| (no subject) |
[Jun. 27th, 2006|01:57 am] |
newbattleground: btw the dentist and the dental hygienist today were really proud of my oral hygiene
postmodernXennui: haha congrats
newbattleground: thanks
postmodernXennui: i've only had one cavity
postmodernXennui: i was 3
newbattleground: they asked how often i flossed and i said "daily" and they shook their heads in amazement and said that they wish every adolescent were like me
postmodernXennui: yeah for some years i flossed daily but now it's every few days. i got lazy
newbattleground: they didn't even have to use certain tools/procedures because of how clean my teeth were, even in spite of the fact that it had been well over a year since my last cleaning
postmodernXennui: impressive
newbattleground: yup, this is going in my lj
postmodernXennui: haha
postmodernXennui: put it in your myspace " about me" |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 31st, 2006|03:14 pm] |
I can safely say that the majority of those who my entries are aimed toward don't read my journal. This is part of the reason I seldom update. It is also the reason that I may never update publically again.
Livejournal used to be a vibrant community for me. Checking my "friends" page daily was something to look forward to, always yielding interesting entries from people I actually knew. Most of those whose entries I used to read have abandoned the lj community.
I believe in livejournal. I think it has the potential to be an excellent forum. But now I must agree with the naysayers. Livejournal is good insofar as the people you care about update frequently and substantially. Such used to be the case. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 26th, 2006|03:36 pm] |
It's looking more and more like I will be accepting the summer internship at Wediko, and going to SUNY Binghamton for a semester. I still don't know whether I will be hired for the College Prowler guide, or whether I would be able to do it while I am at Binghamton. Miami was good times. I should have done more reading for my courses, but I should be okay. I have written several songs on guitar, seen several friends, and had several unimpressive doughnuts at Krispy Kreme.
New College of Florida was yet again rated as the #1 Best Value in Public Higher Education by the Princeton Review. The official news will be released on Tuesday.
I look forward to coming back to New College, getting caught up on my assignments, and seeing all of my Sarasota pals. |
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| The Dilemma Becomes Manifest |
[Mar. 21st, 2006|12:17 pm] |
I got hired for Wediko. I checked the dates, and it is officially impossible for me to do the internship and go to Puerto Rico at the same time. To make matters fuzzier, I still have not had my interview with College Prowler, because the guy who was going to interview me had a last-minute conference to go to, and then he had to go to Boston for a week. I still don't know whether I have to be on campus to do the College Prowler job. I would suspect I do, but if I am able to do it next Spring instead, it won't be a problem. The fact that I may not have my interview until as late as mid next week means that I will have no time to make a final decision about Puerto Rico. UPR must receive certain documentation by April 1st.
Backup Plan Number One failed, which was to contact UMass at Amherst and see if they have room for me. They don't. Backup Plan Number Two is to go to either Rhode Island College in Providence, or the University of New Hampshire in Durham. The latter seems to be more reputable, but the former seems like it is in a better town. UNH also needs documentation by April, but I have until May to respond to RIC, provided they don't fill up by that time.
IF ANYONE HAS INFORMATION CONCERNING UNH, RIC, PROVIDENCE, DURHAM, RHODE ISLAND, OR NEW HAMPSHIRE, IT WOULD BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
If RIC is unlikely to fill up, I can blow of UPR, wait to hear back from College Prowler, then make a decision before May. This would allow me to still go to New College this Fall if it is necessary for the Prowler job. If I bind myself to UNH or UPR by April, I will risk losing 2/3 great opportunities I have awaiting me.
I love it when that which is boggling my mind is a matter of deciding between good choices, as opposed to evading bad circumstances. |
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| 3-0-5 |
[Mar. 20th, 2006|10:46 am] |
So far, I have had quite the time in Miami.
Saturday afternoon: Miami beach with Stefano and a bunch of his friends, whom I can now call my "group," as I have been hanging out with them every time I come down.
Saturday night: Dinner at Stefano's, then out to soho, in downtown Miami. A great night of dancing; ask me the details in person.
Sunday afternoon: The Chinese Festival downtown. Dragon boat racing, martial arts, music, and a Chinese cowboy. Everything but the performances was disappointing: there was more latin food than there was oriental cuisine; oh, Miami.
Sunday night: the usual walk around the park and talk with Joanna. Always informative.
I have my College Prowler interview in an hour! |
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| It's Official |
[Mar. 14th, 2006|10:23 am] |
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I'm studying at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras this Fall. |
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| (no subject) |
[Feb. 26th, 2006|01:14 pm] |
My ride backed out at the last minute on Friday. I was feeling hopeless; then I sent an email to the new college forum. 30 minutes later, Katelyn offered to drive me to Miami in exchange for gas $. Ah, what a community.
Miami can be excellent. I love the change of pace I am given here. On Friday I conversed with McGill students at a party in Key Biscayne. Last night I was at a party in a house occupied by University of Miami students- The cops came. Nobody got in trouble, but it did ruin a certain prospect. Oh well, spring break will yield wonders in that department.
While talking to people at the party last night, some people were impressed that I went to New College. Finally! A couple referred to it as "the Harvard of Florida." I told them that I wouldn't go that far, but that it is definitely the best undergradaute institution in FL. Unfortunately, that isn't saying much. Still, it felt good that people actually knew what it was. I may have convinced a girl to apply to it as her safety school. She applied to top schools and was using Miami Dade Honors College as her safety; I told her not to sell herself short...she got an 800 verbal. New College would pay her.
If I routinely visit Miami, it will be guaranteed that I evade Sarasota boredom. |
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| (no subject) |
[Feb. 4th, 2006|06:52 pm] |
I have finally warmed up to New College again. Last semester is behind me. I will go to walls again. I will look forward to class. I will be organized.
I still hope I get into the University of Washington next semester. All Hell Breaks Loose is having a reunion show. The Tempest looks promising.
It seems like I have something of a clean slate to work on, and I know more about my limits. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 15th, 2006|12:31 pm] |
I spoke to Matt Williams on the phone for two hours last night. It confirmed that he wasn't just some ephemeral freshman acquaintance of mine. It made me happy. We discussed New College, life, and travel...but when didn't we? He made the prospect of transferring as someone who cannot afford it seem more realistic. But he also proposed a good idea: finish all of the requirements for my major and do two off-campus contracts for my thesis. This seems like a wonderful way to escape the fate of being bound to stagnant Sarasota, and to still be able to afford a good education. If I use the National Student Exchange next semester (which I will, regardless of whether I get into my first choice), it will mean that I will only have to endure 2 more semesters on campus. Suddenly the future seems more promising.
I will visit Matt this summer.
Natalie may help me get an on-campus job at the bookstore. yay! That will subsidize the Chicago ticket, reimburse my Spain ticket, and finally allow me to complete the "work experience" portion of job applications...I've only had two jobs and most of those apps provide space for three. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 6th, 2006|11:43 am] |
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My Spain pics are up on facebook. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 23rd, 2005|06:42 pm] |
I Satted my contract. And I satted it well.
I suppose I am my worst critic. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 18th, 2005|11:55 am] |
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Spain is magnificent. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 14th, 2005|08:58 am] |
| [ | music |
| | Berlin (thanks to pandora.com, which is amazing) | ] |
I love Miami. There is so much life here compared to Sarasota. The girls are beautiful, and the streets are full of memories. I never thought I would come to like Miami. I still maintain that it sucks without a car. The area around where my mom lives is becoming a sort of downtown; it will be interesting to see how this affects the surrounding real estate and the quality of life. Already it has more of an urban feel. Miami is too suburban for such a large city with a large population. I think that experiments such as "downtown dadeland" are inevitable and within 200 years, Miami will have an ambiance comparable to other major cities. It will probably, however, rely on the success of downtown dadeland in terms of cost-efficiency. If it is a financial flop, Miami will remain deceivingly suburban in character.
I read Freakonomics in roughly 3 sittings. Thank you New College academics; I can now read New York Times bestsellers as though they were magazines. The book is amazing and I recommend it. I also read most of a book named "Visions of the Night" by Kelly Bulkeley. It oriented me to the interdisciplinary study of dreams; my current ISP concerns dreams, and such may be the field I will end up focusing on in my academic career.
I would like to retake my SAT over the summer and perhaps apply to a school that offers more diverse passtimes and course offerings. I will stay at New College this spring and reap the benefits of its exchange programs. If I miss New College, I will come back gladly. If I do not, I will, assuming my SAT is high enough, apply to Brown, Columbia, NYU, Northwestern, and UChicago. Yes, these are high, potentially unrealistic hopes. But I feel that few other places will offer me the change in scenery I seek while still maintaining the academic quality of New College. NCF is great but it exhausts itself; I need a place that is self-renewing. I will attempt to improve my quality of life during the spring semester, but it seems like my complaints are perennial and the reason for which many people tend to leave the place. I wonder whether it is possible to ever enjoy NCF as I did during my first year; perhaps a lot of the joy came from my lovely relationships, the fact that it was still new, and the ignorance of how difficult and monotonous life at the college can become.
I leave for Spain today. It will be a nostalgic rollercoaster. I will rejuvenate my spanish language skills. I will reestablish my connection with my mother's side of the family in the aftermath of the divorce and the subsequent family crises we have undergone. I will eat a lot of quality food. Joy! |
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| It just occurred to me... |
[Dec. 9th, 2005|12:07 pm] |
Just when I was convinced that New College was bad practice for the real world, I realized something: New College forces you to forgive and forget. Elsewhere, I could escape my problems and the people with whom they are associated. I can easily find diversions. Here, I must see them eat on a regular basis. I must hear their pretentiousness in class. I must find ways to redefine our interactions such that I no longer have qualms with them. This is powerful; I have no choice but to squeeze the good out of people. The easy route of labeling them with some undesirable, hasty conclusion is not an option. I will always be a friend of a friend of theirs who fundamentally disagrees with my opinion of them. I will always notice redeeming qualities in them that I would never have noticed had I taken the easy way out and removed them from my life entirely.
This semester ends at 5:00 PM today. And I will be joyous. |
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 23rd, 2005|11:30 am] |
apples to apples is the greatest game. I think I will buy a copy. I played last night with Chelsey, Anthony, Evan, and Sara. It is rare that I find a game that matches up to Scrabble, Chess, Stratego, or mtg. This is THE game to play with a small group of people who know each other.
I will also buy a six pack of beer to have around whenever I need to relax. One bottle does the job. I don't need to get drunk, I just need to fend unproductive emotions.
everyone left because of the hurricane; campus is dead. the solitude is reminiscent of last ISP and is a confirmation that I need to get the fuck out of here for at least a semester. I love you New College, but you are sure good at producing cabin fever sometimes.
i am using my ipod nano a lot...more than i thought i would be. still drumming, playing more guitar, still shredding (hacky sack). Listening to a lot of Miles Away and Casey Jones. |
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| It worked |
[Oct. 10th, 2005|06:44 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  awake | ] |
| [ | music |
| | smashing pumpkins | ] |
I returned the 30GB Ipod Photo for TWO 2GB white Nano's. I payed $53 for the difference. I am wondering whether I then want to return those and get a single 4GB black one. They were all out of black Nano's and 4GB ones. If that doesn't work out, I will give my little brother, Danny, one of the white Nano's. I can't believe this worked. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 29th, 2005|02:56 pm] |
I have taken a keen interest in St. Anselm's philosophical writings. The Ontological Argument is fascinating. Prior to coming to New College I hadn't been exposed to intelligent cases for the existence of God. Now that I have, I am no longer the unrelenting atheist I once was.
I am in a relationship with a great girl who I have had a crush on for quite sometime. I am very happy about this. I am noticeably happy about it. "Its written all over my face." We're going to see Corpse Bride this weekend.
( More details than I usually provide ) |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 26th, 2005|03:26 pm] |
I am smitten.
I have recovered from the onslaught of the "second year blues," in which the Novo Collegian is threatened with feeling lost after having felt so at home. After a year at NCF, you think you have it figured out. Then the first years come along and alter the dynamic. But the dynamic seems to be in my favor, though it had the potential to not be. Certain social circumstances have been resolved, and I am loving my classes. I have, however, come to the decision that I will do at least one semester elsewhere. I am leaning toward University of Washington in Seattle next fall. University of Seville in Spain next in Spring 2007 may also be a good plan.
We have started a screamy hardcore band similar to orchid and bands of the like. It is comprised entirely of ncf students, and we are a rockin'.
I'm working out a lot. I am also playing scrabble, freestyle footbag, and racquetball. It seems I am back on track. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 18th, 2005|12:27 pm] |
Ah, the power of powerful experiences.
This has been a tumultuous week. But good news may have reassured me. The wonders of reciprocation...
The play went well. Many were impressed by the fact that it was my first time performing on stage. Chelsey was fabulous- as expected. I have a quiz tomorrow, a paper due on Tuesday, and a practice LD debate on Wednesday. But the good news has calmed me. It would be silly of me to think of my experience here to be bleak. I will overcome. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 31st, 2005|12:27 am] |
YogaChaiKari (11:20:08 PM): i know whou are now
newbattleground (11:20:10 PM): fun
YogaChaiKari (11:20:18 PM): you're the guy all the first years have a crush on
newbattleground (11:22:07 PM): you dont say
YogaChaiKari (11:22:13 PM): i do. |
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tomychagrin's journal