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Sorry about the title. I couldn’t think of anything else that mixed craziness, exams, and a rhyme all into one.
Anyways, people are sleeping overnight in the libraries and taking caffeine pills to “study”. Crazy? Yes. And not just a few people. Multitudes. My friend Kayla just informed me she had difficulty finding a spot in the library at 8:45am.
Whaaaaat the hell.
Tip of the Post:
Stick to your commitments. As a university student, it is vital to stay on top of your work. From personal experience – first semester, anybody? – I’ve come to realize that it absolutely sucks to be buried in a pile of textbooks for two weeks whilst living on zucchini loaf and coffee from the cafeteria. But I digress. The main point is to always strive to complete what you resolve to complete. Whether studies, exercise or blog updates, follow Nike’s famous phrase: Just Do It.
It is also advisable to always practice what you preach. I will now take this moment to tug nervously at my collar and avoid all hypothetical eye contact. Ahem.
Anyways, I won’t beat around the bush on this one: it has been an inexcusable amount of time since I last told you all what I’ve been up to. If you’ve missed me, I apologize. If not… well. Don’t let me know.
SO. It’s been a busy 42 days. Since we last chatted, I have: commited Friendcest, travelled to Florida, spazzed out and received the second worst mark of my life, and landed my dream summer job. Of course, school and residence life also plays into that. Those subjects just aren’t as juicy though. Rest assured that I am doing well (enough) and am prepared to once again buckle down and demolish my exams.
Now. Prepare yourself for an onslaught of information.
1) Friendcest. You may be wondering what this means. If you chose to visit the link I provided (to a blog written by my good friend Sasha), you are now aware of this process and its complications. Essentially, Friendcest is when two individuals meet and become friends and later (or not so much later) realize they would like to be more than just friends. Urban Dictionary defines Friendcest as the following:
* “One of the great phrases to describe the f***-upity-ness of cross-boundary inter-friendship ‘relating'”
* “Dating friends, dating your friends’ friends. You already like them, your friends already like them. So why not f*** it all up?”
* “The phenomena of inter group dating and/or relating in social groupings. Especially relevant to university and post university friend bases.”
However, I would like to fill you in on the often overlooked, positive parts of Friendcest. Like participating in it. I’ve managed to meet and snag a really wonderful boy through our group of mutual friends. His name is David. You would like him – I certainly do. In any case, I’ve definitely looked down on Friendcest before. But I realize now that as long as you at least try to be considerate of your other friends, it can work out. Afterall, sharing friends and being friends with your special someone is a great thing – it irons out awkward ‘getting to know eachother’ issues and gives some security as to whether or not your personalities are compatible.
Friendcest: it’s not as bad as you think.
2) Florida. How I adore thee. Shuffleboard, bocce ball, mini-golf, alternate elderly activities… the fun never ends! And I’m not even being sarcastic. Every Spring Break, my family visits my Papa at his home in the beautiful Sunshine State. This year was a bit different though… since it was reading break, I actually attempted work and reading while I was there. It became a slight damper on the festivities but I was grateful for the time to catch up in my work. I even got to see a banjo concert. In one song, the main lyrics were: “A rinky-dink rink, a kink, a rinky-dink…”.
Okay, I’ll admit. That wasn’t my favorite part of the trip… but my Papa loved it. And I love him. So it made me happy.
As a random aside, my Papa’s name is Vladimir. But everyone calls him Val. Isn’t that weird? When I was really little, I thought his full name was Valentine because of that. He’s pretty lovable though – a really fantastic man who has lived an admirable life and continues to do so. Not to get all mushy on you or anything, but ‘Valentine’ is fairly apt.
At least that’s how I’ll defend my childhood misnomer.
3) I’ve complained about Chemistry before. Remember the poem? But apparently that explosion of frustration wasn’t enough to remove me from my slump in the subject. After reading break and its hours of mindnumbingyetstillfairlyproductive chemistry study, I managed to pull a complete blank on the midterm. I mentioned earlier that this particular occasion earned my second worst mark. My worst mark ever was also this year: calculus, with a smashing 49.5%. Yup. The class ran up a 22% average, though. I guess that makes me feel a little better.
You now know that I at least managed to pass with my second worst mark ever. And, as far as I’m concerned, that’s all you need to know. Sadly, the rest of my peers completely showed me up on this one with an average of 81%.
Sigh.
4) I realized I lied when I said this coming summer offers my dream job. Working at the Deeley Research Centre easily tops it. However, I’m still quite excited. I managed to snag a job working as a camp counsellor with Science Venture – a UVic-based, non-profit day camp for youth – for the entire summer. I’ll be working with the younger age groups between grades 1 and 4.
Kids + Science + Good Pay. I’m totally stoked.
Incidentally, if you’re in high school right now and live in (or around) Victoria, I would suggest volunteering for their Junior Counsellor program. It’s tons of fun and gives you the volunteer experience you need to graduate as well as a better chance of securing a paid job with them in later years. Thought I would throw that out there.
Anyways, that’s about all I’ve got for now. The housing situation is still entirely up in the air, but it’s looking like chances are pretty big for a shared house with my close friends next year. We shall see!
Sorry again for my laziness. I’ll try harder from now on to follow my own advice and stick to my resolutions.
Love!
Lindsay
PS. I have some pretty interesting postings that I never quite finished saved in my drafts folder… I’ll spruce those up soon for you and finally get them up.
I’m currently writing an argumentative research paper in favour of the progress of stem cell research. In layman’s terms, stem cell research involves the extraction of cells – which have the ability to develop into any type of bodily cell – from human embryos. The differentiation ability of these embryonic tissues is nothing short of incredible. In theory, we could literally grow a liver for a patient in need of transplant over a minute period of time.
However, due to several ethical blockades, this field of research is quite stunted. While I understand the heavy moral weight of using embryos as tools when relating to religion and other personal views, I believe the most important moral question is as such: how is it morally correct to protect potential human lives when an obvious key to saving viable, “right now” people lies in their exploitation? Why are we so emotional over the idea of inhibiting possible human life when people are dying around us everyday from conceivably curable conditions?
My opinion on this topic is much the same as my stance of supporting the opportunity to choose abortion: it’s more important to focus and make decisions based on bettering the lives that exist now instead of the ones that could potentially exist later.
My personal understanding of what an embryo actually is contributes strongly to my sentiment in both cases. To me, an embryo is a non-explicit cluster of cells which does not in any way experience feeling, thought, or the desire to live. In essence, I see them as lacking the basic characteristics definitive of human beings.
In any case, I’ve found a really interesting paper pertaining to this topic which takes a seemingly unbiased stance on the issue and explores multiple opinions throughout it. However, I think it is subtly leaning towards “pro” research, so be wary of your own ideas when reading it.
It’s not too complicated or science-y. Click here if you feel like learning more about this issue.
Lindsay
Tip of the Post:
The Student Union Building (better known as the SUB) has a basement. Did you know this? I was not aware until I visited The Pendulum for breakfast today with a friend. A surprisingly large sit-down restaurant, it offers many unique dishes including a delicious eggs benedict (or so I am told). I enjoyed a scrambled egg dish with spinach, peppers, roasted garlic, and feta cheese. Completed with a side of perfectly fried potatoes and pre-buttered whole wheat toast, the meal was well worth the $6.00 and astonishingly short wait. Go.
Some of you may remember an earlier entry requesting your advice as to whether I should break up with Tae Kwon Do – for a time, at least. If not, those of you that did take the time to answer me dissented and advised me to “stick it out”. So, naturally, I did the exact opposite.
I’ve now signed up for Vinyasa Yoga at the SRC. I fully loved the two free shopping week classes and the feeling of relaxation after the class was done. Plus I’ve always wanted to try Yoga. Let’s say it was a resolution.
Oh! I have a class review too: Physics 101. If you’re a science student (like me!) this class is a must. It has already applied to Chemistry 121 and EOSC 112, making the lectures that confused everyone else in the seminar a breeze for me. Trust me: you want to learn about energy, waves, buoyancy, and pressure. I won’t lie to you and say that it was the most invigorating course I’ve taken, but it has been incredibly useful in the tiny period of time since its completion. And if you’re lucky enough to have Javed Iqbal as your prof, you may even become the slightest bit interested in the subject matter. His passion for his craft is really inspiring and is something which contrasts “good” teachers from “outstanding” ones.
Presently, I have some interesting entries in the making. Drafts. For some reason I’ve been suffering from writer’s block since coming back from holidays. Let’s hope it backs down soon.
But I’m back. Love,
Lindsay
Heisenberg? Your discovery, true, bore an uncertainty:
whether or not you are useful to me.
Max Born, scholar of 1926:
Tell someone else. I don’t give a shit.
Schrödinger, please! Equate something else!
Like: you + your work = you all by yourself.
Bohr? Quel surpris. Your ideas make me assume
that your personality reflects your (crap) nom-de-plume.
Crystals and matter and Cartesian Coordinates.
Someone please save me – I’m throwing a fit.
Frustrations,
Lindsay
Tip of the Post:
Participate in as many residence games and events as possible. They’re a blast, though sometimes short-lived.
After much anticipation, I was stoked to find out that Korea house was going to have our own game of “Sock Wars”. Basically, it’s a version of tag.
Actually, it’s a bit more like dodgeball. With socks. And instead of a border that separates the opponents, the gameplay territory is virtually endless (although you are safe in bathrooms, the dining hall, your room, and your RA’s room).
Knowing that my red hair would be an issue of quick identification, I considered my options:
1) Wear a headscarf.
2) Scratch the headscarf. Go for a burka.
3) Make my facebook profile only visible to current friends and change my profile picture to “SOCK WARS IS ON, BITCHES!”
I thought about it and went with the third option, knowing that I couldn’t pull off wearing the headscarf for 30 days in a row and that I would probably stand out even more wearing a burka. I also took down my nametag from my door. The perfect disguise. Better yet, I knew who my target was and had stalked her earlier this morning and found her room (your little “switching signs” trick didn’t work, muahaha). And then I saw her in the dining hall this evening with the assistance of a friend who lives on her floor. I had all my bases covered. Nothing could touch me.
Except Google.
And, more specifically, this blog. My assassin Google’d me and found this journal! DAMNATION!
If I had made it back to my room when I returned from dinner, I would have been surprised to see a rather creepy sign taped to my door with the picture of me tossing leaves and the caption: Hi Lindsay. See you soon written underneath it. That wasn’t, however, the case.
I had just reached my floor and began walking down the hallway when I heard thundering steps coming from the stairwell which I had just exited. Normally, I would have panicked, but I was so confident with my cover that I didn’t think it had anything to do with Sock Wars. But then I heard the door slam open and something large sprinting down the hallway in my direction.
By this point I was three or four feet from the bathroom doorway and attempted to jump inside, spinning around as I did so. I did manage to land in the bathroom, but not before I saw the image of a large, white ball streaking towards my body with some guy’s arm attached to it. And not before that ball hit me.
My Olympic jump was celebrated by the guy on the floor who was screaming, “I got you! Oh my GOD I got you!” quickly followed by the voice of two girls explaining how they had seen my red hair as I went up the stairs and told him.
So I died on the first day. I don’t regret it (much). I think it was one of the most epic deaths I have heard of yet, and I congratulate my assassin. You got me :).
And now I can return to blogging in peace.
Or can I? *cue X-Files music…*
Love!
Lindsay
ps. I got 90% on my second physics midterm. A 27% increase from last time. Feel free to rain praise on me, if you want.
Tip of the Post:
In times of stress (such as a week concluding in two midterms and a chemistry lab), be sure to avoid the following:
I’m talking from experience, here.
Love,
Lindsay
Tip of the Post:
Voice your opinion about UBC’s potential join to NCAA (division II), an athletic association of the United States! Your voice will really make a difference – not many people know about this issue!
Submit an online response form by 11:59 pm TONIGHT by clicking this link: feedback.cfm?page=online
Obviously, I’m very against this whole thing. Feel free to side with whichever view you choose, but keep in mind YOUR OPINION IS CRUCIAL AS TO WHETHER THIS HAPPENS.
Here is what I wrote:
I came to UBC because of the strong focus on academics and the pursuit of knowledge. As a first year, I fear that the attempt of this athletic recognition will reduce the attention to academics at UBC. And as far as the “pros” of this situation, I think that increased school spirit is NOT a fair trade for the decrease in attention to scholarly pursuits at this university. I don’t want UBC to become a school where people come to be athletes. I would be very angry and disappointed with the school as well if less funding was given to academic-focused scholarships in order to boost the amount of money available to athletic scholarships. Finally, I think that by entering the NCAA (which has incredibly limited spots for Canadian teams) we would alienate ourselves from other schools in Canada – only to be able to play against second-rate schools in the States. This whole situation is a bad idea which only benefits the athletes and athletic components of UBC. I hope very much that it doesn’t end up happening.
If you have any thoughts/opinions/ideas, submit them! This is your school too! Just keep in mind I am incredibly biased and basing your response off mine might not be a great idea if you don’t know exactly what’s happening. However, if you agree with me (which I really hope you do), then I encourage you even more to complete the online response form by 11:59 TONIGHT.
Lindsay
PS. I swear it only takes 10 minutes. I know you have 10 minutes.
Tip of the Post:
Never, ever put smooth peanut butter on something hot.
This is why:
This morning, like any other morning, I walked to the cafeteria with a pre-bought bagel in hand (from Shoppers… they were expensive at $4.00 for 6, but not as astronomical as in the caf) and, upon arrival, stuck it in the toaster and went to grab a banana (woot!) and a coffee (not so woot!) while I waited. I was feeling pretty hungry, so I thought I would deviate from my usual choice of cream cheese for a cheaper, more protein packed package of peanut butter. Wow. That alliteration was unintended.
ANYWAYS!
I bought everything ($2.12, not bad) and walked back over the the toaster and spread my peanut butter. When I was done, I squished the bagel together and dropped off my dirty knife at the conveyor belt, bagel in my left hand and mocha in my right. It smelled so good I couldn’t resist taking a bite.
HORRORS, as I did so, a huge stream of liquid peanut spewed from the bagel and dripped onto my pants, my sweater, the floor, my shoes… I was so startled that I kind of jumped and screamed and succeeded in spilling my overly-full mocha (I want the most for my money, okay?) onto my shirt and pants. And then it KEPT dripping all over the place so I started to run down the stairs so get outside and, literally, streamlines of peanut butter were flying in my wake. I didn’t even put that much on! I swear, it was regenerating just to spite me. I was laughing and trying to salvage some of my breakfast while I was running… I’m pretty sure people thought I was crazy. In fact, I’m sure of it because as I sped by I heard a guy question my sanity (without a lack of profane terms).
And then I had 7 minutes to get across campus to my math class. Miracle of miracles, I made it.
Other than that, I’ve been pretty happy with myself when getting stuff done for school. I feel like I’ve figured it out. Yesterday and Monday I cleared a huge pile of work and now I have all of today and tomorrow to study just for my physics midterm. I need the time badly, too.
Speaking of physics, I need to get going if I’m going to make it to my lecture on time.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Lindsay
Tip of the Post:
Feeling blue (or, at least, not a sunny shade of yellow)? Did you know that bananas are the ultimate cure to your physical and mental ailments? I didn’t until today. Today, a couple of kind nursing students set up an informative booth on – take a guess – bananas in the Vanier commonsblock. Not only do bananas individually contain enough glucose to fuel a 90-minute workout, but they have also been scientifically proven to be the best post-drinking miracle food and to contain chemicals that combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Being a person who suffers from SAD in those long winter months, I’ll definitely be investing in some bananas in the near future. So. Feeling crappy?
Eat a banana.
Click here for more banana facts.
Anyways, after visiting with the wonderful banana ladies, I went for a run down to Wreck Beach. It’s not far from The top of the stairs isn’t far from Vanier. For those of you who have ventured down to the nudie beach, you’re familiar with the ridiculously numerous (and steep) stairs that lead you down there. It’s annoying if you just want to relax in the sun, but a great workout otherwise. It was my first time down there in the daytime and, consequently, my first time experiencing the incredible nudity of it all. Bananas abound.
I even saw naked volleyball while I was running around.
It’s funny though – I felt out of place feeling fully clothed. But no worries, mum, I was good. I just kept jogging on my merry way, enjoying the… scenery. And I managed to run all the way back up the stairs, even though I nearly collided with a 60 year-old man on his way down. Needless to say, he wasted no time stripping down after passing the “Clothing Is Optional Beyond This Point” sign. It was pretty amusing.
So I’m feeling alive again. Exercise > mochas when you’re trying to wake up your brain. Plus, if you take a jog before a 1.5 hour Chem lecture instead of chugging a sugary cup of coffee, chances are you won’t be plagued with trying to ignore Lake Superior filling up your bladder after only 20 minutes of discussing the importance of H-Bonds. I’m sure I missed out on a lot of the more riveting points of that lecture due to the discomfort caused by my caffeine fix.
Oh, I had my first Math 110 class today. Y’know, the 8:00 am one? Yeah. We counted apples.
No joke. My prof drew a diagram like this:
He tied it into the classification of the number systems, though. He’s a really nice guy, I can tell. Even though it’s early, I enjoy the class. And hey, if I go to the class everyday for the rest of the year, my friends say I might even start learning division by December.
Awesome. Sounds like my kind of calculus.
All those naked people have piqued my appetite. I’ma go eat now.
Lindsay
PS. I apologize for the pointless pictures. I got really excited when I figured out how to insert them.