Studying for disorders of language and communication...

Looking over the powerpoints and the book for my Disorders of Language and Communication class. I'm not too worried about this exam, I don't imagine it to be difficult, but I need a good grade on it so I'm minimally stressed out. I haven't been sleeping well lately and I've been quite tired. School has been very difficult to focus on. I don't know if it's Senioritis or just stress but I feel very unmotivated. I glance through notes and am like, "good enough." It's a shame that it ends up being good enough, too. I wonder when education became so watered down. Research of previous years in education shows how much of a sacrifice school used to be. People had to pretty much focus on nothing else when they were going to school, but that's not the case anymore. Obviously, some people have a harder time than others keeping up or doing well and some people have higher standards, but for the most part higher education is far too easy. I am very hypocritical though, because I'm glad I can get through with little effort, but then those few times I have to actually apply myself, it's quite a trial. I'm not sure that I know how to study correctly or get a large amount of work done. But I get by. I wonder if I had been born in centuries past (barring the time when women weren't allowed in higher education) if I would have been able to make it to college, let alone through. College was a big deal, it was the cream of the crop (and the rich kids). Now they'll let anyone with a decent credit report or cosigning parents in.

Ah, but on a lighter note I finished Game of Thrones and now I'm hooked. Started reading Clash of Kings a few days ago and I'm about 30% in. I am working on a book review for Game of Thrones. We went to New York City on Sunday and got to see (and sit in) the replica of the iron throne HBO had made to promote the show.

You may note the white ball of fluff on my arm presuming to be Ghost. I made him a few nights ago and for my first attempt at a stuffed animal I think he turned out decent. I may try to make a version 2.0 at some point though, since this one has.... flaws...

I wish that angle had a better view of his tail. His body came out rather well, particularly the cute fluffy tail. But I'd rather just ignore from the neck up. He may resemble Tyrion Lannister a little more than Ghost.

We watched the first episode of Game of Thrones on Sunday night and it was pretty amazing. It was quite faithful, albeit with some minor alterations. I didn't mine the alterations very much. It's interesting to see how the people working on the series have a different interpretation of the characters and the scenery. I was amazed at the level of production value. The amount of time and money that must have been spent on this series is phenomenal. There were so many different settings and places. I was shocked at how intricate the armors and costumes were. The level of detail is mind-blowing.

I have had little chance to work on my novelette. I've been mostly reading The Song of Ice and Fire books and getting some projects done for school.  I'd like to get back to it whenever possible, but I foresee is being stalled to May. I can't wait for mid-May when I can sit back and say "that's all." Of course I will still have one more summer course, but that seems almost irrelevant. I am very excited for the week we're planning to spend in Spain. I don't know that it's truly hit me yet, but when it does I can't imagine being able to contain my excitement. Right now I am just waiting to get the plane tickets and I think we'll be pretty good to go at that point. Sure I was born in Cuba, but since landing here I have never stood on foreign soil. I am hoping that I will have a chance to see my family, I haven't met any of them but I'd love to. I also just kind of  want to wander around. I'm still not sure if I want a tour or if I just want to explore on my own. I'm guessing a tour is a better option for the "first-timer." 

Ah well, back to studying, I suppose.

*The sky is over...*

Because there isn't a greater taste than a potato in a cup...

Some interesting events that have occurred since my last post:

1. I have had two stories published in e-zines located here-

To Live a Life That is Not My Own <http://www.yesteryearfiction.com/2010/08/82110.html>

Wayfinder: Home of the Lýkos <http://www.downdirtyword.com/authors/suanycanarte.html>

2. I have drawn some Pyraliss pages and will begin updating again starting Monday
3. I attended the New York Renaissance Faire in costume (twice)
4. I have begun the Fall semester and it is CRAZY

So I've applied for graduation and have realized just how close I am to finishing this section of my education. I had some trepidations about applying to graduate schools in December considering that I am currently retaking a class I didn't do well in and it brings down my G.P.A. but I've noticed that many schools have February deadlines, which improves my situation greatly. My only concern is that I am not sure how to go about asking professors for letters of recommendation or how to take the GRE. I am also concerned about taking the GREs while I am stressing out about school. I have always done fairly well in standardized tests, but I have not taken one in so long that I fear I have become rusty. I feel like I have so little time to study, do homework, work and sleep that I cannot imagine taking more time to research graduate schools, study for the GREs and worry about applications.  The entire school system is unnervingly flawed.

In class this afternoon a couple of students just chewed out our Professor for not being clear with what she is expecting from us when it comes to the homework and the midterm exam. She was so flustered and boggled by the idea that most of the people in our classroom have NEVER done "logarithms" or even heard of them.  This ties back to how flawed the school system here is. Although I admit that her expectations of our abilities is far above what we actually can do, I also believe that it is not her fault. She is an awkward woman in many ways that has studied, not only Audiology, but physics which gives her an edge of understanding that most of us would never have. Most people that go into Speech-Language Pathology go into the program never expecting to see a math problem again. Then we get to a class like Speech Science and it is a mathematical nightmare (for those who are mathematically impaired). Even I, who have a decent background in mathematics, have had trouble understanding how to use her notes to figure out the relatively complicated mathematical problems she is presenting us with. I am pretty concerned with the midterm exam and I cannot afford to do poorly in another class. My weekend is currently booked with horrifying amounts of studying (although I plan on playing a Magic game or two with Joe and brother :P).

I have one more thing to write about for now, and it is a new website I plan on starting up soon. It's a silly idea, but I think I will enjoy playing with it. It's name-in-progress is "Class Notes" and it will be a webcomic-like site that updates with pictures of little sketches and doodles that are all over my notes. I doodle a lot in class (bad habit, I know) and I tend to like a lot of  my little doodles. Some of them turn into character designs for stories, some are kind of fan-art, and some of them are just plain silly. I have a little quick design sketch of what I would like the website to look for. If I find myself with any time this weekend (haha, wishful thinking) I may just start setting this up. I'll associate this blog to it. I may also set up the Pyraliss blog next week (I'll link when it's finally up).

One final announcement

I can't wait. :)

*The sky is over...*