Fuck it.

I still feel like crap, but I have to work tonight. So I'm going to have some tea, remedicate, and go get Arby's+shake, buy rat food and bedding, and a DVD player, and head home. Hopefully by then I'll be nicely exhausted so I can curl up in my Sick Nest and watch movies, then sleep again before work tonight.

And I don't have class tomorrow, so I can come back and pass out after work.

My throat and ears are trying to kill me. I just know it.

::EDIT AFTER ERRANDS::
S.T. had better be one happy rat, because I bought a lot of new toys for him.

I should be in bed.

slow-motion accident: Wren requires us on floor pic.
slow-motion accident: And me stuffing cleavage in my bra pic
slow-motion accident: XD
slow-motion accident: money!
slow-motion accident: money in my cleavage.
slow-motion accident: *dies*
Sarah: lol
Sarah: HHAHAHAHA
slow-motion accident: I am SO STRUNG OUT
Sarah: *falls on floor laughing*
slow-motion accident: I cannot fucking BELIEVE I just did that.

Small Favors

I called my work and talked to them, since I feel worse today than I did yesterday. They told me they'd go ahead and let me stay home sick, and if things got crazy later and they needed me to dispatch they'd call me in. My cellphone wakes me up, so that shouldn't be a problem.

That seems fair. They're expecting it to be pretty dead tonight anyway, since it's a holiday weekend. So I'm not leaving them completely stranded, and I'm not left completely miserable.

I am having tea and then collapsing, watching a movie, and going back to sleep around 1.

Another sign of your incompetence

Yes, I've heard you sitting in the office for the past 45 minutes, talking trash about my coworkers.

The door is OPEN, you dumbass.

=_=;

Halfway Mark

In all honesty, I do this job for things like pizza bagels and key lime cheesecake.

Mmmmm.

::EDIT THREE HOURS LATER::
Oh my God, three more hours? I am SO DAMN TIRED. I blame being sick, but seriously, this is insane. My eyes hate me, my body hates me, I hate me...

Oh, thank you, Penny Arcade podcasts. Here goes another hour. Bossman Kind has offered to let me go nap, and then told me I should go home, but that would be a bad idea. We have two conferences here today, and that would leave Newest Patrolperson and Incompetent Bossman alone on their own. Which means Newest Patrolperson would be dispatching, leaving Incompetent Bossman to do all the footwork. Which is a bad idea, since he is incredibly lazy. And incompetent. Which I may have mentioned.

So here I stay, for the greater good.

Better and Better

A word to the wise:

I realise that this is my first shift with both of you, coworker-people. However, I'd like to think the signs of pure, eye-bloodying rage are so universal that the two of you would know when to quit. I've been proven wrong quite frequently in my assumptions this week, however, so I suppose I shall just have to add this one to the pile.

No, he's not gay, and I don't care what his dumb bitch of an ex has told you. I've known him for two years, and she dated him for a matter of weeks. Which one of us knows him better? No, I don't care what you've "heard," because trust me, it's probably a house joke that you are far too incompetent to wrap your mind around.

"No, no, it's fine if he is." Good for you and your open-mindedness. Really, I applaud you. Now if only you would apply that to the difference between truth and vicious gossip and save my nerves some strain.

"Dude, he totally is. I have a source." Yeah? I'm his fucking HOUSEMATE. I've seen what he has pinned up in his room, but you know what? You're both idiots, and I'm not dignifying either of you with an argument over this. So I'm going to spend the next ten minutes in the kitchen taking deep breaths and trying to remove my nails from the palms of my hands. kthx.

This is the last time I work with either of these people, so help me.

My Worst Nightmare

Theorytime.

I think being sick instantly halves your age.

For example: I am watching Tarzan, and just ordered Lady and the Tramp and Beauty and the Beast. I think that will just leave Sword in the Stone before I finally feel my Disney collection is complete.

::EDIT TWO MOVIES LATER::
Took my temperature. It's higher than my normal; on a given day I usually run about 97.4. Today I'm actually at 98.6, which makes me think I may be on the verge of a full-blown fever.

Also really tired. Napped from 4-6, then again from 8-10, then at ten I went back to bed until 8 this morning. And yet, time to nap again. Hopefully that will help me make it through work.

This is me blaming you again, Mike.

This house will make me a better Buddhist. Yes, let's treat it as a learning experience. I must develop compassion and understanding for those of humankind not born with enough brain cells to walk them across the street.

*deep breath*

I'm sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why I found my modem completely unhooked today. That's right. I walk into the living room and find it unplugged from the cable, the power, and the ethernet, just sitting there on the floor. The cable hasn't been put back into the TV, and nothing else has been changed.

Unfortunately, I possess the power of thought, and thus cannot FATHOM why this was done, no matter how hard I try. So I'll just have to feel compassion for them. Which I do. I mean really: HOW DO YOU SLUTS EVEN MANAGE TO FIND YOUR ASSES WITH YOUR HANDS, YOUR BOYFRIEND'S HANDS, A FLASHLIGHT, AND LUBE?

I am a bad person. And there is rage.

My first Oceanography exam is today.

There's a lot of stuff to know. I can't believe we covered all this in two weeks' time.

My head feels like it is going to burst. Time to play some Katamari Damacy before I go face my fate.


::EDIT AFTER EXAM:: Well, that went refreshingly well. I'm going to nap in an attempt to start preparing my sleep schedule for my next set of Grave shifts.

So I walk into my bathroom to rinse out my cup, and all the drawers are open, and my stuff has been rearranged. NO ONE ELSE IS CURRENTLY USING THAT BATHROOM.

Everyone in this house deserves to die.

I hate you, Europe.

The Ancient Greeks proposed that the world was round, that humans evolved from fish, and that all life began in the oceans when Europeans were still barbarian tribes.

Today, there's still an ongoing debate about whether or not evolution is a real occurance.

Oh, Dark Ages. What the hell did you do to civilized minds?

okay, so camera phones can be occasionally useful...

...such as when you decide your friends need to get a sneak preview of the interior of the new science building. Let us off on a virtual tour of some of the oddities and wonders I came across when we decided it was time to get out of the pouring rain and have some fun.

But first! When we were locking down Thompson, we came across a rather shocking sight. Bossman Prime opened a door to our largest two-story lecture hall, pauses, and goes "Oh my fucking God." (only slightly less amusing than when Partnerman shrieked "CHRIST ON A CRUTCH!" when all five lines of our phone were ringing at him.)

I amble over. "Did they tear shit up?"
"That is a bit of an understatement."

So I enter the room. Behold.


Let's get a replay of that for the fans, shall we?

It was like the construction crew got royally pissed and started flinging the chairs at the lab bench in a rage. (Clearly I have missed my calling.) That pile is as tall as I am, dearies.

Next Bossman Prime figured out why it has been taking so long to get things moved. Apparently the crew is working with a dolly that was formed piecemeal from a seventeenth-century HANDPLOW.


Coincidence? I THINK NOT.


Nice corn pipe, by the way.

Moving on. Next I discovered why some of the biology students chose the major they did:

I honestly believe that the person responsible for that little gem would be escorted out at gunpoint if he ever stepped foot into a Humanities course.

Then we moved on into the new science building, and I started peeking around in all the labs. It's incredible. There's enough lab space in there to have a dedicated and customized lab room for each course. Even the more obscure ones, like Geochemistry. The Animal Phys lab has overhead lamps on tracks that can be moved and directed to provide ultrabright light wherever you need it on the lab bench, which I'm sure will make dissection less difficult on the eyes. Here's a shot of a basic chem lab:

It's got lovely new benches, and look at all that floorspace. We have room to move now! The ringstand poles are built-in, and the new hoods (see back) are LOVELY. I can fit in them. >> There's a ton of shelving for storage, and I believe a dedicated area for everyone to toss their backpacks.

In the human anatomy lab, we came across a lot of hanging models. There's a pun here, but I shall refrain (OR DID I?).

That's Partnerman and Bossman Extreme, by the way.

Here is the spiral staircase that resides in the main entrance of Harned hall. It's, erm...a suspension staircase, and it gives me terrible vertigo.

That disc at the bottom is where the three-story pendulum will be centered. It's so large it takes 16 seconds to do a full "tick."

Hanging in the atrium from the roof is our whale skeleton. My chem lab partner actually hung that himself. How, I wonder to this day, but there it is. You can see the cables for the staircase, too.


In closing, I should like to leave you with two pictures that cause me to question the sanity of every member of the Biology Department.

The label says "200 Proof EtOh- For gun." And it's sitting next to a scanning electron microscope image of a spider's anus and spinnarets.


Those doors are made of wood. Behind it is a two-gallon jug of every common alcohol used in Organic Chemistry.

And there we have it.

Well, I didn't fail anything. I probably shouldn't be a Bio Major, but I didn't fail anything.

Juxtaposition

You curse like a sailor, assume the worst of all of our students (often with good reason), hate everything about the new science building with a bone-aching passion, and generally carry yourself with an angry and slightly bad attitude.

And yet you perform catch and releases on the office spiders while talking to them sweetly and go out of your way to feed the library cat.

You, bossman, are a fascinating person.

Dear Mr. Swimmer Man:

I understand that you are thankful we came to let you into the pool. However, the glint in your eyes, the smirk on your face, and the fact that you looked me over before saying so makes me think you meant that on a much more personal level.

You think a female security officer is hot, hm? Try me, bitch. I'll make you cry in a way that was never meant to be sexy.

I never thought cats would be the enemy...

Until my housemates let a stray in last night. This morning I left the room to brush my teeth, came back, and caught it fucking with my rat. Just cleaned rat's cage, so he had no place to run and hide, which left him catatonic in fear for the next five minutes. Unmoving. Even whiskers entirely still. I gave the poor guy a hug and nudged him into a cereal box, so he hid in there until I left.

I booted the cat back out the door and told him quite sternly that if he ever came near S.T. again I was going to kick him.

Then I kinda petted him and fled. >> He had a bum foot, so it was impossible to keep my hatred pure.

Now I am sitting in the SUB listening to some old guy make fun of classical Italian music while doing a sound check. Yes, that requires singing in a drunken falsetto. It is going to be an odd day.

Close your eyes. It will all be over soon, I promise.

Every day that goes by brings me another reason to destroy my housemates. Luckily, all the ones on my list are moving out within the week, so hopefully the ones that replace them will be sane (like me >>). None of them know the girls who are moving in, so that's a hopeful sign.

But:
1) If you wash your clothes at 9AM, and dry them at 10, and then dry them again at 7PM, and then LEAVE THEM THERE, I will remove all your nasty-ass thongs and dry my own clothes because I actually have work in the morning. When you're sharing a house with people, GET A MOVE ON THE DAMNED LAUNDRY. And how DARE you own Superman briefs? You are not cool enough by far. - -;

2) If you tell me the internet is good until the 26th, and someone magically shows up on the 19th to disconnect it, thus leaving me without internet until the following Wednesday, I will craft a voodoo doll of you and boil it with lobsters.

3) Comcast: Fuck you and your $99 service fee. Fuck you hard. And while we're at it, fuck you for making it to where if anyone in the house wants cable it has to be in my name, too. I don't trust anyone else in this house with the brain cells it would require to hand me the money.

In other news, I start my first set of day shifts today. Whee! At least I'll be out of the house for most of the next four days.

Coincidence! I think not?

Hypothetical person writes long boring thesis, computer commits suicide.

I work on chem paper, computer commits suicide.

It's all my fault!

I just slept for sixteen hours.

It was AMAZING. I feel so AWAKE.

My back is killing me, too, but that can be fixed through stretching. Apparently I was so tired I did not MOVE.

Settled in.

Well, I've got all the furniture arranged. I still need to buy sheets and a mattress pad, put up posters, and drag my games, DVDs, and books from the attic, but everything else is all set.

I appear to be the cleanest person in this house. Then again, it could be because I plan on spending all of my time when I'm here in my room with the door closed, so I need all the happy space I can get.

Dumb bitch who I took the room from left used Q-tips all over the floor. It may have made me snap. Was in a bad mood for a lot of my work shift, though that was due in part to the bossman I've never really worked with thinking I'm lazy.

Okay. Let's discuss this.
1) This is my fourth graveyard shift in a row. I have classes, too. I may have mentioned that. I think it's on the whiteboard, too. And I just moved out of one house and into another when I wasn't working. In the past five days I have gotten 15 hours of sleep, and I just so happen to be recovering from a knee injury. Today my calves are so sore from all the walking, lifting, and the complete lack of downtime that I cannot even straighten my legs completely. So, when you walk into the room and see me sitting on the floor, that is me stretching so I can go out and do another patrol. Stop fucking radioing me location checks. I do, in fact, leave the base. And stop it with the "you should look over bla bla bla when you're taking a break." I know you won't believe this, but I've already read everything you're suggesting. Hence the sitting and watching Partnerman dispatch. That's next on the things I need to learn. So stop distracting me.

2) Yes, I know the basics of locking and unlocking. Me not getting the right keypost to lock down a doorhandle in Jones on the first try is not a sign of a low IQ. Every doorhandle in this building has a different size key that works it, and you can't tell which one is which by the size of the hole. Telling me I should "mark the one I usually use with whiteout" is not going to solve a goddamn thing; that building requires FIVE.

3) Yes, I know which key opens this building. It's an academic building, and they all have the same master. See this keyring? It has ten keys. I had to inventory it this morning. They're all the same color, so I'm only going to know which one it is if I look at its fucking label. So stop repeating "It's Key X! X!" every time I pick up the ring. This is your fucking building to unlock, anyway. Hop to it and show me how it's done, Sifu.

4) OF COURSE I KNOW WHERE SUB001 IS. It's the fucking student building. Now I know this is shocking, since I'm taking summer classes, have purple hair, and am doing a work study, but I'm a student. I also have eyes. They stared daggers at your left ear all morning, remember? All of this points to me having gained this oh-so esoteric and mystical knowledge by the end of my second year. Uh-huh, yes, it's in the basement. I understand how door numbers work. I can even tell you in Spanish if you'd like. So can it. I walk down the fucking steps. It's not like it's the fifth brick from the stain that looks like baby Jesus, stroke it lightly and say "reveal thy secrets" while standing on my left leg and playing God Save the Queen through the stereo system at full blast. In German. Were that the case, no one would ever ask us for admits.

5) Oh, look at that. It's 5:45. It's been lovely, but it's time for me to go do my unlocks. Wait. What? Why am I going that way? Because it's the closest door to the outside. Why are you looking at me like that? Unlike you, I'm not a lazy fuck.

o.o I know you did not just order me to cut through the building to get to the one I need to unlock. Why does it matter? What do you think I'm going to do, sneak back to base and have a lie down? Okay, fine. What the fuck ever. There's a really bitchy blog post with your name on it, bub.

I love most everyone else there, tho. They like that I remember things after being told once and am not afraid to ask questions or be on my own. I also get along with them all. I don't feel like I know everything; I know there's a TON to memorize, but I have what I've been shown down pretty well. Outside of that, yes, feel free to walk me through it. I encourage you. In fact, I welcome it. But if you ASSUME that I am an incompetant moron and don't give me the chance to prove to you I am in fact the opposite, I am going to become cold and snippy.

On a more fun note, remember that TA from freshman year I hate lots and lots and lots? Well, he's the leader of a frat here. And last night someone drove by and threw a beer bottle through the window of his hall. So he spent the last night he was in the dorm, and on the campus, as well, dealing with us and running around cursing like the pissy little bitch he is. "This is the LAST fuckin thing I need right now!"

I may or may not have gotten a sickening sort of satisfaction out of it.

I just almost fell asleep in the SUB.

Stupid fucking twat. I'm doing you a motherfucking favor by helping you get out of your lease early. The least you can do is let my exhausted ass into my own room and stop whining that I put my bookshelf in your more than adequately sized kitchen. Had I known you were going to extend my consciousnesstime by this long, I would have left the damn thing on your goddamn bed as a pre-emptive and silent fuck you.

Last week you told me 12:15 was when we'd meet. I get an e-mail today saying "oh, between 1 and 1:30."

I WILL END YOU.

::EDIT:: She called at 2.

Last Words

Blogging from the SUB, since I technically don't have a home right now. About to head off to Oceanography, and am trying to caffeinate. Shift went well. I actually got to unlock buildings and patrol on my own today. Also did a lot of knitting. A lot. Of knitting.

Body seems to be falling apart. Fingers won't type, feet hate me, eyes hate me, and I have hat-bang. Not hat hair. Hat BANG. - -; Knee decided to swell halfway through the shift and was incredibly painful, so I was forced to resort to The Exercise Designed By A Sadistic Legless Man to make it all better. That's the one where you hold your kneecap down, flex your quad, and then let your kneecap go and feel it pop up like a spring. Well, it should. Sometimes it grinds like a screen door. That's a sign of the bad, in case you didn't know.

I spent 1/8 of my shift (how precise!) looking for my checkbook so I could write a rent check later. It was slightly less than amusing. Next up I have to buy a notebook, head to finaid place to finalize stuff for classes, go to class, pay rent, get key, start moving in, go to doctor, come back, keep moving in, fall asleep, and then head back into work at midnight.

Whee.

Oh! Sarah and Maddo, you'll be jealous. I spent about 45 minutes exploring the new wing of the science building tonight. It is most excellent. It feels a little imposing and enclosed, which surprised me because from the outside it seems like mostly glass. >> The new lab rooms are HUGE, and the benches have footrests. I may have danced. Some of the hallway signs remind me of being in an airport, though. I kept expecting some Hispanic woman to go "Attention in the terminal! Plane is now departing Cadaver Lab C. Passenger Williams, please report immediately or you will be left behind."

10 hours of sleep in 4 days=eyes burny head hurty

Well, I'm technically checked out of the house, so after I get all my stuff outta here tomorrow I...will be gone. Yes, it is these kinds of thoughts that betray how fried my brain is. In 12 hours I will be in the middle of my first class. I pity the professor already.

In the past two days I have learned more about this school than I was aware there was to know. For example, there is a tunnel over on Greek Row that leads to an underground cafeteria. It used to be for the Greeks only, but about 1o years ago they closed it to "promote campus unity." My thoughts? Give them their fucking cafeteria back. I'm sick of dealing with them in the SUB.

Also, half the freshman class is on academic probation this semester. Yes, 50%. That is an all-time high of any class since this university opened in 1888. (Can I call it, or what?) I'm hoping that most of them end up dropping out so I don't have to deal with so much STUPID in my future classes. From what I hear, unfortunately, the new incoming freshmen aren't much better.

If your love were taken from me,
Every color would be black and white.
It would be as flat as the world before Columbus.
That's the day that I lose half my sight...


If your life were taken from me,
All the trees would freeze in this cold ground.
It would be as cool as the world before Columbus.
Sail to the edge and I'd be there...looking down.

Those men who lust for land,
and for riches strange and new,
love those trinkets they desire,
but they never will have you.
They will never know the gold
Or the copper in your hair.
How could they with your worth so rare?

If your love were taken from me,
Every light that's bright would soon go dim.
It would be as dark as the world before Columbus.
Down the waterfall, and I'd swim over the brim.

Ooops.

So, my first work shift actually starts tonight at midnight and goes until noon.

I woke up at 7AM and have been testing and packing all day.

There's a reason this job pays almost $12 an hour. Tonight, that shall be my mantra.

I joined Aum to develop my powers of levitation, but all I got was a stupid gas bombing

Baron: so, disgruntled japanese youths joining Aum. what caused that?
Prince Abubu: economic boom.
Prince Abubu: general postmodernist worldview, really.
Baron: economic boom = "man this is all a load of crap?"
Prince Abubu: Well, more of a "holy crap, we're all materialistic, look at all this money! why are my kids so upset? I'll buy them a new toy!"
Kids: "The world is rotting. Look at all the crime and pollution. Fuck money, I'm gonna get me a religion."
Japan: "welp, we have lots of those, thanks to this handy allied constitution!"
Aum: "Want to levitate?"
Kids: "WAI!"

::EDIT::
Yes, that is the actual title of my term paper.

Sweet revenge.

Well, my Chem final is in 30 minutes. I've done all the studying I can, so I went ahead and donated the book I hate more to a library in Ethiopia. That's right, motherfucker. You're going to a better place.

I think I'll do okay on the final. I have two hours, so I'll take it slow, and make sure I really think about the problems. The good news is I know all the stuff I didn't get at all, so hopefully between that and the stuff I remember partly I'll be fine. I don't care, though. Once that exam is over, I am never looking at chem again. No sir. I am heading to the SUB, selling my books, picking up my brand spanking new cell phone, and heading to the library to write a paper that is due tomorrow at six. Oh, and I have a meeting with the security people from four till five.

I'm gonna buy an italian soda and then go chill until the test.

STOP.

FINALTIME!

After this, I'd say blogging in the library is the lesser of two evils...

Maddo and I are having a conversation, rife with mutual bitching about our finals, moving out, biased novel sources, etc. Suddenly, I snap.

Prince Abubu: agh! ACCIO SATURDAY.
Maddo: accio brain?
Prince Abubu: ACCIO MADDO.
Maddo: aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

After she types this, I look up just in time to see her ROLLING SIDEWAYS along the desk at me, arms outstretched, with a look of pure horror on her face. Upon arrival at my cubicle, she bursts into hysterical laughter and falls over.

Thank God for small favors

Before I headed off to PT today, I had to stop and get gas. I remember being slighly disgusted that I was HAPPY the price was below $3.10 per gallon. I sit there for a while and decide I might as well just fill the tank, since I'd probably need it for moving.

So I swipe my card, get everything going, and lean against the car, enjoying the sun. Ten point four gallons later, I'm ready to go. Guy at next pump looks up, grins at me painedly, and goes "So, how much for a full tank?"
"Um...thirty-two."
"Yeahhhhhhhh."

Thank you, Fam and Unc, for buying me a car with a ten-gallon tank that gets 35 per. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't think you knew what you were doing when you didn't stick me with the Durango and tell me to suck it up.

At least living on campus means I go through a tank of gas once a month, if that. I just remember being able to fill up for $11 in high school.

My title may say the future doesn't scare me at all, but every time I pay for gas I admit to feeling like The End Is Nigh.

ARGH

My stupid Modern Japanese Lit paper makes me want to choke on my raspberry italian soda.

::EDIT::
Five minutes later I have an epiphany. I am so many sorts of awesome all rolled up into one. And currently raspberry cream-flavored. Even better!

*dreads Wednesday*

FINALS SCHEDULE

FL 320A	MODERN JAPN LIT	Tue, May 09, 2006	4:00pm - 6:00pm	JO211
CHEM111A	FUND CHEM II	Wed, May 10, 2006	12:00pm - 2:00pm	TH228
ASIA344A	ASIA IN MOTION	Thu, May 11, 2006	4:00pm - 6:00pm	WY301
BIOL212A	CELL BIOLOGY	Fri, May 12, 2006	8:00am - 10:00am	TH222

For Maddo:

Daryl laughed so hard he cried. Now it's your turn.

Oh, CLEVER.

Wren and the Amazing Technicolor Bathroom(s)

So, I redyed my hair again. I don't think people know just what an intricate process this is, so I'm going to make a little guide, and then show what happens when you get careless.

If you want to do the job right, you need the following for hair dying purposes:
1) At least two colors of dye. If you're only using one, don't even bother.
2) Toothbrush for roots and small patches of hair.
3) Comb for general dying.
4) Hair ties, barettes, bobby pins, clippies, if your hair is long and/or unruly.
5) Saran wrap/aluminum foil to keep dyed portions seperate (Needed if your hair is going to end up like this: see the bits of purple and red all over? Yeaaaahh...that was tonight. PAIN IN THE ASS.)

If you want to keep dye off things that are not your hair, stock your arsenal with:
1) latex/vinyl gloves.
2) trash bags that have been cut open to form tarps. (So this does not occur: Yeaaah, I've been scrubbing that for a while.)
3) black towels to keep dye off your neck.
4) nail polish removerfor small spots on surfaces.
5) astringent/toner for spots on skin.
6) Coment/Ajax. Nothing else works on sinks.
7) Scrubbie brush.
8) Large sink for rinsing. (DO NOT USE THE SHOWER. >.<)
9) Vaseline. Lots of vaseline. To cover your ears, neck, and hairline. Otherwise you will end up matching your hair for a very long time.

Be prepared to spend ten minutes setting up, 45 minutes dyeing if your hair is as long as mine, and about an hour cleaning up if you're an utter fucking MORON.

レンは テークノホアー です。

Oh, IME editor. I have no use for you now that I am no longer taking Japanese. But it's true! Wren IS a techno whore.

I ordered my new phone today! Thar she blows. (If you want to know far, far too much about it, click here for a five or six page review.) It has way too many features, but it was the smallest and most sleek looking of all the phones I was looking at, so I decided I'd give in and enter the ranks of those camera-phone bearing freaks of the world. It DOES have picture caller ID, tho, which I have a feeling I shall abuse for no short span of time to come.

It's Bluetooth capable, so I went ahead and got a headset. I talk a lot in the car and when typing, so I'll definitely put it to good use. Plus, it and the phone have rebates, so it's not like I'm really spending much money.

Ack, time to go order a replacement charger for this laptop. Now that Daryl's comp is fixed, my charger only works on it half the time.

Thank God my job is starting soon. I can finally fix all the little things that have been going wrong. Too bad first paycheck is going to OMG BILLZ.

::EDIT::
My God, what have I done?

I am now officially gainfully employed.

Le Grand Retour

My freckles are coming back! This is what happens after I get an hour of sun four days in a row. Once they've taken over my face they'll start to conquer their neighbors and form freakles. This, my dears, is only the beginning.

They always come out first on my forehead, but soon my nose and cheeks will freckle a lot, too. Next come the shoulders, then the arms, then the legs, then the stomach, and so on. I'm hoping to do a lot of outdoors stuff this summer, so chances are I am going to be nigh unrecognizable come fall. I'm very lucky that I freckle and tan, considering how pale I am.



My other goals for the summer consist of starting a tie collection and buying an ultralight laptop. Papoose is going to be delegated to Downstairs Comic House Computer, since I'll also be getting a desktop. Computer overload? Most likely. Do I care?

Hell no. I named my iPod "Chew Toy," you know. I adore electronics.

What happens when our professor mentions offhand that only freaks take his class.

FINALS WEEK: THE LIBRARY- The ultimate in reality progamming

Maddo and I took over a corner of the mezzanine in the Library today. I relocated an armchair into a corner with some Beethoven sheet music, stole a chair to use as a desk, wrapped myself in a blanket, and settled in. Maddo took over the end of the nook I was blocking and propped her laptop on top of a convenient stepstool

What follows are snippets of the conversations we had via wireless internet while writing our papers. I'm sorry, guys. This is what happens when you all bitch I don't blog enough.


Maddo: ex-boyfriend just IMed me. we haven't spoken in like five years
Prince Abubu: KILL HIM
Prince Abubu: (Sorry, instinct.)
Maddo: he's just rambling about how busy his life is
Maddo: which isn't exactly what i want to hear while i'm working on a paper
Prince Abubu: OMG, SEAN, IS TAT U?
Maddo: lol
Prince Abubu: you should have had an away message up
Maddo: "how's life" "busy" "just school" "yeah, a lot of school" "well i know how you feel. i work like 90 hours a week on the set of LOST" "...cool"
Prince Abubu: ...yes, he knows exactly how you feel. What the FUCK.
Maddo: yes. personally i think writing a final english paper is harder than working on a tv set
Maddo: but hey, that's just me, talking about some guy who didn't go to college 'cause i'm a snob
Prince Abubu: OMG 90 hours a week. DUDE, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO SHOWER AND I BET YOU DO.
Maddo: precisely
Prince Abubu: SMELL MY HAIR, BITCH. THAT IS THE SMELL OF FINALS. AND NO SHAMPOO.
Prince Abubu: AND CApS LOCK
Prince Abubu: >>
Prince Abubu: =X
Maddo: your P is small
Prince Abubu: HOW DARE YOU
Prince Abubu: I Am NOT COMpENSATING
Maddo: vagina (What she was referencing.)

Maddo: i hunger. do we have any foods at home?
Prince Abubu: ....=/
Prince Abubu: Let's go get some ramen from the cellar. My treat?
Maddo: you are such a big spender, sugar-mommy ;)
Prince Abubu: =_= starve, bruja.
Prince Abubu: I actually mean cup of noodle. And I just totally typed needle.
Maddo: mmmm cup of needles
Prince Abubu: just for you.
Prince Abubu: FOR YOOOOOOUUU. (For reference, click here.)
Maddo: all the rage in suicide instant lunch
Prince Abubu: Quite.
Maddo: massochistic nourishment
Prince Abubu: oh, yes. Every bite, it thrills. And also bleeds.

We're going to bed now.

What he said...

My life: A photoessay of schedule boxes

A rollercoaster of love this is not!

So I noticed last night that my left knee has been grinding. Like, if you put your hand on it when I move it, you can feel it creaking. I was a little worried about it, but I figured it was no big deal, because my knee used to do that all the time. (That should have been my first clue.)

Well, today, I went to lie on the floor and stretch out my back...and there was a horrible popping noise. My kneecap popped out again. The entire area is swollen, but it now glides smoothly when I bend it. No creaking.

Now I know. =/

So Friday I go back to PT. They just decreased my appointment times to twice a week, too, but after this, who knows?

*sighs* It's almost back to square one. Hopefully I can keep it from doing it twice in a row this time so I don't end up back on crutches and vicoden. Vicoden during finals is a not happening type thing.

Shhhhh.

Today is Day of Silence.

If I didn't have a presentation in lab today, I'd be participating now. After lab, I'll be silent until bed. I did it for an entire day in high school my senior year and got in a silent fight with my spanish teacher. I can't do that today. >>

-_<

Well, I'm technically not failing chem. If I do well on the next two exams, I'll definitely not be failing chem. STUDY TIME IT IS.

Just ordered a shikifuton for the summer. I'll post a link to it later.

Also want new laptop so I can take notes in classes. Come faster, July. >>

At least I can get a new phone next month.

This post was essentially pointless.

/flees!

*crosses fingers*

Today I go back to the doctor's and receive a verdict on my knee. It still hurts when I do steps and certain exercises, but Ewok Man says the fact that it didn't dislocate again during my physical therapy is a good sign. Hopefully I can stop going to PT and take matters into my own hands. And, if that's the case, hopefully I don't accidentally end up killing myself. I know the exercises I need to do, but I want to start running again, but I can't do that if I'm not fully recovered. >>

But if I don't start running again, this will keep happening.

A VICIOUS CYCLE IF I EVER HEARD OF ONE.

Oh, crap, I forgot to ask if he thinks it's okay for me to start meditating again. I guess I'll ask the doctorman and hope he can give me an educated answer. It will probably be "if it's comfortable for you." But it's not really ever comfortable. >>

Here's what I'm going through today, so all you folks who talk to me tonight will understand why I seem to have gone insane:
7:40- PT with Ewok Man
9:30- Doctor's Appt
10:45- Lunch, if I'm out of doctor's by then
11:30- go cry in my Chem professor's office
12:00- Meet my new boss and discuss work stuff
12:30- Chemistry quiz
2:00-5:00- Class
7:00-?- Finish Biology paper, do calculations, make figures and tables, read for next lab, do prelab.
?- ...sleep?

Off I go to see the doctor. Everyone send me spirit vibes.

::EDIT AFTER DOCTOR::
Three more weeks of physical therapy at three times a week, then I get to see them again. They decided to hold off on an MRI to see if I continue to improve. Unfortunately, I've not improved as much as they were expecting, or would like. He says if it doesn't get much better that there is a chance I have damaged my cartilage, which would still mean surgery. Which I no longer have TIME for.

Depressing.

And of course, now my knee hurts like a bitch because he fucked around with it. Bah.

I appear to be failing chemistry

This is going to be a long, long week.

Back by popular demand...

I would like to take this time to say YET AGAIN that whoever made mini-games mandatory in Kingdom Hearts II can kiss my pale arse. I'm never going to beat the fucking game at this rate because of all the ridiculous crap that they keep putting in. It annoys me and I stop playing for days because of all the sulking. >>

In other news, I have three papers to write in...a week and a half. One is due Wednesday, a draft of one is due nextTuesday, and a final third one is due...at some point. What are they on?
1) Enzyme activity at three different pHs.
2) Not a fucking clue. Something on one of the books I read this year for Modern Japanese Lit. I probably need to figure this out since I need to start writing it this weekend. I'm also not sure how long this one is supposed to be.
3) Not a fucking clue. It needs to be a 15-page paper for Asia in Motion. At least I think it's 15. Maybe it's ten. I just remember it sounding like a ridiculous number of pages at the time. I'm thinking I'll do something on Aum Shinrikyo. Asian politics befuddle me, but religions (and cults, in this case) I can handle. I'd probably discuss the warped Buddhist beliefs contained in Aum's teachings and then try to discuss the political and social problems that caused the rise of the cult. It would interest me, and hopefully be something he likes.

Maddo yelled at me for not blogging all weekend. Sarah did too. "WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING!" I just figured I'd tell them when I got back. XP* I had fun. Am still incredibly tired and bruised, but that's par for the course when I do ANYTHING. >.<;

I've had enough of these snakes!

I am going to be so damned tired tomorrow!

Today
1) 7:40-8:30: Physical therapy. (Again.)
2)8:30-9:00: Reading for Asia in Motion
3)9:00-10:00: Pack, laundry, get ready for classes. Remember to charge camera battery, phone, and iPod.
4)10:00-11:00: Laundry, call Walgreens.
5)11:00-11:45: Meet with Nesh and lab partner about exam we failed.
6)11:45-12:30: Grab food.
7)12:30-5:00: CLASS. O_O
8)5:00-6:00: Pack, pick up prescription.
9)6:00-7:00: Dinner.
10)7:00-7:45: Veg out.
11)7:45: Leave for airport.
12)10:00: Call Mike out of boredom, buy book and hot cocoa as per airport ritual.
13) 11:02: Depart.

Note to self: LEARN TO SLEEP ON PLANES.

::EDIT::
Well, it looks like I get make-up problems for the chem exam. Unfortunately, it's only going to raise my grade to a D or so. Then again, better a D than an F. I still cannot believe I did that poorly.

I skipped chem because I was angry at him for some of the stuff he only gave 1/2 credit for. So now I have time to veg. I'm almost done packing (I will be completely done once I shower). Just need to remember to withdraw money at dinner, pack two movies, and grab my chem stuff and the book I need to read for Tuesday.

Like any of you care, but I lost my planner a month ago, and I need to keep this straight in my head.

About fucking time I got a break

House is squared away, classes are registered for, job has been gotten. My summer is almost completely finalized.

I AM SO RELAXED.

It's the joke that just gets more funny with time.

...And I don't just mean my thesis. Look carefully.

Yes, I redid my desktop yet again, but that's not the focus of this picture. *snickers* Though I'm not minding blatantly showing it off.

Somethingspective

Have you ever written a paper, turned it in, and then, when asked what it was about, been unable to explain because you actually have no clue yourself? I hadn't until today. I have a paper written. It has a thesis, and supporting points, but I have absolutely no fucking clue what I'm talking about. Hopefully that won't show through. I'm actually kind of afraid to revise it...

I haven't shown up to Monday Chem class in probably two months. I decided to go today, which was a good thing, because he had decided to cancel lab and just do the lab work in class during the lecture. I have the best luck sometimes. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to extend to tests. I failed my chem exam, and since Nesh knows I am by no means an idiot, he's asked me to come into conference with him on Thursday. My grade should be fine-- I think I have an A in lab, and I got a B on my other exam, so the worst grade I'm looking at after my final is a C or so. And for chem class, that's something I will quite happily take.

I did get a random e-mail from the security people. They're updating me on their progress with my references. Evidently my interviewer had a "very nice" conversation with my Mod Jap Lit prof. I'm hoping, since they did the updating and not me, that this means I have the job. I'm almost certain I do, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

Tonight I need to:
1) Edit paper
2) recopy Bio notesHalway done.
3) set up shuttle to and from the airport
4) fill out independent verification worksheet. Every year I am required by law to prove that my parents are still dead.
5) sort through music library--it's been breeding again.

I'm getting pretty fed up with my ex. I hate him trying to be so sugary sweet to me when all he does is piss and moan to my friends about me. He's told them they're terrible friends because they let me walk all over them. If you've ever spent a day in this house, you know that is most certainly not the case. So basically he's telling everyone I'm a domineering bitch and then being all "Happy Easter, have a great day, you were the most awesome thing that ever happened to me, let's be buddeez!" Which also annoyed me, because considering how weird he was about me being Buddhist, you'd think he would be afraid to say something like that to me about a Christian holiday. It just seemed either dense, hypocritical, or openly provacative. I still can't decide.

Maddo has since taken to calling it Bunny-Ear Day, much to the joy and satisfaction of the rest of the house.

Mmm. He also says I've been "twisting what he says." Evidently he had permission to get on my computer when he did and browsed through all my chat logs. And techically, I had told him yes, but letting someone browse the internet does not automatically mean they are entitled to view every fucking file on the hard drive. (Man, if he had REALLY wanted to get angry, he should have looked through my pictures folder. Fucking jealous bastard.) So basically, since I told him he could use my comp to look up directions to apartment places, I have no right to blame him for violating my privacy.

WHAT CRAZY MOON SPHERE ARE YOU FROM?

*sighs* Then again, I guess I can't complain, because at least I'm not having to deal with all of this firsthand.

*yawn*

I am so damn sick of physical therapy.

Wrenspeaky it was not.

A word to the three boys I was planning on eating dinner with tonight:

I am still hurt. In fact, as you may have noticed, I have been on crutches for the past two days. The physical therapist telling me to try walking anyway does not magically mean I am better, it just means that the physical reminders of my injury are no longer going to be strapped to me wherever I go.

With this in mind, maybe you can understand my irritation when I fall behind on the way to dinner and I see you turn to check where I am... and then keep walking. If I yell "hey, if you guys want me to walk with you, you'll have to wait for a couple seconds; I can't catch up," the proper responses are not any of the following:

1) To keep walking. (Okay, so technically, but I'd prefer it if you waited, you know.)
2) To yell "Are you saying something?" then laugh and keep walking.
3) To yell "Maybe you wouldn't be so far behind if you didn't keep fucking talking." And then keep walking.

Now, because those are the wrong answers, I am going to no longer feel any desire to be around you. So, if I yell "Fuck you!" and turn around to go back to the house, don't act so shocked.

"Jesus, Wren, I was fucking joking."

I'm sure you were. Unfortunately, I am not your Indian grandmother, so I will not be walking 100 feet behind you on the way to the SUB. I'm also not going to take lip from you because you're impatient with me and my inability to walk quickly right now.

They probably weren't thinking about it, but I am still upset at all three of them. Just because you're in Guy Mode doesn't mean you're allowed to turn your brain off and become Ug the Testosterone Excretor. A little compassion never hurt anyone.

Cadbury Eggs terrify me

Today is Good Friday, I think. Since Sunday is Easter, I decided to break out my bunny ears again. It certainly made the school day more eventful.

Random Facilities Guy: "Did those ears grow naturally?"
Me: "Yes. Every Easter. It's a curse."

Sarah: "You know, with those ears and the crutches, it looks like you're hopping now."

Mark: "That's a good look for you."

Nesh: *points me out to the entire class* "Would you like to tell us why?"
Me: *waves* "Easter is on Sunday. That's just an excuse to wear the ears."
Nesh: "I'm not sure bunnies use crutches."
Me: "This one does."

Otto: "Everyone is just going to stare at you."
Me: "Otto, I'm on CRUTCHES."
Otto: "Yeah, but they'll think you're a freak."
Me: "Otto...my hair is BLUE."

*crosses fingers*

References given to security guys. Hopefully I'll know in a few days.

Things to buy once I know if I have the job:
1) new hair dye.
2) orchid.
3) shiki-futon, sheets, and comforter.

I'm counting UFOs. I signal them with my lighter.

So I'm not having any caffeine for the next two days. I've been chugging it down as much as possible since Sunday to stay alert and happy, and it's beginning to have some pretty annoying side-effects. For example, my heart keeps triple-beating. And while this may sound serious, please stop worrying, guys. It's not. I've had this happen before, and cutting back on caffeine always fixes it. And, if for some reason it doesn't this time, I promise to go get it looked at. XP*

But seriously. For all my other problems, my circulatory system has always been in excellent condition. It's from all the running.

So, looks like I had better catch up on sleep, then.

::EDIT::
Was randomly reminded of this today. Might be the sweetest comic he's ever done. Randy is good. He can be sweet, he can be sad (the Branwen arc almost made me cry), and he can be bitingly funny.

::2ND EDIT::
WTF?!

I once sang "Summer Lovin" in a talent show.

I e-mailed the security people today.

"Just checking in to see how the selection process is going. I found a summer address and have registered for classes, so I'd like to get the rest of my summer finalized as soon as possible.

Thank you, and have a good day!"

Hopefully they get back to me soon, and with good news. I have no idea where else I'd look for a job.

I've never been turned down from an interview. I need to remember that.

::EDIT AFTER LAB::
They want two faculty references. This is a good sign, yah?

sweet revenge.

Oh, Unc. Thank you for paying for my plane ticket to head out of town April 20-23rd. It really is the least you can do. And, if you had bothered telling me you were divorcing my aunt, you wouldn't be forced to drop the money for me now.

Fucker.

::EDIT::
"So, I'm not mad, but I was looking at your taxes, and how did you make only $50 last summer?"

Ooops. Looks like I forgot to tell her I quit that job. *grins*

This Week in Wrenbiology 320: Experimentally determining her natural hair color

I should teach my own course. It might help the more dense people of the world figure out what the fuck I'm actually like.

Someone take my pheremones. Otherwise I am going to isolate them, refine them, and use them to create a mob of loyal, obsessive followers at the head of which I will march on the Capitol.

Seriously. I ordered pizza today, and the pizza guy asked me if my leg was better yet. I had no idea who he was.

::EDIT::
(I was distracted, okay?)

Maddo: What are you listening to?
Wren: It is a piano version....of a song...
Maddo: Yes, thank you. You're not telling me anything I don't already know.
Wren: pbbbbt.

*twitch*

Gah, I am going to be a nervous wreck all weekend. Luckily I slept okay, though I really wish I didn't remember my dreams. Every time I do, I wish I hadn't. They weren't bad, but they certainly didn't make me feel any less strange.

Today I go to class, play lots of KHII, go off to be tortured by Ewok man, eat some dinner, and then find something to occupy myself again so I can stop being mildly freaked out all the time. Maybe I'll go to bed early. Most of the rest of the weekend I'll be studying for an exam, doing a take-home quiz, and brainstorming for some papers.

It does sound kinda sucky, but at least it will be busy.

Heh. I never know when I'm happy. When I'm busy, I want free time, and when I have free time, I try my best to be busy.

::EDIT::

Job interview over. I'd say it went well, but I don't want to think about it until I know for sure whether or not I got the job. I'll let you all know in three or four days. @.@

Black Hole Sun

Two days ago we left the house to head for the SUB for dinner, only to discover that a storm was moving in quickly. I mean, seriously. We looked behind the house, and there was this black wall of clouds reaching out and devouring the sky. Behind is, it was still blue, but in the time it took me to take this picture the entire parking lot had been covered by the clouds.



"We'd better hurry," Maddo said. And we all agreed, and fled for shelter and food.

Unfortunately, we can't really outrun the wind. By the time we get to Lawrence, the clouds have us surrounded, and are closing in ominously on all sides.



Once we get to the doors of the SUB, it's black as far as the eye can see, except for some light that's shining through on the horizon.



And, randomly, one area of sky that refused to be eaten. Maddo and I saw that, decided we'd seen God, and that He was blue.



We made it in before the rain, but people coming to dinner thirty seconds after us were not so lucky. Everyone else was soaked to the bone.

Evidently not.

Bored like whoa.

Enjoy the show. Listen for Sarah's cameo. (That's what made me laugh, you know.)

Peer pressure

They're still trying to get me to do a Comic House comic.

Daryl: "She's at RDG." (Campus dance troupe)
Me: "I can't believe you have to PAY to see your girlfriend dance, dude."
Maddo: *giggles* I know!
Me: "I'd be all 'yo bitch, show me the routine!"
Maddo: "Doing it naked would make it look better, anyway."
Me: "Shhhh, don't give him any ideas!"
Daryl: "@.@"
Sarah: "What sorority is she in, again? Theta...theta...theta?"
Daryl: "...Yes."
Maddo: "Is it really called that?"
Daryl: "No, but I can't remember it."
Maddo: "Man, you need to, or you'll piss off her sisters!"
Sarah: "Theta Kappa...
Maddo: "Delta Kappa Omega?"
Sarah: "Busta Kappa!"
Me: "I know a few I'd busta cappa."
House: "...XD"

My physical therapist is like an Ewok.

Cute, unassuming, probably cuddly...and as vicious as a motherfucker, let me tell you.

*winces and rubs her leg* We found a new place that was sore today, so we had to explore it for ten minutes to REALLY LOCATE THE PAIN. Between that and the controlled electrocution, it was like some sort of modern torture hour.
"Okay, now when your muscle is forced to contract, go ahead and contract with it. Oh, and lift your leg off the table for the duration of the current."
"Hmmm, does that hurt? Lie on your side and relax for me." *POKEPOKEPOKEPOKEPOKE* "Hehe, am I killing you?"
"That's one way to put it," I muttered. I secretly think he's healing me so he can attach me to The Machine and take notes on how it makes me feel.

Maybe he's a demon. He looks so sweet and innocent, yet does so much evil. It's a form of mental torture.

Oooh, he is CLEVER. - -;

T.T

Job hunting is exhausting. Half an hour ago I barely had any idea what was out there. Now, I have waaaay too many places to look. I suppose that's a good thing, though, because it increases the chances of me finding what I need.

I may not even have to look all that hard for myself. The barista job is back. This seems like some sort of odd fate. Security also asked if I wanted to be considered for a summer job, and I may also apply to be an office assistant. I already have the glasses, so why not be a secretary? >>

Just as long as I don't end up like this, everyone should be fine. (I love that movie so much.)

::EDIT:: Screw the barista job. Most of its hours fall under class time, and I don't want to work both weekend days to make up for that. XP*

::2nd EDIT:: I have a job interview Friday at 2PM. *dances*

Hair Dye and Ethanol

I'm blogging from Chem lab during experimental downtime. Next week, we will apparently be making ethanol. If you have any sort of chemical knowledge whatsoever, you should be grinning. MMMM, UPS moonshine.

Nesh: "I've been making wine and beer in my garage for the past 15 years."

Also, I'd like to go on record as saying I can't type on Mac keyboards worth a damn.

I redyed my hair last night, and since I have the pics online I figure I'll go ahead and share them here. I feel a bit more gothy than usual because the color is so dark. putting on my black shirt (I say that like I only have one) and a ton of eyeliner really didn't help matters, but ya gotta go with it, right?

If you don't like the color, blame Baron, because it was his idea in the first place. Personally I think it looks pretty damn good, but if I hadn't done the burgandy I think it would have been too dark.


My hair pulled up, with both colors visible.


The under layer.


The whole shebang.

*flees for freedom*

Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight

I got back from the physical therapist today. My knee, after a full eight days of medicine, icing, and rest, is still as swollen as it was initially. I've also lost some range of motion. Because of this, they want to see me three times a week for a month. Jason, my therapist, seems to be a little worried about the chances of my problem being fixed with therapy alone.

They know what did it, though. This is another problem caused from running, or in my case, stopping running (how ironic). My IT bands are at it again.

I'm depressed. Another week of vicoden and crutches, here I come.

::EDIT::
This is how I've made it through this semester so far.


Multitask like whoa. How many different things am I doing right there? XD

Of Penguins and Plots (Linkalicious)

Housies just got back from Comicon today. They came bearing presents. There are no words for mine, but a little context might make it even stranger. Well, it certainly does for me. I have a sinking feeling that for you people it might actually make sense.

"Wren, we all saw this and instantly thought of you."

Apparently the revolution has begun. We had no idea, though the URL stamped on the back of the seal may provide a clue.

I'm sure you all scrolled down and read the title of the pink book in that photo. Yes, Fuck This Book indeed. I have the postcards, too. And, as the back says, if you think you can do better...

Now that everyone has received their packages I can unveil the evil plots I've been working so damned hard on for the last week. Enjoy, folks.

Love Moose! ^^;

We're not sure why he does it, actually.

His worst nightmare.

There's one of Sarah in the works. Thanks to these sketches, she's trying to convince me to do a Comic House comic. It's not like I'd be lacking for silly material, but I am still thoroughly against the idea.

Pocket Dimension Open?

This weekend was something I've needed very badly. I've been able to relax and unwind and regain my equilibrium. I feel kind of like a new person, actually. I've been saying, and I know people agree, that it's about time I got a breather.

I feel hopeful. I'm losing range of motion in my knee, but I'll be starting physical therapy soon, so that should go away quickly. All I have to do is stay caught up in classes and figure out my plans for this summer. Hopefully that won't be too overwhelming. Now that I've had a mental break, I don't think it will be.

Oh, man. It is so good to finally have myself back.

Quotes that will only be funny to the people who were there.

"Eheheh...there goes our ride!" (Sora's best line EVER. OH MY GOD.)

"Aww, look! He's trying to hug your spine!" (Me. Don't ask.)

Sarah: "Do you mean Blind Riku?"
Me: "He had better NOT fucking be blind. He had the best eyes out of all the characters, and if I have to go the entire game with him wearing that fucking bandana I'll-"
Sarah: "Heh, it's actually sexy. Cuz you know they're there, and you want to rip it off."
Me: "'Hey, can I undress your face?'"

::EDIT::
Beast: "He used my pain, my sadness, and turned it into rage! He controlled me through my anger, and made me hurt my friends! AAAGH! *growls and raises hands to the ceiling*
Me: "AND IT MAKES ME SO ANGRYYYYYY!"
Sarah: *presses pause, glares.* "I can't play this game anymore! BAD WREN."

I have so much HATE for Squaresoft

30 minutes into Kingdom Hearts II?

Fucking REQUIRED minigames. I am sorry, but I do not play Kingdom Hearts to skateboard. I play it to hit the X button repeatedly and destroy me some bad guys.

Wren is somewhat less than amused. - -;

::EDIT::
I am making Roxas pants. And then wearing them. Oh bitches.

Yeah Right.

I'll never be your Maggie May
the one you loved and left behind
the face you see in light of day
and then you cast away
that isn't me in that bed you'll find

I'd rather take myself away
be like those ladies in Japan
rather paint myself a face
conjure up some grace
or be the eyes behind a fan

And so you go
no girl could say no
to you

There's the way we may appear
but that will change from day to night
would you ever see within?
underneath the skin?
could I believe you had that sight?

And so you go
no girl could say no
to you

I'll never be your Maggie May
the one you loved and then forgot
I'll love you first and let you go
because it must be so
and you'll forgive or you will not

And so a woman leaves a man
and so a world turns on its end
so I'll see your face in dreams
where nothing's what it seems
you still appear some kind of friend

And so you go
no girl could say no
to you

A Welcome Revelation

The 8-page midterm paper I wrote finally got given back today.

A-, bitches.

Fucktastic. I needed a bit of happy.

::EDIT::
PANTS.

The Verdict

I went to the doctor's today and received a diagnosis and a treatment plan, along with a worst case scenario.

Diagnosis: My left kneecap isn't sitting properly, causing the cartilage on one side to be compressed. Friday when I stood up from the coffee table and all these problems started, my kneecap popped out of position temporarily. What I am dealing with now is the injury this caused to the surrounding tissue, but the underlying cause of the problem still needs to be addressed, or it will just happen again later.

Best case scenario: I stay on crutches for the next 1-2 weeks to keep weight off the joint, and go through lots of physical therapy for the next month. We're talking heat, ultrasound, and electric treatments, massage therapy, and strengthening/rehabilitative excercises. When the month is up I go back into the doctor's, get checked out, and go on my merry way.

Worst case scenario: I do the same as above, but no improvement is seen, or I'm not completely healed within the month. Then I go in for an MRI, and we discuss the possibility of exploratory surgery to get a better idea of what exactly has gone wrong.

Gimp

I really hate not being able to get around on my own sometimes. >>

::Post-doctor update::

I've been referred to a joint specialist because they think I've done some damage to my ligaments. There's some swelling below my kneecap still, and that's the area that seems most tender. In the meantime, they've given me Vicoden and crutches.

I just hope I still have health insurance.

How the hell do I hurt myself this much by STANDING UP?

Sick

Last night I learned I need to chew my food better. Or, more specifically, my rice.

Today I work on finishing my evil plots, getting packages together, and homework. Hopefully I can do as little walking as possible so my knee gets better. It aches this morning.

Start over

This weekend has been the oddest combination of fantastic and terrible.

The breasts, they do nothing...

I've been e-mailing people who need subletters for the summer. So far it has been...interesting. For example:

"Natalie:
Hi, I saw your flyer around campus and would be interested in subletting for the summer. I'd like some more information about the house, and maybe to see it and meet the other people who would be living there over the summer.

Thanks!"

And the reply:
"Hi Wren,

sorry, but the landlord actually wants it to be strictly a girl-house.
I just found this out wednesday night, so I havent been able to reprint flyers. thanks for your intrest though!
natalie"

After blinking a few times, I sent back a reply:
"That shouldn't be a problem, since I am in fact female."

I mean really. How? How can "Wren" possibly be a guy's name?

Also, my left knee has exploded. It keeps giving out, and is now swollen and angry. I am back on codeine. You have been warned. Monday I'm headed in to the doctor's.

The Great Mitochondrial Rebellion of 2006, Bikebushes, and the Blob that Ate Everything

Cell Biology today freaked me out to no end. Ever since I was little I've had a marked distrust for all biological functions that occur on a cellular level, but this class is steadily making it worse.

When I was seven or eight I was a big fan of the trilogy that begins with A Wrinkle in Time. The third book is what caused my fear of cellular function (similar to Nice causing my eye phobia, now that I think about it. And they say reading is good for you?). See, the little brother of the main character gets very sick because his mitochondria rebel.

Now, that may sound ridiculous to you, but if you think about that after you learn about the Endosymbiotic Theory, you begin to fear. Mitochondria are not actually part of us. They're completely separate organisms with their own DNA, and they replicate on their own, which means they're not being regulated by their host cells (us.) Fun fact: all your mitochondria came from your mother. So we have these little beasts living within us, producing the ATP we need to keep all our cells functional and thus keeping us alive, and they're not even being controlled by us! How the FUCK is that not scary?

It gets worse. I thought learning about metabolism was freaky. We have to carefully regulate all the reactions we perform to metabolize glucose, you know. Because if we didn't? We would COMBUST. So what if an enzyme goes crazy and kicks up a reaction when it's not supposed to? FWOOM.

But today! I learned that inside the mitochondria there's something called an Fo/F1 ATP synthase that is responsible for creating all the energy we need to run things right. And it does it by SPINNING a protein complex around and "hitting" two other complexes, which change their shape and end up catalyzing reactions because of it. That's right. In every mitochondria in every cell of your body, there is something that is meant to do nothing but run into other things and make stuff. And I can't feel it, or control it, and if I hadn't taken this class, I'd spend my entire life NOT KNOWING THIS.

On another random note, in chem today we were discussing sci-fi movies and why organic lifeforms can't be silicon-based instead of carbon-based. See, the bonds between silicon and hydrogen or silicon and itself are too weak to stand up to light photons, so exposure to light would cause it to desintegrate. (Pitch Black, anyone?)

He told us about this one movie he saw, tho, involving a huge amorphous blob that was eating stuff. Chemists were battling it by hurling bottles at it from the stock room, and finally they found one that dissolved the entire beast.

The female chemist picks up the remains of the vial and reads it. "My God! You used the ACETIC ACID!"

That, boys and girls, is a fancy name for vinegar, one of the weakest acids out there. Oh, how we laughed.

I also wore the Sir-Mix-A-Lot skirt around today. The weather was perfect when I put it on, but the second I walked out the door the wind was zipping EVERYWHERE and making me feel like a really bohemian Marilyn Monroe. I hate dealing with odd weather in skirts I don't trust. It also rained while it was sunny, and then hailed. This skirt is evil.

Finally, a conversation between me and Eri. It is necessary to click the link for the proper frame of reference.

No Understandy: Drugs are bad, okay? XD
No Understandy: You're gonna turn into a bikebush.
Eri: Being a bikebush sounds fun.
No Understandy: I hate you.
No Understandy: *laughs hysterically*
Eri: Like being a ninja. They would never see me coming.
Eri: Only assume it to be a harmless bush.
Eri: On a bike.
No Understandy: O.o; A bikebush would be quite noticaeable
Eri: I'd just stop moving when people looked, so they'd think it just a regular bush.
No Understandy: you're on a BIKE.
Eri: Maybe they'd interpret it as a bike STUCK in a bush.
No Understandy: ....no.
Eri: Damn
Eri: So, in other news, how goes the skirt experiment?
No Understandy: it went well, except for the hail.
Eri: hail?
No Understandy: Yes, it hailed.
Eri: Is this coincidence or was it somehow caused by the skirt?
No Understandy: I think it was caused by the skirt. The weather today has been unusual.
Eri: And here I was thinking the most it could do was stop traffic. To affect nature itself? A truly powerful artifact indeed.
No Understandy: I wonder what it does to bikebushes.
Eri: My guess would be engulfs them in flames.
No Understandy: Awesome, I can kick your habit.
Eri: You can try ^^
No Understandy: I'll just addict you to something better.
No Understandy: Like trees.
Eri: ...I'm not sure that'd work.
No Understandy: You haven't seen this skirt!

Sarah and I have dubbed the dire combination of me, Baron, and Eri the "Triumvirate of DUMB". This is a good example of why.

Why I should not be allowed to speak in discussion classes

My Asia in Motion professor probably already thought I was weird, but today was the first time it actually disrupted his class for extended periods of time. From the time he walked into the door until class was over I kept interrupting him and turning the conversation away from the topic quite by accident.

For example. I raised my hand at the beginning of class because I didn't see him walk in with a stack of midterm papers to ask if he's managed to grade them. Unfortunately, his back was to me for three minutes, so he was already starting into the intro portion of his lecture when he finally turned around and noticed I was there.

So we talk about the paper, and why he's been so busy, and then I assume he's headed back into his lecture, so when there's a pause I yell out the word he started class with.

"SOJOURNING!"

He stares at me. "What?"

"...sojourning..."

"Oh. No, we're going to talk about your next paper instead."

>.<; Everything goes normally until we get into a conversation about language, and why different regions speak slightly differently, and Maddo makes the point that languages are subject to trends: if an important person uses a certain word or phrase, it becomes popular. (For example. Old king of Spain used to lisp, and now Spaniards can't pronounce their own language. >>;) She then likens it to trends in cars. Sometimes rounded is in style, other times square.

"Personally, I can't wait for the fins to come back in style." A few people giggle.
The professor blinks at me. "...Why?"
I blink at him. "Because I like them." A few people giggle harder. Unfortunately, one of those people was raising her hand, so the professor, in a desperate attempt to move on, called on her.

She bursts into laughter. "I can't even remember what I was going to say!"

The professor flounders, then doggedly moves ahead. I feel bad, apologize to the girl, and spend the next two minutes shaking quietly with laughter and trying not to make eye contact with anyone.

Not five minutes later we're discussing communication problems, and Maddo relates an anecdote where she and her roomie got in a fight because of a pair of "slippers." In Hawaii, that word meant flipflops. Here, they are houseshoes. I had a similar story, so raised my hand. "We'll let Wren have the last word," said the professor. (Big mistake.)

"Where I grew up, we called flipflops thongs. When I moved to Hawaii, that did not fly." Class busts up laughing. Girl two rows to left looks at me and goes "me too!" "I would say it, and underwear wouldn't even cross my mind" I replied. She nodded.

The professor, standing up in front of everyone, muses quietly to himself: "This is the first time in my teaching career underwear has been a topic of discussion."

And that is exactly why I should not be allowed to participate in discussions.

Insane in the membrane!

A year ago, Sarah's chem professor told the class that they would not do well in Ochem unless they were deaming about it. At the time, I told her I would have raised my hand and asked "Do nightmares count?"

I think my 12 hours of Cell Biology got to me last night. So much Ochem and other chem is involved in all the goings-on in your cells that I sometimes feel I am taking not one, but TWO chemistry classes. Which is why I dreamed I was a hydrogen in an organic compound last night.

When I woke up, Sarah and I had the following conversation.

"Oh my God, I am soooooo weird." *yawn, stretch*
"Why?"
"I dreamed I was a hydrogen atom."
"Is that good or bad?"
"Ask your chem professor."
"Aaaarrrrrgh."
"Mmmm, I don't want to get out of bed."
"Do you want me to come over there and jump on you?"
"Wouldn't work. I am a stable compound, and thus very comfy."
"Aaaaarrrgh."
"Are you an oxygen?"
"Yes."
"CRAP."
"Raaawr. Come make H2O with me, baby."
"I always knew you were slightly basic."

You know you live in a house of science dorks when these conversations don't even sound odd.

Happens every time.

Looking through people's chat logs to find addresses and other bits of information I need can be a very embittering experience.

I have six weeks to find a house and a job

You know it's been a long day when Daryl walking into the room and asking "is anyone else having cheesy bread?" almost makes you cry.

Then again, my brain seems to be broken. I'm not used to getting so much good news on the first Monday back from break. I got an 83/85 on my chem paper about the lab of doom, and an 85% on the exam. Then I got 80s on both quizzes I got back from Biology. So that was cause for a lot of happiness.

It has been an odd day, tho. Lots of odd conversations with people.

"I went camping in Death Valley and got so drunk I ran into a bush. *cue arm that looks like a small rodent gnawed on it.* Then I stayed up until 7 AM, passed out in my tent, and everyone played capture the flag without me."

"Make it your life's goal to have sex on every surface of your house!"

"Why is Baron terrified of me?!"
"Because you managed to spent almost 24 hours per day of the past two years with me."
"I don't see any problem with that."
"And that is EXACTLY why he is terrified of you."

And then lots of random issues that shouldn't be issues at all that I have to worry about. Tomorrow morning I'm waking up, going running, meditating, and then going to classes to get two more midterms back. I also seem to have a meeting tomorrow night if I decide to take that perspectives leader job, so I probably need to decide about that this morning so I can work that into tomorrow night's schedule.

Ugh, I have a Cell Bio exam Wed. That meeting has the WORST TIMING EVER.

Mmm, welcome back to Uni, Wren. It's amazing how busy you are, isn't it?

Time for shower, paper proofing, and then bed.

o.<

I need to stop accidentally sleeping with my knuckle jammed in my eye.

Back to Reality, oh, there goes gravity

"Lately I've been thinking
of combust-ication as a welcome vacation
from the burdens of the planet Earth, like gravity,
hypocrisy,and the perils of being in 3-D...
And thinking so much differently."

Mike went home yesterday, and I was left all alone for the duration of a car ride back to the house because Matt came back in by the time I got home. Before he went I dragged him off to Point Defiance Park and we took a walk on the waterfront because the tide was low and there was actually a beach in existence. We got some pretty good pics, too, when some little five-year-old bratling wasn't hurling rocks at us (long story.)





We have no idea about the second pic.

*sighs* So much more I want to blog about, but am very tired. I'll probably post more soon.

I hate Alloy.

So I bought this skirt.

Let me preface this with saying I always feel very self-conscious in skirts. I always have, and I always will. So needless to say, I am very picky about them.

So I bought this skirt. It came in the mail today, and I just went upstairs to try it on. I put it on, look in the mirror, and go "hey, cute!"

And then I turn to the back, and the only thing I can think of is this comic. See, the skirt is ruffled, but the ruffles don't start immediately, so the material over my ass is SKIN TIGHT. And it's worse because the loose part doesn't start until the thigh, so the curve of my butt is actually being accentuated. It is so wrong!

I CANNOT WEAR THAT IN PUBLIC AND FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING ALIVE.

I went downstairs and ranted to the boys about this for a bit. Eri was smartly silent. In fact, he may have hidden. Himi wants to see it. What he does not understand is that my ass is completely comfortable with being absolutely invisible to humankind.

- -;;;;;;

"Soul Calibur Tongue"= <3

Eri is finally listening to the 101 song playlist I made him last semester. It has been interesting seeing how far he can go without wanting to kill me. Once we get to the last song I don't think he'll be able to restrain himself. (Thank God we still have another 20 songs to go and I decided not to follow my first instincts and make it the FIRST song...)

Baron is on a plane en route to his Uni from Detroit. I got some goodbye pics of me and him before he left. (Eri has to go through the same ordeal tomorrow, unfortunately. MWAHAHA.) Here are the two that I like the best.



I'm glaring at him, and he looks like a zombie. This pretty much defines our friendship, actually. Which is what I was going for.

Here's the one where we tried to make the photo actually look presentable.

I look like I am baring my teeth. >>;;;



Now I need to go figure out what I am feeding Himi and Eri tonight. And probably have some more caffeine, because I am incredibly tired tonight. >.<;

We still don't know what the hell a "Pocari" is...

Baron finished off the Pocari Sweat this morning, for better or for worse. My sources say he has not gained a shield. And by "sources", I mean hands. And by "not gained a shield" I mean "Oh my God, did that actually hurt?"

If he were a Japanese man, this would probably be all over Tokyo.


We went into Seattle after that with Himi and had some lovely fish and chips and some gelato for dessert. Here's a really nice pic of the boys (and their faces, oh em gee!) ^^;



We were going to go to the aquarium, but there were SWARMS of bratlings as far as the eye could see, so we headed off to Pike's Place and got lost in there for a while. (On a side note: I just Googled "bratlings" and got a lot of responses of brat-lings. Think of brat the food. Little brats. Bratling brats? Brat bratlings? How interesting...)

When we came back we made fondue. They really seem to have liked it. After that they made me watch Blade Runner, for which I shall never forgive them. =_=;; ("The little voice, Eri.")

I learned not to teach other people Wrenspeaky, tho. Bad things happen. Bad, bad, bad things happen.

Poor Love Moose. D=

Shields up!

We had so much fun at Uwajimaya yesterday. I got some wonton wrappers, some red bean curd buns, chicken gyoza, some udon, pocky, gummi, green tea ice cream and candy, and some apple sencha (type of tea). Baron got some spicy tuna sushi but has yet to try it, and Eri got some gummi which, if the living room floor is any indicator, is mostly gone now.

We also had fun in the drink aisle. I got my lychee glass-ball-scary-opening device drink I always like, Eri got a scary melon soda, and Baron got some clear liquid called Pocari Sweat- ion supply drink.

"Maybe if I drink enough ions I'll develop some sort of shield!"- Baron, at 11:50 last night.

But does it WORK? We had to know.

Here's the experimental setup: one glass, one bottle of Pocari Sweat, and one test subject.


And the procedure? Take cup, pour out the strange, clear liquid, and taste it.


"Hmmm, grapefruit," he said. And did not die. I had to know for myself.


I didn't feel all that shielded. If fruit could sweat, tho, holy fuck would it taste like that crap.


Then we made quesadillas, watched Road to El Dorado ("You know that little voice that tells you to quit when you're ahead, Eri? YOU DON'T HAVE ONE."), scared Eri's housemates, watched Heat, and fell asleep far too late.

I fail to see what all the hype about Heat is. It's entertaining, but easily could have been much shorter.

Today we're headed into Seattle with Himi to play around on the waterfront. Wish me luck, because I do have a little voice, and it's telling me I'm going to die.

S.T. Strange and You

Yesterday Eri came into town. We temporarily lost him in the airport, but 15 minutes later I spotted him over by his baggage claim. Baron was not sure it was him, but I most certainly was, so I managed to stealth up behind him despite my freaking bright hair and grab him around the waist.

Bastard did not even blink.

- -;

And then we spent half the day finding replacement contact lenses for him because one tore on the plane. The only thing I am going to say about this is that Costco is a very scary place indeed...

They also met the rat yesterday. Or, shall I say, the rat met them. It was a very scary experience all around.

First the rat had to determine if the strange creature taking over his side of the house was edible. (Evidently not.)


Then he decided to get brave and go introduce himself to Eri.


These pictures make me go *squee.*

Today we're going to Uwajimaya, which cannot end well since last night I dreamed I got LOST in an aisle of pocky, was chased around by robotic UFOs carrying trained spyrats, voted sexiest girl in class (what the FUCK is my subconcious doing to me).

I really don't think I need any more sugar. Especially after making 20 of my donuts this morning. All of them are gone. ALL OF THEM ARE GONE. @.@

I'd ask how, but I already know. Boys.

z.z;;

I am so sick of being tired all the time, yo.

The first lesson of Spring Break is...

Do not leave Wren alone in the house for five hours when you've come to visit. Chances are she's freshly charged her camera, and that always equals horrible, horrible things when she's BORED OUT OF HER MIND.

This is Baron. See Baron sleep. Sleep, Baron, sleep. To the left are all the game systems that I now cannot play because of his awkward choice in nap area.


After he passed out I went upstairs, figuring he'd wake up in a couple of minutes (I mean really, look at his posture. OW.) I ended up falling asleep for a little bit and woke up feeling quite refreshed. I decided to go try to wake him up so we could do something/plan stuff for dinner. The following conversation, though I do use that term loosely, ensues:

Wren: *poke poke poke....POKEPOKEPOKEPOKE*
Baron: *flail* argaaaarrrgrgrgrgaaah...huh?
Wren: "It's almost five o'clock."
Baron: "You say that like it's supposed to mean something to me."
Wren: "..."
Baron: *snore*

Okay, fine.

So I took a picture to assuage my bruised ego. If he is not up in 15 minutes, it may be time to break out the Sharpies and make like Picasso.

(I swear to GOD, Eri, if you don't get here soon, the beanpole dies.)

::EDIT 5:34 PM:
No Understandy: why is his phone ringing?
Eri: I was waking him up :P
No Understandy: I HATE YOU.
No Understandy: I WAS SO ON MY WAY TO SHARPIE HIM.
Eri: You say that but you probably weren't. But I needed to warn him just in case. :P
Eri: He might not listen to me though.
No Understandy: No, dude, now I have to hide them.
No Understandy: >.<; hate hate hate
Eri: ^^
Eri: I'll make it up to you tomorrow then.
Eri: WITH A HUG
No Understandy: Touch me and become a woman. I'm like the Midas of estrogen.

I actually had free time last night!

And so I decided to shake things up a little bit. Usually I dye my hair purple or wine with a red underlayer, but recently I've been letting it fade as much as possible so I can move on to lighter and brighter colors. This is why last night I was able to do the reverse of my normal hair and do red on top and wine on bottom. Behold.



I keep forgetting that anything red instantly turns me into a VAMPIRE. >.< It is pretty awesome, though. The color isn't flat at all because of my natural highlights and the darker underlayer. You can't really SEE the darker underlayer in this pic (hate indoor pics), so for an idea I suggest you look at the tips.

When I pull it up it's red in front and purple in back and the tips kinda glow. This is a lot brighter than I'm used to. It's sunny today, so Imma try to get a good pic of it outdoors.

Take Control

Well, midterms are almost over, so I get to get back to figuring out what to do this summer. I'm really hoping the subletters start posting signs soon. I did find a sign asking for a female boarder in a house, but living with a family with a semi-private entrance doesn't seem ideal. Maybe I should look into it anyway, though. I can't really be all that picky.

I've filled out my summer finaid forms and checked the "give me a workstudy!" box. Imma turn that in tomorrow and see what happens. I also have a rough draft of my newest resume done and ready to be looked over so I can take it up to that cafe and introduce myself to the manager on Friday. It's like two blocks from campus and seems to be open until at least nine, so I'm sure the hours will be workable. Either way, hopefully I can end up with a decent job so I can have some money to spend this summer. I really need to start saving again, because I have officially exhausted everything I put away in high school.

I've chosen my summer classes. I'll be taking my first class for my Pre-Education focus, an oceanography class, and beginner's yoga (it's free because I'm enrolled half-time.)

Ugh, so tired. Why is thinking about the future so damned exhausting?

Feeling charitable?

New Orleans Public Library is trying to rebuild. They are now accepting books or money. I'm sure I have a few things I can send their way.

Also, here is the only thing I remember from my dream last night:
Wren: "I still want to make a red-and-blue rag rug for the living room. " (It's true, I do.)
Maddo: "Awesome! It will look like a boiler room!"

...Made perfect sense last night. O.o;

This made my stomach go numb.

Which means it is secretly LIQUID CRACK.

My computer is a work of art

I've always hated the way Windows looks. Unfortunately, I also hate Macs, and thinks like Linux are...COMPLETELY FOREIGN CONCEPTS TO ME. So over the past two years I've been trying to get a modified Windows setup I'm actually happy with, but there have always been a few problems. UNTIL NOW.

1) I hate the start menu, and I like docks. But I like the start menu systray and hate the dock taskbar.

2) I like the Windows clock.

3) I like my mail notifier and Trillian pop-ups.

So here is what I think is going to be a near-perfect solution:

The dock is at the top of the screen like I've had it for the past year. The start menu is forced to be always hidden, but is still accessible with the windows key when it's time to turn the comp on and off or find programs I just installed. In place of the windows clock I have that awesome semi-transparent clock that has fully customizable fonts, colors, locations, sizes, and transparencies. The CD case in the lower left is my iTunes interface that has hotkeys (which I can't yet get to work, but we can hope) and downloads album art for you (with 90% accuracy). My mail notifier still pops up when I get mail, as do my Trillian notifications.

The best thing about the desktop, though, is that moon. It's not part of the wallpaper. It's a program that shows the current phase of the moon. So it waxes and wanes. AWESOME.

I want to do one final thing to my desktop, though I am not sure I am crazy enough to do it. I want to take my current wallpaper and make 23 other versions of it with different light levels to simulate night and day, and then download a desktop manager to change the wallpaper every hour. I've been told by people that they don't think it's possible for me to do that, but it most certainly is. I can change the level and direction of the light, the hue/saturation, and brightness. It would be a pain in the ass, but SO TEMPTING.

Okay, time to go get to my WEEKEND OF DOOM. I have more homework this weekend...