Saturday, April 29, 2006
Dieses Wochenende hat Raija (eine deutsche TA) mich nach Junction gefahrt. Wir und die andere Studenten haben letzte Nacht in Junction geschlafen, dann heute morgen haben wir nach Friedrichsburg gefahrt. Heute war das Wetter klar und sonnig mit ein bißchen Wind, aber gestern hat es schlecht geregnet, mit Donner und Hagel.
Wir sollen nur Deutsch sprechen, aber wir folgen die Regeln nicht immer. Keubler (seiner Nachname; er ist "Brian" in meinem Titel) spricht die am bestem Deutsch, ich glaube. Vor sechs Jahre hat er Deutsch studiert. Nächstes Jahr will Brian eine Stellung des Deutches Klubs kriegen. Ich hoffe, daß er Vice President durch Wahl bestimmt.
Jemand hat mich Präsidentin gestellt auf, und ein andere Person hat Tamme (ein Deutscher) gestellt auf. Bonnie, ein hübches Mädchen von meine deutsche Klassen, werde die neue Sekretärin sein. Am Montag werden die andere Mitgleider die neue Offiziers wählen. Nächste Jahr sollen wir viel Spaß machen.
Morgen soll ich meine Hausarbeiten machen. Am Montag soll ich ins finanzielle Hilfe Büro gehen, weil ich das Geld brauchen. Wo ist das Geld? Ich weiß nicht.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 6:00 PM]
I Feel So Dirty
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
I finally broke down and created a My Space profile, mainly in order to comment on my sisters' sites, since I cannot call either of them. Then I spent the time I had intended for looking up German vocabulary and typing the thank-you letter I wrote the German Department on browsing My Space for compatriots. My brain feels a little dry now, and I suddenly have the desire to contact twelve year-old girls for the purpose of meeting up with them and getting to know them more intimately.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 5:53 PM]
Are You Blind? Are You Deaf?
Yesterday I was scheduled to present the contents of my research paper for the seminar, but I have been moved to tomorrow, since the other presentations have run over time. I dressed in a button-down black shirt, slacks, and dress shoes, with neatly polished make up... all for naught, so it would seem, until Megan reminded me about lunch scheduled with the Classics Department's guest lecturer.
I skipped German to dine with Sharada, Megan, Adrian (another Classics undergraduate student) and the speaker guy, Mr. Kelly (a PhD candidate from Stanford). Mr. Kelly drove Dr. Lavigne's pretty blue Acura to a Vietnamese restaurant Sharada knew of. I think my fortune cookie told me to smile, or something. Pssh.
Afterward I cleaned my room and waited for the people in the residence hall office to put out the mail. When they finally finished I skipped to the office and thrust the package slip in the student assistant's face. He brought forth the long-awaited box of April goodies- two bottles of Norwegian hand lotion and the soundtrack to Amadeus. I opened my new toy and listened to the first part as I awaited the commencement of Mr. Kelly's lecture.
When we were seated I mentioned my new gift to Sharada, who became quite animated and begged me to let her copy the CD set. I agreed to this with some bemusement. The lecture itself (comparing allusions in Tibullus' poems to words from Vergil's Georgics) was blessedly easy to follow. Mr. Kelly presented his paper more humbly than professors typically do, and made clear that he wanted input and inquiry from people so that he might improve or add to his dissertation. I didn't ask anything, although Dr. Larmour (the Classics graduate director) did mention something about the irony of neither author having been a farmer, yet glorifying the rustic lifestyle, which had occurred to my mind as well. I enjoyed the discussion; it was less formal than previous lectures I have attended.
Afterward Adrian and I went out for Mexican (Tex Mex) food, though I wasn't hungry and therefore took only a chocolate cake and soda pop to go. Then it was off to casa Lavigne for a couple of hours for an end-of-the-year fete. I love his house, for it is very "bacheloresque": plain white walls with select black-framed photographs, in the kitchen miniblinds but no curtains, an iPod connected to the living room sound system, a pink-yellow-blue striped shower curtain with coordinating rug and bath towels... absolutely adorable. Apparently, two neighborhood cats think Dr. Lavigne is adorable, too, and they hang out in his backyard waiting for food and attention.
I forgot to write the thank-you letter for the German scholarship I received; I should send it this afternoon. I also need to visit the financial aid office either today or Friday to find something out about whether I am yet considered an independent student. If I receive no financial aid, I might have to consider not attending classes next semester, or definitely dropping below full-time student status.
When Sharada returns my Mozart CDs, everything will be peachy keen.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 8:28 AM]
Ich Kann Es Nicht Verstehen
Monday, April 24, 2006
My birthday went fairly well, all things considered. I worked from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., napped, then arrived late for the information meeting about my summer job at the residence halls. Bianca told me I only missed an ice breaker game (she enjoyed it; I would have found it retarded). Then she took me out to eat at a Mexican restaurant (fast Mexican, very fast, but decent enough).
I rode Dieter about half an hour later, then I rode Dieter before weight training class this morning, thus negating the effects of the very fast Mexican food.
I finished slightly more than half of the Power Point presentation. I should be able to finish the rest in about an hour when I get off of work. Then I will sleep for a couple of hours, roll out of bed, shower, and be fresh as a daisy tomorrow morning when I give the presentation. It is a plan.
I did not receive April's birthday package today, but my grandpa did send a card. I also received the free CDs I ordered after spring break.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 5:49 PM]
I Call It "Deutsch-ercize"
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Friday I received notice that I am the recipient of a German scholarship I applied for. It will come to five hundred dollars, to be applied to my spring 2007 tuition. Originally, the award amount came to a total one thousand, with the other five hundred going toward fall tuition, but the department decided to split the money amongst two candidates this year. That makes me feel a little better about accepting it, really, since I know I am not the only person who works and studies vigorously. Tomorrow or Monday I shall compose a thank-you letter.
I thought I might drop by the Rec Center to go rock climbing with Tim and Mathew again, but I need to create that Power Point presentation and look up German words for the story I am reading. Perhaps after work tomorrow they will be there again.
I received a birthday card from "Michael, Kailey, Eddie Bob, and Dad". The card was plain and rather boring, probably picked out by Terri. I shook it and the envelope, but no money flew out. Even before I thought of that, though, the first idea occurring to me was that I ought to write a thank-you letter, telling him never to bother sending me a birthday card again, though my siblings are certainly welcome to. He dropped me because I don't want Terri to do my laundry and I take twenty-minute showers. I want nothing to do with him, so he should save his stamps and save Terri the bother of having to pick out a card for someone who won't have anything to do with her, either. I am almost positive it was Terri who did the shopping for my Christmas presents the season before last, just by the fact that the list wasn't followed to the letter. When my father couldn't find something on our lists, he just didn't get it, or he might ask about where to find it. I'm not Terri's kid, and she shouldn't have to guess what I might want.
Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean... ich muß jetzt Deutsch studieren. Ich habe dies[e][em][er][en] empfinden. Es macht Spaß, ja...
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 1:06 PM]
Soda Pop Plus Empty Stomach Equals Doubleplusungood
Friday, April 21, 2006
After ellipticizing late this evening, I journeyed to work to snag a free beverage. Crystal fixed an odd drink for Boo and me: two parts Coca Cola to one part root beer and one part Dr. Pepper. One would think this a thoroughly disgusting combination, but it tastes magnificent, ignoring the fact that it gives one's tumbly the rumblies.
Yesterday from three-thirty to seven in the evening I attended a graduate student symposium thrown by the classics department, whereinwhich Sharada, Tim, Mathew, and three other graduate students read papers they had composed over the semester for their seminar over Aristophanes' Frogs. Not having read the play, I had nothing to ask about or any contentions to make regarding their research. They seemed well enough composed.
The evening became more interesting, for most people attending ate dinner at an Indian restaurant. I bummed a ride from someone (Travis, one of the other graduate students reading a paper), despite not really being able to afford the night out, but mostly wanting to spend more time with the trio before they vanish. Plus, I considered it my birthday fete, considering I shall work the day of my birthday and will consequently have no time for anything else.
Anyhow, I managed to say something off-the-wall every time I opened my mouth. At some point the conversation at one end of the long table at which we were all dining (twelve people) ceased whilst the discussion at my end continued. I don't quite remember the context or the exact question, but somehow someone asked me something about Matt, and I responded with, "My thighs" (in reference to the comment I made to his goading me about not wanting to climb the rock wall several weeks ago, when I shrieked that he was never going to strap anything around my thighs). After a brief pause, during which naughty sexual implications were realized, everyone- the graduate students, Matt's girlfriend, the tenured professors, my graduate advisor, and the professor who flew in from Ohio State University to give the keynote lecture- burst out laughing at me as I hid my face in shame. Matt then screamed, "Lauree- I told you to be discreet!"
Later, as the Ohio State professor returned from having joined Dr. Lavigne for a brief smoke break, he sat down to me telling Tim, "It was eighth grade, and this girl was pregnant. She told me she would beat me up, and I had no doubt she could do it." Yet again, he and Dr. Lavigne shared a laugh at my expense. Since the Ohio guy was staying at Dr. Lavigne's apartment, he rode with as Dr. Lavigne drove me back to the Lauree Lair. Usually I invite anyone who gives me a ride to come in for a romp on my tent bed, but I figured it might cause some scandal if my RA caught me escorting two thirty-something men to my room.
This afternoon Matt substituted as instructor of my Greek class. He definitely seemed less "on the ball" with the lesson as usual, but I made no comment about his wine consumption the night previous. He did apologize to the class, at one point saying, "I'm still a little tired from yesterday". I, in a rare exercise of prudence, said nothing to this, either.
After classes I managed to finish typing all but a sound conclusion for the Troia paper. With a conclusion and final revisions to the bibliography, it will be complete. Tomorrow I should make a Power Point presentation for class. Then I have one more week before the nightmare ends.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 10:07 PM]
Curious Idol Of Lead
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Yesterday I completed or at least began everything, with the exception of the diet log. I am probably the lone person who attends weight training class regularly and is nevertheless failing it, due to never having turned in the assignments. I always either forget them or purposefully neglect them. I am anti-gym class.
I am also anti-Trojan-War-Seminar-paper-writing. I did write most of the paper, but it stands as a rather uninformative, rambling piece of work that I am not at all proud to attach my name to. My in-class presentation will as well consist of fragmentary knowledge, but interspersed with odd Internet pictures.
Last night I attended the ΦΚΦ induction ceremony, on whose recipient list I recognized the names of thirteen people with whom I am acquainted in varying degrees. I sat with a friend from my German classes, Amber, who was nominated by the Honors College to receive the incoming Graduate Student scholarship.
I, dressed in a 1970s blue polyester bowling shirt and black JNCOs, was definitely the chic-est person attending. Everyone else dressed up. I had considered changing into something slightly more formal, but I had just awoken from a nap, I had a pounding headache, and I simply wasn't thinking clearly. When my name was called, I walked ten paces, shook the Chapter President's hand, thanked him for the honor of being inducted, took my certificate and pin thingy, and retraced the steps to my seat.
The remainder of the time I spent staring at the spinach-artichoke dip and crackers left on my plate, debating about whether it would be prudent to finish them while other people were being summoned forth. I took the mint tea glass in my hand once and felt severely guilty. Fortunately, before names were being called I had finished the three tiny but delectable meatballs I had tonged onto my saucer- they were muy bueno. I normally find egg rolls unsatisfying, but I had taken one nevertheless in order that I might dissect it if I became utterly bored. Again, I was spared the mild embarassment of appearing puerile, for I bit into it and liked the flavours enough to finish it off, which I believe was the object of its having been cooked.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 1:50 PM]
Ein Herz Aus Stein
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Errands having been run this afternoon:
turned in job acceptance application for the summer guest assistant positionTasks yet to be undertaken:
picked up the release form for the German immersion trip to Junction, Texas the weekend after next
turned the original essays in to Dr. Fry's office so that she might grade my final drafts
study for the Greek quiz tomorrowI assuredly must wrap up the seminar project before this weekend, so that I might practice rock climbing again with Matt and Tim. The following weekend I would be on the German immersion trip, and that next week begins finals. My self-enrichment is a nightmare.
begin a seminar presentation outline
attend an induction ceremony for Phi Kappa Phi ΦΚΦ
fill out an application for the national collegiate German honors society
write a check to cover room and board for the immersion trip
fake a diet log (which was due last Wednesday) for weight training class
ellipticize
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:01 PM]
Rock Me Amadeus
Monday, April 17, 2006
I have been listening to Megaherz's Kopfschuss. Es macht viel Spaß. I would much rather zone out to crazy German music than research material to include in my seminar presentation, which is the ostensible reason for being downstairs at the library computer lab.
My reluctance stems from the certainty that no matter what I produce for this project, it will somehow fall short of my professor's expectations. For one thing, all my sources thus far come from the Internet. They are not all webpages, precisely- rather, several are merely publications redistributed online, the hard-copies of which are simply not lying around Lubbock for me to pick up and peruse. But Jackson (the TA who read through my rough draft) pointedly wrote I ought to include book sources. Es tut mir Leid, aber... da sind keine, at least none relating directly to my material. Most references to the excavations at Troy are in reference to references to other references of excavations at Mycenae or Knossos.
Also, I am supposed to discuss the modern excavations at Troy (namely, those in progess since 1988), but have found very little sources citing specific examples of material goods found (pottery, jewelry, ritual vessels, and so forth). The excavation reports mention these only cursorily, concentrating instead on the exposure or analysis of architectural elements. But I nevertheless worry that I am overlooking something terribly important, something my professor knows about and expects me to bring forth in my paper and during my class presentation. It would, necessarily, reflect poorly on my research skills if I neglect something so important as the thing which I am positive I must be missing.
Ich haße mein Leben.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 12:22 PM]
Ich Kann Mich Nicht Kämpfen
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Last night I read Kafka's "The Burrow", which I probably appreciate best beside "The Metamorphosis". Admittedly, I did not entirely understand certain parts, so I suppose I shall plod down to the old Bibliothek for to seek some literary criticism tomorrow afternoon, if I feel secure enough in the revisions I have made to my seminar paper by then. After I finish reading the Kafka stories (I am almost through), I hope to begin the Roman readings book April sent me for Christmas. Its cover is yet very glossy, a quality which I fully intend to destroy before long.
I also read through "Lange Schatten", which I found utterly hilarious and over which I shall probably base my final essay for the course. In a sentence, it is about a teenage schoolgirl who takes a trip with her family to Italy and is flashed by a twelve year-old boy. Sehr lustig.
I ripped memorable pages out of my notebook and glued them onto coloured stock paper yesterday morning, but upon my return to The Lauree Lair early in the evening, the cheap drugstore school glue had not yet dried. I hope it dries before May 2nd.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 11:29 AM]
The Greatest Toy Store There Is
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Matt and Tim finally convinced me to climb the rock wall. I had to sign a sort of accident release form, and then the person having me sign in pointed at Tim and said,
"He's gonna belay you, right?"
I looked at the guy, thoroughly confused, thinking, He's gonna be-what me?! ...and why does that require a harness?
My apprehensions were subsequently allayed, however, as Tim explained this only meant he would be the person at the other end of the rope to check my falls. Twice he showed me how to tie a figure-eight knot, the mastery of which would prevent me from falling to my death, but I must practice this complicated skill further.
Different sides of the wall are set to train particular skill levels, so Tim had me choose between a couple he thought I might best begin with. I went up the first side two or three times, perhaps between a third and a half of the way, but grew weary and let myself fall back. The last time my hand cramped up (I had only imbibed soda pop all morning) and would not be fixed, so I had Tim let me down.
He then suggested I might try a second portion of the wall, built with a crack in which I might rest my body. This I did with fairer success, ascending all the way to the top without falling back once. Tim was infinitely patient and usually let me work my own way through areas at which I found myself awkwardly positioned. Before we began, Tim told me I would have to let my feet do most of the work and keep my hips to the wall. At this I laughed:
"This could turn out interesting, then, because I don't press my hips to anything too often. I'm a very distant person."
Despite every determination not to, I did enjoy myself, and will probably allow someone to belay me again next week, time permitting. Besides being stressed about upcoming papers and finals, I am saddened by the recollection that Tim, Matt, and Sharada all wrote their graduate theses this semester and will henceforth vanish forever. Jan (one of the German graduate students who arrived along with Eike, Berna, and Anke) finished his thesis as well and will return to Deutschland during the summer.
In both departments the remaining graduate students I either do not see often enough or have no desire to talk to. Everyone is certainly very nice, but just as certainly are we all very busy. Sharada I shall miss especially, for she is one of the few girls I could ever stand long enough to befriend. Most girls are icky.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 5:34 PM]
You're Talkin' Crazy, Woman
Friday, April 14, 2006
Mr. Underwood and Tim expect I shall arrive at the Student Recreation Center tomorrow at two p.m. to go rock climbing. I already know how I shall abhor this experience. I told Mr. Underwood a few weeks ago that he would never strap anything around my thighs, but he being a persistent little thing, I have finally relented. If I choose to take classes later, they cost five dollars, which I don't suppose is too expensive, comparatively speaking.
Tonight I am doing laundry (as I will not have time tomorrow) and beginning work on the German readings portfolio. I am now in ownership of all but three of the other students' speech handouts, not including, naturally, the ones that have yet to be given. I presume if I complete most of the project tonight and tomorrow, I shan't be concerned with the remainder until the days before it is due on the final day of class. Ausgezeichnet.
Otherwise, I have done little of interest, except beginning another Kafka story and continuing the reading of Kreta Mykene Troia on Wolfdietrich or Chip (Chip stands two bikes to the left of Javier and possesses braces behind which I might set my book, better facillitating its reading).
Last week I messed up the shirt onto which I had been sewing another "Get Fuzzy" comic strip, and have since avoided completing it. This evening I found a button someone abandoned on top of one of the washers- it would set itself most stylishly, perhaps at the shoulder, on a green t-shirt I own but have not yet done anything interesting to.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:38 PM]
And Then There Were None
Thursday, April 13, 2006
I am miffed that I lost eight pounds over the past two weeks, but gained four of them back again over the past couple of days. Eating cheese sticks with meaty marinara sauce plus two bottles of Cherry Coke and a slice of carrot cake (found in the freezer at work; it could be three days old, it could be three years old- I'll probably find out when I check my stools tomorrow) during my work break this evening probably further exacerbated the situation. But tomorrow I shall be good again.
I finally incorporated weight room stuff into my workout, and it seems to be working, insofar that I at least do not gain as I eat throughout the day. When I am possessed of enough energy, I really do not mind about forty minutes of the circuit room, an hour reading German text on the bike machine thingy, and an hour of elliptiizing. I keep eating the wrong things, though, which prevents me from losing more weight than I might. At least ninety minutes of exercise per diem and a moderate diet... pssh.
For Easter weekend I have all good intents of completing or at least massively revising the Troy excavations paper I am to have completed by May 2nd. My presentation, though, falls April 25th, which means I ought to have written the paper, for the most part, prior. It counts for thirty percent of my semester grade. I already lost fifteen percent due to the tardy arrival of my rough draft. On both exams, I made a "C", the lowest grades (not counting work I never turned in) I have ever made in college thus far. Ich finde dieses Seminar sehr interessant, aber ich habe keine Zeit, es zu studieren.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 3:35 PM]
More Uses Of The Infinitive
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Dr. Fry hat mir gesagt, daß ich jetzt bessere Deutsch schreibe. Ich bin erfreut. Aber ich kann es nicht sprechen.
After classes I attempted to nap beginning at twelve-thirty, for I had only slept about two hours after returning from work around two-thirty in the morning. I remained in bed until four, but was twice interrupted by phone calls, after having been reawakened around one-thirty by a girl shouting to her friends down the hallway. I almost murdered her, but reasoned against it.
I need to finish studying for Greek, then I suppose I shall read before bed time. Sehr Spaß.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:25 PM]
Toxic Glove Powder
Monday, April 10, 2006
I suspect either the new sanitation gloves or one of the soaps I use at work are causing my hands to deteriorate. Besides being dry, the skin everywhere is cracking, with a couple of bleeding knuckles for gruesome effect. As I rode Dieter last night, my hands actually burned as I sweat. I lathered my hands with the last of the Bath & Body Works hand lotion April and her parents gave me the Christmas before last, but as soon as I walked outside this morning, the Lubbock air viciously sucked the moisture from my skin, as this desolate locale also sucks away my desire to live.
Last night Jeremy (one of my non-native German buddies) had the brilliant idea to e-mail everyone in our class about providing each other copies of our speech handouts, which must be included in the portfolio due at the end of the semester. I neglected to save mine to anything, but I still have my own copy, so I sent a mass reply that people should contact me if they need me to make a copy for them.
Hopefully, I should have time to be unusually creative. I plan to rip the notes from my spiral and paste them onto coloured paper as dividers between sections. I ought to do something flashy with the handouts as well, but I have not yet decided what, precisely.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:20 AM]
Cool And Friendly-Like
Sunday, April 09, 2006
A boy from work (Corey, who I call my paduion) fell from two boxes up whilst stocking the Coke vault. He thought he might have broken his arm, so I filled a bag with ice for him to smack onto it. However, he not knowing where Thompson Hall (the campus medical center) was located, requested that I accompany him thither.
It has been nearly two years since I've driven a vehicle, which made exiting the parking lot rather interesting. We arrived to find Thompson Hall closed for the weekend, with a sign notifying the behindered to seek medical care elsewhere. I couldn't risk driving off-campus, so I took Corey back to the dorm parking lot so that Crystal could drive him to a hospital. This took about an hour away from my life. I hope he broke his arm.
In addition to the Muppets album, I finally acquired What's The Story (Morning Glory)?, which revived junior high memories and made me a little depressed at the direction my life has since taken. The Radiohead stuff I got at the same time likewise did the same (though in a more expected way).
I feel entirely rutted, but completely disconnected from reality.
Lubbock blows.
The university I attend rapes its undergraduate students every chance it gets. Unless one dribbles a basketball or spikes a football, financial assistance is scarce. The Student Government Association cut funding for student organizations next year by thirty percent, yet it was proposed this year to construct a multi-million dollar leisure pool on campus (in addition to the pool at the Student Recreation Center and the lap pool at the Exercise Sciences Center). Academic scholarship is not at all a wide priority, which I find absolutely disgusting, considering all the moolah I must expend for two worthless sheets of paper.
I only need so many more credits, but adhering to this schedule of classes and mindless work to pay for them strains my poor little head. I want to quit my job, drop out of school, and crawl into a medium-sized cardboard box somewhere. Then I would sleep.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 3:07 PM]
A Rainbow Has Nothing To Hide
Saturday, April 08, 2006
I recently acquired "The Muppet Show 25th Anniversary: Music, Mayhem, and More!", which features The Muppets singing my favourite Muppet Show songs. I had "Rainbow Connection" set to repeat about ten times this morning. Sehr Spaß.
I typed the German papers, wie ein gutes Ei, but I still need to lengthen one of them a bit more and double-check a few endings. Tomorrow evening I should have enough time to write the fourth paper. Ausgezeichnet.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 2:58 PM]
I'm Better Off Dead
Friday, April 07, 2006
This morning I tore through the first three papers I wrote for German Readings, changing endings, rephrasing certain ideas, removing (especially from the first essay) anything that made no sense. Dr. Fry wrote that my papers have improved markedly, which I am eternally glad for. The first paper requires much revision, but the other two were simpler to correct. After typing those tomorrow, I must commence with writing the fourth essay, which will consume the entire afternoon before I work at six in the evening.
Hoffentlich, I will have finished all the German homework so that I might have time Sunday evening to look up things for the Troia paper. I only recently realized three classes take place before presentations begin. Heilige Scheiße.
Yesterday, one of the Germans (a fellow named "Johannes") asked Dr. Fry how to spell "enttäuscht". She answered that she thought it had only one "t", but I said to Johannes,
"I think it's supposed to have two, because Der Grair Bear corrected it on a paper of mine".
Johannes, who has a rather loud voice, said, "Der Grair Bear? Why do you call him 'Der Grair Bear'?"
"Well, he's just so big and cuddly... like a teddy bear."
Dr. Fry, who happens to be Dr. Grair's wife, overheard this entire exchange. Wunderbar. She's probably spilled the beans to Der Grair Bear, who will now be aware that I think of him as "Der Grair Bear". Further interaction with him might become a bit awkward, as though any of my social interactions aren't oddball enough.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 7:43 PM]
Am Ende Der Nacht
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
I meant to read the next Greek chapter as I awaited Dr. Lavigne's arrival for the Classical Society meeting this afternoon, but instead allowed myself to converse with the giggly Classics girls (who had just been released from a Latin sight-reading exam). They are good company, but when we converge, we are a bit loud. We were twice reprimanded, for the linguistics people are finishing their theses/conducting mega-research over something-or-other. The other three didn't mind, but I resent being shushed by anyone.
Neither Dr. Lavigne nor Cole (Il Duce) had shown up, so after fifteen or more minutes I stomped off a little moodily, since I was already disappointed that I hadn't finished the Greek as I had intended. Jetzt muß ich Deutsch lesen.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 3:02 PM]
People Should Pay Me To Know Things
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
I closed last night and consequently received only three hours of sleep before taking the seminar exam this morning. I felt fairly well-prepared, if already exhausted. I could not remember whence came a few minor art objects (the choices were usually between Tiryns, Mycenae, and Pylos), but overall I did much better than on the first exam and expect a "B" grade.
Afterward I played hooky from German Readings, considering I hadn't read the next section, to eat at the dining hall and take a lengthy-ish nap. I ate pizza and cheese bread (both of which are the sort of items I have been avoiding lately) so that I would have enough energy to work out for a prolonged period this evening after the German movie. For the coming semester I arranged my schedule so that I might have Tuesday afternoons and evenings entirely free again, for although I never have time to lounge around, precisely, it is important nevertheless that I insert bogus hours into my week.
I had not intended to take summer classes, but altered plans after checking my online financial aid page to discover I had received a thousand-dollar grant each session. It is a "TTU Resident Student Grant" that I also received last summer, though in a smaller amount, presumably for having registered as a Lubbock County resident (though about this I am not entirely certain). I registered this morning (tentatively) to take Introductory Entomology the first semester and Physical Anthropology the second semester, thereby removing the lab science credits I must acquire before graduation. That leaves a mathematics course, a communications course, and two American political science courses to complete sometime within the next year (or two). I might put them off again until next summer.
Introductory Entomology should be hilarious, if rather a bit dry. Anthropology should prove useful, at least basically, since classical study sometimes involves research/integration of the genre with this or that find. Plus, if I must touch a human body, I prefer it dead and de-skinned. Additionally to the science courses, I intend to audit the sophomore Latin classes over Catullus, which Dr. Lavigne intends to teach at noon every weekday. Sehr Spaß.
I had no time to take another senior level Latin course this semester (which is unfortunate, for the course offered was over Latin erotic elegies... verdammt!), and in the fall no one will be teaching a senior Latin course. But I need to continue my studies! This past fall we began reading a prosecution by Cicero, but changed plans mid-semester because the other students became bored. I war enttäuscht, because I loved Cicero. The passages were challenging, and his pomposity I found bemusing rather than irritating. But Catullus should still prove entertaining- the word pedicabo I learned from a Catullus poem. Pedicabo means "I shall violate you anally".
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 3:52 PM]
Die Erste Teil: der Zweikampfen
Sunday, April 02, 2006
I accomplished this weekend absolutely none of my school-related goals. I had plenty of time, but nevertheless managed to rationalize away any commitment to action I had previously held. I was semi-productive, but only in completing minor tasks and errands, as well as working two eight-hour shifts during which I managed not to kill my coworkers, my customers, or myself.
For the past two weeks (since spring break, essentially) my German switch has been broken. I read an entirely German library book as I bicyclized for an hour this evening and am pleased to note that its effect has been as stimulating as desired. My recognition of forms has much improved this semester. Also, struggling to comprehend German text wiles away the hour much more quickly than Tacitus' Annals have been doing lately. But I have almost completed them and am determined to finish within the week.
Jetzt soll ich studieren, aber...
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 8:09 PM]
Quit Your Lioning Around
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Last night I read the next Greek chapter and completed the exercise set, like a good little egg. Before work this evening I shall begin proofing the first three essays I wrote for the German readings class. At the end of the semester, I must turn in a portfolio containing all my essays, worksheets, and handouts, including a self-evaluation of my progress in reading and writing German. Spaß. Anyhow, I have some time this weekend to begin the project, which would probably mean less stress toward the end of the semester as I close up my other classes. I hope Dr. Fry doesn't specify precisely how this portfolio is to be compiled, for I would like to make mine a rather more colourful presentation than a plain folder of papers.
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 1:23 PM]