I Love the State I'm In.

A Week in the Life of Jorie, Volume VII

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:07:41 GMT

7:26 AM: Morning Scene

10:53 AM: Steph Makes Macaroni, Broccoli, and Cheese

1:18 PM: Catkin is Fascinated by Giant Mealworms

1:53 PM: Co-op Bulk

5:38 PM: Steph Schedules More Tattoos

5:39 PM: Pigeons Like the Ghetto Delft Theatre Washington Street "Entrance"

5:41 PM: Cool Graffiti, Bro

7:44 PM: A Portion of $124 Spent (and $60 "Saved")

A Week in the Life Meme

Steph's Day Seven

A Week in the Life of Jorie, Volume VI

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:03:12 GMT

8:31 AM: Vegan French Toast (it really does exist!)

11:45 AM: Steph Makes Dinner

12:01 PM: Oh, Marquette

12:55 PM: Rachel Works the VegNMU Booth at FallFest

3:10 PM: After a Lewd Gesture with her Water Bottle, Steph Gets it All Over her Face

6:27 PM: Outside the Illustration Room

8:19 PM: Crescent Moonrise

A Week in the Life Meme

Steph's Day Six

A Week in the Life of Jorie, Volume V

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:25:35 GMT

9:59 AM: Cold Enough For Window Qorls

10:17 AM: Find the Cow

12:57 PM: Basil Ready For Drying

2:01 PM: I Was Going to Photograph My Crappy Paintings, But Catkin Intervened

4:16 PM: Meet Bo!

6:21 PM: Various Species of Maples, Backlit

6:29 PM: Tonight's Find

7:26 PM: Drank™

A Week in the Life Meme

Steph's Day Five

A Week in the Life of Jorie, Volume IV

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:31:50 GMT

8:38 AM: Catkin, You're Weird and Have Too Many Toys

9:27 AM: Naturally, We Bought the Most Expensive Ones

11:51 AM: Catkin Claws = Autobot Band-Aids

3:07 PM: Munny Just About Done

4:30 PM: I Really Should Use My Placemat

7:05 PM: Vegan Raspberry/Blueberry Muffins

8:05 PM: Steph Paints

A Week in the Life Meme

Steph's Day Four

A Week in the Life of Jorie, Volume III

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:57:22 GMT

9:28 AM: You're a Cat, Not Art Supplies

12:04 PM: Crappy Weather

12:44 PM: Grilled Cheese (and Cucumbers and Lettuce)

1:18 PM: Rainy Day Best Spent Inside

4:33 PM: Backing Up and Simplifying

7:11 PM: WHATTHEFUUU;AKDFHJS;ALKSDFJ;LAIWRUAL;KFJNFA

A Week in the Life Meme

Steph's Day Three

A Week in the Life of Jorie, Volume II

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:58:47 GMT

8:58 AM: Fog and Flat Tires

9:33 AM: Fiestaware

10:18 AM: I'm so hot

11:25 AM: Goodwill

11:57 AM: Huron Earth Deli

5:29 PM: Birdwatching, Catkin Style

6:52 PM: Reception Blur

A Week in the Life Meme

Steph's Day Two

A Week in the Life of Jorie, Volume I

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:12:48 GMT

9:13 AM: Bertuzzi and Breakfast

9:50 AM: Morning Routine

11:12 AM: Fit Strip

11:49 AM: Milk and Salad Dressing Run

4:12 PM: Munny Deer

5:47 PM: Dish Mountain

7:32 Macaroni and Cheese

A Week in the Life Meme

Steph's Day One

If I had a facepalm icon, I'd use it, but Angry Megatron will have to do.

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:23:28 GMT

Sooooo Stephanie, Jon, and I went to see the new Transformers movie tonight. Steph didn't want to see it but I paid for her ticket and dragged her along anyway and we blew ~3 hours at the big box theater for some American Entertainment (explosions, humor based on humping dogs and racism, tits, and maybe a few robots thrown in there just to be safe). Anyway, this is sort of a review, sort of not, but, um... SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. Will that do? I hope so, because I'm pretty sure most TF fans have seen this shitty movie by now. (Actually, I was surprised at the high amount of people who were in the theater. Surprised and, well, rather irritated.)

I... cannot think of a film where I have uttered "o lawd" so many times before. This is... this is not a good thing. And since I have more negative things to say than good, first allow me to get the good things out of the way... I can maybe only think of two or three examples.

Firstly, Megatron and Starscream. They had several good scenes together, Starscream sounded like Starscream, and... yes. Somehow, somehow they managed to put some good Megatron/Starscream interaction into this 2.5-hour shitpile of a movie.

Secondly, Ravage. Yes, his face looked like hell, but he had rocket packs on his back, he was ejected from Soundwave, and he was generally catlike in behavior. I enjoyed Ravage.

And, thirdly, a device to blow up the sun mounted on top of a pyramid. I like this for all the wrong reasons. It's ridiculous, and absolutely, incredibly STUPID in the context of a supposedly-serious movie, but in the context of something G1-related, it's brilliant. In fact, I'm pretty sure it HAPPENED in an episode of G1, except it was an Incan pyramid, and in that episdoe, you could tell the good guys and the bad guys apart.

Whew, now that that's over with, on to the bulk of the movie: the shittiness.

I mentioned this on Twitter: the first hour of the movie did not feel like a Transformers movie. In fact, it didn't seem connected at all to the previous Transformers movie -- a film that, yes, had its faults (and many of them), but I enjoyed to a certain extent (and, hey, it got me into the fandom in the first place).

There seems to be a serious flaw with how Michael Bay portrays Optimus Prime -- it wasn't so much of an issue in the first movie, but it was really apparent here. In this incarnation, Optimus doesn't have any qualms about killing anyone -- that includes Decepticons (beings who he spares or at the very least pities in basically every TF incarnation prior to Bayformers). Here, he's decapitating people, setting them on fire, ripping their arms off, tearing their faces in half (GIVE ME YOUR FACE) -- ad nauseum. He's more fucking ruthless than Megatron. In fact, I think he's got a higher body count than Devastator. Something's obviously wrong here.

Robot Racism! Okay, yeah, some people are going on about "oh, hey, the Autobots download their personalities from the Internet, that's why some of them are talking in ebonics." Um, no, that's not how it works. Jazz is one thing, and yes, he was the token black guy last movie (look, G1 Jazz was black, but he wasn't token black), but when you've got the DERP TWINS going around and talking in ebonics, claiming to not know how to read, sporting gold teeth and generally acting the black stereotype, you know you've got a problem. And one of them was even voice by a white guy (as in Tom Kenny. SpongeBob... TFA Starscream). This makes little sense.

Objectifying women! I'd rather be complaining about Transformers-related problems, but Michael Bay seems to love selling his films by zooming in on titties wobbling in slo-mo. This does not amuse me. I may like teh boobz (well, only a certain someone's boobs), but I sure as hell don't want to see Megan Fox's tits flying everywhere. Nor do I want to see her humping a motorcycle or lying prone with her legs spread, or see her lips parted in what is certain to turn result in an offscreen blowjob. In fact, Megan Fox was more tolerable last movie. I didn't know such a thing was possible.

Robo-gore. Let it be known that a little bit of robo-gore is never a bad thing. In small amounts it's right up my alley, for reasons that won't be discussed here -- but the amount of robot gore in this movie was sickening. Way over the top, IMO. It's one thing to have shrapnel and sparks flying everywhere but it's another to have gooey shit. Not even lying. The way Ravage was killed nearly made me vomit and I still don't want to think about it.

According to Michael Bay there's upwards of 40-something robots in this movie. Okay, I'll take his word for it, but it's pretty hard to tell them apart mid-battle. There were Decepticons popping up who all looked rather similar, whose names were never mentioned, and seemed to be pretty easy to take down with a few machine gun rounds. What do they transform into? Who knows! Because this totally isn't a film about transforming robots, it's about America's military strength, didn't you know?!

Shia La-however you spell his name. Bay should just rename the movies to SAM WITWICKY AND HIS WACKY ADVENTURES (guest starring some robots who also do wacky things). The movie was basically about him and not Prime et al, running around Egypt and doing wacky Indiana Jones-esque adventures. Also guest-starring John Turturro's buttcrack.

Other items of note:

- There was a fight in a forest. Not sure where, exactly, this forest was supposed to be, but I'm pretty fucking sure I saw some trees blow up. As in, there was an explosion, a fiery one, and there was shrapnel. Coming from the trees.
- Suddenly, Princeton, or whatever the hell Ivy League school it was supposed to be, is full of slutty college women. Never saw that one coming.
- Not sure what the fuck The Fallen was supposed to be, but it sure wasn't explained very well. I'm not really that sure I want it to be explained.
- I still can't wrap my brain around all the fucking TINY robots. We're talking LARGE robots in disguise here, people! Not evil toasters and garbage disposals.
- Devastator is not formed from several robots. It's one large robot formed from several construction vehicles. These vehicles do not turn into robots. And this Devastator is even more moronic than its G1 counterpart. Huh.

Overall, this movie was incredibly stupid, et cetera, but what it lacks -- and what its predecessor certainly had -- was a sense of awe. That awe of seeing the Autobots first transform, first talk, first fight, etc. This movie had none of that. They were background noise while Shia & Co. ran around trying to solve Indiana Jones puzzles. Oh and explosions.

And, because I'm putting off studying for just a little longer...

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:51:43 GMT

How to be healthy. At least, what I'm doing to try and be healthy. This is, in no way, a comprehensive, all-encompassing guide. And there are plenty of things I'll be listing that I really need to work on, too. In other words, this isn't complete, nor is it official, it's just what I do. I don't know where to start so I'm just going to list off things as they come to mind.

- Go outside every chance you can get. Even if the weather isn't ideal, go outside for a little walk. If the weather is nice, and you have no other priorities (such as work), then you have no excuse not to go outside (unless, you know, you're injured). It isn't natural or healthy to be breathing the stale, canned air that we so frequently inhale when we're indoors, especially in a small room, apartment, or dorm. At the very least, have your windows open.

- Listen to music. Any kind of music. In the car, when you're on the computer (surfing the internet or working on homework), if you're exercising. Music provides mental stimulation and is far more valuable than watching TV, or having the TV as background noise. And, generally, music is better than a silent car or apartment.

- Limit packaged foods. Pre-packaged cookies and chips, microwave meals, and frozen dinners are not only poor for your health, but involve a heck of a lot of packaging that all goes to the landfills. Instead of buying a carton of Chips Ahoy, make your own cookies -- they taste better anyway.

- Read books. This is something that I really have to work on... I've always loved reading but in recent years I've had trouble getting excited about any novels. And, unfortunately, computer use has really cut into the time I've traditionally set aside for reading.

- Unless there's something on television that you really need/want to watch, leave the TV off. 95% of it is garbage and advertisements, anyway. If you find yourself channel surfing and you've passed by the same channel more than once, it's time to turn it off and do something else. I have, in no way, ridden myself of TV use. I habitually watch Red Wings hockey (and general hockey, during the playoffs), as well as the odd cartoon (usually only Transformers Animated) -- but as soon as the program is over, the television is off.

- Drink things that are, generally, beneficial to your health. I've always had a weakness for coffee, but I've cut my coffee intake drastically and I generally only drink about three cups a week, tops. It's usually less. Certain teas are good for you; they help you relax and can improve your mood. Fruit juice is a case where you have to look at the label and see whether or not it's pure sugar and if it truly does have fruit in its ingredients. Water -- which is something I need to drink more -- is more refreshing and hydrating than soda, which brings me to my next point:

- Soda, pop, whatever -- it's not good for you. It's horrible for your teeth, it increases your weight, and it's pumped full of caffeine, acid, and other disgusting stuff. Diet sodas are just as bad, if not worse (look it up online). That said, not all sodas are created equal, and some are, admittedly, more "healthy' (or, more realistically, "less bad") for you. I occasionally treat myself to a bottle of root beer or ginger ale, but it's good stuff, not crap in a can sold by Coca-Cola or PepsiCo.

- Concerning alcohol, of course limit your intake. I do drink beer, but rarely ever more than a bottle at once. I might have three or four beers a week, but never more and often less. If you do drink, drink with friends or your significant other, but do not drink alone. In my opinion, it's depressing behavior; alcohol, for me, is meant to be enjoyed with enjoyable people.

- Limit, if not entirely omit, your meat/dairy/eggs intake. Cue people going crazy, saying vegetarianism and/or veganism is a mental disorder -- that's not a stretch, because at one time, that would have been me. At this point, I'm not a "complete" vegan, as I will still occasionally eat food with milk and dairy products. Concerning meat, I do crave it now and then but in the future, if I am to eat it, I'd prefer to buy it locally (for example, at the co-op) and not from some massive, disgusting cattle corral. This sort of thing requires serious decision-making and research, as well as simple cooking know-how. It's not a switch you can flip on, and it's not something you should do because it's a fad. There are some serious moral, health, personal, and environmental implications here.

- Get decent sleep. Once upon a time, I had a really stupid sleep schedule. Last year, I'd stay up until one or two -- even three or four -- in the morning, then wake up between nine in the morning and one in the afternoon, depending on what classes I had. It left me feeling groggy and depressed. Over the summer, my sleep schedule changed quite drastically, as I had an 8-5 job that required me waking up at a quarter to seven. I still went to bed pretty late, usually around 12:30 or one, but waking up early felt good. These days, I get to sleep before midnight (around 11:30, usually) and wake up around 8 AM, sometimes earlier. It's not a bad routine at all. This sort of sleep pattern isn't for everyone, but it is more natural, and if you're looking to go outside for hiking, photography, whatever -- it's a good routine to have.

- Lastly, for now, limit internet use. This is one I really need to work on. Unfortunately, as college students, we have these weird, choppy schedules where time between classes or work or whatnot is too short to go for a hike or get shopping done -- and is perfect for browsing the internets. I do it all the time, but it's time to think of alternative activities. What can you do in a one-hour time block? Wash dishes... draw or doodle... read a chapter or two in a book... prepare a small meal or lunch... cuddle your cat or dog or your significant other... call your family... get basic house-cleaning chores accomplished. I've found that spending a ton of time on the internet leads to procrastination (as it is, right now). If you're a 4channer like me, cut it down a little -- which I know is hard, but... it can be done!

Now studying time for serious.

Writer's Block: Things You Don't Want to Know

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:17:51 GMT

If you knew that a friend's significant other was cheating on him or her, would you tell your friend the truth or keep it to yourself?

View 503 Answers

If I knew, for certain? Oh yes, of course I'd tell. Despite what sort of repercussions might follow, it's a pretty easy decision to make. A tougher question is, "If you knew a friend was unknowingly in an abusive relationship, would you tell him/her?" That's much harder to tackle and frankly, telling someone this can ruin a friendship.

Writer's Block: Take Your Chances

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:20:13 GMT

Do you think people deserve second chances?

Submitted By drea12301994

View 500 Answers

This depends largely on the crime/transgression/wrongdoing committed and the track record of said person. That said, second chances often turn into third chances, fourth chances, and so on.

Cold day

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:49:28 GMT

Hopefully this will be the last time I use this icon for quite a while! It's pretty cold today, and it was snowing pretty hard this morning -- but the sky has cleared up and it's sunnier, at least. The temperatures are supposed to go right back up into the 40s and 50s starting tomorrow. Of course, today was the day I had an outdoor lab about tracking animals -- and get this -- it was exactly what Stephanie and I were doing earlier this week, over at Wetmore. Except that day, we had better conditions, warmer temperatures, and saw more stuff. So I'm gonna use what we found on that day for my write-up, instead of the abysmal findings from today.

Just enjoying some coffee right now. Warming my hands and feet back up from that horrible lab (luckily we were only out there for an hour). And... a certain someone's birthday is coming up soon! I finished shopping today, just gotta wait for a package to arrive any day now~ <3 In a week's time there will be friends and drank and merriment, shit will be SO cash.

FFFFF after this appointment with my adviser I am SO taking a shower, I'm totally gross right now lalalala~

Today's LJ entry, part 2

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:19:13 GMT

Soooo... it's a beautiful day. I think it got up to 61° F, but the sky's been sunny and the snow and ice have been melting, and people are driving with their windows down -- it's just beautiful out there. This morning Stephanie and I got some stuff done, then I went to class and learned about plants. When I got back, I picked up the latest AHM comic from the mail, then we went to MooseWood/Presque Isle. Met up with Rachel, and we took a nice walk around the park! Oh it was so pretty, and the air was so fresh, and the cedars smelled so nice. There were birds everywhere singing in the trees, and it was so quiet at Black Rocks, you could hear the ice melting! We found a tiny bit of a deer carcass along the trail -- but it was just the skin and fur, no bones. I tromped around in the woods/snow for a while looking for the rest of the carcass -- no dice. But it was a great time outside, and it just felt so good to be out in nature with awesome people, getting laughs and fresh air.

As far as All Hail Megatron #8 goes... hurm. The cover, no spoilers here because everyone has seen it by now, depicts a forlorn Sideswipe standing over a very dead-looking Sunstreaker. It's a beautiful, heartwrenching picture -- even if, and here there be spoilers -- even if the scene never happens in this issue. It's implied, but the scene of Sunstreaker's apparent -- well, okay, let me start at the beginning of the comic.

Lots of flashbacks and surprisingly very little text. It opens with a flashback and a very emo (not to mention handsome -- I mean what?) Sunstreaker. Shifts to the present and Kup is reaming Ironhide for his beatdown of Mirage (which happened in the previous issue and was very disturbing). They're interrupted by 'the swarm' attacking their base on Cybertron, shit gets chaotic. Blurr appears, and I pointed out with glee "hey, at least he's ALIVE in this continuity!"

Scene shifts to NYC, and the continuing 'Con craziness. Oddly enough, it's a scene with Reflector (all three of him) and... it's fucking creepy. As in, ugh. Reflector has always been a creep and this scene just makes it worse. Meanwhile Starscream creeps about and decides he wants to scheme something up with the trio of Insecticons.

Here the comic is interrupted by an obnoxious, two-page spread of an advertisement for Terminator and Dollhouse.

Back to Cybertron. Shit's going down, Perceptor's being a methodical badass, and he's blowing stuff up. He gets taken down (though it doesn't seem fatal). And then there's the whole bridge cliché -- you know, you're fleeing an enemy, there's a bridge, and the idea is, you cross it and blow it up before the enemy can reach you. Yeah.

And then there's Sunstreaker, and this is where I'm not revealing the major 'revelation' so to speak -- except that somehow I saw this coming. I don't know where the hell I read it, if I even did, but somehow I wasn't surprised at all and was actually expecting it. I have no idea why, because it's a weird twist that's rather out there -- but as I was reading, it was as if it was deja vu. Very very bizarre. But -- it's creepy. And Sunstreaker says some pretty horrible things (in the flashbacks), and then the bridge blows up (with the enemy) thanks to Sunstreaker, dying a hero in the end, blah blah blah.

The last page finally -- finally -- links back to the -ations series that IDW published before this. I'll say no more -- besides the fact I might need to read Revelations and (unfortunately) Maximum Dinobots. Damn you, IDW!

It's still beautiful outside. This whole week is supposed to be lovely and we've got an outdoor lab involving animal tracking (which has very little to do with BI112). Tomorrow, I'm thinking another hike. We need to find that deer carcass at Wetmore. Yessss.

SEASON THREE~

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:32:35 GMT

It's one thing to wake up at 8:00 -- I can do that -- but I can't handle television and televised commercials at eight, oh no. (To make a long story short, I might have obtained the start to TF:A Season 3 illegally.)

... here there be spoilers.

Loved the opening scene with Hod Rod et al -- and then BAM some Decepticons show up, and holy shit Strika. AND BRAWN THROWS A RIDICULOUSLY-SIZED ROCK JUST LIKE IN G1. And cosmic rust. (Let's just hope this version of cosmic rust isn't as disastrous as the G1 version?) Because I'm not so sure of what happened to Hot Rod's crew, but it was a great fight scene. OH AND CYCLONUS.

Drama between Sari and Professor Sumdac... that was good stuff...

And then BLURR. Oh god Blurr. Oh shit that was horrible, and scarring, and FUCK. Fucking Blurr had just done something incredibly badass (not to mention physic-defying) and then... I'm crushed, so to speak.

Um... way too much stuff in this trio of episodes to really list, but there were some GREAT Ratchet flashbacks. Perceptor's voice was the shit (kids today just wouldn't understand). Sari went through a robotic Sailor Moon sequence and now I know the levees are about to burst and all the fangirls will start shipping Sari and Bumblebee because she's not a loli anymore and is somewhat more legally-aged. Ugh. Anyway, all the Megatron/Starscream moments were absolutely hilarious, especially near the end when Starscream gained control of Omega SPREEM... lol'd hard, shit was classic.

... oh goddamn that Blurr sequence. Might be having nightmares tonight...

Watchmen!

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 14:36:39 GMT

Some spoilers?

Stephanie and I went to the theater to see Watchmen last night and it... was awesome. There were a lot of people there, the main demographic being college-aged young men who were socially awkward, but that made it even better. The movie was really well-done, and the casting was... just about perfect. The actors who played Dan, Rorschach, and the Comedian were excellent (Dan was so adorable) -- even Ozymandias worked well -- quite a bit flamboyant, had that shit-eating grin, was still a complete dick, and even had a folder on his computer labeled "boys" (srsly). Oh, and he hung out with the Village People (wat). Dr. Manhattan was good, too -- his voice was somewhat monotone and it actually reminded me a lot of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Laurie was great, too. I loved the dialogue and scenes between her and Dan. Their slow-mo sex scene was laughably bad and the song from it was stuck in my head after the movie was over... hilariously. bad.

There were some scenes from the comic that were omitted -- and I'm sure many will make their appearance in the director's cut DVD -- and there were a few things changed (how the ending comes about, for one) -- but it worked out well. It's amazing that a 160-minute film was able to cover an entire (thick) graphic novel quite accurately. Also, the cinematography was absolutely beautiful. There were scenes that were taken straight from the comic book panels, and there were so many details -- small details in the background -- it was just... very complete.

Good movie. Must investigate further.

Stuff

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:39:33 GMT

I am currently eating a very tasty dish prepared by Stephanie... it involves Seitan and spinach and rice... and it is damn delicious!

Let's see... Red Wings won 5-0 last night against the Blues and it was pretty awesome. It looks like Hossa's gonna be okay and that's definitely a good thing.

Main point of this post is to give a plug for an LJ community I've just started, if any of y'all are interested -- come visit from_nature . Last night there was a bit of a shitstorm over at furhideandbone, the topic being which was better to buy, farmed pelts or trapped pelts -- really, the answer should be neither, especially in a community full of supposed animal-lovers. Judging from some of the vitriolic responses, however, it seems the general posting community there would prefer to remain angrily ignorant of where their furs come from, and that rather bothers me, as well as Stephanie.

In any case, from_nature was just booted up literally a few minutes ago -- so there's nothing much to see other than a mod post -- but join if you're interested, and spread the word.

... also last night, Stephanie made the best vegan fudge EVAR. It involves chocolate and coconut. Yeah.

Icy day today; busy day tomorrow (and hopefully not icy)

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:32:38 GMT

Woke up early today and got out of the apartment way before 9 -- Stephanie had an appointment at a place that prepares your taxes for free. We found out really quickly that the weather's absolute shit today, as it was freezing rain and the roads were pretty damn nasty. By 10 AM we ended up at MooseWood, and I got to see some box turtle courtship and cockteasing (and the follow-up performance of cockblocking), as well as handled Andrew the garter snake for a while. On our way out, we realized that some dumbass had dumped about thirty pounds of potatoes right next to the road. There's a problem with the general public thinking the deer at Preque Isle can't find food for themselves, and so they make the (illegal) mistake of feeding them. It's posted all over the island that feeding deer is prohibited, and yet they do, and it causes all sorts of problems. Anyway, Stephanie and I transported all of the (frozen) potatoes to the dumpster, despite the fact that the ground was icy and it was was raining ice pellets.

Tomorrow is a busy day. Anishinabe from 10 to 11:40, as per usual, but lab at one o'clock tomorrow is being held outside at Wetmore Landing -- it'll be kind of a scary drive, and I sincerely hope the outdoor lab isn't canceled because of the weather. Lab's been pretty boring so far this semester owing to the fact that it's winter, but I really want to go outside for this. Also, at 4 PM, I have an appointment for my second interview at the portrait studio in Ishpeming. It involves touching up a portrait in-person (which will be pretty nerve-wracking). The drive out to Ishpeming takes quite a while, especially in the winter, but here's to hoping I can find the place easier this time. A print-out of google maps is in order. And then, to top it off, I have a test in Psychology at 6 PM. I... will be really glad when tomorrow's over, no matter what the outcome is.

I've got a short class on Friday, and then it's spring break, during which I will be staying in Marquette. I hope circumstances will allow me to relax, if not, I might rage a little. I aim to get a lot of work done, namely stuff for NAS 101 -- in orther words, drawing animals. I need to get back into the practice of drawing critters (well) and it's hard to draw from photographs rather than real life.

Lastly, some Catkin love -

More meme-ish-ness

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:12:31 GMT

Five Things Meme: comment on this post and I will give you five things I associate with you. Then, post on your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given. (You can comment on the entry and not have to participate in the meme -- just say if you don't want to!)

Science

I grew up in a scientific household and until a few years ago, I was almost sure I'd continue the tradition into college. My father is an entomologist and my mother is a horticulturist -- if you don't know what these professions are, I encourage you to look them up! I was literally brought up with science and nature all around me. Like any typical family, we had a trio of cats and a dog for pets, but we had a menagerie of other animals living in what we later called "the science room." Some of the stranger pets we had were a snapping turtle (which we released after it outgrew its aquarium), an eastern box turtle, and several anoles from Florida; a very large land snail, a whip scorpion, and a hissing cockroach. At any given time, we'd have several bell jars or fish tanks full of pond water -- some hosted water scorpions and minnows, others had tiny little crustaceans called daphnia, and one year, we even had hydras (which are a relative of jellyfish).

My parents often took me out into nature, which thankfully is not hard to find in the Ann Arbor area. Even better was when we went to the U.P. to camp, and I was immersed in science and nature, in a very natural and peaceful setting -- something that most kids never get to experience. I'd go bug-collecting with my father, and I'd name wildflowers and mushrooms with my mother; we'd point out types of rocks and geological formations along the way. Occasionally, when I visit my parents (or my parents visit me), we continue this tradition, marvelling at the natural world around us.

Hockey

One of my more material passions in life is hockey. I've never played and my skating skills are sub-par, but I am a huge fan of the sport. Once again, this is another thing I have to thank my parents for, specifically, my dad. He grew up a half an hour from the Canadian border in New York state, and as a kid he watched games on Hockey Night in Canada between the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs. I was brought up the same way in Ann Arbor; as a baby I watched the Red Wings and Hockey Night in Canada, and as a young girl I cheered on the Red Wings to their 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup victories. Both times my family has visited Toronto, we went to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the trophy room there -- which is in an ancient bank -- has an ethereal, otherworldly feel to it, with muted colors streaming down from the stained glass windows onto the sparkling chrome and silver of the hockey awards.

Watching hockey -- and I've watched it at many levels, from children to high school boys and girls, to upcoming stars, to the collegiate and professional levels -- is a very special experience. It's one of the few instances where I feel I can really let loose and express my emotions -- whether they be elation or rage or sadness. Though I've personally attended a countless number of hockey games, I've never been to a legitimate Red Wings game, and someday I'd like to.

Hockey makes me cry, both in joy and sadness, and there was a year when there was no professional hockey (the NHL lockout, 2004-2005). I literally felt lost in life, as my heroes were out of work for a year, and the winter months were cold and dark with no games on the television. However, it gave me the opportunity to watch local hockey teams -- the USA National Development Team and the U of M teams being just a few -- and it was amazing. There was a night, during the lockout, when a large portion of the Red Wings team traveled to Ann Arbor to face off against the USA team at Yost Ice Arena -- it was a game held for a local charity -- and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

Art

Even though I'm an art major, I don't equate myself with art as much as I probably should. Photography is an art, a dying art at that, and I do have a relatively good knowledge of the art world out there, especially art history. There are some facets of art, as a blanket term, that I relate more to -- one of them being architecture. I love old architecture and am blissfully ignorant of contemporary forms of architecture (as well as many other contemporary forms of art).

It's weird because I'm not sure how I got into art in the first place -- my father didn't express interest in photography until I was in middle school, and by then I was already drawing all sorts of things. I think I can credit it back to -- yet again -- science. When I was very young, maybe in first or second grade, I attended this program that was held at the U of M Exhibit Museum (same building where my father works) -- kids were given several pieces of artist-quality paper and artist-quality drawing implements, and we could go wherever we wanted in the exhibits, and draw from "life." I usually drew from the dioramas on the dinosaur floor. Later, I was given permission to go to the mammal division (not open to the public), where I picked out many bones and skulls and drew those. I feel very lucky, as a third grader, to have been given the opportunity to draw a lion skull and ibex skull!

These days I don't draw nearly as much as I should (and I don't think much of my drawings), but I am a photography major -- and I could formulate a rant about how much digital is killing the photographic art, but I won't do that here! However, damn do I need to take more pictures. The winter is a very bad time to take photographs, but as soon as it gets warmer...

Theaters

My Michigan Theaters project started several years ago, when I first photographed some small-town theaters in the interior of the state. I'd estimate it was around 2005 that I initiated the project, and simply put, it was a goal to photograph every recognizable theater in the state of Michigan -- whether closed or abandoned, open or for sale. I finished the project last year, with my final photography of the Ironwood Theatre in Ironwood, Michigan, and it ended a chapter of covering almost every corner of the state of Michigan in search of a dying venue: the local, neighborhood, main-street theater.

I don't really want to lecture here about why small-town theaters are so important -- I've written and spoke these words ad nauseum -- but to me, these small theaters represent a dying facet of America and our culture in general, as our society approaches a homogenous future. Theatres are often the last shred of uniqueness in a small town, and one-by-one they are being torn down or converted into storefront churches.

That said, architectural preservation interests me very much, and I love how photography and architectural preservation can be used to save these theaters.

Comics

I learned how to read via a comic book -- and I think I am a better person for it. When I was very very young, no older than three or four, my father read The Adventures of Tintin to me -- both Tintin in America and Explorers on the Moon. The stories are very different from one another -- Tintin in America is a very naive comic, written when Hergé, the artist and author, had not yet set foot on the North American continent. It's a romanticised tale of cowboys and Indians, Chicago gangsters and drug smugglers -- and when read today, it's so ridiculous it's funny, if in a painful way. On the other hand, Explorers on the Moon was just the opposite. It was written in the 1950s at the very start of the space race. Based heavily on science -- with facts both correct and incorrect -- it's a mouthful and a mindful, and actually incorporates some pretty serious business -- alcoholism, double-crossing, and even death/murder.

Tintin was my first introduction to comics, and the series remains my favorite. These days I haven't read nearly as many landmark comics as I should, and I find that many mainstream "superhero" comics just don't appeal to me -- too many continuities, too much fanservice, too many movie tie-ins. I read IDW's Transformers comics, most recently, the on-going All Hail Megatron series. Over the summer I purchased and read Watchmen, and it was such a delight to read. I find comics to be the perfect blend of art and literature, and it's unfortunate that others do not recognize this. It's also unfortunate how bad a rap the "stereotypical" comic fan gets.

Comic books, though, are amazing. Sunday morning comics, on the other hand, can die in a fire.

More tales from the West Science lobby

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:48:16 GMT

I swear everyday I'm here I get more pissed off at the nuances of the people who hang out in this building and/or attend this class (BI112). In fact, I hate to say this -- actually, really, I don't -- some of the most decent people here seem to be the other students who use MacBooks. Not to say that there aren't douchey art students -- because there sure are -- but idiocy just seems to be more pronounced in other parts of campus.

There's a derpy guy that waits out here and seems to be perfectly okay with broadcasting to the world just exactly what brand of shitty rock emo music he happens to be listening to at the time -- the feat here, of course, is the fact that he's wearing headphones. Headphones are designed to keep your crappy tunes to yourself and if used correctly, only give you slight ear damage.

Oh god there are some really stupid college students out there. Especially here, at NMU in general.

In other news, woke up to Catkin meowing and being adorable, along with a beautiful blue sky and sunshine. Good start to the day is good.

Meme for the ages

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:25:45 GMT

1.What time is it? 10:40 AM

Personal

2.Do you want to answer these?
♣ Only sort of~
3.Name?
♣ Marjorie
4.Name spelled backwards?
♣ eirojram
5.What is your quest?
♣ To be happy and responsible in life
6.Nickname?
♣ Jorie, but it's more of a name now
7.Age?
♣ 21
8.Hometown?
♣ Ann Arbor, MI
9.What city were you born in?
♣ Ann Arbor, MI
10.Where do you live now?
♣ Marquette, MI
11.What state?
♣ GEE I WONDER
12.Ever going to move?
♣ Probably, but to another state, I don't know
13.Would you rather live somewhere else?
♣ Not... really? I love Michigan
14.Birthdate?
♣ January 9
15.When do you blow out your candles?
♣ Wat
16.Day you were born?
♣ I know little about the circumstances surrounding my birth
17.Zodiac sign?
♣ Capricorn
18.Do you know what that is?
♣ Half-goat, half-fish...thing. AWESOME NONETHELESS
19.Sex?
♣ Female
20.Height?
♣ 5'9"ish
21.Weight?
♣ 102 lbs :(
22.Eye color?
♣ Blue-gray
23.Hair color?
♣ BROWN
24.Any siblings?
♣ lol no
25.Names and ages?
♣ derp
26.Do you get along with them?
♣ why yes I get along fine with my imaginary siblings
27.any pets?
♣ Oh yes
28.Names?
♣ Catkin the kitten here in Marquette... in Ann Arbor, Val and Johan the kittens and Kosh and Phantom the cats.
29.Parents?
♣ Of course I have parents
30.Names?
♣ Mark and Adrienne
31.Do you get along with them?
♣ Very well.
32.Married or divorced?
♣ Married
33.How long?
♣ I want to say 30 years.
34.Website?
♣ http://micharch.blogspot.com I haven't updated since November :(
35.Email?
♣ Who doesn't have one?
36.AOL s/n?
♣ artmoderne27
37.Yahoo s/n?
♣ lol Yahoo
38.ICQ?
♣ sounds too geeky for me
39.MSN?
♣ shitsux
40.How many people are on your buddy list?
♣ Around 35, but I only talk to a handful of them
41.Phone number?
♣ Yes?
42.Personality?
♣ Weird?

School

43. Do you want to answer these?
♣ Fuck off
44.What school do you go to?
♣ Northern Michigan University.
45.What year are you?
♣ Junior~
46.What are you?
♣ lol Photography Major
47.Hardest class?
♣ Hardest class I've ever taken hmm... History of Photography?
48.Easiest class?
♣ EN 111 and EN 211
49.Most fun class?
♣ Social Structures and Concepts - AD 270 THE BEST~
50.What day did school start?
♣ Monday?
51.Do you have classes with friends?
♣ Yes actually
52.Do you have friends?
♣ Yes~
53.Do you go to school events?
♣ Only when it really pertains to my interests
54.What was the last event you went to?
♣ Probably a hockey game
55.Do you have school spirit?
♣ Only concerning hockey. In high school, I had school spirit only when the Music Department was involved.
56.Do you go to dances?
♣ loldances are DUMB
57.Stag or with someone?
♣ What does this even mean?

Relationships

58. Do you want to answer these?
♣ NO U
59.Have a significant other?
♣ I do~
60.What is their name?
♣ STEPHANIE~
61.How old are they?
♣ 24
62.How long have you been going out?
♣ Weeeooo four months~
63.Have you been faithful?
♣ No I hang out on the corner ever other night... OF COURSE I HAVE
64.Do you have a crush?
♣ No?
65.Who?
♣ Your mom
66.Do they know you like them?
♣ ???
67.You ever going to tell them?
♣ ???
68.Do you have an online crush?
♣ I never had one of these
69.Who?
♣ derp

In the Past 24 Hours Have You?

70. Do you wonder why I'm asking these questions?
♣ FUCCCKKKK YOUUUUUU
71.Had a serious talk?
♣ Not since Friday morning lol.
72. Hugged someone?
♣ Always~
73.Fought with a friend?
♣ lol
74.Cried?
♣ Nope!
75.Laughed?
♣ Always
76.Made someone laugh?
♣ Yes lol
77.Bought something?
♣ Food and chocolate last night yup yup
78.Cut your hair?
♣ No.
79.Felt stupid?
♣ Sure
80.Talked to someone you love?
♣ I am right now~
81.Missed someone?
♣ I miss my parents and cats back home a lot.

Have-you-ever ?

82. You want me to tell you?
♣This doesn't even make sense

83.Smoked?
♣ No, and relatively proud of it
84.Stolen something?
♣ Not that I remember? Probably when I was a babby
85.Done drugs?
♣ Only alcohol
86.Drank?
♣ I liek beer
87.Gotten drunk?
♣ Nope! I know my alcohol responsibility, that's what happens when you're brought up and taught there's no stigma to alcohol
88.Eaten an entire box of Oreos?
♣ Haha yes, the mint kind
89.Been dumped?
♣ Once lol
90.Had someone be unfaithful to you?
♣ I don't think so lol
91. Hiked up a mountain?
♣ Many a time~ (not just Sugarloaf LOLOL steps ≠ hiking)
92. Stayed home on Saturday night, just because?
♣ wat?
93.Been in love?
♣ Yes~
94.Seen the White House?
♣ no
95.Seen the Eiffel Tower?
♣ no
96.Try smoking?
♣ GTFO
97.Played monopoly?
♣ Yes.
98.Seen Titanic?
♣ I think I saw it 2 or 3 times in theaters, this is a great 90s movie
99.Kissed someone?
♣ NEVER lol
100.Tried a weight loss program?
♣ I'd like to try a weight-gain program :(
101.Jumped on a trampoline?
♣ YES oh my god, middle school. I miss that shit
102.Colored in a coloring book (and had fun)?
♣ Yes lol, I think it was a power rangers coloring book
103.Had a bubble bath?
♣ When I was a wee young'n
104.Been on a plane?
♣ Yes, and long flights are DUMB but it's really kind of cool
105.Been on a boat?
♣ Yes... the biggest I was on was a huge ferry (the kind that carry lots and lots of cars underneath) that went from Manitoulin Island or something like that
106.Been on a train?
♣ Yes, out of New York City
107.Been in a car accident?
♣ Not yet
108.Ridden an elephant?
♣ Yes, when I was really little
109.Made a web page?
♣ From scratch, only once, for a Graphic Communications class
110.Played with matchsticks?
♣ lolyes
111.Stay up all night?
♣ A few times, and it always leaves me feeling like poo
112.Shoved stuff under your bed to make your room look clean?
♣ A few times but it's usually flat stuff a.k.a. stuff that belongs under a bed
113.Called a psychic or sex hotline?
♣ haha no.
114.Watched Jerry Springer?
♣ I listened to his ranting left-wing radio show once...
115.Gotten in trouble for talking in class?
♣ I think this happened routinely in Physics class in senior year of high school
116.Been afraid of the dark?
♣ Not usually
117.Been in the hospital (not visiting)?
♣ Not for anything serious, I don't think. Maybe?
118.Had stitches?
♣ No
119.Dumped someone and regretted it?
♣ No, then again I've never dumped anyone
120.Gone out with more than one person at a time?
♣ lolwut? no!
121.Lied?
♣ I hate lying... I actually can't recall the last time I lied.
122.Been arrested?
♣ Nope~
123.Fallen asleep in class?
♣ Haha oh yes. Western Art and Architecture with Lalonde!
124.Gotten in trouble in class?
♣ No.
125.Used food for something other than to eat?
♣ Question sounds vaguely sketchy... in high school we had food fights in the little hall we ate lunch in. I remember throwing those nasty Cosmic Brownies from Little Debbie on the roof
126.Met a celebrity?
♣ A few hockey players among others... most recent I think Niklas Lidstrom
127.Broken the law?
♣ lol oh yes, but nothing too serious
128.Ever loved someone so much it made you cry?
♣ Haha yeah.
129.Hated yourself?
♣ Yes
130.Been brokenhearted?
♣ Yup.
131.Broken someone's heart?
♣ I'm... not sure?
132.Are you a virgin?
♣ Yes~~
133.Done something really stupid?
♣ Probably, but I can't name something off the top of my head.
134.Been arrested?
♣ hurfff
135.Hurt a friend?
♣ Oh yes
136.Broken a bone?
♣ Stress fracture in my foot once lol
137.Ever had a crush on a teacher?
♣ haha EW no!

Favorites

138. What do you want to know?
♣ your mom
139.Guy name?
♣ I... am actually not sure
140.Girl name?
♣ I don't really pay attention to names
141.Nationality?
♣ French Canadian~~~~~~~
142.Color?
♣ Blues
143.Holiday?
♣ Christmas, Thanksgiving
144.Day of the week?
♣ Fridays, Saturdays
145.Restaurant?
♣ Hmmm not sure!
146.Fastfood restaurant?
♣ Arby's, if I really have to choose one
147.Food?
♣ Oh no, I can't choose.
148.Animal?
♣ Cat!
149.Pet?
♣ Cat!
150.Store?
♣ Your mom, INC.
151.Mall?
♣ MARQUETTE MALL LOLOL
152.Clothes brand?
♣ dunno lol
153.Soda?
♣ root beer and CANADA DRY stuff but I don't drink it hardly ever
154.Alcohol?
♣ HURMMM
155.Instrument?
♣ Cello
156.Season?
♣ That transition between spring and summer, then summer and fall
157.Number?
♣ 27 BECAUSE IT'S THREE TO THE THIRD LOL
158.Radio station?
♣ WUPX maybe? or K-ROQ lol
159.Song?
♣ I have NO idea.
160.Sport?
♣ HOCKEY BITCHESSSSS
161.Vacation spot?
♣ Michigan
162.State?
♣ MICHIGAN
163.Country?
♣ all over the U.S.
164.Flower?
♣ lilac
165.Perfume?
♣ lol dunno
166.Thing to do?
♣ roadtrippan!
167.Actor?
♣ I have no idea. LOL SHIA LABOUEFF LOL HEATH LEDGER NEVAR FORGET. none of those
168.Actress?
♣ None, Natalie Portman isn't bad though
169.Saying?
♣ I dunno ;_;
170.Car?
♣ HOUND~ Jeep Cherokee
171.Month?
♣ Dunno, May?
172.Cartoon?
♣ Transformers~
173.T.V.Show?
♣ Hockey Night in Canada
174.Website?
♣ 4chan :)
175.Book?
♣ The Hobbit/Lord of the Flies/comixxxx
176.Quality about yourself?
♣ You tell me!
177.Your best friend?
♣ There are several, varying by region of the state lol
178.Your best guy friend?
♣ Nam??
179.Your best girl friend?
♣ Not sure!
180.Fruit?
♣ Strawberries!
181.Vegetable?
♣ Green/red/yellow peppers
182.Meat?
♣ Probably chicken?
183.Quote?
♣ refer to facebook profile page
184.Saying?
♣ RRAAAARRL
185.Type of movie?
♣ Sci-fi, cartoons, sci-fi cartoons
186.Candy?
♣ DARK CHOCOLATE~
187.Language?
♣ I can only speak eeeenglish
188.Magazine?
♣ I liked Nickelodeon before it got flooded with dumb shit
189.CD?
♣ I seem to have this certain animal collective CD on repeat...
190.Store?
♣ dunno lol
191.Movie?
♣ Empire Strikes Back?
192.Day of the week?
♣ ALREADY DID THIS LALALALALALAL
193.Singer?
♣ Me~
194.Band?
♣ There are many~
Misc.
195.Why are you so curious?
♣ Herp derp
196.Like to swim?
♣ Not usually in public pools, shit's nasty, but Lake Superior is damn cold... I dunno, I'm always afraid I'm gonna cramp up.
197.Like to dance?
♣ Only to act stupid!
198.Have a pool?
♣ lol no
199.Have a car?
♣ HOUND
200.Going to get a car?
♣ derp
201.Your motto?
♣ Dunno lol
202.What do you look for in a friend?
♣ respect, responsibility, common interests
203.What do you look for in the opposite sex?
♣ I don't really, but attractive facial hair LOL
204.Time you get up?
♣ Around 9, even though the alarm rings at 8:30
205.Time you go to bed?
♣ Around 11ish
206.What color are the sheets on your bed?
♣ I think light blue
207.How many pillows?
♣ 2, one isn't mine lol
208.Ever skip school?
♣ some classes, yes
209.Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
♣ No~
210.What did you eat for dinner?
♣Vegan raviolis~
211.What are you wearing?
♣ Jeans, dark green NMU t-shirt, and a brown NMU hat to hide my derpy hair
212.What movie makes you cry?
♣ Teh first movie I remember crying to was Homeward Bound... The most recent movie I cried to was WALL-E (I think). Movies in general make me cry!
213.What book makes you cry?
♣ I'm not sure... I think i cried a little to Harry Potter #7, but Rowling was killing off EVERYONE so I didn't cry too hard
214.What song makes you cry?
♣ Quite a few, not out of sadness so much as the beauty of the song. Barber's Adagio for Strings is one of them.
215.What/Who makes you laugh so hard you cry?
♣ Several people, and the internets (4chan's /co/)
216.What is your favorite possession?
♣ hehe
217.What physical, tangible possession do you want most?
♣ I'd like money. So that I'm not barely scraping by.
218.How badly do you want it?
♣ Pretty badly.
219.Have you ever seen The Exorcist?
♣ Yes, with a bunch of friends many summers ago at a cabin. We lol'd hard
220.How long did it take you to understand why that question is here?
♣ Buh?
221.Does Christmas music played too far away from Christmas annoy you?
♣ FELIZ NAVIDAD FELIZ NAVIDAD oh god I want to kill whoever sang that
222.How old do you think you will be before you stop liking getting older?
♣ I'm 21, so ... now.
223.What was the best Halloween costume you ever had?
♣ Skunk?
224.What was the worst Halloween costume you ever had?
♣ GARFIELDfor obvious reasons
225.What holiday do you think has still managed to retain its original meaning?
♣ None really, it's all capitalism craps

[taking a break at 11:26]
[resuming at 12:25]

226.There are currently no federal holidays during August-what should be put there?
♣ A week off from work prior to school starting
227.How good is your short-term memory?
♣ Pretty decent with certain things
228.How good is your short-term memory?
♣ Kill yourself
229.(Not very good I see, I repeated that question, did you notice?)
♣ KILL YOURSELF
230.How good is your long-term memory?
♣ Again, with certain things it's really good, and other times, not so much
231.What is your earliest memory?
♣ Not sure, probably something concerning camping in the UP, or being scared shitless of the spiders at the Huron Mountain Club
232.What is your happiest memory (other than receiving this survey)?
♣ I have a lot of happy memories, Fall 2008 being one of the most recent
233.What is your strangest memory?
♣ I... really don't know. Is there a difference between a strange memory and something strange happening in your life? Back in 8th grade, the police visited our house (when we lived on Beacon Hill) to ask if we'd seen a man, turns out he lived several houses down and had chopped up his girlfriend into small pieces... lol
234.What is your worst memory?
♣ Not sure, I have a lot of those too.
235.What song, movie, etc.
♣ wat
236.What song, movie, etc.
♣ again, wat
237.What size are your feet?
♣ around a 9, 8.5 size
238.If someone you had no interest in dating expressed interest in dating you, how would you feel?
♣ Flattered, probably, but at the same time a little weirded out
239.Do you prefer getting to know someone first before dating them or going "blind"?
♣ Blind dating is for idiots
240.Could you carry on a relationship with someone with the same first name as a family member?
♣ Sure?
241.Have you ever wished it was more "socially acceptable" for a girl to ask a guy out?
♣ Don't care
242.What's your opinion on sex without emotional commitment?
♣ It's absolutely disgusting. If you do such a thing, shame, and enjoy your eventual regrets.
243.Have you ever been romantically attracted to someone physically unattractive?
♣ Most of the time, except for in extreme cases, I don't give a shit about how someone looks. It's just so shallow
244.Do you think the opposite sex finds you good-looking?
♣ I've been told so, but everyone has their own tastes.
245.Would you be willing to give up sex in exchange for an emotional commitment you knew would last?
♣ Haha funny question is funny. Yes
246.Do you laugh when you hear or read the number 69?
♣ At times I have the maturity of a 12 year old boy, so yes.
247.Were you lying about your answer to the previous question?
♣ Why would I?
248.Do you actually know your Social Security Number?
♣ Usually lol
249.Do you actually know your IP address?
♣ No, but I could look it up
250.Do you know what an IP address is?
♣ HURRF
251.Do you know the four-character extension on your ZIP code?
♣ haha no.
252.Ever think there were too many numbers floating around in our lives?
♣ Yes. We were all unknowingly branded with a student ID number back in elementary school, and that creeps me out to this day
253.Does your head begin to hurt when you think of infinity, imaginary numbers, irrational numbers, etc.?
♣ Not so much because unnecessary math is stupid, but it hurts when I think of galaxies, universes, etc.
254.What do you think of pi, you know, 3.14152967 etc..?
♣ It's useful I guess if you like numbers
255.Do you have a driver's license?
♣ Just got it renewed
256.Do you sometimes see a movie or watch a show just because a good-looking celebrity is in it?
♣ Haha no.
257.What celebrity's autograph do you want most?
♣ None?
258.Have people ever said you looked like a celebrity, and if so, who?
♣ Someone said I looked like a local pole dancer...
259.If there was to be a movie about you, who do you think should play you (in personality, looks or both)?
♣ don't care
260.Does it ever annoy you when you know someone is a celebrity but you can't remember who they are?
♣ I guess?
261.If you could enter any celebrity's mind like in "Being John Malkovich", whose would you enter?
♣ fuck off
262.Do you want to be John Malkovich?
♣ who the fuck is John Malkovich?
263.Have you ever wished you could experience being the other gender?
♣ Sometimes, actually, if only for the wider range of stuff guys can do -- better professional sports for example, better strength in terms of hiking, outdoor stuff, that sort of thing.
264.What do you love most about the other gender?
♣ Not too much, really. I guess guys can be funny. They can be good bodyguards too lol
265.What do you dislike most about the other gender?
♣ Quite a bit. Typically all they care about is sex, they're often shallow and stupid (sorry, guys), and they can be pretty gross
266.What do you understand least about the other gender?
♣ Not sure
267.Mac or PC?
♣ Mac. Grew up with Mac, and that's how it'll stay.
268.How much do you actually care about the inner workings of your computer or is it only as long as it works?
♣ Both? Weird question is weird
269.Do you ever begin preferring IMs to other forms of conversation?
♣ IMs are really handy in certain situations, and are good for getting a complex point across.
270.Do you find you're different talking through IMs than face-to-face or on the telephone?
♣ Depends on the person and where they're located, lol! But yeah, IMs are easier than telephones for example
271.Have you ever bid on something on eBay and regretted it later?
♣ Haha yeah, luckily I don't think I've won the things I regret bidding on
272.If you had been born a member of the opposite sex, what would your name have been?
♣ I'm not sure, maybe I should ask the rents
273.Would you name a child of yours after you?
♣ I don't want a child and I would never bestow my unfortunate name upon someone else
274.If you had to switch first names with a friend of yours, who would you switch with?
♣ Names don't mean much to me, it's the person that you are
275.What's the way people most often mispronounce any part of your name?
♣ Marjorie... MAJORIE. Who the FUCK is named "Mahjorie"? STUPID people are stupid.
276.If you were to become famous, would you drop your last name (like Madonna, Cher, Roseanne)?
♣ I'd change it to "Dupré", my middle name
277.Like to give hugs?
♣ Only to people who deserve them...
278.Like to walk in the rain?
♣ Yeah, as long as it's not a cold rain
279.Sleep with or without clothes on?
♣ With, and in the summer I've been known to sleep with socks on... lol
280.Prefer black or blue pens?
♣ Black, and I read that as "penis", probably because of the /co/ Dr. Manhattan meme of "blue penis, never erect though"
281.Dress up on Halloween?
♣ Not for a few years, unfortunately. Not enough time!
282.Sleep on your side, tummy or back?
♣ Usually on my side or back
283.Think you're attractive?
♣ Sometimes lol
284.Want to marry?
♣ No, not really.
285.Have a goldfish?
♣ In the past, yes
286.Ever have the falling dream?
♣ All the freakin time.
287.Have stuffed animals?
♣ Haha oh yes
288.Do you believe in the traditional view of Heaven and Hell?
♣ herp de derp NO
289.Do you think God has a gender?
♣ There is no god.
290.Do you think science counteracts religion?
♣ Science is real.
291.Do you believe in organized religion?
♣ It exists, but it's a ploy to get people to follow like sheep and give their money to the churches
292.Where do you think we go when we die?
♣ We cease to exist and our bodies decompose.
293.How easy is it to make you laugh?
♣ Way too easy
295.Do you laugh at jokes you know you shouldn't?
♣ Occasionally
296.Do you tell jokes you know you shouldn't?
♣ Not too often
297.What words instantly make you laugh or at least smile?
♣ DERPS, many things from the internets
298.What do you think is the funniest thing you've ever said or written?
♣ Pffff I dunno
299.Do you ever dance to music when nobody's watching, when someone's watching?
♣ I don't know? I dance when no one's watching, and I'm pretty careful about it
300.What is/are the worst song(s) you have ever heard?
♣ The KKK song (it's a parody, but it's awful), hamster dance song... oh there are a ton.
301.What song(s) do you wish you could understand a little better?
♣ Not sure?
302.What song(s) are constantly in your head?
♣ EVERYTHING. I'm not even kidding. Any kind of song gets stuck in my head and I'll randomly sing it
303.What song(s) do you think describe your personality best?
♣ Donnnnn't know.
304.If you were to serenade the object of your affections, which song(s) would you use?
♣ Hmmm heh heh I don't know, Stephanie always turns on K-ROQ when I sing LOL. It'd probably be some really tacky Franz Ferdinand song though, like Michael
305.If the object of your affections were to serenade you, what song(s) would you hope he or she used?
♣ lol Everlong from Foo??
306.What movie(s) do you love that nobody else seems to?
♣ Brave Little Toaster!
307.Do you agree with the idea that sequels are always worse than the original?
♣ Almost always. Unless it's a trilogy, then it's the third one.
308.Who's your favorite Star Wars character?
♣ Boba Fett or R2D2 and this is strictly from the original trilogy because the new trilogy raped my childhood LOLOL
309.What kind of movie do you think there should be more of?
♣ Really good, smart, and adventurous science fiction. Maybe with an environmental twist. I'd also like to see more hand-animated cartoon movies
310.What movie(s) do you simply not understand the appeal of?
♣ Gore, trashy comedy, chick flicks
311.When eating, are you more concerned with taste or healthiness?
♣ As Stephanie said, you can easily have healthy food that's tasty. That's perfect for me.
312.What's your favorite kind of cheese?
♣ Swiss
313.What do you think your answer to the previous question reveals about your personality?
♣ I have holes in my brain? LOL
314.If you knew exactly what went into Chinese food,hamburger meat, etc., would you still eat it?
♣ I do know what goes into these things and I probably wouldn't eat another McDonald's hamburger, but I might indulge in one at a more sophisticated restaurant
315.Do you ever feel guilty eating meat?
♣ Long answer. Initially, it depended on the animal I was eating. These days, when I do eat meat, which is quite rare, I choose not to think about it too hard -- I do know where it comes from, but I avoid fast food restaurants and cheap meat products as much as I can. I don't feel guilty about eating an animal, but I do feel guilty if, say, the animal was treated poorly beforehand at the stockyards and such. It's not hard to find meat from humanely-treated and/or local animals, and that's the route I'd rather take.

Friends

316.What a unique category, don't you think?
♣ Derp.

317.Are you sure you have friends?
♣ Yeah.
318.Best friend?
♣ Asked already. And when I think about it, I do consider my parents some of my best friends.
319.Second-best friend?
♣ Derp
320.email the most?
♣ Probably my parents? lol email.
321.Call the most?
♣ I don't like the phone much except to talk to my parents
322.IM the most?
♣ Carrie, Stephanie
323.Best friend of the opposite sex?
♣ Discussed about 100 questions ago
324.Best offline friend?
♣ wat?
325.Best online friend?
♣ ... wat?
326.Which friend do you dislike the most?
♣ Pretty shitty question to ask, IMHO
327.Person you can always confide in?
♣ Stephanie/parents/Carrie
328.Person that you can talk to for 12 hours straight and never get bored?
♣ Quite a few actually
329.In a fight or annoyed?
♣ Haha oh lol.
330.Friend's house you sleep at the most?
♣ Stephanie's...
331.Friend's house you wish you could sleep at but can't?
♣ My own fucking house.
332.Who is the first number on your speed dial?
♣ What is speed dial lol
333.Who would you take away on a week vacation?
♣ Stephanie because she doesn't get vacatons and Misty because she's hardly been out of the state either (and certainly hasn't been to the lower peninsula... meaning I'd take her to DETROIT~)
334.Craziest?
♣ I have a lot of crazy friends
335.Weirdest?
♣ seconding Stephanie's answer of Ben here
336.Most fun?
♣ Not sure
337.Saddest?
♣ Not sure
338.Quietest?
♣ lol quiet friends
339.Who knows you the best?
♣ Hmmm
340.Who do you know the best?
♣ Not sure
341.Who do you like to shop with?
♣ Shopping lol
342.Talk with?
♣ wat?
343.Trust the most?
♣ Stephanie/parents/Carrie
344.Flirt with?
♣ why would you do that?
345.Laugh with?
♣ All of them
346.Give advice to?
♣ Anyone, if they ask
347.Who gives you advice?
♣ Not sure
348.Best singer?
♣ none of them lol
349.Best athlete?
♣ Again, not sure if I'm friends with any athletes!
350.Who is the nicest?
♣ I know many nice people
351.Who is the meanest?
♣ Haha wut?
352.Best dancer?
♣ I have not really witnessed any dancing
353.Best writer?
♣ Hmmm not sure
354.Best smile?
♣ Don't know?
355.Most creative?
♣ Too many creative friends...
356.Best dressed?
♣ I don't pay too close of attention to stuff like that
357.Best shoes?
♣ Not sure
358.Who doesn't care if they lie?
♣ Wut?
359.Who can't lie?
♣ Wut?
360.Most innocent?
♣ your mother
361.Most innocent looking?
♣ dunno!
362.Rebel?
♣ Hmmm not sure either
363.Moodiest?
♣ ??
364.Happiest?
♣ ??
365.Cutest?
♣ Derp?

Do/Are/Who's?

366. It's because I'm bored, can't you figure that out?
♣ Fuck off
367.Religious?
♣ Not at all
368.Try to be fashionable?
♣ Not realy
369.Think fashion is important?
♣ Not excessively, no.
370.Get along with your family?
♣ Very well, yes.
371.Get along with your friends?
♣ Most of them, usually
372.Get grounded?
♣ Never
373.Know any foreign languages?
♣ I'm learning Ojibwe, but it's native to this area so... not foreign per se
374.Run into walls/doors?
♣ No...
375.Blonde?
♣ Not at all
376.Who do you talk to most online?
♣ Already discussed this
377.Who do you talk to most on the phone?
♣ Parents... already discussed this
378.Are you a bum?
♣ No?
379.Do you get online a lot?
♣ Always lol
380.Do you shower?
♣ Usually every day lol
381.Do you hate school?
♣ No, or else I wouldn't be in college.
382.Do you have a social life?
♣ When I want to!
383.Do you trust people easily?
♣ Not at all.
384.Have you ever lied to your best friend(s)?
♣ I'm sure at some point I have, but I can't recall when that last was
385.Are you a daredevil?
♣ Not really :(
386.Would you ever sky dive?
♣ Fucl. that.
387.Do you like to dance?
♣ Only as a joke
388.Are you funny?
♣ I like to think I am!
389.Are you a serious person?
♣ Contrary to popular belief, I can be VERY serious.
390.Do you make friends easily?
♣ Not really.
391.Do you work out?
♣ Nope
392.Do you like to work out?
♣ I like going for walks outside.
393.How much can you bench press?
♣ lol I never did that when I took a weightlifting class
394.How much can you lift?
♣ Not a lot!
395.Are you a popular person?
♣ Stupid
396.Do you have plans for your future?
♣ Oh god I don't even want to think about it.
397.Do you plan to go to college?
♣ DERP refer to one of the first questions here
398.Do you play sports?
♣ No :(
399.Do you like sports?
♣ Just hockey (and by like I mean LOVE) and a little bit of football on the side (but only a little)
400.Do you play an instrument?
♣ Cello, since 5th grade. It's taken me places.
401.Know what you want to be when you get older?
♣ Um?
402.Ever been out of state?
♣ Yeah... I've covered a good portion of this country. Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachussetts, Vermont, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin... I guess that's all. I'd really like to get out to the west coast and explore the interior of the country more.
403.Out of the country?
♣ Canada, Germany, Austria
404.Do you like to travel?
♣ Oh god yes.
405.What do YOU think of the way you look?
♣ Passing grade~
406.What do YOU think about your attitude?
♣ It could be better but I'm always eager to learn new things
407.What do you think about life after death?
♣ There's no such thing. You die, you're dead, you cease to exist. The. End.
408.What do you think about karma?
♣ Not real, but it's a good lesson to live by I think.
409.What do you think about love?
♣ It exists? It depends upon the definition of love.
410.What do you think about fate?
♣ Something to do with joining the Dark Side, killing Emperor Palpatine, something like that
411.What do you think about yourself?
♣ I'm okay with myself. Room for improvement of course~
412.What do you tell yourself if times get hard?
♣ It could be worse.
413.What would you give your life for?
♣ I'm... not sure.
414.What do you think about your first love?
♣ Pretty derpy.
415.What do you think about the first person that loved you?
♣ Parents?
416.What are you scared of?
♣ Failure, being alone, abandonment
417.Do you cry easily?
♣ Really depends
418.Who/What is something/someone that has touched you?
♣ My parents, for sure. I'm the person I am now because of them.
419.What was the saddest moment of your life?
♣ Probably the death of our dog, Mac. When I think of it, it still makes me cry, especially the days leading up to it.
420.What would life be without friends?
♣ Sad and useless.
421.Without family?
♣ Really fucking scary and sad. My parents mean the world to me.
422.Without you?
♣ One less consumer of oxygen
423.Are you deep?
♣ Maybe?
424.Do you think love is once in a lifetime, or just chance?
♣ Wat.
425.Do you like your town?
♣ Marquette is amazing.
426.Do you wanna get out of your town?
♣ Not really. I love Marquette. But unless the economy improves here, it's back to Ann Arbor for me.
427.What design/logo is on your mouse pad?
♣ What the fuck is a mousepad
428.What color is your mouse pad?
♣ ???
429.Drink a lot of water?
♣ More than I used to
430.Have a cell phone/beeper/etc.?
♣ Cell phone
431.Do you like amusement parks?
♣ Not really, but the physics trip to Cedar Point was pretty fun (didn't ride any roller coasters though, shitsux)
432.Have you ever been to 6 Flags?
♣ I have no interest in going there
433.What namebrand do you wear the most?
♣ buh?
434.Do you like taking pictures?
♣ I'm a photography major, so yes.
435.Do you like getting your picture taken?
♣ I used to hate it but now I consider myself a little bit of a camwhore, even if I end up looking really dumb in most of the pictures taken of me
436.Do you have a tan?
♣ I get a bit of one during the summer
437.Do you get annoyed easily?
♣ Oh yes. Usually it's fleeting, but... not always.
438.What are you hobbies?
♣ Photography, drawing, going outside and hiking, driving, internet, writing, cello, science~
439.Do you have your own phone/phone line?
♣ I have a cell phone
440.Do you have any posters/pinups on your bedroom walls?
♣ I have a Transformers poster... and a poster of a naked lady but it's from an alcohol advertisement so I guess that really doesn't count, does it?
441.Are you sick of this survey yet?
♣ It's giving me something to do and is allowing me to procrastinate on my homework
442.Do you get good grades in school?
♣ Straight As in high school, and I believe I'm on the Dean's List here at NMU
443.How do you vent your anger?
♣ I rant on LJ, blow off steam by watching hockey, or I go for a drive/walk
444.Are you a role model?
♣ Not really lol
445.Who do you look up to?
♣ There are a lot of good role models but I can't seem to think of one
446.Who do you trust the most?
♣ Several people
447.Do you have any piercings?
♣ NO.
448.Do you have any tattoos?
♣ No. But when I have money... maybe... a certain someone designed a very nice-looking basilisk :)
449.Do you dream a lot?
♣ Yeah, but I don't remember them most of the time
450.Do you daydream a lot?
♣ Not really, unless I'm outside not doing anything
451.Have you had a nightmare lately?
♣ Maybe? I have WEIRD dreams, but not usually nightmares
452.Do you have any allergies?
♣ I do, but I don't know what. Over winter break I was having a hell of a time with a runny nose and sniffling and such, but I don't know what it was. Not cats because I'm doing fine now.
453.Do you have any health problems?
♣ I don't (yet), but some stuff runs in the family...
454.Do you like animals?
♣ I love (most) animals
455.Do you have any pets?
♣ DERP cobbled together survey is cobbled together
456.Do you like your siblings?
♣ fff
457.Do you have glasses/contacts?
♣ I wear glasses
458.Do you have braces?
♣ Had braces in elementary school.
459.Do you have a job?
♣ Not yet ;_; Just about every summer since seventh grade I've worked for the University of Michigan though.
460.Have you ever been fired from a job?
♣ Nope
461.Who did YOU want to be President?
♣ Mr. Obama
462.Who would you vote for, if anyone, and why?
♣ Wat?
463.Do you have a curfew?
♣ Haha no.
464.Are you a vegetarian?
♣ Haha just about!
465.Could you be a vegetarian?
♣ Oh yes
466.Have you ever thought about suicide?
♣ I don't believe so
467.Do you like coffee?
♣ YES
468.Do you have a sweet tooth?
♣ i liek chocolate
469.Do you like horror movies?
♣ There was once a difference between a horror movie and a gore movie, but alas no longer. Classic horror movies are excellent, these days "horror" is a synonym for "gore" and I hate gore.
470.Do you like to spend or save your money?
♣ I wish I had money.
471.Do you keep your room clean?
♣ Actually, I do keep it pretty clean
472.Do yours well?
♣ What is this I don't even
473.Do you eat vegetables?
♣ I eat many vegetables these days!
474.Are you a flirt?
♣ Bah, no. Flirting is dumb
475.Are you good at flirting?
♣ Again...
476.Do you like to go to parties?
♣ I like PARTY TIEM
477.Do you still go trick or treating?
♣ I wish :(
478.Are you an angel or a little devil?
♣ Neither~
479.Do you get along with people?
♣ Depends on the person LOL
480.Have you ever just started dancing/singing in the middle of somewhere?
♣ Oh yes...
481.Have you ever won anything?
♣ Many times, usually photography-related
482.Do you have a waterbed or a regular bed?
♣ Regular IKEA bed lol
483.What size?
♣ Double I believe
484.Do you get bored easily?
♣ Yes but I can entertain myself pretty well
485.Do you play golf?
♣ Golf is dumb
486.Do you play miniature golf?
♣ I think I did once when I was a little kid
487.Do you like tennis?
♣ Boring
488.Are you flexible?
♣ Not at all!
489.Are you a sweet heart?
♣ Sometimes! <3
490.Would you like to be cloned?
♣ There is no need for another Jorie to be running around christ
491.What are your opinions on cloning?
♣ It's weird. People who clone their pets are idiots.
493.Scaramouche, scaramouche, will you do the fandango?
♣ THUNDERBOLTS AND LIGHTNING VERY VERY FRIGHTENING ME GALILEO GALILEO
494.Did you like this survey?
♣ very repetitive and tripe
495.Are you sorry you began filling it out?
♣ No
496.What questions do you wish it had asked?
♣ More relevant stuff
497.How would you have answered them?
♣ Derpy

THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
498.When was the last time you let the people you love/people who are important to you know you love them/that they are important to you?
♣ Like an hour ago~
499.What do you want the people who are reading this survey to know?
♣ THERE IS A LOT OF FLUFFY SNOW OUTSIDE AND I HAD TO WALK IN IT AND MY JEANS ARE STILL VERY WET AND COLD.

500.What time is it? 1:40 PM.

Total time: Just about 2 hours

Yesterday (and today)

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:23:45 GMT

Yesterday was... long. But in a good way, maybe? Mostly, anyway. It started out laughably stupid and continued that way until noon; I had BI112 to attend at one and -- well, you saw yesterday's entry prior to that class. In class, we were being lectured to about dinoflagellates, and some guy in class compared them to Venom from Spiderman, which confused the professor and made attending class completely worth it. After class I went to Crescent and spent some time with Catkin, and she was such a doll. Stephanie had work 'till five o'clock and at five I went back to Summit and we ate this weird soup that I unfortunately picked out at the co-op... it involved coconut milk, sweet potatoes, and shiitake mushrooms -- which sounds good on paper, really, but it wasn't nearly as good as I thought it would be.

Then! At 6:30 Stephanie and I met up with Tiff at Remie's Bar and we had some drinks. Since the UP 200 was about to start, we were afraid it might be really crowded there, but it wasn't bad, and we actually secured a table. Couldn't spend too much time at the bar though, because the race was set to start, so we went outside and the three of us then met up with A.J. and Rachel and together we watched the sled dog race begin! It was a lot better this year than last, when I was alone and absolutely freezing. Even got some delicious chocolate at Doncker's and made our way down to the corner of Washington and Lakeshore, where the dogs really pick up their speed.

Stephanie and I made it back to Summit, met up with Tiff, and we all drank hot chocolate and ate kettle popcorn and watched the Red Wings demolish the Ducks. Rachel stopped by, and then she and Tiff proceeded to watch a ton of nasty bot fly videos on Youtube, which I avoided even though my curiosity was threatening to get the better of me! Stephanie and I ended up not getting to bed until late, and at that point we both realized just how long of a day it had been.

Today's been more manageable, if not somewhat bland, but it was a good morning at Summit and the sandwiches we bought at the co-op were really tasty. We ate at MooseWood, and luckily I finished eating before spotting the tadpole entrails in Hermione's (red-eared slider) tank or witnessing Dutchess (king snake) strangle and eat a mouse. Victor (three-toed box turtle) was as grumpy and frisky as ever and I held Andrew (garter snake) for a while before he was fed a mouse.

I haven't gotten much done except procrastinate, take pictures of Catkin, and draw a moose. I think I'll save my readings for tomorrow because I'm in no mood to focus my attention that much right now. Just drinking tea and internetting after a hectic day yesterday, and it feels pretty nice.

Oh god wat

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:58:24 GMT

I'm sitting in the lobby outside of the BI112 lecture hall and there's a guy wearing a bath robe and crocs.... wat

And oh god lol key-passing tiem

And dog sled race tonight/bar/friends

lol oh god wat

Internet Vigilantes

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:38:52 GMT

Occasionally, 4chan exceeds expectations and does the right thing. Dusty the Cat and Kenny Glenn the Animal Abuser

I saw the start of this a few days ago when a link to the video and a list of personal information was posted to /toy/. Outrage followed, because /toy/ and /b/ and 4chan as a whole loves cats. Thanks to a legion of internet superheroes, two teenage boys are charged with animal abuse, and two cats are in a better place, and will be adopted by people who truly love them.

Also, snow day, but I have a feeling evening classes won't be canceled (surprise me, NMU!).

I need a "snow" icon that reflects just how much I hate it at times

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:49:21 GMT

So it's basically a blizzard outside and even though NMU knew the weather would be this severe during the day, they didn't cancel classes. I'm still holding out for canceled evening classes -- that would be wonderful -- but, yeah, it's really bad out there. I was walking up the hill along the road from the Summit Street apartments to the back of the LRC -- I take the underground tunnel to get to the science building -- and the wind was blowing into my face at a steady clip of what I'd estimate to be ~40 mph. With the wind (which was nearly making me suffocate) was heavy snow, which was making me squint and tear up -- blinding me, effectively, because the snow on the ground is so bright. So I could barely breathe, I couldn't see, and it was... it was torture. I've seen some terrible weather up here, but that's probably gonna rank as my worst experience with the snow yet.

Related, the posse is gonna go to the dog sled races Friday evening and hit up Remi's bar afterward. I'm rather looking forward to this, even if the temperature will be chilly.

Hmm

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:17:43 GMT

Today has been pretty blah, bleh, blargh, and all the related derivatives of such. The job fair I didn't attend because apparently only three employment agencies showed up, and NONE of them were local. Well you know what? Fuck that, and fuck you NMU. I plan on staying in Marquette this summer, whether or not I have a job. I am NOT going to Ann Arbor for the summer, and I will continue to look at the classifieds everyday in hope that new job opportunities are posted. And they will be, as winter turns to spring and more work is needed. In fact, jobless or working, I am SO looking forward to this summer -- I just can't stress that enough. To be across the lake with Stephanie and Catkin, enjoying the Marquette spring and summer -- I am very much looking forward to this.

In money-related news, my dad sold one of my cameras for me on eBay... got $125.00 out of that, and in addition my mother sent up a $50.00 check because they forgot to gas up Hound while they were in town. So I deposited some money in the bank today, as well as activated my new debit card -- I got a new one because apparently a whole bunch of Visa cards were "compromised" -- mine included. So yeah, new card. I've got more money in my account than I previously feared, but I... need a job. Yes.

We're supposed to get some severe winter weather starting sometime late tonight/early tomorrow morning, and it'll continue through Thursday afternoon. Lots of snow and stuff -- I'm hoping for a snow day or two, or at least a cancellation of evening classes (that'd be really nice).

For reasons I'd rather not talk about, things have continued to be pretty stressful, frustrating, and discouraging lately. The real victim in all of this is Catkin, and I feel so guilty not spending more time with her. So, Catkin, I'm going to be over for quite a while tomorrow, and you can harass me as much as you like because I love you and miss you and you are mine and Stephanie's baby. <3