Perfection through Osmosis

I hate these meeces to pieces!

2006-10-30T11:44:00.000-05:00

Step 1: Discover cute brown mouse eating birdseed in closet.

Step 2: Set humane trap to release cute brown mouse to the wild after catching it.

Step 3: Wait for humane trap to work...

Step 4: Discover formerly cute, now disgusting brown mouse in kitchen near food.

THIS AGGRESSION WILL NOT STAND.

Step 5: Invest in traditional, break-his-neck traps.

Step 6: KILL.

Heat

2006-10-13T12:35:00.000-04:00

Well, I did it. I hate to admit it, but I had to. What choice did I have? Sure, it's only October, and I'm against it in principle, but I had to. It was 58ºF in my apartment this morning. So I turned the heat up to a modest 62º. I am defeated.

On an unrelated note, Stumpy is no longer with us. Goodnight, sweet prince.

Kristin Rescues Baby Animals

2006-09-28T00:30:00.000-04:00

I thought hermit crabs were plenty of pets for the time being. They do cute things like play in the water dish and make noises in the night.

Aww...

But then at work one day, a tiny lizard showed up on some tropical plants. He jumped around a lot, so the guys named him Jumpy. Then his tail broke off, and he was called Stumpy.

Stumpy!

I thought he was cute, thus I became Stumpy's new guardian. I didn't know what to do with him, so I put him in a lemonade pitcher and emailed the Columbus Zoo.

Hey, it beats a coffee can!

Don Winstel at the Columbus Zoo was very helpful. He identified Stumpy as a brown anole hatchling and gave me suggestions for care and feeding. Stumpy now has some fruit flies to eat and some moss to play in. I'm going to have to get him a nicer terrarium, though, and probably a real heat lamp (although I'm sure he loves the heat from my desk lamp).

Stumpy and fruit flies!

There you have it: the story of Stumpy.

Blue Jackets

2006-09-19T21:24:00.000-04:00

The Blue Jackets have begun another season of NHL defeat, which means that my radio station of choice will once again sqander their precious air time covering hockey games instead of playing good music. Man. The hockey strike was the best thing to happen to Columbus radio. Too bad it's over.

Oil-Based Paints

2006-09-08T01:19:00.000-04:00

Should you happen to have latex paint all over your hands, and should said latex paint remain on your hands despite scrubbing with water, dish soap, steel wool, and acetone (in that order), and should you happen to notice that said latex paint says on its label to clean it with mineral spirits, and should it be midnight and you have no idea what mineral spirits are, let alone where to buy them at that hour, then you might perhaps notice that said latex paint is oil-based and therefore easily removable with a little vegetable oil from the kitchen.

Me and my crazy projects...

The Old Zoo

2006-06-22T17:21:00.000-04:00

The Old Zoo is my favorite (or maybe 2nd favorite) of the gardens we've visited so far. (Actually, it was the first garden we visited.) Not only does it look like a rainforest...

But it has some really neat art. My favorite artist featured in the garden is Sophie Dickens, the great-great-...-great-grand-something of Charles Dickens. She did this one of a greyhound chasing bunnies:

These wood nymphs (also Dickens's work) hang provocatively around the trees:

And below, a fabulous illustration of penis envy:

England!

2006-06-22T15:34:00.000-04:00

My group stopped for lunch one day at the Inn at Whitewell, set in the middle of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the rough equivalent of an American national park. The Queen actually owns the land, and she recently dined at the Inn. A trail runs around the landscape, approximately 5 miles. "You can't get lost," our guide said, so Peter and I set off on the hike, crossing the river on stepping stones.

We hiked through a pasture of sheep, up an incredibly steep hill, and through someone's backyard, all the while following "footpath" signs. We crossed through a gate, scrambled up a muddy stone path, and found ourselves... in the middle of a cow pasture?

The "footpath" signs had disappeared. Peter and I hiked all across that pasture, and even taunted some cows, before giving up and turning back. "You can't get lost," my arse.

0

2006-06-15T11:16:00.000-04:00

Well, the bags are packed, the house plants are at my parents' house, everything is in order. I'm really looking forward to nursing this hangover on my 9 hour plane ride...

8

2006-06-08T02:25:00.000-04:00

Leave it to me to stock up on produce and perishable foods at the grocery store, 8 days before a month-long trip. That "don't go to the grocery store when you're hungry" thing? Es la verdad.

Wheat Checks and Passive Racism?

2006-06-07T13:28:00.000-04:00

Notice the tan, blonde, idyllic American family enjoying fruit punch and Chex Mix in the backyard. Also notice the token Black woman, in a different plane and therefore out of focus, and also cut off partially by the frame. An example of "passive racism," to quote KW.

A counter argument could be made that the dark-haired child in the middle of the two blonde children promotes diversity, but I don't know if that justifies the other woman being out of focus and only parially in the picture.

9

2006-06-07T01:33:00.000-04:00

Ah, finals week. I took my last final yesterday, so today I was left with nothing to do except clean my room. (I would've cleaned even if I weren't done with finals; like I mentioned yesterday, finals week is my most productive time for doing normally boring tasks, just because I loathe studying.) So yes, in preparation for England (who wants to come home to a messy apartment?), I cleaned my room all day.

"But I probably really should have been at work." -Modest Mouse

Relating to England, but also relating to my goal of being immoral today (for 6-6-06), I wrote a Statement of Need and submitted it for a scholarship application due months ago.

You see, I thought this scholarship was need-based and never applied. I've been regretting this ever since, as I found out that everyone else going on my trip applied, and everyone who applied got the scholarship ($750). Today I got an email saying that they were missing the Statement of Need portion of my application, and that my scholarship could not be processed without it. The email requested that I resubmit the statement electronically as soon as possible.

How did I get on that contact list? I never did apply. But who cares; maybe they'll overlook that. I whipped up a Statement of Need and emailed it in with a note to let me know if they were missing anything else. Maybe I'll get some cash for England this way...

10

2006-06-06T00:15:00.000-04:00

Ten days until I leave for England. Still no topic, but I did buy a new digital camera! The Canon SD450 Digital Elph.

I haven't used it yet, though, because I was making myself wait until finals were over. They're over now, but I'm too tired tonight--I was up until 5:30 finishing my final design project, and I only managed 90 minutes of sleep before my 7:30 final. (Which wouldn't be that big of a deal, except I stayed up until 5:00 on Saturday night, too, and woke up yesterday morning at 8:30 to start said design project.) All finals plus a run makes Kristin fall asleep earlier than usual.

Maybe tomorrow I can play with my new toy.

Oh, What You've Missed!

2006-06-05T13:56:00.000-04:00

It's finals week, that special time of year when, in an effort to avoid actually studying, I clean my room, organize the files on my computer, and upload 7 months' worth (or more) of pictures to the Internet.

In my latest photo album (I haven't posted on Kodak since October!), you'll find pictures from the following events:

Aaron's and my trip to Delaware, September 2005
My 23rd birthday drunkenness, September 2005
St. Patrick's Day at the Char Bar, March 2006
Dining at Schmidt's Sausage Haus, March? 2006
Liz & James's wedding, March 2006
Post-wedding outing to the Surly Girl, March 2006
Post-wedding-and-Surly-Girl venture to Sam's party, March 2006
A night at the Surly Girl, April 2006
A day at Keeneland, April 2006

Pictures are in approximate chronological order.

Oh, What You've Missed!

29

2006-05-17T13:01:00.000-04:00

Twenty-nine days remain until I depart for a study-abroad in Manchester, England. Have I thought at all about what my topic of study will be while I am abroad? No.

I did, however, start planning what footwear to pack by putting every pair of shoes I own to a rigorous test. Each pair must be comfortable enough to wear many miles a day, yet fashionable enough to stand up to European standards. Europeans, being generally more chic than Americans, do not believe in the Reebok Princess (see picture, right).

My brown Doc Martens make an obvious choice. They are comfortable, water-proof, and even English! I'm now testing my pink flip-flops from Kroger ($4.99 special), as my Adidas sandals, known for their comfort but also their ugliness (all the little nubby things fell off long ago, and the formerly-white stripes are more of a brown color now) are no longer up to the test. Will the Kroger flip-flops stand up to the challenge?

Pinkeye?

2006-05-11T02:08:00.000-04:00

Behold my eye, full of magical goo and bloodshot veins. Maybe I should get some antibiotics.

Why my blog gets no love

2006-05-04T00:02:00.000-04:00

I just spent 31 consecutive hours on campus. Like I said, busy quarter.

Some Lovin' for the Blog

2006-04-27T01:50:00.000-04:00

On Aaron's request, I'm giving my blog some lovin'.

I warned him that I had nothing interesting to write about it (my life has been nothing but school for the past 6 weeks), and he told me just to write about my menstrual cycles.

So. I had another period last week. It was fantastic. I used primarily regular absorbancy tampons, but I did require a few super absorbancy tampons. On Wednesday, I was craving sugar. I ate a cinammon roll after lunch, and I indulged in mint chocolate chip ice cream and oreos after dinner. Like I said, fantastic.

On Saturday, I thought I was done bleeding (I'm usually done by Thursday or Friday, thanks to the regularity of the Pill), so I didn't wear any protection. Of course, I stained my underwear. Of course, it was a cute pair of underwear. Damn.

(You can thank Aaron for this one.)

Stress

2006-03-08T16:26:00.000-05:00

For the most part, this quarter has been pretty easy for me, school-wise. I've had a lot of free time, and it's been nice. But when school is easy, the cosmic forces of classes must occasionally line up against me to give me my fair share: a whole quarter's worth of work crammed into a few days.

This bombardment happened to me in the 5th week or so of the quarter, when I didn't leave my computer for 192 hours straight. It's happening again, in the 10th week of the quarter. Papers, presentations, and final projects are all due this week. I spent 13 hours on campus yesterday. Today I spent 10 hours (not including my hour-long trip to Kinko's at midnight). Now (1:30 a.m.), I'm eating a quick dinner before going to bed. I'll be back on campus by 6:30 a.m. to finish one of my assignments on time.

That, and I'm moving this weekend. Don't expect me to be around.

(If you enjoy reading about my pain and suffering, join me in 19 days when I embark on a 25 credit hour* adventure!)

*Disclaimer: It's really only 20 credit hours, because my 5 credit study-abroad program doesn't begin until summer (although I will have to attend some pre-trip meetings and the like).

Donating Plasma

2006-02-22T22:22:00.000-05:00

Because I had a mere $14, and because my friend Anna encouraged it, I donated plasma today. When I looked at plasma donation websites beforehand, I found they all advertise the feel-good benefits of donating plasma (it's used in a number of medicines, including rabies vaccines and blood clotting medicines for hemophiliacs). But when I got to the donation center, I realized most of the people there (about 10% college students) just wanted or needed the money. Hey, that's why I went.

It's not a bad way to make $30, actually. They ask you questions about your history of intravenous drug use, anal sex with gay men, and activities with prostitutes. They give you a brief physical (for free!) and test your blood protein levels (or something like that). They even have you piss in a cup, though I'm not sure what they were testing in the urine.

After some waiting (don't go at 3:30 in the afternoon), they stick a needle in your arm and pump blood out. The red blood cells are then returned to you in a saline solution, so you're okay to donate again in just two days! And while you're donating, you can listen to the man across from you talk about how he's immediately going to go to the plasma replacement store (read: liquor store) across the street. If you go for no other reason, go for the social re-education. One man kept insisting to the nurse that he needed to be re-stuck, and two other men argued boisterously over OSU football (it's not exactly a quiet hospital environment).

After the whole process is done, you collect $30 in CASH, and no side effects so far. I did feel a little shady selling my lifeblood instead of donating it, but... Hey, I just made $30! What was I talking about, again?

Creamy and Delicious?

2006-02-01T22:27:00.000-05:00

I made a recipe for creamy sage-whiskey sauce tonight. While it was pretty tasty, I have some suggestions if you're ever going to attempt this recipe:

DON'T substitute Bisquick for flour.
DON'T substitute heavy whipping cream for evaporated milk.
In the event that you have ignored my advice,
DO expect to have triple bypass surgery the next morning.

Seriously. I can feel my arteries congealing. My days are numbered. My only hope is that the heart attack kills me before the Germans can cut my dick off.

If the cash isn't enough...

2006-02-01T21:16:00.000-05:00

This appeared in today's Lantern in the Crime Briefs. Apparently, the wallet wasn't quite enough.

7:20 p.m. - 1400 N. Fourth St.: The victim said that he was approached by someone who asked him if he had change for a $20. The victim said that he pulled out his wallet, and the person took it. The victim said the person then went through his coat pockets and stole his soda pop.

Why I Hate Sundays, or, My Quest for a 24-Hour Pharmacy

2006-01-29T22:05:00.000-05:00

Sundays are a time for rest, relaxation, and limited hours of operation. Unfortunately, today is a Sunday. Today I learned:

The Kroger Pharmacy nearest my apartment closes at 5:00.
The next nearest Kroger Pharmacy also closes at 5:00.
The nearest 24-hour Kroger Pharmacy is at 5800 W Broad Street in fucking Galloway (see map, below).
5800 W Broad Street is 14.6 miles from my apartment.
I hate Sundays.

Late to Class

2006-01-26T12:59:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning at 8:25, 25 minutes or so after the start of my 8 a.m. class.

Note: This is the second time I have done this in 9 days.

Note: This is a class that I not only enjoy, but am required to attend (M-A-N-D-A-T-O-R-Y).

Last Tuesday, I decided to just skip the class to avoid the embarrassment of being an hour late to a 6-person lecture. Today, I sucked it up and went.

I was 54 minutes late. It wasn't so bad.

In both instances, I have been up late (4 a.m. late) the night before doing homework for said class. Under ordinary Kristin-at-college circumstances, this is not a problem. Hell, I've been sacrificing sleep rather successfully for years now. But somewhere in the time of the last year or so, I've lost my ability to go without sleep. I get tired earlier at night and (have been known to fall asleep at bars). I sleep in later on mornings (and have recently been known to sleep through classes).

I loath feeling tired, and I despise needing to sleep. Well-oiled machines don't sleep, so why should the human body, the most well-oiled machine of all, require it? Other than to increase the human lifespan beyond that of industrial machinery, sleep is a waste of time and a killer of productivity.

Loathsome People

2006-01-24T04:30:00.000-05:00

Ranking #4 on The Beast's 50 Most Loathsome People in America of 2005 list is: you.

4. You

Charges: Silently enabling and contributing to the irreversible destruction of your planet. Absolving yourself of your responsibility to do anything about it that your immediate neighbors don’t. Assuming that it’s normal behavior to spend several hours each day totally inert and staring into a cathode ray tube. Substituting antidepressants for physical motion. Caring more about the personal relationships of people you will never meet than your own. Shrugging your shoulders at the knowledge that your government is populated by criminal liars intent on fooling you into impoverished, helpless submission. Cheering this process on.

Exhibit A: You don’t even know who your congressman is.

Sentence: Deathbed realization that your entire life was an unending series of stupid mistakes and wasted opportunities, a priceless gift of potential extravagantly squandered, for which you deserve nothing but scorn or, at best, indifference, and a cold, meaningless demise.

There are some other pretty loathsome people on there, too, if you're interested.

Picture of Aaron

2006-01-23T16:39:00.000-05:00

This is my new favorite picture of Aaron.

Apartment Hunting

2006-01-18T19:48:00.000-05:00

Today begins the routine of apartment hunting. I don't know about the rest of the population, but I adore shopping for apartments. Each apartment is a blank palette waiting to be designed.

I'm especially excited because this will be my first apartment by myself. I've liked almost all the roommates I've had in the past, but I'm excited to have a place to make my own. Keep in mind that "my own" will probably be a shit hole because I am a slob, but it will still be my shit hole, with my piles of clutter wherever I want them to be.

I have two appointments tonight and one tomorrow. I'll probably post updates because I'm excited. You really have no idea. I really love looking at apartments. BEST DAY EVER!

Digital Union

2006-01-13T13:40:00.000-05:00

My 2 hour independent study class meets in the Digital Union on Fridays, mainly to teach us web design so we can make a "digital story" when we go to England. This is all well and good, but really, it left a bad taste in my mouth.

First, I was put off by using a Mac instead of a PC. It made the whole new-software-experience element that much more difficult because of the new interface. They said that the Macs will be much more user friendly when we get to working with video, and maybe they're right, but this morning I was in no mood to be without my handy right-click. Learning the intricacies of a new program is frustrating in its own right, but learning it on a Macintosh when the last four years of school as an engineer taught me PC-only material? But I adapted, I adjusted, I kept an open mind, and really it wasn't so bad.

Until... Another person had modified a photo a little bit using Photoshop during the class and wanted to send it to herself, and for some dumb reason I volunteered my email account for this (she couldn't get her account to open for some reason). So I'm trying to use a new-to-me internet browser (Safari) on a new-to-me operating system (Mac) to send a photo from a somewhat-new-to-me program (Photoshop). And meanwhile, while I was trying to figure out how to compress the image into a .jpg file (because the .psd file was too big for my email to handle), everyone left.

And then, even though our class was technically scheduled until 11 (of which I was unaware, but the syllabus says 11:00 and the instructors confirmed that while at the Union), this other group of people came in and started setting up. The lead instructor of the class told me they could move my laptop to a different work station. I told her I'd only be a minute if she would show me how to flatten the image, but that didn't seem to register. She sent a guy to unlock my laptop and move it, but while they were moving mine they wanted to move all the computers so the next group could have a clear table. So I stood there and waited for a while and got very annoyed that everyone had left me when I was trying to do a favor for someone. And they were busy unlocking all of the laptops (each of which required a different key, so they had to try all the green keys for the green locks and all the blue keys for the blue locks and so on until they found the key that worked in each lock), and I felt very brushed off. I wouldn't expect them to give me tons of personal attention, but when the syllabus says 11 and the instructor says 11, isn't it rude to dismiss me just because the rest of the class left? And why was another group coming in to use that room if we had it until 11:00 anyway?

So I left. My email and internet use were still logged on, but the computer was on standby and I didn't want to wait 15 minutes or however long it would take just to do a favor for someone who didn't even stay with me. Fuck doing favors for people. And fuck optimism. When can I graduate?

Cerealicious?

2006-01-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Lantern had a story about a new restaurant opening on High Street called Cerealicious Café. According to the article, the restaurant will offer various cereal and topping options. And apparently, customers will be able to mix two kinds of cereal together.

Some cereal and some toppings in a bowl, and all this for the low low price of... $3.50. $3.50?! I can buy a whole box of cereal for $3.50.

A whole box, approximately 12 1-cup servings of cereal (according to the nutrition label on my Crispix), for $3.50. The nutrition label also recommends 1/2 cup of milk to go with cereal. One gallon of milk (approximately $3.00) is the equivalent of 16 cups, or 32 servings of cereal.

The least common denominator here is 96 servings of cereal. 96 1-cup servings of cereal in 8 boxes, about $3.50 each, totals $28. 96 1/2-cup servings of milk is the equivalent of 48 cups of milk, or 3 gallons, about $3 each, for a total of $9 dollars. $28+$9=$37 for 96 servings of cereal. That's about 38 cents per serving. Cerealicious would have to give you 9 cups of cereal with 4 1/2 cups of milk to make it worth your money. Don't go there.

The Humidifer that Aaron Built

2005-11-29T05:06:00.000-05:00

Aaron is the technological giver to my hermit crabs. He built them this humidifier out of a CPU fan and a 12 volt power supply.

The fan, which runs off the power supply, has some stiff wires duct-taped to it to support the wicks (made of paper towels).

The air blows through the wicks and evaporates the water, thereby humidifying the aquarium. The wicks sit in a pool of (dechlorinated) water, which will need to be refilled more often if the tank is dry. The wicks also need to be changed every few days to prevent algae growth and smell.

The whole system is enclosed in a wire mesh cage so the crabs can climb around it without actually getting into it.

The wicks make a perfect spot to place the bulb of a thermometer to measure humidity. Keeping the bulb of one thermometer in the wet paper towels, and the bulb of another thermometer in a dry area allows for measuring the humidity. (The inspiration for this also came from Aaron, after my $11 hygrometer (T-Rex brand, don't buy it!) turned out to be worthless. Note - the hygrometers that are just a coil of metal with a needle on the end probably don't work that well.) I compare the temperatures of both thermometers using a table found here, which I like because it's in degrees Fahrenheit.

Also, Gladys changed back to her original shell.

Note: I think the hermit crabs are far more interesting than anything else I could write about, so that will probably be the majority of what I post about for a while.

Gladys's Big Adventure / Hermit Crab Crisis!

2005-11-23T12:37:00.000-05:00

Gladys contines her trend of being my most active hermit crab. She climbs on everything in the cage (I'm glad someone is climbing, since I bothered to put all those neat jungle gym things in there for them to climb).

She even hides out in other, bigger shells. (Ziggy and Rocko have both been eyeing that white shell for a while, but they may have to sacrifice it so Gladys can play inside it.)

All that activity makes for some good photo ops, especially in a really natural setting like on the carpet.

So last night I took Gladys out of the aquarium to let her run around for a little bit (Ziggy and Rocko were cuddling in the Cocohut). As I was carrying her (about chest height), she jumped out of her shell onto the floor! I freaked out because (A) what was I supposed to do now?, and (B) A fall from that high is dangerous with a shell on, let alone without one! Fortunately, Hermit-Crabs.com had some good information under their FAQ page. I put the shell-less Gladys into a piece of tupperware with fairly high walls, along with some sand and a wet* paper towel. I rinsed* her old shell and another one and put them both in the tupperware with her, and finally she crawled over to the new shell and climbed inside it.
(* Every time I refer to water and hermit crabs, assume it's dechlorinated unless I say otherwise.)

I can't believe she chose this one - it's huge on her! But there are other ones in the main tank, so maybe she'll change again now that she's back in there.

Now her green shell makes her look like a smaller version of Ziggy Stardust, but she doesn't seem to mind. Nor does she seem to mind being in such a big shell. This morning she was at her usual spot at the top of the aquarium. I just hope she's okay after that fall.

And that is the story of my (stressful) first shell change.

I have crabs.

2005-11-22T11:34:00.000-05:00

I bought Rocko and Ziggy Stardust from a shop on the beach in Delaware. I couldn't decide for a while; I thought buying pets on a whim seemed like such a dumb thing to do. But, I reasoned, they wouldn't be much more difficult to keep than fish, and they would probably be a bit more interactive.

So on September 2nd, 2005, I picked out a hermit crab in a pretty green shell. I then thought about the issue of loneliness, and how most animals hate to be isolated. Judging by the large number of crabs cohabiting at this gift shop, I thought hermit crabs must be no different. I bought a companion for my green shell inhabitant, one wearing a natural red shell.

The green-shelled crab I dubbed Ziggy Stardust; his red-shelled friend I named Rocko. That is how Ziggy and Rocko came to live with me, but that is by no means the end of their story.

I know many people, myself included, who had pet hermit crabs when they were children. Most people remember their hermit crabs being sedentary and fairly boring, but what I came to realize while reading up on hermit crab care is that healthy hermit crabs are quite active, especially at night. Most crabs people keep as pets are inactive due to inadequate living conditions, mainly low humidity and temperature. Ziggy and Rocko proved to be in good health the first night I brought them home; they pushed the lid off their cage and escaped! After panicking and enlisting help from Aaron, I found them under pieces of furniture in opposite corners of the room. (After that, I put books on top of the lid to keep them in.)

When I got back to Ohio, I put Rocko and Ziggy Stardust into a wire cage that had been made by a friend of my parents when he was in high school. Though the crabs seemed to enjoy climbing inside the so-called "crab shack," I moved them into a glass aquarium after reading about their need for high humidity in the air.

Ziggy and Rocko are now living the life of luxury in the aquarium. I bought a "Cocohut" under which they can hide (it's a lot less ghetto than the plastic cup I was using before), and I attached a corky fibrous mat to the back of the aquarium so they could climb. I replaced the aquarium's screen lid with a coarser wire mesh (also for climbing). I added a bowl of salt-water, in addition to their fresh water (dechlorinated, of course). I bought a thermometer and hygrometer to monitor conditions inside the tank, and I moved them into the computer room for extra warmth (winter's a-comin'). Over the weekend, Aaron built a humidifier to keep their home nice and tropical.

Sunday was the biggest change so far. I went out to browse the crab supplies at Pet Supplies Plus, (I think they have a good selection of hermit crab and general aquarium accessories), and came home with Gladys, a crab slightly smaller than Rocko or Ziggy.
After bathing her, I put her in the aquarium, which she promptly explored top to bottom. She moves faster than Rocko or Ziggy, and is feistier in general. She can usually be found hanging from the top of the cage.

And that is the beginning of the story of my hermit crabs.

Dominion Homes

2005-11-18T11:15:00.000-05:00

I heard a Dominion Homes commercial on the radio this morning. Whoever came up with this slogan should get a raise:

"You show us yours, and we'll show you ours."

Heh heh heh.

Dammit

2005-11-14T22:15:00.000-05:00

I lost my fucking birth control pills today and had to go buy more at Kroger, where I had to fucking pay full price because my fucking insurance won't fucking pay until the end of the fucking cycle. So I guess that means I don't buy fucking groceries this week.

And don't say I fucking didn't look hard enough because I checked every room, except Adam's, in the apartment, including under the couch and between cushions and in months-old stacks of paper on my desk, and in all my pants pockets and my purses and my school bag and the bag I took to flag football last night, and then I checked my car, and then I finally fucking gave up and went to pay full fucking price before the pharmacy closed for the night.

Ready to Leave

2005-11-09T02:59:00.000-05:00

I hate living in Ohio because none of our fucking issues pass (come on, people, can we really be that dumb?!). That, and all my friends are leaving.

Tonight is the 2nd four-year-friend to leave. Elaine moved to Denver in September, and Spencer moves to Rochester in 7 hours. He mentioned that he's only got a couple of people whom he's been friends with over the entire four years of college, and I realized that is also the case with me. Spencer was a four-year-friend. Elaine was another. A lot of the other ones came late or left early.

I should explain that, in the context of the conversation, a four-year-friend was someone who was more than an acquaintance for the entire four years. Someone you could actually call any time and it wouldn't be akward.

It's weird to have few (or none? I haven't really taken inventory) friends left who've lasted the duration of my college career.

Anniversary

2005-11-02T01:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been at it for a year. Good times.

Here's how it all began.

Halloween Costume Construction Part 4 and Debut

2005-11-02T01:10:00.000-05:00

Bribe a hot guy to help you finish sewing your costume in return for sexual favors. While he does this, spray-paint more vegetables.

Add obligatory beverage holder (fits cans AND pint glasses).

Debut your costume (and fail to take a good picture of it): The Tossed Salad!

For more halloween pictures (including the other members of the League of Extraordinary Sex Acts), see the Halloween link under Pictures in the sidebar.

Halloween Costume Construction Part 3

2005-10-28T07:21:00.000-04:00

Tear up (5) heads of lettuce into large pile of leaves.

Lay out all leaves on newspapers to spray with clear coat. Discover that the "clear coat" you thought you bought has a green cap and is therefore green. Discover this at midnight. Drive 20 minutes to Meijer to buy an actual clear coat.

Notice ridiculous quantity of leaves. Notice author's regular inability to estimate. Realize that you do not have enough paint to coat all the leaves with clear coat. Realize this at 2:00 a.m. (when you have to be at work at 8:00). Drive 20 minutes BACK to Meijer to buy two more cans of clear coat. Finally, at 4:15 a.m., finish painting (BOTH SIDES) of all leaves.

Have a moment of guilt: people are starving all over the world, and you are spray-painting good edible food. Realize that lettuce offers almost no nutritional value, and feel better about yourself again.

Feel slightly bested that your roommate is welding his costume together, while yours is made of wire frame (see previous two posts). Then remember that YOU are the one who stayed up until 4:21 a.m. (with the alarm set for 7:00) to make your sweet Halloween costume.

Also keep in mind that said costume is far from finished.

Halloween Costume Construction Part 2

2005-10-26T04:34:00.000-04:00

Twist wire pieces into intricate wire frame.

Reinforce joints with duct tape.

Halloween Costume Construction Part 1

2005-10-25T03:20:00.000-04:00

Halloween Costume Construction Part 1: Lay out pieces for wire frame.

Friday

2005-10-22T00:47:00.000-04:00

Today is Friday. What did I do this evening?

I went to the library, went running, ate pizza, and watched TV. Now I think I'm going to go to bed, despite it being not quite 10:00. This ranks among the best Fridays of my life. Hello, new leaf.

Taco Bell

2005-10-17T11:35:00.000-04:00

Saying on recent Taco Bell hot sauce packet:

"Nice palm. I read a great deal of pleasure in your future."

I guess this makes sense with tacos in mind, but I think the other connotation is much better.

Guilty Pleasure of the Moment

2005-09-27T01:28:00.000-04:00

Guilty Pleasure of the Moment: a can of Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge frosting and graham crackers.

Why would you go to school anywhere else?

2005-09-09T15:04:00.000-04:00

32 hours until the OSU vs. Texas kickoff, and already people are tailgating in the commuter lots. I love my Big Ten school. I especially love that it's Ohio State. I figure about 10 hours of tailgating tomorrow before the 8 p.m. kickoff, packed with chili, beer, and "Hang on Sloopy." Then I'll watch as we ass-whoop Texas, from section 15A, row 16, seat 16. Be jealous.

Boring

2005-09-07T23:33:00.000-04:00

KW160: your blog is boring

Yes, it's true, my blog has become boring. Due to too much emotional investment, I believe. That, and I no longer hate my major (and therefore my life), so I have no great feelings of discontent.

I apologize.

I will try to resume making fun of things and being a generally terrible person, but I make no guarantees.

Biographies

2005-08-25T22:49:00.000-04:00

I never really read biographies. In fact, I may never have read one. But today I went to the library to pick up a biography on Gandhi, and ended up picking up two more books. One is As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl by John Colapinto, about that baby boy in the 60's with the botched circumcision who was then "converted" into a baby girl. The other is Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes, this guy who is trying to (or was trying to? he may have completed the goal?) run 300 miles at one time, without stopping. There was an article on him in Runner's World a while ago, and it was pretty interesting. So now I have 3 books to read. Should be a fun month.

RIP, Conctact Lenses

2005-08-23T20:55:00.000-04:00

About a month ago, I had quite a fun evening involving a bit of wine. The next morning, I discovered the contact solution I had used the night before was not conctact lens solution at all, but toothpaste.
And please note that, just are there are new pictures in the context of this "blog," so there are new picture links in the column to the right. Just like you always dreamed there would be.

Chemical Burn

2005-08-23T01:22:00.000-04:00

So I spilled a Roundup and Scythe solution (herbicides) down my back at work today, because I'm really coordinated. Nothing really happened, except for two spots where my shoulder blades were in contact with the backpack sprayer, and therefore, my pesticide-soaked shirt.

Here you can see my chemical burn!

It's really not that bad... just two spots like this, one on either side of my back, that feel sort of like sunburn.

I was hoping I'd get some sweet battle scars, like the scar from lye shown in Fight Club. Guys only like chicks with scars, like gunshot scars, or puncture wound scars, or chemical burn scars...

Drunk Dial

2005-08-04T10:03:00.000-04:00

It's been an interesting few days, involving me FINALLY getting an Out-R-Inn mug (after my 4th year of college), successfully getting a Winking Lizard glass (it was only the 2nd of the month), a brief appearance from Harry (who had to return promptly home to the wifey), and negotiations over an uncircumsized penis (check another item off my list).

It used to be when I was drunk, I would use instant messenger to send multiple people drunken IMs. Now, I use the phone, and one person alone regularly suffers the consequences. Ah, what having a boyfriend will do for your drunken communication.

What's the matter with kids today?

2005-07-29T18:45:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at work, a bunch of kids on a daycamp came to the Arboretum, and we had to entertain them with various activities throughout the afternoon. I was working the repot-a-coleus-to-take-home station.

All was well and good, except that a significant number of the kids wanted to know (immediately after transplanting their coleus) where they could wash their hands. Wash their hands?! They're kids! (Between the ages of 5 and 12, I might add.) They're supposed to love getting dirty! Seriously, whatever these children's parents are doing to them is not right. They should enjoy getting messy, not be afraid of it. I think a lot of parents are doing more harm than good for their kids.

The Summer of My Content

2005-07-27T14:30:00.000-04:00

Aside from working and sleeping, my summer consists of (in no particular order): eating, reading, running, sitting at the pool, and drinking. Life is good.

Traffic Lights

2005-07-26T01:36:00.000-04:00

I've heard the rumor that, in the event a traffic light is not working (most likely due to a power outtage), it becomes a 4-way (or all-way) stop. Is this true? Because I treat this as true, but it seems no one else does. But honestly, I'm pretty sure, when the power is out at the light, you're supposed to stop. People are such douchebags.

The Kraft vs. Kroger Macaroni and Cheese Cookoff: Spirals

2005-07-15T00:45:00.000-04:00

Kraft macaroni costs more than the Kroger brand, so Adam and I decided to see if the extra cost was really worth it. Prepare to be amazed:

The Competitors:

Adam cooks the Macaroni, according to the instructions on the boxes. Kroger shows an advantage, with a cook time of 4-6 minutes, compared to Kraft's 8-10 minutes.

The finished products, ready for tasting!

Adam samples some tasty mac-n-cheese:

The Official Scorecards

And the winner is:

KROGER BRAND!!!
If you're buying spirals, don't waste your money on Kraft.

Fuck Me

2005-07-13T17:19:00.000-04:00

All I want is a computer that will fucking read my fucking digital camera so I can look at my fucking pictures. Goddammit.

Work Woes

2005-06-21T20:25:00.000-04:00

I stuck my hand in some poison ivy this morning at work. I was pulling tall weeds out by the ag engineering building, and there hadn't been any all morning, but there was some as an underlayer that I brushed against. I saw it immediately and went to the bathroom to wash my hands and arms, so we'll see if I look disgusting for the weekend or not. I've only gotten poison ivy once before in my life, but it got all over me and was a miserable experience.

Other than that, I really like my job.

The End of Formula Racing in America

2005-06-19T17:41:00.000-04:00

In a bit of racing scandal, only six cars are racing in the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis today. According to my dad, who is at the race, "people are leaving in droves." Watching on TV, there are people all over holding signs saying "$ back."

Apparently, the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway had been resurfaced poorly, and although it was fixed in most spots, there were some rough spots. Bridgestone tires had been in the US for a while and had compensated for the conditions, but Michelin hadn't experienced the conditions until time trials and practice. The Michelin tires weren't holding up to the conditions, so Michelin flew in tires from France to deliver new tires to the racers, last-minute.

The tire-change was denied, though, and since tire-changes aren't allowed during the race, the Michelin teams pulled out of the race, leaving only 6 cars to race. Watching on TV, the stands are mostly empty. People from all over, particularly Europe, travelled for this race and are none too happy. They were throwing stuff on the track a while ago. Dad says this will be "the end of Formula racing in America."

More information at Racing-Live.com.

Stay Sober for Batman

2005-06-18T04:16:00.000-04:00

I went to see Batman Begins tonight, but I can't tell you how it was, because I fell asleep. This had little to do with the movie sucking, however, as I was living the High Life. In fact, the parts of the movie I managed to see were pretty entertaining. Michele and Adam agreed that they both "thought it would be less good," so maybe it's actually good. In any case, I recommend sobriety for a better viewing experience.

All moved out

2005-06-16T02:20:00.000-04:00

Today I finished moving out of the apartment. To celebrate, Adam and I drank the $3.29 bottle of chardonnay that had been floating from person to person for quite some time. This bottle of wine had been in my posession for several months now, and I knew that tonight was the night. Thus, we celebrated. Let me say that the second glass was better than the first.

My Weblogging History

2005-06-09T14:17:00.000-04:00

Here is the sordid tale of how I got into "blogging."

The Anti-Live Journal was my first attempt at this kind of thing, launched into a great existence by the douchiness of Live Journal. Be warned: this is a much more bitter and sarcastic side of myself, a side many have never seen (I'm much nicer now). It's from sophomore year. Actually, I kind of like this. Maybe I'll go back to this cynical view of everything--it would make for more entertaining reading.

After a couple months, I got bored with that format (I'm fickle), thus I created the continuation of The Anti-Live Journal, As Seen On TV. This one has fun new colors, and a picture! (The same picture used in my profile for this blog, in fact.)

And if you really want a glimpse into my past, I give you The Fish Files, the tragically comical (at least, it was comical in real life) account of my freshmen year roommate and her fish. Please note that The Fish Files reads from top to bottom, while the others read from bottom to top. (The Fish Files started as an ongoing Fishcount in my AIM profile when I was a freshmen. It was so entertaining (at least to me) that I decided to put it on the Internet.)

Note: This should keep you all entertained for a few days, as I will be moving/attending graduation and probably won't have time to post for a while. Because I am that interesting to read!

Not Bored, Just Unmotivated

2005-06-08T21:36:00.000-04:00

I used to say I loved finals week, because you only have to be somewhere 6 hours out of the whole week. (My TA job, conveniently, never required work during finals week). But now I realize it's really a curse. I need structure, or my life goes to hell.

I haven't gone running all week, and the only reason I left my apartment at all today was to go to Kroger. That sounds okay, except that I've been putting off buying groceries for days now, living on granola bars and oatmeal. When I don't have any real deadlines, I just lose motivation to take care of the stuff that needs to be done.

I have plenty I could be doing: packing for the move, studying for my test tomorrow, renewing my magazine subscription, establishing a forwarding address with the post office, calling to get my prescription refilled, filling out my passport renewal, returning books to the library, etc. And I've had 3 days (minus 2 hours for a test) to do all this, but all I've done is read blogs and the occasional book.

Aa even made me leave the 2nd Harry Potter in Kentucky so I could get stuff done this week. What did I do without my book? I read a different one (Slaughterhouse Five).

It's been threatening to rain all day. If it is indeed raining come 8:00, I'll go running. If not, then this will continue. Someday I will be old and forced into retirement, and then I will go jump off a building.

Metabolism

2005-06-08T14:51:00.000-04:00

"[If] you lose one pound of fat and replace it with one pound of muscle, your net gain in calorie burning is four calories a day. Enjoy the celery stick."

-Amby Burfoot in the April 2005 Runner's World

My Air Conditioning Sucks

2005-06-08T03:25:00.000-04:00

It is hot, and my air conditioning sucks. Upon coming home from El Vaquero/Graeter's/The Elevator around 11:30, I discovered that my bedroom was considerably warmer than the outdoor temperatures. Unbearably hot. I cannot take it. I will suffocate in here before the night is over.

The air conditioning was on, but no cold air seemed to be coming out of the vents. Changing my clothes, I noticed that the clothes I was putting on actually felt warmer to the touch than the clothes I had been wearing. I will not make it through the night.

I turned off the A/C about an hour ago and opened all the windows, fans a-blastin', to get some of the cooler (75ºF) outside air into my sweltering bedroom. I am sweating as I type this. This is misery. Why doesn't my air conditioning work? Damn second floor. Damn June. I will die of heat stroke.

It's bad enough that I only have a floor vent, and no ceiling vent to blast me with cold (read: sub 90-degree) air. But when that floor vent doesn't even work? And the downstairs is cooler, though the vents down there don't feel cold either. I will drown in my own sweat. It's been nice knowing you.

I have two options: sleep (with clothing) in the slightly cooler living room, or sleep naked in my room with the fan pointed at me. I guess I'll choose the latter. At least then I can die naked. It's good to be naked.

I could put in a maintenance request, I suppose. But we're moving out in a week and I doubt they'd get to it before that. Death will be painless and sweet (assuming I can get to sleep first). On the road to hyperthermia. I think I've stopped sweating; there is no water left in my body. Good night.

Happy Finals Week

2005-06-07T11:36:00.000-04:00

"Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh."

Ecclesiastes 12:12

Reasons why I am an Idiot, #1

2005-06-03T16:31:00.000-04:00

I was almost on time to class this morning. Almost. I left the apartment on time for the first time in several weeks. The sun was shining, the birds were singing. And then I forgot(?) to get off the bus at the right stop.

Disclaimer: Based on my calculations, this is actually the 642^nd reason why I am an idiot. However, as this is the first documented reason, I'll start with number 1. Feel free to comment with successive reasons.

Thursdays are booked

2005-06-02T02:08:00.000-04:00

Last night I discovered sunburn on the top of my head from the Indy 500 this past weekend (pictures from which will be forthcoming). Probable countdown to massive peeling resembling gross dandruff: 3 days.

In other news, I reread the 1st Harry Potter book yesterday. The whole first book. Didn't go to any classes or anything, just read the book. It was wonderful. And then I went onto the Columbus Libraries website to reserve the 6th book (due out in July), only to discover I'm number 1629 on the waitlist. 1629?! I'm never going to get this book!

Additionally, Adam called me to inform me that the pool at his (soon to be my) apartment complex is open, and Thursdays from 6-8 is happy hour, with free beer. Free beer! (They limit you to 3 if you plan on swimming.) I'm allowed to bring guests, so if any of you want to accompany me after I move there in another week or so, feel free.

Quality Professor Quotes, #4

2005-05-31T13:38:00.000-04:00

Again, from my plant biology professor:

"Gymnosperm means 'naked seed,' and that actually comes from Greek, because they competed naked in the Olympics. So when you have a gym class, you're all supposed to be naked."

New Pictures, Rasterbation

2005-05-23T23:34:00.000-04:00

There are new pictures available for your viewing pleasure (also available in the sidebar). Presenting (in chronological order) Family Fun, Free Pool Thursdays, and Springtime.

Also, one of the pictures from the night at Pockets has been rasterized using the Rasterbator to make a huge piece of wall art for Adam's apartment (soon to be Adam's and my apartment). You'll have to come see it sometime after June 16th.

Quality Professor Quotes, #2 and #3

2005-05-23T18:56:00.000-04:00

#2

"Really, they're just getting off on the soil."

-My HCS 200 professor on soil scientists rubbing soil between their fingers to determine the texture

#3

My plant biology professor, in describing the random-mating part of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (a state in which a species is not evolving), referenced the free love of the 60's and 70's. He went on to say: "now a drunken frat boy is looking for chicks, but the chicks want someone better looking, so there's not random mating." In other words, chicks are selective, so there is no random mating, thus our species is evolving.

Friday

2005-05-20T10:54:00.000-04:00

I was planning on running today after my first class (around 10:00), since my 10:30 was cancelled, again. But I'm not quite feeling up to it after a bar outing (which is surprising, because I really didn't drink that much). So maybe I can squeeze one in at 4:30 instead. On that note, however, is a quote from the January Runner's World (okay, so I'm a little behind on my reading):

"I drank. It tasted like the Latin cousin of the mint julep. Overall, I gave it an eight. The mojito also came without the annoying "brain freeze" of the daiquiri, which can delay the intoxication process, and I knew then why the mojito had supplanted the daiquiri--both among the tourists and the Cubans selling them to the tourists."

Quality Professor Quotes, #1

2005-05-19T13:56:00.000-04:00

"I guess you can call this the love canal, right here where the sperm swim."

-my plant biology professor, in reference to the neck of an archegonium,the female reproductive organ in bryophytes.

Stop the Beer Tax

2005-05-18T23:37:00.000-04:00

Ohio is trying to double the taxes on beer. Seeing as I like beer, this makes me sad. Please contact your representative and tell him/her to stop the beer tax!

How would I know if you unplugged the speakers?! Gosh!!

2005-05-12T14:45:00.000-04:00

So I spent about 30 minutes today crawling under the desk at work trying various locations on the back of the computer in which to plug the speakers (it was dark back there, and with all the other wires connected, I could only pull the tower out about 6 inches) because some douchebag unplugged them. And I was desperate for music because I had "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" in my head (reason unknown).

So I wrote a note:

I don't know who unplugged the speakers, but it was very un-cool of you.
-Kristin
(you can just turn them off with the button)

I thought that last in-parentheses part would help me sound a little less bitchy.

And, on a sadder note, I must relinquish the Ski Team throne tonight at officer elections. Seeing as how I can't race next year and all, I probably shouldn't be an officer anymore. I'll probably be replaced by someone much more responsible, but at the same time much less fun. It's a little sad; I was treasurer last year and president this year. I might actually have some free time come this October/November/December, maybe. On the other hand, I might be bored out of my mind. Time to join a new club!

Cinco de Mayo

2005-05-06T17:05:00.000-04:00

So I woke up this morning on the floor outside my bedroom. And the only reason I didn't sleep later was because my alarm clock was going off--it was 8:00. When I finally left the apartment, 3 hours later, I spontaneously vomited in the parking lot. I just thought you'd like to know.

Issue 2

2005-05-05T18:00:00.000-04:00

Despite having class on the ag campus all day Tuesday, I used a short break to haul my ass down to High & McMillen to vote 'no' on Issue 2. Apparently, a lot of other people did the same, because the proposed smoking ban amendment was defeated. Who wants to go to a bar to celebrate?

Summer Plans

2005-05-03T14:49:00.000-04:00

Well, I got accepted into the Mayhew Program, meaning I'll be staying in Columbus for the summer. No llamas in Wyoming, but I think I'll be all right.

Ennui

2005-04-28T02:22:00.000-04:00

Took a study break to go climbing with Craig. This is the first time I have ever lacked enthusiasm at the climbing gym. Everything I care about eventually dissolves into apathy.

Peanuts?

2005-04-26T14:41:00.000-04:00

Did the Short North Tavern always have free peanuts? Because they did last night.

Also, last night, rather than have another long island with Adam, I opted for water. This could be the first time I have ever made an intelligent decision while drunk. It took me four years to figure out that I don't have to match my drinking companion(s) drink for drink.

Also, I posted new (old) pictures from ski season. Behold: Ski Team - Senior Run and Ski Season Fun

I heart Mike Nugent

2005-04-24T14:51:00.000-04:00

Man, Denver blows. But I might become a Jets fan.

I went to Guitar Center yesterday and watched my uncle rock out. He's really sweet--he probably could have gone a long way if he had tried. I don't think the musical gene carried on in the rest of my family. It's like his totally awesome musical gene got divided up among his nieces and nephews into seven semi-okay music genes. Oh well, what can you do?

New Pictures!

2005-04-21T00:36:00.000-04:00

This is part 59A. I got to count these and add them to the inventory at work. Yippee!

But I didn't upload just this one picture. No, I have uploaded many pictures! For your viewing pleasure: St. Patrick's Day pictures, NYC pictures, and pictures from Aa's last night in Columbus. These also appear on the sidebar so you can look at them any time you want. Because I am that interesting.

MIT, Disco Style

2005-04-15T19:17:00.000-04:00

I wasn't going to post anything this afternoon. I was going to sit in the store and fill orders and be a productive employee. And I was! So now I have nothing to do but post this (and you should be glad I did, because it's totally sweet).

Some M.I.T. students built an LED disco floor in their dorm. It's awesome. Totally fucking awesome. Check it out. (Be sure to watch the video).

I never knew the library could be so much fun!

2005-04-15T14:33:00.000-04:00

So the other day I was trying to go to the Columbus Metropolitan Library website, www.columbuslibrary.org. But I couldn't remember the address, exactly, and instead typed www.columbuslibraries.org. Oops-Good thing I'm not an innocent little kid trying to reserve a See Spot Run book.

And, since this page is looking a little boring with all text and no pictures, I'll leave you with this:

I'll plug your blog, too, in return for sex.

2005-04-14T21:33:00.000-04:00

I already linked to this in the sidebar, but in case you weren't planning on doing so, you should check out my buddy (no longer at OSU) Mike's blog. Specifically, the part about his alter-ego, Douchebag Joe. If you like reading about people you've (probably) never met, I mean.

Kentucky's Fertile Soil

2005-04-13T23:17:00.000-04:00

Here's an article from Cleveland's Scene Magazine about eradicating pot in Kentucky. Maybe Aa should buy a plot of land somewhere near the Ohio/West Virgina border...

AEP

2005-04-12T14:09:00.000-04:00

Here's a good idea! On AEP's website, they have a page where customers can report power outages online! What a neat idea. Except that, and maybe I'm just crazy, but when my power goes out, it means I can't use my computer, seeing as how it plugs into the wall and all.

Shaving

2005-04-11T15:25:00.000-04:00

The trouble with shaving is that, by the time you go through your day and then drive all the way to Kentucky, your legs are prickly again.

Toenail

2005-04-08T14:42:00.000-04:00

A rather significant piece of toenail fell off my second toe on the right foot today. Hmm...

Pockets

2005-04-07T03:02:00.000-04:00

Went to Pockets with AH tonight. I'd never been there, but it was fun because they have free pool on Thursday nights. It was especially fun because they had a Hungry Hungry Hippoes tournament. I made it to the final round and was 2 marbles short of winning a pizza, but I did win a Budweiser pint glass. Yay pint glass!

Self Magazine advice

2005-04-06T16:56:00.000-04:00

From the April issue of Self Magazine:

Don't want to inherit Grandma's arthritic joints? Go easy on her meat loaf. People who eat 14 ounces of red meat weekly may double their risk for inflammatory arthritis compared with those who eat less than 7 ounces, a study in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism suggests. The high collagen content in meat could be a factor in an immune system response that affects joints. Instead of steak, reach for protein-rich foods like nuts, legumes and tofu.

Team In Training

2005-04-06T02:15:00.000-04:00

I got a brochure in the mail today from Team In Training, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's fundraising program through which participants raise money for leukemia and lymphoma research while at the same time receiving coaching to run or walk a marathon or half-marathon, compete in a triathlon, or cycle 100 miles.

I've received Team In Training literature before, but I never really paid it much attention until today. But I realized that the likeliness of me sticking with a program is much greater if I have a coach who is not me. I'm not committing yet, but I am going to an informational meeting in three weeks. We'll see.

Llamas!

2005-04-03T22:05:00.000-04:00

I may have found something to do with my summer. Highline Trail Llamas needs summer help to care for their animals. I'd get a small wage, and free housing in a Wyoming town of 30 (30!) people. Sweet.

Don't Run (alone) on the Bike Path

2005-03-30T21:05:00.000-05:00

Scariest run ever:

So to enjoy the 70º weather, I decided to go for a run. I was thoroughly enjoying myself, running along the bike path somewhere south of 3rd Avenue, when I saw this guy. I believe it was the I-670 overpass. He was up on the slanty part, under the bridge, right near the top. I saw him see me, and then I saw him move into the bushes where he would be more camouflaged. I could see him in there (because I knew where to look), but I couldn't see what he was doing. Why was he hiding in the bushes? I was sure I was going to get shot or raped -- I kept imagining myself getting picked off on a secluded path underneath a highway, never to be seen again.

I ran faster to get away from him, and I kept looking over my shoulder for about the next 10 minutes. Turns out the next closest place to get off the bike path is Long Street, so I had to go all the way down there (much farther than I had planned on going) before I could get off the path and come home up Neil. I called the police when I got home, but he was probably gone by then, since I'm a slow runner.

On a more cheery note, I ran past the new park they're building on Long Street by the river, and it looks nice.

40 Days and 40 Nights

2005-03-24T03:56:00.000-05:00

The worst movie, or one of the worst movies, I've ever seen. Period.

Race Report

2005-03-20T14:57:00.000-05:00

From the November, 2004 Runner's World section "The Roundup," a race report, on a 6 mile race that took place in Santa Cruz, California, last July:

"One memorable scene: 10 twentysomethings dressed like Secret Service men created a presidential "motorcade," escorting a keg of Busch beer in a shopping cart, while "Hail to the Chief" blared on their stereo."

Reading Journal - The Fountainhead

2005-03-13T21:32:00.000-05:00

In response to a recent comment, I decided to keep a reading journal.

The first thing I've read (or, finished reading), since then is The Fountainhead. I'm not so sure I liked this book. I didn't find Dominique's or Roark's characters believable; I do not believe rape is an acceptable or desirable way to start a relationship.

Also, Rand states, through Roark, "...the integrity of a man's creative work is of greater importance than any charitable endeavor. Those of you who do not understand this are the men who're destroying the world." May I ask what about charity is so bad? I think Rand is criticizing people who perform charitable acts simply for the approval of others, which I suppose is a bad thing, especially by Rand's value of the individual. But personally, I think charity is respectable, and this offends me. Comments?

And, My Response to My Parents...

2005-03-10T21:02:00.000-05:00

Here is my response to my parents. If you actually bother to read it and notice any typos/grammatical errors, please let me know. If you don't read it, I'll understand. It's long.

03/10/05

Dearest parents,

I received your well-intentioned letter in the mail Wednesday, and am writing to you with my response:

I don’t hate school; in fact, I actually enjoy it most of the time. I have had no problem maintaining enthusiasm for my magazine writing class, my history class, my Bible as literature class. But I loathe my engineering classes. I hate going to them. When I do manage to drag myself to an engineering class, say thermodynamics, or system analysis, I stare at my paper, the wall, the clock, my fingernails—anything to keep from paying attention to the awful drone of my professor’s voice. I don’t care about heat transfer, I don’t care about how best to model a signal. It is torture just to sit in those classes and feel like I have learned nothing during the past four years.

I hate doing the homework, and it is not just laziness (despite what I’m sure you believe about me from my 8th grade track record, as mothers never forget). I have actually enjoyed writing articles for my magazine writing class and putting together presentations for the professional writing class I took last spring. But doing an engineering assignment is a torture worse than death. To sit and stare at a (poorly-written) textbook, trying to find some obscure formula that isn’t listed in the index, just so I can plug in some randomly calculated number, and know that it is all pointless because we are still working in the “elementary” realm and ignoring things like friction and air resistance, is the least exciting thing mankind has ever developed.

I hate my engineering classes so much that the thought of finishing another year of them has become a complete drain on me, emotionally. I have lost interest in all other activities, including Ski Team. I only went to practice one time this season (despite its being offered twice each week for the duration of winter). And it wasn’t because I was too busy; I just didn’t feel like going. I rejoiced when our first two races were cancelled because it meant that I could stay in bed all weekend and not think about the hell that is my life.

I have become increasingly irritable recently, and at the urging of other people, I am seeing a counselor (as offered free to me for ten sessions through OSU). I’m not sure if that is really helping me or not, but I know one thing that is helping me: not thinking about my major. As soon as I walked into the Landscape Horticulture building to change my major, it seemed as though an enormous weight was lifted from my shoulders (a clichéd phrase, I know, but I’m in a bit of a hurry).

I have thought for years that I should change my major, but a blind (and idiotic) determination kept me going. It was like I had to prove that I was good enough, that giving up would be seen as a failure. I must admit, I am guilty of making fun of those people who switched into business. I criticized them for taking the easy way out. But isn’t the most homophobic man the one who is actually gay himself? And likewise, wouldn’t I, the most vehement opponent of the business major, or any other major I considered to be “easy,” be the one most afraid of being seen as a failure by others if I admitted my dislike for engineering?

I am now allowing myself the freedom to realize, for the first time, that I hate engineering and have always hated engineering. The fear of wasting my time in school has always been deep down inside me, but somewhere I adopted the ridiculous idea that I could just stick it out through school, get my degree, and then not be an engineer. The idea of changing my major seemed impossible; I’d already committed to the engineering curriculum, and I should just suck it up and finish my degree.

But why? Why should I finish a degree that bores me with the intention of throwing it away? Spending 4 (or 5) years in school for nothing would be a much greater waste of time and money. Why shouldn’t I be happy? Why shouldn’t I choose a major that actually sounds enjoyable?

I’m not sure if horticulture is the way to go or not, but really, I am at such a loss right now for any ideas about what to do with my life that I decided to pick one. This is how I decided: I went through the entire list of major offered at Ohio State and eliminated the ones that sounded boring. I went through my list of acceptable majors and thought about what kind of work I really want to do (all I know is it involves being active and working outside, preferably with people). Some majors seemed interesting (social work, nursing, exercise science, etc.), but they were eliminated based on the narrow focus of the degree (social work, nursing), or by the lack of outdoor activity (exercise science).

Landscape horticulture seems like an interesting path; I could go many ways with it. I could get into landscape design (which would be great to do in the public sector, as in designing parks and playgrounds, especially in poorer areas of town that are really in need for beauty in the community), or nursery or greenhouse management.

I’m not sure what your intent was by sending me that article and letter. From the article, I learned that mechanical, civil, and chemical engineers are in the highest demand. If you will recall, my former major was biological engineering, which has nothing to do with any of the major listed in the article. The article was written from a very industrial point of view; if anything, it reassured my decision that I did not want to follow through with the path to engineering, as I would likely be stuck in some factory somewhere supervising the manufacture of bearings. All I know about bearings is that they have no bearing on my life.

The letter you sent me from Matty Designs was nothing more than an advertisement. Do you mean to tell me that aspiring to own a business, landscaping or otherwise, is a pipe dream? The letter was a little corny, yes. I really don’t care about your “landscaping dreams.” But I consider myself a skilled writer, and I would never put such an expression in a sales letter.

If your concern with that letter is that the owner, James R. Matty, would be doing the grunt work, let me make the following points:
First, I like working outside. I like being dirty. My job at the Board of Health this summer involved sticking my arm deep into a vat of rotting grass and water, a combination that smelled like fecal matter. It involved loading heavy containers (six gallons, to be exact) full of this stinking water in the hot sun, sometimes in the rain, into the bed of a truck. It involved driving to people’s houses and pouring out the fragrant mix, sometimes spilling it on myself. It involved pumping, by hand, many gallons of insecticide into the tanks of the foggers on the mosquito trucks. It involved a lot of intense physical labor, sweating in the sun, and I liked it. I liked it because I was never bored, and always entertained. I liked it because I could listen to the radio while I worked. I liked it because I have never appreciated a shower more than I enjoyed it when I got home from work. I liked it because I didn’t have to wear nice clothes. I liked it because I rarely sat at a desk. I liked it because it was not what most would consider a “normal” job.

Second, James R. Matty has employees under him; he is not the only one who comes to work on his clients’ properties. He probably does a lot of supervision and not a lot of labor. How do I know this? By looking at his letter. Your names, “David and Adrienne,” are handwritten in a black pen with slightly pale undertones, in handwriting resembling that of a 10th grade girl. No grown man uses that kind of handwriting; it is a distinctly feminine, and distinctly young, style. Also, James Matty has signed the letter himself, in his own handwriting, using a black, but slightly different color of black, pen. If he is stuck doing this boring work at his job, then why would he bother to write your name on the paper using one pen, and then come back to sign it using a different pen, rather than just addressing the letter and signing his name in one quick act?

You said in your letter that I might want to consider a career in teaching. Let me first say that any further classes I would take in an engineering curriculum would have no relevance to being a teacher; I could get into education graduate school with a horticulture degree just as easily as an engineering degree because I will have had the same number of required classes. Either way, I would be given an admission condition, and I would have to make up some classes upon my acceptance into grad school.

If you’re concerned about the salary, let me first stay that I don’t think you should be teaching your children to be money grubbers. There is much more to life than money, and I would consider a career that I actually enjoy to be more important than a miserable, soulless existence with $90K in the bank. The average starting salary figure I gave you, $28,000, was from a brochure printed in 2000. What were average starting teaching salaries in 2000? Probably not much higher.

And let’s not forget that I could still go to law school. Engineering has nothing to do with law, so the delusion that I would be more likely to get into law school with an engineering degree is unfounded. At the very least, I will be more likely to get into graduate school by studying a major that I enjoy. An enjoyable major will increase my motivation, in turn increasing my GPA. I am certain that my GPA has not maintained honors status not because I am stupid, but because I hate my classes.

You can try to convince me that landscape horticulture is not the way to go. I will probably even listen to suggestions, as I’m not sure what I want to do with my life. But to suggest that I stay in engineering to finish out a curriculum that makes me miserable, to suggest that I am just a silly little girl who doesn’t know what she wants, is an insult to my intelligence. Any further communication about the subject will be welcome, until the engineering curriculum is mentioned, at which point I will terminate said communication until it can be discussed in a civil matter.

I know that you want the best for me. Please understand that engineering is definitely not the best for me.

Love,
Daughter Dearest

Mom's Opinion

2005-03-10T18:03:00.000-05:00

Here, and I quote, is a letter from my mother:

"Dear Kristin,
"Please read the enclosed article* (from the Akron Beacon Journal) and the letter** from Matty designs. I feel that you are making a big mistake by changing your major, especially at this late date. An engineering degree can help you in many career possibilities. With horticulture, you will probably have a hard time finding a decent job.
"You are a smart girl and can do anything you want! You may want to go to law school some day, or even teach (remember Mr. Shane...)
"Anyway, please read these things and think carefully about your future.
"Love, Mom"

*The article, "Let's Get Technical," from The Akron Beacon Journal, is about how hiring for engineers, specifically chemical, electrical, mechanical, and civil engineers, is up in the Greater Akron area. Keep in mind that my engineering major was NONE OF THESE.

**The text of the letter follows:

"Dear D---- and A----,
"The family at Matty Designs would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves to your neighborhood. We are a landscape maintenance and design company with the knowledge and experience to fulfill your landscape dreams. James Matty carries over 12 years of field experience in landscape maintenance, design, and installation, and is backed by 2 degrees from The Ohio State University in landscape design and horticulture.
"Over the next few weeks we will be conducting free estimates for lawn maintenance, organic pest control, designs, and tree pruning in the Fairlawn-Copley area. Most of these estimates take only a few minutes and most of the time we can give you prices on site."
...The letter goes on to talk about the services the company offers.

Now, the letter was a little corny, and I know I could write a better one (or at least one that doesn't talk about "landscape dreams"). But honestly, is that supposed to discourage me? The fact that someone with a degree in horticulture owns a landscaping business, and the people with engineering degrees will be making bearings (boring) for Timken or boiler parts (like, gag me with a spoon) for B&W (as the context of the article stated), is supposed to make me want to be an engineer? Right.

Buy Nothing Christmas

2005-03-09T20:40:00.000-05:00

I know it's not really holiday time (unless you count St. Patrick's Day), but I'm still going to link to this: Buy Nothing Christmas. I do enjoy getting gifts, but really, I only appreciate about 50%. I'm not trying to sound ungrateful; it's just that I didn't need a lot of the stuff in the first place, and it just clutters up my apartment.

Gifting should be optional, not mandatory. If you can think of a clever, unique gift that I would really enjoy, then I will be more than happy to have it. If not, I'd rather not have it taking up the space in my room. No one should feel obligated to spend money he might not have anyway to buy Christmas gifts.

In that vein, in the future I think I will avoid giving gifts just to give them, although I doubt I will cut out gift-giving altogether, as sometimes I see something that would be just perfect for someone. If you don't get a gift from me next Christmas, I apologize?

Halfway to 45

2005-03-08T03:58:00.000-05:00

At the Tavern tonight, I realized that, as of today (or yesterday, technically, as it's past twelve), I have been 22 for six months. Halfway to 45. Halfway to old.

It's really been a blur, the last six months. Nothing has happened, nothing has changed. My life has droned on for six months without me realizing it.

My big worry is that I'll feel the same way when I really am old. When I'm 45 (or 50, or 80), will I feel the same way I do now? That the last 22 (or 27, or 57) years have passed me by, and I didn't even notice? Will anything that I do have been worth doing? What if someday I realize that I've squandered my entire short existence? How can a person prevent that?

Margaritas

2005-03-04T18:48:00.000-05:00

If, at a group dinner at a tasty Mexican restaurant, where all parties were having a couple drinks but not getting drunk, one person took it upon herself to order a half-pitcher of margaritas with no intention of sharing, would it be inappropriate? If she proceeded to drink the entire half-pitcher, and then pour a drink from a neighboring pitcher, would it be inappropriate? What if she were to be the only person really drunk at this event?

Could any innapropriate-ness be dispelled with the fact that a regular margarita cost $4.55, and she was sure to want more than one, the jumbo margarita, usually a good choice, cost $7.10, and the half-pitcher was on special for $7.75, making the half-pitcher clearly the best deal?

As for the extra drink poured from the neighboring pitcher, well, I guess I'm just an alcoholic.

Recsports

2005-03-02T19:03:00.000-05:00

Ohio State Recsports does some good things. They coordinate field/practice space for clubs requiring such things. The Ski/Board Team, or Alpine Ski Club, technically, doesn't use field or practice space, as we practice at a resort unaffiliated with the University. Recsports, therefore, cuts us a check every year, and that's about it.

In order to get this check, however, we need to acquire a certain number of "points" throughout the year. (Actually, a certain number of points each quarter.) These points can be earned by: 1) going to meetings. That's it.

This isn't such a big deal, really, except that there are a lot of them and they are pointless. Previous meeting topics include Diversity Awareness, Alcohol Awareness, and Sexual Awareness. The thing is, they take money from their own limited budget to pay people to train us in these things. Money that could, instead, be given to the clubs to spend on useful things, like, oh, I don't know, national dues, or competition entry fees, or new equipment.

Being el presidente, I have to coordinate people to go to these things, thus making me the bitchy leader for enforcing the will of the University. Or, I can go to them myself, which is always a thrilling experience.

I'm just pissy because I have to go to Resume and Interview Tips tonight, from 6:00 to 7:00. I wouldn't even care, except that I went to the exact same meeting last year. I already have a resume, and the only interview I ever had was successful (meaning I got the position). What a waste of an hour. Plus travel time.

Perfection through Osmosis

I hate these meeces to pieces!

Heat

Kristin Rescues Baby Animals

Blue Jackets

Oil-Based Paints

The Old Zoo

England!

0

8

Wheat Checks and Passive Racism?

9

10

Oh, What You've Missed!

29

Pinkeye?

Why my blog gets no love

Some Lovin' for the Blog

Stress

Donating Plasma

Creamy and Delicious?

If the cash isn't enough...

Why I Hate Sundays, or, My Quest for a 24-Hour Pharmacy

Late to Class

Loathsome People

Picture of Aaron

Apartment Hunting

Digital Union

Cerealicious?

The Humidifer that Aaron Built

Gladys's Big Adventure / Hermit Crab Crisis!

I have crabs.

Dominion Homes

Dammit

Ready to Leave

Anniversary

Halloween Costume Construction Part 4 and Debut

Halloween Costume Construction Part 3

Halloween Costume Construction Part 2

Halloween Costume Construction Part 1

Friday

Taco Bell

Guilty Pleasure of the Moment

Why would you go to school anywhere else?

Boring

Biographies

RIP, Conctact Lenses

Chemical Burn

Drunk Dial

What's the matter with kids today?

The Summer of My Content

Traffic Lights

The Kraft vs. Kroger Macaroni and Cheese Cookoff: Spirals

Fuck Me

Work Woes

The End of Formula Racing in America

Stay Sober for Batman

All moved out

My Weblogging History

Not Bored, Just Unmotivated

Metabolism

My Air Conditioning Sucks

Happy Finals Week

Reasons why I am an Idiot, #1

More reading

Thursdays are booked

Quality Professor Quotes, #4

New Pictures, Rasterbation

Quality Professor Quotes, #2 and #3

Friday

Quality Professor Quotes, #1

Stop the Beer Tax

How would I know if you unplugged the speakers?! Gosh!!

Cinco de Mayo

Issue 2

Summer Plans

Ennui

Peanuts?

I *heart* Mike Nugent

New Pictures!

I heart Mike Nugent