Mmmm... Xbox 360

I finally bought an Xbox 360 yesterday.  I was going to wait a while and just buy it with my paychecks... but I have nothing to really do this long weekend, so I figured I would just dip into my loan.  It'll all be replaced within a month anyways....  It'll take that long because Derek (my boyfriend) and I decided on getting an elite.  Partly for the storage space, and partly because it is black, and black is much, much cooler.

Derek got Mass Effect and Command & Conquer 3:  Tiberia Wars.  I actually like C&C, I used to play Red Alert when I was younger.  Also, this game has nifty cut scenes with actors I recognize, which is incredibly weird... I even saw Lando today.  Not to mention my favorite fox from House.

I bought Viva Pinata, which is super cute and probably meant for children.  I actually had a lot of fun playing it though.

I'm just glad I finally got a next gen. console that has state of the art graphic capabilities.  I mean, the Wii is amazing and has such an innovative interface, etc... but.... let's face it - same graphics as the Gamecube.  S'okay for some games - wii fit and a lot of their cutsey games, but I sometimes want something more visually stimulating.

Derek also bought Halo for Xbox, because he hasn't ever gotten to play it and always loved the multiplayer when we used to go to friend's houses who had it in high school....  I'm hoping he reaches a stopping point soon because we need to go grocery shopping badly.  I'm making a chicken-pasta dish tonight and I need ingredients.  We're also out of soda and various other eat-ables.

...and I know if we wait too long we just won't go... and then what will I eat?...

I have a major craving for iced chai right now.  My friend, Adil was supposed to create a recipe for authentic iced chai, but I don't know if he ever got around to it.  He had a busy summer.  I could really go for some, though...  I'll probably just buy some black tea at Dominick's....

...If we ever go....

I love you Xbox 360, but you further distract my boyfriend from his priorities.

Doing the Math...

Besides money worries, I am plagued slightly by time worries.  Here is the math of my 5-day week*:

5 days x 24 hrs/day = 120 hours

5 days x 8 hrs sleep/day= -40 hours

Hours of classes/week= -15.5 hours

Hours of Work/week= -17 hours

Hours of Tutoring/week= -4 hours

Hours Studying/week= -20 hours

TOTAL EXTRA TIME 23.5 hours

That's not so bad.  I'm not so worried after that.  That's 4.7 hours a day (in my 5 day week) that I have free to do as I please.  I do spend 2 hours getting ready/eating/studying in the morning... so maybe more like 2.7 hours free to cook, watch TV, play video games, etc...  I doubt I'll spend 20 hrs a week studying, too.  That's if I spend 4 hours a day approximately... which I rarely spend over 2.5.  I'm not really a studier.

Plus, I shouldn't forget the free time allotted by the weekend... the wonderful and merciless weekend.

2 days x 24 hrs/day= 48 hours

2 days x 10 hrs sleep/day= -20 hours

Total Free Time= ~28 Hours

That's pretty sweet.  That is ~14 hours a day I can spend gaming, surfing, studying, cooking, watching TV... pretty much anything I please.  I'm sure I'll get lazy during the week and most of my studying will pile up at this time.  At least I know my procrastinating and lazy ass well enough to plan for the eventual outcomes of said procrastination.... However, weeks when I have tests or papers do may be a bit suckier.  Yes, suckier.  I don't care if it's not a work.

*These are approximations.  Some weeks I may have more work, more studying, more tutoring, and perhaps less sleep.  And sometimes I will have those glorious weeks were I have lots, and lots of sleep.

Stressful Adventures in Academia...

Well, the school year has started... and I'm working... and I begin tutoring next week.  I actually already have a student lined up.  I hope I don't disappoint.  I've been studying twice as hard as usual.

I guess I'll do a run-down of my classes:

Japanese 103:  Intermediate Japanese I

I always love this class, except for some of the characters that are in the class.  This semester we have a few crazy weeabos.  There's three of them really.  They apparently took Japanese at their high schools (something to me that seems crazy, since I grew up with poorly funded public school where our choices were normally French or Spanish).  Only one of the weeabos is very annoying - the other two are the passive and quiet type.  But this one guy.... oh this one guy... he's... quite the annoyance.  I think that's putting it nicely.  He interrupts everyone including the teacher and uses informal forms when apologizing and such...  At least he's got a good grasp on the language.  The other two not so much.  One of them speaks with an Italian accent in Japanese... which is just weird.  His last name is "Newyear" which is also just plain weird...

My kanji is going okay and I'm making a really lovely chart for review.  Hopefully my students might be able to use it.

However...  I still haven't bought the book for this semester so I'm a little stressed.  You see, I still haven't received my loan money, which should be processed by today at the latest according to my financial aid advisor.  I mean, the loan has gone through, the promissory note has been signed... what's keeping them?  Ugh...  I can't even eat.  I desperately need other books, too!

Which brings me to...

Art History 200:  Theories and Methods in Art History

This class has the best format - no tests and deep, philosophical discussions about material.  I'm so excited!  Except... today was incredibly embarrassing.  As I mentioned above, I haven't bought all my books yet - I'm just missing Japanese and this class' books.  So, we started discussion today, and it was only on FIVE pages!  I couldn't even read it.  I felt so incredibly depressed and horribly unprofessional.

The professor is amazing, though.  She really wants to help us all succeed in our careers as Art Historians.  I'm having a lot of my questions answered, and I can already feel like my writing is improving in the subject.

Art History 110:  Art Survey I

Well... it's an art survey.  A huge lecture with giant slides....  You know.  The professor is great though - he loves teaching and throws in little jokes here and there.  I enjoy Art Survey, though, because we get to see a whole lot of images which I can add to my mental collection that I can draw upon.  I mean, it is all from the Cannon of Art History after all.  Is that how you spell cannon?  I don't know.  I depend on dictionaries and spell check.

I haven't had my discussion for this class yet, but I'm really excited.  I hope my TA is amazing.  she kind of looks like a classic pin-up with Betty Paige hair.  Fingers crossed.  My last TA was pretty good... maybe not the best TA, but he was super cool (not to mention the fact he was pure eye candy).  I got an A in that class, so I'm sure it'll be no problem in this one.  I'm shooting for straight As again.

Art History 274:  Pre-Columbian Art of Mesoamerica

This class isn't really a strong interest of mine... but it's a high level, and therefore should be a challenge.  Also, the professor is one of the best in her field in the area.  She is also incredibly animated and passionate about the subject - so her passion is thusly transferred to me, the student.  I'm really enjoying this class so far... but I have so much reading everyday!

Art History 207:  Topics in Architecture, Art, & Design:  Buddhist Art & Architecture

This is my favorite class this semester by far.  I've always found the subject of Buddhism as incredibly fascinating... I'm completely engrossed in it!  I love the images, the stories.... and I'm completely Atheist...  Buddhism and Hinduism have some of the most interesting stories I've ever heard...  Also, another reason why I am so intrigued by this subject is because I intend to go into Eastern Asian art which is sometimes influenced by Buddhism...

...Plus I just love Buddhism anyways.

Well... hopefully things will look up soon.... I have my fingers crossed that I get my loan money in the next few days.  My list of things I need is piling up:

-Books for Japanese/AH 200.

-Xbox 360 (Elite)

-Some books (pleasure reading) by Neil de Grasse Tyson, Neil Gaiman, Richard Dawkins, etc...  And some Art books would be nice

-And of course:  Video games

-Oh... and food.  That would be nice.  Living on white rice is not that fun.  Though I did make a gourmet-style grilled cheese today.  It was garlic-y, cheesy, and delicious.

I've been working two weeks and am yet to be paid.  Apparently I don't get paid until next week when all the paperwork and whatever goes through.  This university is so inconvenient.  I bet they have inefficient workers.  If they cloned me they could make a work force probably a million times better... and I'm LAZY.

So... that's my life right now.  Hectic.  I probably have about 100 pages to read this weekend, maybe more.  I think on average I'll have 100-200 pages to read per week.  I might loose my mind, but I also might come out a more fulfilled, intelligent person.  I suppose it's worth the risk.

Oh, and I really want to see Burn After Reading and Hamlet 2.

Daniel is Finally Gone!

If you haven't seen this week's Project Runway, do not read any further!

I am so glad he's gone.  I mean, I don't know his collection outside of the show, but he was a mediocre designer at best on the show.  He never rose to t

he challenges offered and took the easy way out way too many times.  Also, I found his personality (as presented on the show, not sure if they edited it this way) quite lackluster and pathetic.  The excuses drove me mad, and I believe he lacked taste at times.  He did start off okay I suppose.

I wish they would have eliminated him sooner - the last episode would have been nice.  I really liked Kelli, and I bet her drag queen outfit would have been to die for...  She might have even won this challenge!

Next, I want to see Keith eliminated I believe.  Since the second episode I've despised him almost.  I hate fringe!  It's so tacky unless it's on a flapper girl's costume.  I just can't believe he won the challenge in the last episode!  It was an utter travesty, really.  I don't think Brooke Shield's figure would be complimented by the shape he created.  Leatha' Stella and Jerell made a much more appropriate garment.  It was beautiful, and a true fusion of the two's talents.  Seriously, you judge:

Keith & Kenley's Garment - Nice figure, but I don't know if it's going to look so great on Brook Shields, the intended wearer.  All Keith uses is fringe, it's old and tired.  The colors are fantastic, but I'm sure that can be attributed to Kenley (who is DYNAMITE!).  The sleeve transition is pretty innovative, but that alone cannot carry an outfit.

Look at this - great figure, great length, very professional but still chic!  It's great!  It doesn't even need a transitional piece to take it from the office to the club.  The belt is an amazing touch and it manages to take colors and patterns that should clash and ties them together neatly!  Maybe a sweater or jacket would have helped - I don't think the sleeveless look would be good for Brooke Shields in the professional world... I don't know.

I la-la-loved tonight's episode though.  I have a very fond place in my heart for drag queens, and most of the costumes created were stunning and well thought out.  Except Keith and Daniel...  They were tiresome.

Weird, but in a good way?

I'm usually kind of chipper, but lately I feel fully and completely content.  Now, maybe for a normal person this would be natural?  I don't know.  I'm not used to that smile-y feeling.  I feel almost like a different person.

Today I get to watch a whole lot of television!  I know it's the idiot box, but I still love it.  Fall season is coming up, and I'm excited!  Right now I'm just watching Project Runway and various re-runs of things - but in a few weeks I have House, Bones, Pushing Daisies, and Heroes, too!

I'll probably be too busy to watch much TV during the week soon, so I'm going to enjoy the laziness while I can.

I just can't wait until the school year gets under way.  I'm so excited to really get into my Art History classes.  It's strange how your dreams change - I am WAY more excited about this new dream, and much more motivated.  Every day I think of getting my PhD in Eastern Asian Art and becoming a  curator... maybe the president of the Art Institute of Chicago... I don't know.  I have big dreams and when I think of them I smile.

That's what I do on my mile walk to work every morning.  I think about Art History and I smile.  It's a lovely walk, too.  Through my new neighborhood - Little Italy.  The houses here are AMAZING.  There's a castle on Polk Street.

I want to live in the castle on Polk Street.

Bloggity Blog...

My friend Adil started keeping a blog... I thought it might be a neat idea.  This way I get to type my day up once, and not have to annoy everyone by telling them all several times - as I often forget who I've gabbed to.

I am currently entering my junior year at the University of Illinois of Chicago as an Art History major.  Why UIC for an art history major?  Because I was originally a Pre-Med-er.  It wasn't exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, even though I have a great passion for genetics and other biological sciences.  I made the change last semester and am incredibly happy.  Since I am well skilled at my field of study, it leaves me a lot of free time - now I am able to have a job while attending school (for the paying of bills, school, textbooks, and an Xbox 360 :P).

What job have I requisitioned for myself?  I am the office assistant at the Center for Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology....  It pays well and is a lovely environment.  However, it is too much of a reminder of the path I was once on - a vile temptress if you will.  I am still a Biology major, but I know art history (and eventually museology) is the path for me.

It's a bit of a stressful job, as the previous assistant left quite a mess and was fired for filing the accounting wrong.  The accounting system is incredibly difficult for me, because my last job was at a small chamber of commerce in my hometown - they didn't have a complicated accounting system and it was very lax.  There is very little room for error in this new job, but plenty of opportunities to make errors.  Needless to say, I'm pretty stressed.

I adapt quickly, so I became used to the new system today and am hoping that I have everything right.  Today I became a little worried, though, because I am unsure as to whether I will be able to handle the stress of this job at the same time as my school work... and my tutoring.  I'm tutoring Japanese this semester 3 hours a week, also.

I want to sign up for another Art History class that I was finally let in today - AH 200.  It is the theories class, and is required to graduate.  It seems like it wouldn't be too difficult of a course, but then I would have 17 hours of coursework, 20 hours of work, and 3 hours of tutoring a week....  I don't know if my psyche could handle that.  I would snap like the tiny twig I am.

I'm going to ask one of my bosses tomorrow, though.  They had mentioned having me work just Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the morning and afternoon.  If they will let me work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons I will not sign up for this class.... I really want to though....

At least my weekends will be free to watch TV, play video games, and study like crazy...