New Blah-g Post!

Oh look at that, I haven't blogged in almost a month...no, wait - it's only July 19th (my mind keeps trying to jump me ahead to August...probably cause that's when summer classes end, I move into my new apt., and Fall classes begin).

So, here's a quick update on the past 15 days...

• I uploaded the non-linear short story I wrote about Chernobyl for my Writing for New Media class, you can see/read it (HERE).
• This is where I'm at in terms of graduating (apparently the picture just HAD to have it's own bullet point...what a snob):
• After Fall semester, I'll only have about 8 classes left (about 2 semesters) - assuming I can get into the classes that are required for my major (if I can't, then it's gonna draw this out a little longer...which will definitely upset me...but the upside will be that I can push back loan repayment AND I can continue to avoid getting one of those "paying-your-dues-entry-level-blah" type jobs that you get between getting your degree and finding your career). I'm hoping to be done by the end of next summer though. -- Also...my GPA isn't really that high, by the end of the summer semester it'll be closer to a 3.1

• I thought I bombed a test for my Vis. Comm. class (turned out I managed to get an 83...not too shabby considering the fact that I only read about 1/2 the readings and missed the review) - I also got a 94 on a scrapbook project for the same class. If I'm lucky, I think I'll manage to get a B in this class (which I realize isn't exactly aiming high, but I'm trying to do well in all my classes while also keeping myself from getting overly stressed - if that means getting a B in order  to keep my sanity, then so be it)!

• I got through a paper (book report/analysis paper) and an all essay midterm (both due at the exact same time - I wound up pulling an all-nighter to finish reading the book and write the paper by 8am and then spent the hours between 9 and 11:50 working on the midterm. IF zombies could feel...I could seriously say that I know how they feel (although, if they're undead do they really feel tired and achey?)

• I started a new workout routine (well...not really "routine" I really just threw in a little more structure) by starting the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred:

For the record: I am a total wuss! I've done level 1 multiple times over the past week and 1/2 (midterms threw me off, and finals probably will to so it's gonna wind up being more of a 30-ish Day Shred :p) and I STILL haven't gotten through Level 1 without wussing out one way or another. Today, I thought I'd go ahead and give Level 2 a try...I made it through 5 minutes and then switched back to Level 1. 

• I've started using Google+ and I love it. If you don't know what it is, it's basically Facebook (but greatly improved) with a bit of Twitter thrown in. You can read more about it (HERE). It's given me a way to interact and network MUCH more with Photographers, Designers, etc. without worrying about giving away too much personal information (or just being obnoxious in general - anyone who's friends with me on Facebook, knows what I'm talking about).
  Anyway - I have invites if you're interested.
  
• I've been trying to really make an effort when it comes to social networking because I really want to be able to confidently say that I know how to use social networking. The better I know how to use social networking, the better I think I can get an idea of how it can really be harnessed for marketing by businesses and how it can create more symbiotic relationships between customers and companies/professionals. Social networking is quickly becoming the main tool people use to interact with one another on a broader level (even globally), it's also becoming one of the main ways that we can interact with our world. I realize people complain about it all the time "Oh, it's the fall of Western Civilization all because of Myspace and Facebook blah blah blah..." but the thing is, if people don't stop complaining and start accepting it and using it to it's fullest potential, then we'll all miss out on an opportunity to make social networking a GOOD thing rather than a BAD thing. For example, if we set a standard now of insisting that companies are more responsive and transparent in their dealings with customers, think of how that would improve businesses in the long run? If we learn now how to really use and implement this technology, think of all the GOOD that can come of it. Things only get bad if you LET them!
  
  Okay, I'll get off the soap box now...but expect to see a blog post about this in the future!

• I've had "boy problems" - Let's just turn this into a quick analogy:
  *I used to have this favorite cookie Choco-Chip, but things got pretty bad between the Choco-chip cookie and I so we split, and I avoided the Choco-chip cookie.
  *A long while (and other cookies) later, I started to talk to with Sugar cookie, and then hung out with Sugar cookie for a bit (and realized that Sugar cookie's a LOT of fun to be around).
  *Shortly after this, I started to talk to Choco-Chip cookie again and realized that it was still my favorite (but I kind of felt like I shouldn't give into this realization because, as the saying goes, 'history repeats itself').
  *Decided not to give into realization and to try and move on (but it's really difficult). Meanwhile, Sugar cookie is busy, but still sweet on me. Although I think its interest in becoming a favorite has waned.
  *I realized that through ALL this, there are a couple of other cookies (we'll call em...'Boy Scout' cookies) that are around every now and then and are all very sweet on me, so I'm happy to spend time with them, but I kind of question their level of interest.
  *For now, I've decided to just let things happen, I've put forth too much effort in the past and things got crumbly. Besides, all the worry and thought I put into cookie selection and etc. usually just stresses me out WAY more than it needs to. If a cookie's interested in becoming my favorite, I'm sure it will figure out a way to make it happen (not like it's THAT difficult). 

I know what you're thinking! "Did she just compare guys to cookies?!" Yes, yes I did...but only because the category was the first thing I could think of that has no obvious hierarchy (beyond personal preferences) and contains a variety of different entities. 

....I never was all that good with analogies.  - So...yeah, that's my dating life - for now - but that was just the last 2 weeks...stuff happens quickly in my life! :p

• Oh, so speaking of food! - A while back, I reviewed a Bakery and Tea shop here in SLC on Yelp.com and today I received the Yelp - SLC Newsletter in my inbox and found that, MY review is one of the Picks of the Week! (Probably only because they did a search for "tea reviews" and mine was the most recent one posted)  - Apparently it's pretty easy to make me feel accomplished.

• Update on my goal of getting more sleep - It's not working out so well. Between the random all-nighters (which are my fault and I'm trying to prevent em) and all the noise of the dorms (at all hours of the day/night too - mostly loud people, loud parties, and loud music - there IS a sound curfew, but no one obeys it and and no one enforces it), I really haven't been getting very much sleep.  :\
  Thank goodness I move out at the end of the month.
  
• Update on my goal of eating better - Did I NOT just use an entire cookie analogy!? So...I'm not exactly eating better - the dining hall is ALWAYS crowded (EFY, conferences, and sports camps ensure this throughout the summer) and lately I've been avoiding it like the plague, and just eating granola bars or whatever cheap this or that I can get at the deli (usually sushi/CA rolls or a salad <- but with tons of dressing cause for some reason I've been completely averse to greens - no idea why!) Every now and then (but definitely more often than I should) I'll go out to get something (I'm addicted to the Cheddar Broccoli soup at Corner Bakery Cafe - I don't even like broccoli! - and I am in LOVE with L&L Hawaiian's Kalua Pork and Spam Musubi, so much so that I'm now determined to learn how to make it myself). The good news is that I'm eating less, the bad news is that it's either WAY less than I should (I'm certain my body is growing ever more concerned that there's a food shortage that it doesn't know about) or just stuff that's not particularly healthy.  This will all improve soon enough when I'm living with my cousin...I just hope she's cool with my taking over the kitchen now and then (don't worry, I'll do the dishes!) :p

Okay...well...I'm gonna call that good for now.

At this point,...I'm pretty sure that only my Mom, Aunt, and bestie, Jessica read my blog (<- I still read yours Jess...I've just been lame about commenting, sorry!)