Okay so Coraline didn't take quite as long as I would have expected. It was really good, though, and I'm excited at the idea of it getting turned into a movie. I'm going to start Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. I could have sworn I'd read it before, but now I'm incredibly certain that I haven't.

Heroes was pretty awesome. I have to say, though, that I had difficulty sitting around watching television for three hours straight. I consider that a good thing.

Today's my busy day, in comparison to the others. I asked the professor of the longer class if my attendance would be a nuisance or anything, but she assured me that it would be good to go, and thus I am going. Sort of a slow start this morning, but not in a bad way.

Letter sent off to kiri427 this morning! Hope you lot have a good day.

My day was actually pretty decent until I logged into my IJ account and saw a bunch of shit that's irritated me. The nice thing is that it's not related to 'real life' at all. Well and then darkelfgrl posted a picspam and made me feel better.

Last night the concert did not have Sara Bareilles, which was a little disappointing. However, Maroon 5 was on before Counting Crows, which meant we could bail early. I figure people on my flist don't like/don't care about Maroon 5 but hell, I like them and I like most of their songs and I had a great time. Despite my reading a study that's due for class today, I really had a great time with scorpion_gem and b_alive.

Now I feel a bit better. I've got to leave for class in half an hour, and then hopefully dinner with two of my classmates and back in time for the first episode of Supernatural and the last episode of Burn Notice. I miss home occasionally.

Hope you lot are having a good week. Tomorrow's Friday!

Woo new layout! It's very Supernatural-ified, but sue me, I like it. I was going to go with this other banner that darkelfgrl picked out, since the girl in it is my favorite and I talk about her often, but she at least gets an icon because I like this banner and the lyrics. Also because meloquent agreed with me about this banner. Like it matters. Moving on.

My paper for my presentation tomorrow is nearly complete! I have to edit it again, read it out loud tonight, and print out a final draft tomorrow morning! I've got tons of non-school stuff to do after that, but it will be a relief to have this project done. I'll even get to read again! Gasp! I also have to write letters to deana_in_texas and kiri427. I might be able to start a bit of that this evening after working out!

Anyway, I feel a small sense of relief and satisfaction. How often does that occur on a Monday, I ask you. Hope the week starts out well for you lot. I've got to run to the library to drop off my books. ♥

I had fatty sushi. I mean there's sushi, and then there's PUTTING AVOCADO ALL OVER IT and all the sweet stuff that you know is so bad for you. And it's just sitting oddly in my stomach. It was good at the time, though.

I called it an early night because I actually felt guilty about staying out instead of finishing this paper. I'm so nearly done but even as I wrote the rest of it today, it didn't feel quite right. I guess I'm just so freaked that I'll get an F and, best of all, I'll be reading it out loud in front of the class (6 students, 1 professor) even though they're all pretty great. I just feel as if my work isn't up to par, like I'm missing something. However, writing about it here isn't getting my paper done, so off I go.

Hope everyone's having a nice weekend ♥

I think one of these days I will have to fiddle with the layout of this journal. Perhaps that will make it more interesting and I'll be more likely to use it as often as I should. Except not today because I am already procrastinating on my reading. Great sign for this semester, I can tell.

I start my classes tonight. Or, well. I see if I can get into one class tonight. I'm not sure of my chances, but at least I gave it every effort. The other one I'm just sitting in on, though I'm not certain about what that will entail. So far I've gotten ahead on some reading and it's really interesting.

It's been about a week since I've sprained my ankle. So now I've sprained both, though years apart from one another. I suppose that evens out. Walking isn't too much of a problem, and I'm still hoping I might be able to go to the gym next week. Not sure, though.

I've really enjoyed reading as much as I have lately. So far this year I've read 36 books, and I hope to get through 50 before the year is out. Obviously classes will make this somewhat difficult, but I think I'll be able to do it. I recently finished both of Barack Obama's books, and I'm glad I did that before the start of the Democratic National Convention. Also I'm annoyed that I'll miss Hilary Clinton's speech tonight, but I figure I can youtube it tomorrow. Now I'm reading one of McCain's books, Faith of My Fathers. I'd like to read one of his more recent ones, but that would probably involve purchasing it and I'm not sure about that.

Back to reading and a bunch of work.

ETA : Ugh LJ, stop asking me to change my password. Now it's just annoying.

Starbucks is becoming too sweet for me. When did this happen. I blame Peet's. Though in theory I should not be getting either as often as I have, so I'm cutting back a little. Okay I'm really not, but I should focus on getting smalls instead of mediums. I've also discovered something horrific: I like lattes. Fortunately, I may forget about this within a few days and will never be tempted to get them. I can dream.

Last night we went to Consuelo's in Santana Row for dinner. I warned my parents that it's really not the typical Mexican restaurant that they're used to, but they said it was my choice and that they were looking forward to it. So Jeff and I were wearing very amused expressions when my parents stared at the menu for ten minutes and still didn't know what to get. In the end everyone enjoyed what they ordered and the margaritas were quite good. Today we have a big family dinner. I always find myself not looking forward to these, but then when we go, I tend to really enjoy myself. Better that than the other way around. The fact that I have good news regarding my schooling probably helps.

I got a birthday card from my aunt and cousin yesterday. The ones that I can't talk about in front of my parents because they just flip out. It's my mother's sister-in-law and nephew, and she doesn't really like either of them for various reasons. I'm not sure how my father feels on it, but there's a huge sense of betrayal all around and it really doesn't hit me as hard. I mean yeah, my cousin is an asshole, but for some reason I can't think that badly of him. I've written back and said yeah, would be great to get together for dinner again. It would just be the three of us again, because my parents are better off not knowing about it and I'm not bringing anyone for my cousin to mock.

The people attending the garage sale next door keep blocking our driveway. It's pretty annoying. I mean blatantly blocking it. There's no way they can't see that they're not blocking it. I'm really not leaving anytime soon and I know it's normal garage sale procedure, but they don't have to be jerks about it when we ask them to move so we can use our own damn driveway. Back to cleaning, perhaps an episode of Doctor Who, and a piece of reading American Gods and writing more of this letter before a shower and festivities.

ETA : Oh God, I forgot about Facebook. At least this means I'll see more of my old friends and maybe we'll get together longer than the whole 'YOU DISAPPEARED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH' stage.

So this must at least be the third time I've promised to come back, drifted for quite an accumulation of months, and then dropped back again. Let's see if I can be more consistent about keeping updated on people's lives, now that mine is picking up a little bit. Doing what I'm doing now, it's hard to believe there were times where I would spend days doing nothing of importance. I have a hard enough time sitting still for three hours. Occasionally.

My most sincere apologies to deana_in_texas, for many reasons. And I read your thing that said you were having a meh day. I hope things improve for you!

Also, darkelfgrl : JENNY YOUR JOURNAL PAGES STILL SUCKS. IDC WHAT YOU SAY. Hope you feel better ♥.

I want to tell my aunt to stop making mashed potatoes. I love her. And the rest of her food was lovely. But mashed potatoes should have... taste. I am not picky about my potatoes. I love potatoes. But no, auntie. No.

I am also disgruntled that I had to leave my cheesecake at her house. As I am a selfish person. But I figure my grandmother would have done something like that, so it's okay.

First thing I did this morning was roll my ankle and pop it back into place. That will wake you up. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that, not only did it not hurt that much, it also hasn't really swollen up. I haven't rolled my ankle in maybe years. I'm hoping that it'll still be okay by the time I get home, and if not, I can always ice it down a bit.

That was my exciting thing for the day. That and I get sushi for lunch.

I don't think it will be so hard for me to give up soda. I don't know why. And I could be wrong, but you never know. I'll still drink a wee bit on holidays and family get togethers, but not nearly as much as I used to. I'm sort of drawing back from a lot of things lately, but the difference is that I think it's good to pull back from these things.

I'm going to start looking at nonprofit organizations to apply to. The concept is interesting to me, and Professor Ellingson recommended that I take a look, and that was years ago. I think I could like it.

I baked my first loaf of bread yesterday. I don't know if it counts, because it was with a Breadmaker. But let me tell you, you can still mess that up. Because I did. But the good thing is that the bread's still edible. It just looks wonky. I kind of want to make my own jam now. I think next weekend I'll just stick to trying to make a loaf of wheat bread.

The squirrels at our house are absolutely insane.

EDIT: I need to post a novel excerpt for my fricken NaNo. This shouldn't be as hard as I'm making it out to be.

first off, this problem with the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) needs to be fixed... now. if some sort of agreement isn't reached by... tonight, I guess, since it's 2 am, writers walk out. new episodes will STOP OCCURRING. the last one was apparently twenty years ago and lasted five months and $500 million. except reality shows. those will be okay. fuckers.

so we had a 5.6 earthquake with like, a dozen aftershocks. it was interesting at best. my mother, you now, the one who works at a school and has to run earthquake, fire and emergency drills monthly sort of forgot what to do. as in, she thought it was over, the ground was still moving, and she tried to walk around. I don't even know who she is anymore. overall not too much damage. two broken glasses, a broken bottle of wine from our cellar, so it got all over the carpet and the Halloween candy. the rest was just putting stuff here and there.

nano starts tomorrow and I'm already stressed.

also, democratic debate. wtf hilary, let's not give out contradicting statements within five minutes of one another. I wish edwards was doing better in polls. I also loved the guy who decided he was the only one out of the panel who'd tried to negotiate with a foreign country. really now. even I knew that one was off, bucko.


also, everyone have a fun and safe halloween! we're chillaxin and watching ghost stuff. jenny calls me a wuss. and the next time she does, I'll call her on earthquakes. she loves me. rly she does. on some level.

went out for a really nice evening with Carrie last night. it helped a lot and she gave me a lot of inspiration about writing, which I've always been pretty nervous about. maybe it's because of the genre I like. that and I don't write very long things, and it's rare enough if I finish something in a satisfactory way.

so I signed up for NaNo.

my mother is losing the secretary of her school, which, saddoes. her secretary is brilliant. so now the big plan is that I'll apply. I promised I'd apply. we'll see how that goes.

I honestly don't care what the staff of GJ is saying. That site is going down. Working on it, working on it, don't know when we'll have improvements, etc.

And then I get into an argument with my dad. Same damn argument every time. It's not an argument, per se. It's me sitting there and taking it when he yells at me about this one thing, because arguing is pointless, and when he gets mad enough, you don't talk back. My da is a really, really great guy, and he's done a lot for me, but it just pisses me off.