March 2006

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March 2006

March 30, 2006

There is one load off of my mind right now. Went to the doctor today and almost two hours after I got there, I was informed that yes, my IUD is still in fact in place. Woo-Hoo!!! Cost me $32 to discover that, but peace of mind is worth it, no? There was some other news, but I'm keeping that to myself for the non. Sorry.

They did tell me that my blood pressure was high. Which is what they told me when I donated platelets. That's a little frightening, but I'm really hoping that it's all about the stress I've been under the last two weeks. I'm hoping that when I go in on Sunday to attempt to donate again, it will be where it's supposed to be. I haven't done anything different, and I've been exercising (although not this week), so I would think that it would be down. Right?

It's supposed to be 80 tomorrow. Think I might go for a bike ride. I haven't done any riding lately. I think I'm going to take my bike with me on spring break. Some of those state and national parks are big and have bike paths in them.

In other news, did you see the news about the steroid investigation with baseball? I say bring it on. I hope all those jacked up fuckers are quaking in their boots. I hope that they're terrified of what might come out and what that will do to their careers. I heard that two of MLB's major sponsors have said that if Bonds breaks the record, they will not participate in any of the celebrations. I applaud that decision. I really hope that Bonds just gracefully bows out. Or is perhaps on the injured reserve for the season. What an arrogant fuck.

I was also reading about the big fashion houses getting ready to take on the knock-offs. Not the illegal ones that are sold on the street corner in larger cities but the "interpretations" of high design. I'm saying I can't quite muster up the outrage that the designers want. I suppose on one hand I understand how frustrating it must be to work hard on an idea and then see it offered for a fraction of your price within months. But on the other hand, were you going to make that money anyway? Were the people buying the knock-offs ever going to be able to afford your price to begin with? And if you're so concerned about it, why not beat the knock-offs at their own game? Why not offer truly affordable versions of your designs? I suppose I just don't get what the big deal is.

TSLO is dreaming of romping through the verdant fields just off the porch. She's hanging out by the front door, and if I'm not fast getting it closed when I come in, she's trying to escape. I suppose I can't blame her. I often have the urge to run my ownself, so I suppose it's understandable that in her damaged primal brain, she's having the same impulses. This is a first for her, though. She's usually pretty placid and one of those out of sight out of mind kind of kids. Perhaps it's the diet that is driving her desire. She's getting back to her fighting weight, and she's extremely cute. Right now she is all tangled up in my fur. Literally. It might be dicey getting her out of it.

March 29, 2006

OK...so I looked at myself in the sunshine this afternoon, and I can say unequivocally that I am still a redhead. That's a good thing. Makes me happy.

It's funny how something so really insignificant can mean so much. I mean, it's just hair. Who cares what color it is? Why does it matter? But it does.

I didn't go to the gym this morning. Was too tired. I need to get up and go in the morning if for no other reason than to use the shower. My hot water heater is leaking again. It put the pilot out...just like last time. I turned the water off so I wouldn't have an astronomical water bill next month. Who knows. I may already have one. If they would have just replaced the damn thing back in December, I wouldn't be having this problem. Dammit.

I took a cold shower this afternoon. I remember doing that after the hurricane, and found that it was bearable. It was not, however bearable this evening. Probably because it's not yet sweltering outside (although it was 75 today).

Anyone following the story of the Duke lacrosse team? They've suspended 46 players, and the accusation is against three. The problem is that they don't know which three. Now, I've never been much on whole class punishment, but in this case, I can get behind it. These are student athletes who should know better. Protecting their alleged rapist brethren is not acceptable.

I have found another Chinese take out place. Really good. Perhaps better than most of the places I went in Reno. Extraordinarily large menu. Crisp egg roll and wontons. Huge portion of Schezuan pork and fried rice. All for $7.00. I think I'm going to have to go back soon.

I'm still exhausted. I'm thinking that with the leaking water heater, it's no wonder I can't get and stay well. With the mold growing in the house, can you imagine?

I dreamed the other night that I killed my brother with a shoe. I used to have these brown leather shoes with a cut-out wooden platform heel. That's what I used to bash his head in. It was quite a struggle as he's so much larger than I am. No one was sad about it, and I wasn't sorry. Hmmmmmmmm.

So, anyone have any suggestions about where I should go camping in the Carolinas? I suppose I should get online and see what I can find out. That AAA membership ought to come in handy, don't you think? *sigh*

March 28, 2006

Made a trip down to the coast to get my hairs done today. They look good, and the price was right. I'm not sure about the color though. We went with the dark auburn, and I feel like I'm now more of a brunette than a redhead. I don't know. I'm sure that I'm just not used to it yet, but. Eh. For $38 plus a $12 tip, I'm not going to complain. It's a whole helluva lot better than an 11 hour drive to Missouri or $85 here in Hattiesburg.

I have been exhausted today. I about fell asleep driving down and coming back. Then took a nap when I got home. So tired. The ice cream truck came by in the middle of it. Holy shit is that thing LOUD. And annoying. It didn't play the whole song. Just the same 5 second refrain over and over and over and over and over and over and over (well...you get the picture). It stayed in the neighborhood for a good 10 minutes. Just when I thought it had gone away, it would come back. Ughhhh. I'm hoping that it's related to yesterday's platelet donation.

So what do you think of the immigration debate? I'm not sure how I feel about the whole thing. I don't know that I think that building a wall across the southern border will really help things. I don't know about the guest worker program either. I do believe that something needs to be done. But the problem is what? And how?

I do find that the denigration of Latinos is the next great discrimination frontier. People who would never think of uttering the word "nigger" are willing to say all manner of discriminatory things about those from south of the border. People who pride themselves on being tolerant and accepting...all of the sudden aren't. I wonder what the switch is, and I wonder how critically people examine their beliefs and actions.

It is funny, I think, how quickly infatuation turns to nothing. How you go from many messages a day to nothing. That's OK. It was fun while it lasted. Did I tell you all that the hurricane boy and I had a long talk on Friday night? I bet he'd help me look for my IUD if I promised him a blowjob instead. What do you think? Really a moot point anyway as I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday. I think.

I'm thinking about going wireless in the house. I dunno.

I was reading The Stranger, which is an alternative paper out of Seattle. I've always believed that there is someone for everyone out there but I wonder. Yeah, gotta get yourself out there, blah, blah, blah. But what if with the billions of people in the world, there really isn't one person (or more) for everyone? And what if there was one person for us, but we missed him or her? What if we weren't paying attention or what if we decided to stay home instead of putting on the dog and going out? Random wonderings.

March 27, 2006

I'm sure there was something really interesting that I was going to say, but for the life of me I can't remember it. I have an excuse this time,t hough. I donated platelets yesterday and haven't felt right since. Ick.

I recovered the blue and white chair this evening. I'm not totally happy with what I've done, but it will due. It certainly looks better than it did. I figure I'll drop by the Treasure Hunt tomorrow to see if they have any more material. I need a pair of scissors, though. Mine, of course, have been rendered totally useless when it comes to cutting material. I think I probably needed about a yard more of material to make everything work out right. That way I could tuck up under the cushions and staple them and have it stay. Or at least that's what I'm thinking.

I went to Bed Bath and Beyond to look at slipcovers, and I was shocked to see that for a chair, the only ones they had were $50-70. Ouch. That's a little on the pricey side, don't you think? I looked at Ross where the prices were much better, but they didn't have anything that would work with my current decor. Dammit.

I think I'm gonna finish my beer and then go to bed. I'm still wiped out from yesterday.

March 23, 2006

I'm supposed to be listening to the prof lecture in REF 830. I really hate this. I'm not sure why I decided that a stats minor was a good idea. Someone remind me again. HOh...that's right...so I can maybe teach introductory research courses. *sigh* Speaking of which, I sent an email to University of Phoenix. We shall see. We shall see, eh?

I have to drive to Mobile in the morning. I have an appointment at the Planned Parenthood in Mobile to have my IUD checked. I can't feel the strings, and that could be a problem. That means that possibly I can't get my fingers far enough up there to check. Or maybe the strings are hiding in there somewhere. Or maybe it has been expelled. Or possibly it's floating around in my uterus, waiting to perforate it. Great. Just great.

What really floors me is that there is nowhere...really...here in Hattiesburg for me to have this looked at. I have to drive two hours to get to a place that is willing to look at my IUD. If by some freak chance that after all this time, my IUD has been displaced, then I'm going to have to go BACK to Mobile to get another one inserted. Or go without birth control. Not that I use the birth control all that often, but shit. If I do happen to need it, there's no way in hell I'm going to rely on a condom. Those things break.

March 20, 2006

There was awful weather there this afternoon. Several fast moving tornados whipping through the area, but I don't know if they did any damage. It was scary, though. The transformer behind the house blew. Huge loud pop and then no power. Scared the hell out of me.

I wandered around the house lighting candles. Went out to the car in the pouring rain and got the lantern and my flashlight. The batteries are dead in the lantern. Note to self...go to the store and stock up on D-cell batteries before the next storm. D batteries are expensive. I need 8 to run the lantern. Eight for the radio (I listened to the news this evening). Eight for the litterbox. (that's extremely important) Good lord.

I really do hate it that I am so afraid of storms. I think we've talked about it here before, but I don't know where that fear comes from. I haven't always been, have I? This evening, after the power came back on, I literally felt my heart racing...and that whole process of slowing down. I really do not know why I let it get to me so. There's probably a way to control it, but I don't know what it is.

It's kind of funny because I do enjoy the little gentle rain that is coming down now. I just can't stand the heaviness and storm. There are times when I really do wish that there was a boy around.

This is gonna be TMI, so iffn you don't want to read, skip ahead a little bit. My period has been screwy this last month. It was kinda a week late...the week that it was supposed to be here, it was all gross and spotty with nothing really happening. Then the week that it actually did happen, it was normal like it was supposed to be. Now this week, it's been that gross spotty shit again. On top of that, I'm pretty sure that I've been ovulating this week. What the hell? It is damned inconvenient in the extreme. I need to go to the doctor. I'm afraid that it could be something wrong with my IUD. Come to think of it...I haven't checked my IUD lately. Need to get on that.

Did I tell you that the HB's 21 year old virgin is a virgin because she's gay? I wanted to roll around on the floor when I heard that. Now I'm going to have to give him hell about sending her to bat for the other team. Funny.

There is so much more to say, but at this juncture, I think I want to keep it to myself. Just for a little while longer.

March 15, 2006

I took my application for Katrina aid up to the financial aid office. I have some real ambivalent feelings about having done that. I could always use some extra money, but I somehow feel wrong in taking the aid, even if it's there for the taking. Just like after the hurricane, when I didn't apply for Red Cross or the temporary food stamps, I feel like there are so many people out there who had it so much worse than I did. Afterall, I didn't have any damage to my home. I lost the things in my fridge and freezer, but that's about it. I didn't have power for two weeks, but then again, no one else had power either so big deal. On the other hand, I realize that there's money there, and they're practically begging us to apply for it. So I have. I don't know how much they'll give me for the spring and summer semesters, if they'll give me anything. But whatever is OK. I guess.

I was almost run over this afternoon. I was going up to campus to hand in my application and this big ass, jacked up F150, with a MS firefighter license plate (1077F) apparently didn't see me. I really did think he was going to hit me. I hit my brakes and laid on the horn at the same time. So incredibly close to me.

It makes me wonder, though...people say that they buy big vehicles and SUVs because they're larger and safer. I choose my car because I didn't think I could justify a bigger vehicle seeing as how it's just me. What do I need a larger vehicle for in the first place? It was the most responsible choice for me to buy a smaller car. However...if everyone on the road is in a bigger car, how safe am I in my responsible choice for me? If I'm going to be safe, do I have to get a bigger car too? Do I have to cave in and bite the same bullet that everyone else does?

There is something extremely distasteful about that notion. Particularly when you consider how expensive gas is right now. (It's gone up here almost 30 cents in the last 48 hours) Cynically I think this is all part of the grand plan to further homogenize our culture. We eat at the same restaurants; we shop at the same stores; we buy the same music; we are marching towards becoming seamlessly the same people. Soon we'll be driving the same cars. *sigh*

Is anyone going to be making corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day? I was pretty surprised to find that there was only one ad for corned beef in the papers today. I thought that corned beef was a traditional St. Patty's deal meal. It is, isn't it? Very odd. I guess, though, I'll pick up something tomorrow. Maybe there will be someone to come over and eat with me. I dunno, though.

I think I'm going to go up to Jackson on Saturday to see the parade with the SPQs. I think I may have already told y'all this. Could be wrong, though. Just found out that there's a fun run before the parade, but I don't know if I want to get up that early. It starts at 8:00 and that means I'd have to leave here by 6:00 if I wanted to find a place to park. I don't think that's got a chance in hell of happening. *sigh*

March 14, 2006

There was a shooting at Pine this morning. I don't know what else to say tonight. Say a prayer for those kids and the teachers.

March 13, 2006

I've locked myself out of the house twice in the last two days. Fortunately, the step ladder was outside so I could easily climb in through the kitchen window. It wasn't so good this afternoon, though, as I was wearing black dress pants and had on 3 inch heels. The landing with the heels on was a little on the rough side. My legs are now aching, as is my back. I have probably fucked myself up for a little bit. Good grief. How do I manage to get myself into such situations?

I have a ton of reading to get done. The dissertation I bought was delivered to Jessica's today. I need to read Dr. Hill's methodology section. I need to read a couple of books for the SI (and hopefully for my dissertation as well).

It's raining here this evening.

The Kappa Delta Pi initiation was this evening. A little unorganized, but nice nonetheless. I got my pin and my purple and green cords. I'll be wearing those under my hood when I graduate. If I ever graduate.

Have I mentioned that I've had to turn on the AC? When it's 80 in the house, I can't stand it. I try to conserve and keep my energy use down, but there comes a point at which it's very difficult to continue to sacrifice. When your cats are sacked out on the floor panting, it's time to turn the AC on. Poor babies. It was hard to fall asleep last night because it was so hot. Thinking about getting the rotary fan out of the spare room. Already have the ceiling fan going. Don't want to turn the AC down further.

I'm actually thinking about breaking the paint around some of the windows and some how rigging a screen. Mark has a stapler. I'm sure I could borrow it to do some sort of improvised thing. Maybe. Possibly.

Any big St. Patricks Day plans? I think I'm going to go to Jackson to see the Sweet Potato Queens. Would be nice to have a shiny new camera to take pictures with (that's a message for the sugar daddy wanna be).

Did y'all catch this article on the latimes.com? I can't quite imagine thinking about that kind of surgery. With the pressure to have big boobs and appropriately round asses with the requisite tiny waist, now we have to worry about our vaginas? I just can't imagine that. What kind of loathing of our bodies does that imply? Jesus Christ.

March 12, 2006

Yeah. Long time no write. I apologize profusely. Not really a whole lot to say about the whole thing, I suppose.

Tomorrow night is the initiation into Kappa Delta Pi. I don't want to go and do it. I don't want to do much of anything to be honest.

I'm a little stressed out right this minute, and I'm not exactly sure why. Could be something to do with the eclipse happening in the next couple of days. So very anxious right this minute, though. Ughh. I feel like I'm about to fall off the side of a cliff.

There are good things happening, though. I got my preproposal back from Rachal, and it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. That's a really good thing. I just need to add some clarity to my methods section and I'm ready to go. That's a really good thing.

I'm very restless right this moment. Think I need a drive. Sorry. I know I should be telling you about the trip to Lafayette, and I know I should finally tell you all about Mardi Gras. Not going to happen right now, though. Sorry.

March 8, 2006

Hattiesburg is apparently going to hell in a handbasket. Last night there was a shooting a couple of blocks from here. Apparently the cop stopped a guy who was walking along Hardy. Guy had a gun and there was a tussle. Somehow the guy wound up dead. Some conflicting accounts of what happened. The police say that there was only one shot fired. The witnesses in the Wendy's said that there were two shots fired.

This is the best part, though...there is no outside investigation of the shooting. The department itself is investigating the shooting. (The DA is reviewing it, but the HPD is investigating itself) AND the officer is not on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation. He's on leave until the mental health counselor says he can come back. What?!?!

And this comes a day after a come-to-Jesus meeting at a local church that implied that the sole reason the African American community is pleased with the police chief simply because police brutality charges are down. (Ummmmm...could that possibly be because the are only oh, say 5 officers...at MOST...on per shift because so many officers have left the force?)

It's a little scary out here.

Perhaps what is even more frightening is the racial overtones to the whole thing. There are a TON of stereotypical comments being flung around...like the mayor and Rev. Fairley must have bought a bunch of buckets of chicken to get that many people to show up to protest. And the "I don't mean to be offensive, but..."

It is times like these that I am reminded how much I don't want to be here.

Had a conversation with another person searching for a job. Y'all know that I believe that what is supposed to happen will happen and things will work out just the way they're supposed to. I'm pretty mellow about the whole thing. I've got options. You know? But I'm feeling anxious. Started feeling her negative energy.

I need to get to bed. I have to go to Lafayette tomorrow. It's a long drive. And the weather is supposed to be really shitty tomorrow.

Anyway. Going to bed.

March 7, 2006

I am confused. I know that's no big surprise, but nevertheless, I am confused. I really wish yo could look at a person and know automatically what their intentions are. You know...just read their minds, know what they want from you and then determine whether you can give it to them or not. Don't you think that would be a really neat ability to have? I really don't like playing guessing games and being off balance.

Because no one answered me, I went ahead and washed my pants. I think the pants are OK. They're hanging from the line, drying, I figure I'll give them a careful ironing tomorrow...wrong-side out so help protect against that sheen. Maybe even use one of the tea towels between the iron and the pants.

I also used the sewing machine again today. Stitched up three more blouses. The first one took a really long time. Had to rip the stitches out because I didn't do a straight line. And then I somehow managed to stitch a little piece of the back to the button placket. I know, I know, I know. I fixed it, though. It's OK now. Lovely straight row of stitches, and the other two shirts were just as nicely done. Everything has been washed, and tomorrow I'll be doing quite a bit of ironing. I'm thinking I'm going to wear the new black pants with the blue pin stripes with the light blue shirt to the conference in Lafayette. I'll be looking cute as a button.

So, did anyone see the article about Barry Bonds and steroids? I wonder what happens to his records with the revelation of his drug abuse. It somehow seems wrong that he gets to keep those accolades when he did not truly earn them...and after he's tarnished the reputation of baseball. It's something that's so much bigger than he is. Chasing a record isn't just about him. It's about the game. I take a perverse thrill in knowing that with the cocktail of drugs Bonds took, he's got to have incredibly small dick at this stage of the game. In the pursuit to acquire the trappings of masculinity, he's lost one of the most readily recognizable markers of masculinity.

Asshole.

I don't know that I have much else to say tonight. Sorry. Tired.

March 6, 2006

Holy cow. Went to the Kappa Delta Pi meeting this evening and handed over my money. $75. Which was right after I handed over $43 for a dissertation. Good god. I'm definitely going to apply for the Katrina Assistance. This poor kid is poor. (And I still need to pay for my car insurance. Eek. Which reminds me...I think I should be getting a bill for that soon. Will have to check on it tomorrow)

At any rate, there's an induction ceremony for Kappa Delta Pi. (I shelled out that money because there are scholarships available and grants and all of that good stuff...and it's a networking opportunity. If I don't get this position at UCA, then a membership in KDP will be helpful in my applications to colleges of Ed)

Speaking of UCA, I called them this afternoon. They said that they couldn't tell me if my application was complete because it was currently being reviewed by a member of the committee. The secretary did say that she remembered seeing quite a bit of information from me. She wished me luck. I don't know if that's a good sign or not. I really wish I weren't so nervous about this whole thing. I shouldn't be. Either it will be or it won't. Not much I can do about it at this point.

Did I mention that I forgot that I'm supposed to be in Lafayette for a conference on Thursday? I totally forgot about it. *sigh* Will leave here around noon, do my dog and pony show around 5:30 and then head back here. I can't believe I forgot that was this week.

I really did mean to write about Mardi Gras this evening, but I don't think that's going to happen.

Where is Shannon when I need her? One of the pairs of pants that I bought are dry clean only. I'm wondering if I can handwash them and just hang them to dry. (They're a poly/rayon/spandex blend...something like 64% poly, 34% rayon, and 4% spandex) Besides not wanting to pay for the dry cleaning, I don't want to smell the dry cleaning. Yes, I should have looked at the label first, but how can you pass up $6 pants? I mean, really.

Did I tell you that I'm going to learn how to play the guitar? Mark is going to give me one of his really old guitars and he's going to attempt to teach me.

I have wanted to learn how to play since I was a little, little kid. I think I must have been five when I got a little bitty plastic green guitar for Christmas. I wouldn't put the thing down. When the "strings" broke, my grandpa used fishing line to fix it. Eventually my brother broke the neck on my guitar, and it couldn't be fixed. I was inconsolable. Grandpa took some of that money that the Great Grand-Sner had been giving us for cutting the grass and doing work in her yard to buy me a real guitar.

The problem was that even though I had a guitar, I didn't know how to play it. Grandpa kept saying that he was going to get Barefoot Bob Kinney to give me some lessons. Bob Kinney was on KTTS every Saturday morning. Kinney also lived in Billings I think. I have this vague recollection of going out to the Kinney's with Grandpa, my guitar in tow and watching Kinney play. I don't remember, though, getting any lessons.

My guitar traveled all over the place with me, and I tried to get someone to teach me how to play. I remember going to church camp in PA and asking our youth pastor if he would teach me. He said yes, but every time I brought it up, there was always some excuse or reason why we couldn't do it. I eventually quit asking because one of my things is that I'm not going to keep asking.

When I turned 15, my guitar couldn't make the flight to Reno with me, so it stayed at my grandparents. I don't know what it happened to it after that point.

Apparently now, though, I'm going to make time. Mark has given me his old guitar (or it will be mine after Beth's class does their play in April), and he's said that he'll teach me. We've had a conversation about that because Beth warned me that he hasn't been able to teach her or their two sons because he's impatient. I told him that I'm not an auditory learner so he's not going to be able to tell me how to do something and expect me to get it. He's going to have to show me and let me do it. He said OK. I also told him that I'd ask a lot of questions.

We were playing around with it Saturday night a little bit. He was showing me how to do a particular chord, but I was having trouble with it because I need to cut my fingernails. They were very long, and I couldn't hold the strings down. I have since clipped my nails.

March 5, 2006

Well...I didn't go to church this morning. And I haven't done a whole lot of anything yet today. It's 10:30 at night. I feel like chocolate.

Anyway. I was going to tell you all about Mardi Gras, but that's going to have to wait until tomorrow night. I have to get a presentation pulled out of my butt for tomorrow night. *sigh* I wasn't thinking that I was going to have to do quite so much work for tomorrow night, but that's the way it rolls sometimes. I'm a professional. I can handle it. I'm sure.

Did I tell y'all that I've been invited to join Kappa Delta Pi? I have an orientation thing to go to tomorrow night. Will be late to my presentation because I have to be there. And then the next week is the induction ceremony. I wonder when I have to have my dues to them. Speaking of dues, I need to get some cash pulled together to pay for my AAACE membership and my membership in the Jaycees. $120. Good grief. All of this professional crap is expensive.

I so need to get busy on this presentation thing. Ughhh. But I could use some chocolate. Or some frosting. One of the two. (Have I mentioned that I'm having a really screwy period this month?)

March 4, 2006

I've been a bit lazy as of late, eh? It all started because I didn't want to do all of the work to do the update from Mardi Gras. One day of inaction turns into a week. I suppose, though, now that I'm able to update the site (for some reason, my credit card info was screwed up when they were trying to charge me for the next six months of service), it's time for me to get on it. (Speaking of which...did y'all have problems accessing the site the last couple of days? Sorry about that. I didn't know...they didn't send me an email)

I really should leave this for tomorrow and go to bed. I've been out at Beth's drinking. And I'm tired. I was out at Beth's drinking and smoking last night...didn't go to bed until 1:30 or so, and I was up at 6:30 this morning. I don't know why. I was just motivated to get going on cleaning the house. Did the laundry. Vacuumed. Swept. Some other stuff.

Went shopping today at Hudson's...after yesterday's trip which netted the Ralph Lauren jacket that was originally $270 but I picked up for $13 (along with the 60 cent panties). Today I got three pairs of dress pants for $19.26. Originally at least $60/pair. I say at least because two of the three pairs didn't have price tags. One pair is a lovely grey pair of Nine West pants, which should go nicely with my jacket. I also picked up two shirts at Dillards. Not nearly such a good deal, but eh. One of them I'm going to have to do a little altering on, but I now have that capability.

My new sewing machine works like a charm. I used it yesterday to stitch up my light blue shirt. The only thing that was difficult was how fast the sewing machine actually went once it got going. Need some practice with that, which I will get with the green shirt I bought today. It's going to be a little different. Cute shirt...little gap at the boobs. Dammit.

I think I'm going to go to church with Beth and Mark tomorrow. I have been invited. I don't quite know how to say no to that. *sigh* It will all depend on when I roll out of bed in the morning. Am very tired now.

I got a letter from UCA today. Apparently my file is complete? There was an affirmative action letter in the mail today, so I sent that back to them this afternoon. Right away. I figure I'm still going to give them a call on Monday...just to make sure that they have everything and to ask them what comes next in the process. I'm very nervous about the whole thing, and as I've said before, it's a really long shot, but. As Mark said this evening, if I hadn't applied, I'd have a 100% chance of not getting the job. Since I have applied, I have at best (notice the phrasing) a 50/50 chance.

Got my ring back from the jeweler. $160. Eeek. But that's OK. It's all lovely and sparkly. The shattered diamond did NOT fall out. That's a good thing. I'll just worry about that now. (That's a really good idea)

Last Updated January 26, 2008

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March 30, 2006

There is one load off of my mind right now. Went to the doctor today and almost two hours after I got there, I was informed that yes, my IUD is still in fact in place. Woo-Hoo!!! Cost me $32 to discover that, but peace of mind is worth it, no? There was some other news, but I'm keeping that to myself for the non. Sorry.

They did tell me that my blood pressure was high. Which is what they told me when I donated platelets. That's a little frightening, but I'm really hoping that it's all about the stress I've been under the last two weeks. I'm hoping that when I go in on Sunday to attempt to donate again, it will be where it's supposed to be. I haven't done anything different, and I've been exercising (although not this week), so I would think that it would be down. Right?

It's supposed to be 80 tomorrow. Think I might go for a bike ride. I haven't done any riding lately. I think I'm going to take my bike with me on spring break. Some of those state and national parks are big and have bike paths in them.

In other news, did you see the news about the steroid investigation with baseball? I say bring it on. I hope all those jacked up fuckers are quaking in their boots. I hope that they're terrified of what might come out and what that will do to their careers. I heard that two of MLB's major sponsors have said that if Bonds breaks the record, they will not participate in any of the celebrations. I applaud that decision. I really hope that Bonds just gracefully bows out. Or is perhaps on the injured reserve for the season. What an arrogant fuck.

I was also reading about the big fashion houses getting ready to take on the knock-offs. Not the illegal ones that are sold on the street corner in larger cities but the "interpretations" of high design. I'm saying I can't quite muster up the outrage that the designers want. I suppose on one hand I understand how frustrating it must be to work hard on an idea and then see it offered for a fraction of your price within months. But on the other hand, were you going to make that money anyway? Were the people buying the knock-offs ever going to be able to afford your price to begin with? And if you're so concerned about it, why not beat the knock-offs at their own game? Why not offer truly affordable versions of your designs? I suppose I just don't get what the big deal is.

TSLO is dreaming of romping through the verdant fields just off the porch. She's hanging out by the front door, and if I'm not fast getting it closed when I come in, she's trying to escape. I suppose I can't blame her. I often have the urge to run my ownself, so I suppose it's understandable that in her damaged primal brain, she's having the same impulses. This is a first for her, though. She's usually pretty placid and one of those out of sight out of mind kind of kids. Perhaps it's the diet that is driving her desire. She's getting back to her fighting weight, and she's extremely cute. Right now she is all tangled up in my fur. Literally. It might be dicey getting her out of it.

March 29, 2006

OK...so I looked at myself in the sunshine this afternoon, and I can say unequivocally that I am still a redhead. That's a good thing. Makes me happy.

It's funny how something so really insignificant can mean so much. I mean, it's just hair. Who cares what color it is? Why does it matter? But it does.

I didn't go to the gym this morning. Was too tired. I need to get up and go in the morning if for no other reason than to use the shower. My hot water heater is leaking again. It put the pilot out...just like last time. I turned the water off so I wouldn't have an astronomical water bill next month. Who knows. I may already have one. If they would have just replaced the damn thing back in December, I wouldn't be having this problem. Dammit.

I took a cold shower this afternoon. I remember doing that after the hurricane, and found that it was bearable. It was not, however bearable this evening. Probably because it's not yet sweltering outside (although it was 75 today).

Anyone following the story of the Duke lacrosse team? They've suspended 46 players, and the accusation is against three. The problem is that they don't know which three. Now, I've never been much on whole class punishment, but in this case, I can get behind it. These are student athletes who should know better. Protecting their alleged rapist brethren is not acceptable.

I have found another Chinese take out place. Really good. Perhaps better than most of the places I went in Reno. Extraordinarily large menu. Crisp egg roll and wontons. Huge portion of Schezuan pork and fried rice. All for $7.00. I think I'm going to have to go back soon.

I'm still exhausted. I'm thinking that with the leaking water heater, it's no wonder I can't get and stay well. With the mold growing in the house, can you imagine?

I dreamed the other night that I killed my brother with a shoe. I used to have these brown leather shoes with a cut-out wooden platform heel. That's what I used to bash his head in. It was quite a struggle as he's so much larger than I am. No one was sad about it, and I wasn't sorry. Hmmmmmmmm.

So, anyone have any suggestions about where I should go camping in the Carolinas? I suppose I should get online and see what I can find out. That AAA membership ought to come in handy, don't you think? *sigh*

March 28, 2006

Made a trip down to the coast to get my hairs done today. They look good, and the price was right. I'm not sure about the color though. We went with the dark auburn, and I feel like I'm now more of a brunette than a redhead. I don't know. I'm sure that I'm just not used to it yet, but. Eh. For $38 plus a $12 tip, I'm not going to complain. It's a whole helluva lot better than an 11 hour drive to Missouri or $85 here in Hattiesburg.

I have been exhausted today. I about fell asleep driving down and coming back. Then took a nap when I got home. So tired. The ice cream truck came by in the middle of it. Holy shit is that thing LOUD. And annoying. It didn't play the whole song. Just the same 5 second refrain over and over and over and over and over and over and over (well...you get the picture). It stayed in the neighborhood for a good 10 minutes. Just when I thought it had gone away, it would come back. Ughhhh. I'm hoping that it's related to yesterday's platelet donation.

So what do you think of the immigration debate? I'm not sure how I feel about the whole thing. I don't know that I think that building a wall across the southern border will really help things. I don't know about the guest worker program either. I do believe that something needs to be done. But the problem is what? And how?

I do find that the denigration of Latinos is the next great discrimination frontier. People who would never think of uttering the word "nigger" are willing to say all manner of discriminatory things about those from south of the border. People who pride themselves on being tolerant and accepting...all of the sudden aren't. I wonder what the switch is, and I wonder how critically people examine their beliefs and actions.

It is funny, I think, how quickly infatuation turns to nothing. How you go from many messages a day to nothing. That's OK. It was fun while it lasted. Did I tell you all that the hurricane boy and I had a long talk on Friday night? I bet he'd help me look for my IUD if I promised him a blowjob instead. What do you think? Really a moot point anyway as I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday. I think.

I'm thinking about going wireless in the house. I dunno.

I was reading The Stranger, which is an alternative paper out of Seattle. I've always believed that there is someone for everyone out there but I wonder. Yeah, gotta get yourself out there, blah, blah, blah. But what if with the billions of people in the world, there really isn't one person (or more) for everyone? And what if there was one person for us, but we missed him or her? What if we weren't paying attention or what if we decided to stay home instead of putting on the dog and going out? Random wonderings.

March 27, 2006

I'm sure there was something really interesting that I was going to say, but for the life of me I can't remember it. I have an excuse this time,t hough. I donated platelets yesterday and haven't felt right since. Ick.

I recovered the blue and white chair this evening. I'm not totally happy with what I've done, but it will due. It certainly looks better than it did. I figure I'll drop by the Treasure Hunt tomorrow to see if they have any more material. I need a pair of scissors, though. Mine, of course, have been rendered totally useless when it comes to cutting material. I think I probably needed about a yard more of material to make everything work out right. That way I could tuck up under the cushions and staple them and have it stay. Or at least that's what I'm thinking.

I went to Bed Bath and Beyond to look at slipcovers, and I was shocked to see that for a chair, the only ones they had were $50-70. Ouch. That's a little on the pricey side, don't you think? I looked at Ross where the prices were much better, but they didn't have anything that would work with my current decor. Dammit.

I think I'm gonna finish my beer and then go to bed. I'm still wiped out from yesterday.

March 23, 2006

I'm supposed to be listening to the prof lecture in REF 830. I really hate this. I'm not sure why I decided that a stats minor was a good idea. Someone remind me again. HOh...that's right...so I can maybe teach introductory research courses. *sigh* Speaking of which, I sent an email to University of Phoenix. We shall see. We shall see, eh?

I have to drive to Mobile in the morning. I have an appointment at the Planned Parenthood in Mobile to have my IUD checked. I can't feel the strings, and that could be a problem. That means that possibly I can't get my fingers far enough up there to check. Or maybe the strings are hiding in there somewhere. Or maybe it has been expelled. Or possibly it's floating around in my uterus, waiting to perforate it. Great. Just great.

What really floors me is that there is nowhere...really...here in Hattiesburg for me to have this looked at. I have to drive two hours to get to a place that is willing to look at my IUD. If by some freak chance that after all this time, my IUD has been displaced, then I'm going to have to go BACK to Mobile to get another one inserted. Or go without birth control. Not that I use the birth control all that often, but shit. If I do happen to need it, there's no way in hell I'm going to rely on a condom. Those things break.

March 20, 2006

There was awful weather there this afternoon. Several fast moving tornados whipping through the area, but I don't know if they did any damage. It was scary, though. The transformer behind the house blew. Huge loud pop and then no power. Scared the hell out of me.

I wandered around the house lighting candles. Went out to the car in the pouring rain and got the lantern and my flashlight. The batteries are dead in the lantern. Note to self...go to the store and stock up on D-cell batteries before the next storm. D batteries are expensive. I need 8 to run the lantern. Eight for the radio (I listened to the news this evening). Eight for the litterbox. (that's extremely important) Good lord.

I really do hate it that I am so afraid of storms. I think we've talked about it here before, but I don't know where that fear comes from. I haven't always been, have I? This evening, after the power came back on, I literally felt my heart racing...and that whole process of slowing down. I really do not know why I let it get to me so. There's probably a way to control it, but I don't know what it is.

It's kind of funny because I do enjoy the little gentle rain that is coming down now. I just can't stand the heaviness and storm. There are times when I really do wish that there was a boy around.

This is gonna be TMI, so iffn you don't want to read, skip ahead a little bit. My period has been screwy this last month. It was kinda a week late...the week that it was supposed to be here, it was all gross and spotty with nothing really happening. Then the week that it actually did happen, it was normal like it was supposed to be. Now this week, it's been that gross spotty shit again. On top of that, I'm pretty sure that I've been ovulating this week. What the hell? It is damned inconvenient in the extreme. I need to go to the doctor. I'm afraid that it could be something wrong with my IUD. Come to think of it...I haven't checked my IUD lately. Need to get on that.

Did I tell you that the HB's 21 year old virgin is a virgin because she's gay? I wanted to roll around on the floor when I heard that. Now I'm going to have to give him hell about sending her to bat for the other team. Funny.

There is so much more to say, but at this juncture, I think I want to keep it to myself. Just for a little while longer.

March 15, 2006

I took my application for Katrina aid up to the financial aid office. I have some real ambivalent feelings about having done that. I could always use some extra money, but I somehow feel wrong in taking the aid, even if it's there for the taking. Just like after the hurricane, when I didn't apply for Red Cross or the temporary food stamps, I feel like there are so many people out there who had it so much worse than I did. Afterall, I didn't have any damage to my home. I lost the things in my fridge and freezer, but that's about it. I didn't have power for two weeks, but then again, no one else had power either so big deal. On the other hand, I realize that there's money there, and they're practically begging us to apply for it. So I have. I don't know how much they'll give me for the spring and summer semesters, if they'll give me anything. But whatever is OK. I guess.

I was almost run over this afternoon. I was going up to campus to hand in my application and this big ass, jacked up F150, with a MS firefighter license plate (1077F) apparently didn't see me. I really did think he was going to hit me. I hit my brakes and laid on the horn at the same time. So incredibly close to me.

It makes me wonder, though...people say that they buy big vehicles and SUVs because they're larger and safer. I choose my car because I didn't think I could justify a bigger vehicle seeing as how it's just me. What do I need a larger vehicle for in the first place? It was the most responsible choice for me to buy a smaller car. However...if everyone on the road is in a bigger car, how safe am I in my responsible choice for me? If I'm going to be safe, do I have to get a bigger car too? Do I have to cave in and bite the same bullet that everyone else does?

There is something extremely distasteful about that notion. Particularly when you consider how expensive gas is right now. (It's gone up here almost 30 cents in the last 48 hours) Cynically I think this is all part of the grand plan to further homogenize our culture. We eat at the same restaurants; we shop at the same stores; we buy the same music; we are marching towards becoming seamlessly the same people. Soon we'll be driving the same cars. *sigh*

Is anyone going to be making corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day? I was pretty surprised to find that there was only one ad for corned beef in the papers today. I thought that corned beef was a traditional St. Patty's deal meal. It is, isn't it? Very odd. I guess, though, I'll pick up something tomorrow. Maybe there will be someone to come over and eat with me. I dunno, though.

I think I'm going to go up to Jackson on Saturday to see the parade with the SPQs. I think I may have already told y'all this. Could be wrong, though. Just found out that there's a fun run before the parade, but I don't know if I want to get up that early. It starts at 8:00 and that means I'd have to leave here by 6:00 if I wanted to find a place to park. I don't think that's got a chance in hell of happening. *sigh*

March 14, 2006

There was a shooting at Pine this morning. I don't know what else to say tonight. Say a prayer for those kids and the teachers.

March 13, 2006

I've locked myself out of the house twice in the last two days. Fortunately, the step ladder was outside so I could easily climb in through the kitchen window. It wasn't so good this afternoon, though, as I was wearing black dress pants and had on 3 inch heels. The landing with the heels on was a little on the rough side. My legs are now aching, as is my back. I have probably fucked myself up for a little bit. Good grief. How do I manage to get myself into such situations?

I have a ton of reading to get done. The dissertation I bought was delivered to Jessica's today. I need to read Dr. Hill's methodology section. I need to read a couple of books for the SI (and hopefully for my dissertation as well).

It's raining here this evening.

The Kappa Delta Pi initiation was this evening. A little unorganized, but nice nonetheless. I got my pin and my purple and green cords. I'll be wearing those under my hood when I graduate. If I ever graduate.

Have I mentioned that I've had to turn on the AC? When it's 80 in the house, I can't stand it. I try to conserve and keep my energy use down, but there comes a point at which it's very difficult to continue to sacrifice. When your cats are sacked out on the floor panting, it's time to turn the AC on. Poor babies. It was hard to fall asleep last night because it was so hot. Thinking about getting the rotary fan out of the spare room. Already have the ceiling fan going. Don't want to turn the AC down further.

I'm actually thinking about breaking the paint around some of the windows and some how rigging a screen. Mark has a stapler. I'm sure I could borrow it to do some sort of improvised thing. Maybe. Possibly.

Any big St. Patricks Day plans? I think I'm going to go to Jackson to see the Sweet Potato Queens. Would be nice to have a shiny new camera to take pictures with (that's a message for the sugar daddy wanna be).

Did y'all catch this article on the latimes.com? I can't quite imagine thinking about that kind of surgery. With the pressure to have big boobs and appropriately round asses with the requisite tiny waist, now we have to worry about our vaginas? I just can't imagine that. What kind of loathing of our bodies does that imply? Jesus Christ.

March 12, 2006

Yeah. Long time no write. I apologize profusely. Not really a whole lot to say about the whole thing, I suppose.

Tomorrow night is the initiation into Kappa Delta Pi. I don't want to go and do it. I don't want to do much of anything to be honest.

I'm a little stressed out right this minute, and I'm not exactly sure why. Could be something to do with the eclipse happening in the next couple of days. So very anxious right this minute, though. Ughh. I feel like I'm about to fall off the side of a cliff.

There are good things happening, though. I got my preproposal back from Rachal, and it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. That's a really good thing. I just need to add some clarity to my methods section and I'm ready to go. That's a really good thing.

I'm very restless right this moment. Think I need a drive. Sorry. I know I should be telling you about the trip to Lafayette, and I know I should finally tell you all about Mardi Gras. Not going to happen right now, though. Sorry.

March 8, 2006

Hattiesburg is apparently going to hell in a handbasket. Last night there was a shooting a couple of blocks from here. Apparently the cop stopped a guy who was walking along Hardy. Guy had a gun and there was a tussle. Somehow the guy wound up dead. Some conflicting accounts of what happened. The police say that there was only one shot fired. The witnesses in the Wendy's said that there were two shots fired.

This is the best part, though...there is no outside investigation of the shooting. The department itself is investigating the shooting. (The DA is reviewing it, but the HPD is investigating itself) AND the officer is not on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation. He's on leave until the mental health counselor says he can come back. What?!?!

And this comes a day after a come-to-Jesus meeting at a local church that implied that the sole reason the African American community is pleased with the police chief simply because police brutality charges are down. (Ummmmm...could that possibly be because the are only oh, say 5 officers...at MOST...on per shift because so many officers have left the force?)

It's a little scary out here.

Perhaps what is even more frightening is the racial overtones to the whole thing. There are a TON of stereotypical comments being flung around...like the mayor and Rev. Fairley must have bought a bunch of buckets of chicken to get that many people to show up to protest. And the "I don't mean to be offensive, but..."

It is times like these that I am reminded how much I don't want to be here.

Had a conversation with another person searching for a job. Y'all know that I believe that what is supposed to happen will happen and things will work out just the way they're supposed to. I'm pretty mellow about the whole thing. I've got options. You know? But I'm feeling anxious. Started feeling her negative energy.

I need to get to bed. I have to go to Lafayette tomorrow. It's a long drive. And the weather is supposed to be really shitty tomorrow.

Anyway. Going to bed.

March 7, 2006

I am confused. I know that's no big surprise, but nevertheless, I am confused. I really wish yo could look at a person and know automatically what their intentions are. You know...just read their minds, know what they want from you and then determine whether you can give it to them or not. Don't you think that would be a really neat ability to have? I really don't like playing guessing games and being off balance.

Because no one answered me, I went ahead and washed my pants. I think the pants are OK. They're hanging from the line, drying, I figure I'll give them a careful ironing tomorrow...wrong-side out so help protect against that sheen. Maybe even use one of the tea towels between the iron and the pants.

I also used the sewing machine again today. Stitched up three more blouses. The first one took a really long time. Had to rip the stitches out because I didn't do a straight line. And then I somehow managed to stitch a little piece of the back to the button placket. I know, I know, I know. I fixed it, though. It's OK now. Lovely straight row of stitches, and the other two shirts were just as nicely done. Everything has been washed, and tomorrow I'll be doing quite a bit of ironing. I'm thinking I'm going to wear the new black pants with the blue pin stripes with the light blue shirt to the conference in Lafayette. I'll be looking cute as a button.

So, did anyone see the article about Barry Bonds and steroids? I wonder what happens to his records with the revelation of his drug abuse. It somehow seems wrong that he gets to keep those accolades when he did not truly earn them...and after he's tarnished the reputation of baseball. It's something that's so much bigger than he is. Chasing a record isn't just about him. It's about the game. I take a perverse thrill in knowing that with the cocktail of drugs Bonds took, he's got to have incredibly small dick at this stage of the game. In the pursuit to acquire the trappings of masculinity, he's lost one of the most readily recognizable markers of masculinity.

Asshole.

I don't know that I have much else to say tonight. Sorry. Tired.

March 6, 2006

Holy cow. Went to the Kappa Delta Pi meeting this evening and handed over my money. $75. Which was right after I handed over $43 for a dissertation. Good god. I'm definitely going to apply for the Katrina Assistance. This poor kid is poor. (And I still need to pay for my car insurance. Eek. Which reminds me...I think I should be getting a bill for that soon. Will have to check on it tomorrow)

At any rate, there's an induction ceremony for Kappa Delta Pi. (I shelled out that money because there are scholarships available and grants and all of that good stuff...and it's a networking opportunity. If I don't get this position at UCA, then a membership in KDP will be helpful in my applications to colleges of Ed)

Speaking of UCA, I called them this afternoon. They said that they couldn't tell me if my application was complete because it was currently being reviewed by a member of the committee. The secretary did say that she remembered seeing quite a bit of information from me. She wished me luck. I don't know if that's a good sign or not. I really wish I weren't so nervous about this whole thing. I shouldn't be. Either it will be or it won't. Not much I can do about it at this point.

Did I mention that I forgot that I'm supposed to be in Lafayette for a conference on Thursday? I totally forgot about it. *sigh* Will leave here around noon, do my dog and pony show around 5:30 and then head back here. I can't believe I forgot that was this week.

I really did mean to write about Mardi Gras this evening, but I don't think that's going to happen.

Where is Shannon when I need her? One of the pairs of pants that I bought are dry clean only. I'm wondering if I can handwash them and just hang them to dry. (They're a poly/rayon/spandex blend...something like 64% poly, 34% rayon, and 4% spandex) Besides not wanting to pay for the dry cleaning, I don't want to smell the dry cleaning. Yes, I should have looked at the label first, but how can you pass up $6 pants? I mean, really.

Did I tell you that I'm going to learn how to play the guitar? Mark is going to give me one of his really old guitars and he's going to attempt to teach me.

I have wanted to learn how to play since I was a little, little kid. I think I must have been five when I got a little bitty plastic green guitar for Christmas. I wouldn't put the thing down. When the "strings" broke, my grandpa used fishing line to fix it. Eventually my brother broke the neck on my guitar, and it couldn't be fixed. I was inconsolable. Grandpa took some of that money that the Great Grand-Sner had been giving us for cutting the grass and doing work in her yard to buy me a real guitar.

The problem was that even though I had a guitar, I didn't know how to play it. Grandpa kept saying that he was going to get Barefoot Bob Kinney to give me some lessons. Bob Kinney was on KTTS every Saturday morning. Kinney also lived in Billings I think. I have this vague recollection of going out to the Kinney's with Grandpa, my guitar in tow and watching Kinney play. I don't remember, though, getting any lessons.

My guitar traveled all over the place with me, and I tried to get someone to teach me how to play. I remember going to church camp in PA and asking our youth pastor if he would teach me. He said yes, but every time I brought it up, there was always some excuse or reason why we couldn't do it. I eventually quit asking because one of my things is that I'm not going to keep asking.

When I turned 15, my guitar couldn't make the flight to Reno with me, so it stayed at my grandparents. I don't know what it happened to it after that point.

Apparently now, though, I'm going to make time. Mark has given me his old guitar (or it will be mine after Beth's class does their play in April), and he's said that he'll teach me. We've had a conversation about that because Beth warned me that he hasn't been able to teach her or their two sons because he's impatient. I told him that I'm not an auditory learner so he's not going to be able to tell me how to do something and expect me to get it. He's going to have to show me and let me do it. He said OK. I also told him that I'd ask a lot of questions.

We were playing around with it Saturday night a little bit. He was showing me how to do a particular chord, but I was having trouble with it because I need to cut my fingernails. They were very long, and I couldn't hold the strings down. I have since clipped my nails.

March 5, 2006

Well...I didn't go to church this morning. And I haven't done a whole lot of anything yet today. It's 10:30 at night. I feel like chocolate.

Anyway. I was going to tell you all about Mardi Gras, but that's going to have to wait until tomorrow night. I have to get a presentation pulled out of my butt for tomorrow night. *sigh* I wasn't thinking that I was going to have to do quite so much work for tomorrow night, but that's the way it rolls sometimes. I'm a professional. I can handle it. I'm sure.

Did I tell y'all that I've been invited to join Kappa Delta Pi? I have an orientation thing to go to tomorrow night. Will be late to my presentation because I have to be there. And then the next week is the induction ceremony. I wonder when I have to have my dues to them. Speaking of dues, I need to get some cash pulled together to pay for my AAACE membership and my membership in the Jaycees. $120. Good grief. All of this professional crap is expensive.

I so need to get busy on this presentation thing. Ughhh. But I could use some chocolate. Or some frosting. One of the two. (Have I mentioned that I'm having a really screwy period this month?)

March 4, 2006

I've been a bit lazy as of late, eh? It all started because I didn't want to do all of the work to do the update from Mardi Gras. One day of inaction turns into a week. I suppose, though, now that I'm able to update the site (for some reason, my credit card info was screwed up when they were trying to charge me for the next six months of service), it's time for me to get on it. (Speaking of which...did y'all have problems accessing the site the last couple of days? Sorry about that. I didn't know...they didn't send me an email)

I really should leave this for tomorrow and go to bed. I've been out at Beth's drinking. And I'm tired. I was out at Beth's drinking and smoking last night...didn't go to bed until 1:30 or so, and I was up at 6:30 this morning. I don't know why. I was just motivated to get going on cleaning the house. Did the laundry. Vacuumed. Swept. Some other stuff.

Went shopping today at Hudson's...after yesterday's trip which netted the Ralph Lauren jacket that was originally $270 but I picked up for $13 (along with the 60 cent panties). Today I got three pairs of dress pants for $19.26. Originally at least $60/pair. I say at least because two of the three pairs didn't have price tags. One pair is a lovely grey pair of Nine West pants, which should go nicely with my jacket. I also picked up two shirts at Dillards. Not nearly such a good deal, but eh. One of them I'm going to have to do a little altering on, but I now have that capability.

My new sewing machine works like a charm. I used it yesterday to stitch up my light blue shirt. The only thing that was difficult was how fast the sewing machine actually went once it got going. Need some practice with that, which I will get with the green shirt I bought today. It's going to be a little different. Cute shirt...little gap at the boobs. Dammit.

I think I'm going to go to church with Beth and Mark tomorrow. I have been invited. I don't quite know how to say no to that. *sigh* It will all depend on when I roll out of bed in the morning. Am very tired now.

I got a letter from UCA today. Apparently my file is complete? There was an affirmative action letter in the mail today, so I sent that back to them this afternoon. Right away. I figure I'm still going to give them a call on Monday...just to make sure that they have everything and to ask them what comes next in the process. I'm very nervous about the whole thing, and as I've said before, it's a really long shot, but. As Mark said this evening, if I hadn't applied, I'd have a 100% chance of not getting the job. Since I have applied, I have at best (notice the phrasing) a 50/50 chance.

Got my ring back from the jeweler. $160. Eeek. But that's OK. It's all lovely and sparkly. The shattered diamond did NOT fall out. That's a good thing. I'll just worry about that now. (That's a really good idea)