Monkeys at Keyboards

Weather Patterns

2007-02-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

OKay, so it's been nuts out here in NY. First we had the warmest winter in recollection, with no snow whatsoever and t-shirt weather days before Christmas. Then, snow finally shows up (flurries) in mid-January. It's nice, 50-ish again, before the temp drops and all is cold and clear. When moisture finally arrives, the temp shoots above freezing, so it's cold, nasty, and wet.

Right now it is in the teens. I had to go out for ten minutes to drag four heavy garbage cans to the curb. I nearly froze.

And the weather's going to be like this for the next week.

(sob.)

Sympathy

2007-01-18T22:09:00.000-05:00

Define surreal: Writing a paper on John Milton's Paradise Lost. Then, while I'm argueing Satan's case, Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) comes on.

November 30th

2006-11-30T21:47:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a hectic few weeks, but I managed it. Despite loads of homework, computer crashes, and the application process from hell, I made it over 50,000 words in Nanowrimo this year. Am I proud of myself? Damn straight.

I may have limped over the finish line by 2 whole words, but there's a hell of a lot more story left to be written. Will it be? Probably not. Do I care? Not right now. I'm too busy exulting in my newfound author-ness. This is the first time I've won Nano and am incredibly proud.

And ready to get on with my life again. I can't wait for free time on the weekends again. (sigh.)

Carpal Tunnel

2006-11-14T22:17:00.000-05:00

I seem to have worn out my wrists last night. You know why? Yesterday, I broke 10,000 words! Bow in awe of my awesomeness. (Also, ignore the fact that I'm a week behind according to my calculations.) I did another 2000+ words today. Can I keep it up in time to finish NaNo? I sure hope so. I've got a lot of personal pride staked on this years' attempt.

Anyways, I haven't posted in a while for a few key reasons. If my life wasn't ruined by homework, it was eaten by NaNo or my personal "breather" time in which I stopped to rest before I burnt out and went insane.

All is basically well here. It's raining a lot. That's pretty much it.

... I lead such a boring life. *sob!*

NaNoWriMo Day 5

2006-11-05T13:10:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm finally ctaching up in my word count. I fell behind due to horrific amounts of homework. This weekend was really lite, only about three hours or so of stuff to do, so I can finally add to my poor counter. Check it out, it's on the sidebar!

SAT SCORES!

2006-11-02T17:35:00.000-05:00

My scores are in. They're in!

I got a 2040! That's an 85! And if you don't look at the writing section (no one does, it's too new), I got a 1420, which is like an 88!

The scores break down like this:
Reading - 770
Math - 650
Writing - 620

All of them are out of 800. I feel awesome about retaking this thing on Saturday!

November, my month of DOOM!

2006-11-02T17:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I've gone and done it again. I've booked up my entire month of November so that I won't have any time to breathe. Brilliant planning on my part, but I'll do my best. No sleep for the wicked and all that.

Nanowrimo started! I had a lot of homework yesterday, so I only wrote about 100 words. I plan to make it up on the weekends.

I've got yearbook every once in a while and I'm in a somewhat useful position - I put the thing together on the computer. Thank you, years of screwing around in Photoshop!

Driver's ed is crazy and that takes up two days of my week.

Add in assorted homework assignments and what I hope to be a new job (keep your fingers crossed) along with college admissions and I'll be pretty busy.

Even though I did bring this upon myself.

Economics is kicking my ass.

2006-10-27T15:45:00.000-05:00

Sorry everyone, I haven't posted in a while due to the deluge that is the fall of senior year. College applications, yearbook frenzy (I'm on the editing staff), and the research paper from hell all contributed to my general frazzledness this week. I'm skivving off for ten minutes in between paragraphs for the eight-page-monstrosity my economics teacher calls a research paper. It's not too bad, it's just that in between all my other projects, I only started this past week. Not to panic, I planned ahead. I am now at 5 pages, with a good idea of how to get the other three done.

Why am I so organized, you may ask yourself suspiciously. This is very unlike Ciardra. What's up?

Well, tonight I have a poker tournament at Coughing Joy's house, and tomorrow, I'm going to a NaNoWriMo party for writers in my area. (If you haven't checked it out, go to www.nanowrimo.org . I highly suggest it.) That means I've only got until 6 tonite and Sunday to get it done, along with a back-breaking load of homework my evil teachers have unloaded on us. Will I make it? Will I sleep at all on Sunday night? Will I prove my addiction to coffee is a good thing? Will I stop asking stupid questions? Only time will tell.

Hallelujah!

2006-10-18T18:44:00.000-05:00

I never thought it might happen, but... I finished my homework early. Granted, I have some history left, but that's not due til Friday and I'm big on procrastination. Lecture me later. ^.^

I feel so bad, I keep getting emails and such from people, but I am absolutely horrible at replying. I have little to no time for house-keeping these days, both electronically and literally. I am such a wreck. I'm guessing this is normal life. I want my old one back, on where I was on track! (sob.)

So, my internet's screwy. I'm going to have to poke buttons on the wireless LAN box a couple times. Maybe it'll get better.

... nope. Oh well.

BTW, I wanted to let everyone know NaNoWriMo is coming on up. It's for all those procrastinators in the world who've said they'll write a book and never get around to it. You're supposed to write 50,000 words in 30 days (the month of November). I failed spectacularily at 15000 words last year. I plan on doing at least 1000 words better, maybe more. It all depends on how early I finish my college applications. Google it and read more if you want - it's awesome!

SAT

2006-10-15T19:49:00.000-05:00

Well, I've recovered enough from the SAT yesterday morning to talk about it.

It is pure EVIL!

Okay, to begin with, it takes forever and by the time you get to the tenth section (the last one), you just don't care anymore. They don't give you nearly enough time on any of the parts. And banging out an essay in 25 minutes is fun, let me tell you. Of course, that's the first part. At like 8 AM. Yes, because all of us are great at thinking early in the morning. But the questions are inane, the vocabulary is gobbledygook, and the math questions are obscure. They all suck.

That being said, I think I did passably well. Nothing spectacular, but I can try again in November. Yay me.

Now I get to try and finish a Government paper. Must... make... four... pages...

School Spirit

2006-10-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

Today was the last day in Spirit Week. Thus, we had a pep rally for our lousy football team. TMB and I screamed ourselves hoarse. Cause you know, we're seniors, and that's what seniors do at pep rallys. Even the really gothic, apathetic seniors who hate pep.

We've got a bonfire/dance tonight. That'll be fun.

Those Who Forget Their History...

2006-10-04T19:26:00.000-05:00

... are doomed to repeat the 11th grade.

You can take this to mean that I've got yet another US History assignment due. I really dislike this teacher.

Muffins

2006-10-03T17:43:00.000-05:00

I made a batch of chocolate-chip muffins this afternoon. Trish pronounced them edible and figures I'm all set for college. I can survive off Ramen and muffins for those four years and save my precious money for things like rent and books. And I can bribe dorm mates with them too. It's a win-win situation.

Thank G-d for Jewish Holidays

2006-10-02T14:19:00.000-05:00

I love Jewish holidays. They always fall on dates right when you need them. This three-day weekend has been a blessing.

Friday was a day of tests and general nastiness. It was also Mom's birthday. I got her the new Mitch Albom book. Dad told everyone that he wasd taking us to a nice, fancy restauran, so we should dress up. Trish and I do so, getting somewhat dolled up. Where does Dad take us? Paula Jean's Bar and Grill. I think we were about to kill him when the foos arrived. Then I feel madly in love with my chicken and sausage gumbo and couldn't be bothered. It was a great night, but the total exhaustion wasn't cool and we left kind of early.

I spent Saturday sleeping and reading. Truely, there is no better way to spend my day off. We were supposed to go to a regatta at SUNY Maritime, but it fell through.

I had an event on Sunday for the Shanti Fund, celebrating Ghandi's birthday. Had he lived, he would be 137 today. Liz, Becky, and I "debated" peace and unity with two other schools. (Seriously, how does one debate peace and unity? It's pretty much 'peace good, war bad'.) I did much better answering the questions than my actual debate. But we got free pizza and there's a good chance we've won prize money, so hey. I also had my cell phone fixed. Yay.

Today I'm doing basic housework and homework. Nyeck. I've got a light load today, thank god. Even still, I'll probably finish just before 10 PM. Procrastination genes suck. (Thank you so very much, Mrs.GreenThumb.)

Driver's Ed

2006-09-27T17:39:00.000-05:00

Every Wednesday I have a Driver's Ed class. It's the typical five-in-a-sedan class, with the ever-so-present passenger's side brake. I have a neat instructor, and I'm in the car with some interesting characters. My friend SmileyFace is in there, along with another senior and a junior who shares some classes with me. It's pretty fun. Even if I am the worst driver in the bunch.

Snooze

2006-09-25T22:03:00.000-05:00

Today was a write-off, as days go. Fell asleep in physics, which is my _fifth_ class of the day. Weird, no? Felt miserable and not due to my lack of sleep, either. Am horribly displeased with my AP US History class - would drop it if possible. Alas, it is necessary to graduating. Spanish is still incomprehensible, math is seemingly useless, and photography is bugging me. School is annoying.

But the lecture class for Driver's Ed is worse.

Update

2006-09-24T21:34:00.000-05:00

Finished the essay. And it's only 10.53. So there.

It would've been finished earlier if I was in the practice of writing essays. Last year was great, but it really screwed me up, educationally wise.

Sorry Everyone

2006-09-24T21:23:00.000-05:00

Well, I apologize about the incredibly long delay in between posts. In my defense, I was yet agin really freakingly busy. School has started and my senior year is not going to be pretty. I wish I could contract senioritis (I already think I have, to be honest), but sadly, I must work my way through this deadly illness. I cannot wait until next summer.

Right now, I'm procrastinating on writing a thesis conclusion paragraph for a Warmuth essay. (Warmuth is a crazy, sarcastic, tyrant of a teacher who gives evil essays. I love his class.) Pretty much the entire essay is BS. Warmuth treats us like college students. I'm not sure if the Bs will be acceptable, but it's 10.30 on a Sunday night, there's not much I can do now. (And to ward off all the "procrastinating is bad" sermons, I'll let you know that I had worked on this before hand, thank you very much.)

The Grand Canyon

2006-07-24T20:53:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, Gramma and Papa took us to the Grand Canyon on our annual road trip. We stayed in this very rustic log cabin for three days and two nights one the North Rim. It was absolutely gorgeous. You could see the Canyon from our doorstep. We didn't hike a lot, as Gramma and Papa aren't exactly in the best of shape. (Neither am I for that matter.) But we did take lots of pictures. ^.^

It was very dry up there, not because of the aridity, but because Gramma bought sparkling water instead of regular - it's too nasty to drink. Thus, the consumption of Coke was rampant, until we ran out of it.

It was a really fun trip.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!

2006-07-13T23:34:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted recently, I've been busy. Today, my brother, sister, and I travelled from our lovely NY home to Grandma's house, which is not in the stereotypical woods setting. She and Papa live in Las Vegas.

Yeah.

JEEZ it is hot and dry out here. Granted, they live in a freakin' desert, what can you expect, but this is pushing it. We spent the afternoon in the pool, ate a nice grilled steak dinner with baked potatoes and corn on the cob, and generally had a blast. I love grandma's house.

Happy Birthday To Me!

2006-07-01T15:14:00.000-05:00

Today's my birthday. Yay! I'm now 17.

Dad taught me how to drive today. Scary thought, no? I didn't leave the neighborhood. Which was okay by me. I did not hit any cars, pedestrians, or anything. Except one or two curbs. But that's cool.

I plan on going shopping with Trish later on and maybe meeting Rishabh before he goes back to India on Monday. Nothing big, just a low-key kinda day.

I'M BA-ACK!

2006-06-28T12:53:00.000-05:00

After a lovely day of travelling, in which I arrived a full thirty minutes before I left and spent far too long in a too small seat, I made it home on Sunday and nearly collapsed in my dinner plate after a nice 36 hour day. Monday was busy, Tuesday was sluggish, and today I still feel weird. I'm fighting the jet lag and losing. You really just can't get any worse than a full 12 hour time difference.

Two Days Left in Taipei

2006-06-23T02:44:00.000-05:00

Well, sorry I haven't posted in the past few days, but I'm in Taipei and the apartment doesn't have a computer. Right now, I'm sitting in an air conditioned internet cafe in Ximen. ^.^ It's a scoarching 33C and humid.

Wednesday: Sat on my suitcase exactly 5 times. it still wouldn't close. Had to remove fleece blanket and move it to other suitcase. Then it finally closed. Rode fast train to Taipei - only 2 1/2 hours! Shopping, rented movies, finally saw Alien. Was fun.

Thursday: Shopping, blew $40 USD on CDs. Impressive, no? Now I have 300 NT (or about $9) to tide me over for today and tomorrow. Smooth move on my part.

Friday: I'm going to see Scary Movie 4 with Amanda this afternoon. We're also planning on renting some movies. Nothing big.

Last Day at School

2006-06-20T10:52:00.000-05:00

Today was exhausting. It was a lovely 32C and really freaking humid as I rode my bike to school. I met up with Pong pong, my only Chinese teacher, and we had our last class. I gave her a card and a map of Long Island. Then, I went to homeroom for a period and played Sudoku.

My classmates planned a huan cong, or good-bye party. We went to a nearby park and played games for an hour (which I then consistently lost at all of them, as I had not a clue as to the rules) and had a pizza lunch with a tirmisu desert. My classmates presented me with the most amazing gift - a homemade yearbook, with pictures of everyone in the class and personel notes in Chinese and/or English. They totally rock. I gave everyone my business card (the picture makes me look like an orc from the Lord of the Rings) and a Statue of Liberty pin.

I went to art after we got back and hung out with my friends there. They were pretty cool. I gave Kay, Joan, and Mao Mi little gifts as well.

After school, Mette came up from Yuli for dinner to say goodbye. I'm leaving for Taipei tomorrow - she's not coming with. We had fun. It's odd. I mean, the two of us spent almost a year seeing each other every day. Now I am going back to the US and she'll be heading home to Denmark soon as well. I'm gonna miss her.

Besides, she still has yet to teach me that Danish drinking song she promised to. (For when I go to Denmark next summer. When I am of legal age in Europe.)

6 Days

2006-06-19T07:32:00.000-05:00

Well, today I went to school and hung out. Not much to do. I packed a box of books and CDs and clothes to send home. That's 20 kilograms I don't have to lug through the airport. Yay for that.

I have to pack my suitcase tonight, as tomorrow I have a long school day. It'll be my last day at Hua Nu. ^.^

I had dinner with Amanda and her host mom this evening at the local tea shop. I ate beef ribs. It was really tender and really good. Nothing else is going on. Now, onwards, to stuff all my shit into two bags. Can I do it? Will everyhting fit? How many times must I jump on the top of my suitcase to close it? Stay tuned and find out!