Thursday, March 30, 2006
I slept approximately three hours last night (or rather, this morning, from about three-thirty to six-thirty), but must now, after having gone to class, work an eight-hour shift. I ought to have scheduled myself as a closer on Thursdays, but I close Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, and had originally planned to elliptize after Thursday shifts (which I usually do).
I played hooky from the German short stories class in order that I might read the next chapter of the Greek textbook, but found it merely a brief page and-a-half over the construction of purpose clauses. I am a purpose-clause samurai.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:36 AM]
Ich Muß Zur Toilet Gehen
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Heute hatte ich die zwei Prüfungen. Ich denke, daß ich wohl tat. Ich studiertete letzte Nacht die Griechische Übungen, um heute morgen genuge Zeit Deutsch zu studieren. Ich konzentriertete mich für wieder ein Stunden an Griechisch.
Presently I am reading "mit dem Chef nach Chenonceaux" von Alfred Andersch. I coursed through the first three pages assigned with few problems, as the initial setting takes place first in a French restaurant. Afterward, the main characters relocate to a car for a short trip across France (according to my understanding). "Der Chef", apparently, is an antisocial, crotchety old man who has no friends (der hat keine Freunde). Ich habe das Gefühl, daß der Autor den Chef als negativ steht. Ich bin so ein Genie!
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 4:33 PM]
Chapped Skin With Knuckle Cracking
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Heute nachmittag muß ich Deutsch und Griechisch studieren. Beiden Prüfungen passieren am Morgen. Am nächstem Dienstag mache ich die Troia/ägaische Kunst Seminar Prüfung. Am Wochenende werde ich vielleicht die Papieren von der andere deutsche Kurs wiederschreiben. Dann mache ich nichts mehr.
A couple of my closer friends have birthdays fast approaching, for which I must plan something special. One I shall probably take out to dinner somewhere, for that is the intent she has declared for my birthday. Ich bin dafür erfreut, weil ich nichts geplannt hatte.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:21 PM]
Vitamin A Palmitate And Vitamin D3 Added
Monday, March 27, 2006
I am almost through rewriting the ten-page rough draft I was supposed to have turned in Thursday. At the moment I need to add endnotes, which I have never before done with Word, but which surely cannot be too difficult. Then I must add some sort of conclusion, again. The one I originally wrote served well enough, but I forgot entirely what I had written.
Most of my essays, lacking any outline or definite, linear structure, tend more toward "stream-of-consciousness" stylistically. The order of the note pile strewn about my person (on the desk, on the floor, between the keyboard and the computer monitor) determines the paper flow. What I wrote Thursday, and consequently lost, may never again be reproduced.
My thoughts run ahead of my hand, which means I spend more time mulling over what I might write and in what manner I might convey my ideas than physically transferring this brilliance to the paper before me. Essays require a significant amount of consideration to compose.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:11 PM]
Vagabonds, Mystics, And Courtly Lovers
Friday, March 24, 2006
The ten-page paper I completed last night did not save properly. I opened the original file to find only the first four pages I had typed around three in the morning and subsequently saved. Fortunately, I do still have the pencil copy (which comprises about eight and-a-half pages), but in the computer version I had tweaked the rest of the paper and added more material to the conclusion.
Upon learning I had thus lost nearly three hours of work for this project, I did contemplate slitting my wrists. Considering the flag in the Veteran's Circle on campus would fly for a day at only half-mast (rather than be taken down entirely, never to be raised again, in memoriam), I instead drank chocolate milk and then ellipticized (as I did so, I thought to myself: Surely this milk is going to either a) churn disruptively in my stomach or b) come shooting back up my esophagus, but it remained where it was, presumably making only a normal change in composition.
Having slightly less homework than usual to complete over the weekend (with the exception of finishing the paper which was due yesterday), I am taking time this evening to read the quarterly magazine I finally received several weeks ago but never began reading. It highlights the flowering of the Gothic in Northern France. If one must choose, I would assert I am more a fan of the Baroque period, myself, but I really have not studied either too thoroughly. I do recall when I took piano lessons in high school, I chose Baroque pieces several times, to my instructor's apparent woe. Ich weiß nicht warum.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:13 PM]
Für Schulklassen
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Letzte Nacht habe ich nicht geschläft, weil ich die Arbeit gehen hätte. I remained awake in order to finish writing the Troia paper by class time at nine-thirty, which task I did not sucessfully complete.
Around nine I took my penciled rough copy to the library in order to type it, but fell asleep at the computer as I typed. I simply gathered my scattered papers and returned to the Lauree Lair, whereinwhich I napped for a couple of hours before my bladder again awoke me shortly prior to noon. I was supposed to have worked from one to nine, but I called in, telling my manager I was "indisposed".
Having completed the physical portion of the paper, I have remaining footnotes and a bibliography to construct, which would take another extensive period of time to complete. I have therefore concluded it would be best to scurry dormward again, through the chill air, for another nap before attempting this latest task.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:26 PM]
Mein Bauch Tut Mir Ach So Weh
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Monday night I closed, arrived at my dorm (having been dropped off by Jenni, who has oft repeated: "Lauree, I don't want you to get raped. If you're anybody's bitch, it's mine." Ah, to be loved) around two-thirty and slept for perhaps three hours. I arose to ellipticize before Troy class, showered, went to classes, and studied my notes on the Korfmann research through most of the afternoon. I returned to the room to complete laundry and a very disorganized outline.
My habit of detaching myself from everything proves detrimental as I attempt to complete this paper. Ten pages are due promptly tomorrow morning, of which I have not written a single sentence. By all rights I should have been exhausted yesterday, but I felt fine and alert. This morning, my little tummy hurts and I am lethargic, despite having slept six hours. Ich kann mich nicht konzentrieren. Argh.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 5:39 AM]
Wir suchten gemeinsam nach Sponsoren...
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Es regnet draußen... beachtungswert. Unglücklicherweise, Lubbock hat keine Entwässerungsanlage, weil Lubbock saugt.
Ich habe einen Umriss begonnen. Der Titel: "eine Analyse der Kurzgeschichte, "die Wölfe kommen zurück". "Der Umriss" ist das Wort, daß die Lehrerin vorgeschlagen hat, aber ich denke, "der Abriss" besser konnen. Aber ich kann nicht Deutsch.
I hope to finish the rough draft within the space of an hour and a half, after which I ought to ride Dieter and Wolfdietrich for a while. Then I must shower and conduct research over archaeological methods, whose explication I intend to use as the filler for the rough draft, in lieu of details about Korfmann's findings themselves. For the final paper, I hope to include more of his major findings in addition to the course research and excavations at Troy that are to take place over the next several years. Certain people need to update their websites!
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:23 AM]
He Wants To Find Some Cover
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Meine Brüsten sind zu groß. I finished sewing the Bucky Katt shirt last night (sedately listening to classical music and drinking a bottled Starbucks beverage, this picture of "cultured Lauree" broken only perhaps by the giant, chili Slim Jim I was munching), tried it on, and discovered that Bucky Katt's head and upper torso stretch out horizontally, with the lower half of the image fading toward my tummy. Ich haße mein Leben. I began a second shirt late this morning, but I probably shan't complete it until next weekend, after I will have turned in three papers for three different classes.
From Monday through Thursday, I woke up early in the morning to ellipticize (four miles), showered, did stuff, then returned to ellipticize (another four miles) and ride Wolfdietrich (mileage not calculated). The Rec opens late in the afternoon over the weekend, however, so I am now antsy to go put in my miles. I built up some strength in my legs, which I do not want now to slacken. Also, I am tearing through Tacitus like a crazy fiend whilst I ride Wolfdietrich, and I am eager to finish him so that I might begin something a little more entertaining, perhaps Plato.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 11:23 AM]
Kennst Du Mich Nicht
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Ich kann mich nicht konzentrieren. Ich kam ins Bibliothek zu studieren, but have since only read other people's weblogs, which, with the exception of Amy's, were about as mundane as mine.
I stayed up late last night, pacing back-and-forth in the darkness of the Lauree Lair whilst listening to one song by Oomph! repeatedly. As I did thus, I contemplated how different existence must be for people who aren't weird.
I meant to conduct more Troia research this afternoon, but I suppose now I shall stave it off further, until after I ellipticize and biketicize this evening. Bucky Katt I did not finish last night, so I'll try to complete him over the next few hours.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:26 PM]
And At Bridge I Excel
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Not feeling particularly scholarly today, I woke up to exercise from about seven to nine, wie ein gutes Ei. Then I went to the mall (for hopefully the last time this semester), whereinwhich I acquired the following:
a haircutAfterward I walked to an apartment complex about two minutes off campus to sign and initial some forms on my lease. I am both relieved and enthused. The rooms are at the upper limit of my budget, but living close enough to walk to school ist sehr wichtig. Plus, the rooms are furnished, a computer lab and gym equipment are provided, and most importantly, I have my own bathroom again, with no one but me to befoul the toilet. And, of course, the apartment is cheaper in the long run than living in the dorms, which also kick one out during summer and winter breaks.
skater shirts for Eddie Bob's birthday
a neon green workout bra
an apple green t-shirt
I worked off lunch from about five to seven, reading through another section of Tacitus whilst riding the bike machine thingy (Wolfdietrich). I find this exercise business relaxing, when I have time to do it.
Since I become eligible to register for fall classes April fourth, I examined my options and tentatively came up with about fifteen hours: the next level of Greek (second year), a seminar on Greek and Roman sculpture (thus completing visual/performing arts requirements), principles of horticulture (a lab science), another German readings class, and finally a class on ancient (mostly Greek, presumably) philosophy. The first three are essentially set in stone, but horticulture and the philosophy course might be moved back another semester or two, if necessary.
Having put two loads of laundry in the washers, and half an hour now having passed, I suppose I should sally forth to dry them, and in the meantime, sew Bucky Katt onto a t-shirt.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 6:13 PM]
Leaking Troia Out My Eyes
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Finding myself unable to read constructively in the Lauree Lair, I took my little white binder with articles therein contained ins Bibliothek, worin ich read Korfmann's 2003 report on the excavations at Troia. I had earlier downloaded and printed the PDF file from the Troia Project website, because to sit before the computer reading these sorts of things would break my eyes (meine Augen brechen). Of course, one might point out that Malcolm X damaged his eyes reading hard-copy books and newspapers, but he did thus at night... in a jail cell.
If only I had a jail cell. I could incubate in my bedsheet, reading in solitary confinement everything my morbid little heart desires. To be alone with my books, snuggling Kermie to my chest, perhaps, is really the most I want from life. One would think such a lifestyle would not be expensive to maintain.
I reflected on this as I lay in the middle of one of the aisles devoted to the analysis of classical literature (I knew I would not be there trampled upon). There are so many books, but there exists only one Lauree (which the rest of the world must lament).
Korfmann's report proved informative, if a little disappointing. He wrote it in both German and English versions, which saved time I would have spent looking up every two words and provided some distractive amusement as I glanced between the two texts. At one point, on the English side, he wrote a sentence beginning, "We girded up our loins to..." I naturally sought out the corresponding German sentence, if only to add the German equivalent to my phrase vocabulary so that I might impress one of my German classes next week by somehow incorporating said phrase into conversation somewhere. Aber ich war enttäuscht. The German side contained only the other half of the sentence, with no reference at all to either loins or the activity of girding oneself.
A part of my paper will focus upon Korfmann's continual development and use of advancements in archaelogical and surveying technology (carbon-14 dating, magnetometers, and so forth). At the conclusion of one section detailing work classifying potsherds, Korfmann mentioned his staff were preoccupied with relocating previous finds from wooden to plastic crates. I hope I remember to document this important step.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:34 PM]
In Search Of The Trojan War
Monday, March 13, 2006
After a brief phone call to Louis I ventured forth for a cell phone. The one I decided upon is blue, contra black, pink, orange, or silver, as are most of the other options. I cared very little about this phone's other features, since I wouldn't need most of them, anyhow. I probably won't purchase a new one until it either breaks or a company produces phones capable of emitting death rays.
The gentleman working the reference desk does not have a library voice. A phone that shoots death rays would be most handy precisely at this moment.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 11:10 AM]
Mellon Collies
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Yesterday I went to the mall for pants, as the pairs I have had for the past two years all have gigantic crotch holes. I also happened upon a black bra and several pairs of underwear that I felt compelled to purchase. I returned to the Lauree Lair for an evening of laundry and room-organizing, but I fell asleep after I threw two loads in the dryer.
This morning I spent finishing laundry and straightening the room. My CDs were strewn about various places, so I sorted through the entire array and even compiled a discography. I might nap before venturing forth to ride Dieter and Wolfdietrich. After trying on shirts at the mall, though, I determined that my pudgy abdomen needs to vanish. If it is not too crowded, then, I might play in the circuit room.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:50 AM]
Ich Liebe ß
Friday, March 10, 2006
We discussed sociolinguistics before and after Greek class today. The class is small (about ten people) and conducive to such open digressions around reading through the chapter exercises. After class Dr. Holland and I spoke for a few minutes about German, he mentioning a book he sometimes uses, An diesem Dienstag, to orient his mind when he finds he must read something somewhere auf Deutsch. It is supposed to be post-war literature, die immer viel Spaß macht.
Before Greek I spent about forty minutes chatting with a girl (Jennifer) with whom I am enrolled in both the German classes. We have in common many things, including an abhorrent hatred for Lubbock, an aversion to our respective university jobs (she is a student assistant in the foreign languages building), and massive voids where Eike once lived. We giggled together over the realization that we could have been using that time to complete the German essay due in class this afternoon at two, but were instead discussing our problems with learning German.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:54 AM]
Das Gefällt Mir Nicht
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
I am wearing the denim skirt I bought when I worked at Marshalls aeons ago, with pajama pants (bedecked linearly with a card suit pattern) underneath so that I might sit cross-legged as I study on the benches upstairs in the foreign languages building without people making unfavorable presumptions about my character.
Jen (who I call "Brain", for she sometimes behaves as though she might wear the other half of mine) saw me this morning and noted I have lost weight. Das gefällt mir, for I have lost about five pounds over the past week or so, without having to entirely abstain from food. I eat cereal for breakfast, snack on gummi bears (usually Trolli, sometimes Haribo) before classes, knock back a Full Throttle with pudding and some sort of wrap for lunch, then work out sometime during the afternoon or early evening, depending on whether I have work. My appetite has substantially decreased, but I need to remember to keep myself hydrated.
I anticipate immensely the archaeological excavation lecture I am to attend this evening. Dr. Reed assures me Dr. Long is most interesting and insightful. Also, he is to be bringing pottery and other items for show-and-tell. Viel Spaß.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:36 AM]
Ich Muß Jetzt Trainieren
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
I wrote for weight training class a paper, the requirements of which my instructor most broadly defined as "anything related to health, diet, sports, or weight training". I interpreted this literally, with my subject being "die Körperkultur nach Deutschland". I wrote the entire first paragraph auf Deutsch, which I hope and sharply suspect ought to thoroughly confuse the nice young man who is my gym instructor. Then I rambled a bit about sport and fitness clubs in Deutschland contra Amerika until I had filled the void of a page and-a-half.
After classes this afternoon I ellipticized, then took an hour-long nap between five and six, after which I rode the bicycle (Fahrradapparat?) next to Javier, who was at the time occupied by some old guy. I believe I am at the moment pert enough to finish reading Kafka's "Investigations of a Dog" before sleepy time comes.
Reading Kafka in translation is further interesting when I construct in my mind the sentences as they might appear auf Deutsch. The professor of the English fiction class I took a year ago assigned a few Kafka short stories as readings, and he read extensively Kafka's works auf Kafka-Deutsch. This professor was quite a character, and if sometime I finally get around to checking out the works in their original form, I might visit this professor again for his insight (ostensibly).
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:07 PM]
Double Fudge Mocha Smoothie With Three Squirts Of Blackberry Syrup
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Classical Society hosts a lecture by Professor Jesse Long of Lubbock Christian University this Wednesday. I Googled his name to provide some background information on the flier, which led to a couple of LCU's university newspaper articles about his excavations at Khirbet Iskander, where he has directed students since 1993. The last link, however, led me to an apparent German porn narrative. In my e-mail to Dr. Lavigne (who prints the fliers for me), I mentioned the site and assured him I had not included any information therein, as I had concluded its "Dr. Jesse Long" character was not related to our Dr. Jesse Long.
Yesterday evening I attended William Balch's carillon recital, along with Rebekah Lilly, Katie Mainwaring, Kyle Miller, and Jared Straub (all Katy High School alumni). Last semester William informed me he had lost seventeen pounds mounting the tower steps every day, and watching him play the instrument itself, I reflected even that must be physically taxing. He probably sweats bricks with the sunlight filtering umimpeded through the permanently opened windows.
I was much impressed hearing William play. He took improvisational requests, playing at my behest "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and a Gershwin tune. I had difficulty thinking of melodies suited for bells, but William adapted my suggestions quite well nevertheless.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:22 AM]
The Moonlight Sonata Makes Lauree Sleepy
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Last night I closed for someone at work, and before going to bed set my alarm for seven-thirty this morning in order that I might ellipticize with Dieter. When the alarm did go off, I squirmed out of my bedsheets in a deep state of confusion, wondering what day it was and what I was supposed to be waking up for. I remembered nothing of my life from the day before, which is probably just as well, considering I accomplished little.
At the moment I am listening to a little music as I transfer dinero to cover the massive expenditure I made at CVS this afternoon. I purchased numerous long-lasting and somewhat expensive items, including facial scrub, shampoo with complimentary conditioner, cereal, and a Cadbury creme egg (das letzte sehr wichtig).
Mein Kopf, es tut mir weh.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:13 PM]
Mine Is A Monotonous And Inglorious History
Friday, March 03, 2006
I had set the time on my alarm to sound at six-thirty in the a.m., but I apparently neglected to set the alarm itself. I rolled over, drowsily mulling over a dream from which I was somehow roused, to remark inwardly, hmmm... dim light is streaming undaunted through the blinds I shut tightly against the outer world... which means it has passed six-thirty in the a.m.... Verdammt! Ich muß Deutsch studieren!
Leaping from my tent bed like one of the McAlisters in Home Alone, I hurriedly showered and scurried with my bookbag to study my vocabulary list for an hour before taking the German oral exam with Der Grair Bear (Dr. Grair) and Raija (the TA). I apologized and explained I was admittedly less-prepared than intended, for I had Nyquil-ed myself to sleep, despite not being sick. The medicine had yet left me too groggy to concentrate fully. Dr. Grair informed me (auf Deutsch, natürlich) that it might not be the greatest idea to take Nyquil when one has not a cold, to which I responded with a nervous giggle and an insincere promise (Versprechen) to cut back a little.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 8:42 PM]
Whoops, Sorry To Have Brushed You
Thursday, March 02, 2006
I had considered riding Dieter and Aulus after work, but with my eyes bleary from exhaustion, I determined I ought to scurry straight dormward for a decent sleep, as tomorrow morning I must again arise early in order to study for the German oral exam most intensely. This morning I attempted to complete the next German reading, sat through a video during the Trojan War seminar period, then went to the German Readings class to find it had been cancelled. Ausgezeichnet.
The next approximate hour and-a-half I spent somewhat chilled as I parked on a bench outside the foreign language building to copy vocabulary from the German story. Tim and Matt emerged eventually to eat healthful lunches, somewhat tainted by the Otis Spunkmeyer cookies I had brought them this morning. Otis tastes delectable fresh. Having conversed with them a few moments further, I strode to an eight-hour work shift, which drained that many more hours from my life. It also added four or five zits to my face that did not exist thereupon nine hours ago.
Ich habe Hunger, aber ich kann jetzt nicht essen. Ich muß schlaffen.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:26 PM]
Black Feet Like Mine
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
I watched a rather hilarious documentary about the controversy surrounding Martin Bernal's Black Athena, which was published in 1987. Having not yet read the book itself, I found the film disappointing, for it discussed nothing Bernal actually proposed, but rather presented snippets of discourse from classicists and proponents of Afrocentricity. I gained little insight into Bernal's theory or agenda. But I was at least entertained by the early nineties hairstyles and, of course, the learned British scholars who adamantly refuse to take advantage of modern dentistry.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 3:53 PM]