A Power Cut...

Yesterday was a time to finish off some remaining work for this week and make any last requests for things to be brought from home before my parents set out today. I think I've asked for everything, but I'll no doubt remember some small detail once they've arrived. 

Once class had finished I headed back to Worcester to grab my things and went across to the library to work with Lenka before dinner. No sooner had I bought my tea, however, then a large portion of Chestertown lost power, including the library. So, amid the incessant door alarm, which was one of the few things that had ironically survived the outage, and the horrified screams of seniors who had been working on their unsaved theses, Lenka and I downed our tools and set about relaxing and doing book stuff instead. A short while later the power returned, meaning I could leave the library and come back inside - the joys of electric doors. So, when Shannon came in, me and her sorted out cameras for Kick Off! later in the evening. 

We ate dinner slightly earlier off paper plates and with plastic cutlery as the dishwasher had not been able to finish its load. Then, we returned to the library for a while before Shannon and I headed over to Kick Off! We had a good turn out, great speeches, ice cream, and we made some money, so I think we did pretty well in the end.  

Untitled...

Yesterday was spent reading up for discussion classes at the end of this week so that I have nothing to do when my parents are down. I did have the soul-destroying realisation that I spent an hour reading a chapter that was for last week's class, but having thrown the book at the wall in frustration, I got on with what had to be done.

After Miller's class, I caught up with Homeland and began another episode of Boardwalk Empire. I also did an hour stint on the relay table, making a few dollars on wristbands - every little bit helps. Tonight is 'Kick Off!' so that will be where we can really boost awareness. Now, I need to read for tomorrow's discussion class and hopefully get some notes down for the essay at the same time. 

Mr Smith Goes To Washington...

The relaxing weekend ended with a very long day of classes, running all the way up to 5:00pm because it was a very long film. However, the film in question was 'Mr Smith Goes To Washington', and it certainly lived up to the expectations of the blog. 

We had an earlier dinner because 'Big Man On Campus' was beginning at 7:30pm in Gibson. The event is run by the ZTA sorority in support of breast cancer awareness. Basically a bunch of guys do a group dance, have a formal attire strut, show us some "talent" and then finish up with a question and answer. There were some interesting sights, but everyone was in the spirit of things and it raised lots of money, so you can't really go wrong. 

Afterwards, we made a run to the grocery store for some Ben & Jerry's before going to KC to watch another episode of The Walking Dead. Ice cream and TV made for a welcoming chill out after a long day.   

Four Papers Down, Four To Go...

Having not had enough of 'Play It Again Sam's' yesterday, after brunch me and Sam went down once more - me to continue writing the second film paper and Sam some reading for Miller this week. We spent a few hours in there, having a bite to eat and I managed to get over half of the essay done. 

Returning to campus, we went on to the library, where I spent the hours before an earlier weekend dinner finishing the paper  - family dinner at KC and a relaxing evening ahead as my motivation to keep going. Finishing the paper with some time before dinner, I went to the pianos in Gibson and spent half an hour tinkling the ivories. 

The dining hall had a specialty of crab being served at My Pantry, which I declined, not wanting a dodgy crab leaving me feeling rough in my week of visitors. There really is nothing more soothing than trying to chat over food with a deafening chorus of people smashing their crabs to bits with hammers. Aside from our neighbouring tables mimicking the ape in the opening scene of 2001: Space Odyssey and sending crab shell shrapnel flying in all directions for the tiniest morsel of meat, we managed to eat unscathed. 

Then, as usual, we headed over to KC where US Sam was cooking us pasta, which I'm sure had an actual name that I can't remember. I'm sure she will find it in herself to comment when this post is on Facebook and enlighten us. A big thank you to her for food. 

Following our miscellaneous pasta dish, I made six teas, memorising what each person has for future reference, and then we watched the first episode of The Walking Dead. I tried to shelve my skepticism of zombie-related dramas and stuck with two episodes. I think it has potential, so I won't give up on it. But with that, Homeland, Boardwalk Empire, and Game of Thrones that I watched back in Worcester, my viewing schedule is becoming quite crowded. 

Pancake Breakfast...

A perfectly relaxing Saturday - I could spend every weekend doing much the same. We made our way down to KA frat's pancake breakfast in the church just off fountain square in late morning and then we went onto the Bookplate to browse their selection as usual - the others bought a couple of books. Thanks Marcela for the invite, it was a really good start to the weekend!

After Bookplate, we went to 'Play it Again Sam's', where we chilled out with books, coffee, tea and then a game of scrabble - utterly relaxing. 

Then, we decided to go on an impromptu antiquing trip to a nearby town - I forget the name. Anyway, I found a souvenir Peter Pan ink pen from the New York World's Fair that is at least 50 years old. It has a functioning pencil at one end and a nib at the other. 

Shannon drove us back to campus, where I returned to Worcester and watched the second episode of Boardwalk Empire. By the time the show finished it was too late for dinner, so I went over to KC and hung out with Shannon and Lenka. We attempted to get into 'Reign', but the first episode wasn't anything to shout home about. 

Later on we went upstairs to Sean's where they had been drinking for a while and we joined them, meeting others as they drifted in throughout the evening. All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing day. Tomorrow I have to try and motivate myself to write an essay on women in Hollywood film.  

Feeling Vintage...

Yesterday felt like a big hurdle to jump before the weekend. However, I gave myself a running start by finishing my essay plan before first class, which meant that I would have the day free to relax once classes were over. After second class I had an adviser session with Dr Sorrentino to talk about the classes I'd already picked for next semester, which, if I get into them all, are:

• History of the US since 1865
• The American Civil War
• Comparative Cultural Encounters
• Hollywood Film Genre

Basically, they are the four follow-on courses from the ones I am currently taking, which means that the assessment style will pretty much stay the same, as will my timetable. 

After a quick film discussion class on 'Bringing Up Baby', I went back and, in a vintage mood, I bought some swing and jazz music, delved back into my 1920s crime thriller idea and watched the first episode of Boardwalk Empire. The series looks pretty good from the outset, so I'll keep going with it. 

Once we'd had dinner, we all went over to KC to Shannon's for a while and then to Lenka's as a sort of house warming get together for Kristine, who is Lenka's new roommate. 

American Horror Story...

A very relaxed morning watching Modern Family before I realised that I had some reading to do for Miller. I crammed it well though, and Stringer's course content is currently running alongside Miller's so I was relatively well-versed in what we were talking about anyway. No midterm grades as of yet, so I'm assuming that we'll hear something next Tuesday. 

This afternoon I went to the pianos and then created an outline for what the plan of my film essay would be (if that makes any sense). Now I know how I will set out the essay, I need to spend tomorrow planning what will be written in it. 

After dinner we went over to KC to watch American Horror Story, which is...interesting. I'm not sure I really get dead people interacting and being with the living as if they were still alive and I don't really get to know the characters well enough before they are disposed of by their house. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be seeing more of it in the future and it may grow on me.