October 01, 2007
Our Sadie-girl celebrated her 3rd birthday.
Contagion had a birthday, too
Helen awaits the arrival of the Lemonheads with humor. Or should that be humour?
Mrs. Who and BR found out that there's about to be another birthday in the HoZ
Denny's back safely from Bonaire. Oh to be an SRF, too!
SWWBO learned to drive the tractor
Oddy's Dad is doing well after a serious motorcycle crash
Cox and Forkum are quitting
Richmond and family lost one of the dynamic duo.
And me, well, I am just trying to keep my head down and get on with things!
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September 27, 2007
It has got to stop. It winds me up and I don't have any me time. The TiVo is proof enough. In the last 6 months it's just loaded up over and over again. Hell, I never watched the last 8 episodes of House last season! Yeah, you read that right. House. I want to catch up before we get going again. And I have almost a whole season of Painkiller Jane and The Riches to finish. I've seen maybe two episodes of each.
I haven't crocheted in months. It took me weeks to get the camera sent off to Sony for the recall repair work. I barely keep up with my calendar. If I don't get something scheduled right away, I miss it. My brain feels 10 steps behind.
I have a story I'd like to write, but I can't get up the motivation to put it down and it keeps rattling around, waiting for me to get to it. I hope it doesn't get stale.
So I've decided that work is going to stop following me home. Grading I'll do, but I am not going to check email or worry about assholes or agree to do anything outside of business hours anymore. It fucks me up too much.
Maybe I'll even be able to blog again on a regular basis.
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September 25, 2007
And by now, busy is an understatement. Both of us are teaching full time, GMT back at his High School, me with a 5 unit biology class (double lab periods!) which adds up to about 9 hours a week in class. I am also the chair of a couple of active committees, and I serve on several others. As it's the beginning of school, everyone is trying to get all their meeting ducks in a row and it's taking a lot of time.
I'm supposed to attend a seminar Thursday- Saturday, and all I want to do is go out with my friends on Friday night, as we're all supposed to have dinner at one of our friend's places.
Oh, and I got asked to work on a paper with one of my colleagues. It's actually very interesting, and as it's Public Health research, not too time consuming. Also a field I'm keen to get some insight into. So I'm working on research again, too.
And then there's homework to grade, papers to read, and my own field of research to deal with.
And I'm supposed to clean house, do laundry, be a pleasant hostess, and occasionally go out for a fun time???? Fuck that. Something has to go. Lately it's been the cleaning. Not that the house is a pigsty, mind you, just messy. And there are a million unfinished projects we need to work on.
I do love most of my job. I love my students, and I love working with them. I'm just maxxed out. The motivation is toast at the moment. I notice I haven't been doing a hell of a lot of blog reading, and those of you who see me in their email often probably have noticed a drop off in the volume.
No, I'm not going anywhere, just ratcheting back a bit for the forseeable future. Real Life Intervenes.
I didn't intend to write that last paragraph, it just kind of came out of my fingers Ouija-style, so I guess I'm going to go with it. New content probably every couple of days, some funnies, Mutterings, Fred, that kind of thing, but if you want the serious analytical stuff, then Sorry, but we're fresh out.
Until then, I'll be lurking in your comments.
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September 23, 2007
Well, Saturday afternoon, we made a quick trip to the local Tar-zhay, and on our way over to the Halloween section, we decided to duck into the Wii aisle on a whim. There were 7 white boxes on the bottom shelf of the case. Yep, they were in stock. Just in, too, according to the guy working there. Long story short, when we left the store, there were only 6 white boxes in the case. And the price was $50 less than what we were seeing them for previously. Woot!
So we spent basically the rest of the weekend proving that 30 year olds don't have teenage bodies anymore. Did I mention my right arm feels like I spent too much time on weights at the gym? But it was hella fun and I totally see how Wii could be a part of anyone's exercise regimen. Especially the boxing game in Wii Sports. That's quite a cardio workout, holding up your arms and punching...
Honestly, though, my favorite part is that I'm actually pretty good at some of this. Unlike games with the traditional controllers.
So I probably won't be around much this week....
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Marcel Marceau, the world's best-known mime artist who for decades moved audiences across the globe without uttering a single word, has died aged 84.But Marceau was much more than a mime, he was a member of the French Resistance in WWII and later served in the French Army with the German Occupying Force after the war. The cause of his death is unknown at this time. Rest in Peace.The Frenchman's extensive tours and appearances on camera brought his silent art to people around the world. His comic and tragic sketches appealed on a universal level, with each audience interpreting his performance in its own way.
"Mime, like music, knows neither borders nor nationalities," he once said. "If laughter and tears are the characteristics of humanity, all cultures are steeped in our discipline."
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September 18, 2007
But Good Lord I need to sleep. I'm not sleepy or anything, but I can feel a headache building and I don't have a hell of a lot of pep in my step.
BTW, the termite symbionts were a BIG hit in class, even if the lab did run over. That's ok. We'll finish up on Thursday. Yay. Less stuff for me to plan/ set up/ worry about it working then.
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Seriously. It's 2:30. I need to be out the door by 6:45 or I'll never get to class on time. Last night I was out at 12. Maybe because I slept in and then I napped during football. Which was not intentional. Although the sleeping in was planned.
So I'm doing exactly what they tell you NOT to do to sleep. Watching TV and using the computer. See, I need to distract myself. Otherwise I'll just toss and turn and listen to night noises and freak out.
I think I'm worried about work. I made a major change in a group project of my own volition and I suppose I'm apprehensive about the feedback..... Plus I have an important meeting after class for a symposium I got nominated to attend. And said group project, a grant, is due tomorrow. Not to mention I am teaching from 8 to 12 (lecture, then lab). Although the lab ought to be fun. It's the first time they get to play with microscopes and living organisms. Including spearing some termites to look at the symbionts living in their guts. Yummy. And I signed up to run this show.
Oh, and if you have a minute, do pop over and give the lovely Helen some love. Poor girl is having pretty difficult false labor and feeling positively enormous (although she looks amazing!) and exhausted as she faces the end of her pregnancy and a possibly stressful week with family visiting. She could use a good cheer-up.
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September 14, 2007
Tired of those same old 55 questions about me surveys? Well here are 55 I guarantee you've never answered.
1. Is your second toe longer than your first?
both of them
2. Do you have a favorite type of pen?
FREE!
3. Look at your planner for March 14, what are you doing?
eating Pi. DUUUUUH
4. What color are your toenails usually?
Red. Always red. For Rob. He said I had nice feet.
5. What was the last thing you highlighted?
text. Oh you mean with a pen? Hmmm... probably transcripts during application season
6. What color are your bedroom curtains?
Actually, we don't have any right now. We took down the crappy ones that were there when we moved in, but our room is in the back, so we don't need curtains and haven't replaced them
7. What color are the seats in your car?
Gray leather covered with brown fuzzy seatcovers with paw prints
8. Have you ever had a black and white cat?
Nope. Can't live with a cat. But I'm sure DH has.
9. What is the last thing you put a stamp on?
My mortgage payment. Only thing I don't pay electronically, since those assholes at Wells Fargo would charge me FREAKING $10 for the convenience. Kiss MY ass.
10. Do you know anyone who lives in Wyoming?
Yes
11. Why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time?
What is this ATM of which you speak? I usually use Target or Trader Joes as an ATM.
12. Whose is the last baby that you held?
Hmmmm... Probably this guy that goes to my parents' church
13. Unlucky #?
not really. I like 13.
14. Do you like Cinnamon toothpaste?
Blecccccch. The Vanilla and Orange are rotten too.
15. What kind of car were you driving 2 years ago?
Ford Escape
16. Pick one: Miami Hurricanes or Florida Gators?
Florida teams are seriously overrated, USC TROJANS, bay-bee
17. Last time you went to Six Flags?
1997
18. Do you have any wallpaper in your house?
hell no
19. Closest thing to you that is yellow?
Winnie the Pooh on my mouse pad
20. Last person to give you a business card?
our business development guy
21. Who is the last person you wrote a check to?
the mortgage company.
22. Closest framed picture to you?
The Princess in the snow.
23. Last time you had someone cook for you?
two nights ago
24. Have you ever applied for welfare?
um, no
25. How many emails do you have?
more than a dozen
26. Last time you received flowers?
flowers?
27. Do you think the sanctity of marriage is meant for only a man & woman?
no
28. Do you play air guitar?
yes
29. Has anyone ever proposed to you?
yes. I suppose. We did get married, after all.
30. Do you take anything in your coffee?
lots of cream, lots of Sweet and Low
31. Do you have any Willow Tree figurines?
Huh?
32. What is/was your high school's rival mascot?
Depends on which school you think of as a rival.... The Fresno High Warriors or the Roosevelt Roughriders or the Hoover Patriots or the Bullard Knights (Yankees)
33. Last person you spoke to from high school?
my husband
34. Last time you used hand sanitizer?
I don't use hand sanitizer. It creates super bugs.
35. Would you like to learn to play the drums?
Hell Yeah
36. What color are the blinds in your living room?
no blinds. The blinds in the kitchen are wood.
38. Last thing you read in the newspaper?
you mean the LA Dog Trainer?
39. What was the last pageant you attended?
you mean a beauty pageant or a school pageant? I've been to school pageants.
40. What is the last place you bought pizza from?
Sadly enough, Pizza Hut.
41. Have you ever worn a crown?
Love my Tiara.
42. What is the last thing you stapled?
Packing slips and order confirmation
43. Did you ever drink clear Pepsi?
yeah, it was ok.
44. Are you ticklish?
in the extreme
45. Last time you saw fireworks?
4th of July
46. Last time you had a Krispy Kreme doughnut?
When I was still living in NC
47. Who is the last person that left you a message & you actually returned it?
a student
48. Last time you parked under a carport?
our college apartment
49. Do you have a black dog?
Black and white, actually.
50 . Have you had your mid life crisis yet?
I hope not.
51. Are you an aunt or uncle?
yes. To three
52. Who has the prettiest eyes that you know of?
my honey
53. What kind of soap or body wash do you use?
Aveeno sensitive skin with Oatmeal
54. Do you remember Ugly Kid Joe?
yes
55. Do you have a little black dress?
yes, but considering it little is a bit of a stretch.
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September 11, 2007
September 11, 2001 was supposed to be the same way. We were living in Chapel Hill, and a friend was visiting. I had planned to take her to the airport in Raleigh before making my way to school to teach my lab section. I didn't make that trip for almost three weeks.
I've told my story of that horrible day before. That day that broke all of us inside. That day that so many people are eager to forget, to push away the pain that makes it real, to scapegoat because that's easier than seeing the truth.
I think back a lot to how it used to be, how I used to be. I was so different. But something inside broke that day, sitting in my chair that I used to love, my big orange 1970's wing chair rocker, and watching people fall from the sky.
When I think back to 9/11/01, that's what I remember. Not the buildings collapsing in a heap of ash, or the bright flash of a 747 hitting the side of the towers. Just brave men and women choosing their own destiny, rather than waiting for the suffocating horror of flame and falling debris. What a beautiful last gift to their loved ones: to know they didn't suffer, and that at the end, they were truly free.
Six years later, those images still haunt me.
But life goes on they say, and so must we. And here I am again. Tuesday Morning. September 11. Only it's 2007 this time and I made it to school. I taught my class and the lab that goes with it. Had a meeting with my dean. When I finish this, I'll make a cup of tea.
And yet, there's a part of me still sitting in that chair, unable to turn away from the news for weeks. I left parts of me behind that day, and came away with something new. Tougher maybe, sadder, more vigilant, and definitely PISSED OFF. So pissed off I'm still mad today.
What makes me more angry though, are the ones who don't know, those who forgot, and the ones who seek to tarnish the truth through conspiracy theory and supposition.
The truth, my friends is this: Evil exists. We saw its hand on September 11, 2001, and still we feel its icy grip.
Forgetting this cheapens the memory of the ones we lost, the innocent, the heroes, and those left behind.
Yes, it's hard. Staring evil in the face is the most difficult thing we can do in life. Remembering who we've lost and what we've lost is just as hard. But that doesn't excuse us from remembering, from hurting, from pausing every once in a while to think about what happened that day and vowing to never let it happen again.
There have been thousands of tributes, but I'll share with you MY favorite because it's message, in the end, is hope.
If the video won't work, click here.
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September 10, 2007
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September 07, 2007
No, really. 7am-7pm. I'm going to have to move my office and share with someone else, and some dickhole in another program is using his status as faculty to piss on his students and make their lives miserable and it's my job to defend them.
It's a good damn thing my bartender doesn't drink. They're stronger that way.
*Swear To Allah
UPDATE: Actually I left AFTER 7:30pm..... I ended up going home, eating, and crashing. Alky tonight :-)
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September 01, 2007
USC starts in 15 minutes.
FIGHT ON TROJANS!
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August 28, 2007
That's 12 instead of 6.
It's an interesting mix. I have everything from 17 and 18 year old traditional freshmen to students who are my age and returning to finish up the prerequisite classes for medical school. Most of them are very bright, and you can bet I'm going to be riding the asses of the low ones to keep up, because they all have serious potential to do well.
As usual, the first class was pretty short. I had a 15 slide power point which was both introductory material (biological chemistry stuff) and points about the syllabus (show up, don't cheat, do your work, come to office hours). Then we talked briefly about lab safety and all the dos and don'ts of the lab. Most of which are common sense. Like don't touch a hot plate, you can't tell if it's too hot or not. Or never pipet by mouth. Umm. EWWWWW. And yet, there are idiots in this world who do. I swear.
We were done by the time I should have been done lecturing. Yay me. So I spent the next hour wrestling a copier and copying the first two chapters for students whose books still haven't arrived. See, one of the drawbacks of being Tiny U. is that we don't have a bookstore. So students have to order their books online or look for them at USC, UCLA, or some other large bookstore. And that can take time. In a class I taught 2 years ago, the books were backordered from the publisher and we couldn't do anything about it for 3 weeks. Ugh. What a mess.
The other thing about this class is that it starts at 8am. Which means that to get here on time I need to leave my house before 7am. 6:30 if I need to make a stop at the gas station or Whorebucks. (or Coffee Bean.... or Peet's). And then when I get here, it's a toss up as to whether I'll be able to get set up as I need security to let me in to the classroom and to open up the computer podium for me. Urg. Try finding a security guard when you need one. In the hood.....
Anyway, if you need me 8-12 Tuesday and Thursday or 9-10 Friday, Pacific Time, AM, you know where I'll be. Broadening young minds. Heh. Yeah, that's it.
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August 20, 2007
WLS explains the strategy of the superseding indictment, offense level, the possibility of sentence enhancement, the discretion of the judge in sentencing, and why the prosecution is pushing for a sentence of more than 12 months.
There's lots of great question and answer in the comments, too, so pop over and find out what you've been dying to know.
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Is there something in the water?
Y'all have my love and my sympathy, and the fucking bitches/ dickless assholes on the other side of the equation can just FOAD. Eternally. If there's anything I can do, you know where to find me. I just hope this sentiment isn't contagious.
Don't you stupid fuckers know that the ONLY ones who get hurt in these scenarios are your KIDS?
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Congratulations Jay and Deb on the arrival of baby #3!!!
From the super happy proud Papa:
7:57 AMDrop by and give them your best! Pictures as soon as Daddy gets to download them from the camera!
B lbs 4 oz
18 inches
Sooo cute. All boy. Looks like me and Sadie.
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August 14, 2007
UPDATE: Work is working itself out without me needing to do anything else at the moment. Feeling much smiley-er.
Thanks for the well-wishes, they were much appreciated!
Now, off to buy a screen door!
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August 10, 2007
It's the small pathetic things that rankle so much. Like your husband
being called into jury duty on FRIDAY after being told to go about his
business all week and basically being told that he will be sitting on
his ass from 7:30 am until 4pm, thank you very much, on THE day you
made plans to go out of town early, and for which you took the day off
of work.... and since you are sitting at home, the cable decides to go
out,and of course the internet with it. And when the son-of-a-bitch
finally comes back up, the fucking router refuses to do its job, so I'm
now within 6 inches of no internet and the TV is fuzzy on and off.
Not to mention that he got lost driving into downtown, ended
up in East LA and I had to talk him in to where he was going after
figuring out where he was. FROM 10 MILES AWAY.
Big things I can handle. I can deal. I have a gameplan. This piddly little shit? I could murder someone today.
*FFO = Friday Fuck Off. Here.
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August 09, 2007
h/t Ken S
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August 06, 2007
-- So we did a LOT of home improvement type stuff this weekend. Here's a partial list: New bathroom sink, new bathroom light fixture, new TP holder attached to sink cabinet, old TP holder and towel bar removed, wall heater removed, installed two new light fixtures, repaired the old ceiling fan in our den (it still squeaks, but we're no longer afraid it will detach itself from the ceiling and careen around the room) replaced the dimmer switch in dining room, and prepped our ceiling for the ceiling fan we bought. Today, hubby did the exterior paint touch up work left from the termite repair work and cleaned out and re-seated the rain gutters. Next up: shelves in the linen closet, two ceiling fans, a chandelier in the dining room, and paint touch-ups. I'll get some pictures up soon. Now that 90% of the crap is put away, it's easier to do these silly little things that take so long and make you so frustrated....
-- Thursday night we went to the Dodgers/Giants game. The Dodgers' staff are super nice and helpful when you have obnoxious idiots in your section. Everyone in our section thinks they asked us to leave for asking them to remove people, but guess what? This "fat fucking bitch" (yes, that's what she called me) got better seats in another section for the rest of the game thanks to you being an asshole. Oh, and Barry still sucks.
--We're WAAAAY behind on TV. I've got about 12 hours of catch up from this week's TV (we just got through The Closer from Monday, and we watch that religiously! Usually we see it on Monday or Tuesday at the latest)... Mom and Dad were here Wednesday to Sunday (we took them to the game, and Dad helped with the various bathroom projects), and that also cut into TV time.
--We've been having a visitor of another sort as well. Guest blogger/ frequent commenter/ buddy ZTZCheese and her hubby are on vacation, and their bearded dragon has been living on our patio, eating his worms and soaking up the sunshine. Pictures soon if I get the ok from his humans.
-- I missed a bunch of people's birthdays this last week. Sorry guys. I was a little out of it. Much love to all of you. You know who you are.
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