Day 22

So I was going to post a snippet from one of my old journals as suggested in No One Cares What You Had For Lunch. However, I discovered something.

I was a really angsty teenager.

I was so angry! Where did all the anger come from? Oh my! If my 16 year old self could meet my 21 year old self, we would totally have a serious chat. I think I would just give myself a hug. I'm far enough away from high school that the memories have mostly faded. Three years into college and hey, high school wasn't so bad. It was bad. I don't think I'm far enough away from the person I was when I was in high to laugh about it yet. Maybe if I go back further into my journals....

Ah! Yes! My Babysitters Club journal. Man I was so excited about Babysitters Club back in the day. Ok, lets see. Shit. My writing? It is illegible! Wow. Was I trying to make sure no one would be able to read my journal? I was pretty successful. Then again, I was 10 years old. Who can write at 10?

Maybe I should just have a big bonfire and get rid of all the embarrassing stuff. Or I could put them all in a trunk and fill the trunk with concrete and throw the concrete filled trunk into the deepest, darkest part of the ocean. Ha! No one would find them then.

Day 21: No laughing

I will murder you if you laugh at me. Puffy cheeks are not attractive.

Day 20: Mshsshejk

Thoughts on wisdom teeth:
-I like Nitrous oxide.
-Weird that I got to listen to an iPod through the whole thing. It is interesting to hear Ani Difranco cover Dylan's "Hurricane" while some one is yanking things out of my mouth. But I didn't care because the gas, IT IS AWESOME.
-Post surgery? I WISH I COULD CHEW. I've only eaten applesauce today. I quite enjoy it but I wish I could eat something other than that and the soup part of chicken noodle soup.
-Vicodin. Mmmm.
-Hanging out on the couch all day? Also cool. That Big Lots commercial I keep seeing? Not as cool.
-It is a little disconcerting to take blood soaked gauze out of my mouth. I didn't know my mouth could bleed that much. Don't worry, I took pictures.
-And dude, I totally had the dental assistant save my teeth. Yessss.

Day 19: Home!

I'm home at last. I have been scheming all day, trying to figure out a delightful post for you. No dice. Home is great. My Mom was all excited for my arrival. My bro and his lady met me at the airport and transported me back to EC. (It's 90 from the Minneapolis airport to hoooome.) We get into the garage, park the car, and immediately the door that connects the house to the garage is opened. My Moms is standing there in her nightie, all atwitter. Dad was back there somewhere too, pajama clad and crabby he was awakened. But its not everyday your daughter comes home to visit from college. As far as I can tell, EC hasn't changed too much. But then again, I haven't been beyond the grocery store yet. My Mom and I went on a mission today to stock up for the Great Wisdom Teeth Removal. She is excited. What mother is excited for her child to have teeth ripped from her gums? MINE IS. We got yogurt, bananas, soup, and stuff to make smooties. Yes! The only downside to this whole affair is the missing of Thanksgiving dinner. I am lobbying for yams this year - a break from tradition for us - as they are another food that can be mashed up and consumed by someone who will be like a baby cutting new teeth. That all goes down tomorrow, bright and early in the morning. I got movies to watch too! Yippe! It'll be like being home sick except that I'll have gaping holes in my gums!

In other news, I survived Data Analysis and managed to score a B. Yay me! I'm so proud of me. I worked really really really hard and it paid off. Wowie zowie.

I want to photographically document my wisdom experience and we'll see what kind of entry comes out of the whole thing tomorrow.

Day 18

I went to the Public market this morning with Fuji and Kerry. I love the Public Market, especially the sense of community I get from it. Rochester is really just a city made up of a bunch of different little sections but everyone from all over comes to the Public Market. The Farmer's Market in EC recently got a make over. The city built covered stalls for the vendors to display their goods at. It's like the Public Market but on a much smaller scale.
Heading home today. Can't wait.

Day 17: Almost Home

This is one photo from yesterday. Probably one of my faves. The leaf came from a gorgeous tree that only in the last few weeks decided to change colors and shed its leaves. I love the light. Sunset light.
I'm still going through Maggie Mason's book. So I should have something lovely to write about tomorrow. For now, I am distracted by packing and other thoughts that are pulling at my mind. I love you all.

Day 16: Yessss

This picture is real. Today, Rochester rained all day. The rain stopped and the sky began to clear right at sunset. I glanced out the window and saw this amazingness. Of course I had to grab my camera and run outside.

It looked so surreal. Like a Dali painting or something I only dreamed about.

I am constantly looking out the window. My desk is situated next to the window in my bedroom. I can sit at my computer and just turn my head to see outside. The is of a parking lot and the rear of some of the academic buildings. But the sky is always beautiful to look at.

This is often the view at sunset between the apartment buildings and parking lots that I see when I head home from class. I always wish I had my camera with me to document it and today I did. Lucky shot.

Today started out kind of blah. But I don't think I want to talk about the blah reasons. These reasons are best kept to myself so I can put them behind me. However, the day perked up when I had lunch with Dan. Then I came back and checked the mail. Yess! No One Cares What You Had For Lunch was sitting in my mailbox. There was another surprise too! A postcard from my dear Miss Asia. I used to babysit for that kid. She was 4 when I started to sit for her and now she's 8. I feel old. The postcard is very cute, along with her writing that wavers over the card. I remember when I was learning to write and managing to write across a page in a straight line frustrated me to no end. I couldn't seem to master it. I stuck pages of lined paper underneath my clean, blank page to help me. I still can't really draw straight lines. But I don't let it bother me.
Tomorrow, a post from the book. Today I recommend things. Mary recommends: looking at the sky, listening to the This American Life podcast, sleeping in to the perfect time (I vote for 10AM. Not too late, but still not too early.)

Day 15: Meh

I finished all the work that needed to be done to end the quarter.
I kicked ass on my data anal final.
I'm tired.
What am I doing tomorrow? Writing an awesome post cuz I will for reals have gotten No One Cares What You Had for Lunch in the mail.

Day 14: Survivin'

Today was another long ass day of work. Have you ever tried to use iDVD? It is a bitchy bitch. For reals! I wish I had clever and snarky things to say about iDVD, but alas I don't. It was just very trying. It took me way longer than I planned on to do the stupid I had to do in iDVD and I didn't get to spend as much time as I wanted at the library. Its just as well. There was some girl talking on her cell phone at the study areas and I forgot my graphing calculator. Data Anal is hard to do without a grapher.
I wish I had something less mundane to write about. Tomorrow I should be getting No One Cares What You Had for Lunch. Then I can titillate you with all kinds of things.

So here are some things I've been enjoying reading (granted, its mostly knit blogs):
Yarn Bee
Yarnstorm
Knotty Bits

Christmas is comin'. I totally hope Santa brings me some of this. Too bad its all sold out right now. But enjoy looking at some damn fine yarn porn.

Day 13: How lucky! A Real Post

Hot Leg Warmers
Originally uploaded by tohellwithme.

Lookit! Another finished project! Yay me! These legwarmers literally flew off the needles, they were such a quick knit. Here are the specs:
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted
Needles: 10.5 dpns
Pattern: None really. Just 2 strands held together for a k2, p2 rib.

Miss Fuji requested leg warmers as she likes to rock the capris well into the chilly months. Because I love Fuji dearly, I obligied and whipped up a pair for her. Most of the time, when I knit for other people, I don't get anything in return but this time was different! Behold!

The Awesome Bag
Originally uploaded by tohellwithme.

Super awesome bag! A genuine Linny Lu original. I love this bag. The colors, the pattern, and the size are all perfect. I'm tickled that Fuji made me this in return. I lurve it.

So finals week is going ok, thus far. I spent a few hours at the library going Data Anal till my eyeballs fell out. Tomorrow won't be any different. I have my Personal Finance Management final - which isn't that important to me - and then the rest of the day to prepare for Data Anal. Plus some miscellaneous work to finish up. Sigh. Its almost over, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I know there were other exciting things I wanted to write about, I just can't think of them now. Boo. As far as knitting goes, I'm moving right along on a hat for one of my rookies. I've left the socks for Dan I was working by the wayside but will probably pick them back up again for the planeride home. I am intrigued by the Entrelac technique. There is a pattern for a ginormous stole/scarf thing in the Scarf Style book that I want to try. Here is a good example of Lady Eleanor, as the pattern is called. (PS that blog is really cute, you should look around while your there.) I think to introduce myself to Entrelac, I will first make a dishcloth using that technique. There is a pattern can be found here. But I must say, I love the way Entrelac looks and I can't wait to try it out. Huzzah! Hopefully more pictures and such tomorrow. I got some stories to tell.

Day 12: OMG!!! That was a close one!

Almost didn't make it! Shit! I've been so busy today - waking up all hung over, then fixing my AV project then cooking with Erin for the rugby dinner we had at our apartment then hanging out and working on data anal then THE BEARS GAME. Argggg. I keep sayin' I'll post something better the next day and today I was gonna do it but other stuff got in the way.

PS The Bears are awesome.

Day 11

Yo this NaBloPoMo thing stops for no one. I just realized that even though I am getting all sassy and classy, I still have to write a blog post.
In between studying for my data anal final, I went with Katie to the High Falls Film Festival to see a showing of What Remains, the documentary about Sally Mann. Sally Mann is one of my favorite photogs. Her work is fine art but even from a biomed photo perspective it is approachable and easy to understand. A lot of fine art work seems hostile to me because my eyes aren't especially trained to look at it the way I can look at a scientific picture. The movie was really good and inspiring, especially the way it shows how Mann lives art every day in her life.

I guess I will try to write something more cohesive tomorrow. For now I am getting sassy and classy!

Day 10

Oh sweet jesus I made it through week 10. Ha ha! Week 10 I kicked your ass and lived to tell the tale. That being said, I still don't quite have the energy to muster up a real post so here is a fun thing that has been going around the blogs.

here's how it works:
1. open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every question, type the song that's playing
5. new question-- press the next button
6. don't lie and try to pretend you're cool

Ready? Ok go!

opening credits:
"Please Don't Tease" - the Donnas
waking up:
"The Greatest Cowboy of them All" - Johnny Cash
first day at school:
"Angel, Won't You Call Me?" - the Decemberists
falling in love:
"Perfect" - Smashing Pumpkins
breaking up:
"Somebody Led Me Away" - Neko Case
prom:
"Where Does The Good Go" - Tegan & Sarah (oh so perfect for my prom experience)
life's okay:
"Song Beneath the Song" - Maria Taylor
mental breakdown:
"Better Way" - Ben Harper
Driving
"When You Sleep" - Cake
Flashback
"Stiff Upper Lip" - AC/DC
Getting Back Together
"Carrying Cathy" - Ben Folds
Wedding
"Little Room" - The White Stripes
Birth of a Child
"She Is Beautiful" - Andrew WK
Final Battle
"The Blood of Cu Chulain" - The Boondock Saints soundtrack (oooh good one itunes)
Death Scene
"Go Tell the World" - Joy Zipper
Funeral Song
"Oceanside" - the Decemberists
End Credits
"This Little Girl of Mine" - Ray Charles

Hmmm interesting choices here iTunes. I think most songs are appropriate except for The White Stripes choice. What were you thinking iTunes?

Day 9: Oh my! How fine!

I have just finished by far the most trying day of week 10 so far. I started doing work at noon today and did not stop. Now I am done. I got a lot done but I am mentally drained. A more substaintial post will come tomorrow when I can think and process normally again.

Day 8: Oh, its great!

Rainy and yucky here in Rochester. But's nothing to say of the shit storm that apparently happened in Wisconsin. What happened Wisconsin? I leave you alone by yourself and look what you did! Look at Arizona's example. Democrats win control of the House in Wisconsin but when it come to letting 2 people who love each sign some legal document that says they can get certain tax benefits you get all in a huff. Today I am sorry to say, I am not happy and proud to be from Wisconsin.

More later...

Day Seven

Hey this blogging every day thing is going pretty well.
Today was quite uneventful. It was just busy and full of work. That is what is to be expected on day 2 of week 10. All this counting of days - it's day 7 of NaBloPoMo, its week 10 day 2. Makes me dizzy.
So in mundane news in Mary's life: got a decent grade on my last Data Anal exam. Yesss. Ummm. All I really did today was a lot of school work. Nothing funny or noteworthy happened. I got my final photo project just about finished. I'm sorry. Its that absentminded lethargy that happens during week 10. Your brain is really only focused on school. But soon! I will have a copy of No One Cares What You Had for Lunch of my very own. And I will have 100 possible blog post to choose from.

A thought for the road...I am listening to Nirvana's Unplugged in New York album. It is strange to hear Kurt Cobains voice and think about his death. Back in my teen angst days, he was a figure I clung desperately to. His words sustained me in a way and reassured me that I wasn't the only person who felt the way I did. (As I am sure he did for many people.) Here I am several years later, listening to the music of a man dead for 10 years and I am casually writing about him on my blog. Listening to his songs makes me think about how far I've come. I can't remember feeling that much in despair. I'm glad I'm so far from it and I'm proud of myself. I think Cobain's music helped me out of it and listening and looking back, I am happy where I'm at.

Day 6 Yo!

First things first: big birthday shout outs go to Miss Sworva Jean, who turns 21 today! Damn girl! I can't wait to come home and take you to Chester's!!!

Yes...home. I was talkin' to Miss Sworva all through class this morning on my computer using the internets and talking to her made me all excited to go home. It has taken me a while to appreciate the trappings of home. When I started college, I was so excited to get the hell out of Wisconsin and the Midwest and have this big adventure. Going home was such a downer. But now its different. There is no one who equals my Mom or Dad or my Sworva or even my kitty. Going home means that your mom takes care of you and you don't have to do laundry or worry about cooking for yourself because your mom missed you and she just wants to do stuff for you. My Mom is so excited for me to come home. I'm getting my wisdom teeth out first thing and I think she wants one of her babies back to nurse. She keeps talking about making me pudding and such. And then there is Sworva! And we can craft and drink the seasonal Leininkugels and catch up. I can't wait.

Week 10 is coming along. It seems everything will fine once I can get past Wednesday. Wednesday seems to be the day when alllll the profs decided to make things due. To torture poor Mary. But Wednesday. Take a deep breath. Let it out. I can do this. I can make it to Wednesday. I just remembered. After Wednesday I still have to get my final film done for AV Production and study like crazy for data analysis. Don't celebrate too soon. Deep breaths. Soon this craziness will all be over.

Day 5 of NaBloPoMo

Wee! 5 days in a row! I'm doing it, doing it, yeah! I was looking at the stats for this blog and I'm nearing 350 posts. Wowie zowie! I think I started this thing back in sophomore year of high school. It is now junior year of college. Looooooooong time.
Erin is watching Family Guy and I can hear snatches of it every now and then. It is quite silly to only hear fragments. So today was another day of doing nothing. Well. Not so much. I worked on the word part of my final photo project. The assignment is to write technical articles about some photographic process or another. So I chose to write about fluorescence: how to do it, what it is, etc, etc. I have most of the words down, now I just need to finnish taking the pictures. I can't believe the quarter is almost done - just week 10 and finals left. I can't wait to go home. Well, I guess going home will be ok. I'm getting the wisdom teeth out which will be...interesting. My Pops keeps telling me it is going to be oh so horrible and my Moms says not to listen to him, he just had a bad experience. I don't really know what to think of the whole process. I'm ok with pain. I've had teeth drilled and the only midly unpleasant part was when they nvocain shot went in. Other than that it was fine. So I think sipping on smoothies and eating cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving will be ok. I'll live. It'll involve a lot of couch time. So maybe I won't be too hopped up on painkillers to get some knitting done. I hope.
I slept for a while this afternoon. I think I am fighting a virus or sinus infection of some sorts. I think its better to sleep on the weekends than to be sleeping a lot this coming week. I need my energy, yo! Its week 10! Wake up Mary.
Perhaps it is time to put my nose back to the grindstone and see what else I can squeeze outta my brain on fluorescence.

Where did the afternoon go? I was innocently reading and then all of a sudden I was asleep and now it's 5:30. I guess I was tired. Eh, its the end of the quarter.
So NaBloPoMo is going pretty well. It's kinda exciting reading posts every day from everyone in the entire world ever. Posting every day means even posting on the weekend. That's cool.
Sorry. I'm still pretty fuzzy and bewildered from sleep. I'll have something better to write about tomorrow.

Day 3

Maybe I should post earlier in the day? Hmmm
So this whole post a day thing is going pretty well. I kinda like it. Erin and I just made a Jack Apple Pecan Spice cake. What is this? you ask. Well. It is a spice cake with apples, Jack Daniels (yes! whiskey!), pecans and other assorted goodies. It is in the oven as we speak. Well, as I write this. The cake batter requires two tablespoons of whiskey while the glaze requires three. Um, which can you taste the whiskey more in? This cake has the feel of the perfect cake for fall. Warm and moist with apples and...whiskey.
I was late for work today. Oopsie. Dan spent the night and he kept pressing the snooze button on my alarm. Then decided to tell me it was 7:27. Thanks dude. I threw on clothes and raced out the door. I made it there by 7:40. Damn I walked fast. I hate being late. But I think I posted sometime back about that? Not sure.
Another thing I hate is checking out and returning equipment to the photo cage. We are doing group projects in AV production and my group is conducting a lot of interviews as part of our film. The people we chose to interview all have different schedules and of course that leads to filming on different days. So that also means checking out equipment on different days too and then returning it. So I was returning the video camera and tripod. The cager who was checking me in was real snotty. Oh! My favorite! First he bitched at me because I put the tripod in its case the wrong way...um I didn't know there was a right way? Then as he was checking in each indivdual part of the camera kit proceeded to again give me shit about how the cords were arrange. They needed to be neatly coiled. Again, I had no idea. I've checked out a stupid camera tons of times before and returned it the way I found it and no one has said anything about how the cords were coiled. Then he made me coil them. Well fuck that. Cagers piss me off. I know its busy up there and you are responsible for expensive camera equipment but don't take it out on me. My job isn't the easiest too, ok? I'm actually responsible for people's classwork and if I fuck up I'm in bigger trouble then you. Shooooooove it.
On to nice topics.
Um
I guess I don't have any. I'll let you know how the cake was.