First Exam!

Ok it is currently... 10:20 pm...and I'm freaking out.  Well, not really, but I am a little bit.  I have my first exam of the semester tomorrow in Intro to American Politics.  Today has actually not been the super lazy Sunday I usually hope for.  I woke up to a phone call early in the morning from my mother about money.  Always a lovely good morning, but it happens.  Of course, I could not fall back asleep.  I had to coach learn to skate at The Pond ice arena this morning...and my achilles kind of hurt a little...just coaching!  I'm getting really discouraged about it, but at least I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and new skates on the way.  So anyways, after coaching I went to visit my friend's cat who I am cat sitting for this weekend.  So I stayed at her condo for a while and played with Brooklyn, that's the cat's name by the way. haha.  So I finally got back to my apartment around 2 pm, and laid out all my stuff to study for my exam and realized I needed to get a blue book.  Of course I was just on main street to take care of the cat, but I need to go back to main street to go get a blue book from the bookstore.  Also, I was very concerned that the bookstore wasn't open on Sundays, which would be a huge problem.  I checked online and it said closed on Sundays.  I freaked out, but decided to check for myself anyways.  The problem is that my class starts at 9:05 am on Monday, and the bookstore doesn't open until 9 am.  So, I went back to main street, and thank the lord the Delaware Book Exchange was open, and I got my blue book. :) Phew.  Of course, when I get to the parking lot on main street, my car got blocked in by all the people visiting from Pennstate?  I have no idea, but I was annoyed.  So I've been studying since I got home..with a few breaks for sanity.  I'm surprised on my studiousness today, but none-the-less..school is starting to get overwhelming.  I am already a little behind in my readings.  Even though the classes don't seem as impossible or near as impossible as the natural sciences, I just have so much busy work and papers and stuff to read.  For theatre class I listened to Macbeth on an audio text, while reading something else.  Multitasking?...I think so!  I should get extra credit for that stunt.  Ok well...I will write again about the doctor's verdict on my achilles, and hopefully I will be back to normal training...on the ice..soon.  I'm still at the rink for pretty much the normal amount of time...we are just doing a ton of off-ice, which is equally as productive.  Alright, wish me luck tomorrow morning!

drama drama drama

So today as I was analyzing the works of the Carracci's, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bonzino, and Varaci; I realized something.  A vast majority of their art portray a sense of suffering and pain.  In lecture our Professor spoke of Aristotle's Hierarchy of Genres.  The most important works were that of tragedy.  Second was comedy, followed by satire, genre..so on and so forth.  Why did society then, and even still now, focus so much on tragedy.  It's as if misery was valued.  Of course the classic triumphs and downfalls have a deeply rooted meaning.  However, does the happiness of a comedy automatically become outweighed?  If I wanted to value suffering over happiness, I would definitely sit at home alone every night and read Macbeth in the candlelight.  However, besides sliding into a definite depression, why would anyone want to do that?  Don't get me wrong, Macbeth is a brilliant play, but sometimes I feel like people think that the only valuable or good works of art are the ones that make you feel sad, or angry, or ponder the meanings of life.  I feel that something that arouses a sense of happiness and well being can be just as archaic.  Well anyways, those were my thoughts today.  It carries into skating too.  For a while, and even now, everyone in ice dance skated to drama.  Pretending like you are dying is the thing to do...didn't you know?  haha ok.  Well..also don't get me wrong, I love the drama.  I just think people lose sight of the simple, happy things in life; and forget how valuable they can be.  We overanalyze everything, and I can surely attest to that...just read my blog! haha ;)

Blue skies.

First, I would like to thank all of the birds in Newark for successfully crapping all over my car.  Really guys, thanks, it looks a lot better now.  Otherwise, I've been in such a good mood!  It's like euphoric. Haha.    I know life will always have it's ups and downs, but right now, I feel fantastic.  So school is going well, I have my first exam in Introduction to American Politics in exactly a week.  The first set of exams is always a little stressful, since you get a feel for how easy or difficult the class will be.  It's especially strange for me, since I have never taken a political science class in my life.  In the natural sciences, every exam was multiple choice and scantron.  Now in the political sciences, every exam is essay and short answer and I need a blue book?  I honestly didn't even know what that was until last year when I took my criminal justice class, and I'm a junior! So anyways, I have a lot of schoolwork to do today, and luckily we have the day off of skating..partially because of my achilles and partially because the rink has a test session so the schedule is really weird.  My achilles is feeling much much better, but I will know for sure if it is close to completely healed on Wednesday.  I know it will feel great when I skate Tuesday, which I am so excited about! Ok, well I don't really have any overly dramatic stories or life lessons for today, I just got home from class.  OH ok...a life analogy...when birds gang up on your car and crap all over it...it may look bad initially..but go wash it...renewing beauty is simple.  Haha...if only my car were beautiful to begin with.  Gonna go study!

Get up.

So life is going alright.  I can't stop being tired, but it's the schoolwork.  I'm going to spend all weekend reading I swear.  I'm not even exaggerating.  Also, I haven't been skating since Tuesday, because the tendonitis in my achilles tendon...surpriseee...is terrible.  It's been really swollen and keeps popping.  Sooo, we all decided it was better to take some time off now rather than snap something and be off...for a year. Good decision?...I concur.  I sent my skates to get reinforced at least while I wait for my new ones to come in.  Kyle and I have been very productive though in searching for music and coming up with new lifts. :)
I just came home from the premiere of Rise, the film about the 1961 crash and loss of the United States World Figure Skating Team.  It was so beautiful, sad, inspiring, and memorable.  It taught of the legacy of figure skating and how even at it's lowest time, it found it's way back up.  Skating is an amazing sport, and the film reminded me of how wonderful it is.  It captured every part of it, and I literally cried during it.   That says a lot though, because I never ever cry during movies.  I basically never cry.

Today in my Theater class, the Professor had us partner up with someone and one of us had to act out the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood and the other had to be Little Red Riding Hood.  For the first few minutes we all laughed and would growl and then laugh again as the other one would scream in fear like a little girl.  The professor stopped us and gave us an actually really touching speech.  Most may not think it’s touching..but it applies  to so much more than just acting.  It applies to everything in life.  He told us that this is our moment.  Every moment we live is ours to capture and it has to come from deep inside.  We don’t live in our minds, we live in our bodies.  The minute we think “Oh my god I look so dumb right now”….is the minute you wasted not being the best.  Just say "Thank you mind for your input. Can I get back to being awesome?" You have to be fully invested in everything you do and everything you want.  The film Rise tied in so perfectly!  I know, I know..with my acting class..what the hell is she talking about?  Well,  in Rise, Scott Hamilton spoke of his mother, who died of cancer.  He said that the most important thing he learned from her is that we are all put on this earth for only a certain, short amount of time.  It was his goal to make the most of every minute, and waste nothing.  I don’t know if you’ve heard, but he won the Olympics.  Success does not come easy, but it comes to those who do everything with purpose.  It comes to those who put on a smile when they want to cry, those who show up to the rink when they just want to stay home, or those who ferociously act like a belligerent wolf or ditzy little red riding hood while their mind tells them how embarrassing it is.  I know Rise was to honor the team lost in the crash and tell their story, which was so touching.  However, it also instructed such conviction.  Life is so uncanny, and you never know who will hurt you or what will happen.  Not everyone gets to live out their chances to succeed.  If you want something, get it.  If you fall, get up.  If you fail, try again.   If you’re hurt, keep moving forward.   Do it for you.

Just another day

Ok...it's Valentine's Day.  Legend has it that St. Valentine was a priest put in prison for practicing his Christian beliefs.  He befriended the jailer's young daughter, who was blind.  Before he was executed he asked the jailer for a pencil and paper.  After he was taken away for his execution, the jailer's daughter brought a note to her father and she opened it and a yellow crocus fell out and the note read.."From your Valentine".  Supposedly the yellow crocus was so bright her eyesight was restored.  I think for some people Valentine's Day may be really special, but at the same time I feel like it is one of those Hallmark holidays to rake in some money.  Guys feel forced to buy gifts or take their wives or girlfriends to expensive dinners in fear of what would happen if they didn't.  I don't see how one day of the year is made to show someone how much you care.  St. Valentine wasn't like "omg it's Valentine's, I have to buy my best friend a flower".  There is no right day to let someone you know you care.  Over his stay in prison, every day was a simple conversation between friends.  He made her see beauty in something simple.  Love is not an obligation.
Otherwise...school is in full force already.  Skating is back into motion as well.  I have so much reading to do.  Political science is so different from Biology.  Every class is just readings.  I also got into a theater class and had to memorize a sonnet, which I will be presenting in front of everyone tomorrow morning at 8 am.  Yesterday I spent the day walking around my apartment..talking to myself...preaching to my stuffed animal collection..preaching to myself in the mirror...so needless to say, if I forget the words in class tomorrow I can only laugh.  I already started my procrastination too!  Instead of starting my readings..I cleaned my already clean apartment, I went to the mall, and I tried making chocolate covered strawberries, which epically failed.  I put the chocolate in the microwave, but didn't stir it.  So my apartment was full of smoke.  I ended staying up so late, due to my procrastination, and today was brutal to stay awake in class.  In my art history class I placed my coffee on my desk.  The professor always dims the lights so we can see the paintings more clearly.  As I did the classic "head bob"..my eyes rolling back in my head...I hit my head on my coffee cup and the coffee went everywhere.  So embarrassing, but c'est la vie.  My professor loves me.  I clearly haven't gotten used to running around yet.  Skating is going well too.  I just ordered new skates, because I started getting tendonitis in my achilles.  It is so much better now though.  the trainer at the rink did stim therapy on it, which stimulates the muscles with electrodes.  Doesn't really feel great when you get it, but feels much better afterwards.  Ok well I need to stop writing, because I need to go read! Ciao :)

Hello College

So today was the first day of classes.  I am already exhausted, and we didn't even really learn anything yet! I had Intro to Political science in the morning and went straight from there to the rink and skated till 1:20..usually though we would skate till 2:40.  Then I had my Italian Baroque Art class from 3:35 to 4:50 and then Computers Ethics and Society from 5 to 6:15.  I also installed wireless internet in my apartment, which actually didn't take that long.  I think I am really going to like my classes this semester, but I'll know that for sure tomorrow when I have my other two.  I'm really excited for my Italian Baroque Art class! My professor looks like he came straight from a museum in Italy..but probably because he spent like six months...studying at a museum..in Italy.  The class is in an art building on campus, which I have never stepped foot in, but it was really nice inside.  The class is going to be difficult since it is like a graduate/seminar level class, but I love art so I am looking forward.  I just need to get used to running around to class from the rink again.  I get spoiled over the winter break when I just skate.  The worst is when I leave my apartment sometimes at 8 or 9 am...and don't get home till like 7 pm..and then I have to do work and study for class the next day.  Somehow I've made it through every semester though, but it is not easy.
So this is random and completely out of sync with this blog..but yesterday was a little weird.  When I have something troubling me from either the past or stress or the future...the best cure for me is to drive.  I just leave my apartment and get in my car...and drive anywhere.  Most of the time I will just play music and purposely get lost.  I'll take the most random roads, and mindlessly...somehow..I always find my way home.  I know I'm crazy...but I take that as a sign that no matter how bad things get in your mind or in your life...if you keep on going and moving forward...eventually you will find your way home.  :) I know...how does that make you feel Socrates? Ok, well ready for Spring semester day two tomorrow...and more time back on the ice.  We started doing the rhumba for short dance today.  I really like it, but it is deceivingly difficult!  Ok bedtime pour moi.  Ciao!

Welcome Home

So I am in my new apartment now and it is beautiful.  I am so happy.  I apparently did a terrible job packing, but with the help of my wonderful friends, we got it all moved out in two hours.  Jealous? haha I kid, but we actually did.  My family came today to help me put up pictures and see the place, which was really nice.  I love them so much.  I always have and always will.  I feel so spoiled, and not because they support me with skating and school and my living arrangements.  I feel that way, because they are literally the best family I could ever ask for.  I'm still young, but when you're a kid...you never realize those things.  I always hid my problems, but now I can tell them anything.  It's the way it should be.  Obviously no family is perfect...but believe me...we (mostly my brother and I)..laugh at our imperfections.  So I was like obsessed with daschunds or "weenie dogs" for the longest time.  My parents housewarming gift was a stuffed weenie dog...I named him Frank.  Get it? haha. Well anyway...he's like my new best friend...he's chillin' next to me right now.  He's actually a valentine's day stuffed animal, so he has like a heart on his butt.  Valentine's day...for the record...is a joke.  I just don't understand it.  One day designated to your loved one...defined by the gift you give them.  Stupid.  I never want to and never will celebrate Valentine's Day, but I will write all about that later.  On another note...school starts on Monday?!  This semester is going to be so strange.  I am taking five classes...none of them being science, which is a first! I'm excited, but a little skeptical.  I am taking Introduction to Political Science, International Relations, Italian Baroque Art, Computers Ethics and Society, and Studies in Jewish Literature.  I feel like I should win a prize for the most random classes ever.  I'm not buying my books till I experience each of these classes...just in case ;).  Well I need to get back in school mode like asap.  I'm still a little wound up from coming back from nationals and moving...I totally forgot that I have to be smart again.  Welcome back to reality.  It's time for college and training. Here we go...

Done

So I didn't get a chance to blog much at Nationals, because I was always so busy.  We had so many practice sessions and warm-ups and by the time friday rolled around I think both Kyle and I were so ready to compete.  We skated our best this year I would say.   For a new team, we were right where we wanted to be.  I always thought Nationals would be so nerve-wrecking.  However I wasn't very nervous at all.  The stadium was big, but everyone was so nice and I loveee skating in front of a lot of people.  The weirdest thing was probably that for free dance we skated last in our group so after our 6 minute warm-up we literally had like 40 minutes until we actually skated.  I went to the bathroom, took my skates off, walked around in my sneakers for a while, and then finally put my skates on as if for the first time.  I also loved that they played Meryl and Charlie's Olympic free dance with commentary before our group...because they both said they were dead after one minute.  Thank goodness it's not just me.  Also at the end, all Charlie said he could think about was throwing up.  Haha.  They are human.   You never know what will happen on the ice, but I knew that if I had fun and got into it...I would regret nothing.  It is so much easier thinking about your partner or the people watching then some competition.  I guess that's why I wasn't so nervous...I just skated for me.
Well to say the least, Nationals was an amazing experience and I can't wait to start training again.  However, the more challenging feat right now is moving into a new apartment on Thursday!  My room is scattered, so packing things up is going to take a while.  I'm very excited though to have my own apartment.  It's weird how life changes so quickly on you.  I can't say that I have no regrets so far.  Everyone makes mistakes.  When I came to this apartment, my life was still in shambles from not having a partner, almost quitting skating, heartbreak, blah blah blah.  However, I'm cleaning my slate.  I don't have to remember everything, but i can look back and learn.  "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass.  It is about dancing in the rain" :) Goodnight