I’m hearing a lot going on right now. I’m sitting on my bed in my room with the door closed, and even with music playing I can hear my sister shrieking because my brother won’t quit messing with her. I am getting very tired of it. In fact, hold please…
Ok. No more shrieking. I’m realizing that sound in general has an effect on moods. Honestly I’ve been feeling a bit down lately, and I think I can attribute some of it to the music I’ve been listening to – mellow/not-too-upbeat stuff. I’m feeling some Hoku to lift the spirits. (Side note – it’s working already thirty seconds into Perfect Day) : ) I can tell that right now I’m setting myself up for the academic year ahead of me, and I’m wanting to be as optimistic as possible, because it sure as hell won’t hurt. Not much else going on. I need to break out my horn, as I haven’t played in a month or so and I really ought to if I’m considering auditioning for the symphonic bands.
Speaking of music, the new Rob Thomas album, Cradlesong, is set to come out tomorrow, and he rarely dissapoints. I have always been a fan of Matchbox Twenty, and his solo work has proved just as valuable, so hopefully this new one will be as good as the previous ones.
Isn’t it funny how we all find something to stress ourselves out with? No matter how much progress we make it seems like there’s always something else that’ll take its place. In school I figured my worries would be over after the year’s end, but then I started working, and I had graduation thank you’s to send, which seemed like nothing but turned into a lot. Then all of a sudden things like a short one page biography and getting your car inspected turn out to be really much more stressful than they ought to be. I am noticing now that a lack of vigilance in the time management department causes each little thing to turn into the squeaky wheel. I should work on that.
So I think it’s a shame that Michael Jackson had to die in order for his songs to regain airplay on the radio stations. I can’t think of a time I heard something by him on a mainstream station since the 2005 trials – and regardless of how you think he looks or acts you can’t argue with the music. I have to say it was really cool though to see his titles taking up the #1,2,3,5, and 6th places on the top ten on iTunes this week, as well as the top three album spots, which is the first time something decent has earned those spots. I just think it’s funny that the general public opinion of him was that he was weird — and when he dies all of that is erased instantly and is praised by the world as a legend.
There. I got it. Actually I was in the middle of crafting a legitimate one when we experienced a power outtage during a quick ‘lil thunderstorm and the draft hadn’t saved.
And yes, I hate the use of the not-a-word “lil” just as much as you.
That is all. Back to eating now.
For some reason I’m having a really hard time trying to organize my thoughts today. I have to say it’s not the most comfortable feeling ever, especially as that’s not a normal issue for me. I just feel out of my secure state, and I don’t particularly know how I got here. Not to say it’s not manageable, but it’s also nothing to be chipper about. Life is interesting in its ability to catch you off guard on little things.
Time is passing by relatively quickly – which is odd because the library job (somehow) has created a pseudo-timeless environment. The 9-2 schedule on weekdays is reminiscent of school schedules, and the lack of windows/isolation in human interaction seems really dehumanizing. Not to complain too much, I mean the air-conditioning and the pay rate are pretty cushy, compared to what I could be doing this summer, but it does resemble working in a vacuum the size of, well, a library. Monotony, thou hast instilled in me a determination to find a more tolerable career than a librarian (no offense to library hopefuls or incumbents, I just personally couldn’t take it). I have to say the uniformity of it all harbors some sort of weird time perception fluctuations that make the day seem to fly by on some days and drag on to the point of near bibliocide (bibliocide 1. n. death by self-pelting of books, 2. n. death caused by processes of a literary nature) on others. I can’t really say that I enjoy its monopoly on my summer (See “Sleeping in.”), but it is what it is.
Speaking of sleeping in, or my lack of ability to do so, it is currently 12:05 A.M., which tells me that if I continue to publish my thoughts, the time it’ll occupy will dip into the full eight hours of rest so eagerly prescribed by contemporary health specialists. As such, I’ll now have to say goodnight.
A few YAC members, with the assistance of Mr. Sheley and the Mayor pitched our survey to the GCCISD secondary school principals today during a meeting at the administration building. It seemed to go well as there were no negative comments made and there was quite a bit of nodding and smiling. I have to say though that it seemed as though there was some ambivalence toward it from a few individuals, but I can’t really blame them — nobody said a statistical survey would be the most exciting topic ever. We’ll see how it goes over the course of the next few weeks.
Right now though I’m focusing my efforts on preparing for the AP exams. I have calculus tomorrow morning at 8 A.M. I’m trying not to stress over it too much, but this past weekend we were administered a practice test that I, nor anyone else that attended, did well on. We’re banking on the fact, though, that it was meant to be harder than the actual exam. Doubt, if I can help it, will not have any effect on my score tomorrow. The way I see it, everything we’ve done in calculus this year was something new, and therefore if I get a one, that’s better than I would have done this time last year. Hopefully it will be a little brighter of a situation, and I did spend an entire year going over the material, so we’ll see what I can get out of it.
So today I took the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam. I think I did rather well on both the multiple choice and essay portions, but as we are prohibited to speak of the test specifics “…with anyone, anywhere, at any time, ever,” I won’t be discussing it any further, especially in publicly accessible print media. Last night I was looking over some of my review materials and doing quite a bit of studying via Google as I couldn’t find the Princeton review book issued by the school district. As my luck would have it I found it as I was looking for my jacket to take with me to the test this morning. Fantastic /sarcasm. I do have to say though that it’s nice that I don’t have to stress over finding it to turn it back in.
Appropriately enough, yesterday I decided to go and vote early at the local polling location. I can’t say it was as exciting as my first time, especially since there were only two issues to be decided. The mayoral election was being held in addition to the vote over Proposition 1, which if approved would exempt certain stand-alone bars from the city wide smoking ordinance. I went ahead and voted for it, not because I particularly enjoy the idea of lung cancer, but I see it as a property rights issue. If someone wants to allow smoking on their property, that is their prerogative. During the council hearings some representatives from the American Cancer Society came to speak about the dangers of smoking, which, don’t get me wrong, are totally valid, but they failed to acknowledge that by entering an establishment that allows smoking, that person willingfully puts themself at risk for the negative side-effects. If someone doesn’t want to be in the presence of smoke, they can choose not to enter such an establishment. For a country that places so much value on freedom and personal liberty we sure seem to be putting a few too many restraints on it.
Some brought up the argument that, well, if you can exempt stand-alone bars, why couldn’t you exempt other establishments in the city, such as restaurants? The answer is that bars, in particular, are places that are meant and intended only for adult use. An adult must make a voluntary decision to enter a bar, and as such are subject to the consequences. A restaurant, however, is not meant only for adult use and are often subject to family/youth use. In such situations, a child does not willingfully enter the establishment – they accompany the adults within the party. If a restaurant allows smoking indoors and a child is brought into that establishment, the child often does not have the ability to remove themself from such an environment. This does not apply in cases regarding bars, as children are legally prohibiting from entering such an establishment.
I remember seeing a rather large advertisement in the paper not too long ago showing a picture of a distressed young waitress in a smoke-filled room with a tagline that said something along the lines of “There’s no non-smoking section for her…” The truth is, however, that the employee is not being forced to work in such conditions. One of the benefits of a free society is the ability to choose the work that you do and the job that you hold. If a bar employee at a certain location is unhappy with the presence of smoke in his or her working environment, that employee knows that they have chosen that establishment as their place of employment. If they feel uncomfortable in such a situation, they have the right to remove themself at any time and seek employment elsewhere.
Today I got an email from Texas A&M reminding me to return my financial aid/scholarship offer letters by May 1st, as their records had indicated I had not yet done so. Strangely enough, I hadn’t yet received any such letters. Interesting…
I found a way to access it online, but I’m still trying to figure out why an unsubsidized Stafford loan would be beneficial. Time to do some homework! I also sent out an application for another grant I’m eligible for and the legal copy of the lease for my apartment today and filled out roommate requests, etc.
After sixth period, David, Zach, and I all decided that we’d go ahead and stay for the A.P. Government review with Mr. McDowell, but since we had seventh period to kill we figured we go to Starbucks. I was feeling a bit adventurous, so I went ahead and ordered a Grande Frappucino instead of the normal t(sm)all. Turns out they made me a tall anyways, realized their mistake, made the Grande, and let me keep both. I suddenly felt as though I had power over a powerhouse corporation – $3.85 for one drink suddenly became $1.93 each, which was a little more up my alley. I really enjoyed the Government review, and I’m pretty sure it was more productive than the nothing I would have been doing at home had I not gone.
When I got home today we had plumbers over trying to fix the faucet. Turns out they weren’t needed, just a new faucet, but regardless we can wash dishes now, which is definitely a good thing. House was interesting, but not enough so to actually sit here and use up cramming/sleeping time to discuss it. And speaking of cramming, now comes the time where I cram for the Frankenstein test tomorrow…
So of all things to spur philosophical thoughts, I was watching an episode of House on USA. It was talking about fragility of humans, as well as the question of the unknowns of death. I have to say, it just made me think, and now I’m trying to use this blog as an outlet for that emotional need to talk about it, because I’m by myself right now, and even if I were in the presence of others it wouldn’t matter, because nobody really has the answers. Only speculation.
Sorry this post doesn’t have any real content. I’m just in need of some intellectual stimulation that is tangible, instead of it just being like a soupy mess in a pressure cooker in my head.
Ok, I apologize for the visual : ), but you get the idea. Oh, and speaking of visuals, no, I don’t know what the picture above is supposed to be, but I googled “thought” and that’s what came up that was interesting…
So I don’t know what happened… I remember there being thunderstorms predicted for today. Go figure. Anyway, we’ve got pre-UIL today at Horace Mann, and that’s from 5:00 till 9:00. Boo. Especially since our program will truly only last about thirty minutes of that from start to finish. For the record we’re playing El Capitan by Sousa, A Movement for Rosa by Camphouse, and Vesuvius by Tichelli. It’s a hoot.
I can’t complain to much though about having to go tonight, it’s my last time to get to do it, and there’s no guarantee that I’ll be able to continue being in a music ensemble this advanced (Hopefully it won’t be, but ther’s no guarantees). We’ll see about getting through the next few weeks – contest is on April the… umm… 17th? Contest is in April. Mid April. So. Whatever that means.
In other news, I have no additional work to do this evening, and tomorrow is looking more and more attractive – a half day, no sectionals and Sarah’s coming home. Nothing too big or out of the ordinary seems to be ahead, which for a senior who’s been ready to graduate since mid junior year is a very good thing.
Oh, and speaking of post-high school endeavors, I’ve officially cancelled my on campus housing application, so if there was such a thing as making the apartment doubly legit – this is it. Yay for $300 refunds : )
