no surprises.

It's wonderful leaving a paper to the last minute, especially thinking that it'd be an easy 5-7 pages, only to find out that you need to write 8-10 pages. Having to come with 8-10 pages of words when I feel as though I have nothing to say is just about the most daunting feeling in the world.

Ugh.

This paper is due in about 13 hours. Go, go, go!


***

Additionally, happy 21st birthday to my best friend, Sarah! Love you boo ♥



***

Enjoy this acapella version of Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" here.

Off to work!

house of cards.

Finals aren't that bad this semester. However, that didn't stop me from getting a (large) vanilla latte so I could attempt to work on the 5-7 page paper final for my Atomic Age class that's due on Friday that I haven't started...even though I haven't had actual coffee to drink in months. Oops. Except that I'm not as awake as I need to be, and so I'm going to bed as soon as the clock strikes midnight and I wish my best friend a happy 21st birthday.

I'm totally in love with this shirt, by the way. Not only does it remind me of the 80s in the best way possible, I got it for super cheap at the Gap. Hooray for sales!

Actually...now that I think about it, I actually have a lot to do, and should thus be worried. Crap.

Finals checklist as of today:
*Presentation for Residential Leadership Seminar DONE!
*5-7 page final paper for Atomic Age class, due Friday
*Take-home final for Journalism class, due Monday
*Study for First Amendment and the Press final, test next Wednesday

That doesn't sound too bad...except that next Tuesday, I start my LSAT class! It's going to be intense. I'm kind of dreading it/kind of looking forward to it. I got an email that my books had shipped, they should get here by Saturday...and that they weigh 13 pounds. THIRTEEN POUNDS WORTH OF STUDYING?! oh goodness. Not to mention that I have the pressure of having to actually do well/care about all my finals. LAME. I just want to go sleep on Memorial Glade...is that too much to ask for?

I'm falling asleep. I just drank an entire large vanilla latte and I'm falling asleep. This is ridiculous. Finals are ridiculous. This semester has been ridiculous...ridiculously AWESOME.

I clearly don't know what I'm saying anymore, but I'm guessing this will be used to mark my fall from sanity. Oh, Berkeley..look what you do to me!

honestly...

In writing a personal lifestyle blog such as this, there's a thin line between honesty and talking too much; I want to convey my experiences as a college student as honestly as possible, but I'm afraid of putting too much of myself out into the world, especially considering that this is a TOTALLY open blog that anyone in the world has access to. Anyone! A scary thought, that anyone anywhere could be reading about my life...then again, I started this blog knowing that risk. Anyways... honesty. It's sometimes hard to be completely honest, because eventually someone would read something and get hurt, or I'd say something that someone could use against me. I have had far too many friends that have lost jobs or employment opportunities due to things they've said on blogs/twitter/facebook (though really, WHY they said some of the things they did is beyond me). In any case, it would suck. Then again, why do I bother writing a blog if I can't be completely honest about my college experience? It's not all rainbows and sunshine, not every person I've met has been amazing, not all of my classes/professors are perfect (despite that I'm at one of the best schools in the country), life isn't always perfect, etc. It's a conundrum, and I'm honestly still debating what to do about it.

In any case, tonight's the night--tomorrow I finish my first semester at Cal. I have to finish writing my advertising paper and continue studying for Media Studies...so. close. !!!! I was feeling pretty down earlier, but talking to my family and my best friend on the phone definitely gave me the motivation I needed to just get it done. Tomorrow's going to be a long day, but after it's over...that's it, my first semester at Berkeley will be totally over. I'm excited, but nervous! Expect a recap post once I get home. Wednesday I'll be packing all day (since I need to pack for LA, Israel, and NYC!) and then Thursday I will be flying home! I could not BE more excited.

One more crazy scholarly night, and I'm free until the 19th of January. I can do it!

P.S. - Could I have possibly used the word "honestly" anymore?! Honestly!

just a shot away.

Pulling what I hope is my last all-nighter this semester, trying to finish my Gender midterm that's due at 11am. Yes, I know, procrastination is bad. Whatever. I don't care about this test at all, and considering that class is pass/no pass for me I don't have to worry (or care) about excelling at this exam. I've been listening to Let It Bleed all night, and it wasn't until I removed my headphones for a second that I realized that it was raining again. I love listening to rain fall; unfortunately, it just makes me want to go to bed as opposed to being productive. There are worse things, I suppose. I just need to finish this exam, go drop it off at Barrows, and then I can sleep. Nothing better than sleeping on a rainy day...I'm excited about it!

OH YEAH, GUESS WHO GOT AN A ON THE FIRST PART OF THEIR ADVERTISING FINAL!?? So very exciting!! Okay, time to motivate myself and just plow through the week!

To-Do List:

• 4 page Advertising Paper (due Tuesday @ 5)
  
• study for Media Studies (exam Tuesday from 5-8)
  

I'll be home in five days, I can't believe it. Honestly, the thought that at this time next week I will be home is the only thing that is keeping me going.

I HATE FINALS I HATE FINALS I HATE FINALS


Please explain to me why I'm writing an essay on U.S.-Mexico Border Relations for my GENDER STUDIES CLASS?! WHY AREN'T ANY OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT GENDER?!?!?!

I can't wait until this semester is over.

toss me a cigarette, i think there's one in my raincoat.

It has become unbearably cold in Berkeley! Well, as unbearable as California seems to get...it was about a high of 40 degrees today...which is really cold for me, I'm used to lows of 50 degrees! Oh Los Angeles, how you spoiled me. In any case, it is an excellent excuse to get all bundled up in my cutest winter gear, which includes this hat from Peru! I love being able to get away with wearing it, it's adorable and adds something interesting to my outfits. Anyways...

It's "dead week," in which students theoretically get a week to study for all of their finals. Ha. I mean, obviously I'm studying...but it's really easy to get distracted. I've been on a Scorcese kick lately; I just watched The Departed for the first time (amazing) and I brought Gangs of New York to watch for the millionth time. I also have a million tv-on-dvds to watch...hm. I promise I'm studying, though! I had half of my Advertising final, which went fairly well, and so now I have:

• the other half of my Advertising final, which is a 4 page paper
  
• a take-home final for Gender Studies, which is two short essay questions and one long essay--thank GOD I am done with this class, it was the worst
• one in-class final for Media Studies...December 15 from 5-8pm

And after that...I'm free! I fly home the 17th and I am SO EXCITED. Still need to figure out what I'm packing, since I'm packing for not only home but Israel and NYC as well. I'm so excited for life! I'm nervous because I don't really know anyone on the Birthright trip, but I guess I'll get to know them, haha. I've been listening to a lot of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Simon & Garfunkel lately. It's a good mix and it makes me happy.

Life is going to be absolutely wonderful once finals are over.

back to reality.

Thanksgiving was wonderful, but now it's back to reality...a reality known as FINALS! Dun dun dunnnnnn~

In any case, stay tuned for (serveral) caffeinated updates.


ALSO! I am thinking of changing the name of my blog...thoughts? comments? ideas? let me know!