highly intergalactic

Long time no post, but...

New New Frontier novel in early 2009.

SWEET!

In other news, I'm still in Berkeley. I got a job up here, so I'm staying the summer to work and take classes. More on that later.

* Someone pulled the fire alarm and there were cops and firefighters all over the building. I waited for forty-five minutes in the cold. It was kind of funny how long it took for people to meander their way outside. We are totally screwed in the event of an actual fire.

* Tonight, there was an in-house tournament at TKD. I did poomse (earned about a 7--solid, but I know I can do better) and corner-reffed for sparring. The blue/red clickers were broken, so we had to hold up kicking paddles when someone scored.

Dr. A (head TKD instructor) encouraged me to compete in poomse at the NCTA tournament in April "to build my confidence." I'm thinking about it. It's at Stanford, so I could go home for the weekend...

* I'm getting my ears pierced this Saturday. I'm so excited! I've wanted to pierce them for years, but I never got around to it. I'm going with a friend to Zebra. This is something we will fail to mention to our mothers when we tell them about our ears, haha.

* There is a produce stand on campus that takes meal points, and these past few days I've been buying the tastiest, juiciest tangerines EVER there. They make my day, these tangerines! I love fruit.

* It's nearly 1:30 in the morning, but I'm still wired from the cold and the alarm. Good thing I still have reading to do and an essay to finish...

One of my roommates has the flu and has been coughing all night long this week. It's awful. I keeping waking up throughout the night, because I'm a light sleeper, and earplugs don't do a thing when my bed's two feet away from hers. It's driving me insane.

I asked her to take a cough drop last night when I was trying to fall asleep, which worked pretty well. But then she was still coughing throughout the night and she's been coughing through the last couple days, so I've been avoiding our room because I can't concentrate on my work, and I understand that she can't help that she's sick, but the coughing is driving me crazy!! I am sleep-deprived and I can't stand the thought of having to endure another night of waking up over and over again!!

And now my other roommate might be getting sick, too. Shoot me now.

I have considered staying over at a friend's dorm for the night, but they all live far away and logistically, it wouldn't work out too well. Maybe the lounge? It's freezing, but if I bring enough blankets...

I am going to Walgreens today and buying them cough syrup. This coughing thing is making me feel homicidal.

Joe Flanigan in an unlikely role.

My first thought: What the fuck?

Second: AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Third: I would pay good money to see this movie.

First day of classes.

My Earth Systems Science professor reminded us that his class is an actual science class. He noted that occasionally some of his students think it isn't and are surprised later when they discover they must do MATH! And PHYSICS! This was amusing, though I could see how someone could be unsure-- the course is listed in the geography department, which tends to focus on the social and cultural aspects of geography, not so much the science behind everything.

In any event, it's been a while since I took a science class that required a calculator and had a lab section. It makes me feel better knowing that of all the science classes I could have taken to fulfill my biological science requirement, I'm taking the one people think is a humanities course. Good times.

My second class of the day was comparative politics. I don't know if I want to be a political science major; hopefully this class will help me make up my mind.

Tomorrow I have history of science and technology and intro to film. On Friday, I have a seminar about satellite radio. I'm excited-- I hope this class is as good I think it'll be. I've been a fan of radio since middle school.

I'm settled back into the dorm. My roommates and I rearranged our furniture so we have a lot more floorspace. It's awesome. I even decorated my wall with posters of favorite TV shows and postcards from SF and Berkeley.

The weather sucks. It's cold (for this area, anyway) and rainy and windy. I actually need a decent coat, and I was so glad I had scarf to wear today. I also need gloves. What is this madness?? :P

It's been windy and pouring rain since Thursday night and our power keeps going on and off. It's back on now, thank goodness, though I'm not counting on it staying on. There's supposed to be another storm this weekend, too. Crazy! I'm not used to this much weather. :P

I don't really make New Year's resolutions, but this year, I'm going to try to write and post more fic. I have a lot of ideas written down in Google Docs that never become stories, and I want to change that.

*posts quickly before the power goes out again*

Inspired by this synopsis.

( Read more... )

New NF, yeah!

So, um, where do people buy comic books? Are there stands? Stores? Do you have to go online? Should you order them off the publisher's website or are there cheaper alternatives? These comics aren't like manga I can buy in a regular bookstore, right?

I'm not wild about comics or graphic novels, but how can I argue with four installments in one year? I'm super excited. (Is Moke a thunder god? Will Elizabeth be demoted to ensign? What's going to happen next with Soleta and her boyfriend? FIND OUT NEXT YEAR!)

I totally suck at updating. I can't believe this is the last week of the semester. What is this, how can I be halfway done with freshman year already?

My last final is astronomy on Saturday, so I'm spending the week studying for it. I've reached the point where all the concepts are fitting together and things are making sense. It's good times. I studied for seven hours today. I don't think I've ever studied that much in a single day before. I went to the library at two and set up camp in a cubicle deep in the main stacks. I got lucky. I've never seen the libraries that crowded before; I thought I was going to have to share a table in the undergrad library.

I'm kind of looking forward to going home, kind of not. I think I'll be going stir-crazy by New Year's. I have a five week break, since we're on the semester system.

Over the weekend, I was a judge for the TKD promotion test. It was freezing in the combatives room and I couldn't stop shivering. We couldn't wear jackets or sweatshirts on the mat, and the test lasted FIVE HOURS. But aside from the temperature issues, the test was very interesting-- my classmates are quite skilled! I don't think I could have passed the test the black belt candidates were put through. There were also tons of white belts testing, and they all looked terrified and very determined to impress our panel. It was funny, because the standards for promoting to yellow are so freaking low. We're very easily satisfied. :D

I'm sad there's no TKD for a month and a half.

I miss writing for fun. I've gotten really good at turning out decent, long-ish (8-10 pgs) papers in short periods of time for school. But I've written nothing fannish since summer...

I should get some sleep. Tomorrow's another library day.

Holy crap, this was a stressful week.

* I began signing up for next semester's classes on Wednesday during my phase one appointment (during phase one, we're only allowed to add 10.5 units). So far, I've got Earth Systems Science, this awesome history class about science and technology since Newton, and a journalism seminar focused on satellite radio. Eeek. I am so excited for these classes. I'm thinking about signing up for a poli sci class during phase two. Don't know what else I want to take. Econ or film, maybe. Thankfully, I didn't end up on any waitlists, though I barely got a spot in the journalism class, since it's capped at twenty people.

* On Tuesday, I received a scary email from the admissions office threatening to revoke my admission unless I sent them my high school transcript, which was due in July. I have no idea what happened. My high school definitely sent my transcript. In any event, the transcript is on its way, thank god!

* I gave not one, but two, speeches this week. First speech was a memorized monologue from Hamlet for my English class. I blanked out a couple times and had to be prompted by the professor. Ugh. On the bright side, compared to my classmates, I was smooth. (Haha. One guy began, "To be or not to be... UHHH...") Second speech was for my public speaking class yesterday. We were allowed to write out our speeches, a first, and knowing that I could basically read what I had written definitely took the edge off my nervousness.

The next (and final!) speech for public speaking is a persuasive speech. Professor says we must have a strong opinion about the subject of our speech. That would be helpful, yes. :P

My neck is painfully tense. I think because of last week's astronomy term paper writing-- many hours were spent hunched over my laptop. I managed to crank out ten pages discussing the accuracy of astronomy in Star Trek: First Contact. Three of those pages were about time travel. :D

My astronomy prof, collecting our papers: These should keep me amused for a while.

Yeah. I hope my science is okay.

I'm busy and tired and looking forward to Thanksgiving. I'm totally glad the weekend is coming up. TGIF!

TKD was fun tonight! We did kicking drills with lots of crazy, challenging footwork. I had to keep repeating the combinations in my head so I wouldn't forget them. We also played paddle ball, which I thought was played only at my old dojang, but I guess not! Basically, it's hockey played with a tiny bouncy ball and two dozen martial artists armed with kicking paddles. Fun times. Forgot how wildly competitive people get over the game.

I vacuumed two months' worth of carpet grime from the room on Sunday. It's so wonderful to be able to walk around barefoot without feeling grossed out.

On Saturday, I went to San Francisco with the roomies. We took BART to Union Square, did some window shopping, then walked all the way to the Embarcadero for clam chowder bread bowls, which were delicious. Then we went to Ghirardelli Square, browsed the street vendors, bought postcards, and walked to the Embarcadero BART.

Ended up walking five miles in total.

Things are going pretty well here. I still don't like my classes, but I'm meeting nice people. I'm trying not to stress.

Okay, going to bed now.

I love Thursday afternoons because I know that I can finally relax-- the week is almost over. I've got two hours of astronomy lecture and discussion tomorrow, then I'm finished! Yay weekend!

I still need to buy rain boots. Target won't have them until the end of the month. Fortunately, it's supposed to be sunny all next week.

I had a group presentation this afternoon in my public speaking class. The topic was public transportation and my group did skits about proper etiquette for the bus, airplane, and taxi. It was surprisingly fun. I wasn't very nervous-- less pressure when you're one of six people up in front of the class-- and enjoyed myself a lot.

TKD is going well. Last week, we had a guest instructor from the yongmudo club. He was completely nuts, but in the best possible (read: most entertaining) way. I learned some groundwork, pinned a classmate once, and got my ass kicked the rest of the time. This week we're back to the standard "kick 'til you drop" class. Exhausting, but fun.

I totally want to take this DeCal next year. "It's never lupus." Hee. (DeCal = Democractic Education at Cal.) I'm planning my schedule for next semester already. It's exciting. But as a first year (albeit with sophomore standing, yeah!), I have to sign up for my classes last, so by the time my date rolls around, the classes I want will probably be filled up.

This has been a good week. I'm not quite as homesick and lonely as I was earlier this month. Classes are okay and I've raised my astro quiz grade up to a B. Things can only get better from here, I hope.

Now... I should get ready for TKD. I've got a bus to catch in twenty minutes.

Dude, it is POURING today. I was going to stay on campus for lunch and work in the library, but it was raining so hard I just went back to the dorm. I live at the top of a hill and water was rushing down the streets as I walked back. I had an umbrella, but my pants, sweater, and shoes were soaked by the time I got inside. Holy crap. Tomorrow I'm going to Target to buy a raincoat and rain boots, because an umbrella is clearly not enough to cope with this deluge!

The good:

My speech for public speaking went well. As always, I was super nervous, but I had rehearsed enough times that I knew what I wanted to say and my speech went smoothly. My professor said I needed to slow down and make eye contact, but she also said my speech was structured well and humorous. So I was happy. And relieved. The next two weeks we're practicing impromptu speaking, which should be interesting. And by interesting, I mean nerve-wracking. Hopefully this public speaking thing will get easier!

I went to my first Cal sports game Friday night. Women's volleyball versus Stanford. We lost, but barely.

Quiznos has amazing bread bowls. Perfect for chilly fall weather and students who are sick of DC food. Yum.

I'm writing my astronomy term paper on Star Trek. I am so excited. I have been waiting to do this for years.

I went to my first TKD class on Tuesday. It was intense, but pretty much what I expected. Heavy on the cardio, basic kicks, and sparring footwork. Light on the advanced kicks and poomse. It was a good workout, though-- I was sore for like three days afterward.

The bad:

It's midterm season. I have no midterms, just a paper due on Thursday, but everyone around me is stressed and tired and complaining. I'm kind of looking forward to getting out of here this weekend. I'm going home to visit an observatory for astronomy. I would go to the Lawrence Hall of Science, but it's only accessible at night by a car, which I lack, so me and my dirty laundry are coming home for the weekend. Yay for free food and laundry service.

One of my roommates is driving me NUTS.

I didn't get the copy editor position at the newspaper. Apparently, sixty people applied for one spot. Oh well. I'll try again during spring semester.

I don't really like my classes! Except maybe for astronomy, but my professor is weird and my quiz grade sucks, thanks to my inability to differentiate between gravity and motion. Public speaking would be great, except for how I'm afraid of speaking in public, so class is somewhat stressful.

House is on during my tae kwon do class! This totally sucks! I really wanted to watch it when it actually aired.

YAY!!!

(I hope this is accurate!)

I failed my astronomy quiz because I confused Newton's law of gravitation with his laws of motion.

Damage to my grade notwithstanding, I crack myself up.

I have tan lines from my flip flops.

This is weird because I have very, very pale skin. But I haven't worn sneakers since the first week and now my toes are slightly tanned.

I lay down on the grass outside the library after lunch. The sky was so blue it hurt to look at and there were people playing Frisbee all around me. It was nice.

I hope it stays warm for a couple more weeks!

I went to the gym for the first time today! Lots of cardio and stretching. I love stretching after I've worked out, it feels great.

I watched part of a TKD class in the combatives room. It seemed okay. The students (who were adults, green belt and up with lots of black belts) were doing roll falls. I'm kind of worried about how intense classes will be and whether I'll be the worst one there. I also don't know if I need a dobak (uniform) for my two trial classes. I hope not, because mine's at home.

I have lots of sociology reading to do! God, so boring.

I'm looking forward to going to the gym tomorrow. I have a lot of nervous energy to burn off. And I miss TKD. Okay, mostly, I just miss kicking things. Hee.

(Yay, my roommates are in the lounge doing homework and I can blast Depeche Mode!)

The reason I woke up an hour and a half before my alarm went off is because my roommate's alarm went off around 8 and then she hit the snooze button about six times and I woke up every single time until I couldn't take it any longer and got out of bed.

*screams*

My roommmates are great, don't get me wrong, but living with two other people on two different schedules in a tiny room drives me crazy sometimes.

Second week of classes. I like my sociology professor, but I haven't enjoyed the class or the reading. We haven't progressed much beyond the introductory stuff, though, so I'm hoping it'll improve with time. For public speaking, I need to think up topics for an informative speech. The professor is discouraging us from writing out our entire speech-- which was my plan-- so I'm going to try to use notes and hope I don't blank out or faint or something. Ugh, why did I think taking public speaking might actually be fun?

I'm totally excited about my astronomy class, even though my professor is a bit weird and spent most of Friday's class talking about Stonehenge. The subject material is very interesting; I'm taking reading notes for the first time in years. English is okay. We're reading the Odyssey, which I read in ninth grade. I don't mind rereading it, but class is pretty boring.

On the bright side, this semester I will fulfill a bunch of general ed and breadth requirements, so I can take better classes in the spring.

On Saturday, I watched the football game against Tennessee on TV. I didn't understand what was happening, but we won, so yay! It was a home game, so earlier that day I saw lots of Tennessee fans in orange shirts walking around campus and downtown. There was even a tailgate party going on in the parking lot outside my window.

My room is located at the end of the hallway across the bathroom, which is convenient if I need to take a shower or fill up my water bottle from the fountain on floor 2.5, but not so good when I'm trying to sleep. In the morning, sometimes I wake up to the noise of the garbage truck emptying the dumpsters in the parking lot. At night, it's usually quiet outside-- except for last weekend, when I could hear people throwing up in the bushes (SO GROSS).

I'm always amazed at how big this place is whenever I walk onto campus and see all the people walking around. It's overwhelming. Especially coming from a school with a student body smaller than the average lower division lecture here.

Haha, just now the RCC (computer fix it guy) stopped by half an hour early to try to remove my roommate's computer lock from her computer. Roomie was in class and I didn't know her code. RCC was cute and I was awkward and forgot how to talk. It's weird going to school with boys again. :P Anyway, the RCC is returning in 15 minutes and the roomie is on the bus back to the dorm, so hopefully the lock will be removed and we won't have to call a locksmith.

I should get ready for English class, which is two miles away on the northside campus and involves a bus trip and lots of walking. Sigh. Every day here is an adventure!

Seen in the dining commons: Vegan vegetarian vegetable soup.

Just in case we were, you know, worried about those vegetables.