Wednesday, October 30, 2013
I have such cool friends...
Monday, October 28, 2013
Evolution of my Planner
In case you were wondering about my epic time management skills, I will let you in on a little secret: I am not that great at time management. I wouldn't call myself a reckless time-waster either, but some days are better than others. I've found more and more, that I live and die by my planner. If it's not in there, it doesn't happen. (I've missed several important appointments due to slight oversights in this regard.)
At the beginning of the week, my planner looks like this:
By the end of the week, it looks like this:
At the beginning of the week, my planner looks like this:
By the end of the week, it looks like this:
As you can see, my planner is an evolving documentation of my life. As tasks become finished or moot, they get crossed off. Ongoing tasks (like reading) get checked off. Unfinished tasks get rewritten and moved. I think I get about 90% of what I write down finished, as far as assignments go. The percentage differs when it comes to "fun" stuff like hobbies, personal projects, and chores. But there it is--the secret to my success: My Planner.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
While Mom and Dad are Away...
...the little hooligans come out to play (or something like that). Jussst kidding! Things have been pretty chill on the home front, but we have been watching a crapload of movies! Here are the stats:
Movies intended: 10
Movies actually watched: 9
Total hours: 18 hours and 15 minutes
Favorite: She's the Man
Cost of the pizza: $0.00
Average wake up time: 6:39 am
Average bed time: 9:40pm
Naps: 0
Feeling: Tired. Responsible.
Surprised by: my ability to stay awake after feeding the dog.
Accomplishments: finally downloaded iOS7 for. Bernard (verdict: I like it!)
Reading: "In Camera" short story by Nawal El Saadawi
Highlights: Quiet house. Drinking tea in Mama's bed. Jake called me and when I answered the phone, his whole family shouted, "We love you Meesh!!!!. And hung up.
Quotes: "Why is this so awkward??" "Why are you making me watch this?" And "You were right, Misha!!" (Courtesy of Cameron)
Looking forward to: Sleeping in after Mom and Dad get home. (ie. not feeding Pat in the mornings)
This year marks the second year of what may very well become an ongoing tradition for me and Cam-- at least while I'm living at home: Parents' Anniversary Marathon!!! Last year, they went up to the Grand Canyon while me and Cameron stayed home and watched 9 movies by the same director (in chronological order by year) in two days. Crazy? Yes. But awesome. This year, we decided to do things a little differently. We picked a different theme for each day sand watched movies in that theme. For Example: Disney Animal movies might include Lion King, 101 Dalmations, Aristocats, etc. Note that this is a selective, not a comprehensive list- this is key. Since we had 3 days, we each picked a theme and agreed on the third theme.
Friday: Rom-Coms (50 first dates, She's the Man)
Saturday: Spider-Man (All 3 of the old ones with Toby Maguire, and the Amazing Spider-Man)
Sunday: "Mind-Blowers" (The Truman show, Total Recall, and Inception)
You can guess which one was my pick. Besides the thudding bass of our surround sound system, things have been pretty quiet around here! It's been nice having the house to ourselves, but I am looking forward to having Mom and Dad back again.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
The Strangeness of Beauty
"We love you meesh!" Out of the blue, Jake's family shouts into the telephone and hang up. Two tears escape my control and slide down my cheeks. I've been really emotional this morning, and it's not because I watched Rom-Coms with Cameron last night. No, since Mom and Dad are away, I've had a lot of time for reflection this morning. Cameron sleeps late, so the house has been quiet--perfect for some early morning quiet time, a cup of tea in Mama's bed, walking the dog around the block, and thinking about art.
Ah, art.
This morning I was reading in the Psalms, and appreciating the poetry of it all. It turned my thoughts toward acts of worship, especially those acts that please God that are distinctly not corporate worship (Jake and I were just talking about this yesterday!). Now that I am "in college" (rather, out of high school and in this new stage of life that I'm not quite sure how to label), I am reexamining and forging my own beliefs. I don't think my faith has ever been challenged like this before. Now, I must decide, do I really believe this? And if I do, what do I do about it? Some things I've taken for granted; others I have taken for my own. I asked myself, what are the essential truths I believe about God/faith? What is most important to me? What truths are the most integral to my being?
One word came to mind: Purpose. (For the moment, we'll assume that faith in Christ as the only way of salvation is a given.) Some of the most meaningful revelations about God in my life have been about my purpose and identity. As I developed a greater understanding of who I was and what I was meant to do, my love for Him blossomed. I don't need to prove to you the significance of art in my life, for it will reveal itself in due time. But I believe it is inescapably tied to my purpose and identity. I find myself always returning to this beautiful medium; and even when I can’t make time for it, artistry still pervades my thought-life. I consider myself an artist, because I find life beautiful and brimming with meaning.
The title of this post coincides with the title of a book I just finished for school: The Strangeness of Beauty by Lydia Minatoya. In the story, three generations of women, American and Japanese, must overcome their differences and their past in order to live at peace in pre-World War II Japan. Upon reaching the end, I couldn't discern what it was that moved me so much about this story. For the assignment, I have to write about myo (roughly translated "the strangeness of beauty") which the main character Etsuko uses to describe a variety of concepts, ideas, experiences, and relationships in her world.
Then I stumbled upon a study question on The Norton Publishing website:
The Strangeness of Beauty may be seen as two interwoven tales: one a story of character, family, and culture; the other a meditation on how art—literary, visual, culinary, of professionals and amateurs, of kite makers and kimono weavers and housewives—informs and enriches our lives. At what point do these two tales intertwine and how do they culminate in the concept of myo?
I saw the relational story of Etsuko, Chie, and Hanae. I saw the concept of myo within those relationships. But I didn't see how much the book was shaped by the role of art. I realize now, this is what moved me so deeply about the story. It is the intersection of art and relationships--everything I've striven to be.
More to come on this topic. <3 comment-3--="">
Ah, art.
This morning I was reading in the Psalms, and appreciating the poetry of it all. It turned my thoughts toward acts of worship, especially those acts that please God that are distinctly not corporate worship (Jake and I were just talking about this yesterday!). Now that I am "in college" (rather, out of high school and in this new stage of life that I'm not quite sure how to label), I am reexamining and forging my own beliefs. I don't think my faith has ever been challenged like this before. Now, I must decide, do I really believe this? And if I do, what do I do about it? Some things I've taken for granted; others I have taken for my own. I asked myself, what are the essential truths I believe about God/faith? What is most important to me? What truths are the most integral to my being?
One word came to mind: Purpose. (For the moment, we'll assume that faith in Christ as the only way of salvation is a given.) Some of the most meaningful revelations about God in my life have been about my purpose and identity. As I developed a greater understanding of who I was and what I was meant to do, my love for Him blossomed. I don't need to prove to you the significance of art in my life, for it will reveal itself in due time. But I believe it is inescapably tied to my purpose and identity. I find myself always returning to this beautiful medium; and even when I can’t make time for it, artistry still pervades my thought-life. I consider myself an artist, because I find life beautiful and brimming with meaning.
The title of this post coincides with the title of a book I just finished for school: The Strangeness of Beauty by Lydia Minatoya. In the story, three generations of women, American and Japanese, must overcome their differences and their past in order to live at peace in pre-World War II Japan. Upon reaching the end, I couldn't discern what it was that moved me so much about this story. For the assignment, I have to write about myo (roughly translated "the strangeness of beauty") which the main character Etsuko uses to describe a variety of concepts, ideas, experiences, and relationships in her world.
Then I stumbled upon a study question on The Norton Publishing website:
The Strangeness of Beauty may be seen as two interwoven tales: one a story of character, family, and culture; the other a meditation on how art—literary, visual, culinary, of professionals and amateurs, of kite makers and kimono weavers and housewives—informs and enriches our lives. At what point do these two tales intertwine and how do they culminate in the concept of myo?
I saw the relational story of Etsuko, Chie, and Hanae. I saw the concept of myo within those relationships. But I didn't see how much the book was shaped by the role of art. I realize now, this is what moved me so deeply about the story. It is the intersection of art and relationships--everything I've striven to be.
More to come on this topic. <3 comment-3--="">
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Jingling Johnny
This song has been playing on the radio a lot lately, and I love it! Not just because it's got an awesome, folk-sy, twang-y sound that resonates with the country girl inside me. And not because I've been learning how to play it on my mandolin. But because of one instrument they use call the "Jingling Johnny." Also known as the Pogo Cello, Boombass (Or Boombas, or Bumbas, or Boomba), Lagerphone, Stumpf Fiddle, Teufel Stick, Turkish Crescent, or Bladder Fiddle; the Jingling Johnny is usually a home-made instrument that varies based on the individual who makes it. Miscellaneous items (springs, tambourine-like devices, cookies sheets, bells, etc.) are attached to a wooden pole which is used as a percussion instrument. I wish I could provide a better picture of it; you'll just have to search for it in the video. Awesome song (and band!), fascinating instrument!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
A Taste of Fall
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| Not pictured: Miss Colleen, and three girls who couldn't make it. |
Unfortunately, Tucson does not experience some of the beautiful foliage that accompanies our notions of fall, but that is not to say that we don't have options! I spent this morning with these four lovely ladies up on Mt Lemmon enjoying the crisp air and warm drinks. We brought a little picnic spread of apple pie bites, cookies, muffins, and of course, hot chocolate.
These ladies are part of my core group that I help lead on Wednesday nights at CCC and we decided to do a little extra outing today.We had a great time chatting about this and that and hanging out. Miss Colleen brought a festive tablecloth to cover the table. While we were snacking, we saw a gigantic bird and a little squirrel came and said hello!
This is one of the views from our picnic spot. It's hard to see, but there are little houses down there. As we drove up, orange-yellow aspens greeted us as saguaros gave way to pine trees and rocky cliff-side. It was so beautiful! I am determined to go back so I can enjoy the color a little more before it goes brown.
Friday, October 18, 2013
The Numbers Are In!
hours studied (avg./day): 4.75
trips to Starbucks: 4
books finished this week: 4
brain power: 85% capacity
stress level: low
reading: The Strangeness of Beauty by Lydia Minatoya
mood: unmotivated
learning: to complain less
sad realizations: I haven't seen Jake's face in a long time!
looking forward to: hanging out with my freshmen girls on Saturday!
highlight of the week: Receiving postcards from Maike, Jake's public declaration of love and adoration for me on Facebook.
Weekly Update:
We thread our way through throngs of people. A running stitch of white tents and food trucks embroider the streets of downtown Tucson and strange smells mingle with one another in the air. Somewhere a mariachi symphony plays traditional Mexican music. The annual 3-day cultural festival Tucson Meet Yourself is truly a beautiful, overwhelming, sensory affair. This year was my first time going and I loved it! I invited a friend from college group and we had a blast dancing to strange tunes and trying strange foods. Bruce and Stacey introduced us to Iranian food and we tried O'odham fry-bread tacos--both of which were delicious. We visited all the main areas, but we barely scratched the surface of what they have to offer. Next year, I will go back with a little more time on my hands to try more food and actually enjoy some of the performances they have stationed around the festival.
Last year, over 100,000 people visited Tucson Meet Yourself. I'm so glad I got to be one of them this year! By now, you've probably noticed that I have a thing for numbers and stats, so here are more stats for last year's TMY. Warning: they're impressive.
Also this week, I have been working hard at my conference paper which I promised to work on during my first Inksanity video. And I decided to make a compromise with Kristin and Sabina. They have been urging me to do NaNoWriMo which I'd originally planned not to do considering my heavy course load this semester. But, I told them I would set a small word goal (probably a short story spanning 10,000 words or so) if I can finish my American Novel class and drop my Shakespeare class before November. For my AN class I only have a few assignments left, including one of the conference papers. I'm trying to drop Shakespeare from my degree template because I had a few unexpected credits transfer in (I did the work, but I didn't expect the transfer to go through or count toward my degree) and I might be able to drop a class. No offense to Mr. Shakespeare, but it would be a huge weight off my shoulders if I didn't have to pick up another class between now and January. Four classes is enough. I know my mood says "unmotivated," but I did some figuring and once again, the end of my degree is tangible. I just need to get through these next few months.
trips to Starbucks: 4
books finished this week: 4
brain power: 85% capacity
stress level: low
reading: The Strangeness of Beauty by Lydia Minatoya
mood: unmotivated
learning: to complain less
sad realizations: I haven't seen Jake's face in a long time!
looking forward to: hanging out with my freshmen girls on Saturday!
highlight of the week: Receiving postcards from Maike, Jake's public declaration of love and adoration for me on Facebook.
Weekly Update:
We thread our way through throngs of people. A running stitch of white tents and food trucks embroider the streets of downtown Tucson and strange smells mingle with one another in the air. Somewhere a mariachi symphony plays traditional Mexican music. The annual 3-day cultural festival Tucson Meet Yourself is truly a beautiful, overwhelming, sensory affair. This year was my first time going and I loved it! I invited a friend from college group and we had a blast dancing to strange tunes and trying strange foods. Bruce and Stacey introduced us to Iranian food and we tried O'odham fry-bread tacos--both of which were delicious. We visited all the main areas, but we barely scratched the surface of what they have to offer. Next year, I will go back with a little more time on my hands to try more food and actually enjoy some of the performances they have stationed around the festival.
Last year, over 100,000 people visited Tucson Meet Yourself. I'm so glad I got to be one of them this year! By now, you've probably noticed that I have a thing for numbers and stats, so here are more stats for last year's TMY. Warning: they're impressive.
Also this week, I have been working hard at my conference paper which I promised to work on during my first Inksanity video. And I decided to make a compromise with Kristin and Sabina. They have been urging me to do NaNoWriMo which I'd originally planned not to do considering my heavy course load this semester. But, I told them I would set a small word goal (probably a short story spanning 10,000 words or so) if I can finish my American Novel class and drop my Shakespeare class before November. For my AN class I only have a few assignments left, including one of the conference papers. I'm trying to drop Shakespeare from my degree template because I had a few unexpected credits transfer in (I did the work, but I didn't expect the transfer to go through or count toward my degree) and I might be able to drop a class. No offense to Mr. Shakespeare, but it would be a huge weight off my shoulders if I didn't have to pick up another class between now and January. Four classes is enough. I know my mood says "unmotivated," but I did some figuring and once again, the end of my degree is tangible. I just need to get through these next few months.
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