Confessions of a Chronic Dork

Singing along to: the Frames, Lay Me Down

I have apparently become the kind of person who cannot function on seven hours of sleep. That's how much I got last night, and I barely made it through my nine o'clock class. I stumbled home from that and immediately took a two-hour nap, after which I was fine for the rest of the day. Is this another sign that I'm getting old?

***

I do a lot of Internet window-shopping, and this evening I spent some time browsing Etsy's vintage housewares section. Mistake! Mistake! I'm developing an inexplicable taste for vintage/retro designs anyway, and this pretty much put me over the edge. Sure, some of the stuff is just plain ugly, but some of it makes me a little weak in the knees. (I'm looking at you, 1960s serving platter! You too, mid-century candle holder!) There was one set of dishes so awesome I very nearly bought them on the spot; only the prohibitive shipping costs are holding me back. (Apparently dishes are like, heavy and fragile. Who knew?)

(You know it's gotten to me when I use four exclamation points in a single paragraph. Apologies.)

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One of the problems with being at school is that I am far away from all my art/craft supplies, so when inspiration strikes -- whether it's for a painting or a picture frame -- the most I can usually do is hope I have the time to do it next time I'm home. But everytime I go home, of course, I have a backlog of projects and a bunch of non-creative things to do as well. Like going to work, taking bubble baths, and photographing my dog. Important stuff.

Right now I really want to make this sweet no-sew "laptop cozy" from Design*Sponge. Except that mine would probably involve stars, or a sun, or clouds, or heck, all three. Because that's how I roll. And also because my iBook is spending a lot of time in my backpack and suddenly it's not as sleek and shiny as it once was. And what is the point of a Mac if it's not pretty, right?

Labels: Notes and Asides

Singing along to: something jazzy of my dad's

Good thing I didn't make a New Year's Resolution to blog more, huh?

***

Today I amused myself at work by making up a song about Russian history. (I was working at the library, in the 900s; it wasn't a total non-sequitur.) It goes something like this: "All we want for Christmas is a warm-water port, a warm-water port, a warm-water port..." It was totally awesome, until it got stuck in my head.

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For Christmas, one of my aunts gave me a set of the 2007 presidential dollar coins. They're very nice (although I still maintain that they will fail), but I'm a little disappointed in the Jefferson coin. Jefferson was a total hottie, but that coin doesn't even look like him.

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We got new bookshelves for the family room, which means I get to replace the small bookshelf in my room with the bigger one from the family room. I am very excited about this; in fact, I'm already contemplating the new organizational possibilities. For instance, I could have a non-fiction bookshelf and a fiction bookshelf. Of course, this merely proves what I have been denying for years, namely, that I really should start looking at library science programs for graduate school because there is no escaping fate (or genetics, as it happens: an MLS on my dad's side and OCD tendencies on my mom's).

***

I've recently become hooked on Battlestar Galactica. I'm only on the first season, so please, no spoilers (I've inadvertently stumbled across enough already) but my goal is to catch up on the old episodes in time for the beginning of season four in April. Because I really needed something else to geek out over.

Labels: Notes and Asides

Singing along to: the Postal Service, Be Still My Heart

I try not to complain too much about things like the food and the housekeeping, etc, at college, because I really hate sounding like the spoiled suburban girl I (sometimes) am. But is it too much to ask that there be toilet paper in the bathrooms? It's been days now...

***

Three years ago, I was not a shoe person. Now, I am a shoe person. Holy crap, I am a shoe person. I can trace this terrible development back to a specific pair of black peep-toe heels from Target my freshman year, which I love even though they hurt me. It's an abusive relationship, I tell you. Currently, I am torn between these wedges from Old Navy and these deliciously retro-looking shoes from Target. Well, at least I don't have expensive taste in shoes. (And handbags? Handbags I could take or leave.)


***

I am very ISTJ (emphasis on the I, for introverted), but Hermione was never really my favorite. (Quiz from the Caffeinated Librarian.)

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

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Further proof that I need this break: Yesterday, I put my underwear on inside out. And it took me all day to notice it.

***

For the past week and a half, the dorm has been an ever-changing parade of olfactory delights, mostly because of The Event of Semester. First there was the lingering odor of smoke, then the smell of damp carpeting, then fresh paint, and now some sort of hybrid stink that I can't quite identify, but which seems to contain notes of all of the above. I just hope they replace the carpeting early in the break, so there's plenty of time for the new carpet stink to air out.

Labels: College, Notes and Asides

Singing along to: Iron & Wine with Calexico, Prison on Route 41

Riddle me this, Batman: Why is that when I go to take a shower in the morning, the water is too hot to take a shower in, but when I wash my dishes in the evenings, I can't even get the water lukewarm? And then when I brush my teeth at night, the water is back to hot again. It makes no sense.

***

My makeshift curtains have been up for a couple weeks now, and I still don't like them. They're awkward looking and they clash with my flowerpots and my sheets. Since I already have blinds for privacy purposes, I am thinking of making a couple of these paper ornaments in different sizes and hanging them in front of my windows instead. What say you? And more importantly, what will the future roommate think?

***

Because, yes, actually, I think I unofficially have a roommate for next semester. I'm okay with this, because while I like my solitude, I also like this person. Plus, the situation meets two important requirements: one, that I actually know the person, and two, that I was consulted in advance about the arrangement. I haven't heard anything official from housing services, however.

***

It's now Advent, December, and cold as hell, which means that the Christmas season is officially allowed to begin. Not that it waits for my permission anyway, but at least I have my own personal permission to hang a plastic wreath on my door and add the three or four Christmas songs I can actually tolerate to my iTunes rotation. That's about as festive as I'm willing to get, actually.

***

Oh, PS, I successfully completed that whole NaBloPoMo thing, and I don't think I used the phrase "and then my head exploded" even once. Didn't win any prizes, but that's not why I did it, right? ...Right. Not sure my writing improved much either, but I think such things usually take longer than a month. And probably, at some point, the aspiring writer has to take the plunge into writing about things that are actually, you know, worth writing about, instead of just making lolpuppies. I'm just not sure I'm ready for that level of craftsmanship yet. Sorry, Strunk and White.

Labels: College, Notes and Asides

Singing along to: Dashboard Confessional, Only Gift That I Need

Sometimes people talk about the peculiar dynamic of a household with multiple women, something about estrogen and competition. Well, whatever hormonally-driven issues my mom and I might have are as nothing compared to the constant, competitive, testosterone-fueled back-and-forth that goes on between my fourteen-year-old brother and my dad. As. Nothing.

***

Is it bad that the card-swiping lady at the cafeteria tonight knew that I wanted a to-go box without me asking? Does that mean I eat alone in my room too much? Does it make it better or worse that I like eating alone in my room?

***

File this one under "little things that make my world go 'round": there were tater tots in the cafeteria tonight. And lo, they were delicious nuggets of deep-fried perfection. I waited all semester for that moment.

***

This is how much I don't like riding the bus in DC: tomorrow, when I visit the National Cathedral for a class project, I will be walking three miles, round trip, to avoid taking the bus. To make myself seem less pathetic and irrational, I'm also calling it my workout for tomorrow.

***

Not to rub it in or anything, but this semester's workload has been ridiculously easy. Everyone else is writing two papers a week, and I have only written six papers the entire semester. How am I getting away with this? I don't know. But I do know this: that kind of lightening does not strike two semesters in a row. The spring semester will brutal.

Labels: Notes and Asides

Singing along to: the Cary Brothers, Precious Lie

I am all about affordable drugstore makeup, but I cannot recommend CVS's store brand eye makeup remover (compare to L'Oreal!). There are several reasons for this, but the most significant is that it doesn't remove eye makeup. At least not the waterproof kind, which is why I'm still wearing yesterday's mascara and resembling nothing so much as an angry raccoon.

***

Yesterday, a paycheck arrived in my bank account. (Dear Direct Deposit, I love you.) This isn't really anything out of the ordinary, except that my last paycheck arrived only ten days ago. I don't know if this is a mistake or just a really odd pay period, but I don't intend to ask any questions about it.

***

There are things I like about being at school, and things I like about being at home. The number-one best thing about school? Alone time in spades. This used to depress me, but doesn't anymore, because I'm a hopeless misanthrope. The number-one best thing about being at home? Not having to wipe down the toilet seat before I sit.

Did I cross a line there? Sorry.

***

I'm considering taking six classes next semester, which is one more than is normal. What class could possibly be interesting enough to make me overachieve? Norse Mythology. Thinking about it makes me drool, a little bit, but there aren't really any classes I can/should drop in order to keep myself at five classes. On the other hand, I hope to have an internship next semester. (Yes, I know, that means I actually have to apply for the damn thing. I know.) That will take up some time. Thoughts?

Labels: Notes and Asides

Singing along to: the Ramones, She's a Sensation

I have been seeing a ton of cute dresses lately, and all of sudden I kind of like dresses (it's like I'm a girl or something), but what is up with none of them ever being knee-length? I get that minis are "in" and none of them are super-short, but still. I like my thighs, but not that much. Knee length is much more flattering to, well, everyone.

***

I am thinking about getting my nose pierced. Not a ring, just a small stud, which can look cute. I've been toying with this idea for awhile, and before you dive for the smelling salts and warn me not to do anything rash, relax: it's not something I would possibly do until I'm off my parents' dime and out from under their roof. In other words, I have another two years or so to consider the possibilities.

***

The building I live in is right next door to one of the university's chapels, which also houses our organ. There are only two or three organ performance majors at the school, but whenever I walk past the chapel, at virtually any hour of the day or night, there is someone in there practicing. It's pleasant, but I have just one request, just one small favor to ask, that would make the entire experience fifteen times more enjoyable: someday, I would like to walk past the chapel and instead of hearing a classical piece by some long-dead composer, I would like to hear strains of the Imperial March from Star Wars drifting out through the windows. And on that day? Well, on that day I think my life would become perfect.

***

One of the toys I got for my birthday was Adobe Photoshop Elements. So far all I've figured out how to do is remove zits and other blemishes with the click of a mouse, and I've been doing that with a vengeance. I'm also learning how to skillfully erase my under-eye circles, but that raises certain questions, like "Without my under-eye circles, will I even look like myself?" We've been together so long it's hard to tell sometimes.

Labels: College, Notes and Asides

Singing along to: Vyvienne Long, I Could Never Leave You

It is probably a bad sign that I'm mentally re-writing my art history textbook as I read it. It's a college-level textbook; you'd think they could switch up their sentence structure now and again.

***

I have noticed that I use the word "awesome" approximately seventeen times in every post. I apologize. This is a terrible habit which I will do my best to break.

***

Monday night, I stubbed my pinkie toe pretty badly (there was blood) and as a consequence it hurts to wear shoes. Figures that this happens A) when it's really too cold for flip flops, and B) just when I'd decided to start working out again, having finally finished off the can of chocolate frosting in my fridge.

***

Two people in as many weeks have asked me if I'm engaged, on the basis of the same ring that I've been wearing daily for almost three years now (longer, in fact, than I've known either of them). Yes, the ring is from James, but nope, we're not engaged. Not yet, anyway.

***

I just added the Shrek Holiday Special to my Google Calendar. Is that sad?

Labels: Notes and Asides

Singing along to: the Swell Season, Falling Slowly

It's Friday, and apparently people with lives go out on Fridays, so the hallway smells like perfume, hairspray, nail polish remover, and Noxema, all rolled into one foul, heavy stench. I'm camped out in my room with the windows open.

***

I'd like to ask a favor of the world: please don't substitute "males" and "females" when you actually mean "men" and "women." Outside of a scientific context it just seems so...cold and dehumanizing. That cat over there is a female. I am a woman. Thank you. (Also, while we're on the subject of language, can we please also eliminate the word "utilize" from everyone's vocabulary? It makes me twitch.)

***

Yesterday I happened to be out on the Mall, with a few minutes to spare, and decided to duck into the National Archives so that I could see the Magna Carta before it goes to New York to be auctioned off. Too late! It's already gone, replaced by a sign that says "Are you looking for the Magna Carta? Too late, loser!" Or something to that effect. I am super annoyed with myself, because I didn't even know it was in D.C. until recently. And now it's not in D.C. anymore.

***

Word on the streets is that Sam Brownback is dropping out the presidential race, because he can't raise the money. As much as it grieves me that the one with the most money wins, I have to say: Sir, that's what you get when you use the March for Life to promote your own campaign.

Labels: Notes and Asides

Singing along to: Dave Matthews Band, Stand Up (For It)

My dream last night was like some sort of Matt Damon thriller-type movie, except with a lot less Matt Damon running around being badass and a lot more of me running away screaming. Even in my dreams I'm a wimp, apparently.

***

Earlier this evening I walked into the bathroom and was greeted by the smell of nail-polish remover. I was going to add that to the growing list of Proofs That I'm Crazy, but in this case, it wasn't just my overly-sensitive nose playing tricks on me. A girl was actually sitting on the toilet and removing her toenail polish. Must not pass judgment, must not pass judgment...

***

I went upstairs to the lounge/kitchen to wash some dishes, but couldn't do so because someone was getting a haircut in the very small kitchenette. This is the second time in two weeks I've seen someone getting a haircut up there; the last time I tried to cook my macaroni & cheese around them, to mixed results. Made me paranoid about small hairs in my macaroni, but I was too hungry to wait. I suppose the kitchen is the most logical place to do the grooming, but it's annoying nonetheless, particularly when I'd like to use it for actual kitchen purposes. Must not pass judgment...

***

A word of advice: If you're on the train and you'd like to complain to your friend about the appalling behavior of Kids These Days, you might want to do a quick check to make sure you're not, for example, sitting right behind one of the little delinquents, who can hear every word you're saying and who, for the record, is behaving quite acceptably. In seventeen days, I will be twenty years old and will no longer have to take offense at all the gross generalizations made about those damn teenagers, but until then, people, I'd appreciate it if you'd spare a quick thought for your unintended audience. (Of course, once I turn twenty, then I guess I'll be a twentysomething, and therefore subject to all of those tiresome stereotypes, so it might not be an improvement at all.)

Labels: College, Notes and Asides