off the port bow

ocd

2011-09-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

It's hard for me to write when the layout is all messed up. Still working on it.

book review: Juliet

2011-09-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

Juliet by Anne Fortier:

"Juliet, an ambitious, utterly engaging historical novel on the scale of The Thirteenth Tale and The Birth of Venus, follows a young woman who discovers that her family’s origins reach all the way back to literature’s greatest star-crossed lovers. When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo—but where is he?"

I saw a review of this book in one of the many Sunday newspaper inserts (USA Today, maybe?) a while ago and have had it on my list to purchase since. Then I happened to be in Borders during their closing sale and there it was. I couldn't resist.

I was hooked from page 1. I instantly connected with the main character, Julie Jacobs and had a hard time putting the book down each night. I honestly felt like I was right there with her, in Italy, as she tried to solve her family's mystery.

Juliet has everything a girl could ask for in a book: history, romance, danger, mystery, and Italy. You do not need to be a Shakespeare aficionado to enjoy this book, but you may want to brush up on the main ideas of the story if you are unfamiliar.

5 Stars!

what have I been up to?

2011-09-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

76 jars and counting...

malfunction

2011-08-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the weird formatting guys. I don't know what the problem is. Evidently, my computer likes to add a lot of unnecessary spacing between paragraphs. Stupid technology.

wanderlust

2011-08-24T21:28:00.000-07:00

I suffer from chronic wanderlust. It plagues me every moment of the day and unfortunately, I also suffer lackofmoney-itis. Therefore I'm left to surf the pages of my 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and browse websites like this and this and this (I discovered the last one today). My top 5 list of places I'm dying to visit changes regularly. Recently, however, I have noticed a trend and felt the urge to share! Here you go folks! Enjoy.

1. Costa Rica

If you want to become an adventure traveler, you must begin in Costa Rica. At least, that's what I have read. Ok here's my thing with Costa Rican travel - It's beautiful, it's affordable, it's environmentally friendly, it's safe, and there is literally something for everyone! It is basically the most customizable vacation destination that you could ask for and you will still feel good about the size of your carbon footprint. I LOVE ecolodges!!! Rock on Costa Rica!

2. Thailand

I am not even sure what caused me to be so interested in Thailand, but I think it may have been the elephants. As you will see in other parts of this list, I fall for places where the past and present tend to slap you in the face at the same time. Then there are the beaches. Need I say more?

3. Egypt

If you want to experience the past being juxtaposed with the present, I'm guessing Egypt is one of the ultimate destinations for that! I am such an archaeology/anthropology nerd that I feel I must visit this country. Imagine walking where the pharaohs walked, and seeing the architectural masterpieces that were created over 3,000 years ago...I'm geeking out just thinking about it! Not to mention - Who wouldn't want to go hot air ballooning over ancient ruins?!

4. Bali

When I think of magical places I think Bali. I have no explanation for this except perhaps all of the colors! I imagine the temples that seems to be growing out of the jungle and the vines that hang from the trees and the smell of jasmine floating in the air...magic.

5. Argentina

Coffee. Wine. Tango. Spanish. Need I say more? That's pretty much all I have to say about Argentina. I'm sold.

movie review: soul surfer

2011-08-21T11:03:00.001-07:00

I've been wanting to watch Soul Surfer since it came to theaters but never got around to it. Finally, on Friday it came in the mail from Netflix and I couldn't wait to watch it!

The movie is based on the book Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton. Beyond the fact that I am a sucker for a movie about surfing, the story itself is absolutely amazing. Even if some of the acting was sub-par, I am seriously considering purchasing this movie. The cinematography is fantastic, which it probably the reason behind my recent surge of yearning for the ocean. I have now watched it twice and both times could not get over the fact that this story is based off real life events. Bethany Hamilton's story is one that should be retold again and again.

4 Stars!

album review: GPN

2011-08-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

Let's kick things back off with another album review. I know my last one wasn't too happy, but this one is a 180 the other way. Let's talk about: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals!

I actually feel a little bad for my friends because I've been talking this band up since I first heard their new single Paris (Ooh La La) months ago. This girl has a set of pipes that is reminiscent of Anne Wilson and Janis Joplin. I love the '70s rock inspired beats and I always feel the need to pick up a six string and figure out how to play Freebird when I'm listening to them. Did I also mention that she's a knockout? Yeah, she kicks ass all around.

It's not everyday you find an album that you can listen to top to bottom, but this self titled album is definitely one of them!

5 Stars!

re-start

2011-08-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

This has been a bit of a crazy year for me. However, now that my AmeriCorps term of service is coming to a close, I'm going to try to pick back up on blogging again. I think it's time.

Illuminations Review

2010-11-17T18:37:00.000-08:00

Josh Groban has finally released a new album and I am annoyed to report that it is a giant disappointment. The album is an unfortunate cross between Neil Diamond and Paul Simon. So to fully illustrate my feelings it's time for an open letter to Mr. Groban.

Dear Josh,

I'm confused. Why did you feel the need to completely change your sound? I understand the need to branch out and show fans who you really are, but instead of being enlightened I feel confused. I know the title of the album is "Illuminations" but what should I be seeing? I feel more disillusioned than anything. I almost feel guilty for saying this because if you were truly so unfulfilled with showcasing your vocal range and find pride in your new sound who am I to tell you otherwise? I have been a fan of your since the beginning but I honestly don't get it. The truth is after waiting 4 years for this album I was just expecting more.
I understand that you worked hard co-writing every single song but they kind of all sound the same. On "Awake" you were able to change it up by adding new sounds to the old stuff. The end result was magic. The African inspired music combined with your traditional classical sound created a multifaceted album that appealed to a variety of people. Although "Illuminations" was something that took a lot of time and effort, it resulted in only one sound.
Even though I don't like this new album I will probably continue to listen to it and hope that the next album is more reminiscent of your earlier stuff.

Love,
Ariel

tyra

2010-10-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Tyra Banks,

I don't care that you are a crazy, wanna be stage mom. I find your antics and nonsensical outbursts not only entertaining but reassuring as well. Whenever I listen to you ramble on with the other judges about things that have absolutely no connection to reality I feel better about myself. So thank you Tyra, thank you for boosting my self esteem in a way that no one else can say they have done.

Love,
Ariel

why September is weird

2010-10-07T22:45:00.001-07:00

I love summer and I hate winter. I also quite enjoy autumn. Convincing myself to let go of summer is often very difficult, however when I start drinking my pumpkin spice lattes and eating caramel anything I am happy again. I think just knowing that after fall comes winter makes it really hard for me to let go of summer. So:

Dear September,

I'm sorry that you fall* at such an awkward time of year. It is really unfortunate that winter's impending doom overshadows the wonderful things that you bring. Every year I am disgruntled as I put my flip-flops and shorts into storage, but once October comes I am over my attitude and have re-accepted my Converse and apple cider. I'm sorry, September, for taking out my pre-winter angst on you. Maybe one year it will be an Indian summer and then it will be less painful for the both of us.

Love,
Ariel

*Pun totally intended.

following the trends

2010-10-07T22:17:00.001-07:00

When I was a freshman in college I read Eat, Pray, Love. I loved it. Then it became the new "it" book and everybody else loved it too. Then it faded away as most fads do and now that the movie has come out we all love it again. Normally I'm one to resist media fads (at least I like to think so), but this book really struck a chord with me. I can tell this not because I enjoy talking about the book (which I do) or because I saw the movie right when it came out (which I did not) but by looking around my room. When I moved home from college my room contained all the same decorations I've always had but now it's becoming more and more like World Market. I bought a new comforter today (for $5) and when I put it out along with my new curtains (also $5) my mother said "wow, it's very...Bali in here." Sure enoug, I have new candles and new wall hangings all making it seem like I'm Liz Gilbert just coming home from her trip. Even my new office has fallen victim to the cultural decoration attack.

I can't give all the credit to Ms. Gilbert and her wonderful story. I was bitten by the travel bug a long time ago and books like hers only inflame it. The funny part is-I'm totally fine with all the new decor. I think now I'll go turn on some of the world music I've been downloading and pretend like I'm on vacation.

starbucks - open letter

2010-09-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

I think this will be my new thing. I know Todd will try to take credit again, but I give the credit to Jubal @ Kiss 106.1

I'll try to keep them short, sweet and hopefully decent.

Dear Starbucks,

How dare you raise the prices of my favorite legal addictive stimulant? I didn't complain about the raise of candy, soda or alcohol prices. If your prices get any higher I'm going to have to start buying Folgers and that would be seriously tragic. Please rethink your strategy.

Love,
Ariel

last quarter quotations & notations

2010-04-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

I'm taking three classes in this final quarter of my college career. They are as follows: Reproductive Ecology, Sex & Gender in Society, and Native Peoples of the Pacific Northwest. So far I've decided that taking two classes that have to do with sex and/or reproduction is overwhelming yet informative.

"...and the Canadians are such slackers. I mean, I don't even know how they're going to replace the current population. You'd think in the winter months they're get busy..."~Reproductive Prof

"I don't know my chromosomes very good." ~Reproductive Prof

Why do people say "eck cedra" instead of "et cetera"?

"Where would the world be without tequila?" ~Native Prof

"It's a fun class except for the times when misery will overcome you." ~Sex & Gender Prof

"...Oh gosh, you know I talk about these things in class and I get these songs in my head...you know...Baby Got Back..." ~S&G Prof

"Women in heat get more meat." ~S&G Prof

"If we could bottle & sell oxytocin it would be a weapon of mass romance." ~S&G Prof

"Anthropology should be practical right?" ~S&G Prof

the music is all around us

2010-03-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

If you've never seen this movie, do so. I rediscovered this song in my iPod and decided to share it. Every time I hear it I get chills.
Warning: if you haven't seen the movie yet I wouldn't watch this clip.

celebrities

2010-02-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

Guess who came into the store Friday? This guy!

Guess who was cleaning the bathrooms when he left? Me.

I saw him drive by the front windows though and saw the back of his head when he was shopping on the other side of the store.

that's what she said?

2010-02-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

Me: "Jeff, you get to be the bad guy today."
Jeff (my manager): "I'm always the bad guy. I root for the bad guys. When I was watching Frosty the Snowman I was rooting for the sun!"

Jacquie (in reaction to a woman breast feeding in a cafe): "I know babies need their lattes too but that's just weird."

Katie: "I get all hot when I hear words like cell metabolism."

Professor: "The healthier you are, the more symmetrical you are."

Me:"That's where my people are from...Wisconsin and Polish."
Katie: "They have good ass hot dogs."

Jacquie: "WE HAVE A DRAGON BOY IN OUR BACK YARD!"

Jacquie: "They're like flaming nunchucks!"

Professor: "I will metaphorically shoot you..."

Professor: "I wrestled a 13 year old male..."

Professor: "If anthro is worth anything, it should provide insights to any situation we're in."

Professor: "I need a lot of private time, not for sex per say..."

Professor: "They believe it also reflects your parent's moods at the time they conceived you-let's hope they were having a good time."

Professor: "Something that kills your labido and for most of us our reason for getting up in the morning..."

Teacher: "I will not talk football. I will talk iceskating or I will talk cookbooks."

Teacher: "When caffine doesn't work eat sugar!"

Teacher: "Cholesterol is a precursor to sex hormones...can you imagine how boring life would be without cholesterol?!"

Teacher: "Hmmm kinky peptide...that's interesting."

Teacher: "I fell asleep with my endocrinology text book last night."

Teacher: "I was playin' poker when I started labor and I wasn't going anywhere because I was winning!"

New words I like:
pertinacious
licentious --> my teacher used this one in class "I don't want to say slutty...so we'll just say licentious."

can you hear me now?

2010-02-04T11:32:00.001-08:00

The other day a representative from Verizon called me to ask me a few questions about a recent survey I had filled out for them. In the survey I told them that I was disappointed about the lack of service I get in my house and in many buildings on campus. I also told them I don't like how my free nights and weekends start later than my friends with other carriers. Ironically, when he called he wanted to know where I didn't get service but I couldn't tell him because I didn't have enough bars. He did inform me that I could purchase an extender pack that would allow me to get service in more places. Good idea! I should pay more to be able to use my phone indoors! I mean, the idea that the money I already pay you should allow me to use my phone anywhere is preposterous! Especially after seeing ads like this, I'm not sure how I ever got that idea in my head.

fear

2010-01-18T00:49:00.000-08:00

I love the ocean and the water, but two of my biggest fears have to do with it. I have a phobia about aquatic vegetation and tsunamis. After I read an old post that mentioned what I am afraid of I really started to think about it and I am truly terrified of tidal waves, which is totally irrational. Well, maybe not totally. Every year I go camping on the beach where there are tsunami evacuation route signs posted all over the place. Maybe years of reading them has created this anxiety. In fact, I'm fairly certain I've had nightmares about tsunamis. Curious.

hot dogs

2010-01-05T22:48:00.000-08:00

Roommate #1: "You don't look so good. Are you tired? Your eyes are red."
Me: "Yeah my eyes are on fire. I don't feel good. I shouldn't have eaten that Polish dog."
Roommate #2: "Wait, are you allergic to hot dogs?!"

christmas party

2009-12-16T19:16:00.000-08:00

Every year at the Christmas party I go to we get to see this exact performance:

I am in fact in this video. Where's Waldo?

Well next year I'm going to try to convince my sister to do this number at the party. I think we'd knock 'um dead.

the beyond department

2009-12-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

I have a new-ish retail job and it's become an interesting part of my life. I've turned each shift into a game. We, as cashiers, are required to ask many annoying questions to each customer. Here's my schpiel: "Hi there! Did you find everything ok today? Can I tempt you into purchasing a Poach Pod or a cookie dough scoop today? You don't know what a Poach Pod is? Well let me demonstrate. You set the pods in your shallow pan of water on the stove and crack your eggs in there and poach them like you would regularly and when you're done you just throw them in the top rack of the dishwasher. And these cookie dough scoops are cool too! They have a nice sharp edge that helps you get through the raisins and the oatmeal and then you just push the back and they pop right out onto your tray! Do you need any gift cards or gift receipts today? And is any of this from our bridal registry? Ok have a great day!"
Wow I'm exhausted. But recently I decided to make it into a joke. I try to sound as much like an infomercial as possible and the customers love it. I'm actually starting not to hate it so much. It's the nice customers that make it worth while. For example: today one lady asked me which laptop tray I liked better and I convinced her to buy the more expensive one (not on purpose) and she said "My you are a good sales-woman!" Then later I helped her figure out that she would save more by using a 20% off coupon than by using a $5 off coupon and she said "Wow, not only are you a good sales woman, but you're funny and smart too!"
It's the nice ones that make it not so dreadful.

winter

2009-12-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

I have to stay up here over break for work. At first I thought it was going to be nice to be alone, but now I'm realizing that I'm going to be bored out of my mind. It's hard to cook for only one person. Today I made enough soup for a whole army. I also volunteered for an extra shift at work, which is sick. On the one hand it's nice because I get to come home to the quiet and I can read or watch a movie, basically whatever I want. I also don't have to talk to anyone, which at first sounds depressing but after 5 strait hours of using my retail-voice it's nice to not talk. Sometimes I want to do this -->

But there are those other times where I feel like this -->

I think I'm funny.

Disney dreams

2009-11-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

I want to work for Disney. I always have and I probably always will. I will be graduating in June and after that real life starts, but I don't know what to do. The thing I keep worrying about is that I will have to start paying back all of my loans. I want to go to California and work for Disneyland as like a creative manager so something. I know Disney inside and out and I think I would do well, but how do I get there? I know this kind of job must exist because the park exists and someone had to help Walt think it all up! How do I get a job like this? This is what I want to do when I grow up, but I'm not sure it will ever work out and that makes me sad. I'm sure I'll find a good job somewhere in Olympia and I'll do just fine but I still like to dream.

song of the day

2009-11-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

"Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Buble

song of the day

2009-10-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

"Love" by Sugarland

I'm sorry about the ridiculous add in this video but I love this particular performance.

senior year

2009-10-07T18:54:00.001-07:00

The good thing about being a senior in college is that you get to take classes that are interesting. This quarter I'm taking a class from my favorite professor, The Ecology of Human Variation. He's hysterical and luckily for both of us there is a girl in the class who's intelligence I'm questioning. Here is a blip from class today. Enjoy. We were making a chart about how humans use their energy and we had "reproduction" under an activity and then our teacher put it as it's own category to represent sexual maturation. This is the conversation that followed.(I copied that picture exactly from the white board.)

Student: "but you already have that under 'activities'."

Teacher: "Think about it now. The activity part of reproduction is...going to the sock-hop..."

*laughter*

Girl: "What about socialization? I mean, humans have to socialize."

Teacher: "Well, that would be this..." (He puts a star next to 'reproduction' in the activities section)

*lull in conversation*

Girl: "What about grooming?!"

Teacher: (Puts a dot next to 'reproduction').

*laughter*

She was lost.

bacteria

2009-10-07T18:37:00.001-07:00

I made it all the way home without any huge complications. My flights were both delayed, which annoyed me but didn't hurt at all. The last few days of my journey I had been feeling kind of ill, which made me sit out of a couple activities. When I got home I still had a rock in my stomach. After Mom gave me a panic attack by telling me that she thought it could be a parasite/worms she had me call Dr.Ellen (aka Mom's bff). She told me that I had giardia, thank God. She told me I'd have to be on anti-biotics 4x/day for 7 days. After that exciting news mom consulted someone else and the CDC and decided I could manage with 1 pill 3x/day, much better. Now that I've been off the antibiotics for a while I'm still feeling some of the uh, effects but the rock in my stomach is gone. Now, however, I have to take probiotics to reset my system, if you will. I can't wait until I'm only on one pill/day again!

long journey home

2009-09-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

I begin my 24 hour journey home in 2 hours. I´m sad to be leaving but I´m happy to go home. I miss my family and my dog and I´m starting to hate potatoes. I miss regular trips to the bathroom and not having to sanitize my water and to not keep my mouth shut in the shower. Me encanta Peru. I´m ready to come home. Bien viaje.

the sacred valley

2009-09-12T11:31:00.001-07:00

I´m going to Machu Picchu tomorrow and I can´t decide if I want to walk all the way up (like 1700 Incan stairs) or take the bus. We shall see. Today at 3:30pm we take the train to Aguas Calientes for the night and come back to Ollantaytambo tomorrow around 3ish. I need to do some serious shopping still. I have a couple things but need more! I only have one more week here and then I´ll be seeing all of you again! Hasta pronto!

welcome to the jungle

2009-09-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

The last few days have been busy traveling days. I spent some of last week in the Amazon and it was amazing! I was literally IN the Amazon river. We decided to go swimming in a little town called Infierno, which means ¨hell.¨I thought it was funny. We stayed at an ecoLodge there and our rooms literally looked out into the jungle. If you want to look at pictures it is called Posada Amazonas near Puerto Maldonado. We saw monkeys, macaws, bugs, cabibarra, birds, bugs, and bugs. It was fantastic. Now I´m in a place called Ollantaytambo, which is right outside of Machu Picchu. I will be going there on Sunday. I saw some ruins today and it was freaking amazing! We were in Cusco last night and it was a really cool town. I can´t wait to go back there and do some shopping! Just so you all know, Pisco, the local alcohol is GREAT. A pisco sour tastes like a margharita only better. No joke. A met an older woman today from the UK who lives here in Ollantaytambo (yes, that takes me a while to type) and she is doing nonprofit work for the local women, teaching them about contraception and giving them birth control. They give them Depo because pills are too hard. She also helps with getting food for the local children who have to walk 3 hours downhill to get to school and most never eat, then they have to walk 3 hours back uphill. She´s an amazing lady.

Lastly, I´d like to say: GO KASEY KAHNE! He´s 6th in the points race right now! By the way, my group leader has nicknames for everyone and mine is ¨NASCAR,¨I like it.

That´s all for now amigos! Adios!

one week down, two to go

2009-09-05T11:50:00.001-07:00

I´m now in Huaraz and will be leaving tonight. The reason I haven´t posted in a few days is because I was in a little mountain town called Vicos. There was little running water and so no internet. Most people spoke only Quechua or Spanish so my speaking skills are improving everyday, which is really exciting! I´ve been eating potatoes for every meal and luckily I haven´t gotten sick...yet. Most people in my group have gotten a flu thing which I´m trying really hard to avoid. Tonight we head to the jungle. I´m excited because the longer I sit here in Huaraz the more homesick I get. I miss you all and hope that all is well. If you want to look it up the name of the town I´m going to is Puerto Maldonado. Oh, let me share a magical moment with you. While the rest of my group hiked to the top of the largest mountain I´ve every seen, I stayed behind and gazed at the Andes while my babysitter, Manuel, played his flute for me. Now, please go listen to ¨Come Fly With Me¨by Frank Sinatra for me so you know what I´m talking about.

xoxo

in llama land

2009-08-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hello TFPeople and friends!

I am safe and sound in Lima, Peru. Our flight out of Atlanta was WAY delayed because we had to debark and completely switch planes. The air conditioning was broken. I tried to take a shower this morning which was difficut because I had to keep my mouth shut so water wouldn´t get in. No diarrhea for me...yet. We toured Lima today and it was so fascinating. We went down into some tombs and I totally felt like Indiana Jone´s assistant! I don´t have much time right now because we are going to go explore the area of Barranco where I stayed last night. I finally put my Spanish skills to work in the cabs we took and it was amazing. We are headed to a village tonight so don´t expect any posts soon. Sorry this one was so short!

2 days

2009-08-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

I will be leaving for Peru in about 2 days and I'm starting to get really nervous. I just got my updated itinerary and before, when I read it I would get extremely excited, but now I get anxiety. Hopefully it's more excitement than dread. Either way I have a new bottle of chill pills so I'll be covered. I'll be packing up the rest of my stuff tomorrow and then I'll be ready for my early morning flight on Saturday.

a coming adventure

2009-08-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for Peru in 16 days. I've decided that instead of trying to write a million individual emails I'm going to log my adventures here. I'll have Internet access all but 4 out of the 22 days I'm down there, so I should be able to be consistent. I hope I can write you something worth reading.

Travel Channel Trip-A-Month Sweepstakes

2009-02-12T21:56:00.001-08:00

total eclipse

2009-02-09T17:52:00.001-08:00

Josh Groban was on Ellen today. HYSTERICAL! He's funny, she's funny. I need to meet him. Watch and see why. Love, love, love.

23?

2009-02-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

Disney's new campaign is Are You 23? I discovered it on the Disney website by accident. I wanted to see what their new promotions are because I will be in Disneyland soon. I was taken to a page where huge letters reading "Are you 23?" flashed onto the screen. Then Tinker Bell flew onto the screen and numbers appeared counting down to March 10. I thought I was missing something so I Googled the phrase and it turns out that nobody knows what this is about.

I really don't think it has to do with age because there is a place for you to enter your email address to "Be the first to know." This makes me think that you either have to qualify somehow or be the 23rd person to...something.

There were some interesting theories about DVD releases and that the Disney brothers started making cartoons in 1923. There are also some really far fetched guesses like 2 + 3 = 5 so that means a fifth park will be opening. The Disney Company is doing a really good job keeping this one a secret and therefore creating intrigue. I know I'm interested. I'm hoping it has something to do with the parks because it will hopefully benefit my up coming trip!

Not to mention 23 is my most favorite number...

I'm thinking about doing some research to see if I can come up with any viable guesses.

winter quotes

2009-02-07T21:33:00.001-08:00

Sorry I haven't been posting. This should make you feel better.

"It's not quite sex, drugs, and rock n' roll but it's close" ~Archaeology Professor

"I think we can all agree that we don't want our sex organs on the ground." ~Bio Prof

"There's an egg and a sperm...and a magic moment occurs." ~Bio Prof

"I'm just teaching you how to be obnoxious and smart without really knowing anything." ~Bio Prof

"Students really seem to love multiple multiple choice exams, so that's what we'll be doing." ~Bio Prof (That's total bull by the way. Students HATE multiple multiple choice)

"I know the difference between a yam and a sweet potato. That was my pick up line in college." ~Bio Prof

"Ok I promised you some sex. We're getting there." ~Bio Prof

My biology professor has a stutter and I never find it funny until he gets stuck on the word "because" because it makes me think of the Wizard of Oz.

"Now I know I have a stutter and it can be problematic so if you don't understand what I'm saying just be like 'Hey Jeff, too many syllables not enough words.'"

Spring Break

2009-01-27T20:52:00.000-08:00

So originally, I wanted to go to Alaska for spring break to visit a friend. I was getting ready to buy the tickets when I saw the weather report. Snow. I hate the cold. I hate the snow. I hate the dark. Then just for fun I decided to see what the airfare prices are for LA and that lead to a few more hours of research and I discovered that I can spend 4 nights in LA, 3 days in Disneyland for the same price as going to Alaska. Not to mention the fact that there is sunshine and warmth in California, two things I need desperately. So now I'm in the process of planning my Disney vacation. I'm pretty darn excited.

song of the day

2009-01-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

"Rock N' Roll" by Eric Hutchinson

This song is dedicated to summer. Come back soon.

background music

2008-12-27T17:57:00.000-08:00

I love movies and have recently discovered my love for movie scores and with that discovery another. My favorite composer is John Williams. His style is different from the music of say Hans Zimmer (another favorite of mine). I like John Williams because his music has a more classic and romantic sound. Some of my favorites are Indiana Jones, Hook and Jurassic Park.

I like Hans for a his prominent base lines, darker sounds and modern sound. I suggest Pirates of the Caribbean:At World's End, The Holiday and Dark Knight. They're opposites really.

Apparently, it's weird for someone to have a favorite composer, or so I've been told. Actually, I've learned that many people don't even know what a score is! Nonsense. Here, educate yourself!

In case you were wondering, my favorite director is Steven Speilberg.

fall term results

2008-12-27T17:54:00.000-08:00

I passed all of my classes...barely. I'll take it.

Next term I'm taking:

Archaeology
Peoples of Latin America
Organismal Biology

I'm marginally excited.

finals week

2008-12-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

I might not survive.

Twilight

2008-11-13T17:48:00.000-08:00

Another thing that's coming a week from tomorrow is TWILIGHT! Yes, I will be there. I'm ready. Are you?

bus rules- food

2008-11-13T09:55:00.000-08:00

If you ride the bus don't bring your fragrant food with you. It's rude. Even if you think it smells good someone else may not. What if the person next to you is nauseated? You'll have vomit all over you in no time. Eat your breakfast before you get on the bus.

Also, if you decide that your bus food of choice is a peanut butter and jelly bagel that has jelly oozing out from all sides you're an idiot and don't you dare touch the hand rail.

cello

2008-11-12T22:13:00.000-08:00

I love the cello. It is my favorite instrument. To me it's so sad and melancholy but at the same time can also be strong and hopeful. A few weekends ago I went to the WWU Cello Festival and attended a lecture/recital on Pau Casals. I had never heard of him before but am glad I know of him now.

Biology

2008-11-12T19:18:00.001-08:00

I basically hit the quotation jackpot with this professor. She's amazing, and foreign so it makes it twice as great.

"APOPTOSIS!" - look it up. It's one of my favorite biology things.

"Boundary Bay is the whole reason for being in Bellingham."

"...state of flux..." - love it. It makes me think of Star Trek.

"Bilge pump" - sounds clean.

"An excellent way to cheat is to study." - Let's philosophically ponder that statement for a moment...

"It's a pain in the 3' end." - she likes this one and says it often. I find it incredibly nerdy.

"vignette" - One of my favorite words. She's the only person other than my high school English teachers that I've heard use this word.

"Syncytial, two 'y's. It's like your Polish grandmother's name. Lacking in bowels." - Too funny. Too true.

"Meiosis is like a square dance. All the couples go line up in the center of the barn and dance around...or whatever you do in a barn..."

"Mitosis is like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre..." - I will always think of that when I see a picture of mitosis.

"Binary" - another Star Trek word. Love it.

"The protein was all denatured and crapped up." - This is coming from the mouth of a woman with a PhD in Genetics.

"I just love making people feel self-conscious." - Mean.

"When I say semi conservative I'm not talking about how John McCain is kind of republican."

"I'm not gonna hold you responsible for quantum physics. Although, it's a weird and wonderful place." -I'm sure.

Random thoughts:

Can you recycle pens?

Wet dirt smells good.

RAS makes me think of The Rescuers.

Chemistry

2008-11-12T18:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't done a quotation update in a while. I hope you can handle this.

My chemistry professor isn't a very good quote person but I have at least one...

"substoichiometric" - I believe this is actually a word.

One thing that really bothers me in lecture are classroom floaters. You know those people that can't decide where they want to sit so they randomly choose a spot each day. Those people are stupid. Pick a single seat and sit there everyday because when you don't you're pissing off every other person in the class that has a routine. Not to mention 9 times out of 10 you are one of the most obnoxious persons on the planet and insist on verbalizing every thought that pops into your little brain. Stop it.

here I come!

2008-11-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

I have been accepted for the Peru program! So as of now I will be going to Peru and Alaska next summer. Watch out world. Ariel's comin'!

plans

2008-11-03T22:46:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I applied for a program in Peru this summer. Now I have to wait. I'm nervous.

Travel

2008-11-03T22:37:00.000-08:00

Something I discovered this summer.

Travel

I should like to rise and go

Where the golden apples grow;-

Where below another sky

Parrot islands anchored lie,

And, watched by cockatoos and goats,

Lonely Crusoes building boats;-

Where sunshine reaching out

Eastern cities, miles about,

Are with mosque and minaret

Among sandy gardens set,

And the rich goods from near and far

Hang for sale in the bazaar;-

Where the Great Wall round China goes,

And on one side the desert blows,

And with bell and voice and drum,

Cities on the other hum;-

Where are forests hot as fire,

Wide as England, tall as a spire,

Full of apes and coconuts

And the negro hunters' huts;-

Where the knotty crocodile

Lies and blinks in the Nile,

And the red flamingo flies

Hunting fish before his eyes;-

Where in jungles near and far,

Man-devouring tigers are,

Lying close and giving ear

Lest the hunt be drawing near,

Or a comer-by be seen

Swinging in a palanquin;-

Where among the desert sands

Some deserted city stands,

All its children, sweep and prince,

Grown to manhood ages since,

Not a foot in street or house,

Not a stir of child or mouse,

And when kindly falls the night,

In all the town no spark of light.

There I'll come when I'm a man,

With a camel caravan;

Light a fire in the gloom

of some dusty dining room;

See the pictures on the walls,

Heroes, fights, and festivals;

And in a corner find the toys

Of the old Egyptian boys.

-Robert Louis Stevenson

why Peru?

2008-10-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

For my entire freshman year of college I wanted to study abroad in Spain, period. My plan was set and I was determined. After I transferred though, things changed. I know want to go to Peru. People that have known me since my freshman year are now asking me "Why Peru?" Sometimes it's with surprise and interest, other times it's with surprise and almost a tone of disgust. Well, let me tell you.
I discovered my interest in Peru a little over a year ago. I'm pretty sure it was after I had read the Celestine Prophecy. After that it's been haunting me. My friend went, my mom went, Indiana Jones came out, a new alpaca store opened up in Fairhaven (recent omen), one morning this summer I woke up earlier than my family and turned on the TV and it was on a program about the Incas. There have been many. I don't know if it's because my ears are now in turn for the words Peru and Inca or if I really am being shown some signs. Either way, I feel like it's something I need to do.

Another reason is that I have new priorities. I don't want to go abroad and be a tourist (yet) or be stuck in a classroom all day. I already do that. I want to go somewhere and play a deeper role in the culture. I want to become a part of a community or a project. Before, when I wanted to go to Spain, I just wanted to see things. There's nothing wrong with that, but I have my whole life to do that and also I can see things and help people at the same time. I'm not sure why this became a priority. I definitely don't want to go into the PeaceCorps or another similar organizations, but I know that I have the ability to do something for the greater good and I'd like to use it before I lose it, I guess.

Finally, why not Peru? I know many people hate having their question answered with a question but seriously Peru has just as much, if not more, to offer than any other country. The only negative I can think of is malaria, but that's what DEET is for.

locked out

2008-10-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

My roommate and I went to Costco today and I, being the genius that I am, shut her trunk before she could get hers keys out. So she didn't have her keys, wallet, or phone. Luckily I had my wallet, key (to my car) and phone. Too bad my car was at home. So we returned her bicycle (the purpose of the trip) and called a locksmith. 30 minutes and $66 later we had her keys and wallet and had to go back into Costco to buy our groceries. Genius.

my new home

2008-10-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

Every time I walk through the door to my apartment my roommates and I say "you are about to enter another dimension...you are about to enter the Twilight Zone."

song of the day

2008-10-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

I love this song. "You Don't Know Me," by Ray Charles. I love the Michael Buble version. The Elvis one isn't bad either.

another dream

2008-10-19T19:18:00.000-07:00

After I fell back asleep I had this dream:

My friend (Suki from Gilmore Girls) had a baby and asked me to take care of it. I took the baby and cradled it in my arms while I walked around looking for a bathroom. I remember liking how the baby felt in my arms and thinking that it looked happy as well. I finally found a bathroom, but the doorway was really narrow and I was afraid it would scratch the baby. I made it through and saw one of the guys from my softball team. I went around the corner and was suddenly at the clinic, which was convenient because I thought the baby needed a well child check. I got in line and was about to tell ask the receptionist if there was an opening when...I woke up.

This is probably because two of my cousins just had babies...probably.

tattoos

2008-10-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

I had a dream the other night that I was covered in tattoos. I had gotten them on a whim, but when other people saw them I was really embarrassed. One was Mickey Mouse the other was Beetle Juice and I had a third on my belt line. I remember being panicked in the dream because I couldn't get them off and they were horrible. Guess I shouldn't get one in real life.

saturday

2008-10-13T16:54:00.001-07:00

I had a good self esteem day on Saturday. I love those. No matter what you wear you feel great and you want people to see you and think you look great too. Maybe it was the new crush or maybe it was the new tube of red lipstick, either way it was fun. I wish those days came more often.

song of the day

2008-10-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

This song is for my sister who converted my into a Leona Lewis fan.

"Better In Time" by Leona Lewis.

a new collection

2008-10-11T23:57:00.001-07:00

I'm in the middle of reading Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Over the summer I bought some vintage books from garage sales. I now have Sherlock Holmes, the complete works of Shakespeare, a children's stories and poem book, Gulliver's Travels, Treasure Island, 101 Dalmatians (the original), and Kid Napped. I just bought Alice and Peter Pan from Barnes and Noble because the copies I have are family heirlooms and I didn't want to hurt them when I read them. I'll also probably buy soon a new copy of Treasure Island, Grimm's Fairy Tales and a Hans Christen Anderson book.

song of the day

2008-10-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

Song of the day is back.

"Broken" by Lifehouse. Ignore the first 5 seconds.

Bellingham

2008-10-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

#56 Check

2008-10-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

I got it! I'm free! Now what? Canada?

quote time

2008-10-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

First set of the year!

Chemistry:
"Aw man I'm messin' up all over the place...You can tell it's Friday huh? How much longer do we have...?" ~Chem Prof

Biology:
"It's like Las Vegas in the cytoplasm." ~Prof

"I carry a copy of the genetic code in my purse." ~Prof

"...because kinky is good...it is in this context [unsaturated fats]." ~Prof

"Proteasome = 'the Doomsday Machine'" ~Prof

"The good DNA fairies and the bad DNA fairies [mutations]." ~Prof

"That's what happens when we die. We achieve thermodynamic equilibrium. It's very Zen." ~Prof

My thoughts:
I love the words "tertiary" and "quaternary." Nerd words.

Chemistry accident stories make it worth my time to come to lecture.

Viajar=Aprender

I like the Spanish (and I believe Italian as well) "chispa." It means "spark."

I also have "H2O analogy" written in my notes. I have no idea what I meant by that, but there it is. Hopefully I'll come up with what it was later and elaborate on it.

squeaker squeak squeak squeaker squeakin

2008-10-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

My chemistry professor decided to use colored chalk in lecture the other day to illustrate more clearly carbon rings and their hydrogen bonds. It was a good idea until she started pressing to hard, making the chalk squeak over and over...and over. No only does that sound make my ears want to cry, but it makes my teeth hurt for some unknown reason. So does the sound of cotton fibers pulling apart and gauze. Perfect example: in Ocean's Eleven (the newer one) when the acrobat is in the vault, he gets the gauze his hand is wrapped in stuck under the bomb and he pulls it out and it makes that terrible sound...*shiver*

Anyway, back to chemistry. So she kept making the bad sound and then apologizing, but seriously just stop. It's not worth the discomfort.

the bus

2008-10-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago, a young man got on the bus with a large bundle attached to his front. When he sat next to me I noticed that the bundle was actually a week old infant. As I watched I noticed that the young man and the child where staring staring into each other's eyes. Without breaking the gaze he would shield the baby's head or rock it gently back and forth. I was mesmerized. It warmed my heart to see a man my age, presumably a new father, being so attentive to his child. A little credit is given.

I think one day I'll just ride the transit all day long and write down the interesting things I see. I think it would be a great set of vignettes.

pickling cucumbers

2008-09-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

Guess what I learned how to do today. If you couldn't guess from the title here's another clue:

#46-check

2008-09-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

I'm referring to #46 on my list of things to do. He's actually #9. We went to the Outlaw races in Elma just to see him. It was awesome! I'm sure I'll be there again next year.

Ali and I were both pretty stinkin' nervous at this point...then he pushed past some guy to sign our hats for us...*sigh* it was AMAZING.
Ali, Kasey and me! Yes, his eyes really are that blue in person. In fact, I think they're so bright they must glow in the dark.
DUDE! CHECK IT OUT! I was beyond stoked at this point.
I'm glad I wasn't the only person at the race track wearing Converse!

Sometimes I love being from the Harbor. This was definitely one of those times.

the list

2008-09-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

In case I didn't mention it before, I am an obsessive list maker. So naturally, I have a list of things to do before I die. This summer has been good in that I have crossed two things off the list and will hopefully cross off a third.

My list:

Be a parent
Surf
Take cooking classes
Learn to ballroom dance
Backpack through Europe
Own my own business
Learn Italian
Drive a Vespa
Have gelato in Italy
Ride a gondola in Venice
~~Go to prom~~
Own a Mini Cooper
Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain
Be famous for something
Write a book
Work for Disney
Take a road trip with my best friends
Own a diamond
Put my feet in every ocean
Start a charity
~~Meet a pirate~~
Learn to sword fight
Own land
Write a song
Meet the pope
Go on a cruise
~~Go to Disneyland~~
Go to the Olympics
Shoot a gun
Dance in a beautiful ballroom
Have my own lap pool
Pet a lion
Ride an elephant
Jump off a cliff into water
Stand under a waterfall
Be in a play
Go to an opera
Do a back flip
Ice skate in Rockefeller Center
Swim with dolphins
Wear an old fashioned dress
Be on the news (for something good)
Be a barista
~~Get my nails done~~
Learn to play the guitar
~~Meet someone famous~~
Go to the top of the Space Needle
~~Have a website~~
Take an art history class
Do a triathlon
Go skiing or snowboarding
Build a house (eco-friendly)
Ride a Harley Davidson by myself
Go scuba diving
Visit all 50 states
~~Get my passport~~
Get a college degree
Paint a mural
Go to a NASCAR race
Go on an archaeological dig

Some are more attainable than others, some are silly and some practical but they're all on there just the same.

future plans

2008-08-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

I'm going to live on the Olympic Peninsula in a completely eco-friendly home.

my happy place

2008-08-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

beer, cheese and Packers

2008-08-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

My trip to Wisconsin was great. I love to see my family and come home taking with their funny accent. My friends love it too...or not. We went to attend my cousin's wedding. Here are a few photos.
At the reception.
Dancing with the groom during the "dollar dance."
My family's dairy farm.
My cousin grows fields and fields of sunflowers. They happen to be my favorite flower so I was quite happy.

The clouds are fluffier there.

vacation quotations

2008-08-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

There were some pretty good ones but I only wrote down a few, sorry.

Me: "I like my knights clean shaven."

Cowboy: "T-N-T...that spells dynamite?"
Other Cowboy: "It does in my book."

Me: "Wow. Those nuns were so happy!"

Emily: "I hate the sun. I hate the heat. I hate sunscreen. I hate getting sunburned!"
Me: "Don't we all?"
Emily: "Do YOU have to put sunscreen on when it's raining?!"

Emily: "Hear that Daddy, I'm incomplete."

Security guy to best friend's dad: "Are you the dad?"
Best friend's dad: "Yes sir."
Security guy to me: "Are you the mom?"
Me and best friend: "NO!"

Disney magic

2008-08-06T10:06:00.001-07:00

I'm back from Disneyland now and getting ready to leave for Wisconsin. Disneyland was everything I expected and more. I think it was the best vacation I've ever taken, and to think I almost declined! Honestly I can't thank my host enough and must think of something special to give as a thank you. Here are a few of my favorite photos.

Sleeping Beauty's castle. I couldn't stop gawking at it.
A statue of Aurora and Prince Phillip. *sigh*
The jasmine was everywhere! It smelled amazing.
Wall-E! Eeeevaaah?
Me and Mickey! I'd been waiting my whole life to meet him.

I love my camera. This is outside the Snow White ride.

California Adventure. Yes, I went on California Screamin'.

more summer plans

2008-07-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember I've never done much over the summer. This summer I finally have a full time job and suddenly am totally booked for the whole summer! I've had plans for Disneyland and Wisconsin for a while now, but a few days ago I found out that my close friend is coming down from Alaska to visit! BUSY BUSY BUSY! So much time and so little to do! Scratch that. Reverse it.

shopping day

2008-07-17T21:01:00.001-07:00

Mom and I had to do some serious shopping today to prepare for our upcoming trips. I spent more than I wanted to, but I did get quite a few things that I actually did need.

Things I needed:

Shoes for the Wisconsin wedding. Check.
Luggage. Check.
Camera case. Check.
iPod Case. Check.
Travel stuff (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.). Check.
Work pants. Check.
Hair mousse. Check.
Dry erase board. Check.
Tank tops.
Spray paint.
Poster board.

Things I didn't need:

The Mummy Special Edition on DVD. It's my favorite movie, I couldn't help it.
Polish pottery. It was at Ross! Mom and I couldn't believe it! So, we got some. It was so cheap and normally it's kinda spendy. Totally worth it.
Rolling Stones coffee cup. It says "It's only rock n' roll" on it! Totally rad.
A new notepad. Okay, I have an obsession with lists and this thing was little and 50% off! Basically it was perfect.
Nail polish. Mom paid for it so it's excusable.

biohazards

2008-07-17T20:47:00.003-07:00

Second base.
A successful double play.
Sister...dropping that elbow...
Jenny caught a foul. She's awesome!

Our fans.

We are now 5-5 which I believe is the best we've ever done. Here are some photos.

bear festival 2008

2008-07-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

Mom and I at coronation.
Port Orchard's float. Very good.
The eyes moved.
The septic truck getting in some advertisement. Not a big surprise.

The Bear Festival princesses.
Represent.

summer update

2008-07-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

This summer is going good so far. The 4th of July was fun as always. Pictures to come soon. Every year I spend it at Christina's house with her huge family. I sprained my thumb playing volleyball with her Samoan cousins. It's hurts. When I told my mom, the first thing she said was "is it your throwing hand or your catching hand?" She was referring to softball and it is my throwing hand (right). Which, is apparently good because if it was my catching hand it would never heal because of the impact from the ball. However, the fact that it is my right hand means that I use it for everything else.

Speaking of softball, my team (the Biohazards) are 3-3. Our next game is tomorrow night and now that I have a camera I will be able to post some photos.

The drama at work never seems to end and leaves me constantly exhausted. Other than the drama though, I think it's going well.

In the coming weeks I will be going on three different trips. The first, Disneyland, comes in the end of July. It will be my first trip to Disneyland and I'm beyond excited. The second is to Wisconsin to see my cousin get married. I can't wait to go to the Amish store and get some good food. The third is camping at Kalaloch, which I look forward to all year long.

Last but not least, Bear Festival is this weekend so expect a post about that. Ali is in charge of the royalty and I think I'll be driving the float for the second week in a row. I'm hoping this year isn't too much of a failure. The lack of effort and enthusiasm from the Bear Festival Committee is astounding.

edward

2008-07-01T17:35:00.001-07:00

The first night I arrived home from school I started reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I finished the third one last week and am I'm having post-good book separation anxiety. I finally started another but it took a while to find the right one.

The Twilight series is amazing and I highly recommend it. In fact, it is so good that I have fallen in love with the male lead, Edward Cullen. He's even invading my dreams. It's bad. I'm not sure it's healthy to fall in love with literary characters, but I have...once again.

Now I'm waiting for the next book to come out in August and the movie to come out in December. I hope I can make it.

beware of falling trees

2008-06-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

Mom and I got hit by a tree on the way home from work today. We were driving down the freeway in my Camaro, with the T-tops out and the windows down. Suddenly we both gasped when we saw an alder tree falling out from the woods and onto us! I swerved into the other lane, but the tree still came in through the open T-tops. I kept driving and looked in the rear-view mirror to see the car behind me driving through the tree. Then I asked mom if she was hurt. She said she wasn't, but wasn't sure about the car. We pulled over and checked the car...no damage. Then we both started laughing. Of course that would happen to us.

summer

2008-06-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

Summer means very few posts. Working + slow Internet makes it quite difficult. I'll be back.

Rocky

2008-06-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Rocky was my dog. He died this morning. I feel like I need to write him an ode or something to honor the time I shared with him. He was my best friend for around 14 years. He loved the beach as much as I did and was always my guard dog. He loved to dig holes, play softball, and travel. He always asked to go outside and he never ran away. He was perfect. They say a dog is a man's best friend, but I think it goes both ways.
This photo was taking while camping a couple years ago. I was down at the beach skim boarding and he was whining because he couldn't see me. So, Ali put him up on the table so he could keep an eye on me.

I'm sorry he's gone but I know it was his time. I feel terrible for being glad that I wasn't there, but seeing him would have made me fall apart. I also know that my mom and dad are probably very sad too and I hate to see them cry. Is it bad that I don't want to be there for them? Death is such a strange thing, even the non-human kind. What an empty feeling it leaves with one.

I have a feeling I will be particularly lonely this summer minus two best friends. I'm sure I will be fine, but for now I am sad.

tip of the day

2008-06-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

Don't eat popcorn or chips in the library. It's annoying and rude.

blood money

2008-06-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of weeks I've been donating my plasma. Well, I don't know if I should call it donating because I get paid for it...Anyway, I've attempted to "donate" three times now and none have been successful.

Trip #1:
I'm sitting with my nurse, Rick, going over all of the possible things that could happen to me. After each one I jokingly say "that'll happen to me." Rick laughs. I go into the room and they hook me up to the machine. Worst part over. The way the process works is that they pump out a certian amount of your blood, spin it around to separate the plasma from the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, pump the plasma into a little baggy, then give the rbc, wbc and platelets back to you. They do this through about eight cycles. I had gotten to my fifth cycle when all of a sudden my arm (the one with the big honking needle in it) started to get really sore. Then I got nauseous. I called my helper Cassie to come over because I thought I was going to faint. I wasn't scared. I knew exactly what was happening, but as I looked at Cassie my vision got darker and my hearing became muted. I remember Cassie asking me a question and start fanning me with my chart then...I was flying. The person I was flying with asked me "can you hear me? Can you hear me?" "Yes," I said. Then I startled awake and there were three or four people standing around me. "Woah," I said. Then I got uncomfortably warm and my hearing and vision returned to normal. Then Rick walked in shaking his head. "I told you," I said to him. "Yes. You called it."
It turns out I was only out for about 2 seconds, but it felt much longer to me. Then I had to eat my second pack of the cracker sandwiches with the cheese in the center and I drank about a gallon of water. Everything was fine and I laughed on the way out. Mainly because it wasn't like I had a room to myself. No, there were literally 8 people across from me and a person on each side of me. It was not subtle. Everyone saw. I thought it was funny. I was paid $30.

Trip #2:
After trip #1 Rick suggested that we try the left arm to see if it's not directly over the nerve that caused me to black out. The problem this time was that they couldn't find the vein in my left arm! I had about three different women feeling up my arm and none of them could find it. So, my girl Cassie decided to go to my right arm...again. So, she's putting the needle in and it hurt really bad. Then I hear "uh oh." That happens to be the worst thing to hear in a medical office. She had scraped the side of my vein and caused it to bleed leaving a hematoma. "Well, good news is you're done for the day," she told me. I was paid $20.

Trip #3 (yesterday):
After my last trip I asked my mom (a nurse) if there was anything I could do to make the vein in my left arm bigger. "Put some heat on it." So I did. I decided to put my washcloth in the microwave to warm it up. It would have worked if I would have remembered to wet it down first. I think I opened the door right before it caught on fire. It was smokin'. I used it anyway...then tossed it. I got to the plasma place, did the usual prick of the finger thing then chose a left handed seat/bed. I warned the guy, Mark, that they couldn't find my vein last time. Well, he found it and inserted the needle (no pain). Then he said "hmmm." Another thing I don't like to hear at a medical place. "It's not...going," he said. I sighed. "I'm going to move the needle a little bit to see if I can get it to flow better." I wasn't really likin' the idea so much, but kept my mouth shut. Let me just tell you that yeah, it wasn't comfortable. Mark gave up after several unsuccessful attempts. Then a new girl walked over and tried. "Ouch," I said. Then I looked down at my left arm and saw what was the beginning of another hematoma. She had poked the side of that vein. "I'm going to try the other side," she said. I told her that I still had a bruise on my right arm, but she wanted to do it anyway. I was gritting my teeth the whole time. It hurt. We had to stop. I was paid $30.

Trip #4:
This Tuesday. Expect an update. I will be successful. I will be paid $20.

my friends

2008-06-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

Are really funny. Here are some examples.

Kyndra: "That was one good piece of grass. And not in the druggie way."

Jacquie: "Oh no! I lost my rocket!"

Kyndra: "Shit! Why do I have to be such a good person? I hate it when I do that!"

*phone rings*
Me: Hello?
Unknown Caller: *BEEEELCH*
Me: "Oh that was...great..."
Unknown Caller: "Good one right?"
Me: *click*

things from my brain

2008-06-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

I'm an obsessive note taker when it comes to life. I like to write down things as they happen. I like to make lists too. It's more like I have to make lists actually. If I don't then my brain thinks I need to remember all of these things and it wastes space in my brain's hard-drive. My notes and lists usually consist of quotes I like, thoughts I have, real life stories, etc. Right now I have to wait 10 more minutes before I can finish my online chemistry homework, so I thought I'd post my first set of life notes.

From Chemistry:

Professor: "Iron is my favorite element...is iron anyone else's favorite? OH COME ON! It's in your blood! It's like everywhere!"

Professor: "This[homework problem] is kind of an easy little plug and chug."

From Anthropology:

Professor: "We'll have a lecture about chimpanzees. Everything you ever wanted to know about chimpanzees. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll have to leave to go to the bathroom...I guarantee at least one but probably all three of those things will happen to you."

Professor: "...Canadians speak another language than us. It's very difficult to communicate with them."

Student [about exam]: "How heavy will the terminology be?"
Professor: "Very heavy. It's all written in words. Does that help?"

Professor: "We know this is the mother. How do we know? It came out of her! There's potential of a hospital switch...happens all the time."

Professor: "It's hard to text message with a hoof. I'm learning about that sort of thing."

Professor: "Well I've raced a jaguar..." I'm pretty sure he was talking about an actual jaguar.

Professor: "Hopefully there will be no other slides...nope two more. Damn."

Professor: "We are an ape...I'd hate to break it to...some of us..."

Professor: "It's pretty boring just reading the test questions to you...probably something ethically wrong with that. I dunno I'll have to check the handbook. I should probably do that more often."

Professor: "You're supposed to be anxious before a test right? That's good for learning."

Professor: "I can't tell you all the answers because then no one would get any wrong."

Professor: "I'm retarded."

From Biology:

Professor: "Enough fun right?"
Me: "That's what I always say."

Professor: "Let's turn on the lights so I can kinda see the whites of your eyes."
Me: "Well my whites are kinda red today so..."

Professor: "Males aren't really equipped to do anything by themselves."

Professor: "I don't mean to shut you down, but I am."

Thoughts:

My new softball mantra is "don't swing at crap."

During cell biology I'm am constantly suffering from information overload.

Serendipity is a beautiful word.

The zygomatic bone is my favorite bone, closely followed by the acetabulum.

Crepuscular. Who knew?

Extant is a funny word.

Further and farther are tricky.

Ahoy

2008-06-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome. This is where I will be putting all my thoughts and ideas from "off the port bow." The name was the product of brainstorming while watching the Little Mermaid. I like it because it is a good way to describe where my mind is most of the time. My thoughts are rarely strait off the bow in the "normal" direction nor are they off the port side in the crazy direction. They are halfway in between.

I'll try to keep my posts a frequent as possible. Summer is usually a little slow because Internet speed at home is as slow as it can be. Finals are also happening right now. I hope I am able to entertain you as much as I entertain myself. Enjoy.