Christmas Song of the Day

"Believe" by Josh Groban

Same ol' Same ol'

It’s funny how some things don’t change. Every time I come home from school, I worry about things being different, about having to readjust. I feel like at school I’m a different person than when I’m at home. I’m always amazed at how seamlessly I revert back. At school, other than the paper, I have few responsibilities. I’m rather self-indulgent. Being home is different. I stop being an independent college student and sometimes it seems, I go back in time.

I got home yesterday evening. As soon as I walked in the door, I became daddy’s little girl again. Leaving school, I put all my bags in my car by myself. Soon as I got home, in a sweet voice I asked my daddy to get my suitcase. He spoils me. I was also hungry, so I began making a sandwich. But my father can cut and toast the bread so perfectly, I got him to do that for me also. While initially it seems I return to being a spoiled little girl, I revert back into other roles as well.

I’ve always been more of a mother to my little sisters than a big sister. As my youngest sister went to bed, I checked to make sure she had brushed her teeth and washed her face. She hadn’t, so I made her get up and do it. This morning, as I was still sleeping and she was getting ready for school, she woke me up because she was concerned my father’s outfit didn’t match. I found him, and made him change his tie. By the time I did wake up, my sisters were both at school and my father at work. I had my cup of coffee and an English muffin and then got to work myself cleaning the house.

When I left for school, I wasn’t sure how my family would get along without me, but they’ve proven to be capable. At the same time, as soon as I come home, it’s like nothing is different at all. People often seem surprised when they find out I don’t desire children, and that even if I did have any, it wouldn’t be for quite some time. It’s not only that I’m just 19, but also that in some regards and to some extent I feel like I’ve been there and done that already. I’m not complaining. I like it. I like being needed and I like taking care of my father and sisters. And it’s not all bad. When I’m want a break from playing mother, I can always go back to being daddy’s little girl.

And I’m still a college student too. I have three weeks worth of dirty laundry on the floor of my room waiting to be washed. That’s right, I managed to go three weeks without doing laundry. It wasn’t easy. I’ll get to it after I make some banana bread from the old bananas on the counter.

It's good to be home.

Christmas Song of the Day

"I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Dean Martin...

Josh's version makes me cry (the one on the album, not this one).

Staff Awards again (Toot Toot)

I am still not above telling others about my accomplishments. Expect a post like this once a semester until I leave the paper. My Fall 2007 staff awards:

Most likely to achieve future Evergreen glory

Newsroom dweller (apparently me living in the newsroom hasn't gone unnoticed)

Most helpful

Outstanding underclassman

Most likely to find her phone dead in a ditch (I always leave my phone in the newsroom while I'm at class and everybody hates my ring tone)

Also, I am returning next semester as News editor. It's unusual to hold the same position two semesters in a row, but not really that unusual for me since I'm not a fan of change.

Last semester's awards here

Christmas Song of the Day

"White Christmas" by Bing Crosby of course.

The Chemistry Gods

The Divine Forces are working against me today.

Reason 1: Earlier this week I found out that today's hockey game was cancelled. I was totally bummed because I've only been to one and we had a whole group of people planning on going too. Plus the game was supposed to be a way for me to break up my studying. Nope.

Reason 2: I was also supposed to play in a soccer game today at 4:00. However, I found out a few minutes ago that the game was rescheduled for 11:00. I have been talking about how excited I am for this game for two weeks! Therefore, all of my special plans for the day have been cancelled.

Reason 3: Josh Groban fell on me this morning. I have this giant poster of him on the wall next to my bed. I woke up this morning at exactly 10:00. I looked at the clock then rolled back over and decided to sleep for a few more minutes and try to finish the weird dream I had been having (I'll spare you the details). Then the poster un-sticky-tacked itself from the wall and fell on me. I think this was a sign for me to get up. Did I follow the sign? Nope. I stuck the poster back to the wall and fell back asleep.

Reason 4: I wanted to meet Kyndra for dinner around 6:15. However, the bus was 15 minutes late and therefore dinner ended while I was on the bus.

Reason 5: I wanted to go to the pool after dinner, but because the bus was late and the pool closes at 7:00...no pool.

Are the forces working for me or against me? I'm expecting my computer to crash at any momen-

End of Term Quotations

Okay guys, last set of quotes for this term. Hopefully I will have some funny professors next term too!

"Little smart sperm." ~Anth. Prof. We were discussing genetic selection/engineering. I hope.

"Feel free to take the cap off and take a snort!" ~Chem. Proff. We were passing around viles of aromatic oils.

"I can't show you a unicorn. I don't have one...but...*writes on board*:
'Rhino + Horse -----> Unicorn' "So then what does a hippo + an elephant + a rhino equal? *pause* A helephino! *pause* "Hell-If-I-Know...it's a joke" ~Chem. Prof.

"What is a bond? A debonair British assassin?" ~ Chem. Prof.

Here is the best one:

"I'm already in the end of the quarter party-mode...I'm done...take me to the bar! I'm dressed!" ~Chem. Prof. today, who was wear a very Margaritaville/Aloha shirt.

Here's one that has nothing to do with school:
"I hate doors! They're stupid and awkward!" ~Christina

Christmas Song of the Day

"Here Comes Santa Claus" by Elvis.

I wish I could find a clip of this song. Sorry guys.

A Tired Look

As I was leaving my residence hall this morning, someone else was trying to enter. He was on the phone so I paid him no mind. I opened the door and exited, but then I heard, "You look tired." I thought he must be talking to the person on the phone. He was a complete stranger I had never even seen before. He couldn't possibly be talking to me. Still the sound of his voice made me look up. His phone was off to the side of his face. He had indeed been talking to me.

I was tired. Former editors can into town Wednesday so a group of us stayed up rather late catching up with them. I then got up and went to class at 9:00. Yesterday night was the Evergreen Christmas Party so I was up late again. I woke up this morning feeling tired, it's true. But I don't want to be told I look it, especially by a stranger.

Because I was in fact quite tired, I was more appalled than I would have been otherwise. I turned and just stared at this mouthy stranger. After a few seconds, "What," he sheepishly asked. "I was just making an observation."

I turned and left. But who does that? Why would you tell a stranger they look tired?

Two of Hearts

Last night I had a dream I was swimming in a pool. Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra were standing in the shallow end watching me. Then Frank said "you wanna see a card trick?" "Sure," I replied. He pulled out a deck of cards and asked me to draw one. I picked the two of hearts. I put the card back, then dove underwater. As Frank was shuffling the cards he and Dino started singing me a song.

I stayed underwater (apparently having grown gills) trying to hide in the shadows that had appeared in various parts of the pool. When they finished singing Frank said "okay I'm done. Was this your card?" It was indeed the two of hearts.

Christmas Song of the Day

"Silver Bells" by Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley...


Can you tell who my favorite singers are?

Christmas Song of the Day

"Grown-Up Christmas List" by Michael Buble, Amy Grant, and Kelly Clarkson.

This song is beautiful.

Haiku Round 2

Another day of extreme weather calls for another Haiku. Imagine adding a night of rain to six inches of built up snow.

Now the rain comes down
Slush on the ground, inches deep
Weather is unkind

Don't worry, my next post will not be about the weather.

Anthropological Word of the Day

"Assimilation: a form of culture change in which a culture is thoroughly acculturated, or decultured, and is no longer distinguishable as having a separate identity."

The first thing I thought of when I read this word..."We are the Borg..." I really hope at least one of our readers gets that. I find it really amusing.

Winter Haiku*

Snow falls from the sky
A white blanket on the ground
I stay warm inside

I felt inspired watching snow flurries through the newsroom windows. There has been snow on the ground in Pullman since I returned after Thanksgiving. The roads are maintained fairly well, but I almost got stuck in a parking lot yesterday.

Moments after I finished the Haiku, the editor walked in dripping wet. She even pulled snow out of her pockets. I was inspired a second time.

Attacked by winter
Travelers come dripping wet
Warm ice slicks the floor

*Disclaimer: I am not a poet. I don't have the right kind of creative talent for it. I always just feel like I'm trying to imitate poetry, so I rarely write it. As a child, I was however, very fond of Haiku and wrote many of them. They're simple and easy enough to be one of the few forms of poetry to which I will contribute.

Christmas Song of the Day

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" by Michael Buble

It's finally snowing here in Bellingham. I'm not sure if I'm happy about that or not.