{Spacefiller}

2003-06-27T17:09:00.000-04:00

I wasn't planning on really posting anything new, but my two nations are amusing today, so I thought I'd share.

The Holy Empire of Maenids
UN Category: Scandinavian Liberal Paradise
Civil Rights: Superb
Economy: Basket Case (hee!)
Political Freedoms: Some

The Holy Empire of Maenids is a very large, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its strong anti-business politics. Its compassionate population of 62 million enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level social equality free of the usual accompanying government corruption.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, liberal, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Social Welfare, the Environment, and Education. The average income tax rate is 100%. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising fourteen-year-old boys selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

Organ donation rates have hit a new low, citizens can be frequently spotted going about their business stark naked, all industry is owned and run by the government, and the government's religious works are headed by a New Age guru. Crime is totally unknown. Maenids's national animal is the rhino, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the rhinu.

The Rogue Nation of Deatheaters
UN Category: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights: Good
Economy: All-Consuming
Political Freedoms: Unheard Of

The Rogue Nation of Deatheaters is a enormous, safe nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its compassionate, hard-working, cynical population of 562 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized, corrupt government devotes most of its attentions to Education, with areas such as Defence and Religion & Spirituality receiving almost no funds by comparison. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 34%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Book Publishing industry.

Nudity is frowned upon, guns are banned, a large-scale revitalization of the education system is underway, and the government is reigning in public spending. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown. Deatheaters's national animal is the skink, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the knut.

2003-05-09T13:48:00.000-04:00

Home now. Wednesday night we had a thunderstorm of terrific proportion. It knocked out our electricity around nine o'clock and stayed out till about five Thursday morning. So we lit candles and made do with our two flashlights. I had just bought a book by H.P. Lovecraft and decided that reading it up in my room by candlelight would be perfect. It did make for good atmosphere, but I managed to freak myself out so thoroughly that I doubt I fell asleep before three.

2003-05-05T05:57:00.000-04:00

One more paper to turn in and I'm done with the semester. I have one page out of five written and it's due at 4:30 today. And I've been up all night because my sleep schedule is completely out of whack. I'm not really tired now, so I'm going to see if I can't get the darn thing done and then crash for a few hours.

Oh yes, I saw X-Men 2 Friday with Jen and Doug. Was great fun, lots of shiny fight scenes, had one of my favorite characters, Nightcrawler. Better than the first X-Men movie. I give you the obligatory GO SEE message. Now, if the next one just has Gambit in it I'll be perfectly happy. Also of note, we got the trailer for the next Matrix movie, Reloaded or whatever it's called. It also looks very spiffy. The only other trailer worth mentioning is the one for League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, only because it may have knocked Pirates of the Caribbean out of the running for Jen and my Bad Movie of the Summer to go see together.

And now I'm going to go write about Paul, justification by faith alone, participation in Christ, and other salvific ideals. Whee!

2003-04-26T01:02:00.000-04:00

Updated the LJ with a review of Steven Brust's To Reign in Hell.

2003-04-25T23:49:00.000-04:00

I had a funny moment today. I walked out to BAM and picked up the latest volumes of Inuyasha and Daigo of Fire Company M (both with their new prices of $9 a piece, gotta love competition). At the register, the clerk says, "Oh, manga!" (horribly misprounced) He looks at the titles and adds, "You must have a 13-year-old boy, right?" Choking back laughter, I told him I was buying for myself. Not even missing a beat, he says, "That's even better!"

I'm not sure what was funnier, that he thought I couldn't possibly be buying them for myself, or that he thought I was old enough to have a 13-year-old son. That would put me on record as the youngest mother ever at the ripe age of nine.

2003-04-21T17:45:00.000-04:00

My mom came down for lunch today. We went to Casa Mia, where Mom was incredulous that I like the place. I usually don't go for Mexican. She took me to the local stamp and scrapbooking store afterward and bought me a couple new stamps. Thanks Mom! I keep meaning to scan in some of the cards I've made. Once the semester's over, I'll try to set up a subsection on my webpage.

The new stamps put me in a creative mood, but since I don't have the rest of my stamping stuff here at school, I made a couple of new wallpapers instead. My wallpapers are always seasonal. Winter months are dark colored, then spring rolls around and I have to make myself new bright ones. Right now I have a nice cheery purple background. Matches my keyboard, mouse, and wrist rest. ^_^

I still need to figure out what I'm giving Jen for her graduation present. I have about three weeks to figure something out, but those are taken up with finals. I have this vague impression that I should make something, but that'll probably take more time that I have. I know she won't mind if I don't have something right when she graduates, but I will. I'm entertaining all suggestions . . . .

2003-04-14T10:37:00.000-04:00

My Uncle Rich died last night. He's been in the hospital for the last month or so. They thought he was doing better. My cousins are taking it pretty hard.

2003-04-12T03:28:00.000-04:00

So I'm having a normal day today. Typical shift at the candy store, go out for some Japanese afterward, go to check my mail, see Ralston sitting in the UC.

Do a double-take.

Ralston is not supposed to be sitting in the UC. Ralston is supposed to be at med school in North Carolina. And yet there she is, typing away on her laptop, waving casually to a completely nonplussed Abby. Talk about your nice surprises. Anyway, I shamelessly exploited the fact that Ralston has a car and made her drive me to Blockbuster so I could get some movies. Picked up My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Lilo & Stitch, and X-Men (haven't seen the first two). Ralston stuck around to watch most of MBFGW with me. Hopefully I'll see her again tomorrow - if not I'll kick her butt.

I love my friends, can you tell?

2003-04-09T15:45:00.000-04:00

Time for the now bi-monthly update on The Rogue Nation of Deatheaters!

Category: Father Knows Best State (was Corrupt Dicatorship)
Civil Rights: Very Good (was Good)
Economy: Very Strong (was Reasonable)
Political Freedoms: Few (was Rare)

The Rogue Nation of Deatheaters is a very large, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 98 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator (That's me!), who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The government -- a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked morass -- juggles the competing demands of Education, Commerce, and Public Transport. The average income tax rate is 37%. A large private sector is dominated by the Beef-Based Agriculture industry.

Scientists regularly clone human beings for research purposes, skinks are considered a delicacy, a large-scale revitalization of the education system is underway, and employers may fire workers without giving any reason (eheh, whoops). Crime -- especially youth-related -- is relatively low. Deatheaters's national animal is the skink, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the knut.

2003-04-08T00:32:00.000-04:00

Updated my LiveJournal with a review of Howl's Moving Castle.

2003-04-07T23:49:00.000-04:00

Last Friday I was supposed to sleep outside in a book to raise awareness for the homeless. Didn't happen for a couple of reasons. The first wass that it was about 40 degrees outside and supposed to rain. The second was a speaker who spoke to us. She pretty much implied that the entire exercise was just a pat on the back for us spoiled college students. If we really cared, we'd be taking a more hands-on approach, like letting homeless people sleep in our homes or making advocacy for the homeless a full time job.

Never mind that we're college students and don't have the resources to house people like she does. Never mind that not everyone has the right talents to do that kind of work. Never mind that it takes work in all levels of society to make any kind of lasting change in an issue like homelessness.

Even if I felt comfortable letting a stranger, however trustworthy they seemed, into my room, I wouldn't be willing to risk the safety of all of the other people who share my dorm. That's not something I have the right to do. And honestly, if I put my college career on hold to work with the homeless, all I'd be doing is upping the chance I'd be joining them in a few years. You can't help others if you're barely floating along yourself. Sometimes all you can do is try to raise awareness. Criticizing the people who cared at least a bit - enough to sit through her holier-than-thou speech - isn't going to help the cause. Maybe the majority of the students there were just doing it to feel-good, to say to themselves, yeah, I care about the homeless. But there's always the possibility that someone really would have their eyes opened and want to do more. Don't take your frustration at a generally uncaring world out on us, lady.

You know what else bugged me? She put the homeless into deserving and undeserving categories, at least by implication. According to our expert, "real" homeless people don't sleep in boxes. Only criminals and druggies do that. Sorry, I must have missed the point in the speech where homeless was redefined to mean something other than "doesn't have a home". I'm sure there are people who don't fit into either category who are reduced to sleeping in boxes. Weren't advocates for the homeless working to get rid of the stigma that the homeless are worthless scum who deserve what happened to them? Way to reinforce those stereotypes.

So I didn't have much incentive to stay out in the cold after being told it did nothing constructive. No doubt she saw the mass exodus after her speech as another indication of how self-centered we isolated college students are. But you know what? I don't care. Maybe next time she'll tell the students what they can do rather than lecturing them on how deluded they are.

* * * * *

I made a new wallpaper today and uploaded it to my webpage. I was feeling the need for something bright and cheery now that spring's here, especially since today was grey and rainy.

2003-03-31T19:40:00.000-05:00

Katie is my new goddess. She gave me two pairs of craft sissors. I'm so excited. Unfortunately I have to wait till after school ends before I can really break them in. All of my card-making supplies are at home. Boo. I've been occupying myself instead by cutting up the backs of those sticky bookplates. Can you tell I loved kindergarden? Because I did. One of the best ways to get me excited to this day is to announce a craft time.

Yet another area of my life where I never grew up.

2003-03-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

I want to go back to not working on weekends. It sucks. And after earning somewhat decent wages temping and at Barnes and Noble, the money isn't enough of a compensation anymore. The one perk is getting to bring candy to my friends after my shift. As Katie puts it, I'm the Candy Fairy.

Speaking of whom, I met Katie and her boyfriend (and my former RA), Chris, tonight at the UC. Katie graciously paid for my supper and milkshake, having many more credtis than I do, and then we watched some godawful movie on Lifetime. But the best part was when Katie went into rant-mode over a Sears air conditioning commercial. To summarize for those who haven't seen it, Couple is in hot house, Wife nags Husband about not calling Sears, Husband gives in, Sears installs air conditioner, Couple is happy. I set Katie off by asking (rhetorically, I might add) why the wife couldn't have called Sears herself. Off goes Katie. Women obviously can't make a big decision by themselves. Especially when a large appliance is involved. She must rely on a big, strong man to do it. She certainly couldn't pick up the phone because she might break a nail. Only once she relies on the man does she become less-frazzled and get good hair. Therefore, it is not really a Sears commercial, but a Pantiene commercial.

I can't reproduce how funny it was. She was in rare form. Chris and I just stared at her. And then we laughed. And laughed some more when Katie almost snorted her milkshake. Good times.

2003-03-26T18:07:00.000-05:00

I am so tired. My eyes have had that dry, achy feel from too little sleep all day. I'd like nothing better than to have a lazy evening tonight and turn in around ten. Ha! I do have an hour before the roommate thing, after that I'm taking Jen out for her birthday. We're going to Casa Mia, a wonderful little Mexican restaurant. I'm really looking forward to it. I've been craving Mexican food for the past week. When Jen told me at lunch where she wanted to go I could have kissed her. After that I will turn in early, studying be damned. If I get a good night's sleep I can get up at a decent hour tomorrow and do my cramming.

Shoot, I just remembered that fire inspections start tomorrow. Okay. I turn in after I clean my room. Last thing I need is for the local fire chief to have to poke around my underwear looking for safety violations.

2003-03-25T23:07:00.000-05:00

Time for the weekly update on the Rogue Nation of Deatheaters!

UN Category: Corrupt dictatorship
Civil Rights: Good (up from below average)
Economy: Reasonable (up from weak)
Political Freedoms: Rare

The Rogue Nation of Deatheaters is a large, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its compulsory military service. Its cynical population of 23 million are ruled with an iron fist by the dictatorship government, which ensures that no-one outside the party gets too rich. In their personal lives, however, citizens are relatively unoppressed; it remains to be seen whether this is because the government genuinely cares about its people, or if it hasn't gotten around to stamping out civil rights yet.

The government -- a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked, corrupt morass -- juggles the competing demands of Public Transport, Education, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 43%, but much higher for the wealthy. A small but healthy private sector is dominated by the Beef-Based Agriculture industry.

High-income earners pay a 100% tax rate, scientists regularly clone human beings for research purposes, marijuana is legal in the privacy of your own home, and the government's religious works are headed by a New Age guru. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is relatively low, thanks to a well-funded police force. Deatheaters's national animal is the skink, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the knut.

2003-03-25T18:02:00.000-05:00

Stunningly beautiful day today and I spent a good hour of it inside parting with my blood. I hate giving blood. I have more than a slight phobia about needles and usually feel faint at some point during the proceedings. I keep doing it because I try to prove to myself that I can get over the phobia and that I should be able to set that aside to help other people anyway. I still hate doing it, still hate needles, still can feel my heartbeat getting faster when I sit in that chair. But hey, I got a t-shirt and cookies at the end. That has to count for something.

Finally got my Greco-Roman mythology exam back today. I got a very solid C, which is all I was shooting for. No need to exert myself more than necessary in a pass/fail class. We have another exam - excuse me, "quiz" - Thursday, so I'll get to do my cramming thing again. Thankfully my Letters of Paul class was cancelled for Thursday so we could have another movie night.

Tomorrow night I have to go to the "Roommate Reception" to try to find someone to live with next year, since my housing lottery number isn't good enough for a single. I hate forced meeting events with a passion and am not looking forward to it.

2003-03-24T01:04:00.000-05:00

Spirited Away won Best Animated Feature! Yes! Now if only Disney will decide to give it a wide-release.

I was supposed to work Thursday and Friday, but my hours got cancelled. So instead I spent a couple hours Friday afternoon painting the local kennel. It was great fun. Me, a couple of friends, and cans of paint. If you're ever in the Williamsburg area, check out the Heritage Animal Shelter. First block on the right side - that's all us. We did good. And yes, "mutt" is a breed of dog.

I did work yesterday and today. Funny how quickly you lose the tolerance for standing on your feet for hours on end. My feet still hurt. I miss the ability I had at home to soak them in the tub. Here I get by with a warm washcloth and a couple of pillows.

* * * * * * *

Doug and I made a cake today for Jen's surprise birthday party. It sunk a bit in the middle, but I disguised it with lots of frosting. I covered the cake with about a third of the frosting left in the can, but Katie insisted on using the entire thing. That icing was at least half an inch thick at the end. Good thing everyone there had a sweet tooth.

2003-03-20T18:29:00.000-05:00

I now have a LiveJournal, courtesy of Zelda. I've decided I'll use it for my thoughts on books, movies, and such, as well as HP messageboard related stuff. This blog is mostly real-life based, and I'd like to keep it that way. That's not to say there won't be spillover, but I'll try and keep them distinct.

2003-03-20T01:24:00.000-05:00

I never got spring colds until I moved to Williamsburg. I never had allergies either. I hate having both. I hate having to be drugged up to not feel miserable, and then feel drugged up instead.

I'm feeling generally bummed now too. It's not like I didn't know the war was coming, but to see bombs actually being dropped on Iraq is something else. I wouldn't call myself an absolute pacifist, but the whole process leading up to this point has been so mishandled that I can't find it in me to support the war. If we're going to go to war, I'd like my leaders to have honestly considered peaceable alternatives first. I never got that feeling with Bush.

I should really get to bed. Sleep is good for the sick. I blame Zelda for being so interesting again on the chat.

2003-03-18T21:50:00.000-05:00

Since I'm not quite ready to study yet, here's the weekly update on The Rogue Nation of Deatheaters

UN Category: Corrupt dictatorship
Civil Rights: Below Average
Economy: Weak
Political Freedoms: Rare

The Rogue Nation of Deatheaters is a small, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its absence of drug laws. Its hard-nosed, cynical population of 9 million are ruled with an iron fist by the dictatorship government, which ensures that no-one outside the party gets too rich. In their personal lives, however, citizens are relatively unoppressed; it remains to be seen whether this is because the government genuinely cares about its people, or if it hasn't gotten around to stamping out civil rights yet.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Public Transport, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 47%, but much higher for the wealthy. A very small private sector is dominated by the Beef-Based Agriculture industry.

Organ donation rates have hit a new low, skinks are considered a delicacy, political parties are banned from advertising and receiving private donations, and euthanasia is legal. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is relatively low, thanks to a well-funded police force. Deatheaters's national animal is the skink, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the knut.

2003-03-18T21:10:00.000-05:00

Had a nice little chat over at the Pensieve today. And when I say little I mean two and a half hours. I feel like I got to know Zelda a little better, to the point that she is now my evil twin. Nothing is as bonding as similiar feelings on fictional characters. I do wonder though, does anyone really think that Teddy was better than Dean in Lucy Maud Montgomery's Emily series? The boy has no spine! I'd take Dean in a heartbeat and leave romantic artiste Teddy for some equally shallow girl.

I really need to update my webpage. Not just adding a wallpaper or winamp skin, but an honest-to-god update. I want to take down most of Anime Babes, add a Snape section, and finally get up my Hime-chan no Ribon page. The content is done, I just need to get the HTML written. And the graphics done. And find the time for it all. I really want to start on it tonight, but I have stuff to write for classes tomorrow. Stupid responsibilities.

Oh right, I saw Chicago. Very enjoyable, highly recommended. I don't know if it should win best picture, but I support the return of the musical to the big screen and if that's what it takes, so be it. The art direction was marvelous; it should win for best costume. The only other two awards I care about are Two Towers for best special effects and Spirited Away for best animated feature.

Today's funky music: "You Sexy Thing" by Barry White and "Not a Pretty Girl" by Ani Defranco

2003-03-15T00:52:00.000-05:00

I don't usually go in for those quiz things, but this one was short and cute.

You are Rain. You are most compatable with Snow and
Light is your enemy.

Whats your element?
brought to you by Quizilla

Stuff happened today, like my first day back at Wythe and eating at Sonic and seeing Chicago. I'll expand on that tomorrow. Now I'm tired and going to bed.

2003-03-13T22:37:00.000-05:00

Yet another beautiful day. William and Mary students live for days like these. We spill out on to all available flat grassy spaces, armed with towels and sunscreen, frisbees and baseballs, and, because we're a school of nerds, schoolbooks. Nice weather brings out the musicians too. You can't walk around campus without passing by the guy with his bongo or guitar, happily playing away to no one but himself. Everyone smiles on days like this.

Happy sunny day music: "Manic Monday" by the Bangles and "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane

2003-03-12T22:16:00.000-05:00

Feeling a little sick. I think it was something I ate. Anyway, funniest thing I read today came from Neil Gaiman's journal:

I have very mixed feelings about Americans disliking the French. I'm English, after all. We have a special relationship with the French: we are in awe of their sophistication, their cuisine and their wines, we think their women are beautiful, we like them as individuals, we badly want to go and live in their country when we retire, while at the same time we are deeply suspicious of them. It's like having people living next door to you who may be snappier dressers and better cooks, but who, after all, borrowed the lawn mower sometime in the thirteenth century and never gave it back. Anyway, the English dislike the French. We're really good at it. We've been doing it ever since we got up one day and realised that the Norman Conquerors were now, like it or not, Us, and weren't conquering French people any more. We feel, frankly, that if anyone's going to dislike the French, it's going to be us. On the whole we manifest our dislike for them by drinking their wines, buying up their cigarettes, and, despite the fact that all English people can naturally roll their Rs and speak perfect French, declining to do so, and when forced by circumstances to speak French the English do it with an English accent on purpose.

These are tactics we've worked out over the course of hundreds of years, and if carried on long enough, they will bring France to its knees. I'm English. I know these things.

Changing the name french fries to freedom fries, on the other hand, will just make them laugh at you.

I really do need to read some of his stuff. Sandman's been on my list for years now.

2003-03-12T14:20:00.000-05:00

Go me! Aced my quiz in Islam today. Not that it was difficult, but full marks are full marks. It's also beautiful outside. I spent an hour after lunch shooting the breeze with Doug and Jen on a bench by the big statue of James Blair (also known as the Darth Vader statue). I made the mistake of telling Doug there was such a thing as Middle-earth Risk. He's now determined to find and play it. Heh. Sounds like fun. Give me Moria and I'm unstoppable. Go forth cave trolls! Stand strong my little orc minions! Bwahaha!

2003-03-11T23:10:00.000-05:00

Yep, just as good the fourth time as the first. I'd forgotten that Fonda's portrayal of juror eight doesn't sit quite right with me. He does an excellent job, but he's too smug at times, too sure of his own rightness. I don't remember my very first impression of juror eight now, but I do remember that he wasn't quite like Fonda. I'm sure there's something profound in that, about only remembering differences. Beats me what it is though.

Back to the movie.

2003-03-11T22:28:00.000-05:00

I just finished watching A Witness for the Prosecution courtesy of the Turner Classic Movie channel. I haven't mentioned yet how much I love black and white movies, have I? I was only half watching it in the beginning, checking messageboards and such while it was on, and then I realized that I was interested even though I was only peripherally aware of what was going on. That's usually a good clue that the movie is good. Since it's based on an Agatha Christie screenplay, I half-guessed the twist at the end, but not all of it. Spoilers ahoy.

I thought the defendent was guilty, but I didn't guess his wife set up the whole lying/letter thing. Poor woman. What an absolute jerk her husband was. Marlene Dietrich did a fabulous job though. I need to find more movies she's been in now.

And yet for all the emotional twists of the movie, what's going to stick with me is the picture of Sir Wilfrid Robarts' assistant waving around those voluminous shorts. Hee!

This must be court night for TCM, because 12 Angry Men is on now. I first read the play in my eighth grade English class, nine years ago. I was blown away by it then, when it was a bunch of thirteen year olds taking turns reading it outloud, and I'm still amazed by it. I love that we never know the names of the twelve jurors, yet by the end they're completely distinct. I love that the entire movie, minus about two minutes at the beginning, takes place in a single room. I love that you think the movie is about a jury deciding the fate of a man, and then you slowly come to realize it's about the jurors themselves. It's such a beautiful cross-section of human life and experiences. Everybody should to watch it at least once.

2003-03-11T16:28:00.000-05:00

Hee! I just ran across a link to make and rule your own nation-state. I rule the Rogue Nation of Deatheaters. Some loser already had Slytherin. Bah.

The generated description of my nation runs as follows:

The Rogue Nation of Deatheaters is a tiny, environmentally stunning nation, renowned for its absence of drug laws. Its hard-nosed, cynical population of 5 million are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The enormous, corrupt government is mainly concerned with Law & Order, although Religion & Spirituality and Defence are on the agenda. The average income tax rate is 35%, but much higher for the wealthy. A very small private sector is dominated by the Basket Weaving industry.

Crime -- especially youth-related -- is relatively low, thanks to a well-funded police force. Deatheaters's national animal is the skink, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the knut.

Sounds good to me.

2003-03-11T11:33:00.000-05:00

My morning class has been cancelled. Since this is time I technically I shouldn't have, I am spending it on anything not school related. Terry Pratchett, here I come.

2003-03-11T01:35:00.000-05:00

I've set up my new lamp in my room. Before this all I had was the awful harsh overhead lights. My lamp is one of those paper lantern things that makes soft light and is perfect for late night reading. It's a fine addition to my little living space.

You know, Cowboy Bebob still has one of the best openings I've ever seen for a show, animated or otherwise. I was planning on going to bed, but I'll stay up if it's a good episode. Hmm . . . looks like it's the heavy metal one. I think I'll watch. The female trucker is da bomb. And I like that she wanders around with a poofy cat. It's the simple things that keep me happy.

2003-03-09T22:28:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm back. I could have posted at home, but I was enjoying my state of vegetation. If I was on the internet three times, I'd be surprised. I like to take breaks every once in a while just to remind myself that there's nothing essential here. The downside: I had over 300 new emails to go through today from my various mailing lists. Ugh.

So break was fun. Tina and I watched loads of anime, I played Kingdom Hearts (very fun, very addicting), and we ate far too much chocolate. We went into NYC and wandered around. I picked up a couple volumes of Hime-chan no Ribon from Kinokuniya's since I can't find the series anywhere on line. Also exercised self-control and did not buy the first Magic Knight Rayearth manga boxset.

Managed to see Kelley and Lillie over break too. We tried a little Vietnamese place along the Strip of Ethnic Restaurants near my house. It was good and it was cheap, thus we were happy. Unfortunately, Bush's speech came on the TV while we were eating (this was a hole-in-the-wall place). It could have ruined the meal. We avoided that by trying to guess which of the five lines Bush had memorized he'd use to dodge each question a member of the press would ask him. No, we're not Bush fans.

I spent my last day home not at home. Nate, my forever-baby brother, had qualifiers for the fencing nationals about two hours away in Harrisonburg. He managed to beat the number one seed second round and finished in eighth place. That means he qualifies for division two and well as division three in nationals (and he got a medal in the tournament - yay shiny objects). I am very proud.

And now I'm back, with the addition of my tv, vcr, and dvd player to my dorm room. I'm debating whether or not to watch an extra from my extended FotR dvd before bed tonight. I probably will, because tomorrow I'll have reading again. Bah.

2003-02-28T12:06:00.000-05:00

DONE! *does a happy dance*

And tonight I'm on my way to New Jersey for a friend-visit! Happy Abby.

I don't know if I'll be able to post while I'm gone on break. Or at least while I'm in NJ. So I might be MIA for the next few days. I'm sure I'll have plenty to talk about when I get back. ^_^

Where is my father? I'm ready to hit the road. And I'm hungry. I'm operating on one hour of sleep, and two root beers in the last 18 hours. Wanna leave! (yes, I'm whining. I'm tired/hyper/cranky)

Song: "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynard Skynard

2003-02-28T00:41:00.000-05:00

Stupid mid-term. Stupid class. Stupid everything.

And I still need to do laundry.

Music: "A Thousand Years" by Sting (Am feeling sappy and general I-want-to-be-anywhere-but-here-ness. Stupid song)

2003-02-26T19:57:00.000-05:00

Go me. I remembered my Harry Potter topic idea. Am procrastinating on starting my take-home. Very bad. I'm going to stop procrastinating now, because I'll kill myself tomorrow if I don't. Goal: One essay completely done. Second outlined, notes on third.

Music: "Requiem for a Dream" by Clint Mansell (used in the Two Towers teaser trailer)

2003-02-25T13:40:00.000-05:00

Woo! Midterm number two over and done with (and done well - yay!). All I have left is my take-home due Friday and I'm free. Hurrah for spring break!

2003-02-24T20:24:00.000-05:00

I almost took a shower with my bedroom slippers on. There I was, water running, ready to step in, when some nagging thought made me look down at my feet. Had to go back to my room to put on my flip-flops instead (no one showers in a dorm shower barefoot). I've had too many such moments today. Normally I'd chalk it up to being tired and turn in early, but I have another exam tomorrow and need to do that studying thing.

I had a brilliant idea for a topic on the Harry Potter messageboard I frequent last night. Today I haven't the slightest idea what it was. Don't you hate that?

Feeling nice and clean.

Music: "Standing Still" by Jewel

2003-02-24T11:16:00.000-05:00

Nothing like walking out of a test with the happy assurance that you'll be getting an A. If I liked or knew that "l33t" stuff, I'd be babbling about how I owned it. Only I'd have randomly inserted numbers and symbols instead of using letters like a civilized person. Sometimes I think everyone who uses l33t harbors a deep-seated grudge against their elementary school teachers and this is their way of getting revenge.

So I completely forgot about my Joe Millionaire write-up. Whoops. You'd think I'd do it now, wouldn't you? Well, you're wrong. I found and read Television Without Pity's episode re-caps, and bugger me if she didn't say everything I would have. And she thinks Alison was the only decent woman on the show, too. Go read.

* * * * *

I've discovered a highlight of having a double to myself. I have two desks: one for my computer, one to sit and study at. Niiiice.

Music: "Can't Stop Loving You" by Phil Collins

2003-02-23T18:30:00.000-05:00

Bah. Lillie and Kelley have left and I don't want to study. I need to, because I have a test tomorrow morning. It's not hard, I just don't want to do it. Bah.

Lillie had some good news while she was here. She's been accepted into one of her graduate programs, and the woman she talked to said they'd be trying their best to get her a good stipend with it. Lillie was quite bouncy for about fifteen minutes after that.

Shoot. I just remembered that I need to do laundry tonight. I have no more socks. I need to start planning this better. It always seems I need to do laundry when it's least convienent.

I think I'll go pick up supper from Wawa. Study time can start after that.

Music: "Hello, Dolly", from the musical of the same name

2003-02-21T16:11:00.000-05:00

Why, oh why, have I had the Archies' "Sugar Sugar" running through my head all day?

It's a grey day. I'd love a bit of blue sky right about now. I'm sick of all this overcast stuff. Give me sunshine! You know what's weird? There are bugs flying around outside. I swatted one today walking back from checking my mail. It took me a good minute to figure out why I felt something was off. Bugs have no business being active in February. If I have to put up with buzzing things, there'd better be flowers popping up to compensate. No flowers, no bugs.

I got a call from Denise yesterday. Wythe is going back to regular hours after spring break, which means I can start earning money again. I need to get my butt over there sometime this weekend and put in my availability sheet. It's been a good ten months since I worked there. I hope I haven't lost my ability to eyeball weights. If I have, the first week or so is going to be a pain.

Went to Food Lion today and picked up the March issue of Shonen Jump. I'll be honest, I read it for three things: One Piece, Yu Yu Hakusho, and the hope that they'll announce they have the rights to Rurouni Kenshin. Yes, I am a Kenshin fangirl.

Honey!
Oh, sugar sugar
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting yooooou!
*slaps self*

2003-02-20T21:32:00.000-05:00

I must have had some bad sleep karma to work off today. I slept just about the whole day. I know I'm not coming down with anything. Weird.

Music: "Starless" from the second Rurouni Kenshin soundtrack. Why can't American cartoons have music like this?

2003-02-19T23:24:00.000-05:00

I could have done something productive this evening. I didn't. I was sucked into the vast repository of articles over at The Guardian: Gender Issues. Don't click on that unless you have a few hours to spare. Or at least have better self-discipline than I do.

I received and read Brust's Brokendown Palace last night. I have a whole slew of questions now about how it fits into the Vlad books. I need to put them in semi-coherent order and send them off to the Dragaera mailing list. For my own benefit, in case I start forgetting: (highlight to read, don't if you haven't read the book. I don't want to spoil anything)

- Cawti's a quarter Dragaeran? Does she know this?
- Could Noish-pa have travelled to the Dragaeran empire to escape the prejudice against witches in Fenario? Wait, that doesn't work. Could the original reason for Noish-pa to have left Fenario been that prejudice?
- Perhaps I'm slow, but I didn't understand why Bolk's heart banished the Demon Goddess.
- Alan Lee did the cover! Cool.

Currently re-visiting my oldies music folder. On right now: Frank Sinatra singing "Fly Me to the Moon". Quality.

2003-02-19T18:38:00.000-05:00

So Doug and I had our weekly lunch today. I'd lent him my Jhereg omnibus, and he reported that he'd read the first book and was liking the series. Then we have the following:

Doug: I could be an assassin.
Me: . . .
Doug: No, really. I could.
Me: . . . Okay.
Moment of silence, wherein we each have a bite of lasagna
Me: So what would be your weapon of choice?
Doug: A bazooka.

* * * * *

Sucky upcoming stuff: Got my take-home final for Rabbinic Judaism. So I have that due next week, along with midterms in Islam and Letters of Paul. On the other hand, that means I don't have much to actually do for any of those classes.
Good upcoming stuff: Lillie and Kelley are coming to visit this weekend. Yay! I should ask them if they want to go see the production of The Importance of Being Earnest that's happening Saturday. We'll probably go out to Miyako's too. I haven't had sushi in a few weeks. Mmmm.

2003-02-18T16:15:00.000-05:00

Bwahaha! I just drew a one panel cartoon instead of writing an essay for 1/4 of my exam grade. Drawing my college president in Sisyphos' place was too tempting an opportunity to pass up. Given that I have the artistic ability of one of those elephants with paint buckets, my success was limited, but it's a pass/fail class, so what do I care?

Ooh, my Thursday exam's been pushed back to next Tuesday, and my paper due next Wednesday's been moved to Friday. My professors love me.

Thought: You know your mailing list has too much traffic when you have six new messages by the time you finish reading through all the email you just downloaded. o_O

2003-02-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

Cram. Cram. Cram.

2003-02-17T23:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, I watched Joe Millionaire tonight. I know I said I'd write up my thoughts, but I have a mythology exam tomorrow. Even though I'm only taking the class pass/fail, there's an absurd amount of memorization required for the pass, hence my current state of cramming. I may get around to something tomorrow night, but I have another exam Thursday (in a real class), so that's iffy. Thursday at the latest, unless I really feel like procrastinating.

2003-02-17T10:17:00.000-05:00

I was hoping for a snow day. I guess dangerously icy sidewalks and streets aren't enough for the college officials since, in their infinite wisdom, they decided to keep the school open today. But after I walked over to Millington, I discovered that my ten o'clock, in his infinite wisdom, had cancelled class. I'll take what I can get.

2003-02-16T15:35:00.000-05:00

Okay, now I've gone from bafflement to anger. I'm gonna go yell at ResLife tomorrow about this. Part of the deal with me coming back to school was that I would have a roommate. If she was looking for a single since last semester, ResLife should have known not to put me with her. And I definitely should have been informed that this was going to happen before she moved out. I'm not asking for veto power or anything, but I should have at least been told. And my RA has yet to come by and say anything about it. I'm half wondering if this is a real room switch. If it's not, I'm going to make it one and make sure she doesn't still have a key to the room. This has not been handled well.

In other news, it's snowing, a rare feat for Williamsburg. I woke up to snow on the ground, carefully hiding the layer of ice underneath. If this keeps up, we might get another snow day tomorrow. My brother isn't too happy because they have a foot of snow at home with more on the way. There's no question school's cancelled for him tomorrow, and they've used up all snow days and have no more holidays to cancel. That means more days at the end of the year. No, he's definitely not happy.

2003-02-16T12:26:00.000-05:00

Someone has left a phone message for my ex-roommate. For those who have college voicemail systems, you know why that sucks. I'll have to see about calling IT (information technology) to take her off this number.

2003-02-16T00:58:00.000-05:00

Well, I have a new phone. The old one belonged to my ex-roommate. A phone is kind of an important thing to have, so Jen and Doug drove me to Target this afternoon. My new phone is black, cordless, and doesn't take up much room - which is all I ask of a phone. I did not, despite Doug's hints, get either the $199.99 phone or the Hello Kitty clock radio. I also picked up an umbrella, because springtime is very rainy here and while my jacket may pretend to be waterproof in a light drizzle, in anything substantial it loses interest after about five seconds. The umbrella is brown and makes a very satisfying "poof" sound when it opens. And it has a metal tip. This is vital, because any umbrella I use often has to serve double duty as a dueling weapon.

Last night, I was a bit upset that my roommate just up and left without so much a word in advance. Today, I'm just baffled. I mean, what bizarre behavior.

2003-02-15T00:59:00.000-05:00

I returned from the movie tonight to half of an empty room. My roommate has moved out. She left a note saying she had been looking for a single from the time her previous roommate told her she was going abroad. Evidently she didn't feel it necessary to share this information with me. And she couldn't tell me in person because she had to "check out" or some other such crap. Thanks for ruining my night.

2003-02-14T17:42:00.000-05:00

I have an actual social life tonight. Wow. I'm going out for dinner with friends, then we're seeing Daredevil in all its opening-night glory. Should be fun.

2003-02-14T16:04:00.000-05:00

I'm very happy right now. I just got my Patlabor/Akemi Takada artbook Now or Never in the mail. I wasn't expecting it for another three weeks (shipping from Japan). What makes Akemi Takada's illustrations so special is her ability to capture the quiet moments in the characters' lives. She doesn't just draw the characters, she captures their personalities, their relationships, their thoughts. It's beautiful. I know I'll be revisiting this book on a regular basis.

2003-02-12T22:17:00.000-05:00

Just got back from a talk tonight given by the religion department. I emphatically did not agree with the speaker, and the thoughts are still jumping around in my head. The topic was: Is God in Heaven? Professor Morreall was putting forth the idea that God is not a physical being (courtesy of the Platonists) and therefore could not be in a physical place (heaven). His argument was that the language is not consistent, and therefore Christians need to rework their conception of heaven. On his handout:

1. Heaven is a place.

2. Only what is physical is located in a place.

3. God is not physical.

4. So God is not located in a place.

5. So God is not in heaven.

Logically, you can't argue. What most people did was object to his assumptions - particularly that God is not physical. I agreed with most of the points made concerning this: that God is physical in several aspects of Christianity (Jesus as fully God and fully human, transubstantiation of the sacraments), that language is an imperfect tool to describe God, that God making God solely incorporeal is putting a different kind of limit on him. But the main flaw (that no one really addressed - although several people were implying it) is the assumption that religion can and should be able to be described in logical terms. To paraphrase many, many persons, that's not religion, that's philosophy. This addresses the language concern, because language is a human construct and by its very nature logical.

I'm trying to think how I want to talk about Professor Morreall. He is a very intelligent, very funny man, but something about him rubs me the wrong way. One of my friends who was also at the talk tonight said that she doesn't like it when someone is antagonistic or controversial just to get a rise out of people. I partially agree with her. On the one hand, I can appreciate the need to present an extreme in order to get people to reconsider a previously accepted condition. It's like bargaining; if you want to end up in the middle, you have to offer something at the other extreme first. But I dislike it when a person. I think it shows a lack of respect for other persons to use something so integral to many person's lives as religion is in this pursuit. Not only that, but it makes it more difficult later to open a real discourse on the issue. You've de-legitimized the argument in people's eyes, and they're less likely to view it as a real issue that should be addressed.

I realize that last paragraph was vague and likely confusing. No doubt I'll come up with a more pithy way to put it later, but I needed to get it out in some fashion. I do like Professor Morreall, and I don't think he's quite as bad as I just implied, but I wish he'd stop trying to treat religion like philosophy. Philosophy is his thing, and it's good to have an alternative view of religion presented, but they aren't the same thing! Argh.

2003-02-12T01:20:00.000-05:00

The Apostle was . . . interesting. I spent the entire movie trying to figure out if I was supposed to be finding the main character sympathetic. On the one hand, he's very dedicated to his mission to start and sustain this new church. On the other hand, he's a hypocrite who never realizes the wrongness of going after a married woman when he's still married himself. I'm also not sure how I feel about that being present. Would it not be possible to tell this story without the stereotypical flaw in the charismatic preacher? Robert Duvall plays it extremely well, but I would have liked to see the movie take the more difficult road and show the human side in a different fashion.

As a movie, it wasn't very good. The preaching scenes went on far too long. After the first few minutes, I started thinking, "Okay, we get the point. Now can we advance the plot?" The end in particular dragged. I will give it one thing; it looked extremely realistic. I've never seen so many normal-looking people in an American movie. And Duvall is frightenly convincing as an evangelist. I had to laugh at the line about how "all the white folk hear [him] and think [he's] black." Sadly, that's how most "white folk" really would react.

As a starting point for talking about conversion and Paul, I think it will work very well. One of the big focuses (focii? - that sounds too pretentious) of our class is whether Paul really changed after his conversion. Certainly Duvall's character thinks he's changed - or at least re-dedicated himself to God - but his behavior isn't much different from before. I'm sure some people in my class will be upset at this portrayal and we'll have ourselves a rousing discussion.

2003-02-11T13:40:00.000-05:00

Sometimes my Paul class is annoying. I will undoubtably address this in detail at some point in the semester. Today though, it was amusing. A couple of highlights:

- hearing early Christianity referred to as a "theological game of telephone"
- Paul called both a "loose cannon" and an "arrogant egomaniac"

Fun stuff, I'm telling you. Tonight we're watching The Apostle, which kills my normal time to study. I'll have to fight through my usual down time and try to be productive instead of napping or vegging in front of the tv.

2003-02-10T22:19:00.000-05:00

Or not the last episode. That's an hour of my life I'll never get back. I am miffed. If they hadn't had all of those flashbacks . . . but then, it's excellent marketing/exploitation of the audience. Guess I'll just have to postpone my thoughts till next week. As for the big twist, the only thing I can think it might be is that he really does have money - but he doesn't know it. Can't see how that would happen, but it would be amusing.

I hit the bookstore earlier today and snagged volume five of Marmelade Boy and volume nine of Cardcaptor Sakura. With the discounts I got on them, my membership card has now paid for itself. And the card's good till next January. Oh yeah.

I browsed the fantasy books too for something new, but nothing caught my eye. I blame it on my desire for more Brust books. I only have one more here at school to re-read before I run out of material. I want something similiar, but there isn't anything with the same kind of style (Vlad is an addictive narrator). Curses. On the plus side, I just joined the Dragaera mailing list, so I have other people to share my obsession. I'm strongly considering adding a section on my webpage for my thoughts on Dragaera. We'll see.

2003-02-10T13:09:00.000-05:00

It's raining and I'm tired. That about sums it up. And I had a pop quiz this morning in Islam. Good thing I did the reading for it last night before I went to bed. I think I'll curl up with Taltos for a bit before I get myself together for Judaism later today.

Oh yeah. Last episode of Joe Millionare tonight. It's like watching a traffic accident, only worse. I'll probably have something to say about the whole concept after it airs tonight.

2003-02-09T17:53:00.000-05:00

I got . . . one and a half things on my list done yesterday. Go me. In my defense, one of them was out of my control, but the rest was all me. I got the urge to make winamp skins for the first time in months and finished up three that had been sitting on my computer. That effectively killed all productivity for yesterday. And today. My goal for the rest of the evening is to get my Judaism stuff done. Focus, Abby. Focus.

2003-02-08T12:29:00.000-05:00

Things to do today:

- eat lunch with Ralston

- catch up on mythology reading

- Rabbinic Judaism reading

- response papers for Rabbinic Judaism (last Wednesday's and this Monday's)

- mail payment for my new computer speakers

- see My Big Fat Greek Wedding at the University Center

- exercise self-discipline and actually accomplish all of this

2003-02-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

I have had the best surprise. A few hours ago one of my (graduated) yearmates from college showed up at my door. It was completely unexpected. We talked for a bit then went out to meet another college friend, also in the area, for supper at the local Mexican place. We sang "Oklahoma!" in the car ride back. Badly.

They're off checking into their hotel room now, but they'll be back for a rousing game of Spades. To top it off, we have obtained pints of Baskin Robbins ice cream. Tonight is a good night.

2003-02-07T15:14:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I really hate America. Today I had a spam email urging me to buy a "Limited Edition Space Shuttle Columbia Commemorative Coin". Because the best way to honor the deaths of seven people is to spend $40 on a little flat circle of metal. I think it's the speed with which this thing was created and marketed that really bothers me. In order for it to be out this fast, someone had to say to themselves, almost immediately after it happened, "Hey, I bet I could make money off of this."

I feel dirty.

2003-02-07T09:25:00.000-05:00

Sars over at Tomato Nation has a wonderful article reflecting on the Columbia shuttle. Highly recommended.

2003-02-07T00:17:00.000-05:00

Finished Jhereg. Have decided once again that Morrolan is one of the best fictional characters ever. The next Brust book, The Lord of Castle Black, can't come out fast enough.

2003-02-06T16:40:00.000-05:00

For some unknown reason, I've developed a blister on the tip of my little toe. Ouch.

2003-02-06T13:10:00.000-05:00

Woo! No class this morning because we're having a movie night next week. My plan was to get up my normal time and catch up on some reading. Heh, right. I slept in and then re-read some of Steven Brust's Jhereg. I don't think I've ever come across a series that's so much fun to read.

Isn't it odd how you can forget you've had a dream, then something during the day will remind you of it? That just happened to me as I was sitting here staring at the screen. Last night I dreamt that I was with my mom and my aunt back at my high school locker. I opened it up and all of these books and movies I didn't remember owning were there. My mom made me put them all in a duffel bag, then she and my aunt toted them off home while I was left there. And suddenly the locker was on the first floor of my dorm (or it had always been - you never can tell with dreams), so I wandered off to my room and went to bed. Strange.

2003-02-05T18:50:00.000-05:00

Just got back from class and supper. Probably only a religion major like myself could find Rabbinic Judaism so fascinating. It's easily the most intellectually stimulating course I have this semester. The readings by themselves would be dry, but the class discussion (all twelve of us) somehow makes it work. I often find myself voicing observations - good ones - that I didn't know I had made. Since I came back to college doubting my own readiness, it's a great source of validation that I'm find it so exciting.

2003-02-05T14:24:00.000-05:00

About a year ago, a friend and I made plans to go to Japan after we both graduated. For various reasons, the dates for both of us changed and the plans went into limbo. But today, today the plans have been resurrected. We have agreed on 2005 as our final, absolute deadline for this trip. I'm very, very excited. But (and this is a pretty big but), the estimated cost of the trip will be between $4000-5000. That's a lot of money. So it's excitement with a big condition attached. Especially for myself, who has never been much of a saver. Time for some mature self-discipline and self-denial on all those nice shiny DVDs and pretty books. It doesn't help that the candy store where I work when I'm at school isn't scheduling hours (no tourists). After taking a semester off from school, and working the entire time, it feels odd not to be pulling in any money. I don't like having to take money out of my account with no sure knowledge that any will be going back in the near future. I liked being part of the American workforce, darn it.

Anyway. I doubt my personal finances are that interesting. But I am truly looking forward to Japan. I've only wanted to go since I was in high school. So we're talking about seven years that I've dreamed of going. There were a couple times I thought I might be able to go, but they never panned out. The plus side is that I have a very definite idea of where I want to go, what I want to do, and now have who is probably the best person to go with. And more than that, I'm in a position now where I've traveled enough elsewhere that I feel I'll know how to get the most out of this trip. I'll no doubt be talking about this quite a bit in the future.

I should go do my response paper for class now. Before said class. Right. Off I go.

2003-02-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

I have no idea how one of these things is supposed to go. From what I've gathered from the three - four? - blogs I've come across, it's a place for whatever randomness I feel like posting. I can do randomness.

The first thing I'm going to do with this thing is mess around with the graphics. I'm no artist, but I can happily while away an hour or two playing with fonts and colors. I have about 200 fonts on my computer that I've never used, but I downloaded because they might come in useful. And they looked funky. I think half of my wallpapers I made just because I had a new font to play with. Such are the depths of a college student in search of procrastination.