Just winning isn't enough...

I dislike how everyone is calling the Phillies the "world champions."

They're the one team that has beaten all the other teams in the United States... NOT all the other teams in the world.

Arrogant mother fuckers.

I just want to sleep and not think

Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

I took my poor compy to the computer people on campus today and they didn't give me much good news. I need to either call Lenovo or look online for the restore disks for my ThinkPad... I think that the only way to fix her is to start from scratch.

I have a twitch in my eyelid that's been going for a couple hours now... I'm sure it was one of these instances that triggered it
1. I woke up late this morning
2. The discussion of the poor state of my computer
3. Realizing that I have the in-class part of my calc today
4. This weekend is going to be pretty bum
5. I just don't care about school

I'm realizing more and more why people drop out of school so that they can work... and get on with things already. I'm tired of festering in that house. It smells like a toilet, the fucking TV is always on (whether or not someone is there watching it), the word "god" stares at me from the fridge, the walls and the bathroom mirror, the constant glaring, there's never anything remotely healthy to eat, and I just plain ole don't feel comfortable being there or having people over.

Wah wah wah. I know.

Usually I find refuge in our room upstairs but with my computer currently out of commission, that's going to be difficult this weekend. I'm going to have to make my presence downstairs and walk through the negative tension filling the 'house' to get to the other computer which, conveniently, is located in the basement. Big deal? Well, for some reason the heater in the basement is on full-blast and there always seems to be a mysterious pile of shit (or two, or three) directly under this inferno. Now, poo smells bad; really, really HOT poo smells even worse. There are vomit stains all over the carpet and couch because the cat is sick (and Wes' parents refuse to take it to the vet). To sum it up, it's a glorious place to spend any amount of time!

I don't think I'm feeling sorry for myself... I'm just fascinated that people choose to live this way. It's filthy and makes me want to add to the vomit stains.

Hopefully I'll hear from Dan and Julie and they'll save me from the bowels of the library and add to my calculus procrastination.

"I got engaged last night and didn't even care!"

That's what a woman said this morning when she called into Preston and Steve to tell her Phils story.

That poor schmuck. He waited until after the Phils had won to propose to this women. She was so excited about the Phils winning, that when he asked her, she said, "SURE WHATEVER GO PHILS!"

That's one for the grandchildren.

I'm sleepy and cranky from last night. Other people's enthusiasm for the game just made me grumpy. I was bummed that I didn't get to partake in the festivities and had missed the final innings because of my pre-work nap and didn't get to go out and pretend to be a huge Phils Phan and get retarded and make an ass of myself (ok, ok... that last part is definitely not something I feel that I missed out on). But seriously, I'd just gotten to work, Gene called out and I was stuck with failure-at-life Justin, I'd missed everything, I couldn't play with everyone else, and I don't particularly care about baseball (I think I was just in a extremely bitter mood about the whole thing). Fake enthusiasm is extremely transparent so I faked idiocy instead.

Phan: GO PHILS!! WOOOOOO!
Me: Phils played tonight?
Phan: YEAH!!! THEY WON!!!!
Me: Oh great! Football right?

Everyone was smashed and didn't hear anything I said anyway. Might as well make the situation entertaining for myself.

I'm just glad they won, it's over, Philly is happy. Buy a newspaper ladies and gentleman, it might just be another 28 years!

No title necessary

Physics test next Wednesday and Calculus test this week. Double ugh and hopefully not two more C's.

Even though I persistantly asked Wes everyday for about two weeks if he wanted to go to Penn State with Jeff this weekend, I couldn't get an answer and if I did, it was in the negative. Soooooo... I asked to work on Saturday (which is going to screw me either way because Saturday at 2am is when the clocks get turned back an hour so I'm assuming that I work a 9 hour shift instead of a regular 8 hour) and of course... today Wes says he wants to go to Penn State. Figures.

I quit.

It was bound to happen

Not having antivirus on my computer has finally caught up with me... and my poor little baby is in not-so-good-of-shape. Hopefully I'll be able to take it to the IT department of campus and they'll fix her like new... for free.

Problems arose when I was tired of all these stupid pop-ups from windows security and Norton internet security about how many infections I had blah blah blah. So I tried upgrading either of those... didn't work (for some reason neither my safari nor my internet explorer would load the pages) so I did some research (read: googled) about top rated antiviruses and picked the highest rated cheap one. Fool proof, right?

I bought it, it god sent to my email, I was ready for download. Oooooof course until I found out that I couldn't download my new one until I got rid of Norton... which, upon investigating... is nearly impossible. Norton has made their program such that you can't remove it without ruining something. So... I don't know what I did... I backed up all my music and documents and other important things onto my external hard drive though... so... even if it does go bonkers, I won't lose everything.

I downloaded a Restore and Recovery program from Lenovo for IBM thinkpads... but so far that hasn't accomplished anything...

I'm hungry and ready to be done with school.

EEEEEEEEEEEE *squeals of excitement*

Even though work was icky and physics lab was a drag, I am in a good mood...

CUZ IT'S SNOWING!!!

Nothing else needs to happen today for it to be a good one :)

It feels like a Monday... oh wait!...

Today wasn't bad, I was just in a bad mood.  

I got my Philosophy test and while I didn't think I had done terribly well, I hadn't planned on doing that poorly.  So now... the decision must be made whether to try and spend more time on homework or admit defeat and just drop the class.  I would feel like a failure if I dropped the class... but I cannot afford two B's this semester and am going to be working my butt of just to get one of those B's (I hate you physics.  I hope you die.).  I'll have to email my philosophy professor and inquire as to whether my pathetic grade could possibly, in a million trillion years be brought up to an A.

I was excited for the post-test classes in Philosophy because we were scheduled to begin God and how his fairy tale fits into everything, philosophically speaking, but all it did was give me a headache.  These philosophers, arguably some of the most intelligent people ever throughout history, come up with rationalities for God that a 5 year old would scoff at.  

"There must be something more perfect than man to have created man and told him what perfection was.  That being cannot be a normal man.  Therefore, God exists."

Ironic how that "rationality" reminds of someone else I deal with on a day to day basis who speaks just as irrationally... Religion is a joke, fools.

The only thing I had on my mind today was getting home and unwrapping the deliciousness that was the leftovers of my buffalo chicken cheesesteak from last night.  From class one through class five, all I could think about was the tangy buffalo sauce numbing my lips and the chicken-cheese mixture that tastes so good going down and not-so-good ten minutes later.  I literally seriously considered skipping a class to drive to the house to get it (only an hour out of my way).  But I'm glad I waited and it was everything I had built it up to be... and possibly more.  I only wish that I'd saved the entire thing last night instead of just half.

Work tonight.  Its gonna suck.  Especially if those god damn Phils win.  

"GO PHILS! I'M WASTED!!!!!" is how the night is going to sound.  Not too super excited about that... but maybe it'll keep the night interesting.  Maybe I'll get to yell or kick someone out.  That would make it worth it.

Things to do after class tomorrow:

GET A HAIRCUT

Get an oil change

Maybe color my hair... if I'm feeling not-exhausted.

There's a party going on at a place called The Puck in Dtown tomorrow... haven't looked too far into it, but it might be something to do ($0.50 mixed drinks? hellooooo!!!).  Hopefully something fantastic comes up for Friday night so that I have something to look forward to...

Neon Road Pizza!!!!

I haaaate Sunday's.  Nothing good comes from a Sunday.

We got to Jeff's early Friday night for pizza and to get everyone ready for the party (Kyle and I had to do his joker make-up).  It was chilled and relaxed but as soon as the door opened at ten, chaos ensued.  We staked out a spot on the deck near the door at the top of the steps so that we could  see the costumes that came up and kinda monitor the going's on.  

As we're standing there and more and more people are coming up and essentially no one is going down, I begin to wonder how the newspaper headline would read, "5 Killed and Dozens Injured when 2nd Story Deck Collapses Under Weight of Too Many Drunk Kids."  I told myself that since we were standing on the edge of the deck a collapse in the middle would leave us on top of the pile of inebriate bodies and that we'd be OK.

Before too long there were too many people upstairs, so Wes and I decided to explore and scope out some more costumes.  We ended up downstairs for a bit (where Mystique was giving me the heebie jeebies), chatted, etc., then decided to try and find Kyle and the others.  Even though the hoards of incoherent drunks were becoming too much to handle, we had Jeff's apartment to find refuge in, take a breather, have another slice of pizza, and refill our not-icky-miller-light drinks (since the boys paid, they drank some icky beer, but mostly stuck to jager and blackhaus).

The popo showed up, but it was only to move along the people that were loitering outside.  They had been called in because some drunk girl fell on her face and hurt herself.  Most of the people had cleared out by then so there were only some stragglers.  The police didn't give anyone any trouble.

The boys made a couple of runs to the Sev and we all went to bed around 3.  Nothing terribley exciting happened, but it was fun to dress up and hang out with everyone.

Last night Wes and I went to Matt's for dinner and pie (see photo here!).  Manicotti with TONS of spinach (Sam is a vegetarian that cooks awesome, tasty food) and the apple pie with Edy's half-the-fat caramel ice cream.  I took what was left of my magnum bottle of wine ( 1.5L Redwood Creek Pinot Grigio) from Friday and Wes and Matt bought a case of St. Pauli Girl.  We watched Interview with a Vampire with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.  It was a spectacularly laid back and enjoyable evening.

I wanna go for a walk up at the lake today  but I gotta work on getting the boy up first!

P.S.

     Max Payne was a terrible movie.  Don't waste your money.

Why yes! I will have the sex, please.

Last night was a great success and Wes and I's costumes are finished and pretty super awesome. As a couple, we don't match in the slightest, but our individual looks are pretty dead-on! yayayayayayay! Also, I get to bleach Kyles hair this afternoon!! So much excitement!

I got the invite yesterday for the party that we're going to tonight... and saw that over 400 people had been sent invitations! So far only 90 have confirmed and assuming they bring people that weren't invited/haven't been accounted for I guesstimate a lot of people. I like small social gatherings, but I am uncomfortable at huge parties with a butt-ton of people I don't know. I don't trust them. Hopefully, since neither me nor any of my party plan on drinking the 'beer' being supplied, we'll be able to avoid the crowds collected around the kegs. Also, hopefully it's not too super cold outside (yeah, right) so we can hang out on the deck, drinking and smoking the night away.

I should be doing work while on campus and not in class, but I got an email with a code for 25% off any Victoria's Secret shirt/top so I'm browsing the 19 pages of torso attire, looking for something decent that I'd like to spend money on.

I only wish that I would look as good in their shirts as their waify models do. I ate a salad today and, me being me, I know how bad salads can be for you after you add cheese, bacon bits, croutons, and pour on the dressing but out of curiosity today I looked at the nutrition info on this particular salad: 750 calories!!! The five croutons, sprinkle of cheese, and two pieces of pop-corn chicken have been misleading me all semester!!! Luckily, I use my fave fat-free honey dijon dressing (a mere 60 cals for 1oz.) so it didn't add too much to the damage, but daaaaaamn. That's the last time I eat you, salad!

I just read an article about this "contest" that someone set-up to which no takers have signed up for, yet. For an engaged couple who haven't had premarital sex, they would receive $10,000 and free flowers and invitations for their wedding. As much as $10,000 would be appreciated, I'd rather know that I'm marrying someone I'm compatible with sexually than waiting to find out after I've already committed my life to them.

There's so much I should be doing... but I'm ready for the week to end. Maybe I'll just skip calc and call it a day...

**Oh crumb... My Philosophy teacher just emailed me and I have to make up my test at two this afternoon... bugger!!

Lingo Update

The more I think about Officer Lingo and the recent events, I can't help but wonder what his last minutes were like.

A few important things to mention; he had just worked eight hour shifts, back to back, at two different jobs, he was in the bathroom when he shot himself, and his daughters, both younger than 13, were the ones that found him.

Being busy and stretched too thin and feeling out of control of your life can bring you down fast.  Real fast.  Lingo had three jobs, as far as I know, and still could not afford to move out of the house while, I imagine, paying his ex a ton of money.  

The fact that he killed himself in the bathroom suggests to me that he was looking at himself in the mirror.  Hard.  Deciding.  Maybe with a calmness knowing that all his problems were about the be blown away or with the trembling, terrified hands or someone that can't believe they are seriously considering taking their own life and leaving loved ones behind.  

Worst of all though, his daughters finding him.  From what I know, their mother had just dropped them off, they went running into the house yelling, "Daddy! Daddy!" and ran straight into that mess.  I'm not certain what happened after that; whether the mother had taken off as soon as the girls went into the house or if she had walked them in... I don't know.  Either way, those girls are going to be fucked up for the rest of their lives.

It bothers me that Lingo felt this was the best, or perhaps only, way to deal with his problems.  He adored his girls.  I know he did.  He taught me their secret father-daughter hand shake and always spoke so affectionately of them.  I would hope that he wasn't expecting them to find him first.

I can't get this out of my head.  He is the first person that I knew to commit suicide.  I've been lucky in that there has been very little death around me.  My great aunt and uncle passed away some years ago, as did my fathers parents, but I wasn't necessarily very close to any of them so I felt removed.  I liked Lingo.  I enjoyed his company.  I felt safe being at WaWa at 3am when all the weird-o's and crazies are out.  He was there just this past Friday (I, unfortunately, was not) trying to sort out some mental guy.

It just boggles my mind.  Befuddles me.  And makes me wish I had hugged him and let him know that there were always people around that cared.

No more Lingo

As soon as I began my Micro test this morning, I received a text.  I had to let it buzz and buzz in my pocket for the duration of the test.  As soon as I leave the room I pull out my phone and see that Gene sent me a text.

"Lingo killed himself."

Lingo was an awesome Dtown police officer that frequented the WaWa when he was on thirds.  A super great guy going through a messy divorce.  His ex was making it much more difficult than divorce already is.  She wanted the house, the dog, the money.

He had two young daughters.

It was selfish of him to take his life.

Unrelated, I'm starting a second blog: 365 - A Year in Pictures.  I've seen this around the blogging community and think it's a swell idea.  It looks really lame right now because I can't decide what my first photo should be.  Unfortunately I have none of the Lingo.

Mr Potato Head Face

I think my parents dressed me up in the Mr Potato Head accessories and took a picture knowing that they could someday use the images against me. Jerks.

Your Sex is on Fire

I don't know why MMR is in love with this stupid song and why they play it so much... but it irritates me.

It seems that I have a lot I would like to write about... but I don't feel like staring at my computer screen and composing a tome while eating terrible spaghetti.  I'm actually excited for my pre-work-nap tonight because, honestly, today was kinda not so good.

Firstly, I have been considering, much to the disappointment of myself, dropping Philosophy.  In previous semesters, I was able to take a full-load of credits and work and be social while still maintaining my GPA.  This semester though is kicking my butt.  Generally I can pay attention in class, take notes, and be generally well-off for tests and what-not... but this semester is requiring a lot of time that I'm not used to putting into classes.  For once, I'm not understanding math and science courses by mental osmosis (the teachers words putting themselves into my head) and thus, I'm scrambling to get ready for tests and forgetting about homework... even though I have been extremely diligent this year about writing everything down into my planner thingy.

So, to return back to my original thought, if this weeks Philosophy test does not go in my favor I am going to suck it up and withdraw from it, the only class I actually enjoy this semester.  While is it a course I need for graduation, I have already made room in my schedule for next semester to include Psychology which would then take the place of Philosophy.  I discussed my options with the professor and he was very understanding and said that if I did decide to drop the class, that I was more than welcome to still attend :)

Dan's daughter, Emma, was sick today so he played hooky which meant that I was stuck listening to Zach for the entirety of Microbiology (which was a waste of my time anyway).  

That girl interest of his that I was so upset about a couple of weeks ago has indeed broken up with her boyfriend.  AND is interested in someone other than Zach.  Zach feels he's been shafted (although why, I don't know) by this chick.  I could care less.

After micro came the dreaded Physics test.  Now, keep in mind that the last Physics test was the one on which Zach scored one point higher than I did so when, half an hour into the test, he gets up and hands his test in, I can't help but think to myself, "AGAIN! What does this kid know that I don't!?!?"  I use the remaining hour to finish my test (3 problems of which I was ready for, 2 of which I was only half ready for).  Afterwards, Lynette and I were discussing the test in Speech and she says something about Zach taking his test up so quickly.  So, of course, I text him to find out what happened and he literally says, "I forgot everything, I knew I failed, I'm going to take it as my lowest test grade and drop it."  OOPS.  Guess his 3x5 index card was lacking.  Or it might be that he doesn't have the book.

My speech today was much better than my disaster-of-a-speech from a couple of weeks ago.  Wes helped me practice yesterday and told me what I was doing wrong.  It helped me keep my speech to around the ideal five minute mark and keep it interesting but still informative.  AND he took care of laundry while I sweated over physics.  He's such a wonderful boy (he pacified me Saturday night too when I was all woman crazy about trying to fit someone's abandoned armchair into his tiny car.  It ultimately didn't work, but we tried!).

Work tonight.  Hopefully I'll have some time to start looking over micro since it's not a championship game tonight.  I'm going to try and pick up at least one more, maybe two more, night shifts since Xmas is not that far and I love, love, LOVE buying gifts for people.  While we were in Dtown Saturday night, we found a little vintage shop that had a lot of quite lovely jewelry.  I found a couple of things that I think my mum and sister would like.

Speaking of sister, she got her tongue pierced.   On Friday.  Without me!  Now I must get mine done!!!!  

Halloween party at Jeffrey's on Friday.  I have a couple of options for costumes.  Most probable right now is the giant purple sheet I bought at the Goodwill that is going to be made into a Toga.  Maybe.  Best of all, I get to make Wesley a tutu!!!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Still Mooing! Please.

Now that is a burger! Ordered "as rare as you can make it" because a lot of places won't cook them under medium-well due to food poisoning issues. Not the Perk apparently!

This delight came complete with bacon, bourbon sauce, sharp cheddar cheese, and onion rings.

October Nights

Walking around Dtown. Drinking too much coffee and tea. Perching ourselves on random stone walls :)

Smells like good times.

21 and expecting

A half a bottle of gin and two liters of Diet Dr. Pepper later, I find that we're watching stories of people that signed up for the military experience, are sent to Iraq, and come back completely fucked up.

This hits home for me because I have a friend, my age, who is due to have a baby in less than a month and who's husband has served at least twice oversea's.  It pains me to think that my friend could be left widowed and with a newborn baby at the age of 21.

I was her maid of honor at her wedding when we were 18.  I've known her since the second grade.  I can't stand the thought of her husband of three and half years being killed or maimed with a baby on the way.

It makes me want to punch a whole lot of idiotic politicians.

The Bum is Sleeping

So I'm posting... again...

I am: trying

I think: a lot

I want: to know that I have turned out OK

I have: what I've worked for

I dislike: people

I miss: our house

I fear: becoming our parents

I feel: like I should be doing something more productive

I hear: silence.  I don't like it.

I smell: fall

I crave: wine and sushi

I cry: when no one is looking

I usually: remember to take my pill

I regret: nothing.  Yet.

I search: for my niche in this world

I wonder: a lot.  About everything.  All the time.

I love: my Wesley, my guinea pig, and my family

I care: too much sometimes

I always: watch people

I worry: that I'm not doing the 'right' things

I am not: manipulative

I remember: hardly anything

I believe: in myself

I dance: too much for some people, not enough for me

I sing: when no one can hear me

I don't always: get to know someone before I judge them

I argue: rarely

I write: on this stupid blog too much.  I'm developing the blogger mentality that people are interested in what I have to say

I win: always.  I'm female.

I lose: a lot of hair when I shower

I wish: we had our own place

I listen: all the time

I don't understand: stupidity

I can usually be found: surfing the interwebz

I watch: hardly any TV

I need: wine and sushi.  Heavy on the wine.

I forget: too much for only being 21

I am happy: most of the time

Good food, good wine, too much homework

Friday at last!!!!!

I haven't confirmed swing-dancing tomorrow... so I'm not sure if that's still going on. Either way though, no class and no work for the next two days.

Actually, technically, my weekend has already begun because calculus was cancelled today (teacher is sick!!!) so I'm free!!!! But, since Wes is at work and there's nothing for me at the house to do, I think I'm gonna stick on campus and try and get some work done. I got a little bit of everything done at the Porter House last night before the crowd came in.

I was finishing my homework marathon with Physics last night and the restaurant literally went from me being the only person there to the entire restaurant being packed within half an hour. As I was finishing up my last few problems, an older-but-not-'old' couple sat next to me. They commented on the physics and we got to talking. Turns out the lady was a biotechnologist that worked in R&D, research and development, for a pharmaceutical company (not sure which one). Really, really nice people and seemingly very interested in what food science was about. I love talking with intelligent people.

Today in micro we did a bunch of stuff that will give us further clues as to what our unknowns are. So far, I know this:

- Gram positive rods
- Forms spores
- Will grow 'optimally' at both 25 and 35 degrees Celsius.

I believe that I have a strain of either Clostridium or Bacillus. I'm leaning more toward Bacillus because Clostridium tends to dislike oxygen in any amount (Clostridium botulinum is a bad, bad thing in the soup industry because of the anaerobic enviroment inside the can) and, so, I doubt would grow on regular, run-of-the-mill TSA plates. We shall see next Friday when I can determine the results of the tests that we set up today!!!

Homework check-list, to keep me on track:
- Write capstone and email to The Fat Man
- Learn Physics for test Monday
- Make spidey speech for Monday
- Practice spidey speech so that a rerun of my last speech doesn't occur
- Read my Philosophy book for test Wednesday
- Rewrite Microbiology notes
- Learn Microbiology notes for test Wednesday
- Maybe do the Calculus homework that was due for today

Hopefully today is as productive as I imagine it being...

PS - I got bored with my old layout and this one is a little more fall-appropriate anyway. Hope yous likes! AND sorry for the squished picture at the top... I will continue working on fixing that... It's the best I could do for now.

Je ne comprends pas...

I know it's healthier and blah blah blah to be a generally happy person... but sometimes, others just make it so difficult.  They're so wrapped up and their minds so warped that they can only find things to complain about, even when nothing, essentially, is wrong or out of place.

It's difficult being in a good mood 99.9% of the time, but it takes even more work to be miserable all the time.

Similar to smiling vs frowning: smiling uses far fewer muscles and comes much more naturally than does frowning.

I don't know why people feel they need to focus only on the negatives and spend all of their time fretting about trivial and petty nothings.  There's really nothing better you could be doing?

Misery loves company, it's true, but why waste time being  miserable?  And trying to make everyone around you feel as crumby as you do?  I just don't understand.

I have bad days, everyone has bad days.  But when someone goes out of their way to make others days bad, that's just silly.  Life is bigger than you.  If you mope, the world doesn't care.  Even the people that you bring down with you will eventually pop back up and be their normal, perky selves in no time.  And what does that do?  It makes you even more miserable because people have the nerve to be happy while you're wallowing.

Some people just need the drama so they have something to talk about with their friends I suppose.

Mah Wesleh iz acts liek he iz fyve

While on MSN this afternoon, I noticed that one of their article headlines was "We R in Ur Webz: The story behind LOLCats, I Can Haz Cheezburger and other 'meme' sites."  I'm a curious person and love to fill my head with useless information (so as to push Physics and Calculus out) so I began reading the article.

Blah blah blah about half way down the first page of the article they start defining 'meme' and where the term originated.  Imagine my surprise and delight when I read that 'meme' was actually coined by none other than my favorite atheist, Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion (read this book.  It'll change your life.).  I recall reading about meme's in his book, but I don't believe that he gave himself credit for developing the term (a fusion of 'mime' and 'gene,' pronounced like 'dream').  This revelation automatically took any importance (bahaha) away from the LOLCat article and got me excited about anti-religion.

Speaking of which... Karma has caught up with me and my passionate hate for all things religious.  I was putting together a few different options for my schedule next semester... and for each and every one of them, the only honors course that will fit just happens to be The 3 Religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Muslim I presume).  Not only is the class totally Blech... but it's being taught by my Physics professor: a big, fat, sweating, spitting T-Rex.  Double Ugh.

Because I was super behind on (all of my) homework, last night was buckle-down-and-do-something-productive night.  And, because I don't like to suffer alone, I suggested to Wes that he find something quiet and less-fun than homework to do while I was calculating and figuring and cursing all mathematicians.  From a few posts down, it should be pretty obvious that although he found something quiet to do, it was definitely not less-fun than homework.  I am speaking, of course, of the LEGOS kingdom.  

And now, in typical Wesley style, Wes wants to become world reknowned for making LEGOS art.  

Next week: physics test, informative speech, philosophy mid-term, microbiology test.  Is it December yet?

PP

Wesley's pumpkin looks a little less intimidating and toothless because of the recent heat-wave :\

I think we should rename him; from Scary Skull and Crossbones Pumpkin to Pappy Pumpkin (PP).

And now I'm going to write a real post.

"What's your boyfriend do for fun?"

Wes' LEGO kingdom, Kyle's LEGO robot, and my pathetic LEGO tank.

This is how the conversation would go:

Anyone: What's your boyfriend do for fun?

Me: Play with LEGOS!

Anyone: ...Oh?

Piggeh sez hi

Piggeh sez hi

Why school... WHY!?!?!?

The good news is that I may have only 14 credits next semester.

The bad news is... my schedule is still atrocious looking.  How does this happen every single time!?!?!?

I'm still on campus from 8am til 4:20p on Monday's and from 8am til 1:55p on Wednesdays!  Gah!!!!  Not only that, but I found out that I can't actually take calculus II pass/fail because pass/fail doesn't really mean pass/fail.  It means I-wanna-sit-in-the-class-for-the-experience-not-the-grade.  I don't have the time to be sitting in classes, not getting graded, so I thought it best to alter that (plus I'd like to graduate this coming May!).  So... banking on B's in the trifecta: Microbiology, Physics, and Calculus II which will destroy my beautiful 3.8 which means I'll be a failure which means I won't be able to get into graduate school (when I get around to it) which means I'm going to be poor and sleeping next to dumpsters for the remainder of my days.

My Mum visited this weekend and of course the question of graduate school comes up.  I do want to complete my masters... but... honestly?  I'm tired.  I'm exhausted.  I can't go right into another 3 years of school and work, school and work without driving myself crazy.  Plus Penn State is probably my best option... and while I like to visit the town, I couldn't stand going to school there (even though they have an awesome food science building).  

Visuals from Friday

Birbig!*

Singing Birbig!*

30th Street Station from the train platform

"Salad is Pizzas friendly but annoying Friend"

Me and my mum at the train station.  I'm modeling my new shirt.

*I think the term "birbig" should refer to that booger that I get stuck on my nose ring that I have to dig at in front of a mirror for 5 minutes to remove.  Like, "I've got this HUGE  birbig going and it's driving me Ca-ray-zay!!!"  Just a thought.

Salad is Pizza's friendly but annoying friend.

Last night we saw Mike Birbiglia (I hope you get your 'google alert' that I've written about you because we couldn't stick around after the show to tell you how much we enjoyed it, so I'm relying on the fact that the internet will find this and send it to you!!!!).  Plus all I had was my (camera) phone for pictures and I didn't want you to automatically assume that I was one of those people!  

Anywho, we had a fantastic time and really enjoyed your show.  Come back to Philly soon please!!!!

Jelly Krimpets

We started our unknowns today in micro lab!

Basically the teacher gives you a culture (she may or may not know what it is, depending) and you have to perform a series of tests to keep narrowing down the possibilities until you get to a point where you can label your bacteria without a doubt.

My gram stain showed that I have Gram + rods... which is a pretty generic beginning.  Luckily, my rods had big empty spaces in the middles, so I prepared a spore stain and found out that I have spore forming gram + rods... which are a little more unique!  I was trying to find pictures online to put up for visual aid of what exactly I'm talking about... but since I don't know what the genus and species is, it's difficult to find accurate pictures just yet.

In other news, someone we know may or may not have impregnated a 16 girl.  Mind you, he's 20 and has a girlfriend.  So... first off there's the 'ick' factor, secondly, the moral factor, and thirdly, the legal factor.  What a fucking (literally!) douche bag.  People like him should never spawn and it's amazing that any chick would willingly get naked with him.  Gross gross gross!!!

This is still alleged though... and not concrete.  Still... way to go you fucking moron.

Thursday!

*sigh*

I don't even know what to write about today.

Things to look forward to:

- Porter House tonight with Lynette

- New season of L. A. Ink starts tonight

- I get to sleep at night tonight

- My mum comes to visit tomorrow

- Then, we're going to see Mike Birbiglia!!!!

Things to dread:

- Calculus test tomorrow

- Celebrating Wes' mothers birthday on Saturday

Oh... AIG just spent $440,000.  They felt it was necessary to send their important guys to an all inclusive resort in California and golf, hire caterers, and get spa treatments ($23,000).  How nice of them to use some of their $85 million bail-out money from the government for a little vaca.  

What's wrong with people?

Wine/Pumpkins

Here are our pumpkins!  Mine looks a little odd because I think it's turned too far towards the middle of the picture... 

I'm hoping they rot and we have to carve some more before Halloween :)

The Goose is Dead

Last night I was in such a bad mood to just be at work.

I'm tired of my ignorant co-workers and customers.  I'm tired of drunks wanting to make babies with me.  I'm tired of second shift always complaining about what first shift didn't do while failing to recognize that they, too, failed to do their job because all they did all shift was complain about what first shift didn't do (I know.  I know.).  No one has anything nice to say about their co-workers.  Everyone 'hates' their job and wants to quit.  I adore Gene, but let's face it; he's 28, no college degree, still lives at home, and has been at WaWa for close to eight years... with no intention of becoming a manager.  He bitches the whole night about being there and I'm tired of it and says the most ignorant, hickish, uneducated things... that it gives me a headache.

There's no discipline for slackers.  The new MIT's (managers in training) are habitually late, steal, do drugs, don't know how to lead others, and only speak negatively about their job and co-workers.

If I had had another job lined up, I'd have quit last night.  I can't stand all these people complain about how terrible WaWa is... when they don't actively change anything.  I can't... stand that.  Complaining does no one any good.  It's unproductive gabbing.

There's something else bothering me... Zach.  Go figure right?

There's this girl that he plays frisbee with that, he claims, is always looking at him and texting him and hanging out with him (I met her once and was very unimpressed).  I guess they were talking about her getting a job at a nearby pet store, and after Zach finishes that part of the story, he says, "How awkward would it be if she got a job with Anna Maria (his ex) and we made out!!"  My response?

"SHE HAS A BOYFRIEND!!!" in a horrified, OMFG voice.  "well yeah..." he says, "but I don't think she likes him very much..." and proceeds to list the reasons why he thinks that she doesn't "like" her boyfriend.

Not too long ago (last summer, in fact) I was in a similar situation... but on the other end.  I was happy, I was content, and then I noticed that things were changing.  There was a distance from me and a short temper towards me forming.  As far as I knew, I had done nothing and we weren't in a bad relationship.  We don't fight, get annoyed at each other, get pissed off, get jealous, etc.  I didn't know what was going on but I was really busy with my co-op and I think I was still working at the Market then... So I let it continue.  It got to a point where he wanted to break up... and I found out why; he had been talking to someone else.  She was actively trying to destroy a relationship that she knew to be totally healthy and happy.  

I guess it's easy when you don't know that persons significant other because there's no face, no personality to put to the name so you feel distanced and removed from any emotional stress that you are putting that person through by tempting their significant other.  I was torn and hurt and pissed and confused and could not believe that another person would selfishly and actively destroy a relationship because they think they're owed the happiness that others have worked for.  Probably worse was the fact that I was trusting and tolerant of this other person and I ended up being blind-sided.

We've recovered and are stronger for it, but I am less tolerant and less trusting of this other person than I was before.  Sometimes I feel bad for being suspicious and for asking questions... but I, under no circumstance, want to experience that again.  And I can't believe that Zach is playing that sabotaging role and was surprised when I was spoke so strongly about it.  This girl was probably content in her relationship... but when someone starts getting attention from a third party, they get excited, they get a high and they can't get enough.  

This is one of those instances when I can honestly say that all Zach is concerned about is getting his dick wet and I'll be damned if I'm going to sit around and have him regale me about the relationship he's destroying just for a fuck.  If he continues with this and puts that girls boyfriend through what I nearly experienced... so help me, Zach, I am going to destroy your Jew ass.  Back the fuck off and think about someone else for a change.

I can't stand it.  I won't tolerate it.

Blasphemy!

I realized that I never wrote about the wines we had Sunday night for the Wine and Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza! 

I brought a bottle of Rosemount Pinot Noir (on sale from $12.99 to $9.99).  I was originally going to buy Lindemans Bin 99 Pinot Noir (the wine I drank at the Porter House last Thursday) but the Rosemount, being on sale, it was only a dollar more.  So, in my mind, I was getting a better value!  I haven't drank a lot of pinot noir, but it's becoming a quick favorite of mine.  For a red, it's very smooth and easy to drink and even complimented the general tso's and fried dumplings that Wes got for dinner.

Matt and Sam, the hosts, got two bottles of red.

Last time we were there, I took a bottle of Fetzer Gewurtzraminer (a varietal that I discovered while researching wine and sushi pairings).  It's a nice, light, slightly sweet, bubbley wine that doesn't overpower the subtle and delicate flavors typical of sushi.  Plus, since sushi issupposed to be served around room temperature, this chilly wine really cleans the pallet.

But I digress!  They had enjoyed that winery quite a bit so choose a bottle of their Cabernet Sauvignon!  It wasn't the best Cab Sauv I've had, but it was a good, cozy, cold-weather treat.  I unfortunately did not try the pinot and the cab side-by-side to compare the subtleties, so I'm undecided as to whether I like Fetzer's wines as a whole yet.

The second bottle they choose was for less technical reasons.  Matt liked the label.  So he bought it!  Sometimes though, it really is as simple as good advertising and attractive bottle design (my Rosemount bottle is a pretty unique shape, too!).  They got Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin.  Talk about a wine with balls!  As soon as I took a sip of this beast, my mouth longed for a hearty, spicy chili... or a big, fat, bleeding steak... or some oozy, drippy, messy ribs!!  This wine was tannic and spicy and robust.  Perfect for the chill we experienced Sunday night.  Good, good stuff!!!

Wine is my favorite food group!  

And, while the mixing of booze and sharp objects (we were carving pumpkins, recall) is not usually a great idea, everyone that participated still has all their digits and our pumpkins turned out lovely.  No pics yet... we need to get little candles.  Wes did skull and crossbones, I did a swallow.  Our tattoo-inspired pumpkins!!!!

"Me and my cracker friends..."

Mike Birbiglia on Fridaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully this week won't be as bad as the past couple have been... I don't have class on Wednesday this week so I'm working an extra night; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday (after my nap) Lynette and I are planning on meeting up at the Porter House early, 4:30 or so, to get seats at the bar, eat, drink, and work on speeches. Friday... calc II test (in class!!!) and then rushing to Lansdale to jump on a train and head toward Philly for an evening with Birbiglia!!

Not having a full day of classes on Wednesday will hopefully make this week a LOT easier.

Also... Looking over my program evaluation and seeing what classes I need next semester, it appears that I might only need 13 credits!! My first semester as a freshman had 16 or 17 credits, and each semester following has been a full 19 credit nightmare. I don't know what I'll do with all that free time!!! I might take courses that I want to instead of need to.

I can't believe it's October already!!!!!

**I almost forgot!
There having a showing of The Incredible Hulk (2008) tomorrow on campus in Segal Quad (outside!). There's going to be popcorn, hot cider, and hot chocolate! It starts at 9... so I'll be able to get two hours of it in before I have to mosey on down to work... Boo GOOSE!!!

Sink the Ink

Last night at Dorney Halloween Haunt was uber fun!!!! We only got to go through two of the haunted 'mazes' and go on two rides (Steel Force and Voodoo!!!!) but just having everyone there and the fun atmosphere made it as much fun as it was. No pictures, unfortunately, but I don't think any pictures that we attempted to take would've turned out! The whole park was covered in artificial fog from the haunted attractions. The fog added an eeriness and made the roller coasters AWESOME... you couldn't see where the track went so you were in anticipation the whole ride!

We're carving Pumpkins and drinking wine at Matt's tonight with him, Sam, Andrew and Monique. Is there a better way to pass a Sunday night?

The L. A. Ink reference in my last blog made me realize that I haven't poster pictures of my current tat's yet. Afterall, I am quite attached to them... Har har har! In order that they were inked:

The Opeth "O" - $60

My Aunt Linda took me to get my first tattoo. She threatened my father for years that when I turned 18 she was going to take me. So... she did! I wasn't planning on getting a tattoo while I was in Boston, visiting. Luckily, I had previously thought about designs... I just hadn't taken the initiative to go out and get one (the first is the most difficult, after all). Opeth is a fantastic band... and even if the day should ever come that I no longer enjoy their tunes, it's still a great design. I would like to go back and have it worked on some more, touched up a little, etc. It's about and inch and a half wide, on my right hip bone (ouch factor: high).

The Dragon - $70

This is my second guy. I got him in November of 2005, a couple of months after my first. I drew him myself and got it done at the Ink Well on 309 by Rob Fiore. I like him, but I don't like his placement. I didn't plan well enough on where to put him. Ah well. (ouch factor: medium)

The Purple Bird - $150

The third! I love traditional bird tattoo's... and just bird tattoo's in general. Not necessarily because I have some affinity towards these feathered rats... but they tattoo so wonderfully and can be sooooo colorful. This little guy is about 3 inches from tail tips to beak and is on my left ribs and was also done by Rob Fiore. (ouch factor: HIGH!)

The Blue Bird - $150

Because matching tattoo's are not lame (mom!), Wes bought me this guy as an anniversary present. Same size and shape at the purple one, just blue and on the right side. Rob Fiore again. (ouch factor: still very HIGH!)

The Koi - $300

The love of my life that I carry around at all times. I've always wanted a koi... they're lucky in times of ambition. I'm not a terribly superstitious person, but a little extra luck never hurt anyone! This guy took 3 hours whereas my other four took less than 45 minutes each. It was brutal (I HATE line work) but it turned out so well and will be easy to add on to that I couldn't be happier with it. I got it in 2007 on my brothers birthday, November 17th. Love love love this tattoo. (ouch factor: Extremely HIGH) *sorry for the razor burn in the pic!*

My next two, I think, are going to be portraits by Leonardo Da Vinci on my thighs, not sure whether on the front or back. It's been a year since my last! I have The Itch!!!!!

Pong

Andrew playing EXTREME PONG! He gets really into it... it was 60 degree's and he was sweating. A lot. Poor kid.

Champagne Supernova

I have a lot of free time today.  So I'm writing... again!

I'm obsessed with America's Next Top Model.  It's not a show that I go out of my way to watch (L.A. Ink is the only show that gets that much commitment) but I will watch the marathons from when I turn them on until I find out who wins that season (MTV has these marathons on all the time luckily).  I like this show because, lets face it, who doesn't like watching beautiful people on TV much less 12 beautiful people.  I really like a lot of the photoshoots they do as well.

Anywho, I got to googling stuff and stumbled across this article:

Do thin models warp girls' body image?

And of course the answer is, Yes, they do.  I like the more recent seasons of ANTM because they make an effort to get some 'plus sized' girls (aka, normal girls) into the show, but I don't like how these normal girls feel that they need to lose weight while on the show to 'fit in' with the other girls (5'8" 110lbs).  Defetes the purpose of having them on there, doesn't it?

I got a new cage set-up for Nermal today.  I think I might be doing a presentation on him within the next couple weeks and I wanted him to have cool digs for the pics.  Also, he's been living in that tiny plastic box for about 3 years now.  He needed more room to stretch his legs I think.  Seeing this picture, I'm not so sure he's into his new home!!!

BACK SPIDEY!  BACK!

I began my Andy Warhol inspired poster for Microbiology yesterday.  It's a good thing Clostridium botulinum looks cool under an electron microscope!!

I wanna try to put finger waves in my hair.  My Halloween costume will depend on what I feel like doing with my hair... Either teasing it sky-high or doing something retro.  Super!

blahdy blah

We were supposed to go salsa dancing last night... but Wesley sounded like he was on his death bed so... he slept and I went to the Porterhouse and had dinner and wine with Dan, the Phillies, Palin, and Biden.  I would've rather been dancing (no offense to Dan).  I thought about inviting Zach to tag along and watch me wallow, but when I expressed this idea to Dan, I hadn't fully finished saying it out loud before Dan shook his head and said, "not a good idea."  

So I chatted with Dan, watched the Phillies (win), and developed a headache during the debate.  My initial dislike for Palin was strengthened when she began talking about homosexuals with a disgusted look on her face and could only relate problems to those she'd experienced in Alaska (in her less than two years as governer).  Blech.  And as 'green' at people seem to think Obama is, Biden knows what he's talking about.  I think.  

I did a 16 hour shift at the Goose Monday into Tuesday.  Not doing that again. 

Hanging with Jeff tonight.  Going to Dorney with Audrie, Seth, Andrew, Monique, Matt, Sam, Kyle and Mallory tomorrow night.  Dinner cruise at Nokamixon with Julie and her husband and Dan, his wife and their kids on Sunday.  Maybe.  Dan's son got chicken pox this week :(

A tiny rant:

    Whhhhhhhhhy do people need to text me to tell me they've emailed me?  The email is there... waiting.  There is no need to text me telling me that there is an email there... waiting.  I'll get to it.  I promise.  If it's that urgent that you need to text me to tell me that you've emailed me, just text or call to begin with.  Yikes kids.

It's Friday.  Thank goodness.

WaWa art class

This is entertainment at 2am at the Goose. Gene drew this for me.  It's Wes and Gene holding my hands and Todd holding Gene's hand. Aka: My Three Husbands (or so I was told my Gene and Todd).

And it looks like Wes is Trick-or-Treating but he's actually holding his motorbike helmet.  And Gene gave him a bow-tie.  I'm not sure why.

My favorite part is my saggy, old lady "W" boobs.  Well done Gene.  Well done.