Monday, April 16, 2007

Another Meme!

To celebrate some of the last homework avoidance I will do as part of my academic career (because I'm graduating! Finally! squee!) I thought I'd revisit my favorite homework avoidance technique, that is, memes.

Here goes.

1. Where were you on July 4th 2006?
In Phoenix with a boyfriend.

2. How did you get the idea for your blog name?
It's a really boring story.

3. What song are you listening to right now?
I Against I by Massive Attack

4. What color is your cellphone?
silver

5. Who was the last person you messaged on myspace?
Um... Erika, maybe?

6. Do you own an iPod?
Yes. I love it.

7. What was the first thing you thought of this morning?
My dream.

8. What does your dad do for a living?
My dad used to be some kind of aerospace engineer.

9. What will you do tonight?
Homework and then probably go to the Electric Six show.

10. Whats your favorite memory from last weekend?
Making fleischchuechla with my sister while The Boy looked on.

11. What are the last two digits of your cellphone number?
That's a pretty dumb question.

12. What was the last thing that you had to drink?
Water.

14. What was the last movie you watched?
Happy Feet.

15. What do you dislike at the moment?
Homework and job searching.

16. What food do you crave right now?
I just had dinner.

17. What did you dream last night?
Typing.

18. What was the last TV show you watched?
I don't really remember.

19. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My petrified ammonite pendant.

20. Name 3 ppl who are just like you.
No one is just like me.

21. Do you always lock your bedroom door?
No. When there are children present I do. Not my children - my sister's.

22. Do you like your boss?
I guess.

23. Are you on any medication?
No, thank goodness.

24. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
Whichever is next to the wall.

25. What color shirt are you wearing?
Kinda peach.

26. What is your favorite frozen treat?
Cookies n cream ice cream.

27. How many piercings do you have?
4.

28. What's your favorite store?
I'm not at all certain I have one.

29. Are you thirsty right now?
A little bit.

30. Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss?
Angie T.

31. What did you do last night?
Made dinner with The Boy and watched Happy Feet.

32. Do you care what people think about you?
Yeah, but not as much as I used to.

33. Have you ever done something to make trouble?
Of course.

35. What are your font colors on AIM?
Is this question for real? Do people actually care about this shit?

36. Where do you live?
Tucson, AZ.

37. Are you aggressive?
In the car, yes.

38. Cell phone company?
Verizon.

39. Energy Drink?
Coffee. But I do like the smoothies with the added power-up shots.

40. When is your birthday?
6/16.

41. What is the thing that you would most like to change about you?
My tendency to procrastinate and over-eat. There. That's pretty boring.

42. What word do you say alot?
Nice.

43. What do you smell like right now?
Garlic, I'd wager.

44. What are your favorite colors?
Red, black, grey, pink, green and blue.

45. Do you like mustard?
Occasionally with a pretzel.

46. What do you tell yourself when times get hard?
That I'm not a bad person.

47. Would you ever sky-dive?
Mmmm, no.

49. Have you ever bid for something on eBay?
Yes.

51. Do you enjoy giving hugs?
When they're not perfunctory.

53. Do you own a digital camera?
Yes.

54. What is your favorite TV show?
Good Eats.

55. Who is your favorite Star Wars character?
Yoder.

56. Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call but don't?
It used to. Not so much anymore. Sometimes, though.

57. Are you a jealous person?
Yeah, but I'm working on it.

59. Do you ever feel guilty after eating meat?
Sometimes.

60. If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name be?
Kirk. As in, Captain. My dad luuurrved Star Trek.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Springtime in the Old Pueblo

Ah, nothing says spring like a cliched blog entry on the topic, no? So, watch for the usual: discussion of local spring versus national spring, discussion of the weather, picture of flowers, reflection on knitting during warm temperatures.

For a few weeks now I've been noticing a springtime trend in other people's blog entries, complete with beautiful pictures of blooming bulbs and daffodils, etc. And I enjoy reading about spring in other parts of the country, I really do. Now, according to the weather reports and several recent blog entries, parts of the country have backslid into winter's last hurrah. Newly-planted flowerbeds have been blighted with frost, and lovely sprouting bulbs have had their genitals freeze and wither (it's true you know: those pretty pretty flowers are the plants' baby-making gear).

To this I have one response: Luckyyyyyy.

Here in southern Arizona, spring is a razor-thin month and a half and is defined by two natural occurrences: temperatures in the low to mid 90's, and the presence of pollen. Lots. Of pollen. Arizona has one of the highest pollen counts in the country. For the past month, according to weather.com, Tucson's pollen counts have been either 'high' or 'very high,' with few exceptions. But in case you're wondering, it wasn't always this way. We used to have one of the lowest pollen counts in the country. Sure, the desert would always bloom in spring, but compared to other parts of the country it was nothing. That is, until people with bad allergies moved down here and brought their allergen-producing plants with them to a region with an early and long growing season. Smart: S-M-R-T.

Now let me take a step back and remind you of the other big springtime signifier: temperatures in the 90's. In some parts of the country temps in the 90's is as hot or hotter than it gets alllll summer. But here, it's just part of spring's glory. When the temperature is in the low or mid 90's, we know it's spring. But when it edges into the upper 90's, it's summer. Even in the desert, 98 degrees cannot masquerade as spring's gentle warmth. 92 degrees can, but 98? No.

So for anyone lucky enough to reside in a cooler part of the country I say count your blessings. Your flower bed may have been destroyed by a late frost, but you can replant. We here in the old pueblo will not see cooling temperatures for another 6 months. Literally.

But springtime in Arizona isn't all bad. Witness our palo verde trees, which bloom abundantly into brilliant yellow firecrackers each year:









OK, so the color quality on these photos isn't super. But trust me, these blooms are bright, bright yellow. Lovely.

And come summertime, what's a desert-dwelling knitter to do? Knit socks? Knit lace? Well, yes and yes. I am hoping to knit some lace, a few sweaters (we'll see), and plenty of socks this summer. Socks are a good choice because they don't cover your lap as you knit, and the superwash sock yarn has the added bonus of not felting in your fingers. Seriously. When it's 110 degrees outside you've got to plan your projects carefully.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

1. I need a job.
2. Soon I will graduate with a master's degree and minimal experience which I must parlay into a job.
3. Cover letters.
4. ALA conference?
5. I wish I could knit on my way up to Phoenix.
6. My party on Saturday. Will anyone come?
7. Work clothes. How can I get some?
8. Relocating. Where.
9. Am I a fraud?
10. The manager at work. What is wrong with her?
11. I ordered a MacBook.
12. Maybe I should stop drinking coffee.
13. Bringing wine and hors d'oeuvres for Easter at my sister's.
14. The lace scarf I ripped out and rewound.