Quittance from the past

I am SO sorry to have done this to you again, loyal readers. Here I am, trying to upkeep a New Year's Resolution to write on this blog everyday for a year, and I just up and forget to write my WoD in February... again.

Well, I'll try not to let it affect me again, it's just that Ashley and I got so caught up watching Bridget Jones' Diary late last night that I just completely forgot to write!  Anyway here it is:

quittance \KWIT-ns\, noun:

1. recompense or requital.
2. discharge from a debt or obligation.
3. a document certifying discharge from debt or obligation, as a receipt.

Unfortunately, I was unable to use that in a sentence yesterday as well as think of a witty anecdote of which to use it.  Instead, I will be devising a situation in which this word if used appropriately.  Imagine, if you will, a likely situation happening 200 years ago in which this conversation might have taken place:

-"UGH!  I absolutely hate being an indentured servant!  There is so much hard work and seven years is just too long!"

     -"Very well, I shall get your quittance immediately."

Don't you wish life was like that?

Teacher's Pet?

I don't like my sociology teacher much. He mumbles, "mmm right?" after every other sentence. His presentation is long-winded, and he tries to garner student participation through questions that don't even pertain to sociology. He'd ask us to give examples about where we shop to fit a scenario he would make up, which frankly means that our participation does nothing to further our understanding of sociology.

But my biggest pet peeve is when my sociology teacher watches the clock. Wait, scratch that; there's no clock in the room. My biggest pet peeve is when my sociology teacher awkwardly stares at the students' wrists for their watches when lecturing at the front of the class. I understand if you want to keep track of the time, but staring at the clock 10 minutes into a 55 minute lecture is ridiculous. After a month of this disrespect, I felt sassy.

Today I brought my alarm clock to class. I set the alarm to 1:40pm and placed it on the desk in front of me right before the professor. I think I wanted it to be seen as a bit rude. I wanted to make a point: I will disrespect the teacher by sarcastically placing the clock in front of him since he desperately wants to be out of this classroom.

I still don't understand how unfazed he was by my act of rebellion. He even thanked me for the clock and used it twice to keep track of time. WHAT THE HECK?!

The Harlem Shake

Not my video... but one Jillian and I participated in. Our residence hall created one of those Harlem Shake videos that seem to be the thing at the moment. Can you find us? I'm holding a Swifer broom. Jillian is tossing her Otto the Orange pillow up in the air at parts.

To be honest, there's no practical purpose to the Harlem Shake videos. It is honestly one of the most pointless things I've seen and participated in. But the beauty of it all lies in the community. The fact that you can gather a large crowd of people to do weird things... it brings a special sense of togetherness that isn't forced like cooperation seen in group projects or work.

Journaling

I think almost everyone has at least tried to keep a diary or journal when they were young. I was one of the people who never succeeded. I belonged to the group that always wanted to get into the habit of journaling every January, but failed half way through the year, only to leave the notebook with 20 or so written pages that are then torn out to start afresh the next year.

The thing that intimidated me most when starting a diary was always the content. I always felt like I owed the notebook a dark, juicy secret because diaries are meant for secrets, right? Or is it meant recount the exciting adventures I had that day? At least that's what I thought as a kid. But my life wasn't full of gossip and drama to write about, so I made some stories up-- stretched the emotions a bit... Turns out the only real thing I had to complain about was getting a C on a test, and how I couldn't possibly let my parents know about it.

For Christmas my friend, Mona, gave me this T.A.R.D.I.S. themed journal, so once again, I'm trying to keep up with entries at least once a week. It's worked so far, but the major difference I've noticed is in my entries' content.

Keeping a diary isn't just for my non-existent juicy secrets. Let's face it, my life is nowhere near as shady as that of a fictional heroine. My journal is a place to de-stress. If my mind is cluttered from all that I have to do, I write my anxieties down, read it over, and objectively try to solve my own problems on the next page! If there are any burning philosophical/psychological questions stuck in my mind, I write those down too just for the sake of organizing my thoughts. Doing so, I realize I actually have lots to write about in my journal.

I don't know whether it's because my cognitive skills have developed more, and hence have more to think about and write down, since my 15 year old self, or maybe I've just grown to be a more interesting person, but now I can't imagine life without lined paper to write down my thoughts.

Fun with paraphs!

paraph \PAR-uhf\, noun:

a flourish made after a signature, as in a document, originally as a precaution against forgery.

There's not so much a story/definition behind this as there is a good picture... or two... or more.  :)

  (2:01)

Dang obnubliating clouds

obnubilate \ob-NOO-buh-leyt\, verb:

to cloud over; becloud; obscure.

Sorry this post is so late, loyal readers, but fun waits for no person!  One of the many, many superb things about Syracuse University is their Orange After Dark events.  Last night, we went to a place called Wonder Works, where I had the time of my life climbing ropes, experiencing hurricane-speed winds, and playing giant fruit ninja.

All of that happened at night though, during the day, the clouds were obnubilating the sky and it was quite gloomy.  Only later (while I was working out because I'm that hard core) did the sun finally come out, and the day started to get fun.

WonderWorks

We went to a magical place called WonderWorks. It's a mini theme-park that can be best described as a pseudo-science museum and a laser tag/rope climbing adventure... thing... place.

Overall the experience was wonderful. There was plenty to do and much to see from hurricane stimulations to a bed a nails to optical illusions! Anyways I'm much too tired to really give a full review about this place, but trust me when I give it a 5/5!