Untitled: Post #292
Tomorrow is known as ‘Worker’s Day’ in South Africa, pretty ironic for a country that sees more striking days than actual work being done. But, it suits me fine really, it’s just another day off, away from lectures and tutorials and alarm clocks. Even though I have a pending English essay and psychology write up due this week, it’s a nice feeling to wake up without any impending must-attends on your to-do list.
In other musings, I remember when I began this blog, nearly three Septembers ago. It took about seven months to come up with a title and about two weeks for my first post. But I did it. And now, I can’t imagine ever not having a blog or a story to tell.
I’ve been looking at bursaries and student loans online earlier today. Hopefully, I can get a bursary or loan for English and complete Honours here. A mark about 65% for the final examination should do it really, but somehow I know that I want to do much better. I’ve only ever achieved an 82% for one essay, ironically for a book I barely even read. Although that was much to thank for the awesome feeling accompanying the mark, the fact that I had actually achieved my best was really something to smile about. That pretty much made my day, week, month.
Well, there was no real point in writing this post. Somehow I’ve just been longing to start on something other than an essay recently. Oh well. To all those who have been graced with a holiday tomorrow, I hope you all have an awesome day. For those who have to work, unfortunately it’s only Tuesday!
- reddevilandy10
I Should Never Have Left My Bed This Morning
Warning: This post contains, what some readers may consider, strong language.
I am not having the best of days this Wednesday. Firstly, I was precipitously woken by a loud, annoying fire alarm (more…)
Just Another Tuesday, Heh?
Warning: This post contains, what some readers may consider, strong language.
There is nothing more satisfying than missing an English lecture, to be told in the tutorial the following day, that is was in fact, canceled. Even though I properly despise English tuts, they do have their fleeting moments of entertainment. (more…)
Online Resources For The Studying Student
THE PUPPY WHO LOST HIS WAY – EXAMINATION EDITION
Courtesy of memegenerator.net
I know exactly what you’re doing tonight – studying! Yes indeed! Exams officially begin here at Rhodes tomorrow and tonight, there are hundreds of students desperately trying to cram thousands of definitions, formulae and theories into their overheating cranium. Face it, the pen-in-hand talking-parrot learning method just doesn’t cut it in a tertiary institution that demands you know more than everything. So here are my favourite study resources, webapps and programs for those sick and sad of staring at mindless scribbles in desecrated notebooks. (more…)
It’s Been A Bad Day…
Warning: This post may contain content and subject matter that some may find offensive.
Oh yes, readers. Your favourite kind of post awaits you – the classic rant and rave.
Let’s try to sum up exactly what my state of mind is today, shall we? (more…)
Easter Weekend 2011: Maundy Thursday
So, it begins. Today, Maundy Thursday, as it is known in the Christian church, marks the beginning of my long, six-day-weekend. Six days of reading, blogging and well, sleeping, marked by random bursts of essay-writing and tutorial-completing. Speaking of tutorials… I seem to have (accidentally – blame the idiot who drew up our timetable) missed two English tutorials. I’m waiting to see what will become of it, but for now, I lay in my bed, warm, snug, happy.
It’s so cold here today. I wrote a test this morning and I swear I could feel my heartbeat in my face. My toes were dead, my fingers were turning blue and this paper had three ten-plus mark questions in it – which I totally lost all consciousness of, and wrote a splattering of ill-produced word-vomit. Really, that was really bad word vomit… some of it, well, most of it made no sense at all. I might as well have drawn pictures all over.
Anyhow, I’m really looking forward to being alone, completely alone this weekend. I will, obviously, miss my friends and family though. This will be the first Easter I spend away from home I think. My friends are going home and elsewhere; some to Jeffrey’s Bay, a little (world-famous) surfing hotspot about 150km south-west of Grahamstown, for the weekend. I was going join, but the idea of camping, and waking up cold, miserable, stressed because no work is being done, and dirty, doesn’t really appeal to me. It’s probably nothing of the sorts, however, I still can’t rid myself of that mental image. I have quite a bit of work to do though. English essay, history essay, history test, psychology practical report, crap… I forgot the rest. Anyway, my to-do list is more like a to-do scroll now. I need to dent it before it dents me. And I know what happens when you let work slowly creep up behind you; I know all too well from last year. Journalism was such a bitch.
Anyway, I wish all my readers a very happy Easter Weekend! For those in South Africa, enjoy the six-day weekend too!
- reddevilandy10
Facing The West
Sigh. This is a first; I’m actually running out of things to say, or write. I hardly had any sleep last night. Kept on having dreams about things. I think you all can guess who I was dreaming about. But it was so strange because I woke up at 3am to find a message on my phone. I opened it, and here was this video of the most gorgeous Cape Town sunset, taken by an equally gorgeous girl. It was so awesome. Amazing how a tiny little thing like that can just brighten up your darkest nights, or insomnia-ridden ones. Just knowing that she took the time to record it for me is just, well, a truly incredible feeling. It actually started on that roof, but whenever I see a sunset nowadays, I think of her. I really do miss her.
The first week away from home has been a lot easier than last year. I think I’ve grown heaps and bounds since then. Or maybe, just maybe knowing that there is one person I can truly say I love back at home is just helping me be strong, and wait. Regardless, the work hasn’t really been much lately. No tutorials during the first week of term, but I still need to speak to the department secretaries about my details, so they don’t neglect to put me in a tutorial group.
Speaking of academia and all its relations, I may be joining the Pool Club this year. I play so much that I might as well do it for propers. First though, I have to sort out this stuff today. I’ve been trying to psych myself up about seeing the English and History secretaries for a few days. I know the English one, very sweet yet can pop, has been known to be a bit angry. Oh well, I’m gonna try to get some sleep before my next lecture. Until later…
- reddevilandy10
Turnitin: Screwing Students Over Since 1996
Seems as though the proposed FFS Week post I’ve hinted about on my Facebook page has come to fruition a bit earlier than anticipated. I’ve just murdered a 2,500 word psychology essay in two days, whilst having one unforgettable (or unrememberable) mare Saturday evening… but that perhaps, in itself, deserves a totally separate blog entry.
As for now, I’m waiting on the students’ worst enemy, Turnitin.com, to give me a plagiarism report for this alleged academic essay. It doesn’t sound too academic to be honest – I’m pretty sure my twelve-year-old cousin could write a better one than me. I just wasn’t in the mood.
To make my life even worse (it always seems so dull after a night out here) I have a 600 word English hand in, and a 600 word feature article for Journalism, both not started, both due early Friday morning. In essence, I’m screwed. As well as that, I have a Journalism portfolio hand in for the 12th and that includes a 1,000 word write-up about the shadow week – even though I can’t remember a freaking thing about it. So much for “Yeah, it’ll be easy.”
I really can’t afford to hand in this essay late either, I can see Turnitin taking its own sweet time with this. God, please spit out a report for me!!
Anyway, seeing that I have nothing left to say, and my hands are literally about to fall off, I’ll say goodnight! Until 5am, to print the report. Yes, I am being a glass-half-full man today. After the hand in… I am sleeping. So stoked!
Anyhow, goodnight readers!
- reddevilandy10
Coldplay Tracks and Rabbit Traps
Post Location: In bed.
Weather: Chilly and overcast.
Mood: I could be better; content.
I Feel Like…: Bunking my English tut and staying in bed.
Song of the Day: “Amsterdam” by Coldplay. (See below)
I’ve only had about five hours sleep today. It’s 8.12 in the morning and my eyes feel as if they’ve been surgically attached to my face. I had to wake up to finish an English tutorial, and should actually be doing my psych essay, but naa that’s for later’s entertainment.
The tut was really interesting… we’re doing modernist poetry so the works under the microscope today was Plath and Hughes “The Rabbit Catcher.” What a turbulent relationship it was in those poems aren’t emotionally biased. Hughes one I especially enjoyed.
Comparing a rabbit snare to a relationship? Yeah. You get the idea. Anyway, I’ll post both of the poems up on My Poetry page so you can have a read, because it’s well worth it.
On a much happier note, this Saturday, as I had said in last night’s post, will be one to remember. Really looking forward to it. It will probably be the last mare in Grahamstown for a while. After all, exams begin in less than a month’s time, and I have so many things due even my calendar is getting confused. I’m handling it though. Readers, you will be the first to know if your author has a mental or emotional breakdown!
I’m gonna try to get some rest now, even if it’s just for an hour, every second counts in this place.
PS:
Courtesy of user Bigjokk, here’s a YouTube video of Coldplay performing Amsterdam live from the V Festival in England in 2003. Enjoy.
- reddevilandy10
Tutorials Are Stupid
I always manage to find the most awkward moments to post. Like now, 1 am, I should either be sleeping or working, but instead I’m here.
Oh well, I guess I can work after this (fat chance). Besides, I’m bored out of my mind with all this crap. I’m sick of university. I just feel like going out, eating fast food, doing anything but sit in front of my laptop researching for things I really do not care about. Or reading some random poem with some random connotations or innuendos that I just can’t understand, not even a word of it. I really hate this.
I actually feel like not getting up for my English tut tomorrow. I really don’t feel like it. Our temporary tutor is a royal asshole too. I mean, yeah, he’s okay but a few weeks ago I failed to read a short story and he’s all like: “Well, if you don’t so you work you might as well not come to class. Next time you don’t do your work, just don’t come to this tutorial.” And I was like “WTF?” He’s a student acting like he’s the Dean. Asshole, I’m coming to tutorials because I’m forced to, not because I want to. Believe me, if I had a choice I would miss all of them intentionally. That way, maybe you “work” would be easier too. God, I can’t stand students who think that they’re the shit.
Readers, I apologize for the lack of substantial blogging material that is both informative and interesting to read but recently, I really haven’t given much of a crap about anything in life. All those happy posts – they were written by drunk reddevilandy10, who is a hundred times more optimistic than sober reddevilandy10.
But yeah, screw this work until tomorrow morning. My friend wanted to make a BP run now, but really I am way to tired and uninspired to get up and walk to get food right this moment. So I’m off to bed. My sanctuary. My peaceful chamber of calmness and messed up dreams. Actually, wait, no I dreampt last night that I was a mafia boss’s sacrifice last night. So no, it is not peaceful.
I’m just gonna go sleep. Night people!
- reddevilandy10
Friday The 13th: Part Two
Crap, I hope that psychology test went well. I felt assured writing it, I mean with multiple choice you have a one in five chance of getting something right. I’ll have to wait and see the outcome.
Meanwhile, it seems to be national Barbie day in Grahamstown or something. I swear, I’ve never seen more skankily clad females in my life. Well, maybe a few other times but damn, I swear all these people are going all out tonight. Tomorrow it’s Welcoming Drinks too, a Smuts tradition and pretty much the reason why many Smuts boys die of alcohol poisoning. I’m not doing it though. I don’t intend to pay 70 ZAR just to get abused and humiliated. I can do that myself, and for way less too.
There are house parties, res parties, hall parties and all sorts of other parties to go to. I, however, plan to stay indoor and either a) fall asleep, b) begin my English and JMS essays, or c) play pool all night. I’ll probably end up doing the latter, but then again, I really need to stop procrastinating. Especially since the football season officially begins tomorrow. I am pretty stoked about that.
Well, I think I’m going to hit the showers now, seeing that everyone is starting to drink really early tonight, it’s about 8.30pm here. Last call here is something around 12, so it’s really early. But most of Rhodes is pretty much dysfunctional by 10pm.
I’m out!
PS: Have an awesome Friday the 13th, and may good luck be bestowed upon you on this allegedly unlucky day!
- reddevilandy10
Friday The 13th: Part One
Happy Friday the 13th!
English: completed. I actually enjoyed writing that paragraph. It was on a really good poem by Michael Ondaatje entitled The Cinnamon Peeler, so it was really interesting to try and sieve through the poem to find the meaning.
Today seems as though it’s not going to end in a hurry, and yes, it’s only 8.12am here, but still. I have a psychology test, and a psychology tutorial today. My English tutorial is in about an hour’s time but I’ve completed that work. The psychology I still need to do, but thank God it’s only at 5pm. After that test tonight, I will be jumping into bed, throwing the covers over my head, and drift off into a really deep sleep. I’m going to try and do just that now though. An hour’s sleep can make all the difference in these kind of days.
Last Minute Paragraphs
Well, it comes down to this: the English paragraph due at 9.35am. It’s 2.38am as I type this, the sun must be coming back around by now. My eyes are heavy, the lids can’t hold them back much longer. My back is bowed, my feet are throbbing, my head is filled with ice-cold thoughts piercing the otherwise sleepy state I’m in. I’m silently frantic.
I need to finish this crap but I am so damn tired. That’s the story of my life so far at Rhodes: balancing sleep with activity, work with pleasure, free time with work time, eating and, well, trying to exercise. Yeah, I feel like the blob I am becoming. Even though I weigh just under 60 kilograms. That is feather light in comparison to other males my age.
Okay, you may be wondering why I am typing this when I should be doing my English. Well, that is a very good question, but basically because typing does not involve reading about a cinnamon peeler’s sex life. Yes, don’t ask. Oh well, I guess I really should get this ball rolling. After all, it’s going to be one hell of a day tomorrow. And by hell I mean, a seriously torturous day.
Untitled: Post #79
Well, here it goes.
Freewriting was a suggestion given by a friend of mine to encourage my writing. I couldn’t seem to write anything, hence the long time difference from my last post to the previous one I had posted yesterday.
Just a warning: this post is not for the lover of English. I’m practicing streams of consciousness so just, back of if you don’t like it. I don’t expect anyone to read this blog.
My former love interest (deliberate sarcasm) has released a song it seems. I downloaded it earlier today. It’s pretty catchy, melodic, listener-friendly. Her voice is gorgeous, so is her face. The worst part about the song? I know exactly who she has in her mind while she’s singing it. And she can deny it however she wants to, it’s dedicated to him.
I’m thinking of becoming a lyricist. Having others sing my words that they can never claim to be their own. Almost like a ventriloquist with my pen forcing them to sing my words. My songs would be very emotional. Maybe even too emotional for some to handle. The more pain in the words the better. I want the notes to travel through the very souls of the listener and puncture them. Internal bleeding. Such a shitty metaphor.
I don’t believe that humans have souls. If they did, the world would not be as messed up as it is now. Souls are supposed to guide the body, not give the body the right to do whatever it wants. That’s people for you. Soulless androids. All matter, with nothing that actually matters stored inside.
I must run along now. I have an English tutorial now (Oh joy upon joy). See you in hell, wherever your hell may be.
Update: Post 58
The past few weeks has seen me study more than I can vaguely recall, going on random “BP Runs” in the quest to kill the 2 a.m. hunger syndrome and totally neglect the one thing that’s actually the most constant in my life — my blog.
I feel pretty damn sick for not posting anything in the past two weeks. That’s not something I want to do again, I mean after all, JMS2 requires that I post at least once a day should I pass. Speaking of passing… I wrote two exams so far: Linguistics and English. Did they go well, you ask? Well, to tell you the truth, I have no idea how they were. I’m just thoroughly glad that they’re over now.
This week, with two exams left, I write psychology on Thursday with JMS (Journalism) on Saturday — the last day I spend in Grahamstown for six very long weeks. The weird thing is though, I’m really going to miss all the people, the atmosphere and the constant panicking of work not completed on deadline. It’s growing on me, and I don’t think I can move to UCT next year even if I wanted to. I am a Rhodent now.
Anyway, on a more random note, I’m playing “night owl” again. Tonight’s one of those when you just cannot sleep regardless of your efforts. I really need to start studying tomorrow though. It’s not just psych I’m worried about too. JMS is going to be probably the toughest exam I will write to date. I hope I end up eating those words. But yeah, tomorrow evening I’m meeting up with a friend of mine. A possible “Cougar Monday” mare taking place tomorrow, well, I might as well make the most of it — it will be the final time I go out in Grahamstown this semester. Really excited to spend some time with her too, I know she needs a good friend more than ever right now.
I’ve yet to plan my first week back in Cape Town though. My friends and I definitely need to sort out the itinerary for that! It is going to be a truly epic vacation!
Well, untill tomorrow (I hope) have a good one all!! I feel the gentle embrace of the sandman’s spell coming on. Nap time!
- reddevilandy10
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