CHEESE!

AKA How to live a rich life on a cheap budget...

Alex IM’d me tonight to see if I wanted to go to the grocery store with him. He knows I can’t make any plans that last too long since I'm studying, but he figured a Whole Foods run might allow us to hang out and get the groceries done at the same time.

After fondling numerous unidentifiable organic fruits and having a particularly amazing time in bulk foods, we found the cheese section. Alex and I are both big fans of the cheese. For his b-day his parents gave him a $100 gift certificate to HEB. In January, we are going to have a ‘cheese party’ and ALL of the gift certificate will be spent on cheese. (I have agreed to bring wine.) We plan to invite one other person besides ourselves and have not yet figured out what to do in regards to ventilation.

So yeah, Alex and I find the cheese section and break into song and dance.

“Cheese!”
“Cheese!”

Alex:“I want to just jump in the display and roll in it like a pile of leaves!”

Ana: We better leave before someone tells me to stop sniffing the cheese.

We were slightly giddy and somewhat manic and hopping and bouncing and having a grand old time.

Next thing you know multiple employees from the deli section have come out from the counter with their cutting boards and are OPENING THE CHEESES!

They were so excited that someone else was excited about cheese. They gave Alex and me our very own personal cheese sampling party.

True line from Whole Foods employee: Try this one. It’s $35/pound!”

Another employee: Oh hold on. [Disappears and returns with caramelized walnuts.] Try it with these!

When I joked that they should open a wine bar on the side of the deli to go with the cheese they got all excited about sending the idea to corporate.

It was awesome, and quite possibly one of the best study breaks I’ve ever had.

They invited Alex and me to come back tomorrow when their cheese specialist will be in the store.

Life is good.

Hi, my name is Ana, and I might be an internet stalker...UPDATED

One of my old jobs involved doing research on individuals. Someone would pass me a name and I would jump on the internet, find out whatever I could, write up a report, and turn it in to my supervisor. Seriously. My work even paid for a top reasearcher-person to come to my office and train me for two days on how to comb the internet. Creepy, huh?

I remember dating one guy and he asked me if I could do a report on him. Using only internet sources available to the every day internet user (I had access to other databases, but didn’t use them out of the propriety of accessing job stuff for personal), I gave him back a report with the names of his parents, their address, their alma maters, their occupations, the value of their house, his sibling’s names, everyone's birthdates, and his own personal involvements. Though a lot has changed on the internet in the last few years with regards to privacy, I’m still kind of amazed how much I can find with a search engine and a few key phrases.

So the other day, in a moment of procrastination, I had a former boy on my mind and was like, “Huh. I wonder what’s out there on him?”

I didn’t search for too long because I actually have TOO MUCH OTHER STUFF to do right now, but I did come across a band after one search and two clicks. (Gotta love those people with uncommon last names and thank goodness mine is Smith.) This guy’s not in the band, but there is a connection, and I won’t say any more than that. So anyway, Ana, while reading the webpage can hear the band’s music playing in the background is like, “Hmm, I kinda like this.”

Fast forward to a few days later and Ana’s in the law library studying and decides to listen to music, pulls up little band page, and proceeds to hit refresh over a multiple hour period. At the end of the studying period I thought, “Oh gosh, what if the bands can see who accesses their page because I probably just played this song like twenty times!” Today I went back and after some workings finally got the dang song to download so that I can listen without fear. However, there’s still that little nag at the back of my mind that says, “They’re going to figure out it was you who listened to the song fifty times. They’re going to figure out what your connection is, and then, they’re going to think you are the hugest stalker of all time.”

No, no, no! It was harmless! I just liked the song!

But yes, I feel a little creepy.

UPDATE: Alex has TOTALLY RUINED the band, song, and everything else for me...

AnasIM: I really like [blah/blah] band though
Alex: tee hee
Alex: I think it's just a groupie thing
Alex: you want to sleep with [random guy in band], so of course his music sounds good to you
AnasIM: gawd!
AnasIM: probably so true
Alex: so make sure you have a warm blanket tonight
Alex: and tomorrow, too
Alex: going to be dropping to 32 tomorrow night
Alex: brb
Alex: [Girlfriend] on phone
AnasIM: okie
AnasIM: i am still laughing my ass off over here that I probably only like the song b/c I think the singer is hot
Alex: you wouldn't be the first
AnasIM: true, true, true
AnasIM: but now I'm starting to think the song sounds bad
AnasIM: before I just had some critiques

More time goes by…

AnasIM: wow, this is so bad that I might have to subject you to it the next time you bring wine to my house
Alex: sounds like a plan
AnasIM: bring wine soon. I think I need it after this one.

Nostalgia...

Despite my best efforts to maintain a regimen of healthy eating I caved the other day and bought some pre-packaged deli meat.

Tonight when I opened the package and ate a few slices, I was struck by how salty the meat was and looked over the nutritional guide to determine the sodium content. As my eyes read the values I came across the phrase “Made with Pride and Care for HEB San Antonio, Texas," and I laughed.

The HEB in my town is miles away, but I still drive the distance to shop there. Since I’ve been in nutrition mode I always go to Central Market because they are owned by HEB even though Whole Foods is closer and directly out of Austin. I tell myself that I shop there in order to help local economy, but it’s a farce. My grandparents lived in San Antonio for as long as I knew them, and there was an HEB less than a mile from their house.

As a small child, my mother used to put my brother and I on a plane every summer from Love Field to San Antonio, and we would spend several weeks at my grandparents’ house. HEB was a joke between me and my brother. Every time our grandma drove past the grocery store we would ask her, “Grandma, what does HEB stand for?”

The letters HEB are the initials of the founder’s name. Although I don’t remember what the first two initials stand for, the B is for Butts. My brother and I used to query my grandmother because when you are the ages of five and eight hearing your grandmother say the word ‘butts’ is absolutely hilarious.

My family left Texas when I was seven and as my mom would say in later years, “Ana never got over the move from Texas.”

I came back here to go to undergrad in Austin which was a short hour and a half from my grandparents. During that time I formed an even closer bond with my grandmother. In college, I drove to San Antonio frequently to be a lunching lady with her. We worked crosswords together from the San Antonio Express-News. I ran errands for her when her emphysema limited her movement. We stood together when my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I moved in with her when she underwent her chemo treatments. I took responsibility for the care of her husband after she died.

Every so often I think of leaving Texas to join my family on the West Coast and then little things remind me that I am right where I am supposed to be. Tonight even as I laughed I heard the voice of my grandmother in my head saying, “Ana, it’s not funny or crude. That’s his real name!”

So I laughed and then I cried, because even though my grandmother still lives in my head and in my heart, even though my house is littered with her unchanging furniture from my childhood, even though last week marked the tenth anniversary of her death from lung cancer…there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss her.

Reasons Why This Semester May be My Uncrowning Achievement…

So, my downfall in undergrad was goofing off with friends, watching too much TV, and taking care of my sick grandparents.

My first year in law school I did pretty well. I didn’t turn on the TV, stayed either in the library or at my house with the phone turned off, and well, my grandparents have passed away. I still follow these rules this year.

However, this semester has killed me and here’s why:

1. First of all, I discovered the Firefox Browser and can have like sixteen billion web pages open at once that constantly update themselves. No need to wait for page loads, it’s already done! Once I get to the end of my tabs, enough time has gone by where I can just start again at the beginning.
2. Bloglines – developing links to my favorite law blogs this summer was bad enough. Having a site that notifies you when they are updated is even worse. Plus, whenever I come across a blog, I just click a button and it’s added to the list. Being aware that fifty-something websites have new postings = major time sucker.
3. Facebook – Last year I never logged onto Facebook. I thought it was kinda boring, but this year they added the news feed. All I have to do is log on and instantly I know what people have done to their profiles. With my firefox tabs open I click refresh every five minutes. I now have a stronger grasp of everyone’s extracurricular activities at the loss of an understanding of the Rules of Federal Evidence.
4. Blog statistics – I have drowned in my narcissism on this one. Who’s reading? Where are they from? How many times have they checked the blog? What website referred them? Are my friends from Paris reading? Are my parents reading? My stat site makes me charts. I can compare this Monday’s stats with last Monday’s stats, October as compared to November. The more people read, the more I check because every time I hit refresh on my glorious little tab there’s a new stat. Augh!!!
5. Along those same lines – the more people who read, the more I feel the need to post. Little Ana, always searching for approbation.
6. Email – I think I have sixteen bazillion email accounts and I check all of them like mad.
7. Google – anyone with an innate curiosity about random crap will be immobilized by this little puppy.

And if that isn't bad enough, have you guys heard that soon we will be able to access You Tube from our cell phones? Holy crap.

So yeah. The TV’s off. I’m sitting at my desk with my book open, and yet somehow, at the end of every day, I am amazed at how little I have accomplished. My usual computer procrastination used to mainly consist of checking my horoscopes (which I can only do once a day) and reading the NYT online (which although lengthy – still only happens once a day for the most part). Depending on how my grades turn out this semester, I might have to go back to checking just those two sites. We shall see, my friends. We shall see. I can't believe that in order to study I can't be anywhere near my computer.

Next semester = studying at the little coffee shop down the road that DOESN'T have wireless internet. Who ever thought that would be a plus?

Don't expect too many posts...

I have things I want to write about, but I doubt I will be posting much this week.

Why is that?

Well, my last day of class is Dec. 2nd (this Friday).

My first final is on the 5th and they go every other day for six days. Then I get like a two day respite and take final #5.

Augh.

I hate the lack of reading days at this school.

Pain. I'm in pain.

PS- Meg - Good luck this week!

Sick little quiz...

Stolen from Nicolle... What pseudo-historical figure are you? I'm not sure how I feel about a quiz that potentially compares you to OJ Simpson, Jesus, and Hitler, but oh well.

You scored as Friedrich Nietzsche. Well you're an egotistical maniac, and you are so very iconoclastic that you probably are currently lost in a post-modern Jupiter, I mean jungle of self-definition. Don't let it get you down though, someday, through a willful onslaught of reinterpretation of dated forms and ideas, you will strike on something that passes as remotely new, and people WILL be into it on the basis of how hip it is alone. Also, the average espresso drinker looks up to you. AWESOME. Friedrich Nietzsche 92% Dante Alighieri 75% C.G. Jung 67% Stephen Hawking 58% Jesus Christ 50% Sigmund Freud 42% Mother Teresa 33% Steven Morrissey 33% O.J. Simpson 25% Adolf Hitler 25% Elvis Presley 25% Charles Manson 17% Hugh Hefner 8% Miyamoto Musashi 0% What Pseudo Historical Figure Best Suits You? created with QuizFarm.com

Just as long as it's not behind my back...

During Thanksgiving dinner a friend of mine was talking about someone else at our law school...

Ana: Seriously guys, we shouldn't talk about other people when they're not here.
Quiet Pause at Table
Person #1: Hey, have you guys met that girl in our section named Ana? She's such an...
Person #2: Alcoholic
Person #3: Elitist
Person #4: Whore
Ana: Okay fine. We can talk about other people. And don't call me elitist.

Feisty is back...

Random Guy: You're really cute when you're sarcastic.
Ana: Well, I must cute all of the time then.

Those practice exams sure help...to freak you out!

So the other day, one of my profs handed out a practice exam essay question. A friend and I worked on it over the weekend, or at least we looked at it and discussed it. We brought up a lot of issues that you could ask in relation to the question, but for the life of us, could not come up with an answer or even identify an issue as related to what we’ve learned in class. I was like, “Holy cow, we really need to study because I have no idea.”

Yesterday we took the practice essay to the prof and begged for the answer.

“Oh yeah,” he said looking over the question. “I haven’t covered this in your class.”

Happy Holidays!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Be safe if you travel and good luck studying!

Perhaps I should publically exhibit a more positive attitude...

Email from a friend to a group of friends:
"Because it's been forever, and we will need a break from studying, I say we do [graduate student bar at other university in town] either tomorrow or Wed. night! And if the foregoing reasons weren't good enough, Ana's target demographic should be there... (Ana, I am appealing to your subconscious here in hopes that it's more optimistic than its consciously thinking counterpart.) "

I am not sure what my 'target demographic' is. At first I thought she was teasing me for always dating younger guys, but then I remembered that as of late my friends have all decided that I need to be dating a PhD student in either Literature or Philosophy from other university. I am undecided as the last three people I have been on dates with or involved with have had Philosophy undergrads and the third actually had the PhD. Then again, my friends came up with this theory because after multiple med school interactions I denounced the med school guys as kinda boring. I dunno - I sense an 'artist-type' is coming my way - like a fruity musician, actor, painter guy. Let's hope that if my intuition is correct, the guy is semi-functional and not too heavily into drugs. Yeah, that's positive.

Shh...genius at work...

During certain parts of the school day as well as certain parts of the school year, the law library becomes very crowded. While the library could probably sneak in a few more tables, no one from admin has done this. They did however, add extra chairs. Huh? Yeah, chairs. Instead of four chairs at each of the long tables there are now six – three on each side.

This is dumb – you want to know why? Too bad, I’m going to tell you anyway. First of all, when you cram three people on one side of the table, you end up with so little table space that you are limited to opening your laptop OR opening a book. You cannot do both. Consequently, no one ever sits more than two to a table, even with the extra chair because, well, it seems kind of rude to take someone else’s space and not get much of your own.

But here’s the kicker – not only is the third chair superfluous – it actually has the effect of creating fewer places to sit. Huh, what, you ask? Yep. Yesirree, Bob, fewer places to sit. When there were two chairs on each side, people would sit in both and each have enough space. However, now if someone comes into the library and all three chairs happen to be open, do you know which one they sit in first? The middle one. Yep, you heard me. When someone sits in the middle there is not enough space for another person on either side.

So yeah – the library added more chairs and somehow we ended up with less space.

Can I also add that there’s a guy sitting in a middle chair right now at the table next to me and he’s diagramming molecules. Now, I know my school has some extensive health law classes, but I seriously doubt that one is required to diagram molecules in any of them.

I am tempted to walk up to the guy and say, “I’m not sure if you can read seeing as how you are dealing with a bunch of letters, yet no words. However, you may have noticed the letters L-A-W when you walked through the door. This is not a chemical composition, but rather a field of study for those of us with irregular chemical compositions. Did you ever watch Sesame Street per chance? Yes? Do you remember the 'one of these things is not like the other' game? Yeah, uh-huh? Guess who’s not like the other? You, buddy. Yes, you. You do not belong here. Now, get out of my library before I go all Sybil on you.”

When the Walls are Too Thin…

Aka How to Scare the Holy Heck out of a Single Gal.

My house was built in the 20’s and it’s somewhat of a shack. Not a total shack, but it’s a two story converted garage apartment that wasn’t originally designed to be habitable. The walls are thin and have little insulation. My electric bill is almost as much as my rent each month. I live on the edge of downtown in an area that is known for being the arts/gay/general hodge podge neighborhood. All the run-away teenagers as well as hipster/wannabes converge on the street one block up that houses numerous coffee bars, disorganized antique stores, thrift shops, and a Middle Eastern restaurant. Oh, and tattoo parlors. There are four within a two block radius of my house. Think Melrose, only with a lot more personality. Think Greenwich Village, but without the cute run-down brownstones. I'm sorry let me clarify - east Village, a few years back. Although I will say that my neighborhood is rapidly becoming a modern day West Village. Thank goodness the sidewalks here are too cracked for strollers.

Ana, just the teensiest bit quirky herself, is snug as a bug in a rug in this neighborhood. There are always people roaming out and about near my house. Sometimes the homeless sleep in my driveway, sometimes the drunks wake me as they walk down my back alley. After a year here, I don’t notice the sirens anymore. (Okay, as I type this, guess what, police sirens. I meant to say that I can now sleep through them.)

Little Ana trained in vocals for ten years, and at night she will sometimes croon sad songs in the darkness before she goes to bed. Usually she sings a jazz number, but tonight she chose Crazy by Patsy Cline. Standing in the doorway of her kitchen with all the lights out, she belted the number and gave it her best. As she was singing she didn't think she sounded half-bad. Apparently others didn't either because the valet guys in the parking lot of the crazy expensive Italian restaurant next door applauded her when she was done.

I didn’t know the walls were that thin. How embarrassing.

Studying for finals = multi-tasking...

What happens when Ana and Wine-Time girl try to study at the cafe during Wine Time...

Yes, we do have weekly wine-time. How did you think she got the nickname?

Ana: I think she’s over him. I think it’s one of those deals where the last guy you dated rules your guy-related conversation until you find a new guy.

WTG: Yeah, it’s the Last-in-Time rule.

Ana: Ok, if we’re going to keep talking about relationships, childhood trauma, literature, and philosophy, we need to close our International Law books. Otherwise I’m likely to come up with a theory of how one of my parents violated a jus cogens norm during my upbringing.

WTG: So, did she agree to go to dinner with him?

Ana: Yeah, but she accepted with the reservation that the dinner was not a date.

WTG: Well, it is customary to have a few post-meetings after dating someone that long.

Ana: Yes, but if he uses the meeting to try and get back together, the dinner is voidable.

WTG: Where are they going?

Ana: I think he’s cooking at his place.

WTG: Bad idea. She won’t have enforcement jurisdiction.

Ana: No way, the finality of a break-up is universal.

WTG: He still needs to be in her territory.

Ana: But he’s leaving on her jet plane – it’s covered under the Code. You don't even need to incorporate it, it's already executed.

WTG: You think we could cover the entire class in this conversation?

Ana: I don’t know, but this is the most effective studying I’ve had yet for this topic.

Later...

WTG: So every so often I'm tempted to have a pre-emptive break-up with my guy.

Ana: Why?

WTG: It's inevitable. There's no way we'll be together forever. Why not just get it over with?

Ana: You don't know that you won't stay together.

WTG: Yes, I do. We could live our entire lives with each other, but eventually both of us will die.

Ana: Okay, we can discuss relationships or Existentialism, but not relationships AND existentialism. Plus, along that line of reasoning, we could just both slit our wrists now.

WTG: (Shrug) We're still going to die.

Ana: On that thought, I'm going to accelerate my demise by partaking in a chocolate chip cookie - but I think there may be something to my death analogy. I mean, it would get us out of finals.

Shooting blanks...

“What type of indorsement is it?” UCC prof asks today.

Ana waves her hand wildly.

“It’s blank! It’s blank!” she yells.

"Why yes, Ana, it is!" says the prof in amazement.

“Good job,” says the guy sitting next to me. “You got one right!”

“Yeah,” I say, “that’s because every time I come across the term ‘blank indorsement’ in our casebook, I’m reminded that in class the next day my recollection of the reading will be nothing more than a blank.”

Donner, Party of Five...

Yeah, I know I’m a little odd, but it’s not completely my fault. Some of it is due purely to genetics.

When I was a child, my dad never gave our real name for the wait list at restaurants. Instead, he chose a name that would evoke giggles when announced over a loud speaker. We rotated between family members as to who got to pick our last name on each visit. Family bonding, dysfunctionally styled.

Over the years my family has been listed as:
(You may have to change the spelling so the person taking the name doesn't get it.)
Beech
Togah
Opposen
Danse
Communist
Search
House
Weddon
Tee

You get the idea.

However, my dad’s favorite was always Donner. For those of you who are a little rusty on your American history, the Donner party was a group of Western pioneers. They got stuck in a snowstorm, ran out of food, and eventually decided to eat each other in order to survive.

My first live-in boyfriend, in an attempt to ingratiate himself upon meeting my parents, made up a name, but wouldn’t tell us what it was. When the hostess called out, “Keg, party of four,” my parents, both teetotalers, were less than impressed. My heart still goes out to the poor guy – especially since I berated the heck out of him for it later.

So yeah, next time you think I'm a fruitcake, try to remember the surroundings in which I grew up...and try not to be too envious.

PS - For Bloglines people, it now appears that using the sub with bloglines bookmark will bring up an updated feed. It's not the same feed as the one indicated below, but it seems to be working.

Registration...

As much as I whine about reading and classes, I know I am huge dork given that looking over the class offerings for next spring is akin to reading the menu at Bask*in Rob*bins as far as my levels of salivation are concerned. In registering today, the online computer stopped me to say that I couldn't add any more classes. Sorry Oil and Gas. We will have to study you next year. Sniff.

Here are a few of the classes that I wanted to take, but couldn't:

1. Latin American Comparative Law - This class was only offered in Espanol. I do not speak Espanol.
2. International Petroleum Transactions - It just sounds cool, doesn't it? Unfortunately, this class ended at 9:30 pm on the eve of a full class day beginning at 9 am the next morning. I figured it would turn into a fiasco.
3. Chinese Law - This was the class that I told myself I was going to take no matter what. They dropped it before registration ever began.
4. Law & Literature - The influence of law and literature on each other. The course reading was composed of novels and academic journal papers. However, it conflicted with a Corporate law class that is a pre-req for every other corporate law class. One more reason for Ana to hate corporate law.

Classes Ana is taking:

1. Law & Theology - I am an ethics/morality/religion/philosophy freak. I have already ordered the book. I am hoping to read at least a portion of its 1200 pages over winter break.
2. Another Tax Class - I so love Tax. I so think there is something wrong with me.
3. Corporate Pre-Req Barf-o-rama - enough said. Watch me love it.
4. European Union Law - I managed to squeeze in an International class, but this one seems so vanilla in comparison to the others that were offered. International Trade also conflicted with Corporate Pre-Req.
   
5. Trusts & Wills - another barf....but a friend told me that she really wished she'd taken it as far as the Bar was concerned so - at least there's practical application. Gotta figure out how to pass my debt onto others when I die.
   

Hee-hee-hee...

I think the word misuse below makes this horoscope so much better.

Weekly horoscope related to family life....

A great deal of work appears to go into the 15/16th with 'joyful outcomes' if enough discipline and 'good boundaries' are exorcized.

In Human Rights class today...

From the prof:

"But what exactly is ‘shocking the conscience?’

One imagines a judge sitting at his bench with electrodes attached to his hands. Does 'shocking the conscience' occur when the jolt is so hard that his robe flies up to his ears? Hmm, you know what? Maybe this isn’t such a humorous idea in light of Abu Ghraib."

Look out, she's clueless again...

Friend: Ana, I can’t believe you didn’t think Brooke’s friend was cute the other night! He was hot!

Ana: What?!?! I thought he was totally cute.

Friend: Brooke said you didn't like him.

Ana: Huh?

Later…

Brooke: So Boy was asking all about you the other night. I swear, you are like a magnet for cute, smart guys half your age.

Ana: This is the cyclist guy working on his PhD?

Brooke: Yep.

Ana: The Harvey Mudder?

Brooke: Uh-huh.

Ana: Weird. I didn’t think he was interested at all.

Brooke: He was so into you. He told me so, and after you left he was telling me about how he had no game.

Ana (starts to laugh): Apparently neither of us had game. This is why dorks never get laid. It’s not that we don’t find each other attractive. We just can’t read signals or context clues to save our life. We need literal statements of fact in order to understand each other’s sentiments, preferably in the format of an outline or a flowchart.

Monday - Get Fired UP - WHOO-HOO - 3 Weeks until Finals! Yeah!

So my new motto until finals are over is 'No Whining.'
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Hmmm, yeah so that's about all I can say.

Call for Interview Questions...

This week my law school will be interviewing prospective faculty and I've been asked to serve as a student-representative interviewer. If you can think of any good questions to ask, please send them my way. I have a feeling that all of the ones I can come up with on my own would be inappropriate.

Gracias,
Ana

Blogging the game...

This week bloggers blogged the election return. Apparently I decided to blog the destruction of my college football team.

Here's the crushing story in real time:

is anyone else watching the Texas game and wondering where the heck our team is?

Current score 14-14
2nd quarter

Edit: 21-14 - Kansas State - they freaking scored while I was typing this.

Defense, where are you?

And our quarterback is hurt & out...

9:18 pm: we just fumbled.

9:27: Kansas State has now scored two touchdowns in 52 seconds of play. Blocked punt? How often does that happen?

9:33: Another touchdown by Kansas State. Is anyone keeping track of the number of fumbles? The score is 42-21. God hates me. However, I do think we still have a shot in hell at this.

9:40: Touchdown Texas. 42-27. Here we go. Make it happen, guys.

9:50: Rapidly going downhill here kids.

9:59: interception BY Texas. Come on guys. Come on! - And while I'm typing - 35 yard pass - touchdown, Texas! Score 42-35.

10:12: I think that more than five times tonight Texas has only needed to advance the ball a yard in order to receive a first down or score. I think they've managed to move it that whole yard maybe once.

10:14: What happens when you have three Texas guys protecting the quarterback and only one Kansas State guy near him? A sack.

10:19: Alright, defense, you guys are doing a nice job and everything, but the clock, the clock! It's running down! 4:17 in the 4th.

10:21: Holy cow. Kansas State just got a 51 yard field goal. 45-35 with less than 4 minutes to go. I think that's the game right there.

10:31: Man, I know this is the back-up quarterback's first game and all, but Kansas State is an unranked team and this should not be that big a deal for this kid. Step up. STEP UP.

10:32: Two first downs in two passes. That was a quick response to my request, huh? 1:43 left.

10:34: Touchdown Texas. 45-42. 1:36 left. Too bad about that field goal. Only thing that can save us now is a fumble or interception.

10:37: Oh, we've suddenly remembered how to tackle people. How nice. Too bad there's only a minute left in the game!!!!

10:43: Here come my tears. Actually, that's not true. I started crying about ten minutes ago. It's weird. In true adversity, I've always been really tough. But for seemingly inconsequential things like boys and football, I have trouble keeping it together. My school might as well be USC. We already had the low academic caliber. Now we've got a football team to match. Oh wait, USC's only lost once. Then again, I think they've got another loss or two on the horizon when looking at their schedule.

End note: I actually broke down and bought a pack of cigarettes after this game. Augh!!!! This morning I got up, smoke a couple, and then took the pack and ran it under water in the kitchen sink. I'd gone eight days!!! Darn it. Interestingly enough, the longest I've gone in the past year without a cigarette was a little over two months - and what got me smoking again was the National Championship last year. Ridiculous!

In other news, I updated to Blogger Beta today and it seems to have assigned me a different feed ...I don't know if this usually repairs itself in a day or two, but if you have a Bloglines/Blog Roll subscription, you might want to add this page again. Sorry!

Get down, get down...

So Alex and I made it out to the concerto last night. We arrived just a bit late and spent the first movement behind a glass door. I looked at the program and said, “Oh it’s okay. The first three movements are the Beethoven. The Rachmaninoff isn’t until after the intermission."

At the break, my friend Francis (and Alex's roommate), who plays in the orchestra, told me that he brushed his teeth each morning to the upcoming Rachmaninoff.

“Swweeet,” I thought. “This is going to be dark.”

As we settled back in our seats, the pianist introduced the piece and described Rachmaninoff as ‘morbidly depressed.’ Alex laughed, Francis gave an evil grin, and I in the back row raised my fist in solidarity.

The Rachmaninoff rocked.

“Depression gets such a bad rap,” I told Alex after the show. “Lows allow you to appreciate the highs and can foster creativity. Plus, how much would it suck to be happy? I mean, once you’ve achieved happiness, what is there left to look forward to in life? You might as well just go ahead and drink the Kool-Aid.”

“Ana, it’s those types of little musings that make me love you,” said Alex.

The football, not so fun today...

Two close games - neither ended the way that I wanted. Poor A&M, so close for the last two weeks. And yes, I would have loved to see Florida lose to an unranked team today. Sigh.

Yea friends, yea fun...finals looming - but they're not here yet!

So the opera last night was fantastico. We saw Don Giovanni, one of the more common/popular operas out there, but I decided that this was because the opera is very good and has lasted throughout the years. Mozart wrote the music. Donna Elvira was my favorite character. She was the scorned lover running after Don Giovanni and exposing his character to all while struggling with her own love for the man. I suppose I could identify in some way with a woman who alternated between extremes as her own lover used her actions to evidence her insanity. Hey! I’m not crazy, just passionate!

Afterwards, the three of us hit a local café to split a bottle of wine. With good convo and good times, we all agreed to do something again soon.

I got home late, and as I was turning off my computer got Skyped by Paris roomie. Awww. She was tipsy. It was hilarious. I think she actually typed a transliterated version of Chinese there for a little bit. I felt for her when she signed off because no doubt she was headed to the bathroom to be sick. (Paris roomie is allergic to alcohol. Yes, Paris was four weeks of inanity and I’m just now starting to appreciate the humor and absurdity of it all.) I miss you, Paris roomie!

Wine-time Girl and I met up for lunch today. I did a decent job of keeping with my 'healthy' eating habits and got a glazed salmon with julienne vegetables and risotto...plus a Pinot Noir. I did get an order of cheesecake to go and have been sneaking bites throughout the day. (Don't want to totally deny myself!)

I think Alex and I are headed to the symphony tonight, unless I decide to be lame and sit at home with my laptop.

Oh, and I have now gone a full week without a single cigarette! Hopefully this will not leave me with a feeling of invulnerability…

Paris Roomie Made Me Do It...

I'm procrastinating as well - and I need to read, but I'm sick, I'm tired, and I'm feeling just a wee bit lazy right now.

1. Where were you 3 hours ago?

in class if you can believe that

2. Who are you in love with?

myself. totally. [that was actually Paris roomie's answer, but I'm gonna keep it.]

3. Have you ever eaten a crayon?

"not to my recollection...(wtf?)" - that was Paris roomie's answer. Here's mine: Yes, I have and depending on the brand of crayon there are differing levels of waxiness.

4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

yeah, a tape measure and a highlighter.

5. When is the last time you went to the mall?

Whenever my sister was in town a few months ago.

6. Are you wearing socks right now?

no.

7. Do you have a car worth over $2,000?

according to my insurance company the POS is worth right around 7k. (I wrecked it last year and there was a big to-do over whether they would scrap it or not. I got the adjuster or whoever it was to bump up the value b/c I was toast if I had to buy a new car...and even though it's seven years old, I still love it. I bought it with my own money - only kid in my family to do so, thank you very much - and it's a 2-door Explorer - ie, it gets decent gas mileage, but is still big enough to run you over.)

8. When was the last time you drove out of town?

my car is seven years old. it needs to last until I'm done with law school. we don't take it on out of town trips. as such, the last trip was probably the move to this city.

9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?

no.

10. Are you hot?

literally or figuratively?

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?

diet ditto lemon-lime soda (Safe*way brand - oh yeah, I'm totally cheapo in some areas.)

12. What are you wearing right now?

an outfit that I wore all of the time in Paris, but haven't worn here until today - sage green tank top from H&M (5 Euros), mid-length black skirt from Etam (20 euros), black leggings from Target ($3.99), and flip-flops from Old Navy (around $3). Oddly enough the skirt is looser in the waist and tighter in the rear. What is that? Gravity?

13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it?

I am all for paying the $10 and letting someone else wash my car. That being said, my car hasn't been washed since I started law school.

14. Last food that you ate?

Ground turkey

15. Where were you last week at this time?

in class - I went home today because I felt icky.

16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?

no, I've bought a lot of vegetables though and finally signed up for a foodie card at the gourmet grocery store since I've been using that as my main grocery store since returning from Paris. (I have to go to Safe*way to get stuff like soda - the other grocery store's idea of soda is Pelligrino - but no plastic bottles, otherwise I might buy it.)

17. When is the last time you ran?

probably in Paris when I was trying to catch up with my speed-walking roommate

18. What's the last sporting event you watched?

Texas A&M/Oklahoma football game...gut-wrenching. Did I mention that USC sucks and lost to unranked Oregon State?

19. What is your favorite animal?

my Care Bear

20. Your dream vacation?

Ya know, if it's with the right person, I don't think it matters.

21. Last person's house you were in?

I have no idea. I hate leaving my house and I usually just meet people at places within walking distance (gotta keep that car alive for as long as possible, remember?)

22. Worst injury you've ever had?

I had pneumonia one summer as a child and required hospitalization. However, I was insistent on attending summer camp after my recovery. When I got there, my parents/doctor had informed the camp of my condition. I was not allowed to participate in any of the physical activities like swimming, hiking, horseback riding, etc. I spent most of the time sitting in the cabin (they would let me pick a friend to stay with me for each activity). The whole thing was a little over the top though - someone literally carried me to the chow hall and back each night because I wasn't allowed to walk on my own. It sucked.

23. Have you been in love?
I have no idea. I also have no idea if I've ever been loved.

24. Do you miss anyone right now?

yes

25. Last play you saw?

Faith Healer. I was in the second row. Ralph Fiennes accidentally spit on me. At least, I hope it was accidental.

26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?

Lure? Are you kidding me? I feel like I have to do more fending off than luring. Guys love me for some reason - and it's not just because I put out - I crack myself up - actually most of the time I don't. Women generally dislike me, but I know why that is - see the line before about guys loving me.

27. What are your plans for tonight?

going to the opera with a gal from my section and her partner. yep, I'm playing third wheel this evening.

28. Who is the last person you sent a MySpace message or comment?

probably my sister - she's the only reason I ever get on myspace

29. Next trip you are going to take?

Los Angeles around New Year's

30. Ever go to camp?

yep

31. Were you an honor roll student in school?

once upon a time

32. What do you want to know about the future?

everything. that way, if it sucked I could save myself the effort and just go ahead and smoke/slit my wrists/eat dessert/what have you now.

33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?

if you are inclined to think of my natural odor as perfume then yes, I am

34. Are you due sometime this year for a doctor's visit?

not unless the health center wants to reduce the costs of their STD tests. Seriously, the tests are anywhere from $6-30 and there's like fifteen different tests you can take. It must cost somewhere around $200 to get a full check-up. At a college campus! WTF, people? You guys should be handing out candy to the kids who want to come in and get tested.

35. Where is your best friend?

right here. I am my own best friend.

36. How is your best friend?

she's a little off, but I like her.

37. Do you have a tan?

not really

38. What are you listening to right now?

too many thoughts

39. Do you collect anything?

nope. just realized that. I would probably be wise to collect my thoughts though. I come close to collecting books.

40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know?

I don't know. I'm not a big fan of gossip and try to stay away from that crowd.

41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over?

dude, this idiot pulled me over for an expired inspection sticker (like - does your blinker/brake lights work sticker that is ten dollars and only purpose served is to raise money for the govt - just save me some time and charge me extra on my registration, ok?) this was 2005.

42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw?

no, but I have blown milk out my nose.

43. What does your last text message say?

'just saw cabaret. I liked you better than liza.' I do a pretty smashing Sally Bowles if I do say so myself. Plus, Cabaret the movie is pretty crappy. The musical is awesome though.

44. Do you like hot sauce?

as opposed to cold sauce?

45. Last time you took a shower?

about an hour ago - wanted to clear those nasal passages!

46. Do you need to do laundry?

nope, I love doing laundry - after going eight years w/o a washer/dryer

47. What is your heritage?

oriental. (haha) [ok, that's actually Paris roomie's answer...Paris roomie, wtf is that?]
I am 1/2 British, 1/2 German - or as I told pseudolover in Paris - the two boring and elitist European ethnicities that no other group wants to procreate with. I also have a trace of Burmese thanks to the days of British imperialism. that's from my dad's side and I kid you not - when I was home this summer my mom called me her little 'almond-eyed child.' so yeah, I'm oriental, too. (haha)

48. Are you someone's best friend?

are we being rhetorical now?

49. Are you rich?

I don't know, but I'm full of it.

50. What were you doing at 12AM last night?

shutting down my computer and heading to bed.


Geez, Paris roomie! This thing took for freakin' ever! This was a Paris-y themed post in case you didn't notice. Ok, now you guys are supposed to do this on your blog. I say pick ten questions and do that. Fifty is way too many.