Adding to life.

I have yet to post this semester’s schedule on my blog. The reason? Simple. I am embarrassed.

My schedule is. . . sparse at best. I am doing a full course load. It just happens to spread out through the week a little unevenly. Also, one of the classes I’m taking is through Distance (gooo Sociology War and Aggression).

So here it is:


I happen to have two full days (and a large portion of another day) off. As Holly put it: “You have a super-long weekend every weekend.”

I do.

Thus the embarrassment ensued. What would the science takers think?! The people with three hour labs and formulas I know that I will never comprehend in this lifetime? Just what would they leave in that dreaded comment section?

So I didn’t post it.

But today I stumbled across a quote that stopped me solid. It spoke volumes.

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

- Mark Twain

I am in no way saying that you non-art majored folk out there are all belittling. Of course not.

But when dwelling on this quote and on the fact that my schedule is “sparse”. As well as the idea that I am (and happy to be) getting a degree in Political Science, I was left with a conclusion.

I am still embarrassed.

But not for the most obvious of reasons.

I am embarrassed by the fact that looking at my schedule leaves me with the feeling of being unchallenged. Matt summed it up best when he said “You are going to be so bored.”

Yeah, there will be times when I’m stressing out that I have three major papers or exams on the same day. There will be times when I want to tear my hair out at having to rely on myself because there is no class to ask questions in.

But.

There will be Mondays, Fridays and Wednesday days where I will be here, in my room, going WTF.

I know it. You know it.

I’ll want to ask someone to go for a coffee, or meet up for a movie, only to be met with “Uh, I have a class.”

It is bound to happen.

So today I made a decision. I am going to add to my life.

OMG cue cheesy Oprah-inspired music and grab the self-help books off the shelf.

When deciding how I wanted to add to my life I discovered two things.

One, I don’t need anymore degree/diploma classes. Yes, my schedule is sparse. No, I’m not cutting corners. Those are the classes I’d be taking whether they were on Monday mornings or Saturday afternoons.

Two, I want to learn.

I love to learn new things. New dances. New songs. New languages. New everything. My favourite (and so often abused) quote would have to be “You learn something new everyday.” And thank merciful Heavens you do!

So where does that leave me?

Oh yeah [cue music once more], I’m adding to my life.

So I thought. I thought of everything I’ve ever wanted to learn. Everything I’ve ever wanted to just try.

And I came up with my new schedule.

I won’t go into great detail what it encompasses, that’s something special only I get to know.

There might be a painting class. There might even be a kick-boxing class or two. Heck, I’ll even let you know that there is a good chance some swimming lessons will be thrown in there.

With my new schedule I feel no ignominy. I feel happiness. I feel like I am accomplishing something more than a receiving a couple abbreviated letters at the end of my name.

Uh-huh, I’m adding to my life. I totally encourage you to sit down and reevaluate what you’re doing too (warning: this can be shocking at first). Maybe you’ll see that you too need an Intro to German class or that joining the Ultimate Frisbee team is a must.

BRING IT ON FALL SEMESTER 2007.

Egads.

"We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come."

As real as chemical synthesis.

I don't want MUN profs to go on strike. There. I've said it.

I like going to class and learning which political figure did this to that country. I like reading texts and having my ideas challenged. It excites me to no end when a debate begins in class.

I am nerd. Anyone who reads this blog already knows that.

It was funny, in Iqaluit, no one knew I was a nerd. Whenever people asked me what was up with my life and I responded with "Um, I'm majoring in Political Science and minoring in law. Oh, and I'm getting a diploma in Criminology." People kind of just looked at me with this weird expression on their face as if to say "But you work at North Mart."

It seems I can't even have a real conversation anymore. This whole not-learning-anything-of-value thing is getting to me. The only subjects I talk about now are the weather and downloaded television shows. When someone actually questions me about something of value I'm almost shocked out of my summer-stupor. Almost.

So I know that when school starts (when does school actually start?) I am royally screwed. I'm sure I won't be the only one, but let's be honest, I don't care about them. This is the longest time in my life (well, since I was four) that I've gone without being in school. I wish I could say it's been revitalizing.

The moral of this story? MUN profs, don't go on strike because my mind (along with the other 20, 000 students' minds) have already gone to mush. Even an extra week of "vacation" at this point could do serious long-term brain damage.

If you're not part of the problem, you're part of the precipitate!

Robber, kid and king of the jungle.

OMGSPLOSION. Someone's on the road to fameee! :)

So when weakness turns my ego up, I know you'll count on the me from yesterday.

While driving around today I passed an old man and woman holding hands. Both grey haired, both wearing the same plaid shirts, both clad in the same beige khakis. They made me love life a little harder for that second. They screamed "hope!" and I have no idea why.

I've felt all jaded the last couple of days, though watching Weeds and Six Feet Under will do that to a person I guess. That and there's no chicken noodle soup in the house. Frig.

August seems to be going both incredibly fast and slow all at the same time. The days seem to pass by in a lazy way, but, when I look at the calendar I am always shocked by how late in the month it is. I can't decide if I want summer over or not.

Maybe I should get a better jog route? I've been told before that mine is pretty bad. I jogged that night. I jogged that time. I jogged that road. Treadmill anyone?

I chopped off my hair today. It looks fantastic. Yeah, I can say that.