Piercings, Tattoos, and My Mobi

Example #86 of how my mom is cooler, more laid-back, and generally more hip than I am: she recently got an eyebrow ring. I can't remember if I've blogged about this before (and don't care to look at my archives), but for those who don't know, my mom, Tracy, has three tattoos (to which she is always thinking of adding), and now, an eyebrow ring. I have no tattoos, and my piercings are confined to the ears. It IS strange, but has always been the case that my mom is more daring and...less reserved than I am. All of my friends adore my mom. They say she really is the coolest mom they know, and I have to admit that it is true. As a teenager, I rarely took advantage of this situation, probably to my father's great relief (though even he would have liked to have seen me date more...they were kinda worried about me for a while). In truth, I am much more like my dad. I will say that I fully supported and even suggested my mom's eyebrow piercing. She was thinking about getting a piercing done, but she wasn't sure where (her ear or somewhere different), and I suggested her eyebrow. Michael and I have a friend named Kara who had an eyebrow ring, and it had to be one of the coolest things I had ever seen. She wore it well. If I ever got a piercing anywhere other than my ear, it would be an eyebrow piercing.

All this reflection on how much my behavior contrasts with my mother's HAS had a nifty effect: I have finally figured out exactly what tattoo I would get, were I ever to get one. Any time I thought of getting a tattoo, one major reason I knew I shouldn't get one was that I didn't know what I would get. I had one thing recur to me over and over, and I couldn't figure out why that one symbol was always so attractive: a very simple, tiny anchor. You may ask, "Why an anchor?" It's not like I am a sailor, or in the navy, or that I hang around the sea or docks all the time. I don't even know how to sail. But I like the idea of a tiny little anchor (though I still don't know where I would get it), and I think I've figured out why. I like the idea of an anchor because I'M SUCH A DRAG! I'm steady, I stay in place, and I tend to valiantly try to tether other people around me in place as well. I'm resistant (though not completely) to being swayed. Thus, a tiny little anchor is an entirely appropriate tattoo for me.

Even so, I have not resolved to get a tattoo, but it is nice to know exactly what I would get. A new toy I DO have is a Mobiblu Cube MP3 player. I call it my Mobi. I LOVE it. I've wanted one for a long time now, and finally caved into my desire. It holds 1G and is so tiny and cute! I listen to it as I walk around campus to my classes and it feels like I have a soundtrack to my life. I think that was in some commercial for an mp3 player....anyway, it is like that, sometimes, and I'm really enjoying the experience.

Pictures galore!

I have made some new albums on the site I use to host my pictures, so you can can click on the title of this entry to go to that site and see them. I have albums posted for Halloween 2005 (very late, I know, but I've been busy), my wedding, and my honeymoon. Since the honeymoon is most recent, and there are now some pics up for it, I will say a little about how that went.

Michael and I honeymooned at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. We reserved a campsite, and camped there for four nights. It was a beautiful park, and we had a great time. The beach was a short walk away, and there were several trails on which we hiked with our dog, Goose.

We went to the beach every day, at least twice. During the hottest part of the day, we would get in the car with Goose in the air conditioning and drive around to some of the local shops to pick up ice for our cooler and to get any other items we needed. Goose wasn't allowed on the beach, so it was good that he was able to stay cool during those hot and shadeless hours of the day. Michael and I spent a lot of time exploring the park, reading books, and playing games. Our campsite was electric, so we took my laptop and watched DVDs at night. It was very relaxing, and a complete pleasure-trip. It was nice to have a trip where we weren't obligated to do anything or visit family members (not that those aren't nice, but....this was nicer).

We have never been so close to so many different types of wildlife. Michael was swimming and dolphins swam within yards of him (I, of course, never got in water past my ankles, because I have an irrational fear of being attacked by sharks). There were crabs of differing sizes everywhere along the beach. We saw deer at least three different times. Once, we were on a trail with Goose and spotted one, and it didn't even run away. It just stood there, not fifty feet from us and we watched as it calmly walked away, about three minutes after we stared at each other. Another time, Michael and I were walking along the beach, and five or so deer came down from the dunes and walked near the water. Beach Deer! Crazy. I guess they like looking out at the water too. We also saw a grass snake, and some very cute and fat rats. The most comical event involved a raccoon. Michael was getting something out of a cooler we used as a pantry one night, and he walked to my car and opened the trunk to get something else out, and when he looked back, a raccoon was inside the cooler, and it grabbed our bag of marshmallows and took off. Michael threw my car keys at it to get it to drop the bag, and he retrieved the marshmallows. It was pretty funny: a raccoon with a sweet tooth.

Well, I've droned on long enough, but as you can see, the trip was great, and we had a wonderful time.

I survived!

Okay, so...I survived the horrendous ethics exam I spoke of in the last post. I am not sure how, or how well I survived, but I did. I was pleased with all my grades this last semester.

I also survived my week of camping, on the belated honeymoon that Michael and I took. I will talk more about it when I make a post with a link to a photo album with the pictures I took while we were there. I didn't take very many because we were so busy actually enjoying the vacation that we would often forget the camera, and...well, I really can't regret that. I know some people love to catalogue every memory, and a lot of times they have these massive and wonderful albums, but I find I am happy enough just doing these things, and talking to others involved in those same events to jog my memory. I imagine I will feel differently when I'm older, as it seems that has been the case with many things, the older I get.

Speaking of being older, I figured out today that I am most fit for retirement. Michael and I were driving along the Florida coast, away from our campground on St. Joseph's peninsula, and I began to talk about the pros and cons of living on a beach. I have a picture in my mind of various scenes of myself living out my last years, and I feel an overwhelming peace. Though so many think that's one of the worst times in their lives, I think it will be one of the most peaceful and happy. In my retirement musings, I can easily imagine myself in a small cottage somewhere in Derbyshire, England (where most Jane Austen movie adaptations are set), with a small patio shaded by trees looking out over the rolling green hills peppered with jutting rocks. I will have a lovely garden, because that will be one of my main hobbies, and I will grow flowers and herbs. My little cottage will have two bedrooms (one for Michael and me, and one for guests) and a study with built-in bookshelves on three of the four walls, with the wall facing the most scenic view lined with large windows, and a long desk underneath them. I will spend my time reading lots of great literature and philosophy, gardening, and hand-writing letters, because hardly anyone writes letters anymore. I'll go on long walks in my straw hats or headscarves, and everyone will know me as the funny little American lady.

It's only fitting I'm dreaming of retirement, and that I think it will be a nice time in my life, considering I've always had a rather old personality. I'm not really vivacious, and I've never really had a wild streak. Michael used to worry that I would suddenly go wild one day and do all sorts of crazy things that I never did in college, but he's recently confessed that he no longer thinks that will happen. Occasionally, I loosen up a little, but for the most part, I'm responsible and ....well, most would classify me as rather boring. I've just never fit into whatever age I've been, and so..I think the age I'm really fit for just hasn't come up yet. Maybe twenty-four will be it? I'll know in June. Anyway, I'll post more interesting things next time, with links to albums with pictures of both (hopefully) the wedding and the honeymoon. Until then........

Twin Peaks Makeover and Test

I've been watching Twin Peaks lately. I'm mesmerized by the show, but have no idea why. It is distinctly soapy in nature, but it's just so WEIRD I can't help myself. I'm especially taken with the character of Audrey Horne, played by Sherilyn Fenn. I want to grow my hair out into her style. What do you think?

So, when I say I've been watching the show lately, I mean that I watched it the week before this last week. This last week was hellish, because I had an important paper due on Monday, a HUGE HORRIBLE DIFFICULT test on Thursday, and I had grading that had to be done by Friday morning. I've never been so stressed in all my life, and it was justified, because the test I took was horrendous. It was just about what I expected, which was why I was terrified the entire week. I've never studied so hard for a test in my life. For all the good it probably did. Anyway, it's over, and there's nothing I can do about it now. Hopefully it will turn out okay.

BIG Update

Well, needless to say, SO MUCH has happened. Michael and I were married over our spring break, and the ceremony was absolutely beautiful and wonderful. Everything else, though also beautiful and pretty much problem-free, was pretty stressful. When I stop recovering from the whole experience, I'll post an album of some of the best pictures online. Michael and I got back the Sunday after the wedding and were back in school Monday. It was exhausting, but we're extremely happy.

As if being exhausted from our "vacation" wasn't enough, Michael and I got really sick this last week with some 24 hour stomach bug thing. We have recently found that it was a case of food poisoning. Now we are perfectly fine, and the week is nearly over.

For some cheerier news, I got a new glasses! They're really cute, and I like them a lot. Michael said they make me look, "younger and nicer" and when he says 'nicer' he means "more approachable." The glasses look a lot like the ones I had when Michael and I first met, and my hair is short again, so...I guess it only makes sense that I would look younger and nicer.

Lastly, Michael and I are going to go camping for our honeymoon. One of my former professors gave us a tent and campstove that we registered for as a wedding gift. We are really excited, and have purchased some camping supplies. We are camping at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park at Port St. Joe, Florida. It's supposed to be pretty awesome! Anyway, that's enough stuff for now.

Shouting obscenities

So, today I have an almost overwhelming desire to shout obscenities. Not at anyone, just...to do it. I don't know why.

I can't believe I'm leaving for Texas for my wedding and stuff NEXT Saturday. GEEZ. Talk about something happening FAST. Good GOD.

Veil wail

So, I tried to make my own wedding veil, because they're so expensive. I have made a total of three. It's a lot harder to make a veil than you would think. I finished the one that I thought would be THE one today, and it sucks. I have spent so much time on it, and yet it still ended up badly. It's very frustrating, and I think I'll end up going without a veil after all this wasted time. I'm just so sick at how much time I spent on making it, and yet it ends up looking like.....well, it just looks bad. UGH.

Not talking about the wedding....at all.

Okay. So, I'm so stressed out. And I really don't know why, because at other times, when I have been in relevantly similar situations, I was WAYYYY behind and yet I didn't feel HALF as stressed. I think I'm addicted to procrastination. This semester, I've really been doing all the readings, and I've been analyzing and highlighting and underlining, and taking my time with my papers. I've been pretty careful. I start my reading and papers days before they are due. I'm being the 'good student' that I'm supposed to have already been. I've even been pretty good about keeping to my exercise schedule (but that's just because I'm worried about my wedding pictures). But with all this....doing everything I'm supposed to do, I feel even more stress. I keep thinking even as I type this that I should be working on one of the million things I have to do. I feel guilt if a day goes by where I didn't get at least one assignment done. I think the problem is that even though I've been pretty well on top of all of my work, I still feel behind. I still have tons to do, and I thought that if I worked really hard, the work would somehow dwindle, and I would feel more rested. It's a LIE. I feel even more stressed out, because now I expect EVEN MORE WORK FROM MYSELF! It's a VICIOUS CYCLE.

On to another subject. I've been listening to rap on my drive home lately. I got tired of my normal radio stations, because they play the same songs over and over, and worse, a lot of the songs they play I just don't like. And I don't feel like listening to the news. So, I decided to change it up, and it's....kinda funny, actually. For some reason, it's refreshing to hear about people wanting to bust caps in each other's asses and not sugarcoating or using cute little euphemisms for sexual behavior. I think I'm going crazy. I must be. Sigh.

Progress Report

I have been busy. Between school and all the wedding stuff, time just speeds by. On the wedding front, I have been making tons of calls and securing more stuff. I'll be glad when the wedding is over, because it really is a lot of work. Even so, it really will be beautiful. I get a little overwhelmed just thinking about it, because I don't like big events in my honor. Also, there's just something strange about even thinking "I'll be married." It doesn't seem like much is going to change. Michael and I have been living together for about two years now, and we've settled into our little routines, and division of household labor, etc.. The only things that I can think of that will be different are my name, and our finances. Maybe those changes are bigger than I realize. Maybe there are further changes I don't even know about. Either way, it's going to happen, and happen soon. Very soon. March 11th soon. Well I'm going to shut up about the wedding, because I worry that it is all I talk about anymore, and has to be freaking BORING to hear about.

Okay... on to school. I am doing pretty well, keeping up with my readings, etc., but I worry that I'll fall behind. After all, I always do really well at the very beginning, but begin to slack off a few weeks into the semester. That just can't happen anymore. I have to do things like form committees of people for my master's exam at the end of summer, and all this other stuff. I have to pass a French translating exam at the end of the semester after going to only half of the available classes for that course. Even with all the stress involved, I can still say there's really nothing I'd rather be doing at this point in my life, and that's what keeps me going.

So, finally....do I have a physique like the actress I posted about the last time? Of course not. I just started my new round of exercise, SILLY. I'd like to think I'm getting better, but that's probably just wishful thinking. I've been exercising, but not as regularly as I'd like. I think I'll be spurred on even more once I start getting fitted for my gown, which begins this Tuesday. Once I see how I look at present in my gown, and think about pictures of myself looking like that, then maybe I'll be less lazy. Who knows. Anyway, this is long enough, and I'm tired of typing. Till next time.

LOOONG Post

Like the pics?? They're pictures of what is going to be the NEW ME! Or rather, the body is going to be the new me, I hope (minus the really long legs...I just can't accomplish THAT). In like...two months. As part of my New Year's Resolution, and the desperate wish to look awesome for my wedding photos, I am going to eat a little less (not anything different though), and work out regularly. I did so well over the summer with the whole working out thing, but I really fell off the wagon during the fall semester. By the way, in case anyone is wondering, the actress in both pictures is Erica Durance, who plays Lois Lane on Smallville. She ROCKS. I would classify her figure as attainable, because she doesn't have six pack abs, and her arms are toned, but not sculpted. She's in shape, but not so built up or anything that it's ridiculous. If you saw her on the show, you'd understand what I mean. As you can see, the show thinks her body is a draw, because they keep creating situations for her to be unclothed. Pretty funny. Anyway, here's hoping I'll actually stick to my resolution.


I had a very nice and long break from school, and spent a lot of time with family and friends in Texas. I received some very nice gifts, and I hope those who received gifts from Michael and me enjoyed them. Much of the break in Texas was spent scurrying around taking care of wedding stuff. That involved lots of little meetings and phone calls. However, everything went off more or less without a hitch, which is somewhat surprising. I expect something to go wrong any time now. Because I know something has to go wrong with the whole wedding planning process....statistically speaking. The invitations are addressed and stamped, and now I just have to send my mom some maps to print out as inserts. I also need to contact hotels in Huntsville to see if they will give discounts if we reserve a block of rooms. I took one of my attendants bridesmaid shopping, and that was quite an experience. If you haven't looked at Pseudopunk's page, then you should, so you'll understand what I was dealing with. She's a wild and crazy girl, and was freaking HILARIOUS while trying on the many dresses we picked out (try to imagine her twirling around like a drunken ballerina with the clerk looking at her askance, or leaning over, gathering her skirt up to her knees and fanning it wildly, saying, "Yeah, we should take these hems up...we do NOT want swamp crotch."). Unfortunately, Crystal was not able to make it to that shopping expedition. We really did have a good time, and Michael came along so he could see Jennifer (Pseudopunk). I think I have prattled on enough for today, so I'm going to shut up.

The semester is over...and I'm sick.

I'm SICK. Today was the last day that I had anything left to turn in or do for the semester, and now I'm sick. I woke up with a sore throat, and now the whole head cold thing is starting to happen. It feels more like sinus problems than a normal cold. It just sucks. I've been drinking lots of my beloved orange juice, in addition to various warm beverages to try and relieve my sore throat and stave off this potentially monstrous respiratory illness. I have to be better by the time we leave for Texas, because my mom and grandma both smoke and that will just cause further problems. Well, I think I'm going to go to bed to try and get some rest. More news will be reported when more news occurs.

The end is NEAR....

The end of the semester is near. I'm so....so very relieved. This has been a very stressful week. At this point in time, I only have to proofread my very terrible paper for my Rawls course, and grade five papers. Then I'll be finished for the semester. I worked pretty hard this semester, and I think I will be rewarded with better grades, which is what I was going for. Everyone keeps saying grades don't matter, but those people are the ones making the really good grades. I think they matter in that they give you more confidence and thus make you more likely to participate more in class discussion. I also think they have an effect on faculty perceptions of your abilities. Thus, better grades makes me feel a lot better. Anyway, this is a very boring post, so I'm going to shut up. OH, something kinda depressing before I shut up: I took a quiz that both Michael and my friend Crystal also took, that asked, "What Age do you Act?" Michael and Crystal were both told they acted their exact and respective ages. I was told I acted 29 years old. TWENTY-NINE. That's six years older than I am, or I guess, closer to five and a half. Ye gads. Anyway, I don't know why it depresses me that it told me what I already know: I'm pretty much a stick in the mud, the librarian-like moralizing creature amongst my peers. Oh well.

Okie Dokie

Well, after a long time of no posting, I should have a lot of news, right? Well, maybe not. My life can be dreadfully dull. Michael's parents are staying with us right now, and will be until around the 19th of December. Michael and I will be going to Texas for Christmas, which will be very nice. It may also be a bit hectic, since I have to accomplish a lot of wedding planning/securing of things while I am there. I have thus far purchased two gifts, and two gifts only. I need to finish my Christmas shopping very soon.

Ummm....school is going well enough, and is almost over (one more week before finals begin). I need to get cracking on a paper I have due next Wednesday (the plan is to write three pages a day from now until Tuesday). I may have to go to school over this weekend in order to concentrate on it, because there are a lot of distractions here at the house.

I watched the new Pride and Prejudice movie over the Thanksgiving break...twice. Yeah, I'm a sucker for such things. I am half in love with Mr. Darcy as portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen. A lot of people complain that he makes Mr. Darcy seem shy, rather than proud, but I really don't think that is the case. There were too many scenes where he really seemed very condescending. What IS the case is that his delivery of certain lines was AWESOME. I was able to see why Lizzie would fall in love with someone that first appeared so very rude. Don't get me wrong: Colin Firth was an almost perfect Mr. Darcy, but he had a lot more time to convince us that Lizzie could fall in love with someone that seemed so haughty before (it was a...I think 6 hour long miniseries, right??). Matthew Macfadyen only had 2 hours, so some of Mr. Darcy's traits had to be softened a bit, or we wouldn't have been convinced. Overall, the new Pride and Prejudice was a beautiful movie. Anyway, on to do the day-to-day things, like drink coffee, etc.

Dreams

While I don't have recurring dreams, I do have a recurring type of dream. Of the dreams I can actually remember, most involve me trying to achieve some sort of goal or complete a task, and my every attempt is somehow thwarted. Thus, my dreams are like problem-solving nightmares, which means they are rather frustrating. Last night (or early this morning) I had a dream that I was sitting at a table outdoors with some friends (I can't remember who they were, or where we were), and I suddenly felt someone touching my hair. I look back, and a woman, who appears to be a hairdresser, is cutting my hair. I thought to myself, "Oh, that's right, I wanted to get a haircut." However, after taking maybe two snips of hair, the woman leaves, and I get up to follow her so I can get my haircut finished. Unfortunately, we are in this huge crowd of people, and I lose her. So I think, "Well, I'll just go get one at a salon or something." I go in search of a salon that somehow I know is nearby, and upon reaching it, I find that it is closed, because it is Sunday. I woke up with the feeling of frustration, because in my dream I thought, "No salons are open on Sunday!" I have no idea why I thought that, or even why I didn't think it was strange that a woman just came up behind me and started cutting my hair. Many of my dreams are this way. It's really weird.

Stuff

Well, it has been a while since my last post, so I thought I would take a break from the dizzying whirlwind that is school, and post something. I've been BUSY. Lots of reading and writing and a little bit of grading. I'm trying to be a better student this semester, and thus far it has worked. I have been a lot better with keeping up with the readings, but I don't know how I'm doing grade-wise because I have only recently had to turn anything in. I do know that I am contributing more in class, so that's a marked improvement from last year. Michael and I have begun our pre-marital counseling (as required by Episcopal church, or at least by my uncle, the priest), and that is going well enough. I have so much to do concerning the wedding, but I keep putting it on the back-burner, at least until around December. Anyway, since I really don't have much to report, and I feel guilty because I'm not doing something school related, I am going to shut up now.

Now I just SOUND sick

Well, I'm really not still sick, but I still sound sick. My voice has gone through several phases: there was the Demi Moore phase, which turned into a Kathleen Turner phase, and for several days now it has been the Stevie Nicks phase. I've been singing Fleetwood Mack songs whenever I'm by myself, because my singing voice is so AWESOME right now. But seriously, I'm starting to wonder if this is permanent, because I feel pretty good, yet my voice isn't better. I like Stevie Nicks and all, but I miss my own voice.

I have been too depressed to post much lately. The Hurricane Katrina disaster just...horrified me. I can't say much more than that, because I just get too angry and sad.

Michael and I are addicted to Lost. It's really sad. We, too, have fallen victim to the "What the hell's in the hatch?!" fever. We watch entirely too much TV. Especially for graduate students. By the way, Michael deserves some major congratulations, because he passed his prelim! He really worked hard, and was rewarded for it. I don't take my prelim until next semester, and I'm pretty much terrified. Well, I had better stop posting and do some reading, so that I can continue to fool these people into thinking that I actually belong in grad school.

Sick.

I've been sick for the past couple of days. It is Michael's fault. He had a scratchy throat and general sluggishness on Saturday, and I came down with those symptoms on Sunday. On Monday, mine got a lot worse, and I took some medication and slept a lot. On Tuesday, I experienced the runny nose part of the illness. This morning, I woke up with Demi Moore's voice. Not fun.

End of summer progress report

The end of summer vacation is finally upon me, and after considering the summer, I decided to report on the status of various projects and things that I may or may not have discussed on here.

First, readers may or may not recall that I was going to teach myself Latin. That didn't happen. Big surprise there, I'm sure. I'm hoping that being back on a schedule will prompt me to actually study it this semester, at least a chapter a week.

Second, I had hoped to do some research on the problem of evil. I started out very well at the beginning of summer, as I diligently printed out some papers I found online, and I read maybe.....some of one on the way to Texas. Upon my return from Texas, I didn't look at the papers even once, except to move them to a folder when I was trying to organize the quagmire that is the computer room. This progress report is looking pretty bad.

Third, I wanted to read a book on Leibniz over the summer. After about the fourth chapter, I gave up due to lack of interest and a conviction that I was crazy for starting such a project on my own in the first place.

Fourth, I wanted to reorganize the computer room/office. I actually did that, and it is working out fairly well. I rarely lose anything, and the biggest problem we were having (filing away important papers and shredding personal papers or junk mail that could be used for identity theft) is something we are doing a better job of keeping up with.

Fifth, I wanted to develop a consistent exercise regimen and get a little more fit. I was actually fairly successful with that, which is crazy, because I thought it was my most ambitious goal. Usually I work out a week and then give up, discouraged because my workout is difficult to complete or I get too sore. Actually, it is only in the past two weeks that I have started losing any weight. Before that, I was only changing my body composition: losing fat but gaining muscle. Thus, no real change in weight. I have gone down a size in undergarments, and I don't get as winded going up and down stairs or walking across campus. I still sweat like mad, but I think that is more due to the heat and humidity. I guess I did pretty well on this one. Well, I can't remember any other project I wanted to do.....and this is a long post, so I'm going to shut up for now.

Wedding Invitations...AAAHHHH!!!!!!!!

Lately, my future mother-in-law, Karen, and I have been trying to do some major planning for the wedding. One of the things that will be a bit tricky concerns the invitations. Michael's parents are hosting a reception for us a few months after the wedding in Michigan, for their family and friends who were not able to attend the actual wedding. We are puzzling over how to handle the reception response cards and the wording of the invitations, etc. I've been playing with the settings on invitation sites, and it is surprising how tricky it can be. For instance, one would think that if you just picked the most inexpensive and simple invitation, you will automatically get the best deal. That isn't always the case, depending upon what other things you'll need with the invitation. In my case, I will probably need a response card and a reception enclosure card along with the invitation, and that is where a lot of the companies seem to trick you. I saw an invitation that I really liked, but thought it was a bit expensive. It turns out that the invitation itself may be more than other invitations, but the response cards and enclosures cost less than many other invitation enclosures, bringing down the price considerably. So I'll have to be very careful to make sure I'm getting what I want for the best price. SIGH.

The school is stirring....

I went to the office today because I needed to be advised, and I was happy to see lots of people running around the department. Some of the faces were unfamiliar, but it is still nice to know that very soon I will be getting back into action. I also spent some time organizing my office, like getting rid of old papers and notes and filing away important stuff. I'll get to see everyone on Friday at the department meeting. This semester I will be a TA for Reasoning and Critical Thinking. I'm happy about it because it is a course I haven't assisted for yet, so it will be good course experience. On the other hand, I will have discussion groups again, which can be both good and bad. Discussion groups are good for the students, and good for me, because it gives me some teaching experience and more one-to-one interaction with the students. It's bad because it takes a bit more preparation, and this semester I have set some goals for myself concerning my coursework and language studies. I really want to be more disciplined this semester, and hope to cultivate some good work habits. We'll see how well all that works out.