Tuesday, April 22, 2008

The Upcoming Week

Until next Tuesday, I will be pretty much unavailable. I will try to stay offline. I will still answer my phone, but I won't be able to talk for very long. Between now and next Tuesday, I need to somehow write 35 pages for two different classes.

Really? Why do I put myself in these situations? I was trying to get a head start a few weeks ago. I have the books and a few notes on my topics, but no papers written. Some sort of mental block has been preventing me from doing anything constructive recently (and a few other things, but we won't go into that). I still can't breathe through my nose, but it is Spring, so that shouldn't be surprising.

I also need coffee right now. I'm falling asleep writing this (seriously). Anyways, be back in a week (-ish).

Friday, April 18, 2008

Some Projects

They are mowing around my apartment today which means today I cannot breathe through my nose and it feels like my ears have Q-tips shoved an inch deep into them. How's that for imagery?

Anyway, I've done a lot of knitting over the past few weeks, and since I blow through hats pretty fast, I have some pictures of a few of them.

First, a bucket hat (Pattern: A Better Bucket--PDF). Actually finished this a while ago. I didn't really enjoy making this, but it doesn't look bad:

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Next, this was supposed to be a test hat (Pattern: Lace-Edged Hat), but it looks better than the actual one. The first one is in wool, and I gave it to my roommate:

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The second is in cotton (which is why it doesn't look as nice) and I have sent it to my grandma to wear in the warmer weather. Sorry for the blurry/dark photo, but I have perpetually shaky hands and even crappier camera skills:

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Also, I made a sock (Pattern: Charade). I like it a lot, and have started on the second one, it will just take a while (stinkin class):

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Close up of the stitch pattern (this one is closer to the actual color):

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And as a side note, I found yarn in Hokie colors. I'm not sure what to make out of it...maybe a scarf?

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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Two posts in a day?! Gasp!

No, the world is not coming to an end. I'm just procrastinating. Again. With Summer Break quickly approaching (I'm ecstatic), I decided to create a Summer Resolution List of things I wanted to accomplish this summer.

1. Get a job. Self-explanatory. I need moneys.

2. Do more colorwork. Start the Anemoi Mittens and Endpaper Mitts and finish the Celtic Braided Fingerless Gloves. I've started them, but you won't see pictures until they are completely done.

3. Finish Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. It has been sitting, half-read, on my desk for a month now, and that irritates me.

4. Clean out my bedroom at my parent's house so they can renovate. The dresser and one of the bookshelves is done, but I'm such a slacker...

5. Take a trip to NYC. This is actually in the works. My roommate and I will probably go for a few days in July and see a "show." Who knows what else.

6. Get some more exercise. I'm a lump. (Does anyone remember that song, "Lump" by Presidents of the United States of America? You know..."Lump lingered last in line for brains / and the one she got was sorta rotten and insane" I wonder where I put that CD...)

7. Visit Blacksburg. I miss you guys (and Souvlaki's, and Easy Chair, oh and Gillie's, and there is this great bakery on main street)

8. Sneeze less. Really, my tissue box can't keep up.

9. Organize my room so it doesn't look like a college student's junk yard. Ikea may be involved. (This resolution can only be completed if Resolution 1 is also completed).

10. Make a list of ten resolutions because I like a nice even number and ten has a good ring to it.

Hell yes, I'm ahead of the game!

I also plan to make my cousin Elizabeth answer her phone more often. This isn't a resolution so much as it is an inevitable fact. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Buh?

Adventurous? Surprising? Bwahahaha! Right... Tightly wound and chill? Isn't that an oxymoron?

What Emily Means
You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.
You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

You may remember...

Some of you may remember that while I lived in Blacksburg, a woodpecker decided to make its home on the side of my apartment building, in my bedroom wall. At 6AM, this little devil would start his jackhammering. I made a video of it (no one believed me) and may still have it (and will post it later if I do). There were little drill holes scattered all across the side of the building. Eventually, after a lot of wire mesh and some wrangling, the maintenance crew for the apartment complex rooted the demon spawn out. But for several months, I was forced to endure the disease-ridden cretin's company.


Well, a woodpecker has just begun making its home right beneath my office window. The little SOB followed me.

Friday, April 4, 2008

The break seems to be over

I was invited to read a paper at a student research conference in two weeks, and while I really wanted to, it is on a bad day, so I can't. I guess the honor counts? Although the experience would be better.

My tax rebate came in, and I am behaving myself with it. Just bought a pair of pants and two shirts (on the cheap) to wear to work. I am desperately tempted to buy myself a PSP and the FFVII game. But I don't have time to play video games. I've wanted a PSP for a while, but it will have to wait until I have a salaried job (never) I guess. By the time I can buy one, they'll stop making them. Pffft.

Got offered a teaching job at one of the campuses of the local community college for a Comp class, but I discovered I don't have enough credits (one class short) and it is in Loudon which is just too far away. I got pretty excited at having a real job for about five minutes (and no, I do not want to be a teacher once I finish school up). So what I really need are job recommendations. Preferably not retail, hopefully part time, and maybe 2-3 days during the week, within a reasonable distance. I will need it for the summer and into the school year. I'm tired of other people supporting me financially.

Not really happy with class right now. Don't understand anything. Can't pay attention. Everything seems to be going well for the people around me, but I'm kinda stagnating. Can't.wait.for.summer.

They have been doing construction outside of my building for the past few weeks. It is getting a little old. And before you recommend it, the library is not any quieter. Blah, one of those days.