The realization that I'm not the EIC today

I am home. On Grand Manan. Far away from Residence. I'm not being asked about the paper, an article, or anything regarding 'The Baron.' This might not seem like much but to me, it means I can drop my responsibilities for a bit and just relax. I don't need to be constantly concerned with being "Samantha Tinker- Editor in Chief"...today, I'm just Sam.

It dawned on me as I threw on a pair of sweatpants, a tank top and sports bra as I decided to have a very chill day. I grabbed a shower, threw my hair up in a ponytail and didn't even bother with makeup. I'll be honest though...this feeling of just being able to relax is good for about a week but after that, it becomes a bit boring. I like being able to dress up and go out. I like having a reason to throw on some dress pants or a cute top. I love my heels, my short skirts, my little red dress...oh, I love that little red dress.

Here, it's usually easier to wear sweats and a sweater because there are two huge dogs who love to shed on me, a cat who looks more like a poof ball, chickens to feed and goodness knows what else.

Here's to just being Sam today...it's a good feeling.

The ultimate question in life: Should I order pizza now or later?

That exam I just did? Totally kicked it's butt...It may have officially bent over the desk and exposed it's rear-end only to be slammed by a piece of plywood held by me. That's right...I'm awesome...I hope.

Typically, I walk into my exams the most over-confident individual you'll ever see. By the time the exam is over, I'm usually great. Once I get back to my office, sit down for a moment and hang up the phone with my mom...I get a little voice saying "Perhaps you didn't do so well." Now, I know that voice is a) not a result of my being slightly off the deep end, and b) not real; however, I'm still slightly shaken that perhaps, this will be the one time that I don't do as well as I thought...Can I have my grade back please???

Now, time to study for my sociology exam at 7pm, and after, I will celebrate by taking out trash (my roommate and I tend to be slightly messy at times but in our defence, we're both incredibly busy), ordering pizza, dancing around like a complete idiot to Glee and perhaps some TFK or something equally as awesome...that's right peeps...I'm staying sober. Holy crap.

I think I'll clean my room, get a long, lovely shower...do some laundry so I don't completely smell terrible? Oh, this is actually surprisingly exciting! I may even clean other things...like the bathroom, perhaps do dishes...well, lets not get carried away.

This is truly the university experience. When you finish that first round of exams and get so excited about just being totally clean again...just feeling as though you're not a total grease bucket who's mother would disown you after crying over the attack of the killer laundry pile...that's the nitty-gritty university experience. Enjoy it because someday, there will be someone else saying "sweetie...please clean up your socks" and you'll have to insert earplugs to drown them out.

Now, to study for a sociology exam in 1 3/4 hours. Wish me luck...or at least, text me the correct answers!

'Acceptable' is an odd concept

What is acceptable behaviour in students changes during exam time because of an amount of stress similar to having ones intestines hauled out ones throat with pliers. Welcome to the world of being a good university student:

1) Showering is sometimes optional. You have an exam in 2 hours? You're not prepared? You smell? Possibly jump in 15 minutes before with your bagel...however, chances are you'll be too busy to care about your fellow classmates discomfort. Please, at least wear clean boxers!

2) We bite. Not literally *chomp* bite (Well EG may disagree with me as may DM because I do, in fact bite sometimes) but we get grumpy and nasty and angry. I read a line about the Jewish people and how they could not express anger towards the SS in the camps so they took out their frustration on each other at times...my tired brain wrote this: "I can't get angry with Prof.F because she is doing her job so I'm grumpy with everyone else"...Definitely isn't a Holocaust...but at least I'll remember that little tidbit.

3) Our bad habits become lifesavers. Not sleeping, eating quickly and whatever is available, smoking, I don't care what it is...it's just one more day/hour/minute...do what you need to do to get through. In our medicalized society, there's a pill for that.

4) You lose track of time. It's 5am...you're studying. 2pm- sleeping. 3pm- panicking. 7pm exam. 10pm studying for next exam. 11pm- twitching in corner. 11:16pm- laughing hysterically as you're introduced to a white coat. As long as you can get through the two weeks of hell, you'll be fine. If you can't...enjoy the padded walls, darlin'.

A breakfast sandwich and diet pepsi later and I'm back to studying.