Long Time, No Post

It's been a while since I've posted, mostly because of the end-of-semester madness that comes a couple of times each year. Here are some of the things that I remember:

My violin recital went quite well. I got to wear a pretty dress, and there were no major mess-ups! Somehow, I think the fact that the hall was full actually made me less nervous. Strange how that works... But Benjamin & my dad gave me some really pretty flowers, that I've been able to arrange nicely in a vase. It's a pretty mix of dark & light pink gerber daisies (duh), pink calla lilies, and pink gladiolas. Benjamin's family, grandparents, and cousin came, along with my parents & Juliane, Julie & Derek, and Zahra & Neil. I feel I was well supported :)

I was not, however, well supported by my teacher from last semester. I got a B+ in one of my literature classes in the fall, and decided to contest the grade and request an A-. I have gone all semester under the impression that I had until finals to start the process, but really I only had 8 weeks. I met with the professor anyway, and she didn't want to change the grade. I understand that teachers have the final authority on these issues, but I feel like I should not have made an "A/B" (whatever that is) on my paper and a B- on my exam. Especially when her only complaints were things like "don't phrase it that way" and crossing out "their native country" and scribbling in "Czechoslovakia." And really especially when I speak English fluently, and...well...

I have 1 more exam tomorrow, and then I'll be finished!

This summer I'm taking 5 classes:
> Statistics (CCCC)
> Advanced Composition
> World Music
> Intro to Criminal Justice
> US History

And then I'll be finished-finished! I don't know if I'm relieved-excited or scared-excited. Luckily I don't have to decide right now...I just need to get to the point where I do.

Last night Benjamin let Chloe sleep in the bedroom instead of in her kennel in the living room. I didn't notice until I got up to get some water at 4am. So I guess she behaved herself rather well, or maybe I was just tired & didn't notice her walking on me.

It's only 4:40 and I'm ready for a nap.

I'd like to find out what I need to do to get teacher-certified without having to take classes here.

I had a yummy margarita last night, and it was yummy. I want another one today :)

List of the Goings On

I was reading Zahra's blog this morning, and she made a list because she was lazy. I am equally lazy right now, so I shall copy her.

1. My sister was supposed to go to Corpus Christi for orchestra. But it's the weekend of my recital. And she would miss a holy day, which no one knew until now. So she said she is coming to my recital instead, which makes me happy :) Plus, she has 2 doctors & a physical therapist saying she can't play because she hurt her shoulder. That doesn't make me happy :(

2. I'm still really upset about Perfume Girl making me ill. Just in case someone was wondering. I'm feeling somewhat better, but I'm staying home from church today because smelling exhaust or anything will make me relapse.

3. Benjamin took his acoustic guitar & an amp & some other music stuff to church today. The living room looks empty now.

4. Yesterday, Benjamin stole my laptop & took it to the store. He insisted that I needed more memory, and I insisted that I didn't. I now have more memory.

5. I learned last night that I can open files on my laptop that are really on the external hard drive plugged into the desktop. I'm told I can only do this at home, though.

6. Benjamin & I are reading "The 5 Love Languages" each night before we go to sleep. First, we read the first 3 chapters, which were annoying. The author seemed to be saying this:
"You got married because you thought you loved each other. But you didn't. You were really just 'in love' and after you've been married for a couple of years, you'll no longer be 'in love'. And you won't love each other either, cause you never really did. You just thought you did. Oh, and by the way, I know this sounds harsh, but I know you better than you do, cause I write books with the cool raised-letter covers."
We also read the 1st "love language" which is "Words of Affirmation." That chapter was less pessimistic.

7. We have a Victoria's Secret bag sitting on the coffee table that's been there for about a month. Benjamin needs to send it back. I wonder how long until one of us realizes it's there & send it back.

8. Chloe has been nicer lately. Yesterday Benjamin clipped her front claws with fingernail clippers. They're no longer sharp. When he was putting her in her kennel for bed, I heard cat-crying. He came in and said that he thinks she's mad that she can't scratch him anymore.

9. I packed Benjamin a lunch this morning for him to have between Men's Club and church. So the sandwich wouldn't get soggy, I put the bread in 1 bag and the lettuce, turkey & cheese in another bag. Then I put the mustard in a tupperware and the pickles & tomato in another container, with salt & pepper on the tomato. I also gave him a banana & some doritos (which I opened from the bottom of the bag right in front of him, muah-ha-ha!) and coke. And a napkin & a plastic knife. I packed all of this in my super-cute pink ice chest. He looks very manly.

10. Last night we went to Wal-Mart for dinner stuffs. I wanted straws and popsicle molder things. We looked everywhere & couldn't find either. Then a lady told Benjamin where to find straws, and they were out. She was shelving, so she & Benjamin started going through the boxes to find straws, but they were bendy straws so I said I'd just wait. I don't like bendy straws cause they get air in them in make you burp.

Countdowns
Recital: 20 days
Anniversary: 121 days
Graduation: 131 days

It's raining, it's pouring...

...And if the old man was snoring, I'd probably want to smack him upside the head. It's miserable outside, which is saying something for someone like me, who loves the rain.

It seems I'm the only one who didn't get the memo from weather.com, as I wore thin pants & a short-sleeve shirt to work today. I did, however, remember to take flip-flops for my chamber music rehearsal.

When I got to UTD, it was pouring so hard that I stuck my keys & my phone in my violin case, changed into flip-flops (a bitter-sweet reality, as they kept me from swimming in socks, but it's absolutely frigid), wrapped my music in a plastic bag, and headed out (coatless) on my quarter mile treck to rehearsal.

The situation wasn't helped by the fact that I somehow hurt my left wrist on Sunday, and the pain hasn't subsided. For a more accurate picture, see the below visual aid:

hurt wrist + 2 1/2 hr rehearsal + cold + wet + irritable + sortof mean instructor
=
unpleasant situation

Then I called Benjamin on my way home, and he alerted me to the power outage in our apartment. Apparently it was still out, because the traffic light he had just passed was blinking. But, it came on about 10 minutes after I got home. I was able to warm up slightly by nuzzling my freezing toes under Benjamin's shirt, and putting my hands on his neck. He did not seem to appreciate my attempt at snuggling, as he complained like a munchkin that I was making him cold. However, when I allowed him to warm my extremities voluntarily, he was much more amiable.

Anyways, I'm skipping class because I honestly feel like if I go out one more time I'll get an ear infection. And, I'm not sure that I can handle people talking just to hear themselves talk for 3 hours right now, wishing that I was snuggled on the couch with my hubby watching House and eating the soup that I think he's making for me. Mmmm...veggies!

That is all!

" time for an updateeee. <33 "

Zahra says it's time for an update. Actually, Zahra said it's time for an update 4 days ago. So here 'tis. :)

~ Mom came home Friday! It was a day later than originally planned, but we're very pleased. Thanks to everyone for all of your continued prayers. She still has a long way to go in resuming normal life, but she's well on her way!

~ I'm quitting Barnes & Noble, effective tomorrow at midnight. That's right...if we're late closing, I'm walking out at midnight. Just kidding.

~ I'll be going back to Ben & Jerry's full-time starting Monday until I go back to school.

~ Moving in exactly 5 weeks! (Actually 4 weeks & 6 days, cause I guess it's past midnight on Tuesday already :-/)

~ I don't like working with people who are hung over. If you're hung over, don't come to work. And if you do come to work, don't tell me that you're hung over. And whether you're hung over or not, do not touch me. Do not poke my back. Do not grab my shoulder. Do not slap my hand in an oh-so-playful manner. I don't know you. I don't want to randomly flirt with you. Especially when you tell me about your theories on living with someone instead of getting married, just so you can switch partners when you tire of today's project. Do not tell me I can't judge actions. I'm going to judge actions. In fact, I'm going to be so bold as to judge your actions. I shall, however, not judge you. There's a difference. Judging actions is what the entire legal system is based upon, not to mention ethics. Get some. Find yours or borrow some from a willing donor. I'm sure that if you explain to them the urgency of your situation, they will understand. That's all I have to say about that.

~ Josh & I are going to practice the Vivaldi once more, and then play in Huntsville for special music on August 5th. Whee! It's coming along quite nicely :)

~ Going back to DFW on the 22nd...probably staying until the 25th. I don't know...now that I'm not going to be working Thursday thru at least Sunday, I could just take off a couple of days after that & make the trip this weekend. That would allow me to go to my cousin's baby shower :) However, I'm gonna want a break in a week, so maybe I should wait. Argh...decisions decisions...

~ Tonight I worked 4-close (midnight). I hate that shift. I feel like I'm being really taken advantage of because I'm closing so stinking much. That's a big reason I'm quitting so soon. Tonight I had a caramel frapp but I added 2 shots of espresso :) It was the grossest thing ever (because the espresso separated from the frapp, so I was drinking melted java juice) but it did the trick lol. I even skipped my last break, because I was on such a roll.

~ Tomorrow I'm working 4-close. Thursday I was scheduled to close. And twice next week. Anyone seeing how much this stinks? So yeah. I'm closing tomorrow. Then byebye. When I first started considering not giving 2 weeks notice, I felt really bad & irresponsible. Then I realized that on the day I got hired, my schedule was the following:
9-9:30 interview & hired
9:30-10 rush to Target to get collared shirts
10-4 work at Ben & Jerry's
4-12am training/work at Barnes & Noble
In short, I was working on the day I was interviewed. This means replacements are relatively easy to find.

Goodnight to all! Zahra, please let me know whether your phone has stopped being racist, as we need to discuss Julie's birthday. Let me know, por favor, if you're available this coming Sunday/Monday evenings (16 & 17) and whether you're available the following Sunday/Monday evenings (23 & 24). I'll be calling Julie too. We need to plan our JAZ Date!!! Since I now won't be working this weekend, I'm a little more flexible on which weekend to come up (provided Jessica is ok with it, as I've worked out to stay with her on the 22nd weekend). Wow...I need to shut up. It's 1:14 in the morning...I should not be this awake.

Well, t'has been quite a while...

Umm, got a new job, tried to quit old job, ended up not quitting old job, now working 2 jobs. That's the short version.

On Wednesday I had an interview at 9am for the Barnes & Noble Cafe. The manager hired me on the spot, wahoo, so I offically had 2 jobs at that point. I went to Target to get a shirt (since this is a job for which I dont have to wear a shirt with the company name plastered all over it) and then went straight to Ben & Jerry's where I worked from 10 to 4. I had to be at Barnes & Noble AT 4, so I changed in the bathroom (coworkers suggested the walk-in freezer) and rushed to B&N where I worked until 11 (training/new-hire paperwork/work).

I wrote a letter of resignation to my boss at Ben & Jerry's, but ended up not quitting. Instead, I'm going to work a couple of days a week there...we're gonna see how that goes.

I really don't remember what else I was supposed to write about.

Oh yeah! Yesterday was NUTS!!! I'm copying this from a message to Ian cause I really don't feel like rewriting it:
Ok, here we go! I went to the hospital to see Mom & pick up Juliane. I needed to drop Juliane off at home, pick up my clothes for work, and be at work by 1 (basically, leave by 11:30). I didnt leave by 11:30, but rather 12:30 (I decided it was more important to stay with Mom than get to work on time). I had to pay my parking pass thing, which was $10 for the couple of hours i was there. As I went to back out of the parking space, i set the ticket in a cup holder in my car, and thought to myself "wow, I am a genius, because this fits perfectly!" Unfortunately it fit a little too perfectly, and it slipped down behind the center console...not next to the seat, but into a compartment that you can only reach if you unscrew stuff. So I called work & told them that i would be late but that i'd be there. Then i had to go talk to the security people, who didnt seem to believe me at first but when i told them if they had a screwdriver i'd show them they lightened up. The security lady gave me a pass to get out of the lot. Then there was unbelievable traffic on 45...my sister thought it was funny, because there is NEVER traffic that far south on 45. Cameron met me at my work to pick up Juliane & bring my clothes. It was CRAZY! I got there a little after 2. Then my boss called me in to discuss my pending resignation, and I ended up not quitting. Apparently, I'm a favorite, as he pointed out that other than a guy who does a lot of catering jobs, I have the most hours of everyone. Also, since I'm "one of the best" he's supposedly paying me the shift leader rate even when im not working as shift leader on duty. Wow, it's tiring just remembering that! PS - I think I'm gonna just copy/paste this onto my blog :P

Today I shall practice with Josh at church (whee Vivaldi!) and hopefully we'll find out who the Special Music Coordinator in Kerrville is so we can attempt to play at the Feast.

Tuesday is my wisdom teeth surgery consultation. Dad asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, and I think I just want to go to the dentist and let them poke me with a needle...ironic, huh?

Orchestra Revisited

I went to the Klein Orchestra concert tonight. It was awesome...even though Klein has become somewhat ghetto/slackerish, the performance was awesome. Chamber (whee!) played a Finzi piece (whom Jennifer has stated that she hates lol). The combined Symphony played pieces by Shostakovich, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Tchaikovsky (The 1812). Of course, the other 2 orchs played things too. The "finale" was Phantom of the Opera. It was great, but the lighting was cheesy. Jill said that she was sure the Phantom himself was actually "in" the Centrum!

Jill, Brit, Katie Z, Amanda & I went to IHOP after the concert. Jennifer was a pooper & skipped out, using an early work day as her lame excuse. Ha!

Speaking of which, I'm using tomorrow to apply for lots & lots of jobs. I don't mean that I'm going to actually work at lots & lots of jobs. In fact, I think one will suffice. But I'm applying everywhere.

So, I sink it's about time for bed. I should probably try to look nice tomorrow. Tonight was the first time I've straightened my hair in 2 weeks. I've worn it curly every day except yesterday, when I went full-fledged lazy & put my wet hair in a ponytail. Yes, I am a college bum. Actually, I'm worse than a college bum...I'm a college bum home on break. Yeah, this is the life... Eventually, reality will set in, and I will be a college bum home on break who is working & taking summer classes against her will. Thaaaat should be interesting.

Today's Random Fact: I've realized tonight that I've been asking everyone (in orchestra) if I could transfer to their schools. Everyone has a better orchestra than UTD. Everyone has also given me permission to transfer. Don't worry, UTD friends...I'm not leaving. I love it there...but...orchestra...:( Me = very sad about this situation, and I look forward to its timely fix (aka find private teacher or a community orchestra).

Ok, here's that nostalgic post we've all been waiting for!

Stop. Go no further. Start the song Closing Time. Have you started it? Ok good. Now you may proceed.

In about 12 hours (I’ve been working on this throughout the day), I'm going to be moving for the 2nd time in a year. I'm so unbelievably happy to get to go home, see my family, spend oodles of time with my Mom...it's been hard living so far away. By the same token, though, I'm going to be so sad to leave this place - this apartment that has become my home away from home, these friends, this environment of intellectual stimulation. So, in the style of Zahra's post (her's is more picture-inclusive than mine), I shall proceed to give a list of grievances. Ah, how this reminds me of a day about 8 months ago when I was doing this very same thing.

While I'm certainly going to miss many aspects of this life I'm leaving, most of it revolves around the lovely girls of apartment ****. These girls have turned into more than amiable roommates. They've made my freshman year experience one that I will always look back upon with fondness. They have attained the status of best friends. And for that, they hold a special, irreplaceable place in my heart. I will miss them the most.

Things I Love About Julie
* Her French accent which she "can't help"
* Her decision to marry Switchfoot...collectively
* The inertia which causes her arms to flail behind her torso upon walking
* The way I never dread the sound of "Aaa-dri-on" (now "A-shri-on") in the distance
* She is always ready to watch a Lifetime movie with me & Sparky
* Her insistence on consuming every last speck of...whatever (lick that bowl, Julie!)
* The way she confidently declares herself endearing...but that she doesn't fully comprehend the limitlessness of that statement
* Her daily updates on Erwin in my absence
* Finding her slippers tucked neatly under the table for her to come back to
* Her pretty paintings that make our living room sparkle

Things I Love About Zahra
* Her beastly willingness to protect us amid our Lifetime fears…and to fight
* The fact that she LIVES to "lock me out"
* The way she "moves in" every Sunday evening
* That she is "the world's official hugger"...and never fails to deliver on that
* That she designates and entire load of laundry to her panties
* Her offer to come all the way to Houston just to chaperone a date
* That we reached a consensus to take a nap under the warm pink UTD blanket after Hope Floats

Things I Love About Valene
* Her facial expression after muttering “huh?”
* Her disgust with spinach…and our taste for it
* That she gave me part of the vacuum fuzz after cleaning it out
* The unrecognized peer pressure which she exerts on the rest of us with her spiffy sayings

I’ll miss the Waterview network connection hating me, and kicking me off alllll the time. Zahra, thank you for not blocking me on AIM, even though you threatened to do so. Having a reliable internet connection will be saddening.

I’ll miss Julie grabbing Luke & Lorelai with her bare hands so that we can clean their filthy water. I’ll miss having 4 people around to feed them constantly. And I’ll miss making beta babies!

I’ll miss the free movies that Valene found as part of our cable package. Sleepless in Seattle, West Side Story, Funny Girl…all better when you have great girls to share them with. Oh what fun, moving the couch up to the TV…we’re tough girls!

I’ll miss naming the boys that come into our lives. More than that, I’ll miss having those boys around to do things for us. I wonder if my brother….

I’ll miss hearing Julie’s door open in the mornings, and jumping out of bed immediately. That was better than any alarm clock. What! Julie’s up before me?! Aaaah!

I’ll miss calling the maintenance men for everything that needs done in our apartment. I treasure all of those maintenance reports that we have laying around. We’re on a first-name basis with several of them now!

I’ll miss looking at Jackie Chan every time I go into Julie’s room. I have to say, he’s beginning to grow on me now. Of course, the same can’t be said of Julie’s attitude toward my fuzzy posters. It’s ok…I’ll also miss her systematically removing them from my walls in the hope that I won’t notice.

I’ll miss shouting “someone’s food is ready” because the impatient microwave keeps beeping once a minute.

I’ll miss Julie trying to make me get new PJs. You’ve tried everything, and I’m still wearing cheeky monkey! Perhaps, though, we can get matching ones in accordance with your bribe.

I’ll miss the interrogation chair, and the reign of WABB over our relationships with boys. I’ll miss the confused look on many guys’ faces as we actually carried out the interrogations we promised. Remember when Cake Boy (ok ok, Tony) brought us that HUGE cake as a peace offering? I’m glad we gave him another chance.

I’ll miss Julie’s singing on the way to the grocery store or the movies. You’ve made me love Moulin Rouge, hun! You’re so unbelievably cute.

I’ll miss Thursday lunches in the PUB. How I’ve looked forward to those each week, and hated missing them on occasion. Even when I would be working the lunch rush, it was cheering just to see you guys come in.

I’ll miss the PUB itself, and the good friends I have made working there. I’m so blessed to be able to have fun at my job.

I’ll miss Roommate Weekends, and broadcasting our mutual love to the masses. “Do you have roommates? You should get some.”

I’ll miss taking trips in our pajamas. Wal-Mart, the Meteor Theater, the mailbox…ah, the memories.

I’ll miss Julie singing “Bad Day” and playing it on her computer when I have one. I’ll miss being able to hear the song on her computer when she goes to Zahra’s xanga, since my computer hates me & won’t play it.

I’ll miss having a home to come back to when I feel weezy.

I’ll miss taking pictures of everything. It feels like everything we’ve done has been properly documented visually. I love our three best pictures.

I’ll miss the menopausal weather. Hot. Cold. Moderately warm. Freezing beyond comprehension. Yeah, it’s always a surprise. Sorry I’ve been slacking on delivering the weather report each morning!

I’ll miss having no room in the refrigerator for legitimate stuff (like milk) because it is so full of to-go boxes.

I’ll miss the yellow walls, and Julie’s paintings.

I’ll miss finding my panties in a bag on my doorknob. I’ll miss having girls around who understand how you can have an entire bag full of panties.

I’ll miss waking up to the shrill sound of smoke detectors…and laughing in the living room while they continue to shriek for half an hour in the middle of the night.

I’ll miss eating french fries from the PUB. But not before we’ve re-cooked them in the oven & showered them with Tony Chachere’s (sp??)

But more than all of that, I’ll miss having girls to call maintenance for me. I’ll miss hearing my name (with a French accent, of course) on a daily basis. I’ll miss the people with whom I take grocery store trips, and the girls that live to lock me out. I’ll miss having those awesome friends who are willing to ask weird questions to make sure that the guys I’m hanging out with are worth it. I’ll miss deep conversations that last until the wee hours of the morning, and buying lots of pillows with my new bedding, confident that we’ll use all of them.

The memories…

In the past 8 months and 19 days, we have accomplished so much. Much more than a group of skimpy college girls could be expected. We have:
(click the * for a picture!!)
* Gotten through a pregnancy & learned French insults
* Successfully sauntered Wal-Mart in PJs at midnight without getting raped
* Learned how to do normal body functions in a class that 1/3 of us don’t take
* Cured Julie of her brownie addiction
* Established ourselves as virgins
* Taken pictures with Abuelo
* Been through some hard times, and remained there for each other
* Experienced the awesomeness that is giant QuikTrip cups
* Considered skydiving together…nah!
* Had fun with balls (hehe)
* Shrunk our collective female fat zones
* Traded clothes & warned each other of possible death-by-weather
* Made it through Govt 2302. ‘Nuff said.
* Realized that our best dates are with each other
* Giggled about boy parts during Thursday lunch
* Put glucose tablets to a much more “creative” use
* Gotten married. Some of us more than others…
* Been totally awesome princesses
* Gotten gussied
* Turned on one another, but made it through in the end
* Been scarred by the sight of nakey boys & discussed nakey trees
* Ordered & eaten 3 medium 1-topping pizzas
* Handled the three-musty-Mexican-maintenance-men & called maintenance for EVERYthing! They must loooooove us!
* Discovered the tragedy of the female condom & hemorrhoids
* Prepared for a tornado
* Had a slumber party on the balcony
* Grown quite accustomed to talking on AIM & banging on walls
* Experienced the happiness of Julie & Zahra’s marriage
* Left Olive Garden with 10 to-go boxes
* Gleefully pounced upon each other
* Caught & detained the blog culprit…but she still commits her crimes!
* Become tenacious wildcats in Jujitsu
* Dedicated Zahra the confrontational-phone-call maker…for bills and the cable guy
* Named boys & done interrogations with WAAB
* Spoken out against modern sexuality
* Played some serious flag football
* Toasted our 1-month anniversary
* Disturbed an entire movie theater with our fashionable exit
* Learned where we come from…through the people upstairs
* Lived through fire
* Rewarded ourselves with a couple of our favorite jelly donuts
* Left our comfort zones & made new & lifelong friendships

Tonight we had our reminiscence session. We sat on the couch, in our PJs of course, and ate french fries. We talked about our time together. Zahra recalled “hating” me when I moved in, because I apparently gave her a weird look. How was I to know that she was supposed to be there?! We realized that we attended the same orientation last April. The 3 of us recalled our first eager telephone conversations and unleashed first impressions. Julie thought I was going to be a drunken popular girl…but when she came in & saw me “freaking out” over groceries, she knew she had nothing to fear. I thought she was going to be a really anal smart girl…which she is (without the anal part :-p). Zahra addressed how unfair I have been in taking up all of the communal kitchen & storage space…and Julie agreed. Apparently, I have too much crap…but I can’t live without it. Then Julie started to go into her room. I thought she was coming to my room to read this screen (a super no-no) so I ran to stop her. In the process I hurt my foot. She doesn’t care…she said I deserved it. Poo. :-)

I’m sitting here, now at 2:30 in the morning, after just having had a discussion with Julie. Mostly, we talked about how much I miss orchestra & what a big part of my life that was. I’ve often thought about where I would be in my musical pursuits if I had followed my original plan to go elsewhere.

But tonight, after our reminiscence session, I realized that Julie, Zahra & I ALL wanted to go elsewhere. I wanted to go to Sam Houston & major in music. Zahra wanted to go to Rice & made this known through her attitude at UTD orientation. Julie wanted to go to Baylor & got a new car instead. I remember fighting my parents about this school, telling them it was the last place I wanted to go. I even had all of my friends hating the idea with me.

Even after deciding that I did want to come here, I still catch myself wondering. I wonder what I might have kept if I hadn't abandoned my “first choice.” What’s ironic is that after 8 months, I now realize what I would have lost if I had.

Love Always,
Adriane

Fire! Fire!

About 15 minutes before Genetics was supposed to be over, a shrill noise cut through the discussion about "application of the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Equation". It was the fire alarm, making a "whooo! whooo!" sound.

Then the alarm started to speak:
"Whooo! Whooo! There has been an emergency reported in the building. Please leave the building immediately, using marked stairwells and exits. Do NOT use the elevators! Whooo! Whooo!"

The voice was very calm. Then the whole thing began again. Then the professor said, "Well, we should take this seriously. See you next time." I think someone had some kind of exam in a difficult class, and opted to let the entire class out of it. How nice of said student...in a weird, illegal sort of way.

Daniel & I went to play music this evening. I had a lot of fun...it's been a while since I've played with piano. Then I went to get dinner at the Pub. They thought my violin to be my dictionary...or so they tried to convince me. Ha! I also tried the (apparently well-known-to-everyone-but-me) drink called the Michael Jackson Special...it's half coke & half sprite. It was surprisingly good.

Today's Random Fact: I really like to curl up with a textbook (or read-for-fun book...HA!) with wet hair & in my PJs to read. I can't stand the library, because it is just toooooo quiet, and often really cold. I like my apartment, but only when I can just hear a barely audible conversation taking place in another room...it lets me know that there are other people around & breathing, but doesn't distract too much. Sometimes, though, things get really loud, and then I prefer the Comet Lounge or the Cafe. Ironically, the Comet Lounge rules are "no eating, drinking, or sleeping" but the room is full of couches. Everyone sleeps. I know I like to sleep :)...what a rebel.

Balls *giggle*

Last night we ordered the new Pizza Hut pizza with balls. We like the balls. We also like the garlic sauce stuff. It's probably 100% artificial. I'll die soon.

This morning I finally broke free from the prison that is Napster. I tired of paying $15 a month to download music, to which I could only continue listening by paying the ransom on the 14th of each month. When I went to cancel my subscription, they said "What, did you think it would be that easy? Did you not predict our customer service skills to be lacking, leading to a less than favorable impression on the majority of our customers? Instead of letting you cancel, which is what it said on the button you just pressed, we're going to be so kind as to give you our phone number, which you can call between the hours of 9 am & 9 pm, Eastern Standard Time, Monday thru Friday. We probably won't pick up the phone, because our customer service reps are taking a nap, a long lunch, a day off, or are playing some work-appropriate version of strip poker, and would prefer to continue their perversion rather than comply with their job description by answering the phone. Therefore, you will end up sitting on hold, using all of your cell phone minutes, for a very long time while we play popular music in the background and repeat our message about upgrading your contract every 12 seconds. You will be sitting there trying to read your assignment for Lit Analysis, but will be distracted by our constant playing of We Belong Together, eh eh eh. When we do answer the phone, we will tell you that your member ID does not exist, implying that the insane amount of time you've spent on the phone has given you dementia and cancer. Yes, both. We like to double up. Finally, we will ask you WHY you insist upon cancelling your subscription, as though we do not know the terrific crappiness that is our product. After you say that you have no intention of keeping it, we will put you on hold AGAIN while we claim to be "confirming" your cancellation. Really, we're just going back to our poker game. Was that Bob's shirt??"

Yes. That's what they said. Or maybe it's just the dementia kicking in.