near here sometime this coming year. OR back home, for that matter.
I. LOVED. IT!  I even found myself crying at the end...
I understand now why so many people love the musical - it's so barking ingenius! Yes, the original concept comes from the book - but the book didn't come with the musical score. I'm still unsure I'd read the book, not only for lack of time but because of some *scenes* I've heard about in it (though what book doesn't seem to have some these days?), but the musical is wonderful! I highly reccommend it, as it's very fun and educational about friendships and choices~ <3

And just because, here's one of my absolute favorite songs from it, simply for the fun of it.

"What Is This Feeling"

Since I've been so Oz'd up lately, you'd think I'd have had enough by now. BUT nay; now I'm getting an urge to watch SyFy's version of this classic, in a miniseries called "Tin Man" which I actually have with me here! It's very intriguing and fun; D.G. is 'Dorothy' in a modern setting; Glitch has a zipper on his head where his brain was removed; a sorceress named Azkadellia rules over the O.Z. with an iron grip...

Man, now I want to watch it again even more!

But first,  to finish homework. Reading is really rather relaxing, whatever it may be about, I'm finding. :3

Ever Onward

Just want to take a moment to ask everyone to think back to where they were when they heard of the Sept. 11 attacks back in 2001. Just remember for a few moments when everything about foreign relations and other things changed.
I was in my 3rd grade classroom, huddling with everyone else in my class around a kid with hearing aids listening as our teacher was told (outside of the room) what had happened; she'd forgotten to turn off her microphone.
I didn't really understand the fullness of what had happened, but I remember it nevertheless.


Alright, on to happier things~


This past week has been rather full - successfully switched to the Health & Wellness class, and the book is a lot more realevant than I expected. There's even self-assessments in there to help figure out where you may stand or give ideas to get you going. I'm liking it~ (though unfortunately, the site with the quizzes still won't let me in... The teacher says he has no problems gaining access with my information though. Frustrating.)

On Friday there's no Health & Wellness class, so at that time I went to BodyFlow for the first time. (I only recently recieved notification there would even  BE a class) It's a mixture of yoga, Tai Chi, and pilates. By the end of the hour (and at various points during it), I was shaking with the effort; but I'm pretty sure that's how it's supposed to go until one becomes used to it. I'll only be able to go once a week, in-between classes, but I'm going to continue for a while to see how it goes. I've been wanting a class with at least some yoga in it and haven't really been able to find anything. I still have this AM stretch DVD I brought with me, but I was hoping to do a little more. Over the next few weeks, I guess I'll find out if that's even physically possible.

At the end of church today, they handed out Visiting Teaching partners and 'students'. I'm lucky enough to know at least one of the people on my list - I get to teach one of my roomates~ My partner and the other girl on the list, though, I've yet to meet. I suppose that'll be happening over the next month.

Speaking of months, next one is October! Anyone else excited for Halloween?
Of course, I've yet to come up with a costume for this year, but more than likely I'll wear what I did last year - steampunk herpetologist~ Always interesting to see people's reactions! (now I just gotta get the rest of my costume from TX... probably...)

Just thought it might be a good time to add some pictures, for those who haven't the slightest what VA looks like. (I know I didn't)

me in front of the main hall ; shmancy, eh?

a comilative picture of my portion of the dorm room. It's changed up a bit since then, the hooks are gone and my necklaces are now on giant push-pins in my cork-board, but that's negligible~

The main entrance to campus! Up a hill. (behind the camera is a Dollar Store accross the street; good planning on their part)

The Lofts! In other words, the  girls' dorms. On another hill.

 For perspective: these are the steps that go up to/down from The Lofts to the rest of campus.

Yup; won't have to worry too much about keeping in shape, I believe. (though I do have a car; not worth it to find parking at times, though)

Yeah... can't think of anything else at the moment. I should probably work some on reading Biology! Yay!
(then do a math quiz.... meh...)

Here It Goes

Well, I'm out here in VA at college, and it's pretty amazing so far. I not only mean that in the 'this-is-cool' sense; I also mean it in the 'I'm-amazed-this-all-exists' sense! There's so much green, so many hills (that I have to climb every day), so much water running on the ground and just up in the air (humidity, that strange thing)... It's pretty much a shocker coming from drought-parched TX. But it's pretty fun.

There are sooo many activities going on - I understand when people say don't try to do everything! I don't even think that's even physically possible, with all the different organizations going on simultaneously and everything. (and I'm even at a small college!)

Though, that does bring up the fact that I'm part of the largest group of incoming students ever here, a record 400 new freshman, and a total of 800 students this semester! Definitely a change from the 115 or so kids at my entire high school.

Since coming here, I've been to two dances, an impromptu performance, and one full week's worth of classes. I'm currently still working out kinks in my schedule, and that won't be worked out until after Wednesday. Hopefully, it all works out. On the good side, I've been suggested by the Spanish teacher to wait until next semester to enroll in Spanish IV! Definitly makes me more proud of my Spanish skills I didn't think I had much of~ (though not necessarily less nervous)

Health-wise, I'm trying to keep working on my Trigger Point Therapy with a tennis ball at least twice a day, which is mostly working out. The yoga part of my routine isn't so consistent, but it's still in existance, so I'm happy about that. I really miss drawing consistently, but I'm still getting used to a schedule of some sort. Once that settles down, I'm pretty sure it'll be better. Especially after this first two weeks of math....

Grr; college Algebra isn't necessarily impossible, it's just math has always been a subject that requries much effort on my part. And the publisher doesn't even have their books out yet; we're going off of handouts at the moment. Plus an online source, which keeps blocking my entries for answers for some reason. Hoping to work that out with the professor this next week.

Well, I suppose I ought to get off right about now; my arms are kinda burning again. Time for the ice-pack!
Renting a mini-fridge with a freezer is nice~ ;)