So... I haven't posted in a long time. Er... yeah.

Instead of explaining or doing anything useful, I'm going to do a meme! *ding*

( It never took much convincing to make me believe in you. )

I don't go back to school until the 20th.

I am bored out of my mind.

Is anyone thinking of going to a Harry Potter convention in 2010? I went to Lumos in 2006, and it was one of the most fun weekends I've ever had. I'd love to go to another convention, and I'm sure the Lumos/Prophecy/Portus people have one planned, but I'd hate to go alone. Maybe I can convince one of my friends to come with me...

In any case, any information would be much appreciated! After a quick google search, I saw that Infinitus 2010 is being scheduled for Orlando so that there could be a theme park day, which would be cool. But I'm not sure I can convince any friends to go across the country with me. Mehhh. I wish I had gotten my act together for Azkatraz, since it's so close. I probably could have driven if I were really determined. /Ramble

In any case, if you have any info on upcoming conventions, I'd love you forever!

I took one medium length, seems a bit in depth sorting quiz today. Changed like one or two answers each time, just for fun.

First time, got Gryffindor.

Second time, got Ravenclaw.

Third time, got Hufflepuff.

I took this super long one (http://www.personalitylab.org/tests/ccq_hogwarts.htm) if you're interested. Last time I took it, I got Gryffindor, with Hufflepuff at a close second, then Ravenclaw, and last Slytherin.

This time, I got Ravenclaw by a LANDSLIDE, Gryffindor like ten points later, Hufflepuff not far behind that, and Slytherin bringing up the rear.





...


Basically, the only thing I've determined is that I am in absolutely no way a Slytherin.

XD

I mean--I know it doesn't really matter, but it's sort of surprising, when I've been considering myself a Gryffindor for years. I think I probably will always consider myself a Gryffindor, though, since I value bravery over intellect. I just think I get to use my intelligence more than my courage, because I'm not often put in perilous situations.

In any case, that was interesting. But hey, I guess it's good that I seemed to have smartened up after a year of college! =D

Dear people upstairs,

Either fix your bed, or do it on the floor. This is the third time in two days.

Love,
Abby

Thanks to everyone for your responses to my last post! They were so interesting! I'll probably go back and respond more fully to them, once I'm back at school. I certainly really enjoyed learning more about everyone and seeing everyone's ideas.

( iTunes meme )

Wow that meme was entirely uninteresting. xD

Week two without picking my nails! All goes well so far. I removed the nail polish because it was getting chipped and bothering me. I'll probably redo it tomorrow or something. I can now really tell a difference in the length of my nails. They're still short for a normal person, but I think they're longer than they've ever been in my life. It feels sort of funny when I type.

Speaking of typing, I have a giant ass paper due tomorrow that I haven't started writing yet. Well, that's sort of misleading, because I've completed a very detailed (five page long) outline. So that should probably help me a bit. I plan on heading to the bookstore after breakfast to work on it.

Spring break is just around the corner! This week is reading week, which means we technically have no classes and spend the entire week studying. It's not entirely true, since I still have my theatre class and a day of Italian, but that's okay. And next week is finals and then kablam! Spring break!

I'm a bit bummed because it's only a week long, but whatever. I'm hoping to catch up with all of my friends from home.

Woot woot.

I don't have much of a substantial update to make. I just really wanted to post to show off my new avatar. The Tempest <3

It's sort of ridiculous how obsessed I am with The Tempest. I'm writing a paper that's (at least partially) about it. This is the third paper I've written on it. I've performed monologues various times for competitions, and I was in the show once.

I swear I'm going to direct this show. And I'm going to direct it with a fairly large budget too, because the ideas I have are too big not to have enough money for. I've been slowly recording down little ideas I've had for months. I think if I had the chance (and the money) to get my hands on it, it would actually be quite a cool production.

In any case, that's about it. I have like five thousand papers and finals coming up, which is why I've sort of been disappearing off the face of the earth. Mission Nail Biting is going pretty well. I haven't picked, but they don't look much prettier. I suppose I'll just have to be patient.

G'night, flist!

Thank you all for your amazing advice last week! It's officially been a week since I've picked at my nails! They don't look much different, but they feel better. I don't have the problem of biting them too short and then having them ache for hours after.

I've been using a lot of different methods. First of all, I've just been paying more attention to my hands and raising my awareness. I really never would notice that I was doing it until after I started, and then it was hard to stop because the nail was uneven. Just by paying more attention, it stopped a lot of the problem. Sometimes I have to keep my hands busy by underlining stuff if I was reading for class, or playing with the top of a pen, but it works. Sometimes I just have to sit on my hands to stop myself.

My friend painted my nails yesterday because I told her about my attempt to stop. She was really nice about it. She said that right when this stops wearing away, we'll paint them again. The polish really helps. First of all, I don't want to ruin the fun color; and second of all, I won't bite (which I don't do often, but still) because it's gross. Yay! They're purple and sparkly because I just have THAT much school spirit... and I just love purple! Haha. I figure since I have nowhere nice to be, I'll just pick a fun color. =D

( Pictures of goofy nail polish )

I've been picking my fingernails since before I can remember. It's not quite biting, but picking. I honestly don't know why I started, but it's become such an annoying habit in my life. My nails are always ugly and my fingers always hurt because I picked them too short. The problem is that after however many years of doing it, it's become really calming and satisfying.

I need to stop. It's driving me insane.

Any suggestions, flist? I always read about that nail polish that tastes horrible, which works for biters... unfortunately I'm not a biter. I'm wondering if there's any sort of similar miracle product like that for us pickers. I've also been told getting an inexpensive, but nice manicure regularly will make me want to stop. I'm not sure if I could get that to work on a college budget and schedule, but I'd be willing to try.

So this is a desperate cry for help from the person whose nails are always heinous and too short. If you have any suggestions, pleaseeeee comment and I'd be so grateful.

Just a general update from me.

The show I was teching for my freshman requirement officially closed. It's nice to have that off my plate; it was fun, but six hours a night for three weeks is a lot of time. I'm glad to be done with it.

I'm spending Valentine's day studying. I know. But all of my friends are going out with their significant others, so I figured this is a perfect time to get some work done. I'm going to go to lunch with my friend, catch the matinee of Seussical, and head to Barnes and Noble for the day. Well, maybe I'll go to Seussical tonight instead.

I haven't been doing as much writing as I'd like to. My American Lit class has a lot of reading, so I spend most of my time trying to finish that. I only have to read 90 pages of Moby Dick for Tuesday, but I have a psych test on the same day... Glah. I need to study.

I've gotten a lot of new IDEAS for stories, though, which is frustrating when you really don't have time for writing. I have two one act plays I want to write. Thankfully, both require a LOT of research, so they're officially summer projects. I have a short story that I could probably finish a draft of in few hours--and believe me, it's tempting--but I need to focus on my work first.

I also have another short story in mind, but it has a very particular style that I'm not used to. I want to write a story with a style sort of similar to a children's book, but not quite. I can't really explain it, and that probably didn't help at all. D'oh. Well, in any case, I'm on the look out for some children's books that are also sort of adult-y. I'm thinking stories like The Little Prince. If anyone has any suggestions, it would be much appreciated.

We had absurdly beautiful weather this week. I went around in just a hoodie. Unfortunately, it's gone, and the snow's come back, but it was nice for a while. I can't wait until spring! (I also can't wait until I get out of this American Lit class, but that's a different story.)

Speaking of American Lit, I'm slightly stressed out about the whole picking a major thing.

Currently, I'm a theatre major. I plan on staying that, but I need a double major. (Double majors are fairly easy to get at my school, since we're on the quarter system.) I plan on either doing English Lit or Creative Writing. The decision basically depends on whether or not I get accepted into the Creative Writing program. It's fairly selective--I think they take about 40% of the applicants. You apply at the end of your sophomore year.

Here's the trick, though. English Lit and Creative Writing have different pre-requisites. By the end of sophomore year, though, you need to declare a second major. So basically, I have to do both sets of pre-requisites, just in case.

HOW FRUSTRATING IS THAT? If I KNEW that last quarter, I would have taken the other half of American Lit instead of Shakespeare. (It's also frustrating that they offered the second half of American Lit first quarter and the first half second quarter, but that's a different story.)

So for the English Lit major, I need to take:
American Lit part 2 (English 270-2)
Introductory Seminar to Reading and Interpretation (English 298)

And here's the most annoying thing. For the major, you're only required to do one quarter of American lit, but for the other pre-requisite, you have to do two. WTF? Just be straight forward, English department!

For Writing, I have to take:
Reading and Writing Poetry (English 206)
Reading and Writing fiction (English 207)

Okay, so I basically need to take four English classes in the next four quarters. That sounds reasonable, right? Except that it's NOT because I can't take an English class next quarter. I have to take two theatre classes and Italian. So I need to find one more class, but I probably should do either the math credit or the behavioral science credit I need. Glahhhh.

So I'll have to take four English classes next year in three quarters. I think it maybe a bit easier, since I'll just take one theatre class per quarter I think.

UUURG. This is so frustrating.

I want to write a poem.

This is a particularly unusual feeling, since I have a minor hatred of poetry, I know nothing about poetry, and I refuse to read poetry. I don't know why. I just want to write a poem.

Actually, scratch that, I want to write everything. Basically I have like five million ideas flowing around in my head and I want to write them all. Sometimes it depresses me that I can't. I also want to write another short story. My last (and first) short story was pretty successful, I thought; it was my first serious attempt at first person, as well as my first attempt at a short story.

I've been much more into writing than I have been into acting lately. It's been weird. Usually, they've been split, occasionally leaning one way or the other, but this is the longest time it's ever leaned one way. I think it's just because I haven't really been involved in theatre. I mean, I'm crewing this show, but that is basically doing laundry. I've written quite a bit of the work in progress lately.

Which brings me to my other thought.

What the hell am I going to do when I finally finish my work in progress? Seriously. I think I may cry. Actually, I'm positive I'll cry. It's been a part of my life since I was fifteen; I mean, I'm still only on fifth year and have quite a bit to go, but the thought is sort of making me panic.

I guess it will be good, though. I have a lot of ideas for one-acts, short stories, attempts at poetry, etc. I won't feel so chained to one thing. Don't get me wrong--I love it--but it can be limiting. I'll keep that in mind next time I want to write an epic novel.

Oops. I haven't updated in so long.

Well, I'm well into the second quarter and loving it! Winter hasn't been too bad; with a nice big Northface, a hat, a scarf and Uggs, I've been able to handle even the twenty below zero days! Eek!

My life has been incredibly busy lately--more busy than I've been in a long time. I'm currently in Theatre 140-3, aka Production in Context; this basically means that I have to work in the Prop shop for six hours a week and be on the run crew of a show. I'm currently on the costume crew of The Sins of Sor Juana. I really enjoy it, but it sort of explains my absence. It's taken up all of last week and this week. It will close on Sunday, though, so my life should get back to normal after that.

I'm also producing a modern version of Twelfth Night; not much goes into it, since it's an intentionally low budget show. It's a bit stressful to have to go to all of these rehearsals though; I'm starting to miss my dorm friends. I'm not auditioning for next quarter's shows just because of that. Doing these two shows this quarter has really worn me out... and I miss my friends. I may be on run crew for a show, which is basically just a two week commitment. I think I can handle that.

Not much else has been happening... I've been spending a LOT of time (and a lot of money--eek) at Barnes and Noble. It's a really nice place for me to do my homework, get some writing done, and read a bit if I have time left over.

I just read Firmin by Sam Savage; it was a really touching little novel. If anyone has the time, I highly recommend it. All of the themes really hit home for me.

I just realized that this month is my six year anniversary of being a vegetarian! Yay! I can't believe I haven't eaten meat is six years!

Hm... What else... I've gotten quite a bit of writing done. I'm currently writing the rough draft of chapter forty-five in Halfway to Infinity; my beta and I plan to edit chapter thirty-four and publish it sometime next week... I hope... our schedules are pretty crazy.

So, I'd say college has been really successful thus far. I really enjoy it and I absolutely love all of the friends I've made; it feels almost like I've known them forever. And I've done pretty well, too! I think my high school prepared me really well. Last quarter I got three As, an A-, and a B+. I'm pretty proud of that. I probably could have done better in Shakespeare (the B+ class), but I just really couldn't bring myself to study too much for the final. I just relied heavily on my knowledge of Macbeth and The Tempest to get me through... heh.

This quarter, I'm in my theatre class, like I said before, American Literature (Pilgrims-Moby Dick), Italian 101-2, Intro to Psychology and a singing class. I like them all so far; I have yet to get back my first American Lit paper. I don't think it was my best; I'd say I got a B or B+ on it. I did pretty well on my first Psych test (A-). And Italian is pretty much a piece of cake as is theatre.

So yeah. Freshman year has pretty much rocked so far. A few of my friends and I are considering getting a suite in the upperclassman dorm next year! I hope there are enough spots.

Alright, Flist, I think I've pretty much just spewed my entire life out!

Ciao!

I know. It's New Year's Eve and I'm on the computer. No excuses.

( Meme )

In other news, I'm watching this special on various kinds of execution on Discovery channel. It's pretty disturbing. I'll keep in mind not to get executed anytime soon. xD I wish Jon and Kate was on instead. O.O

I prefer the way my mind works when I'm dreaming. I wish I had such a great creative flow of imagination when I'm awake. I love the way, in dreams, how things just change and shift. I love how you can go somewhere or meet someone and know what it represents, even if the details aren't exactly right. I wish I could think like that in real life. I can figure the details out later. Instead of getting hung up on little things, I just move on in dreams.

Ahhh I had such an intense dream last night. It was the apocalypse--and I had some sort of power to stop it. The details really escape me now, but it was very vivid when I woke up. I really hope I have such an awesome dream again tonight and can remember it.

I haven't updated in a while. I guess I just don't have that much to say at the mo.

It's finals week. I had one last Friday, two on Monday, one on Tuesday... and one tomorrow. I honestly think I might fail the one tomorrow. It's on Shakespeare. I haven't studied. Aren't I just lovely?

The better news is, though, that I'm going home tomorrow! I'll be home for three weeks. I'm so happy. I can't wait to see my friends... and drive... and be in the warmth... and the city... I love the city. I never realized how much I loved Los Angeles until I was gone for an extended period of time. I love Chicago, but I honestly think I want to live in LA forever. It's just perfect for my pace of life. And there are so many crazy people there! If any of you guys ever visit there, definitely sit in a cafe and people watch in Beverly Hills. One of my favorite activities.

It's been pretty quiet here lately. People have been leaving once their finals were over. There are only about seven of us left in the hall. It's lonely.

So... yeah. Probably my next update will be from home. After I've failed Shakespeare, of course.

This is not a normal kind of tired. I can hardly keep my eyes open. I don't even know what's going on because I got just enough sleep yesterday.

I'm the kind of tired you are when you're sick--when you could nap all day and it still wouldn't be enough--when all you have to do is close your eyes and *conk!* you're gone. I don't really know what's up with this, since I have no other symptoms of sickness. *Knock on wood.* I spent an unusual amount of time outside today, maybe that's way. With the wind chill, it felt like five degrees.... Yeah. Maybe that's why.

I don't think I'm going to last much longer because I--

Zzzzzzz.

Lots of screaming going on. I think everyone is a bit stir crazy, since nothing really is going on this week. I want nothing more than to go home and just be done with classes, but I have to get through three finals, an oral Italian exam, and a voice performance first. Arg.

Read Beedle the Bard today. It was so cute. I won't spoil any more than to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Oh and I got my Secret Santa gift! Yay. I'm sort of relieved. She wrote a wishlist on a whiteboard, and requested funky socks, so I got her three pairs that are really bright colors and striped. I sort of want to keep them for myself--they look so comfy! Haha

That's about it. I've gone all day without caffeine, so I'm sort of exhausted. I may go to sleep early tonight.

My to do list:

-Read Othello
-Write paper for singing class
-Catch up modding
-Make a study guide for Anthropology
-Sign up for the oral Italian exam
-Think about Christmas gifts?
-Figure out whether the Borders near campus is having a Beadle and the Bard party


Hm... Should be interesting.

An update from the Naughty/Nice list. While I was sleeping, some of the boys decided to put the lists in order and rank who is the naughtiest and who is the nicest. I woke up this morning to find my name second on the nice list. Yay. Hahaha. I don't think I'll ever make it to the naughty list, so I'm just going for nice.

We're also doing Secret Santa in our hallway. I'm sort of stressed because I have NO IDEA what to get my person. I don't want to get her something impersonal like soaps and perfumes, but I might have to. Fwah. Christmas shopping is stressful.