November 25, 2003
Gossip
Apparently, something is going down here at WPI. I just don't know what it is. Nosy students are starting to pester me for gossip and I have to turn them away beause I don't have any. How sad is that? I think I heard more gossip when I was a full-time student. Now I'm a member of the administration and can't get any. Although, a lot of what I know about our day-to-day operations and projects would've been considered major gossip by my classmates at one time.
Posted by criminal at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
Testing
My last post isn't showing up and every time I try to resave it, I get a server error. So the whole purpose of this post is to see if there is a legitimate problem with the last one. How inconvenient.
UPDATE: I'm still getting server errors, but at least my posts are showing up now.
Posted by criminal at 12:11 PM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2003
Family Guy Quiz
You are... LOIS GRIFFIN! You're strong and
intelligent, and despite your annoying voice,
you're strangely attractive... and inexplicably
married to an inattentive fat-ass. Call me.
Which ''Family Guy'' character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by criminal at 07:46 PM | Comments (2)
November 21, 2003
All By Myself
I'm starting to get lonely here in the office. Troy's getting an early start on his Thanksgiving break in Maine and Liz is AWOL. (Sean O'Connor just ran across the parking lot -- an odd site to say the least.) After being surrounded by people at the IT division luncheon, it feels too quiet and still in here.
Amy and Ainsley stopped by for a while though, so that brightened things up. Ainsley is really starting to grow into a little person -- she's alert and always wiggling. It's such a big change from the last few times I saw her when she seemed to be sleeping all the time.
Posted by criminal at 04:12 PM | Comments (1)
Friday Five for November 21, 2003
1. List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year. MQP. Lose 10 pounds. An empty inbox. Balanced budget. Regular yoga practice.
2. List five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again. Jessica Schneck. Stacey Goodman. Jenica Jacobi. Rob Breakiron. Kim Hatfield.
3. List five things you'd like to learn how to do. Teach. Use all the features in Photoshop. Use a potter's wheel. Manage my time. Write.
4. List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit). Pay college loans. Invest. Buy a house. Take career risks. Visit with family and friends.
5. List five things you do that help you relax. Yoga. Cooking. Snuggle with Big Daddy Bugs. Crafty stuff. Free-writing.
How would you answer the Friday Five?
Posted by criminal at 12:52 PM | Comments (1)
November 19, 2003
Not Too Sick To Write
I called in sick today. No -- not because I was sick of parking, but because I was actually sick. I was able to do some work, but mostly I slept. Slept too much actually, because now I'm late for class. But I also worked on the analytical paper for my Managing Creativity class. It's done. It doesn't feel done, but after all the poking and preening, it damn well should be. I took a big risk with my creative form, which was part of the assignment. I think that's why it feels so incomplete. Its not like any analytical paper I've ever written, so I keep thinking that I need more. And now its done printing, so I can get to class.
Posted by criminal at 08:14 PM | Comments (1)
A Civil Matter
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry. Based on equal protection clauses in the Massachusetts Constitution that are older than the U.S. Constitution, the ruling essentially says that in the eyes of the law, homosexual and heterosexual unions are the same. They specifically used the term marriage to describe all such unions. And why not? Many opponents of the ruling support "gay unions" but think marriage should be reserved for traditional couples. But marriage isn't the sacred bond it once was: the divorce rate alone prooves that. Religion aside, I see no legal or moral reason to exclude gays from wedded bliss. I only hope that Massachusetts' newest married couples start to make it the life-long institution of love and support that it once was, proving the doubters wrong.
Posted by criminal at 03:00 PM | Comments (1)
fallen
Though I've tried, I've fallen
I have sunk so low
I have messed up
Better I should know
[Sarah McLachlan, Fallen]
Posted by criminal at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)
November 18, 2003
Wreath
We finally finished the WDO's contribution to the Junior League's Festival of Trees. The wreath will be sold at the event, with proceeds benefitting a multitude of community service projects. We went with a subtle web theme based on the legend of the Christmas Spider. We wove a golden web behind the wreath and adorned it with a dangling gold and pearl spider. The gold colors were carried throughout the rest of the decorations with golden-rose colored berries and cream heather surrounding a rich red magnolia blossom and ivory bow. Its simple and pretty beautiful, at least in our estimation. We also included a small piece of parchment with the legend printed on it to complete the project. Look for pictures soon.
Posted by criminal at 04:09 PM | Comments (1)
November 14, 2003
Friday Five for November 14, 2003
1. Using one adjective, describe your current living space. cozy
2. Using two adjectives, describe your current employer. strong-willed, resourceful
3. Using three adjectives, describe your favorite hobby/pasttime. relaxing, innovative, practical
4. Using four adjectives, describe your typical day. late, rushed, informal, political
5. Using five adjectives, describe your ideal life. happy, balanced, practicable, maternal, comfortable
Posted by criminal at 12:25 PM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2003
Friday Five for November 7, 2003
OK. So I'm way late with this, but it's better late than never, right?
1. What food do you like that most people hate? I really can't think of anything I eat that most people hate, other than maybe meatless meatballs or soymilk.
2. What food do you hate that most people love? Fish.
3. What famous person, whom many people may find attractive, is most unappealing to you? Leonardo DiCaprio. I know they've done research that says women find girly-men like him attractive during certain phases of their hormonal cycle, but those hormones must be deficient in me because I don't find myself the least bit attracted to him.
4. What famous person, whom many people may find unappealing, do you find attractive? Where to end the list? Paul Wight, Vincent D'Onofrio, Matt Light, half the cast of "Any Given Sunday," Nicholas Cage...
5. What popular trend baffles you? Ultra low-rise pants: they look gawdawful on 95% of the population. Skinny scarves: they serve no useful purpose. Satin cargo pants: no explanation needed.
Posted by criminal at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)
Parking Protest
Arrgh. I got a parking ticket today. After searching all of our lots and the surrounding streets for over twenty minutes this morning, I took the first parking spot I found. It just happened to be a visitor's spot, so I got ticketed. Now, I understand that visitors are important and that we want to make them feel welcome. I mean, I was a visitor once, and it was confusing to have to park halfway down West Street because the place was so packed. But on the other hand, why bother ticketing people who are required to be here? Why not ticket one of the umpteen hundred cars without stickers? Or the students who use all of the curb-side parking to store cars they drive once a week? If staff and faculty can't find legal parking within a mile of WPI, we run the risk of losing our jobs. And until WPI gives us "parking days" as a benefit, we'll keep parking where we're not supposed to. The next time I can't find space, I may just have to take a "parking day."
Posted by criminal at 01:45 PM | Comments (2)
November 10, 2003
The Long and Short of It
I think I need to save my money and do more shopping at Eddie Bauer. On a Christmas shopping whim, I wandered onto their site. I knew they carried a full range of sizes, but I never really realized that they carried talls in almost everything. Now that I'm trying to dress for work, I've rediscovered the problems associated with being tall. I can't really wear women's long sleeve shirts, because the sleeves are never long enough. I have been relatively happy with the 3/4 sleeve trend, but they're inevitably more like half-sleeves. Lands' End and L.L. Bean carry talls, but they have little to no selection. Eddie Bauer has talls in almost every shirt, sweater, jacket, skirt, or pair of pants they sell. You do pay extra for all that extra length though, but I think it'll be worth it when I get my hands on this sumptious sweater, crisp shirt, and great pants. Or maybe some well-fitted boots. I've got chills just thinking about how warm my ankles and wrists would be in these clothes.
Posted by criminal at 11:15 PM | Comments (2)
Cover Me Up
I don't know what it is about covers. I really like them. I'm watching the VH1 premier of Kid Rock's cover of Bad Company's Feel Like Makin' Love... and I'm loving it. I'm sure there are plenty of covers that suck, but there's something neat about hearing a time-worn melody with a new twist.
Posted by criminal at 12:06 PM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2003
WAM
Just got back from a trip to the Worcester Art Museum with Jon. It was pretty brief, but it was a nice change from our usual weekend routine. Next we're off to dinner somewhere near Leominster and to see the lunar eclipse.
Posted by criminal at 06:03 PM | Comments (1)
November 05, 2003
What Are You Doing for Turkey Day?
I finally have plans for Thanksgiving. Jon's family has invited me to Maine for the weekend. Dinner will be at his Aunt & Uncles, but we'll be staying at his parent's cabin. I just hope it's well-heated.
Posted by criminal at 01:13 PM | Comments (3)
November 04, 2003
Soul Food
 According to the SelectSmart.com Belief System Selector, my #1 belief match is Unitarian Universalism. What do you believe? |
I know a little more about myself, thanks to Jami and the website she found. By answering a few intruiging questions, the organizer tell you how closely your religious/spiritual beliefs match up with the major religions of the world. I have to say, I wasn't surprized by my results (which are listed below with links to more information about each religion), although I wasn't very familiar with some of the belief systems that ranked high on my list, like Liberal Quakers. For those who have never been able to find a label that fits, this tool can be very enlightening.
- Unitarian Universalism (100%)
- Secular Humanism (96%)
- Liberal Quakers (85%)
- Neo-Pagan (83%)
- Mainline - Liberal Christian Protestants (70%)
- New Age (69%)
- Non-theist (62%)
- Theravada Buddhism (61%)
- Taoism (59%)
- Mahayana Buddhism (55%)
- Reform Judaism (53%)
- New Thought (52%)
- Orthodox Quaker (51%)
- Scientology (49%)
- Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (46%)
- Sikhism (42%)
- Jainism (40%)
- Bahá'í Faith (40%)
- Hinduism (39%)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (29%)
- Seventh Day Adventist (24%)
- Mainline - Conservative Christian Protestant (22%)
- Eastern Orthodox (21%)
- Islam (21%)
- Orthodox Judaism (21%)
- Roman Catholic (21%)
- Jehovah's Witness (13%)
Posted by criminal at 07:04 PM | Comments (4)
November 03, 2003
Speaking Truth to Power
According to one of the textbooks for my Managing Creativity grad class, at this point in our creative development, we should feel that we are able to speak truth to power. In many ways, I feel that I know more truth than ever before. I feel it everywhere. But being more open to it doesn't give me any more credibility when I speak it. I speak truth to power and go unheard. So, what's the point? Why bother speaking if power already knows the truth and doesn't care? It drains the soul and weakens the heart.
Posted by criminal at 03:21 PM | Comments (2)