House Sitting

is going well, but I have no internet...

Russian Final tomorrow....

Wed. I am giving a message in the youth group.

Thursday is my last final :(


More later...

For all those you grow weary of my history posts...

rejoice, for I have made a second blog!

Stacee says I wont do this blog anymore, but I will...

For those who are interested in historical shenanigans the new blog is...

www.historytsarina.blogspot.com

I may split school posts between the blogs, because it is important to me, I did make the blog as a way to express myself...

So, that party was pretty fun. Back to that in a minute...

I just realized that I have basically just finished my first year of real college. I realize that Harbor College is a real college, but it just feels different. And I can't believe it. The last year has been one of the hardest, best, most exciting, insane years of my life and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Seriously.

I have learned more about myself in the last year than I even thought was possible.

I truly believe that this year was a God thing. I was trying to explain it to Denise earlier, and I know that I have tried to explain it here before, but it is just so insane that this year has gone the way it has, and all of the things have worked together just so. As of 1pm Monday I will have completed 90+ units making me a senior. As of July 11th I will have completed units equivalent to my first semester as a senior. INSANE!! Everyday there are little things that just reinforce my belief that this is God's plan for me. Today I came home to a forwarded CC email to someone else on campus from one of my professors who is trying to get me signed up for a program on applying to grad school. This professor has gotten me major hookups over the last year and I truly appreciate all of it.

So...Party Time...

It was fun. We had food and soda... No whisky or champagne, and still no cookies. Everytime they try to bribe us into coming to an event they promise us cookies, but none have ever appeared. We did have poppycock, which Dr. Fawver loves... And there was Dr. Pepper purchased with Chris in mind... I declared myself the Tsarina of the History Club, although I am sure that the title is incorrect... Oh Well... It was a lot of fun even though the boy that I wish I didn't have to listen to was there.

I am suoer sleepy though and need to pack before I go to work tomorrow because I am gonna be cat/house sitting for my couins while they are on a cruise to Alaska.

It's the End of the Year...And I know it.....

It is the last real day of the school year. While I am abnormal and prone to emo-ish tendencies about this, I will instead take the time to reflect on some of the best things I have learned during this, my first year, at Dominguez Hills...

-Some of the most important learning occurs outside the classroom. (This is a direct quote from a professor.)

-Make friends of your professors. Not only will more opportunities come your way, but it will make school a lot more fun.

-The ideas you should really ponder are those that at first seem a little crazy.

-When writing an academic paper, "don't use don't" or any other types of contractions.

-If there are more than 4 uses of is, was, were, or has been per page, your paper is probably in need of some revision.

-Good historians are allowed to have an opinion on the past, some things are just plain wrong, no matter how you look at them.

-History is full of cannibalism.

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I have learned many more things than this but really these are some of the strongest lessons I have learned. These are the things that will help me as I continue my education and even into life itself.

I am really excited for this summer. But I am more excited for the next school year. I know that BIG changes are going to be happening. I will be applying to and choosing a grad school, gaining important research experience, organizing and heading the CSUDH History club, completing my first major primary source research paper, learning another language, and all in all having an amazing time...

As emo as I am today it will be magnified more by next year at this time. I do really LOVE my school. I encourage anyone who is looking for a school to seriously give Dominguez Hills serious consideration... It is an amazing school.

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Today is the end of the year History party. Most of my friends think that it is the epitome of nerdy to actually be looking forward to this, but of course I am.

(On the subject of nerdy.... The other day, Chris, Varian and I were discussing Iron Man (an amazing movie) and our extremely nerdy himself teacher came in, heard us talking and said, "Guys, I hate to tell you this, but you are Nerds." We looked at each other and said... "We're History Majors, it comes with the territory." Then continued our discussion on why alcoholism is depicted the way it is in the movie vs the comic strip.)

Tonight or tomorrow, you, my faithful readers will get a report on the party... Are the rumors of single malt whiskey and champagne true? Will all of the professors decide to give A's to those who attend? Will there actually be cookies? Full details to follow!

2 pages to go....

And then I am done... I want to be done before 9 so off I run...

Aloha!

I ordered Hawaii pictures so I can at least start my Hawaii scrapbook before my trip to Russia (and other countries) Here are two of my favorites:






Today was a good day at school. And also a very doodle friendly day!

I met with my Russian History Professor and got some advice for my trip:
1) Do NOT drink the Vodka...especially since I don't do much drinking in general...
2) It is okay to eat at the McDonald's in Russia, the food and service are superior there... And they have good bathrooms... (I find that discussing bathrooms with one's male professor is a random thing but these are things ya gotta know)
3) Try Georgian food... it is really good. But the meat will most likely be lamb...
4) When eating Russian food, go for soups, black bread, anything made with mushrooms, and real Russian Ice Cream...
5)Knowing even a few phrases in Russian will show the locals that I am not an elitist American snob (My redux of the convo)
6) If your digestive system is sensitive don't eat the street food. (In general mine isnt but I dont want to get sick the first few days I am there and then be stuck ill the whole time)
7)He is gonna email me the addresses of some good restaurants (which is awesome of him)

We got out of California History super early because Thursday is our final and no one had any questions to ask. I have an A in the class so far and am fairly confident about my grade, so I will just look over my notes and panic on Thursday! I did however, have an opportunity to doodle a picture of Chris wearing his "meat is Murder, tasty, tasty murder" Shirt while standing next to his gas guzzling SUV and saying "Hi, my name is Chris and I work at Whole Foods" I didn't realize he was wearing that shirt today either when I doodled it so when the teacher (who is a PETA member) told him that while it was okay for him to wear the shirt, she personally didn't like it. I had extra opportunity to laugh....

In 304...
We discussed The Sorrow and the Pity today, and I was not only confused but I had a few moments of sheer panic. Dr. Monty passed out the final exam questions and 25% is based on the film. I didn't really "get" the film, and the boy who asks stupid questions was just confusing me more except for a few really stupid questions which led to some humorous doodles by both me and Chris involving lethal weapons. Those questions just irritated me. I was reassured that as long as I got the basic concept behind the Myth of Vichy France during WWII, and what the film portrayed, and could connect that to chapter 6 in History on Trial, I would be fine. I do get all that and will be able to answer that question so now I can panic about my Russia Final...

Today was a good day at work.
I made a sign advertising our Playdough Play day for toddlers... I am excited because I am going to get to play with playdough at work...

I however have a paper due in a little over 15 hours so I am gonna go work on that...

A breather

I GOT MY PASSPORT TODAY!!!!!!!! Hooray!
Now I can send away for my visa, and really, really actually be going to Russia!!!
I am very excited and yet super nervous...

On Saturday I got new pills to help with my back, but I was deeply grieved to discover that of the possible side effects I would probably not get, I do get one...a headache... But today I was able to call the pharmacy and the pharmacist said I could take tylenol for the headache and it wouldn't interfere with the new back drug. I am happy to announce that it does at least take the edge off my back pain and that makes me happy...

Yesterday was not as bad as it could have been. I was pretty emo, but amazingly having a good friend understand that mother's day is not something I look forward to helped.

It is the last stretch for school, this is the last week before finals... One of my professors, who is over excited at the end of the school year, was whistling today and humming and was too disturbingly cheerful. I am not excited, one because I love school, two because I am going to be doing some hardcore summer school classes... Oh well...

I am going to the knitting circle tonight so I need to go order pics to work on a scrapbook...