Memorial Day Recap.

Today (yesterday) was chock-full (how is that expression spelled?) of good things.

- lunch at Mongolian Barbecue with Kyle.
- watched Harry Potter with Kelsey (and she liked it!)
- phone call from Pier 1 (interview tomorrow (today) at 2:30pm)
- parents drove to town to surprise me (kind of sucked though because I had to go to work and Kelsey and I were in the middle of the movie so they left and then didn't come back until right before I had to work... which annoyed me. Oh well.)
- the bosses weren't at Cold Stone, so I was the boss tonight, and it went well.
- watched In America with Melissa... I love that movie.

So, all in all I'd say I had a pretty good Memorial Day... one worth memorial.

I watched Moulin Rouge last night, which is happy but depressing. Then I came online and found the official "rejection" of my application to Random House. Bastards. So I was going to come online and post, but I got thoroughly depressed instead. I attempted to start a new writing project, but everything that came out of my brain was frustratingly philistine and just plain boring, so... I gave up that endeavor and laid down to a troubled sleep.

Sorry that this post is chronologically challenged. Think of it like Memento.

Grades

Wow. So, my grades came out today, and while this semester was lackluster... I was pleasently surprised.

Geography: C You and I knew this. I had a solid B, but not studying for the final and the subsequent failing of it resulted in a C. Oops.

Environmental Lit: B Not a big surprise, considering I got B's on just about every assignment.

Advanced Fiction Writing: B The class was focused on revision; I didn't do much revision at all... can I really complain?

American Survey: B Wait... what? B? I only handed in half my midterm! I didn't do much of the reading! I failed not one but several of the semi-weekly prompts. Hmmm... either my teacher liked me (which is entirely possible; we had a great conversation about how I think the class isn't worth my time) or I had did a kick ass job on my paper/final.

So, Spring 2004, fairwell. You were by far the worst semester of my college career (GPA and otherwise), but I can look back upon you fondly now, and know that I gave you less than what you gave me in return. You're like a bad ex-spouse... and I got the better end of the alimony (was that the right term?).

The Idle Mind.

It's a terrible thing to waste, and it's the devil's playground. Amen to heterogeneous proverb-combinations. (Phew... almost didn't get all those big words out of my mind and onto my blog.)

It's what, 3:00am? And I am up doing what? Looking up to see which celebrities share my birthday on IMDB. Apparently I have the same birthday as 50 Cent, Geoffrey Rush, Jennifer Saunders (Fairy Godmother from Shrek 2), Sylvester Stalone, and...

:::gasp:::

... George W. Bush.

Why must all good things in life be tainted?

Oh well. So that's entertaining. Thanks to Carson for the props to a certain transitional phrase I was rather fond of in a particular entry this past April.

In other news I am getting pretty freaking excited about Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Not that I wasn't before. It's just coming to a fever pitch these days. Sorry if 'fever' pitch isn't the proper expression. For those of you who know of me and my inability to hide my displeasure, however inappropriate it may be, with my friends' attendance to the bars... I've found my feelings very similar to those of Harry in chapter eight ("Flight of the Fat Lady") In Prisoner of Azkaban. Incidentally, tonight I opted not to head over to my friends' apartment to partake in their generous offer of film (The Rundown) and fellowship, but rather stayed home and read some more HP. Am I sick or what.

I ran Cold Stone today. Running Cold Stone is like being on drugs. It is cool and reckless and exhilarating at first... and then it just gets out of control and... you just want to go home and read Harry Potter.

They are not playing The Day After Tomorrow at our Seth Childs Crapmike Cinema here in Manhattan when it comes out tomorrow. "What the hell!?" I say. "I want to see the earth destroyed!!!!!!!!!"

I worked with a kid named Thomas today, a recent high school graduate whose over-eagerness to appeal to each and every co-worker as well as climb the Cold Stone ladder to the top is as grating as a person four... three?... hmmm.... years removed from that very position in life can stand. The thing about this kid is... I don't think he's going to remove himself from it. But what do I know. He told me today that he is excited about seeing Troy because his favorite movie of all time is Pirates of the Caribbean.

What, Thomas?

What, indeed.

Maybe he likes Orlando Bloom with dark hair. Or movies that have sand.

200th post.

This is the 200th post on my blog. Hooray!

I have been reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in preparation for the film which comes out in only nine days! I'm pretty excited for it. I am even driving home to see it in a decent theatre!

Tonight my bosses are not going to be there, so I will be in charge of Manhattan's Cold Stone, and I will be working at a slightly elevated level of pay ($6.50/hr, which is nice).

Grades come out tomorrow; I'm pretty nervous about it. I hope my mom doesn't see them... although she probably will.

Lazy days.

Well, the population of Manhattan has drained, leaving a quiet, pleasent atmosphere for the rest of us to enjoy. I haven't had to work the past several days, and so I've taken the opportunity to do a little work on my apartment. I moved the entertainment center from the living room into my bedroom, and so had to do some major rearranging (I'll try to post some pics someday but... don't count on it) so that we can fit Joe's big TV into the living room. In the living room, I bought some lighting implements and I need to by a couple of bookcases for media storage. I also finished fabric-ing the red wall (which I've been intending to do since October). I need to get something to put on the wall behind the TV... I'm thinking just dark yellow (golden) fabric. Who knows.

So, Chad, when you get home... things're going to be different. Just so you know. Different... but better? Hopefully?

T-Roy.

I went and saw the movie that shares its name with my dad, and let me tell you... I was entertained. It takes a movie like this to help you realize what elements a film must have in order to be considered 'good'. I didn't see many of them in Troy.

Perhaps if a movie is burgeoning on three hours long, and contains one or more actors from The Lord of the Rings, studios are fairly sure they will have a successful film. And maybe they're right. When I walked out of my door tonight, I didn't want to watch an Academy Award-worthy (not that it means much) piece of art. I wanted to watch a big-budget summer blockbuster piece of Hollywood schlock. And that is exactly what I got, thank Gods.

ConGRADultions.

It's graduation season here in sunny Manhattan, so I'd like to wish all my graduating friends (Chad, Melissa, Allen, Adam, Andrea (M.), Amanda, and whoever else I'm forgetting) good luck.

So, good luck.

Work was insane last night... busy as all hell, and we were understaffed (at least in my opinion.) Thank God I'm not working today... I can only imagine what it's going to be like.

Uhhh.... yeah.

I just want to say, I occasionally watch the White House press briefings, and I am intensely frustrated by the rhetoric of our nation. Scott McClellan (the White House Press Secretary) has become, in my mind, an annoying little piece of shit that looks remarkably like what I imagine the pigs to look like at the end of 'Animal Farm'.

I hate how words like "freedom" and "patriot" are thrown around with seeming ejaculatory glee in order to stir up unwarranted sentiments among the American people. We know what freedom is. We know what patriotism is. It is not slinging mud at people whenever they question their government's actions. It's not like people are starting another Civil War... we just want to know why the fuck you have turned us into the enemies of the rest of the world.

We seem to get caught up in our "American" titles, and forget the fact that we are all human beings. I have to believe that there are ways to ensure freedom for all human beings without killing people and essentially pissing on their graves. BAHHHHHH.

Apologies to my more conservative reader(s)... if this whole post was too "liberal"... which I don't really think that it is. It's just, one would hope, common sense?

Sigh.

I am officially done with school for the semester. A rundown of how finals week and all it's other shit went:

American Survey: I finished the big paper about an hour before it was due. It was pretty crappy, not like I care, but I'm just glad I got it done. The final was interesting... it was three essay questions, and the last one was basically me rambling on about nothing for three pages. But then, you all know what that's like, huh?

Environmental Lit: I finished my creative nonfiction essay about an hour before it was due. I wrote about my first experience at the Konza prairie. We'll see how that went, I guess.

Geography: I had a solid B (like 88.92%), but I failed the final, so I came out with a C in the class. On a more positive note, I spent no time studying, never went to class, and my teacher liked my popular culture paper so much that she wants a copy to show to her future students. How flattering!

Fiction Writing: Turned in my portfolio today... pretty painless.

I'm just glad it's all over. I finished watching the first season of Six Feet Under today. I also got my first shipment of Gevalia Kaffe which is by far the best coffee I've had outside of a coffee house since... ever.

Now all that's left to do is work and party and read things I actually want to read. My, my... how I love summer.

(cont.)

.... yeah... it totally fell.

Not meant to be?

On May 16th, 2003, Aggie Station was burnt to the ground. Tonight, in the wee hours of May 17th, 2004, it looks like God has spoken again. I was sitting here idley pondering how in the hell I'm going to get this paper written (a point I'm still at), when I heard, along with loud wind gusts, large crashing noises coming from across the street. I thought maybe a dumpster had fallen over, but a little while ago I hopped through the window to check out all the police lights and such. It looks like the gigantic cinderblock wall that would eventually be the replacement of Aggie Station was knocked over in the wind. I can't really make it out from here, but that's what I'm seeing right now. More as the situation develops (hopefully the wall didn't land on Game Guy or the Dusty Bookshelf!!!)

It's Odd.

My guilt over being unproductive often leads to me doing other things. Tonight, for example, rather than working on my American Survey paper (and thus insuring my impending doom) I have been cleaning my room. It looks wonderful. I also bought some candles and a Yo-Yo Ma CD, which I have been burning and listening to (respectively), and it is quite a wonderful atmosphere I have created. I detatched the speakers from my CD player and put a few books between them. Lovely, let me tell you.

I feel sick.

It's fun to look ahead and think that thirteen hours from now, it'll all be over (American Survey, that is)... whether I finish this paper or not.

I did begin to compile my portfolio that's due on Wednesday for my Fiction Writing class. Hooray.

Apparently Warner Brothers bought the rights to make the RENT movie. Guess who they've chosen to write and direct? Chris Columbus (of Harry Potter and Home Alone infamy). I'm disgusted, but what else is new. Hell, maybe it'll be his breakthrough work. Who am I to judge?

I do it to myself.

Yup. There're two large paper assignments to be grappled with. I'm sitting here watching Six Feet Under. Probably going to go to bed soon. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow.

Home was fun. I saw some old friends I hadn't seen in forever (Carey and Paul!) and got to see Rhonda and Kifer and all those people. It's weird looking back - or being forced to - and seeing how different my life is now. I used to think science was the shit!!! Now, I'm not so sure.

I think, of all eight of us '01 Farads, I'm probably the one who is doing the least with his life. Fun, huh? I tell myself that it's because I'm saving up all that excitement for sometime in the near future (writing more, attempting to be published, live a life where I'm not tied down by a nine-to-five)... but going back there now makes me afraid that I already spent all that energy back in high school. Maybe I'm destined... or doomed... for perpetual frustration. Regardless, I think one of my goals this summer is going to be to write some sort of fictionalization of my experience in the Faraday Society. Make it like a cool children's book series. Well written, fun to read, and educational. Eat that, Harry Potter!!

(just joking. I would never wish ill upon Harry Potter. Holy Jesus, I can't wait for that movie!)

I'm in a weird mood. I feel pretty melancholic and at the same time I am giddy.

Who knows.

I need to buy stamps. Sorry, Katie.

Hell yes.

Tonight, I stayed in, drank a bottle of wine, and watched Six Feet Under. Although it was utterly relaxing, I was kind of disappointed that there wasn't more of a celebration as today was the last day of classes. Oh well! In a couple months, I won't have to look so hard for a good evening; I'll be able to just walk across the street.

Remember the beginning of last week? With all my papers and stuff? Well apparently, I do good work in the twelve hours before things are due. On my assignment that was due Monday, I got a B (it was a "prompt" or "mini-essay" for my Survey class - the thing I was doing last night - my grades on them are never stellar, as I've mentioned, so this was good in my opinion). On Tuesday's seven-page Environmental Lit paper, I got an A!!! And I just discovered that I got a perfect score on my Geography Paper: 200/200. I should have buckled down and gotten it done earlier. If I would have done that, and gone to class on those two days when the damn teacher decided to give extra credit, I'd definitely have an A in that class right now. Oh well. I'm happy nevertheless.

I'm going home tomorrow to see my brother's first Faraday show, Chemistry in the Courtyard (which really isn't "his" show - he'll be pretty much a go-to boy, but still, he's excited! And so am I. Then it's back here for another round of Cold Stone/paper-writing hell.

ALL

MOST

THERE.

Comments.

I have them now, so please consider using them... if you dare! (To do so, simply click on the "comments" link below the entry on which you would like to comment.)

I figured out the whole reformatting of my sidebars, so I'm beginning to like the new format even more. It's nice that I can put up pictures and have comments and all that. Hmmmm :)

I should be writing my last prompt for my American Survey class (due tomorrow) right now but I can't get myself motivated to start! Oh, if only I weren't so lazy! I'd probably be on the Dean's list and have an internship in New York this summer and all this other stuff. I really am a genius... it just doesn't show in my work.

I'm fed up.

I really need to get a haircut. It's driving me insane. INSANE!!!

I just finished my reading for Environmental Lit... which is good.

I need to figure out how to put all my "of the moment" stuff in the sidebars on this new template. Any help you all might be able to offer would be greatly appreciated.

Approaching the end.

Well, it's about that time. Two of my classes meet for the last time today, the other two tomorrow. Then I have to write a six-page creative essay about my experience with nature, an eight-page American survey paper (blegh), and I have to compile my portfolio for my fiction writing class. Two finals... one in American survey, the other in U.S. geography.

American survey looks to be the bane of my existence for the next six days... and maybe longer, depending on what grade I get in that class. In addition to the paper and final exam, I also have my final "prompt" due. Because of lateness and lack of quality, I have earned a D, F, B-, A-, and B on the previous six. I have missed class so much that I have a D for attendance. I have done "okay" on quizzes. I've contributed in class maybe twice, which isn't good for my class participation.... I'm praying for a C, but I really have done a pretty shoddy job with it all, so I can understand if I get lower, which would also necessitate my retaking it, which sucks... but I have done the reading so it might be easier (albeit annoying) the second time around. At any rate... I have the most work to do for that class, which also happens to be the lowest level of the four classes I'm taking.

I am going home tomorrow night and coming back Saturday afternoon/evening... which is exciting, as I haven't really been out of Manhattan (save my brief trip with MT to her home in Topeka) since... Spring Break?! Jesus...

Sorry to the high schoolers for my comments which, due to the idealistic nature inherent in people of that age, they found offensive. I should note that I said what I said as a colloquialism (albeit an un-PC one)... not with the intention of furthering hate for a specific group of people. But... I am sorry.

Lastly, I don't think it is so much that I have specific reasons for hating Cold Stone anymore. I just think that, in general, I can't stand the job. They (my bosses) could become the nicest, coolest people in the world, and I would still hate the job. Something about mixing ice cream and baking waffle products... and the mindnumbingness associated with that. They could be cool, and give me a lot more money (maybe somewhere closer to the amount I deserve)... and I'd stay, but I wouldn't be happy. But it's not like I'm going to find another job in this godforsaken hell hole...

Changes.

I came on here today to post a little rant I came across, as well as some general "housekeeping" updates, but I was greeted by a new and possibly improved Blogger layout. Possibly only because I haven't decided if I like it or not yet... it's quite a change to grapple with. More on that as opinions develop.

I can't decide which of these three things I am most excited for:
1. End of the Semester (May 18th... for me, anyway)
2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in theatres (June 4th)
3. My 21st birthday (July 6th)

All of them are pretty much equally exciting, although the euphoria associated with each of them is bound to last for different periods of time. On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being a long ass euphoria and 1 being the euphoric equivalent of sneeze (which, according to a girl in my fiction writing class, is the physical equivalent of a tiny orgasm):
1. 6
2. 3
3. 9 (I hesitate to say 10, because as Broyles pointed out to me, this is Manhattan, KS... I can't expect too much.)

Therefore, I am not going to judge these events based on euphoria-level, but rather from the more objective eye of chronology... those events happening first I will be the most excited about, &c. It's kind of like postponed gratification... only without all the implications... sort of... maybe.......

Here's the rant I found, which I am pirating from the blog of a guy I have class with, whose blog I discovered through Hannah's blog. I am taking out the parts about "Halo" because, well, I've never played Halo, and find that portion of the rant a bit alienating. For the complete rant, including the Halo reference, check here. And now, without further adieu (is that how it's spelled and all?)... here we go.

A Tribute to the Nice Guys
(Pirated from Jimmy, who pirated it from someone else.
---------
This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl's every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.

This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they're at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to protect them from all the creepy guys, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments and give them anyway, for the guys who play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys acclaimed as boyfriend material but never end up as boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, unappreciated, and crushed, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, ignored, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.

This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a jerk and a player, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn't worry about it, because you knew she didn't want to hear what you thought. This is also for that time she didn't have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing "serious" between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the drinks were awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: "Oh, but we're just friends!" regardless of how much it hurt you. And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyway. Because you're nice like that.

The nice guys don't often get credit where credit is due. And more disturbing, the nice guys are ignored far too often. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can't. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical and manipulative. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such, they say irrational, confusing things such as "oh, he's too nice to date" or "he would be a good boyfriend but he's not for me" or "I can't, he deserves better" or the most frustrating of all: "no, it would ruin our friendship." Yet they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can't figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I'm going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn't last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.

So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you're sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, and your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.
-------

Indeed.

I'm kind of sorry for the long-winded post, but then again, I'm really not. I didn't even write the majority of it anyway! Besides, you are the one who still chooses to read this thing religiously and harp on me whenever I haven't updated in like... a day!

But...

I still love you... if only because I feel I have too... because I am a nice guy, eerily similar to the aforementioned faceless, nameless hero.

The weekend is here!!!

...and so I have to work, natch. Oh well... at least that overwhelmingly large round of assignments is over. Just one more week of class and then two finals and I'm DONE. Maybe I'll put my notice in tonight and then not have to worry about Cold Stone either. Although... it might get better once I'm out of school...

...

.....

.......

......... Naahhh. Not possible. BUT... I don't have anywhere else to look for work right now, and I don't want to have a conversation with my mom similar to the one we had at the beginning of last summer (check entries from May 17th & 27th, 2003). God help me.

We turned the A/C on yesterday because it's so hot.

I can't decide if I'm going to go to class, Metaforum, or just stay home and veg before work this afternoon. I should probably go to Metaforum... because Lord knows going to my geography class isn't too much of a help... unless she offers extra credit, which has happened twice when I have been absent, which means I have missed out on twenty free points. I COULD HAVE AN A!!!!! Dammit. Maybe I'll go to class. I wish I had time to do some laundry.

Hookie.

My friend Hannah, I am, indeed, alive. I just never go to class, and I called in sick to work today. Yes, after two near-all-nighters, two large assignments, and a third one on the docket (sp?) for tonight (I'm almost done!!!), I decided to go to Cold Stone and see if I could find someone to cover my shift. I didn't really believe that we weren't allowed to do this until I talked to Vicki.

How it went.
Me: Vicki, I am going to call and see if I can find someone to cover my shift tonight, if that's all right.
Vicki: Actually, we can't let you guys do that anymore.
Me: Oh?
Vicki: Yeah, unless you're sick, you have to work the shifts once you are scheduled for them. Otherwise we'll have to count it as an unexcused absence [we are only allowed two of these before we are fired].
Me: Oh... well, I guess I can come in tonight...
Vicki: Well, if you're not feeling well, then that's fine.
Me: All right... well, I am sick.

How it should have gone.
Me: Vicki, I am going to call and see if I can find someone to cover my shift tonight, if that's all right.
Vicki: Actually, we can't let you guys do that anymore.
Me: Oh?
Vicki: Yeah, unless you're sick, you have to work the shifts once you are scheduled for them. Otherwise we'll have to count it as an unexcused absence [we are only allowed two of these before we are fired].
Me: Oh...
Vicki: Well, if you're not feeling well, then that's fine.
Me: No, I'm not sick. But I'm not coming in tonight. This is my first unexcused absense. My second will be on Friday.

Oh well.... someday I'll quit. For now I'm just really excited to be done with my week of hell. Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

It's time...

for another round of apologies. Here we go...

To Kyle: Sorry that when you call, I'm busy with homework... or trying to be busy with homework, until later in the night I decide to just give up the practice and go ahead and have some fun. I will try to call you whenever these all-too-frequent occurences occur.

To Kate: Sorry I didn't send anything more than an IM your way to congratulate you on your graduation. Hopefully some day soon I can make that up to you.

To All who I offended with my rant about being ditched: I didn't mean to offend you. The "go to hell" part only applied to those who were annoyed by my annoyance rather than sympathetic. It was my effort to bully you into compassion... and perhaps the whole bullying part caused it to fall on it's face.

To Hannah: I apologize for never coming to geography class any more.

To Myself: I'm sorry that I'm constantly letting you down. I will do all that I can to help you get through these next two days with minimal amounts of pain.

To Jessica (K), Sorrels, and the rest of the Olathe Posse: Sorry I haven't been home lately, and for never calling or initiating conversations. Please read post from 4/26/04 for possible reasons... but know that some of the contents of that post won't apply. I think there might be an ever better post to explain somewhere in the archives... if you feel like going digging.

To Jessica (R): Sorry for the same thing minus the "haven't been home lately" part.

To Kate (again): Sorry for whatever spawned the "lovely." IM.

The Jen and Andy, or "Jandy": Sorry we didn't get to hang out more this weekend.

~~~

To anyone else who feels I have neglected them, please send your comments or concerns here.

~~~

In Other News:
I bought some Cool Mint Ice Breakers mints as a throwback to the good old days. I also purchased a coffee-maker. It's helping me stay awake for the next three days, which sucks, but it's kind of fun... only without the sense of euphoria traditionally associated with 'fun'.

Dunno where Chad is...

If I can make it through tonight with a finished, seven page research paper, I'll be happy. Right now, I'm still highlighting quotes and developing a thesis. Dr. Elizabeth Dodd is going to hate me. Perhaps I should add her to my list of apologies.

Where are you going?!

Today was the last time I'll ever work with the wonderful Mindy Grogan. Also in the line out the door are Melissa Thomas, Anna Avila, and probably the rest of the original crew. I can't decide which is the reason I really want to leave... the fact that Cold Stone in general and my bosses suck... or if it is because all of my friends are leaving me. I think maybe I blame the former for the latter. So... yeah. I am starting to think that this Tuesday is going to have to be the day I put in my notice. Then again... I've been saying that an awful lot lately. Oh well.

Assuming I get all my shit done, I will pretty much be home free after Wednesday night. That's not too much longer. In honor of that, please download, listen to, and enjoy my song of the moment, "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone. It is wonderful... and very Emersonian, which is how I justify listening to it rather than working... it's like studying for my Environmental Lit class.

Hooray for skewed vision!

Procrastination.

Once again... I should be doing things other than what I'm doing. Work, shopping, drinking, movie time.... none of it was on my agenda for this weekend, but that's how I've spent it so far. The next three days are sure to be hellacious as a result. Oh well...

I hate conversations that go like this:

Me: "So, what are we doing now?"
They: "Actually, I think we're going to go to So Long."
Me: "Oh. Okay."
They: "What're you going to do?"
Me: "I have homework."

It's annoying. They're annoying. I'm annoyed. If you read this and it annoys you that I'm annoyed, then go to hell. NEXT!

I watched Master and Commander tonight. I seriously think that the best part of that movie, for me, is the awesome cello playing. I really think Paul Bettany at least took lessons on how to fake playing the cello, because if it is fake, it is by far the best fake playing that I have ever seen... although I've never seen that Hilary and Jackie movie, so....

I had a good conversation with the woman who owns both the Dusty Bookshelf and Acme Gift (a.k.a. the only person I can really imagine myself working for and being happy with my job at the same time). We discussed my boss, and how inappropriate he is as an owner/manager of Cold Stone creamery. I'm kind of hoping for similar chats with her in the future, so that she might start to consider me as a necessary addition to her staff at either store. Acme Gift at its new location rocks my socks off. I bought a pocket journal and a drinking card game called "Beer!"

I was feeling wealthy. Emphasis on was.