As one of the girls on my floor proclaimed this morning: It's going to be The Perfect Day today!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, we all start classes today. Merry's in French as we speak. My first is Chapel, in about an hour. I have a light day- three courses. One is chapel, then Biblical Literature follows, and I end with Intro to Global Issues.
Mostly, I'm excited about that last one. Then I'm heading to the library, I hope, to do some rambling there. This evening, my floor (okay, so Merry and I are heading it up...) is hosting a movie party and watching Princess Bride.
Last night, we had a floor wide (plus a few mainers, and one girl from another dorm) chai party in the kitchen and played the name game. So far, I've been told that I know more people than any other freshman. But we've got lots of plans for more tea-parties and games and movies, so I really can't wait to see how this semester goes.
If you couldn't tell, I love it here!
Monday, 31 August 2009
Friday, 28 August 2009
College, First Day!
So, today is my first full day on campus! I arrived last night and unpacked my room with Merry. Now everything is set up and arranged and we're having a blast. I'm on the international floor, and absolutely love it. I haven't yet met all the girls, although that should be happening sometime soon.
I have done everything possible already this morning, and am just waiting for the dedication service in about two hours. My schedule's pretty full, but I'm still enjoying it. And today was lovely and sunny, the perfect setting for the first day!
I have done everything possible already this morning, and am just waiting for the dedication service in about two hours. My schedule's pretty full, but I'm still enjoying it. And today was lovely and sunny, the perfect setting for the first day!
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Happiness Comes In Six-Foot Packages
Merry arrived safely, but very tired, this morning from Arizona! She was supposed to arrive yesterday, but flights were delayed badly. At any rate, she's here at last, and is currently sleeping.
We were planning on shopping today, but that looks like it'll happen tomorrow instead. Also in the plans for tomorrow: arrive at school!!!
Can you tell I'm excited and a little happy?
We were planning on shopping today, but that looks like it'll happen tomorrow instead. Also in the plans for tomorrow: arrive at school!!!
Can you tell I'm excited and a little happy?
Monday, 24 August 2009
So fill to me the parting glass...
For all my friends, as we travel off to school.
"So fill to me the parting glass,
Goodnight and joy be to you all.
So fill me to me the parting glass
And drink a health whatever befall
And gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you."
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Missed Opportunities
Or:
Why Laura Should Always Make Sure Her Phone Is Charged
But the first title is shortest, so I'll use it anyways. On Friday, my grandmother and I went to southern Pennsylvania to see Sight and Sound theatre. Now, my dear friend Kat lives not so very far from there, but I knew already that she was in Arizona, and she'd told me she wasn't getting in for a while. (I thought on Monday, or some thing like that...)
Sometime Saturday morning, or perhaps even Friday night, my cellphone ran out of batteries and the charger was at my grandmother's house. I didn't think much of it, since I was pretty sure that no one was going to call. I had a blast looking in the shops and seeing the play and the ride back was beautiful. (I entertained myself with looking at the hills with trees all the way to the top that had no mountain ranges behind them. Till Gramma informed me that those were the mountains. Oops.)
We got back to Buffalo very very late, but I thought I ought to at least start charging my cell. After a few minutes it beeped irritably at me, and I stumbled out of bed and saw that I had a few messages waiting. (Yes, Mum, Dad, thanks for the info!)
One of them was from Kat, informing that she'd got back to PA, and was wondering where exactly I was, and when I'd be in her area... from quite early in the afternoon. If my phone had been on, we probably could have stopped in and seen her.
I'm still berating myself for missing this chance to finally meet her. I can't even take comfort in coffee right now.
I guess I'll always make sure my phone is charged now, won't I?
Why Laura Should Always Make Sure Her Phone Is Charged
But the first title is shortest, so I'll use it anyways. On Friday, my grandmother and I went to southern Pennsylvania to see Sight and Sound theatre. Now, my dear friend Kat lives not so very far from there, but I knew already that she was in Arizona, and she'd told me she wasn't getting in for a while. (I thought on Monday, or some thing like that...)
Sometime Saturday morning, or perhaps even Friday night, my cellphone ran out of batteries and the charger was at my grandmother's house. I didn't think much of it, since I was pretty sure that no one was going to call. I had a blast looking in the shops and seeing the play and the ride back was beautiful. (I entertained myself with looking at the hills with trees all the way to the top that had no mountain ranges behind them. Till Gramma informed me that those were the mountains. Oops.)
We got back to Buffalo very very late, but I thought I ought to at least start charging my cell. After a few minutes it beeped irritably at me, and I stumbled out of bed and saw that I had a few messages waiting. (Yes, Mum, Dad, thanks for the info!)
One of them was from Kat, informing that she'd got back to PA, and was wondering where exactly I was, and when I'd be in her area... from quite early in the afternoon. If my phone had been on, we probably could have stopped in and seen her.
I'm still berating myself for missing this chance to finally meet her. I can't even take comfort in coffee right now.
I guess I'll always make sure my phone is charged now, won't I?
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Arrived!
So, I'm here in New York now! The weather is warm and wonderful, and the trees are gorgeous!!!
I got in late on Monday, and spent Tuesday doing my college shopping (which is all done now!) and Wednesday I went to the country's largest county fair. It was huge, and I had a blast. I ddidn't stay that long, but I saw a great deal, and got cotton-candy. That made the day complete. When I get to school, I'll see about uploading some photos of the events, and my adorable cousins. (And the candy!)
I'm off to Pennsylvania for the next two days (highly put out that Kat won't be there) with my gramma, and so it'll be next week before I write again.
Hope you're all having a beautiful day, as nice as the one I'm having! (84 degrees fahrenheit by ten thirty in the morning...)
I got in late on Monday, and spent Tuesday doing my college shopping (which is all done now!) and Wednesday I went to the country's largest county fair. It was huge, and I had a blast. I ddidn't stay that long, but I saw a great deal, and got cotton-candy. That made the day complete. When I get to school, I'll see about uploading some photos of the events, and my adorable cousins. (And the candy!)
I'm off to Pennsylvania for the next two days (highly put out that Kat won't be there) with my gramma, and so it'll be next week before I write again.
Hope you're all having a beautiful day, as nice as the one I'm having! (84 degrees fahrenheit by ten thirty in the morning...)
Friday, 14 August 2009
Time Crunch
When did summer go by? Honestly... isn't it only mid-July? Not mid-August? Not two days before I leave?
I don't have enough time for everything I need, or would like, to do. Some people that I wanted to see just don't have the same time openings as I do, so I won't get to talk to them before I go.
To tell the truth, I'm a little stressed, and broke out in tears when I heard that our goodbye party was scheduled for six this evening when I had thought it was for seven. But at least everything will come together at last. That much I'm sure of. :)
I don't have enough time for everything I need, or would like, to do. Some people that I wanted to see just don't have the same time openings as I do, so I won't get to talk to them before I go.
To tell the truth, I'm a little stressed, and broke out in tears when I heard that our goodbye party was scheduled for six this evening when I had thought it was for seven. But at least everything will come together at last. That much I'm sure of. :)
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Things My Mother Taught Me
I found this on another blog a while back, and wanted to post it. In a few days/weeks, I do hope to do a series of posts on homeschooling for Saminda in connexion with my Mum. But for now, I hope this at least makes you smile.
What Mothers Can Teach Us!
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'
4. My mother taught me LOGIC .
'Because I said so. That's why.'
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'
7. My mother taught me IRONY.
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTION.
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times: Don't exaggerate!'
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get home.'
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
'You are going to get it when you get home!'
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.'
19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on. Don't you think I know when you are cold?'
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.'
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
'You're just like your father.'
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'
25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'
What Mothers Can Teach Us!
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'
4. My mother taught me LOGIC .
'Because I said so. That's why.'
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'
7. My mother taught me IRONY.
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTION.
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times: Don't exaggerate!'
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get home.'
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
'You are going to get it when you get home!'
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.'
19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on. Don't you think I know when you are cold?'
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.'
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
'You're just like your father.'
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'
25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
The Confessions of the Egotistical Autodidact
So, for the longest time, I've reserved a notebook to carry with me everywhere. I don't remember when I first came up with the idea. But the basics was to always have a notebook with me, and a pen. Then I was free to jot down any scraps of poetry or observations, as well as what I was doing, or what had happened, or something someone said that I wanted to remember. To all this, I added quotes from whatever book I was reading, and then thoughts about the quotes, or what the author was talking about, and if I agreed with him, or where I differed, or what I did or did not like about the book.
Anyways, I thought I was quite sharp for coming up with this nifty idea to help my already autodidactical habits.
Before I go off to school and more study, Mum suggested that I read a few books she had about how to get the most out of books, and the methods of classical education. I started The Well-Educated Mind, by Susan Wise Bauer, this afternoon, and found that in the third chapter, the author mentions how Commonplace Books could be handy and had been used for hundreds of (possibly nearly two thousand) years to help readers digest and analyze books, and go towards the process of rhetoric (forming one's own opinion based on the analysis, whether in agreeing, or disagreeing, with the author). Well, in explaining Commonplace Books I found that she was talking about my nifty little idea of the notebook that I carry with me everywhere.
At first I was a little disappointed to find that I wasn't exactly the first one to have done this.
Then I realised that I was in company with E.M. Forester and Thomas Jefferson and decided that wasn't such a bad lot, and am happy that at least I was approaching reading and learning from the right angle.
It was just a bit of a hard hit for my egotistical autodidact...
Anyways, I thought I was quite sharp for coming up with this nifty idea to help my already autodidactical habits.
Before I go off to school and more study, Mum suggested that I read a few books she had about how to get the most out of books, and the methods of classical education. I started The Well-Educated Mind, by Susan Wise Bauer, this afternoon, and found that in the third chapter, the author mentions how Commonplace Books could be handy and had been used for hundreds of (possibly nearly two thousand) years to help readers digest and analyze books, and go towards the process of rhetoric (forming one's own opinion based on the analysis, whether in agreeing, or disagreeing, with the author). Well, in explaining Commonplace Books I found that she was talking about my nifty little idea of the notebook that I carry with me everywhere.
At first I was a little disappointed to find that I wasn't exactly the first one to have done this.
Then I realised that I was in company with E.M. Forester and Thomas Jefferson and decided that wasn't such a bad lot, and am happy that at least I was approaching reading and learning from the right angle.
It was just a bit of a hard hit for my egotistical autodidact...
Monday, 3 August 2009
Getting Roped Into More Music
Every year, the peninsula orchestra puts on a Summer Gala Concert, and for the two weeks before, there are noon-time concerts all over the place. This year was different. I wasn't playing in any of them, not even the final concert.
Then Thursday, I went to one of the noon-time concerts. And somehow or another, got talked into playing for the concert. So I kinda crashed learned all the pieces by Saturday. All this week, we have nightly rehearsals, for a concert on Friday and Saturday.
Thankfully, I got new strings for Sirius on Friday, and they sound lovely. And the music isn't really all that difficult. (As I learned it in two days, basically.) It just wasn't really expected. But I am having a lot of fun, so I guess that's alright. Flexibilty is a good thing, isn't it?
But next Sunday, I'm planning on crashing for a lot of sleep, and packing and cleaning the whole week after that. 'Cause by the Sunday after that, I'll be on a plane...
Then Thursday, I went to one of the noon-time concerts. And somehow or another, got talked into playing for the concert. So I kinda crashed learned all the pieces by Saturday. All this week, we have nightly rehearsals, for a concert on Friday and Saturday.
Thankfully, I got new strings for Sirius on Friday, and they sound lovely. And the music isn't really all that difficult. (As I learned it in two days, basically.) It just wasn't really expected. But I am having a lot of fun, so I guess that's alright. Flexibilty is a good thing, isn't it?
But next Sunday, I'm planning on crashing for a lot of sleep, and packing and cleaning the whole week after that. 'Cause by the Sunday after that, I'll be on a plane...
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