In Other News....

Gaaaah!

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:46:43 GMT

The Internet officially hates me. It's been moving....SO....SLOW....recently that I can't get anything to load properly. I keep having to refresh pages before they're loaded and then getting timed-out anyway. I can't watch clips, I can't get pictures to load, and in some cases, I can't even get articles to load.

I couldn't even get the Rich Text option to load when I went to type up this post!

It's only been like this for about a week, but it's making it almost impossible for me to check my school e-mail, because freaking Blackboard sucks dead frogs.

GRRAAAAAH! Everything was working fine! WTF happened?!

I keep trying to reset the modem and the router, but that only seems to work, because it goes right back to being slow after a while.

The last time this happened, I spent two freaking days on the phone with Brighthouse trying to get them to fix the freaking thing. They kept telling me there was nothing they could do since the signal was fine. Until the repair guy came out, replaced the cables and the modem, and then everything worked again. --___--

Yeah, right.

...I don't wanna do that again.

*kills something*

On the school front, I'm really enjoying Sylvia Plath. So far, it's been a funny, engaging read. I will never look at turkey neck and gizzards the same way again. O_O

Our Grad student teacher promised those of us it's about to get incredibly dark and depressing, though. She also promised more of the above when we get to Toni Morrison. Fan-freakin'-tastic. Ah, well. I promise not to try to commit suicide.

No promises on not becoming a bitter, cynical, mass-murdering fiend, however.

Oh! And I started a new workout that incorporates cross-training in a short amount of time. It's high-energy and not so regular that it's boring me, and I've managed to keep it up for two-and-a-half weeks now. It's turning out to be a real positive addition to my yoga. I'm quite pleased.

....I still want to kill my Internet, though. *gripesnarlsnap*

*crosses her fingers that the stupid thing will load*

Blah

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:54:35 GMT

Fall semester '09, week 2:

Almost done with Catcher in the Rye. Have every intention of starting right in on The Bell Jar. So far, class discussion is better than average, but not really anything I haven't heard before. I am beginning to realize why I'm not a Literature major: there's only so much criticizing you can do before you start repeating yourself and ruin any enjoyment you might have gotten out of literature in the first place.

Also, I found this really great article in the WSJ that pretty much highlights how I feel about literature and fiction in general:

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203706604574377163804387216.html

On the positive, I'm beginning to really understand (as opposed to only vaguely knowing) the difference between modern and postmodern in Literature.

In other news, my shoulder is completely healed on the left, and almost completely healed on the right. The muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory seem to be having some weird effects on my dreams, though. They've become even more vivid and weird than usual. I'll be glad when all the pain in gone so that I can go back to my normal cool/weird dream experience.

Side note: Since I'm currently engaged in all this depressing/boring reading, I'm trying to find a way to offset it. Anyone remember where the "Swing Back the Pendulum" arc started in the Bleach anime? I found out from someone some time ago, then got distracted before I could find it. I love that particular arc in the manga, so I'd like to see it in animation form. Remind me, please?

And it's back to J.D. Salinger we go. Today's the long day at work, and I want to get at least a couple more chapters out of the way before then.

Lookee!

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:30:04 GMT

THE INQUIRING WRITER, Writing Rituals, by Dawn Copeman
=================================================================
Last month I said that no-one had replied to my Inquiring Writer
question, which immediately brought in a flood of replies from you
saying how much you enjoy the column and the newsletter. So thank
you!

Also, last month I wanted to know if you had any writing rituals.
Dan Anderson certainly does. He wrote: "I write humorous but
literate mysteries. My never-fail approach to get into a
productive writing mood is to wait until it is dark each evening,
read some poetry to get my imaging, metaphor and simile juices
activated - particularly Philip Larkin - and down a shot of 30
year-old single malt Scotch whiskey. Don't go overboard on the
Scotch, otherwise you'll have a more laborious editing job to do
the following day."

Kathy, however, starts her writing every day in a completely
different manner. She writes:" Being a Christian writer, I always
seek the Lord in prayer before I begin a writing project. God is my
ultimate audience, so I write in the direction I feel the Spirit is
guiding me. Also, I don't wait for the mood to be just right to
write. I have to just do it. Once I get started, the words seem to
flow."

The strangest writing ritual I came across came from Aimee. It
sounds very good actually. Aimee wrote: "I am a venerable
multi-tasker. It's more than that actually - in every activity I
undertake I find some way to complete it and another at the same
time. I read and walk (treadmill or outside) for example.

"When it comes to putting fingers to keyboard, I have found I am
most efficient when sitting on the floor in front of my son who,
when paid well, will methodically rub my shoulders! My mind relaxes
into the task at hand allowing my fingers to create! He's generally
multi-tasking too -- watching some TV. program that he might
otherwise have had to pass on. As for payment ... it's often in
less chores, TV, dessert or in some cases, $1 per ten minutes of
'work'. At 12, it's the best job he could get and I reap the
benefits!"

For Perle Champion to be able to right, it seems she needs 'noise'.
She writes: "My routine varies: I need white noise in various
forms. I write at the coffee shop with coffee close at hand, the
bar at happy hour with a vodka martini up close at hand, the table
on my balcony with traffic passing below (coffee in the morning
wine in the afternoon), birds in the trees, and the stereo playing
something foreign (so I don't pay attention to the words). I
carry a small pad w/pen on my morning walk for the stray epiphanies
that strike randomly when you're nowhere near a pad and pen."

Many others of you, it seems, have writing rituals that revolve
around objects. For Jenny to start writing, for example, she needs
to be perfectly organised. She wrote: "I need to be able to put my
hands on the necessary materials INSTANTLY. This means I must know
where my writing book is, where my sketchbook is, that my pens and
pencils are where they are supposed to be. If I am not certain in
my head where everything is, I will just slide off and not do
anything."

For Jackie Walker the needed object is gummy bears. She wrote:
"I've heard friends say that all writers in the old days were
smokers. I don't know if that's true, but I imagine it's because
they had to keep their hands busy so that they could quiet their
mind (kind of like yoga). I don't smoke. But I DO have to have a
packet of gummy bears and a cup of hazelnut coffee in order to get
any writing done. I have to be continually popping those candies
into my mouth to keep my mind going. And I don't think I'm
conscious that I'm putting 50 gummy bears in my mouth right in a
row. But if I DON'T have something to keep munching on, I will
procrastinate until I do. Not exactly the healthiest habit...
but it's better than smoking!"

"I like nothing more than to start my scribblings by sitting at a
table devoid of mess and clutter and with a brand new A4 pad in
front of me," writes Abby Williams. "From drafting my work on paper
I will then proceed to using modern technology and do all the
editing on computer. Maybe the clear table helps psychologically
to clear my mind too - apparently in Feng Shui a cluttered house is
thought to lead to a cluttered mind." So that's where I've been
going wrong! You should see the state of my desk!

For Shaunna Privratsky her ritual nearly caused her a serious
problem. She wrote: "For me it was a special type of pen. I
couldn't write with anything else. Then, one by one, they started
running out of ink. I went to the store to buy more, and they
don't make them anymore! I looked everywhere, called around and
even called the company, but they just aren't available. The "new
and improved" version is too clunky and fat and felt all wrong.

"Did it make me stop writing? Of course not. I found a suitable
and even cheaper type of pen that works. It's not the same as my
'magic' pens, but it gets the words on the page.

"For those really special ideas, I still have one good pen left..."

Many of you find that you can only write at certain times of day,
however, inconvenient it might be. "Writing, for me, is a solitary
and sacred time," writes Jason Ferris. "However, finding this time
seems to be more of a challenge than the actual writing. My
solution was to write in the evenings, after the kids had been
put to bed, and the days events had wound down. This sometimes
meant starting at after midnight! Well I now seem to be in this
habit and although I find this time productive, I am finding the
following days long and tiresome. Writing until the wee hours of
the morning has been beneficial to my writing but detrimental to my
life."

Candice can sympathise with Jason. She writes: "I envy those who
say they do their best writing in the early morning hours. I would
love to have that opportunity. Instead I do all of my writing after
10:00 p.m. That is the only time that I have to myself and it's not
always consistent.

"I have a 4 year old son that wakes up at the first crack of
daylight and I sell Real Estate as a day job (which right now is
marginal at best). I think I would stick to a more consistent
writing schedule if I could write for a few hours in the day
instead of late at night when I am usually exhausted. For now I
just do what I can and try to make the best of it."

Someone else who has an unusual writing time is Tony, but he is
delighted with his time slot. He writes: "As a work-from-home dad
with three kids, some of my best writing comes at 4-5 am with a
fresh pot of coffee and weirdly enough-with the day being Monday.
I can write other days of the week, but there is just something
about the early part of the week and early am with new coffee that
makes writing seem so much fun!" I think I like my lie-ins too
much for that one to work for me.

I also asked if you had different routines for different types of
writing and Corrie Ann Gray certainly does. She shared them with
us: "When I'm working on my novel that has scenes that take place
in the 1940s I listen to music from that era. It gets me into my
main characters mindset.

"When I work on one of my current screenplays I pull out pictures
of the actors that I hope to will play the main characters. When I
can visualize the characters I immediately get into a groove with
the dialogue changes, personality quirks, etc.

"My rituals change with the projects; however, I will admit my best
writing transpires when I am in my favorite pair of flannel pajama
bottoms and t-shirt. It's a writer thing. I don't know what I'll
do when they disintegrate."

Finally, I also asked if you had previously had a ritual but had
now abandoned it and Mo Irvine has done just that. Mo wrote: "I'm
actually over 100,000 words into writing a novel at the moment, and
up until a couple of weeks ago, I would have said, definitely yes,
I have to follow a set ritual before starting writing.

"My ritual always used to be to play a computer game for an hour or
so. Any kind of game with a little bit of action would do - and it
could be on the PC or maybe even the old Nintendo. Once I'd got
that out of the way, I could settle down to write my daily word
count.

"However, two weeks ago I had to go to my doctor's office and have
some tests which entailed me sitting in a comfortable lounger for
over two hours before having more blood drawn. So I loaded my novel
onto a pen drive, took my laptop with me, and loaded the work onto
the laptop. At the end of the two hours I was surprised to find
that I had written well over 1500 words, with no preceding ritual
whatsoever -- other than having blood taken first!

"I think I've proved something to myself. What? Probably that my
biggest pre-writing ritual is prevarication." Ah, that one, I use
that ritual all the time!

Thank you to everyone who wrote in with details of their rituals,
there just wasn't enough room to publish them all.

Now this month's question comes from Anne, who writes: "I wrote an
e-book that I want to give away for free. And I searched for sites
where I could submit it. But several of the sites I found asked me
for money. So I have to PAY them to GIVE away my book! That is not
fair, is it?

"Can you tell me of any sites where I can give away a book? I just
wrote it for fun, and to get my name out there."

Can you help Anne? Email me with your replies or your questions to
put to the Writing World community to editorial@writing-world.com
with the subject line Inquiring Writer.

Until next time,

Dawn,

Copyright (c) 2009 Dawn Copeman

I'm totally trying one or two of these rituals, seeing as I don't seem to have any of my own other than exhaustion and clutter (both of which I tend to hate).

Though I may have to substitute gummy worms for gummy bears. So much more of a punch.

School starts tomorrow. Contemporary Literature in Cooper Hall. *sigh* I hate Cooper. It's obscenely uncomfortable, either too hot or too cold, and was originally built to be converted into a prison once USF failed as an educational institution, so it has almost no windows.

Also: hurt my shoulder again. Other side this time. Back on the drugs, and still feeling like a zombie. Hope I don't look like one, too. O_o

First week of school is looking to be interesting.

O.o

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:07:26 GMT

I had a customer tonight who had a bald head so bright and shiny and smooth that I could almost see myself in it. And it was surrounded by the most adorable tufts of white hair around the ears and back of the neck.

I want to rub it.

So.
Bad.

He was such a jolly old guy, too. And they tipped good.

.....So. Anyone seen Ponyo yet?

Drugs: Hate 'em or love 'em?

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:41:14 GMT

So, I had company last week. My sisters came up and stayed with me (for the second time this summer) while my parents went to go pick up my brother in Texas. What a blast. We watched Miyazaki movies, R.O.D. (the OVA), and then we marathoned the first three seasons of InuYasha and a couple of the movies. My middle sister and I now have a nice, on-going discussion about the merits and/or draw-backs of the Kikyou/InuYasha/Kagome triangle. And, because she's a lot like me, man can we go at it. XD

But, sadly, I haven't had any time to any writing at all yet this month. The whole summer's been like this. Who'd a thunk? For the past three summers, I didn't do much of anything, and this summer I feel like I've barely stopped moving. How exhausting. Exhausting is fun, though. ^_^

In other news, I hurt my shoulder somehow. Dunno what I did, since the pain had been gradual until Sunday, when I woke up and couldn't move my left arm or turn my neck. It was bad. The pain was sharp along the left side of my spine from the base of my neck all the way to the center of my back, and then it radiated outward along my shoulder-blade and left arm. I think it might be/have been either a pulled muscle or apinched nerve, but I could barely move. I tried doing laundry, and I sounded like a scratc hed cd with my steadily reapeated "ow's" when I moved the wet laundry to the drier.

I was considering going to the doctor, but my brother had a simliar problem not too long ago, and all they did was put his arm in a sling and tell him not to use it. If that's the case, no use wasting my money, right?

Oh, they also gave him prescriptions for some muscle relaxant and inflamation. So I called off my last day of work, and my mom brought me drugs and I've been taking those...

My neck feels much better after a few days of rest, but those darn little pills put me into a zombie coma state for a while. I was supposed to help some friends move yesterday, and I didn't even wake up until the middle of the afternoon. O_O That's some powerful stuff. And I have to work tonight, too.

Still groggy? Yep. Can I call off again? Nope. Why? Because I can use my arm now.

Oh well. Should be an interesting night, right? I think I have to close with the dreaded Denise-monster, too. *sigh*

(Disclaimer: Quill is not in the mood to care about what was spelled or misspelled in the making of this post. All grammar and/or spelling errors are to be ignored.)

How's this for irritating?

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:22:01 GMT

So I don't get anything -- well, hardly anything -- in my inbox for, like a week. This morning? A freaking flood, from all the groups and all the individual mails I've gotten over the past week or so. WTF is up with Yahoo? First it won't let me in my inbox at all, and now it's witholding stuff? I think they're all screwed up with switching up their front page or some such nonsense.

*snort*

Like I don't have anything better to do than check thirty-seven e-mails.

I do have another e-mail account, but I only know how to get to it through the school website, and Blackboard hates me. I'm starting to understand why some people have a million different mail accounts.

In other news, I've lost my phone. My brand new, first-ever-for-me flippy phone. I don't understand how. I just had it yesterday, because my youngest bro texted me to ask if I could find my oldest bro's Game Boy SP. Found the SP; still have the SP; can't find the phone.

I have a feeling it's going to be a weird week. *shifty eyes*

At least I have my tea. *shiftyeyesip*

Oh my God

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:53:27 GMT

One of my favorite customers has died.

They'd said one of our regulars had died, but I'd thought it was someone else. I just had it confirmed by a friend.

His name was Mike. He was a short, round, white-haired, energetic little guy who was in his seventies but didn't look a day older than 65. I used to see him at least once a week with his wife, and sometime he would come in all by himself just to chat with and tease the staff. He made fun of everything, laughed all the time, and called his wife a witch even through the obvious affection of fifty years of marriage. He gave all the waitresses nicknames, like "Swivel-hips" and "Jiggles". He was always laughing, and making us laugh. He was one of those customers you fight to have in your section, and stop by and visit even if he's not. And he was such a nice guy -- the kind of person you hope to be when you reach that age.

I remember one time, I was serving him and his wife, and he pulled me aside as they were leaving, handed me the money to pay for the bill of the young woman in the Air Force bdu's who'd been sitting behind them, and asked me to thank her for her service to our country. She was so touched she cried.

Apparently, he just went to bed early one night, and when his wife woke up the next day, he was dead. A massive heart attack.

I'll never see his jolly, mischievous grin again.

I can't believe it.

Oh my God, Mike. We'll miss you. We'll really, really miss you.

Waitress Wish List

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:47:44 GMT

Things to keep in mind when you're out for an evening of not-cooking-cleaning-or-otherwise-doing-anything-for-yourself:

*When someone makes an effort to smile and say hello and be cheerful, smile back every once in a while. It'll make you feel better. Promise.

*Please realize that parties of larger than four are usually twice as much work for your waitress, so when a party of ~~eight~~ ten shows up and wants drinks, it's going to take longer than the two-top on the other side of the restaurant from you.

*Parties of larger than four are usually twice as much work for a server, and when she has four other tables besides you, one of which is also bigger than four, please be patient. (Believe me, if I could grow another arm to make sure you're constantly in the sweet tea and root beer, I would. I swear I would.)

*Please and thank you are much appreciated, and go a long way to help perk up a stressed server who is running around (literally) trying to see to the needs and desires of a grand total of 23 people spread over several tables and sections.

*Please try to understand that everything a server does is measured in minutes and sometimes seconds. At some places, for instance, we have ten minutes before all the hot food is supposed to be out of the grill window. All the cold stuff, breads, and soups are supposed to be out first, and the server is the one who has to prepare it all. Compound that by five tables with varying numbers of people on them. Now, ask me again to stand and wait while you browse the menu for ten minutes?

*Oh, have I mentioned how the work gets exponentially harder at over four people? Have I mentioned that the running a server does is more (because big parties are almost always in the back of the restaurant), the organization is harder (because multiple checks almost never sit together), and that getting things out to a big table is harder (because they generally have more things that have to go out before the main meal, and generally are more needy)?

*Have I mentioned that walking into a restaurant an hour before close, running a waitress ragged for almost that entire hour with drink refills, salads, extra condiments, and multiple (but not at the same time) to go dessert orders that must be boxed, bagged, and otherwise prepared for you, and then leaving her two dollars less than the number of people on the table is freakin' rude?

FYI: that was an hour of me not doing outs, not being able to have other tables, and not making much of anything more than what you left me. Thanks to you, I was not able to get any of my significant cleaning list done before we closed. Thanks to you, all of the workers in the restaurant didn't get out until two hours after close, because my cleaning list affects theirs.

For the reference of anyone who cares, a dollar per person at the table is minimum for politeness unless I sucked (or served) monkey balls as a server. Which I did not. I don't really care how many "free kids coupons" you picked up from the neighboring hotel. If you're going to go out for dinner, and especially if you're going to put the wait staff through the inconvenience of a large party, please have the common decency to tip at least a dollar per head. Forget percentages. Anything less than a dollar per head is an insult and a really frustrating waste of time.

*sigh*

It's not that I mind doing all the work, you see. It's that I mind doing it for almost nothing.

Summer time tourists. That's what's going on. We're getting huge tour groups from Georgia.
No, seriously. My boss is talking to them, and all the big groups like this (Yes, you read right. Groups. As in, plural.) that we've been getting are from Georgia. Cheap, demanding, selfish summer-time tourists.

Sometimes my job sucks. And sometimes it's just downright funny. Tonight it was both.

Oh, well. G'night.

OMG, ya'all! I saw UP! And it made me cry!

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:12:21 GMT

~~So what if that makes me a sap? Do I care? No, I say! For the pride of saps everywhere, no!~~

Two major, major thumbs up for UP. While all Pixar movies are cute, they've always been a bit hit-and-miss for me. Some of them are wonderful and adorable, and some of them are ...meh. UP is definitely on the wonderful and adorable side of things. Also?

I SAW THE MOVIE POSTER FOR PONYO!

(For any of the sadly uninformed who do not hang, cling, and slobber on every sliver of news about what the Master does, and therefore has no idea what I'm talking about, go here: www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/ and/or here: www.youtube.com/watch )

So, yeah. My sisters told everyone I was an escaped mental patient as I stood squealing over the poster in the middle of the movie theater. XD

So I went home this past weekend and had an absolute blast hanging out with my family. My sisters totally gobbled up my butter-icing chocolate cupcakes, but my mom got the last laugh by eating the last one when they weren't looking. ^^ Youngest brother taught me the card game Slaps--which, may I just say, can get extremely violent in our house of half-hispanics. I brought the rules back with me and taught my BFF Sylvia how to play. She's Cuban, so... Fun stuff. ^_^

Ah! And I finally bought Book Fire of ATLA. And then promptly allowed my sisters and my brother to puppy-face me into leaving it with them for a few weeks. *facepalm* I want my Avatar! *sniffcry*

I even had a really long, serious conversation with previously mentioned BFF about some things. That was a really interesting, revealing conversation. I'm stunned, and quite oddly kicked in the pants about school, so now I'm trying to figure out if I really can graduate this fall or not. Classes are the actual big problem. There aren't that many being offered. But, well, we'll try.

And, on a totally random note (and really, what fun would life be without random notes?), I had a really curious idea yesterday: how difficult would it be if I could only use one foot at a time? So I tried it. For about twenty minutes.

Two things:
1. Hopping with hot tea is very ill advised.
2. Surprisingly good workout. My butt and thigh muscles are killing me. *wobblewince*

So overall and in summary, I've been having a great couple of days. *sips tea*

Everyone must go see Ponyo!

Random free-thinking

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:33:58 GMT

It is two-thirty a.m. and I am still awake. Why?

Probably because I don't want my day off to be over. ^_^

Oh well. I've been having a weirdly busy summer. Lots of traffic. My best friend has been staying with me on and off (And when we get together, we do nothing but talk. And occasionally go out for food.), my sisters were here for a week, I'm taking off to go home this weekend. Seriously, more traffic than I think I've had in a year. All in the space of a month or two. It's been really weird.

But anyway, I'm quite happy with my summer so far. My writing's going well, too. Now, if only I could find a way to make work and school a little better, life would be...pretty good. Shocking, considering how my year turned out.

Or maybe I'm in denial. I think I'm going to have to run this weekend. Run hard.

Hey, anyone know for sure if the "new InuYasha anime" rumor is true or not? That would be....OMG. I refuse to believe it without official confirmation. Refuse!

I think I shall sleep now. Well, soon, anyway.

Got 'nother chapter of Waiting pretty much done and posted. I'm considering if I can get the next one posted over the weekend or not. We shall see.

Wow. I think I might be tired.

G'night

My life in one sentence.

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:03:32 GMT

Summer is on and I have no classes, so until something really interesting happens, all I really do these days is read, write, work at a job that alternately infuriates, bores, and (~~sometimes~~) amuses me, and occasionally stress about school. And sleep; can't forget sleep.

Does that count as two sentences?

I am mildly bored and mostly content these days. Since I don't have classes, I have time and energy to work on my writing, which makes me happy, and for the past month or so, one of my very best friends in the world has been staying with me, so I've been doing a lot of late-night girl talk. And I'm very excited about my sisters coming up to stay with me this coming weekend. Overall, it's a nice change of pace from the supreme stress the first part of the year put on me for various reasons, and I've found I'm very happy for the break, even if it means not being able to graduate in Fall like I was planning.

Oh well. Spring works, too.

My car is still running, in case anyone is curious. It's a freakin' miracle, the only evidence of supernatural intervention I'll ever need to believe. While my sisters are here, we'll go see the second Transformers movie. I'm very excited.

(I've only been keeping a peripheral eye on pop culture, but I thought I'd go on record that, of the three most recent Hollywood deaths, the one that I feel most sad about is Ed McMahon. I have fond memories of Star Search that Thriller and Charlie's Angels will never touch.)

Pardon me, my tea grows cold, and my muse warms.

That is all. *patters off*

Whoops. Spoke too soon.

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:01:48 GMT

Home again, home again....

Two days later than I was supposed to be. Why? Because as he was finishing his check of my car on Monday morning, Dad found a major problem with my car. That major problem then turned into several problems in varying stages of major and minor, all of which are now fixed.

*sigh*

Well, what can I expect, really? The gosh-darn thing has been shot up, and is clocking somewhere around 400,000 miles. I'm totally and completely blessed that it even runs.

Things replaced:

One broken door handle,
one freezer plug,
one cracked manifold thingy (welded),
several gaskets (whatever those are),
a couple round ring thingys,
an oil filter,
water,
oil,
wiper fluid,
several bulbs (That absolutely had to be stolen to be gone at all, according to my dad. Which means that some very inconsiderate person vandalized my car in the middle of the night in the middle of my apartment complex, and I am now on orders to check my lights every so often to make sure they haven't come back. wtf?! O_o),
and one very important fuse for my all-important beleaguered radio.

Time taken: Two days.

Work missed: One usually big money day.

Money spent: Approximately one hundred dollars
Money probably saved by having my father and my uncle do it instead of a garage: Approximately four hundred dollars (fatherly estimate; others may vary)

Having family who know their way around cars, duct-tape, and junk-yards?
Priceless. XD

I love my Daddy (and my Tio Cheo).

Oh, and get this:

When I called off of work on Tuesday, my boss said I had to have a note from the mechanic for the files. I told him it was just my dad and my uncle working on the car, but he said he still needed one. (Yeah, I was like...really? O.o High school much?). So I asked my dad to write me a note. He did. It was an entire page explaining exactly what was wrong with my car, why it had to be fixed right away, who did the fixing, and how long it took. ^__^

I should have had him write it in Spanish. Just to mess with 'em. XD

It's so wonderful to visit family!!! (Even if your little brother does end up infecting you with his cold.)

*Squishles her family*

According to Yahoo....

Sat, 30 May 2009 13:05:58 GMT

My horoscope for the day says:

"Just because you've been close to someone for years doesn't mean you know them inside and out."

And that may be the first time the horoscope has ever had anything relevant to say about me. Hm.

And God bless a quiet morning with a good cup of hot tea (even if it doesn't really have enough honey).

Made it home all right, thank God. Car only went clicky once, and that was only this morning, so the trip home actually went very well. Yes! That's another one down with no incident. *happy dance* And then my sisters and I hate a good, hispanic-volume round of Blink, so it was a really good night.

It's nine in the morning, and I've already been up for hours, because Josh had to get up to get to the school early for breakfast and rehearsal, and then, of course, the lovely little thing forgets his cap and gown and has to call big sis to come save the day. I know, I'm good that way. ^_^

In about an hour, everyone will be up and getting ready, because littlest sis Bekah is in her school's version of 'Annie' this afternoon, and Grammy and Pop-pop are coming down to catch that. Then we'll be catching a late lunch together before we all head over to the Barbara B. Mann for Josh's graduation tonight at seven. I'm so excited! I already got to see him in his cap and gown yesterday, but I'm really looking forward to watching him walk. I just realized I don't have enough film, though, so I'm fretting over going to get film, and maybe pick up a disposable digital, since Mom's digital seems to be broken.

OMG, ya' all! My baby brother's graduating! *skips*

Now, then. Off to make sure Hannah takes the shower I told her she must take. I swear that child is just like I was when I was her age. *sigh* Oh well. At least Mom got one girly girl, even if she had to go through five children to get to her. XD

Wish me good thoughts and prayers that the day goes smoothly!

*skips some more*

Sun, 24 May 2009 17:27:23 GMT

I have been a meme-ing, thanks to inusaga .

Behold, my results:

You Should Rule Mercury

Close to sun, Mercury has very long days - and is rarely visible to the rest of the solar system.

You are perfect to rule Mercury, because you live for the present - and can truly enjoy a day that goes on forever.
Like Mercury, you are quick and elusive. Your wit is outstanding, and you can win any verbal sparring match.

Some people see you as superficial, but in truth, you just play many roles and have many interests.
A great manipulator, you usually get what you want from people. And they're happy to give it to you.

What Planet Should You Rule?

You Are From Jupiter

You are exuberantly curious - and you love to explore anything new.
Enthusiastic and optimistic, you get a kick out of stimulating, intellectual discussions.
Foreign cultures and languages fascinate you. You love the outdoors, animals, and freedom.
You tend to exaggerate, but no one really believes your tall tales. Hold back on stretching the truth.
If you do, you'll continue to be known for your confidence, generosity, and sense of justice.

What Planet Are You From?

You Can Make 68% of Your Crushes Fall in Love With You

Your seduction skills are practically legendary. You know how to close the deal.

Just don't let someone you're really into get the better of you!

As long as you keep up your end of the flirting game, you'll get the prize at the end.

Can You Make Anyone Fall in Love With You?

Your Body Image is 36% Unhealthy, 64% Healthy

You're body image is quite healthy, though you're sometimes a little bit too hard on yourself.
Chances are you've got a rockin' body - so enjoy it!

How's Your Body Image?

You Are Fairly Normal

You scored 60% normal on this quiz

Like most people you are normal in some ways...
But you aren't a completely normal person. You're a little weird too!

Why You Are Normal:

You think glasses can make someone more attractive

You prefer a good meal to a good nap

You prefer ruffled potato chips

When you're in a car, you prefer to be the driver

You prefer fiction to non fiction

Why You Aren't Normal:

You prefer your family to your friends

You think fishnet stockings are sexy

You don't keep up with your horoscope

You are no longer with your first love

You eat the cupcake first

What's Normal About You... And What's Not?

...I didn't like this one. It didn't give me enough options. What if I like both the sun and the moon equally or never had a first love, huh? Wouldn't that make me weirder?

And for the record, I like to mash bakery items with icing up into a really delicious paste. Yes, that's right. I play with my food.

So apparently, I'm a lying brat from Jupiter who's out to take over Mercury, has barely passing seduction skills, a healthier body image than I'd thought I had, and is disappointingly normal. Though, I think the normal quiz was rigged far too simply for the truly weird, such as myself.

Well, that was a splendid fun waste of time. I shall get back to writing now.

ETA : WTF! *kills LJ* The cut isn't working!! *kills LJ again*

If only

Fri, 15 May 2009 19:52:57 GMT

I want to live in a world where "I'm having a good writing day" is a legitimate excuse to call off of work.

Anyone knowing where the cross-dimensional portal to that world is, could you please to be pointing me out the way?

*cries*

Bwahahaha!

Wed, 13 May 2009 07:09:19 GMT

Maybe this isn't as funny as I think it is. Maybe it's just too late and I've been going for too long without some good, serious sleep.

Maybe not. Either way, I had to share.

Behold, the next wave in domestic terrorism:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090512/ap_on_fe_st/odd_rotten_office_food

Flagrant fumes? Hazmat team? Allergies!?!

*dies laughing*

Stitches, I tell you. My friend and I are in stitches.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Sun, 10 May 2009 04:35:11 GMT

I've been told my last post was quite scary, and then I disappeared, which was even worse. My sincerest apologies.

So....

Yes, I'm still alive.
Yes, I survived the semester, though my GPA took an unhealthy dip.
Yes, I'm still dealing with some stuff, but it's getting better. And I'm really sorry if I worried anyone. I didn't really mean to. I just needed to vent, something I've managed to do a couple of times since, and which seems to help just a little every time.

But!

That's not why I'm reappearing. I know I have a ton of mothers on my F-list, and I can't let such a special day go by without wishing every last one of them an incredibly happy-tears-filled special day. I volunteered to work today, so I won't have time when I wake up in a few hours, but:

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

everyone! I hope your children treat you with the special love and appreciation the day reserves for you. (Not that you don't deserve it every other day of the year, but still.... Much to all the Moms. You totally rock!)

Quill

emerges from under her rock

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:44:59 GMT

I'm so tired. For so many reasons, the very least of which is that I'm sleep deprived. (I am sleep deprived, though.)

I got confronted with a truth tonight. It's a truth that's been nipping at my heels for a while now, and it's so close and piercingly painful that I can't say anything other than it hurt me. And I'm crying. And I can't even talk about it with any of the few who would understand, because that means exposing them to this thing on my back. I don't want them to worry. I sure as heck don't want them to cry with me. Because one of the people who would understand is my mom. You know how horrible it is to see your mom cry, or to know you caused it.

And I may be developing an ulcer or something. Weird pains, you know?

Yeah, it sucks.

I think I arranged my schedule poorly this semester, too, because I feel really tired for very little good reason. All the time. And I never really have time after class to really dig in and study. I'm always prepping to go to work after class, or just burned out from a day of homework. I'm going to have to think long and hard about my fall semester. I don't want to tank my GPA in my last few classes.

For the record? Spring Break? Sucked. I got whammied by a migraine that not only didn't let me relax, but actually put me behind on my schoolwork.

Also for the record, thanks you guys for the responses to my in-revision poem. I believe I've done all I can with it for the moment, and have sent it in...so shall I tell you why I was so stressed over it? Because it is in consideration for the school literary magazine. I submitted it last semester, and one of the student editors has been consulting on it with me. I'm at a point in my semester/life where I don't even care if it's included in the magazine or not, so I don't care if I jinx it anymore.

Still, if it's included, this will go on my personal record as being the first time anything I've written was accepted for any kind of publication. Which would be cool.

Still, you were right akarii. Narrowing the focus of the poem changed its point quite a bit. I'm not sure how I feel about that, even though I think the new version has its own value. And, Feni, I tried, but they didn't want me to keep the boxers stanza.

I have so much to do and only a few weeks to do it in. Final project in one class, a term paper in another. Finals to study for--none of which would be so bad if I didn't have work so liberally sprinkled throughout my week. I'm thinking about an educational leave of absence for a week or so. Think they'd let me do that?

Ah, and as a final ray of positive music: a huge blessing on everyone who has ever given a waitress an excessively good tip. May every good thing in the world follow you around like an adoring and affectionate puppy. You may never realize how much it can mean to a person.

'Kay. I'm going to sleep now and see if a good twelve hours will help with this horrible perspective a bit.

*flops*

Well, hum....

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:54:25 GMT

Just took a gander at one of the reviews I got for the latest update of Waiting, and my first thoughts are rather....

Well, here:

its gud 2 know dat u've finally updated.like da other i've re-read da story many a times n am extremely happy 2 know dat even after such a long time u were able 2 reconnect 2 da characters n story n plot.it is a wonderful story, well re-creAted from da anime with a better plot and maturity in da character as well. da emotios r well depicted,without deivating much from the original characters.u may have understood by now dat this is my 1st review 2 u,as a matter of fact it is also my 1st review 2 any author.i would like 2 tell dat i will not wait another 2 yrs for da next update,i have waited long enough as it is.i am not asking u to update every single day,but as a author make it ur point 2 update within a limited period of time ,like once in a week or once in 2 weeks or once in a month .it would b greatly appreciated by us readers

.....this is completely unedited in any way. Exactly so.

So...

Thoughts? Comments? ~~laughter?~~

(am I a terrible person for posting this?)

Egads. The length, she is monstrous!

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:01:39 GMT

Tea, tea, tea.

It has grown to the point where I almost need tea in the morning to function. I am scared. And also, I am drinking some very strong stuff right now. Two tea bags =very strong. When did this happen, and should I be concerned about it? (On the other hand, I now love my brother for buying me a teapot for Christmas.)

I've been having the weirdest phenomenon for the past couple of weekends where I'll sleep, only to wake up feeling as if I haven't slept at all. I think this is related to Tuesdays and work. Ever since the beginning of the semester and the change in everyone's schedules (you know, except mine), I've somehow not only lost my only non-closing night--but now I'm closing with Denise, who is adamant about not closing anything up before the doors are shut. Which would be fine, if I was getting more than four bucks an hour to scrub a restaurant with no customers in it. But I'm not, and I'm not allowed to mitigate the closer's duties like I am with the regular night shift manager, Ed, by assigning some of the more annoying closing duties to other people, which puts the burden almost entirely on me and whoever is closing with me. This, in turn, has caused me to dread working on Tuesdays, which may be what's causing my weird sleep-but-not-really phenomenon over the weekends.

I am seriously beginning to hate Tuesdays. And as a result, today I am drinking very strong hot tea and sitting here updating instead of sitting in class taking notes. Why? Because I overslept the through alarm that I forgot to set for class. *sob*

To make myself feel better, I shall do a meme. Or at least, try to do akapiratequeen 's meme:
Association Meme: Comment to this post and I will give you 5 subjects/things I associate you with. Then post this in your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given.

Her prompts:

Florida. I wasn't born here, but I've lived here since I was two. I grew up in a little town called (I kid you not) Lehigh Acres, and my parents still have the house I grew up in, which is terribly run-down thanks to my dad's habit of collecting cars and parking them in random places. And the cactus, because there's plenty of that around my childhood home as well. I'm not super-tanned, I don't really go to the beach that often, even though I love it (and why not, I have to wonder? The beach is such a beautiful place, if you can find a stretch that's not so crowded with people in makes you re-think China's population control policy). Despite the heat and humidity, I love it here. The sunsets are beautiful, and the weather during spring and fall make you want to live a millennium just to feel it against your skin. I even love the rainy season and the lightning storms.

Hurricanes, you say?....pssht! (just make sure to get out of the way of a Cat 3 or higher, and all is well.)

Lemons. I suck on wedges at work all the time. Sometimes with soda water or a little sugar. Seriously. Lemons are great for an all-natural energy booster (though I hear they're terrible for your teeth). ^___^

Yeah, okay. I'm guessing that Ms. Pirate Queen wasn't referencing the actual fruit? I'm almost shocked, though, because I really haven't written all that many. You could say I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to writing them. ^_^ Still, I have, for as long as I've loved reading, been interested in romances. I used to sneak them--you know, the really trashy one with the muscle-bound, bust-busting covers?--past my mom in the library and read them under covers at night. I've also always been interested in what makes a good sex scene vrs. a boring one. I mean, it's not like there's all that much variety to it; all the basic movements are the same, right? Except there is, kinda, and figuring out how to induce slow and sexy in one scene, or hot and raunchy in the next (and all the interesting possibilities in between) is part of the fun.

In the aside category of interesting TRUFAX: I'm a seriously good little girl in RL. Raised in a traditional Christian home with retained traditional values. I just also happen to have a vivid imagination and a carefully nurtured rebellious streak. During a recent game night at our apartment, I told some of my coworkers that I have a copy of the complete text of the Kama Sutra, and they wouldn't believe me until I pulled it out and showed it to them. I mean, most of them have never even heard me swear.

If I ever get published, the chances of it being a romance novel (and under an assumed name) are very high.

School. I am a senior at University of South Florida and will be graduating in the fall. I took a year off after I graduated high school (homeschooled), and worked at Wally-world full time in the deli while I saved up money. Then I went to Edison Community College, and for two years I somehow managed to work full time and go to school full time in order to earn my AA degree (which I have proudly displayed upon my wall, thank you.). I transferred to USF (which is not nearly as friendly or helpful or interesting as Edison was), and found I suddenly couldn't pull off full-time work and full-time school. Seriously. Living with your parents is a huge help. For anyone considering it, I recommend it for as long as you can stand it.
Yes, it's taken me almost a decade all told, but the upside is that I'll be totally and completely debt free when I do graduate. What I'll do with an English degree (you know, besides teach) is a mystery I have yet to solve. I'm actually playing around with the idea of going back for a Masters in either anthropology or library sciences, but that means more money and time, and as much as I love school, I'm not sure I want to keep on doing what I have been for so long. It feels like it's time for a change.

Family. Family! My loves. My oasis. One of my three Most Important Things. I'm the oldest of six children. Three brothers in the middle, two little sisters on the end. I watched the birth of my two middle brothers (As in, I was in the room when it happened. For anyone wondering about scaring their daughters away from teen pregnancy, having them in a birthing room or two is a really good place to start.), and helped raise all of my siblings except my oldest little brother Justin, who was my partner-in-crime when we were growing up. I'm so poud of all our boys, because they're growing up to be Quality Men, and my girls are so much fun to hang out with (books and movies and shopping, oh my)! My Daddy is my hero, my mom the most admirable woman I know. We were very close-knit growing up, and I hate that I don't see them as much any more. But I still love them more than anything. I'm really looking forward to May, because my youngest brother Josh is graduating high school, and it's a great excuse to ditch my life and go home for a visit.

Becoming a writer. Well, hum. Where to start? How about here: I'm not one of those people to whom things come easy. Anything. Ever. I have to work for it so hard sometimes, it's a little sad if I dwell on it. I mean, heck, it's taken me almost ten years to get a four-year degree.

Talent and skill also fall into that category.

The first story I ever wrote was a near-plagiarized (shall we say, strongly inspired by the book I was reading at the time?) camp story that is so truly awful that I cringe to even think of remembering it. Don't believe me? One of the main characters was a big-muscled, red-headed tomboy name Thomasina. Though, come to think of it, I probably still have it in my papers somewhere, since I'm a big believer in the past being important to the present and the future.

Anyway, I was --what? twelve, thirteen?--and I was taking a class (we homeschoolers did that from time to time) on Creative Writing. I remember very distinctly feeling stupid when everyone else understood what a haiku was and I just didn't get it. I remember very distinctly the writing excercise that had us all describing a swan on the water, and how I didn't understand what our teacher meant when she told us to not just write about feathers and yellow beaks. And I remember the look on her face when she read the miserable attempt that I made at it. There was a girl who sat next to me in that class--her name was Jill, and she had this really beautiful wealth of dark hair--who said in the first class that she wanted to be a writer. And she was good. I could tell from the way she talked with the teacher. I was bad. I knew that, too.

But then I wrote that terrible, awful, near-plagiarized mess, and I could tell that she liked something about it. I don't know what, and I don't know why, but what I do know is that it made me very excited to see that she enjoyed it, and something clicked. I started writing a lot. Terrible, awful things, short stories and snippets and unfinished stuff that I still have tucked away among my papers. I would sit in church and write with pencil in a notebook while my best friend Rosa read over my shoulder, and it made me so happy that she was interested and enjoyed the story. And I've continued to work at it ever since, and get better, I suppose--though it's never really enough. There's always a way I could have done it better, there's always that perfect way to phrase it that I just can't divine. I've never finished a long story, so these fanfiction pieces that I've been working on are going to be a milestone for me, because I will finish both of them. And Waiting is actually almost there, and I'm so ridiculously excited about it I don't know what to do.

Maybe if I finish these, then I can finish something original of mine?

I heard from my mom years after the Creative Writing class that the teacher had come to her one day not long after I wrote that awful camp story. She told my mom that she had been in a bit of a quandary, because she'd thought that she was simply going to have to tell my mom that I had absolutely no hope or talent for writing. But then she read that story, and it was like a miracle, and she was just so amazed. I wonder if it was just that everything else I'd written was just so bad that a story with an actual plot and frame stood out so much? Because it really was bad. But whatever. I guess that was when I found my "talent", even if it's taken me years and years to refine it to the point where I feel it might be worth reading. I think, if I could find a way to make my living off of writing (which is one of the only things beside eating, sleeping, and reading that I do with any regularity), then it would be a very fulfilling thing for me. I really hope I can.

So, wow, that took on a life of its own, didn't it? That wasn't even the story I was going to tell. What a way to kill time. I'll have to cut this (ETA: as much as it will let me, anyway. Darn LJ quirks.)

Well, I'm on my second cup of tea and strongly debating calling in just to avoid closing with the Denise-monster. I probably won't, but I wonder if I won't be in a good mood after I get home tonight.

Ta,
Her Quillness

PS: Poke to play for the meme.

</lj>

Yes, actually. I am alive.

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:34:39 GMT

Well, you know, sort of?

What up, yo? Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Did you know it's been since last November since I last posted? OMGyikes! I don't even know how it happened. I've just been so distracted by life that I forgot to notice.

So. Thirty second rewind of the past few months:

Well, Thanksgiving sucked, Christmas rocked all kinds of delightful things (Quill lufs being a big sister ^__^), and school hit hard this semester with a running start out the gate on the freakin' third of January that I just wasn't prepared for. I spent the first three weeks of school catching up, and now I'm swamped with reading because all I'm taking is literature courses. A nice thick book and several papers (thankfully fiction, so they're fun to write) a week just for one class. Then of course I'm still working -- and in fact, Quill pulled a serious double yesterday at her restaurant home; 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. makes a girl a zombie. @_@

And even so, I'm rocking the literature courses. Oh, I'm totally rocking them. My Young Adult Literature course has me dreaming in vivid green chickens. ^_^

My roommate and brother has been reactivated by the National Gaurd and is currently in training to go back to D.C. for a year, so Quill has her darling apartment (and unfixed cat *grumblesnarlgripe*) all to herself for quite some time.

Ah yes. And I recently found out that I will most likely be graduating in fall, and went into a panick mode that shut me down for a while. I'm mostly better now.

*whoosh*

Also, for anyone interested, I am still working on my fanfiction in the scattered bits of time I have outside the story I'm working on for YAL. In fact, I'm hoping to have something to post soon. (In fact, I hope to have something done soon, but you didn't hear that from me). *insert grin here* Well, you know, maybe.

I shall, ever so briefly, be catching myself up with my friends' list now. ^_^

I missed my LJ.

Dearest brother,

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:47:34 GMT

I love you. I am proud of you. I will support you to the best of my abilities and intelligence in every situation, and have no problem sharing anything of mine that you think you might need for whatever reason. I don't care if you steal my razor, or facewash, or bodywash; eat my food and finish my milk; or or even when you don't have rent and I have to cover the bills. I have patience with most everything you do: piles of newspapers, McDonalds' bags, and clothes littering the floor; forgetting to take out the trash bag when I leave it by the door; and even the fact that ever since you came back from Texas this past summer, you seem to have forgotten how to flush the toilet.

Despite my tolerance of all of this, there is one thing that I'm sorry, but I cannot allow: No. No, you may not use my toothbrush. Just no.

And please, don't sound so utterly shocked when, after noticing my toothbrush being stored in the wrong place and confronting you about it, I throw a major fit about the fact that you "might have used it one or twice". I don't care how many germs we share. You may NOT use my toothbrush. Yes, I still love you; now go buy one of your own. I'll lend you the money if you need it. Because I care.

Sincerely, Your Loving Sister and Roommate,
Quill

P.S. On second thought, while we're at it--yes, actually, I do mind that you don't flush. Please re-learn this skill. Thank you kindly.

In Other News:

I voted today. Got to my precinct (voter stuff all straightened out, thank God), walked right in, voted, left. Got two stickers. I shall wear one to work tonight. Woo-hoo.

Must. Write. Poem. *grapples with evil poetry spirits of DOOM*

So, how's everyone else doing this fine election Tuesday?

Squeal of delight to commence in 3...2...

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:54:04 GMT

*SQUEE!!!*

I GOT AN A!!!!

(okay, so it's an A-, and I made a humiliating its/it's error on my essay -- WTF! *omg!dies*-- but I still got an A!!)

GPA safe...for now. Holding my breath on whether or not I can keep it that way.

To celebrate, I have ordered myself a few books for fun. They will not arrive in time for me to really savor this small victory, but I am pleased none-the-less. Broke, too, but that's just normal ~~when your brother doesn't~~ ~~have any money and you have to cover all the bills yourself~~ for a college student. The books are worth it, and so will be the time that I spend reading them. *salivates at the thought*

Also. Still freakin' tired. Need to catch up on my sleep.

Wait. Listen. You hear that silence, that lack of harsh breathing and insane muttering? That's the sound of me being totally and completely caught up for once. Really, I've done all my major for-the-moment projects, and enough schoolwork today that I am totally justified in not doing any more until tomorrow.

I just...don't know what to do with myself.

O.o

Oh who cares? I GOT AN A!!!

*dances*

Oh! A meme!

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:48:54 GMT

Stolen, ganked, and otherwise gipped from other people around these here parts.

Your result for The Mythological Goddess Test...

Isis

Indeed, you are 71% erudite, 79% sensual, 54% martial, and 42% saturnine.

This Egyptian supreme Goddess is certainly the most influential deity on subsequent cultures. She was the ideal figure of womanhood, usually compared with the Greek Goddess Demeter or her Roman version, Ceres.

Isis was one element of a Holy Trinity, the remaining two figures being her brother and husband Osiris and their heroic son Horus. She was the Goddess of Magic for her brilliance, as well as the Goddess of Love because of her tenacious devotion.

She is often shown with wings, curving to caress coffins and sarcophagi of many a king. In certain papyri she is shown with her falcon wing headdress, covering her ears. One of her sacred symbols is the sistrum, a musical instrument that was believed to ward off evil spirits. Isis' sistrum was carved bearing the image of a cat and was representative of the Moon.

Isis was the High Priestess and an omnipotent magician as well as the only being ever to discover the secret name of Ra. She invariably carries the ankh, the symbol for eternal life. Her name is, by the rules of numerology, adding up to the number 2 and she just so happens to be depicted on the tarot card Key 2 The High Priestess.

The Fifteen Goddesses

These are the 15 categories of this test. If you score above average in

all or none of the four variables: Neit. Erudite: Minerva. Sensual: Aphrodite. Martial: Artemis. Saturnine: Persephone. Erudite & Sensual: Isis. Erudite & Martial: Sekhmet. Erudite & Saturnine: Nemesis. Sensual & Martial: Hera. Sensual & Saturnine: Bast. Martial & Saturnine: Ilamatecuhtli. Erudite, Sensual & Martial: Maeve. Erudite, Sensual & Saturnine: Freya. Erudite, Martial & Saturnine: Sedna. Sensual, Martial & Saturnine: Macha.

Take The Mythological Goddess Test at HelloQuizzy

In other news, I am really, really tired today. Just obscenely out of energy. And I have to go to work in about forty minutes.

Also, have three days to write a pantoum and a prose poem. And all my muses want to do is play with my fanfiction. Why only when I don't have time?!

Also, I'm really freakin' tired. Wah. -__- What happened? I've been pretty energetic this whole week; maybe I just ran out of steam? And this is my long day at work, too.

Oh well. It shall be interesting, because I so declare.

Crap

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:36:41 GMT

Just got back from my midterm -- you know, that test that I've been studying my butt off for the past week for? Yep. Save for the take-home essay, the majority of the test was passage identification, which can be very difficult if you're good with concepts, but not so much specific wording, like...oh, say, me.

I think I got most of them. But there was one... It just sounded so much like Wordsworth, and I'd read "Lines above Tinturn Abby" so many times.... But I still wasn't sure about it, so I looked it up when I got home.

You guessed it. Not "Tinturn Abby". Not "Ode to Intimations of Immortality" either. In fact, I still can't find that particular passage anywhere, and I've been hunting around in my reading assignments for the past twenty minutes. It wasn't, as far as I can tell, even written by Wordsworth. So I wrote approximately half a page explaining and discussing the wrong thing entirely.

*sigh* Crap. CRAP.

That's a full seven points down the drain right there. And that's not counting how inadequate my essay was, or how inadequate or possibly wrong my conclusions were about the other passages. *sobs* This midterm counts for something like forty percent of my grade. (some ridiculously high percentage like that, anyway.) *sobs again*

So, in conclusion...passage identification sucks.

And I don't have anything besides ramen and soup in the house right now because I've been putting off shopping in favor of studying. I cannot tell you how much that sucks, because I'm freakin' hungry. I want real food.

Oh, and my check engine light went on in my car. Haven't dealt with that one yet, either.

Crap.