My morning (9.12.13)

I wake up, and look at my phone. 7:20.
HOLY CRAP WHY DIDN'T MY ALARM GO OFF?!

I quickly get up to take a shower. But then I realize that Tina doesn't have class this morning, so I actually have a little more time than usual.

After I shower, I see Angela doing homework on the futon.
Hmm...Angela's first class on Friday doesn't start until an hour after mine.

"Why are you up so early?"
"Well, since Tina's not getting up this morning, I decided not to wait for my alarm to go off, and just get out of bed. Why are you up so early?
"This is the time I always get up."
"...On Thursdays, don't you shower at 8:15?"

Right. It's Thursday.

I mean, of course it's Thursday. And this particular Thursday, I have a five-and-a-half hour break in the middle of my day. I'm going to the gym. I shouldn't have even showered.

Then I open my e-mail. A message from Dr. Stacey, the professor of my first of two classes for the day. It says she's sick. OF COURSE.

Luckily, she didn't cancel class.
I honestly would have exploded.

Alright, c'est tout. I'm done complaining.

Expectations

As it turns out, 19 credits is a lot of work. Who wouldda thunk it?
But all in all, I have high expectations for this semester.

Each day has its blips.
Yet in the big picture, I've really been enjoying myself.

I've been successful at making new friends, I've been keeping up with my classes, I've been getting involved with campus activities and organizations, and I'm still finding time to eat (important) and have fun (also important).

Aaaaand, check out this sa-weet new purchase:

Aw yeah. 

I hope you're all feeling as great about this Fall as I am. 

Stay positive, keep your head up, and don't forget to enjoy the little things.

Introductions

I want to introduce myself to you (even if it's only me who reads this thing).
A few reasons for this:

First of all, I think we all need to re-introduce ourselves to even our closest friends from time to time. We all go through changes throughout the years.

Another reason is that I've started another semester of college. I've had plenty of introductions lately, and it's made me think about how I present myself.

The last reason is that introductions are important. My introducing of myself is different than your introducing of me. And they're both significant.

So hi. My name is Kira.
I'm a little troubled, and a lot of crazy.

Some of my favorite things include paperback books, the smell of Asiago-cheese bagels, and live acoustic sessions.

I've encountered very few books which I find myself recommending to anyone whose mind I find similar to my own. They are: Looking For Alaska by John Green, Watchmen by Alan Moore, and Submarine by Joe Dunthorne.

I laugh at things when I feel uncomfortable.
I avoid confrontation, to the point of ignoring some of my best friends.
I waste my time.

For years, I've had an image of what I want my life to be like, someday. I refuse to share this with anyone, out of fear that it won't happen, and I will be embarrassed of not having met my goal.

I am learning to speak French.
I want to work in a field where I won't be noticed but can accomplish much.
I have a lot of ambition but not a lot of execution.

I have the problem of wanting a boyfriend while simultaneously not feeling deserving of one.

I like choirs and duets.
I enjoy singing, although I'm not very good at it.
I love having real conversations with people.

When I don't feel like I have control over a situation, I tend to freak out. I will then create a new situation over which I can assert control. This isn't often healthy.

But this is me.
This is how I see me.
Now, tell me about yourself.

Optimism

Today started out as a horrible day.

I won't go into detail, but I was in a pretty bad mood; you could ask my roommates.. they would back me up.

Yet the silver lining came.

I ended up learning how to longboard, talked to one of the new CA's, joined a club, went to the C-Store and bought an Arizona tea (which I drank in 20 min, and am now waiting for the copious amounts of pee to come...) and our air conditioning was finally fixed.

Currently, I am sitting on our non-crappy futon, finishing the last of tonight's homework (and check it out, it's only 8:20!), while Master Chef plays in the background.

I'm content.

11 Ways to Get Through a Job-less Summer (or what I've learned from Summer 2013)

11. Get into a TV series. This is an easy way to pass some time, and there's always that show you've been meaning to watch.. just don't get too caught up in it! Watching episode after episode won't be something to eagerly look back on about your summer.

10. Clean. Having a fresh, clean space to relax in is nice. If you're really bored, don't stop at your own personal boundaries. Clean the kitchen, tidy up the living room, vacuum the basement.. this might get you a little extra spending money too, if you have grateful parents (or if you're like me, it'll just get you a clean house).

9. Pick up an instrument and learn a new song. Messing around on the uke is always fun, but maybe find something challenging that will take more time and concentration. The Girl by City and Colour, anyone? Or, for the less musically inclined, some wax paper and a comb is always entertaining.

8. Go for a bike ride. Don't worry if you haven't taken your bike off the ceiling rack in a few years. Remembering how to ride a bike is like, well.. remembering how to ride a bike. Go for a trip to the park, or bike to the nearest Caribou and treat yourself to an iced tea when you get there.

7. Play outside with your pet. Throw a ball for your dog, or take your turtle out to get some sunlight. If you don't have a pet, you should probably buy one; pets are great. Here's an idea: you could buy a chameleon and invite me over to play with it. Please?

6. Look up a recipe to make. Maybe have a nice day of baking, or find a good meal to make for yourself. It's a way to pass time, practice some skills for the future, and it's always nice to have something to eat when you're done.

5. Do some yard work. It's summer! Be outside, and possibly do something productive? Perhaps the garden could use some tending, or the yard needs some weeding. Take on a larger task, even, like finally breaking down the fire pit. That has to be taken down because it's too close to the tree. That was set on fire last time the pit was used. And that still hasn't been taken apart yet. Dad.

4. Go to the beach. Gather some friends when they aren't busy and spend a day at the beach. Play some volleyball, go for a swim, eat some ice cream.. I think we all know the drill, here. If you spend enough time together, have a bonfire in the evening. And if you really spend enough time together, go for the obligatory late-night-Perkins run.

3. Grab lunch with a close friend. Hanging out with a lot of friends at once is fun, but it can also be exhausting. Sometimes it's nice to have lunch (or coffee) with a close friend so you can talk about life and how upset you are that you didn't get a job this summer.

2. Take up a new activity/exercise. You want to do photography? Take a stab at it. Thinking it'd be fun to learn to water ski? Hey, there's no time like the present. Never been a runner? Try it out. (I'd suggest early in the morning, or late at night, when the sun isn't so blasted hot.) Or perhaps you could take up yoga. Do something to stay in shape or keep yourself active.

1. Read a good book. Seeing as you're too busy for leisurely reading when classes are in session, summer is the best time to finally check some of those books off your I've-Been-Meaning-to-Read-These Booklist. If you're looking for a quick-read, Submarine by Joe Dunthorne is quirky, and excellent.

Hello friends.

This summer has been a pretty mild one, to say the least.

For starters, I didn't get a job (which I am still bitter about, but I'll save you the ranting), I haven't seen very much of my friends (until recently), and a lot of the plans I've been making keep getting canceled or postponed (which kind of goes with the last point).

All in all, I haven't done much with my summer. I go for runs, I eat, I watch TV, I sit outside and read, I do yard work..

As I started thinking about it, I wondered, is it my fault that I'm not doing anything?

In most respects, yes. I'll admit, I haven't been as aggressive about solidifying plans with people, or when plans are made, I don't always put forth the effort to be a part of them.

What I've found is that for as much as I think I've changed in college, I revert back to my high school ways when I'm back at home.

I revert to being a homebody. I don't see what my friends are up to because I'd rather be reading the book I'm about to finish. I don't go to the bonfire because I'd rather sit in my room and play my uke. I don't try to make plans with the friends I haven't seen in months because I'm used to the idea of being able to see them whenever, since being at home makes it feel like things are the way they were.

In my own defense, being on a campus does make it easier to do spontaneous things with friends.

The reality is that we're not in high school anymore. Everyone's life is filling up with obligations and fulfillment of responsibilities. People are going to start occupying their breaks with trips, work, taking extra classes, internships.. 

Sooner or later, the windows of opportunity to see certain friends are going to close. Some might be unexpected, even. That doesn't bother me, or scare me, or make me sad. For some friends, that's just the way it goes. But this made me realize how much keeping in touch takes an effort. And I know I'm not the best at it, because I get caught up in everything else. 

I'm going to try and make a better effort, from now on. I love my friends, and there are some that I'd like to keep seeing from time to time, until it becomes inconvenient. 

I've Got What It Takes

So this is a pretty dorky video, but I think it's kind of cute. And I love this song.

"Failure's still something I can say I've achieved"