Home again, home again

Jiggity jig. (I almost typed "juggity." Yeah, I'm a little tired)

Back from the Ray Kayser Memorial Bonspiel up in scenic Rochester, NY. Had the most fantabulous time EVER. We left after my Russian Lit midterm on Thursday, and made fantastic time. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, we lost 50 degrees. We think they're floating around Pennsylvania. So, yeah, we went from 70 degree weather to 20 degree weather, but it was more than made up for in the following days. Our first draw was at 10:15 on Thursday night, and we got there with time to relax and have dinner and all sorts of good stuff. I was approached by a woman there (I can't remember her name off the top of my head) who said that she had found my journal by searching for the Kayser, and had been reading it. A bit weird and disconcerting, but kind of cool, eh. So, a big shout-out to you if you're still reading, and drop a line.

We, unfortunately, lost our first two games, but we held our own pretty well. We lost the first to a home team that each had 4 years of experience, and only by 2 in the 8th end. Our second game we lost to another home team that had a bit more experience than us, and that was by mere *inches* in an extra end. Eeep! But, somehow, we managed to pull not one, not two, but three more wins out of our asses to make it to the third event semi-finals. I don't think I've had more stressful games than last night's and this morning's. But someone was on our side, because ended up pulling it off. 10 end game, score - 12 to 11. Big shiny pins, and a nifty wine glass to us. Not to mention our complete and utter wonder and surprise. But it was good. We've never played so well - either individually or as a team, so it really made us happy that we pulled together like that. Even in the first two games where we lost, we weren't at all upset, because we knew that we had played really well.

So, now it's off to bed, because work in the morning. But at least my big shiny pin will make the day a little easier.



(squeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

ALSERTKJNEAWOIHFDLJN

That about sums up how I feel right now. Have a midterm at 6:10. ::looks at clock:: It's 4:53. I'm not at all prepared. This is that class where I really don't like the professor, and don't feel like I've learned anything useful. But I've heard that his tests are killer, and all about how *he* wants you to phrase things. Which really just trips me up. And there are going to quotes. I'm going to have to identify quotes. From about a bajillion speeches. "No, don't memorize them" he told us. Then how are we supposed to recognize them? ::sigh:: I just. Ugh. And I tried to study last night, but I was so tired I fell asleep. And today I've had *no* ability to concentrate whatsoever, which doesn't really surprise me because that's what happens to me before any big test. So, I've looked over my notes. Big deal. This is going to suck. A lot. But at least then we've got bad-tv-tuesday, and J will make me drinks. At least the day won't be a complete loser.

Whoo whoo weekend

Or something like that. Friday, got my 2nd Russian exam back. 78. Not splendid, but significantly better than the 64 I got on the first one. So, that was a happy. Friday night. Huh. Been working today on about an hour and a half of sleep. Let's just leave it at that for now, k?

Today was our MACA at the curling club, which I ended up being the sole coordinator for. Spend most of yesterday and this morning in a state of near-nervous-breakdown, but things ended up going pretty well. There was enough food, there were teams for everybody, people had fun. Objectives fulfilled. But it was definitely a long and nerve wracking day. At least we've got a year before the next one. Eeek! After curling, headed over to JEB's to meet up with B for the They Might be Giants concert tonight. Hung out with J&B for a while (and Stephanie joined us for a bit, as well) and we went to Noodles & Co for dinner. Mmmm. Headed to the 9:30 club for the show. Opening Act? Ohmygod the most terrible thing I had ever heard. She only sang 4 or 5 songs, and it was 4 or 5 too many. B said the only opening act he's ever seen that's worse was this guy with just an accoustic guitar and a beat box. But she was definitely the worst I'd ever seen. Definite odd moment of the evening... between the opening act and the headliner, they play music over the loudspeaker, like just about any other club. So, this one song starts up, the first few bars, and I'm thinking "I know this song" and then the words start, and it's "Sonic Reducer" from HCL. So, then I had to explain to B why I was laughing. He probably just thinks I'm nuts. TMbG was great - I'm so glad I went. I had never seen them live before, and they're a lot of fun. I'm not a huge fan of theirs, but I enjoy their music. Sang along to the songs I knew, swayed to the ones I didn't, and generally had a good time. But it was definitely just what I needed - to be able to just close my eyes and let the music pulse through me. I feel better than I have all week.

Funny how it works that way

Today’s going pretty well. In fact, aside from a) missing Int’l Finance. Again (this time it wasn’t my fault. I swear. I got out of the house on time. It’s just that I had to wait almost half an hour for a metro. Damn Washingtonians and their inability to deal with precipitation); b) not being quite sure what’s going on with this paper that I still haven’t written and c) this being the third day in a row that I get to spend pouring over cash register tapes – somebody shoot me now, dear god if I have to write the word “DONUT” one more time, I think the people around me may be in danger – things are going great.

I woke up on time today, which feels good, even if I still missed my class. Looked out the window, and saw the world covered with a fine mist of white. Too cool. More snow. And the little flakes, whirling around in the wind – sooo cool 10 stories up. I love it. Got downstairs and picked up my packages at the package-picking-up place. Not only had my Lexicarry book come in, but my Oz book finally made it to me, as well! Whoo! Took my Russian Exam. The oral part kind of blew (shut up. all of you), as what I was really good at was the recipes, but she had us talk about restaurants and service instead, because we had to write out the recipes in the exam. Bah. But I think I did fairly well on the written part, except for the last part where we had to pretend we were out of town, and write a note to fax to friends to arrange a birthday dinner for another friend. We had to talk about what restaurant we wanted to go to (and why) and where it was located, and what to get him for a present and all sorts of fun stuff. That part wasn’t really all that grand. But I knew the recipes, and I knew the conversation about restaurants. Am v. happy about this, especially considering I felt much less prepared than I did for the first exam, and I did *horribly* on that.

Last night was bad TV Tuesday. And it was utterly fantabulous. J and I ended up going to the mall to run some errands, and setting the VCR. I ended up getting the Making of the LOTR Trilogy book. Lots of great pictures and behind the scenes stuff. Very exciting. Also pre-ordered my DVD of Chamber of Secrets, as well as my copy of OoP. Whoo! It’s just been a HP kind of week. Got back to the apt, only missed a few minutes of 24. This week’s episode was good. Not as good as the past few weeks were, though. Then on to Buffy and Smallville. Now, I’ve seen, um, I don’t know how many episodes of Buffy ever. I can count them on my hands. But last night’s episode? I really enjoyed. It was funny and yet serious all at the same time. I think they used Andrew really well. And, yeah, a lot of other stuff that made it good but I can’t really talk about because I don’t know the show well enough. But it rocked. Smallville was utterly craptastic as usual, but ohmygod so slashy. I was dying. We all were. Even B. All I have to say is this – was it not *night* when Lex found Clark laying in the middle of the road? And where was the sun when he walked home? Yeah. That’s what I thought. Just checking. We then watched X-Files (okay, so it wasn’t quite the bad tv Tuesday that we usually have – no bad dating shows), and how sad is it that within about 10 seconds of the start of the show, we all knew which episode it was? (Die Hand Die Verletz) Watched the start of the second X-Files episode because it was Fresh Bones, and I wanted to see my Callum. E’s new boy J apparently really likes Callum, too, although he’s only ever seen him in Existenz and Memento. We need to get that boy some HCL, stat. Not to mention dS and Frank’s Cock. I’m on the job. Then I went home and studied and watched two of the four Stargate episodes that I taped Monday night. So, yeah. Not quite perfection yet, but I’m out of the corner, at least.

And again

Yes, I'm being a busy little blogger. Or, at least as far as upkeep goes, I am. I added a few people that I unintentionally overlooked when I updated my reading list the other day. Sorry, guys!

Inane Inanities

Ew. I’m writing this in word on my work computer, and the letters just look horrifyingly huge. Kind of scary. ::tinkers with word:: There, that’s better. Nothing of any import has been going on in my life. Nothing whatsoever. The move is finished. Haven’t been able to get the DSL to work on my computer. I’m still mostly living out of boxes. Couldn’t find Anna K to bring to class with me this morning, because I’m not quite sure what I did with my school books that weren’t in my bookbag. Oops. Then proceeded to feel like a moron in class, because I couldn’t pull it out to check quotes and such. ::sigh:: Ah well. My US Diplo midterm is quickly approaching, and I feel not at all prepared. But that’s because a) I’m behind on the readings (surprise, surprise) and b) the teacher is boring as all HELL and I don’t feel like I’m learning anything from his lectures. Definitely not retaining anything anyway. Tomorrow I’ve got yet another Russian Exam that I’m not prepared for. Last week, I ordered a book from Amazon.com to help me with my vocabulary (it’s called “Lexicarry” and new roomie MK introduced me to it), but it didn’t come until today, and by the time I get back to the apartment, the place where you pick up your packages will be closed. So, there won’t be any way for me to use it to study tonight. Bah.

I feel totally overwhelmed by work and school and life in particular, and have started being the master procrastinator again. Which, of course, means… more HP fic. I’d kept myself away for *so long * I’d been really good about it. But took a trip over to “We Read Crap…” the other night and was wandering around rec sites, and had the same experience that I did the first time I read HP fic, where I just stumbled across one story that was just so good and so true to me and the way I view the characters, that of course I want more. But is there just some kind of unwritten rule out there that says that for each good story you read, you have to read 10 crap ones? I think there must be. The love affair with Stargate continues. I just love Daniel so much. Am trying very hard to keep from buying Season 2 on DVD. I’ve watched J’s season 1 DVDs… you don’t want to know how many times. No, Rami. You should wait. Buy dS instead. Ugh. I’m being such an erratic fan. Hopping around. But having fun.

Oz was… well, I already talked about Oz. But I feel a bit freakish, as well I should, I suppose, as I’m feeling like I really understand where Joel Gray’s character was coming from. Yes, I realize that’s totally messed up. But I just feel like… I don’t know. It’s hard to explain. I can’t quite put into words the way I feel, and I’ll just have to resign myself to the fact that I was the only person who wasn’t going “what the fuck?” when he was explaining himself on Sunday.

But for now… work awaits me. And if anybody’s looking for me, I’ll be huddled in the corner, hiding.

Well, It's Done

Mostly, anyway. All my stuff is here. I'm missing a few things, though, and hoping they'll turn up. (I sorta really need that shelf to that bookcase) My bed's set up, the TV's set up, the computer's (obviously) set up, although I'm a bit bummed. I was all psyched about getting here and being able to use the DSL, but when I tried to load the software last night, it was telling me I didn't have enough RAM (which I do, the computer was lying), which means that I'm going to have to do something about that before I can use the DSL. Bastards. The place is an absolute mess, there's stuff everywhere. But it's all my stuff, and it's here. And that's what's important. I'm a bit sad because I had to send out for a sub for curling tonight, because there's just no way that with my energy level being what it is (on four hours of sleep, I was up for 20 hours yesterday, and spent most of the time lifting and carrying heavy things), I'd be able to curl, and plus there's just so much that needs to be done here, not to mention homework. So, no curling for rami tonight. On the upside, I'll be able to watch Oz. But I'm still very sad.

I'm up on the 10th floor, and it's so windy right now that I had to shut my window when I got up this morning, because it was rattling around. There's a church a few blocks over, and I can see it from my bedroom. This morning it was playing songs on the bells. I think I like that. Well, I suppose I should go find my clothes and bathroom stuff so that I can start the day.

Wheeeee!

Only benefit to being up at 6:30am? Bosom Buddies. Awww yeah, baby.

Eeeep!

In less than 24 hours, I will no longer live here. I will live there. And yes, good stuff comes with it. Like a balcony. And a pool. And a workout room. And not crazy roommates. But day-amm. I have to finish packing. It's it's all just kind of scary.