Day 108

I'm probably a little biased, but I have to admit that my sister is a pretty good writer.  She's just started her own blog - Recollections from the Blue House - where she (has already posted more posts than I have) posts her work, mostly poems, but also some short stories, reflections, thoughts, all that jazz.

I encourage everyone to take a look, you'll never know until you try!

In the meantime, it's the middle of mid-semester break.  Side effects of this include sleeping in, augmented shopping bills (hello food...), and nocturnal behaviour.  YouTube and FanFiction are also regular occurrences, and should really be graciously allowing their time to be dedicated to more...productive activities instead.

Some of you have probably heard of the "30 Day Challenge" - where you upload a different picture everyday according to the guidelines e.g. a person who inspires you, your favourite night, cast of your favourite T.V. show etc.  I'm thinking of doing that, but with drawings in a book instead.  I'm an artist, why not?

Maybe I'll get Tiger to do the same with poetry.  Sounds like a plan to me.

Hold my hand...and keep the faith.

My heart truly goes out to everyone affected by the recent natural disasters - the quakes in Christchurch, China and Japan - I hope that each and every one of you know that the whole world is here for you.

It's times like these that I really believe that we can put aside our differences and come together as one.

My ex-dean (who is now my sister's dean) asked her to make a giant card for the whole year group to sign for Christchurch.  Here's the cover of the nearly A2 card I made for her:

The cover has an extract of lyrics from Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' single (duet with Akon) while the inside has the majority (but not all) the lyrics of MJ's 'Keep The Faith' from the Dangerous album. The two songs by Michael Jackson are pure coincidence - we were just looking for meaningful lyrics that have a poetic quality, and would give hope and strength to those in need.

Hopefully the printers at uni will co-operate tomorrow so I can get this card out a.s.a.p!

Out with the old and in with the new!

So it happened - I got into architecture - hooray!

The new year's been a bit of a blur so far: some days feel like they could last forever while other days flash by so quickly I don't know where they went!

Some highlights of the year so far include my university acceptance (of course), getting a cross trainer from my parents (I don't know if this is meant to be hint or something but I'm putting it to good use anyway), and ballet summer school - tiring but fun (I still can't walk straight).

It's crazy what's going on and what's going to happen this year.  More than half of my friends are currently holidaying overseas in Japan, Dubai, China, Korea, Europe...and it's also sunken in that I'm not going to see the majority of them everyday anymore.  In fact it might be quite a while until I see some of them.  But I guess just because something good ends, doesn't mean that something better won't begin.

Orientation in mid-February, I can't wait to meet the rest of the architecture newbies!  I also found out (thank you Facebook) that Vanessa and Annabel both got in too - I'm really happy for them/us - all those all nighters, holidays and weekends were not sacrificed in vain.  Stef got an offer too, but she's still waiting for results from some other universities first before she decides.  Susan's doing law - we've made plans for me to be her food delivery-er - Bianca's doing engineering, and maybe I'll spot a few more ex-Black Watch Tartan-ers around!

The prospect is a bit daunting, but I'm still excited all the same.  This is a whole new chapter of my life and hopefully, it will turn out to be the best one yet.

Oh, RPW (Random Pearl of Wisdom) - NEVER completely trust your GPS.  (It keeps getting highway 16 and 1 mixed up.  BIG MISTAKE.)

So, here's my "Out With the Old List"
- Procrastination is no longer in my vocabulary.
- Sleeping in/being nocturnal (same difference, I need to get into a normal human sleep pattern)
- Messy desk = out
- I will try to keep my bedroom floor visible.
- Stop using my bed as a flat filing cabinet.

...and "In With the New"!
- Get up when the alarm goes (change 'HIStory' to Mum's wake-up yells if necessary)
- Start (and stick to) an exercise regime!  I'll never get into the air force at this rate.  Use that cross trainer!
- Eat healthy.  Yes big-bag-of-tempting-Skittles-sitting-on-my-desk.  I'm talking to you.  You will now become a once in a blue moon treat.  If I manage to stick to my other resolutions.
- Find a job.  This is pretty much self-explanatory.

I just remembered - forgot all about Christmas!  Here's a brief run-down:

What I got:  Michael Jackson collage, personalised mug, score book from the musical 'Cats', and some book vouchers I happily spent on a 'Spectacular Buildings' book and Dan Brown novels.

What I gave:  Love, love, love, hugs, cameras and a dermatologist appointment (which turned out to be several (price-wise) after the prescriptions, blood test, Dermablend make-up etc...)

And what can I say about Boxing Day sales?  Not much apart from...THANK YOU JB HI-FI.

Got Michael Jackson's Vision DVD set and the new MICHAEL album (yes I've heard the rumors but I can still love the music and I won't believe what anyone else says *cough*tabloids*cough*.  I'll ask him when I see him and then I'll make a judgement.)  Is it just me or does the main cover art image not look like him while most of the little ones do?  I think he's got one of those looks that are difficult to duplicate.

And someone please tell me what TUKINO means.  I've got a bumper sticker that says 'TUKINO!  Stop deep-sea oil drilling'.  I can only assume this is an oil company but I'd like to know before I drive around with it stuck to my butt.

Whatever happens, happens. Merry Christmas!

I might as well be wearing a big sign saying "BLOGGING ROOKIE" but there you have it, this is a blog, and I'm new.  Being 'new' is usually scary, but this isn't nearly as terrifying as first days at school because I don't even know if anyone will read this, or even care whereas at school, you're there, you have to be, you can't hide, and you'll most likely see those people 5 days a week, 40 weeks a year.

That reminds me, I'll be (hopefully) getting another real-life newbie experience pretty soon.  I think.  I say 'hopefully' because university acceptance isn't announced until sometime in January.  In some ways, I wish that they'd do it like the Americans, and have the application process in the beginning of your final high school year, and have results, decisions, and offers out, all done and dusted long before you graduate.  I think that way you wouldn't have this nagging anxious feeling with you all holidays, through Christmas and New Years.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be able to do the procrastinate-and-cram-in-the-last-week thing.

In case I don't make it into university (Vanessa told me that she and Annabel were ready to cry when they glimpsed another applicant's portfolio), my plan C is to join the Air Force.  I've always loved flying, and this way, I won't have to face the giant training fee I would otherwise have to pay myself if I just went straight to flying school.

So plan B is to get into university, plan C is to fly, so what's plan A?  I should have been more specific - when I said 'university' I meant NZ university.  Plan A is the one and only U.S.  However my options are kind of limited to private universities, the ones that will teach me, feed me, and provide room and board.  I'm not going to mention names because it's such a long shot I'm honestly a bit embarrassed, I'm not the most original, most sporty, and definitely not the smartest either.

What am/was I thinking?  Well, whatever happens, happens.  Sometimes we just have to face the music and dance.  Merry Christmas!