Happy New Years

Last night I watched, Surfwise, a really great documentary about a family of surfers who all lived together in a 24 foot trailer. Watching that, combined with staying with my family the last couple of weeks, made me dream that I moved back in with my parents and it was awful. I think I would rather live in a box (in a warm place of course) than move back in with my family.

But you should check out the documentary if you get a chance.

I have no resolutions for the new year. I never do because I personally feel like all new year's resolutions are bound to fail. Too much expectation.

But I do hope that all of you have a happy and safe new years eve. We'll talk again in 2009.

A Little Bit of the Dark Side of Christmas

Did you know that Santa has a sidekick? He goes with him on Christmas and whips child who have misbehaved.

His name is Krampus - The Christmas Devil

So go ahead everyone, scare all the children you know. It's officially within the limits of Christmas Spirit.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I am back in MI for the holidays. It is cold. And wet. I had to get boots, my feet are having a hard time handling the weather. And of course because tomorrow I was supposed to head to BG for fun, it is supposed to have freezing rain. So unfair I say.

It's been nice seeing the family again. I'll see the boys this weekend.

A student of mine who got a C emailed me for the final percentage. It certainly wasn't a 79.5% which of course I would've bumped up to a B. I am not a monster.

I know I already posted the following on Facebook, but I want to spread Flight of the Conchords everywhere. Think of it as an early Christmas present or an enticement to treat yourself with season 1. It is such an awesome show.

Season 2 Online Premiere - Flight of the Conchords (US Only) - watch more funny videos

Home For the Holidays

Tomorrow I head back to Michigan for Christmas. It'll be a long day of travel. In order to get a ride to the airport, I have to leave here at 7 am, even though my flight isn't until almost 11. And then if all goes well, I'll arrive in Detroit at 8:50 pm.

I'll be twittering; you can follow my progress here or right here on my blog.

Talk to you again from the cold.

I Love Peyton Manning!

New Pet Peeve

I cannot stand it when people wear jeans to the gym. I know it is a small and petty thing to hate, but I do. So there.

In about 5 hours I will be all done being a student for the semester. I'll still have to be a teacher until I finish grading. Hopefully I can get that done tomorrow.

I am also less than a week from being back in Michigan. It's been cold here (yesterday it never got above 45 degrees), so it must be getting me ready for that.

Just to Keep Myself from Doing Real Work

You can make your own here

Mall Parking Lots...

...are one of the most dangerous places. There is no order. It's a dog eat dog world, especially during the holiday season. Today I was almost run over by two old ladies in their big cars. 

I guess the lesson here is to put your defensive gear when you go to the mall.

My semester is technically done. Finals week is next week. I still have to finish my teaching philosophy (which is harder than I thought it was going to be) and a research paper. Oh, and I have to grade 24 reflective essays next week. I can't believe my first semester of grad school is almost done. I can't believe that I go home for Christmas in 11 days. Time went by so fast. Someone mentioned the other day that he felt as though the time moved fast because we've been in an almost never ending summer. That might be true.

I don't look forward to the snow.

Santa's So High Tech

Santa's In Box

(via Evan Williams twitter)

Uh

I managed to go all semester without getting sick, but here I am, the last two days and I have a cold. A nasty, gross one that is really snotty and coughy. I am going to go to the writer's center for two hours (because I don't really care if I infect students. They probably are the ones that got me sick), and then I think I am going to miss two of my classes. The first classes I've missed all semester.

I feel kind of bad. 

But I also feel like shit and would like to just lay on my couch. 

A Whole Week Off

And the strange thing is that I don't feel like I accomplished anything. Here it is, 10 am on the Sunday before I have to go back to school and I have two papers I need to majorly revise and 5 more papers left to grade. Oh well, it'll get done. Here is what did happen:

I got to see two old friends, Justin and Ryan. They were in town for Thanksgiving, so we hung out, drank, smoked,  just like old times. I finally got to Chope's for the first time since I've been here. It was really great to see them. I haven't seen Ryan in four years. 

I had an awesome Thanksgiving with my friend Patti and some of her family and friends. Someone brought mashed potatoes that were white and sweet potatoes mixed. They were delicious. Everything was delicious. We all played Yahtzee and drank beer.

I found out that I got into another conference, Computers and Writing. Not only did my individual proposal get in, but a panel I am a part of was accepted as well. I am feeling really good, almost like I am impressive.

I ate way too much. Not only did I overdo it with Thanksgiving and leftovers, but I ate out a lot this week and I BAKED. I did a pretty good job of exercising, but I just need to stop eating ... and drinking. 

Well, it's time to get back to the grindstone. I think I can kick out one of my revisions within the hour.

Thanksgiving Break

At NMSU, we get a whole week off for Thanksgiving. It's kind of weird and not really a break at all because I have a ton of work to do. But at least I don't have to go to school, although I probably will tomorrow. I might do a little more research on my game paper by going to the games lab. Yes, a graduate student's work is never done.

But I did take yesterday and today off from doing any work. I didn't really mean to per se, but I just decided to say, "Fuck it, I'll get it all done starting Tuesday."

Today I baked chocolate chip banana bread and some chocolate chip pumpkin cookies. They're delish!

I have a Twitter account now. I got my cell phone to work with it and everything so I am super excited. So check it out and see what piddly little things I have going on in my life. You know, a few years ago I would've never had all this stuff all over the internet, but now that I study it, I think it is really worthwhile. I mean, if I am going to talk, I need to walk right.

Oh...whoa....gots to go, Little People, Big World just came on and I have to find the remote to change the channel.

Sunday

I really miss Mad Men on Sundays. It used to give me something to look forward to so I could get my homework done early. Now I just think, whatever. Now I am going to keep reading about interculturalism research in rhetoric and professional communication until I fall asleep. Actually, I take that back. I will stop before the night is over. 

I missed Paul Rudd hosting SNL last night to go to an ok party. I enjoy hanging out with people, but I also really enjoy Paul Rudd.

And in case you haven't heard, Murph, this other guy I know and I got our Lost panel into the 

Southwest Texas PCA/ACA conference. It is the first conference I have been accepted to, so I am really excited. It's close, and I'll get to see a dear friend. And blow people's minds.

The Blog is Dead

I've been doing a lot of reading lately and apparently the blog is dead. People are moving towards Facebook and Twitter and blogs just aren't fast enough to keep people up. Blogs are archaic?

I would totally be on board with Twitter if I could get it to work with my cell phone. But I like my little blog. I've spent a lot of time here and I would feel like a traitor.

What do you all think? Is the blog dead? If not, should it be murdered?

January 21, 2009

That's when Lost comes back.

A little more than 2 months away. I have goosebumps already.

The Next President

It needs to be addressed, but it is hard to put into words. I am so excited that Obama won. I was overwhelmed last night with how much emotion I actually felt. I was overwhelmed by how so many Republican states voted Democrat (Go Ohio!). I think I could literally feel the change in the air last night.

Of course Obama's not going to be perfect. It's a complicated job. He's inheriting the country at the worst possible time. But hey, at least he's not George W. Bush (and that might possibly be one my of last Bush bashings).

Vivre L'Obama!

I'm Not Always the Safest Person

On Friday, I was riding my bike to school and my phone vibrated which I meant I had a text message and I had to check it. It was a friend inviting me to lunch and I had to text her back about it.

All while riding my bike. 

And listening to my iPod.

It's Official...

...I'm a real life New Mexican now. I have the license plate to prove it. And a license. It was a very exciting day.

I am dressing up as Marge from Fargo. I watched it earlier for inspiration and it is such an awesome movie.

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!

Small Town Living as a Teacher

There's this great store here called Toucans. It's kind of organic/gourmet grocery store. The best reason to go is for the 3 bottles of wine for $10 deal. You get $20 wines for super cheap. So, since it is Thursday, which is my Friday, I decided to stop by and pick some up. 

I didn't know that a student of mine worked there and he totally saw me buying 3 bottles of wine. He didn't give me any shit though, but I can imagine him telling his classmates. But whatever...I'm human.

In other news, I voted today. It was exciting. 

This Is Why I Love Living in New Mexico

Because last night I went to a dive bar in the historical section of town (Billy the Kid was in jail down the street), to see a friend of mine play the banjo in a blue grass band. A woman came in with a ton of cool Obama buttons that her super-delegate friend sent her. She was giving them away.

Then, while outside smoking a cigarette, a group gathered down the block to watch a fire dancer. She had a hula hoop filled with flames and she circled them around her neck, her waist, her arms and her legs. It was awesome. And it would only happen here.

Then today I went on an awesome hike to the dripping springs.

Life is so different here. So wonderfully different.

A Work of Audio Art

Here's the audio project I did for my multimedia class.

Powered by Podbean.com

Can You Already Feel the Excitement?

It's the Lost season preview!

Cool Stuff

This is a cool flickr set for all us cool English people, via work/space.

BIrthdays

Tomorrow I turn 31. Today I feel 81 because I celebrated way too much this weekend.

I think that tomorrow, I will start acting 31 and not 21.

I'm actually kind of glad that the weekend is over.

Avoiding Work

I have a short article critique due Thursday and I am having a hard time getting to it. I have about a page and a quarter, but it just feels like I should have more done. Especially since I have known about it for weeks. Oh well, there is always tomorrow to get a kick ass draft together. That's not really procrastinating. Procrastinating would be writing this blog on Wednesday night.

I was very bad last night. I got drunk and smoked in my car. It felt so right when I was doing it, but I when I thought about it again this morning, I felt bad. So I vacuumed my car out to treat it. I also really need to wash it, but it rained today and it's dusty out here, so it'll just get dirty again.

Speaking of cars, I tried to register my car and get a NM drivers license yesterday. I was trying to become a real New Mexican. But I didn't have nearly enough paper work required, so while the process is started, I have to go back again.

I am glad there is still another day in the weekend, I didn't get enough done today.

I Wonder if Miidgets Creep Them Out Too

Found this over at Post Secret this morning. 

You know what I thought about the other day; I may have to teach a dwarve or midget someday.

Like a Peach

I have four pretty, major bruises on my body.

I only know how I got one of them.

My New Life

I find that I do a lot more work in coffee shops than I did in BG. In fact, I am writing this from a coffee shop. I think I just need to get out of my apartment sometimes. Also, my internet service is a little spotty, so I need to go where the internet is strong. This coffee shop is called International Delights. It is also a restaurant with a flippin delicious Mediterranean Veggie sandwich. I am going to be eating this today. I need some power food for hike later.

Yes, I am going hiking. I am also going to try snowboarding. It's weird that I have to move to the desert to learn to snowboard, but whatever, I'm flexible.

I went to a keg party the night of the debates. I am too old to be living the life I am currently.

But I feel like an adult when I am at the coffee shop doing work on my laptop.

Bleh

I have a class. I should like it more. It's a seminar class. We talk. About stuff that I feel stupid about. When I do talk, I stumble over words and I feel stupid. I feel like everyone thinks I am stupid. I really worry that one person in particular thinks I am really stupid.

I suppose it's not that I feel stupid, it's that I don't really care. I mean I do, but not as much as maybe I should. And, yes, I feel kind of stupid. Probably because I just can't make myself sound intelligent at all.

Getting a Ph.D. does not make me feel smarter.

I Don't Really Care for Football...

...but I love me some Manning Brothers. This commercial is pretty great.

"It's on like Donkey Kong"

This Friday, I am NOT Going to Campus

But I do have 27 papers to grade. And I have to get my haircut, and take my bike to get fixed, and pick up green chile to send to my dad.

I submitted my first paper to a conference today. It's pretty exciting. It makes up for a day like yesterday when I wanted to run away from home. 

The desert is warming back up. It's been cooler this week.

I hope you all have a good weekend.

Full Disclosure

I am a total smoker again. 

Post Burrito Reflection

I have been studying blogs in my multimedia class. It's really fascinating, but it has me thinking about this blog and I decided to do it so willy-nilly. I didn't think of purpose and goals and audience. Ok, I did think about audience; I thought of all of you, my faithful readers. I mean, mine is mostly a public journal, a good way to keep in touch with friends. But I try to inform you of weird or interesting things I find. So what's the goal of my blog? I guess to keep a discussion going with all of you from a far. And if anyone else wants to add to the conversation, then so be it.

Graduate school makes me think constantly. It is a blessing and a curse. 

Last night I went to an "Ever Clear and Game Night." And that means I drank Ever Clear Punch and played games. And drank beer. And smoked way too many cigarettes. And stayed out until 4 am. Sometimes I feel like I moved back to Las Cruces and stepped right back into my old life. Except now I am 30 and my liver doesn't bounce back like it used to.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Tuesday Tidbits

Has anyone else noticed that looks as though Sarah Palin is running for President and John McCain is staying in the background looking as though he is running for Vice-President?

It's finally starting to cool down a little in the desert. It's in the high 80's.

And I've discovered a good diet. It includes eating all the Mexican food and drinking all the beer you want. First, you join a PhD program, somewhere hot. Then you get completely stressed out over whether you're good in enough to be in a PhD program and if they think you aren't smart enough and that they made a huge mistake asking you to come. I'm not going to lie, you do have to exercise every day, but after the days you have, you'll want to get rid of some energy. And voila, you'll lose 10 lbs. in a month. 

Oh, I've got another blog on this account. It's for my multimedia class. If you click on my profile you should be able to find it. All you get from it is that I don't really know what I'm talking about. 

I Had a Completely Unproductive Saturday, But I Did See This

Yeah, I didn't do shit today. Which means, I have a ton of shit to do tomorrow.

But courtesy of Johndan Johnson Eiola, (which Murph turned me onto) is why English is dumb

Keep watching to the end of the end note.

Hope you all are having a great weekend and that you are all as unproductive as I am.

Happy Birthday Harry Potter

Ten years ago today, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released. Hard to believe that it was only 10 years ago.

So pull out your copy and give it a squeeze. Could you imagine a world without Harry Potter?

Duck Races

Instead of the Duck Races, today I went to a wine festival. And strangely, I didn't buy any wine. I just tasted, tasted, tasted. I thought I was a tad too tipsy to get any work done after, but I almost got this burst of energy. It's actually slightly annoying.

Anyhoo, I thought I would post a few pics of my and my duck, whom I named Jiminy Crickets. Enjoy!

Sunday in the Desert

Well folks, it's 9:30 am here in Las Cruces, NM and it is gray and wet outside. It's only around 68 degrees. 

It's weird. 

Yesterday I went to the farmers market (where, in addition to fruits, vegetables and a loaf of green chile bread, I got a plant...the first vegetation in my apartment), had a flipping awesome brunch, and got a lot of reading done. Today I have to apply that reading to actual work, but that's cool, I should be able to do that. 

I think I have some ideas about the kind of research I want to do. It has to do with the green movement and either looking at online communities working in the movement (like Tree Hugger or Ideal Bite) or looking at personal narrative and how it is taking the science and creating more accessible ways to become more environmentally friendly (see, "Living with Ed," Doug Fine, etc.) And of course, because I am who I am, anything I look at will be pop culture in nature. But of course, I've only been in school for a little over a week, so this all may change. But I like thinking.

It's been an oddly productive weekend.

A Photo Essay

Here's my bathtub. Doesn't it look fancy?

Here is the first meal I made in my kitchen. It's some pasta and spinach...and it was ok. I realize I cook with a lot of pasta and I think I am going to cut back on that.

I am not going to cut back on the breakfast burritos though. These fucking rock my mouth.

And finally, for Laura, my tornado tattoo. 

Sunday Tidbits

Today I went to a duck race. Further explanation you ask? I paid five dollars to hold a duck in my hands, gently toss it into some water and splash it as it swam to the end of the lane.

My duck talked a lot of shit, but couldn't live up to it. He lost. So I ate a a green chile corn dog, some butterfly fries, registered to vote in New Mexico and got a silk-screened tattoo of a tornado on my foot. 

God, I LOVE being back in New Mexico.

In other news, I recently watched the mini-series, John Adams, which was about, John Adams and a portion of it obviously focused on his friendship with Thomas Jefferson. The mini-series failed to mention any of this though. Dirty politicking has been around a LOOOONG time.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Question Of the Day

Can someone develop dyslexia as they get older? I used to never get heartburn or indigestion, but about two years ago I started getting it more frequently. I've noticed lately that I have been inverting letters and numbers. 

This isn't a good time for me to get dyslexia.

Sometimes I Don't Know About Me

A lot has happened in the past month. I mean, a month ago, I was still a midwesterner, had a great-paying job, had worries like, will everything go ok when I move.

Well everything went well. The apartment was not a shit-hole (I swear pictures are coming soon), the people I will be spending the next three to four years don't seem so bad, Mexican food is still delicious.

But now the real work begins and I am sooooo nervous about being a student again. I want to do well, but insecurities are rearing their ugly heads. It's probably just the night-before-the-first-day jitters. Maybe it's my allergies that is making me cough and my throat hurt.

I'm tired. Everyone wish me luck on my first semester.

Oh and I'm Meg. I've decided to go ahead and own myself. 

Bummed the F Out

I am sure by now you have all heard this. I was so, so looking forward to seeing the new Harry Potter movie THIS fall. It seems so unfair that I have to wait until NEXT summer. In the mean time, you read this for an interesting look at the making of the movie.

In other news, I am officially done with any and all orientation. Last night I got drunk with a couple of guys that are other first years. That has a story too, but maybe on a different day.

I Usually Just Think, Wow That Was Awesome.

I found this on Post Secret a couple of weeks ago.

TA Camp

I've spent a day and a half out of 5 learning about my new grad student duties and like everything, it has it's pros and it's cons.

Cons (Let's get the bad stuff out of the way):

• It's slightly more work in some areas - I have to do two office hours, it's a four credit class with one hour being completely online, and I have to work 4 hours a week in the Writer's Lab.
  

• There is no 112 equivalent. We teach basic writing, argument and research in one semester. So I have a lot to prepare for my first semester out. Next semester though, I won't have to prepare a whole new class already. So this actually borders between pros and cons.
  

• I think I still have to grade rough drafts.
  

• I don't get a whole office, I get a cubicle (although I knew that BGSU was good in that regards and a lot of grad programs don't give you that luxury). I haven't actually seen it yet, so I will describe more later.
  

Pros:

• No portfolio system; what I say goes.
  

• Speaking of which, I get to grade the mothereffers. 
  

• It's less rigid, which at first scared me, but they also give you enough information that you aren't going completely off the cuff.
  

• They don't stress MLA, just good source documentation. While I find this slightly confusing, at least it gets rid of MLA Nazi's, which I guess with no portfolio systems, doesn't matter. I just hate MLA Nazi's.
  

That's all I've got after a day and a half. The people seem nice so far. 

When I am not doing HOMEWORK in the evening, I am watching Lost season 2 online. 

Oh, and I must've misplaced all my teaching exercises I used. Could some of my awesome people out there send me a few of their favorites? Thanks.

Wait, So Does Dracula Still Exist?

38 Die of Vampire Bat Attacks

My Life in Boxes Part II

My place currently looks a little better than this, but not by much. I realized I HATE unpacking. I go through one box and think, I really don't want to unpack any more. So I don't. I like unpacking boxes with things I don't have to do anything with. In one box I found the box my computer came in. I just put that in the closet and done.

Anyhoo, here are pictures of the boxes. The first picture is obviously my beloved Butter. The second is the second bedroom and the third are boxes leading into my kitchen.

I promise to post pictures of the final results. But I can't promise it soon.

Have a good weekend ya'll.

New Mexico Update

Been in Las Cruces for a little over day.

Furniture arrives tomorrow!

Pictures to soon follow!

Harry Potter Fever Begins Again

Looks dark and awesome. I can't wait.

PS. This is my 400th post.

My Life in Boxes

This is my life right now and it is driving me crazy. Three days until the movers come. One week from today I won't be anywhere near here.

Totally freaking out!

Cake Wreckers

I love cake. I love pretty much any cake but carrot cake, and I have to admit that I've had a piece of carrot cake I didn't hate. This blog featured some cakes that not only look unappetizing, but make me kind of nauseous looking at them.

I don't know if I should hate some of these bakers forever for ruining the purity of cake or if I should thank them for assuring me that there are just some cakes I won't eat, therefor saving me a few calories.

I think I am going to hate them, because cake should ALWAYS be loved.

PS. If I ever have a baby or have to give a baby shower, I am going to serve pie.

Search Alert

The following search led to Some of This Might Not Be True:
midget women thumbs

I wouldn't necessarily think of those words in sexual terms. But apparently I am in the minority.

Suzy in the Kitchen

This will be the last Suzy in the Kitchen for a while. The next one will be from New Mexico. Weird.

This is what I call, leftover pasta salad. I had a little shell macaroni left, a tomato, and some artichokes. I mixed with oil and balsamic vinegar, added some mozzarella cheese and voila. A few less things to throw out when it is time to move.

This is a Greek vegetable wrap. Eggplant, onions, tomatoes, feta cheese, kalamata olives (one more item I don't have to throw out), marinate and throw on a tortilla. This was good. Really, really good.

Been busy packing and it seems I have so much more left to do. My apartment is a mess. Moving sucks. Two weeks from today I will be on my way. 

iPod Shuffle

In honor of my new, free-after-rebate iPod, the iPod shuffle game.

Ten random songs to get to know me better:

1. Intuition - Feist
2. Ebin - Sublime
3. 2 Cool 2 Be 4 Gotten - Lucinda Williams
4. On Top - The Killers
5. Pump It - Black Eye Peas
6. Born Secular - Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins
7. Independent Women Part 1 - Destiny's Child
8. Ticket to Ride - The Beatles
9. Twin Cinema - The New Pornographers
10. Let's Face It - The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones

I am taking my last vacation day tomorrow. Hells yeah! My fist is ferociously pumping in the air.

The Yin and Yang of Media Pleasures

I recently discovered Hulu and it is super awesome. I've been spending my remaining days at work watching Late Night with Conan O'Brien and the second season of 30 Rock. And I don't even care if people see me watching it. Anyhoo, there are a lot of cool shows and movies at Hulu and they add more all the time, so if you ever have a few spare moments, check it out.

On the flip side, I had the mini-series, John Adams on my Netflix list and the first disc was only available in Las Vegas, so they had to ship it from there. Disc 2 and 3 were available at my location, so I have them at home, but have to wait until Friday for disc 1. What is the logic in that?

In other news, I have given two-weeks notice at both my jobs. Owens thinks I am going to New Mexico for an actual teaching job and I haven't corrected them. I think I am just going to let them believe that. I don't really care. A week from today, I will never see them again.

Tata for now.

Matthew Fox, Whether I Want Him or Not

I couldn't get away from Matthew Fox (AKA Dr. Jack Shepard) recently. On Sunday I watched Vantage Point, which MF was in. Then Monday morning, I was watching Wings, as I always do while I eat breakfast before work, and there MF was, a very, very young man. Also yesterday, I was reading the paper and I saw that it was MF's 42nd birthday.

So, Happy Birthday Matthew Fox. Now, unless you are in a brand new episode of Lost, would you kindly leave me alone?

Happy Bastille Day!

Happy Bastille Day Ya'll!

Bastille Day has the cops crazy today. I literally saw seven people pulled over today. And it's not even the end of the month.

Anyhoo, eat a french fry or something to celebrate.

New Classic Books

EW recently listed 100 new classic books. New classics meaning published after 1983 (I linked to 1-25, but clicking on the link should get you to parts 1, 2 and 3).

When I began reading the list, I didn't think I would have covered many books, but as I actually read through the list, I was surprised at how many I haven't read. I read 15 on the list. 15 of 100. And I consider myself a well-read person. I've heard of many on the list. I've seen the movie version of ALOT on the list.

Here is what I have read, in EW ratings:

2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling

12. Blindness - Jose Saramago

13. Watchman - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

20. Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding

25. Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan

28. Naked - David Sedaris

34. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

41. The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros

48. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver

50. The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen

65. The Giver - Lois Lowry

69. The Secret History - Donna Tartt (one of my favoritest books ever. I highly, highly recommend this).

78. Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

93. A Thousand Acres - Jane Smiley

96. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

97. Jesus' Son - Denis Johnson

100 books. Some of them I have no desire to ever read. I have started a list though. Perhaps someday I will make to almost half the list.

Happy Reading Ya'll.

Warning

If you were planning on going to Beijing for the Olympics and wanted to eat some authentic, local cuisine, you won't be able to.

Thumbs Up of the Week

Yisss...It's Jemaine from the Flight of the Conchords.

In the Kitchen With Suzy

These are salmon patties. They were very, very good. 

This was a tasty version of a caprese salad, Laura's contribution to...

...the Venetian Macaroni and Cheese. This wasn't bad, but I don't think I will ever make it again.

Happy 4th of July folks! Enjoy some fireworks. I will be. 

Recently: A Suzy Photo Essay

Laura came to visit a couple of weeks ago, just as the ol' Dell took a final pooper, so I wasn't able to post some of the fun that she, PTT and I had. So without further ado:

PTT gets nervous when I refer to him as Chris, so we made his Yahtzee score sheet officially PTT.

Here we are, taking a quick break from an intense Yahtzee game. See that ring on my finger? That is a gift from PTT; a Drive Shaft ring, now one of my prized possessions.

This is me and PTT enjoying our beer frame beers (because we rocked that frame).

This is Laura, without a beer frame beer (because she really fucked that frame up*)

*To be fair, I would later have to buy a beer frame as well. After Laura had to buy a second beer frame. HA!

Mad About Mad Men

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed Mad Men last summer. It is about an advertising agency in the 1960's, but that is just skimming the surface. I think it showed a lot about a certain time in history. It is a cool-looking show. And all the smoking will either make you want a cigarette or make you sick (sometimes both at the same time). 

The reason I bring it up now is because season one is out on DVD and season two starts at the end of the month. And the best thing? It's on AMC, not HBO or Showtime or any of those crazy pay extra channels. 

So, all you Netflixers out there, put it in your queue and catch up before season 2 starts. I dare you not to fall a little for lead character Don Draper, no matter how much of a self-absorbed asshole he can be. 

Happy "Mad Men"ing all!

Back in the Saddle

I am back online at home. Hooray! I am now the proud owner of a little, white Apple notebook. It's pretty slick. I have forgotten what it was like to have a computer that started up quickly and didn't have to have it's Ethernet chord jimmy-rigged to even be online. As with everything I do, I'll take a picture and post it soon!

One of the reasons I chose the Mac was that as a student I get an educational discount, but I am freaking out a little because becoming a student is hard. My paperwork hasn't been fully processed yet (their words) so I can't register for classes like they told me I should. I also can't get my student loans (which I need). I have also made all the necessary arrangements to move; given notice at my current apartment, found a new apartment, hired movers. About the only thing I haven't done is given two-weeks notice at work. This may be a good thing. I might need my job.

I am freaking out a little. I am convinced something is going to go wrong and everything is going to fall through. I am going to call someone tomorrow. I don't want to nag these people, but I also want to make sure I am not moving and changing my life for nothing. 

At least it's a four day work week. Hooray.

What Brings People to My Small Corner of the World

"the office" "wonderkins" mean

This search led to Some of This Might Not Be True

Happy Birthday George Orwell

Did you know George Orwell was actually born Eric Blair? He was concerned that his parents wouldn't like what he wrote and came up with a pseudonym. Interesting, eh?

My Swedish Furniture Name...

...courtesy of Ikea.

What's yours?

RIP Modem

My computer’s modem decided it had just been working too hard. It was probably really tired of being rigged up to work when it should been put to pasture long ago. So it took its final stand.

Hence, I have no internet at home for the time being. Which really only means that I won’t be able to post pictures of my awesome weekend. There was a picture of the mac and cheese I made. The caprese salad. A sad Laura after having bought her first ever beer frame. A happy PTT and I with our free beer frame beers. Yahtzee. Just, you know, your run-of-the-mill fun times.

Maybe I’ll remember to post them when I get a new computer.

Have a great week ya’ll.

Best Thing I've Heard Today

I would totally stay here. I would go back to San Francisco just to do so.

What's My Tarot Card, You Ask

You Are The Wheel of Fortune

You represent the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. You embrace change, the the ups and downs of life. Fate is something you accept, even when you could possibly change things. Big things tend to happen to you more than other people. Your fortune: Something huge is about to happen in your life, and you have little control over it. You must accept your destiny, but luckily it is good fortune that has come your way. Big things and big changes are about to come your way. And while things will be intense for a while, they will be followed by a period of rest.

What Tarot Card Are You?

Happy Father's Day

My dad had hip replacement surgery on Monday, so today won't be too festive for him. He's doing really, really well. All my family had as an example of replacement surgery was my mother and apparently she was BAD example.

Anyhoo, I thought I would share some pictures of my dad like I did my mom on Mother's Day.

This is obviously when I was a baby. Just a few days old. The seventies were a strange-looking time.

This was in 1999. Amazing what 22 years can do.

Hope ya'll are spending your day with your dads. If not, I hope you are spending a day with a dad.

Summer Goals Revised

Well, I had a long list of summer goals, but some have had to be crossed out because of current situations. One goal that remains is watching the first three seasons of Lost. I am currently only about half way through season one, but... I think I missed some episodes, because some of them seem so new. I have no memories of them at all. I don't know. Maybe I didn't pay close enough attention because I didn't realize I had to pay such close attention yet.

These first episodes are amazing though. The scene in Locke's first flashback, where he realizes he can walk, is unbelievable.

I can see why they killed off Boone and Shannon first. They were definitely two useless characters.

Another thing I noticed: they refered to each other as, "the others." You know, two characters would have a conversation and they referred to the other survivors, the group as a collective, as the others. It wouldn't seem strange to us at first, but it now that there is a whole other term to "the others" in Lostland now, it seems...like something to note.

But maybe Lost has got me thinking too hard about everything.

Have a good weekend y'all.

Celebrity Thumbs Up of the Week

Big week, big thumbs up.

Lost Meets Harry Potter...Literally

Funny:

They're Little, Not Midgets. Otherwise I Wouldn't Like Them.

NPR has recently started a feature where they dissect famous characters in pop culture and yesterday they discussed Jo March from Little Women.

I loved Little Women as a kid. I loved it so much that I still consider it one of my favorite books, so it was fun to hear about old generations and new generations that love it as much as I do. I agree with the story that everyone wants to be Jo. She’s the independent, free-thinker who doesn’t let anyone make her decisions for her (although I hated it when she rejected Laurie, I thought it was sadder than when Beth dies). I think it is funny that young readers, while still admiring Jo, find her a little too perfect to try to be like. I’m not sure if that means young women have a good, realistic head on their shoulders or they’re too lazy to try to live their lives without strings attached.

I always thought I was a little about of each of the “little women.” In some ways I was the goody two-shoes, like Meg. In some ways I was the sensitive, wise Beth. In some ways, I was the vain, silly Amy. And in some ways I was independent like Jo. I still am. I think most girls and women are.

Actually, just the other day the episode of Friends, where Joey and Rachel switch books, was on. She reads The Shining and he reads Little Women. He thinks that Jo is a man and Laurie is a woman, but he also is sad when he finds out Beth dies.

I should go back and reread it.

THUMBS FLIPPIN UP!

New Mexico State University, here I come!

In the Kitchen with Suzy

Speaking of summer goals, I have also dedicated myself to trying one new recipe a week. Here are two weeks worth of endeavors.


This is goat cheese and asparagus pasta. I forgot an ingredient in the sauce so, while it was good, it wasn't saucy. So I may have to try this again.


This is a portobello burger. This was flipping awesome. I cooked the mushrooms in balsamic vinigerette.

Oh and FYI to all the Dexter fans. The second season comes out on DVD in August. Save it on your Netflix lists now.

I have a fairly large list of goals I would like to accomplish this summer.

• Make a compost
• Study for the GRE
• Create an online portfolio
• Work on application essays for various grad schools
• Start yoga again (see post below)
• Try a new recipe every week
• Rid myself of all extraneous junk I don't need in my life

In addition to everything I listed above, I have also decided to undertake watching the first three seasons of Lost. I feel like a refresher course is important at this stage of the series. Lost is really upping the stakes. I might take notes. I might map out all the connections to the characters (as Laura and I once discussed). I might buy a whiteboard to make it appear more like the serious endeavor it is. It should be interesting.

I can't even really imagine a Lost without Ben Linus anymore.

Wish me luck everyone.

Namaste...with a Bullet?

India's army is employing yoga to create a "deadlier fighting force." You know, I understand; people meditate and practice yoga to calm their minds. Killers need to be calm too. We don't want bullets flying all over the place.

American troops from the US 25th Infantry Division have already started practicing yoga.

I should start up yoga again. Goal 912 for the summer.

Namaste y'all.

Potpourri Post

Happy Birthday Heimlich Maneauver! 30 years ago this month, Henry Heimlich published information on this life-saving proceduare in the journal, Emergency Medicine. Way to save some lives! Thumbs up Dr. Heimlich. I have neither given the Heimlich Maneauver, nor received it and I hope to never have to, but I feel better knowing the option is out there.

I learned over the weekend that Sigmund Freud committed assisted suicide. Although this happened in 1939, it was news to me! The way he died was news to me, not that he is dead. I did know that. Anyhoo, tired of the pain of his oral cancer, he asked a friend to administer a slow overdose of morphine to him.

My niece graduated from high school last night. Graduates tossed beach balls around and in grand tradition, officials confiscated them. The audience booed the officials along with the graduates.

Seth Rogan and James Franco smoked weed on the Mtv Movie Awards last night. It was SHOCKING!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was fun, fun and fun.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Final Thoughts on a Final Lost for a Loooong Time

I think, if anything, the finale of Lost left me with one main question:

What the flip happened to Jeremy Bentham, aka, JOHN LOCKE?

But I’ll get back to that.

• Other observations:
• Walt looks so weird as an adult.
• Sawyer still looks hot when he’s wet.
• I hope Michael is really gone now.
• I hope Jin might still be alive somehow.
• I really hate that Hurley is crazy. I just feel that he should find some peace. I hope the next two years brings him that.
• I still don’t like coiffed Sayid. Mess up the hair, brother!
• Penny and Desmond’s reunion: a tear comes to my eye just thinking about it.
• I think I like the tough-as-nails, take-no-shit Sun.

Jeremy Bentham?

First of all, why couldn’t they just call him Locke off the island? How did he get off the island? When did he become the kind of man that is a danger to people (i.e. Hurley wanting to stay in the institution because he was afraid)? Is what he saying true? Are the people still on the island being tortured? Who is there to do it? The never-aging eyeliner guy, Richard Alpert?

And why are the six lying to protect those left-behind? Did they learn something that we don’t know yet? Did I miss something? I thought Jack made up the lie to cover the fact that a ship exploded and an island disappeared (which happened before I am assuming…remember the end of season two…when they took Jack, Sawyer and Kate).

Did you all flip out just a little when they showed who was in the coffin? I think I moved my head thinking I might be able to look over the lid to find out faster.

Tell me what you think people!

Song of Summer

EW's PopWatch begs the question, what is the song of summer 2008?

Does it mean I am old if I have never heard these songs?

Thumbs Up of the Week

It occured to me that I had not featured a woman in the thumbs up of the week segment. So I give you Cammie D.



In other news, I am sure I don't have to remind anyone, but tomorrow is the Lost finale. The last Lost for a long time. I'm already sad...but am also brimming with anticipation.

In the Kitchen

Since it was a three day weekend, Suzy got busy in the kitchen.


First it was some halibut steaks:








And then it was Greek Pasta Salad:

Off to see Indiana Jones. I will be back with a detailed review.

Well, probably not.

Hope you all had a great, looooong weekend.

Summer Fun

Pictures of the aftermath of our first watergun fight of year. I was left completely soaked. Little boys have no mercy. I will have an awesome high-powered one before I face them again.

This History of Thumbs Up

I was excited to find this article today. I am glad it's used for more positive communication now.

Have a good long weekend y'all.

I LOVE Jim's New Look

Oh holy Hell. That's hot.

Made of Honor? Made of Crap!

Here is a picture of one of the worst movies I've seen in a while :



I like to document it all, good and bad, for my faithful readers.

The Office...In Japan

Friday Roundup

Usually on Friday, I discuss Lost. But I am finding it increasinly difficult to write down my thoughts on Lost. There is just too much going on.

So this morning I want to discuss The Office. I liked the set up for next year. Angela is such a hussy. LOVED that Phyllis found them in the last scene. That should make for some interesting office interaction.

I also think that Jan and Michael raising a child together sounds scary and funny. But mostly scary. I fear for that child.

I hate Pam and Jim together because they’ve turned into the two most boring characters on that show. Boring, boring, boring. And the physical transformation of Pam now that she and Jim are together? Please! I hate it when movies and television shows resort to that. It’s so cliched.

And I almost hate Toby as much as I hate Pam and Jim. I used to really like Toby, but his crush on Pam is SOOOOO CREEPY now. I hope he is gone for forever.

I hope they continue to focus on the other office people next season as much as they did this season. They make me laugh. Except Kelly. They should totally write her off the show.

Anyhoo, off the Cincinnati to go to Trader Joe’s...and see Laura. Also, everyone keep Murph in your thoughts today. Her surgery is today.

Have a good weekend y’all.

Happy Birthday Stephen Colbert

It has been quite a month so far for Stephen Colbert. First of all, today is his birthday. Last week he was given a Webby for Person of the Year. And now, the biggest honor of all, he is the featured celebrity thumbs up:


Way to go Stephen! Thumbs up to you!

Fun Times

This typing game is the best ever. You race people typing wonderful pop culture phrases from movies or lyrics from songs. If any of you wanted, we could get together and race each other.

Check it out and you will be as addicted as I am.

Love Your Mothers Y'All

Actually, I know you all love your mothers, but today you should give them an extra squeeze. I thought I would celebrate my mum today and share a few pictures.

I like this picture because she's outside gardening. I am probably close by bothering her. She looks kind of shocked. She stopped having her picture taken a couple of years later. You might see a few of her now, but they are as rare as unicorns.

Here's my mom and dad with the panchos my dad brought back from Mexico. Note the Orphan Annie doll in the foreground...it was mine.

Here is her graduation picture, her favorite picture. She looks very glamorous.

Happy Mother's Day Mom. And to all the other mothers out there!

I Tagged My Blog

A Real Adventure

Have you heard about these guys? 48 states in 120 days. They stop for gas and to pee. They don’t even stop for food...they packed food for the trip. They don’t stop to sightsee. They don’t stop...period...unless they need gas or have to go to the bathroom.

It sounds like a pretty fun adventure, but I kind of wonder if they are getting a little sick of each other, miss cooked food, or are getting tired of listening to music. They have a laptop, maybe they can watch a movie or something. I bet they’ll be glad when the trip is over and they can take a shower, a leisurely shit, and eat a really awesome meal.

Makes me want to take a road trip.

Celebrity Thumbs Up

I thought, since Rob Lowe and his wife have been in the news so much lately, I would feature them with their thumbs up.

They are actually probably giving thumbs down to their former nannies.

The Worst Places for Your Health

I came across this article yesterday and it has already changed my day-to-day habits. One of the grossest parts of the article was about where you keep your toothbrush. I, like many people, keep my toothbrush in a cup by the sink...where it has been sprayed by toilet water my whole life.

When you flush a toilet, the spray can travel upwards of 6 feet. So even if you think that your sink is far from the toilet, you’re still not safe. The best solution is to keep your toothbrush in a cabinet or shut the lid of your toilet before flushing.

I’ve already got a new toothbrush and have been shutting the lid to my toilet ever since.
Another intesting tip was to not put your purse on the kitchen counters. I am totally guilty of this; but think about what your purse touches throughout the day. You put it on the ground, in a grocery cart, it brushes up against numerous unsavory things. And then people put it on the counter and let it silently gross up the counter.

Have a good, clean weekend, y’all.

Trip Out on This

A few weeks ago I came across this site. I thought it was kind of interesting, but of course all the artwork is hippy, trippy stuff. I thought it would be kind of cool to come across a Picasso or a Gaugin, HA or even a photograph by Georgia O'Keefe. I wonder if the different artwork equates to different potencies.

Anyhoo, as I was saying, I came across that site a couple of weeks ago and then today I read this:

Father of LSD Dies.

I never took any of the artsy-looking acid, although once it was black. I personally liked mushrooms better; being all natural there was no brain damage involved.

Ahh, to be young and carefree...

Interview Post Show

I think the interview went well. I feel good about it, but one can never really tell. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that I get a second interview. I urge you all to do the same.

I took a class at the gym tonight. It's called "Ball Busters;" everything is done with an exercise ball. It's HARD. I think it's harder because it looks as though it would be easy. I am already starting to hurt. Tomorrow should be a joy.

Good night, all. Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite.

Road TRIP!!!

I found this article interesting and thought I would share, especially after I wrote about grocery shopping organically, or how I don't grocery shop organically.

The high price of going organic

I am off to Cincinnati today for a job interview tomorrow...and a quick visit with Laura. Wish me luck.

We Now Return to Regularly Scheduled Programming...

...obsessing about Lost.

Wow! Last night's episode ROCKED. I know I've said it before, but I love Ben. He is so complex. I thought he was complete and utter evil (and I was fine with that and loved him anyway), but he is capable of grief (BTW: Poor Alex....I just didn't see that coming...honestly). He does, however, use his grief to help get Sayid do start killing people for him, but it is a real emotion...however he chooses to use it to his advantage.

I am beyond excited that we are going to make another visit to Jacob. He and his cabin give me the creeps. The kind of creeps I like to have. And I am also interested to see how the threesome of Locke, Ben and Hurley is going to work out. It seems like an odd group. Ben and Locke give Hurley the creeps, but I don't think it's the kind of creeps Hurley likes to have.

Some other Suzy observations:

• I wish they had killed Claire then and there. She is annoying and some time last season she decided to act very badly. And not only did they not kill her, she was barely hurt...after her house EXPLODED! As Laura would say, WTF?

• Sawyer has definitely made the biggest changes as a character on that show. He wants to rescue people. He appears to care about people. (Although if I was Hurley I'd be all like, "I'm a man Sawyer, I can take care of myself, you don't need to defend my honor."). It's not that I don't like this new Sawyer, it makes me feel uneasy about his future.

• How did Ben conjure the smoke monster? Again, what is the smoke monster?

• How did Ben get to the Sahara? It appears as though he fell out of the sky...this seems to support this idea of time travel.

• Who in the hell is Charles Widmore? Is he a descendant of Jacob? Has he been on the island before and is like Jack and needs to get back? And who will win the ultimate daughter-death showdown? Evil (Ben) or Love (Penny and Desmond)?

• Best line of the night: When Ben says, "Excuse me James." So nonchalant and polite, as though people weren't storming the house, as if Ben hadn't just summoned the smoke monster to woop some ass.

I LOVE Ben!

Thank God it Was Just the Trainer

and not Will Ferrell.

Celebrity Thumbs Up

I end my trilogy of Harry Potter stars thumbs up with none other than...Harry Potter.



He's a double fister when it comes to the thumbs. Did you hear he's going to be naked on Broadway in the fall? He's not so little anymore...or maybe he is. Guess we'll find out this fall.

Happy Birthday William Shakespeare

Well, maybe Happy Birthday Billy Shakes. This date is apparently just an educated guesstimate.

Happy Earth Day

Use one less paper towel, unplug a rarely used appliance, run a little less water. Do something small to show the earth you care.

Or sit in the dark tonight anxously awaiting the return of Lost on Thursday.

Suzy in the Kitchen

I would love to take credit for how delicious the food I cook is, but unfortunately I can't. I follow recipes to a "T," so I guess you can call me a good reader.

I really wish I could take credit for how fucking awesome this creamy, peanuty, hummus was, because it was that fucking awesome. It is going to be something I make all the time. I may have to invest in a larger food processor, but it is worth it, because it is that fucking awesome.

As always, if you want a recipe let me know.

EARTHQUAKE!!!!!

Around 5:30 this morning I woke up and thought, "That's weird, it feels as though my bed is shaking." But as soon as I had that thought, the shaking stopped. I figured I just imagined it in one of those, not quite awake/not quite sleeping moments.

When I eventually got out of bed and turned on the news, I learned I did not imagine it at all. There was a 5.3 earthquake in Evansville, IN, 350 miles away. It was felt as far as Chicago and Cincinnati (did you feel it Laura?).

What a crazy way to start a Friday.

Happy Weekending Ya'll!

Shopping...Organically?

I made a brief sojourn in Trader Joe's in Ann Arbor over the weekend. It was cool...and crazy. I was just there to peruse and most people were there to get their groceries, so I am not sure if my strolling was helpful to those people. I did buy some groceries. The only grocery I have eaten from Trader Joe's yet was the sweet potato chips, which were delicious by the way.

We had to drive past Whole Foods to get to Trader Joe's. Seeing the Whole Foods reminded me of this secret I saw on Post Secret a couple of weeks ago:

I am into a lot of things, but I am not that into eating organically. I am not against it, I just don't feel the need to eat everything organically, neither does my wallet.

Ironically, I bought organic bananas last night. Not because they were organic, but because they were ripe and the regular bananas were not. And I shit you not, they didn't taste as good as a regular banana. I mean, it could've been that certain banana. I will know further after eating another banana.