End of the summer ruminations...

(No, I don't mean cud-chewing.)
So another semester began for me recently and I'm forced to ponder the things that I will miss with the advent of homework and night classes. I list them for you below...in no particular order.

• Free time, or what I like to call "Any-time-when-I-can-do-nothing-for-as-long -as-I-like." It could be argued that, because I am an adult, all of my time could fit into that category...but if I start thinking that way then I'll REALLY never get anything done!
  
• Reading all the novels I can get my hands on. This one makes me sad, even if my class reading IS fascinating. There is some mental block that forms for me when I'm told to read a book as opposed to when I choose to read a book. Even if it's a popular novel, when it's made into a "textbook", it becomes a horrible chore to read it. Stupid mental block!
  
• Staying out late without repercussion - unless you call falling asleep at your work desk, repercussion. I just call it nap-time.
  
• Spending money on completely unnecessary things anytime I feel like it. (Oh give me a break...while this might be curbed a bit, let's be honest. This lovely little habit ain't goin' nowhere.)
• Keeping on top of all the latest films in the theater. Well, this one shouldn't suffer terribly until crunch-time begins. I mean, I'll still need to let loose on the weekends, right?
  

What won't I be giving up?

• Well, I won't be giving up my obsession with web-surfing and other various online time-wasters.
  
• Speaking of online time-wasters, I will hopefully not be giving up my blog. I know I've been exceedingly lazy this summer, but I'm hoping that now that classes are beginning again, I'll be blessed with greater determination to blog...as a means of avoiding the homework I have looming above me. I mean, that's kind of why I began this thing. Tools of procrastination are a wonderful thing...kinda.
  
• My recently rekindled friendship with exercise. I've been so good for the last few months, but it's so hard to keep up once homework and classes start taking over...and the fatigue begins to creep in. Gotta make myself go to bed at a reasonable hour and then I might not be battling so much.
  
• I'm also worried about keeping up my slightly healthier eating habits. Sigh. Life-long battle, maybe? But wait, this list is for what I'm NOT giving up...so that settles that.

And there you go. Does the end of summer signify an end or beginning for you too? Do share!

Apathetic, lazy, langurous, indifferent, lackadaisical...

Sigh. Story of my life, lately. I'm so unmotivated...about everything! I am so disinclined to be productive at work that I actively look for ways to be lazy. Yes, I am aware of the contradiction in ideas there. Mine is just another kind of productivity! Surfing around on the web alone provides me with ample places to waste time and tax-payer's money, but then on top of my own time-wasting skills, I have many friends who send me links to other fabulous time-wasters. Gaaaahhhh!!! Enablers! Wanna see how evil* they are? Good, cuz I'm gonna show you.

• This one was just brought to my attention by a friend today. (Curses!) Sift through the various comics...just try and tell me they don't make you giggle! (Ha! Snapes on a plane! Hee!) Here's one that's quite apropos!
• And what about this? I have been exposed to a lot of great new music lately (that'll have to be another post, I think.), so tell me what you think of this one.
• Here's a link to some more new music that has been highlighted on another blog. This just goes to show my level of infatuation with it at the moment.
• And I have to thank** my friend Marin for this one. You can thank her too. I warn you...this will lead to hours and hours of free tv/movie-via-internet-watching. Don't say I didn't warn you!
• And without AsianKeng's help, how would I have know what kind of friend I am?
• And it's only natural that at least some of my recent procrastination should have been Potter-related. Anyone hungry for some Potter food?
  
• This is just plain cool. Ever played Guitar Hero? Well, this person certainly has...and he/she kicks tail-feather! And if you know who Trogdor is, then you're just plain cool too. :)
• And before I go, how about a bit more cool and interesting music that I've been exposed to lately. Dawn is pretty earthy and cool...and she inspires infatuation and near-stalking in some people. Check this one out. And no, not this Jem. Ooo, and just one more. How can you NOT find this absolutely amazing?!

So, there it is. A first-hand look at the lengths this procrastinator will and has gone to. So...anyone else want to enable me further? What are your favorite time-killing sites? Got any new singers/bands you think I should check out? Please share. :)

*Evil = wonderful in their diabolical ability to get me to procrastinate even further
**thank = curse (while secretly being grateful)

"Air" your gripes here...

Where on earth has Christina been? The world has been asking and Christina has decided to finally crawl out of her hole of laziness to respond. ("Hey, it's my vacation, people! Doesn't that mean vegging?") Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I know this kind of absence is just plain unfair to all my fans. (cough!)

I've been suffering from a lack of inspiration lately (and extreme laziness brought about by the effects of summer). I've actually had a post "in the works" for some time now....so I guess I'll just finish that one off and post it. Be forewarned...I began this right after a long trip and I wasn't in a very "pro-airport" mood. And here it is...

Okay, so I recently decided that I hate airports! I love traveling, but I HATE airports! Summer is a big time for travel, right? That's fine, I always plan for delays and what-not, but what I don't understand is being told that domestic travelers must be at the airport TWO hours before a flight departs. Which means, if you're planning for the added hassles of heavy travel traffic, you should likely tack on another 30-45 minutes, just to be safe! RIDICULOUS!! And okay, while I may think the measures which our airports have been taking to ensure our safety are a bit much, I'm all for safety. Okay fine. What I don't understand are those travelers who still act like they don't expect to have to take off their shoes, belts and excessive jewelry, remove their laptop from their bag and make sure their small gel or liquid items fit in one plastic baggy. This is not that difficult, people! You're in line for like an HOUR! Why couldn't you have figured all this out before you got to the metal detectors? AAARRRGGGHH!!

But, in all fairness, this isn't even my biggest annoyance. No, I've actually taken the next step and decided that I hate flying. I'm not phobic. I don't mind the actual flying. That's just fine and dandy. What I DO mind is the lack of leg room in the seating area, the difficulty it is to climb across the other passengers to get to the bathroom (that is, if you're lucky enough to have a window seat...or even cursed w/ a middle seat), the discomfort you may decide is necessary to avoid having to climb over others, the bathrooms themselves. Ugh! What else do I hate? Passengers who seem to forget that we are all sharing the same air space. I recently flew from one end of the country to the other and I realize that that's a looong flight, but why do I have to get stuck behind the guy who decided to share his "travel gas" with his fellow passengers every few minutes? Honestly, people. I almost found myself wishing for a massive change in cabin pressure, just so I could use the air mask! Have mercy!! And hey, here's another one...if you're afraid that your feet may stink...do everyone a courtesy and leave the shoes ON!

So...that was a lot of pent up negativity, wasn't it? Okay, I'll end on a positive note. Several months ago, I was stuck at the international arrival gate in the Dulles airport, waiting to meet a foreign visitor from Japan, and to pass the time to and keep from cursing my lot I decided to indulge in a little people-watching. While I did see my fair share of people I wouldn't wish to meet on a dark street, I was actually surprised with the intimate look I had into people's reunions! I felt a bit like a voyeur, but since it was in public (and I was waiting there FOREVER), I just gave in to the unabashed (if slightly glazed) gazing. It was truly touching to witness the tenderness that some people shared with their loved ones upon reuniting. Some of my favorite sights...

• countless hugs and kisses of every, shape, flavor and intention
• servicemen and women being greeted with applause and looks of admiration and gratitude
• this interchange: Dad picks up son (approx. 6-8 yrs. old) and hugs him fiercely saying, "You got bigger! Two weeks is too long!" Son: "Yeah. It's way too long. Don't go away again, k?" (awwww!)

All this made me think of this.

So, I know I ended on a positive note here, but anybody got a good horror story from the airport that they want to share? I know I'm not the only one whey gripes about this stuff! You can share a tender one too, if you want. Come on...this is universal.