Worlds · enough · and · time

for anyone interested in the case - new evidence

http://www.wm3.org/live/newsevents/newsitem.php?news_Id=165

Never fly with an expired license - They let me leave on, but I got flagged for extra security coming home, oh yeah and my cell phone died (I think the battery is permanently dead).

I think I hate traveling. I did have a great time at the conference (updates to come later).

For now I am waiting for my flight out of MO - I am so ready to be home.

So it's been ages since I updated. I've done less than I would have liked over the summer. I did however get some work done towards my phd applications, and made some decisions about phd school. I will be staying in california - I've decided leaving is just not possible, but I'm ok with that. I don't think I'd like weather very much anyway. Besides I've made some great contacts at my perspective future school, and I like my job.

so what prompted my return to lj? I tried logging into jstore tonight and was denied. My student status has ended. Of course I can still access the database as an alumni, but it was a small moment of realization - I'm not a student anymore. I guess I need to really work on applications so I can rectify this.

After my many misadventures today, I returned home to Weasel, who got the mail. Ages ago, I received an opportunity (via Astarte) to write a character analysis (from the Hyperion books). I worked and wrote - and sent it off. I emailed them once, after about 6 months and they said they were still working. Then I got an email saying, yup still working on the collection. Today I got a check. Which officially makes me published, and paid for my work.

Yay me.

Well fuck – I went to the other starbucks hoping I could get the free interweb (via the bailbonds man) to let me update LJ. Sadly it appears I have been defeated. So I’ll write this now, and upload later.

My first final is done. I have 3 exams left to grade. I enjoyed that class, most of them really worked hard and improved a lot. I think the cute horror movie girl might fail. She did well on the final, but I’m not sure that is enough for her to pass.

After the final I went to check my mail and found a student (the french-girl) has nominated me for some teaching award thingy. It may be shady, one of those buy our expensive books kind of deals, but the effort was really sweet. So as I’m holding this letter in my hand and drifting out of the mailroom, I run into Diabolica’s ex (and technically my ex, but let’s not go there). He told he graduated and seemed very proud. We chatted a little. Yeah I know I missed a prime, wow you’re a loser moment. I could’ve mentioned the nomination, or something (maybe the conference I’m going to). But both jabs, while deserved, would have made my accomplishments seem cheap, tawdry, empty? Or something. Maybe I was still in teacher-mode, which forces me to want to compliment them (students) and encourage them to keep going, and be proud. Anyway Weasel already pointed out I missed a prime-chance to follow up on my “you should take me class, that’d be fun” comment. Ex was unashamed of his pride in his, alleged, 4 AA degrees (which means he does have more degrees than me, granted 2 of mine have value). And I guess, everyone deserves a day of pride. For the record, I still think he’s pathetic, and lame. It did make me wonder, if you’re him, do you tell class-mates that a professor on campus is your ex-girlfriend?

On another note…. I got into that conference I applied to. Hurray me. After my no-response (so I guess that is a rejection) from Florida, I was feeling down. Like maybe I’m not as smart as I think I am, kind of thing. And, yes, it only take one rejection to make me question that – I am lame, and fully recognize that (* yes Phalen, I still depend upon academia for my self-image). Anyway L mentioned her paper had been accepted, so I emailed my area chair (not the same person). He apologized for the delay and told me I was in, and that he was interested in my topic/paper. He asked me send him my citations! I guess me BSG musing weren’t as “um duh” as I started to think. Of course I will be updating my paper.

1 week left at the other school – and them I am done.

Summer goals:
GRE studying
Writing sample
SOP
Revise BSG paper
Finish my apartment
Book club
Brainless work at the bookstore
Writing fiction (of some ilk)
Sleeping
Hanging out
finish my apartment
complete KH2
Probably a bunch of other stuff I’m forgetting right now

I need to start updating my fun/entertaining school posts. Those will be coming soon. Anyway I had to post this - I had a student who wrote a paper about firefox (I'm sure all you techno-kids already know about it). Anyway, I had to dl it and check it out. Totally rocks, I highly recommend it as a browser. It spell checks while you type - like anywhere you type. It's my new hero.

I'll be reporting on the MUFON meeting tomorrow. Me, Stacy, and Green are supposed to go. It will be interesting.

I have a ton of school stuff to work on, instead I'm killing time playing with new software. Sometimes I hve to take a moment and really appreciate technology. I mean, here I am sitting on my couch, in my living room - with a computer comfortably on my lap. A computer that can do exponentially more than my first computer ever could (commadore 64) - hell my cell phone can do more than that computer. Anyway on top of that I'm online with no wires. Sometimes I realize I am living in the future. /dork moment

ok aside from all my "fun-sucking" thoughts on the lost experience... I have a side note... while alpha'ing the science section, at the store, on Sunday - I found a book by Gerald deGroot called The Bomb it is a history of the development of the nuclear bomb. It was originally published in 2005. Possibly just a strange coincidence. This fact is not mentioned on the lostpedia.

Originally Weasel set up our wireless network - with all the password security shit, and it worked fine. Then the power went out and the access point was reset - I have now tried every possible configuration in the wireless settings to keep the system closed and get my laptop to access it. For some reason my laptop (even with the passphrase) cannot access the network... So techie types, why, what the hell am I missing in setting this up?

I noticed (while compulsively checking the "grade my prof" option on myspace) that I have been graded! Yup a student rated me, and I rocked.

That is all.

edited: I just checked ratemyprofessor.com some other student rated me there too - while I wasn't rated as "hot" I kicked ass in the important stuff.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? even if Alton Brown devoted an entire show to it, I refuse to drink egg nog - however, hot chocolate rocks

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Um he wraps them, probably forcing the elves to work overtime and violating labor laws

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? hmm I go back and forth on this one - on the one hand, white lights are elegant and match my silver decorations... on the other colored light are garish; therefore, kind of fun in a 3-year-old playing dress-up kind of way

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Personally I never had a problem with Balder, and really parasitic-god-killer plants don't make me want to kiss anyone... so that's a no

5. When do you put your decorations up? hopefully I'll get some sort of decorations up this year - I think 2 years ago I had the tree up by mid-december... skipped it last yeat, we will have to see how this year goes.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Are there holiday dishes that aren't dessert?

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: as a child - any year my parents didn't fight, glare, or otherwise make each other miserable... so probably the first year they were divorced.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
To be honest, I don't ever remember actually believing in Santa. I mean I always knew it was my late grandfather in the Santa suit.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not until the divorce, that's when my dad got x-mas eve.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I have a small selection of xmas tunes. generally I listen to Orbison's Pretty Paper about 6 times and then decorate.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it?I have limited knowledge of snow. It seemed fun to visit... and if all goes according to plan, I'll love it for the skae of my PhD

12. Can you ice skate? I used to - I probably still could, but Weasel has advised against it (wrist breaking and all)

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? hmm nope, no clue. My family isn't so big on surprises (duh J girls and all) - so nothing is ever a surprise. I like surprises

14. What do you want for Christmas this year? at this point, I just want my car back - oh and for someone else to write my SOP

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Pumpkin pie, sugar cookies (sans frosting), fudge (when Mrs. Park doesn't over salt it)

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? X-mas eve after all the family stuff - Sitting home, alone, drinking some good red wine and watching anime. Huh I think I hate x-mas

17. What tops your tree? jack-o-lantern

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? giving - I really like making stuff for people, but I think candles are out

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? See Orbison above - and silent night

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I'll try them all - the traditional is good (and multi-functional - it's great as a stirrer for hot chocolate or mulled wine) - the fruity ones are ok

The wedding came together - and everyone had a good time. The honeymoon was great. I got another teaching job, so next semester will be much better finanacially. I'm working on a conference paper. Went to El Chamber, and had a great time - totally insipired to go back on a more regular basis. Finished my saturday classes, so I have extra time...

All in all things are good.

This morning around 7ish some jackass hit my parked car. Yeah totally smashed up the back end. Mick was home, awake, and heard the crash - so he went to investigate. The jackass in question at least had the decencey to stay and give the cops his info. So now I am without a car, and I'm guessing the insurance co will consider my car a loss, 'cause let's face it it's a hyndai accent.

Where does the time go? I'm teaching 2 classes and I seem to be working an awful lot lately. of course the wedding/honeymoon thing did take a lot of time. I'm hoping to get caught up, and get all my paperwork done for my new job. I know officially teach at 2 colleges. Yay me! This means more money, and more experience. Sadly it will probably not mean more time.

I still desperetly want to finish editing a paper for that Fantastic in the Arts conference (what ever their acronym is). I want to do something scholarly. I know I could get a paper in at PCA, but the dates are terrible. It's the second week of school (and I really feel like missing that is a mistake). So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for finishing and submiting something somewhere. Any other suggestions? Sure Acacia would be ok, well maybe not. I don't think I know anyone there anymore, and I'm not a grad student so CSULA and Riverside are out. Any suggestions?

Well I'm off to finish my reading for tomorrow. At least next semester I'll be teaching V for Vendetta - that's got to be more fun than my current novel.

Thanks to the BC girls - and to everyone who got me insanely drunk on Wednesday.

You guys know how to party.