Please do something about that

You know when you're in a totally quite place except for the person next to you who's nose starts whistling.
And so you start sniffing to clear your nose wanting them to follow suit, but they don't. ...

I hope the man sitting next to me is reading over my shoulder and takes a hint.
Seriously. I can't concentrate with this wheezing sound in my right ear.

"TV Ears Saved Our Marriage"

While researching education options for ASL interpretation I saw an add for headphones that allow people watching the same TV to listen to it at different volumes. It had the above quote next to the add, and I got a giggle out of it.
...probably wont be as funny later but I'm posting it just in case it still is.

Awake

Insomnia:
The only part of my "learn everything all the time" plan that I've consistently maintained.

Dream in ASL

I've been awake since 4am. Which is an exact inversion of my usual sleep pattern. Anyway I had a dream in ASL last night. I can't exactly remember but I know I was translating English into ASL for someone in a group discussion. The phrase I remember signing was something like:
"It can probably feel very isolating to be the only deaf person in a group. As a result, when you meet someone who's deaf, is your connection that much stronger because you have a shared cultural experience?"
...yep. Makes me sound thoughtful (or presumptuous) but it's mostly the product of watching Marlee Matlin interviews before bed.

The cool thing is that in my dream I was using signs that I actually know in waking life! :)
(albeit very basic disjointed signs but you gotta start somewhere)

Infinite Information

So much information so little time.
A few new Strategies:

• Listen to pod casts while cooking
• Lift weights while watching language DVD's
• Read every night before bed
• Generally avoid life in effort to finish watching "History of English Language" lecture series before I incur any more late charges from the library (totally worth it. endlessly fascinating.)
• Write in Spanish work book while listening to pod casts, watching lecture series, and practicing jiu jitsu drills
  
• Stay awake forever
  

Vocab Builder

Metathesis: The transposition within a word of sounds or syllables. (The inversion of sounds in order)

Example:
Old English =Brid. Modern English= Bird.

Going for a walk

Unhinged

An assortment of items taken out of my leg at around 7:30
this morning.

(finger puppet for convenient size comparison)

sticking!

There is an actual layer of snow on the ground outside my window! It's snowing downtown!

Weekend traffic

This corner is significantly more quite on Sunday.

Everything is so Much Easier at Night

I will suffer for this late night burst of productivity come dawn.

a series of unrelated thoughts

• Should I be concerned about my ever dwindling sleep reserve? My habit of staying up late disagrees with the average Eugeniens need to exit the off ramp near my apartment at 6 in the morning
• It's probably snowing somewhere in town right now, but not here.
• I hate winter for making me eat more cheesits than I want to. I miss being too hot to eat out of boredom and/or propensity toward mammalian hibernation habits.
  

Vocab Builder

perspicuity clarity of expression

When your speech has perspicuity, it has clarity, and is easily and clearly understood. When a book has perspicuity, it has lucidity, it is written in a style easily understood. A person of perspicuity expresses themselves very clearly and leaves no scope for confusion of their meaning.

Puddles of Sky

OMG It's Snowing!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

compulsive behavior

Sometimes, when accomplishing a segment of my to-do list turns out to be particularly fulfilling, I find myself compulsively accomplishing similar tasks for the rest of the day. This phenomenon usually results in my free time being eaten up, and/or a new exciting way to organize my tax forms. However,today I may have turned this compulsive behavior into something slightly counter productive. So far today I’ve made 1 huge container of Beans & Rice, several jars of Eggplant Stew, and enough Potato Soup to feed a small army.
The entire process has brought me to the following two conclusions:

• I do not have the proper equipment to safely can foods at home

• If I care at all about responsibly utilizing everything I’ve made thus far I will be forced to binge for the next few weeks. (and that will be my excuse this time).

Sunset

Same hill, same bus, this time on the way back from LCC. The horizon was lit up with a vibrant red. The sky was clear and you could see a crescent moon, Jupiter, and Venus.
Incidentally wearing head phones makes me forget that other people are around and at some point I realized I was talking to myself (loudly) about all the pretty colors.

Sunrise

I saw the most amazing sunrise this morning on the way to school. The light was eerie and beautiful and you could tell it was going to be a good one. I always look out the window and usually feel like I’m the only one noticing how gorgeous the land/skyscape is but this time was different. As the bus reached the crest of a hill a new layer of mountain and sky was revealed and everyone craned their necks and slid in their seats to get a better view. Strangers on the bus were nudging each other saying “look”. At the time I searching my mind for some good adjectives but I haven’t come up with anything yet… maybe I’ll try my hand at it later but I just have to write this down now before I forget. It’s a rare occasion when everyone on the bus stops what they’re doing to collectively focus all attention on one thing.

(Usually that only happens when there’s something wrong with the bus. Although it happened once when we pulled up next to a German Shepherd wearing flight goggles who was peeking out of the back seat of an SUV.)

...awaiting inspiration

Sleeplessness

Sleeplessness

Sleeplessness


what shall I do with you?

i-tunes

I just figured out how to download episodes of the L-word on i-tunes! So excited (although my internet connection is extremely slow and by the time the show finishes loading it will most likely be culturally irrelevant)
Anyway, Lucia Freaking Rijker is in the new season!
OMG!

!!!!

it's so freaking exciting I can't stand it.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Jen's extended family

Such an amazing thanksgiving dinner. These people go all out. Lots of singing and music too. Thanks for the great time!

p.s. I used the vacuum today. I feel like it actually filters the air now instead of kicking up a bunch of dust every time I use it. I'm tempted to turn in on and leave the house for half an hour.

Non-stop Productivity Bonanza

What I did today

• Dishes
• Laundry
• Vacuum
• Wash filters for both vacuums (not sure if they're built for that.. we'll see what happens next time I try to clean the carpet)
• Take out Recycling!
• Clean bathtub
• Shower
• Cook food for the week
  
• Go for walk before sun goes down (or grey sky turns darker grey)
• Attempt to take photograph of very non-cooperative water rat
• Reorganize Desk and Shelves
  
• Dust
• Organize bank statements and pay stubs
• Journal a little
• Organize writing portfolio
• Start "stuff I don't want" pile
• Finally throw away those ancient "return service" envelopes I've been so determined to find a way to reuse (just let go beth.... just let go)
  

Dead cricKet

Time of death: 9:30am
Cause: awaiting autopsy

so... looks like I'll be out of a phone for the next few days. I may be shopping for a new charger on black friday.
On the bright side there's no chance of me getting into an awkward Thanksgiving speaker phone conversation with my cherished family members this year. It's an annual tradition that consists of approximately six stages:
1. protesting that I hate speaker phone and that my wishes should be respected
2. being informed that I'm already on speaker phone
3. yelling pleasantries at family members while they simultaneously yell back
4. lots of awkward pauses and frustration while my dad explains to the family his interpretation of what he thinks I just said
5. a general failure on everyone's part to understand anyone else
6. eventually being hung up on in mid sentence

Don't get me wrong. I'd be having a blast if I were spending thanksgiving with my people. My family is comprised of some of the most fun people I know, but if there's a silver lining to my crappy service provider situation, then this is it. :)

Mushroom Hunting

Alone with the sunrise

Redemption of the opening shift

The Perfect Name

Last night I dreamt that I was hanging out with a friend who I've known forever and I found out that what I've been calling her for the past 13 years isn't actually her real name. As it turns out her real name is the coolest name I've ever heard and way cooler than what she goes by in real life (no offense anonymous friend). Anyway I decided to adopt the name for myself since I've been searching for a new name for as long as I can remember and besides she wasn't going to use it. It was the perfect name for me too, and I have no idea what it was.
...something that starts with an E ... maybe
People always say that kind of thing and they're usually wrong.
"what's that word?... it starts with a P...pahhh??...pedimmmrrr?.. Oh! I know, Harlequin."

YAY!

It is soooooooo nice out!
Completely content to just sit with the sun on my back.

My Loved Ones

I feel so blessed right now.
Blessed to have people in my life who make everyday feel like an Adventure, who bring me so much Joy, who bare witness to Magic everywhere they go, who earn and confer Respect.

Mary's House Warming

Dinner/Impromptu Art Party at Mary's New Apt

JOB HAVIN GOODNESS!

I worked at Morning Glory today for the first time since June 26th! Smooth Sailing.
(All but for one small waffle disaster, and even that ended with a very happy customer)

Unexpected compliments

Today in my writing class we read our essays for the whole group to hear. I stayed after class for a few minutes to talk with the teacher. When I walked out side I found that one of my classmates had been waiting for me just to tell me that they think I'm an excellent writer and they really enjoyed both of the essays I read in class. :) Apparently I'm "funny, talented, and I communicate my ideas clearly."
I think I smiled all the way to my next class.
(As irony would have it: this is the fourth time I've noticed a really obvious typo or spelling error and edited this post)

Midterms

Highest Grade in the class for my Audio Engineering Midterm!
I figure since I'm making this blog mostly for family I can get away with bragging a little.
;)

Election Night!

This election means so much to so many. But especially to that lady in the blue cardigan.

Chasing the Sunset

Chasing the Sunset. Who knows where it happens this time of year.

Top of the Spencers Butte

You should know I don't even like this picture of me. I'm posting it just for you because the fog looks cool and I thought you would want to see that.

You're Welcome.

Green Apples in the Mist

Top of Spencers Butte ... After Dark... In the Fog.... Yes we got lost on the way down.

Leaf Danger everybody. It's a reality.

Neurologist

Great News! No new lesions and the old lesion bringing ups the rear is "significantly smaller"! The vision problems might not be brain related. More to come after vision tests.

uncalled for

Where does Heartache get off? Sneaking into my homework assignment unprovoked. Must songs I've never bothered listening to before already be riddled with nostalgia?

Rainy Season

It may officially be that time of year in which one should under no circumstances leave the house without an umbrella. It's like going out wearing nothing but a hat. Although I've seen a few people in this area try to pull it off, it's simply not advisable. Today, five minutes after texting my friend "It is so Beautiful out here!" I was trapped in the public library due to a sudden torrential down-pour. Made for a a very brisk walk home but the sunset was killer.

Feeling Low Key or maybe it's allergies

My brain isn't hardwired to receive information from such drastically different places at the same time. My eyes ears and sinuses have all run in different directions and their feeding information back to the mother board at different rates. Maybe my moldy apartment is trying to kill me. I came to the Fitness Center for some exercise but was more content to just roll around on the floor for 45 minutes. It counts. It's Jiu Jitsu without a partner, or much motivation. But hell I did it and that was the point right... Oh motivation. Where are you? ...

A and P to the M

In the habit of staying awake. Endurance training for the 'Habitual Alertness Championships' that I will no doubt some day win.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Butterfly Guard Sweeps with Annie and Elenah.

falling

Lead me through a labyrinth of burning leaves.
Set fire to my unborn Senses.

Ambience

Lets play "name that Portland bathroom"