A Different Kind of Stress

It seems like forever since I've written but I guess when you're busy time just flies. Hard to believe that we're only a couple of weeks into the semester. I feel as though I have so much work to do when in fact it is still very little. It likely feels this way since I am also trying to get my applications out for fall programs. The deadlines approach so fast that you can hardly believe it. All I can say is one step at a time and everything will get done in time.
Besides having to get those applications out I am having a hard time balancing my school work with everything else that seems to be coming up to be done or to focus on instead of sitting and doing work. Its been an exciting time with all the coverage of Barack Obama's inauguration and the announcement of Oscar contenders for this year. I made a strategic plan as to when I was going to work and when I was going to take time for myself to see friends and have fun. It started out well last week, I did everything on the days I scheduled and I was on track with my work. Friday was a turning point. One of my classes was canceled because my professor was ill. This through off all my plans for the day. I had only brought enough work for two hours and now it had turned into six before the girls I car pool with would be heading home. I had to improvise; I started working ahead of my schedule which sounds good in theory, but ended up throwing me off for the entire weekend. Friday night I knew was going to be a write off as I was going to see Robocop as a midnight movie with Jamie (the boyfriend) and some friends. Of course a midnight movie means getting home in the early hours and sleeping in late. I did start working on Saturday but plans arose for dinner out with friends, which lead to watching a movie at at friend's place and then going home to bed. Sunday wasn't too bad I worked in the morning and headed off to a baby shower in the afternoon...now that's a reality check, to see one of your close friends having their first baby (hard to believe that my friends are at that point in their lives). So here we are today, my afternoon class still being canceled because of illness so I'm working away to catch up on what should have been done sooner. So on my stress level-o-meter I'm at about a 6. Once I have my first application out and some work caught up I will be less stressed.
I decided to share one thing that always makes me feel happy in times of stress...enjoy the video!
Until next time,
Victoria






on a side note....don't forget the How Green are you? video campaign. Deadlines are Feb 15. For more info go to http://www.mta.ca/environment/

Here are a few of my favorite things....

Ok so I know it sounds like I'm going to talk to you about the Sound of Music but I'm not. Since we're still not too far into the winter term I thought that maybe this would be a good time to share some of my favorite things. When you're a student you have plenty to keep you occupied - school, activities, friends, etc. But sometimes you just need to do some things for yourself. So I thought that I would break down a list of things that I like (which are non-school related); some you might like, some you might not, but hey people always say to share so here we go!
1) Books - I'm not the most avid reader in the world (besides what I'm required for classes) and I tend to read what some would call "fluff" otherwise; but right now I have to say that my reading selections are anything other than. My boyfriend made the decision to give me George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 for Christmas. I was a little unsure before I got going but Animal Farm was interesting and now that I'm into 1984 I understand why so many people either love or hate it.
2) Music - my taste in music is eclectic and I tend to listen to just about anything (with a few exceptions). I am a big Beatles fan and have almost all of the albums to listen to. When I had a rough day and I need to calm down its all about Jack Johnson; he's cool and calming. Most of the time it's really a mix, usually dance music....I almost hate to admit it but the new Britney Spears is pretty catchy.
3) Television - ok so I know as a student you'll have little time for t.v. or you won't have cable which limits your viewing abilities but being able to stop your work for an hour to go watch a show I find is a great break. House M.D. is by far my favorite show on right now. There is great writing, great characters and I sometimes feel smarter after the show has ended. Now I do watch other things:ER, Law & Order: SVU...see a pattern :P Like most girls I do have guilty pleasure shows (you know the ones I'm talking about - they're brainless and you only watch them for fun). Well right now mine is the Bachelor (I know some of you probably thought I would say American Idol but unlike the 98% of people who watch it, I can't stand it).
4) Movies - Last but not least by far my favorite way to spend my time. I love going to the movies or watching them at home. I have so many favorites that it's hard to choose them, but there are a few that I think everyone should see (and they're not all old classics):Seven which is my favorite movie gives you the chance you use your brain while you enjoy the spoils of a psychological thriller; Mamma Mia! and Rent, two different ends of the spectrum - one is just for fun while the other deals with some issues in a very different way; Saved!, not much to say but that give it a chance (a friend of mine kept lending his copy to other people and has replaced it 4/5 times because people don't want to give it back); pretty much anything with Johnny Depp or by Tim Burton because they're both fantastic in their own ways; and last but not least BATMAN! I think everyone should see them all because they are all unique but if you need to choose everyone should see the Dark Knight because its amazing in all ways, and the original Adam West/Burt Ward movie and/or series because its just so retro.
That's my list! Let me know what you would put on your own lists!
'till next time - ciao!

OMG 2009 is already started! Hold onto your seats!

Welcome back! The holiday rush is over and everyone has had at least some time to relax (I hope). I'll give you the brief recap of the holiday leading up to where I am right now.
After all my finals finished I was just glad to be home and not worry about classes for a few weeks. With 99% of my holiday preparations being completed I was able to just do nothing. I was lucky this holiday to have friends home from different parts of the country, and like most people in their 20s (or 30s for a select few of my friends) it was nice to just get together and have some fun. On Dec 21 I took my boyfriend to see the Australian Pink Floyd concert (it was a surprise Christmas gift). It was fantastic considering that before that night my knowledge of Pink Floyd's music was limited. I spent Christmas with my family and did all the traditional stuff. The majority of the rest of the break was a muddled mess of who's going where and what's going on. New Year's was interesting; our whole group of friends headed out to the Barnyard Barbecue in Moncton and had some great food and drinks. I'm not the biggest New Year's fan so my boyfriend and I decided to head home early and watch a movie. Well that catches you up on the break, so now what?
I can't believe that we're January 7th and the course/lecture material will be coming at us full force. Now I have been on campus the last couple of days taking care of tuition, books, forms that I needed to fill out, as well as those first introductory classes where you find out what's expected of you. This is an exciting (and strenuous) time for me. This is it, my final semester of my undergrad degree! Its a surreal feeling to know that I am so close to the finish line but there is a wave of panic which comes with it. I am applying for Graduate School, as well as a Bachelor of Education degree; I need to get myself going and get my applications in so I can weigh my options for the fall. Will I get in? Who knows but I am not going to sit and do nothing. So now to find the proper balance between school, job and future. Can it be done? Stay tuned to find out!

Happy Holidays

I want to wish all the past, present and future Mount Allison students, as well as faculty and staff a happy and safe holiday season!
I'm sure there will be lots to catch up on once January comes around.
Until then :)

Winter my ass!

So I mentioned a while back about the snow that we were receiving. Well it was very short lived. I have to say that I haven't seen crazy weather like this in a very long time. It's hot, it's cols, it's sunny, it's raining, and it's snowing. I mean really! There are times when you get all those different aspects all in one day which makes it quite difficult to plan for the day. Especially now when its exam time. It's almost always necessary to layer clothes to go write an exam because you don't know what the room will be like when you get there but I have to say that it's an even bigger pain in the ass now. I had to write two exams this past week and it went from being fairly warm but pouring rain to freezing cold with rain and wing in just a couple of hours. So you get soaked heading to the exam, have to sit there and write while you're drying which makes you feel cold and damp (it's a good thing the gym was decently warm in the morning); but in the afternoon it was a different story. The gym was getting colder because the temperature outside was getting colder which meant that it wasn't nearly as comfortable to write my exam. When I was finished and ready to head home I felt a sigh of relief to leave; that is until I stepped outside. It was a long and miserable drive home because it was raining hard outside. The combination of rain and ice pellets makes for crazy driving conditions especially on the highway. It was nice to curl up with a big mug of hot chocolate in some comfortable clothes and relax for the night when I was finally able to get home. So now I am still sitting here looking at the weather outside, reading the weather predictions and preparing for my last two exams this week. All I can say is that I hope that the weather is good on those two days. After that it won't matter until the new term gets started after the holidays; I can stay home all cozy and warm for my entire vacation if I have to and it would be alright. So I guess it's back to studying until then. Wish me luck!

I should finish my paper...oh look! A kitty!

Have you ever had one of those days where everything is just a blur? Well if you have then you'll understand. That is how I have been feeling for the last several days. I will give you a recap since my last post. This past week were the final days of classes for the fall term which mean handing in the last of my assignments and going to class for review. I can tell you though on Wednesday when all my lectures were over I was very excited to head home to my apartment. I decided while I was on the drive that I was going to have a relaxing evening just hanging out and watching movies. I have to say that the best part of my day is when I walked in the door to the familiar sounds of my kitten Abbey. Instead of having someone come and watch movies with me I decided that I would watch movies and spend some time with the cat, especially since she is alone all day when I am at school; she deserved some quality time. Thursday rolled around and it was time for work, last day before the Christmas holidays (for me at least). Friday was a mishmash of different things. I finished up the very last Christmas shopping that I needed to do, I started to work on my paper which is due this upcoming week and in the evening I went to my mother's house and helped her set up her tree.
The weekend is really where it becomes a blur. Most of my time was spent working on my paper but it wasn't coming along the way I wanted it to be. I kept having writers block so what would I do? Play with the cat of course; she is great for procrastination. Sunday I spent some time with my friend Heath. We went to brunch/lunch and than in the afternoon we went to check out the musical put on by the local high schools. They did Beauty and the Beast, directed by the same teacher who directed the musicals when I was in high school 10 years ago. There was no disappointment at all, those kids were exceptionally talented! Once my fun and chance to be drifted away to a far away land was over it was back to the paper. I kept trudging away even though I was completely blocked as to where I should go. Finally my mind was tired and I decided that it was time for bed.
Unfortunately for me because my mind was elsewhere I completely forgot about my blog until right about now. So here I am, writing to you and letting my brain rest slightly from the paper which is now almost complete. What will I do after this? Probably back to the paper....but oh look! There's Abbey!! Maybe I can play with her for just a little while......

'til next time!

Draggin' my ass to the finish line...

Sitting here on a cool Sunday night, the last night in November actually, wondering where the last year has disappeared to. It's hard to believe that in three short days all of our classes are going to be finished for the fall term. Even though it's the end and my work load has decreased significantly I am still feeling the lack of motivation to have that final push to have it all completed. With all the hustle and bustle of this time of year I can understand how other people have their minds on other things besides school. Everyone is attempting to prepare for the holidays, whether that is making final travel arrangements or whatever one needs to do. I have pretty well finished all my shopping already so I will not have to worry about that later on and it's not what's taking my attention away from my work. I unfortunately have been making plans for all the things that I want to do during the break; in turn it has led me making plans during the time that I should be working. For example, Friday night I had planned to stay home and work but friends decided to have people over to their place so off I went for a few hours. When I went I thought to myself "I can do a bit of work when I get home if I am not out too late" but unfortunately this past week I had been sick so by 10 p.m. I was tired and ready for bed. I did manage to accomplish some work on Saturday after finished my shopping. I am always amazed when I can buckle down and work on a Saturday.
Today when I woke up I planned on doing some work but I slept late instead. My Judaism class was taking a tour of the Synagogue this afternoon so that took away from my working on projects but I really wanted the opportunity to see what the Synagogue here is like on the inside. I met up with my classmates and professor outside the MtA chapel mid-afternoon and we headed to Moncton. The tour was given to us by another MtA professor, Dr. Cohen. He gave us the background of the Jewish community and the Synagogue along with showing us all the different aspects of the building and explaining the worship customs to us. I had been in this Synagogue once before in my life, when I was probably eight or nine years old, but as you can imagine the experience today was quite different. So now I should get back to working on my presentation. It won't be finished tonight but I know I will be able to get it all finished tomorrow and it will be great when it's completed.
I will have more with my end of the term excitement soon!
Ciao :)