We have GWC comment splog ...

Done with exams! Whee!
And I got my third research paper back. B. What a surprise. But hey, it's better than a B-.
So here we go, STUFF I LEARNED AT COLLEGE: PART 1.
1. 8 a.m. is a b*tch.
2. If you can complain about a grade higher than a C, you're in good shape.
3. The quarter circle at the back of first year studio is a very comfortable place to nap.
4. Refund checks can buy a lot of groceries.
5. The honors program is useless.
6. Make good contacts - one to help you with class, one to help you move heavy things and fix your car, one to share your guy/girl troubles, one who can cook, one to fix your computer, and a boyfriend/girlfriend (or at least someone who will go buy you food and medicine if you're sick), for example.
7. Clean your room whenever you have a chance.
8. Set three alarms on test days.
9. Always check the forecast before leaving your room.
10. Beer, taquila, salvia, and Waffle House don't mix well (be a designated driver).
11. Private rooms are good.
12. Automatic locks are bad.
13. The fire alarm will go off at an ungodly hour before an important test or exam.
14. Most professors are understanding of students' need for caffeine.
15. Proper daily preparation for November to March: shower, underwear, pants, light top, sweater, coat, gloves, hat, scarf, backpack, hot chocolate/coffee, keys, depart.
16. There is no cow level.
17. Night classes have a big impact on your social life.
18. Someone will go to the hospital during studio hours.
19. Buy economy size laundry products.
20. Always have quarters and small bills handy.

I could keep going, but I figured that would start to get boring ...

Smooth as a velvet child

Whew, it's been a weekend ...
Friday night/Saurday morning was spent with the crew at Brit's apartment, then Waffle House. Slept until noonish Saturday, played WoW, and then got called in to babysit Mr. Pathetic. Just so you all have a fair warning, booze, salvia, and Waffle House (although delicious) does not mix well. At all. Don't do it.
So I got some Chik-fil-a for the two of us, then hung around for a while watching TV. I knew Dennis was feeling better when he decided it was a good time to go to the grocery store for snacks. And then he ate them. And we watched a Sean Connery movie. Always fun.
Went home sometime between midnight and one Sunday morning and decided it was a good time to jump on WoW again. A little before four I'm thinking it's about time to crash, so I get to a stopping point, contemplate taking a shower, decide against it, put on some pajamas and curl up in bed. Less than three minutes later I hear one of the sounds you really don't want to hear at 4:15 a.m. That's right, the fire alarms went off. Spent the next hour outside in the rain (it was unusually cold for May, too) because my keys weren't in my purse. Otherwise I'd so crash in my car.
So 5:15 rolls around and we're allowed back inside. Sleepy time.
Several hours later ...
*ring tone indicating that someone from State is calling me*
*stumbles over to phone*
It's Joseph. Wanting to know if I was with Dennis because he needed to talk to him about cooking out. No, Joseph, I just got up.
*looks at clock*
12:27
Hmm ...
Eventually I make myself presentable enough to go outside. Fun activities today.
Help Dennis jumpstart his car. Twice.
Go to Walgreens and the grocery store. Mmm ... ground beef. Cookin' out on the pigmy grill. Pigmy? Pygmie? ... Very, very small ...
After supper I watched Dennis play some video games, then a movie. I know, so predictable. Whatcha gonna do?
I will get around to asking whether he thinks we can keep something going once we leave (eventually). I mean, he did ask if I'd be able to come over before Thursday. That's gotta be a good sign, right?
*shrug*
Good night, children.

It has a grid. I have to follow the grid.

So I just got in from a 2 a.m. Waffle House run.
And it's time to go to sleep.

Breaking up less than a month after getting engaged is kind of a bad thing ...

In case anyone didn't know that already.
So yesterday was the last day of class. Got my sixth test and my lab grade back in physics. As long as I don't bomb on the exam I'm in good shape. Started cleaning out my desk at the studio. Dennis came to help me move my chair and drawing surface into the storage unit, but when we got there my lock was gone. I allegedly put it on the wrong door (I didn't) so it got cut off. Which was annoying and put me in a bad mood. But of course, Dennis doesn't like having Angry Meredith around, so he jumped in right away to bring Not-Angry Meredith back.
Which brings us to a downer. This time last month he was all psyched about getting an apartment and whatnot, and now we're facing the reality that he's not going to be able to come back to Starkville. Not even sure if he will come back after his suspension is over.
We've gotten too close to just say, "Well, it's been fun. Hope you find someone nice." Yeah, long distance relationships are tough, but they're not impossible. And I'm willing to deal with that if he is. We're still close enough that I can come down for a weekend or something occasionally, or he can come up if he has some time off of work.
I'm gonna go hit the Ben and Jerry's again ...

Generally speaking, it's okay to eat fluffy pink blobs.

Semester project: done. Physics test: done. English paper: ... I'll let you know about that one ...
So I'm finally done and my fingers can start healing. I think I may have introduced some pastel into my bloodstream via a few papercuts I received while blending the other day ... Meh. Pin-ups were today. I think I got what I wanted - interest, but not quite enough to send me to jury.
Dennis has pretty much determined that skipping classes early this semester has doomed him to academic suspension. The bad kind. The kind where you can't take classes anywhere - not even a community college - for a year. There's a GIANT "I told you so" wrapped up in there somewhere ...
And yes, I can say "I told you so" ... I've only skipped one class this semester.
But yeah, I'll be working on my English paper this weekend. Hopefully I'll do better than a B- this time. I hate comp. I can do literature, I just hate writing useless papers about how family/feminism/race is portrayed/confronted in a certain set of literary works.
Next time on "Meredith Updates Everyone on Her Life" ...
Will Dennis get to stay in Starkville?
Will Meredith finish her research paper with time to spare?
Will there be a professor fight in juries?
And why was there a pair of fingernail clippers in the washing machine?

Tickle torture - great for building strong abs.

I have food again! :D
And I have my housing assignment for next year. Same room, lovelies! Which means I'll already know the fun little quirks that come with it. Like how maintenance can't fix the toilet or the A/C to function quite right, and that I should turn on the fan after sunset and the A/C after noon. Otherwise it's unbearable in here.
So anyway, about half an hour after I get back from dropping off the lease on a storage unit and getting groceries, Dennis calls me asking if I wanted to go to Wal-Mart. Translation: "I'm low on gas and I'd like to know if you would take me to Wal-Mart." And being the nice person I am (plus the fact that he's really pathetic when he needs food), I say okay.
Of course, during this little outing he starts talking about how sketchy his grades are looking (again - that's what happens when you skip class), even though he's been doing a lot better since midterms. And how he hopes he gets to stay so he can change his major in the fall, and even if he doesn't get to come back, that he'll stick around (already has an apartment for about a year, so why not?) and work.
... The Dance of the Sugarplumb Fairies is playing outside ... weird ...
Whatever. Depending on how his day goes today, I might get invited to share some of his Chili's gift card for supper. Lava cake. Yesh, lovelies ...
Anyway, stuff and junk. I should be packed up and back in J-town sometime around the 12th of next month. It's time to go screw around at the studio.

Lemming

Ganked from Adri, who ganked it from someone else. I hope I actually see what hatches this time, I did this before, and when the egg hatched, all I could see was "Image hosted by Angelfire." :P

"HEY! NO SEX IN MY KITCHEN, YOU TWO!"

And we're back. Crunch time in the land of the bulldog, especially at Giles Hall. I must say, however, that my food supply is looking pretty weak right now, so tomorrow I've got to get some groceries after Concept and Form. Dennis is fine, besides being low on food, too. We had a long conversation the other night about chinchillas and microbiology. Basically, he wants to get one and major in the other. So anyhoo, that's what's going on. Oh, so exciting.

*frolic*

Hamster You scored 31 nervousness!

You have mood swings, don't you? Sometimes you scream and bite people, sometimes you're cute and star in children's shows from Japan.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 77% on nervousness You scored higher than 34% on smallness

Link: The Small Nervous Animal Test written by zombieface on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

The Perfect Balance You scored 61% Playfulness!!!

You walk hand in hand with your inner child. You are not entirely consumed by childlike wonder, but you recognize it and still enjoy it to a high degree. You take your inner child out for regular playdates, and this makes you a lot of fun to be around, if a little unpredictable to those around you. But that's okay, it keeps them on their toes!

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 30% on Playfulness

Link: The Childlike Wonder Test written by seraphimjezebel on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Looking over the edge at a three-day weekend

6 a.m. rolls around. I look with a sense of satisfaction at the neat stack of print before me -"Dilsey Gibson vs. Caroline Compson: How the Negative Outweighs the Positive." With three hours to spare (three hours that will be divided between napping, eating, and a shower) I have my research paper. I guess technically I pulled an all-nighter, but I did have an accidental nap between 9 and 12 last night.
I'm looking forward to getting this turned in, spending a little time with Dennis before I drive home tomorrow morning, and hopefully seeing everyone in J-town.
Yeah, just thought I'd blog for whatever reason.
Cheers.

Now with enough sugar to give a hummingbird diabetes!

Back from New Orleans! Nobody got arrested, and only one person threw up on Bourbon Street. However, I am now addicted to beignets and open-air dining. And that can have its drawbacks. If you must sit around outside all day, be sure to apply some sort of sunscreen.
Now I'm entering crunch time again, trying to wrap up my neo-gothic design, color studies, research paper, not studying for my physics test (methinks I'll drop this grade), and I'm sure there are many other things I don't remember.
So yeah, I'm gonna binge on carb-laden snacks tonight and tomorrow, and sleep it off Thursday night, before coming home for Easter weekend.
Signing off!

"The Turbulence of the Fluids"

Leaving for New Orleans in the morning (woo hoo)! :)
Yeah. And I activated my first "real" credit card today. Even though I won't actually have it in my posession for another week. Why my parents couldn't have had it sent to my campus mailbox, I don't know.
Dennis is soooooo excited about getting an apartment this summer. He'll definitely have at least an efficiency, but there's still a chance that a one bedroom will open up. He's also started doing stuff to try to get in shape. Something about "Think how sexy I'll be with a flatter stomach and muscles instead of man-boobs." He went to the Sanderson yesterday with Dave and Joseph to run and do leg exercises. Had to beg me to go to the store for some pizza and BBQ wings. Pathetic, really.
Ever have those dreams that are just a little twist on reality? The other night I had a dream where I decided to quit architecture for some completely opposite major. Of course there was never a clear statement of what this other major was, but whatever. It probably stemmed from a guy dropping studio - just stopped coming without warning, quietly sold off his equipment and didn't come back - a short while back because of a ridiculously heavy schedule.
Which brings us to planning for this summer and fall. I'm definitely taking art appreciation and world literature at Jackson State, probably a history, too. There's just a question about exactly how many credit hours I need to graduate, and how many of those hours are electives, other than social/behavioral science, architectural, and art electives. Scheduling time is next Monday at 9 a.m. thanks to being put on honors probation for having a 3.2 instead of a 3.4. A little outrageous, don't you think? A 3.4 to be able to register for classes a few days earlier than the rest of the shmucks.
Whatever. Shower time.

So this is what 7 a.m. used to look like ...

Good morning and happy Daylight Savings Time to everyone. I just got in (oh, scandalous!) a little while ago. Gotta say yesterday was a good day overall. After getting completely raped by polarized lens problems, I went to the bakery with Dennis and Joseph, grabbed a drink and a cream puff, and we just sat around on the patio talking for a couple of hours. Dennis and I had planned on ordering some pizza for supper and watching some basketball, but we got a call from Joseph and Daniel asking if we wanted to go to Mi Hacienda. So Mexican it was. So tamales, enchiladas, rice, beans, and sopapilla (and a couple of margaritas in these precious cactus glasses for Dennis) later, Daniel and Mary head out for Pollywog's, Joseph and Paul go back to campus to play video games, and Dennis and I hit Blockbuster. Once he realized that he'd parked in a handicapped spot, he decided to walk with a limp. Actually kept up the act, too. Got M*A*S*H and a season of McGyver. Went back to his room (my phone was there ... long story) and watched a couple of episodes of McGyver, then some Scrubs. During this time, there was some discussion about wanting a ferret, some tickle torture, and I got folded into a ball. Then it was time to crash.
Now I've gotta make a shopping list ...

They should make cocoa frosted flakes and bring in Tony the Tiger's PMS-y sister Tonya to market it.

You scored as Sloth. Sloth 75% Pride 44% Gluttony 44% Greed 38% Lust 38% Wrath 31% Envy 25% Seven deadly sins created with QuizFarm.com

Gah! Chicken herpes!

Well, they've cancelled classes for the rest of the day due to some alleged thunderstorms that have yet to show up (2 hours late, *tsk tsk*). But I'm not gonna complain. Just gives me an extra two weeks to finish my lab report, and almost as long to finish a Concept and Form assignment.
Congrats to the Madison Academic Lady Mustangs for getting to the state tournament. Very impressive, I might have to make the trip to Murfreesboro Saturday if they advance to the finals.
Ummmmmmm ... So how about USJ? Man, it's like all the bad karma they've been building up is manifesting itself this year. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, pay a visit to the Jackson Sun archives.
And, um ... Spring Break in 27 hours! Woot!

There are children in Hungary who would've taken that pop-tart.

So it's the week before spring break *little dance* and I've had the requisite pre-spring break meltdown. Actually, I foresee another one in the near future, probably tomorrow night or Tuesday morning. Or at least a case of sleep-deprivation. Why did I put off doing my research paper? Why?
*shrug*
We'll see how this goes ...
*poke*

Nerding out!

So ...
Dennis let me play some World of Warcraft the other day and I'm getting a copy of the game after studio.
It sucks you in.
There is no escape.
So instead of obsessively checking email, blogs, and facebook, I can run around beating stuff with sticks and going on quests.
My life is just sounding more and more exciting by the minute ...

And yes, my room always looks like this.

The family came for a visit earlier today. Basically walked around campus, grabbed some food at the Union, and went to the studio for a little bit. Then back to the dorm to chill out for a little bit while I copied some recipes. They had to leave early to make it back to Jackson before the weather gets too bad.
Anyway.
Spring break is in three weeks. :D
Woo.
Right. So I'm gonna go grocery shopping in a little while. Have fun.

Blimey

Woo and yay! I got a 94 on my physics test. :D I could get an A in this class ...
Right. So yesterday I went to the Sanderson with Dennis to learn how to play racquetball. Mostly I just ran around trying not to get hit and sucking at the game. My butt muscles are sore now.
This week I'm determined to eat as little chicken as possible. Only chicken things I have are a couple of frozen chicken cordon bleu and a can of chicken noodle soup. I wanted seafood. New England clam chowder, tuna, and shrimp are all on this week's menu. It's a cooking week. Baking a strawberry cake for tomorrow, chocolate chip/chunk cookies for Dennis. Made cornbread over the weekend (yum!) as well as cheese potato soup. Dennis cooked what was possibly the best pork I've ever eaten and red potatoes Saturday (during our "snowstorm").
I'll let you guys know how the shrimp goes. I found a recipe and it sounds REALLY good ... lightly fried shrimp in gravy, seasoned with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, served over white rice *drool*.
So basically this was a food post.
Toodles!

What's an orgasm?

*sigh*
Thursday. I had no motivation this morning until half an hour before I left for English. And I've been working on my lab report since I got back from there. Minus time for lunch.
So Valentine's Day is less than a week away. I can't play the "Most Depressing Day of the Year" card because I've at least got a guy who might do something romantic-ish, but he's still not my "boyfriend," technically. No guarantee of anything. Which could potentially make the day more horrible. Evil Hallmark holiday.
But compared to some, I've got it made. Dennis and I might have broken up, but at least there was no infidelity involved. Or if there was, he's really good at covering it up. But we'll assume the best, 'k?
Bla bla bla ... off to Concept and Form. Blargh.

Whoa! You're not dead!

Thursday, 2 February 2006.
6:30 - Wake up. Get something to eat and finish two essays. Shower optional, if time allows.
9:15 - Depart for English. *thunder* Great ...
9:20 - Wet, cold, soggy trudge across the Drill Field.
9:30-10:30 - English test.
10:38 - Change out of wet clothes, into dry pajamas. Gather cooking utensils and head to the kitchen. Cheese potato soup!
1:00 - Half-hearted attempt at completing Tuesday's Concept and Form assignment.
2:50 - Depart for C and F. Observe trail of rose petals going past my door.
3:00-4:00 - Concept and Form. Herb wore three outfits (one on top of the other) and we watched part of a video about modern representations of Christ.
4:45 - Go to lab.
6:45 - Meet Dennis to go shopping for cough drops and whatever the heck he's getting. He had a list of what kinds of cough drops would get someone high the fastest.
7:40 - Wendy's.
8:28 - Physics study session at Giles. Notice betta floating on his side at the top of his tank.
9:45 - Field trip to get a Limeade for Carey.
11:20 - Call it a night. Discover resurrected betta. Freak out a little. Wonder where I've left my sunglasses.
11:35 - Remember that I left them in the car.

WTF, mate?

Random post.
Dennis was in an unusually good mood yesterday. Why? He bought a bunch of kitchen implements the other day, for one thing. The orange smoothies might have given him an extra boost, too. Seriously, the man was bubbly. No yelling at traffic or anything.
Just need to keep him from doing something that'll mess up the good mood. There's the tricky part.

And did anyone else hear what Zach and Sarah named their cat? Pookie! Funfun. :)

Sorry, I'm delirious.

I survived rural Alabama.
The first night, after looking at ritzy outdoor toilets, a bird watching tower, and a church, we arrived at this bar and grill in Faunsdale. Faunsdale is not politically correct. Rebel flags hanging everywhere in this place, and a parking sign that was "Confederate Only." Finas had a few things to say about that...
It amazes me sometimes that the cheapest thing on a menu is $8 and it takes - I kid you not - over an hour to get the thing to your table. Cheeseburger, man. Cheeseburger.
We were so hungry we stole crackers from another table and divided them up. Savored the crackers, even. And all of the conversation centered around food, which helped not at all. Amanda was nice enough to let us have her leftover fries. They disappeared in less than 15 seconds.
By the time we finally got our food and ate, it was something like 10:30 and most of us were ready to crash. So we did.

Applause for karma.

Follow-up on my mini-rant in Miki's blog the other day.
Punishment has been dealt by myself (I made Dennis push the shopping cart while I looked for spiffy cooking implements and foodstuffs) and by a reigning force in the nerd universe - the tech guys who run maintenance on online video game servers. No World of Warcraft yesterday. Mwahahaha!
Yeah, I guess I wasn't hard enough on him. But thanks to the uber-nerds, I think he kinda got the point. What am I saying? He's male. He's gonna screw up. Hopefully he'll get really good at making up for his mistakes.

Salivation ensued.

Okay, well. I'm no longer freaking out. Got some important tasks finished already, and I'm looking forward to dinner at Old Venice with Dennis and the Blasphemous Bible Gang (and guests).
Let me brag on Chef Man's skills. I've had the pleasure of eating TWO dishes a la Dennis this week. Italian chicken breast with potatoes neopolitan one night, and diced chicken, andouille sausage, red and yellow peppers, and moro oranges in a combination of sauces. The yellow peppers picked up a lot of the sweet flavor from the oranges. My tongue was having an orgasm, I believe. Add a little goat cheese for a creamy texture. *drool*
So yeah, if anyone hasn't read the really really long Bay St. Louis post, it's below the jaguar thing.
I think it is now time to read or check out something for English.

Mental glitches at the beginning of the semester are bad. Very bad.

Hey people.
So, it's the third day of class and I'm (hopefully) getting over a meltdown. Basically, my computer isn't working properly in some areas, and I've been trying every method known to the technologically deficient to fix it.
Even iTunes crapped out on me. That was the final straw.
But I have that back now. However, Word probably isn't working now, so I'll have to reinstall it. Bleh. If that doesn't solve most of my problems, I'm going to curl up in a tiny ball in the corner and rock back and forth for a few days.
The computer problems seemed to spill over into other areas. First, I couldn't find my keys (they were in my black bag), then I went shopping for some ingredients to this insane but tasty meal Dennis cooked last night. There was only one bottle of soy sauce in the entire store, as far as I can tell. And he also asked for Andouille sausage. I could find the peppers, thankfully. That freaking sausage was well above my eye level, and there were maybe three packages of them amid the Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage.
So yeah, stressful day. Spending an hour looking for three things at Kroger is probably not the best way to end it. Grr.
I'm gonna make some hot chocolate now. Then go to physics. And then maybe go find a tranquilizer.

I saw this, and it made me think of you, Jenn.

Post-Bay St. Louis update below. :)

The Jaguar Spirit You scored 65% Creativity, 49% Compassion, 55% Strength, and 58% Intelligence!

You are a Jaguar Spirit. You move like a predator, and enjoy the night. You are agile and graceful, and have amazing night vision. You tend to be solitary, but sometimes get along with one or two others. Jaguars are very wild spirits with strong wills. Don't forget my two other spiritual tests: Sitakaliism Test Paganism Test, my political test: The Liberal Test, and my Biology Test

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 46% on Creativity You scored higher than 24% on Compassion You scored higher than 74% on Strength You scored higher than 55% on Intelligence

Link: The Spirit Animal Test written by sitakali on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

...And then we were able to get the fifteen-foot-long boat out of the tree.

Hello to everyone in civilized places.
I'm back in Starkville after a week of picking through rubble and hauling timbers that date back to the 1860s. It's nice to be clean again and not have to worry about gnats, broken glass, and rusty hardware. Or the possibility of encountering leaking sewage or rotting flesh.
The first couple of days we went back to the tents sore, tired, and eaten by insects that are usually only active in the spring. Unfortunately, Meaghan and I hadn't brought flip flops for the showers, and none were available at what was left of the closest Wal-Mart. So we got in my car, met Dennis and one of his cousins at the Diamondhead exit, and drove to Gulfport.
How random is this? In the deli section, somebody asks "Is your name Meredith?" I'm tired and a little paranoid, because I don't know who this woman is who's speaking. Turns out it was my sister's friend's mom. How she knew who I am, I have no idea. Then we turn down the beer aisle (I'm pushing the cart, just so I can lean against it whenever we stop) and run into her again. Thanks, Dennis, now my sister's friend's mom thinks we were going to get drunk or something.
But anyway, we drove back in Zombie mode (and almost took out some nut who was standing in the middle of the road), got our showers and crashed out.
The second day we were joined by an arborist named Kyle. She had been staying with some friends in the area, but decided after getting stuck in a traffic jam that it would be easier to pitch a tent in a clearing on the site than to drive back and forth every day.
Wednesday. More work, less fatigue and soreness. Good thing, because Dennis took me to dinner in Gulfport. Tasty, tasty. We got a piece of cheesecake to share and took it back to his house. Watched some Scrubs, met the dogs, said hi to the parents.
However, there is another down side to living on the coast besides hurricanes. Fog. Freakishly thick fog. I wound up sleeping in his sister's room. Too dangerous to drive down the partially nonexistant roads in Bay and Waveland in that stuff, plus I'd feel bad sending him home in that mess.
And then the President came into town Thursday. Took up nearly two hours of our work time, made us late for lunch, and held us up again as we were trying to get back to the site.
The Secret Service guys were waaaaaaaay more amusing than they should be. We watched them search under an uprooted tree and in every one of the porta-potties. Right after they went further down the road, a FedEx truck drives up and drops of a delivery (presumably for the construction company working nearby. One cardboard box, one metal cube. The metal cube sat there. Whenever a worker was coming across the road, one of his buddies would say "Hey! Bring that over here, would ya?" Every one just looked at it and gave the "Heck no, I'm not that dumb" face. Had it been a bomb, I would've been screwed.
But yeah, the motorcade rolled through, and I got all the hooplah on video.
Almost got run over by one of the big black SUVs.
Then came the middle-aged people from North Carolina. How they had so much energy at 10 p.m. after a 13 hour drive, I don't know. Started making more noise than I've ever heard. And the tents amplify everything. Hair dryers. Bad.
Who would've thought a college kid would be trying to shut up a bunch of old people?
The kicker was the guy who decided to be a rooster the next morning.
Quiet hours were 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., by the way.
Got to the site (rain, eww) and we were greeted with the unmistakable smell of decomposition. Option one: exposed sewage. Option two: dead animal. Option three: dead person. And it was concentrated in the corner where we needed to work that day. Of course Ellis (a local who helped coordinate with Heritage Conservation Network) had to tell us a story of a friend who found a human leg when she was allowed to enter her home.
The locals were really nice to us, too. One guy was baking bread that day, and he brought us a loaf. :) Nobody was nearly as thrilled with the presidential tour. Ahh, and we had some press exposure, too. I'm stock footage for a New Orleans news station, and a potential story picture for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. One other news crew, too, but I don't remember which one ...
So yeah, we got a lot accomplished, but the amount of material still untouched could take another month to sort. Between the lumber, furniture, photographs, Nazi paraphanalia, roofing materials, hardware, glass, and whatever was making the decomposition smell, the next few salvage groups have their work cut out for them.
But now it is time for sleep. Good night.

It's a rocket ship!

Good morning, all you lovely people who are back at school. I made it to the coast (yay). Saw Dennis for a few minutes yesterday. Anyway, I'm right on the beach, which only means that there is nothing standing for a few miles except a few very old, twisted trees. There are several volunteer groups lodging here at the I Care Village. Pictures forthcoming. Sometime. Most likely when I get back to State because I'm on one of the Foundation's computers.
Yep, woke up this morning to what I'm assuming was a helicoptor or a plane. But now it's off to breakfast. Work starts at 8:30.

Toothpaste, underwear, comb, work boots ... yeah, I think I'm ready to go!

Still packing. I've gotta pick up some puncture-resistant boots tonight or tomorrow and make sure to grab my hammer from my room Saturday. Plus I think I'm getting a tool belt. Ooooooooooooooh. It's been a very butchy holiday season for me. If I didn't like guys so much, I'd swear I'm turning into a lesbian.
Anyhoo, I'll try to take some pictures while I'm down there. I'll also try not to die or get maimed or abducted. All that fun stuff.
And it seems I'll be staying in a big tent with all the other volunteers at the entrance of Buccaneer State Park. Pretty close to the beach. Fortunately the temperature isn't supposed to go lower than the mid-forties.
Toodles.

Doesn't everybody want Cinderella on a stick?

Recovering from this weekend. I got a definite "yes" from my parents about Bay St. Louis. :D Just need to fax my registration form tomorrow and get confirmation. I'll be gone Friday night if everything goes smoothly there.
So anyway ...
I'll post some pics on Facebook eventually. Too lazy to do it now.
Yeah ... I think I'm gonna go put something in a box.

Incest was imported from Europe.

Greetings, lovely readers.
Behold! I have ventured to Milan and I didn't get eaten! Hung out with Miki all afternoon and into the evening. Did all sorts of fun stuff like make pancakes and play with Nobe and watch Family Guy and try some Swedish fish. It's candy. Cherry flavored.
Yesh.
Then we sushi-ed with her parents and went to Memoirs of a Geisha. If God played the cello, His name would be Yo Yo Ma. I rather liked the movie. Beautifully done. It's presented almost as ceremonially as a geisha dance. Kinda delicate, but it holds your attention. Hard to describe.
So anyway, party weekend coming up. *grin*
Hopefully next weekend I'll be somewhere in Mississippi on my way to an architectural preservation workshop in Bay St. Louis. That's about ten minutes outside Diamondhead. ;)
And no, I'm not going just to be near Dennis. That's just an added perk. :)

The quizzes return!

Cary Grant You scored 58% Bad Boy, 74% Classy-Cool, 68% Witty-Charming, and 34% Comic-Musical!

The epitome of wit, charm, good looks, and classy moves, your leading man is CARY GRANT. Ok, so maybe I'm a little bit partial to Cary Grant, but LOOK at him! All he has to do is smile and I'm swooning! He's funny, clever; a catch no matter how you put it. True, he can be devious at times, but usually that's just when he's trying to steal the girl away from the less deserving man who's got her. You'd be hard-pressed to find a girl who wouldn't give in to his charms sooner or later anyway. If you're a guy and you classify as Cary Grant, then you're definitely my type of guy!

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 77% on Bad Boy You scored higher than 94% on Classy-Suave You scored higher than 75% on Witty-Charming You scored higher than 20% on Comic-Musical

Link: The Who's Your Leading Man Test written by spasafrass on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

"I can't put my arms down!"

Well, hello everyone. I hope you're all having a wondahful Christmas ... or Christmachanukwanzadan, if you'd prefer to be politically correct. I'll be schlepping all my winter stuff back to Starkville in three weeks. Yay for Intersession.
Well, tomorrow afternoon we'll drive over to my grandparents' house and try to pack everyone in as comfortably as possible. Fortunately there aren't any major ongoing feuds on that side of the family. And of course, there's the annual family picture. We're gonna have to get a bigger room for that before long, depending on how fast the 19-30 singles crowd (i.e. me and four of my cousins) get married. Yikes.
So anyhoo, I hope everyone's Christmas karma has balanced out, possibly leaning toward the "nice" end. See you ... I'm sure sometime this week!

So Miki won't go through massive withdrawal...

WHAT WOMEN WOULD DO IF THEY HAD A PENIS FOR A DAY
10. Get ahead faster in corporate America.

9. Get a blow job.

8. Find out what is so fascinating about beating the meat.

7. Pee standing up while talking to other men at a urinal.

6. Determine WHY you can't hit the bowl consistently.

5. Find out what it's like to be on the other end of a surging orgasm.

4. Touch yourself in public without thought as to how improper it may seem.

3. Jump up and down naked with an erection to see if it feels as funny as it looks.

2. Understand the scientific reason for the light refraction which occurs between a man's eyes and the ruler situated next to his member which causes two inches to be added to the final measurement.

1. Repeat number 9


WHAT MEN WOULD DO IF THEY HAD A VAGINA FOR A DAY
10. Immediately go shopping for zucchini and cucumbers.

9. Squat over a hand-held mirror for an hour and a half.

8. See if they could finally do the splits.

7. See if it's truly possible to launch a ping pong ball 20 feet.

6. Cross their legs without rearranging their crotch.

5. Get picked up in a bar in less than 10 minutes ... BEFORE closing time.

4. Have consecutive multiple orgasms and still be ready for more without sleeping first.

3. Go to the gynecologist for a pelvic exam and ask to have it recorded on video.

2. Sit on the edge of the bed and pray for breasts too.

1. Finally find that damned G-spot.

Drinks for everyone! Except whoever is driving ...

I hope everyone is fairly sane and not stressing too much (meaning, not more than would be considered normal) over exams. Just got my physics results - I've made it out with a C, so I'll be moving on to physics 2 with John Foley next semester. Woot!
Yeah ... that's pretty much all I had to say. See everyone in a few days.
:D

Welcome to the jungle, we've got fun and games ...

So I'm on my way back to Ruby from my physics exam, right, and I'm crossing the street at the intersection by Suttle and this chick in a white car starts turning WHILE I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. So yeah, I was kinda hit by a car. Once you take into consideration the human reflex of sticking your hands out in front of you when something's about to flatten you. Why do we do that? Do we think by sticking our hands out we're going to stop this metal object hurtling at us? I have no idea.
But yeah, that was my adventure for the day. Almost being hit by a car. Making physical contact with the vehicle. Giving the driver the glare of death. One more foot or so, and I'd be looking at some generous compensation. Crap.
Everybody cross your fingers on the physics exam. I'm off to cook tater tots and pick out a movie.

There's a difference between "woven" and "wovenness."

Juries have passed. Had some drama during one of the later reviews in the jury room. Professor death match. My group was the first to finish. I thought it went well overall. No sarcasm or quibbling over word choices.
All that's left is taking my Physics and English exams and packing. Looks like I'll be back Friday.
Then it'll be time to clean and pack some more! Whee!
Now I need to go draw.

Nothing like playing with those heat packets that come with the MREs...

I got my AIAS card in the mail today. Woo! Coolness.
Well, I'm in the first group to present in front of the jury Wednesday. Fortunately we're in the gallery, not the jury room. Less pressure.
I think that's basically all I had to say. Oh, and we're closing on the house earlier than expected, so there's more time to work on it before we move in. Yay for that.
Have a good day, lovelies.

How can we make two weeks go by really fast?

Westley Inconceivable! You scored 90!

You live it, you love it, you lost track long ago of how many times you have seen it. You have been known to wish someone luck by hollering "have fun storming the castle!" You scoff at people who cannot recite the entire 'battle of wits.' You are a true fan. Thank you. Its people like you that give me hope for humanity.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 89% on pbpoints

Link: The Princess Bride trivia Test written by spiceymonkey on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

So wait, I'm not 100% compatible with myself?

Hello, lovelies, and Happy Thanksgiving!
I went and looked at the house yesterday. It's not as bad as I thought, but could still use a LOT of improvement in some areas. Fortunately, I've talked my sister into going with my ideas for our room. Yeah, she wanted "light blue" and I was thinking more "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Oriental spice trade." Yeah, now I sound all weird, but that's what you get...
Well, it's almost time to go eat with the family on my dad's side. Endure the Catholic jokes (can't bring up the fact that we're "not together" - what? it could be just a temporary thing - because it'd go straight to their heads) and try not to choke on turkey. Why do we continue with this traditional nightmare? Turkeys don't taste all that great.
Right. Gotta go get dressed and whatnot.

Doomsday has never been more fun!

Hey peeps. Losing power from 4:30 to almost midnight is not so much fun. But at least we got power before this morning. Didn't get any work done on freehand, and had to cut studio short. But I did get some good pictures at the site for the Photoshop portion of the project.
Didn't get to go to a movie last night. Gonna try for tonight.
Umm, last bit of news for the day. I got a call from my mom this morning (yeah, thanks for waking me up) and she told me we're moving a couple of blocks to a bigger house. The interior is a blast from the past, but I should have enough time before we move in to at least paint some stuff.
*Yawn*
Shower time.

Why we love Lore

I've been waiting patiently for this...


width="240" height="180"
alt="Minx Expertly Rendering Erotic Delights and Intense, Thrilling Hugs"
border="0">

Dennis, you're missing out, buddy!

"Thank you for being a good student. Have a nice life. Where did the other ferret go?"

Hey people.
Quick update while I'm practicing good tornado safety. I'm feeling much better than I did the other day. Dennis and I are still very good friends, we even went to Wal-Mart together last night. From an earlier conversation today, it looks like he may be coming back next semester. *crosses fingers*
He showed me a website for a travel agency offering yacht cruises to Ecuador and the Galapagos. Looks like fun. We'll see what happens...

Today sucks.

Hello, everyone. I'm single again.
Blame the hurricane.
Yeah...
I'll be doing studio work for the rest of the afternoon, then physics and English tonight. Sounds fascinating, I know.
You guys can reach me on the cell.

Stop asking if I think he's gonna propose!

Hiya!
Just sitting here, sipping my uber-caffeinated tea and munching on vanilla wafers. Have I been to sleep? No. Will I get at least a short nap? Probably not.
It's really interesting to see who'll walk through the doors at the art building at 2 in the morning. Actually, not really. Architecture kids.
So what am I doing up? Procrastinating. Should be doing Physics. Turns out there's still a wee bit of a chance for me to make a B. So no more wondering if I'll have to take physics 2 during the summer. Woot!
I feel kinda British...
Ugh, and today's a long day, too. I'm almost staring at the 24-hour mark now, and I have a 13 hour day starting at 8. Hahahaha... Plus I've gotta finish up my (woo hoo) next to last English essay. Went to my last lab today. Er, yesterday. It's 5 a.m.
Bah. Must get to work.

The Conquests of Sexy Chef Man!

'K, so Dennis cooked a special birthday dinner for me. Chicken thighs marinated in a red wine sauce, bowtie pasta with homemade alfredo, a bread and olive oil with cracked pepper appetizer, and French silk pie for dessert.
We ate in his room and watched "Sabrina" until we both dozed off for a little while. Dennis doubles as a very nice pillow.
Yeah...

"I just drank a baby."

Evening, lovelies!
Those of you in the "Sushi is Good" group will be happy to know that I tried some last night and enjoyed it. Didn't even have much trouble with the chopsticks. Even did the cute little teapot thing, too.
Yeah, Dennis and I went out with Dave and Brittany. She had the most disturbing ... drinking ... apparatus ... I've ever seen. It was a porcelain child with a hole in the back of its head. And it was facing me throughout dinner.
So we'll have to go to Sakura (or wherever) sometime in the nearish future.
Yummy yummy fishy fishy!!!
Yeah, sorry for stealing your sushi chant, Heather...

Stuff and junk.

It's ... Thursday.

You know what's really good? Navel oranges. The kind with the thick peel, so you have to work a little to get to the yummy citrus goodness. Ever since I was a verreh small child, I always got one in my Christmas stocking. Don't know which side of the family that came from, but I doubt it really matters.
But back to the fruit. They keep FOREVER in the fridge, if you need them to. I bought some when I first arrived in Starkville in August, and I ate the last one about a month later. Still quite good. Crisp.

Let's see...
Got an A on my last essay, so that gives me an A in the course. Woo hoo!
Next week I'll be registering for spring courses and renewing my housing contract.
Not to mention birth-daaaaaaaaay Monday. ^^ And my dad's is Friday.

So yeah, college life is a scream. Class, studio, homework, feeding the starving boyfriend, watching this anime show about a former samurai.

Kinetic energy ... IN YO' FACE!!

Physics tests suck many, many things.
I had equations down for all the problems, and I'm sure I got the questions right, so hopefully that'll get me the 80 I need. I'll take a few extra points...

Well, it's final project time, which means lots of drawings, several sketch models, and a well-crafted final model are due in about a month.

Gotta bump my English grade up just a couple of points (planning on taking honors comp II in the spring so I can keep my honors perks), and I'm pretty sure I'm safe in freehand.

Yes, I know this isn't a particularly interesting entry, but I'm not a very interesting person at this time.

But... One week 'til my birthday! Woot! Party...

I want a doughnut.

Hello, Charlie!

Fun college escapades. Dennis has got everyone hooked on soft air guns.
So imagine, if you will, six or seven of us running around the apartment complex down the road, or at the construction site, shooting each other with BBs and giggling like little children.
My weapon of choice is a Colt .45 assault pistol. The silencer adds a little fun.
And if I don't want to be an architect anymore, this'll be good training for the CIA...

Put your extra insulation to good use!

Hey people!
Just wanted to say "Hi. I'm not dead. And I hope you are the same."
Enjoying my free weekend. Gonna bake cookies today. :D
Spent almost all day with Dennis yesterday. Our football team lost the homecoming game (*sigh*), and I've seen Daniel recovering from a hangover and a pretty eventful night, even without the booze.
Ask me about it later, it's a trip...

Rock around the clock!

We're gonna go over 24 hours without sleep! It's okay, though. Only one class tomorrow, so maybe I can catch up on it...
Actually, I'm looking at potentially 36 hours straight. This should be fun. Invest in Mountain Dew. NOW!
Back at State. Taking a break from note-taking on chapters 2, 8, and 10 of "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek."
And a mutant cricket is crawling around my floor. Why am I freaked out by the cricket? I live on the third floor, that's why...
Enjoyed seeing Whit, Heather, and Greg at Seasons Monday night.
I thought I packed the cooking timer, but I didn't. Need to go to Wal-Mart soon. *sigh*
Less than three weeks 'til my birthday. Woot! Maybe I'll actually get MAIL for a change!
If there's anyone out there that I didn't tell, my grandparents freaked out when I told them I'm dating a Catholic. Seriously... they wigged out. My parents have no problem with it. No problem with any of it, so long as I end up doing well in school and don't run off and get married for a few more years. At least until I start my internship.
Got my camera and the software is installed. So yeah. Pictures soonish.
Gotta get back to Tinker Creek. Literary acid trip...

Carnivores Anonymous

From Lore.
We miss you, Lore.

I'll take calligraphy and then I'll make a fake degree.

Woot for fall break!
Even though I have a buttload of physics homework :(
And also a bunch of sketches and reading for studio :( :(
But anyway, I'm here. Spent the first half of the afternoon serving cheesecake at a wedding reception. Yum :) And we took the dogs to get vaccinated this morning. Pookie's old now. We got a pamphlet on senior pet care and whatnot.
She's not old. Really...
Psyched about going to the zoo Monday :D
Yeah ... I feel like a little kid. A little kid who can drive. And who is in college. With a 23-year-old boyfriend.
It's time to shut up.

The romantic's guide to life...

The Sonnet Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer (DGLDf) Romantic, hopeful, and composed. You are the Sonnet. Get it? Composed? Sonnets want Love and have high ideals about it. They're conscientious people, caring & careful. You yourself have deep convictions, and you devote a lot of thought to romance and what it should be. This will frighten away most potential mates, but that's okay, because you're very choosy with your affections anyway. You'd absolutely refuse to date someone dumber than you, for instance. Your exact opposite: Genghis Khunt Random Brutal Sex Master Lovers who share your idealized perspective, or who are at least willing to totally throw themselves into a relationship, will be very, very happy with you. And you with them. You're already selfless and compassionate, and with the right partner, there's no doubt you can be sensual, even adventurously so. You probably have lots of female friends, and they have a special soft spot for you. Babies do, too, at the tippy-top of their baby skulls. ALWAYS AVOID: The 5-Night Stand, The False Messiah, The Hornivore, The Last Man on Earth CONSIDER: The Loverboy Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating. My profile name: wallviolet

The female version of Nick... O_O

Don't envy us now, envy us when we have money.

Well, it seems I can't escape the studio. Ever. I'm writing from my desk right now. Been working on two projects today. One with a group and one individual. Neither are progressing very well. I've already had a nap up here tonight, and I'm going to run back to Ruby to grab a blanket and more Mountain Dew. Good night to all (except the other lunatics who are still up here with me).

I can't feel my right thumb.

Erg.
Pulled an all-nighter at the studio. Nap. Then wake up and shower before physics.
Sleepy...

I love fresh towels - warm and fluffy and soft ... kinda like you!

I'm no longer dependent on the shifty wireless connection I've been ganking since August. Woo, ethernet...
Okay, so it's October now. Last time I checked, October was an autumn month, and that means cooler weather. Not cold, mind you, but definitely less than 90 degrees. Apparently Mississippi has two main seasons: Hot (about 10 months out of the year), and Cold (one month, probably around January). Spring and fall have a couple of weeks thrown in there, just because it was required.
It's still a little surreal having a boyfriend. Three weeks running, now. We're getting more comfortable with each other all the time, so we can do boring, un-romantic stuff like homework and laundry. Very give-and-take, he'll spring for Chinese one night, I'll let him use my laundry detergent if he's run out, we'll go shopping together and watch football. And I can tease him about not liking vegetables at his age, maybe threaten to use his nickname in public. *evil grin*
Yeah, you're sick of hearing my bubbly Dennis-speak.
I'll stop now.

Ze End of Ze World

Hello, lovelies.
It was a most amazing development this morning. I walked outside this morning and it was cool! I was sweating yesterday when I was scurrying around before freehand. But yeah, unexpected as this was, it means I get to wear sweaters and hoodies and all that fun stuff. :D
We swapped desks in studio at the beginning of the week so the three sections would be together. I'm waaaaaaaaaaay in the back corner by the meeting area. Need to pick up a light today so I can work at night. And we got our first grades back yesterday. I got a B- on my project! And I'm saying that in a good way. C means "good," B means "really good," and A means "why are you wasting your time in school?!"
Happiness. And I brought home some A's in English and freehand, too.
Woot, the gradeness... It made my day. Otherwise I'd just be hot and have sore muscles from working in my floor.
I'm getting a digital camera! Yes, that means I'll actually start updating my site again.
But I think for now I'm gonna run along and run some errands, maybe (probably) work on physics, and ... stuff.

6:14, everyone sign the sheet and run!

Hello! I don't have freehand tonight due to the university's fifteen minute rule. :D
Okay, Atlanta:
Atlanta is a big city, not too unlike Nashville, except there are more peach references and no Batman building. They have another BellSouth building, though...
They have monster hotels with fancy-shmancy lobbies and fun elevators. Whee!!! And rotating restaurants...
There was also a transvestite convention while we were there. And everyone must follow the guidelines in order to safely and comfortably ride MARTA. Club hopping is for people who have a life. Hotel hopping is for architecture students.
And it is fun to go to expensive stores and watch your guy friends try on jackets (woot, the Hugo Boss) and sample cologne. Kenneth Cole "Signature" is good, so is "Aqua" ... um, I think by Bulgaria or something that is spelled like it...
Emory has declared war on Wash U. I didn't know the SGA could have a department of war.
Very, very important: Maggiano's Little Italy. Gooooooooood Fooooooooooood. And the live jazz in the background is a plus, too. Nice date location, and not uber expensive. In case you're ever in Atlanta and need such a place...
Anyway, must do physics homework and save my butt from being eaten in studio! Later!

The Statue of Liberty? I thought it was taller... No, it's just a hologram.

Hey from Atlanta! The bus ride was pretty easy, just chilled and listened to the iPod.
It's really a lot like Nashville here, except instead of the BellSouth building there's Georgia Power. My roommates and I went to the Hard Rock for supper. Good food, loud music. Always an appropriate activity after riding a bus.
We also wandered around one of the mega hotels. The interior was too cool, and the elevators speak. Two good indications that it's too expensive to house college students. But I got some (hopefully) good shots for my portfolio.
Before the end of the trip we're definitely going to ride the rail system and hit the mall.
Tomorrow we're touring the Community Housing Resource Center and some building on and around the Emory campus. Then free time starting at 5! Woot!
Yeah...I'll talk to you guys later...
And I miss Dennis... :P

This is me procrastinating.

Let's see how I fared...

Put an X by the movies you've seen.
If you get more than 70, you're a movie freak.
COPY and REPOST! PLACE YOUR SCORE IN THE SUBJECT LINE.

()Pirates of the Caribbean
(x)Boondock Saints
()The Mexican
()Fight Club
()Starsky and Hutch
(x)Neverending Story
()Blazing Saddles
()Garden State
(x)The Princess Bride
(x)Young Frankenstien
(x)Anchorman
(x)Napoleon Dynamite
()Saw
()White noise
() White Oleander
() Anger Management
total here : 6

()50 First Dates
()Jason X
()Scream
()Scream 2
()Scream 3
()Scary Movie
()Scary Movie 2
()Scary Movie 3
()American Pie
()American Pie 2
()American Wedding
(x)Harry Potter
()Harry Potter 2
()Harry Potter 3
()Resident Evil I
()Resident Evil 2
()The Wedding Singer
()Little Black Book
total here:1

(x)The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
(x) Finding Nemo
()Finding Neverland
()13 Ghosts new or old
()Signs
(x)The Grinch
()Texas Chainsaw Massacre new or old
()White Chicks
(x)Butterfly Effect
()13 going on 30
()I Robot
(x) Dodgeball
() Universal Soldier
() A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came A Spider
() Deep Impact
total here : 6


() Kingpin
() Never Been Kissed
()Meet The Parents
()Meet the Fockers
()Eight Crazy Nights
()A Cinderella Story
(x)The Terminal
()The Lizzie McGuire Movie
()Passport to Paris
()Dumb & Dumber
()Dumb & Dumberer
()Final Destination
()Final Destination 2
()Halloween
()The Ring
()The Ring 2
()Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
()Practical Magic
()Chicago
()Ghost Ship
()From Hell
()Hellboy
(x)Secret Window
()I Am Sam
()The Whole Nine Yards
()The Whole Ten Yards
()The Day After Tomorrow
()Child's Play
()Bride of Chucky
()Ten Things I Hate About You
()Just Married
()Gothika
()Nightmare on Elm Street
(x)Sixteen Candles
()Bad Boys
()Bad Boys 2
()Joy Ride
()Seven (SE7EN)
()Oceans Eleven, new or old
()Oceans Twelve
()Identity
total here : 3

()Lone Star
()Predator I
()Predator II
()Independence day
()Cujo
()A Bronx Tale
()Darkness Falls
()Christine
(x)ET
()Children of the Corn
()My boss' daughter
()Maid in Manhattan
()Frailty
()Best bet
()How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
()She's All That
()Calendar Girls
()Sideways
()Mars Attacks
total here : 1


()Event Horizon
()Ever after
(x)Forrest Gump
()Big Trouble in Little China
()X-men 1
()X-men 2
()Catch Me If You Can
()The Others
(x)Freaky Friday, new or old
()Ring of Fire
()The Hot Chick
()Swimfan
()Miracle
()Old School
()Ray
()The Notebook
()K-Pax
total here: 2

(x)Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
(x)Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(x)Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
()A Walk to Remember
()Boogeyman
(x)Hitch
()Back Door Sluts 9
()Anal Acres 1
()Anal Acres 2
()B-Cup Divas
()The Fifth Element
(x)Star Wars episode I The Phantom Menace
()Star Wars episode II Attack of The Clones
()Star Wars episode III Revenge of The Sith
(x)Star Wars episode IV A New Hope
(x)Star Wars episode V The Empire Strikes Back
(x)Star Wars episode VI Return of The Jedi...
()Troop Beverly Hills
()Swimming with Sharks
()Air Force One
(x)For Richer or Poorer
()Trainspotting
()People under the stairs
()Blue Velvet
(x)Sound of music
(x)Parent Trap new or old
() The Burbs
()The Terminator
()Empire Records
()SLC Punk
()Meet Joe Black
()Wild girls
()A Clockwork Orange
()the Order
(x)Spiderman
(x)Spiderman 2
()Amelie
total here: 13

(x)Mean Girls
(x)Shrek
(x)Shrek 2
(x)The Incredibles
()Collateral
()The Fast & The Furious
()2 Fast 2 Furious
()Sky Captain Of The World Of Tomorrow
() Closer
total here : 4

()Titanic
()Saved
()Bowling For Columbine
()Farenheit 9/11
()The Sixth Sense
(x)Artificial intelligence (AI)
()Love actually
()Shutter
()Ella Enchanted
(x)Princess diaries 1
()Princess diaries 2
()Constantine
(x)Million Dollar Baby
()Envy
()Eurotrip
()Malibu's Most wanted
()Big Daddy
()Black Sheep
(x)The Breakfast Club
(x)West side story
total here : 5

(x)A Christmas Story
()Spanglish
()Pulp Fiction
()Sleepover
()The Evil Dead
()*Killer Klowns From Outer Space*
()The Seed of chucky
()Vanilla Sky
(x)Nightmare Before Christmas
()Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
(x)Interview With The Vampire
()The Crow
()Purple Rain
()Reservoir Dogs
(x)Wayne's World
total here : 4

()Wayne's World 2
()21 Grams
() Blow
(x)Edward Scissorhands
()Clerks
(x)Beauty and the Beast
()Guess who
()Monster In-Law
()Elf
(x)Stuart Little
()Stuart Little 2
()Mall Rats
()Chasing Amy
()Dogma
(x)Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
() Jersey Girl
total here: 4

(x)Beetlejuice
()The Last Samurai
()The Amityville Horror (old or new)
()The Aviator
(x)Romeo and Juliet any version
(x)Barbershop
()Beauty Shop
()legally blonde
()legally blonde 2
()the forgotten
()confessions of a teenage drama queen
()grudge
total here: 3

()Lethal Weapon 1
()Lethal Weapon 2
()Lethal Weapon 3
()Lethal Weapon 4
(x)The Matrix
()The Matrix: Reloaded
()The Matrix: Revolutions
(x)Happy Gilmore
total: 2

Okay, 54. Not a movie freak, but still fairly well-rounded in my viewing...
Heather, how'd you get that many?!
(BTW, I should have been working at the studio instead of doing this...)
(Later: I met Dennis a month ago today! :D )

Great, now I need to explode one of these joints...

Hey to everyone spread over the southeast and Maine. I hope you're all having a relatively stress-free week. This is my whining session.
Tuesday night I'm high on caffeine. In the studio everyone is being friendly - working on paraline drawings, studying for the physics test, buying snacks to raise funds for NOMAS - it's all cool. Except someone brought sushi and it smelled. Eww. Dennis dropped by for a little while and was amazed that it took me ten minutes to draw a square. Got a lot of work done despite the distractions.
4:00 rolls around and I finally go to sleep. Alarm is set for 6 so I can scan my notes before going to take the test.
8:52. Crap. I'm screwed.
Emailed the prof to explain why I missed the test. No sympathy for the exhausted architecture student. He even suggested that I withdraw from the course, but with my major, that would mean dropping out of the university for the rest of the year. Not happening. So I emailed him back saying that I can make a B in the class if I work really hard and to expect me at 8:00 Friday morning.
Take that, Baron von Jerkoff!
One of my studio friends offered to give me a wakeup call before that class for a while. Fair trade. I scan stuff for her with the HP, so it's all good.
And I have plenty of people in studio to study with. We're getting close. Good thing, too, since we'll be seeing a lot of each other for five years.
Anyway, Atlanta next week. Lots of drawing, lots of walking, hopefully not too much dealing with drunk people.
Cute nerd story: Dennis created a character in his Final Fantasy game and named it after me. I feel special.
I'll get a picture soon and show it to you guys. :)

Ear-gasm

Everyone click the link. Me encanta.
Yeah, exploring soft jazz and swing. Makes me wanna dress up and go to one of those classy nightclubs a la 1940's. Good mood music... ;)
Yeah, somebody had some playing when we got in from our walk last night. Sly devil.

Terry Tate: Office Linebacker

Now, am I mistaken, or are weekends supposed to be for relaxing? Right. Being the frugal type, instead of purchasing a drafting board, I drove to Lowes and got a smooth hollowcore door and had it cut down. Save money there, spend it on a 20-yard roll of 36" wide vellum. But mention design studio at the Chalet (which does exist, I know because I've been there) and they'll give you a discount. Whee, discount!
Anyway, drafting stuff now. Orthographic and paraline drawings this week. It's not hard, just very tedious. OCD on a blank white sheet.
Happier news (at least for me) - I'm back with Dennis. *Prepares for Whit rant*
I swear, he isn't the devil. Just a third cousin of the devil... I'm kidding! Dang...
He treats me well, and I know how to keep him purring like a kitten. A very large kitten. Literally over twice my size...
And yeah. I've got a pretty full week ahead of me. Physics test Wednesday, more studio stuff than should be given to a sane person, who knows what in Comp, freehand, and lab...
Good night, lovelies.

Victory!

Finally! I have cable in my room! Woot for TV!
Starting labs today. Woo...
Anyway, gotta do that, get my final model finished, work on my physics homework, and do some sketches for freehand. Blargh. Probably take some time off to watch "The Longest Yard" on the Drill Field with Dennis and crew. (The crew being Joseph, Jesus, and ... Derek?)
Oh! And I got a card from Whit! Thanks Whit! It's good to know somebody loves me...

I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth

Back from my weekend. And I still need wood or museumboard for my model.
Hey, I did manage to finish my homework for English. Be proud of me.
I had a chicken-filled weekend. Saturday morning - chicken biscuit. Saturday evening - chicken parmesan salad. Sunday afternoon - chicken cordon bleu. Sunday evening - leftovers from Saturday evening. Tonight - chicken pot pie soup.
I'm gonna go on a burger/pizza binge next. After I convince myself to put down the cheetos. Gah, cheetos!
Anyway, it was good to see those of you who were cool and didn't have to fly up to Maine for school. That's just screwed up, starting class on Labor Day! Blasphemy!
My air conditioner still leaks, so I'm hoping the fan will be enough to keep me cool until I can get maintenance up here. Ruby isn't even listed on the web form they use for complaints. Stupid.
There's a lot of crap on my bed. Might want to lose some of that and get some sleep.
Good night.

I feel I've been here before...

Hello, Lovelies!
I'm back in J-town for a couple of days. Hopefully I can find a parking spot when I return to campus Monday :P.
It was really cool when I began driving north. The sun was beginning to set and the whole color scheme was very end-of-summer-y. You know the one. Still warm, but starting to cool off and blur together. Driving at night is the way to go. I pulled into my driveway 3 hours and 3 minutes after I called to let the family know I was on my way. And you can sing along with the radio (or iPod...) and nobody will look at you funny! :)
Also, there are armadillos in Mississippi. Which is a relief, because I saw some on the side of the road and thought, "Hmm, either that's an armadillo, or there are mutant dogs running around."
Anyway, I wanna check out the bistro where Bubba's used to be sometime before I leave. Hope to see everyone who's in town!

"But you see, gods can play at will. I am a sex god."

Evening!
Little or nothing happened today, but I figured I'd post something.
Gonna try to come up for the weekend, but if I can't get gas tomorrow, it won't happen. Adri, $5 for fuel is insane, and the trip from Atlanta is, what, 7 hours?
Heather, you be the Hot Dork Girl for Madison County, and I'll be the Sexy Nerd Girl for Oktibbeha County. Just stick to coffee shops and bookstores to find suitable flirting material. Jenn can be whatever she wants for Dancing Rabbit. Miki will just be cold in a couple of months...
Miki, have fun moving back in, and try to make the best of an awkward situation. Never assume something is going to happen until it already has.

Different tangent time. I saw Dennis earlier and we're still cool. One of his friends (who had actually called and interrupted us before dinner Friday) kept yammering about his new girlfriend yesterday. Guys are dense. But anyway, Dennis gave this guy a call while we were walking around the Quad, and guess where he was, hmm? Haha, got what he deserved! (Crazy redhead ;) ) Oh, and he's heard news about his house - minor damage, great shape compared to most of the town.
Here's a smooth post-breakup move: give the girl a handshake the next time you hang out. Mm hmm... [/sarcasm]

All for tonight. Fuel hunting in the morning. After physics, of course...

We interrupt this program to issue a retraction.

I'm single again. Decided I needed to get my priorities straightened out and stay focused on my work for now. Dennis is cool with it. In fact, he suggested that I mull it over. We're still friends and he's gonna move the furniture back to its original position. He hurt himself too much with the temporary arrangement, anyway.
So I welcome myself back to the land of sanity! Or at least my personal brand of sanity...

Ride it out...

Hello, lovelies!
The hurricane came and went. Didn't do any major damage here, but I'll tell you guys how it went.
At lunchtime the wind was starting to pick up a little and the rain turned from mist to a steady shower. Sustained force, but not too strong, and not much gusting. By 5 there were sheets of rain and stronger wind. Low-lying areas were flooded, and some car windows had been broken out, whether by wind or flying debris. Still safe enough for people to be outside for short intervals of time. In fact, some guys were doing body-luge down the hills south of Barr Avenue. Dennis and I were watching from the 5th floor balcony with some of the other residents.
Shortly after that it got too windy to stay outside. The eye passed about 20 minutes from here, and we think the storm may have still been a category 1 hurricane when the strongest part hit our area.
After dark, tree branches were starting to break and take out power lines. We saw a few small explosions and some live wires dancing around near Suttle. Didn't regain power until early morning.
Classes and offices have been closed since noon yesterday and should reopen tomorrow morning. Cleanup crews are busy picking up branches around campus, particularly on the west side. There was one pane of glass blown loose in the first-year studio, so there are probably a lot of materials inside that need to be picked up, but again, no major damage.
Overall, it was less dangerous than tornadoes. The wind is pretty evenly spread, but the rain is worse. Plus this is much easier to prepare for than tornadoes.
So here's to Katrina for breaking all or most of the physical records!
Dennis is going to find some way to get back home this weekend to see if his house is still standing, or to help with the cleanup.
Hope everyone else managed to stay reasonably dry. If I hear any whining from Jackson, I'll say you should be beaten with a fish from the Gulf.

Drowning in a parking lot.

Got this in my inbox earlier tonight. Ethernet isn't working in my wing, so if the wireless craps out, I'm not gonna be informed. Technology can suck so bad!

Residents:

The National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Advisory for the Starkville area beginning on Monday and extending into Tuesday. Hurricane Katrina, a Category 5 Hurricane is expected to make landfall along the Louisiana coast sometime Monday. The Starkville area is expected to be affected between Monday and Tuesday, with hurricane-force wind gusts beginning Monday night through the day on Tuesday as the hurricane moves into Mississippi. We are advising residents to take all necessary precautions in preparation for this storm:

-Please bring all outdoor items indoors by Monday. If high wind gusts are present, outdoor items can become dangerous if they are picked up and carried by wind.
-Please ensure you have flashlights, batteries, water, and ready-made food available in the event of power outages. Please avoid using candles during power outages because they are prohibited.
-If weather conditions become dangerous, please seek shelter indoors, away from windows.
-Use common sense when deciding whether or not to travel in hazardous conditions.
-Stay tuned to local and national weather updates. Remember, hurricanes can produce damaging wind, flooding, and tornados.
-Please remain indoors if debris or downed power lines are present.

If MSU announces closings, it will be posted on the MSU website, but no such announcement has been made at this time. Campus officials will meet on Monday to decide what steps are appropriate in preparation for this storm. Please check the MSU website periodically throughout the day tomorrow for any announcements.

See you guys once we've dried out. I plan to come up Friday night.

If you know, you know. If you don't, I'm not gonna tell you.

Hello, lovelies. Just checking in. They have granted us freedom from the charcoals for a while in studio. Now we get to make models! Woot! So that's what I'll be doing tonight.
I told Dennis I would plug one of our favorite shows to watch. Everyone needs to check out "Scrubs." Now!
Okay, I'm gonna throw on some studio clothes and head over there. Good night!

Everyone bring your box cutters Friday, just in case the lecture starts to run long.

Another $75 sunk in art supplies. I wound up going to the Campus Book Mart. Can't find the Chalet, and frankly, I don't think it really exists.
Hoolay for Friday! I think we're going to put the charcoals down for a little while and start working with cardboard today. It'll be nice to be clean again.
All my books are in for Studio. It's really fun to get packages of any sort down here.
Lost my wireless connection in my room yesterday, and also managed to lock myself out. Dork. Cost me $5 to get back in. :P
Somber note: Thomas Caudill died earlier this week. He graduated from JCM back in the spring.

I was white before I decided to become an architect.

More charcoal drawing yesterday. Some people were fortunate enough to have cameras, so they just took pictures of their subjects and used the zoom feature. Yarr. I was outside from 1-ish to nearly 4. Then it was time to take a break from that confounded wall and do some laundry. It costs $1.50 to dry your clothes here! Insanity!
Anyway. Did that, finished my reading for English, email, supper, bla bla bla...
Went back to the studio to finish shading and highlighting. Must've been there for at least 2 and a half hours. Fortunately Dennis dropped by to see what this crazy profession is all about. Finally finished the sketches and almost died trying to pin them up. My life is an exciting adventure.
Then I just had to go watch Ghostbusters 'til 1 this morning. *sigh* I should know better, especially when I have a class at 8.
Anyway, that's what's been going on. Miss you people!

Thank you, tree, for offering a little relief from the heat. Wait, why am I talking to a tree?

Too hot!!!
I passed out in my room not long after I got back from supper. How I managed to eat food, I may never know.
Anyway, physics this morning went well. The professor seems like a decent fellow. Didn't assign twelve hours' worth of work over the weekend or anything. I did... Wait, I know I did something for the four hours between that and studio...
Probably doesn't matter...
I was alive, I had lunch, I went to studio. They made us go out in the heat to draw. And they laughed, I know it! But I have my desk and most of my supplies, so whee.
And I get to draw for about a billion hours this weekend. :P I'll go shopping when it starts to get hot. Need food...
Don't know if I'll keep the same meal plan next semester. The food's good, but I'm not entirely convinced I'm saving all that much money. Not a particularly big person here.
Enough of this.

I have escaped from the Chicken. Now all I have to worry about are chemical engineers.

Hello, lovelies. Went to class this morning. My English prof seems okay. Not too spacey or anything. And we were fortunate enough to be moved closer to civilization sometime this afternoon. From now on (barring any further adjustments) I'll be on the Quad.
And that was all the academic progress for today. While I was standing in the bookstore, waiting for materials that don't exist, another guy comes up, starts chatting with me, and invites me for coffee at the bakery. I don't drink coffee, but I did accept a cookie. This one's a couple of years older than we are, tall, and likes to cook. He also had a bunch of Family Guy episodes on his PC. Chemistry guy, but not really the scrawny lab type.
So continues my conquest.
Anyway, physics and architectural design tomorrow. With about four hours of dead time in between. College is weird.

Muskadine Ripple. Kinda like strawberry...

Woo and yay! Classes start in the morning! And I now know where the poultry science building is. Basically, I get off the bus at the first stop on Sorority Row and scurry across the street like a squirrel. The bus driver was nice.
Also, Adri called today. *waves to Adri* It was nice to hear someone who wasn't related to me for a change. Hope you like it at Mercer!
They had an ice cream social at the honors dorm tonight. I saw a couple of the guys from the architecture department and met one who is majoring in chemistry. He was amazed out of his mind when I didn't react negatively to the word "chemistry."
The sororities seem to be having some sort of party ... thing. It looks like a freakin' beauty contest, minus the sashes.
Oh, yeah. I also met a guy this morning who lives in my dorm. He's pretty cool. However, he's in ROTC and has to get up for drills at the baseball field at 5:30 every morning. I envy not his schedule. Not bad looking, kinda athletic. It's all good. If nothing else, I can have a friend who doubles as a bodyguard.

Happy things

At noon every day, they play a song on the bell tower. Until yesterday, I haven't been able to identify what it was. But yesterday, they were playing Bridge over Troubled Water. Simon and Garfunkel!!!
I've figured out the meal plan system. Walk in, they put $4.50 into your MoneyMate account, and go eat. If your meal costs less than $4.50, you have extra for later!
There is a William Shakespeare action figure in the bookstore. Complete with quill and parchment. I must get that. Too happy.
3
]:=:P Moose!
3

Quickly! Before my connection tanks!

Hi. Well, I met this guy yesterday. Kinda quirky, but nice. He'll go in the same bin as Winston. Yeah.
I almost cried when I bought my books today. Nearly $300 for English and Physics. And I have to come back for some more Thursday. It hurts.
Anyway, I've been battling the wireless connection in the student union since about 7. Very happy when they have it hooked up in my dorm. :P
Meal plan is working, so that's a plus! :) And I met my Resident Advisor today. Also nice. Lives right across the hall.
Well, just checking in. Hope everyone is well, and not going out of their minds.
Good night!

Is that the bell tower or an ice cream truck?

Hello from the lobby of the student union! I have phone service in my room, but I don't know the number, or even how to dial out of the campus. :P
Anyway, just wanted to say hi and be oh, so happy that I managed to install the weird software from the university's tech website.
Nothing too major has happened, besides the fire alarm in Ruby being pulled when I was out for supper last night. And if anyone wants to see a movie, Sahara is pretty good. Not too much heavy stuff, but a lot of explosions and gunfire.
All for now. Must get my parking decal today. :)
Byebye!

...And now listen, little child, to the safety rail.

Well, wrapping things up before I have to dismantle my computering arrangements for "tha move" tomorrow morning. It's a verb. "Computering."
Adri - I know you probably can't read this from wherever you are, but whenever you can, e-mail me. Also, despite all the random crap I'm taking to school, most of it fits in my car. It's a little freaky...
Heather - The lavender likes sunlight. And it needs a little bit of water every day until it's about two inches tall. Then you can skip a day in between. Don't kill Beth because she's a suspected emo-kid, and if you have any girly complaints in certain other areas, you know where to find me.
Jenn - Have fun in New Orleans. And by fun, I mean things that make you happy, not horrified. Also, find me sometime in Mississippi. Starkville is actually northeast of Jackson... Yeah, I lied earlier.
Miki - Would it help if I told you the fish forgave me for my barbaric behavior last night? No? Good, because I haven't talked to it... Anyway, I'll be surrounded by lots and lots of land. Cows and chickens are not good sporting animals.
Whit - I'm totally with you on Memphis in May... Unless it's during exams. If that's the case, I'm gonna cry. Anyway, have fun!
The Guys - Don't kill each other. I mean it.
Now, I have some little odds and ends that need to go somewhere, and about a zillion songs to load onto the ipod. Enough typing...

I'm way too giggly. What have they put in my drink?

Well, three days and I'll be moving into Ruby Hall. I was actually away from my computer for most of the day yesterday - laundry, packing, fun stuff like that. I thought I was going to completely lose it last night. Squirt went into destructo mode around my seedlings, and I ran around the house trying to find my money and my keys so I could meet Heather at Starbucks. Two perks about dorm life: no toddlers, and there's only a 13' by 20' space where you could possibly put all of your stuff. Way better than trying to remember which room you left something in.
Yeah, so in true Heather-and-Meredith form, we drank some tea and a happy green beverage in the back of her truck in the parking lot until everything except Wal-Mart and Perkins was closed. And then we watched some random thing about Anna Nicole Smith back at Heather's house...
Weird.

I hope to see you guys before I leave! More packing today. :P

Does everyone have their plastic Jesus?

Sorry for the ripping-off-ness, Heather, but since Adri is heading out in the morning, it seemed an appropriate title.
Right, so today was my last Sunday as a full-time resident of J-town. I got to say goodbye to a bunch of the crew from the Warehouse this morning. The Poes got back in town last night, and Becca brought me an Oxford t-shirt. And then she gave me a packet of oatmeal. Supposedly to get me off on the right foot as far as hair-growing is concerned. Straightened (as I discovered this afternoon), it now reaches the bottom of my shouler blades. About the length I'm aiming for when it's curly. So yeah, I'm also well on my way to being able to afford the happy bass pack.

We successfully surprised Adri. There must've been at least a dozen of us piled into her living room when she came home. Lots of reminiscing, including past plays and choral events, all of the science classes with Heather and Whit, and having the "flaming bags of poo" explained in eighth grade. To top it off, the power went out a little before sundown, so those of us remaining sat around in the dark sharing "warm and fuzzies." A very fitting adieu, I think. And then Grant and I were blinded by the chandelier when the power came back. Ouch.

So Adri, have fun, and I hope you have most of what you need, because it would suck to get down there and realize you forgot something essential.
*Hugs*

"Bracelet-gasm" doesn't quite roll off the tongue, but that's what I have.

Heather said I needed to update. Okay.
Um, well, Thursday was the Grand Tour of J-town. That took about four hours, if you include snacking at Seasons. Heather and I shouldn't be turned loose near any vending establishments. We buy crap. Muchly. Seriously, I got three bracelets, a bargain 2-CD set (woo $5), and a Beatles decal. But now my right arm is one color short of being completely rastafarian. Someone get me one of the Livestrong ones?
Anyway, that was a trip.
Since I have almost nothing to do with my days (one week left before move-in) I had an opportunity to think up improbable scenarios for when class starts. My first one is English comp, held in the poultry science lab. Huh?
Anyway, what happens if something horribly horribly wrong happens while class is in session? Imagine an angry mob of chickens storming every office and lecture room in the building - angry fowl. And some kid in the back starts freaking out because of a traumatic experience he had as a small child. Blood and feathers everywhere, and for the next three weeks everything in the cafeteria is chicken-based, but you have to chew very carefully because there is shrapnel of various sorts in the chickens. And several desks and filing cabinets need to be replaced.
I seriously need something better to do with my time. :P

Nothing ever happens, but I update anyway.

Eh, some random bits and pieces from the past week or so.

Sitting in the waiting room at the dentist's office. My 13-year old jock brother comes in from getting his teeth cleaned and goes to browse through the magazines, looking for something to kill time while Michael is in the back. The best he could come up with on his own was Cosmo Girl. ... I direct his attention to something somewhat more masculine. Something with an article about survival in the woods.

I'm taking a few plants with me to MSU. Aloysius, the whatever-the-heck plant from calculus. And some lavender sprouts. I'm still starting some of them. Six were ready to pot today, which surprised me since they've only been out six or seven days. Blame Jenn if I go all herb-y.

Drew came up from Memphis and called a movie night Sunday. We had to pick Taylor up (*subliminal message - get your driver's license*) and swing by Blockbuster. Knowing us, we got the most random combination of movies. The Nightmare Before Christmas and Cool Hand Luke. As we were getting out of the car Taylor said something to the effect of "Oh dear, I've pulled a Jenn." *everyone looks at his bare feet*

Had breakfast this morning with the Mad Ac girls. Heather, you're not the only one who loves my happy new MASH shirt.

Done for now. I'm supposedly uploading some sketches tonight.

On the subject of manifestos...

I'm pretty sure my identity crisis is over. Actually, I think the 12 years I spent at USJ were my identity crisis! But to be a good lemming, here goes:
1. Western vs. Eastern. Both have their perks. The West focused on progress, the East reminds us of the benifits of simplicity and balance.
2. I have found no reason NOT to believe there is a God. Everything is too ordered and complex to have just happened, and belief in God provides hope that this isn't the only thing we get.
3. I'm not trying to fit into any type of mold. I like washers. I like numerous types of music. I do some artsy things. The natural world inspires me and makes me curious. I am a math nerd. Basically, I'm like potpourri.
4. Society is defined by the people in it. Some societies are luckier than others.
5. Whether we can see it or not, there is a balance to everything, no matter how badly we have managed to screw up. To rip off an old Greek proverb: Everything in moderation. It's a pretty good guideline for life.
6. Realists get a bad rap, but their views are far more practical than optimists or pessimists. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
7. For good mental and physical health, doing productive work is a must. One gains a sense of accomplishment while making provisions for a comfortable life.
8. Ambition is good. Without it, we would all be lying on the ground drooling. Obsession, however, is destructive, whether on a small or large scale.
9. From the time we are born, we are trained to expect instant gratification. HUNGRY! WET! NASTY! COLD! However practical this instinct was in infancy, it began to develop into something unnatural once we began using our "superior" brains and opposable thumbs for things other than pure survival.
10. For a full life, there are only a few necessary components. People - we are pack animals (or herd, depending on one's mental capacity) and do very poorly if we don't have regular contact with other people, preferrably friends and family. Goals - reasons go get off our butts and not be vegetables. These can be occupational, domestic, or physical. Recreation - something good for your blood pressure.
11. All forms of government are flawed. On paper they look good, but people are generally stupid and/or corrupt, so what was a good thing quickly turns to crap.
12. We all have responisibilities that should not be ignored, both to ourselves, people close to ourselves, and society as a whole. When we screw up, it generally causes somebody else to have (at minimum) another headache.
13. I hate politics. I forget which of my friends said it, but we have probably solved all the world's major problems over caffeine and sugar breaks. Elected officials and other dignitaries are paid massive sums of money to run the world, but they inevitably plunge us into economic turmoil and make the rest of the world mad at our policies.
14. If simple pleasures are so satisfying, why do we demand luxury?
15. Know what you believe, but examine other opinions with an objective mind. You could either learn something new and useful or reaffirm your own beliefs.

15...a good number. Heck, if you haven't noticed, I always aim for the middle. (Right between Heather's 10 and Miki's 20)