YawnWave

Packing is officially done. Phone charger, camera, understuffs, hot dress, crazy tall scary shoes, book to read in the airport...all accounted for.

My house is fairly clean and Rigel is snug in his bed. I feel really bad leaving him for so long, but he will be in Janae's capable care.

I feel a little dumb for booking a flight that leaves so early, and a little afraid I will miss my alarm in the morning. I should go to sleep in the next hour or so.

My dear internet friends, I will let you all know how much awesome fun I'm having in Orlando.

*waves*...*yawns*...*zzzzz*

Time on my hands...

Oh the wondrous things I can do with seemingly endless time on my hands. Yesterday, the weather was AMAZING! so I rode to the Hastings just before sunset (the store is actually on Sunset...but...whatever). The ride was beautiful, but I realized about two blocks away that all I ate that day was a PB&J at lunch. Everyone and their brother was taking the chance to BBQ in 80 degree weather. I nearly died of Burger Envy, so back at home I mixed up a prize-deserving Turkey Burger and settled down for a good beer and cookie movie night.

Today I did not venture out. The weather is sub-freezing, and I am wearing two layers of socks. Luckily, I was prepared for this unexpected shift. With comfort food. After an excellent (as always) episode of Big Bang Theory, I settled in with a bowl of turkey/spinach/tomato stew, a giant hunk of toasted french bread, and another beer. *totally ladylike burp*

The week ahead is busy (what? its Monday, you say? I call bullshit), with blood donation, my final Gardasil shot (one less one less), and hopefully my name change on Friday. First, I must waste tomorrow sorting through my totally disorganized stack of useless and/or very important papers. Ugh. More beer please!

Hey! You know what would be fun and time-wasting?!?!? A survey!

Why are you single?
Until now, I've been way too busy with school. Now, of course, I have a little extra time on my hands...

If a stranger looked in your closet, what would they think?
Heh, my friends aren't allowed to see the unorganized parts of my house. You think I'd let a stranger see that?

What's bothering you right now?
Not too damn much, I'm a happy camper.

Do people underestimate you?
On occasion, probably.

Did you sing at all today?
*ponders....* no I don't think so

Do you miss anyone?
Yes I miss all my friends!

Do you wear a lot of black?
I look damn good in black.

Do you have a tan?
I do not tan. I burn, cry, peel, and return to pale. Unless tanning would be inconvenient, like when I'm wearing a t-shirt. Isn't that nice? Yeah, that's nice.

Can you sleep with no blankets covering you??
Nope, I need to at least be covered in a sheet, to feel surrounded, or I can't sleep.

How many hours of sleep do you need to function?
I need more than 4.

Did you wake up happy today?
yup

Whats the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?
Called my lil brother and wished him a happy burfday! Happy Burfday Matty Tom!!!!! (he hates that, I'm eevil big sis)

How old do you look?
I have no clue. I know I tend to act older than people my age, but I don't know about looks.

Whats the last thing you ate?
turkey spinach tomato stew and crusty french bread

Are you waiting for something?
Waiting for the World to Change

What were you doing at ten last night?
I think I was still watching a movie with Troy.

Did you cry today?
Nope

Last song you listened to?
All Along the Watchtower (BSG remix)

Do you hate the last person you had a conversation with?
Well no, it was widdle Matty Tom, my widdle brother!

Did you have a dream last night?
I tend to not remember my dreams very often.

Who do you go to when you need someone to talk to?
It depends on the subject; my friends are good listeners.

What language do you want to learn?
Korean is a fun, fairly easy language, and I wish I could remember some of what I learned back in high school. Russian would be nice to learn. I'm horrible with languages though :(

Any upcoming vacations?
I might visit FL for my birthday.

Are you afraid of falling in love?
afraid? no. disbelieving? yes.

How many windows are open on your computer?
Who uses multiple windows anymore? I have five tabs open in Firefox.

What are you doing after this?
I might get another ladle of soup, curl up with a book.

Where did get the shirt you are wearing?
Wow, this sweater I so old that I don't remember. I've had it since high school.

Do you enjoy late night phone conversations?
Not really, I don't hold phone conversations very well. IM me, okay?

Do you like to cuddle?
Why yes i do indeed.

When was the last time you saw number 3 on your top friends?
My #3 is Brandy, who I have not seen since Bridge Summer: 2001
Oh hey I lie! I saw Brandy last summer, when the UB folks got together in Krug Park. I'm a dork.

How tall are you?
5'2.5376 exactly

Which one of your cousins is closest in age?
We come in pairs, so my semi-twin cousin is Benjamin.

When was the last time you were disappointed?
Well i just found out my final grade in Instruments. I guess I deserved that B, but I'm still disappointed.

Do you like hugs?
I do, but I come from a family of not big huggers, so its awkward for me when people just HUG! HI HOW ARE YOU!?!?!? For example: everyone in Janae's family hugged me the first time we met, and it was weird, but nice, but weird.

Are you a loud person?
Only when I'm making an ass out of myself, I'm sure.

What color is your tooth brush?
It is probably blue, I bought a new one the other day.
(green, Sarah, really? You might want to replace that!)

Does it matter to you if your bf/gf smokes cigs?
It does! I will absolutely never kiss a man who has tobacco on his breath. The very thought makes me gag.

Dead Week

Today I rode downtown for the first time in a few months. I had to get my fingerprints done for my upcoming name change (bet you thought I was done talking about that), and on the way back to the school I lunched at Mr. T's Deli (yum!). On the way from school, I made a side trip for water. Then I made two trips to the coffee shop. So my legs are a bit sore. Ow. Dead Week is not nearly dead enough, given that I still have homework. There is something sad about studying at the coffee shop until they close...almost every night.

I have the choice next semester of 13 or 16 hours. I've had trouble deciding whether to add an extra physics course to everything else I have to take in the spring. It is a 4000 level course, it isn't required, it will cost me an extra $400 in tuition, taught by Not My Favorite Professor, and VA won't cover the extra hours.

I decided to write my English professor to ask about how much writing/time the editing course would take up. I almost hoped she would say "Lots! Don't even think about taking 16 hours!!!"

Instead she said:
You actually won't be doing any writing at all. You will read 2
chapters each week and have a short editing assignment each time (1-2
pages to edit). At the end you will have a longer (10-20 page) editing
job for a client. So I don't really expect it to be that time-consuming.

Yay. Damn. Yay!

Thankfuls

Isn't this just wonderful? I have a 5 page paper due tomorrow at 8am, and I forgot to get the draft off the school computer. I am a moron. There are two tests tomorrow, one of which I am completely unprepared for. Completely.

Is it the last week of November already? Time to step back? Time to take stock of the things I am thankful for? Time to work off the 3 cups of coffee I've had tonight so I can wake up at 5am to type a paper? Yes.

A year ago I took a step in the right direction. It was painful, and frightening, and I failed. A year ago this week, I gave in to the fear and returned to a bad marriage. So I am thankful that this year I found the strength to do what was ultimately best for me. I knew it would pay off in the long term, but what I did not realize at the time was how good it was for me in the short term. Money might not be the root of all evil, but it is the fear of not having it that ties us to things and people who do us no good.

My first Thankful leads to my second. I allowed myself to be fooled into believing that permanent unity with one person would make me happy. Instead, I was shoved into a lonely little corner. Today, I am thankful for my friends: old and new, near and far. You keep me connected to the world. You keep me laughing. You don't keep me sane (I don't expect the impossible), but its hard to tell when I'm surrounded by such a wacky bunch of people.

Finally, as much as this semester has stressed me out, burnt me out, and turned me inside-out, I value the privilege which allows me to pursue higher education. I am thankful that I have the ability and the means to study physics. I have to keep reminding myself, in the thick of homework and papers and marathon study weekends blurring together, that I am doing this because I want to. I am living a long-held dream come true.

Which, occasionally, twists into a rather inconvenient nightmare....

Random Factiods

- I'm no good at darts, pool, or shooting guns. That doesn't keep any of them from being fun.

- Cookies made with strawberry cake mix, butter, and eggs...come out tasting like the berries in Captain Crunch cereal. Yum.

- No, in fact, I don't know what that brownish yellow puddle is, coming from the wall of my kitchen. At least it doesn't smell. Still gross.

- My upstairs neighbor's are DEFINITELY the ones with the dog, which management is looking for. I never heard it bark, but for the last three days I was worried that there was a rat in my ceiling. The question is not: Am I a tattler? It is How long can I tolerate the creepy scratching/scuttling noises while asleep, and while in the bathroom?

True Face

While relaxing just now, it occurred to me that I scrunch my face sometimes while sleeping. This led me to imagine what someone would think if they saw me sleeping with a scrunched up face. (vain, yes?) Would it look angry, afraid, worried, or maybe helpless?

Suddenly I recalled part of a story I read once. It went that two potential lovers would first meet nightly for 6 days, each taking turns sleeping while the other watched. They were watching for their lover's "true face" to be revealed, which supposedly happens while deeply sleeping. If they didn't like the "true face" they saw, they could leave immediately and the relationship/marriage was off. If, after the nights were up, they didn't see their lover's "true face," they could also leave.

Does anybody know what story is this from? Is this maybe some culture's actual marriage ritual that I heard somewhere? Am I, in fact, a total dork?

***Obvious Update****
I am, in fact, a total dork.

Its from one of my favorite shows, of course: Babylon 5. I got a few of the details wrong. Delenn herself explains it better:

"SHADOW DANCING"
Delenn (to Sheridan): You see, when Minbari become close as we have become close...it is tradition that they spend three nights together. The male sleeps and the female watches.

Sheridan: Watches what?

Delenn: During the day, we all put on the face we think will do us the most good. But at a certain point in your sleep,as you relax, your true face is revealed. If the female approves of his true face, she will stay two more nights and continue to observe.

Sheridan: What if she doesn't like what she sees?

Delenn: Then they go their separate ways. If he insists she stay one more night, she can leave when he falls asleep, file a complaint with the Elders,even cut off his....His access to her family.

Sheridan: What if she does like what she sees?

Delenn: Later. History awaits.

"ATONEMENT"
Delenn (voice): Yes?

John: It's me. I heard you wanted to see me. I was just on my way to --- Delenn? [as he fails to see her]

The bedroom door slides open and Delenn strikes a vamp pose against the frame. She's wearing the little black dress again --- the occasion calls for a seductive air. John looks unsure of himself as she steps forward with a little smile.

Delenn: Where did you say you were going?

John: I was --- I was just going to --- nowhere that can't wait for a little while. [Pause.] Is there some occasion I should know about?

Delenn: No. I just thought when I finish getting ready, you could join me for dinner. We haven't gone out for dinner in a very long time. It, uh --- also occurred to me --- as I told you, it is tradition for Minbari to spend three nights together. The female...

John: ...watches, and the male sleeps until his true face is revealed, I know. [Steps closer.] Whatever you see in a face mashed against a pillow and drooling, I don't know, but I try not to be judgmental about alien cultures --- when they are dressed like that! [Delenn's laugh and smile light up the room.] But what does this have to do with, um...

Delenn: Our first night together was on the White Star. Our second, in your quarters before you left for Z'ha'dum. If we're going to be complete, you owe me a third night.

John [thinking]: Tonight? [She nods.] That's --- that's going to be a bad time. I've got late meetings.

Delenn [smiling]: I can wait.

John: Something is up, isn't it?

She can't avoid it. She'd been hoping to leave this part for later, but it has to come out now. She steps away, turning so that her face won't betray her emotions.

Delenn: I'm going back to Minbar --- tomorrow. I may be there for some time.

John: I --- Anything serious? If I can help, I...

Delenn: No, no. Just some old business I must attend to. But it may, uh, take me away from here for some time. [Her hands clutch over her heart --- out of John's view.] It matters to me a great deal that we finish this, John.

John [steps up behind her, gently touching her arms]: All right. I'll, um --- be here at seven for dinner. [He catches the look on her face, and his own face echoes the worry.] I'll, uh, see you then.

HALLOWEEN IS COMING!

The End: A scarecrow, a magpie and treason.


I've also been watching these sceery Halloween-themed stories:

Better Zombies Through Physics
Join us for chills, thrills, and pulse-pounding scientific breakthroughs as we embark on a tour of the Quantum Zombie, Inc. facility, courtesy of a guy who bears a striking resemblance to famed scientist and cat-lover Erwin Schrödinger. Hijinks, hilarity, and an abundance of felines await you in Tor.com's newest comic strip.

ONE BLOODY THING AFTER ANOTHER is a serialized horror story, written by Joey Comeau, illustrated by Emily Horne, who are also the creators of A Softer World. The final chapter (chapter 8) will be released on Halloween night, 2008. [Warning for people who like cuddly babies and kittens....this one is disturbing]


Red Meat Comics
This one isn't specifically Halloween-themed, but more a randomness that often crosses the line of creepiness. I do love it so very much.

Pardon me, while I whine.

I had a test yesterday, so I was up studying, but not too late.

I woke up sore and tired, and was really sore after riding my bike to school. Between classes, I bought coffee...oops, where's my debit card? Oh well, I have change... After the test, I started feeling faint and feverish while standing and doing a lab. When I rode home, I was completely zoned out and cranky. One glass of wine later, I was bundled up in bed, and my muscles finally relaxed enough so I could sleep for a few hours and sweat it out. That's my usual routine when I'm feverish.

I woke up because I got a call from an old coworker friend who asked if I had lost my ID's. What? Fuck! Some nice person turned them in to the police, and they called the base which oddly still had my old work number on file. I'm lucky they got ahold of someone who knew my cell, because I would not have even known my stack of cards were missing. They fell out of my back pocket while I was riding to school that morning. The 3 ID's were found, but they are stuck in the police evidence locker until Monday. The debit card is still missing.

My bank account didn't have any new transactions on it, and I was going to drive my route and see if the card fell out at a different place from the others. First, I thought I'd do the responsible thing and call my bank, to double check that there were no new transactions, that the "nice" person who turned in my ID's wasn't out giving his buddies free gas on my dime. Before I could get a word in edgewise, my card was canceled (NOTE TO BANK GUY: LAY OFF THE CAFFEINE AND BREATHE A MINUTE!!!)!

Now I have no way to access my monies, until I can get my cards out of jail. *pouts*

I was going to bake this weekend: Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chocolate Chunk Cappuccino Almond Cookies, and Macadamia and White Chocolate Cookies. *pouts*

Ok, I'm done pouting. I guess I can use the time this weekend to clean my house without re-dirtying it the same day, and studying for my Modern test.

Mine is an evil laugh!

I put together my schedule for the spring semester, and HOLY COW there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After spring, I'll only have 4 physics courses remaining, which is 13 credit hours. I still need 6 hours for my English minor, and maybe geology, but still:

LIGHT. TUNNEL. END. RIGHT THERE! AHHHHH!!!!!!

*descends into evil cackling*

My "fun" in college involves drinking excessive amounts of coffee...can you tell?

Low Iron

So I went to donate blood this week, and was turned down for low iron. I descended upon the grocery store to get foods high in iron, but by the labels I did not get enough. So I proceeded to the supplement section, and it was right at the pharmacy counter. The pharmacist insisted on being helpful, even though I only planned on getting one of the Centrum or 1-a-Day multivitamins. I left with two bottles (bogo) of pre-natal vitamins. Huh, ok, I guess*.

I just looked up the symptoms of low iron...and well now many things that I thought were a result of being crazy busy with school and slightly wacky in the head are clearly both real and serious. Glad I got the vitamins.

• Fatigue
• Listlessness, weakness, decreased work productivity
• Impaired learning and cognitive function
• Poor memory
• Decreased attention span and increased distractibility
• Impaired reactivity and coordination
• Irritability
• Dizziness
• Difficulty swallowing (because low iron may cause a thin membrane to grow across the esophagus)
• Night time leg cramps
• Skin itching
• Sore tongue
• Heart palpitations on exertion
• Shortness of breath
• Cold extremities, with decreased resistance to cold and poor regulation of body temperature
• Tendency to recurrent infections
• Numbness & tingling
• Vague gastrointestinal symptoms: belching, gas, nausea

*I'm not actually this apathetic about my health, his reasoning made sense.

Life, School, and Food

Things are stressful but proceeding roughly according to The Current Plan 2007-2010(c).

I read a comic today (Zits, I think) and the kid said:
"The only thing that bothers me about school is that its so...well...DAILY." I think that's where I am right now. I'm at school from 8am to 6pm some days, plus homework.

Today I went to donate blood and was told I had too low iron, which really brought home that I am not eating as well as I should: too much quickie cafeteria food and coffee. I went and bought some real food.

Hi, its me.

It occurred to me that its been ages since I posted an actual blog, not some link or photo thing.

HI! I bet you missed me. Right....

College is kicking my ass, but I'm fighting back. I'm continuing to ride my bike everywhere, which at this point consists of the 4 miles to school and back and the mile or less to the coffee shop nearly every day. I'm healthy, save for a filling that might be chipped and a nagging need to sneeze alot. Who knows why. Money was/is tight, but it will be better now that MGIB went up again this last month. I'm happy to not be in a position to lose a mortgage or anything right now, and this rental apartment is pretty stable. I even had enough (uh...hopefully...) to buy some new clothes last week. I have zero love life, feel free to decide for yourself if that goes on the plus or minus column right now, because I think I could care less.

Rigel is spunky and sweet mostly. As always, I wish I could spend more time with him. I spent the weekend in Big Spring, TX with Janae and her family/friends; it was a nice change of pace to get out of Turd Burp and meet new peoples.

I'm looking forward to Halloween and Thanksgiving, because I haven't baked anything from scratch in nearly forever.

I think that really is it. Exciting, huh?

I'm hungry....*wanders off*

Knitted to Death!

These are ADORABLE and HILARIOUS knitted critters made by Patricia Waller.



Check out the whole gallery. Yes, I could have put up comments on everyone's myspace, but that's just not my style, and it would have taken longer. Just love me for who I am, m'kay?

Caution: Some of them are not exactly safe for certain innocent minds, especially that last one, ehehehehehe!

For Lydia: Crossing Wonderland (Frog Prince) <---Totally safe
For Becky: Crossing Wonderland (Unicorn)
For Amanda: How to Kill Your First Love (Duck)
For Troy: Rabbits [all three of those crack me up!]
For Traci: Domestic Help<--Totally safe

This one's for ME! Aliens (Space Couple)

And, psstt....

( )_( )
(='.'=)
(")_(")
PASS THE BUNNY ON!!!!
Bunnies RULE THE EARTH!!!!

Unable to Resist...

see Sarah Palin pictures


see Sarah Palin pictures



see Sarah Palin pictures


see Sarah Palin pictures

I write a letter:

To the "Driver" who nearly ran me over just now,

Yes, you, the one who screeched to a halt, leaned over his passenger side to look at the YIELD sign, and proceeded to yell out the window that "Yeah, I think I had the right of way there!"

Please take note that you are monumentally incorrect. Please learn that a YIELD sign in YOUR direction means that YOU YIELD the right of way to cross traffic. You do not E.V.E.R. have right of way in this situation.

Have a shitty day,
Bike Commuter

ps.I say "Driver" because I fondly hope that you have never actually passed a drivers test.

About Me

Who are you?
Nobody Knows

Do you like having roomates or living alone?
Alone, I'm too picky about my living environment. Plus, my last two roomates were kind of assholes.

What alcoholic beverage did you drink the first time?
Wine...mmm wine.

What was the last alcoholic beverage you drank?
The last few ounces of Brandy. Yay! Surprise Brandy!

What was your first job?
Burger King. Kill me now.

Your last job?
Air force, computer security nazi.

What was your first car?
1989 Plymouth Sundance I think, I almost never actually drove it. Except that one time I got to fog up the windows :D

Last/Current car?
97 Ford Taurus

How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown?
I moved alot as a kid, so I never really had a sense of 'hometown' until I moved back to St. Joe in middle school. I left there right after HS.

Who was your favorite teacher?
Pretty much all my HS science teachers...Doc for smarts, Trotter for girl power + smarts, and Nash for hottie-ness and smarts.

Have you ever done something illegal?
I once drove alone on a learner's permit. Yup, this is me, living on the wild side.

Who was your first Best Friend and are you still friends with them?
AMANDA!!!! YES!!!!

What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Pee, I always pee first. No not really, I always push the snooze for about 30 minutes first. Then I pee, but not in the bed, that would be gross. So I guess I snooze, wake up, go to the restroom, pee, wash my hands, and let the bird out of his cage...nosy fucking survey...

Name of first kiss?
Chew-My-Face Guy

First crush?
6 years old, Henry from next door, first of many many...

What feature(s) do you find most attractive on men?
Shoulders. Mmmmm shoulders...

How did you get the idea for your profile name?
Its the name I'll have when I get to change it.

What are you wearing right now?
If you really want to know...ask.

Who do you want to kiss?
Wow, do I need a good kiss.

Do you want a baby?
Eventually. Just one.

What did you do this morning?
I worked on Modern Physics homework.

What does your dad do for a living?
i think he's a carpenter

Did you dream last night?
I'm sure I did. I only remember certain kinds of dreams these days, at least they're good ;)

What side of the bed do you sleep on?
All sides, middle, whatever...its a single after all. I really need a bigger bed.

What did you do last night?
I cooked dinner, ate dinner, fell asleep....oops.

When was the last time you worked out?
I bicycle 2 miles every day.

What's your favorite quote?
Kennedy: "We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone..."

Elaborate on your default photo.
I tried to change it once, but someone demanded I change it back. :P

What is your current problem?
A 3 page literary analysis that won't write itself.

Do you want to live to be 100?
Sure, if I'm healthy. Probably won't happen though.

YOur favorite sexy celebrity?
I have to pick a favorite...not gonna happen...Nick Cage, Michael Shanks, Ben Browder....I could go on...mmm Helo and Apollo...

What was the last thing u paid cash for?
Au liat mocha large

What was the last thing you paid for with a credit card?
breakfast yesterday

Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone?
my ex husband, who is apparently too ill to deliver my stack of mail for the last two weeks

What is on your desktop background?
the earth and moon as seen from mars

Currently reading:
the short story Cathederal, which will not analyse itself...

Did you or do you go to college?
the eternal college student

Piercings:
One in each ear

Birthmark:
On the back of my hand.

Speak any languages?
The International Language of Pancakes. I learned Korean one summer, too. I failed the alphabet in spanish once.

What is the most recent movie you've seen in the theater:
Mirrors, go see it, its a good little horror flick.

Favorite foods:
Easy, healthy, cheap.

Have you been in love?
I have been passionately infatuated.... At the time I couldn't tell the difference between that and love.

Been in a car accident:
Ice storms highway exit signs = bad :(

Favorite day of the week:
Saturday, in which I can pretend I don't have anything pressing to do.

Favorite Flowers:
Lilacs!

Which finger is your favorite?
Wow, there is no right answer to that one.

Favorite drink:
Brandy! Port Wine! Both!

Favorite ice cream:
Well I hate it when someone nuts in my ice cream, i mean 'when there are nuts in my ice cream'...grrr no pecans please. Anything with any combination of coffee, chocolate or caramel, ooo or almonds. Almonds aren't nuts i swear. Ok I made that up I don't know anything about almonds.

What is your favorite band? rubber.

What do you do most often when you get bored?
i'm never bored anymore

Favorite TV show: currently running?
Galactica and Doctor Who

Last person you went to dinner with:
Probably Janae, her and Jaun are the only people I actually interact with anymore.

Do you have a tattoo?
Yes! Look at the pictures!

Do you want more?
Maaayyyybeee, but I don't know what yet.

How many pets do you have:
PARROT!

Which came first:
me

Are you a lover or a fighter?
What did you do to piss me off?!

What's your worst fear?
Dying without reaching my dreams.

Were you a cute baby?
That's what they tell me, but I don't have many pictures to prove it.

Is the single life for you?
It looks like it is, sadly.

Do you sing in the shower?
Sometimes.

Do you bathe by candlelight?
Yes! The best way to shower is by candlelight.

Any secret talents?
Wouldn't you like to know.

What's your ideal vacation spot?
Anywhere but Texass

Can you swim?
Not very well, or very far, but I don't drown in the deep end anymore.

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
As many as you'd like.

Do you like your handwriting?
Nope, I can barely read it myself. I'm working on it.

DESCRIBE YOUR...

Eyes: brown, with dark circles that are not because i'm sleepy, just the way i am

Jewelry worn daily: none

Cell Phone: "I've made some mistakes in my life, I have regrets, but one thing I'm proud of, is when someone calls my phone, it makes a goddamn ringing sound!"

Bedroom: asian-themed work in progress...messy

Vehicle: Electra Townie, orange!

Favorite shirt: black tank top

Favorite scent: something light and floral, perfumes make me ill

Song listening to right now: Lets Do It (Let's Fall in Love), Eartha Kitt

Wishing: I could leave Texass

Person you wish you could see right now: My far away friends.

Something you're looking forward to in the coming week: FRIDAY

The last thing you ate?: a brownie with my coffee...must eat dinner next

Your fears: wow, dying before I do anything that makes me feel fulfilled or purposeful or alive. Yup, dying without living first.

Do you like candles: yes, as long as they smell good but not perfume-y

Do you faint at the sight of blood? Nope.

Do you believe in soul mates: no, except maybe with friends

Do you believe in Heaven: sorry, no. i believe we should strive to make ourselves, this world, and its future as healthy, happy, and peaceful as possible

Can you eat with chopsticks: yes, I lived in Japan for nearly 3 years.

What's your favorite coin? An IG coin I was given for doing my job especially well. Gratitude means so much when you get so little of it.

What are some of your favorite candies: Almost anything chocolate, also those strawberry candies I can't remember the name, mmm and molassas chews.

What's something you wish you could understand better? physics

Where is your favorite place to shop: Burke's Outlet

What is the worst fashion item you've ever thought looked good? I'm no fashion expert, but I'm sure I've done some pretty bad things in others' opinions.

What is the worst trend you see today? That thing with the poofy hair on top, wtf?

What are essentials in your life? Hope, purpose, love, family, friends.

Yay. Math :(

So yeah, this week has sucked. I had two tests set for today in my two hardest classes, with the same professor. I was all set to drop one. Luckily, and he didn't tell me this before, but I can split the tests on two days. Unfortunately, I studied like hell for Math Physics, and had my ass kicked by basic addition and subtraction. Absurd.

Anyway, my life is not my own this weekend. I'll be writing a paper tonight, studying for that other exam tomorrow, and writing a lab report on Sunday.

Also, I just posted a bulletin, which always serves to remind me how dull my life is. Yay.

Whats that word...?

Falling over themselves with pride at a girl who made a difficult, personal...decision...is "not the same as being pro-choice." Uh-huh.

Can I love The Daily Show more? Can I? Really? Please?

Also, I have been viciously attacked by hidden jalapenos in my burrito. But that burrito cost me $2, so I finished it anyway. People, I do not like spicy food, and at this moment I'm all shaky and woozy, and my feet are numb.

Finished Tattoo

Finished Damselfly
Originally uploaded by TJ Relic

Isn't it pretty!?!?! I just uploaded 3 pictures of my tattoo. I relaxed afterward with dark beer and chocolate chip cookies that had the texture of brownie edges. Perfect!

The Song...

This is what happens when chatting, YouTube, and blogging converge. I really was in bed, when I got to thinking about what my favorite country music song is. I finally decided I wasn't going get to sleep until I did something about it. So, I'll be the zombie riding to school in the morning, man its late.

While Third Rock From the Sun is plenty good and funny, it isn't my favorite, and it doesn't represent the kind of country music I love. Here's Trisha Yearwood with The Song Remembers When. (lyrics here)

It was like a lighted match had been tossed into my soul
It was like a dam had broken in my heart
...
After driving out the memory
Of the way things might have been
...
But that's just a lot of water
Underneath a bridge I burned
And there's no use in backtracking
Around corners I have turned
Still I guess some things we bury
Are just bound to rise again

I also like her more recent Georgia Rain.(lyrics here) Really, almost anything she sings is wonderfully sadly sexy sentimental. I guess that's just how I am.

Barefoot in the bed of your truck
on a blanket lookin' up
half a moon peekin' down at us
from underneath the clouds.
...
I don't remember what was poundin more
the heart in my chest or the hood of that Ford
as the sky fell in and the storm clouds poured
worlds away outside

Double Standards

Love it!

Flute Hero

A: Insane is right, this looks hard! Of course, I was never very good anyway.

B: Um....I think she's playing more than one note at a time, on the flute. Keep in mind, I wasn't very good, but I don't think that's possible. Or, I look like a dumbass right now.

C: If we had Flute Hero in the US, I would totally have a Band Geek Reunion Party. Totally. I would walk back to Missouri, just for that.

My Townie

wiblick has made a request:

"I'm thinking of buying an electra townie 700C 8 speed and NO ONE can tell me anything about it, especially regarding seat height. I'm 5ft 2 as well and would be really interested in hearing your thoughts.Could you mail me? Let me know what model you bought etc. Can you really sit comfortably and have your feet flat to the ground? Do you have a pannier thingy?

or maybe just do an post to your blog about it?"

I have been ASKED to blog! *overwhelmed*

My Townie is a 7D, but I have no idea about the tires. The D refers to the rear derailleur, meaning it has an extra fancy doohickey instead of regular gears. I'm not sure what the advantages of that are, but the 8 doesn't seem to have it. My seat is adjusted so that I can stand flat on the ground while on the saddle if I'm wearing a slightly chunky heel, but there's plenty of room to adjust down if I wanted to be more comfortable in flats. I've seen people on regular bikes, straining to get their tippy-toes on the ground while sitting, and how awkward that is. Also, I love the wide saddle that comes with my Townie.

May be a concern for you: I don't see a step-through version of the 8 speed on the Electra website. Step-through and flat-foot are what makes it so comfortable IMHO, and I don't see it being as good without both. Then again, I'm clumsy. *shrug*

I had the rear rack installed, but make sure you have them use a longer screw, because one that come with the rack popped loose on my first long ride. It wasn't a safety issue, but you obviously don't want that. My other accessories include front and rear blinkey LEDs and a CatEye mirror. Very important since I drive on roads like a car, and its getting darker in the mornings. I'm currently lusting after some fenders, because I'm tired of ringing out my socks and because Texas lied to me about being a semi-desert.

I have a Basil Blossom pannier, which sadly I cannot recommend. They're deadly cute on my bike, but they aren't easily/reasonably removable or collapsible, and don't keep their form (makes them look frumpy). They connect to the rack with buckles, but the frame weirdly with velcro that always come loose, and they shift back into my spokes on an uphill when loaded. They do, however, hold lots of stuff for the price, so I'm not replacing them anytime soon.

It really is a comfortable ride. The sitting position is great for seeing everything around, and not hunched over the handlebars, no strain on my hands, and comfortable starts and stops. Seven speeds seem like enough for me, so I never have to stand to pedal or get off and push up a hill .The best is coasting downhill, such a pleasant rush!

YAY! Divorce!

Thus ends the chapter titled: The Dumbest Thing She Ever Did

I feel the need to celebrate. Who is doing something fun in San Angelo tonight? This weekend? Anything?

I Write Letters

Dear San Angelo,

Sometimes it rains here. Roads are not meant to be rivers.

Regards,
TJ


PS: I hate you back.

Parrot Attacks Wordle

CIMG2636
Originally uploaded by TJ Relic

Rigel doesn't really like it when I use the computer. I'm not sure, maybe he LOVES the computer, and is jealous that I'm using it.

No more playing on the computer, little bird!

Oh, and I was at wordle.net when he attacked, so now you know all the words I use too much.

New Tattoo

Originally uploaded by TJ Relic

I added six photos of my new tattoo to flickr. The flowers will be filled in with a lilac purple, the leaves a dark green (and to cover up the old dragonfly), and I am as yet undecided on the color for the damselfly.

Divorce: Failed

We went before the judge this morning, and were told we had to redo our Divorce Decree in order to clearly state the division (none) of our respective military retirement benefits. Balls.

On the upside, this means that the name change is back ON, because we have to re-file the decree anyway. Sweet!

On to next Friday, then.

200!

I just put yesterday and today's rides into my Bike Journal (at bikejournal.com), and discovered that I've hit 200.00 miles total! That's 74.20 for the month of August, so far.

Oh, and apparently I've only been to the library downtown twice, not three times like I said in my last post.

Showing Off My Crazy

I've been to the library three times this week. That's 33 miles total by bike, for those of you not keeping track. In conclusion: I give up, for now.

Because the divorce petition states that I want my name changed back, it is now a gigantic pain in my ass to change it to something else. It would have just been a minor pain in the ass if I had kept it as Jones, and then filed the name change to something else. The thing is, I have to get the Petition for Change of Name notarized, and this requires a current/valid photo ID with the old name on it. I do not have this, at all.

Changing my name for the divorce means getting new a driver's license, SS card, school ID, debit card, checkbook, and my Inactive Reserve ID card. Also, I have to update my name with the GI Bill, VA Life Insurance, and everything else I can't think of right now. *head asplodes*

When/If I change my name, I will have to do all those things again. Plus, I have to pay $217 to file the petition, and $34 to have a fingerprint card made. At least if I wait until January, when my IRR time is up, I will have one less ID to change. I will, however, confuse the shit out of everyone I know, by changing my name twice in 6 months. Piss.

So, how is my crazy showing? I worked off my frustration by switching my living room and bedroom. Yes, I got my sofa through the door, by sheer determination alone. I suffer from an extreme form of the hereditary disorder known as Rearrangus Furnituritis, just ask my mom.

Family History

I thought I would mine my family history for some surname ideas. I started at the geneology page that my mom put together a few years ago. It goes back to my ggg-grandmother, Charles Ann Boggs.

A Google search for Charles Ann Boggs got me to her on someone else's geneology page. Here are her ancestors and siblings. Funny how all of her siblings returned to (died in) France, where their grandmother Ann Scobee was born in 1783. She's the only one who stayed in the states.

Anyway, since Charles Ann's gg-grandparents (if i'm counting right), Charles Clandenin and Mary Ann Patterson, were both born in Scotland but married in 1735 in Pennsylvania, they must have come over before then.

So I can trace back all the way to William and Margaret (Clandenin), born in Scotland, 1650.

How cool is all that?

Also, isn't Sophronia a neat name? Well I found her in another person's database, and holy cow, that one goes pretty far back into England. Seriously, I haven't found the end of it yet. Woah.

I'm still digging into Lawson.
To keep things straight:
Edward William Lawson
Edward William Lawson on RootsWeb
son of Thomas Sebner Lawson and Sarah Ellen Stanley
Tomas Lawson was the son of Lewis LAWSON and Celia Ellen TRIMBLE

And now I give up, because it seems all piecemeal.

The Name Thing (Again)

I'm still unsure about what to name myself after the divorce. I never really wanted to change to Jones. Its a dumb name, a dumb tradition, and yet another reason I should have known getting married was dumb.

Of course, my birth name might be what I'm stuck with, since I already file the papers. I might try to change it at the final hearing, though. People, I don't know who Niel is, but I'm certainly not his son. The only people I shared this name with, after age 3, was my uncle and some cousins. Not my brothers, or my grandmother, or either of my parents. Lets just say I'm not attached. I still feel bad for my brothers, though, going through life with the name of a bodily function. Ew.

This brings us to made-up, Science Fiction, strong words, and nature names. I would like something short and simple that doesn't end in the letter or sound "A". I'm thinking 3-5 letters and one or two syllables. I don't have any ties to religions or interesting cultures, so nothing that would strongly signify that. I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to pretend that I'm some nationality or heritage that I'm not, because that seems rude.

The best SF name suggestion yet has been Dax. But really, am I that much of a geek? Maybe.

Other options include: Kes, Delenn, Kosh (hahaha), Thrace (Ok, I am not that hard-core geek)

Sadly, with Doctor Who, my options are: Smith, Jones, and maybe for fun: Who.
Do you know any awesome and not goofy matrinomic or nature names out there that fit my loose criteria?

I are not some smarts.

This cell phone thing defeats me. Again.

I have quite a few numbers set to speed dial that I don't use anymore, and I was going through them to reassign speed dial numbers.

That is all. There was to be no deleting whatsoever.

Apparently I misunderstood. When I changed the speed dial number, it would say "hey, there's one there already, replace?" So I'm all, "Yes, replace!" And its all "OK! I won't mention that it deletes the phonebook entry that had that number and replaced it with the other one!"

Yay! Frak.

So, if I haven't called you lately (say, if it is your birthday today, but not if your number is one different than mine and I'm divorcing you) it is because my phone doesn't know you anymore.

Kinda Sad

A comment on my proposal assignment: Beautiful

The page: Table of Contents

Conclusion 1: I am a Tech Writing Genius^(tm).

Conclusion 2: That is really sad.

Uh, Um, Like...Fuck.

Now, I was about to pedal my happy ass to the bike shop to pick up a cargo net, and maybe then take a dip in the pool to celebrate 130 miles on my bike so far and a hellish assignment behind me. Then I realized, that distant rumble? It is electricity falling from the sky. Fan. Tastic.

So anyway, the hellish assignment was a formal proposal, which I chose to do over bike parking and stuff on campus. Five pages, not including the cover letter, table of contents, appendices...were due this morning. I had three and a half days to do research, come up with a real proposal, and write all the damn documents (10 MS Word files later...). I also got dubious honor of being one of only two people presenting my PowerPoint slides this morning. I was up until 1am. I gave up on including any images in the document or the presentation.

Oh the presentation. It was probably painful to watch, but they would be surprised to know that I actually showed improvement in public speaking. Why, I didn't talk insanely fast and quiet, or even run out of breath completely. I was just all "um...where was I again, what was i about to say here, oh look awkward pause!" Amazingly, I still got a 95%, probably on consideration the painful patheticness of my nervousness and the fact that I had no time to practice between writing the paper and preparing the slides.

I certainly got enough riding in, though, pedaling all over campus to look at the placement of bike racks, getting an interview with the campus police chief, coordinating pretend involvement from the bike shop, and pricing fliers.

Doctor Who Summary

After I watched the episode twice (second time with subtitles), I subjected Amanda, a non-Whovian, to this brandy-induced summary of The Stolen Earth. Sobriety edits have been made*ahem*

DOCTOR WHO IS THE GREATEST SHOW EVER!!!!!!
They brought together the two spin-offs and the two previous companions and their families for this HUGE two-part season finale.

Twenty-seven planets are *whoosh* disappeared into a hidden pocket of space and time, cutoff from the doctor, so he takes donna to the Shadow Proclamation (space police), figures a bunch of stuff out in his usual way, all while the companions/torchwood are looking for him like crazy because the Daleks are attacking and the Valiant (floating cloud battleship) is down and the Earth has surrendered. Rose is back from a parallel universe but nobody knows it...*breath*

The doctor is stumped when the particle trail dries up (bee's are aliens, well, not all of them, don't be daft). The doctor giving up freaks the shit out of Donna...*breath*

(Amanda: Alcohol and SF can clearly have bad consequences)

Then everyone the doctor knows on Earth, including the former prime minister Harriet Jones (yes, we know who you are) get together and use all the cellphones in the world to transmit an amplified call into space, which the doctor picks up which launches the TARDIS into the time bubble in the Medusa Cascade.

The crazy Dalek Caan is babblingand tells us: "the threefold man is coming, the darkness is coming" and "the most faithful companion will die."

Then everyone converges on the TARDIS, The Doctor sees Rose *blub*, runs to her, and gets shot by a hidden Dalek. So he's dying and they take him to the ship, where he starts to regenerate, Sarah Jane is ambushed, and roll credits.

TO
BE
CONTINUED

And WTH? The Doctor is still David Tennant in the next week previews, even though we JUST saw him regenerating, which means a new actor should play him.

Ohmygawdilovethisshow!

Also, I know I can't turn John Barrowman straight, but I would love the chance to try...

X-Files *spoilers*

Positive:
Mulder and Scully together without angst. Thank you.

Confusion:
Have they been living together for awhile, or just since she went out to find him? If the former, then why is she ribbing him for being so trusting and not noticing she's in the house, and only just now complaining about the scratchy beard? If it is the latter, then its awful odd how she's referring to them having a home together. Why do two people who love each other and sleep together still call each other by their last names when they no longer have a professional relationship? We are fans of X-Files, we would know who Dana and Fox are.

Interesting:
When Mulder is trying to make a call, we see a closeup of his screen as he selects Gillian. Accidental or intentional?

Negative:
Hey, remember that show, X-Files, where all that supernatural and extraterrestrial stuff is investigated? Well this isn't that. We get one guy who "has visions." We, the audience, don't get to peek into those visions, and they are completely unreliable and mostly useless. Instead, this is a movie about trying to touch on as many "current events" topics as possible: Stem cells, gay marriage, and pedophile priests.

But then they didn't really talk about any of the issues, except the safe one that few will disagree with: pedophile priests are evil nasty people. Then they go to the old standby "evil medical scientists with accents do horrible experiments." They even tried, I think, to imply "horrific" sex-change operations, since the gay-married head transplant guy was only being attached to women's bodies. Of course, that might be because movies don't get made about missing, abducted men, that would be dumb because those men would obviously be able to take care of themselves and get away, duh.

On top of all that, the movie was dull, slow, lacking energy. The same conversations were re-hashed at least three times per character...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... all of these plots would have been 10x better.

On Fat

First, the video by Joy Nash


So this a picture of me, 5 years ago:


I know that at the moment this picture was taken, I felt like a cow. I look back now, and I see that, wow, I was kinda cute. But I still crop my lower body out of this picture, because I still look at it and feel as awkward as I did the moment it was taken. That is a shame, because the pond scenery is sooo beautiful. The bigger shame is that I had to feel so awkward in such a lovely photograph, just because my clothes didn't fit me right.

I. Looked. Great.

But I was so overjoyed at finally FINALLY being able to get into and zip up a size 10 pair of shorts, that I didn't realize that it didn't mean that those pants FIT ME. With the unfortunate shirt, I was stuck on the idea that I was a size Medium, forever an always, up top. I was so terrified, mortified, at ever even trying on a size Large *gasp, horror* that I actually put up with an entire wardrobe (term used loosely) of shirts that stretched tight over my round belly.

I was the most physically fit of my entire life. Back then I weighed 141 pounds, overweight by Air Force standards for my height. Lets keep in mind that at this point I had zero social life and spent 1-2 hours PER NIGHT at the gym, in addition to my unit's thrice-weekly mandatory mile run and calisthenics, and I ate a cobb salad for lunch and dinner every day. I could do 65 situps in 60 seconds, but I still had the round tummy, and I always will. FACT.

Here's me last month:

When I posted this picture to Facebook, I cropped it to not show my arms, and squeezed the image a little. Yup. I still can't stand the sight of myself in the camera's lens.

Now, I don't bother weighing myself anymore. I am done hating myself because of that number. Maybe it is around 165, I dunno. I wear a size 12/14 pant, and Large/XL shirts. I can't shop at most stores in the mall because they have shitty selection that high, and I get asked "why are you here, skinny?" at Lane Bryant.

I have biked 100 miles in about 5 total weeks. I do yoga or an abs workout 4 times a week. I have found healthy, simple foods that I enjoy, and I refuse to eat something "healthy" that I do not absolutely love.

Today I made pound cake, and I will delight in every brandy-infused bite for the next week.

Uninspired Tidbits

I think it is time to start learning what kind of music I like. I think I'll put some effort into that. We'll see.

I finally got ahold of the people holding my bird's new stuff hostage. There was a(nother) huge mixup in the shipment. They are sending a 110% refund. I now have to find someone else who sells Clicker training stuff. Frustrating.

I think Rigel understands "stay." It totally worked today, I could tell he really wanted to fly to me while I was in the kitchen, but didn't. Such a good boy. He deserves new toys so much.

There's plenty of food, but nothing to eat. I must plan actual meals before shopping. Must. As much as I like what I eat, the same thing is getting kind of old.

I made granola the other day. I was surprised by how simple it is, nothing special at all. Definitely not worth the arm, two legs, and my ex-husband's left testicle that it costs at the grocery store. Next stop, home-made granola bars.

It has been suggested that I change my last name to Dax, instead of going back to my original. *ponders*

In the last two weeks, I have biked 54.10 miles. I have gone grocery shopping twice. The first time was for the barbecue, and I hauled a bag of charcoal in my left pannier, groceries in the right, and an extra bag on my right arm. Stopping was educational.

The summer class is going well, minus some annoying group project stuff I will never do again. I think I'm pretty good at this technical writing thing.

Sonic's chicken strips aren't that good, definitely not worth over a dollar per strip.

I shouldn't drink cherry limeade before bed. I am tired, but wide awake.

Eh. That is all.

Sad

So, the last couple of days have been dramatically bad in my family.

Some argument between Mom and Aunt Kay over some other thing spilled over into an arguing over the car I was trying to sell to one of them. I'm getting drunken calls in the middle of the night, and I'm trying to mediate the argument and make sure that my interests (getting the car out of my name) are covered. I thought it was more of the same when I got a call from Mom last night. Not even close.

The call I got from my Mom is that Aunt Kay called her, told her my cousin's boyfriend died, and hung up. Mom called my brother, no answer. Mom called my other cousin, got an angry response and hung up on. I have no idea what that is about, but then she called me and asked me to find out what was going on. She was worried that my brother might not be okay. She is like me (or I am like her, whatever) in that a tiny bit of bad information rolls around in my brain and snowballs until I panic over all the possibilities. This put me in the position of calling my aunt, who was in the middle of a tragedy, in the middle of trying to calm my distraught cousin, and try to get information. I felt like a piece of shit.

My cousin, her boyfriend, and my baby brother are all about 17/18 and good friends. I am assuming the three of them were together last night when the boyfriend drowned in the river. Apparently, the thing to do is wade out to the sandbars and hang out. He stepped into a hole, I guess on the way out.

It could have been any of them, it could have been all of them...

I keep picturing the two kids, napping together on the couch while I was visiting. I have never seen two people so in love, so comfortable with one another.

Mom asked me if they had found him yet. I stammered, I choked. There was no way I could have asked that question, even if I had thought about the possibility. No way on Earth I would have found the words.

Video from KQ2 News

From StJoesNews.net

River conditions blamed in drowning

by St. Joseph News-Press
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

NODAWAY, Mo. — Authorities believe swift river currents contributed to the drowning of a Skidmore teen Monday in the Nodaway River.

The drowning occurred near the intersection of Andrew County roads 400 and 459 just west Nodaway, Mo.

Savannah Volunteer Fire Department personnel recovered the body of Eli Stiens, 19, at 7:19 p.m. Monday, said Bryan Atkins, the chief deputy for the Andrew County Sheriff’s Department.

According to a Missouri State Water Patrol report, the victim went camping with friends on a sandbar. He went swimming in the river, which had a depth of about 7 feet to 10 feet. The report stated that friends said he was approximately 25 feet from the sandbar when he began having problems. His friends attempted a rescue but had to let him go because he was pulling them under at about 4:30 p.m. Monday. Mr. Stiens went under and didn’t resurface.

The fire department launched two boats shortly after 5 p.m. Monday to drag the river, Mr. Atkins said. It was too late for a rescue, he said.

Briefly

If you love Torchwood, and have any knowledge of LOLCats, you must read this now: Trying to Communicate.

That is all.

Technical Communication

We watched this today. The assignment was to write a memo about whether or not this is a "technical communication." I think I'm going to like this class.

This is the Title field...

Fun was had. Not wild party fun, but spending time with my friends and family, doing generally unboring stuff.

Things were photographed. Lots. Maybe I'll upload them later.

Money was spendeded. Way way more than I intended. See, it all started with a sqeaky belt...

Driving was droved. And then more. And then not, until the car was fixed. And then some more driving. And I will never drive again, I hate cars so much. Mom and I got to San Angelo at about 10pm, but loading the birdie and then unloading him and all the accumulated junk from the car took us until 11. I never knew selling the car would be so damn complicated, stupid Texass rules or someshit. I'll just be glad to be rid of it. I'll worry about it later. Actually, I'm worrying about it now, but will deal with it when I'm more awake. Mom has to go back early tomorrow morning, unfortunately, so no fun hanging out. I have a busy day of banking and cleaning and paying tuition ahead of me as well.

Class starts Tuesday...

Totally Pornographic

I can post to my blog, but not read it. The library filer says "Text of web page appears to be pornographic."

They have no idea ;)

Movie Reviews

We saw The Happening last week. It was enjoyable, with appropriate amounts of gore and "holy shit no way!" moments. It was bad, but that's because I think it was supposed to be corny bad. The male lead acted, or not, I'm not sure. It would have been scarier without the "suspense music," although Amanda still jumped. Hehehehe. The premise was intriguing, but towards the end I was trying not to yell at the screen, because it was absurd.

I shall summarize Wanted, with spoilers:
Wes has boring cubicle life, unaware that he is meant for greater things (sound familiar?).
"Saved" and recruited into secret society by beautiful woman.
Wes becomes sexy killing machine after being beat the shit out of in creative ways.
Predictable spoiler ---->>>"LukeWesley, I am your father."
Wes destroys corrupt organization.

Amanda didn't like the part with the rats, I may be partially responsible for that.

I'm going with Mom to see Horton Hears a Who at the $2 theater today.

Don't mind the twitching...

I'm still here, just hanging out. Mostly, there's been much eating, and much chatting with family. The stories usually begin with: "Man, this one time, and I was fucked up, we...."

I had fun baking cakes with Becky's mom for her birthday.

I watched an old downtown St. Joe building blaze, and a train carrying radioactive material derailed a few blocks from Becky's house in Atchison.

Mom had an absolute blast at the Fire Museum the other day. We just happened to show up at the end of a retirement party for the Fire Chief, so we got to meet a couple old guys who worked with her stepdad way back when he worked with the Snorkel.

I've spent alot of time at the park while everyone I know is at work (losers). Yesterday at sunset, I was taking pictures of trees (who's the loser now?), when I noticed a branch full of berries that looked very familiar. We had a mulberry tree at the end of our driveway when we lived in Troy, and I loved staining my fingers with sweet ripe berries. I ate a handful off the tree at the park, and they were perfect. Of course, you never know what pesticides they used, so don't mind me if I start twitching or something...It was totally worth it.

Story So Far....

One more time.

I just wrote one long, drawn out post about my breakdown on the Kansas Turnpike. And then had to write it again, shorter, and now again, because I am a computer genius.

Summary:

*POP* battery light dammit! SMELL oh shit! SMOKE no fucking way!!!!!!!

Minor Freakout, costly repair. There goes my drinkin' money.

Traci's husband, Kevin picked my up from the mechanic. We arrived at Ft. Rielly after midnight, and the gate guard gave us an odd look. Kevin did not understand. Yeah, a soldier coming in, late at night with someone else's dependant spouse, that doesn't raise any eyebrows.

I stayed there, as planned anyway, until my car was ready, and then continued on to Becky's.

There was pizza and beer and electronic Life. We biked down to the water park yesterday. Alan tried to kill me challange me, by taking us up the steepest possible hill on the way back.

I'm hanging out in St. Joe today, while they are at work.

I'm bored.

Call Me!

Summertime Bath

We went to the park today, while the apartment aired out. I took him in the big cage, and put a water dish in the bottom. If I had known he would try to bathe in it, I would have taken the big blue plate.

My voice makes me cringe. Yes, I do talk to him all the time, just like that. I tried to edit out as much as possible, but it is sooo hard to not tell him how cute he is. I mean really.

Plans

Tonight:
Spend another hour cuddling with my feathered monster.

Spend a few hours de-cluttering and extra-cleaning my apartment, because they are sending the exterminators TOMORROW. I'm so frackin' powerful.

Tomorrow: Go around, with Rigel in his carrier, taking pictures of the complex to show off to my family and friends. This place rocks.

Thursday: Drop Rigel at the old apartment and start out on my 12 hour drive to Atchison to visit with Becky and Co.

I'll stay there until next Thursday or so, with a little jaunt over to Fort Riley to visit the Johnson's, then over to MO to stay at Amanda's and visit with all the rest of my friends and family. The ones I like, anyways. At some most points, there will be alcohol, games, photographs and explosions. Just like old times.

Then Mom and I will drive back to Texass, and she will drive back with the car, and I will pedal my way to and from school.

Everything's Bigger in Texass

(they say that like its a good thing)

Oh my goodness! Oh no frickin way! Ew Ew Ew!!!

Yeah, a big one, in my bathroom, in the middle of the night. Hideously big and healthy (if you can call a giant roach* healthy), stalking me from the bathroom light switch. If I had not just peed... After several minutes of whimpering, I steeled my courage and rushed past it, out the bathroom door to retrieve whatever weapons of cockroach doom I could find. This ended up being a large wad of paper towels and a can of compressed air. I blew it off the wall, cornered it, and then held the air upside down and emptied half the can on the little....*insert string of profanities unsuitable for birdboard* until it was frozen or gassed, whichever killed it first. Yes, I could have stomped it with a shoe, but the only thing worse than a live roach is a squished dead one, guts everywhere, no thank you!

There's a question or three here, of course.

Besides the quarterly pest treatments, taking out the trash nightly, plugging the drains, and keeping all food in sealed containers, what else can I do to prevent these nasties? I lived at the old place for 1 1/2 years without a single one!!!

Can these things harm Rigel?

Do food and water containers exist that are less likely to draw the attention of a hungry, nasty critter to my bird's cage?


I will NOT consent to calling it a harmless "water bug." Nuh-uh! Nas-tay!

Ow! *pouts*

Let's ignore any mention of my* marriage or divorce, for now, okay?

Moving on.

I left Rigel at the old apartment while I was moving. It was important to me that he arrive at the new place when it was uncluttered, and full of furniture and such that he was familiar with. I also wanted to do some heavy cleaning, and get a feel for the noises of the place.

Turns out, the walls are thinner, the neighbors a bit noisier, but the grounds maintenance isn't all *BANG BANG HAMMER SAW MOWER STEAM CLEANER LEAF BLOWER* all the time, and the TV isn't on as much or as loudly. So, on balance, this place is a bit quieter, but not eerily so. Except the air conditioner, which clearly works, and could double as an airplane engine, I'm sure.

The first night and the entire next day he was sweet as sugar, honey, and caramel put together. He spent most of the time snuggled in my shirt. Adorable x1000. I'm sure he was looking for something familiar and secure, my widdle lovie dovie birdie. He munched happily on bell pepper and cherry, after an incident with an entire newly-opened bag of pellets infested with some tiny critters.

Today, not so much. I've been bitten at least a dozen times. I've bled, uh, something like 4 times. I've lost count. Looking for security is over, and he blames me for this unacceptable amount of change (it's been a day for that). He's flown at me in a rage, squawking and attempting to bite my neck. I've taken to picking him up with a tea towel or a few paper towels. He lunges at every opportunity, only tolerating petting on his forehead, and only if he is wrapped in a towel, powerless to object.

He is not a happy burrito.

I finally escaped at 5-ish to the laundry room, racked with guilt at leaving him alone, hoping to find a solution online. I failed at the free wireless that was supposedly accessible from the laundry room, but returned with clean clothes a few minutes before birdie bedtime. I spotted a black winter glove...and had a thought. Surely, it would scare him? Surely, he would attack it?

Friends, he loves that glove more than he loves me. (seems to be a pattern this week) It is a comfier perch than a bare hand, and it doesn't object to being bitten, even gnawed. (again, a pattern....hmmmm). Right now, the plan is to handle him with the glove, for both our safety (its hard to control your reaction to bites. I try, I promise, but I am far less than perfect. As you may have heard...). Later, whenever the MONTH LATE PACKAGE FROM BIRDBOARDSHOP.COM** ever arrives, I will begin clicker training. He needs entertainment and enrichment, I know that is the problem. Then I will train him to not bite the glove, as if it is my hand, and then train him off the glove.

Yeah, that's the plan.


*Mine and mine alone, really, because I paid for not only the wedding rings whatever-number-of-years-ago, but also the $230 filing fee for the divorce today. M'kay. I resist the urge to rant on...
**Yes, dear internet commerce folks, it has STILL not arrived. I SORT OF understand that the order got lost behind a desk, and you're just starting up, and these things happen. But it has now been over a week since you said it would arrive, and I deserve something more than a $10 or 10% coupon, or whatever.

Parrots aren't "Pets" and Shit

The only animals that are "pets" are dogs and cats. Period. So says the lease agreements for every "pet-friendly" apartment I talked to yesterday. Now I understand that many birds can be loud shriekers, but dismissing all birds out of hand is narrow-minded, considering that many dogs can be loud barkers. They would deal with loud dogs by kicking the offending owner out, or whatever, and I don't see how birds can't be evaluated on the same case-by-case basis. I can't see how it could be a cleanliness or odor issue, because I guarantee that a day's worth of unattended bird shit smells way way less than a day's worth of dog or cat shit left in an apartment. I know for sure that if you got even a little dog shit on your clothes, People. Would. Know. Rigel occasionally targets my clothes, and I take a damp paper towel to it and presto! no smell or stains.

Bonus, people outside the property won't step in a pile of (pet) bird shit while walking around. Asshole dog owners!

Further, dogs shed nasty mangy fur, which also stinks stinks stinks. My parrot sheds pretty, lovely feathers, suitable for crafting. Birds possibly chew on mini blinds? So? We had a dog once who CHEWED A HOLE IN OUR WALLS!

There is a silver lining, though. The apartment I really really wanted has a sign at the front desk: "We are a pet free community."

I was highly disappointed, and I pouted: "but he's just a little bird..."

Well, then that's another thing, birds and fish are FINE! They aren't considered pets, after all.


I move in tomorrow, no pet deposit!
-

Well, that settles it!

-12 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Our Sergeant Major

I just found out about the death of one of my high school mentors. From the online guest book entries, I see he went with the same humor and dignity in which he lived.

Sgt. Maj. Richard A. Paquette

How Existential!

What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03)

You scored as a Existentialism

Your life is guided by the concept of Existentialism: You choose the meaning and purpose of your life. “Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.” “It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.” --Jean-Paul Sartre “It is man's natural sickness to believe that he possesses the Truth.” --Blaise Pascal More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page...

Existentialism 100% Hedonism 80% Justice (Fairness) 75% Utilitarianism 70% Strong Egoism 60% Kantianism 55% Nihilism 20% Apathy 15% Divine Command 0%