Hiccups irritate me. That is all for today.
Well, no, it isn't. I'm going to DO UPDATES!
Review of Hitchhiker's Guide will be on Wednesday and some other literary thing on Friday, since I'm behind on that. I need to fix that.
The Weird Happening Of The Day: a kid from my high school and a kid from my church now know each other. How? My school is hosting Governor's Latin Academy this year. So lunch was weird today, because three worlds that do not normally interact suddenly were shoved together.
Also, I really need to study right now, so I'm going to go do that.
Showing posts with label interactions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interactions. Show all posts
Monday, June 23, 2014
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The Closing
So this is my second-to-last night staying in my freshman dorm, and it feels really strange. I have only somewhat dared to start packing yet, which is sort of worrying, but I still have all of tomorrow afternoon!
Anyway, it has been a crazy year, and I can hardly believe that I am pretty much done with my first year of college. I'm glad I chose the school I did, even though it is sometimes not what I expected (or too much as I expected).
For all my friends (who probably don't read this) who are going to college next year, I give you Wild Card's Top Ten List of Things You Should Know For College:
1. Be nice to your roommate. You're going to have to deal with them all year. If you wind up not getting along and having to switch to a different room, then that's how things go, but that should not stop you from being nice to them. If you're switching rooms because of drama, deal with it as amiably as possible, and talk to them about it. It could be that they don't know their stupid habit is annoying you, and if it's something that can be eliminated, then they'll know that they should work on it.
2. Don't keep too much unsealed food in the room. You will get mice, which will stick around long enough for you to grow fond of and name (ours is named Indy, because we live in Jones Hall - Indiana Jones). Anyway, the mice can get all over your bed and poop where you may or may not want it (this hasn't happened to me, but Indy made two attempts on my bed today, which leads me to wonder where else he's been).
3. Be familiar with your hallmates. From experience, there may come an awkward moment when a group member in a class says, "Hey, since we live across the hall from each other, want to work on the revisions together?" Do not be that person, as I was, who does not realize who their hallmates are until halfway through spring semester. Also, if you need to tell someone to shut up because you have a final or a midterm or whatever, they'll probably listen to you more if you know them. (this may not apply if they're drunk.)
4. If you do not want to drink, you do not have to drink. There will always be the people who will watch Stargate, Dr. Who, or Star Trek with you on a Friday night without alcohol. Though these people are what are generally called 'nerds,' the difference between these people and the people who get drunk at fraternity parties every night is that the nerds will remember the stupid puns they made.
5. If you really want to join a social Greek organization, consider not going Greek right away. If it's something that you feel is part of the essential college experience, and you couldn't bear to rush as a sophomore, I'm not telling you to not go Greek right away - just that maybe you can make friends without the help of the social organizations.
6. If you really think social Greek organizations are dumb - go through rush just to see what it's like. I came into college saying that social sororities are stupid, and that I could never hang out with someone in Greek life. After going through rush, I do have a better understanding of what it's like to be part of a social Greek organization. I didn't get a bid, I don't really want one, and I'm probably not going to go back for one, but I'm glad that I went through it. The biggest thing I learned is that yes, there are the sororities that are better known for being ditzy or more of the 'party house' (I geeked out about DnD at this house... there's a reason I didn't get asked back), but there are also the houses that are super down-to-earth. Part of the reason I didn't want to go through rush is because I thought I would be the only non-blonde and certainly the only nerd there, but my host at the first house I went to turned out to be a huge Star Wars fan. (That made stuff a lot easier.)
7. If you're interested in going Greek but don't want to do something social, there are probably going to be honor societies and service fraternities (like Alpha Phi Omega). If it's an honor society, you're going to have to work up your major GPA and probably not going to get in your first year, but that's always an option. Additionally, service-based organizations are easy ways to bond with people because you can easily say that you can HELPED PEOPLE TOGETHER! HUZZAH!
8. In the realm of academics, do study. You'll probably have entire spans of afternoons free, which are there for you to keep your grades up. If you don't keep up your GPA, you may be asked to not return to the school. College is not there for you to get drunk all the time. If drinking is your thing, don't be dumb about it. Doing Tipsy Tuesday, Wasted Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, and the regular weekend drinking is perhaps the stupidest thing you can do for your GPA (it also puts you on the fast track for being an alcoholic).
9. In terms of group projects, DO YOUR WORK. If you can't make it to the group meetings, LET PEOPLE KNOW. Don't be that one kid who shows up late or not at all without a good excuse. Good excuses include work, sports you can't get out of, class, or a paper that is 20% done and due in the morning. Bad excuses include everything else.
10. Talk to everyone. You meet so many new people in the first three weeks of school than you might in the entire rest of the year put together that it's easy to get kind of confused and mixing up names and faces and phone numbers, but it'll be worth it. Everyone else is going to mix up some faces and names and stuff, too, so you're not alone. You'll have friends, and if you wind up not hanging out with a lot of people you hang out with in the beginning of the year, you'll probably wind up with a few people that you're on good terms with in case you wind up in a group project together or something.
I'll probably make more of these lists at some point, but here's some tips for now.
Anyway, it has been a crazy year, and I can hardly believe that I am pretty much done with my first year of college. I'm glad I chose the school I did, even though it is sometimes not what I expected (or too much as I expected).
For all my friends (who probably don't read this) who are going to college next year, I give you Wild Card's Top Ten List of Things You Should Know For College:
1. Be nice to your roommate. You're going to have to deal with them all year. If you wind up not getting along and having to switch to a different room, then that's how things go, but that should not stop you from being nice to them. If you're switching rooms because of drama, deal with it as amiably as possible, and talk to them about it. It could be that they don't know their stupid habit is annoying you, and if it's something that can be eliminated, then they'll know that they should work on it.
2. Don't keep too much unsealed food in the room. You will get mice, which will stick around long enough for you to grow fond of and name (ours is named Indy, because we live in Jones Hall - Indiana Jones). Anyway, the mice can get all over your bed and poop where you may or may not want it (this hasn't happened to me, but Indy made two attempts on my bed today, which leads me to wonder where else he's been).
3. Be familiar with your hallmates. From experience, there may come an awkward moment when a group member in a class says, "Hey, since we live across the hall from each other, want to work on the revisions together?" Do not be that person, as I was, who does not realize who their hallmates are until halfway through spring semester. Also, if you need to tell someone to shut up because you have a final or a midterm or whatever, they'll probably listen to you more if you know them. (this may not apply if they're drunk.)
4. If you do not want to drink, you do not have to drink. There will always be the people who will watch Stargate, Dr. Who, or Star Trek with you on a Friday night without alcohol. Though these people are what are generally called 'nerds,' the difference between these people and the people who get drunk at fraternity parties every night is that the nerds will remember the stupid puns they made.
5. If you really want to join a social Greek organization, consider not going Greek right away. If it's something that you feel is part of the essential college experience, and you couldn't bear to rush as a sophomore, I'm not telling you to not go Greek right away - just that maybe you can make friends without the help of the social organizations.
6. If you really think social Greek organizations are dumb - go through rush just to see what it's like. I came into college saying that social sororities are stupid, and that I could never hang out with someone in Greek life. After going through rush, I do have a better understanding of what it's like to be part of a social Greek organization. I didn't get a bid, I don't really want one, and I'm probably not going to go back for one, but I'm glad that I went through it. The biggest thing I learned is that yes, there are the sororities that are better known for being ditzy or more of the 'party house' (I geeked out about DnD at this house... there's a reason I didn't get asked back), but there are also the houses that are super down-to-earth. Part of the reason I didn't want to go through rush is because I thought I would be the only non-blonde and certainly the only nerd there, but my host at the first house I went to turned out to be a huge Star Wars fan. (That made stuff a lot easier.)
7. If you're interested in going Greek but don't want to do something social, there are probably going to be honor societies and service fraternities (like Alpha Phi Omega). If it's an honor society, you're going to have to work up your major GPA and probably not going to get in your first year, but that's always an option. Additionally, service-based organizations are easy ways to bond with people because you can easily say that you can HELPED PEOPLE TOGETHER! HUZZAH!
8. In the realm of academics, do study. You'll probably have entire spans of afternoons free, which are there for you to keep your grades up. If you don't keep up your GPA, you may be asked to not return to the school. College is not there for you to get drunk all the time. If drinking is your thing, don't be dumb about it. Doing Tipsy Tuesday, Wasted Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, and the regular weekend drinking is perhaps the stupidest thing you can do for your GPA (it also puts you on the fast track for being an alcoholic).
9. In terms of group projects, DO YOUR WORK. If you can't make it to the group meetings, LET PEOPLE KNOW. Don't be that one kid who shows up late or not at all without a good excuse. Good excuses include work, sports you can't get out of, class, or a paper that is 20% done and due in the morning. Bad excuses include everything else.
10. Talk to everyone. You meet so many new people in the first three weeks of school than you might in the entire rest of the year put together that it's easy to get kind of confused and mixing up names and faces and phone numbers, but it'll be worth it. Everyone else is going to mix up some faces and names and stuff, too, so you're not alone. You'll have friends, and if you wind up not hanging out with a lot of people you hang out with in the beginning of the year, you'll probably wind up with a few people that you're on good terms with in case you wind up in a group project together or something.
I'll probably make more of these lists at some point, but here's some tips for now.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Day 20: I'm behind! :(
It is the 20th day of NaNoWriMo, and my word count is wretched. I hit 30,000 words last night, which was supposed to happen on Sunday.
On the upside, I will be leaving for Thanksgiving break tonight, which I'm thankful for. Though I have break work - a project, a reading, and general studying - I'll be glad for the chance to get some actual sleep and some time to write.
If the concept of a 'break' will let me - haircuts, doctor appointments, seeing friends, and the like. Sometimes I wonder why it's called a 'break' when really all you do is do all the stuff you should have done at some other point, but now actually have the time to do it. Maybe I just won't do anything fun at all, and study the whole time. I could live with that, but I don't think my mom could. She would... it wouldn't be pretty.
Anyway, I'm off to lunch now, but afterwards I WILL work on my word count.
And pack.
In all, I'm glad Thanksgiving break is on its way.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Day 16: Over the hump
Well, for better or for worse, it is November 16th, which means we are now slightly more than halfway through NaNoWriMo. I still need to write today, but, according to my calculations, I need to write around 8 pages (around 3000 words) per day if I want to get to my desired word count goal of 60,000 words. I do not know if I can pull this off, but I can try. I nearly did it my first year - I overestimated how many words I could fit on a page, so I set myself the task of doing eight pages a day every day. I should catch up, if I actually set time aside for myself to do it.
But there comes the issue of whether or not I have enough Plot to reach 60,000 words. I hope I do; I hope, at least, I can hit 50,000 words. But my three main characters are about to enter the city of Genesis again, wherein all hell is going to break loose (metaphorically. That actually happens later. Maybe.), and then the showdown is going to happen.
I may, to pad my word count, send Storm through the Hero's Journey. There happens several things after the Showdown during the Hero's Journey, so that can help a lot if I need more words. If you want to check out the steps of the Hero's Journey, I found a good link here.
If I had to point out where Storm was right now, she'd probably be somewhere in the Road of Trials and Atonement with the Father. I don't know whether to include the Meeting with the Goddess or the Woman as a Temptress - I don't know whether they are going to be actually relevant to Storm. Maybe they will. Maybe they will not.
I guess Storm needs to have more inner turmoil or something.
Will work on that.
Farewell.
But there comes the issue of whether or not I have enough Plot to reach 60,000 words. I hope I do; I hope, at least, I can hit 50,000 words. But my three main characters are about to enter the city of Genesis again, wherein all hell is going to break loose (metaphorically. That actually happens later. Maybe.), and then the showdown is going to happen.
I may, to pad my word count, send Storm through the Hero's Journey. There happens several things after the Showdown during the Hero's Journey, so that can help a lot if I need more words. If you want to check out the steps of the Hero's Journey, I found a good link here.
If I had to point out where Storm was right now, she'd probably be somewhere in the Road of Trials and Atonement with the Father. I don't know whether to include the Meeting with the Goddess or the Woman as a Temptress - I don't know whether they are going to be actually relevant to Storm. Maybe they will. Maybe they will not.
I guess Storm needs to have more inner turmoil or something.
Will work on that.
Farewell.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Day 10: where it's not Day 11 until I say it is
Yes, I know I'm posting at around 1:00 in the morning on a Saturday night... this is because, surprisingly, I actually have a life on weekends now. Go figure!
Anyway, stats:
Start Page: 41
End Page: 48
TARGET ACHIEVED!
Plot Point: the paladin got possessed by a demon, and now (after the expulsion of said demon), they are all arguing about the ethics of trap-laying for poor, defenseless rabbits who do not know what is coming. The paladin is arguing that traps are completely unethical and should be done away with at once; the bard, frankly, is glad for the food, because she barely ate the day previously; the rogue/ fighter is the one doing the hunting, so she's just using what she has deduced as the most effective trap in order to get what she needs to get to.
I guess a good way to get your characters' opinions out is to get them to talk to each other. Storm and Melody talk to each other, with some civility. Melody and Eden talk to each other, with Eden being the pushier of the two in the conversation. Eden and Storm talk to each other with civility increasingly absent from the proceedings. See? OPINIONS FORMED THROUGH OBSERVATION.
Like my opinion formed through this observation: I have observed that I am tired, and I would like to get some rest, because the last two times I stayed up until 1:00 and actually had to wake up the next day, it did not end well, because both times were for class (well, I mean, the first time was when I was finishing a novel, so I feel justified, but I still did not have fun being tired all day and not being able to take a nap because I had to do homework. I don't remember what the reason was for staying up until 1:00 on a weeknight was, but I remember I did not like it).
Anyway, stats:
Start Page: 41
End Page: 48
TARGET ACHIEVED!
Plot Point: the paladin got possessed by a demon, and now (after the expulsion of said demon), they are all arguing about the ethics of trap-laying for poor, defenseless rabbits who do not know what is coming. The paladin is arguing that traps are completely unethical and should be done away with at once; the bard, frankly, is glad for the food, because she barely ate the day previously; the rogue/ fighter is the one doing the hunting, so she's just using what she has deduced as the most effective trap in order to get what she needs to get to.
I guess a good way to get your characters' opinions out is to get them to talk to each other. Storm and Melody talk to each other, with some civility. Melody and Eden talk to each other, with Eden being the pushier of the two in the conversation. Eden and Storm talk to each other with civility increasingly absent from the proceedings. See? OPINIONS FORMED THROUGH OBSERVATION.
Like my opinion formed through this observation: I have observed that I am tired, and I would like to get some rest, because the last two times I stayed up until 1:00 and actually had to wake up the next day, it did not end well, because both times were for class (well, I mean, the first time was when I was finishing a novel, so I feel justified, but I still did not have fun being tired all day and not being able to take a nap because I had to do homework. I don't remember what the reason was for staying up until 1:00 on a weeknight was, but I remember I did not like it).
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