Adjusting

The new semester began at Grand Rapids Community College. I am once again working on The Collegiate, this time having the official title of Web Design Editor. (I'm an editor!!) I am also taking other classes which I hope are not too intense, because I hope I can just pour my heart and soul into the paper. (Well, parts of them, at any rate.)

One of the ways I will be doing that is by writing a TV blog for the web site. More on that when it launches.

My desktop computer died. I am without all of my music. John was able to get me some of my music from his computer, and I have what is on my MP3 player. But that new James Dooley music? It's in a hard drive that I cannot access right now. I am very sad. (I will access it later, when I get a new desktop in a couple of months.)

One thing about losing all my documents is losing all my documents. I had some word files set up for random things; assorted fiction (both good and kind of really bad), rants and raves that I did not necessarily want to post but am saving for a great tell-all-book, and other miscellaneous files.

I am using a laptop right now (it is the property of GRCC, for school work). Thank goodness I can hook my mouse up to it; the laptop mouse structure is not ideal. (Ctrl + button = right click? How inconvenient!)

I like the fall semester better than winter. I have had a full summer off, am recharged and ready to take on something new. The weather is nice and rejuvenating every day. With the winter semester, I get a couple of weeks off, but thanks to Michigan winters, it comes with gray, cold days. There is approximately four hours of sunshine between December and March. If anyone wonders why the West Michigan community is so cranky, it is because we have all developed S.A.D. The snow is pretty for about three hours after it falls, then the beauty fades away and it becomes an eyesore. Luckily for people who like snow, we tend to still have about two feet around April.

January is not even halfway done and I have heard that some stores have begun putting their spring clothes out already. If you want an ugly bright pastel polo to wear during a February blizzard, you are in luck.

My harder classes have also tended to be in the winter. Or, classes that I did not much care for, compared to other classes. (Philosophy, algebra, Spanish, biology, among a few others) This year I am taking Journalism II, Intro to Acting, Survey of Mass Media and Interpersonal Communications. We will see if I actually like this semester or if I will be a walking mass of self pity for the next sixteen weeks. (Perhaps both, actually.)

I wonder if a year at a community college newspaper is enough experience to apply for an internship?

American Idol starts again this week. I cannot wait. Without 24 or Heroes on this season, I need a show that I watch obsessively but absolutely hate every week.

Cloverfield comes out this upcoming weekend. It is about a monster that attacks New York City. It has been hyped to death, almost to Snakes on a Plane-levels of insanity. I am SO there opening weekend.

But, remember, online hype does not translate into real-world blockbuster results. See, Snakes on a Plane, Howard Dean's 2004 primary push. (I'd make a comment about this year's crop, but we haven't even gotten through Super Tuesday, so such a comment would be unfair to Fred Thompson. Or Ron Paul. Or Mike Gravel, whose YouTube video I adore so much. If only 13-year-olds who eat up viral videos could vote!)

I think it would be funny to come up with a movie script about shopping for a new church. (That is one of the documents I cannot access right now.) I have enough experiences personally visiting different churches, I'm sure others can add a lot. I would love to include a church that plays The Old Rugged Cross every single week, a hip mega church, an old stuffy church and a charismatic church. The contrasts would be terrific. And the main characters would be well-versed in fast talk - think Gilmore Girls going church shopping! It would be funny. (Do not worry... ultimately the script is mushy enough were all churches have redeeming qualities - even if I think one or two do not, as happens to be my opinion in real life - so as to not condemn the church universal.)

I now get the FOX Business Network through my QAM tuner. (Thanks for not encrypting the channel! I heart you, channel provider.) I now also get the Outdoor network, which is ten times worse than you think it could be.

I am becoming addicted to Sell This House on A&E. I love the fact that the show itself seems to be low budget, so many room innovations wind up being +/- $100, which would be closer to what would be fiscally prudent! (Here's looking at you, Trading Spaces.) However, what kind of stupid are the (probably staged) open house shoppers? If you do not like the color of the walls, paint them! The clutter, et al, will be gone when you move in. Look at the room itself, the space, and what YOU can do with it! Not just what is being done now.

I think that's about it for now.