Now Playing:
Rammstein
Dance V. 2.0 (homebrew)
Expect the Rammstein for a while, folks. Ever since I caught a video in Germany during the month I spent there over summer vacation in high school I've been hooked, and their limited success in the US only fueled my interest. Seeing them in the opening scenes of XXX (the Vin Diesel movie, not porn) was pretty awesome.
Now that I legitimately have one of their albums, I may have to buy the rest.
I am now the proud driver of a silver 2000 Honda Civic EX. Power everything, sunroof, CD player... you can't ask much more than this package from a 2000 non-luxury car. The tinted windows are creating a little problem with the inspection, meaning I have to drive to Glen Burnie next week to get them tested, but it's worth the trouble to keep the tint. I'd rather go for a little ride and burn $10 in gas than drop $60 to get rid of a feature I like. Apparently tinted windows have to allow 35% light transmission to pass inspection, but I really doubt they would put on factory tint that violates the rule. Anyway, it's way nicer than any car I expected to get, and for someone who got spoiled driving the one-year-old family car since it was brand new I'm still quite happy. So far I drove it home from Dover and to Chestertown and back, and the gas meter is barely off F. Yeah gas mileage. Even if I cut my commute to two times a week, that still puts over 2500 miles on the car between now and November, so I'll count my fuel economy blessings.
In related news, it looks like I'll be crashing at Steve's one or two times a week to save commutes. Aside from a small "rent" that I feel is a fair donation for their expenses, I intend to take my Dreamcast with me for the entertainment of all. Let the Rush 2049, Soul Calibur, and Dead or Alive 2 games begin! This arrangement is only until Dan n' Steve's lease runs out at the end of October, at which time we intend to get a three-bedroom place in Silver Spring. Shortly after that time, I intend to buy an Xbox, and eventually I turn 21. Before the end of this year, all hell just might break loose - just a warning.
Not sure I've got any readers left after that Thesis-y semester during which my posts were... lacking, but to any left out there - huzzah! (And to any livejournalphiles hoping for mad pics... my bad!)
I'm off to do something vacation-y, because I still can.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Now Playing:
Rammstein, Reise, Reise (both the album and that song)
Ironically, the song that was all over the P2P programs last semester isn't necessarily the best song on this CD. It is good, but so is the rest. Even my less favorite songs on the album are still quite good. A solid buy.
Things that are good:
- Being employed by the NIH (researching the potential genetic basis for child-onset schizophrenia)
- Hopefully moving in with Steve in Silver Spring later this year
- Chilling with good friends this weekend and going boating; wiping out awesomely while tubing and not losing my trunks
- Getting a car, though I haven't quite yet
- This fabulous tan =D
- Having a great summer and plans for a great year
Rammstein, Reise, Reise (both the album and that song)
Ironically, the song that was all over the P2P programs last semester isn't necessarily the best song on this CD. It is good, but so is the rest. Even my less favorite songs on the album are still quite good. A solid buy.
Things that are good:
- Being employed by the NIH (researching the potential genetic basis for child-onset schizophrenia)
- Hopefully moving in with Steve in Silver Spring later this year
- Chilling with good friends this weekend and going boating; wiping out awesomely while tubing and not losing my trunks
- Getting a car, though I haven't quite yet
- This fabulous tan =D
- Having a great summer and plans for a great year
Monday, August 15, 2005
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
(Yes, I just posted, but I didn't really say anything, now did I?)
Somehow, from where I'm sitting right now (mentally, if not physically) my life seems significantly more interesting than it has for the past few weeks. I would hate to think that this opinion stemmed from any of the changes that have occurred or will occur in the next few weeks to months. On the other hand, some of it is rather new, as far as my life goes. For the sake of tabulation, I shall now go to wicked awesome bullet form.
- Steve is getting a new car. This really shouldn't be on the top of the list but I thought of it first, and it should be pretty neat. He's sizing up the 2006 Scion TC, starting with this week's trips to Dover and Easton dealerships. He likes the horsepower, and is even considering a manual, despite the practicality of an automatic for city driving. However, it's pretty much between that and a Corolla S, which is too similar to his current '94 Corolla for his liking. On the other hand, the Scion TC is about the same price, and only slightly less practical in terms of back seat room, trunk space, and gas mileage. Since he has done his homework (and the TC is a pretty cool car anyway) I hope he goes for it. And not just so I can ride in it.
- Related: my own car-buying odyssey continues. I did a search online and came up with a '99 Corolla with about 90k miles for $4600, which is pretty close to what I wanted. I certainly do like the RAV4 that I use now, but it's not fair of me to take it from Mom. She got a good deal, and I might capitalize on it when she's ready to move on, but not before. Thus, assuming the car remains for sale and I get a job soon, I'll be looking into that in the next few weeks.
- Too much cars. Hm. Well, Dad left. Not much to say about that. He hasn't yet said goodbye to me once (if you don't count a "I'm leaving sometime soon" over lunch like a week ago, which I don't). I haven't bothered to keep count but it's at least the fifth time he's gone, maybe more. Mom takes it better each time in terms of outward emotional distress, but also gets more grimly objective in a way that kind of scares me. I got more pissed over the fact that he left while I was at work than his actual leaving, but that might just have been the focal point. Regardless, I ended up on a sort of autopilot that only let me dwell on it for a little while before moving on. I started thinking about how to make Mom feel better, and I lifted weights for a while, both of which are healthy ways to feel better (and I didn't even plan it!). This will probably take more coming-to-terms in the next few days and weeks, but it will be same-old again by October or November.
- Now I've got myself in a bit more of a bummer than I intended, so it's on to something better. Jobs! The NIH seems to like my application significantly, especially since most intelligent people who want work in the fall don't apply in the middle of the summer, but rather the early spring. Still, a lab contacted me a while ago (from whom I have subsequently heard nothing, but that's ok) and I have interviewed with a second. I am waiting on notice from the head researcher whether he will have enough money to fund another student, but in the meantime, a third lab has expressed interest in me, and asked me to interview. I hope I continue to be this popular with admissions people when I apply to grad school, or to jobs after grad school. Which reminds me, I need to look for grad schools starting soon. Rats. Anyway, it looks like I will get to put my talents to use this year, instead of working at Acme or something. Three cheers for NIH!
- Quite conversely, I have to deal with my current fabulous job ending soon. It happens that today was warm and sunny, though the water was a little too refreshing. A student's teenage sister also came along today, and spent an hour or so sunning in a bikini on a chaise lounge. I was quite honestly too busy to get out of the pool for most of that time, as today was the testing day to see if the students pass their swimming level, but a certain friend who hung out at the pool yesterday (and who is allowed to look!) might have appreciated it. I will miss being able to get away with spending two to three hours in a pool four days a week, and I will also miss getting paid for that time. However, I think I will most miss the unique teaching opportunity this job represents. Most people have to dedicate significantly more time than one evening of training to teach elementary and middle school students, and most of them have to dedicate more than just 8 weeks to teaching. Most teachers also have somewhat less interesting material that students must learn, whereas it is hard to single out any one thing that we did all summer that wasn't fun somehow. (I might argue that the breaststroke was a waste of time, but then learning the elementary backstroke and sidestroke made up for it.) Besides providing novel teaching experiences, this job also made me a better swimmer, gave me a fabulous tan (with no shirt lines this year!), and has probably left me in better shape. Sure, I'm poorer than I've been in months, but it was worth it. Swimming Instructor Aide fo' life.
I was going to think about what electronics I need to buy (or replace) once I start making actual spending money, but this post is plenty long enough and I think I would like to waste my time on something relatively brainless for a while. The only question is, where to start?
Somehow, from where I'm sitting right now (mentally, if not physically) my life seems significantly more interesting than it has for the past few weeks. I would hate to think that this opinion stemmed from any of the changes that have occurred or will occur in the next few weeks to months. On the other hand, some of it is rather new, as far as my life goes. For the sake of tabulation, I shall now go to wicked awesome bullet form.
- Steve is getting a new car. This really shouldn't be on the top of the list but I thought of it first, and it should be pretty neat. He's sizing up the 2006 Scion TC, starting with this week's trips to Dover and Easton dealerships. He likes the horsepower, and is even considering a manual, despite the practicality of an automatic for city driving. However, it's pretty much between that and a Corolla S, which is too similar to his current '94 Corolla for his liking. On the other hand, the Scion TC is about the same price, and only slightly less practical in terms of back seat room, trunk space, and gas mileage. Since he has done his homework (and the TC is a pretty cool car anyway) I hope he goes for it. And not just so I can ride in it.
- Related: my own car-buying odyssey continues. I did a search online and came up with a '99 Corolla with about 90k miles for $4600, which is pretty close to what I wanted. I certainly do like the RAV4 that I use now, but it's not fair of me to take it from Mom. She got a good deal, and I might capitalize on it when she's ready to move on, but not before. Thus, assuming the car remains for sale and I get a job soon, I'll be looking into that in the next few weeks.
- Too much cars. Hm. Well, Dad left. Not much to say about that. He hasn't yet said goodbye to me once (if you don't count a "I'm leaving sometime soon" over lunch like a week ago, which I don't). I haven't bothered to keep count but it's at least the fifth time he's gone, maybe more. Mom takes it better each time in terms of outward emotional distress, but also gets more grimly objective in a way that kind of scares me. I got more pissed over the fact that he left while I was at work than his actual leaving, but that might just have been the focal point. Regardless, I ended up on a sort of autopilot that only let me dwell on it for a little while before moving on. I started thinking about how to make Mom feel better, and I lifted weights for a while, both of which are healthy ways to feel better (and I didn't even plan it!). This will probably take more coming-to-terms in the next few days and weeks, but it will be same-old again by October or November.
- Now I've got myself in a bit more of a bummer than I intended, so it's on to something better. Jobs! The NIH seems to like my application significantly, especially since most intelligent people who want work in the fall don't apply in the middle of the summer, but rather the early spring. Still, a lab contacted me a while ago (from whom I have subsequently heard nothing, but that's ok) and I have interviewed with a second. I am waiting on notice from the head researcher whether he will have enough money to fund another student, but in the meantime, a third lab has expressed interest in me, and asked me to interview. I hope I continue to be this popular with admissions people when I apply to grad school, or to jobs after grad school. Which reminds me, I need to look for grad schools starting soon. Rats. Anyway, it looks like I will get to put my talents to use this year, instead of working at Acme or something. Three cheers for NIH!
- Quite conversely, I have to deal with my current fabulous job ending soon. It happens that today was warm and sunny, though the water was a little too refreshing. A student's teenage sister also came along today, and spent an hour or so sunning in a bikini on a chaise lounge. I was quite honestly too busy to get out of the pool for most of that time, as today was the testing day to see if the students pass their swimming level, but a certain friend who hung out at the pool yesterday (and who is allowed to look!) might have appreciated it. I will miss being able to get away with spending two to three hours in a pool four days a week, and I will also miss getting paid for that time. However, I think I will most miss the unique teaching opportunity this job represents. Most people have to dedicate significantly more time than one evening of training to teach elementary and middle school students, and most of them have to dedicate more than just 8 weeks to teaching. Most teachers also have somewhat less interesting material that students must learn, whereas it is hard to single out any one thing that we did all summer that wasn't fun somehow. (I might argue that the breaststroke was a waste of time, but then learning the elementary backstroke and sidestroke made up for it.) Besides providing novel teaching experiences, this job also made me a better swimmer, gave me a fabulous tan (with no shirt lines this year!), and has probably left me in better shape. Sure, I'm poorer than I've been in months, but it was worth it. Swimming Instructor Aide fo' life.
I was going to think about what electronics I need to buy (or replace) once I start making actual spending money, but this post is plenty long enough and I think I would like to waste my time on something relatively brainless for a while. The only question is, where to start?
| the Idiot Savant |
VULGAR SPONTANEOUS LIGHT You like things silly, immediate, and, above all, outrageous. Ixne on the subtle word play, more testicles on fire, please. People like you are the most likely to RECEIVE internet forwards--and also the most likely to save them in a special folder entitled 'HOLY SHIT'. Because it's so easily appreciated, and often wacky and physical, your sense of humor never ceases to amuse your friends. Most realize that there's a sly intelligence and a knowing wink to your tastes. Your sense of humor could be called 'anti-pretentious'--but paradoxically enough, that indicates you're smarter than most. PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Johnny Knoxville - Jimmy Kimmel AND FINALLY -- after you rate my test with a sweet, sweet '5' -- you must take this test next: The Genghis Khan Genetic Fitness Test. It's not mine, but it rocks. |
 |
My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid |
Sunday, August 07, 2005
I decided to finish up my camera's memory and upload it, and I found this. For the record, there is very little on this planet as cute as an hours-old baby quail; this was taken (if I remember correctly) at a couple of days. This picture is about 9 weeks old, and they now look nearly mature. Most of their mature feathers are in but they have yet to fill out properly, leaving them looking kind of like a skinny high school freshman in a senior linebacker's football uniform. Still pretty cute though.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Now Playing: Linkin Park, Same Direction, still in my head.
More progress with NIH; planning the trip is kind of fun, but driving around DC is still new to me. I suppose there is a first for everything.
And I totally didn't get done almost anything I wanted to today. Again. Partially due to spending an hour or so cooking dinner. The Improvised, Improved Pork Recipe: Minted pork chops with apples. Plus side: pan cooking makes it much harder to burn stuff (for me, anyway), so the pork stays nice and moist. Four apples diced this time (yum), and Golden Delicious was almost as good as Fuji. Minus side: not quite enough mint for my liking, but still better than sage; however, the lack of mint was because it was HOME GROWN and I hate picking my own plants. I like them too much living.
YES I'm an amateur chef. NO I don't burn things as badly as I did at WAC. YES it's as delicious as it sounds. Mwahaha.
Bedtime again, maybe enough sleep this time? Nah.
More progress with NIH; planning the trip is kind of fun, but driving around DC is still new to me. I suppose there is a first for everything.
And I totally didn't get done almost anything I wanted to today. Again. Partially due to spending an hour or so cooking dinner. The Improvised, Improved Pork Recipe: Minted pork chops with apples. Plus side: pan cooking makes it much harder to burn stuff (for me, anyway), so the pork stays nice and moist. Four apples diced this time (yum), and Golden Delicious was almost as good as Fuji. Minus side: not quite enough mint for my liking, but still better than sage; however, the lack of mint was because it was HOME GROWN and I hate picking my own plants. I like them too much living.
YES I'm an amateur chef. NO I don't burn things as badly as I did at WAC. YES it's as delicious as it sounds. Mwahaha.
Bedtime again, maybe enough sleep this time? Nah.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Now Playing:
A Linkin Park song, maybe A Place For My Head... in my head. Try that on for size.
50 Facebook friends!
I'm NOT a junkie. I DON'T check it daily.
NIH correspondence continues; nonformal semi-interview Wednesday. This is the hopefully-soon-to-be-employed-by-the-NIH dance: *dances*
If I remember correctly, I got on this thing about 5 hours ago because a) I just got done mowing and didn't feel like moving, and b) I wanted to look into cars. And I didn't... in FIVE HOURS. I'm going to bed.
A Linkin Park song, maybe A Place For My Head... in my head. Try that on for size.
50 Facebook friends!
I'm NOT a junkie. I DON'T check it daily.
NIH correspondence continues; nonformal semi-interview Wednesday. This is the hopefully-soon-to-be-employed-by-the-NIH dance: *dances*
If I remember correctly, I got on this thing about 5 hours ago because a) I just got done mowing and didn't feel like moving, and b) I wanted to look into cars. And I didn't... in FIVE HOURS. I'm going to bed.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Figured it was about time I wrote something in this thing again, being as how the link is all public and shizzle...
I refer, of course, to my recent drafting into the Facebook community, which was probably inevitable but was hastened by a certain girlfriend. Dan fell similarly, and that makes me feel better in a way. However, all my pleasure is sapped by the fact that I have become far too intertwined in its seductive interpersonal networks to be objective: I have become a facebookie. NOT nearly as much as a certain other friend, whose name I will refrain from [Steve] ...never mind.
Anyway. If I thought I had a lot to say last time, then I doubt I could have imagined the course my life has taken since. Between being pushed harder than ever before, weathering the biggest change my life has withstood yet, and seeing others going through even bigger changes and hardships... it was an interesting half year. Further detail would be impossible due to time constraints but would still not do justice to the events themselves; they just had to be experienced. Creating a thesis, seeing a friend deal with cancer. Dealing with the future while watching the best times I have ever known leave me behind. Finding life after graduation and learning [slowly] to move on. And then there's that relationship thing... "the best one yet" doesn't quite do it justice, but it's simple and the truth. All the experiences of senior year have left me very much not the same person I was before, and I would almost say that their effect on me is greater than the previous three years combined. But without those years, there could not have been nearly the same fun, crazy, down-to-the-wire, overworked, underslept, exhausting, and exhilarating times that made Senior year what it ought to be:
The best year ever.
I have to get up in seven hours to teach small children to keep their legs straight when they kick, make even strokes with both arms (or they'll go in circles), look before they jump in, and that putting your face in the water really isn't scary once you get used to it.
Life is good. :)
I refer, of course, to my recent drafting into the Facebook community, which was probably inevitable but was hastened by a certain girlfriend. Dan fell similarly, and that makes me feel better in a way. However, all my pleasure is sapped by the fact that I have become far too intertwined in its seductive interpersonal networks to be objective: I have become a facebookie. NOT nearly as much as a certain other friend, whose name I will refrain from [Steve] ...never mind.
Anyway. If I thought I had a lot to say last time, then I doubt I could have imagined the course my life has taken since. Between being pushed harder than ever before, weathering the biggest change my life has withstood yet, and seeing others going through even bigger changes and hardships... it was an interesting half year. Further detail would be impossible due to time constraints but would still not do justice to the events themselves; they just had to be experienced. Creating a thesis, seeing a friend deal with cancer. Dealing with the future while watching the best times I have ever known leave me behind. Finding life after graduation and learning [slowly] to move on. And then there's that relationship thing... "the best one yet" doesn't quite do it justice, but it's simple and the truth. All the experiences of senior year have left me very much not the same person I was before, and I would almost say that their effect on me is greater than the previous three years combined. But without those years, there could not have been nearly the same fun, crazy, down-to-the-wire, overworked, underslept, exhausting, and exhilarating times that made Senior year what it ought to be:
The best year ever.
I have to get up in seven hours to teach small children to keep their legs straight when they kick, make even strokes with both arms (or they'll go in circles), look before they jump in, and that putting your face in the water really isn't scary once you get used to it.
Life is good. :)
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Now Playing:
Green Day, Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Been a while, eh...
Enough has transpired since last I posted that I could talk about it until I became incoherent and rambling, and then continue until I had to go to class and still have more to say. Suffice it to say that my life is pretty crazy sometimes, but almost always awesome.
Birthday Ball was spectacular, and I would hardly have changed a thing - mostly I would have rather seen more people while I was there but then I was too busy having fun to socialize. And I wouldn't have chosen to have less fun if I was paid for it.
Life goes on... let's see where.
Green Day, Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Been a while, eh...
Enough has transpired since last I posted that I could talk about it until I became incoherent and rambling, and then continue until I had to go to class and still have more to say. Suffice it to say that my life is pretty crazy sometimes, but almost always awesome.
Birthday Ball was spectacular, and I would hardly have changed a thing - mostly I would have rather seen more people while I was there but then I was too busy having fun to socialize. And I wouldn't have chosen to have less fun if I was paid for it.
Life goes on... let's see where.
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