Exercise for the Body, obstacle courses for the mind

We got our biopsyc exams back today! Well, we got the scores online, but I didn't realize it until I was in class. Fortunately, Matt let me use his computer to check my score, and even though I wasn't there to shame Kevin (...even though he was a complete and utter mess while taking the exam because he was so sick), I was mildly happy when I first read my score. However, after awhile, I realized I was pretty lucky in what I got, and I'm much more satisfied than I was at first.

He curved the grade, but even before that I did a lot better than I thought I did. Typically, it seems like when I feel I did well on an exam, I totally bomb it, but when I feel like I bombed it, I do very well. I had felt pretty comfortable with my exam, even though I knew I was guessing on a majority of it, and though it was difficult to truly feel this way, I figured I must have bombed it pretty bad. I told people the max score I probably got was a 35, though I probably got a 25. I half believed this. I had forgotten the test was out of 50, with the score simply doubled, and I was kind of right in my prediction....before any editing, I got a 36/50. A 72%. For a test that he said the average grade was a 58% on AFTER the curve, I was quite proud, though I knew I should have done better. Still....wow! It wasn't a large curve; he doubled our points and added 8 more for shits and giggles and a higher passing rate for his 139 students in our classroom alone. In the end, I got an 80%, which is pretty good, I realized, after he told us what the curve was.

Jamie and I were expecting the typical bell curve, so when he listed A - 18, B - 21, C -25, there weren't really any surprises. But then he put D - 27. I was like, okay okay, I guess there might be a couple more D's than B's, but I wasn't prepared for the 45 Fs that came next. 45! That's a third of the class failing. The average score after the curve was actually a 69%.

Kayla told me she was going to go jogging today after her statistics exam and then somewhat as a shot in the dark asked if I wanted to tag along. I looked her straight in the eyes, paused, and said, "Yes." Later when Iraida asked me why I agreed to go, I shook my head and said I wasn't quite sure why I agreed, I just know that I did. I was kind of hesitant, somewhat wanting to call Lala and say that I wasn't feeling well (which I wasn't completely...I woke up feeling a little under the weather and didn't start feeling better until the afternoon). But I felt fine around 3:45, half an hour before I was to meet her in the games center fully decked out and ready to jog my brains out until 5.30 when I had to work, so I headed home, changed into turquoise shorts, a vibrant dark purple tank, a deep pink bandana across my forhead, and running shoes, stuffing my things for work into a sack and simply walking outside and starting to jog. It was a little relieving, actually -- nobody really knew if I was a jogger or not, and it was nice to know that pretty much all joggers, pro or not, look the same when you're passing by in a car. I was running late, and met Lala outside the school on Atherton, where we continued to jog towards the student union so I could drop off my stuff (which included a change of clothes). I checked Kevin on the way in (Lala was supposed to join me, but bailed last second, though I can't blame her), so I took the full and complete brunt of the chest and shoulder of a cage fighter with my tiny body. I squeaked as the wind was knocked out of me, but it was totally worth it...I think I scooted him back at least a little bit. Lala and I proceeded to jog through the student union, up the stairs, down more stairs, and raced from the PE building's courtyard up two stories of stairs, and finished the rest of the trek by walking up more stairs and around the campus in order to cool off before I had to work.

I have to admit: I loved it. I'm not saying it felt great on my poor feet and my aching side and my little lungs, but I loved exercising and I loved exercising with Kayla. We had a lot of fun and it wasn't too serious -- it was about getting out there and moving, but enjoying it most of all. I was so warm (why did i bring sweatpants to change into!?) that I stayed in my jogging outfit my entire candy counter shift (a little less than two hours), but changed when I went downstairs to work.

Lala and I have made a jogging plan...so far, we're only jogging twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, and once we master that we plan on taking it farther. Also, we still have our biking plans from Monday...though we can't impliment it this weekend, of course.

I'm very, very excited.


I want to stick with this because I realized it fulfills the meaning of a club for me: something of mine that I do with a friend and just have fun while getting something done. I told Kayla to kick my ass if I say no, and she guarenteed me she will (fortunately, she's already on her exercise kick...and has been for several years!).

Like our jogging uniforms? :) That's the candy counter girls for ya!

Obama will be my Friend

I had initially planned to study for the last ten or fifteen minutes of Rec for my exam at 9:30, but I was fortunate that our class got out really early! Well, we were given time for projects, and though we talked for awhile, we didn't really get anything done, but headed out after half an hour anyway. I went to the Outpost and studied at the tables for an hour before my PR exam.

I wanted to be in the classroom before too many people showed up since we don't have enough desks for everyone (good job, csulb). It didn't matter much -- we ended up moving classrooms anyway. Once I get in the mode to take the test, I don't want to study anymore, think about the material anymore, or look at my notes anymore. I'm in the zone and want to spew out information faster than a pledge at his first frat party spews Nat Ice. If I started to look over notes, I'd be in the learning mode and definitely not putting my best foot forward.

I was a little nervous about getting the test, since I had heard how hard it was from Janine. Despite going to bed at 2.48am and trudging to my 8am class this morning, I hadn't covered the essay questions with much effort since I had been focusing on the multiple choice material. Still, that hour before the midterm I crammed all the essayness I could into my brain and let me tell you....I. Nailed. That. Test.

At least, I feel like I did. I don't even know if I guessed on any multiple choice question, and I put down all the information I had in my notes and janine's and even the book for the essay questions. My brain spewed like clockwork. Still, I hope I took good enough notes in class, since I felt like I was somewhat weak in parts of the essay, though I know it wasn't anywhere in the book (I looked pretty well).

I think we're getting the tests back in a couple weeks. That's such a long wait!

Work was a complete and total riot. Melissa and I laughed so hard our stomachs hurt, some about mardi gras and some about Obama (we want him to point finger-guns at the camera and say, "hatcha!" at that point, obama will not just be our president, but he will be our friend. We feel we should dedicate a facebook group to it, but I doubt anyone might care enough join xD). I told her the story behind Noodle's nicknames, and we seriously laughed for 20 minutes straight, and continued to laugh throughout the evening when we'd just think about it. I tried some Charlie's Angels moves to get across the counter a couple times, and let's just say physics and and the laws of gravity won. It was hilarious, and I was crying in laughter several times tonight.

As for work, it was totally dead. We had two people on billiards all night (one only stayed for maybe an hour), and no one even was watching the state of the union address. Only three people showed up to watch the Laker game, which usually pulls in a fair good amount of viewers. We did have a small group go bowling...so two tables and a bowling lane were taken at some point throughout the night. Woah! What an intense day, I know :)

Nothing tomorrow! ....I hope. Still, it always seems to take forever for me to get to bed, even though I clearly need sleep....the life of being a college kid!



hatcha!

study study study! play play play!

I totally ditched my first class, and I really don't feel that bad about it. I mean, I hardly do ditch, and it's healthy right before a major midterm....right? Especially one that the average grade for the first exam is an F, says the professor. Yikes! I had never truly realized how long my class was until I slept in, woke up, took a shower, went to eat breakfast and then realized my class was STILL in session!

Though I guessed on what feels like 3/4ths of the exam, I still feel okay about the biopsyc midterm. The worst part was eliminating three of the five choices very certainly but still having to guess between the remaining two. It was pretty frustrating, and my classmates Jamie and Matt shared my sentiment of annoyance. Still, it's over with, so nothing I can do to change it now!

I have a paper due in Rec220 tomorrow which I hadn't written quite yet. It needed three observations of play, one of which I did and the other two quite frankly I was just going to make up. But Kayla approached me while I was in the games area and told me her class had been canceled, so she was thinking about ditching her 2pm class as well and just going to her 3.30. I encouraged this act of rebellion, and we set out together to actually observe kids playing before we both headed our ways to do homework...and whatever else we do. It was around 12.30, so we headed to the school across the street, then meandered our way back across the street again to watch some kids at a park, not only chatting and having a great time swapping stories, but actually getting my observations for my report done. After, Kayla and I wanted food, so we walked to Hof's Hut not too far down the street...it turns out she loves to walk places instead of driving, just like me! We have made plans to hit the streets next weekend, since I'm going home this weekend, on a bike ride. I think we're going through Seal Beach to Huntington Beach, but in the end, I really don't think it matters were we go as long as we just go!

At Hof's we shared a chocolate milkshake and a piece of strawberry cheesecake. It was really delicious! Lala (her nickname from me) and I had so much fun laughing and talking about, and eventually headed back to the school for her class. I eventually wound my way back home (not without chatting here and there, of course), picked up my laptop, and headed back to school. I was able to whip out my paper pretty quick, but studying for my exam tomorrow was a different thing.

The midterm was for my Public Relations class, which I hadn't given much thought to in lieu of wracking my brains for biopsych. Janine had given me her filled out version of the study guide she had from her class (she had the same teacher awhile back), which looked exactly the same as mine. Since I had already started using my notes, I just used hers and mine together. Around 11.40pm, I asked her what she got on the tests and she informed me she did horrible on all the tests. Frightened, I asked if she studied her study guide, and she said yes. I think it was at this point I decided to really crack down on my studying, compelled by the fact that I'm studying off a study guide that has already failed one PR student. I made the silliest analogies and poems, which really help me retain things. Here's an example:

Dilly Pilly Pee
Sat rightously
good and carefully.

To Willy Chilly
Pilly Illy?
-Milly Filly

In order: Deliberate Planned Performance somethingsomething Good Character Two Way Communication Public Interest Management Function.

There were some other really silly ones...my brain is tired and having a hard time functioning it's more creative side.
Lala and I saw this Pinocchio poster while on our way to Hof's Hut and thought it was cute! We were pretty surprised how old the movie is...70 years, I think? It came out forever ago!

cookies that taste like neurons

From when I got up to when I finally decided to hit the hay at 1am, I've been (intermittently) studying for biopsyc for the exam monday. But I got all my laundry done (well, washed, but certainly not put away), and I decided to make cookies to brighten the study session we were going to have. I had bought pre-made cookie dough thursday, but decided it wouldn't be enough cookies, so I thought I'd make more.

After asking which kind I should make (macadamia nut), I found a recipe online and changed quite a bit of it to better my liking. I'm not a big white chocolate fan, so I replaced half of it with chocolate, added coconut, and changed some measurements and walaa! Delicious and amazing cookies. They were pretty fun to make, too. Since I bought bars of chocolate (and whole macadamia nuts...which are SO expensive! $10 for 12oz!? that's much better than vons, but still way too expensive....), I put them in plastic bags and took a hammer to them outside. I had decided I didn't want chocolate or white chocolate chips because I liked chunks better, and it was pretty fun smacking stuff around with handtools. While I baked, I studied and watched The Little Mermaid. It was fun!

I headed over to Kevin's around 7:45 (janine and craig were watching the academy awards very loudly), where we watched the second half of tombstone before hitting the books. I've never heard of the movie, and the guys were pretty shocked about how pop culture retarded I am (the stuff really doesn't interest me). My cookies were very welcomed and I'm certain the entire plateful of two dozen cookies were gone by the end of the night.

Poor Kevin. He's pretty sick, so he had a hard time focusing on studying. Exam tomorrow!


All that was left of over 3 dozen cookies. Yum!

much to do, none that got done

I went to the store today, and it was lovely to walk there. The weather was nice and I was perfectly warm in a dress and a cardigan. The picture today is of a sign that caught my eye from across the street. On the way back from the store, I took a picture because I liked what I saw so much (I'm not talking about the advertising).

I have much to study and got very little done today. Unfortunately, I've had a small headache since yesterday, and it's very unusual that it's lasted this long. I'm glad it's not a bad headache, though, and I'm drinking lots of water to try and get rid of it.

I actually made a sandwich for dinner, which is more cooking than I'm usually willing to do for myself. Yay!

Off to bed. It's only midnight, but I'm done for the day.

Steak that didn't make the break

I woke up initially at 8:30 am, but forced myself to rest for a good couple more hours. I didn't get much sleep, but I thought it'd be better to get whatever sleep I could when the time allowed it.

I went to a little bit of the SOAR bowling event, and attempted to hurry home and grab my psyc stuff before heading out to the study group at 4. I knew if I walked quickly enough, I could make it back in time for Kevin (he's in my class) and I to get to school on time.... I texted him and found out he had been praying to the porcelain god for a good couple hours already and was in no shape to accompany me to our friday psyc torture session. I hurried back to school and got to the place at 4:06 to realize that I didn't have paper or even a pen. Turns out the bookstore closed at 4pm (juuuust missed it!), so I ambled down the several flights of stairs to the games center where I quickly whisked away some printer paper and a writing utensil for a few hours. I was 15 minutes late.

The study session was ridiculous as fuck. I figure I must have been the dumbest person in there, since everyone was asking questions about WHY this happened and I was attempting to figure out WHAT it was in the first place. Still, it helped me feel slightly better after attending, despite my scribbled notes of confusion and lack of help. Surprisingly enough, I doubt even 30 people showed up, despite my class having 70+ students and probably the same amount of kids in the second class. I was kind of shocked that in a smaller class situation, my teacher was not only understandable, but actually good at teaching. Maybe it's only because it was review...though I didn't recognize a lot of what he was reviewing.

I got back from school and texted Kevin (our plan as of thursday was to go to the study session and go drinking after) to see if he was done puking his brains out. He decided to nab a quick nap while I made some food. I was so excited to cook! I haven't made a meal in months now, since I don't cook if it's only me. I attempted a country fried steak recipe, but the meat was way too overcooked. I was quite disappointed. In addition, I had baked beans, country style gravy, biscuits, mashed potatoes, and my favorite Tropical Punch juice. Besides the meat, it was quite delicious.

After, Kevin, Nens, Ray and I watched Total Recall with the governator in it. Most of the movie was spent laughing at the crappy effects or weird elements, but it was a lot of fun. Kevin and I went to King's Taco with Jer-Bear (kevin's big bro) when the movie finished, and then went to the apartment we went to the night before. There were quite a few more people this time, including some socially awkward "we really don't want to be here" girls and two more with spoiled brat attitudes. Still, I didn't become too bothered by them, and heard possibly the most terrific and disgusting story behind a nickname ever. I don't I'll ever look at Noodles the same way again. He's pretty chill, and likes to people watch a lot, much like me. It's always fascinating to see what others are doing.



After Total Recall and a small bludgeoning pillow fight, we're leaving to King Taco.

Fellow 365-er!

I met a fellow 365-er today! I thought it was so awesome I took my picture of the day with him :) His name is Hafeel, I think? Well, I have it written down somewhere around here.

I visited Melissa (lissa!) and Kayla (lala!) at work, and while we were gabbing away, the ceiling started to pour, then ceiling tiles started coming down in chunks! We put trash cans underneath and maintenence knocked down most of the times that were ruined. We're the bottom of four floors, and I guess the El Pollo Loco above us had water leaking...at alarming rates through the ceiling. It was pretty exciting to see!

Later that evening, my stalker was around (with his girlfriend!? we thiiiink...), and he was pretty creepy. I said Kayla would help him because I wasn't working, and he told me (in front of two guys and two girls) that if I didn't work all the time, he'd kill me. Admittedly, I realize it was his awkward and apparently missing social skills at work, but still, quite fucking creepy.

I was talking to Kayla later as we were closing up, and as I was looking at her, a ceiling tile from our leak came crashing down right behind her! I later karate kicked it in half...those things are a whole lot sturdier than you'd think after it fell soaking wet from the ceiling.

Lala, her boyfriend, Lissa and I all went to In n Out after (their) work to help cheer me up that night :) It was very fun, but we were all quickly getting tired. Still, I really enjoyed hanging out with them, which I don't often get to do.

After I went home, I sat around doing pretty much nothing and feeling lame as heck doing nothing on a thursday night at 11.30. Kevin invited me to play some beer pong, so I headed to one of his friend's places for some games. It was pretty fun, and I learned I'm not so bad at darts and that I still very much suck at beer pong (I knocked over 4 cups! oh man...).


I got back around 3am, having had plenty of fun and ready for a good night's sleep.....