These Times They Keep On Turning

So, it's that time of year again. The one where we've registered for next semester's classes, we can count how many days of one class we have left on our fingers or maybe even one hand. It's that time when you really do have to admit that you need that coat in the morning, and maybe the flip-flops really aren't the best idea. It's also the time when absolutely everything is due. Everything from those nagging little assignments you have to do every week to those massive end of semester projects you haven't looked at since the first class since, you know, they're due at the end of the semester. Being that it's fall semester it's very nearly time for Thanksgiving break. I'm so ready for a break by this point that it's extremely tempting to skip classes Monday and Tuesday and just have an entire week at home. Yeah, it's not happening, but it doesn't mean that I don't want to! It's not like it's time off either. There is homework due on 2 days of that break (thank you very much online foreign language class), I'm decorating for Christmas with my father, getting a haircut that doesn't cost $50+ (hello city prices!), cooking for our Thanksgiving gathering, studying for....well, all the regular studying, and maybe getting in a little time with my friends. There certainly never seems to be enough time anymore these days. And speaking of time, last night was my very first university all-nighter. Writing an 8 page term paper is not the way I like to spend my Thursday nights thank you very much. But as a consequence of sleeping for 9 hours in the middle of the day I am now "blessed" with having my days and nights reversed. Not like they weren't already close to that, but now it's more than usual.

But that minor fact aside, it truly is nearly the end of the semester. Including Thanksgiving break there are precisely 4 weeks left. Today marks the 3/4 point; and thank heavens for that. I'm not particularly looking forward to gaining a new roommate next semester, but I am looking forward to be a little farther finished with school. While I do hear from people out in the "real world" that they wish they could be back in college, I am getting tired. I've been taking college classes since 1/2 way through my Junior year of high school. Even though I'm technically right on track (or actually ahead of schedule by just a little) this constant schedule can wear you down. And while Christmas break is great, it's not all that long. My school gives just over 2 1/2 weeks. I'm envious of my friends who's exams finish the week before mine, or the ones who go back to school a week later. Do you think that's all part of being at a "top university"? Because honestly, it just flat out sucks.

There are some fun things about being in a city though. And that would be the music scene! I was fortunate enough to go see Matt Costa last week (who started out the show playing in the middle of the crowd), and The Weepies this week. Talk about a great show! It was a drive (and probably a huge factor in my all-nighter), but it was well worth it. The husband and wife duo were not only amazing in person, but we got a comedy act too! They would tell us the story accompanied with the song they were about to play (which was a lot of them), and typically it was hilarious although sometimes a little awkward. Subjects of transvestites on the corner and porn viruses on computers anyone? Hopefully they'll come back to town sometime while I'm still out here! Also this week was my final show for this tour of Celtic Thunder. I seriously considered adding a Christmas show that's just a few hours west of here, but it's just not in the budget. Oh well. More money for other (and more important) things.

Anyhow, I should get some sleep to attempt to get my days back.

Thanksgiving break in 3 days and 11 hours!

Peace,

Elina

I honestly have no idea where the photo is from other than someplace in Ireland.