It's Like Thanksgiving...Only Pink!

So, it's Valentines Day and rather than rant on and on about the woes of being a single college girl I believe I would have more fun talking about the people I love.

My Family: I got a most wonderful (and amazingly timed) package today. It had a beautiful journal, a perfect CD for studying to and a marvelous quote to put on my wall. This of course makes me feel bad that I didn't get them anything. Don't worry I am coming for your birthdays and Christmas and such.

Mel: Could anyone find a better roommate? I really don't think it is at all possible. I come home from french and what is on my desk but this beautiful set of candles held in this set of mirrors with another beautiful quote on it! (I absolutely love inspiring quotes if you couldn't tell) This girl is always there and really don't know how I lived my life without her before college started.

Cass-Cass: She is my go-to for pretty much everything, we are usually taking the words out of each others mouths, we talk to each other about everything and on nights when we really don't want to do anything we just watch a movie and eat popcorn. I really don't tell her how grateful I am for her enough. I don't think I could because she is just so amazing to have as a friend that I don't know how I lived without her either.

My Softball Team: I believe that when it comes to me they are the epitome of patience. I am trying to get better and have yet to see much improvement but they are still cheering for me and lifting me up both on and off the field, also they put up with me when we have to do team runs. That is a side of me that no one ever EVER wants, or needs, to see.

I could keep going on..and on...and on, but sadly I have homework that is calling and it is getting a little late. But good night to everyone. I hope that a good V-Day was had by all!

Pondering

I am beginning to wonder why I started to blog in the first place. The more time passes the more  I realize that what I write doesn't really hold much value. It doesn't edify readers, nor does it pose questions which leave people thinking. Also the fact that my schedule has become so hectic that I generally don't have time to post much anymore makes me wonder if I should simply sign off. Leave this wonderful experement behind and go back to regular journaling.

Maybe a little longer. Thanks for being patient and checking back even when more often than not there is nothing to report.

Why Must We Title, I Feel Pressure To Come Up With Something Brilliant

'We read to know that we are not alone."

While watching Shadowlands with my family that line stood out to me, it's almost one of the only things I really remember about the movie. Reading, of course, is a very large facet of my life. I require it and the comfort it provides to function on a day-to-day basis. Yet does that mean that I feel alone - that I am frantically searching for another person who understands me? Another person who I can trust without reserve because their character is set in stone?

A character in a book can do no more nor less than what has been written for them. They are at their creators mercy and have no way in which to rebel. This very fact is what I believe makes our fantasy characters so alluring. We know that Elizabeth Bennet will always end up with Darcy, Harry Potter will defeat Lord Voldemort, and Romeo and Juliet must always die.  Theirs is a world with is limited and therefore we find in it a protection from the uncertainties of life. Their rules are quite literally spelled out and their path is paved. Theirs is a secure world. Oh it may not be the most comfortable and at times be quite dangerous but they know how the story will end, they have traveled their path many times before.

As humans I believe we crave that security for ourselves more than almost anything else, that is why we attempt to lose ourselves in stories that are not our own. We read in the hope of discovering that we are not alone and with that discovery, if it ever occurs, we breath a sigh of relief and gain the strength needed to carry on through our uncertain lives.

Finals Week

So...since I have been studying and taking tests and knitting in order to procrastinate...I haven't really blogged for a long time.

It is snowing right now. Really actually snowing. Earlier this year it did this little light fluffy thing that melted in 3 hours but now we are up to around 4 inches and it is still going out there. I don't understand why it hasn't snowed all semester and yet the week when everyone is trying to fly home (and we live in a place where you have to drive a really long time to get to any airport)? It's been going since 6 this morning and 12 hours later it doesn't show signs of stopping and while I don't have any corn for popping I do have EasyMac, oatmeal and cookies so I think I am ok.

I am almost done with my finals, just one more tomorrow. Is it odd that they weren't nearly as bad as everyone made them out to be? They are just a bunch of tests? Maybe it's because I'm an english major and just have to turn in papers instead of do finals.

As mentioned I have been knitting. One of my friends just had a baby so I made her a blaket, and since I am really broke I have decided to make Christmas presents this year so I have been spending a lot of time with needles in hand making a variety of things. The pictures will be posted at a later date. Probably next week because guess what....

I WILL BE HOME!!!!!

Miles to go before I sleep

 How on earth does the body know to get sick at the exact worste time? Finals are in two weeks and final papers are less than a week from being due. Why does my nose choose now to feel stuffy and my throat to feel raw? Do they not realize that I have a parade that I must be in tonight? That is outside...in the cold and humid night-time weather and that I have to sing!

I have been hauling around a box of tissues, wanting to go to bed and sniffling all day. I am not the only one, stress induced colds seem to be sweeping across the campus. I thought I would be safe this time around because...well I realized that my grades are in a good place and I will pass all of my classes even if I fail all my finals so no stress for me!

Yet sadly that is not to be. Tonight, I will be walking in a parade, then running back to my room, turning up the heat drinking lots and lots of herbal tea then going to bed.

Unfortunately, I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.

Filler...Meaning I can't think of titles at the moment...

You can choose a title for this entry. I really have no idea what to say. Lots has happened and nothing has happened so what do I report on? The break where I made four scarves because I only left my room about 3 times? The extra class I go to so I actually learn what I signed up for? The fact that today was really bitingly cold and makes it so that I don't want to go home where there are 2 feet of snow waiting for me?

Thanksgiving was amazing. I got to eat with a family. I really think that younger children are an integral part of Thanksgiving dinner and while 10 isn't all that young, it fits the bill. There was Guitar Hero, bird watching excursions, cookies, pie, cranberry sauce and this awesome "Christmas Punch" which is a secret recipe of the family. And while I wish I had been at home with all of the games and fun with my cousins this was an awesome way to spend my first Thanksgiving away from home.

The rest of the break was spent in relaxation. There was no real reason to get out of pajamas so I got to stay comfy and warm all day. I got to catch up on the Christmas presents that I am making and I got to watch some movies that have been on my list. Also I was able to hang out with a roommate who I love who sadly won't be returning next semester.

All in all, I couldn't imagine a more perfect way to spend a week.

A Cultural Phenomenon

Tonight, Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows comes out! Am I going? Yes. Am I dressing up? Still undecided.

I realized though, that this series has been a part of my life since I was 6 years old. I have grown up knowing about Muggles and Quidditch,waiting for my letter from Hogwarts and wanting a snowy owl as a pet. I cheered as Slytherins were beat for the house cup and cried horribly as characters such as Sirius and Dumbledor died. I went to the midnight premiers of the books and now am finally going to a midnight showing of the movie.

Am I sad that this chapter of literary culture will soon be ending? Yes, very much so. I have spent the past couple of weeks rereading the series and if you haven't read them in a while I would suggest doing so because Rowling's writing is amazing. She creates such a number of dynamic characters which manage to grow and develop throughout the whole seven years. I really could rave about it for pages and pages, sadly life does go on and I have a bio lab that starts in 10 minutes.