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another thought-- tofurkey is delicious, and i don't care what none y'all say. Also, mixmasters are awesome. I made chocolate chip cookies with one at the Alonzo's house, and it felt like i was barely participating. The mixer did all the mixing. I just stood there feeding it.
a third thought-- I've been kind of melancholy. We sent wedding invitations to all the family, which was cool. Now it feels more like the wedding is going on. However, that act reminded me of how my parents weren't invited, and how they aren't part of my life. I will assert that this is their choice... they don't like who i am, and that's their decision. But it hurts, sometimes. i don't have parents anymore. I'll get over it, or passed it.
Final thought-- i really need a shower.
Ps. Bonus points if you can tell me where this song is from. more points for more specificity
- Music:A Place Called Home by Kim Ritchy
The Japanese killed between 200,000 - 350,000 Chinese citizens of Nanching.
The Americans and British killed between 24,000 - 40,000 people in the bombing of Dresden alone.
Americans killed 140,000 people in Hiroshima, and 80,000 in Nagasaki.
Over 60 million people died in World War Two. China lost 10-20 million citizens, Poland lost 5 million, and India lost 1 million.
57 countries were involved in killing one another.
While i think it's wonderful that you/if you shower, and brush your teeth, i urge you to consider adding more to your daily grooming routine. Deodorant is really nice, as is folding your clothing. With a few extra steps, you can make a fantastic impression on those around you, and stop being so painful on the sensibilities of others. Here are my suggestions of the day.
1. Brush your hair. please. In fact, if you haven't already, please figure out what haircut looks best on you... a lot can be said for the right haircut. Furthermore, get a haircut!! (if you think i may be talking to you, i probably am). No one wants to hire/date/rent to/ buy stuff from/converse with a slob. After a certian age, the lanky unkempt hair doesn't say "i'm a free range liberal fighting for justice", it says "I'm too lazy to get it cut, and will probably not be paying you rent this month".
2. Please, please learn to match your clothes. To those without an eye for color, feel free to just match shirts to jeans. There are a great number of people who get along just fine without fashion sense. However, there are a great many college students that are trying, and failing, to portray fashionable. Stripes do not match stripes. Big red flowers do not match big red flowers. And please, only so many colors or patterns per outfit.
3. Consider the weather. If it is less than 40 degrees, please wear a coat and shoes. Just seeing you makes my ass freeze.
2. Vanilla scented candles.
3. getting the house clean. I don't really love the cleaning part, but the effect is fantastic.
4. clean socks.
5. chocolate milk.
6. warm days in november.
7. new nail polishes
8. a pug that snuggles.
9. hanging out with the men last night... they always amuse me.
10. Strongbow in the fridge, and Gingersnaps in the cabinet.
However, i was just recommended about 1,000 books... which is great, and i will probably try to read a little from each list recommended to me.
Lets try this...
What is your favorite book?
(sorry sally)
Any great books?
In his book Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, Vonnegut listed eight rules for writing a short story:
- Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
- Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
- Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
- Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
- Start as close to the end as possible.
- Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
- Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
- Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
* Agency. You have it.
Spend some time in your day to think about the good things going on in your life. (note: if you say there aren't any, please go straight to the bathroom and flush your head down the toilet, you irritating person.) There are plenty of great things happening in life, and people tend to fixate on the negative. As Cat Stevens said, you can worry about how you'll pay the electric bill, or you can consider it an opportunity to burn some candles. The way you view the world is entirely up to you. let me repeat that: the way you view the world is ENTIRELY UP TO YOU. So, if you focus on what's positive, you will have a great day! If you choose to be miserable, please do it near someone else.
*Remember when you were younger and grownups told you not to worry about what other people think. Forget that, it's bullshit.
Please consider how your actions will affect others. If you say something hurtful or angering, without regard for other peoples feelings, it makes you an asshole. also, if you live with a bunch of other people (like many of you do), be aware of how your actions afect your living space. If you are not considerate of the people you live with, you'll create a shitty living environment. I'm not just talking about doing your dishes, and refraining from shitting on chairs. Really try to consider how other people will feel about the things you say or do. Trying to live for yourself only works if you are a narcisistic asshole living all on your own outside of society. If that's not you, please think of others.
Halloween was pretty great... Jeremiah and Chris made a creepy ass haunted staircase, which scared some of the party guests. Our gangster-bitch costumes were pretty fun, and we dressed Brianna up as some kind of a harlot. Also, Tanya's day of the dead outfit was kick-ass, Lizzy made a really sweet sexy-batman, and Chris and Marissa's Men in Black were awesome, despite being one penis short.
Today was relaxing and filled with Flu. Jeremiah's temperature got to 102.7 (which means 1.3 degrees away from super scary hospital time!). In order to get his temperature down, i had to cover his head and chest in cool wet rags. This process was rather like dipping a cat in freezing water, if the cat was too sick to move. Through yowling and cursing, i got his neck and chest cooled off, at which point he said that if i touch him with the cursed cloth again, he will summon his last remaining strength to punch me, and then die. Fortunately, we got him cooled off and rested, and he seems happier now-- he's not threatening violence in any case...
Tomorrow will be hellish. I have two large projects coming up this month. One is easy, but requires the reading of an additional book. The other is time consuming, frustrating, and requires the reading of at least 4 more books. Beyond that, i've taken on an additional 6 hours of work this week, and i would still really like to find time to bluebook.
Plus, this week is advising and class picking. I still need a sponsor for my wicked cool Euro Studies special project, and (if all goes well) i only need one more class and one more special project to graduate. Of course, knowing life, things will likely not go well...
Still, good friends, good food, and adorable (yet monstrous) pug puppy, and a really sweet (yet flem-filled) fiancee. Things could be worse by far.
Gangsters!! Jeremiah, Welsey and I are 1940's gangsters!!
Vampire cookies!! Butter cookies with jam in the middle, and bite marks on top!
LARP tonight!! It's chirstmas time!
I think you are people i know , but if you aren't just let me know and we don't have to be friends.
Also, could you all at some point let me know who you are, if your profile is ambiguous.
more specifically, the fact that religion is socially exempt from the question "why?". It has become increasingly obvious to me (in part due to my own curiosities) that asking someone to explain why they believe what they believe is considered rude and offensive. It is not socially acceptable to question someone's religious beliefs. This is astonishing to me.
In my mind, it follows logically that if you are going to dedicate your life to upholding a particular set of moral values, you should know why you uphold those values. Religious beliefs are at the core of so many people's way of life. If i ask you why you enjoy video games, or why you believe that Literature is the best major for you, most people are ready with a well reasoned response. Why not also with religion?
I have always stated that i believe what i do because it is the best way of living based on what i know. I also have upheld that claim, and have spent three years in a state of logical perusing of religions and spiritual paths. I am careful about the force i use to discuss my personal beliefs, because i still hold that they will change if something more sensical presents itself.
I think it is horrible that discussing religious beliefs is so taboo in our culture because it allows people to adhere firmly to beliefs they haven't fully considered. A person truly comfortable and confident in their spiritual path shouldn't shy away from discussions of their beliefs. Beyond that, if a person is willing to dedicate their life to following one religious practice, they should know enough about it to defend why they chose that one over all other possible religions or spiritual paths.
Bear in mind, i'm not saying that people should write a dissertation about how they have looked at all the worlds religions and settled on one in particular-- i recognize that spirituality isn't as strong a force in everyone's life. But, having some idea why you follow what you do is necessary, even if it's as little as "This is the only thing i have been exposed to".
Bottom line, it irks me that it is socially taboo to discuss religion because it means that many people are saved the necessity of understanding why they believe what they believe. Antiquated notions of belief are preserved because they are never questioned. Logic shouldn't be exempt from any aspect of life, and it bothers me that the modern world sees religion as an exemption to logical discussion.
- Mood:
contemplative
friday is the Abyssal larp-- awesome!
winter break will be great... this semester has been incredibly draining, and i know next semester will be really harsh. But, during winter break, i intend to read for fun, relax, and start some academic projects. It'll be great.
i'm getting married in about 4 months... geee-eeesh. I'm looking forward to it, mostly. there's a family aspect that i dread, but the rest should be fun. Plus, honeymoon= awesome vacation with jeremiah. maybe we'll go to california's wine country.
And, of course, i'll be graduating in may, and i'll be staring down the barrel of a year off before graduate school.
so, tonight i'm going to eat Honeycombs(tm) and relax with my friends.
Last night, i was a first hand witness to the secret world of men. After much libation, four members of the male sex proceeded to discuss all manner of matters, allowing me to learn classified information about how men think and what men want. I learned about preferances, types, fears, penis sizes, hang ups, and patented moves. Also, there were some memorable lines that can't help but be shared. So, for the ladies, here is some of the information i learned.
1. Stop listening to advertisements. Many men like a woman with a little cushion for the pushin'. Stick skinny isn't what most of them are looking for, so stop agonizing over it.
2. Most of them are terrified of making "the" move. They feel like its a do or die situation-- they make their move and either they have sex or you walk away and leave them. Go easy on them.
3. They don't get why women are mean to each other-- backstabbing and gossiping like. They all just get along, though they do establish an alpha of the group.
4. They are only two kinds of men, "Assholes" and "Bitches".
5. They get surprise erections throughout the day, for no reason. They hide it and go about with their day. They all have a technique for hiding it.
6. They sing ABBA. just thought you should know.
Also, the following:
"Zach wears asshole-colored glasses" ~Kristen
"Surprise wood-- it's like the nosferatu curse. We just don't talk about it" ~Zach
"There's a big difference between dumb and crazy, and someday Chris can tell you all about it" ~Kristen
"I'll give you the difference-- I'm dumb and they're crazy" ~Chris
"My mom is a person who i trust and confide in" ~Zach
"You guys are harsh on his trashy, emo chicks" ~Kristen
"Well, yeah, he likes Boxie" ~Jeremiah
"How does [Jeremiah] get all the chicks" ~Nathan
"It's because he's Buddhist" ~Zach
"I do not have a woman steering liscence" ~Zach
"Jeremiah likes his women like he likes his Bonsai trees" ~Nathan
"Child psychology is bullshit. Who knows what the little bastards are thinking" ~Zach
yeah.
Wesley has learned how to use the backspace key. This makes typing more difficult. Typing is also more difficult when he wages war with my sleeve.
The cheese muffins at the Java Joint are well worth eating.
Anthropology is the lamest of disciplines. The few good things it has to offer should be titled under a different subject (forensic anthropology = biology) The worst of its offerings take a different discipline (linguistics) , take out anything remotely challenging (structure, word origin, pejoration, ect.) and turn it into a therapy session (how do you think these words make people feel? ) Anything else is more appropriately joined with Sociology (because they are basically the same thing)
My body requires caffeine every four hours
I hate the LJ spell-check it tells me i miss spell something, but wont tell me how to spell it when i right click the word. ]
I have fuck all to do over break, and it's going to be awesome!
Also, massive apartment cleaning, and possibly furniture rearranging. And wesley's surgery is on Wednesday. Also, we're going to Elburn for a few days, to hang out with Jeremiah's parents. Believe it or not, this is very much like a vacation... spending a few days doing little besides watching the dogs play (they have 2 lab puppies!) and relaxing. Nothing like visiting my parents ;) .
And now , to class!
So, i'm out walking Welsey today, and it's raining. We've made it to Walgreen's and are heading back home. We're stopped at a crosswalk, and i'm imploring Wesley to sit, when a man, 24-28 years old, pulls up in a silver car, and rolls down the window.
Guy: Is that a male or female?
Me: He's a boy.
Guy: Has he been , um, taken care of?
Me: (somehow picking up the code) Not until next week.
Guy: Oh! We've got a girl and we're wanting her to have puppies.
Me: (confused face)... oh?
Guy: We're looking for a male, and we'll pay for stud.
Me: Are you from around here?
Guy: yeah, we live in south beloit.
Me: (lost for words) Well, why don't i take your name and number. I'll have to talk to my fiancee about it, and we'll give you a call sometime soon.
Guy: great. (pen fumbling)
And now i have Chase's number on my cork board, and a wierd decision to make tonight. Strange day.
My cozy hand made throw blanket.
When Wesley sleeps in my lap.
The "Autumn Leaves" soap we got at the farmers market.
That fall break is 5 days away.
Reading. I've been reading about the Salem witch trials for class, finished reading Dexter's first book, and am starting the Three Inch Golden Lotus. Also, working through the Sidereals book.
Fresh made poetry.
Hanging with friends.
Sleeping cozily while the room is chilly.
The way Welsey plays in the leaves.
My wonderful fiancee.
Con: super groggy face.
1. i discovered the documentary section of the library. This wouldn't make normal people smile, but the idea of a 60 minute knowledge boost really appeals to me. I don't have the time for lengthy non-fiction books, so this is awesome! This week, i got one on urban legends, one on american dialects, and one on hh holmes.
2. i went in to work today, to cover a three hour block, and learned that i'm not covering that till next week... pretty sweet.
3. i figured out what i'm doing with my life. I'm going to go to grad school for literature and discourse analysis-- a branch of linguistics that looks at the way communication happens. Basically, the words you use and tones and decisions to capitalize or not... Should be really intriguing. (to no body but me)
4. Wesley. He doesn't like fire. Crusading against a tealight at his level, he barked, stared, and got closer to sniff at it. When he got close enough, the flame danced because of his breath, and he freaked and started again at barking.
5. chocolate makes me smile, and chocolate chip cookie dough makes me smile even more... hopefully i'll have some in the near future.
6. i'm getting married in about 5 months. also, there are 2.5 weeks until fall break.
7. Scion. "it's like tripping on astrophysics"
"whats that saying about killing the messenger?" "Don't."
"balls more charismatic"
note: balls is now a unit of measurement. Use it.
