This Is My Job..

Reminds me of when I started at K-State...except I don't have a hump on my back. I still haven't received appropriate training for some of what we do, though.

The END of Star Wars?!?!

So Mom, Ben, Micah, and I went to see Star Wars on Thursday. I like it, overall. Seeing the story of Darth Vader's (Anakin's) fall to the dark side was particularly interesting to me. But then again, this is the girl who's read a good number of the Star Wars books and has some emotional attachments to the series. I admit it; I cried at the end.

But here are the points that particularly bothered me: Padme NEVER walked, sat, or otherwise acted like a pregnant woman. I'm sorry, there is no woman in the galaxy - the universe, even - who, when 8 months pregnant with twins, can run. Having been a pregnant woman myself, I can honestly tell you that from month 5 or so on, we waddle. Running becomes a thing of the past, because all we can do is waddle really fast (imagine having something slightly larger than a grapefruit sitting IN your pelvis). Further, even if the love of her life had betrayed her, wouldn't the children she carried be enough to make her want to live? Apparently not. Padme is a weak-willed, sniveling brat who did nothing more than cry about her fate than actively try to change it.

I kept hoping, through out the movie, that Anakin would get the hint and change. I knew that it would never happen, but still. Here's to craptastic acting on the part of Hayden Christiansen, who's only redeeming quality is his relative hotness and charm.

Was anyone else bothered by the plastic quality of the Emperor's face after he zaps Windu? Excuse me, in the original movies, his face was bruised and burst vessel mottled, as well as overly wrinkly. In one of the later books - which Lucas does not exactly endorse - the bruising/vessel bursting is explained as a consequence of using the Force for evil instead of good, because there is really not two sides of the force, more two ways of using it. It's just like a gun - it can be used for good or it can be used for evil, but that doesn't make the gun itself evil or good. It would have behooved Lucas to have gone back and taken some screen shots of Palpatine from the original series before they did his makeup, not after. Also, what the hell was up with Palpatine's voice? It was like, all the sudden, he's trying to sound evil. Um, no...just no.

Also, after having read the books, I was rather disappointed with Kashyyk, the Wookie planet. In the books, Kashyyk is described as a planet covered in it's entirety by trees several stories high. I was at the very least expecting a planet with trees significantly bigger than the Wookies who are supposed to live in them (yes, in them. They carve their homes out of the trunks!). Not what I got at all. Further, I'm rather disappointed that we did not meet a young Han Solo, who at this point would have been all of 8 or 10 and already an ace pilot. Also, at the end of the movie, Jar-Jar is still alive, which is the greatest tragedy of all in my book.

However, knowing me, you can bet I'll be asking for this movie for Christmas. I also need to get Episode I. In widescreen. ^.^

What Kind of English Do You Speak???

Your Linguistic Profile:

45% Yankee

30% General American English

15% Dixie

5% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Most interesting...

Things I Learned As A Child...

Things I Learned As A Child

No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair.
If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
Reading what people write on desks can teach you a lot.
Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a tic-tac.
Never hold a dustbuster and a cat at the same time.
School lunches stick to the wall.
You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
The best place to be when you are sad is in Grandma's lap.
It's hard to unlearn a bad word.
It's easier to see the mistakes on someone else's paper.
A pencil without an eraser may as well just be a pen.
Sometimes the best one in the play has the fewest lines.
Twelve is a lot older than eight.
Sometimes your best move is blocked by your own checkers.
Don't say that the "Last One is a Rotten Egg" unless you're absolutely sure there's a slow kid behind you.
If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.
Your room gets smaller as you get bigger.
You can't start over just because you're losing the game.
A snow day is more fun than a vacation day.
All libraries smell the same.
If you want someone to listen to you, whisper it.
Sometimes you have to take the test before you've finished studying.
Silence can be an answer.
If you throw a ball at someone, they'll probably throw it back.
Don't nod on the phone.

Oh, Yeah...

I also edited the links in the sidebar. Finally. Yay me!

*skitters off to lunch*

Catching Up

So I haven't posted in...forever. Too bad. Get over it. I was 'busy'. That is to say, I had better things to do. And...I was lazy. So there.

However. Scott arrived safely for graduation. Yay! I went and picked him up in KC. It rained the whole way there and most of the way back. I love rain. I wish it would rain today. It would be nice. But it won't. Or it will wait until after I fall asleep.

So, graduation was Saturday. Ben and I accepted Barb's diploma. Then, we had a few people over for lunch at my mom's house. Scott's mom was there, as was one of my mom's friends and her husband. It was just one of those days. I couldn't sleep Friday, so when they decided to go to the Ren Fest and wanted to take Tori, I went home and took a nap. <3 Then Eric and I got to hang out for awhile. Micah came over, and we all watched Read or Die, which is a totally kick-ass anime. Tori watched Pinocchio on the compy. Stayed up way too late again. Played D&D on Sunday and almost died. Monday...I did something I can't remember. Oh, went to JC and helped my mom clean a house. And read a book.

Tuesday...yesterday...we met with the county attorney. Went about as well as I expected it to. Except maybe a little worse. I don't know. Wilkerson reminds me of a weasel. Or a rat. Bleh. I'm not in a mood to think about it. So, after we met with Wilkerson, I went back to work for a few hours. Then I got Micah and my mom took Scott, Ben, Steve, Micah, and I out for dinner at Famous Dave's. It was pretty good, except they don't believe in refilling your drinks until you grab the waitress and threaten her. Apparently, they believe that an empty drink means you're about done with your meal. Whatever. Ben had an appointment at 8, and Steve had try outs for Romeo and Juliet. Micah had to clean his house, so he left too. And Mom, Scott, and I went out for drinks. Scott had the equivalent of about 3 beers, and Mom and I had giant Long Islands. Mom and I both ended up feeling ... very happy. ^.^; So Steven came and joined us for a few minutes, and then we went to Mom's house and played Pinochle. Scott and Mom won one game and Scott and I won the second. Steven lost. o.o Silly boy...

Now, it's Wednesday. It's a crap for crap kinda day. Thus far, I've typed a job description for Reggie (the boss' boss) and spent about...4 hours trolling the net. I got mostly caught up on my C&A forum readings, did my stuff for MW, and now I'm posting here. I feel accomplished. Now I'm ready for my nap.

Random Quote: "And the words we learned today are 'fangoriously', 'gelatinous', and...linebacker." Strongbad.

Speeding Tickets, Dresses, and More...

So I went to Nebraska to contest my speeding ticket today. Turns out that, unlike Manhattan, they don't actually let you have a trial on the day of your first court appearance, they make you come back at some later date. So...I have to go back in June.

After court, I went shopping while Mom napped in the car. I got the cutest dress - I really really like it - to wear to graduation. I'm also planning to wear it to our banquet tonight. I hate banquets. Have I mentioned that? There'll probly be a long rantish-type post about it tomorrow.

In other news, Mom and I got to talk yesterday on the trip, which was very good. It was definitely something we needed to do. We mostly got our issues resolved, I think. We also got some other things done, which was really nice.

Otherwise, not much has changed here. Kate's still telling people nasty things about me. I don't know that I really expected differently...

Random Quote: "Some people say that I must be a terrible person, but it’s not true. I have the heart of a young boy in a jar on my desk" -Stephen King

Mother's Day, With Appropriate Ranting

Okay, so Mother's Day was pretty good, overall.

I managed to not die in D&D (and to actually kill things - w00t!!!). I got some free time in the morning since Tori was with Robbie, and then I played D&D, and then I went out for dinner with Mom and the boys and Tori.

We went to the Golden Wok. Tori was a brat. She hadn't taken a nap, and she started screaming over something (I'm still not 100% sure what happened that set her off) and wanted nothing to do with me, she just wanted Nama. So Mom finally got back to the table and proceeded to give Tori Jello, fruit, and ice-cream. Frustrating as hell, that.

Then we went back to Mom's to play cards. Ben called Jerry and went to his house, so it was me, Mom, Steven, and Tori. Tori refused to go watch her movie, after asking us to put it on. We decided to play Casino. Ben played a hand for Mom and was a total ass about it. Then Mom played the rest of the game out.

We started a second game, and Sidney Carlin called at the end of the second hand. That was at 9 pm. She spent 45 minutes on the phone before I got Tori mostly together and left.

I just get so frustrated. I feel as if I'm on the bottom of Mom's priority list, regardless of what she says. She keeps saying how important I am to her, but it doesn't always (or often) seem that way. The old adage "Actions speak louder than words" is very applicable.

And now, a random quiz...

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to good manners and elegance.

In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored.

You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please.

Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Banquets Suck

Yeah, that's right. Banquets suck. Especially Student Publications banquets. Especially when they tell you to dress 'semi formal' and the dress code is actually 'very casual'. Sarah Rice, this semester's editor-in-chief, wore a very short jean skirt (if it had been any shorter we'd have had some serious butt cheek viewing) and a tight blue tank top that highlighted her...um...lack of assets. Her current hair style also highlights the fact that she has a very small, triangular shaped, evil looking face. Maybe that's just me though. Any way...they gave her like four awards, which stank, since last semester she caused almost all of the discension she supposedly solved this semester. Basically, though, the whole thing seemed like a great big sorority party. I bet there was more than one Greek involved in the planning.

Anyway, the evening culminated in the spub people awarding Barb some sort of 'impact' award for the impact she had on the people she had at the Collegian. Too bad Sarah forgot to clap. Or smile. Or act like she thought that Barb deserved such an honor... Okay, I'm seriously done picking on Barb's small-breasted nemesis. I was touched that they awarded Barb anything at all.

We're planning a banquet for Gear Up next week. That also sucks. I'm tired of banquets. I hate planning the stupid things. I hate going to them. It's just agonizing weeks of planning culminating in a two hour pat-ourselves-on-the-back fest. I can't wait for this stupid thing to be over and done with. I wish I was independently wealthy so I could quit my job to go back to school. Never going to happen, but it's still a nice wish...

In other news, I'm exhausted. Who knew that sleep could be so hard to come by? I've not slept well at all in the last week. Definitely stress. I've been bitched out at work (in front of others, no less), I stayed up way too late one night (my own fault, but the best couple hours of sleep I've gotten lately), we had this stupid Spub banquet last night, we have the gear up banquet next week, and graduation next Saturday. Also, Robbie is an asshole. He seems to think that because he has finals and wants to go to work parties and pretend to study, he doesn't have to have Tori. While I'm looking forward to having a set visitation schedule when (and if) he gets a different job, I'm more than a little frustrated with his inability to make his daughter a priority in his life. If I want to go out, I make plans for the nights I don't have Tori. If I want to go out on the nights I have her, I don't just call him and dump her on him, as he does to me. I make plans for someone else (usually my mom) to watch her. I think I'm going to send him an e-mail and tell him that since school is over, he needs to get on a set schedule at Chipotle so I know when he is going to have Tori. I just hate being bitchy when Tori might lose out because of my 'tude. But I also feel that Robbie needs to step up and take responsibility for his daughter. I am quite certain I wasn't the only one involved in her conception (although Robbie has accused me of getting pregnant on purpose), but he acts like I was. He refuses to be responsible and make sacrifices. He claims he's sacrificed, but what has he honestly given up? Free time? Not really. If he doesn't feel like having her he just lies to me about when he has to work. School? Nope, looks like he's actually graduating, instead of flunking out like he would have before we moved in together. I just don't see that he has this child as much as he possibly can, or that he even wants to have her at all. If I tell him I am going to Minnesota with her for the weekend, do you think he makes arrangements to have her earlier in the week? Nope. He just doesn't have her. He's a self-centered ass. I can be too at times I guess. Okay, I'm done bitching. I'm so tired of putting up with Robbie's crap. I wonder if he is really going to try for custody of Tori?

Random Quote of the Day: "Always do the right thing. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." Mark Twain

A Party! woo and yay!

So, a whole bunch of us got together for dinner last night (and that means like six of us) at my house. Caleb was the first to arrive at 8, and we ran and got chicken from Food 4 Less. Micah showed up about 8:30 and Sara and Eddie arrived about five minutes later. I made cordon bleu, which turned out absolutely awesome, and veggies. Emiko got there about 9. She brought a green tea ice cream pie, which was very good. I beat Eddie at chess while we ate pie, and Emiko ended up taking the last piece of chicken home with her since she had eaten before she arrived. mmm...it was soo much fun. We played this trivia game where you are asked to answer some questions, and then your answers reveal something else about you. For example, a roller coaster reveals opinions about sex. How long you had to wait in line was how much foreplay you prefer; how the ride made you feel was how you feel during sex; you got splashed with water at the end and that was what you are likely to yell during sexual climax; you rode a carousel and the horse stops, and what you said to the horse reveals how you might treat your partner if they were unable to perform; and then your drawing of the 'perfect coaster' revealed how you thought ideal sex should be. Another quiz was: you are walking along the street and you bump into a trash can, knocking it over. What falls out of the can? 1. Nothing. 2. Loose trash. 3. Rotten trash (i.e. apple cores, bones, and other nasties). 4. A neatly tied trash bag. If you answered 1, you are a very straight forward, honest person. if you answered 2, you seem put together but in reality you put on a pretense for people. I don't remember the other answers meanings; Sara, Eddie, and I answered 2 and Micah answered 1, so I'm not sure we even got to the other meanings. But it was a lot of fun. Eddie, Sara, and Micah stayed until 1 am. We sat around and took turns playing video games and talked with each other. It was a blast. Ironically, even though I was up so late and got less than 5 hours of sleep, I'm better rested today than I have been in a long while. Maybe I should have parties more often...

Quote of the day: I always wanted to be somebody. I should have been more specific. -Lily Tomlin

The Rain in Spain

So...I have that song stuck in my head. Not a clue why, but there it is, bouncing around and around in that empty skull of mine.

Micah came over for dinner last night. Yay! He's so sweet. I made some chicken garlic pasta stuff that was pretty good (and easy ^.^). Tori loved it - she ate as much as I did. And then we played Final Fantasy IV (I think it's IV). Or rather, Micah played, I watched, and Tori alternated between watching and playing with her dolls. All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening.

Eddie, Sara, and Ethan are coming over for dinner tonight. Micah will join us later, after he has dinner at his parents. We are going to make cordon bleu (thanks for the suggestion Scott!) and cookies and then we will watch "Read or Die", this really cool anime I've been bugging them to watch forever. It should be loads of fun, provided I can get my house cleaned up...

Quote of the day: "I was playing poker the other night... with Tarot cards. I got a full house and 4 people died." --Steven Wright

Grumble grumble...

So my grandmother had her knee replaced yesterday. Mom said she was doing well and all that. Tori got to talk to her grandma on the phone, and she was sooo excited. ^.^

Tori took a bath last night. A bubble bath. For those of you who have ever had three year olds in your life, a bubble bath is a very exciting event for them. It is a chance to splash and play and have fun whithout having Mom yell at them about getting dirty. Tori definitely had fun. By the time she was done, the only part of the bathroom left to clean was the toilet and the sink...neither of which she could splash on. But the floor is now mostly clean. yay? Then I trimmed her bangs and she let me braid her hair. I should have taken pics, because it was incredibly cute! Not that everything that child does isn't cute...

Well, apparently Kate has decided that Eric, who has thus far refused to take sides in the argument between her and me, is taking my side by not taking hers. Basically, Eric refuses to acknowledge that I didn't try hard enough to make my relationship with Kate work. And he refuses to acknowledge that it's Kate's fault for being a stupid witch. So he is siding with neither of us. But if Kate keeps this up...well, it's curtains for their relationship. As Scott so aptly pointed out, Kate has basically said to Eric, "If you leave me, I'll do everything in my power to hurt you and make you suffer. But I love you." How can she really love him and then not allow him to leave without paying for it? While it is human nature to be selfish, true love overrides those faults; it is completely selfless.

In other news, I'm going to have people over for dinner Wednesday. I really have to clean my apartment. I hate cleaning. Passionately hate it, to be precise. But that's okay... I can work on it tonight.

Quote of the day: My choice early in life was either to be a piano-player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference. -- Harry S. Truman

The Princess Bride

So I let Tori watch the Princess Bride last night. She was absolutely enthralled with it. I can't remember the last time she watched a movie from start to finish without running off and getting bored. But she did it! She watched it all the way through. During the fight scene in the Fire Swamp (with the ROUS's), she was very upset and worried about Westley and had to come sit on my lap. It was sooo cute. But she liked it and wanted to watch it again after it was over, but it was bedtime and I wouldn't let her. So she threw a fit. Apparently she liked the movie.

Her pink-eye has returned. She got off her medicine on Wednesday, and her eyes are all goopy again and she's complaining that they hurt. Poor kid. I'm going to call the doctor and see if they'll just fax a prescription in and not have her come in again. The problem being that they prescribed medicine, but the next day she had it in both eyes and there wasn't really enough to treat both eyes, there was only enough to treat one eye. Gah. I hate holding.

I get to have lunch with Sara and Caleb and Micah today. Yay! That should be fun. Micah and I had dinner with Sara and Eddie last night, and another friend, Ethan, as well. It was sooo yummy. We're going to get together on Wednesday at my house. Good excuse to clean up my apartment, huh? I'm not sure what we're going to make yet, but I'm sure I'll think of something yummy...

On a more humorous note, my cat is stupid. I had opened the windows on Saturday night and then Sunday when I got up I closed them before I showered. Well, Tonic was doing that crazy dart around like mad thing that cats do, and he came running into the bathroom and leapt up straight into the window, which was now closed. I laughed at him, and he ran off, and after I showered he avoided me for over ten minutes (until I fed them, when he became my best friend). Then, a few minutes after Tonic had performed his leap into the window, Gin came running in and jumped into the shower with me before she realized the water was running! She then proceeded to act like I had intentionally injured her. Silly cats...

Random quote of the day: "There are easier things to do then understand women, like nailing water to a tree"-Kombucha

Yay!

Okay, so Kate has decided she needs to talk to Micah about her 'fucked up life'. Whatever. She's so damn immature.

In other news, I'm introducing Tori to The Princess Bride. She's enthralled with it, which makes me smile. It's my favorite movie of all time.

Random quote: "I can't afford to make exceptions. Once word gets out that a pirate's gone soft it's nothing but work work work all the time."