Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Finale

Strangely enough, I have enjoyed this class. At times it as been stressful and I'd be lying if i said i didn't need motivation from my parents to get through the PAA. I mostly appreciate the structure of the class. That was the key to my success. This first semester at college and away from my hometown has been difficult for quite a few reasons and I'm thankful for the ability to stay busy. I'm thankful for The Shins, whom without I wouldn't have made it out of here with my sanity. I'm not thankful for procrastination or dorm rooms. I'm thankful for LaPeak soy chais, and hats and gloves and my North Face jacket. I'm not thankful for my car being back in Kalispell and my best friend being in Oregon. I'm thankful for the privilege of attending college...not thankful for tution...but thankful for student loans. I'm thankful that I am going home in a week... not thankful that I'm going to miss my friends I've made here. I could go on for days about the ups and downs of this semester. Unfortunately I have finals to study for I have to go to math class. But ultimately, the most important thing I have learned this semester is that regardless of what goes on, whether good or bad, I am on my own now. Independence is something that i've longed to have for a long time, and now that I have it I am not sure how I feel about it. TBC...

The Shins

My infatuation started when i discovered the movie Garden State starring Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. Not only did I discover my favorite movie when i watched it for the first time, but also one of my favorite bands. There is a part where Zach Braff is driving a green motorbike down the street and the song Caring is Creepy by The Shins started playing. I waited until the end credits to find out what song and the artist was who sang it. It is now my favorite song of all time. Its more a reflection of me than any other song i've ever heard and i recommend it to anyone who has the ability to think outside the box. I am listening to it as I write this blog post actually. Im just glad I have The Shins to get me through tough times...like finals week!

Belated Television post --Keeping up with the Kardashians.

I am a sucker for reality television. Yes, I know it is mostly garbage and does nothing for my mind, but I don't think that anyone can say that it isn't entertaining at the least. Keeping Up With The Kardashians is one of my favorites. After you get to know the people the show is great. I watch it damn near every day an look forward to the "supernew" episodes on E. I would honestly recommend this show to anyone. I think that everyone could find something in it that they enjoy since all the people are so different. So next time your flipping through the channels and you see a family of beautiful armenians laughing and teasing each other~  give it a chance!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Cathedral - Dont judge a book by its cover!

As much as I wasn't looking forward to reading this because it is  long and I figured it would be boring, I actually ended up liking it. It is a classic story of "don't judge a book  by its cover". At first, the narrative character came off as selfish, judgmental, jealous and inconsiderate. He didn't like the fact that his wife had invited a man, a blind man, into their home to stay even though the man needed they're help because his wife had died. He thought that the blind man would be an inconvenience and would be a stereotypical blind man.
As the story progresses you learn that the he warms up to Robert and learns that he is fun to be around and he even says how he enjoys his company. They spend time together and end up developing a great friendship. I think that this is a great story for anyone to read. It really shows that if you are too judgmental and don't see people for who they really are than you may never know what they have to offer.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Writing tips for ya'll

1. Use what I believe to be the most important of the 6 traits : VOICE. 
     I think that this is the most important aspect of writing, if you are not making writing your own and using your own personality and voice in whatever you're writing, than you might as well just not write in my opinion. Readers should feel as though they know you a little better after they read a piece of writing done by you.

2.Write quickly
     I think the best way to get your ideas out and still keep voice is to write a first draft quickly. Just get in the zone and pump it out, then you can go back and change anything you want and fix conventional errors, but at least you know that your ideas are there as well as your voice.

3. Make it up
     Sometimes, when I am stuck and cant think of what to say, I bullshit a little. Be repetitive if you cant think of something new, you can always go back and take it out and change it when it comes to you but for the time being it is easier to just get something out that makes sense and move on to the next idea.

4. Condense/ Expand
    Decide whether this paper is better read as a shorter more condensed piece or an extended longer piece. Depending on what kind of paper you are writing it is sometimes better for there to be less to read but lots of information and facts and sometimes it is better to have more to read with more personal aspects to it.

5. Write about something that matters
     It is always easier to write about something that matters to you. Something that interests you. Writing about something that you do not find relevant or important will ultimately just be a frustrating experience. Find something that you want to write about that that is "fun" for you to research and talk about to an audience.

Hope these are helpful to some of you!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Two truths and a lie

1. I was adopted from a couple from Idaho before I was born to my mother and father and my sister aleks who now lives in chicago.
2. I am transferring to UNLV at the end of this semester to study Hospitality Management.
3. Both of my parents and my sister attended or are attending the University of Montana

Monday, October 4, 2010

Personality Test

I took the personality test and my results said that i was a type 7. It says that 7's are optimistic thrill seekers who see life as an adventure, pretty much sums me up.
It also says that once things loose their fun people who are 7s lose interest and this means things can often go unfinished, i thought this was the most inaccurate part for me because I get annoyed when things go unfinished. It also says that 7s fear being overwhelmed by the struggles of life, which its true for me.
When i went to the nine types site it said that my basic desire is to be happy while my basic fear is to be deprived. I think this is absolutely true about me. My world view is said to be full of options and opportunity and that i look forward to the future. (9 types website) I think this is true about me as well. This test pretty much hit the nail on the head. I looked briefly at the other types and I dont think any of them fit me as well as a 7. 
This was very interesting and accurate I think.