Summer List

Right when I finished my last final, I thought about what I wanted to do over the summer. Every summer I try to make a list of things I wanted to do and accomplish. I feel it's a good thing to do because I know that I will use my time better and by the end of my summer vacation, I can see all of the things that I did.

For the past two weeks, I have also been flossing each night, and recording it. I wanted to get in the habit of flossing again, so I thought of doing a competition  with a friend to see who can floss each night  consistently.

Hope this will inspire you to do some of things you want to do over the summer!

Saying hello to something that will happen

As the semester comes to a close, I think back to what I have learned. This semester I took 4 classes which adds up to 14 units. I have to say that I have enjoyed my English class the most out of all of the classes I have taken. Maybe it's because I am an English major. I have to say that the class I disliked the most is Astronomy. In all honesty, I thought it was going to be very cool and interesting to learn about the planets and the stars. However, I felt like I didn't learn a lot. I still think Astronomy is somewhat interesting, and I love looking up at the night sky but learning about the distances from other planets and other mathematical equations that are hard to picture in my head, I do not find interesting.


However, I feel like for this semester I have learned that you need to break out of your shell and try some new things. For example, I decided to join student government, and become a senator for my school. I would have never though that I would join student government. But one of my friends convinced me to do it. I figured that I might as well try it out, meet more people, get involved, have fun, learn new things and it is something that looks good for schools. 


Looking ahead to the Fall Semester and wondering what will come of it, makes me think back to when I got new shoes at the beginning of this semester, and how with the new semester and the new shoes that I would break into, and everything that I would experience. Well those shoes haven't been worn since March, but soon again they will be worn and walked in. As for now, sandals have been my shoe for everyday, in which the summer sun has drawn a tan line on my feet. 


Good bye Spring Semester and Hello Summer.  

Results from Writing Contest

Last week I got results back from the writing contest I entered. I payed an extra $10 to get a critique. While reading through the critique, I realized that my short story wasn't as good as I thought it was. I knew it wasn't amazing, yet I thought it was some what decent.

Here are some of the things that were listed:
-The beginning needs to be better, I mean aren't scissors usually sharp?
-What's the overall POINT of the story. Is it the donation of the hair, or the horrendous haircut?
-What is the Plot. Sure a bad haircut is a big deal, but is it the end of all situations?
or characterization, the hair dresser can't speak good English and doesn't understand why the haircut is bad. The lady donating her hair to charity is vain and selfish  if she's worried about her haircut after doing something so selfless by donating her locks.
-She also said that my piece needs a clear direction in tone, theme and pacing.

As for scores, 5 being the strongest: Subject I got a 5, Content I got a 3 and Technical I got a 3.

Just Yesterday I received the results for the contest overall. I didn't receive a place in the contest, but I think I'm going to enter another story in the future.

Seeing the Moon in Yuma

Just two days ago I started writing another short story, set in Yuma Arizona. I happened to do some research on this place. It is known to be the sunniest place on earth. The summers are very hot, around 120 degrees and the winters tend to be warm. I chose this place because I think it would be a really cool experience to see Arizona. I've heard it's beautiful, and writing a story where it takes place there is even more cool.


The opening scene happens to be raining, in the month of May. This is very unlikely, since it's always hot in Yuma, but I think the inevitable happens in real life, though it may seem impossible. The girl happens to talk a walk in the rain, getting soaked but loving it. It's what she's been missing and thirsting for, since the sun always shines brightly in Yuma.


Though she likes living in Yuma, she has been there all her life and wants to see what's outside of this small town. She has heard that just twenty miles form Yuma live Native Americans. She wonders about them and their lives, living like outcasts, with the beauty of Arizona all around them. At night she looks up at the moon like a big balloon in the night sky and thinks about those Native Americans looking up at the same moon.


There happens to be an antagonist in this story, who makes the room grow cold. As well as other things that happen to arise in this short story about a girl learning about herself, life and all she has to offer. 
We will see if I enter it into another writing contest... but for now it's only written in sharpie on pieces of paper in my notebook.

If you want to sing out, sing out

While listening to music on my ipod this morning, I came across the song If you want to sing out by Cat Stevens. It 's a simple song, with not a lot of instruments, but meaningful words. And every time I listen to it I find that the lyrics speak to me in some way.


The chorus goes like this: You can do what you want, the opportunities on, and you can find  a new way, you can do it today, you make it all true, and you can make it undo, you see ahh ahh it's easy ahh ahh you only need to know....


I love these lyrics. It makes you feel as if your opportunities are endless and the sky is the limit. Although most people say that is true, it can be hard to believe. I don't know about you, but sometimes you can doubt yourself at times. Like what do I have to offer? Or what ideas of mine will come to use?


According to Cat, it's easy and you can make it all come true, since there are a million things to do as he later sings. Well thank you Cat Stevens for these encouraging words for the day. I guess it inspires me to think that I can do anything I put my mind to. Sometimes you think that your dreams or ideas are too high up in the clouds, and you say to yourself that that is impossible, get back on the ground!


But I think I'll take Cat Stevens route and sing out.

Nostalgia vs. Living in the moment

There are times when my mind can linger to the thoughts of yesterday, or past yesterdays. You begin to fall to the good times, or the not so pleasant times, yet you still seem to still daydream about them. Nostalgia, living, and thinking about the past are all things that some could be guilty for. Though it's not a bad thing, since I think most people do it, I would say that there comes a point when your life right now is being forgotten.  The present moment is not being appreciated or recognized. It's like eating chocolate. It tastes good, and nice to have once in a while. But once you overdose on the dark, caramel or milk chocolate, you begin to only think about how wonderful it tastes, and disregard your health and weight.


I put up this picture of the movie Midnight in Paris, because it portrays a man, named Gil Pender who is engaged, and a writer, or who at least wants to be a writer. His story starts off with a man working in a nostalgia shop, and selling items and antiques. He is unsure of his writing ability, or how well the story is written, and if his idea of this man working in a nostalgia shop is a good idea or not. I forgot to mention that Gil and his fiance', Inez are in Paris together with her parents. Yet something magical, yet mysterious happens every night at midnight, and Gil is the one who finds out about it.
I do not want to ruin anything for anyone who has not seen this unique, creative and like no other movie. So you might just have to check it out yourself! Red Box!


But I felt like it emphasized  living in the past, and wanting to go back to a certain day, moment, or rather century- those of you who have seen this, know what I am talking about. I even painted in live in the moment above the title of the picture in green, if you didn't notice. I think it's something that I need to work on, to just appreciate each moment and day. Though it could be horrible for me, I know it's probably the greatest for someone else in the world. I think one of many important things to remember in life, is to look forward and don't focus too much on the past. Though you could learn from it, it doesn't necessarily have much use now. 


Don't worry about tomorrow, for today has enough trouble of its own.

Cats and Audrey Hepburn

Cats. I guess you could say that they are my favorite pet. And I wish I could have one like this, an orange tabby who wakes me up in the morning. This picture is from the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's. I wanted to see it because I am fan of Audrey Hepburn and have seen some of her movies.
But funny enough, in the movie she doesn't name her pet cat, she just calls it cat. Here is a quote from the movie. "He's alright! Aren't you, cat! Poor slob without a name! The way I see it I haven't got the right to give him one. We don't belong to each other."





 Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a ditzy, party girl who lives alone with her cat in a small apartment. For me, it wasn't my favorite movie with Audrey Hepburn, but most know it to be the one that is a classic. With her little black dress, and pretty and glamorous outfits in the film, some of the looks from the 1961 movie are still being reproduced today. Givenchy, who is a fashion designer was the one who was behind the scenes with all the fashion ideas, and got noticed for it. But Audrey Hepburn also got noticed, and is a fashion icon. Like cats, she's simple, yet pretty. And her attitude towards life and her career is really something, if you happen to look through her quotes. I actually happened to write some in my quote book. Here is one of them that I like. 


I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.
-- Audrey Hepburn