My Xanadu Too!

Ok, maybe it's not a pandemic.... and maybe it's not sweeping the nation.. but still, there's an illness going around (besides the Swine Flu which is scary in and of itself). This illness usually strikes about this time. With changing weather, spring in the air, and May just around the corner it is the perfect time for Senioritis to strike. That's right, I said Senioritis... It even has a Wikipedia page!

The terrible illness of procrastination and utter lack of motivation to continue plugging along in the world of academia. When you can almost taste freedom, yet it still has weeks before it finally arrives. Senioritis, where good students lose focus at the sight of a degree at the end of the tunnel. And above all, I've caught it!

I planned out this semester to be easy. What with getting married and trying to balance work and school and the hubby, I figured that I would go light this semester. After all, I only have a semester left after this so I deserve a light one. :) Amazingly enough, it is during the light semester that I catch this terrible sickness. I only have three classes: Modern Critical Theory (ok now that one is a pain in the rear), Elizabethan Poetry and Prose (not bad), and Harry Potter (that's right I said Harry Potter because my university is amazingly wonderful like that). That doesn't sound too hard now does it?

It's a struggle to get through until the end. What with papers coming up and everyone deciding to assign actual research papers (throughout my academic career I have been fortunate enough not to have to do formal research papers, just literary papers which are a cinch) I'm drowning in a sea of academia. So much for an easy semester....

Does anyone know of a cure for Senoritis?

Here's one of my favorite battles of wit:

1. How did you come up with your blog title OR what does it mean?
Well, Xanadu is a paradise or another world so the title is basically like it's my world too!

2. What are your general goals for blogging?
Mainly I created it to help with my writing. Plus, my Mom has been trying to get me to do it for ages.

3. Do people “in your real life” know that you blog and do they comment on your blog OR is it largely anonymous?
Yes, people in "real life" know I blog and comment on it. Mostly my mom though :)

4. How often do you read other blogs (x per week)?
Almost everyday...

5. How do you select blogs to read (do you prefer blogs that focus on certain topics or do you choose by tone or…?)
Well, a lot of the blogs I read are hijabi centered... but I also read ones of people I know so I can catch up with them

6. Do you have any plans to copy your blog entries in any other format, 0r do you think that one day, you’ll just delete it all?
I don't think I'll just delete it someday because I think it's a valuable tool for looking back and remembering events and such.

7. What are the things you like best about blogging?
I like the creativity and the chance to write about things that interest me.

8. What are the things you don’t like about blogging?
It's not that I don't like it but I have a hard time coming up with blogs and blogging on a regular basis. I'm trying to work through that though. :)

9. How do you handle comments?
Very easily. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.

10. Do you have any burning thoughts to share on blog etiquette?
Not really; I'm pretty new at this

11. Any desired blog features?
Well, I haven't fully explored the extent of my abilities here so none yet.

12. Have you suffered blog addiction?
Yes, for a very long time. Although it was primarily reading them, not writing them. Perhaps the tables will now turn :)

Have I mentioned that I hate Mondays? I know hate is a strong word but it seems to fit perfectly. I hate Mondays. No matter how hard I try, I can't get a handle on them. It's a cyclical habit of loathing the day and putting off things I need to have done before Monday comes around. Not to mention, it means back to the daily grind.

Where has the time gone? When I was 11 summer couldn't come fast enough. Days of just sitting around the pool, swimming and reading -- they wouldn't come fast enough. Now, I'm grasping backwards wondering where did the time go? I have come to the conclusion that the older you get, the faster time runs by. If only that could have happened when I was younger.

Now the "To Do" list grows and grows with less time to do it in. If I had a genie, I would wish for about 8 more hours a day. That way maybe I'd get some sleep.

I know this may sound like a typical joke i.e. How many men does it take to screw in a light bulb (Answer: 4, 1 to do the work and 3 to evaluate) but it isn't.

As I was driving to work today peacefully jamming to Sarah Brightman. Ok, maybe not jamming as it's kind of hard to jam to opera but you get the picture. The wonderful city of Fullerton has been working on the streets and more specifically the one road that takes me from my apartment to work. With orange cones everywhere and a guy standing in the road with a slow sign, I notice a group of guys together. Slowing down so as not to mistakenly squash the road workers and to be nosy, a question pops into my head. How many road workers does it take to work a jackhammer? Apparently five, one to work the hammer and four to "evaluate."

To be honest, after the minor giggle I had, I was upset. Why were they just hanging around wasting tax payer money? The funny thing is they were just watching the guy hammer away at the street. I mean, I understand if they have to conference or go over the work plans or discuss the oddballs that drive by (not me of course) but noooooooo..... they were just watching like it was some major football game or something. GRRRRR ARGH!

Finally! After months of contemplating, considering, and procrastinating, I have unleashed my blog on the world! Wow, when you put it like that it sounds kind of evil. But, rest assured it won't be.... I hope.

So, greetings..... welcome.... Salaamz.... This is My Xanadu! For those of you who aren't familiar with the word, xanadu is a type of paradise or a retreat if you will. Yes, it was also a cheesy 80s movie (and yes that was my inspiration). But, it is also a world of my own creation here in the blogosphere.... my great attempt at reigniting the creative fire within.... a place to rant and rave, create and inspire, share and learn. Hopefully this could be your xanadu too! So, sit back, relax and enjoy!