I'm No Shakespeare, I Just Write Poetry

Poetry Assignment Nine: Write a sonnet.

Well, I can't say that I didn't know that at one point I would be working with specific forms in poetry. My professor made it clear that we would venture into a more structured territory. But I never expected our first poetry form to be the sonnet.

As soon as she started talking about stressed and unstressed syllables, I immediately tensed up...got "stressed" out. It's been so long since I've had to think about an actual form of poetry that I don't really even remember exactly what stressed and unstressed mean. She gave us a rhyme scheme and a about 10 minutes to work on it in class...I gave up after the first two seconds and started brainstorming for something else.

I need a "Sonnets for Dummies" book.

Never mind. I checked Google after typing that sentence and found the sonnets page on the "For Dummies" website. I think I can do this now.

I'm Too Tired to Think Up a Title...Or Write Anything Interesting

I must admit that after having classes for almost six hours straight this afternoon, thinking is the last thing on my to-do list. My mind has been destroyed by simple mathematic equations.

Taking a physics class after 3 years without a formal math class was not a good idea. 

Imitation Might Be Flattery, But Originality Looks Better

There's nothing better than the feelings connected to something new. A shiny new toy, a fresh pair of glasses, a crisp fall coat...You not only get the object itself, but if someone notices or better yet compliments you on it, it's like a buy-one-get-one free deal. You're unique, original. It's a great way to boost your self-esteem.

But then, all of sudden someone else steals your thunder. Your new thing is now their new thing and you find yourself wondering whether or not anyone will remember or even realize that you had it first.

Where I am I going with this? Well, after years of consideration, I decided to cut my hair last May. When I returned to school, the complements were almost endless. In fact, someone liked my hair so much that they decided to cut their extremely long hair almost the exact same way.

At first, I was livid. Seeing her new pictures on Facebook caused me to jump out of bed and run through the house in search of my mother making intelligible sounds that could be compared to primal screaming. But then after the initial shock wore off, I actually was quite flattered. Doesn't her new hair make me a trendsetter?

The old saying finally made sense. It is a cliche for a reason.

It also helps that many individual parties have informed me that the cut flatters me much better proving once again that nothing beats the original.

Late to My Own Party

I keep walking in my apartment to find people awkwardly waiting for me. The last two time I've planned to meet up with someone, I've ended up running late. When I finally make it to back to my apartment--tired from the rush and completely apologetic--the person that I've kept waiting is just sitting on my couch entertaining themselves. In the most innocently creepy way.

Yes, my roommates are letting these people in, so it's not that creepy. But I'm just waiting for that day...I'll walk into a dark living room. Suddenly a single bright light flips on and the random guest will say in the most menacing voice "I've been expecting you..."

Because that's how I would do it. I'm slightly disappointed that these people are being so polite.

To Places Unknown...For English?

It might be a new trend but a few of my professors are suggesting that we take trips to places that I wouldn't normally go, all in the interest of academic progress. First, my sweet poetry professor mention a possible reading in the local hookah lounge for our review assignment due later this semester. Then, my professor for History of the English Language brought up how a previous student based their main research project on the vernacular used at a nearby gay bar.

I don't know what's gotten into these people, but I hope it leaves soon.

(To be honest, the gay bar thing actually sounds interesting but the hookah lounge...I'm not willing to let a cloud of smoke kill my pores just to hear some random person read poetry pretentiously. And I would have to wash my hair afterward and that's just not cool.)

Class is Canceled? Well, Lucky Day!

I always have the most fantastic luck.

Good student that I am, I genuinely don't like to miss class. I never even skipped in high school (unless you want to count that one time I accidentally missed French because of a band program, but I have been told by many others that time doesn't count). So when I miss class, I usually have a really good reason. And because I have fantastic luck, the day I miss class is usually the day that it is canceled for some unexpected reason.

Too bad I didn't see that coming today. Instead, I hiked out in the freezing rain to make sure my assignments were in the appropriate mailboxes and retreated to my apartment feeling worse than before. My friend to texted me about 10 minutes later, after my heartbeat slowed to a more healthy rate and my lungs started accepting oxygen again, that class didn't even happen today. Effectively making my seemingly heroic efforts null and void.

Because I always have the most fantastic luck.

Too Sick to Be a Good Blogger

Okay, here's the thing: I currently maintain two blogs. Just a second ago, I finished writing a short post about how since I'm behind on my obligatory posts for this one, I decided to try to make up for it today even though I canceled all of the rest of my plans for the day because of how sick I am right now.

I published it and almost immediately realized that it went up on the wrong blog. Instead of copying it over, I just deleted as fast as possible so no one would see it.

I would try to write it again but I don't exactly trust my judgement right now. I think my minor sickness has made me delusional. I will just stop now while I'm only slightly behind.

If At First You Don't Succeed, Return It to Your Nearest Target Store and Try Again

I love Target. It's a fabulous one-stop-shop (well, the ones with groceries anyway) that you can easily waste hours in, buying things that you didn't know you needed simply because they're on sale...or shiny...or just there when you have the money...

But for some reason, I keep finding myself buying a few things and returning at least one of them shortly after the fact for various reasons. Maybe it looks one color in the fluorescent lights and a totally different color in the sun. Maybe it's just the wrong brand. Either way, I will walk out of the red doors feeling completely accomplished and partially broke, only to get back to my apartment and regret my decision.

Example: Today, I went to Target specifically for the non-medicated store brand version of the apricot facial scrub made popular by St. Ives. Trying it was a fluke really; I simple grabbed what looked like the cheapest thing on the shelf. However, it's the best face wash I've ever used and I'm afraid to use anything else. So much so that I refuse to even open either of the two bottles of medicated St. Ives scrub that I bought I while back...at Target...because they were on sale.

Anyway, I grabbed two of the Target brand scrubs, in an effort to think toward the future and stock up and left with that familiar sense of accomplishment. It wasn't until I got home and started to unpack my store finds that I actually looked I what I had purchased.

Up and Up Medicated Apricot Scrub. In my attempt to avoid one medicated version, I just ended up buying another one. And once I again, I will be taking a trip to Target simply to exchange something that I bought the last time. Everyone knows that Target trips come in twos.

Forget Ambien, Try This Book!

A few weeks in and I have already given up on the only literature class I have right now. When I signed up for the course, I didn't really have excruciatingly high hopes. My previous experience with these types of class have been mostly positive: not too exciting, but interesting for the most part. So I was prepared to be somewhat bored while getting the chance to read at least one good novel.

That isn't going to happen. Everything that we have been reading has been painfully dull. Our professor is obviously more into the subject matter than most (if not all) of us and his personality does help a bit. But when the material doubles as a sleep aid, there is only so much that you can do.

I have officially decided to just keep my head down and get to the end of the semester. A friend of mine has assured me that it will not get better, so my goal is to just survive. The end of this class cannot come fast enough.

This Girl's Getting Back in the Kitchen

After all this time, I have finally decided to use the kitchen that I move through everyday to actually make myself a real, balanced meal. Not just oatmeal, not just a turkey and swiss sandwich or leftover pasta. Meat, grain, vegetable: the works. I must say that it was a resounding success.

Pan-seared chicken breast with rice and broccoli. Nothing like the grand souffles that I sometimes make at home, but still. It's the first "traditional" meal that I've had in a while, which is actually really sad.

My culinary side has reawakened. It's time to stop watching Food Network all day and actually cook something for a change.

Political Sign Wars

I will not be outdone, especially by strangers who don't share my strong political views. 

Case in point: a few short weeks ago, the residents in the apartment on the right side of the front door decided to plaster their windows with Romney/Ryan signs. Four of the most boring, plain, white Romney/Ryan signs that probably hit the production line. Since my apartment is directly across on the left side of the door, this seemed to me like a golden opportunity for a good spirited political competition. Immediately, I ran to my roommate Serena and expressed our need to retaliate. 

Of course, this action is all for the greater good; both candidates need to be represented after all. 

Soon after, her mother produced a small sign and suggested that we find the democratic office in town, tell them about our neighbors and ask if they could help us out. Yesterday, we finally made our way over there and walked out with an astonishing ten signs. Ten. And not just regular Obama signs but bright colorful ones that represent almost every group: students, women, Latinos, LGBT, Michiganders...

Our competitors never stood a chance.

I've been waiting to catch someone commenting on them. Serena has already caught a group of girls taking a moment to stop and stare. When comparing us to the Romney guys, their verdict rang loud and clear: "Those Obama people outdid them by a lot!" 

Sweet political success.

I Would Put a Witty Title Here, But That's Too Hard

I have lost all sense of motivation. The repetitive nature of my homework assignments is beginning to get to me. I am tired of writing and poetry and word etymology assignments. I am tired period. And the weather is starting to kill my sinuses, so I feel like a snotty blob. Fun.

On the academic side of the problem, a recent Barnes and Noble trip ended with brand new flowery day planner and the hope of reawakening my organized side. The fact that I have written many tasks down but not completed them means that it has not gone well so far.

I need a break. Good thing one is coming up soon.

The Store Brand Experience

I love food; I hate paying for it. Loving a good deal as much as I do, a trip to the local grocery store most involves searching for the things on my usually poorly thought out list at the lowest price possible. Of course, my eyes always fall on those dubious store brands that promise comparable quality at a lower price.

It's not like I'm some sort of "food snob". Store brands or no-names are not beneath me. They  occasionally make an appearance in my mother's kitchen back home, so I'm familiar with such things. It just feels awkward to have to decide if that trusty major brand product is worth the extra few cents when living on a small budget. 

For example, during a recent stop at Walmart (a store I don't very much like, even though the prices is are quite nice), I stood in the cereal aisle for entirely too long, my eyes bouncing between my go-to Quaker Old Fashioned Oats and the cheaper Great Value alternative. After staring at both the retail and the unit prices and considering my small options, I left with the store brand, convinced that I made the more logical choice. Besides, I just douce my oatmeal in soy milk and smother it in peanut butter, so I don't think the brand really matters.

But there are some cases where I will accept no substitutes. On the subject of my typical morning meal, I might take knock-off oats, but I will only eat it with Silk milk and major brand peanut butter. It doesn't really matter which brand; I just go with the cheapest. My standards are not high, but they are definitely not that low. 

You can't cut all the corners. You have to treat yourself somehow.

It Only Takes One Banana to Ruin a Good Day

Today, I made the horrible mistake of eating a banana. It's been so long since I had one, maybe 13 or so years...I've never liked them, but I've always wanted to. They're just so portable and healthy...and I like to try foods I don't like every once in a while to see if my taste has changed...

Now I feel like crap. No more bananas for me.

Free: A Favorite Word of College Students Everywhere

As a cheap college girl with limited funds and a unreasonable view of retail prices, I find any type of freebie is extremely exciting. So much so that I am a part of a few Facebook pages dedicated to posting free sample offers and my mailbox is usually flooding with trial sizes of new products.

Today I suppose the world was feeling especially generous. At the end of it all, I am left with a ticket to an upcoming play, a pretty nice usb stick and a coupon for a free pineapple pop from Edible Arrangements.

One of the best feelings in the world is getting something for nothing.