06 January, 2009

OK, I feel slightly bad about that last one...

As we all know, I can almost always say something nice.

It's a huge character flaw.

Bulb out. "If you can't say anything nice..."

It seems a shame to waste a day of freshly shaved legs...

My AM dilemma should be: "Which class should I take to get my last 4 academic units?" However, I stand here blogging about whether I should wear pants that will cover up that reallyreally dark bruise on my inner calf or wear a skirt and display it proudly, bragging about how I got that bruise in a masterful display of poor pole planting (lack of) technique.

No, no pic. Ever.

05 January, 2009

I seem like the type who'd eat more when I'm mildly upset...

...but I adopt an attitude of perverse optimism in finding the silver lining behind nerves, worry and those icky little inklings, perceptions and premonitions. They can be great diet aids!

03 January, 2009

16 Random Things

One of the Facebook memes circulating recently asked its recipients to list 16 things they've learned or facts about themselves. I participated and, in lieu of an original post, I reproduce my response here, including my on-my-high-horse opinions on "tagging" people. It wasn't too hard to come up with 16 things, but I was conscious of wanting to keep it as concise as possible...

16 ReallyReally Random Things... As per Shannon...vía Tim
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Monday, December 29, 2008 at 11:28pm | Edit Note | Delete

In original message
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you

From Val: I love this activity and have loved reading all the responses! Thanks, Shannon! But... I'm going to break the tagging rule and not tag 16 people for a couple of reasons. First, I think everyone has already been tagged! Also I don't really tag people not knowing your privacy settings and I'm not really sure why the tagging is necessary because if you respond, even in a separatenote, I'll see it on the feed...But of course I'd love for everyone to respond to this! I also really do want to know more about you. :)
I've left the original instructions, above, for anyone who wants to follow them.

1. I am a late adopter of things like e-mail, cell phones, iTunes, Facebook and laptop computers but have now embraced them with a convert's zeal.
2. I prefer plains and ocean landscapes.
3. I've learned that no matter how much I learn, there are things I'll never learn.
4. If I don't ask you a lot of questions, it doesn't mean I'm not interested in you, it means I'm respecting your privacy.
5. I like the wind.
6. For about a year and a half I've been running/jogging and I don't often like to talk about it.
7. My family is very small and I love them very much.
8. I like taking those internet personality quizzes.
9. Facebook has been invaluable for me as an introvert and I love being in touch with everyone.
10. I prefer shopping in thrift stores, I have better luck finding things that "grab me". And yes, I'll admit I'm cheap when it comes to me, but I'd be generous with you.
11. Love is quite often unavoidable, uncontrollable and unrelenting.
12. I can cook.
13. Until I went to college I was constantly reading for pleasure. Now I have a hard time doing that and I miss it.
12. I don't eat cookies, candies, etc. with faces on them...but if you and I were to share some and you bit the head off for me, I'd eat the rest.
13. Every person has her/his own intelligence and no single type of intelligence is superior to the others.
14. Washing dishes is my favorite chore.
15. It is hard for me to set goals, but I guess I have a few - keep running, pass my qualifying exams and finish this grad school program.
16. I don't want to color my hair.

01 January, 2009

Resolved that: It's better not to make New Year's resolutions.

Resolutions for 2009

1. Watch more TV. It's what we're paying for! But then, the package also includes phone and internet connection and the connection is really what's more important, so maybe it's OK not to watch it...

2. Use above-mentioned connection to keep in better touch with friends and family. But a call on the cell phone or a text message is really more of an intimate, immediate contact.

3. Don't text, call and leave a proper message or actually talk. But texting is so much less intrusive.