It`s the Holidays!

I wasn't to successful this semester at keeping up with my blog. But to be fair, I was working more then I was going to school...
and when i wasn't doing wither of those i was doing homework or sleeping....

I did some little decorating in our apartment. Just something to bring some Christmas cheer, even though neither I or my roommate will be here during the holidays. And obviously I've accompanied this with my traditional "Christmas Tape" watching.

The Little Rascals Christmas Special (1979)
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Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
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Charlie Brown Christmas Special (1965)
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The Life and Times of Santa Claus (1985) - My favourite Santa origins story (and I've seen them all)
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Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer (1964)
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Just to name a few of course. And always the ORIGINAL, none of this reanimated for the new gen or sequels! Rudolph 2 does not exist... *_*

The story of the Christmas Tape for those who don`t is a tape made by my grandmother. She recorded hours of Christmas specials on to a VHS when my mom was a kid. Everyear we'd put the tape on and decorate the tree. It was a whole day event. Well a few years ago our VCR finally went poop... with the tape inside :( We pulled the VCR apart and rescued the tape. We never managed to find a VCR to replace it, but we did manage to download most of the specials, so now we have digital copies of most of it, plus some others :)

That's pretty much it. I find out in a week or so if I passed my essay. I'm pretty sure I did. And then I get to start my second year of school in January.

~Ashley
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First Class of a New Year

It's Friday afternoon and I am finally sitting in my first class of the semester. I'm unfortunately only taking one class this semester, which makes me sad. I wish I was taking some drawing classes. But that will have to wait until second semester.

They added a pass/fail exam to the essay class D: I''m not happy. What is this nonsence. >.< Now I'm more screwed then before.

Also, I packed myself a sandwich which i am now disappointed with... I need to do a better job on that next time.

Oh Essay class, you are the bane of my existence... anyway enough melodramatics.
My birthday is tomorrow, I'm going to be 19 in 8 hours :D I think that pretty exciting stuff. I haven't really decided what I want to do yet, I guess we'll see :)
I had a nice visit in Ottawa with all the fam, and I miss them a lot.

Well I'm going to go home and have some soup while I figure out what I'm doing this week.

 ttyl,
Ashley

Busy Busy

I know, I know. It's been quite some time since I've updated. It feels like I haven't had much of a life since I started my job. I've been working a lot and when I'm not working I have things to do. I've been working on my cooking skills. I can make chicken and chili now. Nothing very exciting, but it's tasty and good to bring to work.

 
My plan was to brush up on my Japanese and French. But that hasn't been going as well as I planned. I bought a beginner audio set for Japanese and a book with lots of french articles about France and french culture.

I had a really nice vacation though. One week at home and then one week at the cottage. I got some nice pictures. I really needed a break, working is hard >.<

yes, this is a poutine on a hot dog

We got a kitten. His name is Simba. He's soooo cute.

 

I completed my first goal of this blog, and that was to write in it through out the first year of university. I need a new goal. I guess I could just keep going until I finish university.... However long that takes.

...

~Ashley
@-&---

Walk through the park

New place and my thougths for the week

My new place!!! :)

Cosmo, our kitty, He's the cuddliest cat I've ever lived with

Isn't it so pretty? :) Hopefully we'll have it ready for a house warming soon.
The res lost my posters D: Those jerks. I realized that some of my ORIGINAL artwork was rolled up with those posters D:

Hopefully things will work out little by little.

Ok so big world happens this week
Osama was killed in his compound in Pakistan. I've been following American press about this since I found out Tuesday morning. I can't get over the huge range of reactions coming from our southern nieghbors. Everything from disturbed grief, to euphoric celebration. It's kind of disturbing. I know that he was a big deal in the US, but I get the feeling we're not going to stop here about this for a while. The rest of the world has already moved on... oh well

The next thing, which pisses me off majorly. The Conservative majority! D: there's not much left to say, except I'd like to point out once again, that I am extremely disappointed by the 50% voter turn out. Is there someway to make voting easier (although there can't be much complain, it's not that hard) Some sort of real intensive to get people to g to the polls. And more importantly, there is a major lack of understanding of what is going on in the House of Commons. To everyone, especial those who voted conservative, do you what Harper did just over a year ago... probably not. He violated the Constitution. Now that you have let him have a Majority Government, you told him he can now go ahead and do whatever he fuck he wants. Thanks alot.

I am excited that one good thing came out of the election. Elizabeth May got her seat in Vancouver. If I understand correctly, in a ritzy area no less. I don't understand why this hasn't happen soon, European countries have been electing Green into their parliaments for years. I believe there was even official Green opposition in some countries.

Among all this mess I completely forgot about Baltane :( So last night I light some candles and drank a bottle of coke. XD not very Baltane like but I completely forgot. Maybe I'll do something a little more proper tonight.

ttyl
Ashley
@--&----

The good and the bads, but no uglys

I've manged to be fairly successful in my first week off of classes despite some set backs.
I'm on track for studying my exams, I've packed half my room, and I've started my job search.
I've hit some small snags including not quite passing the essay class :( I would take it in summer school, but I have to work... so I guess it'll happen next year :(

On a better note I have a good feeling about getting a job. When I was handing out resumes yesterday, there was some associates that seemed very interested and even when through my resume right there and had some good comments. A few of them told me that they are starting, or starting soon their summer hiring.
My big let down was the costume shop near my school. Outside of the Halloween season, they only hire people who have done point. D: It's because their biggest client base outside of Halloween is ballet dancers. :( oh well.
I've applied to 15 places and 8 places on monster.ca

 In May I will official be a fine arts student, which is exciting! I still can't believe that my entire school is basically made up of graphic designers, I have a feeling it's going to be/already is an insanely competitive job market. Anyway, I don't wanna work for some corporate Man XD

uhmmm ya.. that's about it

Ash
@--&---

Done :D

Well I'm done classes. I have a crit next week and an exam in a week and half. My last thing was due yesterday, a research essay, and I didn't think I'd get it done in time @_@ but I worked on it all night, and I personally feel it was one of the best essays I've ever written.
I have another blog entry that I'm writing, but it's about death. and don't really feel like posting it right now. Things are bright and cheery, I wouldn't want to dampen anyone's mood.
Anyhow
My mind is all fuzzy. I think it shut down after finishing that essay. I've been having such hard time making sense when I talk. I also can't concentrate on anything. I hope this ends quickly though, I have to study for my exam.

I think this summer, on top of getting a job I want to get back into shape. I don't have much of an endurance, I tend to huff and puff when climbing stairs, and I also lost my flexibility. I also think incorporating a workout into my daily routine would help keep me productive, even on days I don't have work. That tends to be a huge problem, if I'm not going out anywhere it takes me forever to get going, and then I don't do anything productive that day. D:
ok so this started with seeing an infomercial last night about the dvd workout called Insanity. I know that the fact that it's an infomercial on at 2 am means it's... well a scam. But then I started reading about it online. Apparently it's one of the most popular high intensity dvd workout on the market, along with P90X. The thing that sold me on the idea is that it requires absolutely no equipment and it has your next 60 days of workouts completely planned out. The draw back it tat it's $120 + shipping and handling... but that's what the Pirate Bay is for, so that's not a problem XD

So anyway This week is going to be find work, study for exam, and pack up my room.
There's a call for submissions at the end of the month, and I want to do something, but I don't have any ideas. :/ The theme is "Potlatch-pooling resources, inclusion, and a diversity of people sharing and celebrating together", etc etc.

Anyhow
Ashley
@--&---

Balloon Instilation at the park

 

  In Experience Design class, we worked on planning an art instillation for the past few weeks. Our instillation ended up being balloons anchored to the ground, with tags attached to them. It was open for people to write their secrets or wishes. then we let the balloons up high in the air. (Still anchored to the ground tho)

I was fun to do, and i got some nice shots of balloons floating in the air. To bad it was soo windy, so the balloons ended up being dragged away.

I wrote a secret too, but I'm not telling you what it is :p

Ashley

@--&---

Tuesday Morning Conclusion After a Long Monday

I didn't get any sleep last night, so this morning I went right to breakfast. I'm obviously not usually up for breakfast, so it's nice when I'm up so that I can eat. While I was eating this morning I thought of something, usually I eat the same thing everyday and I wonder why?I figured it must be because I'm a creature of habit, and that most people are creature of habit and do the same similar things every day. As having a conversation with my boyfriend a couple days ago about how everyone takes the subway at the same time every day. We discussed how if workplaces suggested alternative times for workers to come in then the rush hour problem would be alleviated. Going back to my breakfast, I thought about the reason why I always eat the same thing every day.I came to the conclusion that it's probably because I know that I like so why would I try anything else. There are other things I would like to have in the morning but I've haven't had before so what I'm disappointed with my decision and regret not choosing the one that I always have. That's when I reached the conclusion that if I'm a creature of habit and that's my habit and everyone else has similar habits then it must be because we're fearing the regret of our decisions. Although I don't know if I would've come to this conclusion if I hadn't seen that Ted talk several months ago in my experience design class.
http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html
To really good video and I suggest everyone watch it. And I have to say that it's not just the video that I'm going to give credit to for this conclusion, I have to say that part of it was on my own because if I haven't had stayed up all night last night and then came down for breakfast this morning I probably never would've came to this conclusion that I am a creature of habit and I would have never applied this video's lesson directly to my living being.

Okay so had to get that all up before I forgot it this morning. guess I should give a small update on how I'm doing. I'm done most of my projects but since they are all ending soon this is really make a difference and I am kind of behind on my note taking from one my classes but I can catch up on that this week or this weekend I hope and I have an exam in about 20 days.

ttyl

Ashley
@--&---

By the way this was all dictated to his speech to text translator. pretty sweet?

The most satisfying thing I can do is making something with my own 2 hands

Not sick anymore... for now

The cold is mostly gone, and the pick eye was kicked in the ass. I have a lot of work to catch up on, and after having another melt-down about it, I think I'm on my way to be back on track. I can't help be feel that it seems to simple for me to be back on track so soon. I'm worried that there is something I'm missing -_-
Had to pull an all nighter last night to write a paper that I'm completely forgot about, it's not that great, but I tried really hard to make what I did have sound really good.

I'm tring the library today. If you've been fallowing my blog, I've been on the quest of a decent spot to study. I was at the xspace last time (that's where I took the picture of my curly hair) and it was fine, but it's really small. One group of people cam ruined and ruined the quite calm atmosphere -_- I was trying to work at the learning zone again today, but it was getting so loud I couldn't hear my text to speech reader anymore.
It's pretty crowded in the library but at least it's quite and there are a lot more big tables, so if there are chatty people you can at lest get away to the side of the library. Oh ya I haven't really talked about the library before. It's one big room with tons of huge book shelves and tables and computers. That's about it. I know most schools have like 6 story buildings dedicated to their book collection, but I guess we don't need that here. Although the range of subjects they offer is rather limited (to art and design, surprise surprise) I've heard many profs praise it for being extremely comprehensive and in depth. I mean where else are you going to find a whole section dedicated to photography theory, or printmaking techniques?
Anywhere...

Lecture wasn't interesting, but in a way that was good thing, I was actually able to concentrate and keep decent notes. I really need to do something about my typing speed -_- Keeping good lecture notes wouldn't be so hard if I had that.

I'm fricking exhausted and breakfast made my stomach unhappy... nht food, wha d'ya expect?
I just have to stay awake for another 6 hours....
harharhar

I still have 57 pages of my text book to read

ttyl

Ashley
@--&---

My Dream Board

So I've been inspired by some lovely ladies I know who have made Vision boards, that and I haven't had a full nights sleep in 4 days and I just watched the 2006 film Accepted. While watching the movie I realized that the answer to my problems about where I want to go, who I want to be, and what program(s) i should be in can be solved simply.
I'm saying fuck it. All! Who needs conventional university programs dictating to me what classes I should take when and where if I want to be an "expert" (I put expert in quotation, because frankly, although the idea of finishing with a Bachelor is meant to make you 'knowledgeable' in a particular field, the idiots the universities let loose on the world with 'higher' education is unbelievable)
I don't care how long it takes me to get a degree, because if I spend my entire education career stressed out over every agonizing piece then I'm going to crash and burn. If I'm not having fun, then wtf is the point of all this? Another thing. I'm not going to be bothered with this nonsense of only taking things that are pertinent to my major. I want to study EVERYTHING! Nature, Art, Language, Food, Philosophy, History, Travel whatever tickles my fancy.I want to learn about all kind of stuff that dosen't fit into neat little packages called majors. That's why I'm going to abandon the idea of actually being able to accomplish a degree in 4 years, not with all that there is to learn about.

ANYWAY Back to the main point of this post
I'm working on my dream board. Here are some pics. It's not done yet, I'll keep adding to it as I think of things.

 

 

Last semester my prof told me, after I presented my fashion design project, that if I can't draw I shouldn't draw. I haven't done a fashion sketch since then. Maybe I should.

These are some of the words close up. It's all just things I want to learn about, either formal in an institute or on my own. I keep adding everything I think of something.








Pink eye sucks big time btw

that's all

~Ashley
@--&---

I don't really have anything to say

I curled my hair this morning, but it's pretty much flat now. I wish I had taken a picture before I left the res.
blahh I guess I have stuff I could talk about but I don't really want to talk about anything.

Once again back to the gridnstone

I had my midterm exam yesterday. It... went.... :-/
I slept a lot today. I think I needed that. For some reason I've found playing video game walkthrough in the background very conclusive to sleep. I've already gone through Major's Mask and I'm now halfway through Ocarina of Time. These have also been quite helpful with figure out details for my own game. Lots of things I wouldn't have thought of pop up when I'm watching a game be played.
Ya so to explain, I'm making a video game for class with RPG Maker VX.

This is what some of it looks like so far. I need a better name for a character, I'm still using the default name, and in all my personal notes i just keep referring to him as Our Hero... maybe I should keep it like that XD

 This is another project I'm working on for my drawing class. This is only the second stage. The final piece is due next week. I might have to drop this class though. :( I've never done so poorly in a class. I don't understand how the prof can expect first year students to have professional level work. And I find his in-class exercise expectations confusing. He constricts himself when he's explaining what he wants to see in your in-class. He always wonders why my first drawing looks better then my last one of the in-class session, and the only feedback he ever has is that I don't think. That's the most unhelpful shit ever.... so anyway, I'll probably drop that class. It's a good thing I'm not continuing into graphic design, cause I would have need this class.

Apparently I'm a bit bitter about that hah



My family made me addicted to a game called NationStates My nation is the Rogue Nation of Pickle Islands. My flag even has a cute little pickle on it. Pretty much the gist of the game is that you make a nation, you input a couple of basic thing sat the beginning, like what type of government it is, so on and s forth, then every day it asks you to resolve 1 (or 2 if you want) issue(s). So like yesterday I was asked If I should make gambling illegible and make public nudity legal. After you've made a decision the legislation is pending and later that day it is put into action. The you can see your nations progress with all kinds of neat little pie charts. Each decision can affect social freedom, political freedom and economics. Any way, it's not a game that's too time consuming, so it's good if your really busy, but need a little daily distraction.

I started reading Eat, Love, Pray last week and I love it. I want to go to Italy... :( It sound delicious XD
Can't wait to have spare time again so I can finish the book.
Talking about food, I need to have lunch

ttyl
~Ashley