There is a History in All Men's Lives - William Shakespeare

So my first week has been completed at grad school. I will say that my brain is deactivating already. Each course I am taking requires so much of my brain that I am not sure that I can equally disperse it. The first course requires me to read 12 books and then write papers for each reading and compose a chapter in my professors book that he is publishing in the Fall of this year. No pressure - right? The next course I stumbled into... I thought I was going to learn how to edit historical publications in general for museums, journals, publications, etc. Well, the class does teach the fundamentals but I am now an editor of the college's award winning history journal. With deadlines each week, oh and I was told that they have won every year for 24 years and want to take another victory this year to make it 25. No pressure - right? The last course I am taking was supposed to teach the fundamentals of public history, how the public views exhibits, etc... now I am helping with the exhibition of a museum that is to open the second week of April. Not only will we create the exhibit but we will be featured in multiple publications throughout the OC. No pressure - right?

I had no idea that graduate school was basically volunteer work. In essence it is, although I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a prestigious college and be a part of a publication, journal, and museum exhibit. I am just overwhelmed by the amount of work that lies ahead of me and the fact that I will quite possibly be THIS busy for the remainder of the year gives me anxiety attacks. I have a 2 1/2 month break in the summer and I intend to use it to the max! I AM going to Macedonia first, I was informed that funding is available for graduate students for RESEARCH and dammit it is research! LOL! Then I will fly to Australia... as soon as I come home I will be back in school. Back in action!

I'm tired, but I must continue to read. Shhhhhhhh... someone please tell me why I want a Masters Degree?

SRF Out

xoxoxoxoxoxxo

Celebratory News from Southern California

Hey folks!

I graduated on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 1:45 p.m. at California State University of San Bernardino. It was a hell of a long day but well worth it, I deserved the celebration even though I was beat tired with the longing to run out of the gymnasium screaming, "I FREAKING AM DONE!"

I look back at the time I spent at CSUSB and it was tedious, really it was. I began the journey working full time hours as an office manager for a private investigator and ended my last year at CSUSB without any job at all and focusing all my energy at my school work. It really paid off and I am lucky that I had the opportunity to not work and go to school. College is a full time job, it really is. Especially taking a full load! Trust me when I say, I did not have a life. My life revolved around studying, writing papers, research, and complaining about the work load. I will say that I worked my ass off for this degree, I was able to pull off 90 units in less than 2 years, which is insane!

What's next? Graduate school... I want an MA in History/Museum Studies and damn it, I am going to get it!

Possibly I may apply to UCR for their Phd program in History, which may be my best bet, seeing how I want to wear a fur pelt over my shoulder and announce the graduating class with an extreme English accent .... THE MASTERS..........

I love school. I love to learn. I love to write. I love to be a part of the collegiate process. CHEERS... on to the next!

Fast Forward....

I hate it when people ask, "So,... what's your story?" It's kind of like asking, "What kind of problems do you have?" To which I reply, "Noneya'".

However, I will say that it is interesting to talk to friends or people you don't know and learn about their lives. Half of the time you listen and think to yourself that your life is NOT half bad in comparison. Sadly, I feel this way a lot, which is why I only have a handful of friends that I keep around because their brains actually function. I just cannot get myself to listen to people brag about themselves, talk about their suicidal parents, or sister who is a slore (slut+whore). It's not fun to hear about your past drug addiction, or your online dating scene, or perhaps listen to how you are so cool. First of all, if people have to tell you how cool they are, chances are they are just wannabe's who have this weird fascination that they are cool when in fact they are NOT. I call them, LAME.

In college I have learned that the vast majority of students are these LAME people. I don't give a crap about your coolness, who you slept with, what designer bag you scored on, the men that find you attractive, your personal life that consists of too many kids and not enough condoms. Please reframe from telling me these stories, for I do not care. In fact, I get bothered, not because I am high and mighty, but because you are simply irritating.

Another thing I've noticed at college is the lack of intelligence that attend classes. Is this our future? People that do the bare minimum to pass? People that think there is a warehouse of Pueblo Indians mass producing arrowheads? These people are the future of our country, our communities, teachers to our children? Good God, help me! I am really sorry, but there is not enough of me and my friends to go around... I am deeply sorry, but there is not.

When I graduate I will remember the struggle it took to get me there, but I will also have this haunting feeling that those people I just graduated with are going to go into the world and provide services, be a part of our communities, become teachers, who knows what they are going to do,... but their higher education is frivolous. Yet we let them pass because they have a 2.5 GPA. People, a 2.5 is a C average. Oh brother... leaders of America.

I worry, and so should YOU.

Hark Ye!

What an interesting day I had today. It was full of adventure, "Where is your spirit of adventure?" I ask.... well,.... where is it?

Let me start off by saying that this day would not have been at all possible without the assistance of fellow PHL (Public History Ladies) Dani S. Shall I begin? As you wish, you reply.

Got up super early to study. You see, I had two mid terms today, one I was scared to take because the reading was insane and also I stabbed myself in the left eye with a Tootsie Pop stick a few nights prior and the pain and swelling is still evident. DEEP BREATH,... okay, so I had to wake up and study early. Re-read Victorian era poems and re-read some stories written by Indians of the Spokane tribe. Interested in the rest of my day? It gets better, trust me.

I have to work at the museum in the morning, I planned to study while sitting there greeting visitors and well, that's all I do in the mornings. So, I arrive, the museum staff has silenced me! They are not speaking to me... why you may ask? Did I make someone angry? NO. Did I do something or break something I shouldn't have touched? NO. You see, they asked me to apply for the open position at the museum, I did and they hired the next day they told me to apply. SO,... in guilt they ignore me. Uncomfortable, so I split early to go to my first midterm.

Southwest Indians are interesting... but this midterm was very focused on terminology and knowledge of the population and agriculture shifts of the SW Indians. SO.... I begin. I knock out 6 handwritten pages within 45 minutes. I am the queen of the world!


Next stop, midterm number two is next. I meet Dani and we study, and study, and study. We get our tests and realize, damn we didn't study enough.

45 questions of things I really could not understand. 70% of the questions I understood the rest, blah.

Lunch! We were going to eat Thai food near campus, we arrive. GRADE B.... no thank you mister rat, I pass. We see an Indian restaurant, GRADE B.... we immediately exit due to concerns for our health.

Farmer Boys is safe, right?! We eat there instead. Dani orders an Orange Cream Shake,... yum! However it never gets to us. To which Dani states I am mean because I demanded her shake to be delivered to our damn table. HELLO! She paid for it ya' nitwits. So, the waitress comes back and tries to give her shake to another table. Clearly this waitress has the brain the size of a walnut, she just spoke to us! REALLY???!!!


Get back to campus, knowing we are going to be tardy, I suggest we park in the 30 minute stalls near Campus Parking. There are 7 slots available and I thought that moving the car every 30 minutes was a good idea.


I get an envelope and have to walk it to Social Sciences before 5, I leave really fast. WALK WALK WALK, return to class, Dani takes off. I now need to move the car, I continued the cycle 4 times of moving the car. LAME....

We learned about historic buttons. Oooohhhhhhhhhh interesting, NOT.



Right after class Dani and I go to a lecture on Indian Beads with an Indian Professor from India. We sit down, it's late. We are tired beyond anything. Dude next to Danielle is rubbing his black rubber soles to make his hands black and filthy! But not just one hand but both damn hands. OMG! So gross!

The Indian Professor spoke English, but his accent was so thick neither one of us could understand him. I got some words, but damn. For a moment in time Dani and myself felt as though we spoke Indian. Thank goodness for pictures and print on his PowerPoint. Dear lord.

We leave campus and see a Coyote. Symbolic. We are Coyotes at CSUSB and we spotted one on campus.

I'm done with this day. My head feels like it is going to explode. STRANGE DAY.

Carmel Highlands, Here I Come!

I have been blessed this year by who knows what. I've just been blessed.

Going to school was one of my most challenging accomplishments that I have had to ever go through, but the pay off is so rewarding! I have received a call to travel up to Carmel Highlands, California.

I will share the details later, but for now, I am overly excited and I am a true believer now that you cannot simply wait for someone to help you achieve what you need to in your college career. You have to look out for yourself in every situation.

Feelings of splendor fill me right now.

xxoo

You Need a Spirit Hood TOO!

Hey there!

So, Spirit Hoods... what are they? Why, who, what, when, where, and how?

My best friend, Roma introduced me to the wonderfulness (Is that even a word? Whatever, I'm using it.) that is a Spirit Hood. She told me about this company during the winter season of 2009, Roma was browsing a catalogue I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) and saw these amazingly dynamic articles of warmness (again with the NESS, sorry) that she so wanted to wear on her head while snow boarding. I was curious as she told me she got the Wolf in honor of the beautiful Jacob Black (you know because Tay Tay is gorgeous, don't lie, he's a yummy wolf). Wolf Pack as she disclosed. Wolf Pack? But I'm a vampire dash it all! I decided to change teams (don't be mad Eddie, it was only a fling).



She told me where to look and I did. And boy was I interested like a kid staring at an ice cream truck salivating over the different flavors of sugar and cream. However, I was not SOLD yet. I am a creature of habit and I LOVE me some black jaguar or a striped bengal tiger, but alas they did not have one yet.

One of the creators, Alexander Mendeluk (actor, model, fashion designer extraordinaire) friend requested me on Facebook - not knowing who the hell he was it dawned on me... I asked multiple questions and he was gracious and replied to me. He informed me of new Sprit Hoods in the making, my heart reactivated and I was alive with anticipation.


And here we are, Red Fox and all! I love it so much, no one is allowed to handle it, only I am.

Here's the skinny, they have so many different animals, it's hard to choose. I have opted to have a Spirit Hood in the glove compartment just in case the party is a downer and you want to spice it up, or if you're in the wilderness and you are afraid to be amongst the wild, slap that bad boy on, even when a cop pulls you over - put the Spirit Hood on and growl a little. The fear will set in and he will go away, or shoot you. Nevertheless these products are wonderful. They come in a full hood or a half hood.

BUY YOURSELF A SPIRIT HOOD TODAY DAMMIT.

Save the money first, it hurts to shell out $170.00 (that's the highest with tax and shipping people, don't gasp, Jesus) for a full hood. The half hoods are cheaper, ranging from $59-$99, I believe.

Right now is a big sale, $99.00 for about 4 different ones. Here is the website, happy hunting, I mean shopping!

With lots of love,

xxoo the Red Fox


Sorry if you cannot click on it... copy - paste, works just fine...

Place to BUY:
www.spirithoods.com

Creator:
www.facebook.com/mendeluk

It is all coming together...

Hi there! I have been up to something for over 2 years now. I literally rack my brain every time I put pen to paper, finger tips to keyboard, thoughts to voice,... and now I am in process of something that was not feasible or obtainable those long 2 plus years ago.

Do I dare disclose this private information to the world yet? No.

Graduation is at the end of this year and the last quarter is around the corner.... nearing this goal is the first step to success. The next step will be graduate school, to which I will attend and complete.

With so many things in the making I look back at my life and wonder why did I wait so long?

We can all make excuses as to why we haven't done something, but the reality is, everyone has a choice. We create our own destiny's, and we create our own havoc. I hear people all the time say that there was something in the way of achieving their goals, but yet the obstacle is gone and you have yet to achieve anything. We call them - ATNA (All talk no action).

But really, the truth of the matter is, there was a way to do it - you just have to look hard at yourself to realize you really can. That's what this whole year has been about for me. I quit my 8 year stint as an Office Manager to pursue an education full time. I began an adventure that is in process and I am hoping to touch the minds of those who love imagination. Sometimes we have to sit back and say that we can, and actually do something to change our current situation.

By no means is this a pep talk to anyone who reads this. I am not qualified to give advice. However, I can say that what I have accomplished, any one can do it. With all this said, I end my rant with William Shakespeare who has inspired me to read classical literature and live my life creatively.

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.