The Acquisition of a Life

     Hello, Candies! No, I haven't abandoned you. Last Thursday, I was busy studying for SciOly Regionals so I decided not to post. I apologize. At least I medaled as a result!

     However, in the empty void left behind by Science Olympiad, I realized that a yuuuuuuuuuuge portion of my time was spent studying. This is great and all, but as my friends have told me many a time, I have become a "padaku" (nerd). It's time to change that. Here is a list of some hobbies I may uptake. But what's life without a little pessimism? Therefore, I will also be shooting down each of these time passes to keep things sadly real. WOOT! 😞 

Arts and Crafts

I have no fine motor skills. At least, they're not good. Also, this hobby seems like too much work for the end result; a misshapen version of something you could find at the store for less than you spent on supplies.

Creative Writing

I already kind of do this on this blog. However, I would like to shoot this down since I often get writer's block, and writing stories and poems in my free time just doesn't have enough appeal for me to be seriously considered. This is one of the better choices, though.

Music

Yeah no. I quit piano! And even though my elective in school is Band, I don't think of it as a hobby. Sorry!; this is out.

Language

This is like the previous one in that I don't think of it as a hobby, even though I don't hate learning new languages. This trumps creative writing in potential, but both aren't very viable, to be honest.

Dog Training

Casper would hate me.

Learning a Sport

Tennis is probably the most realistic here, but NOBODY EVER HAS TIME TO TEACH ME (hint hint Dad). I could sign up for a class. Actually, that's not a bad idea...

Unicycle

Yes! Wait; ouchie...

Traveling the World

Expensive. Jetlag. Planes. Crying children. Boredom. Random hotel bedsheets. NO INTERNET!

Tutoring

I thought I was trying to get away from studying!

Being Silly for No Reason

I'm doing that right now!

If you have any input on activities I should take up, feel free to leave ideas in the comments.

Bye, Candies!

Idea by M.M

 

Random Facts about Seaweed

     I like seaweed. Let's get onto the post.

1) About 70% of the world's oxygen comes from algae and seaweed.

2) Seaweeds can grow fast. Like, really fast. Like, up to a meter a day fast.

3) Seaweeds (at least most of them) are actually algae.

4) Seaweeds are actually chock-full of minerals and vitamins.

5) Seaweeds are sources of emulsifiers and emollients, so they help the economy.

6) Seaweed can be used to fight cancer - that's cool.

     Sorry for the short post but I have a test to study for.

My Opinion on Toast

     Hi, Candies. Today, I will be sharing with you my opinions on different slices of toast on the internet for lack of better inspiration.

    Well, that's a bit demanding. The words on this piece of bread are, arguably, a work of art, so why would I heartlessly consume it? Besides, why would a slice of toast want to be eaten? Does this photo have a darker meaning? 3.5/5

   
     That looks delicious. The herbs, olives avocado, and the TOAST work so harmoniously together that any other preparation of toast now seems obsolete. 4.999.../5

 
     This looks disgusting compared to the above two pictures. Sadly, this is what my lunch at school usually looks like. Yeah, maybe I'll cut back on the PBJ now. 2/5

     This looks Photoshopped, but if it existed, it would surely replace overtoasted PBJ sandwiches as my school lunch of choice. However, the red things in this image look like tomatoes, but they could be pepperonis. This makes me question my perception of reality as a whole, which is both scary and exhilarating. 4.5/5

I do not own any of these images

See you next week, Candies!

Thoughts

     Hello, everyone. Today, I happen to be sick and therefore not in the best of moods. This is augmented by the fact that in P.E., they separate us into boys and girls when we do most sports. When they finally do mix us, the dudes never pass. This isn't helped by the fact that an embarrassing portion of the girls actually live up to the stereotype that causes the guys to hog the ball; that we are all gossip-obsessed snobs that don't know what end of a hockey stick you hold, much less how to use one. Not that that's an issue; if that's what makes them happy, they can go for it. I just think it's unfair that the rest of us girls have to deal with the effects of the actions of only a few of us. Oh, hey; that reminds me of a funny anecdote I must share. My friend's history teacher actually made the class write a paragraph on how their actions affect others. He did this because he wasn't in school the previous day, and two students actually lit the bathroom on fire. Obviously, that isn't a nice state to find your school in after you return from an absence of one day, no more. For us children that were actually there, we were treated (or punished, depending on your class) to a break from second period, in which we went outside, following fire protocol. Most of us could actually smell the smoke and see the fire truck as it drove on campus to extinguish our bathroom conflagration. Honestly, I understand that school isn't all puppies and roses, but seriously‽ Setting a bathroom on fire‽ The students have not returned to school since, to my knowledge.
     By the way, the unconventional punctuation you saw in the penultimate sentence of the last paragraph is called an interrobang, and it combines the functions of an exclamation point and a question mark. Although this piece of punctuation has something akin to a fan following, I think it's only useful for informal writing on forums like this one. However, it certainly performs its job admirably, and its unusualness makes reading it an experience in itself, emphasizing the meaning of the sentence after which it appears. I give the interrobang an 8/10; would recommend.
     And now, Candies, I must depart. The full evils of the common cold are starting to descend upon my being now.

Music I've Been Liking Recently

     Hello! I have been listening to a lot of music lately, and have developed what some might call a type. This includes:

1) "Again" by Noah Cyrus

2) "All Falls Down" by Alan Walker ft. Noah Cyrus and Digital Farm Animals

3) "Lush Life" by Zara Larsson

4) "Symphony" by Clean Bandit feat. Zara Larsson

5) "Love Is the Name" by Sofia Carson

6) "Dangerous Woman" by Ariana Grande

Music is nice to have on while studying, which is nice since I have a Science Olympiad meet on Saturday.

So bye

      Similar to Guava's post this week (click on the graphic to view it) and The Anthropocene Reviewed, a podcast by John Green, I shall be expressing my thoughts on items I happen to notice as I stare off into space.

4:59 PM:  Coconut water. So expensive, yet so irresistibly thirst-quenching and subtly sweet. Why does California have to produce most of the United States' fruits and vegetables and yet not grow coconuts? How can something so cooling and refreshing contribute to climate change every time it's transported to thirsty Californian residents like myself?

5:12 PM: Alexa; let me ask her to play some music.

5:13 PM: My Kindle Paperwhite. I am currently reading the Matched Trilogy for the second time. Currently, one of my favorite books is One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus. It's a murder mystery... or is it?

5:16 PM: Tennis Ball. One of Casper's toys that he left around. How come he never has to clean up his things but I do? I DEMAND EQUALITY!

5:24 PM: I know this is a short post but now I'm going to go study (sure, Nandy...).

End of the Semester

Hello, Candies!

My school semester ends today (when you're reading this), and this gives me mixed feelings.

I am mostly happy that I get a fresh start with my grades, which are just barely satisfactory for me (although I'd say I have high standards for myself).

I am also a little tensed because I get a fresh start, so every assignment will count again. Currently, if I miss a free points somewhere, it doesn't really drop my grade because of the number of points I have collectively. However, since everything is wiped clean, if I miss a question on a test, it will really show.

Maybe I worry to much about grades.

On a lighter note, some of my friends will be switching electives, since our school had some electives that are only for half of the year. I am not among these, but it will be funny to see them starting at their schedules and trying to find their new classroom(s) like naive new sevvies (which is what we call seventh graders. If you were wondering, some of us sevvies call the eighth graders eightiots).

I can't believe half of the year is over. It feels like yesterday that I was getting used to the fact that I have 6 different teachers. Oh, how the time flies. In only seven months, I shall get to look down at the new class of seventh graders and think midgets.

All in all, I can't wait for a fresh beginning and a chance to get an A+ at school and life. Strangely, my school doesn't allow A+ as a grade. I'm as confused as you are. Whatever.

Farewell, Candies!