Yeah. My internship class starts in January. That’s when my portfolio needs to be completed.

I have already complained that no one is evaluating my portfolio right now, but I expected that it would at least be there the next time I logged into Brighten.

It’s not.

The entire portfolio is gone. Poof. Vanished.

I would like to say that I’m sure that I’ll get it back, but I’m not sure about anything anymore with these bumblers at Lamar.

Let’s see how long *this* request takes.

Can I just reiterate that Lamar Academic Partnership is *not* worth the headache.

Caveat emptor!

One of the hardest things to do as a fitness nurse is to get clients to realize, “their ability and their limits”.  They want to feel comfortable while exercising.  But soon they stop seeing results and say things like, “Exercise doesn’t work for me.”  You don’t actually believe that do you?  But as a fitness nurse, our job is to take them into the ‘uncomfortable zone’.  But only for a very short time.  C’mon nurses, you know we all have said, “This is going to be a little uncomfortable”, with a smile.  Do the same with training them for fitness.

Dr. Al Sears, MD (a cardiologist) has developed his wonderful PACE (click here) program and he says:

“Most people think the longer they work out the more weight they will lose…Actually, long-term exercise calls on the body to store more fat!”  I know…this has got to be a joke, right?  Wrongo!

The following chart helps us understand how this misconception became so widespread:

 **Type of fuel burned at varying activity intensity levels     (~ = approximately)

By studying the chart, you see that the body burns the greatest amount of fat (55%) during moderate-intensity exercise.

This led many people to the false conclusion that you burn the greatest amount of fat by long, moderate-intensity

exercise…it does not take into account the changes in your metabolism after you stop exercising.

Your body is always adapting to the demands put on it. When you burn fat during exercise, you are telling your body to

maintain fat stores so that they will be available for the next exercise session. In essence, your body hoards your fat

reserves to use as fuel for future workouts. Instead of decreasing fats, this type of endurance exercise triggers your body

to make more fat whenever possible. Now look back at the chart, you would get your highest percentage of your energy

needs from fat while at rest. But you wouldn’t use this strategy to burn fat!”

“One of the primary reasons people choose the wrong form of exercise is that they presume that their body changes

during an exercise session. It never does. All the important changes begin after you stop working out”.

When you burn sugar (carbs) your liver will in turn burn triglycerides on your belly to replace it’s glycogen that it used to refuel your muscles after exercise (replace glycogen in your muscles).  Let your liver do it’s job.

ALSO, he states:

“Long-duration exercise is a waste of your time, and can actually cause other health problems. 
This type of exercise makes the heart and lungs more efficient, but it reduces their reserve capacity.  Simply put, your reserve capacity is your  

body’s ability to respond effectively to sudden demands you place on it. For heart, reserve capacity is crucial. It can

mean the difference between a long healthy life and sudden death from a heart attack”.

Thank you Dr. Sears!  You can get his book HERE.  it’s called, “The Doctor’s Heart Cure”.

As fitness nurses, think like a nurse:  “Think what is everybody doing that’s keeping them sick?  How can I utilize exercise to get them well?” 

I have a great tip for you to give to your clients:  ALWAYS move BEFORE you EAT!

Exercise helps to ’make room’ for glycogen to go, after you eat.  The next blog entry will discuss the importance of using the glycogen in your muscles on a regular basis to help ward off diabetes and weight gain.

Till Next Week,
Lori, RN, Fitness Nurse

Someone once told me that the feeling of being lost is an indication that you have progressed, that you have moved forward. I’m not entirely certain that that is what I am experiencing, but what do I know, I’m just me.

These next two days are going to be insane, my French final is due tomorrow and I still have yet to even -begin- translating a poem or story of mine. Egh. Then my paper is due Tuesday, last one of the semester but it seems like I’ll be getting together with two other guys who are in the class to write it and figure out -how- to write it.
Stupid sources…

Life’s not bad, I hung out with Mark again yesterday but ended up coming home around 2, my throat is still pretty bad. It hurts to swallow. More egh.

I am looking forward to going back to Columbus though, I don’t know how coming home for Christmas is going to go it feels so weird here.

Random side thought, I seriously just got excited about Pokemon. XD
I’m so cool.

Anyways, off to eat my grilled cheese and stuffs

Much love,
Anthony

Feel good song(s) of the day:
A*Teens – The Abba Generation album

We’ve all have that someone or group that sends us the same emails over and over again with this engaging crap that seems to monopolize our time,..

I forgot what I was doing

then we get nothing done.  So hopefully we can kill a solid 20 minutes of your time with this post.  If you’re concerned about how long you have left, read through this entire list.  Then follow the final instructions.

( Don’t ask me!  I don’t know how it’s done!!)

———————————————————————————————————

Read out loud the text inside the triangle below.

More than likely you said, ‘A bird in the bush,’! and. …….
if this IS what YOU said, then you failed to see
that the word THE is repeated twice!
Sorry, look again.

Next, let’s play with some words.
What do you see?

In black you can read the word GOOD, in white the word EVIL (inside each black letter is a white letter). Now, what do you see?

You may not see it at first, but the white spaces read the word optical, the blue landscape reads the word illusion. Look again! Can you see why this painting is called an optical illusion?

What do you see here?

This one is quite tricky!
The word TEACH reflects as LEARN.

Last one.
What do you see?

You probably read the word ME in brown, but…….
when you look through ME you will see YOU!

Do you need to look again? Test Your Brain
This is really cool. The second one is amazing so please read all the way though.

ALZHEIMERS’ EYE TEST

Count every ‘ F ‘ in the following text:

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS…

(SEE BELOW)

HOW MANY ?
WRONG, THERE ARE 6 – no joke.
READ IT AGAIN !
Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F’s before you scroll down.

The reasoning behind is further down.
The brain cannot process ‘OF’.

Incredible or what? Go back and look again!!
Anyone who counts all 6 ‘F’s’ on the first go is a genius.

Three is normal, four is quite rare.

Send this to your friends.
It will drive them crazy.!
And keep them occupied
For several minutes..!

look at the spinning woman and if she is turning right your right side of your brain is working . If she is turning left your left side of your brain is working . If she turns both ways for you then you have a 160 or better IQ

More Brain Stuff . .  From Cambridge University .

Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty  uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig  to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs psas it on  !!

So here are your instructions.

#1. Pass this on to as many people as you can,. this stuff is cool enough to do it.
#2. Comment Below

#3. Visit http://www.deathclock.com/

On drive back home from the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday, doing the long drive from Richmond to Boston. Just spotted a woman’s license plate that said, “LKITUP,” at which I exclaimed, “Ew! That woman’s license plate says, ‘lick it up!’” My husband pointed out that perhaps the license plate actually says, “Look it up,” as in maybe the woman is a librarian. That would be not at all disgusting and, in fact, quite clever. So now I’m wondering which it is. One argument in the “lick it up” category is that, if the woman is a librarian she would have utilized the additional one letter available to her on most standard license plates to specify a vowel: as in “lokitup” or “lukitup.” Of course the first “o” option looks more like “lock it up,” more appropriate for a police officer or self-storage warehouse owner, and who knows, maybe she is. And if the lady really is a librarian, might the “u” option, “lukitup,” be even worse than the original? What self-respecting librarian would be caught with an unsettling misspelling for all the world to see on her back bumper? And “lukitup” could always mean “luck it up,” in which case maybe the woman’s just Irish.

You’re the only one who can set me free.

So, the date didn’t work out, sadly and I spent the night at Columbus alone which, I must say, was the most eerie experience of my life. It was so empty and creepy and there were zombies everywhere and I had to fend them off with my…

Oh, right, reality.

Well, it was just weird and really quiet.

I’m home now though, spent a good few hours packing and being lazy and showering and all that stuff before making the trip here. Turns out Canton is a million times colder than Columbus, it’s not even that far away!

Totally just realized it was Thanksgiving! So, er, happy Thanksgiving to the four people who actually read this! Woo!
Right now I am extremely thankful for Osker for keeping me company. It’s so weird not be around so many people late at night, or have the freedom of going to the parking garage when I want and gazing out towards the Aflac building, like some sort of pathetic beacon of hope on the horizon.

Alright, don’t judge me on this one, but when I’m on the parking garage I pretend it’s a huge boat. And, I don’t know, I’ve always had this insane urge to sail, just to go out and sail with nothing but ocean on every horizon. I can’t even explain how amazing that’d be… but, like all other things, I won’t do it alone. I don’t really understand that bit about myself.
I need company.

We all have our faults…

…and we all tend to fall into them sometimes.

I saw New Moon tonight, and it wasn’t nearly as bad as Twilight. Bella and Edward still need to learn how to act, but Jacob was a great actor! But yeah, I wasn’t too impressed with it. I kind of liked the atmosphere of the last one more, though. Werewolves kind of freak me out. But there was a lot more Alice, who is amazing and adorable, so I appreciated that. And Jasper was pretty cute too, I’m not going to lie.

ANYWAYS! Parking garage girl is talking to me again! It’s very exciting, she’s a rather skilled conversationalist though that may come from the theater side of things.

Not all too much is new, I’ve calmed out of my angsty I-want-to-smoke-myself-to-death phase and quit smoking. Stopped talking to Iessica, good move. Am talking to Carolyn again, probably a bad move but it’s easier not to think of her as my ex and just some girl I barely know, cause, as it turns out, I barely know her.

Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk keeps reminding me of how much I wish I could play the piano. Also, Adam Lambert’s CD isn’t bad! It’s very 90’s, which I like.

Ah, well, time to be thankful… FOR MY NEW JOB AS A VOICE TRANSCRIBER FOR CHACHA!
More like Cha-Ching!

I’m so cool.

Much love,
Anthony

Feel good song of the day:
Midnight Sun – The Sounds

Cartoon: RK

Also visit the Cartoon page on RwB.

Mmm, heartbreak tastes -great- on a daily basis. I don’t know why I let my ex-ex-girlfriend convince me to unblock her. Egh.
Smoked my last cigarette today, gave away my real last one to the random guy who happened to be atop the parking garage tonight, him and I talked for a while. It was rather nice. Not being alone.

Still about the business of falling for the wrong people. Not so much the wrong people as it is the people who aren’t interested me… or in my gender, for that matter. But what can you do?

My date with Camille is tomorrow… and I’m ecstatic to be honest. I won’t have to be alone. I won’t have to feel alone. I won’t have to feel detached or afraid or cautious or anything…

So tired of hurting.

Things done today:
Actually woke and went to class
Had Thanksgiving lunch on Main Campus
Listened to Christmas music
Typed up some poetry
Got an Honesty Box
Went to Thanksgiving dinner
Drew hand turkeys
Had a colouring war which lasted almost an hour
Hung up our drawings in the dorm
Went to Reilly’s to get Parrot
Hung out with Christina, Reilly, and Kathryn
Smoked my last cigarette
Locked Manuel in the pantry
Watched Chris fit himself into the fridge
Stayed up late

Not bad. Not good. It is what it is.

Much love,
Anthony

Feel good song of the week:
CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Cartoon: RK

Also visit the Cartoon page on RwB.

Cartoon: RK

Also visit the Cartoon page on RwB.

I bought a new book today, printed in 1899, Alexander Dumas’s La Tulipe Noir, though it’s set up a bit like a textbook in the sense that there are exercises in the back that have to do with the reading as well as a French – English dictionary in the back, and yet, the book is rather tiny. It hides so much within it’s rusting pages. And it smells fantastic.
A great addition to my two purchases from yesterday, a collected stories of Edgar Allan Poe (published in 1952) and Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories (printed in 1907). The latter being a rather curious find as they are children’s stories and I’d be lying if I said my first thought upon finding it wasn’t that I could read it to my children when I’m older. Upon reading it, the stories are very unique and inventive the style of writing is fantastic and almost sing-song as well very British in its wording to the point where I find myself trying to feign a British accent while reading it and even shares the British affinity for coming up with colourful adjectives to describe things, such as ‘ooshy-skooshy’. The stories are origin stories explaining things such as why the Camel has it’s hump, why the large whale eats only small fish, and why rhinoceroses’ skin is rough and wrinkly and is completely with illustrations that Kipling fully explains himself in detail.
By whatever weird coincidence, the other night in the market I had turned to a random page and found a picture of a kangaroo hopping and instantly recognized it, this book is the book that is read in the early segments of the movie “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button”. One of my absolute favourites.

Anyways, I’m starting to sound like a ridiculous book enthusiast.

Well, I met parking garage girl’s sort-of boyfriend today without even realizing it was him. He was nice though, I don’t know a whole lot about it but they seem like to swell people. I spent a majority of the night with Christina and Reilly playing guitar hero and hanging out, it’s nice having my own set of friends that I don’t have to be surrounded by specific people to see. It’s a nice feeling, establishing a sense of identity and comfort. People to confide in. Other than Parrot, that is.

I asked Camille out on a date today, we’re going to see a movie sometime next week (or so that’s the plan, should I run out of money by then because I keep buying ridiculously old books, well, it may not) and I’m rather looking forward to it.

My faith in Fate has been reignited, almost daily so many things have happened and come together in such auspicious of ways I can’t think of any other explanation for them. I’m feeling good though, my grades, I fear, may be dwindling (and what a bad time for that too) and I’m in fear of the future… but, well… I guess I have this to share the burden of my mind, so here I am, burdening…

I want out. I don’t just mean this college, I love it here. But I want out, I’ve wanted out for a long time and I still do and I have fight myself not to find a way, but I want out. I want to go to France and I want to take the risk that it may not pan out or that I may not be fluent enough, I just want to jump into it, I feel like it’s what I need. I don’t know. It’s so tempting to do it and it’s so tempting not to. I think if I wasn’t so afraid of it I would have by now, but the other thing is…

…I don’t want to go alone.

There you have it. Anthony’s trying to escape, big surprise.

Anyways, I am going to turn in for the night. I’d like to thank Reilly though for graciously allowing me to see into her head, a rather kind gesture to trust me with something like that, so I entrusted her with the same privilege.
Hope you’re not too disappointed.

Anywho, bed time pour moi.

Much love,
Anthony McDaniels

Feel good song of the day:
Happy – Nevershoutnever

This is dumb…the New York Times writes a piece on the busted efforts of the United States and other Western countries to negotiate anything with Iran….and guess what….NOTHING…Naddda…No GO…..

And you know what?….it’s gonna be the same until the Iranians announce they have the bomb…or you know who took the bomb factories out…..

Stay tuned…..and watch smart people keep doing dumb things……

I know I haven’t posted in a loooong time. So for those of you who read this, I am Sorry (i think i prob have 1 person who is subscriber to this blog.

I am going to preface this post by saying that it is totally lame. I wouldn’t read it if I was you. Its actually just a bunch of rambling and possibly over exaggerated views on a recent event in my life that I’m sure most people wouldn’t care to hear about. All that to say, I don’t blame you if you stop reading halfway through (if you even make it that far)

I knew this would happen again. I knew this was too good to be true. I knew I should have guarded my heart from the ever present fact that love just never works for me. I’m not saying I loved her. However, I am saying that I think there was definite potential for love to happen down the road. But down the road never seems to arrive. I get stuck at every light along the way. There’s usually some sort of road construction, lane closure or flash flood to slow me down or completely stop my forward progress. In some cases, Even make me turn around and go back the way I came. I’m not sure what I was expecting to happen. I knew, and she made it very clear, that nothing would happen between us for a while. And I was okay with that, or so I thought. I am not an “in between” guy. I am either all or nothing. I can’t give half effort or use only half of my heart. I must use all of my heart or nothing at all. I am not afraid of commitment. I actually like commitment. I like knowing that someone will be there. I like the idea that someone will be there, even thought people are human and they will alway come and go. I am not an “in between” guy. I am incapable of being in between friends and lovers. I can’t do that. I just can’t. Wrong or right thats who I am. And sometimes I wish I could be an “in between” guy. I feel like that what people expect from guys in general. Afraid of commitment and loving the in between stages. I always tend to screw up relationships because I come on too fast and too strong. Not in a physical sense but in a very emotional way. I get very emotionally involved in a relationship way too soon. That has caused me much unnecessary heartbreak in recent years. You see, this is not the first time this girl has broken my heart and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I have a tendency to let people break my heart over and over again. This is because they tell me they won’t do it this time. But it always ends up the same. The girl is happy and satisfied while I am left to pick up the pieces of my heart from the hardwood floor. I was falling for her about this same time last year when we both left town for a week. Went to separate ends of the country. When she returned, I couldn’t wait to see her. To hug her. To feel the warmth of her cheek against mine. However, I was surprised to find that during that one short week she had started dating another guy. I was heartbroken to say the least. But, I was sure, this time would be different. She reassured me that this time was different. That she wouldn’t break my heart again or lead me on. And I said I wouldn’t let that happen to me again. I wouldn’t let her lead me on. I said I didn’t deserve to be treated like that. And here I sit, about a month after my heart began to fall for her again. Here I sit, once again, heartbroken. I should have known this would happen. I should have saved some small piece of my heart and hidden it from her so she couldn’t see all of me. I was too transparent. I am too transparent. I should have been more reserved. But thats not me. I am an all or nothing guy. So I gave all of my heart to her. I’m not sure why but I did. And now I am regretting it. I gave her all of my heart and she borrowed it for a while, just long enough to make me feel safe and secure, then she gave it right back and expects us to still be friends. I can’t just be friends after wanting to be so much more for so long. I feel like I am just being used. I feel like an idiot really. I should probably learn from this situation. I should probably consider it a great life lesson learned the hard way. But the truth is that I will never learn this lesson I’m afraid. I will continue to be an all or nothing guy. I will continue to give all of my heart away the second I start to fall for someone. And, in return, I will continue to be a lonely, heartbroken soul. I will continue to be the guy that is too sweet and cares too much too soon. But that is just something I will have to learn to live with. I should have known it would end this way. I should have known better than to let this happen again. I should have known that love is just something that comes to visit for a while and leaves without a “goodbye” or “see you later”. Love is like a thief in the night. And that, my friend, is a lesson I hope you never have to learn.

I am talking to you, Andrew Sullivan, to you Newsweek, to you HuffingtonPost – your obsession-du-jour has reached epic proportions, rendering your publications more polarizing and irrelevant.   And Andrew Sullivan – you’re defending that douchebag Levi Johnston?   Really?  Why?  That guy is a a redneck, scumbag opportunist – and you know that!  Idiots like Limbaugh, Palin, Beck , Johnston want scream nonsense and get your attention (and guess what, they have!), taking your precious time and energy away from more important issues at hand.

If I should buy jelly beans, have to eat them all in just one sitting.

Truth is, I don’t really like jelly beans all that much, they get stuck to my teeth and I end up tasting them all day. Chocolate milk, on the other hand, I love.

As it is I am in love with the song Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk, it’s a rather amazing song that just pulls at my heart strings. That Rufus Wainwright. He has nice hair too.
“Tower of Pisa when ever I see ya”
-best line in the song, the strings pretty much take over there and overpower the piano. I know this cause I’ve been listening to it on loop since I got on the bus.

Onto another subject.
Lesbians.
Why do I keep getting attracted to lesbians? I mean, luckily my heart is stolen by someone at the moment, but honestly, this could cause problems for me in the future. Then what do I do? I frighten myself sometimes.
I also think Evelyn is a fantastically beautiful name.

Almost to main campus, must got suffer through Environmental Studies and Geography. Me souhaitez bonne chance!

Much love,
Anthony

Here is a post of leftover thoughts that don’t fit into any of the carefully crafted posts I spend so much time writing. Why should you read this? I don’t know. Perhaps you shouldn’t. But if you find this particular post to be pointless, please come back in a day or two because I am gearing up for my ultimate post, the one post that defines me and gives my existence meaning. It will be witty, of course, but also poignant, original, creative, and maybe a bit sexy. It will be quoted by other bloggers. Excerpts will be read at my funeral, which is odd because I will still be alive.

But at the moment, we are still stuck in this post. So here are my thoughts for today:

We just had our first frost in New Hampshire, and all the red and brown leaves on the ground were delicately outlines in white, as if they were drawn first with a white pencil and then filled in with color. I had never noticed that before.

The white lining of the leaves reminded me of the silver lining you hear about behind storm clouds. It was three years ago that I looked up in the sky & suddenly realized the literal origin of that saying, “Behind every dark cloud is a silver lining.” I could see that the sun was actually producing a white lining behind the dark clouds.

As we move into our long and arduous winter in the Northeast of the United States, I wonder what happens to the flies. They all seem to have died, mostly on window cills. So, how do they come back? Do their larva hibernate? Speaking of insect mysteries, do ants sleep?

Plants make me question the meaning of individuality. You can break of a part of some plants, stick it in water & it will grow into a new plant. Are plants individuals, or colonies of cells that can split apart? Aren’t we colonies of cooperating cells & microorganisms? Most of what’s going on in my body I have no conscious awareness of. Are my blood cells working for me, or are they part of me? The other day, I donated blood. That blood is still alive, and soon it may be in someone else’s body. So is it still part of me? What is me?

Well, it’s almost time for bed. But first I have to go check out the meteor shower. People can spend all the time & money they want fabricating fireworks shows, but it’s never as thrilling as seeing an unexpected meteor zip across an otherwise apparently static display of stars. Remember, this post is of no consequence, but my next post… THAT ONE will really be something! So bookmark often and click back soon. Goodnight!

The Reason Why the title of this post will most likely be irrelevant to the actual post is because I am listening to The Last Kiss soundtrack. Don’t judge me! The bookstore I hang out in plays it regularly and I am rather fond of it, so nya!

Back in Columbus, not looking forward to French but, as it is, it’s one of my final days, that and I have Chocolate.. I feel like my French has improved, somehow, even though I am only understanding a fifth of what my professor is actually saying. Watching V for Vendetta in French was good though. I think I may start watching more movies in French to prepare me for French Conversation and Introduction to the Francophone World next semester. Oh, the excitement, it’s seething, and exploding, for miles in all directions. Or maybe just one mile in one direction. Or a Star Mile in a star direction! Ooh!

As for the rest of life I realize it’s really hard to help people with your problems when you have so many of your own, but really, helping people is probably the greatest Pain Killer in the world (look at me and my wit) and really… it’s hard. Especially when some people are psychotic ex-girlfriends. But that’s beside the point. The person I’m referring to is not psychotic (though I think she thinks she is) and I don’t really know how to help her…

On a different note, totally saw 2012 yesterday. Wasn’t bad. Wasn’t good. It was… satisfactory and the idea was enough to where I’d possibly even consider buying it on DVD… a couple years after it comes out so I can get it for $1 used on Amazon. Honestly though, I’d hope there’d be at least some kind of Warning Sign that would kind of tip us off so we don’t have to rely on the government. Eh? Well, whatever happens I’ll have to hitch a Ride to El Salvador and play Hide And Seek with the apocalypse. (Yes, I know I’m stretching it now, but I’m having fun so deal with it.)

So, here we go. There’s this girl, whom I really rather like who I’ve dated before who seems to really trust me and be honest with me, or so I hope. I trust her and I’ve taken quite a huge liking to her again. She’s not looking for a relationship right now and she’s afraid of hurting people and I don’t know how likely it is that we’ll ever really be together and we don’t get to talk a whole lot, but…

…it’s worth it…

…all of it. Whether it ends up happening or not, I’m happy. Really happy. And she has no idea how happy she makes me even though she feels like she’s just being melodramatic every time she talks to me. She’s definitely la lumière de mes ténèbres. And how often I just want to Hold You In My Arms… I’m sure there’s a Prophecy out there somewhere saying it should or shouldn’t happen, but, you know what? Screw Fate. CYOA. C’est ma vie.

And that’s my thoughts in a Paper Bag.

Today’s The Day, as was yesterday, as tomorrow will be… to live.
And I will. Whether in the Arms Of A Woman or a man or no one at all.

It’s worth it.

Now time for some Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk.

Much love,
Anthony

So, it’s been a week since I took the giant leap into veggie-dom. And my recent trip to Chili’s taught me an important lesson:

Black bean burgers are spicy.

Which is great, you know. But I don’t like spicy burgers. And they don’t like me. The dispute didn’t last long, as the burger was consumed within the short time period. As it is, I will not make the mistake again of ordering my black bean burger… without cheese.

So, I am currently sitting the dorm room of one of my good friends up at Oglethorpe U, talking about the wonders of the world and listening to random Oglethorpians be obnoxiously loud outside. But this could all be taken for a rather obscure and poorly supported metaphor for something bigger, something like… the abomination that is… supermarkets.

I mean, think about it, the bustling crowd of collegians who think they’re all high and mighty because they surpass the little guys trying to make it through college obviously represent the so called “super” markets. Though, something they don’t consider is how, even now, there are higher beings in existence. In America, we call it Wal-Mart, in France, though, they call them

Hypermarkets.

Yes, hypermarkets. Oh how France has advanced while we’re here acting like immature collegians.
Look at us, so naive… so… edible.

Anyways, I have a play to write in French about a lonely woman who defines herself in dolls, make sure you check it out in my Artsy Angst link when I finally start writing it.

Much love,
Anthony

I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but after getting denied and ignored so long, the Miller in me just couldn’t stand it anymore. I didn’t think that my complaint was really and truly an ethics complaint, so did something else.

I e-mailed the Vice-President of Student Affairs.

I got the name of yet another person, but she was on the ball. A tiger! I sent her e-mail last night, and she responded within an hour.

And then today – I got an e-mail with an apology and an offer to take a make up class starting November 16, with my Internship to start on January 16th. I really didn’t expect this at all. Of course, I accepted and have already paid for the class.

The victory is bittersweet, however. One of the ladies I started the courses with is graduating next month. Another woman I work with who started almost a year after I did will graduate a few months after me. But that doesn’t really matter, right? What matters is that in a few months, I will have my M.Ed.

Now I just have to get back to working on that portfolio. Hah. I took a look again it it today, and it’s not completely scarce. Also, I’m racking up lots of experience that I can use – writing curriculum projects, presenting in-service to the school, textbook committee, writing the ELAR newsletter, Superintendent’s Advisory Council - that sort of thing. I think I’ll have way more hours than I actually need. I’m an overachiever.

I really wasn’t planning on walking, but then thought Mom and Dad would really want to see it. So, I’ll swallow my pride, get a cap and gown, and walk across that stage. Since I did it all on-line, it really doesn’t feel like I did when I graduated from Sam or even SoHo. I don’t have any friends who are walking with me. I don’t even have many people who will show up. I wonder if they will make the distinction between people who earned the degree in a traditional setting and the people who did it on-line? Again, no matter. I’ll be there with my family and I’ll be happy.

 And how do I celebrate this victory? Why, with a burnt pot pie and a MIA husband! Gregg’s at the HOA meeting right now, concerned about the Klein 2008 Bond project. We’re a teensy bit worried that when the district rezones (and MOVES the location of the high school), that’s we’ll end up on the wrong side of the road to feed into the high school we want to feed into.

I’m a little cranky about this new development, because we waited to buy a houseuntil AFTER the bond passed and there was a plan developed. So we bought a house right next to the high school. Now the plan has changed (or at least, it will) and we’re going to be left wondering for some time. I guess it’s better to start talking now and let the KISD Board of Trustees know that we don’t want to be rezoned into a different high school.

I was never political until we bought a house and started thinking about a family. Now, I’m starting to get more and more vocal about what politicians are doing (or not doing). I’ll have to post more on this later – right now, I want to breathe a little. Get away from the computer – I think I sit incorrectly when I’m typing and it hurts my back.

This list is just my opinion. Which is pure gold, so take notes.

THE 5 BIGGEST WASTES OF TIME

5. MMORPG’s: For those of you who have no idea what an MMORPG is, it is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. In other words, a massive waste of time (MWoT). I know, I know, they are very fun and extremely addictive, I was briefly addicted myself. But with rehab and therapy, I have been able to overcome the MMORPG addiction. This is a waste of time primarily because you are living in a different world and not experiencing life. You also get fat. Many of you probably love these games, and can argue in their favor, but I don’t care. This is my list. The only exception to this rule is if you are stuck in bed for some reason and need something to do, however writing a book or learning a language is a better alternative.

(note : mmorpg’s in this case can apply to any game on the computer, xbox, playstation, or any other console. i.e. stupid facebook games.)

FarmVille...A BIG waste of time

4. Reality Television: I admit, I waste a LOT of time on reality tv. It is just so damn entertaining. Especially since ‘the bitch is back’ (The Hills). So much drama. I am also intrigued by their stupidity. It makes me feel better about myself. But yeah, waste of time, try to avoid getting sucked in at all costs.

The Hills...chalk full of douchbags and hot chicks.

3. Sleeping: Okay, another thing I do a lot. Sleep is great, I love it! BUT, it wastes a lot of time. I have recently been waking up at 8 am (compared to 12pm – hey I’m in college) and have noticed a sharp increase in my productivity. I only need between 6-8 hours to function, so any more than that is just a BIG waste of time.

awwww, sleeping kitties are cute.

2. Meetings: My God, what a waste of time meetings are. Yes they can sometimes be necessary, but most of the time things can be accomplished by email. I went to a meeting the other day and it took me 20 minutes to get there, lasted only 15 minutes, then another 20 minutes to get home. And we did NOTHING.  There goes about an hour of my life.

touche

1. Worrying: This one is a big one. The number one actually. We spend a lot of time worrying about the future, about projects, tasks, work, girls, guys etc. This time is just pure waste. It accomplishes nothing, and only serves to stress you out. So keep your mind on the present, accomplish one thing at a time, and save yourself from the big waste of time that is worrying.

this guys is realllly worried.

After the whole hassle last night, I get a response from Lamar today: we got your info, but you’re screwed because we don’t offer make up classes and the next time that class will be offered is in August of 2010.

I once again e-mailed my contact person at State U and offered some suggestions:

1. Accept transfer credit from St. Thomas
2. Give me an independent study
3. Let me work on a project
4. Let me take a course through Sam Houston (or another real instition covered by State U)
5. Let me take an on-line class through another State U Academic Partnership

Basically, let me do anything to get this credit ASAP.

She’s seems like she’s trying to work with me, but I have no idea what is going on.

I feel a bit backed into corner. I don’t have many options left, and I’ve tried suggesting a few. It’s not like I’m demanding a make up course – I’m demanding to take this class and graduate in a timely fashion – again, I should have graduated in August.

I’m a bit disturbed that Lamar doesn’t seem to give a rat’s rear end about my situtuation – no one from Lamar had given me any suggestions as to what I should do.

So. I’m just going to get my complaint letters written tonight, maybe do a little investigation of my own, and make some brownies. I also have got to work on my grading, portfolio (guess I can put this off a little more again), and the ELAR newsletter.

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I do not recomend Lamar. If you are in Lamar’s Academic Partnership Program, run away before you get too many hours. If you are thinking of Lamar, go with a real university. I wish I had never sent them a check in the first place.

I have figured Internet is a huge waste of time. I always knew it was but had it under control. I have my stuff organized very well and can get my work done in a very short period of time and be on top of many things that change very often. However, I still think Internet does waste my time. The latest I figured is that limiting Internet to twice a week should make me even more productive. I still have to check my email which can be done on my handheld and will lose contact with the flow of information in a few websites but think is worth the effort. This week was a total failure however. I used the Internet each day and did my best limiting my useage also. I realized the most important thing is how much quality brain power I have daily. The best mental work is done in the morning and the brain is good for about two hours. It can go for four hours if it has to but that is about it for a day. The rest of the day has to be routine stuff and the quality work has to be done as early as possible. The Internet useage starts first in the morning and the distractions uses part of my brain freshness. The longer I use the Internet, the less brain power I have left to do what requires my brain. I still think the proper way is by limiting my useage to two days each week and will try again next week.

*This post belongs to this week’s edition of My Life as a Cush blog and published early in World of Cush

There are a ton of ways to say it.  I don’t even know how I’m going to say it, but you know what it’s like to argue with someone that is always right – even when they’re wrong?  Why argue?  I mean, why waste your time arguing with someone that just likes to argue – even if they’re wrong.

This came up in a conversation this weekend.  It ended up with someone losing their job.  That’s never good, but it was all a misunderstanding.  It was also an argument that couldn’t be won.  Arguing with someone that can’t be convinced is a waste of time.  It is not strength to argue from that perspective.  It’s closed minded and selfish.  It’s insecurity.  If you were secure and could handle it, you’d have a conversation about it.  You’d engage the argument with with sound thinking and substantiated claims. It takes skill and patience.  Arguing with an insecure person is the worse.

Your time is precious.  Don’t argue with someone that can’t.

I’m really trying to keep myself from overanalyzing where things stand with O, where I want them to go, or how close they are to actually progressing….I promise: I really am TRYING! Ok, so the English major in me involuntarily cringes at the very thought of the expression, ‘Not for nothing,’ but it’s pretty much where my heart is at this very moment.

Hoping all this is NOT for NOTHING!

BTW: In case you were wondering, yesterday’s lunch date SHOULDN’T count!

Oh, well…night out with the girls tonight: dinner, drinks, dancing. Just what I need!

fsr