Monday, February 28, 2005
Do I need this? I asked myself, holding The History of Medieval English Literature my hand had happened across as I browsed the poetry shelf within the student bookstore. Yes, yes, I do! my mind replied to itself: It's really thick and intellectual in appearance. Even if I never read it entirely, it will look really good on my shelf between Dorothy Parker's Not Much Fun and Isaac Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy. Thus I walked confidently to the counter and paid a whopping sixty-five American dollars for something I probably won't get around to reading anytime soon.
I am at the library wearing a black tank top and drinking a Starbucks mocha frappuccino: rarely has the fact that I am a college student, and little else, been quite as perceivable. It makes me feel dirty.
I visited with Dr. Larmour, the Greek graduate professor, who informed me of little more than I know already about the graduate program except that it pays for itself through student teaching. I decided not to mention I hadn't contemplated earning the M.A. through Tech (four years in Lubbock is tortuous enough), because my stance could change in a year. But I would rather receive the M.A. and doctorate from the same university, which would not include my current school because its Classics program isn't large enough even to offer a doctorate- it barely grants the M.A.
Currently the goal is to master the languages- that would provide a solid, competitive base for post-baccalaureate study. Many students graduate not having realized the importance of competency in Latin and Greek, as well as requisite fluency in German and French. Knowing German before I entered a doctoral program will have been advantageous, as I could devote time to learning French instead as well as build upon the two years of Italian I plan on having taken by then. If humanly possible I would like to audit Turkish the last couple of years as I finish my bachelor's degrees: then I would know some Turkish for when I travel to Turkey and Greece for site exploration/excavation/general-looking-at-for-fun.
However, if I am to ever become proficient, I must quit dicking around on the computer and go study, like a good egg.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:29 PM]
Ich kann nicht helfen
Eike today asked who watched the Oscars (two people raised their hands in the affirmative, everyone else groaned). Then auf Deutsch he asked who won (using gewonnen, part of the perfect form of "to win"). I, to be snide, replied, 'But no one ever wins an Oscar; it always runs- 'And the Oscar goes to.'' He then amended the phrase using bekommen, "to receive".
Perhaps I am a jerk sometimes, but I still have at least fifty-eight friends.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:51 PM]
Lares et Penates
Sunday, February 27, 2005
The waste disposal door at work cut from my right index finger a sizable chunk of flesh; the wound did not cease bleeding for several minutes. As it pained me not I continued dumping trash before I noticed blood on the bag I was holding- a gruesomely fascinating occurence. This more than compensates for the pan burn I incurred last week that I disdained for its refusal to boil adequately. Next week I hope to lose an appendage, preferably a toe.
I felt chipper as a rabid squirrel earlier, but I am currently contemplating an intake of Tylenol PM so that I may rise early tomorrow for to study suffixes in preparation for the terminology exam. After classes I must meet with Dr. Larmour, journey to some campus building to acquire direct deposit of my paycheck, and fill out a Missouri income tax form (an act I find noxious).
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 3:53 PM]
Chunky Tuna
Saturday, February 26, 2005
I work again in four hours for six hours, and after a brief six-hour respite I cover a shift for Crystal in the morning for an approximate eight hours. Last night/this morning (1:30) I left half an hour early because my head hurt intensely and I felt nauseous: I almost spewed from the mixture of smells. I took three nocturnal Tylenols and feel somewhat better, but I suspect the pounding headache will return this evening. Last night I had tears in my eyes as I asked people what they wanted, and I am certain that was frightening for the few who were conscious enough at that point (most people who come in at midnight are inebriated to a degree) to observe my condition. Ich bin kaput. [possible incorrect spelling]
This afternoon I had time enough to read chapters of the ancient engineering textbook and found a few ideas for my research project. Next week the professor grants dibs for topics, and no one else had better think of taking aqueducts. The book mentioned figures for aqueducts that crossed rivers, wherein if the pillars supporting the conduit rose above x height the structure (or a part thereof) would collapse. I immediately focused upon the word "collapse", which I equate to "fun beyond measure", and concluded that I would be best suited for a project in which the structure is not sustainable.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:05 PM]
Ich kann nicht schlafen
Friday, February 25, 2005
Approximately one hour from the current time I must take the Latin exam, about which I know nothing, for I played hooky the past two or three days. Well, I ought to know everything except sentence translations from the last two chapters, plus vocabulary I never bothered to retain. I could cram, but that rarely alleviates much... at about twenty till, I'll review vocabulary and passive verb forms. Regardless of whether I know the material or not, I will inevitably finish the exam within twenty minutes. Then I will play hooky from English, which I have not attended at all this week on account of it being my last, and therefore expendable, class.
During the final ten minutes of German we watched Sesame Street again. The show entertains me more now than it did when I was a little nina- appreciation and age advance together. Mumford auf Deutsch is even funnier than Mumford auf Englisch. I vaguely recalled the other episode, wherein Ernie cannot sleep ("Ich kann nicht schlafen!") and counts sheep at Bert's suggestion- finding that method unsatisfactory, he counts fire engines, to Bert's woe... poor, abused Bert.
Ich habe nicht geschlaft, for Robert's roommate's great grandfather suffered a stroke the other night and is currently brain dead. This affected me because it meant Robert considerately spent the night with his girlfriend, Amy, who happens to be my roommate. Thus, after I went to bed at 11:00 last night, exhausted from studying, Amy and Robert came in and stood discussing the situation for awhile, then continued talking as they turned on the light to look up gym class times on the computer. They did nothing wrong, exactly, but I nevertheless resented their presence, for I had been extremely excited at the prospect of sleep that Amy and Robert unknowingly nipped in the bud. They finally went to bed themselves at twenty till two, by which point I wanted to murder them in a manner not malicious. I already secured a first-floor, single room for next fall.
Next week I shall sign up to schedule a summer campus employment interview- if accepted as a community advisor or a general (orientation) advisor, I receive free meals and board for the summer, und dass ist sehr gut. As I absolutely must take Latin and German, free board definitely dents the loan amounts.
Dass ist alles.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:03 AM]
Drop A Load
Thursday, February 24, 2005
The CMLL (Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures) scholarship committee ranked my application first in the department; it must now endure review by the larger Department of Arts and Sciences for reward approval among all other major departments. The professor who recommended me sent an e-mail:
Hello Lauree,Ausgezeichnet. Dr. Larmour specializes, I believe, in Greek studies- I'll probably have him when I take the sophomore/junior level language courses. I am eager to begin Greek, because Greek culture now interests me especially. I originally became interested in Sparta during sixth grade social studies- I had a good teacher, who presented subject material vividly. I recall Stoicism (my sixth-grade conception thereof) particularly entrancing.
I just wanted to give you an update on the scholarship application. The committee met today and you were ranked first among our five applicants. I was very pleased. Your statement really impressed some members of the committee and my letter (a real masterpiece in retrospect) seemed to add the extra weight that your application needed (since others on the committee wrote only short ones with no flair). This list now goes to a committee for Arts and Sciences and they will determine who gets the awards. The top ranking in CMLL will certainly help. Stop by if you have a chance. I have been talking you up and Dr. Larmour would like to meet you. I showed him a portion of your statement (the part about the eviction notices in the german club) and he is truly impressed by your wit and writing skills.
Best,
JC
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:08 AM]
An Ideology Of Evil
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Today I played hooky from Latin and English, and I also requested a new girl substitute for me at work in order that I might attend the German Club-sponsored film showing this evening. After logging off I shall journey to the student bookstore to purchase jogging pants, for I feel motivated enough to start running Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings. I'm tired of being jiggly.
After the first requisition I shall make another (online) from desired books with the gift card received from my grandpa (Pa-Pa). I want to prepare for the ancient philosophy course in which I intend to enroll this coming fall, thus I began searching for introductory texts and added them to a wishlist. However, as I suspected I could glean many from the library, I noted the ISBNs and eliminated several to purchase outright. Thus I concluded with a few books on Hellinistic law and morality to order, plus a Harpo Marx CD that I should never find anywhere physical. I eagerly anticipate the arrival of these and of an archaeology magazine to which I subscribed last month- last semester Lindsay had directed me to the website, and I fell in love.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:11 AM]
Raider Island Smoothies
Monday, February 21, 2005
I browsed for a better blog skin but discovered nothing wholly satisfying. Ich habe keine Zeit to design something myself. My own images, text, graphics et cetera would be much preferred to another person's crap...
My Internet search skills are wholly inadequate.
Yesterday and this afternoon I researched study abroad programs.
Summer 2006:
Texas Tech offers two junior-level German credits every summer in a program probably similar to the one with which April travelled. It costs approximately three thousand dollars to include tuition, housing, round-trip air fare, and I believe at least one daily meal.
Summer 2007:
I could gain art and history credits in Rome or Venice.
Summer 2008:
Before graduate study, classical research in Greece would be extremely beneficial.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:36 PM]
Pont du Gard
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Next September one of the Classics professors is taking students to a tiny seminar in a tiny town somewhere, for which I must compose a paper if I am to attend. As I am in the technology class at the moment she suggested I limit myself to the field of engineering. I settled upon water systems and am now uncertain about whether I ought to pursue Roman plumbing in its cities or the network of aqueducts connected throughout the empire. For either I ought to augment the paper with a working model, though I do not suppose I may use lead if I choose to mold piping.
Whilst pursuing this research effort on the Internet I diverted my attention momentarily to other areas philological, visiting the web sites of a few magazines/journals and the classical department for the University of Virginia, which itself did not appeal to me, but did provide a useful reading source list that I intend to utilize as well this afternoon.
My place of employment this past week began offering Chinese stir fry- the night before last I received the first burn as I reached across one of the pans to add vegetables to another one. Unfortunately, the burn did not boil and the scar will likely be minimal. It mightily disappoints me.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 11:30 AM]
I Smell Like A Girl
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Der Deutsch Klub Prasident drove me to Stammtisch at a bar in "downtown" Lubbock last night before work. I listened to one of the instructors converse with her native German friend, with them pausing to speak with me and find out how much of the dialogue I understood. I watched Mac (someone from my class) and his friend play pool, but presently grew bored and sat to listen to people again. I met a history major who highly recommended the ancient civilization courses, which I had contemplated taking for minor credit. Then I left. It was fun, but I do dislike returning from an event smelling of cigarettes.
This afternoon I have time to read, and tomorrow I have time to study! How exciting. I cut out the shift I work Thursday, reducing myself to only twenty-four hours per week, but as I have not studied half so much as I need to the move was necessary.
I am reading a much-abridged version of Gibbon's The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 11:25 AM]
Es regnet... immer
Friday, February 18, 2005
I need to walk across campus to pick up my paycheck, then walk across campus and down one street to deposit the money, but it rains...
I finished the paper for English this morning, skipping the terminology class in the process. As I traversed the street leading to the foreign language building on my way to ancient technology, I passed the terminology/Latin professor, who professed mock surprise but seemed indifferent to my absence so long as it did not come in Latin. In missing his lecture I miss nothing, for all material except the TA's culture lectures is covered through the books.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:03 AM]
It Feels Good To Be A Gangster
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Kimmie and I saw Mates of State and their opening band, Aqueduct, after Kimmie left the Tech basketball game. Having heard neither group previously, I found Aqueduct more "entertaining" than "talented", but I liked Mates of State, which consisted of a wife playing the electric organ and piano and of her husband drumming. They both sang.
Watching passionate people perform set me in a better mood than I have been in for some period. I shall have to journey forth in such manner again soon, though I fear I might have fun.
Last night after work I attended some informational meeting to join Gamma Beta Phi. Naturally someone asked about minimum GPA maintenance, to which one of the club officers replied, 'Oh- we've never checked it. The honor is in getting in.' Ausgezeichnet, thought I, an honors society that does not necessarily require one to be an honors student. This is perfect for me. The rest of the assemblage murmured concurrence, and we thus skipped to the tables to pay for dues and our very first t-shirts (which was all I truly desired from the deal).
Hopefully we can watch more Sesame Street in German today.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:36 AM]
Tone It Down
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
I've had a headache the entire day. I came dangerously close to punching the loud kid in my German class. He speaks at maximum volume all the time, which is irksome enough for one who does not feel like death. In addition to the headache I believe I dehydrated myself during the walk across campus to eat lunch with Rebekah at a pizza joint. I wore a long-sleeved shirt with a second shirt on top of it, and the sun is very hot. I came back to the foreign language building for Latin at noon, but left abruptly during the middle of the lecture with intense nausea and dizziness. In a second I shall go in to work for a bottle of water before beginning my shift, although I might beg off if it appears someone may sub for me.
Ugh.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 11:15 AM]
Hey Diddle Diddle
Monday, February 14, 2005
Much fun was to be had in German this morning- Eike secured a Sesame Street DVD auf Deutsch, which we viewed delightedly. Oscar the Grouch sang ich mag Mull ("I Love/Make Trash") and Cookie Monster sang a sad song to his cookie, which he ate at the end of the song. The TA informed everyone that the last line meant, "I eat everything I love."
In Latin we learned about the perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect (active indicative) forms for all verbs, which was nearly as entertaining as Sesame Street. In English I learned nothing, although when the professor asked what word came from the Marquis de Sade, I was the soul who finally blurted, "Sadism!" ...Thank-you, Human Sexuality Class.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:02 PM]
High Skies
Sunday, February 13, 2005
I just walked two miles, or nearly that much, fervently wishing the sky would turn overcast. It did not accede to my demands, surprisingly enough; thus, I sweat. Upon return to the dorm I shall compile more terminology flashcards, read another chapter or two of Frankenstein, and complete two or three sections of the Latin workbook. Around 9:30 or 10:00-ish I shall journey forth for another circuit around campus, which according to prior experience takes approximately one hour.
As I achieved an outstanding 3.8 GPA last semester, the honour society (Gamma Beta Phi) sent an induction invitation to my address, with an informational meeting to be held this Wednesday next. Being the only girl on campus without a Greek t-shirt, I feel compelled to join. Then I shall have a Greek t-shirt.
Kimmie invited me on a date Monday to some small bar/restaurant downtown to see a drummer and an organist perform together. It might prove a worthy diversion.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 3:13 PM]
Ear Bleed
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Rachel drove Alan and me to the mall, where Rachel bought three pairs of shoes she does not need, particularly; Alan used the "for emergencies only" credit card his mother gave him to purchase a pair of sneakers, and I had my hair cut. I knocked on Rachel's door to request she take me to the mall, because I had attempted cutting my split-ended locks myself with disastrous results. The hair-cutting lady fixed it.
Though I slept seven hours this morning, I now am quite thoroughly exhausted, perhaps from driving around with Rachel as she attempted to find Starbucks. I should have ordered a frappucino then.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 4:46 PM]
Ich Habe Keine Ahnung
Friday, February 11, 2005
I took the first German exam, forgetting only the words for "nephew" and "without". I expect a low "A". The instructor used a downloaded Donald Duck family tree to illustrate the section on naming family members, which provided me something to colour with my black ink pen. He ended with an open-ended dialogue in which I was to purchase goods from a shop owner. At points during the conversation I called the salesman Dummkopf and Schweinehund. I also mentioned I was taking money from his register and that the pencils were too expensive.
Over the weekend I need to research topics to present a paper for a classical convention next September. The paper itself is due in April, but the presentation takes place in the fall, after performing experiments, I suppose. Eric went last year and will surely assist this endeavour. I would sort of like to do something with catapults and explosives, but unfortunately possess little inherent knowledge of mechanics or chemistry. One of the professors has the official information, and I need to meet with her Monday or Tuesday to receive full details in order to ascertain what I may research.
I began reading Frankenstein for English class, and I perceive well how contemporary critics cited Shelley's writing style as too simplistic. However, she wrote better at nineteen than most people currently ever aspire to, and I therefore enjoy the narrative thus far.
Off to lunch.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 8:54 AM]
Nose Bleed
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
I am starting "The Slim Fast Thing", wherein one consumes little besides Slim Fasts and Slim Jims. If I don't inhale breath when I drink the things, they taste fine.
I put the face on my watchband upside-down, but as the process of securing it thuswise took so much effort, I am not going to rectify the problem at any point in the near future.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 6:20 PM]
I Have Forty-Four Friends
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
I spent the gift card The Father's parents (I should begin calling them "The Grandfather and the Grandmother") sent for Christmas on a bright orange long-sleeved undershirt and five pairs of Valentine's Day underwear (though I carefully ascertained the underwear was not too Valentine-y by choosing only grey, black, and blue bottoms). The buckle part of my old watchband kept scratching my wrist, so a new watch consumed a sizable portion of the first paycheck I received last Thursday. Five pairs of blue and red underwear also flew into another shopping bag as I wandered around the mall prior to attending William's orchestra concert last evening.
Whilst there I also sipped a double chocolate shake (muy bueno) and ate a gyro.
Thursday after school I must remember to fill out my tax and FAFSA forms... schade...
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 6:09 PM]
I'm Sorry About Mother
Monday, February 07, 2005
Norman Bates caught me waiting for the bus this afternoon. He did not cease talking until after I got on the bus. I found the conversation useful nevertheless, as he mentioned his orchestra concert this evening that I contracted verbally with him to attend and did thus faithfully, returning approximately half an hour ago. Pieces performed were composed by Wagner, Debussy, and Ravel. The program mentioned the next performance occurs in March, with pieces by Strauss, Copland, and Bizet (selections from Carmen- yippee!).
Rebekah, having contracted some debilitating illness last week, could not attend due to her homework obligations, so I walked singly to the music hall. I prefer solitude when listening to music, anyhow. Watching the students perform evoked nostalgia for my days of voice, clarinet, and piano lessons. Aber habe ich keine Zeit und kein Geld for private lessons, though my mother's clarinet under my desk accumulates an accusatory layer of dust. C'est la vie.
The grade I received for Friday's English essay was a ninety, deservedly enough- in fact, I consider that generous. I elaborated less on one part of the question than I wrote about the other part. Oh, well. I hardly followed the plot. At least the current novel, Frankenstein, is in English, if one may prescribe pre-Victorian English as English. This afternoon's lecture involved the necessary background concerning Mary Shelley's life surrounding the period during which she wrote Frankenstein. When the professor relegated the tale of Percy Shelley's first wife's convenient suicide, I could not supress the exclamation, 'Yippee!' Mortem amo. [Translation for the illiterates: I love death.]
Relievedly the Greek and Latin Terminology exam was multiple choice, thus preventing failure almost absolutely. The TA for that course also serves as TA to the class I attend immediately thereafter, Ancient Technology, but apparently several people consumed the entire period taking the exam, for he was late in carting the projector to the classroom for the technology professor's Power Point lecture. She made finger puppets on the wall until he arrived.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:27 PM]
Es geht mir so-la-la
Saturday, February 05, 2005
I met a couple of nice people at the German Club event and ignored most everyone else. Karissa provided me with a more detailed description of her origins (for she is French). She seemed to enjoy trying to pick up the main points of the Germans' conversations. Eike appeared eventually with another of the language instructors (she was his ride, as he explained when I mentioned, "Ich habe kein Auto."), but I only spoke with him a few minutes because the bar became crowded. Next time I must drag Eric (or he, as chauffeur, must drag me).
As Amy and Robert intended to watch a movie, I carried my terminology books to the minimart lounge and made flashcards. Then I derived prefixes and bases from each of the vocabulary lists in preparation for Monday's exam. Earlier, before The Sleeping Beauties had roused, I copied German vocabulary between loads of laundry. Then I folded and hanged everything.
I have been a good egg today: Ich bin ein gut Ei heute.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:45 PM]
Revert
Friday, February 04, 2005
Having ambition pains one at times. I work, eat, sleep, study, or attend class- no play time. Tonight before my shift starts the German Club is having a get-together at some brewery pub downtown (I recently discovered there is a "downtown Lubbock"), to which I shall attend if I contact Karissa this evening for chauffeur service. The group consists of my German teacher and his German friends, who will refuse to speak in English. It ought to be entertaining in a confounding sense.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:33 PM]
Eureka's Castle
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Serg (the student supervisor who hired me) suggested I read The Da Vinci Code. Others have suggested this as well, but I shan't ever get around to reading it. Ich habe keine Zeit. If I did not have to work, I would have plenty of time to do things...
Throw a pity party.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 6:06 PM]
Frosted Corn Flakes
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
The first Latin exam proved simpler than the instructor warned it would be. I studied far less than expected (due to circumstance less than design) and felt confident with my paradigms. A few nouns made their gender unclear, but I believe I guessed with accuracy.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 6:43 PM]
Es Schneit
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Beginning late this morning it snowed well into the evening. I passed my terminology/Latin instructor walking across campus- he hinted he might cancel tomorrow's eight o'clock class, to which I exhaled, 'Cool!'
I turned in the scholarship applications this afternoon. I had to cross campus, in the snow, on a wild journey for to seek my fall transcript. The lady who handed it to me observed that I had an "awesome" hat, for which I thanked her. Everyone loves the hat Lindsay crocheted- it inspires me to believe I ought to learn the art myself and peddle my wares for quick profit.
From work I jacked Nyquil, a SlimFast, and a Diet Coke with Lime.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 6:58 PM]