January 30, 2004
Dear Tia
The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
Thank you,
Management
Posted by criminal at 04:10 PM | Comments (0)
Friday Five for January 30, 2004
You have just won one million dollars:
1. Who do you call first? I would probably call Jon first because he's been trying so hard to win Powerball and would be incredibly jealous. Not to mention he's been asking me this kind of question since I first met him, so he's the reason I'm prepared to answer.
2. What is the first thing you buy for yourself? LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box. Or if I were to win today, Superbowl tickets.
3. What is the first thing you buy for someone else? Plane tickets and hotel rooms so my family to visit.
4. Do you give any away? If yes, to whom? I would reimburse my mom for all the money she spent on my education, donate to WPI scholarships, and help Barbie fund her own practice when she graduates.
5. Do you invest any? If so, how? After paying off my debts and buying a few things, half would go into long-term investments. The rest would probably be used to purchase a house.
What would you do with a million dollars? Tell the FridayFivers.
Posted by criminal at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)
Crazyland
Ohhh, the dreams I experience when my head feels like it's in a vise... In the 10+ hours I slept I had no fewer than 5 dreams. Some were relatively normal and other were completely bizzare. A few highlights:
- In one dream, I took my family to Maine for a vacation. We visited the Rackliff's camp, where the water-level was at record levels. More interestingly, we stayed at an inn/hotel in Rockland that Sam was affiliated with. He showed me to a palatial suite and then left to take my family to their rooms. In the dream, I awoke to explore the hotel. Around the corner from my room was the entrance to the "crew's quarters" which troubled me deeply. As I went further, I discovered my family sleeping on sofas and the floor of a lounge area. My guilt lessened when they were sleeping peacfully in my room. Before I could express my anger and suspicion, it was over. Psycho-analyze that.
- I also dreamed that my father and I were trapped in Boston during a terrible storm. Funnel clouds were forming everywhere, a few touching down. For a while, he drove on the highway while I kept watch for debris and twisters. I remember seeing two-by-fours and three branches sticking straight out of the pavement. Before you knew it, we were on a bus with other passengers somewhere on the outskirts of town. They mocked him as we stepped off the bus because it was obvious he was from out-of-town. He insisted on walking along Dartmouth Street despite my protests that we could see it after the storm. Interestingly enough, there is a Darthmouth Street in Boston, and it runs near Beacon Street, just like back home.
Posted by criminal at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)
January 28, 2004
D'oh
I think I just pulled a "Liz" -- what we affectionately call losing something in plain sight, the way Liz always does -- with my ID. Last week I tried to check out a few books for my MQP only to discover that I didn't have my ID. I didn't freak out when it wasn't in my purse. I figured that it could still be in my gym bag, or on my dresser at home. I couldn't find it there. In fact, I couldn't find it anywhere. With a deadlines looming, I resigned myself to staying in the library all night with the books. But I took one last stab at finding it, emptying the contents of my purse and wallet yet again. And there it was, in my wallet, one card slot up from where I expected it to be last week. I could kick myself. I guess the bright side is that I don't have to spend the night in the library or get a replacement.
Posted by criminal at 05:27 PM | Comments (0)
I Want One!
But only if I can get antibiotics first. ThinkGeek introduced these adorable little microbes today and I'm smitten. The little beer yeast was the first thing on my wish list. I showed the little ulcer bacteria to Eric. He said he wanted one. I said that I thought he already had some. Oh, the irony. Anyway, I think the next set should be VD. Just imagine the conversations...
Geek1: Aww... Phil gave me syphilis.
Geek2: Sweet! I got gonnorhea in Houston.
Geek1: And I got the clap from Sharon last year.
I doubt the folks at ThinkGeek would go for it. But then again, selling cute little stuffed microbes isn't exactly a low-risk business venture. Their success could pave the way for little VD toys and famous diseases from history, like the bubonic plague, smallpox, tuberculosis, or leprosy. Of course we'd have to make a line of "good" microbes too. Kids could collect them like Pokemon! We could market them as a more educational.
Posted by criminal at 03:40 PM | Comments (2)
January 27, 2004
The Search Is On
LEOMINSTER Starting at $525; studio, 1 br/2b, incl, heat/HW, W/D, parking, plowing, garbage pickup. Call (978)534-6349
SHREWSBURY 1 BR. Appl’s., heat/hot water. Min. to major rtes. $625. 1st, last, lease. No pets. (508)839-3214
Fitchburg- 1BDRM APT Wood floors, Bright, Freshly painted, Off St. Parking, first flr., Quiet Neigh, $595.00, Hot water incl. 978-343-9153 www.fitchburgapartments.com
Love Where you Live AND Afford it too! Quiet Hillside setting minutes from Rt.2. Studio, 1 and 2 bdrms. includes: l W/W carpeting l fully equipped kitchen l professional management l 24 hour emergency maintenance l hot water included l some include heat Ask about our Specials! HERTIAGE GARDENS Mon.-Fri. 9am to 5pm and by appointment 978-537-8008 EHO
EAST SIDE REALTY Apartments for Rent 1 Bedrooms $475 2 Bedrooms $525 3 Bedrooms $650 Good references required (978) 345-5431 (
CLINTON, huge 1 br, huge LR, DR, & great kit. New carpets Mins from 495/290. $675/mth. 508-358-5473, pager 508-492-2462
HUDSON: Large 1 Bedroom condo, fully appl. kit., sep. large storage, assigned off st. pkg. available now. $795. 508-480-0335...
Hudson: A 1st floor 3 room apartment. Residential area. large yard, off St. parking. 1st/last/sec. No pets. $600/mo 508-485-8179....
BERLIN: Country setting, Studio, 1 & 2 BR., laundry, pool, A/C, pkg. near 495/290. Start @ $695 incl. utils. 978-368-8258....
Posted by criminal at 07:49 PM | Comments (0)
Quiz Time
You're chocolate.
You're the old soul type, people feel that they have known you their entire life. Many often open up to you for they view you as thoughtful and trustworthy. Although people trust you, you have a hard time trusting them. You prefer to keep your feelings bottled up inside, or display them very quietly. It is alright to open up every once in a while.
Which kind of candy are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by criminal at 05:50 PM | Comments (3)
January 26, 2004
Weekend Update
My weekend, broken down into a few sentences. On Friday, I learned that my grandma went into the hospital for what amounts to heart failure. She's still feeling feisty, but she won't go home for a few more days. Jon and I ran late after work and ended up overcooking the roast we made for Amy. My hopes for an amazing and vitamin packed dessert were foiled by the deceptive recipes from the Food Network. Everyone suffered it politely and seemed happy to have warm food. Saturday morning was late and should've been filled with cartoons, but we discovered that cartoons are not what they used to be. We went to the Flying Rhino before heading off to see the Bruins get iced by the Florida Panthers. Sunday was uneventful without football to watch, but we made the best of it with an awesome supper that Jon whipped up. I might also add that the apartment stayed pretty warm despite the cold outside, although Jon might argue otherwise. So that's it in a nutshell.
Posted by criminal at 10:49 PM | Comments (0)
snow
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Winter's too ugly and depressing without it. [Andrew Heller]
Posted by criminal at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2004
Radio Friday
My favorite radio station, WXRV, is now streaming. This makes my workday so much better. I tend to forget to change my CDs, and get sick of them. The mix on the River couldn't be better; I love that they can play the Smoothie Song by Nickel Creek back to back with new Sarah McLachlan or old Ani Difranco. Its ecclectic in a wonderful, adult alternative way. Now I feel old. Not as old as when I listen to WSRS who plays lots of Celine Dion inbetween Worcester traffic reports, but old nonetheless.
Posted by criminal at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)
Friday Five for January 23, 2004
At this moment, what is your favorite...
1. ...song? Joss Stone - Fell In Love With a Boy
2. ...food? Mott's Healthy Harvest Granny Smith unsweetened applesauce
3. ...tv show? Clean Sweep -- I love seeing people with more crap than me
4. ...scent? Still fresh laundry
5. ...quote? "I can't wait until William becomes president and sporks that man." --Me, last September. Popular now because aforementioned man has been sporked by the university.
Posted by criminal at 04:43 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2004
Just Add Snow
Yay! Its snowing again. Sure, the last snow we got hasn't melted because its been so cold, but we're getting more. Liz is scrambling for her keys because she can't drive in the stuff, but I'm excited. I love the stuff.
Posted by criminal at 05:09 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2004
Too Early to Vote
Just about any of the democrats' platforms sounds better than Bush's. After sitting through the State of the Union Address last night, I can honestly say I'm looking forward to the election. And thanks to the Vote By Issue Quiz, I have a much better idea of where I stand. Although most of the candidates matched at least one of my answers, Dean had the most. Further review of his basic stance made me even more confident in the outcome of the quiz.
Posted by criminal at 11:43 AM | Comments (1)
January 20, 2004
Bad Omens
Is it too much to ask that faculty members keep their scheduled office hours? I went to Trimbur's office this afternoon only to find a closed door and no answer. After cancelling his first set of office hours last Thursday, he rescheduled for today from 9:30-11:00 and 2:00-4:00. I showed up at 3:00, prepared to wait behind other students and advisees. But the door was closed and no one responded to my repeated knocks. What a bad way to start a term. But it gets better. They've been laying people off at work because of the budget problems. No sooner than my coat is on the rack, our director walks in and informs us that there will be a staff meeting with the VP for IT at 3:30. She's not even back to her office when an Outlook reminder pops up to tell me that I have and eye doctor's appointment at 3:45. The same appointment I've bungled twice because of poor calendar use. I think I can show up a few minutes late, but it will all depend on how quickly I can get out of this impromptu meeting, which is undoubtedly about how the layoffs are going to affect our division. I'm remaining brave, but more than anything, i'm nervous. The bad timing of all of this just feels like an omen.
UPDATE: I sent Trimbur a very hurt sounding e-mail. The meeting went well. I missed my appointment, again. I was, however, able to reschedule it.
Posted by criminal at 03:24 PM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2004
You Might Be a Redneck...
- if your father's cell number has nothing to do with a phone.
- if you've ever worn a tube top to a funeral home.
- if someone tells you that you have something in your teeth and you take them out to check.
- if you have a set of salad bowls and they all say cool whip on the side.
- if you've ever stared at a can of orange juice because it said "concentrate."
It may not be cool anymore, but Jeff Foxworthy's Blue Collar special on Comedy Central had me giggling. According to Foxworthy, to be a redneck, you have to lack sophistication of any kind. That explains a lot...
Posted by criminal at 09:38 PM | Comments (0)
Friday Five for January 16, 2003
1. What does it say in the signature line of your emails? The usual business contact information, nothing more, nothing less.
2. Did you have a senior quote in your high school yearbook? What was it? If you haven't graduated yet, what would you like your quote to be? Our yearbook didn't have quotes. If it had, this would have been it: "Oh," she says, "you're changing." / But we're always changing
3. If you had vanity plates on your car, what would they read? If you already have them, what do they say? I've toyed with the idea of "MANEATR" or just "29"
4. Have you received any gifts with messages engraved upon them? What did the inscription say? I don't think I have...
5. What would you like your epitaph to be? Long Gone.
Tell the folks at FridayFive what you would put on your tombstone.
Posted by criminal at 07:53 PM | Comments (0)
Look Out Carolina
The Pats are going to the Superbowl and I'm wearing a ridiculous pink hat to celebrate. I think it looks silly -- but I guess that's the point. Besides, it won't look nearly as silly when the Patriots give the Panthers the beating they deserve.
Posted by criminal at 01:45 PM | Comments (5)
Cowboy Up
I highly recommend against turning the 2003 Red Sox Cowboy Up DVD into a drinking game. Unless of course you have a strong liver. Jon, Steve, and I were sitting around Saturday night waiting for our roast when we decided it might be a fun alternative to flipping through the channels. We each chose a player and picked a drink. Steve chose Millar and Sake. His first choice gone, Jon went with Mueller and what amounted to a Seabreeze. I spoke for Veritek and mixed up a strong Black Russian. It quickly ocurred to us that Millar would be all over the film, so an already tipsy Steve switched to Ortiz. Then we hit play. I think I was at least one sheet to the wind by the time we finished the Introduction montage. I hadn't realized that almost every shot of a pitcher would include a shot of Veritek
Posted by criminal at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)
January 15, 2004
Soft Claws II
Tia is still wearing her Soft Claws and I'm loving them. My loveseat loves them too -- her hourly attacks on it are now painless. She is finding it a bit more difficult to play with some of her toys since she can't snag them with her long claws the way she used to.
Posted by criminal at 01:42 PM | Comments (2)
January 14, 2004
Oy Vey!
Catholicopoly. We have turned religion into a children's boardgame. What has this world come to? Thanks go to Brian for finding this gem...
Posted by criminal at 11:55 AM | Comments (1)
January 12, 2004
Soft Claws
Tia is now wearing a set of hot pink gel nail covers, called Soft Claws. She wasn't wild about having them put on, but the second paw (done about two hours after the first) wasn't bad at all. Hopefully they'll still be on in the morning.
Posted by criminal at 10:50 PM | Comments (0)
grace
Courage is grace under pressure. [Ernest Hemingway]
Posted by criminal at 01:14 PM | Comments (0)
LiveJournal
I finally got a LiveJournal account. I also had Jeremy syndicate this site. So those of you with LiveJournal can now skip coming this awesome site to get the latest news on me. You can simply add crmnlgrc_feed to your friends list. It's not pretty, but it works.
Posted by criminal at 01:02 PM | Comments (2)
January 11, 2004
Football Pool - Week 2
I've scored another XX points in the football pool this weekend. The Carolina and New England victories on Saturday netted me 21 points, increasing my lead to 11. It also eliminated the lowest ranked teams on my list. Kansas city's defense fell apart, costing me 6 points. And the Packers lost in overtime, helping me win 9 points for a grand total of 65. I'm still up a dozen over Jami and Nick, who are tied for second place.
UPDATE: I did some math and figured out that I've clinched first place. Woohoo!
Posted by criminal at 07:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2004
Another Silly Quiz
You are Form 1, Goddess: The Creator.
"And The Goddess planted the acorn of life. She cried a single tear and shed a single drop of blood upon the earth where she buried it. From her blood and tear, the acorn grew into the world."
Some examples of the Goddess Form are Gaia (Greek), Jehova (Christian), and Brahma (Indian). The Goddess is associated with the concept of creation, the number 1, and the element of earth. Her sign is the dawn sun.
As a member of Form 1, you are a charismatic individual and people are drawn to you. Although sometimes you may seem emotionally distant, you are deeply in tune with other people's feelings and have tremendous empathy. Sometimes you have a tendency to neglect your own self. Goddesses are the best friends to have because they're always willing to help.
Which Mythological Form Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by criminal at 06:42 PM | Comments (1)
Elementary Quiz
Your element is Earth. I hate to say it but you are down to earth. Stubborn and loyal. You tend to want to nurture others and you are the one person friends always come to for awnsers. Without people like you others would be flying over the edge because, whether you know it or not you keep a steady beat to your life and will end up where you want to in the end. There is a sureness about you that is hard to match that draws people to you. No matter what happens the Earth keeps turning.
What's your element? brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by criminal at 02:41 PM | Comments (1)
Weather Report
This is really wintery weather. When the voice coming from my radio this morning said it was -8 I was sure that I was dreaming. It was still -8 after hitting the snooze button. It has been cold for the last few days, but this is a good 15 degrees colder than it was yesterday. That also means that the temperature in the office is struggling to stay 60 degrees. And me without my own space heater to put under my desk... Maybe I should look into fingerless gloves so I can still type. My wool mittens just don't cut it. On the positive side, I am at least grateful to have a warm apartment to live in again.
Posted by criminal at 11:36 AM | Comments (1)
January 08, 2004
home
Home is everywhere that you are. [Jewel, This Way]
Posted by criminal at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2004
Happy Birthday Jami!
I'm really glad that I met Jami a couple years ago. She has an amazing spirit and generosity. I love her ability to make other people happy with her infectious mirth. She probably doesn't hear it often enough, and I figure she should. She deserves it. And on a lighter note: In honor of her 28th birthday and fondness for Eeyore (and the other curious inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood) I decided to find out which I would be.
As it turns out, I'm Kanga.
In your circle of friends you are the one who likes to keep an eye out for all the others. Always there with advice or encouragement, you are dependable and kind. If you're not a parent already, you'll make a great one when the time comes.
Which Pooh character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by criminal at 11:02 AM | Comments (3)
January 06, 2004
Holy Snow Batman
We just looked up from our desks to see a barrage of white at our windows. The teeny tiny flakes we've been seeing all day are finally starting to add up -- instead of just a few, there are a bazillion. I couldn't see the other side of the parking lot. Hopefully it will let up long enough for me to get home.
Posted by criminal at 06:03 PM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2004
Friday Five for January 2, 2004
What one thing are you most looking forward to . . .
1. ...today? Since its Monday now, I'm looking forward to going home and reading.
2. ...over the next week? getting back into the swing of things and putting soft claws on Tia.
3. ...this year? Valentine's Day, graduating, seeing Liz and Jeremy get hitched,
4. ...over the next five years? getting married, buying a house, having kids
5. ...for the rest of your life? growing old with Jon
What are you looking forward to?
Posted by criminal at 04:44 PM | Comments (3)
Friday Five for December 26, 2003
So I'm a little behind because of the holidays. I'll be caught up soon enough.
1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year? Its a toss-up between finding a job and breaking some bad bonds.
2. What was your biggest disappointment? Not being able to finish my degree in 2003. I thought I'd have enough time, but its a lot harder to work and do independant project than I thought.
3. What do you hope the new year brings? A degree and a life-changing question.
4. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions? If yes, what will they be? Honestly, I'm not big on new year's resolutions. And I'm still working on last year's resolutions. I've made significant progress on 5 of the 7 resolutions. So I suppose that leaves numbers 1 (graduate from WPI) and 3 (continue losing weight) to keep working on. I think I'm also going to add a new number 2: learning to save for my future.
5. What are your plans for New Year's Eve? I flew home on New Year's Eve, getting to Jon's parent's house just a few minutes before midnight to share a champagne toast.
Posted by criminal at 03:55 PM | Comments (0)
Football Pool
I decided to take a stab at Amy and Greg's football pool. I didn't really understand how it worked, but here's the deal: you assign each team a number of points (from 1-12, no duplicates) and collect the points you assigned to the winning teams. So, when Carolina won, I got the 10 points I gave them. It feels like a bit of a shot in the dark, since the point values don't change from week-to-week. I have to live with the points I assigned in the 2 minutes before the first game last Saturday. After one week, I have 29 points (7 more than second place), so I must have done something right. If you're keeping track, here are my picks:
DenverSeattleBaltimore- St. Louis
- Tennessee
- Indianapolis
Dallas- Green Bay
- Philadelphia
- Carolina
- New England
- Kansas City
Posted by criminal at 03:32 PM | Comments (1)
The Daily Grind
I really enjoyed my vacation, as short as it seemed. I can't wait until July when I get another 4 weeks, although I must admit that being back at work isn't all bad. For one thing, Amy's back. It'll take her (and the rest of the office) a while to readjust. I can already feel the work loads shifting back into place. Even better is that the students won't be back for at least a week. I need to work getting here earlier. My best plan so far is to hit the gym at 7, which could work if I learn to pack my clothes and towel the night before.
Posted by criminal at 02:35 PM | Comments (0)
January 03, 2004
There and Back Again
Tia and I are back home. No matter how much I try to deny it, this is home now. Even with warnings that everything would need to be shipped or carried home, my family over-gifted me. I have tons of stuff to unpack and no place to put it. Once I'm done, everyone can come over for bread, fresh from my new breadmaker.
Posted by criminal at 01:05 AM | Comments (1)