Aggieland; Take 2!

Well, I'm back in good ol' Aggieland! In a few days I'll be starting my second semester here! I'm pretty darn excited about it, too. For one, the first semester is over; I have a better idea of what to expect. Also, I'm really excited about the classes I'm taking: Creative Nonfiction, taught by the same professor I had for my Writer's Workshop--In other words, WOO-HOO! The American Renaissance, where I'll be studying several of the same authors I studied in 19th Century American Novel. I'll be working with Moby Dick again, like last semester, for both Creative Nonfiction AND American Renaissance. I figure between all of the classes, I'll have actually read the whole thing by the end of this semester. Then I have Contemporary Moral Issues, taught by the same professor that I took Intro to Logic with. Plus two Sociology classes, both of which sound pretty interesting to me. First there's Criminology, then Theories of Social Equality. Or Inequality. I can't remember if that's the exact course title or not. Either way, its a trilogy of awesome because it counts for a core credit, it goes towards my Sociology minor, AND it's upper level so it counts in my residency. Ta-da! What did I tell you? Trilogy of awesome.

But, while I'm excited about the classes, I'm not so excited that break has basically come to a close. It seems like only yesterday I was complaining about last semester and wishing it would just END already! I sincerely hope that this semester isn't as run-me-over-with-a-tractor as last semester was. I don't know if I'm mentally (or physically) prepared for another bombardment like last semester.

And on top of that, I've yet to totally unpack after returning from home. I took too much stuff home, brought too much stuff back, and haven't quite gotten around to buckling down and getting everything sorted. A lot of it has been done, but...a lot of it hasn't, too. At present, my goal is to have my room spick, span, tidy, and clean by the time school starts. I feel that it'll help me set a standard for organization for the duration of the coming semester. I hope.

Also, on the list of negative, I really miss my dog. I had originally intended to bring him with me. And I'm talking, back when I was first moving in. But so far it just hasn't worked out. There have been a number of reasons. First and foremost being that last semester I just didn't have the time. I couldn't bring myself to drag him up here with me and then not at least make up the loss of a yard to run in by playing with him, taking him for walks, et cetera. And then on top of that, my roommate has a dog, and if you're me, having two dogs (only one of which is your own), is just too much to handle. So what could I do? But I really miss him. Don't laugh. I cry at night because I wish he were here. Basically it just all around sucks. Because now, even if I DO have time in my schedule, I still have the conundrum of bring him = dealing with two dogs. I just don't...enjoy that.

Alas...I don't know what to do. I'm stressed, I miss my dog, and I'm at a loss as to what to do. (Or, if you're like me, and you took Greek, and you can't get some of it out of your head...You're at a loss as to what it is necessary to do.)

But I had intended on this post being a more optimistic one, so I'll wrap up now. And end by mentioning, again, that I really do have high hopes for the coming semester! If all goes as planned, only one more year after this semester. :-D

Awesomely Ordinary

I'm so excited to let you guys know about this new blog that I've been invited to contribute to! It's called Mary Malcolm's Awesomely Ordinary Blog, and it definitely is awesome. I just posted my first entry, so you should all go check it out. And comment. And enjoy the awesomeness that is this awesomely ordinary blog.

One of the things that I love about this blog is the title. Awesomely Ordinary. I've been thinking and I've decided that awesomely ordinary really is a great thing to be. Because being ordinary doesn't mean you can't be just as awesome as anyone else. It's all about personality. And I promise you'll find plenty of personality from the contributors at Mary's blog.

That being said, I'll wrap this post up. Keep it short and sweet, so you have no excuse not to meander over to Mary Malcolm's Awesomely Ordinary Blog and browse the entries.

Enjoy! And here's to being awesomely ordinary!

Can You Hear Me, 2010?

Well that's it, the end of 2009. It is now officially 2010. A new year. Heck, a new decade. I can't believe that 2009 has already come and gone. It's been a busy year, and letting it go is bittersweet. It's hard to say goodbye to the last year that Super Granny saw. Now is the start of a year that will never know her or how special she was. In a way, watching the ball drop was like counting down to reality—down to the second until I really have to come to terms. In 2010 I will have no new encounters with her, no new conversations, no new words of sage advice. Strange. Life is fleeting. But still, I have high hopes for you, 2010. So don't let me down, alright?

Here's the part where I tell you what I want to accomplish this year, the part where you listen, 2010, and we shake hands and agree to work together to do whatever it takes to help me realize said goals, resolutions, whatever. So listen up.

First. I want to finish my novel. I want a complete manuscript ready to send out to agents or publishers or whoever needs it.

I want to lose weight. I say that every year, but I'm not messin' with you this time, 2010, got it?By the time I graduate from A&M, I don't want to have 'lose weight' on my list of resolutions for the next New Year. Let's see what we can do about that, huh?

I want good grades. I'm determined to graduate with at least a 3.5 And I want to get my pesky foreign language requirements out of the way so I can focus on the classes that are actually important to the things I want to do in my life. Like writing, literature, etc. And I suppose it'd be nice to really learn the language while I'm getting the classes out of the way, but... See here, 2010, if we can just get me passing grades I can compromise on this resolution, how about it?

I'd also like to get my phys. ed. credits out of the way this year, so I don't have to worry about that my final year.

I want to stay on track for a Spring '11 graduation.

I want to read Moby Dick. All of it, beginning, end, AND middle. And I want to read more. I want to devour classic literature and grow in my understanding of it.

I want to write more. As in more often, more content, more quality.

See, there, that's not so bad, right? Definitely all doable, wouldn't you say? Me and you, 2010, we could be great together. There is no limit to what we can accomplish.

And I reserve the right to add more resolutions as I see fit, 2010. Are we clear?

Good.