What?

Maybe there's something we don't know.

A wee bit

Here's what I wish. I wish that ESO, ICALA, and VISA -- all organizations I'd like to be involved in -- didn't all meet on Thursdays at 5:00 pm. And just so happens that it's also the time I tutor, usually. Silly organization people. Why can't they adjust everything to my needs? For real.

News flash. I learned a new song on guitar last night. Do you even know how long it's been since I've played the guitar, much less learned a new song? A looong time. But I had to do something after the natural disaster known as Monday. It's not like I haven't taken up enough distracting activities in the name of stress relief, but what I like about playing guitar -- especially learning a new song -- is that it takes all of my concentration. You know what I mean? I get totally focused and my mind doesn't wander. It's like some sort of meditation. I think a lot of artistic activities are like that. I thought exercising would be meditative for me, but actually, my mind runs wild. I go a little ADD.

Speaking of distracting activities, I've taken up Harry Potter again. The goal -- but let's see how far I get before giving up -- is to re-read the whole series super-slowly between now and the release of the next book. I want to take in details instead of read for plot. I read the first six books in a matter of about six weeks, and the goal was to get to book six. With all the complexities and the ingenuity of J. K. Rowling's mind, I want to take it all in and be able to analyze.

Is there such a thing as a scholar of British children's literature? 'Cause I think I want to be one. I haven't read LotR yet, but I guess I should, huh? Being in this Early English literature class, I can see so many of the influences texts like Beowulf, medieval texts, classical texts, etc. had on Lewis and Rowling -- and countless others. And I'm interested in the repeated use of medieval culture and context in many more comptemporary texts, supposedly for children.

There never was such a geek.

Oculus reparo

So here it is 8ish in the am, and I'm sitting in the library looking up Dumbledore quotes. When I am at risk of falling asleep at the desk, I facebook. Upon looking at some quotes on people's profiles, it ocurred to me that what I, myself, am missing is a quote or two from that wise, old fellow. I think I've found the one for my profile, but oh, how I have forgotten the great extent of his wisdom -- and his comedy! Of course, it could be because I'm about to fall asleep that I find these funny, but I don't think so. I heart Albus.

"No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines," said Dumbledore. "I do love knitting patterns."

"Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground."

"It's lucky it's dark...I haven't blushed so much since Madame Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs."

"For future reference, Harry, it [Dumbledore's favorite jam] is raspberry...although of course, if I were a Death Eater, I would have been sure to research my own jam preferences before impersonating myself."

"I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks." Harry stared. "One can never have enough socks."

I'm afraid that I'm gonig to find myself re-reading the books soon.

Cal-uh-forn-yuuuh

And here I am.

I've been devoting most of my blog-related time toward "launching" (to sound oh-so web-masteresque) my new blog, The Loose Association. Who's to say if this is the end of Washed Up? That I don't know. I could really imagine that other'n being more interesting, both for the reader and for me. Oh, and if you look at the URL, the domain name (thelooseassoc) could be pronounced as something different. Ha. Ha.

It's the brain-child of a weekend of revelatory conversations with my mom and a solo car-ride back to Murray. Other products of this weekend: my purse-making project and the ridiculous nine-hour courseload for this summer. The projected schedule includes a two-week introduction to photography and a five-week session of some education course and a web page design class.

Hmm, yeah. So I think I'm going to continue to mutilate the poor, innocent jumble of fabric that I will one day call my purse, my friend. And maybe finish my homework.

Where'd I put my gondola?

Nothing like a rainy day in Murray. The worst, to me, is crossing Olive Boulevard. It just fills up with water. What I really like is when I'm waiting to cross the street and a vehicle drives by at about 25 miles an hour (those speed demons!), splashing water as high as the trees. And then, once I wade to the middle of the boulevard to cross the other lane, here comes the same vehicle at the same speed, splashing the same amount of water. Thank you, U-turn at the Gates of Hell. Thank you.

I did get an A on that Span-Am quiz. I got a "Cassidy, excelente. Muy, muy excelente," when he handed it back to me. Sí, es muy excelente.

Holly and I saw Brokeback Mountain last night. It was good, but we agree, it's not as good as we had expected. I'd like to read the story. Anyway, I'm probably going to see it again with Mom. Maybe this time, Jake Gyllenhaal will forego that nastastic moustache.