Date: April 27th, 2010
I don't know if y'all can tell from the tone of the entries over the course of the last couple days, but the stress of finals is starting to get to me a little. I deal interestingly with the stress of finals. Usually I do odd things like dress in a full length robe and backwards baseball cap and pose for pictures in my room. Then there was the year that I walked to Main St. in pajamas at 4am so I could go to the Fleetwood (so a little past Main St. actually). This one time I spent an hour laying on my bedroom floor, staring at the ceiling just to feel the flatness on my back.
The point is, finals get my goose. This year's impact has been twofold. The first thing that happened was that I thought it would be a good idea to watch "Ancient Aliens" on the History Channel. It made the non-crazy version of Scientology seem like a good idea. The second is that my entries have been... less giddypants than usual. Though I often delight in my own sarcasm, its also important to enjoy the lighter side of, ya know, paper citations, I guess.
April 29, 2010
Day 110 - Actually Attempt to do Citations Correctly
Date: April 26th, 2010
My final exam for Critical Race Theory is a roughly 25 page paper on the use of anonymity in hate speech. Its incredibly interesting and, quite frankly, now that the paper is done, I will probably keep researching the topic. I've been through various research phases in my life. I had the 'learn about all the things Bush has done wrong' phase and then a 'learn about the problems with large bank monopolies' phase and then a 'twilight' phase. What? It was a fun read. Shut up.
As much as I like research (and the occasional teen romance), I have always hated citations with the burning passion of a thousand suns. Don't get me wrong - I understand the need to cite one's work. It's important that people be able to make sure you're not a dirty, plagiarizing liar. I totally get it. What I don't understand is why this thing has to be in italics, that thing has to be underlined and this other thing changes the positioning of a comma in relation to quotation marks. We have reached "who cares" stage.
My final exam for Critical Race Theory is a roughly 25 page paper on the use of anonymity in hate speech. Its incredibly interesting and, quite frankly, now that the paper is done, I will probably keep researching the topic. I've been through various research phases in my life. I had the 'learn about all the things Bush has done wrong' phase and then a 'learn about the problems with large bank monopolies' phase and then a 'twilight' phase. What? It was a fun read. Shut up.
As much as I like research (and the occasional teen romance), I have always hated citations with the burning passion of a thousand suns. Don't get me wrong - I understand the need to cite one's work. It's important that people be able to make sure you're not a dirty, plagiarizing liar. I totally get it. What I don't understand is why this thing has to be in italics, that thing has to be underlined and this other thing changes the positioning of a comma in relation to quotation marks. We have reached "who cares" stage.
Day 109 - Get Primaled
Date: April 25th, 2010
There are a lot of things in the field of psychology that I think are... less than scientific: rebirthing, vegetotherapy and most anything proposed by Freud all come to mind. One thing that used to be on the list, but isn't anymore is primal scream therapy. That would be the therapy that found favor with with psychotherapists in the early 1970s. The idea was that adults who have problems are really just upset about things that happened in their childhood and if they scream it out, everything will be unicorns and rainbows for the rest of their life. No. Wait. Sorry. I meant for the rest of the week until their next appointment. Turns out that there may be some merit to that lovely little idea.
There are a lot of things in the field of psychology that I think are... less than scientific: rebirthing, vegetotherapy and most anything proposed by Freud all come to mind. One thing that used to be on the list, but isn't anymore is primal scream therapy. That would be the therapy that found favor with with psychotherapists in the early 1970s. The idea was that adults who have problems are really just upset about things that happened in their childhood and if they scream it out, everything will be unicorns and rainbows for the rest of their life. No. Wait. Sorry. I meant for the rest of the week until their next appointment. Turns out that there may be some merit to that lovely little idea.
April 28, 2010
Day 108 - Have my Handwriting Analyzed
Date: April 24th, 2010
I thought I knew myself really well a year ago, but apparently I'm just scratching the surface of the different ways I can have myself analyzed. See, according to the various forces of the universe, it is not my accomplishments, work ethic or even overall appearance that makes me who I am. It's my birthday, my numbers, my feet, my hands, my dreams, my interpretations, my voice, and my hair. But the way I dot my i's and cross my t's... no, they can't take that from me.
Wait. No... yeah they can.
I thought I knew myself really well a year ago, but apparently I'm just scratching the surface of the different ways I can have myself analyzed. See, according to the various forces of the universe, it is not my accomplishments, work ethic or even overall appearance that makes me who I am. It's my birthday, my numbers, my feet, my hands, my dreams, my interpretations, my voice, and my hair. But the way I dot my i's and cross my t's... no, they can't take that from me.
Wait. No... yeah they can.
April 27, 2010
Day 107 - Learn to Breathe
Date: April 23rd, 2010
I know what you're thinking, what with this being the middle of my finals period and all. You're thinking this is going to be some poetic garbage about finding my center in a chaotic universe. Well. I did that too. But I do that a lot. And its not poetic so much as calming and then boring. No, what I'm talking about is learning how to breathe correctly.
Apparently I've been doing it wrong my whole life. Good to know.
I know what you're thinking, what with this being the middle of my finals period and all. You're thinking this is going to be some poetic garbage about finding my center in a chaotic universe. Well. I did that too. But I do that a lot. And its not poetic so much as calming and then boring. No, what I'm talking about is learning how to breathe correctly.
Apparently I've been doing it wrong my whole life. Good to know.
April 26, 2010
My Something Arrived
I got my something! It's a... thing... hooray!
Actually, what I got was a beautiful pink scarf. Very beautiful. I adore it.
Actually, what I got was a beautiful pink scarf. Very beautiful. I adore it.
Gorgeous.
As for me? I just finished writing a 25 page paper on the implications of anonymity in free speech for Critical Race Theorists. Yeah. I don't know what it means either (kidding. I promise). One thing I'm not kidding about though - being tres burnt out on typing. I have an exam tomorrow afternoon so substantive updates will probably come after that. In the meantime... marvel at my scarf. It's what I'm doing. Well, that and desperately cramming for Jurisdiction.
April 23, 2010
Day 106 - Send Feedback to a TV Network
Date: April 22nd, 2010
Serious Entry Alert. Ironically involving Comedy Central.
Serious Entry Alert. Ironically involving Comedy Central.
April 22, 2010
Day 105 - Watch a Meteor Shower
Date: April 21st, 2010
When I was a kid I had two passions. Talking back and stargazing. If only I were given a chance to talk back to a teacher while stargazing, I think my life would've been complete. As I got older, it hit me that I could actually make a career out of either of those two hobbies. And now I'm almost done with law school. Guess which one I chose.
When I was a kid I had two passions. Talking back and stargazing. If only I were given a chance to talk back to a teacher while stargazing, I think my life would've been complete. As I got older, it hit me that I could actually make a career out of either of those two hobbies. And now I'm almost done with law school. Guess which one I chose.
We won!
A few weeks back, I entered a sculpture contest at The Scrap Box with Dawn and Justin. Specifically, if you're in the mood to reminisce, it was on Day 66. Until about two weeks ago, there was open online and in-person voting for the sculptures to see which ones would be on display at Whole Foods on Washtenaw as a celebration of Earth Day and local artistry.
Well, I'm super-pumped to report that our sculpture, which you may recall was a darn masterpiece, won a prize and will be displayed at Whole Foods until the beginning of May. So, you can go marvel at it, jaws agape, minds rocked, in person, at Whole Foods.
Well, I'm super-pumped to report that our sculpture, which you may recall was a darn masterpiece, won a prize and will be displayed at Whole Foods until the beginning of May. So, you can go marvel at it, jaws agape, minds rocked, in person, at Whole Foods.
I LOVE RIBBONS SO MUCH.
We won the "Made Us Laugh" prize in the adult category. I'm about 99% sure that was all Dawn and her hilarious antennae. Justin and I did the cut-and-paste grunt work. Dawn was totally the brains of the operation. And you can't prove me wrong - its out there on the internet now, so it must be true.
In any case, I'm keeping the trophy.
Each of us got an adorable beanie baby (remember those?) owl and a $5 gift certificate. You may be able to spot my owl (get it? spotted owls, spot my owl. ahh, you don't get it) as it is currently attached to the top of the trophy I'm keeping.
More importantly, the contest was great fun, regardless of how we did. For anyone living in the Ann Arbor area next year, I'd recommend keeping an eye on The Scrap Box for the next time it rolls around. It was a fun challenge.
Bull Riding Pictures
So, today is Day 106. Does anyone remember Day 2? I do. Mostly because it was mildly to moderately petrifying. Also, because I recall promising you all some pictures. Thanks to my dire, dire, seriously dire need for a study break, at long last you are getting proof positive that I actually completed my Day 2 task.
On Day 2, a group of friends (including, but not limited to the recently graduated Bobb-o and Katya, and of course, the incomparable Kari Brown) took me out to the Fifth Quarter in downtown Ann Arbor to experience the majesty of mechanical bull riding. Bob was kind enough to take some cell phone pictures, as I was regrettably without camera for the evening.
Ok, so picture(s) was a a misnomer. What I have is picture. Singular. And in said picture, I appear to be rocking a pretty darn spectacular mullet. So. You know. Good for me, there.
On Day 2, a group of friends (including, but not limited to the recently graduated Bobb-o and Katya, and of course, the incomparable Kari Brown) took me out to the Fifth Quarter in downtown Ann Arbor to experience the majesty of mechanical bull riding. Bob was kind enough to take some cell phone pictures, as I was regrettably without camera for the evening.
Pictured: Majesty. Grainy, grainy majesty.
April 20, 2010
Day 104 - Celebrate John Paul Stevens' Birthday
Date: April 20th, 2010
There is maybe only one thing in the world I get more geeked about than the Supreme Court and that's esoteric celebrations commemorating important dates in the lives of the semi-famous. Thank you, Justice Stevens' 90th birthday, for combining my two loves into one utterly pointless day of tribute. Its been a blast.
There is maybe only one thing in the world I get more geeked about than the Supreme Court and that's esoteric celebrations commemorating important dates in the lives of the semi-famous. Thank you, Justice Stevens' 90th birthday, for combining my two loves into one utterly pointless day of tribute. Its been a blast.
Day 103 - Buy "Something"
Date: April 19th, 2010
Its day two of "oh right, I'm in law school" week. I spent most of the day studying, but did manage to take a five minute break to enjoy the sweet satisfaction of a new experience. I bought "something". I've never done that before. I know what you're thinking.
You: "But Kristen, you own clothes and movies and knick-knacks. If you didn't buy them, then how did you get them?"
Well, my upstanding friend, I did buy them. The difference between those things and the thing I bought yesterday is that I knew what those were when I bought them. I found a shop online called The Something Store. They sell, umm, things. In other words, a package is coming in the mail for me sometime in the next few days and I have no idea what it will be. I imagine this is what expectant mothers feel like before finding out the sex of their child.
That might be a slight exaggeration.
The point is, I'm excited. My OCD kicked in a little bit and I found myself lamenting my lack of control over what my something would be. I mean, they could have girl somethings and boy somethings and unisex somethings. What about small, medium and large somethings? Maybe sets of somethings or individual somethings. At no point in that thought process did it hit me that the whole point is that you don't get those choices. I had that realization when I woke up this morning and checked the front porch for a package. Wishful thinking since I ordered it last night around 10pm.
I would recommend everyone buy one something from The Something Store in their life. Its a surprise you give to yourself. I know that's silly, but its a pretty small indulgence and those can be good for you sometimes. My only hope is that my something isn't so cool that it distracts from finals. I may be leaving it in the package until early May.
Who are we kidding? No one has that kind of self control.
Its day two of "oh right, I'm in law school" week. I spent most of the day studying, but did manage to take a five minute break to enjoy the sweet satisfaction of a new experience. I bought "something". I've never done that before. I know what you're thinking.
You: "But Kristen, you own clothes and movies and knick-knacks. If you didn't buy them, then how did you get them?"
Well, my upstanding friend, I did buy them. The difference between those things and the thing I bought yesterday is that I knew what those were when I bought them. I found a shop online called The Something Store. They sell, umm, things. In other words, a package is coming in the mail for me sometime in the next few days and I have no idea what it will be. I imagine this is what expectant mothers feel like before finding out the sex of their child.
That might be a slight exaggeration.
The point is, I'm excited. My OCD kicked in a little bit and I found myself lamenting my lack of control over what my something would be. I mean, they could have girl somethings and boy somethings and unisex somethings. What about small, medium and large somethings? Maybe sets of somethings or individual somethings. At no point in that thought process did it hit me that the whole point is that you don't get those choices. I had that realization when I woke up this morning and checked the front porch for a package. Wishful thinking since I ordered it last night around 10pm.
I would recommend everyone buy one something from The Something Store in their life. Its a surprise you give to yourself. I know that's silly, but its a pretty small indulgence and those can be good for you sometimes. My only hope is that my something isn't so cool that it distracts from finals. I may be leaving it in the package until early May.
Who are we kidding? No one has that kind of self control.
April 19, 2010
Day 102 - Learn a Paper-Clip Bar Trick
Date: April 18th, 2010
A couple weeks back I was struck with the realization that finals were around the corner. I'll admit that this project has been enough fun that part of me has wanted to run off into the sunset with it and let the chips fall where they may. That being said, the rest of me just remembers that I've wanted to be a lawyer since before I could even talk so, I decided to hang out and prep for finals. I decided to start looking for small, but interesting things that I could do to keep this going. So, without further adieu, I present the first in a roughly three week series I'm calling "School is a New-sense". Get it? God I love wordplay.
A couple weeks back I was struck with the realization that finals were around the corner. I'll admit that this project has been enough fun that part of me has wanted to run off into the sunset with it and let the chips fall where they may. That being said, the rest of me just remembers that I've wanted to be a lawyer since before I could even talk so, I decided to hang out and prep for finals. I decided to start looking for small, but interesting things that I could do to keep this going. So, without further adieu, I present the first in a roughly three week series I'm calling "School is a New-sense". Get it? God I love wordplay.
Day 101 - Learn to Knit
Date: April 17th, 2010
My friend Ryan is embarking on a great adventure. He's moving across the country to pursue amazing opportunities, untold fortunes and ceaseless glory. I think that's just utterly fantastic, other than missing him terribly, which I fully plan on doing. I still remember the first time I met Ryan. I went to play poker with a friend I met in an intro PoliSci class and was introduced to about ten people at once. Ryan stood out though. I don't know if it was his magnetic personality, his rapier wit, his Adonis-esque hair or the fact that he was knitting a hat at a poker game, but whatever it was, we hit it off right away.
My friend Ryan is embarking on a great adventure. He's moving across the country to pursue amazing opportunities, untold fortunes and ceaseless glory. I think that's just utterly fantastic, other than missing him terribly, which I fully plan on doing. I still remember the first time I met Ryan. I went to play poker with a friend I met in an intro PoliSci class and was introduced to about ten people at once. Ryan stood out though. I don't know if it was his magnetic personality, his rapier wit, his Adonis-esque hair or the fact that he was knitting a hat at a poker game, but whatever it was, we hit it off right away.
April 18, 2010
Day 100 - Go Geocaching
Date: April 16th, 2010
I had one of those surreal "how did I get here" moments about a week ago as I thought about hitting Day 100. Its the first time since I started doing this that I felt like simply doing my new thing would be a real, honest-to-goodness accomplishment. I think that's part of the reason I started to get nervous about it. It seemed like I should really do something... epic. My friends, bless their peer-pressure laden hearts, definitely added to that feeling. I'm lucky to know such wonderful people. Almost all of whom made a point to ask me if I was doing anything big or neat or special for Day 100. I wish I could say I had a poetic response like "oh, my dear friends, every day is big and neat and special to me; these days are like my children, all of whom I love equally". But I can't say that. Because I'm not flaky.
I had one of those surreal "how did I get here" moments about a week ago as I thought about hitting Day 100. Its the first time since I started doing this that I felt like simply doing my new thing would be a real, honest-to-goodness accomplishment. I think that's part of the reason I started to get nervous about it. It seemed like I should really do something... epic. My friends, bless their peer-pressure laden hearts, definitely added to that feeling. I'm lucky to know such wonderful people. Almost all of whom made a point to ask me if I was doing anything big or neat or special for Day 100. I wish I could say I had a poetic response like "oh, my dear friends, every day is big and neat and special to me; these days are like my children, all of whom I love equally". But I can't say that. Because I'm not flaky.
Day 99 - Build a Fairy Door in the Arb
Date: April 15th, 2010
Thursday was a beautiful day. It was 75 and sunny, with a slight breeze and just enough clouds to make the sky look inviting. Sometimes on days like that the sun is so bright the sky almost looks white instead of blue, but that wasn't the case on Thursday. On Thursday, the sky was a piercing, deep shade of blue. It was the kind of day that makes you want to apologize to anyone who's job keeps them indoors.
Thursday was a beautiful day. It was 75 and sunny, with a slight breeze and just enough clouds to make the sky look inviting. Sometimes on days like that the sun is so bright the sky almost looks white instead of blue, but that wasn't the case on Thursday. On Thursday, the sky was a piercing, deep shade of blue. It was the kind of day that makes you want to apologize to anyone who's job keeps them indoors.
Gorgeous.
April 16, 2010
Day 98 - Call an Accident in to 911
Date: April 14th, 2010
I've been in a couple fender-benders in my life. And by been in, I mean that I was in the car. And by I was in the car, I mean that my mom likes to drive into things. Actually, to be fair to her, its more that she gets attacked by other cars. I remember riding with her in Connecticut and she made the mistake of actually signaling before switching lanes. Now, in California, Michigan and everywhere else we've lived, putting on your turn signal means "hey, I am letting you know that I intend to shift lanes... please let me in". In Connecticut, it means "I'm not from around here". Needless to say, as soon as she put that little light on, the driver in the other lane decided to make herself comfortable in our blind spot. You know, for kicks.
I've been in a couple fender-benders in my life. And by been in, I mean that I was in the car. And by I was in the car, I mean that my mom likes to drive into things. Actually, to be fair to her, its more that she gets attacked by other cars. I remember riding with her in Connecticut and she made the mistake of actually signaling before switching lanes. Now, in California, Michigan and everywhere else we've lived, putting on your turn signal means "hey, I am letting you know that I intend to shift lanes... please let me in". In Connecticut, it means "I'm not from around here". Needless to say, as soon as she put that little light on, the driver in the other lane decided to make herself comfortable in our blind spot. You know, for kicks.
April 14, 2010
Day 97 - Meet with a Publicist
Date: April 13th, 2010
There are a lot of industries I don't understand at all. Off the top of my head I'm thinking... shrimping, spool making, detergent safety testing and, of course, mercenary spelunking (that would be where you get hired by a foreign army to kill a cave). On the other hand, my long and storied history of public BSing should, in theory, leave me pretty well cut out for PR work. Despite all the informal training I received in the form of speech classes (go go high school forensics), I honestly had no clue what a publicist actually does, until yesterday.
There are a lot of industries I don't understand at all. Off the top of my head I'm thinking... shrimping, spool making, detergent safety testing and, of course, mercenary spelunking (that would be where you get hired by a foreign army to kill a cave). On the other hand, my long and storied history of public BSing should, in theory, leave me pretty well cut out for PR work. Despite all the informal training I received in the form of speech classes (go go high school forensics), I honestly had no clue what a publicist actually does, until yesterday.
April 13, 2010
Day 96 - Donate my Cell Phone to a Soldier
Date: April 12th, 2010
About three weeks ago, I realized that I would never be able to keep track of daily things, classes, meetings, work, family and social affairs without having pretty constant access to my calendar. I've always been one of those "if its not written down, it doesn't exist" kind of people, so I wanted to make sure that I didn't accidentally skip one of my daily things or miss an exam or something. Around the time I started to get worried about being able to keep track of everything, I got a message from Verizon telling me that I was eligible for a phone upgrade.
About three weeks ago, I realized that I would never be able to keep track of daily things, classes, meetings, work, family and social affairs without having pretty constant access to my calendar. I've always been one of those "if its not written down, it doesn't exist" kind of people, so I wanted to make sure that I didn't accidentally skip one of my daily things or miss an exam or something. Around the time I started to get worried about being able to keep track of everything, I got a message from Verizon telling me that I was eligible for a phone upgrade.
Day 95 - Install a Dock
Date: April 11th, 2010
There are some things that, at the beginning of this year, I didn't know how to do and that was a huge problem. I wasn't sure how to deal with my taxes, I didn't know where to go to get something notarized and I still don't have a passport (what? Its on the list). Those are all important life skills and/or items. There are also things I've learned so far that have little to no bearing on my ability to function as an adult. I learned that Belgians love mussels, giraffes are secret lovers, and opera is awesome. And now... I know how to install a dock.
There are some things that, at the beginning of this year, I didn't know how to do and that was a huge problem. I wasn't sure how to deal with my taxes, I didn't know where to go to get something notarized and I still don't have a passport (what? Its on the list). Those are all important life skills and/or items. There are also things I've learned so far that have little to no bearing on my ability to function as an adult. I learned that Belgians love mussels, giraffes are secret lovers, and opera is awesome. And now... I know how to install a dock.
April 12, 2010
Day 94 - Attend the Opera
Date: April 10th, 2010
When I was 16, I spent almost an entire year lying to my parents about mundane things just to see if I could get away with it. That was not among the smartest decisions I ever made. That being said, when I got caught (which is another story for another day), I was summarily sentenced to a good six months without the various forms of entertainment I'd grown accustomed to. My bedroom, which was a teenager's dream before, would no longer house a television set, phone, light near the bed for reading, or access to the internet. They left the computer and printer for homework reasons (because being a nerd, I'd managed to evade them for a year without letting my grades suffer).
So, for six months I had one and only one activity. Minesweeper. I played it for about three hours a night and boy did I get good at it. I'm not as well versed as I once was, but my best scores are pretty much the stuff of legend. I beat beginner in 2 seconds (we all know that's a fluke), intermediate in 21 seconds (half fluke, half skill), and expert in 66 seconds (all skill, baby). I used to be pretty high maintenance about what I needed to amuse myself. It took a lot to keep me from getting bored. After six months of three hours of Minesweeper a night... I'm pretty easy to keep entertained.
When I was 16, I spent almost an entire year lying to my parents about mundane things just to see if I could get away with it. That was not among the smartest decisions I ever made. That being said, when I got caught (which is another story for another day), I was summarily sentenced to a good six months without the various forms of entertainment I'd grown accustomed to. My bedroom, which was a teenager's dream before, would no longer house a television set, phone, light near the bed for reading, or access to the internet. They left the computer and printer for homework reasons (because being a nerd, I'd managed to evade them for a year without letting my grades suffer).
So, for six months I had one and only one activity. Minesweeper. I played it for about three hours a night and boy did I get good at it. I'm not as well versed as I once was, but my best scores are pretty much the stuff of legend. I beat beginner in 2 seconds (we all know that's a fluke), intermediate in 21 seconds (half fluke, half skill), and expert in 66 seconds (all skill, baby). I used to be pretty high maintenance about what I needed to amuse myself. It took a lot to keep me from getting bored. After six months of three hours of Minesweeper a night... I'm pretty easy to keep entertained.
April 11, 2010
Day 93 - Get Something Notarized
Date: April 9th, 2010
In less than a year, after I rock the bar exam out of its mind on the first try without studying (hey, it could happen), I will become not only a lawyer, but also a notary. That's why its mildly shameful that I didn't actually know thing one about notaries until a couple days ago. Ok, that's not entirely true. I knew notaries are those dudes who make things all official-like. That being said, having never owned a home, gotten sued and had, umm, official documents in connection with that, I guess, or any other number of vaguely legalistic things of personal importance happen to me; I didn't particularly have occasion to know.
In less than a year, after I rock the bar exam out of its mind on the first try without studying (hey, it could happen), I will become not only a lawyer, but also a notary. That's why its mildly shameful that I didn't actually know thing one about notaries until a couple days ago. Ok, that's not entirely true. I knew notaries are those dudes who make things all official-like. That being said, having never owned a home, gotten sued and had, umm, official documents in connection with that, I guess, or any other number of vaguely legalistic things of personal importance happen to me; I didn't particularly have occasion to know.
April 9, 2010
Day 92 - Go One Day Without Shoes
Date: April 8th, 2010
There are a few things that I never forget to do in my morning routine. Shower. Brush my teeth. Brush my hair. Put on pants and a shirt. You know, the basics. Putting on shoes makes that list too. It is so normal, so essential, so common that I just don't even think about doing it. It just... happens. That's why Thursday morning was so weird for me. I woke up. Showered. Brushed my teeth. Brushed my hair. Put on pants and a shirt. And then... went to school.
Wait. What?
There are a few things that I never forget to do in my morning routine. Shower. Brush my teeth. Brush my hair. Put on pants and a shirt. You know, the basics. Putting on shoes makes that list too. It is so normal, so essential, so common that I just don't even think about doing it. It just... happens. That's why Thursday morning was so weird for me. I woke up. Showered. Brushed my teeth. Brushed my hair. Put on pants and a shirt. And then... went to school.
Wait. What?
Day 91 - Watch Paint Dry
Date: April 7th, 2010
Well, they can't all be winners.
Now, here's the thing - I had a great day on Wednesday. I got a ton of studying done, did my laundry, cleaned up my house and got a nice dinner with my dad. Wednesday was a good day. When class got out, I realized that I had a lot to do to make sure I'm ready for finals so I decided to do one of my back-up projects. So far, the back-up projects have been rarely touched, but thoroughly enjoyed. I made a nice necklace. I love it. I bought land on Mars. That was fun. If we ever settle there, I will be exercising my right to claim that land. Its Martian-tropical... not that it means much to be Martian-tropical since there isn't really, ya know, water at the tropics. There is plenty of ice for my umbrella drinks though.
In any case, I decided to hit up one of the back-ups and have an otherwise productive day. So I scanned down the set of links that I found a couple weeks ago and picked out one that I thought was pithy, unique and fun. How weird and cute is it that someone set up a camera to watch paint dry. Ha. Ha. Ha. Turns out its not cute. Or fun. Or interesting. Its just boring. And a scam. There aren't cameras. There are six year old JPEGs.
I suppose I should change the title to "Fall for an Internet Scam". I honestly hadn't done that before either. I generally heard about all the awful dark corners of the internet before I made my way to them. The lovely video that circulated where a hideous screaming face popped up halfway through the video - I got tipped off. The Nigerian money scams... can you say "too good to be true"? You have $15,000,000 for me in a Swiss bank account and all you need is my account number and social security number and pin code so you can transfer it? Awesome. Tomorrow I'm buying a boat.
If you want to see the JPEGs that duped me, you can go here. Come. Witness my internet shame.
Well, they can't all be winners.
Now, here's the thing - I had a great day on Wednesday. I got a ton of studying done, did my laundry, cleaned up my house and got a nice dinner with my dad. Wednesday was a good day. When class got out, I realized that I had a lot to do to make sure I'm ready for finals so I decided to do one of my back-up projects. So far, the back-up projects have been rarely touched, but thoroughly enjoyed. I made a nice necklace. I love it. I bought land on Mars. That was fun. If we ever settle there, I will be exercising my right to claim that land. Its Martian-tropical... not that it means much to be Martian-tropical since there isn't really, ya know, water at the tropics. There is plenty of ice for my umbrella drinks though.
In any case, I decided to hit up one of the back-ups and have an otherwise productive day. So I scanned down the set of links that I found a couple weeks ago and picked out one that I thought was pithy, unique and fun. How weird and cute is it that someone set up a camera to watch paint dry. Ha. Ha. Ha. Turns out its not cute. Or fun. Or interesting. Its just boring. And a scam. There aren't cameras. There are six year old JPEGs.
I suppose I should change the title to "Fall for an Internet Scam". I honestly hadn't done that before either. I generally heard about all the awful dark corners of the internet before I made my way to them. The lovely video that circulated where a hideous screaming face popped up halfway through the video - I got tipped off. The Nigerian money scams... can you say "too good to be true"? You have $15,000,000 for me in a Swiss bank account and all you need is my account number and social security number and pin code so you can transfer it? Awesome. Tomorrow I'm buying a boat.
If you want to see the JPEGs that duped me, you can go here. Come. Witness my internet shame.
April 8, 2010
Day 90 - Be a Part of a Social Experiment
Date: April 6th, 2010
"I am an absolute badass. I walk with swagger, go wherever I want, do whatever I want and I don't let anybody push me around. Uh-uh. No way any Joe-Law-Student is going to tell me how it is. "
That, my friends, is a little taste of the tizzy I had myself worked up into before going to class on Tuesday. See, the night before I got an e-mail from one of my classmates who was part of a presentation group that said the following:
"Please be advised that laptops will not be permitted in class tomorrow. Also, be prepared for an assigned seat. We look forward to a productive and enjoyable class tomorrow.
- The "Gates" group"
"I am an absolute badass. I walk with swagger, go wherever I want, do whatever I want and I don't let anybody push me around. Uh-uh. No way any Joe-Law-Student is going to tell me how it is. "
That, my friends, is a little taste of the tizzy I had myself worked up into before going to class on Tuesday. See, the night before I got an e-mail from one of my classmates who was part of a presentation group that said the following:
"Please be advised that laptops will not be permitted in class tomorrow. Also, be prepared for an assigned seat. We look forward to a productive and enjoyable class tomorrow.
- The "Gates" group"
Day 89 - Go Housewares Shopping
Date: April 5th, 2010
I don't know thing one about household maintenance. I'm trying to learn though. I know not to let water leak out of a water heater for six months (learned the hard way) and I know to change light bulbs when they burn out. I'm also a whiz at hanging pictures. I'm like a picture hanging ninja. And the wall's all "ow, my eye, why would you... oh, nice picture". That's exactly how it works.
When I was a kid though, I used to hate Home Depot with the blinding passion of a thousand giant suns. Lowe's too, but that was more of a principled rage. Home Depot was the true object of my loathing. I present to you now, the way a six-year-old only child sees the world: "Home Depot. There is literally nothing there I could possibly want for myself. Maybe I should cry until we go somewhere else". It was complex logic, I know. That being said, while there actually are things for me in Home Depot now... I still rarely go there.
I don't know thing one about household maintenance. I'm trying to learn though. I know not to let water leak out of a water heater for six months (learned the hard way) and I know to change light bulbs when they burn out. I'm also a whiz at hanging pictures. I'm like a picture hanging ninja. And the wall's all "ow, my eye, why would you... oh, nice picture". That's exactly how it works.
When I was a kid though, I used to hate Home Depot with the blinding passion of a thousand giant suns. Lowe's too, but that was more of a principled rage. Home Depot was the true object of my loathing. I present to you now, the way a six-year-old only child sees the world: "Home Depot. There is literally nothing there I could possibly want for myself. Maybe I should cry until we go somewhere else". It was complex logic, I know. That being said, while there actually are things for me in Home Depot now... I still rarely go there.
April 7, 2010
Photo Shoot Pictures
Hello and Salutations bloggerinos.
I got an e-mail with Kathryn's favorite pictures and from that group I chose my favorite pictures. I particularly love the timed exposure pictures (I believe that's what she called them). The way it works is you turn off all the lights and take one picture and then take another with the shutter still open from the first shot. It exposes the same piece of film twice and ends up making it look like I'm my own conjoined twin. I had fun playing around with various things to be doing with myself for the pictures.
I know I mentioned how much fun the shoot was, but I'm going to say it again cause its my blog and I can. I really enjoyed getting to be goofy and silly. I brought several props with me and ended up using this amazing Cleopatra hat that I've never gotten to wear before and, of course, our Zoorotica giraffe mascot. So, without further adieu, here are pictures of moi being weird. Cause life is too short not to be.
I got an e-mail with Kathryn's favorite pictures and from that group I chose my favorite pictures. I particularly love the timed exposure pictures (I believe that's what she called them). The way it works is you turn off all the lights and take one picture and then take another with the shutter still open from the first shot. It exposes the same piece of film twice and ends up making it look like I'm my own conjoined twin. I had fun playing around with various things to be doing with myself for the pictures.
I know I mentioned how much fun the shoot was, but I'm going to say it again cause its my blog and I can. I really enjoyed getting to be goofy and silly. I brought several props with me and ended up using this amazing Cleopatra hat that I've never gotten to wear before and, of course, our Zoorotica giraffe mascot. So, without further adieu, here are pictures of moi being weird. Cause life is too short not to be.
By kissing the giraffe, I have offended myself.
Additionally, I am offended that I think I'm better than myself.
The shoot was amazing. I learned to let go and be less nervous about having my picture taken. Also... my kingdom for a more prominent chin.
Day 88 - Be a Part of International Pillow Fight Day
Date: April 4th, 2010
There are few things in this world as irreverent, joyful and spontaneous as a pillow fight. What could be better than swinging soft, delightful piles of feathers into one another and watching them explode with a delicate puff as they hit someone's face? Unfortunately, once you get past about the age of five, there are very few opportunities to participate in pillow fights.
There are few things in this world as irreverent, joyful and spontaneous as a pillow fight. What could be better than swinging soft, delightful piles of feathers into one another and watching them explode with a delicate puff as they hit someone's face? Unfortunately, once you get past about the age of five, there are very few opportunities to participate in pillow fights.
Unless you go into... you know... "the arts".
April 6, 2010
Day 87 - Be the Subject of a Photo Shoot
Date: April 3rd, 2010
Have you ever gone to Sears and had your photo taken by the pimply high school kid they pay minimum wage to try and make you look pretty? I have. I don't consider that a photo shoot, by any stretch of the imagination. I thought it would be nice to share some of my photographic horror stories with you, but decided instead to retain some semblance of dignity. What complex am I blathering on about? I like to call it digital leprosy. It is also known as being extremely, painfully, insanely not photogenic.
Have you ever gone to Sears and had your photo taken by the pimply high school kid they pay minimum wage to try and make you look pretty? I have. I don't consider that a photo shoot, by any stretch of the imagination. I thought it would be nice to share some of my photographic horror stories with you, but decided instead to retain some semblance of dignity. What complex am I blathering on about? I like to call it digital leprosy. It is also known as being extremely, painfully, insanely not photogenic.
Day 86 - Go on an Alphabet Walk
Date: April 2nd, 2010
For about the last two weeks while the weather was getting nicer, I'd been thinking about the possibility of going on an Alphabet Walk. I got more and more amused as I kept telling people that I was going on this walk and getting blank stares in response. See, the thing about an Alphabet Walk (and the reason I hadn't heard of it before this project started) is that it is pretty much only a photographers thing. It is a pretty common photography and photographic illustration exercise as it combines creative picture taking and awesome collage making skills.
For about the last two weeks while the weather was getting nicer, I'd been thinking about the possibility of going on an Alphabet Walk. I got more and more amused as I kept telling people that I was going on this walk and getting blank stares in response. See, the thing about an Alphabet Walk (and the reason I hadn't heard of it before this project started) is that it is pretty much only a photographers thing. It is a pretty common photography and photographic illustration exercise as it combines creative picture taking and awesome collage making skills.
April 3, 2010
Day 85 - Carry Out an April Fool's Day Prank
Date: April 1st, 2010
You know what's great about April Fool's Day? Freaking nothing, that's what. Every year - every single year - I hear about a new invention or a spectacular event or some wonderful friend of mine hitting the lotto. Then what happens? The clock hits midnight and Cinderella loses her darn dress in the middle of the ball. And every year I fall for it. Maybe I'm naive or maybe I just really want to see amazing new inventions or friends doing well. I don't know what the deal is. What I do know is that come April 2nd, I'm left wondering why three of my friends were only engaged for one day (and why one of them was going to marry the ghost of Elvis).
Not this year. Oh no. Thanks to this project, I saw April Fool's Day coming back in January. I knew it was on its way and when I woke up in the morning I was ready. I didn't fall for a single, solitary, individual joke. Ok, except one of my friends really did seem like the type who'd be getting engaged so that doesn't count. Well, and, another friend of mine said he was running for office in Oakland County. But he's super smart and really political so that's not my fault. And... ya know what, nevermind.
The point is, this year I decided it was time for me to get in on the action.
You know what's great about April Fool's Day? Freaking nothing, that's what. Every year - every single year - I hear about a new invention or a spectacular event or some wonderful friend of mine hitting the lotto. Then what happens? The clock hits midnight and Cinderella loses her darn dress in the middle of the ball. And every year I fall for it. Maybe I'm naive or maybe I just really want to see amazing new inventions or friends doing well. I don't know what the deal is. What I do know is that come April 2nd, I'm left wondering why three of my friends were only engaged for one day (and why one of them was going to marry the ghost of Elvis).
Not this year. Oh no. Thanks to this project, I saw April Fool's Day coming back in January. I knew it was on its way and when I woke up in the morning I was ready. I didn't fall for a single, solitary, individual joke. Ok, except one of my friends really did seem like the type who'd be getting engaged so that doesn't count. Well, and, another friend of mine said he was running for office in Oakland County. But he's super smart and really political so that's not my fault. And... ya know what, nevermind.
The point is, this year I decided it was time for me to get in on the action.
April 2, 2010
Day 84 - Release a Book into the Wild
Date: March 31st, 2010
I'm a big fan of sharing books with friends. Not unlike illegally sharing music files, this process allows many people to enjoy the benefits of the artist's work. And, strikingly different from illegally sharing music files, no one in a suit will show up at your house and take you away into the dark of night to torture you for their IP addresses. That is what the RIAA does, right?
Anyway, I tend to have trouble figuring out what to do with books once I've finished reading them. Sometimes I donate them to charity. Other times I keep them, assuming they will become interesting again in six months. But sadly, not every book can live up to the polished allure of the Twilight Saga.
But... I recently discovered something new and fun to do with books when you're done reading them. Set them free.
I'm a big fan of sharing books with friends. Not unlike illegally sharing music files, this process allows many people to enjoy the benefits of the artist's work. And, strikingly different from illegally sharing music files, no one in a suit will show up at your house and take you away into the dark of night to torture you for their IP addresses. That is what the RIAA does, right?
Anyway, I tend to have trouble figuring out what to do with books once I've finished reading them. Sometimes I donate them to charity. Other times I keep them, assuming they will become interesting again in six months. But sadly, not every book can live up to the polished allure of the Twilight Saga.
But... I recently discovered something new and fun to do with books when you're done reading them. Set them free.
April 1, 2010
Day 83 - Fill Out The Census
Date: March 30th, 2010
If I were to spend the same amount of time on this entry that I spent filling out the census, I'd be done after this sentence. If I were to invest an amount of time in this entry that lined up with how awesomely important it felt to be filling out the census, it would never get done. See, I love this country. I'm not kidding. I got really annoyed when I had to study history from other countries to get my undergrad degree (before I realized how interesting that was too). I'm all about the red, white and blue.
If I were to spend the same amount of time on this entry that I spent filling out the census, I'd be done after this sentence. If I were to invest an amount of time in this entry that lined up with how awesomely important it felt to be filling out the census, it would never get done. See, I love this country. I'm not kidding. I got really annoyed when I had to study history from other countries to get my undergrad degree (before I realized how interesting that was too). I'm all about the red, white and blue.
Oh, to be clutched in his icy talons of freedom.
Day 82 - Actually Do a Diorama
Date: March 29th, 2010
There's been a lot of talk about dioramas recently. I've even earned the nickname "diorama queen" from my dad. I should probably just stop writing now, as I'll never be able to compete with that level of wordsmithery. We both know that's not how that's going to go down. Besides, there are apparently lots of different kinds of dioramas and now I've done... most of them.
There are sculptures that think they're dioramas:
There's been a lot of talk about dioramas recently. I've even earned the nickname "diorama queen" from my dad. I should probably just stop writing now, as I'll never be able to compete with that level of wordsmithery. We both know that's not how that's going to go down. Besides, there are apparently lots of different kinds of dioramas and now I've done... most of them.
There are sculptures that think they're dioramas:
Where's you're confidence, man?
There are diorama's that think they're sculptures:
Keep dreaming, kiddo.
And, of course, there are dioramas that know they're dioramas:
They never look like the box says they will.
Day 81 - Do My Taxes
Date: March 28th, 2010
As part of the continuing series: "things I should've learned by now", I finally did my taxes. And by did my taxes I don't mean 'dropped off all my tax paperwork at my parent's house and said: thanks mom, when's dinner?'. I mean I actually sat down with forms in hand and filled everything out. Every minute, painful little detail.
Ok, to be fair, most of it wasn't that bad. For the most part I just plugged in the numbers on how much money I made last year (go go student employment) and figured out which of this or that I qualified for. Honestly, thanks to Turbo Tax I'd put it around the same difficulty level as changing my wiper fluid.
That is... until I got to the home heating credit. They asked me to put in my income, then multiply it by something, subtract something else, multiply that number by a number and take the total. Then they asked me if that total was above or below a certain amount and then asked me to multiply it again, divide it, take the square-freakin-root, stand on my head and walk backwards on even ground, do the hokey-pokey and then fall down.
So maybe it wasn't that bad, but it was so unnecessarily complex that I eventually got laughing about it. It was definitely different to see how the tax code applies to an individual's accounts than it was to study it in class. Though, to be fair, it did seem unnecessarily complex and annoying in class too -- despite having one of the better professors at the school for it. And that's why we have pass/fail, kiddies.
It did feel pretty darn good to be able to understand all the things I needed to do and fill out. I, quite frankly, don't see anything wrong with handing one's mom a stack of papers and asking for help at eighteen. But now we're hitting mid-20's. Its time to know how to do this stuff on my own and without assistance. Well, except for Turbo Tax. Heaven help me if we didn't have Turbo Tax.
As part of the continuing series: "things I should've learned by now", I finally did my taxes. And by did my taxes I don't mean 'dropped off all my tax paperwork at my parent's house and said: thanks mom, when's dinner?'. I mean I actually sat down with forms in hand and filled everything out. Every minute, painful little detail.
Ok, to be fair, most of it wasn't that bad. For the most part I just plugged in the numbers on how much money I made last year (go go student employment) and figured out which of this or that I qualified for. Honestly, thanks to Turbo Tax I'd put it around the same difficulty level as changing my wiper fluid.
That is... until I got to the home heating credit. They asked me to put in my income, then multiply it by something, subtract something else, multiply that number by a number and take the total. Then they asked me if that total was above or below a certain amount and then asked me to multiply it again, divide it, take the square-freakin-root, stand on my head and walk backwards on even ground, do the hokey-pokey and then fall down.
So maybe it wasn't that bad, but it was so unnecessarily complex that I eventually got laughing about it. It was definitely different to see how the tax code applies to an individual's accounts than it was to study it in class. Though, to be fair, it did seem unnecessarily complex and annoying in class too -- despite having one of the better professors at the school for it. And that's why we have pass/fail, kiddies.
It did feel pretty darn good to be able to understand all the things I needed to do and fill out. I, quite frankly, don't see anything wrong with handing one's mom a stack of papers and asking for help at eighteen. But now we're hitting mid-20's. Its time to know how to do this stuff on my own and without assistance. Well, except for Turbo Tax. Heaven help me if we didn't have Turbo Tax.
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