Sleep Deprivation and School Year Resolutions

Well, my first week back in school has been absolutely insane.  I pulled an all-nighter from Tuesday to Wednesday, then another one sometime this past weekend, because I needed to do homework and I worked four days straight (Thur-Sun).  The rest of the nights I've gotten no more than four hours of sleep, so I've been sleep deprived.  I got Monday off, so I was planning on doing the rest of my homework then (and made sure to go to bed at midnight so I could get up), but because I was so exhausted I slept through my alarm and didn't wake up until 4:45pm.  Almost 17 hours straight…. So I should be almost caught up by now :-P.  What that means is that I still don't have all of my homework done, so I'm staying up late (and possibly pulling ANOTHER all-nighter) to get it done.  Which is completely unacceptable, and shouldn't happen again.

 

A while back, JinnyD did a post with her list of resolutions for the school year, and it inspired me to make my own.  What I'm now adding: SLEEP.  So, without further ramb-I mean, ado, here is my list of goals for the school year

Turn in ALL assignments on time.  No late papers, or flashcards, or maps, or labs, or anything at all. 

 

No procrastinating this year!  That means pulling all-nighters and doing my homework the day it is due is NOT okay, and I hereby resolve that it will NOT happen again.  And if it does, I'll deny it ;).

 

Stay motivated, and positive.  My complete lack of motivation and emotional breakdown during Junior Year, Semester 1, will not be repeated.  I won't quit caring about school, and life in general, just because things aren't perfect.  Getting good grades in Senior Year can change my situation entirely, and just might set me free, so I need to keep that in mind.

 

Work on the College Application process!  I need to make sure to stay on top of all application deadlines, and fill out forms for financial aid, and narrow down my list of colleges to apply to.  Time is running out, and I need to work on this NAO.

 

Take care of my body.  That means eating more (instead of just my meal at work), exercising more, and SLEEPING LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING.

 

Keep a schedule of my work days, homework, and posts.  I really need to work on doing things consistently and sticking to my homework schedules.  Plus, I haven't blogged at all in almost a week, and I really want to post more frequently.

 

Know when to breathe.  I need to learn how to stop spinning in circles, rushing around trying to accomplish ten things at once so I can make something of myself and have a great future, and take a deep breath.  To step back, and slow down, and remember how to truly live, and honestly love, and laugh like a crazy person :).

I'll probably think of more goals later, but it's 3:45am and I still have a lot to get done.  These are my biggest ones, anyway :).  What about you guys?  Any School Year resolutions?  Surviving your first weeks back?  Getting any sleep?   :).

 

P.S.  Thanks Logan, and Shaynie, and Sammy4ever for taking the time to comment, and everyone reading this for taking the time to read it :).  I really appreciate it :).

 

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"But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.

In your head, in your head they are fighting,

With their tanks and their bombs,

And their bombs and their guns.

In your head, in your head, they are crying..."

 

 

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  (¸.· Elizabeth *´¨)

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Music that Moves Me: Breathe Today

"You can only move as fast as,

who's in front of you,

so if you assume,

just like them,

what good will it do?

So find out for yourself,

so your ignorance,

will stop bleeding through"

                   Breathe Today-Flyleaf

 

I love how this song speaks against the follower mindset, and urges you to make your own choices, because you'll have to live with them: "I can only say what I've seen and heard, And only you can choose, And every choice you make will affect you, Suit your own self..."  Lacey Mosely (leading lady of Flyleaf) has such an amazing voice, and in this song shows its power.  The chorus cries out "So many lies swirling, All around you, You're suffocating, The empty shape in you, Steals your breath, You're suffocating.  Breathe!"

 

You can listen to Breathe Today below :).  What do you all think about this song?  Any Flyleaf fans reading? 



--
"But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying..."


     ´¨)
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(¸.·´¸.·*´¨) *
  (¸.· Elizabeth *´¨)
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             (¸.·´*
        

A Brief Explanation of My Education :)

Hello all! My first day of school is tomorrow (technically today since it is kind of three am...), and since I'll probably talk about the insanity of senior year here, a quick explanation is in order.
I am legally homeschooled.
My parents are legally my teachers and are legally responsible for my education. However, they've hired 'tutors' to teach me.
The reality is both of my parents have jobs, and I go to school where I am taught by multiple teachers in multiple classrooms with other students. It's basically like your average public highschool, but with smaller class sizes, my parents have the final say when it comes to my grades, and I only have to go once a week :). I'm taught a week's-worth of info, then given a week's-worth of homework to accomplish (and the program I've been attending is college prep, so the courses are challenging). What I love about it is that I can choose when to do it throughout the week, and can make plans one day and shift my homework schedule accordingly. The unfortunate similarities to public school are sometimes you get a teacher who is a 'bitty' (not the word I'm thinking :-P), and there can be cliques. The good part: I'm in control of my education, I've had the opportunity to get to know some amazing teachers and make great friends, and I'm able to work the morning shift during the school year unlike most of the other employees my age. I've also taken classes at a community college during the school year and summer, gathering college credits. In past years, that has been the way it worked, and I am so grateful for it :).

 

This coming year, things will be a little different. Instead of taking six classes at one basic location (plus dual enrollment), I'm only taking three (which is bittersweet)at two locations. On Tuesdays I'm taking Spanish in the late afternoon, and on Wednesdays I'm taking Physics and World History in the morning. Thur-Fri-Sat-and some Sundays, I'll be working. Mondays I get off work to cram. So hopefully this post, which wasn't as brief as I planned, will save me a backstory later.

 

While I'm on the subject, I don't advertise myself as 'homeschooled' (though I am) and don't consider myself a 'homeschooler', mostly because of the negative stereotypes associated with homeschoolers. When someone knows me AT ALL, I feel more comfortable sharing that, and I get told a lot 'You're homeschooled? I wouldn't have guessed that...'. The fact is, there are many different ways of homeschooling, many options and styles and opportunities.  So don't write it off as staying at home all day in your PJ's with your mom and 38 siblings.  Homeschooling can provide an amazing education, whether your parents are your teachers or you hire others.  And that's my two cents on the matter :).  What about you guys?  Are you public schooled?  Private schooled?  Dual enrollment?  Or homeschooled?  If you're homeschooled, what do you think of it? And am I the only one who feels just like Jeremy in that strip?

--
"But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying..."


     ´¨)
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(¸.·´¸.·*´¨) *
  (¸.· Elizabeth *´¨)
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             (¸.·´*
        

Mockingjay!

Today I got an email from Borders.com, telling me that my order for The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset is ON IT'S WAY!!! Many months ago, I read The Hunger Games in one night, not realizing it was part of a series, then hurried back to the library the next day to get Catching Fire, which I also read in one night.


I absolutely love this series; it is dystopian fiction, Katniss (the protagonist) is kick-a, and the world building is absolutely incredible. For those of you who aren't familiar with the series, the basic story takes place in a futuristic world where a corrupt government annually sends 24 randomly selected kids to fight to the death on live tv, and forces everyone to watch. Sound insane? It is :). I recommend this series to anyone, unless they can't stand a little blood. Have any of you read The Hunger Games? Are you psyched about Mockingjay too?

And P.S. Steph Su just did a post on Mockingjay (which contains spoilers from the first two books, so don't read it if you haven't read them), and included this awesome playlist, if you want to check it out :). I haven't gotten to listen to the entire list, but I love what I've heard and how it relates to the books!

Operation YOU: Week 1

Emma over at Summer Girl has created a weekly fitness challenge called Operation YOU! Check out the awesome button :)


Basically, she is posting a new Challenge every week on Saturday. This past week's Challenge was ten push-ups, ten sit-ups, five days of the week (I didn't realize that it started with her first post, or I'd have shared it sooner... my bad). This coming week's Challenge hasn't been posted yet tonight(I waited as long as I could), but once it is I'll add it here:



Next Saturday I'll be posting a work out log, just to keep track of my daily exercise. I think this is a brilliant idea, because I need accountability, and if you agree you can head on over to Summer Girl and join in by linking up!

Brand New Eyes: A Music Review

Brand New Eyes is Paramore's latest album:

Track Listing:

Careful
Ignorance
Playing God
Brick by Boring Brick
Turn it Off
The Only Exception
Feeling Sorry
Looking Up
Where the Lines Overlap
Misguided Ghosts
All I Wanted

You can listen to the entire album at the bottom of this post, while you read :)

This album was overall very impressive. It had Paramore's signature upbeat spunky rock feel, but contained a surprising number of slower songs and lyrical maturity. The overall lyrical suggestion is that you have to get a grip with reality and cease living in lies. That superficiality isn't a way to truly live, that you need to know who you really are as a person and accept and embrace your flaws. That no one is perfect, and you shouldn't let people who think they are put you down.

In Careful Hayley Williams (the frontwoman of the band) resists fake smiles and urges listeners to "Open your eyes like I opened mine, It's only the real world, A life you will never know".
In Ignorance, one of the singles from the album, she states "If I'm a bad person, you don't like me, well I guess I'll make my own way… Where's your gavel? Your jury? What's my offense this time? You're not a judge but if you're gonna judge me, Well sentence me to another life".
In Playing God Hayley tells someone "If Gods the game that you're playing, Well we must get more acquainted, Because it has to be so lonely to be the only one who's holy… Next time you point a finger I might have to bend it back, And break it, break it off, Next time you point a finger I'll point you to the mirror".
The next track, Brick by Boring brick, tells the story of a girl who created another world to live in because the real one was too painful. This song speaks volumes to me, because I know my own escapist ways and can relate to the girl Hayley is trying to help "Well you built up a world of magic, Because your real life is tragic, Yeah you built up a world of magic, If it's not real, You can't hold it in your hand, You can't feel it with your heart, And I won't believe it, But if it's true, You can see it with your eyes, Oh even in the dark, And that's where I want to be". The song itself feels a little like a fairytale, and the somewhat eerie video follows that theme.
Turn it off is about the goal of perfection and humanities prideful ways, how we seek to have it all but will never be happy with our own endeavors "It's getting harder to believe in anything, You just get lost in all my selfish thoughts, I wanna know what it'd be like, To find perfection in my pride… The tragedy it seems unending, I'm watching everyone I looked up to break and bending, We're taking short cuts and false solutions, Just to come out the hero".
The Only Exception (video here) is one of my favorite love songs, because it tells a story that isn't perfect, one that I understand. She's hurt and scarred and pushes away anyone who gets too close, until she meets that one person, the Only Exception to her rule: "And up until now, I had sworn to myself that I'm content, With loneliness, Because none of it was ever worth the risk, but you are the only exception".
Feeling Sorry is an unapologetic song that reprimands someone for wasting their life, "I feel no sympathy, You lived inside a cave!... I've got no time for feeling sorry! I tried not to think of what might happen, When your reality, it finally cuts through. Well, as for me, I got out and I'm on the road. The worst part it that this (this! ), this could be you". I'd write it off as harsh, if it wasn't for the following line: "Won't you promise me tonight, If it's the last thing you do, you'll get out…". It isn't entirely heartless :)
Looking Up is inspired by the band's struggles, "God knows the world doesn't need another band -But what a waste it would've been-I can't believe we almost hung it up-We're just getting started-" and Where the Lines Overlap continues with their story: "No one is as lucky as us, We're not at the end but, but we already won… I'm not used to it, But I can learn, There's nothing to it, I've never been happier"
Misguided Ghosts, an acoustic track and one of my favorites, slows things down significantly. I don't think any description of mine could do it justice, so please listen to it on the playlist at the end of the post-you'll be glad you did.
All I Wanted follows the somewhat overused formula of start-soft-get-louder, and isn't my favorite song, but is still a solid Paramore track and shows off Hayley's incredible voice.

I give this album 4 out of 5 stars, and my favorite tracks are Ignorance, Brick by Boring Brick, The Only Exception, and Misguided Ghosts. You can listen to the album in entirety below:

What are your favorite/least favorite songs on the album? And what do you think of that album cover? I really appreciate the imagery, it looks beautiful and alive at first, until you notice the pins... very thoughtfully done.

Thank you for reading,


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(¸.· Elizabeth *´¨)
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Coming Up Next...

Today is the 18th, and this is my 18th post, so I decided to make this post a little different: a list of what's coming, weekly, on A Collection of Reflections :).

Tomorrow I'll be posting a lengthy review of Brand New Eyes, Paramore's latest album. In the process of writing this review, I decided to have a weekly feature highlighting lyrics, a song, an artist, or an album I think is worth a listen. I know I'll enjoy writing it more, and it is simpler to read about and listen to one song once a week than read a long review of an entire album song by song because the person writing the review is too anal to skip anything... yeah. This weekly post will be called 'Music That Moves Me', and posted every Wednesday. I'm really excited about this :D.

This Saturday will be my first post for Operation YOU, a weekly fitness challenge from Emma over at Summer Girl!



I'll give you the details on Saturday, but for now know that I'll be posting my workout log and the new challenge every Saturday (after this coming one, which'll just be introductions ;). If you'd like to participate, you can head on over to her blog and link up at the bottom! If she doesn't get enough participants, she won't continue, so if you have any interest, give it a shot :).

In addition to Music That Moves Me on Wednesdays and Operation YOU on Saturdays, I'll still do my regular, somewhat irregular, posts about whatever comes to mind :).

P.S. I would REALLY appreciate it if you could all try the poll and tell me if it works. I've gotten one vote (thanks Amanda!) and another tried, but it didn't work, so I'm trying to figure out if the gadget needs replacing. Also, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for following and commenting, I really appreciate it :).

Thanks for reading,


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My New Laptop :)

I just wanted to share some pics of my new Dell Mini 10 :)

My blog on my laptop on my blog :)


Rock on, shiny laptop, rock on...

Did you know that in some cultures, the rock on sign means 'your wife is cheating on you'? Not kidding.

Anyway, it is the perfect size to slip in my bag, and the keyboard is big enough to be used with ease! I'm in love ^_^. If by some chance you're reading this, thanks bro :).

P.S. Thanks Sammy4ever and Guin for following, welcome to A Collection of Reflections :)

Summer Memories: Week 5

This is the final week of the Summer Memories giveaway over at Farmgirl Writes! And here is this week's question:

"So tell me - how are you going to spend the last few weeks of summer?"

A few days ago I spent all day at a family friend's pool, which was a lot of fun :). Tomorrow I get to see my brother, which is always wonderful, and he's giving me a laptop! I've wanted one for a while, so I'm really excited. I'll probably spend a couple days getting it all set up for the school year. He already cleaned it off to make it faster (he's a computer whiz), so that is a huge help. My mom and I are heading to the pool again next week sometime(a final opportunity to get some sun for the first day of school ;) , and I've been working as much as I can before the school year starts, since homework will probably cut down my hours of availability. Also, I somehow need to find a day to go shoe shopping with my mom (my dad gave my black sandals away… by mistake… yeah), and schedule a dentist appointment (my teeth have been sensitive lately). Plus I've really got to clean house :(. I've got less than two weeks left of summer, and a lot of little things to accomplish (which can be hard with me and my mom both working and different schedules), so this will be a hectic time that I need to take advantage of.

What about you guys? What are you doing to enjoy your last weeks of summer?

Right now, I'm going to clean house since I'm here. And while I'm gone, you can listen to Cleaning Craze, a playlist I made five minutes ago which is a copy of a CD I made ages ago and just found :). Some of the awesome songs from my CD (and all of the Cascada songs, actually) weren't on playlist, so I added the one remix at the end partly for laughs. It's funny how tastes change… I can't believe I had Tell Me Something I Don't Know on there (though the CD had the original, not the remix). Anyway, best tracks that you might not know are 4, 7, 8, 11, and 13. And yes, this list is all POP, my least favorite genre (gasp).

P.S. I know I just posted Summer Memories: Week 4... I thought I'd posted it days ago but earlier today saw it was a draft, so I'm sorry they're so close together ;).

Summer Memories: Week 4

The theme this week was.... lists!

"What was your list of goals for this summer?
Have you accomplished some or all of them?"

I actually didn't have a written list of goals, but I did have a mental image of what I wanted my summer to be. And it isn't fabulous or fun; my goal was to work more. Yeah, I know, lame, but I gotta do what I gotta do :). That wasn't my ONLY objective, though :) I wanted to:

work more
read more
eat healthier
go to the the park's pool frequently
get in at least one decent vacation

I managed to work a lot more, read more, and get in a decent vacation :). My hours more than tripled, my reading increased exponentially (considering I wasn't reading much at ALL during the school year, and when I have free time I swallow books in single sittings), and the 'girls only' vacation with just me, my mom, and my sister was absolutely perfect and much-needed. I didn't get to go the park's pool even ONCE the entire summer, which is tragic, but I did get to go fishing several times and hang out at someone else's pool once, so it isn't THAT tragic :). Eating healthier..... I still really need to work on that one. Summer wasn't long enough for me this year, though last school year seems like it was years ago... interesting how twisted my perception of time always is when summer comes to a close :). So what about you guys? Did you make a list of summer goals? How did you do?

Busy Bee… (Alternate Title: I'm a driving vampire who loves Japanese food and basketball XD)

This entire post was written yesterday, but I didn't have time to publish it (go figure)

A lot of little things have happened since I last posted (excluding the Summer Memories post). I've worked most every day, and have been too busy to blog, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted to share a little bit of that with you :).

On July 29th, I sent my friend this pic to get an opinion on her hair (this is Ashley Greene, an actress):

Me: What do you think of this hair, but with some layers?
ignore the smoochy face
http://www.sugarscape.com/userfiles/image/july/ashshort.jpg
LOL
Friend: She looks a lot like you, minus smoochy face...
LOL

I've been wanting to have short hair for ages, so this was exciting for me. I got my hair cut that night, and had it significantly shorter and with layers and a very different style. Next time I worked, I was prepping something and had my back turned when the manager walked in and froze. When I turned around she was like "OH! I was about to ask 'Who the heck are you?'! You got your hair cut!" It was hysterical XD. I also got told by a customer that I looked like Alice from Twilight XD lol too funny. And kind of true. I said 'Thanks!' because she is pretty and I like her character and my hair looks just like hers in New Moon, even if I'm not exactly a Twihard…

On Monday morning, my mom woke me up early with 'Get up! I'm taking you to the DMV!'. It was kind of a surprise, because she had somewhere to be that morning and I went to work at 11, but she cancelled what she had to do so I could get my license. I kind of had to have it by tomorrow (or else I wouldn’t have transportation to work…) so that was important. And since I was sane I passed with flying colors! Yes, I passed my drivers test before my 18th b-day. W00T XD lol. I was given a paper which is my temporary license until the real one shows up in the mail. And I have to replace it in a few months on my birthday, so if the picture is horrible at least I'm not stuck with it for two years like people who get their license the day they turn 16 :). Then we had to rush from the DMV so I made it to work on time, picking up a burger and some chicken nuggets on the way. Work has never been that busy. I'm in food service (;)) and we had two separate rushes that filled every single seat in the lobby, mostly kids from band camp who loved leaving disgusting messes on the floor. Immediately after my insanely fun work day, my dad took me to the insurance place and we got set up. In a couple months, the insurance payments begin. At least I'm on a family plan, so it doesn't cost me as much. That night, we went out to dinner to get Japanese (my dad suggested pizza in honor of me getting my license, but I upgraded). It was delicious, and the waiter was funny. He was cleaning a table nearby and found a ginormous wad of gum, and said "Why is it the kids they always take out the gum and put it under the table? Every time…" and he was good natured about it :) lol. I was thinking I know exactly what you mean, but I don't smile about it!. Then a huge crowd of people I used to take classes with at a cc walked in. It was interesting, but we finished eating and left without anyone yelling "HEY YOU! YOU WERE IN MY ENGLISH CLASS!". Not sure if I'm disappointed or glad, but it was interesting to see them from across a restaurant. I'd have said hello, but my parents and sister came together to treat me as a family, and I didn't want to detract from that act of kindness by running off to talk to other people.

Tuesday morning, I was told we needed to leave for work an hour early in order to avoid horrible traffic. A road is being repaved and it is a MESS. Then, it is time to go, and my dad asked 'Which car are you taking?'. So. Didn't see that coming. I drove by myself for the first time in a car with no air conditioning on a hot morning heading into traffic I was told was so terrible I'd have to leave an hour early. And this car tends to break down every time the sun shines. So he advised I turn the car off every time I stopped for ten seconds to try and keep it cool. I was panicking big time. What if I broke down? He'd be on a conference call, my mom and sister were elsewhere, and I'd be stuck. Well somebody big was smiling on me that morning, because I made it straight through, with the sign turning guy turning the sign from SLOW to STOP right after I passed. I was the last one from that side to pass him, and shot straight to work. I was there an hour early… lol. But apparently, they were leaving one side open for over thirty minutes, then opening the other, and swapping it that way. If I'd have left one minute later I'd have been stuck there. So that was one LUCKY morning. While at work, a regular customer invited me to a basketball game. I didn't think I'd get to go, because my mom hates basketball, but I asked the time and place anyway. When I got off of work, my mom called and was trying to tell me another way home. She said 'this'll take you where our old house was' and I was freaking out. I wasn't even old enough for preschool when we lived there, and I didn't even ALMOST remember it. So I asked her if she could call back with street names because I had no clue where the heck she was trying to send me, and she was kind enough to say 'sure!'. So she called later, gave me the back-roads directions, and I drove home in one piece with the radio blaring. It was a decent day :).

That night, I went to the b-ball game with my dad. It was a great game, really close, and we got along okay (even though we rooted for opposite teams). It was an interesting night...

Today I didn't work, and I'd worked four days straight that ended up being very long and full so I FINALLY GOT TO CATCH UP ON SLEEP. It was great, even though I woke up earlier than I meant to :). Watched a couple movies with my mom, and now I'm updating my blog. And I just remembered I have leftovers from the Japanese restaurant, so I think I'll go eat that :). Assuming anyone actually made it though this insanely long rambling post, thanks for taking the time to read, and sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've just been really busy :). And whadoya think of the title ;)?

I did eat the Japanese last night, and it was SO GOOD

Summer Memories: Week 3

I was too late to enter the giveaway this week, but I still wanted to post and participate in the blog party :). This week the theme is…. How do you record those summer memories?

For me, pictures and insanely long emails to friends do the trick :). I've tried journaling, but my entries were about 8 months apart, so I gave up on it. I'm a total camera bug (even though my camera itself is... less than stellar), so I take tons of pictures on vacations and everything. Here are a few:

Taken at the beach:


Taken at Disney:


Taken in my yard:

(This little guy was TINY. I've never seen one so small)


So how do you guys record your summer memories? Scrapbooking? Pictures? Blogging? Journaling? :)