Take a look. New design. Not a single graphic serves as a structural or content element. Every piece is in type. I have additional bits of type-based elements I’m going to toss into the works, but — after midterms.

I’ve oodles of bugs to work through with various nooks and crannies, and I need to reconstruct the archives and categories in full, but — after midterms.

I’ve a midterm exam due tonight — two and a half hours on Old Testament history. This has been one of the most interesting courses I’ve had in a long time.  I’m drafting up outlines right and left, watching lectures, etc. I’ve two book critiques I want to finish this week as well.

I’m horrible at this distance class concept. I deliberately chose a program which demands just as rigorous a schedule as an on-campus program, and it’s still a fantastic way to fill a year overseas. The result is something much closer to the British tutorial system. Independent diligence is not my strong suit! The internet isn’t making things any easier. The connection here in town, thanks to the rainy season, is skipping out constantly. I’ll get online after much tedium, it’ll be dirt slow, and then it’ll disappear again. Not great for Blackboard and its hogging of the broadly bandying net-wit. Here’s hoping I keep the net long enough to take the test!

In reality, I’m lucky that so much of South America has internet at all…

I have just experienced an evening in which I could not utter a coherent, brunette thought. I have also just experienced an evening in which I could not shut up.

Note: When having extended blonde moments, keep your mouth shut in class discussion.

—

Details! I want details! You’re not coming to see me, so you owe me something.
Posted by Kristin @ 02/09/2005 01:56 PM CST

I kept mispronouncing Oneida, until the professor corrected me. I objected to the analogous comparison of methodology between slave emancipation in the 19thC and removing a stolen wallet from a thug on Commercial St. I was right, my thought was fine, but it came out so jumbled that this guy, whose voice I despise and he creeps me out, said “What I *think?* you’re saying is…” which is what *I* do to people, only ten times more nicely, when they’re idiots but they’ve got a decent thought going and need help formulating it.
and it just continued.
Posted by Lor @ 02/09/2005 04:03 PM CST

How does on pronounce Oneida?
Poor Lorien. You must get Creepy Despicable Boy back somehow.
Posted by Kristin @ 02/10/2005 10:54 AM CST

onEYEda. apparently. Grandmother had corrected me on the pronounciation the previous day, too.
BTW: The Oneida thing? Look! I had no idea. I read the entire section of the chapter that discussed this before I linked Oneida with ONEIDA products.

http://www.polyamory.org/~howard/Poly/oneida.html

and

http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/Oneida.html

Posted by Lor @ 02/10/2005 12:29 PM CST

Mortification is the word of the day.

My day had been planned out with a chart and everything. Super Academia.

and then I got distracted. I missed the last of my buses, so I took the car and drove around campus trying to find metered parking (I don’t have a parking pass… not until January). I found metered parking across campus. Normally, not a problem. Today, two problems:

1) No bike.

2) The cats have hidden my shoes, and I had to run over to my apartment to find shoes… the only pair I found were some of my three inch heels. I love them, all of them, but they’re idiotic shoes.

So, I’m hiking across campus in these ridiculous shoes, carrying my thirty pound messenger bag across my chest, and not wearing a coat. The coat is important when wearing a button down shirt and carrying a messenger bag. The coat protects the buttons.

I walked into my classroom thirty minutes late. I sat and got oriented. A few minutes into the discussion, I notice my professor glance at my chest. Chest glancing isn’t entirely unusual, after all, and I’ve certainly had moments where my eyes are not obeying my brain and sense of propriety… and this is my Mr. Rogers prof that I’m certain didn’t mean anything by it, so I don’t hold it against him. I do, however, subtly pull the lapels closer together.

About five minutes later, I stretch my shoulders and I see my shirt pucker oddly.

Yes. Indeed. The strap of my bag had unbuttoned a button on my shirt. Worse, it unbuttoned the ONE button that would display my bra.

That’s bad enough, right, flashing a prof? Wait.

Part of my distraction this morning was that I had forgotten to do laundry yesterday, and I was lacking clean clothes. I scrounged up most of it, but had picked up a bra from the apartment while I was there. ‘Twas clean because I don’t often wear it. Threw it on and left.

Yes. Indeed. I flashed peachy-fleshtoned lace.

Mortification is the word of the day.

I participated in my first batch of archaeological fieldwork on Saturday. 9am-12pm. Nothing major, but it was exciting… shovel tests at twenty meter transects. Pairs of two dug foot round/deep holes and sifted the dirt/plants/rocks through a shaker screen. Anything of interest is bagged and marked.

I’m trying to be careful about sounding too important… what I’m doing is very, very minor. But! I am incredibly jazzed and giddy about this whole project. So if I make it sound like a big deal, it’s not, but it is.

This is my pet project at the Lab. I do grunt work, learn the work bit by bit… I’m having a great deal of fun. I clean and analyze the artifact samples brought from the site. Analysis is pretty low-key, given my utter lack of knowledge and experience… so I read books, ask questions, and research.

I love research.

I came home, didn’t want to be bored so I went back out and biked a couple of miles, came home, cleaned the house, did Spanish homework, watched Much Ado About Nothing, spoke with Kristin, went to sleep. Sunday, I went to church (I’m joining next Sunday morning), did a little homework (not enough), went back to church, came home…

I need to have more productive days like Saturday.

Also! Jess found my cellphone! It’s been missing for days and I was highly distressed. When I was watching Much Ado, my couch cushion started vibrating… and it was Jess! on my cell phone.

A little wacky, but whatever works.

Meanwhile… I am headed into Serious Academic Mode.

I am home again. I spent Saturday and Sunday seeing Grandmother to the airport — or, rather, this was the official task. My ulterior task was to claim Kristin’s last weekend of freedom before her new job began today.

Mission accomplished.

Saturday was spent crafting (ShrinkyDink and knitting) and commenting films (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Knight’s Tale).

How to Break Kristin’s Mom’s Plates:
1) Teach Kristin the Mom-Samurai method of casting knit stitches.
2) Casually mention that Leewit had chewed on the yarn Kristin is knitting.
3) Observe Kristin squeal “LORIEN!?!” and throw the yarn and needles.
4) Giggle hysterically. Bonus points for having laryngitis and being unable to actually laugh.
5) Attempt to run to the bathroom to wipe running eyeliner.
6) Trip on tray holding dessert plates.

Sunday was spent watching the Scarlet Pimpernel (I must now read the actual books), watching Kristin obsess over the cloak she was sewing for her brother, forcing Kelly to outline, snapping Michael’s rubber bands, impromptu costume decoration and having late night tea and cheesecake.

Kristin and I nagged each other into dressing up before leaving for evening tea… Kristin had her RennFest costumes on hand, and the family improvised and found all sorts of things to throw at me. Kristin offered the idea, Kelly provided the glitter, the sign and the twisting of wire on the back of my head, Kristin’s mother offered all sorts of things for a wand and such… and it continued. Kristin’s prop was absolutely fabulous — she went as the Evil Queen from Snow White, and took a basket of apples with a well phrased note of warning against ingestion. I was the Fairy GodMother Under Cover: makeup, hair, wand, normal clothes. Much fun was had.

I love Kristin quite dearly, y’know, and this is a very easy method of letting her know without risking too much mush and sarcastic discomfort. She’s an excellent friend and encouragement, and I’m exceedingly proud of how she handles setbacks and moves onward. I’m more domineering with her than I am with most of my friends — I think this is because I trust that she’ll kick me if I get over the top. Although, she was rather slow with the kicking when I automatically took her laptop when it locked up on her. I at least deserved a toe-stomping. I am, truly, working on a proper title for addition to her resume.

Right, I left her house at just about midnight (suitable for an undercover fairy godmother, yes?) and heading home to Springfield… only to find that the rain not only covered the entire west side of our State, but that it grew worse as I headed south. I was also more tired than I expected. I dozed off two or three times, that I know of, and at one point almost stopped in the middle of the highway. Three lights along the way glared with the water to make a column of light and shadow in the middle of the road, and in my dazy state I thought someone was standing there. I figured out rather quickly that I just needed to get to Clinton (the halfway point). I made it to Clinton, missed my exist, doubled around and slept for a couple of hours in a Walmart parking lot. My cell phone alarm went off at the appointed time, I got up and drove the rest of the trip. I made it back here at 4:37am. Settled Grandmother’s pets in her house, brought Leewit over to the house from my apartment (I’m staying in the house while Grandmother is in Kenya), studied for my Spanish test and went to school.

I took my test, when to Latin Govt. class… and I did intend to go to my Art History course. Really. and then I passed by the book sale in Strong. The History Department’s book sale. History books, quirky books, scifi/fantasy books, 6 for $1.
.
.
.
I only bought 13, mind you. This is superior to the 30some I bought at the last Longview book sale. I can always take them to ABC books for credit, too. Yeah, I know. Whatever.

I buy my books and realize that it’s twenty minutes after class was to start.

So I skipped both it and Shakespeare and came home.

Political Chalk on Campus. From last weekend… I’m going in today to fill it back in.

—-

When you set out to do something, you don’t do it halfway, do you?

Posted by Kristin @ 09/26/2004 02:46 PM CST

This makes sense, though. If I update it each week, I just have to fill in the blanks… today took two hours, compared to last week’s four. Also! I don’t have to compete for concrete. Although! People wrote over my Abigail Adams quote with “WHERE ARE THE WMDs?!”

As if Abigail Adams cared what Saddam was packing. Hmph.

Posted by Lor @ 09/26/2004 03:33 PM CST

… I just realized that I am, really, in the field to which I belong. I actually love research.

I was working on this problem regarding the proper writ of common law to apply to a 13th Century case, and the obvious answer seemed wrong. I went to the professor, and he confirmed the obvious answer. I came back downstairs and began to research.

It’s not the obvious answer. The books were off, the professor (bless him) hadn’t noticed. I’ve found the answer. and a few minutes ago I realized that I was having a lot of fun. This took a moment to figure out. but.

I actually love research.

golly gee.

Notes for future expansion. Letters to editors / local opinion pieces:

1) NRA lobby influence is being blamed for lapse of AWBan, and often tones are used that imply that this violates democratic principles. Rather, lobby influence within a republic/democratic system exemplify these principles and are absolutely valid. The danger is in a small faction outweighing the overall majority — this is not the case. Limited polls supporting the AWBan cannot compare to extreme rates of NRA membership and active citizenship.

2) Pres. Bush is being blamed for lapse of AWBan, with the implication of him being willfully lax in his duties. Other Bush-Problems aside, this is a foolish approach. This implies that the President has the Constitutional and realistic power to sway the entirety of Congress and Party to counter a significant portion of their voter base. This gives the office of the President far too much illegitimate power.

3) Objections to an article in the Southwest Standard (campus paper) from last week, written by Joe House:

a) AWBan was not a successful legislation. Weapons were still available via black market and numerous loopholes.

b) Backup your statements. One poll is not enough. Source of poll?

c) Drop in violent crime is not due to only this legislation. Other factors: Concealed Carry Acts. Texas example.

d) Petty shots re:lobbies and influence… this is a cross-aisle phenomenon, and a frankly legitimate (if often disturbing) one.

e) The Ban was too sweeping and ineffective (merge with first point?). Bayonet on collected rifle, difference in legalities re: Chinese production and Russian production.

f) Defense IS a valid argument anti-AWBan. Article’s argument is fallaction. “Bad guys” already have access to these weapons. Lawful citizens should have lawful access. 2nd amendment application.

g) Be specific when referencing laws. Respect your audience with sources and specifics.

h) Kids died from automatic weapons DURING the Ban, making your sentimental ploy petty. Columbine example.

i) 2nd amendment of the U.S. Constitution is MORE than “just one more campaign contribution.”

—

Ah, the power of your pen! It reminds me of days in the Learning Center spent lamenting over the sad sad state of the campus paper.

Did I ever tell you about the time I wrote an angry letter over an article published in the UMKC newsletter?

Posted by Kristin @ 09/14/2004 04:08 PM CST

hmm. I don’t think so.

and, now I just need to connect the thoughts into paragraphs. If I have time after a) procrastinating and b) tomorrow’s homework, I’ll do it tonight.

Posted by Lor @ 09/14/2004 06:51 PM CST

Yes, Lorien, do look at your assignment when it is first assigned, else you’ll be shocked to discover it’s a several hour project, and you’d like to go to sleep.

—

Once again I am virtually mocking you. You’re starting to sound like Katherine now… Dear Katherine, Here are the things you must do before you go to bed tonight.

Posted by Kristin @ 09/09/2004 11:26 AM CST

Interestingly, Lorien has long had you fooled. Whilst I have assisted in K-List Mockage, I have secretly conducted such notes to self for many a year.

I just knew better than to leave my notes on random tables.

Posted by Lor @ 09/09/2004 06:04 PM CST

I always suspected that you were bluffing.

Posted by Kristin @ 09/10/2004 09:05 AM CST

I’m being an absolute dork, but bear with me.

My scholarly urges are working. I like libraries. I like books. I love my fields.

When I am thirty, I will have a Ph.D. I will have lived and studied in multiple countries. I will be multi-lingual. I will have either been published, or be in the process of publishing. I will have a reasonable voice with which to speak my mission.

I have full confidence in my ability to reach that goal, and so the process is down to a continual decision to remain on path. If I remain on that path, I will experience no unsurmountable obstacles.

My scholarly urges are working because I can view that vague future-framework and get giddy-bouncy about my life. How great is it to be able to realistically and pragmatically get giddy-bouncy over eventually turning thirty?

—

Yes, dear, you are being a dork… and I am insanely jealous of you right now.

Posted by Kristin @ 09/07/2004 10:22 PM CST

but, see, in a few years I’ll be smack dab in the middle of my quarterlife crisis, and we’ll be even.

Posted by Lor @ 09/07/2004 10:58 PM CST

Are you saying that I am having a quarterlife crisis?

Posted by Kristin @ 09/08/2004 10:36 AM CST

Yes.

An old friend’s sister wrote this book about it. Mediocre book, but a good intro discussion into the phenomenon that people have known about for ages and haven’t actually researched. My mom had hers, and it was the Big Life Turning Point, so I’ve grown up expecting and preparing for the twentysomething curse.

Anyway, it’s this:
You go to college, get your degree, maybe get a job or just stick with your old campus job… flounder and wonder “Okay, now what?” within that inbetween of college and career/family. Questions of, do I get married? if I get married, then to whom? Do I get a job? okay, HOW? Do I go back to graduate school? How do I pay for it, what should I study?

Yes, dearie, you’re a classic QLC case.

Posted by Lor @ 09/08/2004 06:08 PM CST

OH, also. expression of annoyance: another old friend borrowed the book three years ago, and I haven’t seen it since! argh! I’d like to have it for sentimental reasons, at least.

Posted by Lor @ 09/08/2004 06:09 PM CST