Well, it's that time of year again; i.e., winter. And with winter comes a precipitous drop in temperature—from 80-90 degrees down to as low as, like, 50! I know, I know... brrrrr, right?! Well, normally I would whine and complain a lot about how much I really miss summer, but I thought that for once I'd try to look on the bright side and be positive. So I listed the top five things that I enjoy about being (freezing) cold. Here they are, in no particular order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
*sigh* I really, really, really miss summer.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
The Great Graduation Lecture Caper
Well, I made some serious progress on my lecture this weekend! In other words, I gathered a lot of quotes from various sources and arranged them in an aesthetically pleasing manner on a Word doc. They are quite inspirational, believe me. And mostly by Flannery O'Connor. My lecture isn't about Flannery O'Connor per se, but it might as well be, because I quote her like a million times, and everyone else gets maybe one quote. Even me, which is maybe not so good since I'm kind of supposed to be giving the lecture and therefore talking a little bit more than Flannery.
But really, if I had my way, instead of giving the lecture, I'd just hand everyone a copy of Flannery's book Mystery & Manners (which is where I pulled all the quotes from) and say, "Here, read this." Then I'd say, "My work here is done", don a cool red cape and fly away to help fight crime somewhere that needs a superheroine who wears a cool red cape and can fly.
And as a plus, I'd avoid having to give the lecture! Bonus.
Hey, I'm just saying what I'd do if I had my way. Clearly I am not going to have it, but that's OK. It's not the best situation, because I really do like having my way, but I'm adaptable. I can make do. I've come to terms, as they say.
Anyway, I guess it would get expensive, buying books for all the people who probably won't show up to my lecture because maybe they'll find someone else's more interesting and go to that person's instead.
On a completely different note, I've finally discovered The Flight of the Conchords. Which is kind of bad news in a way, because I spent most of the evening watching the first-season DVD and not as much of the evening finishing my lecture. But the good news is it's almost as funny as the Beached Whale video sensation on YouTube. (If you don't find the Beached Whale funny, you probably need to spend more time in New Zealand. Or just be a New Zealander.)
On yet another note, I only have three more days before Thursday, which is when I leave for Louisville. In that space of time I need to a) finish my lecture; b) finish making final edits to my thesis; c) reprint my corrected thesis to turn in to the program office; d) read a whole bunch of stories and critique them; e) um, something else that is no doubt important but that I've momentarily forgotten; and f) avoid slacking off.
It's going to be a tough week. Where are the red cape and superhero powers when you need 'em? I mean honestly.
But really, if I had my way, instead of giving the lecture, I'd just hand everyone a copy of Flannery's book Mystery & Manners (which is where I pulled all the quotes from) and say, "Here, read this." Then I'd say, "My work here is done", don a cool red cape and fly away to help fight crime somewhere that needs a superheroine who wears a cool red cape and can fly.
And as a plus, I'd avoid having to give the lecture! Bonus.
Hey, I'm just saying what I'd do if I had my way. Clearly I am not going to have it, but that's OK. It's not the best situation, because I really do like having my way, but I'm adaptable. I can make do. I've come to terms, as they say.
Anyway, I guess it would get expensive, buying books for all the people who probably won't show up to my lecture because maybe they'll find someone else's more interesting and go to that person's instead.
On a completely different note, I've finally discovered The Flight of the Conchords. Which is kind of bad news in a way, because I spent most of the evening watching the first-season DVD and not as much of the evening finishing my lecture. But the good news is it's almost as funny as the Beached Whale video sensation on YouTube. (If you don't find the Beached Whale funny, you probably need to spend more time in New Zealand. Or just be a New Zealander.)
On yet another note, I only have three more days before Thursday, which is when I leave for Louisville. In that space of time I need to a) finish my lecture; b) finish making final edits to my thesis; c) reprint my corrected thesis to turn in to the program office; d) read a whole bunch of stories and critique them; e) um, something else that is no doubt important but that I've momentarily forgotten; and f) avoid slacking off.
It's going to be a tough week. Where are the red cape and superhero powers when you need 'em? I mean honestly.
Friday, November 07, 2008
A Quiet Friday Afternoon
Too quiet, if you ask me. If a tumbleweed were to blow through our office right now, I wouldn't be at all surprised.
Actually, that's not true. Seeing as how we are not on the ground floor, and there aren't any tumbleweeds around, it would in fact be pretty weird if a tumbleweed made an appearance.
On another note, I'd just like to say that today on a lunchtime stroll I noticed that one house still had Halloween stuff up, even though Halloween was a week ago. That is almost as bad as putting up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.
But not nearly as bad as playing Christmas music before December. (I don't want to name names, but my mother is oh-so-guilty of this one.)
If I sound grouchy and grinchy today, it's probably because I got up too early this morning. I now have to go running before work instead of after, thanks to the time change and the shorter daylight hours, blah blah blah. And I am so not a morning person.
I've also noticed the weather getting colder. I do not like cold, which I define as anything less than 65 degrees F.
On a more positive note (yes, I can occasionally hit those), I got my end-of-semester evaluation from my writing mentor, and it pretty much said that I am awesome. I knew that, of course. But it's nice to see it in writing.
OK, I lied. It said my writing was awesome, but it is also cool to see that in writing.
If I sound oddly disjointed and delirious in this post, it's probably because I got up too early this morning.
Actually, that's not true. Seeing as how we are not on the ground floor, and there aren't any tumbleweeds around, it would in fact be pretty weird if a tumbleweed made an appearance.
On another note, I'd just like to say that today on a lunchtime stroll I noticed that one house still had Halloween stuff up, even though Halloween was a week ago. That is almost as bad as putting up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.
But not nearly as bad as playing Christmas music before December. (I don't want to name names, but my mother is oh-so-guilty of this one.)
If I sound grouchy and grinchy today, it's probably because I got up too early this morning. I now have to go running before work instead of after, thanks to the time change and the shorter daylight hours, blah blah blah. And I am so not a morning person.
I've also noticed the weather getting colder. I do not like cold, which I define as anything less than 65 degrees F.
On a more positive note (yes, I can occasionally hit those), I got my end-of-semester evaluation from my writing mentor, and it pretty much said that I am awesome. I knew that, of course. But it's nice to see it in writing.
OK, I lied. It said my writing was awesome, but it is also cool to see that in writing.
If I sound oddly disjointed and delirious in this post, it's probably because I got up too early this morning.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
A Public Service Message, of Sorts
The following is a public service message from your friendly neighborhood frogg princess.
Call me Scrooge (or Scroogette, preferably, seeing as how I am, after all, a girl), but there really should be a law against putting up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.
And I say that as someone who loves Christmas lights. But seriously, it's a bit much. I mean, give Thanksgiving a freaking chance, people!
That may be less of a public service message and more a sort of soapbox harangue, but I don't care.
Call me Scrooge (or Scroogette, preferably, seeing as how I am, after all, a girl), but there really should be a law against putting up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.
And I say that as someone who loves Christmas lights. But seriously, it's a bit much. I mean, give Thanksgiving a freaking chance, people!
That may be less of a public service message and more a sort of soapbox harangue, but I don't care.
You Know It's Going To Be A Long Day When...
...you've been ready to eat lunch since 10:45a.m. Grrr.
On another note, today on the freeway I saw a tow truck with a license plate that said, "YOU NEXT." Driving along in the lane behind the tow truck was an SUV with a license plate that said, "4SCRAPS." If I were that SUV, I'd have been feeling vaguely threatened. Actually, I kind of was anyway, and I'm not even a car.
It's possible that I am a little overly sensitive.
On another note, today on the freeway I saw a tow truck with a license plate that said, "YOU NEXT." Driving along in the lane behind the tow truck was an SUV with a license plate that said, "4SCRAPS." If I were that SUV, I'd have been feeling vaguely threatened. Actually, I kind of was anyway, and I'm not even a car.
It's possible that I am a little overly sensitive.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
History Has Been Made!
Namely, on October 31st, when, in an amazing feat of superfroggian prowess, I somehow managed to overcome my natural procrastinatory tendencies and finish my grant application! On time!! YES!!!
Oh yeah, and yesterday Obama was elected president. Also pretty historic, I suppose. It might even be slightly more historic than me beating myself at my own procrastination game, but that's a tough call.
Kidding. Sort of.
Anyway, so as Obama turns his attention to doing whatever president-elects do while they're waiting for January to roll around, I'll be turning mine to finishing up school stuff, seeing as how I'm leaving for Louisville, hmmm, next Thursday night. Yes, I realize that is only a week away. And yes, of course, I have absolutely nothing done that I am supposed to have done. Naturally, these things being the case, I managed my time tonight as effectively as I usually do — i.e., after work, I went for a 3-mile run, followed by a 3-mile walk with a couple friends, followed by agreeing to go to coffee with one of the said friends after the walk, followed by finally getting home at 11:30pm, at which point it was (of course) too late to do any work.
Other than writing this blog, I mean. Er.
In other words, this weekend is looking like it's going to be pretty historic, too. As in, it's going to be an epic catch-up session the likes of which I can't even fathom, being, as I am, in full-fledged denial.
But don't worry. I have a simple little mantra to get me through this difficult time:
YES I CAN!
Hey, if it's good enough for Obama...
Oh yeah, and yesterday Obama was elected president. Also pretty historic, I suppose. It might even be slightly more historic than me beating myself at my own procrastination game, but that's a tough call.
Kidding. Sort of.
Anyway, so as Obama turns his attention to doing whatever president-elects do while they're waiting for January to roll around, I'll be turning mine to finishing up school stuff, seeing as how I'm leaving for Louisville, hmmm, next Thursday night. Yes, I realize that is only a week away. And yes, of course, I have absolutely nothing done that I am supposed to have done. Naturally, these things being the case, I managed my time tonight as effectively as I usually do — i.e., after work, I went for a 3-mile run, followed by a 3-mile walk with a couple friends, followed by agreeing to go to coffee with one of the said friends after the walk, followed by finally getting home at 11:30pm, at which point it was (of course) too late to do any work.
Other than writing this blog, I mean. Er.
In other words, this weekend is looking like it's going to be pretty historic, too. As in, it's going to be an epic catch-up session the likes of which I can't even fathom, being, as I am, in full-fledged denial.
But don't worry. I have a simple little mantra to get me through this difficult time:
YES I CAN!
Hey, if it's good enough for Obama...
Monday, November 03, 2008
God's Dilemma
So I was driving into work this morning, listening to NPR. A woman was being interviewed about the elections, and she said that she was praying that John McCain would win.
Which puts God in a bit of a stitch, seeing as how I'm praying that McCain will lose. Awkward, isn't it.
Which puts God in a bit of a stitch, seeing as how I'm praying that McCain will lose. Awkward, isn't it.
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