3.05.2013
Testing...
So I got an iPod. It's pretty awesome! =D It will take me awhile to learn to type very quickly without errors, but I'm sure I'll get it eventually. This should allow me to post here as well as make YouTube videos on the go... hopefully.
3.03.2013
Regularly Sporadic...
(I had to look up how to spell "sporadic" in the dictionary because it just looked weird. I suppose I've never written or typed the word before.)
Among the things I am reinstating in my life is the regular contribution to this blog. My efforts in getting my YouTube channel up and running as well as other responsibilities have distracted me a bit.
Recently, my subconscious seems to be attempting to prepare me for college. I have an urge to clean, to form good habits, and to trim out the things in my life that I'm not going to keep. I think I'll have to go through my List again (previously referred to in "Vacation") and revise it. I've been doing something of the sort in a more physical sense in my room. Here is a picture of the bag of junk I have collected to throw out:
My room is not a big room, so this much junk was a bit of a surprise to me. However, it gives me a sense of great accomplishment to be getting rid of this much in my room. My closet looks AMAZING now and I'm working on cleaning out my dresser... GoodWill is going to get a fair-sized donation in the next week or so, I think. =)
A significant thing I cut from my life this last week was a class: Spanish, consistently my worst grade. I am SO relieved to not have that hanging over me. I only wish I had been notified earlier that it was not a requirement to graduate. Three semesters of the most difficult class for me to handle, down the drain. But that's okay with me! =) No more Spanish. Woooooo!
Among the things I am reinstating in my life is the regular contribution to this blog. My efforts in getting my YouTube channel up and running as well as other responsibilities have distracted me a bit.
Recently, my subconscious seems to be attempting to prepare me for college. I have an urge to clean, to form good habits, and to trim out the things in my life that I'm not going to keep. I think I'll have to go through my List again (previously referred to in "Vacation") and revise it. I've been doing something of the sort in a more physical sense in my room. Here is a picture of the bag of junk I have collected to throw out:
My room is not a big room, so this much junk was a bit of a surprise to me. However, it gives me a sense of great accomplishment to be getting rid of this much in my room. My closet looks AMAZING now and I'm working on cleaning out my dresser... GoodWill is going to get a fair-sized donation in the next week or so, I think. =)
A significant thing I cut from my life this last week was a class: Spanish, consistently my worst grade. I am SO relieved to not have that hanging over me. I only wish I had been notified earlier that it was not a requirement to graduate. Three semesters of the most difficult class for me to handle, down the drain. But that's okay with me! =) No more Spanish. Woooooo!
2.22.2013
2.15.2013
Class Trip...
So I'm back! I just returned from my senior class trip, on which only two of the participants were of my senior class; however, two-thirds of the senior class were on the trip. (confused yet? ;) It was a great trip! It's hard for a trip to Fiji not to be great... unless you get sick, food-poisoning, stung by something, bitten by something, or eaten by something (or someone... cannibals used to inhabit Fiji). Thankfully, I only got sick a little for one day and I was only bitten by a couple bugs and sea-lice. (Sea lice are terrible! You're happily floating on the surface of the warm water and then suddenly they attack you and try to eat you alive! Feels like a swarm of little bugs biting you... which is essentially what it is, except they aren't bugs. x)
The trip was almost two weeks long so I don't know how much I want to recount here because it would take me awhile and I'm currently in the frantic process of picking up the slack I left in my schoolwork when I left on the trip. I made some video blogs on my YouTube channel (very poorly made blogs, I might add... I'm more of a writer than a speaker) that recount some of my thoughts and feelings during my stay there.
The biggest thing I took away from the trip was the kindness of the people in Fiji, a kindness we don't have here in the United States (at least, not anyplace I've ever been here, and I've been around the country a bit). Complete strangers will treat you in as friendly a manner as a friend, and many smiles and waves and simple gestures of acknowledgement are passed throughout the day. This is something I want to try to continue here at home. I am trying to make a conscious effort to keep a smile, or at least a friendly expression, on my face when around other people (I am told I can have a rather grim expression when I am concentrating) and always acknowledge another person's presence, stranger or not, with a smile, a wave, a nod, whatever seems appropriate (guys generally don't wave at strangers unless they, the strangers, are under the age of 10).
Fiji is a lovely place, apart from it's rather uncomfortable humidity. Everything is so colorful and alive there, both in and out of water. The jungles are dense and green, with all kinds of birds (and bats) in the trees and many plants I had never seen before. My favorite plant was this thing called a "praying plant" (or something like that). It's a bit like a small fern. I was fascinated by this plant because of its ability to move. I'm sure it's just some kind of biochemical reflex, but it is a thing of amazement to me to watch the plant fold up as though trying to hide when I touch or blow on its fronds.
No blog post is complete without at least a short rant of frustration at the end: I was very careful with my camera. It survived two weeks in a very wet/humid/sandy/dirty/dangerous-for-electronics climate, and then I drop it as I step off the plane upon my arrival in Seattle, breaking the lens mechanism. [facepalm] <-- if you'll pardon my internet expression. ;) oh, and while I'm complaining, I'm cold.
The trip was almost two weeks long so I don't know how much I want to recount here because it would take me awhile and I'm currently in the frantic process of picking up the slack I left in my schoolwork when I left on the trip. I made some video blogs on my YouTube channel (very poorly made blogs, I might add... I'm more of a writer than a speaker) that recount some of my thoughts and feelings during my stay there.
The biggest thing I took away from the trip was the kindness of the people in Fiji, a kindness we don't have here in the United States (at least, not anyplace I've ever been here, and I've been around the country a bit). Complete strangers will treat you in as friendly a manner as a friend, and many smiles and waves and simple gestures of acknowledgement are passed throughout the day. This is something I want to try to continue here at home. I am trying to make a conscious effort to keep a smile, or at least a friendly expression, on my face when around other people (I am told I can have a rather grim expression when I am concentrating) and always acknowledge another person's presence, stranger or not, with a smile, a wave, a nod, whatever seems appropriate (guys generally don't wave at strangers unless they, the strangers, are under the age of 10).
Fiji is a lovely place, apart from it's rather uncomfortable humidity. Everything is so colorful and alive there, both in and out of water. The jungles are dense and green, with all kinds of birds (and bats) in the trees and many plants I had never seen before. My favorite plant was this thing called a "praying plant" (or something like that). It's a bit like a small fern. I was fascinated by this plant because of its ability to move. I'm sure it's just some kind of biochemical reflex, but it is a thing of amazement to me to watch the plant fold up as though trying to hide when I touch or blow on its fronds.
No blog post is complete without at least a short rant of frustration at the end: I was very careful with my camera. It survived two weeks in a very wet/humid/sandy/dirty/dangerous-for-electronics climate, and then I drop it as I step off the plane upon my arrival in Seattle, breaking the lens mechanism. [facepalm] <-- if you'll pardon my internet expression. ;) oh, and while I'm complaining, I'm cold.
1.24.2013
To Do...
So many things to do. Part of my problem is that I like doing so many different things. No, it's not the variety that I like, it's just that there are so many interesting things to be done! Things I once did, things I want to do, things I'm doing right now. Life never really stops being busy, and when it seldom does, I stop being productive, so I know that's not the answer. I think I'm going to have to just decide what I want to do, what I want to keep, and what I'm going to give up. It's such a hard decision, especially when I don't seem to be prospering in any of my hobbies... Perhaps I shall put off the decision to a later date. Perhaps it needn't be formal or written at all. Perhaps it need only be a thought and the decision will make itself. x) If only it were that simple.
On another note: I heard a quote the other day I think to be quite important to remember:
"People will not remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel."
On another note: I heard a quote the other day I think to be quite important to remember:
"People will not remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel."
1.22.2013
Vlogging...
So I started a YouTube account! =) Rather: I started using my YouTube account, because apparently Google owns YouTube now and if you have a Google account, you have a YouTube account. So here it is if anyone's interested: http://www.youtube.com/user/cjsiapco
I got a new camera and have been carrying it with me everywhere. I like the idea of blogging (as is obvious by this blog) and I like the idea of video blogging (because there are so many things I can do there that I can't here) but I'm still getting used to talking to a camera. It's awkward to stare into the eye of a machine and pretend that you're talking to someone. It just feels weird. At least, right now...
1.16.2013
YouTube...
I've wanted to start making YouTube videos for awhile. Watching other "YouTubers" inspires me. I think I'm going to start an account.
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