I feel like I'm always apologizing to you, my handful of readers, that I've decided to move to yet another blog. Sorry. Again. It's a sickness I have, I'm sure.
If you've decided to not hate me entirely, you can check out my new blog here: http://sellessteen.wordpress.com
Sorry, again. Again.
07 August 2011
28 July 2011
2011 reading list.
Last year, I compiled a reading list that I had hoped would become a new, annual tradition of mine, inspired by a friend of mine. The list was comprised of 20 books, picked and chosen from Oprah's Book Club and the New York Times' Best-Seller list. Needless to say, I had failed due to x-amount of excuses, school readings being the main excuse; out of the 20 books, to-date I have only read four, including Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist which I finished yesterday. Hi, my name is Celestine, and I fail at accomplishing relatively easy goals.
So today I am making an attempt to finish my 2010 reading list. I definitely don't want to rush through the list, because I have learned to appreciate and engage in active reading, being able to absorb the information I've read rather than zipping through the readings and being left with little account of what happened, ie. reading Harry Potter books in one sitting and watching the movies thinking, "Wait, that happened?!" On the other hand, although I don't want to zip through the reading list, I also don't want to be sitting here a year later thinking, "WTF- how did I only read two books from that list in a year?!"
I used to love leisurely reading, so here's to trying to get back on that horse. AND I finally get to make use of the Nook I received last September...
2011 reading list, originally compiled in 2010:
There are five more books that I've decided to not include in the 2011 list from the 2010 list, mostly because I think challenging myself to 12 books for the rest of the year will suffice for now.
So today I am making an attempt to finish my 2010 reading list. I definitely don't want to rush through the list, because I have learned to appreciate and engage in active reading, being able to absorb the information I've read rather than zipping through the readings and being left with little account of what happened, ie. reading Harry Potter books in one sitting and watching the movies thinking, "Wait, that happened?!" On the other hand, although I don't want to zip through the reading list, I also don't want to be sitting here a year later thinking, "WTF- how did I only read two books from that list in a year?!"
I used to love leisurely reading, so here's to trying to get back on that horse. AND I finally get to make use of the Nook I received last September...
2011 reading list, originally compiled in 2010:
- Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho
- Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy
- Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem
- A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
- Half Broke Horses: A True-life Novel by Jeannette Walls
- A Short History of Women by Kate Walbert
- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
- A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
- The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
- The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- Night by Elie Wiesel
There are five more books that I've decided to not include in the 2011 list from the 2010 list, mostly because I think challenging myself to 12 books for the rest of the year will suffice for now.
"we're adults now."
July has been quite the month.
Three weeks ago, Stephen and I were left alone in our two bedroom, one bath apartment. With the exception of the second bedroom, which we are attempting to utilize as a study room, we are unpacked and settled in. Hooray!
This has technically been my first time living on my own. Okay- not really on my own because I am living with Stephen. And there was also 2006 when I lived in Long Beach for a semester with my two cousins; however, this experience has definitely been different from that experience. And although I am living with Stephen, I'm still not used to being so far away from my parents. So here are a few things about living away from home that I have learned so far:
I thought I was gonna be able to add more things to the list, but I haven't had enough coffee yet.
On the brighter side, tomorrow Stephen and I will be heading out to Vegas. One weekend in Vegas, a couple days helping my parents move, and then we will be driving cross-country to Washington, D.C.
Which also reminds me that I need to get back to doing laundry. Oye, with the cleaning!
Three weeks ago, Stephen and I were left alone in our two bedroom, one bath apartment. With the exception of the second bedroom, which we are attempting to utilize as a study room, we are unpacked and settled in. Hooray!
This has technically been my first time living on my own. Okay- not really on my own because I am living with Stephen. And there was also 2006 when I lived in Long Beach for a semester with my two cousins; however, this experience has definitely been different from that experience. And although I am living with Stephen, I'm still not used to being so far away from my parents. So here are a few things about living away from home that I have learned so far:
- I understand why my mom was ALWAYS cleaning. I'm not exactly sure what it is we do throughout the day to make our living space so cluttered, but I feel like I have to clean up after ourselves every single day. I'm thinking of secretly filming us one day to document exactly when we go from tidy to unkempt.
- Things are EXPENSIVE- food, cleaning products, furniture, cable & internet, electricity, etc.
- One nice way to save money is to thrift furniture and look into making your own cleaning products or bug repellents
- Coffee is my best friend, especially to help me get through the days of infinite cleaning.
- Waking up at noon is no longer pleasurable, mostly because I am always thinking about cleaning and what miscellaneous errands need to be done....
- I miss being with my family, A LOT. Thank goodness for unlimited phone calls and Skype.
I thought I was gonna be able to add more things to the list, but I haven't had enough coffee yet.
On the brighter side, tomorrow Stephen and I will be heading out to Vegas. One weekend in Vegas, a couple days helping my parents move, and then we will be driving cross-country to Washington, D.C.
Which also reminds me that I need to get back to doing laundry. Oye, with the cleaning!
01 July 2011
the last lonely first.
For two and a half years, we've done something that a lot of people admit they could never do: we persevered through our long-distance relationship. Of course there were times when I couldn't stand being away from you for so long, only being able to spend one weekend with you every month. There were times when my day would pull me through hell and back again, and the only thing that could possibly make me feel better was your comfort and embrace, but I had to settle for seing your face on my 13 inch computer screen. There were places that I went and things that I've done with my time that would have been better if I had you for company. There were lonely days without you, lonely nights that I wanted to spend with you.
Yet through all the loneliness that was brought onto us because of the distance and the miles that separated us, it didn't hinder our growing love for one another. It made me cherish the moments that we did have together a little bit more. It made me more determined to do good in school, to throw myself into my work so that our future could be a little better (and so that I would preoccupy myself with busy work so I wouldn't miss you even more). It made me stronger knowing that I wouldn't have constant emotional breakdowns without you. It helped me realize that if we could survive through these long two years we could make it through virtually anything.
And now, in just two days, we'll no longer be separated by 300 miles. We'll no longer have to spend our monthsaries separately, only being able to express our love for one another through a telephone call or virtual face time.
Living together may not be easy; I know we're bound to bump heads along the way, but that's okay because I know we'll always work things out before the day is done. And now we'll be able to really work on our relationship together, face-to-face, comforting one another after everything is said and done. And I no longer have to ease my loneliness (or make it worse) by listening to Brandy's "Long Distance," not that I always do that or anything.......
So here's to the past two and a half years, and here's to forever.
Yet through all the loneliness that was brought onto us because of the distance and the miles that separated us, it didn't hinder our growing love for one another. It made me cherish the moments that we did have together a little bit more. It made me more determined to do good in school, to throw myself into my work so that our future could be a little better (and so that I would preoccupy myself with busy work so I wouldn't miss you even more). It made me stronger knowing that I wouldn't have constant emotional breakdowns without you. It helped me realize that if we could survive through these long two years we could make it through virtually anything.
And now, in just two days, we'll no longer be separated by 300 miles. We'll no longer have to spend our monthsaries separately, only being able to express our love for one another through a telephone call or virtual face time.
Living together may not be easy; I know we're bound to bump heads along the way, but that's okay because I know we'll always work things out before the day is done. And now we'll be able to really work on our relationship together, face-to-face, comforting one another after everything is said and done. And I no longer have to ease my loneliness (or make it worse) by listening to Brandy's "Long Distance," not that I always do that or anything.......
So here's to the past two and a half years, and here's to forever.
29 June 2011
sleepless soul-searching in sin city.
It is almost 4:30 in the morning, and I find myself wide awake. This case of insomnia was triggered by hunger and having to pee really, really bad, and also because I was heavily contemplating my future before I tried sleeping nearly 4 hours ago. Note to self: Stop trying to plan the future before bedtime!
This sudden need to have a self-discussion regarding life was brought on by Monday's visit to Fresno State for Dog Days, the new student orientation. Pre Dog Day, I was set on changing my major from Women's Studies to Liberal Studies so that I can become an elementary teacher after graduating; then after a couple years of teaching here in the U.S., I wanted to become a DoDDS teacher and live happily ever after back in Yokosuka with Stephen and our little family. Post Dog Day? The elementary teaching ship has sailed, and I want to explore the vast career options that a degree in Women's Studies can open up. Exactly how many doors will a Women's Studies degree open up? Too many for my insatiable head to simply choose just one. And unfortunately, the Women's Studies adviser was unable to be there during Dog Days, so all the questions that are currently flooding my head won't be answered until I move to Fresno- and that's in 4 days!
As I have continuously bitched and moaned to Stephen- poor guy- I am the worst person to have fallen in love with such a broad-ranged major. I will say that I have narrowed my interests to 3 categories: education, social work, and public policy. I still want to teach, but I'd rather save teaching for later; after I'm finished with whatever primary career I choose, I want to teach at a college or university and hopefully passionately inspire someone to consider entering the realm of Women's Studies, the same way my teachers have done. But before that? Social work or public policy. I'm still unsure of which path to take, but that's what my time at Fresno State is for, right? I've also started looking at grad schools and internships, and all the possibilities have rekindled my love for Women's Studies.
Although my head is currently soaring through the clouds of the future, I have remember to keep my feet planted in the here-and-now.
First the move. Then Fall 2011. One step at a time.
I will end this post by saying that I'm grateful for attending Dog Days. My last semester at CSN- along with these past couple of months- really whooped my ass, and I was beginning to lose focus and determination. But after going to Dog Days, after listening to the speeches made by advisers, orientation leaders, and the Assistant Dean of the College of Social Sciences, I have been reconnected with perseverance.
And maybe now I can try getting some sleep.
This sudden need to have a self-discussion regarding life was brought on by Monday's visit to Fresno State for Dog Days, the new student orientation. Pre Dog Day, I was set on changing my major from Women's Studies to Liberal Studies so that I can become an elementary teacher after graduating; then after a couple years of teaching here in the U.S., I wanted to become a DoDDS teacher and live happily ever after back in Yokosuka with Stephen and our little family. Post Dog Day? The elementary teaching ship has sailed, and I want to explore the vast career options that a degree in Women's Studies can open up. Exactly how many doors will a Women's Studies degree open up? Too many for my insatiable head to simply choose just one. And unfortunately, the Women's Studies adviser was unable to be there during Dog Days, so all the questions that are currently flooding my head won't be answered until I move to Fresno- and that's in 4 days!
As I have continuously bitched and moaned to Stephen- poor guy- I am the worst person to have fallen in love with such a broad-ranged major. I will say that I have narrowed my interests to 3 categories: education, social work, and public policy. I still want to teach, but I'd rather save teaching for later; after I'm finished with whatever primary career I choose, I want to teach at a college or university and hopefully passionately inspire someone to consider entering the realm of Women's Studies, the same way my teachers have done. But before that? Social work or public policy. I'm still unsure of which path to take, but that's what my time at Fresno State is for, right? I've also started looking at grad schools and internships, and all the possibilities have rekindled my love for Women's Studies.
Although my head is currently soaring through the clouds of the future, I have remember to keep my feet planted in the here-and-now.
First the move. Then Fall 2011. One step at a time.
I will end this post by saying that I'm grateful for attending Dog Days. My last semester at CSN- along with these past couple of months- really whooped my ass, and I was beginning to lose focus and determination. But after going to Dog Days, after listening to the speeches made by advisers, orientation leaders, and the Assistant Dean of the College of Social Sciences, I have been reconnected with perseverance.
And maybe now I can try getting some sleep.
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