- The very large London recap post is in its way, along with an An Adventuring Focus post, too, because, well, we all that know that when I have both my Focus and my sister's, they can't ever behave themselves appropriately.
- I've made my schedule for next semester; the way it looks at the moment is that Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will be stuffed until early afternoon, and depending on which fourth class I take, I just might either have only one class on Tuesdays or have that day completely off with a class on Thursdays.
- I think I can roll with that.
- I'm going to be the only junior in the intro Geoscience course.
- Can also roll with that.
- Should be a way to make new friends, gather some more readership maybe, and definitely recruit for martini.
- I've missed a bit of drama on campus - namely, the student governments bailing out The Herald because they seem to have under-proposed from BAC and might have to print fewer editions.
- And did I mention that they reflect nicely on the colleges?
- This isn't going to be pretty.
- I need to desperately go grocery shopping.
- That's actually where I'm going after I do this post, take a shower, make a list, gather my bags, and hike towards town.
- I also need to do laundry, mostly because I don't have any socks left.
- My mother arrives on Sunday for a week.
- This is very exciting; she's going to stay in town and we'll go off gallyvanting and such.
- The only issue is that I need to register for spring semester classes at high noon (my time) on Wednesday, so we kind of need to be here for that.
- I wrote about eight more pages in the novel, have the urge to write more, and really want to get this thing done.
- Maybe before the end of November, as that's when National Novel Writing Months ends.
- Which, if you missed the previous post, I'm not doing this year because I'd rather finish/work on something that I've already got started than start something I might not finish.
- If someone tells me one more time to chop that second to last paragraph on Murphy and Me to make it shorter, I'm going to tell them they need to go back to reading picture books and coloring with crayons - pull on your big boy pants, suck it up, and read it.
- If these kids are all in high school, aren't they reading textbooks, too? And textbooks, last I knew, had long paragraphs in them with not very many pictures the higher up in school you got.
- Oh, I feel like ranting. Maybe a little raving.
- And, in all seriousness, doing a post titled The Things I Learned in High School is getting more and more appealing by the day.
Showing posts with label the focus adventures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the focus adventures. Show all posts
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
An Adventuring Focus V
Thursday, September 2, 2010
M dances when she really happy. She dance around the kitchen in the morning when she listen to music and she smile. But while she happy, she sad, too. She miss E. E in big-brick place that we spend so much time at, and we not there. M not go back there until much later. And E no be there when we get there.
M try not to think about that.
We go to fair yesterday. Many people, smells, and see much. Me like the pirates the best and feeding the long-neck was fun. Me the same color as long-neck food, and long-neck think me food. Me not long-neck food. M chuckle *hahathisisquitefunny* not *ohmy* and she save me. Work call her, want her to come in. She say no, because she not at home.
Home. M keep saying that we be leaving in a few days. Leaving and that we no come back for long time. She say we go across a pond. M *excitedsadconfusedexcitedterrifiedsqueeesadexcited* and me very confused. Me no know what to think. Me know she stuff me in her suitcase and cart me with her, but me nervous. What if they friends are different than me? What if they no like me?
What if they no like M?
M nervous about living with people and friends she don't know.
Me M strong. She do this. Me know she can.
And she now remind me that we have to work tonight and can me please not get fur in the soup again? Me try. Me promise nothing but me try.
M dances when she really happy. She dance around the kitchen in the morning when she listen to music and she smile. But while she happy, she sad, too. She miss E. E in big-brick place that we spend so much time at, and we not there. M not go back there until much later. And E no be there when we get there.
M try not to think about that.
We go to fair yesterday. Many people, smells, and see much. Me like the pirates the best and feeding the long-neck was fun. Me the same color as long-neck food, and long-neck think me food. Me not long-neck food. M chuckle *hahathisisquitefunny* not *ohmy* and she save me. Work call her, want her to come in. She say no, because she not at home.
Home. M keep saying that we be leaving in a few days. Leaving and that we no come back for long time. She say we go across a pond. M *excitedsadconfusedexcitedterrifiedsqueeesadexcited* and me very confused. Me no know what to think. Me know she stuff me in her suitcase and cart me with her, but me nervous. What if they friends are different than me? What if they no like me?
What if they no like M?
M nervous about living with people and friends she don't know.
Me M strong. She do this. Me know she can.
And she now remind me that we have to work tonight and can me please not get fur in the soup again? Me try. Me promise nothing but me try.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
An Adventuring Focus IV
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
M is common, but not. She quirky, funny, kind of scatterbrained, and incredibly Polish. But me no have it any other way.
We sit in many big-brick places, listen to many people, and me deal with many other Foci. And they different from me. Some have pillows or cushions they sit on. Me flop on M's ankles. They play with phones and other junk. Me get coffee some mornings - either from the breakfast place or the place where me fall down the stairs. M fidget, so me get to fidget and use M's legs as a climbing frame. Occasionally me sit and listen. But M in something called Fizziks. His Focus skinny and smart-looking, and M spend lots of time swearing under her breath because she frustrated sometimes. But he wear cool glasses, so it okay.
Life with M interesting. Three days we get up and go visit a big-brick place with littler learners and Foci who now awake. Me stay close to M. Me no know them.
Me proud of M. M no procrastinate so far, and she happier. More content. She sleep better when she sleep and she smile more. Stress - damn fool maniac - has been very quiet. She sleepy - sometime she no sleep - but she okay. She keep up.
And she feed me fiber on a regular occasion.
Still stingy on the coffee.
M ready to scoop out insides with a spork. She eat something and tummy make *annoyingslightlypainfulbutmostlyannoyingashellgrumblingandsoundlikehungry* noise. She turn a fun pink color.
She also turn pink because the boy she likes is sitting by her. He could have sat a row over, but he sit next to her. M going to do an experiment to see if he keep doing it on his own. That why she science-y. But she nervous, too. She no want to read too much into it. She no want to be wrong.
And she almost don't want to be right.
M is common, but not. She quirky, funny, kind of scatterbrained, and incredibly Polish. But me no have it any other way.
We sit in many big-brick places, listen to many people, and me deal with many other Foci. And they different from me. Some have pillows or cushions they sit on. Me flop on M's ankles. They play with phones and other junk. Me get coffee some mornings - either from the breakfast place or the place where me fall down the stairs. M fidget, so me get to fidget and use M's legs as a climbing frame. Occasionally me sit and listen. But M in something called Fizziks. His Focus skinny and smart-looking, and M spend lots of time swearing under her breath because she frustrated sometimes. But he wear cool glasses, so it okay.
Life with M interesting. Three days we get up and go visit a big-brick place with littler learners and Foci who now awake. Me stay close to M. Me no know them.
Me proud of M. M no procrastinate so far, and she happier. More content. She sleep better when she sleep and she smile more. Stress - damn fool maniac - has been very quiet. She sleepy - sometime she no sleep - but she okay. She keep up.
And she feed me fiber on a regular occasion.
Still stingy on the coffee.
M ready to scoop out insides with a spork. She eat something and tummy make *annoyingslightlypainfulbutmostlyannoyingashellgrumblingandsoundlikehungry* noise. She turn a fun pink color.
She also turn pink because the boy she likes is sitting by her. He could have sat a row over, but he sit next to her. M going to do an experiment to see if he keep doing it on his own. That why she science-y. But she nervous, too. She no want to read too much into it. She no want to be wrong.
And she almost don't want to be right.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Things to Know VIII
I have given my Focus a name. His name is Murfee. You can probably see how this relates to my life in general.
I haven't written anything brand-spankin' new in anything that I have (Murphy and Me, Sage, The Crossing, An Adventuring Focus) since I came back to college because I stopped procrastinating and actually do my work when I need to.
Because I have stopped procrastinating, I actually sleep at night.
Because I actually sleep at night, I function better in the morning when I have to be on the road at 7:15.
I only bought Starbucks coffee one day this week.
I only bought coffee today because I didn't remember to take my travel mug with me when I left the room this morning.
Remembered earlier why I don't eat lunch. Though the eggplant was pretty good. At least, I think it was eggplant....
Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) is indeed abso-friggin'-lutely ADORABLE!!!
A bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider looks remarkably like a bottle of champagne from about six feet away.
Ral Foster is a stubborn S.O.B. And Jack's not much better.
I'm going home this weekend.
My floormate (basically my roommate that lives across in the hall in her own single and that I don't have to see 24/7 but almost do anyways) created a Relay for Life team titled Jackson 4.5 of which I am now a part of.
I consider the fact that I am now signed up for Relay for Life just cause in not going to the Hope Ball tomorrow and instead going home this weekend to spend time with my family and the Mayhem Maker.
Must remember to stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way through and get said Mayhem Maker a donut that is both frosted and has sprinkles.
Could quite possibly have writer's block.
There is currently a car alarm going off in the parking lot four floors below. This is not my car, because my car was built before car alarms.
I over-estimated the temperature outside my window. Therefore, when I bought my pint of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie, the Redneck Freezer was not at maximum functioning capacity. Sadly, it hasn't fallen off the ledge yet.
I have no sense of direction.
Whenever Em and I go anywhere it winds up being an adventure. And we're both okay with this.
I haven't written anything brand-spankin' new in anything that I have (Murphy and Me, Sage, The Crossing, An Adventuring Focus) since I came back to college because I stopped procrastinating and actually do my work when I need to.
Because I have stopped procrastinating, I actually sleep at night.
Because I actually sleep at night, I function better in the morning when I have to be on the road at 7:15.
I only bought Starbucks coffee one day this week.
I only bought coffee today because I didn't remember to take my travel mug with me when I left the room this morning.
Remembered earlier why I don't eat lunch. Though the eggplant was pretty good. At least, I think it was eggplant....
Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) is indeed abso-friggin'-lutely ADORABLE!!!
A bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider looks remarkably like a bottle of champagne from about six feet away.
Ral Foster is a stubborn S.O.B. And Jack's not much better.
I'm going home this weekend.
My floormate (basically my roommate that lives across in the hall in her own single and that I don't have to see 24/7 but almost do anyways) created a Relay for Life team titled Jackson 4.5 of which I am now a part of.
I consider the fact that I am now signed up for Relay for Life just cause in not going to the Hope Ball tomorrow and instead going home this weekend to spend time with my family and the Mayhem Maker.
Must remember to stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way through and get said Mayhem Maker a donut that is both frosted and has sprinkles.
Could quite possibly have writer's block.
There is currently a car alarm going off in the parking lot four floors below. This is not my car, because my car was built before car alarms.
I over-estimated the temperature outside my window. Therefore, when I bought my pint of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie, the Redneck Freezer was not at maximum functioning capacity. Sadly, it hasn't fallen off the ledge yet.
I have no sense of direction.
Whenever Em and I go anywhere it winds up being an adventure. And we're both okay with this.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Things to Know VII
This is the fifth day of classes, and, unlike last semester, I still have all my hair, my stress level is below manageable, and I generally feel good about myself and the world.
I have not procrastinated yet this semester (except for the physics readings that are partially over my head, but that's being rectified this afternoon/evening).
I am in love with Neal Caffrey. This is the picture currently on my desktop. Courtesy of USA.
I have had a crash-course in Economics, courtesy of my BIDS class (Two Cities). It was rather frightening, and oddly reminiscent of my senior year of high school.
Next on the agenda is a crash-course in Sociology. Reminiscent of shades of Chep, from high school (though I never took it).
I synchronized my phone and my Twitter account, so that I now receive Twitter updates via text. And can text them. Now I can cause general mayhem wherever I go and report it, too.
I have what amounts to The Three Stooges (or a derivation of them) in my chemistry class and lab, including the guy with the horrible hair cut (or lack thereof, really) who witnessed my Moment of Brilliance. Probably explains why I can't look him in the eye (or look at his hair - I think it's longer than mine).
The girl who lives next door to me was creeped on yesterday afternoon on our own floor. There have been numerous meetings, one of those rather vague campus creeper alert emails, and they are now considering putting locks on our floor because we're an all women floor. Which would mean another key to look after.
Cinnamon Streusel Frosted Mini-Wheats make a pretty good afternoon/lunchtime snack.
I have a bright yellow note to myself on the back of my door that says the following: LOUISE!! If it's a MONDAY or a WEDNESDAY, do you have a SNACK in your bag? AND: Any day, do you have you NALGENE (either one) and/or your TRAVEL MUG for COFFEE/COCOA?
Said notice has been successful so far.
Murfee, the Focus, is currently dancing his little furry behind off on the rug. And tripped over the Timberlands and wound up in the hall.
I have started reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet as a bedtime book.
A Study in Scarlet isn't even my book. It was one that I borrowed from LaM's shelf in her room my freshman year of high school and never bothered to return. I have no doubt in my mind that she knows I still have it, but she hasn't sent the hounds after me, and she hasn't showed up outside of my door demanding it back.
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Sir Arthur, and also Jules Verne.
Speaking of Jules - I brought my large, heavy, wonderful A Collected Works of Jules Verne with me to college, as well. My favorites include Around the World in Eighty Days and A Journey of the Center of the Earth.
I'm planning either a movie night this Friday for everybody or I'm somehow convincing them to get out and about in the world and go ice skating. I am, however, not allowing them to be workaholic hermits on select Fridays and Saturdays.
My plan (yes, I actually have a semblance of one) is to have my work done for Monday and Tuesday on Saturday, so that Sundays are mine to do with as I wish, including, but not limited to staying in bed until I feel like it while watching cartoons I happen to find, reading whatever novel I'm reading, working on some of my projects (including Murphy and Me) and maybe editing/sending out things for my novel.
So, in the eternal words of my mother - I think I got a handle on it.
I have not procrastinated yet this semester (except for the physics readings that are partially over my head, but that's being rectified this afternoon/evening).
I am in love with Neal Caffrey. This is the picture currently on my desktop. Courtesy of USA.
I have had a crash-course in Economics, courtesy of my BIDS class (Two Cities). It was rather frightening, and oddly reminiscent of my senior year of high school.
Next on the agenda is a crash-course in Sociology. Reminiscent of shades of Chep, from high school (though I never took it).
I synchronized my phone and my Twitter account, so that I now receive Twitter updates via text. And can text them. Now I can cause general mayhem wherever I go and report it, too.
I have what amounts to The Three Stooges (or a derivation of them) in my chemistry class and lab, including the guy with the horrible hair cut (or lack thereof, really) who witnessed my Moment of Brilliance. Probably explains why I can't look him in the eye (or look at his hair - I think it's longer than mine).
The girl who lives next door to me was creeped on yesterday afternoon on our own floor. There have been numerous meetings, one of those rather vague campus creeper alert emails, and they are now considering putting locks on our floor because we're an all women floor. Which would mean another key to look after.
Cinnamon Streusel Frosted Mini-Wheats make a pretty good afternoon/lunchtime snack.
I have a bright yellow note to myself on the back of my door that says the following: LOUISE!! If it's a MONDAY or a WEDNESDAY, do you have a SNACK in your bag? AND: Any day, do you have you NALGENE (either one) and/or your TRAVEL MUG for COFFEE/COCOA?
Said notice has been successful so far.
Murfee, the Focus, is currently dancing his little furry behind off on the rug. And tripped over the Timberlands and wound up in the hall.
I have started reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet as a bedtime book.
A Study in Scarlet isn't even my book. It was one that I borrowed from LaM's shelf in her room my freshman year of high school and never bothered to return. I have no doubt in my mind that she knows I still have it, but she hasn't sent the hounds after me, and she hasn't showed up outside of my door demanding it back.
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Sir Arthur, and also Jules Verne.
Speaking of Jules - I brought my large, heavy, wonderful A Collected Works of Jules Verne with me to college, as well. My favorites include Around the World in Eighty Days and A Journey of the Center of the Earth.
I'm planning either a movie night this Friday for everybody or I'm somehow convincing them to get out and about in the world and go ice skating. I am, however, not allowing them to be workaholic hermits on select Fridays and Saturdays.
My plan (yes, I actually have a semblance of one) is to have my work done for Monday and Tuesday on Saturday, so that Sundays are mine to do with as I wish, including, but not limited to staying in bed until I feel like it while watching cartoons I happen to find, reading whatever novel I'm reading, working on some of my projects (including Murphy and Me) and maybe editing/sending out things for my novel.
So, in the eternal words of my mother - I think I got a handle on it.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
An Adventuring Focus III
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
M and family had a rough few days. We came back today, to the big-brick place that she goes to and listens to people talk. Well...M rode in the car and strapped me to the roof, with aviator goggles and a helmet. And got a little too close to the truck in front, which, she moron, and windshield cleaner fluid tastes *bigyuckygaggy*
She go to many big-brick places today. M even got lost, too. Which, she do a lot, and she turned a bright pretty pink color and almost punt me into wall. Lucky me have me helmet. Me sit on her feet, and we listen, and she swear quietly because these two teacher-people kind of scare her because they new, and me like them. They funny.
Me mention now that M can't draw to save her life. She screw up stick-figure. She good with words, not so much with drawing. She forget one of the places in New York, too, and she not happy with that. She turn darker pink color and *chucklechuckleohdamn* to herself.
M have issues with her belly. Not *ohgodohgodohgodmegonnadieowowow!* but *stupidannoyingbellypainwhatthehell* and she not happy. She sad, too. We both sad. Me missing H's friend, and M missing family and having some issues. But she say this time be better than last time, and everything be okay in the end. Me trust her. And me help her do school-type thingies, and she let me crawl up with her, snuggle with E-gar, because the stuff on the floor might swallow me whole if me don't. Which, me almost broke me no-neck trying to get to the empty *stupidstupidemptycolduncomfortable* laundry basket. Maybe me sleep in hamper when she accidentally punt me out of bed.
M and family had a rough few days. We came back today, to the big-brick place that she goes to and listens to people talk. Well...M rode in the car and strapped me to the roof, with aviator goggles and a helmet. And got a little too close to the truck in front, which, she moron, and windshield cleaner fluid tastes *bigyuckygaggy*
She go to many big-brick places today. M even got lost, too. Which, she do a lot, and she turned a bright pretty pink color and almost punt me into wall. Lucky me have me helmet. Me sit on her feet, and we listen, and she swear quietly because these two teacher-people kind of scare her because they new, and me like them. They funny.
Me mention now that M can't draw to save her life. She screw up stick-figure. She good with words, not so much with drawing. She forget one of the places in New York, too, and she not happy with that. She turn darker pink color and *chucklechuckleohdamn* to herself.
M have issues with her belly. Not *ohgodohgodohgodmegonnadieowowow!* but *stupidannoyingbellypainwhatthehell* and she not happy. She sad, too. We both sad. Me missing H's friend, and M missing family and having some issues. But she say this time be better than last time, and everything be okay in the end. Me trust her. And me help her do school-type thingies, and she let me crawl up with her, snuggle with E-gar, because the stuff on the floor might swallow me whole if me don't. Which, me almost broke me no-neck trying to get to the empty *stupidstupidemptycolduncomfortable* laundry basket. Maybe me sleep in hamper when she accidentally punt me out of bed.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
An Adventuring Focus II
Friday, December 11, 2009
Me thinks M ate a bowl of stupid for breakfast today. Then me know that she didn't eat breakfast because she was too busy tapping at her desk. She wake me up with all that tapping, and she late so she running for the big brick-place and it icy and me have no scrubbies on me feets, so me slide all over. She beat me to the room she spends two hours in, and sits, and does what she does with big words and bright pictures with arrows in funny directions. H's friend come in twenty-eight minutes later, holding his head and not awake. He like coffee...M says me not allowed to have coffee. Says I "bounce off the wall like a maniacal moron." Me just get the warm fuzzies.
Today is last time M has to sit in the big brick-places and listen. Now she can just tap and curse and sleep in. We all like to sleep in.
Sometimes, me thinks that M is the most smart dumb-stick that me know. Who takes themselves and them poor Focus [we go where you go - me go where M go] and goes swimming in the lake? In this weather? Is for a good cause - fighting cancer and helping people - but no Focus wants to get wet. We start to smell, when we get damp. But M pull me out there and when me emerge, me drenched, cold, and have a goose on me head.
No help that M live in a freezer, like Mikey keeps his ice cream in at home.
M attempting to clean our room. There stuff everywhere and she...she tired. And cold. Me cold, too. H friend cold, too. But mostly me M tired. So, me make decision now that we sleep in tomorrow. And we can have warm place to sleep, since M is doing the towels from the basket and won't fold them like Mama and put them away right when she bring them back.
Me drooling, me so tired.
*bigsadface* M's tummy is making funny noises. She take her pills today, me watch her, but she still make funny noises. Not *donttouchleavemeohnoowowow* noise but *thisannoyingandstupid* noise. She tired and she cold.
And she miss her LittleOne.
Me thinks M ate a bowl of stupid for breakfast today. Then me know that she didn't eat breakfast because she was too busy tapping at her desk. She wake me up with all that tapping, and she late so she running for the big brick-place and it icy and me have no scrubbies on me feets, so me slide all over. She beat me to the room she spends two hours in, and sits, and does what she does with big words and bright pictures with arrows in funny directions. H's friend come in twenty-eight minutes later, holding his head and not awake. He like coffee...M says me not allowed to have coffee. Says I "bounce off the wall like a maniacal moron." Me just get the warm fuzzies.
Today is last time M has to sit in the big brick-places and listen. Now she can just tap and curse and sleep in. We all like to sleep in.
Sometimes, me thinks that M is the most smart dumb-stick that me know. Who takes themselves and them poor Focus [we go where you go - me go where M go] and goes swimming in the lake? In this weather? Is for a good cause - fighting cancer and helping people - but no Focus wants to get wet. We start to smell, when we get damp. But M pull me out there and when me emerge, me drenched, cold, and have a goose on me head.
No help that M live in a freezer, like Mikey keeps his ice cream in at home.
M attempting to clean our room. There stuff everywhere and she...she tired. And cold. Me cold, too. H friend cold, too. But mostly me M tired. So, me make decision now that we sleep in tomorrow. And we can have warm place to sleep, since M is doing the towels from the basket and won't fold them like Mama and put them away right when she bring them back.
Me drooling, me so tired.
*bigsadface* M's tummy is making funny noises. She take her pills today, me watch her, but she still make funny noises. Not *donttouchleavemeohnoowowow* noise but *thisannoyingandstupid* noise. She tired and she cold.
And she miss her LittleOne.
Friday, December 11, 2009
An Adventuring Focus
[Because this is the first...attempt at this, it's most likely extremely experimental because I'm not really sure how I want to do this yet. This is from the point of view of the Focus. We'll start with that. If you're confused as all hell, look at last months entries and find the one of a similar name. Read that. And then read this, and it should make some sense. Well, as much sense as I ever make.]
Monday, November 30, 2009
Had to prod M to get outta bed this morning. Climbed up, poked her in the forehead a couple of times, and she finally got with the program. Only, when she sat up to get the alarm she shoved me off the bed. Me landed in my helmet on her chemistry book.
Me get to sit with H's friend while M was in the shower. And we stared while she tried to figure out what to wear for the day. She does that - paces and grumbles and freaks out when there's nothing really freak out worthy.
And it's not even 8:30.
Then M walk to breakfast, and we toddle behind her, like always. Me eat doughnut and drink milk because that's what M does, and she eats toast, too, but me not a big fan of toast. And me like white bread which she can't eat because when she does, her tummy swells like a balloon and she can't really move or do anything but grumble and swear.
M's really good at swearing.
We toddle behind M into the room she stays in for two hours three times a week and me sits on the brick-book that she's brought today that won't fit in her bag and goes *bigthumpnoise* when it falls over.
Then H's friend pokes me and we gambol out into the hallway and trip the person trying to pass by the room. M is absorbed in colored chalk and big words, her feet on the brick-book, and doesn't notice us missing until she comes out, almost gets hit by the door on the way out of the big brick-place and then we follow her back to the place that she lives.
M takes the bike to the next big brick-place. H's friend doesn't know how to hold on tight enough, and when she starts going, he slides off her back-bag and into the big puddle on the sidewalk. Me have to run when she gets in the new big brick-place, and me hate to run. Me short, bow-legged, and kind of pudgy.
Me see E's friend and me gets excited, almost like home cookie excited. E's friend doesn't look good - kind of banged and missing some fuzziness - but me plops next to her before M lets me crawl in the empty chair in front of her to sit and look at the scruffy man. His friend follows a little later, and he looks like he lost a fight with one of those plug-things. Maybe he need a helmet.
H's friend wanders in and crawls up with me, and we smile when M answers questions and manages to sound like she knows what's going on, when we don't have a clue.
M forgets that her bike brakes don't work when wet. She takes the library corner a little too hard, dragging a foot on the ground with the same muttered swear word and then me feel like me flying and then *bigthudsound* and me picking grass from me face. H's friend no land on grass - he get sidewalk.
We go later to the big brick-place with lots of shelves and books so M can meet with people with friends who not as....energetic. Except for his, but she likes him, so we have to play nice.
And by nice we mean we push bookshelf on third floor over on him.
When we get back to where we live, we wait for M to tap something at her desk - she swears some more, says she hates paperwork many times, and finally turns out the lights. We curl up in the towel basket under the bed, she flops above us, trying to get warm and comfy, and snores like she has a head cold. Me thinks it because of the weather - the wind make me think of home.
Me want snow.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Had to prod M to get outta bed this morning. Climbed up, poked her in the forehead a couple of times, and she finally got with the program. Only, when she sat up to get the alarm she shoved me off the bed. Me landed in my helmet on her chemistry book.
Me get to sit with H's friend while M was in the shower. And we stared while she tried to figure out what to wear for the day. She does that - paces and grumbles and freaks out when there's nothing really freak out worthy.
And it's not even 8:30.
Then M walk to breakfast, and we toddle behind her, like always. Me eat doughnut and drink milk because that's what M does, and she eats toast, too, but me not a big fan of toast. And me like white bread which she can't eat because when she does, her tummy swells like a balloon and she can't really move or do anything but grumble and swear.
M's really good at swearing.
We toddle behind M into the room she stays in for two hours three times a week and me sits on the brick-book that she's brought today that won't fit in her bag and goes *bigthumpnoise* when it falls over.
Then H's friend pokes me and we gambol out into the hallway and trip the person trying to pass by the room. M is absorbed in colored chalk and big words, her feet on the brick-book, and doesn't notice us missing until she comes out, almost gets hit by the door on the way out of the big brick-place and then we follow her back to the place that she lives.
M takes the bike to the next big brick-place. H's friend doesn't know how to hold on tight enough, and when she starts going, he slides off her back-bag and into the big puddle on the sidewalk. Me have to run when she gets in the new big brick-place, and me hate to run. Me short, bow-legged, and kind of pudgy.
Me see E's friend and me gets excited, almost like home cookie excited. E's friend doesn't look good - kind of banged and missing some fuzziness - but me plops next to her before M lets me crawl in the empty chair in front of her to sit and look at the scruffy man. His friend follows a little later, and he looks like he lost a fight with one of those plug-things. Maybe he need a helmet.
H's friend wanders in and crawls up with me, and we smile when M answers questions and manages to sound like she knows what's going on, when we don't have a clue.
M forgets that her bike brakes don't work when wet. She takes the library corner a little too hard, dragging a foot on the ground with the same muttered swear word and then me feel like me flying and then *bigthudsound* and me picking grass from me face. H's friend no land on grass - he get sidewalk.
We go later to the big brick-place with lots of shelves and books so M can meet with people with friends who not as....energetic. Except for his, but she likes him, so we have to play nice.
And by nice we mean we push bookshelf on third floor over on him.
When we get back to where we live, we wait for M to tap something at her desk - she swears some more, says she hates paperwork many times, and finally turns out the lights. We curl up in the towel basket under the bed, she flops above us, trying to get warm and comfy, and snores like she has a head cold. Me thinks it because of the weather - the wind make me think of home.
Me want snow.
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Tweeting Twit (Or Two)
I am well aware than you are able to call someone you don't like a "twit," but that is not what's happening in this post. [Give me some credit and some time, before we make that assumption.]
My sister likes to bring her readers The Ollie Chronicles - which often include texts between the two of us (which has taught me to remember what exactly I text because it has a tendency to end up on her blog). That, my dear readers, has inspired me to transfer our latest (my latest rediscovery really) Twitter conversation. Which, contrary to popular belief, probably has some major formatting issues in store for me. But hey, I thought it was pretty damn funny.
[However, unlike Twitter, you can read down the page here and it will make sense.]
HaBryerton: My sister (@MollyLouise10) is in a state of panic. She lost her History Notes notebook - her FINAL, FINAL paper is due next Tuesday
HaBryerton: Whew....@MollyLouise10 found it - someone on campus was nice enough to turn it into the College Library help desk. Whew. #crisisadverted.
MollyLouise10: I figured my facebook friends would probably wanna delete me if I started stream-of-consciousness writing.
MollyLouise10: Yup....procrastinating like it's my job on my teacher cert stuff.
MollyLouise10: okay, so a footrest probably isn't what you'd call this, but because my legs are short enough, it works for me.
MollyLouise10: Haha...I think I love this.
HaBryerton: Nice of you to join us here in twitterville @MollyLouise10
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton Is this all the welcome wagon I get? There's not even cookies.
MollyLouise10: Probably needs to put the graham crackers and canned frosting away.
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 you need to pipe down with your cookie requests before you FOCI fly the coop and head for Townsend
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton I know. The little buggers have really good ears. And I don't need mine taking an impromptu road trip at the moment.
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 We should create a twitter account for the FOCI - I think that would be a hoot
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton I'm down with that. Jointly, or one for each?
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 IDK - What do you think?
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton One for you and one for me might work best so A) We don't get confused and B) Neither do the people who might follow it.
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 good point - I will add that to the do list for the week
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton Would that require naming them?
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 Me thinks that would require naming them and that is where I am stuck
MollyLouise10: Have I mentioned lately how much I hate paperwork?
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 And, I think that is part of the reason I have yet to do something like that for mine - I can't come up with a name.
MollyLouise10: I'm thinking mine's a Leo. Just....gut feeling.
MollyLouise10:RT @MollyLouise10 I'm thinking mine's a Leo. Just....gut feeling.
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton I was trying to get what I wrote to reply to you and failed epically.
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton In all reality, mine probably should be named "Murphy"......
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton Should I start listing characters from my book and various wanderings and maybe you'll see something you like?
HaBryerton: Yes!!! Yes!!! RT @MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton In all reality, mine probably should be named "Murphy".....
MollyLouise10: Alrighty then...we'll just name my little wandering focus Murphy.
HaBryerton: no! RT @MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton should i start listing characters from my book & various wanderings & mayb U'll C something U like?
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton Just a suggestion....I like my head where it's at, thanks.
HaBryerton: If I ever have more children, I should name them MURPHY! RT @MollyLouise10 Alrighty then...we'll just name my little wandering focus Murphy.
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton Could always call yours "Bugger"
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton I thought you weren't going to have anymore children?
HaBryerton: @MollyLouise10 I'm NOT so there will not be any children named Murphy
HaBryerton: @MollyLouise10 Now...That sounds too much like snot RT @MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton Could always call yours "Bugger"
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton Guess we'll be waitin on the off chance that *I* have kids.
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton No, that would be "Booger" - which might be appropriate.
HaBryerton: I think we have a better chance of hell freezing over RT @MollyLouise10 Guess we'll be waitin on the off chance that *I* have kids.
HaBryerton: @MollyLouise10 "booger""bugger"......same thing
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton No. One's the British term for someone who's behaving less than nicely/a British swearword.
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton And the other is the green stuff that comes out of your nose.
So good to know it takes part of a college education to know the definition of a "booger." Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did, and I was part of the pair that actually had that conversation.
And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled programming [also known as Molly actually gets to work on homework.]
My sister likes to bring her readers The Ollie Chronicles - which often include texts between the two of us (which has taught me to remember what exactly I text because it has a tendency to end up on her blog). That, my dear readers, has inspired me to transfer our latest (my latest rediscovery really) Twitter conversation. Which, contrary to popular belief, probably has some major formatting issues in store for me. But hey, I thought it was pretty damn funny.
[However, unlike Twitter, you can read down the page here and it will make sense.]
HaBryerton: My sister (@MollyLouise10) is in a state of panic. She lost her History Notes notebook - her FINAL, FINAL paper is due next Tuesday
HaBryerton: Whew....@MollyLouise10 found it - someone on campus was nice enough to turn it into the College Library help desk. Whew. #crisisadverted.
MollyLouise10: I figured my facebook friends would probably wanna delete me if I started stream-of-consciousness writing.
MollyLouise10: Yup....procrastinating like it's my job on my teacher cert stuff.
MollyLouise10: okay, so a footrest probably isn't what you'd call this, but because my legs are short enough, it works for me.
MollyLouise10: Haha...I think I love this.
HaBryerton: Nice of you to join us here in twitterville @MollyLouise10
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton Is this all the welcome wagon I get? There's not even cookies.
MollyLouise10: Probably needs to put the graham crackers and canned frosting away.
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 you need to pipe down with your cookie requests before you FOCI fly the coop and head for Townsend
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton I know. The little buggers have really good ears. And I don't need mine taking an impromptu road trip at the moment.
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 We should create a twitter account for the FOCI - I think that would be a hoot
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton I'm down with that. Jointly, or one for each?
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 IDK - What do you think?
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton One for you and one for me might work best so A) We don't get confused and B) Neither do the people who might follow it.
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 good point - I will add that to the do list for the week
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton Would that require naming them?
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 Me thinks that would require naming them and that is where I am stuck
MollyLouise10: Have I mentioned lately how much I hate paperwork?
HaBryerton:@MollyLouise10 And, I think that is part of the reason I have yet to do something like that for mine - I can't come up with a name.
MollyLouise10: I'm thinking mine's a Leo. Just....gut feeling.
MollyLouise10:RT @MollyLouise10 I'm thinking mine's a Leo. Just....gut feeling.
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton I was trying to get what I wrote to reply to you and failed epically.
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton In all reality, mine probably should be named "Murphy"......
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton Should I start listing characters from my book and various wanderings and maybe you'll see something you like?
HaBryerton: Yes!!! Yes!!! RT @MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton In all reality, mine probably should be named "Murphy".....
MollyLouise10: Alrighty then...we'll just name my little wandering focus Murphy.
HaBryerton: no! RT @MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton should i start listing characters from my book & various wanderings & mayb U'll C something U like?
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton Just a suggestion....I like my head where it's at, thanks.
HaBryerton: If I ever have more children, I should name them MURPHY! RT @MollyLouise10 Alrighty then...we'll just name my little wandering focus Murphy.
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton Could always call yours "Bugger"
MollyLouise10:@HaBryerton I thought you weren't going to have anymore children?
HaBryerton: @MollyLouise10 I'm NOT so there will not be any children named Murphy
HaBryerton: @MollyLouise10 Now...That sounds too much like snot RT @MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton Could always call yours "Bugger"
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton Guess we'll be waitin on the off chance that *I* have kids.
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton No, that would be "Booger" - which might be appropriate.
HaBryerton: I think we have a better chance of hell freezing over RT @MollyLouise10 Guess we'll be waitin on the off chance that *I* have kids.
HaBryerton: @MollyLouise10 "booger""bugger"......same thing
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton No. One's the British term for someone who's behaving less than nicely/a British swearword.
MollyLouise10: @HaBryerton And the other is the green stuff that comes out of your nose.
So good to know it takes part of a college education to know the definition of a "booger." Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did, and I was part of the pair that actually had that conversation.
And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled programming [also known as Molly actually gets to work on homework.]
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Focus Adventures
All right. We all know I'm prone to moments of brilliance - sometimes fleeting, but still - moments of brilliance.
And sitting in the basement of the physics department for lab this afternoon gave me one of those moments. Actually, it was probably the fact that my mind was wandering horribly and all I could think of was the recent exchange between me and my sister about our "Foci."
Some of you are probably looking at your computer screen like it's suddenly going to sprout wings, turn into a piglet, and fly away, so I'll take a moment and explain.
I think (and by this I mean, I'm trying to remember but really can't) this whole thing started earlier this year (last academic year, because really, that's how my "years" arrange themselves - and probably will until I graduate from college), nearing finals time, when I wrote on my Facebook status (back when updating your status was different that writing on your own wall) that I couldn't find my Focus. Or, something similar. My sister, ever brilliantly eloquent, responded in turn with about nine rows of FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS.... which somehow morphed into treating said "Focus" as a tangible, almost real thing.
Now I'm not exactly sure on Heather's mental picture when we mention the Foci (the plural form of Focus - yes, we finally figured this out) but I imagine mine to be something resembling the orange fuzzy thing from the Weight Watcher's TV commercials. They call it "hunger." I call it Focus.
Which has started something that is both slightly crazy but wonderfully hilarious. Because, quite honestly, everybody has days when they "lose their focus." Well, for us, losing our Focus (note the capitalization) usually means the damn thing has wandered away looking for the other to play with and cause general mayhem.
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "[Insert Expletive Here], she's finally lost it."
But think about it. Really think about it. How many times have you said, "I can't seem to get a sense of myself today," or, "My patience has taken a holiday" or "I can't seem to find my focus"? That right there, you've made something intangible into something tangible, at least in your own head. "Victory so near you can taste it." Really? What does victory taste like? Where did your patience go on holiday? More specifically, when is it coming back and did it go with anyone to make sure it didn't get permanently lost?
Do you see what I'm saying?
I can still see it. Some of you are still looking at your computer like it's going to morph into something. Maybe the power cord is going to turn into a curly tail - wings have begun to sprout from the back - you feel the urge to oink.
And that right there, that's you imagining something semi-ridiculous in the reality that is life. We live in reality - most days I try to remember Adam Savage's quote from MythBusters "I reject your reality and substitute my own" and most days it works, but I digress, as usual - and sometimes the only way to escape the way that reality works is to find something that's unreal. That's why we read books. When we read books, we imagine the far-off places or the situations that we could, despite our deepest wishes, never find ourselves in. I know this. As a writer, it's my job to pluck my reader from their ordinary reality and shove them head-first into the world that I see, the world that, if it were possible, would be absolutely amazing to live in with its different creatures, people, and, yes, it's different problems. Because then some of mine would be either gone or somebody else's. Movies operate the same way - as a form of escape from things beyond our control, or as a way to relax. And by relax, I mean, more specifically, to relax your mind. You're allowed to forget, for a moment, that you have a ten-page paper due (not this time, really, but I do have a four-pager due for Acting) and you can indulge yourself in something harmless and slightly ridiculous.
That's why, every time my sister and I start on Facebook about one of us having misplaced our Focus, the other usually responds with, "Yup, he's here." Considering most of our family is on Facebook, the comments we get as we go back and forth mainly consist of, "What are you two doing? It's so funny, the way your "focus" goes back and forth, what are you really talking about?"
We're not really talking about anything but said Focus. There's no hidden innuendo. There's no secret message. We've taken a simple phrase, a metaphor - "I can't find my focus today" - and made it from a verbal metaphor into something more tangible.
And you know what? It gives me a way to laugh. It makes me realize that the same problems that I face here in college - procrastination, deadlines, lack of focus - are the same ones that people face in the workplace in the "real world." We aren't so different, you and I. I'm a little behind you in the age department, you people out there with real jobs and a different purpose in life, but really, we are similar. We both have goals, deadlines, people-to-people relationships with people we probably don't like, and look for something to make the day a little easier to get through. We both look for ways to laugh, to worry less, and love a little more. We look for ways to be comforted, to comfort, to fit in, and to not be lonely (except when we want to be.)
We both look for people to lean on when we need it. And when we lean on people, we look to them to make us laugh and smile, to chase away the sorrows, shadows, and, in some cases, reality.
This turned out a bit differently than I expected, and a bit longer, but I think that's all right. It went where it needed to go. I also didn't want you all to look at me like I was nuts when I started something different on my blog, something along the lines of Murphy and Me but not so deeply rooted in fiction. I wanted to start to bring you The Focus Adventures - another humorous look a the life of a college sophomore and her wandering, slightly over-caffeinated mind that never really stops trying to crank out interesting things/ways of looking at the world.
However, my Focus and I need to get some work done. Before I go, I hope this has made you smile and think a little differently. A little outside the box. Or maybe inside the box. Really, think however you think. I just hope you got a slight chuckle out of all of it.
Let your mind wander a little more.
And sitting in the basement of the physics department for lab this afternoon gave me one of those moments. Actually, it was probably the fact that my mind was wandering horribly and all I could think of was the recent exchange between me and my sister about our "Foci."
Some of you are probably looking at your computer screen like it's suddenly going to sprout wings, turn into a piglet, and fly away, so I'll take a moment and explain.
I think (and by this I mean, I'm trying to remember but really can't) this whole thing started earlier this year (last academic year, because really, that's how my "years" arrange themselves - and probably will until I graduate from college), nearing finals time, when I wrote on my Facebook status (back when updating your status was different that writing on your own wall) that I couldn't find my Focus. Or, something similar. My sister, ever brilliantly eloquent, responded in turn with about nine rows of FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS.... which somehow morphed into treating said "Focus" as a tangible, almost real thing.
Now I'm not exactly sure on Heather's mental picture when we mention the Foci (the plural form of Focus - yes, we finally figured this out) but I imagine mine to be something resembling the orange fuzzy thing from the Weight Watcher's TV commercials. They call it "hunger." I call it Focus.
Which has started something that is both slightly crazy but wonderfully hilarious. Because, quite honestly, everybody has days when they "lose their focus." Well, for us, losing our Focus (note the capitalization) usually means the damn thing has wandered away looking for the other to play with and cause general mayhem.
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "[Insert Expletive Here], she's finally lost it."
But think about it. Really think about it. How many times have you said, "I can't seem to get a sense of myself today," or, "My patience has taken a holiday" or "I can't seem to find my focus"? That right there, you've made something intangible into something tangible, at least in your own head. "Victory so near you can taste it." Really? What does victory taste like? Where did your patience go on holiday? More specifically, when is it coming back and did it go with anyone to make sure it didn't get permanently lost?
Do you see what I'm saying?
I can still see it. Some of you are still looking at your computer like it's going to morph into something. Maybe the power cord is going to turn into a curly tail - wings have begun to sprout from the back - you feel the urge to oink.
And that right there, that's you imagining something semi-ridiculous in the reality that is life. We live in reality - most days I try to remember Adam Savage's quote from MythBusters "I reject your reality and substitute my own" and most days it works, but I digress, as usual - and sometimes the only way to escape the way that reality works is to find something that's unreal. That's why we read books. When we read books, we imagine the far-off places or the situations that we could, despite our deepest wishes, never find ourselves in. I know this. As a writer, it's my job to pluck my reader from their ordinary reality and shove them head-first into the world that I see, the world that, if it were possible, would be absolutely amazing to live in with its different creatures, people, and, yes, it's different problems. Because then some of mine would be either gone or somebody else's. Movies operate the same way - as a form of escape from things beyond our control, or as a way to relax. And by relax, I mean, more specifically, to relax your mind. You're allowed to forget, for a moment, that you have a ten-page paper due (not this time, really, but I do have a four-pager due for Acting) and you can indulge yourself in something harmless and slightly ridiculous.
That's why, every time my sister and I start on Facebook about one of us having misplaced our Focus, the other usually responds with, "Yup, he's here." Considering most of our family is on Facebook, the comments we get as we go back and forth mainly consist of, "What are you two doing? It's so funny, the way your "focus" goes back and forth, what are you really talking about?"
We're not really talking about anything but said Focus. There's no hidden innuendo. There's no secret message. We've taken a simple phrase, a metaphor - "I can't find my focus today" - and made it from a verbal metaphor into something more tangible.
And you know what? It gives me a way to laugh. It makes me realize that the same problems that I face here in college - procrastination, deadlines, lack of focus - are the same ones that people face in the workplace in the "real world." We aren't so different, you and I. I'm a little behind you in the age department, you people out there with real jobs and a different purpose in life, but really, we are similar. We both have goals, deadlines, people-to-people relationships with people we probably don't like, and look for something to make the day a little easier to get through. We both look for ways to laugh, to worry less, and love a little more. We look for ways to be comforted, to comfort, to fit in, and to not be lonely (except when we want to be.)
We both look for people to lean on when we need it. And when we lean on people, we look to them to make us laugh and smile, to chase away the sorrows, shadows, and, in some cases, reality.
This turned out a bit differently than I expected, and a bit longer, but I think that's all right. It went where it needed to go. I also didn't want you all to look at me like I was nuts when I started something different on my blog, something along the lines of Murphy and Me but not so deeply rooted in fiction. I wanted to start to bring you The Focus Adventures - another humorous look a the life of a college sophomore and her wandering, slightly over-caffeinated mind that never really stops trying to crank out interesting things/ways of looking at the world.
However, my Focus and I need to get some work done. Before I go, I hope this has made you smile and think a little differently. A little outside the box. Or maybe inside the box. Really, think however you think. I just hope you got a slight chuckle out of all of it.
Let your mind wander a little more.
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