Things That Make Me Happy

As I remember them.

Finding out my specific running shoes are now carried by the store I work for, meaning an employee discount:

Getting a second job:

Turning 21:

Finding out I'm going to Boston in July:

Having an AWESOME run after being away for a while:

Me to life:

Yes, I know I haven't been updating. Yes I know I haven't been writing. There's been a LOT going on. Like all of that. Yes. So. I should be sleeping now. I'm not because...well...internet.

Also, the Avengers is awesome and everyone should see it.

Song of the Day: Fighter by Gym Class Heroes

<3 Erin

That Moment

How I felt when I finished writing my novel:

And this:

And then I realize I have to start editing and it's like this:

Please read and help me edit?

Feet

I don't have a quote for ya'll today. Mostly because I'm tired. Partially because I thought of a good one while I was running today. Not to brag, but I kinda like it.

"Don't look down. Look straight ahead. Trust that your feet know where they're going."

It was weird. Yesterday I was running five miles and I felt like the ground was getting a little weird on me (I was not dehydrated, before anyone asks) and that just popped into my head. And I like it. I mean, when you think about it, it's true. Your feet DO know where they're going. Be it in karate or running or anything. So don't look down, because that means you're second guessing yourself. Look up and enjoy the scenery.

Anyway. Now exiting English Major Mode.

I've been so crazy busy the past couple weeks. I had all sorts of shenannigans going on with school work and stress and a combo of the two making me sick. I actually skipped my 11 mile run on Saturday. Whoops. But instead I stayed in and wrote a paper, so it wasn't a total loss.

Just about a week until the race! Starting to get nervous...but I think I can do it. I have to keep saying that. A week to the race, then about two weeks until Finals. SO. CLOSE.

I'm tired, so this is a shorter post. I did see Clive buzzing around outside, so that was awesome. He's been all over the place this spring!

Song of the Day: Blackbird by The Beatles

<3 Erin

Insanity

"Running is a mental sport...and we're all INSANE!" - Unknown


Why yes, yes we are all insane. Can't remember if I've posted this or not. I'm under the weather and worried that it's going to get worse. I have no time to be sick!

But yesterday I had to run five miles, and decided that I would have to do it on the indoor track at the rec center. Some of my thoughts over the course of this run:

Oh god, my legs hurt. Maybe I should take tomorrow off.

Why the hell are people using the treadmills if they're only walking? That seems like a waste of a treadmill...just go on the track!

Wait, is that guy wearing jeans? OH GOD WHY? Why would you wear jeans to work out?

On that note, why is that girl wearing yoga pants to run? It's too warm for that! Well, maybe it's against her religion to wear shorts. I shouldn't jump to conclusions.

*Five laps later, near Yoga Pants girl again* Okay, maybe it's not religion because she's rolling them up and HOLY COW. Her calves could cut steel! Jeebus! Why on Earth would she try and hide awesome legs like that?!

Why do people insist on walking in the wrong direction on the track? I'm just more likely to purposely run at you.

Lot of people wearing those skele-toes shoes. I wonder if those feel funny.

It's hard to think about things when I'm running. I know I have lots to do, but I can't focus on it. I wonder if that's the purpose of running...

Oh hey, last lap! I should pick someone to beat by the end.

Target acquired. Target caught. Target surpassed.

I want chocolate milk.

Yeah, my brain is a little ADD when running. No worries. But I'm getting geared up for race day...have an outfit in mind for the half, but I'm just realizing that I've got to pick out one for the 5K the night before. I'll post pics closer to race day. I'm still holding out hope that by the race I will be able to get my hair into a ponytail, but I'm doubting that. Very sad. It's getting longer, which I'm happy about, but not long enough.

Also, shameless plug here, if you're going to come to the marathon to cheer me on, how about a shirt to go with? I'm considering ordering t-shirts, but I need to know how many people will be in on this. Here's the design:

Ideally the words and design would be white on a red t-shirt. If I order 9 shirts, it would come out to about 12$/shirt, but that price goes down the more people we get in on this. The race will be on Saturday, April 27th on the U of I campus and I highly suggest carpooling if you're coming down to Champaign/Urbana. I can house people, but parking is limited. I need to know if you're coming, need housing, or want a shirt ASAP. Deadline will be Friday.

Writing has hit a sort of standstill. I know what I want to write, but it's just finding the time and motivation. I've got a lot of work to do for school (SO MANY FINAL PAPERS!), and I've gotten back into knitting lately. So yay? This Friday the Knit Wits are probably going out to knit at the bars, so keep an eye out for nerds with needles. I think tonight I'll try and find some time to get some writing done...those final three chapters won't write themselves!

And like that, I've run out of time to chat. Class is soon, and I must go.

Song of the Day: Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen

<3 Erin

Senior

Shepard: Good luck.

Grunt: I don’t need luck! I have ammo.

- Mass Effect 3

So I just registered for classes next semester.

My last semester on campus.

My last semester before student teaching.

My first semester as a senior.

In college.

.....

WHAT.

Where did the time go?? It seems like not so long ago I was leaving for college for the first time, trying to figure out how to live in a dorm. Now I'm in an apartment. I used to be an Undecided major. Now I'm in one of the more specific tracks at the university. Holy cow. It just seems like time went by so fast.

I know last post I sort of touched on the idea that I was becoming an adult and I had a year to figure out what I was doing, but seeing that title kinda hit it home.

SENIOR.

Damn. After this I'll be done with my official academic career. I mean, sure I'll go back eventually for my masters degree, but that's not for a long time. Once I'm out next May, I'll be out for a while. Yes, you can point out I'll ideally be in a school as an educator, but that's not the same. Huge difference between being on one side of the desk as opposed to the other, trust me. Don't get me wrong, I'm still excited for it, but it's just so weird.

I'll be the first one of my siblings to be out of college and in the workforce. In one circle of friends, I'll be the first one out as well and hopefully the first to get a job. I'll be living on my own (ideally) and doing all that super spiffy adult stuff everyone has to do. A good portion of my friends will either still be in school or across the country doing various jobs. I already know one of my good friends is going to be a lab tech with John Hopkins medical in Baltimore, so there is that too.

I guess right now I can't really think about it too much. If I do, I start to panic a little and I have enough to do in the meantime that I don't need to worry about something so far away.

It's too late for much more speculation. I'm tired and have tons to do later.

Song of the Day: "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz

<3 Erin

MY EYES

*going out* "What'd you have in mind?"
"Something that doesn't involve fighting Reapers."
"I don't think they've conquered the bar yet."

- Spoilers for Mass Effect 3, Shepard and Garrus Vakarian


AAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH. MY EYES. NATURE AND THE TREES ARE CONSPIRING AGAINST ME WITH ALLERGIES. WHY LORD, WHY?!

Currently sitting in a coffee shop between classes. It's been busy with school and all, but we've got seven weeks left (just under) so it's getting there.


Oh, and remember Clive? He's back! I found out yesterday!


....when he flew into my face.


Me: Aw yeah, this is an awesome day! Running is cool! Life is OH DEAR GOD DID I JUST GET HIT IN THE FACE WITH A SMART CAR?!
Clive: Sup. I'm back. Thought I'd let you know.
Me: ...Hi Clive.

Good times. I finished Mass Effect 3, and while I don't want to post too many spoilers here (aside from the one up above), I will say I loved it. Even the ending couldn't ruin this game for me, since after letting it sink in, I'm a little more content with it than at first. Just hard to take in. But overall I LOVED the game. The writing was wonderful, the gameplay was so freaking smooth, and they brought the best of the past two games together in one amazing masterpiece. Wonderful.

I've been seeing a LOT of prospective students on campus lately...they're so cute! It's weird to think that a year from now I'll be graduating from college and (hopefully) getting a job. Think about that. They're going to put me in charge of children. Does ANYONE get a small twinge of FEAR when they hear that? Not that I think I'll be a bad teacher; Actually, for the first time in a while, I think I'm going to be a pretty decent teacher. I'm just a bit weirded out because I'm no longer going to be a student full time. We spend so much of our lives learning in classrooms and getting through years of the education system (Public, private, charter, or home school) and then bam...you're out. I'll be an ADULT. In some ways, I'm ready for it. But in others I'm not. At least I've got another year to figure it out. 408 days, to be precise. How incredibly....weird.

Marathon training is going well. This Saturday is a whopping ten mile run, and I just heard from my sister that she's willing to make a shirt design for me! Which I think is pretty awesome, even though she won't be there. Distance and all, you know.

In the meantime, I've finally had a little time to work on my novel! It took me some time because I realized the ending was not what I wanted it to be, so there needed to be MAJOR revisions. Currently it's at about 80,000 words (I love seeing that number right there. SO MANY WORDS),and I've got another couple chapters planned out. I wanted it done by the end of my spring break, but that would currently involve time travel so I'm hoping for summer. Then I'll edit for the next two and a half months, then hopefully a self-published release in the fall. More updates as that gets closer.

And summer is coming! This summer I'm excited for everything I'll be doing...I've got a skype interview to talk to someone about volunteering with children who have special needs this summer, plus my birthday, work, I'm planning on taking a Shakespeare course at the local college so I can get that out of the way before fall (a schedule that has no class Fridays, and two days of the week I start at noon? Yes plz), running, chilling on the beach, and I just found out the days for the Karate Seminar that I want to go to. Mom and Dad, if you're reading this the dates are July 19th-22nd.

So yes, a busy summer but well worth it. I'd like to get a road trip in there, but I'm not sure if it'll happen. We shall see. Worst case scenario we go next summer or something. SO ready for warm weather. So ready to be done with this semester. Everyone I know for the most part seems burnt out and tired, so I know I'm not alone. I'm sure I'll update later, and more often. Please be patient with me.

Song of the Day: 1963 by Rachael Yamagata

<3 Erin

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