The Past Month
Wow its been over a month since I last wrote something. I guess thats because school has taken up most of the time. I had about a week break in between summer session and fall term. I'm glad it wasnt longer though because it was hard to find something to do to fill up the whole day.I think I read most of the time. I think...lol. I cant really remember. Oh well, I guess it wasn't too important. Welcome week was pretty quiet. I went to visit a few friends, helped out at the jumpstart booth, and went to the movies to see the 40 year old virgin. It was pretty funny, especially since I was sitting next to one of my friends from the dorms and she tried to bury her head in my jacket because she was embarrassed about some of the scenes. Then school started, FINALLY!!! I was trying to add a stats class and had been on the wait list forever. The teacher had said that everyone on the waitlist would be added automatically, and that everyone else would have to use an add card. So I thought cool, I should be added in the next few days. After a week I still wasnt added, and he signed everyones add card. WHen I asked him about the people online he said that they wouldnt be added at all. I was soo mad. I mean the class isnt that important. I could fulfill my math req. anytime. However I had wasted four hours of time that I could have used to read for my two crit. classes. Grrrr!!!! Whatever. That class was sooo boring, I almost fell asleep during both classes I went to. He talked in a very monotone voice, and went over the same material everytime. It was like I was stuck in time. Luckily the professor in the next class wakes me up before I have to run over to my Austen class. We sit there and criticize critics who criticize literature. Its great fun. We've already looked at Gorgias, Plato, Cicero, Aristotle, and Horace. Some of their ideas are great mind you. I mean people still follow the ground work they laid down when they write novels, poem, and screen plays. But other ideas are rather amusing. For example, Gorgias claims that if a rhetorician can touch you in such a way that you would do whatever they said, even if they said to hurt yourself, them you are not at fault for your actions. Thats like saying "The devil made me do it. He was so convincing I couldnt help myself. So there's no way its my fault." And Plato said that the gods should only be portrayed as superior being how only cause good things to happen. saying that the gods express emotions of anger,jealously, and love are dangerous to society. I guess I could see where he's coming from. Plato is afraid that people will see the actions of the gods and use it as justification for what they do. Its kinda of like with television today. People, especially kids see what's happening on television or even video games, and think they can do the same thing. However, that doesnt mean that such actions should be banned necessarily. The stories of the gods allow everyone to see that they are not perfect either. That the gods too have emotions that can get away from them from time to time, and that humans should learn from their mistakes. If people are taught that some of the actions are wrong, then they will not fill compelled to copy the gods example. Furthermore, the gods themselves are often punished in some way for their wrong actions. Thus people should take this as a hint. If the gods get in trouble for such deeds, then if you are caught doing the same thing, you will be in even more trouble. Horace has to be my favorite critic right now. He tells writers not if artist were to combine the body of a woman with the tail of a fish, that the artist would be laughed at. This is because the subject matter is so far fetched that no one would take a liking to it. Poor horace would die today if he saw modern paintings *laughs. Ah well, he goes on to say that you shouldn't stray from the path. Don't write anything new or you will be shunned by other writes. The only exception to this rule is if you are an exceptional writer. If you have the natural ablility to write extraordinary pieces, then you are allowed to make a small step in the direction of a new genre. He also gives the writer some insider advice about pleasing the audience. Anyways, as I said before, I also have a class completely dedicated to Jane Austen . We are reading half of her works and examining how they have been retold over the years. Its a lot of fun actually. We just finished both the book and the BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice. I loved the miniseries, it was so interesting to see the book translated into a movie. Seeing the book on screen allowed me to see the characters in a whole new way. Lets see, what else. Training started for jumpstart once again. I've been talking to people from last year that I never really talked to before. They really are great people. And I believe I'm going to get to know them a whole lot better this year. I've already been invited to a bowling tournament, *laughs. That should be fun. A bowl off between jumpstart teams. I'm the only returner on my team, well besides the team leader. There is actually one whole team with returners from last year. And this year there is one guy on my team, no more all girls team, yay. Sorry, but a team with all girls has way too much drama, lol. Not that I don't love my old teammates. They are fabulous girls. Its just, well nine females together dealing with school, boys and work you know theres tons of drama there, lol. So we have fti on sat, which is 7 long hours of training. And I do mean long. I remember last year, I thought I was going to die. Fortunately, its only one day. Last year was two extra long days of training. Especially since I went to Knotts Scary Farm that saturaday night and got completely soaked from head to toe. That was sooo much fun though, hehe. I dont' think I'll be going this year though. Money is pretty tight, especially now that there is some sort of problem with my financial aid. I could say that I'm not worried, but that would be lying. I don't really know what happened. My dad said that the financial aid office was complaining about his credit. But I was approved for the loan last year. Why on earth would they wait till right now to say something. Thats not right. They should have said I couldn't have the money in the beginning.If I don't get the money, I don't know what I'm going to do. Its a pretty big chunk that I'm missing. So now I'm hoping and praying that everything works out *sigh. Anyways, Christy came down for a party at our friend Joe's house. It was lots of fin. We danced so much that we were sore in the morning. It was good to see everyone again. Halloween weekend I plan on going to see Christy. She is always coming to Irvine, so I figured I could go to see her in Santa Barbara. Other people said they wanted to go at first. But it looks like they all changed their minds. Oh well, I guess I will find out soon enough. Ok, well I think I wasted enough time. I'm going to go do something productive now. See Ya!