Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Meine Lehrerin hat mich gefragt, meine Vokabular zu ausgeben, weil sie vorherig an die geschauen hat. Ich schreibte unerkennte Wörter (da sind viele) nachdem Lesen. Ich werde jetzt diese Wörter "typen" und drucken. Ja. Sehr Spaß.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:39 AM]
Can You Stand On Your Head?
Saturday, January 28, 2006
I arose early to judge the debate tournament, though I restricted myself to interpretative and public speaking events. In the first round (duo interpretation), two girls performed snippets from Aristophanes' play, Lysistrata, with reference in their introduction and conclusion to The Lysistrata Project, about which I had been previously unaware. I believe I ranked them either second or first, for they both conveyed action very well. One girl had to make transitions between several characters, having to revert for some of them, and she did thus consistently. Another group performed something by Richard Armour which I enjoyed, but cannot now recollect the name of. I perked at mention of his name, for in eighth grade I memorized a poem of his I had found written somewhere and took a particular shining to:
How cunningly the ice holds backCommunication Analysis (round two, or, rather, round B of prelims) I do not recall from high school competition, but was straightforward and similar in many structural aspects to an original oratory. It consists of examining something, such as a campaign strategy, through the effectiveness or lack thereof of its author's method of conveyance. A couple of the speeches followed too strict a formula and were therefore commonplace and dull, but the others incorporated witticisms and other rhetorical devices well enough. Had I continued competition at the college level, I probably would have liked Communication Analysis, for I find persuasion and propaganda techniques interesting and widely applicable areas of study.
And lingers underneath,
And lets you raise and tilt the glass,
Then smacks you in the teeth.
The third round (prose) consisted of three humorous pieces and one dramatic, the latter about bulimia and anorexia. To pull that off, this girl needed to be over-the-top; she needed to evoke compassion, fear, or something. Unfortunately, though she spoke well enough, I had to rank her last. The guy I ranked first interpreted something that was both funny and deeply introspective, in just the right manner, I felt. I could definitely see how almost anyone else might have misconveyed the serious message beneath the humour, but he pulled it off very well. The other two guys had good pieces and good performances, but weren't quite at the level of the one I ranked first. It was a fun round to watch.
Lastly I judged After Dinner Speech[es], which resembled original oratory more. Three of those were very clever, and the other two had some humour that they used less effectively. Since the latter thus as well had weak messages and loose connections, I ranked them fourth and fifth with little remorse, but the top three were more difficult. I gave speaker points of 23, 22, and 21 for those spots.
My thighs finally feel much better, so I went to the rec after rounds, with all good intents of engaging in my now-typical ninety-minute routine. However, I do have a splitting sinus headache, which April can eat, and after about twenty-three minutes on Dieter, the headache combined with some unusual heart palpitations compelled me to hop off.
Jetzt habe ich den Arbeit. Schade.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 3:21 PM]
But I'm Trying Real Hard, Ringo...
Friday, January 27, 2006
I am officially ill! The doctor lady this afternoon informed me I had a one hundred degree temperature. Right now I am sucking a Halls. Es schmeckt mir gut. Ich habe heute immerzu gegessen, weil am Wochenende ich nur Wasser getrunken werden. Over the past week I completely weaned myself off of soda pops, and now must eliminate the mannish energy drinks and chocolate milks. The latter make me lethargic, which tonight, zum Beispiel, has combined with the pressure in my sinuses to make me a frightening creature to behold in semi-darkness, as the light in the sky fleets away.
The doctor recommended I purchase a humidifier or a vaporizer, wear it for two weeks, then take Claritin-D for two weeks further if the prior method fails to remedy my nightly nose bleeds. If Claritin-D rectifies nothing, then am I permitted to return for an analysis for possible allergens accosting my apparently Lubbock-weak immune system. In Katy my sinuses were fine, and I only rarely became ill, usually upon having contracted something from one of my numerous siblings. Lubbock literally makes me sick and thereupon desirous of death. The doctor stated she could not permanently humidify the environment around me, but I suspect she does, indeed, possess the secret cure which would enable me to breathe without producing more blood than mucus. There must be some sort of head bubble I can affix at my shirt collar, reproducing Houston's humidity, replete even with rose-orange-hued smog, whence stems, I am certain, my shortness of breath since moving to Lubbock. I need the smog to breathe!
This evening I splurged for posters, they being on sale and me wanting to avoid Deutsch reading. I assured myself I would only enter the room (this was on campus, at the student union) for a peek at things... so then I left with three purchases, the fourth being free, yet not sticky-fingered.
The actual poster is not this image, but is one from this photograph series.
My aching sinuses had me thinking about guns.
My aching sinuses had me thinking about guns.
I settled for a group photo, not having found "Kermit Kline".
Malcolm X and the Muppet gang will, of course, be somehow displayed beside or opposite each other. I rationalized this expenditure with the recollection that over the next two weeks I am subbing for a girl at work and receiving thence overtime. I believe this argument follows the same line as the one I use to explain drinking SlimFasts in lieu of chocolate milk with meals.
I had been worried I would not have time this weekend to complete homework with any time to spare, but tonight I still have three or four hours I shall alot to writing an analysis of the cat story (things do not bode well, in the end, for the red kitty...). Tomorrow I volunteered to judge rounds at the debate tournament beginning early in the morning until afternoon, with time between to read the seminar texts. Sunday evening I shall either visit Megan and watch her knit my arm warmers, or I shall study intensely either German or Greek. If Megan and I play, I could still finish anything neglected Monday morning, after weight training class.
I like scheduling things.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 4:01 PM]
Tear 'N' Share Size
Ich schriebte eine langweilige Dialogie für die Deutschkurs. Die Zwei Mädchen sind ins Auto. Die Erste fahrt an den Mittelstrich und sagt, "Wir fahren nach England!" Seine Freundin sagt, "Aber wir sind in Amerika." Die Erste antwortet, "Ich bilde aus." Und so weiter. Meine andere deutsche Hausaufgaben werden heute viele mehrere Stunden machen.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:25 AM]
Die Katze Frißt Brot
Thursday, January 26, 2006
After another delightful closing shift, I re-woke myself to attend the morning-scheduled seminar over the Trojan War/Aegean Bronze Age art. I gratefully watched a video about Heinrich Schliemann, for I would not have been able to remain awake for any lecture. The host of the film (the first of a series), Michael Wood, wrote one of the textbooks we are using.
Michael Wood is so dreamy.
He wears very tight jeans throughout, and even manages to appear at one point in this historical narrative shirtless, reading in a bed by candle light. This video was almost as hilarious as the first one we watched, whereinwhich the narrator referred to the chief current excavator of the Troy site as "the Godfather of modern archaeology" (at which I laughed uproariously, to the bemusement of my fellow classmates).
I signed up to judge rounds at the Tech debate tournament all day this Saturday, during which I should hopefully finish reading the text about Schliemann and the beginnings of Aegean pottery art. I find the pottery studies interesting and might consider composing some sort of thesis for such a topic in the research paper we are to build upon during the course of the term.
Wir lesen jetzt eine Geschichte, "Die Rote Katze". Ich werde ein Papier schreiben, über ein Thema dieser Geschicht. Es werde schwer sein, weil ich nicht Deutsch kann. "Zwei Seite," sagt die Lehrerin! Schade. Ich muß am Morgen meine Hausaufgaben machen, weil am Wochenende ich keine Zeite haben werden. Schade wieder.
Ich habe heute von dreizehn bis einunddreizig gearbeitet. Jetzt soll ich zum Bett gehen, weil früh am morgen ich trainieren mußen. Danach wurde ich meine Hausaufgaben machen- wie ein gutes Ei.
Ich bin so ein gutes Ei.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:21 PM]
Eine Teufliche Katze Hat Das Gegessen
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Next week the Classical Society hosts a showing of Fellini's Satyricon, which I have not seen but is, assures Dr. Lavigne, brilliant. Epic masterpiece it may be, but Google nevertheless provides little workable material for images I might use for an advertisement. Das ist eine Schwierigkeit.
Bevor dem Arbeit muß ich die griechischen Hausaufgaben machen. Es soll nicht schwer sein. Danach wurde ich vielleicht lesen.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 1:51 PM]
Ich Kann Es Nicht Sagen
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Last night I closed until two in the morning, and awoke this morning at seven, relatively chipper enough to finish reading the German story whilst eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch at the dining hall. I showered and skipped merrily off to my nine-thirty Trojan War seminar, whereinwhich I promptly crashed. I might have been better off, had I my books (with their scenic pictures and complicated diagrams) before me, but as 'twas, I sat struggling to pay Dr. Reed any sort of attention as my pen drooped after the first word at every line. I had the German readings class afterward, but as I knew my previous behavior would only repeat itself, I thought it prudent simply to play hooky (which I believe is "blaumachen" auf deutsch, but I must ask Jan, one of the Germans who didn't leave, for clarification).
Instead, ich habe nach Wohnzimmer gegangen, promptly falling asleep in my sehr prima toll tent bed after tossing my notebooks with grateful abandon onto my microwave (which sits atop a huge cardboard moving box). I woke up around one (sleeping perhaps a little over an hour) lethargic, and have since journeyed to the Rec to ellipticize myself awake; I ran nowhere with my crazy German metal buddies for slightly more than twenty minutes before hopping off for vittles and a drink oder zwei.
Ich liebe Till Lindemann- Er ist sehr heiß, ja? Wie lustig.
Jetzt muß ich deutsch und griechisch studieren. Man könntest sagen, daß ich besser sein werden, wenn ich zur meine Kurse gehe[n?], aber... ich habe doch zwei Jahre. So da, bitches.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 1:08 PM]
To Look Up When I Have More Time
Monday, January 23, 2006
Heinrich von Kleist, Das Erdbeben in Chile (Reclam 8002)
E. T. A. Hoffmann, Rat Krespel (Reclam 5274)
Georg Büchner, Lenz (Reclam 7955)
Gottfried Keller, Kleider machen Leute (Reclam 7470)
Theodor Storm, Immensee (Reclam 6007)
Gerhard Hauptmann, Bahnwärter Thiel (Reclam 6617)
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:25 PM]
Καλον
Am nächste Montag werde ich "max out" auf[?] die "bench press". Today the instructor had people (including mich) who had never bench-pressed go through the motions. I could barely lift the bar for five reps. The instructor added five-pound weights during my second set, and I lifted those thrice. He reduced this amount to two and-a-half pounds at either end of the bar, which I barely managed to raise and lower to my chest five times. I naturally would like to improve this week, but I would admittedly feel a bit odd asking one of the room supervisors to spot me... for just the bar. But oh, well. C'est la vie.
I excitedly discovered the HTML code for Greek characters. Now I need only catch up on my Greek homework and learn to recognize verbal and participial endings, so that I might actually understand what I am reading...
I just absent-mindedly picked the Planter's wart on my index finger (a few months ago I bought acidic medication for it, but the goop dried up and was ineffective, wasting seventeen dollars of my laboriously-earned wages). My oozing blood has formed a nice clown nose bubble, which I have artfully avoided splashing over the keyboard.
Ich muss jetzt zur griechische Kurs spazieren. Aber ich hat die Hausaufgaben nicht gemacht... und ich muss für deutsche Kurs lesen... Schade... ich weiß! Ich werde nicht nach griechische Kurs gehen. Dr. Holland wurde noch mich lieben. Dann kann ich für deutsch studieren, danach bevor der Arbeit (um achtzehn Uhr) ich für griechisch studieren kann. Ja. Das ist sehr gut (aber ich denke, daß meine deutsch nicht so gut ist...).
I am to meet in a few moments the girl whose apartment room I sub-leased during December. She will return my deposit, which I shall then redeposit in my account sometime tomorrow, either before or after I make a visit to the doctor about my ear infection and possible allergic reaction to the poisonous Lubbock environment.
Now that I am on a roll (or rather, a downward spiral), I wonder if I might not skip out of meine deutsche Kurs as well, for it is in the exact building as the Greek, Dr. Holland will see me sitting outside the room (he teaches Latin in one adjacent to mine), and, though Der Grair Bear might quiz the class today, I have already attended Stammtisch (last Friday) and may receive extra credit, thus covering the quiz. This arrangement, in fact, might serve very well, for I could simply walk to the doctor's office after I meet with Jaki (the aforementioned subject of the preceding paragraph). Ja...
Skipping class, with contrived reason, always makes me feel better.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 8:40 AM]
Ich Habe Heute Nichts Gemacht
Sunday, January 22, 2006
I finally finished reading a book I began the first week of school. I brought it with me when I biketicalled. For about the past hour and-a-half I have been scanning the school library catalogue for certain cross-referenced books the author handily bibliographed. He referred to Foucalt's History of Sexuality, which I have meant to read, anyhow; I may check it out sometime, after I finish Kosmos (which I read during work and between classes and have almost completed).
Kosmos compiles several essays, the ones about Athenian political and private enmity and the citizen conception of the polis being of greater interest to me. Reading about people cross-prosecuting each other immer macht Spaß. And then I am interested in how ancient Athens was divided into demes and tribes and such. Certain books I read mention them, but I need a better conceptualization.
However, at the moment I must pause this research to complete my neglected Greek homework. I will allot myself two hours to this endeavour before going to bed, which I look forward to greatly in consideration of the fact that I slept at most three hours last night, between closing and opening shifts. That arrangement, oddly, works well, because I never do anything Saturday nights, and nothing nor no one moves on a Sunday morning in Lubbock, except to attend church. This morning I happily read Kosmos between the infrequent customer (until about twelve-thirty, which is when kiddies began waking up or returning from church (often still groggy and recovering from Saturday night's doings).
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:48 PM]
On A Clean Gym Locker
Saturday, January 21, 2006
The clothes I pulled out of the gym locker compiled their own laundry load. I spent the early afternoon reading Kosmos as my laundry circulated through the washers and dryers I managed to secure from the paucity available in my floor's laundry room. It contains four washers, one of which has been out of order since the middle of last semester, and another of which does not ever accept the quarters I have attempted shoving into it at various angles and with differing degrees of force. I am particularly miffed about the washer that has been for months sitting out of commission. How long could it possibly take to fix it, or to procure a new one? The University sucks money out of me and everyone else at every turn, but no one bothers to fix basic things in and around the residence halls. Yeargh.
I completed absolutely none of the homework I had originally planned to at least skim at some point today. I rationalize that I should have the whole of tomorrow evening (after work and working out) to read over German vocabulary, read two chapters of Greek, translate ten Greek exercise sentences and six or seven lines of more or less authentic Greek text, and read through the next German short story. Of course, this all will happen.
Am Montag hoffe ich, daß wir in die "Gym" Kurs trainieren werden. Für die letzten zweiten Tage haben wir nur nichts machen. Ich habe das langweilig gefunden.
Jetzt muss ich arbeiten. Ich hasse mein Leben.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:50 PM]
Ich Soll Jetzt In Die Griechischkurs Sein, Aber...
Friday, January 20, 2006
Dr. Holland, most fortunately, makes his classes relatively predictable; thus, I am aware that I may miss his class this afternoon with few negative repercussions, for we would merely be reviewing homework and beginning the first section of the next chapter, all of which I might do as well myself before Stammtisch tonight or sometime Sunday evening. I do genuinely want to review last semester's verb endings, plus learn to recognize all the different participles that apparently leaked out my ears the moment I stepped in the room to take the final. I am still a bit sore that I studied myself blind, only to blank out on the exam. Schade.
I took Tylenol PM last night and feel much better for it this morning. After ellipticizing I showered, ate breakfast at Sam's, and did my German homework (a short imaginary dialogue). After German class I'll deposit my loan refund check and await a phone call from Jared, who is to attend Stammtisch with me this evening.
Dr. Lavigne brought out the small fact that I tend to relate anecdotes with no apparent point or purpose rather often. I suspect this might be due to my life as consisting of piecemeal episodes rather than a continuous narrative. I go to work, and stuff happens there, but none of it gets me anywhere. I go to classes, I do stuff there, but none of it gets me anywhere. I go to the rec, I ellipticize to Rammstein or the "Grease" soundtrack, but I weigh the same because I then turn around and eat KitKat bites or French fries at work, because paying for classes makes me bitter, senseless, and stressed. None of these converge into anything strictly purposeful, besides passing the time until I finally expire.
Ich muss jetzt Deutsch studieren.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:20 AM]
Ich Woll Ins Bett Gehen
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Ich habe jetzt ein schwerige Kopfschmerzen. Well, less of a regular headache than what I now suspect is a sinus headache. I never had sinus or allergy problems until I moved to Lubbock. When I visit the doctor (again) about my ear infection, I suppose I could ask her about what I might be allergic to, other than work.
Some girl stole Dieter. I am waiting for her to get off Dieter; she's wearing jeans and a regular t-shirt, so surely she shan't ride him for long. I suppose I'll go sit on a bike thingy until she decides to quit.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:40 PM]
Lubbock Saugt Immer
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Ich liebe meinen deutschen Kurse. I made two new little friends in the groups we had to form for some in-class activities. After working with them, I could tell they had been in GT, and further inquiry confirmed this suspicion. It is pleasing to get along with one's classmates, in such a small setting. My Greek class operates similarly: we all play off of each other, which actually helps us to learn better, in the long run.
Tonight I need to finish looking up unknown words from the German reading assignment. I read through the text and understand the very basic gist, but there were many more verbs in this section that I hadn't seen previously. The sheep, I did reckon, continue to impede the tanks as they wend through German heathland. They encircle the general in his jeep, threatening his life with their sheepy hooves. It is an utterly hilarious commentar on war and peace.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 8:01 PM]
Ich Habe Angst Für Die Schafen
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
I ate pasta for breakfast, went to classes, then ellipticized for an hour and biketicized for half an hour, whilst reading. I'll probably return to the rec later this evening, especially as I am nearly finished with that book. I brought several unread books and stashed them in my gym locker as incentives to keep coming back. They include such stunners as The Republic of Plato, The Travels of Marco Polo, and Dreamcatcher.
I find myself thus far greatly appreciating my schedule for the semester. It provides ample reading time, or rather, more flexibility to read and keep up with classwork. This semester I have already many more writing projects interspersed with regular quizzes and exams, but I am at least released from the grueling pace young Mr. Underwood imposed in the first course of Greek last semester. Every Friday we were quizzed over material from the week, which might not have been unthinkable if I had not have had a week devoted to several other classes requiring my study time. I missed at least two quizzes, did poorly on the final, and received a "B" for the semester, which lowered my GPA to an unacceptable 3.8. I'm never getting into grad school.
I ate a salad (the meat and cheese, anyhow; lettuce, schmettuce) with two energy drinks/cans of cat urine, checked e-mails and such, and now must skip away to the dorm to check postal mail (I am eagerly awaiting a package from April). Dann muss ich Griechisch studieren, wieder trainieren, und auch Deutsch oder Kosmos lesen (wenn ich nicht mude bin). Ja, sehr gut.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:31 PM]
Das Manöver
Monday, January 16, 2006
On the first day of German class, the instructor assigned the first five pages of "Das Manöver" by Wolfdietrich Schnurre, who served am Zweiten Weltkrieg und nachdem hat es beschriebt. Thus far, the story consists of a general's preoccupation with how to manuever his infantry units, armoured tanks, etc. ("usw." = "etc." auf Deutsch) through heathland. Somewhere in all of this, I discerned that buzzards are circling, larks are being disturbed by the roaring of the motor vehicles, and crickets are chirping monotonously ("das monotone Zirpen der Grillen von fern..."). I shall easily remember "der Grill" as part of my now-expanded vocabulary, because I can envision crickets grilled as components of a shish-kabob. Mmm... der Grillen schmeckt mir gut, ja.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:40 PM]
As For You, Troy Donahue...
Sunday, January 15, 2006
This evening my compadre, Rachel, took me with her for ice cream and shopping (in which I swore not to actively partake). Despite loathing the store, I happened to find three decent, long-sleeved shirts on sale, plus six-dollar men's pajama pants, in a festive card suit print. No more ice cream, and no more clothes-buying...
Tonight I must finish my laundry and German reading. I am a little frightening around the eyes, for I worked last night from six until two in the morning, then opened this morning from eight to four in the afternoon. Nevertheless, weekends this semester should be less exhausting than last semester, when I worked all day both days. Saturday I can sleep in, and Sunday I may go to bed early. Ausgezeichnet.
I love the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior holiday season/day, for it provides another day in which I may catch up on Greek. I shall celebrate the spirits of non-discrimination, brotherly love, and human awareness by making flashcards and reading the next two chapters of the Greek textbook. And if I fail to complete German tonight, I may as well continue that tomorrow.
Tuesday should be an easy class day: discussion of the German story, and a video in the Troy seminar. On a classical studies note, Dr. Lavigne needs another thematic documentary or movie for the Classical Society to show this semester, but I am completely useless as an idea resource, for I have only seen "Troy", "Spartacus", Disney's "Hercules", an old production of "Jason and the Argonauts", and "Masada". I suggested "Masada", which would have been fitting if it wasn't a six-hour miniseries. I've adored Peter O'Toole since I first watched "The Last Emperor", but that and "Masada" are the only of his many films I've seen. I'd like to see his Shakespearean interpretations. Sharada's television would facillitate this endeavour, had I a DVD- or VCR player. Shade.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 6:59 PM]
That Frat Rat Has Money
Thursday, January 12, 2006
The first closing shift of the semester went relatively well. After throwing the hot food around one-fifteen, a drunk frat rat came for chicken strips, expressed indignation when told we had thrown them away already, and subsequently plucked a chicken tender from the trashcan. Fisayo, Griselda, and I, plus the rat's two friends, observed this with some mild disgust. One of his friends gave him a good kick in the pants and apologized for his behavior. The kid was only slightly drunk; he definitely understood the social implications of his actions. Fisayo and I concur that customers like him keep us working at one in the morning.
The first two days of school went well. Ich habe schon die Hausaufgaben, aber sie nicht schwierig sind. The German short story course will consume the most time and will prove most difficult/challenging. We only read five pages for each session, but at my low level, comprehending those five pages will require some exertion. The other three classes (Greek, German conversation, and the Troy site excavation seminar) consist as well of much writing, which must all be managed wisely around work and the meetings/events I attend for Deutscher Klub and the Classical Society.
Ich muss jetzt zur Arbeit gehen, obwohl ich mehr zu sagen habe. Ich werde später mehr schreiben.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:40 AM]
A Headache In My Eye
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
At work last night I began reading through the book of short stories for my German readings class. After the first sentence, I recalled that German is not my native language. Other people also pointed this out. Actually, without a dictionary, I understood the basic gist, and could tell what sort of action was occurring. I simply lack vocabulary; the forms I recognize well enough.
My grandmother and grandfather sent a gift card, which I am about to spend in a moment with Jared. I promised him we could get ice cream afterward. Then I work again, then I work out again, then I sleep.
Tomorrow school begins promptly at eight: "Weight Training".
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 8:50 AM]
The More Heinous Sin
Sunday, January 08, 2006
I read a few short stories at work. I also listened to the free "Cabaret" and "Grease" soundtracks I recently acquired. Jenni, Boo, and I enjoyed ourselves thoroughly (Boo liked the "Cabaret" songs, but scorned "Grease"). Then I ellipticized for fifty-six minutes, burning nine hundred calories.
Now it is bed time.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:34 PM]
Three Fingers Accomplishes A Great Deal
Friday, January 06, 2006
Today Jenni helped me move my junk from the apartment back to the dorm. I then rewarded the two of us with ice cream. We shall probably meet again at the gym tonight; ah, to be weight-obsessed. Tomorrow afternoon, Bianca and I might do something, perhaps watch movies.
I count Sunday as the official beginning of the semester, for that is when I begin work again. Am Sontag arbeite ich von zwolf bis acht mit Jenni und Boo Radley.
Below will one find the result of my photograph-upload binge. These are all fellow sufferers, who work with me and restrain me from gouging my eyes out with serving tongs.
Jenni, who is beautiful. I hate her.
Boo Radley and Kimmy
Crystal and Phillip (PJ)
PJ, at Crystal's birthday fete
Kimmy, haloed in green at the roaringly boring Lubbock fair
Fisayo
Bobby and his girlfriend, Abbey
Bethany
Karen and Duane
Ryan and a dolphin (the dolphin does not work at Sam's with us)
Shannon, another one of the pretty people I work with
Tanisha, who makes fun of me when I drink Slim Fasts
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:16 PM]
I Found Someone As Fun As Dieter
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Despite burning less calories, I have found zoning out to a book on the bike machine thingy preferable to staring at the kids playing basketball while I'm riding Dieter. The first five minutes is a nightmare, whilst my feet adjust to pedal[l]ing, but after that I've been tearing through Law, Sexuality, and Society in Classical Athens. The first chapter discussed complex social theories, but the next two progressed in more comprehensible English.
Tomorrow morning I am moving in early back to the dorm room. Halls do not reopen, officially, until Sunday, but Jaki (the girl I replaced at the apartment) returns from China on Saturday, which means I need to vamoosh at some point before eleven that morning. I packed most items this afternoon, and shall begin the slow journey westward (no car; no friends in town yet) around eight or nine. I am grateful the apartment and the dorm are only about a seven minutes' stroll apart.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 5:55 PM]
Naked, Capitulating Phoenicians
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
The bath water this morning scalded my feet. I leapt out and waited over an hour for the temperature to reach a more approachable degree, eating caramel kisses and calling April during the interim. I finished an article from Kosmos and began the next one.
My Latin buddy, Megan, has been commissioned by moi to sew a pair of "armings". I had wanted something in the colours of Deutschland, but found something even better, which would make me look like a half-breed Muppet. When worn in combination with the hat Lindsay made last year, I will be the fuzziest freak on campus. Ausgezeichnet.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 1:39 PM]
I Spent Money That Does Not Exist
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
I went to the mall for my once-a-semester haircut. The girl who cut my hair (Stephanie Danielle Flores, according to the certification posted next to the mirror) made for excellent conversation and chopped everything exactly to specifications. Oddly, this expenditure totaled more than the textbooks I bought this afternoon (three used books: under forty dollars, sehr, sehr nett), but I have come to the conclusion that my hair is one thing I do not mind spending a little more money on; for watches, also, I do not cheap out, after having bought less expensive ones that do not last. Most other extraneous items come from the dollar store.
Minoan and Mycenaean Art has pictures. In Search of the Trojan War also has pictures, but what appears to be a better collective of actual archaeological information. "Heinrich Schliemann" is one of my favorite-est German names, besides the singular "Dieter". My instructors require two German books for my classes. The one for the readings course I found not; the text for the junior-level conversation and composition course looks mystifyingly simple. Kapitel 24 is entitled: "Sport", with terms everyone learns during the first year. I wonder now that I might not have picked up the wrong book.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 1:06 PM]
Cow-tastic
Monday, January 02, 2006
I constructed a battle plan, in order that I might finally read every tome on my shelf: one book stays in my gym locker, for when I ride the bike machine thingy; another book I'll carry around to read between classes and at work. Some of these books I've had since I lived in St. Louis, and simply never finished. The situation is ridiculous.
I finally went to the doctor this afternoon; she prescribed Claritin and some other medication that I should take for about two weeks to unclog my ear. According to the physician, my ear is behaving "like a child": some tube that usually lies at a steep incline in an adult (preventing most infections) lies, in me, at a more closely horizontal slant, enabling bacteria to slolem (or luge) their merry way through this tube, unimpeded.
As the insurance company I use currently refuses to contract with the University, I must trek to CVS to fill the prescription (the difference is about forty dollars). I sat, diligently reading, at the bus stop for about twenty minutes, only to look up from a particularly uninteresting paragraph to observe the bus I was to hail sailing by, entirely indifferent to the comic expressions of shock and dejection on my face. I shall make a second attempt in a moment, for I have spent the past hour in the library.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:54 PM]
Agnosticism In The Bible Belt
Sunday, January 01, 2006
I am enjoying this final Sunday of full repose; next week I believe I begin working again. Last night I fell asleep around nine-thirty, woke up at midnight to distant fireworks (rolling over with an agonized moan that I wasted 2005 and will waste 2006), finally fell asleep again around two, then woke up again at six to read.
I peeked into the apartment community fitness room and decided I might try the bike machine thingy. I have never used a bike machine thingy. I brought the book down, that I might read it on this bike machine thingy. I just hope it doesn't make my thighs weep tomorrow, for tomorrow I must be a busy bee: I have the doctor to visit, plasma to donate, and apartment complexes to call upon.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:24 AM]