Cheers to the freakin' weekend!

I'm over half way done with my first semester of senior year, and let me tell you, I'm super excited to see Christmas Break!

Don't get me wrong, this semester has been flying by. Volleyball is getting closer to being done (if we do well, we could still have a few weeks to go. If we don't, we could be done as early as Nov. 1). Senior night is over, so I have no more games on Central's floor. Ever. My 22nd birthday is in four short days! I have over 100 pages of reading to do for tomorrow. I need to go shoot some pictures for my photography class before tomorrow. Oh, I got a puppy! I don't have one of my classes for a week. It's cold and windy most days which means winter is on it's way. But today is a lovely 70 degrees. I just finished my last volleyball tournament ever (we went 4-0). I broke two school records for career digs as well as season digs. My knees are extremely swollen and bruised because of it. The wonderful fall day is calling me and my book. I love weekends. And I'm lovin' life. :-)

Me and Belle! Isn't she cute?!?

So, I know that was a lot to take in, but I don't have a ton of time because of said homework. I'm looking forward to this week, so I hope it's a good one! Have a wonderful week!

Glass half empty, or is it full?

It's been one of those weeks.

One of weeks that you hate and wish you could just sleep it off and make it go away. The stress of school and homework and the school paper and volleyball are adding up. I can't wait until I'm not tired anymore. Cue the end of the semester. Sadly, I'm a procrastinator.

Happily, the week is over! It's a brand new week which will probably be just as full of stress and tiredness, but it has to be better than last week. Things are looking up...for now.

Goals for the week:
Don't procrastinate my paper for Friday.
Beat BV on Tuesday night.
Get my reading in Wuthering Heights done.
Figure out how to develop pictures in photography class, and then develop them.
Don't procrastinate.

I will let you know how the list goes.

Blah!

Quick update:

I. hate. school.

That's all.

Senior year

Well, I know I haven't posted in quite a while. I never finished my last challenge either, but at the present moment, I really don't care. I'm starting my senior year of college! I'm not sure how I feel about it, yet. I want to be done with school, that much I am sure about. But, at the same time, I wish I didn't have to leave.

My classes this year should't be difficult: I have volleyball class (yes, I took volleyball class), photography, 19th century literature, and literary criticism. To be honest, literary criticism will be a pain in the ass, but the rest will be a least a little fun. The tough part will come in editing the school newspaper and being a tutor on top of volleyball.

The past two weeks has been taken up by volleyball preseason. We have had 15 practices in a week, and my body is exhausted. Although I'm 21, my body feels much older. I found out that I have some pretty nasty tendinitis in both of my knees and just a few days ago my quad started hurting badly. I sat out of practices today, so I hope I get to play tomorrow. *fingers crossed*

Basically, this is my last year of competitive volleyball, and it is probably a good thing because I'm not sure my body could handle it anymore. I think what makes me most sad is that I can't share my last season with the rest of my family. Most of my family members have never seen me play, and I wish I could share my love for the game with them. But, they all live really far away. I'm very thankful that the family and friends I have close by get to watch, but on senior night, I won't have the huge cheering section in the stands, and deep down I wish I did. I know that most of my family and a lot friends can't be there, so I can't hold it against them, but it's still upsetting.

Okay, enough of the sad stuff. School has been in session for three days, it's nice outside, and life is going decently well. I need to get to bed to get up early, but there was a little update on my boring life and some of the things I have been thinking about. Until next time...

Days 24-25 of 30 day book challenge

Day 24: Your favorite series (I don't know why the post is creating too much space between paragraphs...it's annoying).


Easy. Harry Potter. Hands down. 


I don't really think I need to explain this one much more, you just have to read the rest of the book challenge blog posts to know I'm in love with the series. 


Day 25: The nerdiest book you’ve ever read.


Uh...?


Oh! I got it! The Origins of the Specious. Not species. The book is by Patricia O'Conner, and I thought it was pretty fascinating. It's all about the English language and how we use certain words and not others. She shoves the "rules" right out the door!

"She reveals why some of grammar’s best-known “rules” aren’t–and never were–rules at all. She explains how Brits and Yanks wound up speaking the same language so differently, and why British English isn’t necessarily purer."

Days 14-23 of 30 day book challenge

I know. I'm terrible. I haven't updated in over a week! But, here are all of the days I missed in very short chunks. Very short.

Day 14: A book you regret not having read sooner.

Jane Austen novels. Love 'em.

Day 15: A book you haven’t read, but is on your “will read” list.

Oh, this is a looooooooong list. I want to read the Hunger Games Series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, and The Help. There are a lot more on that list...I just don't have the time.

Day 16: A book you haven’t read and have no intention of ever reading.

Lord of the Rings. Ew. Too boring.

Day 17: A book you want to like, but can’t get into for whatever reason. Why can’t you get into it?

Reading Lolita in Tehran. It's been sitting on my book shelf for a ages, and I've tried reading it many times. I don't know why I can't seem to read it. I will get there eventually.

Day 18: A book you think is highly overrated.

"Classics." Not all, but most.

Day 19: A book you think is woefully underrated.

I don't really know. I don't really think this is underrated...it's just not as well know. Well, it might be an Oprah Book Club member. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I don't know how famous it is, but I looked over at my book shelf and it was the first one to come to mind.

Day 20: The environment you most enjoy reading in.

Anywhere that is cuddly. When it's raining. I would love to have a little reading nook by a window someday. With lots of pillows.

Day 21: The most disturbing book you’ve ever read.

The Jungle. Hands down. It's gross. And unnecessarily long.

Day 22: A book you once loved, but don’t anymore. What changed?

Um...none of them changed? I don't think there is a book I liked that I don't enjoy anymore.

Day 23: A book you once hated, but now like. What changed?

Believe it or not, I would not read Ella Enchanted when my mom brought it home the first time. I didn't think it sounded interesting, but then I gave it a chance. I'm so glad I did! :-)

Days 10-13 of 30 day book challenge

Okay, I'm going to cheat a little. But it's my challenge and my blog so I can do what I want! I behind a few days, so I'm just going to quickly go through the challenge for the rest of the week.

Day 10: Name five absolutely great film adaptations of books.

1. Angels and Demons: It definitely wasn't exactly like the book, but I think the movie actually did more for the plot than the book did.
2. The Harry Potter series: Again, not always exactly like the book, but that's okay. I still think they are very faithful to the overall meaning and plot of the series.
3. Pride and Prejudice: The newer version of this movie is fantastic! The older one with Colin Firth is good as well.

Okay, I'm having a hard time thinking today. I can't think of more for some reason and there are plenty out there. So instead, if you have one that you would put on your list, stick it in the comments!

Day 11: Name three absolutely awful film adaptations of books.

1. Ella Enchanted: As one of my favorite books of all time, I was very disappointed with how this book was portrayed on the big screen. Nothing like the book. It was a very sad day.
2. Twilight Saga: Okay, the books really weren't that fantastic to begin with, but the directing, the crappy acting, and cheesy screenwriting ruined it for me.
3. True Blood: Okay, it isn't a movie, but it is a TV show. Based off the Sookie Stackhouse novels, the TV show blows the entire series way out of proportion. More sex, more blood, more story lines. Too many story lines in fact.

Again, if you have something to add because there are plenty more out there, feel free to do so in the comments!

Day 12: Your favorite author(s).

You know, I have been asked this question a lot, and it is always really hard for me to answer. I don't really have a favorite author. I really enjoy Jane Austen novels. JK Rowling has the most successful book series of all time, and I love them. So I guess she could be on the list. British author Phillipa Gregory is one of my favorite historical writers. She has some great stuff on the Tudor period.

Day 13: Your favorite book from childhood.

I have already answered this many times over. Ella Enchanted, hands down is the winner. Although, Harry Potter is also from my childhood, so that one may have to win. But, the series extended into adulthood, so I think Ella Enchanted still wins this one.