August 30, 2004
Away
Have I mentioned that I'm on vacation? Like the first real vacation (aside from the holidays) since I started working at WPI. It's kind of nice to not have to worry about going into work. I finally put my "out of office" auto-responder up, so the amount of annoying e-mail should decrease as the week goes on. Well, one can hope anyway. It probably won't stop William or those spammers. In any case, it's a small price to pay for a little relaxation and quality time with family I haven't seen in eight months.
Posted by criminal at 11:19 PM | Comments (5)
August 27, 2004
Five on Friday for August 27, 2004
Sports of Different Sorts
1. What was the last sport you played? Wiffle ball. The last organized sport I participated in was Track and Field.
2. What was the last sport you watched? Red Sox Baseball.
3. What sport should be banned? Car racing. It's boring. Sure, it requires skill and great reflexes, but it's not like they're racing people-powered Flintstones cars or anything. And did I mention that it's boring?
4. Do you watch the Olympics? Not really. I think I've seen a total of 30 minutes in the last two weeks.
5. What sports figure do you admire? I honestly can't think of any that stand out in my mind. Maybe Lance Armstrong.
Posted by criminal at 11:44 AM | Comments (2)
All Quiet on the Western Front
I've been so lax about posting this week, but things have been busy. On Tuesday night I went over to Jon's. I even arrived when I said I would, not an hour later. Wednesday was a vacation day. I ran around Nashua and Chelmsford doing last minute birthday shopping and cake preparation.
Jon's cake turned out great, despite my worried that it would be a complete flop. I'm not sure why, but he prefers that fluffy whipped cream style frosting. So in honor of his 28th birthday, I tried my hand at this white chocolate buttercream. I ended up adding a whole cup of whipping cream because I couldn't get the original recipe to fluff up enough. It turned out divine: light and airy, sweet but not too sweet, with a nice depth of flavor. A great compliment to the white chocolate blueberry cake. Did I mention that Jon doesn't have a mixer yet? Uust a whisk. I thought my arm was going to fall off by the end of the afternoon. It was worth it though.
Although he has to wait until next week for the family celebration, I let him open the presents that Tia and I got him. I got him the Corey Dillon Pats jersey we'd spent hours searching for earlier this month and some super long t-shirts. Tia stole the show with this funny little book. He also got the first season of Knight Rider from Steve, because, you know, you can never have too much David Hasselhoff.
Yesterday I was back at work. And the students were back in class. Which means there were just a handful of parking spaces left by the time I rolled in from Chelmsford. As I pulled into one of them, I realized that I'd left my purse on my coffee table, right next to the laundry I had carried in when I fed Tia. D'oh. So I left my coveted parking space and went back to get it. I got the last spot in the Dean street lot the next time around. And once I got to the office and looked at my calendar realized that I had forgotten to put my bassoon in the car as well. So I drove back home again between work and the first band practice of the season. That's right, I'm in the band again. Now that Debbie has left, they really need another bassoonist. And I miss playing. I just hadn't realized how much until last night. It's been three years since I've played with any regularity and almost a year and a half since I've taken the thing out of the case. Although I had a lot of tuning issues, I got right back into the swing of things. It's amazing how automatic everything was by the end of the short rehearsal. I think Charybdis (my basson) will be getting the full spa treatment next month.
Posted by criminal at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2004
Techie Feud
The freshman have invaded campus. This morning we challenged them to a little game of Techie Feud as part of their orientation. Basically, we pick some students out of the audience to form the "families" and let them feud over questions about IT Division services, like "What can you borrow from the ATC?" A bunch of IT staffers try not to look intimidating in matching black IT polos by cracking jokes and making fools of themselves while running the game. For us, it's a pretty good time. The kids seem to enjoy it, especially when compared to some of the other boring sessions they have to sit through. But they're just not very perky at 8:15 AM when we start the game. I can't say I blame them though. I was dragging ass once the whole thing was over and the fun high wore off. There has been some talk of switching to a different game, but I think it's our best option. Aside from some sort of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" that would allow a bunch of students to vie for a chance to answer questions about IT, there really aren't any other options. And we all know Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is played out. So Techie Feud it is!
Posted by criminal at 07:16 PM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2004
GPN
As Carol mentioned in her LiveJournal, Friday's Girls' Poker Night was probably the best we've had, foodwise. Between her sausage bites, Amy's seafood dip, Robin's potato pizza, Jami's prociutto and ricotta ring, and my cheesey spanakopita, we were stuffed with good food. We even had good enough booze to get most of us tipsy, some of us a little more. Poker-wise, it wasn't anything special. Nobody had a commanding lead until I gave up all my chips (twice).
Posted by criminal at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)
August 20, 2004
Tornado Alley
Yeah. There's a tornado warning for Worcester County this afternoon. That's right. Worcester. City of seven hills. I've lived here for six years and I don't ever remember even a tornado watch. Growing up in the midwest, watches and warnings were fairly common summer occurances. But here? Pshaaaw. Tornados only happen here once or twice a century. According to weather.com's alert, there's a significant swirling going on in a thunderstorm in the Templeton area, heading towards Fitchburg. Now, that's more than 15 miles away, but holy wow. They're also predicting that more severe thunderstorms (with hail!) will come through the area this evening. I hope it doesn't put too much of a damper on Girls' Poker Night.
Posted by criminal at 02:24 PM | Comments (0)
Five on Friday for August 20, 2004
The Land of Make Believe
1. If you could choose any fictional universe to live in (examples: Harry Potter, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings), which would you choose? Hmm... I was never one for fantasy when I was younger, but I suppose I'd say Harry Potter's world would be a neat one to live in. Mostly because it's just like our world with a few hidden twists.
2. What real life items or people would you want to take with you? I'd definately need Tia in the witching world, and I suspect Jon would have fun creating spells to make his lawn mow itself.
3. Would you be yourself or one of the characters from that universe? I would probably be myself, but a witchy self. It wouldn't be any fun to live there be a muggle with no idea that all this fun and scary stuff was going on.
4. Would you change anything about that universe? If so, what? Well, having You Know Who gone would be a nice change, but I think I'd leave him around, just to keep things interesting.
5. What do you think your purpose/mission/future would be in that universe? I don't think I'd have a specific purpose in the world of Harry Potter, just my own usual one.
Posted by criminal at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
Lyrically Speaking
Answer these questions with the titles of just one artist's songs:
- Are you male or female: "Those Whole Girls (Run in Grace)"
- How do some people feel about you: "No Cheap Thrill"
- How do you feel about yourself: "Tired of Sleeping"
- Describe your ex-boyfriend: "Last Year's Troubles"
- Describe your current/future girlfriend/boyfriend: "Anniversary"
- Describe where you want to be: "In Liverpool"
- Describe what you want to be: "Calypso"
- Describe how you live: "Left of Center"
- Describe how you love: "As a Child"
- Share a few words of wisdom: "Blood Makes Noise"
Who else but Suzanne Vega? And because that's not enough, here's my life by Ani Difranco.
- Are you male or female: "Not a Pretty Girl"
- How do some people feel about you: "Sick of Me"
- How do you feel about yourself: "Not So Soft"
- Describe your ex-boyfriend: "Shameless"
- Describe your current/future girlfriend/boyfriend: "Soft Shoulder"
- Describe where you want to be: "Your House"
- Describe what you want to be: "Willing to Fight"
- Describe how you live: "Revelling"
- Describe how you love: "Both Hands"
- Share a few words of wisdom: "Anticipate"
Posted by criminal at 10:46 AM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2004
Month by Month
Copy the text for your birth month then cross out whatever doesn’t apply.
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy.Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal.Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it.Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside.Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.
Posted by criminal at 11:36 AM | Comments (0)
August 18, 2004
Falling
Sweet mother of fashion, I love J. Jill's fall line. Now, I'm not usually one to go ga-ga for clothes (with the exception of great sweaters) but I'm head over heels for this stuff. The plums, deep pinks, and warm browns inspired by Napa are perfect for my complexion and my tastes. And the look... J.Jill has never been quite so appealing.
Posted by criminal at 09:48 PM | Comments (3)
August 17, 2004
Missing Monday
I forgot to write yesterday. Or perhaps more accurately, didn't have time to write yesterday. I got to work and started right up with Homecoming registration, which, much to my surprise, people were trying to access all weekend. We took a long, refueling lunch at O'Connor's and I managed to finish everything by 6:15. I went to the mall for a little birthday shopping. And to continue the hunt for shoes in my size that are at least remotely comfortable. Once I got home, I made a quick dinner and got a call from Jon who was on his way home from work. By the time we were done talking, it was time for me to go to bed. So no time to write about my weekend or daily observations. Oh well.
Posted by criminal at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)
August 13, 2004
Five on Friday for August 13, 2004
Memories
1. Describe a memory that still makes you laugh. The New Year's Eve that Kim Hatfield and I sculpted snowmen on my front porch. They looked so funny -- the guy was like a cross between the Tick and Jay Leno with a big, square chin, broad shoulders and washboard abs while the woman had big boobs and an ass that just wouldn't quit. We couldn't quit giggling whenever we saw them. Did I mention that they lasted for over a month? The poor neighbors...
2. Describe your first kiss. It was short and sweet. Literally. We'd been eating blue blow-pops and strolling around the neighborhood with one of my girlfriends when he pulled me behind a tree and planted a kiss right on my lips. Damn, was I ever scared. I think that was the first and last time I was ever very timid about a kiss.
3. Describe your first paying job. Chores and babysitting aside, my first job was slinging cookies at a Mrs. Field's store in the mall. My step-sister Brenda worked there and helped me get hired. It was fun, especially since I got to wander around the mall during my breaks (before I worked there, we went to the mall no more than twice a year, if at all).
4. Describe your most vivid childhood memory. Having my arm trust into a big yellow tupperware bowl filled with ice and water as my relatives yelled and contemplated the best ways to treat a burn. Sylvia suggested butter, but I'm pretty sure Grandma got the bowl. I remember balancing that bowl on my lap so the water wouldn't spill on the dark red upholstry as my parents rushed me to the hospital.
A close second would be the time we were helping my Aunt move and she asked me to watch her angel fish, which she had transfered into a big mixing bowl while she moved the tank. I was instructed to pick the fish up if it jumped out of the bowl. The very thought that I might have to touch the fish horrified me.
5. What memory or story do you tend to exaggerate when telling to others? How good our marching band was. In my memories I forget all the misteps and wrong notes that were our trademark. I do not exaggerate about how big (and incredibly good) the throwers on our boys' track team were -- they just didn't need it.
Posted by criminal at 10:30 AM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2004
Sew-Sew
I'm up to my eyeballs in sewing. I don't regret volunteering to sew cilvil war era costumes for the entire family, but I do kind of regret not starting sooner. I've been collecting fabrics and patterns for months, but I took my sweet time getting started and now I'm rushing to make sure everything will be finished for the wedding on Saturday. But I'm at least enjoying the sewing itself, except perhaps when my machine is being difficult. And I'm really proud of the work I'm doing. Because his was first (and in a more difficult fabric), Jon's shirt and pants aren't as nice as I'd like them to be. But Steve's are excellent. I'm especially happy with how the pants turned out. Now I just hope they fit properly. I hope Margaret's dress turns out as well.
Posted by criminal at 10:24 PM | Comments (1)
August 11, 2004
Sox Tickets
Steve, Jon, and I are going to a wedding in Maine this weekend. So that means they have a pair of tickets for Saturday night that they can't use. Anybody interested?
Posted by criminal at 08:51 PM | Comments (2)
August 09, 2004
My Mouser
I left Tia at home this weekend while Jon and I went to Maine for his mother's birthday and his cousin's baptism. I figured it wouldn't be very nice to haul her away from home only to leave her by herself for two days. And judging by the present she left me, leaving her at home was a pretty good idea.
I stopped at home to drop off my junk and feed her. With my arms full of laundry, I had to push the door open through the futon she knocked over. I quickly cleaned that up and fed her before running back out to the car for my next load of bags. This time I was able to enter the way I normally do, putting a big, dead mouse right in my line of sight. It appears Tia broke up a rodent house-party while I was away. I'm really not sure how big it was in mouse terms (maybe 3-4 inches) but it certainly wasn't a little baby mouse. I was horrified at the thought of a mouse actually being inside my apartment and not just in the walls and cupboards. I got over that when I realized that my fiesty little cat took the bugger down. I tried my hand at positive reinforcement -- setting her next to it while pointing to it and petting her, pointing to it and giving her treats, and of course, plenty of "good kitty" praises. By the time I disposed of it (picture a paper towel, a couple grocery bags, and an oven mitt) I was a little late for work.
I guess this means I shouldn't get any rodent playmates for Tia.
Posted by criminal at 11:09 AM | Comments (2)
August 06, 2004
An Invocation
This scares me. To think that these closed-minded, petty people run our governments is disturbing. If they can listen to a Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu speaker give an invocation before a government proceeding, why not an atheist?
The people of the United States have taken such great strides towards religious tolerance and acceptance that it pains me to see discrimination against those without religion. How is this any different from refusing to let someone participate because of their gender or race? The truth is, it's not. All too often, I hear statements that portray atheists as un-American. In this time of religious patriotism, I fear the kind of language these public representatives used: "We have never had people of an atheist group represent Americans." But that atheist was an American, and as such, deserves the right and respect to speak as such. His religious convictions (or more accurately, his lack thereof) are no less deserving of respect and reflection than any other's -- that would be un-American.
I consider myself an atheist, and am surprisingly spiritual in a wholistic, humanistic way. I take serious offense to the supposition that I (by association) lack the moral or spiritual merit necessary to lead a civic group in reflection and "expression of faith". The only difference I see is who we all put our faith in. Some put it in the God of Moses, others in the prophecies of Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, or John Smith. And me? I put mine in the people who inhabit this world with me. They may not be gods, but I think they're enough inspiration for an invocation.
Posted by criminal at 05:36 PM | Comments (1)
Five On Friday for August 6, 2004
If
1. If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change? It would be easy to say hunger or hatred, but really, I want to change religion. There are so many, each with a different view of divinity, with conflicting values and norms. They can't all be right, unless of course they're all wrong. So I'd make them all accept that no one religion is better than another and stop competing for followers. I can't do away with it altogether, because it's such an essential part of so many people and their societies, but I would at least like to make it less important in the affairs of the world.
2. If you could have one superhero power, what power would you choose? The ability to change the weather on a whim would be pretty nifty, but I think telepathy would be even more useful.
3. If you could visit any time period or witness any event in history, when/what would it be? I've always thought it would be interesting to live in europe during the age of enlightenment.
4. If you could ask God (or a spiritual/religious deity of your choice) one question, what would you ask? Although I don't believe in his divinity myself, I would like to ask Jesus what he thinks about his modern following and their interpretation of the movement he started.
5. If you could bring back one person from the dead, who would you bring back? Beethoven. I want more symphonies.
Posted by criminal at 12:15 PM | Comments (1)
Tax Holiday
Massachusetts is having a tax holiday on Saturday, August 14. How come this is the first time I've heard of such a thing? Granted, I don't buy that much stuff and I'll be in Maine, but saving 5% would definately be nice. It's probably just a ploy to boost back-to-school sales, but it's still a neat idea. Too bad tax-free New Hampshire is just an hour away, otherwise I might be able to justify buying everyone's Christmas presents four months early.
Posted by criminal at 10:32 AM | Comments (1)
August 05, 2004
Digital Revolution
By Monday evening, I will be joining the latest digital revolution. Charter will be installing a new DVR box, turning my digital cable into super digital cable. It's like the poor man's Tivo. Now I just have to figure out what I want to record...
Posted by criminal at 06:49 PM | Comments (0)
One of Those Days
Somehow, I managed to sleep right through my alarm this morning, waking up around 9:30 instead of 7:30. For the record, my alarm is set to WTAG, the local talk radio station, which is evidently not very effective as a wake-up. It does have great weather, traffic, and news though... Anyway. Once I got up and laid my clothes out, the cat attacked them for no good reason, obviously in a much fiestier mood than me. I was waylayed by little things around the house, like cleaning dishes and taking care of garbage. By the time I got out, my hair was a curly mess and it was after 10. Ugh. I was really starting to feel lousy. Then I stubbed my toe on the stairs coming in. I suppose it could be worse, but this is certainly shaping up to be a crappy day.
Posted by criminal at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
August 04, 2004
Striking Fear Into the Hearts of Men
I learned an interesting bit of political psychology from CNN today. The overview of two articles that will appears in peer-reviewed journals this fall focuses on the role that fear plays in elections. If you're the inquisitive sort who wants to understand the hows and whys, these studies will appeal, no matter which party you root for. So do me a favor -- because I know you're curious -- read the article then come back and finish reading this.
Now that you're done, think of the people you know that are most afraid of the world around them. Not cowering in the corner afraid, but apprehensive and threatened. Have someone in mind? What kind of political affiliation have they declared this election season? On the flipside, what about the people who seem most accepting of the world around them? I don't think this would qualify as a litmus test, but it is an interesting pattern in our psychology. Does it hold true for you?
Posted by criminal at 04:26 PM | Comments (1)
August 03, 2004
Passing the Buck
Have you ever had one of those days where things just seem to get passed around and never done? I'm not really one of those people who would hang a plaque proclaiming that "the buck stops here." While I may not have loads of motivation, I'm relatively happy to accept responsibility or help finish a job. For years I loved being the one that had to make sure the newspaper was put together and sent to the printer. Lately, my stomach gets tight when I hear people hemming and hawing about assuming responsibility for things. Take the IT BBQ for instance. It kept sliding until Yvette stepped up and took the reins. I was worried beyond belief until she did because everyone in the group treated the planning and execution so nonchalantly. That kind of attitude has really gotten to me lately and I don't know why.
Posted by criminal at 12:57 PM | Comments (1)
Here's Your Sign
I stressed myself out for two hours over a broken sewing machine, only to disover the problem was operator error. The last time I used it, I put the needle in backwards. That's it. That was the big problem that caused Jon and I to discuss the purchase of a brandy-new super-spiffed-up digital sewing machine. Boy, do I feel stupid.
Posted by criminal at 09:51 AM | Comments (1)
August 02, 2004
Gahhh
My sewing machine isn't working. I finally hauled it out, cleaned it off, and set it up now that I'm ready to start putting all of these pieces together. And it won't sew a stitch. The fabric feeds and the needle moves, but the thread isn't making it all of the way around the bobbin to hook the bobbin thread and make a stitch. Instead it goes halfway and slides back, eventually jamming and making a big mess. Now that I've had the thing apart several times it's too late to go to Target to grab a new one. I really needed to make more progress on these period clothes for the wedding. Gahh.
If I can't get mine working, does anyone have one I can borrow for a couple weeks?
UPDATE: It's kinda sewing now, skipping stitches, but has major tension issues. It keeps chewing up the thread after an inch or two.
Posted by criminal at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)