Early morning blues

Yes, it is 4:54am here. I have been up all night working on a paper with a few breaks to go outside and enjoy the cold, icy weather. Oklahoma is in the middle of an ice storm right now, which is okay with me because I don't have to go anywhere. Instead, I can tramp around the campus, crushing the frozen grass under my boots like the tyrannosaurus rex crushes the car from Jurassic Park. Only there's less screaming involved.

Ah, finals, the week of deadening tests and projects and papers. At least I know that once this torturous week is over I can catch up on my sleep.

The "Dead Week" Report

I've heard a few people call this week "dead week", otherwise known as the week before finals. Supposedly this "dead week" means that professors don't give a lot of homework so that the students can study for finals.

Heh heh...not really happening. Okay, so I don't have a lot of the smaller homework like reading assignments, but I have/had a presentation, an art final and a paper due this week.

But, on the bright side, there's only one week and one day until I come home for Christmas! I really hope it snows here before I leave though.

Life is good.

I leave in an hour to battle Oklahoma Thanksgiving traffic until I reach the airport and fly home. Yay for going home, for homemade food and for seeing family and friends!

Also, I survived my 10 page research paper. I've already picked out my topic for next semester's paper too, even though I really don't have to think about it until after Christmas.

The Reports of my Death have been greatly exaggerated

I'm still alive, in case you were wondering. College has just been extraordinarily busy since all of my teachers have decided to schedule tests and papers all at the same time. Hurray...

Halloween is proving to be interesting. I've seen Where's Waldo, a few pirates, a steampunk superhero, a ninja, a banana, Cruella DeVil, and a dalmatian. (The last two posed together in a picture taken by a hippie).

I personally am still debating between using my school uniform from last year as a costume or dressing as a gypsy using stuff offered by my friend Mallory. There's a party tonight, so I have 7 hours to decide.

Edit: Well, it seems as if I didn't bring my school uniform with me, so there goes the schoolgirl costume idea...

Whistling a happy tune

Reasons why I am having a good day (in no particular order):

1) It is the glorious fall break and I have decided to stay on campus. The campus seems like a ghost town because so the majority of students have retreated home for break, although that is not really related to why I am having a good day. The lack of people does certainly contribute to the next reason.
2) I have been actually productive for once this fall break. I walked to the Starbucks on the other side of campus and studied and worked on some ideas for my graphic novel/novel (I haven't decided yet what it will be) for 4 hours.
3) I received a free Iced White Chocolate Mocha because they were training an employee and didn't want to waste the drinks that she made. (<---this made me very happy)
4) Caffeine is a drug, no matter what anyone says. I have consumed lots of it today, resulting in a alert and happy state of being.
5) An amazing amount of rain fell upon the land last night, result in the cool, crisp morning that I love so dearly.
6) The library book which I had borrowed as research for my paper has been located. This book had been misplaced and was overdue but now the fine has been paid.
7) I came across a passage of latin in aforementioned library book and am very pleased that I can still read that which I labored for many years to understand.
8) I heard a very interesting story from the library lady.
Once, long ago, the capital of Oklahoma used to be Gunthrie, not Oklahoma City. Then, in the dark of the night in 1910, some people from Oklahoma City stole the big, metal state seal that resided in Gunthrie and brought it to Oklahoma City. Oklahoma law says that wherever the state seal is, there will the state capital be also. So, Oklahoma City became the capital.
Okay, so I found that story interesting.

On another note, I miss working in a coffee shop.

Edit: Add tomato soup being delicious to my list of why this is a good day.

Multiple fire alarms

Four times this week, my dorm's fire alarms have gone off. Why? The details are still a little sketchy, but I don't think it's because they're malfunctioning. I heard my RA saying that the alarms are really sensitive and even a huge amount of hairspray will activate them. This last alarm was at 12:45am last night, which made it more irritating than all the other ones this week because I was actually asleep.

It was a little amusing to look at the Facebook statuses (stati?) of all my friends and see their combined hatred of the fire alarms at 12:54am.
Samples:
"___________ is sooo mad at the fire alarms right now!
___________ is going to throw something at the fire alarm!!!
___________ is I HATE STUPID FREAKING FIRE ALARMS.
___________ is hating fire alarms like none other. Four in one week? SERIOUSLY?!?!
___________ is hating the darn fire alarms!!!!!"

Just as amusing was the sight of 20 or so girls sprawled on the grass with their laptops in the middle of the night. We all know that we'll be outside for about 20 to 30 minutes and so we grab something that will keep us occupied.

At least it wasn't raining outside.

Wish me luck.

Blech. I have come down with some sort of cold. Every time I cough, the force of the hacking resounds through my tired skull, giving me a worse headache than before.

This day would have actually been an okay day to be sick, since I only have one 50 minute class, except for the fact I've been involved in a little production called Freshman Fanfare over the past four weeks and, of course, the actual performances are tonight and tomorrow.

Freshman Fanfare is, simply, a vaudevillian production of solos, duets and group numbers explaining the woes and joys of being freshman and is produced by the freshman class. The girls are not allowed to move their hips or their upper chest section, but it's almost become a joke to say "Oh no! Hip movement!" because it really is not enforced. Besides, it is rather impossible to dance--I mean, choreograph--without some movement of hips and upper chest area. It just cannot be done.
I am completely ready to have my weeknights back for my enjoyment, but it will be fun plus I got a t-shirt out of the deal. Except for this little bug I have caught that will make it impossible to sing. So, I shall be mouthing the words to the songs with my best showbiz smile.

Short post

Busy. That is pretty much what my week has been like. From lots of homework to group projects to watching movies with people to midnight McDonald runs, this week has been non-stop activities.

And I'm entering the point of time where all my classes begin to have tests, so I am not for-seeing an end to the business.

My roommate's birthday is tomorrow and I'm trying to figure out a way, in my car-deprived state, to do something special or at least give her a little present.
I suppose that's one reason majoring in art could be useful.

Coincidence?

Sometimes, I think God has a sense of humor.

I and a bunch of friends have very recently become obsessed/addicted to the TV show "Heroes". We have seriously devoted about 16 hours this past weekend to watching the first season at the risk of not completing homework and a Job research paper that was due today. (Don't worry, I finished it and turned it in on time)

Every day, we students are required to go to chapel from 11 o'clock am to 11:20. Chapel usually consists of a few worship songs and then a speaker will talk for about 15 minutes.
So, what did the speaker mention today? Yes, that is right: Heroes. "Save the cheerleader. Save the world." He used that as a springboard to show how helping/saving one person's life can make a difference for the world.

Needless to say, I was very amused.

In the library

Right now, I am enjoying a free coffee courtesy of my friend Mallory who doesn't like coffee so gave me her coupon. It's very good and not too bitter, which is my complaint against the ever popular Starbucks coffee.

Just watch, I'll start working there and find out that they get their coffee from Starbucks.

I sit in the library on campus, my ideal study and homework place, next to a large window so, with the occasional glance, I see the green trees, grass, clover/bush plants, and passing college students. I always find it interesting to watch the world.
This must from the historian and writer in me.

And I really need to get back to my homework.

Outreach

The Outreach retreat proved to be much fun and I formed many new friendships.


We climbed the hill (although many souls claimed it was a mountain, but those of us from rocky regions knew better) behind the camp where we were staying and, once there, sat at the top and sang worship songs for about 15 minutes. Sadly, I only knew about half the songs, but I suppose I shall learn them in the months to come.


One really fun activity was our rambunctious game of Capture the Flag in the dark and complete with colored war paint to show our team spirit. I was on the Red Team.


My silly friends Jerica, Joniessa, Erin, and Lauren found some toads in the dark and had much fun naming and playing with them.


There was also a slip and slide time Saturday morning, which produced many bruised knees but was exciting and fun nonetheless.

The only possible con of this trip was that I was bitten mercilessly by mosquitoes.

My freshman link (an upperclassman who helps a group of us freshman with whatever needs we might have) just showed up at my door and gave me a cupcake. Yay! ^_^

(Note: I know the pictures are wierd right now. I'll try to fix them tomorrow, but for now, I'm going to sleep)

First Week

My first week of classes is almost over and it's been a pretty busy one, hence the reason I haven't posted anything.

Classes are wonderful so far. My Western Thought and Expression through the Renessiance almost makes me want to switch my major to history. But my Foundations of Digital Visual class and Fundimentals of Drawing will keep me in my original graphic design major for a little while.

I was chatting with a friend and we've both come to a conclusion that we just need to freeze time for about 20 years so we can study everything we want to and then still come out of college as 22 year olds.

After being sent all over campus from one place to another, I did mangage to drop that one freshman seminar class and instead am now taking a survey of the Old Testament, bringing my credit hours to 16 for this semester. I'm also taking "Bible and Literature". We spend most of this class discussing our reading in a way not unlike my old high school Humane Letters class.

I'm leaving in about 4 hours for an overnight retreat for the Outreach ministries here on campus. The event intrigued me and, following the tradition of activites being cheaper at college, it was only 5 dollars, so how could I resist?

Pre-class jitters

Classes start today! I'm very excited and pumped up for my classes.
Today schedule is Western Thought and Expression to the Renessiance, Symposium and Fundamentals of Drawing.
Symposium doesn't count as any credit hours, but is a simple discussion about a book once a week over dinner. This semester, we read "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson.

Currently I have 6 classes or 15 credit hours, but I hope it'll soon be 14 because one of the credit hours is for a very easy, dummy freshman seminar class where I learn how to study and write papers. Since I'm in the honors program, I believe that class is not required and so I'd rather have that hour every Wednesday to study for my more challenging classes. Hopefully I will be able drop that class.

The only slight dent in this day so far is that none of my online-ordered textbooks have arrived yet. I suppose I'll check the mail center later today.

Dry Gulch USA

Yesterday, I returned from Dry Gulch USA where I had been staying for the past few days and the amount of joy I feel at returning to my dorm room where I have a nice bed and good showers is immense. (Let's just say I was afraid to touch the sides of the shower stall and don't get me started on the floor. Thank goodness I brought shower shoes with me.)

Besides the showers, Dry Gulch proved to be pretty neat. It's basically a few blocks of western buildings which, so I was told, used to be the set for some TV show. The owners refitted the hotels and other small buildings to be cabins while making other buildings the dining hall, an autotorium (or the "town hall") and an arcade with pool tables, old N64 and playstation consoles, and half basketball courts.

There were many Sweet Sixteen hub group meetings (the theme and name of our hub group) where we learned about the different aspects of Oklahoma Christian, played games, and imagined a skit/cheer to present before everyone in a fierce competition to determine what hub group was the best.
...
While our cheer was good and certainly better than some of the other HUBs, we sadly did not win.

What, however, I did win was a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Now I get 10 dollars/points to spend on what I choose on campus, which means I'll be heading straight for the coffee shop.

The last night of our stay there was a very enthusiastic, fun concert where everything from Gwen Stephani's "Sweet Escape" to various country and rock songs to Smashmouth's "I'm a Believer" was played. I was down with my friends Emily and Mallory in the throng of people jumping and clapping with the rest of them. I didn't, unfortunately, work up the courage to body-surf on the top of the crowd, so that opportunity was lost.

It would be very lengthy and probably not that interesting for me to go into every single event that happened, so those were some of the highlights. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

Voices

Sometimes when I'm walking around campus, I overhear other students and their tone, word choice and other things in their speech remind me of one of my friends and sometimes family back in Arizona. It's rather sad because for a brief instant I think that they are here and then remember that, no, they are hundreds of miles away and I miss them.

Though I do miss my family and friends, I'm not feeling homesick and am really enjoying myself here at college.

First weekend

(The following is taken from a note I wrote on facebook about my college experience thus far)

Saturday (the 18th of August) began with move-into-the-dorm day. In case you hadn't heard, I had been stranded without a roommate, so I was a little nervous that I'd end up all alone. However, it all worked out and I now have a really cool roommate who's on the cross country team and so wakes me up at 6:00am when she leaves for practice. She likes Spider-Man thought, so all is forgiven. If you want to harass her (but in a kind and loving fashion of course), she's the Melyssa Cardenas in my friends list. As soon as I get my camera cord in the mail, I’ll be able to upload pictures (hopefully) of my room.
Saturday was also the day I spent most of my time in Target, buying things for my room and convincing my parents that “Yes, I do need Poptarts.”
I also wandered through the dorms a bit and said "Hi. My name is Rachel." to whoever I saw. And thus was invited to watch Labyrinth in a room down the hall from mine. David Bowie is very…amusing in his role with his wild hair and eyeliner and shiny, oh yes, very shiny outfits.

Sunday was church browsing. Morning was a Baptist church and evening was the Church of Christ that is practically on campus. That, and I saw Hairspray with my parents. We all are in agreement that John Travolta in that movie is disturbing, to say the least. But the music is very catchy. In fact, that is what I’m listening to while I write this (Thank you OC for providing a free music download service for your students!)

Monday…hmmm…Monday was frustrating. We had registration and freshman orientation, both of which went well. The enrolling and getting my schedule all settled – not so much. My advisor was sick or something so he wasn’t there to help me. Thus, I was sent back and forth to different people about 4 times, all the while worrying about how there were only a few available spaces left in a class I absolutely needed to take. Eventually it worked itself out and now I am enrolled in 6 classes for 15 credit hours: 2 art classes, 1 freshman art seminar, 2 honors classes and 1 class that very much resembles my old Humane Letters class from high school. Basically it’s meeting for an hour for dinner and discussing a book we’ve all read.

Tuesday (the 21st, in case you can't keep track): The beginning of the freshman camp-like experience called Earn Your Wings where we’ll “learn to soar like Eagles.” With Eagles being our mascot and team names, this is a rather poor pun/joke thing. Still, I have managed to learn a few things from the guest speaker, such as this important hierarchy of pain from having your finger slammed in a door (from least painful to most):
3) A hollow, fake wooden door such as those used for bedroom doors.
2) A front door or back door. Heavy wood or metal and glass.
1) Car door.
Very useful trivia to keep in my head, although I definitely don’t plan on finding my fingers being smashed in a door anytime soon.
There was lots of insane cheering with each HUB trying to outshout each other. Don't ask me what HUB means, but it's basically a group of 20 or so people placed together to get to know each other, to learn all about activities and clubs at OC, and battle other HUB groups to be champion.

Overall, I'm having lots of fun and am very excited to see what else college has in store. Classes start on the 27th.

Any questions? Comments? Etc, etc.

Purpose

As the title so boldly states, this little blurb of text is about the purpose.
No, not the purpose of life.
But, yes, the purpose for this blog.

The purpose is, simply, to provide an account of my college experience for those who don't have facebook. For those of you who do have facebook, I will be putting more stuff on here anyway, so you might as well check this too.

As to the reason behind the name of this particular blog, I do not know. It just popped into my head after I flipped open a book and the words "Internal Monologue" leapt out at me.