Chronically Distracted

Did anybody else see the season finale of How I Met Your Mother?
Hee, I loved it. Those writers know what they're doing.

Today was pre-graduation giddiness, 'cause I got a dress.
A super pretty, wrap, floral print, pink and other colors, dress.

I'm gonna wear it with my boots. And probably fishnets. It's going to be awesome.
I also swear there will be pictures. 'Cause there will be lotsa people taking them. :D

My favorite jacket is also gone. I stupidly lost it. Gained a dress lost my favorite jacket.
I guess I'll have to be on the search for a replacement favorite jacket.

There's an obstacle in my way, an essay, and I've been working on it very, very slowly. There's a lot of information to accumulate and organize. And I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing. Like the first time I crocheted a pair of fingerless gloves and couldn't figure out what was going on until I finished most of the construction.

So, ya know. We'll see.

(pretty dress!! so excited!! guess that's motivation to get this paper done.)

Homework Peek:
Bilingual (Bilingual range, ability, background (bio), Identity, types of Spanish, class/education)

Identity (which identities is language being used to perform, being constructed/taken for granted, how are they enacted, relevant Discourses)
Relevant Discourses: Subculture/Renting DVD, Using Computers/higher class, ordering from catalogue/middle class, academic/discussing schools and returning e-mail for online class and looking up phonetics,
Social languages – subculture, Spanish slang, English slang, academic, wine drinker

Relationships (what relationships is language seeking to enact in relation to others, relevant interpersonal relationships, use of other texts, relevant Discourse acted out)
Enacting: Informality of parent/child/seeking to inact informality,
Texts: comedy, referring back to something said earlier, subculture,
Discourses: Class: looking at magazines, using computers, taking an hour to just talk, Assertion of “proper” way to speak English (SLI)

Today I saw Rudo Y Cursi
Bought some Tea Tree Oil stuff and looked for healthy sanitizer.
Had and Amazing lamb burger. Filled my cheeseburger quota for a while.
Organized.
Read for Essay.
Soooooo tired (slept horribly last night).

The End.

Oh wait. Youtube love for Jane Russel(and Bob Hope):

Today! was my last Saturday at the library.
I woke up this morning smiling because in a week I'll be graduating.
Finally found some lovely lip balm and lotion that's healthy over at https://www.bubbleandbee.com/index.html and think I'm gonna get the lip balm/lotion bar combo.
Working on my sociolinguistics final essay has made my brain flatline a little bit. Somehow despite all my mini breaks I think I managed to make get started pretty well.
I'm still confused about what it is I'm doing, since there are so many parts to it, like how Identities are being represented through discourses and Discourses, how Relationships are being acted out and made important, what being bilingual has to do with everything.
As always writing bios about my parents is awkward. I don't know why but I always feel strange writing about them, like I'm intruding in their privacy.
Which doesn't matter because I've written about three or four papers about one of them or both my entire school career.
I'm immensely excited about graduating and kind of can't believe it. Summer will hopefully be fun and full of activities and I'll be able to get a head start in my classes for next semester.
Which I have to sign up for next month and I haven't quite figured out which sections to take.
Which is my next task after graduation (along with following up on some health stuff).

I have no classes next week, just a few hours of work, and I'm going to work hard on this paper. And couple of other things that I have to wrap up before graduation.

p.s. GRADUATION! Didn't realize I'd actually be this excited about it.

Homework. Stress. Singing.

Everything needed to finish the senior project.



My school (specifically my department):


Close-up:


(first pic taken today, last two taken two weeks ago.)

To make up for the not-as-uplifting vid yesterday, here's a more upbeat one from the same ladies. It may be too upbeat for some of you. I would rate it all-ages :D



I used to dream about singing this song in my own girl trio. Probably never, ever gonna happen.

Today was an amazing day of accomplishments. I don't think I have been this relaxed about homework since, like, elementary school. I :
worked all morning on my Intellectual Autobiography. Written in 2nd person. Has a few cliches, but I think it explains clearly all the annoyances I whine about when it comes to certain, classmates of mine. And how I just like books'n'stuff.
And then!!
We (mom and I) went to Borders!
And bought Yoga DVDs!
And giggled in the cookbook section!
(I realize the exclamation marks don't make this post more exciting, but that's what it felt like to go to Borders and peruse. Happy and exclamationy.)

Came home, finished up the nice essay of mine, neglected to do any reading, ate, and played Wii Fitness.

I'm totally loving the yoga moves. I need more stretching in my life.

A lovely non-eventful day, the kind I've been yearning for. *happy*.

Sorry for the headless Sofia, but at the time I just wanted a picture of the dress.



This is the dress I bought to wear to a very lovely event, and wore again in Portland when I went with mr. boyfriend to a formal Christmas event. It was freezing outside. It was also a few days after mr. boyfriend officially became mr. boyfriend.

It's been about a year and 4 months since we started dating. :D






And Now! Back to making notecards for Sociolinguistics. Linguistics is hard.

Mmmmmmm . . . Sleeps.

I enjoy sleeping. Dreaming of insane spies and librarians teaching students how to skateboard, resting for a while without thinking too much.

It's especially nice to sleep when I have been yawning, like, a lot. And feel like my face is about to fall asleep when the rest of me is nearly unaware.

Exercise is also something I enjoy. Last semester I hardly went to the gym to move on the eliptical machine (absolutely no idea how to spell that), which help you learn how to . . . elip better. And this semester I've been elipping a lot, it's fun! I like the gym, don't have to worry about the other people and I enjoy that.

But, the sleeping. It's getting so much harder to balance the two, because if I want to sleep in, and what with the yawning and the falling asleep in class, I don't have much time to exercise. And if I want to exercise I'm probably not going to be sleeping in. Homework is also eating me alive, which has never happened before.

Sure, I got stressed, I got angry, I got frustrated, but it was all under control, part of the ride, same thing every semester. This semester I feel like I'm juuuust about to fall apart.

Like keeping up is actually about keeping up and what I think will take me a few minutes in front of the television takes me all night. Because I'm tired and don't remember what I have learned in class and have to reread. A lot.

Have I lost my super school get all homework done all the time powers? Or is this just the fatigue of being all school all the time for so long? Is there a place I can refuel passion and refuel in energy at the same time?

And, really, what are the chances of me just falling passing out asleep at school? 'Cauuuse that would not be good. (i'm kidding about that. odds are i'd skip homework for a week before that happened, and we all know how extremely unlikely *that* is.)

It's a homework night. An I have an essay due tomorrow finally was able to actually start writing it today still have to make a table of information, can't believe this is so hard, my brain is tired and my eyelids are closing kind of homework night.

Wash: Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science fiction.
Zoe: We live in a space ship, dear.
Wash: So?

(http://waking-empty.net/wash/firefly.php)

What? You were expecting a youtube video? Sillies.

Hooooooooooomework Zooooooombie.

Thusly: Kitty video. I watched it like five times the other day.



I was also thinking of having theme days. But quien sabe if I could keep it up.

But if I were to have theme days, anyone have any ideas? like kitty video fridays, whine about homework Wednesdays, Poem-y tuesdays, tell a silly story saturdays.

You know, or not.

I woke up this morning to some internet goodies, which I shall compile here for you viewing pleasure :D

Remember how I was going on and on about prop 8? This is prop 8 the musical, and of course it has nph in it, along with a bunch of other amazing stars.


Voltaire's first full length music video (he hopes to have a better quality one put up soon) (it's morbid, but fun!):


Back to my spanish ensayo final!

Tomorrow To Do:
8 am - WEPT test (it's been so hard not to make a joke about the name of that test every time I say it).
12:30 drive across the county to volunteer in le garden
4 - be back in town to go to class.

oh, and try not to cry because:
I haven't finished reading for my reading quiz on weds
I have barely worked on my final spanish paper due thurs
the WEPT test is kinda scary.
I am very tired. tired tired tired.

Oh! and remember the last Saga of Sofia getting her labs drawn?
Well! I got up early yesterday to drive to Next Town Over to get my labs done for my appt next week, but called before hand to make sure they had received the fax from my doctor. They didn't. I did homework. Got up early today, felt extremely tired, drove to Next Town Over and ahah! They had the fax.

But.

No one told me I needed to fast because they would be doing a cholesterol test. And I had eaten breakfast. Therefore no blood was being drawn from my body. Yes, I did almost start crying in the office, but held myself together by the time I got to my car. I have been so tired lately, this week is like finals week (part 1) for me, and Thank Goodness I got to take a nap today. Even though I'm still behind in my work.

Excuse me while I try to stop hyperventilating.

Trying to finish my paper, so here's a homework peek, which I figure should just become a regular event around these here parts, considering I do it so often.

I think you'll really enjoy this one, though ;)

From Moonstruck:


It's part of my paper on whether the "ethnic family film" is a genre or not. (it is.)
Who knew Nicholas Cage could be so awesome? I love love this movie.
I highly recommend it.

I TOTALLY made it through the entire month! YES!

I really, really should be working on my paper right now, but I am immensely stuck. I also kinda wish the 365 was over already and I didn't have to do silly posts for another 198 days, but I can do it!

Thanksgiving? It was good. We had extra pie, and Mmm-ness, and I enjoyed the company of good people, and it was very good to have mr. boyfriend here so we could celebrate our anniversary.
He's in the land of the cold (no, not alaska, the other land of cold in Oregon) now, and I miss him. Thank goodness he made me a new mix CD to keep me company.

Also, I had to share my new triumph over yarn, the white and pink koala:

DSC02781
Originally uploaded by Kidney Love

I'll have to add the name of the book I got the pattern from later, but it was a b-day present for my sis, and she loved it :D (She's real into Hello Kitty. I call it the Hello Kitty Koala).
I feel as if I should write something insightful, but I have so much on my mind right now, I'm counting down the days till the next three weeks are over and I'm free for a month! And until then, I'll be trying to convince myself to get my work done and not just indulge in whine fests over medical stuff.
Thanks to all my nablopomo friends!!!
Now on to the rest of my 365!

p.s. Everyone go see Australia! It's so good!! (ms. rogue? you BETTER have seen it over the break, and if not, dude, you gotta see it soon!!!)
p.p.s. I got a twitter (http://twitter.com/SofiaDistracted) because I'm weak and couldn't help taking on one more distraction. Yes, I know, I need to focus more. *sigh*

I have homework.
As usual.

I had a good morning of driving and talking.
I need a haircut, I look like a wild thing (should i show a picture? yes/no?).

In lieu of a real post (as in, has more and deliberate words than this one), is this awesomeness:



My favorites are: Mr. Dragon, Mr. DJ, Mr. Shogun (INSOLENCE!!), and Miss Soap Opera.

Thanks to mr. boyfriend for showing it to me ;)

This day started out good, was bad, then got better.

Ooh, and check out my new color scheme. sprylibrarian helped me make it look pretty.
Whaddya think?

I read this in my homework and I thought I'd share, 'cause it made me laugh:

"In a phallocentric society, power is measured by big-ness (as in feature length films) and penetration (as into the Hollywood industry). These are the crucial markers or signs of success, of "making it," of coming . . . into fruition."
Rosa Linda Fregoso, in her article "Confronting the Double-Headed Hydra of Oppression" in the book Chicanos and Film
*smirk*


Recently in my Chicano studies classes we have been learning about how Chicanas find ways of disrupting the sexism and racism that they encounter continuously. To read about women using essays, poetry, and film to reject the definition of identity that others have placed on them is encouraging to me, especially since the way I express my individuality as a Chicana usually comes out through the characters I write stories about (or just make up stories about). Most of them have some sort of Mexican or Mexican-American background, but that usually is not given importance over other parts of their identity. Or, for a certain character, being a werewolf and the culture that comes with it (that I made up) is equally if not more important than her Mexican-American heritage. Generally it is only a factor that in their personalities, a given that could never be taken away, but at the same time something that does not necessarily drive the plot. Considering the way my characters stray from their defined identities, ones imposed by others (other characters) and even ones they impose on themselves, kind of makes me feel like I'm in good feminist Chicana company. I feel like this especially because of all the texts I have been reading about having an identity that exists in an in-between place, not solely from a female or Mexican-American point of view (I use the label Mexican-American here because it sounds more gender neutral :)

Sometimes I worry about how much I don't necessarily fit in with Chicana or Mexicana groups, but I think I have to realize, not just intellectually but deep in my bones, that I have never enjoyed fitting in under one label. I might want to, but the fit is always a little tight. Even as a "nerd" I have yet to declare one realm of comicdom as my domain. To a certain extent, I like being ambiguous in my Chicanidad, because it means I get to peer from the outside at all the ruckus that is going on. It'll be interesting to see what kind of changes in my point of view there are if I get my PhD in Chicano studies.

Given that I didn't plan on writing any of this, I think when/if I get my PhD in Chicano/Women's studies I'll enjoy it. Well the learning part, not the stress work it's gonna take ;D

So I was gonna post something about stupid Prop. 8, or prop h8 as many like to call it (which is an accurate name indeed), but that's gonna have to wait until tomorrow. Because I really need to finish writing this paper first.

What am I writing my paper about, you (did not) ask? Good Question!
Here's a peek, one of the quotes in my paper (that hopefully makes it past editing):

"The work of the mestiza consciousness is to break down the subject-object duality that keeps her a prisoner and to show in flesh and through the images in her work how duality is transcended.”
Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera (Chp. 7, p 102)

I would be enjoying this so much more if it wasn't due tomorrow.

I have so much homework. Sometimes I wonder how it can be that teachers all seem to assign papers on the same weekend.
But! I still admire those who educate and hope to someday join their ranks (as a professor or a librarian). I have even more admiration for people like my mom, who can teach elementary school kids without losing their minds. Because I know I wouldn't be able to handle a room full of kids for very long without searching for help, let alone teach them, and stand up to them and for them.
In honor of those teachers who work hard to educate, here's a video my mom sent me that puts it all into perspective. It's called "What Teachers Make" by Taylor Mali, and I love it :

Since I have to finish writing two papers tonight, and I'm not much further along than I was four hours ago, I thought I'd do a little youtube peek at half of the topic of one of my papers.
:)

From the movie Chulas Fronteras (the youtube vids are mostly music, and the Spanish and English subtitles).




and I don't think this is in a movie, but I never heard this version of the song before!


All about the Tejanos, Mexican-Americans from Texas.
Hooray for Chicano Studies!

I was having such a great day, getting things done, finishing projects, having a grand old time.
And now I feel like I just need to lay down and stare at the TV screen while it plays my Eddie Izzard DVDs.

Things that are not conducive to doing homework:
Bad moods
Becoming increasingly apathetic about the subject because the class is so frustrating.
Messy rooms
Realizing you did an assignment that is due next week
Wondering what the hell you're going to do for Halloween
Hoping future project plans workout so that you're not left without any project to present.
Wondering what life after graduation will bring.
Missing all the cool people who are waaay too far away.
Wishing I could write livejournal posts about things I thought of earlier, but not having the time because, oh look at all the homework I have to do!

Seaside, OR:



Ah, the days of no homework. (I really should stop whining about it so much, at least I get to have the education I want! Okay, back to homework now!)