flockdraw

So I have found a new way to procrastinate. Flockdraw!

Up to ten people can "collaborate" on the same board, drawing, painting, writing, etc. So go ahead, friends! Create!

That that does not kill me...

Quick! While I am still in this frame of mind! I received feedback from my thesis advisor regarding an outline. There is hope! Overall, her feedback was positive.

Time is slipping away faster than I had planned. I am struggling to stay afloat here.

I am still freaking out, but it is currently a hurried, spastic type of freak out that makes me work harder. Kind of like the Kanye song (and a theme of my dad... the saying, not the song): That that that that that that don't kill me can only make me stronger.

I only have to make it to the 12th and I will be home free. Then I can sleep until the 16th. Then I will be on a plane going far, far away from this craziness.

the past is such a curious creature (that's why I look to the future)

I am feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work I must do in the next 11 days. I am also too tired to freak out about anything. My studying ebbs and flows; sometimes I feel confident and other times I feel completely ill-prepared. My written portion of the exam is a week from tomorrow (well, technically a week from today, considering the time).

I also have to revise my final paper and submit it, study, create an application packet for an award through NCPH and apply for the poster session, study, make DVDs of some sessions I filmed earlier this semester, study, work, study, pack, and, um, study some more. I would like to also make some Christmas cookies and mail some Christmas cards and crochet another pair of mittens and maybe sleep a little. Those are all just dreams.

My consolation prize: I get to see Germany two weeks from Thursday! And while I am sad that I won't get to see my dad while I am there (he will be in Afghanistan) I do get to see my mom! And hang out with some pretty awesome people for two weeks. And not have to think a bit. Maybe then I can crochet a pair of mittens. And sleep.

Ah, sleep.

this amuses me

In case you needed a mental break after hours of studying, watch this:



It makes me laugh.

A short zombie-less mix

Let's go away for a while... Weezer

I am currently sitting at a mental intersection, debating if I should just keep writing and wrap up my paper and finish my editing and footnote adjustments tomorrow or take a break from writing and do some rewriting and editing now. Either way, it will be word vomit that will have to be corrected tomorrow.

We will write a postcard to our friends and family in free verse... Weezer

Either way, I know I am spent. I have been working on this paper for 10 hours, minus 1 for brunch with my best friend (at the Hop of I, so I can see my little sister). But I also know that I have limited time, so I should be doing something. I view blogging as a break. Because I can write passively if I want and you caint do nothin' 'bout it.

I think I'll go home and mull this over... The Shins

I am also rocking out to some random mix developed by my iPod.

It's a luscious mix of words and tricks... The Shins

Oh, technology. You make my world go round. I can't imagine who I would be without you. And sometimes I hate you. You complicate life in more ways that one. And yet, the ease you provide in completing tasks help me accomplish so much. I believe we call this a "love-hate relationship."

Sun is in the sky oh why would I want to be anywhere else... Lily Allen

I went to the battlefield today to gather a few more materials and probably only spent 1 hour out of 3.5 actually researching. The rest of the time was spent chatting. Because I didn't want to be rude and tell friends and co-workers, "um, I don't have time for this. I am researching today! Ta da!"

I thought it was a bird, but it was just a paper bag... Fiona Apple

One ranger in particular mentioned to me 3 (three) times that it was a beautiful day outside and it shouldn't be wasted inside researching. I assure you, John, if I had a choice, I would be out, enjoying the gorgeous November day. Alas, I am inside, pouring through books and files, scribbling and typing like a crazy person. Because I am one.

And if the answer is no can I change your mind... The Killers

Ok, I am ready.

Good News: We are going to the Winchester

I am feeling calm and completely freaked out all at the same time. It might be the same feeling that occurs when you do tai chi after chugging a Red Bull. I am making progress on my chapter and on my thesis, but I don't feel like I am doing enough. I also feel like I can't do the same things that I could do even three years ago. I must have eight hours of sleep or I feel like a zombie (and then I need to eat brains because mine don't work right). I used to average four hours of sleep a night and ran smoothly, no problems.

I also have my study questions for my comprehensive exams. Woo! Another layer in my life to freak out about! And because of the deadlines for my class, I have not paid proper attention to studying. If my head continues to spin as fast as it is right now, it will create enough momentum that it will actually lift my head from my shoulders and fly around the room. I'm not kidding.

The end of every semester looks the same. There will be tears, gnashing of teeth, stress, sweat, freak out moments that result in mass-consumption of chocolate, hope, fear, yelling, dreaming, and one day very soon (too soon while simultaneously not soon enough) it will just. End. Like. That. And I will be amazed that I actually lived through another semester and then sleep for a solid four days.

Vegan Zombies Only Eat Grains

I was writing this evening. Writing writing writing, like a crazy writing fool. The smoke from my flying fingers on the keyboard practically blinded my screen.

Then I stopped.

I am not sure why I stopped. I think I got distracted. That happens a lot. Alas, now I can't seem to get my steam built back up. But I have to! I need to finish this! I have little deadlines that contribute to managing the big deadlines. Ahh!

So then I decided to work on transferring footage from my camera to my computer to work on some editing. I figured if I can't be productive in my homework, I can still do things to cross of my "Things to To This Weekend" list. But something about my camera of my computer (or both) is not working, either. I think I am going to give up for the night, pop some popcorn, and watch a movie. I can cry about my wasted time tomorrow.

Zombies Only Want You for Your Brain

I still have not fully recovered from getting sick two weeks ago. This is ridiculous. My nose has been rubbed raw, my throat is killing me, my ear is throbbing, and no, I do not want any cheese to go with my whine.

Tomorrow I will get back to work. I have my comprehensive exams scheduled and got some of my study questions last week. And like always: I have to work on my thesis. My roommate and best friend turned hers in this week. Congrats to her, but I won't lie. I am jealous of her newly acquired freedom. Her graduate school shackels have been broken! She can fly, if she so desires! Now she has to figure out an employment situation. I'm going to be in that same boat, so even with the freedom comes duties. It's always something.

Zombies never yell "Shotgun"

I suppose I should resolve to post more often. It's a new month, a new start.

I think part of why I don't post more often rests in the fact that I feel like my posts would often read the same way: I am struggling with writing my thesis. I don't have time to do the things I want. I'm tired. I work.

I may have caught the H1N1 virus this week. That was no fun. It definitely changed things up a little for me, but three days of my life have been sucked down the recovery drain. Oh, well. I am back to work tomorrow and ready to start moving things forward again.

Mammoth Cave Adventures Part 1

In celebration of my best friend's birthday, the birthday girl and I took a weekend trip to explore Mammoth Cave. We went there last year on a last-minute trip so this time we felt more prepared. Elena brought her blow up mattress, sleeping medicine, AND ear-plugs. We also got tickets for the Wild Cave Tour, a big time adventure for these girls.

Our initial plans were to hike Friday morning, canoe Friday afternoon, then go caving almost all day Saturday; we go home Sunday. Our 6 AM departure time got later as the morning went on and we kept remembering to do things before we left (we would be gone a whole weekend). We finally arrived at Mammoth Cave around 10 AM. We secured out campsite, set up our tents, ate some lunch, and were ready to leave to go canoeing by noon. So no hike, but hey- at least we get to canoe!

Nope. Thanks to my metropolitan (mostly West Coast)-based cell phone company, I only got the message that the Green River ran too high that day for canoes and our trip was cancelled while standing in the parking lot of the Green River Canoeing Outfitters. So no canoe, but hey- at least we get to...

Check out the Mammoth Cave Wax Museum right up the road! I was torn between the wax museum and Dinosaur World, but the historians in us won (and the challenge "what are you, eight?" seems to knock some semblance of sense into me... sometimes). We decided we would "Walk through the past."

No trip to the American past is complete without our founding fathers (Ben Franklin sat in a chair in the same room... they were all friends).


A poor representation of Teddy. Though I still applauded the man after watching Ken Burns' America's Best Idea.


Check out Robert E. Lee. And old Jeff Davis in the back. The Narrator made more mention of Lee's horse than of Davis.


Let us not forget our most popular president! And his wife, who hails from Kentucky! Or the... slave? The narrator did not mention anything regarding the servant figure in the middle of the room.


Elena was help up by the wax Jesse James.


Elena was shot by the wax Jesse James.


No wax museum is complete without a life-sized version of the Lord's Supper. "And that's why we Methodists use Grape Kool-Aid for the blood of Christ."


This one still gets me. Dr. MLK, Billy Graham, and the Pope. Yep, and Bobbie Kennedy. It was like the designers thought of a series of people they wanted to include in the museum, but couldn't fit them into their story, so they stuck them into a room together.


They saved Elvis, and a disproportionate Dolly Parton for last.


Our adventure through the past only maintained our interest for 45 minutes. We then worked our way back to the campsite. And napped. It was fantastic. After our nap, we built our fire, cooked our foil dinners, roasted some s'mores, and tucked ourselves into bed. We wanted to get a good night's sleep before our big adventure.

Hint: When choosing campsites, pick the ones that are undesirable. The desirable ones get chosen by people who like to drink and be loud until 2 AM and boy scout troops who are up and ready for their day by 6 AM. So, really, our good night's sleep was more like a 4 hour nap. In a sleeping bag.

But nothing would keep us down! We were ready conquer Mammoth Cave!