Update

[tarigwaemir]

Lowell House on the Feast of St. Fulbert

1. The physics exam was a disaster mostly because while I'm relatively confident about the problems that I did finish solving, I left two problems more or less half-incomplete. The biology exam tomorrow will be a disaster because I didn't really start studying until late last night, and look, it's 2 in the afternoon, and I've only managed to go through a quarter of the material.

2. What aggravates me most is that I have no one else to blame for the above situation other than myself. In other words, I finished Monster, and oh my gosh, so, so brilliant. I use "brilliant" far too frequently, but it's really amazing. khursten sent me the first four volumes, and I ended up downloading the rest off BT. How to describe Monster? Psychological horror? A bit simplistic. In any case, will rave more later, but let it suffice to say that Monster is quite possibly the most intelligent and sophisticated series I've read so far. I'm completely bowled over by the ending.

3. I got my pre-paper back, and while I do know that it wasn't particularly great work, I'm still not quite sure what's expected of me in order to get an A. Well, other than write something truly outstanding and unique and groundbreaking (in other words, impossible). I know I said I was going to stop obsessing over grades, but it's a bit of a blow to my pride. In any case, I don't think I've really written a paper that I was wholeheartedly proud of so far in college, and I don't want to repeat the experience. On the other hand, at my current rate, I probably will end up handing in something embarrassing and unworthy of Gottschalk. Prof. McCormick talked about how one could reconstruct the trade routes by referencing the movements of travelers (who probably used the same roads and ships that merchants did), even if the available primary sources didn't directly mention trade at all. This sort of analysis seems of course incredibly exciting, but it does require a bit of creativity, which I think I'm lacking at the moment. I spent parts of the last biology lecture trying to brainstorm more imaginative methods than the ones I thought of for my pre-paper, but no real breakthrough so far.

4. Oh yes, I wrote a jump100 drabble for Hikaru no Go, although I'm pretty sure most of you have read it one way or the other. (And please, post drabbles! The third challenge will be over in a few hours. ^_^)

5. I signed up for Kang He-ra and Han Ye-myeong from Wa! at 30_kisses. I feel not quite as guilty or panicked about this as I should because two themes a month isn't so difficult when summer is approaching. Also, Ye-myeong is a total grump and anti-romantic, which is why I feel slightly more confident about writing the pairing.

6. For the past few days, we've had sensei visiting from Japan, so we had an extra afternoon practice on Thursday as well as an extended practice on Friday, which is why I feel fit, healthy, and incredibly tired. All in all, it was quite amazing, and I felt ecstatic after each practice. That kendo high, as one would say. As our esteemed captain says, Kubo-sensei is a rock star. Very charismatic, very funny both in and out of the dojo, and quite an excellent teacher. Thursday night, Daera and I visited their guest suite, which is on the first floor of our entryway (we escorted them to breakfast for every day of their stay here too), and spent a couple of hours listening to the alumni plus Izzy ask lots and lots of kendo questions. The sensei would speak in Japanese and Jeff would sit there saying, "Ahhh, naruhodo," while everyone would wait impatiently for a translation. Then the rest of the room would echo, "Ohhhh," and suddenly, something that I never quite understood before would make a lot of sense. ^_^ It's hard to explain, but really, having a sensei instruct is an entirely different experience altogether. They really do have a gift for explaining things and giving you images that work. I don't know how much of it I'll actually remember by next week, but I'm definitely more eager than ever for the Shoryuhai. My goals (the modest version anyway) are: (1) to win at least one match, (2) to score a men (I've only ever scored kote in shiai and that only against our own club members), (3) to actually try a kote-men, (4) to not get hiki-men scored on me (this semester, all the freshmen are hitting hiki-men on me, and it really, really bugs me). Also, I had so much fun in jigeiko. I played against both sensei, although both times passed by in a blur. All I remember is that Kubo-sensei smiled a lot as he whipped my shinai to the side and hit me three times while I tried to figure out what the heck I was supposed to do, and Sudo-sensei also smiled a lot and had me hit a lot of men. On Friday, I decided to line up against Sokolove first because I normally dislike going against large opponents (well, everyone's large compared to me, but you know what I mean), but that time I was in that bizarre, practice-induced mood where I felt like I could take on anything. Yes, I'm weird. That match felt long, and I took a spectacular fall, landing flat on my back, but my stamina really must have improved because I didn't feel all that tired afterwards. Go figure.

Back to biology, not to mention all the homework I haven't done for tomorrow. ;_;

Yours &c.

Comments

[ladydaera.livejournal.com]

1. yes. i am a quarter through with studying too. my quarter. *sigh* we're going to FAIL.
2. you must send it to me!
3. trade routes? but i thought you were writing about something else? *looks confused*
4/5. will read later... *grin*
6. yes, yes yes! my only regret is that now my ankle vaguely aches whenever i walk. i really should have paid more attention to it, but being as excited as i was, i totally neglected to take care of it.
and jugeiko! i totally still suck, but i FEEL much more into it now. i'm learning to be more aggressive. alas, if only i could remember all the things i'm supposed to remember to do (and not do) during matches...

[troisroyaumes]

2. Sure thing. XD
3. Ah, sorry for the confusion. I'm still doing my paper on Gottschalk, but the way that Prof. McCormick emphasized this sort of indirect approach to using primary sources in order to draw conclusions from your text (the trade routes being an example) seems to be the sort of analysis he expects from us. Also, it's really cool. ^_^ But I'm not sure how I can pull it off.
6. I always forget those things too. My form goes out the window during jigeiko. >_> But yes, I agree, I've definitely caught the excitement of sparring, which I didn't quite understand before. XD XD XD

[clocklike.livejournal.com]

Good luck with all your schoolwork. It sounds like you're under a lot of stress right now. Think of the bishounen and go through it all! (...What am I saying? XD)

Ah, I was so lazy these past few weeks with writing. The small plot-bunnies are practically feeding on my brain now, so I should get them out soon and that includes some drabbles for jump100. And 30_kisses is fun! (You just reminded me. I should work on that too. :P)

Much <3 to you~

[troisroyaumes]

Hee, thanks~! Somehow I'll survive. ^_^ And yes, do write more for jump100! I'm looking forward to seeing what you write. XD

[khursten.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked my suggestion. ^_^

You can try his other work, 20th Century Boys. That series is beyond my wildest imagination. it's available off irc channels (try the Neverwhere bot in #null at irchighway. It's licensed to Viz and it might be a little difficult to get online. ~_~;;)

[troisroyaumes]

Ah, he has another series? Shall look for it ASAP. Thanks~, the bot information is especially useful. XD