You Think My Smock is Sexy?

Who just applied to be a blue-smock-wearing, minimum-wage-making retail monkey?

Yeah, baby, yeah...you know you want it.

Have to supplement the other job somehow...this is the best somehow I've come up with today.

The Height of Suck

I don't "need" to take my summer class, so I don't "need" any financial aid. Uncle Sam won't lend me anymore money.

I'll be living in a sedan* down by the river if anyone needs me...

* Can't afford a van.

Chasing My Tail

I can't do "A" until I do "B".

I can't do "B" until I do "A".

Hmm. Clearly I should have planned this better.

Also Inexplicable

My neighbors are apparently building a tree house or something in their apartment.

Two hammers, wood, and an hour of banging.

Unless they are building some goddamned furniture or new kitchen cabinets, their project should have been over long ago.

Plus, they stopped when one of the maintenance guys drove up in his cart. So they are obviously up to no good.

Time to let the iPod drown it all out...some of us have papers to write!

Spam and Sadists

Spam: "We've caught you naked, jenelle.spinster! Click to see it."

Me: "I've already seen it." [/delete]
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So I went to the medical--excuse me--the Health Sciences Library, and I hadn't been there in well over a decade. And I really don't remember much of the time I did go there, except that a friend and I were randomly wandering around that side of campus one night and went in to see if there were any hot medical students we could sexually harass. (There weren't.)

But this was the first time I went to actually get a book, and I must say, the building was designed by a crazy person. Seriously. The old insane asylum was not too far away, and I'm guessing they had a contest amongst the lunatics.

They have scattered signs that ask, "Confused?" that then proceed to explain where you are and maybe where the next chronologically numbered book would be located. So it's not just me. I wandered in a circle (well, a triangle, actually) trying to find, let's say, an RH book by following the other Rs until I hit...the As. Inexplicable.

Eventually I found my book and went to the building directory by the elevator to figure out where I might check it out, and when I was waiting for the nice checker lady to help me, I asked, "Was this building designed by a sadist or what?"

She totally agreed without hesitation, and said it had won all kinds of architectural awards, but was obviously designed by someone who knew nothing about libraries. Plus the skylights leak when it rains. Fun!

Fun With Big State Universities

So you decided you want to do a report on euthanasia and cultural responses to the same, eh?

Well, guess what?

All the euthanasia books are in either the medical library, psych library (there's a psych library?!), or the law library, so have fun running all over campus, fool! Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

A Test of Fortitude and Stamina

Since I'm sticking around for the summer semester, I figured I may as well take an elective class for funsies. So I signed up for an evening class that meets twice a week.

For over 3 hours at a time.

Strange how I didn't really notice that part before. Bleh. I hope the prof is interesting, or I'll be dying of boredom at about 7:30 (the halfway mark) every Tuesday and Thursday.

I'm in an evening class now, and I've taken plenty of them before, and let me tell you: it gets hard to stay in an evening class at the end of the spring semester. The weather's nice...there are bars across the street with patios...

Maybe the summer won't be so bad if I'm in air conditioning. Oooh, let me check which classroom it is. [checking] Okay, cool, it's in a modernly air-conditioned room. So hopefully that will be a draw, since I am living without A/C until I graduate.

A Quandary

So. I will not be graduating in May. Some recommendations were made about additional certifications and whatnot and it was discussed with the parents who urged the not-graduating-in-May option (surprisingly), and so I will be graduating in August.

My dad, though? When I first told him? Or, actually, Mom first told him? He says, "But I've already told everybody you're graduating in May."

I replied, "Who's everybody?"

He replied, "Well, [Uncle B] and [Aunt M]."

We looked at each other, both knowing 2 people in a family of about a hundred is not "everybody." Even if telling [Aunt M] will ensure half of "everybody" hears about it eventually. I finally responded, "Well...they're not coming to the ceremony, right?"

He said, "Right."

I replied, "Well there you go." If nobody is coming to the event, changing the time of the event is no big whoop.

So after a month of panic attacks and sleepless nights trying to make a decision, I finally told my parents and besides Dad's initial weirdness, they were all on board. Which made my decision for me.

The real quandary in this story, though, now revolves around my living situation. The last day of summer classes will be August 1. The last day of my summer lease extension will be July 30. Non-negotiable. Even though my landlord is the U. Let's look at a calendar:

So I have to be completely moved out by noon on July 30. A weekday, btw. Right before my for-real final final exams, btw.

This is not exactly what I'd call "convenient."
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Also, they're doing their spring pest control this week. Which requires me to empty out all the contents of my kitchen and bathroom cupboards and drawers. Where the heck am I supposed to put all that stuff?!

Old People are Crazy

This building is a museum. There are no tennis courts, no swimming pool, no athletic facilities of any kind. You have us confused with another building. I don't know which other building, either.

Go away now...go...go away...go go...away...

Fantasy Time

Part of this conversation did not happen...

Him: Don't you get bored, sitting here all day?

Me: No, I usually do my homework.

Him: Oh, you're a student here? What's your major?

Me: History and anthropology.

Him: (contemptuously) Oh, that'll get you a job.

Me: In a museum, hopefully.

Him: (snottily) Which you already have. You may as well drop out and save some money.

Me: Or I may as well kick you square in the nuts.

Who talks to a total stranger like that? Jerkoff.
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Speaking of history, looks like a former history-type blog is being resurrected. If you're into that sort of thing.

New Rule

If you are doing a group project and not really doing anything, STFU.

I really hate group projects for classes. I should not be graded based on the work or lack thereof of other people.

And I should not have to argue with someone over every little thing when that someone can't even be bothered to do their own part of the workload.

AND I do not care if you are phobic about public speaking, you are not going to try to dictate a whole presentation and then not have to give any part of it.

Good Morning

Just got a university alert call about an "active shooter" in the area...but can't find any other information yet.

The alert described a white male in his 40s and gave a license plate number, so it doesn't sound like it was actually on campus.

I'm annoyed the U's homepage doesn't have any information at all yet.

UPDATE 8:30--Still nothing on the U's homepage. Just send a message to the entire student body about a shooter and then give no more information...nice.

Nothing on the local news, either. One channel just reported about the alert, but had no additional info. WTF?

UPDATE 8:35--just got the emailed alert, but still no more info. On campus? Off campus? Go to class? Stay inside for now? Needless to say, I'm not venturing out for an "active" shooter, but does a 19 y.o. kid with an exam at 8:30 or 9:30 feel as comfortable making that decision?

UPDATE 8:40--another alert call, saying there is no specific threat to any U bldg or persons.

And the 8:45 email: There is no specific threat to any University Building or employee. Do not call police departments unless you have specfic information. Updates will follow.

UPDATE 8:48--the local news finally got some info...the guy shot multiple people in a home off-campus, then fled. Also, the U finally updated its homepage, saying there is no reason to believe the guy will target the U: Classes and University activities are proceeding as scheduled.

Apparently the public schools are on lockdown while they look for the shooter.

UPDATE 9:28--I couldn't figure out why the alleged shooter's name sounded familiar. Turns out he's been in the news lately:

On Feb. 12, according to a Register report, Steven Francis Sueppel was indicted on charges of embezzling and laundering almost $560,000 from Hills Bank & Trust, where he was vice president and controller, over a seven-year period.

UPDATE 10:05--Looks like he (allegedly) killed his wife and four kids and possibly himself. Wife and kids at home, self by crashing his vehicle.

I want to believe there is a Hell at times like these.

Spring Break

Normally, Spring Break would have begun for me yesterday at 3:30...but instead, we have a stupid group project due the week afterwards, so we're meeting to work on it tonight. You know, before everyone leaves town.

Bleh, group projects. How I despise thee.

So last night I camped out at the library until midnight (the magic hour when the university stops staffing the parking ramps and you get out for free), working on my part of the research. At least it's a fun topic, which will probably eventually find its way onto this blog. Or some other blog. Hmm. Actually, it'd be better for a different blog, so nevermind.

Will I have any Spring Break adventures? Maybe, baby. I am staying in town, working, for the first half, and a day trip is planned for that time. Then I am bolting altogether for the second half.

I want to do some spring cleaning and even some packing while I'm in town...I have to move in a couple months. (!)

I'll also have to do some schoolwork/studying, but that's not the worst thing in the world.

I might have some adult beverages. I hear some sort of drinking holiday is coming up...

$20 Parking

Well, I took a chance, parking in a permit lot close to where I wanted to be today, and I of course got busted. Tricksey Parking Enforcement...they always catch me.

Anywho, it's not that I have nothing to blog about, it's just that I'm camping out at the library when I'm not in class. More of the same tomorrow...even though it's really crowded this week and I hate that. I definitely get more done there than at home, where there are too many distractions like cable tv, the internet, and my telephone.

I did come home early to catch the second run of the new South Park, which I thought was pretty good. Kyle beating the living hell out of Cartman is always a good thing, and he certainly deserved the beatdown tonight.

At a Loss

So this is midterm week (next week is Spring Break, woo!), and tomorrow I have to turn in a "first draft" of a 15-page research paper. The final paper is due at the end of the semester.

I don't know what the hell to do about this "first draft"...to me, a first draft is practically the final draft. Minor grammatical and sentence structure revisions are all that stand between my first drafts and final drafts.

So I guess I turn in some POS paper that is only half-done? Then the teacher gets to rip it apart and make suggestions, and then at the end of the semester I turn in some awesomeness that she gets to assume the credit for shaping and directing?

Is this high school now? WTF? It's an upper-level class. I don't get it.
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Now go help Frank J find a job.

It'll be good practice for you, because in May you'll need to help me find a job.

Looking Busy is an Artform

And I am truly an artist.

Therefore, it is very easy to spot the amateur...the girl at the function who isn't really interested in reading every single word of a boring pamphlet, but who is actually just too insecure to stand there with nothing to do.

You can't spend 15 minutes staring intently at a piece of paper that has about one minute of content on it. You have to mix it up!

Very Helpful

So to graduate, I have to submit a portfolio showing I'm not a total dumbass, and can in fact produce reasonably intelligent academic research.

Before this semester started, I asked the Person Who Should Know questions about the portfolio, including whether or not there was some sort of deadline.

There was no indication that there was a deadline, so I figured part of my Spring Break could be spent putting together my portfolio.

This afternoon I got an email from the Person Who Should Know "reminding" me that the deadline is tomorrow, and if I don't meet it, I'll be charged a late fee.

That's special.

New Policy

If the professor can't make it to class because of the weather, neither can I. I don't care if the professor's peon can make it to class in the professor's stead.

No professor=no me.
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Additionally, the funniest part of the Jimmy Kimmel/Ben Affleck video has to be Josh Groban...unexpected and awesome.

Blue Moons and Purple Toes

So with the bad winter we've had, I've previously mentioned classes have been cancelled twice. That is a rarity indeed, my friends, and I'm convinced they only cancelled them because they were worried about getting their asses sued off for all the slip-and-falls. Cold weather leading to frostbite? They don't care. Snowdrifts in the middle of the sidewalk and unplowed streets? They don't care. Ice? Hmm, maybe they'll think about caring.

Anywho, there has been conversation amongst the powers that be about improving/clarifying the cancellation policy...both times that classes were cancelled, it was after the earlier morning classes had already started. Now, like many other, more traditional students, I personally avoid scheduling any classes before 10:30 if I can possibly help it, but even the best of us end up in a 9:30 from time to time. And the crazies sign up for those 8:30 abominations. (I did that once...my first semester out of high school...that was the end of that.)

Now, views on cancellation vary widely amongst the professors. Like this fool:

[The U] could revert to the old policy of never canceling classes - to which one faculty member enthusiastically nodded his head in agreement

Notice he goes unnamed. We wouldn't want every student until endtimes avoiding taking his classes, now would we?

The other end of the crazy-professor spectrum is best represented by one of my current profs, who has twice not made it to class herself but sent her teaching assistant to lead class--which we were expected to attend. WTF?

For the most part, the U's unwillingness to cancel classes puts the responsibility on the individual professors...and some of them cancel their individual classes. When you have 3 classes, and 2 are cancelled, you're still expected to make it to the 3rd. So that has its own degree of lameness. Plus, professors let you know about cancellations through email. If you're on campus for an uncancelled class and not checking your email regularly, you may not know about a cancellation until you show up for the newly cancelled class and get lonely.

Whatever they do to the policy, there will always be unhappiness...but at least maybe they can clear up some of the confusion. And let people know the whole U has cancelled classes before all the support staff and half the student body show up.

Money = Educamation

So, if you have $25000 a year for tuition, you can totally go to grad school even if you were a 2.50 GPA kinda student.

Good to know, even though I'm a higher than 2.50 GPA kinda student.

Very Bad

I'm writing a paper right now that is due tomorrow. It will be double ungood if I end up staying awake all night...as I also have an exam tomorrow.

This paper has a "suggested length" of 2000 words. I'm thinking 1200 will be sufficient. :-p I'm up to 400.

Papers would sure be a lot easier if I could just write them without the pesky citations slowing me down. Damn you, academic standards!

Sweet

Classes have just been cancelled for the 2nd time this winter...it is incredibly rare for the U to cancel classes, so this is a special moment.

I am going to celebrate by going back to bed.

UPDATE: It's cool they cancelled classes and all, but the U went a little crazy with the emergency notifications. Cell phone call, home phone call, and 3 text messages besides the email notice and homepage newsflash.

Oh, and I did go to bed, but I didn't fall back asleep. Listened to music for awhile as I snuggled in my warm bed. Niiice.

Presented Without Commentary

Got an email from the instructor of my late afternoon class: because of the expected snowstorm, she won't be coming to class today. She'll have her assistant lead the class and the lab for us today.

The snowfall predictions are at "6-12+ inches" right now.

I Am Not a Babysitter

...but I can be for a price.

At my work, there are meetings and events. And normally the adults partaking in these meetings and events leave the kids at home unless it is appropriate to bring them here.

On the rare occasion (like today) when a parent thinks their kids can entertain themselves here while Mommy attends a two-hour meeting, I become a babysitter. Because no kids related to each other can entertain themselves in a work environment for two hours.

I basically get paid to sit on my ass, doing homework and getting up only on the rare occasion I need to help someone...but helping little kids not die of boredom is not on my list of duties. If someone throws a few extra dollars my way, I'll put on a puppet show or something, but until then, they can continue to lie prone on the ground near death from the tediousness of it all.

At least they're not acting up. Good kids, dying without a whimper. I almost like them.

Money is a Friend of Mine

He just doesn't come around as often as I'd like.

Had some extra expenses recently...medical, auto, and the like. (People who hit a car, obviously damage it, and drive off without reporting it oughta be smited. Smote? Whatevs. They SUCK beyond all reason.) Let's just say I've been eating a lot of ramen the last month or so...

Then I got a check for that sweet, sweet financial aid money I'm such a fan of lately. After paying ridiculous amounts of money for books, tending to other expenses, and figuring out what was left, it seemed...short. It seemed like I got more in August, and it should have been the exact same amount as what I got in August.

Eventually decided it really did seem short, and looked into it, and it was short...for reals. So now I have to turn in a form that somehow got lost in the shuffle, wait a bit, and get the rest of my monies. Happy day.

Still not eating steak, but maybe I can eat chicken occasionally instead of "chicken-flavored" ramen.
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UPDATE, 7:40 pm--Holy crap, you guys, I just submitted my graduation application. Assuming I pass everything this semester, this is it.

Scheduling

I must say, being a senior makes me want to stay in school forever just because I finally have enough semester hours to get first pick of all classes.

This semester, I never have to roll out of bed before 9 a.m., and I don't have any classes on Fridays.

Perfect. Even for a "grown-up".

And I got every single one of the classes I wanted, including one I've been trying to get into for years. Suck it, underclassmen.

Scam Artists!

My books for this semester cost $535. And I'm not taking any history classes (they tend to be multiple-book events). And one of my classes doesn't have any books at all. And half my books are used.

So what the hell?!
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If you walk in on your dirtbag boyfriend raping a 14-year-old, and you don't report it for a couple weeks, guess what? You're not the hero of the story, you fucking bitch!!!!! I don't care what your excuse is, so STFU. You're not getting a medal.
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Findmyhappyplacefindmyhappyplace...

And So It Ends

My final fall semester is complete. My last project was accepted without revisions, and I have nothing but free time on my hands.

I'm sure I'll figure out something to do with it.

Like wrap presents, clean the house, remind the bf I exist, read fiction, do laundry, catch up on Spears sisters gossip...the possibilities! They are endless!

Finals Week

It's late this year. It should have been last week...and most of my professors agreed, actually. So I only have one (take-home) final this week, and one project to tie up.

Camping out at the library is my studying style, especially since I know to get there during the dinner hour so I can score a prime seat (comfy and near the bathroom) before the evening rush.

I always get way more done at the library than at home, and it's not like I have obnoxious roommates bothering me at home, so I'm not sure what it is. Part of it is that I don't let myself leave until particular goals are met. Another part is that I stay out of the wi-fi areas and thus all my usual distractions (internet, tv, phone, kitchen, hot bath) are eliminated. I guess I'm sure why I get more done at the library after all...
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Finished my Christmas shopping this afternoon. I also sent out cards (postcards) finally. I wasn't going to, but then I felt guilty for some reason. An earlier postcard I sent--meant to arrive during Hannukah--took about a month (maybe less) to reach its destination, so I used the post office dropbox instead of my apartment complex dropbox. Maybe the cards will make it in time, maybe the cards will arrive for Valentine's Day. Time will tell...
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I am really into the parenthetical asides in this post, eh? "Parenthetical asides" is fun to think about saying in your head, too. Cool!
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Are Lindt's Lindor White Chocolate Truffles awesome? Yes, yes they are.

Professor Refuses to Teach Me Lesson

So I had an 8 page paper due some weeks back, and I put off doing it until the last possible second and then some...printing it off about the same time class started a couple miles away.

I was up all night working on it, and I thought the beginning went fine...then I thought the end was a giant rambling insane mess when I was just trying to meet the page requirements but had nothing productive to say. Plus was sleep-deprived and insane.

So I printed my 6 pages of incoherent insanity and slipped it under the professor's door during class (I'm not big on walking into class when there are 15 minutes left). Ballsy move, that, since he well could have not gone to his office after class and subsequently counted my paper late.

But the paper was not counted late. It was not graded down due to shortness issues. And he thought the last half of the paper was the strongest part.

Huh. Yay, procrastination, then.

Glass Trees

I was forced to leave my warm and dry abode today...I had to turn in one of my finals. It turned out reasonably well, I s'pose. The bus ride was not completely horrifying in either direction, and the sidewalks are largely clear and dry.

The trees, on the other hand, look like they're made of glass. Pretty, but a little unnerving to walk under.

Now I must start on my next final, due tomorrow morning. Maximum 6 pages, so I should be reasonably okay with that. Especially since I am loading up on sugar and caffeine with my Coke Zero and Hot Tamales.
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I was able to name this buttcrack...not because I am a student of his ass, but because of the "Hawkeyes" knit hat. Total giveaway.

Winter Storm Update

After chipping away at my car's windows, I ice-skated into work today. The melody of emergency vehicles playing in the distance has been pretty much constant since about 9:30.

I have a bet going with a co-worker at a different (busier) location that I will not see a soul today. I'm gonna win a dollar!

Will I be able to get back into my car at the end of the day, or will it be frozen solid? Outlook grim.

UPDATE: Excellent, the Des Moines "International" Airport closed after a plane slid off a taxiway. We're national news now, you betcha.

UPDATE 2: Ice/snow chunks are now falling from the building I work in. Will I be decapitated when I leave tonight? Stay tuned...

UPDATE 3: Home now. Won dollar=yes. Decapitation=no. Frozen car=yes. Luckily I have 4 doors, as the front two did not care to open. Opened back, slammed back, opened front next to back (passenger side), started car, set defrost, got scraper, scraped, managed with effort to open driver's door, drove away. Ta da! There are about two inches of frozen gunk on the ground. I walked on top of it, leaving no footprints, but when drove over it seemed slush-ish underneath.

I Could Move My Lazy Ass, But I Won't

So whoever designed this building that I am "working" in right now just sucks. See, I have my little work area that has no freaking heat vent within 20 feet of it, so that if I stay in my little work area, I freeze. It doesn't help that I am near the front doors, which do not have one of those nice little vestibules where you enter through two doors to cut down on wind/ice/snow coming through whenever someone opens the door.

Layers are my friends. But my hands still freeze.

Oh, and tomorrow we are all going to die!!! Ice storm!!! Run for your lives!!! Yeah, the local weather people are pretty excited, what with it being the first real Winter Storm! of the season. Should be another slow work day, then...

Oh, but so you don't think all I do is bitch...my skin has been awesome lately, after a rough patch at the beginning of the cold weather. Soft and smooth and clear. And my hair looks fab today.

Nickels and Dimes

Huh. In order to graduate, we have to apply to graduate, which is all well and good. But it costs $50. You'd think that would just be thrown into the whole tuition and fees thing that we pay, but no.

I have to pay $50 so someone can look at the same computer-generated report that I look at on a weekly basis that clearly states in red letters if I have or have not met a particular requirement for a particular degree.

Fuck you, state of Iowa.

Due in One Hour...

...have to eke out two more pages. Am starting to sound nonsensical, I fear.

I really need to examine why I am so (nearly?) self-destructive this semester.

You know, later.
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Oh, but did you see the new South Park last night? I just about laughed myself onto the floor when Kenny died. Old school South Park!

Seriously. Have to finish my paper now.

Waste of Time

It's a home game weekend, and everyone is all excited about the team again since they have a fair chance of becoming bowl-eligible...for The Toilet Bowl or similar, but still.

Anywho, when it is a home game weekend (we're talking football, here, btw, because no one gives a rat's ass about any other sport being at home...I mean, how many times can you get excited about the basketball team playing at home? You have to pace yourself. But I digress) I have to work two hours earlier on Saturday morning. So instead of working at 10 am, I work at 8 am. Which is pointless, because nobody knows we're open and nobody cares. Anyone wandering by before the game is trying to get to the stadium neighborhood to tailgate. So I get up at 7 am for NOTHING.

The University also pays me for two extra hours for NOTHING...but the important thing here is that I get up two hours early for NOTHING. On a Saturday.

This job is pretty cushy--I sit around doing whatever I want (within reason) until the odd 90-year-old alumnus hobbles in to look around (after the game). I can do my homework and get paid for it. Unless I am sleep-deprived and too stupid to do homework, in which case I watch my Law & Order: Criminal Intent DVDs (D'Onofrio!) or write a whiny blog entry. Ya know, whatever.

But what I'd really like to do is to sleep for two hours, unpaid. And they can take that extra money and put it towards heat, because this place is a frigging Frigidaire.

And yes, I would enjoy a nice hunk of cheddar now. Mmm, cheese. (Cheese with my whine, anyone? Anyone?)

You See, Bob, It's a Problem of Motivation

I just don't have any.

I have a night class this evening.

Should be a short one.

I have my homework done.

But not the homework for tomorrow.

I took a nap.

I keep thinking up excuses not to go to class.

Such as...I could take a(nother) nap.

And I hear the bus going by...I'll have to catch the next one.

Unless I decide to take a nap.

History Bias

Editorial:

History department at U of I flunks test of political diversity
Mark Bauerlein

October 10, 2007

What does "diversity" mean at the University of Iowa?

Its nondiscrimination statement provides a roll call of categories: "The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination ... on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference." The listing is customary - except for the final entry. Most people haven't heard of "associational preference," and it never comes up in discussions of affirmative action, workplace harassment or other issues.

But last May the question did arise, and in response an officer in Iowa's Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity named Jan Waterhouse clarified its meaning: "Associational preference within the University policy has been interpreted to include political affiliation."

So why, then, does the history department in the university have 27 registered Democrats and 0 registered Republicans? The most obvious political affiliation, party membership, falls completely on one side. Despite the sizable Republican population of Iowa, not a single representative has made it into the history faculty ranks.

Think of what would happen if other diversities suffered the same disparate outcome. A department of all men would spark an outcry, and rightly so. But nobody seems to worry about the political skew. Waterhouse's statement appears in a response to a complaint of discrimination on "associational preference" grounds filed by a candidate for a history post.

His name is Mark Moyar, a historian with an impressive record: bachelor's degree from Harvard, doctorate from Cambridge; two books, one with Cambridge University Press; laudatory recommendations from distinguished historians; and a growing record of public commentary in national periodicals. He is also a conservative, and his thesis about the Vietnam War - that it was a noble cause that could have triumphed had the United States supported its allies more vigorously - falls well on the right side of things.

When Moyar was passed over for the job and discovered that others selected for interviews had demonstrably inferior records, he assumed that political affiliation did indeed affect his candidacy. He asked the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity to investigate. The office concluded that there was no evidence that Moyar's application "was evaluated differently because of his political affiliation and/or conservative ideology."

Well, of course, there wasn't. That's not how faculty deliberations work. Nobody says in a committee meeting, "This guy's on the right, toss him out." They look at the publications and letters, judge the applicant's angle on things, and then speak about him as "a bad fit for the department," "not innovative enough," and other such shifty judgments.

This is not to say that Iowa should have hired Moyar. Although he should have made the interview stage, every search has several variables, and there are lots of good applicants out there. But when Moyar pointed out the lack of political diversity, the diversity office and the history department might at least have pondered the stunning lack of "associational preference" diversity in their ranks.

In hard-science fields, the issue isn't important, but in value-heavy areas of the humanities and history, political diversity is crucial. Students should hear the full range of opinion on open and controversial issues. Furthermore, employees and job candidates need to feel that their politics will not affect their status. That is why the non-discrimination statement includes "associational preference" in its list, and why "associational preference" covers political affiliation.

The university pledges to honor diversity, and "associational preference" is included among its kinds. This episode put the commitment to the test, and the university failed - not by not hiring him, but by denying there is any problem at all. 27-0 is just fine.

Mark Bauerlein is a professor of English at Emory University.

Response:

No evidence for political-bias charge at U of I

October 11, 2007

Mark Bauerlein is right to note that the University of Iowa has nondiscrimination policies in place to which we, the history department, are committed ("History Department at U of I Flunks Test of Political Diversity," Oct. 10 essay). But he misunderstands important elements of these policies and the procedures that follow from them.

When candidates apply for a job, we do not ask for their race, sexual orientation or religion. By the same token, we protect job applicants from discrimination on the basis of "associational preference" by not asking about such preferences - to ask would risk the very discrimination we hope to avoid.

As is true generally, and in this case, we do not know if an applicant belongs to the Republican Party, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Black Panthers or the Loyal Order of Water Buffalo.

We don't ask. They don't tell. We don't discriminate - indeed these protections remove the opportunity to do so.

Our hiring policies also protect the privacy of applicants. Conjecture about the academic qualifications and political affiliations of any pool of candidates are just that. Basic privacy protections prohibit the release of such information.

Bauerlein charges that we "passed over" one candidate, and favored others, for political reasons. Yet, by the very nature of the process, we know nothing about any candidate's political or associational preferences.

Bauerlein knows nothing about the rest of the candidates for this or any other job.

I fail to see - by any stretch of logic - the opportunity (let alone the evidence) for discrimination.

- Colin Gordon,
University of Iowa,
Iowa City.

professor and chair,

Department of History

Much as I personally loves me some university history departments, I have to say that anyone seeing the title of Moyar's book on Vietnam would probably know his political affiliation. Plus there's a little article he wrote entitled "The Madness Begins" in regards to American liberalism after Kennedy's assassination.

So let's assume that the UI history faculty knew about his political affiliation. But let's also assume that they knew about his political bias...and that they decided overt bias of any stripe may not be so welcome in a professor who is supposed to let students draw their own conclusions.

I have yet to sit in a college history course where the professor gets all political on the subject matter, with one exception. (That exception involved a professor of a particular minority group who definitely did not hide his/her disdain for the government's treatment of said minority group.) The point of college-level history is to sort through all of the evidence--not just some of the evidence--and reach your own conclusions. In my opinion, a history professor of either party affiliation who may present just one side of the evidence would be performing a disservice to his/her students. Maybe Moyar should apply to PoliSci...
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There is a Law & Order: Criminal Intent marathon going on right now on USA network...but it's all Logan episodes. WTF? Gimme Goren. I have a free afternoon, and no Goren?! Bleh, guess I'll get started on my paper for Monday.

Score

One of the (few) benefits of a professor leaving is that they rarely want to lug all their books along with them...thus leaving many for the rest of us to pick over. I was only limited by the size of my backpack...and the strength of my back.

I only wish I knew about this sooner. Like when the colonial Americanist ran away to Berkeley. I bet he had some awesome books.

Oh well, a Europeanist is pretty good too. Especially one with an interest in natural science and the history of science. Suhweet.

P.S. to Victor--try "The Last of the Mohicans"...not MASH. :-p

One Down

Had a 7:30 exam this morning. It took about twenty minutes to complete. Unfortunately, my morning dose of caffeine didn't kick in until about 8:15.

I'm hoping it didn't kick too hard...going back to bed...'cause I'm a college student and must do such things...nyah, nyah...

Tricksy Professor

So one of my professors gave us a take-home final, and there was much rejoicing. But it was a trick! It is supposed to be 12 pages long. TWELVE PAGES. You do not give us a 12-page paper for a final. It is just not done.

For example, my other take-home final can only be a maximum of 1000 words (about 4 pages). This is near standard...professors don't want to be stuck grading ginormous treatises at the end of the semester. They only have so long to turn in grades.

But the 12-page professor has a grad-student grader who will be stuck grading the papers (even though she has her own finals to take). And the class is over 100 students. It's like he's evil or something. Yet borderline attractive.

Twelve pages. Bah.

The Only Thing To Do

If your boss is the only one at work who can't perform a particular skill, the only obvious course of action is to take all of the items in stock that require that skill...perform that skill...and leave them to fill his desk.

It's like a law or something.

I Am Neglecting You

Get used to it. End of the semester.

Ten Minute Exam

Have you ever felt ripped-off by an exam? Like you studied for the hardest thing they could throw at you, and then they lobbed a total softball? Like you left thinking, "Damnit, every idiot in that class could get an 'A'."?

Oh well. At least it's not curved...so it doesn't hurt me if everyone else got an "A".

(And, yes, I do tend to think of the other people in my classes as idiots. Except for my upper-level courses. I'm a jerk.)

Dialogue with Jimmah

If you could ask Jimmy Carter a question, what would it be? Because one of us gets the chance to ask a question, and one of us wants to make sure to have a good one.

And one of us will not ask a question that results in a Secret Service throw-down, so keep that in mind.

Because You've Been Wondering

Got an A. Yay, freshmen!

Damn Shame

The long, lost King of Suck posted...and comments were down so that you couldn't abuse him. He was talking about maybe jumping on a group blog, but he was pretty far gone, so he may not remember it.

Anywho, I had a lovely Spring Break, thanks for asking.

Today there was an anti-war rally on the Pentacrest. It didn't appear to have the greatest turnout. I stopped to observe, but the speaker was less than dynamic and I got bored. Maybe if you're trying to get people fired up about Iraqi civilian deaths, you should know the number--or at least not admit you have no idea if the number you're saying is accurate or not. I may be wrong, but I believe he shouted a number, then said, "Is that total? Or today? For the year? Well, whatever it is, it's a lot!" I have an ear infection, so I may not have heard the middle part accurately.

The war is for oil, yadda yadda.

Living Like I'm 19 Again

Pulled an all-nighter last night, swigging Mountain Dew MDX like it was my job. Finished the paper at 6:30 a.m., but I am fairly certain it was the biggest piece of sh*t I have ever put my name on.

Turned it in anyway. The class is General Ed, which means my biggest turd of a research paper ever is still better than at least 80% of the rest of them. And the class is curved. Thank God for freshmen sometimes, helping me out like this.
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I almost got hit by a van today. Was crossing in the crosswalk in front of a stopped work van, and before I finished clearing his vehicle, he hit the gas. He slammed on his brakes immediately, and I looked at him like WTF. He waved apologetically. Too busy on his cell phone and lighting a cigarette to pay attention. And I was wearing a bright gold sweatshirt, he couldn't miss me.
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Time for bed yet?

Inside the Box

I have to write a fairly hefty research paper for one of my classes this semester, and I've been trying to come up with a topic that would be interesting to both myself and the instructor. Plus I like to be slightly "outside the box" and look at angles other people don't usually consider.

Tonight I had an "ah-ha!" moment and came upon a topic I thought would work. I pulled out the guideline sheet, and sure enough...under the possible topic ideas, there it was.

So much for thinking it was a fairly unique angle. Hmph.

I'm a Jerk in My Head

To go to the library or to stay here at home...

There is someone snoring down the hall, and this has led the downstairs neighbor to retaliate with loudish music. We have thin walls. And floors.

It is frigging cold outside, and I haven't done anything with myself today but put my hair in a ponytail. I can throw a hat on, but need at least lipstick and mascara. And it's freaking cold outside.

Warm inside.

Daytona 500 is over, but still too many distractions here. Like, say, blogging.

(Holy crap, how about that Daytona 500 finish?!)

Parking isn't free unless I want to walk in the frigging cold...or unless I stay until midnight.

(Btw, Britney Spears is just an attention whore. Why else would you make a big production of shaving your head, instead of doing it at home? She's not completely insane--just an attention whore.)

All I really want to do is take a nap. I was rudely awakened this morning by someone who needed to be driven to the emergency room. I mean, what am I? An ambulance service now? (My empathy is inversely proportional to my workload. Yes, I am a horrible person for thinking like that, but I drove and held hands and whatnot. I personally didn't think it merited a trip to the ER, but whatever. And now some snoring person is here who doesn't belong here and I will be annoyed later when I am trying to sleep...I have an exam tomorrow, people.) If I'm at the library, I am less likely to give in to pillow temptation.

Hmph. Guess I'll go...the fresh air will do me good.

Mammoth Teeth

Have I mentioned lately how much I love playing with fossils?

I always kind of drag my feet about going to my Paleo lab, because it's 2 hours long and it's held after a lecture that puts me to sleep. But it's always so cool...just because of the chance to handle these amazing items.

Mammoth teeth, mastodon teeth, giant beaver skulls...you so wish you were me.

Another Exciting Day

To cap off an unbelievably exciting weekend.

Worked until 5ish, went straight to the library, stayed there until parking became free (after midnight, no lot attendant).

Can say I got a ton done. Finished notes on a 700-page book that I was halfway through (first half done yesterday), and almost completed notes on a 350-page book. Will finish that one tomorrow for sure.

It's all research for a semester-long project. I'm not sure how useful it will all be, because I'm kind of shooting in the dark right now. Meeting on Friday will give me better direction, I hope. I was given pretty vague perimeters to start with. Will present my vague report, and we'll decide on issues/people we want to flesh out better.

Gotsta sleep now.

Sizzle, Sizzle

Had to work this morning at 8ish, then went straight to the library to camp out and be productive. I was there for 6 hours, and wanted to stay longer to get more done, but I was experiencing significant Brain Fry.

Now I'm home, trying to alleviate Brain Fry with the internet and it's not working. Must sit in front of the television instead, I guess.

It's Saturday. I'm a wild one. Whoo!

Paper Trails Are Bad, Mm'kay?

Fairly unpleasant day at work today. Will be even more so for someone else tomorrow, I'm guessing.

We always joke that our boss has never fired anyone, but there's a first time for everything.

Cost Increase

Last year, I got a small tax reimbursement for my tuition, books, and fees. This year? Zippo.

Last year, my expected contribution* to my education expenses was manageable. This year? Up a thousand dollars.

I'm sure this is the Republicans' fault. And likely Dubya's personally.

Can't wait to see the Financial Aid offer for next school year...the trend is not promising.

* Meaning what I am expected to pay for right now as opposed to what I am expected to pay for after graduation with interest. There are no free lunches.
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Guess what week it is. Heh. Go Bears!

Irregular

I had every intention of blogging on a fairly regular basis, but it hasn't quite worked out that way. What have I been up to? Work and school. What else is there?

Today I handled a ginormous dinosaur vertebra. How cool is that? Answer: pretty f'ing cool. Also handled a coprolite. Not quite as cool.

Classes are going pretty well, and why wouldn't they? It's only week two. We have Archaeology, Paleontology, Latin, Native Americans, and Book History on the plate this semester; as well as my internship, researching local history. Lots of history, and lots of digging stuff up. You wish you were me.
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Oddly, three different boys in the last week have asked if I was 21 yet. There is apparently some sort of vision-deteriorating virus going around here. The first two had violently surprised reactions when I told them my age. The third, I just said I was older than 21 and left the specifics out of it. See? I can be trained.

Winter and Spring Semester Are Here

It's like 2 degrees out. And classes start back up today. Which means I get to walk around in the 2 degree weather.

I went to visit the family over the weekend, and left there this morning. Drove here, and now it feels like the day should be half over, but my first class isn't until 1:00.

The evil ex-sister-in-law is pregnant again. Fourth child, third father. This father has been in jail since early December for beating up his step-father (in front of my nephew, btw). So he's awesome. Just like her.

Anyway, what's new with all you?

Booking of a Different Sort

Some fool thinks I have the time to read 8 books for one class over the course of a semester. Fine, except 4 of the books are over 600 pages long.

/drop class

A-B Student

Suhweet. The only grade that could have ended up a "C" for the semester has been posted, and it is a "B".

Evil exam-grading grad students the world over are forgiven.

That's All, Bitches!

Finals are over. Now I just have to shower, dress, and take my pretty binder to campus to turn it in.

Then keep obsessively checking for the grades until Wednesdayish. This was the worst Finals Week ever and I could not be happier that it is done.

Four Down, One To Go

Thank God it's almost over...until next semester...and the one after that...and the one after that...breathe...let it go...happy thoughts...will all be worth it...breathe...

Two Down, Three to Go...

Well. I have finished two of my classes. I took a final this morning and think I did well enough to at least not lose my "A" in the class. Of course, I am not the best judge of my own performance or of anything else at the moment. But I think I was borderline lucid and at least knew names and dates as appropriate.

I just checked to see if any grades have been posted yet. Considering I turned in a 10-page paper yesterday and took an exam like an hour ago, I don't understand why neither of those grades are up by now.

Now I must try to study for the two exams I will do poorly on tomorrow...

Put the Lotion in the F*cking Basket!

I'm a little stressed out right now.

Let's review:
1. Finals Week
2. Hideous, debilitating disease
3. Christmas shopping season
4. Finals Week

So as we were almost ready to close the store this evening, a couple came in who wanted to buy a large item we sell. Said item was inexplicably out of its box. The couple asked Female Coworker (this is the first time I've worked with her) if they'd have to put the item back in the box. She said yes, then promptly went into the back room to get her coat and purse.

Mind you, the store was still open. And I was sorting receipts.

When I realized she left them to put the item in the box themselves (stellar customer service), I apologized and hurried to help them. I got them sorted out and I checked them out and locked the door (at the exact minute of closing time).

We had to count both registers and I was sorting receipts once more. She got to the bundles of 1-dollar bills and asked, "Are these 20?"

Me: "No, and you have to count them anyway."

Her: "But aren't they all standardized?"

Me: "Yes, unless someone takes money out of them, which is why we have to count it."

Her: "But aren't they $20?"

Me: (With an edge to my voice, probably, but not outright hostile.) "Count them and find out."

Her: "Wow."

Me: (counting to about 2000 silently in my head until my blood pressure returns to normal, then finally mentioning it again) "I know it's tedious to count all the ones, but we've had money come up missing in the past and that's why we have to do the counts."

I almost totally lost it and went off on her about her awesome service skillz and getting her damned jacket before the store closed, but I didn't. She's graduating in a few days and she'll be gone. It doesn't matter. Let it go.

The point being, if I wasn't so stressed, I wouldn't be thisclose to ripping someone's face off. I would be able to address the issues without losing my temper (I did not address them because I would have lost it...and frankly we can't afford to lose the crappy help right now).

And by the way...25.

Let Me Blow Ya Mind

Someone who assigns grades was very impressed with the cemetery investigation.
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...grooving to Eve and finishing the paper I didn't finish before class...

I Am Cornholio!

Caffeine! Chocolate! Whee!

Finals Week looms large on the horizon. I am 5 pages into a 10-page paper that is due Tuesday. I am determined to get it finished and out of the way before I go to bed tonight. Preferably before I go to class tonight, actually.

Have the music going (I don't feel like dancing, Keith)...have the caffeinated beverage...the chocolate bar...wait. Chocolate bar? I'm not much of a chocolate consumer, but once a month I find myself at the store buying Hershey's bars. Figure that one out yourselves.

I have to get back to this paper. I'll be honest, I don't know how much more of it I can take. It's already boring me, which can't be good.

Finals Week...a 10-page research paper, a project portfolio, and three exams worth from 15% to 33.3% of my final grade. Yay, school!

Yay, caffeine and chocolate and Tylenol and Scissor Sisters!

Researcher Par Excellence

You know, some days I feel like I am pretty bad.ass. Okay, let's be honest...most days. But some days I feel exceptionally so.

Like, say, today. You have a little hole in your story, and a tiny clue along with a hunch about what fills it. So you take off with directions to some nearly-forgotten cemetery, and lo and behold: you were right. And now you have proof, along with names and dates.

The story: a man is single in the 1847 census. By 1852, he has a wife and a newborn son and a 9-year-old daughter. Doing the math, the 9-year-old daughter is a problem. There are no death, birth, or marriage records from the time period. But you find out someone with the correct surname is buried in a nearby cemetery. You don't know if it is male or female, or what time period you're looking at for the burial. There is no caretaker or anyone else to contact to give you information on the grave. So you go to the cemetery. Not a large cemetery, but it could take an hour or so to inspect all the headstones. Some are in bad shape, the engravings faded with time and making them difficult to decipher. But you are lucky and go in the right direction and find the one you were looking for within 5 minutes. It's a first wife. Just as you suspected. And bonus, another daughter is next to her.

The hole in the story is filled. Yay, me. The hour-plus drive was totally worth it.

Side Effect of Education

My Forensics class has made the CSI shows hysterically funny.

I don't know what use the knowledge will be beyond that, but it's been a very interesting course.

Funny Math

There are three student managers at work. I am one of them. I asked to have my hours cut during the school week at the beginning of the semester. During Thanksgiving, I gave up two of my shifts because the other two managers wanted more hours. Both of them are anxious to make some extra green to offset their current car issues and looming holiday expenses.

My car has no current issues (knock wood) and my Christmas shopping is largely finished. I also have enough saved to pay for the next two months' expenses. So I'm not hurting for the cash right now.

My boss knows I don't need the money, because I told him so when explaining why I was letting the other girls work my shifts and spending almost a week in Des Moines. My boss also knows the other girls need the money, because they told him so when begging for extra hours over the break.

So last week (during the break) he made the new schedule for the extended holiday hours. Both of the other girls lost some weekday hours. Neither is happy about it. I gained almost 4 weekday hours. I am not happy about it. I don't mind working, but these are the two weeks before finals, and if I was shaving hours down before so I could get my studying done, well...you do the math.

I choose to believe my boss is not retarded (because he's a great guy), and that this scheduling issue is just because I am such a valuable employee. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Something is Wrong Here

I am reading a webpage in Spanish. About genetic identification techniques. And I think I am getting the gist of it.

Clearly I have gone insane.
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In another life, I posted about certain things that students tend to Google. Occasionally I get an e-mail from a student demanding to know what else I know about certain things. I say "demanding" because there is no "please" involved in the correspondence, nor a specific question.

Seeing something along the lines of, "What else do you know about Moses?" is not rare. Well, actually, it is rare, because I didn't misspell any of those words. "Wot else do u know about Moses?" is more like it.

Moses is a pretty broad subject.

I am not going to write an essay about Moses. I am not going to respond to the e-mail with a request for clarification. In fact, I am not going to respond at all.
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Last week I tattled on a couple of classmates for the first time in my academic career. Apparently they thought the test was a group effort, and when the two of them together couldn't figure something out, one of them looked at my paper and reported back to the other.

I suggested to the professor that we sit every-other-desk from now on, and the best part is...said professor wasn't surprised that it was a problem. Way to be proactive, jackass.

For the Love of God

*WHY* must it be so difficult to enroll in a World History course at this school?!
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So it is totally almost Thanksgiving Break! Are you psyched? I'm psyched!

Double Ungood Weekend

So. How was your weekend? Do anything fun? If so, keep it to yourself.

I worked. I worked 22 hours. I didn't get any homework or studying done, save for the reading of two chapters for history.

Now I must get caught back up with my schoolwork, preferably before this weekend, because Thanksgiving week I need to spend making effing PowerPoint presentations (some of you will remember I hate PP) for two different projects. Plus I will have a final exam on Monday after Thanksgiving, so I will need to study for that. And then there is that whole family-togetherness thing that I want to participate in at some point.

What I'm trying to say is, I will be a little busy through December 14.

Okay, now you can tell me about your weekend. Make me jealous.

Transportation

I have a visual aid for this post...

(Click to supahsize)
Taking a picture from the backside of the building may seem to be an odd choice, but I wanted to make sure you see the road in front and the white stone building across the way. This is Calvin Hall, which I am always inexplicably calling "Gilbert Hall" by mistake. (There is a Gilmore Hall nearby, but Gilbert Hall seems to be of my own creation. But I digress.)

Calvin Hall, built in 1885, used to be where that white building across the way now stands. As you can see, Calvin Hall is not a small building. In 1905 it was moved 105 feet across the street. They moved it at a rate of about 2 feet per day, using horses. The best part is, they kept holding classes in the building while it was being moved. You could probably never do that in today's OSHA world, but it sounds pretty cool.

This is a red brick building that used to stand amongst several red brick buildings on the Pentacrest...and it is the oldest surviving university building other than the Old Capitol. Now the Pentacrest has just four buildings besides the Old Cap, and they are all limestone like the one you see across the street.

Thus concludes today's historical architecture lecture. Next time, Schaeffer Hall.
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Shank has apparently left for vacation, and from what I can piece together from the text messages he sent while I was in class, he has thus far spent all his time drinking $10 draughts of Bud Light in the airport bar.
_____

You know what's awesome about going to a big university? I don't have to pay NBA prices for the privilege of watching felons play basketball. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
_____

And finally, Governor Vilsack has declared his presidential candidacy. I give his chances somewhere around the proverbial snowball's in Hell, but it's exciting news in this state.

Seriously, I Want to Know

Dear Coach Ferentz,

WTF?!

Sincerely,

Me

***SUNDAY UPDATE:

Dear Coach Smith,

Same question.

Sincerely,

Me

Feeling Pretty Good

Took a quiz this morning, got an "A". Got a midterm back from last week, got an "A". Took another midterm this morning, think I got an "A".

Now the only thing between me and Chicago is a few hours of work and a night's sleep.

Life is not bad. Not bad at all.

How are you?

Brain Cramp

Been working on a Midterm Exam (take-home variety, lame*). Got the first part done...let's just say my former accounting life was helpful. I'm all about ripping budgets apart and finding the excess expenditures. I'd be ideal for government if voters actually rewarded that sort of behavior.

Now it is break time until I tackle part two. I want to get this done tonight so I can move on in life. It's due at the end of the day Thursday, but I have another Midterm (in-class variety, not lame) Friday and a quiz Friday as well.

* It's essentially a 10-page paper, and that's why it is lame. An in-class exam would never be this ridiculous.
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Sometimes I really feel like a college student. Times when I am in my pajamas in the middle of the day and eating nothing but instant mashed potatoes for lunch, for example.

I *did* get dressed for my morning class, but then I came home and changed right back into my pajamas. And my afternoon class was cancelled, so...pajamas forever!

Nosedive Into Oblivion

I saw a t-shirt today that said, "Ann Arbor is a Whore."

Hilarious. But I think she'll make us her bitch on Saturday.
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Here's a couple questions for you. Where in the United States would you never live and why?

Where in the United States would you like to live (can include your present locale) and why?

Overachieving to Underachieve

Aaah, finished my last history paper of the semester. Now I can relax.

Actually, I didn't even have to write this one. I could have waited to do one in November or early December, but I don't want to torture myself by unnecessarily piling work onto my plate for the end of the semester. I'll have enough to keep me busy then.

To the former New Jerseyan (Jerseyite? Mobster? Whatever they're called there)...you're right, I only have class for a few hours a day. However, every hour of time in class translates to roughly two hours of work outside class.

Let's look at my weekend and see how much fun I'm having...
Saturday: Worked 7 am to 6:30 pm. Studied for about 90 minutes, went out for about 2 hours, went to sleep.
Sunday: Studied for about 90 minutes, spent about 5 hours on paper, going to study for another hour or two, will go to sleep. Took three breaks: watched a movie for one, ran some errands for another, blogging now.

Besides, I'm not looking for sympathy when I post about my crappy schedule next semester. Just telling you the minutiae of my life. I share like that.

Work of Art

Ugh, what a long day. Thursdays are rough because I have a 9:30 class, then a class in the early afternoon, followed by my one evening class this semester. And usually I can't justify going back and forth from home each break. Tomorrow I have an exam, so I stayed on campus all day today to get max study time in.

In my evening class, I started noticing a girl kept looking back in my direction. She didn't make eye contact, so I started looking behind me to see what she was looking at. Turned out she was sketching me. She's an art major. Weirdo.

It was a fair likeness, though.

Oh, and get this. Normally students' cell phones are going off and earning them nasty looks and occasional comments from professors. (Justifiably, I must add.) Today I had a professor whose cell phone went off while she was lecturing. That was a first.

Okay, back to studying.

Spring 2007=Lame Schedule

The school released the course offerings for Spring on Monday. So obviously I have charts and graphs mapped out with the classes I want to take.

I mean, who doesn't?

Anywho, consulting my colored schedule, it's a veritable checkerboard. Meaning I have classes, I have breaks, I have more classes, more breaks, and more classes. It's very choppy, instead of having all my classes in chunks and then being done for the day. Assuming I get into all the classes I want, I will be in class from 9:30 to 3:45 on certain days and 9:30 to 5:10 on opposite days. Not continuously in class, but with lots of breaks.

This sucks. For one thing, being on campus all day just sucks in general. You have to pack a lunch or go broke eating out all the time. For another, there is the parking-by-the-hour payment system to consider. So I may be going back to the bus next spring. Which sucks because of the time wasted. I can't read in a moving vehicle without getting motion sickness, because I'm weird like that. So sitting on a bus is a huge waste of time.

But there's really no way to improve the situation. I have to take almost every class that I'm taking in the spring because they're not offered every semester. Not much wiggle room. But hey, at least they're not overlapping with each other!

And I'll change my mind on a couple of them between now and January anyway. Because then I get another chance to make pretty charts and graphs.

Neverending Excitement

Aaah. After the craziness of last week on campus, it's nice to get back to the sedate normalcy that surrounds...Homecoming Week?

Mmm, kay. Maybe not.

In the "Good News" department, I got a "check-plus" on an in-class assignment. Because I went above and beyond the assignment. How, I do not know. Seriously. No clue. Thought it was pretty half-assed, actually, but maybe I was more insightful than the average bear.

I also got an "A" on a glorified book report, ripping apart a historical source. Yay me. I just might get the grades for grad school after all. (Have my eye on one in particular. Think Big Ten and the state I was born in and the B******* of the midwest and if you still don't know which school, just nevermind. We will not mention its name because I don't want to jinx myself this early in the game.)

Aftermath

Say what you will about hippies, they don't like to litter. The campus looks as clean as usual today, even in the park with the pep rally and all that.

Unrelated...And it's like 90 degrees today. WTF?

I Have Proof

Well. That game blew goats.

But I take some small consolation in having seen this (and paid the lesser amount) on Saturday night...

I never thought I'd see that sort of thing again.

PhotoBlahg II

Preparations continue...these were all taken around noon today. Click to enlarge if you are so inclined.

More trucks and equipment in the park.

Closer look. I didn't notice while I was there that I was interrupting the game. Hello, boys.

Still closer look. The stage on the right is the one I took a picture of from the other side yesterday.

And of course the most important item from the previous picture...

A view of the beloved Old Cap from the park. You can see the dome above the trees. Normally there is just an American flag, but this weekend is a little special.

And this one is for the good Reverend:

...because I do keep my promises. And it's not Christmas yet.

Unfortunately, I won't have pics of the actual festivities, because I work during the actual festivities. Sucks to be me.

PhotoBlahg

Click for larger versions if you are so inclined...

This is a shot of someone taking a shot of a stage. This is the park where most Friday and early Saturday festivities will occur.

And from the opposite corner of the park...

These next three are at the stadium. It's a night game, so they have extra lights. You can see one high up in the foreground, and you can see the lit one at the other end if you look closely. I'm guessing the platforms are for cameramen. Also, take note that the hospital is right across the street from the stadium. Back in the day, we'd cut through the hospital en masse to get back to downtown. I don't know if they still allow that.

This is a gate on the south side of the stadium. If you enlarge, you can see the hospital sign right above the seats of the far side, as well as the light above the water tower. And you can't really tell, but the field is sunk into the ground. So you enter about halfway up the stands and walk down to the front seats. If you have front row seats.

And this is the new press box side of the stadium. If you enlarge, you'll see the cornerstone with the year on it (lower right corner). Also, look at the brick columns behind the front gates. That is where the former outside wall of the stadium was located.

I would have taken a picture on the other side looking into the stadium and the south end with the ginormous new scoreboard, but football practice was letting out* and taking pictures of the players made me feel stalkerish. Besides, I doubt any of you care about the new scoreboard anyway. And if you do, I'll get a pic of it later. Or you can just watch the game on Saturday night.

* Their practice facilities are across the street from the north side of the stadium, and some of them were milling around the north gate at the time.

Football

Football, football, football. There can be talk of little else.

You'd think the #1 ranked team was coming to town or something. Oh, wait. Check out the "3 Games Worth Tivoing". (I highly recommend the first game on that list. The second? Not so much. Heh.)

Oh, well. If it brings Kirk Herbstreit to town, I won't complain. Hi, Kirk.

And Now We Dance

I had an exam today, and it was not only in my major, but in my major concentration. I was determined to get an "A". And not your run-of-the-mill 92-94 "A". Oh, no. I was shooting for the 98-100 "A". A 95 or lower will make me consider lying down on the train tracks, 96 or 97 will be acceptable, but 98-100 is what I wanted.

I think I got what I wanted.

Plus a hand cramp. Essay tests, you know.

But It Saves My Keyboard from Wear and Tear

The thing about 900-year-old history professors is they don't like to grade papers. So they just have tests.

The problem with that is, I have to submit 3 good research papers in a portfolio in order to graduate.

So I have one (non-900 y.o.) professor who makes us write two papers a semester, but they're just analysis of a single source (glorified book report), and I have another (900 y.o.) professor who doesn't make us write anything.

These people are not helping me.

Wandering Around Campus

I have a break on Tuesdays from 10:20 to 1:05, so I took the scenic route to the library where I did some reading between classes. Along the way, I saw a guy dressed up like a pirate, yelling piratey things to let everyone know about "Talk Like a Pirate Day". He had a pirate wench with him, who was writing on the sidewalk in chalk about pirates' booty. Pirates get the booty. Get it?

From there, I saw a guy randomly opening up a fire hydrant. He didn't seem to be uniformed or name-tagged to indicate his employment with the university facilities management...so I don't know what that was about. The flood of water rushing down the hill accompanied me as I walked down to the library. When I came out a little over an hour later, it had dried up. And he might have been arrested. I'll have to remember to check the student newspaper tomorrow.

Right before class, I wandered back up the hill and into a book store, where I bought a couple books and a Mad Libs. I haven't done those in a hundred years, but I need a little stress-reduction in my life. Preferably before I get fired for telling customers to go play in traffic. (Something that happened yesterday, actually, so I may be in for a talking-to tomorrow.)

What else is going on? Oh, got my contract for my writing thing. Very exciting. Now I just need to research and write the thing. I can't be more detailed than that on the blog.

I'm also considering turning into a joiner now that I'm in the home stretch of my educamation. I already do community service stuff, but I think I may have to network and schmooze in my areas of study. Make relationships with people who can write recommendation letters for me. That sort of thing.

I just don't really have a lot of spare time. So I'm getting a little stressed.

Throwing Off the Curve

Just kidding. There is no curve.

Guess who got an "A" on her Latin exam. And not just a low "A" that I sort of thought was within reason to get. A high "A".

Look at me and my bad self.
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In other news, I tanked on the osteology exam. But that one is curved, which gives me hope. It's totally not fair, because if you show me any bone in the body (no commentary from you, Shank), I can tell you what it is. But if you point to some random barely detectable lump on that bone, we might have problems. Not because I don't recognize it, necessarily, but probably because I can't conjure up the name for it out of my brain. If you, say, gave me a list of four choices...I could probably name it. But the test wasn't multiple choice.

Stupid bones and their stupid random tuberosities and stuff.

I'm guessing a "C" unless everyone else sucks, and then a "B".

Now that section is over and we can all move on with life.

I always have Latin to make me feel good about myself.

Inexplicable

The grades for the Latin exam have not been posted yet. This annoys me greatly.

Magnus, magna, magnum.

By the way, it's all trendy and stuff to have some pretentious Latin motto on one's blog. Like mine? It's up there at the top. No, higher.

Worship me, for I am your goddess. "Your" in the plural form.

Really, do I need to know any more Latin than that?

Yawn

Going home for the weekend really cut into my study time. 1 a.m. the last two nights has found me doing my Latin homework. I am hoping to reverse the trend.

1 a.m. tonight should find me studying osteology instead.
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There were a couple guys holding court on campus today; they had signs with religious quotes, and one of them was preaching loudly about the sin of homosexuality. They attracted a large crowd, but if there were any supporters, they were a silent minority. This county is one of the most heavily Democratic counties in America, and there is a large gay and lesbian community in town. So the guys weren't making many friends with their display.

It amazes me that supposedly Christian men have the presumption to judge others on behalf of God. If anyone is going to do the judging, let it be Him. Worry about your own soul in the meantime. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I didn't come up with that one. JC did.

Why History is a Cool Field of Study

One reason, anyway.

UPDATE: Hrm. That link died a premature death. Here's another one. I'll post it in the extended in case it goes away too.
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I recommend for those interested in New World exploration...this book. It reads really quickly, and is interesting on several levels. Covey does an excellent job of putting it into geographical context that the modern-day reader understands.
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Oh, and for those keeping score at home, the male sibling is still in jail. The female sibling predicts he will remain so until sentencing, where he will get time served but additional time as well. She is more expert in such matters than I am, because she knows more people who have been in similar predicaments...so I shall defer to her judgment.

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Va.'s first slaves: 400 years later, a mystery unlocked
By Lisa Rein, The Washington Post

JAMESTOWN, Va. — They were known as the "20 and odd," the first African slaves to set foot in North America at the English colony settled in 1607.
For nearly 400 years, historians believed they were brought to Virginia from the West Indies on a Dutch warship. Little else was known of the Africans, who left no traces.

Now, new scholarship and transatlantic detective work have solved the puzzle of who they were and where their forced journey across the Atlantic Ocean began.
The slaves were herded onto a Portuguese slave ship in the southwest African country of Angola. The ship was seized by the British on the high seas — not brought to Virginia after a period of time in the Caribbean. They represented one ethnic group, not many, as historians first believed.

The discovery has tapped a rich vein of history that will go on public view next month at the Jamestown Settlement museum. It will commemorate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown's founding by revamping the exhibits and artifacts — as well as the story of the settlement itself.

Although historians have thoroughly documented the direct slave trade from Africa starting in the 1700s, little was known of the first blacks who arrived in Virginia and other colonies a century earlier. A story of memory and cultural connections between Africa and the early New World is being unearthed in a state whose plantation economy set the course for the Civil War.

"We went entirely back to the drawing board," said Tom Davidson, senior curator of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation."The problem has always been that all of the things that make for a human story (of the Africans) were missing. ... Now we can talk about the Africans with the same richness we talk about the English and the Powhatans."

Behind him, an Angolan man stripped bark from a baobab tree in a re-created village featured in the museum's new 30,000-square-foot gallery, which will open Oct. 16. It's double the space of the previous one, to cover a long span of the 17th century and the African story, which was barely featured before.

How the story of the charter generation of Africans in Virginia has come to life in a new $25 million museum wing is a tale of two scholars who helped connect two coasts of the Atlantic Ocean.

The early 1600s were a time of war and empire-building in southwest Africa; Portuguese traders under the rule of the king of Spain had established the colony of Angola. The exporting of slaves to the Spanish New World was a profitable enterprise. The Portuguese waged war against the kingdoms of Ndongo and Kongo to the north, capturing and deporting thousands of men and women. They passed through a slave fortress at the port city of Luanda, still Angola's capital.

At Jamestown, tobacco was on the verge of a boom after the British had failed at several industries. Indentured servants from England were common in the settlement, now close to 1,000 people strong.

John Rolfe, Virginia's first tobacco planter and husband of the Indian princess Pocahontas, wrote the widely held account of the African landing in a letter to the Virginia Company of London. The captain of a Dutch warship that arrived in Jamestown in August 1619 "brought not any thing but 20 and odd Negroes, wch the Governor and Cape Marchant bought for victuale ... at the best and easyest rate they could." Rolfe explained that the ship and another called the Treasurer had embarked from the West Indies.

A retired University of California at Berkeley historian, Engel Sluiter, made a startling discovery in the Spanish national archives in the late 1990s as he did research for a book on Spanish America. A colonial shipping document he uncovered in an account book identified a Portuguese slave ship called the San Juan Bautista. About 350 slaves were bound for Veracruz, on the east coast of modern-day Mexico, when the ship was robbed of its human cargo off the coast of Mexico in 1619 by two unidentified pirate ships, the record said.

Sluiter, who died in 2001, published his discovery in the William and Mary Quarterly. It caught the eye of historian John Thornton, an expert on the Portuguese colonies in Africa in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The outlines of the other half of the story took shape.

"I said, 'I can figure out how these people were enslaved,'" said Thornton, a Boston University professor who, with his wife, historian Linda Heywood, is publishing a book on the slave trade between Angola and the North American colonies. Previous scholarship has documented the slave trade from Ghana, Senegal and other parts of West Africa. "We know Angola was a big exporter of slaves to Brazil and the Spanish colonies, but now we know that they showed up here," Thornton said.

Through records of a legal dispute between the pirate ships, Thornton identified the vessels as the British-owned Treasurer and the the Dutch White Lion. Each took 20 to 30 slaves before the San Juan Bautista continued to Veracruz. They landed at Jamestown within four days of each other and traded the Africans for provisions. The Treasurer then sailed to Bermuda, dropping off more slaves, and returned to Virginia a few months later, trading the final nine or 10 more.
Many Angolans followed — not just to Virginia, but to New York and New England, say Thornton and Heywood, who are consultants to the Jamestown Settlement. Their research draws a portrait of the first Africans as urban people connected by common languages, who had had contact with Europeans for many years.

Virginia's first Africans spoke Bantu languages called Kimbundu and Kikongo. Their homelands were the kingdoms of Ndongo and Kongo, regions of modern-day Angola and coastal regions of Congo. Both were conquered by the Portuguese in the 1500s. The Africans mined tar and rock salt, used shells as money and highly valued their children, holding initiation ceremonies to prepare them for adulthood.

And they most likely had been baptized as Christians, because the Kingdom of Ngondo converted to Christianity in 1490. Many were literate. This background may be one reason some of Virginia's first Africans won their freedom after years as indentured servants, the historians said.

The Portuguese and Catholic roots figure prominently on a glass wall in the new gallery at the Jamestown Settlement. Mareo, Christian, Nando, Acquera, Palmena, Cuba, Salvo — they are among 400 African names engraved on the wall, one for each anniversary year.

One is Angelo, whose name appears on a 1624 census of the colony discovered in the past decade. She is listed as a "Negro woman" who came on the Treasurer and worked as a servant in the home of Capt. William Pierce and his wife, June. Historians assume the slave's name was Angela.

It is Angela, played by a young Angolan actress, who stars in the new introductory film visitors will see as they watch the new story of Jamestown unfold. The 23-minute movie was filmed on a beach in Luanda in 2004, when museum curators traveled there for research.

The film will replace a 15-year-old version that gives the first Africans only a passing glance. Now visitors will be transported to a Portuguese cathedral in Luanda, where a Jesuit priest breaks bread with the captains of the San Juan Bautista. They discuss the souls to be saved and riches to be made from the continued shipment of slaves from Massangano, an inland city. The film cuts to a hut on the shore of the Kwanza River, where Angela, a young woman in her 20s, pounds grain and smiles. Then she and thousands of others are captured and taken to a beach at Luanda. A Jesuit priest asks her if she has been baptized, and she answers yes.

"That she is a child of God. When she dies she will go to heaven," the priest says. And the slave ships sets sail against the evening sun.

Looking Ahead

What could a lab about dinosaurs possibly entail?

I think I must take that class in the future...even if I don't get to paw dinosaur bones.
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One of my instructors is insane. He sends us e-mails before our morning class and expects everyone to read them. Hello, most of these kids wake up 5 minutes before they walk in the classroom. I usually get up early enough to read my e-mails, but I'm checking my personal e-mail rather than my school e-mail...then I lose track of time and end up running out the door.
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I've been freezing my tarsal naviculars off the last two days. Yesterday it was rainy, which seemed like a good opportunity to wash off my black sandals. They were still dirty from when I went on vacation. I didn't realize it was never going to stop raining and never warm up yesterday, though, so by my second class I was over the whole jumping in puddles thing--plus I was soaked to the bone.

That was all just my excuse to say "tarsal naviculars".

Latina Est Non Gaudium

Or something similar.

I try to be a good student sometimes. Really, I do. I buy all the extra Latin help materials, I install the drills onto my computer.

But the vocabulary drills aren't very helpful when they test vocab from the whole book instead of by chapter. WTF?! I have done 2 chapters. Not 40.

The form drills are okay, I can choose part of speech, tense, person, number, etc. That one is working with me. The vocab? Not so much. Back to the flashcards.

Le sigh.

Inappropriate

Professor, encouraging us to practice our homework exercises: "Choose the long runway. Don't go down the short runway, or you'll crash and burn."

Nice.

Humanities Students Screwed

So most of my classes tend to be held in old buildings that house the old departments. One of them has been recently refurbished, but it's still an old building. Basically, what I'm trying to say is, the air conditioning sucks in those buildings.

I do occasionally get assigned a class in the Business building...comfortable air conditioning there, as the building is pretty new. They built it when I first came here. It's comfortable. You get the feeling the settings are higher than ideal to cut energy costs, but it's livable.

Today I had a class in the Engineering building, and apparently most of the normal inhabitants are penguins. Freezing. Makes me wonder...because that building isn't exactly new, although the part I was in might be. But still, we all had to pay an extra $200 energy fee this semester, and as far as I can tell, most of that money is being spent by engineering.

Maybe the hippie departments are just down with open window cooling systems. And not having computer hookups at every seat plus wireless throughout the building. We're sweaty and unable to access the university's wireless computer network in our buildings, while the geeks are ice cold and able to check their e-mail whenever they want. Damned engineers.

Trey Parker is My Teacher

Today in forensics, we talked about Alferd Packer, and there's only one reason I know who that is and why we'd be discussing him in forensics.

Of course, my previous anthropology courses are why I knew a forensic anthropologist would study Packer's companions to look for cut marks on skeletal remains...and when I mentioned cut marks, I got a lot of blank looks from my discussion group. There aren't any prerequisites to the course, and I think anyone who hasn't already had some study of biological anthropology will have a hard time following some of the material.

Post-cranial remains, for example, are basically the remains sans the skull. It's a term you hear a lot in these courses, and several people didn't know what it meant. And if you're an art or business major, why would you?

Anyway, good day in classes today...knew all my Latin questions in class, good discussions in the others. I feel so smert. Give it a couple weeks, though...

Ample Notice

Yeah. So, I'm looking at my course load and wondering what the hell I was thinking. I'm taking two sciencey courses (one is nearly medical science), LATIN, an upper level history, and something that will be more reading than I expected.

This semester might kill me. That which does not kill me only kills my GPA. Not that I really think it's that dire. I tend to rise to the challenge and all that...but this semester will suck a little. Interesting courses, heavy workload.

I may have to drop badminton, though. I'll decide in the coming month. It doesn't start until October, and it is 3 hours a week when I could be reading about the decay of soft tissues in human corpses.

(Good that sort of thing interests me, eh?)

The First Day of School

I lept a couple months ahead of all the other girls and rocked the hat and ponytail today. See, everybody (particularly freshmen) does their hair and makeup for the first week...then a few ponytails start appearing now and then...by midterms all you see are ponytails...and then by finals all you see are baseball caps with the ponytail and a complete lack of makeup. So I just cut right to the personal appearance laziness, hair-wise. Who am I trying to impress? (I never go without makeup, it might scare the children.)

Got home from my classes, and my sweet, sweet financial aid check was in the mailbox. Which means I got to buy all my books and am now plotting other uses for my sweet, sweet financial aid money. Like I probably need a handheld computer. And a new digital camera.

But I'll probably just keep it for bills because I'm boring like that.

Unless I see a really good deal on a camera.

Or handheld.

But it'd be hard to justify the camera as a school expense.

So just a handheld.

And probably not even that...it sounds complicated, picking one out and stuff.

Bleh. Bills it is.

Greetings

Was out of town for the week, and returned yesterday just in time to participate in Hell Day at work. Not only are all the parents in town (classes start tomorrow), but we also had a to-do at the stadium, which brought fans into town. So yesterday sucked beyond all reason.

Today sucked much less, but I had some freshman girl freak out on me because I didn't know if the one student planner we sell is "the one everyone will have this year". I told her the bookstore sells other kinds, and I don't know which is the best seller. (I suspect it is not the one we have, because that one is kind of sports-centric.) So she is a little stressed about following the herd. Hence the post below.

I am always amazed by people (young and old) who make their purchasing decisions based on which item is the best seller, or most popular with everybody else. Who gives a rip? Which one looks best on you? Which one will you wear more often? Which one fits your personality?

Picking a planner just because hordes of other retarded freshmen are buying it is completely stupid. Half of you will be on academic probation in 4 months. Find your own way.
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Speaking of academic probation, I know someone who was actually booted for low academic performance. Apparently you get one semester to bring yourself out of it. And then you go to community college and delude yourself into thinking someday you'll still be accepted into the Pharmacy program. I think if you can't pass the undergrad science, you may want to consider other fields. An "F" in Chemistry isn't great on the transcript, but you can try the second-grade option to bring it up and then move on to other things. Like English. Or something else Liberal Artsy. Such as, say, History. Even George W. Bush managed to get a History degree. At Yale.

Just throwing that out there.

Baa-aa

Attention incoming freshmen: no one gives a shit if you have the same exact planner as everyone else. Except maybe other incoming freshmen, and who cares what they think, anyway? A planner is not a thing that needs to be trendy. It just needs to work for you.

Fricking sheep.

Slave Wages vs. Resume Plumper

A student job has magically appeared that is actually in my field of study. Of course, it pays next to nothing, and my hours would be limited because it's not available weekends. I could work about 12 hours a week if I got it.

Meanwhile, I am going to be promoted at my current student job and making a reasonably decent wage for a student job. And I can work up to 20 hours a week. Including weekends. Which means I have to work weekends. In a job that is useless on my resume.

So...more than twice the money now or an improved shot at more money in the future?

In theory, I could still work my current job on weekends, but it'd mean I have to decline the promotion. And not only be a big fat traitor, but a big fat traitor who hangs around occasionally.

Yeah, I think I have to at least apply. I'll need to work up a budget to see if it's doable, but yeah.

Two Weeks

Classes start August 21, and I have a busy two weeks ahead of me. Next week is busy because of work. Week after next, I'll be out of town. So you have that to look forward to.

I have yet to get most of my books, because the effing bookstore hasn't put up the book orders yet. So it looks like I'll be paying full price like a sucker.

I did manage to weasel my way into a full class early, which makes me happy because I need that class this semester. It means I had to drop a class that I was really interested in, but I should be able to take that one next year. American Revolutionary Theologies...blending U.S. history and religion, fun!

I'm also taking a gym class for the hell of it. Badminton. Heh. Can't believe they give you credit for that. And it's like a workout that you can't get out of going to, except it's not exactly the most grueling sport in the world. I remember taking that in high school gym, and I'd beat the wrestlers and football players when we were matched together. They'd get really pissed off about it, too. Heh. I probably suck now, but still. Should be a good time.
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Finally finished Madame Bovary. It was hard to get through, and not just because I tried to start it when I was on vacation and people wouldn't leave me in peace for more than 2 minutes. It was difficult because I had very little sympathy for her, I must say. "God, I have to read more about this selfish little whiner? I'll watch Jurassic Park instead."

I'm down with the outrage over women's lack of choices in that time period and all, but she made things worse for herself. Can't blame everything bad or boring that happens to you on circumstance, dearie. And I found the ending suspect. Berthe--or the suddenly-appearing-when-it-fit-the-story "aunt"-- didn't inherit anything from her grandparents? Whatever. Makes it more tragic and all, I suppose.

Bleh. Who wants my copy?

On The Other Hand

Not that any of you are paying attention (all 3 of you), but I complained about a big store overhaul that was supposed to happen on my vacation but didn't. It's actually not so bad being here for it after all.

My boss does the basic changes we're supposed to do, then he doesn't like it and we alter it. So it's not as jacked-up as I envisioned. We did one section this afternoon and I think it looks pretty good.

In other work-related news...the co-worker I've vaguely mentioned lately is leaving us. Yay, team!

Latina est gaudium!

So, not taking any summer classes and being a bit geekish and a bit wary of the undertaking of Latin, I bought an introductory Latin text and workbook to start on over the summer. I figured it would be helpful to get a head start before the real thing in the fall. Turns out, I bought the actual textbook and workbook required for the class for the first two semesters. Suhweet. And the text was only $21.95. Suhweeter. I should have been a Classics major and saved $9000 on book expenses.

And I figured it out and I can finish 4 semesters of Latin and all of my graduation requirements for both of my degrees by December, 2008. I will have to take classes next summer, but will be able to save some surplus of that sweet, sweet financial aid money to put towards summer tuition and expenses. Since I got f'ed on the summer financial aid this year, I know to plan for the same next year.

I actually might finish this thing.
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Completely unrelated, worked today with the person I mentioned yesterday. All effing day, heard all about how (s)he didn't do what people said (s)he did that I can't talk about because it involves government agencies with weaponry if you know what I mean, and all day long I just wanted to say, "Shut the eff up, you did too do it."

Just to see his/her reaction.

And because after all his/her histrionics, I do think (s)he did it.

I'm just glad most of it happened while I was on vacation. Wasn't me!
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Eff, eff, effity, eff. Effers.

Methinks the Lady Doth Protest Too Much

Sometimes people don't know when to shut up for their own good, and what should have been a simple plea of not guilty turns into what looks like a major theatrical presentation.

(And no, I am not talking about myself. My theatrics are for entertainment purposes only.)

Work drama, gotta hate it.

Outgoing Mail

Dear Customer Who Complained To My Boss About Me and My Co-worker Not Helping You Enough For No Other Reason Than We Did Not Blink Our Eyes and Wiggle Our Noses and Magically Produce the Exact Shirt You Imagined Existed:

You are: someone who spent $12 on a shirt and kept the store manager from doing what he would rather be doing (making pretty recruitment signs on the computer) for 10 minutes. You are also someone who kept me calling other places of business looking for your imagined shirt for 5 minutes, then walked off in a huff when I was unsuccessful, which I felt terminated our relationship and my need to help you, since you said you were leaving and walked towards the door.

My co-worker and I are: people who have worked at the store for almost a year, actually try to find projects to keep busy, are very knowledgeable about our store's inventory, and employees who are expected to perform other tasks besides following you around the store.

My co-worker is: someone who was performing one of those tasks when you came to check out, thus causing you to wait for about 2 whole seconds. Okay, maybe 3 seconds. At the most.

I am: someone who works weekends, works holidays, works Finals Week (no small thing, I assure you), volunteers to work busy times, often substitutes for people who need time off, someone who has gotten maximum raises on all my performance reviews, someone who has been trusted with a key to the store since October? November? even though I wasn't a manager and there were employees who'd been there for years who didn't have a key, a cashier who has single-handedly rung up $10,000-plus in sales in a single day several times--without a single mistake or cash error, someone who suggestive sells things that don't move very well, and someone who generally entertains my boss by sassing him.

My boss is: someone who likes us more than he likes you and who forgot you existed 5 minutes after you left the store. Trust me on this. I tested it.

Thanks and shop again (somewhere else with your 12 bucks),

Me

Work Sucks

My first day back at work after my vacation was today, and it sucked. Work in general sucks. I don't understand why one of you won't keep me in the manner to which I think I should be accustomed, expecting nothing in return but the occasional thank you note. Come to think of it, you all suck. Selfish bastards, keeping your money for yourselves. That's the problem with Republicans. Keeping their money away from people like me who want to do nothing in return.

I'm kidding. Mostly.

Work wasn't too bad, but I was disappointed to see that the major project that was supposed to happen when I was gone has not happened. So I'll get to help with it. Bleh. It's not a fun project, because if it was, I'd be all about it. It's a crappy moving heavy things around project, directed by people with very little design sense.

I'm not the Queen of Retail, but I can tell you when a product comes in whether it will sell or not with pretty good accuracy. I can also tell you that two gold sweatshirts next to each other does not a balanced display make. (And that a casual button-down shirt that costs $70 will never sell until it hits the 50% off rack, but that's a post for another day.)

In summary, I'm not lazy and I wouldn't mind rearranging the store if it was going to look better. But I don't think it will. That's why I wish it was done while I was gone.

And as a bonus, I will tell you that white kids clothes are really cute, but they won't sell to anyone who has kids. They're white. On kids. White. On kids.

6.6.6

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was working today for someone who was afraid to leave the house because of the date.

At around 3:30ish, it seemed as though I may have made the wrong choice. The tornado sirens went off, and it was pretty exciting for awhile. But in the end, God spared us, and there was no tornado hitting the store.

So instead of dying under a pile of college sweatshirts, I got a raise today. Yay, root of all evil!

Naturally

I've noticed that whenever someone is tan at work, a few other co-workers will ask if that person has been tanning (salon-style). I can see that question in February, but at the end of May? It's been sunny and warm here long enough that you don't need a tanning bed to have a little color. Going outside occasionally without SPF92 will do it. Today it was my turn to be quizzed on my nonexistent tanning habits.

Is this a generational thing? To think that all suntans come from a bed of lights? I realize it is passe to slather on the oil and bake yourself in the actual sun, but if you go outside you're bound to get some color.

One of the girls asked the hsbf if he'd been tanning, and he impressed me with his response. He said nothing, but lifted his sleeve to show his paler upper arm. I mean, really. Do 17-year-old boys even go to tanning salons anyway?

Kids today.

Sudden Interest

I signed up for a fall class required by one of my majors, an Issues class that had no course description at the time but fit nicely into my schedule.

Today I noticed it had a course description...it is now a course on forensics.

It's also suddenly full. The CSI effect, I presume. The other two Issues classes are about technology and homosexuality, respectively. They're both half full. Slap a warning on a class about graphic images, and it'll fill right up.

Suddenly, a class I thought would be boring has potentially become the most interesting in the schedule. And it is right before lunch, too.

Worth the Aggravation, I Guess

Aha, my grades are now showing up in ISIS. See? All it took was a little bitching and moaning.

I got an "A" in that pita-class where I've been researching an American Indian tribe. I'm sure you'll remember, unless you're new here. (In which case, welcome!)

So all the annoyances over that class were worth it in the end. I would have been really irritated if I'd gotten less than an "A". Livid, even. Suicidal, maybe, after the anger wore off.
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I forgot to tell you people that a good friend of mine, my main roommate in college (The First Time), got divorced. This upsets me greatly as she got married only a couple years ago after waiting until she was really sure she was ready. Much like I am waiting. And then she was divorced after just two years.

She's a wonderful and brilliant person, and I really thought she was one who would make it. (Truly, she is brilliant, she will be a professor at a very prestigious university this fall, teaching a subject uncommon for women.) There was no huge problem like infidelity or violence, they just decided they weren't compatible. Better to end it in such a case before children become involved, but it still upsets me.

If waiting doesn't matter, what am I waiting for?

Lazy Bastages

None, that's none of my teachers submitted their grades before the last freaking minute. Therefore, I still don't know any of my final grades, whereas most people know all of theirs.

Given my tendency towards impatience, you can imagine this is not good. Lucky for them we don't do teacher evaluations after we get our grades. In more ways than one, I imagine.
_____

My mom gave me a bunch of her freebies from Nurses' Day, and one of the better items was a Starbucks gift card. That's a good gift. Everyone should send me one.
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I can't wait to go camping this year for a whole week (two weekends!). Can't. Wait. I've been talking about going up to the cabin to everyone since around January. That not getting to take summer classes thing turned out really well.

Shake That

I had to close up the store tonight, and as my boss was getting ready to leave he said something to the effect of, "I'm leaving, you can turn off the sports and put the music on like you always do when I'm not here."

I answered with something to the effect of, "That's right. It's Dance Party time when you go home. We put a little Eminem 'Shake That' on, and get down." (I demonstrated a little shaking of that at this point in the convo.) "We make the customers dance too, and if they won't they have to leave." I nodded at the nearest customer in the store, a guy who looked like he'd opt to leave.

A good laugh was had by all, and my boss left anyway. We proceeded to keep watching the sad post-game Cubs (and Mike Piazza!) coverage and didn't shake anything. Pity.
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A little follow-up on the hsbf/lanyard situation...I worked with him again this week, and either the lanyard made an impression on him or he has found this blog. (Hi, M!) He randomly mentioned how lanyards were good, and I wasn't even wearing one.
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Mike Piazza. Mmm. 'Night.
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UPDATE: Saturday...Mikey, you break my heart.

I'masplain

Re: PowerPoint vs. Low-Tech Overhead Pages

The overhead is attached to the same technology island as the computer, DVD player, VCR, and whatever else is crammed on there. Everything beams out of the same ceiling projector. When you have a presentation with 57 PP slides, you get to hide behind the technoisland and click the mouse. I say "get to" because a lot of people don't like public speaking and would happily hide in a projection booth and broadcast their slides from there if they could.

If you have just a few sheets of pertinent information, you are freed from the technoisland. You can watch your audience for signs of confusion and tailor your presentation accordingly. I could have put the same information on PP slides, yes. But with the overhead, I can zoom in and out as necessary, and as far as I know, this is not possible with PP. If it is possible, it's probably not as easy. Plus, PP tends to keep you boxed into a particular outline, and doesn't lend itself very well to that tailoring I mentioned.

When you are freed from the technoisland, your speech is audibly more interesting, because you're probably not reading your presentation. When you are freed from the technoisland, your speech is visibly more interesting because you are (hopefully) moving around and being physically expressive.

Another reason to be free of the technoisland is smoothness. Unless you are someone who uses the technology on a regular basis, you will have awkward pauses while you get your presentation going. I went low-tech to make my speech go smoothly and avoid making myself flustered or losing my train of thought while monkeying around with an unfamiliar console.

Using the overhead did not "date" me in this situation, as my professor uses the overhead almost exclusively. It is a class about language. When I give a presentation in a class about technology, I'll be sure to use something more modern. For this particular situation, however, I really do believe low-tech was the most effective way to go. And judging by the reaction to my presentation, I was right.

One Last Class

I am not completely done for the semester. I have to attend class this afternoon and watch other people do their language presentations (I did mine last week).

Part of the instructions for the presentation included a requirement to bring paper copies of any PowerPoint slides or other visual aids to turn in. Everyone else who presented last week took that as a cue to do a PowerPoint presentation. I wasn't having it, however, because PowerPoint is evil. I don't even have it installed on my computer(s).

Instead, I made some nice overhead projector pages with examples of my main information. Page one had a list of dialect features, page two had a list of lexicon examples, and page three had some samples of speech "mistakes". I gave my presentation from my outline notes, referring to the overhead pages as necessary.

This freed me up to move around and make eye contact and otherwise engage my audience while I was speaking. It also gave my audience a chance to read the information on the pages, because the pages stayed up for a few minutes at a time.

The worst class I ever endured involved a TA who made PP slides crammed so full of information that the small fonts she was forced to use couldn't even be read half the time. The slides summarized our readings, and she regurgitated the slides to us. It was the laziest, most passive instructional technique I've ever had the misfortune to sit through.

The presentations last week were fairly similar. I'm not saying I'm the most dynamic speaker in the world--and to be fair, I've had actual real-world experience giving presentations and putting on training seminars--but I think my presentation was the best of the day. Freeing myself from pressing the "next" button every 30 seconds was a big help.

I hope the classmates who present this afternoon noticed the difference, but I'm not sure it will override the fun of creating pretty slides with cool graphics. At the very least, I hope they noticed that it's hard to read a PP slide featuring blue text with a green background.

Speaking of Camping...

Someone (I'm guessing my boss) "recognized [my] leadership skills" and nominated me to go on some weekend camping retreat/conference for the university. I suppose I should suck it up and network and all that crap I hate. It's free and something I can throw onto a resume.
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The tornado sirens went off shortly after 7 p.m. This did not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling, considering what happened last time the tornado sirens went off around here. Instead of looking outside and ignoring it when I determined the sky didn't look so bad, I actually checked the weather. It was 8 miles north and nothing ever touched down. So no worries.

Out of My Hands

Remember when I was debating whether or not to take classes this summer, or be a total slacking, camping fool? And did I even share that debate with you people in the first place?

Anyway, my decision has been made for me by the Financial Aid office.

Camping it is.

The Opposite of Help

You'd think that having the answers to the matching section printed on the test would be helpful, but you'd be wrong.

See, I already knew those particular answers, and now all the idiots who didn't know them got them right, too. Since the exam is graded on a curve, this brings the curve up.

Anyway, note to any TAs in the audience...proofread the exam and try not to have the answers on it. Thank you and have a nice day.
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I'm on my second large coffee of the day already...about this time every semester, I consider becoming a full-fledged coffee drinker. It usually passes after about a week.

Cue Howard Dean

Yeeeaaarrrrggggh!

Okay, I feel better now.

Yay, studying for finals.

It's almost over, it's almost over, it's almost over it's almost over it'salmostover it'salmostover itsalmostover itsalmostoveritsalmostoveritsalmostover

Boobies

My hsbf was fixated on my chestal region at work today. It's not my imagination, either, because the other girls at work noticed and commented on it.

Must have been the extra inch of flesh I was flashing today beyond my normal work t-shirt neckline. Scandalous.

Actually, now that I think about it, it was probably the lanyard I was wearing. He kept asking about my keys. Ah, the lanyard. So flirty. So daring. So sex-ay.
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I really, really wish I could go camping this weekend. But no, I must buckle down and study. It will all be over soon enough. Buckle, buckle.

Buckle.

Ta Da.

The presentation is given. It was rockin'.

The paper is written and submitted via e-mail. It is semi-rockin'.

The research binder--a portfolio of all the papers and research I've done for the class for the semester--is done and ready to be turned in tomorrow. It is a thing of beauty. And rockin'.

The hard work is over. All that's left is a 2-page response to someone else's presentation and a couple of exams that should pose no significant difficulties.

Suhweet.
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In other news, I'd like to announce that I have a gambling problem. It's all the rage these days. Last year I lost about $82 on the lottery. That constitutes my entire gambling losses for the year. Buy my book.

I'd also like to announce that I am not friends with Denise Richards. She's shady. And older than me. Not sure why I wanted to point that out. Oh yeah. It's because I am younger than her. Nyah.

Well, Crap

Don't you hate it when you have to write a 7-page paper and you barely eke it out to 7 pages, only to realize you forgot your first page is a title page with no content?

Of course you do.

Then you have to decide if you want to throw in a paragraph expanding on a barely-related topic or just turn in a short paper.

So I'm off to expand now...

P.S. I never thought I'd know so much about the intricacies of Indian gaming laws. I never wanted to, either, but that's neither here nor there.

Sticker Shock

When I graduate, I will have what I consider to be significant debt. You people aren't giving me enough grant money, so I'm also taking out loans to help pay for my education.

My debt, however, will be dwarfed by The Boy's. He'll owe over $100,000. It would be even more if his parents and the gummint weren't paying a significant portion of his dental school costs. The estimated cost of attendance for a non-resident (of the state) is over $160,000, and he tells me that's better than most schools. Especially considering we have one of the top dental programs.

I think I figured out why they're suicidal.

One Down, One To Go

Finished my presentation/project that is due tomorrow. Now I have a 7-page paper to write by Friday...which will be placed into a presentation binder along with the rest of the semester's work for that class.

After that, I just have to review for the finals I have Monday.

Going to take a little break, then dive into that paper.

I'll Asplain

Re: Latin.

I am a history major. I concentrate on U.S. history, but I have a good core of Medieval history under my belt as well. IF I ever want to get an advanced degree in History, I will need to show proefficiency in two foreign languages. I have that for French, and Latin would be a second.

The reason they want History majors to know foreign languages is because historians need to work with primary documents. Why take someone else's translation--or mistranslation--at face value? Make your own mistranslation.

Latin education in most colleges (including mine) does not involve spoken Latin at all. There is little practical use for that. However, you do learn how to translate, and that is the vast majority of your coursework.

Everyone feel better?

Ahead of Schedule

My senioritis, that is. It's a full year ahead of schedule.

Everything else is behind.

Especially the research paper that is due tomorrow...that I have barely started research on.

And the sun is shining with nary a cloud in sight.

*sigh*
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In other news, I have decided to learn Latin.

I Hope I Can Pass

There were lots of openings in gym classes for the summer term, so I'm all over it.

Perks

What's better than a bagel slathered with cream cheese? A free bagel slathered with free cream cheese.
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In other news, I am finally an owner of an MP3 player. I'm not sure why, and I am less sure what to do with it. But I wanted a portable radio (with the radio for news, in case I'm, say, ever stuck in a building during a tornado warning and no one knows what is actually going on outside) and it seemed silly to buy the plain old radio when the MP3 version wasn't all that expensive. And I like the small size. Could get a smaller MP3 w/ radio tuner than a plain old radio--because they have to shove junk like a CD player or tape player (can you believe it? Tapes?!) onto it. I didn't care for the plain old, plain old radio tuner thingies I found, either.

So. Now I shall stare at the package and decide whether to open it or return it.

Can't beat that for Friday afternoon entertainment. Can't beat it with a sack of wet cats, I say.

No, I have no idea what that meant.

Playing in Dirt

I have an opportunity to do an archaeological field school this summer, but I just can't bring myself to commit to sitting in a hole from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Even though it's only 3 weeks.

The biggest non-sitting-in-a-hole-at-8am drawback is the havoc it would wreak on my actual paying job. As in, I'd have to only work weekends for 3 weeks, and that's not many hours.

Now it's your job to talk me into sitting in the hole for 3 weeks. Go.

Tourism Down

The lookey-loos from out of town have trickled off, letting the rest of us drive around in relative peace.

Still noticeable debris lying around everywhere, and the State Patrol is directing traffic in intersections that lost their traffic signals. Most roads are open, except the residential areas that got nailed.

The constant din of chain and electric saws has replaced the sound of emergency vehicle sirens. Lots of plywood covering lots of holes.

The windows were blown out in buildings across the street from where I was at, so I'm feeling even luckier than I did before.

My roommate was caught driving in it, and debris hit and blew out her driver's side window. She drove past the Dairy Queen right before it disappeared, so she's feeling pretty lucky, too.

It was an F2, and they tell us we had 3 of them that night.

Recovery is happening, slowly but surely. It's not like a Hawkeye ever lets a Cyclone bring 'im down.

Briefly...

Anyone who wants to make a donation to the area Red Cross can do so here.

Why?

Because:

At least 212 homes were affected by the storm in Iowa City, said James Moody of the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency, citing Red Cross volunteer estimates. Of those, 14 were destroyed, 96 sustained major damage and 110 showed minor damage, he said.

The Day After

Not that anybody reading this actually cares, but here's an update anyway...

Insulation and roofing material are everywhere, along with tree branches and whole trees (including roots). We were the lead story on Good Morning, America, I hear. Street signs are also all over the place, although a lot of that sort of thing has been cleaned up now. The traffic signal poles that came down yesterday were cleaned up overnight.

There was some looting, but it mostly consisted of dumbasses going into damaged buildings to raid the alcohol cooler.

The parking ramp I park in about half the time was hit, and cars inside were thrown around. One of them had a big steel beam sticking through its windshield. Glad I parked in the other ramp last night.

This morning, a lot of streets were still blocked by debris, but the main roads seem to be fine now. Can't vouch for the side roads.

No serious injuries in our area, apparently. Which is amazing considering not only the damage but the Idiots Out Walking Around.

The U has photo galleries up.

Our Turn

We got hit by a tornado(es?) tonight. The constant sound of emergency vehicles can be heard not that far from here. Many car insurance claims will be filed tomorrow for hail damage, including my roommate's. A Dairy Queen is gone and either a WalMart or Menard's lost its roof, according to what I've heard on the radio. Lots of power outages with traffic lights being out of course, leading to accidents.

I was on campus when the first sirens went off around 8:00, and we went downstairs. There's something alternately comforting and scary about being in a century-plus old building during a tornado. The rain and hail stopped and a friend and I decided to walk to my car, which was thankfully in a parking ramp and under a roof. As we were getting there, the sirens went off again and we saw a really scary cloud really close. We went into the Student Union, where they had everyone packed into the downstairs hallway. It was really hot, so we eventually made our way to the door at the end of the hall, and stood outside. We ran into a guy from my class there, who had planned to leave earlier but changed his mind, so we hung out with him again. It was on the north end of the building, so we were fairly sheltered from the wind and rain. After everything really seemed to clear up again, we left, and I drove my friend and her roommate to their dorm before heading home myself. The sirens went off again for a town north of here as I was coming home, but it is all over now.

Well, all over except for the clean-up. Sounds like there will be a lot of that. Supposedly we had six touch-downs. I'm sure there will be more complete information and news tomorrow.

UPDATE: Just so you don't think I'm imagining things...news:

Twisters have been reported in Tama, Linn, Muscatine and Johnson counties, including one that hit the University of Iowa. The National Weather Service says other parts of Iowa City have sustained major damage, including crushed cars, downed trees, at least one destroyed home and major damage to a store. It is unknown if the tornadoes have caused any injuries. Officials have reported another large tornado in Muscatine and there has been hail as large as baseballs.

Further updates below the fold...

More news:

At least four tornados touched down in eastern Iowa while heavy hail and rain pounded the area this evening, weather officials said. One twister hit the University of Iowa and others were reported in Tama, Linn and Muscatine counties, said Rod Donavon, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Des Moines.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the worst of the storms struck the heart of Iowa City, sparing most of the city’s north side. The wind, rain and hail made the downtown look as if a riot swept through, the Press-Citizen reports.

The Press-Citizen reports the worst of the damage happened on the town’s east side. The storm completely demolished a Dairy Queen, flipped cars at Dodge dealership and snapped trees in Iowa City. Cars along Burlington and Capitol streets were completely overturned.

It is unknown if the tornadoes have caused any injuries in eastern Iowa.

Half of the roof of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church downtown has been ripped off completely, the Press-Citizen reports.

Onlookers in the pedestrian mall are being evacuated because of gas leaks from damage to Martini’s and Union bars, the Press-Citizen reports.

Terry Smith of MidAmerican Energy says that 5,000 customers are without power.

Riverside Drive and Governor Street in Iowa City appear to have sustained the worst damage. Downed power lines, traffic signals and debris litter the streets as hundreds, if not thousands, of university students roam the streets inspecting the damage, the Press-Citizen reports.

The east wall of the Alpha Chi Omega house collapsed, ex-posing the rooms to the elements, and the gazebo at College Green park was flattened, the Press-Citizen reports.

Another large tornado was reported in Muscatine, the National Weather Service reports.

Donavon said other tornadoes are possible throughout east-central Iowa for much of Thursday night.

‘‘It’s still dark outside,’’ Donavon told The Associated Press just after 9 p.m.

‘‘We’ve had large hail up to baseball size.”

Classes cancelled for tomorrow:

11:30 PM
University of Iowa President David Skorton has announced that classes are cancelled for Friday, April 14, because of safety concerns on campus and in Iowa City following the tornadoes and thunderstorms Thursday evening. President Skorton urges all faculty, staff and students to avoid the areas affected by the storms to allow emergency personnel to help those in need and take care of other related emergencies storm clean-up activities.

Largely due to gas leaks and downed power lines/trees, I would think.

The student paper is posting pictures here. The overturned car is 2 blocks from where I was at. There were also roofs torn off in that area...the ped mall and the church nearby. The first building I was in is 2 blocks from the car, and slightly closer to the ped mall. The second building we went to is just down the hill (not even a block) from the original building.

First reported fatality.

Round Round Get Around

I get around.

All around campus, that is, chasing after history professors. Seems like I spend entirely too much time doing so, too.

I'd write more, but I have to go chase after a history professor now.

Obviously.

A Step Above Crayons and Elmer's...Barely

I must conclude, after observing an admittedly small sample, that undergraduate college students have very little design sensibility. That, or they're just lazy.

The class with the posters met Thursday, and mine and another student's poster were the only two with any sort of design sense. One student bragged about how she bought the rainbow assortment of Sharpies to make her poster beautiful. It was very...colorful. She wrote her various sentences in all the different colors. Of course, with a color printer, she could have done the same thing on a computer...and used spellcheck.

Another student must have used a whole roll of scotch tape. And I know this, because we could see the tape. It wasn't even doubled over to go on the back side...just plopped onto the papers she taped to the poster. The papers fluttered away from the poster board, making it hard to see what they actually said.

One poster actually had a color scheme, but the writing was too small to read. It was probably 10-point font. These were posters that we had to hold up in front of small groups to complement a speech about our topic. I was the only one who didn't use flimsy posterboard (I used foamboard), and I was therefore the only one who didn't have to fight to keep my poster from rolling up or falling down.

Lesson for all you kids out there: having a well-designed, well-thought-out poster will make you infinitely more comfortable when you make a speech or presentation. The last thing you want to do is be worrying that your prop(s) will fall apart or fall down. It will make you that much more nervous. Plus, it is just plain unprofessional...something you should care about even if it's just college. You'll also be more comfortable if you dress nicely, but I realize that's a lot to ask of many of you.

And Here Comes the Train

It's not even 6:00 a.m., and I am up making a research poster for a presentation.

Yay me.

(Regarding the title, there is a train track nearby.)

If I drank coffee, I'd be ready for a cup or two now. Gonna be a long day.

***UPDATE, 8:20 a.m.: Poster's done. Yay, pretty graphs. 2.5 hours, so it's probably crap, but it looks spiffy. Now my fingers are sticky from the spray adhesive. Since I scrapbook, I had all the mounting and paper supplies I needed--just had to buy the posterboard.

***UPDATE 2: Okay, it's not actually crap, because I wouldn't purposely do a presentation with a crap poster. But the assignment was very vague, so I went with a generic sort of research poster. Not a whole lot of info on it...but there will be lots of info in my little spiel. There are 3 graphs, a map, and a picture of a murderer, as well as a couple bullet-point lists of important points. I think it's pretty decent, but since the assignment was vague...dunno.

Small Bills

Got my monthly university charge bill in the mail...I owe $1.56. Had a frappucino once and no cash on me. It's the smallest bill I've had this year. I have an irresponsible urge to go buy DVDs or something at the bookstore.

Speaking of DVDs, why didn't anyone tell me Little House on the Prairie is available on DVD?! I may never leave the house again.
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Went to the post office to mail my bi-monthly package to Iraq. The parcel post option was $10.something, and the priority option was $12.something. I had 11 single dollar bills, and I wanted to get rid of them, so I picked the parcel post. Is that bad? I don't think it really matters with military mail anyway...it'll get there when the Army feels like getting it there, no?

What I need to do is get those flat rate boxes, but they're smaller than what I like. If I send anything really heavy, that'll be the way to go. Like a box just full of wet wipes or something. Or canned goods. Or books. Or porn magazines.

Just kidding, you can't send porn to Iraq.

Mumps

Apparently the mumps are going around campus. What the hell? There are immunizations for the mumps, you know. It's the MMR shot, and it takes care of measles and rubella, too. Back in my day, everybody got them. In fact, when I worked in a hospital not so long ago, I had to have a booster before I started.

Before I went to college The First Time, I had to get some booster shots before they'd let me in. I believe the MMR was one of them. Now apparently people can make a choice not to get immunizations. It's their choice to be locked up for a week until they stop being contagious, I guess, but unfortunately people don't know they're contagious for about two days. So they run around infecting all the other people who haven't had the shot.

Funny how that works.

UPDATE:
My bad. Looks like people are getting it even if they had the MMR. Yikes.

All That Stress For Nothing

I was given a paper assignment March 2 for a paper due today. I planned to write it over Spring Break, but I never got around to it. Then I planned to write it Monday, but never got around to it. Then I planned to write it Tuesday, but never got around to it. Then I planned to write it yesterday, but never got around to it. I decided to take a nap instead, and worrying about the paper kept me from falling asleep for awhile. But just awhile.

Finally, today, I was forced to write the paper. I am a procrastinator, but I'm not stupid. So I sat down first thing this morning to write the paper, instead of waiting until the last possible minute (the paper is due late this afternoon).

And the paper only took two hours to write. Including forays into the kitchen for drinks and snacks. Including time talking to my roommate about the Black Angel. Including an online chat with the bf.

Yay, me. Now what will I do with my time?

I Always Feel Like...

...somebody's watching me. (Am I dating myself with the 80s lyrical reference?)

Yesterday for one of my classes, we met in the library to "learn" how to find different kinds of sources. I say "learn" with quotes because some of us already know how to do that sort of thing. And by "some of us", I mean "me".

Anyway, two hours in the library with a professor and my class. I didn't notice anyone I know when I was there, but today I've had 3 people ask me what I was doing in the library yesterday with so many people. One person asked me while I was at work, another asked me when I was at the store, and the third asked me while I was on campus for about 4 seconds.

For someone who doesn't socialize much, I seem to run into people I know all over the place.
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I have enjoyed a Cadbury caramel egg this season. I also enjoyed a Cadbury cream egg, but not as much. Obviously. Because the caramel ones are better.
_____

I was going to take classes this summer, but the more I think about it, the more I think a summer of camping sounds like a better idea. Or a couple weeks, anyway. Chilling in the woods for two weeks. Heaven.

Thank You

Thank all of you who worked like dogs and paid taxes so that I can go to school for free next year. Ahhh, sweet, sweet grant money.

Deferred Payment Plan

It occured to me today that a parking ticket isn't a whole lot more than paying at the ramp for most of the day. And I don't have to come up with the cash for a parking ticket today...they'll just charge the ticket to my university bill, which for a March charge will be due the end of April.

So I parked at a meter and didn't feed it.

Oh yeah. I'm bad.

Mad Researching Skillz

Back from meeting with my professor. Besides saying what a good sport I've been, and fearless about diving into different territories than the others, she also said she's really impressed with the research I've done and the insights I've uncovered. She asked if I'd been working as a researcher during my break from school.

So yeah, the aggravation is totally worth it. Plus she said I'm getting an "A", which I really think is important for me for this particular class.

The next project, she is having me do the research on a semi-related tribe instead of my own tribe. She said the other option she considered was to have me do completely different research, but she didn't want me veering too far off the path that everyone else is on. I'm actually kind of disappointed that I'm leaving my tribe for now. :-( And I hope she takes my handicap into account when grading the next paper--I don't have a month of research into this other tribe to draw from.

Well, Duh.

My professor finally admitted today that it was a very bad idea to assign my particular tribe to somebody. This because I am faced with yet another research project that I can not just do like everybody else. Tomorrow I will find out what she'll have me do instead. I can't wait.
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To the girl who was wearing a gray and pink hoodie with "Georgia Tech" on it while you were walking past the library around 4:30 p.m.: WTF? The bookstore is about 3 blocks north. Buy yourself something cool. You can charge it to your student ID and everything.

Don't Look, sarahk!

Dear Texas,

You suck and I hate you. Why couldn't you have stayed independent and made my research a lot easier?? Stupid Republic! Stupid Republic Archives! Next time, keep all your records intact! Never heard of a shoebox? Peh.

Love,
Me

P.S. Loved Big Bend N.P. when I was there.

What's Cooler Than Cool?

Ice cold. (Shake it like a Polaroid picture!)

Ahem.

Anyway, I'm not as stressed out as you'd expect for someone who has to do (minimal) revisions to a paper for this afternoon, has an exam tonight she hasn't really studied for, has an exam she is in no way prepared for on Thursday, has a group project due Thursday, a paper due Thursday, and a proposal for another project due Thursday.

I'm also not as stressed out as you'd expect for someone who has to do a semester-long research project on an Indian tribe with very little documentation. A big portion of the research is supposed to be on treaties, and my tribe doesn't have any. This will make my research challenging, eh? I have a feeling I'll be combing through other tribes' treaties to see if they affect my tribe one way or another.

I've already had to do more legwork than other students, because we were supposed to read two books and write a short paper on each. My tribe didn't have a second book. So I grubbed through the congressional records instead. I played with the microfiche machines that never want to freaking print properly. I followed a bill from the House to the Senate to the House to the Senate...and had to read all their bureaucratic gobbledygook.

On the plus side, I'll be a stronger researcher for all my trouble. On the down side, this one class is taking too much of my valuable time.

Help Wanted

So. I need to write a scientific research paper on "Geology".

Nice and broad topic, that. I need to narrow it down just a tad, and I'm looking for ideas. I could do a specific volcano, something about glaciation in a particular region...something about the Ring of Fire, because it sounds cool. Something like that. But it has to be something that I'd actually be able to do research on and write about for 8 pages.

Minus the Money

It suddenly occured to me as I looked around my desk area, that this looks similar to the professors' offices I've been in. Books piled all over the place, papers everywhere...and my little collection of rock samples laid out and numbered on my work table really pushes it over the edge.

It's time to clean.

The Glamorous World of Geology

I have on my desk a collection of rocks and minerals with numbers on them. I need to have them memorized for my test this morning. I'm confident about the basic rocks like sandstone, limestone, breccia, marble, basalt, etc. Slate, phyllite, and shale might trip me up. I can tell them apart, but I might forget which is which. Slate rubs off if you rub your finger on it. Slate rubs off. Slate rubs off. Slate rubs off.

The minerals, I think I'll be okay. I hope I'll be okay.

Wish me luck.

Dusty

I am the first student ever to check out the library book I checked out a half-hour ago...and the first person to take the book out of the library since at least May 1, 1977.

It's very exciting, having in my hands such rare knowledge.

Unfortunately, it looks pretty damn boring. Transcripts of government hearings about a fairly obscure American Indian tribe. Why couldn't *I* get a tribe like the Blackfoot (a bit of my ancestry) or the Cherokee or something that more than a couple hundred people have ever heard about? Stupid other people in my class, with their well-documented tribes, who could choose from a wider variety of books. There is only *one* book about *my* tribe. Which makes me special, because we're supposed to read *two* books about our tribes, and my second "book" will be all the government documents about the tribe and their appeal for federal recognition, etc. Yay, microfiche. But at least I got brownie points from my professor for being "flexible".

And it'll be a good learning experience, blah blah blah.

Me and My Shadow

I haven't written about the hsbf (high school boyfriend) in awhile...but today I spent 5 hours seeing if I'm just imagining that he follows me around at work. And I don't think I'm imagining it.

I went into the office, he went into the office.

I went into the breakroom, he went into the breakroom.

I went onto the sales floor, he went onto the sales floor.

I went into the stockroom, he went into the stockroom.

I sat on the right side of the office, he pulled a chair over to sit on the right side of the office.

I moved to the outside of the counter, he moved to the outside of the counter to stand right next to me.

I stood on the inside of the counter (it's in the middle of the sales floor), he stood right next to me inside the counter.

I went into the ladies' room, I locked the door.

Anyway, he stayed later than anyone else to help me close up, and also at one point I was checking my e-mail and had no new mail. He was there (obviously), and I remarked that no one loved me. He said it was only because I haven't given him my e-mail address.

I don't think I'm imagining things. I can't act any more platonic, and I'm not sure if I should be doing anything to actively discourage his little crush. So far it's harmless. Thoughts?

Here, There, Everywhere

First of all, I can not stress enough that everyone should get a cute professor with an accent if at all possible, whenever possible.

Secondly, I think I was in half the buildings on campus today. Within about 45 minutes. I had to go to the Interdisciplinary Studies office, the History office, Jessup to pay my U-bill, the Registrar's office, the IMU (student union, bookstore is inside), the library, and Phillips Hall. Later on I even went into the dental building. But that was just for fun. :-)

The thing that sucks about campus is that it's built on a giant hill. And you eventually have to walk up the hill. Bleh, aerobic activity. Actually, it's built on either side of a river, but I don't have to cross the river on foot. The west side has the hospital and medical school, the law school, dental building, sports facilities, and all that sort of thing. Oh, and the arts center. The east side has all of my stuff, and all of the general buildings like the main library and IMU. I keep meaning to take pictures for you. But I'll probably wait until it gets nicer, weather-wise.

And thirdly, I love chalupas. Just throwing that out there.

Suddenly, Having Affairs With Professors Seems Reasonable To Me

I've never understood before why anyone would have an affair with a professor (yuck!)...but now I understand. Not all of them are old, and some of them are even attractive. Throw in an accent and voice that sound like Ewan McGregor, and it all begins to make sense to me.

Yay for not having to learn about the origins of the planet from an eye-witness!

On the other hand, boo for having a professor able to be in my actual age group.

School Preparation

Tomorrow begins the new semester...and I am preparing by watching Jurassic Park on DVD.

I picked it up at the store when I bought a new desktop computer. Big splurge of the ol' financial aid dollars, but it had to be done. The computer--not the DVD ($45 buys a few DVDs, heh). My other desktop (circa 1999) was dying. Not dead, but close enough that I wasn't comfortable writing any papers on it the end of last semester. Even with frequent backups, I was nervous. So it was either spend the money for Geek Squad to hopefully diagnose (is that spelled right? it looks strange) and fix the issues, or spend the money on something faster and better.

So now I have a spiffy new model with media card readers and USB ports right on the front. Convenient for the digital camera and the flash memory stick thingie. And even with the elephantine AOL loaded on it, it's supah fast.

Now if I only had one of those cool flat-panel monitors, I'd be all set. ;-)

Free Books

I have just returned from the university book store buyback desk, where nearly $600 in books was reduced to $45. It's not magic! It's the college textbook scam in action!

Some books were not taken back, and of those I have two that I want gone from my sight (and my bookshelf):

The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, as translated by Betty Radice

A Concise Introduction to Logic, Eighth Edition, Patrick J. Hurley (including CD!)

I've never liked Abelard. Damn whiner. And y'all know my feelings on Logic in general.

So...if you want them, I will gladly ship them to you. E-mail your address and they'll be on their way! If no one takes my offer, I will probably just burn them in a campfire this summer.

Nerdish

I spent the afternoon cleaning my desk area, organizing next semester's books, and printing labels for the folders. I'm so cool. Classes start Tuesday, ya know, and I am ready.

I feel like I better go to a party or something to balance the nerd karma. So see y'all later!

Relating to the Kidz

Boss today during pay review: "Everybody likes you, and I haven't had anyone complain about you." (Amazing in a location of all college kids with their assorted dramas and traumas.)
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Co-worker when told I can't make it to bowling Tuesday: "We'll reschedule it for the day you can go."

My response: "I don't want to inconvenience everybody who has already planned on it for Tuesday."

Co-worker: "Nope. We'll do it Thursday. I'll call everyone."
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See? Some people like me. :-p

Management Style

There were no customers in the store at one point, so the boys did what they do: throw things around. Playing catch is a normal thing for them (and by "them" I don't just mean the two I was working with but all boys who work at the store), but they weren't playing catch. They were trying to knock a stuffed animal off its stand with a soft ball. I was the supervisor today, so when I walked by, one of them offered an apology of sorts:

Him: Sorry, Jen. We're just miscreants.

Me: Oh well.

Him: Cool. (pause) Game on, then.

When there is actual work to do, they listen to me better than they listen to the other supervisors. Whether it's my age or disposition or experience, I couldn't tell you. But they weren't hurting anything or near anything breakable, so why end their fun?

Ankle Deep in Pottery Shards

Yay, introductory archaeology! Yay, "Guided Independent Study" of Biblical Archaeology! Yay, eventual archaeology lab work for a professor! Yay, possible eventual digging in a hole for a summer! Yay, classes and fieldwork that I'll probably never do anything with after school!

I'm thinking I should start making friends at the Field Museum.

Oh, and yay, restored vision!

And Now We Dance

Finished my sixth and last final of the week this morning. (Second 7:30 a.m. exam in a row, yay.)

Nothing left to do but go back to sleep.

And pack. :-)

Focusing on the Positive

I've decided to stop being so negative about finals week, now that it is nearly over.

In that spirit, I present
The Pros of Having a 7:30 a.m. Exam:

1. Plenty of campus parking is available that early in the morning.

Officially Average

My final grade for "Science" is a "C". I told my roommate that if I get anything lower than that, I was camping out in someone's department chair's office.

I will not camp out.

I will finish my last three exams for the week, and then ruminate on my failures as a student.

Then I will finish my degree, get a much better job than my T.A., and feel smug because I am attractive and generally liked while he is bald at 28 and a total dork. And I will know that is petty and shallow, but I will not care.

And if I ever dig up some ancestral-to-humans fossil, I will name it after my T.A., but everyone will just think I'm a huge fan of a 70s singer with the same name. Which I am.

And Another Thing

Neandertals did not die out because they couldn't sew better-fitting clothes, no matter what any idiot T.A. tries to tell you when he doesn't know the answer to a question in class. Good luck finding an actual Ph.D. to back that one up. Humans didn't even start sewing their clothes until the Neandertals were gone. The earliest verified sewn clothing dates to 22,000 years ago. In Russia. Not Western Europe.

If Neandertals did not interbreed with humans and just evolve out of existence (research the Lagar Velho child to get a taste of that debate), they died out because they weren't ingenuitive enough to compete with the humans for reduced food sources when there was a cooling trend in Europe around 28,000 years ago. Which is when the Neandertals disappeared, btw. Even *I* know that is the prevailing theory, and I don't claim to be some kind of quasi-expert on Neandertals, saying they're "my favorite" and have bigger average cranial capacities than humans (1520cc vs 1350cc, respectively, btw) which means they're totally smart, and have my life's dream be to measure (and probably fondle) their skulls for a living. Inuits have bigger cranial capacities, too, because they live in the cold. Just like Neandertals.

The Neandertals weren't dying off because it got cold out and they couldn't score Columbia jackets. They were built for cold weather, and did have animal skins and furs to keep them warm. Unfortunately, the colder weather drove off some of the food supply, and there were new hominids in the neighborhood to compete with the Neandertals for what was left.

Besides, Neandertals weren't bright enough to ever figure out how to hunt large animals without getting stepped on or gored or whatever. Humans developed weapons that allowed them to hunt from a safer distance. So when there were fewer animals around, humans were getting them and not getting killed in the process. Neandertal remains show all kinds of injuries like this, I'm not just making it up. They weren't all that bright, comparatively speaking, and displayed next to no symbolic thinking. In my ever so humble opinion, they simply lost out to the better hunters.

So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

I'm So Average

Well, the grades in "Science" have been turned in, and I did in fact get a "C".

Which is complete bullshit. The two midterms we had were 50 questions, but the final was 100 questions. And it was not cumulative. So we had 100 exam questions about the last three weeks of material, when the prior exams were 50 questions about five weeks of material. And all three exams were weighted equally.

It is a class for non-science types to be able to fulfill their science General Education requirement. It is supposed to be a survey-type course.

You can not come up with 100 exam questions about 3 weeks of material without getting hard-core with the material. Do I know the exact cranial capacity of a particular (obscure) fossil? No. Do I know the average cranial capacity for a particular species? Yes. Can I draw you a complete phylogeny (family tree) for homo sapiens, including the side-branches, and tell you in what region of Africa they were all found? Fuck, yes. Can I tell you specifically which foot bone was found in specifically which cave in Kenya by specifically which paleoanthropologist? No, and neither can the little shit who taught our class.

So I'm a little upset. Especially since our T.A. said we were all doing too well in the class and he'd have to toughen up the final to make sure our grades were more spread out. Turns out he wasn't kidding. I guarantee no one in my class got an "A" on that final exam.

I can't wait to see my final grade. I might become a Creationist.

Fly Away, Fly, Fly...

Fly away now, useless information, fly and make room for new information, fly.

I predict a "B" in "Math" with no curve.

I predict a "C" in "Science" with no curve...potential "B" with curve.

I hope to completely forget the "Math" by tomorrow morning, but think I'll need to keep the "Science" at least another semester. Longer if I want to either win Trivial Pursuit: Homo Heidelbergensis Edition or become an archaeologist someday.
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Oh, and I cut my finger on the bathroom stall door before the "Math" final. Like on the part where you open it, and where lots of nasty, unwashed germs are hanging out. This does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Well, it might, but infections need time to grow.

Predicting

Some sadist scheduled my two hardest exams for the same evening on the first day of Finals Week, severely limiting the amount of time I would have to study for them.

However.

I don't think I am in terrible shape.

I predict...that I will not fail.

I'm off.

Not Feeling It

Dear retail shoppers:

If your/your child's "whole Christmas will be ruined" because you're/your child's not getting (insert item you/your child don't need anyway here) under your tree on December 25, then I daresay you're/your child's not "getting" much of anything else, either.

And I'm sure Jesus would be flattered at the way you're verbally abusing the store clerk who doesn't have it in their power to magically produce (insert item you/your child don't need anyway here) for you. I'm sure He would have no problem with your doing that at all, since you're just trying to get (insert item you/your child don't need anyway here) so you can properly honor Him on His birthday, after all.

Merry Christmas,
Retail clerk

Last Paper of the Semester

It's also the last day now of the semester before Finals Week.

And I just finished a paper on Moses and Muhammad.

At this time of the night/morning, I have no idea if it is even coherent.

At this time of the night/morning, I don't fricking care if it is even coherent.

Slight Panic

Finals week is next week. So, umm, you'll have to entertain yourselves in the comments for awhile.

Possible topics of conversation:

Vegetarianism is unnatural.

Lhasa Apsos are the best dog breed ever.

Simple tasks that you avoid at all costs for no good reason. (Mine is tying shoes. I try to keep my laced shoes pre-tied.)

Pow!Pow!Pow!

It is my personal opinion that professors who assign textbooks that cost more than $100 ought to be able to be legally sniped. Especially if the used version of said textbook can not be found for less than $115.

However, it does no good to obsess about it now, as I do not need that textbook until the middle of January.

I could probably procure a decent rifle by then, but that would be wrong.

Wrong.

Wrong.
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In other news, my scientific research paper is coming along swimmingly.
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And it is cold up in this bitch. A mere 8 degrees at last check. I am in my warmest hoodie. Nothing makes you feel like a college girl more than sporting a hoodie and ponytail. Except maybe sporting a hoodie and ponytail while drinking keg beer from a plastic cup while your shoes stick to some mysterious substance on the floor.

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

And the dusty stacks of books fail to be delightful...

It's snowing like crazy, and I am in the library. I really look forward to getting less done than I would like here, and then digging my car out of the parking lot.

If you want to find a 2001 hard copy of Nature, good luck. You have to get it online. But if you want a 1957 copy, it's on the 3rd floor. Just bring your allergy meds. It's a bit dusty.

Can't Bring Me Down, Suckas

"Early" registration for spring classes is currently underway. It's staggered, so that important people like football players and professors' kids get to register first, seniors second, juniors third, etc, etc.

My registration time was scheduled to be opened up at 10:40 this morning. Problem with that was I have a 10:30 class. That I could not skip today. And three of my classes were close to being full, so I was going to end up with courses like "Nudity in Film". Except I wouldn't, because all the football players probably filled that one up already.

Anyway. You can see my dilemma. So...options. Trust someone to register for me? Maybe. Remember that the classroom I'm in is one of the special ones that is wired for internet? Heh. Indeed.

I personally took the last spot in 3 classes when I registered from the comfort of my lecture at 10:40. Yay, wireless notebooks. Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah.

All my courses next semester are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. And only one of them is on Wednesday. Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah. Four day weekends, bitches.

Predictions

I don't think I predicted my score on my most recent exam...other than walking out of class, running into a guy I know, and saying, "I just failed an exam. How are you?"

As it turns out, I didn't fail. I got a B. Three of my classmates did fail, so it sucks to be them. Even if you take the curve out of the equation, I scored a "C". Very strange. Yay for partial credit on proofs that I didn't get the final answer on. Double-yay for never needing to know this crap again after December 12 at 6:30 p.m.
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I will make a prediction on the paper I need to write by 3:30 tomorrow: it will be the biggest 5-6 page* piece of crap I have ever concocted in my college career.

None of the topics we were given are very appealing, and I am going for the easiest one to b.s. on.

I better get to it.

* Let's be honest here. It will barely be 5 pages.

Encouraging Procrastination

Don't you love it when you have two big papers due the next day, and you put off doing them for like a week, and you even put off starting them until like 3:00 because you're too busy watching Garden State, and then you spend like 2 hours whittling your overflowing feedreader down to managable proportions, and then you finally write the first paper in record time because you don't have time to waste (plus it's on a fairly easy topic like the mistreatment of Jews in non-Spanish medieval Europe), and then you pull out the description for the second paper, and you notice it says it's not due until Wednesday? Of course you do. And then you call up your boytoy to come over and watch Dodgeball or something. And then you blog about it while waiting for him.
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Speaking of The Boy, per request, a brief description: dental student, practicing Jew, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, has already bought me flowers, drives a Chevy (approved by GM dads the world over, like, say, mine), knows who Dale Earnhardt was, Yankees fan (everyone has their flaws), taller than me, muscular build, no kids, no ex-wives, no current wives, no psychotic ex-girlfriends leaving nasty messages on my voicemail (yes, I've had that before--more than once), doesn't mind slightly psychotic current girlfriends, and he likes (or tolerates) going to museums.

You'll have to let me know if you approve.

As Excited As a Lee-tle Girl

You'll have to excuse the light posting. I've been busy watching grown men pee their pants over getting to meet an actual real-life Big Ten college football player.

And then paying $28 for footballs for said football player to sign.

At least no one chased him down the driveway this time.

Frolicking Limited to Daylight Hours

With Thanksgiving break upon me and most fellow students out of town, four substantial papers due the week following break, and finals shortly thereafter, I had a plan.

It was a bold plan.

I would frolick nearly undisturbed throughout the library at will. All the books, all the stupid science journals--would be mine, all mine.

However.

With all the students being out of town, who will work at the library to allow my frolicking?

Hmm.

Shortened library hours during break.

Bah.

For My Next Trick

I shall write two papers in three hours. And hopefully have time left over to shower.

***UPDATE: Done in two hours. Now to the shower.

By Request

A small, simple truth table can be seen here. The wedge basically translates to "or, unless"...making the third column header "p or q".

Google Image will show you many more. If you're into that sort of thing. Freak.

***UPDATE:

Here:

Sleep Used To Be A Friend Of Mine

Hmm. Just looked at my schedule for now through finals week.

I'm considering taking up "speed" of some sort. Worked for Meadow Soprano, with no real consequences...

Of course, drugs are expensive and I have no money. No-Doz it'll be, then.

Mmmm, Cake

A German chocolate cake is currently baking and making the place smell very nice.

The trick will be not to eat any before I deliver it to my work in the morning. It's the boss's birthday and I'm just that nice.

Did you know the "German" part of the cake's name has nothing to do with Germany, and everything to do with the brand-name of chocolate used in the original recipe? Well, now you do.

My Stare of Death is Malfunctioning

For those of you eagerly anticipating the results of my exam, I think I did okay. I'm feeling mid-"B"ish.

Because the TA is a total tool, she doesn't let us leave after the exam (unlike my other two night class TAs, who are also smart enough to have a scheduled potty break on a nightly basis, btw. Instead of Ms. Tool's class where everybody makes their own potty break, so people are constantly coming and going. But I'm rambling now)...instead we have to take the exam, then wait around for the slow people to finish their exams, then sit through the TA's excruciatingly boring lecture. I do not exaggerate when I say she is completely unqualified and the worst teacher I've had in my entire life.

Plus she's an idiot in general. Tonight's lecture was about religion. Not a subject I claim to be an expert on, but I am a bit familiar. On the topic of "religious rites of passage", she could have mentioned Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, First Communion, or even some Native American rituals. Instead, for her example she described boot camp. American Armed Forces BOOT CAMP. Apparently the Pope is the new Commander in Chief, because that is the only way I can figure this is at all related to religion. She spent a good five minutes talking about boot camp, which I might forgive as being off topic if she had actually been to boot camp, but she hasn't. It was unrelated to anything.

Next week I will inquire as to what her doctoral thesis is on, because I am dying to know how this maroon is going to get a Ph.D. If she can get one, I can get one.

Panic Mode

Yikes. I am not ready for my exam this evening.

Mostly because I thought sleeping was a better use of my time than studying. Sleeping and dreaming about giving my bf a particular sexual act in a bathroom stall, then seeing myself in the mirror as we left and thinking, "Wow, I look like white trash." It was obviously some subconscious reaction to this story.

Which begs the question: is sex in a bathroom stall (kneeling on a filthy bathroom floor, btw) trashy?

You ponder that. I'll be studying.

Dig, Dig

Registration for spring semester classes is fast approaching. As I was perusing the course listings, I noticed one titled "Biblical Archaeology".

I figure a class like that will put me one step closer to being the next Indiana Jones.

Damn You, Anakin

Had to work unexpectedly today, since the manager who was scheduled was sick. Which means I did not do the studying I had planned for this afternoon. Which means I am definitely not ready for my exam tomorrow.

Now that I am at home and free to study, Star Wars III keeps beckoning from the DVD player.

So. If anyone needs me, I'll be at the library.

Average

Wednesday's exam results have been posted. I scored the mean for the class. My first "C" of the semester.

For a "C" I missed not only seeing Bon Jovi in concert...but also having dinner with the band. Why my "friends" tell me these things, I do not know.

Anyway. Time to buckle down.
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Went to the basketball game this evening, an exhibition against some Canadian university. We won. It was my first university sporting event of the year...I work football games, so haven't been able to attend those.
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I might be getting an interesting reassignment at work. My boss floated the idea to me this evening. It would involve working later hours, but would probably involve doing my homework while I get paid. If anything comes of it, I'll be surely unable to resist bragging about it in this space.

Tests and Egyptian Deities

You'd think if you're studying human origins, a class for non-sciencey types, that it would be more important for you to identify traits of hominids and other primates (and compare them amongst each other), rather than be able to identify specific fossils (with their fun, sciencey names) and their location, when they were found, etc.

But you'd be wrong, apparently.

In other words, I have no idea how I did on the test tonight.
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The university has a system called "ISIS", which is a student information system. You can log in to see your transcripts, register for classes, change your address, etc.

The information system for the teachers is called "Osiris"...which I do not find funny at all. Not even a little.

Okay, maybe a little.

(Isis was the mother of life. Osiris was the god of the underworld and the dead.)

Public Decorum

A few weeks ago, I was walking behind a couple of white girls up to the library. They were apparently discussing a friend of theirs, and one girl said, "I'm not saying she's a gold-digger, but she ain't messing with no broke..."

At this point she became aware I was behind her, and looked horrified before finishing lamely with, "...people."

(For those of you unfamiliar with the work of one Kanye West, think about words that rhyme with "digger" to figure out what the last word should have been.)
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My 17-year-old boyfriend was at work again today, and followed me around the whole time. I didn't mind that so much until I was trying to check my e-mail and he sat right next to me to see what I was doing.

Oh, well. I'm not supposed to be using the computer for personal reasons anyway...

Ick

Good news: free candy at work.

Bad news: it's sour Skittles.
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And for the curious...the company coming this weekend is of the blood-relation type.
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The White Sox won the Series. Yawn. But all the pressure Jim Rome is putting on the Cubs to break their streak has my back in knots. I keep my stress there, you know. Tylenol is my only friend.