unsympathetic.net

Since this is my last post of the year (considering I don’t do weekends around here), I guess the logical assumption would be that I would talk about all of my resolutions going into the next year. After all, I’m sure lots of people have, are, or are going to write about that very thing.

However, since I only have one blog resolution¹, I thought I’d rather tell everyone about a friendly competition I’ve going going with ME this year.

Seeing as how we’re both English majors, read far too many “outside” books, and will be living together when we head off to Chico State next fall, we’ve decided to keep track of every single book we read this year, just to see how many it is. The only thing I know for sure is that we’ll both be surpassing 52².

I’ll be keeping track here on the blog, and if I ask her nicely, I’m sure I can get her to start a WP.com blog–or I can host here here if she wants–to keep track of her books. I’ll be droping the book titles with relevent info into weekly asides, and more detail will be avalible here.

There are certain rules (which I’ve only just made up), but they seem fair to me. Poetry books count, individual poems do not. School reading doesn’t count, unless I³ read an entire book–hopefully that won’t happen, as I’m really trying to avoid the American Classics. Romance novels count, as does reference, non-fiction and short storys collected into a collection. Any book that does not have chapters does not count. And you can only read a book once to count.

The last one is the most important one. To count this year, I can read any book that I’ve ever read before; it only counts once, however. For example, I can read Harry Potter 1 through 6, and they all count even though I’ve read them before. But if I read them through for a second time, the second time doesn’t count. This rule is to keep us moving forward, reading new books, much as I love to re-read the ones I’ve read before.

So, that’s my new year for you. There is another bookish side-project we’re going to do, but as I don’t have my reference book for it yet, I can’t really talk about it. Next week, for sure.

What this really means, is that ME and I have been putting off reading this week. I have a stack of new books to chew my way through, and I can’t bring myself to start them, knowing that I’d have to re-read it next year to make it count. She told me she feels the same way. So, instead I’ve been playing New Super Mario Bros. on my Nintendo DS, and only semi-sucking.

And I’m sure I’ll write up a few more posts to have lined up for after the new year. I mean, I am going to be too busy reading to write anything.

Anyone’s welcome to join us, there’s not much required. Just keep a list of all the books you’ve read this year (preferably somewhere other people can see it), and be ready for an impromptu quizing of the books you’ve read. I don’t want any cheeters getting in on this action.

Drop a line in the comments if you’re interested.

–Reading Ranbow Theme Song⁴

1. Goal: To get back into the habbit of blogging each and every weekday.[back]
2. For a lot of people, a book a week for the year is their goal, but we’ll probably hit that mark by April.[back]
3. ME is out for the semester, finished with her requirements/prereqs/electives–she could have transfered this spring, but opted to wait for me.[back]
4. Thanks to Kristin for the lyric idea.[back]

Since this is my last post of the year (considering I don’t do weekends around here), I guess the logical assumption would be that I would talk about all of my resolutions going into the next year. After all, I’m sure lots of people have, are, or are going to write about that very thing.

However, since I only have one blog resolution¹, I thought I’d rather tell everyone about a friendly competition I’ve going going with ME this year.

Seeing as how we’re both English majors, read far too many “outside” books, and will be living together when we head off to Chico State next fall, we’ve decided to keep track of every single book we read this year, just to see how many it is. The only thing I know for sure is that we’ll both be surpassing 52².

I’ll be keeping track here on the blog, and if I ask her nicely, I’m sure I can get her to start a WP.com blog–or I can host here here if she wants–to keep track of her books. I’ll be droping the book titles with relevent info into weekly asides, and more detail will be avalible here.

There are certain rules (which I’ve only just made up), but they seem fair to me. Poetry books count, individual poems do not. School reading doesn’t count, unless I³ read an entire book–hopefully that won’t happen, as I’m really trying to avoid the American Classics. Romance novels count, as does reference, non-fiction and short storys collected into a collection. Any book that does not have chapters does not count. And you can only read a book once to count.

The last one is the most important one. To count this year, I can read any book that I’ve ever read before; it only counts once, however. For example, I can read Harry Potter 1 through 6, and they all count even though I’ve read them before. But if I read them through for a second time, the second time doesn’t count. This rule is to keep us moving forward, reading new books, much as I love to re-read the ones I’ve read before.

So, that’s my new year for you. There is another bookish side-project we’re going to do, but as I don’t have my reference book for it yet, I can’t really talk about it. Next week, for sure.

What this really means, is that ME and I have been putting off reading this week. I have a stack of new books to chew my way through, and I can’t bring myself to start them, knowing that I’d have to re-read it next year to make it count. She told me she feels the same way. So, instead I’ve been playing New Super Mario Bros. on my Nintendo DS, and only semi-sucking.

And I’m sure I’ll write up a few more posts to have lined up for after the new year. I mean, I am going to be too busy reading to write anything.

Anyone’s welcome to join us, there’s not much required. Just keep a list of all the books you’ve read this year (preferably somewhere other people can see it), and be ready for an impromptu quizing of the books you’ve read. I don’t want any cheeters getting in on this action.

Drop a line in the comments if you’re interested.

–Reading Ranbow Theme Song⁴

1. Goal: To get back into the habbit of blogging each and every weekday.[back]
2. For a lot of people, a book a week for the year is their goal, but we’ll probably hit that mark by April.[back]
3. ME is out for the semester, finished with her requirements/prereqs/electives–she could have transfered this spring, but opted to wait for me.[back]
4. Thanks to Kristin for the lyric idea.[back]

Is it too late to wish people a Merry Christmas? I hope it is.

Not to be a spoil-sport or anything, but it seems so silly to me, the debate over what to wish people when you don’t know what they celebrate. And the anger people have by being wished the wrong thing. I mean, getting mad because someone said “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”? Did these angry people ever think that perhaps, just maybe, the person doing the wishing doesn’t celebrate Christmas? Or that they wanted to be all-inclusive, not forgetting Boxing Day, New Years, and my father’s birthday?

Um, so anyways.

For our very un-christian family, we had a very happy Christmas. I got everything I wanted, and a few things I didn’t expect. My family has finally learned that the only gift cards I want are to Barnes and Nobel, so I have a wad of cash to spend on books I don’t need. Except that I need them all.

Also, perhaps my grandma learned that maybe my siblings and I aren’t the rude ones in the family. My asshole cousins were with us for Christmas for the first time in years, and sometimes I wonder if there is any filter at all between their brains and their mouths.

The older one talked about fags and bitches at the dinner table. Seriously. And he didn’t mean cigaretts and dogs. I know I wanted to reach over and smack him, and I’m sure Dustin did too. The younger one just kept his mouth shut, preserving the illusion that he is the godsent child, here to redeem the family.

So, that was it. Dustin and I were in bed by nine, and apparently I started snoring before I even fell asleep. I’m dozing off, but can still hear the TV when he shakes me.

“Babe, you’re snoring,” he said.

Huh… wha…?” I fully wake up. “That was me? I heard the snoring, but I thought it was you.”

“No, that was you.”

I rolled over. “Well, you should have shaken me, or rolled me over.”

“What do you think I just did.”

“Oh.”

And then he turned off the TV, and we were asleep in minutes. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard myself snore. It didn’t seem so bad. I don’t know why everyone always complains.

Is it too late to wish people a Merry Christmas? I hope it is.

Not to be a spoil-sport or anything, but it seems so silly to me, the debate over what to wish people when you don’t know what they celebrate. And the anger people have by being wished the wrong thing. I mean, getting mad because someone said “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”? Did these angry people ever think that perhaps, just maybe, the person doing the wishing doesn’t celebrate Christmas? Or that they wanted to be all-inclusive, not forgetting Boxing Day, New Years, and my father’s birthday?

Um, so anyways.

For our very un-christian family, we had a very happy Christmas. I got everything I wanted, and a few things I didn’t expect. My family has finally learned that the only gift cards I want are to Barnes and Nobel, so I have a wad of cash to spend on books I don’t need. Except that I need them all.

Also, perhaps my grandma learned that maybe my siblings and I aren’t the rude ones in the family. My asshole cousins were with us for Christmas for the first time in years, and sometimes I wonder if there is any filter at all between their brains and their mouths.

The older one talked about fags and bitches at the dinner table. Seriously. And he didn’t mean cigaretts and dogs. I know I wanted to reach over and smack him, and I’m sure Dustin did too. The younger one just kept his mouth shut, preserving the illusion that he is the godsent child, here to redeem the family.

So, that was it. Dustin and I were in bed by nine, and apparently I started snoring before I even fell asleep. I’m dozing off, but can still hear the TV when he shakes me.

“Babe, you’re snoring,” he said.

Huh… wha…?” I fully wake up. “That was me? I heard the snoring, but I thought it was you.”

“No, that was you.”

I rolled over. “Well, you should have shaken me, or rolled me over.”

“What do you think I just did.”

“Oh.”

And then he turned off the TV, and we were asleep in minutes. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard myself snore. It didn’t seem so bad. I don’t know why everyone always complains.

Apparently there are perks to being friends with Erin. She tags me for any meme that heads her way, so that I get to participate in any that come her way.

So, todays is “five things you don’t know about me.” The problem is that maybe you do know these things about me. I just can’t remember what I’ve been telling people anymore, so it’s hard to determine whatI’m still holding onto as a secret. So maybe people already know this stuff. But, whatever.

1. Just like Erin, I’m shy–but not as shy as her. In group situations where I don’t know anyone, it’s hard to put myself forward, because I’m always afraid that I won’t have anything to add to the conversation.
2. I have my pen name already picked out for when I write a Harlequin Romance.
3. I wouldn’t mind being a surrogate mom. I have a feeling I’ll enjoy being pregnant, but I only want one kid.
4. The only place I ever say “yay!” is online. And it must be lowercase with an exclamation, no matter where it ends up in the sentence.
5. I sing to myself on the walk home. Whether I’ve got my iPod with me or not.

So, there you go. Five things you may or may not have known about me. I tag: Fishy, Lightdifference, Rockstr, Karmatosed, and WillPate. God, I love IRC nicknames.

Apparently there are perks to being friends with Erin. She tags me for any meme that heads her way, so that I get to participate in any that come her way.

So, todays is “five things you don’t know about me.” The problem is that maybe you do know these things about me. I just can’t remember what I’ve been telling people anymore, so it’s hard to determine whatI’m still holding onto as a secret. So maybe people already know this stuff. But, whatever.

1. Just like Erin, I’m shy–but not as shy as her. In group situations where I don’t know anyone, it’s hard to put myself forward, because I’m always afraid that I won’t have anything to add to the conversation.
2. I have my pen name already picked out for when I write a Harlequin Romance.
3. I wouldn’t mind being a surrogate mom. I have a feeling I’ll enjoy being pregnant, but I only want one kid.
4. The only place I ever say “yay!” is online. And it must be lowercase with an exclamation, no matter where it ends up in the sentence.
5. I sing to myself on the walk home. Whether I’ve got my iPod with me or not.

So, there you go. Five things you may or may not have known about me. I tag: Fishy, Lightdifference, Rockstr, Karmatosed, and WillPate. God, I love IRC nicknames.

Thank god.

The semester is over, and I have a month to waste my evenings in IRC and watching TV. It’s very strange not having any class work hovering over me, waiting for me to tackle it at the last minute, same as I do everything else.

My desk is an atrocious mess, though. This could explain why I spent hardly any time at it this semester. Well, that and the part where I did less than twenty math problems outside of class this semester. (I know, I’m shocked I’m going to pass, as well.) I do have plans to clear of the desk before Christmas, considering it’s at our house this year, and my relatives arn’t shy about wandering into bedrooms–especially my cousins.

The biggest task in front of me, is the massive amount of paperwork I have to scan in. I’m a packrat, and I like to keep all my old work, just in case I need it again. I know, everyone’s thinking “what on earth would you need old papers for,” but it makes sense for me. I am sure that one day, I will end up writing a repeat of some of the papers I’ve already done, and it makes sense to keep them so I don’t have to start all over from scratch. And, well, the math work comes in handy. I spend more time studying out of my begining Algebra notebook this semester than I did out of the notes I took in class.

Are you tired of hearing about my desk? I’m tired of thinking about it. I just ignore it, a large 9 square foot sinkhole in the corner of my room. I’m lucky if I can even find anything on it these days.

Maybe if I had desk drawers, I wouldn’t have this problem. But, then again, I’d just be complaining about my messy desk drawers then.

–”We Are So Last Year,” If Only You Were Lonely: Hawthorne Heights

Thank god.

The semester is over, and I have a month to waste my evenings in IRC and watching TV. It’s very strange not having any class work hovering over me, waiting for me to tackle it at the last minute, same as I do everything else.

My desk is an atrocious mess, though. This could explain why I spent hardly any time at it this semester. Well, that and the part where I did less than twenty math problems outside of class this semester. (I know, I’m shocked I’m going to pass, as well.) I do have plans to clear of the desk before Christmas, considering it’s at our house this year, and my relatives arn’t shy about wandering into bedrooms–especially my cousins.

The biggest task in front of me, is the massive amount of paperwork I have to scan in. I’m a packrat, and I like to keep all my old work, just in case I need it again. I know, everyone’s thinking “what on earth would you need old papers for,” but it makes sense for me. I am sure that one day, I will end up writing a repeat of some of the papers I’ve already done, and it makes sense to keep them so I don’t have to start all over from scratch. And, well, the math work comes in handy. I spend more time studying out of my begining Algebra notebook this semester than I did out of the notes I took in class.

Are you tired of hearing about my desk? I’m tired of thinking about it. I just ignore it, a large 9 square foot sinkhole in the corner of my room. I’m lucky if I can even find anything on it these days.

Maybe if I had desk drawers, I wouldn’t have this problem. But, then again, I’d just be complaining about my messy desk drawers then.

–”We Are So Last Year,” If Only You Were Lonely: Hawthorne Heights