Time is a Thing of the Past

I feel like so much has happened since I last filled you in on my life. This is partially because it has been over a month (O.O) and partially because I am so freaking busy. Alright, it's not that bad, but sometimes it sure feels like it. Shall we discuss this last week as an example? Yes, of course we shall. I'm the one typing, ergo I have all the control here. (Side note: Shelby requested I stop using the word ergo. What a foolish girl to pass up a perfectly wonderful word.)

Over the course of this week, I have had two exams, proctored another, and then graded midterms for nine hours straight with my fellow TAs. On top of that, the Introductory Programming Laboratory where I help people as a TA has been completely overflowing. Throughout the week there have been 5-6 bat signals, which are only sent out when there is over a 45 minute wait in the IPL. Previous to this week, we've had one cry for help sent out the entire quarter. I am just thankful I get to work in a place that sends out bat signals. Apparently the CS homework this week has students freaking out and confused to the point where they are regressing to levels previously not thought possible. I don't think I've seen more blank stares in my life when asking what I thought was a straightforward question. Usually, "can you bring up the class website?" elicits some sort of action based response, but this week all I get is a deer-in-the-headlights hesitation. The lack of coherent thoughts from all around has made this week last much longer than usual. Are we sure there are only five school days in a week?

Not all of this filled schedule is schoolwork oriented though. I am happy to report that I am no longer a complete social recluse. I have been doing social activities with other semi-normal students and making friends with all the other TAs. My friend-base has easily tripled this quarter and it's weirding me out a little bit to have this much interaction with people. In addition to having somewhat of a social life, I have started my own version of NaNoWriMo again. I don't know if you remember, but last year I wrote a song/poem thing every day in November in an attempt to make myself a better writer. I have decided that this must happen again and already am slightly regretting this decision. Though at least I am not doing actual NaNo and attempting to write a novel. That would result in a magical novel written with invisible ink. Obviously, it would be an amazing book but only those who truly believed could see it. Also, I ignored the pain in my wallet and bought a smartphone recently. Then I proceeded to discover the free games section of the android market. Whoever thought this would be a good idea for a college student should have rethought that hypothesis. Why are games like Angry Birds so darn addictive? I feel like it is at least partially the catchy theme songs.

And I wish I were kidding when I told you that I only really stop to breathe when my ballet teacher reminds me to. Several times in dance class lately, I have only realized that breathing should be a thing I do when my teacher verbally prompts me. I feel a little bit like a walking dumb blonde joke but then I remember that my hair is still a lack-luster brownish color. If I must have the stereotypical blonde symptoms, then I should at least get to have the most fun as well. And bouncy Marilyn Monroe esque hair.

Being this busy does have it's drawbacks though. My immune system must not be functioning on a top notch level because on Wednesday, my sickness level went from zero to sixty in 3.5 hours. Mid-afternoon I was perfectly healthy and by dinner I had a fever and uncontrollable shaking. Of course this was the day before my physics exam, but I'm a super-trooper and I carry on. But I only managed to rouse myself after sleeping for over twelve hours straight.

Also, apparently what goes around does indeed come around. My silence on here and to my friends in other mediums has manifested into actual silence. My voice has left me and seems like it never wants to come back. You know how much I talk, hum, sing, make strange noises, etc. This forced vow of silence is slowly eating away at my will to live. Right now I've got the few poorly recorded random tracks on my computer of me singing on repeat, just to reassure myself that I haven't always sounded like a 50 year old chain smoker. At least, that is what I sound like when a comprehensible noise manages to come out of my throat.

Hopefully I'll be back to normal in no time. After all, another week is about to start. That means classes, physics labs, helping poor lost CS students and of course gospel choir. How am I supposed to belt about Jesus when I sound like a person with a bag of gravel where their voice box is supposed to be? Well, maybe my teacher will mistake crazed with passionate. They aren't that far off, right? We're just lucky this is a blog and not a podcast; I don't think you would appreciate the guest appearance of the least talented tibetan throat singer.

I hope you are doing well and enjoying the fall weather before winter fully takes hold!

Much love,
Riley