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I've been gone for a bit recently. To recap:
I submitted my senior thesis last Wednesday, and I'm pretty sure my adviser still hasn't read it. Boo, but it doesn't matter anyway.
I broke my laptop the Tuesday before. I'd dropped it once in the dorms, open, so that when it fell it damaged the hinge. I did the same thing again a few weeks ago and started having serious problems with the backlighting on my screen. Then there were the overheating and randomly shutting down problems. And then it refused to turn on. So I mailed it to a laptop fix-it place in Fremont which replaced my logic board and hinge - for about $200 cheaper than anywhere else I could find. $350 and a week later, I'm typing on my iBook G4. Yay!
I've spent the past few days trying to relax - reading books and catching up on sleep. I'm a little frightened of my to-do list for this summer, because I have less than a month left. Law classes officially start August 25th, but I have class the week before. (I still want to go to Golden Gate on the 16th, though!) I remembered today about all those law school loan forms I had to fill out before July 25th, and so hurriedly filled those out. I hate applying for loans and giving my social security number to absolutely everyone, but it's basically unavoidable.
Now I've realized that the clothes I've been wearing - jeans and ill-fitting t-shirts - aren't going to cut it in law school. I want to fit in a bit better, yes, but I also want to look like the young professional I'm trying to be. And that sounds prohibitively expensive already, not to mention yet another thing I need to cram in to my break.
Next Wednesday I'm going with my parents and younger brothers to Lake Tahoe for a week, and I'm not sure how restful that will be. I'm bringing a ton of books and I have my laptop back, so it will probably be bearable. But I want to have fun, damn it. Meh.
I submitted my senior thesis last Wednesday, and I'm pretty sure my adviser still hasn't read it. Boo, but it doesn't matter anyway.
I broke my laptop the Tuesday before. I'd dropped it once in the dorms, open, so that when it fell it damaged the hinge. I did the same thing again a few weeks ago and started having serious problems with the backlighting on my screen. Then there were the overheating and randomly shutting down problems. And then it refused to turn on. So I mailed it to a laptop fix-it place in Fremont which replaced my logic board and hinge - for about $200 cheaper than anywhere else I could find. $350 and a week later, I'm typing on my iBook G4. Yay!
I've spent the past few days trying to relax - reading books and catching up on sleep. I'm a little frightened of my to-do list for this summer, because I have less than a month left. Law classes officially start August 25th, but I have class the week before. (I still want to go to Golden Gate on the 16th, though!) I remembered today about all those law school loan forms I had to fill out before July 25th, and so hurriedly filled those out. I hate applying for loans and giving my social security number to absolutely everyone, but it's basically unavoidable.
Now I've realized that the clothes I've been wearing - jeans and ill-fitting t-shirts - aren't going to cut it in law school. I want to fit in a bit better, yes, but I also want to look like the young professional I'm trying to be. And that sounds prohibitively expensive already, not to mention yet another thing I need to cram in to my break.
Next Wednesday I'm going with my parents and younger brothers to Lake Tahoe for a week, and I'm not sure how restful that will be. I'm bringing a ton of books and I have my laptop back, so it will probably be bearable. But I want to have fun, damn it. Meh.
Yesterday morning I woke up halfway through a phone call with some random woman. As far as I can make out, it was just a wrong number, but because I was giving her extremely vague replies, it lasted a lot longer than it should have. I was still half asleep when the call ended, and so when I woke up later I was hopeful that I had dreamt it. No such luck: that morning, there was an incoming call from a number I don't recognize that lasted 0m 49s. I really want to call her back, apologize, and ask her what on earth I said.
procrastimation
Jun. 28th, 2008 11:13 pm(This game would be a lot more awesome if I didn't keep losing.)
It is so hard to work during summer, ye gods. I'm glad I never tried summer school before, because I would have failed before the week was out. It might be related to the fact that I was killing myself in finals two weeks ago, and for the entire quarter before that. Or that I told myself I wouldn't have to do any work on my thesis until July - before learning that I have to finish it before the 11th of that month. Either way, I barely worked this week.
It doesn't help that I'm trying to do almost mindless data-entry - inputting into Excel all the surveys I distributed when I was in Ireland. I'd have more disrespect for the Irish students who answered my surveys by overwhelmingly listing their COUN T Y of origin as "Ireland" if I didn't constantly make that mistake myself. Who knows what it'll do to my results, though.
Why is Davis determined to be inhospitable? Usually summer here is bad because of the sweltering heat, but the haze has cooled it off to almost tolerable temperatures. Unfortunately, it's also made the air unbreathable. There's no winning, is there?
I hope everyone else is enjoying their summers. But not, y'know, too much.
It is so hard to work during summer, ye gods. I'm glad I never tried summer school before, because I would have failed before the week was out. It might be related to the fact that I was killing myself in finals two weeks ago, and for the entire quarter before that. Or that I told myself I wouldn't have to do any work on my thesis until July - before learning that I have to finish it before the 11th of that month. Either way, I barely worked this week.
It doesn't help that I'm trying to do almost mindless data-entry - inputting into Excel all the surveys I distributed when I was in Ireland. I'd have more disrespect for the Irish students who answered my surveys by overwhelmingly listing their COUN T Y of origin as "Ireland" if I didn't constantly make that mistake myself. Who knows what it'll do to my results, though.
Why is Davis determined to be inhospitable? Usually summer here is bad because of the sweltering heat, but the haze has cooled it off to almost tolerable temperatures. Unfortunately, it's also made the air unbreathable. There's no winning, is there?
I hope everyone else is enjoying their summers. But not, y'know, too much.
GRADUMATION
Jun. 17th, 2008 03:29 pmYay! The dean waived that one unit (of course) and now I need to seriously party before I finish my thesis. (By July 11th.)
You can all be excited for me (again). XD
You can all be excited for me (again). XD
gradumated?
Jun. 15th, 2008 01:45 amso I'm pretty sure I've graduated. probably. though they read my name out my name appeared on a list at the commencement ceremony (I have it on good authority from someone who actually went), I can't be positive, because they were still quibbling over a single unit requirement as of friday. oh, and I reallly need to do my thesis.
but I am giving myself a break until next monday.
so far, I've read one book and am halfway through another. and I've watched two movies. (Eurotrip is amazing; The Last King of Scotland is heavily scarring.)
It is time for me to further rest my brain. Want to recommend some movies to me? I'm looking for more lighthearted fun, and nothing that will give me nightmares.
but I am giving myself a break until next monday.
so far, I've read one book and am halfway through another. and I've watched two movies. (Eurotrip is amazing; The Last King of Scotland is heavily scarring.)
It is time for me to further rest my brain. Want to recommend some movies to me? I'm looking for more lighthearted fun, and nothing that will give me nightmares.
complicating mail
May. 28th, 2008 05:21 pmI lost the mail key for our house mailbox a few weeks ago. This wasn't really a problem, because the other four people in the house are generally content to wait for me to check the mail, however sporadically I do it. I'd also been borrowing another key from the office and checking, so it wasn't like there was never new mail for people. Unfortunately, I could only do that when the office was open - which it's not at midnight, when I like to check the mail. And I do like to check the mail. Even with all the ads we get, and the banks that remind me about interest that's accruing, I still think of it as present potential.
Today I'd decided that, y'know, it's been about two weeks so I should probably go to the office and buy a new key. So I did, and I opened the box, which was predictably stuffed with ads and things for the former housemate who is currently in South Africa.
It was also stuffed with a giant envelope from UC Davis School of Law which read "WELCOME".
I checked the mailbox almost daily for two months, waiting for that envelope.
Today I'd decided that, y'know, it's been about two weeks so I should probably go to the office and buy a new key. So I did, and I opened the box, which was predictably stuffed with ads and things for the former housemate who is currently in South Africa.
It was also stuffed with a giant envelope from UC Davis School of Law which read "WELCOME".
I checked the mailbox almost daily for two months, waiting for that envelope.
An Open Letter
May. 26th, 2008 11:39 pmDear French TA,
Do not tell your students twice that an in-class assignment requiring written preparation which the syllabus said would take place Tuesday would instead happen a week from Tuesday, and then, midday on Monday, send out an email saying that you were wrong and that the assignment would actually happen on Tuesday.
Linking to Foux De Fa Fa by Flight of the Conchords to "help us prepare" does not, in fact, make our letter-writing assignment any easier.
No love,
Me
Do not tell your students twice that an in-class assignment requiring written preparation which the syllabus said would take place Tuesday would instead happen a week from Tuesday, and then, midday on Monday, send out an email saying that you were wrong and that the assignment would actually happen on Tuesday.
Linking to Foux De Fa Fa by Flight of the Conchords to "help us prepare" does not, in fact, make our letter-writing assignment any easier.
No love,
Me
my decision 2008
May. 26th, 2008 10:00 pmI got accepted to Hastings School of Law in San Francisco in March, but I'd basically written it off as somewhere I didn't really want to be. I thought it was too easy to get in to, and not all that impressive. I kept it, though, because I didn't get into Boalt (Berkeley's law school) and I was wait-listed at Davis (King Hall).
On Friday, the last admitted students day, I finally visited UC Hastings. They gave us breakfast, and showed us into a classroom where we spent most of the day being told about the school. UC Hastings was established in the 1860s, and has a giant alumni network. It also, apparently, has a better International Law program than either Boalt or Stanford. After being told how great the school was, we went on tours. Hastings is made up of a few very large towers right next to the courts in San Francisco. The towers all looked new, or at least newly renovated. After the tours, we had lunch on the 24th floor of the dorm tower, and were treated to a panoramic view of San Francisco. Then we went back to the classroom to hear from professors, one of whom confirmed that yeah, the international law concentration there was pretty good.
I saw the King Hall facilities when I was there for various law school-related events, and I actually snuck in to the admissions office and had a look around. (Even though it's just a little bit beyond the registrar's office, King Hall always seems a world apart from the undergraduate campus.) Needless to say, the law school buildings are nothing to write home about. They're small, cramped, and most haven't been renovated since the inception of the law school in the 1960s. They're planning on doing major construction soon - but my entering class would probably bear the brunt of it.
Basically, Davis sounded good because it was convenient - I really want to stay here next year. Hastings is two hours away.
A week ago, I sent a letter of interest to Davis; one saying that yeah, if you called me to say I was in, I would accept a position at the school of law. Now - I'm not so sure.
On Friday, the last admitted students day, I finally visited UC Hastings. They gave us breakfast, and showed us into a classroom where we spent most of the day being told about the school. UC Hastings was established in the 1860s, and has a giant alumni network. It also, apparently, has a better International Law program than either Boalt or Stanford. After being told how great the school was, we went on tours. Hastings is made up of a few very large towers right next to the courts in San Francisco. The towers all looked new, or at least newly renovated. After the tours, we had lunch on the 24th floor of the dorm tower, and were treated to a panoramic view of San Francisco. Then we went back to the classroom to hear from professors, one of whom confirmed that yeah, the international law concentration there was pretty good.
I saw the King Hall facilities when I was there for various law school-related events, and I actually snuck in to the admissions office and had a look around. (Even though it's just a little bit beyond the registrar's office, King Hall always seems a world apart from the undergraduate campus.) Needless to say, the law school buildings are nothing to write home about. They're small, cramped, and most haven't been renovated since the inception of the law school in the 1960s. They're planning on doing major construction soon - but my entering class would probably bear the brunt of it.
Basically, Davis sounded good because it was convenient - I really want to stay here next year. Hastings is two hours away.
A week ago, I sent a letter of interest to Davis; one saying that yeah, if you called me to say I was in, I would accept a position at the school of law. Now - I'm not so sure.
ew. ewewewew. ew to infinity.
May. 16th, 2008 05:01 pmIf you skip this post, that would be fine. It would probably make your day a brighter place. It's a good idea, even. But this is going on, and so I'm going to make a post about it.
( Maggots. )
Now I'm going to play dolphin olympics until the world ends to try to forget this ever happened.
( Maggots. )
Now I'm going to play dolphin olympics until the world ends to try to forget this ever happened.
WHOLE EARTH
May. 9th, 2008 07:56 pmThe whole earth festival is this big, amazing event where hippies set up tents filled with wonderful - sustainable, pretty, wholesome, and inevitably expensive - things to buy. It's something I look forward to like I look forward to PantheaCon - it's basically worth not being in Ireland to be here, enjoying it.
So far, I've bought $150 worth of stuff. But you know? It's birthday money, which is not like real money at all. (Like how Euros look like play money. Only not.) And I will not let myself feel guilty about buying clothes I like. Plus, they're made of bamboo and hemp and organic cotton and weren't made by children or in sweatshops or overseas. So there.
I've seen just about all of my friends there, too. Basically, everyone who is my friend, goes to the Whole Earth Festival. (I think it's a pretty good way to pick friends.)
Whole Earth quotes (so far):
"Let's just lie out on the quad so we don't spend any more money."
"Want to hug my Goddess?"
TBC - 2 more days of goodness to go! XD
ETA: Day 2 was great, too. It was sandwiched by the Farmer's Market and Osaka Sushi and so was extra nice. ^^
Quotes:
"This bear claw was a lot longer than I was expecting."
"Bears are big. They have big claws."
"She just gave you soap? For free?" (someone talking to a dirty hippy)
I managed to spend only around $80 today... but it was mostly on one sweatshirt. I'm a bit tired of walking around and spending money, so I think tomorrow I'll make things out of glass. Because I managed to completely fail at buying anything for my mom. Wish me luck!
So far, I've bought $150 worth of stuff. But you know? It's birthday money, which is not like real money at all. (Like how Euros look like play money. Only not.) And I will not let myself feel guilty about buying clothes I like. Plus, they're made of bamboo and hemp and organic cotton and weren't made by children or in sweatshops or overseas. So there.
I've seen just about all of my friends there, too. Basically, everyone who is my friend, goes to the Whole Earth Festival. (I think it's a pretty good way to pick friends.)
Whole Earth quotes (so far):
"Let's just lie out on the quad so we don't spend any more money."
"Want to hug my Goddess?"
TBC - 2 more days of goodness to go! XD
ETA: Day 2 was great, too. It was sandwiched by the Farmer's Market and Osaka Sushi and so was extra nice. ^^
Quotes:
"This bear claw was a lot longer than I was expecting."
"Bears are big. They have big claws."
"She just gave you soap? For free?" (someone talking to a dirty hippy)
I managed to spend only around $80 today... but it was mostly on one sweatshirt. I'm a bit tired of walking around and spending money, so I think tomorrow I'll make things out of glass. Because I managed to completely fail at buying anything for my mom. Wish me luck!
april classes bring may collapses
May. 4th, 2008 04:28 pmIn the first month of the quarter, my classes gave to me:
five a million books to read!
four annoying papers
three French tests
two distinct burns
and an inclination toward narcolepsy.
four annoying papers
three French tests
two distinct burns
and an inclination toward narcolepsy.
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creeping_dark, thank you for showing me this, one of the funniest and most catchy songs ever. It's by Flight of the Conchords, billed as "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo" (having been bumped by a tribute band of themselves, Like of the Conchords). XDIn other news, I have a schedule! It's full of Comp Lit (Literature of Fantasy [with
alexq!] and Myths & Legends), French 1 (10 am daily w00t), Intro to the Middle East (seems amazing), and a class that gives you lifeguard certification. Also going on will be my senior thesis (I took an incomplete on it last quarter) ... gotta get on that. In summary: law schools hate me, I don't know anything, and taking French means I will be consistently groggy.
But music ftw.
summer camp...
Mar. 14th, 2008 03:51 pmI was reminiscing yesterday about Wet Hot American Summer (which is only one of the best movies of all time), and then I saw that the music video for one of my new favorite songs, Here (In Your Arms) by Hellogoodbye, is also on the summer camp theme. and, omg, the pogs! eee!
in conclusion, summer > papers.
in conclusion, summer > papers.
