spooky is not a ghost (I PROMISE)

[spooky]

2 hours ago, DrFeelgood said:

I hope there's an NHL game on in the background while you're knocking out the List.

 

 

...but only if it won't distract from your goals.  You're doing great, spooky!

WOW I REALLY SHOULD. i love hockey games as background noise tbh

[spooky]

Progress update on The List (hahaha): 

 

Done:

-Finish Romantic Poetry Reading Response -----> DRAFTED. needs to be revised but that shouldn't take more than 20-30 minutes and having it written is big!

-Artists Statement (45 min)  DONE

-Reading Response for Portfolio (30-45 min) DONE

-Villarosa Essay (30-45 min)  DONE

 

Still To Do: 

-Finish Story 2

-Finish Story 1 revision. 

-Finish drafting essay 

-Revise poetry response

 

So going forward, because "revision" and "finishing" are sort of nebulous goals, I want to try and think about what concrete steps I can break these down into. 

 

 

[spooky]

the it's-almost-3am-update: 

 

Done:

-Finish Romantic Poetry Reading Response

-Artists Statement (45 min)  DONE

-Reading Response for Portfolio (30-45 min) DONE

-Villarosa Essay (30-45 min)  DONE

-Revise poetry response

 

Steps taken on other things: 

-Nailed down three act structure for story 1 revision

-Nailed down three act structure for story 2

 

Still To Do: 

-Finish Story 2

-Finish Story 1 revision. 

-Finish drafting essay 

 

So I think having the structure was a huge part of revising for me, and I've got a sense of the scenes I still need to finish plus bits of dialogue and exposition that came to me while planning. I think I'm going to see if I can write a bit more of my essay draft and then sleep. I have a feeling that from right now until Wednesday night is going to be....very little sleep. Fun Times. 

 

[Heidi]

Wow, way to go!

Which MFA program are you looking into?

[Shello]

On 12/1/2017 at 12:50 PM, spooky said:

The most accurate gif tbh

 

I'll send you a message now!

I'm curious too!  

 

You're doing great Spooky.  You're staying so organized and always making progress.

[spooky]

On 12/4/2017 at 9:59 PM, Heidi said:

Wow, way to go!

Which MFA program are you looking into?

I'm interested in the Iowa Writers Workshop!  i've heard a lot of good things. but i'm interested in UC Irvine and a couple others as well. 

[spooky]

On 12/6/2017 at 9:40 AM, LadyShello said:

I'm curious too!  

 

You're doing great Spooky.  You're staying so organized and always making progress.

I'll send you a message!

 

[spooky]

Long time no check in. I barely slept from Sunday night through Wednesday so it's been pretty much sleep recovery mode since then. I'm hopefully starting to get back to being mostly awake today. 

 

we had elections on friday and i got the position I wanted, which is out of house chaplain. essentially, i'm an emotional health officer for the society and i've been thinking of ways I can help people feel supported without putting the pressure on them to reach out. because sometimes actually asking for help is the biggest obstacle. 

 

i have two take home writing finals and one that's a sit in short answer thing. So i'll be starting on those today and tomorrow. I think i've got the vet thing figured out but I will need to call a couple places on monday to make sure. but i have options and i know at least one of those places absolutely has appointment times. 

 

still very sleepy but trying to be okay with it since there was so much sleep deprivation earlier this week. hopefully i'll have a more detailed check in later today when the coffee kicks in a little more. 

[spooky]

This Week: 

Sunday: 

-outlines for Romantic Poetry Take Home Essay

-Poet breakdowns for Romantic Poetry In Class Final

-Film Final Brainstorming

 

Monday: 

Life things:

• call airline about taking two pets in cabin on flight
• vet (hopefully, call in morning for estimated cost)
• w/ rented car:
  • second carrier
  • return space heaters
  • dispose of boxes

School things:

• draft at least one romantic poetry essay
• 500 words film final draft

 

 

Tuesday: 

Life things: 

• clean out fridge
• move things from other rooms
• fax forms to airline

School things:

• draft of romantic poetry final done
• 75% of film final drafted
• poet style review

 

Wednesday:

• romantic poetry revision
• film final drafted

 

Thursday:

• romantic poetry revision
• film final revision

 

Friday: 

• romantic poetry final sit in @ 11 am  
• romantic poetry final take home due @ 11 am
• film revisions

 

Saturday: 

• film take home due by midnight

 

Sunday: 

• flight @ 9:50 am
  • so I need to be at the airport by 7am, leave campus around 6:15am

[Shello]

On 12/9/2017 at 2:11 PM, spooky said:

I'm interested in the Iowa Writers Workshop!  i've heard a lot of good things. but i'm interested in UC Irvine and a couple others as well. 

Well the IWW is much closer to me than Irvine so that's my vote..  

 

On 12/9/2017 at 2:12 PM, spooky said:

I'll send you a message!

 

You handled this so well! 

 

Congrats on being elected.  You'll do a great job helping others.  Good luck on finals week!  

[Heidi]

Like my friend @spooky said, the universe needs to find its chill!

Hope you are well.

I've heard a lot about Iowa, too, and it can be a real meat grinder. If you decide you want a more nurturing route, check out Hollins University,where I'm applying.

You know, if you want to.

[spooky]

On 12/11/2017 at 6:42 AM, LadyShello said:

Well the IWW is much closer to me than Irvine so that's my vote..  

 

You handled this so well! 

 

Congrats on being elected.  You'll do a great job helping others.  Good luck on finals week!  

Thanks shello! this is true ahaha. good point

 

I MADE IT THROUGH FINALS BLESS. 

10 hours ago, Heidi said:

Like my friend @spooky said, the universe needs to find its chill!

Hope you are well.

I've heard a lot about Iowa, too, and it can be a real meat grinder. If you decide you want a more nurturing route, check out Hollins University,where I'm applying.

You know, if you want to.

universe, pls find ur chill, asap

 

thank you! i made it through finals and i'll have to take a look at hollins!

 

[spooky]

i made it through the finals meat grinder and then needed a few days to just...sleep basically. today's the first day i've been somewhat productive, though the qualifying "somewhat" is definitely apt. 

 

more to come tomorrow!

[Heidi]

8 hours ago, spooky said:

 

universe, pls find ur chill, asap

 

thank you! i made it through finals and i'll have to take a look at hollins!

 

Yes, Universe: settle tf down. We have had enough of this for a wee bit.

If you want someone to show you around Hollins campus, let me know.

[Heidi]

Congrats on being done with finals!!

And Happy Solstice, dear.

[Ensi]

Aaah congrats for handling your finals!! Rest and enjoy the holiday season <3

[DrFeelgood]

Sleep is a fine reward.   Hope you're able to recharge quickly and completely!

[spooky]

I WILL BE HERE LATER

[spooky]

jury duty today. i wouldn't mind so much if i could use my laptop while they're doing selection but it's not allowed in the courtroom. handwriting it is. 

 

2017 had one more gut punch in store for me, we had to euthanize my oldest cat, lucky, on saturday. he was diabetic and while we were able to manage it for a long time, but he'd gotten really frail recently. my parents were just hoping he'd have a good enough quality of life for long enough for me to make it home. but he wasn't able to stand on saturday to go to the bathroom, lost control of some of his bodily functions, and he was refusing food. he'd been moving around fine the day before and eating really well so it was just...a lot. 

 

i think this was a fairly successful challenge seeing as i got through my utterly packed finals schedule. adjusting to being home again has been difficult, since i don't have the sort of structure i do at school but it's been better the past couple of days. 

 

be by later

[maegs]

I'm sorry to hear about Lucky.  

 

It does sound like you had a successful challenge, getting through finals is always an accomplishment

[Ensi]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Spooky  I hope you manage to get some structure to your days, even if it's just going for a morning walk, or something. Take care <3

[Shello]

So sorry to hear about Lucky.  That's a sad way to start the holidays.  

 

But congrats on finishing Finals and a successful challenge.  

[Emma]

Sorry about the cat. It's hard. I cried more when my Misty kitty died than when my mother died.

Tell me about structure. I am struggling with that myself.

Good luck.

And congrats on surviving finals!

[Heidi]

Big hugs, @spooky.

Cry all you need; rest and have tea.

You have weathered quite the year, and it's fine e to let the reins go a bit.

[spooky]

On 12/27/2017 at 9:41 AM, maegs said:

I'm sorry to hear about Lucky.  

 

It does sound like you had a successful challenge, getting through finals is always an accomplishment

thank you, maegs <3

 

amen to that. it was...a lot of writing. but i did it!

 

On 12/27/2017 at 10:38 AM, Ensi said:

I'm so sorry for your loss, Spooky  I hope you manage to get some structure to your days, even if it's just going for a morning walk, or something. Take care <3

Thanks, Ensi <3 I took some time to enjoy hot chocolate and cuddle with my other cats. it helped a bit. i think trying to be gentle with myself is the way to go. it's hard but worth it. 

 

On 12/27/2017 at 11:05 AM, LadyShello said:

So sorry to hear about Lucky.  That's a sad way to start the holidays.  

 

But congrats on finishing Finals and a successful challenge.  

thanks, shello <3 it was, it's been a rough end to the year. but i think it's time to look ahead and see what i can do. 

 

thank you! <4

 

On 12/27/2017 at 2:33 PM, Emma said:

Sorry about the cat. It's hard. I cried more when my Misty kitty died than when my mother died.

Tell me about structure. I am struggling with that myself.

Good luck.

And congrats on surviving finals!

Thanks, Emma! I cried...a lot. On and off all day. I still get sad and expect to see him while doing normal things. 

imposing structure on myself can be so difficult! i have a tendency to get sidetracked. 

thank you x2! <3

 

On 12/28/2017 at 2:38 AM, Heidi said:

Big hugs, @spooky.

Cry all you need; rest and have tea.

You have weathered quite the year, and it's fine e to let the reins go a bit.

thanks, heidi <3

rest and tea and tears were the game plan. i just had to let myself be sad, and i'm sure i will in the future too. 

it's been a rough ride, there have been good things so i may do a post trying to make a list of them. but i'll be glad to welcome 2018.