Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl...

Presentation number 2- check! It was too long, but at least I was organized and knew what I was going to say if I had time. Plus, I had lots of handouts and overheads (I'm such a GTF, huh?)

And now, on to the craziness. Ooooh, the craziness. So, me singing ABBA is funnier when it's around other people. I was explaining to Ryan and Emily how I wanted to play "Waterloo" (again! I know!) or "Copacabana" before my presentation, because the opera itself was so, you know, not good. They thought this was funny, and even though Ryan had never heard "Waterloo" (how is this possible? Do people really not know this song?) we all thought that "Copacabana" was a good choice, and we sang a little and danced around. See, we're all loopey. And crazy. It's thaaaaaaaaat time of quarter! Emily and I were both on the verge of completely losing it, so we were especially funny. There should totally be a RL 507 dance party instead of our last class. And the cd players were crazy. And Gina (not me, teacher Gina) was crazy about time limits. And I didn't run around the room pretending I had a sword during Carmina Burana. This proves that I have some self control. A tiny bit.

La-ti-da. Tomorrow is another day- another day that brings another trip to the library and another long class. And hopefully not showing up at a building and then forgetting why I'm there in the first place. Way to go Gina. You're the man. The woman. The crazy one. The one in the back. The one who can speak French. That girl. You know.

Screw you Manon Lescaut!

I am dead. Manon Lescaut has killed me. More specifically, Jules Massenet and his stupid stupid opera. Foiled by the Opera Comique. I remember in 19th century styles class, Professor Dietrich gave us 3 minutes to come up with a summary of some term, and Claire and I had opera comique, and it was her job to explain and my job to say the French words. Not that I didn't know about the stuff. I was just good at saying French words. I still am. It comes with those French degrees, you know. Anyway, obviously I finally got the opera, and listened to it (or most of it). Yeah. I don't think my life was missing anything without this opera in it. But it did mean that I got to actually leave the apartment for a while. That was exciting. Think I may be going off on the wrong track on my surrealism paper. Presentation on opera-of-doom tomorrow. Almost did Manon Lescaut in finger puppets, but ran out of time and don't care about stupid book. If it were Les liaisons dangereuses I would've made time. Trying to keep myself from completely derailing before the end of the quarter. And I'm listening to music I liked in 8th grade. Yes folks, 8th grade. That was a long time ago. I was, umm, 13. Wow. That's many years ago. Is this sad? That I still know all the words to the cd? Will I reveal it? No way, you saw what happened with the ABBA thing. Not making that mistake again. Oooh, can't do presentation if I'm asleep! Going to bed!

Send help!

have completely lost it. Sanity out window. Listening to ABBA. Yes, ABBA. Take a chance on me. Dancing Queen. Voulez-Vous. Fernando. The Winner takes it all. Waterloo, promise you'll love me forever-more. Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you. Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo. Yeah. Lots and lots and lots of notes, though, which must be something. No opera. Opera not here. Presentation planned around having opera and listening to opera by monday. Hmmm. Help! Help! Help! Banging head on desk didn't work. Hiding didn't work. But coffee helps! How many pots of coffee does it take to get a grad student to the end of the quarter? Answer- more than anyone should ever drink. Sigh.

lost in the library

Gina versus the library, round 548. Seriously, why do I only need the books that are heavy? Why why why? Ok world, I've gotten the picture, funny, haha- but enough already! Today included the incredible quest for the opera recording. Jules Massenet, you and I are SO no longer talking. I know that you died in, oh, 1915 or so, but still. We're over. To rewind and tell a story that maybe 2 of you will care about... I'm writing two of my papers on the book Manon Lescaut and the opera Manon (Massenet version). I've read the book and the libretto, but would like to listen to said opera too. Since, you know, it's an opera and all. Well, Mr. Massenet here decided to write a THREE HOUR opera. Which we only have on record. Do I really want to spend 6 hours in the library listening to this? Plus, how am I supposed to use records in my presentation? And which, apparently, Summit won't send me from another library that clearly has it on cd. To make this even more exciting, the stupid records are in the non-circulating collection, so I have to get a signature from my professor (Gina) to prove that I need the records for class (why would I want them otherwise? why? why?). I need to study the arias this weekend. But without a recording, I need to actually look at the music. Cut to me, in the library, checking out the FOUR HUNDRED page score to Manon. Once again, merci beaucoup Mr. Massenet. I almost lost it by the time I got to my lovely 3-hour class this evening. Sorry. I just find this all strangely ironic. Hmm, my computer is playing a song that I can only identify by the fact that it was on a Gap cd. I can still remember the order of songs on those stupid cds. And my goal to lead the entire store in the Locomotion on my last day (it was on the Baby cd). Sadly, none of us knew the dance. My other last day goals included: Telling a customer what I really thought, dancing on the cashwrap, and pushing entire piles of clothes of tables and then yelling "what are you going to do, fire me?" I don't think any of these things actually happened.

I get to give a test tomorrow. The day before Thanksgiving. Take that, people who didn't check the syllabus until last week. Then we're watching part of Les Parapluies de Cherbourg. Because I want to. And I'm the teacher. So there. Oooh, now the computer is playing Counting Crows, which reminds me of E, which reminds me of senior year and standing in the hallway in betwen our rooms with the doors open and hearing what sounded like a techno remix of Counting Crows. And making Buddy play "Hard Candy" at formal, because I was in charge and I could (and because E and I plotted the music list over fall break) And coffee. And Gilmore Girls. And knitting. And the pixie stix incident in front of my door. Sigh. Oh, the fruit bowling.

Good bye sanity, hello Thanksgiving weekend. Cooking, eating, working. Working. Working. Working. etc, etc, etc. Good night.

A story of a girl and her tree, or, what I did after studying

So. I did lots of work today. Lots. I think that by next weekend I'll be starting to actually write the papers, which is good. But tonight, I didn't really feel like continuing to work. So I put up my Christmas tree.

Now, I know what you're going to ask. "Gina, it's not even Thanksgiving. Why the heck are you putting up that tree already?" I like my tree. I got it last year on a trip to Target that was intended as a trip to get a little bitty tree for the table. Well, that worked, except the tree moved off the table and grew as tall as me. So yeah. But it's pretty! Obviously fake, yes, but not horrid at all. It makes me happy. And I can use all the happy I can get these days. Plus, I'm leaving for Tucson pretty soon after I'm done with classes, and I wanted to be able to enjoy my pretty tree for as long as I could (some of you may remember that last year it stayed up until almost February).

After remembering that I didn't exactly put it up on my own last year (I think I actually watched most of the process), I made Meara help me. She was a good helper, even after I realized that it wasn't really a hard process. And she took all the pictures that are below. Now my living room is pretty. Happy!

Now, the "photo essay"- "Development of a tree." Look from top to bottom (I thought ahead). I'm actually in these, since Meara nicely used my camera. So happy! tree!

Just getting started. But you can see that I'm already happy that the tree is going up. 

Wait, do trees grow like this in the wild? 

It looks less funny now... 

Finishing... Here it looks like I'm taller than said tree, but I always find it amusing that I'm actually almost the exact same height as it. Why, I don't know. But I think it's funny. 

Tree done! Or should I say, put together. This was at the point where I realized that it still had to be decorated and was not, in fact, done. 

Lights on! Hooray! But wait, there are still no ornaments. Sigh.  

Ornaments. But not on tree. Lot of good that does me. Meara lined them up by color, in case I suddenly lost my ability to tell the difference between them. And because it made a nice picture. 

Look! It's done! So pretty! Having a tree with white lights on it has always been one of my favorite things ever. Knowing that I can walk downstairs and see this one makes me happy and reminds me of walking downstairs at home and seeing the tree there. 

Blurry tree in context of living room. 

Close up of ornaments- I love the colors so much that I don't want to put anything else on the tree. 

Oh nooooo- the tree is melting!!! (or I'm still mastering all the settings on the camera, you know, either or) 

The way I fell for you

It's early early in the morning, or late late at night, depending on how you look at it. I'm listening to "The way I fell for you" by Saint Etienne. It's a good song. Sometimes it's just little things that make you happy. Like this.

So tired. But wanted to announce my presence on the web, I guess, just because. Thursday, in my class, we were talking about how if something isn't written down, no one will know about it and it won't exist. Is that why I do this? So I exist?

Baked a lot tonight, then stopped by Lisa's birthday party. For Claire "Help yourself to some coffee and bars." Hee. That's what is in my kitchen now. And biscotti. But that's a different story.

Tomorrow I'm going to read a lot. All research for papers and such. The articles and books look interesting, but there are just so many of them. Also am not sure what order I'm going to do this in. There's not one with an earlier deadline, so may just have to choose. Also, have presentation in Word and Music first, but that's just a work in progress talk, etc etc.

I'm going to bed. And I'm listening to the song again. To repeat, it's a good song.

All schmaltz, all the time

Oh, the week is almost over. That means that it's almost the weekend! Which means, oh, lots and lots of work. But hopefully I'll be able to get enough done to not completely freak out at the end (notice I said "completely." I will definately freak out, it's just a matter of how much). I finished the book for today (I told you I would Lauren, however, I did also fall asleep on the couch twice before this happened) and a pseudo-outline for my surrealism paper. Pseudo, because I've only read the main texts so far, and not the secondaries. But that'll come- this weekend? Had a nice time before class with Emily- we both bitched about how much work there is and how little time. Next term will be better. Next term will be better. Next term will be better. Speaking of next term, my class (202) is already full. It was the first one to do so. Either people like me, or they hate me and are gluttons for punishment. I'm going to hope it's the first of the two.

Yesterday, I did not post. But it's only one day, and I've been pretty good about this lately.

This has been the week of phone calls. That sounded stupid, I'll try again. This has been the week of talking on the phone a lot with people I like to talk to. It's helped a lot, to get the stress out and everything. And just to talk. Not in French, you know. It's hard where there are places that you want to be, but can't be because you already have commitments to finish out. I have to keep telling myself that I wanted to do this degree, and that I really do enjoy it, and that there will be other jobs when I'm done. And that I'll be qualified for these jobs. Because I am a smart person. And I have good schmoozing skills (not schmaltz Jenny, schmooze. But all schmaltz, all the time).

I really don't think I have much more to say right now. If I think of anything, I'll add it. No wait, I won't, since I'm going to bed. If I think of anything, I might remember to post it tomorrow. That's more realistic, isn't it now?

Have finished and given presentation. All disasters averted. Presenation was actually very good- a Gina and Eliana co-production. All 3 paper topics approved and head not yet exploded.

Amazing Race tonight! Happy! I took a night "off" (since I had been working since 6am) after I got back from class a little after 7 to watch the premier and relax. Oh shut up about the reality tv already- I'm only slightly obsessed. They started in Chicago, my future city-of-residence. Sigh. Can't wait to get there. I do love Eugene, but I'm ready to be in a big city. Meet new people. See my friends. Do the things I've always wanted to do. Be happy?

My dad sent me really pretty writing paper from Italy (since he went to Italy- huff) with a G on it. My first thought "Oh cool! the company's name starts with the same letter as mine!" I then realized that the G really was for Gina, and was bought specifically for that.

Bed!

Huh?

Peter Joshua- What are you doing?
Regina Lampert- I'm having a nervous breakdown.
-Charade

Welcome to my world, people. Actually, I've discovered that blogging appears to keep me somewhat sane. So you'll probably be stuck with hearing from me a lot in the coming weeks.

It is a sign of what time of quarter it is that I met with all three of my professors today. One to talk about my presentation tomorrow (with Eliana, on Les liasons dangereuses, more specifically l'education de la Marquise). One to admit that I don't really love my paper topic but am going to do it anyway (I have chosen sanity over pleasure in writing this term). And finally (wait, actually, secondly- I apparently can't write in order) to work on my topic for 20th century. There is a topic, but I don't feel like typing it all out right now. I'll probably type a lot of other stuff, though. However, unless something wonky happens, this will end up being my Masters Essay, changing from my earlier topic. Since I came in wanting to write about surrealism, this is parfait. J'adore le surrealisme. That is not my topic, by the way. I determined that "surrealism is cool" was not a good thesis and I should maybe find something else. Which I did.

ohmygod, I'm so tired. I still have reading to do, so maybe I should stop writing and start reading. Oooh, but tomorrow I get to teach the plus-que-parfait in class! It's one of my most favorite tenses. Yes, that does mean that I'm a dork. Non-dorks don't have favorite French verb tenses. The name literally translates to "more than perfect" which still makes me giggle. After a gazillion years studying french, even. 10, actually.

For those of you who were waiting for something of more substance, sorry. Leave a comment and complain and maybe I'll be better tomorrow. Maybe not though, since that's when The AMAZING RACE starts again, and you know how I get about that (if you read this thing this summer).

Random picture of day- Gina "working" in office- circa February 2004. Taken by Uncle Phil, still trying to verify that Gina is indeed teaching, and not just pretending. Note the lovely use of Themes, 1st year French textbook, in the photo. And the utter non-sensical-ness of office. And the length of my hair in February.  

surrealist what?

Oh dear. So tired. Tomorrow is only Monday, isn't it? Such a bizarre weekend. But did see Bridget Jones- The Edge of Reason. Laughed. A lot. Only almost cried 2 (or maybe 3) times. Loved the parody of The Spy who Loved me, complete with "Nobody does it better" (which, consequently, was apparently one of Carly Simon's biggest hits. This has been random fact #312 learned from watching special features on Bond movies).

I realised earlier today that the paper topics I was considering for 2 classes (trying to dove-tail them together to save research time and the small amount of my sanity remaining) don't really interest me. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll have figured out if I can stomach them enough to write on them. If anyone cares, for Libertinage, that would be "Comment est-ce que le concept du libertinage change du livre de Manon Lescaut a l'opera Manon?" and for Word and Music "Word as music- from book to libretto to opera, as seen through Manon Lescaut." Perhaps you can see the theme there. Problem is, I didn't really love Manon Lescaut. Didn't hate it, but definately not the best thing I've read this term. (side note- by the end of this crazy term I will have read between 12 and 15 books). What to do, what to do. Still am stranded on my crazy surrealist island with no paper topic for Reality as Fragment. 18-25 pages crazy stranded.

I forgot how much I loved "Tiger Bay" until I listened to it yesterday and today. It's one of Saint Etienne's earlier albums, but still retains its good-ness. Oh my god, I just typed good-ness. And didn't fix it. Either time. Can you tell I'm losing it? But anyway, still a great album, you should all buy it and listen to it. A lot. Oh, and "That horse must be starving" by Avril, if you can find it. No, you silly people, not by any means Avril Lavigne. It's by a French guy who goes by Avril. But the album's in English, don't worry. It's one of the most seamless examples of trip-hop I've heard in a long time. And it's just really pretty (ha, April, ha! it's pretty! Oooh, your name would be Avril in French! connections!)

Found job that I love. Starts in January. When I'll be in 19th century lit class. As Claire would say0 facepalm. Wait, did I mention this last time? If so, I'm sorry. And yes, I still visibly gag at the thought of romanticism and the 19th century.

The incoherence is setting in even deeper, and I take this as a sign that I should stop blogging now. Yes. Good night.

Heather and Fed's first dance- "Let's fall in love" by Frank Sinatra- so pretty! 

Probably my favorite picture from the wedding- Heather, me, Crystal and Sandra. We've all known each other since high school (Heather and Sandra since 2nd grade!). Crystal wasn't in the wedding, but helped out a lot and actually showed up wearing the same colors as us! Also known as the -Heather don't spill that drink on your dress! picture 

Me and Heather (sideways!)- full length shot of both our dresses and my shoes, that I at least got to wear for the reception. (note- I was very good and the bow did not "accidentally" fall off of my dress despite offers of help from Sarah) 

Me and Mom- why does she have a drink and I don't? This problem was soon remedied. You can also see the jewelry Heather gave us and the fact that I had just gotten my hair cut the day before, making for some interesting hair moments the day of.  

Me and Dad- yup, my parents were at the wedding too. They actually ended up helping out with the set-up of the reception site. I hear my dad was a whiz with the candle-opening. 

Beautiful and yummy cake. Note the cats on top- how cute! 

Family pictures... 

Beautiful Heather and beautiful Heather-Mom.  

Sneaking picture of ceremony site. I'm sure I'm supposed to be doing something else at this point. 

Sabrina makes me giggle. Also, first glimpse of bridesmaid dresses 

Awwww, Heather's a bride! It seems like just yesterday we were baby freshmen in high-school... 

Heather later remarked how ironic it was that she ended up putting her own shoes on. But hey, those were some of the only shoes that didn't sink into the ground. 

The ever-beautiful Sandra, waiting to go to the chapel, and we're gooonna get maaarried. Wait, I mean the Lodge on the Desert.