Sleepy

Thanks to my spectacular performance last week I have to hit a home run on my final paper for a class. It was due today at 5.

So I was up last night until 4.

Oh... Is that a Problem?

Just finished taking a final. I have been in grad school for 3 1/2 years now and this is my second final (I curse you, Political Science Department!). It was a two-hour written exam.

I ran back to my desk to see how much of it I totally bombed - or pulled out of my butt. Yeah, some of it fits that description.

So is that bad or do you think he'll give me points for penmanship? My hand hurts.

TRI squared

*Dangitall, the dumb title won't recognize ^2 as a superscripted 2! Not as funny.*

Yesterday I completed the WSU Turkey Triathlon. I say "completed" and not "competed" because there was no competition in me. I have been sick on and off for the last week and Friday it hit full force. This tri was merely a case of survival - I just wanted to get the damn thing done and go home to bed, thus allowing liters and liters of mucus to stream out of my face and a boot to come coughing out of my lung. For those of you who care, Numi has pictures here. And thanks for coming to cheer me on!

Anyway, here are the dirty details:
- Finsihed 28th out of something like 40. I came in at 1 hour 28 minutes, which met my goal of breaking 1.30:00 for my first sprint-length tri. So that was good.
- As it was freaking freezing, this one was in reverse (we swam last). I don't know how many of you have tried to swim after running 2.8 miles and biking 12.7 miles (mostly uphill) but let me tell you, it's tough.

- I rode an awesome road bike with clip-in shoes and everything. It was a loaner, but it totally rocked! I. Must. Have. One.

Quick story: I took a ride on Friday to get used to the clip-in shoes, which for those of you who don't know actually clip in to the pedals so your shoes are hooked to the bike. You have to slide them out sideways to get off the bike.... or you fall. Yes, I fell. I landed on my right side and looked like a bonehead, but I can now say I have had road rash which makes me a real biker. Additionally, this fall has left me with one very sore shoulder that cramped up during the swim part. Grace, thy personification is Eris.

Ok, so I am still sick (no church for Eris today!) and am swamped with homework so I am off to work and finish my Harry Potter marathon. Currently watching the Goblet of Fire. Yum, Weasley twins!

Desperately Seeking Susan

Ok people, you are my internet posse so I am turning to you for help. I have two requests, and responses here or via email would be greatly appreciated:

1. I have to teach a review of chisquare, t-tests, correlation, and ANOVA on Tuesday. Any thoughts on how to make this interesting? Duchess, I am looking at you.

2. Mr. and I are the activities chairs for our ward and December 12th is our Christmas dinner. We were going to do an interactive nativity - kind of like a road show with the big parts assigned ahead, but others handed out at the door (I'm very big on audience participation). Well, the people who were going to write it and prep it have just backed out so I need ideas, pronto! Should I keep the interactive nativity and write it myself, or does anyone have any suggestions of something else? Muriel and Googamus, I am looking at you.

If I didn't call you out specifically, please don't feel like you have nothing to contribute here. I just know these folks have either a., taught this junk before, or b., been to this junk before.

Is it Po-ta-to or Po-tat-o?

Today I experienced the difference between "yours" and "mine." I graded papers last week after I was told the scale was to be calculated by deducting 10% per grade.... no problem, I subtracted 10% from A to get A-, then from A- to get B+, and so on until you got to 40% and a D. I graded, recorded and handed back.

Then the professor sent out an email with the grade breakdown to the class. The professor's grade scale went like this: subtract 10% to get A, then 10% from A to get B, then 10% from B to get C.

As you can imagine, there were some questions. Long story short, I will be recalculating something like 40 grades in the next two days.

yay.

N.K.O.T.B.

Last night I spent some time with Foo pretending we were 14 again. Danny, Donnie, Joe, Jon, and Jordan are back and they are rocking!


Camera issues, but still: Best night ever!

One Big Pebble In My Shoe

I spent my weekend wandering down memory lane. It was wonderful. For me, memory lane is partially located in Santa Maria, CA in a tiny little house that has been in my family for 71 years. There is a door that has measured the growth of every member of four generations of my paternal family. There is a collection of trinkets and figurines that represent the interests of my great-grandparents, grandparents and others. But most of all there is a chest.

The chest contains photo albums and portraits from generations ago. My great-grandmother kept a photo album and collected everything from dance cards to a paper posy from the first Armistace Day. There are first communion photos in which we play "Spot the Relative." And there is my grandpa's Army photo album - pretty cool.

Then there are photos containing people who I remember. Events I remember. And now, events I didn't get to see because I wasn't welcome. Why would someone continue to stare at photos of people who have made it clear they don't want you? Why would I examine every stage of his development to see how much I looked like him when I was 3 (and how much the Littlest Ms. Eris looks like him now)? Why would I go through albums that show me absent at anniversaries and reunions and birthday parties? Because they are my history. Isn't it the emotional equivalent of cutting?

It is a tough walk to take, and I have taken it a few times now. Fortunately, this time I was not alone. Athena had never looked through most of this collection and she was surprised to see the resemblance to her own kids. Cuz2you was facing this for the first time and I felt for her. Meemoo mourns in a different way than I, but she got some new insights and I look forward to our next adventure.

In the end, I think these trips down memory lane are good for me. I feel more connected to this family - my family - that loves me, but I don't see this connection as forged through a defective link. Now, I see it as my grandpa's smile and my grandma's nose and (I'd like to think) my great-grandma's spunk. I will keep going back because like Bridget Jones "I refuse to be defeated."

Eris Rocks the Bike Helmet

Here is the video from my Tri. If you're interested, you can spot me in two places that I saw: I'm the first woman you see getting out of the pool (it's quick so don't blink or you'll miss me); then you see me at about 3:30 transitioning from the bike to the run.

I made sure to avoid the cameraman whenever I wasn't competing, as I didn't want my grill on film. I know, vanity. Shut it.

Breathless

What a night. It's been 12 years since I actually enjoyed a presidential election.

I am:
Thrilled.
Inspired.
Hopeful.
Considering starting a pool to name cabinet nominees. Anyone want to play?
Anxious for January.

PS - Send Jubee your love and condolences, as she was McCain/Palin all the way, and I too know what it is like to have a young and broken political spirit. Way to pick a team and cheer, babe!

Blue!

I am holding my breath. Hold it with me!

And I Raise You Some Glitter

UPDATE: Here is the new cast. 4 weeks - crap.

You may have heard about the Princess' unfortunate accident. Everyone was oohing and aahing over her fancy pink cast last night... including Zeus and the Numismatist.

This will not stand! We refuse to be outdone.



That's right. We see your pinky and we raise you an opposable thumb.

PS: This is further support for the First Principle of Eris's Law. Yes, that is two visits in 6 days, both landing on weekends. I think they're naming a room after us.