In-joy

Mom's started a blog on blogspot (gardengoddess-laura.blogspot.com..... check it) so I'm inspired to blog as well. 'Cept I want there to be one entry and three outlets: facebook, tumblr, and blogspot. Integration baby.

I'll figure it out.

Oh. I could just copy and paste. I've known that one since I was a wee lad.





Today's my first day off of the week; let myself sleep in 'til 6:40. Had a delightful time doing yoga out on the deck facing north.

Ironically I've not had time in at least two weeks to go into Yoga Branch for a class where I've paid for an unlimited monthly pass. Ironic because I'm spending more time at work, making the money I'm spending on yoga...

I'm thinking I'll check in to a membership at Solid Rock again. They have a weight room in-house and it's right down the street from work so I could go before or after work.... It's been so long since I climbed; I'm missin' it. So it could work.



I'm putting this word out: I'm in the market for a medium-sized, high-quality tan leather duffel bag that'll serve me well for years. I've been looking at some from Fossil that I like, save for their prices. I figure there's got to be the type of bag I'm looking for, the exact one, for far less.

High-quality products that promise to serve me well for years are really starting to appeal to me more and more. Like my Keens. I bought a second pair for work the other day. Looking forward to their arrival.

So there you have it..... Blog.

Once again.

Mom's started to blog, so here I am blogging again; inspiring mother we have.

My life lately has consisted of the following verbs: sleep, drink, eat, work, relax, repeat.

I'm also on tumblr: joeramurray.tumblr.com

In-joy.

Pecuniary

Of or pertaining to money.
Word of the (yester)day.
Capoeira is fabulous and it's kicking my ass. This is the good kind of ass kicking, the kind that signifies progression.
I'm excited about scholarships.
I'm excited about our garden; we're about to do a survey to establish a to-do list.
Oh and speaking of to-do lists, Trevor (my cousin) suggested the app "Awesome Note" for keeping track of hw, to-dos, notes, etc. And it really is awesome!
Life is beautiful.

Days of Brilliance

I've had a fire ignited in my life. The culprit: school, academia. It's infectious. As I apply myself, as I learn to treat my teachers with more respect and as invaluable sources of knowledge, my experience of education is improved.

And playing Capoeira has been so, so fun so far. I've been able to attend two times per week, tuesday and thursday unlike last semester. The second day makes all the difference. The extra practice, information is invaluable. I feel like I'm progressing more quickly than I ever have. I've only ever been able to play once a week the other times I've taken a class. Being there twice each week keeps the energy alive.
Agh, it's fabulous.

So far my favorite classes, in order of favor are: Speech 100 w/ Prof. Shelton Hill, English 100, Philosophy 102, and Anthropology 101. I'm enjoying Hill's Speech class so much that I want to take as many classes from him as possible! I'm even tempted to keep taking classes from him even when I'm a student at Cal State.

Which brings me to another topic: the Fall semester. Where will I be? What school will I be attending? In the past few days I've been feeling very strongly that my place is at Cal State San Marcos.... And not two weeks ago I would have said that I was totally committed, totally convinced that I was going to Italy.

Ha. What a life.

The Scholarship Process

For the first time in three straight semesters as a student at Palomar College, I don't have classes on Friday. Or at least I think it's the first time....
So today, not having school, I've embarked on an adventure to CSU San Marcos to find information about scholarships. I'm especially interested in those that could apply to study in Italy at the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG)
I was sent in circles by various people sitting behind various desks. All were very helpful and, after twenty minutes or so of vacillating between offices I've come to one conclusion. Being that I desire to enroll directly in the three-year Bachelors of Science program at UNISG, my options for scholarship help are particularly focused. I say focused because I'd rather not use the term "limited." The fact is, direct enrollment in a B.S. program is very different than if I were to, say, enroll for a semester exchange at a school abroad. A very crucial, helpful distinction.
All of the people with whom I met here at CSUSM were very helpful and wished me good luck in my adventure.
I was directed to certain databases about which I am already aware thanks to Ben Kaplan's "How To Go To College Almost For Free." Inside, Kaplan does a very effective (if corny) job of laying out a step-by-step plan of action for scholarship searching and application.
So, here I stand and I have a lot of work ahead of me. Luckily, I am not groping in complete darkness. I have, at least, a good idea of where to start and where to go for help if I need it.

Another crucial topic of consideration for me is income. In a conversation this morning with my Dad I was reminded of the benefits of self-employment. And seeing as I have a very strange schedule and would prefer to be my own boss anyways, being an entrepreneur is extremely attractive.
So here's the plan: a direct backyard garden initiation service for the North San Diego County area. Specifically, I (along with my brother Sam) would focus on the communities closest to our house. Namely, Vista, Fallbrook, Oceanside, Carlsbad and San Marcos. I'd prefer not to travel much farther outside of that radius.
The potential for income and growth is huge. Plus, I could easily put what knowledge I already have of backyard gardening to use and, if the need arose, could consult with my Dad for additional information. He is, after all, a veteran farmer and agricultural/horticultural consultant.
What an opportunity!

I KNEW it would rain.

I went to school today knowing it would rain, and dressed for it. It didn't rain in San Marcos until I got out of Anthropology after three, but it was still darned cold (for Ca) before then. I wore two jackets, one water proof, and a scarf to combat the cold. But somehow, people were walking around school in t-shirts and shorts!
What the heck?!
Were they trying to look cool or a certain way or something? I don't know, it didn't make sense to me. I mean I know that some people can handle the cold better than others, so they could wear less. Ok. That's fine. But what if that's not really the case and their just wishing it was summer still?! And what happens when it is summer? What less can you wear?!
Needless to say, when it did end up raining, I was glad I'd worn what I had. And I was again grateful for the multi-functionality of the scarf. Disembarking from the Sprinter at Melrose it was raining a bit and I was listening to my iPhone and my ears were cold. So, not wanting to ruin Sam's headphones from water damage and wanting to warm my cold ears, I pulled the scarf up, around and over my head! Awesome! I know I looked like a babushka for a few but hey, I was comfortable.
I found a lot of beauty in the world today, in people, conversation, the sky, the sound of wind and rain, the sight of lightning, of the blankets of clouds. For me, foggy, cloudiness is comforting. See, I've grown up in sunny southern California and I've become very fond of fogginess. It probably has something to do with my affinity for the Monterey Bay area and its predilection for fog. I have many good memories in that area and a lot correlate to fog. Thus, the fondness.
So, where some of my fellow southern California residents (and especially my friends from the PNW) bemoan the foggy, overcast, marine layered days, I rejoice!

A big lesson for me today was patience, especially in communication. I have so much to learn, that much is readily obvious. I am grateful I get to practice living with four other people here, at home before I do it with strangers. I realize the dynamics will be radically different with those people with whom I will eventually share a dwelling. Yet many basic principles will remain. Careful listening, mutual respect, honesty, collaboration, and so on.
It's a fabulous life I live.

Spring semester sprung

What an awesome, invigorating day I've had so far.
Today was the first day of classes for the Spring semester at Palomar College, San Marcos.
I arrived a couple hours before my first class, English 100, to take care of some things. I had my new ID (or PIC, Personal Identification Card) made, saw and schmoozed with some old friends and went to stand in the financial aid line for a time.
I soon tired of that. There's enough time this week to get back to it.
My English class meets four days a week and in three different, but neighboring classrooms. Today I went to the classroom where we'll meet on Mondays and Wednesdays. The teacher arrived early, after I'd already introduced myself to two beautiful women, and announced the number and title of the class. It being not my class I made this quiet little laugh when she said it because I thought she'd made a joke.
Um, no.
I apologized and fled.
My actual teacher is a riot, seems very entertaining and I'm really excited for the course.
My Speech 100 teacher is phenomenal. He will be, and already is one of the best teachers I have ever had. His first lecture gave us shocking news: our life is our responsibility. And that perhaps the most important thing a student can do is to strive for true learning, or mastery; the fifth stage in the process of learning. The master performs his craft SO well, it is unconscious; a master is so good at what they do they may have a hard time explaining how they do it at all. "All true learning",he said, "happens in the unconscious, not the conscious." Our goal in education should not be the regurgitation of uploaded knowledge but the application of that knowledge.
Needless to say, I'm excited.
My philosophy class also promises to be of mind altering substance. We began by examining arguments and their components: premises and conclusions.
I read the first chapter of my philosophy book in the library, while it was still fresh. The book is Coffee and Philosophy and takes a refreshingly narrative approach to the subject. Plus, coffee is in the title: good omen number one, and philosophy is in the title: good omen number 2!
My final class of the day was Capoeira. It is so good, so good to play again.
This is going to be, and already is a fantastic semester.