Any Other Side

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:40:39 GMT

So my parents have become hooked on those Inspector Lynley mysteries. I think they're on the BBC; I could be wrong. Anyhow, I'm beginning to make a habit of watching them as well. Now, don't get me wrong--the plotlines themselves are fascinating; but I have to admit that I'm watching largely due to:

Ohhhh is that man gorgeous. Words can't describe him. I can't get over it. He's exactly how I pictured Snape when I first read the HP books (sans the beautiful tan, of course), up until the movies did what they unfortunately do best and dictated his appearance and mannerisms for me. Not that Alan Rickman doesn't make a fantastic Snape, mind you.

So:

Nathaniel Parker's face and body + Alan Rickman's voice = pretty much the death of me.

I can't get over him. Aaaaagggh.

I'm still a bit in shock.

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:11:36 GMT

My family spent this past weekend in Chicago. Just after six a.m. on Saturday morning, this occurred right in front of our hotel:

Man killed in Rogers Park crash

My mom and I were both jolted awake by a sickening, metallic crashing sound, followed by the screeching of tires as the Cadillac recoiled and the sound of the horn when his head (presumably he lost consciousnss almost immediately after contact) hit the steering wheel. We rushed to the window and saw the bus, its fender bent pretty badly, lying askew across the center line. There was a tree partially obstructing our view of the Cadillac, so we couldn't see what was going on inside, but I cannot possibly see how any human being could have survived. Even despite the tree it was obvious how grotesquely crushed and sheared the entire front and driver's side of the car was.

We were about to rush outside to offer assistance, but there were already well over a dozen people crowded around, and it couldn't have been more than two or three minutes before the police and two ambulances arrived. All day Saturday we remained stubbornly hopeful that they got there quickly enough to stabilize the poor man. It wasn't until Saturday evening that I managed to find the link to the Tribune article and read that he didn't make it through and was pronounced an hour later at the hospital.

I could sit here for the rest of my life and I wouldn't be able to adequately describe the sound of that collision. I've heard car crashes before, of course--I've been a passenger in two--but I could tell from the sound alone that there was a huge disparity in the damage to the vehicles. You could actually hear the car crumple under the impact and screech across the street as it took the brunt of the momentum.

I realize this is probably a bit hypocritical considering that I'm about the least religious person on the planet, but if you can spare a moment, say a prayer for this poor man's family. It was the first thing I did after catching a glimpse of what remaind of the car. God, I can't even begin to fathom how they felt when they got a call at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning that their father, husband, etc., had to go through that. One of them probably had to go down to the hospital and confirm the identity of the body... I can't even bring myself to think about that.

Careers.

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:20:11 GMT

I stole it from ayerf

1. Go here: http://www.careercruising.com/default.asp

2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark

3. Take their “Career Matchmaker” questions

4. Post the top ten results.

1. Pharmacologist

2. Marine Biologist

3. Forensics Specialist

4. Chemical Engineer

5. Microbiologist

6. Veterinarian

7. Biologist

8. Kinesiologist

9. Chemist

10. Biomedical Engineer

Hey, maybe I'm meant to be a scientist. Shocking.

I've had two majors throughout college: chemical engineering (for which I took an absurd amount of calculus I'll likely never again use once I'm done working as a tutor for the math department) and biology/biochemistry, and I've at one point considered every single career on that list. Accurate indeed.

So...

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:22:28 GMT

Is it just me, or doesn't it seem likely that a man who is arguably one of the most brilliant and capable Potions Masters in the Wizarding world would have some form of anti-venin available on his person, seeing as he's spent an inordinate amount of time in the presence of Nagini during the last year?

Snape's behavior was ultimately shown to be honorable, yes, but there's no denying that the man possesses the brains to look out for his own hide. And I don't even mean that in a derogatory way--it's a testament to his skill as a wizard. So he's spent nigh two decades as a double agent for the Order and it's never occurred to him that an enormous serpent at the beck and call of homicidal maniac might pose a problem one day?

I don't buy it.

I didn't buy a great deal of it, truthfully. Hermione annoyed the hell out of me. She's always annoyed the hell out of me, really, but in the past it has at least been firmly established that she's intelligent and can take care of herself. She seemed to spend the vast majority of Deathly Hallows sniffling, sobbing and otherwise being an emotional girl. Yes, she cast spells to conceal their location and had the forethought to carry their belongs to the wedding, but during the search for the Horcruxes, she seemed frequently out of character.

I also don't--not for a fraction of a second--believe that it would even enter Remus Lupin's head to abandon his wife and unborn child, regardless how irresponsible and guilty he felt he'd been. I'm no Lupin fan, but damn it, that seemed ludicrously out of character for him.

And to top it all off, I miss Mad-Eye. I loved that guy.

All things considered, that was $25 I should have put toward the aikido class I'm eyeing at the local YMCA. Or maybe some ice cream. Live and learn.

Anybody else have a cat?

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:30:09 GMT

I think the cat might be getting sick. He keeps sneezing, and immediately afterward he'll sniffle for a moment, but other than that he seems perfectly normal. His breathing doesn't sound labored; there's no discharge from his nose or eyes; he's drinking his normal amount and his appetite is perfectly healthy; and so far today, at least, he has been running around gnawing on everything and terrorizing me just like he normally does.

He had an upper respiratory tract infection when we adopted him as a kitten. After a two-week course of penicillin it cleared up, and he was vaccinated againgst rhinotracheitis and calcivirus and all those nasty URI-causing bugs. I've been reading, however, that once they've had the disease, they are carriers for life and are susceptible to recurrences. The vaccine can apparently lighten the symptoms and result in a milder infection than would occur otherwise, but I'm still worried about him.

Most of what I've read insists that if he's been vaccinated and he only has the sniffles, it will probably clear up on its own in three to five days, provided no secondary bacterial infections occur. I'm just freaking out a bit because with the boyfriend back upstate, I have no car and therefore no means of taking him to the vet if his symptoms should worsen.

Damn it. I really hope it clears up on its own.

I'm not really in the holiday mood (I get to spend my day reading about mass spectrometry) but to everyone who is feeling festive and gets to attend fireworks tonight, happy Independence Day.

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:33:43 GMT

Your Score: Crackpot - INTJ

26% Extraversion, 80% Intuition, 93% Thinking, 80% Judging

People hate you.

Paris Hilton hates Nicole Richie. Lex Luther hates Superman. Garfield hates Mondays.
But none these even rates against the insurmountable hate, people have for you.

I mean, you're pretty damn clever and you know it. You love to flaunt your potential. Heard the word "arrogant" lately? How about "jerk?" Or perhaps they only say that behind your back.

That's right. I know I can say this cause you're not going to cry. You're not exactly the most emotional person. You'd rather spend time with your theoretical questions and abstract theories than with other people.

Ever been kissed? Ever even been on a date? Trust me, your inflated ego is a complete turnoff with the opposite sex and I am telling you, you're not that great with relationships as it is. You're never going to be a dude or chick magnet, purely because you're more concerned with yourself than others. Meh. They all hate you already anyway.

How about this- "stubborn?" Hrm? Heard that lately? All those facts which don't fit your theories must just be wrong, right? I mean, really, the vast amounts of time you spend with your head in the clouds...you're just plain strange.

*****************

If you want to learn more about your personality type in a slightly less negative way, check out this.

*****************

The other personality types are as follows...

Loner - Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving
Pushover - Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging
Criminal - Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving
Borefest - Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging
Almost Perfect - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving
Freak - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
Loser - Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving
Clown - Extraverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving
Sap - Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging
Commander - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving
Do Gooder - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Judging
Scumbag - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving
Busybody - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
Prick - Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving
Dictator - Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging

Link: The Brutally Honest Personality Test written by UltimateMaster on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

I don't think I've ever taken a personality test based on the Myers-Briggs system and not received a result of INTJ. I remember being a junior in high school and our career counselor administered one to my entire chemistry class. I was the only INTJ in the group. He gave me a pitying look, told me I'm the archetypal type-A personality, and recommended I become a defense attorney. Asshole.

Either these things are scarily accurate or I really am insufferable.

Ah well.

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 02:43:48 GMT

Your Score: Semicolon

You scored 15% Sociability and 70% Sophistication!

Congratulations! You are the semicolon! You are the highest expression of punctuation; no one has more of a right to be proud. In the hands of a master, you will purr, sneering at commas, dismissing periods as beneath your contempt. You separate and connect at the same time, and no one does it better. The novice will find you difficult to come to terms with, but you need no one. You are secure in your elegance, knowing that you, and only you, have the power to mark the skill or incompetence of the craftsman. You have no natural enemies; all fear you. And never, NEVER let anyone tell you that you cannot appear in dialogue!

Link: The Which Punctuation Mark Are You Test written by Gazda on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Earlier I was wandering around the video rental place, wondering what to get, when I ran across Mrs. Henderson Presents. I've wanted to see it for awhile, but especially since I found out that Natalia Tena, the girl who plays Nymphadora Tonks, is in it. I admit to being insatiably curious about her since Tonks is my favorite female character, so I rented it just for the hell of it, and I absolutely loved every minute of it. I'm almost disappointed that I broke down and watched it already; it would have made a wonderful respite from studying tomorrow, since I've planned to do more tomorrow than I did today.

I don't understand all the disaparaging comments I've run across on message boards left by people who already harbor some unreasonable hatred for this girl. Why do they have it in for her? I think she seems fantastic. She had a fairly small part in Mrs. Henderson Presents, and frankly, when she was on screen, she was generally topless, so I was a bit distracted; but nevertheless, she came across as very funny and spirited. I can't count how many times I've run across remarks like, "But she doesn't LOOK like Tonks." Who gives a shit what she looks like? Clearly she has the personality for it, or presumably they wouldn't have cast her in the first place. I think all cast members thus far have been remarkably apt for their respective characters. Makeup and costume can work veritable wonders. People ought to simply be thankful that they found someone whom they believe can do Tonks' personality justice, because I, for one, think she's priceless.

So in conclusion, I don't care what anybody else thinks--I like her, damn it. I've read everything I can possibly find about her online, and while there's very little, everyone who has met her in person has raved about how kind and funny and down-to-earth she is. I think she seems like the kind of girl you could go out for dinner with and just talk and laugh and have a good time, which is precisely in keeping with my impression of Tonks. Give the girl a chance.

*retreats from soapbox*

Thu, 24 May 2007 21:27:10 GMT

Your Score: Katharine Hepburn

You scored 23% grit, 4% wit, 71% flair, and 14% class!

You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Ohhhhh, I'm sick. I'm not as bad as the boyfriend is, but I still feel terrible. I had every intention of studying like crazy this weekend and then taking Memorial Day to simply laze around, but I suspect I'm going to end up spacing things out a bit more. The mere act of existing makes me feel queasy at times.

I bought all the mixings for a fantastic cake last night, and now the thought of food makes my stomach turn. Figures.

My class, at least, has taken a turn for the better. My lab TA is still unprepared, forgetful, and, in all honesty, not an especially good instructor, but I'm starting to pick things up much more quickly now, and my grade on the second exam was a dramatic improvement over the first. Initially I feared I simply had no aptitude for the subject, but as it turned out, I just desperately needed the first few chapters to review. It was moronic of me to take this now, when it's been well over a year since my last chemistry course.

At least I'm getting into the groove of things. I have biochem next winter, and I will never forgive myself if I do poorly in my final chemistry course as an undergraduate. I ought to be able to perform as well in my minor as in my major, after all.

snarl

Sat, 19 May 2007 04:04:25 GMT

You know what? Fuck Myspace. I've been unable to view a note my best friend wrote for hours now--one ridiculous error after another--and I give up. As much as I'm dying to know what she said, I refuse to allow my good mood to falter. I get to see one of my favorite bands live tomorrow night, and I am not going to push that thought aside in favor of dwelling on something that makes me want to hurl my computer through the nearest window.

I don't understand why my friends won't listen to reason and use a similar service with more available bandwidth. The sheer volume of errors I have to contend with on a daily basis drives me nuts, but I'm not willing to stop frequenting the site because it's the only reason I've managed to stay in touch with many of my friends from high school. As annoyed as I am, I'm loath to give that up.

It's been a very, very busy week, but thankfully I get the ultimate respite tomorrow evening. I haven't been to a concert in over a year, and nothing is a more efficacious mood elevator than dancing and singing yourself hoarse to fantastic music. The best part is that I have a new digital camera, a very generous Christmas gift from my parents, and after exhaustive research concerning the venue in question, I can't find any restrictions placed on camera use within. I'm hoping I'll get to take a picture with the lead singer, whom I worship as a goddess. I dislike having my picture taken under most circumstances, but she's definitely worth it.

Speaking of the camera, I'd better make sure I have spare batteries around here somewhere and double-check that it's working...

Scorpio=Walnut?

Thu, 03 May 2007 21:14:41 GMT

You Are A Walnut Tree

You are strange and full of contrasts... the oddball of your group.
You are unrelenting and you have unlimited ambition.
Not always liked but always admired, you are more infamous than famous.
You are aggressive and spontaneous, and your reactions are often unexpected.
A jealous and passionate person, you are difficult in romantic relationships.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

I have no idea what a Celtic horoscope is, but that's definitely me.

Why do I keep taking quizzes when I don't believe in any of this stuff?

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:41:00 GMT

dolefullydsired's LJ stalker is erisedraine!

erisedraine is stalking you because they have nothing better to do with their time. They are also slowly poisoning you!

LJ Stalker Finder
From Go-Quiz.com

I suspected as much.

My parents are in town. *dances* It's so great to see them.

Go Keira.

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:07:14 GMT

I've always been more or less indifferent to Keira Knightley. I don't think she's fantastic, but I certainly don't think she's a talentless hack like the vast majority of American starlets.

This, however, has made me her unabashed supporter.

I say good for her. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who refuses to feel inferior for being an A cup.

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:00:06 GMT

Which Mix of the Hogwarts Houses are You?

You're a Slytherclaw!: By nature you are rational and a realist. Some people may call you cynical and elitist but this doesn't matter to you. You don't depend on other people's opinions to determine how you live your life. You are generally cautious and prefer to weigh the consequences before you act. In conflicts you prefer to remain neutral and aloof. You value intelligence and you are a natural diplomat, you can convince people to do what you want them to do. Your weakness is that you sometimes think more with your head than with your heart and it leads to isolation. With the intelligence of a Ravenclaw and the subtlety of a Slytherin you will be sure to achieve all your goals!
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Hell yeah.

Done!

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:38:29 GMT

The final chapter of Beyond All Doubt is now up at the Petulant Poetess. I have a finished story. :)

I'm trying not to think of all the 200,000+ word fics out there. I'm trying very, very hard.

Busybusybusy

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:23:28 GMT

You'd think, logically, that my schedule would get a bit easier with the end of the semester impending, but of course that doesn't happen. Now, in addition to my exam review, I have to make up for lost time in the lab tomorrow; go to the BA presentations at the School of Music on Sunday and turn in my final critique; attend the Phi Kappa Phi initiation Monday evening; study for my bio lab practical Tuesday; go to the Department of Physics on Wednesday afternoon to accept some award for having the best grade in my class; get through my last night volunteering at the clinic next Thursday...

*head explodes*

I should be excited to have so many fun things to do--especially attending the honors society initiation and accepting the physics award--but I don't feel like being busy for the next week. I feel like finishing my exam review so I can lie on the couch with a cup of tea and ignore the world. I was hoping for some time to relax this upcoming week before my exams, my parents' visit, and commencing summer classes. There goes that.

On the positive side, the boyfriend has been in a fantastic mood since he resumed playing World of Warcraft. :-P I can't say that I understand the obsession, but I wholly support anything that keeps him occupied and makes him so happy. He was in such an astonishingly good mood yesterday that he did his workout (I've been nagging him to do some form of cardiovascular exercise on a daily basis, even if only walking) and cleaned the cat's litter box without complaint. No griping, no grumbling, no scowling whatsoever. It was beautiful.

I don't even want to think about when I shall next have time to write. I'm trying to get caught up with posting chapters on Ashwinder, and after making 9312574 corrections for the admins at Petulant Poetess, I now have to switch half of them back to satisfy the admins at Ashwinder. I don't understand how supposedly "canon-compliant" issues can vary between between these sites. Isn't that why they're...canon? But then, I've been reading far longer than I've been writing, and I certainly don't have the experience to question their expertise. All this editing and posting is going to occupy what little time I have between classes next week, though.

Better put your kingdom up for sale....

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 02:56:24 GMT

Well, thus far my boyfriend's parents' visit has been tolerable... though that is primarily due to the fact that his mom baked us an awesome cake. But whatever.

I have a huge lab report due, so I'm killing time in between obsessively rechecking calculations and searching for references. My TA forgot to mention the specific requirements for the literature cited page, so I'm waiting on a response to my email.

Tomorrow I'm going to finish with my references (provided she replies promptly), complete my studying for physics, and then write.

1- What's worse - Physical or Mental cheating?
I would find both equally hurtful.

2- Is it easier to forgive or forget?
Generally I am capable of neither.

3- Can men and women be " Just Friends?"
Absolutely.

4- Dating co-workers?
Is inadvisable. No, scratch that. It's kind of stupid.

5- All expenses paid vacation to anywhere?
Thailand!

6- On the way to the electric chair - What's your last meal?
Baklava!

7- The water park..
...is fun?

8- When you are "In Love" do you notice other people?
Are you asking if I take notice of other men? Only in a perfunctory way. I register that they're male, but that's about it.

9- Is flirting cheating?
Harmless flirting, no. Some people do it subconsciously. I understand that.

10- Would you rather have 1 great friend or 5 pals?
One great friend.

11- If someone called you a bitch would you be offended?
Nope. I'm aware that I'm a bitch.

12- Are you ok with your significant other being friends with an ex?
Provided the circumstances of their split were mutual. If he's still openly lusting after her, then no, I'm not.

13- Would you live with someone without marrying them?
Too late for me to reconsider that point.

14- Favorite sport?
Swimming.

15- Is toilet paper hung over or under?
Who cares?

16- Do you squeeze toothpaste from the middle or end of the tube?
End.

17- How do you feel about tanning booths?
If you're stupid enough to court cancer, be my guest.

18- Friends with benefits?
Also a poor idea.

19- Do you believe in angels?
No.

20- Rather take pictures or be in a picture?
Take pictures. I avoid having my picture taken at all costs.

21- Have you ever flirted with someone you had no interest in?
I can't flirt. Seriously. I really can't.

22- kissed a random person and then walked away?
Well, no.

23- Would you buy bootleg merchendise?
Yeah.

24- What color looks best on you?
I've been told I look "striking" in black. I'll consider that a compliment.

25- If you could play any sport professionally what would it be?
Something crazily violent. Boxing or martial arts.

26- Ever break up with someone and regret it?
No.

27- Are you a jealous person?
...You have no idea.

28- Would you ever have plastic surgery?
Only reconstructive surgery in the event of a disfiguring accident.

30- Who has the sexiest accents?
Russian men. Mmmm. Nothing like a deep male voice speaking in a Russian accent.

32- Favorite song?
"Glitter Girl" - Kidneythieves; "The Dream" - the Birthday Massacre

33- Favorite movie?
Ghost in the Shell, The Big Lebowski

34- What's your occupation?
Lab rat.

35- Whats your sign?
Scorpio

36 - Are you a beach, country or city person?
I'm a beach girl at heart, I suppose.

38- Have you ever had a "secret affair?"
No. I don't do affairs. Period.

39- If you could own a non-traditional pet which would it be?
A python! ...Or is that now considered traditional? Okay, an anaconda.

40- Favorite show as a child?
I worshiped Bill Nye.

41- Where do you spend most of your money?
Rent.

42- Are you currently working at a job that you hate?
Hell no. I love my job. I'd better, considering it's purely volunteer work.

43- Have you ever been so heartbroken that you called in sick to work?
I've never been truly heartbroken. I've been exceedingly pissed off at my boyfriend, but in that case, working hyperactively and violently helps.

44- Favorite summer drink?
Lemonade.

45- Can you change a car tire?
You bet.

46- Favorite cologne / perfume?
I hate cologne and perfume.

47- Favorite candle sent?
Sweet pea or jasmine.

48- Would you consider yourself adventerous?
Moderately.

49- What is your My Space profile song?
"Pretty Life" - Jakalope

50- Favorite concert attended?
Audioslave

51- Would you date an already attached man / woman?
No.

52- Would you sing Karaoke in front of co-workers?
Haha. No.

53- Can you shoot pool?
I try. I can't say I usually succeed.

54- Do you like your siblings' significant others?
She's okay. Very sporty. I suspect we have little in common.

55- Can you drive a stick?
Nope.

56- When you marry, will you wear white?
I have no intention of marrying.

57- Ever sat and hoped for a phone call?
Yes, I admit it.

58- Ever skip school and spent the day at the beach?
I've spent the last eleven years in Michigan. You can only swim during July, if you're lucky.

59- Favorite TV show?
The X-Files, Ghost in the Shell SAC, Aqua Teen Hunger Force

60-What do you think about gay marriage?
Go for it. I couldn't care less whom other people marry.

61- Are you single?
Nope.

Son of a...

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:58:54 GMT

I gotta say, I'm really appreciating the fact that the university's music library is currently off limits without explanation. How can they reasonably expect to test me on pieces to which they won't give me access?

*mutters very nasty expletives*

I can't wait to finish with classes today and do all my cleaning so I can finally have the opportunity to write. I'll end up skulking around the gym and the library all day Saturday in order to occupy myself, since my boyfriend's parents will have taken over the apartment and the lab will be closed. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to begin my exam review and write my paper then. I have to be grateful for that.

I am rather consumed at the moment with alternately worrying about my mother and the funeral preparations and contemplating how much longer I should continue with Beyond All Doubt. I'd love to go on for ages--that's not in question--but of course it has to be stopped at a logical point, and I haven't the vaguest idea where that would be. Should I get them into a relationship and then stop? Should I detail the relationship? Should I do even more than that?

Agh.

The kitten is eyeing an errant candy wrapper very intensely. It must be the shiniest thing he's ever seen. It's so amusing.

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 23:57:04 GMT

Well, my grandfather passed away this morning. My mom's currently en route to LA. I'm trying to be relieved for him because he's wanted to go for years, and the time was never right; but I think I'm failing miserably, if having no attention span and crying at random intervals is any indication.

I just hope my mother is okay. She'll have my (many) aunts and uncles there, and they can all support one another, but I feel horrendously guilty for being halfway across the damned country and unable to attend the funeral.

Somehow, contemplating my mom's side of the family (while I was supposed to be focusing on plant physiology, I might add) got me thinking today that a large family really is an amazing blessing. I can't imagine how much work it must have been for my grandmother to raise nearly ten children, God love her, but she and my grandfather have left behind them such an enviable legacy. They must have loved watching all their kids grow up to become such vastly different and incredible people and disperse to different areas of the country. You can't throw a stone in the US without hitting one of my millions of aunts and uncles, cousins, second cousins, etc., and I'm grateful for that fact. I've had the fortune of growing up among so many fantastic and fun relatives.

Considering what phenomenal mothers all the women in my family are, it's pretty pathetic that I'll probably never have the courage to raise even one child.

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:19:19 GMT

Doctors have just given my family the estimate of 24-48 hours remaining before my grandfather passes on.

I know he's tired of existing in his current state, but I can't help selfishly hoping that he'll pull through. It's bad enough for me to think about it, but the thought of what it will do to my mom is devastating. She wants the best for him too, I know, but she's one of those people who will never let others know how much she's hurting. The fact that I'm 450 miles away and won't have the chance to be with her when they call is killing me. Transferring to a university across the damn state suddenly seems like a pretty poor idea.

I hate growing up.

I did it!

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:16:03 GMT

Not only did I survive fall registration, but I got four of the five courses I wanted, and I found a far more suitable alternative for the fifth, which reduces my courseload by one credit hour. I'm hardly counting on it to help me reach my graduation credit minimum, so having to pay for one less credit is fantastic.

The electives fill up so incredibly fast... I mistakenly assumed I would have an advantage, as I am in my sophomore year but have sufficient credits to qualify as a junior; but being able to register four days before the remainder of my classmates actually made little difference. The seniors snatched up the best electives, including the online health class I had originally wanted. Ah well. Everything else turned out perfectly--and I even got the anatomy lab section I was fretting over. If it had filled up too quickly, its loss would have ruined my entire schedule.

Scheduling is stressful. *exhales deeply*

As long as I'm awake, I should hit the gym. Fun.

What the hell?

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:54:51 GMT

We just went grocery shopping several days ago, and yet I swear there's nothing around here to eat. I've eaten more fruit and cereal in the past two days than any human being can be expected to tolerate. What happened to all the food?

I just found out yesterday--just yesterday--that my boyfriend's parents are driving down on Friday and will be staying with us. No one bothered to ask me if it would make me feel at all uncomfortable to be crammed into a one-room apartment with his parents. When he went so far as to ask if I would mind surrendering my mattress so they didn't have to sleep on the pull-out sofa, I pretty much told him to fuck off. I wasn't even consulted about this, and I would never presume to invite my parents to stay with us when we don't have a separate guest bedroom. I would, in the manner of sane people everywhere, assume that it would make him feel profoundly uncomfortable to share a bedroom with me when my parents were out in the living room.

I've never liked his parents, and I make no secret of this fact to him. They have done nothing but degrade him and take advantage of him since I've known them. His mother I can tolerate, but his father is the sort of pathetic, middle-aged failure who defies even the most mean-spirited descriptions. I respect the fact that his mother wants to see her son, but this is my apartment too, damn it. As a matter of fact, I'm the one who pays the rent, and yet I bear no consideration in their demands. It isn't my fault they're unable to afford a hotel room because his father is fired from every menial job he lands for being such a jackass.

I love my boyfriend to death, but I've pretty much hit my limit. I have no intention of squiring them about town while he's at work. They were stupid enough to wait this long before informing us of when they would be arriving, and I refuse to be at their beck and call--not to mention the fact that I'll no doubt find it impossible to be civil when they have no consideration whatsoever for my feelings.

It hasn't even been two weeks since his brother showed up and announced that he was going to sleep here for the night. It amazes me that he can have such an admirable work ethic and be so polite when his family is anything but.

Enough of my bitching. The longer I dwell on it, the more I wonder if I'm just being selfish. At least I've finished my studying and cleaning, and now I suppose I shall do some writing until he gets home from work. I'm getting anxious about my place in queue at the Petulant Poetess; I keep checking back to see if they've made any progress, but it's been four days and I never seem to move. Aggghh.

This is the reason loud, angry music was created. *nods*

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 01:02:23 GMT

I realize this is completely unrelated to anything important, but I've found the greatest flavored water in the world--and, to my absolute shock, it's just a generic store brand. It's fantastic. Normally I drink nothing but skim milk, plain water, and tea day in and day out, but this is well worth it. It's so good.

The boyfriend bought his first case of Guinness. I've never been much of a drinker, to be honest. Most alcohol seems like useless calories to me, much like soda and unnecessarily sugary juice. I expected I would feel a little excited as well, since he is now legally able to buy us alcohol (even if I can't legally imbibe it), but even the thought of getting a bottle of wine just doesn't rouse any enthusiasm from me. I'm such a loser for a college kid. :-P

My physics workload is surprising light this week (considering it concerns relativistic momentum and energy), so I'm looking forward to having plenty of time to write this weekend. I wrote an entire chapter and put it in the queue last night--positively exhausting--but I've been too busy to write regularly, and I'm somewhat ashamed of my slacking progress. I should have plenty of time Sunday, however, as there isn't much I need to study. I'll have to review the physics equations and get a head start on my next lab report, but beyond that, I think I'll be a free girl. Enticing thought indeed.

I should suck it up and go listen to the pieces for our next listening exam. Debussy puts me to sleep. *sigh* My French ancestors are turning over in their graves, I'm sure, but I just can't manage to enjoy any of his pieces, nor the Ravel piece. I do love Le sacre du printemps, however, and I've been listening to it nonstop. I think it's one of the most jarring and passionate things I've ever heard. Stravinsky officially has my vote for the greatest composer of the twentieth century.

Okay, study time.

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:55:33 GMT

The woman lecturing for anatomy... is Umbridge. In all seriousness, she could not possibly sound more like her. Imelda Staunton's part in the movie is officially ruined for me; I'll never be able to accept her in the part now that I've heard this woman speak. And it's infuriating that while I'm hunkered down in the hallway I can't actually see her because I'm desperate to know if she looks the part as well.

I suppose I'll find out next fall, as I'll probably have her for my instructor. That'll be great.

I want friends. :( But I've no idea whom I should contact or add. I created the account on the assumption that I would be able to use it to inform anyone interested of Beyond All Doubt updates, as I've had several people request that I inform them when I've updated, and I dislike the idea of sending out mass emails. It seems much better to simply post the fact here, but now that I've organized and customized my journal, I'm far too afraid to actually add anyone, courageous person that I am.

Maybe someone else will find me. I can delude myself, right?

It's the boyfriend's twenty-first birthday today. I know that it is my unofficial duty as girlfriend to take him out to the bar and buy him drinks, but I'm not keen on the idea because I can't join him in the celebration. Somehow sitting around drinking virgin margaritas and watching him do shots with his coworkers is completely unappealing to me. Not only is he seven months older and now legally able to drink, but he also received his new license yesterday. It's horizontal and lovely and altogether more adult-looking than my pathetic 'UNDER 21' monstrosity. Bastard. I have to wait until November to get mine.

Okay then.

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:17:30 GMT

I'm never going to use this thing. My determination won't make it beyond next week.

On the bright side, it's a welcome respite from physics homework. And it gives me an excuse to try my hand at creating kooky userpics.