July 29, 2005
Five on Friday for July 29, 2005
1. Do you believe in magic? Why or why not? Not so much. I think magic is just the easiest way to explain the unexplainable.
2. Have you ever wished for magical powers? If so, what powers did/do you wish to have? Sure. I think it would be neat to do my chores with a wave of the wand or finish a sweater without working up blisters. But being able to apparate would be the cat's meow (and would certainly make my commute a cinch).
3. If you could make a love potion, who would you want (or would have wanted, in your past) to use it on? If I had access to love potion when I was of a Hogwart's age, I totally would've used it on Jimmy, one of the only boys in my seventh grade class who was taller than me. His locker was right next to mine, and he was so painfully shy at times that I felt shy around him. A little love potion probably would've helped that. And dating the only nice boy who was bigger than me would've made high school a little easier. Nice to know that I eventually end up with one, even without love potion.
4. If you could Apparate (that is, instantly appear some place else), where would you like to go, right now? In front of a slot machine at Foxwoods that was about to hit big. Or maybe sunning myself on a beach in the pacific northwest.
5. If you had the power to go back in time and change your past, what would you change? Why? I would be tempted to change a lot of things, like my decision to come to WPI, staying in a dead-end relationship because it felt safer than putting myself on the market, choosing to do my projects by myself, moving into that apartment on John Street, and buying that visor handheld back in 1999. But I'm rather fond of the way things have turned out and who I've become.
Posted by criminal at 03:45 PM | Comments (0)
July 28, 2005
Outer Space
Damn mylousy space bar.
If it weren't attached to thewhole computer i'dthrow it across the room.
Posted by criminal at 09:02 PM | Comments (0)
The Wit
(65% dark, 21% spontaneous, 22% vulgar)
your humor style: CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK
You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you're probably an intellectual, but don't take that to mean you're pretentious. You realize 'dumb' can be witty--after all isn't that the Simpsons' philosophy?--but rudeness for its own sake, 'gross-out' humor and most other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat.
I guess you just have a more cerebral approach than most. You have the perfect mindset for a joke writer or staff writer. Your sense of humor takes the most effort to appreciate, but it's also the best, in my opinion.
Also, you probably loved the Office. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/.
PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Jon Stewart - Woody Allen - Ricky Gervais
My test tracked 3 variables. How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 75% on dark You scored higher than 12% on spontaneous You scored higher than 18% on vulgar
The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid
Posted by criminal at 09:46 AM | Comments (1)
July 27, 2005
The Dunk Is In the House
They're finally opening a Dunkin' Donuts on campus. All we know right now is that it will be replacing the 1948 Cafe in the Campus Center and should be open some time during A term. Our students are going to be so over-caffienated it's not even funny. Ridiculously broke too. I can't wait until we can really take a coffee break.
Posted by criminal at 03:53 PM | Comments (0)
Heat Wave
It's hot. And sticky.
I'm not sure about anyone else, but I can feel the heat burning away my sanity. I suspect it also melted my patience, because it's pretty lacking today. Amazing how a less-than-comfortable physical work environment can bring everything else down.
Posted by criminal at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2005
All Made Up
I walked the shiny, happy aisles of Target today, completely at home. Until I got to the makeup aisle. Now that the wedding date is looming, I need to finalize my hair and makeup plan. But the dazzling array of creams, powders, and creamy powders has me stumped. I can handle blush, eye shadow, and all kinds of lip products, but I can't for the life of me take the foundation plunge. I'm not a makeup girl, but I think I need a little to keep myself looking fresh and pretty on the big day. I think it's time to hit the makeup counters at the mall to figure out exactly what I need. Any recommendations?
Posted by criminal at 08:57 PM | Comments (8)
Quiet Weekend
The weekend was mostly quiet. We watched plenty of Sox on Sox action and even made a trip to Building 19. Jon and I also met up with a bunch of Tech News alums at Vinny T's on Sunday. Mmm, penne alla vodka. With Jon's help I was able to finish up the invites for the party in Maine. Now I just have to address them and get them to the post office.
And on a related note, if you're going away for the weekend, resist the temptation to leave dishes in the sink. After all the heat this weekend my sink was a breeding ground for all kinds of disgusting (and smelly) spores. Ick.
Posted by criminal at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
Hold the Mayo
It's a James-meat sandwich on geek bread. [WLH]
Posted by criminal at 04:41 PM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2005
Five on Friday for July 22, 2005
Runaway
1. Have you ever considered running away? Yep. I tried it once when I was a kid and only got as far as the barn. Now that I'm older, running away is more literal. When I feel like I want to run away I sneak outside and run as far as I can. It clears my mind at least for a little while. And as you can see, I don't do it very often.
2. Do you speak a foreign language? Do you have a passport? No foreign languages, unless you count Canadian. I do have a passport though. What's more, it's still valid.
3. Right now: do you know which way is east? Of course. I'm facing my fireplace, which is on the east wall of my building.
4. How do you like to travel: get up and go, or plan it out? A little of both: 70/30. I like to be prepared for the direction I'm headed, even if I don't have a schedule or planned route.
5. Do you ask for directions when you are lost, or do you keep on going? Although I am capable of asking for directions, I rarely do. It helps that I never feel lost. In addition to paying close attention to road signs and my path, I keep a map of the U.S. in the door of my car. So even if I don't know how to get somewhere, I can figure it out.
Posted by criminal at 08:32 AM | Comments (1)
July 21, 2005
Hallelujah!
I finally tried dynamic text replacement. Holy crap is it cool. All of those nifty titles you're seeing at the top of every page in my site? Those are images, generated by a nifty little script. They're even cached server-side, so they're not being generated on the fly every time. I can't wait to expand it's use to the menu.
Posted by criminal at 10:51 PM | Comments (0)
HGTV
I'm not sure what it is, but decorating is in my blood. I just love all the crafty things they do on shows like "Decorating Cents," "This Small Space," "The Caroll Duvall Show," and "Designing For the Sexes." Not to mention all the great stuff on other channels, like my personal decorating god in Discovery Channel's "The Christopher Lowell Show" , and my current favorite "Trading Spaces" on TLC. I have amazing fantasies about going on these shows and having my drab apartment revamped on a budget.
Posted by criminal at 04:37 PM | Comments (0)
Hillbilly Muzack
Ok, so I'm starting to be more open about this one, but its still not something I put on a resume or anything. There's just something about the hillbilly sound of bluegrass, old country, and folk music that makes me happy. I've been known to start dancing a ridiculous jig when I hear "Dueling Banjos", and I'm on a quest to find the video for Primus' versoin of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." If you're interested in indulging your inner hillbilly, I suggest you start slow, with a little Southern Rock or old fashioned country crooners like Hank Williams. If you're more modern, start with String Cheese Incident or Phish before moving on to the Charlie Daniels Band. For those who are into "Adult Contemporary" try Nickel Creek, Alison Krauss, or Dixie Chicks on for size.
Posted by criminal at 04:22 PM | Comments (0)
Hiring Practice
discussing a less-than-spectacular hiring decision...
William: But you hired them.
Sarah: True. I did. But they said they knew HTML inside and out.
James: Inside-out is more like it.
Sarah: Maybe I just misheard. *dies of laugher*
Posted by criminal at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)
Emo
I'm so emo.
I must confess it. I have a Dashboard Confessional song on one of my favorite homemade mix CDs. In fact, Eric and I spent the better part of the summer of 2002 listening to them. We stumbled upon them one night at the house when the kids were watching one of MTV's unplugged type specials. We stopped to chat with them in the living room and were entranced by some of the lyrics. I immediately ran upstairs to look up the actual words and got some help downloading my favorites. Even though I'm not emotionally distraught anymore, I still like hearing the songs and remembering how much things have changed since that summer.
Posted by criminal at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2005
Map and Directions
A map and directions have been added to the Michigan Celebration page.
Posted by criminal at 05:56 PM | Comments (0)
Surprise!
Amy and a few other staff members schemed to get me upstairs for a "meeting" this afternoon. When I got to the conference room I was showered with congratulations, refreshments, and presents from WPI staff. Amy managed to pull off the surprise, although things started to get fishy this morning when Alex overheard me trying to schedule a lab test for later in the day and Amy rushed out to tell me that we all had to meet with her boss at 2. I didn't think too much of it though. It wasn't until we went past the director's office and headed up to the archives conference room that I figured it out though.
I'm not usually a present person, but I have to say that the best part of the shower was the group gift. Amy asked everyone to contribute a favorite recipe (or two) and put together a beautiful recipe book for Jon and I. And then she asked everyone who contributed a dessert recipe to bring it to the shower. So as I'm sitting there noshing on fabulous sweets, making a mental note to ask for the recipes later, they were wrapped up in front of me. I couldn't have asked for a better gift!
Thanks to everyone who helped make my afternoon so joyous.
Posted by criminal at 03:42 PM | Comments (2)
July 19, 2005
Good Grief, Granny
I got a call from my dad at 8 a.m. this morning, which is unusual. He usually waits until at least 10 a.m. when we're both usually available. For a moment, when I saw the caller ID, I was filled with dread. As soon as I heard the cheerful tone of his voice, all those feelings went away. Grandma is fine, back at home, and in fact didn't need to have anything replaced. They now suspect that a low-grade infection and dehydration, combined with the opressive heat and exertion caused her collapse. That means no more picking berries and tending flower beds in the heat of the day for the old lady.
Posted by criminal at 09:54 AM | Comments (1)
July 18, 2005
The Weekend Update
- Very little happened this weekend, save the reading of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was pretty enjoyable, but definately felt like a pre-quel. It almost makes me want to pre-order book seven right now.
- The Red Sox three-of-four to the Yankees. Boo. Someone I know popped the question on top of the green monster. Yay.
- My grandmother is in the hospital. Luckily, my father was nearby when she collapsed on Friday. The doctors will be checking out her pacemaker today and replacing either the battery or the whole thing. Despite Friday's problem, she's apparently quite chipper and has decreed that she can't possibly go yet because she still has a few years before her driver's license expires.
- Maybe it's the heat (80 and muggy in the office) or my lunch (Indian buffet) or a combination of the two, but I'm not feeling so great.
Posted by criminal at 03:10 PM | Comments (1)
July 15, 2005
Free Stuff
Since I'm moving in less than a month, it's time to clear out some things... I'll have more next weekend after I've sorted through my kitchen and craft stuff. But all of this is free to a good home:
- 44oz. polyester fiberfill (for pillows and stuffed animals)
- loveseat-type-thing covered in 70s-fab upholstry
- alumnimun wok w/ accessories
- old issues of Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living
If you (or even a friend of yours) is interested, just let me know.
Posted by criminal at 06:36 PM | Comments (0)
Today's Fortune
Don't let your limitations overshadow your talents.
Posted by criminal at 05:18 PM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2005
Maybe Someday
I haven't mentioned much on my knitting progress, partly because my current project is super-secret. I can at least tell you that it's for Bubba, Nick and Carol's impending bundle of joy. Carol is due August 23, in the midst of my wild wedding week, although I predicted she'll be a day early. I'm starting to wonder whether the gift will be done in time for Bubba's first birthday, let alone arrival.
Even so, I'm dreaming of other projects. Like this sexy tank by Annie Modesitt. It's so pretty. And the pattern comes in my size. Maybe someday, after I've finished up a bunch of other projects, I'll indulge in it.
Posted by criminal at 04:59 PM | Comments (0)
Rat-a-tat-tat
My intestines are at it again. Today they sound like a machine gun with all the little bubbles of gas bopping around in there. Good thing it's not like that upon exit. But oh the rumbling! When I look at my abdomen I can see it move as the bubbles move from place to place. There's so much action going on that I'm finding it hard to concentrate on anything. I'll be fine for a while, then something will shift and start a chain reaction of movement, bloating, and rumbling that leaves me wondering when I'll ever feel comfortable again.
Posted by criminal at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
Getting There
The big day is only five weeks away. Last week I made myself a huge list of things to do for the wedding and crossed off almost all of them. However, I've found that I have a whole new list now. No matter how many things I cross off the list, Jon and I always seem to find a few more...
Posted by criminal at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2005
Mmm, Bugs
Tia is munching on random bugs. Earlier it was a small beetle. Just now, a moth. The windows are all closed and the door is rarely open. I suspect they're sneaking down the chimney. As long as I don't end up with a june bug in my lap, I think I can deal with it. Besides, it means I don't have to give the cat as many treats.
Posted by criminal at 11:33 PM | Comments (2)
Cherry Garcia!
You scored 74% SWEET, 55% CHUNKY, and 62% UNIQUE!
cherry sweet cream base with cherries and fudge chunks
Awesome...you are one of my personal favs: Cherry Garcia. You fall in the middle on all measurements- sweet, wild, and unique, but not overwhelmingly so on any of those. You make a good friend, able to share your unique perspectives on things, and able to have fun without winding up in jail or something. Good job.
The Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Flavor Test written by weered1 on OkCupid
And I don't even like Cherry Garcia...
Posted by criminal at 11:51 AM | Comments (1)
July 08, 2005
I'm Back!
Sorry about that folks. My domain expired almost two weeks ago and I've been fighting to get it renewed since. It finally happened today thanks to eNom. The last few posts have some of the details and still others are at my livejournal.
Posted by criminal at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)
Five on Friday for July 8, 2005
1. Do you have a theme song? Never really thought about it. If I had to choose, I'd say No Cheap Thrill by Suzanne Vega. It contains the lyrics that inspired the name for this site.
2. What music do you play when you're angry? Fiona Apple, early Ani Difranco, Poe, Lucinda Williams, NIN
Sad?Ani's Reckoning, Ben Harper, Beck's Sea Change, Peter Salett, Elliot Smith, more Fiona Apple
Mellow? Suzanne Vega, India Arie, Nickel Creek, Pearl Jam, late Beatles
Happy? Phish, Cake, Counting Crows, assorted Bluegrass artists, early Beatles
Gosh. I'm dating myself terribly with some of these...
3. What was the last song you listened to? Inidgo Girls - Jonas & Ezekiel
4. What was the last song or album you purchased? The last song I got from iTunes is We're All in This Together by Old Crow Medicine Show and the last actual album I bought is the soundtrack to the Phantom of the Opera movie.
5. Do you sing along to songs when you're alone? Hecks yeah. I even do it when other people are around. I love singing harmony on bluegrass songs and riffing over instrumental solos, but I tend to limit those more adventurous things to my alone time.
Posted by criminal at 11:02 AM | Comments (0)
The Update
- The site is still down. CyberPixels is unresponsive and I'm making progress with eNom to get the whole thing resolved. Hopefully this means things will be back up by Monday. That makes two weeks without criminalgrace.com.
- More of CyberPixels inneptitude: on Monday I got an automated notice that my hosting was being renewed later in the week and my credit card would be billed. So I called immediately and had them cancel it. Today I got an e-mail saying my card had been billed. I called CitiBank and was told that I had to wait until it posted to dispute it. Then I called 2Checkout to report CyberPixels. Before I could get more than a sentence or two into my story they issued a refund. Hooray.
- Jon and I have a place together! We put a deposit down on a swank two-bedroom apartment in Carlton Place last night. We should be in by mid-August, just before we get married. And it's technically in Lowell although it's just a stone's throw from the Drum Hill rotary and Chelmsford.
- I commuted from Chelmsford via Merrimack, NH today. We left at 7 and I rolled in to work around 8:45. Jon's car is in the shop so I gave him a ride to work. He repaid me with gas and Dunkin' Donuts chai. That makes the long ride worth it.
Posted by criminal at 09:27 AM | Comments (0)
July 05, 2005
Any Day Now
I've called CyberPixels for the sixth time this week only to find out that they still haven't renewed my domain. Each time they tell me that it didn't go through, collect my information all over agin, say they'll try it again, and swear that it shouldn't take more than a couple hours. And each time I end up calling the next day when nothing has changed and get the same story. This time there was a slight variation: the renewal hasn't gone through because it CP wasn't current on their account with the registrar. So for the last week that I've been trying to renew my domain, they've been dicking around with their finances. So not happy. If it isn't up by this evening, I will be seeking out legal assistance.
Posted by criminal at 04:06 PM | Comments (0)
There She Blows
I <3 Whale of a Punch paper punches.
I bought a standard circle punch this weekend to do invitations. Aside from the fact that it was too large (because the circle pictured on the top of the punch was much smaller than the actual circle it created) it was also very difficult to use. Granted, the circle was two inches across, but I practically had to put a fair amount of force to get it to punch. Even then, the cuts were kind of ragged and took a long time to make. It broke after about 20 punches. I bought a Whale of a Punch brand punch (In the correct size! Because, you know, they're labeled with exact dimensions! The novelty!) and did about a hundred punches in 10-15 minutes. Like butter. I may never buy another punch without a handy lever. And you can't beat the cute little eyes that make it look even more like a whale.
Posted by criminal at 03:57 PM | Comments (0)
Dynamite
The cult of "Napoleon" demonstrates one of those sweet ironies of youth: that the best way to celebrate nonconformity is to buy the T-shirt.
[Boston Globe article: Sweet Sensation]
Posted by criminal at 02:51 PM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2005
Hung Up
Just called CyberPixels again because my domain is still unregistered. They said "it got hung up here for some reason" and that it should have only taken "a couple hours." I expected that it would take less than 24. Now that it's been almost 80, I'm a bit ticked. They're going to try to send it through again. Hopefully this time they'll get it right (and on time) this time around and you'll be reading this by Saturday morning.
Posted by criminal at 04:43 PM | Comments (0)
Our First Gift
William, my enterprising student web worker, brought in a wedding gift today. He and James (the other summer web worker) wrapped them up this morning using left-over Christmas wrap and electrical tape. Some might say that it's more than a bit tacky, but coming from him, it's awfully cute.
Posted by criminal at 09:53 AM | Comments (0)