Joy

"If you want change, you have to make it. If we want progress we have to drive it." - Susan Rice, Stanford University Commencement, 2010

So it's been a while, but I've been keeping busy with projects and papers and lesson plans and the like. My usual laptop is out for repairs (hinge broke. Super sad), so I'm lucky enough to be using an old one from my dad. But here are my updates:

First off, running has been going pretty well. I think once my body realized that no, I am not going to stop, it started to man up and get used to running. I did six miles yesterday and three today. Yes, I feel it but it'll be worth it. The race is at the end of April and I'm still super excited. Two months to go, but still! Anyone who can make it down to support my dad and I as we run, it would be greatly appreciated. The race is Saturday, April 28th with the starting gun going off at 7:00 AM. Early, yes, but it should be nice out. Is it lame that I'm already planning an outfit? Because I am. I'd really like to look into some sweet lookin' running shorts (Nike Track Tempo shorts or something like that... the ones I like are red/black/white) but we'll see if they go on sale. Gotta keep workin though. Make sure that everything stays in shape and in fighting condition! And while yes, I am still doing karate, right now running is taking a bigger role because my pratcices are a little less regular. Still awesome, just not all the time.

I'd also like to do t-shirts for those of you awesome enough to come down and watch the race. Ideally I'd love to have the words "Go until it hurts...Then go a little further" printed on them, but I'm not sure what sort of design would work best. If anyone has some free time and artistic talent, I'd love to see what you can come up with. Either post to facebook or e-mail me a way to view the design/file.

OH! So I'm a huge fan of the series Mass Effect and the final installment, Mass Effect 3, is releasing on March 6th! This is a taste of the awesomeness that is supposedly included in the gameplay. That giant robot thing shooting at you is called a Reaper. They are bad and want to kill all life in the galaxy. That bug-looking thing that jumps on it is called a Thresher Maw. They are not friendly, but we're okay as long as they're not attacking US. And it has a new multiplayer feature that looks SO cool!

...Hell yes I have it preordered. I'm excited to see how this is all going to end. Plus it'll hold me over until September. What's in September you ask?

THIS IS IN SEPTEMBER.

Yes. They are releasing a Borderlands 2. I cannot express fully how excited I am for it. The first game was so cool (millions of guns, obscenely crazy enemies, plenty of humor...) and it looks like they've taken everything and revamped it for this sequel. More guns, more unique character powers, more plot, more everything. While that isn't until the fall (and the date might get moved around), I'm looking forward to it.

As for my novel it's kind of come to a stop. I know what I need to do to finish, but I've hit a sort of snag. One problem is lack of time (what with school and all), another is writer's block, and still another is the fact that the file is still on my usual computer. While yes, I did make a backup, I'm worried that I'll lose the backup and be chapters behind when I go to update the main document. I just need to know how to get to the end point. It's a bit frusterating really. I had hoped that I would have at least a rough draft by spring break, but that doesn't look like it will happen. Probably going to be done by summer at best. That would be ideal so I can spend those months sitting on a beach, editing the story so it can be the best ever. Just haveto wait to get my computer back and in the meantime do as much as I can with what I have. Does anyone have any ideas for breaking a writer's block like this? And please don't tell me to just sit down and write, because trust me I've tried.

Song of the Day: Bang Bang Bang by Christina Perri

<3 Erin