My Blog

Pfew!

2006-05-26T13:52:00.000Z

Okay, so I didn't have to go to Cologne in the end and now the phone interview will be over the phone... thank goodness! It's kinda to bad, though, because I was really banking on my good looks. Ha.

In other news, the day after tomorrow is HAPPY HOME DAY. Yes!

I don't like Mondays

2006-05-23T12:52:00.000Z

Goodbye, Monday! I'm currently working off my last Tuesday in Hellhole Household, and I'm more than halfway finished. Tomorrow is my final final, and I'm going to have to do some major packing on Thursday as on Friday I will likely be in Cologne for the day. Eeeeek. Saturday I'm packing up my car and putting it away, Saturday night I'm going to a party at a model friend's house, and on Sunday...

I LEAVE FOR AMERICA!!!

ONE WEEK!

2006-05-21T11:15:00.000Z

One week from today I will be in the airport, ever closer to sweet, sweet America. Tomorrow is my last Monday in this damn place. I don't like Mondays.

T = Minus...

2006-05-19T16:56:00.000Z

The countdown has begun. I only have one exam left. I only have 9 days left before I go home. EEEEEEEEK!

In other news, I also most likely have a very short trip to Cologne to plan. I interviewed with Mazda last week. This week they said that while I didn't get the original job I'd applied for, they were impressed enough that they're pleased to offer me a different position for which they feel I'd be a better fit. The only catch... the people I'd be working for want to meet me first. I bought a nice suit a little while ago, and was dying for some reason to wear it. Be careful what you wish for, folks! I'm not too worried, though. I'm much better looking in person than over the phone.

A New Record

2006-05-17T12:50:00.000Z

5 rolls. At my house the other day, we went through 5 rolls of toilet paper. All in one day. There's no way we could even have possibly pooped that much. I mean, generally there's only about 4 of us here. That's 1.25 rolls per person per day.

Fashion

2006-05-14T14:55:00.000Z

Okay, so I have pretty nice clothes. I take a lot of pride in what I have to wear. I think personal style is very important, though, and would never make fun of someone based on what they wore. Would I maybe be a little prejudicial towards them, though? Oh yes. So what am I meant to think of my old man neighbor who is maybe trying to start a new trend by pairing a huge zip-up argyle cardigan with tracksuit bottoms that grip at his ankles, revealing his bright white socks that lead down to the bright red bedroom slippers he has chosen to do his yard work in? I'm thinking his wife might buy his clothes for him. Maybe she should also set restrictions on how many different fun things he can wear at once.

Interviews for the Family W

2006-05-11T10:25:00.000Z

I have an interview this afternoon with Mazda Europe for an internship next year. The thing is, I think it's an entire year-long position. Am I ready to leave my friends and family for a whole year? No. Can I sacrifice my sanity-making Summer of play and restaurant work? Negative. Eeeek.

Government, shuffle your decks!

2006-05-09T07:41:00.000Z

So the Labour government here did really poorly in local elections. I'm not a huge Labour fan, so that's a good thing. I think the rate at which they're stealing from the financially-stable and giving to the financially-lazy is astonishing. It needs to be over. Labour has been in power so long, I think they seem to have run out of things to do. Now they're introducing new (and higher) taxes just for the hell of it. That's no fun. Maybe in the next few years, things will change. That would be nice.

In America, my birthday in 2008 is on Elecion day. Well, actually that's my birthday the entire world around, but it's Election Day in America. Bush having served his two terms, I'm getting a new president for my 21st. What did you get for yours?

Learning

2006-05-07T12:40:00.000Z

I thought that at the restaurant where I worked I had learned a lot about how to deal with people. I did, in truth, learn quite a bit. What I never realised was that I had only learned how to deal with difficult people in the short term. A meal lasts about an hour, a lease lasts about a year. This year I feel that I was robbed. Usually I think through my decisions at least 10 times, hesistate a little more, and then finally make up my mind. I'm fickle. When I pick something, however, I stick to it. This year I was robbed of a lot of good times because I picked to live with someone who, because I gave her the benefit of the doubt, was not who I had hoped she would be. I feel that with my less-than-desirable home situation, I had a lot less fun this year than I could have had.

The hard thing about this situation, though, is really the fact that I feel more pity for her than regret for my decisions. This housemate of mine seems to have no real friends, no real direction. She has parents who enable her poor behavior and bad decisions and a loser boyfriend who cheats on her and has failed college so many times that he's 25 and not even in his final year of his undergraduate degree. The sadness I feel for this self-destructive housemate of mine is overshadowed only by the apathy I now feel for her. She could tell me she was going to go jump off a bridge (not to say she hasn't tried already), and truly I would tell her to just go for it. It wouldn't even be a selfish decision, I know she'd probably actually be better off dead. She doesn't listen to anyone who tries to help her, so she's just going to have to go help herself, I guess.

The good news:
I come home three little weeks from today, and thenceforth never need see this crazy psychopath ever again.

Heatwave!

2006-05-04T13:26:00.000Z

So it's like 80 degrees and sunny here today... and I sit in the library studying. How miserable is that? I think I now have most of what I need to know for tomorrow's (scary!) exam down, though. Sheesh. Except what can you tell me about the literary styles and narrative strategies of Theodor Fontane? Oh, wait... what can you tell me about anyone who'd give a rat's tohkes? Yeah, that's what I said.

Darnit!

2006-04-30T20:51:00.000Z

So I'm awful. You have to forgive me this time, though. I've had the most hectic week. I've put all of my friends on planes, trains, and into taxis to send them all away from me. How depressing is that? And my housemates are all going even more nuts than they were before, so I've hunkered down and am going to leave for America 3 weeks earlier than originally planned. Screw this crazy place! Actually it'd be fine if my living situation was fine... which it is not. So it's not fine. I think it's going to drive me nuts, especially with the pressure of final exams coming up. I've already started to study and revise and everything, but still... whoa. Forgive me.

Whoops

2006-04-24T21:28:00.000Z

So who remembers this blog being updated a lot? I sure don't! Whoops! Anyway, there's not really a whole hell of a lot to tell. I was at home for a few weeks. The internet there is quite a joke. Like we're talking laugh-out-loud jocular here. Anyway, not a whole lot happened there. It was pretty calm, pretty relaxed. All of my friends were gone, either (ironically) in Europe somplace on a semester abroad or just back at their normal colleges, having had Spring Break weeks ago. I got in some good down-time, at least. Anyway, I'm super sorry to not have put anything here in so long.... so welcome back, everybody! Sorry it's been so boring here for so long!

Somebody Snap me OUT of This!

2006-04-01T21:20:00.000Z

So this week I've missed a lecture, a timesheet deadline, and a plane. Oh, and a call from my housemate, C. I'm thinking the lecture was the most un-fixable, though I can get the notes online. The timesheet deadline was the least-problematic, as I'll just get paid late. The call from C was the most inconsequential as she just wanted to let me know the washing machine broke, but I didn't have anything to wash anyway. Missing my plane home was far and away the most disappointing. Now I'm stuck in some sort of numb-feeling limbo. My friends at school have all gone home. The only reason I would have wanted to stay in London longer isn't even relevant, my friends in London are all too busy to play with me this week anyway. This is one of those low points in life when you think, "Well, it could be worse...". Then, tragically, it does get worse. Let's not think about worse in that case. Deal?

P.S.
Thanks for the reminder, K. Yes, my car also got broken into. I've had to deal with the stupid RAC for the past week, who neglected to call me when they said they would on many, many occasions. Actually, they did call me once... an hour and a half after they said they would. I DO NOT recommend the use of RAC to anyone. They didn't even put Volvo glass into my car. I have 7 pieces of Volvo Sekurit glass and one piece of generic shit probably made in some dude's back yard in Brixton. Fabulous. Have a great day, everybody!

Top 10 Reasons Big Cities SUCK

2006-03-25T10:45:00.000Z

Forget #10-#2, #1 is that my car got broken into last night for the change in my armrest... all of like £3. Cool, huh?

Survival...

2006-03-19T21:20:00.000Z

Only two more weeks... two... more... weeks. I'll make it. I'll make it! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! Two more weeks of class and then I'm homeward-bound (thank GOD all mighty).

It's the best of times, it's the worst of times.

2006-03-15T15:52:00.000Z

Little did I know how much fun the fashion show would be. I've made dozens of friends who I can actually honestly say I like and care about (for once), and I feel like part of a group. It's funny, because we were all chosen for our looks and yet somehow our personalities all meshed together as well. I'm happy to have a life again now (well, sorta... afterparties are still reverberating), but I'm really sad to not see all of these people every day now.

Karma... and why it could possibly slowly be killing you.

2006-03-08T00:02:00.000Z

Have you ever noticed that when you're a nice person, the world is an easier place to live in? If you smile at that ugly girl walking across campus, she might be the bartender at the pub that night who gives you a free drink. If you honk at that slow-moving car in front of you, one of your plastic grocery bags is bound to spring a leak right before you get into your house, spilling your box of Special K into a puddle caused by the rain that you caused by not spending that nice day outdoors last week.

The other think about karma is that sometimes it's just kismet; that is, it is just fate or luck. Things that happen always happen for a reason... but do they really? If you think about it, everything has some sort of reason or purpose. If it didn't, why would it exist? Why would it happen? I would suppose that it wouldn't. When hard times hit us in life, we just need to know that because of what is happening, something else will happen. Isn't that right? Well, I think it is. The only part of that which the people who say it leave out is that what happens next could suck. Hardcore. If you run your car into a pond, it happend for a reason and is the means towards another happening in your life. You could either be miraculously saved by some good-looking paramedic named Steve or Stacy (whom you later marry and move to the suburbs with) or you could just die at the wheel of your '89 Toyota Corolla beneath whatever pond you happened not to notice.

The problem with fate is that it's like we're stuck in a game that never seems to end. Well, arguably the end is when you die... but I prefer to think that something happens after that, too. Eternal salvation and all that. I'm thinking this world was made as one big cause-and-effect zone. Your death is the cause of your... well, whatever happens after death. There's no cheating in this roulette game we call life, folks. Things might suck, but then again things might go really realy well.

On that note, say your prayers before bedtime and try not to look at it as a bribe to God so your tomorrow will be a good one. I shouldn't imagine he'd appreciate that.

Reading people....

2006-03-02T09:42:00.000Z

Sometimes what you say says more about you than that about which you're saying it. Get what I'm saying?

Argh...

2006-02-28T13:42:00.000Z

You know when you just get sick of all your friends? That's where I am right now. All I want to do is cuddle up with someone warm who smells good and watch movies all day without my housemates being everywhere and all of my other friends being stupid. I don't want to have anything to do; I don't want to write any more essays or translate any more articles or take any more notes or read any more stupid books or go to any more rehearsals. I want it to be warm outside and I want snow at the same time.

Scotland

2006-02-27T14:08:00.000Z

So this past weekend, I went to Scotland to visit another friend studying abroad. It was a whole lot of fun in a more organised way, and it made for a really good time. We walked around the grounds of their school/house/manor and then around Edinburgh. I drove this time instead of flying, and it made everything so much easier. I think it might be a control issue.... hm.

Anyway, I hope you're all having a great day, and have a great week this week! Go out there and be nice to someone, as an old teacher of mine used to say!

Ireland

2006-02-21T13:03:00.000Z

Well, this last weekend I went to Ireland to visit a friend who is there studying abroad this semester. Little did I know how much fun I would have! After a few busses, I found her house... and then we got on another bus to go to Cork. We slept there in an internet cafe (there was no room in the inn, Mary... we had to make due) and then went to Blarney the next day to hike around the castle and kiss the stone. That's a pretty succinct summary, but all-in-all it was an absolutely amazing trip! Next weekend: Scotland.

Ahhh... taste of home!

2006-02-14T16:53:00.000Z

The small town where I live just got it's first fast-food restaurant chain. It was a long time coming, I mean this is a university town. How have they not already milked this cash cow? Anyway, SUBWAY, my valentine, I welcome you here!

Definitions

2006-02-09T17:23:00.000Z

"Charm is a way of getting the answer to be 'yes' without asking a clear question."

I don't know why, but I really like that. I've been described as 'charming' before. I think I'm too much of a snot to be 'charming', though, and it seems the only people I ever charm are old ladies. Oh well, thinks could be worse.

Not Only The Irish Who Need Not Apply

2006-02-02T22:44:00.000Z

So, speaking of relationships and getting engaged and stuff... well, it's great. See now, the thing is that all of us who are single aren't necessarily doing less-than-great, though.

Not everyone without someone is in need of anyone. Trust me on this one. Why is it that if you're relatively young and atttractive yet still single, people assume something is wrong? No, I haven't just broken up with anyone. No, I'm not looking to break up with anyone. No, I'm not interested in "finding anyone". Please don't set me up with "your really cute friend". I'm sure she's cute, I really am. The thing is... well, no thanks. And don't assume that because I don't want to be set up with that "perfect" girl over there that I want to be set up with that guy over there. It's just that I'm not interested. Period.

Why is it that the vast majority of people don't understand how people who are single can find happiness or have a "full" life by being single. I'm really quite happy by myself. People kinda drive me nuts sometimes. This isn't to say I'm some sort of hermit or something, I just like to have my peace and quiet and would rather not be bothered by some "special someone" calling me every five minutes. That's not what I want. At the same time, though, were I to be with someone I would rather we saw each other more often than once every few weeks.

When it comes down to it, I need someone just like me. The problem with that is that I'd hate "myself" eventually. We all like people who are just like us... until we start seeing in them what we hate about ourselves. That's no good, either.

In any case, stop trying to set me up with your friend/cousin/sister/brother/mother/dog/professor/client/golsfish...
etc.

Seriously. Not interested.

Ah-HA!

2006-01-28T18:03:00.000Z

Okay, I was going to blog about Hard-Fi, the band. They're really popular here in England right now, and they might be popular in America, too, but I don't know. Anyway, they're from the city next to my town (Staines), and I think that that is neat. You'd think it was neat that something good came out of Staines, too, if you've ever been there. :)

On another note, my hair keeps getting longer and longer and longer, and all I want is to give up and cut it all off. But I won't. I'm going to be strong, and it will eventually get to a "good" long as opposed to the "awkward" long it is now. I have faith.

Well...

2006-01-27T09:27:00.000Z

I did have something to blog about last night. Trouble is, Blogger wouldn't let me sign in. I guess we'll all just have to go without knowing, because I've gotten old and can't remember what my news was.

Blah blah blah

2006-01-24T23:30:00.000Z

So nothing else is really new here. Model rehearsals started this week, and I really really like the people so far. They're all just fun and nice and it's like one big Noxema commercial or something. Anyway, it was really really really fun.

On another note,
Is Cointreau a girly drink? We're not talking about in a cosmopolitan, we're talking just on the rocks. I mean, it's strong stuff, but it's fruit-flavored (sorta). Does this make it girly?

My week...

2006-01-22T12:17:00.000Z

went pretty quickly, but in a slow kind of way. The year is almost over, people are strating to come to look at our house to rent it next year. The end is in sight... wait, it's actually like 6 months away. Well, crap.

Anyway, instead of wanting to buy myself a radio for my room, I've started listening to the radio online. Luckily, my favorite radio station in the world, BBC's Radio One, broadcasts online. Check it out at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 ... it's amazing. Anyway, also on the music front, I got a CD player. Luckily I didn't have to pay for it. My housemate got a new car and didn't like the CD player in it, so he got a new one and gave me his old one. Problem is that I don't really like it so much, either. I got better sound out of my stock Volvo tape player unit. Oh well. At least I can play CD's... too bad they don't sound so good, though.

Oh, and that whale in the Thames died. Kinda strange that a whale decided to swim up into central London, but we all saw it coming. Have you seen the Thames lately? Ew.

Model rehearsals got called off this week because the girl in charge of us wanted another week to go over her ideas. Thusly, I had this week to play. I saw Brokeback Mountain, Memoirs of Geisha, and the Chronicles of Narnia. We'll start with Narnia, as it doesn't really fit in with the other two. It was good, but the children who acted in it weren't all that amazing. I was disappointed, but entertained. It was good, though. Memoirs of Geisha and Brokeback Mountain... wow. Talk about movies that make you happy to be single and not lusting after anyone! Geeze. These two really illustrate love that cannot be. They don't end up quite the same, but the general plots are the same in a twisted, not-really kind of way. At least parrallels can be drawn. One meets another. Both fall in deep, mad, true love with one another, but for some stupid social reason cannot be together. Disaster ensues, but love continues. More disaster, more disaster, conclusion.

Brokeback Mountain was amazing in that it really focused on the consequences all around the two in love, and not just on them. Watch for amazing performances from 'that girl from Dawson's Creek' and 'that girl from Princess Diaries', both of whom, apparently, are amazing actresses and don't need to be stuck in the Disney-teen-flick-child-animated-series trap of the actin world. Wow. Some people I know who had seen it thought that there wasn't enough depth to the characters, but I disagree. Watch Jake G.'s character and his exaggerated 'manly cowboy' posture in the beginning, and see it repeated later in the movie... almost like he's trying to prove himself. His theme continues, trying to prove himself to a father/world that never appreciated him. Watch Heath Ledger's character talk to people. He never seems to really look people in the eyes, he's hiding himself from them. Look more deeply into what's going on, this movie doesn't necessarily spell everything out for you. And read the book, too. It's a short story you can probably get from a library for free. It's like 40 pages, don't complain.

Memoirs of a Geisha was also really, really good. I don't know if it was as good as Brokeback Mountain in that it was more conventional, but it was good in that it wasn't too amazingly predictable like movies are these days. I haven't read this book, so I don't have the insights into it that I'd like to have, but I still really liked it. Seriously, though... was that girl's name really Pumpkin? I really need to find the book to figure this out. I've heard, though, that this is one of those "oh, that book was better and the movie was a disappointment" ones. Anyway, I thought it was very good, I really liked the cute little accents and just the whole look of the movie. From the roofs of the city to the funny little pipe of the mother of the geisha house, it was just fun to watch. With that fun, though, came a little sadness. Hatsumomo... what a [jerkface].

Okay, that's it.

Phew

2006-01-12T15:53:00.000Z

Okay, so things have calmed down... for now. One of my best friends, S, has come to London to study abroad for the Spring. I hope she was just rediculously tired this morning, or we might have run out of things to talk about. Shoot.

How Not to Make Friends.. for Dummies

2006-01-09T18:47:00.000Z

If ever you come into my room in the middle of the night (without knocking) after having woken me up by being rowdy and drunk to ask if you could have or buy a bottle of vodka from me, don't expect me to be okay with this... especially if I am laying in bed trying desperately to get back to sleep and/or if you look suspiciously as though you were drunkenly not expecting me to be awake so that you could just steal a bottle from me while I slept and maybe pay me back later if I noticed.

Actually now that I think about it I wish I would've said, "Yeah, I'll sell you a bottle of vodka. £100, cash. Only offer." Goodness knows they were drunk enough to have run down to the cash machine and paid me. Guess I'm just not much of an opportunist. Too bad, I'd love some new clothes and shoes.

In other news, I LIVE WITH PSYCHO DRUNKARDS.

Do you remember?

2006-01-07T22:29:00.000Z

Yeah, sure do. It's like that time I ate a whole jar of applesauce.

In other news, we got a new washing machine today! This one only takes 2.5 hours to wash and dry a load of clothes. That's pretty damn good, seeing as how the last one took 2.5 hours just to wash them... and then you had to separate the load in two halves and dry each half for an hour. So I think this might be an improvement. Plus it has buttons that light up and it beeps, meaning it was made sometime in the last decade. The one we had before was the same one that C had had when she was a little girl. She turns 21 next week.

More news, my essay is theoretically more than a third done. Seeing as how it's due in March, I think I'm doing pretty well. I'm trying to get it out of the way so when I have to do this modeling thing I can just go and not worry about having to do things at home... and party instead. Good plan? Good plan.

Even more news! Well, actually there isn't any. I think that the next time I'm good-looking and bored I'm going to go to the Diesel store and see if I can get a job there. If I don't, I'll go to the other one. If I don't there, either, I'll go to the other one. They have nice clothes in which I'd care to partake. As long as I can cover my travel costs and new clothes and at least break even I'll be happy. If I can make a little spare money, though, that'd be even better.

Okay, that's it unless you want me to run out of things to say tomorrow. Good day, sir!

Workin' for the man ev'ry night and day

2006-01-06T13:28:00.000Z

So I think I'll get a job in the city... and work for the man ev'ry night and day. I think I'm going to shoot for a clothing store. Someplace nice, someplace barely-affordable. That would mean a little extra income, some new clothes, time out of the house... PERFECT. Lemme just finish this essay first.

And SORRY I haven't posted every day. Just when you say you will, you've gotta not. You know how it goes. I'm pond scum.

Third Time's the Charm

2006-01-03T18:21:00.000Z

So I'm trying to write in my blog every day now. It's part of a larger "straighten out the row of ducks" project which also consists of writing an essay over the next few days... even though it isn't due until March. How 'on top' is that? Seeing as I plan on work work working at the beginning and party party partying at the end, I think that's a good plan, huh? Yeah, I thought so. One essay started... 4 more to go.

In other news, sometimes tomatoe soup makes better pasta sauce than soup.

Riches upon riches...

2006-01-02T17:33:00.000Z

When was it that being rich became ugly to me? I mean letting people know you're rich more than just having a lot of money, to clarify that more. When I look around, people who are rich usually aren't beautiful. They're most often short, out of shape, and have ugly noses and bad taste. If they are actually beautiful... well, they're only 'beautiful' in the over-fake-tanned, gaudy, skimpy-whore-trampish kind of way. It is so rare these days that you see someone with money who isn't trying to show it off. Flashy sports cars and cheesy smiles belonged in the 80's, I thought. Give me a break, seriously. I'd be much more likely to like you if you were poor and stable than if you were rich and ate caviar (gross) and champagne for breakfast.

Winter Break

2005-12-31T16:47:00.000Z

Happy (late) Chrismakkuhwanza! I hope everything is going well for you, dear reader. As some of you may know, I didn't go home to America for Christmas. My family came here to my house instead. I really had a good time in the end, though I really wanted to go home. It was really good to see my family, I really needed to be around people who were more 'conventionally' crazy. I needed people who I understood. They all left yesterday, and I was really sad to see them go. Not knowing when next I'll be able to come home, I really miss being there and feeling involved.

In other news, I plan to use the next week and a half to write an essay and go to the gym a lot. I had really wanted to start today, but it seems that both are closed until Tuesday. Oh well... back to television. At least I tried.

P.S. At least I now have an essay title and outline. I just need to find some books to really know what I'm talking about. Maybe I'll make a list so I can get them all in one go on Tuesday morning... how nerdy is that?

Livin' the Dream

2005-12-17T22:23:00.000Z

So I've finished my essays, I've handed them all in. I'm done with homework for a month now. I get to be a model, the boyfriend (who I strongly dislike) of the housemate who I dislike (one of many) is leaving the continent tomorrow, the insane housemate will be leaving Tuesday, hopefully the inconsiderate asshole housemate will be leaving soon, and the dumb one is never here anyway. My parents are coming on Thursday, the sister and brother-in-law are coming Saturday, and everything will be fantastic!

The only problem:
I'm an emotional eater. Today I ate an entire 1-pound, 8-ounce jar of applesauce. Yes, I ate one and a half pounds of applesauce. I think I'm gonna be sick... sick buy happy... but sick.

The Stress Strikes Back

2005-12-11T13:04:00.000Z

Okay, so I thought the stress would be over. Half of my essays are done and now I'm done trying out for things and life is fantastic. Try again, self. You dummy. Now I have two essays due Thursday, a clothes fitting on Tuesday and a meeting on Thursday and still have to catch up on homework and find time to go to the gym and eat 'real', healthy food. Argh... see you on the other side (if I make it there).

And my hair will shine like the sea

2005-12-10T12:59:00.000Z

I'm gonna be a supermodel.

On top of that, I'm also "Cinderella" according to Quizfarm... but Cinderella messed up my layout and shoved my sidebar all the way down to the bottom. That makes me sad, so I'm bumping her off. Dumb cow.

I Loves Me the Organisation

2005-12-08T13:49:00.000Z

Okay, so I had my modelling audition yesterday. I got called back and had to come again today. Now I've finally finished that (I find out tomorrow) and the essays I had due for this week, it's pig out and sleep time! Wahoo!

So anyway, sometimes I'm really junior high popular girl organised and like to lay the clothes out that I am going to wear the next day. Last night I only laid out two things, and both of them were underwear. That's when I decided that laying out my clothes ahead of time just freaked me out. At least I had a reason, as today's portion of the audition involved walking around in just your underwear. There are a few people on campus at whom I may look a little differently now. There's nothing like standing around in your underwear with a bunch of people to bring you together, huh?

Okay... what's left?

2005-12-06T16:23:00.001Z

1. Finish European Integration Essay for tomorrow (500/2,000 words CHECK!)

2. Go to the gym... again (CHECK!... in about 20 minutes)

3. Eat healthy (So far CHECK!)

4. Get passport photos taken (You need them for everything here)

5. Translate text for Thursday (Ha, this one's dead last)

To-Do

2005-12-04T15:32:00.000Z

1. Victorian Art Essay for Modern British History. Due Tuesday. (CHECK!)

1a. Print Victorian Art Essay (Scheduled for Monday... I have pictures in this one, so I'm springing for presentation and printing in color... oooooh)

2. European Political Integration Essay for Euro. Relations. Due Wednesday. (321 words out of 2,000 CHECK!)

3. GO TO THE GYM... A LOT! (So far, so good. That sixpack should be showing up any day now...)

4. Get paper towels for kitchen (Are you kidding me? This is totally supposed to be last on the list)

5. Read Theodor Storm's "Irrungen, Wirrungen" before Monday (AHHHH!!!!)

6. Stop eating Snicker's Bars as meals (CHECK... at least until Wednesday)

STRESS!!!

2005-12-02T17:42:00.000Z

Okay, so I'm a little stressed out. The significant other (who I strongly dislike) of one of my housemates seems to be at my house more than I am, and has slept over every single day for like a week. I have a 2,000-word essay which I am excited to write, but am not sure about, that is due on Tuesday. I'm about halfway done with it, and it should be great. I have a 2,500-word essay on a topic completely foreign to me that is due on Wednesday. On top of that I worked today, which is fine, but as I was grabbing a bottle of Coke during lunch I was 'scouted' to be a model for this year's RAG (Raise and Give) fashion show. Now, normally I would just laugh and say "Ha, you just think I'm attractive because you haven't seen me naked. Be smart and go away." This, however, is for charity. I have a soft spot for charity. So now I have to go audition with my special "Congratulations, You have just been scouted! Please come strut around for us to make sure you aren't a gimp!" invitation on Wednesday morning to walk around in my skivvies. So now I have to go to the gym four times a day and stop eating Snicker's Bars for breakfast. What has my life become?

AHHHHH!!!!!

Oh, and I still have homework to stay on top of. At least eating will start taking up less of my life.

AHHHHH!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Part Deux

2005-11-29T00:23:00.000Z

Well, it turns out that it was a happy Thanksgiving after all. My turkey turned out relatively well and my pumpkin pies were amazing. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I even offered food to someone I do not particularly care for. How's that for the old Indian-Pilgrim spirit? My only disappointment was that the turkey could've cooked a little longer and my mashed potatoes were dry. Delicious, but dry. Things could've been worse, though. My oven could've set fire to the whole house and I could've lost everything. Then I would maybe not have been so thankful. I think this year I was thankful that my house didn't collapse and/or burn down. That wouldn't be so great.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-24T08:51:00.000Z

Or is it? I'm stuck alone in a foreign land without anyone who celebrates this damn holiday, let alone my family. My turkey is thawing, my pumpkin pie is made, but my stuffing is coming out of a box. I can't help but feel a little homesick at a time like this. My birthday was different, because for as much as it means to me, it is more of a social occasion. Thanksgiving runs a little deeper than that; it's all about changing your perspective to see that your live doesn't suck as badly as you selfishly think it does. Well, it's about that and the food. Let's not forget the food.

Three Wise Men

2005-11-20T13:11:00.000Z

So I wasn't having a fantastic day the other day, and I didn't have any class. I decided to go and do my work for the week in the office I work for, which ended up taking me like 2 hours to do. At least I got paid. Then, after delivering the work I'd done for the German Department, I left. It was a beautiful, though slightly cold day, so I went for a drive. I drove and I drove and I drove. The price of fuel had gone down to where it was before, so I was feeling extravagant. I drove to Brighton on the south coast. I wandered around the tiny little shopping alleys and got a good British bacon and egg sarnie and sat by the sea and ate it. It was the best damn sandwich I have ever eaten. I did a little more wandering, and then came home. The end.

Responsibility

2005-11-15T14:08:00.000Z

When is it that you realise that your level of responsibility has grown? I mean, it seems to me that most people my age don't have the personal responsibility even to take care of the dishes after they've cooked something, let alone to get married and take care of a house and baby and mortgage. I mean, is there some point at which you just grow up and are able to deal with things on your own? Obviously people are able to deal with these thing eventually, as if they were not there would be a massive population decline. I just don't understand. When will some of these people grow up?

The Score

2005-11-14T09:53:00.000Z

Rice incidents:

A = 2, both because I just didn't add enough water.
K = approximately every single time she has anything to do with it. Especially if there is chicken involved, too. How many people do you think an entire bag of rice would feed? I don't know, K, what do you think? A family of... 30?

I win!

Buying happiness

2005-11-13T18:50:00.000Z

The price of my groceries = $12
The price I paid for my groceries = ₤26.
The happiness brought by Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Mott's Applesauce and J-E-L-L-O =
PRICELESS

Don't worry, I got more than just those three things for my ₤26. But still, rip off. I wanted these Vlassic dill pickles... but a jar was ₤6. How rediculous is that? Preying on home-sick foreigners to make living is dispickable... I think I've found my calling. Anyone care to open a business?

Troubles

2005-11-11T19:25:00.000Z

So lately I've been having troubles. At least now the washing machine is fixed and our landlady is going to have something done about the mold that has decided to grow in our bathroom. I'm still having trouble getting my microwave rice to turn out okay, though. It makes me mad!

Washing Ma-what?

2005-11-10T10:03:00.000Z

Side-loading washing machines are a joke. Do not get them. Ours is a 'combi'. It washes your clothes and then dries them (poorly). Last week the drier wouldn't turn on, so we had to call the landlady to fix it. This week it has trapped some clothes inside, as it has decided to remain locked and not open. Hello, landlady? Just buy us a damn new one! ARGH!

Reading Week

2005-11-08T16:45:00.000Z

One good thing about attending a university in England is that the kids here are really, really lazy. Rediculously lazy. This week is reading week, when nobody has classes and is expected to do all of the reading they were meant to have done already and to write some essays and do things like that. Most people just go on vacation. Anyway, you don't get reading week in the history department, in which I take one class, so I had my seminar today for the lecture I had yesterday... the bottom line is I'm done for the week. That, combined with lowered fuel costs, means I'm going on a mini roadtrip tomorrow. To where? I don't know. Wherever M25 leads me. Oops, the M25 just goes in a circle. Well, I'll pick another M and go where it goes. See you later, world! See you later!

Well...

2005-11-06T17:43:00.000Z

Sorry I haven't posted in awhie, but I should be writing an essay right now. I hate you, Great Exhibition of 1851, I HATE YOU!

In other news, You're awesome. Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

Fun Facts

2005-11-04T00:42:00.000Z

#1
I only eat baked beans on toast.

#2
I AM 20 YEARS OLD TODAY! AHHHH!!!!!

A Question

2005-11-02T13:59:00.000Z

So someone in my house went out the other night with someone they don't know extremely well and with whom they have never before hung out. They went to a restaurant, got a bottle of wine with their meal, and then went to see a movie. Was this a date? A debate has begun in my house, we all have our opinions. What do you think?

Back in Business

2005-11-02T13:30:00.000Z

We're up and running now, man! I have a smaller hard drive, but at least this one works.

Ashes to ashes...

2005-10-27T10:07:00.000Z

Okay, so apparently my computer only came back to tell me that it really was dying and that the hard drive was failing and that I should've put everything important someplace else. Crap. At least I was able to e-mail to myself the file containing all of my homework! Could've been worse, I suppose. I could've lost that too, in addition to the music and games and records and pictures that are now all gone. Well.... easy come, easier go I guess. At least until I can get a new hard drive put in (gee... can't wait to pay for that one) I have access to the internet sometimes through friends and the computer centre. And at least one of my housemates works for the UK's biggest computer superstore, so that I can get the work that needs to be done done for less than that which it should be done for. Got me?

The Phoenix

2005-10-25T08:15:00.000Z

My computer died last night. All sorts of errors, all sorts of trouble. A blue screen came up that basically said I was screwed. No good. It would not load Windows, it would not start up. It just refused to boot. The jerk.

This morning, though, I though I'd give it another try. A pale, Windows-happy blue screen came up this time and said, "Gee, looks like yer havin' some trouble! Let's get you out of this mess!", and fixed it. Fantastic!

I'm thankful for...

2005-10-22T14:46:00.000Z

Okay, I know Thanksgiving isn't for another month, but I'd just like to say I'm thankful for having at least one amazing friend who, at 4am in their own time zone, will stay up and listen to me complain about how awful everything is going for me. I'm thankful for someone who I haven't talked to in so long still somehow being so interested in how things are going for me. I'm thankful for commas and run-on sentences. I'll be thankful for more later, when things start picking up again.

Wide Open Spaces

2005-10-21T18:07:00.000Z

So I've got my wide open spaces, room to make my own mistakes.... but I'm still so excited that my family comes here in only two months from tomorrow! Wahoo!!!

How's the weather up there?

2005-10-21T08:55:00.000Z

Okay, so when I was younger I was a giant. I was like the tallest kid in my elementary school, until this kid named P*t*r S. moved into the grade below us and was seriously of Andre-the-Giant-proportions. He was insanely big. Anyway, so I'm still pretty tall. I'm a little over 6'0", which I think is quite possibly the perfect height. I've always wanted to be 6'2", but now I'm thinking that I'll be just fine without those extra two inches. I mean, I can hardly find jeans that fit me now. Can you imagine the trouble if I were taller? I can. It would suck. God knows all the extra height would've gone into my legs, and I'd be forced to find rediculously-long-inseemed pants. Anyway, so I think it's funny how I was so so so tall, but now I'm just on the tall side of average or the short side of tall. I think I like that a lot better. Being monstrously tall sucks. Blending in, yet still being special is a lot better.

Dear You,

2005-10-19T14:30:00.000Z

Dear you,

You rock! Have a great day. Go out there and be nice to someone!

Me

The Bastard

2005-10-16T12:47:00.000Z

I hate Winston Churchill. His ambivalence is making my job of putting together a presentation on him really difficult. Did he want a united Europe? Yes. Did he want a united Europe? No. What the hell? He wanted a united Europe that the United Kingdom was in charge of, but not part of. What a jerk. He should just take his alcoholic ass outside, because I'm quite finished trying to decide what the hell this old codger wanted!

The Biggest Time Waster. EVER.

2005-10-12T17:59:00.000Z

I've just finally gotten Facebook. Thank you, Facebook Team, for giving me the ultimate in happiness!

Facebook me!

Super-glue

2005-10-12T14:10:00.000Z

I am now inextricably linked to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I have a National Insurance number. I am a paying-into-the-system resident. Whoa. I hate being a grown-up.

Shortcuts

2005-10-11T08:14:00.000Z

So I have to give a presentation in British History this morning on the Great Exhibition of 1851. I'm prepared and everything, but why can't I just hit on the tutor who gives the grades in my seminar group? I mean, she's not bad-looking. It would a lot easier, too. The Great Exhibition... well people though it was good, but it sucked. The end. Guess not.

100 Things About Me (actually 99, since #16's gone missing)

2005-10-09T15:29:00.000Z

100 Questions About Me

1. Name: Andrew
2. Your Nick Names: Andy, Andrew J, Drew (only a few can get away with this one)
3. Middle Name: I have 2. Cool, huh?
4. Place of Birth: Burnsville, MN
5. Zodiac Sign: Scorpio. Apparently that means I'm cruel and unusual and doomed to be alone forever, or so I've been told. Thanks again for that.

6. Male or Female: Male
7. Your last name: Would this be wise on the internet? You should know it, anyway.
8. School: Royal Holloway, University of London
9. Occupation: Student
10. Residence: Egham

11. Screen Name: Again, wise to put this on the internet? I think not.

__Your Appearance___
12. Hair Color: Brown, but a shiny brown. It can be quite light when it's sunny.
13. Hair Long or Short: Short
15. How do your nails look: Dried out and gross, like usual. They suck up lotion like I was born in the desert or something. It's pretty gross.

17. Do you have a crush on someone: A little bit, yeah.
18. Do you like yourself: No, I love myself.
19. Braces?: Never, thank God almighty.
20. Piercings: None.

21. Tattoo: No, but I'd tihnk about it.
22. Righty or Lefty: Righty.

___Your 'Firsts'___
23. First best friend(s): Sara wins this one.
24. First Award: Little kids' bumper bowling league. First place, baby. Don't laugh.
25. First Sport You Joined: Does bumper bowling count? Basketball after that if not.

26. First pet: Tropical fish.
27. First vacation: Either to the cabin or Chicago to see the granparents.
28. First Concert: 5th grade band. We rocked the house down.
29. First Love: My family!

___ Favorites___
30. Movie: Back to the Future 1,2,&3, the Breakfast Club

31. TV Show: Desperate Housewives, Matlock, Diagnosis Murder, Scrubs, Will & Grace, ER, so many others... so little time. :(
32. Color: Brown or yellow.
33. Bands: Oasis, Franz Ferdinand,
34. Song: Do You Want To (new one by Franz Ferdinand)
35. Food: Anything with ketchup on it.

36. Drink: Orange Lucozade
37. Sport To Play: Well, you can't play slalom skiing, but I enjoy it anyway.
38.Favorite sport To Watch: Almost anything live, but on TV it's just dumb.
39. Favortie brand: Of what? I like Diesel, Volvo, Lonsdale, Dunlop
40. Stores: Target (how I thee do miss)

41. School: Mine, I'd have to say.
42. Books: Well, I read Brokeback Mountain recently because it's being made into this controversial movie (and because it's short), and it was really surprisingly good. Kinda uncomfortably weird, but really deep and sad. Recommended.
43. Magazines: GQ, Cargo, Car & Driver, Motor Trend

___Currently___
44. Eating: Nothing, but I just ate a scone.
45. Drinking: Nothing again, but I just had some water.

46. Online?: Yes, along with 14.9 million other people.
47. Listening to: Gavin DeGraw
48. Thinking About: How much I have to pee.
49. Wanting To: Pee, otherwise to buckle down and finish my homework way ahead of schedule.
50. Watching: The computer screen.

51. Wearing: Baggy old jeans and my new fleece-lined Lonsdale hoodie which I got on sale for like 70% off because the store was going out of business. Cool, huh?

___Your Future___
52. Want Kids?: Maybe.
53. Want to Get Married?: Maybe.
54. Careers in Mind: Something that pays a lot and has benefits.

__Which is Better With The Opposite Sex___
55. Cute or Sexy: Cute, as sexy doesn't age well. Notice how there are cute old people and crabby old people? Guess what the sexy ones turn into...
56. Lips or Eyes: Hopefully they'd have both.
57. Hugs or Kisses: Both.
58. Short or Tall: Tall, I don't stoop.
59. Funny or serious: Both when appropriate.

60. Romantic or Spontaneous: Both when appropriate.
61. Sensitive or Loud: Both when appropriate.
62. Hook-up or Relationship: Relationship.
63. Sweet or Caring: Is there such a big difference between the two?
64. Trouble Maker or Hesitant one: Both, but more hesitant. I like safe choices.

___Have You Ever___
65. Kissed a Stranger: Not that I know of...
66. Drank Alcohol: Yes, resulting in #65. (Ha, just joking!)
67. Smoked: I had a few cigarettes, but it all smelled so bad! Ew...
68. Ran Away From Home: Nope.
69. Broken a Bone: Nope.
70. Got an X-ray: Yep, at the dentist's.

71. Broken Someones Heart: Hopefully not, but quite possibly.
72. Turned Someone Down: Yes.
73. Cried When Someone Died: Oh yeah.
74. Cried At School: Maybe when I was younger.

___Do You Believe In___
75. God: Yes.

76. Miracles: Yes and no.
77. Love At First Sight: No, only lust at first sight.
78. Ghosts: Maybe a little.
79. Being in love with 2 people at the same time: Yes, but it's never happened to me. Again, I think it more possible to lust after multiple people than to love them.

80. Heaven: Yes
81. Hell: Eh, sort of.
82. Kissing on The First date: Possibly.
83. Horoscopes: As entertainment, sure.

____In The Opposite Sex____
_____Do You Care If They_____
84. Smoke: Yes.

85. Drink: If excessivly, or it causes problems.
86. Do Drugs: Yes.
87. Have a tattoo: Depends, there's quite a range of possibilities here.
88. Are far away: Yes.

___Would You Ever___
89. Bungee Jump: Yes.

90. Surf: Yes.
91. Steal: All depends. I snag cookies from work all the time, and remember taking a bag of Oreos from the Science Club in High School... so I guess I already have. I'm like the damn Cookie Monster or something. I'll try harder in the future.
92. Cheat: Not intentionally, but it happens to everyone. Except for the cheating on someone, that's just really not cool!
93. Take Someone Back if they Cheated on You: Most likely no chance in hell, though you never know. I would hope I'd be smarter than that.
94. Turn Yourself In: For what? What kind of penalties are we talking here?

95. Go to War: Real war? No. I'm at war with the damn tax system here, though, if that counts.
96. Lie: Oh sure. I try not to, though, and usually feel bad about it if I do.
97 Fight anyone: Would there be protective equipment involved? Are we talking a brute or a skinny kid, here?

___Random___
98. If You Could Travel Somewhere, Where Would It Be? Either Greece or Cuba.
99. Favorite Weekend Acitivity: Hanging out.

100. Is There Someone You Want But You Know You Can't Have? There's nobody I can't have. Haha. Wait, see #5. Oh well.

What should number 16 have been? I'm kinda sad this survey missed it, actually...

Oops

2005-10-09T00:56:00.000Z

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple days. I've been too busy listening to my Motorola E1 ROKR mp3 player cell phone thinger. Seriously, you're gonna die when you see/hear this. And you know who you are.

More later, I promise.

Oh, that Bush. He just crazy. Crazy.

2005-10-06T00:57:00.000Z

"Bush did some things you could never get away with at your job. When Bush started his job, there was a budget surplus. Now there's like a $70 trillion deficit. Now just imagine you worked at the Gap. You're closing out your register and it's $70 trillion short. The average person would get in trouble for that. Then he started a war? Now just imagine you worked at the Gap. You're $70 trillion behind on your register and you start a war with Banana Republic because you know they're selling better tank tops than you. So now you've got employees bleeding all over the khakis. Then you finally take over Banana Republic and you find out they never made tank tops in the first place."

So my friend Lindsay had this in her AIM profile. I asked my lover, Google, about it. Apparently Chris Rock said it. Funny, huh?

Can your iPod do this, though?

2005-10-05T11:45:00.000Z

So how much did you pay for that fancy iPod of yours? More than I did, I'm sure! I've finally gotten an iPod. Well, not really an iPod. My cell phone contract is just ending this week, so I called up to renew for the year. That includes a free new phone upgrade. Wahoo! I really wanted the Sony Ericsson w800i, the 'Walkman phone". So did a million other people, though, I guess. I would've had to wait a month for it, and my trusty Siemens SL55 is starting to bite the dust. Tiny, but not amazingly durable. Enter the new Motorola E1. Designed with Apple and including Apple iTunes on the phone with room for around 100 songs, my appetite for the iPod Nano is diminished. Now I have truly moved into the present with a cell-phone-slash-mp3-player. Fantastic! It even has speakers, so I can listen to mp3s loud and proud. Announce it to the world, people, I am a nerd!

My sister would be so proud... :)

On being overwhelmed

2005-10-04T12:09:00.000Z

So when I feel like I'm overpowered with things to do, I make a to-do list. I thought things were looking up this morning when I finally started being able to cross things off the list to make myself feel better, when I went into my schoolbag to get out my notebook and realized that I'd forgotten it somewhere on campus. I've narrowed the possibilities down to Founder's Library and the McCrea building. This is a bad sign. New item on my to-do list: find my to-do list.

In other news, I have an American seminar leader for one of my classes. I also have two friends who speak English with American accents, but are in fact Finnish and French. Well, the three of us were sat together in the seminar, and when they spoke about the European Union stuff we were speakng about, they were like "Coming from France, I think..." and "Well, at home in Finland...". Anyway, the three of us were the last out of the room, and I said something to one of my friends in German about a class I had to take later that day. I guess my accent is pretty believably German, because our seminar leader said to us on the way out "You know, it's really good to have international students who speak such good English. A lot of times kids from other countries really don't have mastery of the English language, and it shows in their papers. I'm glad you seem very confident with the language, but if you ever need any help, don't hesitate to ask." Hahaha. We'll see how long this goes on. I'm at least ammused.

Now back to finding that to-do list...

The answer...

2005-10-03T17:34:00.000Z

...to the previous post: good AND bad thing. It's fun to run into people you only really see on your way to/from class. It's not fun when you get to class. I seriously will have no life. Why must we read so much? Teacher people have no idea what they're doing. This is rediculous.

Well,

2005-10-02T20:14:00.000Z

good thing that classes start tomorrow. Or is it?

Nanu-Nano

2005-09-30T18:11:00.000Z

The iPod Nano. Are you serious? Have you seen these things? If not, think of an iPod the size of a credit card. These suckas are rediculous. I'm hoping when I'm due for an upgraded cellphone that I can get the Sony Ericsson w800i, which is basically the Sony Walkman meets MP3 player meets cell phone. If not, the iPod Nano... it's so for me. Nano-nano!

Loser

2005-09-29T17:58:00.000Z

Don't date losers. They are losers. I am glad that I've learned this surreptitiously. Is that how you spell surreptitious? Who knows. Anyway, this entry will contain the word "love". In this entry, consider it interchangeable with "like", "are attracted to", and all that. Read on.

Anyway, not having been in any 'serious, long-term' relationships, I guess it's quite easy for me to just say "don't date losers". At the same time, I definitely know that people love the people they love. Sure, there are reasons. Genetics, nature, nurture, up-bringing, crap like that all factors in. But the bottom line is, why don't we see people we love as other people see them? I've definitely 'loved' people before. When you don't 'love' them anymore, though, isn't it interesting how they seem to be completely different people? Thinking logically, they haven't changed -- only your perception of them has been altered. Is it phermonal? Is it hormonal? Is it just stupidity, blind love, Cupid's arrow? We've all experienced it.

Why, also, are we always so convinced of the saintly perfection of those we love? I mean, even when our friends think our lover is a total sleeze or a moocher or an abusive relationshipper, we defend them. Tooth-and-nail. We're always so quick to help those we love. We're always so quick to turn a blind eye to their transgressions. Why?

I know, I know. Cold-hearted bastard. Anyway, I think it's stupid. If you're friend is dating an asshole, let her know. She may not listen, but when she realizes he's an asshole she won't be as surprised.

Just never, ever say 'I told you so'. Then you're the asshole.

Thoughts?

Whoa... woes.

2005-09-28T15:17:00.000Z

So I really hope this job works out well for me... or I might have to find another one. Somehow (not even including the repairs to the car) I've already managed to spend 4 million times more money that I would've like to by now, and new expenses are popping up everywhere. All this and I'm still sitting at home eating 2-for-1 special grocery-store-brand chicken nuggets with a value-sized ketchup. Could be worse, I could've downgraded the ketchup and not sprung for the Heinz.

The Volvo

2005-09-25T14:37:00.000Z

So... right after the automatic carwash ate my antenna, my car proceeded to gradually lessen its affinity for starting. I think either the starter motor or solenoid has gone bad.

Fantastic.

Friday Five

2005-09-23T22:43:00.000Z

Yep... I'm starting the Friday five!

1.Do you have a dream you will always strive to achieve until your dying day?
-Not really. I keep thinking I want to live to be 123, but I don't know how good that'd really end up to be...

2.Do you believe in fate or free will, or something else?
-I tend to think about fate when it's good, and free will when something's gone wrong. It keeps me level-headed and not thinking that all good things are due to me, while all bad things just happen to me.

3.Marilyn Monroe. Conspiracy or tragic accident?
Tragic conspiracy.

4.Favourite childhood sweets/candy?
I've always loved gummis. I had a thing for chocolate stars, too.

5.Favourite cocktail (alcoholic or virgin) and it's ingredients?
I like vodka cranberry and gin & tonic. I'm pretty simple.

Andy the happy househusband

2005-09-19T20:25:00.000Z

I cook. I clean. I shop. I wash. I even put the wash out on the line to dry. I cannot wait for school (and something better to do with my time) to begin.

In other news, an automatic carwash ate my car's radio antenna.

Okay...

2005-09-16T13:33:00.000Z

That's it. No more Atlanta Escorts, Online Poker or Keyword Kings... word verification is ON!

Oh, Lordy...

2005-09-15T16:44:00.000Z

...I was so excited to have an oven. I got one. It's in degrees Celcius, though. This may take some practice. Danger, warning. Exploding food.

Home at Last

2005-09-15T11:29:00.000Z

So I left home for home today, and finally I am home. Fantastic.

Over the river and through the woods...

2005-09-14T03:41:00.000Z

Back to school I go. And by school, I mean an 8.5-hour plane trip. Living far away has consequences, I guess. And, as it turns out, I packed my life in my car there before I stored it, and probably won't be able to get it until this weekend. That means no life (i.e. sheets, shampoo, or clean socks) till at least Saturday. Damn. That and I'll be absolutely alone in my house, since only 1/4 of my roomates will be there, and she works all day. Her boyfriend will be there... but he works all night and sleeps all day. I am alone.

I am utter alone.

PS, I accidently wrote "ablone" at first instead of alone, and it looked like I was utterly blonde. That would've been unfortunate as well. At least I am suffering from only one malidy. Could be worse. Could be raining. Wait, it probably will be.

Things I'll Miss

2005-09-06T03:07:00.000Z

Okay, so I go back to the UK of GB and NI next week from the US of A. I think there will be a fair ammount of things I'll miss, but none so much as the friendliness of the people at home. I'll miss having chats with cashiers in supermarkets. I'll miss strangers asking me my opinion on restaurants or chatting about current events while in line at the store. People in England just don't seem to be so friendly. Here, you meet someone fun and you say, "Hey! Let's hang out!" and they say, "Yeah!". There they just say, "Why would we want to do that?". They just don't seem to be friendly. Maybe it's just because I'm a foreigner, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they're all just sad. You know, because of the rain and all that. It's like that disorder that people get here because it gets so dark in the Winter and you don't see the sun for a few months. Except there it's all year round. I've learned, though, that criticizing someone's culture is not a good idea. Seriously, don't even do it in a joking manor. Not funny. I never realized this until I had foreigners stay with me. I hated every minute of "Why can't you do this? What can't we do that? What's with all the ____?". Seriously, that's just how it is. Accept it.

Argh.

So... Pt.2

2005-09-05T02:45:00.000Z

Dave, King of All Keywords? Who? That you complemented my writing assures me that you do not exist. I invite you to prove me wrong, if you wish so to do. Anyway, random people who post on blogs are fun. My blog... well, I haven't written anything all Summer. Due to lack of response, I think my audience has shrunk quite some bit. Damn. Back to people who don't exist... how not-neat is it to get advertisements in your response sections? Not so amazing... that's the answer to that question. At least Dave, King of All Keywords wasn't selling me anything. Not that blog advertisements really have persuaded me to buy things in the past. Crap... yet again.

Have a nice day.

So...

2005-09-03T22:00:00.000Z

Yep. Still sitting around. The high school friends are all gone back to school. I leave in a week and a half to go back to mine. Then, when I get there, none of my friends there will be back yet. They're all out someplace else, working or doing things with themselves. Not even people I don't really hang out with will be back yet. This is crap. I have to go back early, I've gotten a job with the University as an in-class aide and need to be there for a training day. At least I'll have time to myself to re-set-up my life. I'll spend some time at Ikea, that's for sure. I'm glad I love my university as much as I do, or me being screwed over for a month wouldn't sit well.

Out.

The Three-Day

2005-09-02T00:57:00.000Z

We all do it. But why? Why is it that we always wait three days before responding to people we don't know extremely well? Some people say it's so we don't appear needy or desperate... but are we instead just trying to insult each other by making each other feel unimportant? Some say it's so se don't intimidate each other... but are we instead simply trying to impress somebody by seeming disorganized or lazy? What's the deal with the three-day waiting period? Thoughts and comments, please. Preferably before the three-day waiting period. Your comments are welcome.

PS
I'm still totally "three-day"-ing. Why not?

The Fair

2005-08-31T21:06:00.000Z

Okay, so the Minnesota State Fair is like the hugest state fair ever... but I think I've uncovered the secret of it all. You see, the Fair is all about the food. Deep-fried this, deep-fried that, and it's all on a stick. Everything you can think of is fried and has fat addded. The fair is in August, before it starts to get cold. Fat people are more insulated from the cold. The fair is just a "Fatten-up Fest", a preparation for the winter. Who knew? I did. That's who.

Lax

2005-08-30T14:53:00.000Z

Again, I apologize. I know that I write here more for me than for you, but I'm still sorry. Anyway, nothing has really happened. There's a whole lotta zippo to write about. I haven't even had any semi-deep thoughts. And the internet here is rediculous. No joke. Well, not a rediculous one, anyway. So, more later when I get back to school. September 15th. Be there. Out.

My Life

2005-08-03T05:24:00.000Z

Wait-- what life? I work. I sit around and watch the OC season 1 DVDs. I go to a few movies now and again, but is that a life? Well, I guess it is... mainly because I'm not dead. I think I may, however, be dying a little more each day I work in the hellhole known commonly as (insert where I work here). I love the people. Absolutely love them all. The money is as good or better than anything else I could be doing now. I just hate the work. Hate it. When you go out to eat, don't be rude. You could be unknowingly inspiring someone to spit in your drink. No joke.

And don't sign letters/e-mails with "cheers". What the hell is that? Seriously.

No laughing here. Not even a grin. Gross.

So sorry!

2005-07-09T21:37:00.000Z

Okay, so my internet connection/computer/electronic situation here sucks. I'm sorry I haven't been posting. The bombings in London, though, reminded me that things that affect me go on, and I should have something to write about. Yeah, everyone I know at school is fine. I'm fine. I still work at Perkin's. I took a 6-hour road trip in my car/coffin-on-wheels. I loved every bouncy minute of it. More later. I hope.

Out.

Sad sad sad sad sad!!!

2005-06-10T17:00:00.000Z

Today is my last day. My room is all cleared out, my car is stored, my bags are packed, my bank account is empty... AHHH!!! I can't wait to go home, but then again I can't wait to come back next year. It's hard, because I know if I spend my time anticipating things to come, they will come and go so quickly that my time will rush unceremoniously by. I need to try to take time and enjoy now more than later.

Wahoo!

2005-06-08T21:10:00.000Z

So that dream job I wanted for next year... I got it! Wahoo! High pay and low hours, here I come, baby! Yeah!

Damn the timing again!

2005-06-06T15:29:00.000Z

Too bad I leave on Saturday, there's a Donkey Derby in Windsor this weekend! Darn.

In other news, I had an interview for a job next year (which so happens to be my college dream job) that went really well... keep your fingers crossed!

Hm... other news? No, not really. I saw "I Heart Huckabees" the other day... seriously my favorite movie now. Whoa.

End Transmission.

Hello to you!

2005-06-05T10:43:00.000Z

Uh, so I was looking over my comments today when I logged on and I didn't know anyone who made a new one... how cool is that? Random people are fantastic. Continue to feel welcome to post!

So

2005-06-04T18:50:00.000Z

I was having a bad day... but then I found a new bottle of Coke under the seat of my car that I bought ages ago! It made my day complete... when it exploded. Crap.

Dying

2005-06-03T14:44:00.000Z

Well, today I realized that my life is coming to an end... rapidly. I have like 5 months before I'm finished being a teenager. I leave to go home for the summer in a week. Soon I'll have to think about internships for my year abroad. People I know here will be gone next year. Next year I'll have a house, a car, and (hopefully) a job. All I need is 2.5 children and a dog and I'll be an old man. No good.

Oops, sorry 'bout that one!

2005-06-01T23:49:00.000Z

Okay, so I love America... I really do. It's where I'm from, it's part of me. I didn't mean all of those thing! Well, I meant them. Yes, yes I did. However, I still love America. It's just stereotypical things of all kinds drive me insane. Whether it be the money-grubbing Jewish person, the drug-selling black person, or the person from Alabama who lives in a trailer park with their common-law husband and press-on acrylics, it drives me nuts. I love people who aren't stereotypical. They revive my hopes and dreams that not everyone is the same. Exceptions that break the rule, they are what humanity is made out of. When a lesbian won't be caught dead in anything but a pink designer suit and long and lusterous hair, when Irish people hate potatoes, when a physics major can pick out a matching outfit, when a mentally-handicapped person is the owner of a Fortune 500 company, when a doctor can write a prescription so that you can actually read why you're getting, the quintessence of humanity is captured. It is only by acts of difference that indifference can be remedied. We need to learn about and accept everyone we meet. Prejudice is simply the act of judging before you know someone, before you have the facts. What happens when you judge without knowledge? You buy crappy cars, you take the wrong job offer, you lose potential friends.

PS> No, this was not brought on by any real-life events. The season finale of Desperate Housewives was on tonight, I'm drained. I ate half a giant swiss roll because most of my jeans are getting to big for me, and all I accomplished was putting myself into a sugar coma. I'm going to go sleep it off. Well, I am actually just going to go lay in bed and hope the jitters go away. Wish me luck. Don't judge.

The Miseducation of America

2005-05-31T15:41:00.000Z

So it seems to me that most Americans just don't get it. Things around the world are not how they are in America. America is its own little world. For example, when I told my dad how much rent was going to be next year, he said, "Oh, you're getting screwed". Well, no, actually I'm not. I'm actually paying less than the going rate. He just doesn't "get it". Things are more expensive here. There's other Americans who live in my complex who always seems to want rides everywhere. "I'm tired and don't feel like walking, will you drive me to work?". Nope, I'm busy. "We're going to the Airport at 7 in the morning, will you drive us?". "I want to pick something up from campus and am too lazy to catch the bus or walk, will you take me?". No. Finally I broke the news to one of them today: to fill up my car with a tank of gas costs more than $100. Yes, that's correct, one-hundred US dollars. Why the hell would I drive you all over God's green earth if I don't even drive myself? Gas is damn expensive, I don't even drive. I walk whenever humanly possible. Americans just don't seem to understand. And then when I do you a massive favor and drive you someplace, that does not (by any means) mean that the trip was 'free'. Somebody had to pay for it, and that somebody is usually me. Stuff is expensive here. Don't pretend this is America and things are cheap, do me a favor. Wonder why Americans have a poor reputation abroad? I sure as hell don't.

You know those people...

2005-05-30T21:16:00.000Z

You know those people you always see, but don't know? Well, there's this one kid and I see him everywhere. Everywhere. I don't really know him, but I almost feel like I do. I think I'm going to start saying 'Hi' and start a trend. A friendliness trend.

Boredom

2005-05-29T15:21:00.000Z

So today I was bored... so I went to Stonehenge. Yeah, how cool is that? Well, it's cool. It was really neat to see, but it was a lot smaller than I expected. I thought it'd be this huge thing, but it wasn't all that large. Also unexpectedly, it was also quite near the freeway. Who knew?