And so the spring semester begins. With approximately five hours of sleep under my belt, I got up this morning at a pre-daylight 6:00 am, but apparently overestimated the time between leaving my apartment and getting to the library at 7:30. I ended up sitting in the university parking lot for something like ten minutes and still having to wait for a few more once I got to the library. The doors still hadn't opened up. But now, I'm in. And let me tell you, this monstrous information desk I'm sitting behind is something else.
This should be much more interesting than working at Applied Science. I get to do a lot more people-watching. And I am not just a lab supervisor, folks. I sit behind a nice little paper name plate that says "Information Desk." I've already been asked all sorts of non-computer questions. If the library hourly wage is any more than the one I'm getting now, I think I should be paid that. Okay, okay. I don't deserve anything more than minimum wage. I still don't have to do much. Answer questions and put little tally marks in the boxes for which the questions pertain. I think the hardest part will be getting this laptop set up. I hope so. But I can say that this has been fairly enjoyable so far. I've been able to use my campus and library savvy (note: not computer savvy) to guide some people through the first-day-of-the-semester troubles.
Perhaps I'll get around to reading or some other such productive activity. 'Cause I have plenty of time.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Monday, January 17, 2005
adventure
Do you ever get the feeling that something's just not right? That's the feeling I got when I sat down and looked over the textbooks I just purchased from Bradley Book Co. Despite the fact that I had to drop $340 for the load of books, I'm pretty sure that I didn't even get the book for one of my classes. (But it's the class that's got me in a pickle with the College of Education, so maybe that's some sort of sign...) And when comparing the book selection on the University Bookstore site with the books I've been sold for Intro to Philosophy, something doesn't quite jibe. However, the five books I have now are altogether less expensive that the one book I think I'm supposed to have. I guess I'll find all this out soon enough. After the one daytime class I have tomorrow, for which I'm fairly certain I have the correct text, I'll scope out the situation at the University store. Oh, and sometime this week, I have to go pick up $115 worth of Spanish books that are on back order.
Most of the errands I was going to run today didn't happen on account of the holiday. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of running around tomorrow. My schedule is really strange. Tomorrow, I work from 7:30 am until 12:15 pm, and then I have class at 2:00. Then, I have my night class at 5:00. Somewhere in all that, I need to go the the bookstore, the bank, and Sparks Hall. My favorite places, indeed.
Yes, yes. This is the interesting life that is mine. One day, I'll have inspiring adventures with harrowing tales of woe and glory to tell. Okay, so maybe not. But for now, I can tell you that I did a lot of cleaning-type things that needed to be done today. I managed to fit most of my books on my shelving space, with only a few having to be eulogized and packed away in a cardboard box to be buried in the depths of my closet. Alright, I exaggerate. I didn't eulogize my books, but for some strange reason, I was singing that Doug Stone song, circa 1990, that goes, "I'd be better off in pine box on a slow train somethingsomething Georgia..." How's that for drudging up forgotten childhood memories? Anyway, I'm doing some laundry, and I plan to continue my one-woman raid on the band of Gypsy dust bunnies that waltzed in here and made babies. And I might do some dishes, too. If that's not an adventure, I don't know what is.
Most of the errands I was going to run today didn't happen on account of the holiday. Looks like I'll be doing a lot of running around tomorrow. My schedule is really strange. Tomorrow, I work from 7:30 am until 12:15 pm, and then I have class at 2:00. Then, I have my night class at 5:00. Somewhere in all that, I need to go the the bookstore, the bank, and Sparks Hall. My favorite places, indeed.
Yes, yes. This is the interesting life that is mine. One day, I'll have inspiring adventures with harrowing tales of woe and glory to tell. Okay, so maybe not. But for now, I can tell you that I did a lot of cleaning-type things that needed to be done today. I managed to fit most of my books on my shelving space, with only a few having to be eulogized and packed away in a cardboard box to be buried in the depths of my closet. Alright, I exaggerate. I didn't eulogize my books, but for some strange reason, I was singing that Doug Stone song, circa 1990, that goes, "I'd be better off in pine box on a slow train somethingsomething Georgia..." How's that for drudging up forgotten childhood memories? Anyway, I'm doing some laundry, and I plan to continue my one-woman raid on the band of Gypsy dust bunnies that waltzed in here and made babies. And I might do some dishes, too. If that's not an adventure, I don't know what is.
again
This will be the third time I've filled this out. Recycle, recycle, recycle rap.
current clothing: Jeans and my white three-quarterish V-neck shirt.
current mood: Indistinguishable.
current taste: I don't taste anything at the moment. I'm tasteless--in a completely non-dictionary-definition sense of the word.
current hair: Straightened, actually. When, at three in the afternoon, I decided to go through the making-myself-somewhat-presentable series of actions, I also chose to straighten my hair. Something that probably hasn't been done in over six months.
current annoyance: The fact that I have lots of books and am getting ready to have lots more books, and I do not have shelf space at all. At all.
current smell: Meaning the odors I am able to smell or what I smell like? Just like my mood and just like my taste, it can't quite be determined.
current thing you ought to be doing: Sleeping, perhaps.
current jewelry: Earrings that cost me less than three dollars at WalMart.
current book: (And this makes the sidebar "books" section a bit inaccurate...) I'm not sure what C. S. Lewis book to be reading on. I'm having a difficult time getting into both The Problem of Pain and Miracles at the moment. I'm feeling like I need to read some fiction, maybe. What I've read the most of lately, though, is Paul Ford's Companion to Narnia. It's a reference book about The Chronicles of Narnia. That makes me cool, huh?
current refreshment: I don't have anything refreshing on me at the moment, but I'm feeling all cottonmouthy. *insert the universal sign for cottonmouth* I think I'll get me a water.
current worry: Technically, it's First Day of the Semester's Eve. Need I say more?
current crush: Did you know Wayne Hart is much more attractive in person? He and Brad Byrd ate beside us at Golden Corral one night. I couldn't eat my food until they left. Newspeople do me that way. This is a non-sexual crush, of course.
favorite celebrity: Last time, Wayne Hart was my favorite celebrity. What's my deal? I inherited it from my mom. She has a crush on Lester Holt from Today. Anyway, I guess it's pretty safe to say that John Mayer always has a dog in this race.
current longing: I long for organizational furniture. A desk and a bookshelf.
current music: Audibly, none. But I have a lot of Allie Lapointe songs bouncing around in my head.
current wish: That one or the other of my guitar tuners would come back to life.
current lyric in your head: "Oh, Lord, could you save you daughter / Even if she doesn't know if she wants to be yours"
current makeup: What's left of this afternoon's attempt at decency. Not much, I am sure.
current undergarments: Though I could just not even put this question on here, I feel some loyalty to the origins of this thing, so it stays. I just don't see the sense in answering it. Quite uninteresting, I say. As if the rest of this is...
current regret: Allowing myself to fall into the inevitable sleep pattern that haunts me when out of school. Being a night owl is okay--until I must abruptly become an early bird.
current desktop picture: White letters on a black screen: My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9
current plans for tonight/weekend: Tonight, I shall eventually sleep. And this coming weekend is so distant, I certainly cannot see it from here.
current cuss word du jour: None, I say.
current disappointment: I'm working in Waterfield this semester. Oh, how I'd hoped for Applied Science. But I'll make do.
current amusement: Er, I don't know. But I did spend four hours--four hours--watching Golden Globes coverage earlier. That is sad.
current IM/person you're talking to: No one. Not much of the talking, talking, talking going on.
current love: I'm back in love with my six-inch roasted chicken breast on Monterey cheddar with cheese, lettuce, banana peppers, and mayo at Subway. Oh, how I've missed you.
current obsession: C. S. Lewis, indeed.
current thing or things on your wall: Oh, me. Soon, I swear, I'll get some things up on these walls. I never thought I'd get so comfortable with whitespace, though.
current favorite book: It's so hard to choose. Right now, I might have to save The Screwtape Letters, but not by a whole lot. I'm not good with favorites, I tell you.
current favorite movie: So, I have this tendency to claim the last good thing I've seen as my favorite, and again, it applies. Finding Neverland is one of the best movies I've seen in long time. I wouldn't say that everyone would think so, but I loved it five minutes in. It's not a strange movie that keeps you puzzled and takes a full two days to reconcile its meaning. It is a rather seemingly simple movie that could come off as neat or cute or touching or romantic, but its core is thought-provoking and complex. Plus, it is a well-made, well-acted film.
current clothing: Jeans and my white three-quarterish V-neck shirt.
current mood: Indistinguishable.
current taste: I don't taste anything at the moment. I'm tasteless--in a completely non-dictionary-definition sense of the word.
current hair: Straightened, actually. When, at three in the afternoon, I decided to go through the making-myself-somewhat-presentable series of actions, I also chose to straighten my hair. Something that probably hasn't been done in over six months.
current annoyance: The fact that I have lots of books and am getting ready to have lots more books, and I do not have shelf space at all. At all.
current smell: Meaning the odors I am able to smell or what I smell like? Just like my mood and just like my taste, it can't quite be determined.
current thing you ought to be doing: Sleeping, perhaps.
current jewelry: Earrings that cost me less than three dollars at WalMart.
current book: (And this makes the sidebar "books" section a bit inaccurate...) I'm not sure what C. S. Lewis book to be reading on. I'm having a difficult time getting into both The Problem of Pain and Miracles at the moment. I'm feeling like I need to read some fiction, maybe. What I've read the most of lately, though, is Paul Ford's Companion to Narnia. It's a reference book about The Chronicles of Narnia. That makes me cool, huh?
current refreshment: I don't have anything refreshing on me at the moment, but I'm feeling all cottonmouthy. *insert the universal sign for cottonmouth* I think I'll get me a water.
current worry: Technically, it's First Day of the Semester's Eve. Need I say more?
current crush: Did you know Wayne Hart is much more attractive in person? He and Brad Byrd ate beside us at Golden Corral one night. I couldn't eat my food until they left. Newspeople do me that way. This is a non-sexual crush, of course.
favorite celebrity: Last time, Wayne Hart was my favorite celebrity. What's my deal? I inherited it from my mom. She has a crush on Lester Holt from Today. Anyway, I guess it's pretty safe to say that John Mayer always has a dog in this race.
current longing: I long for organizational furniture. A desk and a bookshelf.
current music: Audibly, none. But I have a lot of Allie Lapointe songs bouncing around in my head.
current wish: That one or the other of my guitar tuners would come back to life.
current lyric in your head: "Oh, Lord, could you save you daughter / Even if she doesn't know if she wants to be yours"
current makeup: What's left of this afternoon's attempt at decency. Not much, I am sure.
current undergarments: Though I could just not even put this question on here, I feel some loyalty to the origins of this thing, so it stays. I just don't see the sense in answering it. Quite uninteresting, I say. As if the rest of this is...
current regret: Allowing myself to fall into the inevitable sleep pattern that haunts me when out of school. Being a night owl is okay--until I must abruptly become an early bird.
current desktop picture: White letters on a black screen: My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9
current plans for tonight/weekend: Tonight, I shall eventually sleep. And this coming weekend is so distant, I certainly cannot see it from here.
current cuss word du jour: None, I say.
current disappointment: I'm working in Waterfield this semester. Oh, how I'd hoped for Applied Science. But I'll make do.
current amusement: Er, I don't know. But I did spend four hours--four hours--watching Golden Globes coverage earlier. That is sad.
current IM/person you're talking to: No one. Not much of the talking, talking, talking going on.
current love: I'm back in love with my six-inch roasted chicken breast on Monterey cheddar with cheese, lettuce, banana peppers, and mayo at Subway. Oh, how I've missed you.
current obsession: C. S. Lewis, indeed.
current thing or things on your wall: Oh, me. Soon, I swear, I'll get some things up on these walls. I never thought I'd get so comfortable with whitespace, though.
current favorite book: It's so hard to choose. Right now, I might have to save The Screwtape Letters, but not by a whole lot. I'm not good with favorites, I tell you.
current favorite movie: So, I have this tendency to claim the last good thing I've seen as my favorite, and again, it applies. Finding Neverland is one of the best movies I've seen in long time. I wouldn't say that everyone would think so, but I loved it five minutes in. It's not a strange movie that keeps you puzzled and takes a full two days to reconcile its meaning. It is a rather seemingly simple movie that could come off as neat or cute or touching or romantic, but its core is thought-provoking and complex. Plus, it is a well-made, well-acted film.
Sunday, January 16, 2005
night light
I've returned to Murray. This time for the semester. As the sentiments often go, this break was ever so long, but I really don't know where it went. I can't believe it's back to book-buying and all those other beginning-of-the-semester activities. Shouldn't we still be in the pre-midterm season of last semster?
The last few days at home were a little different than I had expected. Lots of things came to a somewhat screeching halt when my family learned that Dad's sister had been hospitalized. Because of her condition and the privacy laws, we have been unable to find out much of anything. So we'd been sticking close together in case we needed to make an immediate trip to Nashville. But we've still heard nothing from her, and all there is to do now is wait.
I feel decidedly (a word that will forever remind me of an 8 Ball) sick to my stomach. This same feeling washed over me last night at roughly the same time. Maybe it's my body saying, Hey, don't you know you need to go to bed? I stayed up to close to 4:00 this morning, and I got up a little before 9:00. Yes, I'm a bit drowsy. I'm not exactly sure why I'm resisting going to bed. Maybe it is because I've thrown a good bit of clothing and other items on my bed when I got here, and I don't feel like sorting through it. I'll most likely toss it all in the floor so that I can go through it another time. Like four or five months from now. Seems to be what I do with everything else.
Alright. It's off to bed. I think I'll test out this new little Tiffany lamp that Dad got me from Cracker Barrel. I've put it beside my bed. I was hoping for something to read by, but I'm not sure it is anything more than a night light. Go, little 4 watt light bulb, go.
The last few days at home were a little different than I had expected. Lots of things came to a somewhat screeching halt when my family learned that Dad's sister had been hospitalized. Because of her condition and the privacy laws, we have been unable to find out much of anything. So we'd been sticking close together in case we needed to make an immediate trip to Nashville. But we've still heard nothing from her, and all there is to do now is wait.
I feel decidedly (a word that will forever remind me of an 8 Ball) sick to my stomach. This same feeling washed over me last night at roughly the same time. Maybe it's my body saying, Hey, don't you know you need to go to bed? I stayed up to close to 4:00 this morning, and I got up a little before 9:00. Yes, I'm a bit drowsy. I'm not exactly sure why I'm resisting going to bed. Maybe it is because I've thrown a good bit of clothing and other items on my bed when I got here, and I don't feel like sorting through it. I'll most likely toss it all in the floor so that I can go through it another time. Like four or five months from now. Seems to be what I do with everything else.
Alright. It's off to bed. I think I'll test out this new little Tiffany lamp that Dad got me from Cracker Barrel. I've put it beside my bed. I was hoping for something to read by, but I'm not sure it is anything more than a night light. Go, little 4 watt light bulb, go.
Monday, January 10, 2005
for a night
New year. New blog design. Oh, yeah. And just a few new pictures up on Flickr.
I miss being in Murray, having internet, seeing people, and all those things. I'm here in town because I had to get some stupid College of Education junk straightened out.
I enjoyed having last night to myself. I decided I was going to rent Garden State to rewatch it and see if I really want to buy it. I tried Movie World. All rented out. I didn't feel like going to Blockbuster--for what reason, I am not sure--so I went to the new Movie Gallery. It's more on my end of town, and there is nothing quite like having another movie rental membership card, right? But alas, all forty million copies were gone. But since I'd made such a big trip of it, I resolved that I wasn't going to leave the store without a film to watch. None of the new releases grabbed my attention, and I'm of the belief that there is always some movie that I haven't seen that I should see. (Okay, so I wouldn't consider that one of my essential belief statements, but anyway...) I perused the aisles of Movie Gallery looking for that movie I couldn't live without. (What's with all this hyperbole?) And there was nothing. Lots of scary movies, which I hate. (It reminded me of some old, no-longer-existent video rental place in Providence that carried practically nothing but horror flicks that, with their shoddy and scarily depicted VHS covers, tormented my over-active imagination.) I worked my way back to the Ss, and settled on Shakespeare in Love. Pretty good stuff, there. It's good to see Ben Affleck in a fairly minor role, with a (not very good) British accent to boot. Not the most lovable appearance of Colin Firth, I must say. But all in all, a quality motion picture. (Motion picture being my new synonym for movie. I really don't like the word movie. It sounds cheap, though there are doubtless many films that deserve the title.) So that's what I did last night.
We've reached the final week of what seemed like the neverending winter break. I've spent most of my time doing nothing. In fact, the only things I have to show for it all are a couple of C. S. Lewis books that I read. Didn't quite get around to reading the American classics as I'd hoped. But at least I do own them now. But I haven't taken many pictures. I haven't written many blogs. This break was generally uneventful, a nice bit of time away. However, I need a nice balance of structure and change to keep me from going utterly insane, but I'll do my best to savor this last week. I know the coming semester with be nothing short of gruelling.
Well, this has been such an inspiring First Blog Entry of 2005, eh? Surely, it will get better. ;-)
I miss being in Murray, having internet, seeing people, and all those things. I'm here in town because I had to get some stupid College of Education junk straightened out.
I enjoyed having last night to myself. I decided I was going to rent Garden State to rewatch it and see if I really want to buy it. I tried Movie World. All rented out. I didn't feel like going to Blockbuster--for what reason, I am not sure--so I went to the new Movie Gallery. It's more on my end of town, and there is nothing quite like having another movie rental membership card, right? But alas, all forty million copies were gone. But since I'd made such a big trip of it, I resolved that I wasn't going to leave the store without a film to watch. None of the new releases grabbed my attention, and I'm of the belief that there is always some movie that I haven't seen that I should see. (Okay, so I wouldn't consider that one of my essential belief statements, but anyway...) I perused the aisles of Movie Gallery looking for that movie I couldn't live without. (What's with all this hyperbole?) And there was nothing. Lots of scary movies, which I hate. (It reminded me of some old, no-longer-existent video rental place in Providence that carried practically nothing but horror flicks that, with their shoddy and scarily depicted VHS covers, tormented my over-active imagination.) I worked my way back to the Ss, and settled on Shakespeare in Love. Pretty good stuff, there. It's good to see Ben Affleck in a fairly minor role, with a (not very good) British accent to boot. Not the most lovable appearance of Colin Firth, I must say. But all in all, a quality motion picture. (Motion picture being my new synonym for movie. I really don't like the word movie. It sounds cheap, though there are doubtless many films that deserve the title.) So that's what I did last night.
We've reached the final week of what seemed like the neverending winter break. I've spent most of my time doing nothing. In fact, the only things I have to show for it all are a couple of C. S. Lewis books that I read. Didn't quite get around to reading the American classics as I'd hoped. But at least I do own them now. But I haven't taken many pictures. I haven't written many blogs. This break was generally uneventful, a nice bit of time away. However, I need a nice balance of structure and change to keep me from going utterly insane, but I'll do my best to savor this last week. I know the coming semester with be nothing short of gruelling.
Well, this has been such an inspiring First Blog Entry of 2005, eh? Surely, it will get better. ;-)
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