In Memoriam

My dog Scrappy passed away this morning shortly after six.

Holiday in Review

It was a wonderful Christmas! I'd go on and on about what made it so wonderful, but I've no wish to bore you. Lots of presents, good food, family, and fun. All key ingredients. There was only one thing whose shadow dimmed the holiday festivities. Scrappy, my dog, is sick. I don't know with what. I have a guess, but I'm hoping against hope that that is not it. All of a sudden, she became lethargic and wouldn't eat and her breathing is slightly labored. She's quite lucid, recognizes people, wags her tail, even barks when somebody comes down the driveway. But I've tried to get her to eat - dog food, dog treats, and table scraps - and she wouldn't touch them. I don't think she left the porch yesterday, or today. I brought her a bucket of water today and after I convinced her to drink, she drank quite a bit - which makes me think that she hadn't had any water the day prior. I still could not get her to eat. I hope this is just a temporary seasonal ill that clears up on its own. She's only eight or nine years old. Anyway, I've been preoccupied with her all day today and I'm trying to keep my wits about me. I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Merry Christmas!

WTF

(Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)

Wednesday, I spent most of the day in Jacksonville with my Mother and my brother and sister shopping for my Dad. Half of the time was spent at Camp Lejeune. The PX was very fruitful and we bought the bulk of my Dad's gifts there. Then it was on to Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and then K-mart, and then we went home. It was a good thing too because I was tired. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I absolutely abhor shopping. Except for book shopping - put me in a book store and you'll have to pry me out. Or a bead store. Same goes.

Anyway, Thursday, I spent most of the day on the computer editing photos and sizing them, straightening horizons, adjusting color and brightness, getting the size and proportions right, and then Becca took me to Walmart so I could print them on one of the machines. That took a surprisingly long time, but mostly because we had to wait in line for an available machine. Then we went home and had some poorly cooked dirty rice. I love Dirty rice - it's one of my favorite dishes, but only the way I cook it. Oh well.

Friday, I planned to get up early (nine) to go with my Dad and brother and sister to shop for my Mom in, you guessed it, Jacksonville. My Dad knocks on my door at seven something and asks if I was going or not (rhetorical question). So I got up and threw on some clothes, I think I might have brushed my hair, and then we left. We spent very little time at Camp Lejeune simply because they didn't have anything we could get my Mom. Downhearted, we headed to the mall, where we went from Belk's, JCPenny's, and Sears multiple times trying to find a shirt that matched navy blue dress slacks. No such luck. We then went to Walmart in Jacksonville and tried to get something that we thought was a sure bet. They were sold out. So, we took our depressed selves to a little Mexican Restaurant (El Cerro Grande) and had a tasty mexican lunch before we went home. Then it was on to Walmart, Catos, Belk's, and K-mart. And then we went home with our meager presents.

By the time we got home, I had barely enough time to take a shower and try to make my hair behave before my date arrived. But, I made it. It was a great night! I got to have some excellent fettucine, see through Night-Vision goggles (awesome), and I got Ella Enchanted, a movie I've wanted ever since I first saw it. It was a great night! Have I said that already? Hmm. Anyway, when I got home, I stayed up and watched Sahara with my sister and my brother and I tried some very very good cookies while doing so. And then they went to bed and I watched What Not To Wear. I was just going to watch the first few minutes, but when I saw the six foot long dreads that woman had (no joke) I had to see what Nick Arrojo was going to do to fix her hair. It turned out surprisingly well, and then I went off to bed.

I woke up this morning at about eight thirty, when my phone rang and a friend of mine called me. I think I muttered hi before I lost the signal. He called back, and I got to ask how he was before the signal died again. And then I turned my phone off. I woke up a bit later to see Rebecca in my room, picking up the stuff we bought for my mom so she could start wrapping it. I guess I didn't lock my door last night. Good thing I don't sleep in the buff. Ha. I decided to get up then, and I had some hot chocolate and some excellent cookies (I have to start the day off with a smile). Rebecca has been wrapping presents ever since, and I have since cleaned my room so Darren and Kim can have a place to stay, and then I've made this blog post. And now it's time for some lunch. Darren and Kim will be here within the hour!

Just a few more days to tote the weary load...

Congrats to me for maintaining my 4.0 GPA. Woohoo...not.

Harry Potter Book 7

JK Rowling has released the title of Book Seven!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Maybe she'll release the publication date soon, who knows?

My last grade and some news

Microbiology: A+ (It took my professor long enough to get those scantron sheets graded!)

That's my final score for the semester, so I ended up with two A's and four A+'s. All in all, a good semester. I'll let y'all know when I get my class ranking.

TJ and Theresa came over the other night, and we had some Italian chicken concoction that Mom saw somewhere. It was quite good. Before dinner, we sat around the dinner table playing with my 20 Q game that Callie got me. Everyone thought it was the coolest thing! We got it to guess a Beer Bottle, a Unicorn, and something else, I forget. We couldn't get it to guess mistletoe or a Grizzly bear, but it was quite fun all the same. After dinner, we just talked for the next few hours; it was quite relaxing. Of course, dirty-minded me had to come up with something smart to say or not say everytime someone spoke. I think I restrained myself quite well.

Yesterday, what did I do yesterday? I can't really remember anything beyond last night. Let me think...Oh, right, I helped my Mom wrap gifts (she wrapped, I put bows and ribbons on the gifts and then arranged them around the tree). That took a lot of time, but the tree looks so pretty, and the gifts look so pretty. Christmas is going to be great. Our parents broke it to us kids the other day: Santa's on Holiday. He's not sure what to get us for our Santa gift since none of us really wanted a big santa gift, so he's going to fill our stockings and that's all. And then I tackled the kitchen because no one had lifted a finger in there since the Italian Chicken the night prior. That was oddly refreshing. Anyway, after that, I went out and saw Eragon with my very charming date. I haven't read the book yet, but I liked the movie. The dragon was so cute when it hatched! Add to that a great cast: John Malkovich, Jeremy Irons, Djimon Hounsou and Rachel Weisz, and you've got a pretty good movie on a very, very good night.

An excellent night. I'm still smiling! It was a great night, followed by a very sleepless night. First my room felt like an icebox, and no matter how tightly I bundled myself into my blankets, I couldn't get warm enough to fall asleep, so I had to wait until I was too tired to stay awake any longer. I woke up just after five to the sound of my parents arguing (such a lovely way to awake). I could hear what they were arguing about (the shouts were loud enough) and all I could think was, "Didn't we have this same argument last Christmas, and the Christmas before that, and most likely the Christmas before that?" Why can't they get along!?! So, I waited in my room until my Dad went to work and my Mom went out before I came out. I feel that if I had talked to either one of them, and that if they had tried to confide in my about their argument, I would have snapped and just gone off on one or both of them. I really just want to tie them both to a chair and yell and cuss and scream at them for a while, and then I'd like to place them in separate sound proof rooms and have them talk through me just so I could cut through all the bull shit and have them communicate exactly what it is they want to say. Enough of that! So, in summation, a wonderful night, followed by an angry and somewhat dismal morning. Such is life!

New Grade

Spanish Literature: A+

And yes, that is scrappy in my avatar (actually it's a black lab, but it was the only black dog they had and it sort of looks like her)

Much needed movie break!

I am so happy to be home! I've finally been able to watch some of the movies that I've wanted to see/see again for such a long time. Cyrano de Bergerac (with English subtitles), Memoirs of a Geisha, Love Actually (again), Home Alone, Die Hard, and finally The Muppet Christmas Carol. No Christmas will ever be complete unless I get to see The Muppet Christmas Carol - it's simply one of the best Christmas films out there! And now back to Love Actually...Cheerio!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Isn't the tree pretty? We finally got it decorated on Saturday. My parents started at about ten in the morning, just getting a room ready for the tree to go - clearing a space. Eight hours later, we finally brought the tree in through two completely rearranged rooms. And then the festivities started. Well, not really. TJ came over and we all decorated the tree together, one big happy family. We put as many ornaments on the tree as we could, and then put the rest of them back up into the attic. The tree looks much prettier with the room light's off, but I couldn't get a good picture of that. Oh well. I guess if you want to see how pretty it is, you'll have to come over and see for yourself. Of course, for those of you who don't care...you know what you can do, I'm sure I've told you many a time. Merry Christmas! Now it's time for me to go walk on some egg shells...God I hate it when people are complete asses! It makes life so much harder for the rest of us. [Expletive deleted]

A few things I must do today...

I can't believe that I didn't make a post at all yesterday! I promise, one is coming, it's on my to-do list, right after loading all of the pictures I took of the Christmas tree onto the computer. Once I have the pictures, I'll make the post. But I have a lot to do today. First of all, I need to get some wire, some branch cutters, and some ribbon and make our family's Christmas wreath out of the branches my Dad cut off of the Christmas tree. Second, I need do some house cleaning - we spent all day yesterday moving furniture around, and then getting the tree set up, decorating the tree, and now the tree looks great but the house could use some tidying. Third, I have a few presents to wrap and make pretty so the person I'm giving them to will be distracted by the pretty-wrapping job and won't notice how lame the gifts are. Fourth, I have to go shopping with Becca and Rob to buy a present from the three of us to our parents. We know what we are going to get, we just have to find it and hopefully we'll have enough money between the three of us to get it. Fifth, I have to get my Mom a present. I know what I am getting her, it's just a long process of finding the main part of the gift, bringing it home, choosing the things to put in it, and then taking those things somewhere to get them printed, and then bringing them all back, putting it together, and wrapping it. Have I confused you enough? Good. Sixth, I have to finish decorating the house - and I have to put bows on the driveway gate and on us kids' doors. Somewhere in all of that I have to take a shower and take some tylenol because my head won't quit throbbing. Boo hiss. Oh, yeah, and I have to make the post about the Christmas tree, with pictures and all. Excellent. Talk to you then!

Surprise!

When I mentioned that the house was supposed to be disorganized and semi-unclean for my return, I had no idea that it included my bedroom. Apparently, my bedroom has been turned into my mother's wrapping and packaging and present storing room. I just spent the past hour moving all that stuff around just so I could make room for my stuff - and I didn't have that much! Some clothes, some books, and some other miscellaneous items. But there is stuff every where! Presents hidden under my bed, ON my bed, in my closet, on my floor, on my chair, on my desk - everywhere. Leave home for a few weeks and they forget that you need a place to sleep. Gosh. But, I have most of it under control now. My parents are out shopping (again), and Rebecca and Rob are watching something on the telly, and I am here, on the malfunctioning computer. Time to step away, clean up dinner, get a shower, and then try to make it to my bed before sleep conquers me. Good night.

Woohoo!

I'm home! Oh there's no place like home for the holidays, for no matter how far away you roam, if you want to be happy in a million ways, for the holidays you can't beat home sweet home!

Right-o

My Microbiology exam is over! The exam itself was easy. I can't believe how much I psyched myself up over it. I only got four hours of sleep last night (this morning, actually). Oh well. Now I get to go home and clean house. Seriously, that's what my parents both told me last night. They said that I would be coming home to, as usual, a very messy house, that was just waiting for me to organize it and the people inside of it. But, hopefully, we'll get to set the tree up and decorate it either tonight or tomorrow night. I made it absolutely clear that there would be severe consequences if they decorated the tree without me. But now, I'm waiting on my Dad, and when he get's here, we're going to go to Best Buy so I can buy Callie her Christmas present. I can't believe that we have been unable to find it anywhere! If they don't have it, I've got a list of alternatives that will just have to do. I've had rotten luck with the gift ideas this year. I can't find Callie's, and the only other one that I've bought for someone they already have it. Damn. Back to the drawing board. And then it's back to the room to give Callie her gift, and then it will be time to take highway 70 almost as far East as it can take me. I am unsure of the internet situation at home (last I heard, it was down for the count with no solution in sight), so I may not get a chance to post for a while, or check my email or check my grades. So, have a very Merry Christmas. I'm certainly going to!

And I am fuckin' awesome! I just got my organic chemistry final score: 99.5. Final grade: 99.69 A+. Guess what the highest final grade was out of the entire class? 99.69! I got the highest grade in my organic chemistry class! I rock!

My Kind of Christmas

Happy Belated Birthday!

My blog is officially one year old! It's birthday was on the 3rd of December, and I missed it. Bad Jessica, bad! I'm not sure what to do to celebrate. Let's celebrate one year of me having another outlet to speak exclusively about myself, an outlet to let my creative and artistic tendencies run wild, and an outlet for most of my procrastination. Yes, folks, almost exactly one year ago, I began using this blog as a viable means of procrastination. I remember it all so clearly. I was supposed to be studying for my exams but instead I created this blog. And then when I created the blog, I tinkered with the template to produce different effects - fonts, colors, backgrounds. I recall thinking to myself, "I'll indulge myself for half an hour, and then get to studying for my four, back-to-back exams." Eight hours later (no joke), I was able to force myself off of the computer, and ended up spending the entire night awake, studying like mad for those four consecutive finals. And after I finished them, I went right back to my blog instead of studying for my fifth and last final. But, I made all A's and A+'s that semester, so I can't say that my blog hurt me in anyway beyond stress. And now, just look how far I've come. I've learned how to work with transparent png's, hexadecimal colors, editing pictures, and so much more. I've increased the amount of posts I make quite a bit. Last December, I made 7 posts. I've made four times that amount, and I'm only half way through the month! I've had over 1000 visitors to my blog, and the counter is still going. Sigh. I've grown so much. And here is where I shall leave you, after I say that I should be home by 5pm tomorrow, with a copy of my first ever blog post.


La Vie en Rose is French for "Life in Rose." I first heard this expression mentioned in Sabrina (1995) by Julia Ormond's character Sabrina, where she translated it to mean "looking at life through rose-colored glasses." The song La Vie en Rose is performed most notably by Audrey Hepburn and by Louis Armstrong, and the melody is simply beautiful. To me, it means being optimistic, to see the good in everything and not to center on the faults. Although I rarely see anything in this manner, it's always refreshing to try. Did I mention that I love roses?

Somebody, please, anybody...!

Please, make sure that I am not studying past nine PM tonight. Please! Forcefully make me quit. If for some reason I am studying later than nine, stop me - or else my brain will leak out of my ear and puddle around my feet, and then I'll slip and I'll fall again like I did last night, and this time I might really really hurt myself, and then I won't be able to take the exam tomorrow. Oh, my head!

Yay!

Yay! Callie's back! And she brought presents! Her Mom gave me a lot of really cool bath and body stuff, and Callie gave me the most awesome gift ever - a Portable 20 Q game. It's so cool! I think of something - an animal, vegetable, or mineral, and then it asks me a series of twenty yes/no/sometimes/don't know questions, and then tells me what I was thinking of. The first time, I chose a Dolphin, and it got it right. The second time, I chose a dog, and it got it right. The third time I chose collards, and it got it wrong, but - it guessed spinach and then bok choi. The fourth time, I chose a tick, and it got it right! The fifth time, I chose a Kangaroo, and it got it right, and the fifth time I chose a bubble, and it got it right! Amazing! This artificial intelligence beats any intelligence that I can come up with! And now I made myself turn it off - I can play with it when I go home tomorrow. Actually, I'll probably play with it after dinner. I don't feel like studying anymore. I've gone over all of the stuff I have to go over, and now all I have to do is go over it one or two more times. But I am so tired! I haven't had any caffeine today, and I didn't sleep very well last night. Maybe that will help me fall asleep at a decent hour tonight, so I can be fully rested for my Microbiology exam at eight. Groan. But hey - I've never had a B for a final grade in any course, not since middle school, so if I get one now, it won't hurt me that much. And to get a B, I have to score a 24, out of 100. I'm pretty sure I'll do better than that. I'm shooting for a 64 - that will give me an A. Enough of that. I don't want to think about it. Time for some Paula Dean. Mmmm. I love beef stew. Venison stew is better, but both are two of my favorite dishes.

Another Grade

PE: A
Philosophy: A
Now let me get my one last exam over with, then I can go home, and I honestly won't give a tinker's damn what my grades are. I'll be at home. That will make me happy beyond words. I'll be able to get a decent night's sleep, among other things. Just think: in forty-eight hours' time, I'll be alseep in my own, comfy, fullsize, antique bed.

Me vs. Gravity. Me lost.

And two seconds after I posted the previous entry, I stood up, took a step, and then promptly fell flat on my behind, taking my chair out with me. My foot and my ankle fell asleep, and therefore refused to support my weight, resulting in my ankle twisting in on itself (only slightly twisted, and therefore only slightly throbbing - oh, yes, the feeling is coming back), which ended in my falling like a rock, from standing tall to landing almost perfectly horizonal in o.2 microseconds flat. She stood up, and then she was down for the count. It's quite funny, even if my ankle is sending mutinous barbs of pain up my leg. Please, laugh at your leisure.

I Quit!

I'm neet to join the group FINALS: F*ck, I never actually learned (this) sh*t. But, see, I did. And that's the sad part. Because I can't recall it. Expletive. But I quit for the night. I finished with organic chemistry today - I studied when I woke up, after maybe five hours sleep, and then I took the exam, I don't really care how I did (I get numb when I think about it). And then I came back to my room with some food. I didn't realize that I hadn't eaten anything before the exam until my stomach started growling as I started the exam. So, I finished the exam, bought a sub, came back to my room, and watched some show on National Geographic about the Kursk - the Russian nuclear sub that sank in the artic sea, resulting in the deaths of 118 souls inside. It was very depressing and sad. I really feel bad for the men who lost their lives, and for the loved ones they left behind - I hope nothing like that ever happens again. But the show was very interesting - all about the recovery of the submarine - what it took just to get to it, and then to bring it to the surface, and try to figure out what went wrong. And then I turned off the telly and dived into microbiology. I'm about one quarter through. Whoopee. Note sarcasm. I just want to cry or bang my head into a wall and then cry. But I'll reserve that for tomorrow night. Now, I need a shower, and some Love Actually. And I am actually somewhat happy- I had two phone calls today. They may have been brief, but they were from two people who are very important to me, so they made my day. And now, adieu. I must rest.

Daily Update

Yay! I'm finally done studying for the day. I have to start studying again the moment I wake up, though. Boo-hiss. And then after that, I get to take the big-ass final exam. And then after that, I get to start studying for Microbiology. I'll start that tomorrow - portion off a chunk to get through by tomorrow night, and then take it easy. Thursday, I'll start the indepth studying for Microbiology, and thankfully, Callie will be back by then, so when I feel like banging my head into something hard and/or sharp, or when I feel like sobbing about what a useless-know-nothing I am, I won't. Sigh. Just think, I'll be at home in 72 hours. I am so ready to go home.

Estoy Cansada

Two exams down, two to go. Unfortunately, my last two exams also happen to be the hardest exams - Organic Chemistry and Microbiology. Fortunately, I don't have to perform up to my usual standard to make an A in either class. But, both classes are quite hard, and I am tired. I've started to study for Organic, but I'll do the real studying tomorrow - all [expletive deleted] day. Sigh. And they say college is supposed to be fun. But I took the night off - mainly because my brain was threatening to go on permanent holiday if I didn't give it a break and some classic entertainment - so I cleaned the room and then watched a very very funny movie - one of my favorites. I had forgotten how funny it was - and thank goodness for youtube.com - Robin Hood Men in Tights never comes on TV in the complete form anymore. Now I have The Two Towers playing on the telly, so I'm going to bid you goodnight and go lie down. I am beat. Why is it that I can fall asleep anywhere, under all conditions, except for when I have to be up early? Oh, bugger it. I'm off to bed.

Attention

Now hear this, now hear this: Darren, otherwise known as Rina, is now on my A++++ list. This is a promotion from my A+++ list. That is all.

Yo Concedo

I give up! I am done with studying for the day, and considering that I have to be awake in eight hours to take the exams, that's a good thing. It means that I'll have close to eight hours to sleep, and I always function better with that amount of sleep. Don't get me wrong - I can function on any amount of sleep, and on no sleep - I've done that several times (last year's finals come to mind), but I work best on about eight hours. Enough of sleep. I've been studying all day - I actually started studying on Friday, which is unbelievable for me, if you know me. The sad thing is that when I finish the two exams tomorrow, I'm not going to get a break - I have to turn around and start studying for my organic chemistry exam on Wednesday. Bah Humbug. And then when I finish that one, I have to start studying immediately for microbiology. But the good news is that on Friday, at noon, my Dad will be here to take me home for my Christmas vacation. Wonderful. Now back to listening to clips of Evita - I love Evita (I love Antonio Banderas, and the music of Evita). Tell me before you get onto your high horse, just what you expect me to do?...Better to win by admitting my sin than to lose with a halo...allow me to help you slink off to the sidelines and mark your adieu with three cheers...go if you're able to somewhere unstable and stay there! Whip up your hate in that tottering state but not here dear, is that clear dear?...What is the good of the strongest heart in a body that's falling apart?...What's new, Buenos Aires?...A new Argentina, the voice of the people cannot be denied...He supports you, undertands you, for he loves you, is one of you, if not, how could he love me?...Don't cry for me Argentina, the truth is I never left you, all through my wild days, my mad existence, I kept my promise, don't keep your distance...So what happens now? Where am I going to? You'll get by you always have before. Where am I going to? Don't ask, anymore...Santa, Santa Evita, Madre de todos los niños, de los descamisados, de los tiranizados, de los trabajadores, de la Argentina...But who is this Santa Evita? Why all this howling, hysterical sorrow? What kind of Goddess has lived among us? How will we ever get by without her? She had her moments, she had some style. The best show in town was the crowd outside the Casa Rosada crying Eva Perón! But that's all gone now...

Awww fest for the day!

Read this article from CNN - it's so sweet! It almost makes me wish I had a child to try this with. Calm down! I said almost. Letters to Santa

Callie's Perspective

Here's one of Callie's posts from her blog It's not about words.

"Jessicaism

I was looking through my friend Heather's facebook photos a few minutes ago. Heather goes to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. As I was looking through her photos, I noticed that many of the Liberty kids had a lot of piercings. I turned to Jessica and said "Man, these Christian kids have a lot of piercings." She answered, "Yeah, because they want to be holy." "

Family Photos!

Here some pictures of my great-niece Kayla and my great-nephew Tyler. Their mother is my niece, Michelle, who is my oldest sister Renee's firstborn daughter. Aren't they cute?!?

A good day it has been

It has been a good day. I woke up (before eleven, if you can imagine that) and jumped right into Descartes' meditations. After I finished studying that lecture, I hopped in the shower, then hopped out, and studied some Locke, and then some Berkeley. I took a break, ate some breakfast (pork ramen noodles) and then settled back for a break - What Not to Wear and A Cookie Cooking show. I couldn't believe that on the holiday cookie cooking show, not one of the chefs made the all-time greatest cookie in the world - a chocolate chip cookie! What is wrong with them? Sure, sometimes I'll eat a raisin-oatmeal cookie, and sometimes I'll eat a peanut butter cookie, and sometimes I'll eat oreos, but I will always eat a chocolate chip cookie. Especially when they are hot from the oven and the dark chocolate is all gooey and messy. Ok, must stop, I'm getting hungry. Callie came back just after I settled into some Freewill and Determinism notes, and we talked for a bit, but organic chemistry beckoned her away while Philosophy of Mind tried to suck out what remained of my mind. Callie and I went to dinner after that (dining hall, love the atmosphere, not so happy about the food, although they did have the chocolate and peanut butter brownies that I love). They had the cutest little pears there, so I had to take one to keep my tiny tangerine company beside my keyboard. I then finished up Philosphy of Mind and realized that I had reached my goal for the day. The way I study is to write everything out that I need to know one time, and then I read over it, over and over and over again. It works for me, it's just time consuming. So, having reached my goal, I am left facing an evening of me time. That makes me somewhat happy. I'm also having a good hair day, which gives me mixed feelings. I'm happy about having great hair, but I'd rather have great hair for more important occasions. I've got another exam on Monday to study for, but I don't have to start worrying about it until tomorrow night (it's spanish - how hard can it be?). In my free time I have already redone the look of my blog. I love it - it's all blue and silvery. Now I think I might actually finish some sketches I started over a year ago. I know. Time just gets away from me like that.

First Official Grade of the Season

It's exam season and I have my first official grade: Microbiology Lab A+. Woohoo! I guess I was correct in determining the identity of my unknown for the lab report. But at least now I don't have to worry about it. One down, five more grades to come. (Official means that they have been posted online on the registration and records website here at NCSU). Now, on to some Descartes.

Ten things to tell

First of all, it's COLD outside. God it's cold!

Second, I'm still sick, unfortunately, but I'm hoping that a good night's sleep will help cure that.

Third, I really don't feel like studying. Primarily because it's no fun, and secondly because I just don't feel like it. Time for the Scarlett O'hara philosphy: I can study tomorrow, after all, tomorrow is another day...

Fourth, I will be done with two classes in three days, with one more in five days, and the last one in seven days, which means that in exactly seven days, I will be at home. What I'll be doing at home remains to be seen, but at least I'll be somewhere in Carteret county.

Fifth, being done with my classes means that I will be able to sell at least two of my text books, so I might make twenty or so dollars, which I need to buy some Christmas gifts.

Sixth, Callie has gone home for the night, which means that I am free to do what I want. Which I do when she's here, so it's no real difference. I've sung a few songs, read a few pages, sung a bit more (I like to try and sing; it doesn't always work), and now I'm thinking of doing a puzzle.

Seventh, I have to stay up until at least one tonight so I can check my grades online. Oscar, my Microbiology TA said our grades should be up, but he wouldn't email them to us because he didn't want to send fifty different emails. Oh well.

Eighth, I managed to pull off an A in my PE class. I don't know how, I don't know why, I'm just happy with the what, and the what is an A. Where's the problem?

Ninth, I've discovered that the only reason I like watching What Not to Wear and Covershot and other makeover shows is because I like to watch them do their hair. I'm a bit of an artist, and an artist can always appreciate another artist's work. I think my hair looks all right, and I did that using my artistic whatnot and a pair of scissors.

Tenth, I am now going to return to my solitary little existence and try to stay awake for three more hours. Oooo, hot apple cider, jalapeño jack cheese, crackers, and something else, I forget. Yawn.

IT'S FREEZING OUTSIDE

I apologize

I just realized something about myself: when I start to go loopy, I start to cuss. A lot. I think I've been letting them fly for the past hour or more pretty dang freely. That also happened to coincide with the wearing off of the tylenol and decongestant that I've been taking since Tuesday. My voice became gradually thicker as my sinuses started acting up again, which led to the said loopy condition taking root in my brain, and then my verbal primness went on vacation as the swear words inserted themselves into perfectly innocent sentences. Self realization is so fun! Damn! Sorry. Even Callie thinks I'm very loopy right now. I know! I'm drunk on happiness! Precisely. Exactly. With your usual acuteness you have hit the nail squarely on the head. Excellent. Good night!

"When I was growing up, we were very poor so all we would get for Christmas were these little batteries with notes attached that read, 'toy not included.' "

Final Calculations

It's that time of year again ... finals start on Monday. So, it's time for me to do some calculations. Not to brag, but I've been pretty constant throughout the semester with good grades, so finals shouldn't be too stressful.
So, what is the minium score I can make on each final and still make an A in the class?

Microbiology: 68
Organic Chemistry: 79
Spanish Literature: 72
Philosophy: 95

Funny that the one class that doesn't have anything to do with my major or my minor should require the highest final score, but it's the one class where the final is worth the most out of the overall grade, so it makes sense. Kind of. Bugger Philosophy. The organic final is worth the next most and consequently it requires a higher grade. Spanish and Microbiology are worth the same, but I have more extra credit in Microbiology (the same Microbiology where my professor told us that no extra credit would be given). My schedule is as follows: Monday I have Philosphy at 8am and Spanish at 1pm. Wednesday I have Organic at 1pm. Friday I have Microbiology at 8 am. And then I'm free until January!! I literally cannot wait. I wish I had a fast forward button so I could get through these next eight days. The end is so close, so tantalizingly close, but yet so far away! Sigh. One week and one day and I will be on my way home!

I'm afraid I've been thinking, a dangerous pastime I know

Here are some of the thoughts and chains of thoughts that are currently floating through my mind. I apologize in advance; what follows is going to be very jumbled up and won't make much sense and will probably make you shake you head for a while. Ok, here goes.

My back has been hurting since Thanksgiving break. I know I've complained enough about it, so let me just say that I happened to mention something about it hurting last weekend, and that I hurt it during my Thanksgiving break, and what was the first thing my family (almost in unison) asked me? Well, to say it bluntly here would be quite embarrassing, so let me just say they made some semi-crude speculations as to when the back-hurting occurred, and where, and how, and some more of those w-questions. They, of course, were quite wrong, the entire lot of cheeky blighters that they are. But that scene keeps replaying in my head for some reason. Maybe it was because my Dad was one of the first to speculate - that was pretty unsettling. Anyway, moving on...

I previously mentioned that for Chris and Miki's wedding that I had planned to wear jeans. And then I mentioned that that possibility was explicitly denied, do not pass go, do not collect two-hundred dollars. My first response was to say that I wasn't going. That was met in the same manner as a parent confronting a petulant child. It came to pass that I was threatened (by at least four people sitting round the table - Mom, Dad, Darren, and Kim - I know your names, be afraid!) into agreeing to go shopping to find a suitable outfit. What was the threat? Wouldn't you like to know. But, I think I got back at the girls - who now know for sure not to get me any clothes for Christmas or any other gift-giving occasion. And then I was told by all of the girls that I would be a perfect candidate for TLC's What Not to Wear. My Mom did a [terrible] impression of my saying no to all of their selections, "No, no, no, no, no..." and so on. I can't help it if they have bad taste! I can't help it if my tastes run to the simple and plain (like me!). However, I think I would be fine on What Not to Wear because when I shop by myself, I get along just fine, thank you very much. My only problem would be having Stacy and Clinton throw away all of my old clothes - I get too sentimentally attached to stuff, including clothing, and I think I'd probably do some eye-gouging if they tried to take away my comfort clothes.

And along those same lines, I have noticed a dramatic increase in the level of teasing aimed at me over the past few weeks. What gives? But do I mind? Not really. I actually kinda like it. This way I know they love me. Sigh. They can tease me all they want because I am exceedingly happy and nothing they do is going to pop my bubble. So, Nah-na-na-na-nah!

And then a funny story. The other day I was telling Callie (I was in a rambling mood) that I was very glad to be done with my organic chemistry lab because most everything we did in lab was not covered in lecture prior to the specific labs, so we were basically going into lab, being expected to know what was going on, and we didn't have a clue. My TA finally caught on halfway through the semester, and she told us something along the lines of she just realized that Dr. Sandberg hadn't covered this material in class yet which meant that we were screwed, basically. It was then that I said to Callie that we were indeed screwed because my TA couldn't explain shit. And then Callie pipes up and says, "I can explain shit!" And she can, because she just covered the digestive tract in her animal science class and can explain to me thoroughly every step in the poo-making process, including why poo is colored the way it is colored. Isn't that funny?

The Holiday

I want to see The Holiday. I love Kate Winslet and I love Jack Black. I can't stand Jude Law and too much Cameron Diaz, but the plot seems charming and funny. I want to see this movie! My brain feels like chocolate pudding so I can't think of anything else to say. Nope. Blast seasonal ills.

Wedding Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The pictures from Darren and Kim's wedding are finally available. (If you don't have a link, email me and I'll send you one). The pictures are phenomenal! Oh, what memories. Going through each picture was like reliving that day - everything was just like I remembered - the places, the sights, the people - amazing! And, looking at the pictures has caused me to reevaluate my very, very, very (ad infinitum) distant wedding plans. Previously, I had planned on eloping. (If you know my family, you'll know that eloping was never an option, so this "change in plans" is more of a not-so-grudging acceptance of the inevitable). Eloping just seemed so easy - me, some guy insane enough to marry me, a witness, and someone to perform the ceremony - no sentimental moments to make me bawl like being walked down the aisle and being given away and trying to sit through the reading of Corinthians. But now, as an artistic person, I see the beauty in a wedding like Darren and Kim's. I love the beach - I always have, hopefully I always will. I don't think I could live somewhere permanently that didn't have access to a beach. Now I want to have a very simple and small wedding on the beach somewhere. I'd like to walk down the aisle barefoot, with my toes tickling the sand. The pictures would be excellent - I'd actually want to see a picture of me if it had the beach in it! So, not a very big change, and even if so, it's in the very far-off future, so why bother worrying about it now? No reason. Exactly. Oooga. My brain is beyond cooked; it's either charred and looks like a walnut-sized lump of coal, or it's soggy like bad vanilla pudding. I can't decide. Thank goodness that if I am getting sick, it's during dead week and not during finals week. See, I can see the bright side to everything.

Let's just chill....

Just in case you were wondering what the hell I was talking about and what everyone was laughing about, check this out: Chill

Random notes:

Callie and I watched The Polar Express just a few minutes ago. At the part when the elves start lifting up the bag of presents for Santa's sleigh, Callie asked me if that was Santa's sack. Regardless of how innocent the question was, dirty-minded me went all silent and got this weird look on my face. I know that I wasn't alone in the gutter because Callie started laughing right away, and then called me a perv. But she started it! But I got back at her because at all the really sentimental moments, she got all choked up, so I made fun of her when I wasn't too choked up. Hey, I can't help it, I'm a big softie and sentimental stuff really gets to me. Oh do shut up!

There was something else- you'll have to check back in to see if I remember it. For now, good night! I know I'm having a good night!

Just a quick note...

I think I'm going crazy. I am crazy. I have lost my mind. I can't concentrate, minutes pass like hours, I want to bang my head into the wall for being the blind and stupid moron that I am, and I just don't feel like doing anything constructive, which is going to be a problem next week during finals. I'm also cold and wondering why the weather has decided all of a sudden to act its season by cranking up the blast freezer when I was perfectly happy with mid-fifties degree weather. And I'm a social idiot. So, to make a jumbled and rambling story short, I am crazy. Thank God I'm a penguin.

Callieism

Callie and I were watching TLC's A Baby Story, and a commercial came on for this show about these hellion children whose parents just wanted them to behave and didn't know how to make that happen. I said that when I got married and had children someday, spanking would be enforced in my household - my future children may act like hellions, but they'll do it with sore bottoms. Hee hee hee. Spanking did me a lot of good growing up until my Mom refused to let my Dad spank us anymore. Callie agreed that when she was in a similar future situation, there would be spanking in her household, especially between her and her husband. HA HA!

Save Santa A Trip...

Be Naughty. Hmmmm...tempting, very tempting....

Question:

Should all new parents be required to take a parenting class? Yes, No, Maybe (source: www.talksexwithsue.com)

My opinion: No. All prospective parents should be required to take AND PASS a parenting class, as well as a common sense class and an IQ test. Notice the stress on passing the course - It is way to easy to get into our gene pool right now!

Your opinion:...leave a comment (you don't have to have a blogger account to comment - just click on the anonymous link!)

A Wedding, A Birthday, and the Good Times in between...

The weekend is over unfortunately, but it was such a good weekend! So, let me recount it in my usual chronological order, but I'm going to spice it up with some photos. Oh happy happy joy joy!

Friday came and classes went. The trip home was uneventful. Dad and I stopped at the commissary to pick up Saturday night's dinner, and then at the package store for some libations. I went home and then cleaned my room so that Darren and Kim, who were on their way by then, would have a semi-clean place to sleep. Then I made the birthday cake for Darren and then frosted it. Mom and Dad went shopping to find a present for Miki and Chris's wedding on Saturday, and they got home just in time to greet Darren and Kim. We talked for a bit, looked at some pictures of their wedding, and then called it a night. I shared a room with my sister Rebecca, who had already gone to sleep, and as I went to get into the bed, she said, "across the street." The words aren't that significant, but the fact that she said them in a dead sleep is. Funny, too. Becca left the room sometime around eight, which was too early for me, so I relished in the opportunity to sprawl across her queensize bed for a little longer. Breakfast on Saturday was a fresh Belgium waffle with the syrup of my choice, and then it was time for the girls to go and take me shopping for an outfit to wear to the wedding. I was told quite forcefully that jeans were not an option. Dammit. But, we were victorious in finding me something simple to wear, and then it was back home to get ready for the wedding. The wedding itself was a simple affair (the best kind), and Rebecca and I took plenty of pictures. Chris and Miki seemed genuinely happy, and I was happy for them. There was a lunch afterwards, and then I got to see Cameron (Miki's 8-year-old son whom you may recall my mentioning him during Thanksgiving). Cameron took my camera and wanted to see all of the pictures I had taken (he deemed them satisfactory) and then he took a picture of me. I showed him how, and then Kim put her head on my shoulder so I wouldn't be the only one in the shot (which is how I prefer it!), and then Cameron got kind of quiet, but took the picture, and then said that he wanted to take one of just me. And then when we were getting cake, he asked Kim if Kim and I were best buds, and we said yes, and then he said that he thought me and him were best buds. I think I have a boyfriend! (ha-ha) Callie says that I am the wedding whore because ...well, never mind. So anyway, the wedding was great and then it was over. We went home and everyone but me scambled to get changed into comfortable clothing. I had to get the rolls on, so I got busy with pouring the flour and adding yeast, and then making sure it was kneading well, and then I got to get changed. We five kids went and played croquet (Darren won both times), and then we went inside to play Mad Gab. By the time dinner rolled around, we had eleven people sitting around our table - conditions were cramped but definitely not uncomfortable. Dinner was chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, collards, and rolls. And then we did the Birthday thing - presents, cards, you know, cake, ice cream, candles, and so on. We had fun with Darren - but he's so much fun to pick on, especially when it's his birthday. After that, we all just talked, and I think that was the best part of the evening. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Unfortunately, the night had to end, so we said good bye to all of our guests. But there was a beacon of light at the end of that - Ribbon boy returned! And then Kim and I stayed up talking until after two, and then I stayed up later so I could get a shower, and then I got to sleep. Becca woke me up just before breakfast so I could wake up some, and then we all tucked into some french toast. Then we all talked for several hours, and alternated throwing balls of chocolate at eachother and blowing bubbles outside. And then it was time for good bye, Darren and Kim left, then my Dad and I left. And now here I am. Sorry, probably not very interesting, but I'm tired, so that's all you're getting. Good night!

By the way...

I've redecorated. I like Christmas. Tough titties. (it's an expression I learned from my British professor) Deal with it. 'tis the season...