Nearly Christmas!

This past week, both of my parents have been sick.  My mom has had a cold and my dad has had the flu. 

Today, my body decided it was time to join the party.  I have caught mom's cold.  It's lovely - dizziness, aches, and yet, not as bad as it could be.  For which I am thanful.

So my bestest friend in the world came in town for the holiday with her boyfriend.  We met up yesterday for some serious catch up and knit time.  Lo and behold, she got me a drop spinner and fleece for Christmas!  Some of the fleece she dyed for me in a beautiful mix of green and purple, and some of it's a natural fawn brown.  While we were out sipping chai teas at the local bookstore, she taught me to spin.

I have since become addicted to spinning.  I have my first bit drying in the bathroom.  It's so amazing to make my own yarn.  I feel like a part of me that I didn't know was lacking has been found.

Which of course was what I was afraid of.  Knitting, spinning, writing - my goodness I'm busy with fun.  I just need to remember to do laundry and stuff and I should be good.

Oh!  So I have a knitting book outlined.  With any luck, this year I will have some new patterns and a book ready to go to the editors somewhere.  Need to research that.

And with that, I'm off.  I don't think I can focus much longer.

If I don't get the chance to later, Merry Christmas and happy holidays, whatever you may celebrate.  :)

~Meaghan

Update Time Again

Sorry for the slow update, guys.  I've had the flu for the past week.  The worst of it's passed it's course, but I pushed myself too hard yesterday and am paying for it today.  So that's where I've been for most of the week - at home, on the couch.

My yarn made it to me.  It's beautiful.  The sweater is going to be so nice when I get it done.  Totally worth it.

School starts next week.  I think I'm ready for it.  One of my classes got cancelled, so my load is a bit lighter.  It's going to be a busy but good semester.  Then I get to create a resume and get a full time, real world job.  Which terrifies and thrills me, so we aren't going to think about it right now.

My boyfriend is settled in his new college town.  I'm going to go see him either at the end of next month or the middle of March.  He's in Boulder, so there's a lot of cool stuff to do and see up there - Celestial Seasonings, the Pearl Street Mall, etc.  I'm excited.  He seems to like it up there.  He's optimistic and happy for the first time in a long time, which makes me happy.  Our relationship is as strong as ever.

Can you believe we've been dating for over 8 months now?  That seems like such a long time, yet it feels so short.  It's like I've known him my whole life. :)

I ordered his birthday gift today.  I got him (and no telling him, okay?) a boxed set of Anne Rice books.  He loves Interview with the Vampire, so I got him a collection of the first four books - Interview, the Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, and something about a corpse.  I'm so excited. =D

Life is pretty good, other than being sick.  As soon as this nasty thing passes, I should be back up and running like normal.  Which I want more than anything.  I really do.

I started a pair of cabled socks (I'm adapting the pattern myself) and a pull down shirt for my sister. This is my year to knit and write and grab life by the horns.  It's too short to not do what makes you happy.

And on that note, I'm off.  I hope you are having a great weekend, dear readers. :)

~Meaghan

Sick for the Holidays

Every. 

Single.

Year.

I swear.  I am sick on Christmas or the few days before Christmas every single year.  Last year I kept a headcold at bay with Halls Vitamin C drops.  The year before, I grinned and bared it.

This year, I have strep throat.

Yup yup.  Cancelled plans for the week except for the few that I can't reschedule.  Now I'm in my jammies, praying the snow will let up until all my loved ones make it home.

With any luck, the meds will kick in by Friday, and Christmas eve and Christmas day will be good.  Well, they will be good anyway.  It's just whether or not my throat will be able to keep up. 

I think it will.

Talk about a crazy holiday tradition, though.  Geez.

~Meaghan

Inspiration.

I have a sinus infection.

A nasty, gross sinus infection.  The kind that makes my head and teeth ache and my brain feel like it's going to explode.

So, I'm lying on the couch, trying to sleep, when all of a sudden...

I get a great idea for a poem.  Naturally, it's the one time I don't have pen or paper next to me.  So I get up, grab a pen, grab some paper, and jot it down.

(In case anyone is wondering, this is why I sleep with notebooks on my bed.  You never know when inspiration will appear.)

Sadly, nap is out of the question.  I now feel awake.

Yay for writing.

~Meaghan

Sunny Days

It's really hot here. 

The sun is up, the sky is hazy, and the temps are around the 80's and 90's.  I personally like more of a breeze myself, but that's just me. 

Still, summer is welcoming me with open arms it seems.  At this rate, I might actually get a slight tan before it's all said and done.

My sister is sick again.  There is nothing worse than being sick during the summer.  Add trouble sleeping and coughing to already hot weather, and it's just asking for discomfort.  I feel for her.

My mom too, actually.  She's also fighting something.  Both of them are just trying to rest as much as they can.  Which is good.  They both need to get well.

I don't want to catch it.  That would suck.

I hope your Tuesday is going well, dear readers.  Enjoy your summer day!

~Meaghan

Stuff's Going Around...

Three weeks ago, I was sick.  I was on medication that wiped out a sinus infection.

Two weeks ago, my sister was sick.  She still is, actually; she's got another week of medicine for her sinus infection.

Yesterday, my boyfriend had to cancel plans because he caught some sort of stomach illness that left him in severe pain.

Today, my mom has come down with a cold.

Stuff is going around, dear readers.  Be careful and use plenty of sanitizer.

~Meaghan

Sloppy, Sloppy, Sloppy.

Now that I've broken my challenge, it seems like I've been getting sloppy with updating.  I need to not let that happen.  Even if I haven't been able to update every day for a year, I need to at least try to stay consistant.  Bleh.

So here's what's been going on with me, dear readers.

I have a sinus infection.  It has knocked me out on my back and won't let me get up.  Happily, I get to stay in bed today as long as possible and lounge in my pajama's.  I don't feel nearly as bad as I did yesterday.  This is a good thing - it means that my anti-biotics are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

My boyfriend is coming over for dinner on Sunday again.  I like that he feels comfortable enough to eat with my family.  It makes me very happy.

My sister is getting her black belt on Saturday.  She's nervous; I don't blame her at all.  I'm nervous for her.  But I know she's going to get it and that she's going to do a great job.  I have complete confidence in her.  Then next week she turns 18.  It's crazy, isn't it?  Maybe it only feels crazy to me.  She is my baby sister after all.

We're going to the Rocky Horror Picture Show with some people from my speech class next week as well.  It's my birthday gift to my sister.  So far, it's her, me, my boyfriend, our friend from our group speech and her family.  It's going to be a lot of fun.  I'm really excited.

And that's all that's going on here.  I'm ready for my ears to stop itching and burning; also need my throat to stop aching.  Note to self: even if playing in the rain seems like a good idea, it's not.  Don't do it.

Have a great Wednesday, dear readers.

~Meaghan

Sinus Infection.

Crazy weather, making my sinuses go all crazy on me.  Bleh.

I guess it was time for the annual sinus infection.  That doesn't mean I have to like it, though. 

The nice thing was that I was still able to go out with my boyfriend.  And he took care of me on top of it.  How it is that I am blessed to have a considerate, funny, sweet, intelligent, nerdy boy in my life, I don't know.  But I am not complaining at all. 

And on that note, I need sleep.

~Meaghan

It's 7:35 in the Morning...

...and I'm blogging.   Big surprise there.

Ideally, I'd like to be back in bed, staring aimlessly at my ceiling like I have been for the past two days.  But no such luck.  Katie and I have to be at bell rehersal this morning to prep for the Easter services tomorrow.  I have no idea what I'm doing the rest of the day.  I'd like to say homework, but chances are I'll end up watching movies on my computer or reading something.

Maybe I'll finish the hat I started two weeks ago that I've been procrastinating on.

Tomorrow is Easter.  It blows my mind.  Where did my year go? 

I only have two weeks of school left.  Again, mind blowing.  I'm actually at a point where I like school again; I'm not sure I'm ready for it to end.  Actually, let me rephrase that.  I'm ready for school itself to end, I'm just not ready to stop seeing my friends on a regular basis. 

I still don't have a summer job lined up.  I'm actually starting to get sweaty palms now when I think about it.  I mean, if I don't get a job, I can bum around the whole summer.  But I've also nearly wiped out my savings and I really do need to get tuition and expense money together before fall. 

(That's the deal, folks.  I pay for school, either by cash or by loans; my parents let me live at home and bring me to/from school.  I think it's a fair set up.  It makes me work harder for my degree, that's for sure.  After all, it's not their money I'm wasting if I fail out - it's my own.)

Oh! So happy news time.  Because, you know, we all love happy news.

I found out that Thursday is when the new issue of the school magazine is coming out.  You know, the one that my poem is in.  I think I may have no choice but to go to the release party for a little bit; I'm thinking of inviting one of my friends who has an off period at that time to come with me.

This is kind of a huge deal for me.  I'll actually get to see my name in print.  And my poem.  So exciting.

The other happy news is that I'm feeling a lot better this morning.  Last night I crashed like a rock at 8:30.  I'm a little upset in the stomach today, but ultimately I feel like myself again.  Which is good.  I can't afford to be sick.  I have waaay too much going on in the next two weeks.

I think that about sums up my existence right now.  On to throttle some bells.

~Meaghan

More Job Applications

It's starting to feel like they all look alike.  Social security number, license number, date of birth, address, may we contact your employer?

So far, I've filled out applications for Borders (personal dream of mine, working in a bookstore), Michaels (because I buy more yarn than anyone I know), Home Depot (I collect paint chips from the paint section and love the garden part), and now Whole Foods (because I can run a cash register for eight hours straight).

Someone's got to call me back at some point, right?  I mean, I am pretty marketable.  I was a manager when I left Bagel Hell.  I held my Sylvan job for two years.  I have great people skills.  I learn quickly.

I think the goal is to just keep filling out the applications until someone calls.  Next on my list are Hobby Lobby, Target, Payless Shoes, Hot Topic, and the Tattered Cover.  I'm trying to keep it to places where I actually want to work. 

In other words, no food service.

I know, I know.  Food service isn't bad.  In fact, I think that if you have a great boss and team members, it probably can be a lot of fun.  But let me refresh you on how I spent last summer: getting up at 3 in the morning, dealing with a boss who complained about everyone, having a co-worker who thought he was God's gift to women and that we were all going to hell because of our individual beliefs, having another co-worker who could only ever talk about how much she hated the place, customers who think you owe them the world, an AC that almost always went out while the ovens were on, and having food that was hardly ever at proper temperature. 

(These are all reasons I don't eat at that particular store.  Especially the smoked salmon.  Never, ever eat the smoked salmon.  Or the pastrami.  Thinking about it now still makes me sick.)

No, thanks.  I'm good.  I don't care that I was a manager when I left.  You can not pay me enough to do food service again.

I wouldn't mind running a register or bagging groceries somewhere, though.  Yeah, it can be a lot of tedious work, but it's also fast paced and fun to a degree.  I can answer phones, too.  I'm good at that.

So as I'm filling out these applications, I'm realizing something massively important.  When I graduate, I'm going to have to actually create a resume.  It sounds scary just because it means that I'm finally hitting that point where I'm going to have to become a functioning member of society and do something with my life. 

Do I want to go ahead to the four year school and get a teaching degree?  Or do I want to call it quits with my writing degree and get a full time job like originally planned?  If I go with the first option, I'll get to stay in school longer; if I go with the second option, I can get the apartment with my sister like we've been talking about.

I don't know what I'm going to do.  I can't think about it right now.  The stress is making me sick.

I got so sick at school yesterday.  I didn't make it to my last class; instead, I went home and slept.  And then I slept the whole night until about 4 am this morning when I realized that my alarm was still set to go off at 6.  I turned it off and went back to sleep.  I had a faint memory of a dream where some voice called me beautiful (I know, it's weird) and then I woke up with Bruno Mars stuck in my head.

I'm feeling better today, but I still don't feel at 100% functionality yet.   I get sick about twice a semester, so I guess it was time.  I think I just over did it this week: late nights with homework, going out, stress, etc.  Quedoba didn't help any, either.  If I ever tell anyone that I want Quedoba, slap me.  I don't mean it.

And now I have homework that I need to be doing.  My massive project for English Comp is due this week; I'm creating a new blog and then writing a paper analyzing it.  That should be fun.  Still need to revise my novel chapter; still have no idea what I'm doing.  But it'll work out.  It always does.

Oh! And I finally memorized my portion of my speech.  I just about did a happy dance.

Until tomorrow,

~Meaghan

What a Week. :P

It has been such a crappy week and it's only Tuesday.  Tuesday, guys.  I don't know if I'm going to make it to Friday, believe it or not.

A huge part of it is my mood.  The doctor is changing my medications and right now, I'm not on squat.  I have been on such a huge roller coaster ride the past week and a half.  This week has been the down slope.

Or rather crash.

I have four weeks of school left; everything massive is due in the next two weeks.  Everything is hitting me wrong.  I started crying Sunday night, cried most of the morning yesterday, and then had to leave school today for the same thing.

I feel like I'm crashing and burning in the solar system, totally alone.

And no, I don't usually feel this way.

I was reading T.S. Elliot today, because I love the man, and these two girls from one of my classes came over and sat with me.  Turns out, both of them do drugs and they decided that that's what they were going to talk about with me.  After a half hour of laughing at the absurdity of the stories I was hearing and standing up for my own values, I decided it was probably time to go.  I had nearly made that decision when the guy that I have a crush on walked by.  That really made my choice up for me - I don't want to be associated as a drug person.

Because I'm not.  Believe me.  I don't drink, do drugs, or party.  I am content staying at home and reading literature.

I went to the fourth floor and sat alone with my book of poetry and realized that there are very few people I've met who actually enjoy that sort of thing.  I've just about given up on finding anyone of the opposite gender who appreciates things like "the Wasteland".

Add to this a headache and a constantly threatening nervous break down and I knew I had to get out of there.  Sorry speech class.  I couldn't breathe.

I haven't felt this way in such a long time.  Such a long time.  I need to breathe, need to breathe, need to breathe.

I feel jumpy, upset, like everything is too much. 

To top it off, it seems like I might be catching strep throat. 

I feel like I can't do it.  I know that I can, but I feel like I can't.

Maybe the rest of the week will look better.

~Meaghan

Bleh.

Turns out, my paper does not have a happy window of "three to five" pages.  It's just five straight pages.  Plus my source page.  Not huge on the scale of things - my History paper last semester was ten to twelve pages plus sources, end notes, and a cover page - but I don't like having a window.

Mainly because I'm not entirely convinced I'm going to have five full pages by tomorrow.  The nice thing is that tomorrow is the rough draft, so my instructor won't dock my points as long as I bring something in.  But I need to have the full five pages together by Thursday.

So that means I'm either going to have to analyze one of my sources more, or see if I can use a third source. 

Fun stuff.

My creative writing paper is due Thursday as well.  It's the one about the crickets.  I need to revise it massively, especially towards the end.  I feel like I rushed it.  I want it to have a polished feel instead of a rushed one.

I have a mid term on Thursday, too.  That's exciting.  It's in my Public Speaking class - mulitple choice and true false.  I think I can handle this.  We've been studying for it in class the past two class periods.  I think I'll do fine.

Break is going to be nice.  I don't know what I'm going to do over it, but I'm looking forward to it.

My sister is still sick.  It's kind of a bummer.  She's low on energy and out of the loop.  I've gone around and wiped down the door knobs with Clorox wipes in order to not spread it again.  My computer got a sanitizer run-down as well.

I think that really is about all that is going on right now.  It's sunny and warm outside, and it's going to be nice tomorrow, too.  I like the warmer weather.  It's beautiful.

Until we meet again, readers, enjoy your day.

~Meaghan

The Sunday Edition.

I've always been confused about Sunday.  Technically, it is the start of a new week.  But so many people consider Monday the start of the week (because of work, school, etc.) that as a kid I was always left wondering. 

So is Sunday the start of the week or the end of the week?  Technically it's the start of the week and the end of the weekend.  But I still loathe Monday - the day when I realize that my homework is due in less than a twenty-four hour period, so I better get cracking - so I'm going to consider Monday the start of the week.

What are you going to do about that, calendar people?

My sister has caught another virus.  We're thinking it's a cold, but you can't be sure.  She felt like she was running a fever earlier.  I'm being a bit paranoid: extra hand sanitizer, keeping a safe distance, etc.  A lot of people have laughed at me for that, but I really don't want to repeat last semester.

Last semester, I was sick all but about two weeks around Halloween.  (I was well when I went to see Rocky Horror; I got sick half a week later.)  Being sick is not fun.  I've already had a cold this semester.  I have no intentions of staying in bed again.

So I hope she gets better soon, both for her sake and for my own.

Still have that English paper to get done.  At this point, I'm drawing it out for all it's worth.  I know it will only take me about an hour to finish.  I know that I know what I'm arguing about and how to prove my points.  I know that even though I hate citing my sources, I can do the citions without trouble.

I just do not feel like doing it.

I think it's because spring break is around the corner.  I mean, I have one more week of classes and then I get a week off.  It is going to be really nice.  I'm going to color my hair again, sleep until nine every morning (that's about as late as I get, lol), and homework is going to be done in advance so I can skate through the semester.

I am hoping that this week is good where school is concerned.  I'm going to keep my head up, hope for the best, and expect the unexpected.  Prayer and hope and breathing.

Now, I'm going to go enjoy the rest of my weekend.  I suggest you guys do the same.

Until we meet again,

~Meaghan

It's 10:53 PM My Time...

...which means that no matter what this blog time thing may say or what zone you are in, this is the update for Feb. 3, 2011.

(I'm determined to do this.  A new blog each day for a whole flippin year.  So far, so good.)

I got my feedback and critiques back for the speech that I gave on Tuesday.  I was four seconds short on time.  If I had gotten those four seconds, I would've aced the speech.

That's right.  I would have gotten full points.

So it's going to be ok.  This class is going to be ok.  Giving speeches is not going to kill me.

Also, you guys remember how I was having all that heartburn trouble and the doctor gave me some pills to try? (That sounded wrong, but I don't care.)  Well I am happy to report that they work.  I have been heartburn free since I started taking them.  I can not tell you how nice it is to be able to eat whatever I want without having to down a bottle of Tums with it. 

It is freaking amazing.  No heartburn at all.

The only side effect that is driving me nuts is dizziness.  I only feel it when I'm extremely tired (as in, sleeping hardly at all or about to fall asleep) or this past week from being sick.  I had no idea being sick made such a difference, but it totally does.  I got so dizzy in speech class today from the combination of pushing myself, the heat of the building, and my medication.

It's a side effect I will take gladly.  I would much rather be heartburn free.  And, as said before, it's not like I feel it all the time.  Just when I'm massively sick or overly tired.  I'll take it.

I wrote a poem for my creative writing II class.  It's a narrative poem written from my point of view.  I wrote about being sick and tied it in with the Bubonic plague.  I have no idea where the plague idea came from, but it came from somewhere and wedged itself into my poem.  For good or for ill?  Only time shall reveal the answer.

I forgot how much I love creative non-fiction.  Maybe I'm a combination essay writer and short-story author.  I don't know.  I hate being up on the fence about two things that I love.  At the moment, though, creative non-fiction is winning out.

Still don't know about the contest I entered.  I think I should know soon though.  I'm still kind of hoping to win, but there is so much good talent here; it's kind of intimidating.  But if I don't win, that's totally cool too.  It just means I enter another one down the road.

Also, I saw three owls tonight.  It totally gives me hope for things to come.  All three were Great Horned Owls, two male and one female.   (You can tell by the size; the female is huge compared to the males.)  All I have to do is keep praying, trusting, and living the life that I enjoy.  At the moment that includes going to school and living at home.  Things are going to be good.

And on that note, I'm going to leave you.  It is now 11:05 PM. 

Until the next time,

~Meaghan

So Done with Winter.

This morning it was -32 degrees with wind chill.  Do you see that, readers?  -32 flippin' degrees.

All the schools in the area were closed.  Except for mine.  The one day I really needed a snow day and it was not coming.  What I ended up doing was emailing my professors; two classes I did not show for on the premise that I am sick (I emailed my homework in with the one, but as of now have yet to hear back), one class I went to for all of ten minutes.

That was my speech class.  For even though I feel like a cat run over by a mac truck and then dragged through the slush, I still had to give my introductory speech.  My professor was really cool about the whole thing, though.  She let me go first, thanked me for being there, and then let me leave as soon I was done. 

As said before, she's awesome.  She also gave everyone who showed up to class today extra credit (because it never got above 0 degrees), which is great.

I think my speech went really well, despite being sick.  I compared my violin to my life and took my violin in to show the class.  I played a few songs.  My instrument really helped me relax, because let's be honest: having something or someone you love with you is always a boost of moral support.  And my mom and sister were just down the hall.

(We figured that since I wasn't going to be very long, they would come in with me and sit at a table on the fourth floor until I was done.  It was a brilliant idea.)

I am so over this cold, both in reference to the weather and to my health.  My nose is so chapped that it hurts to breathe and even more to blow so that I can breathe.  I don't sleep well or a lot at night, mainly dozing both during the day and night.  My cough hurts, my ears itch.  It's breaking up.  It always gets worse before it gets better.  I figure it'll be gone by the weekend.

As for the weather, I hate this biting cold.  Everyone in my family is sick and it doesn't help any of us out.  It's painful going outside.  When you do go out, you have to have insane layers on.  I'm all for the happy medium here: jacket weather - not too hot, not too cold.  Preferably fall or spring without snow.

Yeah, that's what I'm dreaming of. 

I told you guys I'd be sick of snow and that wishing for cold weather was a fluke.  I told you.
I think that sums up today.  I'm really proud of myself for blogging every day this year so far.  I'm going to keep it up.

Until we meet again,

~Meaghan

My School is Crazy.

All the other colleges and high schools are closed for tomorrow due to the below freezing temperatures.  Shoot, even some of the federal buildings are on delay.

But not my little community college.  Oh no.  We go to school come hell frozen over.

I think it's because I'm sick.  If I had really wanted to go to school, it would've closed.  But since I want another day to recoup, it's still open.  Which means, I'm taking my cold to school with me.

I have my speech for tomorrow all figured out.  I gave it to my family and they said it sounded good.  It's about my violin and myself, and the parallels between us.  It wasn't my original speech.  What happened was I showed my outline to a guy I know who teaches public speakign at another community college and who also wrote the criteria for the state wide credit.  He helped me come up with this new speech.

I love it.  I don't stammer with it, I get to play snippets on my instrument in front of a group who doesn't know me, and I feel confident.

If only the sniffles and congestion would leave.  I feel so miserable from it.  Today was better than yesterday, but I still didn't have a lot of energy.  Oh well.  It's good for me, I suppose.  I didn't get near the amount of homework done this weekend that I wanted and needed to.  Granted everything for tomorrow is done, but I had it all planned out - I was going to get ahead and enjoy my week.

Yeah, not so much.  Oh well.

So my parents bought a water filtration system.  I love it.  I'm very peculiar about my water.  If it smells odd or tastes weird, I won't drink it.  This system makes it odorless and tasteless. 

AS IT SHOULD BE.

Which means I can drink water again.  It makes me so very happy.

I think that about sums it up.  Everyone here is still fighting stuff.  It's not fun.  The weather is icy and snowy.  My nose is red and chapped.  I've been fighting writer's block, but I'm going to take it out.  I swear.

Until the next time, guys.

~Meaghan

Today's Update...

... is this.

We are all sick in this family.  No, seriously, and not in the way that you are thinking.  Fevers, aches, running noses, sore throats, and coughs.

I'm updating to let you know that I am alive.  And to not break my goal of updating everyday this year.

Thrums in my ears.  They are coming.  Thrums.  Thrums in my ears.  They are coming.  There is no escape.  The germs.  They are coming.

(Yeah, I kinda ripped that off Peter Jackson's "Fellowship of the Ring" film.  So sue me.  But not really.)

~Meaghan

Not Again.

Yes, again.

I have, once again, caught some sort of virus.  I think this one's just a cold, though, so it should be gone before Tuesday rolls around.  That's my hope, anyhow.

I have this stack of homework that needs to be done.  I started some this morning and actually got part of it done (the summary has bit the dust), but there's a lot more for this week.  I child sat today, so that's part of why it didn't all get done.

That and everything freaking hurts.  I hate being sick.  It's evil.  It really is.

My mom and sister have had it longer than I, so I don't really have a lot of room to complain.  Kate's been having killer nosebleeds on top of it all.  It sucks all the way around.

No more sick germs!  Weather - make up your mind!  Germs - please just leave!

Ok, I'm done.  I want to go to bed.

~Meaghan

Jeopardy!

I just registered for the college version of Jeopardy.  I will be taking the test on March 15, 2011.  It's been a dream of mine to at least try out for Jeopardy.  Now, I'm going to.  I'm so excited!

I know that I can do well.  Even if nothing comes from it, I can at least say that I've tried.  It's very exciting and nerve wracking.  Kind of like having to give my speech next week.  So stay tuned, guys.  You never know; you may see me on TV. =D

So far, my list of things I want to do in life goes something like this:

~ Write a best-selling collection of short stories

~ Write a novel

~ Perform a stand-up comedy routine

~ Help with the adaptaion of one of my stories into film

~ Go on Jeopardy!

~ Become a best-selling author and be able to write full time

~ Meet a ton of celebrities (I have a list...)

~ Go on the Rachel Ray show

~ Go to New York City and the rest of the East coast for a trip

~ Go to the West coast for a trip

~ Eventually settle down and get married

~ Write a collection of poetry

~ Drive a convertable

And so on and so forth.

The point being that Jeopardy is on my list.  Once again, I am very excited.

So I started watching that movie "Love the Hard Way".  I was so very excited to see it - it looked fantastic.  I'm about half way done with it and I have mixed feelings about it.  The female lead, Claire, doesn't seem to get it.  She's determined to change the male lead, Jack, into something he's not.  She can't take a hint which is driving me up a wall.  She's supposed to be incredibly smart, but she just comes off as kind of whiny and dumb.  I hate characters like that.

Jack, on the other hand, seems like a well written character.  I like his snarky persona and I can see why he is the way he is.  There's also some humor from him that I enjoy.  But playing off a character like Claire is killing me; it's pretty obvious that he's not really going to change and I feel like he's kind of stringing her along.  Really, I just wish she would take a hint.  It's frustrating to watch.

The beginning started off strong, with promise.  An hour into it and it lost me.  I am going to see it through to the end, just to see if the film makers can pull it out, but so far I'm happy I didn't pay money to see it.  Granted, I am enjoying parts of it.  I really am.  But mostly the main female character is shredding me up.  She grates on me.

I'll review it again when I'm done with it.  It could pull it out.  I don't know.  It's a possibility.

My own writing is slow going.  I have ideas, but I'm hitting that rut point that comes along every once in a while.  I think what I may do is just take a notebook and go outside (it's a beautiful day here) with it.  Write whatever comes into my head, not worring about if it's good or not.  That's my problem.  I want it to be good, so when I feel like it's not, it kills me.  I'm still learning to not judge my own writing as I'm writing it.  After all, that's what the revision process is for.

I think that when I'm writing and publishing, I'm going to try to write young adult literature.  That's what most of my stuff seems to feel like - young adult, for those between maybe 17 and 21.  I don't really want to write adult stuff.  YA is more fun.  Children's books could be fun too, but I think I would go too dark too fast with those.  If you know what I mean.

I mean, some of the stuff I write now, I don't have a clue as to where it comes from.  It's crazy.

I feel like I'm catching a cold.  My mom is getting over a nasty one; my sister is exhibiting signs of it.  There's at least one person in each of my classes that is hacking up a lung.  I was so sick last semester, I want to keep it as far from me as possible.  Thank goodness for vitamin C drops.  Those things are amazing.

And that is today's blog post.  Thank you for your time.

~Meaghan

Oh Man, Really??

So, as you know, my dear readers, this semester has been kind of a rough one in the health department.  In fact, I dare to say it ties with the Summer 2009 semester (I had that stupid viral thing all summer, was sick on my birthday, and still managed to go to school with perfect attendence).  I can think of a two week period this whole fall semester where I was totally healthy.

As for the rest?

Starting the semester off, I had a cold/lung infection that knocked me flat on my back.  I took a while to get entirely over it and then I was able to enjoy my two weeks of relative health.  Then I started off with sniffles and ended up with a sinus infection and strep throat simultaneously.  I recovered but my immune system never quite got back up to where it normally is.

And now, this.  A stomach virus that brutally woke me up this week at ungodly hours and required running down dark hallways while everyone else is sleeping.

Granted, it's fairly mild, but it's just enough that eating is kind of uncomfortable and I'm exhausted.  I really want to sleep tonight without issue.

The funny thing about all of it?  As I'm sitting on the porcelin thrown, my humble bathroom trashcan before me, I realise:  I really need to start emptying the trash on a more regular basis. 

Yeah, that's right.  I was totally sick and all I could think about was how I should probably take the trash out and not let it pile up like I do.  Go figure.

Alright, well, I'm wiped.  Now that I have shared this information with you, I feel the need to sleep.  Have a wonderful Friday night, readers, and I'll report back later this weekend.

~Meaghan