Just as good the 2nd time

I saw King Kong with a friend yesterday and YES - it was just as good the second time around.

Heading out to East Texas tomorrow to see more family. Hoping there won't be too much traffic on this New Years Eve Day.

Been handling a few work-related problems via-email, which is a bit... /thinks for the word... bah - it's the real world.

Kodi is freaking hilarious. He follows me around like--well like a little puppy (he's 1.5 years old). He is constantly bringing me his toy, wanting me to play with him. He rests his head on my leg and looks up at me with this goofy grin on his face, ears pointed, big brown eyes pleading with me. He's been sleeping in my room and just totally adores me. It's what baby Jake used to do - minus the annoying - Kodi is a bit overboard - he's a LOT bigger, droolier... yeah... but he's a sweetheart.

Unpacking my childhood...

Yuuuuup...
I've started unpacking boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff. Did I really leave this much stuff here? Yeesh. Yep more of my life in boxes. Oh and my baby Jake - cremated and placed in a box. *chuckle* I found some sort of odd humor in that... not sick humor mind you - perhaps ironic... I dunno but you have to admit - my new blog title: a life in boxes really fits.

I've also been visiting with my family and friends back here. I got to see my cousin and her three sons (they live in Alabama) - the 15 year old is almost 2 inches taller than me... *does the math* I was 12 years old when he was born... I held him in my arms *boggle* My cousin who lives here, her little girl is growing up so fast!

I've spent a lot of time playing with my parents dog, Kodi:



The cats are enjoying sleeping on my bed - my room is always closed up while I'm away and it's an exciting new place for them to sniff out and take their cat-naps...

Luxor:


Sheba:


Lady:


I baked a bunch of cakes, gingerbread houses and ginger cookies:

Kong Lives!

Saw King Kong today with the folks.
AWESOME MOVIE.
Even if you have seen someone else play the game :P

There's NO comparison!

BONUS: There was a preview for the new X-Men 3!!!
WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Consuming Consumers Consume Mass Quantities of Cra....

I'm sitting here at the MSP airport (/love wireless WOOT Dad) and they have CNN on and they just had a bit on how some stores will be getting a few more XBOX 360's in... and it's been bothering me that they've put so much hype into this system, then didn't have nearly enough... I kept saying they're going to come out with more before xmas. And now they are. AND the freaking lady on the TV was saying that the manufactures claim if you see one on the shelf and you are iffy about buying it you SHOULD buy it because who knows when more will come to stores - and xmas is so close... etc.... and some cloak and dagger crap about asking the first person you see working at the store when you walk in - tell them what you want... BAH!

BLOODY HELL. Sitting next to a lady with a cute lil mini doberman and I've seen 3 other lil doggies in the airport today AND NOW they have a bit on CNN bout them as xmas presents. Something bout bunch of dogs coming in from Mexico for really cheap - but they are too sick to make it on their own and how you should ask where they come from before you get them so you don't get one that dies on you.... good lord....

You know how when you have something on your mind - everytime you turn around there IT is... yeah... that's what is happenening to me.
And I'm sad cuz I was doing some number crunching the day before yesterday and it WOULD be cheaper for me to stay in the dorms (since I've been there so long I get whatever the lowest price is)... I might even be able to do it without getting a second job.
But that's not what I really want. I want to move off campus. I want a place of my own. I want a dog (did ya pick up on that?) and I don't want to live in a box anymore. But I don't particularly want to get another job.
/ponder
I have lots of time to obsess about this (and lord knows I do obsess)... and explore my options... yet again I am blessed with options and find myself grumping about them. ugh! Sometimes I feel like I am so ungrateful.
/sigh
BAH!
Anywhooooo........
Getting close to THAT TIME! Need to pack this puppy (er my computer) up and catch my flight home Home HOME!!!!!

Sings:I'll be hOOOOOOme for the holidays....

Describing Aspen E Tall As A Tree

For the first time I wrote something in the description box for my blog.
A life in boxes...
It may not stay, but it is how I feel right now.
I just realized that the cliche is true for me - I live in a box (dorm room), I work in a box (office - no windows), and I even drive a box (Honda Element).
The only one of those I actually enjoy is my car.
1 out of 3 isn't that bad.... is it?

Round the rough and rugged rocks the ragged rascal rudely ran...

A year ago today my grandfather died (mom's dad).
A year ago tomorrow I came back from New Zealand.

How is that possible?

Early yesterday morning Queenie passed away. She belonged to Aya's uncle, then her mom, and I semi-adopted her a few years ago. And now she is gone...



Death is everywhere.

Ugh looking up that picture... first time since I found out....
/sigh
Such a sweet and happy puppy.

I wrote this after my first grandfather passed away last year and I used it in my blog again after my second grandfather passed away... but it's the best I can come to describing how I feel when I am grieving....

I've been lying in bed thinking about grief. It's an odd thing, extremely painful and yet you can't touch it or even point it out. There's no miracle pill to get rid of the pain, no limb to chop off, there's nothing inside of you they can cut out. It's buried deep inside of you, somewhere around the heart-lungs-throat region. In my experience (17 years) it never goes away fully - it's like a chronic scab - it heals over partially, but if it gets bumped hard enough it flows again. An intangible wound. I don't know if that makes sense, but it's the best I can do at 1:20 am.

The Power of Blogger Compels Me

I'm at the library visiting Aya and before I came here I drove through a certain fast-food chain and ordered a burrito. Not wanting to break the sacred law of the library I ate my dinner while sitting in my car. As I unwrapped my burrito I was struck by a series of memories: whenever I would come home with something like this my Jake would run up to me with his cute little black nose sniffing the air. I'd talk to him and ask him if he'd been a good boy, tempting him with my yummy treats. I'd get all comfortable in my room and then I would break off the top part of the burrito-(you know, the part that's just tortilla), I would tear it into little pieces and ration it out to him as I ate. I guess you could say we had lunch/dinner together. He also loved french fries and any tortilla or roll (especially Grandy's rolls).
He was a funny little guy. When I'd say no more and show him my hands he knew he was done.

Anywho... I totally felt compelled to blog about that. What does that say about me? About my blogging?

Oh and while I was getting my hair - repaired - yesterday I was flipping through a magazine and there was an article about women bloggers... interesting...

On The Way to Work Today...

Auburn reigns supreme!

THANK GOODNESS!
Aya and I both got our hair fiasco's fixed today.
I'm back to my normal reddish-brown /happy sigh.

This is the only evidence that remains of that nightmare....



It's hard to tell because I took it with my cell phone camera = not very good pic, but trust me blonde hair with my rosey cheeks = YUCK.

Posting pics cuz I can't sleep...

Click for larger image:


From my delay in the twin cities over Thanksgiving break. This is looking out over the center of the Mall of America - Camp Snoopy (like a mini-six flags for younger kids).

____________

This is a rooster which was placed outside of a local restraunt this summer during some rennovations... and now he's all festive...
/chuckle

Do they have more fun?

/sniffle
I...
I'm...
I'm BLONDE!

I asked the girl to do the same thing that had been done before, because my roots were showing a bit and you could see where the highlights started... simple enough... I was standing in front of her for craps sake.
She says sure, no problem...
Next thing I know... I've turned into Marilyn Monroe.
No offense to the blondes of the world, but it's not for me. I like to stick with pretty near my natural hair color - auburny-brown.
/sigh
It could be WORSE.... Poor Aya, I didn't realize how bad it was until after she got under the lady's shears :(
/sigh
We've had some bad hair fiasco's together, but this one might top them all.

Almost Done...

I'm cooking dinner for my floor tonight (last floor activity this year).
I'm getting a haircut tomorrow afternoon - and hopefully seeing King Kong...
I've got a mini-presentation Thursday night.
And that's it.

Seriously.

I have been so freaking stressed for the last month - worrying about my job and my living situation, being sad about Jakester, stressing about the "big one" and the other smaller paper and the presentation I did today... and now it's all over (almost - all the big stuff anyway).

You know that odd feeling you get when you expect to feel relieved but you aren't? That indescrible sensation... It's somewhere between just wanting to crawl into bed and sleep for a week and that nagging sensation that you've got something important to do still... Yeah, that's how I feel right now.
I hate that feeling.
It's frustrating and a major let-down because I was hoping to feel carefree (an entire week earlier than my peers).
Maybe I will reach that feeling after Thursday - when all my academic obligations are fulfilled, my last floor activity is over and my room has been thoroughly picked up and cleaned (UGH does it need it).

Ponderings and Findings

I found a neat new blog, but I need to investigate it further... I just saw lots of fiber, kitties, and some funny stuff...
Really excited cuz apparently there is a ring for spinners - (spinning wheel not the dj) - and I joined that. Guess I'll have to start talking bout my fibering more now.

Sidenote:
How can someone be so full of themself and shite at the same time? I wouldn't think there would be room.... guess I'll chock it up to the old "Anything is possible."

/pat on back
I finished my *BIG* paper and turned it in this morning.
/huge sigh of relief

Working on my presentation for tomorrow, then another small presentation Thursday night and I am DONE. Makes up for all the stress I've had the last month or so.
hehehe It's freaking awesome!!!
Too bad I can't go home right away, gotta do the RA thing and stay til the 21st (which is actually a day earlier than I'm sposed to leave shhhhhh).

Chronicles...

I took a brief break Friday afternoon to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe. *cough* filmed in NZ *cough* At least partially :) It was pretty good. I'm in the prossess of re-reading the entire series, but from memory it was pretty accurate (though they added several humorous elements).

Another movie coming out soon, which was filmed when I was there, is King Kong. I'm realllllllly looking forward to this one. I'm actually a bit skeptical about it, but that doesn't stop me from getting all googledy-eyed when I see a preview ;) And the home page for the movie is freaking awesome. I'll definitely be there on Wednesday to see it!

I'm cruising right along on my "big" paper. There was a time when I couldn't imagine coming up with 4 or 5 pages, much less 15-20 pages. Now, I have eleven pages and a two-page bibliography. And no it's not ALL quotes!
I definitely am not meant to be an English major. I know Aya has to pump papers out on a regular basis and this is only the first one I've had to do all semester.... and it's the largest one I've ever had to write. Quite frankly, it's been torture. I was sitting there at the library wallowing in self pitty and Aya kept saying, "You can do it. You'll be fine." I somewhat believed her.
It has been a learning experience though: I much prefer presentations and projects to papers.
Of course I'm taking an online Education class next semester which is all writing based, with several good-sized papers.
heh heh heh
Figures.

Listening to Christmas music at the moment and gazing at my (miniature) lit Christmas tree. I could do that all day, but I must get this paper done!

Happy weekend everyone!

The verdict is in...

Let me break down the fear that has taken over my life for the past three weeks....

Week before Thanksgiving - my RA boss says there is a possibility that I might have to give up one of my jobs (maybe starting Spring semester or hopefully next Fall)
Either the RA (paying for my place to live) or the GA (paying for my school & bills)

My birthday (Friday before Thanksgiving) my boss tells me that the powers-that-be have decided I *DO* have to pick one. Obviously I would have to give up the RA job because the benefits are less. But I love my RA job, the people I work with, and I'd have to move before winter break.
I spent the majority of my birthday drafting a letter of appeal - to let me keep both jobs through the end of the year. (Pointing out that I had been informed at the beginning of the year that there was no problem with me having both positions (I knew this already because Aya had done it for two years and someone else I knew had done it before her) I thought this was a reasonable request, to close out the school year, as promised at the beginning of the school year, with the understanding I would have to pick one or the other for next Fall.

Yesterday - after waiting (semi)patiently for 3 weeks I call the office in charge of making the decision and learn about the letter.
Today at 2pm I called back and the lady took pity on me (they still needed one more signature on the letter) she must have heard the fear/paranoia/exhaustion/hope in my voice. She told me they had decided to let me keep both jobs through the end of this school year, but there is something about taxes... I dunno, I'll find that out when I get the letter. I might have to pay some? (no clue)
So yeah... I don't have to pack and move within the next week! I get to keep both jobs for one more semester! I don't have to worry about finding the funds to pay for where I'm living!

/cheer
/relief

And with all of this shake-up I've also made a decision. I knew that no matter what I would have to find other living arrangements for the Fall semester, so I'm going to start looking for a place to live (this summer) where I can have a DOGGGGY!!!! /bounce
This thought occurred to me before my baby passed away, and now that he's gone I feel this incredible longing to have a puppy. I NEED one. I WANT one. As long as I can find an affordable place to live that allows one (Darn real-life) I will go adopt one from the pound/humane society this summer.

/sigh of relief
I get to keep both of my jobs til the end of the year!
And I get to have a PUPPY!
/cheer

If patience were the only virtue...

I would have none.

----------

I don't really have anything to blog about just now. I'm sitting in the library at 11:25 pm, waiting for Aya to close the library down. I've been reading and reading and reading (my eyes are tired). I'm trying to get enough information and ideas for my big paper. I'm so intimidated by the number = "15-20 pages", that my brain is permanently locked in a circular pattern. I can't come up with enough stuff to fill that many pages. Obviously I have to, but EEEEP. It's really just 5 pages a day. This has taught me one thing, I am definitely not meant to be an English major. I'll be sticking with Education (Though I'll still take the English classes related to technology).

Heh... I did have something to blog about.
Maybe there is always something to blog about.
I could go to google and type in the first word that came to my mind and be inspired for a blog post.
/ponder
I wonder if I can work that into something, somewhere in the future.
Thesis!
/chuckle
jk

It feels much later than it is. I need to get some sleep so I can get up in the morning and get to work (and not stress about that stupid letter that STILL hasn't come /grumble).

A letter?!?!

That big news... they're sending me a letter "sometime this afternoon or tomorrow."

A letter.
It's coming from THIS campus.
I had them on the phone.
But...
They're sending me a letter.

"Please Mister Postman, look and see
If there's a letter in your bag for me
(Please, Please Mister Postman)
Why's it takin' such a long time...."

do be do be do wop wop....

We all must do things which...

Scare us.



Only my second attempt at sledding, the first being a 9ft hill back in Texas, on one of the rare occasions we got enough snow to do such a thing.
Terrifyingly fun.
______________

Are a little bit crazy.

Staff retreat for Res Life this past weekend. We went to this fancy resort place and got a lovely cabin. (Same place we went 2 years ago when I was an RA)
Fun was had and I jumped in the swimming pool, fully clothed. Still not exactly sure why, but like I say... Craziness is key.
_____________

Intimidate us.

The heat is on, big paper (20 pages) due next Monday. I'm not a big paper writer, I've never had to write many of them, and certainly none this large.
I've also got a presentation coming up and another paper due next Wednesday.

I'm tired of reading already so I'm procrastinating by blogging. Huh... I wonder what the ratio proportion of procrastinators is to bloggers...
/ponder
_____________

And btw: Congratulations to Aya's cousin who just had twin girls on Saturday night :)

Oh and July 7th can't come soon enough

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Puppy Power!

Is it strange that I reallllllly want to find a place to live where I can have a dog?
I was thinking about this before I lost my baby Jake, knowing I couldn't take him from his life in Texas and bring him to this frozen tundra. After his passing I want it even more. I miss having a little buddy to run errands with, snuggle up with, play with... and I know there will never be another Jake, but there could be another dog. Another four-legged friend. Another... companion.
Fantasizes...
Should I get a pure bred? Or another mutt... love those heinz 57's. I should go to the pound or humane society or find a stray... find one that really needs me. I should find one I have an instant connection to, like Jakester.
I'll never forget the first time I saw him. The pet store next to my parents shop was having a Humane Society Adoption Day. A little boy was holding him under his front arms, the poor dog was dangling about and the mom was yelling at her son to hold him properly. I was in the mindset that I HAD to have a kitten, but my dad suggested this little dog in a kennel (the same dangly one I'd seen earlier). The lady warned us that he was very skittish so we took him next door to my parents shop. She opened the kennel door and he peeked out at us. My parents stayed far away and the woman hid behind the kennel. I called to him, coaxing him out of his safe little box. He came over to me, shivering slightly. I put my hands on him and spoke soft words of comfort and that was it. I was smitten and he had found a trustworthy human. Someone who would never let anything bad happen to him. It took him over a week to come to my mom and years (literally) before he would come to my dad without shivering uncontrollably. He had been abused before he came to us. Horribly abused, we assume by a man. He never liked sitting in laps and he was always afraid of men, cowering behind me whenever one came in the room. Yet he was not a coward. He scared the living daylights out of me one time when a cat that we'd taken in (trying to find another home for it) hissed and spit at me - he chased it around the house barking and growling. Mom and I thought he was going to bite the cat - and were afraid the cat would shred him. He growled menacingly at anything he saw as a threat to me. He was scared of his own shadow, but he would have protected me at any cost.
(Hmmm.... digress much?)
Only dog I ever saw who loved to play Duck, Duck, Goose.
/smile
Silly puppy.

So yeah... I miss having a dog. I love cats, but if I had to pick one or the other it'd be a Dog. Hands down.

When I move out of the dorms I have to find a place where I can have a dog.

The Thanksgiving that Sucked

Well... Where do I start.
I'm still waiting to hear that life-changing news. The powers-that-be are 'working on it.' I got an update today and it's not sounding good.

I left last Tuesday for Texas. I got sick the day before I left and I only got worse while I was down there. I gave up and went to the Dr. who gave me some serious anti-biotics but I've used the last of it today and I'm still sick, though I am better than I was.

I did manage to have Thanksgiving dinner with my Mom's family and dinner on Saturday with my Aunt & Uncle on my Dad's side.

Friday was an unbelievably sad day. My sweet baby Jake - and she starts tearing up - who lived to the ripe old age of 17... I had him put to sleep on Friday. That sweet puppy was with me through some good times and some really bad times - He was my constant companion, and for a time he was my best and only friend. Whenever I was home he would give me a guilt trip the first day and then he'd let up and be by my side again. I always felt horribly guilty when I had to leave him at the end of the holidays. A piece of my heart broke off. I felt it shatter when I made the decision to do it. My parents were going to wait until I left, I didn't know they'd already made the decision. I told them I thought it was time and that I wanted to be there for him. My Dad said he'd take care of it, but I needed to be there for him and I'm really glad I could be there for him to the end, because he was always there for me.
Ugh. I can barely remember what my life was like without him. I was 10 when I got him and it's been 17 years....
Silly puppy!
I'll love him forever.



I also had to begin saying goodbye to another friend... my home. My parents bought a new home this past summer and moved all the stuff to the new house the weekend before I came down. I can't describe how wierd it was to see all my stuff in a different house... but not as wierd as it was to walk into my home and find it virtually empty. Before I moved up here I'd only ever lived in that house. The new house is REALLY nice and my new room is almost 4 times the size of my old one and it's BEAUTIFUL purple! (I got to pick it out)

Lesee....

I flew out of Texas on Monday morning, only to find myself stranded in the cities, alone, sick, and without my luggage. Nasty ice storm up north = airport closings. I was stuck there for two days, making my way back up here today.

Overall, I'm just really glad to be back, though I could have used more of a vacation. This one was too stressful and way too emotional for my liking. Hope Christmas goes smoother.

*edit*Oh, and then there was the 25 minutes I spent scraping the ice off my car, after the heater had melted it some.

Ugh I'm so behind on my blog reading...

Especially since Aya's decided to blog 5 times a day ;)

Another year older and only slightly more bruised

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, minus Froyd ;)

Got to see HP twice, once at the 12:01am showing and once at the 4:30pm showing. Much easier to process in the afternoon. LOTS of stuff coming at you really FAST. Not sure how I would be able to follow it unles I had read the books, but other people got it. I think reading the books just gives you so much more insight into what the little things mean - and this was all I could think about the first time I saw it - they skipped that, that person didn't do/say that, that's right on, what's next?.... which made the second time I watched it much easier, because I knew what was coming and I was able to enjoy it for what it was. Not sure if that makes any sense....

I had a fun dinner at Applebee's with some friends, though I felt bad for our poor waiter - not that we were a rowdy bunch, it's just there were quite a few of us and I think big groups must suck for waiters/waitresses.
Aya got me a boogie-snow-board-thingy. I think she's trying to kill me.... or maybe she's just found something she really loves and is trying to get her best friend to enjoy it with her. Or maybe she's had enough of me, wants me gone, knows what a klutz I am, and figures this is the fastest way ;)
Cool looking board game from D... looking forward to giving it a spin... *cough*hint*Aya*cough*

HP and Applebee's were the highlights of my day. The rest of my day sucked though. I received some rather bad news (I'd say very bad - but nobody died or got hurt). Spent the majority of the day writing a letter to appeal a decision which has been made. BAH! Freaking sucks. I'm going to wait until I find out the decision of the appeal before I share the details. But I will say if they say no my life will be changing.

BAH-ity-BAH-BAH-BAH
/sigh

Twenty-seven, Twenty7, 20seven....oooo I like that one!

I am 20seven today.
That looks good right? Better than 27?

Bah
Screw it
I'm 27 today!
Happy Birthday Me!

And there's SNOW everywhere!
WOOT WOOT

Ode to Snow

I love snow.
Snow loves me.
We're a happy family.
With a hug from me to it,
Don't you think it is the....

hmmmm....
That wouldn't exactly be a PG ending...

-----

HEHEHEHE I just checked Aya's blog and saw her 400th post... checked mine and realized that THIS was my 400th post....
rofl....
What are the chances?
Seriously though... we're a little TOO similar sometimes ;)

Signs that winter is FINALLY here!

Snow.
I've broken out my hat and mittens.
Snow.
The Scr-r-r-r-r-aping of ice off car windows.
Snow.
The ground is covered in a lovely white blanket.
Snow.
A *crunch* *crunch* *crunch* sound follows me wherever I go.
Snow.
That stinging sensation of tiny, frozen particles smacking into my face.
Snow.
Wind howling at my window.
Snow.
Baby steps so I don't biff it.
Snow.



Oh... did I mention that I LOVE SNOW!?
*tee hee*

Slacker!!!

Wow I've turned into Aya... well... ok so I'm not quite THAT bad ;)

It's been a week.... What's happened in the last week...

I went bowling - just for fun - one night. Had lots of fun with that, I forgot what it was like to bowl without pressure. Not that there's any pressure on me when I bowl in league, outside of the pressure I put on myself.

Got a head start on some projects/presentations/papers which will be due... rather soon actually. Maybe not so much a head start then... hmmm... I mean most of them aren't due til the first full week in December, but when you figure next week is totally shot cuz I'm going home to help my parents move... yeah... it'll fly by! Eeep.... pressure! I feel it squeezing me down... I'm shrinking! hehe

K... so did I mention I've been in a wierd mood lately? Totally hyper at bowling on Sunday... oh bowling... *cringe* we're down to third place and we got beat down this week as well. LOL Granny's got game! The team we were playing beat us all 3 games and in overall points, the two women were these cute, smiley grandma types. But seriously, they kicked our collective hiney's and the guys were good too. hehehe Granny Bowlers!

To Do:
*Buy tickets for HP
*Call Res Life
*Pick up Mics
*WATCH HP *bounce*
*Pick up homecoming picture from HUPB
*Set up computers in 405
*Article for LC
*Wiki page for Presentation on Thursday
*On Duty Monday night
*ReDesign of WebPage for Tuesday
*Analysis of Photoblog
*Review PKD - begin Paper
*Finish - PKM
*Continue/Finish - KA
*Pack!
*Fly home Tuesday @ 1:05pm

Happier Thoughts

Come from Harry Potter.

Why was that again?

A 70+ year old woman has her pinky chopped off for a $10 ring, just one of three such incidents (probably connected).
A woman is stuffed in her trunk and almost murdered, gets away by shear luck.
A man accused of killing 4 family members.

Oh. That's right.

This is why i don't watch the news anymore.

"Love stinks"

I hate it when people I love - leave and/or forget about me.

Go Grease Lightnin & Run Bambi Run!

Busy weekend. Drove 4 hours to see the musical Grease, starring one of Aya's cousins. I love the musical, so I fully enjoyed myself. Aya, D, Aya's Cousin, and I all rode down together and we kept ourselves entertained for 8 hours of driving. Visited with Aya's family and such.

On the way back, yesterday, I saw 45 dead deer and only 3 of them were road kill.
ish... yuck... ish...
Remind me not to drive around MN during hunting season again.
I didn't see anything for the first hour and then all of a sudden I saw a bloody gut facing me from the oncoming traffic and then I couldn't help but notice all the others. 42 hunter's kills, and that's just what I could see. (I've never seen so much hunters orange either.)

Apparently I contradict myself. I was having a discussion with some male friends last night... I understand the need to hunt - lower number of deer, cheap meat, etc. However, I personally don't want to go out and hunt and it makes me a little sad to see dead animals, whether it's roadkill or death-by-hunter. I certainly don't enjoy seeing dead animals or pieces of animals as decoration/trophies. Yes I eat meat, no I'm not against killing of animals for survival. But.. I dunno.. I would never kill something unless I was starving to death and I needed it to survive... or if it ran in front of my car. The taking of another life, animal or not, is a big deal to me. And yes, I've heard of the horrid treatment of the animals we eat...
/sigh
Whatever.
I have no intention of going out and shooting a deer, duck, goose, bear, person, etc.
Period.

Dear Wicked Witch of the West,

You are an evil, conniving hag. You reek of hateful spite and your claws are non-retractable.
I wish you would control your temper and learn to bite your tongue.

Sincerely,

Aspen E

Hellllp! There's a pirate after me!

Ransom my arse!

Greetings from MSUM

That is all.

PLUGS INC

OAK HAUNTED HOUSE
Monday, October 31st
5:30pm-9:30pm
Oak Hall Basement
$5 - regular admission
$3 - 12 and under/BSU student with ID

and afterwards...

LINDEN/BIRCH HALLOWEEN PARTY
9:00pm - whenever
Monday, October 31st
Linden 2nd Floor Lounge
Free Free Free
Snacks, Games, Costume Contest, Music, Pumpkin Carving Contest results...
FUN! FUN! FUN!

Temptation

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

"Walker is my name and I am the same. Riddley Walker. Walking my riddels where ever theyve took me and walking them now on this paper the same." Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban

Some quotes stay with you, and this is one that's stuck for me.
It's taking me forever to read this book... here's the reason:
"He dint say no moren that. The crowd 1/2 of them larft out and 1/2 of them syd deap."
He didn't say more than that. Half the crowd laughed out loud and the other half sighed deeply.
Hoban succeeded in making the reader slow down and process what he wrote.
I'm enjoying the book and it's the first one I've read written in a different dialect, but it's definitely a challenge.

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

What do you do when someone you thought you knew, turns out to be someone else? Someone you've always considered a caring friend... What do you do when your friendship deteriorates to harsh words? When suddenly you find yourself pushing buttons before you realize they're there? When your buttons are being pushed and you can't think rationally?

Happy Birthday Chris
Happy Birthday Ashley
Happy Birthday Loralyn
Happy Birthday Jo
Happy Birthday Steve

I know 5 people with birthdays this week. 5 out of 7 days this week.
What are the chances?


You are Kermit the Frog.
You are reliable, responsible and caring. And you
have a habit of waving your arms about
maniacally.

FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS:
"Hi ho!" "Yaaay!" and
"Sheesh!"
FAVORITE MOVIE:
"How Green Was My Mother"

LAST BOOK READ:
"Surfin' the Webfoot: A Frog's Guide to the
Internet"

HOBBIES:
Sitting in the swamp playing banjo.

QUOTE:
"Hmm, my banjo is wet."


What Muppet are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

From my laboratory in the castle east...

I'm looking into schools where I can get a PhD in Education or English. So far the best I've found is a degree in Adult and Higher Education from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT.
/love Montana
/fear getting PhD
Hummm...
PhD = another 3 years (minimum) + learning a new language = Eeeep!
But I want to teach at the University level - this is something, which becomes abundantly clearer every day – and therefore I must have a PhD. The good news is I might be able to get a teaching fellowship/graduate position, where I would teach classes while taking some of my own. This is exciting because I really want to get into the classroom. I spoke to a professor about my future today and he gave me some great advice, helped me get my thoughts organized and such. :)
I have a couple of years to think about this (or at least another year), but I'm one of those crazy-planning people who has to know the who, what, where, when, why's and how's of everything. That's not to say my plans don't change a hundred times before I actually get there ;)

Things to do:
*Decide on class schedule (register Monday)
*Get car washed
*Follow up on portable proxima
*Wednesday - 10am meeting, 12pm meeting
*Set up computer for B
*Email csd about computers
*Ask about job for Spring semester for V
*Follow up on microphone
*Finish reading Riddley Walker
*Type paper for LC (due Monday)
*Get goodies from Res Life
*Finish halloween dress for Monday
*Thursday - meet with V for Monday nights presentation
*Friday - buy goodies and decorations for Monday's Halloween Party
*Saturday - Tri-College RA Conference in Moorhead
*Sunday - bowling, set-up for party
*Monday - register, present, and set-up for party/contests
*Help Aya if I have time =0)

Ohhh Aye Said the Sailor...

Castpost rocks.

Finally found a place to upload my Pirate Party Video.

Enjoy!

Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?

I'm getting in the spirit, dontcha know ;)

I really hope the future of the world isn't left entirely in the hands of businesses.
I'm looking for pumpkin donations from local businesses for the pumpkin carving contest I'm in charge of (dorms). I called a couple of the local grocery stores and got 5 donated. Easy cheesey, "Hey I'm with so and so and I'm hoping you might be interested in..." Reults: Sure... and No... I needed 5 more, so I called our local big business: greetings & transferred, wrong person, they didn't know how to transfer me so I called back, transfer, wrong person, they put me on hold for 5 mins trying to figure out how to transfer me, hang up, call back, transfer, right person! but she tells me I have to fax a proposal to them and it goes through a committee for approval and then they call me back to let me know if it has been approved.... seriously... for 5 pumpkins.

BAH!

Aspen Comic

Hmmmm....

I could be the last to know...

New HP4 Trailer

Click HERE

Wooooooooooot!

I'll find out how much you really care...

Currently reading:


Watched a hilarious Aussie movie starring Paul Hogan... Strange Bedfellows. Great stuff.

Forgot bowling update - didn't bowl this week, but we're still number 1.
Woot! Woot! Woot! Woot! Woot! Woot! Yaaaay!

There is someone in my family to whom I have never been close. This person has travelled a great deal and I only remember seeing her about 8-10 times in my life. We've never spoken outside of these sparatic visits. I'm sending her an email this week. I'm quite nervous about this, not sure how she will respond. What if she wants nothing to do with me? That would hurt... a lot.

Make that 33 states!!!

Thursday morning I had a quick presentation with my group for E-Rhetoric and that night I did a short presentation for my Post Apocalyptic Fiction class. I tied in ASL and Deaf Culture with Octavia Butler's Speech Sounds and I think it went pretty well... I was really nervous at the beginning though. Strange... Put me in a room with 30 kids and I'm fine, but a dozen adults and I get the jitters big time. Oh well, it went well and it's over with now. (just two more for that class and two more this week).

Friday flew by, though I do recall going to see The Fog with Aya.

Saturday: Aya, D, and I drove 3 hours to Duluth. We walked around the harbor, saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the Omnimax, cruised through the mall where I bought the new Fall Out Boy CD, and we went to the Ship of Ghouls/Haunted Ship, then drove the 3 hours back home. Had lots of fun!

Oh! and we went over this cool bridge to Wisconsin! And that's my 33rd state, or should I say 33.5? Does D.C. count for .5? :) Woot! Woot! Woot!

Comic #3

My musings continue.

Poor Smurfs

Interesting tactic.

Neato Spakito

I have a comment from someone in Columbia....
Too bad I can't understand a word of his blog ;)

The Llama of Laughter

Ok... so I found a photo blog from a guy in Wellington, New Zealand (see links to the right) and I was browsing through some of his older posts when I found this picture from Jan 2002. I started giggling and I couldn't stop. I don't think it's supposed to be that funny, but for some reason I find it hilarious. That llama is having a seriously bad hair day, but he's so flipping cute!

Earth Abides

I'm currently reading this book for my Post Apocalyptic Fiction class. And minus the things the dogs and cats may or may not be eating... *cringe*... I really am enjoying it!
The book was first published in 1949, but it's kind of creepy to be reading it now - when so many parallels can be drawn to current times.
Plague wipes out mankind when hears biggest fears are focussed on war and threats from other countries... But then again... it could be a biological warfare - gone wrong...
You go George R. Stewart!

We're still number 1!

Bowling Update: We held our first place position from last week and we won all of our games tonight so we're STILL NUMBER 1!!!

Went on a hay-ride this afternoon - got to pet the horses and a good-sized German Shepard. Sang some camp-fire songs and roasted marshmallows.

All-in-all it was a good weekend.

Now... back to work!

Happy Endings

So when Aya and I moved back in with her mom in May her cat Ari had been gone for a week - just up and disappeared.
We called around everywhere looking for her and nothing - no sign of her. We gave up and decided she was gone for good. We were all sad, including me - even though she wasn't my kitty I still loved her - and I was sad for Aya and her mom.

This past week a cat showed up at Aya's mom's house and she looked a lot like Ari, but her mom wasn't 100% sure because this cat was just half the size (Ari was a - well rounded kitty). Aya and I went out to look at the cat today and it IS Ari! Half her old size, but just as lovable and definitely the same cat. How insane. She's been gone for 5 months... Disappeared without a trace and no sign of her all this time but she's back now. If cats could talk I think this one would have quite the tale to tell.

So long, and thanks for all the fish

So sad that it should come to this

I watched The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy today... finally! and I really enjoyed it. Reminds me of an onion. Plus - dolphins, gotta love the dolphins, second smartest creatures on earth!

We tried to warn you all, but, oh, dear
You may not share out intellect
Which might explain your disrespect
For all the natural wonders that grow around you
So long, so long, and thanks for all the fish!

Oh.... and next time you drive by Country Kitchen check out what they've got sitting out front.

Curiousity Hooked the Girl

I'm not sure how long it will last, but I have joined the Facebook community.

Snow Snow Snow Tiddly Snow Snow Snow

A long time ago,
Way back in history....
Ok so it was this afternoon - I totally saw SNOW!
/bounce
I wish it had been true-pure snow - not the stuff that turns to rainy-slushy-goop as soon as it lands. BUT! It will come. And soon my world will be covered in sparkley-white goodness.

Donated blood today. I always forget how uncomfortable it is, but then I just remind myself I'm doing a good deed and as the lady said "We love your blood type!"

Word of the Day: Kitschy - Pretentious bad taste, especially art-related... I hear it a lot in place of tacky.

Why is it word of the day? Because it tickles my funny-bone every time I hear it.

It's Snraining on my Parade

They promised me snow! Where is it? Huh? Huh?!
All I see is snrain.
Bah... it will come sooner or later.

Fall Colors

The Truth of Blogging

If you read this blog you probably know more about me than most people. At the same time, there's so much more to me.
I guess that is true of other blogs as well. Most of the blogs I read are so much more than mine; more detailed, more political, more personal, more ---- more. But they're not all... just more.
I restrict my own writing when I blog. My parents read my blog, my friends, my teachers, people I barely know, people I may never know. I leave out names of people (with the exception of those who have their own blogs & names out there) and I don't give great details on certain parts of my life.

I'm not sure what the point of this post is... pretty much like all of my other posts :) I'm just thinking online.

Last year at this time I had just gotten back to NZ from Sydney. Was it really a full year ago since I sat in the Opera House watching The Barber of Seville.

Craaaaaazy!

Degrees of Separation...

My mom called me this morning from Taos, NM. They were just finishing their packing and about to head home from the Wool Festival.
She told me of a woman she saw, a woman pushing a twin-stroller. The woman was holding a little boy, with flaming orange/red hair. (Mom loves babies, so of course she was interested) She took a closer look at the woman and found beneath the hat and sunglasses - Julia Roberts.
hehehe
Neat!
Now... is that one degree of separation for me or two? Hmm... I think it's one.

Bowling update....
We're number two after last week and we tied the team we played tonight. Hopefully we'll at least stay in second for this week's ranking. I bowled, but I wasn't up to my usual, granted that's not so high either, but really I pretty much sucked. I definitely earned my nickname this week - Mother Gutter.

Pirate Pics

The Host...


The Old Married Couple...


The Performers...


The Birthday Girl...


Walking Backwards...


The Blogger...


Great pics Jamie :)
This is what I have... and I have some video, but no place to store it... :(

A Pirates Life for Me...?

I just returned from my first "Pirate Party."
And an interesting party it was. I was surprised at the number of people I knew and was well-entertained by their drunken escapades. Enjoyed the company of some of the sober-people and terrorized the drunkards with a scary-symbol-banging-monkey.
Before the party I had dinner with R and before that I went to see Serenity with Aya, D, R, and another ra.
And before that (this is the best I can do at almost 3am) Aya and I had lunch and got my hair cut and coloured - which took 2.5 freaking hours. I have entirely too much hair. Had 4 inches cut off it and you can hardly tell :P

Loved Serenity.
Love the hair.
Lots of Pirate love at the party.
Was good...

And if JK is looking for his hat - I have it.

Yo-ho-ho-A pirates life for me.

Thanks to everyone...

I have so many friends... so many people who care. This week reminded me of that.
Lots of people were cheering me on and a lot of people voted for me.
Unfortunately, I was not crowned Homecoming Queen. But I had a lot of fun running and my running-mate was crowned King. (Woot MC Nope Nope!)
My fellow staff (RA's) gave me an award tonight naming me "Queen for a Day" and below that it says "But you'll always be Momma to us."
/beam
I love those guys and they're seriously a HUGE reason I'm so happy these days.
Thanks again to everyone who voted for me and all the well-wishes. I feel the love!

It's Aliiiiiiiive!

They've finally been able to study a live giant squid!

When I was in Kaikoura they showed us part of a tentacle from a dead one and I saw a dead-baby one at the Picton Aquarium that was over 6 feet long. The marks on the sperm whale show that they are the only (known) natural predator (aside from fishermen & their nets) of the giant squid. They live so deep in the ocean and it's impossible to keep them alive in captivity so this is the first live inspection and I think it's kinda neat!
And yes, I'm fully aware of this increase in my nerd-status.

Blog Things

Your Birthdate: November 18

Your birthday on the 18th day of the month suggests than you are one who can work well with a group, but still remain someone who needs to maintain individual identity. There is a humanistic or philanthropic approach to business circumstances in which you find yourself. You may have good executive abilities, as you are very much the organizer and administrator. You are broad-minded, tolerant and generous; a compassionate person that can inspire others with imaginative ideas. Some of your feelings may be expressed, but even more of them are apt to be repressed. There is a lot of drama in your personality and in the way you express yourself to others. Oddly enough, you don't expect as much in return as you give.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Your Band Name is:

The King of Zookeepers

Band Name Generator

Your Mood Ring is Dark Green

Friendly Outgoing Cheerful

Mood Ring Generator

Your Fortune Is

Just because men have one, doesn't mean they have to be one.

The Wacky Fortune Cookie Generator

Sandy Candy!

Yesterday was icecream, today was "Sandy Candy"

It's like the colored sand art... but PURE (flavored) sugar!

The candidates serve these items to people after they vote...
I think the voting is over now, though people may still be able to vote at dinner tonight. It's been an adventre, and it's not quite over.
The coronation is tomorrow night at 8pm in the gym. Candidates have to be there at 6pm and they'll having professional pictures taken of us.
Despite all the people I know, I've got my eye on a different pair of candidates to win. It really is a popularity contest and it boils down to how many people you know - and how many of those people would rather vote for you than any of the other 14 or 15 people on the list. Don't get me wrong, it's been fun and I love all the people who are rooting for me, but I'm not expecting to win.

My parents get to go to Taos this weekend. The big Wool Festival is this weekend and they'll have their usual booth selling hand-dyed (mostly natural) dyes.

The List..
Read Ch 4 - E-Rhetoric
Read O. Butler for American Punk & Post Apoc Fiction
Read Ch. 4 & 6 for LC
Finish RA staff picture
Pay Bills
Car - Oil change & Wash
Weds - 10 am, 12pm, 9:15pm mtgs
Record Lost! tomorrow night! (/addicted to Lost)
Make signs for Homecoming Game Sat 1:30 and Hockey game at night
Order Mic for work
Call C from CS
Email Brit
Get stuff from M's house
Mtg next Monday night

We're Number 1

6 Woots & A YAY!
2nd place after the first week...
1st place after the second week!
I didn't bowl this week, but the team did pretty well... might have slipped down a place but we're doing so well!
/cheer

Critters, critters - everywhere

Yesterday, as I was coming back to the dorm I spotted a bald eagle soaring above my roof! Their population must be increasing because when I first moved up here you hardly ever saw them. This year I've seen so many... the one I saw yesterday may have been the same one who had his eye on my kite earlier this year :)

J's birthday was yesterday, he turned 26. Party was at C's house.

Watching an awesome program on CBC now. Two guys in Padagonia observing and swimming with sea lions and penguins and orcas. (Coast reminds me of NZ, with rocky beaches, and sheep running around at one point.) These guys have been observing for 23 days, waiting to see the orcas intentionally strand themselves to get at the sea lions... 23 days living on a cold beach, in a tent, through storms... they're hard core... but judging by the big grins on their faces they LOVE what they do.

The Unlike-liest Candidate

Each organization on campus is allowed to vote one King and one Queen candidate for Homecoming. This past Wednesday night was our Hall Council meeting and they voted MC Nope Nope for King candidate and Myself for Queen candidate.
ME... nominated for Homecoming Queen. It's like a Romantic Comedy. Only they cast my part totally wrong, cuz the fat girl never wins. That knowledge is bred into us from birth.
But, I love them for nominating me.

Ahem... voting this Monday and Tuesday from 11am - 1pm in The Union, if you are so inclined.

Questions tumbling around in my brain

What will I do after I get my 2 masters?
Where will I teach? Elementary or College? - Strangely... If I went to NZ I would be ok with teaching Elementary, but if I stay in the US I would much rather teach College/University.
Where will I be able to find a job? - I definitely want to stay up north - as long as I'm in the US.
How long will it take to pay off my student loans???

And of course there is the always this question in the back of my mind - How can I get back to NZ?

Some links I've found for the last question:
Education Gazette
TeachNZ
Immigration New Zealand

I don't want to give up on going back to NZ, but there are so many real life obstacles in my way.
I owe a lot of money for my education and I don't see any way I can move to NZ right away (even if I could find a job) and try to pay off my US loans with the NZ money I'd be making. NZ is still only 70cent to the US dollar... or however that works out where US money is worth more.
I've got another 2 years at least before I'm done with my masters and I'm terrified to think what I'll owe when it's all said and done.
I could start living very simply and begin paying off my loans with what I make through my GA position.... this is a very good idea actually... /gears turning
I get these random flashes of my time in NZ and it feels like a wonderful fantasy and when I remind myself it really did happen it actually hurts.
But I can't move away and leave all my friends and family behind.
Can I?
If I did move over there with the intention of staying for a year or two... how long would that really turn out to be?
hmmmm...

Beth Hart is singing at the moment...
It's all too much for me to take. I can't be sure where it begins or if the good life lies within."

Mother Gutter!

3 games a night, one night a week... Sunday Mixed League
Tonight I bowled well for the first two games, then I bombed a bit in the third game. At the end, I was the last one to bowl... I had bowled 1/2 my turn when the last person on the other team finished. We were down by 7 points... the pressure was on... I had only hit 1 pin on my first bowl... The game was on my shoulders... I bowled... and I got 8 pins! One more than we needed. We won the game!
/bounce
I helped us win the game. We won all 3 games tonight and last week we won all 3 games. From last week we were ranked 2nd in our League and I have a feeling we may be up there again this week.
I'm having fun!

OMG OMG OMG /bounce /bounce

I CAN'T WAIT FOR HP!!! CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW TRAILER! And it's coming out on my birthday! How awesome is that!?!?!
/drool

I'm so easy

and I don't mean that in the naughty sense, cuz I'm not... EASY - easy... What I mean is it's easy to tug on my heart strings. I care too much about others, about doing the right thing, and about critters. I read The Exit Door Leads In by Philip K. Dick and in class tonight we had a discussion about how Bibleman does the right thing, according to the law (but maybe not according to ethical law). He's faced with a tough decision and he makes the choice he feels is right, but it's wrong... Sometimes I feel that way. I always try to do the "right" thing, sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail, and almost always I'm not sure which one happened until much later, if at all.

As for heart strings... I don't care if it's just a fish and I don't care if I just got it on Monday - Damnit - I'm sad cuz my fishy died. I'm sad that another living thing was snuffed out while in my care.

Elements of E-Rhetoric

I'm really enjoying this class. It's explaining (in detail) a lot of the things I've heard Aya talking about over the past few years... things we talked about in Teaching Writing with Technology (last spring) that I may not have fully comprehended... and forcing me to ask a lot of new questions. Questions my brain is constantly sifting through. Questions which make me stop and exmine what I see and read, especially blogs, more carefully. As a result I'm looking at more and more blogs, which makes me want to improve my blog. I've always wanted to add more photos in my posts... maybe I'll start there. But they have to be good photos... raising the bar for myself... hmm....

Jessie is in the process of selling her house.
She said: "oh, the world feels big and uncertain."
And I agree most definitely.
One of her possible buyers made the coment: "It must be amazing not knowing where you're going next, knowing that you have so many options, so much freedom."
To which Jessie replied: "She's right. But damn, it's scary."
Is it ever... A times I feel lost in a sea of possibility. I don't want to take for granted the fact that I have so many choices. I'm unbelievable lucky, but I agree Jessie - it can be so overwhelming.

Her posts about the process of selling her house remind me that in the very near future my childhood home will be sold as well. What will become of the property? The building? I suspect it will be turned into a rental property, like many of the other houses on our street. That's probably the least traumatic of the possibilities though. What if they tear it down for apartments or something. *cringe*

Everything that happened to me for the first 23 years of my life happened in or around that building... my home...
But! Home - HOME - is where my parents are - always has been.

Some thoughts on blogs...

You can put advertisements on your blog and make money for it. Why should I subject what few readers I have to more annoying advertisements? One of the things I love about having a blog as my homepage is the lack of advertisements. Sure, there is a small banner at the top for Blogger, but it's minimal advertising. And yes, I have chosen to add links to different sites on the right-hand side, but they serve two purposes:
1. Since I use my blog as my homepage they are easy links for sites I use the most.
2. By browsing through these links readers see what interests me, thus getting to know me better.

Speaking of readers...
Who do I have a blog?
First, it is my homepage; an easy way for me to keep track of links I use often.
Second, I like to write my thoughts and experiences down. In the past I have kept written journals and for a while I kept one on the computer.
But why do I want these thoughts and experiences out there for anyone to see?
I know my parents read my blog, but I talk to them every other day (at least).
I know Aya reads my blog, but I talk to her quite often as well.
So none of these people need to read my blog to keep in touch with me.

I've read blogs that are funny, deep and poetic. Blogs that make a political statement. Blogs with very little text, but lots of pictures and blogs.
I don't write so good ;)
I'm definitely not poetic and I refuse to talk about politics.
I'm not particularly witty, although I'm quite good at amusing myself.

Maybe that's what it all boils down to. I enjoy blogging. I like the freedom it provides me in links and pictures and writing style. I can make up words and keep track of experiences...

6 Woots & A Yay

That's the name of our bowling team. Tonight was our first game/night... not sure what the proper terminology is. I'm not the world's best bowler, in fact I'm not even 'good' but I warned them when they asked me to join. I had fun and at least I wasn't horrible. :)

Ran into Aya, D, and W on my way home & they gave me left-overs from a shin-dig they went to. I shared it with C & D and they're all gone now! Thanks to them.

I survived again... but what about them

Another round of paintball today, though I didn't do nearly as well this time as I did the first two times. I shot four people but got hit 7 times. 7 welts. 1 doozy on my arm is 3 inches long where the ball grazed along my arm.

I'm watching VH1 atm.
VH1, CMT, and MTV are all showing the React NOW concert without commercials.
I'm thinking about all of the people affected by this event... about the families in those areas... old and young... about the soldiers and others overseas... How are they doing? Have they found their loved-ones?
Melissa Etheridge is singing a song she wrote for this show... wow... about a mother who couldn't hold onto her child... live acapella... "It's been 4 days I couldn't hold on... Mr. now my child is gone..."

The background on one of the stages is black with white writing (like population signs) giving the name of towns affected and their populations.
Effective.

How to help:
Texting 24357 on your cell phone will send $5
Think MTV for a list of how to help
Katrina Help Wiki

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

I like it better when I can actually scream out loud, but this is the best I can do for now.
I really don't 'hate' anyone or anything... except maybe when people are rude, lying, or condescending. Those are three things I cannot excuse and I find it very difficult to put it aside. It follows me like an annoying little ... something.... imagine something little and creepy and following you! That's how I feel. It is always there, in the corner of my eye, the back of my mind, nagging at me.

Geeze I really need to learn to chill out.
Like I used to tell my mom - "Take a chill pill."

Pancakes, Sandwiches, & Life

What do these things have in common? you ask.
They all have layers.
Layers upon layers upon layers.

Life = a multilayered rollercoaster.

Tragedy everywhere; caused by nature and caused by man.
What do we do when the darkest side of human-kind is unleashed?

It's probably quite appropriate that I'm reading:

Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick

Post-apocalyptic fiction... one of the stories I read last night, Imposter portrays a future in which we have lost one of our most basic rights - innocent until proven guilty. Man is scared and as a result they do things without thinking about them first - specifically; killing anyone, even long-time friends, who may not be what they seem.

Just when you think you've got it bad... well stop and look around at the rest of the world. You most likely are not so bad off.

I have a friend in the hospital atm, sending my prayers and good thoughts to her and her family.

If this post seems incredibly random it's becauase that's the way my brain is working atm.

Deception

they lie to me
show me my deepest desires
both hidden and apparent
what i wish for secretly
appears to be reality
i awake to find it has all been a lie

Making Up

Life balances itself out.
After a rough week I have had a lovely weekend.
I spent yesterday relaxing and working on a project for one of my classes. Aya, D and I went to see the 40 year old virgin which is hilarious and extremely naughty.
Today I went to a friends house and helped them harvest honey, snapped beans, helped make ice cream, spun, and listened to her family and friends make beautiful music... just the lovely, fun, relaxing day I needed.
Tonight I helped host a dorm-version of Whose Line is it Anyway? It was fun and kind of funny... I heartily admit improv is not my best skill... though I think it was probably pretty funny watching me try.

Rhetorical Decisions

Aya came up with a very intersting guess as to the reason for my pic of Charlie Brown in the last post. I would have put up an explanation but time restraints did not allow for it. After talking with her (and hearing her idea) I thought I should explain it, but now, after some consideration, I have decided to leave it up to your imagination! So good luck with that one.

My hectic week is coming to a close.
I decided not to go into work today, as I'd already worked at least 6 hours more than I was supposed to this week and I have been going non-stop for the last few weeks. I had class this morning and then I hung out at the Union, had lunch and chatted with some friends. It was nice and relaxing. I came home and finished up the web-site for OBLC.... if you would like to see it just click HERE.
I'm so unbelievably relieved to have it up finally. I know I need to work on one of the pages (got to fix some spacing), but overall I think it's pretty good for my first attempt. And I did it all by myself!
/pats self on back
I managed to take a brief nap this afternoon, before my night class. However, I was snuggled in bed and sleeping pretty well when I was awoken by the strangest sound... clip clop clip clop
Now usually when I am in my room I hear the wind rustling the leaves just outside my window (a very soothing sound), the traffic on the road and the usual dorm sounds, all masked by the sound of my fan. So this sound... this... clip clop clip clop was very out of place. In my dazed state I vaguely thought... horses? but I've never seen horses in town so I figured it was somebody with flip flops or something running around on the pavement.... like I said; I was sleeping. After the 4th or 5th time I gave up and went to my window to have a peek, unfortunately he/she/it was out of site. I went back to bed and then the next time it came by I was out of bed and 1/2 way to the window before the first clip was done. Indeed... horses.... a hay ride actually, going back and forth on the street out front. I'm not sure what was going on, but it looked like fun... even if it did disrupt my snoozy time.
Class tonight went well. I'm taking a class called: American Punk and Post Apocalyptic Fiction. Interesting, eh? The first part we are tackling is the Post Apocalyptic Fiction and we watched clips from Total Recall, Blade Runner, and Minority Report - all based on short-stories written by Phillip K. Dick (our first author). I like this class already!

After class I helped T by giving her a lift to her car and giving her a jump start. I went in to Walmart to pick up the photos for res life - got there at 8:59 and they closed at 9pm... but they'd already left! So I'll be going back tomorrow.

Very glad I had that brief afternoon refresher because when I got back from Wally World I went over to H's apartment where several of the RA's were meeting to play Cranium. The brothers, J & S, were playing ping pong with a friend of theirs N and I invited them to join us at Cranium, which they did. 3 hours later, J's team won... but my team was so close. I had a blast. It was just what I needed to unwind from this week.
Thank you for my friends.

First Day Madness

Yesterday was long, stressful, and my first day of being the official-school-year-GA.
Lots and lots of questions.
Lots of problems.
One really rude person.



However, it ended well with a nice floor meeting. My girls started out so quiet, but I got them talking by playing a couple of games. I think they were having fun. Of course I had to leave for staff meeting right when it was getting good. I left them with snacks and in good moods, so I hope they had fun after I left and didn't run back to their rooms. So far I am the only one who has my door open, but I'm hoping to get them out of their shells.

Today has been a bit quieter and without all the hecticness I've been able to get a good bit of work done.

I posted some pictures on my photoblog the other day - mostly from when dad was here, and a couple from this summer.

This past week and a half-two weeks has been so insane I had no idea there was a massive hurricane coming.... seriously.... how pathetic is that. I would go to breakfast at 7:30 and be in meetings/activities or working on my floor stuff until about 10-11pm when I'd finally crawl into bed and pass out. Even the weekend was crazy and of course starting classes. So I had no idea about the hurricane until Monday night. Apparently my cousins in Alabama are safe. I was watching the news footage last night and yikes..... unbelievable destruction. Unbelievable....

Speedy Posting

Dad came and went, with lots of fun in between.
We walked across mouth of the Mississippi, drove through the state park, went to 2 casinos, bird watched (osprey), went to our local animal park and fed the deer, bear, racoons, camels, and played for half an hour with two baby lions (8 weeks old)... saw a few of the osprey attack a male bald eagle-who did some awesome mid-air acrobatics right above us.
We did a lot of driving around and looking at the country side and I showed him my office and he helped me move some stuff into my dorm room... He even bought me a new tv when I smashed mine during move-in.

After dad left I concentrated on getting moved into my dorm room and doing my room inventories. I've also done my door decs and on-duty board. I only have my bulletin board to go. My original list said 4 residents, but it now I have at least 6, which is good. I've been insanely busy doing RA training (since last Friday) and we aren't done until Saturday at noon. Sunday I've got people moving in and a meeting and then Monday school starts! Eeep!

This is the longest I've sat still (when I wasn't in a meeting) and now I've got to go do some GA stuff!
Toodles.

Trips: Planned & Unexpected

Aya and I went to check out the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks on Tuesday. After an hour walking tour we agreed it is a beautiful campus (old brick buildings and a clock tower). Unfortunately, after asking lots of questions Aya found out they don't have what she needs for her PhD. So, she's back to searching for her perfect school.
After Grand Forks, we took an unscheduled detour to Fargo to see her grandpa. He had a triple-bipass on Wednesday morning. He's doing well and we're all hoping he'll feel much, much better once he's up and running again.

The new computers are in the lab, ready to go (minus one bad monitor which should be replaced soon). It was a painless process, but I'm greatly relieved to have it over and done with.

My dad is coming tomorrow and I've got lots of things for him to choose from.

I can't believe I'm moving into the dorms next Monday/Tuesday.
/boggle

My 3 Year Blogiversary!

I just realized this! July 26th was my 3 year Blogiversary!
(To use Berne's term)
Aya's was the 23rd and I was thinking mine was a few months later. Apparently she was much more persuasive than I thought, as she talked me into starting a blog in the first place.

Anywho....

Happy Blogiversary to me!

All's quiet

No big adventures, such as swimming in my jeans.
Though I have been swimming every day, in the pull, properly attired.

Trying to enjoy what is left of my summer.
New computers come in next Monday and Dad comes in next Friday. I've been rearranging the computer lab for the last week or so, trying to find places for the old computers and such. Monday will surely be an adventure.
I've also been making plans for when Dad comes up. We'll go on a tour of the Woollen Mills on Friday, after he comes in. Then we should go to Itasca State Park and walk accross the Headwaters of the Mississippi and maybe go horse-back riding at the stables nearby. I'd also like to give him a good tour of my town, better than the brief run-through we did last year at graduation. Other than these plans I think we'll just hang out - go where the wind blows and such.

I'm halfway through Lirael:

Although the series isn't as interesting to me as it was the first time I read it, I am enjoying rereading the books.

Mom & Dad hope to close on the house next Wednesday - a scary thought. It'll be official then, no turning back.

Just talked to S, my Hall Director, on the phone for about 20 minutes or so. It's funny, he's my boss, but when we're talking I feel like I'm talking to a friend and we can go on and on. It's worse when we're in person. Last time I stopped by for a meeting that I'd planned on being about an hour and two and a half hours later I had to say, "I really should be going." It's awesome. I'm so incredibly lucky.

Hummm

Emma is number 1 on the list of popular names for New Zealand, Ireland, Norway, and Scotland, number 2 for Northern Ireland, and it's Australia's number 10.
/ponder
Chloe shows up for Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England & Whales, and Australia.

/neener
My names more popular ;)

Yes... I am bored and living up to my nickname of "Vamp."
Sitting here with the lights off, the room lit only by the light pouring through a few windows and out of a dozen computer monitors. Summer classes ended last week, and as such there are NO students around and very few professors. I've done most everything I can to prepare for the incoming computers, which will be arriving on Monday. The few things I have left must wait until Friday.

Garage saled again last Friday. Aya's mom took it over on Saturday and Sunday. I was very glad for this. Two 3-day weekends in a row of running the rummage sale = /snore.
Saw Sky High and Must Love Dogs this past weekend, both were cute. Still want to see Wedding Crashers.

J left yesterday morning to go back to Texas for a few weeks, until school starts back up.

Mom and Dad should be closing on the new house this Friday and moving in... who knows when. They've got the Taos wool festival to prepare for in addition to the shop and trying to pack. I'm trying to talk them into waiting until Thanksgiving or after to move. I could come home then and help them pack/move. They haven't moved in almost 30 years and I'm not sure they remember what a headache it can be - thought they are dreading it... And though I've only ever moved dorm-sized amounts, I've moved almost a dozen times in the last 4 years and I can offiially say; Moving suxors.

Almost done with Sabriel - taking me way too long to get it read - too many distractions.

Went to a B-day party yesterday for H, Aya's cousin. She's 15 now! I can't believe it. When I first moved up here she was still in the little girl -not quite young lady - but I'll be there soon - stage. Now she's definitely at the Young Lady stage and zooming on up.

The Island Awaits

Yup... last night I went to see The Island with some friends. It was awesome. Very action-packed, with probably the best chase scene I've ever seen. I really enjoyed the movie and have every intention of buying it when it comes to DVD.

I've also started re-reading Garth Nix's Old Kingdom Series.
Currently reading:


I bought his latest book:

and decided I should read the trilogy again before proceeding to this latest book of short stories.

Massive bruise on my leg, due to sea doo excursion, but otherwise I'm fit as a fiddle. Don't know if I'll be doing that again anytime soon though. My weekends are pretty much booked from now until school starts.

Reminders to self:
- Aya's cousin's birthday is this Saturday and the party next Monday
- Next Friday is the last day to prepare the lab for the new computers
- Monday the 8th the new computers come
- Friday the 12th Dad comes
- Monday the 15th Dad leaves
- Tuesday the 16th move into dorm
- Wednesday the 17th set up floor for residents
- Friday the 19th training starts
- Saturday the 27th last day of training
- Sunday the 28th residents move in
- Monday the 29th classes begin

Somewhere in there I have to attend at least one GA meeting.
My summer is practically over.
Ugh.

Sand Castles & Sea Doos

Note to self: Never do water sports while wearing blue jeans.

Yesterday Aya, H, J, and I went up north to D's house. We saw three large dogs (one part great dane), 2 horses, chickens, cows, and smelled the lovely aroma of pigs. Played BINGO, at which I won a neat little coloring book, crayons and sidewalk chalk. We then went to Upper Red Lake... VERY large lake. I built my first ever sand castle with a moat and all. I took pictures to remember it and will post on photoblog when I find the right cord for my camera (stupid moving).
Aya and D rode a Sea Doo over from further down the lake. I had sworn against them for safety reasons and because I didn't want my back to be any worse than it already is, but when Aya gave me the; "Come on Aspen, give it a try! It's so much fun..." speech... well apparently all memory of our previous skiing expidition had been washed from my mind by the rusty water and though I was totally unprepared for such an adventure (wearing blue jeans and a t-shrit) I thought, "Sure, why not!"
And so, I went for my first ride on a Sea Doo. It was a windy and wavy day so we didn't go that fast and it was actually quite enjoyable. Then I got the brilliant idea that I could drive it. I was driving, with J behind me and managed to tip the thing over. J was saying not to let off the gas as a wave came and pushed us sideways and then I felt the thing tip beneath me, heard a splash as he hit the water and as the sea doo continued to tip with me still on it I launched myself off of it, not wanting to be trapped beneath. Somehow it hit me, just above my upper lip, and the stinging sensation lasted for a few minutes. I saw my life pass before my eyes, along with the murky red lake water, thought of my parents and friends as I kicked and flailed to reach the surface. And then I was back above the water again gasping for air. We were well out on the lake and had to turn it back over. It felt like it took forever, but I'm pretty sure it was only 5 minutes or so - treading water, remembering my life flashing before my eyes as the water surrounded me and I sunk down, unable to feel the ground and wondering what on earth I was doing out here in the first place. After we got it tipped back over J climbed on and then I tried to get up but my legs were shaking too bad so I hung on to the sides, treading water. The waves had pushed us much closer to the shore by this time and just as I saw D coming out to help us I had the wonderful sensation of sand brushing between my toes. I was able to walk the rest of the way in, which took a good while as it's very shallow for quite a ways out. Unfortunately, the motor got water in it and it had to sit out and dry while we had dinner... they blew water off the spark plugs and such... but got it started and all was well.
Dinner was yummy; grilled hamburgers, salad, watermelon, a brownie for dessert. His family really provided for us!

What an adventure.
I did like the riding part and though the driving part was very scary and short-lived, I might do the riding part again.

And yes... I managed to tip a jet ski and J will never, ever, EVER let me forget it.

The Brothers Grimm

Woot :)
They have trailers out now for this movie. I remember seeing something about it while it was still in production and I was curious as to what approach they would take.
After seeing the trailer I must say.... they chose a very interesting route.

Also, as I love musicals I am reallllllly looking forward to Rent. It seems they have a large number of the Broadway cast returning for the film, directed by Christopher Columbus. Oddly enough one of the actors, who was also part of the original Broadway cast, is the kid from Adventures in Babysitting.
huh
You never know...

Currently reading:

Funnier than the first

In all the excitement of the new HP book I forgot to mention what I did Friday evening...

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

I remember watching the original Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder. I enjoyed the movie, especially as a young child, and dreaming such a beautiful magical place existed somewhere in the world.
However, I also remember the darkness of the film, which for some reason became more apparent to me as I grew up.

This new Wonka seemed a bit lighter... definitely funnier... I was a little surprised actually. I really wanted to see this movie and I either love or hate Johnny Depp's movies (more love than hate), but I wasn't really sure if I'd like it. Tim Burton is a bit of a hit and miss for me. However, I was really quite pleased with the remake.

Also.. for fans of the show Lost I found this article which tells you how to find a teaser trailer for next season of lost. There's not much to the trailer (heavy emphasis on teaser), but if you follow the directions you can see it. Mostly I just wanted to know if it worked.... seemed a bit far-fetched to me, but it does work and the website for Oceanic Airlines is cool. Neat way to hide a trailer.

She did it again

Read book6, and wow.....



WOW

Need to read it again I think. And maybe again after that.

Got it about 2pm yesterday and read a bit yesterday. Got up this morning and read some more and got to a point where I couldn't put it down. Only took me a day really to read it all. Once I got to a certain part I was hooked.

Don't really know how to respond about the book at the moment, other than to say WOW, because I'm still processing.

Lots happened and lotsa new things came up. Many things were solved and many more new questions brought up and left unanswered.

Yep.... she did it again.

Home is where?

big, Big, BIG news!

My parents are in the process of buying a new house.
A House....

Maybe that doesn't have much affect on other people.

Consider this: My parents moved into our house/home over a year before I was born.
Translates to 28 years ago.
Elm Street is the only 'home' I've ever known.
Of course home is really wherever my parents are, but my 'home' has always been the same place and I'm really, really sad they are selling it.
There are a lot of reasons for them to move and I understand and support them.
But AHHHHH! My house!
/sigh

hehehe
Mom was describing my choice of bedrooms - and since I woke her up when I called it was pretty funny trying to follow her - but I chose the one which faces South (like my old bedroom) and it faces the back yard so I can watch the puppies.
The new house is a 3 bedroom 2 bath with a big den and a living room, a 'chefs dream kitchen' and a big back yard, 2 car garage.... it's a corner lot.... it was built the same year I was born and it's a brick house. That's all I know for now, they've promised to send me pictures as soon as they can.

Big changes inc!

Speaking of changes, I think I've settled on my blog look for the time being - at least until I have finished the OBLC website. I thought I was done and then my supervisor asked me to add several things.

Tub Thumping

Chumbawamba... there's a band I'd almost forgotten about.
I hear all sorts of things on England's SkyWave Radio.

Speaking of... Heard from one of my British friends the other day. He's doing well and as far as he knows so are the other 3. All four of them live in or around London.

4 days to HP!
/bounce

One month til Dad comes.

Hmmmm...

You are in my head, swimming forever in my head
You are in my head
Tangled in my dreams, swimming forever (swimming forever)
Swimming forever
Swimming forever
Radio, The Corrs

Negative thoughts have been filling my mind lately.
Time to: 'Inhale the positive and exhale the negative'.
Once I give into the negative thoughts they have a tendancy to sweep me away. Make me pissy and irritable and not very fun to be around. I hate being that person and life's too short to waste dwelling on unpleasant things. So I'm not going to.

Fantastic Four

Went to see it yesterday and I loved it.
Great mixture of comedy and action.
Very entertaining.

Dude, seriously... never again

Very little sleep last night - lay awake for a couple hours (itching like crazy), slept a bit, woke up, restless.... etc all night. Finally gave up at 6am and got up (an hour early) with a new spider bite. Not sure how much sleep I wound up getting, but it wasn't enough. Freaking bugs.
/grumble

On a happier note, only 10 More Days to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
/bounce

I've been very busy at work. I'm preparing the lab for 36 new computers, which means I have to update other computers around the department with the ones going out of the lab. (like 50 computers I have to switch around). Should be fun!

Remind me not to do that again

Semi-miserable 4th this year.
Instead of going to our usual town to see their beautiful fireworks display... we were talked into going to somebody's cabin - accross the lake.
Unfortunately, it was on the opposite side of the lake - far away = very tiny fireworks. Plus, being by the lake = zillions of skeeters = 4 layers of Off..... yeah... The nasty little buggers ate me alive. I finally gave up and just kept the spray bottle next to me and sprayed around myself every 5-10 minutes. Add in the rain and cold... plus the very drunk people who kept throwing fireworks into the fire we were all sitting next to.... It was mostly miserable.
I left after the third batch of fireworks being thrown into the fire I was sitting 3 feet from.

Oh well. Valuable lesson learned.

You say that I waste my time but I can't get you off my mind

Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba

hehehe
Abba

Went to see War of the Worlds last night and I was NOT disappointed. I quite liked it.

Can finally say what my exciting news is.
Got tickets for my dad to fly up and spend a few days with me in August. Would have liked for my mom to come as well, but somebody has to stay behind at the shop.
Gonna take him to the local state park and a few other places... maybe horseback riding if he is so inclined.

That's all for now... still have to figure out the wierd spacing issue...

Let My Love Open the Door

Why the wierd space in the post on top?
/ponder
Will have to work it out later.

In the meantime.... EXCITING STUFF!
/bounces around for joy
They finally have a trailer online for:
King Kong

That boat, the venture... that's the one that was docked in/at Wellington. I have a picture of it somewhere in my pile of cd's. The movie filming was always in the paper when I was in NZ and all the excitement of being there when it was filming and knowing who was working on it and such... now I can't wait to see it! But I have to... til December. But I'm so there!
And HERE IS THE MOVIE SITE
And KongisKing.com

Saw Bewitched last night and it was cute.
Rented Hostage and it was ok as well.

Almost done with the 5th HP... I keep thinking I should pace myself so I finish it right before the 6th one comes out, but I can't put them down. It's really a struggle.
hmmmm
/shrug
I'll just have to reread 4 and 5 or something to keep myself entertained for the next two weeks.

Annnnnd...
Happy Birthday to John Cusack - upcoming movie: Must Love Dogs I'm really looking forward to (as previously stated).

But wait, there's more...
I just figured out why the guy - the Phantom - in Phantom of the Opera looked so familiar... yeesh... and I was like... where's that guy from - so familliar - sounds Scottish... /boggle
I truly amaze myself sometimes. But I mean with the hair and the mask, and he's clean shaven - he's always scruffy - uhm yeah one could easily be confused.
Gerard Butler = Timeline, Lara Croft (Cradle of Life) and Reign of Fire
Psst Aya... he's doing a movie based on your favourite story - Beowulf & Grendel

Wake Me Up When September Ends

Must Do's:
1. Follow up with Website - get info to S
2. Continue organizing/sorting through my storage locker
3. Find registration stuff for d2l (somewhere in storage)
4. Register for summer session 2 class
5. Change work/office/class schedule
6. Organize office
7. Find out exact date for Nancy's thing
8. Ask for time off
9. Make signs
10. Make B-Board
11. Find out Move-in date for Fall
12. Move printer & monitor
13. Find inventory sheet

So much for my relaxing summer.
I was promoted right away, rather than waiting until the end of August. Not that I'm complaining, I can use them $$$. However, this means I have to take a class (as a Graduate Assistant) and I really didn't want to have to take classes this summer. Oh well. Nothing else seems to have gone as planned this summer.

Did have a good weekend. Talked to an old friend, got a manicure (second ever) and decided yeah - I should pamper myself every now and then.
Finished the 4th HP and now I'm almost 1/2 through the 5th one:

VERY Excited about the 6th one. Counting the days!

Haven't been to see Bewitched... yet....

/stares at her (rather large) almost empty coffee cup
/sigh

Another Lonely Day

Someone else was commenting on their blog about the number of mosquitos and they were longing for a cold snap.
aaaah
Sounds like heaven to me.
Bloody bugs are such a nuissance.
/resist scratching her numerous bites
I'm not sure if it's the O- blood they love so much or maybe I'm just that sweet ;)
Whatever it is, they L O V E me and it's freaking annoying.

Sunny and 75... I really can't complain too much. It's not sweltering and living in a basement means I'm always nice and cool, without air conditioner!

Picked up a paperback copy of the 5th HP book, as I'm almost 1/2 through the 4th one. For some reason I don't want to read while at work, only at home... so it's taking a bit longer than I'd anticipated, but I will be done in time for the 6th book!

Did something exciting yesterday, but I can't write about it yet... will let you know when the time is right.
/evil twinkle

Ben Harper's music sort of reminds me of Cat Stevens.
/ponder

Title-less

Forgot to mention - I saw my first MN beaver on my way back from Fargo. Been here 4 years and it's the first one I've seen up here - odd because off all the lakes and ponds and beaver hutts I've seen.

Note to self:
1. Pack up and send a box home
2. Storage unit - organize and select items for rummage sale
3. Exchange keys

I went yesterday to pick up the keys for my office, the building, and the lab... Unfortunately, only the building key works. They've had the other two locks changed and they gave me the old keys.
Despite this minor set-back, I am very excited about my new job/promotion. I guess it's more of a promotion, as I've been working in the computer lab for over two years now and now I'm overseeing the lab. They've hired a second GA and we'll be working together to do the work which had previously been assigned to one person. We share an office along with the responsibilities. I'm looking forward to learning from her and having an impact on the lab. Hmm... hope it turns out as well as I hope. I suppose I could be totally miserable. Eep... hope not.... Happy thoughts.
Buttercups and Rainbows!

Joss Whedon News...
New movie coming out: Serenity - apparently the characters are from his (failed) series Firefly, which I never watched. However, it is Joss... and by September 30th I may be in desperate need of a fix ;) I do miss Buffy and Angel - and though I now own all the episodes on DVD I keep wishing for new ones.
Also, Angel & Spike are being resurrected in comic book form.

/sigh
I'm also having Rugby withdrawls. Unfortnately, I don't get any tv chanels with rugby. I want to cheer on the Lions and the All Blacks!

Uhm about not volunteering for anything else.... yeah... did I say that?
From July 1 - 12th I'll be dog-sitting for a friend - the one who is moving to Arizona. She and her fiancee have a puppy (9 months) and I will be going to walk her for 12 days. I am getting paid to do it... so it's not so bad, but seriously, next time somebody asks me to do something for them I'm going to say no. Just to prove I can. Cuz I can you know... say no... honest.