i've spent the past three days at school. it's amazing how much you can get done if you aren't at home. i don't even know i how i distracted myself. but being in this computer lab at school has increased my productivity a thousand-fold. i've created two different layouts for my updated resume. and now it's onto updating old projects, something i started months ago. but i hate myself for leaving that at home.
so in reality i am procrastinating by writing this. oh well... too bad. i've done more than i've done for almost three months.
i am in the civil engineering computer lab in alumni hall. it appears that there is never a class in this lab. (awesomeness for me.) but it's always full of people. i think everyone in this department is partial to this lab. that's fine. as long as there's a computer for me. what would make this comuting to school every day better, is if they had somewhere i could store stuff. a locker or something. the school is mostly comuters, i don't know why they don't have something like that for them. i guess there is a comuter lounge and that was a long time coming, so maybe... eventually...
looking back on my work from pratt a lot of it isn't bad. i have more negative memories of it than there probably were. even my work from my one architecture class isn't horrible. i could salvage some of it. yet i've always been under the impression that it was all complete crap and that it almost isn't worth the memory space on my harddrive. why you hold on to everything.
the additional good part about being on campus every day is that it deliniates dinner time and bed time. though when i have class i still am too "stimulated" (to borrow a word from my prof) to go to bed at a reasonable hour. and being on campus on class days makes eating quite complicated.
also in lue of this new ability to be productive, i also have started being more organized at home. putting things away when i use them or when i'm done with them, instead of ignoring the entire mess. (dishes are still a pain, but they always will be.) who knew getting out of the house would help? it's starting to make me rethink wanting to work at home. i think it's a combination of not having a deadline and being at home. i'm not compelled to do anything because there's no deadline i have to work towards. by being out of the house, on campus, i have to fill the time doing something. and my selection of things to do is limited.
let's hope that i keep this up.
10.28.2009
10.26.2009
job search
i'm still on the lookout for a new job. i periodically search the web for postings asking for the experience that i have. there aren't any, ever. but i need to get cracking. my unemployment should be stopping soon. and i have NO money. i would also like to buy x-mas gifts, but that's a total fantasy at this point. we'll see, we'll see.
but i bring this up, because i am going to an internship workshop tomorrow. i'm not all that sure what this is supposed to help with, but my hope is that it will assist me in finding a paid internship. who knows?!? the initial concern is does it even apply to me? the next is if i'll even wake up to go. i think with a task at a specific time will get me going. i have to remember to bring my homework with me so i can do it at school instead of home. i don't want to trek there and back twice. i don't know what to do about food... and i should bring my resume and such, just in case. i'm dressing semi-casual, semi-business. one i'm quite good at. the goal is to wake up, call the office to see if i should even bother going, getting ready (if necessary), and going (if necessary). i really need to contact the career management center anyways. i am looking for employment after all. if anything they can tell me over the phone that i should come after the workshop to discuss finding a position, that would be ok too.
please wish me luck. or cross your fingers, or pray. but just good thoughts my way. i'll say how it went tomorrow!
but i bring this up, because i am going to an internship workshop tomorrow. i'm not all that sure what this is supposed to help with, but my hope is that it will assist me in finding a paid internship. who knows?!? the initial concern is does it even apply to me? the next is if i'll even wake up to go. i think with a task at a specific time will get me going. i have to remember to bring my homework with me so i can do it at school instead of home. i don't want to trek there and back twice. i don't know what to do about food... and i should bring my resume and such, just in case. i'm dressing semi-casual, semi-business. one i'm quite good at. the goal is to wake up, call the office to see if i should even bother going, getting ready (if necessary), and going (if necessary). i really need to contact the career management center anyways. i am looking for employment after all. if anything they can tell me over the phone that i should come after the workshop to discuss finding a position, that would be ok too.
please wish me luck. or cross your fingers, or pray. but just good thoughts my way. i'll say how it went tomorrow!
10.24.2009
blackhawks
so i'm going to be a blackhawks fan for halloween. not much of a stretch, i know. but i figured it was the best costume i could come up with using the things i own. to beef up the idea i knew i'd need to buy some stuff from the blackhawks store here in chicago. i own two hats and a vintage jacket (not winter classic vintage, 80s vintage), plus some miscellaneous items. i figured i'd buy a t-shirt and temporary tattoos. at the store i immediately found the shirt i wanted, but i was initially distracted by the mini sticks that they give out to children at the games. if i couldn't find anything else to compliment my outfit, a hockey stick would definitely be the way to go. looking around some more, i couldn't find tattoos or stickers. apparently they do not carry temporary tattoos, though you can sometimes find them at the stadium. they did have stickers, which still wasn't quite what i was looking for, and decals with a thin white border like i wanted. i settled for the decals. my only concern about them is that they'll pull all of my skin off of my face. we'll see.
getting home and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my day, i found out that the hawks were actually playing tonight. to go to the bar and sport my costume, or not. i ended up deciding no, since i had already spent enough money today on the shirt and stickers. watched the game on the local cable in my new shirt. they beat nashville 2-0. maybe the shirt will bring some luck. even more reason to have bought it. oh no the fan is taking over...
getting home and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my day, i found out that the hawks were actually playing tonight. to go to the bar and sport my costume, or not. i ended up deciding no, since i had already spent enough money today on the shirt and stickers. watched the game on the local cable in my new shirt. they beat nashville 2-0. maybe the shirt will bring some luck. even more reason to have bought it. oh no the fan is taking over...
production?
not me. i went grocery shopping. spent a lot less than i normally do. though i did spend way more than i normally do last week. so i guess it just evens out. still spending the same amount.
no homework was finished. no cleaning was done (though the roomie washed the dishes. yeah!) and my life/room is still in chaos. i really need to get s**t together. i did some light job hunting online last night, with nothing really coming out of it. still jobless; still in limbo about school; and still broke as a joke.
the only thing i've accomplished of any use: i figured out my halloween costume. i'm going to be a blackhawks fan. super easy and the few things i plan on buying i'll use again. plus it's my favorite costume - jeans and a t-shirt.
try again tomorrow, with sorting out my life. i need to make a really list of things to do before going to bed tonight. and maybe scheduling them out. that way i feel more determined to get out of bed. which i think has been more of the issue recently.
no homework was finished. no cleaning was done (though the roomie washed the dishes. yeah!) and my life/room is still in chaos. i really need to get s**t together. i did some light job hunting online last night, with nothing really coming out of it. still jobless; still in limbo about school; and still broke as a joke.
the only thing i've accomplished of any use: i figured out my halloween costume. i'm going to be a blackhawks fan. super easy and the few things i plan on buying i'll use again. plus it's my favorite costume - jeans and a t-shirt.
try again tomorrow, with sorting out my life. i need to make a really list of things to do before going to bed tonight. and maybe scheduling them out. that way i feel more determined to get out of bed. which i think has been more of the issue recently.
10.22.2009
mildly improved
so i neatened up a little. i cleaned up my desk, took out my trash, and actually attempted to do something with my day. i procrastinated a lot. when i finally sat down to get some work done, the website i need to do the project wasn't working. so i attempted some of my other homework, eventually giving up on that too.
i ended the day with my new netflix movie. delicatessen. a french film about a post war society that is slowly running out of food. people have become so desperate they have started to eat other people. the whole movie centers around an apartment building owned by a butcher, whose shop is on the first floor. he has an ad in a newspaper asking for a handyman. after they stay about a week, the butcher kills them and distributes the meat amongst the building's residents. main characters are a man who shows up for the position and the butcher's daughter who falls in love with said man.
as french movies go this one was on par. incredibly creepy, but also incredibly endearing, in true french form. the director creates this separate world in which these characters live. i'd liken it to amelie, but with sweeney todd mixed in. this was a definite improvement after m. hulot's holiday (my last netflix movie), which while endearing can be painfully quiet and slow when not expected. i give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
i ended the day with my new netflix movie. delicatessen. a french film about a post war society that is slowly running out of food. people have become so desperate they have started to eat other people. the whole movie centers around an apartment building owned by a butcher, whose shop is on the first floor. he has an ad in a newspaper asking for a handyman. after they stay about a week, the butcher kills them and distributes the meat amongst the building's residents. main characters are a man who shows up for the position and the butcher's daughter who falls in love with said man.
as french movies go this one was on par. incredibly creepy, but also incredibly endearing, in true french form. the director creates this separate world in which these characters live. i'd liken it to amelie, but with sweeney todd mixed in. this was a definite improvement after m. hulot's holiday (my last netflix movie), which while endearing can be painfully quiet and slow when not expected. i give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
10.21.2009
complete failure
i have completely failed to follow these simple rules. at the beginning of this week i decided i needed to clean up my life a little bit. and to put things away constantly instead of after it becomes this crazy mess. even after thinking this through, and really trying for a day or so, my room is still a complete disaster. i blame nancy drew, which i also wrote about earlier. the games are so addicting. and since i refuse to let other addictive things enter my life, video games sometimes fill that void. i've been playing computer games instead of doing my to-dos and have too distracted by them to pick up after myself.putting some things away will lighten the load when i go to pick up after myself at the end of the day. this completely solves my problem of being buried under a load of clothes while sleeping, or barely being able to fit my laptop on my desk. we'll see about the dresser. that's the danger zone.
but i'll try this, for a week, and see if it makes any improvement on my life. put things away not down. tidy up before bed, not before breakdown. wish me luck!
we'll see if tomorrow is an improvement. i'm already better than the last few days. i'm getting into bed soon, reading, then going to sleep. maybe i'll be asleep by 2! that is an improvement!
10.19.2009
nancy drew
boo to mystery computer games late at night. i've just given up on the nancy drew: curse of blackmoor manor online game. it's super spooky, especially late at night. i think the actually creepy parts are the sudden noises and the spooky song the little girl sings over and over and over. i was hoping that i would be able to finish the thing and have a happy ending before i went to bed, but when i realized that it was 3:30 in the morning, i decided sleep was more important. the thing i fear is actually dreaming about the game. i dream about most of what happens in my life, and movies, books, and games can factor heavily into my dreams. not so good when it's about hauntings and/or murders and such. let's hope i sleep well.
10.18.2009
laundry
in general, i like doing laundry. it sucks carrying it up and down the stairs, but for the most part it is really just waiting. 30 minutes for the wash; 45 for the dry. not hard to do. watch some television, prepare meals, do other chores, or if you're lucky, errands. it can be a really productive task.
the difficulty lies in what comes after. the folding, putting away, and the remaking of the bed. all incredibly painful tasks. my mother would probably tell you that i could happily live with my clothes stored in a pile at the foot of my bed. this may have been true when i was 10 or 12 (when my mother still did my laundry including the folding), but i have since grow out of that habit. that's why i keep a chair handy. but really, i do like to have my clothes nicely folded and put away; i just don't like to do it myself. when i sent out my laundry (the beauty of new york) i gladly put away my clothes; granted they were already nicely folded. i just can't muster the energy to fold and put away, after doing the laundry. i'm over the laundry and just want it to be done.
making the bed is worse. if tired enough, i will put off making it and just sleep in the top blanket (only for one night!). but this task could be made easier by having a room that truly fits a queen-sized bed. my bed barely fits; i only have access to one side when making it up. quite a difficult task i hope you know!
but laundry has to be done. i really hate to smell; as i suppose everyone does. though that feeling doesn't overcome my dislike of putting the clean ones away. i'm glaring at my bag of freshly washed garments as i write this. according to my previous post, i am making an effort of put everything away as it presents itself or, at the latest, by the end of the day. well... it's the end of the day and those clothes are just going to have to be put away! and the bed made. and the dishes washed. sheesh... i have a lot of work before bed!
the difficulty lies in what comes after. the folding, putting away, and the remaking of the bed. all incredibly painful tasks. my mother would probably tell you that i could happily live with my clothes stored in a pile at the foot of my bed. this may have been true when i was 10 or 12 (when my mother still did my laundry including the folding), but i have since grow out of that habit. that's why i keep a chair handy. but really, i do like to have my clothes nicely folded and put away; i just don't like to do it myself. when i sent out my laundry (the beauty of new york) i gladly put away my clothes; granted they were already nicely folded. i just can't muster the energy to fold and put away, after doing the laundry. i'm over the laundry and just want it to be done.
making the bed is worse. if tired enough, i will put off making it and just sleep in the top blanket (only for one night!). but this task could be made easier by having a room that truly fits a queen-sized bed. my bed barely fits; i only have access to one side when making it up. quite a difficult task i hope you know!
but laundry has to be done. i really hate to smell; as i suppose everyone does. though that feeling doesn't overcome my dislike of putting the clean ones away. i'm glaring at my bag of freshly washed garments as i write this. according to my previous post, i am making an effort of put everything away as it presents itself or, at the latest, by the end of the day. well... it's the end of the day and those clothes are just going to have to be put away! and the bed made. and the dishes washed. sheesh... i have a lot of work before bed!
10.17.2009
clutter
i think i'm pretty well organized. i think i have boiled down what i own to the essentials. i think i still have too much stuff. i try to organize, i try to clean, but it never seems to help. i purge (boy do i love a good purge!) and i budget, and nothing seems to help. i'm constantly moving stuff off of my desk, off of my dresser, off of my bed. i even put them away when i move them. and still things collect. it's as if i have a leak somewhere. things slowly seep out onto the surfaces of my room. it appears to be unstoppable.
i know what the solution is. same as i know the solution to my leaky faucet. i need to start at the visible problem. i can try to put things away daily, instead of weekly. but if that doesn't contain the problem, i have to start at the source. i need to make a point to put things back instead of putting them down. i'm too much of a space cadet to really accomplish this feat. but the combination of the two might just work. putting some things away will lighten the load when i go to pick up after myself at the end of the day. this completely solves my problem of being buried under a load of clothes while sleeping, or barely being able to fit my laptop on my desk. we'll see about the dresser. that's the danger zone.
but i'll try this, for a week, and see if it makes any improvement on my life. put things away not down. tidy up before bed, not before breakdown. wish me luck!
i know what the solution is. same as i know the solution to my leaky faucet. i need to start at the visible problem. i can try to put things away daily, instead of weekly. but if that doesn't contain the problem, i have to start at the source. i need to make a point to put things back instead of putting them down. i'm too much of a space cadet to really accomplish this feat. but the combination of the two might just work. putting some things away will lighten the load when i go to pick up after myself at the end of the day. this completely solves my problem of being buried under a load of clothes while sleeping, or barely being able to fit my laptop on my desk. we'll see about the dresser. that's the danger zone.
but i'll try this, for a week, and see if it makes any improvement on my life. put things away not down. tidy up before bed, not before breakdown. wish me luck!
holy recovery
i was in need of a complete overhaul of my computer. i knew it would be a lot of work, but who knew? it's still going on. i called toshiba at 5:15pm yesterday. yesterday! and i'm still loading programs and changing settings. every time i restart my computer something else needs to be changed. and every time i go to turn it off there are more updates to be installed. and every time it turns on something pops up that i never want to see or something is displayed. i just want all of my old settings back.
i'm giving up for the day. i'm going to shut down my computer and try again tomorrow. i got my internet going, as you can tell... woo hoo! but the rest will just have to wait.
i'm giving up for the day. i'm going to shut down my computer and try again tomorrow. i got my internet going, as you can tell... woo hoo! but the rest will just have to wait.
10.16.2009
cold cold day
and yet i barely noticed it. i spent the day actually doing stuff. and by doing stuff i mean my homework, that i've been procrastinating on for a while. but i sat by my window all day and scarcely noticed the frigid temperatures. until i had to go outside to get to and from class. but still not as bad as expected. the rain let up a little while i traveled. it's going to snow soon. easily before thanksgiving. amy freeze, please don't say there'll be snow til thanksgiving. please. maybe a little prayer about it as well. dear god the snow sucks. please hold off.
not that this rainy windy cold weather is any better.
not that this rainy windy cold weather is any better.
10.13.2009
two become one
Candle light and soul forever
A dream of you and me together
Say you believe it, say you believe it
Free your mind of doubt and danger
Be for real don't be a stranger
We can achieve it, we can achieve it
Come a little bit closer baby, get it on, get it on
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one
[Chorus:]
I need some love like I never needed love before
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it's the only way to be
Silly games that you were playing
Empty words we both were saying
Let's work it out boy, let's work it out boy
Once again if we endevour
Love would bring us together
Take it or leave it, take it or leave it
Are you as good as I remember baby, get it on, get it on
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one
[Chorus]
Ah, oh wow
Ah, oh wow
Be a little bit wiser baby, put it on, put it on
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one
I need some love like I never needed love before
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
I need some love like I never needed love before
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it's the only way to be
It's the only way to be
It's the only way to be
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
who knew that the spice girls were so explicit? and i was quite young when they were popular; a lot of my friends were fans when they were little. one friend had such a loving feeling from this song she was thinking of playing it at another friend's wedding. i told her it wasn't such a good idea. she initially thought it was more about it being the spice girls than the content. but after talking about another song and it not qualifying because of explicitness of the lyrics, i told her that was why i was against this song. she had no idea. she just thought of it as this romantic song. and thirteen year old girls loved this song! adults are constantly concerned about why girls are starting to have sex younger and younger, but they aren't concerned about to what their children listen.
A dream of you and me together
Say you believe it, say you believe it
Free your mind of doubt and danger
Be for real don't be a stranger
We can achieve it, we can achieve it
Come a little bit closer baby, get it on, get it on
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one
[Chorus:]
I need some love like I never needed love before
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it's the only way to be
Silly games that you were playing
Empty words we both were saying
Let's work it out boy, let's work it out boy
Once again if we endevour
Love would bring us together
Take it or leave it, take it or leave it
Are you as good as I remember baby, get it on, get it on
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one
[Chorus]
Ah, oh wow
Ah, oh wow
Be a little bit wiser baby, put it on, put it on
'Cause tonight is the night when two become one
I need some love like I never needed love before
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
I need some love like I never needed love before
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(Wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it's the only way to be
It's the only way to be
It's the only way to be
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
who knew that the spice girls were so explicit? and i was quite young when they were popular; a lot of my friends were fans when they were little. one friend had such a loving feeling from this song she was thinking of playing it at another friend's wedding. i told her it wasn't such a good idea. she initially thought it was more about it being the spice girls than the content. but after talking about another song and it not qualifying because of explicitness of the lyrics, i told her that was why i was against this song. she had no idea. she just thought of it as this romantic song. and thirteen year old girls loved this song! adults are constantly concerned about why girls are starting to have sex younger and younger, but they aren't concerned about to what their children listen.
10.12.2009
reading your reading
it is amazing how what i read inspires me to read more. i was incredibly proud of myself for reading james joyce's ulysses - a definite feat. but nothing makes me happier than to read something that mentions a book i have read. i am currently reading a collection of essays by george orwell, and multiple times he mentions joyce's book. the best mention is in describing something else. for example, in "inside the whale" orwell compares ulysses to henry miller's tropic of cancer. no matter if the comparison is positive or negative (in this case it is positive), it compels me to read the other book. i know what my feelings were about one of the pieces; i want to know if my feelings about the other will be as described. the only drawback is with difficult reads. ulysses is a notoriously hard book to read, and i tackled it without any assistance. if i had previously read tropic of cancer and then read this essay, i think reading ulysses would have been much easier.
it is a nice feeling when a writer is referring to other pieces (novels, songs, art, what have you), and you can say that you know about what they are talking. in another part of this essay orwell mentions two books i have read previously. one of which is wuthering heights. he describes it as a "perverse and morbid book". oh, how true! at that moment, it was like an old woman in a gospel church, "hallelujah!" reading that put me in the author's thoughts, established his point of view, and showed that i agreed with him. which makes me want to follow his recommendations, like reading tropic of cancer.
it is a nice feeling when a writer is referring to other pieces (novels, songs, art, what have you), and you can say that you know about what they are talking. in another part of this essay orwell mentions two books i have read previously. one of which is wuthering heights. he describes it as a "perverse and morbid book". oh, how true! at that moment, it was like an old woman in a gospel church, "hallelujah!" reading that put me in the author's thoughts, established his point of view, and showed that i agreed with him. which makes me want to follow his recommendations, like reading tropic of cancer.
columbus day
i have today off from school, for fall break. but because i only have two days of class and fall break is during one of them and that day also happens to be columbus day, i keep stating that i have the day off for columbus day.
anyways this shouldn't be particularily impactful since i only have class from 6:30 to 9. i've decided to be especially productive today since i have the day "off". first to shower, very important. then i'm either going to rearrange the kitchen cabinets, while unpacking my kitchen box, or clean the bathroom. both desperately need to be done. the roomie asked me to clean the bathroom about a week ago. and this morning i had a sudden need to have all of my stuff finally put away. we'll see how i do.
also in preparation for class on thursday i really need to do a couple hours of homework. this kindda ruins the "day off" but it needs to be done.
anyways this shouldn't be particularily impactful since i only have class from 6:30 to 9. i've decided to be especially productive today since i have the day "off". first to shower, very important. then i'm either going to rearrange the kitchen cabinets, while unpacking my kitchen box, or clean the bathroom. both desperately need to be done. the roomie asked me to clean the bathroom about a week ago. and this morning i had a sudden need to have all of my stuff finally put away. we'll see how i do.
also in preparation for class on thursday i really need to do a couple hours of homework. this kindda ruins the "day off" but it needs to be done.
10.10.2009
george orwell
as you know i've been reading a collection of george orwell's essays. today i plowed through three of them. with the help of the weather and my boyfriend's need to have a relaxing weekend. plowed is the wrong word. it gives a connotation of hard work, and it isn't. he is quite amusing, and his ideas are quaint. it is interesting that a lot of his opinions are similar to mine. that should contradict what i wrote earlier about his ideas being "quaint", but i believe i'm pretty old-fashioned. not that i want to go back to the victorian times or become amish, but i feel we've traveled far from where we've started and not necessarily in a good direction.
orwell grew up in a middle-class family, and at the age of 9 or 10 he was sent to a boys boarding school. he wrote about his experiences in his famous essay, the joys of... after that he went to one of the english public schools. he eventually ends up in indian as part of the british police force there. he talks about one of his experiences in the essay shooting the elephant. after leaving the british service, he became a writer and commentator for the bbc. he wrote a few novels in his life; most well known are animal farm and 1984. both commonly read as part of the curriculum in american english classes.
i first encountered george orwell in my junior year of high school. i had to read animal farm as part of my government class. i don't know if i even bought the book. a few years ago i desired to read the "classics", the books everyone supposed to read at one time or another, that i never needed to read. 1984 was consumed during that period. his thoughts about the possibilities of the future are interesting, and still completely plausible. excepting the fact that he dates his book in 1984, which has already passed and the events did not occur, the book was creepy in its possibility. if only someone could reedit the book and place the date in 30--. that will give the world one thousand years to bring his book to life. instead of the 60 years he gave it. that brings another thought: orwell thought that sixty years was enough in the future to make his book plausible. he did not have a lot of hope for the state of the world. neither did his readers. i expect that the world will be much like it is in sixty years, except either more of less countries. i'm leaning towards more. as the small cultural and racial groups within countries vie for power and attention they will succeed at getting their own countries. making the world appear even less like the world orwell creates in his book.
orwell grew up in a middle-class family, and at the age of 9 or 10 he was sent to a boys boarding school. he wrote about his experiences in his famous essay, the joys of... after that he went to one of the english public schools. he eventually ends up in indian as part of the british police force there. he talks about one of his experiences in the essay shooting the elephant. after leaving the british service, he became a writer and commentator for the bbc. he wrote a few novels in his life; most well known are animal farm and 1984. both commonly read as part of the curriculum in american english classes.
i first encountered george orwell in my junior year of high school. i had to read animal farm as part of my government class. i don't know if i even bought the book. a few years ago i desired to read the "classics", the books everyone supposed to read at one time or another, that i never needed to read. 1984 was consumed during that period. his thoughts about the possibilities of the future are interesting, and still completely plausible. excepting the fact that he dates his book in 1984, which has already passed and the events did not occur, the book was creepy in its possibility. if only someone could reedit the book and place the date in 30--. that will give the world one thousand years to bring his book to life. instead of the 60 years he gave it. that brings another thought: orwell thought that sixty years was enough in the future to make his book plausible. he did not have a lot of hope for the state of the world. neither did his readers. i expect that the world will be much like it is in sixty years, except either more of less countries. i'm leaning towards more. as the small cultural and racial groups within countries vie for power and attention they will succeed at getting their own countries. making the world appear even less like the world orwell creates in his book.
10.09.2009
anyone want to give me $2 million?
upon reading a little more of george orwell, i was struck by something. several times in the book he mentions how amazing it would be if someone had 100,000 pounds. like pounds sterling, the british currency. i thought that was so weird because £100,000 doesn't appear to be a lot of money. but keeping in mind when this was written and the attitude at that time, it is a considerable amount. with £100,000 and an account with 4% interest, which i guess was standard at the time, you would make £4,000 - an amount you could live off of, even with a family. imagine that being able to live off of the interest. not touching the principle, ever. and not having to work. but also imagine being able to live off of £4,000. i don't even know what that amount would need to be currently. though i did figure out what i would need to live that way.
i figured that i'd need $2,000 per month. i currently need $1,500+ a month, but i've figured a little more would allow me to live more comfortably though basically in my current circumstances. so $2,000 a month is $24,000 a year. with the interest on my ing direct savings at 1.3% (and that's better than my citibank account) i'd need $2,000,000 in savings to live the way i do. and i have a roommate, no spouse, and no kids. but i wouldn't have to work... hmmmm... that's a viable option. where to get $2 million?
i need to get a lottery ticket!
*us$2,000,000 is £1,257,937. not so bad. though that's only for single me.*
i figured that i'd need $2,000 per month. i currently need $1,500+ a month, but i've figured a little more would allow me to live more comfortably though basically in my current circumstances. so $2,000 a month is $24,000 a year. with the interest on my ing direct savings at 1.3% (and that's better than my citibank account) i'd need $2,000,000 in savings to live the way i do. and i have a roommate, no spouse, and no kids. but i wouldn't have to work... hmmmm... that's a viable option. where to get $2 million?
i need to get a lottery ticket!
*us$2,000,000 is £1,257,937. not so bad. though that's only for single me.*
10.08.2009
estimating
i'm currently working on a project for my estimating class. and it is ridiculous! we have this massive set of plans. and we have to count every little thing. and i mean every last one, and give it a price.
luckily today is preliminary due date. we just have to have a general number. something that we can build off of for our final draft.
the only thing is: i'm a nut-case. i am so detail oriented that i've done almost the whole thing. in two days. well, i've done 50% of the mechanical, which i'm sure is more than most of the students. and mechanical isn't even my section!
my current plan is to stop where i'm at on the mechanical and turn it in. also next week i need to 3.5 hours each day (monday through thursday) working on the electrical, in order to provide my other group member with the same amount of work.
then after that it is all about me. and doing my part of the project. 3.5 hours/day seems like a lot when it comes of my part, but i'll probably need it. we'll see when the time comes.
woo! all i can say is that this thing needs to be done!!!!
luckily today is preliminary due date. we just have to have a general number. something that we can build off of for our final draft.
the only thing is: i'm a nut-case. i am so detail oriented that i've done almost the whole thing. in two days. well, i've done 50% of the mechanical, which i'm sure is more than most of the students. and mechanical isn't even my section!
my current plan is to stop where i'm at on the mechanical and turn it in. also next week i need to 3.5 hours each day (monday through thursday) working on the electrical, in order to provide my other group member with the same amount of work.
then after that it is all about me. and doing my part of the project. 3.5 hours/day seems like a lot when it comes of my part, but i'll probably need it. we'll see when the time comes.
woo! all i can say is that this thing needs to be done!!!!
10.06.2009
insight of george orwell
a few months ago (prior to my ireland book binge) i decided i needed to read a collection of some famous person's letters or essays. in this vein i bought a collection of essays by george orwell. i had until just recently avoided the book. i just didn't feel up to such serious content. i was mistaken. i've only read three of the essays, and they are far from serious. well... orwell writes seriously about everything, but it's hard to be serious when the topic of discussion is semi-pornographic comic postcards.
the first essay was about his personal boarding school experience. it is interesting in how he dwells on the inner workings of a child's mind, something he is obviously interested in and writes about a lot. the second (much longer) essay was about the writings of charles dickens. i hate everything written by dickens so i mostly read this one in search of something to redeem the author, but i learned nothing that would compel me to read another dickens work.
the third essay is about the semi-pornographic comic postcards i mentioned above. this is where the amusement began. towards the end of the piece he writes about why the working-class appear to be young and beautiful, then suddenly become old and ugly. he writes,"the working classes reach middle age earlier because they accept it earlier. for to look young after, say, thirty is largely a matter of wanting to do so." this appears fairly sound. after a certain age you do have to put forth effort in order to keep the appearance of youth. he goes on, "the impulse to cling to youth at all costs, to attempt to preserve your sexual attraction, to see even in middle age a future for yourself and not merely for your children, is a thing of recent growth and has only precariously established itself." i'd like to point out the "costs" that orwell believes that people are paying for their youthful appearances: "try to stay young at forty by means of physical jerks, cosmetics and avoidance of childbearing." but above all the best part is his conclusion. "[the impulse] will probably disappear again when our standard of living drops and our birthrate rises." too sad to say that never happened. the standard of living never dropped and the birthrate certainly never went up. why would you go from having 13 kids to only having 3, then become willingly have 13 again?!!?
there will be more from this wise man as i continue to read this book. but i think i'll always remember it by his insights on aging and beauty.
the first essay was about his personal boarding school experience. it is interesting in how he dwells on the inner workings of a child's mind, something he is obviously interested in and writes about a lot. the second (much longer) essay was about the writings of charles dickens. i hate everything written by dickens so i mostly read this one in search of something to redeem the author, but i learned nothing that would compel me to read another dickens work.
the third essay is about the semi-pornographic comic postcards i mentioned above. this is where the amusement began. towards the end of the piece he writes about why the working-class appear to be young and beautiful, then suddenly become old and ugly. he writes,"the working classes reach middle age earlier because they accept it earlier. for to look young after, say, thirty is largely a matter of wanting to do so." this appears fairly sound. after a certain age you do have to put forth effort in order to keep the appearance of youth. he goes on, "the impulse to cling to youth at all costs, to attempt to preserve your sexual attraction, to see even in middle age a future for yourself and not merely for your children, is a thing of recent growth and has only precariously established itself." i'd like to point out the "costs" that orwell believes that people are paying for their youthful appearances: "try to stay young at forty by means of physical jerks, cosmetics and avoidance of childbearing." but above all the best part is his conclusion. "[the impulse] will probably disappear again when our standard of living drops and our birthrate rises." too sad to say that never happened. the standard of living never dropped and the birthrate certainly never went up. why would you go from having 13 kids to only having 3, then become willingly have 13 again?!!?
there will be more from this wise man as i continue to read this book. but i think i'll always remember it by his insights on aging and beauty.
10.05.2009
oh, how i wish i could...
nick hornby's new novel was just released! oh, how i wish i could buy it!!!! but alas, it is in hardcover, and i only buy paperbacks. (i only have room for paperbacks.) plus i'm as broke as it gets. bah humbug! i love you, nick hornby!
willie nelson at his best
i let my itunes play what it wanted an this is what it came up with!!!
frank sinatra and willie nelson! duet! a foggy day.
who knew?!?!?!
it made my night.
frank sinatra and willie nelson! duet! a foggy day.
who knew?!?!?!
it made my night.
10.04.2009
halloween
this month contains only one worth while holiday. halloween.
i do enjoy this holiday, mostly because you have to dress up as something creative, but also because it allows you to eat as much candy as possible.
in college this holiday became more about the creativity of your costume and drinking then anything else.
now i'm mostly enthralled by the costumes, and coming up with the best one, then the other stuff.
eventually this will give way to my children's costumes, and subsequently to handing out candy and consuming the leftovers.
but for now i do my best of come up with a one of a kind piece. i transformed a baby's giraffe costume into a top and sported it with jeans. i was "cloudy with a slight chance of rain" taken from real simple. i've been a black cat, in a black cocktail dress with ears and tail.
this year i have nothing. i don't even know what i'm going to do that night. it is a saturday. that brings out multiple possiblities. no matter what i'll be something awesome!
i do enjoy this holiday, mostly because you have to dress up as something creative, but also because it allows you to eat as much candy as possible.
in college this holiday became more about the creativity of your costume and drinking then anything else.
now i'm mostly enthralled by the costumes, and coming up with the best one, then the other stuff.
eventually this will give way to my children's costumes, and subsequently to handing out candy and consuming the leftovers.
but for now i do my best of come up with a one of a kind piece. i transformed a baby's giraffe costume into a top and sported it with jeans. i was "cloudy with a slight chance of rain" taken from real simple. i've been a black cat, in a black cocktail dress with ears and tail.
this year i have nothing. i don't even know what i'm going to do that night. it is a saturday. that brings out multiple possiblities. no matter what i'll be something awesome!
10.02.2009
happy autumn!
first day of october.... well the second day.
i have a renewed feeling. like everything is lighter. everything is easier. everything is better. but i know it isn't any different. i just feel different. but it's nice. i don't mind wallowing in it for a bit.
things are going smoothly. i'm getting things done. it feels good.
i'm still having difficulties waking up at a reasonable hour, or more truthfully getting out of bed at a reasonable hour, but i'll manage. i have high hopes for tomorrow. you never know though.
i'm planning a trip to target... duh duh duh. it's so bad going there. i want everything and can't buy anything. it's difficult. but go there i must. i have my list, and hopefully i stick to it. i might scope out bedding and drapery. i'm in need. oh and a christmas tree. there're only $30; i don't think they'll get any cheaper.
hahaha it isn't even halloween and i'm thinking about christmas.
i have a renewed feeling. like everything is lighter. everything is easier. everything is better. but i know it isn't any different. i just feel different. but it's nice. i don't mind wallowing in it for a bit.
things are going smoothly. i'm getting things done. it feels good.
i'm still having difficulties waking up at a reasonable hour, or more truthfully getting out of bed at a reasonable hour, but i'll manage. i have high hopes for tomorrow. you never know though.
i'm planning a trip to target... duh duh duh. it's so bad going there. i want everything and can't buy anything. it's difficult. but go there i must. i have my list, and hopefully i stick to it. i might scope out bedding and drapery. i'm in need. oh and a christmas tree. there're only $30; i don't think they'll get any cheaper.
hahaha it isn't even halloween and i'm thinking about christmas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
