Me and Laura went to Long Beach for the Pride there, was very fun, took loads of pictures; hopefully I can get with Laura to e-mail them to meself so I can post some cuteness! ^_^

We hung out at her bandmate's house--it was dykealicious! ^_^ Soooo many lesbians, and so crazy and witty, I felt very much at home. But then I started coming down with this runny nose and fell asleep on the leather couch--I hope I'm not coming down with anything... But it was def, def, really good to get out to somewhere other than Whittier down here before I left, and it was pretty amazing...

I'm studying for my finals tomorrow (Philosophy and English), doing readings and stuff. I've done fairly well in these classes, so I'm feeling pretty confident about it. Excited about leaving in (squee!) twenty hours. Never ridden on the train before; I can't stop talking about being excited to go home and really Midtown it up.

I might not get to post again before I leave, so leave some love (aka comments)!

I havne't been updating about the shit that has been going down--must get better at this...

Tuesday morning I had my French final. It went alright--could've gone better, could've gone worse. No matter what, I'm getting at least a B, hopefully an A- if the final didn't go as poorly as my cynical side always imagines.

Tuesday night I went to see the round of final performances by the Scene & Monologue class in the studio theater. They did a series of Shakespeare soliloquies (incorporating constant movement and voice), and then scenes from modern plays. Archie--the Indian girl with the chocolate skin who dates my former roomate, Brendan (the Irish one)--did a scene with another girl from "Parallel Lives" which was absolutely hilarious, done in Valley-girl style. The last scene was from a play called "Rabbit Hole" and was pretty good. Both made me want to go out and find the plays (wasn't "Parallel Lives" made into a movie? It sounds familiar...)

Unfortunately, about halfway through the performance, my left lense popped out and clattered under the bleachers. I had to crawl under there afterwards, and once I had located it, climbed up through the second row, emerging like some kind of worm. It was pretty hilarious--but not before I could retrieve it. I found out that one lense still aids the other eye, but it's not particularly comfortable. I need, in addition to a proper pair of shoes, to get some new glasses. Hopefully both can be purple.

Afterwards, I went to Johnson House, as the Creative Writing class was having a similar final-themed reading. The editor of an anthology, "A Stranger Among Us" was there, and the teacher, Sharon May (who was replacing Barnstone this year--he was on sabbatical), read her story that was in there, about a Cambodian ex-patriate who works as a translator with the Australian Immigration Authority on the Thai border. Afterwards, they talked about both sides of trying to get published, which was very interesting for me, obviously, as I plan to have a career on at least one of those sides (writer and/or editor).

And last night I went to the final round of performances for the Performing Non-Fiction class. This is the class where each person chooses a (semi-)historical figure to research and write a one-person, fifteen minute play about it. (This was the first time they offered it, so hopefully I can take it my junior year and do Edna St. Vincent Millay, and get to wear a flapper dress and a red bob, and throw letters about, giggling high-pitchedly). It was all rather meta, as they were moving around the few props making up the set right in front of us, with barely dimmed lights, but they were all pretty good, and some of them were *really* good. Here's a break-down:

I mostly came for Chris's one anyway (but I really liked Tim's too). Maybe I should've stayed to congratulate Tim, but I couldn't stop staring at Chris (he changed out of his paint-covered clothes right there, not helping matters), but I had to run out...

I want to overcome this loneliness, and I think I just need to hang out with friend more... So, this summer, I have many fun things planned, and just generally try and be productive. Try and not give this thing--this thirst for melodrama which is always boiling under the surface, waiting to explode like this--too many chances to manifest... Nobody likes a drama queen!

I think it's may be that I want attention--but in a sense, I don't want people to focus on me at these times. Or I do. I'm not looking for pity--or do I want to shock? I think I just want to totally break down so I can just let out all this anger and sorrow that's been festering inside of me for so long... Oh, how emo!

Well, I'm gonna go now and hope that I haven't scared y'all too greatly. Next post will no doubt be concerned with the practicalities of finals and going back home. Cheers.

Can I just say how relieved I am to have finally gotten this out? I think I was just stressing out too much about it being perfect, because I know for a fact no one has ever written an academic essay on Garth Nix, at least, not to this extent. I'm very proud, no matter how rough it is, and hope to continue to write about his work. (That is, it's good for an English class, but I want to become an actual literary scholar here... I'm just not there yet...:-/)

***

"...what is a recurring theme in his [Garth Nix's] work—namely, the constant tension between naïveté and experiential knowledge, as seen through the psychological development of his characters, as they are forced to sacrifice their personal desires for the overall good of the society."

If you've read Sabriel or its sequels, Lirael and Abhorsen, you know exactly what I'm talking about... (And it's forming in the Keys to the Kingdom...)

Unfortunately, this may not be relevant to the argument of my current paper, but it's good to save for whenever I do the bigger one on Sabriel...

A few days back, I was having a total panic-attack about being able to do all the things I'm signing myself up for next year. And now it looks like I may be adding yet another (WAY bigger) obligation, and yet, it's not stressing me. Today, I handled my business much more productively, so I'm feeling positive about it.

That is, registered this morning. By doing my homework very carefully I was able to have no trouble getting into the classes I was aiming at: English 220 (survey course), French 220 (Intermediate), Philosophy 386 (Feminist Philosophy), English 310 (Linguistics), INTD 011 (class for being on QC), and INTD 033 (Teaching Composition).

I'll be part of the QC staff next year, so I figured that would be a good one credit class to take. (In case you haven't figured it out yet, that's the Quaker Campus, student newspaper). The Teaching Composition one has a caveat or three. According to my advisor, it is indeed the class for Peer Mentors, for the Freshmen Writing Composition classes. So I need to talk to Charlie Eastman, because I'm not sure why it would let me sign up for that... but it is right up my alley, so I would be amazingly pleased if I *could* be a Peer Mentor/Tutor/whatever they're calling it this year. That was one of the few saving graces of *my* first semester.

Speaking of which, my second opinion piece for the QC (which I just turned in today) is all about that. I'll be sure to post--and this time, I know how to make all the links work, swearsit! ^_^

Okay, go start reading

jeremytblack

I'm gay.

I'm sure I'm the absolute last person on the planet to realize this, and maybe I'm being overly influenced by my new Lesbian hubbie, but it just seems like more fun than confusion. Also, it'll be funny to see my mother's reaction. Like whenever I say lesbian, and she gets all sniffly: "Why do you have to say things like that?" mopily, like a dog. She can be unintentionally funny like that sometimes.

Oh, I know, that's horrible! But, anywho, when I called my mom (finally!) I just had the overwhelming urge to be funny and try and cheer her up. It's sad to think she's still in the situation I've barely escaped. Oh, and apparently my sister is in jail... for her baby-daddy "beating on her". o.0 A very wtf moment until she gets back to me to clarify...

Oh, and as to the gayness? I'll try it out. I mean, I'm so frickin' flaming it's not even funny. Okay, it is; and fun. Maybe I am just a girl on the inside, but I guess I'm tired of being pissed when people assume it anyway, so why not play into their expectations and have a little fun?

And anyway, I'm still gonna work on myself personally before jumping into anything with anybody. And it's not like I have guys beating on my door or anything. Maybe this summer me and my sister can go check out the gay scene she's always hanging out in anyway... meanwhile, me and my LB can go to West Hollywood...

***

And now school is officially open again. It's weird to be out of Wanberg... this past week has felt like a whole separate year; I feel like I might have changed a little. (Well, *looks above*, OBVIOUSLY).

So, now, I need to focus on doing really well this last half of the semester and kicking ass and taking names (hopefully ones that start with the same letter as mine. ;))

Because I'm beginning to get a bad attitude about some people again... but hey! That first part of the post made me so happy, I just wanna be happy for as long as possible! ^_^

***

Oh, and now that I've spent the last week stuffing my head full of a semester's worth of Italiano, I need to brush up on my fracais before my first class with Chirol! Wish me luck! *dashes off*

Give me my sweater-vest,
put on my pocket-protector;
I have academic longings in me:
now no more the balm of Procrastinata's
solumny shall stem these fingers!

***

I have found my match in Geiger, who has read everything under the sun, I swear. I have an intense lust to just *read*, like, EVERYTHING. But, of course, I don't really have time to totally indulge, and I need to work on my work ethic anyway. So these things come gradually... (But do I get points for the Shakespeare? Even I have to admit he has his moments, and that is one of my favorites...)

Anywho, I'm trying to come up with the thesis for my Philosophy paper, and considering the subject for my longer paper in English. But I'll post about that later; this was mostly an excuse and explanation for the above. Don't say I never gave ya nothin'. ;P

**technically my Intro to Lit class is called "Why Read?"

Hey, if you can, and wish to hear both my beautiful voice and taste in music, listen to the Mann Show tomorrow (Wednesday.) at 7p.m. (link to listen is here: http://www.live365.com/stations/kpoet?site=pro)

Directly after that, at 8, I have to get to "The Crucible", in which my lesbian lover, Branden, is playing Abigail. So my day tomorrah is gonna be packed. Then Midterm on Thursday in AICH, followed by a test in French right after that--yikes!

Meanwhile, due to the fact that we're getting ever deeper into grammar in French, I'm pulling out my old Italian notes and grammar book, because I feel like it's fallen to the wayside. So, this summer, I *need* to take an Italian class... and voice lessons. *crosses fingers* Oh, yeah, and I'll need a job too--however will I find that? I guess I'll just temp, m'kay? That's what I suggested 

hikari_leo

Haven't really felt like posting much lately, for a variety of reasons:

Firstly, not gettin' a lot of comments, and anyway, my brain seems kinda dead. Which is to say, I'm actually doing homework lately. As in, right now I am attempting to take French notes.

Also, getting other writing done. One thing I'll prolly never show, and something I'm not ready to show. Both are exciting, the latter being another piece that will lead be towards "Images", which gives me teh happy. The other, a bit of fiction (ten pages), which makes me at least as happy, though different. Again, not gonna show that piece, but everytime I actually can write a good bit of prose, I feel like I might actually be able to write something cogent in that medium, someday...

Meanwhile, I'm also reading. Read Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find". Loved it, of course. Want to read more of her, now. Also, got more on "Dust" last night... they're in the bat cave now, and have met Teh Wilde Guano Savage. Exciting, no?

Oh, must write essay (short) for English tonight, comparing Schlink's "The Reader", Oedipus the King, and Alice Waker's story, "Everyday Use".

Also attempting to read Willa Cather's "O Pioneers!" for AICH. I'll let you know how that goes.

And finally getting around to going through my beloved copy of Leopardi translations.

These are the updates, as of this afternoon. What all else are you guys reading?

To answer your question

jeremytblack

THEN we'll see if we get approved by the Office of Student Activities and L'Institution en general. That *should* happen though, and there's definitely a wide audience for this, as a lot of people I'm talked to are interested. It's just a matter of calibrating people's crazy schedules... in other words, them remembering when the meeting is! XP

***

All that said, all y'all that have followed me since 2005 (and there's a few of you left, *eyes 

copperwise

Though I must admit, it was exciting to get to bring up the phrase "feminism is the radical notion that women are people" in conversation with real-life people. Not that I don't love you guys, but I wanna see what RL feminism is like, at least as it exists here. That's why I was so disappointed when I came here in September and I couldn't find them! That's why I'm starting the club.

That, and my floormates are scared of me apparently. *I'm* the resident gay, as it were. Fact is, I'm not even sure I'm gay, and *they're* the ones playing Shower Inspector and drawing huge, veiny masterpieces over everything. :P

The testosterone! I'm drowing in it! Oh noes! *waves arms dramatically*

Has anyone read Mill's "Utilitarianism". Only, I'm looking for someone to discuss it with.

Today's class made me really frustrated, I am seriously going crazy over it. Switzer divides us up in goups, gives us each a question, and we're supposed to prepare for discussion on Friday. Only, she ends up spending most of the class trying to explain Mill's most basic argument to them, 'cause almost NO ONE actually *did* the reading.

She's a real Saint, though. I guess she assumes this is very basic, so she's trying to make sure everyone gets it. I just think, if you can't read philosophical texts, why even take teh fucking class?

Okay, I'm just dying to actually discuss some deep issues here, and I need to find someone to do it with.