Well, this is boring.

So, things are winding down on all academic fronts here in Auckland. I had my last Magazine Journalism lecture on Monday, thank God. I have my last NZ Politics lecture today, and the last tutorial for both classes tomorrow. Huzzah!!

My Mag Jo feature story is due tomorrow; I finished it yesterday!? It was causing me anxiety, literally, for the past three weeks. It involved so much research and talking to people about a subject I knew nothing about. And since I had been thinking about it/sort of working on it since like, right after the semester break, it's been constantly on my mind, and a constant worry. But, I finished, and I personally think it's as good as it possibly could be, seeing as though I kiiind of half-assed my interviews. But, I'm totally okay with it, because it's fine, and it's done. And tomorrow I will never have to think about it again.

I have a paper due for NZ Politics on Friday... should really start that one.

BUT FRIDAY, I'm DONE!!! I'll actually finish the paper tomorrow (...), because we're heading to Rotorua on Friday. So, Thursday night, I'm DONE!!!!

And then three weeks to chiiiill ooouuuut. Yes. (Save that one pesky Politics exam on November 6.)

In other, even less exciting news for you, I'm sure, I'm currently wearing my hair in a ponytail!!! Albeit a very stubby ponytail, doctored with four bobby pins and a barrette to hold back the hair that just doesn't quite make it... But my hair is up! It's long enough to be OFFICIALLY PONYTAILED!!!

I'm in the throes of trying to figure out my schedule for next semester at SMC. As per usual, classes for my music major are clashing with classes for my journalism major. It's like the scheduling gods don't want me to succeed. This semester, though, the overlaps aren't too atrocious, and due to the funky scheduling I had last spring (by taking only half of Music Theory II), things should work out. I have emails out to a bunch of professors and department heads, so hopefully I'll hear back soon and will be cleared to register.

If all goes according to plan, I will be taking Acoustic Foundations of Music, a physics class that will fulfill my required lab science class; Music Theory II (without the lab, because I took the lab last spring); Writing for Media II, and Global Communications, plus Wind Ensemble and my private French horn lesson. That's only 15 credits, two of which involve nothing more than two hours of playing French horn a week, so I'm debating adding either a music or a general elective. But I'm also debating just having a 15-credit semester? I mean, let's be honest. I haven't really done any work this semester, save these last two weeks. (Music journalism barely counts.) I could use a sort of easy semester to ease myself back into college...

There are three journalism electives offered this spring that sound really interesting, though: Race & Gender in the Media, taught by my favorite professor Traci Griffith; Re-entry Travel Writing, taught by Kim Sultze, who recommended me as a Writing Center coach, who I had for New Media two years ago and who I haven't seen in a year, because she's been on sabbatical; and Topics: Writing Opinion and Commentary, taught by Kelley, who I know nothing about (including first name or gender). But, I have opinions, and I like to make commentary, and I like writing! But I think I should not take journalism elective this spring. This semester has been pretty JO-heavy, with my internship (which counts for my Practicum, a major requirement) and the Magazine Journalism elective. Plus, I need to take Writing for Media II and Global Comm, and that's just too much time in Bergeron already. So, I must back awaaaay from the journalism electives. Sigh.

We'll see. I have a week or so before I actually have to register, and we all know the first few weeks of classes are for shopping anyway.

Um, what else? Happy Birthday, Dizzy Gillespie! (It's his birthday in America... not New Zealand. Weird International Date Line.) Also interesting for those of you who are still celebrating October 21: in 1879, Thomas Edison created the first workable light bulb. You go, Tom! The world would be dark (come nightfall) without you.