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Monday, December 31, 2012

Sad...

It is a very dark sign to see one homeless person standing on the streets asking for help in any way.  But it is even worse to see more than one.  I saw no less than three people in that situation just today.  And it was snowing too.  Temperatures seemed to drop last night.  I think it got below ten, or at least close to it.
These people stand there in any weather hoping for a helping hand.  I've heard a few say they are to lazy or addicted to take care of themselves so they don't deserve a handout.  That's the meanest thing I think you could say.  Maybe they did, maybe they didn't.  All I know is that if I can help a little then I will.  It's not my place to judge them about their circumstances.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Finally?

If you ever watched the movie 2012, you heard about the theory that the world was going to end-or something like that-on the 21 of this month.  This stems from the fact that the mayan calendar we use from year to year ended on that day.  But a friend told me that the Mayans would simply say it was the end of a cycle, not the end of the world.
Given they lived what, 3,000 years ago, do you really think they were predicting the end?
We're all still here in any case.  Nearly to the year 2013 in point of fact.  We did get more snow yesterday, but clear skies today.  Very cold though, thanks to clear skies last night too.
i've got one more week of break before school starts again.  Hoping to get a job in that time, but so far haven't had any luck.  But I'm not giving up.  I hope that employers are looking at me, and not dismissing me because I'm in college.  I had a friend who kept getting turned down for jobs for that reason-and they told them so.  That's just rude in my opinion.
That seems really stupid too, with the way things are going.   Gas prices are finally dropping, but everything else is still going up as far as I can tell.   If you don't have employees, how will you sell stuff?  And if they don't have jobs, where will they get the money to buy stuff and keep others in buisness?
Their choice, but I think it might come bite them later.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Wow..

That's the most snow we've gotten in a while.  Still bitter cold though.  We might get even more.  Far too many accidents on the roads so far.  Mostly slid off's, but that's scary enough.
It's really fun trying to shovel the driveway.  The snow is powder so it's not heavy-though the buildup from snowplows in the gutter is a real pain to take care of.  If we don't it freezes in a thick bank that makes getting into the driveway a nightmare.  But the snow melts slightly with the snowblower, and leaves just enough to turn it into something akin to a ice rink.  Try to get enough purchase on that surface to shovel.  I nearly pulled a muscle trying not to fall-or do the splits-while clearing our driveway.
I bet those who go skiing or snowboarding are really happy now.  They just bundle up and head out for a long crazy day wherever they like to go.  I've never done either-would like to though-but it seems the perfect kind for that stuff.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Not What I Meant...

I said I wanted a white christmas, and I got one.  Now we are having a two day storm that leaves the driveway covered about five minutes after we clear it.  As my Dad puts it 'screaming at a whote driveway you'd just shoveled five minutes before'.  While having enough to sled in is nice, I have to note all the traffic accidents-especially on the freeway- that happen as a result of unprepared drivers.
Plus most of this is powder, meaning it's great for skiing and stuff, and erasy to shovel.  But it also promotes things like black ice.  Having fallen more than once on that surface I know it's not fun.  The scene in While You Were Sleeping is fun, but that's not a common occurence.
This light snow does mean that tree limbs are safe from breaking, as it's not heavy enough to do so.  Just bitter cold-I read in a book that trees can explode if it getws too cold, something about the sap expanding?-which encourages the use of scarves and gloves and really warm coats.
I'd like a good old fashioned snowball fight though.  Maybe with forts if there's time.  And this kind of snow is good because it's less likely to hurt.  Too bad my neice is a little too young for that....

Monday, December 24, 2012

Pranks

A lot of the pranks you hear about occur around halloween, or a big school event.  Many of those are not fun to the recipient, and often leave hours of cleanup behind.  Toilet papering someone's yard, spray painting a school field bleachers or their symbol are signs of dislike or school rivalry.  But that often leaves the janitors a big mess, or the home owners.
Pranks around this time of year are hopefully more pleasant.  Things like leaving a bag of gifts for a needy family, a plate of cookies for a lonely person in the neiborhood(I know I spelled that wrong).
Secret Santa is one of my favorites, and it has many variations.  The point is to be annoymous.  And that's the best part.  Door bell ditching is fun when leaving a surprise because you won't get in trouble for it.
My family once had a group of people come by with quite the pile of gifts for all of us.  They claimed to be 'Santa's Elves'.  That is one of my best childhood memories.  And I still don't know who any of them were.

Dreams

I had a strange dream a while ago.  I was following a large yet widely scattered group of people towards a tall mountain.  There was a road going around that I watched many people go along.  But the gorup I followed went to the mountain and began climbing up a sttep slope.  The 'wall' was made of a very thick mud like substance.  It was thick enough to provide hand and foot holds, yet soft enough I could dig my hands into it.  The previous climbers hand and foot holds would fade to nothing by the time I reached where they had been.  So each climber had to create their own.  There were several points where i slipped, but I didn't fall.  Finally I reached a ledge about midway up the mountain.  A girl was hauling herself onto this ledge as I reached it.  I woke up before I could see what was on the ledge, or even get on it.  But I remember feeling determined to get there.
Around this time of year people have many dreams.  Children want that special toy or set.  Adults want family time or vacation time.  Children are waiting for Santa to arrive, while those who are religious prepare to celebrate the birth of our lord and savior.
My dream is to see my family together, happy and safe.  I also dream of giving my father a reason to be as proud of me when I graduate from college as he was when my younger brother graduated from high school.  I dream of seeing snow on christmas morning, and watching my two year old neice play in it.
Everyone has dreams.  The question is, when and where we plan to achieve them.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Jobs

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that the highest paid job I've found right now is a socail media manager, and they work from home?  This 'postition' pays around $25 per hour and all they are doing is updating stuff on facebook and/or twitter, or commenting in youtube videos.  While I can see the point of these jobs, it seems a little ridiculous to pay them that much.  You get paid to be on the web a lot.
Granted, my parents earn spare cash 'shopping' so to speak.  They are asked to got to certain stores/restaurants/theaters and do stuff.  If they have to buy or watch something they get reimbursed for it.  Some times it's setting up displays or making sure the right one is there, so they get paid for that.  Not all of the jobs they've gotten are that easy-one had them run all over the stat getting gasoline samples from a certain gas station.  But most of the time it's fun.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Majors and Minors

They say that choosing one should be easy,  but then they make you take a bunch of tests to determine what you should go for.  And those are not easy.  Plus they cost money, and take time.
I recently had to take said tests, and it took me over two hours to get them done.  There was a series of online tests, and then two written ones.  One of those you had to print off.
And if you don't finish in one sitting, you have to pay for it all over again.
The results give you a list of things you can try, but you still have to pick one and hope it works for you.  At least once you go with one, declaring it is easy.  Takes a lot less time too.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Not so Fun Being a Girl

There is about one day per month were I don't want to do anything.  I have to force myself to eat, to exercise, to even get out of bed sometimes.
To explain, I feel like someone sucked all my energy out through my gut and then slugged me with it.  Trying to exercise sometimes helps, but other times it eases the pain for a few hours.  Then it comes back with a vengence.  Instead of a punch it feels like I was kicked in the gut.
Men can say I'm a wimp, but I'd like to see them try it.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Testing Weather Conditions

Taking finals is a pain during the last week of the semester.  I had two today and while the first wasn't a big deal, I had to wait in line for the second.  A good fifteen to twenty minutes.  At least they gave us soft chairs to wait in.  And additional study time.
We had fog last week.  For almost two days.  Kinda cool in my opinion, though I didn't have to drive in it.  Walking the crazy canines living in the same house is not fun though.  They try to take off after the next door neighbor's dog.  Doesn't help that said dog love coming into our yard to do his buisness.
Finally got snow! Not much though, and now it is really cold.  I believe we got below 25 degrees last night, so anytime I went outside my hands froze.  So the snow is powder, and we had ice on the windshields.  Makes me so glad to have a car that has a working heater.  Forget the a/c, I just want to be warm.  I can drive in heat.  Can't drive if my fingers won't move-or shake so much I'm driving all over the road.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

AAAGGHH!

They're after me!!  Yes, that is an overreaction.  But getting stuff from various colleges can get really old.  They come in droves when you are a senior in high school and they may continue in college.  I am junior and I still get stuff from colleges wanting me to go there, or at least transfer.
Then there's the army, navy, air force that also send stuff during high school.  And I've started getting stuff from them agian.  My brother is enlisted, but I'm not sure I'm up to the level they want physically.
I have been going to personal trainers for a while, so I'm stronger than I look, but not that strong.  Plus the military doesn't really appeal to me.  Shooting guns at targets is scary for me (why carrying a knife doesn't I'm not sure).  Imagine me shooting at human shaped targets or real people? No thanks.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Things to Look Forward to...

The End
Of a long hard workout, especially one with a personal trainer.  Results from this are usually positive, but the effort and training is exhausting.
A chic flic your wife/girlfriend/daughter dragged you to.  or a bloody action one with husband/boyfriend/son.
Finals week, and all the testing, papers to write, projects to do from a very long semester.
The Holidays
Christmas and Thanksgiving spent with family (hopefully).  New years eve spent doing something fun (drive sober please).  Halloween, though that one seems to have lost popularity.  Easter, the fourth of July (fireworks!), Father and Mothers day.  Not to metion all the other ones.
Snow, and all the fun that comes with it.  Ice scating, snowball fights, igloo building, sledding (hopefully with a bit of a hill-large ones tend to put more danger in), Skiing, snowboarding.  Of course there is the shoveling of the driveway that someone's got to do before anyone can go anywhere.  I do wish for a white christmas this year, as the last few haven't been.
Rain, which cleans up everything outside and makes the yard smell nice for a while.  And there's no cleanup from you unless you left something out.
Family trips or vacations, whatever your preference is.  Just taking a break from things for a while.
The next book in a series coming out, when you've been waiting for so long to see what comes next.
Getting your drivers license, though I was terrified.  I don't like driving very much.  I understand the benefits, but i don't like the idea of getting in an accident.  Kind of wish my brothers would too, so I could stop having to drive them around.
Turning sixteen, eighteen, or twenty one.  Big milestones in the life of young people.
Finding time to be alone in a special place.  Most people don't have that, I think.
A new movie you've been dying to see.  Hopefully no crazy people to ruin the evening.
A new baby.  A new life beginning.  The start of a family, no matter what kind.
The end of Nanowrimo, which I actually made 50,000 words!  Now what to do with that story.....

Monday, December 3, 2012

Things They Don't Tell You...

When you get federal grants you have a certain number of credit hours before they stop paying for it.  After 94 credit hours, they don't cover an associates, and after 189 hours they won't cover a bachelors.
Math is required for college graduation, no matter what.  So if you skipped out in high school, you're a little behind.
Picking and choosing majors because you have no idea which to go for only wastes you credit hours.  That's what student success centers and career placement areas are for.  Not many know that.
Most of the student needs for class stuff, like the above centers, are covered by student fees.  Why do you think they are so high?
Textbooks may be tax free, but they still cost a pretty penny.  And then you have any additional supplies for classes.
Certifications cost extra.  Any kind, no matter what.  It's even more for state ones.  I'm not going into national kinds.  That's a whole new level.
A D+ counts for graduation, but not for prerequisites.  That requires a C or higher.
Anyone wanting to be a tutor needs a B+ or better.  Otherwise forget it.
Parking permits are extra.  And they tend to cost $50 or more per semester.  That doesn't guarantee a parking place either.
Exercise is good for the health, but you rarely hear about people exercising in the rain.  Walking to school in the rain is worse, because you're trying to keep books and such dry along the way.  Snow is okay, as long as it's powder.  That just brushes off.  The other kind soaks in real fast.
Selling your textbooks back to the school give those taking that class a leg up because it costs less for them, but there isn't much benefit for you.  They give you a lot less than what you paid.