There’s a First Time for Everything
I have never known T-Rex to bring up a valid and insightful point before!
Meh.
I feel like part of the minority here, but I’m just not that excited about the iPad. My apathy is twofold. One, Apple’s justification for the iPad’s existence is to fill in the gap between the iPhone and the MacBook. I really don’t see a gap there that needs filling. In any instance where my phone isn’t powerful or large enough to do what I need, I have my laptop with me. In any case where I need something more portable than my laptop, my phone does the job. An intermediate device is just not necessary.
Second, it’s lacking in several departments. No camera? No Flash? No multitasking? No USB port? And any iBooks I buy via Apple’s store can’t be viewed on any other eBook reader I may have? Are you serious, Apple? I definitely have some hardcore fangirl feelings for the brand, but wow did they miss the mark on this one.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)Mingling Dream with Reality
Have you ever dreamed a fight with your significant other? I have, twice now. It’s so awkward to wake up and look at the person you were just flat-out screaming at in your dream only to realize that they never actually did anything wrong. Until the lingering anger fades, things feel very conflicted. Not to mention I’ve never decided if dreams are an expression of subconscious feelings or just coincidence. Am I really secretly (even to myself) harboring anger over something? I can’t imagine what it could possibly be. Or maybe it was just a dream.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)It’s Quiet Around Here
I miss my dog. The woman who is taking care of him is head over heels for him and spoils him rotten - he gained 3 pounds in his first few months at her house. I know he is happy and well taken care of and fitting in nicely. But man do I miss having the little furball on my lap. This is the first time ever in my life I have lived without a pet in the house. I definitely don’t miss the extra cleaning and the fur all over my clothes, but just having them around made it feel like a happy home. Colin and I have no official plans, but it seems we’ll be together for the foreseeable future, and I’m wondering what I’m going to do with my pangs of longing for a pet. Perhaps he’d agree to one of those hideous hairless cats or something - but it would be a battle. What do you do with someone who grew up in a household that considered animals unclean and unfit to live in your house, when you’ve never been without? Somehow I think a goldfish just isn’t going to cut it for me.
Dealing with my guilt over visiting Merlin is another matter… at first it was great to see him but now it’s getting harder and harder to have to leave him behind. But not visiting at all doesn’t sound appealing, either. I imagine this is what it feels like to try to remain friends with an ex you’re not quite over. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Ah well. I’m going to visit him tomorrow and maybe I won’t be feeling so melancholy then.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)2009 Book Reviews
Well, I only managed to read 10 books in 2009. But in light of the whole GRAD SCHOOL thing, I think that’s not entirely unforgivable. As usual, you can read my reviews in detail at my Library Thing.
Five-Star Books:
- The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain De Botton
- The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams (a re-read of an all-time favorite)
Four-Star Books:
- The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
- Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
- Outlander/Dragonfly in Amber/Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (first three in the series)
Three-Star Books:
- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Marquez
- In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
All-in-all, I didn’t read any books in 2009 that I flat-out didn’t like, which is an improvement on 2008. I’m only a few hundred pages from finishing my first book of 2010. I hope to read more than ten books this year, but the aforementioned GRAD SCHOOL may hinder that. Either way, you can look forward to the annual book review next year!
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)Worst of Times and Best of Times
Two weeks ago I was at my mom’s house watching the animals while she and Richard went to a Christmas Party. I emerged from the house at dinner time to feed everyone their grain to find the barn engulfed in flames. The rest of the night is a blur; I just remember frantically trying to get a hold of my mom… by the time I did, the barn was burned to the ground. Fourteen of the alpacas died, although thirteen of those should have been able to escape since all but one of the barn doors was wide open. We aren’t sure why they stayed inside. But six alpacas escaped, and all three dogs. I was treated for smoke inhalation and various bumps and scrapes - I had jumped the fence and tried to open the one locked door, but it was latched from the inside - but I’m completely fine now. Emotionally… I’m coping. Last week was really hard, but this week has been fine, mostly because I spent the week in Oregon with Colin’s awesome family. I’m not putting this story up for sympathy, it just feels good to get it out there. May the sweet little alpaca souls rest in peace.
And now, on a happier note, my visit to Oregon was amazing. Colin’s mom is so warm and nice and she showed us a great time. We went to a play and a Dickens Feast and had many delicious meals. I’d never been to a Dickens Feast before but you can be damn sure I’ll be going again! It was at a beautiful bed and breakfast. The staff were all dressed up as characters from A Christmas Carol, and we were served six amazing courses while being serenaded by a quartet of carolers. Next time, though, I’m going to wear something slightly more stretchy. But really, I couldn’t have asked for a better meet-the-parents experience. I hope Colin’s dad (whenever I get around to meeting him - who knows when that will be) is just as awesome.
Also in happy news, Lisa is coming to visit on Monday, which means I have exactly until then to get this pig sty of an apartment in guest shape. And believe me, it won’t be finished until the very last second. That’s just how I roll.
Ohhh yes, I almost forgot - I passed all my first semester classes with 3 A’s and 2 B’s! Quite frankly I’m a bit surprised I did so well - some of the courses were really hard- but I’m not about to question it! I definitely learned some good lessons to apply to next semester, mostly involving getting enough sleep. I can’t even tell you how many times I looked up while studying for finals and said, “Clearly I was in class this day because I took notes, but I have absolutely no memory of learning about this.” I guess just being in class isn’t enough - you should also be well-rested enough to pay attention.
So, that is the current news, both sad and happy. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday surrounded by people you love.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)I Got Nothin’
I am less than 48 hours away from finals and have completely run out of CARE. Thursday and Friday I didn’t have class - for the purpose of studying - and didn’t crack a single book, nor have I done so today. Those five weeks of joyous irresponsibility are looming so close that I kind of just want to start early.
Boy, for someone who loves school, I sure do complain a lot.
But as much as I whine about studying, this semester has been pretty good overall. I get along well with my classmates even if I don’t quite fit in - they are mostly into sports and beer, and I am mostly into video games and sparkling wine. I like a good proportion of my instructors. I’m learning a lot of useful information. Last weekend I practiced on my mom for my surface palpation practical and she said she couldn’t believe how much I’d learned already. So overall, school is awesome. I’m definitely ready for a break, though!
Plans for my five weeks off include a trip to Oregon to visit Colin’s mom and step-dad - this will be my first time meeting them and I’m a little nervous and a lot excited. Lisa will also be coming to visit for New Year’s. Oh and I have my very first jury duty. Yay.
Other than that I plan to never get up before noon unless something seriously awesome is going down, cook good food for the first time this semester, and start working out again. I am le excité.
My Amazon Christmas wish list is much the same as last year, but I’m working on it.
*sigh* Alright, I guess I’ll start that studying thing that 99% of my classmates’ facebook posts are about. Vacation starts in t-minus seven days.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)
