Sweet Catastrophe

So I survived my final exams! ACED was ridiculous. I walked all the way over there to discover that they double-booked our classroom for that exam slot so after my mile-long trek I had to climb 3 flights of stairs (I had no idea where the elevator was…). So then we sat like little zombies while people finished giving PowerPoint presentations. One girl did hers on Mexico, and instead of giving a presentation on vacations, she basically did a cultural presentation so I got to re-live that portion of Spanish class.

After that we had to create this really quick PowerPoint. The only parts that took any time were finding appropriate images and setting up our own customized theme. Of course, she didn’t get to see those themes since the printers in our substitute classroom weren’t color….*blank stare* So she basically glanced at it and gave us our 50 points for that.

Spanish the next morning was a little rough. She put the easiest material in the easiest sections and the toughest stuff in the complicated sections. So the reading comprehension was over questions I could’ve answered without any reading material (The Food Guide Pyramid) and the multiple choice questions were all either really easy or just really obvious. Our oral section was a mixture of simple and way too complicated, and then we had a 75 word composition that involved elements we had just covered and I absolutely wouldn’t have remembered unless I specifically looked at them beforehand. It was a tad harsh.

Of course they weren’t buying back the Spanish books–they’ve got new ones. So what did I do? I BURNED that horrid thing—–praying that Sra. Cano wouldn’t find some crazy way to fail me.

On Monday I couldn’t check my grades because the health center hadn’t manually verified that I’d already paid for my blood work. Today though, holding my breath I checked my grades. I GOT A B IN SPANISH!! Now, don’t mistake my excitement, I know I deserved that B, but I really thought she was going to work it into a C, like she did last semester. So tonight I happily sat outside and burned the rest of my Spanish notes. It felt way too good. *grin*

I’m actually pretty proud of myself right now. I hate doing Quia (online workbook for foreign language classes) so I don’t usually do terribly well. Well, I just went back and redid a lot of my Quia from this year both for practice for the final tomorrow and to get higher scores. I emailed her to ask if I could use the new scores; I see no reason she’d be against that since she’s been known to let people *ahem*melastsemester*ahem* do it all at once at the end of the semester anyway. I worked at it until I got to where I should have an 88 overall on Quia. I’m happy with that–really, I usually have low scores there. It should be easy enough, but I don’t totally cheat my way through it, and it’s hard not to get distracted and just blow of entire portions.

After I finished that I actually sat and put together a possible composition. She gave us an idea of what our composition would be on the final, so I’ve got a pretty positive idea of what she’ll want from us. They’re usually only 50 words, so that’s what I wrote up, but then our official one this semester had to be 100. I think I’m gonna add to it, just to be prepared, but I’d hope she wouldn’t make it that big for the final exam. Once I get done, I’ll probably memorize it. Why not, right?

I’ll be perfectly okay with a C in her class. That’s what I’m telling myself because that’s enough to mean I’m done with foreign languages. I expect a B, but I thought I had a high B last semester and she showed me a low C….so I’m just preparing for the worst this time.

I’ve got an exam tonight at 7. I have to make another PowerPoint. No big deal. The Spanish exam is tomorrow at lunch and then I’m done.

I’ve got to work all weekend, and it’s gonna be rough–it’s graduation weekend and I plan to fully participate in all activities…Kings of Valdosta, beer pong, Shut the Box, and drunken versions of Scene It and Thesaurus Pictionary!

I’ve gotta send Keri and Andrew off right, ya know! Which reminds me–I need to finish cleaning before parents start showing up.

Two of my presentations are over and done so I’m feeling a little relief. Spanish is pretty much all I’m worried about now. We’ve got a presentation there that well, I don’t think is gonna be so hot and then I need to really prepare for the final. I didn’t do so well on the final last semester. It was very straightforward and there wasn’t a lot to it so a bunch of careless mistakes really cost me. I need to watch out for that this semester–she grades me pretty strenuously since she thinks I’m a good student, just not there enough. I hate when teachers do that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad she’s cutting me some slack on her absence policy, but I wish she wouldn’t make it such a personal thing.

So it’s almost over. Two more Spanish classes and one Spanish final and I’m done with Spanish! Soon I can stop faking my Spanish knowledge! Woo! I’m kinda proud that I’ve somehow managed to b.s. two full semesters of Spanish…

Yeah I pretty much just realized I have 3 presentations due next week.

For General Studies, I need to re-write a few things from my previous papers on my areas of emphasis and just decide what all I want to say. That won’t be a big deal. If I get inspired, I’m gonna pull together some clips of Pam and/or Ryan from The Office since I’m focusing a lot on Administrative Assistants and Temp work. Thus far, no one else presenting has done anything really other than just standing and talking about what they want to do and this isn’t an assignment Mrs. Walden has ever done before so I’m not too worried about my grade.

For ACED, I’ve got to create a PowerPoint with some rigid time limits and list of strict guidelines. Our subject is a vacation spot. I only decided today what my subject would be and it’s due next Tuesday–oops! I’d thought about covering somewhere/something I’ve never experienced before, like Outer Banks, something like that, but then I realized I just went on an amazing Disney vacation so that’ll be really fresh in my mind! On this one I just need to make sure I give myself enough time to do it–I know I’ll get about halfway through it and get sick of putting it together; that’s what I always do when I have to put together a PowerPoint.

Finally, the one I’m worried about, I’ve got a group PowerPoint to do in Spanish class. We weren’t technically given a due date, but we all worked out that it’ll be next Friday. Unfortunately, my group hasn’t even met over it yet. Also, we have to write a one page paper for it, in Spanish, and the presentation has to be in Spanish as well. I know this is Spanish class, but it’s a cultural presentation, not language, and I’m not sure how we’re supposed to get our point across and have anyone in the class understand it other than the teacher. Obviously we’re going to have to employ words our fellow students haven’t encountered yet…We’ve decided we’re gonna make the PowerPoint in English and we’ll speak in Spanish. We don’t think she’s going to like it that much, but I think she’ll deal. It’s not like we’re gonna be alloted enough time to ‘teach’ the class the words as we’re trying to get through the presentation. I really hate when teachers don’t think assignments through.

So there’s been some concern around P-view about next semester’s possible occupants. Keri’s current roommate is….well she’s great, but she’s a harder partier than pretty much all of us combined. There had been talk of her having one of her friends move in over here, which would keep them both around a lot more—lot’s of possibilities for some less-than-desirable moments around here.

This weekend though, I found out that’s all been straightened! She’s moving out altogether and two theatre friends, Scroggs and Carl are moving in–both great guys. Of course that means more testosterone around, but I think I’m getting used to that. Having Scroggs around might be really good for Ryan too–they’re the kind of friends that are close when they’re around each other a lot but they easily get separated. I’m hoping maybe he’ll be the boost Ryan needs in motivation to finish out everything at VSU.

I’m sure we’ll have fun though. Scroggs is planning on bringing down his awesome grill from home so I’m supposed to be on the lookout for good deals on a grill cover. If I’m lucky, that means I’ll occasionally have someone around here cooking an awesome meal for me instead of the other way around! I really gotta stop feeding all these guys around here…

Today we had a guest lecturer. Before class, I was napping nicely, but forced myself to head to class, as a favor to my teacher since our guest was her boss.

What did we discuss?

Leadership.

I’m so annoyed right now. I hate being lectured on idealistic bullshit. HATE.

Gah I could scream. Right, characteristics that great leaders possess are great characteristics to have, but you don’t just throw all these characteristics in a bowl and out pops a great leader! There’s more to being a great leader than possessing all these ‘good’ characteristics.

And no–leaders are not born. Get the fuck over that idea. Just because someone is inherently charismatic doesn’t mean they’ll form a leader. There’s a tad more to the process!

*headdesk* And HEY! What about this idea? I DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT BECOMING A GREAT LEADER.

If you wanna come in and tell me that it’s great and helpful in the job world to possess characteristics we often associate with great leaders, that’s fine, but don’t tell me I need to strive to be a leader. WTF.

Seriously, I’m getting so sick of these ideals that in order to be happy, you must strive for something big.

Really, what’s so wrong with settling if it makes you happy? “Ohh Jade, you might miss out on something!” Right…I might miss out on something if I go to bed an hour early. I might miss out on something if I cook tonight instead of going out to eat. BIG DEAL. Whatever choices you make in life, you’re also choosing against something else, and therefore you miss out on that something else. That’s life!

Just because I’m capable of doing big things doesn’t mean I have to, nor does it mean I’m going to be unhappy if I don’t. Why can’t people understand this? Why does everyone feel like you’ve got to always be reaching for something big?

Let’s break it down into a simple example. There’s a box of cookies in front of me. There are 30 cookies in there. I only want 5. I can have 30 cookies if I want to, nothing’s stopping me, but I only want 5. Five cookies will make me happy. I have no desire to continue eating 25 more just because it’s possible. Is there something wrong with that?

God I hate going to this class. It’s such a constant reminder that people think ‘thinking big’ is necessary. What if I could pay my bills and be happy being a cashier for the rest of my life. Can someone tell me what’s SO damn wrong with something like that? Purely example of course.

I certainly don’t have the details yet, but the gist of it goes a little something like this:
Ryan and I were having lunch at Pizza Hut when I got the following text message from Catie–

“Omfg what’s going on at VSU? Beka got a txt saying there are cops with guns telling ppl to lock their class doors in fine arts!”

Fine Arts is a building on campus. So Ryan called Rich, teacher and technical director in the Fine Arts building and Rich was clueless, but he opened his office door and a cop just outside told him to go back in and lock his door or leave the building. Hmm…frightening!

So text messages are flying, both trying to find out what’s going on and warn others not to go to the building when finally I have Ryan call Scroggs, someone I’m certain must be there. Mystery solved.

An idiotic theatre major was running around the building with a prop gun. Someone called the cops. The cops were there looking for him.

Now, I don’t like Drew (the idiotic theatre major), but I’m thinking whoever called the cops did a fairly stupid thing here….Now, don’t get me wrong, I know these are crazy times and it’s better safe than sorry, but you’re in the theatre building and no one else is freaking out over this kid, so why doesn’t your common sense kick in a little?

On the other hand, I almost hope someone called just to get him in trouble. Heh.

I’ll update if I get anymore specifics. We’re all hypothesizing that if he’s found, he’ll probably have to spend a night in jail–no more though.

EDIT: I just got a call from VSUs Campus Alert system that sends out calls to those who’ve added their number to be alerted of emergency situations on campus. The message is also on the home page and is as follows:

At approximately 12:25 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, VSU Police received a call from a student who stated that he saw a man in the Fine Arts Building with what appeared to be a gun. VSU Police immediately responded to the building and began a lock-down of the Fine Arts Building, which included a room-by-room search. University Police have the suspect in custody and have recovered the alleged weapons, that are now confirmed to be stage props from the Theatre Department. The investigation is ongoing. VSU Police have determined the area safe.

I’m laughing. I’m laughing a lot.

I’m sitting in front of a list of things I was supposed to do last night and only one of them got completed. I went upstairs to watch television–maybe take a little nap, and ended up passing out.

I woke up for about two hours after Ryan crawled into bed and watched tv for a bit before falling back out. I guess I was pretty tired though…

I got up early this morning so I could study a little for my Spanish test today, but you see what I’m doing! I’m not expecting to do well on this one, but she’s allowing a retake later, so I’m not too worried, but I really do hate doing poorly on something.

You should see the mountain of stuff I have to get done between 12 and 3 today. I totally dropped the ball on homework this weekend! Oops!

Have you upgraded to Office 2007 yet? No? Why not? Oh yeah, Office is ridiculously expensive.

I found a little deal a while back that I keep forgetting to share though. The Ultimate Steal is a deal from Microsoft. Current U.S. students can buy Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for only $59.95.

The only requirements are a valid U.S. email address ending in .edu and that you be actively enrolled in at least 0.5 course load. (Their words, I’m guessing you have to be enrolled for at least half-time status.)

You purchase your license and download. A backup disc is also available for a fee, and if you ever need to re-download the software, or you have problems with your original download, they offer a variety of ways to grab it again.

The deal is valid from September 2007- April 30, 2008.

I’m signed up for a Microsoft survey program that runs in the background on my computer–after 3 months I’m supposed to be eligible for a free Microsoft product of my choosing, but I think if I wait for that, I’ll be cutting it close to the deadline for this deal, so currently, the plan is to use some of my small bit of excess financial aid this semester to get it. I really need it to be able to do all my ACED assignments at home, anyway and classes end in April.

So check it out guys! Seriously, it’s like a 90% off discount…just on the Office website, it’s $679.95 to buy new and $539.99 to upgrade… so yeah, you’re saving a little bit of money…it’s honestly one of the best deals I’ve ever found.

We’re taking a break right now. The grumpy-looking woman turned out to be my teacher, but she’s definitely not grumpy. That’s a plus.

Unfortunately, she has the most basic knowledge of computers. Now, I’m this doesn’t ring true for her knowledge of different Office programs, which we’ll get into very soon, because that’s what I was looking forward to truly learning. I mean really, this woman clicked the links in a spammy paypal email. And she’s just amazed by the internet, “I mean how do they do that?”

Okay we’re starting again. Maybe I won’t end up teaching my teacher…