Oh No

I just noticed my first defined wrinkle.

Someone Wants to Leave!?!?

I saw this on Post Secret today.

I wanted to come back, hard to believe there are those who want to leave.

Lost is Back

I kind of don't even know where to start about Lost. So much happened in those two hours.

Basically I have decided I trust no one off the island. I obviously don't trust Ben, but I am not trusting Jack so much. I don't trust Cheech. And I really don't trust Sun. I am 98% sure she is up to something.

I was sad when Sawyer found a shirt to wear. And I am pretty sure he is going to hooking up with Juliet soon (I do trust Juliet now. For many seasons I didn't, but I do now).

When Richard told Locke that he had to die to save the island or his people (I can't remember), it made me wonder if Locke is really dead forever. Half the scene where Jack and Ben were in the funeral home, I half expected him to open his eyes.

Oh wait, I don't trust someone on the island...Faraday. Why is he not trying to help Charlotte? And is it important to us that she remembers her mother's maiden name?

How does Richard know where the island is traveling in time?

When Faraday told Desmond to find his mother, I thought it was going to be Mrs. Hawking, but then she showed up at the end. She might still be though.

I loved Ben's honest fear in that end scene.

I loved Hurley's wicked smile at Ben after he was arrested. But didn't Ana Lucia tell him NOT to get arrested?

I kind of enjoyed seeing dead characters like Ana Lucia and Ethan, but I hope they don't having a parade of former stars every week.

Basically Lost did what is always does...gives me more questions that I will never be able to answer on my own. I am totally looking forward to next week.

It's (Finally) Time to Get Lost

Happy Days! Lost is back again.

At first I thought I wasn't going to be able to watch Lost on Lost night. I work at the Writing Center until 7 and I thought it started at 7. Turns out, tonight an hour recap episode is on at 7 and the TWO HOUR episode starts at 8, which it will continue to do for the rest of the season. Hooray!

I will be turning my phone off this evening, so please, don't try to contact me.

I am hoping actually watching an episode will get me in the mood to write my presentation for the Pop Culture Conference.

PS. I know I said I would come back and show some photos of my nephews from Christmas...and I will, but I feel as though Lost deserves and post all its own.

Nose Back to the Grind

School starts tomorrow. I've managed to do the tiniest bit of preparation...just enough to get me though the first day. 

I finally unpacked my suitcase. 

I bought a notebook (unlike last semester).

Oh and I got a crockpot. It's pretty awesome. If anyone has some delicious crockpot recipes, they should forward them my way.

Next posting I will get around to posting pictures of the boys. Logan and I watched the following clip of the Peanuts gang dancing to "Hey Ya," and thought it was awesome. So enjoy.

Only a Few More Days...

...to deal with the cold

...to be completely lazy

...to sleep in a single bed (I miss a big bed)

...to be away from most of my friends

...to not exercise regularly and hard enough (I am tired of these extra holiday pounds)

In other news, I think I am going to get that new Wally Lamb book to read on the trip home. And my new favorite song is the Madcom remix of "Beggin." It rocks. 

I will return with more posts from the desert.

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?