Sweet Catastrophe

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…

I made it here. It was about a 30 minute walk with all the turns and almost walking in circles to get around construction blockage. It really just sank in how long I’m about to sit in this class. 5-7:45…. Generally, on the first day, professors go over the syllabus, discuss some general information about the course, and then you’re free. This class only meets once a week though, so I think it’s very likely my professor will want to dive right in and not waste one of our days…I think there are only like, 16 if you count final exam day…

I hope the woman sitting in here now is only using the room during lab hours. She looks a little grumpy. I don’t need a grumpy professor for 3 hours straight. Maybe a search for “cheap hotel Las Vegas” is in order. She looks like she could use a vacation…and maybe some male strippers….and some vodka. For God’s sake people, let’s find this woman some ‘happy’!! That grows on trees in Vegas, right?

“God beer me strength” hehe

I have no idea how to get to my class… Our big parking lot is under construction. They’re turning it into a parking garage. This construction is in front of the building I’m going to. No shuttles are running near it right now. This means I have about a mile to walk to class. Even then, I’m not sure which paths are cut off by construction, and which ones are open. This is really about to suck a whole helluvalot. This also means I have to walk that same mile back home at 8 o’clock tonight. Could someone send me a new can of mace?

It’s 12:40 now and I haven’t even been up for 30 minutes. That’s not totally out of the ordinary. What’s different is that it’s a school day, but I haven’t skipped any classes, nor am I running late, yet, I slept in past lunch. This feels good.

On Tuesdays, I have one class. I have my ACED 2400 class from 5-7:45. It’s only once a week, but it’s actually a little longer than most 3 credit classes, but it’s a computer class, so I don’t mind so much.

Later in the semester, I’ll most likely be working all day before this class, but for now, I’m enjoying my free time.

Day 1 was a decent day, just really busy. The three classes I had were spaced with just enough downtime in between and I like all my teachers. My Brit Lit teacher is going to be demanding, but it seems that she’ll be interesting enough that I don’t mind.

I decided to drop the class I was iffy about. It saved me around $150 in books, and means I don’t have to wake up until 10am. Overall, I think it was a good decision.

I have a feeling this is going to be a very productive semester.