Iron runs in the family

Per Christina:

Fe... Iron You scored 22 Mass, 44 Electronegativity, 63 Metal, and 0 Radioactivity!

I don't really need to describe you do I? You're the backbone of any well put together group... communally minded, out going and social, but you don't demand to be the center of attention. Without groups of people like you, human society would crumble. I mean that... don't change. With respect to realtionships, I don't know what to tell ya. I guess I'd reccommend a first row transition metal... or if you don't mind being submissive then go for an oxygen... everyone else will wonder how you ended up with one of those drama queens, but you'll probably secretly love it and he/she will bring out colors of you that you didn't know existed.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 9% on Mass You scored higher than 85% on Electroneg You scored higher than 67% on Metal You scored higher than 0% on Radioactivity

Link: The Which Chemical Element Am I Test written by effataigus on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Pig farming and other novels that have bad subject matter

My training thus far has been quite smooth. I've found I can fall asleep during the instruction portion and still maintain an okay ability to perform the tasks at hand. Honestly though, I've really enjoyed the training, and I am really excited to get my summer going in Phoenix.

While I've been in Long Beach, I've seen a few of the sites:

• The LACMA and their current exhibit of five Gustav Klimt paintings (oh yeah!)
• The beach at Long Beach (we live 2 blocks away)
• The island of Naples (we live 1 block away) and Sushi of Naples, an AMAZING restaurant
• The Queen Mary (unfortunately not Mary of Scots, but the ship)
• Alhambra, Monterey Park, and La Canada (there's a tilde somewhere in there)
  
• The joy of mochi, belgium chocolates, dim sum, and wicked strong coffee

I still have this weekend to visit the Glendale Galleria with my extended family, enjoy a night of drunken revelry with my new found friends, visit West Coast Choppers during my lunch break (I'll try and get bumper stickers), and go night clubbing (yeah, right). As for the usual touristy things to do in SoCal, I will be skipping those. After all, Disney probably hasn't changed in the last 15 years. . .

Ironically, one of the favorite restaurants for my fellow co-workers happens to be Mimi's Cafe. That's just plain funny. I've basically travelled a thousand miles for food that I can get in my home town(s). Woo-hoo.

Celebrate!

I'm finally finished with my spring semester!!! Woo-hoo!!!

I probably turned in one of the worst papers I have ever written, but I don't care! No more all-nighters and full work days this summer!!! Woo-hoo!

Sleepy

Finally finished semester. Going to nap now before work. . . zzzzzzzzz

Now I know why Austen wrote about interiors rather than exteriors

Many of my friends have asked me what California is like thus far, and I can only talk about how nice my apartment is. Well, I just realized that my paper (which I am still writing) has kept me indoors the entire time I have been here. So, I obviously can't comment on any of the beaches, the weather. . . you know, the usual thing that people comment on when they travel to new and exciting places.

I am, of course, still writing my paper. I have about 8 pages (probably all crap). I have no idea if my argument is too plain jane, and I may be too uncritical and not using my full range of sources. Nonetheless, I will still push through, burning the midnight oil, tonight and try to finish by the crack of dawn tomorrow morning. Hopefully I can then clean it up and send it in on Sunday night/Monday morning.

AAAAAHHHHH! Then FREEDOM! 2-4-6-0-1!!!!!!

I'm in L.A.

My summer job is about to start in an hour, and I am currently sitting in "my apartment" in Seal Beach, just south of Los Angeles. The weather is nice (as always). I have a really NICE bed. I miss having a bed this nice (did I ever have a bed this nice?).

I'm a bit nervous. . . but not entirely of the job. I'm still working on my paper for my class, but I have yet to type A SINGLE PAGE. I've been compiling a ton of information on the author and his work, and I'm in the midst of close reading passages with swains in them. Yep. Swains (not swans, look it up). Blah.

I'm already freaking out inside. I am worried this is not going to make it to my professor in time. I have no idea if he will offer me an incomplete. . . and ultimately, I'm not sure if I want to take it. This is a rather precarious situation to be in. . . Who's fault is it? Mine Mine Mine.

Our work schedule is 8:30-4:30, but it takes about 15-30 to drive to our work site. I have no idea what this will be like, but I have a feeling that it will be uncomfortable. This is one of the philosophies of the company. Put people into a state of disequilibrium so that they must learn more in order to adjust to a state of equilibrium. Pretty much like grad school.

A new yu!

Just kidding. . . anyway, here's a picture of me and my new haircut. The picture looks grainy and unkempt because of the lighting:


I've gained quite a bit of weight in the last month of this semester, but I hope to drop it all once I start working and actually DOING something instead of writing papers. . .

It still hasn't hit me that I will be leaving town on Sunday. . . for a LONG time. Ah well. . .

Gah! I look like a man!

AAAACK! Dread of last paper

Have I started my final paper? The very last paper that will guarantee me solace and relief from the past semester? Nope.

This is a problem. This means I either have to write it straight through in the next 2 days, or I will have to bring all of my work with me on the plane.

I'm off to get a haircut and not worry about it for now. I'll show y'all a picture when I get back.

2 down, 1 to go

I know I haven't been keeping you abreast of my mayem lately, but that's because I've been busy working my weary hands on some very sinister papers. So, I'm at the point right now where I have finished my pastoral paper (incidentally on Miyazaki's Nausicaa), and I am now taking a quick blogging break before I begin work on Thomson's Seasons. Little did I know that this work is rather cumbersome and has an extensive publication history. .. well, actually. . . I did know this, but I decided to do it anyway. Meh.

I just found out that I will be in LA this summer for about a month and then moving my way to Phoenix until August. Hopefully I will be an amazing teacher. Hopefully. I want to say that this may determine my future in academia. I've found more and more enjoyment in the editing and writing process than I actually do in the literary analysis process (but not so much in the way of composition studies). So. I never really tried my best in terms of my teaching. . . This may be the summer for me to give it my all and find out how rewarding it could be (or not be!).

I take delight in moments where I practically resolve issues in papers. . . It makes my heart skip a beat. I wonder if I can feel the same way about literary analysis again. . . I know I can about theory, but it's been a while for the thing that I'm actually supposed to enjoy. . . Is this pathetic, or am I just exhausted?

While enjoying my miel (yes, it's now one of my favorite caffeinated beverages), I noticed how cold it is. . . Drink faster, Em. . . faster!

It is Sunday and I am scared!

For some reason, every time I type an apostrohe, my Find function keeps popping up. That is just plain annoying. Oh well!

Anyway, it is Sunday (and I am avoiding the use of contractions and the like), I am currently at Panera Bread, hurriedly typing away at my Troilus paper. Okay. I am glad, at least, to know that I do not really enjoy Middle English in the ways that others do. However, I did really enjoy reading Chaucer. He is a kick in the pants, but his scholarship is a bit scary.

I have about 7 pages, including two 3-passage long quotes. That is not good. But I only need about 12-15 pages for this bad boy. . . Soon I will be starting my paper on Thomson and his Seasons. That should be interesting, to say the least.

Yet again, I wonder why I always procrastinate till I can no longer wait. What am I thinking? Well, I suppose I am not thinking. I believe that subconsciously I want to fail. . . I desire failure so that I can stop what I am currently doing (because it is too difficult) and move on to something else. But it's not too difficult (yay! that damn apostrophe thing finally went away). And I know that I can accomplish these things, not easily but y'know. I think I'm just plain lazy.

Woo-hoo! Just a week left, and I'll be on my way to someplace else!

Yeah, my summer job. . . I've no idea where I'm going, and I've no idea where I'll be, so this becomes an excitin' new exper'ence that'll shape the way I think. Hop'fully, not too much.

Christina, we're driving almost the same car!

You Should Drive a Jaguar XK 4.2

You don't care how you get there as long as you get there with class. And having a little power doesn't hurt either!

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

'Tis an honor!

Hi all,
I just received a message regarding Carol's Friends of the Friendless Marching Band and Friendly Fridays. . . Apparently, this blog is being monitored by many people now. . .

I originally started this blog as a venting mechanism, like so many others also have. At the moment, it's a way for me to communicate with family and friends that I hardly ever seen now that I am working on my degree in Madison.

Thanks for featuring my blog this week! I hope that y'all will also take a look at my sisters' blogs (they are located on the side links, I believe).

Best,
Bemmie

Best Caffeinated Beverage of All Time

I don't know what I would have done in my life if I hadn't tried this beverage. Yes, I've fallen off the wagon, and I've started drinking caffeine again. I now drink Coke but not as much as I used to in my younger and slightly wanton days. However, my friend introduced me to Electric Earth (cute coffee shop), and I tried something the call "Miel." This may be old hat for some of you, but it's a new experience for me!

It's basically like liquid incredible! It's a latte, but they press the espresso shot with cinnamon, and then they fill the bottom of the glass with honey before they pour in the latte. I get it with soy milk, so I don't have to suffer through traumatizing lactose-intolerance pains. This has just the right amount of sweet with spice, and it keeps me up for many MANY hours.

Of course, now it is problematic as I am typing to a heart attack as we speak...

One day, I shall conquer you again caffeine. . . oh yes, I shall!

More quizzy mcquiz quiz stuff

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

What can I say? I'm bored. . .

Your Hair Should Be Purple

Intense, thoughtful, and unconventional. You're always philosophizing and inspiring others with your insights.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

You Belong in Paris

You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris. You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.

What European City Do You Belong In?

You Should Get a PhD in Liberal Arts (like political science, literature, or philosophy)

You're a great thinker and a true philosopher. You'd make a talented professor or writer.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

I guess, he's okay

I've lately been thinking about the actor Billy Bob Thornton, and I finally came to the following realization: I like Billy Bob Thornton. Now, I'm not saying that I want to have his babies or kiss his hillbilly feet. Billy Bob is quite an accomplished character actor. He keeps it real. He keeps me entertained. And at the end of the day, what more could you possibly expect from an actor? His depictions of mentally disabled Slingblade man to I could give a shit less safe cracking Santa are really quite strong. They're memorable. He's memorable. And there are definitely some instances when I am completely appalled by how grotesque he is, but there are also roles that are quite endearing in that "average joe just trying to make it" way. I like the fact that he seems practical and smart, but not booksmart, just reasonable. He's also quite matter of fact about getting laid. . . who couldn't appreciate that?

Anyway, that particular confession has been weighing down on me for months. There. I said it. I like Billy Bob Thornton. We can now move on.

Interview #237

I'm waiting in anticipation for possibly my final interview with this company. I've interviewed with the same company for the same job for the past 2 months, and I think I may finally discover what the result of all this interviewing is. It's really all part of some secret government experiment to test my nerves (and how quickly I can get so terribly annoyed by this process). I could understand if each interview involved some different questions or techniques, but I have been answering the same questions repeatedly over the last five or six interviews (including the one in person). I know they have a file on me. I know that all the interviewers communicate with each other. So, why don't they know it??

In other news, the semester is winding down to the last three weeks of school. I remember that the last three weeks were so much more chaotic in my mind last semester. Now, I feel underprepared yet calm. I don't know which is worse.

Today I'm wearing my black ballet slippers, which is a significant change from recent foot events. I can't wear regular shoes because my baby toe has swollen joints that make it painful and impossible to walk. I can't wear flip flops because I have a former blister scabbed over between my toes. And I can't go barefoot because restaurants like McDonalds and Burger King refuse to service me. So, it's either ballet slippers or crocs.

Disney Fun House

Sick and Twisted

So, right now I'm laying in bed, watching crappy infomercials that remind me of those trailers for Resident Evil, and finishing up my state taxes for last year. Blah.

I can't believe how much information is required for Madison financial aid, especially when I don't recall having to fill out this much information in Colorado. They require special forms, FAFSA, and a signed income tax return. That's just crazy talk!

Anyway, I'm not the one whose thinking and typing right now. . . Mr. Nyquil has taken over my mind and is making me do things while I am knocked out unconscious in my bed. Laalalala. . . *Devious laughter ensues*

I can't wait to go back to school again. . . I'm so sick of laying around, reading and watching infomercials. Blah.

This is the end, the end, my friend, the end.

Well, not quite the end of the semester yet, I'm afraid. But, that doesn't mean I don't want it to come any faster.
I'm currently working on rough drafts for all of my classes. Is it me, or do these rough drafts take a lot longer than they used to? I don't know if it's me being hedgy, or if I'm being much more meticulous in my writing. Meh.

This weekend will be both fun and incredibly strenuous. One of my professors is retiring, so they are having a 2 day conference in his honor. This is a fantastic event with the major players in the field. However, I also have about 4600 words due on Monday. I'm currently around 1000. So, we'll see how this turns out.

I promised many people that I would go out for shooting pool and partying to my heart's desire on Thursday (whoa, that's tomorrow!), but I now realize that promises were made to be broken. Damnit, I'm going to have that draft complete by Monday!

As the semester closes in upon me like a lion to its prey, I wonder why this particular semester felt so much better than the last? Have I stopped caring? Have I started to care again? Have I figured out a momentum that works for me? Well, I don't know. . . All I know is that I feel a lot better about graduate school and this particular graduate program. I'm also okay about being locationally separated from significant other. That was one of the more difficult parts of last term. I also don't feel like I have to be perfect in the eyes of most of my professors. They assume that I won't be anyway. So, I don't feel this stress about having to prove myself all the time. As for the other students. . . well, as usually, I don't honestly care what they think of me.

I ought to be depressed or something

This weekend has been crazy, and I haven't done a lick of intended work. I went to school yesterday, and that was fine, went home, packed, and then drove for about 3.5 hours to get to downtown Chicago. It was around 10:30 or 11pm when I checked into the Marriott.

It was a gorgeous hotel, beautiful view, etc. But, the gigantic king sized bed took up about 75% of the room. Also, I had to literally $40 for parking, $70 for gas, and $30 for a hamburger and beer. Yeah.

I went to my job interview today which went okay, but on my way back to the hotel to pick up my car, I tripped over a random curb which appeared in the MIDDLE of the sidewalk, and I think I may have sprained (sp?) my ankle and toes. It hurts like hell.

I proceeded to drive back up to Madison. Unfortunately, it took me about 2 hours to get out of the downtown area (due to heavy traffic). I then drove all the way back (seems fine). Once I got home and looked at my foot, I noticed that it is entirely swollen, starting bruise, and extremely painful. Now I need to spend the rest of my weekend writing stuff up, researching and writing for my rough draft due next Monday.

Oh yeah, of course I also need to set my clocks up and watch yet another hour of my life disappear into nothingness.

"Complexification"

I attended a lecture on Women and Print Culture earlier this week. The speaker was "winging it" from a series of notes and an outline. . . She was very nervous. At some point, instead of saying a situation had "complication," she used the term "complexification." -- That term pretty much means what it is. . . if it were a real term. I sympathized with her nerves, but she is a professional scholar. . . she's been in the "biz" for quite some time, so I'm rather surprised that she employed techniques that would be for a more casual, informal talk on a lecture that was supposed to spark interest in a recent collaborative publication. It was bizarre. Moreover, she unintentionally insulted the English department -- this was not a good thing, given that many people in the audience were from the English department. She later apologized for it, but still. . . it was very strange.

I'm in the midst of lackadaisical procrastination. I remember how my friend Misty from high school loved the term lackadaisical. It was another one of those terms that is what it is. Anyway, I feel like killing time with video games, surfing the internet, writing my blog (hurr), and other miscellaneous non-school activities. Spring Break at mid-semester can do these things to a person.

I feel that I may be too prolix. Which is a term that isn't what it is. Hmmm. WWWD? (What would Wittgenstein do?)





**Another funny note. Blogger's spell check actually picked up the term "blog" as a misspelled word. That's hilarious.

**Even funnier, I think I've been misspelling the word "misspelled" for most of my life.

Rare Disney VD movie

I saw this from BoingBoing quoting google video:

End of the week, beginning of the end

This would be the one time in the semester where we all bunker down, stop having fun, and start living in . .. the real world. haha, just kidding.

Honestly, it's the approach of our last weeks in the semester when all of our reading material and course work is supposed to help enlighten a path for our final projects. I only know of one thing I'm interested in writing on this semester, and perhaps two larger/general ideas, yet the way I've formulated my ideas for the past 9 weeks is coming from an approach that isn't really literature oriented. Perhaps, am I returning to my roots of philosophy and film? Hmm. . . interesting.

We also had an interesting discussion on Interdisciplinarity Today. To a certain extent, there is now a return to the "Renaissance Man" -- generally, a person who is well-versed in many areas and an expert in many things. However, there is this danger (could it be an exciting danger??) to experiment with issues, genres, media, and concepts that you are not an expert in (and will probably never become an expert in). . . Although this experimentation could open many possibilities, there is the risk of being mediocre and uninformed in a scattershot manner rather than an expert in more things that one. This presents interdisciplinarity in a more intellectually elitist light, and I'm not sure that's the kind of "bad" elitism that people fear and disdain. Instead, I would like to think that this kind of elitism is one in which we push ourselves to learn more and become so much more adept. Interdisciplinarity is one of those things that if you are good at, you are really good; however, on the flip side, if you are bad, well... you get the idea.

I'm feeling so pensive right now. It could be the after-effects of reading good ol' Wittgenstein, or it could be my desire to (my lack of) sleep and regain the things I have already lost.

Which reminds me. . . I'm really enjoying the theoretical work in the pastoral genre (particularly space). Why do I keep returning to these genres that reflect a sense of loss or nostalgia? What is it that drives me to seek these things out? What we produce is a reflection of the issues and concerns we've been struggling to answer throughout our lives.

Okay. . . that was quite Emo of me. Back to work. . .

Finally!!

It's what I've always wanted. . . a flat panel e-book reader. How many times have I asked for something I can use to read pdfs and bring them to class?

Sony's new Reader

At last! Someone has been eavesdropping on my public rants and made my dreams come true!

I did absolutely nothing!

What is Spring Break? In what way does it function in society? And how the hell is it supposed to make you feel better about the rest of your semester?

Right now I am procrastinating my studies by procrastinating cleaning my apartment. I just left my SO and my family and other friends behind in Colorado for cold Madison. If Madison were in Colorado, or if everyone I knew were here, I would be 200% happier.

The difficulty with being an English major pack rat is that you accumulate an insane amount of paper and books that could possibly take over your entire apartment. Apparently, I need more bookcases. Blah.

My old advisor told me to revise and submit my papers for publication.
-- What? Are you serious?
-- You'd honestly be surprised.
I would definitely be surprised. Because right now, I find so much wrong with my work. . . I guess I will once again relegate these things to the summer.

First, I need to clean my apartment. Then I can clean up everything else.

I swear. . .

This baby is evil!

You Are 58% Evil

You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.

How Evil Are You?

For Christina

I finally found it. James Lipton does PopoZao:

CSI, how you amaze me

I watched the newest episode of CSI tonight. . . I think it's called "I Like to Watch." Anyway, I've been over-using the term "Post-Modern" as a way to describe any text that leaves its own diegetic realm and pops over to our side. When CSI makes fun of forensics shows like it, that definitely makes an impact on the viewers. Initially, you laugh -- you are also aware of the shortcomings and unrealistic expectations that these shows produce. Then there is a moment of silence when you wonder if fans like you encourage this kind of sensationalist behavior that makes everything into a spectacle (and makes that spectacle a social commodity). . . and, of course, you do. So you come out of part of the episode laughing, but you also realize that you are laughing at yourself. And that's the kind of laughter that hurts in the not-so-good way.

I'm really excited to go back to Colorado tomorrow. I'm worried that this weeklong vacation is going to encourage bad habits during the remainder of my semester. I will try to not let it get to me. I've also packed light in terms of my homework. Well, four books is considered light. I doubt I will get to all of them, but I figured it would be better to be safe than sorry. Besides, I swore to myself that I would not do any research or paper-writing during my break. No problem.

With that, this will be my first true Spring Break since . . . freshman year of undergrad. Whoa. It's been about 11 years. Yikes!

Support Hoth 2014!

Sign the petition for Hoth as the next Winter Olympics City/Planet!

A vote for Hoth is a vote for the Jedi!

Osteo BiFlex Frankenstein

Okay, this is also just really funny. . . Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to embed the video into this entry. Sorry! But, it's definitely worth a click:

The new "Frank"

One to cheer up many

One of my school friends says this video is the treat he grants himself for studying:

The day before tomorrow. . . Today!

I'm really excited, yet really nonchalant about returning to Colorado tomorrow evening. Maybe it's due to the long road trip to Chicago and the wait in Midway that I have to look forward to. Or maybe it's because I know I have to clean, do laundry, and pack when I return from classes today. Or maybe it's due to the weather right now (all fog). Thank goodness I didn't schedule my flight for today.

This week hasn't been the greatest, but it hasn't been the worst either. . . I'm pretty sure that I've been rather hormonal in my reactions to random things. . . Blah.

I wonder what would happen if I didn't go anywhere I intended for spring break -- I could go to Vegas or NYC or anywhere but Colorado and Wisconsin. . . What purpose would that honestly serve?

Last night, I was speaking to my friend about how odd some people find their niche when they are very young. I wondered about whether or not people had personalities to match the careers they eventually choose in life. . . Have I chosen the career that matches my personality yet? Have I even been exposed to what that is? I don't know. . . My friend said that she could ferret out problems and possibilities that many people do not think of because of her previous experiences with the underworld of crimes and misdemeanors. . . Now she gets paid to find mistakes. I don't ultimately know what my talents and skills are good for. . . Perhaps I was born to be a Rock Star and missed my calling. Damn. I knew I should have taken choir.

Ad creates a live Simpsons intro

This is crazy awesome:

Getting me on "Medieval"

Well, today I lead class discussion in my Chaucer class. I even read a little middle English (poorly, of course) in front of all my classmates. Discussion went ok. Or did it? Everyone afterward said, "Great job on discussion" but none of them were smiling when they said it. . . What the hell?

I also spent way too much time at the library today. I even fell asleep reading Swift, which should never happen. I think it's simply the power of Husnus for lunch. . . Sadly, I only ate half of my plate, and I forgot my leftovers in the restaurant. . . Very sad. I was looking forward to leftover grape leaves stuffed with lamb and rice. That's some good eatin'!

Happy Birthday to Somebody Else

So, my significant other's birthday was this week. It was a strange experience because I couldn't celebrate the day with him. However, I plan on taking him out for dinner (and possibly getting an ice cream cake) when I visit during Spring Break.

In other news, I've been at home in my pajamas all day today. . . I've finally had the opportunity to watch all the CSI's I've missed this past semester and that child molester edition of Dateline NBC, which is simultaneously disgusting and entertaining. I can't believe how many men are interested in hooking up with young children. . . It is absolutely appalling, and I wonder if it is part of the increasing feelings of inadequacy that Susan Faludi describes in Stiffed. I shouldn't assume that this behavior is specifcally a product of this culture. . . Many novelists describe similar inklings in men of different cultures, histories, etc. Oddly, Dateline even commented on how women did not engage in this activity whatsoever. It's definitely something to think about.

On a more positive note. . . has anyone played Sudoku? Why is this game so addictive?

H&M with Stella McCartney!!!

I hate to advertise, but even Scary Go Round is excited at the prospect of H&M!

How exciting is that?! Plus, Madison will be opening one soon. . . along with a PF Chang's! Woo-hoo! I'm such a consumer whore! Normally, I wouldn't care. . . but I am absolutely starved for eating decent (but standardized) pseudo-chinese food and shopping at trendy fashion mcfashion stores. . . meh.

When procrastination's lost its fun, you're f*ing lazy!!

It's only about th 5th week of school, and I am already beginning to procrastinate my work. As I'm typing out this blog, I'm supposed to be working on a 5pg book review of a Pope scholar.

I just got back from the AAAGS movie night. . . We watched Robot Stories, which is an excellent flick. If you ever get the chance to view it, definitely take that chance. The progression of the movie is through 4 short segments on completely different people. But, it's pretty good.

Frostbitten and Frozen

I learned a few new things about Madison this week:

• Thundersnow: When a big snowstorm hits, sometimes you hear thunder and see lightening. Apparently that's what the term means
• Bitter Cold vs. Regular Cold: Bitter cold is actually a scientific term used by meteorologists in Madison for really F*CKING cold. Brutal cold is also used synonymously.
• Never complain about the cold to someone from Minnesota. That just goes without saying.
• You can get frostbite from just standing outside for 20 minutes. Think about that as you're waiting for the bus.
• Colorado ain't got nothin' on us. I laugh at your meagre five inches. Ha!
• You can have a blizzard in Madison while you have a tornado and 60 degree weather in Chicago. We're only 2 hours away. . . That's almost like Colorado weather.
• Grad students don't get breaks. There were safety concerns for undergrads, so classes were cancelled for them. Did any of my classes get cancelled? Yeah. Right.
  

All the cold does is make us stronger (unless it kills us, of course).

Two in One

Here's my general post on wishing my mom a Happy Birthday today and everyone else a Happy Valentines (or Anti-Valentines) Day tomorrow. Yay!

Tonight I had no homework for the first time in a while. Although I could have worked ahead like a smart (and good) grad student, I opted for watching the TV and vegging out in front of my computer.

Don't worry, folks. . . I'm working right now. . . hehe.

Getting "Medieval" on me!

I've spent the last day or so reading part of The Knight's Tale. I'm tired. So tired. And yet, I have about 5 pages left. . . and I can't bring myself to finish! What is wrong with me!
I've also spent the entire weekend in my pajamas. I haven't seen the outside world since Friday. Blah.

The Maid of Honor Deliberate Gentle Love Master (DGLMf) Appreciated for your kindness and envied for all your experience, you are The Maid of Honor. Charismatic, affectionate, and terrific in relationships, you are what many guys would call a "perfect catch"--and you probably have many admirers, each wishing to capture your long-term love. You're careful, extra careful, because the last thing you want is to hurt anyone. Especially some poor boy whose only crime was liking you. Your exact opposite: Half-cocked Random Brutal Sex Dreamer We've deduced you're fully capable of a dirty fling, but you do feel that post-coital attachment after hooking up. So, conscientious person that you are, you do your best to reserve physical affection for those you respect...so you can respect yourself. Your biggest negative is the byproduct of your careful nature: indecision. You're just as slow rejecting someone as you are accepting them. ALWAYS AVOID: The False Messiah, The 5-Night Stand, The Vapor Trail, The Bachelor CONSIDER: The Gentleman, someone just like you. Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating. My profile name: blackeyedmonkey

the Cutting Edge (57% dark, 42% spontaneous, 36% vulgar)

your humor style: CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | DARK Your humor's mostly innocent and off-the-cuff, but somehow there's something slightly menacing about you. Part of your humor is making people a little uncomfortable, even if the things you say aren't themselves confrontational. You probably have a very dry delivery, or are seriously over-the-top. Your type is the most likely to appreciate a good insult and/or broken bone and/or very very fat person dancing. PEOPLE LIKE YOU: David Letterman - John Belushi The 3-Variable Funny Test! - it rules - If you're interested, try my latest: The Terrorism Test

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 59% on darkness You scored higher than 41% on spontaneity You scored higher than 48% on vulgarity

Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Strange bad but good occurrence

I just started using Library Thing to catalog all of my books online. It's a great service! You can catalog up to 200 books for free, but memberships will let you catalog as much as you want. Now, I recently (in the last week) put up about 200 books from my collection (which is a little less than half so far). When I returned to the site to tag some of my books, I noticed that most of them were gone. It turns out that they had a major server crash and lost about 160 of my books. Which is a little disappointing. However, to make up for it, they gave me a free membership! I was planning on purchasing a membership eventually, and now I don't have to for at least another year.

If you look to the right of my blog, you'll notice a random sampling of some of the books in my collection. Well, right now it's a random sampling of about 20 books in my collection. I'll have to get cracking on that again sometime next week.

Year memberships are $10, Lifetime ones are $25

Define me

Emily -- [adjective]: Pretentiously academian 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Caffeine. . . so evil yet so necessary

Upon the advice of friends, I decided to drink a medium cappuccino to stay awake tonight and finish my homework. Caffeine is the devil. I quite drinking caffeine entirely last year. I only drink it in emergency, all-nighter situations. So, now it's 4am, I've finished most of my homework, and I can't go to sleep. I'm worried if I go to sleep, I won't wake up in time for my9:30am class. I'm also rather jittery. .. I wrote up an email for tomorrow, that I'm not entirely sure makes sense now. . . I also read, wrote my topic proposal for the same class, edited my friend's intro to his master's project, and wrote my friends about a summary of Althusser and the ISA. I'm freakin' out. Why would people ever want to put themselves in the precarious position of taking amphetamines to stay awake and do homework? My hands are shaking, and I don't know if what I am thinking actually makes any sense. I'm totally weirding myself out, and now I know that I will, at some point in the day tomorrow (well, technically today), completely crash and burn. Which totally sucks. Blah! How do people handle drinking caffeine so frequently? I'm worried about having a heart condition. . . my heart is beating so fast, and my hands are all shaky. Plus there are moments when I pause and get all drowsy, but then I suddenly stir with hyperactivity. This really is a weird state of being. I don't even remember what I was like when I drank caffeine. . . I wasn't even a heavy coffee drinker. . . I mainly drank tea and coke, so I don't know if this is the coffee or what. And I was foolish enough to order a cappuccino, not a regular coffee, a cappuccino. . . But I used to love cappuccinos. . . How? Was I a different person on caffeine? Was I happier, sharper, and more awake? Maybe human beings shouldn't always be in that state? Maybe it's a new state of consciousness that we normally couldn't access in our regular state? I don't know. . . I sincerely doubt that what I am saying right now is pure brilliance or anything like that because my hands are simultaneously tiring and numbing from my hyperactivity. . .


Damn caffeine!

Coffee, tea, or me? I don't drink caffeine!

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

What the Bleep?

I was absolutely amazed by the film What the Bleep Do We Know? last night, but there are definitely many questions it raised. I know that many people have written on the oddities of quantum physics (such as Zukov's The Dancing Wu-Li Masters), but I questioned the validity of many hypotheses that were explored in this film.

This was the one thing I was both amazed and quite skeptical of:

http://www.whatthebleep.com/crystals/

Apparently, this japanese fellow would tape words or blessings on bottles of pure water then watch them freeze and snap a picture of the result. . . It was quite surprising, and I'm not sure how the hell this would or could be real. I mean, he speaks Japanese, and all of these experiments took place with Japanese text. Would there be any difference in English or any other language?

My skepticism grew when I discovered that he is an alternative medicine doctor and does not have other medical degrees. But seriously, is this legitimate? Because if it is true, it's amazing.


(The above image is for the new sequel of this film. . . It's supposed to come out in Winter 2006.)

Paranoid

I really don't want to dwell on this particular thought because of the following reasons:

• If it's true, then everyone here thinks I'm an idiot
• If it's false, then I'm just an idiot for thinking it.
• I could be digging myself into a hole
  

I've had a rough time last semester adapting to both living in Madison and working in the PhD program. I'll admit that my own lack of self-esteem has taken a major toll on my image within the department. Yet, I cannot stop myself. I keep jokingly maintaining that I have "no idea why I'm here," and others remain silent instead of positively reinforcing my reasons for being here. Why do I need this continual positive reinforcement? That's just ridiculous! And, I can completely understand why these people would choose to remain silent since I keep saying it. True, they could be thinking that I am unworthy of being here. Or they could just be absolutely sick of hearing me constantly put myself down. I should just stop talking!

Personally, I've finally come to terms with being at a highly ranked school. I finally feel comfortable enough to not really worry what others think. . yet, this also has slightly more positive ramifications in the classroom as I no longer fear talking and asking questions.

Although those that sit in silence generally appear slightly more intelligent than my random prattling, I still recall what it's like to be a TA and just sitting and waiting for a response from my students. It was totally disappointing when they just sat there and had nothing to say. I would rather entertain silly questions than silence. But, that's just me.

I honestly can't say that I'm really enjoying this semester, but I can't say that I hate it either. I've become much more comfortable in this happy medium between passion and distaste. Although, I don't really enjoy most of the material I've been reading. . . I find myself to be so much more analytical and critical of it than if I did. However, I really loved reading AYLI again. . . and Michel de Certeau's The Practice of Everyday Life. . . and Lisa Cooper's "Bed, Boat, and Beyond." These have been the highlights of my recent weeks, and I'm finding myself more and more enthralled by theory and criticism than by actual texts. Is something happening to me?

Maybe I ought to read more "high" theory this summer? Maybe that's what I'm currently missing in my academic life?

Does this surprise anyone?

I was mildly surprised. . .

Who Should Paint You: Andy Warhol

You've got an interested edge that would be reflected in any portrait You don't need any fancy paint techniques to stand out from the crowd!

What Artist Should Paint Your Portrait?

I Love Fried Rice

Yesterday, as we all know, was the Lunar New Year (aka Chinese New Year). My friend and I decided to go to a potluck sponsored by the Association of Asian American Graduate Students (AAAGS). It was awesome! We opted to make both vegetarian and chinese sausage fried rice.

Initially, we argued a bit about the ingredients. The fried rice that I've made usually has chicken or bbq pork, but chinese sausage was a fair (if not better) substitute. My friend loves to put ketchup in her fried rice (she argues that it's the secret ingrediate to all great fried rice).
"Ketchup?? I've never had ketchup in my fried rice!"
She then responds, "Ketchup is what makes fried rice red."
"I've never eaten red fried rice."
"Well, ketchup also makes the fried rice tangy."
"Uh. . . I've never eaten tangy fried rice."
You can see where this conversation was going. . . In the end, I relinquished to ketchup. . . It tastes good, yet very different than the rice that I'm accustomed to.

So, we make two huge batches of this fried rice -- one with chinese sausage and the other without. Everyone at the party loved it. However, not as many people showed up to the party as we expected. So, we now each have one gigantic bowl (and I mean GIGANTIC) of fried rice that will last for many days (possibly weeks!). All in all, we had a great time meeting the Asian Americans in our local community. Everyone is a fantastic cook! Yum!

Happy New Year!

Let's get this party started!

I'm in the wrong business!

Yesterday, a friend and I were chatting about people we knew in fashion and/or interior design. She mentioned that one of her friends took a pop-up book class from the Stephen Greenblatt of pop-up book authors. . . All they did was make pop-up books!

I'm ridiculously jealous. . . of course, if I were majoring in pop-up books, I'm sure that I would find a way to intellectually terrorize it and make it "not fun."

Momentum is not. . .

... absolutely necessarily. . . Not right now, anyway. I'm just hours away from putting the finishing touches on my last paper from last semester. Yay, big procrastinator me, yay! I know that the momentum of the end of the term is exciting and loads of fun (har har har), but I don't think a slow pace when you're not under pressure makes my papers any worse. They seem to be a little more methodical. . . something that you can tongue and melt in your mouth, rather than biting straight away. . . I don't know. I think providing myself a good 2 weeks per paper seems to do the trick. Of course, the hard part is trying to actually find a full 2 weeks per paper to provide myself. Sigh.

Another nice thing about this semester is that I don't really have an emotional attachment to anything we're reading yet. Now, that is very interesting. . . I find that having no attachment to your topic (you neither like it or dislike it) makes it so much easier to write. Ultimately, I can be super objective about the work because I don't feel anything for it. Quality goes up as my expectations go down. . . quite ironic!

From a friend on myspace!

Oh Dave, you silly girl. . .

Which Disney Princess Are You? Jasmine You're the girl who has everything but is still desperate for the thing she cannot have, love. Jasmine first wandered onto our screen in Aladdin (1992)

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Back to School

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. . .

Actually, it's not. Today is the first day of the spring semester. I have one class in the middle of the day, but I still insisted on waking up early (well, early for me), trying out my new system of studying (well, sorta), and going to campus early for homework purposes. We'll see how it all turns out.
I hope everyone had a great set of holidays recently. I'm really excited forChinese New Year. . . This year pretty much sucked the big one.

I'm also including a ridiculously cute picture in this post: The well-known hippo-tortoise surrogate mom family:


I can't recall where I snatched this picture from, but I think that I found the story from Boing Boing.

What to look forward to

Happy New Year to all. Here are some things to look forward to in the new year:

• I don't have to write, edit, review, or present any Masters Projects
• No long distance moves across the state of Iowa or Nebraska
• No more Colorado conservative politics for me
  
• The comeback of moon boots
• No more Atkins diet stigma
• A DVD burner and a 250gb hdd!
• A new mattress to sleep on
• Another new semester (haha. . . devious laugh)
• No longer the newbie (again)
• I can finally wear legwarmers without shame
• Same thing with Ugg knockoffs
• MySpace and Facebook taking up all my time, along with Spider Solitaire (the old standard)
  
• The George Eliot Support group supporting itself with something other than George Eliot
• More Knightlys than D'arcys (or even more Crawfords or Tilneys)
  
• Doing things "doggie" style (dog being the new Chinese year)
• Taking incompletes without that "incomplete" stigma

Adendum coming. . .

Colorado really surprises me

The first day I came into Colorado, it was about as cold as Madison when I left. But that was the only cold day I've experienced here. Every day has been in the 60s, which is fairly unusual in Colorado's December, and I've been running around without a jacket or a hat for the last two weeks. It's been great!

Of course, this will also make the transition to Madison's winter so much worse. . . Now that I've had a taste of Colorado's great weather, I'm not sure if I want to go back!

Counting down the Chinese New Year!

We're supposedly going to have a good year. . . reaching our goals and working through our obstacles. . . I hope so because last year really sucked!

Finally home (but not home free)

So I finally made it back to Colorado on Thursday. It was a literal full day of travelling. I got up and took a cab to the Memorial Union at 6am,travelled by bus to Chicago from 7am-noon, got on an airplane to Colorado from 2:40-4:50pm, went to my parents' house and ate dinner at LD Buffet! from 6:00-11:30pm, and then finally made it to Greeley at around 12:30am.

I literally slept all day on Friday. I wrote my 2nd to last paper for a while, went to bed, got up and finished it this afternoon (well, I consider it finished!).

So that leaves me with this evening. I think I'm going to sleep some more. . .

Sadly, Colorado is getting about as cold as Madison was earlier this week. Unfortunately, I didn't bring anything to wear from Madison for the cold. I decided that my Madison coat (down coat that makes me look like the kid from A Christmas Story who can't keep his arms down) would stay in Madison. It's a symbolic gesture. . . shedding my Madison persona for Greeley (yeah, right). So, I'm now just freezing a little. . . oh well.

Oddly, I have fallen completely in love with my Ugg knock-offs for the cold weather. Although they aren't technically waterproof, the snow and wetness do not infiltrate the thick layers of faux fur that surround my bare feet. Plus, they're pink!

Oh yeah, so remember that drawing of Nail's Tales? Well, here's what the real deal looks like. . . basically the same. . . .

How perfect is this? R. Stevens is da man!

4 more weeks of school, 5 weeks for panicking!

I must write papers!!!

It's quite odd that our reading load has increased with time, and the expectation of really strong papers still remains. From now on, I will write papers closer to the beginning of the term, and I will continue to revise until the end. I can't take much more of this. . . Aargh!

Six weeks to go. . . the procrastination begins!

Right now I'm listening to random selections from the Best of Elvis Costello and thinking about things that are entirely unrelated to what I am supposed to be working on: a presentation on the non-satiric poetry of John Dryden. Ah yes. . . I used to tease those darn Americanists and their flashy literature. . . Now I wonder if it was all a big mistake. . . I could do for some Thomas Pynchon or even Hemingway right about now.

On an entirely different note, I guess there's a big to-do about the new sculpture in front of the currently being renovated Camp Randall. Some people think it looks like a phallus, others a pile of Badger doody. . . Well, have a look at an artist's rendition of this gigantic statue:



**Please note that those little round things are footballs.

I kinda like it, but I'm no art critic. I just think that it's so outlandish in a way that makes people glance askew. Isn't that the whole point of art these days?

State Street Scariness

Ok, so I was one of the many people who walked up and down State and lived to tell about it. I didn't think it was all that it was cracked up to be, but I had a feeling that I should try participating in the Halloween bash known to Madison as a total disaster waiting to happen.
Frankly, it was really crowded. But, nothing was going on at the time I was there. My friends and I were wandering around, observing the crazy costumes, from about 11-12:30. .. Then we went over to the Paradise (or is it Pair o' Dice?) bar and had a few conversations. Due to daylight savings ending, we wound up our evening around 1:30am instead of 2:30am. That would be lucky for us. Apparently, around 2:30am, people were dancing in the shower of pepper spray and glass.

I heard in the news that a fellow who was dressed up like Hunter S. Thompson died. We did spot a Thompson-esque individual and a friend dressed up like his crazy lawyer earlier in the evening; however, that was a lot earlier, and there were many people dressed in many of the same costumes.

I seriously and honestly believe that if there were a way to have businesses scatter their closing hours between 2:30 and 6am, there would be less of a chance of riot. Riots only occur when tons of people are booted out of all the bars simultaneously. You then have a congregation of thousands of drunk people with nothing to do. That just spells disaster. And, I know that many folks are considering the complete closure of all businesses on Halloween. Well, that probably spells trouble for the businesses, and that still doesn't guarantee that things are going to go well. Halloween is a huge party tradition here. Who's to say that closing businesses will even stop drunk and high folks from gathering on one of the most prominent streets in the city? At least, when the bars are open, people are separated into controllable groups. Think Foucault's Discipline and Punish, people!

Spiritual Quiz

Taken from my sis:

You fit in with: Humanism Your ideals mostly resemble that of a Humanist. Although you do not have a lot of faith, you are devoted to making this world better, in the short time that you have to live. Humanists do not generally believe in an afterlife, and therefore, are committed to making the world a better place for themselves and future generations. 20% spiritual. 60% reason-oriented.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Sigh. . .

Per A Fish to Be Mongered:

How will Ewan McGregor propose to you? by headexplosion
Name
Age
Gender
Favorite Ewan Movie
Where	A field full of daisies
When	A beautiful spring day
He'll call you	Honey-poo
He'll say	"My gift is my song, and this one's for you..."
He'll look like
Quiz created with MemeGen!

Decemberists and Greenblatt

Yesterday was incredible. I attended a double feature of seeing a lecture by Stephen Greenblatt and then attending the awesome Decemberists concert shortly thereafter. Although I was late to the concert, I only missed about 2 songs. It was wonderful!

I was somewhat surprised to find Stephen Greenblatt a charismatic and really funny speaker. His writing has the same qualities, but I never expected to see them fully embodied in him. I guess I just assumed that he would be the oppposite of his own work (which, I know, is a silly assumption). If you ever get the opportunity to hear him speak, don't delay. . . go see him speak! The man can spin an anecdote on its heels!



I love the architectural spaces of concert venues in the midwest. Occasionally,there were some fantastic concerts in Denver's older theaters, so I can't say that this is an exclusively midwest thin (how would I know?). But, attending the Orpheum Theater was definitely cool. The inside had a full bar (this is also a movie theater, by the way), and the seating area also had a stage and large screen for films. There was also a huge balcony area where I ended up (given that I was late, I opted for opulant comfort instead of sardine can visibility). I'm no expert of architectural style, so you'll just have to look up what kind of style the Orpheum has for yourself, although I can tell you that the walls were somewhat ornate (but not the gilded kind of ornate).

The Decemberists themselves were awesome! They played better live than what I've heard on my ol' CD, and they are hysterically funny. I suspected at some point in the concert that they were pretty drunk. . . Colin Meloy forgot some of his own lyrics in the midst of belting out his songs, but that didn't stop them from having an incredibly interactive and overall kick-ass concert. One of the audience's favorite parts was near the end of the show, when hoards of them rushed the stage to dance with the band.

Definitely a great show!

What the hell is FACE BOOK?

I guess a lot of people are getting into this service called Face Book. I just wanna know! I heard from several people that it's easy to stalk someone because you can view their entire school schedule. I also heard that lots of people use it, nonetheless. I figured I would give it a try since my dear ol' SO was forced to use by one of his university classes.

Eh, whatever.

Ever have one of those weeks?

I'm at the point this week where I am questioning whether or not I can hack it in grad school. I had a horrible week where I didn't know what the hell I was doing, and frankly it was obvious to others as well.

Here's what happened:
1. I forgot some information for my first class on Monday that made it seem as though I didn't do the reading from a few weeks ago. However, I did do the reading. . . I unfortunately only remembered the odd details and not the entire concept of that article.
2. I got semi-slammed by fellow students for not loving poetry. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some poetry. But I love novels. I really enjoy studying them, not poetry. But, because I enjoy novels over poetry (in general), I get misunderstood as not "understanding" poetry. It's not that I can't appreciate poetry. I just prefer novel reading.
3. I didn't get any of my French homework finished this week. All my fault, but it merely set me up for my failures in my next class.
4. I wouldn't say that I misread any of the articles for my novel genre class, but I didn't quite remember what they said by the time I finished reading them. Frankly, I had to do what's called a round robin this week and failed to make it anything interesting. I was in a rush because of a dinner meeting, so I just wrote down some crap and emailed it. Apparently, that crap was absolutely backwards to what the article I quoted actually said.

So, there you have it. Hopefully things will turn out better once I get some decent sleep before I fuck something else up. I obviously recognize that I have a lack of breadth when it comes to the subject of English Lit in comparison to many other students. I don't really attribute this to the school I came from. It's a combination of both me as a crappy undergrad student and the fact that I haven't been in undergrad since 1999. But right now, during midterm, I have been seriously having doubts about what is really right for me. Of course, last week, I was just lovin' this place. More than likely, I'm suffering from a lack of rest and missing my friends and family (and my SO) more and more.

Sigh.

Isabel Allende and Other Stories

I was a very big fan of Isabel Allende all through high school and parts of college. The House of the Spirits was one of the first novels that I fell in love with the discourse of literature and is probably why I am a Literature major today. Her stories have always had elements of sadness, hilarity, and sensuality rolled into a living entity. . . there has always been something organic in the way she writes her stories.

Last night, Isabel Allende spoke in Madison about her inspirations, her sadness, and her dreams. She has been criticized for not being a true magical realist because her images do not jar or jolt the reader in the same way works by Marquez would. However, her style of magical realism is so deeply enmeshed, so interwoven into who she is, that I can't possibly imagine seeing her as anything but a magical realist (or what I used to think of as metaphor taking on a life of its own). This became more evident in her personal lecture and how her dreams both influence and foretell the things yet to come.

She mentioned how her novels, and the process of novel writing, appear in her dreams as babies. Sometimes they cry with a grown man's voice; other times, they are lost and constantly searching for a way out. As a storyteller and novelist, it then becomes her job to translate these messages and resolve to bear her baby to the world.

Like her novels, her lecture intimately touched the audience in many ways. You could see the tears glistening in the eyes of every person in the room as Allende told her daughter's story. And you could here the roar of laughter when Allende described the meal she wanted to make of Antonio Banderas (naked). More importantly, you could sense determination come from the audience when she addressed political concerns; these concerns of which are entangled in her personal world as much as her public one.

Allende's lecture became for me an intellectual and emotional roller coaster -- one with twists, turns, flips, and an occasional startling pause before a large crescendo of glee.

Where's Mister Cellophane?

Yesterday was my very first trip to Chicago. The only times I've seen Chicago were either from an airport or a train station. This time, I went with a couple of friends (both from Colorado) to the Art Institute of Chicago. There was an exhibit on Toulouse Latrec, but, unfortunately, the tickets for that day were sold out. However, the rest of the museum has so much great stuff! I saw many Picassos, Van Goghs, Renoirs, Piscarros, Matisses, Monets, Magrittes, Dalis, etc. It was rather overwhelming to take in. They also had this really odd miniature room museum in their basement. We had to skip most of the older European works, American works, and Asian works because there was no way we would have been able to see it all.

After several hours of museum time, we went to eat at a really great Vietnamese restaurant nearby. I believe it was called To Pho. Really excellent. . . Plus, we just hit happy hour at the restaurant, which meant all the food was half price!

After a really fantastic dinner, we went to H&Ms for some really great deals on clothes. I have to say that yesterday was one of the best day trips I have ever taken (which sounds cliche, but in this case it is quite true). My friends and I hope to make a class weekend in the future, maybe grabbing a hotel room downtown to party in.

Later tonight, we're heading to Glass Nickel Pizza for dinner. They have the best Feta-licious and Ranch Chicken pizzas I have had in my life. Seriously. Their pizzas are hearty, but you never get tired of how good they taste. I don't honestly think I can go back to eating Blackjack or Pizza Hut again.

Ok, so this post sounds like an ad. . . sorry guys, I just got carried away. . . It's back to reading Rochester. . .

Just for the record

I will be making a hair donation to Locks of Love.
What are you kidding me? What else would I do with that much hair?!

My braid may be making a cross country tour to Coloardo first before it gets shipped to Locks of Love. It's become a lucky charm for many.

Let's face it, hair is a rather odd apendage. I know that some folks sell their hair to wig companies and whatnot, but I honestly can't imagine doing that. It's almost like selling your appendix to somebody. . . another useless body part, yet it does feel like it's a part of you in some strange way.

On another note, I have noticed the significant weight of my hair. My neck and back seem to straighten out more easily. . . hehe.

A New Haircut

I got a new haircut yesterday that looks exactly like everyone else's hair here! It drives me insane. Plus, prior to the haircut, I had hair that was down to my waist. . . That is no longer true. Now my hair isn't even shoulder length!

I do have to admit that the person I went to did a wonderful job with the cut, but I'm still in total shock!

Here's what I mean:


Before



And After



I mean, look at the back! It is seriously short!

As far as movies are concerned

In the past two days, I've seen two amazing films worth commenting on (and I'm sure that right now, many others are commenting on them simultaneously). The first movie I saw on Friday was Howl's Moving Castle. Regardless of whether you are a Miyazaki fan or not, you will leave this movie feeling giddy and irrepressably happy. I don't know what it is, but it is great! An additional plus is the contribution of Christian Bale's voice to Howl. Whoa, nelly... He can even make an animated character sexy.

The next film is Serenity, which is the darling of the web right now. I love the show Firefly. I LOVE IT. And, I can be very picky about how television shows adapt to film. With that in mind, this film is incredible. I refuse to spoil the film (which, right now, is extremely tempting), but this film takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as a Firefly fan. I cannot honestly say what other people would think and feel about the film if they weren't fans of the show, but I know that I was greatly moved.

Many people have criticized the differences between the television show universe of Firefly and the established history of the film Serenity. It's clear the reasons why Joss Whedon chose to make these changes. It's generally for the consideration of the audience members who are not Firefly fans. And I'm sure it does chafe those who are devoted to how the Firefly universe tightly functions, but given that we live with many systems of thought that have tendencies to contradict themselves, I don't see these small issues as being a problem. Regardless of them, anyone who watches Firefly will LOVE Serenity, and anyone who doesn't will probably still leave the theater with a sense of respect for those loyal Browncoats.

I left the theater feeling both broken hearted and renewed in a sense of hope. I really want Firefly to return. I really want two more films. And I really want to know more about the mysteries that remain mysteries within the great Verse.

Shiny!

So Tired!!!

I just got back from watching a crazy film. I believe it may have been Andy Griffith's first film. Anyway, it was a really great film, but the ending creeped me out from all things Andy Griffith. Damn. . . he was good!



I was also surprised at how HOT Walter Matthau was when he was younger! I mean I was totally floored.

He was sooo cute, smoking his pipe and giving somber yet heartfelt advice. Sigh!

At any rate, I'm basically procrastinating my French homework while I simultaneously debate on whether I will work out tomorrow or not. Hmm. . . hard call.

Gar! What a busy week

It's still busy! I don't have as much in terms of reading, but I do feel like I am rarely home to enjoy rest and relaxation. However, I did do the following:
Got a flat tire from a rusty nail that prevented me from going to Franz Ferdinand
Went to see Corpse Bride (which is totally awesome-- yay! Tim Burton!)and then went to a bar that forced its people to dress like German strumpets (if y'all know the Essenhaus, I'm sure you also know that it will be soon mowed over for apartments)
Went to a poetry reading by Linh Din (although I don't know if I spelled his name correctly)
Also read enough to make my eyes bleed (but only on a metaphorical level)
Found out that everyone I knows feels just as self-conscious as I do

I will probably be at a friend's house tonight for dinner and a DVD. . . Better Luck Tomorrow. . . I think it will be interesting. There's also a midnight showing of Brazil, but I think I'm just going to wait for the Netflix queue on that one.

A Night at the Eagles Club

So, we went to see White Stripes last night at the Eagle's Club in Milwaukee. Loads of fun. I am not a huge fan of the White Stripes, but I do enjoy their music. They are a great band (if you can call 2 people a band) to see live because their enthusiasm for playing is nearly orgasmic. The venue itself was cool and odd. It's obviously a huge ballroom, and we stood on the wooden, ballroom floor while thumping our feet to the rhythms of Meg White's drums. Her basic drum beats, ultimately, made the scene turn primativistic. . . the energy of everyone on that dance floor vibrated with the same beat. We soon travelled up the stairs and sat down in one of the balconies that overlooked the ballroom floor. This was an awesome view as we could see the pulsing of the room to the beats and melodies of Jack and Meg. Needless to say, I was very impressed.

Whoa, nelly!

Today was the first day of classes for me. . . It was a really fun experience. I got up early to work out with my new AOF buddies, and then I went home to shower and eat. I then went to my first seminar in Madison. Loads of fun! The discussion was interesting, people were engaged. . . It seems so long ago when people actually engaged in discussion back in Greeley. I'm really enjoying myself...

Of course, there is a downside to everything. In this case, I wasn't entirely prepared for the amount of work I would be doing. It's a lot! And I don't have my other 3 courses until next week. So, the workload is already quite incredible. I hope I can balance all of this out WITH a job. I'll be applying for a cheesy parttime job typing for TTY. I hope I get the position, although who knows. I had to jot down a basic schedule, and it left me with working only on the weekend and Wednesday nights. Oh well!

I really enjoy the fact that this grad school is non-competitive in the classroom. We have a great program, and I feel really secure with the people in my class. I don't need to worry about covering my books or anything like that. It's great!

I'm on the Outside Looking in. . .

Orientations are at full force, and I must admit that I really enjoy what I see. Everyone here is extremely open-minded and kind. I really hope this works out (especialy since I haven't even started my courses yet).

On another note, however, I do have to say something about the destruction from Katrina. It's quite a banal statement to say that Katrina is destructive, but I honestly feel that the destruction is not just on a physical or emotional level, and it's not simply something we can gloss over and pretend didn't happen in a month from now. Instead, it becomes representational of both how the people of the United States are able to support others in their own unique fashion, without any punch or persuasion from outside figures. It demonstrates that today's American Hero lies within each individual, rather than in some intangible character or high-and-mighty organization. However, Katrina also demonstrates that our government has failed to act quickly. Although many people in D.C. have stated that their rather sluggish response is not due to racism, I (like many others) take note of the fact that those who suffered the most are those that almost always suffer the most. It is our poor, our weak, and yes, our minorities that have suffered and will always suffer the most. We live in an upside-down system, where the most power rests within the privileged and select few. . . They are the few that would have difficulty in understanding why anyone would "strand themselves" with an oncoming class-5 hurricane, or why the victims didn't just "drive away" when they had the opportunity. They are also the ones who distinguish differences between "finding food" and "looting." They are also the ones who can't possibly understand why so many victims of Katrina became angry and rioted. I'm sorry, but not all of us can simply "Eat cake" when a tragedy occurs. Although I will not deny my own hypocrisy, the fact that I am safe in a graduate school in the upper midwest, I think I can easily say that the aftermath of Katrina has reflected both of what we should be proud of and ashamed of.

I heart Panda Cam

It does sound cheesy to be excited over a baby panda in DC, but you should try watching this delightful camera and discover the joys of pandosity!!!

The Panda Cam

Depression has finally kicked in

It was a dark and stormy night. . .
Well, knowing how cheesy it is to wax melodramatically, I do have to say that I am both very tired and somewhat uneasy now that things in Madison are kicking into high gear. I've met some very pleasant, down-to-earth folks thus far, but I am also thinking about the fact that there are still doubts. Doubts as to whether getting a Ph.D. is a good idea. Doubts as to what I am actually doing here.

Let's face it. I'm not the best teacher. I think I am okay in the one-on-one setting -- everyone is -- but I also realized how selfish I was in the past to short change my former students. Unfortunately, graduate school forces you to choose between being a fantastic TA or being a stellar student. . . few people can concentrate and do both. I figured it had a lot to do with being overworked with 2 classes to teach and 3 seminars to take. I found out recently that this system is rather unheard of, even in such economically tight times as these.

After meeting people here, I realize that I share these doubts with many graduate students. . . However, we are constantly trained to hide these true feelings. Many other students, due to their own insecurities and doubts, begin to gnaw at you and ridicule you for "keepin' it real" or whatever. You have to pretend to be an absolute, self-righteous asshole or else people will socially punish you for it. And this arrogance, this egotism, is the reason why Academia has such a bad reputation in other contexts. The ivory tower was really constructed to protect our egos from criticism and expectation.

I can partly sympathize with the views within and without academia. It's not looking good either way.

They don't call it Mad City for nuthin'

Yup, the entire university is in a publicity uproar over the Princeton Review's ranking of us as the #1 party school. Quite coincidentally, this came shortly after the US News & World Report's review that we are the 8th best public university in the country.

I think this demonstrates that we have the smartest students in the country because they can go to class totally inebriated and still pull off a high ranking as a public university. Now that's sayin' somethin'!

I also heard that CU Boulder is off the party list. . . Given that most of their parties end up in riots, alcohol poisonings, or showers of tear gas, I can see why.

At last. . .

I'm almost finished unpacking and ordering my new apartment in Madison, WI. So far, the weather is very humid and sticky. . . I hate rolling around in sweat all the time, but most people have told me that my body will adjust to the weather after a few weeks. Well, it's been two, and no. . . no adjusting has yet occurred. Although, I did notice my skin is much softer and my hair much frizzier than before. ARgh!

What I greatly anticipate is the new semester at a new school. I can't make any comparisons with the old program, and I must think positively and intelligently (with a slight degree of skepticism) while I am here. I must also learn not to talk so openly about my increasing OCD. It's never a good idea to meet new people who are not accustomed to the OCD experience. Not fun, not one bit.

I also stocked up the refrigerator with many beverages. I have 1 six pack of Guiness Extra Stout, 1 quart of Chocolate Silk, 3 12packs of Diet Rite in assorted flavors, 1 bottle of fruit juice, and 1 remaining bottle of a local microbrew.

I know that many folks in Wisconsin believe that their beer is the best, but come on! I'm from Colorado. Microbreweries like Breckenridge, New Belgium, and Oasis are phenomenal. You cannot compare Milwaukee beer to the beer in Colorado. There's just no denying it. Sorry Wisconsinites. . . your beer just isn't as good!

How can you compare a beer with a name like Smiling Cow to Sunshine Wheat??? You really can't!

I also don't understand Packer Pride, but I didn't really understand Bronco worshipping either. Let's face it; I'm just here for hockey!