PuglyFeet the Blog ˜ My Student Life Archives

Blog > My Student Life Archives

Next Set »

I Nearly Missed Class Today

An entry from August 25, 2008

I could've sworn that my Physics teacher informed the class last Friday of the upcoming three day Labor Day weekend. Talk about wishful thinking! See, it was a crrrrrrraaaazy weekend and I was seriously looking forward to a class-free Monday. I even slept in an extra 30 minutes this morning and took my time getting out of bed and even made the bed! I lazied my way into the kitchen and washed a mountain of dishes. I started to boil some water for our morning French-pressed coffee and then sat down to check my email.

I casually sent an email to my boss telling him that I'd be able to run some extra errands for work today since it's a holiday and all. I thought that he was really out of it when he responded with 2 words: "What holiday?". I looked at my calendar and was flabbergasted. Turns out, I'm really out of it. I didn't see the words I expected to see in the box labeled August 25th. But Labor Day is supposed to be today... isn't it? I mean, Doug and I just went to REI's Labor Day Sale yesterday... but then wait... I turned the calendar page to September. Hooooooooooly Shiiiiiiit!

I went into full-fledged panic as I read "Labor Day" marked for September 1. Right on time, just as the panic set it in, the steam kettle blew its whistle. Shit! I only had an hour to brush my teeth, wash my face, change into something civilized, burn the roof of my mouth with scalding coffee, wolf down some breakfast, drive to school, look for parking and speed walk to class.

Well, I made it to class on time. How in the world did I do that? I prioritized and didn't brush my teeth. Nor did I wash my face nor comb my hair, nor drink coffee nor eat breakfast. I threw on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a sweater and slipped into my Crocs. I kissed Doug and the canine kids goodbye and grabbed my backpack as I fled out the door. I made it to school on time, thank god, even with a few minutes to spare. I felt like a crazy woman with morning breath and serious bed head, but I did it.

Okay, completely off topic: In the world of cute shoes, I have some news that I'm excited to share with you. I scored two pairs of shoes last weekend, one of them for 19 bucks (thanks to a tip from Chez Shoes)! I will post with pictures, sooner than later, I hope. Oh, I'd much rather blog than study. Sniff...

2 Comments | Add a Comment

How Have You Been?

An entry from August 19, 2008

I can't think of a harder question to answer. I stumble internally when faced with this question live, person to person. Though, it's easier via email. I can sit on the question for hours or even a day before responding. Well, which answer do you want? Do you want the response I give to polite strangers? "I'm doing great, and you?" Then we part our merry ways.

Or, do you really want to know how what I've been up to? My automatic answer usually involves the former chirpy scenario with a smile. Fake? Not really... just simple.

I woke up this morning with thoughts about Facebook. It all began when a Flickr friend sent me an invitation to Facebook last week. I used to have a Facebook account, but closed it after being inundated with drinks, teddy bears, and sheep. I couldn't take it. Anyway, I reactivated my account -- quite easily, too. I didn't have to start over or anything. My friend connections were intact -- even my wall's history! I added some friends -- fellow blogger friends. I also casually added friends from high school, and I did so without thinking of the consequences. What's the first question people ask when a great amount of time spans communication?

It's a simple question with four words. How. Have. You. Been? I'm fine.... Umm..... I'm still in school... No.. no... not graduate school -- undergraduate. Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done. In a Year. Yeah, two classes. Physics. One is a prerequisite for the other. Yep. That's it. It's easy? REALLY? I don't know about that. The physics teachers at State sucked hardcore. Yeah. Yeah, taking it at the j.c. What do I do? I'm a factotum. And you? What are you doing nowadays? Doctor! Very cool... Hey, did I mention that I'm a comfort shoe connoisseur?

Quite frankly, I'm not bothered by this question so much when it comes from a stranger. My answer can be simple and honest and meaningful, depending on my mood. But there's just something bothersome about this question when asked by people I haven't seen in a long time, like old classmates and especially relatives. I admit that I become competitive and I tend to compare accomplishments and feel like such a loser when I say that I'm 34 years old, still in college and that I work as an assistant for real estate developer.

I wonder if this is what is called an inferiority complex, which brings up a whole slew of issues for me. Why am I pursuing a college degree? Am I pursuing a degree in the spirit of growth and learning? Or am I pursuing a college degree because I think it will improve my social standing -- in my own eyes?

How's that for How Have You Been? Short and sweet answer: Intensely neurotic.

Mood Music:

11 Comments | Add a Comment

Project Mismanagement

An entry from August 10, 2008

Today was one of the better days I've had in a long while. These last few weeks especially, I've been feeling extremely short on time. Classes begin in a week and once the semester commences, time will be even more precious. Life will be a delicate balancing act between my classes, work, my man, the dogs, homework, the gym, and PuglyFeet.

You know, before Doug and I moved into our house, I estimated that it would take us a single day to paint the living room, the dining room, the office, bathroom and bedroom. I don't know how I came up with that short time frame, but talk about project mismanagement! It took us weeks! All spare time was devoted to painting. It didn't matter if it happened between classes, after work and on top of class projects: we painted all the time. Day and night.

Needless to say, I embraced the beginning of summer with open arms. And I celebrated by creating a long laundry list of projects that I wanted to accomplish by the end of the Summer. Well, Summer ends in a week for me and I feel extremely rushed and harried and very scared.

I'm only two classes shy of graduating and both classes happen to be physics classes, for scientists and engineers. Let me repeat that: for Scientists and Engineers, lower division courses which I've miraculously managed to bypass... until now. What this means is that the solutions will involve Trigonometry and Calculus. The Trig I can handle with no problem. However, Calculus is another story altogether. I got an A in Calculus -- 6 years ago! What this means for me is that I'm going to have to spend the next 7 days reviewing hard core. Uuggghhh.. I'd rather blog.

Now, you may be wondering, with all the blues, how could this be one of the better days I've had in a long while? Half Full came when I surrendered to the fact that everything on my list, however important, was not going to materialize. I set my Moleskine aside and enjoyed my last day of bliss unencumbered by lists and spent the day with my guys and the ridiculously self-amusing phenomenon that is Twitter.

0 Comments | Add a Comment

TGIF

An entry from April 11, 2008

God, thank GAWD it's Friday. It's about 11pm on a warm Friday night in the Bay Area and I'm just chillin' in my living room, typing away on my Mac Book Pro and feeling completely satiated. What a day! I turned in the third installment to my OpenGL assignment this afternoon. I hacked away at that wretched beast for the passed week and a half, so as you can very well imagine, it's refreshing to focus on anything besides homework. Heck, I welcome distractions -- the more trivial the better! I'm finally caught up on my guiltiest pleasure of all: America's Next Top Model. And, Doug and I very much enjoyed the Dog Whisperer tonight. It felt good to finally post some Daily Mug photos from this week and a bit more pics of my Tarjay finds from over a week ago. I have 10 more hours to go including an estimated 7 hours of restful sleep and then back to programming I must go. Sleep better be goooood.

1 Comments | Add a Comment