Screw homework, I'm just going to draw

Yet another self portrait.

Ugh...

Sorry I haven't been posting as much as people would like (people being my parents) but I've been a little busy with school.  I hate writing papers and am in a really bad mood right now.  One week left, which means all my projects are due in mere days.  The picture above is what my Thanksgiving weekend consists of.  Homework, mini pies and some TV thrown in for good measure.  My back hurts from hunching over my computer.  I hope I emerge on Monday with a well-written paper (at least a C, please,) an entertaining PowerPoint, enough knowledge for a two hour essay test and a bunch of other little assignments finished.  So, sorry I'm busy.  I hope I can take some good pictures and tell some funny stories to you guys after the semester is over.  Hopefully I will get to let loose and party at least a little bit next weekend.  See you then.  

Santa, baby!

Isn't he cute?  My friend bought him for me as an early Christmas present.  I know it's a little soon, but I've put up my lights and decorations already.  I love Christmas!  Thanksgiving is another story.  Don't get me wrong, I like it.  My favorite part is the eating followed closely by games with the family.  I can't have the family this year, so I plan to eat my weight in turkey and apple pie.  I'm very excited about the food I plan to make.  It will all be half portions as I don't want to eat the leftovers for the rest of my life.  The menu is:  

Baked turkey legs (not sure what I'm going to do with them yet)

Green bean casserole

Stove-top stuffing

Mini apple pie 

I wanted to have cranberries too, but I couldn't find them at the store.  I went to the HEB on Red River to get everything today (it's ALWAYS crowded - even on a Friday night) and almost had a freak-out.  I realized it would be crowded, but I thought what the hell, I only need a couple things.  Big mistake.  There were so many people and little children and carts, my God, the carts!  I was lucky to get one.  Around every corner there were at least five people and most of them were women looking like they were on the brink of suicide or children screaming and hanging off the cart.  I almost plowed a few down by the end of it.  Saying "excuse me" in the most annoyed voice possible just didn't cut it after a while.  When I finally got to the wine section, I was at my wits end and decided to get two bottles of Lambic instead of one.  I need it. 

What kind of sound is he making?

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in almost a week.  I haven't taken any pictures and have been working hard on school projects.  I also had a dentist appointment today - two down, two to go.  It was so quick, but my face is half rubber right now.  It's nice that I live alone so that nobody snickers when I spill water on myself every time I try to drink it.  Next time they're doing my front teeth.  I wonder what will happen when I drink water then... 

It's Office night!  I'm so excited.  Not just from the show but it's become more of a social thing.  At first it was just my friend and I, then her neighbor joined us, then pina coladas were added to the mix and tonight I heard there will possibly be six people and dinner!  I'm making lemon bars.  Here in Texas, on my own, I've discovered not only my love of cooking but my love of cooking things for other people to eat.  I really should have kids eventually.  As much as it scares me right now, I think it's my destiny.  

Anywho, here's a picture of my cat on my new mattress set.  He's just as excited about it as I am.  

The Museum of Ephemerata

This place ruled.  It was a cluttered house with two "guides" and a cat.  Really, though, the displays were nice.  Some creepy, some funny but all had that Victorian, yellowed, cabinet of curiosities feel to them.  It was dark out, there was a fire going outside and the wind was whipping around which set the mood nicely.  Bonus, I got to meet some more iSchoolers.  Oh, and that's a cat x-ray.  

I also bought a mattress set today and had it delivered.  I'm so glad I have a real bed and I didn't have to carry it up three flights of twisty, rickety stairs all by myself.  I also got to rearrange my furniture, which I love.  Now I'm going to watch TV in my new bed and snuggle with my kitties.  All in all today was a pretty good day.  

Happiness is...

No, it's not a warm gun (shoot shoot bang bang.)  Happiness is a new purse!  Isn't it lovely?  Thanks to my friend, I discovered Ross this weekend.  Department store clothes that nobody would buy at ridiculously low prices.  Happiness.  I also bought an uncomfortable pair of shiny black boots and a skirt.  I probably shouldn't go back there until next year.  

I noticed I haven't mentioned school here in a while.  Here you go:  I have recently joined a student group associated with the iSchool called ArTex.  There are no formal classes on art or music or theater librarianship, so interested students formed this group.  Apparently they take trips to museums, go behind the scenes at special collections and of course drink beer and talk about art and library science.  This Friday we are supposed to go to the Museum of Ephemerata.  Their website is www.mnae.org/  It looks pretty cool - and by pretty cool I mean totally awesome!  

Stuffed bell peppers

Another new food creation!  These were really good.  They were bell peppers stuffed with couscous, feta, grape tomatoes, zucchini and onion.  It felt like it took forever to make, but it really wasn't that hard.  I love food!  

While I was making them, I dropped a little of the mixture on the floor (I pretty much drop everything I cook on the floor at some point during the process) and my cat ran over and ate it.  I couldn't stop her because I was in the middle of everything, but I figured she's helping me clean.  Well, five minutes later she puked it all up.  I would much rather clean up food right after it hits the floor than food half digested from my cats stomach.  Now you really want to eat it, don't you?  

Back to basics

Emergency Update:  my apartment building has no hot water.  I found this out by turning on my hot water and seeing that nothing came out.  Then I used my impressive powers of investigation and asked a few of my neighbors, and they too did not have hot water.  Then I was elected to called the emergency line (though I know it is not an emergency) and they told me that they were having problems with the boiler and we would not have hot water until tomorrow.  It would have been nice if they had told us or at least stuck a flier on our doors.  How hard is that?  Regardless, I now have to live semi-primitively for who knows how long.  It could be twelve hours or even more.  It's going to be really difficult, but I think I'm up to the challenge.  I went camping as a child, I remember what it's like.  I just hope the cats will survive.  

Was that too much?  I was trying to exaggerate in a humorous way.  It actually won't be all that bad though I am glad I did my dishes this morning.  My shower will be interesting...

Looking good so far

Here's my grackle woodcut so far.  I'll post a picture of the print when I'm finished.  I'm having trouble deciding how to do the background and what to have him standing on.  I'll surprise you.  

I had a dentist appointment and I'm home in the morning for the first time since I got here.  That means I got to watch the Price is Right!  I love that show, but am sad that Bob Barker is not the host anymore.  It's OK, though, he was probably sick of everyone kissing him - plus he's like 112.  I like being home in the morning.  I got the dishes done, ate some brunch and am considering going to the grocery store.  I am totally a morning person now, but not at work.  Is that weird?  

Halloween

Against my better judgment, I am posting this picture.  Isn't my costume awesome though?  I made it myself.  This picture was taken at the end of the night and I am impressed how well it held up.  My friend and I were supposed to go to that iffy party, but it fell through.  We decided to go to sixth street and meet some of her friends from work.  It was insane.  There were people filling the streets, literally elbow to elbow and in some places even more crowded.  I took us practically half an hour to walk four blocks to my new favorite bar, The Library.  How cool is that name?  It even has fake books on the walls.  People loved my costume, they would randomly come up to me and want to take my picture.  I only saw one other wonder woman costume and it was not as good as mine.  It was store bought, ugh.  My friend and I counted the number of "jokers" and got up to 14 or 15.  There were a lot.  My favorite costumes (besides my own, of course) were a team of Ghostbusters.  They ruled.  It was a good night.