A Storm of Comments!!!

The craziness must stop! AAahhhh!!! Three whole comments in as many weeks!!! Of course, I just found out, as I neglect to check my gmail very often, and these are on older posts. My responses:

Dear Baba Wayo,

Unfortunately, I gave up on the tablet PC. It is sitting in a box until I get around to scouring it of personal info and selling it at a yard sale. GoBinder wasn't really the problem in the end. The constant noise level of the fans during class, and the feeling like I was staring into a tiny window to write on just got to be too much. Also, it did not effect reducing my backpack load, since I can't download my textbook onto it and still READ my textbook while taking notes.

Short Story: It just became a pain in the ass, and a huge disappointing waste of money. People thought it was cool, though...*sigh*


Dear Beakerann,

The title of the book is called, I shit you not:

"Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle"

Watermelon pickle sounds more appealing each and every time I read the words...mmmmmmmm

Dear Stewie (here's Stewie Blog, can he train Rigel to type without chewing off the keys?!?!?!)

All is well, and Rigel sends his thanks for belated hatchday wishes. I haven't been around Birdboard much since I've been busy, except that I put up a long-ish post looking for help with ants, which quickly got buried and ignored. I have some other questions I need to get around to asking, which I will try to keep short (ha!). I'm hesitant to keep posting questions, since I don't post *look what my birdy did cute* stuff there since I have a blog for that... it makes me seem a bit needy and not very fun. In my own mind, anyway.

Mommy's Day

Our Matriarchy

Bla Bla Bla....

Still no word on my final grade in Physics 2. Suck.

I had to replace my driver's side seatbelt, which was going to cost an arm and three legs. Luckily, I go to the same place all the time and they are super-nice and I saved $40 off my bill. While waiting for them to diagnose the problem on Monday, I discovered the new River Valley Coffee and Cafe downtown. I was so hungry for breakfast that I would have eaten cardboard, but luckily this was much better AND YOU MUST GO THERE AND EAT! Yesterday while waiting for them to finish my car, I stopped by D'Vine Wine for the first time. I was unaware that they made their own wine on site. I had a Wine Rita....a frickin' wine smooooothhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee.....it was very good. Then I had to walk back to the coffee shop for some lunch.

For today's activities, I started with a yard sale "organized" by the apartment management. By "organized" I mean they told us what day to do it, and maybe put up signs. Participation was low, and I didn't get out there until 9:30 so I missed some sales opportunities. I made $35, which will go to buying grass mat or bamboo window treatments for my living and dining rooms. I'm off to goodwill now, to drop off some unsold items, and then to Tuesday Morning to find those window treatments, and then to the grocery store for some sour cream for tacos. Mmmm tacos.....I'm so hungry....

***
Eh. I forgot the box of stuff for Goodwill, and there were no good window coverings at Tuesday Morning

But the tacos were totally good, and now I'm full.

To Do List: Summer

This past week, I joined my classmates in ritualistic self-torture. We shoved the knowledge of 4 months into our poor brains, and then yesterday we sat down and turned our heads, so that the knowledge would oooozzzeee out of our ears and onto the Sacred Final. Some of it ended up on the floor.

And then I slept for 14 hours.

The results are partially in, and I have a B in Calculus 3. Physics is still pending, but I woke up this morning with my right hand representing magnetic field, current, and force, and then I realized that I mentally had the field going out of the page on the final. Fucks.

I have plans, and half a summer to get around to them.

1. Clean my house.
For real, people, this place is a general pigsty, and I have no clean socks.

2. Mega-Organizing.
Now that the cleaning is done, I'm all into giving shit away and discovering stuff I've been looking for (like socks) and re-discovering sentimental items (like underwear). That box of cables and that pile of cables and that device over there, they need to find each other. The closets aren't exactly overflowing, but its not like I can find anything in there.

3. Bird Training
Since I'm out of school for a few months, it is time to give a certain unrestrained parrot a few lessons. He's got "be adorable" and "bite me" down already. I think we'll start with "stop shitting on me" and move up to "do not chew on the laptop power cord." We'll see.

4. SCRAPBOOKING!!!!!!!
I am very excited. This will be a scrapbook for my mom, sort of a Mother's Day/Birthday gift that she has to help me with. I got this pretty paisley paper (btw I HATE paisley and this stuff is gorgeous, so there you go) and punch-out set. I still need to find a book, but I'll place the pictures and leave room for Mom to do the journaling. FUN!!

5. Speaking of books.
I plan to read this summer. Books. Novels. Space-Operas. The kind you read for fun, with no homework-related guilt. Lots of books.

6. HOoooommmmeee Home on The Range...
I'll leave for the Great State of Misery probably on the 26th of June, and return to Big Texass on the 6th or 7th of July. Becky wants to go bowling in KC for her birthday, and after that the whole trip is up in the air. Mostly there will be food, coffee, alcohol, and blowing shit up. Probably in that order.

There goes half the summer....bye-bye fun...

7. Back to School
I registered for Technical Writing in the second summer term, and then it is back to school full-time in the Fall. Four courses, two with labs....no time for sleep.

I <3 Soup

I discovered an amazing line of soups a few months ago. Since I want them to continue to stock them for ever and ever and ever, I will share them with you, and thus increase demand.

The brand is Pacific Natural Foods, and the soups are organic, non-dairy, wheat free, low-sodium, low-fat, etc. etc. etc... Wait wait wait! Don't run away! The reason I bought them the first time was that they were WAY CHEAPER than just about any soup in the store. The feel-superior vibes of Organic low-this, non-that were just deal sweeteners. I shop by comparing price per ounce, and both grocery stores I shop at put price per ounce on the label for most things.

First, the packaging they use is that pressed-cardboard stuff like juice boxes. This is way way way cheaper than metal cans and those plastic microwavable Campbell's Soup things. Second, there are about 4 servings per container, so it is like buying in bulk ONLY BETTER because the container is re-sealable. That means I can have a tiny mug of soup one day, a giant bowl of soup the next, and a regular bowl a week later, all without that metallic taste of soup in a can, or cleaning tomato soup stains out of Tupperware.

Did I just say Tomato Soup? You may (or not, if you don't love me, but that's ok, I swear) be aware that I hate tomato soup with the fiery passion of a Orthodontic Torture Veteran, but The Husband loves it very much. I bought all 3 varieties available: Butternut Squash, Tomato, and Tomato w/ Roasted Peppers. I HAVE NEVER LOVED ANYTHING MORE THAN I LOVE THIS TOMATO SOUP!!!!!!!!!!!!! *gasping for breath* It turns out he likes the roasted peppers more, and I love all 3 pretty much equally. The squash is nice and sweet, and I like it slightly cool on a hot day. The other two go great with my grilled cheese sandwiches and are good with a little diced green onion or shallot mixed in, or some shredded cheese.

Um. I think my crazy is showing, just a sec...

Ok.

They also have smaller boxes of creamy corn, and some ginger thing that I tried. Not so good as soups, but pretty good as a sauce on roast chicken and rice.

OH LOOK! There's one called Creamy Roasted Carrot. I'm going to have to try that!

There's my crazy again...dammit!

Diapers

We need BSG diapers, so we don't have to take bathroom breaks during episodes and risk missing critical seconds of BSG greatness.

Also, apparently some car company is in with the Cylons, the background is just like the lights when the final 5 were revealed to the 3's.

I really need to pee right now.

Reflections

Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle

Wow, I needed this today. I've had a pretty rotten day (week, month, etc.). I went to my local coffee shop for a sandwich and picked up a book off the shelf, thinking the sandwich would take awhile to be ready. I was wrong, the food came quick, but I still stayed for nearly an hour because the book was so good!

These poems made me feel sentimental, open. They are honest, humorous, and intense in their simplicity. I was halfway through and almost walked to the counter to ask if I could keep the book. I changed my mind, and returned it to the shelf. Everyone deserves to read this book, I can buy my own copy.

Happy Hatchday!

The little card that described the birdy in the cage said he was hatched on 20 April 2007. It also called him Sonny. A year later, he has a better name, a willing servant/playgym, and the gift of flight.

Here are a few pictures I took of Rigel this month. There are more on my flickr account.

Goo Bath

I fully expect Cally Tyrol to wake up in a goo bath.

That is all.

It's 5 o'clock....now!

Oh. it. is. so. FINALLY. The Weekend.

This week has been stressful. It started with registration and scheduling problems, and therefore stressing over my finances. The Husband filed his taxes, and we decided to file separately because I didn't have my W-2 ready. Also, he has had some breathing problems while running, and the chest x-ray showed cause for concern. The CT scan results are pending. I spent all day yesterday studying for a physics test, but still felt lost this morning when faced with Lenz' Law.

I went to the nearby H&R Block this afternoon, where they did a great job for me. I'm getting back way more than I thought, actually ALL of what I payed in last year. Very nice. Turns out I won't have to use my considerable "skills" to put myself through college. Not this year, anyway. This also means Rigel gets a play stand, long overdue, and I get to come home for a week or two in late June (probably).

So...yeah...It's 5 o'clock right ....now. Last week I set some strawberries to soak in some lemon vodka. Today, I added the lemonade. Much of this post might not make sense. I'm okay with that.

Also, there's sake, but I want to be mostly-conscious for tonight's episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures (AMANDA YOU MUST WATCH THIS!!!!!) and Battlestar (also this, but you knew that already, (holy shit they're going to unbox the 3's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)).

Um. Yeah. Strawberry Lemon Vodka Yumminess.

WE'RE GOING THE WRONG WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I swear the director told her, "play this one like a 3 year old in a tantrum" FUN!)

TJ: "Special", Has No Class.

I've been told that before, I just never knew it was official. I am "Special," and I have "No Class." Actually, it has been fixed now, and I am officially a non-special Senior. Still, today was stressful. After re-re-rethinking my English minor, and this Professional Writing specialization, and talking to several people , and getting special permission and exceptions for a bunch of stuff, I am finally registered for both Summer and Fall. I'll be full-time in the fall, because otherwise I will start donating blood plasma get a job to cover my expenses. I might still get a job with the VA this summer, which might put any going-home plans in jeopardy. We'll see.

Cinnamon Rolls

My recipe is at RecipeZaar.com, unfortunately I keep getting an error when I try to access it. So sad. I made a new batch tonight, and tweaked it a bit and they are even better. I rolled the dough out much thinner, which meant I made two different rolls. One was honey-caramel and apple butter inside, and the other was sugar and apple butter. They are much more like cinnamon rolls now, instead of whole-grain bread with some flavoring. Here's the recipe, with a few changes from the original. Also, now with pictures!

10-Grain Honey-Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Time: 2 hours or more-ish.
Makes: 12-35, depending on how thin you roll them and how thick you cut them.

Dough:
10-Grain Bread Mix (Bob's Red Mill)
yeast packet (included)
3 tbs olive oil
1 1/4 cup warm tap water
Extra flour for kneading

All further measurements are approximate, that's just how I roll. (get it? haha)
Filling:
3 tbs soft butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tbs cinnamon
1/4 cup apple butter
1/2 tbs warm water to seal

Caramelized Honey Topping:
1/4 cup honey
1 tbs butter (optional)
dash cinnamon (optional)
1/2 tbs vanilla extract

Directions:
Honey Topping:
Make while the dough is rising. Ingredient amounts are VERY rough and to taste. Add honey, cinnamon, and butter to small saucepan and heat on medium for 5-10 minutes, watching that it doesn't boil over. It will darken alot. Remove from heat and allow to cool until it is the consistency of regular warm caramel, cool enough that you can dip a skewer in and taste. Add vanilla to taste. You may not want any at all, but straight honey is to strong for me, and the vanilla mellows it nicely. You may want to warm it a little to drizzle it into the buns, but don't get it too hot.

Dough Per package directions:
Add the yeast packet to the mix. Add the oil and water and mix until combined. Using the extra flour, knead for 8-10 minutes. Place in oiled bowl, cover and let rise for 90 minutes.

Deviate from package directions (as per my usual behavior):
Punch down dough and roll thinly into a rectangle, or divide into two and then roll out. Keeping everything an inch away from the top edge so the batter will seal later, Spread the soft butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, drizzle some honey topping, and spread apple butter. Roll tightly away from you toward the top edge. Lightly wet the top edge and seal the roll. Turn the roll onto so the seal is down and cut into individual rolls with a bread knife. Place approximately 1/2 inch apart in greased pan. Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes. Butter the tops lightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until not squishy inside. Drizzle with more topping and allow to cool 15 minutes.

Devour warm.

Hints: Leave enough honey to dip the rolls in.

These aren't exactly light and fluffy, the whole grain gives it a crunchiness, but mine were still moist underneath. I think these will make a fairly healthy breakfast bun, good with coffee.
Before Baking:


After:

Boys Are Cute

I got a call this morning that the blood test came back, and Rigel is a boy. That's good, because it means we won't have to worry about issues like egg binding. I was pretty sure he was a he anyway, because male birds are known for having more vibrant colors than females.

Also, his birthday is this month.

Just sayin'.

Some Crappy Original Poetry

Today I walked half a mile in my own shoes,
Through the park and to the playground.
She asked if I would like to play.
Suddenly, I wished I was eleven years old,
for the first time since I was ten.

I walked half a mile in my own shoes
until I became, for a moment, myself.

Only 20 Percent?

Created by OnePlusYou

Around 20% of the pages on your website contain cussing.This is 150% MORE than other websites who took this test.

Do they count things like "I fraking love The Battlestar Galactica!!!!!!!!!!!!!"? If not, their count is off.


Also, please watch this cute and serious little video about body image that I found via Shapely Prose

I may be excited.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S FINAL SEASON STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

I made some fairly kick-ass cinnamon rolls last night, mostly from scratch, which took nearly 4 hours. The recipe should be up at RecipeZaar.com eventually, and when that happens I will post a link. They're made with a 10-Grain bread mix, and I've eaten 6 so far, so I may never poo again. I'll let you know.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S FINAL SEASON STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

Rigel is cute and cuddly, and only has 2 more flight feathers to grow out. I'll take some pictures this weekend so you can see how pretty blue they are. We went through a bit of bloody ordeal at the vet because I wanted to find out his real gender, and they did that while trimming his toenails. He was such a good bird, though. We find out in about a week, and I'm trimming his nails myself from now on.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S FINAL SEASON STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

I have a Calculus test tomorrow morning. I am fairly unprepared, but there will be more studying this afternoon. For real. No seriously. Oh shut up, you never believe me. :P

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S FINAL SEASON STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

School is generally good right now. I'm still waffling on what to do this summer, but I'm probably taking Medieval Lit and Technical Writing during Second Summer. That fills my advanced requirement for the minor, and I just need one more course. I can wait and hope that the new Professional Editing course doesn't conflict with my Physics schedule when/if it comes available. If it doesn't then I can always stick an easy lit class in my schedule and be done. I think that's the plan, but I still have to run it by my Advisor.

Oh , also, in case you were unaware, the best show currently on television will start its final season tomorrow. I'm kinda excited.

Oops.

We got our last physics test back today. I totally forgot to do the second half of one problem, didn't read one correctly, and really messed up another. 70% ... Outch!

I talked to my advisor about my schedule. She says I should CLEP the Biology course and go ahead with the English minor over the summer. Sweet. Now I just have to talk to the GI Bill office to make sure its okay with them, the base Education Office to see if I can take the CLEP for cheap as a military dependent, and chat with the English department. *sigh* So much work.

Oh, Mommy, if you're reading this: Sorry I didn't call you on Saturday. I'll call you back this weekend, promise. :D

Spring Break

Ok, so I've started 2 posts with this title, and ended up babbling about whatever for half a page. Third time is a charm?

Woohooooooo! Spring Break!

I'm driving over to see Traci & Family and hang out with them for the week. They're getting ready to move back to KS, so this will be the last time I can drive *only* 3-4 hours to see them. Also, Friday is my Bbbbirthday, so there will be fun and booze. I'm starting out right after my dental appointment tomorrow.

I'm worried about leaving Rigel this week. He needs his nails trimmed, and Michael will take him for that. My worry is that he's really flying now, so he has a little control to make turns and stuff. Will he sneak a chance to fly out the door, never to be seen again? Will he freak out and get attacked by a dog at the vet? Will he get stuck behind the fridge, or land in the kitchen sink full of knives and dirty water? Will he fly into the ceiling fan or the oscillating fan with the missing cover? The possibilities are horrifying and endless. My little cuddly wuddly guy.

Well. There goes upbeat.

Schedule Planning

So I'm doing fairly well in both my classes, much better than last semester. The Summer/Fall schedule is supposed to be out tomorrow. Some of it was up yesterday, and I'm assuming that it isn't set yet, but I started planning my schedule by it anyway. So far, none of the geology, math, or physics I need is available in the summer. These, of course, are the only classes I need anymore. I could get a job, maybe.

Orrrrr.... I could pick up and finish an English minor over the summer. I would only need 3 classes, 2 which must be upper-level. Grammar, Technical Writing, Medieval Literature would be kinda fun I think. Yup, I'm that weird, those courses sound "fun" to me. Technical Writing would be useful for Physics work anyway, grammar maybe less so. I liked the British Literature course from last semester, and Medieval is taught by the same professor, the one who kept bugging me to be an English Major.

On to the Fall. The last math course I need (hopefully) isn't offered this fall, but will be in the Spring, so I'm not worried. Math Physics is on for the Fall, so its not like I'm going to miss out on the *joys* of math for the semester. I'm also looking at Mechanics, Electronic Instruments, and Modern Physics. With labs, that rounds out to 14 credits for the fall. But then. Well dammitall I still have to take Geology, which puts me at 18, and that looks like overload. So I could go with overload now, with 2 more semesters to makeup any dropped classes, or I could go easy now, overload later, and risk having to take an extra semester to finish.

Orrr....I could take biology instead of geology, since they would both do for the requirement. Biology is offered in the summer. I don't have to pick up the English minor. I know this sounds like the more sensible idea, but I took lots of biology in HS, and I have a college biology credits from U. of Maryland. I'm pretty sure I know as much as I care to about biology, and geology is new. I like new. I'm not even sure if the biology course from UMUC would count for one of the classes even though there was no lab. I'm essentially trying to talk myself out of the biology, if you get my drift.

And if you still care this far down, I don't know who you are.

Mood

I've been quite busy, for quite awhile I guess. Avoiding the internet, at least. It sucks up so much of my time. I'm trying to spend more time with the bird I guess. I also had a difficult test on Friday, and baked a couple cakes for Pi Day. Fun.

I was planning a big update post, but I don't know, I'm in a bit of a mood tonight. I haven't talked to my Mom since before I left St. Joe back in December. I'm not sure if her boyfriend didn't give her my message because he doesn't like my opinion on drinking and driving and pot, or if she decided she just didn't want to say goodbye that day. Its a bit depressing either way. I guess I'm thinking more about Mom now since my birthday is this week. My first quarter century is about to close. I feel old, but also as if I haven't lived much of what I want yet. I feel like I've done so much, but it isn't worth much. Contemplating the future, bemoaning the past, the usual for me.

Eh. I think I'll start a new post.

There's a Bun in the Toaster...Bad Boomer...

If you are not currently up to date on the series so far, this is NOT for you. You know who you are *stern*.

However, if you would like a humorous refresher on the series so far, and to get a little pumped for the upcoming season, this is the best.

Joy of Flight

Rigel flew across the room this afternoon. Twice. I was so proud.

Ok, so I guess people thought Rigel could already fly, because I've gotten two comments along the lines of "Um, so?"

When I bought him at EvilPetCo, he was about 3 months hatched, and already clipped and could only walk around the cage. This means he was probably never "fledged," allowed to learn how to fly before first clipping. They can clip a varying number of feathers on each side, in order to adjust the distance they can go and whether or not they can get real lift. Rigel would stand on the door of his cage, 4 feet high, jump, and only get about 3 feet before he "landed" on the floor.

He has been molting for several months, but only the last few weeks has he lost any of his clipped flight feathers. Four or five have grown in fully, and maybe 2 partially by today when he took his maiden voyage across the living/dining rooms. The first time, I swear, he seemed so surprised in mid-flight that he was still going! He even landed perfectly at my feet on the chaise lounge. The second time he didn't get as far, but he also didn't start from as high up.

Now I have to bird-proof the house. It's all happening so fast! My big fear today was that he would fly into the kitchen and into the sink full of dirty dishes and knives. Yikes. Also, time to bolt the door when he's out of his cage, so Michael doesn't come home and open the door before I have Rigel secured. It's a whole new world. My baby is growing up! *tears*

Yes, I will probably have him clipped again, but not to the extent he was originally. Also, there is something called the "Show Clip" or something, where they cut fewer feathers, but closer to the base. It is apparently less irritating for him, and we get to see his pretty blue outer flight feathers. They're gorgeous!

In Which I Beg Forgiveness

Poor Tree. I misunderstood you. Texass is a fucked up place, and you have ever right to pick your own seasons.

So yeah, after several days of 65, 70, 80 degree weather, we had a feisty wind and thunderstorm. The next day it snowed, sleeted, and was all around nasty. Today it is 70 degrees.

I am so sorry, you poor poor tree.

Now I'm going to make a tinfoil hat and walk to my voting location.

The Trees Are Confused

There is a very confused tree outside my window. There are, as far as I can tell, four different species of deciduous tree outside my window, which provide me with a nice view. These trees are one of the reasons I am still living in this apartment complex. Its very nice and well maintained, but not "manicured."

So each of these species of tree follow a different timetable for dropping leaves, each has a different idea of when spring has arrived. This I take to be normal. One shed its leaves early, and just this week came alive again. Its bright green leaves are catching the evening sun today. The tree next to it dropped blazing red leaves in three windy weeks in early January. Even so, you can see its buds starting to form this first day of March. To the other side, the tree that dropped leaves without notice in late December has bulbous spongy growth at the tip of each branch.

Then we come to the oddball. As spring springs into action all around, this stubborn plant has yet to drop leaves. Until today.

Then the lazy birdwatching. Its always fun to have a bird join you in birdwatching. He gets very excited about his wild counterparts. Right now there's a dusky pinkish lady cardinal in the crazy tree. She is undoubtedly confused by its behavior.

The weather is a joy right now. I would go running like I did last weekend, but my hot water has gone out for the second time this week. The office is closed, so I won't have a hot shower until Monday afternoon.

Now, I'm off to buy potatoes and pork chops, because I've denied this craving for long enough already.

Blame Leap Day

I've just spent a few hours reading up on The World Calendar and Decimal Time, which are both ideas I very much like.

The World Calendar is great because you'll never have to buy a new wall calendar again, the same one works every single year. Your birthday or anniversary will be on the same day of the week every year. The year ends on Saturday, there's a Holiday day, and then the new year begins on Sunday. Leap Year days are between Saturday and Sunday as well. It is simple. It is tidy. I'm in love with Calendar Reform.

I ran across decimal time because i get really annoyed at time conversions in my physics homework. There's a different conversion each step of the way to from days to hours to minutes to seconds. Yes, it is pretty common sense, but why have another thing to know when we are already learning x10 prefixes for every single other unit of measurement? Dumb. Annoying. Do away with it. In reality, if that happened I know we would be forced to learn how to convert from Wacky Time to Decimal Time, thus adding complexity rather than eliminating complexity. A Geek can dream, okay? I'm willing to bet (or remember) that it is already the case that some science uses decimal time. No, I won't look it up. Who do you think I am?

Then I ran across this selection of funny clocks at Dick and Jane's Fine Woodworking. On the 4th and 5th rows are: Who Cares?, Don't Do Mornings, No Drinking Before 5, Further I Go Behinder I Get. They also have one Decimal Clock.

Papaya

I bought a Papaya, some mangoes, and some peaches last weekend. The peaches were overripe to the point of being tasteless, and I have a recipe for the mangoes. Papaya...hmmm I've never made anything with papaya.

So I'm going to try this. Hopefully the fruit hasn't gone bad yet.

Meanwhile, my parrot doesn't love me anymore, I think. He's cranky. I did change around his cage layout, because I bought him a bunch of new stuff. We've started using a sleep cage in the bedroom so he isn't disturbed by us watching TV or using the kitchen. He also also needs his nails trimmed and is getting a few more flight feathers in. Yeah, his attitude sucks right now.

It manifests as squack sqUACK SQUACK-ing from the door of his cage, but then refusing to step up when I go get him. He's bad for attacking my hand if I do anything relating to his water containers, but that's all the time.

Maybe he'll like some fresh papaya.

Who?

Who?
Originally uploaded by TJ Relic

I'm trying to figure out who is in this photo. My first guess is Aunt Kay. I'd love an indication of year and location as well.

Hopefully someone in my family will get around to visiting my flickr page. There's lots there, and more every day that I don't have details for. I'd also like to see others in my family uploading what they have at home, if they can.

Note

To: Psychopath
From: TJ
Subject: Voodoo Doll Wielding

Enough with the stick in the temple already.

Regards,
TJ

And Stuff

Um. Headache. Localized in left temple, sharp, intermittent.

Physics Test 93%. Happy. Must learn 2.4 =! 240

Lab, stressful. Must not put things off. *dreams*

Parrot, tempermental. New flight feathers. Pretty.

Spring has sprung-ed in Texass. Possibly temporary.

Calculus, confusing.

Laundry....damn!

*wince*

Updated Flickr Profile

I inherited an overactive camera finger, but luckily I developed a small sense of quality over quantity all by myself. Yeah, most of my family's photos are random, an entire box of pictures of clouds taken from a moving vehicle.

Anyway, my big project right now is uploading old (mostly good) photos that I got from my Mom. They were stored in a giant plastic tub, bent up, stuck together, mixed in with a bunch that were inside our van when it caught fire about 12 years ago. I sorted the burned from the not, and then sorted by family member or scenery. When I get done uploading and tagging those that are on my computer, I need to get the rest scanned. Its alot, so if anyone knows where I can send them off (safely) to be scanned in high-quality, please send me a link or something. I sold my old crappy scanner last year, and really don't want to buy a new one.


I've been "Favoriting" alot of photos lately, too. Go check them out!

Uhhh...Moe? Ok.

Now that I've registered to vote in Texass *yack*, confirmed that I did it in time, and found my voting location (must make tinfoil hat), I suppose I should decide between Obama and Clinton. Damn it, I was really hoping one of them would royally screw up so I could make a clear choice. No such luck, as far as I can tell. Yet.

I've been reading as much as possible (to the detriment of my studies, as usual) from each candidate's website, at least 1000 political blog posts, NPR news, CNN, BBCA..., ..., ...

My brains hurt, but I wasn't much closer to a decision. I'm excited about both candidates, but I have annoyance points for both too. I think they're both great. Can we have both, please? That thought has led me directly to the following reasoning: I can see young "inexperienced" Obama as Clinton's Vice President. I cannot see things the other way around. I think if she doesn't get the nomination, she would bow out and return to the Senate to work on her own terms. I mean, a young male President and an older female VP just seems monumentally unbalanced. I also suspect she's a bit of a control freak, and I can totally relate.

So I'm voting for Clinton, in hopes that Obama will be her running mate. That way we get a double-dose of toppled white male privilege.

Either that, or I'm playing a game of Eenie-Meanie-Miney-Moe in the voting booth. And that would just be silly.

Sarah Nielson 1922

Sarah Nielson 1922 (and some petroglyphs)
Originally uploaded by bclee

Interesting. I wonder if she's any relation?

I have to defend Sarah, she was one of several who "desecrated" the petroglyphs. I say the beauty of the native art inspired many to add to the permanent record of human presence in that spot. In any case, she was the most effective compared to Dale, Killpack, Anton, Ramond, JD, Dennis, Bob, The Lindquists, MC, Sissy Bockleg, and the folks from 1886, 1951...

Six

Day .

That is all.

Artsy-Fartsy

I've had this project brewing in my mind for over a month now. I bought these 4 tiles with flowers on them, and then two more that were also floral but larger and with a square-mosaic background. I didn't want to try to line up or arrange them on the wall with nothing behind, didn't want to agonize over nail placement. So the plan was to attach the four small ones to a canvas or board painted in the same pattern as the two larger ones, so they match. Cool, eh?


For the bargain-basement price of $56, I purchased a large canvas, 4 large tubes of acrylic paint, cheap-o paintbrushes, plaster-stuff, mega-hold glue, decorative beads **, 1/2 price Dove chocolates, and a package of gum. I bought a new spatula, sheets, and kitchen towels recently, so I had the following items at home: old asian-print sheet as drop-cloth, small brownie knife* (i have 3 more, no biggie), old metal spatula*, 6-year-old kitchen towel*, kitchen sponge*, wooden skewer for stirring, cardboard inserts from new sheets to use as a palette.

**at this point I was trying and failing to escape without buying the entire store
*for texture and spreading of plaster-stuff

I spent 4 hours painting last night, and then about an hour this morning gluing the tiles on and touching up a few spots. I'm still waiting for the glue to dry, no indications on the bottle as to how long that takes.











I might take some close-up pictures later, because the textures are really nice that I got with my spatula and brownie knife. But really, the point of the story is this: I HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!

The end for now.

PS. If you love me, you'll gift me a flickr upgrade....*bats eyelashes*
PSS. If I love myself, I'll gift me a flickr upgrade, dammit.

Chilly Willy

If you ever wondered exactly how I got to be....like I am, go ahead to this link and watch the episode titled "Hot and Cold Penguin." I actually had no idea they were that old. I loved these cartoons as a kid. Go ahead and have fun listing all the ways this cartoon imprinted itself on my personality.

Also, my parrot is having a fit over the sounds.

Ok, one more thing:

I'm Chilly Willy the penguin.
I shake until I'm blue.
My head is hot and my feet are cold.
Ha...Hee...Hachoo!
Now what about the crocodiles along the river Nile?
I'll bet they're always warm as toast.
They always seem to smile.
I'm always Chilly Willy.
I'm frozen through and through.
My nose is red and my tale is told.
Ha...Hee...Hachoo!

Evil Eye

The bird seemed uneasy this morning before school. He kept jumping off my hand and trying to fly a bit. I figured he's feeling a little off since he's getting at least 3 new flight feathers right now.

The Calculus test came back today. 64% plus 4 for a bad question. Not happy.

I returned home to pick up the dessert for today's SPS meeting. Rigel still seemed uneasy about me, wouldn't come out of the cage. This is the same bird that runs out and has to be bribed and cajoled into returning. Odd. Then I had a hunch. I went and put on my grey sweater, zipped all the way up. Happy Bird. Sweater off. He perches still but leans back off my finger like he's about to fall off. He's afraid of my new shirt. Its crisp blue, with a childish doodle of a whale, but there's a heart-shaped patch of fabric sewn on it. The pattern is circles with triangles inside. From a bird perspective I'm guessing it translates into EVIL EVIL EYES OF THE THING THAT IS GOING TO EEEEAAAAATTTTSSSS ME!

So yeah, anyway. I went to Physics and we finally got our tests back from last week. Brace yourself: 100%

I totally needed that.

People seemed to like the cake. Also, I've changed my shirt now.

Switcheroo Cake

MOCHA CAPPUCCINO PUDDING CAKE

Cake:
1.25 cups all-purpose flour
.75 cup sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder (or 2tbs regular instant coffee)
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
.5 teaspoon salt
.5 cup skim milk (or some 2% and water)
2 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla

Pudding:
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon instant espresso-ish powder
1.5 cups skim-ish milk heated to 120 to 130 degrees F (or, eh...slightly too warm to want to stick your finger in)

1. Preheat 350 degrees F. In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, espresso, baking powder and salt; mix well. Add all remaining cake ingredients; mix until blended. Spread in ungreased 9-in square pan(Or, um, whatever you have-ish). (what it doesn't say is the batter is thick, more like a moist sticky cookie batter than flowing cake, just try to spread it pretty evenly-ish)

2. In small bowl, combine all pudding ingredients except milk; mix well. Sprinkle evenly over cake batter. (NOW you can gently push on the batter to get it really even, without losing cake batter to a spoon or your hands) Pour hot milk over sugar mixture.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 min or until center is set and firm to the touch. If desired, place foil or cookie sheet on lower over rack under cake to catch any spills.

So here's the magic: you just put the cake batter on bottom, and the pudding mix, and then the warm milk. Through the work of magic elves in your oven (no peeking, they get scared!), the finished product will be pudding with cake on top. You heard me *clicky clacky*, THE CAKE ROSE TO THE TOP.

Thanks to Sarah for sending me the recipe.

The end.

"Instant"

Scene: Husband putting away groceries.

MJ: I don't know where you want the coffee.
TJ: Just leave it on the counter, I'm using it in a minute to bake.
MJ: Oh, I was wondering why you bought instant.
TJ: Yeah, its not like I bought it to drink. *Yak*
MJ: Its been so long since I had instant, I don't even know how to make it.
TJ: *Blank stare* Its instant.
MJ: Yeah, but its been awhile.
TJ: *dead from Teh Stopidz*

So, for anyone who is unsure how to "make" Instant Coffee:
Conventional Directions
1. PUT one rounded teaspoonful in a cup.
2. ADD 6 oz. boiling water and stir.

the mind boggles

Bathtime

Bird Chatter

Rigel loves to chatter, sort of in the same rhythm as my voice when I talk to him. Not if I talk to him, but if I'm talking to someone else, like on the phone or to Michael or the person repairing the screens. He's all: "HI! I'm HERE! I'm part of the GROUP! This is FUN! Talking is EXTREMELY FUN!" Then I say something directly to him and he's all "Ok, I'm listening intently."

High-Larious.

He also has different voices for chatter and for whistling. He doesn't whistle. I whistle and he chatters in a lower, more breathy voice. I'm so glad I got all that orthodontic treatment, so I can whistle to my parrot.

He's now to the point where he "says" Prettybird and Step-Up. Kind of like a parent "knows" their toddler is saying Mama.

He also likes to vocalize to music and/or to me singing with him. He loves the Farscape Theme.

The key to getting any of this on video is, apparently, to make the camera invisible in some way or make the music so loud that it keeps the camera from really hearing him. I totally understand, I hate the sound of my recorded voice, too. Which is why you will not be viewing any of us singing "Shake-Shake-Shake, Shake-Shake-Shake, Shake your boo-ty." Ever.

Radio Quote

I was just listening to Air America(not exactly what I expected from the description, but anyway) on iTunes. This guy (didn't catch the name, sorry) was talking about religion and politics and said this:

"Don't go right. Don't go left. Go deeper."

Interesting.

Tired

Rodney McKay is a worthless stupid character. Fucknut.

Anyway.

So I had a Physics test on Monday, and Calculus this morning. I feel good about how I did on the Physics test, but it hasn't been graded yet. Calculus test...I swear I studied for it...

The weather has been up and down all week. 85 on Monday, 30 on Wednesday, 77 today. Meanwhile the apartment complex is renovating the exterior, starting with the wood trim. Three days of pounding outside the window, nowhere to take the bird that didn't freak him out, and now there are gouges in all my window screens and the front window frame is cracked and loose. Really, a bang-up job, guys.

Earlier this week I also cleaned the kitchen and loaded/ran the dishwasher twice, cleaned the birdcage, ran my laundry including all the bath and kitchen towels, bought new pillowcases, baked a blueberry and strawberry dessert, made lunch once, and dinner at least twice.

I spent this afternoon massively cleaning the apartment, the bed is made, the windows are washed, the dishes are done, the floor is vacuumed, belongings have been removed from the balcony in preparation for painting, and the kitchen is clean. Hell, the kitchen floor is mopped, I shit you not. I also made baked chicken and vegetable for dinner. Not that anyone appreciates that I was on the kitchen floor scrubbing before baking a kick-ass dinner and after pouring my brains into a Calculus 3 exam, because there isn't enough juice or nookie. Cause/Effect.

More Port.

Please tell me Dr Kaylee isn't flirting with Mckay. Kill me now please.

Wild Streak

I started to comment on Going Grey at Hoyden About Town, but it wouldn't send and its kinda long anyway, so here 'tis.

I've been going grey since I hit puberty, at 12. By that I mean I have had 1 grey hair on the right of my part since then. I would occasionally pluck It, because the adage is dumb. It would grow back, all by Its lonesome. I lightened my hair once, and dyed it black another, but not to cover the grey. At around 20, It started growing up high in a curve to come down and poke me in the eye, but I think that's because I was wearing my hair in an extremely tight bun with lots of hair gel (military). Either that, or it was all "Dammit, stop plucking me! Ahhh!!! I shall poke you!!!"

Oh goodness, I'm turning 25 this year. You might not think that's old, but I'm probably the only greying student in my freshman physics class. I've left the miltary and dyed my hair plum once last year.

Much to my joy, actually, my grey hair has been joined by a few close friends. I'm hoping they will get together to become one of those cute grey streaks. No way I'm dying it...unless purple strikes me again.

Feedback Loop

When I'm trying to understand something, I need to take time to process it, or else I get really frustrated. This makes me feel stupid. It makes it harder for me to focus on understanding. Which makes me feel frustrated. Which makes it harder to focus. Which is frustrating. Which effects my ability to focus. I'm sure you understand that I get frustrated at that point.

*deep breath*

So I really appreciate your help, I really do. You're super nice and I hope we can be friends. The thing is, when you stand over me, waiting for me to finish the problem, to see if I understand it, I feel pressured, I feel dumb. You can imagine that can be frustrating. I can do this right the first or second time, but first I really just need some space, in my brain, to organize my thoughts. I know that you understand and you have a great ability to help. I appreciate your help, but at some point I just need 10 free minutes to figure it out on my own. Because when I have to have someone help me with something, it makes me feel stupid. You don't mean to make me feel stupid but I feel that way anyway.

And that's frustrating. I hope you understand.

(This is why I've always found group work to be difficult...)

Pie

Carl Sagan
"In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe."

I really need to learn to make apple pie, so I can use this quote.

You may have noticed.

a) I've posted less often lately. This is because I'm actually doing schoolwork. Get your jaw off the ground, its not that surprising. Ok, so I've been doing some other stuff online too. Also, that first r in surprise? Gets me every time. Makes no sense.

b) I've updated my blogger layout. Let me know what you think about green on grey and grey on green. I already know that the header isn't lining up right in IE. This is annoying to me. Solution: get with the Firefox. I promise you'll love it because it doesn't take a whole two hours to open a page and doesn't update every day. It's not as daunting as ...well at all. Promise.

c) I'm now a member of Flickr.com and there's a link on my blogger. I have no idea why I didn't do that before. It rocks.

Jasmine

I bought a box of Green Tea with Jasmine today. I didn't think I've ever actually smelled Jasmine before, and you know how much I like trying new foods. So dinner tonight was lentil soup, warm French bread, and Green Tea with Jasmine. The soup: rustic and perfect for dipping the bread. The tea: not the best taste ever, but warm and with an intensely familiar floral scent. It took me a few sips to place it: the flowering bush outside my window last spring! A quick search revealed:

The name "Jasmine" basically refers to some of the many varieties of shrubs (above), vines (like sambac, pink and confederate) and small trees (like Lakeview). They are all blessed with fragrant white flowers many people and insects enjoy. True jasmines are related to the olive, privet and osmanthus.

Many plants called jasmine are not jasmine but closely resemble the classic flower appearance and fragrance. In the list at the bottom you will see some of the many plant types (Latin names) said to be a jasmine.

I would post pictures, but I'm all soothed and sleepy from dinner. Night-night.

PS: The search term "jasmine bush" will provide many floral pictures. Also, pictures of Jasmine's bush, which may or may not be the kind of thing you're looking for. In this case, Not, but to each their own.

Snooze

You guys remember when I went on a crusade to find the perfect alarm clock? Well I am now on a crusade to find an alarm clock that has no Snooze feature. Any suggestions? (besides getting a life and doing my homework instead of distracting myself with this non-issue)

The old one works fine, except I'm tired (and tired) of snoozing for hours before getting up. I was laying in bed this morning, pondering this problem I have had since I was 8, and decided the problem was the snooze button. Tempting me with its 9 minutes of coziness. Bastard.

Oh, and my iPod has stopped working. It has this screen that says "OK to disconnect" with a big checkmark. Its never done that before, so I unplugged it from the alarm clock and expected the message to go away. Nope. I tried turning it off, holding down the button for a minute. Nothing. Still displaying that stupid message. I might try plugging it into my computer later today.

CRAP! I just remembered that I was supposed to turn in my homework by 2pm yesterday and FUCK I FORGOT! Also I don't think I picked up tomorrow's assignment. What the hell...thats a great start. Damn! aRGGGHHH!

***update***
Assignment turned in, but the professor wasn't there so I don't know if it will get graded. My fault.
I already got tomorrow's assignment, don't know why I didn't remember that.
Bought a retro-style alarm clock that has no snooze button. Its not the bell kind, and I don't know if it will be loud enough to wake me. We'll see.

Pictures of Rigel

Maybe Too Harsh?

Yeah, well I don't care.

I stopped in at this town's PetCo over a month ago to pick up my bird's favorite food. I went to PetSmart, which I've been in love with since they opened, but they don't carry my bird's food. After finding the food, I wandered around looking for toys but decided not to get any because several of the unpackaged toys, along with the shelf of medicines and vitamins next to it, were covered in wild bird poop. It was because the store uses signs directly above the section that end up being perfect perches for the wild birds that end up living in the store. I informed them as i checked out, assuming they just didn't notice that an entire row of toys was caked with poop. I went in again a week later with my husband and it was still there. I was mad then, but he held me back from saying anything.

I actually had forgotten all about it and I wanted to get Rigel some new foot toys and stuff this week. I walked around but the first thing I saw was those toys still covered in poop, so I decided to make a point. I wandered around picking up a dozen of the nicer toys that I have wanted to get him, but hadn't due to price. I then picked up the 3 toys that were so caked they stuck together and proceeded to the checkout. I told them I was going to buy all this stuff...but then I saw this, now count up how much money you just lost. Oh, and this isn't all of it, just the worst. You might want to take care of that. Then I walked out before they could say anything, because I'm not interested in their excuses or apologies, I just wanted them to fix the problem.

Schedule Changes

I just re-checked my class schedule. I then double-checked my record of what I thought it was originally. I don't know what made me think I had Physics at 8am *yikes!* on MWF and Calculus on Tu/Th in the noontime. In reality, both are MWF and Calculus is at 9am *whew!* and Phyisics at 11am.

So whatever, no more crack for me.

My To Do List needs to get done today, no more excuses. Except...I mean...do they really? Really?

BSG Speculation

No, I don't like spoilers. What I do like are hinty-tidbits that incite rampant speculation. Like a kid in a candy store. Sadly, Season 4 doesn't start until APRIL 4.

Amanda, stop reading here, until you've watched Season 3. Go now, shoo...

Ok. Via Shakesville (by way of Entertainment Weekly) we have the a "last supper" type photo of the cast and a list of 10 hints. I'm only interested in #10 and #7. Go check out the image first, though.

10. The Missing Figure. Someone is indeed absent from the table admits Moore: “We have not yet revealed the final [unknown] Cylon.” Does that mean the people already at the table aren’t the final Cylon? Moore laughs, “you ferreted that our pretty slyly. I didn’t really want to give that away.”

Begin Rampant Speculation (no life, thanks for asking). Ok so the order of the image is Pres. Roslin, Leader Six, Col. Tigh, Unknown, Lee Adama, Baltar, Head Six, Starbuck, Anders, Chief Tyrol, Athena, Helo, Adm. Adama. My Top 3 guesses for The Final Cylon are

1) Cally: because hint #7 tells us: His child with Cally would seem to be the second human-Cylon hybrid and hints Moore, “one should consider the knife in his hand in that context. It has been pretty key in this story that the reason cylons still need humans is because they can't have kids, and they believe the missing ingredient is love. Thus the big deal that Athena(cylon) and Helo(human) had a baby. The next step is a fully cylon baby: Nicolas Tyrol.

2) Ellen Fucking Tigh: because I hate her and wanted so bad for her to Digh-Digh-Digh that I know they would bring her back as a cylon just to piss me off. Also, the empty space is between Col Tigh and Lee Adama, and all the other characters are in some way paired in significant ways so it just makes sense.

3) Duala: I highly doubt this one, but it follows from the previous reasoning. The hints say something about Lee as Judas-like? but I'm not exactly sure what that means, and I won't presume to try.

And again, what is up with the numbering system? It has been annoying me since late Season 1. I'm assuming
1 = Cavil
2 = Leobon
3 = Xena
4 = Simon
5 = Doral
6 = Shelly/Gina/Head/etc...
7 = .......Cally? (no super-special number for the Big Unknown Final Cylon?)
8 = Athena/Valleri (she's the one who messes up a reasonable numbering system)
9 - 12 = Saul Tigh, Sam Anders, Galen Tyrol, Tory Foster

Or maybe Unknown(Cally) is #12 and the other 4 are just randomly placed.

Nobody but me cares, I know.

Strange

I paid my bill for the Spring term today and swung by the bookstore to get the lab manual. The only 'book' I have to buy for the term. Sold Out. Frick!

Here's an annoying notice i got today: i have to clean my bedroom closet and my washroom and move my dryer out from the wall so they can clean all the lint traps...and they'll come tomorrow to do it. Good thing I don't have a life.

I had a hankering for (Wait, hankering is a real word, like spell check is okay with that, but not with spellcheck? I never would have guessed.) ice cream tonight. Scratch that, I had a hankering (really? wow.) for raw oysters, but it passed so I went with ice cream instead. We ate last nights leftovers and went to the local coffee shop, which also has ice cream. I ordered the brownie fudge sundae, Hubby (spell check strikes again) got a banana split, and we both got a small coffee. After ordering, we realized that we should have just shared the banana split, because it was huge, even without the banana. Oh did I mention? They forgot the banana. On the banana split. Anyway, I decided to get a lid and save the rest of my sundae for later, and we split the split, once I got the banana. The guy offered to cut up the banana for me, but I thought it might be weird to carry a peeled and halved banana across the restaurant. So, at the table, I peeled it and sliced it with a spoon myself. It was totally not weird at all.

For Amanda

And all other hot and bothered BSG fans:

Ron Moore's Strike Blog: Jamie Bamber Offers Towels
...for me to...mmmmm....

Why Lids?

Why put a loose lid on a container when microwaving? Because pieces of chicken, in a rice and broccoli mixture, when microwaved, have a tendency to kerplode. This is inconvenient.

Bird Comics

Google Reader Widget

I added a new widget to my sidebar. Now you can see blog posts that I have read and flagged as interesting. Because I have no real life, you may recall. Now, thanks to Google Reader and Blogger, you can know just how weird my internet readings (and the inside of my skull) really are.

Becky and Brynn "Want it that way"

I was never exactly sure what that meant.

Here are two videos taken the last night I was in MO and we went bowling. Fun Fact: Becky has had zero alcohol at this point, this is how she has always been :D







I also have several videos of Becky's adorable daughter, which I will post when I get her permission.

To Do (with a Little Hint)

I am bored. All the time. I have no social life. Practically Ever. It sucks and its mostly because I'm afraid of putting myself out there, and because certain individuals are annoyed by my shyness and low self-esteem and then embarrassed by me when I get comfortable around people. Anyway, here's a list of things coming up that I'm going to try. I hope you will join me. Also, any better ideas are welcome.

Closure at the Oasis
January 11, 2008 (Thursday)
Located at 1421 W. Beauregard FMI call 212-8036

The Flinchers at the Oasis
January 12, 2008 (Friday)
Located at 1421 W. Beauregard FMI call 212-8036

"Off the Wall & in Your Glass" Art & Wine Reception Thursday
January 17, 2008 (Thursday)
Featuring local artist at D'Vine Wine - 113 E. Concho
5:00-7:00 PM
FMI call 325-482-WINE or visit www.devinewineusa.com

Cactus Music Series - Andreas Oberg
January 18, 2008 (Friday)
At the Cactus Hotel - 36 E. Twohig - 8:00 PM
(Doors open at 7 PM)
Guitarist Andreas Oberg burst onto the vibrant jazz scene in his native country, Sweden, when he was just 18, earning the right to play with many renowned jazz artists and to study at the Royal Music Academy in Stockholm. To learn more about Andreas visit www.andreas-oberg.com - (then click on music) FMI or to order tickets by phone call 325-653-6793

Tom Green County Fair
January 18, 2008 - January 19, 2008 (Friday-Saturday)
At the Fairgrounds by the Coliseum FMI call 325-653-7785

Circus Gatti
January 18, 2008 - January 20, 2008 (Friday-Sunday) (I have no idea what this is)
At the coliseum FMI call 325-658-6464

San Angelo Chamber Music Series - The Devienne Trio, Flute, Bassoon, Piano
January 20, 2008 (Sunday)
2:00 PM at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts - 1 Love St. - Tickets $7 - $12 - FMI call 325-653-3333

"Four-Five & Fun Fridays"
January 24, 2008 (Thursday)
D'Vine Wine of Texas - San Angelo 113 E. Concho (325) 482-9463 - Monthly charity events. Portion of the door cover and % of sales goes to charitable organization. Guests receive 4 tastings and door prizes.

Champagne & Diamonds
February 14, 2008
7:00 pm at the Cactus Hotel - The evening will iclude cocktails and a catered dinner highlighted by romantic music. And a chance to win a one-carat diamond, valued at $5,000. Tickets are $60 per person or $120.00 per couple. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Children's Advocacy Center of Tom Green County. FMI call 325-653-4673 or go to www.cactomgreen.org

http://www.sanangelo.org

For the Birds

I haven't seen this one in a long time...sooooo cute!
Pixar For the Birds

To Do + Ranting

-Get off my couch: Clean house, exercise, prep for the semester start...etc.

-Send in my absentee Voter Registration. I've already missed the 28 day window to register for the MO Primaries, but I can at least vote in November. If I get off my butt. (see above)

-Go Watch Juno (I already did this, this is a To Do for you)

-Pay my Spring bill. I don't have to buy books, because both my classes (Cal 3 and Phys 2) use the same books as last semester. Yay!

Okay, here's my little rant. I bought a car off the Kadena Lemon Lot in 2002 or so, and by "buy" I mean "it was free." Sweet Deal. I drove it for 3 years and had the option of giving/selling it or spending $300 to de-register it and send it to the junkyard. We needed something to drive until we left the island and out-processing was busy and stressful. I chose a common route, by signing a Specific Power of Attorney to another military member so they could do the paperwork of changing ownership after we left. You have to trust the other person to do their part before the 4 month POA expired. We trusted him. We had good reason. We left the car in the airport parking lot for the guy to pick up after we left. TRUST NO-ONE!

Two years later, late 2006, I get an email saying the car was found abandoned somewhere. I dug around until I found the name of the untrustworthy jerk (which today I can't remember) and the point of contact assured me he would take care of the issue through him. I heard nothing else again for over a year so I figured it was taken care of. Yesterday I got a bill from MCCS for the towing and disposal fees. I saw it was for $170 and I figured I was mad but it was worth it to make the issue go away. Then I saw the second page for $320...and Now I'm Pissed Off. I emailed the point of contact asking for clarification, but I have little hope that he is even the right person anymore, people always come and go. If I don't hear anything in a week, I guess I'll bite the bullet and send the $490.

Also, I accidentally dated my first check of the year with 3 Jan 2007. Every year, and always with the rent. Figures. I think that its an omen, I won't have a good year until I can stop not do that. That means, naturally, that I have to stop using checks, which means I have to stop being a renter.

Mango Cobbler

Here's the recipe I used:
RecipeZaar.com: Mango Cobbler

We all know that I have never followed a recipe to the letter, so here are my substitutions:

Allrecipes.com: Substitutions

Lime juice

1 teaspoon

1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Maybe it doesn't say Italian White Wine Vinegar? Eh, Wev.

I didn't have the called-for 3 mangoes. I had 2, plus a quarter bag of frozen peaches. Microwave Defrost. Also, my mangoes, not exactly ripe. They were a little tough and a bit dry....but good enough for me.

I added a handful of Flaxseed and Soy hot cereal and an extra tablespoon of butter to the crust. I would have preferred a more crumbly crust though. Maybe next time.

I decided to leave the cobbler warming in the oven (off!) so the crust would set for sure, while I ran around town looking for an open store with vanilla ice cream. Success: Town & Country. I also picked up a coffee cocoa. It was all delish. The cobbler by itself wasn't wonderful, but good. Riper mangoes and lime juice probably would have made it wonderful.

I have returned...bleh...

So after a long vacation which consisted mostly of bonding with all my different friends over our various version of the same Issue, I have returned to Texass.

It snowed most of the time I was home, 10 inches in one day and then more through the week. Damn Missouri weather for making me appreciate Texass. Damn Texass.

My guys missed me, they've been very cuddly. I got a manicure/pedicure, and the birdie got a new bag of food.

I almost didn't come home from Killeen until tomorrow, but decided I wanted to fall asleep in my own bed. So on the night when the ENTIRE WORLD is at a party, I have nothing to do but drink leftover Boone's Farm and watch TV.

Yeah.

I'm going to bed.

Vacation News

Sorry for not keeping you up to date on my lively vacation.

We left Killeen at about 2pm on Thursday, and arrived in St. Joe at about 2am. Good times. The weather and traffic were good until we hit soupy fog leaving Atchison.

I got Amanda hooked on Battlestar (Victory is Mine!). Also, mixing spiced rum with mango wine coolers does not result in a "Bahama Mama" experience. Mostly just getting sick. Sorry 'bout that.

We had turkey and sage stuffing and pumpkin pie at Mom's a few days before xmas. That was the good part. Um. Yeah. Gotta love family. Mostly.

The weather has been crap. So, I've spent most of my vacation watching movies, eating stew and potato soup (mmmm) and drinking a bit. We glutted on dark chocolate brownies and Irish Coffee last night.

Here are the movies so far, all of which are good, most of which I've seen before.

BSG Miniseries (plus episodes 1-3, but I was to woozey to watch the screen for 4-8)
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Bourne Ultimatum (at Mom's)
28 Days (check out my huge package!) (I am never going to get laid)
28 Days Later
Waitress (I'd like a Nathan Fillian pie, please)
X-Men 1 (one word...Wolverine)
X-Men 3 (say it again)
Batman Beyond (the guy who plays Scarecrow was in 28 Days Later)

Children of Men

Blood Diamond

I think there was more, but my memory is a bit foggy...

Tentative plans are for bowling tonight, if the weather holds and any of my friends have checked their facebook email....Rebecca.... We're leaving MO on sunday around noon, forecast says no snow. Figures.

Movie Review: I Am Legend *spoiler*

Overall, I liked the movie. It felt like something was missing, but I'm not sure what, so that's not a very good criticism. Ha.

It had lots of tension, lots of emotional impact, lots of weird screaming vampire-zombies. Will Smith's character once again manages to be The Perfect Man. He hunts, farms, traps zombies, military officer, genius scientist, loves his dog as an extension of his dead wife and daughter. Somehow the dog had to be revealed as a girl (Sam is Samantha), as she was dying and becoming a zombie/vampire dog, in order to drive that point home.

Of course, I couldn't be fully emotionally "in the scene" at that point because of the crying 8 year old behind me. "He's dreaming, right? Its just a dream? Why did the puppy have to diiieee??!?!?!" I was tempted to turn around and tell her the truth: the doggie died because your parents are too stupid to read ratings, it is all their fault the doggie is dead."

Bed For Sale $130.00

Condition: bought new and used for less than a month.

Medium Softness Twin Mattress.
Box Spring
Basic Twin (extends to Full) Frame.
Deluxe Mattress Pad
Ralph Lauren fitted sheet.

I will not ship, you must pick it up.
Payment by Paypal prior to pick up or by cash at time of pick up.

BORED

So I have to be in this shithole town for the next 5 days, with no work or school to keep me occupied. I'm pretty sure I'm going to crack any minute now.

And of course, I'm way too damn embarrassing to be taken out in public...wev...

Not Exactly News:

British Literature: A

There was a pretty good meteor shower last night. We went out, but left too early so we were freezing our bums off waiting for the "peak time" to start. We saw quite a few, but decided to come home early.

Holiday Party Happy Hour starts in 3 hours, and I must find shoes.

Accomplishment

After this morning's English FINAL WAS OVER, I sat around for the rest of the morning. Rigel and I spent much time in front of the sunny window.

Michael came home at noon, helped me clean up the living room and kitchen so I could go grocery shopping. We went to Burke's to get a shirt for the holiday party, and Ross's to get a skirt. There was a carload of junk to unload at the Goodwill, which was amazing and fast and I wish I had done that sooner. Lunch was at the grocery store, grocery shopping, unloading groceries, and now you are bored, because this is totally my life.

***This Just In***
Physics 2: B

That is all.

Decisions...Decisions...

Now that FINALS ARE OVER, I have pressing concerns such as:

What to wear to the squadron's holiday party?

The skirt is a velvet gold looking thing. I like it, kinda comfy.

The red shirt is...red...which is a bit overdone, don't you think? Across the front is lace, with a large flap of fabric that falls into place with a little work, assuming I know what its supposed to look like.

The green shirt is a bit simple looking, but also has split sleeves and gold threading along the sleeves and neckline.



Taken with The Hubby's cell phone because I can't find the charger for the camera.

In College News:

Tuesday: Calculus 2
B, despite the fact that I hacked and coughed through the entire final.

Wednesday: Physics 1
I did NOT study enough for this test, and lay awake last night wondering if they would let my lab grade stand if I had to take the lecture again next semester. No kidding. I was seriously stressed about this test and it didn't help that it started an hour earlier than normal class. Stoopid Finals Schedule :P Anyway, I feel like I did as well as the previous tests, which averaged 68% (yeah, I'm a total genius). So passing is an actual possibility.

Thursday: British Literature
I can't find my notes on Oroonoko, GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! I had such good notes! Now I have to "review" from memory, and that annoys me. So yeah, I just started reviewing the material. The stress is over, really, since I didn't study much for the midterm and did fine. Plus, I have something like a 95% in this class. I am so incredibly tempted to become an English major...but for the 9 hours of foreign language...and all those departmental exams the English majors have been whining about...and I don't want to teach...I think they frown on the excessive use of ellipses anyway...

Sniffle

I went to bed early last night, before 9 I think. I turned the heat up to 76, bundled myself up real warm, and slept with my head under the covers. I woke up about 2 hours later all sweaty and feeling MUCH better, the fever had broken. I was actually felt like I could get up at 7 when the alarm went off (for the bird) but decided to go back to bed until 8...then snooze until 9... okay then I actually got up, showered, irrigated, etc. I felt clear enough after that that I could eat a PT&J with hot cocoa without feeling icky about it. Now of course I have a runny nose.

I really have to study for Finals....*sniffles*

spoke too soon

I just ckecked, and I'm running 101.7

Wow.

I've had 4-6 mugs of hot tea (green/black) with honey and a cough drop.

I studied for 4 hours or so in the Library. When I walked out it was cold and misty...I almost shook to death.

Now even hot tea feels horrible to my throat, so I've had a mug of hot water with a cough drop.

I don't mean to whine, I'm not dying. This just sucks.

Ugh

The sick has certainly taken hold. My left sinuses were full all night, and 10 minutes after clearing them with a bulb syringe and saline they were full again. I just took half a dose of Sudafed, because a full dose will dry things up too much. If that happens, then its back to "sandpaper inside my skull" feeling. You might not be aware of how unpleasant that feels. I used to run in 30-40 degree weather while I was sick like that, and I certainly recommend it as a torture method...thanks AF!

Looking for the bright side, the silver lining? Well right now I'm a "sinuses half full" kind of person. So sue me.

Actually, I don't seem to be running a fever, which is good. Except I never "run a fever" when I'm sick like this. I have a sneaking suspicion that my normal body temp is lower than average, so that when I'm sick it doesn't show up on the thermometer as "too high." Of course I forget this until I'm sick again, so I've never taken my temperature while well.

Another bright side: I finally found a real bulb syringe last night. Real as in not the kind they use for babies now, and it doesn't have a leak in it either. Yay! I've been to CVS, WM, Target, and Walgreen's in the past. I went back to WM, then Target, last night and got nothing. On the way to CVS, I passed a Walgreen's and decided to try my luck there. I couldn't find it, but asked an employee who found it in the Ear Care section. Thank You Walgreens, you have saved my sanity!

BSG: Incomplete

So I noticed the ads for the next season of BSG say it starts in March. That made me a Sad Bunny(tm) because I thought it was starting back up in January. I figured it was being delayed by the writer's strike, the same way Bionic Woman has been airing its episodes every-other week in order to not run out of episodes before the strike ends. I went searching and came up with this
this via http://www.battlestargalacticasite.com/.

"I refuse to believe that we won't finish, that we won't be back to film our final stories, but I know and accept there is that possibility," Moore wrote on his new official blog. "I am ready to put the rest of the story on the table and take the risk that I'll never be able to tell it, in support of this strike."

I am now a Sad Bunny(tm) indeed. *tear*

Sickness

For the last month or so, I've been almost-sick. Just not quite sick enough to say "I'm sick." Just a low level headache, body aches I could attribute to walking between classes and studying (haha, jk) and went away with a couple Tylanol. There was a little congestion in the morning that would clear up in a hot shower, and some random sneezing. Well today I woke up and the world smelled a little bad, and the congestion was worse.

I remember the last time I smelled this, the same time I was running all over the place trying to PCS from Okinawa. The sinus infection dried out from the Sudafed and got so bad that I was a wreck because I was starving but everything smelled like rotting meat. I spent all my "free time" with a hot wet washcloth pressed against my nose. For two weeks.

So this morning I did some sinus irrigation and then took a hot shower. The smell is still there, but the congestion is reduced. I didn't know about sinus irrigation the last time, so hopefully I can keep this thing down and not be sick during finals and when I go home in a few weeks.

I was going to run a little, but couldn't find my running shoes. The house is still a mess. I was planning to go to the library to study at 1pm, but my clothes aren't dry yet. I like studying there because there are fewer distractions like TV and internet and birds and a dirty house. Well, there's internet but being there reminds me that I can't screw around online.

Poetry

These are my two favorite poems, both by Robert Frost. Enjoy

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Random

Wow, 5 whole days of not posting. How does that happen?

If not for the last minute, nothing would ever get done...by me at least. I finished last week's lab report (and the number crunching) an hour before it was due yesterday. I wrote a page and a half for my Hobbit vs Lord of the Rings presentation for British Lit, last night 20 minutes before the group meeting. I did 3 out of 6 assigned practice problems for Calculus while waiting for my British Lit class to start. Bleh.

Rigel is currently going nuts on some bells...very cute. He's happier since I got his toenails trimmed on Monday.

My house is in desperate need of cleaning.

I haven't been to the gym in a verry long time.

I really want to eat some of that Tiramisu Gelato...

I have a homework and a lab report due tomorrow morning.

Since I've gotten BBC America, I've been watching way more TV.

Double-Bleh.

The Hubby's fire-ant bite is rather badly swollen, so I guess we're off to the store to get some antihistamines.

Shopping Spree!

So after class on Friday, I decided to run to the pet store for A toy for the bird. I arrived at the checkout with a ladder, two hanging toys, and a new perch. Then the checker pointed out the cart of discount toys at like $1.75 each, and I donated $2 to needy pets... So I left the store $40 poorer, but my Rigel is a happy birdie for sure.

Then I ran to Ross for a toothbrush holder, but ended up buying a bunch of stuff for a coffee-themed gift basket that will be sold at auction for the 17CS Holiday Party. I got the toothbrush holder I was looking for at Target, which annoys me. I couldn't find a cheap soap pump last time I was at Target, they ran for like $7-9, so I bought the pumps at Ross for $5 each and called it a deal. Then yesterday I found what I had been looking for under $2 each. Ah well.

I'm going to make some coffee.

Home on the Range

I'll be home this winter break, yay! I have a full month break, but since I'll be riding up with Traci, we will only be home for about 10 days. We'll be leaving Texas around the 20th or so and leaving Missouri around the 30th. I'm kind of worried about traveling home during the winter because I remember the ice storm that almost trapped us last time. The news says an ice storm is close to the area right now already.

So its really windy here today, but warm at 71 degrees. I'm tempted to open the windows, but not quite. Maybe in the afternoon. **Note to San Angelo, lets not test the sirens on a windy day just because its the 1st.**

For homework this weekend I need to:
Physics: finish up the homework due Monday, the lab report due Wednesday, and start reviewing for The Final (dun-dun-dunnn!)
English: Watch Lord of the Rings to come up with a thesis to compare it to The Hobbit, and go to the group meeting on Sunday night. Presentation on Thursday.
Calculus: Small homework due Tuesday, plus I really really need to review some old stuff and start reviewing for The Final (dduudduuuunnnnn)