spazzychic

The concept of getting back into school is currently buried under a nasty combination of life and debt. A part of me wants to just say, "Screw it!" and get a job on ship and call it good.

But I need a degree. I've put a couple years and a several thousand dollars into getting a degree. I enjoy learning! But..But..? :P

Either way, the new office building is across the street from the Seattle Public Library. If I can't pay someone to teach me, I'll go teach myself some stuff for free.

Speaking of education: ( Don't be this guy. )

The Seattle Lesbian and Gay Chorus invites YOU to audition for our June Pride concert season. We are an inclusive community, welcoming all people. We're going to be doing some GREAT music ... from Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire", to John Lennon's "Imagine", to the B-52's "Love Shack" and the Village People's "YMCA". We've also got a beautiful "classical" piece by Randall Thompson, Holly Near's "The Great Peace March" and many more. I'm also very excited to announce that we'll be joined for our Seattle concerts June 10th and 11th by the fabulous a cappella group DISH. We've been invited to open up Olympia's Gay Pride day by singing on the steps of the Capitol Building on June 17th, and we're looking into another concert that night in Olympia. We're expanding in a big way, and we'd love to invite you to join us...a very simple, informal audition at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, February 28th, or the following Tuesday on March 7th at 6:00, at our regular rehearsal space, Seattle Unity Church...


*whine* School. :p No belly dance, no chorus, blahblah it's for my own personal enrichment.

Amber

PS: B O R E D.

1: I went to Spanish tonight to catch up on the lesson I'll miss tomorrow, and it turns out that the other class was behind so they are taking the test. Heh oops.

2: I left work because I was rapidly running out of kleenex and ability to focus today, but I *WILL* be there tomorrow and I *WILL* beat the head fog with a stick until it dissipates. So, anyone want to do v-day lunch?

3: This space intentionally left blank.


Amber

Time to take down the holiday decor, turn in my 2005 bus pass to prove I didn't sell it for phat lewts, and head to Spanish class tonight. I still don't have internet at home, but I am cautiously optimistic that the Qwest guy will fix that tonight. *hopehope*

I am supposed to check into my online class today as well (Intercultural Communications) but I don't know where it "is". I checked the site where I was told it was and no dice. Maybe it's too early.

Welcome to those who got added to The List this weekend. :D

Amber

PS: I went 3-1 at the Magic league on Sunday, so the lack of sleep didn't hurt too much. *nods*

I love public speaking. It's a fierce joy to speak, or act, or dance, and feel the response and the feedback. I know a lot of people think it's a fate worse than death, but that just means more for me!

I also love improvisation. I like thinking on my feet, no time to get scared or overanalyze... just jump. *squee*

So the fact that tonight was improv speeches means that I am in a very happy buzzy place. *dancey*

Mr. Norton was dorky though and gave me a 49.99/50. There's something scribbly and completely illegible in the comment field and it's driving me somewhat mad. I think he did it on purpose.


Amber

PS: This is bloody brilliant. Legolas: The Owner's Guide and Maintenance Manual.

I’ve been dreaming of M:TG the last couple of days. Last night was weird because I dreamt I was doing a presentation on how to play Magic to my Communications class, but whenever I would mention a creature card the creature would appear and devour a student or two. No one seemed to notice. At least I wasn’t naked. That’s too cliché.

Deckbuilding for the tournament league I am in seems to have a steeper learning curve than I expected. I know less about it than I thought. I also get too caught up in the creative process sometimes and after getting excitied about this deck I’ve come up with, someone criticizes my baby… ooo. But that’s learning. I’m noticing more and more that I’m too accustomed to learning things easily and without much effort. Actual challenges take me by surprise. That would seem like I was tooting my own horn except that it also means I’m lazy and bratty when it comes to learning and that’s something worth changing.

Finally, last night, with lots of cooperation with aquatwo, I made a deck which was not only reasonably effective, but hella fun to play. Since I was having fun, I learned a few play tricks without getting my back up. Yay! While the context is pretty limited, the introspection is pretty useful.

Speaking of learning, I know what classes I am taking next quarter. To try to have a bit of a social life, I am taking one course via internet. I will still need to put in the hours, but the hours I need to learn will be on my terms instead of on schedule. The other class will still be up there.

I’ve got plans for Oct 29th finally. Sunday and Monday is anyone’s guess. What are you guys doing for All Hallow’s Eve, Samhain and/or Halloween?

Amber

PS: You were saved from my coconuts.

In speech class yesterday, I heard a really evocative presentation from a Saudi student from a well off family in Saudi Arabia. It was an interesting exercise mentally, even if I don’t agree with the point of view expressed. Some of the class wanted him lynched. With that in mind, consider the argument:

Premise: Saudi Arabian women have a better life with more freedom than American women. ( I think you can figure out if you want to keep reading. )

I give my first speech for class Monday. I'm not worried about giving the speech so much. But the subject matter is proving more difficult to wrangle than expected. I am supposed to introduce one of my classmates. I ended up with a guy named James. Turns out he is from S. Sudan, and was one of the Lost Boys who came to the US.

I need to figure out how to introduce him and give a mini synopsis of Sudanese and Ethiopian politics in under 2 minutes. I think I have figured out a way to make it coherent, but some parts of it are so horrific it's hard. I have the result of a decades long Christian/Muslim conflict staring at me through dark eyes.

I have a first draft. I called him to verify some of the info... I don't know how I'll feel about that conversation.


Amber

Public speaking. That is, speaking in public, which is to say it is the public to which I will be speaking to, also meaning that I will speak and there will be public, which is also why there is a class on the speaking which I will do to the public! – Mojo Jojo

I started “Effective Presentations” yesterday. The book is still mind-numbingly simple. However, Mr. Norton (or Daniel, but for the love of God not Dan!) proved that it is the simplest concepts which can trip people up. We spent much of the class discussing definitions and why understanding the meaning of words can make all the difference.

Well, yeah. But then he asked the class what Seattle Central Community College was, and why those words are specifically used. Seattle is pretty easy, as is Central, but there was quite a bit of heeming and hawing when it came to why it was “Community College” instead of say, “City Post-High School” or “Open-Admission Undergraduate Study”. I appreciate the amount of insight he was able to offer from the simplest things, and perhaps, because of that, the class might have something to offer.

I get to do a bunch of speeches. Bonus!

Amber

No actual art is to be created in my art class. It's a pretty straightforward art history class in disguise. Read the book, do the workbook, dissassemble art for it's composite parts, and generally miss the point. The teacher is getting her PhD in art history as we speak so I'm not terribly suprised.

It's ironic: botany we chop up flowers; art we chop up art. At least I enjoy art in general, and will like learning little factoids about my favorite paintings. Did you know that the people who modeled for American Gothic was Grant Wood's dentist and sister? Ahhhh, random useless info. I can get into that.

In other news: EUREKA! It's online scrabble! It's not real time but it's better than anything else I've found. Squeeeeeeee!

http://www.e-scrabble.com

A couple thank you's: Squee for fixerbard for being my Norwescon pack mule, making it possible for me to bring clothes to the Bodacious Babes clothes exchange. :D

Squee for rhonan for putting me up Thursday night when there was no room to be found!

Minor squee for my art teacher who is letting me play hookie on the Thursday class because she's going to Norwescon the rest of the weekend and understands :D

OMG it's TOMMOROW!!! O.O O.O O.O :D

Amber