I wonder...

what the Drosselmeyer house was like the rest of the year? In every production of The Nutcracker I've ever seen, I cannot picture it in any thing other than a perpetual state of "Christmasness."

http://www.gofundme.com/48ovzo

The Hour Still Starts With 3, Yet the Sun Doth Kiss the Horizon

This is verily screwing with my internal clock...and I think I got a sunburn from sitting in the same spot. That's one reason to be happy the sun's gone down.

http://www.gofundme.com/48ovzo

Fear and (self) loathing in Las Cruces...

It's been...bumpy.

A mass of text hath passed mine eyes and to much dismay, little if any has stuck.

I was called in to my adviser after my professor emailed her. I severely underperformed on a paper proposal, handing in five pages of outline and bibliography, when, as it turns out, he wanted a short version of the actual paper. It was (ludicrously) graded, and I was given a provisional "D". He's expecting a rewrite, well, the TA is expecting a rewrite.

After another will-call mishap, and needing time to focus on my two papers, I'm taking a couple weeks off from work. At a point, it's just too much and these are too important, I think I had forgotten that a little bit. No matter what the denoument of the semester is, whether I get the money to stay, have to return to Tampa because I don't, or take of...I need to have a decent GPA coming out of this semester not matter what happens.

http://www.gofundme.com/48ovzo

Waiting...waiting...waiting...and with a surprising lack of change...more waiting...

So we got our Western Theatre papers back this morning...
Finally some hint at academic validation, my first real paper grade at Columbia...

W.B. handed it to me...lot's of comments...oo... Why did I leave that in?  I don't remember leaving that in. Not anachronistic, achronistic... ACHRONISTIC! damn auto correct. *le sigh* "Good Connection, but... *le sigh some more*  The TA is commenting a lot, W.B. isn't...why isn't he commenting? I...ugh...how is a Marx reference not obvious enough? How is the Locke reference not obvious enough? Everybody knows those theories. "Don't assume your reader knows anything."  But assume we do, eh? Ha. That wasn't that funny. Well...nah not that funny. Your citations are funny. Funny bad, not funny haha. Are citations ever funny haha?  Get to last page.

No grade.

Flip over. No grade. Class and Prof. long gone...
What's going on?
Where's my grade?

I...

Uh....what?


Dear God...
I was really tired. It was finished during an all-nighter, and every other sundry excuse ever used, by everyone, ever.

Was it that horrible? No, no-no. I mean he's not above just putting an F on a paper, right? Christ. Does he want me to rewrite? I'd love a rewrite.

*le sigh*

Emailed prof + TA. Waiting...patiently.

Oh, hey...look at that. This is my 100th post.

Screen shot of the day: Trello

So, I was introduced to the very useful (and very free) Trello online listing program, by my new boss Rudy, who uses it to organize the tasks for the office. I signed up with my own account and it has been great. Y'all know of my obsequious obsession with being able to visualize what needs to be done. This program is an amazing organizational tool for anyone with multiple projects with many steps and parts to get through.  I highly recommend it!

Click to enlarge...the amazingness.

So yeah, https://trello.com . It's free to sign up. Enjoy.

PS. I think I will  *UPDATE* did start (yet another) Tumblr blog about the where to get the best food for under $5 in Morningside....as a public service.

It's called:

Clicky Clicky...

The Schedule: Redux/Recoil

Ok...NO SERIOUSLY...the schedule is final.

Greek is out.
Arabia imagined is in.

Here. Enjoy an apropos Degrassi gif.

 

Anyone selling the Rosetta Stone Spanish 1-2? Anyone?

Ermergherd Blergh!

Coming to terms with going back to work.
I'm having a bit of a hard time being OK with the fact that, after 6 years of sleep deprivation, ungodly commutes, and the hardest academic challenges I've faced in my life up to this point, I'm not moving on right now. I'm stuck, in fact, to maximize my savings during my deferment, I'm most likely headed back to the same temp jobs I had before I decided to go to college. That my friends is depressing, especially when status updates and tweets tell me how excited everyone is to be moving on. I mean to say I don't begrudge anyone that, goodness no, but I feel like I'm the little kid next door in one of those after school specials, somberly looking on as my best friend drives away to their new home.

Actually, that is sort of literally what is happening in at least one respect.  I am losing probably my closest friend. In a little more than a week and I'm doing what I always do when I'm about to lose someone important. The conversations become shorter, fluffier...the friendship, through distancing, wanes and when she leaves its not all that hard. I have a good idea  she'll read this, but I don't think she's ever seen me in my systematic withdrawal.  Fuck. This stops now. I'm gonna see if she wants to do Korean one last time before she leaves.  Damn I will miss her.

I have my list (which I've ignored since graduation, to be honest) and I'm trying to stay focused on getting things done on that list, and possibly expanding it. A huge miss-communication about deposits on the part of the apartments we were supposed to be moving into, has left my roommate and I shafted on $125 and staying with family for the next month.  The bright side to this is that I think it will give me time to get some more work done on the memoir/biography I've been working on with my grandmother.  There's also been talk of traveling with her up to PA to see my brother this month. That's would be an immensely welcome change of scenery, to be honest.

• Volunteering for the Obama Campaign/Elections
• Get a job/Save money
• Develop lifestyle change that involves regular workouts
• Finish getting source material (interview/documentation), start first draft of Sands...
• Do some acting work
• Read a few good books and document them starting with:
   and 

Having a plan...or at least a general idea.
About the immediate future. I'm really not sure what to do, no option is glaringly better than the others. 
Things to keep in mind:

• The Beineke Scholarship
• Critical Language Scholarship
• Christianson Work Abroad Grant 
• Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals
• DAAD - Undergrad Scholarship
• National Geographic Glimpse Correspondents Program 

Grades Coming In...

A - ☑ - Honors Western World: Modern Europe (Social Sciences Req. - 3 Hours)

Click to Read
Honors Early Modern European History Final

B - ☑- Honors Public Speaking (Communications Req. - 4 Hours)

B - ☑- Honors Selected Topics in History: Irish History and Revoloutions (Elective - 3 Hours, fulfills Honors Class req.)

A - ☑- Stagecraft (Dramatic Arts Elective - 3 Hours)

B - ☑- Voice and Movement Techniques (Dramatic Arts Elective - 3 Hours)

Also I got my credit transfer report from Columbia, they are transferring 34 credits total not including the 15 I'm taking now. :)  Starting to feel a lot better.

Graduation!

Ken Jennings: "Go get em."

So I'm doing the College Test for Jeopardy tonight, so as a one off I tweeted Ken Jennings for some encouragement:

t-2 weeks and counting...

1. 4/4/12 - Stagecraft Quiz 4
   Covers: Lighting design paper work, Scene shop hand tools, Scene shop hand and portable power, tools, Scene shop stationary power tools, Scenic materials, Fasteners and adhesives
   Grade: A
2. 4/5/12 - Public Speaking Major Speech 2
   Persuasive speech
   6 min; Speech portfolio: Purpose/thesis development, audience Connections, Works cited, Formal outline, Note cards
   Grade: A
   
3. 4/9/12 - Connections Essay 1
   A)Choose a decade in American history and view any film, which, in your view, epitomizes or represents that decade.  In essay form, answer some or all of the following questions. How does this film define the decade? (Consider all aspects of “mise-en-scene” if you wish.)  OR B)View a film that addresses a historical event in America. Briefly research that event and compare and contrast the historical facts with the film’s interpretation. 
   2-3 pages, 12pt double-spaced
   Grade: 98/100
4. 4/9/12  - Connections Essay 2
   Write a synopsis (1-2 pages max) of an idea for a film that addresses a cultural or historical issue. In this paper, identify (a) the theme, (b) major characters, (c) setting, and (d) plot including the background, rising action, climax, falling action/denouement. Balance telling your story succinctly with including enough detail for me to understand your concept.
   Grade: 38/40
5. 4/9/12 - Connections Essay 2
   Self-reflection - Think about all your general education courses. Discuss how one in particular has prepared you for subsequent academic courses and/or for your future career. Identify specific knowledge, skills, and abilities you gained, which will insure your future success.
   1-2 pages max, 12pt , double-spaced
   Grade: 48/50
6. Connections Discussion Participation
   Grade: 10/10 
7. 4/10/12 - Irish History Paper 2
   Custom topic: Comparing and Contrasting the Famine Era Irish Traveling Accounts of Alexis de Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont from Peter Gray's The Irish Famine
   5-7 pages (10 max, excluding works cited), 12pt, double-spaced
   Grade: B+
   
   
   
8. RTBP Marketing Blitz
   Laser cartridge busted...printing delayed!
9. 4/16/12 - Voice/Movement Play Review
   Two pages, double spaced
   
10. 4/17/12 - Reasons to be Pretty
    5-8 Rehearsal Assistance?
11. 4/18/12 - Reasons to be Pretty
    5-8 Rehearsal Assistance?
12. 4/19 - Public Speaking Group Symposium Presentation
    9 min part in 45 min speech
    supposedly conclusion...more to come
13. 4/19/12 - Reasons to be Pretty
    5-8 Rehearsal Assistance
14. 4/20/12 - District Student Activities Funding Meeting
    9AM, Ybor, District wants to cut all Extracurricular Performing/Visual Arts funding from Ybor Campus
15. 4/21/12 - RTBP Load-in
    
    
16. 4/22/12 - RTBP Lighting/Focusing
    Ahead of schedule!
17. 4/24/12 - RTBP Tech Rehearsal
    *Everything running very smoothly...just a couple of rough spots in memorization, but sound and staging running very well!*
18. 4/25/12  RTBP Tech Rehearsal
19. 4/25/12 - Jeopardy College Championship Online Test
    9PM EST
    
20. 4/26/12 - Irish History Final
    Take home final due
    3, 2-page responses to given topics, 12pt double-spaced
21. 4/26/12 - RTBP Final Dress Rehearsal
22. 4/27/12 - RTBP  Performance
    6:30 Crew Call
    
23. 4/28/12 - RTBP  Performance
    6:30 Crew Call
    
    
24. 4/29/12 - RTBP Performance/Strike
    1:30 Crew Call 
25. 4/30/12 - Stagecraft Quiz 5
    Covers: Curtains and stage drapes, two-dimensional scenery, flat construction, Hardware/joints/knots, Dimensional scenery: platforms and wagons, Scenery: Windows and doors, Scenery: Stairs
26. 4/30/12 - Stagecraft Paper
    1 - 2 page / 500 word (typed) paper discussing the Lighting and Scenic design for Betty's Summer Vacation.
27. 4/30/12  - Mod European History Final
    Take home essay based on info Covering Chaps 19:Empire Modernity and the Road to War-24:The New Globalism
    Assigned or due on the 30th?
28. 5/4/12 - Commencement
    2PM, 1:00 check-in
    
    
29. 5/7/12 - Stagecraft Final
    Semester Cumulative
30.  5/7/12 - Voice and Movement Final
    Memorized Performance final - "Comings and Goings" Excerpts
31. 5/8/12 - Honors EOY Social!
    Western Mystery Dinner Theater

My stats...

I love reading these.  Lol.  Especially, the audience tab.
So, I thought I'd take time to say "Hi!" to everyone.

Russia is my second biggest readership: Привет мой 170 русских читателей! Спасибо!
Third is Germany: Hallo, meine deutschen Leser! Vielen Dank!
Iran is 4th. Y'all gonna make me work for this. *google search*: سلام به خوانندگان ایرانی  ! تشکر از شما!
#5 is a tie between Spain and the Ukraine! Hola a mis lectores en España! ¡Gracias! / Привіт мій Іспанії читачі! Спасибо!
#6 is The Philippines: Kumusta sa aking mga na filipino mga mambabasa! Salamat sa iyo!
#7 is the UK!  What up mates! Thank you!
#8 Argentina: Hola a mis lectores argentinos! ¡Gracias!
#9 The Netherlands!: Hallo aan mijn Nederlandse lezers! Dank je wel!

...and that's my top 10 readerships!  Thanks for making cctoivyleague an international blog!