(no subject)
Classes started for me the Tuesday before last. I can tell already that this will be the most demanding one to date - I made it into the 490 writing intensive I'd mentioned earlier! - so I'll have all that class reading, plus research and writing (25 page paper), plus my upper level French and p.i.t.a. Latin class, and then an elective that I'm trying not to buy the book for (since it's a "specially customized" book made for the prof by some company... which makes me afraid that it would have no resale value, and it's $100!). The language classes are difficult, but at least I have my history class to look forward to! It's a seminar style class, which is... different. I'll have to be a "discussion leader" week after next, and frankly I do not relish talking in class and in general feel insecure about my ability to make ~deep insights~ into the reading that would me worthy of the Discussion Leader title, haha, but I think I'm overthinking it. At least there'll be two other people doing it with me!
I've been diligently avoiding my studies as much as I might actually diligently complete them, haha, a habit I should lose before this semester really gets grinding. For one, I just started going back the gym! Actually it's really strange, I just woke up this past Wednesday with this thought, I must go to the gym/I must do the elliptical, cemented on my brain. I wonder if I had some odd dream that just inspired it? It's something I'd been thinking about off and on...
Anyway, the past few nights Curtis and I have gone to the workout facility in the Estates' Clubhouse. I have to say, I forgot how much I loved doing the elliptical. Back in high school I did just about every morning - I'd wake up at some ungodly hour and knock it out before school. Sometimes I'd do it after school too - it really is very fun, especially when you put your listen to music... Is it showing my age if I say I remember struggling to get my Walkman not to fall off when I'd work out?
I've also been prowling around taobao.com. It's basically like this Chinese etsy. Except I don't think there's so much vintage stuff, and their handmade apparel stuff is so cute! I really want this (in white), this, and this. The prices are so much lower than what comparable items would be at the mall, even with shipping factored in. Plus I feel like that sort of very cute aesthetic isn't just available over here.
Not something I'm doing now to distract myself... But over the break I watched Panty & Stocking. It's an anime by Gainax that stylistically is inspired by Western cartoons, and it's gotten quite the buzz. I'd heard various things - I think it's something you just love or hate. Since I finished the series, I think you can tell what camp I'm in. I found it to be very smart and subversive, and funny in all its outrageousness. Also watching Stocking eat all these roll cakes really makes me want to travel Japan and sample all the delicacies from their patisseries.
I forget if I mentioned it, but back in December I ordered a few slip dresses from Sechuna. They came in a week or two ago, and I've been wearing them almost constantly since. I love them! They're unfitted and trimmed with lace, so they work well layered under dresses or sweaters and over jeans or tights. I definitely want to get some more - maybe I can find a taobao store that has natural kei or mori type stuff.
Adieu!
PS: I bought a French press a few weeks ago, it's amazing! I highly recommend them.