Self portrait in front of the mirror

Not a good sign

Yesterday was my first day of graduate school.  Yay!  I had two classes, one on research and one was a general intro to information science class.  I had also signed up for a management class and an organization class (a.k.a. cataloging.)  All required courses for the degree.  After experiencing six hours of the required courses, I decided I needed to drop one and add something different.  It was just a little too much for me.  I dropped management and added an intro to preservation class.  I'm very excited about it.  I think this whole graduate school thing is going to work out just fine.  It's only two years!  

On a less positive note, I bought my books today.  It was a painful $250 - and I still have to get whatever preservation books they require.  I had some time after I got home, so I thought I'd give the textbook for the intro class a whirl.  Two chapters in and I was out cold.  (see picture above)  Now, maybe it was because I stayed up a little late last night, or got hot and tired walking around campus or the fact that I was reading in bed, but I thought it was kind of a bad sign.  I was warned about the dry and boring qualities that some library books have.  It wasn't THAT bad though I haven't read a textbook in over two years.  I'll get back into the swing of things.  Next time I'll have some caffeine.  

Yay food!

I was trying to hold out as long as possible, but I broke down and went to the grocery store yesterday.  I love having food!  It makes me happy whenever I go into the kitchen.  This may not look like much, but I assure you there is more than twice as much food in that fridge than there was before.  You know, you try to be frugal (one of my mother's favorite words) but you can only eat ramen and mac'n'cheese for so long.  I need real food.  I think I made the right choice.  

So much for my budget.  

Orientation

Orientation for the School of Information was yesterday.  I had a bit of a "What am I doing here!?" moment at first.  I guess I didn't know what to expect, or didn't care.  Hearing the faculty members talk about the areas they are interested in and the classes they were teaching didn't really get me excited.  

After orientation and some pretty good sandwiches, another girl and I decided to go check out the Kilgarlin center.  We stumbled upon their secret orientation and decided to sit in.  I would really like to take some conservation classes, so it was neat to see the lab and tour the building.  What was even better was talking to the current conservation students later at the Dog and Duck.  Besides being a little like the first day of school in the cafeteria at lunch (Who do I sit by?  Are these the cool kids?) hanging out with the newbies, second years and faculty was pretty fun.  I met some interesting people and my spirits were lifted.  Maybe it was just the booze, but I am really excited to start classes and get this degree.  

Part of me just wants to get on with real life, though.  I've been thinking about this program as a step forward in my career.  I want to get as much for my money as possible and I don't want to waste any time or effort.  If I feel I am not getting what I want out of my classes, I will find a way to make it happen.  I know this sounds kind of corporate ladder-ish, but I am a grown up now.  Sort of.  I want to have a good job that pays well and that I really enjoy doing.  Right now I am investing in that.  When I am done with this program, I will be able to get that dream job.  Maybe not right away, I'm no fool, but eventually.  I was never one to enjoy just dicking around, wasting time drinking and partying.  I like getting things done.  

Classes start next Wednesday.  I'll let you know how it goes.  

A trip to the vet

I took the cats to the vet today so that they won't get rabies.  I gave no hints to tip them off ahead of time, but as soon as I got the carrier out, Ragnar dove under the bed.  I managed to toss them both in and it was a silent car ride over.  Deadly silent.  The vet assistant heard Hatshepsut growl a little as he was opening the carrier, and so he asked me what she is typically like at the vets.  She has never bitten anyone that I know of - but I remembered that the last time Dan took them, there was some clawing involved.  I told him it was a possibility and I think that may have put him on guard a little.  We decided to do Ragnar first, then Hatshepsut.  Ragnar is a little wuss and he submitted without a peep to everything they did.  Here's what happened with Hatshepsut:

He was getting ready to weigh her and take her temperature and she was hissing of course.  He obviously feared a bite, so he snapped his fingers on one side of her head to get her to look while he grabbed at her scruff with the other.  Now, finger snapping is something I do when the cats are being bad, so it's an immediate negative association for Hatshepsut.  She lashed out.  The assistant decided to go get help, and came back with a young woman.  He was attempting to grab her again - so I stepped in and just did it.  She didn't bite me, of course, because I had no fear and she knows I will kick her ass.  I handed her over.  The guy held her while the girl inserted the thermometer.  That's when she flipped.  There were exorcist screams coming out of her and she flailed.  It was scary.  The assistant then thought that it would be better if they took her to a room away from me.  They did.  I heard her raging growls through what I am assuming is at least one door and one wall.  I was embarrassed, but kind of impressed too.  She sounded like a tiger!  A few moments later, the veterinarian herself comes in and calmly, soothingly says "She's not exactly cooperating, so I think we may have to try another method."  I replied "Yeah, sounds like you'll have to knock her out."  

They had to sedate my cat because she was acting like a wild street cat.  I couldn't believe it.  This has never happened to any of the cats I or my parents have had.  She's the devil.  Plus it cost me an additional $85.  She is currently under the bed with Ragnar, sulking.  The picture is of her cleaning off the gas residue after we got home.  She looks so harmless... sweet even.  Now we know the truth.  

Just for fun

I turned a Calvin Klein model into a pirate.  Or is she a warrior?  An elf?  The boots were what she was actually wearing.  They look like total pirate boots.  Anyways, yeah, this is my Friday night.  

Trip to the museum

I made my way to the Blanton Art Museum today.  I was really impressed with the number of prints they had.  Usually museums are big on European painting (which they had, of course) but it wasn't an overload.  There were two different print exhibitions going on, but there were even more prints upstairs in the main collection.  One of my favorite parts was the western room!  They had an enormous Frederick Remington, the "Cavalry Charge."  He is one of my favorite artists of all time.  It was free and it only took me an hour to see everything.  All in all I was happy with my museum experience.  

Forgive the bad quality of the first picture, it was taken with my cell phone.  This is a sculpture piece outside the museum where people are encouraged to walk in it among the medical tubes.  It was freaky.  I stole the second picture from the Blanton website.  It is one of the Japanese prints by Hokusai.  

On a side note, on my way home I stopped in the shady area by where I work.  It was very hot out and I needed to sit down and have a drink.  I happened to notice two sweaty, ripped guys working out nearby.  They were hopping up and doing lunges backwards down a hill in the sun.  They were quite sweaty, and one of them was wearing very short shorts.  It was definitely a high point to my day - but also a low.  They were working out tirelessly in the hot sun while I was taking a break from WALKING while eating candy.  

I made a book

See Mom and Dad, I'm making art.  

I love this woodblock print paper.  The graph paper text block doesn't exactly match, but I think it will be fun to draw in.  I have no idea where to go in this city to find some Mohawk superfine and yet I am too cheap to order it online.  Hopefully someone at work or a classmate will know where to go.  If anyone reading this knows, please let me know by leaving a comment!  

Many more books and other artwork to come, I'll try to post the good ones.  

Ok, back to food

I just wanted to post really quick that I had my first taco in Texas tonight.  My friend and I went to El Chilito's.  It was the messiest taco ever (partially because I had them add guacamole) but it was delicious.  I am definitely willing to get taco all over my face for two dollars.  

It was a momentous occasion tonight, and now I shall digest, belch and watch The Office.  Goodnight!

It's like having children

The cats (Hatshepsut on the left, Ragnar on the right) have become slightly less freaked out.  They still cower and run under the bed every time I open the door, but they have been looking out the window and doing normal cat things again.  Ragnar's favorite time to play is 3:30AM.  Often I have to get out of bed and take away whatever ridiculously loud object he is batting around.  Last night it was a paper bag.  That's the trouble with efficiency apartments.  There's no sound buffer.  He has also learned how to open the cupboards.  It's his new favorite thing.  They both cry a lot and get into things they shouldn't.  I feel like I am yelling at them every five seconds.  They fight with each other daily.  They are kind of like children.  Little furry children.  

I really enjoy having them, as much as I complain.  They are so entertaining.  Hatshepsut is constantly in my lap and she sleeps next to me practically all night.  Ragnar will sit on the counter and watch me put makeup or lotion on and then sort of lean against me.  I also love it when they chase each other around.  They are not quite used to the smooth wood floors, so they slip a lot.  I will have to get a picture of them running in place or sliding into a wall.  It's really amusing.  I hope they like it here.  

Best sauce ever

I took a trip to Central Market this afternoon.  I heard it was the hip place to shop.  It was nice, lots of fresh veggies and meats, but not all of it was organic or super pricey.  It's like if HEB and Whole Foods had a baby.  It's not somewhere I would go for everything, just the produce and meat.  The rest I can get at Fiesta or the regular HEB.  The best part of my shopping experience was when I found my favorite sauce!  I'm totally making stir fry this weekend.  The worst part was realizing I am way too poor to shop there.  I got away with spending less than $25 but the temptations were great.  

PS.  I promise that I will post something that has nothing to do with food soon.  

Good vs. Evil

My dilemma is a lot like this city.  There are a ton of health food stores and veggie restaurants.  There also seem to be a lot of greasy BBQ and taco places.  It's a strange mix and I'm so confused.   

Oh the temptation of fast food.  There are new and exciting chains here that I have never eaten at.  Having only one friend here (and a vegetarian at that) makes going out to restaurants difficult.  I don't really like going by myself, but the high school student at the fast food drive up window does not judge me.  Walking to work in the morning I am assaulted by "breakfast taco" smells (really, what the heck is a breakfast taco??) and on the way home I get a meaty BBQ waft.  It's very tempting.  

Of course I want to be healthy.  I have been having salad with dinner (or as dinner) every night this week.  I would rather eat organic foods, and maybe I will even try some tofu in my next stir-fry, but it's so expensive.  What I have to do is strike a happy medium.  Salad for dinner and maybe some Jack in the Box as a treat on the weekend.  That evens out, right?  

Swimming at Barton Springs

I did a somewhat touristy Austin thing today - I went to Barton Springs.  It was a hot day and my friend (pictured above with her boyfriend) and I had never been there before.  I had heard at work that it was very cold and refreshing.  For those who don't know, Barton Springs Pool is a natural spring that has been sectioned off into a paved pool area with grassy areas around to lounge on.  A few years back they discovered a completely new species of salamander there and had to close down to make sure the little guys were doing OK.  You can read about them here:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/bartonspringssalamander/

Overall I was a bit let down.  I was expecting a Colorado stream situation with smooth stones and a cold running river.  What was there was an algae filled paved pool - "no diving" signs and all.  Plus it smelled like a mixture of rotting plants and marijuana.  I tried not to touch the bottom while swimming, but things still brushed my legs.  Floating algae and plant leaves on the surface were hard to miss.  Maybe I'm just not an outdoorsy girl.  I will say it was really refreshing and quite cold.  So was the shower I took when I got home.