Follow the signs right back to you

Hola me amigos and amigas!

I know, I know. For the zero million people that read this blog so diligently, I am sorry. It's been more than a month since my last post, and I can credit this both to my laziness and to my busy schedule. I'm not even kidding. Well, that and I'm just forgetful. Sometimes I forget which username and password I need to even log on to this bad boy. But alas, here is proof that in the end I always remember it, because I always come back to share my random thoughts with you.

Okay, since I last posted, I was ranting about school, which is normal. It rules my life, plagues me in my wakefulness and even in my dreams. But here I am, November 28th, and I have just attended my FINAL lecture of the semester earlier in the day. I am so blessed to have survived another semester without any blemishes so far (fingers crossed), and now I have only two exams to write. One is a take-home final that is EXTREMELY easy, and the other is your normal must-study-to-pass exam, and it's in two something weeks at 8:30 in the morning. How lovely.

All of my papers this semester I actually did in a timely fashion. Since two of them were large-scale operations, and by large scale I mean 10+ pages (and don't laugh because yes I consider that a shizz ton to be writing), I started them ahead of time, and I believe I actually submitted some decent work. Stuff that wasn't actually just a patchwork job of random thoughts and opinions of scholars, stuff that I actually put my own hard work into. So I'm eager to find out the marks for all of them, particularly one for my CMNS class on the Cultural Prod. of Music - I wrote about the subversive nature of hip-hop and rap, with a close look of Tupac and Biggie. It was an epic paper if you ask me - 11 pages of beauty. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want an A-, but I'm going to be real and expect like, a C+ at worst... hope I didn't jinx it and get something lower now -_-

Besides school being a constant pain in the butt, I can say that everything else has gone quite well. My dreaded group projects all went off without a hitch, and both of my jobs are fine, in general. FoS is of course, one of the best jobs I've ever had. I say I hate it all the time because of those paid meetings we get, where everyone gets on their high horse and talks about themselves for hours (it's an open forum where we discuss the tutoring we do), but today, a girl that I used to tutor but hasn't been coming in for a while, finally made an appearance at one of our session today, and she was so happy to see me - in fact I was so happy to her! I hugged the sweet girl and everything, and it just made me love my job all the more. It's one of the best things about being a tutor, I'm not even gonna front.

As for xxi, I somehow see things coming to a slow close.... I mean, I was reading some of my last few posts and I've been complaining about this job in particular in almost every single one of them. I've said it again and again, I love my coworkers and it's nice that I've been there 2+ years so I definitely know my stuff, but recently I was given the opportunity to work somewhere else in retail, but still in the mall... and it sounds like the job is mine if I want it. It's just a matter of how comfortable I am with starting somewhere new, and putting myself through the stress of getting to know another system of operation. I'm not going to lie - my first month at xxi when I was hired were hell. I had no friends, I didn't think I knew what I was doing, and one of the managers there hated me. So I'm just scared to go through that insecure phase all over again at another retailer - even though I've been guaranteed that it's a way better work environment than xxi, and could possibly even pay me higher. Either way, I'm updating my resume and going to set up a meeting with some people there soon, and somehow it just feels like I'm playing with fire. As much as I hate xxi for some things, is it better to stay somewhere I know or to try something scary but new? I don't know. A few months from now, or weeks, or days, or when I next update this thing, it will be interesting to see how this opportunity plays out, and what I decided to do about it.

Okay, it is worth mentioning that recently, I've been obsessed with the new CW show Reign. Like, beyond obsessed. I haven't been this invested with a show since OTH, and even then, I'm holding myself back. Nothing could ever be as bad as when I would get into legitimate arguments with people about OTH, and I won't let my love for Reign be poisoned by those same strong feelings! But it's hard. There's already a love triangle playing out and not seeing my "ship" as they call them, sailon a lovely stream of calm water, really makes me anxious. For those of you who don't know, Reign is about Mary Queen of Scots, the one whooooo, SPOILER ALERT COMING UP NEXT, gets her head chopped off for attempting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, her own cousin. As an adorer of 16th century English and French court, I have loyalty for Queen Elizabeth and her rocking Mom Anne Boleyn (who was also beheaded by her dumb husband King Henry the 8th), and therefore dislike Queen Mary, but after watching this show...... I have done my research and I've decided that beheading Queen Mary was super wrong, and she was an amazing woman. So thank you Reign, you're making me brush up on my history, looks like television isn't always making our minds go south!

It is also worth mentioning that, as my semester has come closer to its official end, I've been catching up on my reading. It's one of the things I've really stopped doing and kills me to not be doing habitually, but thank God that I found this hobby again. Recently, I've read The Book Thief and Memoirs of a Geisha, and they were both AMAZING. Okay, we all know how amazing The Book Thief - in an old post once, I urged y'all to watch the trailer since it's coming out as a movie, but let me tell ya. The book, OF COURSE, is by far, the thing you should pay attention to. It tore my heart in two. Seriously. As for Memoirs of a Geisha, that book is a box office sleeper. I know that term doesn't apply whatsoever to novels, but I don't know how else to describe it. Somehow it's not as talked about as all the other classic novels in the world, but dear God does this one top my list. And what's amazing is that both books take place or have the setting of World War 2, but in different countries. One is Germany, the other is Japan. And it is amazing to learn some of their culture and the point of views of these countries during a time of such calamity. After I read Memoirs, I permitted myself to watch the movie as a reward. I've already seen the movie and so knew what would happen in the book, but it's different now that I've read the book - every small detail in the movie version makes sense, and damn did it just make me even more obsessed with the book and the actors. Zhang Ziyi is Chinese but plays the main Japanese lead in the film, and while researching her, I discovered her other work like House of Flying Daggers, which I've heard of and seen brief clips of in the past. I've tried watching it on Youtube and let me tell ya, her work is mesmerizing. It's insane. I'm telling you guys to get yourself into this kinda stuff, and I apologize in advance if I've just spread this unhealthy obsession! Actually no I don't. This is better than drugs at least, hahaha.

Jeez. I have the tv on in my room and it just so happens to be on the movie channel playing Breaking Dawn pt 2. By golly is this movie awful and awkward all at once. It hits you right in between the eyes. Thank God I'm distracted writing in this, because goodness knows that if I were actually putting my attention on this, I'd just be cringing the whole darned time.

Also, though I've never read The Hunger Games, I am very interested in seeing the latest movie out from the trilogy. Catching Fire looks super good, and if I'm going to be honest, the only real reason I want to watch it is because of the two new popular main characters they're going to be introducing. Finnick and Johanna Mason. And the actors who play them are effing hot. So don't judge me, I just want to watch it simply for the eye-candy they're providing me with. Mmmmmm-mmm.

I'm trying to think what else there is I could possibly catch you guys up on, but there's not much... oh yes, here's one.

A week and a few days ago, it was my sweet Kimberly's 21st birthday! I love her to death. We celebrated by going to our usual ratchet haunt, the only club in town worth getting wasted on because of cheap drinks, Mirage. I'm not surprised that boys creep on me there, it's a trashy place. I always expect that kind of thing. It's just funny and makes me want to laugh when they put their hands underneath my clothes - I know that sounds wrong, but it's just how it is. I was wearing a peplum top and tights - nothing slutty by any means, I've warn more revealing stuff than that. But because of how peplum tops are open flair at the bottom, every guy that tried dancing with me was able to creep his hands under the shirt and splay their gross fingers all over my stomach and just rub. I know that's a dirty description but it never went beyond the stomach. Well, ass-touching was unfortunately part of the combo for some guys but I was always pulled away fast enough by watchful friends. God bless their souls. Anyway I went home that night, more tipsy that I thought I was, because I went to bed feeling fine enough but at 4am I woke up to puke. I effing hate that feeling. I just lean over the toilet and force myself to let it all out, because goodness knows I'm not leaving my bed again for another puke fest. And I continuously tell myself after these kinds of things that I won't get that wasted again, but somehow I always do. Gosh Gelina, what will we do with you?

It's nearing the end of November, and can you guys believe it! It's CHRISTMAS TIME SOON! Which means I've got to come up with a damn list of things I want. It's back to the old Gelina where I would make lists all the time on this thing, but first I feel obligated to discuss the events of Halloween. Oh yes, this is what you guys get. I'm absent for one month and more, and I have to give you one huge post about everything I've done since my last post.

Okay I'm going to be brief. Halloween, I dressed up as Spam, which was a freaking hit. It was a piece of cloth that I paid too much for, but omg it was worth the admiration. Me and my coworkers went to a Halloween party that one of us was hosting, and I got a little outta controllllllll. As a result of my drinking, I got sick afterwards, with my throat deciding to hate me and be a beeotch to me, and my nose clogging up for days. After a while I developed a cough. Your typical common cold, attacking me the same month as midterms, thanks for keeping me in check, body. You really do me a favour, pulling this stuff at the same time every year -_-

My Mom went away for three weeks to the Philippines a week into November, after this. It was so hard without her, and not because we didn't have people here to do my laundry or cook me food, just 'cause I missed her. But she deserved the vacation. We Facetimed with her almost everyday, and she told us all about the fun things she did with our filthy rich relatives. I was so jealous! But she came back to us yesterday, FINALLY, and she brought us back so many goodies. Like, flipino food that we obviously can't get here. And umbrellas ('cause me and Genina always lose ours and they're cheap there), and cute eating utensils with asian cartoons on them, and omg so much yummy snacks. Thank God she's back, because Christmas time means family time! :)

Gelina's Christmas List 2013:

• BOOKS. I have yet to decide which ones I want. But for now I'm thinking
• Lord of the Flies
• The Grapes of Wrath - these are my high school faves that I'm thankful for having been forced to read and analyze them - I appreciate them all the more because of the research I put into these bad boys
• Clothes. Lots of clothes. And by clothes I mean loose-hanging sweaters, a long cardigan perhaps, yeah. It'd probably just be better that I get a gift card, heheheh.
• Burgers. And to get this, it would probably be best to get me a gift card to a burger joint that I love, like Red Robin's or Fat Burger or something.
• A new calendar. I get one every year, and this year it's HP related! One year it was a Glee calendar! Yahootie.
• I do believe I want some movies on DVD but nothing comes to mind... I'll think of some though!
• Don't judge - Justin Bieber's new perfume, The Key. I got his Girlfriend perfume last year, and I just love it
• Oddly enough, I want Tic Tacs. Orange flavoured ones!
• A pillow pet! Genina has one, and by golly I want one of my own.
• BIC pens - they're a certain kind with an easy grip, and easy roll-on. I want like two packs. They're super cheap at Walmart
• I need new earphones... Apple earphones. Goodness knows that I actually don't like anything else.
• Maybe a Kindle? Or some kind of e-reader? Just throwing that in there.
• A new purse, or big bag, I think. I don't know, I need one for work that I can throw my lunch in and also put my wallet in and, and the thick book or two.
• Oooh, a flipcam? You know those handy compact filming tools. I'm so into recording random moments. That would be awesome.

Okay, I guess that's it for now. Not gonna lie, that list took me a while to think of, and somehow I'm not very satisfied with everything I've put! So that's a "For Now" glimpse, stay tuned for anything else you might wanna buy me, don't be shy my friends.

Alright. The time has come for me to bid you adieu. It was nice to sort out my thoughts on this. Truly, a lot of things have happened, and it's nice for me to just unload every now and then and reflect on the things that have changed, or stayed the same. 

The post title is from a rocking indie alternative folky song called Back To You, by a folky band called Twin Forks. Thanks to Reign, it has widened my range of folk music that is effing amazing. In fact, I have a renewed love for The Lumineers thanks to that show, so it looks like Reign can be credited for many things in me so far.

I was considering using a lyric from the song Say Something, which I know is snobby of me to say, but I heard it first before it was debuted on the AMAs -_- It's by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera. Just how the lyrics are, they really sort of reflect how I feel about one such thing that just hasn't budged. And no, it's not about a boy.

I'll leave it vague so y'all can wonder. Goodnight and good day. God bless you reader.

From yours truly,

Gelina.