Tea and a Biscuit

As we students approach or have arrived at the beginning of a new semester, we need to breathe. It’ll be okay. Freaking out is meant for finals. Now is the time to enjoy school. I for one have a new attitude this semester. Okay, I have a “new” attitude every semester, but now it’s legit: no freaking out, a.k.a., stressing out. a.k.a., generally being miserable. Sure, maybe I need to study really really hard to get straight A’s this semester to increase my GPA, but I am not going to panic. SERIOUSLY. We all do better when we are not stressed. So, I need certain things to ease me into studying again. Unhealthy amounts of tea. And good music. Started listening to the new John Mayer album, Battle Studies. Not bad! I have only been listening to “Assassin”, which is great in a “I can listen to this over and over until I hate it” way. Also, interesting song from newish artist Theophilus London; you may have heard it on the obnoxious faux music snobbery of MTV U’s Video Hour or Dean’s List, “Humdrum Town”. At first I thought it was good, on second listen I really liked it. And a excellent track off Imogen Heap’s latest album sounds like her best, “Tidal”. Sometimes I love songs just for the first 20 seconds. This song is great the whole way, and has flourishes of manipulation of sound that only Imogen Heap’s music mind can create. There are some songs that I do love really only for the first 20 seconds. “Just Don’t Pretend”, by 16 Frames, “Sweet Disposition” The Temper Trap”. Can you think of songs that you listen to just for that sweet intro? In other news, a great new show to occupy you this semester; The Deep End. I was expecting it to be completely idiotic, but it was very watchable. There are enough talented actors in this show to give me confidence. The guy from Jack and Bobby! Eggs from True Blood! Rachelle LeFevre! Mac from Veronica Mars! And many more.  The first episode covered a lot of territory without being stuffed with too many plots. And yes, slightly less sex than Grey’s Anatomy but no unbearable and self-involved characters (*cough* Meredith). I’ll watch this show! Now, on to ordering books for classes in two days.

Long time no see!

I feel I owe my blog an apology…I have abandoned you for an unprecedented amount of time. My level of happiness is directly correlated to how much I write in this blog. Directly. So, the last few weeks without you have been a meaningless collection of hours. Finals approach, and since drinking large amounts of alcohol is not a productive way to get rid of stress, or a good thing to do in general, I am writing in my blog. Writing that isn’t assigned is the best. I have a 12-15 page paper due, in a class I really need to improve in, but I consider writing in my blog right now as more important. I really didn’t see the importance of a creative outlet until recently. When all you do is study and hang out and study and watch movies and sleep, life get’s pretty pointless. You study to get better grades to feel better about your self-worth, you party to “release” stress, you go through all the motions, but do you still feel unfulfilled? I am not saying what we learn here in college is meaningless. However, I have come to realize  that it really takes effort on our part to bring meaning into our lives. You have to create meaning for your life. That can be through painting, writing bad poetry,  reading good poetry, really listening to an amazing song, or standing in your room as the sun disappears. Or maybe through writing some brilliant math proof, or learning all the constellations. To find meaning, we have to take part in creation or at least revel in it. Maybe take some breaks during your studying in the next two weeks to do these things, and when you get back to your history and theories, it will actually mean something.