The Daily Adventures of Mercat

Can't talk much, gotta run. Not quite finished packing yet for our trip, insanely busy on my own anyhow, gotta get some sleep in there somewhere... but happy holidays nonetheless! May you be blessed with family and friends, but if you need an ear to turn to just drop me a line. ;)

This afternoon there was an absolutely perfect snow flurry. Fluffy flakes, but not windy at all. Even a shade of sun poking through. It didn't last long, but it sure was beautiful. I was happy, for that short five minutes, that I was outside walking back from class and not inside hiding from the cold. :3

I've been in such a fluffy mood the past couple days. I think it's a damning combination of Christmas on the horizon and a full-out double-plus Indiana Jones marathon.

At any rate, I found a new challenge. I was going to start it up tonight but I'm exhausted and I have a lot to do tomorrow... Unfortunately, for about 36 more hours, it's still finals week.

I missed a few days worth of prompts, sorry. I've been looking at grad school stuff... I'm kind of intimidated :( I'm starting to think I should have done mechanical or computer science engineering or something like that, but five years ago I didn't have quite the same aspirations.

Mean Girls: is a fantastic movie. Fun to watch, amazingly quotable, aptly quotable on an everyday basis, and hilarious. Also, it's probably a good icon for women in comedy. I don't know much about the comedy forefront but I do know that it's considered a job where men flourish and women fail. And the guys I always get to watch this movie agree that it is not a chick flick like they expected, but a fantastic (and wonderfully quotable) comedy. So. We should all just stab Caesar!

I have a sister. She and I get on much better now that we don't see eachother much, but we do tend to snip at eachother if we're both home for a few days in eachother's company. We're strangely opposites, and I think the way we have turned out isn't exactly how I would have predicted it ten years ago. Then I would have said that she would turn out to be the sorority-sister arts major, and here I am in an engineering sorority and not wanting to engineer a damn thing (well, sort of). And she used to talk about starting a fashion company, and now she's pre-med. And I'm a nerd who loves to read, but she is probably smarter than me. Or she's just really good and guessing and BSing, which is both accurate and enough. I am a little too honest and a little too paranoid to be a good BSer. Which is a shame, really, because being an introvert in a world of extroverts is exhausting.

Buuuuut enough about that.

My favorite junk food... is probably Mountain Dew. I try to treat it like a dessert; one, because it has a lot of empty calories, two, because too much caffiene headaches gives me mini-migraine-mock-caffiene-withdrawal headaches and they suck balls.

BACK TO APPLYING TO GRAD SCHOOLS =/

(and waiting for it to be Thanksgiving so I can get excited about Christmas except I listened to the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy cover of Mr. Heatmiser today and I DON'T CARE)

First of all, happy holidays, merry christmas, all that jazz. It still doesn't feel like Christmas... which sucks. This semester just took so much out of me, mentally.

I was going to do a whole special holiday post and go "caroling" on people's journals this year, but damned if I am just not too tired. Ugh. I think I will do a christmas recap later.

Instead, Laura, Max, Kyle, Chris, and I got bored and went out to see a movie on Christmas, the first time in my life I have ever done that. I was a little pissed because I wanted to see Sherlock Holmes or Imaginarium and Imaginarium isn't out anywhere locally as far as I can tell and everybody else decided no, Holmes was going to suck, so let's see Avatar.

I was a bit reluctant because of all the Dances With Smurfs crap I've seen about it, not to mention the fact that I hatehatehate most CGI because it comes off looking fake. Maybe not the textures, but the laws of physics never seem to apply. (Not to mention Uncanny Valley shit like Polar Express, GOTDAMN.) But Chris as drunk as fuck and my whole life I've been trying to fight Max and Kyle and Laura when they team up and it just does not fucking work, okay? Ugh. I hate them when they get like that.

Anyway, the non-spoilery summary, it's pretty good. Yes, Dances With Smurfs. Yes, visually stunning. Yes, has lots of lame moments. Dialogue was actually better than I expected. Anyway, I'd say, if you're interested, see it, but it's not some great epic, and it has lots of eye-rolling moments. (At three hours long, I do mean lots.)

( and now, the spoilers, warning for discussions on race, gender, engineering, and more )

Fffffff why am I still stressed out on break. I have to clean my room--my room which is FULL OF MOVING BOXES AND NO FURNITURE--because Christmas is at our house this year. And hanging out with friends? Yeah... I'm sick. It kinda sucks. And I don't think the New Orleans trip is happening... =C Which I am super sad about because I bought this awesome tuxedo jacket for New Year's, and now I can't wear it! Ugghhhhh sometimes I hate Ohio as much as all my high school friends did.

Yeah... idk. This is going to be one hell of a break.

Let's see though. Friday we went to the TSO concert, it was... good. But not great. Here's the thing. TSO has a new album out called Nightcastle... Which is more like a "halloween" album. It's classical music (Carmina Burana was awesome) but they spent the whole second half of the show with gargoyles, flames, and lightning... Not very Christmasy. So that kind of sucked. (Not to mention my ears were practically bleeding by the end.)

Saturday I went lasertagging for three hours in Cincy with Kim and Melissa. It was super awesome. =) My second-to-last game I got second place! HURRAH. After that I drove back up to Fairborn for the Brandstetter's party where I told Pat and Kevin and Lara about the 3hrs for $15 lasertagging and we are going to Suit Up and go down there. It's going to be epic. Yeah... nothing else really happened at the Brandstetter's party though, except I think I managed to get Lara's cold.

So yeah, now I'm kinda sick. Sunday I was unable to walk because apparently all the lasertag ramps killed my quad? IDFK. And also I was sick. Hypersensitivity is the worst.

Yesterday was crazy... Dental cleaning, Laura got her wisdom teeth out, had to take grandma to the hospital to get her leg checked, and then I went to Johnny's house to watch MST3K where it turns out here and his sister had made baseball-sized buckeyes. deeeaaaaamn

Yeah, so. Today the cats went to the vet... They gained wait. Ugh. Time to put them on a diet.

Yep... that is my break so far. CHAOS.

I'm ready for Halloween.

As in, it needed to be here yesterday. I don't know why, it's actually rather odd because in the past few days I felt similarly about Christmas. I thought it was just drum corps excitement but I'm not so sure anymore. My brain is in rather an odd mood at the moment, and I definitely need to sit down and sort that one out for a while.

But for the time being, I don't know what to dress up as for halloween. I want to do a ghostbusters or wicked witch costume, but both of those involve time and money I don't currently have. So I was thinking Little Shop of Horrors, Seymour & Audrey II, but that feels rather simplistic.

=/ ideas?

(That was our team name tonight at trivia. We decided we were probably going to be a failure, and in the end we did have to throw our last card to lose [which we did hilariously], and then we tied as losers. FRUSTRATING.)

Lots of tabs to clean up, and then I owe you all some Christmas cheer.

This may just be the stupidest person I've ever seen. Ignore the title; someone reposted it to make fun of creationists, but clearly this is just crazy. I mean, seriously... Light spectrum much, honey? Damn.

I found an atheism wiki. I'm just tucking this link here because I often want to make a point about some fact, but I am terrible about actually remembering the fact itself and not just the point it was trying to prove. (Just another reason in the long list of Why I'm a Terrible Public Speaker.) Not sure how quality the wiki is (meaning updated, etc.), but it's here to remind myself to investigate.

Oh, wow, no, there doesn't seem to be much at all in regard to science. Or rather, not nearly as much as I was hoping. But there are a lot of discussions on the aspects of different religions, so that should be interesting.

Dear god I had too much sugar tonight. After that Mountain Dew wore off I had the Jack's Bar of Gold, and ever since I got home I've been shaking like crazy. I mean, just my hands need to do something, but it's driving me insane and I can't wait for it to wear off.

So I somehow got linked (probably through Neatorama) to a website called People Who Deserve It, which is all about reasons to punch deserving people in their faces. Sounds like my particular branch of outlandish, hyperbolic-violenced humor, right? Correct. And here are two of my top punchees:

Grown man who refuses to eat crusts. THEY DO NOT EVEN COUNT AS CRUSTS ON AMERICAN BREAD, OMG IT'S SO WEAK AND THERE'S NO CHEW AT ALL! (And yes, I do realize that by being humorously hyperbolic I open up room for hypocrisy; you're kind of supposed to ignore that for the sake of the humor. I don't understand why people always feel the need to point it out... Anyway, in this case, the hypocrisy stands in that I was pointing out to Alicia earlier this evening how ridiculous it is that I don't chip-cut pickles. I just don't. I only eat dill pickles anyway, but for some reason when I was little I was convinced that chip-cut ones taste different, and obviously in a bad fashion. And that's stayed with me, for some reason.)

The Eew-Not-Tuna! Guy. I'm not being too hyperbolic on this one. People need to growthefuckup about the smell of tuna. It's not that strong, it's not that gross. I ate it every day for FOUR YEARS in gradeschool, and I LOVED IT. Oh, and bell peppers go on this list, too.

Pictures from a guy whose job it is to be a film location scout in NY. Pretty cool shit. I am totally jealous of his job.

A Russian Professor's theory on the US's collapse... in two years. I'm sorry, but I just don't see it. I quite honestly think the US is too proud, for the time being at least, to fall, literally, to pieces; in addition, I severely doubt they would return to affiliation or possession of other countries if they were to break up. First of all, we no longer live in such an imperialist environment; and the US was (or is, depending on your views) an empire itself. Hawaii would be independent, no doubt. Perhaps captured later on for strategy, but for as long as possible I'm sure it would be independent. My guess is something similar would happen with Alaska, though I am sure their independent streak is slim to none; more likely they would fall in with Canada (who speaks English, and is attached closely, and has societal ties with US culture) than Russia (who is on another continent and, by dateline, the "other end of the map", and who speak Russian and dislike American culture). Texas and the south falling to Mexico? No. This is Texas we're talking about. They always have that underlying flavor of secession as it is anyhow, there's no way they'd go crying to Mexico or some shit. California under Chinese influence? Doubtful. Unless China could exert it's hand in a production-based strategy, and exert it heavily, I think US culture would stay far too intact of its anti-communist ideals. That whole central part falling into cahoots with Canada? Undoubtedly. Maybe not legally part of the country, but I think there's enough Northerner feeling. Ohio, though, I might add, I would see more likely hooking up with the South, despite its connection to Erie. I mean, seriously, have you talked to anyone from Xenia or Fairborn? There are places north of here people already consider The South. Scary thought. Atlantic states joining the EU? Don't you kind of have to be a part of Europe for that to work?

Fascinating from the point of view I have from my history classes' focus on imperialism in the World Stage, I can tell you that much.

Formulating energy out of roads being driven, kind of a cool idea. However, an article referred to this as a "green solution"; maybe you mean more "green" than the situation is currently, but since when was driving cars a help to any green project?!

FUCKING CREEPY AS SHIT BEACH SCULPTURES. Oh god the nightmares I am going to have. (...Metaphorically. I don't actually get nightmares.)

Ugh, I'm too tired for this Christmasing. Tomorrow, I swear.

No, seriously, she does.



Well, okay, it's not brand new. '67 and it needs a lot of work, but she liked it. Sometimes... she is too dramatic for me, though. Her reaction to bringing that car around was a bit much. Then again, maybe I'm an ungrateful, spoiled child. Or I've been too bitter this year (which is true). Or I just don't see that reaction as legitimate... also probably true. Considering my reaction to things I like is usually over-excited jumping-up-and-down-ness. I dunno, Grandma's just kind of a drama queen.

OMG LAURA PICKED OUT HOLOGRAPHIC-SEQUINED CHUCKS FOR ME. I'M SO FUKKEN EXCITED YOU HAVE NO IDEA. NEW YEAR'S HERE I COME

In addition, my new opal, YAY, so I have a replacement ring so I have one fewer finger that feels naked. Plus, in the right light, it looks red and not blue. (It is probably the most gorgeous opal I've ever worn, ffs.)

That sweet antique-postal-box bank... And some Tortugas stuff (tie-dyed shirt, sweatshirt); a calendar (magnetic poetry!); ladybug earrings; I feel like I'm missing something. Oh, Laura and I got a shared copy of Beetle the Bard, but something else is missing...

Wow, how the heck did I come away with one and a half books for Christmas? Usually I have, like... a dozen. At least. Not that I'm complaining, I just can't remember that not happening for many years back.



Also I totally just got online because omg I did not get the #1 thing I asked for which was the Indiana Jones compeltely soundtracks! I mean honestly! D: (Lol, again, complaining facetiously.)

I finally feel all better, minus the Cough That Will Not Go Away (fuck you, sinus infection). More shopping tomorrow, paint for Laura's room and linens for me (Linens 'N' Things going out of business at the new year, fyi), also need to hit up Border's and a toy store. Two more stickers and I can get three limited edition crystal skull action figures with thrones! You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I WANT THEM SO BADLY. I wish I could afford enough to have 13, lol. (I would need an entire German and a Russian army to get them, though. That is, of the figures they sell. WHY WON'T THEY RELEASE THE NEXT WAVES. I WANT TEMPLE AND CRUSADE FIGURES SO BADLYOHMYGODIAMSUCHANERD.)

OH. OH. I remembered what the other thing was. MOM GOT A ROOMBA! I am so geeked out, it's ridiculous. I want to make a Roomba cover. Dad saw you can hack them to sing midi songs. Some cats ride them around for fun.

I can't set up a poll, but I need your opinions; do we name it

>Rosie (dad's suggestion--you can guess why)
>Rupert (Laura's suggestion--she's been watching too much Family Guy)
>HAL 9000 (Laura's and my suggestion--I'm sorry, Dave, I can't vaccuum that)

For me, Rupert is right out. I'm leaning toward Rosie because midi isn't threatening enough for HAL and there isn't enough capability to fadingly sing Daisy as it works. (Or... shuts down. Or anything.)

SO YAY OMGROOMBA tell me your thoughts and let me know of any awesome Roomba shit you can think of. (If we had two, I'd make them joust. Possibly Roomba/Kitten joust.)

Dad had me run out to the store to get supplies for chex mix, and ugghhhh I feel like crap again. I was hungry and grabbed a cookie on my way out, and now I'm not really interested in eating. Everything ends up tasting like stomach acid. :C Although I am really craving shrimp or sushi or something equally delish at the moment... (And by "at the moment" I mean "since I came home from Hawaii".)

Anyway, the list of things under the tree for me... My parents said they were going to keep it small since we decided to MOVE all of a sudden this year (seriously... still weird) and that our gifts would mostly be the house and new furniture and those sort of things. Buuuut I guess they had a little too much fun buying stuff.

Both mom and dad got Laura dvds of "A Christmas Story"... greaaaat. Now she can watch it all the time. That movie really annoys me, for some reason.

Probably one of my favorite gifts was a lamp and lampshade that James got for me... it's so flipping awesome. The shade is this burnt-orange-silk looking material with a brown damask pattern on it. Laura picked it out but seriously James whatthehellit'ssocool. Laura also got me this antique wooden stamp that used to be used for printing wallpapers, and an tibetan-looking chime, and a set of tibetan prayer flags.

I made Laura a scarlet-and-gray pillow, and now I feel bad that it was kind of cheap because she and James' gifts are so awesome... =/ But otherwise I didn't really know what to get her and I know she likes to spend. So, I dunno.

Otherwise:
--Pushing Daisies Season 1 (!!!!!! I didn't put this on my wishlist because I was going to buy it myself, but YAY! Also, I need to remember to buy mom The Big Bang Theory for her birthday gift.)
--DIAGNOSIS MURDER SEASONS 1-3 OMG YAY. I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THEY MADE THEM PAST THE FIRST SEASON, WOO-WOO
--Galoshes! Unexpected but particularly useful on UD's puddle of a campus.
--underwear... you can never have enough.
--"dark blue" Lindt truffles (milk chocolate outside with dark chocolate inside)
--waffle house moneys!
--a "one minute organizer" book... strangely the only book
--SpongeBob Christmas Special DVD
--seat covers for my car
--a fuzzy and warm Dayton beanie
--chapstick
--advil
--UD socks
--gloves
--orange tictacs
--my sister's old athletic iPod nano strap... stained blue by a backpack-highlighter leak, I am sure. I am also worried I will be sweating blue or stained blue myself. (I also had to restrain from making "I BLUE MYSELF!" jokes, as no one in my family watches Arrested Development.)
--TWO OF MY DAD'S ANTIQUE CAMERAS OMG THEY ARE SO COOL. One I think is maybe just a pin-hole, but the other one is the type where you flip the front out and it has this accordion-type thing behind the lens... SO COOL.
--a really wicked tin-covered wooden side-table for my room. It's made out of recovered Indian furniture... It's wicked. Not as cool as the velvet-and-polished-tin-stool from Europe that I wanted, buuuut significantly cheaper. And probably looks more well-traveled because it is older, and it looks a little grungier (read: oxidized).

I got a piece of pizza down, no trouble, but I still can't get rid of this taste in my mouth... And my head kind of hurts. I'm not as tired, though, which is excellent. I mean, I got at least 12 hours of sleep last night, that's rather excessive.

Yep, this may qualify as the worst Christmas ever. Not because it was necessarily awful or something, or I hate the new house, and uncle Steve didn't even get in a fight with anyone; no, I just got fever chills after Christmas dinner (about 3 pm), tried to sleep it off for two hours, and then puked in the car on the way home. Awesome. I felt good for about ten minutes after that, and then you feel like shit again, and my back was killing me, and my mouth has this awful taste in it though the pain's gone away, and there really isn't anything I want to eat. Bleeeeh.

Also, this totally means I have to figure out how long my last record of not-puking is. I have a pretty solid gag reflex and I can't for the life of me remember the last time I vomited. It's been at least three years. Bleh. (And now I would trot out my list of synonyms for puke, a la 2095, but I really don't feel like it.)

I'm kind of excited about some of the stuff I got, though. Laura's bf, James, got me this really sweet lamp, and then she got me some other decoration-type stuff for my room. Mom got me galoshes (yaaaaay) so now I have shoes to wear on The Campus of Many Puddles. PLUS she and dad got me Pushing Daisies season 1 and Diagnosis Murder seasons 1-3! ROCK ON.

And, since I didn't really do a special Christmas post, I think I'm going to do the twelve days thing again. That was fun.

So, on the first day of Christmas, LJ gave to me: Darlene Love singing "Christmas (Baby)" "...(please come home)"



On the second day of Christmas, LJ gave to me: a very mod-art Christmas and Darlene Love singing "Christmas (Baby)".