| Writer's Block: The right fight |
[Nov. 20th, 2009|11:37 am] |
My brother. We could both be in either padded rooms surrounded by coloring books and Play-Doh or jail cells. Guess I did something right. |
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| Update |
[Oct. 31st, 2009|02:42 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | costumes, family | ] |
| [ | I am: |
| | Home | ] |
| [ | Feeling: |
| |  aggravated | ] |
| [ | Listening to: |
| | Still watching the froggy | ] |
UPDATE #1: Too late, he looks like he belongs in American History X.
UPDATE #2: I'm going as a Bean Sidhe, and screw whoever says they're 'supposed' to wear black and have white faces. They can Wiki Irish folklore if they think I'm wrong. |
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| Fear For My Sanity |
[Oct. 31st, 2009|12:33 pm] |
My crew's going out, per usual holiday shenanigans. My brother and I are telling everyone he's going as a zombie, but he's actually going as a Blue Man. He's going to shave his beard, fine, but somehow he got the idea in his head that he should shave his head as well. He's still going to wear the bald cap, covered in blue, but he wants to freak people out tomorrow when he really has no hair.
How do I talk him out of this? He doesn't have a sweetie, or I'd use that arguement, so at this point all I have is the insanity offense.
Question #2- does anyone here know what a Sprite is? That's what I was going to be, but I'm rethinking it, since no one seems to know what that is, and it's not as fun when you have to explain to those asking. Faerie without wings, but not as sexual as a nymph and not as harmless and more prone to violence than a sylph.
(Mostly I just want an excuse to have Daddy draw really cool designs on my face) |
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| UIC, freshman |
[Sep. 28th, 2009|07:54 pm] |
Normally I don't mind freshman or out of state transfers. They like coming to a big city and I'm more than happy to help them out. Once in a while, unfortunately, I'm reminded of the people I went to high school with.
Today I wore one of Daddy's flannels over a heavy hoodie. I was in the city, which was getting 50 mph gusts and UIC's wind tunnel makes it worse, and it barely hit 60, so while I looked like a stuffed turkey, I was ok w/ that. On the EL platform 2 girls in skirts and flip-flops asked me if I knew how fat I looked. I asked them if they knew how cold they looked and they just made very unattractive faces at me. I hate out-of-town freshman who think college is just for finding a husband. Especially when they look older than me :( |
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| Writer's Block: Happiest birthday gift |
[Sep. 21st, 2009|05:09 pm] |
For my 25th, the kids I nanny for pooled their bday/xmas/tooth fairy money and got me a Claddagh with an emerald in the heart. They were 3, 5, and 7. |
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| There really are nice people... |
[Sep. 16th, 2009|09:55 pm] |
So, I volunteered to proofread something for an LJ friend. Never talked to her outside of fic comments, but she asked for someone and I answered. Spent yesterday and today scrutinizing the piece, since even though it was only one page it was extremely important, both to her and for the reason she needed it. I even had my Ma take a look at it, just to make sure. I sent it back, worried I was going to come across to bitchy, too mean (9 years of college w/ 8 workshop classes will turn anyone into an editing-nazi).
Maybe 10 minutes after I sent it back, I received an email saying I had been gifted with a year of paid LJ. I might of had a slight freak/flip-out. I wasn't expecting anything other than a simple thanks, which she also sent, and definitely wasn't expecting her to pay out of her own pocket for something that I've been getting for free. She told me she hadn't even looked it over when she paid for my LJ account, which just blows my mind. That there are actually people out there, who do things like that.
Next time I'm having a really bad day, or something unexpected happens that brings out the pessimist in me (which these days is often), I'm going to remember this. Actually, I'm going to remember how I was feeling when I read the email. I was happy. |
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| Teachers & Trains |
[Aug. 24th, 2009|03:16 pm] |
German teacher's a sweetheart, but she has the tone of voice as the teacher in Charlie Brown & laughs like Fran Drescher. She's cheery, so she laughs a lot :)
On the other hand, this morning the CTA vending machine at Cumberland graciously took my 10 dollars, told me I had $12.75 on my card, then left me w/ .50 after I went through the turnstile.
Of course, in the continuing tradition of "How can Chicago screw YOU over today," I was unaware of their newest skimming method until after class when I tried to get back on the train. The attendant there was nice enough to let me through, so I could take it up w/ the Cumberland attendant. Or he just didn't want to spend the time (I'm going w/ that one).
The guy at Cumberland was really nice & helpful, just not so good w/ the comprehending the problem. Good thing I didn't have the kids today, cause it took almost 30 minutes to get it straightened out.
I would say at least it's my last semester, but I'll be back in the fall for my MOL. Ugh |
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| Movie Posts |
[Aug. 20th, 2009|09:22 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | movies, uic | ] |
| [ | I am: |
| | Home | ] |
| [ | Feeling: |
| |  sad (going to be broke- again) | ] |
| [ | Listening to: |
| | Stranded- Alien Ant Farm | ] |
This will probably be ignored, but whatever. Everyone posts about the movies they see, gives their review, but the problem is that I love reading these. Ok, that's not the problem- the problem is when I read them before I see the movie, which means I already knows what's going to happen.
So, here's my wish for all you reviewers- maybe in the title or as a tag put movie review? So I know to save it until after I've seen the movie? Most of the time I stop reading and save it anyways, but sometimes I get an eyeful of a great scene or character plot before I minimize the post :(
Ok, that was my monthly wishful thinking. Hope you enjoy your Thursday more than I will- I have to go give UIC the maximum amount out of my savings I can without my bank penalizing me. Why couldn't the admissions scandal have happened after classes started? |
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| Ashamed at myself |
[Aug. 9th, 2009|12:56 am] |
For the first time in 27 years, I said a word I abhore. I hear it on a near daily basis, being around my brother and crew, but I hate it in general speech. I understand it in writing and poetry, but it's just one of those I can't stand to hear unless someone is in a fight or really drunk and has lost all verbal filter (allowances have to be made, I think, in certain situations).
After the night I had I said it, not only about my brother, but I said it to my mother while telling her how her son acted tonight at the bar where we and our crew went to watch the UFC fights. If I weren't so furious at him and one other, I would be crying over how ashamed and guilty I feel. Ma didn't even bat an eye, just nodded and told me to continue, but I don't care.
Certain things should not be said around/to parents about their children by their children- and this was one of them. |
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| My lucks is apparently better than Ma's |
[Jul. 26th, 2009|05:24 pm] |
So, Ma wanted to see The Academy Is.. who were playing Friday night at the DuPage County Fair. I'm always up for seeing Chicago bands, so I took her.
The Cab opened, but started playing 35 minutes early, because rain was supposed to hit. Their set was really good, and less than 10 minutes later TAI went on (after everyone on the bleachers were kicked off because of approaching lightning).
Three songs in, the organizers killed the speakers, right after picture-worthy lightning took over the whole sky, right above us. The speakers went back on, and in the middle of the 4th song, some fair worker came on stage and said they were canceling the rest of the show and everyone needed to get off the fairgrounds because the lightning was so bad.
The crowd (not all but most) start yeling amd chanting, just normal crowd displeasure, but Ma hasn't seen an angry mob since the '69 Convention, so I had to drag her towards the exit. We're walking back to the car, when I look over to make sure she's still w/ me and I notice some of her hair is standing straight up. At that point I'm a little more worried about her being a magnet and less about the angry crowd :).
She was dissapointed she didn't get to see their full set, so now I have to take her + the kids to Great America to see them. I'd rather deal w/ the lightning than her at an amusement park. |
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| Writer's Block: Not So Genius |
[Jul. 18th, 2009|12:13 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | writer's block | ] |
| [ | I am: |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Feeling: |
| |  still in pain | ] |
| [ | Listening to: |
| | Three Dog Night | ] |
Dr. Spock and his cohorts, maybe Ritalin (haven't seen anything good come from that 'magick' pill, but I only know so many people...) |
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| Semi-publicly embarrassing my brother :) |
[Jul. 9th, 2009|11:42 am] |
Friday I got off work little after midnight, got home and saw my brother and father sitting around the fire out back. They had a couple of lines in the lake, just hanging out. Around 1:30 we hear a splash and Adam runs to his pole, trying to stop the line from running. Whatever he caught is big and Daddy starts looking on shore for the net. He keeps asking Adam, "Where's my net?!" Adam keeps telling him, "I put it back!" (how helpful). Daddy goes to the garage, yells he can't find it, Adam yells back it's in his truck, again with the can't find it... fast forward 3 minutes.
Adam gets it close to the dock and we see it's a three foot catfish. Half-wit decides he's not going to wait for the net & risk the line breaking with how the fish is fighting; so he reels it closer to the dock, grabs the line, gets it about 6 inches out of the water before--- the line snaps. Pole goes flying towards shore as the 6'4" 200 lb Irish man throws a temper tantrum complete with flailing arms and jumping. I got off the dock, cause I honestly thought his section was going to collapse.
Daddy hears, comes back from the garage, berates him for not waiting and asks again, "Where's my net?" Adam replies, "Where's my fish!?" Daddy asks why he didn't bring it to shore, and Adam says "There is no shore, there is only Zuul!" Then he flailed even more cause Daddy & I laughed at that.
It was like seeing him at 5 years old cause his Transformer broke, only... bigger and more swearing :) |
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| Writer's Block: Childhood Firsts |
[Jun. 29th, 2009|02:24 pm] |
Oddly enough, it was "go" accompanied by me pushing people away. Next came "go 'way," at a party, people trying to hold me and touch me, and I just yelled it. Then came "make go 'way," to my parents for the people who thought I was just being adorable. Always was anti-social! |
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| Transformers |
[Jun. 24th, 2009|11:32 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | movie | ] |
| [ | I am: |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Feeling: |
| |  Chgo humidity SUCKS | ] |
| [ | Listening to: |
| | If I played something on my laptop, it'd literally go up in flames :( | ] |
Adam & I saw Transformers 2. Here's our review in 20 min. increments- good, bad, good, cliche, bad, great, cliche, bad, holy s*@t!, cliche, great- end. No spoilers (like someone's review I read!!!). That is all. I would say sweet sleep, but I know I won't be for at least 3 or 4 hours, so... :) |
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| Dreamwidth Codes |
[Jun. 17th, 2009|10:08 pm] |
I have two codes for Dreamwidth. First two to comment can have them. :) |
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| Who thought they actually listen to us??? |
[Jun. 12th, 2009|07:49 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | proud-ness! | ] |
| [ | I am: |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Feeling: |
| |  proud | ] |
| [ | Listening to: |
| | Papa Roach- I Devise My Own Demise | ] |
Dropped my youngest at camp yesterday, and he had his sister's tennis racket, cause we haven't gotten him one yet. It has a bright pink handle. Some 5 or 6 year old girl (who had pink EVERYTHING with EVERYTHING embroidered; uggghh) looked at him, and said, "I thought you were a boy!" He says, confused, "I am a boy." She laughs and says, "Then why do you have a pink racket?" He stuck his little hands on his hips, lifted his chin (total face-off, it was awesome) and said, "Colours are not gender specific." I had to turn around, I was so ready to bust out laughing at both their faces. I love my kids :) |
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| Shouldn't Be Allowed Near Sharp Objects |
[Jun. 8th, 2009|11:14 pm] |
The lady I work for went to Boston last month and brought me back a hoodie. Black with Boston on the front in green and a shamrock on it. Big, warm, soft- perfect gift for me. Yesterday, the zip part broke, so I bought a new zipper and started sewing it on. I've gotten about four hours of sleep in the last two days, had the kids for 11 hours today, then Ma went off on something for 35 minutes, while I'm on the couch sewing.
I'm ignoring her, watching the History Channel, get the facing done, pin the zipper on, start sewing and I'm finished with one side and am halfway done with the other when I realized I sewed it on upside down and backwards. I take the needle off the thread, grab the spool, and without looking try to put the needle through the top like usual. Instead, I put it a quarter inch into my thumb above my nail. Ma stops her yelling, looks at what I just did, and says, "Thank you for proving my point about what a useless idiot you are."
And I think it's time for me to go to bed. Sleep is another matter, but bed sounds nice. Least I have the kids tomorrow. They're always good for a cheer-up. And they'll kiss my hand better :) |
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| Want to go back to bed. |
[Jun. 5th, 2009|11:28 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | rants, uic | ] |
| [ | I am: |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Feeling: |
| | exhausted | ] |
| [ | Listening to: |
| | Gregorian chants (not as odd as it sounds, trust me) | ] |
I need a vacation, but the worst part is the last day when you know you're going back home- seems to suck the relaxation right out of you. Appealing my financial aid cancellation is sucking all happiness from me. All for one class needed to graduate and I can't even afford that. Going to UIC feels like you're surrounded by Dementors. Should tell my kids that one, they'll get a kick out of it.
Got woken up at 4:40 this morning by a telemarketer telling me I can lower my interest rates on my credit card. Never had to pay an interest fee in my life, so no thanks. What happened to calling during dinner? |
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| So, about that meeting... |
[Jun. 2nd, 2009|11:11 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | help?, question, rants | ] |
| [ | I am: |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Feeling: |
| | worried | ] |
| [ | Listening to: |
| | oddly enough- not in the mood :( | ] |
In order to appeal the cancellation, I have to put the inner workings of my family on semi-public display. And even then, it's not guaranteed I'll get reinstated, since I'm sure the board gets at least a dozen sob stories like mine every week. So, since here I'm fairly anonomous in the real world, I have a question:
If I appeal, I have to provide: a statement of why, a detailed outline of my two-hour commute to school, reasons why I can't live in Chicago proper (and thus closer to school), copies of my finances, a statement from my father on why he needs me to live at home (pay the mortgage, electricity, gas, insurance, blah, blah, blah), copies of his denial of unemployment benefits since last October, a statement from my mother that she can't work due to mental problems (that should be fun to get), a statement from my brother on why he had to move back home (and lose his independance and sanity), and how his income alone does not cover everything a family of four needs to live, statement of why my income can't pay tuition/books/fees, a statement from my oncologist of my $23,000ish medical bill, and copies of the last 6 months of all our bills, and an approval of an academic plan from my academic advisor (which says & I'm paraphrasing- she needs one class to graduate you idiots)...
Or, do I empty my savings, checkings, and pawn some jewelry and electronics to pay the 9 grand it'll cost for the one class, the books, and transportation.
Help? |
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irishgypsy81's journal
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