C'est la vie...

Because I've seen them around, but never done one for myself:
 http://kevan.org/johari?name=Dancing+Llama

and 

http://kevan.org/nohari?name=Dancing+Llama

go play!

OKCupid has ads. most of them don't flash or talk, so I've resigned myself to this.  

But why are they offering a 3-for-1 special on Winter Oreos?  and not just winter oreos...the creepy ones with blood-red filling. 
wtf?

fyi, I will not eat oreos with wrong-colored centers, unless we're talking Nectar of the Gods Mint Flavored Oreos, which are FLAVORED differently and therefore permitted to be a different color.
or the halloween ones, but all bets are off on halloween anyways.

I'm about to get taken to a dream world of magic, ya'll... XD Well.. after work. Around 5.

I just bought plane teeeckets. it's like i'm a grownup or something. Final price winner was Priceline, at $290 (including taxes, fees, and insurance because I'm paranoid)...even though yesterday evening and today at dinnertime the lowest price was 347 on that same website. 
I WIN AT LIVING.
also registered for the exchange at early bird prices and got a tshirt and i'm really excited.
So thanks to those of you who helped convince me. Now I just have to WAIT for a month and a half. 

hot damn, I'm going to Texas.

I am not a very neat person. I have a tendency to let things pile up until I can no longer stand living in a pig pen and then have a cleaning frenzy usually at 2am. Thank god I like let this one occur in the afternoon. I got home from a short class yesterday and did 5 loads of laundry, took out 6 bags of trash, 2 bags of recycling, cleaned out my fridge, dusted, changed my sheets and reorganized my books. My mom came home for lunch, walked into my room, then laughed and walked downstairs. She's used to my frenzies by now. I have been good though as nothing was actually gross and nothing really needed a cleaning overhaul. It just need a pickup....everywhere. Haha. I love it though. I slept really well and was ready for work early. I was in good form.

Taking 4 classes at once was probably not my smartest idea for the summer. I have a lot of work ahead of me. Hopefully I can keep on top of the readings because I need to read like 5 chapters a week for my classes and write reports and answer quizzes. No fun.

I realized something kind of sad about myself the other day. I don't trust people to be there when I need them. I like hope they will, but I really never actually think they will be there. When my father passed away, my family kinda didn't know what to do. They hugged us and we spent a lot of time together, but it was mostly just proximity. My friends weren't there. They never asked how I was coping or stayed with me. Lesia was the best and even she didn't know what to do. It's hard when you're 12. I think though that is when I stopped expecting people to show up. When my grandfather passed away last summer, everyone gave the initial condolences. I received a great card from my friends and they actually were there initially. No one really followed up though. No one asked how I was doing. Not even my best friends. Maybe we are still too young to really know what to do, maybe we'll never know. It's sad but hopefully now that I realize that, maybe I won't expect so much. I dunno.

Ok back to reading. Just wanted to play catch up real quick.

for no particular reason my Facebook account was disabled. No fucking clue why, and nothing in their terms of use gives me any idea why that might be.
Maybe they thought I was spamming on the hatchery, but damn, all I did was go to the requests page, see who requested their pets to be petted, and opened a tab for each person, then proceeded to pet each person's pets and leave them a note on their wall saying I had showed some love to the pets and if they wanted to friend me to exchange eggs for more hatching or whatever to feel free. Considering i was doing this on different pages each time, and not repeatedly to the same people, I don't see a problem with this.

other than that, I have NO IDEA what I did, and the warning email that i was violating some terms of use came AFTER they had disabled my account.

Fucking Facebook. I should have known I shouldn't get addicted to some of the apps on there (lil green patch, hatchery, and owned)

SO, I sent them an email asking WTF??? And hopefully they'll give me some kind of answer, because this is bullshit!


Yep, just gotta hate Facebook. At least with Myspace you don't run into this shit. And I don't even like Myspace that much better. LiveJournal is where it's at!

So: I am plotting an adventure.  
The Austin Blues Party is a bunch of classes/dances July 4-6. I would love to actually learn some blues, but I can do that here.  So. I really want to go, and i need someone to help me legitimize spending 350 bucks on plane tickets, about 100 for the event, and however much food/cowboy boots adds on.  (everyone gets cowboy boots in texas, right?)

Pro - Get to see the awesome texas people I know already (both of them. hi peter.) in their natural habitat. and meet new ones. including some dude who randomly friended me on facebook - i've never met him, but somehow we owe each other a dance.
~ Blues dancing. tastytasty blues dancing. and actual lessons, rather than "let me go drape myself around people in a dark room and see what happens", which has been my approach thus far. 
~ i have never flown by myself, and have never been further west than eastern Tennessee.  ADVENTURE.
~ Texas, I imagine, is right up there with military bases and colonial towns (been there, done that, on both counts) on the list of places to be on the fourth of july. 
~ Texas has bats.
~ I has a place to crash and someone to show me around.

Con - We're talking about $500 thus far.
~ Texas, I imagine, is right up there with military bases and colonial towns (been there, done that, on both counts) on the list of places to be on the fourth of july. 
~ i don't really know anyone IRL, lovely as they may be at dances/the internet.  it's not so much a trust issue in these people's case (as I would get free, random-stranger, housing, through the exchange), as a "what if i'm nervous about new people and it's awkward" thing

Ponderings: 
I like being able to say I've never had a blues lesson, in case someone comes back with, wow, really?  But as that has not happened, I think classes are in order.
As I wrote this, a country song and a blues song played back to back on Ye Randome Playlist. This might be a sign.
I reallyreally want to go, but feel like I should be able to justify it.  Mostly because the adults in the house think it's a terrible idea.  Granted, it's not their money. but i have to live with them.
I've already requested off from Busch for the 4th through the 7th, and have looked up plane tickets that have me landing in Austin sometime btw 11 and 5 (depending on the ticket i choose or website i buy them from) and departing sometime in the same window. (july 4th and july 7th, respectively.  
Have looked at : (from lowest to highest $)  Priceline, Orbitz, Takeorf.com, and Southwest (you'd think they'd do it for cheap, going to the southwest and all.)   also Airtran, which doesn't go to austin, and JetBlue, which doesn't fly from Newport News or Norfolk.

So: Talk me into it. Talk me out of it. Tell me where cheap tickets come from. something.

(side note - I can't say "halp" without thinking "multipass?!" XD)

Alright, folks - it's that time again. Liz has a tax rebate on the way, a cancelled insurance refund in the mail, and a dental visit reimbursement that was deposited yesterday. Not to mention the job and part-time job checks filing in weekly. This creates a hole in mine pocket that burns with all the fires of Hell. My first purchase plan? (Other than some new clothes, a nightstand, and a new welcome mat...)

DIGITAL CAMERA

Please start with the suggesting of makes and models. I'm thinking Canon, but no specifics. I don't want to spend too too much, but I do want to invest in something that won't need replacing for awhile and I want the photo quality to be pretty much stunning. ;p Your thoughts?

Me (explaining my piss-poor taste in movies): Dude.  Go look at the DVDs I own.
Jenn: No.  I don't want to feel bad about you today.

my presentation went really well today. it was great and worth the work.
my dissertaion deadline was also moved to friday morning, which has given me more time (and more time to stress).

my feet hurt. too much standing.

Last week was so much fun. Very stressful with the exams I had and I finished my last exam on thursday afternoon only to start summer classes today. Atleast I am close to the end. For anyone trying to keep score I will officially graduate from ODU in December of this year. Yes that means I will have been in college for 5 1/2 years but considering my first two years, I was actually a full year behind. I am going to finish up in December and then wait until next year before I start looking at graduate school. I just need some time. I want to pay off my bills and maybe have a little pocket change before I start putting myself into debt again. Blah, I just want to be finished. Anyways, to get my mind off of exams and all that crap I got to play. Peter hosted a beer pong tournament which ended up being amazing. It was a night full of hilarity and love. Too bad I had two exams the following morning. Opps.

Anyways, everyone is gone for the summer. Rob, Britt and Meghan are all graduated. It's weird. Everyone is all grown up. Aaron broke his wrist and will be staying here a while. Summer is going to be harder than I thought. I have a lot of reading to do each week. I am sure I can get it all done. It just kinda blows.

I went home to MD last weekend. Needed to see the fam and Britt of course. Did a lot of shopping and spend way too much money. But I think it was all worth it. My bro Robby and I went with a few people to Clyde's in Rockville (upscale nice bar) and of course we embarrassed ourselves in 10 seconds and then downed a bottle of wine. It was quite hilarious.

Ok, gonna try and do some work. It is hard to get anything done when your nose is runny and nasty. Thank god I have an appt with the doctor tomorrow.

All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dream

( ... )

Alas, children!  Whilst playing chauffeur for a car-less coworker this weekend--because, let's face it, I could stand to rack up some good karma--I learned the most distressing piece of information.  Aforementioned coworker mentioned getting a ride to work with Office Crush earlier in the week.   Awww.  Tres sweet, non?  Mas oui.  It confirmed the very rightness of my crush, it did.  Utter vindication.

Then, Coworker mentioned that Office Crush lived in City Where Crush Lives, which I knew.  And had moved there so she could live with her boyfriend.  Which I did not know.

The upside is that I found this out before doing anything irrevocably stupid--such as asking out Office Crush.  For once, the Universe has decided to be kind to me in that regard.  So I suppose I shall forgive the Universe for giving this woman, this beautiful woman with an enchanting laugh, a boyfriend.  (A boyfriend who is not me.)

Next time, though?  Me and the Universe are throwing down.  For real.

Today was structured by biking 30 kms and beating my best speed ever by pedalling up to 30km/hr.

We biked out to Nudgee Beach and had chips shop food in the park looking at the mangroves growing in the ocean. It was not that tormenting so I think we could make it through Boodall Wetlands sometime. But def Nudgee is within range. We called like three halts each way, which makes it abotu 11/2 hours each way. Whoot.

on Sat I went to the Union Council which turned out well. They wound up letting me proxy which means I got to vote on stuff and I met some people.

Well, we are deep within the most exciting and expensive movie months in recent times. This season brings a revitalization of the term "summer blockbuster". We're just being assaulted by amazing films and I, for one, am only eager for more.

( My thoughts on Iron Man and Speed Racer. )

Anyway, I'm just about to pop with pleasure at how this season has started off and I can't wait for the rest - Narnia, Indiana Jones, Dark Knight. Heck, I'm even getting pumped about Get Smart.

So this morning, on my way out the door, the mailman gave me a package, it was a lovely baking tray. sweet :)

Today mark and I went to Stroud by train to drop off art work at the stroud house gallery where I will be showing 5 pinhole photographs in their up-coming show titled 'Stitched Two.' we then had a lovely day wandering around Stroud's award wining farmer's market, the town center, and their shopping mall. I got to try lot of free samples of meats, cheeses, beer, and other such things, and so pretty much grazed the whole day. After that we went to see Speed Racer in the local cinema, which I thought was very good and mark liked ok. It was a very fun relaxing day. Then we had a drink in the pub to pass the 20 minutes till our train back to london and made in home in time to make dinner and watch an episode of Firefly. It felt like all the good of a vacation in like one afternoon.

Now back to reality, which is high pressured, full of deadlines, and lots of stress to be had.
Monday: My first day in the bookable space this week. I need to take advantage of the opportunity to use the space and try to figure out how I'm going to be displaying the works I've been making. I fear the bulk of the day will be spent painting the structure I have been building last week. There are like 35 things that all need two coats of paint. Also on Monday there is a school meeting at some point, probably in the morning.
Tuesday: My hour long studio practice presentation to the MA department and my fellow students is to be delivered at 11am. It's the most important presentation we give all year. I have yet to start writing it yet or making the power point, so it's full of stress. The real problem is that I don't really know what I'm doing so talking for an hour about what I'm doing will be really hard. I have to get up there and say something other than 'sorry guys, I'm totally lost, have not idea what I'm doing, am just making stuff for the sake of it, and no idea if it's going any where.' Their real critizizim last time a gave a persentation was that my work was not really consepualy enough and wasn't saying a clear message of any kind. that critisizim can totally be acuretly applied to my work now, and I fear the feed back part of my presentaion will just be reinforcing how lost I am and how my work mostly regressing.
Wednesday: On Wednesday I have to turn in the lasted draft of my dissertation. I have not even started the rewrite yet really. She said there was a ton of work it needed, a lot more research (which I don't have time to do) and a lot more writing. Not really sure how I can fit in all the extra writing since I am already at my word limit. Massive editing is really needed. Oh well, have to get what I can done.
Thursday and Friday: Working in the bookable space still (I am supposed to be there all week). Trying to get some artwork planing done. Also, hassling the tech guy about my printer which he stole, getting feedback from my adviser about my draft, and general preparing for leaving school for two weeks.
Saturday: Traveling to Stroud for my private view at the gallery. Trying to be a professional, interesting, articulate, and no-shy artist, meeting people I have never met before. But I am super excited to see how the work looks on the walls and with other work. I really don't know any thing about the gallery or what the opening will be like.
Sunday: pack, hang out with Mark, and get ready.

monday:FLY HOME!! The Boogie, family, friends, cat, Mexican food and all kinds of magical wonders await me. I am really only in town for about five seconds, but I can't wait!

Ten days later, it's back to London refreshed and ready to finish my glorious dissertation, show Allison a good time in Europe, find a wonderful place to live ands move house, move studios, make worthy artworks, and finish my academic career with flying colors by receiving my Master's Degree and producing a highly acclaimed show. (or at lest that is the plan, wish me luck)

Yes, I think I have found it.

The handbook for my life.

http://www.squishable.com

"Buy another squishable for that cute girl/guy who lives across the hall. We'll even include a "I like you!" note if you want."
"your basket is empty and sad!"

omg, i love spherical stuffed animals.  a cuddly shark?
(that's not new, btw, we used to have these ridiculous round stuffed cats at busch gardens when i worked in the toy shop and i just luuuurved them)
also, while he is not a sphere, they have a KIWI. 


WANT.

I got home today to discover two packages in the mail--one for Jeremy and one for me. The one for me was from Norah! Someone should thank her excessively for me. I'm wearing the plaid skirt right now. And the dress looks cool too.

Jeremy was all about his books with the love and stuff.

I'm cruising through WOrld War Z speaking of books.

I made the first nascent steps towards changing my career to a tafe teacher. You know they have basic literacy and numeracy programs for immigrants? That would be a cool career.

But I didn't do anything really just called about how one would theorhetically do it.

Had coffee and Lemon merangue pie and read world war Z this afternoon.

And one of my students called me the most "explanatory" teacher she'd had since year 8. It was in this little love fest my 11B's randomly threw for me where one said I explained everythin gthey needed to do unlike their other teachers and another said that there were two kinds of teachers, the "explanatory" ones like me and ones who yelled at you for getting things wrong. I was pretty stoked and this is btw my good thing for today. I felt very warm like I like to be liked but had given up on that, but being liked actually for being a good teacher? That's the prize.

So in general life is good and I'm really enjoying people's loving and helpful outpouring about my internal crisis, thank you all really.

I actually for some reason caved in and got a Twitter account. This happened because I never deleted the invite that Eric sent me, and as I was going through my gmail to rid the inbox of all the crap that has piled up there, between Toni and all the other stuff I have go to that email...well, I just couldn't resist clicking the link and setting up twitter.

But, I'm pleased to announce that another of my LJ friends promptly followed me into it. But I won't say who. I'll let that person announce it if they are so inclined to do so.

If you have a Twitter account and want to do an exchange of following with me, please let me know!