Coming up for air

I apologise in advance for any nonsensical errata in this post, my only excuse is that I'm frazzled, been working on getting the visa stuff together and its driving me crazy having to get it all signed and witnessed and stuff... especially whilst studying 4 units at once.

I'm doing well at uni so far, I'm going to take a break halfway through my degree though (12 out of 24 units), it's knackering. It's rare that I get a chance to come up for air these days.

For English we're studying Chaucer's duchess tale (arrrrrrrgh!) and Shakespeare's troilus & cressida (one of the problem plays....damn) and sleepy hollow which i'm really looking forward to(we have to incorporate the film adaptation into our analysis so it gives me an excuse to watch johnny depp again hehe).

For history we're studying ancient mythology, with some sociology mixed in (as it informs much of mythology, it seems). The classical mythology book is thicker than a whale omelette! (see blackadder 3)

For philosophy we're studying metaphysics, ancient and modern. ancient, we're studying Aristotle, Plato,Socrates(well, through Xenophon and Plato) etc. modern, we're studying Sartre and Heidegger and Russell (Bertrand Russell kicks arse!)

For politics we're studying international politics (having studied Australian politics last term) and there is a definite U.S bias.... I was pissed off that I had to pay 100 dollars for a biased piece of shit book but hey ho nobody says you have to agree with the readings, and if you support your criticisms with damning evidence then you get more marks than if you accepted it blindly and unquestioningly and didn't back up your position. I keep getting high distinctions for my discussion posts so either I'm doing something right or my tutors have incredibly low expectations of their students... Hrrm, I'll leave that topic there.

On a more positive note, I'm getting closer to my in laws and making more Australian friends through uni and mutual friends. Also, Elliot is coming over for Xmas, and me and Greg have invited all the family (including extended family and friends) over to our place for Xmas for the first time (its usually us that goes down the coast to visit them) so that should be nice.

Music, film prevent me from going crazy, and I try to keep doing my own creative stuff too (guitar, writing, graphic design, photography, jewellery) or I'd burst with stress. I use my lighting equipment and techniques I've learned for my photos now so my lighting background has come in useful after all.

I recently taught myself to knit and crochet (or I should say, retaught, I used to know when i was little but forgot most of it) and use the sewing machine to do little repairs mostly, though when i get more confident I'll try making clothes.

I'm considering starting my own secondhand bookshop, on eBay first and then if it gets popular enough I'll set up a personal website and then who knows, maybe even make enough to justify getting my own premises down the line...
It'd be a way to combine my passion for books and creative design abilities (such as they are :-s) with my research skills and photography skills....but, alas, i know nothing about business and I know its essential for me to learn about that stuff, so with a heavy heart I have promised myself to do at least a short course in business studies, either that or I'll befriend a business savvy person and 'pump them for answers'...as it were.

I'm seeing Supergrass in October and I cant wait, it's been so long!

For relieving tension, I read an interesting book when I can, and listen to music, but I also recommend making a pizza, as there's nothing like personifying dough as you're pummelling it. My current source of antagonism is Uwe Boll so it is a pleasure to punch him in the face.

Apologies for the length of this post, I lack the time to make it shorter.

Laura