Evil Wrapped in a Fangirl Disguise

I spent 2.5+ hours re-roping fifty year old Venetian blinds. It would have taken less time, but I had to do the right side three times before I got it completely right. By the third time I was frustrated and really just wanted Grandma to shell out the cash for new ones.

But I felt really accomplished when I finally got it right! Go me! With my mad Venetian blind fixing skills.

Grades also came out today.

Ethnic American Lit: A
Asian Religions: A-
Art of the Film: A-

So, yes, all around a non-sucky kind of day. Except for the wind. That was gross. But helpful for the farm, so I guess I won't complain too much.

The stupid weather has cost us roughly $50,000. Not good. Grandma's been complaining about it and I mentioned it to Mom today because, really, I don't have to finish my four years of college in four years. Or I could go somewhere else that's less pricey. (I REALLY wouldn't want to though.) But Mom assures me that we'll be fine and that Grandma just likes to complain.

I started this morning with two solid pages for Ethnic American Lit (going on to the third page), and now only have one and an half solid pages. Was completely dissatisfied with the sucktastic-ness of the paper and scrapped it.

Okay, so it did suck suck. It just...wasn't that great. I'm having a lot of trouble writing it, which is ridiculous considering I had the exploratory narrative done for it last week. I think this is just me not wanting to do anything.

I want to finish it today and study for Asian Religions. Then tonight I think I'll watch Lone Star again, taking notes this time. Tuesday I'll work on/write the paper for film class and get Asian Religions out of the way. I'd like to be done with everything by Thursday so I can have that day to relax, see people before I leave, and pack. Hopefully this will work out.

Friday night I'm totally curling up with some sci-fi and alcohol and totally not doing anything school related for at least a month.

This day is made better by the new profile of David Hewlett from the SGA DVDs.

I'm really enjoying my classes this quarter. I feel much more relaxed in them than usual. Not sure why.

In Ethnic American Literature we just finished reading Chang-Rae Lee's Native Speaker, which I thought was wonderful. This quarter I've been really trying to complete all of the novels assigned, and when books like this are on the syllabus, it's really not a very difficult task.

The last movie assigned for film class was Talk To Her, directed by Pedro Almodovar. I watched it once by myself on Saturday and once with Kasey and Michele on Sunday. So far this is my favorite film we've watched (not counting Raising Arizona, since I'd seen that previously and loved it). Perhaps if I had the chance to see My Life As a Dog again that would be around the same place as this one. I'm not even sure why I liked it as much as I did, but there's just something about it that works for me. I'll have to force it on Mom when the quarter ends.

Speaking of film class, a certain someone is dead to me. Again.

Yesterday my Asian Religions class went to a Buddhist monastery. We were shown how to bow correctly, given a tour, practiced meditation, and then had a bit of a Q&A session. It was a good time and a wonderful way to bring together everything we've been reading and discussing in class. As the professor says, you can't really understand religion unless you see it in practice.

*

I'm writing a lot more lately. It's a good thing. Have been working on some old stuff and have come up with some new stuff. Woo.

( Things To Force On Mom )

( VM Season Finale Spoilers )

Have only had one full day of classes so far, but I think I can tell how they're all going to go.

English - Ethnic American Literature: Dr. Tung is hilarious. The ice-breakers were actually kind of fun instead of just mind bogglingly boring. I did out myself as a big geek when I said Battlestar Galactica was one of my favorite shows. (The story of Creation is so much more interesting if you plug Adama in there.) I figured I was safe mentioning it because Tung got really excited about the last Terminator movie and its symbolism.

Anyway. Subject matter should be interesting, especially now that I know that it's cross-listed with Women's Studies. Looks like some of the things I learned in Gender and Social Reality will benefit me here as well. I'm also really looking forward to the readings and expanding my reader horizon.

Alas, Jeff is in the class. ::loses at classmates::

Theology - Asian Religions: I like Dr. Suh so far. People who are enthusiastic about what they're doing/teaching tend make things better/more interesting. The material also seems very interesting and will tie in nicely with Ethnic American Lit I think. She also uses slides in class, which certainly seemed to make the time go faster yesterday. Besides in class stuff, we'll be going to a couple of temples this quarter as well as learn and practice Tai Chi.

English - The Art of Film: I've wanted to take Dr. Taylor since sophomore year and now I get to. He's got a good voice and I'd be happy if he just lectured and didn't ask us questions. (But that's just me.) I just finished the first reading for this class and found the book to actually be rather funny. The writer doesn't mind calling this garbage and crap when they are. It's kind of refreshing. At one point we'll get to watch Raising Arizona and just thinking about it now I can hear the music. I love that movie, and I certainly never thought I would have to write a one page essay on it about movement.

Plus, Kasey and Michele are in there, so yea. ::wins at classmates::

It's going to be an interesting quarter.

Intertextuality is possibly the first time I've had a class and have not spent at least 15 minutes (all together) glancing at the clock. Today I didn't even think about the time until it was practically over. Love it.

We've moved on to John Donne. I love Donne.

( The Apparition. )

Heh. So funny.

Also really like the Lucille Clifton poetry we've read.

( the story thus far )

We looked at her Lucifer/Creation story related poems and they're all very provocative. I really like these re-workings of the Creation story. I may even have to (re-)read Paradise Lost.

I also like Clifton's Superman poems. I was going to say "particularly this one" in regards to the one behind the cut, but now that I look at all of them, that's not entirely true.

( note, passed to superman )

I think I'm going to use her series of poems about Lazarus from my pretext analysis paper.

*

Spent yesterday re-watching my SGA tapes. Stopped partway through "Letters From Pegasus." I love that episode, like, a lot. Think I finally figured out the movement of the Ancients that had me confused for a bit. (Earth --> get sick --> Pegasus --> get Wraith --> back to Earth.) At least I think I get it now.

Gotta go to Theology. Wonder if we'll talk about the new Pope...?

Well, I have now had all three of my classes. At the moment, and let me stress "the moment" because this could change, I'm feeling pretty good about this quarter.

Schedule looks like this --

MONDAY: Spanish 3, Intertextuality, Catholic Traditions. Work.
TUESDAY: Spanish 3. Work.
WEDNESDAY: Same as Monday.
THURSDAY: NO CLASSES. YEA!!
FRIDAY: Spanish 3, Intertextuality.

Spanish 3 will be no big deal I think. Catholic Traditions should be challenging and interesting. The professor seems nice. Funny. Intertextuality should be good and challenging and interesting and I can totally see why everyone loves the professor. I'm a little bit teacher-smitten and I've only had the class once.

Lots of reading this quarter. Not too freaked by the English stuff this time. Little bit worried about the theology stuff. It's a big book. I guess I'll see how that will turn out once I start reading though. Maybe it won't be as dense as the prof keeps saying.

(Spell check says "Intertextuality" is spelled wrong. Spell check can bite me. ::spork:: It also always tells me the end part of my contractions are spelled wrong. This spell check sucks.)

*

In Harry Potter related news....Daniel Radcliffe's Neck Tries to Eat His Head.

Seriously, doesn't that just look kind of odd? I hope his head grows into his body. Right now he kind of reminds me of the head-shrinker guy in Beetlejuice. Or Beetlejuice when his head starts to shrink...It's just weird. Poor Daniel Radcliffe.

Natasha says it looks like someone pasted his head onto the body. Heh. Bad manip!

Also, I don't know how I feel about Ron's hair. I do like this picture of the trio though.