I take a very special lunch pail with me to work every day. It is the lunch pail my grandfather took with him when he worked at the mill and the one my dad used during his brief employment with Simpson. It is an old lunch pail, a little grungy with rusty hinges. Still, I simply keep my food wrapped extra well and set it on the break room table with pride. My lunch pail has a history. It also has a new owner's experience to add to its being.
I set my lunch pail in the same spot on the same table every day (or so I have for the past six I have worked). Today, however, as I went into the lunch room to retrieve it, it was not in its spot. There was a retirement party occurring, so my pail had been moved to make way for a cake. I looked, but couldn't find it.
"It's on the window sill," a boy I work with volunteered.
"Thank you," I said.
I picked up my lunch pail to walk to my seat and discovered a piece of paper tucked under its rusty handle. I slowly unfolded it and turned bright red, I'm talking instant flush. I admit now that perhaps I over reacted. Someone had written a phone number on the piece of paper. There is no name, just a phone number. As I am on a first name basis with approximately two people at the plant, my supervisor and my trainer, I have no idea who it came from.
You might think it came from the boy who so gladly volunteered my lunch pail's location. Perhaps. But why not begin by saying, "Hello," or learning my name. What am I supposed to do with a phone number with no name, face, or person attached to it?
Also, as much as I would like to be, I am not that flattered. I am the only female I have run across in the plant's vicinity under the age of 35. If it did indeed come from one of the boys I work with, they don't have very many options. I'm about it. I also don't hesitate to admit that after working for 8 hours in the heat and dust, I am not in my most attractive state. I feel absolutely no need to wear make-up to work at a plywood plant. I'm a little confused actually as to why I recieved the paper in the first place.
I have yet to decide what to do. I am left with a random phone number. No other information included. But at least it adds one more piece of intrigue to my lunch pail.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Smells Like Money
Have I ever mentioned that Corvallis is surrounded by farms, so not matter how you look at it OSU is downwind. Usually the smell isn't that strong, but today because it was so warm and there was a little breeze it smelled like manure for the entire day. I actually don't mind the smell, it actually brings back memories. ¡Fun Fact!: Olfaction sensory nerves are processed in the same part of the brain as memories, thus when you smell something it can trigger a memory. Also when you think of a memory or a place you might remember a smell more than other senses like sound and touch.
When I was younger my family owned a worm casting business, basically we sold potting soil (very good dirt) and worms for composting. We would go to local farms and get cow manure for the worms. On the way there we would drive past other farms and dairies, usually down the Moxie or Highway 12. When my sister and I smelled the manure we would say the usual "ew," or "gross," or "who farted," and then laugh like little kids do, but my dad would always say "smells like money."
When I was younger my family owned a worm casting business, basically we sold potting soil (very good dirt) and worms for composting. We would go to local farms and get cow manure for the worms. On the way there we would drive past other farms and dairies, usually down the Moxie or Highway 12. When my sister and I smelled the manure we would say the usual "ew," or "gross," or "who farted," and then laugh like little kids do, but my dad would always say "smells like money."
A Good Friend...
...plays catch with you and comes to your games to cheer you on even though she hates softball.
Thanks : )
Thanks : )
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
King Felix & The Vladiator
Even though he's a great pitcher, Felix Hernandez looks like a wanna be gangsta when he's on the mound. His uniform is three sizes too big, he's got two or three chains of bling around his neck, and his hat is always tilted to the side. He just looks silly. His over sized uniform makes him look sloppy, and don't those long chains get in the way? He's only 21 and already an awesome major league pitcher, but I think he spends too much time trying to look cool. What's the deal? But who am I to say how a professional baseball player should dress? Whatever, I guess as long as he gets the job done who cares.
Vladimir Guerrero scares me. He's a beast. Actually he's a "warrior," that's what his name means in Spanish. I think it's interesting that he's from the Dominican Republic but his first name is Vladimir. Interesante, ¿no?
Vladimir Guerrero scares me. He's a beast. Actually he's a "warrior," that's what his name means in Spanish. I think it's interesting that he's from the Dominican Republic but his first name is Vladimir. Interesante, ¿no?
Bird of Prey
On Monday I was at home and my mom and I were out in the back yard. I was sitting on the trampoline and she was gardening. She decided to bring our guinea pig, Miles, outside with us to run around. She really doesn't run around, she just waddles around right next to where we are. Anyways, I was sitting there watching her when I heard the birds suddenly start chirping all at once. This made me think about how at Shasta, where all the Greek folks go every year, people were getting their little dogs snatched off their boats by eagles. When I first heard about this I laughed a little because little dogs are annoying, but then I thought about how I would feel if something like that happened to my dog and realized it must be horrific. Then I realized that Miles was in the grass and we have hawks around our place. So, I got up and sat down on the grass right next to her. Sure enough as I sat down I saw a hawk circling really close. Then he started flying towards me and Miles. "Look Mom," I yelled. Then I picked up Miles and held her close to me. "Whoa," she said. Then I told her the Shasta story.
We both couldn't believe it. Hawks never come that close to the house. He flew away a few minutes later, but I was paranoid so I just stayed on the ground right next to her. A little bit later as I was sitting on the ground I saw two more hawks circling pretty high right above me. It was nuts! He had brought in reinforcements! "See that shovel right there," I said to my mom, "if they come any closer I'm going to whack them with it...and I'm going to mean it." She said " You really think you can take two hawks with a shovel?" "Watch me," I said, "Plus you're here and you have a pitch fork." Not wanting to fight, I took Miles back into the house. It was pretty weird.
We both couldn't believe it. Hawks never come that close to the house. He flew away a few minutes later, but I was paranoid so I just stayed on the ground right next to her. A little bit later as I was sitting on the ground I saw two more hawks circling pretty high right above me. It was nuts! He had brought in reinforcements! "See that shovel right there," I said to my mom, "if they come any closer I'm going to whack them with it...and I'm going to mean it." She said " You really think you can take two hawks with a shovel?" "Watch me," I said, "Plus you're here and you have a pitch fork." Not wanting to fight, I took Miles back into the house. It was pretty weird.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Another Day Down, A Few More Lessons
Today's lessons:
Plywood plants get hot in the afternoon. Hot. It is highly advisable to dress in layers if you happen to be working in one.
Once one already has a summer job, it is probable that all of the sudden he/she will start getting multiple calls from other places he/she put in applications. (I think I'll probably stay with the plant though, good pay and good hours.)
If you're going to tease a dog with a scrap piece of steak, make sure you move faster than the dog.
Kicking younger sisters off of the computer so you can blog does not enhance sisterly affection.
Plywood plants get hot in the afternoon. Hot. It is highly advisable to dress in layers if you happen to be working in one.
Once one already has a summer job, it is probable that all of the sudden he/she will start getting multiple calls from other places he/she put in applications. (I think I'll probably stay with the plant though, good pay and good hours.)
If you're going to tease a dog with a scrap piece of steak, make sure you move faster than the dog.
Kicking younger sisters off of the computer so you can blog does not enhance sisterly affection.
I Think I'm Scared Of Pickles
Have you ever taken a bite of a pickle and then a few nanoseconds later spat it back out? I have. I hate being surprised when it comes to pickles. I like them to be sour, tart, dilly, and/or salty. The sweet ones are gross. And it sucks when you are looking foreword to the crispy goodness of the pickle only to find that it's the opposite of what you wanted.
It's like when you order a sandwich with mayo only when you bite into it you find that it's been made with Miracle Whip. Yucky. This is the same reason I'm scared of potato salad and deviled eggs. I have to have my sister or mom test it first because I hate the shock of the yuckiness.
It's like when you order a sandwich with mayo only when you bite into it you find that it's been made with Miracle Whip. Yucky. This is the same reason I'm scared of potato salad and deviled eggs. I have to have my sister or mom test it first because I hate the shock of the yuckiness.
"He can call me a flower if he wants to"
Christina and I watched Bambi on Sunday night. We were going to watch Aladdin but during the previews, which you have to watch on old movies because they're great, there was one for Bambi. We started throwing out our favorite Bambi quotes and then with a pitiful face I asked "Do you wanna watch Bambi?" "Yeaaah," Christina replied with an equally pitiful face. So we did. And yes, it's still sad.
"Things That Make Ya Go 'Bluuuuuuuuuh'"
Last night I decided I didn't want to go buy food because I wasn't very hungry, so I decided to make one of the packages of Ramen that I have been ignoring. I went to the lounge down the hall where there is a sink and a microwave. When I walked in I was instantly grossed out. It was filthy. Someone had spilled soup all over the counter and in the sink and it smelled disgusting. I cringed, shivered and gaged a little. I really have little tolerance for a dirty kitchen. The place where you cook should just be clean, it's common sense. The people in my dorm however, don't seem to have this common sense. The lounge is constantly dirty. Thank God for the cleaning staff who whip down the counters and vacuum and take out the trash in there because I think I would have starved without them. Are my fellow dorm-mates just lazy or stupid? Both perhaps. Clean up after yourself, PLEASE! If you don't like to clean then don't make a mess.
Also, there is a sponge that has been there since I moved in in September. I would throw it away, but I'm too scared to touch it. I hate kitchen sponges so much I can't even tell you. They just sit there on the counter wet, and soaked with germs and bacteria. The smell like death and make me want to vomit. I'm not kidding when I say that. I hate the smell of mold and that is what sponges smell like. I think grody is an appropriate word.
It's a good thing I can plug my nose with my lip so I can cook without having to smell the sponge and the nastiness left by the previous person. Bluuuuuuuuh.
Also, there is a sponge that has been there since I moved in in September. I would throw it away, but I'm too scared to touch it. I hate kitchen sponges so much I can't even tell you. They just sit there on the counter wet, and soaked with germs and bacteria. The smell like death and make me want to vomit. I'm not kidding when I say that. I hate the smell of mold and that is what sponges smell like. I think grody is an appropriate word.
It's a good thing I can plug my nose with my lip so I can cook without having to smell the sponge and the nastiness left by the previous person. Bluuuuuuuuh.
Drama, Drama, Drama
As I've said before, I hate drama. I especially hate the fact that drama and overly dramatic people seem to be drawn to me. Why is that? Webster's defines drama as "an episode that is turbulent or highly emotional" or "the quality of being arresting or highly emotional."
Through my experiences with it I have learned that there are different types of drama:
Through my experiences with it I have learned that there are different types of drama:
Attention Seeking Drama - performed by someone who is desperate for attention. Within Attention Seeking Drama there two types. There are those who are dramatic by making everything seem worse than it is, ex. my sister. She got in a car accident recently. She called me on the phone, hysterical, crying so hard I couldn't understand her. She had been rear-ended in her new car and she made it seem like the whole back end of her car was destroyed (when she finally calmed down that is). When I finally saw the car in person however, it wasn't that bad at all. Her tail light was cracked and there was a little dent near the fin of her trunk. Exaggeration. My favorite was when she came home one day and said "Oh my God, I almost got pulled over today!" I always call me sister on her exaggerations so I said "That's not even possible. What you mean is that a cop drove past you on the freeway." "Yeah, but he almost pulled me over." "You cannot almost get pulled over." Then I laughed at her and walked away. Being laughed at is always frustrating to the attention seeker. Later that night I told my mom who said the same thing.
The other type is when someone exaggerates all of their actions, ex. my roommate. She was sick for a few weeks and was coughing uncontrollably. One day she decided to take some Benadryl (the doctor told her it was because of allergies) and naturally she was sleepy. She was sitting on her bed studying and eating cereal out of the box. Suddenly she was overcome with exhaustion and shoved everything off of her bed and onto the floor, sending cereal flying everywhere, then violently laid down and grunted (she does this stuff all the time) Homie don't play dat, so I ignored her like always.
Because I don't give them the attention they seek it makes them try harder, which in turn just annoys me more. Vicious cycle.
Actual Drama - this one is obvious. Sometimes things really do go wrong and actually are dramatic, which sucks. My father and my grandmothers are experts at making life dramatic and they don't even know it. Actually I think my grandmothers fall into the above category. My father however just makes poor choices. I also think he is going through a post-midlife-crisis. I think this happens to everyone. These combined cause drama.
I cannot deny that I am dramatic at times, especially when I am sad. It happens to the best of us. What bugs me most is that I don't like being in Corvallis because my roommate is dramatic and I become dramatic because I don't want to be here. But once I get home it is there waiting for me. Drama in all it's forms is exhausting. It's an interesting paradox.
Monday, May 28, 2007
My NASCAR Lessons
I watched NASCAR for the first time yesterday. I was over at a friend's house for a barbecue and her family was watching it on television. I know very little about the sport.
I did not know that there are in fact two different activities where cars are driven at high speeds in a circle for hours: NASCAR and speed racing. I learned that each uses a different kind of car.
I did not know that races can take numerous hours. The NASCAR race we watched was 400 laps. It took something like 5 hours for the drivers to finish. I didn't watch for all of it. People in the stands did, however. I was amazed.
I saw Ashley Judd. I learned she is married to a NASCAR driver. Her husband won the race.
I also learned that crashes are quite common. Though they added entertainment value (which in a way I find sad), they didn't occur frequently enough for me to remain entertained.
I don't fault those who enjoy or derive enjoyment from watching the sport, I just do not understand how they enjoy it. But if they do, good for them. Just as I can't understand the thrill of watching cars drive in circles, I suppose many wouldn't understand how or why I enjoy some of the things I do.
I did not know that there are in fact two different activities where cars are driven at high speeds in a circle for hours: NASCAR and speed racing. I learned that each uses a different kind of car.
I did not know that races can take numerous hours. The NASCAR race we watched was 400 laps. It took something like 5 hours for the drivers to finish. I didn't watch for all of it. People in the stands did, however. I was amazed.
I saw Ashley Judd. I learned she is married to a NASCAR driver. Her husband won the race.
I also learned that crashes are quite common. Though they added entertainment value (which in a way I find sad), they didn't occur frequently enough for me to remain entertained.
I don't fault those who enjoy or derive enjoyment from watching the sport, I just do not understand how they enjoy it. But if they do, good for them. Just as I can't understand the thrill of watching cars drive in circles, I suppose many wouldn't understand how or why I enjoy some of the things I do.
217 Days Down, 14 To Go
I went home this weekend for the holiday. It was wonderfully perfect timing. I made it 8 full weeks without going home, which is a record. Last term after 5 weeks I was starting to show signs of depression and the doctor sent me home. The term before that I had to come home after about 4 weeks, so for me 8 weeks is amazing. I actually might have made it the whole 10 weeks without going home, but I didn't want to stay here either.
I went and saw Pirates with my mom and sister. I think I give it a C+. I got to hang out with Christina too, which was swell. I went to the cemetery with my mama like we do every year to decorate the graves of my grandma, grandpa, aunt, and great grandpa. I didn't get a chance to blog because my computer at home is really slow. I also went back to Big 5 to see if I could line up a summer job. They were actually really excited to see me and it looks like I will be working there.
I thought I would be okay coming back, emotionally. I think the next two weeks are going to be hard. Coming home this weekend was like a false sense of finality. Even though I knew I had to come back to Corvallis, I felt like I was done. It's strange because I thought I had gotten stronger but as soon as I got into Oregon I felt instantly tired and testy. Two and a half hours later...still tired and testy.
Only two more weeks.
I went and saw Pirates with my mom and sister. I think I give it a C+. I got to hang out with Christina too, which was swell. I went to the cemetery with my mama like we do every year to decorate the graves of my grandma, grandpa, aunt, and great grandpa. I didn't get a chance to blog because my computer at home is really slow. I also went back to Big 5 to see if I could line up a summer job. They were actually really excited to see me and it looks like I will be working there.
I thought I would be okay coming back, emotionally. I think the next two weeks are going to be hard. Coming home this weekend was like a false sense of finality. Even though I knew I had to come back to Corvallis, I felt like I was done. It's strange because I thought I had gotten stronger but as soon as I got into Oregon I felt instantly tired and testy. Two and a half hours later...still tired and testy.
Only two more weeks.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Chicken Parmagiani Season Ends 3-2
Today was the final game of the season for my intramural softball team. It has been so much fun and now I get to go home and play for the Biohazards! I've been playing in the out field (left-center) this season, which has been weird because I'm used to playing Catcher, 2nd and Shortstop. I would rate my performance in the outfield as a 7.4 maybe a 7.6. Today I got to play catcher and it was like coming home (pardon the pun). I didn't have my knee pads though so my knees are a little junky. The sun was positioned perfectly in my eyes, but luckily the batters stood in the way...most of the time...darn lefties.
Play of the day went to Mike, who technically hit a single but thanks to some speedy running and bad throws he made it a triple. In fact, he ran so fast that he pulled third base clean out of the ground and slid with it for a few feet. My play of the day was when I hit a clean line drive right between the 3rd baseman and shortstop with 2 outs. I got an RBI and the outfielder in his haste to throw out my team member running home, over threw it and it went right past the catcher. Now, normally this would mean nothing other than an RBI, but in intramural we play on grass with no backstop, so overthrowing past the catcher means an automatic double for the batter! YAY! Unless I was the one to throw it, then no yay. I also scored two batters later, which was of course awesome! Rallies are awesome.
My almost play of the day was while I was catching. One of my teammates was throwing home, but I couldn't see anyone other than our pitcher because of the sun. I yelled at her to catch it because I couldn't see, but it was too late so I tried to get in front of it (where ever that was) to keep it from going past me and causing an automatic double. I ended up halfway stopping it. It hit me in the shoulder and rolled away. At least I stopped it. My teammate who had thrown it in felt really bad and told me he would call it next time. He asked me if I was okay. I said I was fine. I didn't remember that I got hit.
End result: WE WON!
Play of the day went to Mike, who technically hit a single but thanks to some speedy running and bad throws he made it a triple. In fact, he ran so fast that he pulled third base clean out of the ground and slid with it for a few feet. My play of the day was when I hit a clean line drive right between the 3rd baseman and shortstop with 2 outs. I got an RBI and the outfielder in his haste to throw out my team member running home, over threw it and it went right past the catcher. Now, normally this would mean nothing other than an RBI, but in intramural we play on grass with no backstop, so overthrowing past the catcher means an automatic double for the batter! YAY! Unless I was the one to throw it, then no yay. I also scored two batters later, which was of course awesome! Rallies are awesome.
My almost play of the day was while I was catching. One of my teammates was throwing home, but I couldn't see anyone other than our pitcher because of the sun. I yelled at her to catch it because I couldn't see, but it was too late so I tried to get in front of it (where ever that was) to keep it from going past me and causing an automatic double. I ended up halfway stopping it. It hit me in the shoulder and rolled away. At least I stopped it. My teammate who had thrown it in felt really bad and told me he would call it next time. He asked me if I was okay. I said I was fine. I didn't remember that I got hit.
End result: WE WON!
You Know You're A Swimmer...
This morning before class my arm somehow came close to my face and I got a whiff of chlorine. I love that smell. It's like free perfume! Did you know that if you lick your skin the day after you've been in the pool you'll be able to smell the chlorine stronger on your skin? It's true.
Also, in the Women's Building where my math recitation is there is a pool. Every time I go into the stairwell I smell chlorine. I have never found the pool, but it is definitely there. It's funny because I really don't care where it is, I just like the smell. Whenever I walk through the stairwell doors and smell the chlorine my nose smiles a little bit. I know. It's weird.
Also, in the Women's Building where my math recitation is there is a pool. Every time I go into the stairwell I smell chlorine. I have never found the pool, but it is definitely there. It's funny because I really don't care where it is, I just like the smell. Whenever I walk through the stairwell doors and smell the chlorine my nose smiles a little bit. I know. It's weird.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
I am a Line Plugger.
My orientation went well yesterday. We watched a movie and took a test on what was covered in it. We were allowed to take notes and use them on the test. It was not that difficult. I began my very first day of work today at the plywood plant. I finally learned exactly which job I would be doing.
I am a Raimann line plugger. I control a machine which punches out the bad knots in very thin sheets of wood and replaces the hole with a non-knotted plug. I control the plugger/punchy-outy part (I don't know technical terms yet) with a foot pedal. There is a second foot pedal which controls a tape dispenser so if the edges of the board are cracked I can tape them.
The job is not too difficult, but I still have to learn which knots have to plugged and which can be left. I also have to learn how to keep the wood at the highest grade possible. The number of knots and plugs and cracks changes the grade. The most difficult part for me is dealing with the size of the sheets. They're 8' by 4'. They're not heavy, but large. I'm not tall enough to punch both sides of the sheet, so I have to spin it around each time. Veterans make maneuvering the sheets look easy, but it is not. My arms are even a little sore.
For the first few hours today, I actually just sat in the break room because everyone was too busy to teach me. My supervisor told me I couldn't leave the room until I was properly trained, but I really needed to go to the bathroom as I had coffee before work. I got paid to sit in a chair, but it was a bit uncomfortable.
I spent all of the afternoon being trained. I have more training tomorrow morning, but I don't know when I move to my own machine. I also am off Friday through Monday because of Memorial Day weekend. I can see how the job will quickly become boring, monotonous, and that time will pass extremely slowly when plugging., but all this was expected. I think my paycheck may make up for it. It'll be a couple more days of work before I know for sure.
I am a Raimann line plugger. I control a machine which punches out the bad knots in very thin sheets of wood and replaces the hole with a non-knotted plug. I control the plugger/punchy-outy part (I don't know technical terms yet) with a foot pedal. There is a second foot pedal which controls a tape dispenser so if the edges of the board are cracked I can tape them.
The job is not too difficult, but I still have to learn which knots have to plugged and which can be left. I also have to learn how to keep the wood at the highest grade possible. The number of knots and plugs and cracks changes the grade. The most difficult part for me is dealing with the size of the sheets. They're 8' by 4'. They're not heavy, but large. I'm not tall enough to punch both sides of the sheet, so I have to spin it around each time. Veterans make maneuvering the sheets look easy, but it is not. My arms are even a little sore.
For the first few hours today, I actually just sat in the break room because everyone was too busy to teach me. My supervisor told me I couldn't leave the room until I was properly trained, but I really needed to go to the bathroom as I had coffee before work. I got paid to sit in a chair, but it was a bit uncomfortable.
I spent all of the afternoon being trained. I have more training tomorrow morning, but I don't know when I move to my own machine. I also am off Friday through Monday because of Memorial Day weekend. I can see how the job will quickly become boring, monotonous, and that time will pass extremely slowly when plugging., but all this was expected. I think my paycheck may make up for it. It'll be a couple more days of work before I know for sure.
Doing Their Chival Chivalrous Duties
Today two different boys went out of their ways to hold a door open for me. It was actually really nice. This morning one of the boys was halfway through the door when I came around the corner face to face with him. He stopped, turned around, walked back through the door and held it open for me. Shocked, I said "Oh! Thank you!" He just nodded and walked back through the door. The other boy, this afternoon, had just unlocked one of the doors leading down to the ground floor (where the mailboxes are) and was in motion to go through it when he glanced over his shoulder and saw me coming. He too stopped, stepped back and held the door. I was shocked once again but told him "Thanks a lot!" I must say bravo boys! Chivalry is the perfect way to remind a woman that she is in fact a woman. We tend to forget sometimes.
Song of the Day
"Suicide is Painless (M*A*S*H Theme)" by The Beach Boys (I think)
Here's the story. Last night I was watching M*A*S*H right before I went to bed and the song got stuck in my head, so today I was listening to it on my iPod. As I was listening I heard the sound of choppers and thought "huh, that's weird I didn't remember that they put the chopper sound on the track." Then I looked up and saw a medical helicopter flying overhead. Creepy...
Here's the story. Last night I was watching M*A*S*H right before I went to bed and the song got stuck in my head, so today I was listening to it on my iPod. As I was listening I heard the sound of choppers and thought "huh, that's weird I didn't remember that they put the chopper sound on the track." Then I looked up and saw a medical helicopter flying overhead. Creepy...
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Prior Engagements
One of the weirdest things about being in college for me is that I keep encountering people who are my age and engaged. I met a guy a few weeks ago who is a year older than me and engaged, I heard a guy in my Spanish class talking about how he is going to propose to his girlfriend this summer, and two of my childhood friends are currently engaged to each other. It is so hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that people who I grew up with are now getting married, when I haven't even begun to date. I can't imagine getting married right now. It's crazy, which is silly because I am an "adult" now and adults get married. Is this weird to anyone else? Maybe it's just me.
However, my friend is getting married this summer and I'm totally excited! She works with my mom and has asked my sister and I to be in charge of set up and clean up and she's going to pay us. I get to dress up and I'm going to get paid! YAY!
However, my friend is getting married this summer and I'm totally excited! She works with my mom and has asked my sister and I to be in charge of set up and clean up and she's going to pay us. I get to dress up and I'm going to get paid! YAY!
Exchanging Fluids
Today for biology recitation we did an activity where we simulated how epidemics spread. We each got a vile of very diluted acid, which I got on my hand and it tingled a little, and we had to exchange some of our fluid with 3 other people, then we did it a second time with 6 other people. Each time we walked around and asked someone we didn't know "do you want to exchange fluids?" Maybe it was just me, but it was kind of weird. I met a lot of new people though! Exchanging fluids makes friends...probably not something you want to tell your future children.
PS I got infected the second time. Actually, I think I was the original carrier.
PS I got infected the second time. Actually, I think I was the original carrier.
Monday, May 21, 2007
A Job I Hadn't Considered
Also, while on the subject of jobs, I was provisionally hired today.
I found an ad online yesterday seeking temporary college hires for the summer. The job is mill work, something I had never considered before, but the job pays much better than any other I might hope to get this summer. I'm not afraid of hard work and I think in the long run it will be good for me to take this job. It will make me appreciate things in the future.
Tomorrow all I have to do is pass a drug test and another test after an orientation and I'm hired. I better not have jinxed myself by assuming I have the job already. I worry that somehow something will go wrong. I'm just relieved to have a job that I really want this one to work out.
I found an ad online yesterday seeking temporary college hires for the summer. The job is mill work, something I had never considered before, but the job pays much better than any other I might hope to get this summer. I'm not afraid of hard work and I think in the long run it will be good for me to take this job. It will make me appreciate things in the future.
Tomorrow all I have to do is pass a drug test and another test after an orientation and I'm hired. I better not have jinxed myself by assuming I have the job already. I worry that somehow something will go wrong. I'm just relieved to have a job that I really want this one to work out.
What tool would you be?
As usual, I have fallen behind on posting. I spent the weekend with Ariel and have since continued my frantic job search. I've been looking for, applying for, and interviewing for jobs since the Tuesday after I got home from school. That was May 8th.
Today I headed out yet again in search of a job. I put in an application at a local juice bar. After handing in the application the girl behind the counter said she had to ask me a question that they have to ask everyone.
"If you were any tool in a tool shed, which tool would you be?"
I coolly hid my slight annoyance at so silly a question and said I would be a rake.
"Then I'd get to work in a garden and I would make such nice neat lines which dragged on the ground."
Today I headed out yet again in search of a job. I put in an application at a local juice bar. After handing in the application the girl behind the counter said she had to ask me a question that they have to ask everyone.
"If you were any tool in a tool shed, which tool would you be?"
I coolly hid my slight annoyance at so silly a question and said I would be a rake.
"Then I'd get to work in a garden and I would make such nice neat lines which dragged on the ground."
"Sorry about the Aborigines"
As usual, I chatted with my mom on the phone last night. She always puts the phone of speaker phone when I call so she can eat or play spider solitaire or whatever. Well about halfway through our conversation I was gabbing away about something when suddenly I heard something that sounded like loud jungle drums.
"MOMMY," I yelled. "What was that?! The Aborigines are coming to get me!"
On the other end I heard her start laughing hysterically, then I heard the drums again.
"AGH! MOMMY! Why are there jungle people in the house?!"
"Alison, can you hear that," I heard her call to my sister.
"Yeah," I heard Ali giggle back.
Then the sound went again.
"MOMMY! What is that?!" I hollered.
Then I heard the "blub, blub, blub" of bubbles.
"AGH! MOMMY! The Tribal People threw me into the ocean," I screamed.
My mom just kept on laughing, which made me start laughing.
"What the heck is goin' on," I asked.
"I was getting some water from the dispenser and I set you on top. The back of the phone is round so you were rolling around on the top of the water jug," she explained between laughs.
Then I started laughing harder because I realized that the "blub, blub, blub" was the sound of her getting water. We spent the next five minutes laughing. Then mom said "sorry about the Aborigines, Dolly Girl."
"That's okay," I whimpered. "That was pretty funny though."
"MOMMY," I yelled. "What was that?! The Aborigines are coming to get me!"
On the other end I heard her start laughing hysterically, then I heard the drums again.
"AGH! MOMMY! Why are there jungle people in the house?!"
"Alison, can you hear that," I heard her call to my sister.
"Yeah," I heard Ali giggle back.
Then the sound went again.
"MOMMY! What is that?!" I hollered.
Then I heard the "blub, blub, blub" of bubbles.
"AGH! MOMMY! The Tribal People threw me into the ocean," I screamed.
My mom just kept on laughing, which made me start laughing.
"What the heck is goin' on," I asked.
"I was getting some water from the dispenser and I set you on top. The back of the phone is round so you were rolling around on the top of the water jug," she explained between laughs.
Then I started laughing harder because I realized that the "blub, blub, blub" was the sound of her getting water. We spent the next five minutes laughing. Then mom said "sorry about the Aborigines, Dolly Girl."
"That's okay," I whimpered. "That was pretty funny though."
"Peupa"
Have you ever felt like a class you're taking is an insult to your intelligence? I often feel like that in my writing class. I devoted all four years of high school to having the IB program teach my how to be a better writer. This class is basically a step backwards for me. I was literally insulted today in class, along with the rest of my classmates. We have been talking about intellectual property and web 2.0. We were given a reading for the weekend which was, for lack of a better word, stupid. The author seemed to be trying to channel George Orwell (one of my classmates was impressed I knew the author of 1984), but ended up talking in circles and failing to make a valid point.
Anyway, we started talking about the production of information. Our instructor asked us "in what ways would you consider yourself a producer of new information?" I argued that other than aesthetically and creatively, at our age, we don't have the time or knowledge to produce new valid information. We use the information from other people and put our own spin on it. My fellow classmates agreed with me. After listening to our statements our instructor said "You guys are 'peupa,' you're not yet people." He then said something to the effect of "You're not at the same intellectual level with your parents or other people that are out of college." WHAT?! First of all, I do consider myself a person. Along with considering myself to be a person, I consider myself to be equal to most other adults. How rude! How incredibly condescending. If I hadn't been in such shock I would have called him on it! One of my fellow group members looked at me and said "What?! 'Peupa'?" I shook my head and said "I know!" So, rude.
Anyway, we started talking about the production of information. Our instructor asked us "in what ways would you consider yourself a producer of new information?" I argued that other than aesthetically and creatively, at our age, we don't have the time or knowledge to produce new valid information. We use the information from other people and put our own spin on it. My fellow classmates agreed with me. After listening to our statements our instructor said "You guys are 'peupa,' you're not yet people." He then said something to the effect of "You're not at the same intellectual level with your parents or other people that are out of college." WHAT?! First of all, I do consider myself a person. Along with considering myself to be a person, I consider myself to be equal to most other adults. How rude! How incredibly condescending. If I hadn't been in such shock I would have called him on it! One of my fellow group members looked at me and said "What?! 'Peupa'?" I shook my head and said "I know!" So, rude.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
No Such Thing As Too Much TV
I can't deny I watch too much TV. Some of the shows I watch are a little shameful, like Desperate Housewives (sometimes), American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, America's Next Top Model, and the Disney Channel. Even though they are a little silly I can't help but be addicted. Tonight I was excited to see Mike Farrell on Desperate Housewives! He played BJ Hunnicut on M*A*S*H! I was so excited that I called my mom and sister to tell them. While talking to them, my sister and I said at the same time "he still looks cute!" M*A*S*H is probably one of the best shows of all time! I wish I had a M*A*S*H t-shirt.
Something else I feel the need to express is that Apollo Ono better win Dancing With The Stars! I will admit that I have a little crush on him, but that's beside the point. He is a great dancer and Len Goodman won't cut him a break!
Something else I feel the need to express is that Apollo Ono better win Dancing With The Stars! I will admit that I have a little crush on him, but that's beside the point. He is a great dancer and Len Goodman won't cut him a break!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Visitors
Ali and Christina came to see me this weekend. They came yesterday and left about 20 minutes ago. It was nice to see them. We went to the pool late last night and swam. It was nice because I'm usually there by myself and I like having someone to joke with. At night they turn the lights off at the pool and just leave the ones underwater on. It was a lot of fun. They were both tired from the car ride and from swimming, so we then went back to the room and watched a movie. Ali was asleep right away. I made them sleep on the hard floor and I slept on my bed. It was weird because I kept waking up thinking I was at home, but then opened my eyes and realized I was still in Corvallis.
This morning got up and got coffee at Bing's. Then we went to the bookstore. After that we were at a bit of a loss. I really don't do much and the weather was a bit weird. We decided to go off campus for lunch. We also decided to go see Shrek the Third. Both lunch and Shrek were pretty good, although Christina thought there was "too much dialogue." When we got back it was 3:30. We sat around until 5:00 when they left. Christina did her pouty face, then they got in the car and left.
I can't wait to go home on Friday and see my mommy too!
This morning got up and got coffee at Bing's. Then we went to the bookstore. After that we were at a bit of a loss. I really don't do much and the weather was a bit weird. We decided to go off campus for lunch. We also decided to go see Shrek the Third. Both lunch and Shrek were pretty good, although Christina thought there was "too much dialogue." When we got back it was 3:30. We sat around until 5:00 when they left. Christina did her pouty face, then they got in the car and left.
I can't wait to go home on Friday and see my mommy too!
Friday, May 18, 2007
My Inner Parent
I am often told that I have the tone of a parent depending on what I say and how I say it. I noticed it last night. My roommate's boyfriend asked me if I wanted to go to some random party tomorrow night (now tonight). I flatly said "nope," like I always do. He asked why and I said because I want to spend time with my sister and best friend. He asked me to come again and in my head I said "Don't make me say no again." Out loud I just laughed and told him we had plans. Like a parent I am bothered when people ask me the same thing over and over again and often find myself saying things like "Don't make me tell you again," "I said no," and/or "don't make me say it twice." Even though I really don't enjoy working with little kids and don't plan on having any for quite some time, my inner parent is ever-present.
Blessings in Disguise?
As some of you may know I have been planning on studying abroad in Spain next year. You also may know that I am now going to Western Washington U next year. I have been contacting the study abroad office at Western (they have turned out to be very difficult people to deal with) to figure out the best program for me. There are lots of different programs in Spain and I was hoping the Spanish study abroad advisor would help me narrow the list down so I could make a smart choice. She did not help me much, but after about 10 different emails I was finally able to make a decision. The decision is that I can't go to Spain. She told me that I essentially have two options. I can either study in Spain during fall semester (Western is on quarters) but the deadlines for applications have already passed or I can go during the summer which isn't an option because I really need to work. Even though I'm sad I'm also a little relieved.
I also found out yesterday that I didn't get the summer camp job I really wanted. It would have been the perfect summer job. They would have payed $8.50 - $9.50/hour and they would have given me 40 hours/week and the hours would have been 7:30-5:30. Basically, PERFECT! Of course I didn't get it. Now I will probably end up working at Big 5 again getting crappy hours and crappy pay.
Maybe they were both blessings in disguise.
I also found out yesterday that I didn't get the summer camp job I really wanted. It would have been the perfect summer job. They would have payed $8.50 - $9.50/hour and they would have given me 40 hours/week and the hours would have been 7:30-5:30. Basically, PERFECT! Of course I didn't get it. Now I will probably end up working at Big 5 again getting crappy hours and crappy pay.
Maybe they were both blessings in disguise.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
A Good Day
Any day where you can spend an hour or two sitting outside in the sun and reading Pride and Prejudice, is a good day.
I had a good day.
I only hope tomorrow doesn't become a not so good day because of sunburn.
I had a good day.
I only hope tomorrow doesn't become a not so good day because of sunburn.
We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
I finished reading We a couple of days ago. Even after mulling it over a few days I still don't know what to make of it. It was a good book, a bit jumpy and confusing in parts, but still interesting. The world of OneState wasn't described at intricately as Oceania in 1984, but the world created was still intriguing.
I am one who believes reason should indeed come before emotion. OneState takes this idea to the extreme, seeking to eradicate emotion from all aspects of life, except of course for pride and eagerness to serve the state. The ideal of the civilization is to live life as nearly as possible to a well-oiled machine. Each minute of every day is assigned and accounted for. It is supposed to be a society void of idleness. Below are some of the passages I found most interesting.
"Liberation?" Astonishing how the criminal instincts do survive in the human species. Freedom and criminality are just as indissoluble linked as ... well, as the movement of an aero and its velocity. When the velocity of an aero is reduced to 0, it is not in motion; when a man's freedom is reduced to zero, he commits no crimes. That's clear. The only means to rid a man of crime is to rid him of his freedom.
D-503's freedom was taken away and yet somehow he too was able to commit crime. If taking away freedom actually eliminates crime then eventually wouldn't the need for the Guardians of OneState and the Thought Police of Oceania also be eliminated?
Those two in Paradise, they were offered a choice: happiness without freedom, or freedom without happiness, nothing else. Those idiots chose freedom. And then what? Then for centuries they were homesick for the chains. That's why the world was so miserable, see?
The society believed ending all desire would put an end to all unhappiness. But without ever experiencing unhappiness, can one even recognize that they are happy. I suppose that never experiencing anything else and being told they were happy, people might believe indeed they are, but they wouldn't know it for themselves.
So, take some scales and put on one side "I" and on the other side "We," OneState. It's clear, isn't it? - to assert that "I" has certain rights with respect to the state is exactly the same as asserting that a gram weighs the same as a ton. That explains the way things are divided up. To the ton go the rights, to the gram the duties.
This concept also doesn't quite follow because every "I" is not the same number of grams. What about the ruler of OneState, the Benefactor? He should only be one gram but somehow he has more rights than others ...
And finally
But you are not to blame. You are sick. The name of your illness is:
IMAGINATION.
This is the worm that eats out black wrinkles on the brow. This is the fever that drives you farther and farther, even though that "farther" began in the place where happiness ends. This is the last barrier on the path to happiness.
I'm just going to stick to saying that I like imagination.
I am one who believes reason should indeed come before emotion. OneState takes this idea to the extreme, seeking to eradicate emotion from all aspects of life, except of course for pride and eagerness to serve the state. The ideal of the civilization is to live life as nearly as possible to a well-oiled machine. Each minute of every day is assigned and accounted for. It is supposed to be a society void of idleness. Below are some of the passages I found most interesting.
"Liberation?" Astonishing how the criminal instincts do survive in the human species. Freedom and criminality are just as indissoluble linked as ... well, as the movement of an aero and its velocity. When the velocity of an aero is reduced to 0, it is not in motion; when a man's freedom is reduced to zero, he commits no crimes. That's clear. The only means to rid a man of crime is to rid him of his freedom.
D-503's freedom was taken away and yet somehow he too was able to commit crime. If taking away freedom actually eliminates crime then eventually wouldn't the need for the Guardians of OneState and the Thought Police of Oceania also be eliminated?
Those two in Paradise, they were offered a choice: happiness without freedom, or freedom without happiness, nothing else. Those idiots chose freedom. And then what? Then for centuries they were homesick for the chains. That's why the world was so miserable, see?
The society believed ending all desire would put an end to all unhappiness. But without ever experiencing unhappiness, can one even recognize that they are happy. I suppose that never experiencing anything else and being told they were happy, people might believe indeed they are, but they wouldn't know it for themselves.
So, take some scales and put on one side "I" and on the other side "We," OneState. It's clear, isn't it? - to assert that "I" has certain rights with respect to the state is exactly the same as asserting that a gram weighs the same as a ton. That explains the way things are divided up. To the ton go the rights, to the gram the duties.
This concept also doesn't quite follow because every "I" is not the same number of grams. What about the ruler of OneState, the Benefactor? He should only be one gram but somehow he has more rights than others ...
And finally
But you are not to blame. You are sick. The name of your illness is:
IMAGINATION.
This is the worm that eats out black wrinkles on the brow. This is the fever that drives you farther and farther, even though that "farther" began in the place where happiness ends. This is the last barrier on the path to happiness.
I'm just going to stick to saying that I like imagination.
My Mommy Is Worried About Me
Today in my biology class we learned about diseases and epidemics. The coolest thing we learned about was the plague. The plague started in December 1347 and continued to spread throughout Europe until December 1350. The plague continued to cause deaths after 1350, but caused the most devastation during that period.
There are three types of plagues. The most commonly known is the bubonic plague, which is when your lymph nodes swell in your neck, groins, and arm pits. They become so swollen and discolored that can burst through the skin. There is also the pneumonic plague which has to do with the lungs and there was a 100% chance of death. I know what you're thinking, but apparently there is like a 50% chance of surviving bursting lymph nodes. The final type is septicemic plague, which is when you basically start bleeding from every part of your body.
During this period of time the plague killed 1/3 of the European population. This is probably the reason the epidemic slowed spreading, there just wasn't anyone to spread it to. One of the more interesting aspects of the plague is not the disease itself, but the medical practices and idea. People thought that the plague was punishment from God for bad behavior. They tried to contain the plague by isolating those who had it and burning everything down. The physicians of the time would go around wearing long robes to cover most of their body to prevent the infected from passing on the evil spirits. They would also wear a mask containing "magic" herbs for them to breathe in and keep the evil spirits out of their bodies. This did help, but not for the reasons they thought. They weren't protecting themselves from evil spirits like they thought, they were protecting themselves from the pathogens and it was completely by accident!
Another interesting thing is what happened after the plague. People around Europe started cleaning up and becoming more sanitary to get rid of the evil spirits. Sure enough, the evil spirits went away and with them went the rats and with the rats left the flees and with the flees left the bacteria which caused the plague. Again, completely unintentional. They though God was rewarding them, but really it was their own doing, unless your faith says otherwise, but I'm totally supportive of that too.
*Jumping forward* After the 1850s is when modern medicine began. With modern medicine came sterile "anti-septic" techniques, anesthesia, vaccines, and drugs. Something interesting about anesthetics is that no one really knows how it works. We know that it blocks the movement of Na+ (Sodium) into the neurons, but only the neurons associated with pain. If Na+ can't move into the neuron then K (potassium) can't be moved out and thus no signal can be sent. I know, so scientific. Isn't it weird to think that something that is used so frequently (ex: every time you go to the dentist) we know so little about?
This is why I love my biology class! I find this stuff so fascinating! It is also why...
There are three types of plagues. The most commonly known is the bubonic plague, which is when your lymph nodes swell in your neck, groins, and arm pits. They become so swollen and discolored that can burst through the skin. There is also the pneumonic plague which has to do with the lungs and there was a 100% chance of death. I know what you're thinking, but apparently there is like a 50% chance of surviving bursting lymph nodes. The final type is septicemic plague, which is when you basically start bleeding from every part of your body.
During this period of time the plague killed 1/3 of the European population. This is probably the reason the epidemic slowed spreading, there just wasn't anyone to spread it to. One of the more interesting aspects of the plague is not the disease itself, but the medical practices and idea. People thought that the plague was punishment from God for bad behavior. They tried to contain the plague by isolating those who had it and burning everything down. The physicians of the time would go around wearing long robes to cover most of their body to prevent the infected from passing on the evil spirits. They would also wear a mask containing "magic" herbs for them to breathe in and keep the evil spirits out of their bodies. This did help, but not for the reasons they thought. They weren't protecting themselves from evil spirits like they thought, they were protecting themselves from the pathogens and it was completely by accident!
Another interesting thing is what happened after the plague. People around Europe started cleaning up and becoming more sanitary to get rid of the evil spirits. Sure enough, the evil spirits went away and with them went the rats and with the rats left the flees and with the flees left the bacteria which caused the plague. Again, completely unintentional. They though God was rewarding them, but really it was their own doing, unless your faith says otherwise, but I'm totally supportive of that too.
*Jumping forward* After the 1850s is when modern medicine began. With modern medicine came sterile "anti-septic" techniques, anesthesia, vaccines, and drugs. Something interesting about anesthetics is that no one really knows how it works. We know that it blocks the movement of Na+ (Sodium) into the neurons, but only the neurons associated with pain. If Na+ can't move into the neuron then K (potassium) can't be moved out and thus no signal can be sent. I know, so scientific. Isn't it weird to think that something that is used so frequently (ex: every time you go to the dentist) we know so little about?
This is why I love my biology class! I find this stuff so fascinating! It is also why...
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
What if...
...you could meet any three people in Hollywood. Who would you meet?
- Josh Groban - other than the obvious reasons, his music has inspired me and I'd like to talk to him about his inspirations.
- Rachel Ray - she went from doing cooking demos in local grocery stores and now has four TV shows, her own magazine, and a million cookbooks. How can you not look up to that?
- Reba McEntire - she's always reminded me of my mother and her presence is captivating. I feel like she could teach me a lot of things.
Magnazing
Magnazing -adj : being both magnificent and amazing
I said this word today. I don't know where it came from or why I decided to combine the words magnificent and amazing, but I did. The word magnazing came out of my mouth. I suppose it's always fun to add a new word to your vocabulary and as far as I am concerned, I created this new word. Enjoy
I said this word today. I don't know where it came from or why I decided to combine the words magnificent and amazing, but I did. The word magnazing came out of my mouth. I suppose it's always fun to add a new word to your vocabulary and as far as I am concerned, I created this new word. Enjoy
Ketchup Meets Meat
Ariel called me this morning to talk (and to complain about her horrible allergies). I luckily have no allergies and though I can't relate so much, I do sympathize. I suggested she have some Chinese mustard. "That'll clear out your sinuses," I said. Our conversation continued from there.
"Or I could have some horseradish," Ariel said. "My mom really likes it. She mixes it with ketchup and puts in on kielbasa."
"I hate ketchup," said I, "except on really specific foods. Even then if I smell it by itself it makes me sick."
"I'm not very fond of the smell, but I put ketchup on everything," she said.
"I know. You degrade all your meat."
"I don't degrade my meat," she claimed. "I enhance it."
"If by enhancing it, you mean degrade it," I countered.
There was a brief pause as we both realized we were having a slightly odd conversation for 10:00 in the morning, but we're used to this.
"We should really record some of our conversations," Ariel suggested. "They can become pretty odd sometimes."
So I did. I am sharing with all of you our discussion about the proper time and place for ketchup to meet meat.
(The phrase meet meat is something else which would probably be discussed by us and which we would find entertaining. We are easily amused.)
"Or I could have some horseradish," Ariel said. "My mom really likes it. She mixes it with ketchup and puts in on kielbasa."
"I hate ketchup," said I, "except on really specific foods. Even then if I smell it by itself it makes me sick."
"I'm not very fond of the smell, but I put ketchup on everything," she said.
"I know. You degrade all your meat."
"I don't degrade my meat," she claimed. "I enhance it."
"If by enhancing it, you mean degrade it," I countered.
There was a brief pause as we both realized we were having a slightly odd conversation for 10:00 in the morning, but we're used to this.
"We should really record some of our conversations," Ariel suggested. "They can become pretty odd sometimes."
So I did. I am sharing with all of you our discussion about the proper time and place for ketchup to meet meat.
(The phrase meet meat is something else which would probably be discussed by us and which we would find entertaining. We are easily amused.)
Song of the Day
In honor of the moron girl last night the song of the day is:
"Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody" By: Lucia Micarelli
"Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody" By: Lucia Micarelli
Not a Happy Camper
I AM NOT HAPPY. Allergies suck. Mine continue to get exponentially worse with each passing day. I am currently taking the strongest medicine, aside from shots, available and I'm still miserable. Actually, as I have said in a previous post, I am supposed to take two pills, Zyrtec and SingulAir. I have been out of SIngulAir for about a month and haven't been able to get more so I've just been taking my Zyrtec. The past two mornings I have been waking up with a sore throat, which is a sure sign that things are getting desperate. I called my mama this morning to ask her to get me some SingulAir so I could tone down the madness. She said "I know you don't want to hear this, but you need to start using the nose spray too. It will really help." NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. This is awful. If there is one thing I hate as much as allergies it's aquatic vegetation, but after that it's nose spray. It's just so wrong...so wrong. I hate shooting stuff UP MY NOSE! It's so wrong! No No NO! "I'm sending some down with your sister. Use it once in the morning and once at night, two squirts in each side." "Mommy, no! Please." "Oh grow up. Do you want to wake up miserable every morning?" "Yes." "Too bad. You're using the nose spray." GIVE ME THE SHOTS! This. Sucks.
She's No Lucia
Lucia Micarelli is a great violinist. The girl who decided to play her violin last night, however, was not. It takes me a long time to fall asleep, as I'm sure I already mentioned, I figured it would be especially hard last night because my allergies were blazing. The first 30 minutes were indeed miserable but slowly it got better. I was lying there, blissfully comfortable, body exhausted from fighting pollen all day, on the verge sweet dreams when I heard it. It sounded like a bow on strings. My body twitched. "That was weird," my body said. I relaxed again and was once again close to dreaming when it came again, only this time it was louder and longer.
"No way," my body said.
"Yes way," my mind said.
I sat up and looked at the clock...12:15. There it went again.
"Find it," my mind demanded.
I crawled to the end of my bed and looked out my window to find the source of the noise. There it was, right across from my window in the opposite dorm, sitting in front of an open window, a girl with a violin.
"Grrrrrrrrr," my body said, "get 'er!"
"No. Maybe she'll stop," my mind replied.
"No she won't! Yell at her!"
"But I don't want to be rude."
"You don't want to be rude?! She's the one sitting there playing her violin in the middle of the night!"
"I guess, but maybe she'll stop on her own, or maybe she'll start playing something good instead of that squeaky mess of notes she's playing now."
"Please, I'm tired. I need sleep. You have class in the morning! Great, now I have to go to the bathroom."
"Okay, yeah. We'll go to the bathroom and maybe she'll be done when we get back."
"Psh, whatever."
I went to the bathroom, but when I came back she was still playing, louder and worse. I had to make her stop pulling her evil bow across her evil stings.
"Do it now," yelled my body.
"What if she yells back" my mind asked.
"Then I'll go down there and kick her butt!"
"Fine."
My mind and body came together and yelled "HEY! YOU'RE BEING REALLY RUUUUUDE!"
She didn't stop.
"Of course," my body and mind thought.
Her friend, who was sitting near her studying, looked up in my direction and when the girl stopped "playing" for a few seconds her friend pointed out their window and said something to her. She stopped.
Success.
"Good job," said my body.
"Thanks, you too," said my mind.
"No way," my body said.
"Yes way," my mind said.
I sat up and looked at the clock...12:15. There it went again.
"Find it," my mind demanded.
I crawled to the end of my bed and looked out my window to find the source of the noise. There it was, right across from my window in the opposite dorm, sitting in front of an open window, a girl with a violin.
"Grrrrrrrrr," my body said, "get 'er!"
"No. Maybe she'll stop," my mind replied.
"No she won't! Yell at her!"
"But I don't want to be rude."
"You don't want to be rude?! She's the one sitting there playing her violin in the middle of the night!"
"I guess, but maybe she'll stop on her own, or maybe she'll start playing something good instead of that squeaky mess of notes she's playing now."
"Please, I'm tired. I need sleep. You have class in the morning! Great, now I have to go to the bathroom."
"Okay, yeah. We'll go to the bathroom and maybe she'll be done when we get back."
"Psh, whatever."
I went to the bathroom, but when I came back she was still playing, louder and worse. I had to make her stop pulling her evil bow across her evil stings.
"Do it now," yelled my body.
"What if she yells back" my mind asked.
"Then I'll go down there and kick her butt!"
"Fine."
My mind and body came together and yelled "HEY! YOU'RE BEING REALLY RUUUUUDE!"
She didn't stop.
"Of course," my body and mind thought.
Her friend, who was sitting near her studying, looked up in my direction and when the girl stopped "playing" for a few seconds her friend pointed out their window and said something to her. She stopped.
Success.
"Good job," said my body.
"Thanks, you too," said my mind.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Writing With Wet Pants
I am writing this with wet pants. I have only a few minutes before I have to go help feed the calves. It was either change in that few minutes and hope no calf slobber gets on my clean clothes or blog. Needless to say, I chose blogging.
As I said, I am writing this with wet pants. My family and I just returned from dinner. At dinner my father spilled a glass of iced tea. He didn't just spill the glass, however, he spilled it directly into my lap.
Apparently, while buttering some bread, my father got a small tab of butter on his fingertips making them slippery. When he went to pick up his glass, his fingers slipped and lost their grip. Iced tea went right into my lap. There was even a butter smear on the glass.
I sat there stunned for a few seconds not comprehending what had happened. Then I slowly and quietly picked up his lemon from my lap and put it in his glass. I then took the numerous napkins my family was offering me.
I would have been more angry if I myself didn't find the entire situation so funny.
As I said, I am writing this with wet pants. My family and I just returned from dinner. At dinner my father spilled a glass of iced tea. He didn't just spill the glass, however, he spilled it directly into my lap.
Apparently, while buttering some bread, my father got a small tab of butter on his fingertips making them slippery. When he went to pick up his glass, his fingers slipped and lost their grip. Iced tea went right into my lap. There was even a butter smear on the glass.
I sat there stunned for a few seconds not comprehending what had happened. Then I slowly and quietly picked up his lemon from my lap and put it in his glass. I then took the numerous napkins my family was offering me.
I would have been more angry if I myself didn't find the entire situation so funny.
I Think I've Done It
As you know I've been working on a research paper for my WR 121 class and I've been having some issues. Well folks, I think it's done. I will have my peer edit and I have to take it to the writing center to be reviewed, but other than that I think I'M DONE. I've decided that research papers serve no other purpose than to cause students stress. I actually had some plans for today, but when I checked on Blackboard to make sure I didn't have any forgotten work I saw that my second draft of my paper was due tomorrow not Friday. Needless to say, I spent my entire day working on it...again. I even found a source that listed the nay-says to sustainability, which was a miracle. They weren't actually opposed to sustainability, but they did tell why some people don't go green, which was good enough for me! So, now that there is nothing left to my day, and there is no good TV on the weekends I think I'll go get me a calzini...yum-o!
Chicky Tah
I like the song in the new Crayola Outdoor Products commercial. It's goes "chicky tah chicky chicky chicky tah" which is simple, perhaps even silly but I like it. On the Crayola site they say it's called "Memories" by Josh Ritter, but I can't find it anywhere. I'm a little sad.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Greenwashing Makes No Sense
Some corporations choose to greenwash (advertising that they are green when they really are not), but why? You would think that because so many large corporations do greenwash that there would be a reason or two. They greenwash to make money. People will spend money for a cause, so to make money they fake a cause. They do indeed make money, but now may companies are realizing that they will make more money by being truly green. Some companies are still not though. Why not? I don't the point. Even if you don't care about environmental issues I'm sure you care about making money. Why waste the energy (pardon the pun) in keeping up a lie when you can really be sustainable and make more money? If anyone has the answers and sources to back it up tell me NOW! I'm afraid I am at a dead end with my argument paper.
Friday, May 11, 2007
The Day of Our 100th Post
I didn't realize that this was the 100th post of our blog until I signed in to write a post. I didn't have anything spectacular planned. The original title was going to be My May 11. I was just going to recap what I did today, on this day where our blog reached its 100th post. I wish I had something better. Perhaps Ariel can do a magnificent 200th post to make up for this one. So today ...
I woke up and drove my sister to the airport. I then sat with her in the airport for two hours. I tried to teach her to play cribbage, but she grew impatient. I turned to reading instead. Only 50 pages left of We by Yevgeny Zamyatin.
I drove back from the airport. Traffic was horrible. I had to drive in the stop and go traffic with my heat on full blast to cool off my engine. Otherwise my car may have burst into flames.
I went out to dinner and a movie with my father. We picked up a couple Snapple teas when we put gas in the car. From my cap I learned, " 'Tsiology' is anything written about tea." My father's cap had "Real Fact # 89: The average American walks 18,000 steps a day."
The whole world is a little bit smarter thanks to Snapple.
At Applebees for dinner, they overcooked my father's steak so they gave him a new one and didn't charge him for either. It was quite nice of them.
We saw Spiderman 3. It is a looooooooong movie. It feels like a looooooooong movie. And I had such high hopes ...
But all in all, it was not a bad day for a 100th post I suppose.
I woke up and drove my sister to the airport. I then sat with her in the airport for two hours. I tried to teach her to play cribbage, but she grew impatient. I turned to reading instead. Only 50 pages left of We by Yevgeny Zamyatin.
I drove back from the airport. Traffic was horrible. I had to drive in the stop and go traffic with my heat on full blast to cool off my engine. Otherwise my car may have burst into flames.
I went out to dinner and a movie with my father. We picked up a couple Snapple teas when we put gas in the car. From my cap I learned, " 'Tsiology' is anything written about tea." My father's cap had "Real Fact # 89: The average American walks 18,000 steps a day."
The whole world is a little bit smarter thanks to Snapple.
At Applebees for dinner, they overcooked my father's steak so they gave him a new one and didn't charge him for either. It was quite nice of them.
We saw Spiderman 3. It is a looooooooong movie. It feels like a looooooooong movie. And I had such high hopes ...
But all in all, it was not a bad day for a 100th post I suppose.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Childish Enthusiasm
Unlike Josh and half of Christina, I like to stay in contact with my childish enthusiasm. Take today for example. I was making my way to class when I saw that the quad was full of cowboys. Apparently it was agriculture day. They had tractors, hay bales, a mechanical bull annnnnnnd...HORSIES! There were girls on horseback playing polo and the little voice inside my head got so excited to see them (the horses not the girls)! I giggled a little when I realized I just yelled "HORSIES!" in my head. It's little things like that you need to hold on to.
Why Male Teens Pay More
After a long day of job searching and application filling, I was tired as I pulled into my old high school parking lot to pick up my sister from school. As I pulled in, I saw a visitor spot open and was thankful for my good fortune. I prepared to drive up, straight into it. But as I left the safety of the two rows of horizontally parked cars, in order to pull into the vertical spot in front of the school, a crazy high schooler in an old white mustang hit the gas and flew around the corner.
I heard the vroom of his gas pedal and then the "smack," of his car against mine. It was lucky for this young man that rather than braking, I managed to hit my gas pedal. He hit just behind my wheel instead of on my passenger door. My car is not in the best of shape. The horses broke the passenger side mirror and a bad experience with chains beat up by front left panel. This teen added a nice crack just above my right rear wheel. There was really nothing to be done about it, and it's not that large of a crack when one considers all the other problems with my car. As I was unhurt, I spoke to the young man but just let him go with the hope that he learned his lesson. I just didn't want to deal with it.
Later, however, as if it wasn't enough that I had been in a minor car accident hours earlier, my father lectured me about not getting the guy's information, as if we would have done anything with it. I probably should have taken down his name and information, but if I hadn't told my father about the incident, he wouldn't have noticed at all. It was a poor end to a busy day.
People should drive slowly in parking lots.
I heard the vroom of his gas pedal and then the "smack," of his car against mine. It was lucky for this young man that rather than braking, I managed to hit my gas pedal. He hit just behind my wheel instead of on my passenger door. My car is not in the best of shape. The horses broke the passenger side mirror and a bad experience with chains beat up by front left panel. This teen added a nice crack just above my right rear wheel. There was really nothing to be done about it, and it's not that large of a crack when one considers all the other problems with my car. As I was unhurt, I spoke to the young man but just let him go with the hope that he learned his lesson. I just didn't want to deal with it.
Later, however, as if it wasn't enough that I had been in a minor car accident hours earlier, my father lectured me about not getting the guy's information, as if we would have done anything with it. I probably should have taken down his name and information, but if I hadn't told my father about the incident, he wouldn't have noticed at all. It was a poor end to a busy day.
People should drive slowly in parking lots.
Something Else to Whine About
This year I was assigned a HUGE room and I love it. I only have to share it with one other person, so I got pretty spoiled. The only downside is the view. My room is directly across the road from another dorm. There is about 25 yards between my window and the other dorm. Also directly below my window is the main entrance to the other dorm. That is where people decide to sit for hours and smoke and yell and skateboard at 1 AM. That is also where the SafeRide van sits and honks...and honks...and honks until the drunk person comes out for their ride. I like the concept of SafeRide, but I think they need a better system for picking up people than just sitting there and honking at 1 or 2 on a Tuesday morning when most people have class in a few hours...jerks. Also, why are you skateboarding at 1AM on a Tuesday morning? If it was a Friday I might let it go, but Monday night/Tuesday morning makes no sense. Another thing that annoys me is how the noisiest cars park down there. I will admit that I have a noisy car but I don't drive around at 0 Dark Hundred hours and wake people up. Are these people mean or do they just not realize that every time their skateboard crashes to the ground it make a loud crack that revirbs off the walls of the two dorms making it even louder?! I just thought of one more thing. Lately, this guy has been playing with his remote controlled race car in the street. If you've ever heard these little cars you know that they make the most annoying little buzzing sound. If you are that bored in the middle of the night where you think you need play with your race car you need to see a doctor.
Maybe next year I'll have a room looking out over the water in Bellingham...probably not.
Maybe next year I'll have a room looking out over the water in Bellingham...probably not.
Monday, May 7, 2007
A Few of My Favorite Things: The Final Installment
- Books/journals with empty pages - the possibilities are endless...
- Back massages - so nice.
- Long showers - right after a long massage.
- Tag & Capture the flag - the two greatest games on Earth. Classic.
- Coloring - the perfect way to relieve stress, and great for long plane rides.
- Winning a race and getting a best time - doesn't get much better than that.
- Horseback riding - I like to embrace my inner cowgirl every once and a while.
- Long walks - ...on the beach...or in the woods...
- Going on vacation - I can't wait to go camping (yes that counts).
- Going to church - it makes me feel like a good person. I don't think that's really the point of going to church...
- Making lists - another way I like to relieve stress.
Not so favorites:
- B.O. - I think I'm allergic to it.
- When people refuse to say Thank You - seriously, if I just brought you 10 pairs of shoes in three different sizes I think I deserve at least a "Thanks"...or a head nod...something!
- The sound cotton balls make when you pull them apart - gives me shivers and makes my teeth hurt.
- When the dentist puts gauze in your mouth - which is made of cotton, which hurts my teeth, which is pointless when I'm at the dentist...
- Migraines - these deserve a post of their own, basically I can't function for hours.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
A Cooking Lesson
My father is the youngest in his family. He is quite a few years behind the next youngest and so though he has five siblings, for much of his childhood he might as well have been an only child. When the weather wouldn't permit him to play outside, he would watch my grandmother in the kitchen. My grandmother is an amazing cook. She even spent several years as a chef in a Mexican restaurant. All those years watching my grandmother turned my father into an amazing cook as well. He thought it was important for me to learn how to cook, so he always had me watching in the kitchen.
Now it is my turn to help my youngest sister learn how to cook. My father doesn't have as much time on his hands as he would like, so my sisters haven't received as many cooking lessons as me. Today, I gave my youngest sister one. We made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, my favorite. I told her about the difference between baking powder and baking soda, she learned what granulated sugar was, and she saw that though the recipe says bake 12 minutes, sometimes you only need to bake 10. I think it was good lesson and if not, at least now there are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to eat.
Now it is my turn to help my youngest sister learn how to cook. My father doesn't have as much time on his hands as he would like, so my sisters haven't received as many cooking lessons as me. Today, I gave my youngest sister one. We made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, my favorite. I told her about the difference between baking powder and baking soda, she learned what granulated sugar was, and she saw that though the recipe says bake 12 minutes, sometimes you only need to bake 10. I think it was good lesson and if not, at least now there are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to eat.
A Few of My Favorite Things Part IX
Almost done guys...
- When people say my name with an accent - not a fake one.
- Glitter/Sparkles - we've even put glitter on the Great Wall of China!
- Getting hooked on a good book - I don't really think this needs any explanation.
- Warm evenings - there's something almost magical about them. They just make you feel good.
- Sunsets - I have never met anyone who doesn't like a sunset.
- Blown glass - it's so cool and the colors are amazing.
- World Market - it's just awesome.
- Falling right to sleep - glorious.
- Accents - yes, even Wisconsin accents.
- New fallen, untouched snow - this is the only time I really like snow.
Not so favorites:
- Getting lemon juice or shampoo in my cuts - especially when you've forgotten that you have a cut...owie.
- Big gaps between bathroom stalls - I have a lot of issues with public bathrooms.
- Drunk drivers - it's not like they don't know drinking and driving is bad, but they do it anyways. I don't get it.
- When my pen/printer runs out of ink mid sentence/document - always when I'm in a hurry.
- Drama, drama, drama - not the theatrical kind. As much as I hate it, it seems to gravitate to me. Why is that?
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Moo Moo
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I live on a farm out in the country. We have quite the array of animals: the traditional cows, horses, rabbits, and chickens in addition to the more exotic emus, guinea hens, and peacocks. Currently, we are bottle feeding three baby calves. Each is a different age so each receives a different amount of milk and of course all three eat at different paces. As they are all in the same pen, they must be fed at exactly the same time. When the first finishes you must keep it occupied so it doesn't steal milk from the other two. This is most easily accomplished by letting the calf suck on your fingers. I have milked cows and goats before. I have also bottle fed calves numerous times before, but never more than one calf at a time. Thus, this was the first time I have had a calf suck on my fingers. It feel like something sucking on your finger, no surprise there. But just so you know, calf spit is like the super spit of spits. It's not just saliva, but it's a more mucousy substance. It puts a rather gross coating on your finger that takes a few washes to get off. Still, I have decided that this is an experience everyone should have at least once. Next time you run into a calf, don't let the opportunity pass you by.
It's Not Easy Being Green
I am in the process of writing a research paper for my mandatory writing class. It was suggested that we choose a topic that related to our major or something we were interested in. I choose to research the benefits of sustainable/green business development. I thought this would be a relatively easy topic to research, but as it turns out it's not.
You would think because "going green" is such a trend right now that there would be endless sources debating the pros and cons of the concept. My working thesis is focused around the pros, but any debate groupie knows that a good argument addresses both sides of the subject, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to find any cons of sustainability. There have to be some because not all business are going green, so they must have a reason or two. All I am finding however, is that more businesses are becoming more environmentally friendly and that they are successful.
This is a bit frustrating...
You would think because "going green" is such a trend right now that there would be endless sources debating the pros and cons of the concept. My working thesis is focused around the pros, but any debate groupie knows that a good argument addresses both sides of the subject, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to find any cons of sustainability. There have to be some because not all business are going green, so they must have a reason or two. All I am finding however, is that more businesses are becoming more environmentally friendly and that they are successful.
This is a bit frustrating...
Easter Joy
I got my Easter basket when I woke up this morning. It's a little late, this is true, but I didn't come home for Easter. My father made me a basket anyway and kept it until I did come home. I got a 1/2 lb solid chocolate Easter bunny, some bath fizzies, Reese's cups, a My Little Pony unicorn (I am not too old for it, I still like to brush its hair), and of course some Peeps. No one in my family actually eats Peeps, but we get them every year because it's just not Easter without Peeps.
Grandmothers
On my way home from school, I stopped and stayed the night at my grandparents' house in Wenatchee. As I walked in the door,
"Hi, honey. It's so good to see you," my grandmother said. After a pause she continued,"Wow, you've filled out haven't you."
For the record, I am exactly the same size as when she saw me last. Only she could make such a comment without upsetting me. I also got a brief lecture because my ears are double pierced. They've been double pierced since last summer, but this is the first time she noticed. She did the disappointed head shake and tongue click combination to let me know how she felt about it.
She also sounded shocked when I told her I didn't have a boyfriend.
"What are you doing at school then?" she asked.
My aunt saved me by explaining that my purpose for going to school is not to find a significant other.
Still, I love my grandmother and while she perhaps too readily shares her thoughts about my appearance, she also is telling everyone and their mother's uncle about my being news editor. She's very proud of me and was very happy to see me.
"Hi, honey. It's so good to see you," my grandmother said. After a pause she continued,"Wow, you've filled out haven't you."
For the record, I am exactly the same size as when she saw me last. Only she could make such a comment without upsetting me. I also got a brief lecture because my ears are double pierced. They've been double pierced since last summer, but this is the first time she noticed. She did the disappointed head shake and tongue click combination to let me know how she felt about it.
She also sounded shocked when I told her I didn't have a boyfriend.
"What are you doing at school then?" she asked.
My aunt saved me by explaining that my purpose for going to school is not to find a significant other.
Still, I love my grandmother and while she perhaps too readily shares her thoughts about my appearance, she also is telling everyone and their mother's uncle about my being news editor. She's very proud of me and was very happy to see me.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Labradoodle
Did you know there is a dog called a labradoodle? Isn't that the funniest word ever!? My friend has one and it's an adorable dog. I have to laugh though! Labradoodle...it's awesome, but sad. Labradoodle, labradoodle, labradoodle I could say it all day!
To be or not to be?
In the Wedding Date (a movie) one of the main characters says "every woman has the exact love life she wants." For a long time I didn't agree with this statement. I have been disgustingly single for 19 years. I want a boyfriend. When I thought about the statement more I realized that it was right. Even though I want a boyfriend, I'm not really ready for that kind of commitment while I'm in this transitional period. Not to mention relationships are a little scarey. This realization caused further pondering.
Do people make a conscious (or unconscious) decision to be happy or not? I could be happy if I wanted to, but I think when I got here, to OSU, I decided not to be happy. I didn't want to be happy, I didn't want to make friends, I became a shell person. I decided not to make friends because this was not a permanent situation. In my head I had decided that this was not where I was supposed to be and I should therefore be sad. Or did I? Maybe I am truly unhappy, but was it by choice? I could have been happy if I had looked for happiness. I think I did look though. I tried to make friends, but I was constantly looking for faults in them. Is this because I was trying to be unhappy? I'm trapped in a circle of philosophical nonsense.
Thoughts?
Song of the Day
"I'll Stand By You" ~ Carrie Underwood version
She released this single to benefit the American Idol "Idol Gives Back." I think that by downloading it on ITunes they take a percentage of the $0.99 and give it to "Idol Gives Back," but I could be wrong...I hope they do.
She released this single to benefit the American Idol "Idol Gives Back." I think that by downloading it on ITunes they take a percentage of the $0.99 and give it to "Idol Gives Back," but I could be wrong...I hope they do.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
"Frankly My Dear..."
You know those movie quotes that you would love to say to someone in context if given the opportunity? Here are a few of mine.
- "I will literally break your shit off if you ever touch me again. Mmkay Pumpkin?" ~Hitch
- "Tricky fish! TRICKY FISH!" ~Lilo & Stitch
- "I tried to give you my good looks but lets face it...something went wrong." ~ Lilo & Stitch
- "Stop kicking that mackerel!" ~ Alice in Wonderland
- "May I just say enchanteé señorita to you!" ~ Rescuers Down Under
- "We're gonna have to make connections with a bigger bird." ~ Rescuers Down Under
- "I'VE BEEN SKEWERED!" ~ Rescuers Down Under
- "You are not having sex on this stage!" ~ Miss.Congeniality
- "That sounded a little ocra-ish. Did that sound a little orca-ish to you? Maybe I should try humpback." ~ Finding Nemo
- "I'm H2O intolerant." ~ Finding Nemo
- "I'm surrounded by idiots." ~ The Lion King
- "I know this place like the back of my hand...[looks at hand] Hey, that's new." ~ Robots
I crack myself up.
One More Stone Down
Moments ago I finished my first year of college. At approximately 11:05 I turned in my responses to my Pol S final essay questions. It's still hard to believe that I'm done. I'm not leaving Pullman until tomorrow, so perhaps the reality will set it a bit by then. I always expect there to be some kind of feeling. I expected a feeling after graduation, after the end of my first semester, and I expected a feeling after finishing the last final of my first year of college. All these events were stepping stones in my life, but no feeling came. I feel absolutely no different than I did the hour before I began the final. I don't feel any different than when I first began classes here, though I do know my way around campus better and am writing this on a computer in the newsroom and not in my dorm room as is now often the case. But still, where is that feeling, the feeling of vindication, of having survived, of growing older. Perhaps college has changed me and I just don't know it, I certainly don't feel it. I wonder why I expect a feeling in the first place. Maybe I should stop, or maybe, the feeling will come when I graduate college, or when I get a real job, or when I move out. There's nothing to do until it comes though, except to keep stepping along. So I step.
Sleepless in Corvallis
My brain won't turn off. I need to sleep, but I can't. This is a frequent occurrence. It usually takes me an hour or two to fall asleep, but after an hour of laying in bed I am not anymore tired than I was an hour ago. Usually there is a theme to my thoughts while I'm lying there. Most of the time I imagine I am talking to someone about something. Tonight the theme was my faults. I was yelling them to someone, trying to convince them that I wasn't as cool as they thought. This is not something you want to think about when you want to sleep. Actually, this is not something you should ever think about. Thinking about these stupid things made me get a twinge of anxiety so I had to do something. That something is blog. The solution for any problem.
I just realized that this is as of now May 2nd, making Anomalous Happenings officially one month old. Yay us. I hope we have provided some entertainment for our little audience and I hope we continue to entertain you.
Now I have run out of things to say and I'm still not ready to face my thoughts...
I learned a few phrases in Polish the other day...do widzenia.
I just realized that this is as of now May 2nd, making Anomalous Happenings officially one month old. Yay us. I hope we have provided some entertainment for our little audience and I hope we continue to entertain you.
Now I have run out of things to say and I'm still not ready to face my thoughts...
I learned a few phrases in Polish the other day...do widzenia.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Feel the Burn
Believe me, I do. This time of the year my eyes are burning, itchy, and red all the time (at the same time). This is mostly caused by grass and tree pollen. I have also started to notice that it is increased by another irritant...cigarette and cigar smoke. Sometimes it's the smell alone that makes my eyes burn. I don't have much against people who smoke, and I feel bad that I'm allergic to them...like my dad and my grandma. The past couple of days it seems that all the smokers on campus want to sit by me in class. Yesterday, in math lecture, a man sat 3 seats down from me and you would not have believed how strongly he smelled of cigarillos (I only know that because that's what my dad smokes). It was like this huge wave passed over me and instantaneously, my eyes felt like sandpaper and of course I didn't have my eye drops. I spent the rest of the class blinking like crazy.
It happened again today in bio lecture. There were a million open seats, but a person who smoked chose to sit one seat over from me. The mixture of the cigarette smell with my perfume was too much for my poor little oculars to handle. They itched and burned and this time added a gooey layer of nastiness, making it difficult to read the lecture slides. Once again I didn't have my eyes drops. You'd think I would have learned by now.
In retrospect, these people should feel bad that their unhealthy habit causes me so much misery.
It happened again today in bio lecture. There were a million open seats, but a person who smoked chose to sit one seat over from me. The mixture of the cigarette smell with my perfume was too much for my poor little oculars to handle. They itched and burned and this time added a gooey layer of nastiness, making it difficult to read the lecture slides. Once again I didn't have my eyes drops. You'd think I would have learned by now.
In retrospect, these people should feel bad that their unhealthy habit causes me so much misery.
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