Friday, March 31, 2006

"Andy" will go far


Right now I’m sitting in the lab on the 4th floor of Ross, waiting for Rob to get here (I’m waiting for Rob to get here because he had an interview today in Des Moines; he just called me whilst on his way back (he says it went pretty well…YAY!).) He, SAJ, and I are all staring a in a movie (well, the story really goes that SAJ and I had to come up with a creative way of presenting a work situation to our class on Monday, but we really needed someone else, preferably a guy, in our scenario; the only way to do this was to make a video, so I asked Rob if he would be so kind. His response: “Okay I’ll do it, because 1) I’m your boyfriend and 2) You’d be hard pressed to fine too many other guys in the department.” I’m glad he understands the direness of the situation). So now SAJ and I will be spending the better portion of our Friday night filming and editing the darn thing. I’m hoping the editing won’t take too long, but I refuse to leave SAJ here all alone to do it. It just doesn’t seem sporting. I do feel a little funny about the whole thing. As we were writing the script, SAJ and I realized that we would probably need two guys. That just seemed too much to hope for, so we decided one of us had to be “Andy.” And so here I sit, in the lab, dressed in a tie, white shirt, slacks, no makeup, hair pulled back, and a mind to be male.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Let's take at test!

A good use of my free time in between my student’s coming in for conferences would be:
A) Reading Michel Foucault’s “Discursive Formations” (due Wednesday)
B) Writing my grocery list
C) Writing a new blog entry
D) Daydreaming about napping

Yeah, I’m going to go with C. If you don’t agree, you can either:
A) Stop reading right now
B) Complain to your local congressperson
C) Eat cheese (well, why not?)
D) Agree

So, at this point, I’m assuming we’ve all agreed, or we’re munching on a nice block of Muenster. Never take a test on an empty stomach (I’ve got cherry pop tarts).

My favorite Seattle picture is:
A)
B)
C)
D)

The order of the pictures is a little deceptive; I actually took the one of the waterfall before the one of the view of Seattle, which is why the view of Seattle has a gray blur. It’s a water spot on my lens, not a UFO (or is it?).

I’m having a hard time being my usual chipper self these days. I just tend to let stress take over my life, until I don’t work out anymore, want to take naps all the time (but have consumed way too much caffeine to do anything other than be comatose), and find myself spacing out occasionally.

Tonight I’m planning on running myself down to Des Moines to visit Betsey. Bella, our 8 year-old cousin, is staying with her and George for a few days, so I’m glad to have the excuse to see members of my family. Plus, Betsey is having a Pampered Chef party, and although Rob claims he has been to enough Pampered Chef parties for one guy, I’ve never been and I’m totally in it just for the free food. Hopefully much later this evening will involve me getting to spend some time with Rob (and his mistress, the “creative component”?).

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Falling in love is hard on the aspartame...

Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi makes me think of falling in love. For starters, it’s disgustingly sweet, in a way that you know wont last because that false aftertaste from the aspartame will hit you eventually. Plus there’s the wild cherry on top of everything else, masking…masking what? Nothing. What you’re left with when it’s all over is…nothing. No calories, no substance, just a little caffeine high that will fade and an overabundance of phosphorous from the carbonation that will weaken your bones when you get older.

Well, that’s what cynical Dana says, at any rate. But today, I sat down to eat lunch by myself at the memorial union on campus. I have to grade 36 papers today (I’ve currently whittled it down to 26), so I decided to treat myself and buy my lunch. I also bought a Wild Cherry Pepsi, which I haven’t had since December. I was addicted during finals, but drank too much of it, and haven’t been inclined to buy it since. However, today, when I opened the bottle and smelled the artificial wild cherry-ness, imagine my surprise when I smiled and thought of falling in love. During finals was also when I was falling in love with Rob, and the smell made me think of how ridiculously happy a person can be, despite all the lack of sleep/intense studying. Silly girl.

I like my thoughts on Wild Cherry Pepsi. I get to sound bitter and cynical, which I love to do, and be sappy and romantic, which tragically I am.