Tiny Things

1. Please bid a fond farewell to my fat fish Fozzie, as he has shuffled off this mortal coil. He received a respectful toileting early this afternoon. Which is kind of sad, because now from time to time I'll find myself in the bathroom wondering if he's doing ok down there. And then I have to think to myself, "he's dead, you idiot, and you sent his corpse down to rot in a system of human waste and tiny crocodiles". And that makes me sad.

2. If for some reason you should find yourself in North Carolina this weekend, come see the Messiah. It has me in it.

3. Last night my lazy nerve was a-painin' me, so I went on a walk with Big Jon. When I mentioned the existence of the lazy nerve and what makes it go off, he turned to me and said "isn't that called sciatica?". According to the Internet, it is! According to that website, I need surgery! w00t!

Happy Thanksgiving! I can't find my DukeCard.

HAPPY POTTER!

HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER!

VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT VOLDEMORT!

I mean, ahem.

****
(Sort of) spoiler-free synopsis:

1. Cedric Diggory, while still very pretty, looks markedly different than the impression I got from the trailer. His nose is small. Considering that he's a pretty big kid, the nose was odd.

2. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint each have only one facial expression (respectively: exasperated, confused). I predict this will get old eventually.

3. Hermione looks stunning in her dress robes.

4. Krum is very good and just meatheaded enough.

5. There is an ABSOLUTE ABSENCE OF QUIDDITCH. NO WORLD CUP IS SHOWN. WHAT THE HELL.

6. Tiny Voldemort looks like a Muppet. Big Voldemort, on the other hand, is pretty terrifying. The reconstitution scene fights its own personal battle between cheesy and OH GOD, HIS ROBES ARE MADE OUT OF THE NIGHT.

7. The people trapped underwater? They're so dolls. It's not even forgiveable. So cheesy. So corny. So BAD. If they could afford to draw in MERPEOPLE, why can't they make the PEOPLE look human?

8. The labyrinth scene is not anything like anything even remotely resembling the book.

9. Moody is great. He's easy to like, just weird enough, protective of Harry, etc. However, not ONCE is the phrase "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" to be found.

10. Severe lack of Severus.

****

Done now.

Brief Note

I am trying my bejeezusest to enroll in ISIS 210, a course entitled "How They Got Game":

"History and cultural impact of interactive simulations and video games. Evolution of computer and video game design from its beginnings to the present: storytelling, strategy, simulation, sports, 3D first-person games. Cultural, business, and technical perspectives. Insights into design, production, marketing, and socio-cultural impacts of interactive entertainment and communication. Students should have a dual processor implant with 1TB of VRAM."

Is this real? Are they kidding? History and cultural impact of video games? I AM the cultural impact of video games!

Look, look: All your base are belong to us. You have no chance to survive make your time! For great justice launch every Zig!

See? I need to be in this class. I need it. But look at the requirements - I would have to buy a whole new goddamn computer. I can't afford it, and even if I could, I'm gonna be gone for 27 months, so why would I? Does anyone have a spare l33t rig I can borrow? I will rent it from you if necessary. Please? Please?

Do you think the textbook list would include Final Fantasy? The Sims? My imminent death from pwnage? or awesome overload?

There is also another course entitled Web-Based Multimedia Communications. It is a course on Flash. It's got a waitlist up the wazoo. It's not fair.

Inconvenience!

I had a really stellarly funny post to put up here but personal circumstances beyond my control have rendered it inappropriate. Damn!...though is anything I put up here really considered appropriate? No. No it isn't.

I would be happy to elaborate on this but I have this paper...thing. On Orientalism. And flamenco. It's going to be really bad.

Apenas te conozco

Que si me muero sea de amor
y si me enamoro sea de vos
y que de tu voz sea este corazón
todos los días, a Dios le pido...

Juanes


After dark we meandered, side by side, back to the hostel. Jorge and Kristina were in front of us, maybe, or behind. The only light came from the moon gleaming behind our right shoulder, diamond-distant. Mountains gobbled up the frigid glitter of tiny stars. I was wearing two coats; it was the kind of cold that makes you think of eternal wandering and Saint Bernards with collar-flasks, makes you wiggle your toes to be sure you appreciate them while they're still there. He talked about his father, said he had pet canaries at home. His hair brushed the collar of his jacket as he spoke. It was too cold to look at his face.

We got home before them. I skirted the brook beneath the trees; ice broken by my sneaker before nightfall had reformed, stronger than before.

The next morning the sun shone offensively bright. We've found a road, he said. We'll get to Austria in half the distance, better scenery. More fun.

We rounded mountains and mountains, all different and the same. Clouds and lakes reflected each other. Tiny houses, wood lace on wood shingle, stood shuttered and silent. We crept through passes, always climbing, until switchbacks lay on top of one another. I crowed happiness as I watched the snow deepen. We fought over the stereo; why can't you put on something good, like Peter Gabriel, he asked. Tears squeaked out the corners of my eyes as I fell laughing against the window.

The car passed into the shade of the mountain. A wheel caught, began to slide. He cursed, downshifted, cursed again. I gazed out at the tips of the pine trees below us and knew I wasn't going to die.

Happy!

I got the results of my RA evaluations back today. In the past, RA evals have made me cry, because apparently young people do not appreciate the process of being molded into my chosen image of cynical, unethical, and socially inept human beings. However, this year's batch is significantly more forgiving:

"Allison is great!"
"She is awesome. Period."
"She should come chill with us more often."
"She is very approachable and actually interested in us. She always makes herself available and sets a good example for us."
"She is present, but not too present. There if I need something, but not always looking over my shoulder." (nb: I take this as a compliment...I think)
"She is extremely easy to talk to."
"Charisma!" (nb: this kid must have me confused with somebody else)
"She is a positive role model." (nb: read - boring)
"Epworth is a freaking chill dorm. I blame a large portion of its success to Allison's laidbackness and chillhood."
"Laid back; very friendly/inviting; internet DDR"

AND, THE DRUMROLLER:

"[Allison] exemplifies the model RA. I would rather have Allison be my RA than Jesus."

Jesus = pwned.

Happy birthday, Mom! I owe you a package.

Quiz!

I'm not sure how much I agree with this, seeing as how it boils down to frantically screaming "WHY DOESN'T ANYBODY LOVE ME?!", and I am not hysterical. I don't know. You judge.

Allison took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Longs for tenderness and for a sensitivity of feel..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

"Why Not Kill Myself", Indeed

Dear whoever has gotten here (twice) on the above-listed search string,

10 reasons, in no particular order.

1. Puppies
2. Kittens
3. Baby monkeys
4. Trees that bloom into pink springs
5. Bunnies
6. Snowdrifts
7. Hot apple cider
8. Chocolate
9. Strawberry-flavored hookah
10. Revenge

But seriously, dude, are you ok? I don't think you're ok. Drop me an email if you want to talk.

magic_152 at hotmail dot com.