How to Successfully Avoid Sensational Writing

Listen up.

Are you listening?

This is the best news I have had to share all day.

I finished my America & Antiquity class. Completely done. I thought I would let you know because I have mentioned it a time or two before. I was so jazzed for it in January and unfortunately it did not turn out to be the class I thought it would, but at least it is over. And I kicked its butt. Tomorrow morning, around 11:20 am I will also be finished with my Nutrition class forever! Another boring one, I admit, but at least I’ll be done. (Not to mention I also did fantastic in this class. But don’t worry; the bragging stops here. I’m afraid next week won’t be so easy.)

And now that my obligatory mention of school is over, I’m having some serious writer’s block. Blogger’s block? Whatever it’s called I have it and I hate it. I have been staring at the computer screen for awhile now. It’s this dorm room, I know it is. I have not been able to look out of a window while writing for months. I cannot wait to get out of here. Most adults who fancy themselves experts on the subject say the dorm experience is one everyone needs to have, and to that I say you are probably too old to remember what dorm rooms are like. And I probably will be too when I tell my kids to stay in them x years from now.

While sitting here feebly making an effort to pretend like I am attempting to fight off my writer’s block, it has been suggested to me that maybe it would be a good idea to write about the swine flu seeing as how I am strapped for subjects. I will not, however, stoop so low to write about it just because it is sensational and will certainly get your attention. I am not Fox News. Plus, thinking about it scares the daylights out of me. So there. I refuse to even mention it.

And on that lovely note, I think I’m going to have to call it quits; my writer’s block won this battle.

P.S. I just got my second good news of the day. I officially have a job interview. Hallelujah. Maybe I won’t have to be poor forever; unlike everyone else in America is certainly doomed to be. (Take that sensationalism.)

Restless

I have no idea how it is only Tuesday. Already this week seems longer than the last 3 weeks combined. This day feels like it has been dragging on forever. Maybe it is the knowledge that I won’t be going home this weekend that is making it seem uncharacteristically lengthy. Maybe it is because I only slept a few hours last night and I have been up for so long. Maybe after spending all the morning in the student health center and spending all afternoon in bed I am going stir crazy. Maybe worrying about my near constant chest pain all day has left me exhausted. Maybe time is sluggish because I finished my latest book and am severely jonesing for something new to read. Maybe it is because I only have 2 weeks left of school and I feel like a little kid waiting for Santa. Feel free to add your own interpretations. I welcome any new ideas.

Speaking of jonesing for something to read, Stardust by Neil Gaiman is on top of my list, as soon as I can get my hands on a copy. David and I are entertaining the idea of starting our Book Club again for the summer. When I remember last summer Book Club with David is one of the things I remember most, and it never fails to make me smile. And seeing as how this is the activity that brought me Picture of Dorian Gray and 1984 over hot wings and Cheesecake Factory pasta, how can I not want to do that again? Yes, while typing this I have just decided to reinstate Book Club. I now have one more thing to look forward to this summer, as if I needed anything else.

I have a job interview tomorrow. I really need it to go well. It is a phone interview, which I am less than thrilled about. I think I make a better impression in person. Here’s hoping I am gainfully employed at The Boy’s and Girl’s Club this summer. Keep your fingers crossed?

Also, here’s wondering why this entry did not take longer for me to write. Here’s hoping tomorrow comes soon. Keep your other fingers crossed.

All's Well That Ends Well

When I woke up this morning I had no idea how hectic and stressful the day was going to be. I certainly did not expect it last night when I refused to go to bed at a reasonable hour in favor of reading my current novel, a novel I have read several times before, I might add. The day was kind to me in some ways, and not-so-kind to me in several others. But the hard part is over now which is all that matters. I made it though my blood donation nearly without incident. I am sure that came as a welcome relief everyone who had reservations about my donating (including me). David asked why I continue to donate if it makes me nervous and sick. I don’t think he appreciated my answer so I will be keeping it to myself from now on, thank you very much.

This whole ASU thing just keeps getting more stressful. I got in (me and the lucky 98% of people who apply) but I am not any closer to figuring out what I am going to do next year. The lady at the front desk of undergraduate admissions seems determined to make sure I get no closer to receiving any answers until May 11^th because apparently, why do over the phone today something that can be done in person 3 weeks from now. My frustration is mounting but I have decided not to worry about it for the time being. I’m sure I will be back to my usual stressed self tomorrow but for now I am relaxed and happy. My night was lovely and I have finished all of my homework, meaning I have plenty of time to read and/or watch last week’s 30 Rock online. Or here is a crazy thought. I might even get to bed at a respectable time. But then again, my notion of “respectable time” has changed immensely since I stared college. So yeah, I’ll be up for awhile yet.

Busy, but Quiet

Sadly, another lovely weekend is over. Thankfully, I only have to wait 4 days for the next one. This weekend felt busier than most, but in the nice quiet kind of way. Here is a brief snapshot.

Friday, I:

Arrived home with enough time to say Hello to the family

Grabbed David from The Diamond Consortium with enough time to say Hello to the rest of the family

Chipotle

Stressed about how late we were going to be. Stressed David out with my stressing.

Drive-in movies with David’s brother and sister-in-law. State of Play and Duplicity. It was uncharacteristically cold outside so my feet were numb during most of State of Play, but on the bright side Tim and Christine did not forget blankets like David and I did, so we were able to steal a couple from them. Plus, diet root beer and mini Twix bars make an excellent snack, even in the bitter cold.

Saturday, I:

Watched The Office with David

Ate lunch with Krystal at our favorite cheap pizza place, Prima Pizza

Went tanning with Krystal at the clubhouse

Did Dinner with David and the family at Ted’s Hotdogs

Watched clips from Colbertnation.com and laughed a lot

Played Monopoly with David and my mom

Got my butt kicked

Sat sleepily but happily on the couch while David rubbed my head

Sunday, I:

Slept in late

Taylor Vogan’s mission farewell in Mesa

Pot Stickers and Stratego with David

Kicked David’s butt

Dinner and desert with the family

Taylor Vogan’s open house with Regan

Marveled over how pretty it is up in Las Sendas

Drove home

Online geology quiz

Bed

See what I mean? Busy, but quiet. Busy with board games and food with the people I love. Just the way I like it.

Don't Say "I Told You So"

Has it really been a week since I have written? No, it can’t be. Must be my imagination.

This week is completely free. Well, not completely. I still have classes to go to but besides that I have absolutely nothing to do. Last night the girls and I went to another Zumba (which I recently learned is pronounced ZOOM-BUH) class only to learn the instructor was out sick, so we had a substitute who taught us NIA (you are going to want to watch this, I promise) instead. ‘Twas amusing, to say the least. Regan and I spent a good portion of the class laughing at its absurdity but of course I woke up sore this morning so I’m not really allowed to mock it anymore.

It is starting to really hit me that I only have one weekend left in Tucson. ONE. When did that happen? I mean, I still have a few more weekends before summer vacation begins but I will be rolling into Gilbert for most of them. It sure seems like I have been spending all of my time in Gilbert recently, doesn’t it? If Regan is driving back to Mesa, however, there is no way I’m sticking it out here in Tucson all weekend by myself. I already have plans for my one weekend left in Tucson so I am sure the time will fly by, but it is absolutely mind blowing to think about. Things are winding down, ladies and gentlemen. I am almost finished with my first year of college. I never thought I would make it here, and yet here I stand. Less than 29 days. Yikes.

I wonder if I am going to miss this: the dorm room, eating on campus, all of it. My gut tells me I won’t, but I’m a strange girl. I never thought I would miss Gilbert so much, and look at me now. Who knows what loss I’ll be lamenting next semester; maybe I’ll miss the community bathroom after all. (But probably not.)

I Don't Need To Fight, To Prove I'm Right

I am over the moon to put Monday behind me. Really. I won’t miss it. I won’t think fondly about it. I won’t laugh about it later. I won’t long for these types of college days.
I’m not sleeping. I’m so tired.

I’m not talking. I have so much to say.

I’m not working. I have so much to do.

I’m not settling. I know it would be so easy.

I’m not making sense. I need rest.

I spent the night writing about anaphora. Is it working?

It’s only teenage wasteland.

P.S. After a solid night’s sleep I’ll be better than new. Mint condition Kara. Promise.

Used To

This was supposed to be my study weekend. Instead Regan and I spontaneously decided to drive home and I have spent the entire weekend pretending that I don’t have two tests tomorrow and a paper due Tuesday. I am hoping to make it back to Tucson by 9 o’clock at the absolute latest and then maybe I’ll be able to get in 4 or 5 hours of good studying.

And on that note, I am discouraged that I spend most of my blogging time talking/complaining about school. And of course this is only when I manage to type out a short paragraph or two between all of the other useless things I occupy my time with. I used to write about so many things. I used to write in my journal at least once a day. I don’t think I have written since February and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. I used to be passionate about what I wrote. Where did that go? I used to perpetually write stories in my head. I used to. What a sad sentence. It doesn’t matter what I used to do, even I know that.

I don’t know where to find the will to write. I don’t know how to muster the energy or where to look for ideas. Where did these things come from before? I have dozens of notebooks sitting under my bedroom at home filled with pages of words spilled from my mind, even more I have thrown away or destroyed from embarrassment, and multiple word documents deleted. Most of those were filled with ardor, an enthusiasm for creating I have not experienced in months. Sure, last semester I loved when I would write something I could feel proud of for my English class, but those occasions were few and far between. Mostly I just felt I was drowning in a class full of kids smarter than I was writing about things I did not understand. That is not fun writing. But I have almost forgotten what fun writing feels like.

I need something to be different. I need something in this last month of school to be different than the months before. I need to get out of my 11’ by 18’ dorm room. I need to get off Facebook. I need to sit outside, to breathe fresh air, to not feel like I am stuck in that room forever. It is slowly driving me up the walls.

I need to write again.

Trouble, Oh Trouble Set Me Free

I’m listening to the Harold and Maude soundtrack and thinking about how bizarre that movie is and about how I love the music from it anyway.

This week has been kicking my butt. Monday I spent the better part of the day thinking it would have been better had I never got out of bed. Yesterday I felt so overwhelmed that I did absolutely no work. This morning I woke up 6 minutes before I had to leave for class, my homework still unfinished. Luckily things are looking up. There was a noticeable bounce in my step this afternoon. After a fair bit of stress I think I have ensured everything ASU needs for my application is on its way. Now I wait. I wait to see if my credits will transfer. While I wait I should begin looking for a place to live. And I should continue searching for an answer.

It is gorgeous outside today. I watched some friends fly a kite. I have never flown a kite before and I was all set to try it until the kite (a turtle named Speedy) got stuck in a palm tree. It was fun while it lasted, even if I was just an observer.

I finally chose a topic for my second and final paper for America & Antiquity and had it approved by my TA. I will be analyzing the classicizing techniques Martin Luther King Jr. used in his speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” Does is betray how big of a nerd I am to write that I am really very energized to write this paper? Well I am.

Next week I have 3 exams and my paper due, but I am not going to let that phase me for the rest of the week. I just got my good mood back and I don’t want to chase it away. Cat Stevens seems to think I should be happy as well.

“Well, if you want to sing out, sing out

And if you want to be free, be free

Cause there’s a million things to be

You know that there are”