tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14638089150283164852024-03-18T22:02:40.753-07:00rust and stardustJaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-48318859291111983022013-11-20T19:16:00.000-08:002013-11-20T19:16:40.732-08:00come walk with me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Halloween was awesome as usual. Lots of fun activities, lots of parties, and a moderate amount of candy because I'm dieting. Alden had a blast and I'm so excited he decided to celebrate this year! <br />
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I worked ahead (worked my ass off) and I am finished with all of my fall courses except for my finals. I wanted to get ahead because Alden is out of school all next week and getting any programming done with him around is nearly impossible. He's just very loud and he likes my attention and having that going on while trying to learn a programming language is not really something I've mastered.</div>
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We did our first 5K of the season last weekend. It was a lot of fun. My shins hurt pretty badly the next day because I'm not a walker or a runner. I prefer strength training to cardio anyday. I'm down 31 lbs. since I started losing weight in July. It's been pretty steady and I'm still working hard to reach my fitness goals. I desperately need new clothes at this point.<br />
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Alden's got a fever of unknown origin. I'm assuming and hoping it's just a cold but who knows? I hope he feels better in the morning because like I said he is out ALL next week and I was planning to get some deep cleaning done the next two days when he was at school.<br />
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I started my holiday cleaning today. I cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and cleaned off the top of the fridge and stuff inside the fridge and freezer. I also did general tidying. I have big plans to tackle the bathroom and living room tomorrow if all goes well and the bedrooms (particularly under the beds) on Friday, after my morning workouts of course.<br />
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I really hate pretty much all foods associated with Thanksgiving so even the food doesn't draw me in like it does most people. The fact that I'm dieting this year won't be hard. MY favorite part of Thanksgiving is that I put up the tree & lights on Monday and then I spend each night of the week drinking wine until the lights are bit hazy and I watch all the Friends Thanksgiving episodes and laugh until my face hurts. That's my favorite Thanksgiving tradition.<br />
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I hope this finds everyone well. I probably won't post again before Thanksgiving so HAPPY TURKEY GENOCIDE DAY YOU BUNCH-A WEIRDOS. Much love. Have some musics.<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-2620828092150970922013-10-08T14:37:00.000-07:002013-10-08T14:37:59.161-07:00happy haunting!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been ages. I'm a bad blogger! I've been busy with school and Alden being in school and working out and Halloween coming up. October is always crazy busy at our house.<br />
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Our house got sprayed by a skunk a couple of weeks ago. Everything seems to have aired out except for my purses which is annoying. I've been having to carry out of season bags because my purse corner got skunked. SO VERY GROSS.<br />
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As always, this time of year I've been drinking an assortment of seasonal beers. My newly discovered favorite is the Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale. It is delicious. I also really like New Belgium's Pumpkick.<br />
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I'm a bit behind on my movie a day October Halloween themed movie watching but I think I'll be able to get caught up. So far I've watched:<br />
Carrie (my all time favorite)<br />
Cabin in the Woods (another favorite)<br />
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters (SO BAD)<br />
Lizzie (EVEN WORSE THAN ^)<br />
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I have everything I need for my costume except for green boots. If anyone has any green boots in a size 7.5/8 and is willing to let me borrow them I'd be forever grateful!<br />
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School is going well. I hate all of my classes but I'm trudging through.<br />
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My weight loss has stalled at the halfway point which is super annoying. I just want to get past this plateau and get fit. I basically just want to be a tiny assassin. Small and unassuming but can kick your ass if need be. That's my goal.<br />
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Okay now I'm off to watch horror movies and catch up on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. because I forgot it existed last week. I'll try to be better about updating.<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-49152121200420966632013-08-18T19:16:00.003-07:002013-08-18T19:16:57.629-07:00goodbye summer...HELLO FALL!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So summer has officially come to a close in my house. I start Fall Semester tomorrow and Alden goes back next week. It was a fun summer, I got to do a lot of super fun stuff like hang out with my family and friends regularly, see a bunch of concerts, and meet one of my favorite authors. I didn't go on a vacation this year but I didn't really mind because I got to do so much other stuff that was way more fun anyway.<br />
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Anyway, fall is right around the corner and as most of you know it's my FAVORITE time of the year. HALLOWEEN! PUMPKIN BEER! HOODIES! LEGGINGS! BOOTS! CHILLY AIR! Hopefully I won't be so swamped with schoolwork that I can't post more often. I've been slacking over the summer with my writing but I am going to make an effort to do better. I'm trying to do better in all aspects of my life. I've started working out and eating healthy again, I've started cleaning up messes as soon as I am finished making them so there's less crap laying about. I've lost 13.5 lbs so I guess I'm doing something right. I want to lose quite a bit more so I'm just going to keep at it.</div>
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Anyway I better get off here and figure out what to wear tomorrow. Here's the contents of my bookbag, I swear I'm an adult.</div>
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Peace out cub scouts.</div>
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-71636865098374084122013-07-15T12:44:00.002-07:002013-07-15T12:44:46.028-07:00we are stardust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I met Neil Gaiman last Wednesday evening in Nashville, he was just as lovely in person as he is in interviews/online. His hair is just as fluffy as you'd imagine. I finished reading his new book "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" last night which I highly recommend. It's a tiny little book (less than 200 pages) but it's packed with every emotion imaginable. <br />
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I've just been doing school work, reading, cleaning and trying to diet and exercise. So nothing too exciting on that front. <br />
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My birthday is next week and I still don't have a clue as to what I want to do. I'm sure I'll do dinner & drinks with my family but I want to have a party. I hate living all the way in the sticks because I hate to ask people to drive all the way out here but at this point that's all I can think of.<br />
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I'm gonna go read and hula hoop for a while. I hope everyone is having a great summer.<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-44117463197634769162013-06-18T21:15:00.000-07:002013-06-18T21:18:45.721-07:00blergh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This morning I woke up to a vomiting kid and a ton of math homework. School sucks, well really just the math but I'm trudging through it. The other two courses are simple & fun. I can crank out an essay in no time and I've been messing around with Photoshop for ages so they are both a walk in the park. However, math is trying to kill me. I have worked for over 13 hours the past 2 days just trying to get my grades up. Word problems are THE WORST. They never ever make any sense to me.<br />
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After a trying day today of math-things I have spent the evening doing laundry (I'm still up because my comforter is in the dryer) and catching up on about a month's worth of YouTube videos that I haven't gotten to watch because I've been working my butt off at this school stuff and attempting to have some semblance of a social life. Thank The Seven for Jack Daniels, Jenna Marbles, Hannah Hart, John & Hank Green and Grace Helbig for making me laugh. I also got my email about Neil Gaiman's signing that I'm going to here in a couple of weeks and after reading it and Amanda Palmer's blog about the book I AM EVEN MORE EXCITED which I didn't know was possible.<br />
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I have a birthday party for one of my best friends and a Bob Dylan concert to get to before any of that happens and I need to work on my attire for both ASAP. I also need to start thinking about my own birthday party and what I want to do. I'm thinking maybe a 60's/Mad Men themed party. I don't know, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.<br />
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I've been in a funk lately and I need to snap out of it. When I get depressed I like to turn off all the lights, lie down in the floor and listen to Alan Ginsberg readings. They are my therapy. This is my favorite poem. It's where this blog's URL originated from.<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-56575145851988603632013-05-20T18:26:00.001-07:002013-05-20T18:27:42.577-07:00Summa Summa Summatime<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Classes for Summer started today and it looks like I am going to be super busy for at least 5 weeks and then moderately busy for the next 5. I went into my courses and did all of the work I possibly could for the first week without having any books yet. I am most excited about my Composition and Rhetoric Class, the essay topics basically write themselves. In fact, I have already chosen my titles for all of them!<br />
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<b>Narrative:</b><br />
I Was Born A Poor Black Child<a href="http://youtu.be/Qtmi4Nc-3dE" target="_blank">*</a><br />
<b>Definition:</b><br />
I Am Going Into This Field To Reach My Goal of Decorating a Cubicle with Unicorns<br />
<b>Process:</b><br />
10 Steps To Becoming A Manic Pixie Dream Girl<br />
<b>Research:</b><br />
Does Jon Snow REALLY Know Where To Put It?<br />
<b>Persuasion:</b><br />
Why Ryan Gosling Should Join My Marriage<br />
<b>Inspirational Figure:</b><br />
River Tam, Because I Can Kill You With My Brain<br />
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Seriously though, I am excited to get to write assigned things again and I'm hoping it will lead to more productive hobby writing, like on this blog and just for fun.<br />
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I am seriously dreading the math class but I'm just going to wish on stars, light candles, and cross my appendages that I can get through it. I just have to get through it and I will be okay, really. The Photoshop class is using a book similar to the ones I had for Web Tech and Flash and they were very thorough and easy, plus I've been playing around with Photoshop for years so I should have most things figured out.<br />
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I'm going to go enjoy some reading now before I get my school books and have to do real work and am ripped out of Westeros. Ciao!<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-55356243094449398052013-05-14T08:50:00.003-07:002013-05-14T08:52:47.602-07:00someone's gotta help me dig<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I found out that the B I thought I made is actually and A. So I got all A's last semester! YAY! My GPA is slowly climbing up. Alden is also doing well in school so that's awesome.<br />
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Now if I just just win the lottery so we can afford my books/software that'd be great...</div>
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The concert on Saturday night was fantastic. We went shopping and grabbed some food before the show. The show itself was great. They sounded even better in person than they do on the album which is always nice. We hung around after the show to meet the band and ask them to sign our shirts and they did. I was practically swooning the ENTIRE TIME. </div>
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(I am resisting the urge to put the Ygritte/Jon swooning clip here because it would be a spoiler for those who aren't caught up on Game of Thrones but just imagine it's here k thnx).</div>
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Mother's Day was lovely. I got to hang out with Alden, my mom, sister, aunt, uncle, papaw, and nana. Alden made me two really pretty beaded bracelets, a card, and he painted me a coffee mug. Admittedly the mug is my favorite part, he wrote "I *<3* You" but the heart is anatomically correct looking instead of being a boring old regular heart.</div>
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This week I'm just trying to tidy up the house a little bit, figure out what the hell I need for my upcoming courses, and enjoy my last week of absolute freedom this summer.</div>
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Not that I'm complaining, coming up I have Dropkick Murphys, Bob Dylan & Wilco, Neil Gaiman, and Neutral Milk Hotel. So I have a fun action packed summer/fall planned, it just has to happen around my stinking coursework.</div>
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-68568430137124317462013-05-10T13:28:00.002-07:002013-05-10T13:28:30.264-07:00Romy & Michele? Not this time...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Instead of paying $75 and dragging my husband to see a bunch of people that I unfortunately went through school with tomorrow evening, we are going to a concert with one of my best friends. Those tickets were only $15 a piece, I'll be with two people I actually enjoy spending time with, and I will get to see this beautiful man shake his ass and rock out.<br />
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SO EXCITE!!!</div>
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I thought when my 10 year reunion rolled around that I would be excited and want to go. Then I started really thinking about it and why the hell would I pay that much to hang out with people that I don't particularly like? I think having reunions is kind of bullshit at this point. I can see your boring life on Facebook for free. If I want to get drunk with you I'll send you a Facebook message and we'll go somewhere that sells beer for a reasonable price and doesn't require you to dress like some sort of "dressy casual" person, whatever the hell that means. </div>
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Of course this doesn't apply to everyone. I am still SUPER close with 3 people from my high school class and I still like a few other people that I don't really talk to much. But the vast majority I don't really care to see. It's nothing against them in particular it just isn't worth $75 to hear about their kids and jobs and smile while I pretend that I'm interested. I hope everyone has fun at the reunion. I also kind of hope that people get really wasted and a brawl breaks out and someone puts it on YouTube, but that's less likely to happen I guess.</div>
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I'll be shaking my ass and elbowing my way up to the front of this show. </div>
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-2382820153333178652013-04-29T13:13:00.002-07:002013-04-29T13:15:21.425-07:00how to internet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am SO TIRED of seeing excessive amounts of recipes on Facebook. Yes, I can scroll past a few but more than 2 and it gets REALLY OLD, REALLY QUICKLY. Let me break down how the internet works for those of you who only use your iPhone/MacBook as a seriously overpriced Facebook machine.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> is for keeping up with friends and family and sharing articles or witty commentary.<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/" target="_blank">Twitter</a> is for self absorbed bitching.<br />
<a href="http://www.reddit.com/" target="_blank">Reddit</a> is for cats and boobs.<br />
<a href="http://www.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> is for fandom.<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> is for recipes and DIY shit that you will never ever actually do.<br />
<a href="http://instagram.com/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> is for photos of your food and your beer.<br />
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I'm not judging you for HAVING any of these accounts. I have one of each myself, but I use them in an appropriate manner.<br />
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P.S. If you want my username for any of them just let me know.<br />
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Carry on...</div>
Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-48596266623032419782013-04-27T14:21:00.001-07:002013-04-27T14:25:44.880-07:00Happy Saturday or something...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-6428833361284258542013-04-12T21:40:00.000-07:002013-04-13T08:07:35.095-07:00SPRAAAANG BREAAAAAK FO'EVA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I spent most of the day revamping my <a href="https://twitter.com/piratepippi" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://anotherwendybird.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>, and this blog. I'll get to my other sites on another day. I had Spring Break the first week of the month and spent it hanging out with my girlfriends, going to see Spring Breakers, and celebrating Josh's birthday. It was the most fun I've had in a long time. I got to turn my music up insanely loud, I got to see one of the best movies I've ever seen, I got to be silly and drink wine and just sit around talking and eating junkfood with some of my favorite people.<br />
<br />
Going back to school on Monday was a real drag and Wednesday NO ONE was feeling it. In fact I was one of the last 3 people in class and I ended up leaving 30 minutes early thinking I'd read outside on the benches. That didn't happen due to the disgusting amount of pollen floating into my face but I tried. That night I got 2 of my best friends to finally sit down and watch the first episode of Game of Thrones with me. I think they liked it. YAY! Then Thursday Alden had a playdate and it went well all things considered. Two autistic children on a playdate is never ever a dull event.<br />
<br />
Today as I said was spent most of the day finding new layouts I liked and tweaking them to get the look I want. I'm currently too lazy to code anything of my own, especially since that's what I do at school all day long. I finished my Dreamweaver class 3 weeks early because it's easy and boring and I figured I'd just get it out of the way. One of the women in my class said "Your kid must be better behaved than mine!" and I just sat there for a second before replying with "Oh, I don't have the program at home. I can't afford it, I just work during class the 4 hours a week. If you want to trade kids for the day I guarantee you'd take that back anyway, because my kid has autism." She shut up pretty quickly after that. It was hilarious.<br />
<br />
During Spring Break I managed to get tickets to see one of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman, on his last book signing tour. I am SO excited. I met his beautiful wife (and a personal hero of mine) Amanda Palmer last year on her tour. <br />
<br />
I was sad that 2 of my other favorite authors posted their tour dates on the following consecutive days, but this is Neil's LAST signing tour so I made the right decision financially. If I was rich I'd go see them all! <br />
<br />
Here are the other authors I want to meet :<br />
<b>David Sedaris</b><br />
<b>Augusten Burroughs</b><br />
<b>Chuck Palahniuk</b><br />
<b>Alan Moore</b><br />
<br />
We have tickets for Father John Misty next month and then tickets for Dropkick Murphys the following month so maybe I'll get to meet those lovely folks too.<br />
<br />
I hope this finds everyone well. I hope to post more once finals are finished and I only have online courses so I'm at home and stuff. Going to finish this drink and hit the hay. Goodnight!<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-45991476741652281202013-03-26T12:16:00.001-07:002013-03-26T12:23:22.325-07:00but the Dark Side has all the cookies!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You might remember <a href="http://ghostofalocomotive.blogspot.com/2012/09/you-darn-kids-get-off-my-lawn.html" target="_blank">this</a> post and <a href="http://ghostofalocomotive.blogspot.com/2012/02/have-you-accepted-jesus-into-your.html" target="_blank">this</a> one, today I'm here to tell you anther one. Today I was sitting on the couch with Alden and we were playing with his iPad (specifically teaching him to care for his new Tamagotchi) and there was a knock on the door. I wasn't expecting company but I got up to peek out the window. A gray van. <br />
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Sidebar: Why are they always in vans? Does Jesus prefer them or something?</div>
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I don't know anyone who drives a gray van (as far as I know) so I tried to discreetly peer out the window beside the door. All I see is someone bent over wearing a really long wool coat. Thinking this is really strange/creepy I tell Alden to "be quiet". My initial thought for some reason was not "IT IS EASTER WEEK AND THIS IS ABOUT THE LORD" but "this person is coming to shoot/rob me, so of course I open the door like a dummy. I opened the door just a crack and I had my left hand on my baseball bat ready to grab swing if need be. </div>
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I look up and there is a little old man, probably in his 70s. He is wearing the aforementioned long black wool coat, a button up shirt, and a black bowler hat. He looked dapper, he looked British, and he looked like he probably wasn't going to murder me or rob me. That's when I realized he was going to attempt to evangelize me. I want to point out that he was the nicest Bible Thumper that's ever come to my door. He was very friendly and not in the least pushy or even interested in having a debate or discussion. He just genuinely wanted to invite me to his church's events over the course of the week. Then he handed me this...</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Which in itself is not funny. Unless you have seen this, which I had, only a few weeks ago on the web.</span></div>
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It took absolutely EVERYTHING I HAD IN ME NOT TO LAUGH IN THIS OLD MAN'S FACE. I was really proud of myself for being able to hold it in and just smile while he told me that "all the races are represented at the bottom of this photo because Christ our Lord loves everyone. People of all races are invited to these events because we too love everyone." </div>
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I thought about pointing out that Jesus' appearance was never described in the bible and that his race was also up for debate. I also wanted to ask why Jesus didn't have his usual hippie hair. But like I said he was just an old nice man and I was just seriously trying hold it together and not laugh while imagining the future of this photo, in which I draw Obi's blue lightsaber in his hand & put it on my fridge.</div>
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Anyway, I did a lot of smiling and nodding and he told me to "have a lovely day" and he left.</div>
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In conclusion if anyone wants to go to a Star Wars party, I think they are having one in my neck of the woods tonight. I assume they are going to watch all 6 movies and then have a discussion. There will be a nice old man there probably wearing his bowler hat. I bet his favorite character is Jar-Jar Binks because he always gets left out. </div>
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And now I'm gonna go eat Girl Scout cookies.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*because I'm from the dark side*</span></div>
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-32230729474691409402013-03-19T13:21:00.000-07:002013-03-19T13:22:03.736-07:00school's not out for summer...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I registered for my Summer and Fall courses yesterday. I also switched from a diploma program to a degree program. I ended up having to take a bunch of math because frankly I suck at math and so it's probably going to take about a year to finish up. Before you tell me you are awesome at math/a math teacher/a motherfucking numeric sorcerer, let me explain that I have been tutored pretty constantly in math my entire existence and I don't get it. I actually have two learning disabilities, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia" target="_blank">dyslexia</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyscalculia" target="_blank">dyscalculia</a>. I had lots of help overcoming my dyslexia because if was apparent from a young age. For instance I was mirror writing, so there was an obvious problem, we addressed it, and now I feel like I have a pretty decent grasp on reading and writing. However, the dyscalculia was something I had never heard of until a friend suggested I might have it after explaining my severe struggles with math, money management, telling time on an analog clock, and anything involving numbers in general. So there is an actual medical reason that I don't "get" math. Blah blah blah, I'm stuck in dumb dumb math for a bit. I'll get through it eventually.<br />
<br />
So for summer I'm taking<br />
<b>Math 98</b><br />
<b>Composition and Rhetoric</b><br />
<b>Web Graphics I</b><br />
<br />
Which reminds me, if anyone has a copy of Adobe Photoshop CS6 they don't mind parting with, please let me know. I don't really have $600 to shell out for the entire program but I also absolutely have to have it for summer & fall. (Plus, you know, $600 more dollars for the insanely overpriced books for the classes).<br />
<br />
All my summer classes are online so that I won't have to juggle finding a ride to and from school and a sitter for Alden. So it's awesome that it worked out that way. In the fall I'll have to go for 2 and the other 2 will be online. Hopefully, I'll have a car that's running properly and a license by then, I guess we'll see...<br />
<br />
In Fall I'm taking<br />
<b>Math 99</b><br />
<b>Web Graphics II</b><br />
<b>Sociology </b><br />
<b>C#</b><br />
<br />
So that's what I'll be up to the next two semesters.<br />
<br />
After that I will have<br />
<b>College Algebra</b><br />
<b>Web Development II</b><br />
<b>Music Appreciation </b><br />
<b>and an Internship</b><br />
<br />
Then I SHOULD be finished. So YAY for that!<br />
<br />
I didn't get sucked up in the storm yesterday, but I want to thank everyone who was calling/texting/tweeting/etc at me to make sure I was not blown to the land of Oz. <br />
<br />
Today I filled out my first Nielson TV survey, I guess if it's interesting enough they'll send me more? If they are wanting "things I actually watch on TV when they are on TV" they are going to be sorely disappointed, because I watch a whopping ONE TV show a week when it's on TV. If they watching count TV 'online' then they are in for a serious treat because I watch ALL THE THINGS (that don't suck).<br />
<br />
Anyway so far so good this week. Next week is Weeman's spring break and mine is the week after that so we're going to have to find something fun to get into.<br />
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Everyone have a lovely rest of the week!<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-62639599380720572832013-03-05T13:30:00.000-08:002013-03-05T13:30:10.941-08:00I've decided to become a professional student...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
I've pretty well talked myself into staying in school to get my associates of applied science degree specializing in IT Specialist/Web Design. Right now I'm in the diploma program for the same thing so everything will transfer. I'm having a hard time deciding about some of these electives though and I'd love some input.<br />
<br />
These are the CIST options and I have to chose one:<br />
<b>Visual Basic I</b><br />
<b>C# Programming</b><br />
<b>PHP Programming</b><br />
<b>Java Programming</b><br />
<b>Mobile App Development</b><br />
<b>Web App Programming</b><br />
<b>OpenSource Web App Programming</b><br />
<b>Interactive & Social App Programming</b><br />
<br />
The problem is that I am really not that interested in app programming. I would rather do one of the languages, but is that the right thing to do? It feels like everything is moving into an app based direction. Would I be stupid to pass those up to take something old school like Basic?<br />
<br />
The Arts electives I have to chose from are<br />
<b>Art Appreciation</b><br />
<b>American Literature</b><br />
<b>Intro To Humanities</b><br />
<b>Music Appreciation</b><br />
<br />
I am leaning toward music appreciation because I've gotten to where I don't really listen to music much anymore and when I do it's all 90s & 70s. While I don't think there's anything WRONG with that (especially since everything on the radio is crap) I feel like maybe it would help me branch out a little bit.<br />
<br />
The Social/Behavior Sciences electives I have to choose from are:<br />
<b>Principles of Economics</b><br />
<b>Principles of Macroeconomics</b><br />
<b>Principles of Microeconomics</b><br />
<b>World History I</b><br />
<b>World History II</b><br />
<b>U.S. History I</b><br />
<b>U.S. History II</b><br />
<b>American Government</b><br />
<b>Introductory Psychology</b><br />
<b>Intro to Sociology</b><br />
<br />
Obviously I am leaning toward the last two because the others all sound like hell on earth. I have a slight bias to Sociology but basically everyone has said I'd have more fun in Psych.<br />
<br />
HELP ME?<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-88778418735744009572013-02-21T12:46:00.002-08:002013-02-21T12:51:23.237-08:00I am, infact, alive (or I'm a zombie who is feeling much better since coming back)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My body has been trying to defeat me almost the entire month of February. I have rarely gotten off the couch, called into school once, and been to two doctors appointments. (If you are interested in all the gory details just ask). I am finally starting to feel like my old self again.<br />
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In my down time I've had lots of time to think about random crap. Especially since the meds they have me on make me slightly manic and unable to focus on pretty much anything like reading or an entire movie. These are some of those random thoughts...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I have discovered the perfect job for myself. I just need Kathy Lee or Hoda to either quit, retire, or add a third person to their early morning shenanigans. There was a segment where they drank wine and then threw things at people. I've basically been training for this job my entire life. I just had no idea!</div>
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I have also decided that Tina Fey & Amy Poehler's next project needs to be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statler_and_Waldorf" target="_blank">Statler and Waldorf</a>-esque show where they just sit around and make fun of everyone. Tell me you wouldn't watch that religiously?</div>
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<br /></div>
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I did manage to watch some documentaries (pausing them pretty much every 15 minutes because I'd get distracted by Tetris on my phone or Tumblr ) and developed a crush on Louis Theroux. If you have the time I beg you all to watch <a href="http://watchdocumentary.org/watch/louis-theroux-extreme-love-12-autism-video_daadc03a4.html" target="_blank">this segment he did on living with autism</a>. It says part 1 of 2 but it's just one big video. I assume that caption is because he's probably planning to go back and revisit them later which he often does a few years down the road. This is seriously the most accurate portrayal of autism that I have ever seen. It gives a great look at meltdowns, the struggle for control, and just how broad the spectrum truly is. Anyway if you have a bit of time please watch and share. People need to see this.</div>
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That's all I got in me for today. I hope everyone is well! I'm off to shower, eat some mexican food, and then go out for my first Ladies' Night in FAR too long.</div>
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-4504693137093458752013-01-09T13:01:00.001-08:002013-01-09T13:01:25.418-08:00wait, wait, wait. I'll be fine in a minute...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
School is back in session and I'm enjoying it so far. I'm taking Web Technologies I, Web Animation I, and SQL. I just got settled at home after my second day of school this week. Today we actually got to work on, well our work. I finished both of my assignments for this week in lab which was great. However, I think I'm going to try to take my iPod next week. Apparently NO ONE around me knows how to operate a computer or read the instructions or <b><i>look at the photos</i></b> of the instructions in the book; which while only mildly annoying today will get old really quickly. I'm not trying to be mean but you are in college, figure it out (or ask the teacher instead of annoying another student constantly). Needless to say, I've yet to make any friends.<br />
<br />
It's been an interesting week. The bus was late for Alden on Monday, then we both went to school, then we got locked out of the house. I climbed in through a window and unlocked the door. I watched a docu-series about Queen Victoria's Children, my friend came by and we had a drink and got caught up because we hadn't seen much of each other over Christmas/New Years. <br />
<br />
Yesterday nothing really happened. But this morning Alden was being awful. He didn't want to go to school and he fought me from the second he got up until I got him to his bus. Then an hour later I get a call from the school saying he's STILL being a brat. They finally got him calmed down after some sensory input, exercises, and talking to him. Apparently he doesn't like me being in school again, which is weird because I don't remember him caring last year. Anyway he seems perfectly fine now but it was a rough morning for everyone involved.<br />
<br />
We started reading The Hobbit and he wants to read MORE every night. I'm only reading a chapter a night because he gets mad when he falls asleep and I don't know WHERE exactly he fell asleep and I start somewhere else entirely. So one chapter a night and then I either read something else or just let him be.<br />
<br />
I guess that's about it for now. Nothing terribly exciting. Just getting adjusted to this whole back to school thing.<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-71847511693331286512013-01-03T15:49:00.002-08:002013-10-09T18:06:25.827-07:002013 List<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I finished reading my first book of the year, and so it begins!<br />
2012 can be found <a href="http://ghostofalocomotive.blogspot.com/2012/01/booksmoviescomics-2012.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Books</u></b><br />
January First - Michael Schofield<br />
A Storm of Swords - George RR Martin<br />
A Feast For Crows - George RR Martin<br />
The Imperfect Environmentalist - Sara Gilbert<br />
Cinderella Ate My Daughter - Peggy Orenstein<br />
<br />
<b><u>Movies</u></b><br />
Dark Legacy<br />
Looper<br />
The Paperboy<br />
Les Miserables<br />
Amour<br />
Anna Karinina<br />
Silver Linings Playbook<br />
Celeste and Jesse Forever<br />
Save the Date<br />
Biography: Lucrezia Borgia<br />
We Need to Talk about Kevin<br />
Django Unchained<br />
Life of Pi<br />
The Master<br />
Zero Dark Thirty<br />
Electrick Children<br />
Hick<br />
The Sessions<br />
God Bless America<br />
Dogtooth<br />
Tideland<br />
Spring Breakers<br />
Evil Dead (2013)<br />
Sound of my Voice<br />
Stoker<br />
This Is The End<br />
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters<br />
Lizzie<br />
Hansel and Gretel Get Baked<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>TV/Mini-Series</u> </b>(shows from beginning to end only, nothing currently airing)<br />
Queen Victoria's Children<br />
A Young Doctor's Notebook<br />
Battlestar Galactica<br />
Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome<br />
Scary Tales<br />
<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>Comics</u></b><br />
Buffy Season 9<br />
Willow in Wonderland<br />
The Walking Dead<br />
Adventure Time<br />
Marceline and the Scream Queens<br />
The Witching Hour<br />
Halloween Eve<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>Concerts/Readings</u></b><br />
Dropkick Murphys<br />
Father John Misty<br />
Neil Gaiman</div>
Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-82606773765077163952012-12-31T09:45:00.002-08:002012-12-31T09:45:24.357-08:00Happy New Year!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I wish each and every one of you a fantastic ending to 2012 and the year of your life in 2013.</div>
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-86852616499710868412012-12-24T10:12:00.000-08:002012-12-24T10:29:18.828-08:00My grinch heart grew three sizes today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is the story of how the Christmas spirit just smacked me in the face. I just wasn't feelin' it an hour ago and then WHAM....<br />
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So a few weeks ago someone tried to steal my car. I don't "know" any of my neighbors we just kind of wave at one another & smile but I then decided to let them know that they need to lock their cars. So I tugged on my boots and walked across the street. I told neighbor 1 about the saga & then asked if he thought the man next door (neighbor 2) was at home. I have always called neighbor 2 "creepy neighbor" because he sits outside a lot (even when it's snowing and raining and 6 AM) and I always just thought it was a little creepy that he was always lurking around outside staring and then waving at me. He never leaves his house and the only person I've ever seen at his house is neighbor 1. Then neighbor 1 says to let him talk to neighbor 2 because neighbor 2 has a severe drinking problem and he doesn't know what kind of day he's having. <br />
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This completely broke my heart. I have never in my entire life felt like a bigger asshole. He isn't creepy at all, he has a problem that he constantly struggles with and I rushed to judgement. I then decided to rename him "Hugsy" because I just wanted to run over and give him a hug. (In case it isn't obvious these names are only used in my head, I would never be like "WHAT'S UP HUGSY?!" because that would be really awkward.)<br />
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So once I started thinking about all the times I just kind of looked away and didn't say hi to him and the apparent lack of any human family (he does have 2 dogs that he is always playing with) I got really really sad. Thinking about someone who doesn't have any family to spend Christmas with makes me want to cry. I wanted to do something nice for Hugsy. I don't know how to cook and we don't exactly have any 'disposable income' especially during this time of year, so I decided to make him something. I remembered seeing a comic from Kate Leth a few days before that about a really simple pretzel candy recipe so I went back to <a href="http://kateordiecomics.com/">her comic page</a> (which is awesome and you should totally read) and found it. I made candy for neighbor 1 & his wife, Hugsy, and this little old lady neighbor who comes by now & then to talk about Alden because her grandson has developmental disabilities too.<br />
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I delivered the candy during the apocalypse just in case we didn't make it til Christmas (okay really I just knew that I was about to be too busy to remember to deliver it). I just stuck the candy in their mailboxes with a Christmas card that just said "to our neighbors, from the family in the little yellow house" because I don't know their real names.<br />
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I hadn't checked the mail since Friday because we had to go out of town on Saturday and I feel like a weirdo when I go get the mail from the week before on Sunday because the mail doesn't run. I feel like people are like "look at the weirdo going to the mailbox on a Sunday!" I know that's weird but I'm a weird girl, okay? So today I ran out in the pouring rain to get the mail and there was a Christmas card inside. I assumed it was from the old lady neighbor because she LOVES Alden and she even put up one of those "school crossing" signs in her yard because she was worried about people flying over the hill when we are going to the bus in the morning. But the card wasn't from her, and it wasn't from neighbor 1. It was from Hugsy (who I now know is JR) and his dogs Gidgit and Otis. He wrote a really sweet message and then "THANK YOU!" I got tears in my eyes. I immediately put it up with all our holiday cards in the kitchen but I've already taken it down twice and hugged it.<br />
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Sometimes people are amazing, sometimes people are wonderful, and sometimes people surprise you. I am not really a New Years resolution kind of person (these thighs are not going anywhere no matter HOW hard I try) but in the next year I am going to work really hard on not jumping to conclusions and assuming. However briefly it lasts my faith in humanity has been restored at least for a little while.<br />
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And now I'm off to watch "Dark Legacy" because nothing says Christmas like a tinfoil hat!<br />
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE! </div>
Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-48392462466266376292012-12-17T12:57:00.001-08:002012-12-17T12:57:49.559-08:00these are a few of my favorite things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Things are about to get crazy busy over here so I'm going to go ahead and venture that my mind will not change, and also that I won't get to see any of the 'Oscar Buzz' worthy films before the years end. So here's my list for 2012.<br />
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<b>Book: </b>Let's Pretend This Never Happened - Jenny Lawsom<br />
<b>Comic Book:</b> The Walking Dead Issue #100<br />
<b>TV Show Drama:</b> 666 Park Avenue (RIP)<br />
<b>TV Series Comedy:</b> The Mindy Project<br />
<b>Series Sci-Fi/Fantasy: </b>Blood and Chrome<br />
<b>Documentary:</b> The Imposter<br />
<b>Album:</b> Theatre is Evil - Amanda Palmer<br />
<b>Song:</b> Writing a Novel - Father John Misty<br />
<b>Movie Drama:</b> Cabin in the Woods<br />
<b>Movie Comedy:</b> Moonrise Kingdom<br />
<b>Best Actor:</b> Ezra Miller - The Perks of Being a Wallflower<br />
<b>Best Actress:</b> Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild<br />
<b>Website:</b> Geek and Sundry<br />
<b>Videogame:</b> I didn't buy any new games this year.<br />
<b>Meme: </b>“Reasonable Fiona Who Unfortunately Happens To Be Friends With A ‘Nice Guy’”<br />
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<b>Things that happened that I want to remember:</b><br />
Meeting & seeing Amanda Palmer play live<br />
Meeting & seeing First Aid Kit play live<br />
Seeing TOOL play live<br />
Making new best friends<br />
Alden getting straight A's all year<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-56953053582531365032012-12-12T19:28:00.001-08:002012-12-12T19:34:21.252-08:00maybe just a half a drink more...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today was my last day of Winter Semester. If there are any typos in this post I apologize as I am celebrating with some pumpkin beer. I have been in a weird place lately. Someone tried to steal my car (which doesn't run) the other night when I was at a Christmas party. When we got home it was halfway down the driveway, there were boot prints all in the gravel, hand-prints all over the hood of the car, and a Honda key jammed in the ignition. It really creeped me out to think that someone was on my property, touching my car, and that they knew it needed a key to try to start it because of the way the shift is. From what I understand basically to shift it without the (real) key in the ignition you stick a key into the little shifty key thingie & then you can put it in neutral or whatever. Basically if my yard hadn't had a small hill and gravel they probably could have stolen it fairly easily. <br />
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I filed a police report and they said someone had also stolen a golf cart on the other side of the highway that evening. I now have a baseball bat and an ax handle in case I see anyone creeping around in my yard. I also called to have the bulb for the streetlight in our yard replaced, so now my yard is well lit. Not that it matters if we aren't here. Stuff & things can be replaced, people can't. I'm not really a 'stuff' person anyway. Don't get me wrong, if I came home and my electronics were gone I would be pissed off, I would cry, I would curse like a sailor, but things are just things. I don't really have many "nice" things because I don't care about "nice" things. I like electronics. I don't give a shit about pricey bags, jewelry, or clothing, I'd rather have a new iPod, some videogames, and the new version of Photoshop (P.S. they are all on my Xmas list which can be found in <a href="http://ghostofalocomotive.blogspot.com/2012/11/here-be-my-christmas-list.html">my last post</a> if anyone is feeling particularly generous or needs ideas).<br />
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So anyway that whole thing kind of put me in a weird headspace and since then I've been on edge. I have seen a bunch of movies since then and also taken all my finals. I believe I passed all my classes and I am very pleased. They were difficult but I carried on and did my best. Last semester I actually ended up dropping one of the courses I was taking because it was too much and too difficult. This semester I gave it another go and I got an A in it.<br />
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Christmas is rapidly approaching and I am almost out of free time, so if you wanna hang out let me know ASAP. I still have a lot of my (okay fine, ALL) Christmas shopping to do. Just thinking about it is giving me hives so we're gonna move right along to the fact that I have no plans for New Years. I need plans for New Years! <br />
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Okay, now back to reading A Storm of Swords and finishing off this Pumpkin beer.<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-29509290751761612462012-11-26T21:04:00.000-08:002012-11-26T21:04:44.858-08:00here be my christmas list<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wishlists:<br />
<a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/brain/gimme.cgi?wid=81e181442">Think Geek</a><br />
<a href="http://www.modcloth.com/storefront/wishlists/1450085">ModCloth</a><br />
<a href="http://amzn.com/w/G7JQ47PWDJR9">Amazon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bodyartforms.com/wishlist.asp?userID=93051">BodyArtForms</a><br />
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Pretty much ANYTHING from<br />
<a href="http://gypsywarrior.com/">Gypsy Warrior</a><br />
Clothing Size L<br />
Shoe Size 8 (I DO NOT wear heels but wedges are fine)<br />
I DO NOT wear animal print stuff...that crap is fugly.<br />
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Giftcards for<br />
Victoria's Secret<br />
Aeropostale<br />
Ulta<br />
Sephora<br />
Urban Outfitters<br />
Rugged Wearhouse<br />
Target<br />
Amazon<br />
Think Geek<br />
Visa Giftcard/Cash<br />
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-13843112995424964042012-11-20T16:30:00.002-08:002012-11-20T16:36:56.827-08:00The One Where I'm Chandler Bing...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I hate Thanksgiving. Not just a little bit, a whole lot. I hate the food, I hate football, I hate hearing people talking about Black Friday, I hate having to behave myself, and you know, that whole genocide thing was kind of a drag too. I have never ever liked Thanksgiving. At least on Christmas you get rewarded with presents for enduring your family for a few hours. On Thanksgiving all you get is indigestion (that is if you eat the food, which I do not). My Thanksgiving feasts typically consist of green beans, a roll, and mashed potatoes. Then for dessert I eat whichever cake has the most alcoholic content and pray for a slight buzz. Turkey is gross, stuffing is disgusting, cranberry should only be in juice form, and what is up with yams? I yam serious, I don't understand them! <span style="font-size: x-small;"> (See what I did there? I'm so punny!) </span><br />
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The only thing worse than shopping for Christmas presents is listening to people talk about shopping for Christmas presents and that is exactly what people like to do on Thanksgiving. Just thinking about Black Friday gives me hives. #1 I have social anxiety, #2 I kind of hate people, especially people I don't know, #3 I am claustrophobic, #4 I have never in my entire life NEEDED something so desperately that I would trample another human being to get it, #5 THE INTERNET HAS BETTER SALES ANYWAY, WTF ARE YOU DOING?<br />
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My favorite part of Thanksgiving is FRIENDS, yes, the TV show. They had a Thanksgiving episode each year and they are always the most hysterical episodes ever. My favorite is "The One With All The Thanksgivings". Go watch it, it's the best. I always marathon all the Thanksgiving episodes of the seasons that I own the week of Thanksgiving and drink wine and stare into my Christmas lights to make myself slightly less crazed by all the upcoming hooplah.</div>
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Anyway I am about to be crazy busy the entire rest of the week so I want to wish everyone a HAPPY TURKEY SLAUGHTER DAY because even if I hate Thanksgiving, I PROBABLY don't hate you.</div>
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-65864939396801174132012-11-05T16:16:00.001-08:002012-11-05T16:19:49.864-08:00A brief and friendly reminder...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAj99KRPcfCfG8wBEmw_CsMGnYfpITCmavolqFVjqgY2fbwJ42fZnnxt3Pc5IzCXAkkBooJkdH2QFLGpufOjmWJegMkpnc1PrSINpwJc-5FMd2xl3qWSv79CEppCDxBUfYRcUC9IpZoMI/s1600/Election-2012-logo-300x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAj99KRPcfCfG8wBEmw_CsMGnYfpITCmavolqFVjqgY2fbwJ42fZnnxt3Pc5IzCXAkkBooJkdH2QFLGpufOjmWJegMkpnc1PrSINpwJc-5FMd2xl3qWSv79CEppCDxBUfYRcUC9IpZoMI/s1600/Election-2012-logo-300x300.png" /></a></div>
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If you haven't voted yet then PLEASE don't forget to get out there tomorrow and VOTE!!!<br />
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Also if you live in a stupid state where you can't buy alcohol on Election Day, don't forget to buy your booze <i>tonight </i>so you can handle the celebration/devastation of the outcome depending on your choice of party.<br />
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Forward</div>
Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463808915028316485.post-61956998162334716222012-10-31T11:05:00.002-07:002012-10-31T11:05:27.141-07:00HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My Warhol-esque photo collage of Evil Jacki. I think I look pretty damn good as a demon & a vampire...which there might be a reason for...</div>
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I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween. Here's a couple of photos of me at various things in my costume. I went to a party Friday night and then to a show Saturday night. I won the costume contest so I get in free for six months at one of my favorite venues! Yay!!!<br />
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I will post a tutorial about the making of my costume eventually. I have to dig around and find all the pictures and junk but it's coming, I promise. Tonight since we <br />
A: have never gotten a Trick or Treater<br />
B: live behind the woods a bit & people rarely even notice our house<br />
I won't be going through the trouble of putting on my costume to hand out candy. I'll probably just reprise last years "Halloween Hipster" costume in case any little goblins show up.<br />
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Halloween? I celebrated that like 5 days ago. You guys are like -SO- behind.</div>
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Jaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11432794810021408277noreply@blogger.com0