*forehead slap*

What did the White House think* was going to happen when they told The Onion to stop using the presidential seal?

(*Warning: tasteless, but funny)

It reminds me of this little tidbit. How does anyone not see these things coming?

posted by Space Kitty at 7:55 PM|| Comments (0)

Not that this isn't yummy....

But is the entire marketing industry on crack? Betty Crocker? Buh?!

posted by Space Kitty at 8:44 AM|| Comments (5)

Your tax dollars at work.

Will somebody please give a hearty dope-slap to the genius at the GSA who found this blog while searching for 'Ann Coulter naked'?

Ass.

posted by Space Kitty at 3:43 PM|| Comments (1)

Scenes from a night at home -

1. Speaking of Mongolian BBQ... (for all your segue needs)
2. I-brow
3. LOLerskates/ROFLhouse (Only funny when spoken aloud)
4. Hot beef infection (euw)
5. Antarctica!
   
6. What am I, Santa?!
7. Lance Romance *hearts* Lady Smarmalade
   
8. Could you not eat matches?
9. *loud cackle from next room* "...GOD DAMNED GNOME!"
10. How come everybody here knows about Pass the Dutchie but me?

posted by Space Kitty at 8:56 AM|| Comments (0)

Midterms: The Drama - Part II

For as long as I can remember, I've been plagued with the "What will the neighbors think?!" syndrome. (Thanks, mom.) Two of the most troubling symptoms have been an excessive regard for authority figures and the very strong need to be liked. I think that's part of the reason I was able to find success in hierarchical corporate organizations: figure out who is really in charge, and then make damn sure they like me. Put in those terms, it actually sounds much more manipulative than it really was. The truly difficult part is that this is an unconscious, reflexive coping mechanism. I was tied into the belief system that I desperately needed these ill-fitting, soul-sucking jobs, and I couldn't (and in some ways still can't) stop being the good little compliant employee. Fortunately, I've left the corporate world behind, so how on earth does this relate to midterm drama?

Putting together the previous post, it became apparent to me how disproportionally important both my grades, and the desire to have my professors (and other students) like me had become.

What an awkward realization, and what a double-edged sword.

How can I be in an academic environment and deny the importance of good grades and networking? Good grades will help me secure financial aid, open up more opportunities and eventually help me find a career I can truly enjoy. Should I decide to continue on to grad school (It could happen!) having a good relationship with my professors is key. Networking with other students has already helped (study groups rock!) and you never know why some people end up in your life, so why not be open to the process?

But...

I haven't even gotten the results of my midterms back and I'm already interpreting the eventual results as a statement on my worth as a person. It's worse than annual review time. Am I good enough? Am I smart enough? Do people like me? What does it say about my self-worth that I'm actually concerned with what students fifteen and twenty years my junior think about me as a person? Why does it matter if I impress my professors, or if they think I'm smart?

If returning to school is supposed to be about the process of learning, getting to know myself and what I really want, and letting go of others' false expectations for me, why am I still so invested in being an A student and having everyone like me? More importantly, what can I do to let go of that need for perfection when it's followed me through every day and every stage of my life and is as natural and automatic to me as breathing?

I don't know yet. But I sure as hell hope to figure it out - sooner, rather than later, because that answer would be better than all the straight A's and outside approval I could ever hope to earn.

Walt Fucking Disney. It's like I invented PMS around here.

posted by Space Kitty at 9:00 AM|| Comments (5)

Midterm Review!

This past week, I've managed to put four of five midterms behind me. Philosophy will be next Tuesday because he's just got to be different. Actually he gives us four tests during the semester, one of which can be used to offset a lower grade so, in reality, I'm kind of grateful - even if it does drag out the drama one more week. And all my love to the authors of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy. I'm not kidding when I tell you I've learned more from the first twenty-two pages of that book than I have in class all semester. I'm only kicking myself that I didn't think of this sooner. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Tuesday's dance midterm practical only required us to follow along as the teacher played a videotape of barre exercises. That I can do. But then she finished class with a combination of turns ending in a series of eight pirouettes - and the cheerful reminder that the second half of the semester would build on those moves. Meanwhile, I'm still trying to sort out fifth position, spotting, and not tripping myself or anyone else when we move across the floor. But as long as she keeps her promise of grading only the barre work, I should be fine.

Of course, the realistic part of my brain is screaming, "It's only a one credit class! I'm there to get exercise and enjoy moving, and I'm better than when I started, so why am I worrying about the grade?!" I've often said of myself that I'm not happy unless I'm in over my head but I have to wonder what the payoff is when I keep frustrating myself like this. Head, meet brick wall. Again. That being said, next semester is all about RateMyProfessors before, not after, enrollment.

Wednesday was my Gay & Lesbian American History two-essay-question midterm. In the past I've been able to pull together really good essays out of nothing, but despite some really good advice, I think I may have fucked it up. I spent too much time on the first essay, to the detriment of the second - classic beginner mistake! - and altogether too much time trying to remember things like specific Bible passages (Corinthians who? Leviticus what?) that I had neglected to memorize. What's really interesting is that I was able to relate larger themes from lecture to examples from reading, which is not typically my strong suit, but it's all going to depend how he weighs big ideas vs. specific citations from memory. I have no idea since he's only given multiple guess quizzes so far. Survey says? We'll know in two weeks.

Friday was two midterms, Voice and Art History. Our voice teacher took pity on us and gave us both the questions and the answers last week. (Although she says she does this with every class, so I don't feel too pathetic.) I crammed in the 15 minutes before class started and was able to write most everything down before I promptly forgot it all again. I really need to look into B-12 or something - this is starting to get ridiculous. Oh, and my second solo is on Friday. Whee! I think.

And speaking of Mongolian BBQ (High-five, natasha!) - the poor memory thing nearly killed me in Art History. Despite all reason - I failed to realize that we'd been expected to memorize all the art works listed on our study guide: the artists' name, the name of the piece, the year it was produced, the style it belonged to, and what geographic area each work came from. We had 36 slides - slide being appropriate, because most of the names slid right out of my brain. Following that, we had blind items. For works we'd never seen before, we had to answer the same series of questions, then follow up with a few sentences defending why we identified the piece as we did. Last but not least there were three essay questions, where we were asked to provide specific names, dates, patrons, historical context, comparing and contrasting similar works - and while I could answer with generalities, she was very interested in specifics that I couldn't provide.

I can honestly say I did the best I could with what I had learned so far - but I wish I had spent much more time on rote memorization than I had with making sure I'd completed all the reading and understanding the nuances of color, tone and composition. I'm really going to need the extra credit I turned in - there are only three opportunities to earn points in this class: the sad, sad midterm, term paper, and final. Let's hope she grades on a curve - it blew my mind how many people walked out after looking at the test paper.

Oh, well - if nothing else, at least I've learned what I'll do differently next time. Note to self: memorize, memorize, memorize.

posted by Space Kitty at 10:34 PM|| Comments (1)

D'oh!

While searching for details on Michelangelo's Last Judgement,* the Vatican website crashed my browser. You suppose somebody's trying to tell me something?

*Can anybody identify the guy in the lower right hand corner, who's wrapped up in snakes? My professor says it was (a then) contemporary member of the ecclesiastical community in Rome.

Ha! Found it!

posted by Space Kitty at 7:41 PM|| Comments (0)

Oh, great.

Thanks, Ananova. Now I'll never stop screaming.

posted by Space Kitty at 6:44 PM|| Comments (6)

Holy Hell!

Another one for the 'who the hell am I again?' files. For the first time in my life, I'm not dreading the approach of winter. (Go ahead and do a double-take, I'll wait here.)

Let's break it down: I'm spending most of my spare time indoors reading, watching movies and playing video games. My winter wardrobe*, due to all this sloth, looks way better than my summer wardrobe these days. If it's raining, I don't get the depressing reminder of exactly how early sunset is, and yesterday I made a god-like chicken/ garlic/ rice/ rosemary/ broth concoction that kept me warm & happy all evening. I also managed to find the perfect pair of winter boots.

*comfy pants & thermals

That being said, I nearly levitatated right out of bed this morning when, at 3:49 am, I heard the loudest crack of thunder I've ever heard in my life. While I'm all about the falling asleep to the sound of rain, that's a few gray hairs I could have done without. I honestly thought a bomb had gone off.

A professor told me this morning that when you start cleaning the silverware drawer, you know you're deep in avoiding homework mode. And here I am blogging about the weather.

Lalallalallala, nothing to see here!

posted by Space Kitty at 12:50 PM|| Comments (7)

Oh, shut up

Dictionary.com. Is this really helpful at all? I ask you....

posted by Space Kitty at 6:40 PM|| Comments (2)

Today's post is brought to you by the letter 'B'

Well, the gods have decreed that, thus far, I'm a B student. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that yet.

How I got the same grade in philosophy, where I'm behind on the reading, the professor is incomprehensible, and only my mad test-taking skillz saved me; and Gay & Lesbian History, where I studied like a fool, hang onto my professors every word, and am completely in my element - I'll never know.

I'm still trying to find a balance between freaking out preparing for next weeks mid-terms, and honoring my ongoing sanity-retention project. (Cheers, Mark the Bowler) I've had various levels of success with that, depending largely on the phase of the moon - but it looks like finding that happy place will be a large part of my ongoing education.

So now it's off to my philosophy study group, then meet with the accompanist to prepare for my vocal solo that's due in two weeks.

Insert nervous giggle.... here.

posted by Space Kitty at 3:14 PM|| Comments (2)

Keep everything you own crossed...

for circusfaerie, who is participating in a super-secret project today. Further details of her mission, should she choose to accept it, will be posted far & wide at a later date.

For now, just send good vibes her way.

posted by Space Kitty at 12:36 PM|| Comments (0)

In light of other tragedies, today isn't a big deal.

Oh, no! Still, I'm glad he seems to be taking it well. What a loss!

posted by Space Kitty at 10:53 PM|| Comments (2)

Yet more things that are funny only to me.

Another in a continuing series of things that have cracked me up lately, posted here so I can actually remember them later:

1. What we have here is a complete failure to maintain.
2. You know? I've got to be honest. I'm hanging up on you. Click!
3. You fell into my dog-fucking hole from earlier! (Astonishingly, this was actually non-offensive in conversation. No, really!)
4. Why do my flautas have a pearl necklace? (OK, that one was rather offensive.)
5. I love how you simultaneously enjoy your food, and ruin everyone else's. (See #4)
6. My Mozart Kugeln brings all the boys to the yard!
7. Sexual junction - what's your function?
8. Not so much subtext as SUPERtext!
   

posted by Space Kitty at 7:18 PM|| Comments (4)

Happy Birthday, Circusfaerie!

Twenty-two years ago today, after forty-five hours of labor, my daughter Circusfaerie was born. I had to have an emergency cesarean section, and the anesthetic knocked me out for ten hours. After all that work, I was the last one to meet her.

I tell her that story every year on her birthday, but not until after 10:38 am. It was always good fun when she was younger to tease her, while staring at the clock, that it wasn't her birthday just yet. But once it was, the celebrations were awesome.

We spent this year's here. It was as ridiculous as it sounds. There is no way to put into words all that she's meant to me and all that I hope for her, but do stop by her livejournal and wish her well.

Happy Birthday!!!

/mom

posted by Space Kitty at 2:51 PM|| Comments (0)

We're so not in Kansas anymore.

Walking down Main Street this afternoon, we saw a woman walking around with the phrase "Pink Tacos" emblazened on the ass of her sweat pants.

We desperately wanted to get a picture, but the only one of us with a camera was a guy, and he was afraid we'd get arrested.

Damn.

posted by Space Kitty at 7:07 PM|| Comments (1)

*steam*

I feel a rant coming on!

posted by Space Kitty at 8:56 AM|| Comments (7)

Busy, busy, busy!

• Tattoo's healing, but oh, so itchy. (thanks for the server space, Kimberly!)
• I got a B on my first philosophy quiz! *insert happy dance here*
  
• Target is the new Old Navy.
  
• LA Monkey Meetup was a riot, and I covet Mandyman's underwear. (Now there's a phrase you don't type everyday!)
• I can't bloody believe it's October already.
• Best bar ever.
  
• This is more addictive than crack.

posted by Space Kitty at 8:51 AM|| Comments (6)