Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy (Belated) Hanukkah, Happy Winter Solstice

Or whatever doesn’t offend you, because that seems to have become a thing again this year. I really don’t care what greeting I receive, it’s just nice (most of the time) for someone to take a few seconds in their day to acknowledge my presence. There is 1 hour and 15 minutes left on this Christmas night. I had a good Christmas, Santa (or my mom) was super generous and I got to see my grandparents and my aunt. My mom made a really good dinner, per usual, and it was overall a good holiday.

As a little Christmas special, I wrote a living tribute to Shirali Y. Patel.

Literally a living tribute, because she is indeed still alive. I promised earlier in the year I would write her eulogy so I thought I should start working on it, you know, just in case….

Shirali Y. Patel. What can I say about Shirali Y. Patel. Not her middle name. I can’t say that about Shirali Y. Patel. But at this point, everyone probably already knows it because everyone with the last name Patel *cough* Shirali and Jahnavi *cough* cannot keep a secret. Shirali is well known for her baby hairs, neutral colored clothing, and collection of unique phrases such as: “Ain’t nobody got time for that,” “I like you,” “If you were a boy I’d date you” (to either gender), “Frick,” “The struggle is real,” “God dang it,” “Oh my god(s),” You’re a cutie,” "I ain't about that life" and the ever controversial “You’re a classy broad". Although sometimes asleep, or doing homework through it, Shirali spent many hours in temple and celebrating the every other day holidays. She was also well known for her spotless room due to daily and sometimes twice daily vacuuming sprees, and her frequent hair washings.

There are too many times to remember to account in one premature eulogy. As a group we spent many a night sleeping on the floor of a social lounge while the movie watched us. Shirali became my one a day hug person, making me comfortable with human interaction, and a day without seeing her was a weird day indeed.

Since she isn’t actually dead I don’t have to say farewell friend, but one day we will all perish from this earth. Hopefully we will be old and cratchity and have lived good fulfilling lives. Being a teenager makes us feel invincible, but were not. So don’t do drugs! Or drink excessive amounts of alcohol (but if you do please make it to the toilet), or have lots of premarital sex for money (but if you do please use a condom), and all that junk.

Phew…that eulogy made me feel like someone actually died glad that’s over with.

Oh and here is a nice Bingo Board for the enjoyment of anyone who knows Shirali.

Merry Christmas and Good Evening to all,

Noelle

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Musings of a Semester Gone By

I originally wrote this post when I got home from school last Saturday, set it aside, then edited it, and reedited it. I cut some parts, and added some parts.

This semester probably wins for most eventful. I came in ready for anything. It was different from the first time around because I already had friends and I already knew what to expect, or I thought I did. I spent most of this semester surprisingly happy. I don’t really know why, but for the most part I was really happy.

I came in August for Major Events Committee, which I wouldn’t do again, but had an okay time doing. It was basically just college camp. We saw speakers and then helped move people in to their dorms. I got a lot of free t-shirts.

Major Events (Never again though)

Classes started. They went alright. I got yelled at for cell phone usage 2 weeks in during biology class, which basically gave me an irrational fear of the professor.

Our friend group sort of disintegrated. I don’t really know what happened. I guess we all changed, and there were left over fights. I made really good friends with smaller group of people I stayed with in this weird separation, and I stayed friends with everyone for the most part, so that's cool.

I’ve also spent a lot more time with my Christian homeschool friends, something that has been a bit mind blowing. I don’t really know how that happened. But I really like them.

I’ve been working a little on the religion thing. I kind of like the Catholic church. I don’t really know why, but I like the ritual and the tradition of the whole thing. My mom would probably kill me if I decided to be Catholic, but then again maybe she wouldn’t. I’ve tried the praying thing, but I don’t feel like I’m very good at it. We only really pray when we want things. I feel like I pray too much for my grades (first world probs).

My October was pretty uneventful. I really do not remember much from it. I went to a pretty lame Halloween party and read the last book in the Divergent series. My grades started to slip sometime in there.

Our appropriate Halloween costumes

November is when all the excitement hit. It went by surprisingly fast, for unusual reasons, but it was a growing up moment. Or multiple moments. It was full of moments of advocation and holding my tongue. Feelings of apprehension over the health someone I barely knew. I couldn’t really figure out why I cared so much. I like to think it’s because I am a good person, but that might just be my ego talking, and I lost out on my chance at free tuition. I did get a boost in my people skills though. I started to feel better about my ability to interact with human beings, and I think I got a pretty good friendship out of the deal.

World's most poorly timed Bitstrip (I didn't know what happened when I made it)

December was basically just finals week, but we had a kick ass Christmas party if I may say so myself. It had the qualities of the personalities of the planners. Laid back, chilled out, and low maintenance, or at least I thought so.

Group shot

Awkward cuddling (People around here seem to be into that)

Where's Waldo? Oh, it's me. 

Another good group shot

Family photo

I basically redid my entire schedule in an angry huff the other day. I’m not sure if that was a mistake or not. Maybe it was a rash decision, but maybe rash decisions can be right ones. Maybe what I was feeling at that moment gave me the courage to do what I wanted to do all semester. But, good news, at least for me, my GPA didn't tank this semester. I now have the grades I thought I needed to make my decision, but I still can’t make a decision. I have a psychology schedule set up, but I could recover the biology. I really need to sit down and make a choice, and I am going to stick by that choice for the semester. I just don’t want to have any regrets.

The semester has come to an end. I'm so glad that classes are over with, but I already sort of miss everyone. Home is boring. But I’m enjoying the break.

~Noelle

So long for now

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It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Finals Week (And Christmas Too)

It's that time of the year again, folks. All nighters, endless amounts of caffeine, becoming a fixture in the library, its finals week! Well, the end of finals week. I'm taking a break from writing a paper to write this blog post. Kind of funny. I had all semester to write the paper, but hey, due tomorrow, do tomorrow. I took my last final today, which I'm fairly sure I got a 50% on. Not even kidding. The amount of guessing I did on that test was mind blowing, sad, but there is nothing I can do about it now.

With finals, comes grades. If there is something panic inducing, it's grades. I am personally the nerd that has an excel sheet to figure out mine, and I can probably guess I'm not alone on this matter. I'm probably not going to be super happy at the end of this semester, but what can you do.

But, to everyone who is freaking out about their GPA, your grades do not define you. You cannot win at everything, and if you get a B, it will not change you as a person, and it will not change your dreams. If you get an F, well then, my condolences, but A-'s, B's, you get no sympathy from me. And to those experiencing these imperfections for the first time, welcome to the human race.

The annual Derpy Christmas Party is on Friday. I've been looking forward to it all week. It's the little things. Friends, pizza, and ice skating, what else could you want? With the planning of this for second time, we found out there was apparently a lot of drama surrounding last years party. I blame it on the fact that we were freshman, we were socially awkward, we were wrapped up in ourselves, and we were on a budget. So to everyone who wasn't included last year, another apology. Although if you slept through it, it's not our fault. This year, however, we are being more inclusive, so no derpy Giant Eagle food this year. The amount of cheese and crackers needed was too much. Oh and if you are reading this and you haven't paid for pizza, pay up.

So funny story, I may have gotten my friend Heather a copy of Royal Pains for Christmas thinking I was a super good gift giver, and then before I even opened my gift from her, I realized we got each other the same thing.

This is how Shirali opens gifts

And this is how I study or shoot nerf darts at my roommate (Don't worry, she wasn't really studying either)

I leave for home on Saturday with another semester under my belt, what feels like another wasted semester. I just keep telling myself I have to know what I don't like to know what I do, and everyone is afraid of being wrong. So I need some more time to figure out my life, I'm 19 years old. How can I be expected to know my entire future when I still have to tell my parents when I am going out. It's just all a little confusing. But, I'm going to take this break to catch up on TV shows, hang out with friends and family, and enjoy Christmas. I have a book calling my name that isn't about biology or chemistry, and a bed that could use some sleeping.

Happy holiday break,

Noelle

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