Of Right Brainers, Minnesota, and a Certain Haven

So, my last post was pretty lame since I had just ridden a bus for 16 hours and I thought it necessary to make a better, less lame post.

It's kind of hard to focus when your boyfriend and his friend is playing Resident Evil on professional level on his new Xbox 360 and trying to kill this parasite infested troll swinging a pole at his face...

But I will try to focus. I found this book in my boyfriend's house called A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future, and it has been quite inspirational for me because the right brain is basically the artistic, caring, humorous, more abstract side and the whole book is about basically why careers like accounting, programming, law, and being a doctor (doctoring-wtf?) are either being totally restructured where the focus is on people skills (doctors), otherwise they are being shipped overseas since they will do it faster and cheaper (programming), otherwise robots are doing it (accounting, law).

Some of the other reasons right brainers are taking over is because right now is a time of plenty where a product that will "do the job its made for" isn't enough. The function is expected since the market is overflowing with so many varieties of the same thing (for example, cell phones) that now everyone is calling on designers to make their products stand out and sell better.

This book is both inspirational and disconcerting to me, because I was thinking about majoring in Computer Science and Art. Art, obviously, from the perspective of this book, is good. However Computer Science is one of those majors that people in India do cheaper and better. Yet at the same time, my creative/ people skills might help me come up with ideas for programs and implement those ideas rather than necessarily being the programmer per say. So maybe being a computer programmer is still not such a terrible idea.

You see, my parents are always worried that majors such as creative writing and art are wildly impractical and from the beginning they wanted me to be a doctor, but now that is definitely not in my cards (I am simply not cut out to be a doctor, and I am not a big fan of science) so they were hoping that I would pursue Computer Science since I rather enjoyed my Python and Computer Animation classes.

They beat the troll. Yeah!

Uh, anyways.. haha.. What was I saying?

I guess I wanted this post to be a bit of an inspirational thing for all those artists out their whose IQ's aren't super high and worry about their futures -it's OK! You'll be fine, and probably better off! People will love you for your creative spirits because that's the future! K? Good.

I still don't know what I should do.. double major in Computer Science and Art or.. something else. I also want to minor in Creative Writing. Really I wouldn't major in computer science if one of the classes (game design) wasn't way in the upper level. In order to get up to that class, I basically have to major. I just thought if I wanted to do animation.. or games.. I would want to go there. But for that I need to take math classes and... programming classes.. *sigh*

So I found this thing on one of the blogs I watch called the 250 Words a Day Challenge.. basically.. try and write 250 words a day, and don't like get let down too much like in Nano and give up. KEEP GOING. And 250 really isn't that big of a goal. I think maybe.. just maybe I can do it. Because I have this story, see.. and I've been procrastinating it. Plus 250 words won't really take away much time from my boyfriend/ friend time so you know, I think I can handle it. I've been working on this sci fi story where the premise is basically that the world is moreorless apocalyptic.. but humans basically made this place called Haven.. where only the elite humans are permitted to enter.. and basically they are chosen in such a way that Haven is a utopia of only kind, caring, respectful people led by a group called Royale. People that aren't in Haven kinda hate it.. obviously.. and one man is on a certain.. vendetta.

I want this story to be done so yeah... I need some kind of motivation.

Being back in Minnesota.. it's a little weird, but I was here for Spring Break so I guess.. I dunno. Part of me still feels like I live here, and I know that staying here for a month I might really have a hard time transitioning back to my er.. real home? in Cleveland. Even though I will go back to Oberlin pretty soon after. I did live in Minnesota for 5 years. I might even move back after college. It's a more familiar place than Ohio is even though I lived in Ohio as a kid. I still spend most of my time in Ohio at Oberlin, and most of the people at Oberlin don't live in Ohio. So when I talk to people at Oberlin knowing that they go back home in like, California every holiday I feel like I'm not that different from them. I just spend a portion of holidays at "home" and then the other portion at my "second home" I guess.

I'm not going to lie, it kinda sucks. I miss my boyfriend and my friends, sometimes I have to resort to just.. avoiding thinking about it. Which I've gotten pretty good at. Plus I do have reasonably good friends at Oberlin that make me laugh and take my mind off of things. And you know, the workload generally keeps me occupied.

Did you know that IQ accounts for only 4 to 10 percent of career success? Isn't that crazy?

My boyfriend didn't seem surprised but I was. I guess within the career path you find yourself in, your moving up in the ranks is more thanks to a good sense of humor, empathy, etc. Oberlin is kind of all about being smart.. so now I want to make even more sure that I don't focus too much on the smartness quota, even though that's the only reason I got into Oberlin. Other things matter too.

That's all for now, folks!

Megabus

So today I am in Minnesota, officially. I didn't think I would make any blog posts once I got here, and I probably won't but since I am here for a month this time I am hoping that I will not totally neglect my writing.

Yesterday I spent all day on a bus. We were lucky and got megabus both times. Megabus's have outlets and WiFi which is pretty freaking awesome considering we were on a bus for like 16 hours. You know, after about 14 hours when things were finally starting to wrap up my boyfriends dad calls him saying that there is a storm in Minneapolis and that some trees have been toppled, some tornadoes could be touching down. No big deal, after all, we're in a big bus and you know.. we're on the second floor so we'd be totally fine, right? WRONG. So it started getting dark and then there were these big dramatic lightning flashes in the distance and then the sky got all scary looking and then it started pouring like crazy and the sky was turning from yellow to black in flashes of 10 second intervals. It was like a child playing with a light switch.

I was pretty scared of the storm, so I huddled up next to my boyfriend and hid my face so I didn't have to worry about our bus driving into a tree or off a bridge. and he patted me and comforted me My boyfriend got really excited because for once we were fitting into our gender roles.

My sleep last night was kind of awful. Nevertheless though, I couldn't wake up. I know I was in this weird, deep yet fitful sleep. I didn't enjoy it too much.

Otherwise, I've been hanging out with my friends and catching up on life. For now I'm just going to try to enjoy my life. Maybe tomorrow I will update further.

Of Concerts and Eclipse

I won't be writing many posts for this month because I am going to be avec my boyfriend and I don't get to see him very often, on top of which I will also be getting to see a lot of my other friends that I get to see even less often. SOOO basically I won't be on here because I have better things to do. Like having fun, which I'm not always very good at. Especially during the school year.

But since it has been a week I figured I should write something. Tomorrow I will be at a Lady Gaga concert which is super exciting. As one of my friends pointed out, not seeing her would be like not having seen Madonna in her prime if I was an older person. I think this is basically true. Plus I like her more than Madonna. I love her style, and her ambition, and her super amazing talent. I love how she isn't afraid to be weird/freaky/disturbing/against the mainstream. Lady Gaga is probably the most famous people I will ever see live. She isn't my favorite singer (Ayumi Hamasaki is, and sadly I don't think I will see her in concert T___T) but she is pretty awesome so you know, I'm all good with it.

Really the only concert I've gone to is Utada Hikaru. But she is one of my favorite singers, too, so it counts as better than just one concert for me.

I was hoping this summer to get some writing done but I haven't written anything except for my creative writing class and the beginning of another nanowrimo. So I'm a little dissapointed with myself but at the same time, I like having a stress free month or two.

I saw Twilight Eclipse.

I don't understand why people think it was the best movie. I would have rather watched grass grow it was so boring.

Here is my summary of the Twilight Eclipse movie. It's rather long.

*makeout scene*
Edward: Bella, marry me.
Bella: Edward, turn me!
Edward: NOOOO NEEVER!! Your life will never be the same, you don't understand how painful and terrible it is and all the vampires wish they could take it back and it's worse than death!
Bella: Please?
Edward: Well fine, but first you have to marry me and then graduate high school.
Bella: Okay!


Bella's Dad: Now Bella, even though I always conveniently let you do what you want, to force a tense moment for the plot I am now going to make you talk to Jacob because you only ever spend time with Edward and I'm too stupid to realize that they are both perverted males who want you in their pants and I might trigger a murderous rampage where they kill each other fighting over you.

Bella: Ugh, fine dad! I guess even though he hates me and might kill me and Edward said it was a bad idea and his buddy can see into the future, I'll go talk to Jacob because it's the right thing to do.

At Jacobs...

Jacob: I want you in my pants right now Bella.

Bella: I'm going to be a vampire when I graduate.

Jacob: Fuck you, bitch, you might as well be dead!

Bella: I can't believe you just said that!

Jacob: Forgive me! I still want to be in your pants! I love you more than the dead guy! See, I'm warm and fuzzy! Pet me!

- insert a billion moments where both vampires and werewolves tell her that being a vampire sucks and that vampires have done evil terrible things to the werewolves and the humans that they turned and even the vampires don't like being vampires-

Bella: But, I'm not like everyone else! There is nothing I will ever want more than Edward! Nothing! Not even air! Or chocolate!

One of the vampire chicks whose name I can't remember: DUN DUN DUN except blood!!

Bella: I will conveniently not respond to that because I am going to ignore all the advice from the vampires who know what its like.

-insert a bunch of random fighting scenes where the evil vampires come after Bella and the Cullens defend her and then rally up the werewolves to help them because Jacob still loves her enough to protect her even though he *would rather have her dead than be a vampire* -

Bella: Noooo, Jacob, you can't help protect me even though I let all the Cullen risk their lives for me multiple times!

Jacob: But maybe if I hurt myself you'll realize that YOU LOVE ME AND WANT TO BE IN MY PANTS TOO!

Bella: Nooooo! I can't be selfish because I have to stick to my Mary Sue characteristics!

*pause* -Isn't it a little ridiculous that basically ever supernatural being in her area is out to protect her and risk their lives just because of two lovestruck idiots?- *end pause*

Edward makes a room for Bella for when they prepare for the big newborn vampire attack since the Volturi want Bella to be a vampire and are creating a vampire army because apparently they can't just do it themselves even though they basically have super awesome special powers better than anyone.

Bella: Edward, can't we have sex before we get married?

Edward: No, because I came from a different era where that was totally unacceptable and if it was back then, I would have courted you and things would have been totally different and just no! Plus I wouldn't be able to control myself, and I could hurt you or even kill you! Never! I could only do that if we turned you!

Bella: Please?

Edward: *makeout kiss makeout kiss*

Something about shirts being removed

Edward: Sorry, but I will not have sex with you now just so I can do it later when you're still human to defeat the purpose of not doing it now. *randomly busts out a ring* MARRY MEEE!

Bella: Okay!

-tent scene where Edward stays with Bella while the rest of the Cullens and wolves prepare to battle with the evil newborns that actually aren't evil because they randomly got bitten by some asshole who got bitten by the Victoria bitch who isn't really a bitch because she is essentially just as dumb as Edward or Bella and will do anything to avenge her lover.

Jacob of course can't leave Edward and Bella alone and then Bella starts shivering because a snowstorm randomly decides to invade and so Jacob gets in bed with her to keep her warm and Edward and Jacob have a heart to heart about how really they would be friends or maybe gay lovers if Bella didn't have to get in the way-

BIIIIIG BAD ASSS FIGHT SCEEENNNE ending with one of the newborn vampires basically begging the Cullens for her life because she's basically 15 and didn't ask for any of this shit so they take her under their wing for all of 10 seconds until the Volturi come and torture her and kill her. Because apparently the Cullens are nice enough to risk their lives for Bella whose life was going just fine and wasn't in danger at all, but saving a poor girl who is helpless and basically got screwed over by everyone, well, that's just TOO kind.

Oh yeah, I missed the "important" fangirl relevant part. Jacob overhears that Bella and Edward are engaged and flips a lid and then Bella makes him kiss her and Jacob takes out some of his manly adrenaline rage on some newborn vampires because Bella still refuses to be with him instead. Edward sees all this and apparently doesn't care because he knows Bella loves him more. Even though no more than five minutes earlier he was like 'I can't stand you being in a sleeping bag with her to keep from freezing to death' (thats not a direct quote, but whatevs)


I think things start to wrap up after that.. or maybe the rest of the movie was so boring I don't even remember it. Uhm.. oh yeah, Jacob gets thoroughly injured and Bella freaks out and goes to see him and Jacob is like for the 50th time "I know you love me Bella" and Bella is like "no, bitch! I still pick pikachu!" and Jacob asks how Edward reacted to the kiss and when Bella tells him he didn't even care Jacob is like "woah, maybe he's not such an ass." And after that Jacob suddenly becomes fine with Edward and even says he might still love Bella after she turns into a vampire.

Wow, Jacob, you changed fast! That injury must have cracked open your skull or something.

Somewhere in there Bella graduates and there's this great speech about how "now is the time you make mistakes, not when you make decisions" which is of course relevant to Bella's incredible life-altering decision of: Jacob or Edward?!?!?! Because apparently which guy she picks basically decides her entire life and nothing else has any importance whatsoever.

So somehow, after all this bullshit, Bella and Edward end up a flowery meadow and cue cheesy scene where Bella says that she, despite everyone's fucking advice that being a vampire sucks balls, she still wants to be a blood sucking dead person, and how, contrary to basically everyone's beliefs it wasn't just about Edward. It was about love, and happiness, and apparently "not fitting in."

Newsflash, Bella, if you didn't fit in, it is unlikely that you would be having vamps, werewolves, and regular guys falling for you constantly. You certainly fit in with them just fine.

Plus, you'll have a lot more to complain about when you're a dead bloodsucker with a half vamp baby. So shut it already.


Uhm... so I have no idea where that huge summary thing came from.. probably the depths of my brain where things are dark, murky, and rotting... buuuut I like it anyhow so whatever!

I was meaning to talk about how my life is going, but I guess it is going pretty great since I am with my boyfriend and I don't have to work so really I've just been watching him play games, checking facebook, cleaning, going on walks, and.. sleeping? Such a productive life I lead. But it's okay. ^___^ I like it anyways.

Of Chicago, Penguins, and Stunts

So today I was listening to "Why is the Rum Gone" remix for Pirates of the Caribbean on youtube. It's pretty epic. There's also one for Lord of the Rings, called "They're Taking the Hobbits to Isengard." These never get old.So my boyfriend is with me now. We had a splendid weekend in Chicago. Mostly splendid, at least. He called me when his bus was going to get off in ten minutes so me and my dad were like HOLY CRAP and ran and took the taxi to pick him up. He got off a minute or so before we got there, but it was all good.
It was so.. weird... to see him again, We hadn't seen each other in over 3 months and after a time like that it's almost like I was looking at a hologram. For several hours I just felt like I needed to be constantly pinched.



We went to see Cloud 9, a circus performance by a Chinese troupe at Navy Pier. It was their first and only visit to America, and so this was a pretty special event. Some of the stuff they did at the performance included...

One man pedaling a bike in a circle with ten people on top/hanging on to the bike

Three men riding motorcycles inside a spherical cage.. all driving inside the cage(yes, upside down and everything) and NOT running into each other (by the way the size of this sphere is about the radius of two bikes, NOT that big)

A woman balancing on one foot on the man's shoulder, and then on his head. (Not just balancing, but in ballet shoes, with her other leg out in the ballet pose.. I fail at remembering names for these things)

This guy juggled a knife, an apple, and a ladle, and at the end caught the knife pointing up so that the apple got stabbed and stayed on it.

At the beginning two girls were laying with their backs on chairs and their feet in the air, and then they each caught a coffee table with their feet and tossed them up a goof 8 feet in the air and then spun them around so fast you couldn't make out the table legs (all of this with only their feet)

So.. you get the picture. There was some crazy stuff. I enjoyed it, so did Stephen. We even bought an asian lantern for 5 bucks, and got some of the performers signatures on it. It was a good time.





The next day we went to an aquarium, which was also fun but not as cool as the circus. We saw this 4D version of planet earth, basically meaning it was 3d but also with like stuff in the seats so that they could... spray you with water, have little spikes come out of your seat, spout bubbles from the back of peoples seats, make fake snow, imitate wind, ... I don't think I'm missing anything but yeah, it was pretty ridiculous. But it was only 15 minutes long.

Quote from my boyfriend as he plays Half Life : "What could be better than attaching people to walls?"

I don't know.. attaching them to ceilings? Apparently he has done that before.

We saw some pretty freaky fish at the aquarium. There's the fish with noses that look like zombies. There's the sawfish shark that has a saw-looking mouth. There's.. bright fish, spiky fish, flat fish, giant crab fish, big creepy looking eels, giant eye fish, glowy eye fish, transparent fish. SO MANY FISH!

But my favorite part of the aquarium was the penguins. They were so freaking adorable. While we watched them they kept hopping up their little mini mountain thingy and then trying to decide if they could jump down from the top. My mom kept shouting "jump, jump, you can do it!" The penguin never jumped, but they kept hopping back to the mountain together. Then at the end all three of them hopped up in a row. It was sooo cute! I have pictures. Check out my deviantart.. I will put them up eventually, probably soon.



Then we saw the fireworks in Chicago. They were pretty boss, but only lasted about 15 minutes. They made hearts and smiley faces with the fireworks, so that was pretty cute. Then we watched Starsky and Hutch as well as Charlies Angels 2. It was pretty amusing. We also ate dark chocolate tart from this fancy ass marketplace that sold jams for 15 dollars and a pack of like 4 tea bags for the same price. But everything looked SO good.


Overall, Chicago was fun, but we were glad to be back in Cleveland after a 6 hour drive the next day that mostly consisted of sleeping. Now we're just been playing video games with Stephen trying to pin enemies to the ceiling with his fancy weapon that shoots heated metal rods. I think I will probably bust out my game, Fable, because I quite enjoy it. It's kind of your typical fantasy RPG where you can go on quests and explore towns and buy better weapons/items and build up your character to fit whoever you want them to be. Right now my character is kind of evil. It's fun stuff.




The way to Chicago was mildly crazy, especially once we got into the city because we got lost on this random road and my mom called the hotel asking for help and she must have repeated to the lady on the phone where we were like 20 times. OHIO STREET, YES, WE'RE ON OHIO STREET. IT'S A ONE WAY ROAD, AND AHEAD OF US THERES SOME KIND OF HIGHWAY THING WHERE YOU CAN ONLY TURN LEFT.

The lady kept being like "turn around"

"WE CAN'T!"

My mom was like screaming at her in frustration.

My conclusion from all this: black slang and russian accents do not go together


The irony? We live in Ohio and we got lost on Ohio Street.