Cake or death?

Happy December 19th everyone! What's so special about December 19, you ask? Well, not really anything. Except that I'm posting again. So that makes it a red-letter-banner day. Huzzah!
Still in Tucson (where else would I be?). Younger brother Mike came home yesterday, so now we're all here. We celebrated with Thai food and Eddie Izzard, tres Compitello-style. Cake or death? Cake, please. Oh, we're going to need more cake!
Got my grades. Did well. I said earlier that if I could get through this quarter with decent grades and in one piece, I could do just about anything. So maybe that's true. It was hard, wasn't it? Very glad it's over, never taking 3 classes again. But enjoyed said classes, so I guess, all in all, it was worth it. There were so many times I came within 2 inches of completely losing it (you remember those times, loyal readers, don't you?) but hey, it wouldn't be grad school without near collapse, would it?
San Diego was great. Lots of sun. And no people! How exciting for us. I did come near to eating myself into oblivion with all the good food, but managed to walk it off. Mom and her famous "it's just around the block!" ideas. Yeah, around the biggest block in the world. The Vespa store is still great. And the vintage stores, except everyone from the vintage era seems to have been just a few inches smaller than me. The dresses would be great if I didn't feel the need to breathe. Which I do. So it didn't so much work out.
So Mom told me before I got back that she had bought a small tree because she found some ornaments that reminded her of of me, and she needed a smaller tree for them. What could these ornaments be, you ask? Well, that's a good question. With a funny answer. An Eiffel Tower, a star, disco balls, and a martini glass. Seriously, how much better could you describe me? I think she did a pretty good job. I've been reduced down to those icons. But it is pretty funny. And true. It's funny cause it's true.
I don't want to write anymore right now. Maybe I'll put some San Diego pictures up. Hmmm. Bye!

Back again...

Look! it's me! I'm back and very much not dead. And this time I even have an excuse. It was the end of the quarter, see, and there was stuff to do. Lots of grading and testing and giving grades (which took longer than I expected and, why, oh why, can my students only correctly differentiate between the passe compose and the plus-que-parfait and not the passe compose and imparfait? It's a mystery to me). Then there was my presentation for Gina. And the students' oral presenations (hilarious and way beyond my expectations- apparently they're all going to the zoo and to see Napoleon Dynaminte). Then, finals week. Aka Gina-loses-it-while-writing-3-papers-week. After all was said and done, 45 pages had come out. Forty-five pages. It took a while. To say the least. And Manon Lescaut, you and I are really through. It's over between you and me. You caused me a lot of pain, and I just don't think I can deal with it again. So this is goodbye. Forever.
So, you know, some other stuff happened. And I finished. And I came home. Then went to San Diego with Mom. Just got back. There was no one in the city! It was wonderful! (Note- this does not mean that all of you should start going to San Diego in December, because then there would be people there. Of course, I think about 2 of you read this, and I think I could deal with 2 more people). Zoo! Zoo! Zoo! Koalas! Awake! It was exciting for me. Tomorrow, breakfast with my bestest friend Sarah, maybe baking, getting ready for the impending arrival of younger brother, and finally finishing unpacking everything else and laundry. More on everything later, promise. Lots has happened. I feel better. A lot better. Sigh, happy.

Rooms full of cookies!

laaaaaaaaalala. Surrealism paper? Being worked on. Amazing Race tonight? Three words- World's. Largest. IKEA. Yup. One of the options for the Detour was building a desk. First Amazing Race detour that I would've rocked out on. I've built rooms full of furniture from IKEA! I'm a total pro. As someone once said, looking around my apartment: "Wow, Gina, you really do live in IKEA!" yup

Crazy moment (well, one of them) of the day- Gina and Cameron are in office, Gina mentions that after the long-term construction in the basement of Pacific (only while I'm teaching- it started this summer when I was down there!!!!!!!) whatever they're making better be damned good.
Cameron: Yeah, it better not be just some old computer lab they're making into a classroom.
Gina: I hope it's something good, like a room full of cookies.
Cameron: starts to say something else and then, Wait, did you just say a room full of cookies?
Gina: Yeah, I think I'm losing it.

But it better be something good. That construction is driving me out of my mind! I think it follows me around! Arg! And then Emily and I think they're trying to poison us with toxic fumes! This is what happens when you're a GTF- you get treated like thiiiiiiiiiiiis! I'm going to have to do some research about what exactly is going on. And by research I mean ask in the Environmental Studies office or call Sol and threaten him until he tells me what they're doing in his department. Yes, that's the plan.

I am going to go and read the Surrealist Manifesto again. And then maybe write something. And tommorow, listen to 13 oral presentations and theeeeen have lunch with Steve!