Woohoo!!

I mentioned to the Hub on Friday last week that I'd really like a laptop. I talked about how in Statistics this term, we have to use a statistical software package and how convenient it would be if I had a laptop to load the program into and work on my homework anywhere. I talked about how I had a couple of big papers to write and how it would be cool to take a laptop with me and work whenever I got a few minutes. What's this?



My new laptop. Now I need a backpack, because carrying this thing around in my messenger bag is making my back hurt. Could I possibly whine anymore because I got what I wanted? Shyeah, like that's going to stop me.

Smells Like Teen Angst

This morning I witnessed a most hysterical display of teenage temper. I was chatting with Sassy who was standing on the landing between the basement and the main floor of our house. Little Big Man, who had been in the basement, was leaping up the stairs with a pile of clothing in his arms when he mis-stepped and fell. {He unfortunately has inherited my sister�s trait of being able to fall up stairs.} I winced and said, �Are you okay?�

He leapt to his feet, pointed his finger at Sassy and screamed, �It�s HER fault!!! Why are you standing at the top of the stairs? I looked up and saw you there and lost my balance! I never would have fallen if you hadn�t been standing there!�

I fixed my face into neutral and said, �Come on, how is it HER fault that YOU fell?�

�If she hadn�t been standing there, I never would have fallen!!� Spittle was flying out of his mouth and he struck a crazy pose � arms akimbo and taking up space. Discretion being the better part of valor, I gave him the Scottish noise and walked away. By the time I reached the other room, I was shaking from laughter.

When Sassy came into my room a few minutes later, I fell dramatically on the bed and said, �Stop it! You just gave me the �fall down eye� and now I can�t get up,� and laughed like a maniac. She looked at me, disgusted, and walked back out.

At the end of the driveway waiting for the bus, Little Big Man said �Be good today Sassy � don�t give anyone the death ray.� Then when he was getting out of the car, he fake stumbled a little and said, �See? She�s dangerous!� I laughed out loud.

She was incensed. �He�s so mean to me!�

�Nope,� I said, �he realized how ridiculous he was being this morning and that was his apology.� Damn, he�s growing up way too fast.

Graduate School Sucks

It's only 3 weeks into the semester and already I'm overwhelmed. I understand this isn't supposed to be a picnic - I'm all set to work hard. What I want from all this hard work is some semblance of understanding. I mean, really, if you read a chapter, is it too much to ask to be able to understand what you've read? I'm not a stupid person, but I have to read my microeconomics text 3 times to just understand what it says. Which is not to say that I understand the concept - just that I understand all the labels on the colorful pictures.

I'm also spending 10 hours sitting in class for 1 measly 3 credit course - and 2 of those hours are on a Sunday! For those of you playing along on the scorecard at home, yes I took Micro last term. This is the cost-benefit analysis part of the course - it only looks the same, it isn't really the same.

So, despite nary an understanding of what a cost-benefit analysis is...I did one and came up with "Drop the fucking class." Dang, that was easy. Now I just have to make it through Statistics and I'm home free.

One more thing, the person who invented Sudoku - truly an evil soul. This is the worst time sucking game ever!

Hooked on a Feeling

I made the mistake of clicking on that awful Hasselhoff video that's making the rounds and haven't been able to get this terrible song out of my head for 2 days. That teaches me to click on something for the morbid curiosity. If you must, go here. Don't say I didn't warn you.

So, I'm back in school. I'm trying to get studying done as well as a bit of spinning and/or knitting every night. I didn't knit at all last semester and almost lost my mind. The needles soothe me and I was crazy to give them up. Send me your good statistics and cost-benefit analysis vibes. I think I'm going to need them.

One more housekeeping detail. Last year around this time lots of people were signing up to read 50 books over the course of 2005. I didn't sign up, but thought "I can do that - I read all the time." I actually read 25 books last year. Not bad considering I was in school, but I'm a little surprised it wasn't more. Anyone else try this? How many books did you read last year? I'm going to keep track again this year and see where I am in December. My 'to read' shelf is huge (Sue Grafton, Patricia Cornwell, Anthony Bourdain, Amy Tan, Gregory Maguire, Diana Gabaldon). There is no shortage of books in my house!