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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Fall Semester - 9/7/10

Wow. I am so bad at keeping up on this thing. So much has happened since my last post.

I finished Summer Term with a 4.0 GPA, but the chances of me keeping it that way over the fall are not good...

I vacationed to California and had a BLAST and got quite tan in the process, and even got to go to Disneyland with my cousins. SOOO much fun.

I started my fall semester of college here at the Y, and it is going great. I like all of my classes, and even though it is lots of work it is going to be tons and tons of fun.

I finished my second draft of my book, and am now working on draft three! I am also working on sending letters into agents to try and get my work published! This has been consuming my life lately... I am editing and re-editing my query letter to make it perfect. If all goes according to plan i will make my final edits and then send it in tomorrow so that agents can read it, and 99% can hit the delete button... It's ok though, because that's how it happens for everyone, including hit authors like Stephanie Meyer and Suzanne Collins.

I finished reading Mockingjay, and.... HORRID. Absolutely awful. The first half was boring and the last fourth was disappointing. The one-fourth of the middle that stuff actually happened in was really good though. The ending managed to be predictable and boring yet unsatisfying and ridiculous at the same time.

I think that pretty much sums it up... Life is going great, and i have no complaints.

Time to do my American Heritage homework now...

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I can't believe...

I can't believe that its been over a month since my last update. time has gone so fast, i practically forgot about this thing. college life is amazing.

I can't believe that i will be home in 2 days. it seems like only a few short days ago that i was leaving. people think that summer vacation goes by quickly? that's nothing compared to how quickly a summer term goes by.

I can't believe I survived. College has been crazy. i've had to study more in this one term than in my entire 4 years of high school combined. AND it looks like i'll be keeping my grades in the B+ to A range.

I can't believe that i managed to switch into Budge hall for fall. I have been trying litterally every Monday and Wednesday at 4:00pm (thats when they post open beds) ALL SUMMER to no avail, but suddenly this past monday, vuala! (how the heck do you spell that dang word???)

I can't believe that i am half way done with the second draft of my novel! it goes by much quicker the second time around, let me tell you...

I can't believe that it took me such a long time to discover the magical TV show "Psych". it is so amazing. i'm gonna be buying season 2 very soon. VERY VERY soon

I can't believe how lucky i am to not only be going to this amazing school, but to have so much support from family and friends (both old and new ones). I can't wait for fall to come so i can get back up here!

I can't believe that i am blogging when i should be studying for my psychology final. this is the definition of procrastination i think. time to get on that.

Thomas²

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Poetry 5

This is the final poem of our poetry unit, and it's a doozy. I's called a villanelle, and the rule is that you have stanzas with 4 lines in them, and the 2nd and 4th line of one stanza becomes the 1st and 3rd lines of the next stanza, and it repeats like that forever. Then at the end you have to use your 1st and 3rd lines from the very first stanza as your 2nd and 4th lines of the last stanza. It's ridiculous. Which is why this poem isn't very good, and its extremely repetetive. Anyways here it is.

"Before You Know It"

Your time will be gone

before you know it.

Always remember:

live like you’re dying.

Before you know it

childhood ends, so

live like you’re dying

to try and stay young.

Childhood ends so

suddenly. You have

to try and stay young

the best you that you can.

Suddenly you have

so many problems to fix

the best that you can.

You aren’t a kid anymore.

So many problems to fix,

your time will be gone.

You aren’t a kid anymore.

Always remember.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Poetry 1-4

So I decided that it would be fun to post some of the poetry I have been writing for creative writing class, so here are the four we have done so far.

Assignment one: Write about a vivid memory from childhood using sensory images.


"Top to Bottom"

Dad and I

perched atop Mt. Baldy’s frigid summit, numbed to the bone.

Silhouetted against noon’s gloomy grey skies we descend.

Down.

Down the first black-diamond run

of my ten year life.

Frozen air bites my exposed ear lobes

as the sight of steep bleached snow bellow

is blurred by my fogging breath.

Slush, ice, and skis combine for a sinister harmony

like breaking bones and shredding metal,

sending shivers down my already quaking spine.

I envision the sounds being matched;

My bones breaking, my skis shredding.

Feeling near death’s brink,

I rejoice when I see smoke rising from the ski lodge bellow.

I’m warm now.

The flames dance at my feet

while the singing embers ring

through my tingling red ears.

My feet, at last released from the plastic red ski boot prison

enjoy freedom as the plush purple carpet tickles between my toes.

I smell the hot chocolate coming, but

it burns all the way down.

A small price for it invigorating warmth.

So we sit together, dry warm and happy,

on a day when I knew nothing more could go right.

Dad and I.


Assignment two: Write a poem that employs an extended metaphor.


"Papers"

A sheet of paper is a remarkable thing.

It is easily bent, torn, or burned.

It blows with the wind and falls with the leaves.

It cannot move of its own free will,

but must be directed and formed.

But a paper can also be more solid than stone.

It can be more valuable than gold.

It can be more beautiful than the stars.

A child is also a remarkable thing.

It is easily persuaded, influenced, and molded.

It blows with chastisement and falls with conformity.

It cannot do things of its own free will,

But must be disciplined and directed.

But a child can also be more immovable than a mountain.

It can be more valuable than diamonds.

It can be more beautiful than a sunset.

A paper can be anything

given the right printing, size, and authority.

Be it currency, diplomas, or works of art.

Just as a child can be anything

given the right teaching, examples, and opportunity.

Be it a banker, a scientist, or an artist.

The possibilities a contained in one small child

Are as limitless as a blank paper.


Assignment three: Write a poem that includes a voice other than your own. (no offense on this one Torrie)


"Literally"

They literally talk like they are two.

They are fifteen, but they talk like they are two.

They are the sophomores from high school.

They are so stupid-status.

They are also really lame-status.

Wannabe-status.

Pathetic-status.

I just think, OMG.

WTF.

They say, “BRB”.

I hope not.

Like, for realsies.

They literally make me want to kill myself.

They are def the most illiterate people I know.

Oops, can’t say illiterate.

That has more than three syllables.

Smart-status.

They totes need to grow up.

For seriously.

They literally talk like that.


Assignment four: Write a sylabic poem using a unique but significant number of sylables in each line.


"LOST"

The plane went down

one hundred miles off of course.

We crash-landed on this island; they’re looking in the wrong place.


Forty-eight lived.

Oceanic flight 815

departed from gate b15, going from Sydney to LA.

We should not have

survived. But fate has plans for us.

The island has plans for all of us. We are the candidates.

One of us will

stay here forever to protect

the island. It stops the evil from spreading around the world.

The Others will

sabotage us, murder us, and

then pretend to be one of us. Because this is their island

Four. Eight. Fifteen.

Sixteen. Twenty-three. Forty-two.

We all were lost before this. Lost and insecure. You found me.


So there you go. My poetry over the past 2 weeks. More to come soon!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Fun College Facts!

Fun College Facts: (More to come as i learn!!!)

#1: There are more neuron connections in the human brain than there are stars in our galaxy.
6/29/10
#2: Saying "I know i never will" in poetry doesn't sound as good as "Somehow i don't think that that will happen."
7/1/10

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Done with Week One

So week one of college was tough at first, but i can honestly say that things are much better now. I'm not sure if i've just gotten used to life up here or if things are actually improving, but i'm much more happy about being in P-town then i was last week.

My classes are going really well. It is a TON more work, but its fun and enjoyable. Psych is veeeery interesting, and i'm learning a ton. Living prophets is fun too, because its spiritual and gives me a seminary-type class, but i learn cool and interesting things. And creative writing is a blast. There are only like 15 people in that class, so we all get a lot of time to talk and share ideas, etc. We basically just go over different creative styles, and then our teacher has us write stuff. Its very fun.

Well, i thought that this needed an update since its been a while. But for now, i need to study the brain. Apparently its important for psychology...

TJ

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Day 4 - 6/24/10

So i know that this will say "6/25/10" on it, but thats just because it is 12:26 am. This is about the 24th though...

So the past 2 days of classes went well. Things are going pretty good for me. The homework load, though intense, is manageable (so long as i don't get stuck on my computer for hours). All in all, not too bad. Although, i am getting over the glamour of college life. When i first got here, the cannon center was freakin awesome. Now im just like, "Oh well. Time for food. I guess i'll go eat."

What i'm really hoping is that things start to get a little more exciting once this first week is over. People are still sort of settling into their places here, and most people, including me, are sort of drifting from group to group. Eventually i think people will find their niche, and so will i. It has been one crazy first week though. Lots is happening, and its all been a big roller coaster so far.

Tonight was one of the more fun nights so far. I went downstairs at around 9 and just hung out. I played pool with a bunch of guys, then z-ball, and then some girls came over and we all just sort of hung out for a few hours, talking and stuff. it was fun.

so anyways im going to bed soon. got to go over a little bit of psych homework and then im hitting the sack. tomorrow im hoping to wake up at 9 to go on a jog! hooray!
i still can't decide if that sounds like a good idea or not. maybe i'll wait till next week to start it... yeah. probably. i still need to buy an alarm clock too...

Any-hoo... goodnight. The bed is calling. Except that my roommate is watching Family Guy. I'll have to ask him to put some headphones in.