Christmas Past

  I have so many childhood memories of Christmas when I was little, I thought I'd share a few.  I'm sure they're totally ordinary memories that most kids would share, but sentimental nonetheless.  So in no particular order, I'll list some.

  Now of course I have memories of opening presents, rubbing lipstick off my cheeks from over affectionate family members that only saw me once a year, and singing messed up versions of carols with siblings and friends.  Those are nice and everything but here are a few that really stuck with me.

  First off, I totally believed in Santa until I was about 10 or 11.  I had friends who didn't believe who had parents that encouraged the logical thinking aka lack of imagination (in my opinion).  I'd had many a heated argument with my non-believing friends that was not entirely unlike a religious debate.  I was a kid with some pretty stubborn convictions.  My parents were really good at making the whole Santa thing convincing.  We used to put out cookies and carrots (for the reindeer) and find them on Christmas morning with bites taken out of them.  That, to child me, was indisputable scientific evidence right there.  I officially stopped believing around the time my age hit double digits, I don't remember a specific moment I stopped; I think it was just a gradual painless realization.

  A few other Santa related memories include: My mom dressing me and my siblings in nice clothes that were all velvet and long sleeved as if it was cold outside (hah!) and dragging us to the mall to wait in a theme park sized line to take pictures with Santa.  I always found mall Santas to be a little creepy... They sit on a throne of lies (Elf!!).  Also, I remember being maybe 4 or so when I had a HUGE epiphany.  It was the perfect loophole!  I could be bad, and Santa would give me clothes instead of toys BUT I would still get good presents from my other family members.  Then my mom said she would just tell everyone I was bad and make sure they didn't get me anything.  Dammit.  I lost my case.

  One of the best parts of the season is the lights.  My siblings and I had the tradition of screaming "CHRISTMAS LIIIIGHTS" at the top of our lungs when we went by a lit up house.  A fair amount of houses were decorated so driving through any given neighborhood was potential hell for our parents.  Luckily for them, if we did it too much, they had the power of turning on loud Tejano music until we begged them to turn it down and promised to be quiet the whole way home. Good times...

  I also remember going to Ma and Pa's for Christmas.  They were my grandparents and their house always smelled like cigarettes.  To me, it just smelled like their house and never really bothered me too much.  I remember when Ma got Bria a box of spiders, and me a bag of snakes.  That was pretty awesome cause we got like every specie of snake and spider.  They were plastic by the way.  Did you think my own grandmother actually gave me live poisonous snakes for Christmas??  Wow, you're terrible.

  Hah!! And then there was my great aunt who had the wooden letters N O E L on her mantel.  Only problem was, she arranged them to say NOLE.  My dad rearranged them only to have her switch them back.  Hahahah so stupid.  We even have photographic evidence.  It's priceless.

  I also remember breaking a few fragile glass ornaments before my parents figured out that small children = nice ornaments go out of reach on the tree.  I remember being pretty small and deciding to hold the ornament and it slipped out of my hands and shattered into a million glittery pieces.  Broken Christmas ornaments always remind of me of The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Saw that movie when I was 2 years old and it still makes a lasting impression on me.  But back to the ornament incident, I did what every 4 year old did when they break something; I walked away at a pretty fast pace.

  The great thing about Christmas is that is doesn't lose its charm as you get older, it just kind of changes.  I look forward to it every year, and every year I'm convinced it was the best Christmas ever.  I hate being cheesy about it, but there's really no way around that. :)

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Emotional Education

  This was my final essay for Composition 1 and I wanted to share it with everyone.  I made a 90 on it, and I'm pretty proud.  The subject is something very meaningful to me. ♥

My Emotional Education

     Like most of my peers, my first responsibility—my first “job”—was focusing on school: studying, reading, and memorizing.  Many of my friends were like me, channeling some of their energy toward fleeting romantic relationships, ever searching for the “right” person.  As I worked apprehensively toward college, my academic education gave way, replaced by my “other” education—my emotional education.  Like David Brooks, Op-Ed Columnist for the New York Times, I feel that “our emotional educations are much more important to our long-term happiness and the quality of our lives” than our scholastic ones. Indeed, the lessons I have learned from this alternative curriculum, as Brooks calls it, my “byproduct(s) of the search for pleasure”, have undeniably altered my path through life.

     A few fleeting years ago, I had the basic insecurity of a teenager, afraid that if I didn’t meet that “special someone”, I might possibly end up spending my adult life alone.  This, in retrospect, was not a mature, realistic approach.  It was my 15-year-old brain reeling from an immature assumption that life emulates the movies—find your true love and live happily ever after.   

     As I got older, I came to the conclusion that a boyfriend wasn’t really needed—this nicety wasn’t a necessity.  I no longer worried about romantic relationships, and began channeling my mental energy toward bettering myself through a traditional education.  I had friends, family, and even pets to support me—I did not need a romantic encounter to feel “complete”.

     My emotional education commenced during summer vacation, 2008.  James was painfully shy, and seemed to reflect my hesitation when it came to the opposite sex.  He spoke to my heart when he played guitar in my friend’s basement, and I sat there and took in the music, attracted to him, but skeptical about this encounter.  Hours later, our entire group attended an inspiring outdoor 4^th of July concert, complete with music, fireworks, and the Gettysburg Address.  Between festivities, James and I spent a whirlwind evening sitting on a patriotic blanket, sipping root beer and holding innumerable, random discussions about life, love, and laughter.  Slowly our emotional walls crumbled, allowing friendship and romance to creep in. Three days later, I found myself back in San Antonio, alone, prepared for the termination of this “summer fling”—distance would probably end this relationship, and I had accepted that reality.

     Since that fateful encounter over two years ago, not a day has gone by that James and I have not spoken.  Tons of frequent flyer miles have accrued between us, and we will once again spend Christmas with his family, returning together to San Antonio for the New Year. Plans are in the offing that, after completing our traditional educations, we will cash in those miles and merge our two lives into one.

     The outcome of my emotional education was unbelievably surprising, not at all the way I assumed it would be. Like Frederick Douglass states in his Narrative, “it was just what I wanted, and I got it at a time when I least expected it” (41).  Indeed, my emotional education has taught me that life is not all about me anymore.  I have learned that life goals are not always planned, not always achieved by following a formula.  I, like Douglass, am “gladdened by the invaluable instruction which, by the merest accident, I (have) gained” (40).

 Works Cited

Brooks, David. “The Other Education.” The New York Times. The New York Times

     Company, 26 Nov. 2009. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.

     New York: Barnes & Noble’s Classics, 2003. Print.

Memories Oct 08

  Reminiscing is one of my favorite pastimes and some of my favorite things to reminisce about are memories I've spent with James.  I like to keep things chronological so I'll start with the first time we got together after we met.  It was October 2008.  We're about to start 2011 now so 2008 seems like a million gajillion years ago.  It was 3 months after I met James and we went to Homecoming at FHS together.

  Seeing him again after those short 3 days we first spent together was surreal.  Also surreal was flying on a plane for the first time since I was a 3 year old.  James and I went on our first official date to McDonalds.  Romantic, right?  I'm lovin' it.  Below is one of the first pictures we took together.

  AH my God we were so young!!  James had braces and I didn't know how to wear makeup.  We had both only been 17 for a few months.  James was still definitely the most attractive guy I had ever seen, and the best part is, with every passing day he's only gotten more and more attractive.

  Then we went to the dance itself which was a lot of fun.  We listened to "Cherub Rock" by The Smashing Pumpkins on the way there.  At the dance they played what is still one of my favorite songs  "Whatever You Like" bye T.I.  We requested they play "Cherry Pie" by Warrant (and they totally did).  Oh and "Bad Girlfriend" by Buckcherry is also an important song on that list.  All those songs still remind me of Homecoming.

  Once we got home we changed into PJs, and watched South Park till we fell asleep.  Pretty awesome way to end the night.  Unfortunately, I was only there for about 3 or 4 days.  But we had Christmas to look forward to, and you can probably guess what my next blog will be about... ⁏]

  Also during that particular weekend, we went Facebook official.  We basically started dating when we met but were hesitant about going public.  I mean, I wasn't sure if it was gonna last and neither was he.  But we got on Facebook and he was just like "Wanna be in a relationship?" and I remember saying something along the lines of "Sure!".  So he sent me a request and I accepted and it's been that way ever since. ♡

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Spring Edumacationz

  Me being the mentally unstable person that I am, I signed up to continue college for the spring semester.  I managed to find some good classes, and I can only hope they'll treat me like a lady.

  I signed up the on 2nd day of registration and Comp 2 was already filled.  Damn.  Oh well, it's really a good thing because it saves me a lot of pain and anguish.  I hate despise papers.  I would've signed up for Contemporary math for liberal arts majors but, since I did so badly in the math accuplacer, I can't take it.  It's a shame because it looks really easy with not a single mention of algebra (my arch nemesis).  I would have to take the zero credit algebra classes before taking my required non-algebra math.  See what's wrong with this picture?

  But without further ado, here are next semester's classes.

  American/TX: National State (GOVT):  This is a pretty important core class.  My experience with government class in high school wasn't too bad, but I'm not in Kansas anymore.  There will obviously be papers, text books from hell, you name it.  Government is not a huge interest of mine, but I want to get it out of the way.  


  Introduction to Weather: This is a huge science credit, and a science class I would totally like.  I've always loved meteorology and when I was little I thought it would be badass to be a storm chaser, of course I now realize how extremely suicidal that is.  Spending a good part of my childhood in the middle of nowhere increased my interest in weather.  I feel pretty confident about getting good grades in this class.  

  And finally I will be taking 
  Intro to World Religions: ☯ I love religion studies.  They're fascinating and rich in culture/history.  Particular religions that attract me (other than Catholicism) are Buddhism and Kabbalah as well as Paganism.  Incorporating teachings from all religions is a good way to have a well rounded spiritual experience and to just be a more worldly person.  This class should be a lot of fun!  And don't worry, I will not turn into an obnoxious religion snob who feels the need to debate (aka argue) about it every chance I get.


  Well this about sums up my future spring.  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! Something I may or may not blog about.  By the way, if any of my friends read these, feel free to suggest something for me to blog about.  I have some ideas, but other people might have better ones. ;〉

Edumacationz

  I'm gonna be perfectly honest here and say that college is not a walk in the park.  I'm a freshman going on 9 hrs this semester and next.  I'm all signed up for the spring and I'm just hoping things go as well then as they are now.  I can't imagine doing college full time and working.  To me, that's just suicidal.  Another thing to note is that all my classes are currently online classes, and I'm not ashamed.

  I guess I would like college more if I really knew what I wanted to do with my life.  I mean I have a few subjects that I like and I want to go into a career involving them.  Which career in particular?  No clue.  I really envy people who just know exactly what they want and pursue it.

  But enough whining, here are my current classes.  In a later blog I'll discuss my spring classes.  

  This semester I'm taking,
  English Composition 1:  Basically this class is more of a pain than anything.  Pretty much every single thing in this class is a giant inconvenience.  I understand college as a whole is an inconvenience; but this class takes it to a new level.  Now don't get me wrong, the required reading was good (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass).  But pretty much everything assigned in the class makes me hate it.  I'm not the constant paper writing type.

  General Psychology:  Probably my most interesting class so far.  I took it on because I wanted to, not just because it's a core class.  I'm an introvert, but I think people and the way they think are fascinating.  The textbook is wonderfully interesting and has lots a colorful pictures to hold my attention. haha  Becoming some sort of therapist is definitely a possible future career for me.
 
  Last, but not least, there's
  U.S. History 1:  Also a class I chose out of pure interest.  My teacher is on the picky temperamental side, but I think I know what she looks for so it's not too bad.  I rented the textbook, but I'm afraid I can't return it in its current condition.  It looks like I decided to study while skydiving and had a rough landing.  I'm just gonna pay in full for it instead of handing it back in and embarrassing myself.  You may not be able to tell by the picture below, but the book is pretty beat up.

  
  US History is challenging but in a good way.  I enjoy it, despite how demanding it is, and I grudgingly admit I've learned a lot.  Just observe the pure badassery below.

  That would be some epic whaling on one page, and my distant cousin on the other.  History is great, but my question is, what would I do with a history degree (other than teach) that I could make a living off of?  Maybe museum science or something.

  The last "class" I had to take was two full saturdays of Student Development.  Notice the class did not get the fancy bold print the other ones did.  That's because it's not a real class.  It was pretty much a waste of time.  SAC forces all incoming freshmen to pay for and take it.  I just thank baby Jesus I got it over and done with.

  Each of my real classes are 3 hrs worth and all academic.  I am completely ready for a break and look forward to Christmas with James. ♡

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My Blog!

  So I really really like to talk.  When I was little I was told I talk too much.  I just have a lot to say!  So I figured it would do me some good to put my thoughts into a blog as opposed to facebook notes.  I use those mainly for time wasting surveys anyway.  I tried Tumblr but just couldn't get the hang of it, so that's why I'm here. 

  Anyway!  Whenever I feel like ranting about something, I'll do it here.  It's totally up to you if you want to read my blogs, but I'm really just blogging for my benefit.  I like the sound of typing on a keyboard.  I'll try to prevent my postings from getting too long, but I refuse to post just one or two sentences.  That, my friends, is a Tweet not a true post! ..... http://twitter.com/songbird1331

  This weekend marks the beginning of Thanksgiving week.  Yeah my school load doesn't cut me much slack, but I intend on practicing more gluttony than usual.

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