Context post #1

I like my classmates. Here is a group discussion we had between lessons:

D: This is a delicious cookie.
J: D, aren't you and your boyfriend on some crazy diet? Is this one of your cheat days?
D: No, those are on Thursdays and Saturdays.
M: Cheat days are great.
J: They really are! They recommend cheat days. My wife and I have them on Saturdays.
M: Yep, weekends are my cheat days.

C: What? Cheat days? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? Are you talking about relationships?

All: Hahahahaha! Ohhhhh, C.

It's only possible because he's fictional: Atticus Finch > me

I have done more homework this past week than I would do in an entire quarter of my undergrad. I wasn't particularly diligent those four years, but still. That's a lot of studying in not a lot of days.

In addition to the scholarly work, I made espresso, hung out with the fam, and combined rice noodles with chicken broth to make what the roommate aptly dubbed "serf soup." "Serf soup" sounds a little like "surf's up." Both relate to sodium. Can we agree that's not a coincidence?

Yes, we can.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to all the studying. As our dear Atticus Finch says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win." Except, you know, this studying isn't as important as Atty's case, and I wasn't licked a hundred years ago, and now I'm feeling bad about trying to apply the quote to my situation.

In sum, I'm studying hard, and I love Atticus Finch.

The Waldens, well, I don't know, we hear you.

"In my house, anyone who used one word when they could have used ten just isn't trying hard." -Fake President, Josiah Bartlet

I am sweaty from racquetball. My roommate is drunk from beer.

Me: Ugh. I need a shower.
Roommate: DO IT!
Me: Hahahahaha.
Roommate: Please make me shut up. Please throw something at me.

Maybe you had to be there.

Inspires me in the morn'.

My iGoogle (everything has an "i" in front of it now, even non-Mac stuff. in keeping with this tradition, heretofore I refer to myself as either "iKelly" or "iAwesome") posts 3 daily quotes. Usually, they're 1ame, but today I liked two of them. Read and agree!:

I know who I am. No one else knows who I am. If I was a giraffe, and someone said I was a snake, I'd think, no, actually I'm a giraffe. -Richard Gere

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. -Dorothy Nevill

Good job speaking, Famous People. Now, I am going to look up "Dorothy Nevill" because I have no idea who the h she is.

Edit: Back in the 19th century, Dorothy Nevil was a "hostess, horticulturalist, and a collector." I wouldn't mind being a hostess, horticulturalist, and a collector. I would wear one of these aprons.

No mention of baby pygmy goats!

Word on the street is this a legitimate sign at a Seattle elementary school. Another word on the street is that pot bellied pigs were all the rage 12 years ago. These words are related.

Funny quote that shouldn't offend but it might

Today, a classmate said, "If vegetarianism is Islam, then veganism is Al Qaeda." Apparently, he got the metaphor from a book. Ohhhh, books.

UW educators are frustrating, but I like the scientists.

Ten percent of our brains? Pshaw.

Spring Break 2005 - Unsent Postcard 2 of 2

For a little context, "my 350 class" was English 350, Intro to Creative Writing. It was silly and I learned very little, although I did write a memorable poem about the ant infestation in my old kitchen.

Spring Break 2005 - Unsent Postcard 1 of 2

The message is worth an enlargement and reading, if you ask me (and you were about to).

My parents in 1975

Taken in Hoquiam. Grandma Jean's house in the background.

Not goin' cry

I love happily singing along to sad songs. Mary J. Blige goes through the torment of giving up 11 years, and "besides the kids [she has] nothing to show." To deal, she sings passionately.

I go see Juno, eat some fajitas, and take a bath. To deal, I sing passionately.

My life gets two thumbs up.