Again

I'm here again. My wish was partially granted - I have all day off tomorrow. I can still hardly believe it. I'm going to sleep in, and do nothing, hopefully get around to doing my homework. I watched Shrek tonight for the forty millionth time. It's always got those funny lines. I laugh uproariously every time I here the muffin man lines. Anyway, I have to finish filling out my permanent fund application at some point. It will be so nice to get that buffer. Of course, it doesn't come 'til fall, but still...

Last night I finished the last official book of the Foundation Series that I hadn't read. I really like that whole series. At some point, I'm going to have to read all the robot books too. They're associated books to the Foundation ones, but not in the series. I bought the whole series a few weeks back on eBay. Awesome. I even cried once. The best way to read them is to start out with Foundation and read through to the end, Foundation and the Earth, and then go back and read Prelude to the Foundation and Forward the Foundation. Because Asimov actually wrote those two last, I think it's best to read them last, even though technically they're first. If you're bored, check them out.

I'm going to watch some Cirque Du Soleil, just for the heck of it.

Procrastination

I'm trying to do this stupid cell biology summary, which is really not difficult at all, I just plain don't want to do it. After that, I have organic chemistry to do, and I don't want to do that either. I should do some other things, but I don't want to do those either. I am in a state of do-nothingness. I wish I could stay like this for like three days maybe. I know I'd get sick of it, but just for a little I'd like to not have to think of doing anything at all. Nothing. No responsibilities, no anything. Oh how lovely that would be. But alas, what is the point of wishing for things that will not be.

Oh Lord, it's after three. I will never finish all I have to do.

I'm thinking about going to Ireland for the summer. I'm excited, but now that I've gotten the ball rolling, I'm a little nervous about it as well. It's just that I know hardly anyone there, and I'd be so out of my element. It'd probably be good for me. It's not like I've never done anything like it before. I mean, coming up here was like that. I knew a sum total of like two people, and it would be the same over there. I of course am hoping that I get to see some of Europe. The only place I've been to in Europe is Turkey, and then only a little of Istanbul. The rest of the trip was really in Asia. Whatever, not like it matters. I mean, it does to me, but you know what I mean. I have distant relatives who live in England that my dad says I should drop by and see if I go, and of course I would. I have friends in Switzerland, a couple Spain, but I think that's it. Well, we'll see what happens.

I've been getting to play techie for a week. It was fun and tiring. I mean, my job wasn't even that important and I still was tired. We were making a DVD of seminar, and so I had a couple of jobs doing that. Truth be told, I enjoyed feeling ever-so-slightly important, even if that much was unwarranted. I make sure to take advantage of any opportunity where I can feel like I'm doing something useful/important. That's just me and my twitch.

Man, I really need to get to work.

Merry Harry Larry

I don't know what that title means.

Tonight I'm going to go sledding behind the bus. I almost got roped into not doing it because I'm a part of this whole big videoing of the Plan of God course, but I refused. I missed the one we had earlier this year because of a big speech meeting, so I refuse to miss this one. I'm so happy.

Janelle and I had a big talk this afternoon. I hear what she's saying and I know it to be true, but I don't believe it to be true. That's not an excuse, that's just the way it is. I know it's my view of the situation, but I just don't know how to believe that there's a way. I don't know how to not not believe. At one point, we both were crying and stuff, and really it's because we fight the same stuff in different ways, and we've both been where I am. I'll make it. I'll get through. God help me, I will.

Binging

So, I'm sitting here at my workplace scarfing down chocolate because I'm depressed and it makes me feel good to eat chocolate. I know that not all people agree that chocolate makes a woman happy, but I will admit that I am definitely in that crowd.

Whatever.

Got to run.

Thoroughly unimpressed

Tonight was okay. A lot of people were really inspired by what the people said, but I was in such a foul mood that all I got out of it was that I thought that people talked way too long. Terrible view, but there it is.

The whole choir thing was a travesty. I don't know what Emerson was thinking, but he needs to get over himself. Just because his pride was mortally wounded doesn't mean he needs to waste what time and effort we put into the song. It was totally churlish, and there are no words to describe how idiotic it was. Then he leaves the dinner to pout by himself. I have never seen a 24 year old act like a child of two. The poor boy has been taught no self-control or respect. Just because one of your elders has a bad reaction to something gives a person absolutely no right to explode is such a despicible lack of intelligence. I'm so unimpressed.

I felt so fat this afternoon. I was merely trying to find something to wear to the dinner, and everything made me look like a tub. Then I went to the dinner and looked terrible anyway. I wish I could just be a skinny person.

Another rousing game of...

...hands and feet tonight, although tonight's game was faster than last time. It was just four of us - Janelle, Evan, Dan and I. It was fun, I think I came in second. I cheated wildly, which I usually don't do in that game. It took me years to wheedle a ramen pack from Evan because I was cold and hungry, and I finally had to go beg Emerson W., at which point he informed me that I was severely in his debt. Grow a brain, EWE.

I've been thinking about what I'm going to be doing this summer. It's basically a toss up between two ideas - stay here or spend the summer in Ireland. (By the way, that is not by any means a new idea, and I have been thinking about it for a couple of months now.) Both are in their own way appealing. Ireland would be an adventure, a chance to help out, a learning experience. To stay here would be comfortable and fun with my friends. But there's cons to each too. I'm waiting at the earliest until after convention before I talk to anyone. Maybe I'll get a lightning bolt or something.

I don't know about the whole teacher thing. In many ways I do not think I have the knack for it. To always be able to have new ideas and to have to make subjects interesting to people who are not interested - ugh. I want to just be able to do my work and not have to worry about anyone else in the process. That may not be realistic in a true sense, but much more feasible if I'm NOT trying to teach a bunch of kids and pass on wisdom in the process. Besides, the whole thing has "major big deals" written all over it. I get sick of the blah blah blah. I just want to be left in peace.

Back from the fray

I got home from tournament last night. It was fun, and despite my feelings of being unprepared, the kids did great. It was also a lot of fun, although I was very tired. Now I'm teaching chemistry, although there's nothing to teach at present.

It was great to see Sam down in Anchorage. Convention is coming. Lovely.

My, what a big mouth you have

I'll tell you this much, Josiah is a big fat meanie. He comes up to me and puts his fingers around my upper arm and said, "I wish I had arms as big as you." I was like, "Hey, I already have a complex, Josiah. You probably have arms as big as me just they're muscle," and he said, "No, I already checked, my aren't that big." Whatever. I think he's a funny one, but at least I can take what he dishes out with a grain of salt. He's a good friend, but he says some funny stuff sometimes. My sister is an odd one. Why does she always ask me if ketones smell like anything? I mean, yes, if you have stuff that is concentrated, most organic substances have a strong aroma, but not in diluted concentrations. Silly girl. Anyway, we're having a prayer meeting at our house tonight, and Steven and Jinni and Brooke are coming over from Rika's. So, there you have it. I don't have anything else to say, I'm just rambling because I don't have anything else to do. Okay, I'm gone.

So, anyway, tonight...

...Janelle and I played hands and feet at the South End with Dan, Chris, Evan, and Nathan. I think I came in fourth, but it wasn't bad as it could have been. I only cheated twice. Didn't help me that much, though. If only Chris wouldn't spout "religious platitudes," as Evan so aptly called them. All night long, he just went on and on. He's a funny one, that's for sure. At least he and Nathan were blown out of the water. It was Chris's first time playing, but Nathan can be mean when it comes to hands and feet, so that was a nice breather. It makes me miss last year, living with Amy and Emily and Janelle, playing that game all the time.

Did you know that the only difference between an aldehyde and a ketone is the placement of the carbon double bonded to the oxygen? I didn't know that until today, which is pretty silly, all things considered. I was entertaining myself today and did some chromatography of some ink. The solvent was ethanol. This is what I got:

Yeah, so I'm going to go to bed now.

For the love of Bill

This post is for Mr. Rice:

It's good to hear from you too. I appreciate the comments, it makes it much more fun to put my thoughts out there. I hope you are holding up alright. I'm doing well here, and yes, I enjoy being introspective. I probably analyze myself way too much, but I enjoy it anyway. I'm sure I'll see you before too long.

Waxing emotional

I'm sitting on a coach, by myself, low lighting, music - waxing emotional. I'm thinking about a guy that I could like. It's pathetic. Sometimes I have a lot of "fun" sitting around thinking about all the things that I don't like about myself. In fact, it's one of my favorite pastimes. See, I don't want to go into details about this guy because a couple people that I know may read this, and they'll know who I'm talking about, and it's not the type of thing that I'm ready for the whole world to know. Even my dear mom reads this, and Lord knows I'll hear from her about it (I LOVE YOU, MUM!) Sally-ho and all that.

Speaking of which, I promised my mom I would give her credit for the little picture at the beginning of this thingy here because she was the one that actually sent me that picture. Regardless, I have claimed it as my own. I should also say that she was the one that sent me the thing about the light bulbs. Gosh, what can I say, I owe everything to my mother. I'm just the entrepeneur I guess, because I'm the one that actually put those things where everyone can enjoy them. Then again, that's assuming anyone reads this aside from my mom. Maybe that's hoping too much. At least my mother loves me.

My small speechers have a speech tournament coming up this weekend. They'd kill me if they knew I called them my small speechers. I should say the excellent students of debate, forensics, and drama. Actually, I mostly just am in charge of the extempers. I have three kids in domestic extemp, and three in foreign. Most of them are new to the event, so they're doing pretty good, but I have a distinct feeling that they are extremely unprepared for this tournament. Then again, I felt like that last time, and they all did fine. It's mostly because we had a big break from speech earlier when we went down to Haines to have a big choir performance. It was a patriotic Christmas shmozzle. It was fun, but I think it cost my speechers some valuable practice time. Well, you can't do it all.

This is our car, Car 3, on the way back from Haines. It was a good time.

Light bulb mania

How Many Christians Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?

Charismatic: Only 1 - Hands are already in the air.

Pentecostal: 10 - One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians: None - Lights will go on and off at predestined times.

Roman Catholic: None - Candles only. (Of guaranteed origin of course.)

Baptists: At least 15 - One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.

Episcopalians: 3 - One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks, and one to talk about how much better the old one was.

Mormons: 5 - One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.

Unitarians: We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Methodists: Undetermined - Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.

Nazarene: 6 - One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.

Lutherans: None - Lutherans don't believe in change.

Amish: What’s a light bulb?

Long lost

Today I am talking to a friend I haven't talked to in a very long while. It's strange that we used to be the best of friends, and yet here I am, trying to catch up after, oh, a year or so. She got married. My life is unadventurous compared to hers. I guess that's bound to happen since I'm up here in Alaska, going to a small town college, being saintly. Ya, that's me - saintly. Sometimes I get sick of being a good person and trying to live a good life. But then I know that no matter what, I probably wouldn't have the guts to do anything outrageous even if I wanted to. So, I just spend my Sunday afternoons doing organic chemistry and cleaning my room. It's just what I do because this is the life I have chosen.

Don't get me wrong, I don't regret a single decision. I'm proud to be where I am and to be with the people that I am. I make mistakes. Yeah, I make mistakes. I often act like a fool. But I'm happy. It's all good.

Ode to a Lava Lamp or Two

On my desk I have a lamp of lava
It's so cold outside I would like a java
But at least I'm inside so I don't need a bella clava.
Many would wonder, "What has lava to do with the weather?"
And I would say, "That's a dumb question, my, you are on a short teather."
Indeed I think your brain must be as a feather.
For by the window is my lava lamp
Where all the time it is very cold and damp
(over which my tears I cannot tamp.)
For in Alaska the wind blows cold
And it's surprising that any real estate gets sold.
Excuse me if that is being too bold.
But what draws them is the permanent fund
That makes them more and more rotund
Although slightly more jocund.
But back to the subject at hand
My lamp is a bluish bland
But by the window it's a whole new land.
Purple it shines in colors intense
The light as bright as this state is immense
And there it glows without pretense.
If only my lamp of lava
could be a mocha breve java.

Less sinful than average...

Who'd a thunk it? I took this test from what used to be emode or something and now likes to be called tickle (whatever.) It was about the seven deadly sins, and just how sinful one can be. It told me that I was less sinful than the average person, but I needed to watch out for overachievment. I was hoping it was going to tell me I was terribly sinful - that would have been much more thrilling. Anyway, check it out.

My two roommates are fighting about how each other should grow up, but if you ask me, neither one of them has much room to talk. Jessica is shouting that she's "a real boy!" while Hannah is begging her to shut up. Suffice it to say that it's 12 AM and no one is quite normal at such times. God help us all. Especially Jessica. Wow.

First things first

Lime Kitty
Originally uploaded by Boj.

This picture follows me where ever I go, and I love it immensely.