Updates

I was going to title this post: "Same S@#* Different Day", but I decided to keep it clean because I'm nothing if not sensitive. Today I thought I would provide a little Rose update. You know, a little show and tell about me. Actually, I have no idea what that means. I'm struggling for content again. But I thought I would mention a couple things and let you run with them. So do whatever you have to do to make this post funny. Some suggestions are:

1. Read it with a poorly executed British accent. For an extra challenge try a New Zealand accent. Nope, no, see what you're doing there is Australian.

2. Read every 4th word and see if any patterns emerge that are funny.

3. Stop reading this blog, go read something funny and later recall laughing at this blog.


Ok, so now for some updates.

1. I got this email from the Psychology Librarian yesterday:

"Rose: The Psychology Library would like to thank you for representing us in the contest. We have a $25 Iowa City/Coralville Community gift certificate for you. You may stop by the Psychology Library between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to pick it up."

That's right. Not only am I going to go to a free concert tonight to see Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Orchestra perform the Love Songs of Duke Ellington, I get $25 as well. Oh hell yeah, who knows how to put their time to good use? That's right.

2. It's snowing right now. It's not supposed to be snowing right now. It was supposed to stop snowing by 6 AM today. That's not cool. I don't need to be freaking out about driving to the concert tonight. You'd think that the world is out to get me. Ok, you probably wouldn't think that because you're all self-absorbed, but I think that.

3. I've been listening to This American Life for years now and if I have some how not mentioned this to you, I'd like to mention now that you should listen to This American Life. It's an awesome show. Sometimes it makes me laugh, sometimes it makes me cry. Such a great show and you can get it as a free podcast on iTunes. And if you really like listening to it, you can donate to keep it free. It's great. Check out the favorites page for some of the most awesome shows. Seriously, it's good stuff.

4. I should go now. It turns out that I am not actually getting credit for listening to the radio and writing blog entries. You think I'd be able to put that toward the degree, but I've asked and I'm not allowed. Ridiculous.

Ashes, Ashes We All Fall Down

Today as Zach and I were making it out to the bus at the crack of dawn (not really, dawn was about 45 minutes after we left. We fell down. When I say "we" fell down I mean that Zach fell and as he was falling took me down with him. Note to self, don't link arms with Zach any more. It wasn't as awesome as you would think. Or maybe it was just exactly as awesome as you think it was. I'm sorry if I've been underestimating you lately.

In other news, both sides of the bed were the wrong side in our house this morning. I think it's because we went to bed a bit late last night and it's -11 with the wind chill (oh, don't feel bad, it's about 1 if you don't factor in the wind) so getting up and out of bed just isn't appealing. But we decided we need to make it a good day, so wish us both luck with that.

That's about it for today. I need to check off something from my long list of things to do, so I'm going to count this blog entry as "Write extremely boring blog entry" and cross that off the list. Oh accomplishing things, so sweet.

I am the Champion...Sort of

So if you go to yesterday's post you will see my entry for the library's contest to win tickets to dinner and a show. Well, the results are in folks, and I was voted First Loser (that's runner-up for those of you with self-esteem). I received this email last night:

Rose,

The panel of Librarians met this afternoon to review the entries in the With Love from the Libraries contest and decided to give you a runner-up prize for your entry. They liked your creativity in re-casting the scene in Romeo & Juliet with yourself and a librarian.

As the runner-up, you'll receive two tickets to Tuesday's performance of Jazz at Lincoln Center. These are student tickets, so you'll need to take your UI student ID with you.

Can you pick up the tickets at the Psychology Library? Hancher is sending them over this afternoon, so we don't actually have them yet.

Congratulations.

The thing that I find amusing is that I don't think there was a runner-up prize. I'm pretty sure that they only did this contest because they got a donation of two tickets to the show and the dinner before hand (which I saw on the website is sold out). The tickets that I am getting are student tickets...so I think they bought them special or something...perhaps out of pity for me. Maybe I was one of two people that entered and they didn't want me to be the only loser. Who can say? All I know is, my writing skillz pay the billz...no, not really. I'm hoping that I can turn in the contest entry as partial fulfillment of the requirements for my degree. That would be so sweet. Here's hoping!

In other news, over on A Foot and A Half there is a contest to nominate someone to receive flowers for Valentine's Day. The winning nomination gets flowers from Jesse. I nominated myself. Here's what I said:

I nominate myself to receive flowers for the following reasons:

1. You haven't ever bought me flowers unless you count the time that you helped Sara deliver flowers to Stacey and I as a secret admirer thing and I got all pissed off...and I don't.

2. This is the last Valentine's Day that I will be eligible to receive flowers from someone other than a relative or Zach and it seems cruel not to take advantage of that.

3. It's likely that since we are super poor I will not be receiving anything for Valentine's Day.

4. While a Frostie is cheaper than flowers, it's hard to get one of those sent via UPS.

5. Only about 6 more months and then you'll have to hold your peace forever.

6. I'm the first one to respond to this which shows how much I read and check your blog and how much I love you.

7. I am pretty short and I am into nerds...and 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

8. You didn't take me to prom and I had to go alone.

9. One word: Stacey.

10. I would really appreciate it and I would accept flowers that aren't roses, so you could go cheap if you wanted.

And he's what one person replied. This person is named Ben, but for the duration I will call him,

"Bastard Enjoys Necrophilia and being a total jerkwad and obviously is a total loser", so B.E.N. for short-

B.E.N. said (be careful, he uses a little nasty language):

send flowers to my friend, Anastacia.

She has absolutely no luck with boys. her stats are as follows:
Social Retard, single, has bronchitis, dsl (not the internet connection), likes all forms of music from garbage to Alicia keys,
she puts hot sauce on everything, she hates valentines (probably cause she has never received anything) her hobbies include singing and making music, dancing, working on old tandys, looking at dualcore processor schematics, U.S. foreign policy specifically between 1930-1960, Swimming.

I'm the second one to respond to this which shows my maturity and restraint from just going full on into a dick shaker without warming it up.

Rose may have went to prom alone..but bad things happen to bad people. greedy people, who want the flowers for themselves.

Besides, the terrible joke..flowers for a girl named ROSE? Give me a break.


To B.E.N. I have to say, "Screw you, B.E.N." If you have to blow out someone else's candle to make yours glow brighter than you have a pathetic candle. Additionally, this girl is so wonderful and deserves flowers...how come you're not buying them for her? I think maybe it's time for you to be a man and do it yourself, Suck face. You can all go over and berate B.E.N. on your own as well. Have fun with it.

Enjoy the weekend, people!

Another Day, Another Big Electricity Bill

Grand total of snow fall: 11 inches. Flurries are expected today, but hopefully that's it. There's a snow tunnel in my backyard, I'm not going to lie people over the age of 25 built it. Whatever. Today I bring you a sample of nonsense. There was a contest to win a pair of tickets and dinner for two on February 12. The rules are below. They are stupid rules. I mean, I'm not really sure what the whole point was. I think I lost, but I wanted to share anyway. So enjoy.

For this contest, we want you to tell us how Romeo & Juliet relates to your discipline.

1. Find a scholarly article, book, artistic work, etc from your discipline.
2. Compare it to any part of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (in 250-500 words). Make sure to include a complete citation of the scholarly work you are comparing.
3. Submit your entry by Monday, February 4th at 12:00 p.m.

A panel of librarians will choose the winning entry. The winner will be notified on Friday, February 8th.

The Story of Rose and the Handbook of Contemporary Learning Theories as told through Act II, SCENE II of Romeo and Juliet.

ROSE

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the librarian, and my book is the sun.
Thanks librarian for thy hand carries with it,
a treasure beyond measure,
That thou bring me this book:
Makes my heart full of glee;
In triumph I look upon it,
And eagerly peruse the pages.
It is my book, O, it is my love!
O, that you knew what it meant to me!
When I came to you the week before last,

My eyes downcast, my heart heavy,

Tender words you spoke to me.

LIBRARIAN

Ay me!

ROSE

She speaks:
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As helpful as the sun to the fields,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto me you deposit this gift,
Of knowledge necessary to my success,

Without which I could not fulfill my

Academic obligations of which there are many.

ROSE (treading over the librarian’s lines)

O Mowrer! O Mowrer! wherefore art thou Mowrer?
I could not find you in my local library;
What could I do,

For if we could not be together I would be unable to complete my task,
And I would no longer be a Graduate Student.

Said the librarian unto me:

LIBRARIAN

'Tis but a trifle that the book was not in this library,
Thou should not worry thy head.
For anything can be found with further looking,
Take solace in this fact.
You shall prevail!
What's in the library? that which we cannot find here

We can find for you and get it to you toot sweet!
So Rose worry not for thy book,
Retain that dear perfection in your heart.
With that title and citation, we have found thy book for you,

And you shall be able to pass your comprehensive exams.

Thank you and come again.

The Weather Outside is Frightful

It's snowing right now. Snowing pretty hard I'd say. According to those liars over at weather.com we're looking at 8 -12 inches total accumulation. I'm guessing they might not be that far off today. That's crappy in my opinion. Very crappy indeed.

I'm going to lunch today with a visiting scholar. Not crazy in itself, happens all the time. The crazy part though...all of the graduate students have to pay for their own lunch. Apparently that's how they do it here. You have to pay tuition AND they make you go to lunch with people who are interviewing or visiting, but you have to pay for it! That's crazy. I think that's really inappropriate. I didn't know when I accepted the lunch invitation that I would be paying. Oh well.

Perhaps the whole thing will be scraped because of the snow. I doubt it though. Apparently they only cancel classes at the University level for "really, really bad snow". I'm not sure what that means. I would have stayed home today, but I have things to do.

Well, I don't seem to have anything constructive to say except that snow is evil. Oh and if you want to go over to Jesse's blog you can vote for me to receive flowers for Valentine's Day. I'm all about winning a contest.

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad...

You take them both and there you have the facts of life, the facts of life.

Zach and I almost died on Sunday. Well, I suppose that is a bit melodramatic. We probably only came close to ruining my car which for me is like a small death (not the good kind*). We were driving home from my grandma's on Sunday. A day that promised no snow, rain or sleet of any kind. A day that weather.com (may they burn in hell) said would be partly cloudy. Turns out they were wrong. It was 6-8 inches of snowing is what it was. And it was doing that while Zach and I were trying to get home. He was driving and kept us alive although there was a moment in which we almost didn't make it up a hill and were losing traction. Had I been driving we would have died. It was a nice 6 - 6 1/2 hour trip. A trip that usually takes about 3 1/2 hours at most. And we spent about the last 2 1/2 hours of that trip 15 miles from the house. It's always better if you can almost see where you live, but can't get there. There's a real feeling of hopelessness that just steals over you and makes you feel alive. So good.

So the weather is the bad. That's the truth. Ice storms, blizzards, unpredicted "surprise" snow, and apparently today about 6-12 inches more. I hate the weather here. And the lie about the sunshine doesn't really make me happy either. Our advisors said, "oh, yeah, it's sunnier there AND it doesn't snow as much as State College." Huh. Really? Well, that's just a big, big fat lie.

But, you can also take the good. Because as I have mentioned about 100 times in conversation and correspondence, I'm finally with my people. I don't like making small talk with people I know. I mean, c'mon, let's just get to the good stuff. But I love making small talk with strangers. I love that this morning I had about an 8 minute conversation with the Starbucks girl. We agreed that today was going to be a good day, she let me pay with pennies and she laughed at my joke about dexterity and gloves. It was fantastic. And where else can you get a ride home with a person that you just rear-ended in an accident? Apparently the Starbucks girl is super nice because after the guy behind her hit her car on Sunday (during the stupid stupid snow storm), he asked if he could have a ride back to school and she said she. I really, really love that after hitting her he felt comfortable enough to bum a ride. Oh, that's just so great.

And finally, the somewhere in between. Today on the way to work I walked by a toy store that had a sign in the window that said, "Pooping Pigs - Temporarily sold out" with rather graphic dripping font and a censored sign over the rear of the pig. This is disturbing to me on two levels:

1. The fact that pooping pig toys of some sort (not really sure what form this toy takes...one would assume pig form complete with poop) even exist. That's just weird, why was this a marketing plan?

2. But the more disturbing fact is that not only is this a marketing plan, but apparently it is a highly successful one. Not only are they selling pooping pigs, but they are sold out. That means that pigs that poop are so "poopular" (ha ha, yes!) they can't keep them on the shelves. That just seems really hard to believe. But there you have it.

Enjoy your day. Just remember the Starbucks girl and I have decided that today is going to be a good day. So go out there and achieve your dreams!



* 25 points to you if you get that reference

Vote Early, Vote Often

This post is really just a question and a plea for opinions. I'm thinking about changing my name when I get married. At first I was dead set against it, I like my name, I'm used to my name, we have a history. But then Zach mentioned that he kind of wanted me to change it, but he's also completely no pressure on the issue, so I don't know. Here are the possibilities as I see it. I would really, really appreciate if anyone stopping by here (even strangers, I'm not going to hold that against you) would comment on what they think is a good idea and if you have time, you can post a little reason for that or not, the choice is yours.

So, should I change my name upon getting married?

Options as I see them:

1. Don't change name. Z and I will just have different last names.

2. Change name totally and Z and I will have matching last names (and my initials would be R.A.D.)

3. Hyphenate my name making it really, really long, but at least in some ways similar to Z's last name. And then I guess I could go by either or something, not sure how that works.

4. Both Z and I hyphenate our names. Then we have matching names that are super long and if we both had to sign a document it would take extra lines, but still, matching.

5. Other suggestions?


So please if you are reading this leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I'm just interested in getting as many viewpoints as possible. And enjoy the weekend because I'm going to my grandma's this weekend. Pray that the roads have been plowed and the weather holds.