Be Prepared

Scar: But thick as you are, pay attention! My words are a matter of pride. It's clear from your vacant expressions the lights are not all on upstairs. But we're talking kings and successions! Even you can't be caught unawares. So prepare for a chance of a lifetime. Be prepared for sensational news. A shining new eraIs tiptoeing nearer.   

Shenzi: And where do we feature?      

Scar: Just listen to teacher        -"Be Prepared," The Lion King

 I was looking at the lyrics of this song, and doesn't seem like teachers are thinking like this as they teach? Thank goodness I've got such good teachers here at USF! They've been great these first two days of class!

I pondered on calling this post "Jolly Holiday," but the lyrics didn't convey what I was thinking at all.  But it has been a jolly holiday the last couple of days! I wish I could start college all over again and have it be like the last few days.

Tuesday was my 'free' day before class, and it was so nice! I haven't been able to relax since... May? That sounds silly but it's been go go go since then! I got to Skype with Philippine early that afternoon, and it was wonderful getting to talk to her.  It had been many months since I'd heard her lovely accent, and I missed it! She's doing good, and she's starting college for the first time in about two weeks! I can't believe it!  I wanted to tell her about her birthday present so bad... I'm not good at keeping secrets that I'm really excited about! You'd be surprised how many paintings I end up telling about because I'm just so excited about.  It's been an extreme challenge not to post the pictures I've picked for my art show.  But I'm staying strong on that one :D.  After I chatted with Philippine, I went to the mall to pick up job applications.  I got paper copies for Charlotte Russe and American Eagle, and there is an online one for Toys R Us, but I've since rethought that one.  I went back to school, filled them out, and then returned them that day.  I had a bit of a mini interview with American Eagle, but I should possibly expect calls sometime in the next few weeks.  I know which one I'd rather have, but I actually prayed quite a bit about this, and I'm going to be happy with either.  And if I don't get either, I have a couple other places I can apply.  I want the job so that I can get more hours than I do with my on campus jobs.  Events Team is great, but you sometimes only get a half hour or so a week, and that doesn't cut it.  It's even worse this year since I don't have a meal plan.  I'm so glad I don't!!!!!!!! YES JUNIOR STATUS!!! :D Telecounseling was fine, and easy, but you get three hours, 6-9, for two or three nights, and that takes up such a crappy time of the day.  But after the summer, I'm also taking this job as a ministry opportunity, as well as I should every moment of my life.  It's important.  My dad showed me this YouTube video (He's always showing me YouTube videos) where this atheist was talking about an encounter with a Christian that really made an impression on him.  The man pretty much asked how much do you have to hate someone to not tell them about Jesus, and dooming them to hell.  I don't think I'll ever forget that video.  I'd have to ask dad what it was called, because it was very interesting.  But even though it probably wouldn't be good to say, "Hey! You looking for some new jeans? How about a new lifestyle," it is still good to present myself in speech and mannerism as a Christian, and be conscience of that.

Have I told you of my roommate? Sarah is awesome! She can get any movie ever off of her computer, and hook it up to the TV she got! So that night we got to chill, me, her, and our friend Denice, and watch Easy A.  It was nice to get to hang out with people from school for the first time in a long while.

Wednesday was the first day of class, and it was a really good first day of school! I had two classes, General Psych and Printmaking 2.  The psych professor is really funny and interesting.  I think I'm really going to like the class.  Printmaking was great too.  I've got three pieces in mind, but the first project we're doing is a collaborative piece with the 3 of us in Printmaking 2.  They put classes 1 and 2 together.  We're each carving a wood block, print, then we'll pass it to the next gal until we've eached carved and printed.  It's going to be really neat I think.  My projects are all dealing with screenprinting, and for two of them I use this process called photo emulsion. I paint a screen with this green liquid, and then I burn a image into this liquid.  The image will then come through when I ink it, and it's great with very detailed images.  I used that process with my BarlowGirl images.

The projects I want to do are based on the complexity of people, really.  I want to do a rather large one of the "Everything" Skit.  I want to layer the characters in different dark colors, and then keep the girl Jesus saves white on top.  I'm going to keep all the images of the actual people that were in the skit with me, thanks to Kaleena's photography skills.  I better ask her permission first! Another layering project I want to do with screen printing and photo emulsion is one of me, basically.  When you look at a person there's always that one part of them that defines them in your eyes, whether it's something from their past or a special skill of theirs.  For instance, when I'm at camp, I'm the artist.  No one sees me as the music minor, singer, reader, or devoted sister.  I'm going to layer a bunch of images of the things that make me me. I want to have a cross at the center, and then it will branch out into other photos.  Somehow I want to either print or paint hazy patches on it to to signify the trials.  Trials define people more often and more so than the good.  The third one I just reworked in my head as I was writing this.  I'm going to do several wood blocks of shoes.  Katie and my shoes, more specifically.  I thought of it last spring when I signed up for the class, and I think it will be super cute, specially with our rain boots and the time we nearly drenched ourselves in orange paint.  Grad present, Katie? 

I haven't had free time in so long I didn't know what to do with myself after! I watched TV for the first time all summer!!!!! It was nice.  That evening the school rented out the bowling alley, and I went with Sarah, and we met up with a friend.  I got 107!! We added on a group of girls that didn't have a lane, and I got a 100 on that game.  I usually get around 75... I'm quite proud of myself!

Two more classes so far today, then choir in about a half hour.  American Federal Government class at 8:30 this morning.  Not. Excited. But the teacher, Beth, was really nice and was obviously an Otter.  It'll be fun and interesting.  Art History. Shoot me.  But I already knew I'd hate the class after the first Art History class I took.  I have to take three.  At least this year I've got that new mind set and discipline that I might actually do a lot better.  Probably not, but I can hope.  Be prepared!!