Woo! Last post before my Lenten hiatus.
My 8:00 Algorithms class was eased somewhat today, as my professor brought us all jelly doughnuts. She grew up in a Polish neighborhood where they celebrated Paczki day the day before Ash Wednesday, which is somewhat of the "poor man's Mardi Gras." Having no paczki available, Americanized jelly doughnuts had to do, and we had a mini Paczki Day celebration before class started.
A note about auctions: Even though I don't do the "Sundays doesn't count" thing, I'll be posting auctions and links to them on Sundays, so I'll feel somewhat less intrusive onto my hiatus. Keep your eyes peeled, I need money for that glass color x_x.
Expect these and other updates when I return at Easter:
-SETC
-Spring Break
-Survival of March Crunch
Extraneous Internet Hiatus begins at midnight tonight, so I'll still be around if you need to reach me up until then.
Now I'm off to fatten myself up. If I'm celebrating Lent this year I may as well be fair and celebrate Mardi Gras as well. Hope the spring starts out wonderfully for everyone, I'll see you guys at Easter!
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Monday, February 23, 2004
Auction
Glass color money-raising auction number 1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3706519959
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3706519959
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Lent
I always forget about Lent since I've been in college. It was easy to remember going to a Catholic gradeschool and highschool, because you'd be like "oh, it's Lent!" But not having reminders in college I'd go through half of March thinking "Why are they always serving fish on Fridays? That's unusu......ohhhhhh."
Anyway, entirely regardless of religion, I think any period of making a material sacrifice can be an enriching experience if you have the right mindset.
So this year for Lent (since I remembered it), I'm going to give up extraneous internet, which will be a huge challenge, but I think I can pull it off. The terms defining "extraneous" are as follows.
1. I'll still use it for research, because I can't get around that, but no leisurely browsings of forums, art sites, chats, Homestarrunner, etc. I'll probably accomplish this by doing most of my internet research in labs, which provides an environment in which I feel like I have to be doing real work.
2. I'll keep instant messenger open to people at school and family who may need to contact me for school or family-related business, but otherwise no IM
3. No LJ, neither friends list readings nor updates. The exception is I'll probably be auctioning off glass to get money to pay for that color, so I'll likely post a link to the auction as an update.
I think that mostly covers things. This process will have an additional benefit, in that hopefully it will force me to focus more on school and post-gradauation planning, which is always very heavy in March. So, if anyone has a drastically important need to contact me, do it by Mardi Gras (that's Tuesday). I'll probably do an update Tuesday night.
Anyway, entirely regardless of religion, I think any period of making a material sacrifice can be an enriching experience if you have the right mindset.
So this year for Lent (since I remembered it), I'm going to give up extraneous internet, which will be a huge challenge, but I think I can pull it off. The terms defining "extraneous" are as follows.
1. I'll still use it for research, because I can't get around that, but no leisurely browsings of forums, art sites, chats, Homestarrunner, etc. I'll probably accomplish this by doing most of my internet research in labs, which provides an environment in which I feel like I have to be doing real work.
2. I'll keep instant messenger open to people at school and family who may need to contact me for school or family-related business, but otherwise no IM
3. No LJ, neither friends list readings nor updates. The exception is I'll probably be auctioning off glass to get money to pay for that color, so I'll likely post a link to the auction as an update.
I think that mostly covers things. This process will have an additional benefit, in that hopefully it will force me to focus more on school and post-gradauation planning, which is always very heavy in March. So, if anyone has a drastically important need to contact me, do it by Mardi Gras (that's Tuesday). I'll probably do an update Tuesday night.
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Mysteries Solved
So, remember when my parents' computer had that problem with cryptic messages typing themselves out in text boxes? We discovered that it was the speech recognition function. See, I swapped monitors with them at the beginning of the school year, and my old monitor has a built-in microphone. So all those ghostly messages were just it trying to interpret various sounds: sneezes, coughs, mumblings, etc. Doh!
Today I was compiling a list of color that I need to buy to use for pieces for my senior show, and Holy Crap for Crap! Glass color is EXPENSIVE! x_x Even when I calculated the price for just half a kilo of each color bar I need, it was still quite a hefty sum.
Maybe I should sell/auction old glass pieces to raise money to buy color to use in new glass pieces. There must be some other things I can sell besides glass to raise money... *rummage rummage* ...anybody want an upside-down running hourglass?
Today I was compiling a list of color that I need to buy to use for pieces for my senior show, and Holy Crap for Crap! Glass color is EXPENSIVE! x_x Even when I calculated the price for just half a kilo of each color bar I need, it was still quite a hefty sum.
Maybe I should sell/auction old glass pieces to raise money to buy color to use in new glass pieces. There must be some other things I can sell besides glass to raise money... *rummage rummage* ...anybody want an upside-down running hourglass?
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
While waiting for dinner to cook, I could do something productive
...or I could fill out one of these..
ANGER
1. Who did you last get angry with?: Myself, more frustrated really
2. What is your weapon of choice?: hiding.
3. Would you hit a member of the opposite sex?: not out of pure wrath, but if I needed to...
4. How about of the same sex?: see above
5. Who was the last person who got really angry at you?: probably Fish, he gets grumpy when I have to move him for his tank clean
6. What is your pet peeve?: snoring
7. Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily?: I think my record anger time is 20 seconds.
SL0TH
1. What is one thing you're supposed to do daily that you haven't done in a long time?: floss
2. What is the latest you've ever woken up?: one time at 5, but I was sick
3. Name a person you've been meaning to call, but haven't: Ian, and he called on Monday. *writes herself a note on her forehead*
4. What is the last lame excuse you made?: "I'll do it later"
5. Have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through (one of the long ones)? no
6. When was the last time you got a good workout?: playing frisbee over winter term
7. How many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock today?: 0, though I have long conditioned myself not to use the snooze
GLUTTONY
1. What is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice?: Strawberry banana smoothies
2. Meat eaters: STEAK
3. What/when is the greatest amount of alcohol you've had in one sitting/outing/event?: n/a
4. Have you ever used a professional diet company?: No. And might I take this opportunity to throw in that the Atkin's diet is bad for you. BAD. You'll find out, just wait *leers at the Atkins dieters*
5. Do you have an issue with your weight?: No
6. Do you prefer sweets, salty foods, or spicy foods?: Usually have to have some balance between salty and sweet.
7. Have you ever looked at a small house pet or child and thought, "LUNCH?": There was that one time at Carleton's when I thought Vinnie looked particularly appetizing, but it was more just me wanting a chance to chew on the cat and then be fed.
LUST
1. How many people have you seen fully naked (not counting movies/family)?: Well, if you count figure drawing classes, then about a billion or so
2. How many people have seen YOU fully naked (not counting physicians/family)?: 0
3. Have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of a member of your gender of choice during a normal conversation?: No.
4. Where is number four? Right over there, to your left. Stupid question
5. Have you ever been propositioned by a prostitute?: No.
6. Have you ever had to get tested for an STD or pregnancy?: No.
7. Is love at first sight really lust?: I don't think lust is the same thing as physical infatuation, and no one ever said infatuation can't lead to love
GREED
1. How many credit cards do you own?: 1
2. What's your guilty pleasure store?: Great Escape
3. If you had $1 million, what would you do with it? Pay off my student loans
4. Would you rather be rich, or famous?: Neither
5. Would you accept a boring job if it meant you would make megabucks?: am I in some sort of financial crisis?
6. Have you ever stolen anything?: I stole 4 pencils from the office in Grant to use as props for those stupid Dr.'s clipboards
7. How many MP3s are on your hard drive?: I don't have time to count, dinner's almost ready.
PRIDE
1. What one thing have you done that you're most proud of?: Yellow Boat props
2. What one thing have you done that your parents are most proud of?: everything, I think.
3. What thing would you like to accomplish in your life?: Happiness
4. Do you get annoyed by coming in second place?: No.
5. Have you ever entered a contest of skill, knowing you were of much higher skill than all the other competitors?: I don't think so.
6. Have you ever cheated on something to get a higher score?: No
7. What did you do today that you're proud of?: Finished a drawing
ENVY
1. What item (or characteristic) of your friends would you most want to have for your own?: Confidence
2. Who would you want to go on "trading spaces" with?: no one! Because then they'd have to see my messy room
3. If you could be anyone else in the world, who would you be?: Fish, I wanna see how far he can see out of the tank.
4. Have you ever been cheated on?: No.
5. Have you ever wished you had a physical feature different from your own?: good eyes--as my eyes get progressively worse
6. Finally, what is your favorite deadly sin?: Sloth
ANGER
1. Who did you last get angry with?: Myself, more frustrated really
2. What is your weapon of choice?: hiding.
3. Would you hit a member of the opposite sex?: not out of pure wrath, but if I needed to...
4. How about of the same sex?: see above
5. Who was the last person who got really angry at you?: probably Fish, he gets grumpy when I have to move him for his tank clean
6. What is your pet peeve?: snoring
7. Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily?: I think my record anger time is 20 seconds.
SL0TH
1. What is one thing you're supposed to do daily that you haven't done in a long time?: floss
2. What is the latest you've ever woken up?: one time at 5, but I was sick
3. Name a person you've been meaning to call, but haven't: Ian, and he called on Monday. *writes herself a note on her forehead*
4. What is the last lame excuse you made?: "I'll do it later"
5. Have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through (one of the long ones)? no
6. When was the last time you got a good workout?: playing frisbee over winter term
7. How many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock today?: 0, though I have long conditioned myself not to use the snooze
GLUTTONY
1. What is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice?: Strawberry banana smoothies
2. Meat eaters: STEAK
3. What/when is the greatest amount of alcohol you've had in one sitting/outing/event?: n/a
4. Have you ever used a professional diet company?: No. And might I take this opportunity to throw in that the Atkin's diet is bad for you. BAD. You'll find out, just wait *leers at the Atkins dieters*
5. Do you have an issue with your weight?: No
6. Do you prefer sweets, salty foods, or spicy foods?: Usually have to have some balance between salty and sweet.
7. Have you ever looked at a small house pet or child and thought, "LUNCH?": There was that one time at Carleton's when I thought Vinnie looked particularly appetizing, but it was more just me wanting a chance to chew on the cat and then be fed.
LUST
1. How many people have you seen fully naked (not counting movies/family)?: Well, if you count figure drawing classes, then about a billion or so
2. How many people have seen YOU fully naked (not counting physicians/family)?: 0
3. Have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of a member of your gender of choice during a normal conversation?: No.
4. Where is number four? Right over there, to your left. Stupid question
5. Have you ever been propositioned by a prostitute?: No.
6. Have you ever had to get tested for an STD or pregnancy?: No.
7. Is love at first sight really lust?: I don't think lust is the same thing as physical infatuation, and no one ever said infatuation can't lead to love
GREED
1. How many credit cards do you own?: 1
2. What's your guilty pleasure store?: Great Escape
3. If you had $1 million, what would you do with it? Pay off my student loans
4. Would you rather be rich, or famous?: Neither
5. Would you accept a boring job if it meant you would make megabucks?: am I in some sort of financial crisis?
6. Have you ever stolen anything?: I stole 4 pencils from the office in Grant to use as props for those stupid Dr.'s clipboards
7. How many MP3s are on your hard drive?: I don't have time to count, dinner's almost ready.
PRIDE
1. What one thing have you done that you're most proud of?: Yellow Boat props
2. What one thing have you done that your parents are most proud of?: everything, I think.
3. What thing would you like to accomplish in your life?: Happiness
4. Do you get annoyed by coming in second place?: No.
5. Have you ever entered a contest of skill, knowing you were of much higher skill than all the other competitors?: I don't think so.
6. Have you ever cheated on something to get a higher score?: No
7. What did you do today that you're proud of?: Finished a drawing
ENVY
1. What item (or characteristic) of your friends would you most want to have for your own?: Confidence
2. Who would you want to go on "trading spaces" with?: no one! Because then they'd have to see my messy room
3. If you could be anyone else in the world, who would you be?: Fish, I wanna see how far he can see out of the tank.
4. Have you ever been cheated on?: No.
5. Have you ever wished you had a physical feature different from your own?: good eyes--as my eyes get progressively worse
6. Finally, what is your favorite deadly sin?: Sloth
Monday, February 16, 2004
Friday, February 13, 2004
Strike!
Yellow Boat is finally officially over!
Strike was delayed a bit due to an impromptu private concert from Colin's dad (note: Colin is Colin McCann, son of Peter McCann, who wrote "Do You Wanna Make Love (Or Do You Just Wanna Fool Around)?", which the cast and crew was in love with). So after the pleasant sing-along, the disassembly started.
After putting props away, I spent most of it de-tangling the fiber optics used for the stardrop. What a paaaaaaaain.
In spite of my heavy workload, I'm dropping everything to go home tomorrow to see Les Triplettes de Belville, which I've been anxiously waiting to see since Brendan showed me the trailer a year or so ago. I'm very excited!
Strike was delayed a bit due to an impromptu private concert from Colin's dad (note: Colin is Colin McCann, son of Peter McCann, who wrote "Do You Wanna Make Love (Or Do You Just Wanna Fool Around)?", which the cast and crew was in love with). So after the pleasant sing-along, the disassembly started.
After putting props away, I spent most of it de-tangling the fiber optics used for the stardrop. What a paaaaaaaain.
In spite of my heavy workload, I'm dropping everything to go home tomorrow to see Les Triplettes de Belville, which I've been anxiously waiting to see since Brendan showed me the trailer a year or so ago. I'm very excited!
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Time for an Update!
The Yellow Boat opened really nicely, and I was happy to see that we had reduced the audience to tears much earlier in the play than I expected would happen. Muahahahahaha! The Quilt ceremony was also really touching. Strother, you have a very haunting and powerful voice, I will capture you and put you in a jar and make you sing for me, and then I'll give you cookies as a reward.
In other news, classes are rough, but interesting. The Beowulf Clusters class is going to be an ordeal, as the only available place for us to build our little cluster is apparently a closet. Granted, it's a spacious closet, it's just mostly filled with biology lab equipment. I have been partnered up with Ryan the Younger, and as we discovered, neither of us knows squat about linux administration, networking, or any real hardware stuff. It's going to be a fun term (we've already decided to paint flames on the side of our node...you know...to make it go faster). To make things easier, I made sure our node was set up next to Jared and Zaid's, so we can pester them relentlessly for help.
Algorithms is going to be tough, because it's one of those "thinking" classes, and it's at 8:00. I'm trying desparately to convince Dr. Shannon of my poor arithmetic abilities. When we had our quiz this morning, we asked if we needed a calculator, and she said no. And I said "Are you SURE, you know I can't do math." and she's like "Nooo, you'll be fine, it's just a little arithmetic." Sure enough, I butchered Euclid's algorithm because I can't divide or subtract.
Why is that? Why is it that I can do derivatives in my head, or even standing on my head, but I can't do math. Like, at all. I'm a horrible banker in monopoly, because I can't subtract to give change (also, because I steal from the bank ¬_¬).
Anyway, moving on, glass seems like it will be good. I have some good ideas to get my rolling with my senior show. Databases should involve some fun and useful projects.
I wanted to go home this weekend and visit friends, but I think this week's workload will be too great. Guess I'll be spending Valentine's Day* getting ahead in my work...or catching up.
*Notice how I didn't say V-day
In other news, classes are rough, but interesting. The Beowulf Clusters class is going to be an ordeal, as the only available place for us to build our little cluster is apparently a closet. Granted, it's a spacious closet, it's just mostly filled with biology lab equipment. I have been partnered up with Ryan the Younger, and as we discovered, neither of us knows squat about linux administration, networking, or any real hardware stuff. It's going to be a fun term (we've already decided to paint flames on the side of our node...you know...to make it go faster). To make things easier, I made sure our node was set up next to Jared and Zaid's, so we can pester them relentlessly for help.
Algorithms is going to be tough, because it's one of those "thinking" classes, and it's at 8:00. I'm trying desparately to convince Dr. Shannon of my poor arithmetic abilities. When we had our quiz this morning, we asked if we needed a calculator, and she said no. And I said "Are you SURE, you know I can't do math." and she's like "Nooo, you'll be fine, it's just a little arithmetic." Sure enough, I butchered Euclid's algorithm because I can't divide or subtract.
Why is that? Why is it that I can do derivatives in my head, or even standing on my head, but I can't do math. Like, at all. I'm a horrible banker in monopoly, because I can't subtract to give change (also, because I steal from the bank ¬_¬).
Anyway, moving on, glass seems like it will be good. I have some good ideas to get my rolling with my senior show. Databases should involve some fun and useful projects.
I wanted to go home this weekend and visit friends, but I think this week's workload will be too great. Guess I'll be spending Valentine's Day* getting ahead in my work...or catching up.
*Notice how I didn't say V-day
Wednesday, February 4, 2004
Flora interlude
D Flo showed me his pictures from his trip to Morocco and Southern Spain, and I picked three that I just had to share.
D Flo mingles with the locals
along with D Flo rides in style and D Flo learns he is a household name. Enjoy.
EDIT: We have decided that the above picture (D Flo mingles with the locals) is in need of a good caption. So let's have a caption contest, right here right now. Mark set GO.
D Flo mingles with the locals
along with D Flo rides in style and D Flo learns he is a household name. Enjoy.
EDIT: We have decided that the above picture (D Flo mingles with the locals) is in need of a good caption. So let's have a caption contest, right here right now. Mark set GO.
Smells like Spring
First day of spring term and all is well. I got quite a few errands run today, so I feel pretty accomplished.
I also finished American Gods yesterday while lounging about at the airport and on the planes. It is an excellent book and I recommend it to anyone.
In other news, I put up one of my glass armadillos for auction. It's a fundraiser to help Byzil out with his webservers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3702370383
and on that note, I did manage a small webpage update.
http://www.wertle.com
I also finished American Gods yesterday while lounging about at the airport and on the planes. It is an excellent book and I recommend it to anyone.
In other news, I put up one of my glass armadillos for auction. It's a fundraiser to help Byzil out with his webservers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3702370383
and on that note, I did manage a small webpage update.
http://www.wertle.com
Monday, February 2, 2004
The Third was the Color of the Sun.
"There are lots of lighthouses in Maine because it's so big and easy to crash into." --Carleton
Today is my birthday and I'm 22 years old and I'm having pie instead of cake because...well, it's not because I don't like cake, it's just that the blackberry pie at the store looked so tempting!
This weekend we visited Carleton's Dad in Maine and, in addition to playing lots of FFX, I got to eat a lobster. 'Twas quite tasty. I'm a little sad that my visit is coming to an end, but as a birthday present I got a ticket to come up and visit again over spring break (but don't worry, I'll be back for Sammy and Will Johnston's wedding ^_^ ).
I also purchased American Gods for the flight home, though I snuck in a read earlier today. So far I enjoy it, but then again, every book that Brendan recommends to me i end up really enjoying. Hopefully I'll finish it before the madness of spring term flares up too much. I don't think it will be terrible, but jumping right into tech as soon as we get back will be a little rough.
Which reminds me..
COME SEE THE YELLOW BOAT THIS WEEKEND/NEXT WEEK!!
Sunday, February 8, 2:00 pm
Wednesday, February 11, 8:00 pm
Friday, February 13, 8:00 pm
Norton Center for the Arts box office: (859) 236-4692 or 1-877-448-7469.
Today is my birthday and I'm 22 years old and I'm having pie instead of cake because...well, it's not because I don't like cake, it's just that the blackberry pie at the store looked so tempting!
This weekend we visited Carleton's Dad in Maine and, in addition to playing lots of FFX, I got to eat a lobster. 'Twas quite tasty. I'm a little sad that my visit is coming to an end, but as a birthday present I got a ticket to come up and visit again over spring break (but don't worry, I'll be back for Sammy and Will Johnston's wedding ^_^ ).
I also purchased American Gods for the flight home, though I snuck in a read earlier today. So far I enjoy it, but then again, every book that Brendan recommends to me i end up really enjoying. Hopefully I'll finish it before the madness of spring term flares up too much. I don't think it will be terrible, but jumping right into tech as soon as we get back will be a little rough.
Which reminds me..
COME SEE THE YELLOW BOAT THIS WEEKEND/NEXT WEEK!!
Sunday, February 8, 2:00 pm
Wednesday, February 11, 8:00 pm
Friday, February 13, 8:00 pm
Norton Center for the Arts box office: (859) 236-4692 or 1-877-448-7469.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)