Birthday Bath!

Rigel is 3 months old today, and to commemorate I took some pictures and video after his bath. Click for a larger view.

He went nuts splashing water from the cup, I assisted getting some water on his back and tailfeathers.

Soaked.

Still drying from his bath.
The shirt, I must chew the shirt! Gnawgnawgnaw...


You can see his wings were completely clipped when I got him. Once they grow out and need clipped again, I'm leaving the outer 2 flight feathers intact. They're such a pretty blue.

I love this pose, but it was blurry, so I went nuts with the "cartoonize" setting.
Some video of him calmly playing with a home made toy:

Quackhead

Today Rigel made a fairly birdlike chirp, which is pretty unlike him.
"Who told you you were a bird!? You're not a birdie!"
*SquakSquackSquak!*
"No, you're not a bird! You're a puppy!"
Mumbles: *QuakQuakQuak"
"Okay, fine, I guess you are a bird. You're a duck!"
Mumbles: *QuakQuakQuak"

He's a Quackhead

Rambling About School

So most people can crack their knuckles, pop their back, etc. I can (inadvertently) pop my tailbone. It's not a good sensation by any means, but it never really bothered me until now. This summer, Lab lasts 3 hours, and standing all that time is making my tailbone hurt really badly. I've tried various stretches, even did a little yoga today. Yesterday I took a large dose of OTC pain reliever and an Icy Hot patch. It helped eventually, but nobody likes a "burning sensation" that low on their "back," if you know what I mean.

Speaking of Lab, I spent all day Thursday repeating the same reaction 6 times for no very good reason. That put me a day behind most of the rest of the class. I made up a little today, completing Group 3 in 1 day with time to spare. I used that spare time to finish the paperwork for Group 2 lab. May take a moment I say just how much I hate Redox? Because I HATE REDOX! Also, halfway through Lab today, I realized I was wearing sandals, so I spent the rest of the time carefully angling my feet out of view of others. Oops. I survived, despite being nearby during our daily broken-glass incident. It was just hot boiling water, but sometimes its acidic or very basic solutions.

Side note, a comment I left at Shakesville:
Please consider placing a decorative sticker or ornament on your window to keep the birds from crashing into it.
The biology/chemistry building I have classes in this summer has large plate windows on the 2nd floor. You can see bird carcases in various states on the ledge below the window, a large crack in the glass, and impact “smudges” on the glass. Last week we actually saw it happen and the poor bird was still alive enough to crawl to the ledge and fall to the ground. It was very sad for me to watch. I find it kind of twisted that the biology department wouldn’t take steps to prevent it.

Crazy Critter

Rigel spends most of his cage time running up and down the bars, then back and forth. Its also really funny he climbs up and then with one foot clinging to the cage he turns his back and slides down. I hope this means he's having a great time, but I'm a little afraid it means he's bored. I've given him foot toys and things to chew on but he is decidedly uninterested in these. He loves his mirror and sometimes plays with the little stars-and-spheres toy hung from the top.

He loves to chew but not on the things I give him, just on the edges of my shirt or on newspaper I lay down under his tabletop perch. I was giving him twisted newspaper in his cage to shred, but then someone said okay unless they eat it, and if he chews it then he's eating it so that makes no sense.

Then tonight, I was getting something out of his cage after his bedtime, and I found that he is sleeping in the metal basket where his food bowl goes during the day. Before I decided to cover him at nights, he would sleep on the bottom or high in the back of the cage. So I guess I'm going to get him a Happy Hut or something more cozy to sleep in. I'm just afraid he'll chew the heck out of it and eat the stuffing during the night.

I posted this on a couple groups and got reassurance that he sounds just like their happy Green-Cheeks. I also got a couple of good links for fun toys and a picture of one woman's GCC sleeping with his head in a bucket. Too Cute.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Shop.cfm?N=2003
http://www.greyfeathertoys.com/index.html

The sky isn’t evil. Try looking up.

For the love of humanity, read the entire post on Whedonesque from Joss Whedon. Yeah, you think he's just a tv guy. Just read it.

Here's a blurb:

"I have yet to find a culture that doesn’t buy into it. Women’s inferiority – in fact, their malevolence -- is as ingrained in American popular culture as it is anywhere they’re sporting burkhas. I find it in movies, I hear it in the jokes of colleagues, I see it plastered on billboards, and not just the ones for horror movies. Women are weak. Women are manipulative. Women are somehow morally unfinished. (Objectification: another tangential rant avoided.) And the logical extension of this line of thinking is that women are, at the very least, expendable."

Saving the Environment

This is a summary-comment list I put together from a Time.com article called 51 Ways to Save the Environment. I left out a few that were primarily government or corporate initiatives. Most were about power plants and ways of regulating emissions. I really think they should have separated the two ideas, and most were about regulating power plant emissions and carbon-taxes. They were also redundant. Anyway, my comments follow a short blurb from each entry.

2. Get Blueprints For a Green House If you begin thinking green at the blueprint stage, low-tech, pragmatic techniques will maximize your new home's efficiency.
If I'm ever a homeowner, I probably won't build my own, I would renovate an existing structure.

3. Change Your Lightbulbs - CFLs cost three to five times as much as conventional incandescent bulbs yet use one-quarter the electricity and last several years longer.
I replaced all the burnt-out bulbs in the apartment with CFL's, but I'm waiting for the rest to burn out before replacing them, otherwise its just another form of waste IMHO.

6. Ditch the Mansion - A typical new single-family home in the U.S. is nearly 2,500 square feet today, up from about 1,000 square feet in 1950, even as the average household has shrunk from 3.4 to 2.6 people.
This is one I feel pretty strongly about. STOP BUILDING OR MOVING TO HUGE HOUSES YOU GREEDY OVERPAID BASTARDS!

7. Hang Up a Clothes Line - [also] wash your clothes in warm water instead of hot, and save up to launder a few big loads instead of many smaller ones.
The clothes line option is out, as we live in an apartment. I do all my washing in cold water. I don't sort, so I can have a full load per week. Also, you (and I) should switch to powder detergents from liquid (oil product). I will once I've used up the giant 9 Liter I got on sale. Maybe in 2010 then.

8. Give New Life to Your Old Fleece - [They] melt [it] and make into new fabric and clothes. Some of that fleece is especially virtuous, starting out as fabric made from recycled plastic.
I had no idea what fleece was made of. Wow. Also, I don't own any, so moot point.

9. Build a Skyscraper - Bank of America...When it's finished next year, the tower will be the second highest in the city, but it stands alone as the greenest building in New York.
See #15
10. Turn Up the Geothermal Heat - This geothermal system taps into water that is a relatively stable 55 degrees F and transfers that heat to warm the building in the winter and cool it in the summer. The building's roof is covered in easy-to-maintain plants and grasses, and has two heliostat mirrors, which track the sun and direct its rays into the building, reducing the use of artificial lights during the day.
The first part is just pretty cool. The second part includes things I suppose a upper-middle class person could do with their house.

11. Take Another Look at Vintage Clothes - Buying a shirt the second time around means you avoid consuming all the energy used in producing and shipping a new one and, therefore, the carbon emissions associated with it. Every item of clothing you own has an impact on the environment.
Sadly, the second-hand shops here don't carry much that's worth the drive to downtown. I pretty much grew up on thrift store clothes though, so maybe I get a pass on this one for awhile.

12. Capture the Carbon - What if coal-fired plants stopped spewing their carbon dioxide fumes into the air and instead sequestered them—pumped them deep into the ground for storage?
Makes me think of those tires they "recycled" for use as coral-reef builders, that actually created an ecological disaster by destroying coral. Hopefully long-term consequences are in the forefront here.

13. Let Employees Work Close to Home - a program that helps firms slash the time employees spend driving by matching them with work closer to home.
Better yet, work from home, depending on the type of work you do. I think its pretty nuts to commute more than 20 minutes to work, hopefully I never will have to.

14. Ride the Bus - Public transit saves an estimated 1.4 billion gal. of gas annually, which translates into about 14 million tons of CO2.
I don't think I've seen a public bus in San Angelo. There are these tourist trolleys, like in St. Joe. I rode the city bus throughout High School, it was a pretty miserable experience taking 2 hours to go 15 minutes across town.

15. Move to a High-Rise - The Big Apple is home to the greenest citizens in the U.S. Relatively few New Yorkers own cars. Eight million New Yorkers are squeezed into 301 sq. mi.—less than a fortieth of an acre per person.
I would hate living in such a major city as they are now, but I am really optimistic about http://nymag.com/news/features/30020/ and also about making a whole city within one huge skyscraper. Yeah yeah yeah, you think I'm crazy.

16. Pay Your Bills Online - [and] direct-deposit your paycheck.
I do both, and all my bills are automatically paid. Learned to do that the hard way. The only bill that isn't online now is the rent/water, and I walk 20 feet or so to pay it.

17. Open a Window - Open a window instead of running the AC. Adjust the thermostat a couple of degrees higher in the summer and lower in the winter. Caulk and weatherstrip all your doors and windows. Insulate your walls and ceilings. Use the dishwasher only when it's full. Install low-flow showerheads. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water. Turn down the thermostat on the water heater.
I love open windows in the spring, but Michael complains. Now that it's summer, our thermostat is set at around 79 degrees, and you'd think I was locking him in a sauna. Buying the bird pretty much set things now, because he needs a temp of around 79-82 (i think, can't find a reference). We should get low-flow showerheads, and the front door really needs to be sealed better from drafts.

18. Ask the Experts For An Energy Audit of Your Home - A home energy audit, which most utility providers will do free of charge, will tell you the amount of power your household consumes and what you can do to reduce it.
Interesting, but I doubt they would do it for free. I guess I'm cynical like that.

19. Buy Green Power, At Home or Away - More than 600 utilities in 37 states offer green energy, but unless you read the fine print on your bill, you may not know if your power company is one of them.
I know we researched power companies for this when we moved here, but then I think we switched companies later and didn't check. I know this company indicates clearly on our bill what percent comes from what source. I admit to not checking it in a very long time. (hey, its automated online billing, I don't look at my bills anymore)

20. Check the Label - Energy Star, a rating system by the Environmental Protection Agency. Approved products can be pricier, but they cost less to power.
Our old fridge was Energy Star, and the washer, dryer and microwave are too.

21. Cozy Up to Your Water Heater - Wrapping your heater in an insulated blanket—one costs about $10 to $20 at home centers—could save your household about 250 lbs. in CO2 emissions annually. If the surface feels warm to the touch, get your heater an extra blankie.
Mine's not hot to touch, and I would have to get maintenance to adjust the temp because there is no simple knob on this one. The water is a bit warmer than necessary in the morning.

22. Skip the Steak - Which is responsible for more global warming: your BMW or your Big Mac? Believe it or not, it's the burger. Cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, etc.
We had burgers just tonight. I am trying to cut down, but its hard to decide what to eat when really everything has a different kind of ecological impact. Shrimp are out forever because they can only be caught by bottom-trawling which is super-bad. Other forms of fish are being caught to extinction. Vegetarians don't get "complete" proteins...what to do? Bender says "Kill all humans..."

24. Just Say No to Plastic Bags - Reducing your contribution to plastic-bag pollution is as simple as using a cloth bag.
I have two large and three small cloth bags. I forget them almost every time I go to the store. Bad TJ! Seriously, many places are starting to outlaw/discourage plastic bags also because they are made from oil and the cost is becoming prohibitive for stores. Its an all-around good thing to do anyway.

25. Support your local farmer - How do you find them? Search localharvest.org by ZIP code for farmers' markets, greengrocers and food co-ops in your area.
Here in a West Texass town, we have all of one listed on that site. They aren't even a real farmer's market, just some people who park on a street corner to sell watermelons. I find this both odd and annoying.

26. Plant a bamboo fence - Bamboo makes a beautiful fence, and because it grows so quickly (as much as 1 ft. a day or more, depending on the species), it absorbs more CO2 than, say, a rosebush.
No house, no yard, no bamboo fence. I do have a small bamboo plant inside though. I should water it sometime this month.

28. Have a green wedding - For example, if your guests are traveling long distances, offset the carbon emissions from their trips with a donation to renewable—energy projects.
Isn't that nice? Not sure why this is a separate item, since carbon-offsets are already addressed.

29. Remove the tie - If U.S. businesses eased off on their arctic-level air-conditioning, the gains could be significant. Time to make every summer day casual Friday?
Women in the office would appreciate that as well, as they wear those hideous dresses and open-toed shoes and maybe have poor circulation to their hands. But then, nobody cares about women who work.

30. Shut off your computer - A screen saver is not an energy saver.
I usually shut my laptop off, but if I forget its okay. I participate in SETI@home, currently residing at http://boinc.berkeley.edu/ which also lets you help with various projects for universities, corporations, or individuals.

31. Wear green eye shadow - Cargo Cosmetics launched PlantLove, a botanical lipstick packaged in a 100% biodegradable tube made of...a corn-based renewable resource. When the tube is empty, plant it in the ground, and it sprouts flowers.
First, that's neat. Second, no amount of neat will get me to wear makeup.

32. Kill the Lights At Quitting Time - could cut carbon emissions by reducing electricity use, not to mention extending equipment life and lowering maintenance costs.
I used to do this at work, but now I don't work so nanananana! *ahem*

34. Rake in the Fall Colors - using that motorized hurricane for just an hour still sucks down 1 pt. of gas and oil. With more than 30 million acres of lawn in the U.S., it's a high price to pay for a job that can be done almost as well, if somewhat more slowly, with a rake.
The apartment maintenance uses these damn things for clearing the walkways, presumably. To me they just make noise when I want to sleep in and blow debris onto my car window.

35. End the Paper Chase - It [recycled paper] uses 60% less energy than virgin paper. Each ton purchased saves 4,000 kW-h of energy, 7,000 gal. of water and 17 trees, and a tree has the capacity to filter up to 60 lbs. of pollutants from the air.
I use lots of paper because I'm a student and I screw up lots of print jobs and take lots of notes. I don't recycle paper. I know, I know...

37. Think Outside the Packaging - You can reduce the amount of packaging with a little consumer vigilance. Give back the extra napkins or unwanted sugar packets; carry that gallon of milk by its handle
I feel like I throw away so much excessive crap even when I buy from the grocery store. But then I bought Steak Express meals the other day and I swear 3/4 of it was packaging for the food and condiments and it was sooo incredibly wasteful. Never ordering there again.

39. Make Your Garden Grow - Use non-fossil-fuel-derived fertilizers in home gardens.
No yard, no garden. I'm not very good at growing things anyway.

41. Fill'er Up With Passengers - carpool, ride the bus, walk or bike to work, or work a compressed workweek.
Not exactly practical for me. Have I ever mentioned how I tried riding a bike to work. 1 mile, and I couldn't sit right for a week. Also, I have no friends to ride to school with, and I have a problem trusting people to carpool with. So I'm hoping to buy a smaller, more efficient car someday.

42. Pay For Your Carbon Sins - Unlike mandatory allowances, offsets allow consumers to pay voluntarily to reduce carbon emissions by a quantity equal to their estimated contribution.
Its iffy on whether these offsets actually go to a good cause, and it just shifts the problem without solving it.

43. Move to London's New Green Zone
Inviting, but impossible at this time.

44. Check Your Tires - Just giving your engine a tune-up can improve gas mileage 4% and often much more.
My car is serviced on a regular basis. However, I don't check my own tires' air pressure. I'm never sure if I'm doing it right, and it doesn't seem worth the hassle, despite the fact that all my uncles have been mechanics at some point.

45. Make One Right Turn After Another - The time spent idling while waiting to turn against oncoming traffic burns fuel and costs millions each year. A software program maps a customized route for every (UPS) driver to minimize lefts.
Doing this would require that I drive even more, and I don't drive much. My daily route has me waiting for a left turn once each way.

46. Plant a Tree in the Tropics - Recent studies have shown that trees in temperate latitudes...actually have a net warming effect on the climate. The heat that dark leaves absorb outweighs the carbon they soak up.
Well that's more of a negative than helpful advice. I guess they mean give to charities that plant trees in the tropics, because otherwise we would dump CO2 in the air by flying down there to do it ourselves.

48. Drive Green on the Scenic Route - rent hybrids and bio-fuel cars when on vacation
Only really available in major major cities like London and LA. I've never been there but it sounds good for frequent travellers. I've gone on vacation once in my adult life, so...
50. Be aggressive about passive - Extra insulation and state-of-the-art ventilation recycle the energy from passive sources such as body heat, the sun and household appliances to warm the air.
The day I have the money to build my own home. Besides, didn't they say we're all supposed to live in New York high-rises?

What a Rotten Day, Listed

- Last night I was up until after midnight trying to figure out my homework. I should have started before 9pm, because I was so confused about a pretty simple concept.
-Today:
1. I spilled half a cup of coffee on myself, and the couch.
2. So I had to change into the "petite" size pants, which are too short and I look goofy in anything but sandals. This being a lab day, I had to wear solid shoes.
3. I couldn't find a spot to park in B section (commuting students) so I had to park in A (faculty).
4. So then I walk out of class to find a parking ticket, of course.
5. Lab. About the 3rd time repeating the same 2 steps (if x, then repeat) my brain aspoloded. It took 3 hours to repeat 4 times, and I still had to cork it for the weekend.
6. Review for class until 5pm. My feet hurt, and my brain is overloaded, and I still have to study. Maybe I should just type up my notes and a formula sheet. Yup, that'll be it because sleep is definitely the priority tonight.

Bright notes:
I made a nummy Mango-Banana smoothie for lunch.
Rigel is learning very quickly to move from perch to finger to perch on command. Just two ten-minute sessions of Up, Good Boy! Up, Good Boy! Up, Good Boy! and he now does it about half the time. He really likes those cherries and dried pineapple.

I Scream

Death to the Ice Cream Truck Driver.

May she choke on a popsicle stick, become suddenly lactose intolerant, run over by a train...whatever. As long as I don't have to listen to that ditty for 30 minutes every day, parked in the road outside my window because they aren't allowed in the parking lots.

As a kid, Mom was told the Ice Cream Man was called the Ding-Dong Man because he was a pervert, not because of the song. Kept the kids away from the overpriced goods, kept the music out of the neighborhood. Sounds good to me.

Actual Pictures of Rigel

So I finally found my camera cable, and you can finally enjoy some pictures of my little friend. Here he is in his cage, showing off his colors, but being very wary of his new home.

He eventually took the leap, and even let me hold him in my hand. I do this all the time now, and he loves it when i pet him. He only poops on me every 10 minutes.


Of course his favorite spot to perch is on my shoulders, or the back of my neck. I won't let him do that now, but I didn't know better at first. You should never let a nipper have access to you in a place you can't see him. Plus it tickles when he plays with my hair.

John Mayer's O-Face

Rigel and I are sitting here watching Live Earth together. I was going to bring him out of his cage, but he squawked at me. I know I need to bring him out anyway, but I'm just not there yet.

I love John Mayer's music, and its pretty fitting for the concert. He also makes the oddest faces when he plays.

Can I just say that I never had any idea who Shakira was. And I still don't care, because this is a whole lotta shit. The emphasis she puts on things makes it impossible to know what she's saying, even though I'm fairly certain its english. So basically the song boils down to "look at how I can move in these high-heeled boots." But she looks incredibly awkward and uncomfortable, as if its me dancing, and that's never good. Eh. Gag.

Hair. In. Face. Must. Kill.

Melissa Etheridge, I think you're great. So please understand, this is not a song. Please sing. That was quite a rant. I mean I agree, but still. Singing is your creative outlet, so sing, and leave the speeches to...

Hi Al Gore (wow he seems excited)

Okay, I don't know Alecia Keys either, but I like the opening instrumental. Playing some oldies? I didn't expect her to play her own piano either. Off to iTunes to see if I like any of her regular songs.

Someone tell me what Dave Matthews Meant when he said "Its a great honor to follow Jane Goodall." Maybe a little dig at Madonna? Anyway, I <3 Dave Matthews Band. Note to drummer: The stick-in-a-drum sound was neat, until you overdid it. At which point we become aware that we make the exact same sound with a straw and plastic lid. OH! Maybe that's part of the message, the sound of disposable goods.

Somehow my spaces don't show up until I type the next character. You have no idea what I mean, but I promise its pretty annoying.

He's a Parrot :)

Hi All! Last week I finally brought a feathered friend into our home. Rigel is a Green-Cheeked Conure, born April 20th. He loves Nora Jones, bells, and biting.

I keep reading that they like food hung in the cage so they can play with it and get exercise. I'm not sure what to use to hang them. I feel like string would be a bad idea, I'm afraid he'd get tangled in it. I've heard wood skewers are good so I'll be buying some soon. I have a bag of fresh red cherries on stems. Would it be okay to give them to him whole, or are the stem and pit choking hazards? I offered one by hand cut in half with the pit removed, and he was extremely disinterested.

Also, he does a few things contrary to what I've read about green-cheeks:

- He does not like baths. I provided a wide shallow bowl of fresh water, and he wouldn't go near it. The next day I bought a spray bottle with a fine mist, and misted him gently from above. He ran for cover like the sky was falling. Should we be doing this at a different time of day or in a certain spot?

- Loves climbing the walls of his cage, but won't go near the perches or the ladder. It came with a large dowel, but it seemed to wide for his little feet. So I bought a thinner natural wood perch, and a smaller cement perch, plus a ladder. He only climbs the ladder if I put something tasty (millet) at the top.

- Spends most of his time wandering the bottom of the cage. The cement perch is now connected to the bottom of the cage, since he spends most of his time there I'm hoping he will use it to file his beak.

MMMmmm It might be too late for this bag of cherries, I've almost polished them off myself. Thanks for reading my long-winded post.

New Reason To Not Study

Please welcome Rigel, a green-cheeked conure. If I had thought to charge my camera sometime since my vacation in May, you could see a picture of him. As it is, here is a picture that closely resembles him.

I say "he" and "him" even though we have no easy way to tell gender, and because it looked more he than she. We went through feminine names first though, because that's what I would prefer to think. We went through Firefly, Stargate, Battlestar, even Farscape names. Somehow Rygel actually stood out as a good fit. Michael disagrees, because the bird is clearly not a Hynerian Dominar.

I kept thinking, and decided to go with a star or constellation name, and Rigel still stood out as a good fit. So there you go.

He is very calm, although he has already bitten me a few times, just out of curiosity I think. He was eating out of my hand also, so I got nibbled then. He calmly stayed in the cage while for awhile, then ventured out and made his way to me. He tried to climb my shirt and accidentally hooked one of his nails into my skin on my chest, which hurt a great deal also. He tried to climb my shirt on the side and it tickled. I've been pooped on already. I also have little pin marks in my had where he was perched. The nails will be clipped as soon as I make an appointment at the vet. I found out that there is a bird vet in town, yay! I wasn't looking forward to driving to Abilene an hour away.

Its been an eventful first hour at home.

He is currently exploring his cage, nibbling at the wall behind the cage. Michael says he's trying to dig out, Shawshank style. I'm going to move him now...

Okay, well I neglected to get a few things at the pet store, it was kinda hectic since I thought someone else was going to get to the manager first and steal my baby away.

Cuttlebone
smaller perches
small cement perch for nails
smaller toy (with mirror?)
bowl for bathing

Cherry-O!

Finals. Are. Over. Man that was stressful, mostly because my grade on Exam 4 was 74% and that was quite a shock. The previous tests seemed harder but I got better grades, and on that one I thought it was a bit easy and I studied harder for it. So I'm torn now, because the final was the same way. I studied hard and it didn't seem as difficult as I expected, and I should feel confident. Not so much. The grades won't be up until Thursday.

I didn't study for government, the questions were all about opinions, I did a lot of guessing. It wasn't comprehensive. Grades should be up for it in an hour or so.

We bought a huge bag of cherries yesterday, so my fingertips are now purple. Sweet yumminess.

Something else that is wrong.

What I Think of My Government Professor:
His lectures have no structure, he just babbles on about his own life and opinions. Its the last day before Finals, and ALL he talked about was the 2 times he was a delegate to the Democratic Convention in 1984. He said (proudly) that he called the First Lady of KS a "Fat Bitch, because that's all she is." That same day he apparently bragged about being in the Birmingham march with MLK and bit by a dog, so another "bitch" (at the convention) would stop yapping at him. So I walked out.

i just don't think that's right...

I was just now reviewing my lab quizzes for the final tomorrow. Labs were Co-taught/graded by our lecture professor, and another professor. This other guy is so nit-picky about things, he grades very harshly. Whatever, we got used to it. Then I just noticed that he went through and dotted my i's on one of my quizzes. It is a basic training control-thing, where they made us write without "punctuation" to include dotting the letters i and j. Stupid, yes. However I still do it out of habit, an odd little habit I retain from that time. It makes taking notes in class a little quicker.

Anyway, it just threw me that he'd be so picky as to dot my i's on a chemistry quiz. He didn't count off points though. I guess it could be worse...

In other news:
Its storming a bit here. Just started raining.
There is a bee/wasp/hornet thing in the house. (from before I opened the windows, tyvm)
My library books are now 1 month overdue. This is why I don't go to the library unless I can walk there from my house. Oh the good ol' days...
The kitchen is a mess.
We're out of anything to drink and I don't feel like cleaning something to make tea.
I'm going to keep adding things to this list until I remember the actual thing I was going to put here.
That helped.
The new Firefox is pretty nice, IMHO. Less-bubbly icons, X's on the individual tabs, spell-check as I type anywhere. I also appreciate the little things that set it apart, like not messing up my Home and making it yahoo and adding the yahoo search bar every time it updates. Frakkin IE.!

Thanks to pizza, the heartburn is coming back again. Blah.

Meet the Joneses

Our Simpsons Movie Avatars. Okay, so I'm not that skinny, and he's not that muscled, but those were the best of 4 options, so there. It was fun.
Feet got cut off...wtf? I'm not fixing it.

Review

So the last Chem exam is tomorrow, Finals on Tuesday. I skipped Government today to work my practice problems. I've only missed this one day so far, and I could do those tests asleep and I have an A already before the extra credit, so wev.

In short, I was at school from 8am to almost 6pm today, just for one class. The professor held an extra review session after the lab ended at 4pm. He schedules reviews for Friday afternoons, since we don't have lab that day, but tests have fallen on Thursday and Friday mornings so he holds extra review sessions after the afternoon labs. He's told us several times that he won't factor a curve until after the finals are graded, if at all. He gives us plenty of hints as to what is important for the tests. Yet still, this afternoon, the goons decide that they are going to interrupt every review question by asking "Will this be on the test?" The professor is a relaxed, nice guy, seriously. He's put up with Mr. WTBOTT without getting snippy at all, until today. I guess he finally snapped, because of course it will be on the test we spent an hour on it in lecture! Guy's excuse was that he wasn't in class that day...oh yeah, because that makes you look like less of a worthless dumbass. Seriously, the professor has gone out of his way to give us extra help. But the only thing Mr. WTBOTT, and about 4 others just like him, can do is leech off our time by asking useless questions and "joking" that there "better be a 20 point curve." Leeches, I tell you!
/rant


In any case, this afternoon's lab left me feeling like my brain had been bashed by a baseball bat, and I'm kinda quesy from the stress...

Off to lock myself in a room with no internet access for 4 hours, so I might memorize some Dots.

Wasted Time

Hubby and I grabbed a coffee at the HQ building between going to Finance and the Clinic to sort our dependent paperwork. Its been a month now, its about time we got around to it. I'm not even going into how some people are making life difficult for me. Then lunch (eventually) at Arby's, and I was off to the grocery store. The commissary was closed because it is Monday, and WTF with that anyway? So, I went to the grocery store for some much needed supplies. Meals were getting mighty creative, though last night's experiment turned out well.

Yeah, and that part where I study all afternoon and don't even turn on the computer? Well, you see how well that worked.

Instead, I caught an episode of TNG. I checked to see if The 4400 was online anywhere, but no. We're thinking about getting rid of the cable and just buying shows we like, just like when we lived in Okinawa. Maybe not, I like 4400. Oh damn, and Hubby is home, and I didn't even pick up a book...Enterprise is on tonight...

Oh, I got an 83 percent on my last exam. That's pretty good considering the class average was 54 and I seriously thought I bombed the whole thing. Wow.

Dreaming of Asia

My older cousin is moving to Japan for a teaching job, and he asked me where I was stationed. I decided to give him some unsolicited advice.

I was on the island of Okinawa, south of the main island. It was fun but its way different from the rest of Japan. I got used to being taller than most men there, but somehow their fashions and pop culture are freakish clones of whatever was 15-20 years ago. Its weird.

Shop the 100yen stores, enjoy the food, don't forget to see the tourist destinations. Nothing is more lame than living in a cool foreign country and not seeing the sights. No excuses! Oh, 100 yen is about $1, so don't feel all rich with a 1,000 note in your pocket.

We were reminded pretty often that if you're arrested, make sure someone you know is aware. Otherwise you don't get food or blankets in jail. Also, if you drive, remember just by being a driver you assume a certain percent of responsibiltiy in an accident, even if it is shown to not be your fault. Don't run over Japanese kids, nobody likes an international incident on their record :D

Hi(sharply) means yes, short for Ohio Gozaimas. But if you say hi, they might understand you mean hello. Mizu is water, miso is a paste. I think... Domo between friends, Domo Arigato to the waiter, Domo Arigato Gozaimas to your boss or your girlfriend's dad ;). Tipping is considered rude. If you're not sure how to say something on the menu, just point to the picture and kinda grunt. They all think(know) we're stupid anyway, so its okay.

I don't recommend Orion beer. Don't marry a local, or a philipino. Especially if neither of you speak the other's language. Especially one you meet at a bar, ever.

Have fun. Take lots of pictures.

SG-1 Series Finale

Is anyone else just a bit disappointed in the finale? No end to the Ori threat, though I can believe Atlantis might deal with this in the future. The movie certainly won't. I just watched the interview on stargatesg1.com and they're saying Stargate: Continuum is an alternate-timeline story. Why? They have plenty of material for a movie without doing that, and enough continuity problems for fans of the original Stargate movie who haven't watched much SG-1. I would really love to see the Stargate Program made public, The show has only addressed that in, you guessed it, alternate-timeline episodes. What is the deal with that?

That is what bothers me most, nothing "real" happened in the Series Frickin' Finale, except the death of the Asgard, which was a bit glossed over. Instead, we get a mean-spirited tirade from Daniel Jackson, which was completely out of character. Then an immediate emotional switch and that whole scene just pissed me off. Not that they got together, but that it just went all weird. It just lacked the depth that character normally displays. In fact, the whole episode lacked real depth. Why make the alternate timeline last so damn long, instead of maybe a year or two and have them remember everything? I'm mad.
Enjoy an old image of SG1 (it'll make you feel better):


On an up note, it looks like Sam Carter will be the new civilian commander of Atlantis for next season. Though she looks goofy in the preview I saw, I think that mostly stems from the odd outfit she's in. It seems like an odd holdover from Dr. Weir, who was seriously injured in tonight's episode and talked about leaving command anyway. I didn't like her at first, but I got used to her personality. Whatever, not a big loss. Sam, on the other hand, will be great to see in charge. She always ended up second despite her qualifications. I also really hated how often her strong character was made to look like an awkward teen with a crush, where she could have been a little more mature. Eh, we all have flaws, and hopefully her switch to civilian life will ease certain romantic tensions. That would be fun. Yeah.

Happy Boobies!

Becky asked how studying makes me a manic cleaning crazywoman.

Well, the bug spray people posted a notice were doing the apartments today. I was actually home last time, and they just walk through real quick and spray all the exposed baseboard. Since we tend to have stuff piled/stacked/shoved against the walls, they didn't spray as much as they could have. So I made sure they could get to the baseboards. Also, I get a tad embarrassed about people seeing my home as cluttered as it was, and also things like the film that develops over the bathroom sink and mirror. Whatever, I'm crazy, get over it.

Also, I was pretty stressed about the test because I knew I didn't study well this past week. When that happens I lay awake with my mind racing over everything from the test to my future to mulling over events of the past...its not good for sleeping is what I'm saying. Cleaning in a big sweep like that burns some energy so I can get to sleep before 5am.

Oh, and my boobies! are happy. I decided to pick several bras to try on in the two sizes. Yes, Becky, the calculator worked very well for me. Turns out the old size just does not fit anymore, and I found a couple very comfortable bras on sale for $24 (from $42). I also bought some boring beige panties, because I don't like their patterns, and my normal grey or black in a comfortable cut weren't stocked in my size. Suck. They were 5 for $25, which is more than I would like to pay, but I was there already, and I needed new panties. They had different body spritz scents than the one I really loved, but I found a good one anyway. Go figure that VC is about the only place I can find perfumes that don't make my sinuses dry or congested. They smell good too!

I think I'm going to relax tonight. There are 2 books from the library that are about a month overdue. I'd return them unread, but that would just be wrong!

Boobies!

I am in love with how clean my house is right now. Yesterday's lab lasted until 4:00, and the test review lasted until 6:30. I ate dinner and then studied until midnight. Then I cleaned my house like a madwoman! until 1:am, and it is wonderful! I resisted the urge to sweep/vaccuum/mop the floors, out of respect for my neighbors, so I might do that later today.

This morning's Chemistry exam was murder! I walked out numb, shaking, exhausted. This afternoon's lab was easy and short, even though I managed to spill water on myself about 3 times. At least it was only water. Anyway, it was good to get a short day.

I haven't been to the gym all week, Bad ME! So what shall I do with my extra time today? Go to VS and get a new bra for my poor boobies! As recommended, I just measured myself. I used the Bra Size Calculator , which gave me a size I was not expecting, and which I will not tell you. Except for Amanda, who needs to be online right now! to tell me if it is accurate. But she's not, and I'm going to VC anyway, but only because Hubby gave me a gift card in December, which I have not used yet.

K! BuhByenow!

Just Another Day

The movie review paper was a waste of effort. The last exam came back, and I still had an A in the class. I studied less, if at all really. Also, the paper was graded on the basis of "did you turn it in? and did it fit the technical requirements? I'm pretty sure he didn't even read them. Whatever, I'll take 20 points. So I expect to put no further effort into Govt 2301. Yesterday I was so painfully bored that I got up and left 20 minutes early, just to check the system and make sure he wasn't the one teaching Govt 2302. I was going to drop and register for someone else if not.

Chemistry is getting harder. 2 weeks left in this term. Wish me luck.

Oh, and I put this on the myspace glob the other day, forgot to cross-post:

Perfect Spheres
Apparently the current object being used as a standard for measurement is deteriorating, and that sucks. So, the Australians are making perfect speres of exactly 1kilogram so they can measure it exactly and tell us how many atoms of that material make up 1 kilogram.

So most people wouldn't find this interesting, but I do.

Globbing

I'm really tired of the stoopid ads (that i put there on purpose, of my own free will, i know) coming up with ads for the word blog. Therefore that word is now stricken from my typing, and shall forevermore be known as glob.

Yeah yeah yeah, get over it.

Mega Exam Day 2

I won't know until Monday at least, but I think i did better on the Chem problems than the last exam, but worse on the multiple choice. On the last test, I tended to put wrong numbers into my calculator, and also transcribed wrong given values. I triple-checked all my work this time, so hopefully that's under control.

Government didn't seem too great, but I'll find out tomorrow. Just any case, I caved in and did the extra credit. 2-5 Pages on a movie with a political theme, picked from a given list, due tomorrow at noon. I did 3 pages on Farenheit 451, in about 4 hours tonight. I've read the book, but never bothered with the movie. Crappy paper, but interesting movie. Its worth up to 20 points on top of my final grade.

Then I had Chem Lab in the afternoon for 3 hours. It was better than yesterday, which ran almost an hour longer. Also, I finally bought new safety goggles because the ones I got at the campus bookstore are crap-tastic.

I've also recovered from that Abs class on Monday, and I'm never doing that again. It took a capful of Tylanol Nightime cough syrup (for the nighttime pain relief, we're out of regular pills) and 9 hours sleeping with a heat pad on my hips. I woke up in less pain, and that's all that counts.

Well, goodnight.

School Update

We got our Chem Exams back today. I got an 87%, and I'm pretty proud of that because only 5 people in the class got above 80%. Plus, he mis-graded the last problem for the whole class, and he's taking them back up to fix tomorrow, so I think I'll have a 91%.

The class average was 63%, which he said was pretty good compared to past classes and given the horrified faces we all had when we turned them in. I find that funny because a) I was horrified, and b) I often have people ask me if I'm okay because they see something in my face, when I feel I am perfectly fine/coping. So with that combo my face must have said "downright terrified."

I didn't study for the Government Exam, and I got an A which was 78% on the curve. Given that I've already had my fill of US Gov/History classes, and that half this class is about Texass government, I really could care less as long as I pass.

Anywho, the next Exam is this Thursday, for both classes. The original schedule had them on consecutive days which would have been good. I may have actually studied for Government. Sadly it did not stay that way. Damn those accelerated summer schedules.

Tonight I quizzed myself on binary ionic compounds, finished my practice problems for chapter 3, and moved on to chapter 4 where I hit the end of today's lecture. I really really know I need to revisit the polyatomic ions, but I'm still not sure how to go about it.

Its time for bed. Naughty-night peoples. (because spellcheck said so)

Outch

Yesterday I got all motivated and went to the Abs class at the gym. I got there early to do 25 minutes on the cross-trainer. I usually do the Pilates class on Tues/Thurs, and I feel like I need a better aerobic workout paired with the streaching/strength component. For the Abs class, this was a hugely bad idea. It was tough. It was in a more military format, with alot more reps of each exercise than I really needed. There was an aerobics component I didn't need. It had squats and lunges, which I really didn't need. It stressed my hips which tend to click during exercises like leg lifts and flutter kicks. Today I can barely walk stairs because of the pain.

Some of the exercises were good. OH shit im gonna be late to class!

***I made it on time, everyone was waiting in the hall to be let into the labs***

Anywho. I left my laptop on when I rushed out the door, which is sort of good anyway because the heat is very soothing on my lap. I'm going to change for my Pilates/Yoga (She calls it Piyo) class this afternoon, gulp down some Yellow Gatorade, and take an antacid tablet so I don't feel like fire is rushing up every time I have to do an exercise on my tummy. But first, I must piddle. You wanted to know, don't lie.

Well Written Post

Not this, but the post I read at Pharyngula. We Stand In Awe Its a bit longish, but if you've ever felt like opening your mind a bit, I highly recommend it.
"We stand awed at the heights our people have achieved
When the Buddhas of Bamyan were dynamited, it wasn't an atheist who lit the fuse. These modern atheists that have stirred up so much resentment among the apologists for religion are not destroyers who seek to demolish the past..."

Also, this post from Midwife with a Knife:
"You simply have to take it on faith that the eggs are ready, because when you've done this before, the eggs were done.
To be honest, it kind of creeps me out, this way of trusting the eggs."

Overheard on CNN

"Its adult content, some of it bordering on X-rated, especially that scene with Cheney and Hillary Clinton."

Lil' Bush, huh? Now I'm definitely seeing this show...hooboy...

Railing Against the Cool

I freely admit to watching Gotta Have It on Food Network. Its only because I was watching Ace of Cakes, and then I didn't change the channel or turn it off. I'm lazy.

Most, if not all, of the items on this show are for people with a lot of spare time and money oozing out of their anuses. They are wasteful consumer products, and that's something I hate. Even though at this very moment I am drooling over chocolate shot glasses. You can light the rum on fire and roast mini-marshmallows over it?? Then eat marshmallows dipped the melty chocolate cup? *droool*

Okay, back to holier-than-thou anti-consumerism. Actually no. I really wanted to talk about the KWC Waterstation. It is a round sink station for your kitchen (or outdoor grilling area I suppose) that comes with movable cutting boards, slots for strainers, and lower storage. I thought that was cool, until they said it comes in a shorter model. For short people. Like me. And now I am in love with a sink, and I want to be sickeningly rich just so I can have it.

Politics and Not Sleeping

Might as well post something new. Its not as if I have a life or anything. I did intend on going to bed at 11pm, but then the TV had some recast of the Democratic Faith and Politics debate, which I had intended to see and missed, so I watched it. Then I read some stuff online about it, and before you know it, I was stuck on the Internet. Again.

My take was that both Edwards and Obama said things I agree with. As a kid I spent well enough time living in poverty, with only Missouri MC+ as health care. One of them said "eliminating education programs in prison is not being tough on crime." Also, Edwards' response to whether he supported same-sex unions: "No, personally. But I don't think its the president's job to enforce his faith so same-sex partnerships deserve the same rights and responsibilities as any other marriage" I'm totally paraphrasing here, because I can't find a transcript and I'm too tired to keep looking. Also, Michael called while Obama was on, so I didn't get all of his 15 minutes.

Clinton seemed very uncomfortable or tired, and had a hard time looking the moderator in the face, constantly looking down. It was pretty clear to me that she was putting on a show with the whole thing, much more so than her counterparts. Coming from me, that's not exactly a criticism. Since most of the questions they asked her were about her husband's affair, I was uninterested and drifted off. I think it would be great to have a female president, but I need to see her talk in another format. From what little I've seen she pushes her talking points too hard and is a bit too stiff.

A technical note: the chairs were too high, and the candidates and moderator looked like they were having a hard time getting in and out of them. Especially Clinton and Obrian. Is it sad that I can be confident in the spelling of Solidad, but not Obrian?

Memorization Help Please

I am having a bit of trouble memorizing Polyatomic Ions. I've been trying flashcards. I can guess the formula from the name most of the time, but getting the name from the formula isn't happening. Is there a trick out there, or is it really as hard as it seems?

Thanks for listening :)

Alexplorer wrote:
I'm rusty on this, but the suffixes and prefixes (preficies and sufficies?*) follow a trend within a series.
[...]
In some cases these forms don't all exist, so you have to know the series already to some extent.

Also, if you have a few molecules in your head already, then you can remember the charge. For example, H2SO4 is sulfuric acid. I always remember SO4 is -2 because of the two hydrogens.

Part of the trick is to treat this as a language in that you have to get to listening for what sounds natural much like matching the appropriately gendered article to an ambiguous word in German or French.

*I don't have my irregular plurals memorized yet, and I've been speaking English all my life.

That's a great way of looking at it, as learning a language. I think I'm starting to get the hang of some of them just because I've heard/read them several times before. I thank science fiction writers and scienceblogs.com for making it really easy for me to memorize most of the element names and symbols already.

Janis wrote:
You poor thing...

This site addresses your problem, it even sympathizes with you about memorizing the dreadful things. Good luck!

http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/compounds/polyatomic.shtml

I think this site is exactly what I need, thank you so much. Isn't this the cold hard truth:

"First year students are often asked to memorize lists of polyatomic ions without any context. Mnemonics can be helpful, but they provide an artificial way to organizing what must be memorized. This beginner's guide to polyatomic ions will eventually provide a relevant context for students learning the names and formulas of polyatomic ions"

Mnemonics never work for me because it seems like more work to memorize the mnemonic than the actual information. I swear the only thing I ever learned by mnemonics was the order of the planets, and now that's all messed up with the whole Pluto thing. Nachos I guess it is now.


Thanks to you both.

Definition

Apprehension:
Clanking, frustrated, unpleasant sounds coming from the direction of my husband and my $500 printer.

I will destroy the one that damages the other.

Exam 1

Well that was fun, in a twisting gut, rising panic sort of way. I feel like I did surprisingly well on my chemistry exam. I only had to guess on one (of 15) multiple choice, and totally winged it on the last problem. The last one is okay, because he told us afterwards that he forgot we hadn't covered that section yet. So he'll grade us leniently based on what we tried to do. Government was straight multiple-choice, and the questions were as annoying and repetitive as the professor's lectures. Unfortunately, it also assumed we read the required chapters, which I sorta kinda didn't do. Oh well, its still multiple choice and I can guess better than most. We'll see.

Its a fairly nice day, mild by Texass standards, so the windows are again wide open. That's such a relief from the closed-in feeling I get when the a/c is on. I did a little de-cluttering around the house, and I really need to do dishes. After lunch. Maybe.

Knocked Up (no Mom, its just a movie)

A Longish Review of Knocked Up, but maybe because I read all 106 comments...
A Smaller Review of Knocked Up, which we saw this weekend, which I thouroughly enjoyed, and which you really must see.

Caution: Both reviews contain Spoilers.

this film contains one of the most brilliantly subversive commentaries on misogynistic language I’ve ever seen. During the movie, the word “vagina” is (notably) used by guys as an insult. And then during the delivery—KAPOW! You get not one but three (IIRC) shots of the baby crowning. And all I could think was: “Awesome! Could there be a better commentary on how fucking stupid it is to use ‘vagina’ as an insult to convey weakness?!” Superb.

Sick of Sick

I can't stop sneezing, which automatically causes your sinuses to produce more mucus. I've about had it with the cycle of sinus troubles I've been going through for about...forever. I should have done some homework/reading on Thursday afternoon but I just couldn't bring myself to move or focus. I eventually took a very long, very hot bath, wrapped myself in my new terrycloth robe, and fell asleep. I feel feverish and achy even though I'm not running a high temperature. Why is that? I still didn't feel well Friday, even though I was up until 4am reading at bitingbeaver. We went to see a movie when I woke up at noon today. Then we went grocery shopping. Remind me again that I do not go to the grocery store with my husband. Infuriating.

Because these are 5-week summer terms, I'm now severely behind in my notes and reading, and a little behind in my problems. The problems aren't turned in, they're just for practice, and they tests in both my classes are being pushed back a day or two, so that's good for me. I sat around until 6-ish when I had some chicken and rice soup which suddenly made me feel much better. Go figure, right? That, plus some hot tea, really gave me a burst of motivation. I finished my Chemistry problems from Chapter 1, read and took notes on about half of Chapter 2. Government is on the back burner until I can get past Chapter 3 in Chemistry, plus memorize the Periodic Table and some other tables from the text.

In the middle of making another mug of tea, I decided to clean my kitchen and clear the refrigerator of old and/or moldy items. Dear Husband, I left the eggs in the refrigerator but they are old, please put them in the trash when you change bags. Uncluttered the dining table (which still has no chairs), put away the domino set (which opened up in the trunk on the way from MO), and then ever-so-gingerly moved the bibles (no kidding) into a bag and beside the door.

Why do I always try to put a d in the word refrigerator? Probably the same reason things are always so awsome to me.

Now I owe Manders $100

Manders: btw, I LOVE Enterprise
Manders: just watched 3 eps
Relic: lol!
Relic: i watched the last 2, just now
Relic: michael HATES the intro
Manders: I was so irritated they left off there
Manders: humph
Manders: the music is kinda hokey, reminds me of Firefly just a little
Relic: and i keep missing episodes so i have no idea what ever happened with the Xindi
Manders: Well I'm totally lost
Manders: lol
Relic: its a good song, and a good intro, if it wasn't for trek, it just doesnt fit
Manders: were those the engineered humans?
Relic: and the trek seasons are like $90 each
Manders: Yet another reason for me to join the masses of Netflixers
Relic: Xindi? no, its a race that had like 5 different varieties
Manders: ah
Relic: not even sure if im spelling it right
Manders: well I about freaked when I saw the guy that played Data on Enterprise
Relic: wait, what?
Manders: he basically played his creators predecessor
Relic: when was this?!
Manders: He was some Dr. who had engineered some people, those people went bad...
Manders: something about advanced ability leading to advanced ambition
Relic: in the episode i didnt watch tonight?
Manders: anyway at the end he's in a cell and starts talking about cybernetic lifeforms and how it may be worked out in a few generations from his
Manders: it was the first one I caught tonight
Relic: yeah
Manders: I watched something on the history channel last night about Trek
Manders: I can't believe NGen is 20 yrs old
Manders: wow
Relic: lol
Relic: yeah, that makes us feel old
Manders: they had a really cool special on about Star Wars tonight, explaining all the archetypes etc.
Manders: I felt all happy fangirl nerdy
Relic: michael was watching that when i woke up from my nap
Relic: michael just told me there is a "mod" for WoW that makes the player spout Firefly lines
Relic: he was excited
Manders: I love that nerds are so incestuous in their worship of all things SciFi
Manders: lol
Relic: i'm keeping that line.
Manders: *rakes in royalties*

4 days left in MO

I woke up this morning with a call from my brother's parole officer, saying I needed to come pick him up and bring him back to the parole office. I was confused. So she said I needed to pick him up from the parole office, take him to pack his stuff, and bring him back because he had done too much stuff since he's been on parole. I really thought they meant I had to drop him off at prison. I was freaked out. How on Earth did they expect me to keep him from running off? Don't they have cops or something for this stuff. I was still confused. I picked him up at the McDonald's, because I wasn't sure where the parole office was so he met me there. I was even more confused that they were letting him wander around, and I was a little worried that he had run off already. Turns out they are having him live at the parole house, not prison but he can only leave for 4 hours a day, to find work. It has been a stressful morning. Mom is understandably upset. At this point I'm not exactly tired, just weary and over-aware of why I haven't been home in 2 1/2 years. I love my family, but dealing with how they live their lives is tough. Its tough to know that throwing them every dollar I have will not solve their problems.

And now I've just read a glob from my husband saying he's going to go to Catholic Mass to get inspiration for a story he wants to write. I do NOT have it in me to deal with that, for crying out loud. *giant sigh*

Ok, lets get a bit more upbeat. Yesterday I played mini-golf at Cool Crest with Traci, her kids, Tammy and her man-thing. It was pretty fun. The course looks so much nicer than the last time I played there, of course that's probably been 5 years ago. I took a few pictures, which I'll post when I get home, promise. Then I had dinner at Cheddars with Lydia, Traci, Sarah and her muchkin, Tammy and her man-thing. I have missed Lydia and Sarah sooo much, and it was great to see them again. *big hugs* Then I went out with Traci, Tammy, Brynn, and Amanda, for a couple drinks. We had a good time together, although somehow we stayed on some depressing topics.

Is today Wednesday? I think so. Becky invited me to dinner at her house. Sounds good to me. Tomorrow should be Long Island Night, and Friday we're trying the Japanese steak/sushi place. MMMmm my favorite. Pirates3 on Saturday, leaving Sunday Afternoon. Oh! I need to order books. Can't go to class Tuesday without books. *Argh*

Just remember that it is more fun to be tipsy and act drunk, than it is to actually be drunk.

I just wanted to say hi to the internets. HI!

There was a parade yesterday, so I went with Traci and her mini-people. It was fun, and I only got a little sunburned. Then some of us went bowling last night and got good and sloshy. It took us 3 hours to play 2 games. I won one, and Becky won the other. There will be pictures eventually, but since Dear Hubby took the battery charger for the camera with him to TN, I have to get the bowling pictures from Becky. In fact, she may have put them up on Facebook already. Go, go see! Tell me all about how goofy we look. Just remember that it is more fun to be tipsy and act drunk, than it is to actually be drunk.

Today is the UB reunion picnic, where I may or may not get to see some more people I know. I hope so, I missed them!

Home

I just cannot fully describe how good it feels to be home. Just crossing the TX/OK border gave an instant feeling that everything was greener, fuller, beautiful. Driving through Kansas was amazing, and all you people who say Kansas is boring and flat can go stick their fingers in their eyes. I got South End's typical less than rosy welcome, and I know alot has changed. I just felt so strange driving into a hometown that I can't remember how to get around.

If I hadn't been driving, I would have taken pictures. Maybe Traci can drive the turnpike on the way back.

Oh man, how I dread going back to shabby Texass.

Halfway There: Let slip the sharks of love

Halfway There: Let slip the sharks of love

Evil Gymnastics Girls

They were selling baked goods outside the Hastings, and I spotted chocolate brownies. Contemplating the brownies, I spotted an identical container with chocolate frosting. Gymnastics Mommie said it was chocolate cake. I gave them all the cash in my pocket for a small chocolate cake. I carried it around the Hastings for 20 minutes while Michael tried to pick out a movie I didn't want to see. The anticipation was killing me.

Finally! Finally I get home and grab a plastic fork and opened my much-coveted chocolate cake. I dug the plastic fork through the chocolaty frosting and into the cake. The non-chocolate cake.

Evil Gymnastics Girls and their Lying Mommies, may they never eat chocolate again.

I would have been happy with Passing...

I'm still pretty sure its a typo, because There Is No Way I Did That.

Seriously!?!

This is me, crapping myself, because I GOT AN A IN CALCULUS1.

No Way, because the last time I got an A in math was 6 years ago, in High School. Ah well, it's amazing what quitting your mindless soul-sucking job will do for your grades. I might be cut out for this stuff after all. I'm going to go change my pants now.

/showingoff

Talkin' about the weather

So the weather here has been stuck in a kind of pattern for so long that I cannot remember what it was like before. It is as if every day is the same. Mostly overcast and cool but pleasant mornings (when I bother waking up that early), rainy afternoons, stormy evenings and nights. It is very green outside, and I feel as if I have already been magically transported far far away from the West Texas semi-desert.

Final-ly

I feel like I turned my head to the side and let my brains flow out onto the paper.

I'll be leaving for Traci's on Monday and Michael's leaving for TN on Sunday. We dropped off my car at Tom's Tire World for a checkup. I have no desire at all to be stranded on the side of the road with two small-uns. Hopefully the weather will be calm on the way up.

To Do Before Departing:
Print directions, clean out car.
Order books for the summer term and have them delivered by mail.
Buy new notebooks, pencils, etc.
Tell the office we'll both be gone for 2 weeks, possibly pay June's rent early.
Make sure the Cable bill is paid. It's the only one that isn't automatic. Or is it?
Clean the house. I won't have time when I get back.
Pack as little as possible, due to pending shopping spree!

To Do While Home:
New Hairdoooo!
Wardrobe Therapy
Party, have fun, etc. with family and friends
See Shrek3, Pirates3, 28 Weeks Later (maybe)

To Do back in Texass:
I actually had something to put here, but now I've forgotten...

Anal-ytics

When I put up the new site, I also started using Google Analytics. Hey, if I am going to talk to myself, I would at least like to be aware of the fact nobody is listening. It was making me sad though, that nobody even checked me out, followed the links I put for you. Ungrateful little bastiges. And I cried a little e-tear, until I realized I've seen Hubby check it at least twice in the last few days, and I've checked it too obviously there's no filter set at all so I should have seen about 4 hits a day. But no. So I checked out with GA, and it says it's getting data, bla bla bla [this long post is me avoiding studying, can't you tell?] bla... but I decided not to believe it and checked the code on blogger, and there's nothing, so I put it back. Wonder how that happened?

Anywhoo...its getting awful lonely without you folks talking to me, and I need your e-love to get me through the day...*shiny puppy-eyes*

Feminism at The Onion

Top 9 Euphemisms for Menstruation from The Onion
My Favorites are:
4- Falling to the Communists
9-Its "that time of the month" where "I'm not at my best" because "my vagina is bleeding."

More Bad Weather

My family tells me there is flooding in MO and KS today. Rosendale is under 22 feet of the 102 River. Typical. The NOAA and Weather.com are reporting more heavy rain, thunderstorms, possibility of tornadoes on the way. I hope everyone at home rides out the bad weather safely.

Flash Flood Watch
Flood Warning
Hazardous Weather Outlook
Tornado Watch

Hurts to Type

I have somehow damaged my knuckle. The one for my pointer finger on my right hand. I cannot grasp anything, and it hurts to type. It also hurts if I forget and let it fall into whatever position to rest. I had a baggie of frozen cranberries on it to reduce the swelling, plus some OTC pain pills. I found earlier today that I can do things like pour from a pitcher of tea, as long as I lift the pointer finger and don't use it at all. Last night I thought it was something in the joint between fingers, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

The pain is probably from a combination of factors. I had a hard time supporting myself in a yoga pose on Thursday. I created a new blog and copied 75 posts on...Friday? Also, I have a bad habit of sleeping on my side with my hand under my head.

Oh, last night while Michael was playing a movie, I finished reading a Dr. Who book. It was very good. Unfortunately I ended up awake until 2:00am, and didn't wake until about 1:00pm. Not a productive weekend at all. I feel like crud.

Tasty Day

Someone recently described the contents of my favorite bottle as smelling like industrial cleaner. It is a very strong wine, my Port, and I love it so. Michael doesn't like the smell of any kind of wine, and Port is concentrated wine fragrance. So he hates it too. I drink it alone. So sad.

The severe thunderstorm laced with tornadoes is just West of here, travelling North, and Star Trek Tech is on TV.

Enough things are right in my world, for today.

RSVP

Not to be all self-centered, but I haven't been home in over 2 years. So I really want to spend time with my friends and family. Traci and I are driving up on the 15th or 16th of May, and starting our return to dreaded Texas on the 28th.

If you want to hang out, but your work schedule will be tight, let me know what days you're free. Manders has offered me her spare bed to crash, so I'll be in St. Joe mostly after all that exhausting shopping and partying. *Big Thanks!*

I'm trying to plan a get-together with all the Upward Bound buddies sometime. Let me know if you're interested.

Self-Control

I am now very tired, and I have spent the entire day on my butt. This is post #75 on the new site. I picked up every slightly meaningful post from 30 Nov 2005 to 31 Mar 06, which is where I previously left off saving links.

These are some titles that I thought were safe, but were not:

My foot is asleep, and I'm jealous! Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Mistakes Friday, August 12, 2005
Thank you screw, for screwing up my day :) Monday, August 15, 2005
Costumes Sunday, August 21, 2005
"How to lay a brick wall" Saturday, August 27, 2005
1st Day of School! Tuesday, August 30, 2005
da dada derrrr Tuesday, August 30, 2005
zzzzzzzzzz Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Family Friday, September 23, 2005
Granny is a selfish spiteful...Monday, October 03, 2005
Update Sunday, October 16, 2005
SERENITY Sunday, October 16, 2005
Halloween Pics, enjoy! Monday, October 31, 2005
Working Vacation Thursday, November 10, 2005
Traveling SucksSunday, November 13, 2005
All in good fun, 9 levels of hell Tuesday, November 15, 2005
And the winner is...! Thursday, November 17, 2005
Beer is good! Friday, November 18, 2005
So, are you saying you don't care? Saturday, November 19, 2005
All the Coffee in Columbia Tuesday, November 22, 2005
HAPPY TURKEY DAY! Friday, November 25, 2005

Then I started at present and worked my way backwards through April. I made myself stop there for tonight, because at this point I must sleep. Michael's wants to see Spiderman 3 tomorrow, and I want to catch an early (cheaper, shorter lines) showing.

A Little Diversion

I like the feel of stormy days. Its been dark for awhile, so that it feels later than it is.

The worst of the storm has passed this area. Michael called me from work saying there was a tornado spotted in town. The news out of San Angelo and Abilene both reported alot of stuff, but not that. I took the storm seriously enough anyway. Threw a pillow in the master bathtub, moved his laptop to the back closet. The bathroom is the only windowless room with no mirror and is as close as possible to the center of our building, given that we have a second-floor apartment.

I just have to wonder why houses in this area have no basements or anything. Craziness and stupidity. They also make themselves very vulnerable to flash flooding because there are no storm drains at all.

Alert

BLAT: Bacon, Lettuce (baby greens), Avacado, Tomato. Pretty sure there was some mayo or something in there too. Really hit the spot.

Also, I'm watching Judging Amy, and the sound went out. In 5 minutes they might get around to the beeping. Oh wait. The alert is so quiet i have to turn the sound way up just to hear that they are saying anything. I heard the word tornado. I'll have to check weather.com. Damn Texas.

Punishments and Rewards

We got our tests back today. I got a 93%! So I might not be a complete failure after all. So I rewarded myself with a piece of blueberry pie after my ham sandwich for lunch. I say 'reward' despite the fact that I had a piece of the same blueberry pie last night after dinner, with a fair dollop of frozen yogurt on the side.

You will not deny me PIE.

As punishment for this reward, my heartburn has returned with full force. It wasn't helped by the Pilates session I just returned from, or the heartburn meds I took beforehand. Who would've thought that laying balanced on your stomach would force tummy acids up your esophagus. I'm so sore and miserable right now, that I don't give half a damn if I spelled espohogus correctly, or even stomach.

So there.

It stormed and rained here the last couple of days, so today has been unusually muggy for West Texass. 62% Humidity. More of the same all this week. Yaayyyy...eh.