My week in stress

This week I didn't really know how to cope with the fact that people around me were stressed about important assignments that they had due and I did not because my major assignments were the papers I had due in Week 7 and so I was stressed then but I did not have anything beyond normal amounts of reading/homework to stress about now so I managed to invent things I could get stressed about.

Monday my class was cancelled because the Professor was sick so I was able to stress about the fact that I didn't get to clear my final essay topic with him like I had originally planned. This cancellation also gave me ample time to stress about my math homework which was due that evening at 5 pm. I went into the professor because I was stuck on something that I should not have been stuck on and I came out of the meeting with him feeling even more incompetent than I had felt going in. So by the time I reached the chapel for some moral support, all it took was a hug from Jo and I was crying. I pulled myself together and went to the library and watched the video tutorial (which didn't help) and looked at the answers to the previous homework (which helped some) and powered through and managed to finish and turn in my homework. Then I checked my post and gave myself a little veg time to relax and pull myself together after my overly dramatic morning. Finally I went that evening to the practice for the Scratch (two practice) Choir that is performing at the Carol Service on Wednesday the 12th. I really enjoyed myself, I got to hang out with LeeAnn and laugh about the fact that I have no confidence in my singing what-so-ever but I am going to make an attempt anyway.

Tuesday morning, I got dressed for my normal run, with one addition MY CAMERA. I ended up walking most of it so that I could actually take pictures of the great views that I see on my run, which will compose the next blog (yay more pictures and less words). Then I worked on my Mass Media portfolio due next week. I still have one part of it left to do but that requires watching live local tv news in the US and so I have to do it at like 10pm at the earliest and I always forget when it gets to be that time. Then it was off to Mass Media class. I finally started my Social Movements reading which I realized was a nice way of creating stress for myself because I started it later than I usually due so I was much more stressed about finishing it on Wednesday. Finally, I went to Sacred Space which this week was a Taize Service and as wonderful as it was made me sad because it was the last Sacred Space of the Semester and my last Sacred Space ever.

Wednesday it was off to Math class. Then I did some reading and finally met up with Hannah for Lunch. After lunch with Hannah I was back into my Social Movements book but the stress of finishing had been lifted since one of my other group members hadn't even started the reading and our third group member was doing a presentation so she had other things to worry about. Wednesday night I had planned to have dinner with Becca and it just so happened that her dorm was having a Christmas party with a free buffet and so we met up with LeeAnn, Jemma and Hannah and went there for dinner, dessert and Christmas Crackers (the popper things that you pull, Meredith says they are in Harry Potter). Then we all hung out a little bit longer before it was off to the CU meeting, which was wonderful as usual, this week's talk was on your purpose and the speaker shared his testimonial and what he felt was God's purpose for him.

Thursday we actually discussed in our Social Movements class which feels like a huge deal because normally its like pulling teeth to get anyone besides Matt and me to talk in class. Then I used my two hour break to get stressed out over my last PDEs homework which is due Monday, because it is much harder than any example he has done in class and I am frustrated with it. Then I had math class which actually was good because he finished the last of his new material and so for the rest of the term we are just reviewing. After dropping my stuff off in my room I went to Hannah's to watch some Gilmore Girls (which I am so happy that she is enjoying) and then we went over to Alyssa's block to have dinner, they made Cajun Chicken Pasta, but took into account the fact that I am a wimp who can't handles spice and actually took out some chicken without spice for me. They are the best! Finally I headed off to Jesus Jam. Without going into too many details, I have to say that the discussion at Jesus Jam this week really resonated with me personally and things that have gone on in my life and it was hard for me to face that I would only have one more Jesus Jam ever.

Friday was an active day. Directly after my math class (review yay!) I hopped in a cab with Meredith, Sierra, Fizza and Matt and we headed to the mall in Stoke. We had a nice coffee date before Matt had to go to work and the girls went shopping. After a long but productive trip in Primark it was time. We went to visit Santa! It was wonderful, so much fun. I bought a key chain with our picture (the 4 girls and Santa *cough* Matt *cough*) which I know will be very special to me. After our time we Santa and some more shopping it was back to campus. I took a quick pit stop in my room to drop stuff off before heading over to Meredith and Sierra's to prepare for Winterfest. We had dinner, hung out with their hall mates, changed got ready and several hours later we were off. First up was the outside activities I managed to go on all 3 of the rides (seriously they had 3 fair rides in the parking lot it was crazy) but I did not go ice skating because the "ice" was actually plastic and the shoes I had did not include socks and all in all it was a terrible idea. So I am determined to go ice skating after I get back! Finally, we went inside to see the musical acts, it was really crowded and really loud and I was uncomfortable but determined to stick it through until this mean guy stepped on my toe and I decided I was done. Then I went to tea and toast at the chapel for like an hour which was really wonderful. I love hanging out with the Christian Union people. Finally I went to bed.

Saturday has included a lot of procrastination and no work whatsoever. I went for a run, picked up my stuff from Sierra and Merediths, showered, spent a lot of time on the computer, went back to Sierra and Merediths and now I'm here working on the blog.

Tomorrow after TEN:15 we are having minced pies and mulled wine at Ruth's house which should be really nice. It makes me think about the way time at Ruth's house divides up the semester, the first time I went there and met Nellum, Kat, Katie, and Jo at the very beginning of the semester, Guy Fawkes Day when I was feeling more settled and comfortable and I watched the fireworks, and now tomorrow, Sunday the 9th, which is the day before the last week of classes. Crazy.