Another year of Halloween is here, and I bet most people have plans. We’re playing it by ear, but we do hope we’re getting a free meal with my mom later this afternoon. We’re planning on doing something tonight as well, but haven’t quite figured that part out yet. I bet it will involve the couch, scary movie marathons on TV, and eating the few pounds of candy we got last week. Exciting!

I think scary movies are the tell-tale sign of Halloween night for me. A few days ago I watched the original version of Paranormal Activity, a movie out right now and probably one that will be fully seated tonight. As someone who scares easily, this movie was not scary and I was disappointed. I think the scares depend too much on the theater setting. Watching it at home must not have had the same effect. The end was shocking, but I slept well after watching it. The movie reminded me a lot of The Blair Witch project — a fake documentary with no special effects, never showing the identity of the “monster.” I think marketing it as “the scariest movie of all time” is what gave my hopes up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good movie, but it just didn’t scare me.

I think what people find scariest is really personal. For some people it’s psychos chasing after people with chainsaws, for others it’s ghosts you never see, or maybe it’s creatures like werewolves and vampires. For me the scariest movies I have seen are The Exorcist and [REC]. ([REC] was remade into Quarantine for America… Don’t see that one.) Both use little to no digital special effects, and what you see was physically recorded. I guess that’s the kind of visual effects that scare me the most.

I could also list a few movies that scared the crap out of me, and a lot of good Asian horror films, but the two I’ve listed just take the cake.

Any other favorite scary movies out there? I’m curious! And of course, I hope everyone has a fun Halloween!

God grant me the serenity 
to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference

This is a more personal entry of sorts, as I feel it’s time I did another one of those. This year is not quite over yet, but it has been one of the most surprising and exhausting years of my life. After so much bad luck with men, I somehow found someone early this year who accepted me for who I am, genuinely cared for me, and connected with me effortlessly. While our relationship has had ups and downs that are present in every relationship, things between us have been everything I was looking for. I thought this year would be my year, full of positive changes I had been hoping for. Am I now being forced to trade off for this blessing?

I’ve been hit by the bad luck truck, and every time I find the strength to pick myself up and drag myself out of the road I get hit again. It’s the only way I can describe how my months have been feeling. I could go on listing everything that’s happened, but there wouldn’t be a point. Some days I feel strong enough, holding on to a sense that everything will be okay. Other days, not so much.

Everyone has setbacks. Some of the most successful people have had huge setbacks and managed to overcome them. I’m trying to use this year as a learning experience. I can’t change my luck. I can’t turn Ein from a devious puppy into an adult dog. I can’t force people to return my important phone calls within 24 hours. I can’t change my course workload. I can’t change having forgotten something. What can I do? There’s really only one thing I can do. Learn to be patient, with myself and with others. Learn that there are more important things in life. Understand that I have many years ahead of me, and this year will soon be forgotten. Understand that having this much go wrong is not normal, and will not be an every day occurrence.

I hear negativity only brings on more negativity. It takes a lot to get out of that mindset, but I’ve been trying. Today I experienced the worst event thus far, missing a deadline that pushes back my graduation date to 2011, which hit me harder than losing my job last week. I’m currently trying to get everything resolved. I find that surrounding myself with positivity helps create that mindset. I have yet to tell everyone, especially my parents, about what’s been going on. Disappointment is really one of my biggest fears, but I have to find the courage to bring it up. I also find the revelation will bring more negativity into my mindset, so I will not be spreading the word until next week.

I started thinking about a lot of things. What if everything is going wrong for a reason? Am I being challenged? Am I being told to take a different direction with my life, and change things around me? I haven’t figured this out yet. The last time something this awful happened to me academically, I almost gave up. But I found my true calling — teaching. If I wouldn’t have ground to a halt on that road, I wouldn’t have seen the dirt path going off to the other side, bringing me to a better destination. I am talking to an academic advisor Friday, and I will base my decisions on the outcome. Maybe I need to make some changes, and something good will come out of this big mess after all. I don’t know if I can have an override and everything will be okay, or if I will declare a minor to study another subject I’m very passionate about. Is this what I need? I can only concentrate on the positives, even though I am worried what will happen when Josh graduates next semester while I am stuck at school for another year. The future is uncertain, it goes on the list of things I cannot change.

Mindfulness, hope, prayers, luck, or whatever you believe in — send it my way, people!

I’ve recently found myself seriously short on cash. With all the gas bills, groceries, my new iPhone bill, the occasional pizza, and now the horror of new semester fees, I haven’t had much left over for luxuries. I know I’m not the only one who has this problem! Here are a few ways I’ve learned to stretch and keep an eye on my money.

1. Track your spending. I thought I didn’t spend much on little things here an there, and I was dead wrong. If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, I highly suggest downloading a free application called Balance. Input the total amount of money you have right now. Then every time you buy something, write it down in Balance. It will show you how much money you have left. Good for knowing how much you have, plus keeping track of all the things you’ve been buying!
2. Use Coupons. I know, I associate coupons with old people too. But if you check for coupons before heading out, you may find coupons for the items you are going to buy. Try not to fall into the coupon trap, clipping coupons for items you don’t need just because they’re on sale. You won’t save money if you didn’t need it in the first place! For coupons, look in your local newspaper. If you’re like me and don’t want to pay for a newspaper, there are hundreds of places online to look. Try coupons.com!
3. Look for freebies. When my younger sister told me about a free texting app for the iPhone, I thought it was too good to be true. But lo and behold, she was telling the truth! Textplus is a free app for the iPod touch and the iPhone, letting you send texts over wifi networks instead of your phone service, so they’re entirely free. Sure, they plaster a small add at the bottom and the app isn’t the fastest, but look at the positives. No more expensive texting plans!
4. Limit yourself. Accept that you won’t be able to buy all the latest things all the time. Pick one or two movies you want to see a month, and remember to sneak in your own snacks to avoid paying for overpriced and oversized snacks. If you have generous family members, add luxuries you’ve been dying to get your hands on onto your holiday or birthday wish list. Stop eating out, and learn to cook for yourself at home. It doesn’t mean you can’t do any of these things, but cut back. Limiting yourself in these ways and more will save you a lot of money!
5. Update your hobbies. I’ve never had a problem with this, but I realized it helps keep money in your wallet. While everyone else goes to bars, clubs, movies, etc. every weekend, stay at home with the people you care about and spend time doing something you all like that doesn’t require money. Play games together, read a book, bake, cook, take a visit to the park (or as we do, the dog park!) and find the same fun on a $0 budget.

Max has been accompanying me at Josh’s place. Ein is still a puppy (a really big, strong puppy) and can’t seem to calm down around Max. Yesterday around 8:30am, we had just come back from a long walk. Max and his tiny legs were worn out, while Ein was just getting started. Cut to Ein charging at Max from across the room. In attempts to save my small dog from a decent slamming, I lunge at Ein to stop him.

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