...is what an awesome headline would be.
Yeah, things are still insane around Ave, but it's a relatively boring insanity... as compared with what will happen later in the school year.
But I swore I'd give you a Word of the Day, and when you swear, it's your promise, unless it's profanity:
Word of the Day: descant \DES-kant\, noun: 1. (Music) (a) A melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor. (b) The upper voice in part music. 2. A discourse or discussion on a theme.
Quote of the Day: He who strikes first admits he's lost the argument. Chinese Proverb.
About Me
- Mel
- New mommy *finally* getting to that stage in pregnancy where I don't have to explain that I haven't just "let myself go," making good use of her intellect, sense of humor, and creativity. Look out world, here I come!
Saturday, August 27, 2005
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
*gasp* AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Hokay, so I have a bit of anxiety about the uncertain future. So would anyone else in my situation, right?
Accreditation of their college being sketchy enough to consider transferring to another school- provided, of course, that the school in question would accept the credits from the other college. Possibility of being paid to go to another college by people that want the school to close? There's a moral dilemma...
Severe frustration at the Austria situation- the girl ahead of me on the waiting list might be dropping out last minute, so in theory I'd be able to go if she doesn't, but I'd still need to scrounge up $2,000 so I could afford to live there for 3 months. Besides, I'd also need to convince the powers that be that I should go- these powers being my parents (whom I would need to cosign on a personal loan for that $2000) and the people in charge of the Austria Study Abroad Program.
This is all timed perfectly as well- since I just got back from Germany and right away moved in to my dorm- poor Meghan would have to go through the hassle of a new rooming situation if I went to Austria anyway, and my dad's really sick right now so I'd feel bad springing this on my parents. Guess there's really nothing to do but wait for somebody or another to hear back from Liz about whether she's committed to going to Austria. Ahh well.
No worries if things stay the way they are- I have incredibly confusing classes to look forward to, Swing Dancing on Wednesday nights, buying a Laptop, and maybe even my parents getting me a cell phone (if I'm lucky).
Yep, you can tell I'm back at school because I actually have something to write about on this blog...
I'll work up some motivation to do Words and Quotes of the Day later on, in the meantime I have to finish unpacking so the room is inhabitable for the Hall Parties later tonight, and go see Brigid off at the airport. TTFN!
Hokay, so I have a bit of anxiety about the uncertain future. So would anyone else in my situation, right?
Accreditation of their college being sketchy enough to consider transferring to another school- provided, of course, that the school in question would accept the credits from the other college. Possibility of being paid to go to another college by people that want the school to close? There's a moral dilemma...
Severe frustration at the Austria situation- the girl ahead of me on the waiting list might be dropping out last minute, so in theory I'd be able to go if she doesn't, but I'd still need to scrounge up $2,000 so I could afford to live there for 3 months. Besides, I'd also need to convince the powers that be that I should go- these powers being my parents (whom I would need to cosign on a personal loan for that $2000) and the people in charge of the Austria Study Abroad Program.
This is all timed perfectly as well- since I just got back from Germany and right away moved in to my dorm- poor Meghan would have to go through the hassle of a new rooming situation if I went to Austria anyway, and my dad's really sick right now so I'd feel bad springing this on my parents. Guess there's really nothing to do but wait for somebody or another to hear back from Liz about whether she's committed to going to Austria. Ahh well.
No worries if things stay the way they are- I have incredibly confusing classes to look forward to, Swing Dancing on Wednesday nights, buying a Laptop, and maybe even my parents getting me a cell phone (if I'm lucky).
Yep, you can tell I'm back at school because I actually have something to write about on this blog...
I'll work up some motivation to do Words and Quotes of the Day later on, in the meantime I have to finish unpacking so the room is inhabitable for the Hall Parties later tonight, and go see Brigid off at the airport. TTFN!
Friday, August 19, 2005
Herzliche Wünchen von Bayern!
Hey kids! It´s about 12:30 in the morning here in Neunkirchen- the perfect time for an update :)
We´ve been keeping busy- visiting a few of the villages around the area, rock climbing, hiking, shopping, going on tours, visiting Nürnberg, swimming illegally in quarries... yeah, that´s about normal for us. Got some pictures, too; hope they turn out, and more to come!
Hobbits like holes.
We´ve been keeping busy- visiting a few of the villages around the area, rock climbing, hiking, shopping, going on tours, visiting Nürnberg, swimming illegally in quarries... yeah, that´s about normal for us. Got some pictures, too; hope they turn out, and more to come!
Hobbits like holes.
In the highest room of the tallest tower...
Wunsiedel from the mountain.
Sprechen Sie Spanglish?
Ruined hermitage.
NOT FOR EATING!
"Do you think my butt looks big?"
Der Hassenpfeffer liebt Pilzen.
Precious?
What is this..´German` you speak of?
Swamp people.. are the happiest people.
Is that a Hobbit in the distance?
How do I end up with a picture like this on every camera?
I have moss on my butt.
wtf?
Hanna´s "Princess Picture".
Hanging out at the top of the mountain at Felsenlabyrinth.
Gelato after a traditional Bavarian dinner- oh, and I´m riding a Gelato pony, too.
Met at the airport by Hanna, the coolest German foreign exchange student ever.Friday, August 12, 2005
I Love Spam
And by that I mean.. not the food, or the junk e-mail. But seriously, I checked my blog this morning and saw that I had 7 (count 'em, seven) comments... but 3 of the 4 new comments were, in fact, spam. And then I had a flashback to Christian Marriage class, of Brigid leaning over and telling me "No one loves us,"- and it's true.
Only a couple more days until The Hobbit gets here, and then we'll be leaving for Germany. I started freaking out last night because I realized I still have so much stuff to do- I have to get my room cleaned, my stuff packed both for the trip and for Move In Day at Ave the day after I get back, go to the bank to withdraw obscene amounts of money, buy a sweater (*ahem* Brigid...), and all sorts of other crap... I'm getting a little stressed.
But at least through all of this I have my Crest Whitestrips, and the assurance of a brighter, whiter smile.
Word of the Day: Ubiquitous (adj.)- Existing or being everywhere, or in all places, at the same time. As in "As a Catholic, I habitually fall back upon the word 'omnipresent' where 'ubiquitous' would suffice."
Quote of the Day: "Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately... it kills all its pupils." - Hector Berlioz
East is east and west is west and never the 'twain shall meet. However, if two 'twains meet, you will have a 'twain weck,
Adolf
Only a couple more days until The Hobbit gets here, and then we'll be leaving for Germany. I started freaking out last night because I realized I still have so much stuff to do- I have to get my room cleaned, my stuff packed both for the trip and for Move In Day at Ave the day after I get back, go to the bank to withdraw obscene amounts of money, buy a sweater (*ahem* Brigid...), and all sorts of other crap... I'm getting a little stressed.
But at least through all of this I have my Crest Whitestrips, and the assurance of a brighter, whiter smile.
Word of the Day: Ubiquitous (adj.)- Existing or being everywhere, or in all places, at the same time. As in "As a Catholic, I habitually fall back upon the word 'omnipresent' where 'ubiquitous' would suffice."
Quote of the Day: "Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately... it kills all its pupils." - Hector Berlioz
East is east and west is west and never the 'twain shall meet. However, if two 'twains meet, you will have a 'twain weck,
Adolf
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Rule #43- Anything which can be done as an Axis of Evil, must be done as an Axis of Evil
Accordingly, Kalishnikov and I gave blood together today. Much to our delight, we found that we have matching blood- and are soon to celebrate by obtaining matching sweaters. Are we dorks or what?
On the plus side, Fr. Roy's apartment is clean, so I don't have to worry about that, and should have time to devote the rest of my week to cleaning up John Vianney before I leave for Germany. T-6 days on that count. Wooo!!!
Other cool plus- dictionary.com is back up, so I can look up my word of the day again. Of course, I'm too lazy to do that right now, but I assure you that I remember the word starting with the letter C and meaning something to do with being argumentative. And no, Axis, it was not cantankerous. I'd have remembered if it was.
Shut your mouth when you're talking to me!
-Adolf
On the plus side, Fr. Roy's apartment is clean, so I don't have to worry about that, and should have time to devote the rest of my week to cleaning up John Vianney before I leave for Germany. T-6 days on that count. Wooo!!!
Other cool plus- dictionary.com is back up, so I can look up my word of the day again. Of course, I'm too lazy to do that right now, but I assure you that I remember the word starting with the letter C and meaning something to do with being argumentative. And no, Axis, it was not cantankerous. I'd have remembered if it was.
Shut your mouth when you're talking to me!
-Adolf
Monday, August 08, 2005
Disillusionment Runs Rampant In Ypsilanti
It's a sad sad day for the news world: Peter Jennings has died of lung cancer : ( He's seen me through quite a few headlines. Damn you, Walter Kronkite!
I think I speak for both myself and Kalishnikov when I say we're somewhat depressed about the recent turn of events concerning Austria. But as two discouraged codictators, we certainly do know how to make ourselves feel better. And that, my friends, is by wearing Crest Whitestrips to the movies and freaking people out.
For those of us travelling in the next few months, something to help you learn more about the system of government you may be visiting:
Systems of Government, As Explained With Cows
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and as many eggs as the regulations say you should need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you.
SINGAPOREAN DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. The government fines you for keeping two unlicensed farm animals in an apartment.
MILITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures. The press dubs the affair "Cowgate".
BRITISH DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. You feed them sheeps' brains and they go mad. The government doesn't do anything.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to kill you and take the cows.
CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
HONG KONG CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax deduction for keeping five cows. The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the right to all seven cows' milk back to the listed company. The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. Meanwhile, you kill the two cows because the fung shui is bad.
ENVIRONMENTALISM: You have two cows. The government bans you from milking or killing them.
FEMINISM: You have two cows. They get married and adopt a veal calf.
TOTALITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned.
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: You are associated with (the concept of "ownership" is a symbol of the phallo centric, war mongering, intolerant past) two differently - aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of non-specified gender.
COUNTER CULTURE: Wow, dude, there's like... these two cows, man. You got to have some of this milk.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
Word of the Day: was supposed to be castigate, but dictionary.com is down today, so I guess we're shit outta luck.
I think I speak for both myself and Kalishnikov when I say we're somewhat depressed about the recent turn of events concerning Austria. But as two discouraged codictators, we certainly do know how to make ourselves feel better. And that, my friends, is by wearing Crest Whitestrips to the movies and freaking people out.
For those of us travelling in the next few months, something to help you learn more about the system of government you may be visiting:
Systems of Government, As Explained With Cows
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and as many eggs as the regulations say you should need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you.
SINGAPOREAN DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. The government fines you for keeping two unlicensed farm animals in an apartment.
MILITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures. The press dubs the affair "Cowgate".
BRITISH DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. You feed them sheeps' brains and they go mad. The government doesn't do anything.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to kill you and take the cows.
CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
HONG KONG CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax deduction for keeping five cows. The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the right to all seven cows' milk back to the listed company. The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. Meanwhile, you kill the two cows because the fung shui is bad.
ENVIRONMENTALISM: You have two cows. The government bans you from milking or killing them.
FEMINISM: You have two cows. They get married and adopt a veal calf.
TOTALITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned.
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: You are associated with (the concept of "ownership" is a symbol of the phallo centric, war mongering, intolerant past) two differently - aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of non-specified gender.
COUNTER CULTURE: Wow, dude, there's like... these two cows, man. You got to have some of this milk.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
Word of the Day: was supposed to be castigate, but dictionary.com is down today, so I guess we're shit outta luck.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Looks like no Austria for this wittle wamb...
Guess it's finalized- my archnemesis has taken the last spot for the Austrian Study Abroad program.. which, I suppose, is nothing more than we expected. But unfortunate nonetheless. It will put an indefinite pause in the Axis' plot to take over the world, one continent at a time. I can't help but feel this is highly unjust.. Adolf was Austrian, wasn't he???
Meh, on the plus side, this means a continuation of all those plans I made before trying to go to Austria. I mean, I did have my courses all planned out, a job lined up for the semester, and probably tons of potential hours entertaining Justin(ius Enfieldus Rex Maximus the Third). Might be taking a trip to Chicago to visit my sister around Labor Day, too; we'll have to see what my parents have to say about it.
Is it really obvious that I'm trying to convince myself that not going to Austria this semester is a good thing?
Because that's what I'm doing...
We'll travel 'round the world, just you and me,
-Adolf
Meh, on the plus side, this means a continuation of all those plans I made before trying to go to Austria. I mean, I did have my courses all planned out, a job lined up for the semester, and probably tons of potential hours entertaining Justin(ius Enfieldus Rex Maximus the Third). Might be taking a trip to Chicago to visit my sister around Labor Day, too; we'll have to see what my parents have to say about it.
Is it really obvious that I'm trying to convince myself that not going to Austria this semester is a good thing?
Because that's what I'm doing...
We'll travel 'round the world, just you and me,
-Adolf
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Thank God my parents got cable.
Ok, seriously, if it weren't for the fact that my parents got cable, I would probably be going insane right about now. It appears to me that other than the mundane activity of watching dumbed-down television, I've got nothing but stressful, must-be-done-NOW stuff to do. Like get my application stuff ready for Austria, despite the fact that I probably won't be able to go... I've got to meet seriously with Torie for a while to get all this stuff figured out, and all the... "What If" situations covered. Like, what if I don't find out I can go in time to send out my VISA application form? Can I just sneak into the country? Maybe apply for a shorter term immediate VISA when I get there, and wait until my long term one arrives? When am I supposed to come back to the US? I can't get my VISA without telling them when I want to leave and giving them proof of my plane tickets. Ironically, proof of financial stability is at the moment the least of my worries. That's gotta be a first.
On the plus side, World Youth Day plans are coming into order- The Hobbit and I plan on visiting Dachau, the World Famous HoffBrauHaus, if I can convince them that it's not too expensive, Neuschwanstein, and otherwise get my friend Hanna to show us around. Oh, and actual World Youth Day will be happening too. Should be cool.
Having a reminescing night- randomly came across a collection of inside jokes from highschool while rummaging through the mounds of junk in my bedroom (hence the latest and greatest tagline- which is apparently changing about as frequently as my xanga taglines, if not more). I'd post all of the infamous one-liners, but I'm afraid they would leave you all as nothing but dazed and confused. Ask me again sometime.
In the meantime, I hear my mother dearest beckoning me to teach her how to use her new cellphone... I love being the only electronically and technologically competent person in the house. :-P
--
Mel
On the plus side, World Youth Day plans are coming into order- The Hobbit and I plan on visiting Dachau, the World Famous HoffBrauHaus, if I can convince them that it's not too expensive, Neuschwanstein, and otherwise get my friend Hanna to show us around. Oh, and actual World Youth Day will be happening too. Should be cool.
Having a reminescing night- randomly came across a collection of inside jokes from highschool while rummaging through the mounds of junk in my bedroom (hence the latest and greatest tagline- which is apparently changing about as frequently as my xanga taglines, if not more). I'd post all of the infamous one-liners, but I'm afraid they would leave you all as nothing but dazed and confused. Ask me again sometime.
In the meantime, I hear my mother dearest beckoning me to teach her how to use her new cellphone... I love being the only electronically and technologically competent person in the house. :-P
--
Mel
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Mr. Scholand Rox My Sox
I really need sleep, but I had to express my elation at the latest and greatest: our phone lines are working again! Mr. Scholand apparently showed up at our house after my brother-in-law informed him of our dramatic plight, figured that there was indeed a problem between the phone box and our indoor lines, and helped my dad fix them, at least temporarily. He'll be coming back Wednesday to make sure things are ok. Hopefully we'll still be getting internet cable, the amount of time I spend tying up the phone lines being online is just ridiculous. And I better be freaking getting a cell phone if I don't end up going to Austria...
gratuitous pirate picture:
gratuitous pirate picture:
Monday, August 01, 2005
What the Hell is going on here???
Well, for those of you who haven't been keeping up on these things (meaning everybody but Brigid) I'm trying to get my arse in gear to study in Austria this fall. I just got an e-mail back from Torie Zmuda (She-Who-Is-In-Charge-Of-This-Kind-Of-Thing) saying, in so many words, definitely not, maybe. Basically, she pointed out that there's alot to the application process and there's a waiting list, and apologized for not being able to say yes. My sources claim that there is no more waiting list, however, and the application process be damned, I can totally pull this off if they let me. So not that I really expected to be able to go, I'm not a complete lunatic. But if they'll change their minds I need to know ASAP so I can get my crap ready to go, or else it'll be too late to even try.
How frustrating..
In any case, had a blast this weekend (despite lack of internet and phone service) hanging out w/ Bwiggy Bear while ..*cough*.. house sitting. Free cable and swimming? and Cherry Coke? and her brother fetching things for us? What's not to love?
Also spent some time with the fam this weekend (unavoidable because of the phone thing) but it was cool, played with the nephews, goofed off with my brother in law, stuff like that. Good times.
I love using company time for my own purposes, but I should probably get something done today or Marita will once again suspect my slacking. Poo.
How frustrating..
In any case, had a blast this weekend (despite lack of internet and phone service) hanging out w/ Bwiggy Bear while ..*cough*.. house sitting. Free cable and swimming? and Cherry Coke? and her brother fetching things for us? What's not to love?
Also spent some time with the fam this weekend (unavoidable because of the phone thing) but it was cool, played with the nephews, goofed off with my brother in law, stuff like that. Good times.
I love using company time for my own purposes, but I should probably get something done today or Marita will once again suspect my slacking. Poo.
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